A/N: Thanks to everyone that leaves reviews. So, it's been a while since the last update, but I'm back at University now, so it will take longer. This one's a little shorter than usual, and I promise the next one will be twice as long. Enjoy…

CHAPTER 12: First Day Back

Potions… Merlin it's boring. Although, with Andi's guidance, Harry was actually learning something. To have him properly learn, she had him review his textbooks from first year all the way to sixth. And with Snape's book, it helped a lot, not by simply copying the instructions, but by studying it. The experience was actually pretty embarrassing for Harry as he realised he hadn't learned all that much during Hogwarts. Tosser Snape; a few minutes of heartfelt memories wouldn't wash away six years of his bullshit.

The morning progressed fairly fast for student and teacher. Andi was quickly becoming one of his favourites; the top spot would probably be reserved for Remus, but she was a close second. She taught in a way that actually made sense; she answered his questions and didn't become irritated when it finally sunk in for him. To put it bluntly, she was simply what he needed.

As of late, he was noticing his short fuse. He recognised the anger bubbling under the surface and was using everything he had to keep it at bay. In fifth year, he had an excuse for his anger, blaming it on his connection with Tom. Now though, he didn't have that excuse.

On the other hand, Nym was greeted to the shitshow called the 'Auror Department'. The other Aurors: Renshaw, Rollards, Robbard, Tothman, and Seers, were all Juniors. Technically, Nym was as well, but they're training was fast tracked last year and were still fresh-faced rookies. It was obvious who made an effort to show respect and who didn't. The moment she walked through the doors and shouted and 'Aurors!', only Renshaw, Tothman, and Robbard snapped to attention. Rollards and Seers continued to lean against a wall. Internally, Nym was pissing herself, but she knew she couldn't let them get even a whiff of it. She made her way to them first. "Aurors, your colleagues follow procedure, why can't you?"

Rollards pushed off the wall and waved a flaccid salute. Seers just looked at her. "Sup, Tonks. Nice badge." Nym took a deep breath, pulled out her two wands and stunned Seers and Rollards. Gasps and expletives. She quickly turned to see Robbard and Tothman desperately tugging their wands from their holsters. She stunned them, too. Renshaw was speechless. Nym just shrugged, took the unconscious men's wands and gave them the reviving spell. They eventually stood in front of her.

"I'm gonna say this once: I. Am. Not. Fucking. Around… We're all that's left. Do you realise how fuckin' sad that is?! It's my job now to get this place back up and running. If you don't want to stay, then piss off! I don't need you and one less ain't gonna mean anything. Got that?!" She may have screamed a little too much, but these assholes obviously needed a firm hand. However, she made sure not to direct her frustration at Nemo. The four men nodded an 'affirmative' but no one made for the door, so Nym handed their wands back. No one attempted to retaliate. Nym pressed on. "Good… Now, first order of business is getting to know you lot. Training arena, now. On the double!" The rookies broke into a sprint at that. Nym followed chuckling. She could get used to giving orders.

What followed was a disaster to say the least. It was fairly obvious that the five rookies hadn't properly finished their training. Hell, even Harry during fifth year could probably take them… all. This was gonna be a long summer. They all seemed to be only focusing on one aspect of a duel: Rollards and Seers focused on power, but exhausted too quickly; Rollards was using shields, and hardly attacked; Robbard's spells were weak but his groupings were close; and Renshaw, like Harry, rolled and dodged, but unlike Harry, couldn't land a finisher. They were all stunned after ten minutes. Nym hung her head low. This was gonna be a long summer. "Alright… Let's not focus on the negative right now. We're gonna work hard and get better, okay?"

Seers seemed the most confident. "Are you kidding me?! We got our asses kicked! We're all fucked!"

