The Tonks had a nice enough home. Harry could admit that much at least. Nice furniture, nice food and plenty of places Harry could go and hide.
They had given him the corner guest room on the second floor, literally right opposite the pink-haired monstrosity he came to know was named Nymphadora. Her mother let it slip during dinner his first night here. She's been in a foul mood ever since.
The room was nice enough, but Harry hated it. It had a bed, but he much rather sleeps on the floor. A soft bed was just….too soft. If that made any sense. Guess he was just used to sleeping on a pile of clothes to care for one way or another.
He used the guest room to keep his trunk and that was pretty much it. The second day here he noticed the ladder to the attic was pulled down, so taking advantage of it he climbed up and found his own personal retreat.
The attic was spotless, Harry was guessing magic played a part in this. It was filled with old furniture of unmarked boxes of things Harry didn't bother looking through. He did, however, find a small corner in the attic hidden behind a stack of boxes where he could sit and sleep.
His little hide was present right next under a porthole shaped window that looked out into the yard. It gave him enough light during the day, though this did limit his reading during the light.
He soon made it more comfortable, putting in a couple of pillows and a blanket. He was sleeping here now for the past two nights, avoiding the Tonks as best he could.
It was the morning of the third day in the Tonks residence and Harry woke up bright and early, the sun was barely out. He did, however, hear laughter, something he wasn't used to hearing and looked out the window to see Nymphadora and Ted walking away, dressed up with matching yellow and black scarves for the cold July morning.
Harry watched them leave the house, father and daughter chatting excitedly about something. He snorted and turned away, pulling out the book he was reading the night before. Hogwarts: A History.
Automatically he opened the book to the page of the alumni, his eyes locking onto the portraits of his parents. They smiled and waved at him happily. But they didn't recognize him. His fingers touched the pictures as he looked at them for a while before he turned away, continuing to read where he left off.
He learned a lot about the castle, it's history, it's an amazing track record in the wizarding world, as well as the four houses. He found, quite easily, that both his parents were in Gryffindor. Obviously that was also where he wished to be.
Suddenly there was a wooden crank that rang out, cutting through the silence of the attic. "Harry? Are you here?" Harry heard Andromeda's voice and sighed, seems her patients had finally run out.
She walked over, her steps creaking the attic's wooden floor and she turned past the stack of boxes guarding his spot until she was looking down at him with a look of both amusement and concern.
"So this is where you've been," she smiled, "come, I've made breakfast, brush your teeth and I'll have something made up by then."
Harry sighed, "must I?"
"Yes. Eat something, then you can come back here and read all you want, promise," she smiled. Annoyed, but realizing there was literally no other choice, Harry agreed and followed her back down.
He went to the loo and took out the toothbrush the Tonks had bought for him his very first day here. Looking at the plain thing Harry couldn't help smile, they weren't horrible people, he could admit that, but he most certainly didn't trust them...or care for them.
After getting ready he went downstairs and as she promised, Andromeda had made him a full course proper British breakfast. Bacon, beans, toast, and some morning tea.
Harry's stomach growled as soon as the smell hit his nose. Andromeda heard it and turned from the stove with a smile, "go on, sit, almost done with the pancakes."
Harry just nodded as he did just take. Looking down eagerly he took the fork by the plate and cut off a slice of bacon. He put it into his mouth and chewed. It took him two bites before he realized that this was not a good idea.
"Well? How is it?" she asked without looking back, "usually Teddy cooks, but I thought I could make something for you today. He and Nymphadora went out early today for a match down the street, so it's just the two of us!"
That made sense, after all, Harry had only ever eaten Ted's cook, which while it wasn't good, it was at least….edible. This…. This was atrocious. It tasted like sandpaper. How does one even make bacon of all things taste like sandpaper?!
"Oh, what's wrong? Why haven't you touched your food?" Andromeda asked, noticing HArry's plate.
The boy narrowed his eyes as he cut off a slice of bacon and passed it to the woman. She looked confused but ate it. It took her two seconds before she spat it out.
"Oh...I see….I knew I shouldn't have added flour."
"What?!"
"Oh, no matter, try the beans!" Harry's protest was ignored.
With a sigh Harry did so, only to spit it out as well, "how did you manage to overcook beans?!"
"I did?" she asked, surprised, "why I never. Maybe the spell boiled it too much? Try toast!"
Harry picked up the slice of bread but noticed it was charged on the bottom, while the top seems suspiciously darkness. He took a whiff off it and realized straight away it was the brunt of all flavor.
"No," he dropped it back on the plate.
"Oh...well then perhaps I'll have better luck with the pancakes!" she smiled as she took the bowl of batter she had prepared. Harry took one look at the lumps in the mix and knew that the woman would mess this up as well.
"No!" he cried, snatching the bowl away from her with fury, "are you crazy?! How can you be so bad at mixing batter?!"
"Ah...well, cooking really isn't my thing..."
"Then why did you even try?!"
"...Well forgive me for trying to do something nice," she snarled, looking very angry. Harry growled, he knew he was being unfair, but he didn't think she wanted an apology after her abysmal cooking.
"Let me," he sighed, taking the bowl and jumping off the stool. He walked to the counter and placed the bowl on it, but noticed he was slightly shorter than the counter height. Without a second thought, he adjusted his height with his powers, growing both his legs and body to match his new height.
"Amazing," Andromeda whispered as she looked at Harry's morph, but the boy just ignored her and he proceeded to whisk the pancake batter with the grace of a restaurant chef, mixing additional water and flour, creating a thick but constant mix.
He oiled and light up the frying pan on the stove. He waited in silence for it to warm up before he poured the batter onto the pan with practiced ease, it took on an almost perfect circular shape.
Andromeda watched in awe as Harry began to stack pancake after pancake on two empty plates until the batter was all over. He then cut a slice of butter on each stack before turning to her and speaking for the first time since he began cooking, "do you have some maple syrup?"
She pointed to the cabin to his left without a word and watched as he added the sweetener to the stacks of pancakes. He pushed one plate to her and kept the other himself. He took a fork and without another word began to devour his food with gusto.
Andromeda was impressed with the body's appetite, he had finished half of his first cake before she could even begin. Guess that went to show how hungry he really was. Curious as to how his food would taste she took her fork and cut into it.
Placing the warm slice into her mouth she chewed and got a shock as the taste hit her tongue. It was amazing, too amazing. It was sweet from the syrup and sour from the salt Harry added into the batter. The cake wasn't too crispy or too gooey. It was just right.
"This is amazing Harry!" Andromeda said with a smile, "you're a really good cook."
"Thanks," Harry replied.
"Where did you learn to cook like this?"
"Around," he shrugged, he was quickly finishing his food, uncomfortable with this line of questioning.
"What else can you cook?" Andromeda asked, happy that she finally had something to talk to the boy about, becoming the first in the family to have a full conversation with him.
"Just some basic stuff," he shrugged, "sausage, bacon, toast, burgers, meatloaf, spaghetti, stuff like that."
"Oh...that's frankly a lot more than what I can," she said with a nervous laugh.
"I figured," Harry shrugged.
"I see….say, could you try and teach me?" Andromeda asked.
He looked up, "your husband a decent enough cook, ask him."
"True, but I'll be honest, Teddy's got nothing on you," she smiled with a wink, "come on, just a few tips here and there. Plus, if I'm being honest, cooking is a great way to get the ladies interested in you."
Harry rolled his eyes, "I'm sure….I'll thinks about it," he took his now empty plate and put it in the sink.
"Leave it right there, I'll wash it-"
"-It's fine," he replied robotically as he washed his plate and then proceed to wash every single utensil he had used for cooking, leaving the kitchen frankly much better than when Andromeda left it.
