Author's Note:

Well it's that time of week again, the response to this story has been utterly mind blowing and to be honest a little intimidating. With so many of you seeming to love it I don't want to let anyone down but as Len pointed out so long as I keep writing what comes naturally it should be all good. Once again a massive thank you to my beloved beta for all her hard work, trust me when I say this would not be half the story it is without her.

I am glad I have written ahead by many weeks because a surprise valuation of our property sent my housemate and I into a cleaning frenzy recently, they are coming in tomorrow and I have a bathroom to clean once I am done here but I thought I would upload this first so I can watch the views, favourites, following and reviews roll in. What I wouldn't give for a little magical cleaning right now.

Quick reminder if you want the uncensored version leave a review requesting it and I will get in contact with you and we will sort it out. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, favourite or followed you guys are awesome.

Enjoy this week's offering,

-Whistler

Disclaimer:

See Chapter One.

Chapter Three:

Harry gulped uneasily as he felt the tension in the room increase to a nearly unbearable level. He looked around and saw Tonks sitting stiffly in her chair, her eyes and hair rotating colors once again. While Harry was nervous about what Tonks may or may not do to the Dursleys, he was much more concerned for what the Durleys may do or say to her when she was so blatantly displaying magical ability.

Harry's tension went up another notch, when he looked over to Dumbledore. Once again, the jovial headmaster he portrayed was gone, and in his place stood one of the most powerful light wizards the world had ever seen. His power was once again rolling off him in waves, and his eyes were as cold and clear, as Harry had ever seen them.

The Dursleys entered the house with Vernon leading the way. They paused in the hall to hang up their coats and hat, before making their way into the lounge. If this had been a normal day Vernon would have gone to pour himself a brandy, despite the time; Dudley would have plonked himself in front of the television and Petunia would have headed into the kitchen. But this was not going to be a normal day for the Dursleys.

Vernon halted at the entrance to the lounge and Dudley and Petunia peered around what little room was left in the entrance, to see what had stopped Vernon.

"Ah Vernon, Petunia." Dumbledore welcomed them, in a deceptively calm tone. "Please come join us! There are some matters we need to discuss…"

Harry almost smiled as he saw Vernon's face go through the most impressive colour change he'd ever witnessed. First all colour drained from his face, then it began to darken to an almost purple complexion.

"Boy! What the devil are these freaks doing in our home?" Vernon snarled.

The young wizard instinctively flinched back from the massive man. He was unable to meet anyone's eye as he tried to repress the need to shrink into himself in disgust and dread. Tonks caught Harry's reaction and her eyes immediately narrowed at the Dursleys. Her hair and eyes began to change colour even faster in her mounting fury. Dumbledore too noted Harry's reaction, and he felt every day of his 115 years come crashing down on him.

"Vernon, I am going to have to ask that you calm down. And not to address Harry during this conversation." The old man intoned, his voice losing most of its geniality. "You will certainly not enjoy what would happen should you choose to continue."

Vernon's mouth opened, as if he was preparing a tirade, but the man seemed to think better of it, when his eyes met Dumbledore's. His mouth instantly snapped shut and all colour drained from his face again. Perhaps the large man was smarter than Harry had first thought.

Harry's uncle made his way into the lounge and sat as far away from Tonks, Dumbledore and Harry as he could possibly get. Petunia followed after him and sat next to him as Dudley just stood in the hall looking confused and angry.

"Now, as I am sure you both remember, Harry was placed on your doorstep, close to 15 years ago." Dumbledore began. "With him, was a letter that I addressed to both of you. In it, I explained to you what happened to Harry's family, and why he was coming to stay with you…"

Here, Dumbledore paused and the power radiating from him just seemed to increase, causing a faint shimmer around him. His robes began to flutter in an unseen breeze, but for all of that display, his voice remained deceptively calm and even.

"Now, forgive me if I am mistaken." He continued. "But, in that letter, did I not emphasise the importance of Harry being treated well, not only for his own safety, but for yours as well? Did I not explain that the blood wards that protect all of you from both Voldemort and the Death Eaters, and their level of strength, depend directly on Harry's wellbeing and the love he feels for all of you?"

