A/N: I want to thank everyone for the support on my first story. The reviews have been great, so keep them coming, they really do help me become a better writer. I wanted everyone to know what my writing process was like, so here it is: 1st I hand write the chapter in a notebook. 2nd I type it out. Meanwhile, during this I tend to edit the story, lengthening areas I believe to be too short, or taking out things I feel don't belong, or are repetitive. Last but not least, I give it to my editor. I have to thank my brother for this, he checks the spelling and sentence structure for me, then posts it. I hope this helps you all see why it is sometimes longer to update than at other times. I do have completed writing everything up to chapter 14. They have been typed, and are waiting to be edited. Since most of us have real lives, it will be done when he has time. I am currently working on chapter 14, and am almost done writing it. I hope you have enjoyed the story so far. Please continue to give me reviews, and objective criticism, I take them to heart, and use them to improve my writing. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter!
Chapter 10
Tonks left Kings Cross immediately after Harry went out the door with his aunt and uncle. She went straight home to her flat to prepare for her assignment. After she had all the things gathered she would need, she packed them into a small bag that could fit in her pocket. Feeling she had everything ready, she sat down at her kitchen table and opened the envelope Harry had given her.
Nym:
I have several revelations to give you in this, but I am not sure which to say first. I'll start with the bad I guess. Something is going on with Dumbledore, I have uncovered several terrible things, and I no longer trust him, nor will I have anything to do with him. I'll tell you everything when you visit me during your 'guard' duty. Don't trust him. If you can keep from it don't do anything for him. This is very important to stay safe. The next thing is I discovered some new things in the Chamber of Secrets. I'll tell you all about it when I tell you the rest. This next thing is a weird one; I now have eight life vassals. Yes, more things to talk about when you come to visit. The last thing is kind of hard for me to say, because you might not want to visit me after I have said it. I think that I am in love with you. I don't know when it came to me. I just know that it did. I can only hope that you share my feelings, or that you will consider them.
Love Harry
That last bit of information hit Tonks like a ton of bricks. She had been crushing on him ever since she met him, and it had gotten worse since then. He was cute, and a genuinely nice guy. What she kept running into was his age. Physically he was fifteen, but mentally he was older than her. She had hoped he might fancy her, but she never confronted him with her own feelings. She was too afraid what those of the Order might think of her 'robbing the cradle' as they would call it. It wasn't fair! They had no problem with the age difference between her and Lupin, so should they with her and Harry? More than likely, it has to do with them still thinking and treating him like a little child. Could she take them looking down on her? Well if she wanted to be happy, and this may be her best chance, she was going to have to. She would do anything for Harry. Yes, she did return the feelings, and dammit, she would tell him when she got back. Thinking on this, she got up and left for the Ministry.
oo00O00oo
Riddle Manor, Little Haggleton
Nott appeared at the manor's apparition point and stalked to his master's chamber. When he got to the door, it was being guarded by Wormtail, and Bellatrix.
"So, the lost one has returned to us. Did you betray us and trade your freedom for the others?" Bellatrix questioned snidely.
"We have a standing capture and torture you on sight order, for you," interjected Wormtail.
"That doesn't matter to me now," replied Nott. "I must see him; I have crucial information for him."
Wormtail knocked and opened the door. "Master, Nott has returned by himself, and has requested to be in your presence."
"Send him in Wormtail, I feel like a good torture is coming on," commanded Voldemort.
Nott entered the room, then immediately went to his hands and knees. He crawled his way to Voldemort in an effort to show penance. When he got to the foot of his master's throne, he kissed the hem of Voldemort's robes as he rose to his knees.
"Tell me why I should not just kill you where you kneel Nott. You have failed me and the cause," intoned Voldemort.
"Because I have not failed you Master. Malfoy failed you and me, Master. I have brought you two things and an explanation," stuttered Nott.
"Ah, shifting blame, how nice. I do not take failure very well, so if I am not satisfied with your information, I will at least get my entertainment," replied Voldemort. "Now tell me quickly, and it had better be worth the wait. My time is too precious to waste."
