Ch 3 The First Test

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Rose checked her watch for the tenth time since she had left her room, located right down the hall from Zero's, she was a little nervous, ok maybe more than a little bit nervous, even though it wasn't her first day but Zero's. She looked to her watch again; it was 5:17 the sun had rose along the sky horizon some time ago, barley crackling into the world above them.

She stopped walking; now in front of Zero's room, she wondered if she knock or right in to wake the sleeping boy. Her answer came with the door sliding open to reveal Zero, he yawned, his mouth covered by his right hand.

She glanced over him from head to toe, laughing at the sight before her, not in a mean way more of laughter laced with kindness and full of life. She drew herself closer to him, he blinked tice, was he surprised or tired, that she didn't worry about. Zero had his shirt buttoned up in a funny manner. Some buttons held higher or lower parts of his shirt or were unused at all.

He was embarrassed, something he didn't show, and not being able to button up a simple shirt, the looking away spoke another story but he didn't move or made any effort to stop her. She gave one last look when she was done. "There all done."

"Thank you… Rose." He stated, looking down at his correctly buttoned shirt.

"You're welcome." She smiled, with Zero looking up at her, mirroring that smile. She admired the smile, for the first time he had smiled to anyone. The smile was small but a start for it would grow brighter and bigger with each passing day.

"Ready?" He nodded tice. "Good, follow me." He did, happy to go where ever she lead him. She had walked a few feet ahead and then looked back to him. He had not made one effort to follow her yet. "Come on."

She was waiting.

For him.

He she was.

Walking down the hallway, with Rose occasional gentle push did she have Zero walk next to her, following someone and walking with them were two different things. And this way she won't need to keep checking if he was following her or not.

They entered a room down a couple of halls. The room was huge, big enough to be a movie theater.

"General Coldstone." Rose greeted, Coldstone was her former mentor.

The man referred to General Coldstone was in his late forty's which didn't match to his hair old age; time had taken the color and left nothing but white. His clothes were exactly the same one worn by the many children that gathered in each file. Each child waited for his instruction.

"Rose."Coldstone held an emotionless face when he spoke; his gaze was quick from Rose to Zero, judging, and studying Zero. "And you must be Zero." It was a statement. "Go and line up."

Zero looked to Rose; she nods, giving him one last smile as good luck. With Zero gone it was now Coldstone and Rose. He spoke first. "You better not disappoint me again." He left her with those words, walking to his students.

She looked

At the back of Coldstone, she knew he cared but never could show. For he was a teacher and students dying was something he had to live with. So he spoke the only way he could. By being harsh and telling them to be careful. She gazed away from Coldstone. Class was beginning and in her mind on question still remained.

Would Zero die?

Lining up, Zero waited. Coldstone was done talking to Rose, and Zero's glaze followed her till she left and now Colstone had the attention of his students. Coldstone stood waiting in front of them, a pause which many felt his gaze pass judgment over there very existences, he spoke. " I have taught you many things but there are even more things I can never teach you." He looked to the first five files. "You five files take this box." And then a look to the remaining five files. "You five files take this box." He repeated.

Each child did as told. Now in each child's hand held an orb about the size of a ping pong ball. Half the class had red orbs the other half had blue orbs.

Cold stone spoke again giving the children more than enough time to inspect the orb. "Your last task before you go is this. Protect the orb and come back with it within one week. Many will try to steal and with extras will be added to your score." The game was simple enough. He added. "The orb you first received must be brought back with you. No matter how many you steal none will count if your original one is gone and one last thing." The class waited, the last were the most important when Coldstone spoke. "No violence of any kind or you will forfeit and the consequences are most severe." Their mentor left them with those few last words.

The students began their departure once Coldstone left for good. Compared tot eh other students Zero were different; they walked with meaning, a purpose, while he could only watch and follow in a world where he was nothing.

"My orb it gone!" Zero turned to look at the boy who shouted, he glanced back looking at the blue orb he possess, clutching it tighter then he previously had. The fact that something like that happened so fast in this great number of people showed the great different that separated the rest from one another.

