Disclaimer: I own nothing pertaining to Harry Potter, and precious little of this plot. This is my first attempt, and I need all the feedback I can get.

Sunday night was an eye opener for both Harry and Tonks. Tonks had already filled the Pensieve with various childhood memories, so Harry took the first turn viewing. Ted Tonks is a muggle-born, and therefore, Nymie, as she was called by her parents, got used to both the muggle and magical worlds as a kid. One memory showed her playing with Sirius when she was five. She said it was the last time she saw him until he broke out of Azkaban. She had a happy childhood, despite the lack of Black relatives. She showed him two of her birthday parties, and the day she got her Hogwarts letter.

After viewing her memories, Harry turned ambivalent. "Are you sure you want to do this? What does my life before Hogwarts have to do with me now, anyway?"

Tonks smiled. "They are important years, Harry, that's why they are called 'formative years', because they help determine what you will be like when you grow up," Tonks was surprised at the fear that Harry showed when she told him that. Under protest, he put some memories in the bowl.

Tonks entered, and couldn't believe what she was seeing. Living in a cupboard? Locked in there for days. Punished for asking for candy, or even a little more food. Being Dudley's personal punching bag. His surprising accidental apperation to the school roof. Talking with the snake at the zoo, and temporarily vanishing the glass. She came out of the memories spitting nails.

"How could they do that to you? You didn't show me the worst of it, did you? I should hex them into next week." She then paused, and seemed to get even angrier. "Where was Dumbledore? Didn't he keep track of you? Your school letter was addressed to 'the cupboard under the stairs'! Doesn't anyone check these things? I'll go straight to the proper office at the Ministry and tan their hides." She continued to seethe, until Harry kissed her, once again on the lips. Once more she stiffened, and collapsed onto his chest, smiling.

"It's over with now, Tonks. What's done is done, and no amount of blaming can alter what has already happened. I got over it and moved on. Please don't tie yourself into knots over it. After all, I think it's now my job to make you happy, and I aim to do just that." Harry held her in his arms, literally holding her up.

She smiled up at him, and realized that he was taller than she thought he was. "Stand up straight, lover boy, you seem to have grown." Tonks, in her present form, was 5'7". Harry appeared to be at least four inches taller. "When did you start pushing six feet, Harry?"

Harry looked confused, "Never, I've been 5'8" for a while now. Are you sure?"

Tonks nodded, "You bet, this is my standard body, and it is 5'7". You must have grown and not noticed. Now, how about practicing keeping your magic under control under duress?"

"What kind of duress? Harry asked, wondering what she had in mind.

"While I'm kissing you, of course." Tonks added with a smile

They studied long into the night, and despite the increase in Harry's control, his new learned technique still left Tonks spent. It was only after nearly 2 hours of practice, that Tonks told Harry that every kiss produced an orgasm on her part. Harry turned beet red, and asked her why she didn't say something sooner. Tonks replied that he was her fiancé now, so that it was completely okay, and soon she would have to return the favor. She then took pity on the horribly embarrassed boy, and tucked him in bed with a warning.

"That's okay for now, get all the embarrassment done with, because in three weeks, you're mine."

On Monday morning, shortly before Tonks was relieved by Mad-eye, she brought up that it would be nice for Harry to meet her parents before they told the Order. Harry thought it would be a good idea to notify his close friends at the same time as the Order. So they both came to the conclusion that Dumbledore would have to be told first, and before the next Order meeting.

Tonks was scheduled to be back at Privet Drive on Wednesday. They would use that night to go over the rest of each other's memories, and then tell Dumbledore on Thursday, giving him a full day to arrange for Harry's friends to come to the Order meeting, and allowing that same day for Tonks to introduce Harry to her parents. Both Tonks and Harry would speak to Remus in the mean time, so they can present a unified front to Dumbledore.

Over the next two days, Harry finished revising all his subjects through fourth year. On Tuesday night, Remus, who had spoken to Dumbledore about the Thursday morning meeting, related the news of the death of Bellatrix Lestrange. Harry was stunned, but didn't know how to react. Eventually, he acquired a healthy respect for his unknown ability, and felt badly that he could cause anyone's death, but he couldn't feel sorry that Bellatrix was gone. This event helped put the Prophecy in perspective for him. Remus quoted a muggle movie that seemed to sum up his feelings.

