Harry and Tonks: a love story chapter 38
Thank you for the reviews I got on the last chapter: 38 is here, finally – Morganville is addictive to write, and unfortunately, so is writing (and learning) a Spanish speaking assessment! D: so here is the next fix in the Story of Harry and Tonks:
6 weeks later.
"Harry, smile – you don't want the lens to crack!" Dora says adoringly to me as she tries to take my photograph: against my will, and therefore resulting in my unwillingness to smile.
"If you don't smile, I'm going to have to come over there and kiss you," she continues, and I squint with the sudden burst of sunlight (the first nice weather in months) from over the trees. We're sat just on the edge of the forest around the back of the castle, away from the prying eyes that have been following me since we went public.
"Right then, I'm coming for a kiss!" she laughs, and runs down to me – I grab her by the waist and throw her onto the picnic blanket before kissing her softly. And again. And again. Until my watch beeps: damn you!
"Well, however much I would love to continue this extra-curricular activity, I have to go and catch a small snitch in Quidditch practise now, or I won't be on the team – or the planet if Angelina has her way," I unenthusiastically say.
"But we've only been here not very long," Dora grumbles and I laugh at this before wiping her hair from her face and standing up.
"I know, but I've been late to the last 3 training sessions and the team are getting pretty mad: not Ron though! And I have to go get changed first" I say, before kissing her goodbye and jogging to the pitch.
It's weird isn't it, that the person I expected to have the biggest problem with me and Dora actually is one of our biggest supporters. Once he found that Hermione and I weren't having an illicit relationship, and I was actually dating an older woman, he really responded enthusiastically and is one of this relationships biggest supporters. As is Dumbledore and the majority of the staff – and Moody it appears, given that he gave Dora a promotion to Senior Auror on the fact that when I join the Aurors, I'll need her spot! – and pretty much the entire school. In fact, they're probably too supportive in a sense, always smiling and such at us but I don't care – I'm happy, and that's all that matters. The exception is the Slytherins of course, but most of those whose parents were Death Eaters have left the school, so we're pretty low on Slytherins (thank god) even though I know they're probably Voldemort's new generation of Death Eaters: well good luck to him to train those dunce heads up!
Ginny however, isn't so happy: apparently she had a dream that I would wake up to my feelings for her, but it never happened. So she won't talk to me, or Hermione because she believes in Dora and I, so Hermione's suffering the most. Ginny won't even talk to Ron and she's getting pretty depressed, according to Mr and Mrs Weasley, who picked her up last week to take her home – I won't see her again I doubt (or at least until the summer)
I can see Hermione over on the grass near to the steps where Umbridge was arrested, warm in the frosty November air (hey, I said it was nice, not that it was warm) with her signature fire. Her walking stick is still beside her, and although I know she is on the mend, it still pains me that she is still not better from the injury Nott gave her; especially when Susan made a full recovery after 2 weeks. However, that was all down to Hermione so she should take credit rather than be (a little) bitter about her predicament.
"Hiya Harry, you have precisely ten minutes to get to the Tower, get changed and get to the pitch – after grabbing your broom – before Angelina kills you," she laughs as I pass, and I nod with thanks that she's given me the time I have: I knew I shouldn't have taken Dora down there or at least left the first time my watch beeped!
I sprint up the marble staircase, before running spack bang into Snape. He's returned to the castle and is no longer able to operate as an undercover agent: his cover was blown when the Ministry began putting the captured Death Eaters on trial. Fudge was replaced by Scrimgeour, who is trying to get me to join the Ministry as a 'poster boy' but I can't: they didn't believe me until they saw Voldemort with their very eyes, wasting many lives in the process.
"Potter, what are you doing?" he says curtly – he actually has been pretty civil since I found out what he did for my family, and I tried to respect him more. It's a trying relationship, but it seems to be holding so far: no more detentions!
"Going to get changed for Quidditch professor," I reply and he nods before moving aside to let me pass – normally he'd have shouted at me – especially when he knows I am late – but he hasn't, so maybe this is the new, civil relationship in action. I run up the remaining stairs (good job Quidditch training has made me this fast) to the Fat Lady: I give the password and run straight through the busy Common Room.
The Eiffel Tower incident was blamed on Al-Qaeda by the Muggle Ministry given that bombs were actually found nearby with plans to destroy it: lucky they didn't actually do it the day before (When we were there) or we'd be dead as well. And that wouldn't be good.
The Order have been looking for Voldemort and sourcing areas where they think he is training Death Eaters but so far none have been found; thanks to our Ministry refusing to help us out before, we have a Multi-National Order operating at the moment – all of Europe, America and India (as well as other countries such as Australia and South Africa) are in the Order, and searching for Voldemort – who is unable to be found. Unfortunately, findings (what magical traces are left) are leading us (yes, the Order has stretched to formally include the DA, so that although under age students are involved in the decisions, they don't get to search for Voldemort. That was the conditions I came up with Dumbledore for us to be included, and he agreed. So we no longer feel like spare parts, but aren't put in danger: perfect!) to believe that he is in the UK.
Dora is now officially assigned to Hogwarts to protect us all (and another reason why Mad Eye obviously supports this relationship as he could have posted her to a remote place far away, but he didn't) along with Kingsley Shacklebolt and Emmeline Vance.
OWLs start in 6 months now and Hermione has us all revising already, but I have to say it is pretty helpful as then if something crops up around that time (which it always does – trouble just loves Summer) then we have the chance to deal with it and still pass the exams.
I think through the events of the past few weeks as I pull on my robes: as I rummage through my trunk for my boots I hear someone behind me.
"Best be late with someone, then she can't kill you," Ron teases, and I turn and grin at him; that's what friends are for!
Well this chapter was just an explanation really of what happened: I get it sounds like the end of the story, but it's not – honest – I just think it's going to skip more time: otherwise the Battle of Hogwarts will never happen!
Please review – it does take time to write this, and I like to know it's appreciated!
Vicky xx