"GET YOUR MANGY, GOOD FOR NOTHING CARCASSES OUT OF THOSE BEDS AND DOWN HERE THIS INSTANT BEFORE I COME UP THERE AND SHOVE MY GOOD FOOT UP YOUR SORRY ARSES!"
The magically amplified voice belonged to none other than Mad-Eye Moody, and it had accomplished its goal. In three of the upstairs bedrooms, five teenagers quite literally fell out of their beds, scrambling in their blankets, and throwing clothes on before running like rampaging elephants down the stairs, wands in their hands.
"What's going on? What's happening?"
"You're all dead. That's what happening. Someone could have impersonated my voice and none of you would know the difference." Moody snarled, looking angrily at each one of the youngsters. "Had I been a Death Eater, you'd all have been killed."
"Were you a Death Eater, I doubt you would have announced yourself so loudly." Tracey remarked. The others started to chuckle, but Moody's gaze silenced them. He glared at them for a moment before continuing.
"Dumbledore's asked me to get you lot trained up, Auror style. He seems to believe you will be at the center of the war, and I tend to agree with the man on this occasion. So, we start with the basics. You're all far too slow, for starters. We're going to fix that issue right now. Out there…" Moody pointed one gnarled hand out the front door towards the beach. "I've set up a sort of course for you to run. Today it'll be easy because I'm only concerned about getting you to move. This island is roughly two miles around. You'll run it in under an hour, or you'll get extra exercise before you get breakfast. And I mean RUN! GET GOING!"
The five teens ran out to the beach as quickly as possible, none of them eager to find out what the former Auror might do to them for disobedience. They easily found the markers that Moody had set out for them and began there jaunt. Moody apparated along the course, keeping his eyes on them to make sure they didn't slow down. He even sent stinging hexes at them when they started slowing up.
Thankfully they all managed to finish the run in under the lime limit, though they were all completely exhausted by the effort. They collapsed in a heap on the front porch of the house, panting and gasping for breath..
"Pathetic." Moody growled at them. "Before the summer is over, you'll be able to run that at top speed in half an hour. Even with the obstacles."
"Obstacles?" Daphne gasped, her eyes widening in horror at the demonic grin Moody now wore.
"Oh yeah, lass. You didn't think I was going to go easy on you, did you?" Moody chuckled manically, stumping past the exhausted teens, who could only stare at one another in fright.
The delectable smell of sausages and eggs being cooked roused the tired youngsters to move again. Very slowly, they clawed their way into the kitchen, and sat wearily in their seats. Tracey and Neville both chugged their glasses of juice before refilling them and nearly emptying them again.
Harry laughed out loud when he saw Hermione channeling Ron, as she shoved an entire egg into her mouth unashamedly. Hermione simply glared at her best friend, as she chewed, and cut up her sausages.
"Is it going to be like this every morning?" Daphne asked, looking at Moody, who was leisurely stirring his tea.
"Lassie, you listen, and you listen good. The Death Eaters aren't going to go easy on you. They're going to do their best to kill you as quickly as possible. I plan on making it very difficult for them by making you lot use your brains. Death Eaters rely on their magic. They don't adapt well under pressure. You will. You're going to be fast, and you're going to use more than just magic to defeat them. I'm told you all started learning some sword work?"
Harry nodded, thinking of the sword Sirius had given him last Christmas, the one that had taken Lucius Malfoy's hand. He couldn't stop the smile from spreading on his face.
"Good, we'll get you all trained up in that, as well as some muggle fighting techniques. I want you all to be able to act instinctively. The time you waste trying to think will be more time Death Eaters will have to end your lives," Moody said, lifting his tea cup.
"It won't all be this sort of thing, will it?" Hermione asked, looking to Remus and Sirius.
"No. You'll be getting spell training in the afternoon." Sirius said matter of factly. "Tonks will be here today, but there will be others as well. Kingsley, Arthur, Snape."
"SNAPE?" Harry dropped his fork, looking aghast.
"Yes, Harry. Despite your feeling towards the man, he is most knowledgeable in the Dark Arts. Don't worry, he won't be left alone with you. We'll be watching him." Sirius said, sitting down, and filling his plate.
"What do you think he'll show us?" Hermione asked, looking to the three adults, watching their faces carefully. She could see clearly that none of them were happy about Snape being allowed to teach them, much less being allowed on the island.
