Chapter 13
Most Sacred Duty
Monday, 16 September 1996
"Cadets, fall in." Sgt. Tonks called, bringing the class to order. Starting the third week, they were falling into a pattern and position. "Welcome back. The observant of you, will notice we have a guest with us today, Madam Pomfrey. If not already understood, you will respect her more than you respect me. She's the one who will be stitching you back together. Cadet Abbott, my understanding is you are the Madam's apprentice presently?"
"Yes, Sergeant." she replied.
"Excellent, this week for this class you will serve us best by reporting directly to her. "
"Yes, sergeant."
"Now squadron, can anyone guess why we are deploying our medical specialists before class even begins?"
Everyone knew but no one wanted to say… except Ron. "Because you're going to bring the pain, ma'am."
"Well said Mr. Weasley. Five points Gryffindor for not being afraid to call something as it is." Sgt. Tonks smiled. "At ease and listen up. This one is important. You have done well with introduction to elemental alignment. But spells are not the only variable in a war. Mobility is another key. Cadets, this week you learn to apparate, because it's hard to fight the war if you can't make it to the front line. Now show of hands, I don't expect any of you to have piloted, but have any of you side-alonged yet?"
Ron, Ginny, and Harry raised their hands.
"Why am I not surprised?" Tonks smiled. "Now I will trust that all of you have read Chapter 22 in preparation for this, if you have not, I feel sorry for you. I am aware most of you are underage. Due to Ministry needs you will be granted exemption licenses once you successfully pass testing. But first, you have to pass. Cadets Potter and Longbottom by my desk you will find sets of target rings. Everyone needs two."
"Let's check your reading. What are the three D's of Apparating? Granger."
"Destination, Determination, Deliberation."
"Straight from the texts. Excellent," she stopped her pacing and smiled at the squad when she knew she had a true challenge. "Destination… what does that mean? Granger."
"Focus on your destination."
"Text book correct. But what does that mean?"
The squad fell silent. Tonks smiled. "Amazing what happens when we push beyond what the books say isn't it? Welcome to investigative work. We follow where the facts point, but often we have to walk through the unknown to do it. Now, none of you are stupid. 'Focus on your destination." What does that mean? What do you think? Potter."
"Picture it in your head, as clearly as possible, with as much detail as possible."
"Very good, and correct. I would also add it is more effective if you picture yourself at your destination, as clearly as possible, with as much detail as possible. Now that we have discussed Destination. Can anyone deduce a major requirement for apparition? Granger."
"Attention to detail."
"Very good, especially as you progress in you careers, you are going to want to develop a keen attention to detail of your surroundings. This will aid you both in apparition and investigation. Now can anyone deduce a major limitation of apparition? Mr. Weasley."
"If you say Harry's statement of visualization is correct, the logical extension is you can't apparate somewhere you haven't been before."
"Well reasoned, Mr. Weasley." Tonks smiled as the squad looked at Ron oddly. "Everyone stop acting so surprised. Mr. Weasley, you have common sense about you that will serve you well in law enforcement." Tonks nodded in respect.
Tonks continued. "Step two: Determination. Now this gets easier as your skills increase, but early on, you have to want it. It is literally will power, your guts, your heart. To use our local examples," Tonks grinned. "You need to think like Granger and feel like Potter." She gave it a minute. "And you need to laugh at your Sergeant's jokes."
That finally generated some chuckles. Harry and Hermione shaking their heads at being the examples. "Seriously Cadets, this is an exercise that will do you good to be loose and relaxed.
"Thirdly, Deliberation. Choice, commitment, leap of faith. No one accidentally apparates. A lack of commitment can cause splinching, leaving random body parts behind. Now when, that happens, and it will to most of us in the beginning, DO NOT panic. Madam Pomfey is quite adept at treating splinching. Madam, may I inquire about Cadets Abbot's medical training?"
Pomfey looked to her newest apprentice. "I've been quite satisfied with her work. At academic and practice material for splinching she excelled. I am using today as a field test for her."
"Excellent. Does everyone understand the basics? "
"Yes, Sergeant."
"Excellent, now let us discuss technical details for our geography. As you are aware Hogwarts property is HIGHLY guarded and warded, including anti apparition fields. Even once you develop this skill I warn you now do not attempt to apparate in or out of Hogwarts without coordination from me.
"You specifically, Sergeant?" Harry asked.
"Correct Cadet, as the commanding officer of this unit." she said as she walked over to the large, but unlit and inactive floo greystone floo rested with a large symbol of the Ministry of Magic above it. "The Ministry has attuned this rooms security charms to me." She raised her wand to an hourglass on the center of the mantel. The hourglass rose, and turned over, when it did the flames of the floo leapt to life. On the opposite side of the Training Hall the large doors closed and the sounds of heavy locks echoed then a blue aura of a shield spell covered the doors. The arcane lighting of the room took on a red tint and the sands of the hour glass started to glow red."
"Cadets, the nature of our duty demands rapid deployment from here. But the safety and security of this school is paramount. So for this room only we have the ability to temporarily drop the anti apparition fields. But when the field is down those doors and those shields are up. Again you only try to apparate into this room at authorized times. Anything else is going to at least fail, or subject you to pain. So no avoiding curfews, no popping over to your date's room, no midnight snacks." she smiled. "I'm only Class of '91, I remember how this place was."
