AN:
It's time to get back into the swing of things. I haven't worked on this story in nearly six weeks, partly due to the holidays and partly because I wrote and posted another story during that time, Oh, What a Christ-mess. I'm aiming to finish Chapter 16 of In Another Life within the next week so that Chapter 11 can go live in two weeks. I always feel more at ease when I'm 6-7 chapters ahead in writing.
Don't miss the sneak peek for the next chapter—I'll be posting it on Tumblr in the next few days!
Emily was sitting in the living room at home, waiting impatiently for Ginny, Ron and her brother to finally emerge from the fireplace. The three of them had spent the day helping Mrs Weasley at the market in Ottery, while Emily's mother had insisted she re-brew the Draught of Peace she'd failed to complete during her last Potions class, much to Emily's frustration.
A worried glance at the clock on the mantle told her it was already past three with only two hours left before dusk - and the Apparition exam was still looming. Emily breathed a sigh of relief as the flames in the fireplace flared up, and one by one, her friends stepped into the room.
"Finally! I thought we were going to miss the exam," Emily exclaimed. "I'll let Mum know you're back."
"Relax, Emm," her brother sighed, rolling his eyes.
"We wouldn't want you Splinching from all that stress," Ginny teased, grinning.
"What, is it pick-on-poor-Emily day today?" Emily groaned. "I've been stuck here, bored out of my mind, while you lot were off having fun."
"Fun?" Ron scoffed. "Carrying boxes full of vegetables is hard work."
"Pff," Emily retorted, marching toward the Potions lab where she'd last seen her mother.
"Mum! They're finally back. We can leave now," she called, peeping through the door where Lily was bottling potions for delivery.
"Go on ahead. I'll be ready in five minutes," Lily replied, not looking up from her work. "Dora is already waiting for you at Dumbledore's."
On the way back, Emily slipped into her winter jacket. "Mum says we can go ahead. She'll meet us there," she announced. Once Harry, Ron, and Ginny had disappeared into the fireplace, she grabbed a pinch of Floo Powder, threw it into the flames, and stepped in after them, calling out, "Dumbledore's house!"
She stumbled into Dumbledore's spacious drawing room and brushed the soot off her jacket. Dumbledore, seated comfortably in an armchair, was deep in conversation with Tonks, who was sitting in a chair nearby. As the last of the group stepped out of the fireplace, he looked up and smiled warmly.
"Welcome," he greeted them. "I trust you're well prepared for the Apparition exam."
Emily nodded and took a breath. "Mum will be here in a minute," she announced, glancing around. Fawkes, perched on a windowsill, observed them with glowing eyes, chirping a soft, soothing melody.
"Glad you all made it," Tonks said cheerfully as she stood up. "Shall we get started?"
Emily exchanged glances with the others and joined them in nodding.
Dumbledore gestured toward the centre of the room. "Let the exam begin."
Tonks opened the door leading to the adjacent library. "This will give us a bit more room. We'll start with the theoretical part of the exam."
Just as the door opened, the flames leapt up again, and Emily's mother stepped into the room. "Sorry I'm late! Don't mind me, carry on," she said with an apologetic wave.
Emily felt her heart hammering in her chest. She cast a quick glance at Lily, who was walking over to Dumbledore, watching the scene attentively. Determined to pass this exam, Emily took a deep breath and moved closer to Ginny, who gave her an encouraging nod.
Tonks cleared her throat and continued, addressing the group. "For the theoretical part, I used my old Hogwarts notes. Some Magic regulations are no longer applicable, but I think these things should be known to the examinees."
She paused briefly and continued after a nod from Dumbledore. "So, who wants to answer the first question?"
"I want to go first!" Emily called out, her hand shooting up as she took a step forward, hoping Tonks would not start with the hardest question. Pleased, she registered the surprised look on her mother's face and her hope grew that she would leave a good impression on her. Ginny gave her an approving nod; it had been Ginny's idea, after all. Taking a deep breath, Emily turned her attention back to Tonks, eager to get it over with.
"Alright, Emily," Tonks said with an encouraging smile. "Let's get started then. Your task is to explain the 'Three D's' of Apparition and why they're essential for a successful Apparition."
Emily breathed a sigh of relief. That was a basic question, nothing too complicated. She stole a quick glance at her mother and began, "The basic principles of Apparition are also called The Three Ds: Destination, Determination, and Deliberation.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Ginny giving her a tiny thumbs-up she answered with a grateful smile and carried on. "Destination means knowing exactly where you want to go. You have to have a clear mental picture of the place you want to Apparate to."
