* Sorry, this chapter is very short. There will be another posted this week though*
Before anyone knew it, it was time for a Hogsmeade trip. Once everyone was there, Tonks met up with Phoenix. They stopped in front of the only house that was empty for. Phoenix remembered that Florence had to told him something sad had happened to the owners. He observed the look on Tonks' face and could tell something about the house was affecting her emotionally. He noticed how she looked as if it plagued her with long forgotten memories. He gently shook her shoulder to get her attention with no response.
"Tonks? Tonks are you alright?" he asked. She still didn't respond. So he resorted to the one thing he knew would get her attention. "Nymphadora?"
She snapped out of her thoughts and then glared at him. "I'm sorry my love. It was the only thing I could do to get your attention."
"Oh, sorry,"she replied sheepishly and kissed him.
"What is it about this house that caused you to drift away like you did? I know this house has a sad story but why do you look at it as if that story is your story?" he asked.
She sighed, "It doesn't have to do with my story. I just can't help but to think that as sad of a story as it was for the folks who lived there, there still must have been many wonderful and loving moments filled with laughter," she replied with another sigh. "It makes me think about the moments like that that I had with my husband. I miss having those kinds of moments."
Phoenix looked back at her. "I may not be your husband but I hope I can make such memories with you. When you're ready of course."
She tried her hardest to hide the instant heartbreak she felt from his response. Her eyes nearly betrayed her feelings. She wanted so much, to tell him the truth in that moment. At the same time she couldn't help smiling at the fact that he wanted to give her more of those moments. She cursed the Order's order to not tell him a thing. Even if it was the best for him and everyone.
She cupped his cheek in her right hand, "Of course we will."
After another kiss, they headed into the town. His smile grew wide and tapped her on the shoulder and pointed. She looked the direction he pointed and both were in awe when they saw Fred Weasley run up the path to Luna. When they came together, Fred lifted Luna up by her waist and spun in two circles before he set her down and kissed her. After that they embraced. Luna cast her eyes to Phoenix with a smile and a thankful nod. He gave her a short wave and continued on with Tonks.
"Glad to see you're a man of your word my love," she said happily.
He chuckled. "Fred was already going to be here. She doesn't need to know that. It was saddening to see Luna so depressed. I was just glad it put her back in good spirits."
Tonks kissed his check and walked her head on his shoulder. She still remained vigilant due to still having to perform her Auror duties. When they got close to the Three Broomsticks, they heard a commotion and ran towards it. Harry had Mundungus Fletcher by the throat and was screaming, "What gives you the right to do such a thing?" They ran up to them to help Hermione and Neville to get Harry to let go of him.
"Harry, let him go. He is not worth going to Azkaban for," Tonks shouted.
Harry stood with his teeth bared and his grip tightening.
"Harry, whatever he did isn't worth taking his life. That's what a Death Eater would do," Phoenix reasoned.
"If you're gonna kill someone, kill someone more worth it than this waste of magic," Tonks added.
Harry looked at them and then threw Mundungus to the ground. Mundungus looked up to see the watchman and the Auror. He quickly grabbed his hat and ran. Both of them noticed it had looked as if he was recently roughed up. Phoenix turned to Harry in shock. "Bloody hell, Harry! What in the name of Merlin was that about?"
"He tried to sneak passed and got nervous when I saw him. He admitted that because he thought Sirius was dead, he broke into Grimmauld Place and was going to help himself to whatever he pleased. Even though Sirius caught him, he still had items from there," Harry shouted.
"The weasel isn't worth it. If he got away with those items, then Sirius didn't find them that important. Trust me, if they were, Sirius would have blown his cover and not have let him get away with them. Especially after roughing him up like he noticeably did," Tonks added.
Harry calmed down enough that they left him to the care of Hermione and Neville. Phoenix went with Tonks went to Galdrags Wizardwear to look for new clothing to wear when not on duty. Tonks picked out some shirts and baggy jeans. Phoenix picked out shirts and black cargo pants. Tonks insisted on paying for the clothes and Phoenix decided not to argue. After they left and were headed to Zonko's, they heard screaming from the opposite direction. Without realizing it, Phoenix had run all the way to where it was coming from and Tonks was close behind him.
He moved Harry out of his way and in one fluent motion, caught Katie Bell as she fell from the air and gently laid her on the ground. He held her legs down as she thrashed and sent Harry to get someone to help. Tonks kept everyone else calm. When Katie Bell stopped thrashing, as if by instinct, he waived his wand over her and chanted an unknown incantation that stopped the thrashing. When she subsided, something caught his attention. It was wrapped up but it had a strange glow. When Tonks got too close, Phoenix yelled at her to move away from it because he wasn't sure what it was. Tonks cast a spell on the necklace that checked for Dark Magic. It confirmed the necklace was in fact, cursed.