"Now everyone, set your target rings up a minimum ten feet apart and start practicing."
Having been trapped in places before, Harry wanted this. To him apparating had a forth D, Desire. It was only this summer he realized one of the fundamental reasons he enjoyed broom flying so much was it was the opposite end of the spectrum of being shoved in a cupboard. Flying was freedom. Apparating was the next step.
Harry focused on his target ring. Doing his best Harry jumped… and beyond his control his body spun like a top and threw him to his chest. But he wasn't alone. Neville landed on his arse. For the next 10 minutes the hall was filled with the grumbles of frustration and bodies hitting the floor.
Harry could hear Sirius in his ear. 'C'mon, Pup, you're going to need this more than anyone else in this room you need to apparate. But on the upside, you have more heart than any one in this room. You know what they say, 'it's the size of the fight in the dog.'"
Harry dug down and opened a little of the contained anger he usually had. His nose flared as he tried again. The world seemed to flash around him and his skin felt electric. He looked around, no movement. He swore under his breath. He tried again. The world seemed to flicker longer… but no movement.
His progress brought Sgt. Tonk's attention. "Harry, you're stuttering, that's good!"
He looked up to her. "Stuttering generally means you have the determination, and you are committing to the deliberation. But you need to focus more on the destination. Technically you are apparating but you aren't going anywhere."
"Focus, focus" he repeated. He tried again…and flashed himself hard onto his chest again. He hit the floor and swore again.
"Harry, a word." Tonks requested.
"Apologies for swearing, Sergeant."
She waived that off. "Harry, I don't care about that, and right now I'm not even your Sergeant. Listen to me. I know I used you and Hermione as counterpart examples, because you are. But that doesn't mean you're not just as clever as she is. You have a first rate mind, Harry, use it. You can do this." Tonks nodded her head back to his station to dismiss him.
He walked back to his ring, with Sirius in his ear. "She's right, Pup. Both your Mum and Dad were sharp and you have the best of them in you. You haven't gotten this far on luck alone."
Harry tried to stretch out his back muscles to relieve the frustration building as he return to his first ring. Then he had a thought. He walked past his first ring and to his destination ring. He stood in it, even knelt in it. He reached down to feel the stone, He took a look at the unique divots and scratches. He looked up to all sides to see where it was relative to the distinguishing items, notably the floo. Then the door.
Madam Pomfey walked over to Sergeant Tonks, "What is that lad doing?"
"Working the problem… like an investigator." Tonks replied with pride.
Harry returned to his first circle. He swayed his arms like he was taking a physical jump. He focused on the spot, internally he screamed, and the world flashed again….and the far wall looked ten feet closer. He quickly looked to the floor then the door, then back to the empty first circle, then down to the destination circle he had apparated to. He held his hands high in victory and roared "YEEEEEESSSSSSSS!" Which resulted in claps, hoots, and hollers. Ginny gave him a very warm smile and wink.
Tonks walked over to Harry's first circle. She bent down and picked something up. Icey water flowed through his veins as he patted himself down. He didn't feel like he left anything behind. As Tonks approached, Hanna immediately came alongside and started to scry, until Tonks stopped her.
"Relax Cadets, Miss Abbott, I don't think that will be necessary. Not even a flesh wound." Tonks replied as she held a inch line tuft of Harry's hair between her fingers. Harry felt through his unruly mop and felt its absence off his back mullet.
Hanna smiled. "Medically I think you'll pull through Harry. Socially, I think you may want a haircut soon."
Tonks gave him the hair back. "Technically a fail, as regs cite, 'entirety and uninjured', But for Day 1, nicely done Potter. Keep up at it, build your skill."
Tonks turned back to the group, with most still having minimal progress, she saw Hermione attempting then looking like her soul leaping from her body for a moment, only to be sucked back in. "You're ghosting, Hermione," the Sergeant corrected. "You are targeting well but you're hesitating, your determination is off. C'mon Hermione, give it some heart. A lot of higher magic needs both brains and heart. This is where you're at now."
Hermione ghosted a few more times. Finally Tonks slipped in. "Granger, stop. Don't worry about it."
Hermione was shocked at the statement. "Don-don't worry about it?" Hermione could accept losing a few points, but the concept of quitting an assignment wasn't fathomable.
"Relax, Harry beat you. No shame in that. You are a brilliant witch, all things considered."
"Considering what?" she asked with her jaw getting tight.
Tonks cocked her head to the side. "Come now Hermione, you're bright. Don't make me spell it out."
"Spell what out, Sergeant?" she asked letting her annoyance clearly show.
Tonks exhaled. "Simple facts of the matter, Granger. You are Muggle-born. Eventually you will need to accept your limits especially when compared to mages like Potter or the Weasleys." Tonks then turned and started walking away.
Absolutely furious, Hermione wasn't done with this conversation. In a flash she popped form her first circle to her destination circle. "Sergeant Tonks-"
The Sergeant cut her off with a raised hand as she examined both circles. "Flawless execution, well done Cadet."
Hermione was about to continue, until she realized. "You manipulated me."
Tonks smiled and simply replied, "I got you to apparate… because I knew you could. And I am rather glad you realize when you are being manipulated. Don't let it happen in the future." she smiled.
Hermione and Harry each were able to throw a few more apparitions back and forth. Dean stuttered but dropped a finger. Hanna quickly came and reattached with Madam Pomfey oversight and approval.