At that point, the aged professor paused again and glared at Petunia and Vernon. The two adults quailed on the lounge, while Dudley looked on, dumbfounded.

"I can tell you, without even examining these wards properly, that those same blood wards are so weak that they would not keep out a determined school child… let alone the greatest Dark Wizard of the century. By not giving Harry a suitable home, you have endangered not only his life, which is in itself unacceptable, but your own as well."

At this point, Tonks' struggling control snapped and she was no longer able to contain herself.

"Do you know what the Death Eaters would do to the likes of you if they caught up with you? You would be tortured within an inch of your life, made to spill everything you knew, and if you were lucky they would just kill you…"

Here, her eyes and hair settled on a mercurial red color and she looked positively demonic.

"Hell! Forget the Death Eaters, once the Wizarding community finds out what you have done to Harry, they will braying for you blood! And I, for one, will be first in line to see you thrown in Azkaban… and I will make sure, the key is thrown away,"

Dumbledore interrupted Tonks, before she could start another incensed threat.

"I would recommend that you pack and leave immediately… Unfortunately, Nymphadora speaks the truth. The Death Eaters will come for you… and there won't be a single witch or wizard in our world, who will mourn your passing. As for myself, had you done what I asked, all those years ago, I would ensure that you were secure and safe. However, now knowing the way you have behaved for all those years, I see no reason to. I won't hurt you, but I don't have to help you either. I will be taking Harry away with us to seek treatment for his injuries, I bid you goodbye,"

At this statement, Vernon jumped to his feet, his face once again a very unattractive puce color.

"Now, just wait one bleeding minute!" He roared, his meaty fists clenched as if he wanted to wrap them around the old man's neck. "You can't just come in here and take the boy! And.. and accuse us of mistreating him, like we're some kind of horrible people! He was a good for nothing freak, when we took him in, out of the goodness of our hearts! We gave him food, shelter and the clothes on his miserable back! And if we had to correct him it was only because -"

Vernon was suddenly cut off, as Dumbledore waved his hand.

"That is quite enough of that," The formidable wizard snapped, before immediately putting a mask of cold calculation over his temper as he looked at the muggles.

Seeing his father flailing around silently, Dudley sprang into action and did the only thing that long years of reinforcement had taught him to do. He attacked Harry. As he lumbered past Tonks, the metamorphomagus stuck her foot out and the corpulent boy went lurching forward, slamming into his TV, and shattering it. He picked himself up at once, and charged Harry again. This time, Tonks simply stunned him, letting him fall unceremoniously on the carpet.

Seeing her little Dideykins drop to the floor, Petunia began screaming wildly at them. Tonks heaved a sigh of frustration before silencing her as well. Upon seeing his offspring and wife treated so uncaringly, Vernon's rage had finally overcome his common sense, and charged at both Harry and Dumbledore. This seemed finally to break what was left of the Headmaster's patience. For, with a swift movement, which Harry couldn't follow, he turned his wand to Petunia and Dudley. Suddenly, a red light that was so intense Harry had to shield his eyes with his arm exploded, blinding the scene.

When Harry could finally see clearly again, he saw that all three of the Dursleys were laying askew, unconscious on the floor. Dumbledore stood over them, performing, unless Harry was very much mistaken, a memory charm.

"Professor, what -" He began, frowning at the old wizard.

"I'm sure you can agree, Harry, that it is perhaps for the best, that your relatives have no memory of this morning… And who are we to judge if, upon waking up, they feel compelled to leave the country as soon as possible?"

"Sir… I thought you said, you weren't going to help them?"

"A life lesson for you Harry. A man is not measured by how he treats his equals, but rather, those that are beneath them. And these people are most definitely beneath all of us,"

Anger once again shone through on the Headmaster's face, and Harry decided, perhaps wisely, that it would not be a good time to question him further. As Harry watched the professor work, Tonks came up behind him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"You ok, Harry?" She asked softly, squeezing his shoulder lightly.