Harry reappeared with Hagrid. Hagrid gave an assessment, scooped up Katie Bell in his arms and took her to the medical wing. Phoenix carefully picked up the necklace, making sure to hold it by it's packaging and followed. Making sure not to touch what was inside. Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall met them in the medical wing. Snape immediately began working to reverse the effects of the curse. Phoenix and Harry explained what happened to Katie Bell. Tonks told them that dark magic was discovered on the necklace.
"Are you sure Tonks?" McGonagall asked shocked.
"Yes. I had checked it right away. It's Auror protocol," she reassured.
"I'm not sure where they came from," Phoenix chimed in. "What I do know, is that Leanne was with her."
"Let me fetch Leanne," McGonagall replied and left the room.
"Very well," Dumbledore answered McGonagall before turning to Phoenix. "Thank you for your quick response and actions. Both of you. The curse could have been worse had you not acted as quickly as you did."
"I can't nor would I ever leave a student in such a condition. I'm just glad she's alive," Phoenix replied.
Professor McGonagall brought in a hysterical, Leanne. She explained that Katie had not been acting like herself and they had been arguing about the package. It was revealed that she had mentioned she was going to give the package to Filch and tell him she found it left on the grounds. They knew right away, it would have been given to Dumbledore right after. The question became, who would have had her send that.
"This could very well have been sent for Harry too. Phoenix, you and Tonks go and inform the Order of what just happened. I will send word to Sirius that they must convene," Dumbledore instructed.
They headed off immediately after being given their instructions and apparated as soon as they were off of the grounds. When they stepped through the door to Grimmauld Place, he had to catch Tonks when she tripped over the Ogre Foot umbrella again. They shared a laugh after he helped her get upright. She let out a frustrated sigh.
"Happens every bloody time," she said embarrassed.
"I'll always be here to catch you," he replied and kissed her.
When they walked through the door together holding hands, they were face to face with Molly and Arthur Weasley and Kingsley. With the awkwardness in the room, mostly from Tonks and Molly, Phoenix noticed Arthur gave his wife a look from the corner of his eye. He put two and two together in that moment. Molly was the other person behind Tonk's need to, "Think about things." He took one look at Arthur who looked away.
Phoenix tugged on Tonk's hand, "Come my love. There's important business at hand. Lectures opinions can wait for another time," he said and gave Molly a glare that told her, he knew.
They walked into the study with Phoenix entering first. Sirius glared at him and did not get up or move. That was until Tonks followed behind him holding his hand. Her fingers interlocked with his. Sirius took note and then looked up at Phoenix and gave him a grin and a nod. Before long everyone else entered with the exception of those who couldn't make it.
When the meeting commenced, the Order was filled in on what had just taken place in Hogsmeade and what Leanne told them. They all sat stiff in their seats. Phoenix took a deep breath while they all processed the information.
"I shall go speak with Dumbledore immediately," Kingsley said and left right after.
"What if they only sent that to Dumbledore, knowing Harry would get involved?" Lupin asked.
"Then we need to keep a sharper eye on Harry. Stay in his ear to keep him from doing anything impulsive," Phoenix answered.
"Very well. Then see to it that you continue to do so. Unless it comes to your other task," Sirius replied.
"Are you sure you can do so being as distracted as you have been, Phoenix?" Molly asked.
Phoenix rolled his eyes while Tonks glared at her until he squeezed her hand and looked Molly in the eye. "You should not make assumptions or question my abilities right now, Molly. I am the only one in this room close enough to him, to keep him safe and thinking rationally. You remember that before asking such inane questions. How about you stick with trying to dictate the lives of your own family," he said calmly and looked at Sirius. "We shall now be taking our leave. We must return to Hogwarts as there are matters there we must continue assist with tending to."
The two of them got up and left without even saying goodbye. The others in the room looked back at Molly. Sirius threw his hands up at her as Arthur shook his head at her. Remus also shook his head as he stood. He held Sirius's shoulder for a moment and peered at him. They looked at each other longingly in silence before Remus left the room. Molly let out a sigh and looked back at the others afte Remus was out of site.
"Well I can't sit silently and watch this happen. It's not fair to either of them..." she tried to reason but was cut off by her own husband.
"I honestly think it is wonderful that they are back together after everything that has happened. We discussed this just mere hours ago with Sirius in this very room, Molly. You and Sirius said your pieces and it only made this go wrong for them. It is their decision now. Regardless of how it's played out and no matter his condition, stop trying to not interfere. Allow them be happy now and raise their child," he said in the sternest tone he ever took with her. "What that means in from now on, leave, it, alone!"
"Arthur, he can't raise her believing she is someone else's..." she was cut off again.
"He is right, Molly," Sirius barked. "Tonks did lodge an argument that can not be fought. Despite everything that has happened to and between them. And even with his memories gone and fragmented, they still fell in love again. Even I must admit, their relationship, their love for one another, seems stronger than ever. As Dumbledore has said, love is the most powerful magic in existence. We must encourage them now. Nothing is going to nor can it keep them apart. If you can not do that, then remain silent and do not acknowledge them at all. Which means you keep your opinion to yourself from now on, Molly."