Towards the end of class the most excitement happened when Susan finally apparated, but then screamed as she fell to her backside. When she looked over to her staring ring she saw her leg laying on the floor. "Holy shit!" she cried.
Madam Pomfet pounced. "Hanna stabilize, I'll get the leg." The elder healer moved with the speed, surprising most of the cadets at how quickly she dashed across the hall to grab the appendage. Hanna in her youth rushed to Susan, fell to her knees and slid the last few feet."
"Okay Susan, I know this will sound crazy but we are well within normal here."
"Normal?! My fucking leg was left behind! How do you call that normal?!"
Naturally the squad started to encroach. That's where Tonks stepped in. "MAKE a hole! Let the healer's work!" Reflexively the group all took several steps back.
Rather than have Susan yelling and flailing on the floor, Hanna quick grabbed he wand and cast a tranquillitas calming charm. Her yelling fell to muttered protest, and Hanna laid Susan's head on her knees. With Susan calmer Hanna scryed. She nodded, "I like that pulse a lot better."
"So do I," Pomfey replied as she magically bonded the leg back to Susan. "Alright, I actually believe that will care for her, but for a major limb like that I prefer an overnight watch."
Shortly after, the fields and shield reversed back to normal. Later that night in the commons they had secured the sofa by the fireplace. It was the first evening where the air cooled enough to justify a real fire going. "I was waiting for this. Be right back." Harry said as hopped upstairs to his dorm room and was back a moment later, with a book in hand. "Gin, 'Mione," he drew their attention to the Half Blood Prince's book. "Your opinions do matter to me." he said as he chucked it into the fire. Ron shrugged but Hermione smiled approvingly.
"Thank you," Ginny said as she curled up next to him when he sat down. Ginny couldn't help but keep smiling at the tuft of missing hair. Harry was happy to have had some success apparating so he was in chipper spirits. Once Ron and Hermione drifted away, Ginny decided to test how chipper. "Harry, do you trust me?"
Not even looking up from the Auror's Manuel, Harry answered, "We sleep together sometimes, Gin, when I'm most vulnerable. I would like to think that proves trust." Then he finally looked up from studying. "Why?"
"Well, another skill of the mighty Weasleys is that we're no strangers to hair cuts. Would you like me to trim you up instead of being lopsided?" she asked, biting her lower lip showing she wasn't sure how Harry would react.
"Wow… that would be just awesome. You sure?"
"Oh yea, I've trimmed all my brothers at one point or another. No offense, boys hair is simple."
"None taken. Where do you need me?"
Ginny looked around, "Actually right here won't be bad if you don't mind being silly for a moment." She summoned over a nearby bin.
Harry grinned. "Gin, I think I've proven I can be silly for you."
Ginny laughed. "Spin yourself around, throw your feet over the back of the couch and your head off the seat."
Catching on, "Oh, and the bin under to catch the hair." Harry sat back and took his glasses off, even closed his eyes.
"Anything you'd like? No guarantees, but I'll try."
Harry shrugged and grinned. . "I got a girl I'd like to look good for. Do what you think she'd like."
Ginny kept a steady hand slowly diffindo'd around. "I'm going to trim you pretty short on your sides and back, but sorry, I like running my hands through your hair too much to trim your top too much."
"I like it when you do that too. Sounds good."
A few minutes later HArry was upright again. "Opinions?"
"Have to test it out first." she replied curling up.
Susan returned to breakfast the next morning in the Great Hall. She was well aware she was the talk of the school, so when she entered she took a page from Ginny and Harry's example and made it a show. "Ladies and gentlemen, she has returned and is walking!" Even giving a little twirl into her walk as she made it to the Hufflepuff table. Harry was extremely relieved to see her in good spirits.
Apparition lessons continued again as they had yesterday. Both Harry and Hermione were able to recreate their success from the prior day. Half way through class Ginny started stuttering. Harry helped her with tips from his experience, and she apparated too. They spent the rest of class making practice jumps. By the end of class Neville made a jump, but somehow left his shoes behind. There were some minor injuries, but nothing Hanna herself couldn't handle.
Once class was dismissed Sgt. Tonks asked Harry to stay behind. "Take a seat." Tonks said as she sat at her side. "Potter, I have to say. I am impressed. You took to apparition quickly and I see you have already assisted Miss Weasley today."
"Seemed logical, Sergeant."
Tonks pulled a muggle style pen and file from a drawer and "You've done well. You have taken to elemental alignment quickly. I am told the exterior fire range will be ready by next week, by the way. I see you and Granger have gotten five people up to Muggle Study N.E.W.T.s. You've even maintained your personal relationship well within respectable guidelines."
She took her badge off and gently laid it in a drawer. "Harry, for this conversation, no ranks. I'd like us to be friends."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Er-alright?"
"I have a field assignment this Friday night, first contact. It would make logical sense to bring some of you with me, for experience. With Ginny as a pure-blood witch raised here and you raised in London, you would be complementary to each other and your experiences would be useful for this."
"That makes sense, yes. But forgive me, this feels like you are being delicate about something."
"I am Harry, because I care. I truly believe you, and Ginny could be excellent Aurors but a large part of serving and protecting is knowing what we need to protect against. You are familiar with why the Ministry established first contact protocols?"
Things started to make sense, and Harry's stomach turned. "Ya, Tonks, I know."
