Chapter 10: Training Resumes

The End

Chapter 10: Training Resumes

"Harry. Harry! HARRY!" Ron yelled. Harry's eyes finally fluttered open. Ron looked a little surprised that his friend hadn't sat up immediately and pulled his wand on him. Harry sat up lethargically and glared at Ron. "Getting kind of lazy, aren't we, mate?" Ron asked jokingly. Harry continued to stare at Ron's blurry form blankly.

"What the bloody hell is so important that you had to wake me up at THREE in the fucking morning?" Harry asked. Ron smiled sheepishly.

"Well, Hermione said to meet her and the others down at the Quidditch pitch in fifteen minutes. She said put on your Magus uniform. So, up you get, and be quick about it," Ron said, putting on his utility belt. Harry sighed and reached for his glasses.

"I am going to rip Hermione's lungs out of her chest when I see her. I just went to sleep," Harry moaned. Ron laughed.

"Well, if you'd started studying for McGonagall's final three days ago, you wouldn't be in this predicament, now would you?" Ron said. He turned only for his face to be met with a pillow. "Hey!"

"Sod off, Ron," Harry said and finished dressing. Neville was waiting for them in the common room, desperately trying to fasten his belt. Aurora was coming down the stairs and saw him.

"Let me help you, Neville," she said. Neville watched her do the elaborate buckle and smiled when she was done. "You really need to learn how to do that. You are now a rather powerful wizard, yet you still cannot even buckle on your utility belt," she laughed. Neville blushed a deep red color. Aurora looked at the old clock and gasped. "We need to hurry."

Out on the Quidditch pitch, Hermione stood with her arms crossed. Draco, Rina, Lina, and Cye stood next to her. Three other people stood with them. Hermione looked exceptionally pissed.

"I specifically said fifteen minutes. Not thirty," she growled underneath her breath. Draco smirked. Then he saw the troupe galloping up toward them.

"Relax, Granger. Here they come now," he said. Hermione trained her eyes on her boyfriend. Ron saw the look on her face and leaned over to Harry.

"She is pissed at us," he said. Harry nodded and readied himself for the tongue-lashing they were about to receive.

"Listen up. From now on, I'm going to need you all to be here in a TIMELY fashion. If I say in fifteen minutes, I mean fifteen minutes. Not thirty, not forty-five. FIFTEEN! Do I make myself clear?" Hermione asked, looking at all the sleepy faces. They all nodded somewhat. Hermione looked over at Draco. He took a step forward.

"Let's look alive, people. Dumbledore so graciously made Granger and I the leaders of what he now calls the Junior Order of the Phoenix. That would be us. So, as our first order of business, we have decided to continue training. The good thing about it is, we will not be leaving school. The bad thing about it is that this is an everyday thing. Actually, I think both of those are pretty bad things. Anyway, we will meet here every morning at three-fifteen. These are our new trainers." Draco gestured to the adults.

"You already know Cye Tremaine. The other three are Ferris Winfred, Aiko Shang, and Darien Shamus. You may know Darien from what Fionnula told us about him. He's now her husband. They were married last weekend. Well, Rina and Lina will be joining us, as they are better trained than us. They've been training since they were twelve. We need all the help we can get. Now, I will leave the rest to them." Hermione stepped back. Ferris and Darien stepped forward. They looked over all of them.

"Get in a straight line, shortest to tallest, facing us," Ferris said. He was a tall man with his hair cut very short. They obeyed quickly. Neve was the shortest, and Ron was the tallest. Ferris and Aiko began walking the length of the line, examining all of them. Cye and Drake just watched.

"Fionnula and Drake told me that you are somewhat mediocre in your skills," Aiko said. Ron scoffed. Hermione closed her eyes and sighed heavily, hoping Ron would hear her. Apparently he didn't, and his incessant mouth started shooting off without thinking.

"'Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.' Sir Arthur Conan Doyle said that," Ron said smugly. Aiko turned towards Ron. She stalked back down the line. She looked up at Ron in his eyes. Aiko was much shorter than him, but the aura about her was very threatening. She had straight black hair in a high ponytail and very narrow eyes.

"You must be Ronald Weasley. I can tell from that hair of yours. So, you think you're past mediocre, do you?"

"Well, yeah. We took on Voldemort and his cronies and lived to tell the tale," Ron said, looking almost as intimidating as Aiko herself. Ron had never met her before. He stared Aiko right in her light brown eyes. Aiko smirked.

"Step forward, Weasley," Aiko invited, taking a large step back. Everyone in line turned their heads to look at the two. "Are you any good at hand-to-hand combat, Weasley?" Aiko asked, removing her robe and handing it to Darien. Ron nodded and threw his at Harry. Aiko cracked her knuckles and her neck then looked at Ron. "If you can hit me, I will call you above average. If not, you'll have to run fifty laps around the pitch in thirty minutes. Deal?" Aiko held her hand out. Ron looked at it.