"Yeah…" The teenager replied, shaking his head slightly. "It's just… a lot to take in."

She pulled him into a warm embrace, holding him for a steady minute before squeezing hard once and letting him go.

"It's alright." The young woman smiled thinly. "Let's get the bloody hell out of here! I'm sure Sirius and Lupin will want to see you... Once you have seen Madam Pomfrey, of course."

At that point, Harry let out a deep mournful groan and Tonks smirked, hitting him on the shoulder. Harry gazed over, and realised that the Professor had levitated the Dursleys back onto the lounge and had made his way to the fireplace. The Boy-Who-Lived looked on as the headmaster threw some floo powder into the fireplace.

"Come Harry, let us depart from this dreadful place." The bearded wizard invited the teenager with a rueful smile. "We will be visiting the Three Broomsticks, this morning. I think, we could all use a pick-me-up after that."

Harry nodded and watched as Tonks flooed away first. He then stepped forward, ready to follow after her.

"A word of advice, if I may Harry?" Dumbledore piped up, with the twinkle back in his eyes. "When you reach your destination, step out as if you had not broken your stride. I think your landing will improve markedly,"

"Thanks, Professor." Harry nodded back at the old man.

"Any time, my dear boy. Oh, and Harry?"

"Yes, Professor?"

"I should very much like, for you to call me Albus, when we are outside of school. You have turned into such a remarkable young man, and I am very proud to have you in my life. I know your parents would have also been very proud of the man you have become."

Harry just nodded again, this time overcome with emotion. Ignoring the heavy weight at the back of his throat, he steeled his spine and keeping in mind the headmaster's advice, stepped into the Floo.

"The Three Broomsticks!"

There was a whoosh and his world began to spin as Harry was reminded vividly of why he despised Floo travel so much. He saw fireplace after fireplace rush past, and each time he caught a brief glimpse into homes that he passed. There were two children, playing with a mixture broomstick. A rather rotund woman, reading a book in her lounge. A man, clipping his toenails. Harry decided to keep his eyes closed after that last one.

He kept his eyes closed and tried to control his nausea, until he felt himself begin to slow. He found himself looking into the Three Broomsticks and, remembering Dumbledore's advice, he stepped out as he passed over the threshold. While he did not fall on his ass, like he normally would, he did stumble and nearly tripped over Tonks, who was sprawled out on the floor.

He grinned at the metamorphomagus and offered her his hand, pulling her to her feet. She smiled back and punched him on the shoulder again, the pair sharing a quiet smile. Harry observed around them, and smiled as he saw that nothing had changed, at all. There was still a heavy cast iron chandelier, with candles to help provide light to the clientele; heavy wooden beams still supported the thatched roof and the stone floor still gleamed faintly.

Harry and Tonks stepped to the side, as the Floo flashed again and Dumbledore stepped out of the hearth, brushing ash off his clothes and beard as he casually walked through. The inn, which was quite busy, as it aught to be during the summer break, hushed as they turned and stared at Hogwarts' headmaster. Madam Rosmerta soon came hurrying over to greet them.

"Headmaster, and Mr Potter!" The innkeeper greeted them, with a cheerful smile. "How can I help you, today?"

Harry tensed at the woman's blatant dismissal of Tonks, but the younger witch caught his eye and shook her head slightly, shrugging as she did so. Harry let out a sigh and let the ill-manner slide.

"Rosmerta, my dear! Perhaps you could organize a private room for us? And a light lunch… It has been a rather trying morning. Unless you want to see Madam Pomfrey immediately, Harry?"

Harry shook his head emphatically, causing Dumbledore to chuckle and drop the matter; however Harry had the distinct impression, that Tonks was displeased.

"Of course, Professor. Follow me."