"I'm going up now, bye," he replied and then proceeded to go back up to the attic. Andromeda wanted to call him back but stopped herself. Maybe it was asking too much of him, she had gotten him to talk, for now, that was enough.
Just then the door opened as her daughter and husband walked in, "bloody unfair!" Nymphadora cried out, "the match got canceled mum! Something about the ref feeling under the weather!"
"Yeah, a real waste of time that was," Ted grumbled as they took off their coats and walked into the kitchen. The man kissed his wife on the cheek, "hm, what you got there to love?"
"Pancakes," Andy replied.
"Hm, looks good," Nymphadora replied as she took a fork and cut off a slice for herself. She chewed on it and moaned, "Woah, this is fantastic! Wait….it looks good and is edible...dad, did you make this before we left?"
"Hush," Andromeda groaned.
Ted chuckled, "come now dear, we both know, while you have many amazing skills," he kissed her cheek again, "cooking, is unfortunately not one of them."
"Seriously dad, you have got to try this," Nymphadora replied as she passed a piece onto her father who quickly ate it, giving a surprising reaction.
"This...really is good! Did you make this Andy?!"
"No," she sighed, looking to the stairs, "Harry did."
"Harry was here?" Nymphadora asked with surprise, "how did you manage that? Little runt only comes after we're all done and sneak off with leftovers."
"Nymphadora, that is quite rude," Andy huffed, "and if you must know, Harry is just… shy I suppose."
"Can't blames the lad," Ted said between pieces of pancake, "barely knows us."
"Oye! Stop eating all the food," Nymphadora cried as she snatched the fork back, eating the food, "the kid may be one depressed ball of brooding, but he's one hell of a cook I'll give him that."
That night:
Harry closed the book he was reading as the last rays of light went down and night officially began. He read until the very last moment he could, but now he couldn't even make out the words on the page. One of the downsides of living in the attic.
He got up and decided to take a break, reading through lunch he worked up quite an appetite, maybe he would be lucky and find some leftovers in the Tonks' kitchen.
He quietly pushed the attic door down and stepped out, making his way down to the ground floor, just in time to hear laughter coming from what he knew was the living room.
"That's simply marvelous Andromeda, marvelous indeed. I never get tired of hearing your stories, I must say they always seem to brighten my day," Harry narrowed his eyes, recognizing the voice immediately.
He sneaked around the corner, and there he was, sitting in the lounger by the fire, Albus freaking Dumbledore. He had a mug of tea in one hand and a cookie in the other with a smile on his face.
"So professor, what brings you here?" Ted asked he and his wife smiled, sitting on the couch next to the aged fossil Harry came to mistrust.
"Well, it's because of your young guest, Harry," the man smiled, "it's been three days, I was just wondering how well he's adjusting."
Ted sighed, "not as well as we'd want. He's honestly up all the time in the attic, rarely comes down at all, except maybe to get some food from the fridge."
"Well...that's not true," Andromeda spoke up in his defense, "I managed to a conversation with the boy, it wasn't much, but it was something."
"I see..." he said, trailing off as he stroked his beard in deep thought, "very well, I suppose that's the least I could expect. I'm surprised he hasn't left already. To be honest I'm surprised he hasn't put up more of a wall, with what that boy had been through I'm amazed you could get a word or two out of him at all."
"He's not a bad boy, just….different."
"I agree with Andromeda, and that is why I left him with you two," the man sipped his drink, "you must break through his shell if anyone can do it I' know it's the both of you. And hopefully, by then HArry could become an actual fully functioning member of our society."
"Of course Dumbledore, you can rely on us," Ted assured the man.
Harry leaned away. He knew it. He knew it all along. They were Dumbledore's tools. The nosey prick is keeping an eye on him, still. It was him who brought him into this world, him who had kept away his money leaving Harry with no choice but to live on the streets. Harry hated that manipulated man, mostly because no one else seemed to understand when they were getting used by him.
Like the Tonks clearly were right now.
Harry turned and ran back upstairs as quietly as he could. He went to his room and took out several books and his wand from his trunk. Finding a bag in the room's cupboard he stuffed everything inside and opened the window.
He looked down, it was a twenty-five-foot drop. Easy. He climbed onto the window sill and was about to jump out when a voice startled him.
"And just where do you think you're going?" he turned and found Nymphadora leaning on the door frame with her wand out and a smirk on her lips.
"Oh, hi Dumbledore, didn't expect to see you here," Harry blinked in surprise.
"What?" the pixie-haired girl blinked and turned in surprise. Allowing Harry the distraction he needed to jump out the window.
He flew threw the air and was almost on the ground when he heard a cry, "oh no you don't! Acio!" And then he felt something grab him by the stomach and fly him back through his window and onto his bed.
"W-what just happened?" Harry looked in shock.
"Did you really forget I can do magic too?" Nymphadora snorted as she put away her wand, "sneaky trick that. You almost had me believing Dumbledore was right behind. Pretty liar you are, need to care about that."
Harry narrowed his eyes, annoyed, "listen Nymphadora, I know-"
"Don't call me Nymphadora," she snapped, her voice more annoyed than anything.
Harry sighed, "fine, listen Pinky, I know you don't exactly like me being here and guess what, I agree. It was nice while it lasted, but I'm honestly better off on my own. So what say you let me go, and you and your parents can go back to being the perfect little family, okay?"
"Wh-what in Merlin's balls are you talking about?!" Nymphadora practically cried out, "when did I ever say I didn't want you here?!"
"Walls are thin Pinky, I heard you telling your mom what you think about me. And I honestly don't mind at all, you barely know me, and I barely know you, so it's fine. So just let me go and you won't ever have to see me again. Deal?" he asked, extending his hand.
The youngest Tonks looked at the offered hand and then back to the boy. She looked split between tearing her hair out in frustration or laughing at his audacity. Instead, she drew her wand and flicked it, closing and locking the door and windows.
"Okay, kid, listen, I know what I said was a little mean, but I don't want you gone okay? Would I prefer it if we got along? Oh yeah, I would love it! But I get it, okay? But what I don't get is why you want to run away. I mean...if it's me then I'm sorry but...well...why?"
"It's simple really, it's the same reason I ran from my other home," the notable distaste at the word caused Tonks to take note of it, "I don't like being contained, I like being able to choose my own life. And I hate those people who stop."
Tonks' mouth agape, "when have we ever stopped you?! Mom and dad said nothing while you spent three days in the attic! Hell, if I spent more than five hours with my door locked they start giving me the Auror treatment! When has anyone here stopped you?!"
"Your family may not have, but Dumbledore did. And since you all work for him, I don't really see much difference," Harry groaned.
"Wait...I thought Dumbledore found you on the London streets and took you in?" Tonks asked, now confused.
"What makes you think I wanted to be found? That I wanted to be taken in?" Harry snorted, "I would have been fine living there for the rest of my life."
"Ah, are you mental?" she blinked, "why would anyone willingly live on the streets?!"
"Because I was free...and no one forced me to do anything...but when that cock sucker found me he took me into this magical world where apparently I'm a celebrity, my parents are martyrs and if I don't actually go to some magical fucking castle in the middle of Northern Scotland I'll have my magic sealed away and everything I ever knew about my parents removed from my mind! Shit, compared to this fuck barrel the streets are much simpler!"
Tonks blinks repeatedly, processing everything she learned before summing her own opinion in one adequate sound, "Woah…." she plopped down on his bed and stared at him.
Harry snorted, "yeah….now, will you let me go?"
"I...look, Harry, can I call you Harry?"
"Yeah, fine, whatever."
"Look, mate, I understand, okay? I do. But trust me, my mom and dad would never try and stop you from doing...whatever it is so you want to do. Seriously, knowing my mom she'll probably encourage it, my dad, on the other hand….anyway...Dumbledore is their friend, but I mean, he doesn't tell them what to do. My mom's a Black, or, was a Black, no one tells her what to do. I guess she's kind of like you in that way."
