Ad Astra Per Asperum: Part One

CHAPTER THREE

NEW DEVELOPMENTS

Quidditch tryouts were considerably easy to deal with. Out of everyone in Gryffindor, second year and above, there were six people attempting to get the Keeper position. Harry tired easily of watching the three chasers on the team, Angelina, Katie, and Alicia, getting the Quaffle past most of the hopeful Keepers. Out of the six that tried, three were good. Ron Weasley, Kenneth Bradford, a sixth year, and Lena Capulet, a fourth year.

Ginny had tried out, despite all the arguments between her and Ron about it. Ron was convinced that it wasn't safe for her to play Quidditch. Everyone knew that it was perfectly ridiculous that try and prevent her from playing with the excuse of danger, including Ron, but he continued to argue. Defiantly, Ginny had showed up at the Quidditch pitch along with Ron and the other four. However, the problem with Ginny wasn't her safety, just her skills. Despite her brothers Charlie, Fred, and George being Quidditch players, Ginny was definitely not cut out for it.

"All right, the three of you line up!" Harry ordered. Obediently, Ron, Kenneth, and Lena stood side by side, holding up their brooms. Ron had saved much of his money and bought himself a Nimbus 2000. Harry suspected Fred and George slipped him a few Galleons to help out, but didn't ask. "Now, first will be Kenneth." He nodded towards Angelina, Katie and Alicia. They mounted their brooms and flew off, passing the Quaffle back and forth. Kenneth mounted his own broom and flew up in front of the goal posts. Out of the twenty shots the three chasers took, Kenneth managed to block thirteen of them.

Next came Lena, who managed to block fifteen of the twenty shots she was thrown. Last was Ron. Hermione was on the ground, standing next to Harry and Ginny as she cheered him on. It was getting irritating to Harry to put up with all that was going on between Ron and Hermione. He just wasn't used to his best friends being a couple. Because of the newest relationship development between Ron and Hermione, Harry found himself spending more and more time in the company of Ginny. That wasn't incredibly awful, as Ginny was nice and all, but Harry missed having the equal friendship between the trio.

"Weasley," Harry said formally. "Your turn."

Fred and George cheered their brother on, especially loudly, along with Hermione and Ginny. Ron determinedly mounted his broom and flew up into the air. Despite the Chasers' best try, Ron was able to block eighteen shots. Apparently, Quidditch skills were very much in the family. Charlie, Fred, George, and now apparently Ron were all on the Gryffindor team. Harry idly wondered if Arthur or Molly Weasley had been on the team when they were at Hogwarts.

"Team," he began. "Gather round." Angelina, Katie, Alicia, Fred, and George all formed a half circle around Harry. Slowly, Harry went from one person to the next asking them their opinion on the three final candidates. Angelina, Katie, and Fred all said that Ron was the best. George had doubts about Ron, and leaned towards Lena, but in the end, after a few discussions, they unanimously agreed that Ron Weasley was the better of the three.

Harry cleared his throat loudly. Hermione, Ginny, Kenneth, Lena, and Ron looked up at him expectantly. "I'd like to proudly welcome Ronald Weasley to the Gryffindor team as the new Keeper. Stay after, will you?" He turned to the two others. "I'm sorry Kenneth, Lena. You were both exceptional, but the rest of the team and I agreed that Ron was best."

Lena and Kenneth shook hands with each other, then with Ron and quietly went to the locker rooms to shower.

"Good job, Ron, welcome to the Gryffindor Team. It's an honor, and the rest of the official introduction and all. You get it," Harry said. "Now. Everyone, the first practice is on Tuesday evening, seven o' clock. Don't be late, I've reserved the field with Hooch and McGonagall." He shook Ron's hand before swinging his Firebolt over his shoulder and heading towards the locker rooms, letting Ron get engulfed with congratulations and hugs by Hermione, Ginny, and the rest of the team. So far, it had been rather simple with being the captain of the Quidditch team, but Harry wondered if he'd have enough drive (as Oliver Wood previously did) to get everyone to practice constantly. Waking up early to practice seemed as appealing as eating slugs. With his prefect duties, his regular schoolwork and the O.W.L.s coming up, Harry wondered how he'd be getting it all done without going mad.

Later that week, as everyone was sitting down to lunch, a flurry of owls came flying in around all four tables. Everyone was looking around, confused, as owl post was always in the morning at breakfast. When the owls began dropping identical envelopes all around, the older students realized that it was the exam results. The noise level dropped to a noisy whisper when there was the simultaneous sound of parchment ripping as people quickly read through the letters they received.