"Deal." He shook it. Aiko smiled. Ron looked solemnly at Aiko. Aiko just stood there, looking complacently at Ron. Giving almost no warning, Ron lunged forward. Aiko was unnaturally fast. She grabbed Ron's fist and pulled him closer. She spun around him, knocking him in the back of his head with her elbow. Ron went flying forward. He got up quickly and turned to look at the young woman. Aiko was standing there with her arms crossed. Ron went forward again. This time, Aiko grabbed his arm and flipped all 215 pounds of Ron's muscle over her shoulder. Ron landed on his back. To make matters worse, Aiko twisted his wrist quickly. Everyone heard a loud crack. Ron let loose a very loud yell. Aiko stood up and looked out at the others. Cye walked forward to Ron, pulling her wand out.

"Well, does anyone else here object to being called mediocre?" Aiko asked, retrieving her robe from Darien, who was smirking. Everyone shook their heads quickly. Cye was muttering a healing charm. Ron stood up, moving his wrist around. Aiko winked at him as he got back in line. Ron scowled back at her. He snatched his robe away from Harry, who was trying very hard not to start laughing. Hermione was shaking her head, and Draco was looking off in space, also trying not to laugh. "Well, now that we've gotten that out of the way, start running," Aiko said. Ron began mumbling a few choice words and started to go off.

"Have fun, Weasley," Draco whispered tauntingly.

"Fuck off, Malfoy," Ron growled. Aiko turned and looked at the others still standing there.

"What are you doing still standing there? Didn't I say run?" she asked. They all looked at her like she'd sprouted wings. Ron stopped and turned to watch this scene.

"Excuse me, but I thought you meant just Ron. You did say it to him," Hermione said. Aiko grinned like a madwoman.

"Sorry, Hermione. But, I meant the whole lot of you. Now, time is wasting. If any of you finish after thirty minutes is up, I'll had five more laps to everyone. Now get moving." Aiko said in an unusually happy voice. Rina, Lina, Neve, Aurora, Hermione, Ginny, Harry, Neville, and Draco all turned to look at Ron, who was standing there, grinning sheepishly.

"Get him," Ginny said. They all started running after him. Ron took off as fast as he could.

Thirty minutes later, all ten of them were sprawled across the grass, panting like dogs. Aiko was certainly looking quite satisfied with herself.

"Congratulations, you all. You made it under the set time limit. Now, back to business. I don't need you to get up. I just need you to listen. You should be quite proud of being called mediocre. In Magi rankings, you all would probably be Prosaics. A Prosaic is the second ranking. The first are the Neofitas. We are Arbitrarios. That is the second highest ranking. The highest ranking Magi is a Magus called Cyril Jones. He's the Capo Superiori. The next is a Magas named Jovianne Benedict, the Capo Inferiori," Ferris said. He looked over at Cye.

"We are trying to get you to the level of Adeguato. That is the third highest ranking. Now, regardless of this training, you will be expected to keep up with your studies. Now, who is a telepath?" Cye asked. Harry, Ginny, and Aurora all raised their hands. Cye nodded, then stepped to the side. Ava stood behind her.

"Avarielle is one of the more powerful telepaths on this planet. I understand that you, Harry, are more interested in Soliopathy. Am I correct?" Darien asked. Harry nodded.

"Well, your focus will be on that. Aurora, you and Ava will work together on your telepathy. You have the potential to match Ava. Hermione, you are pretty good at everything, so you will continue to train hardest in everything. I would also like to see you start in on Soliopathy. You look like you have the mental capacity for it," Aiko said, reading a piece of parchment. Hermione stood up with a questioning look on her face.

"Mental capacity? Are you trying to say that I'm..." Hermione was pulled back down by Neve.

"Let it go, Hermione," she whispered. Hermione nodded and glared at Aiko, who was smiling. She went back to the paper she was reading.

"Longbottom, you have shown exceptional skills at charms. So, Cye will help you heighten your skills. Draco Malfoy, let's see... You like magical and Muggle weaponry, right?" Draco nodded. Aiko looked back down at the paper. "Darien will be assisting you. Catalina and Celerina, you will get general training like Hermione. Neveah and Weasley..." Aiko looked over at the two toughest teenagers she'll probably ever come into contact with. They were both glaring at her. "I am to understand that you two outshine everyone in physical combat. Your other scores are not that bad either. I guess you will be continuing in general training," Aiko said, folding the parchment. The two nodded.

"Um... what about me?" Ginny asked, standing up and brushing herself off. Aiko looked in Ginny's direction. She seemed to be in deep thought.

