Harry and Company

Chapter 3: The Second Test

When he woke up, his first thought that he was in heaven with his parents. "You okay, kid?" a gruff voice asked. Harry felt around for his glasses until someone put them in his hand. Once he could see clearly, he noticed he was in the large room, but most of the other participants were nowhere to be seen. The ship wasn't rocking, but he could still feel it moving slightly. They were still at the sea.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he said groggily. He noticed Tonks and the girl sitting next to him, and Test Manager Hagrid standing nearby. "What happened? How's the other boy? And where is the squid?"

Hagrid laughed loudly. "The squid was very happy that you both helped him. He put you back on board and left peacefully. The other boy is fine, he's still resting. Quite a feat, Healing such big wound like that. Not many Healers can do it," the large man had both hands on his hips and looked thoughtful.

"A Healer!" Harry gasped. It was a rather unique ability that some wizards and witches had, though it was much more common than being Wandless. Which reminded him of the girl. "And you're..." he looked around and then whispered, "a Wandless."

Hagrid's eyes widened and Tonks yelped, looking at the girl with fascination. "Yes, thanks for telling everyone," the girl said a little crossly. Harry looked helplessly at Tonks, who simply snickered silently.

"You said your name is Harry, right?" the large Test Manager asked. The boy simply nodded. "Harry what?"

"Potter," he said simply. Hagrid's eyes widened, but he didn't say anything else.

Tonks, however, yelped again. "You didn't tell me your last name!"

Harry shrugged. "Didn't think it was important. Besides, you didn't tell me yours."

"I did, I just didn't tell you my name," the young woman said quickly, probably hoping to drop the subject. "Besides, everyone knows the Potters were a very rich Pure-blood family. And everyone knows about James and Lily Potter being part of the Great Four Aurors!"

The girl looked at them curiously. "So, he's supposed to be famous?" she asked, nodding to Harry.

Tonks blushed slightly. "Sorry, no. I didn't mean to make such a fuss. Most of the legend speaks of his parents."

Harry chuckled bitterly. "And I'm glad about that. I don't know what I'd do if I were famous. Probably go bonkers. It's bad enough having to listen to people talking about the Great Four..." When the young woman ducked her head, he quickly added, "But I'm not mad at you, Tonks."

Hagrid cleared his throat. "I need to know your names and your reasons for wanting to become certified. It is mandatory, but generally it doesn't mean you'll be disqualified."

Tonks was the least uncomfortable with the requirement, though she still blushed when having to say her full name. "I'm... Nymphadora Tonks, and I want to become an Auror," she said simply. Harry had been told that most official jobs at the Ministry required to be approved by the Hogwarts Certification Secretary.

The Test Manager turned to the young girl expectantly. "I'm Hermione Granger... I want to prove that Muggle-borns can be as good or even better than Pure-bloods," she said with determination. The raven-haired boy blinked in surprise, and he was sure the others were as stunned as he felt.

Muggle-born witches and wizards (also known as Zero-bloods or Mudbloods by Blood Purists) were very common, but they rarely took the Certification Tests, preferring to live as Muggles. Harry's mother had been the only Muggle-born witch in years to take and pass the tests.

Harry was aware that Hagrid was waiting for his reason, but he wasn't sure if he could say it in front of all of them. Fortunately, the redheaded boy chose that moment to groan and wake up. "Finally!" the large man exclaimed, walking to the other boy on the floor. "That was a neat trick you did, boy! What's your name?"

After sitting up and rubbing his head, the boy looked around and noticed almost everyone gone. "Ron Weasley, sir."

"I see. What's your reason for becoming certified?" the Test Manager asked, deciding not to beat around the bush.

Ron's expression changed completely as he grinned, almost maniacally. "I want to be the richest bloke in this world," was his answer.

Hermione frowned in disgust and Tonks shook her head, while Harry tried not looking disappointed. Hagrid, however, seemed to accept it. He quickly walked outside, probably wanting to interrogate other participants.

After a few minutes of silence, Tonks blinked at Harry. "He didn't ask you, after all."

Before Harry could say anything else, a large rat squeaked, running towards Ron. An orange and rather ugly cat was at its heels. "Scabbers!" the boy exclaimed, getting up and grabbing his pet. "Woman, your monster will kill my pet!"

Hermione's eye twitched and she looked ready to kill. Both of them started a long and loud argument that lasted until they arrived to Wigtown. Somehow Harry knew this would happen until one of them got disqualified at some test. And instinctively, he knew he would take no side in it. Tonks was right beside him, silently thinking the same.

They arrived twenty hours after they had departed from Falmouth. Now they were in South Scotland, in a small town called Wigtown. Consequently, they sold many wigs. Tonks was the first out of the ship, and Harry followed obediently behind, not wanting to get lost. Especially not with Ron and Hermione, who were both clutching their respective pets and glaring at each other.

Hagrid's booming voice silenced all of the remaining participants that had to wait before heading for their next destination. "Two hundred and fifty-four participants have passed this test. All of you present. Your next test will be held at Peebles, northeast from here. You only have ten hours to reach there, by foot.

"If you get lost or want to drop out, use your wand to shoot sparks into the sky. A Ministry escort will find you and take you back to Falmouth." Most participants looked anxious to run off to Peebles right away. "I warn you, there are many wild magical creatures along the way, many are men-eaters." Some paled at that confession. "Anyway," Hagrid said, his expression changing from grim to cheerful. "Wait for Pomona Sprout, she will be leading the way! Good luck!"

He looked at Harry and then at a hill on the outskirts of Wigtown, before turning around and walking back to his ship, followed by the crewmen. The large wooden transport was soon heading back to Falmouth. All of the participants stood there, waiting for this Pomona Sprout woman.

A very beautiful woman walked up to a group of wizards and said something. Soon they were following her out of town. Some saw what was happening and followed after them. Tonks frowned. "That was not Sprout," she muttered so only Harry could hear.

The raven-haired boy sighed and then looked at the hill. "What if we have to go there? Hagrid seemed to, kind of, point it before he left."

"Are you sure about that?" she asked, clearly uncertain.

Harry shrugged. "I suppose." He started walking towards the main street of the town and towards the hill. The young woman followed him, not knowing what else to do. There were two hushed voices constantly arguing behind them. He sighed. It was going to be a long, long trip...

Notes: Okay, so Harry is not famous, but his parents were. Muggle-borns usually don't take the tests. Ron is a powerful Healer and Tonks wants to be an Auror, like the Great Four. :P Hermione's a little harder to reach.
And Ron is... difficult to understand. The next chapter makes him shine, a bit. And introduces a character some of us enjoy.