"Master, after Potter retrieved the orb with the prophecy, the children began collapsing the shelves all around us and ran off. While we gave chase, Potter paused at one of the still in tacked shelves, pulled an orb off of it and threw it. The orb hit Jugson and broke. A little further along, Potter paused again at another shelf. I did not see if he grabbed another orb, but he did throw one. I caught that orb and continued to pursue Potter. I had my hand on him turning him, in order to see if he had an orb still in his hands, when something rammed into me making my head collide with a shelf. I was knocked unconscious. After I came too, I heard the noise in the Death room. I disillusioned myself and went to investigate. I found Dumbledore and the Order there, so I left to find my way to one of our agent's office," stated Nott before bringing out an orb and handing it up to his master. "I hid out until I could be smuggled out of the Ministry. On my way out one of our other agents gave me this," he said as he pulled out a piece of parchment.
Voldemort took both of the offered objects. He studied the orb before reciting an incantation. The orb glowed for a moment before an aged voice spoke.
…and should the spirit return to the soul and combine, she will seek him out… and should she blood bond to him then he will have no equal in any realm…
The voice ended and the orb clouded over. Voldemort was quiet for a moment, before he looked at the parchment and began laughing. The sound was a mix between a hyena's cackle, and the hiss of a snake combined with that of a viper's rattle. It grated on the nerves as if someone was tapping a chalk board, while scrapping their nails along with it.
"That old fool is recruiting children to fight for him. Dumbledore's Army hah! What an idiot old manipulator. This war will be over before I thought with him doing such stupid moves. You have actually done well Nott. Because of this, I am putting you in charge of tracking down the names on this list, and devising a plan to take them all out at once. You may use fifteen of the new recruits, no more. You have three weeks to be ready. Do not fail me," commanded Voldemort.
Nott got up and left to begin, closing the door on his way out. Voldemort sat thinking about the orb in his hand, until he had a buzzing in his head, and felt the presence of another mind.
"I do not see why you put so much faith into these prophecies," the voice stated. "Have I led you astray? Did I not show you the value of splitting your soul? Did I not ensure you, that you would receive a new body? Has not the things I have said cone to be?"
"Yes to all of them," replied Voldemort. "It is hard to change some beliefs you are taught and raised with."
"You will have this world under your control soon, and will reign until my brethren have awakened. Then you will be a great ally in our conquest, and be rewarded beyond imagining," implied the voice.
oo00O00oo
#4 Private Drive
Harry awoke to being tied to his chair, sitting at his desk, with only his right arm free. Vernon was standing over him leering.
"Boy, who do those freaks think they are talking to me like that? I will treat those that live under my roof any way I wish," he said in a gruff voice.
Harry's face was hurting, and it was becoming difficult to see out of his right eye. It also felt as if the side of his glasses were broke.
"I have a letter here from that bloody Headmaster of that freak of a school yours stating that you will be spending the entire summer with us. So you are going to write twenty messages right now, stating that you are doing fine, and are having no problems. I'm keeping that bloody pigeon of yours down stairs to deliver them. If you don't write the letters, I will kill her and feed her to your Aunt Marge's dogs. You will be sitting in that chair like that until you are done. If that pigeon refuses to deliver the letters, I will take her and you to Marge's, and have you watch while she is being eaten by the dogs. Any funny business from you and you will be spending the summer in a dog cage." He was slobbering like a dog himself now. "Have I made myself clear?"
Harry feeling as low as dirt, and wanting nothing more than to crawl under it, could only nod and pick up the quill that was laying on the desk. He seemed to have no will to do much of anything, but he did write, 'I'm doing fine, and am being treated fairly' twenty times on several pieces of parchment. Vernon then took the quill and snapped it, rolled up the parchment and left the room. He came back moments later with Hedwig in her cage.
"Now inform her to deliver the letters and to come straight back here, and not to pick up any other letters from your friends," demanded Vernon.