Suddenly, as all the owls flew away, Harry felt very left out.

Everyone around him had letters open in front of them as their eyes dropped down line by line, but in front of him was nothing except his food. Hermione's pleased gasp and breathing signaled that something good was on her letter.

"I'm a Fifteen!" she exclaimed.

Ginny looked up from her letter, grinning. "I'm a Fourteen!"

Ron frowned as he looked around. "I'm only a Ten."

"Nine to Eleven is the normal level," Hermione reassured informatively. Somehow Harry didn't think Ron thought that as comforting as his girlfriend and sister still got higher than him. Though Harry wasn't sure what the numbers were supposed to mean.

The three looked at him expectantly. "What?" Harry asked innocently, biting into a sausage.

"What'd you get?" Hermione asked impatiently, as if it were the only thing that could ever be discussed at the table. Harry shrugged. "You didn't open your letter?" she asked, her eyes wide.

Harry snorted. "You act as if it's the end of the world."

"Harry, just open it!" Ginny said, sounding impatient as well.

Harry shrugged again. "It's hard to open something that's not there," he said calmly at their exasperated expressions. "Though if you'd like to imagine its existence, go ahead, but I can't be bothered. I'm rather keen on eating my meal instead, thanks."

Hermione gazed at him curiously. "What do you mean something that's not there? Everyone that took the Mage Level exam received a letter with their results. You know, their Mage Level."

"Well, apparently not everyone," Harry said calmly. "Because I didn't receive one."

"Go to Dumbledore, I'm sure he'll have a good explanation," Ron suggested, sipping his Pumpkin Juice.

Harry nodded. "I have to ask him some things about the exam, anyway," he said absently. "I'll see him later, when I feel like it."

"Harry!" Hermione said sharply. "This isn't something to be treated so slightly. Go to Dumbledore now." Harry arched an eyebrow at her questioningly. "Oh Harry," she hissed exasperatedly. "Don't you understand?" He shook his head slightly. "The exam was to see what level you're classified into. There are Mages One through Twenty. Nine to Eleven is the average wizarding level. Squibs are Ones to Threes. Fours to Eights are all just slower than average wizards. There's only been one Twenty recorded, I think. I forget whom, though. I heard that those that are Mage Thirteen and above get trained specially." She glanced at her letter again. "I'm guessing they are, since my letter says to meet Dumbledore at his office after dinner tonight."

"Mine, too!" Ginny broke in excitedly. "I wonder who else, though."

"Wait," Harry said. "If that's all it is, then why is it such a big deal if I don't go to Dumbledore immediately?"

Hermione shot him an impatient look again. "Because, Harry, everyone is supposed to get a letter with results." She looked thoughtful. "Dumbledore's a Mage Seventeen, I heard. I wonder what the teachers are." Harry blinked at the sudden change of her train of thought.

"Just go to Dumbledore," Ron said. "Before Hermione drives us all mad with her rantings on how you should." He shot Hermione a teasing grin, and she made a face back at him.

As if on cue, Dumbledore stood up and said, "I trust you are all pleased with your results." He looked around the hall and suddenly his gazed stopped on Harry. "Mr. Potter, if you'll please come with me." He nodded slightly at Harry and waited for him to come.

Hermione shot a questioning gaze at him, and he shrugged. "Wish me luck," he said, his tone slightly mocking. Ron nodded tersely, as Hermione smiled encouragingly. Harry shrugged again and walked away from the table, stepping up the Head Table, right in front of Dumbledore's seat.

"Follow me to my office, please," Dumbledore said. Harry nodded and followed him down the narrow hallway to the gargoyle. Dumbledore said the password clearly, and they walked up the staircase. The headmaster stepped behind his desk and sat down, conjuring up a chair for Harry with a snap of his fingers. Harry stiffly sat down and waited for Dumbledore to explain.

When Dumbledore didn't say anything, Harry spoke first. "Er, Professor? Why am I here?"

"Wait, Mr. Potter. We are expecting one more to join us." Harry nodded mutely and idly looked around the office. Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix was perched in an open cage. It was very close to Burning Day, Harry observed. A slight creak of noise told Harry that someone was at the door. His eyes quickly snapped to the right. The door was opened, and there was Sirius.

"How on earth did he get in here alone without anyone spotting him?" Harry mumbled, more to himself than to Dumbledore or Sirius.

"I have my ways," said Sirius, smiling and sitting down next to Harry. Harry shrugged at his godfather, emitting a slight frown.

Dumbledore leaned forward in his chair and clasped his hands together on his desk. "I am not sure if you are familiar with the Mage Level exams, Mr. Potter, but that is what you took one week ago."