"I promise I haven't actively investigated a damn thing. But in our interactions over the last year I'm being delicate because, my Auror training is ….well, you know… all to well."
Harry sat for a moment. This too even? Merlin. "Yes, once."
"Merlin, Harry." On the upside he could tell it rattled her. It was nice she cared.
"Does this… cut me from the program?"
"What?! Harry, god no! That's not why we're talking. I'm trying to be respectful to my friend, and one of my best cadets, give them notice and a choice. Do you think you can handle discussing the details of why we have the first contact protocols to Ginny? It's a hell of a hard conversation to have in the best of circumstances. You are not coming from that."
"Ah.. I see." Harry sat for a moment. Tonks was doing for him what he had just done for Ginny. Karma.
"Few pure-bloods are ever versed with with the muggle-born experience is like, and with the Weasley's living so far on the other end of the spectrum…"
"It's going to hit her like a wrecking ball, but if you're training us to be Aurors you need to train us for the full job, not just bits and pieces, so she needs to know, and you want me to try to soften the blow."
"If you think you can handle it, I think it's the best approach."
Harry sat and thought for a moment. "Gin's already learned a lot this summer. This will just be one more conversation. She can handle it, I'll explain it."
Tonks sat and looked at Harry with deep respect. "Damn to hell, Potter, I envy your strength of resolve."
Thursday 19 September 1997
Having received several packages earlier in the week, Hermione agreed to meet everyone in the Gryffandor commons before breakfast for her birthday gifting, this one being for her 17th. Hermione was smiling widely, Ron and Harry strangely being the nervous ones. "What's up with you two?"
"What? Can't a couple of blokes be happy for your birthday?" Ron asked.
"Bullshit, bullshit." Ginny coughed.
"I'm agreeing with you, Ginny. Boys what have you done? "
"We didn't do anything bad, we swear! Right, Harry?"
Both the ladies' eyes bore into Harry. "He's actually right, we haven't. We just coordinated on gifts but there was an unknown element we couldn't anticipate."
"Okay, you have my attention." Hermione asked.
"Spill it, Harry." Ginny said far more bluntly.
Harry held up his hand in surrender. "Let me just ask a question. "Mione, what did your parents get you?"
"Oh, they got me a collected edition of Shakespear."
The boys signed with relief. "Ron, just tell her," Harry said.
"Okay, We all know this is your 17th. And we all know what a parent's traditional gift to a witch is. But we also all know your parents are muggle and likely don't know."
"Ron and I started talking before classes, and had the same thought at the same time, we BOTH almost got you a watch, then when talking we were realizing your parents might actually as well."
"So we decided, two would be better than none. Harry changed his gift idea. So rather than the three we were frightened you may wind up with, It sounds like I get the honor of giving you your coming of age watch. I love you, 'Mione."
Hermione opened the box and found a gold dial watch face, prewound and ticking, and rich brown leather strap. Hermione turned the watch over and read the inscription, 'Your Time has Just Begun. - Ron' "Ronald, this is perfect thank you!" She rewarded him with a kiss.
Harry grinned, "I suppose that means I go next. Happy birthday." He slid over a square box she opened it to find a silver bracelet with a blue sapphire.
"My birthstone, Thank you. Harry"
"Charmed birthstone, with a shield charm. Forgive a lack of originality, but I like keeping the people in my life safe."
From Ginny, Hermione received a candle that emitted a calming charm when lit. "Because, I love you 'Mione, but sometimes you have no chill… and need it."
This then brought her to the mailed in packages.
Arthur and Molly sent a copy of the Healer's Helper, with a note 'To help keep the boys in one piece.'
Bill & Fleur send a quill with regenerative ink, so she wouldn't need to mess with ink wells any longer.
Fred & George sent a curious package. A set of silver wire rimmed glasses. Tucked in their case though was a note. She opened the note but only the first line was in English, 'Dear Hermione'. All the lines beneath it were in a different language which changed with every line. But this was the Twins gift, so Hermione very quickly put the glasses on.
Dear Hermione,
As the smart one who never met a book she didn't read.
We figured after reading all the books in English
You may want assistance with these translation glasses.
It's a heavy charm that we've added about 200 languages too.
But if you find one we missed. Let us know.
Happy Birthday,
Fred & George.
"Okay that is fantastic, this will open so many research options."
Thursday 19 September 1997
As requested Harry and Ginny reported to the Training Hall as requested, dressed in school uniform. Tonks was waiting for them. "Wotcher Harry, Ginny," Tonks greeted. Nostalgia came to Harry hearing that again. "Thank you two for giving up a Friday night. For tonight I believe we can operate with a less formal structure. You two are at least academically familiar with a First Contact meeting?"
Ginny nodded, 'A muggle family's first introduction to the wizard world, usually triggered when they discover their child is magical."
"Textbook perfect. More than any other wizarding occupation, We aurors are generally the most well versed mages across both the magical and mundane world so the Ministry has delegated this duty to us. These first contacts are critical for successfully bringing in the muggle-born to the wizard world. Considering what is at stake this is what I consider our most sacred duty.
We will be apparateing to Edinburgh. There is a young couple there named Franklin and Alice Caiting. They have a young boy named George that has been, to them exhibiting unusual traits, muggle doctors have been at a loss. Fortunately, there was a squib there who recognized the signs. At one of George's recent appointments we were able to scry him and George does appear magical. Our squib was able to set a home visit appointment for tonight. That's where we come in. I'll do most of the talking but, especially as you are students, I imagine his parents will have many questions you would be best suited for. I think there is wisdom in bringing both a muggle raised like you Harry, and pure blood like you Ginny. The two of you will be able to provide experiences from both sides."