"I imagine he's going to show you lot some more …questionable spells." Moody said, sipping his tea, and looking pointedly at the table, his magical eye looking out the back of his head. He gulped the last of his drink, and stood, grabbing his walking stick.
"Tomorrow, six am. I don't want to have to wake you lot up again." He growled, and stumped off. A moment later they heard the floo flare up.
"Eat up, you lot. You've got a lot to get through today." Remus said.
Once the meal was finished, Sirius led them back outside into a large clearing behind the house. For the next couple of hours, Sirius ran them through some basic sword combat, taking time with each of them in turn so they each had a chance to practice what they were shown.
They were given an hour before lunch to cool down, and rest, which they all truly needed.
"I don't know if I'm going to make it through the summer." Tracey whimpered. She had never felt so much pain in all her life. Her arms felt like they were filled with lead and her legs shook horribly every time she stood up.
"Think of it this way, your butt is going to look amazing." Daphne quipped. Hermione even laughed, while Neville and Harry simply rolled their eyes.
"No one's going to be able to appreciate it while it's hidden by my robes." Tracey whined.
"We could make that portion see through." Hermione suggested.
"Exactly how see through are we talking about here?" Tracey looked interested and apprehensive.
"I'd make sure to always wear your best underwear." Hermione winked.
"In that case…No." Tracey chuckled. "If this is really what Aurors go through, then I think I know why there are so few of them."
"Wait, what?" Harry asked. He and Daphne had collapsed on one of the sofa's together. Daphne fell over as Harry lunged forward, giving a small shriek of surprise.
"What do you mean there aren't many Aurors?" Harry asked, looking at Tracey intently. Tracey missed his pointed stare, as she'd shut her eyes.
"Not many people apply for the job." Neville said, getting Harry's attention. "Even fewer get accepted, and of those…well, not everyone graduates."
"On top of that, it's a very dangerous job." Daphne said from behind Harry, still lying where she had fallen. "The Ministry has really strict standards on who gets in the program. It's one thing to become a member of the law enforcement department, but something all together different to become an Auror."
"The ministry used to have quite a few Aurors, but my Gran told me that Voldemort managed to kill off more than a few in the last war. The ministry hasn't rebuilt their ranks because of their strict regulations on who they accept."
Harry mulled over that information for a bit. It was no wonder Fudge wanted to deny the truth for so long. They weren't prepared for another war, and it looked likely that they would lose to the Dark Lord because of it.
"I'll bet we all get offers to join the Auror Corp after we graduate. We'll have already completed training," Hermione said flatly.
Tracey chuckled, followed by Daphne.
"They might take us all in even before we graduate." Neville grinned. "With Mad-Eye as our trainer, and all, the new Minister might ask us by the end of the year."
Hermione and Harry couldn't hold it in, and began laughing with the others. The idea was so ludicrous that they couldn't help but laugh. It wasn't the idea of being offered the job. It was more the idea that the Ministry would be so desperate for people trained to fight that they would start looking to school children for help.
Tonks arrived right after lunch, sporting her signature spiky pink hairdo. Sitting down with them at the table, she talked to them for a bit, trying to figure out where they were in terms of skill. That discussion led to a few demonstrations, so Tonks could assess their level of power.
"You're a bit further along than you're supposed to be, which means we can forgo a lot of the basics." She smirked. "The first thing we're going to start with is silent casting. You'll be learning that at school this year, but there's no reason not to get a head start."
Harry noted Hermione's grin at getting a jump on her studies. Even Daphne and Tracey looked excited, while Neville appeared apprehensive. Harry guessed that Neville was still suffering bouts of low self confidence, but Harry wasn't worried. Neville was surrounded by friends who wanted to see him do well, and they weren't about to let their friend fail at anything.
"We're going to start small. You're going to just do summoning spells, and we'll build on that," Tonks explained. "I want you to remember that it isn't the words so much as the intent. So focus on what you want to happen, and how it feels to cast the spell."
Tonks conjured some pillows and set them a few feet away from her trainees. She turned to face them again and allowed them to begin, warning that if she heard them utter a sound, they would pay for it.