Nym blew a stray lock away from her eye and stepped into the arena. All five training dummies advanced and started firing an unending volley of spells. Nym dodged, rolled, produced and conjured shields, fired spells, and within fifteen minutes, had disabled all five dummies. The rookies were dumbstruck. Nym blew the lock away from her eye again before shrinking it. "Don't look so sour. I trained under Alastor Moody, so I got an unfair advantage. But, by the end of the summer, you'll be able to do the same. By the way, I have a… friend who may be able to help train with you. Everyone happy?" There were nods, some begrudging. "Good. Let's go again." Showing off like that took a lot out of her. Thank Merlin for duelling with Harry.

At noon she left the rookies in the cafeteria and met Harry in Kingsley's office. Shack was over joyed to meet them. "Harry, Tonks! Please, sit down. So, how's the first day?"

"Gotta be honest, Shack, it's not going good. They were pushed through too soon."

Kingsley nodded. "I know, I know, but what can we do? Send them back to the Academy? No, that'll solve nothing and only hurt their confidence. They need you… and you, Harry."

Harry looked wary. "I'm not instructing again. I already did that in fifth year."

"My point exactly! Look at what you were able to do with teenagers. Imagine what you could do with Aurors!"

"Look, Kingsley- Minister, I'll only agree to help catch Death Eaters on my terms. One, my studies for NEWTs come first, no question. Two, I'm not gonna be an Auror, so don't count on me for that. Three, I'm only used when needed. You find me a target, I'll take 'em down. And four, once they're all caught, I'm out. I've changed my mind about becoming an Auror… No offence."

Kingsley looked either mad or pissed off, but he had no wiggle room with Harry. He knew it was 'take it or leave it' deal. He sighed. "Agreed… So you want to be an 'asset'? Is that what you want?"

"I don't want to be an Auror, I know that much. Besides, you have Tonks. You don't need me."

Nym squeezed his hand and resisted kissing him. Kingsley paused for a while, obviously not pleased with Harry's strict requirements. "Do you at least have time to meet the Aurors?"

Harry stood and held out his hand to Shack, who shook it. "Of course… Minister."

Because their meeting with Shack was rather short and lunch wasn't over, Harry and Nym ate their Daffy-prepared meal in the training arena. "Harry, I think Shack's none too pleased with you."

"Really?"

"I fully support your reasons, but… Kingsley's our friend."

"He is, but he's also the Minister. This was business, not social. Besides, I've learnt that if you're not direct, people assume you'll do whatever they want. I won't… So, how are they?"

Nym scratched the back of her head. "How to put it…"

She relayed what happened that morning, ending with Harry laughing hysterically. He fooled around producing his Prongs Patronus, letting it run around Nym before vanishing again. She responded by having her Jack Rabbit run under his feet, tripping him up. He then decided to practice his accuracy, firing off spells at the five dummies while simultaneously dodging theirs.

After twenty minutes, the rookies re-entered the arena to see the 'Boy-Who-Lived' destroying the last dummy. Nym was clapping and Harry gave her an exaggerated bow. They both turned to see the arrivals. "Ah, you're here. Good. Come on, I won't bite." The obviously older Aurors approached the barely eighteen-year-old. "Hello. I'm Harry. Nice to meet you. Tonks has told me a lot in a short time… So, shall we?"

The question was met with confusion. Nemo was the first to respond. "Head Auror Tonk-"

"Just Tonks is fine."

"Right, uh… Tonks, is this your 'friend' who's gonna be training with us?"

Harry jumped in. "Ah, yes, but I won't be here all the time. I'll try to come at noon to help, but I'm currently studying for my NEWTs." Seers laughed his ass off at that. Harry looked to Nym for approval, she shrugged. "Is something funny, Auror?"

"It's Auror Seers, civilian. And I think it's hilarious that we're going to be taught by someone who hasn't even graduated yet."

"Do you want a demonstration, then?"

Nym didn't really want to watch Harry mop the floor with Seers, but she also did. She didn't interfere. The others knew it was a bad idea, too, but they weren't gonna correct Seers' royal fuck up.

Harry stood the training dummies down and motioned for Seers to enter the arena. He did so smugly. Nym guessed he thought she was lucky when she stunned him this morning. He drew his wand and entered an opening stance. Harry just stood there with his hands in his pockets. Seers was confused but didn't let his guard down. "What are you doing?"

