Year 8: The Apparition Test
1991
Arah should be mortified, really- but the look on Mr. Twycross's face was almost comical as she stood in front of the Apparition Instructor, staring at the puke - her puke, all over his freshly polished shoes. His eyeball twitched furiously as he waved his wand in disgust, scourgifying the evidence of her previous meal off of him. She wiped her mouth sheepishly, giving him an apologetic smile only to receive a shudder of disdain in return as he scribbled something angrily in his notes.
Arah should be better at this by now. It had been 8 weeks of grueling practice as she attempted to get her apparition license...again. Flump was furious when he realized she had not earned her license to apparate yet. He gave her an ultimatum: to pass or she would be fired.
Magic usually came so easily to her, excelling at most spells and charms during her time at Hogwarts. But Apparation? She was bollocks. Almost all of her peers had passed their first time around back at school, but not Arah. She had coined the nickname "Barf-ah" for that entire three-month course as she could never quite keep down her lunch when apparating from one place to another.
Arah felt another wave of nausea roil through her as she heaved, clamping her hand over her mouth, begging her stomach to behave. Tonks gave her a comforting squeeze on her shoulder.
"You alright? You're greener than a jealous Bowtruckle."
"How can I possibly have anything left in me?" Arah moaned, tucking a silver strand of hair back behind her ear.
Barnaby gave her a look of pity as he handed her a cup of water. Arah muttered an embarrassed thanks as she accepted it gratefully, swishing the water around to cleanse the acrid taste in her mouth.
Barnaby and Tonks hadn't been able to pass the test either. Barnaby had a nasty habit of splinching himself - just earlier today, he had apparated, leaving his left eyebrow behind. Tonks couldn't even get herself to budge out of the starting circle at times. They were forced to retest, attending the 12-week program organized through the Department of Transportation. They would meet once a week in preparation for a final test held at the end of the program. They were more than halfway through the program and Arah was far from mastering apparition. Barnaby was close- Tonks could apparate sporadically but was inconsistent.
"Enough dawdling. Again!" The Apparition Instructor ordered.
Tonks leaned in close, "Jeesh. Twycross is extra peachy today." she grumbled in Arah's ear.
"C'mon Mr. Twycross, can't we give it a rest?" Barnaby pleaded, "We've been at it for hours."
"And the lot of you are nowhere near passing your exam at the end of the month." Twycross barked, his wrinkly lips forming a frown.
The thought of failing the quickly approaching test made Arah break into a cold sweat. Flump would be right pissed. So would Callum, after all the time he had dedicated in giving her private coaching lessons on the side. Arah could still recall their run-in a few weeks back as she nearly crashed into him on her way to the secret ROCC entrance. Arah was sprinting as she raced against the clock to get to work on time while Callum waited cooly in the dodgy alley, the end of a cigarette glowing in the dim morning.
"In a rush, eh?" he said.
"Me? Nah, never." Arah panted, leaning against the wall pretending not to have a stitch in her side.
He gave a low chuckle as he sucked on the end of the fag, the embers glowed hot, highlighting his sharp features. Arah watched inquisitively as he brushed his black hair from his dark eyes- catching her stare. She looked away quickly, cheeks hot- she blamed the early morning jog.
He smirked as he blew out whisps of smoke, "Ah, sorry. Nasty habit me Father took up. I don't recommend starting it." he snuffed out the end of the cigarette on the brick wall and flicked it into the very trash bin they would be traveling in shortly.
Arah swallowed, not sure what to say. If she were honest, she wasn't quite sure what to ever say to Callum. He was her mentor, which made him equal parts intimidating as inspiring... and he knew it. His cockiness drove Arah up a wall, but he had been the one to advocate for her, he pushed and challenged her, encouraged her to not let Flump get the best of her, that she had more to offer the ROCC if she were to stick with it.
"So, when were you going to tell me you didn't know how to apparate? Did you just plan to run to work from the train station like a damned muggle the rest of your life?" he said cooly.
Arah's chest puffed up in defense, "Would that be so bad?"
"Aye. It would." He said flatly, " How do you not know how to apparate? It's easier than riding a broom."
Arah's shoulders deflated. "Easy for you to say. You don't spew your lunch at the thought of mounting a broom."