"What do you want us to tell them?" Harry asked.
"Only the truth, Harry. I admit I would appreciate it if we didn't lead with talk of Riddle and the war. Keep in mind this is First Contact. I will consider it a win if they realize there's nothing wrong with George and are willing to let us continue talking. George is 5, so it will be a few years before he's old enough for Hogwarts, but the sooner we have these meetings, the better off we all are."
Ginny smiled and shook her head. "Tonks, are you asking Harry to charm a muggle family now?"
Tonks grinned as she walked behind her desk. "Harry, you have a sharp lady there. I'd keep her if I were you."
Harry rolled his eyes. "That's a bloody yes."
Tonks grabbed a pair of coin shaped items. "There are worse things in life than being charming, Harry." she reminded him as she returned to them. "Now neither of you have earned your badges yet, but the nature of the training missions A.C.T. does, and that's exactly what this is, did allow me to have the D.M.L.E. authorize Ministry portkey pins. I know you two successfully apparated but these will let us get back with the fields and shields return to normal."
"Wait, pins instead of badges… are auror's badges portkeys then?" Harry just realized. Tonks raised a finger to her lips. "Limited use. They attune only who they are issued to and then only teleport them to a singular location. In your case your pins will only bring you back here, literally to the Training Hall." Tonks explained as she pinned each of them on their school sweater over their left breast.
"Aright, safety checks, Wands?"
They both displayed them.
"Excellent, this should be an easy night, but if something happens you get back here to school. Portkey, apparate, floo, walk in from Hogsmeade, I don't care. Understood.
"Yes, Sergeant."
"Alright then." Tonks drew her wand and reversed the fields and shield of the Hall again, opening it for teleportation, and sealing the room off from the rest of the castle.
She offered her hand out, "Take my hand." Both the teens did as told. "Off to Never Never land." Tonks smiled as the three of them apparated away.
After a dizzying spin and a pop the three of them landed in a small patch of greenery, surrounded by shrubs.
"Apparation tip:" Tonks said, "Take note of secluded areas in public places like that. They are great to know to be able to apparate in with less concern of disturbing someone."
The teens nodded in acknowledgement as they followed Tonks out emerging to a public park. But as Tonks was stepping out from the shrubbery, her foot got caught and she faltered forward, but caught and steadied herself. Both Ginny and Harry pretended to look away. "You both know I'm not the most graceful." she admitted.
"You're awesome all the same." Ginny replied.
They emerged and saw a small pond at the bottom of a slight decline with a stone walking path around it. "We're a few blocks away, 1307 Xavier Lane"
While they walked Harry took out his pocket notebook and quill and started making notes.
"Whatcha doing?" Ginny asked.
"Making notes about that location. Who knows when I'll need to go to Edinburgh again. I mean I am pretty sure I could handle London, Hogsmeade, and the Burrow, but I think there is a logic to keeping a list."
Tonks stopped and turned back to Harry with a smile. "That is actually a first rate idea, Harry. I told you, you have a first rate mind."
They walked into a brownstone district and halfway down the block. Tonks turned to them. "Oh final tip, I would try to avoid the use of terms like 'muggle' and such. They won't understand and we don't want to accidentally offend. Be delicate, courteous and respectful. This is our most sacred duty."
Tonks turned to the door and knocked, then waited. A blonde woman, in a red blouse a little older than Tonks cracked the door open. The auror smiled. "Alice Caiting? I'm Dora Tonks, I believe we have an appointment regarding George?"
"Yes," Alice replied, opening the door more fully. "Thank you for coming."
"Thank you for having us. These are two of my associates; Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley, both very experienced with your son's situation. I felt you may want to have as many answers as possible. May we come in?"
Ginny could see the mix of concern and relief in the mother's eyes. She'd seen it in her own mother's expressions more than once. "Please," Alice welcomed. She led into a sitting room with beige walls and gray carpet. Off to the side was a black and white colored kitchen. Her husband was reading the paper. He was about the same age, sandy brown hair, neatly trimmed, slender frame, wearing a dress shirt and tie. "Frank, these are the specialists the hospital wanted us to talk to about George. This is.."
"Tonks, Harry, and Ginny." the auror reintroduced for simplicity.
Frank rose and extended a hand. "Thank you, if you can bring answers, we'd appreciate it."
"I believe we can, yes. But as we are just working from the files and test results from the hospital, may I ask if we could meet George first."
"Oh, of course." Alice called up the stairs, "Georgie, please come down!"
"Coming mum!" they could hear, followed by the thudding of a child runned across the upstairs floor, then down the stairs. Georgie had his mothers blonde hair and wide smile as he charged into his mother's leg. Harry 'adjusted' his glasses and tapped his Mage vision on. Georgie most definitely had an aurora, his looking like a whirlwind of cloud and air.
Alice bent down to welcome her son. "Georgie, I'd like you to meet Miss Tonks."
Tonks took a knee near the boy and extended her hand. Harry's careful eye could just see the tip of Tonks wand up her sleeve. "Hello Georgie, I have heard about you. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"You're pretty, I like your hair." Georgie replied.