"The right is a powerful thing, and should only be used sparingly."

To get his mind off these new revelations, Remus helped him start on Arithmancy, and Ancient Runes. Harry was amazed that magic could be quantified, and using the theories from these two fields, new spells could be created. Harry had trouble grasping the theory, until Remus took several charms and jinxes Harry knew, and broke them down into their Arithmantic representation. Ancient Runes was more like a language course, and featured plenty of memorization. The only part that made it remotely interesting was the variance in spell outcome with variance in pronunciation.

Wednesday morning brought replies to several of the letters he sent, as well as a few new ones. Hermione, Ron, and Ginny sent replies, and he also received a letter from the twins. He decided to open the twins' letter first, as it might be set to go off on a time delay. After having checked the letter thoroughly for traps, Harry opened it with an old quill, which abruptly turned a bright red.

Dearest Investor,

We are greatly saddened that you have not been able to visit Weasley's Wizard Wheezes as of yet. We have taken the liberty of providing you with a sampler, in hopes of cheering you up, as well as showing what your investment hath wrought.

Hath wrought? Laying it on a bit thick, aren't we George? Harrikins, we sent you our beginner's sampler. You know, canary crèmes, ton-tongue toffee, and three skiving snack boxes. We do believe your cousin would make a wonderful canary, and it's hard to do chores after nosebleed nougat.

Of course, Fred, I just felt we should show a little respect to the man who allowed us to realize our vision, even though he does wear glasses. If you are wondering why our letter only had that minor gag, you can blame our little Gin-Gin. She personally packed the package, and threatened us with her potent bat-bogey hex if we did anything more.

She most certainly did. Right scary, our little sister, especially when it comes to you. She also packed your vault key. That's right, you are getting 20 of the profits, and we arranged it so you couldn't refuse it. Weasleys don't take charity, so learn to live with it. Hopefully, you'll be able to stop by while getting your schoolbooks this year.

Hope to see you soon

George and Fred

Harry couldn't help but chuckle; Fred and George don't seem to know how to be depressed. Reading a letter from the two manic brothers was always good for a laugh.

Next, Ron:

Hey, Mate,

I'm glad you've started writing back. I knew you might need some time, but Hermione just wouldn't let up. Getting your letter made my life much easier.

In case you are wondering, Hermione's house has a sometimes connection to the floo network, so she's been over a few times this summer. Mum is pushing Dumbledore to let you go as soon as possible. She said that Tonks and Professor Lupin were helping. All three of them dressed Dumbledore down a week ago. Mum was furious that he told your guards not to talk to you. It was Tonks who broke that rule, and got him to change it, so I hear. How are the muggles? I don't suppose they can do anything with a guard with you at all times.

Ginny is spending 4 hours a day at the twins' store, running the register, and packing the mail orders. Sometimes we get some Quiddich practice in before she goes to work. On the weekends, the twins and Bill usually stop by, and we all get a good session in. We still can't get Hermione on a broom, but she'll sit by the clearing, reading happily.

Now that you've written back, all she can talk about is her O.W.L.s, and haw she is so worried she could have done better. As if she'd have anything to worry about, she probably got all O's.

Hope to see you soon, mate

Ron

Harry knew he'd have to thank Tonks as soon as he saw her next. Without talking to her and Remus, he'd be a basket case by now. Well, let's see what Hermione has to say.

Harry,

I'm glad you have someone to talk to, and I want you to know that I'm still willing to be a sympathetic ear, if you need one. You don't need to apologize for that night. You tried to verify your vision, and it seemed correct.

I'm completely healed; so don't worry on my account.

I wish I could be as sure as you are about my O.W.L.s, I know I obsess over it, but I don't seem to be able to stop it.

I can't wait to find out your news; I just hope it's good for a change.

My house has been temporarily hooked up to the floo network from time to time, so I have visited Ron and Ginny a few times. Ginny works at the twins' store, so I've seen more of Ron than her. I wish I could get him to be half as interested in schoolwork as he is in Quiddich, but it seems a losing battle. I was very happy that you asked for a revising schedule, and more than happy to provide it. I really hope you continue to study from now on, it might get Ron to study, who knows?

