Chapter Seven

"Okay so what you're, uh, going to do first is really imagine the place where you want to be."

"You mean the place that is five feet away from me." Mr. Weasley gave Harry a hard look. "I'm just trying to make sure we're on the same page," Harry muttered, smiling innocently at the older man.

"Harry?"

"Yes, Mr. Weasley?"

"I'm not even sure that we're in the same library."

"Good to know." Harry was sure he heard a snort from Mycroft in the corner of the room, but clearly this apparation lesson was getting to him because Mycroft would never do that.

"Okay, now imagine, Harry."

Harry finally did as he was told and began to imagine the alcove five feet away: the color of the bricks, the cracks, the smell.

"Now begin to feel your presence there, like your magic is pulling you to the alcove. Do you feel it?"

Harry nodded.

"Very good, indeed. Now let your magic take you. Do not resist your magic."

A strong pull nagged on Harry's consciousness and suddenly his body was being sucked through the smallest tube imaginable. All at once, the compression stopped and Harry felt whole again. And a little bit dizzy.

Okay, more than a little dizzy, Harry thought as he began to throw up his breakfast next to his spot on the floor. A slight, distant noise of clapping reached his ears, but he ignored it in favor of collapsing in a heap on the frozen stone floor.

A large, rough hand clapped Harry on the shoulder, and Harry let out a groan.

"There's a sport. Apparating is a bit unsettling on the body the first time, but it gets better every time! Not to worry!" Mr. Weasley reassured Harry with a wide, warm smile.

"That would've been great to know before I apparated for the first time," Harry snarked lightly, slowly getting back up to a standing position. Harry heaved a breath, and ran a hand through his hair. Bringing his hands around to rest on his knees, Harry felt his throat burning, and his tongue tingled with the after-taste of throwing up. Tears brimmed his eyes and leaked down his cheeks as Harry coughed one last time. Gradually straightening up, Harry spoke again, "Alright, I'm okay now. I'm fine."

Mr. Weasley waved his wand and the sick Harry made disappeared.

"Are you ready to try it again, Harry?" Mr. Weasley asked, glancing up to briefly look Harry in the eyes.

"Yes, sir," Harry replied, and prepared himself for the squeezing sensation once again.

An hour later, Mr. Weasley deemed Harry prepared enough to obtain an apparating license. To Harry's distress, Mr. Weasley was surprised Harry hadn't ended up losing a limb, being so young. Harry had not even realized that was a possibility, let alone Mr. Weasley had expected Harry to lose a limb.

Eventually, Mr. Weasley explained it to Harry as there was a fifty percent chance of losing a limb, splinching, for a student learning to apparate. But don't worry, Harry mocked sarcastically to himself, splinching was very common and easily fixable!

Like that made it any better, Harry thought to himself as Mycroft, Mr. Weasley, and him walked to a different section of the Ministry, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

Several long, lackluster hallways later, the trio stopped in front of a reception desk. The woman behind the desk grinned brightly at them.

"Hi, do you have an appointment?"

Mycroft stepped forward, "Not an appointment, per say, but Madame Bones is expecting us to appear sometime today. Would you kindly let her know we have arrived?"

"Certainly," she replied bubbly. "Can I have your names?"

"Arthur Weasley, Harry Potter, and Mycroft Holmes," Mycroft answered. The receptionist glanced at Mycroft with disbelief.

"Mycroft Holmes doesn't usually wander around the Ministry of Magic. He tends to stick to the muggle side of things. Can I have some identification please?"

Harry saw Mycroft's hand twitch, but the man merely gave the receptionist a compliant smile and took a wallet out of his suit jacket. Mycroft flipped the wallet open and allowed the receptionist to scrutinize it. Finally, the woman conceded with a nod of her head, her smile never disappearing.

"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Holmes."

"Likewise."

"Let me just go back and let Madame Bones know you're here."

The receptionist got up and went down yet another hallway. The three men stood in silence in her absence, until she came hurrying back and motioned to them with a wave of her hand. The three men followed her with a start. On the way there, Harry noticed they passed many official-looking people dressed in finely made robes, some who acknowledged Mr. Weasley with a tip of the head, a polite smile, and a wave. Soon they reached a wooden door marked AMELIA BONES.

"Well, this is where I leave you," the receptionist said with a frown. She turned around and began to walk away, but just as she was about to turn the corner, she looked back and glanced at them. "Good luck."

Disgruntled, Harry watched as Mr. Weasley tapped lightly on the door three times. Seconds later, a severe looking woman opened the door a greeted them with a brisk smile.

"Well, don't stand there all day," she said. "Come in."

The three filed in and sat down in the expensive looking chairs in front of Madam Bones' desk. A large cherry wood, if Harry had to guess, desk lay against the right wall and bent to face the door. Stacks of parchments, two picture frames, and loose quills lay scattered across the desktop. Harry had to commend the woman; her desk was both messy but organized at the same time. Harry, sitting between Mycroft and Mr. Weasley, turned to Mycroft and whispered, "Mycroft, who exactly is this woman… and what are we here for?"

Mycroft's fingers tapped restlessly against the wooden handle of his umbrella, which made Harry mentally back up a second. Mycroft turned his head toward Harry and raised a thin eyebrow. Mr. Weasley chuckle softly at the exchange.

"My name is Amelia Bones, Mr. Potter. I believe you know my niece Susan?"