"And I should trust you why? No offense, but I don't know you Nympha-"
"-Oye!"
"Sigh, I don't know you Pinkie. I don't know anything about you, so why should I?"
Tonks groaned as she struck a thinking pose, tilting her head side to side before suddenly perking up with a smile, "I got it! You can trust me, because..." she closed her eyes and right before Harry's eyes, the older girl transformed into a larger version of himself.
Her chest size had reduced, her eyes turned green and her hair grew more curly and mid-night black. Harry's eyes widened to almost a comical degree as he watched her do it, almost forgetting to breathe at one point.
"Ta-da!" she smiled, "bet you didn't know that huh? I'm a metamorphmagus! Just like you! It's one of the reasons McGonagall thought we would be perfect to have you since my parents already know how to raise someone with our abilities!"
"Y-you can morph?" Harry asked in a stupor.
"Ah...yeah?" replied Harry's snarky larger reflection. Harry reached out and touched the woman, and sure enough, it was real, he had finally found someone else, just like him.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Harry asked in disbelief.
Tonks shrugged, "never really gave me a shot, did you? Hell, this is the first time we two ever actually spoke you know?"
"Right...sorry, my bad," he looked her over, still finding it a little difficult to believe her. Be it seemed seeing was believing, and it made sense to have Harry live here if Tonks was also similar to him...it just seemed logical.
"Alright...fine," Harry crossed his hands, "you can do what I can. Why does that mean I should trust you?"
"Well...call it a leap of faith," Tonks smiled she shifted back into her original form, which Harry now highly doubted was what she really looked like, "let me watch your back Harry, you're a fellow Metamorphmagus! We are a rare species you know! A dying race!"
Harry rolled his eyes, "and what's in it for you?"
"Ah...I'll be helping a kid find happiness?"
"Not buying it Pinkie, no one is that good."
"Dude, seriously, I just want to help."
"No reason at all?"
"Ah...no."
"...You aren't a pedophile right?"
"H-Harry! Where did you even hear that word?! Do you know what it means?!" Tonks cried out.
Harry shrugged, "a hooker offered to sleep with me, her friend called her a pedophile, didn't take me long to figure out what it meant."
"Woah-Woah, hold up! Back up a bit, when did you meet a hooker?!"
"When I was selling the stuff I nick, my fence lives in a whore house."
"I'm sorry, what?!"
Harry shrugged, "these things are common when you live on the streets. Anyway, stop changing the subject. You aren't trying to sleep with me are you?"
"NO!"
"Then why?"
"Argh!" Tonks growled as she held her face in her hands, "can't someone do something just because they are nice?!" Harry raised an eyebrow. Tonks sighed, "Yeah, yeah, fine, I get it. But I'm serious Harry, I really do want to help you, and I don't want anything in return, I swear."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing," she nodded.
"I see….and if I'm planning to run away again?"
"If you give me one month and I still feel like you can't trust us? Then fine, I won't just look the other way, I'll help you getaway. That sound good?"
Harry snorted, "yeah….fine, I guess. Honestly, you're such a strange girl Nympha-"
"-Oye!"
"Right, right. Fine. One month...and then I'm gone."
Tonks grinned holding out a closed fist, "deal!" Harry rolled his eyes and fist-bumped her, sealing the deal.
The next day:
It had been a good enough morning for Harry. He got up early and read until eleven. He then went down and found a plate of leftovers from breakfast set aside for him. It seems he's forming a pattern that the Tonks started to predict and understand.
It was around noon though when he heard a loud noise directly underneath him. He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. It seemed that Tonks was awake.
Crash!
She must have tripped, again. Harry couldn't understand how someone with the ability to transform their body mass was able to be so… clumsy. It is impossible. And yet-
Crash!
Suddenly, the door to the attic opened up as heavy footsteps rang out. "Oye! Broodster! You in here?!" Harry sighed, of course. He ignored her, but she managed to find him easily enough, whistling as she looked over the stacks of cardboard boxes he walled up around his spot, "damn, that looks cozy! Move aside, I'm coming through!"
"Wait, what?!" Harry tried to object, but before he knew it she had plopped down beside him, cocooning herself with his blankets, snuggled up warmly, smirking.
"I get why you like this place," Tonks looked around, "it's so warm and cozy! Place it helps set the setting for your brooding time!"
"I don't' brood!" Harry cried out, "I'm reading!"
"Oh, what'cha reading?" Tonks asked, her attention shifted. Harry sighed and held out the time. "Oh, I know that one. But it's honestly not very good. The real good stuff you can only learn from someone who's been there! Like secret passages and stuff, they don't write in there you know? None of that boring history stuff, I mean something useful!"
Harry raised an eyebrow, "like what?''
"Hm, well, you see they don't mention it, but technically a Hogwarts student can access the kitchen all they want. All they have to do is go down the corridor on the ground floor and find a painting of a basket of fruit. Then you got to tickle the pear and boom, it turns into the door for the kitchen!"
"...you messing with me right?"
"No! I swear! That's how you get in!"
"Right….say, Tonks, I always wondered, they don't mention it here, but how does one get sorted into a house?"
The female metamorphmagus smirked, "wouldn't you like to know. Sorry Potty, but that's a secret!"
"Hm, thought so," Harry grumbled, "the book also refuses to comment, keeps saying that its' tradition not to spoil the surprise. It's not stupid is it?"
"Ah… define stupid?"
"Will it kill me?"
"Nope!" she smiled, before throwing her arms up and crying out, "you know what, it's too boring in here! You've been in here too long! Let's go out, we have a huge backyard to play in! Let's get you some physical activity!"
"I'm quite comfortable here thanks," Harry snorted.
"Oh, come on! My mum and dad made this amazing playground in the backyard when I was young. I never really got to use it much when I grew up, being an only child and all. But it will be fun with you! Come on! We can play on the swings, play tag, heck if you want I could convince dad to lend his broom so that we could play Quidditch. Though...it would be difficult with only two people."
"Wait, did you say quidditch," Harry's wavering attention snapped back as he turned to her with a drive-in his eyes, "teach me how to play it. Please."
"Woah there, I knew boys got excited about the sport, but I didn't realize you loved it that much. But how do you even know what it is? Didn't you have no contact with the magical world until a few days ago?"
"I found out about it when I was researching my dad," Harry said, pausing. He debated whether to share more with Tonks, but in the end, the information he was going to share was probably something she knew already given his celebrity status.
He opened the alumni section of the Hogwarts: A History book and showed his father's and mother's portraits, "they said my dad was amazing at the game so I...I guess I Want to learn as well."
Tonks said nothing. She just smiled. She got to her feet and held out her hand, "come on, I'm getting you a broom. I'm going to teach you how to play quidditch if it's the last thing I do!"
Harry looked up, with a moment's hesitation he reached out and took her hand, allowing her to drag her outside his little nest with the promise of becoming a little closer to his dad.
Tonks dragged him downstairs to the living room where Andromeda sat on the couch reading a book. "Mom!" Tonks cried out, getting the matriarch's attention, "Harry and I are going to the back to play quidditch! I'm going to use dad's old broom and giving Harry mine!"
"What?! Nymphadora that is reckless!" Andromeda snapped her book, "you could get hurt! Why Harry doesn't even know how to fly, does he?"
"But mom...please?" Tonks whined.
The woman looked like she was going to argue some more when she stopped herself, noticing that Harry himself was here as well, looking equal parts breeding and excited. She sighed, split. She should say no due to safety concerns, but this could help deepen their bond to the boy, which Merlin knows they desperately needed to do.