Hope to see you soon,

Love

Hermione

Typical, another rant on study habits, but I wonder what's between the lines. How often is 'time to time', and how often does Hermione go to the Burrow when Ginny's not there? I wish they would quit playing around and go out already. Maybe Ginny can fill in some of the blanks.

Harry,

I'm glad you're feeling better. Tonks and Professor Lupin must be pretty good listeners, and I'm glad they could be there for you.

You know, the only way to stop any of us from following you was for you not to go. With the information you had, you not going was impossible. One thing Hermione is wrong about, your 'saving people thing' is one of the best things about you. Without it, I wouldn't be here to tell you.

After what happened first year, being menaced by Bellatrix wasn't so bad, and once again, you stepped in front of me.

We need to talk about what happened to you, if it hurt, it was different than what happened to me. We can add that into the things you need to say.

Ron and Hermione are spending more time together, but still dancing around the issue. Maybe a good embarrassing prank could spur some movement? I'm open to suggestions.

Love

Ginny

Well, that's interesting, something to discuss with Tonks tonight.

Albus Dumbledore was usually a patient man. Living through 16 decades tends to give one perspective. This summer, however, presented him with a two-month deadline in more than one venue. He had to get the inheritance law stricken, or find a new headquarters. He also had to find a way to reverse the shielding charm on Harry, and that was life or death. At the order meeting, he would ask Bill Weasley to join the charm breaking team. He hoped the experienced charm breaker would be able to remove the charm, without hurting Harry, even though he usually worked with inanimate objects.

Severus reported that Voldemort is researching, trying to find out what Harry did to both himself and Bellatrix. There are also plans in the making to raid Azkaban, as well as assassinations ordered on high Ministry officials. Albus had his hands full trying to covertly inform the Ministry about any of these plans, as the Order was spread thin protecting it's own members, and their families.

"Concentrate on the good; acknowledge the progress we have made." This thought surfaced, just as he had trained it to. There would be three new members inducted into the Order next meeting, the Weasley twins and Lee Jordan. Minister Fudge is actively seeking his guidance again, and there were a record amount of O's in Defense on both O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s. We have Harry to thank for that.

Thinking of Harry, perhaps moving him to Headquarters would be best. Heaven knows what havoc his uncontrolled magic could cause in a muggle setting. Here he wouldn't be able to tear the building down around himself, or at least not after a few precautions. It would also reduce stress in the Order. The only thing is he will have to be quarantined here, only allowed to see those who already know of his condition. It would destroy morale if it got out he may very well die.

There was a flash, as Fawkes phoenix teleported from his perch, on to the desk Dumbledore was sitting at. The phoenix stared at the Headmaster, and produced a squawk that Albus had never heard before, he sounded angry. Dumbledore went to comfort his familiar, only to have Fawkes dodge his hand. He then jumped back and started a song, a call to hearth and home. Albus found the song soothing, and he thought of the old friends he had lost, the family he lost, and the family and friends he now had. Then Fawkes surprised Dumbledore by summoning his special pocket watch through a phoenix teleport. He pushed the watch toward Albus with his beak. The Headmaster picked up the watch, the one that monitored the wards on #4 Privet Drive, and opened it. It showed that the wards were at full strength, and Harry was slightly ill, the only way the watch could show his present condition. Dumbledore was confused by Fawkes' actions. As soon as that thought registered, the phoenix emitted a sound that closely resembled a snort, and he phoenix teleported out of the office.

Albus filed this episode with many others, ones to be sorted out in his Pensieve when he got the time.

Mundungus Fletcher spoke to Harry the least of all his guards. Dung was afraid of how Dumbledore would react if anything happened on his watch, especially after the Dementor incident. So Dung nearly blasted Fawkes as he appeared around noon at Harry's.

Fawkes flew to Harry's bed, and perched on the headboard. Harry got up to check if he carried a letter, but there was none.

"Hi, Fawkes, what can I do for you?" Harry asked as he stroked Fawkes' feathers. The phoenix rubbed his head on Harry's hand, and a flame appeared. The flame didn't hurt, in fact, the area where the flame was, was the only part of him that did not feel like it was burning. The flame raced down his arm to his bicep, where he felt a slight burning, then felt a quenching coolness radiate outward from the right bicep, covering his whole body. Harry relaxed completely for the first time in 4 days, and collapsed onto his bed. Looking up at the phoenix, Harry softly thanked him, and Fawkes trilled a 'you're welcome'. Then the phoenix leapt back into the air, and was gone with another flash.