"Och, that's rich." He let out a gravely laugh, amused by her shortcomings. Annoyance prickled at Arah, she didn't find it very funny. "You know, I am a licensed apparition instructor. I could give you some pointers if you'd like."
Arah's eyebrows shot up, surprised at his generous offer. "You... you would do that?"
"Sure." Callum shrugged nonchalantly. "Wouldn't want me favorite newcomer getting fired now, would I?"
Arah's cheeks flushed again at the rare compliment. He couldn't really mean that... could he?
"Meet me here during your breaks, we can start meeting a couple of times a week. Don't be late." He winked.
The lessons helped, but Arah feared it still wasn't enough. Maybe she should just accept her fate and take a job with the actual Magical Maintenance Department, cleaning latrines for the rest of her miserable life.
Mr. Twycross sighed, glancing at the watch on his wrist. "Fine, you are dismissed. But I expect to see each of you apparate on your own next week. No splinching. No vomit." He eyed Barnaby and Arah in particular.
"Yes sir." They muttered in unison.
The walk to The Three Broomsticks was quieter than usual, the weight of the upcoming exam left them discouraged and defeated. It had become a part of their weekly routine to grab a drink or two after each lesson. As much as Arah hated the apparition sessions, she always looked forward to their time afterward- a chance to catch up and reconnect. It felt like old times again.
"Be honest," Barnaby broke the heavy silence, "... is my eyebrow crooked?" he waggled his eyebrows up and down - causing Arah to smile.
"If you mean having a permanent look of inquisitiveness, then yes." Tonks teased.
Barnaby's eyes went big, as he looked at Arah in a panic. "Arah, tell me she's lying."
Arah decided to play along as she cocked her head to the side, shutting one eye playfully as she examined his face. "If I do this, it looks perfectly normal."
Barnaby let out a whimper, causing Arah and Tonks to burst out in laughter, the musical sound echoing up and down Hogmead's alleyways in the night. A crisp breeze chilled the evening, the first signs of autumn approaching.
"Don't worry, you're as pretty as ever, Lee." Tonks slapped him on the back as he let out a sigh of relief.
These nights were just the distraction Arah needed. For a short while, she would forget about it all; her Dad, her brother, her job, her horrible boss, the upcoming exam, and laugh with her two close friends. They sat at their usual spot as Rosmerta spotted them, bringing a round of Butterbeers as she always did. But tonight, Arah wanted- no, needed something stronger after such a dreadful lesson. Her mind was static with worry and a butterbeer wouldn't soothe it.
"Can I get a Fire Whiskey as well?" Arah asked Rosmerta as the barmaid cocked her head inquisitively.
"Twycross give you hell tonight?"
"That would be putting it kindly." Tonks jeered. "Make it two please."
"You got it." She winked before spinning on her heels and heading to the bar.
Arah groaned, burying her forehead in her hands. "What am I going to do? If I fail this test, my boss is going to sack me."
"Then he can shove it up his arse." Tonks said, wiping the froth from her lips.
"You'll pass, Arah. I know it." Barnaby encouraged, "You've gotten loads better, you only threw up twice today!"
"On his dragon hide shoes! I wouldn't be surprised if he fails me outright just for that."
Rosmerta approached, dropping the flaming cups of whiskey on the table. "Here you are, loves."
Arah took the cup and tossed it back, draining the burning liquid down her throat and into her empty stomach. Rosmerta's brows shot up, impressed. "I'll take it you need another?"
"Please."
Rosmerta tutted, giving her a look of pity. "I'll be back with another round."
"What I don't understand is what does Apparating have to do with Magical Maintenance?" Tonks wondered aloud, taking another gulp of her drink. "Sure, it's helpful, but it doesn't seem like a fireable offense to me."
Arah felt her heart skip a beat as it always did when people began digging deeper into her cover job. "Oh, you know... efficiency and time mostly." she lied. Tonks shrugged, dropping the subject while Barnaby eyed her closely, his fingers tracing the rim of his mug. He always had a way of seeing right through her bull shit. It made her barmy.
"He sounds like a right prick." Barnaby finally spoke up, relieved that he didn't press her further on the subject.
Arah let out a hollow laugh, "You don't know the half of it."
Rosmerta approached, dropping off another whiskey. "This one's on the house."
Arah thanked her before downing the second drink, a warm buzz washing over her.
