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Ways to Annoy Voldermort - Call him 'The-man-who-let-the-boy-live' (Mugglenet.com)

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After two weeks at Aleu's house, Harry felt some of the sadness and guilt that he had been feeling over Sirius' death lessen as he got to know his new sister. Although he was still having nightmares about Sirius' death, he was no longer bottling it up inside. Harry was talking to Aleu about the dreams he was constantly having and he found out that Aleu knew everything that had happened when Sirius fell through the veil because sometimes she was having the exact same dream as Harry. Harry thought it was a bit weird but Aleu said two of her friends at her old school were twins and they could tell what the other one was thinking at times.

**********

Late one Sunday morning Harry was reading The Daily Prophet when Aleu came into the kitchen.

"Guess what," said Harry.

"You're mad and I'm not," said Aleu with a grin on her face so Harry knew she was just joking.

"No," said Harry, a smile also appearing on his face. "We can now use magic outside of Hogwarts and learn to Apparate when we are fifteen. So now anyone who is between fifteen and seventeen has to go for their Apparation test."

"Cool. I had just passed my Apparation test in Australia before we moved and Dumbledore told me that I couldn't start Apparating until I was seventeen. How come we can do it now?"

"Sasha Mathews, the new Minister for Magic is allowing all students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry over the age of fifteen to perform magic outside of school and to Apparate so that they can be better prepared for any attacks by You-know-Who," quoted Harry, reading the article on the front page. "Any student who is currently between the ages of fifteen and seventeen is only allowed to Apparate after they have taken the correct test. Tests and lessons are being held at the Ministry of Magic daily. To book either a test or lesson contact the Apparation Test Centre at the London Ministry of Magic,”

"Wow," said Aleu. That minute a brown barn owl flew through the door dropping a letters on the table before flying back out again. Aleu picked up the letter and began opening it. Inside was a letter which she unfolded and read aloud.

Aleu,
I have arranged for you to take your Apparation test tomorrow after you have taken your Potions OWL. You will sign in as Aleu Evans (your mother's maiden name) and will be known as Aleu Evans to everyone from now on. Harry will have Apparation lessons while you are doing your exams every day this week. Sasha Mathews, the Minister for Magic will arrive at your house at 9am tomorrow morning to take you and Harry to the Ministry of Magic.
Professor Dumbledore.

"Yes, I can Apparate again," cheered Aleu.

"Only if you pass your exam. So you're now known as Aleu Evans," Harry said, re-reading the letter.

"Yeah. I wish we could tell everyone we're related. I've never had a brother before," said Aleu smiling.

"Well, I've never had a sister before either," said Harry fondly. "What do you want to do today?"

"Let's go swimming in the morning and then watch T.V after lunch and then ..."

"Wait a minute; don't you want to study for your OWLs?"

"Yeah, I'll do that after lunch while you're watching T.V or before I go to bed. Besides, I either know the answer or I don't."

"I suppose so."

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go get changed and go swimming. Last one in the pool is a rotten egg," shouted Aleu so her sister, Amanda, could hear in the lounge room. Amanda and Aleu raced to their bedrooms to get changed.

**********

The next morning, Aleu and Harry awoke early and waited for Sasha Mathews to come and take them to the Ministry of Magic. Lisa was fussing, packing food for them if they got hungry. At nine o'clock, there was a knock on the front door. Harry followed Aleu as she went to open the door. Standing outside was a woman in emerald green robes, with long golden hair and chocolate-coloured brown eyes.

"Hello, I'm Sasha Mathews and you must be Harry and Aleu," said the woman.

"Come in Ms Mathews," said Aleu, standing aside to let their guest come in.

"Thank you, but please call me Sasha. I feel old when you say Ms Mathews. Are you both ready to go?"

"Yes. How are we getting to the Ministry of Magic?" asked Harry.

"Portkey. It's the quickest and safest way. Have you got everything you need?"

"Yes," said Aleu, zipping up her backpack. "I'll just let mum know that we're leaving. MUM!?"

"Yes, sweetie?" came Lisa's voice from outside.

"We're going now. Okay?"

"Okay, what time will you be home?"

"Not sure. Before dinner. See ya," said Aleu. "Let's go."

"Have you both used a Portkey before?"

"Yes," replied Aleu and Harry together.

"Okay. One minute to go," said Sasha holding out a small box that Harry and Aleu held on to. "Five, four, three, two, one..."

Harry felt the familiar sensation of a jerk behind his navel and a few seconds later, he found himself standing beside Aleu and Sasha in a large office with large comfortable chairs and a polished wooden desk with a plaque with the words Minister for Magic on it. Sasha walked over towards the door and held the door open for Harry and Aleu. The three of them stepped into a brightly lit corridor with polished timber floors and soft creamy walls. Aleu and Harry followed Sasha down the corridor to a lift. They all stepped in and a cool voice echoed through the lift as it stopped.

"Level One, Office of the Minister for Magic."

The lift started to descend and a level down the voice spoke again.

"Level Two, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, including the Improper Use of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters and Wizengamot Administration Services"

The lift continued to descend.

"Level Three, Department of Magical accidents and Catastrophes, including the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad, Obliviatior Headquarters and Muggle-Worthy Excuse Committee."

An old witch with curly grey hair stepped on at this level. The lift continued to descend.

"Level Four, Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, incorporating Beast, Being and Spirit Divisions, Goblin Liasion Office and Pest Advisory Bureau."