"Fine," she sighed, "I know I'm going to regret this, but fine. You can teach him how to play and maybe how to fly. But if I see either of you going above the tree lines and I'll have you washing dishes until Hogwarts starts!"
"Yes!" Tonks cheered, grabbing Harry's hand and dragging to the back, "come on! We're burning sunlight!"
The backyard really was something else. There was a small rose bush on either extreme ends and the middle had a small playground for children. But beyond that was an empty field, which Harry guess was used for picnics by the family.
"Alright Harry, let's see what you got!" Tonks called out as she walked out of the shed to the side with two brooms. One looked newer than the other, both, however, were just...well, brooms. "Now, since you don't know jack about brooms I'm going to teach ya! Here, catch!"
She threw it and with quick reflexes, Harry grabbed it out of the air. "Good, now drop the broom to your right and leave it there." Harry followed her instructions clearly, "now, raise your right hand over it and cry out, 'up'!"
Harry looked confused but did as asked. "Up!" he said with forced. And the broom seemed to zip into his hand from the ground.
"Woah," Tonks blinked, "that's some command. Took me a few tries to get it. You might have a knack for this Harry."
"Thanks," Harry smiled, a sliver of pride filling his heart, "now what?"
"Alright, mount your broom and hold onto it tightly, like so," Tonks demonstrated which Harry mirrored, "and then, kick the ground and push yourself forward."
Harry kicked and pushed forward. And then, something magical happened. He began to levitate in the air. Harry gasped in shock, leaning forward and grabbing the handle for support. Unfortunately, that caused the broom to accelerate forward.
"Lean back! Lean back!" Tonks cried out as Harry dashed forward.
Desperately Harry pulled on the broom handle, causing it to steer itself upwards into the air ascending into the air.
"Oh shit! We are so screwed!" Tonk cried out in a panic, only for Harry to turn around in the last moment and spin clockwise back down, stopping in gentle flow in the middle of the field.
"Oh my god...that was awesome!" Harry cried out, "i-it felt amazing! Like I was really alive!"
"Mate, don't' scare me like that," Tonks sighed, patting her chest repeatedly, "I thought you were going to die for a second there. Shit, you just did feet like it was nothing! You sure you haven't done this before?"
"No….I guess...I'm a natural?" he smiled.
"Yeah, no shit Sherlock," Tonks snorted causing Harry to chuckle. "Wait...was that...gasp! Was that a laugh I just heard?! No! Impossible! Say it isn't so! The great Harry Potter laughed?!"
"Stuff it Pinkie," Harry snorted as he kicked off the ground again, this time managing to stay in one spot and not move anywhere, "I have to admit...brooms are kind of cool."
"I know right," Tonks grinned, "that's my dad's old Comet '82, but it's reliable. Anyway, you interested in a few rounds around the yard?" she asked, taking into the air.
"You're on," Harry replied, a full-blown smile on his face.
They flew for nearly an hour straight. Tonks cracking jokes and Harry trying his best to not take off into the sky and get lost in the clouds.
In the end, they both dropped to the ground, exhausted. Their brooms were tossed to the side as they looked up at the sky, drenched in sweat, but their spirits high.
"Hey Pinkie," Harry spoke up first, "are you coming to Hogwarts as well?"
"Ah, no, sorry squirt. I finished my last year a few months ago. Beginning September I'm going to enroll myself in the Auror training program." Tonks replied with a shrug.
"You want to be a cop?" Harry asked in surprise.
Tonks chuckled, "yeah, does that surprise you?"
Harry shrugged, "a little. I mean with our powers we could be so many things, just seems kind of dumb to be one."
"Yeah well, I guess it's different for you Harry," Tonks sighed, "I mean… you see for me, usually, it's difficult to find a place you belong to. Do you know? Most people see me and they just think, 'wow, she can transform into anything...how can I use that for myself?' Do you know? I want to earn my place in this world, without relying on my powers."
"But why?" Harry asked, "no offense, but these powers gave me my freedom and they've protected me all my life. Why wouldn't I want to use them?"
"What is someone tries to use you for them, Harry?" Tonks reasoned out, "think of it like this, what if they only care about you because of your powers and nothing else? What then?"
"Then they are an idiot and I don't need them in my life. Plus, I ain't a one-trick pony Pinkie," Harry snorted, "sure, I can turn into a pretty face, but while people are focusing on that, I'll just rob them all blind."
"Then what about love Harry?" Tonks snapped back, "what if the one you care for only wants you because you can turn into what they want to be with? What if they never once try to be with you but always wants someone else?"
Harry's eyes widened, "b-but it would still be you under it all wouldn't it? Sure your face would change, but they would still be with you."
"Not if they really want to be with someone else and they chose you only because you could look like them."
"Oh….you must have had a shifty life huh Pinkie?"
"Yeah, well, can't really do anything about it now can I?" she sighed, rubbing her neck. Tonks turned to HArry, "look, Harry, I understand a little of what you're going through, don't think I don't. Out of everyone else in the world, I'm probably the only one with the best chance of understanding you. So take my advice...keep your powers a secret okay?"
"Why? I've had to hide from normal people, but surely the magical world should understand me better right?"
"Honestly? Because it's easier," Tonks sighed, "when I first got to school, people loved my powers. They enjoyed them even. But as we grew older, it got… difficult."
"Boys wanted to fuck you more than their girlfriends."
"Harry! Don't let mom hear you or she'll wash your mouth out with soap!"
"Whatever. Anyway, you were saying?"
Tonks sighed, "yeah, basically, my powers cost me a lot of friends Harry so trust me. It's better if you hide that part of your life from others. It's...easier."
Harry said nothing, simply nodding as they looked up at the afternoon sky, each lost to their own thoughts. Tonks to her years as a student and the coming years as an officer of the law and Harry as his coming year in a school he barely knew anything about.
"Hary! Nymphadora! It's time for lunch!" Andromeda called out form the kitchen window.
"Mom!" Tonks growled in annoyance, but kept quiet, shaking her head at her mother's behavior. "Come on Harry," she encouraged, getting on her feet, "let's get inside."
"Why do you not like your name?" Harry asked as he followed her back in, putting the broom away in the out yard closet.
"It's the stupid name really," Tonks snorted, "it means gifts of the spirits, and honestly what kind of British name is Nymphadora?"
"Much better than mine," Harry snorted as they washed their hands and took their seats around the dining table, "do you know how many Harry's there are in the world?"
"Yes, but none of them is the freaking Boy-Who-Lived," Tonks snorted, "you'll always stick out amongst wizards because of your fame Harry, I, on the other hand, will always stick out because of my stupid name."
"That or your neon pink hair."
"...Touche Mr. Potter."
"Why thank you Pinkie."
Andromeda walked with several plates of food floating behind her and smiled looking at her daughter and Harry getting on so well. She swore she even spotted a small smile on the boy's lips.
"Now then, tuck in," Andromeda said as she placed lunch on the table.
Harry looked around, they were having a salad, some mashed potatoes and shepherd's pie. He narrowed his eyes before turning to Andromeda, "did you cook this?"
"How rude," Andy huffed, "I'll have you know I'm not that terrible a cook!"
"Yeah, you kind off are mom," Tonks chuckled as she cut out a slice of pie for herself, "and don't worry Harry, dad made this before he left for work."
"But it looks freshly baked," Harry argued.
"Preservation charm dear," Andy explained, making a plate for herself and Harry, "keeps anything under it fresh and tasting almost brand new."
"I see," Harry blinked in surprise as he took the plate from Andy and began to eat, "so what exactly does Ted do?"
"Dad? Well, he works at a muggle news network," Tonks shrugged, "he didn't like the way the Ministry did things and so he chose to be a reporter. Works part-time at the Prophet, but to be honest he doesn't really like it, focuses more on his job with the muggles."