"Hedwig, I want you to deliver any letter this man gives you, and then come back to your cage as soon as possible. Don't deliver any letters from my friends to me," instructed Harry.
Hedwig chirped lowly, and Vernon left again to take her back down stairs. When he did return, he untied Harry, stood him up and roughly shoved him towards his bed. Vernon then left the room, slamming and locking the door. Harry took some time to try and clear his mind, before going to the window. He was thinking he might climb out if he could will himself to do it, but notice that it was a new window. He could barely see out of it, because it had a white frosted look to it. It also had wires running through it in x patterns, making small diamonds all over it. When he finally willed himself to open it, he got it to open about five or six inches before it stopped and refused to open any further. Taking a closer look with his good eye, he saw that it was made to only open that far. It seemed that his uncle had made plans before Harry had got out of school. Feeling as if his face was swelling even more, Harry went to his bed to lie down, and he passed out shortly thereafter.
Harry awoke the next morning to the sound of the flap on the cat door closing. Just inside the door he could just barely see with his left eye, were two pieces of toast and a glass of water. Still groggy and unbalanced he got up, retrieved his breakfast and sat back down on his bed to begin to eat. As he finished one slice of toast, and half of the water, he was interrupted by a tapping at his window. He drug himself over to the window, and peered out the six inch open part to see a large brown regal looking owl with a silver pendent around its neck. Reaching his hand through the opening, he told the owl that the window would not open any further, and gave it a piece of toast as he reached through with both hands in an attempt to get the letter. Finally after some doing, he was able to retrieve it. He noticed that the owl had spit out part of the toast, so he cupped his hand and poured water into it to give to the owl. The owl drank a little, screeched irritably, and flew off. Harry went back to his bed, sat down and looked at the letter. It was sealed with the Gringotts wax print. Opening it Harry struggled to read it with his good eye.
Mr. Potter
We are sorry to inform you of the passing of your godfather, Sirius A. Black. In due accordance to law, we are informing you of the public will reading on the 21st of July. A private reading can be requested and scheduled prior to the public reading if desired. We must hear from you by the end of business on the 21st of July in conjunction to the will. If we have not heard from you by this date, you will forfeit any and all claims, to or proceeds from said will. We hope to hear from you soon.
Linbolt: Inheritance Dept.
At reading this, Harry finally broke down. All he could think of was that Sirius was dead, he was hurt, and he was all alone. Nobody could help him, because he couldn't send any notes, and if any magic happened in the house, it would enrage his uncle, and get him expelled. He thought about all the plans he had made, only to see them all go down the drain. He was left with no control, and that scared him the most. At lunch time, all he got was a glass of grapefruit juice, which tasted bitter, and watered down. After he drank it, he started feeling even more depressed and helpless. At dinner he got two slices of toast and a glass of water again. This went on for three days, until one night he was woken up by being slammed in a wall. His uncle Vernon was drunk and muttering about Harry's freakishness breaking his TV. Vernon bounced Harry around the walls a few times before he finally left. The next four days were a depressing blur to Harry. He ached all over, and was barely able to eat and drink what little was coming through the cat door.
That evening Vernon came to Harry's room with a belt and began to beat him while he complained.
"I lost a two million pound deal today because of you. The client said that he could not in good conscience spend that kind of money on a company where the manager had a family member who attended St. Brutus' academy. It is your fault, you and your freakishness!"
Vernon beat him until he passed out from blood loss, and then stomped off. Harry lay on the floor with blood seeping from the rips and tears in his flesh made from the belt. He didn't feel any pain. He couldn't feel anything at all. It was like his emotions and his nerve endings had been turned off.
Vernon was still so upset the next day that stayed home from work. Later in the afternoon he cut his arm on the lawnmower. He went to Harry's room blaming him for it, and began to beat him with his fists. A few minutes into the beating, there came a loud bang. Vernon turned from just punching Harry in the gut to see the door of the room flying at him. After he got up from the door hitting him, Vernon looked and saw a large muscular blond boy was standing there looking around.