The three friends chatted through the evening, drinking more whiskeys and butterbeer as they swapped stories of work, giving updates on their lives, and sharing news of their friends. Arah shared updates on Jacob- hoping he'd be released from St. Mungo's any day now; how there was still no news of her father. She was grateful they didn't linger on the subject.
It was clear that Barnaby was struggling to cope with life after Hogwarts. He was living with his Grandmum trying to save up enough money for his own place- desperate to rid himself of the old childhood home, tainted with bad memories and a dark past. He hated the city- couldn't wait to get as far away from the loud noisy streets. Barnaby was the new Houndsmaster in the Department of Magical Creatures at the Ministry. A job, Arah admittedly thought, was perfect for him- but she was surprised to hear how lonely he was.
"Don't get me wrong, I love the hounds- I do. It's just... sometimes I'll go an entire day- sometimes a week, realizing I hadn't talked to one single person. And don't say my Grandmum counts... Merlin, she's scary."
Tonks struggled as well, feeling the pressure that Mad-Eye Moody had expected of her as an Auror in training. He was especially hard on her compared to the other new recruits like Talbott. Tonks, too, feared that if she failed this test, Mad-Eye might fire her too.
"Bollocks!" Arah said a little too loud, slamming her hand on the table as the half-dozen empty cups clinked around her.
"You don't think he would?" Tonks raised an eyebrow.
"Tonks, you brilliant beautiful witch," Arah slurred, her head light and dizzy with whiskey, "Mad-Eye would be crazy to fire you."
"But... isn't he kinda... mad?" Barnaby chimed in, gulping down the rest of his butterbeer. "It's in his name, you know."
"Shhooshh." Arah pressed her finger to his lips, as he chuckled- swatting her hand away. "He is lucky to have someone as talented as you."
Tonks grinned, "I'm going to ask you to tell Mad Eye that next time you see him."
"I will." Arah nodded furiously, "I'll look straight into his eyeball and tell him." she pointed theatrically, her finger swaying ... or was that the room itself?
"Speaking of which, I've totally lost track of time. I've got combat training in the morning." Tonks groaned. "Barnaby, will you make sure our drunken friend gets home alright?"
Arah looked around the pub for this supposed 'drunken friend'. Rosmerta was wiping down the bar, chairs stacked on empty tables, a few drunken stragglers lingered behind. Arah hiccuped, realizing Tonks must have been referring to her.
"Pshh, I'll be fiiine." Arah waved off her concern, but the words came out thick and funny.
"Go on home, Tonks. I'll get her back safe and sound." Barnaby waved.
"What a gent." She patted his shoulder. "Take care of our little Curse Breaker."
"Don't be silly, I'll just take the flu home." Arah protested, but her words fell on deaf ears.
"Oh no you don't." Barnaby snorted, "You'll end up in Timbuck II if you try taking the flu anywhere tonight."
Arah looked to Tonks for support, but she only shrugged in his defense. "And that's my queue. Cheers, mates!" Tonks gave a quick salute before running out of the pub.
"Alright, I'll wait on the Night Bus then." Arah crossed her arms stubbornly.
"Let me take you home, Arah. It's no trouble. Really."
Knowing Barnaby and his bull-headedness, he'd argue with her all night until she'd finally give in. Arah sighed in defeat. "Alright, and how do you plan on that?"
"Apparating." he shrugged, "No better way to practice, right?"
"'But... isn't that against the rules? "
"Since when did that ever stop you before?" He raised a brow at her.
Arah smirked at this, gulping the rest of her drink down for a bit of liquid courage. "After you, sir."
A loud crack reverberated through the still night. They had apparated in front of the old moss-covered church near the graveyard, the moon masked with a thin whisp of clouds. The air was thick with the smell of rain, the cobblestone slick as the charming streetlamps reflected off its watery surface. Arah swayed as she clung to Barnaby for balance, checking that all her fingers and toes made it during their travel.
"You did it!" Arah beamed.
"And you didn't spew!" Barnaby smirked, earning him a smack in his arm. "Which way to your place?"
Arah surveyed the area, getting a grasp on her surroundings before spotting the road that led to her flat. "This way." she began to stride ahead, but the ground seemed to waver as she struggled to walk straight.