"A wizard is working as a reporter?" Harry asked in surprise, "that's...odd."
"Not really dear," Andy said with a shrug, "you see we witches and wizards need to know what muggles are up to, keep an ear to the ground so to speak. People like my Teddy can do that since they are the best at hiding their magical side."
"People like Teddy?" Harry incurred.
"Muggle-born," Tonks clarified, "my grandad and nan are muggles, dad's a wizard. It's not that uncommon for a child to be born to two nonmagical people. Heck, I think your mum was one too Harry."
Harry groaned and recalled the way Petunia treated him, there was no way someone like her, who hated anything freakish, would ever be something like magic.
"I see...and my dad?" Harry asked, eating bits and pieces of his lunch.
"Pureblood," Andy clarified, "someone who's magical lineage goes back at least five generations. As am I actually. Originally I was from a pureblood family called the Blacks, who were pure-blooded since the foundation of England, if the stories are to be believed."
"Wait...so if your pureblood and Ted's a muggle, ah-"
"Muggleborn," Tonks helped.
"Right. Muggleborn, what does that make Pinkie?" Harry asked.
"Nymphadora would be considered a half-blood," Andromeda explained, "as are you Harry. A half-blood is born between a muggle-born and a pureblood, it's actually quite a common occurrence in the wizarding world, with what the pureblood numbers waning and the muggle-borns increasing."
"But wait, what about if a child is born to two muggle-borns?"
"Still a muggle-born," Andy sighed, "sadly, our society isn't as...progressive as most would like it to be. Things such as blood still play a highly important role in our society."
"Oh….so I'm going into a world where people are racist, wonderful," Harry sighed, pinching his nose.
"Well...I wouldn't say racist-"
"-Oh come off it mum," Tonks snorted, "Harry's' got it right. It isn't all that bad, it's really some few nasty traditional purebloods who act all nasty. The rest are alright….for the most part."
"Wait, you said you came from a pureblood family right?" Harry turned to Andromeda, "did they approve of Ted?"
Andy sighed, shaking her head, "you catch on quick Harry. No...sadly they did not."
"What about my parents? Did dad's family-"
"-No...Charles and aunty Dolera were many things, but prejudice is not one of them. They would not have cared who James married, just as long as he did. Unfortunately...they-"
"-Died, murdered. I know….and did you say, aunty?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
Andromeda smiled, "yes, your grandmother was my father's older sister. She was...different, amazing. It was her who actually encouraged me to run away with Ted, no matter what my family said. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't probably be stuck in a loveless marriage right now."
"So...we're related?" Harry asked, the joy of finding family seeped into his heart, as well as anger for never knowing this before. Of being ignorant.
"Yes. Almost all purebloods are related in some way to each other."
"I see...so why didn't you ever come forth to adopt me after my parents died?" Harry asked.
"I...We were told that your mother's sister would take care of you. She was more closely related than us..."
"Who? Who told you she would care for me?" Harry asked, though already knowing the answer.
"Headmaster Dumbledore," the moment Andy spoke those words Harry got off his seat and walked away, "Harry wait-"
"-Mom, leave him," Tonks said, holding her mother back as Harry went up to the attic, slamming the door shut behind him.
That evening:
The sun was gone now and with that Harry was forced to close the large time he was reading. He spent the rest of the daydreaming, failing to focus on what the book in hand was telling him. He kept dreaming, dreaming of a life where the Dursley's had never gotten their paws on him, where he was raised by the Tonks his whole life.
He imagined how when he finally unlocked his gifts Pinkie would spend every day with him teaching him and guiding him, unlike how he was forced to learn on his own through failure after failure.
He imagined learning about his parents growing up, learning the truth, and not just….not lies. He imagined hearing the word freak and recalling only its definition and not a feeling of worthlessness. He imagined flying with Ted and Tonks, happy...free.
And he realized such a life was wasted, because of one bearded fucker. Dumbledore. He didn't know who this man was, but he best stays out of his fucking way, because while Harry didn't know why he did what he did, Harry most certainly hated the man with a passion.
Just then the door to the attic was heard opening up as suddenly the room was bathed in light. Tonks walked over to Harry and smiled, leaning on the attic walls with a lamp in her arms.
"Hey."
"Hey..."
"Here, though you could use this," Tonks placed the lamp next to his bed, "the oil won't ever go out. It'll always be light up. Just make sure you go to bed before mom finds out won't you?"
Despite himself, Harry found a smile coming on his face, "thanks Pinkie."
"No problem squirt," she dropped down, crawling into the blankets next to him, "still reading that old thing? I told you didn't, half the good stuff isn't in here."
"Yes, but I know nothing about the damn school so I might as well start somewhere...plus, I...I'm not a very fast reader, so it'll take some time."
Tonks blinked, "what? Seriously? How much have you read right now?"
"Around fifteen pages."
"Fifteen?!" Tonks cried out in shock, "you've been reading this same damn thing since you came here!"
"Yes, but I….I only studied school till the first grade. All of this is too complex for me."
"Wait, you stopped school in the first grade?"
Harry nodded, "I ran away remember? The streets can teach you a lot of things, reading isn't one of them. I can do math well enough, need too to make sure I don't get a raw deal. But things like reading and writing are...tough."
"...Harry, I don't know if you're stupid or just an idiot for thinking you could do this all on your own," Tonks snorted.
"Yes well, I've never had someone to ask help from before," Harry defended himself.
Tonks looked at the boy and after a few moments sighed, taking the book from his hands, "well now you do. Come on, we have, what? A few months before you leave for Hogwarts? More than enough time for me to teach you how to read!"
Harry looked like he was just struck by lightning, "y-you what?"
"I'm going to teach you to read!" Tonk said proudly.
"Tonks, that could take months!"
"And? I got nothing better to do, now come on, we're wasting time, unlike you, I need my beauty sleep."
"You realize we could just vanish any dark circles we get right?"
Tonks sighed, "it's a figure of speech you smart ass, now come on!"
Harry sat and listened to her dictate the book out loud to him. The words finally began to stick at his head, finally he...understood. Tonks talked through the night, Harry snuggled in closer to her and listened, the image of a castle formed in his head, it was large and magnificent as was described in the book.
He imagined the Great Hall, the different houses, the people, the teachers. History. The founders. All off it, and as the night progressed, Harry couldn't help but scoot a little closer to the girl who seemed to be his only ally through all of this.
He couldn't help smelling her scent, like lavender with a hint of something barky. She smelled...nice. Sweet even.
It was nearing midnight when Tonks finally stopped and wished Harry good night. Harry went to sleep that night with a stupid smile on his face. The sheets smelled like her, the book she read to him tucked under his arms. He was….happy.
A month later:
"Morning Harry," Ted Tonks said as he came downstairs to find the newest member of their family sitting down for breakfast at the dining table.
"Morning Mr. Tonks," Harry replied half-heartedly as he turned the page to the book he was reading 'Standard Book of Spells- Year One'
"Oh I remember that brings back a lot of memories," Ted smiled as he started preparing breakfast.
"Yes... a lot of useful spells in here. Shame I can't use any," Harry grumbled.
Ted rolled his eyes knowing that he was already going to try and bring up the argument he always did when he found out he was allowed to use magic outside Hogwarts, "you know the rules, Harry."
"Stupid rules," Harry whispered.
"Maybe, but they are the rules, so no wand waving. You'll get plenty of that at Hogwarts," Ted smiled, "now, you want to come here and help me make breakfast? Andy is just finishing up laundry and Dora is still asleep, should be just us for some time."
Harry looked over his book and smiled, "sure." He put the book aside and went to help the man he soon came to like. Ted Tonks wasn't what one would call...dangerous, like all other men Harry grew up around. He wasn't a mobster or a crime lord, he certainly wasn't a killer. That's why Harry took so long to get comfortable around him, but eventually, he did.
