Chapter 5: Training for the Future

"Master Potter, Mr. Weasley is here." Kreacher the house elf said as he small head peaked around the corner. Kreacher had been serving me ever since the Battle of Hogwarts. When I gave him the choice of either serving me or work at Hogwarts, Kreacher surprisingly chose to work for me. Kreacher was a bit friendlier to me now, because as Hermione said, Kreacher was kind to those who treated him kindly, and I treated him well, much better than Sirius, his former master had. Maybe someday, if Kreacher wished, I would set him free by giving him a sock. I would have to make sure he wouldn't turn on me and go to the Malfoys, though, if he did, as Draco and I still didn't get along too well.

I smiled. "Good. Send him in, please." Kreacher disappeared around the corner, muttering something about how his mistress would have never let "blood-traitors" into her house. I rolled my eyes at him. Although Kreacher was friendlier toward my friends and me, some things never changed.

A few moments later, I heard Ron coming up the stairs and went to greet him. "Ready to go?" he asked. Ron and I were starting our Auror training today under Gawain Robards, and we were supposed to be at the Ministry of Magic in ten minutes.

"I think so." I said, and after giving Kreacher some last minute instructions, disapparated with Ron.

When Ron and I arrived at the Ministry, we were surprised to find we wouldn't be the only one's reporting for Auror training. Neville Longbottom was already there, waiting for us.

"Neville, I didn't know you would be here!" I exclaimed.

Neville smiled. "You're not the only one. Two years ago, I didn't think in a million years I'd be here. But here I am, and Merlin, wasn't Gran proud when I told her I was accepted to be in Auror training!"

"I'm sure your parents would be proud, too." I said.

"I know they would." Neville said softly.

Just then, the door to the Auror's office opened, and a man who I assumed to be Mr. Robards stepped outside.

"Good morning." The man said. "I am Mr. Robards, the new Head of the Auror Department. I assume you three are Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, and Mr. Longbottom, am I correct?"

"Yes, sir." The three of us said in unison.

"Good. Please follow me." Mr. Robards replied and led us into the Auror's office. He began giving us a tour. The large room consisted of several cubicles, a space for each auror, and photos of death eaters and other dark wizards who still needed to be captured, maps, clippings from the Daily Prophet and other things lined the walls of each cubicle.

"This is my office." Mr. Robards said. pointing to a large office on the left. "If you need me for anything, I'll most likely be in here. "These cubicles are where our aurors spend most of their office time. Each auror gets their own workspace. In the back corner of the office is our meeting room, where we hold meetings as needed. Are there any questions?"

There were none. "Good." Said Mr. Robards. "You should know that just because you're here today does not mean you'll become an auror. As you know, aurors have a very dangerous profession, and they must work hard every day. We will be training every day, Monday through Friday, except for Christmas, Easter, and other holidays from nine o'clock a.m. until four o'clock p.m. for three years, but a normal auror schedule will be eight o'clock a.m. until five, sometimes six o'clock p.m., and sometimes on weekends as well. In addition, you may be asked to travel, sometimes for a month or more. As deatheaters are extremely dangerous, your defense against the dark arts skills must be very accurate. This will not be an easy task, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to turn you all into aurors, as we obviously need you desperately. If anyone of you are having second doubts, please speak now so I don't have to waste my time with you."

No one said a word.

Over the next few months, Ron, Neville, and I spent countless hours training with Mr. Robards. We practiced dueling, and other elements of practical defense, as well as "crime scene investigation", as Mr. Robards called it. We also worked on "concealment and disguise" and "stealth and tracking". It was very tedious work, but in our minds, it was worth it.

One day in early April, Ginny's weekly letter to me contained some very exciting news.

Dear Harry,

You'll never believe what I found out the other day. One of the Holyhead Harpies chasers is expecting a child in January of next year. She is retiring because if she falls off her broom, she could hurt the baby. The reason this applies to me is because the team is coming here, to Hogwarts, to watch me, along with a Ravenclaw and a Hufflepuff chaser (the other female chasers are to young) play! They are traveling around Europe in search of players, but there is still a chance that I could be selected. They will be here Saturday May 13th, and Sunday May 14th. Oh, Harry, how I wish you could be here.

So, how's the auror training going? I hope everything is still going smoothly. Please give Ron, Mum, Dad, and anyone else you see my love, and remember that Hermione and I will be home soon. Only two and a half months to go. I can't wait to see you again.

Love,

Ginny

To me, Ginny's news was incredible. The Holyhead Harpies was Ginny's favorite Quidditch team, and I sincerely hoped they would accept her. After all, she was certainly good enough, and on top of that, she had been made Gryffindor Quidditch caption this year. If I could be there to support her…

Just then, an idea came to me. Maybe I could watch her play. After checking with Mr. Robards to make sure there wasn't any extra training that weekend, I sent an owl to Professor McGonagall, asking permission for me to come to Hogwarts just for that weekend. She agreed, but I was only allowed to stay during the day, and would have to sleep somewhere in Hogsmeade during the day, which was fine with me, as long as I got to see Ginny. I didn't tell Ginny about my plans; I wanted to surprise her.

