Auror Academy

The Auror Academy

Chapter 1: Welcome to The Auror Academy

“Six years since anyone’s been accepted to train as an auror and the first person they let in is a fucking death eater. Can you believe it?” Face nearly as red as his hair, Ron stormed toward the Ministry of Magic Headquarters. His strides grew longer and heavier, seeming not to care that his friends were now walking several meters behind him. “It’s bad enough we had to deal with him for nearly seven years at Hogwarts. Now I have to see his ugly face for the next three years as well when he really should be locked up in Azkaban.”

Hermione hastened toward Ron, robes swishing in the cool London air. “Shacklebolt wouldn’t allow him to join the aurors if he believed he was loyal to You-Know-Who.”

“Voldemort, Hermione. He’s dead. The taboo on his name doesn’t really matter anymore. And neither does loyalty, does it? His side lost. Of course, he’s going to try and switch now.”

“Ron’s got a point. The guy’s a snake. I don’t trust him,” said Harry, who was also struggling to keep up, dragging a very unhappy looking Ginny by the hand.

“I’m not saying that I trust him. I’m just saying that he’s been cleared for a reason. He wasn’t even of age yet when the dark lord branded him with the dark mark as punishment for his father’s failures. I’m not sure we can really fault him for that. He must have been scared out of his mind to deny Voldemort.” She made a point to over enunciate the name. “Besides, there was that time he could have easily sold us out to Voldemort, but he didn’t. He was meant to kill Dumbledore, but he didn’t. He could have left Harry defenseless at the battle of Hogwarts, but…”

“We get it Hermione,” Ron interrupted. “Malfoy could have chosen to do those things, but he chickened out. And that’s just what we need right now, isn’t it? A coward for an auror.”

“Talking about yourself, Weasley? It’s not too late to go back home to Mummy. Maybe Daddy can pull some strings in the muggle artifacts department. I’m sure they could use a coffee boy.” Ron’s stomping ceased, causing Hermione to bump into his back, knocking her onto the pavement. Ron didn’t seem to notice as his gaze narrowed on the figure near the official entrance to the ministry. Draco Malfoy, looking smug as ever, was leaning with one foot on the brick wall, taking a rather long drag of a cigarette.

Ron’s knuckles turned white as Harry and Ginny ushered him through the door, desperate to avoid a confrontation their first day. “Get fucked Malfoy,” he spat before disappearing through the entrance, leaving Hermione still lying on the ground. She hadn’t moved. She started in shock at the door disguised as an ordinary public lavatory. How could her friends, especially Ron, just leave her there like that?

“What do you say, Granger? Feel like volunteering?” She looked up to see Draco extending a hand toward her. It took her a second to realize what he’d said, causing her cheeks to flush. She swatted his hand away and uprighted herself, but he continued to stand there, far too close for comfort and refusing to break eye contact as he took a final drag of his cigarette.

She wanted to say something witty and clever in response to his crudeness. But instead, what came out was “Smoking is bad for your health, you know?” before she ran off and flushed herself into the Ministry of Magic.

…

“Welcome to the Auror Academy!” bellowed Minister Shacklebolt. “I am pleased to announce that this is our largest class in decades. In years past, including when I myself was training to become an auror, we accepted nothing less than the best students from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Though I have waived the requirements for those who participated in the Battle at Hogwarts, it is my belief that each and every one of you still fit that description, on the grounds of your bravery, loyalty, and ability to fight and survive in such a battle as only mere students. I have no doubt that each and every one of you will achieve greatness here.”

Ron scoffed and leaned in toward Harry. “He sees Malfoy standing next to me doesn’t he?”

“Oh Weasley. It would behoove you to know that some of us actually earned our spot here, rather than being accepted purely as a form of a participation trophy.” Draco continued to stare ahead, seemingly unbothered.

“Says the wanker who’s death eater daddy bought his way onto the Slytherin quidditch team,” said Ron.

Hermioned shushed them both, and to her surprise, received a wink in response from Draco. She blushed and sank back into line next to Ginny.

“Your course studies will include Concealment and Disguise, Stealth and Tracking, Potions and Antidotes, Magical Jurisprudence, and Battle Instinct. You will additionally be paired up and sent into the field for training. All lower stakes missions of course. Each of you endured extensive character and aptitude testing prior to your acceptance. We have used this information to create the most compatible partnerships for your field training. Our decisions on partners are final so don’t even try to switch. This is the real world and I expect you all to act as the adults that you are.” Shacklebolt halted his pacing and raised a brow in Ron’s direction. Ron didn’t seem to notice the gesture.

…

“I can’t believe Ron! He’s such an arse!” Hermione slammed her trunk down onto her bunk and started loudly unpacking.

“I’m well aware. I’ve lived with him my whole life. What has he done now?” said Ginny, sitting on her bunk across the room reading The Daily Proffit.

“He actually had the audacity to ask me to drop out of the academy because I’ve been paired up with Malfoy. Can you believe it?”

“He didn’t!” Ginny dramatically slammed down her paper. “That prick!”

“He’s convinced Malfoy is still a death eater and thinks he’s going to get me killed. Even if Draco is a death eater, I can hold my own. Did he forget how we spent what was supposed to be our entire seventh year of school?”

“Well, that was before…”

“Before what?” Hermione snapped.

“Before you two became… whatever it is you are.”

“Exactly! I don’t even know what we are to each other. Friends who occasionally snog and hold hands? Nothing else seems to have changed other than that. If anything, I feel like we’re more distant than ever. It’s like he feels the need to compartmentalize his friend time with Harry and his time with me. Like we can’t all just hang out as friends anymore.”

“Now you know how I’ve always felt.”

“I am sorry, Ginny. But you were Ron’s little sister. For seven years it was always the three of us, and now I’m being pushed out. And anyhow, Draco isn’t that bad. At least he’s competent. I could be paired with…”

“Neville?”

Hermione winced. “Sorry, Ginny. I’m sure Neville will be a great partner. Being an auror is in his blood after all.”

“I’d take Neville over Malfoy anyday. I’m not saying Ron was right to ask you to drop out, but I think he’s right to be wary of Draco’s intentions of becoming an auror. Having a partner you can’t trust puts you in a particularly dangerous position. I know my brother cares for you, and so do I. I know you can handle yourself, but Hermione, please take extra care around him.”

“I know. I know. I don’t plan on letting my guard down. But Ginny, if I can gain his trust, I may be able to find out his true intentions once and for all.”