Nowadays he and Ted practically ran the kitchen, making breakfast lunch and dinner. Andromeda and Tonks weren't allowed within ten feet of the stove. Hopeless, the both of them.
Harry quickly put an apron on and helped make the eggs for the morning. They worked in silence, as they most often did. Ted came to learn that Harry was still shy around him and don't' try to push the boy, Harry, on the other hand, did his best to be more open, but that did that time.
"We're almost done here Harry, why don't you go and wake Dora up?" Ted suggested as he flicked his wand to set the table, "I'll go get Andy."
"Right," Harry nodded and walked away, apron removed. He walked quietly to Tonks's room and pushed the door open, staring in amazement at the still asleep girl.
She was a mess of limbs, all tossed around under a blanket that was wrapped around her like a bandage around a wound. Her hair was a mess, it shrank and increased with her breathing, something Harry realized must have been instincts. Harry himself didn't have that problem, he couldn't' afford to, any sign of his powers working without his knowledge and he would have been gutted on the streets for being a freak. He always had to be in control, it seemed Tonks didn't need to be as alert.
Harry increased the size of his feet and fattened the soles of his feet, making them almost pillow-like, like a cat's. He then began to tip-toe forward, sneaking to Tonk's bed with barely a sound until he stood right over her.
He smiled, pushing a strand of hair away from her face. Even now, drooling and the very image of a disaster, Harry couldn't help think she was perfect. He realized what was happening to him, he had a crush...a crush on the only person he called friend…
He leaned down, and quietly as he could, placed a gentle kiss on her brow. Tonks grumbled but didn't wake up. She always was a heavy sleeper. It was only now that Harry allowed himself to feel...but she should never know because if she did, Dumbledore would and he would try and use her against him.
And if it ever came to that Harry knew he would choose his freedom over...whenever he felt for Nymphadora...and he didn't want to leave her side just yet.
His small desire satisfied, Harry morphed his feet back to normal and began shaking Tonks, "oye, Pinkie, wake up."
"Mgh, go away Harry," she rolled away from him, exposing her back.
"Okay, you asked for it," Harry reached over to the edge of her blankets and pulled with all his strength.
"ARGH!" Tonks flew off the bed, landing on her butt, "Harry James Potter!" she reached for her bedside table, for her wand, only to find it missing.
"Looking for this?" Harry asked, holding her wand in his hand, "breakfast, five minutes."
"Give me back my wand Potter!" Tonks tried to stand up, only to trip and fall on the sheets tangled between her legs.
"Love you too Pinkie," Harry replied, placing her wand inside her coat that was hanging on the door hanger.
He walked back down and helped Ted set the rest of the table, in exactly five minutes Tonks came down, her footsteps loud.
"You!" she leveled her wand at Harry and fired a stinging hex. Without panic Harry raised a metal plate to his face and struck the spell aside, "will you stop that?! Argh! I never should have told you about defending yourself using muggle things!"
"I would have figured it out eventually," Harry shrugged as he sat down, Tonks sitting across from him, still annoyed.
"What did he do now?" Ted asked with a sigh, holding up the Daily Prophet in front of him.
"He pulled me out of bed dad!" Tonks cried out, "the little vermin!"
"Well, it's not like you would wake up short of anything less," Harry shrugged, eating his eggs, "and I know. I tried."
"Argh! You're so annoying!"
"Now now Nymphadora no needs to be rude," Andromeda said as she came upstairs with a basket of neatly folded laundry, "after all, it is a special day for Harry isn't it?"
Tonks blinked, turning to Harry, "what does she mean?"
With an equally confused look, Harry shook his head, "no clue."
"Don't tell me you forgot Harry," Ted asked in surprise as he lowered his newspaper, "it's the 31st of July my boy. Your birthday!"
Harry's eyes widened, "what?"
"Oh yeah," Tonks said in sudden realization, "Happy Birthday you troll. Still not going to forgive you though."
"Oh hush you," Andromeda patted her daughter, "so Harry, do you have anything you want to do? Any plans?"
"I….I don't," Harry hummed, "never celebrated my birthday before. So I don't really know what I should do.'
"Wait, you never celebrate your birthday before?" Ted asked, this time so shocked he put away his paper entirely, "how?"
"Well, what did you expect dad? He lived on the streets for three years, and before that, he was seven and I doubted those idiots he used to live with cared enough to even gave him a cake."
Harry shrugged, "I suppose that's right."
"Well that just won't do," Andromeda huffed, "first thing after breakfast we are going to Diagon Alley and getting you a gift. Then maybe we can do something fun, oh, I know. I heard about this place the muggles go to, an amusing park?"
"Amusement park honey," Ted corrected.
"Yes. That. Would you like that Harry?" Andy asked, turning to the boy.
Harry closed his eyes in deep thinking before opening them, "no. I….want to see my parents graves."
The Tonks looked surprised, but they understood. After breakfast was finished they all got ready and left for Diagon alley via the floor. Once more Harry was amazed at the magic he saw before him, he took a moment to admire it all, now slowly understanding a little more of the world he was living in thanks to the books he had and Tonks helping him out.
"Here we are Harry," Andromeda said taking them to the store that smelled of various...things. Harry couldn't quite place it, he lived in a sewer for three years but even he had to say he had never smelled this before. The sign called the store 'Magical Menagerie' and from what Harry could see it had pets of all kinds inside.
They walked inside and were immediately assaulted by a mixture of scents. Harry saw several animals on display, cats of every color, sleek rats, Nobel looking owls, orange snails, a tortoise with what looked like precious jewels encrusted on its shell, ravens and even a few dogs.
"I can have a pet?" Harry asked in surprise.
"Yes dear, Teddy and I talked and we decided it would do you good to have a companion while at Hogwarts," Andromeda said with a smile.
"Just don't get something like a snake or toad," Tonks snorted, "that would be a disaster."
"Nymphadora shush," Andromeda hissed.
Harry walked along with the cages, looking at the animals. Most looked...happy. Harry couldn't fathom why. Why would anything be happy living in a cage? Like he had been? Why didn't they want to be free? Magic? Maybe…
He looked at the animals and none of them seemed to...be sad. None of them seemed like they wanted him like they wanted to be free. He was about to tell the Tonks that he wasn't interested when he heard a sharp cry.
He turned and found himself locking eyes with a yellow-eyed orange cat with a dark stripe across its body. It was very big, bandy-legged with a flattened head. It looked like a small lion, it's man wild and powerful. And in its eyes, Harry could see...he could see it's utter hatred of the cage it was in.
"What's wrong Harry? Did you find something you like?" Andromeda asked.
"I think so," Harry whispered as he approached the cage, kneeling down to the cat's level.
"Oh you don't want that lad," the shopkeep spoke out, "it's been here since forever, no one's wanted him. The old thing it is...and downright ugly too."
Both Harry and the cat turned to the owner and glared, the cat going as far as to hiss at him. Harry was surprised, it was almost as if the cat understood when it was being insulted.
"So, you want to get out of here?" Harry asked the cat. To his surprise, the cat nodded, "good. Just so you know, if you can't keep up, I'll not go to bother keeping you. Deal?"
"Meow," the cat nodded once more.
Harry turned to Andy and nodded, "I'll take him."
Andromeda looked like she wanted to object, but Teddy held her off, shaking his head. She sighed, relenting, paying 8 galleons for the cat, Harry walked out with his new pet in a cage and all the supplies one would need to raise a cat shrunken and put inside Andromeda's purse.
The moment they walked out of the pet store Harry stopped and put the cage down. The Tonks watched as Harry opened the cage and the orange-haired cat walked out looked up at Harry.
"No more cages," Harry promised, kicking the cage away. The cat didn't say anything, simply nodding, almost grateful.
