Chapter Eight
Summers & Quidditch
So far, summer with Tonks had proven to be an outstanding improvement over summer with the Dursleys, not that, that was a surprise.
After their talk on his first real day in his cousin's home, Tonks had helped him set up his few possessions and he'd been invited to spread out into her living space.
Although he had been warned against touching the glowing box as it had "Advanced Protection spells" on it. He wasn't sure why.
Tonks had set up a screen between their individual beds, saying it would be inappropriate if there wasn't something protecting their modesty. Her habit of 'sleep shifting' convinced him it was for the best.
After he'd spent the first morning getting acquainted with his new home, Tonks had called him over and shown him a photo album, a large portion of which contained photos of his parents.
She'd told him much of what she could remember about the early days when his family had come to live with hers, her voice sometimes growing hoarse. But when the story was done she looked relieved, as though some sort of weight had been lifted.
Tonks had started taking him aside after dinner and walking him through stories of his parents, though her voice would catch at certain points, the discussions always left him happy. Tonks seemed lighter and happier as well.
Overall it was fantastic, he couldn't have asked for better stories. He knew he should be too old for bed time stories, but he enjoyed them too much to want them to end.
He'd often find Tonks studying or pulling her hair out while going over forms from the bank. Well, he knew they were to do with money, but it was all just gibberish to him.
She also cast a spell on Hedwig -who he kept at his bedside most days- invisible and let her out to hunt in the evening. With a tracking charm attached, just to make sure she got back ok.
Tonks was also helping him with his studies. She'd taught him a few basic spells and helped him with his quill work, which was very helpful as his handwriting was terrible. She focused on Potions a lot. The Potions teacher was a "hard-ass", as his cousin put it.
It was a unique experience to have someone who actually wanted him to do well. The Dursleys usually punished him if he had ever outshone Dudley (which was about as difficult as outrunning a snail).
But Tonks wanted him to do well and was helping him. He pledged he would do his very best and work hard to make sure her efforts weren't in vain.
The food was better too! Breakfast was usually simple things, but he at least got to eat his fill here and no one tried to steal food off his plate. If they went out, Madame Rosmerta would always find the time to sit down with them, to share some old stories about his father.
Harry had managed to talk her into allowing him to cook sometimes; now that he wasn't living with the Dursleys, Harry actually liked helping.
Meanwhile, Tonks had said she'd have to try and contact someone called Moody "just in case". What "just in case" meant had yet to be explained to him, but Harry had a good few guesses.
Today though, Tonks was taking him out for his first Quidditch match. A real family outing, she'd been practicing Side-along Apparition with her Hogwarts Trunks just so they wouldn't have to walk anywhere.
"You ready to go? The food will get cold if we dally," Tonks said, Apparating into the kitchen rather than simply going through the door like most people.
Tonks was wearing her usual black boots with close-to-the-skin black pants and a skirt. Along with that she wore a similarly close-fitting black undershirt that stopped halfway down her lower arm, a red vest tied up on the left side with some sort of symbol on it and a brown cropped jacket buttoned only around the neck. There was a red mark on the side and a black slightly-spiked bracelet on her wrist.
Her hair had now turned cerise, having been green the day earlier. But rather than spiky it was nearly down to her neck, slightly uneven and sliding back to hang over the left side of her face.
Tonks had also altered her face and skin colour, something she often did, today her skin had a slightly yellow tint to it and she had set her face into something slightly longer and more square-jawed, though she was still easily recognisable. As usual, she had a wand holster strapped to her. In Harry's opinion, she was the definition of 'cool'.
Now whenever they went out together Harry was disguised, as someone spotted "Harry Bloody Potter!" and they had been swarmed in Honeydukes. After that experience, Tonks usually changed his appearance with -glamour's- and some Transfiguration.
He really hoped the kids at school wouldn't be like that as well. Tonks had been forced to make a big distraction before she could grab him and get away. The next day there'd been a report about his mysterious return and "secret bodyguard". Tonks at least had found that amusing.
Elsewhere in Britain, Albus Dumbledore dismissed the sighting as rumour-mongering on the Prophet's part. There had been over two dozen sightings since "the return" and all had been false.