"Well aren't you the sweetest little charmer." Tonks replied. "I like your hair too."
"Mum says I got it from her."
Tonks played along keeping a close eye on the boy. Harry took the opportunity to look at the others; neither Alice nor Frank had an aura, nor anything else in the house, a far cry from Hogwarts. Ginny still looked like fire incarnate, to which Harry smiled, and Tonks was an ever flowing sea of bright orange Transmutation magic.
Ginny looked around the brownstone. The walls were covered with photos of the couple and their child. Usually bright smiles and laughs. With several shelves of books and average decorations. It felt very comfortable and warm.
After a few moments, Tonks clearly felt she had enough. "Georgie, I have loved meeting you. May I have a moment with your Mum and Dad now please?"
"Okay lady, bye!" Georgie said as he ran upstairs the way he came down.
Tonks rose and looked as reassuring to Alice as she could. "You have a wonderful boy who has nothing wrong with him. But I think I do have some answers for you. Shall we talk?"
"Please," Alice welcomed, leading them back to the sitting room, offering the visitors the couch as she pulled a chair next to her husband.
"Mr. and Mrs. Caiting, I've reviewed your son's files. But especially after meeting with him I would like to ask about a few details I believe likely are true but didn't make into official records. Simply because they are common to children like Georgie. Please tell me where I'm right or wrong on these. I am willing to believe you have had… unexplained events occur around him. Have items ever seem to have a life of their own? You look away and turn back and they are not where they were a moment ago?"
The parents looked at each other and nodded slowly.
Harry added, "Have you noticed the lamps near him seem to have shorts that flicker them on unexpectedly? Maybe even blow the bulb without switching them on?"
"We thought that was faulty wiring." Alice replied.
Remembering what he saw. "Ever feel winds around him that didn't make sense?"
Frank answered, "I have constantly been trying to track down the drafts in the house and can never see where they are coming from."
"Ever notice unexplained noise or light from his area?" Tonks added.
"That was real!?" Frank asked. "I thought worry had started to drive us mad."
Tonks smiled warmly. "No, neither of you are mad. But one can easily see you both love your son very much. Mr. and Mrs. Caiting, I hate to sound like a song, but do you believe in magic?"
"What do you mean?"
Tonks was very gentle. "Shakespeare once said 'There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.' It is in these 'more things' that we do, and your son will one day be able to, live in. Georgie isn't sick, or afflicted. He certainly isn't cursed or possessed. Georgie is more special than you likely even dreamed of. Georgie is literally magical. Like us and like many, many others." To prove the point, Tonks rubbed her hands through her hair and changed it to a shade of blonde matching Alice's.
"Magical?" Alice repeated, "Like spells and abilities."
Ginny noticed a pair of empty tea cups. She took her wand and gently took her wand and filled them with water. "Drink?" she offered with a smile.
Harry looked around to notice a few candles around the room. Gently he drew his wand to light them.
After the pair was done she smiled. "Very much so." Tonks replied. "After meeting him, I see he's going to grow to be a fine young wizard like Harry here. Ginny and I are witches. Mage is also an acceptable term if you want gender neutrality."
"You, you're like Georgie?" Frank asked.
"I was," Harry replied. "I blew a lot of lightbulbs when I was younger. I accidently, turned one of my teacher's hair blue when I was in grade school. I've spoken to an animal or two."
"But you grew out of it?" Alice asked.
Harry was doing fine, so Tonks let him keep going. "Magic isn't a phase or anything temporary. It's a permanent ability. Some people have sharp hearing, or keen vision, or a talent for singing. Georgie and I, are magical. It doesn't go away, but it can be controlled and managed, even grown, developed and mastered. And when that happens…" Harry smiled brightly. "... things can be brilliant."
Tonks slipped in. "Like Georgie, Harry was born in the normal world, and raised till he was eleven in London."
"What happened then?" Frank asked.
One of his happiest memories. "Eleven is when we are old enough to attend a special boarding school, called Hogwarts. It was where I learned so much, about magic and everything else. It's where we all met and… well it's been like home to me."
"How do you learn magic?" the father continued.
"Like anything else, study and practice." Both he and Ginny bowed their heads and snickered. "A LOT of study and practice. Lots of books, reading, writing, and practice. It's actually surprising how similar between the magical world is to the mu - normal world. It's more that we have different subjects. Instead of chemistry, we have potion brewing. Instead of technology we have charms. There is plenty of overlap; Arithmancy, Herbology, History."
"So when you say witch, you're not out in the middle of the night on brooms conducting rituals?" Alice asked.
Ginny laughed. "Mum is always a stickler about knowing where I am. She'd be quite cross at Harry and I for breaking my curfew. And I'd catch hell for any kind of rituals, so no. Broom flying is a thing though, very popular. We made a sport about it, called quidditch."
Harry elaborated, "Among the wizard world, there is less biking or skateboarding. Broom flying replaces that. Ginny and I are quite good at it. And I don't want to go into the weeds of quidditch, though we could," he smiled," but for this conversation, just register we have that instead of rugby or football."
"Your mum has you on curfew, so you have normal families in the magic world too?" Alice asked.
Ginny nodded. "Very much so. I have six elder brothers, all of us went through Hogwarts also, and we all still visit or live with Mum and Dad down in Ottery St Catchpole. As they're all growing up and moving out Mum still fights to keep a weekly dinner for all of us. As unique and as big and as different as magic may seem, I think Harry was exactly right about it is surprising how similar it is. As he's shown me more about the normal world, I'd completely agree."
