Okay, so it's been awhile, but I've been busy and my muse ran away for a bit and I was dragged along.

Don't sue, it's not nice.

Harry and the others continued to work on the top while Lupin was sent to work on the bottom. There was some sort of magical infestation that Harry didn't quite catch. He fell into another uneasy sleep that was rudely interrupted several hours later.

"Wake up, or you're going to be late!" warned Hermione. She was much too loud for so early in the morning. Harry rolled over and placed the pillow over his head, but that was no use.

"It's not a good impression to be late to your Apparition test or retest for you, Ron."

"Go!"

"Fine," said Hermione, "but if you're not up in five minutes, I'm going to send in Crookshanks."

"I'm up."

"Me, too."

"Good," she said and left. The two teenagers tried their best to swallow oatmeal and juice, but they were nervous. It was questionable which one was more nervous although Ron was trying hard not to be. Nervousness was what had cost him his license last time. He had panicked and didn't end up where they told him to go. He had to wait an hour for a ministry representative to pick him up. He only told Harry after Harry promised not to discuss the particulars with Hermione.

"Well, boys, time to go," said Ron's father. They waited in Mr. Weasley's office until their appointed time. Soon, after they arrived, Fleur came by.

"Have you heard from Bill?" she asked Arthur. He shook his head.

"No, but as I promised yesterday and the day before that, I'll make sure that he gets in touch with you as soon as I hear from him."

She nodded and smiled.

"Bye, Arthur."

"Bye, Fleur," he said and she left.

Harry wondered why Bill and Fleur hadn't married yet.

"Is Bill alright, Dad?" asked Ron.

"I assume so, but…He's tracking down an artefact in Egypt that both the Ministry and Dumbledore think is very important."

He glanced at his watch.

"I have some other things that need to be done. I'll just make sure that you make it your tests on time."

He took them farther into the bowels of the Ministry of Magic. Then they waited in another office. A small woman with hair piled on top of her head came for Ron. She put on her glasses and they reminded Harry of Rita Skeeter's. Her hair seemed as tall as she was and when they walked out of the waiting room, the doorway had to magically expand. Harry waited and waited until finally a gruff male voice coming from a bandaged head, called out his name. Harry followed him into a private room.

"My name's Tiron Fliva and I'll be your examiner today. I want you to disapparate to the address I give you and I'll follow afterward," said the bound man, taking out a clipboard and removing a slip of paper. The examiner studied it himself and then gave it to Harry.

"Number 2, Jessory Place, Patsyn" read Harry, out loud. He pictured it in his head and closed his eyes to concentrate. He relaxed, felt the weirdness of travelling through supernatural means and with a pop, landed outside Number 2, Jessory Place, Patsyn. Before he could open his eyes, a voice behind him screamed, "Necto!" Harry opened his eyes, but he wasn't quick enough to stop the spell. Harry struggled as his attacker faced him with wand poised. It was a Deatheater that Harry didn't recognise, but he obviously wanted to rise up in rank.

"Avada Keda…," he started to hiss, but was interrupted by the arrival of the examiner.

"You git!" cried the examiner, in his normal voice that Harry recognised. He removed the bandages from his right hand so the metal shone brightly and then Wormtail ripped the wand from the other man.

"That wasn't what the Dark Lord wanted. He doesn't want Potter dead. He wanted him kidnapped and now we can't even get that right," admonished the man whose real name was Peter Pettigrew.

"What do ya mean? He's tied up, ain't he?" asked the first Deatheater.

"Just watch," said Peter, wearily and Harry realised that he could disapparate back. He did so as Wormtail was explaining, "You didn't put an anti-apparition charm on him." Harry popped back into the waiting room which had Ron and Mr. Weasley waiting for him. Mr. Weasley unbound him as Ron exclaimed, "Harry! Everyone was so worried about you. Your real examiner was found dead in the lounge. What happened?"

"Peter Pettigrew, he killed the examiner, but then he saved me from another deatheater," said Harry, getting up He went to the counter, expecting full marks on his test.

"I'm afraid you haven't passed the test, Mr. Potter. You'll have to come back in three months and retry with a proper examiner," said the woman whose hideous outfit matched the bubbles she blew with her gum. The word 'but' was on Harry's lips, but maybe it was for the best if it would lead to more altercations with Voldemort's supporters.

"Come on, Harry. I'm sure my boss would understand my leaving early," said Mr. Weasley. Harry shook his head.

"I'll be alright," he said, "I just want to get back."

"Okay," said Mr. Weasley, "but I don't want you to be going back yourselves."

"We'll get someone," said Harry. Mr. Weasley reluctantly parted ways from them in the elevator and Ron turned to Harry.

"What are we going to do?" he asked Harry, "You didn't pass."

"You passed, Ron. That's great. There's no reason why you shouldn't disapparate back," said Harry.

"But Harry, you told my dad that you wouldn't be alone."

"I need to do this, Ron," he said and Ron knew he couldn't argue with that tone. Harry watched him disapparate after they left the elevator. Harry didn't get very far along the abandoned building that was secretly the Ministry of Magic Headquarters before he was grabbed roughly by the shoulder.