"You are a partial telepath, right?" she asked.

"Yes," Ginny replied. Aiko nodded, then looked over at Ferris.

"She's a Shai, too. Do you know how to fully control it?" Ferris asked. Ginny shook her head.

"I do know somewhat how to work it. I still need a little training because I still do it when I don't intend to," Ginny said quietly. The four adults nodded.

"So you're saying that you can do it when you want to, but you also do it when you don't mean to? That could become a problem later on in life. You are the only 'registered' Shai known. We're the only ones..." Darien began but was interrupted by Cye.

"No, we're not. The other day when Ginny found out about our sister being alive she was being blocked by a barrier built for Shais. Somehow, Voldemort got wind of her being a Shai," Cye said. Darien looked at her, and then back at Ginny, who nodded.

"Well, then what do you think you excel at?" Aiko asked. Ginny looked at the short Asian woman.

"I'm rather good at shooting with a... what was it called... a sniper rifle. I'm also a pretty good archer," Ginny said. Aiko nodded.

"So, you like long-distance fighting. Well, I'm not going to work you any harder today. You still have to go to classes. Unfortunately for you, tomorrow, you belong to me for three lovely hours of pain. Now get lost before I change my mind," Aiko said. The others nodded and immediately started walking off.

At breakfast, Ava and Draco sat with the other Gryffindors. Ginny sat next to Ava.

"So, how powerful are you exactly as a telepath?" Ginny asked. Aurora looked over at the two. Ava smiled weakly.

"I consider myself rather talented at it. I can project fake images, give people dreams, and all kinds of things. I trained myself. The only other person who knows I have this power is Tommy. I killed his dog by accident because it destroyed my favorite teddy bear. He literally ripped it to pieces. So, I caught myself wanting the dog to be dead, and it just fell over. Tommy was angry at me for months. I still don't think he quite forgave me for it," Ava said. Aurora and Ginny both looked like they were trying very hard not to laugh. Ava looked at Aurora. "You did the same thing to your brother's parakeet," she said calmly. Aurora's mouth dropped open.

"Gli spiriti superiori finiscono per incontrarsi. How did you know that?"

"I read it in your mind."

"But, I did not feel you. How did you do that? Enter without being detected?" Aurora asked. Ava looked down at her plate, smiling like mad.

"I'm very talented, as stated before. The only person I cannot read against his will is Tommy. Something about being his twin. Plus, I think he has walls up around him. He's been very distant towards me as of late. Normally, I can get anything out of him. Now, he won't even look at me..." Ava's voice trailed off as she looked at Tommy and Neve laughing. Draco was scraping his spoon in his bowl, making an ear-piercing screeching sound. Aurora kicked him.

"What was that for?" he demanded. Aurora sighed.

"That is a very annoying sound. What is your problem?" Aurora asked. Draco sighed.

"Do you really have to ask?" he asked, nodding in Neve's direction. Aurora followed his gaze. She shook her head and made a scoffing noise.

"I swear you spend more time hating Tommy then you spend with me, Draco. Cannot you see Neve is happy? Why do not you just live and let them be?" Aurora said loudly. Draco didn't appear to have heard her. She kicked him again.

"Why do you keep fucking kicking me!" Draco yelled. Everyone in the Great Hall was now quieting down, listening to Aurora and Draco argue.

"Why do not you just marry her since you are so damn interested in her well-being!" Aurora threw her juice on him then stormed out of the Great Hall. Draco just sat there, looking just as shocked as everyone else at Aurora's actions.

"Wow. That's the maddest I've seen her get since we last saw your father, Malfoy," Harry said quietly. Draco growled something illegible. Hermione looked over at Draco.

"Well, aren't you going to even go after her?" Hermione asked. Draco looked in her direction.

"No. I'm not trying to die. How bloody stupid do you think I am, Granger?" Draco asked. Hermione sighed and shook her head. She took out a vial of blue liquid. Pouring it into her juice, she swirled it around, and then drank it. Ron watched her as she did this.

"Apparently, you're not too bright if you can't take a good tongue-lashing when you obviously need it, Draco. I can see why she's mad at you. You've been ignoring her. I think you should go apologize," Hermione stated calmly. Draco squinted at her.

"Shut up, Granger," he said spitefully. Hermione made a face and kept stirring her concoction.

"What was that?" Ron asked with a mouth full of biscuit. Hermione swallowed and looked at Ron.

"What was what?"

"What you just put in your juice. What was it?"

"Oh, I've just been getting these horrible migraines lately. I went to Madam Pomfrey, and she gave me the recipe for a special headache potion. Nothing special, Ron," Hermione said. Ron nodded and apparently thought nothing of it.