When I arrived at Hogwarts on Saturday, May 13th, the Quidditch stands were already starting to fill, and Ginny and the other two chasers were warming up. I threw on my invisibility cloak – which miraculously still somehow managed to cover my whole body – and went to find Hermione and Luna, who I was sure were in the stands. When I found them, I climbed the stairs to where they were, and tapped Hermione on the shoulder, making her jump.

"What was that?" Hermione exclaimed, looking frantically around. There was no one sitting close enough for them to have possibly tapped her.

"What do you mean, Hermione?" Luna asked curiously.

"Someone just tapped me on the shoulder."

Luna smiled. "Oh, it's probably just a Humerkinerdinger."

"A… what, exactly?" Hermione asked weakly.

"A Humerkinerdinger." Luna repeated. "They are invisible creatures that like to sneak up on people and tap them on the shoulder, like one most likely did to you."

Hermione sighed. "Luna, I don't think…"

At that moment, I decided to remove my cloak. "Hello, Hermione," I said, "Luna."

"Harry!" Hermione shrieked, and wrapped her arms around me. All at once, she flooded me with a dozen questions.

"I didn't know you were going to be here! Does Ginny know? How did you get out of your auror training, and more importantly, how are things going. Ron's told me things are going fine, but how are things for you? Speaking of Ron… is he with you?"

I laughed. "One question at a time, Hermione, please."

Hermione laughed too. "Sorry. Go on."

"Well, firstly, Ginny doesn't know I'm here. I wanted to surprise her. Secondly, auror training is a lot of hard work, but it's all going to be worth it. We aren't training this weekend, so that's why I'm here. Ron wasn't able to make it because he was out sick on day last week, and had to make it up today. But, believe me, he was really jealous when I told him I would be seeing Ginny, when he wouldn't be able to see you for another two and a half months." I explained.

Hermione frowned slightly when I told her Ron wasn't with me. "Well, I'm jealous of you and Ginny, too, to tell you the truth. I mean, I'm glad you're here, Harry, you know I am. I just miss Ron so much."

"Can't say I blame you." I said softly.

At that moment, one of the Holyhead Harpies blew their whistle, and Ginny and the others set off into the sky. The goal was guarded by the Slytherin keeper, in order to keep it fair and unbiased as possible, according to Hermione. Ginny did extremely well, in my opinion. She scored more points than the other two chasers, and she was in position of the quaffle more often than not. They played for about an hour, and then each player talked to the Holyhead Harpies team in turn. Ginny spoke to team last. Unfortunately they were so far away from Hermione, Luna, and I, that even if we had a pair of Fred and George's extendable ears, chances are, we still wouldn't be able to hear them.

"We should go down to meet her." Luna suggested. Hermione and I agreed, but as I still wanted to keep my being here a surprise, I threw the invisibility cloak back over my head.

A few minutes later Ginny came to join us. I was tempted to throw off my cloak, kiss Ginny, and never let go, but I refrained from doing so. Just a little longer. I thought. Wait until the perfect moment.

"They said I was easily the best chaser out of all of us!" Ginny exclaimed excitedly. "I still have the written test to go through, and then the team has a few more places to visit before they make any final decisions. I should be receiving an owl in three or so weeks stated whether or not I've been accepted. I just wish Harry were here to see it."

Now was the time to reveal myself. I removed my cloak, and said, "But I am here, Ginny!"

"Harry!" Ginny squealed – she was even louder than Hermione when she did so – and practically flew into my arms. I spun my girlfriend around and gave her possibly the biggest kiss I had ever given her during our entire relationship. "I knew you'd come if it were at all possible." She whispered as I set her on the ground.

"I wouldn't miss this for anything." I said softly.

Ginny and I spent the entire day outside. At first, we just walked around the lake and just talked. I learned that the following morning, Ginny would have to take a written test based on the rules of Quidditch, what to do in certain situations, etc, something I knew Ginny would ace. The rest of the day though, was free, and Ginny got permission from Professor – well, Headmistress – McGonagall to come to Hogsmeade with me. After spending a few hours catching up with Hermione and Luna, Ginny and I grabbed our new broomsticks – the ones I had bought the both of us for Christmas, and flew around the Quidditch field on them. Too soon, the sun began to set, and Ginny had to return to the castle. Before going to Hogsmeade, I visited Hagrid, who was happy to see me, in his hut. Afterwards, I went to Hogsmeade, and dreamt of Ginny and the things we planned to do the next day.

Ginny finished her test at around eleven-thirty and met me outside the castle. She told me that she had no trouble with the test, which wasn't surprising to me. We set off for Hogsmeade, and spent the entire day there. When it was time to leave, neither of us wanted to say goodbye.

Three weeks later, Ginny sent me another owl, making it the second I had received from her in the span of three days.

Dear Harry,

I got accepted! I am now an official chaser on the Holyhead Harpies! Practice starts in July, but don't worry, we'll still have time for each other, though I'm sure your busy anyways. I can't wait to come home. There's only about a month now.

Love, as always,

Ginny

I was so proud and happy for Ginny, there were no words to describe my feelings. This was the start of our futures together, and I was really starting to enjoy.