Harry looked at him coolly. "Waiting for you. I'm ready."

Seers wasted no time and launched a cutting curse, which Harry dodged. Seers fired three in succession and Harry dodged and rolled. Seers became enraged and fired a string of curses, but Harry emitted his aura and batted them back, forcing Seers to throw up shields but they were too weak, and the rebounded curses almost hit him. Harry pushed his aura to his right hand, whipping it in a clockwise motion which connected to Seers' wand. Harry whipped it back, caught the wand and fired a stunner that hit its owner squarely in the chest. Seers went down with a loud thud. The other Aurors were once again speechless and Nym started clapping and cheering. However, this time Harry didn't bow to her, instead walking over and reviving his opponent. "You'll see I didn't find any of that hilarious."

Harry held out the wand and Seers snatched it from him. Nym thought that being knocked down two or three times today would temper his ego, or it'd just make him act out even more. She hoped it'd be the former. Harry turned to face the others but kept Seers in his field of vision. "Now, I'm not fucking around. The Minister wants me to help Tonks train you lot and I've… agreed to do so. I'll do the best I can, and you won't let Tonks down. Now, first of all, I suggest you buy a second wand. It baffles me that Aurors aren't taught to dual wield. It may involve a lot more concentration, but I believe it'll mean the difference of you going to Saint Mungo's and the cemetery."

Nemo held up a hand. Harry nodded for her to speak. "But, Mister Potter, no one uses two wands."

Harry unholstered his phoenix brothers. "I do. Tonks does now, as well." To prove his claim, she showed them her two wands. "Look, I'll go see Ollivander and let him you'll all be seeing him soon and that you're second wand is on me. Call it a 'government expense'… Well, now I have to go learn about year seven potions. See ya." Harry waved awkwardly before leaving.

Nym shook her head and tried to regain focus. "Alright, on me. Because Harry has to study he won't always be here. Nevertheless, when he is here, watch him closely. I swear to Merlin you'll learn something just by watching. You'll learn even more when he teaches… Now, let's go again! You ain't leaving until you disable the dummy!"

They ran into the arena and the dummies started attacking again. It was gonna be a very long summer.


After leaving Ollivander's shop Harry entered Eeylops Owl Emporium. He had no intention of replacing Hedwig, but he did need an owl to deliver mail. He approached the front counter and spoke to the manager. "Hello, sir, how can I be of service?"

"I need to buy an owl."

The manager motioned to the room. "Have a look, we'll find you the right one."

Harry settled his eyes on a tree branch. It had two Screech owls resting on top of it: one black and grey, the other orangey-brown and white.


Nym decided to treat herself for a hard day's work and bought that Firebolt that Harry had offered. The broom's tip now had an assortment of strings and ribbons tied to it, mimicking her old Comet 260.

She arrived later that afternoon at the Manor sore and tired. The soreness came from all the rolling and dodging without having stretched first. The tiredness came from being stuck in that arena all day. The rookies were worse than her. None disabled their dummy, so she eventually called it a day and tried to be positive on the way out.

She found Harry out back in the owlery, which sat on top of the stables. Marley had repaired both structures, making both more comfortable and 'homely'. Climbing the short stairs, she started to hear hooting. What she found surprised her. "Hello. What's this?"

Harry turned around holding a box of 'Eeylops Premium Owl Treats'—of course they were the best—and two hooting owls. "Hey. Come take a look."

Nym moved closer. "Wow. They're beautiful."

"The manager said they were a pair and would only be sold as one. I don't know if he was telling me the truth or if he just wanted the sale." Gesturing to the black one. "Either way, this one is a boy and yours. His name is 'Leo'. And this one is a girl. Her name's 'Lyra'. She's… for the House."

Nym knew he never wanted another owl or wanted to replace dear Hedwig, but he still needed letters or mail delivered. She reached out and patted her new owl and then the other. They responded to her touch.

Harry handed her the box. "I think they like you. That's a good sign."