"I'm ready, let's go," he said, bouncing on his heels as he spoke.
"Right then, mate. Grab on and we'll be off." With that Harry wrapped his arms around his cousin's waist and felt her left hand grip him firmly by the shoulder.
Suddenly he was re-acquainted with the feeling of being forced both ways through a tube. Harry was grateful he'd decided not to eat beforehand. Harry gasped and clutched all the tighter to Tonks as she wobbled slightly upon their re-entrance into the normal world.
"You ok? Everything still attached?" Tonks asked, worry creeping into her voice as she patted his shoulder.
"Yep," he said breathlessly. "Everything's still there, I'm glad I didn't eat though, that was worse than Floo travel!"
"Hah, I know how you feel! We'll grab something to drink and wait a bit before eating. You should try the biscuits and shortbreads, good for settling the tummy," she said, helping him to his feet.
When they left the forest Harry saw an enormous clearing. Tables of food and drink spread out in a massive circle, and within the tables he saw six massive hoops on opposite sides of a field.
Only a foot or so away from the hoops were bleachers that seemed to rise up into the sky and in between them were large spacious grass areas he guessed were used by people unwilling to climb all those steps.
Tonks had told him that surrounding the hoops was an invisible barrier, to keep the spectators out and bludgers in.
Everywhere around him, Harry could see Wizards and Witches clapping each other on the backs and carting around children, all excited for the spectacle to come. He couldn't wait.
"You want to sit on the bleachers or at ground level?" Tonks asked as they stepped away from one of the snack tables. From the steadily increasing stream of people Harry doubted there'd be much left, so he was glad Tonks had thought to bring a container so they could stock up on snacks.
"I'm not really bothered, where do you want to sit?" Harry asked.
Tonks hadn't mentioned that the main reason she had come in her youth had been for the purpose of stocking up on food rather than for Quidditch.
'I doubt Harry would like be crowded too much, so ground level is probably for the best.'
"How about we stay on the ground, then? The bleachers get pretty crowded. If you have trouble seeing I can put you on my shoulders or conjure up a stool. Sound good?" Harry nodded emphatically, and with that they set off.
The two cousins found a shady spot near one of the bleachers. Tonks had conjured up a stool for Harry to stand on so he was on eye level with her while they watched the two teams warm up.
"Should be a pretty good match. It's the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes Versus, The Department of Magical Transportation. Neither side will get queasy and from what the program says, lots of the players were on school teams."
"The Department for Catastrophes was Minister Fudge's old department" Tonks chuckled, before she noticed Harry's raised eyebrows and opted to explain.
"Being a politician is all about pretending everything's fine and making sure everything looks like it's running smoothly. He was in charge of the Catastrophes Department before, so he's got lots of practice at faking." She smirked.
"Over yonder" Tonks pointed over to a small sea of red-headed people: a large family Harry guessed. "That's the Weasley clan. I showed you the twins when we visited Zonko's. Oh and over there, that's Rufus Scrimgeour, he's head of the Auror Department. I think that's his godson, think he's in Gryffindor, ooh and there is Davis and that's his little sister Tracey."
Harry was once again struck with that odd feeling of 'belonging', something he'd never felt before. This was a place he belonged, where he wasn't locked away like some shameful secret. He loved this magical world.
He loved it even more having just seen a rogue Bludger rebound off an invisible force field and back into players' practice.
"Hey, Tonks how do you know so much about all these people?" It seemed a little odd. From everything Tonks had told him, she didn't seem the type to gossip and there was no one to tell her about these people, especially the adults, the way a parent might their own child.
"Hmm, oh well, it's two reasons really. I like to keep an eye on things in the Ministry seeing as I hope to work there and all, plus I have to go there to check up on legal matters, redo my registry and such," she said.
"And two…" She smirked. "I like impersonating people, means you need a good eye for detail, so I pay attention. Never know when you'll need to be Minister of Magic for a day." They broke into laughter, only to quiet themselves like the rest of the crowd as a short chubby man with white hair and a green bowler hat stepped out onto the field.
Rather than increase the stool's height anymore, Tonks just slipped her arms under his and held him up.