The three of them followed Rosmerta upstairs, and into a far more luxuriously furnished dining room. The back wall was glass, allowing for plenty of light to flood the room. There were plush chairs surrounding a table, adorned in a crisp white tablecloth. The settings were delicate china pieces, and the teenager had spent enough time polishing his Aunt's cutlery to recognise solid silver like these cutleries and goblets. Harry felt rather underdressed, all of a sudden, though dressed in Dudley's old things, he supposed he would be underdressed wherever he went.

Madam Rosmerta flicked her wand and the unnecessary fourth setting disappeared. Another casual flick of her wand, and the small fireplace ignited. With a smile and a nod, the curvy landlady placed the menus for the trio on the table before departing. Once at the table, Harry held out a chair for Tonks with exaggerated care, while Dumbledore looked on and smiled at the pair.

The threesome all enjoyed an exquisite light lunch, and the banter between the three was light and easy. Tonks entertained them both by changing her appearance and sharing stories of her time during Auror training; while Dumbledore chuckled appreciatively at her stories and Harry found him to be an attentive listener, who seemed to genuinely enjoy the meal they shared, and Tonk's levity. It wasn't long before Harry forgot about the darkness of the morning, and began to enjoy the meal as well.

At the end of the meal, Harry was surprised by Dumbledore's insistence that Harry join both his adult companions, in a glass of Madam Rosmerta's finest matured oak mead.
Harry found himself thoroughly enjoying the raspberry flavoured mead. It was thick, and had the consistency of molasses, curiously. The young wizard was surprised to find that while raspberry was the predominant flavour, it had a strong after taste of honey.

Once they were done, Dumbledore placed a small sack of gold on the table, waving away his younger companions' objections with a wink, and a smile before throwing some floo powder into the fire. Once the fire had turned green, the aged wizard took out his wand and muttered a brief incantation over the flames; they flared briefly before he finally stepped back.

"After you, Harry." He invited the teenager again. "Simply say 'Headmaster's office'."

Doing as he was told, Harry stepped into the fire and grinned at his accomplishment, when he stumbled far less on the exit, this time. He then turned, just in time to see the fire flare and for him to reach over and steady Tonks, as she came through.

"Bloody Floo." She grumbled, under her breath. "I never did get the hang of them."

Harry just chuckled lightly, and it wasn't long before Tonks joined him.

Dumbledore stepped through the Floo; placing an arm around the couple, he beamed at them.

"I would like to thank the pair of you." He smiled gently. "That was truly the most enjoyable meal, I have had in many a long year. This may be a poor way to repay you, Harry, but I must insist that we go and submit you to the treatments of our resident healer. Dilys, if you could let her know, we are coming, please?"

At Dumbledore's question, one of the dosing headmistresses stood with no trace of weariness, and stepped out of her frame unto another, quickly disappearing behind a drapery.

It was not long, before they found themselves standing before Madam Pomfrey, her shrewd eyes sizing up Harry.

"Well, Mr. Potter. I must say, this is some kind of record… even by your high standards." The infirmary matron started, her lips twitching slightly. "The school year has yet to start, and you have already found your way into my Hospital Wing."

Harry just grinned unashamedly at the school nurse. With the amount of time he had spent in and out of the hospital wing over the years, the two had become friends, after a fashion.

"Well you know Poppy, I couldn't wait to see you again."

The nurse's smile spread across her face, and she embraced the boy briefly.

"It is good to see you again, too." She replied, warmly. "We will need to get you looked over. You know the drill. I will have to ask the rest of you, to leave. Off you go. You as well, headmaster."

Harry touched the woman's arm lightly. "It's ok, Poppy, they know."

"Well, it is about time you told someone, you fool boy! I have been telling you for years, to come forward."

"And on that note, Madam Pomfrey." Dumbledore interrupted, raising a silver eyebrow at the bickering two. "May I enquire, as to why I was not informed of Harry's condition?"

"You know very well, that my healer's oath will not let me discuss anything without my patience's consent headmaster." The healer snapped back, glaring half-heartedly at the man.

"Even when there are signs of abuse?" The aged wizard demanded, quietly.