Harry nodded slowly. "Hermione explained them to me. I don't understand the significance though. Getting classified into a level doesn't sound all that important to me."

"Training," Sirius answered. "Those who are high leveled get trained specially, to hone their abilities, so to speak. They are quite the asset when fully trained, actually."

"Precisely," Dumbledore said. "You might be wondering why you did not receive your letter, like the rest of your friends did, however I am asking you to put that on hold until we finish discussing some other things concerning it."

Harry nodded, looking puzzled. "Okay," he replied simply.

Dumbledore nodded. "All right, we'll begin with the few more obvious things about your exam. First, the length of your test taking." Harry raised his eyebrows at the headmaster silently. "Forty five minutes."

Harry shrugged. "What's important about the time?"

"Well, it's rather impressive to get it fifteen minutes below an hour," Dumbledore said. "Some did not even finish it all in the entire two hours that was given."

Harry shrugged again. "It wasn't so difficult," he said slowly. "Except for some of the Potions questions. I mean, it was just long, not hard. What's the big deal about it, anyway?"

"It is an impressive time of completion," Dumbledore said simply. "Moving along, what did you find interesting or unordinary about your exam, or more specifically, the practical parts of the exam?" Harry wondered why Dumbledore was asking him when he so obviously knew the answer after watching the replays from the surveillance charms.

"The transfiguration thing," Harry answered. "Oh, and the thing with the boggart."

"What?" asked Sirius, looking confused.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Harry transfigured a rat into a cushion by looking at it," he said. "And he conjured a Golden Patronus when his boggart included six Dementors. It was rather impressive how the golden stag trampled down six Dementors. I'd never seen anything like it."

Sirius paled. "The Golden Patronus?" Dumbledore nodded solemnly. "Are you sure?"

"I know my Patronus was gold," Harry put in. "But what is so spectacular about that? I'm sure everyone can do that. And for the wandless transfiguration, I was just looking at it trying to think of the spell. I've done accidental magic before, hasn't everyone? Like when I blew up my aunt two years ago."

Dumbledore shook his head. "That was no accidental magic, Harry. That was purposeful wandless magic. It is rare indeed to find that caliber of skill when it comes to doing magic without a wand. It is true, though, that some can do wandless magic, but normal wizards can usually only do simple things like levitating charms, and only with the deepest of concentration. However, your Mage Level shows that you are not that average."

Harry sighed wearily, waiting for it. He didn't understand the significance of the Golden Patronus, either.

"Your father," Sirius began, interrupting the speech Dumbledore was ready to launch into. "Also didn't get a letter when we took the Mage Level exams. He also had to go to Albus when everyone else was going through their results, and talking about that at the lunch table. We were all in our seventh year then. Lily was a Mage Sixteen, Remus is a Ten, Peter an Eight, and I am a Mage Fifteen." He paused, glancing at Dumbledore, who nodded at him. "Your father, however, was a Mage Eighteen. Which, I'm not sure if you know or not, is one level higher than Albus. I am sure, that if James was alive and continued his training, he would be as strong and powerful as Albus eventually." He fell silent, thinking of his old friend.

Finally, Dumbledore broke the silence. "Tom Riddle is a Mage Seventeen. He is another master of wandless magic. I must say, I was extremely proud of him before he went Dark. At the time, I was only his Transfiguration professor, though."

"What is the importance of a Golden Patronus?" Harry finally asked. "What makes it different than a regular one, besides the color?"

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. "You did not see what it did during the exam?" Harry stared, perplexed, back at the headmaster. "It trampled down six Dementors, Harry."

"So?"

Sirius arched a dark eyebrow. "Harry," he said. "A Golden Patronus is characteristic to only a Mage Twenty. Additionally, a regular Patronus will only drive a Dementor back, as if the Dementor were being pulled back. Even a Patronus belonging to someone powerful, such as Albus, will not do what a Golden Patronus can do. Your Patronus, now, can charge Dementors down, push them into a catatonic state, or even kill them."

"Is it the only way to kill a Dementor?"

"No," Dumbledore responded. "However, the other methods that the Ministry has come up with are much more time and energy consuming. Besides the finer points of a Golden Patronus, it will also most likely be less draining to conjure it."

Harry glanced at Dumbledore. "What am I?" he asked slowly, finally. "What is my Mage Level?"

"You are a Mage Twenty."

Harry stared at the headmaster, mouth slightly open. Abruptly, he shut it. Then he opened it again to say something, only to shut it again. Then finally, "So what does that mean now?"