She paused briefly as a memory of her almost Splinching flashed through her mind when she accidently tried to Apparate to the wrong side of the fence. Taking a steadying breath, she pushed the thought away and continued, "Determination is about focusing your mind on reaching that place. It's important to keep that image firmly in your head until you get there."
"And finally," she said, growing more confident, "Deliberation means moving with careful intent when casting the spell. If you rush or let your concentration slip, things can go... wrong."
She saw her brother's face twitch slightly at that. Everyone in the room knew what "wrong" meant, and no one wanted to relive Ron's unfortunate Splinching experience, when he showed up at practice missing a hand.
"That's right, Emily. Well done." Tonks said with an approving nod.
Emily's grin grew wider as she glanced at her mother whose lips were curled into a small smile of pride. I did it, she thought triumphantly.
"Alright, who's next?" Tonks asked, her gaze wandering over the group.
"If no one else wants to, I might as well get it over with," groaned Harry, stepping forward reluctantly.
"A wise choice," Tonks replied with a smile, glancing down at her notes. "What should a witch or wizard do if they experience Splinching during Apparition?"
"Oh," growled Harry, running a hands through his hair with a grimace. "Uh, well... it's important to stay calm and seek help. You should never try to Apparate back, because that could make it worse. Ideally, you should contact the Ministry departments in charge, but since that's not an option anymore, I'd call one of the adults here for help, or anyone who knows first aid."
"Spot on," Tonks agreed. "That's why Molly taught you the basics of treating Splinching injuries in class. I hope you were paying attention. Your health might depend on it one day."
Next up was Ron, who had to explain the legal restrictions on Apparition. With the Ministry gone, the only real concern was not being spotted by Muggles suddenly vanishing or appearing out of thin air. Ginny was the last to step forward.
Tonks glanced down at her notes "What does a witch or wizard have to consider when Apparating with another person?"
Ginny bit her lip and shot Tonks an accusing look. "Did you save the hardest question for me?" she teased, then sighed. "Alright… when Apparating with someone else, also known as Side-Along Apparition, you have to ensure the other person is ready. That means they need to be aware you're about to Apparate. You have to maintain physical contact, like holding onto them, and focus on getting both of you safely to the destination. If you lose focus, there is a high risk of Splinching, especially for the passenger. That's why, Side-Along Apparition should only be considered if you are experienced."
"Nicely done, Ginny." Tonks said with a grin. "And yes, I might have saved that one just for you." She glanced around the room before her eyes landed on Dumbledore. "If there are no further questions, we'll move on to the practical part of the exam." She gestured towards the drawing room. "Before we head to the library, take a moment to pick a spot in here where you want to Apparate to."
Emily chose a spot by the entry door and followed the others into the library.
"You're now going to Apparate three times in a row – once to the spot you've chosen in the drawing room and back again," Tonks explained.
"All at once?" Emily asked, a little surprised.
Tonks chuckled. "No. Of course not. One at a time, same order as in the theory part."
When Emily Apparated to the drawing room for the first time, she stumbled slightly, but Dumbledore gave her a wink and gestured for her to Apparate back. Relieved that Tonks hadn't noticed, Emily returned to the library, breathing a sigh of relief when she landed steadily in all of her other attempts. Her mother patted her shoulder approvingly as she took a seat to watch the others complete their tasks.
"Alright. Now for the final challenge," Tonks called out once Ginny completed her three Apparitions. "And, naturally, it's the hardest one. Since we can't Apparate in and out of this house, we'll be moving to the garden. Follow me."
Emily glanced at Dumbledore, expecting him to supervise the final part of the exam, but to her surprise, he was nowhere to be seen, not even his chair.
"The house-elves already took Albus outside," Lily said with a laugh when she noticed Emily's confusion.
"With his chair?"
"With his chair," she confirmed with a chuckle. "And now hurry along, or they'll start without you."
The sun was already sinking, casting long shadows across the garden as Emily joined the group. Tonks cleared her throat to get everyone's attention. "For your final task, you'll Apparate to the Potter's house and back, landing exactly where I told you. Remember your training - focus on the Three Ds."
Tonks paused, grinning. "And before anyone gets clever ideas - Charlie is waiting for you there to make sure you land in the right spot." With an encouraging smile, she turned toward Emily. "Alright, Emm, whenever you're ready."
