A/N: Here is chapter numero dos! It took FOREVER to get it up b/c I'm really busy and writing a Lily+James fic as well, so it's really long to make up for it. Thanks to everyone who reviewed on the first one. I love you all! Hope you like it! (Like I always say, reviews are love!) Shoot, I just realized I didn't put a disclaimer on my 1st chapter. So here it is:

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Harry Potter! tear It's all Jo's.

Harry barely noticed the hard Muggle subway seats; he was so wrapped up in his own thoughts. He was only slightly worried about his Apparition test. After all, he thought wryly, I should do well considering I did Side-Along Apparition with my headmaster last summer under life or death conditions! A man in a black suit and carrying a briefcase gave him an odd look. Harry must have been speaking aloud. He quickly clamped his mouth shut just in case.

After he got off of the subway, he walked quickly to the deserted alley in London with a broken down telephone booth. Looking around carefully to make sure no on was watching him, he stepped inside and shut the door.

Harry frowned in concentration as he tried to remember the code. What did it spell again? "Of course!" he exclaimed, shaking his head at his poor memory. He dialed 6-2-4-4-2. MAGIC – the password to the Ministry of Magic.

The dial whirred, and the cool female voice sounded in his ears. "Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business." Harry was cruelly reminded of the last time he had been in this telephone booth, in the dead of night.

"Er, Harry Potter," he said, "I'm here to take my Apparition test."

"Visitor, please take the badge," the voice said. A silver badge that said HARRY POTTER: APPARITION TEST flew out of the slot beneath the phone, which Harry quickly pinned to his robes. "Please present your wand to the front desk for inspection," the voice continued. The phone booth gave a jerk and slowly began to sink into the ground. Harry's stomach twisted with nerves.

A chink of light hit Harry's feet and he caught his first view of the Ministry since they had acknowledged Voldemort's return. Wizards and witches rushed around the high ceiling Atrium with stressed looks on their faces, not looking at the people around them in their rush. Posters of known Death Eaters were up everywhere. Harry's fists clenched as he saw a picture of Bellatrix Lestrange.

The booth reached the bottom and the door opened. "The Ministry of Magic wishes you a pleasant day," said the voice as he stepped out.

He had barely begun walking over to the front desk when a shout rang through the Atrium. "Everyone, look! It's Harry Potter!" Heads turned and an interested murmur rippled through the Hall. Harry groaned inwardly. Not now, he pleaded silently, please not now…but no such luck.

A short, balding man appeared at his elbow. Sweat shone on his face as he asked breathlessly, "You're – you're Harry Potter, aren't you?" His eyes flicked up to Harry's forehead, and Harry anxiously flattened his bangs. The people surrounding them stopped what they were doing and turned to stare, awaiting Harry's answer.

Harry sighed. "Yes," he said resignedly in a low tone, "I am. But don't go shouting it around; I'm here to take a test."

The man nodded eagerly and bobbed away, but the rest of the crowd did not leave him alone. "Is it true that you're the Chosen One?" shouted a woman from across the room.

"Are you going to kill You Know Who?" asked another man, eyes wide.

A flash blinded him for a split second, and he whirled expecting a spell being shot out, before he realized it was the flash on a camera. Someone was taking pictures of him. He was glad he hadn't had to deal with this last year as well. It was no wonder Dumbledore hadn't wanted him to go to the Ministry…

"Excuse me," he muttered, pushing through the crowd, "I've really got to go…"

"Mr. Potter, I'm honored, simply honored…"

"Mr. Potter!" a reporter cried, following him. How the heck did he get in here? "Mr. Potter, a word?"

"Yeah, two – not now." He had finally made it to the front desk, where the security man was staring at him. He placed his wand on the desk. "Er…don't you need this?"

The security man seemed to come out of a trance. "Wand."

"That's what I – never mind." Harry handed over his wand, which the guard placed on an odd type of scale.

"Holly, eleven inches, phoenix feather core, is that right?" The guard asked, reading off a slip of paper in a thick Irish accent.

"Yeah," Harry said, distracted. He glanced over his shoulder at the masses of people, over half of which was staring back at him.

"I keep this," the guard said, "and you get this back." He handed Harry his wand. He leaned in conspiratorially. "And by the way, me name's Eric. If you ever need anything, you let me know." He winked.

"Uh…sure," Harry said, shaking hands. "Actually, you can do something for me."

"Anything," said Eric eagerly.

"Do you know where I go to take my Apparition test? I'm not exactly sure…"

"Of course, Mr. Potter," said Eric immediately. "Go to the third floor. Just ask at the front desk."

"Thanks," muttered Harry, and quickly walked away to the lifts.