Harry and the others all took at their wands and concentrated on calling the pillows to themselves without speaking. Harry remembered learning to cast this particular spell in his fourth year in preparation for the First Task. Harry tried to focus on what it felt like to cast the summoning spell, and let that feeling fill him up, much in the same way that a Patronus work.
Over and over, Harry repeated the incantation in his head. Next to him, Daphne had her eyes closed, her face calm and serene. Neville's face was purple with concentration, while Hermione had her eyes narrowed. Tracey's was the first pillow to move, though it was only an inch or so.
After fifteen minutes, Hermione was the first to get her pillow to fly into her hand. She grabbed it out of the air and screamed delightedly. Harry was the next one to accomplish a silent summoning.
"Well done." Tonks praised as Tracey managed at last to get her pillow to fly into her hand. Daphne followed suit, her pillow hitting her in the face.
"It's not funny." Daphne said, hitting Harry with her pillow.
"It's useless." Neville sighed heavily. "Why do I have so much trouble with all of this?"
"We're done for today, you lot." Tonks said, staring at Neville. "Go on inside."
Neville began to follow the group into the house when Tonks laid a hand on his shoulder. "Not you, Neville. I want a word."
Tonks waited until the others were inside before she spoke.
"You've got a lot of power within you, Neville. I can see it." Tonks smiled. Neville shook his head disbelievingly, and Tonks gave him a playful shove. "I think the problem is that you compare yourself to Harry and the others. You think you need to be something other than what you are, and it's blocking your power. I also happen to know you Grandmother is a bit hard on you. You need to let all of that go. I happen to know Hermione would never have agreed to be with you if she didn't see something in you. Trust in your friends, and yourself, Nev. If you do that, I think you'll be surprised at what you'll accomplish."
Neville looked up at her, and Tonks smiled at him in return. "You've got power, kiddo, it's time to believe in it."
At that, she motioned towards the pillows they had been practicing with earlier. Neville raised his wand and took a long deep breath, letting it out slowly. He shut his eyes, focusing on his intent, imagining the pillow soaring effortlessly into his hand.
"Accio pillow." Neville said clearly in his mind. He opened his eyes slowly, and nearly fell to the ground as he saw three of the pillows soaring right at him.
"I told you that you could do it." Tonks laughed. "Now you just got to work on focus a bit."
"Wow." Neville sighed, staring at the pillows that now lay at his feet.
"Go on inside, and remember what I told you, Neville. You can do it if you believe you can."
Neville nodded and with a smile ran into the house, stuffing his wand in his pocket.
"That was really a nice thing you did."
Tonks turned, and a shy smile emerged on her face. Her hair lengthened and turned a deep shade of auburn. She reached out and took the offered hand and melted into a warm embrace, taking in the man's smell, and committing it to memory.
"Do you have duty tonight?" The man asked, a smile in his tone.
"Yes, unfortunately, but I have three hours to kill until then." Tonks grinned into her lover's neck.
"Unfortunately, everyone is still awake, and someone will notice if I disappear for too long. I don't think we need to regal them with the sounds of our lovemaking, especially not with five hormonal teenagers present."
"You coward." Tonks sighed, pulling away from her lover's embrace. "Do you honestly think we're going to put ideas into their heads that aren't already there? And furthermore, why are we sneaking about, anyway? What are you so afraid of? Are you ashamed of me?" As her anger rose, her hair brightened to a brilliant shade of red.
"No. Merlin, no. But I just don't think now is the time to announce that you and I are…" The man stammered, holding up his hands in surrender, fearing the Auror might hex him into oblivion if he misspoke.
"Shagging?" Tonks arched an eyebrow. "I don't see what the big deal is, Remus."
Remus Lupin looked towards the door that the five teens had all gone into, and looked back to the young woman before him, who now had her arms crossed and a dark look on her face.
"I think they'd all be happy for us. In fact, I think it's high time we found out." Tonks spun on her heel and began marching for the house.
"Dora, wait. You don't know what you're doing. Dora, please, we have to talk about this.." Remus pleaded as he followed the young Auror.
"Attention, everyone." Tonks shouted as she entered the house. The five teens and Sirius, who were all in the kitchen, turned to see Tonks standing in the doorway, looking pleased with herself. "Remus and I need to tell you all something."
Remus appeared just behind Tonks now, looking fearful. He was looking directly at Sirius who looked puzzled, though a smile was beginning to form on his thin face. Harry caught the look of resigned fear on his former professor's face, and the look of triumphant glee on his godfathers mug.