"Hopefully it means that you will let us help train you for you to fully develop your skills as a Mage Twenty," Dumbledore said, eyes twinkling brightly. "It also means you are the first recorded Mage Twenty since Godric Gryffindor."

Harry blinked. "When would I train?"

"Two hours every Monday, Tuesday and Friday," Dumbledore responded immediately. "We've managed to clear your schedule directly after lunch for you to attend training sessions. The first hour is with two other gifted students, and the second is alone."

Harry's brows creased together slightly. "Don't I have class directly after lunch?" he asked.

Sirius laughed. "I never would have thought," he said faintly. "The first thing he thinks of when told he's a Mage Twenty and has two hour sessions three days a week is, don't I have class?" He chuckled. Harry gave him a good-natured glare in response.

"Yes," Dumbledore said. "You did. That has been cleared up and all has been arranged accordingly. Professor Trelawney is allowing us to take up her class period as long as you continue to exercise your Inner Eye by yourself regularly. She feels that you will do very well if you take time from your evenings and dedicate it to Seeing." Dumbledore's voice did not reveal any hint of amusement, which Harry clearly felt, just plain fact.

Harry heard Sirius attempt to stifle his laughter, and cracked a grin of his own. "I'll be sure to tell her I'm putting my Inner Eye to good use," he said softly.

"She will be pleased to hear that," Dumbledore said. "However, there is more to discuss." He paused briefly, his tone becoming firmer. "Training will be aggressive. You will have to face your demons, and much more in preparation. The inevitable is coming, and we must be prepared to meet it when it does."

Harry nodded. "I understand."

"Albus," Sirius said suddenly. "Are you--"

"No, Sirius," Dumbledore responded simply, before Sirius could finish his question. "It is not time. Soon, but not yet. For either things, for he will find out both at the same time." Harry glanced quizzically between Dumbledore and Sirius. He sighed, resigning himself to idle curiosity--he knew they wouldn't tell him anything. Not yet, anyway. "Now, Harry," Dumbledore said. "I must ask of you to keep this quiet. "Miss Granger and Miss Weasley will know of your Mage status, due to their being the two others that you will be training with, and it isn't fair for me to tell you to keep it from Mr. Weasley. Outside of the three of them, I ask of you not to share this information with anyone. Should someone inquire about it, subtly change the subject."

"Yes, Professor," Harry said obediently. "And when do the training sessions begin?"

"As tomorrow is a Wednesday, they will begin tomorrow," Dumbledore said. "Be in front of my office promptly at one." Harry nodded. "Good. You two may go." Sirius opened his mouth to argue. "Sirius, now is not the time to discuss such matters. We will speak later about that." Sirius nodded dejectedly and stood up. Harry stood up and turned to leave.

"Sirius, where are you going?" Harry asked. "I don't think too many people will be very, er, nice to you, being an escaped convict and all."

Sirius winked and quick as a flash, transformed into a dog. Harry nodded at the canine and followed Harry out of Dumbledore's office. They walked along the hallway until Sirius suddenly took a left, while Harry was to continue going straight. Harry figured Sirius was going to Lupin's office for a visit, and continued walking towards the Fat Lady. He muttered the password and entered the empty tower. The clock told him he another twenty minutes before his next class, Charms, began. He sighed and collapsed on one of the couches, thinking over the conversation he had just had with Dumbledore and Sirius, letting the information sink in.

This was going to be really hard to explain to Ron and Hermione.

* * *

"All right, Harry, are you finally going to talk to us?" Hermione asked, her voice tinged with impatience. "You've been positively secretive all day, and I'll admit, I'm curious and impatient right now." She, Harry, Ron, and Ginny were sitting down to dinner that evening. "I think we all are."

Harry nodded tersely. "This doesn't leave the four of us," he said in a low voice. "Okay?" He looked around. Hermione, Ron, and Ginny nodded confusedly, promising to keep it secret. "As in this cannot leave the four of us." He glanced at them again before continuing. "I'll be as blunt as I possibly can. I'm a Mage Twenty, and I'm the only one since Godric Gryffindor." The three others stared at him in stunned stupor for what seemed like an eternity to forever.

"You're a what?" Hermione finally whispered, brown eyes opened wide. Instinctively, her hand reached out to clasp Ron's tightly. Harry averted his eyes and stared down at his plate.

"You heard me," he said quietly. "The proof is the exam, obviously, and the Golden Patronus I conjured."

Ginny blinked, cocking her head confusedly. "The Patronus charm is a defense charm, isn't it?" she asked. When Harry nodded in the affirmative, she continued, "Then why did you have to conjure a Patronus during the exam? They're generally used for Dementors, so what was the purpose of it?"