"Whoaa, easy there." he grabbed her shoulder to steady her, "You're as wobbly as a freshly hatched plimpy." Barnaby chuckled, "Come here, hop on." He leaned low, offering her a lift. Arah grumbled as she reluctantly climbed on his back, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Arah leaned lazily against him as he walked, his footsteps echoing on the damp road. The sky started to let down a light mist, tickling her skin. A part of her was embarrassed to have drunken herself to such a state. Arah knew it did her no good to chase her problems away with liquor - she'd still be left to face it in the morning, with a headache to follow.
"I'm sorry, Barnaby." She spoke low, cheeks warm. "I'm a mess."
"Don't be." She could hear the kindness in his words, "But you're going to have to stop your squirming." a breathy laugh escaped him as she lolled her head on his shoulder, her silver hair cascading over his arm, drinking in his warmth. His scent was more intoxicating than the fire whiskey.
"Hey Barns?"
"Hmm?"
"Can I tell you something? But you have to promise not to say anything."
"Okay... I promise."
"... do you remember when I puked on Twycross's shoes?"
Barnaby snorted, "How could I forget?"
"What if I told you I aimed for those ugly shoes... on purpose" Arah whispered in his ear as his body vibrated with laughter, the husky sound filling the air. "Shhhh!" she spat, covering his mouth with her hands. "Keep it down, he'll find out."
"You are a mess."
Arah shrugged, "What can I say? I'm a very talented witch when it comes to hurling on apparition instructors."
"I'll have to agree with you on that."
Arah beamed lazily as she clung to him. The path to her charming building appeared ahead, she was almost sad to see them approach it as she giggled out directions to her door. Barnaby looked around discreetly before taking out his wand and unlocking the door to the small flat.
A jolt of nerves sent a shiver through her at the thought of Barnaby coming inside. It felt strangely intimate to have her close friend come into her space, something that she was never able to share with him in their 7 years at Hogwarts. Arah was a Gryffindor after all, they hardly even associated with Slytherins such as Barnaby Lee, but she'd grown to call the boy one of her closest friends during their years at school. He had been there for her during her darkest moments as well as some of her greatest memories. Their relationship was one she cherished deeply and guarded closely. There were times her thoughts had drifted, wondering what it might look like to be more than friends with Barnaby, but she had silenced those fantasies for years when danger seemed to lurk so close; when other matters were so dire that the daydream of fancying her friend seemed so trivial. She shut that door and locked it tight.
But now Hogwarts was in the past along with all the dangers that no longer followed. The door that she refused to open now tempted her, begging to take a peak as to what might be on the other side. Her stomach fluttered at the thought. Or maybe that was the alcohol going right through her.
Barnaby set her down as he looked around, taking in the cozy flat. The need for his approval made Arah feel nervous as she watched him scan the room. "It isn't much, but it's starting to feel like home." She bit the corner of her lips, tucking a loose strand behind her ear. "I'd offer you some tea, but if I don't use the loo right now- I might just pee myself."
Barnaby sneered, "Too much Fire Whiskey?"
"Something like that." Arah smirked before grabbing a change of clothes and disappearing behind the washroom. It was challenging and incredibly ungraceful, but somehow Arah managed to wrestle off her shoes and slip into her nightshirt. As she sloppily brushed her teeth, she knocked over a cup, clattering loudly to the floor.
"All good in there?" Barnaby's muffled voice came from the other side of the door.
"Yepp," She mumbled out, toothpaste spilling from her mouth. "Just wrestling a yeti."
Arah glanced at herself in the mirror one last time, smoothing down a few stray hairs before deciding it was good enough. She opened the door to find Barnaby wandering around the room, admiring pictures and memories- occasionally letting out a low chuckle. Arah leaned against the door frame as she watched him pick up the photo of her and Rowan on the mantel, a melancholy look in his eyes.
"I love that picture," Arah spoke up as he jumped, turning to her - his green eyes briefly flitting to her bare legs.
Barnaby cleared his throat awkwardly, "I pictured you'd look worse for having just wrestled a yeti in your privy." He forced a smile before turning his attention back to the photo in his hands- placing it delicately back in its designated spot on the mantel.
"Yeah, well, you should see the Yeti." Arah snorted, staggering over to the bed before collapsing on its pillowy surface, face first. Barnaby disappears from the room as Arah lie there, head feeling sluggish and sleep already tugging at her eyelids. The mattress sinks next to her as Barnaby lays a hand on her back, shaking her gently.