He got on the lift with a witch holding a rattling box, a wizard with a bored expression on his face, and five memos, flapping around the ceiling like moths. The witch got off on the second floor, but the bored looking wizard got off on the third one with him.

Harry headed for the front desk. A blonde witch, who was scribbling on a piece of parchment and chewing gum, didn't look up when he approached. "Excuse me," he said uncertainly, clearing his throat. "I'm here to take my Apparition test."

The blonde looked up. She blew a huge bubble before speaking. "Yes?"

"So where do I go?" Harry prompted, beginning to get irritated. This is what they have working at the Ministry these days? He thought indignantly. At this rate, Voldemort can just waltz right in wearing Dobby's tea cozy!

"Down the hall and to your left," the blonde replied, looking down again and scribbling on her parchment. "Look for the bald chap."

"Thanks for that," Harry said sarcastically under his breath as he walked away. He turned a corner and ran into Neville Longbottom.

"Harry!" Neville cried, as Harry extended a hand to pull him up from the ground. "Are you here for your Apparition testing too?"

"Yeah," Harry replied as he hauled Neville up, "have you taken yours already?"

"I was supposed to yesterday, but I forgot," Neville admitted, blushing furiously. "So I'm here today."

"Excellent, you can take it with me then," said Harry, grinning.

"Really? Thanks, Harry!" said Neville, his face splitting in a wide smile. "Do you know where we're supposed to go?"

"It should be right around the corner," Harry answered. "Isn't that where you just came from?"

"Yes, but I didn't know who to look for…"

"Come on," said Harry exasperatedly, and led Neville around the corner. The bald man that the blonde had told them to look for was sitting behind a mahogany desk waiting for them with a slight smile on his face.

"I saw you fall," he said to Neville. Harry blinked. He had been expecting a high, reedy voice, but the man's voice was full and strong. "Are you alright?" Neville nodded.

"I believe you two are the only ones taking the test today," the man continued. "I am Professor Tiberius. I'll be testing you today." He stood and held out a hand for them to shake; Harry took it first. He had a firm handshake. "Now, first we'll test you to see if you can handle Side-Along Apparition," Professor Tiberius said. "Take hold of my arms." Neville latched on tightly to the professor's left arm. Harry didn't grip quite so hard.

The professor turned tightly on the spot, and suddenly they were sucked into the suffocating tube that Harry knew so well. Neville gasped for air on his other side, and Harry could tell he was beginning to panic when –

They emerged in a grassy clearing in the middle of nowhere. Neville was still gripping Professor Tiberius' arm. He let go, looking embarrassed. "Where are we?" he asked.

"In the middle of Denmark," Professor Tiberius replied. He conjured a clipboard and made a note in one of the columns. "Alright, very good…now, you both have been to Diagon Alley, am I correct?" Harry and Neville both nodded. "I would like you to Apparate in front of Madame Malkin's shop. Do you think you can do that for me? I'll go first and meet you there." He gave them a smile and vanished with a crack!

Harry looked at Neville, who was pale with nerves. "Ready?" he asked. Neville merely nodded again. "I'll go first," Harry said. He turned on the spot and vanished.

For the second time in as many minutes he was sucked in to the black, airless tube. He concentrated on an image of Madame Malkin's robe shop. Just when he thought that he would surely die of suffocation, he emerged, blinking, into bright sunlight.

He was right outside of Madame Malkin's robe shop, to the left of Professor Tiberius. "Excellent," the professor grinned. "Top marks, Mr. Potter." Harry couldn't help but grin as well.

Then there was another crack! Neville appeared, gasping for air again. He stumbled, disoriented, and tripped over Harry's foot. He managed to right himself before he hit the ground. Professor Tiberius didn't give him any compliments.

"Alright, boys, you need to do one last thing. You must Apparate back to the Ministry in the exact place we left from, okay? Once again, I'll meet you there." He vanished again. None of the people in the crowded street paid them any mind.

"Bye," Harry said simply, and Apparated as well. He appeared almost instantly in the spot he had left at the Ministry, in front of the mahogany desk.

"Perfect," breathed Professor Tiberius, "nothing wrong with your test at all! Top form, top form! You pass with flying colors!"

"Thank you," Harry said modestly, but he wanted to whoop for joy inside. Just then, Neville Apparated right on top of him, knocking him hard onto the floor.

"I'm sorry, Harry! I'm sorry!" Neville exclaimed. "I didn't remember what side I was on, so I just picked – I'm really, really sorry!"

"It's alright, Neville!" Harry exclaimed, cutting him off. He picked himself off of the floor and dusted himself off. Professor Tiberius watched with a twinkle in his eye.

