Incredibly, after the kiss, Scorpius acted normal. He checked his watch and exclaimed that we should be dressed up in twenty minutes. I played along with the indifference, but I was peeved. Did he have a Feelings switch or something? Because I didn't.

The kiss reminded me of summers at Shell Cottage, but it also made me feel like I've stepped into a storm. It was a sea breeze and sand against my toes and a thunderclap in my ears, all at once, and I was scared. And more than a little annoyed that he didn't seem to feel the way I did about what happened. I tried not to look at him during lunchtime, and prattled on with Lionel and Connor about Quidditch.

After lunch, the camp cook was tasked to give us haircuts. I could've gone on about how it wasn't the best of ideas, to leave the snipping of locks to the person who prepares meals, but no one seemed to mind. The cook made a sound of displeasure as he brushed my hair.

"Such a shame to waste all this," he grunted, but he picked the scissors up anyway. He handed me no mirrors so I didn't know what the cut looked like.

Afterwards, I decided to walk around the lake. As I came closer to it, I saw some cadets milling about. Ram from Portus was there, and I saluted him. He nodded curtly. Some officers did the same when I greeted them, others ignored me. Urquhart was standing by the lake, a bunch of pebbles in his hand, and I went up to him and saluted.

"At ease, Weasley," he said, the kindness back in his eyes, although he was still far from the joking professor I've known. "You should be with your year-mates, enjoying your last day as a citizen," he said.

I took a stone and tried to skip it. It bounced once before plopping into the lake. Urquhart smiled.

"Can't do this at Hogwarts. The mermaids will surface and screech in your ear," he said. He threw a stone and it touched several points on the water before sinking.

"Sir, what do you mean, last day as a citizen?"

"As a soldier, the first thing you give up is personal freedom, at least while you're on official business. You will be expected to function as part of a group. But that starts tomorrow, so technically you're not yet a soldier."

"So right now," I said, "I'm not going to be sanctioned if I ask you a few questions."

He grinned. "Fire away."

"Where are the other camps?"

"Nearby," said Urquhart. "Your fellow first years are about to undergo training themselves."

"How near is 'nearby?' And would it be possible for me to visit these other camps?"

He lifted his eyebrows. "They're inaccessible, just as you are here at Hyrde. At least, until you finish this portion of your Auror training. Why are you so insistent on finding out? Have you a special friend in one of the other camps?"

My mind flashed to the feeling of Scorpius' lips against mine and I felt my ears burn. Damn the Weasley coloring. Urquhart must have noticed it too, because he laughed and said my secrets are safe with him.

"It's not like that, sir. It's my roommate—Agnes Proudfoot—well, it's a long story," I said, trailing off.

"There are three types of camps, each for a field of specialization in Auror training. Your friend Agnes might be training to be part of the Ministry, or to be an Auror overseas."

"I see." I wondered if Gina was with her. And then, something crossed my mind. I turned to Urquhart, a frown on my face.

"But sir. I could've—I thought I'd be a Ministry Auror." I said to myself.

He nodded. "There is a certain mystique to being that kind of Auror, always has been. I guess it's because a lot of young witches and wizards think they'd make good detectives. But some of you are also fit to be something else. Hence—" he spread his arms, gesturing at the surroundings.

I bit the inner wall of my cheek. Though I couldn't imagine myself like dad, poring over maps and papers and interviewing people, I never thought I wouldn't be that kind of Auror. And I never fancied myself part of a hive mind either, getting barked at by some pruny general.

Urquhart was watching me closely. "What specialization were you eyeing, Weasley?" he said.

"I had no preferences, sir."

"That's usual," he said, nodding.

I hoped to Merlin he wasn't just making me feel better.

After lights out, I had barely settled into the mattress when we heard the seniors banging on our front door. I groaned and covered my ears with my pillow. The banging continued.

"Don't fight it, Rose," Connor said groggily. He was on the bed beside mine, and I heard his muffled shuffling around. I threw the pillow aside and grimaced at him.

"Why don't they just Apparate in here and scream at us?" I said. "That's energy efficient."

"Guess they can't, or they'd have done that," Bea said a few beds down.

"Or maybe they're just being nasty," Scorpius said, arm over eyes.