Harry jerked in surprise at the new voice joining the conversation. He turned to face the formidable woman. "Of course, I know Susan!" Harry exclaimed, looking Madam Bones dead in the eye. "What I meant was… well…what do you, er, do?"

Mycroft let out a brief huff, which almost sounded like another snort (but Harry had to be hearing things). "Such elegance."

"Yes, thank you for your invaluable input on my social skills, Mycroft. Now, if you would please?" Harry shot back instantly without thinking, a glare also thrown his way. Harry nudged his knee. Harry looked back to Madam Bones, who had a slight smirk playing on her lips.

"What I do, Mr. Potter, is head the DMLE. I control the aurors and any occurrences with the law in magical Britain. As you may remember, I was at your hearing this summer."

"Er, yes. I do happen to remember that," Harry fidgeted while avoiding Madam Bones' gaze.

"Good. Now what can I help you men with today?" She asked, glancing briefly at each of them.

"We need to remove the trace off of Harry's wand and register him with an apparation license," Mr. Weasley began, after it was clear Mycroft nor Harry were going to speak up.

"I'm afraid that's impossible," Madam Bones replied instantly with a hard gaze. "You of all people should know that Mr. Weasley."

Mr. Weasley, a red hue to his neck, opened his mouth to respond, but Mycroft beat him to it.

"Perhaps I should introduce myself, Madam," Mycroft said, extending his right hand. "Mycroft Holmes, security clearance QL8."

Madam Bones hesitated before shaking his hand, her lips a thin line. "I know who you are Mr. Holmes. May I have identification, please? Someone of your position can understand necessary precautions, yes?"

"Of course," Mycroft nodded agreeably. Once again, he reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a wallet and flipped it in Madam Bones' direction for her to inspect.

A few moments later, she nodded her head, apparently satisfied. "And what reasoning do you have behind your requests? Even with your clearance, I will not allow such allowances without good reason."

"I would expect nothing less, Madam," Mycroft said, a distant, refined smile donning his face.

"Madam Bones, do you believe Voldemort has returned?" Harry asked suddenly, his eyebrows raising briefly in surprise that he had even spoke up. A succinct silence entered the room. "Or do you think I'm a liar like everyone else?" Harry abruptly felt his veins ignite with bravery.

Madam Bones regarded Harry and his companions tentatively before answering slowly, "I believe I have not seen enough evidence to confidently say he has returned, but I also do not believe the death of Cedric Diggory and the impersonation of Alastor Moody to be coincidental. That being said, I believe there is merit to being prepared for the worst."

"Which brings us to the reasoning behind our requests, Madam," Mr. Weasley said. She looked at him in expectance. "With all due respect, we are preparing for the worst. Mr. Holmes here has graciously agreed to mentor Harry. Apparation is a given seeing as Harry's relatives live two hours away from London, where Mr. Holmes is based. This mentorship will continue throughout the school year as well, making it necessary for Harry to leave school on occasion, with the Headmaster's express approval, of course."

Madam Bones nodded her head thoughtfully. "I see your point, Mr. Weasley. Please continue."

"Actually, Madam, even I am not entirely sure about the next request. Mr. Holmes, this one is all you."

Mycroft inclined his head. "Understand, due to your security clearance, I cannot say much. However, I can say, what I will be doing with Mr. Potter is not purely on paper. I would like him to be prepared as possible in the event he needed to defend himself. I am under the impression he would not abuse such a privilege, would you?"

"Of course not!" Harry responded indignantly, his cheeks heating up at the thought of someone thinking so low of him. Madam Bones' eyes searched Harry's.

"Say I agree to this. There would be conditions."

"Of course," Mr. Weasley and Mycroft said at the same time.

"What would they be?" Harry asked curiously, a hand reaching up to run itself through his hair.

"Well, for one, I would not be able to keep this a secret. Such matters are made to be public record. What I can do is not deliberately announce it to the Prophet. Is that agreeable?" At the nod from all three men, she continued, "Second, I would require the occasion meeting with Mr. Potter to make sure we are all on the same page."

Out of the blue, a knock sounded on the door. "Madam Bones, your one thirty meeting is here and waiting."

Once the receptionist left, Mycroft continued, "Those conditions should be well met and manageable."

"I will have the paperwork done by the time I leave today at five. Mr. Potter, you cannot use magic until, let us say six o'clock tonight. Do you understand?"

"Yes, ma'am," said Harry pleasantly.

Quickly, the three men were ushered out the door, and eventually found their way into the main lobby of the Ministry.

Mr. Weasley, eyes bright, turned to Harry and Mycroft and sighed. "Unfortunately, I must get back to work, or I'll be missed. I'm glad I was able to help you out today, Harry." He reached a hand up and squeezed Harry's shoulder. Harry grinned back at him. "Be safe, whatever you're doing today."

"We will, Mr. Weasley!" Harry reached over and gave the man a brief but wholesome hug. Mr. Weasley shook Mycroft's hand and turned away in the opposite direction.

Watching him walk away, Harry asked Mycroft, "So what's next?"

"I believe we have a lunch reservation we're late for. I do hope Molly isn't too upset."

Alright, guys, it's time to start harassing me if I don't get a chapter out within two weeks. Anyway I hope you liked this! Sorry it's taking so long to get to all the action but i promise we'll get there eventually! :) reviews make me happy