Target Practice

"It looks like a big metal wand."

"Well it's not. You don't play with guns, Malfoy."

"Oh, and I'm sure you know all about playing with wands, eh, Potter?"

"Bugger off."

"Heh."

"You're holding it wrong! You'll blow your brains out holding it that way... or whats left of them anyway..."

"Well how am I supposed to now how to hold the stupid thing?"

"You just hold it like this--"

"Get your hands off me, Potter!"

"Be careful!"

"I know what I'm doing!"

"Whatever. Okay, now aim it and pull down on the trigger."

"The what?"

"That thing down there."

"Pull down on it?"

"Well, pull it back actually... yeah like that."

"OW! Why does the bloody thing have to be so loud?"

"That's just how it is."

"Damnit! I completely missed the target! Stupid piece of junk!"

"Malfoy, don't throw it like that! It could go off and shoot someone!"

"Well, maybe I'll get lucky next time and it'll hit you!"

"You missed the target by a mile because you weren't aiming!"

"You didn't tell me how!"

"Damnit, Malfoy, the same way you aim a spell with your wand!"

"I thought you said it wasn't like a wand?"

"I said it--"

"Just show me how to aim."

"Dont close your eye like that."

"Why not? That's what I saw muggle do once."

"Well, it was wrong."

"How do you know so much about guns? Do you have one? Do you use it when you're with the muggles you live with?"

"Just shut up and listen to-- hey, dont point it at me!"

"I just realized I have a weapon and you don't! Bug me and I'll blow your head off!"

"It's not a toy, you idiot! Put it down!"

"Fine, fine, just having some fun... don't get your knickers in a twist."

"Gimme. Look, hold it this way... extend your arm... look through *both* eyes... and pull!"

"Great job, Potter. Now give me!"

"Look, just practice. I gotta go talk to someone. I'll be back. BE CAREFUL!"

"I'm not a two year old, Potter!"

"Could have fooled me... Hey, Ron."

"How goes quality time with the git?"

"How do you think?"

"Bad luck, mate. Reckon McGonagall's punishing you for something. Oh listen-- she wants you and Malfoy to report back to headquarters. Big meeting in about an hour and she wants you two ready."

"Great. Let me just drag Miss Malfoy here away from his new toy and we'll be there."

"Cool. See you in a while."

"Yeah, bye. Hey Ron, have you ever used one of these before?"

"What a gun? No way, mate. Born magic, stay magic... dont trust myself with one of those."

"I'll give you lessons one day."

"Yeah sure... hey, who taught you?"

"Uh... Snape."

"Really? Where'd he learn?"

"Think his dad was a muggle officer... not sure, didn't ask. Anyway, I'll see you at the meeting later, okay? Dont want Malfoy to hurt himself."

"You dont!?"

"Well, I dont want to get blamed for it."

"Heh. Right. Still can't believe they let him switch over.

"Well, what else is he supposed to do after what happened last year? I'm surprised he didn't run like a sniveling coward like Snape did, but guess things are changing."

"Guess so.. gotta meet Hermione. See you, Harry."

"Bye."

"Potter!"

"What, Malfoy?"

"My shoulder hurts."

"And?"

"Fix it!"

"I'm not your transvestive mummy, Malfoy, I dont-- Put that away!!"

"Dont talk about my mother that way, Potter!"

"You dont even know what a transvestite is!"

"It still sounds rude!"

"Malfoy, put the wand away! There are muggles around here!"

"So?"

"Do you want to be arrested?"

"My father can pay my way out!"

"Out of muggle jail? I'm sure they'll lock him up too if he offers them Galleons, don't you?"

"..."

"Thank you. Let's get out of here. McGonagall needs us for a meeting back at Headquarters."

"My shoulder still hurts."

"Malfoy?"

"What?"

"Shove it."

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Professor? You needed us?"

"Ah yes. Mr Potter. Mr Malfoy. Into the dining room, please, we're about to begin. Ms Granger and Mr Weasley are running a bit late, but mostly everyone who could make it has arrived."

"What's with the surprise meeting?"

"Wotcher, Harry!"

"Hey Tonks! Professor Lupin, Professor Moody."

"'Lo"

"How are ya, Potter? Keeping your friends close and your enimies closer, are you?"

"I'm walking around with him, aren't I?"

"I heard that, Potter!"

"Mr Malfoy, please."

"Sorry, Professor."

"Hey Harry!"

"Ms Granger, Mr Weasley, about time! Can we begin, please?"

"Sorry, Professor."

"Now. I have assignments to be handed out, as well as a few brief updates. First of all, Voldermort is on the move with a plan. Our spies say he--"

"Professor?"

"What, Potter?"

"Now that we're actually part of the Order, would it be too much to know who our spies are?"

"Boy's right, Minerva. You haven't told any of us."

"Alastor. You know as well as I that they are spies for a reason. We can't have everyone knowing information as secret and important as that!"

"..."

"May I continue? Now... our spies -- who will remain secret -- have informed us that he is planning on assembling most of his Death Eaters -- and he now has a fair few, numbers up in the mid-hundreds -- around and within the Minsitry of Magic. His plan is much like chess: Pawns go first and his more able wizards bring up the back when we are weakened."

"Good plan."

"That is what I first believed. But not unless we counter his plan. We have a while to plan this, but we will not be defeated by a strategy so elementary."

"Hear, hear!"

"Our sources also reveal that he himself is weak. THough he has his body back, the spell wasn't permanent. He might attempt to try it again within the next year if he can find nothing else to stabalize himself."

"But Professor, that means-"

"Yes, Ms Granger I am fully aware of what that means. Harry. But not to worry. He is under heavy protection."

"Still!?"

"Please, Mr Potter, don't raise your voice!"

"But Professor, you're still having me tailed? I'm an adult and I'm perfectly capable of protecting myself!"

"Eighteen is not adulthood! And you wonderfully protected yourself last time when he snatched you out from under us!"

"I lived, didn't I?!"

"That is not enough! I don't think that--!"

"Minerva. Harry. Please, none of this. Harry is able to protect himself, he's done so on countless occassions, but extra protection sounds like a good idea."

"Thank you, Remus. I lost myself for a moment. Now, as I was saying... He may make another attempt at seizing Harry, but we will be prepared. *Heavily* prepared. Now, for assignments. Here is a list of all our known Death Eaters. Alastor, Nymphadora, and Remus... I would like you to do a background check on these wizards. Thought Azkaban is no longer able to confine prisoners, there are other ways. We need to find them, where ever they are hiding and make sure they do no harm. Dead or alive... you understand me?"

"Yes."

"Of course."

"Mmmph."

"Mr Malfoy... have you learned to use that infernal contraption yet?"

"The gun? No, Potter here is an inadequate teacher."

"Well, today was only your first try, I didn't expect you to master it just yet. But we found they're quite helpful, sometimes more helpful than wands, even with non-verbal spells."

"They're bloody loud."

"Mr Malfoy, your language, please."

"Sorry."

"Mr Weasley and Ms Weasley, I'd like you to help track down the Death Eaters with Alastor, Remus, and Nymphadora, but simply the background checks. Not going into the front lines, you're too young. And Potter..."

"Yes?"

"Professor... Dumbledore had left me a note, telling you to "finish what he started." I dont--"

"I do."

"You know what he's speaking of?"

"Yeah."

"... Would you mind sharing with us?"

"No offense, Professor. But if he'd meant for you to know, I think he would have told you."

"He's got a point, Minerva."

"I suppose you're right. Yes, so just... tell me if you need anything to help you, uh, 'finish what he started.'"

"Will do, Professor."