" Mundungus, I'm going to sleep now. This is the first time since the weekend that I haven't hurt all over, and I don't know haw long it will last." With these words, Harry arranged himself on his bed, and almost instantly fell asleep.

By the time Tonks arrived, Harry had just awoken after 6 uninterrupted hours of restful sleep. He had just eaten another Order provided meal. And Tonks was happily surprised to see how he looked. Harry knew she was worried on Sunday night, as she could tell he was in pain. Now, the burning sensation was almost completely gone, and it no doubt showed.

After Dung left, Tonks pulled out the Pensieve. "Ready, lover boy? I've chosen several memories, starting with my first day at Hogwarts, and ending with my graduation from Auror School. These aren't all really nice memories, so try not to get mad, okay?"

Harry nodded, and entered the Pensieve. Tonks discovered she was a metamorphmagus in her first year, and received extra training form Professor McGonagall for the first three years of school. She was a Ravenclaw, and Harry saw the constant jockeying for position that occurred throughout the years. Grades and knowledge equated to status, a constantly changing unspoken hierarchy existed, and not knowing your place in the pecking order would cause it to drop. Other than strict grades and house points, the ability to show up others in games of knowledge added to status. Harry was glad Hermione didn't become a Ravenclaw, as she would have hexed several people by now, and nobody would be able to prove it.

Starting her third year, the boys started to notice her, sometimes sixth and seventh year boys. Tonks was very fit, and had just started to mature. The only major problem was that, though her metamorphmagus skills were not announced, they were well known or rumored. She was very popular, and would change herself willingly for her boyfriends, until they requested she change into a specific girl at school, or requested specific changes to her breast size, and then attempted to fondle her. This was the time that she learned to hate her name. Those stupid boys would always compare her to a nymph, saying she was aptly named. After a horrible year, Tonks re-invented herself, and arrived in fourth year very much the way she looked today, short spiky hair, garishly colored when she could get away with it, heart shaped face, and big eyes that changed color frequently. She adopted muggle punk fashion, which she wore as often as she could. She maintained her outgoing attitude, but added a quick temper if slighted. In the wizarding world, her independent attitude did not go over well. By the end of her stay at Hogwarts, her grades were excellent, she excelled in dueling, and she had accrued the most detention time of any Ravenclaw, ever. All of which she was proud of.

A combination of her 7 N.E.W.T.s, 5 of which were outstanding, her dueling skills, and her physical fitness, she was accepted into the Auror school training program. Tonks continued to excel in her studies, her spell repertoire increased 5 fold, and she acquired skills in tracking, stealth, evasion, and escape. Disguise took on a whole new meaning with Tonks, and sometimes she thought all she was hired for was her metamorphmagus abilities. But she was assured that they just wanted to use all her capabilities to the fullest.

Tonks figured that was true when she passed the two-year mark, and she was alone in her class, all of her classmates couldn't make the cut.

After the second year, Aurors went into the field with a mentor to finish their training. Tonks was assigned to Kingsley Shacklebolt; a high ranking and well respected Auror. Within six months, Tonks joined the Order of the Phoenix. It wasn't until recently that Tonks thought Kingsley was asked by Dumbledore to get mentorship over her to try to get a metamorphmagus in the Order.

From fourth year onward, Tonks didn't have a boyfriend for more than 2 weeks. She didn't even try 6th or 7th years, or after her first year in Auror training.

Harry came out of the memories, his eyes wet, struggling to control himself. He locked eyes with Tonks, and then pulled her into a hug.

"How could they have treated you that way? There are 25-year-olds I want to track down and force them to at least apologize to you. I have a bone to pick with a few teachers as well, I know what it's like to get in trouble for defending yourself." He rocked her back and forth. Tonks was surprised she found herself crying, she had thought she'd let all this go a long time ago. But, here she was, crying on Harry's shoulder, and he was gently rubbing her back, murmuring soothing words. The whole thing was surprisingly cathartic.