"Harry dear, are you sure that's a good idea?" Andy asked.
"Yes, no cages, ever," Harry's words were a little harsh but well arrested as Andromeda didn't raise the issue again.
"Alright then, next stop is Godric's Hollow. Harry, you go with Andy, make sure you hold onto your new friend there tightly," Ted instructed as he and his daughter locked arms.
"Right," Harry picked up his new cat and held him tightly, offering his arm to Andromeda. With a small twist, they suddenly vanished, his body once again feeling rung out.
"Pah!" Harry cried out as he dropped down to his knees, dropping his cat, who luckily landed on both feet. He panted, still not used to the apparition.
They waited until Harry got his footing back before walking into the town. It was a small place, not many buildings about, a few people on the road. Many, many children walking around happily, playing in the park.
"This is where they wanted to raise you," Andromeda whispered, looking around, "with Godric's hollow isn't a fully magical community, most of them are witches or wizarding families...James once said something about it being a family home."
Harry said nothing, instead of looking at the people, wondering a life for himself here...would he have had friends? Would he have been comfortable here in this park unlike the one where Dudley always bullied him? Would he have had friends with other magical children? Would he have been happy?
In the end...it really didn't matter.
There wasn't much in the town, a church, an inn, maybe a few stores. As they walked by the town square Harry noticed an obelisk in the middle of it, before it suddenly began to transform before his eyes. In its place was the statue of a man and a woman holding a small baby in their arms.
It drew HArry's attention, he practically flew over, looking at the statues. It was...if he were to guess, his parents. They….they were holding a small bundle in their arms, it was him…
"After their death, the Ministry commission the statue made and placed here, in their honor," Andromeda explained, "the muggles will only see an obelisk with the names of fallen soldiers, but to anyone with magical blood...they will know the true sacrifice that had taken place in this town."
Harry looked at the statues, he narrowed his eyes, "they don't look like them..."
"How do you know?" Ted asked.
"I've seen their Hogwarts pictures, practically memorized it...it doesn't look like them..."
"You're right...it doesn't," Andy admitted. Harry stayed there for half an hour, the Tonks didn't seem to mind. Andy and Ted sat on a nearby bench while Nymphadora stood right next to Harry all the time.
Eventually, Harry left the statue, more focused on finding their gravestones. They quickly found themselves at the entrance for a graveyard. The gates themselves looked...for boarding. Harry took a deep breath and walked inside, the Tonks walking behind a good five steps behind and Harry's new pet right next to him.
He walked into the heart of the graveyard, his ears burning, his heart beating. He didn't know what he would say. What could he say? Soon however he realized he was lost...he didn't even know what their gravestones looked like.
"This way," Andromeda whispered, guiding him towards a bright white marble headstone near what looked like a burial house. Harry walked up to the stone structure and stopped, looking down and staring, the names staring back at home.
'James Potter, born 27 March 1960, died 31 October 1981
Lily Potter, born 30 January 1960, died 31 October 1981
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death'
Harry read the words over and over again. As if he would only ever have one chance to do so. He kneeled down and ran his hands over their names. He then looked down, six feet below him were his parents...their dead bodies… probably skeletons by now.
"Their funeral was amazing Harry," Andromeda whispered, "half the wizarding world was here. They had to put upwards to keep the muggles out, we all had to be so quiet so as to wake up. The tavern across the street actually ran out of alcohol that day if I recall."
"So everyone was here, except me," Harry whispered, touching the stone head, "I'm sorry...I didn't know...I….I have so much to tell you and I don't-I don't think I have enough time."
"Take all the time you need lad," Tedy walked up, patting Harry's' shoulder, "we'll be here when you're done."
Harry nodded as he sat down before the tombstone, and for the first time in years, allowed himself to feel pain in public. Tears ran down his face as he looked at the stone and the names carved on it.
"It's not fair, it's not fair," he whispered, hanging his head in anger and sadness. He felt…..hopeless. Just then, the cat Harry bough suddenly came forward, curling into his lap and laying down, Harry smiled, he took a deep breath and began.
He told them everything, thinking it in his head rather than speaking it. He didn't want the Tonks to know...he owed them a great deal, but this was just between his parents and him. He told them about the time he ran away, about how happy he felt away. How he hated them for dying, but never once blamed them for it.
It took an hour, but he was done. He got up and turned to the Tonks, "thank you… for everything."
"Not at all Harry...are you ready to go home now?" Andromeda asked.
"Yes I-"
"-Meow!" Harry's cat suddenly called out. Harry looked down and watched it moved him to follow as it suddenly began to run away.
"Is it running away?" Ted asked in surprise.
"Maybe you should train it better before letting it out of its cage Harry," Tonks sighed as she readies herself to summon the cat back, only for Harry to stop her.
"No...let's see where he's leading us," Harry said, and with that he took off, following after the cat. They went out of the graveyard and down South. It was ten minutes later when the cat stopped, looking up at a ruined building that gave Harry a power sense of deja-vu.
"Oh, my," Harry turned to see the shocked looks of Ted and Andy.
"Do you know about this house?" Harry asked.
"Yes Harry….it's yours," Andromeda whispered.
Harry's eyes winded, he turned back and now peered into the house instead of just looking at it. The house might have been a warm cozy place once, but now it was ruined. It had creepers crawling all over it, nature had taken its course and reduced the outside to a weakened state.
The roof was blown apart from the inside, Harry could tell that was probably where whatever happened...happened. In front of him was a sign stating that the house before him was to be kept as it was forever, to honor his parents. And written as graffiti all over it were the names and support of various people, all wishing Harry the best.
"The sign?" Harry asked.
"Another way of honoring James and Lily," Andromeda whispered, "we didn't feel it was proper to change anything...until you came back."
Harry nodded, just then his cat let out a loud meow and walked through the iron gates of the house. It turned back and motioned Harry to follow.
"That's one smart kitty," Ted whispered, "but how did it know? There can't be any scent for it to follow...can there?"
"I don't know Teddy, I don't know," Andy replied softly.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Tonks asked, flicking her wand and opened the gate, "let's go in."
Harry nodded as he followed right behind his cat. The door was wide open like someone had blasted it apart. He walked inside, the living room was a mess, what furniture was left had been ruined thanks to nature, what little was left Harry didn't care for.
"They said he fought your father here, you-know-who," Teddy whispered, "they said James held him off while Lily escaped upstairs with you. Fought him off without a wand...held him off for five whole minutes before..."
"How long do people usually last?" Harry asked.
"Seconds."
Harry looked around, finding baby toys all around the floor. They must have been here when he came...Voldemort. Such a stupid name. But he killed them...and for that, it held a special place in Harry's heart.
"Meow," the cat called out again. This time from the stairs, Harry quickly followed behind it, walking down a hallway with a closed door, the last one on the right being the only one opened.
He walked inside, the sunlight poured out of the giant hole in the ceiling. This room was painted to be a nursery...or rather, his nursery Harry realized. His coat was before him, the one he must have been in when Voldermort did it.
His cat was curled up next to it, almost as if it was an old habit he just picked up again. Harry walked over and looked inside, in the cot he found four stuffed animals, a rat, a dog, a wolf, and a stag.
"Paddy," Harry whispered as he picked up the black dog and looked it over. He remembered playing with it...he remembered sleeping with it. He loved this thing…
"Merlin's balls!" Tonks suddenly cried out. Harry turned to see her holding a photo frame in her hand, her jaw-dropping.
"Watch your mouth young lady! Before I wash it with soap!" Andromeda snapped.
"Mom look!" Tonks ignored the warning and pushed the frame into her mother's arms. The two Tonks took one look at it before looking up in surprise, staring at Harry and then his newly purchased cat.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
"Personally? I think it's fucking magic," Tonks replied, only to have her mother stig her with a spell.