Ginny was in deep thought. She remembered what Dumbledore had said about her knowing if Ava had entered her mind.

But, Ava can get inside a person's mind without being detected. If she can do that, who is to say that she didn't find out about my little gift? What if she's Voldemort's spy? Ginny thought intently. Ava was engaged in a conversation with Rina and Lina. Ginny closed her eyes. Harry, I need to talk to you tonight. Meet me in the common room at midnight, Ginny transmitted to Harry. Harry looked up and over at Ginny. He nodded, signaling that he'd gotten her message.

Much later, Aurora sat in the common room, fuming. She stared into the fire, her eyes burning. Neve and Tommy sat across the room, looking at her. Tommy sighed.

"Why don't you just go talk to her?" he asked. Neve stood up and shook her head.

"I know what I have to do. I'll be back," She walked out of the portrait hole. Tommy sighed.

Neve stalked down the hallway to the Slytherin common room. Lucky for her, Millicent Bulstrode was coming out of it, looking very happy. The moment she saw Neve, though, her smile dropped. She stopped moving and crossed her arms. Neve stopped a few feet in front of her.

"What do you want, Assante?" she muttered. Neve smiled.

"Unless you want this to be round two, Bulstrode, I suggest you do as I ask. I need you to go and get Draco Malfoy. I want to have a word with him," Neve said. Millicent stared at her for a moment longer, then she turned to go back inside. Neve waited for a moment. When Millicent returned, Draco was in tow.

"There you are, Assante: one blonde Malfoy for you," Millicent growled, and then kept walking. Neve nodded and stared Draco in the face. Draco looked right back at her. Then Neve grabbed his arm and led him all the way to an empty classroom.

"Did you apologize to Aurora?" Neve asked. Draco scoffed and crossed his arms.

"For what? She's the one who kicked me twice and threw juice in my face. Why should I be the bloody one to apologize?" Draco asked. Neve's eyes narrowed, and the roots of her now black hair were turning orange. Draco took no notice of these warning signs.

"Because she's mad and sitting in the Gryffindor common room. She looks like she just lost her best friend. Last time I checked, that was you. Aurora isn't one to just be mad for no reason. You had to have done something to her. What was she screaming about anyway?" Neve asked. Draco smirked.

"Oh, she was mad because I hate Tommy," Draco said. Neve nodded. She walked forward. Grabbing Draco by his collar, she slammed him hard against the wall. Their faces were so close together that their noses almost touched.

"Let's get something straight, Draco. Contrary to popular belief, I do not need you to wipe my arse for me. You spend so much time worrying about me that you've forgotten to pay attention to the one girl probably besides your mother that loves you. So, leave me be, and let me live. YOU need to apologize to my sister. It is YOUR fault. What is it about Tommy that you don't like?" Neve asked. Draco took this time to reverse their position.

"Listen, Neveah. There is something about that guy that rubs me the wrong way."

"Listen to yourself, Draco. Everyone bugs you in some way or another. I don't need you to look after me so much. I've proven myself to be pretty capable of taking care of myself. Why do you feel the need to protect me so much?" Neve asked. Draco opened his mouth to say something. Unfortunately, nothing came out. Neve still stared at him. He stared right back at her.

"Because I..."

At midnight that night, Ginny and Harry were the only ones left in the common room.

"So what is it, Gin?" Harry asked. Ginny looked over at him.

"Earlier, Dumbledore told me that Ava couldn't possibly be the leak to Voldemort. He said that if Ava entered my mind, I would've sensed her presence. I'm a partial telepath, Harry. Ava entered Aurora's mind today without Aurora realizing it. She did it all by herself. Could that mean that she's the leak to Voldemort?" Ginny asked. Harry looked long and hard at her for a moment.

"I don't think that Ava would do something like that. Did Dumbledore say he trusts her?" Harry asked. Ginny nodded.

"Yes. What does Dumbledore trusting Ava have to do with her being the leak?" Ginny asked.

"Normally, when Dumbledore says he trusts someone, he's right. I mean, look at Snape. He trusted Snape, and Snape paid dearly for being on his side. Someone else is the leak. But, in any case, I think I'll ask Draco to keep an eye on Ava since he's in Slytherin, too. Does that satisfy you?" Harry asked. Ginny cracked a smile at him.

"I'm not worrying for anything, Harry. I do have good reason," she said.

"I know. We have to get up in three hours, Gin. I suggest you go and get some sleep." Harry stood, yawning. Ginny nodded and they parted ways.

Neve came in the common room shortly after Ginny and Harry deserted it. The fire was beginning to die down. She sat in a plush armchair and stared long and hard into it.

"What just happened?" she whispered.

Gli spiriti superiori finiscono per incontrarsi = Great minds think alike.