Madam Pomfrey looked over at Harry, who nodded silently.

"The boy made me swear an oath, not to tell anyone without his permission." She replied with a sigh, turning her glare to the black haired teenager. "I felt it prudent, that he have someone that he could trust, to talk about such matters. And it was the only way I could gain that trust."

Over the following hours, Harry was prodded and poked by the matron and let out many long-suffering sighs. Many healing spells and potions later, Harry was finally cleared by Madam Pomfrey. He left swiftly, only to find that Tonks was still waiting outside the Hospital Wing, casually leaning against the wall.

"Wotcher, Harry! You been given the all clear?" The young witch asked, straightening up with a roll of her shoulders.

"If I hadn't, we would be running right now. With her-" he jerked his thumb over his shoulder, "chasing me down."

Tonks chuckled, and handed a piece of parchment.

"Dumbledore had to head off but he left that for you,"

Harry unwrapped the scroll and recognized Dumbledore's loopy handwriting,

"The headquarters to the Order of the Phoenix can be found at Number 12 Grimmauld Place."

"The Order of the Phoenix?" Harry turned to the metamorphomagus, questioningly.

"It's a secret order, dedicated to resisting Voldemort and all Dark Wizards. Dumbledore's the head of the organization, and Sirius has let them set up in his family home. We are going to check it out tomorrow. It's where we will be spending the summer,"

Harry just smiled at the prospect of seeing Sirius, Ron, Hermione and all the others again.

"So… what do you want to do, in the mean time?" Tonks asked.

Looking out of the window, he saw that it was approaching sunset. Harry grinned, as an idea came to him.

"Follow me." He replied, conspiringly, making his companion perk up in interest.

Harry led Tonks through Hogwarts, with an ease and confidence that surprised her. It had taken her years to learn her way around the castle, and even up until she graduated, she would find herself getting lost on occasion. Harry seemed to know exactly where he was going, and more than that, the fastest way to get there. He made his way through secret passages, and through fake walls, with a grace that spoke of a long familiarity. When they hear Peeves approaching, he ducked into a small secret room and waited for the Poltergeist to pass. Tonks doubted that anyone, besides Dumbledore, and perhaps Filch, possessed such an extensive knowledge of the castle's every nook and crannies.

Eventually Harry brought her through a wall, and she was surprised to see a hidden staircase. The stairs were old, like they hadn't been used in a long time, but Harry made his way up without hesitation. They climbed for a long while, but eventually the pair stood before a thick wooden door, which Harry opened for her.

She entered, thinking the room would be old and covered in dust, and was surprised instead to find a clean and well-maintained room. On the fair side of the room, was a wide pair of doors, leading out onto a balcony that overlooked the lake. Bookcases, surrounding the circular room, took up the rest of the walls. In the middle of the room, stood a heavy-set table, laddered with yet more books. When Harry entered, he flicked his wand, causing candles to levitate themselves out of drawers, under the bookcases. With another flick, they lit themselves. Tonks turned to Harry, her eyes burning with questions.

"I found this place in my second year, when things got a little rough." He answered her unasked question, in a quiet voice. "I cleaned it up, and since then, this has been my sanctuary."

"Have you ever brought anyone else up here?" The young witch asked, her eyes continuing to roam on the room.

"No. Never." He responded, simply.

"So why bring me here now?"

Harry did not reply verbally but instead led her out onto the balcony. It overlooked the lake and her breath caught in her throat when she realized the reason of his decision to bring her there. Happening before her eyes, was the most spectacular sunset, she had ever seen in her life.
Without a word, she wrapped her arms around the younger wizard and rested her head on his shoulder. That was how the pair stayed, until night had fallen over Hogwarts, and the rich colours of the setting sun had given way to scattered stars in the night sky.

Len's Note:

Oooh a sunset at Hogwarts. Can you imagine? Aaah I wish I could see that… As usual. Concrit welcomed. Please review. And tell us if there's something obviously wrong in form or content. I like to think I'm thorough but that's just my ego speaking, I'm really just a mess.