"Over there is the minister, looks like he came to support his old department," Tonks whispered in an exaggerated way. The talking and cheering steadily died down at the minister's beckoning.
Without further ado, the minister spoke, his voice booming throughout the field as his wand tip was pointed at his throat. Harry would have been surprised by this, had Tonks not warned him earlier about the Sonorus charm.
"Thank you all for coming! I hope we can all enjoy a fine game from our dear departments. I am Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge." He waited a moment for the polite applause to subside.
"Now, let me introduce our fine teams. Today we are joined by the Floo Jockey's from The Department of Magical Transportation, led by Jane Maria Noricum. Versus the Cyclones led by Roberts Newbern, of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes!" The minister practically cheered.
Harry heard Tonks mutter under her breath, "I know what team he's betting on".
"Now let the game begin!" With that the Minister pointed his wand at the Trunk in front of him and Harry watched as it suddenly burst open, freeing the balls as they were magically hurled into the air with reckless abandon. The two teams formations broke and the players shot off after their desired balls.
"They used to give people Bludger bats way back when, but they started putting up force fields when some old lady's hat got destroyed. Or was it her? I can never remember." Tonks noted as the Cyclones scored a goal much to the crowd's delight.
Harry was bursting with excitement and nerves as two chasers began squabbling over the Quaffle completely unaware a Bludger was catapulting towards them at wicked speeds; luckily they noticed in time, both dropping the Quaffle and dodging the offending ball.
The game continued in this manner and Harry watched, completely pulled into the excitement as he cheered and groaned along with the crowd. He wasn't supporting any team, it was all just so amazing, and he'd spotted the snitch three times, though just barely.
"There it is, Macmillan's spotted the Snitch and now Honsy's on his tail… and Honsy's got it, this match ends with 90 points to 170. The Floo Jockey's win!" Despite his disappointment the Minister did a good job of sounding excited. Maybe even he had gotten wrapped up in the energy of the game.
As the Jockeys were about their victory, the team leaders met in the middle to shake hands.
Harry jumped off the summoned stool that was vanished with a wave of Tonks's wand. Harry took her hand and they set off hoping to avoid the dispersing and extremely excited crowd. Harry was positively abuzz with excitement himself; he couldn't stop jumping, which made their attempts to subtly slip away from a large crowd more difficult.
"So, cousin of mine, what'd you think of your very first Quidditch match?" asked Tonks, while Harry readjusted his fringe to cover his scar.
"It was fantastic! I really wish I could play. It looked amazing. They were all so fast and it was just so brilliant. Thanks for bringing me!"
"Not a problem. I always come and you're excellent company. Still, we'd best leave. I think I see someone passing out Firewhiskey so everyone with kids will be clearing off before someone makes a scene." She was a little sad to see disappointment flicker across Harry's face for a moment, but it was washed away quickly as she magically snatched some cookies from the table and passed them to Harry.
"Oh bugger, I think that's Lucius Malfoy. Come on. It'd just be painfully awkward if we somehow bumped into each other." Harry nodded, sliding the remaining cookies into the snack box. They gripped each other and took off.
"Well, this should be interesting," murmured a man from the shadows, his right eye spinning wildly.
End chapter eight
Author Notes
Sorry this took longer than I originally said it would, after re reading this chapter I re-edited then sent it to my pre-reader, then edited it again. I wasn't entirely pleased, I felt the start was too much telling and not enough showing.
I'd like to thank Chandagnac for pre reading and helping me edit this and all my other chapters, I also heartily recommend his fics.
Oh and naturally here comes Mad Eye! Anyone who guessed it was him before I said so deserves cookies.
I felt the Minister would show up for something like this as the Wizarding community is relatively small, though he also turned up specifically for his own team.
This chapter doesn't move the plot along much; it's mostly there to show us how things are developing. Next time we get lots of Mad eye a history of the Black/Malfoy family, more Tonks history and some tender moments.
I hope everyone who read this has enjoyed the latest instalment; I wish I could promise the next chapter soon but with University and other projects as well as my muse running off, it may take a while for me to finish writing one of the later chapter and edit the next one.
Besides that, if anyone would like to leave a review I would appreciate it greatly! Thanks again to everyone who has read and reviewed so far.