"What in the bloody hell are you doing dad?" it was Dudley.
Vernon turned back to Harry, grabbed his leg, and yanked really hard.
"I'm getting rid of all my problems once and for all," replied a huffing red faced Vernon.
Dudley went over and slammed his father in the jaw with a solid uppercut. Vernon crumpled over and fell. Dudley heard the crack of a bone being broken, and notice that his father had landed on the leg of Harry's that he had been holding. The odd angle he fell at had snapped it. Dudley shoved his father off Harry, picked him up and carried him down to the living room. While he was laying Harry on the couch, Petunia came in.
"What was all that crashing? Where is your father and what is that freak doing bloodying up my couch?"
"Stuff it mother! Go into the kitchen and don't come out until I tell you too!" Dudley commanded in such a way that she was frightened into complying. As she was heading to the kitchen, Dudley ran to the front door. He ran outside and began yelling the only name he knew might be there.
"Tonks, Tonks! I know you or one of Harry's guards are around here, Harry has told me about you all!"
He heard the bushes to his right rustle, and he dove to where it came from.
"Ger'off," said a male voice.
"Tonks?" questioned Dudley.
"No, Mundungus! Tonks won' be here fur a nutter 'ive or so 'inutes."
Dudley grabbed a hold of the invisible person and stood them up.
"Well when she gets here tell her to come to the house immediately, Harry is calling for her, and it is very important," stated a somewhat satisfied Dudley.
He then ran back into the house. When he got just inside the door, he could hear someone coming down the stairs. Dudley rushed to the living room, and stood in front of Harry as his father came in.
"Get out of my way son!" commanded Vernon menacingly. "I'm going to get rid of that freak once and for all; I am tired of the stench he brings around here."
"You are not going to touch him again; He has never done anything wrong. There is no reason for any of this."
"You've gone soft boy. Now get-out-of-my-way!" intoned Vernon slowly as he started moving toward Harry.
Dudley rushed his father, ramming him and knocking him backwards.
"Stop Dad, I do not want to have to hit you again," stated Dudley while keeping himself between Harry and his father.
Vernon charged towards Harry again, and Dudley tackled him to the floor. At that moment the front door opened and a pink haired woman stepped in. Dudley elbowed his father hard on the temple and Vernon collapsed. Dudley got up and asked.
"Are you Tonks?"
"Yes, what does Harry need that is so important?"
Dudley pointed to the couch. Tonks looked over and turned white as a sheet.
"Harry!" she exclaimed and ran to him. "Call the local authorities. That man has crossed the line and gone too far."
Dudley went to the phone and called the police. As he was on the phone Vernon began to stir and Petunia stuck her head out of the kitchen. Tonks heard Vernon moan as he was getting up and immediately stunned him. Petunia screamed, heading for her husband, so Tonks stunned her too. Just before the police arrived, Tonks conjured some rope and tied the hands of both Vernon and Petunia, before reviving them. The police came into the house, looked around and began to take statements. Dudley explained what he saw when he arrived home, and what he had done. He said nothing about magic, because he was now familiar with the secrecy statute. The police took Vernon and Petunia into custody, while the forensic team came into the house. As Harry was being loaded into the ambulance, Tonks and Dudley hopped in. The paramedics attempted to stop them, but Dudley told them that they were his cousins, and his only family. Once they began to move, Tonks went into action.
"Dobby!" she yelled.
With a small pop, Dobby appeared. Looking around as usual, he spotted Harry on the stretcher.
"Master Harry Potter sirs is being hurt. Who be doing this? I's tears theys limbs off!"
"Dobby," Tonks yelled. "No time for that, I want you to take Harry and his cousin somewhere safe and somewhere that Harry can be helped."
"Dobby be doing as Missus Tonks be saying. Dobby be knowing where to go."
"Good, have an owl sent to me as to where he is. Tell no one else about this. Now go," commanded Tonks.
Dobby grabbed a hold of Harry and Dudley before popping away. Tonks then set about obliviating the medic's minds.