"Okay, curfew and he's shown you…" Frank asked "So, wizards and witches, date?"
The pair both smiled and nodded. Tonks slipped in smiling and nodding. "Again, we're all people with normal human hearts. We mages, just have some extra gifts and abilities. But yes, we feel the same feelings of friendship and love, we have families, and marriages, and children, just like you did. Georgie can absolutely have a full good life, like you two did. His will likely just have more spells and charms, than technology and microchips."
"How… how did this happen to Georgie? Was it something I did during pregnancy?"
"No," Tonks answered gently. "Absolutely not. Now while it is very common for magical parents to have magical children, it is not the only way."
"We have a friend in my grade. Both of her parents are normal average dentists. She's still the brightest witch in class." Harry added.
"If that is something you are truly curious about, we can have some of my other associates take a look at your family history. There may be a magical family member who kept things so quiet you may not know. But especially in recent decades we have been seeing more and more instances of spontaneous origins. Where children like Georgie are gifted but we can't determine an origin. I personally like to think that the magic just chooses them."
"What, what do we do?" Alice asked.
"Well first," Tonks began, "Keep loving and raising him. It's very clear you're a happy family. Second, there is NOTHING wrong with him. You don't need to continue with the doctor visits. Normal doctors won't be able to determine anything further. If you want to meet some of our healers or have one of them take a look at Georgie, we can easily do that. Mostly though, I just want to make a beginning here. I want to make a friendly introduction so you can start getting to know the magical word your son has the option to join."
Tonks pulled a business card out of her jacket breast pocket. "This is a phone number to my contact at the hospital. There is no such thing as a dumb question. If you want to know about Georgie's health, to helping prepare him for school, to setting play dates, to getting to know how our laws work. Anything. Call, ask, and we will either get the material to you or give you a visit like this."
Frank's protective and paternal side showed. "And if we say no? What if we decide to tear that card up and throw it away?"
Tonks smiled. "Then we leave you alone. I will trust and hope you three find your way through his growing up. The last thing we want to suggest is a lack of choice. You are still his parents, This is still your house. I will simply say that Georgie doesn't have a choice. His magic is a part of him just like his breath and his blood. We experienced mages just want to offer an invitation to a fellow new wizard. That's all this is. An invitation.
Frank listened and thought. "I'll go so far as to say, yes you've made a good impression. And yes, I think having an answer as to what is unique with our son is comforting. Beyond that, you'll forgive me if I feel the need to discuss this with my wife privately first."
"That makes all the sense in the world, sir. That's why I leave a card." Tonks rose and Harry and Ginny followed suit. "We do thank you for your hospitality."
Alice rose and showed them to the door lost in thought. At the door, she stopped for a moment. "Harry, you grew up normal, then you've moved into the magical world."
"Yes ma'am." he nodded.
"Are you happy? Do you plan to stay?"
"Yes ma'am. I have no issue visiting normalcy, but for the foreseeaible future I'll be living there."
"Thank you, Harry."
Smiles were shared by all when they departed and they started to walk back towards the park. Tonks was smiling, she took a moment and turn her hair to bubble gum pink. "That went very well, you two, thank you very much. I would rate you on O's for that. Considering the stakes, I greatly appreciate that."
Harry's stomach started to turn.
"Stakes?" Ginny asked.
Tonks continued, "Ginny, you have the blessing of a first rate family. Many do not."
Ginny looked over to Harry who had gone quiet and looked straight ahead. "I try to appreciate how lucky I am." she did say softly.
"In many families… less positive… than yours when a mage birth happens the stress is enough… Well… First Contact procedures were developed because there was only approximately 20% successful rate of the mage entering wizarding society."
"Twenty percent! What happens to the rest?"
Tonks lowered her head. "Ginny, that's a fair question. One you should be familiar with the answer because it is part of the job of an auror. But I think Harry would be a far better teacher for you than anyone ever could be." She reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a few tickets that she charmed with her wand. Tonks handed them over. "Hall passes. Why don't you two have a long talk? Take your time. Harry?"
"I got her, Tonks."
The sergeant nodded, then reached inside her coat and portkeyed away.
Ginny turned to Harry with a look of concern. "What don't I know yet?"
Harry offered her left hand that Ginny quickly accepted and brushed her cheek with his right. "Look wherever this conversation goes, please keep in mind, I am okay now, and I am a lot better than I was a few months ago, all thanks to you and your family, please."
"Okay… okay ya." she nodded with trepidation.
"Let's walk and talk." Harry led the way back to the park. He took a major breath. "Well, let's take it a step at a time. Through me you know that… well some families can be shite."
Ginny nodded. "Well, without a positive environment, it was only Hagrid's dogged determination that even got me to Hogwarts. And I mean Hagrid chased me down to literally the ends of the earth, or at least the British isle to get me enrolled. Any less determined and odds are I wouldn't have. Can you imagine what it would be like to have magical talent, but no training or understanding and trapped here on the muggle side. I would say, it is likely … they would find themselves into some level of mental institution."
Ginny shivered.
"Progressing worse, well this summer was the second time I ran out. First time was about three years ago."
"I hadn't heard about that."
"Because I was on the run for about a whole ten minutes before I triggered the Knight Bus. They picked me up, I wound up enrolling the next year like normal. But if the wizard world wasn't aware of me… no bus…merlin knows where I'd be."