After about 10 minutes, Tonks had let all those old, bad feelings go, and was starting to feel the heat from Harry's body, and his strong arms holding her. She regimented her drifting thoughts.

"Harry, if you continue to hold me this way, I don't think we'll get to your memories, I think we'll be making a few." She smiled at Harry as he released her and blushed.

"You did very well so far, I didn't feel one burst of magic."

Harry smiled in return, "Fawkes stopped by around noon, and passed a cooling fire to me. I found a small phoenix tattoo on my bicep after he did it. Since then the pain is almost completely gone." Harry then grew serious. "Do you need to see all the times I fought Voldemort? Most of them still give me nightmares."

Tonks sobered as well, "Yes, Harry, I do. If you still get nightmares, they are life-altering events, ones that show who you are, and how they may have impacted on you. Feel free to give me happy memories as well." Tonks ended with a small smile

Harry pulled about 12 memories out, and handed the Pensieve back to Tonks.

As Tonks entered, she saw Hagrid giving Harry his letter, and laughed at Dudley's tail. Next she saw Harry meeting Ron and Hermione. The next threw her, she was still at Hogwarts in Harry's first year, and she knew nothing about them and that troll, they'd just told everyone it was captured.

Next came the traps associated with the Philosophers Stone, and his first memory of Voldemort. Tonks found the symbiotic Dark Lord terrifying. Harry's defeat of him was not as surprising, now that she knew the Prophecy.

After viewing Dobby at the Dursleys, he skipped to the Chamber of Secrets. Tonks almost left the memories at the sight of the Basilisk. Seeing a 12-year-old boy kill a 60-foot Basilisk was truly amazing, and she thanked Merlin for Fawkes.

Third year, he showed a Quiddich game, and the entire series of events, which led to Sirius' escape. Once more Tonks was amazed by these young kids, using time turners to alter the events of the last 12 hours. That was the kind of stuff Unspeakables did.

The forth year memories showed all three tasks. The end of the last task did force Tonks to leave the memories. She was crying profusely, and latched onto Harry as holding on for dear life.

"How can you stand it, Harry? All of these terrible things keep happening to you. What is Dumbledore doing? Why can't he protect you? If this is the best he can do, why hasn't he trained you more?"

Harry whispered back, "Have you looked at all of the memories?"

Tonks shook her head and snuggled closer, "No, I didn't see last year."

Harry released her, and handed her the Pensieve, "This is important for the whole picture."

Tonks immersed herself again, seeing Umbridge, the D.A., and the whole battle at the Department of Mysteries.

She exited and grabbed him again. "Umbridge broke at least four laws, the maximum penalties could land her in Azkaban for 15 years. The D.A. was brilliant; you have more people in your club that can cast Patroni than I know of in the Aurors." Tonks then dissolved into tears. "Losing Sirius, being possessed, then throwing the Prophecy at you, the man has lost it. From now on, I won't do anything blindly for Dumbledore." Her crying stopped, and she attempted a smile. "As you know, I now know you better than any boyfriend I've ever had. This is a good thing, as I plan to tell my parents I intend to marry you."

Harry blushed, and reached behind his pillow, pulling out a jewelry box. "Tonks, will you marry me?" Harry opened the box and handed it to her. Inside was a gold ring with three stones, a one-and-a-half carat diamond, flanked by a half-carat sapphire, and a half-carat ruby.

Tonks gasped, then stared at Harry. "Where did you get this? It's beautiful."

Harry smiled widely. "I asked Remus to get it out of the Potter family vault. It belonged to my mother."

Tonks smiled back, "Yes, I will." She then handed the box back to him, and thrust out her hand. "Go ahead, put it on."

Harry stood, and slipped the ring on her finger, Tonks then proceeded to jump on him, and snog him senseless.

They talked and snogged late into the night. Tonks even tried to teach Harry how to dance, or at least give a lesson. After about 10 minutes, the dancing became rocking while holding each other. Suddenly the liquid fire ran down Harry's legs, and his feet lit up. Gasping in pain, Harry fell into bed and began his meditation, while Tonks bandaged his feet. After 15 minutes, Harry's bicep flared, like it did when Fawkes was there, and a cool wave settled over him. The pain was steady, at a low but constant level. As it was late, and they were scheduled to see Dumbledore at 7:00 am, Harry went to sleep.