"You dropped your patient off at a private hospice. You were told that all evidence and documentation of the extent of the damage to him will be sent to the proper people," she intoned.
She then popped out of the ambulance and into Mrs. Figgs' house.
"Tonks, what is happening at Harry's house? I was just about to floo call Albus to inform him that the muggle authorities were there," stated Mrs. Figgs.
Tonks immediately obliviated her, and gave her a different scenario to think about.
"Nothing out of the ordinary happened today. I was not here, and one of your cats is in heat," intoned Tonks after whispering the spell.
Tonks then disapparated to the back of the Dursley's house. She disillusioned herself and went inside. The police were all over the place. She went up to Harry's room, but did not find what she was looking for. Searching the rest of the house, she found it under the stairs, Harry's wand and trunk. She picked up the wand, shrunk the trunk and put them both into her pocket. She went to the kitchen to leave, and found the empty cage of Hedwig. She left the cage there, thinking that Harry could get Hedwig a new one later. She then went back outside to 'stand her guard', before long, the police were gone. As soon as her relief got there, she reported that it was another boring day and disapparated to her flat. She cleaned herself up and then disapparated to the Ministry. Upon arriving at the auror check point, she headed straight for the office of the head of the DMLE. When she arrived, she told the secretary that she needed to speak with Madam Bones on an urgent matter. Fifteen miserable minutes later she was led into the office.
"I have been informed that you have something urgent for me Auror Tonks," inquired Bones.
"I request a temporary emergency leave of absence. I have recently lost someone near and dear to me, and now someone even more dear to me has been injured and may be at death's door. I am no good to anyone in my current state of mind, so that is the reason for my request," replied a desperate and tear streaked Tonks.
"Auror Tonks, we are at war here, we can't be losing one of our best infiltrators. You are needed here to carry out that which you are uniquely qualified to do."
"Well then, I will have to resign my position then, I cannot continue in my current state," replied Tonks as she pulled out her badge.
"Now let us not get hasty Auror Tonks. I believe you have two weeks of holiday a cured. Take that time and I will put you on two weeks of emergency call. If called you must report, even if you do not work. If you do not report in, you will be suspended without pay, and have to face a disciplinary board," instructed Bones. "Do we have an understanding?"
"Yes mam, that will do for now," replied an exasperated Tonks.
Madam Bones pulled out a piece of parchment scratched a few thing s on it and the n waived her wand over it, causing the parchment to triple. She stamped each one, put two in her out box and handed one to Tonks.
"This is your copy, keep it on you at all times." Bones stated in a way the said Tonks was dismissed.
"Thank you Director," replied Tonks on her way out. She headed directly to the DMLE aparation point to go back home.
oo00O00oo
Somewhere Unknown
Dudley felt himself land on solid ground, but could not see where. The dark was so thick it was if he was in a room no lights, no windows, and no door. Turning his head back and forth, he came across two large tennis ball size green eyes that glowed slightly.
"You's be staying heres with Master Harry Potter sirs. I's be getting helps for Master Harry Potter sirs and coming back," stated Dobby before popping away.
Due to the darkness, Dudley felt as though hours had passed before he heard a pop, was grabbed and whisked away. This time he appeared in a well-lit stone room about the size of Harry's room, but the ceiling was right at his head, causing him to feel a little cramped. There was a bed, a chair, and a small table by the bed. Hovering over Harry was one of the ugliest little creatures Dudley had ever seen, it was mumbling something he could not understand.
"Dobby being sorry Mistress Griphook, but Mistress Tonks be saying to be bringing Master Harry Potter sirs to some place being safe. To be bringing him to place to be helped," stated a trembling Dobby. "Dobby be knowing goblin town be safest. Dobby be knowing Master and Mistress Griphook be good to Master Harry Potter sirs, so Dobby be bringing him and cousin here."
"That's fine Dobby, can you tell me what happened to him?" questioned Mrs. Griphook.