"Oh, this is gonna be good." Harry thought, and a small smile began tugging at his lips.
"Remus and I have been seeing each other for the better part of the last month. We're falling in love, and we wanted to share it with you." Tonks smiled, turning to slip an arm around Remus, and pull him into the kitchen with her.
"Congratulations." Hermione beamed at them. Both Daphne and Tracey smiled as well. Harry nodded towards the new couple, and then turned to look at Sirius.
"Well, I was wondering when you'd get around to telling everyone." Sirius barked with laughter. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the counter. "Why did it take so long?"
"You knew?" Remus asked in shock.
Sirius nodded, and tapped a finger to the side of his nose. "Canine sense of smell." Sirius grinned.
Both Remus and Tonks turned crimson. Hermione's eyes went wide, and she covered her mouth with both hands in embarrassed horror. Daphne and Tracey stared wide eyed at each other before breaking into hysterical laughter, while Neville looked a bit lost. Harry simply continued watching, thinking this was better than any show Dudley used to watch on the telly.
"You see?" Remus said, looking at Tonks. "I was never embarrassed of you, I just knew what was in store for both of us if this mongrel ever found out."
"I resent that!" Sirius shouted in mock offense.
"You don't have to stay here with him. You won't have to put up with the torrent of bad jokes, innuendoes and god awful remarks." Remus went on, ignoring his friend's remark.
"I'm sure you're overreacting." Tonks said, looking worried.
"No, he's really not." Sirius laughed. "I'm never gonna let him forget what a cradle robber he is! Not to mention his befoulment of my dearest cousin. Why the absolute horror. He will have to pay dearly for his filthy deeds. "
"OH!" Neville shouted, his face bright with understanding. " You smelled Tonks on Professor Lupin!"
"Neville!" Tonks shrieked, blushing crimson.
"Merlin, help me." Remus groaned, walking out of the kitchen. Tonks tried to glare at Sirius for a second before breaking into an excited smile and following behind her man.
"Sirius, you aren't really going to torture him like that, are you?" Hermione asked worriedly.
"Well, Hermione, think of it this way. If I don't focus my attentions on my lifelong friend there," He nodded towards the door where Tonks and Remus had disappeared through. "Then I'll have to focus it on the younger couples in this house."
"Ooh, I'm safe either way." Tracey grinned.
"Well, when you put it that way,' Hermione said, looking truly frightened.
"I say have at him." Harry said, looking at Daphne. "He can take it."
"Exactly, pup. Exactly."
Somewhere far from the Flamel House, Draco Malfoy stared out onto the grounds of his family's home, thinking of what he was about to do that night. Tonight was to be his induction into the ranks of the Death Eaters. Tonight was the first step on his road to vengeance.
For far to long he's suffered embarrassment at the hands of the savior of the wizarding world, Saint Harry Potter. But the insults Draco's family suffered at Potter's hands this past month were the final straws.
Draco's father was now rotting in a cell in Azkaban, and the Ministry had seized much of the family's fortune. Worse still, Draco's father had lost his hand. The story was that Potter had cut it off with a sword, himself. Potter had mutilated his father with a muggle weapon. He hadn't even the decency to use magic, likely because Potter hadn't the power to do it..
Draco had spent the final week of school planning his revenge. As soon as he stepped off the Hogwarts express, he had demanded his mother take him before the Dark Lord. To say that his mother was shocked was an understatement. She spent the better part of two weeks trying to talk him out of it, but Draco's mind was made up. He wanted his revenge.
At last he had finally been brought before the Dark Lord, and Draco could not remember ever feeling so much power. He saw more than a few familiar faces in the hall where he'd been brought before the greatest wizard ever known. Theodore Nott's father, both of Crabbe and Goyle's fathers. Professor Snape stood at the Dark Lord's shoulder.
"The scion of the Malfoy family. Draco, it is a pleasure to met you." the Dark Lord hissed. Draco bowed low before the robed figure keeping his eyes low.
"I thank you for seeing me, My lord." Draco said reverently.
"I am told you wish to ask something of me." Voldemort asked, his voice like sun silk.
"Revenge." Draco said simply, his voice cold and hard.
"Revenge?"