"You both pass," he said, and Neville heaved a sigh of relief. "But you," he said turning to Neville, who shrank back, "I'm letting you pass with a warning. You can't be so disoriented – or nervous – when you're Apparating or you'll splinch yourself. In fact," he broke off, frowning, "did you-? No, never mind, I'd thought you lost part of an eyebrow." He addressed both of them again. "Your licenses will be sent to you by Owl Post. Congratulations!" It was obvious that they were dismissed, and Harry left first.

He punched the button for the lift just as the doors opened and Rufus Scrimgeour stepped out. "Harry!" he cried. "What a pleasant surprise!" Harry's heart sank. The Minister of Magic was the very last person he wanted to see.

"I, uh, I was just leaving," Harry muttered, trying to get past the former Auror onto the lift, but Scrimgeour blocked his way.

"Not so fast, Harry, talk to me! I see that you've finally agreed to my plan! Good, good," Scrimgeour said as he nodded his approval.

"What? No! What plan?" Harry said, still trying to get onto the lift.
"Why, don't you remember? I suggested last Christmas that you pop into the Ministry from time to time so it looked like you supported us!"

Harry quit struggling. He had just realized what Scrimgeour was talking about. "Are you still on about that? I told you I wouldn't do it!"

"So why are you here?" asked Scrimgeour, still smiling, though it had become obviously strained. He kept a grip on Harry's arm.

"My Apparition test," replied Harry shortly. "I just passed, so if you'll excuse me, I'd like to go." The blonde secretary had finally looked up and was watching them keenly.

"Now, now, Harry, won't you stay for awhile? Have a talk?"

"Let go of me."

"Harry, there's no need to be so cold-!"

"I said, let go!" Harry said loudly. Half of the floor went quiet. He noticed some wizards' hands go to their wands. He wrenched his arm out of the Minister's grip and punched the button for the lift once more. The doors opened and he stepped in, clenching and unclenching his fists. He was grateful that for once, it was empty except for two memos.

"I'll see you later, then, Harry!" Scrimgeour called as the lift doors clanged shut. At least I'll have some peace at the Burrow, Harry thought in an attempt to calm himself. The lift reached the Atrium and Harry kept his head down as he walked to the Apparition point. He didn't want a scene like when he first had walked in. The guard, Eric, noticed him, but Harry shook his head warningly and Eric nodded, placing a finger to his lips and smiling.

He made it to the Apparition point without being hindered and was gratefully sucked into the tube that meant that he was on his way to the Burrow. He appeared in the front yard with a crack amid yells. "Stupefy!" yelled three voices he recognized. Harry hit the ground hard and dodged the spell.

"RON!" he yelled. "IT'S ME, DANG IT! QUIT TRYING TO STUN ME!"

"Harry?" the voice said. Harry felt a pair of strong arms lift him from the ground. He jumped up the rest of the way and looked into the freckled face of Ron Weasley.

"Sorry about that, mate," Ron said sheepishly. Fred and George were behind him, wands held loosely at their sides. Their faces were red. "Mum and Dad have been insisting that we keep on guard, and we weren't expecting you to just Apparate in. I figured you'd send a letter or something!"

"Sorry," said Harry guiltily. "I had some trouble with the Dursleys." Fred's eyes narrowed. George was trying not to laugh. He was probably remembering Dudley and the Ton Tongue Toffee.

"They didn't try to hold you up, did they?" asked Ron worriedly.

Harry snorted. "They couldn't wait to get rid of me! But then I had to sit through this speech about how I couldn't face a real man and how I was so pint sized."

"What did you do?" asked Fred interestedly.

"I punched Uncle Vernon and left."

George guffawed appreciatively. "Nice one."

"Well come on, Harry," Ron said, grinning. "Mum'll be ecstatic that you're finally here! Hermione's inside as well; she got here yesterday…" Ron led the way into the Burrow with Fred, George, and Harry close behind.

"Mum!" Ron bellowed at the front door of the house. "Guess who's here?"

"What is it? What's wrong?" came Mrs. Weasley's worried voice. She entered the living room from the kitchen, wiping flour onto her apron. Her eyes fell on Harry. "HARRY!" She threw herself on him in a hug. Harry choked in a cloud of flour, but hugged her back, smiling.

Hermione poked her head around the wall as Mrs. Weasley released him. "Ron? What's – oh, Harry, you're here!" She, too, hugged Harry tightly. "Ginny! Harry's here!"

Harry's stomach flipped over. He knew what was coming.

A flowery scent wafted over to him on the air as a new red head entered the room. She looked at Harry and smiled. "Hello, Harry," said Ginny.