"Dobby not be knowing," he said with tears in his eyes. "Dobby being called by Mistress Tonksy to small moving box. Dobby is being told what to do, but Dobby not being told what be happening. Mistress Tonksy be telling Dobby to be owling her, but Dobby not be being able to do so."
"Not to worry dobby, I will take care of it. You go up to Gringotts and tell Griphook to come home. Tell him it is an emergency, and then bring him here," replied Mrs. Griphook.
Dudley stood there the whole time quietly listening to the conversation. When Dobby popped away Mrs. Griphook pulled out a quill and parchment then wrote something on it. She then snapped her fingers twice. On the first snap, the parchment folded itself, and on the second it disappeared.
"You are Harry's cousin?" inquired Mrs. Griphook.
Dudley responded by nodding his head.
"Do you what happened to him?" she asked.
"I came home for the summer, and found my father beating Harry. I intervened, and stopped him. I went outside, got Tonks then called the police when she told me to. When the police got there, we were loaded into an ambulance, and then she called Dobby. Dobby took us somewhere very dark before bringing us here," replied Dudley mechanically. "I have never seen my father so out of control. He has hit Harry before, but never this bad."
"I have put a stasis spell on him. It is all that I can do until I can get a healer here. I would lit to have Auror Tonks here before that though."
They sat quietly for a few minutes before Dobby popped back in with a creature not unlike Mrs. Griphook, but just a little taller and broader in the shoulders.
"What is so important dear, that you had to have me dragged from my work?" demanded Griphook. "Dobby was rambling something incoherent about Harry Potter."
Mrs. Griphook turned him around and showed him the bed.
"Holy mother lode," he exclaimed. "What happened?"
Mrs. Griphook explained what she was told, and then Griphook questioned Dudley. When he got the only answers he could, he spoke again to his wife.
"What have you done for him, and what are your plans?"
"I have him currently under a stasis spell. I also sent a letter to Auror Tonks to come to Gringotts. I want her here before the healer starts, so she can explain what police and ambulance are before we do anything else. I do not understand these muggle terms," she replied.
"I'll take Dobby, and go back to Gringotts to explain my missing to the Director while we await Auror Tonks. I just hope that I do not lose my job over this, our clan will be no more then," replied Griphook.
He then grabbed Dobby's hand, and then popped away.
oo00O00oo
Hogwarts, Headmaster's Office.
Fawkes began flying around the office in fast circles chirping and tilling wildly.
"Fawkes calm down. What is the matter with you?" demanded Dumbledore.
Fawkes continued to trill and whistle while she went back to her perch.
"You need to be quiet Fawkes, I am trying to concentrate," demanded Dumbledore.
"After all these years you have had her Albus, you still cannot understand her," stated Hat. "Why did you never take the time to learn to talk to her, instead of at her?"
"She is here to do my bidding, and that is all," he replied. "Are you telling me you understand her nonsense?"
"Why yes I do. We have been talking for almost as long as you have been headmaster."
"Then tell me what it is she is going on about!" demanded Dumbledore.
Hat had been listening to Fawkes the whole time, and had only caught a couple of words, but he was not going to tell Albus what he heard. Instead he spoke directly to Fawkes.
"Fawkes, slow down please you are going too fast."
"I am free Ric, she has saved him, and now I am free. I need to go to her immediately, but I cannot let him know what has happened."
"I see. What do you wish for me to tell him that will placate him?"
"I told him shortly after the split that once every century I have to face the trail of fire to show my worthiness to remain. It was the only way to get away from his influence and have some limited freedom. I do not know if he remembers it, or if he really believed it. I was gone the last time for one hundred days. Try telling him that, and if it does not work, I will have to find another way, or just flee and hope he cannot snag me again," she finished.
"Ok Albus, do you remember a time after you got her when she told you about having to face the trial of fire once every century?" questioned Hat.
"Yes, I believe that I do, she was gone for over three months, and she looked very haggard when she came back. She was almost useless until after her burning."
"Well it is that time again, she got the calling. If she does not go, it would mean the end of her, and because she is the last female, her race," instructed Hat.
