"Trainee Potter, come in.  Thank you for responding so quickly."  Dawdling would have cost him later, though he didn't know that.  "I trust you are busily preparing for your exams?"

Harry shut the door quietly behind his back and nodded. Getting called into the head of the MLE's office was never a good thing. He took a step forward and clasped his hands behind his back. "Yes, Ma'am. I'm hoping that everything I read over the next few days sticks." He sat in the chair in front of her desk when she motioned to it.

"Good, good.  Your instructors have all given glowing reports about your progress.  I'm sure that you will do just fine.  Though, if you are worried about the exams, then maybe you'll consider my next words a boon instead of a punishment.  You know about the Hogsmeade Halloween festival, I assume?"

He nodded slowly. "I've heard about it. It's an all day event. Quite a few people are being stationed there to make sure nothing gets out of hand." He'd heard plenty of the trainees talking about it. Costumes and what not. He shook his head. "It sounds rather messy. Lots of drunks, possible fights."

"Yes, it does have all the elements of a potential disaster.  And 'quite a few' Aurors is a bit of an understatement.  Almost the entire division will be there in one capacity or the other, leaving the office empty.  Which leads to a bit of a dilemma.  I need people to man the office during the event, but can not pull anyone from Hogsmeade, medical leave, or foreign assignments.  That leaves trainees, Potter.  More specifically, that leaves you.  According to your instructors you are more than capable of dealing with any situation that might come up.  Do you feel up to the task?"

Harry's eyes widened. "You want me to stay here and make sure nothing happens. Here? At the Ministry?" He wasn't sure whether he was disappointed he wouldn't be with the other trainees, or that she trusted him enough to stay here.

"Yes, Trainee Potter, here at the ministry."  She smiled at him, amused by his reaction.  "It should be a fairly simple assignment.  I wouldn't expect more than a brawl or two from the pubs in Diagon and routine reports of thrown eggs and such.  It should give you plenty of time to study for your exams."

"Alright." He nodded again. "I think I can handle that." A few pub brawls. Nothing too large. He stood. "I can handle that no problem."

"Very good, Trainee Potter.  In that case, I'll let you get back to your revisions.  I believe that Concealment is today, correct?"

He smiled. "Yes, actually." He nodded, something he thought he'd been doing far too much during this meeting. "Thank you for the opportunity. Really. I won't let you down." He crossed over to the door before looking back at her with a smile.

Maria returned his smile and watched him walk through the door, shutting it behind himself.  It was good that he had taken the assignment with such aplomb, since it was the type of thing he would have to get used to.  He might regret being so excited about it, though, after a few hours of what would no doubt turn out to be a boring night.


Summary: Maria puts an ax on any plans Harry had for Halloween.