"Oh, great. I'm first again," Emily muttered, suddenly feeling nervous. Their house wasn't far, but it was farther than she'd ever Apparated alone.
Taking a deep breath, Emily tried to focus. She closed her eyes, picturing the spot near the front of her home - the small patch of grass by the rosebushes she'd been instructed to aim for. Destination. Gripping her wand tightly, she willed herself to Apparate. Determination. She concentrated on every detail as she cast the spell. Deliberation.
Suddenly, with a loud crack, she felt herself being pulled away, the familiar sensation of being compressed, until her feet hit the ground hard. She gasped, stumbling as she landed awkwardly. Opening her eyes, she realized she wasn't where she was supposed to be. She'd landed several feet off, closer to the garden fence. With a worried look, she noticed Charlie jogging toward her with a concerned expression.
"You alright, Emm?" he called out, reaching her quickly. "Bit of a rough landing there."
Feeling her cheeks flush, Emily nodded. "I'm fine. But I missed the mark."
"Yeah, you're a bit off," Charlie said with a chuckle. "But nothing to worry about. You didn't splinch, and that's what matters. Take a moment, and then Apparate back."
Emily took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She needed to focus.
Charlie patted her on the back. "Just visualize the spot again and take your time."
Emily nodded and closed her eyes once more and forced herself to picture the spot in Dumbledores garden. She tightened her grip on her wand.
Destination. Determination. Deliberation.
This time, the Apparition felt smoother, more controlled. With a crack, she landed firmly in Dumbledore's garden, exactly where Tonks had told her to.
Tonks smiled proudly. "Well done!" she called out.
Relieved, Emily let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She'd done it.
Her mother, who had been watching from the side, walked over with a proud smile. "You handled that well," she said softly.
Emily grinned, still catching her breath. "I just... didn't want to fail."
"You didn't," Lily reassured her, resting a hand on her shoulder.
Tonks clapped her hands together, drawing everyone's attention. "Alright, Emily. You've passed! Excellent job."
Emily stepped aside and watched the others taking their turns. Harry completed his task quickly, and Ron, though he stumbled, recovered quickly and passed as well. With a broad grin, he accepted the confirmation that he had passed the exams.
Finally, it was Ginny's turn, and Emily was confident she'd do just fine. She'd always been the best in the Apparition classes. And indeed, Ginny accomplished her task smoothly, landing perfectly on both ends. Afterward, she joined the group, looking slightly winded but smiling.
Lily walked over, giving Ginny an approving nod. "Well done, Ginny," she said warmly. "Looks like all that practice paid off."
Ginny's grin widened. "Thank you, Mrs Potter."
Emily, overhearing the conversation, teased, "Let me guess. You've been secretly practising while the rest of us were just trying not to splinch."
Ginny laughed lightly, rubbing the back of her neck. "Well... sort of."
Lily raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Care to share your secret?"
Ginny hesitated for a moment, then confessed with a sheepish grin. "It's not secretive, really. Bill taught me last summer. He figured it might come in handy if I ever needed a quick escape."
Emily's mother chuckled. "Bill, of course. Always prepared."
"Yeah, he didn't want me getting into trouble," Ginny added.
Lily tilted her head thoughtfully. "Your mother didn't mind you practicing with Bill, then?"
Ginny hesitated, glancing around as if checking if anyone was listening. "Well... I might not have mentioned it to her at the time."
Emily's mother raised an amused eyebrow. "Ah, I knew it. Keeping it a bit of a secret, were we?"
Ginny smiled guiltily. "I just didn't want her to worry, that's all. You know how she is. She would've put a stop to it if she'd known. But now that we've all learned to Apparate, I suppose it doesn't matter anymore."
"What else did Bill teach you?" Emily asked cautiously, once her mother had gone to join Dumbledore and Mrs Weasley, who had apparently been watching the whole time.
Ginny shrugged, looking a bit shy. "Oh, you know, this and that. Mostly useful things you need when you find yourself trouble, like casting a stunner."
"That could definitely come in handy," Harry chimed in, clearly having overheard their conversation.
"Have you made any progress with the Patronus? The one we practiced with Bill when I was in London with you?" Emily asked.
Harry looked at Ginny, impressed. "You've been learning the Patronus Charm? My parents used to send messages to each other with theirs."