"I don't know if I could let her go right now, with the war heating up. I may have great need of her soon."
"Well it seems that your choice is that you let her go now, or you lose her permanently soon any way. That is the way it is, so make you choice. I doubt anything manor will happen this summer anyway," stated Hat.
"Alright damn it! She can go, but she must be back here at least one week before the start of term," replied Dumbledore reluctantly.
Fawkes immediately flashed away. You could hear quiet snickers coming from several of the portraits, but they went ignored by Dumbledore.
oo00O00oo
London, Tonks' Flat
Tonks was sitting in her lounging chair nervously awaiting an owl that would tell her where Harry was. She was feeling terrible that she had not been there for him. She was berating herself for not being there to stop the brutality. She was interrupted in her brooding by a flash of fire and the appearance of Fawkes.
"Fawkes, what are you doing here?" she questioned. "I don't have time for Dumbledore now. I have more important concerns of my own to deal with."
The answer to her question came into her mind as clear as if it was spoken a loud.
"That is the exact reason I have come to you Nym," was the reply.
"Who is that?" Tonks asked and then looked directly at Fawkes. "Is that you speaking Fawkes? How is this possible?"
"It is possible because you and I are linked in several ways. We are linked by a person that is dear to the both of us. You have just fulfilled your part of a prophecy that my father gave to me long ago, and now it is time for us to finish it together."
"I do not understand. What prophecy? I have never heard about a prophecy which included me."
"I understand this, and so shall give you that which was given to me so long ago," replied Fawkes.
"…You will never know true love…You will have those that love you, and that you care for, but only when you find the one with the Choice, will it be possible for you to have true love… You will have many faces, you will 'fade or die' when necessary, but you will not parish… You will know when the time is near, for you will be split soul from spirit. Your spirit will be captured and enslaved by an agent of darkness. You will sense the one of the Choice, for only he can free you. Both your spirit and soul must each save him first, or he will not be able to save you. If he cannot save you, he will not have the power and understanding to make the Choice…"
Tonks just sat there stunned speechless.
"This was told to me by my father over two millennia ago. When I first met Harry, I felt that he may be the one. I helped him in his second year of school, fulfilling my part. The shackles of my enslavement have been weakening ever since. About two weeks ago I was hit by a blast of magic from him. This linked us enough for me to know who you were, and to get many of your memories and feelings."
"I was hit by something in the hospital it felt deeply warm and personal. I could only think of Harry then."
"He cares about me, and loves you. I can feel it in you. You must now decide if you wish to pursue this to the end or not. If so we must join as one, so that spirit and soul are again one."
"I don't know I would hate to lose who I am. I do not wish to be possessed," replied Tonks a little frightened at the thought.
"That will not happen. You will still be you, but will have all of my memories and knowledge. We are two parts of a whole. You will not lose yourself. I as the spirit will cease to exist as a mental entity, but will always be a part of your physical being. You have nothing to fear. If you truly love him, then you have but one choice a head of you. Be warned though, that he must accept us as we will be. The same, but different together in who we are. He must accept us, or we will perish, and he will not be able to make his choice," instructed Fawkes.
The only thing Tonks could think of was that she did indeed love Harry. She would do anything to help him, and be with him. There was no choice for her, it was all or nothing.
"Let's do this. I'd give my life for Harry. My love for him is all that I have right now," stated Tonks.
Fawkes flew straight at Tonks' chest and right into it. A brilliant white flash of light occurred. It ended in a flash of red flame, and Tonks passed out on the floor.
oo00O00oo
Griphook Residence
Dudley was sitting in the room with Harry on a bed and Mrs. Griphook standing over Harry watching him. He was wondering if he should talk to her when Harry began to glow white. The light was so bright that it blinded hem for a moment after it faded.
"What was that? Is that normal for magical people?" inquired Dudley.
"I do not know what that was, nor do I know what is normal for you wizards," replied Mrs. Griphook gruffly.
Dudley decided that it would be gest to remain silent and not make the creature angry with him. He did not feel safe at the moment.