The old witch got off at this level leaving Harry, Aleu and Sasha alone

"Level Five, Department of International Magical Co-operation, incorporating the International Magical Trading Standards Body, the International Magical Office of Law and the International Confederation of Wizards, British Seats."

At this level two memos flew into the lift.

"Level Six, Department of Magical Transportation, incorporating the Floo Network Authority, Broom Regulatory Control, Portkey Office and Apparation Test Centre."

"This is our stop," said Sasha as she stepped out of the lift. Aleu and Harry followed her down the corridor and into a large office where there was a number of Hogwarts students standing around.

"Harry!" shouted a voice from the other side of the room. Harry turned around and saw Ron Weasley coming towards him. "How are you mate?" asked Ron.

"Alright and you?"

"Good. Who is your new friend?" Ron asked looking at Aleu.

"This is Aleu Evans. She's my si-" Harry got cut of by Aleu kicking him in the shins.

"I'm new here and Harry's showing me around London. I'm going to Hogwarts with you. Anyway I've got to go. I have to sit my Potions OWL."

"Oh. Bye then."

"Bye," said Aleu as she left with Sasha.

"So, how's your holidays been Harry?"

"Fine. How's work been?"

"Great! Fred and George are doing fantastic. They said to thank you again when I saw you next. They'd tell you themselves but they're really busy making a new product. They won't tell me what it is though. It must be really wicked or they tell..."

"Boys and girls," said an old, bald wizard. "Listen up. My name is Mr Senato and you are here to learn how to Apparate which is a quick and useful way of transportation. But Apparation is also a dangerous way of transportation if you don't know how to Apparate properly. You will need to learn a little bit of theory before you can start learning so you know what you are doing. Hopefully, if you are here everyday this week, you should be ready for your Apparation test by Friday."

"That's only four days away!" hissed Ron loudly in Harry's ear.

Mr Senato started talking again, not giving Harry a chance to reply. "The key to Apparating is to concentrate on where you want to go. This is important. You can't just change your mind halfway through deciding where you want to Apparate to. If you do you are likely to splinch yourself which isn't a very nice thing to do."

Mr Senato spend nearly two hours talking about the major points of Apparation and how to successfully Apparate to wherever you want. After he had finished talking he allowed them all to have some food that appeared on the desk at the back of the room.

"Bloody hell! That sounds so confusing. There is no way I'm going to be able to go for my test on Friday," said Ron, helping himself to some chocolate cake. "No wonder Charlie failed the test the first time. I mean, its not the easiest thing to do is it?"

"Yeah. I knew it was going to be hard to do," agreed Harry.

Just at that moment the door opened and in walked Aleu. She looked around the room and saw Harry and Ron waving at her.

"Hi, how are your lessons going?" she asked.

"Well, we know how to Apparate to where we want but we haven't done any practice yet. It sounds so confusing," said Harry.

"It's not that confusing," said Aleu. "It's really quite easy to do."

"Yeah right," said Ron sarcastically.

"Hey, how was your OWL Aleu?" asked Harry.

"Okay, I suppose. I think I at least passed."

"That's good."

"Yeah. I still need to do my practical examination today. Then I'll come back the rest of the week for my Defence Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration and Charms OWL's. I've got to get back down to the examination."

"Good luck," said Harry.

"See ya," Aleu said to Harry and Ron, smiling.

Mr Senato called everyone over again and started explaining the finer point of Apparation. About three hours later he dismissed the students telling them that they would start Apparating tomorrow.

"Where are you going now?" Harry asked Ron.

"Down to dad's office. He'll take me home when he gets a chance. Where are you going?"

"Not sure. Aleu is having her Apparation test after her OWL but I don't know where."

"I think they have the tests in the room next door."

"Okay. I suppose I’ll just wait here then."

"How did you get here anyway?"

"Sasha picked Aleu and I up from Aleu's house."

"Sasha? As in Sasha Mathews? The Minister for Magic?"

"Yeah." said Harry uncertainly.

"Wow. She's awesome. I mean she is letting us do magic outside of school and Apparate when we're fifteen. Fred and George hate that because they had to wait until they were seventeen."

"Thank-you for that lovely compliment," said a female voice. Ron turned around and saw Sasha standing behind him, smiling. "I'm glad people are happy with my decisions. Aleu is having her Apparation test now. She should be finished soon."

"Great!" said Harry.

"Yeah, I'd better go," said Ron. "Dad will be getting worried if I'm not there soon. Are you coming again tomorrow?"

"Yeah," said Harry. "See you then."

Two minutes after Ron had left Aleu come out of the room next to where Harry and Ron had had their lessons. She had a huge grin on her face and Harry guessed she had passed.

"I can Apparate again!" Aleu shouted to Harry and Sasha who waiting at the end of the hall.

"Well done," said Harry.

"Congratulations!" said Sasha. "Shall I take you home now?"

"Can I Apparate instead of taking a Portkey? I hate Portkeys!"

"I suppose so. Come on then Harry. Just touch this," said Sasha holding out a pencil. "See you in a minute Aleu."

Aleu smiled and in a split second she Disapparated. Sasha started counting down. "Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one..." Harry felt the familiar sensation of a jerk behind his navel and a few seconds later he was back at Aleu's house. Aleu was sitting on the couch looking pleased with herself. Sasha said goodbye, told Harry she'd pick him up at 9am again tomorrow and Disapparated.