The Apprentice Piece
by Jardyn39
Part One of "The Apprentice Piece"
Chapter 14: The Training Tent
At breakfast, Dumbledore had announced that an Auror training tent would erected in the grounds that day.
"All students are forbidden from entering without qualified supervision. The tent is trained to attack anyone entering. Staff and students would be at risk. Even qualified Aurors have been killed entering this particular tent. Its use was stopped when the death toll reached unacceptable levels," the Headmaster said seriously. "If someone is foolish enough and seen entering, do not follow. Raise the alarm."
Looking around he continued, "Many of you will be curious about what goes on inside. Professor Harbinger has suggested we give guided tours to selected groups of students. You will have an opportunity to see demonstration duels in safety."
*
Harry had received a note from Harbinger asking him to meet him at the Auror tent after lunch.
As he approached the tent, he saw Harbinger waiting for him at the entrance. The tent had a large entrance with an extension piece that formed a lobby. The tent flaps opened and a familiar growl said, "Hello, Potter."
Mad-Eye Moody stood grinning at him. "Hi," said Harry.
"Come in and look," and he beckoned both of them inside.
Before them stretched a large open tent. Light was still getting in through gaps in the side canvas but strange shadows moved around the tied down sections. There were no tent poles inside, although from the outside it looked like there should have been. The atmosphere seemed charged and Harry felt the hairs on the back of his head prickle.
"Not quite finished yet but you can see they are getting excited"
"Who is getting excited?" Harry asked.
"Your opponents," he growled back with an evil grin. "Harbinger here is the last surviving Auror that received training in this tent. It was modified for advanced training against wizards using the dark arts. It is lethal. Killed two trained Aurors last time it was put up, good ones too. Scares me to think what it's capable of, and I don't scare easy."
"You are an Auror?" Harry asked the Professor, suddenly more interested.
"I was."
"So," Moody began again brightly, "lethal and completely unsuitable for teaching a young would-be Auror. Right up your street Potter, Eh?"
"Huh?" Harry asked stupidly.
"Dumbledore wanted you to face some dark challenges. This tent was Moody's idea. It is the best we could get," added Harbinger.
"Okay, I want to run through the rules for using this tent," said Moody as he stomped back to the lobby. They followed.
"First, only ever enter and exit through this lobby. If you come in any other way you'll be killed. When outside keep a sensible distance from the perimeter too, its been known to grab people.
"Second, never EVER bring your normal wand into the tent. There will be a box of training wands in the entrance. Each wand indicates the level you can cope with. If the tent senses a normal wand it's free to use all forms of attack including the unforgivable curses.
"Third, if you get into trouble just drop the wand. The tent should stop attacking after a while. Get to the lobby and then use a summoning charm to retrieve the wand. If you pick the wand up inside the tent will attack again.
"Four. The tent will always try to challenge you. If it thinks you can face more it will increase the level of skills needed. That's how one of the fatalities occurred so watch out.
"Five. It will not play fair. Expect multiple attacks from all directions including behind. Some distractions will appear too.
"Six. You must always be alone when duelling the tent. It will trick you into attacking anyone else in the arena. This thing is evil.
"Seven. Injuries you receive in here are real. Your opponent's injuries are simulated.
"And lastly, well for now anyway, remember that this is an old tent. The dark witches and wizards that the arena simulates are long dead. If you recognise a death-eater or anyone else in here they are real!"
Harry just stared into the cavernous tent from the lobby.
"Don't worry Harry," said Harbinger smiling, "we'll go over the rules again when we are ready to start. For now just promise me never to enter the tent again without the direct supervision of Alastor or myself."
Harry nodded.
"The other promise you need to make concerns the control area," continued Harbinger. "You need to get used to the idea that the simulated opponents are real. If you see they are not you will be weakened."
"Okay. Where is the control area?"
"Well, it's not there yet. There will be some external steps up to another side entrance. The same steps will lead to a viewing area. Please stay off the steps for now. It sounds stupid but it will make a difference."
*
Harry climbed though the portrait hole, walked over to the fire and collapsed in a chair. The common room was empty except for Hermione who was reading a large volume.
"Good practise?" she asked.
"I thought Moody was bad. Harbinger is even worse!"
"I was wondering if we could help out with your extra training."
"It's dangerous in the tent, but I'll ask if there is anything you or Ron could help with if you like."
"Thanks, Harry." She paused. "Could I tell you something else?"
"Anything, you know that." He looked over to her. She was watching him with a pensive look. "What's wrong?"
"Well, Ron has asked me to go to the Halloween ball with him."
"Oh, I wondered if he would - I told him I was going to ask you if no-one else had soon."
"I didn't like to refuse. Harry, were you listening to what Professor McGonagall was saying about defiance?"
"Not really. Why?"
She sighed heavily.
"Harry, I'm going to tell you something you won't like. I don't want you to hear it from anywhere else."
"What is it? Are you okay?" he asked with concern. She smiled at him nodding.
"Halloween is not a wizarding celebration, Harry."
"Of course it is, we have a feast every year!"
"Not last year. Before we came to Hogwarts Halloween was not the theme of the celebrations. Every 31st October, Harry, the wizarding world celebrates the full of Voldemort." She paused.
Harry could feel is face redden as anger coursed through him.
"Sure," Harry said through gritted teeth. "My parents died that day. Why not celebrate!"
*
The next day Harry got up early and went in search of Hermione. He found her down in the Great Hall having breakfast early so she could get some library time in before lessons started.
"Hermione, I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have taken it out on you. I really appreciate you telling me and I hope I didn't upset you too much."
Hermione smiled at him. "It's okay, Harry, I understand."