As if they heard us, the banging grew more insistent. Once we were dressed and shuffled out, the seniors glowered at us like our existence was a special thorn in their side. We were marched to the lake, where Shacklebolt was waiting.

"Alright, listen up," he said when we've all filed into place. "The simple reason why you're here is because this place chose you. You have the aptitude for being a soldier."

He walked up and down in front of us, checking our haircuts and uniforms. "But just because a person can make a sleeping potion, it doesn't mean he should go out and tip gallons of the stuff into rivers."

Shacklebolt turned and seemed to be speaking directly to us now, holding our gaze for seconds at a time. "You are soldiers, yes, but what are you fighting for? Dawlish?"

"Sir—for our families?"

"Not enough. Weasley?"

"For a good night's sleep?"

"No. And next time, you'll be on patrol duty if you snark on me."

Scorpius raised his hand. "For freedom to practice magic," he said. His voice was steady, but I could've sworn he had the same look James has whenever he talks about crushing an enemy Quidditch team.

I could tell Shacklebolt was pleased, although he just nodded and carried on. "Remember this, initiates," he said. "If the time to fight comes, do not lose sight of 'why;' it's the most important thing.

"We fight to defend our institutions—the Ministry, Hogwarts, Gringotts, and our families," he said, nodding slightly in Dawlish's direction. "And when anyone threatens what we hold dear, the natural course of action would be to protect. It goes beyond politics, or tradition. It's nature."

People were nodding, and they looked excited by the prospect of fighting for others. I was also drawn in, I had to admit. Shacklebolt made a point. I didn't want to see Hogwarts shut down, or the Ministry gone. It's unthinkable.

Oh, it's always easier said than done.

We were dismissed by our instructor, but not before giving us our first training objective: cleaning the entire camp sans magic.

I mean, why.

I had no idea how washing dishes or raking leaves would help us in becoming soldiers, but there we were, Fort Hyrde's brand new housekeeping corps.

Before this, we stood through an inspection of our uniforms, bunks, and living spaces. Everyone got called for something—Lionel's bed sheets weren't spread tightly enough, Bea's shoes weren't shined properly, my hair wasn't combed out of my face. Each transgression earned us fifteen push-ups each.

"It's probably something all trainees go through," Bea said miserably. We were side by side in the kitchen, washing greens in the most heroic way possible.

"Haven't we been hazed enough?" I grumbled to her, and she shrugged.

"Rose?" a familiar voice went. Scorpius was standing by the doorway. He was assigned to the lake, and he wasn't supposed to be anywhere else.

"Why're you here? Aren't you supposed to be sprucing up the lake?"

"I'm done."

Of course he was done. I made a sound of acknowledgment and kept my eyes on what I was washing. Scorpius didn't seem to be going anywhere, though, and sat on a chair near Bea and I.

"I could help, you know—"

"No." I was startled to hear Bea's voice together with mine, and I could tell Scorpius was too. Bea turned pink and looked at him in the eye.

"It would be bad if the officers found out," she said quietly. "Rose and I might get punished."

Scorpius gave her a megawatt smile, and our year mate blushed even deeper. I rolled my eyes and kept my head down. He can flirt all he wants; I need to concentrate, I thought. Bea and I worked, and he interrupted the sluicing of water against vegetable with his questions. All aimed at our year-mate. While I'm also curious about Bea, who rarely talks around anyone, I didn't appreciate his being here, distracting me. Us.

I glanced at them. She seemed in a good deal of discomfort and shot me a look of pure terror once or twice. Strangely, I felt happy because of this. I decided to take control of the conversation.

"—Jack Russell terriers, you say," he said. "What are their names?"

"Porky, Gareth, and Mr. Harris," Bea said to the leafy greens.

"That's adorable. Were they gifts?"

"They were brought home by my sister one day. So I guess they are."

"Do any of them know any tricks?"

"Hey," I said. I suppose my voice came out a bit louder than it should have, because Bea flinched. I kept my gaze locked with Scorpius' as I scrubbed a leaf under the water. As I looked at those steely grey eyes I remembered all the mean things he said to me in school. We reintroduced each other back at the Greasy Spoon, I know, but he's acting like a different person. The fact that he's so blasé about it irritated me, too. It's not like we Obliviated each other's bad memories away.