"Harry, you should see this," Ted replied, passing the photo over. It was a picture of his parents, and in between, them was a small baby with what looked like a broomstick. Harry smiled, even at that age he must have loved flying. They were all smiling, happy, Lily held Harry closely to her chest, her hair wide, almost like fire. His father, on the other hand, held and large ginger cat with yellow eyes and a squashed face and a mane.
Harry looked down at the cat he had just purchased two hours ago, "holy fuck."
"You see what your influence has done?!" Andromeda cried out.
"Trust me, mum, he knows a lot more bad words than I ever will."
"This has got to be a joke, right?" Harry blinked, turning to Ted and Andy for answers, "I mean...this is too much of a coincidence!"
"Well, it would explain how it knew about this place," Ted reasoned, "if it was your family cat then….plus the store owner did say it was in his store for a long time."
"But ten years?! Do cats even live that long!?"
"With how smart it is Harry, I very much doubt that a full cat. It's likely half-kneazle," andromeda supplied.
"Half what?"
"Magical cat," Tonks shrugged, "and Harry, you have to admit, it looks exactly like that picture...I think, that just might be your cat Harry….no wonder it liked you, it recognized you!"
"I-I," Harry looked down, the cat looked at him, eyes bright and focused. "What's its name?"
"The back of the photo, it should have it," Ted replied.
Harry carefully took the photo out of the frame and looked at it. Written in the back in beautiful handwriting were four names:
'Lily, Harry, James and Godric'
"Godric," Harry spoke, looking at the cat. The old creature nodded his head as if to confirm Harry's words. "Holy shit..."
"That's it," Andromeda flicked it wand, summoning a bar of soap and stuffing into Harry's mouth.
"Ha! I told you she would do it!" Tonk cried out.
"And you too young lady," another flick found another bar of soap in Tonk's mouth as well.
One month later:
It was September first and Harry had woken up early. He had packed the night before, after a quick shower and breakfast, he was ready to leave. Even Tonks seemed to have woken up early that day doing her best to get ready on time.
As she hurried to the washroom however, she was greeted by the sight of Harry looking at himself in the mirror. He squinted, going through a range of faces, some she didn't recognize, a few she saw him take on before.
"What'ch doing Harry?" she asked, leaning on the door frame.
"You said it's best to hide my powers, so, that means I need to pick a face and stick with it, something impressive. After all, I won't be able to change it, will I? It's tough though...never had to stick to only one face before."
"Want my advice?" she asked, walking in, standing behind him.
"Always," he looked at her reflection as she smiled.
"Be yourself. Always be yourself, because there isn't anyone else who can be."
"...That is terrible advice Pinkie."
"Hey!"
"My real self is a thief who will rob people blind while wearing the face of a loved one. I'm supposed to be better remember? I can't...live up to my parent's memory by being what I was. I have to change."
"Well, that's well and good, but I meant your physical features you arse," Tonks snorted, smacking up against his head, "just do what feels natural."
"I...I can't."
"What do you mean you can't?" she looked amused.
"I don't remember what I really look like," Harry replied honestly.
Tonks' eyes went wide, "what?"
"I mean...I remember, somewhat. But I can't tell if my eyes are supposed to be bigger if my nose is flat of long. I...I forgot what I'm really supposed to look like a long time ago...never bothered too much really."
"Oh...well….I guess then maybe you should just pick a face which you won't mind waking up to every day?"
Harry considered it, he closed his eyes and his face changed once more. His hair grew longer, almost like a mane that Godric had. It came down till his shoulders, thick and full like a lion's mane. He then turned it red with dark black streaks running through it, very much similar to how his cat looked.
His eyes grew into the shape of almonds and when Harry opened them, they were in the shade of green very much akin to the eyes he saw in the pictures of his mother. He increased his height a little, standing at nearly five feet, very tall for a child his age, filling himself up with muscles to match, not too big, or too stringy.
Tonks couldn't help but whistle, "damn, if nothing, the time you spent on the streets helped you develop your abilities nicely. It took me until the fifth year to do half the stuff you can."
"When you don't' want to die, you learn quick," was Harry's simple response as he looked himself over, "I don't look like them..."
"Neah...but you look like yourself, and that's enough," she ruffled his hair, flashing him a smile, "but I have to ask, no scar?"
Harry shook his head, "no. I hate that thing. It's a mark...a reminder of me being an orphan. Why would I want it?"
"Some say it's one of the most important symbols of wizarding culture in the last century."
"Then they can jump off a bridge," Harry said tying his hair back into a loose ponytail, "as far as I'm concerned, that scar is nothing but trouble."
They quickly got ready, when Andromeda and Ted saw Harry's new default look they didn't object or comment, just smiled and nodded.
By 10:50, the entire family was in King's Cross station. Nearly all the children were aboard, the parents saying their goodbyes for the next few months. And the Tonks was no exception to this rule.
"Now, do you have everything you need?" Andromeda asked, straightening the tie around Harry's neck and trying, and failing, to tame his hair.
"Yes Mrs. Tonks, I do," Harry smiled, patting his robe pocket, "Pinkie shrunk my trunk down already, my wand in my pocket and Godric is already on the train somewhere."
"You really should get that thing a cage Harry," Tonks yawned, "feels strange being here again without my own stuff."
"You'll get used to it, I promise," Ted said with a smile as he rubbed his daughter's shoulder. Harry looked over at the red steam engine with the Hogwarts name labeled on it and smiled he had to admit, it may have been a stupid way to travel, but it was still cool.
"Now remember, I want you to write to us every week, understand?" Andromeda began to fuss again, "if you encounter anything that gives you trouble, you go straight to Dumbledore. Don't take anything sitting down and always be respectful, understood?"
"Yes, I understand," Harry lied, his respect was hard-earned. It took Ted and Andy, two of the nicest people he knew, two months to gain it. The only reason Pinkie got it so much faster was because of how similar they both were.
"Good….oh you look so handsome!" Andy cried out as she began to cry again, "maybe you could stay home a little longer, get special permission from dumbledore to me train you myself."
"Andy, you're embarrassing the boy," Ted sighed as he put his hand around his wife, "come on, let's go, I'm sure Harry doesn't need us around. Frightly embarrassing thing having a hovering guardian always around."
"Oh, you're right," Andy sighed, before turning to Harry one last time, hugging him tightly. Harry slowly hugged her back, the fact that he didn't flinch this time was marked as progress in his book.
Andy and Teddy left, leaving Harry left with his secret crush. "Well, good luck in school sport," Pinkie grinned, "knock them dead you hear?"
"I will. And good luck being a copper Pinkie," Harry smirked, "if anyone gives you shit, tell me. I know how to clip their wings."
"Harry, no criminal activities while in Hogwarts, do you understand?" Tonks said with narrowed eyes.
"Yes, I get it," the lie was obvious.
"...Sigh, fine, but at least keep it to a minimum, okay?" Tonks sighed, rubbing her temples.
"Well...I'll try...Tonks?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
The girl smirked, "don't' mention it squirt. Now get out of here, you have seven amazing years ahead of you, don't waste them brooding okay?"
"Sure…," Harry got onto the train and turned, "see you later, Nymphadora."
"Argh!" Tonks sent a hex at his head, only for Harry to shut the train door, causing the hex to hit the door instead, "damn you, Harry Potter!"
"I love you too Nymphadora," he smirked. She looked ready to board the compartment and chase after him, only for the whole train to suddenly jerk alive, pulling out of the station.
"Just wait until you come home for Christmas you brat! You're dead meat!" she yelled out.
Harry stuck his head out the window and smirked, "I love you, Nymphadora Tonks!"
"ARGH!"
I was thinking I'll make Tonks an older sister type or something. Who knows.