The Apprentice Piece
by Jardyn39
Part One of "The Apprentice Piece"
Chapter 17: Hermione's Strategy
"Neville, I need a favour."
"Sure, Harry, what is it?"
"You may have heard I have more than one date for the ball."
Neville smirked.
"Well, I need a couple of people, you know - kind, loyal friends - who will dance with my dates while I go and collect one of the others. I just want to bring each one into the hall individually but not have the other hang around while I go and get them. Please Neville. Once they are all the in hall I'll be okay."
"You sound like you are herding cattle. Anyway I'm a terrible dancer."
"Please."
"Okay. Who needs shin pads?"
"Thanks Neville. I won't forget this. It's Susan Bones I need you to dance with."
Neville's face dropped. "I can't. I turned her down when she asked me." He looked down.
"You can dance with Luna then. Why'd you turn Susan down? She's nice."
"I asked Ginny," he said, going red. "She's going with someone else though."
"I'm sorry, Neville. Will you still dance with Luna?"
"Sure, I suppose"
*
Harry waited at the bottom of the steps outside the Auror tent waiting for Harbinger and Hermione.
A group of Second Years descended the steps and a couple of Ravenclaw Rebels stopped to comment on the training they had just witnessed from the viewing platform.
After they had gone, Hermione and Harbinger came down the timber steps. Hermione was carrying two large books and wore a serious expression. She was nodding, listening to Professor Harbinger who was speaking to her quietly.
Harbinger stopped talking as soon has he saw Harry.
"I've asked Hermione to review your progress to date and see if she can't think up a few more challenges on your current level." He turned to Hermione and asked her, "What did you think about today's effort?"
Hermione thought a moment before speaking.
"Well, Harry, your reaction times are very good and you're not getting caught out by attacks from behind. Your aim is getting better as well."
Harry was pleased with these comments but knew she had more to say.
"However, there are areas you need to improve. You left yourself completely open to attack when you went to assist that wounded witch and the hag in the invisibility cloak went completely un-noticed for far too long."
Hermione hesitated. "You know, Professor, the biggest problem is the lack of intelligence."
"Harry's?" asked Harbinger with a smile. Hermione laughed at the expression on Harry's face.
"No! I mean the characters in the tent. They always turn up in an identical sequence and then do almost the same attack every time. Harry looked almost bored at times."
Harry raised his eyebrows. In truth he hadn't noticed that the order of the attacks had been the same each time, but it was true he had dealt easily with each attack. His biggest challenge was coping with the number and frequency of the attacks at times. He certainly hadn't felt bored.
"That is a limitation of the tent's abilities. Harry should be going onto the next level now. What changes would you make?"
"Well, I'd change the appearance of the attackers. Slightly different features like cloak colours and masks would stop Harry knowing in advance what the attack was going to be. I also think-" but Hermione stopped abruptly, looking at Harry.
"-That perhaps Harry shouldn't hear about your better ideas in advance?" Harbinger finished smiling. "Make a list and we'll set things up. I'm afraid there isn't actually a manual or anything but I can show you how to make changes to each level in the control area."
*
Harry stood at the bottom of the steps once more. This time he was angry and literally smouldering.
Hermione skipped down the steps with a wide grin on her face. Harry could hear laughing from an unseen group still on the viewing platform. Hermione's face fell when she saw Harry.
"Don't be angry with Hermione, Harry," said Harbinger as he followed her down the steps. "She's just challenging you."
"You broke Moody's rules," said Harry as calmly as he could.
"Rules?" Hermione asked blankly.
"Yes the rule about if I recognised anyone then they weren't part of the simulation."
"Oh," she said and looked fearfully at Harbinger.
Harbinger looked down guiltily, "I know I should have said something. It's just that I thought it would draw too much attention to the change."
Harry just turned and stormed off. He half expected Hermione to follow, but she didn't.
Even through his anger, Harry recognised Hermione's improvements had been good. He had tried the previous level again just as a warm up exercise. He had coped but it was much more difficult than last time. He realised he must have been predicting the attacks before, just as she had said.
The next level had been a complete nightmare. Hermione had created a complete obstacle course. He had been completely fooled and had soon forgotten that he was in the Auror tent at all.
Harry stopped by the lake. He shivered when he remembered that scream. And how the hell had she created that dragon?
It took Harry some time to calm himself down. He was still deep in thought when he felt a hand touch him on the shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Harry," said Hermione gently. "Professor Harbinger said they can repair the damage to the tent."
Harry nodded, still looking out onto the lake.
"I just thought if you thought someone you knew was in danger the pressure would be greater."
"Why Ginny though? She was lying there just like she was in the Chamber. And then you made that creature just stamp on her like that."
"Well, I thought … after you got her that broom … you might be …"
Harry turned to face her, anger rising once more.
"If you want to know my very worst fear, ask Neville. He knows. He saw it happen last year. Ask him. You can add it to the simulation. That'd give me some real pressure."
"I would never," Hermione began looking stricken, "I'd never use Sirius-"
"I'm not talking about Sirius!" he spat and stormed off back up to the castle.