They got to the park. The air was cool and the moon reflected off a calm lake. Harry led them to a park bench overlooking it. Harry took a seat and leaned forward sussing through memories and taking the deepest courage breathes Ginny had ever seen. Instinctively, she rubbed his neck and shoulders.
"And finally Gin… this last one is the worst so I will give you a bail out opportunity if you want… And I promise I won't think less of you for it."
She could tell by the waiver in his voice that this was cutting to his core. The man who had thrice saved her life finally opened up for himself. She wasn't going to let him regret it. "If it's part of you, I want to know. I love you."
Harry nodded, "Alright, this one I haven't told another living soul, not your parents, not Ron or Hermione, I don't even think Dumbledore knows. Tonks I think may suspect. Regardless, I would greatly appreciate this never being repeated."
"Absolutely love, I promise."
"Last summer, and I will remind you this was before I really started to notice how fantastic you were. And after the completion of the Triwizard Tournament after the third challenge, I saw Cedric killed right in front of me, and Riddle… fucking Riddle came back to life. No one believed me. And No one was even talking to me. I found out later Dumbeldore had ordered no contact with me, but I didn't know that during the summer. So I was alone, and I was terrified, and I was trapped with the Dursleys."
"Early in the summer my Aunt Marjorie came for a week-long visit. As per usual, she got Dudley's second room and I was back in the cupboard. So you could imagine self esteem was not really great in addition to that."
Another huge courage breath and tears on his cheek. When she left, the Dursley's graciously let me have the room back. Well when I did, I found out she left a bottle of sleeping pills there. So it dawned on me that an end might be best. Go to fucking sleep and not wake up."
"My god Harry…" Ginny tears falling on her cheek too. "What - what stopped you?"
"Nothing. Nothing stopped me. I swallowed the whole damn bottle."
"Harry." the pain in heart breaking. She fell into the tightest grip around Harry. That the greatest most wonderful person she'd ever known had been driven to such a low point of such desperation. There were only two reasons she didn't apparate to the Dursley's in that moment to burn the lot of them and that house to the ground. The first being Harry, crying as he literally bared his soul to her, the second was she didn't know where it was.
"Woke up vomiting later, I don't know why. Body just rejected I suppose. But sat up retching everything so… ya… I couldn't even kill myself right. The Dursley's didn't bother to check on any of the noise. Why would they? Just me. I cleaned up the mess and just … fell back in to habits of existence and survival."
He was quiet for a moment and just gazed out to the lake. "So if you wonder why I always have trouble believing in myself, That's why. People keep calling me, Chosen One, and a fucking savior… I'm a fraud… I didn't even have the guts to keep going."
"NO!" Ginny shouted, "Don't you dare think of yourself like that!" she reached to hold him and for the first time ever, he actually resisted. "Harry, please look at me… please." He turned to look at her with tear filled emerald eyes. She held his face with a hand on both cheek, and pressed her forehead to his. "Harry, you see that as a failing and I get that, but that is no different than when Riddle finally broke me to open the chamber. I am just so, so sorry you didn't have some there for you like you have been there so, so many people. You are NOT a failure. You are a survivor… of so much more than I can ever imagine."
"Harry, promise me, if you ever, ever, get anywhere close to feeling like that again, even for some insane reason I can possibly fathom we've broken up, tyou will talk to me. I will ALWAYS be here for you. I love you. Promise me."
"Gin, like I said I'm-"
"PROMISE ME!"
"I promise Gin, I promise Gin. But l want to repeat this, I am a lot better than that. I don't think your parents fully understood, but I did tell them when we left for school that they probably saved my life. I swear, I'm nowhere near that now. I can say I actually find happiness most days."
"Harry, you are singularly, the kindest, bravest, strongest, and loving man I have ever known. You deserve happiness every day."
"I just mean, there are the occasional blues days, from recovery, Riddle, that kind of thing. Again, nowhere near that summer."
"Harry, I promise you. You are not and never will be alone. You will always have someone who supports you, cares for you, loves you. When the kids come, I swear our house will be so ridiculously full of love and kindness and caring they never come close to experiencing what you have."
"Kids?" Harry asked, with a grin.
"Harry, I think we both know what road we're walking down, and I'm not scared about it for a moment. Last week when you said you just assumed I'd move in with you after graduation, I don't know if I ever have been happier."
"Thank you, Gin. That's actually really good to hear."
They sat back on the park bench. Ginny resting her head on his chest, again taking comfort in the fact it was still beating. Every day it seemed a greater and greater miracle they were together.
"Harry, please tell me you realize what you have grown up under is not normal. You've already been under Dad's teaching and Mum's care. I remember when anyone got sick at the Burrow, Mum and I would often be the one nursing them back to health. We'd then share stories while we brewed up replacement potions. I damn near fell out of a tree because I was braver than I had skill to climb, and Ron came to my rescue. When I was sad, the Twins would put on the silliest puppet shows. Percy would always find time to help me with homework. Charlie would take me on nature hikes. Whenever Bill was watching us, he'd never give us extra sweets, but he'd always let us have later bedtimes, because that was harder to prove and easier to get away with. In winter, Mum would always check on us at night, and Dad would add an extra blanket on cold nights. That's family, Harry. That's going to be House Potter."
"I know Gin, and thank you."