She took the box and fed the owls a couple of treats each. She then unshrunk her new Firebolt and grinned at it. "Look! I decided I deserved it after today. Sweet, huh? My own Firebolt. Thank youuuu, Sirius and the Black vaults! Oh, and thank you, Harry."

Harry smiled. "You wanna fly?"

"Yep!" She mounted the broom and bolted out of the owlry. Harry ran to the secret room and retrieved his own Firebolt. After the Weasley-Granger visit they stored their Nimbus brooms in the equipment shed, but he kept his Firebolt inside.

Harry joined her in the sky and raced alongside her as she laughed away in pure joy. They stayed up there until Andi yelled out that 'dinner's ready!', which they then proceeded to land and wash up. Thing was that Harry led her downstairs to the Turkish Bath instead of the bathroom. "Harry, what are you doing? Mum said dinner's ready. You know me and food."

"I know, I know. Just come with me first."

"Why? We can swim later."

"No, you're winding down first, then food. You've had a long, stressful day. Come on, I was there for an hour and even I wanted to rip my hair out."

"You're not thinking of cutting it again, are you?"

"No."

"Good… Alright, I guess a quick dip can't hurt."

Harry proceeded to pamper Nym, working her knots and loosening her sore spots. Kreacher quickly popped down with towels and fresh clothes and announcing to Harry that 'everything is ready'. Her interest was peaked when Harry winked at him and Kreacher popped out with their laundry.

After feeling fresh and relaxed, Harry took her hand and led her into the conservatory where a small table set for two was surrounded an army of candles. "Uh, Harry, what's going on?"

"Well… we're on a date."

"We are?"

"We are dating, right? It'll be a little awkward if we aren't… considering what we've…"

Nym lightly slapped the back of his head. "Of course we're dating, silly. I just didn't know we were going on a date… Where's mum?"

He scratched the back of his head. "Um, she gave us the house for the night."

Nym cocked an eyebrow. "Ooooh… Right."

"She makes the best wingman."

Nym scoffed before Harry held out a chair for her. She thanked him before he took the other seat. Winky came in and poured them a deep red wine. "Howses the wine, Master Harry, Mistress Nymmie?"

Harry took a sip. "To be honest, Winky, I have no idea."

Nym swirled it around, sniffed it, then downed the whole glass. She then licked her lips. "Mmm. It's delicious, Winky. Excellent choice."

Winky bounced up and down. "I choses it from the cellar like youses said, Master Harry."

"Thanks, Winky. You guys are the best."

Winky bounced again, then refilled their glasses and departed.

"Harry, I didn't know there was a wine cellar?"

"Kreacher built it after our trip to Gringotts the other day. I saw some bottle crates and had them sent here. The whole room's full and there's still a lot left over. I sent the rest back."

"But where is the cellar?"

"It's downstairs. You enter through a door under the staircase. I didn't let you see it in case you caught on."

"Heh. How long have you been planning this?"

"Just a day or two."

"Fuck me, I'm lucky."

"Is that a request?"

"Hush… Later, after dinner."

"No dessert?"

"After dessert."

Kreacher then popped in hovering a silver serving tray. With every course Nym got excited and lick her lips in anticipation. Harry was rather stuffed after the third course, but she was still hungry for more. It ended up with the sixth courses: dessert, which Daffy brought in herself. She joked that it was a course for each House they had Lordship of, which equalled six. The thought made Harry recollect Hermione's questioning if Nym would be the woman to have those six kids. He really didn't want to be thinking of that on their first date no matter how far past they were from that.

As soon as they were finished Nym was on Harry in a flash, her lips devouring his. They slowly and lazily made their way upstairs, losing clothes along the way. Good thing Andi opted out of staying there tonight, it'd be too awkward if she stumbled upon them. Kreacher and Winky popped in to grab their discarded clothes once the coast was clear.

Their sleep didn't come until the early morning when their energy had finally drained, and Harry had wrapped his arms around her from behind. Sleep was deep and peaceful.

end of chapter 12