Ginny grimaced slightly. "Unfortunately, not," she admitted, "I can only manage a silvery mist so far. Bill says that's still pretty good, but to get a corporeal Patronus, I need a stronger memory."
"Maybe we could all practice together sometime," Emily suggested, but before anyone could respond, they were interrupted.
"Everyone, come inside! It's teatime," Dumbledore called, his voice carrying across the garden. "Donny and Diara have set the table and prepared a little surprise for our successful examinees."
They followed the adults back into the drawing room, where a large table was laid out. Instinctively, the four teenagers sat down at the end of the table, leaving the seats at the head for Dumbledore and the other adults.
As soon as they sat down, a large bar of chocolate appeared on each of their plates. "This is chocolate made from an old Hogwarts recipe, a secret only Donny and Diara know," Dumbledore announced, after his house-elves had settled him and his chair at the table. "Enjoy!"
"Is this the same chocolate we always had at Hogwarts during Advent?" Emily's mother asked, her eyes lighting up. "I always preferred it to Honeydukes' Best. Their chocolate was always a bit too sweet for my taste."
"Precisely the same," Dumbledore confirmed with a smile, looking up as Charlie entered from the garden.
"I hope you don't mind letting myself in," Charlie said, taking off his jacket.
"Not at all, we're glad you could join us," Dumbledore replied warmly.
Charlie slid into the seat next to Tonks and raised an eyebrow in her direction. "So, did everyone pass?"
"Yes, better than expected," Tonks confirmed with a grin.
While the adults talked, Emily picked up her chocolate bar, examining it closely. On the front, it read, "Fine Chocolate, made with Hogwarts' Secret Recipe," beside a moving image of chocolate being stirred in a large cauldron.
"I'll save it for later," Emily decided, setting it aside as she took a sip of tea and reached for a slice of apple crumble. She could hear the others chatting, and after a few bites, she turned her attention back to the conversation.
"Next week, we'll have our first gathering with the new students," Tonks was saying. "Four of them have confirmed, and another will join after Easter. She's moving back to England after living abroad for nearly a decade."
"And where is the meeting going to take place?" asked Mrs Weasley. "I'm not sure we have enough room at the Burrow."
"We'll hold it in the same space where the lessons will be," explained Dumbledore. "For now, this drawing room should suffice. It can comfortably hold at least 20 students, and the library is right next door."
"Twenty students?" Ron echoed in disbelief.
"Probably closer to ten in the spring," Lily clarified. "But we're hoping for more once the new school year starts."
"But there's a problem," Tonks interjected with a concerned expression.
"What kind of problem?" Mrs Weasley asked.
"As you know, we've been investigating the disappearance of Muggle-borns," Charlie said gravely. "Dora and I have been looking into the matter and we repeatedly came across a mysterious person connected to the cases, a certain Dolores Umbridge."
"She works for the Muggle Ministry, under the Minister for Crime and Policing," Tonks added, "but we suspect she's a witch."
Dumbledore's expression grew serious. "I remember her. She was an undersecretary at the Ministry of Magic for a time." He paused, shaking his head slowly, as if sifting through old memories. "I thought she'd died when the Ministry burned down."
"I wish she had," Charlie said bitterly. "She works for the Muggles now, and whenever a Muggle-born goes missing or is found dead, her department takes over the case. The Muggle authorities think it's the work of a serial killer."
Lily frowned. "And the victims…are they always Muggle-born? No Muggles?" she asked worriedly.
"Always Muggle-borns," Tonks replied grimly. "And every single one of them was registered to attend Hogwarts."
"This Umbridge woman must know exactly who's Muggle-born and who isn't." Ginny stated, disbelief written all over her face
"We need to warn the new students," Harry cut in, his voice urgent. "They need to know what's going on."
Tonks gave him a sad, resigned smile. "We've already warned them to be careful. Albus has provided them with portkeys for emergencies, but let's hope they never have to use them. They're not very comfortable with the idea."
"I assume they'll also come to our gathering using these portkeys," Lily chimed in.
"Yes, of course," Tonks confirmed.
"Are all the students coming next week Muggle-born?" Emily asked.
Tonks shook her head. "No. So far, we've got two half-bloods, two Muggle-borns, and one pure-blood. The girl joining after Easter is also Muggle-born." She chuckled softly as if recalling something. "That one was especially eager to get back to school. Apparently, she'd been attending a wizarding school in Canada and was worried she wouldn't get any magical education once her family moved back to England."