"I didn't know you were a dog person," I said. I tried to keep my voice as light as possible, but even I heard the menace in my words. I didn't care. He found it amusing though.

"There are a lot of things you don't know about me, Rose," he said, smiling.

"I'd say," I muttered under my breath.

"Would you like to know more about me?"

"Why would I? It won't be of use on the field."

"How about off the field?"

Bea was watching our exchange, her head bobbing back and forth like she was at a tennis match. I was going to call Scorpius' mother several unsavory things when he pointed at what I was washing.

"I'd daresay that particular leaf is already clean," he said. I looked down and saw he was right. I carefully wiped the leaf, placed it in the bowl where all the others are, and removed my apron. I hadn't realized—we were done. Since we had no other housekeeping duties for the day, Bea and I decided to leave. Scorpius didn't move from his seat, and we were halfway across the room when he called out, "I want to train, Rose. Join me?"

"I'll be fine, I'll probably grab a quick bite if the mess hall's still open," Bea whispered. "Good luck," she said, smiling before scurrying away. I groaned. I was sure that in 10 minutes, the entire camp would've heard that Scorpius and I were "seeing each other."

I was in the mood to make him suffer.

"Train where?"

"Oh, the forest."

I hesitated. We were supposed to stay near our barracks, in case we were to be called for anything, and going to the forest would make Scorpius and I miss any summons that might be directed to us. He saw my uncertainty.

"I think we will be clear until dinner," he said. "I noticed they didn't give orders an hour before breakfast. It was the same before lunch, so I suppose we have plenty of time."

"And if you're wrong?"

"I'll make your bed for a week. It'll be good, too, with the sheets tucked nice and tidy in the corners."

That cheered me up considerably, and I followed him to one of the smaller gates of the fort. We were about half a mile away from the fort when he stopped and turned to me.

"I guess this is far enough," he said, pulling his wand out. I did the same, my fingertips tingling with excitement. But then he looked at me and frowned.

"I need to tell you now," he murmured, biting his lip. I looked away, and was thankful my new haircut hid my ears, or he would've seen my ears turn red. I wouldn't have heard the end of it.

"What is it?"

"Training with you won't work."

I felt like someone punched me in the gut. I started to head back to the fort, saying something about getting one of the other girls to train with him instead, or maybe a guy if he was so inclined, when he caught my forearm. His fingers were cool against my skin. I refused to stare at him.

"Let me go, Scorpius."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to come out that way. I meant something else entirely."

"Not entirely sure I want to hear what you actually meant," I muttered.

"You don't trust me," he said, letting go of my arm. I blinked several times and asked him to explain what he just said. Sure, I didn't trust him. He's about as trustworthy as a snake in a boot, after all. But I wanted to know what he knew; or think he did.

"It doesn't take an alchemist to figure it out," he said. "You've been wary around me since—well—I don't really know since when. I tried being friendly, being mean, being whatever. Nothing works. I figured, the only way we can resolve this is if you hit me with a few spells."

I stared at him for a long time.

"You need to see a Healer," I said. That had to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Sure, the part about me being wary of him is true, but his "solution" was nuts. I told him as much, and he just shrugged. "I'm your partner. I can take it."

"I don't need to beat you to convince myself that you're trustworthy, that doesn't make sense."

"Maybe not to your rational self, but admit it—it appeals to some part of you."

"This could be a ruse on your part," I pointed out. "You could be trying to earn my trust, and merely suffering through some temporary pain for greater long term benefits."

"That is true. But I'm not. I just don't want to see you fail. And not trusting your partner is one surefire way of failing out of any training program. I'm here to help you—I'm sure you'd do the same."

Why do you care, I wanted to ask him. You don't owe me anything. But as soon as I thought the words, I knew I was afraid of what he might tell me. So I kept the questions to myself.

"And I'll be sure to make it worth your while. From what I've learned of you, Rose Weasley," he said, assuming a defensive pose, "you'd rather fight your way to being correct."

My heart was thrumming madly against my chest. This was my chance to get back at him for everything. How many chances like this would I get? I pushed the feeling of his arms around me to the farthest corner of my mind. I can't think of that right now. Not now.

"And you'd rather prove your point the roundabout way. We make a good team," I said, and he laughed.

I lunged at him, my wand erupting with streaks of white hot fire.