Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Chapter 4:

It was plainly obvious that Harry was miserable at Number Twelve. Not only was he at his dead godfather's house, but he was stuck inside without any fresh air, his room now smelled like stale cigarettes, and everything reminded him of Sirius.

Even on his birthday Harry had been miserable because the next day was Sirius's will reading. The highlight of that day had been McGonagall giving him the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain badge. Ron had been jealous of course, but just for a few minutes when he realized how stupid he was being.

The day of the will reading Harry had nearly passed out when Sirius gave him Number Twelve Grimmauld Place along with several other properties and the black vaults. Tonks had to keep him from falling out of his chair after that was said. The only thing was, however, he had to wait until he was seventeen. Once again, Ron had been jealous until he once again realized how stupid he was being.

"Do you think I should write a will?"

Everyone in the living room looked up at Harry. It was one of those odd nights where he came down from his room. The will reading had just been a few days before.

"Why would you need to write a will?" Remus asked.

Harry raised his eyebrows. "Moony, I thought you were supposed to be the smart one of the Marauders. Well now I know to give you my school books. Couldn't hurt to review a little."

"Go back to your room."

Harry grinned and sat up so that he wasn't taking up the entire couch. Tonks had just walked in looking beat after a long day at the office and looked like she wanted to sit. "I'm serious though. I've got a pesky Dark Lord after my head on a silver plate-"

"Lovely way to put it," Ginny commented lightly.

"And I've got nothing to do but sit in this stuffy house all day. Can't even get some fresh air. Then again I don't have much sh- crap to get rid of. I've got my Firebolt, some money, and that's pretty much it. So Ron if I die-"

"Which you won't," Hermione muttered.

"You can have my Firebolt," Harry continued. "Remus gets my school books because he's a dumb ass. And I guess everyone else gets money. Hermione can have Hedwig too."

"Hm, good plan," Tonks said. "Too bad you have to die before I get your money." she gave him a mischievous look. Harry slid farther away from her.

"Did you find out what mission was so important that you had to quit your job?" He asked to take her mind off of his money.

Tonks grimaced. "No. This had better be a damn good mission and that when it over old Dumbles can get me my job back!"

•••

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were sitting in the living room the next night. They had given up trying to listen in on the order meetings since the twins were now in the order.

"Should be over soon, right?" Ron asked. They'd been sitting there for over an hour, waiting for the twins to tell them what was going on.

Tonks stormed in at that moment looking angry. She flopped down on the couch next to Ginny. Apparently she wasn't too happy about her mission.

"Stupid mission!" she hissed. "Dumbledore doesn't know what the hell he's doing!"

"What did he say?" Hermione asked.

Tonks snorted. "Well I'll be seeing a lot of you four this year."

"Why, are you going to be stationed at the school?" Ron asked.

"Close, but that's not it. I'll be a fucking student. In Gryffindor house."

Harry got it suddenly. "Your mission is to keep an eye on me so I don't do anything stupid. The old man doesn't trust me!"

"That's what Fleur said and Dumbledore told us that it wasn't you, but You-know-who."

Hermione looked at Harry. She knew that something had happened in the department of mysteries that he hadn't told them. After he had disappeared chasing Bellatrix they hadn't seen him again until they were at school. Harry had only told them that Bellatrix had escaped before Dumbledore's duel with Voldemort. But there were a few empty spots in his story.

Harry didn't meet Hermione's gaze, but kept his eyes on Tonks. "You could have told him that you wouldn't do it.

"I did! After we argued he had most of the order on his side, even Mad-eye!" Tonks explained angrily. Harry nodded slowly. The twenty-two year old had practically the entire order against her in this mission, save maybe a few members.

"So the old man thinks I need a fucking babysitter. Great."

"I'm sure that's not it," Ginny said gently.

"He also wants me to teach you occlumency." Tonks added suddenly.

"You know it?" Hermione asked.

"Of course. Moody trained me when I was becoming an auror. Might not be able to keep Voldemort out of my mind, but I'm probably a better teacher than Snape."

"All he did was brutally attack my mind," Harry growled and Tonks gave him a sympathetic look.

"That's actually the best way to do it and how I was planning. It strengthens your shields much faster than any other way. And Dumbledore wants it done as soon as possible."

Harry groaned and fell back so that he was lying down. "Fuck."

"HARRY!"

"Sorry Hermione. It just slipped."

"Just don't let it happen again." Hermione shook her head. Harry had changed so much over the summer, in good ways and bad. He thought more about what he was doing, and what had to be done in the war. But then there was the smoking and she'd even caught him sneaking firewhiskey from some place she had no clue about. Probably Mundungus if she really thought about it. Sirius's death had affected him more than they'd originally thought.

•••

The next day Harry came down for breakfast feeling irritated. All he'd been able to think about was his new babysitter. No matter what Dumbledore told the order, Harry knew that the old man didn't trust him. And why should he after what happened in the DoM? He'd used the cruciatus curse on Bellatrix then been possessed by Voldemort. What if that happened in the middle of class?

Harry sat down in his chair and stared at the table. He wasn't feeling very hungry.

Ron slid an envelope in front of him. It had the Hogwarts seal on it. Immediately Harry knew what it was. "Owl results. We were waiting for you to come down."

Harry looked at Hermione who nodded. He picked up his own envelope and stared. It seemed menacing, though the only dangerous thing about it was a paper cut.

"You know, you actually have to open it."

Harry glared at the grinning Tonks as everyone opened their own letter. Ginny had made prefect and Mrs. Weasley was now fussing over her. He ripped open the envelope.

His scores were pretty good. Well he'd failed Divination and History of Magic, but that was no surprise. Outstandings in Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Exceeds Expectations in Charms and…

Potions.

Snape only took students with outstanding on their OWL's into the NEWT level classes. And without Potions he couldn't become an auror even if he lived that long.

Harry slammed the paper down on the table and left the kitchen. Hermione picked up his results and read over them. "Oh…"

"What is it?" Remus asked.

"He didn't get the required grade for potions," Hermione explained.

"Well what did he want to be?" Tonks asked. She couldn't picture Harry caring that much about a career. He always seemed indifferent to his future as though he expected to die any moment.

"An auror," Ron told her. "All he's ever done really is play Quidditch and fight dark wizards and since he doesn't like being famous…"

"Quidditch probably isn't the way to go," Tonks finished. She looked at the door where Harry had disappeared. "Too bad. Heard he was a good seeker."

A/N: and there's chapter three. I just got back from vacation and still on the iPod so this will be posted a week from now probably. And I had no clue what his real scores were because I cant find the sixth book. Fuck.

7/19/11