"McDonald!"

Natalie looked up as Kingsley Shacklebolt started storming towards her. Most of her fellow trainees tried to hide their trembles. Auror Supervisor Shacklebolt was terribly impressive. He had a deep booming voice and was quite tall. The bald black head and the earring were terribly impressive as well. Natalie would not want to duel him in a dark alley. Not just because he was impressive but because Natalie had seen him with his wand. He was no slouch with the hexes.

"Sir?"

Kingsley took in the entire little group assembled there for a moment. "It's the weekend. What are you lot doing up here today? Don't any of you have lives away from the Ministry?"

"Not that I'm aware of, sir," Natalie quipped with a cheeky grin.

"My office. Now."

The whispers started. Kingsley killed them with a glare. Natalie hopped up and followed him into his office. Well, his temporary office. It was really Hestia Jones' office, but she'd taken a leave of absence. Natalie missed her something awful. It was Hestia she went to for advice, any advice, up until a month ago when the woman started acting slightly off and looking like she wasn't sleeping properly. Kingsley had taken over her duties as the trainee supervisor while she was on her leave.

"Close the door please."

Natalie did so and stood before his desk with her feet braced apart and her hands clasped behind her back.

Kingsley was amused by her. He always had been. He did not show it though. If they could just get her to think a bit more before she reacted, she'd be just fine, but her recklessness made him wonder if they wouldn't find bits of her somewhere one day. She made no secret that her hero was Mad-Eye, and that was truly frightening. Kingsley kept trying to picture her with an eye like Moody's, half a nose, and a peg leg because that's where she was headed. Right now she was just overly suspicious and ready jump into to the thick of it, but Kingsley could see her as being the sort who hexed raccoons when she heard them in her trash thinking they were dark wizards and drinking from her own flask to avoid poisoning.

"I understand you had your first night of field work on Halloween at the Hogsmeade festival, McDonald."

"Yes, sir," Natalie answered, looking straight ahead.

"I also understand that you helped herd several civilians into various shops to avoid the panicked crowd."

"Well..." Natalie's cheeks bloomed with color.

"I've never known you to be modest, McDonald. Not even as a girl. Let's not start now."

Natalie looked at him then and grinned. "Someone could have gotten hurt, sir. People did actually. I was just trying to keep the damage to a minimum. I just thought-"

"No, no, I'm not calling you onto the carpet about it, McDonald. It was good thinking - Auror thinking. I'm actually impressed."

Natalie tried not to grin any wider. Or preen. She loved praise, especially from people she respected so highly. She'd known Kingsley Shacklebolt since before she was in Hogwarts. He'd been friends with her father for years. Natalie averted her eyes from Kingsley's, but her slight smile stayed. His approval was right up there with her father's. It was something Natalie tried to strive for.

"You've also been assigned a mentor. We had a bit of trouble with this. We weren't going to assign him anyone, not right away, but I understand you are the only trainee, males included, who does not giggle when someone says Harry Potter."

"Potter? Me? Really?"

Natalie almost felt lightheaded. Harry was the best. He'd just passed all of his tests with flying colors and would now be a full Auror, and she was going to get to shadow him for her field training? Natalie resisted the urge to do her hell yeah dance.

"Please don't ruin this by giggling now," Kingsley said severely.

"No, I'd never giggle about Harry. He's Harry. I mean... that's great. Harry taught me loads of stuff when I was younger and in Dumbledore's Army. This is a great opportunity for me, sir. Thank you."

"Get out of here, McDonald, and try not to start bothering Harry until Monday, will you?"

Natalie nodded curtly and all but flew out of the office. Kingsley shook his head. If there was ever a golden snitch in human form, Natalie was it. The girl had too much energy, too much drive at times, but he knew Harry could keep up. Perhaps he'd even whip her into shape. She was good, but she could be great with a bit of focus and finesse. She'd already been through a lot despite her young age. If anyone would get that, it'd be Harry.


{SUMMARY} Auror trainee Natalie McDonald gets assigned THE Harry Potter as her mentor by Kingsley Shacklebolt.