"Zero." A room full of children's laughter flooded at his name. One look from Rose silenced them.

Zero looked up; he made it to the dining hall somehow lost in his thoughts, and laughter followed when his name was called. Rose had called his name; the laughter was a small price to pay. His name meant nothing yet everything but to him it was because of Rose.

She had given him more than he could have hoped.

A name.

A family.

Walking over quickly to the seat Rose had pat, he took a seat. A plate with toast and jam spread on top was pushed towards Zero. She darted her eyes over Zero, he appeared ok. Strange. Coldstone was known to push students till they dropped every morning or vomit in most case the first mistake a trainee make.

Having breakfast before Coldstone class.

"So you're Rose's child?" Zero noticed they weren't alone. The young lady who spoke placed a strain of her brown hair behind her ear. Her hair went no lower than ones shoulder, with an apple in her other hand, it was red not the apple for her lips were growing brighter as the apple paled in comparison. And compared to Rose's heart shape face it was more or like the same.

"Irina." Rose stopped her friend. "Can't you see he's already embrassed?"

To Irina defense. "I'm not the one who shouted 'Zero' across the room." She took a bite of her apple.

Irina was right. "Zero." Rose address ed. "The girl with the apple is Irina." She pointed to the left of Irina. "That's Iris and to her right is Ivy."

Iris smiled; she flashed baby blue eyes which spoke of adventure. The need to go places and see the world, while her hair was dirty blond a shade between Rose's and Irina's hair color.

Irina spoke with questions. "How was Coldstone sweet, warm, and loving?"

"You know he's nothing close to that." Rose replied, putting a little more than needed force when she spread her jam across her toast with a snappy bite to finish her point.

The trio caught this act and laughed at Rose.

Ignoring the laughter Rose asked. "Zero, what did Coldstone want you to do with the orb?" She noticed the orb had not left the clutches of his hand since he first came in.

"To protect and steal other orbs." He answered spreading the jam on his toast a bit more then needed.

"Can I see it?" She was presented the orb, taking it into her hands, working at a speed he couldn't keep up with. "Done." The orb now held attached to a string. He didn't have enough time before the string was around his neck and fastened. "There keep it safe."

His hand held the orb between his fingers; admiring the gift he was given. He wasn't going to let this get stolen. "Thank you."

She smiled at his response, wrapping her arms around the small boy. "Be careful ok?" Everyone there was trained and you are weeks behind, not only weeks but years to. I won't put it pass the parents not to teach their children a thing or two.

"I will." His hair was ruffed gently. Something he was new to.

She got up, leaving again. "I will see you later."

"Bye, Rose." He said, his eyes never left her till she was gone. The trio noticed with a smile.

"Zero." Irina spoke. Zero backed away noticing how close she was. "I don't bite." She titled her head to the side.

"But I do." Zero was pushed back into Ivy arms causing him to retreat to the middle of the two girls. Iris was still in front of him. He wanted to escape something the girls knew and prevented.

"We just want to talk." Iris put forth. He had given up after that. They gave him only enough space to breath.

"So how did you two meet?" Irina asked her question, she was curious and having a fun time listening to all the rumors about the two.

"Paris."

Ivy clapped her hands together. "Oh the city of love." How romantic." She teased Zero , he grew very red.

"You know she needs someone else." Ivy added. "With Joey around next you will know she will become cold and lifeless like him."

"Who's Joey?" He asked.

"Jealous, so sweet." Irina pointed out. "Joey, he an old man, grim face, black bags, has that annoyed look in his eyes, and bad breath. Also greasy hair." Zero dropped his knife.

"Zero, you have to keep Rose safe and sound from Joey, Ok?" He nodded quickly.

"Good, now if you run you should be able to still catch her." Iris gave her two cents not wanting to be left out of this fun.

Zero got up with the help of Irina; she gave him a small push. "She went left." An off he went leaving the trio.