Harry stared down at his plate again, Ron and Hermione looking on uncomfortably. "Because it was part of my boggart," he said finally. "There were six Dementors that were in it, with some other... stuff." Ginny looked apologetic. Before she could say sorry, he stopped her. "Don't apologize. You didn't know," he said. "Besides that nice bit of information, my dad was an Eighteen, my mum a Sixteen, and I have to train three days a week for two hours. One of those hours is going to be with Hermione and Ginny, the other is alone."

The most frightening part of his entire statement was the incredibly flat tone he spoke in. Ron looked embarrassed and ashamed at being left out, once again pushed into the shadows by his best friend. Hermione looked pleased and proud, and Ginny didn't seem any different than normal. Harry shrugged. It was no accomplishment to him. Just another superhero quality to add to the list. The-Boy-Who-Lived, famous parents, Quidditch Captain, youngest house team member in a century, famed Seeker, Prefect, Mage Twenty, Parselmouth, and dueler with Voldemort... the list went on and on. Harry was beginning to get sick of it all. Having some normal teenage years was clearly out of the question.

"We can't be surprised, now can we?" asked Ron, his tone sounding a mix between bitterness and restraint. "Harry. A Mage Twenty."

"You say that as if it's a bad thing," Ginny said accusingly.

Ron shrugged. "It's not," he said, his voice filled with clear resentment. "If anyone could be expected to be a Twenty, it's Harry."

Harry stood up abruptly. "If you think I asked for this, you're wrong. If you think I expected this, you're wrong. If you think I want this, you're dead wrong," he hissed, eyes flashing emerald fire. Without faltering, he spun on his heel and stalked out of the Great Hall, ignoring the stares he received from the other tables. The Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs in particular glared at him, making a joint effort to team up and go against the enemy that had "killed Cedric Diggory". Whenever hearing the rumors, Harry did nothing to dispute or encourage them. Dumbledore had said at the end of the previous year that Lord Voldemort had killed Cedric, and Harry did not feel compelled to repeat it. It would undoubtedly lead to uncomfortable questions--questions that Harry did not want to answer.

The biggest problem was, he knew he would have to answer them eventually.

The raised voices coming from the common room signified that Ron and Hermione were going at it again. More arguments. And now Harry knew that it was about him this time. Or about Ron and his comparison to him, which was something Harry really didn't want to put up with this year. He had enough of it the previous year when the Goblet of Fire had chosen him for the Triwizard Tournament.

Exhaustedly, he pushed the hangings around his bed open and silently crept the stairs to the common room. Just before he entered, he heard Ron say to Hermione, "I know you think that I shouldn't compare myself to him, but it's difficult just being his best friend! There's him, the great Harry Potter, and then there's me, Ron Weasley, the sidekick."

"Oh, Ron," Hermione said exasperatedly. "If anyone sees you like that, it's because they don't know you. And if someone doesn't know you, yet still passes judgment on you, then it's not worth caring about their opinion!"

Harry smiled faintly at her sentiment, tentatively waiting for Ron's response. "Everything just comes so easily to him. Quidditch, money, fame, power..."

"...Dark wizards going after him, nightmares, hardly any family, guilt, regret..." Hermione finished off for him, eyes flashing. "Oh you can just see how lucky he really is! You know as well as I do that he would much rather a normal life like yours over the one he has now."

The two of them stood in silence. Finally, Ron said grudgingly, "All right. I'll apologize."

Before Hermione could reply, Harry noisily made his way down the last few steps and walked into the common room. "Oh," he said, in an odd voice that didn't sound like his own. "Hello."

Hermione nudged Ron expectantly. "Great to know one best friend has to make the other best friend apologize to me," he muttered dryly. He wasn't sure of either of them heard him, but he was past the point of even caring. He knew Ron's nervous apology would come, and he wasn't sure if he would even care for it. Or believe it.

"Er, Harry?"

Harry looked up at the redhead, his eyes and tone flat. "Yes?"

"I'm sorry for how I reacted," he muttered, his ears bright red. "You understand, don't you?"

Harry didn't, but it wasn't worth the effort to get in an argument with Ron again. He looked at Ron, his expression a forced mask of blankness. "Yeah," he said. "I understand." He turned to Hermione, his tone filled with apathy. "Make sure you get to Dumbledore's office on time. It's not a meeting to be late for." Before either of them could respond, Harry turned on his heel and walked straight up the stairs back into his dormitory. He lay in his bed, simply staring into space and thinking.

It was a long while before he fell into an uneasy sleep.