"You alive?"
Arah grunts out a response, her voice muffled by the blankets her body has now melded into.
"Come on, you need to drink this." He says.
Arah swats him away sleepily before he speaks up again, this time more firmly. "Arah."
A groan escapes her lips as she flips over, brooding as she sits upright, her silver hair static-y from untangling herself from the cocoon of blankets. Barnaby hands her a glass of water, fighting the grin that forms on his lips as she stubbornly accepts it. Silently he watches as she drains every drop before leaving to refill the cup once again- handing it back to her. Once he was satisfied that she'd had her fill, he put the cup to the side and began to stand.
As Barnaby turned away, the dread of night began to grip Arah like sharp talons taking purchase; the promise of nightmares, suffocating darkness, and absolute loneliness. In her dream-like drunken state she reached for him, grabbing his sleeve.
"Wait-" She swallowed thickly, "Don't... don't go."
Barnaby turned to her, eyebrows furrowed with concern at the sudden shift in her tone.
"Please. I don't want to be alone." her cheeks flushed furiously. "Could you stay? At least until I fall asleep?"
Barnaby stood there frozen for what felt like an eternity- his face unreadable before he nodded slightly. Arah studied him as he shrugged off his jacket and removed his shoes in silence. She scooted over, making room for him in the bed as he slipped in, facing her all the while keeping as far from her as he possibly could. Arah could barely make out his expression in the dim flickering candlelight.
"Thank you." her voice barely above a whisper. Barnaby remained quiet- Arah was almost certain he hadn't heard her or maybe had already fallen asleep before a low voice cut through the stillness between them.
"Can I tell you something?"
"Hmm?" She blinked heavily, teetering on the edge of sleep.
"I'm glad I failed that test all those months ago."
Arah softly chuckled to herself, "Why's that?"
"Because the thought of seeing you every week is what I look forward to most."
Arah's breath hitched in her throat at the sweet words. She swallowed thickly, her hand snaking out in the darkness, finding his fingers and slipping hers between them, his thumb lightly tracing small patterns in her skin.
The silence carried a weight that she wished to fill with her most secret confessions- but even in her inebriation, she wouldn't risk her friendship over some drunken late-night words she'd later come to regret. So she swallowed, speaking the simplest of truths. "I am so grateful you're in my life, Barnaby Lee." She whispered.
His body shifted, the warmth of his calloused hands snaking up her neck, fingers stroking her hair - grazing her scalp, sending a shiver down her spine, a small sigh escaping her lips. Her arm curls around his back as he pulls her closer to his chest at the welcome of her touch.
She could sense the way his heartbeat quickens, her breath doing the same at their closeness as they lay there, tangled in each other. Nothing else mattered but his touch, it was a sanctuary, chasing away all the bad that plagued her thoughts. His hand slides to her waist, causing her to arch closer - her desire aches for him in all the places he'd never touched her. His hand hesitates before moving to her thigh, gripping it in his hands and wrapping it around him- his heart thudding against his chest.
"Is this alright?" his voice is gravely and thick. Words failed to form in Arah's brain so she managed a small nod, squeezing him tightly- both refusing to acknowledge the fact of what was happening between them, lying like this.
The sound of Barnaby's uneven breaths slowed, wrapping Arah in a lulling comfort like a lullaby as sleep finally took her. There were no nightmares, no screams, just his warm embrace and the ghost of his lips on her hair.
The sun's golden rays streamed through the window, causing her to stir. She woke alone. A part of her had hoped Barnaby might still be by her side, but Arah decided this was for the best. He'd spare her the embarrassment of facing a most sober reality after a night of drunken decisions. The humiliation of asking him to stay made her cheeks go hot, even more so at the way they had touched each other, shielded by darkness.
It was then, Arah noticed the cup of tea on her nightstand that certainly wasn't there before. It was still warm, as Arah brought it to her lips- the taste already nursing the headache that loomed. It had a splash of milk and honey- just how she liked. Arah smiled to herself, warmth filling her with the kindness he had left.
A/N: Please leave a review and let me know what you think, especially my Barnaby shippers! (And to my regular commenters, thank you thank you thank you thank you. you are the best!).
I do hope to get the next chapter out soon! (I'll try not to take more than 4 weeks if I can help it.)