Draco raised his cold grey eyes and held the Dark Lord's sinister red for a long moment.
"I want to do to Harry Potter, what he has done to me. I want to take away everything from him, and I want him to know it was I who bested him. I want to kill his friends, and take his lover for my own. I want to snap his wand in two and burn them before his very eyes, and then, My Lord, I want to watch as you take his life."
Voldemort slowly tossed his head back and laughed. He had already begun working on a plan to punish Lucius Malfoy for his failings at the Ministry. He would fill the boy's head with visions of glory and send him off to die. But now, the boy's lust for revenge was so palpable, Voldemort shivered with the smell of it.
"We shall speak on this matter soon, Young Malfoy. But first, you shall be inducted into service."
And that had been it. He had been dismissed. He had heard nothing more on the matter until that morning. His mother, looking exhausted and fearful had informed him to prepare himself.
When the sun went down, Draco's mother knocked on his door and Draco draped his robes and followed his mother down to the dining hall of his own home. The long table had been removed, as well as most of the chairs, save for the high backed chair his father normally occupied at meals.
Sitting in that chair, draped in elegant, yet simple black robes, was Lord Voldemort. His pale skin glowed yellow from the fire nearby, his sinister red eyes watched Draco's entrance like a serpent preparing to strike an unsuspecting rodent.
"Kneel, Draco." The Dark Lord hissed.
Draco dropped to his knees before his knew master, eyes low in subservience. The Dark Lord rose from his seat, his wand appearing in his hand as he stepped forward.
Draco's heart began pounding in his chest as the Dark Lord offered his hand. Draco pulled up his left sleeve and presented his arm to Voldemort, who took it firmly in his skeletal white hand.
"Do you Draco, swear upon pain of death, to do everything I ask of you, and to forsake any and all who stand in opposition of me?"
"I do." Draco said, lifting his head to stare in the Dark Lord's eyes.
Lord Voldemort stabbed his wand at Draco's forearm, and Draco winced with pain. Upon his arm, spreading out from the tip of his new master's wand were lines of purest black that slithered under his skin to form the Dark Mark.
"Whenever you feel it burn, touch your wand to this mark, and you will be brought before me. You must come as soon as you feel it, or suffer my wrath. Now, Rise."
Draco stood up, just as someone stepped out of the shadows, and presented him with an ornate sliver mask. Draco took it and stared in awe at his Death Eater face. Without waiting to be told, Draco slipped in onto his face, feeling it attach itself to his skin, and warming his face.
"Leave us." Voldemort commanded, and Draco watched as all the assembled Death Eaters slipped out of the dining room.
"I have a task for you Draco, and there is no one better suited for it than you." Voldemort said as he returned to the high backed chair and faced the new Death Eater.
"I will allow you to get your revenge upon Harry Potter this year. You must divide him from his friends. I will supply you with anything you need at any time. But, you must accomplish one task by the end of the year. You must kill Albus Dumbledore."
Draco's eyes went wide. He looked confused.
"My lord?" Draco began.
"He will never suspect that you, a mere student would be powerful enough to destroy him. That is his greatest weakness. I do not care how you do it, but Albus Dumbledore must die by your hands, is that clear?"
"My Lord, how am I to…"
"That is for you to decide, Draco. It is your mission to accomplish. No one must know of it, you must do it alone. Be warned, I have eyes and ears everywhere, Draco, and I will know if you defy me. You may go, and begin preparation."
Draco stood, bowing low before his master and then turned and left the Dining Hall and into the waiting arms of his mother, who began to sob as she held him.
Draco's confusion was too great to push her off in disgust.
Kill Albus Dumbledore. The second greatest wizard of all time? While it was true that the old fool would never suspect a sixth year would even attempt such an act, there was a reason for it. No sixth year would really be capable of such an act.
And then he realized that he would solidify his place in history when he accomplished it. Draco would be known forever more as the wizard who defeated the Great Albus Dumbledore. He would inspire awe in every wizard who spoke his name. He would show the world just how powerful he truly was, and no one would ever dare cross him again.
He pushed his weeping mother away from him, and, with his arm still burning from where he'd been branded, Draco went to the family library and began searching for every book on dark magic. He would perfect each and every spell. He would learn the components for every poison and when it came time to return to Hogwarts, he would kill Albus Dumbledore.