Hey Everybody. Waske here with another one straight from the chrome dome. Again major thanks to VonPelt for providing his brain, time and tears to making my mess a better story. Much Love! Review Answers: (Thankfully this one will be quick.) Geovanni Luciano: You are absolutely right and it is not something that I am going to gloss over and forget when this story ends. A relationship built on a lie will not survive. It does have a consequence and I am looking forward to showing you how I'm going to do that. PhoenixFoxx: I'm happy you enjoy this new take. It's what I'm most afraid of writing a "During Hogwarts years story". How to make it different. On the note of Umbridge and how much this will diverge from Canon. Well that is spoiler territory I'm afraid. The only one who has a clue about how this story will turn out is probably VonPelt. (I don't have a clue either.) Enjoy
Been feeling a little under the weather for the past few days. If anyone was feeling indignant.
To the people who don't like the slash feeling of the story: I'm not even all that sorry. That's a key thing for the story.
Waske
XxX
Chapter 13
Snakes and Nightmares
Harry had just told Dumbledore what had happened in his dream. Everybody was looking pale around him. He had never seen Dumbledore in action like this. He had been ordering different portraits behind him to go to their other frames, setting things in motion. They all relaxed when the portrait of Dilys Derwent had reported seeing Mr. Weasley being wheeled through the hospital still alive but badly hurt.
Dumbledore hadn't looked at him throughout the whole thing. He dared to ignore him.
"LOOK AT ME!"
It was the first time since the summer where Dumbledore's eyes met his. Harry sensed fear and shame coming from the man. He didn't understand.
"You'll be flooing to Sirius's place. He'll be ready to receive you."
"We want to go to St. Mungo's!" Fred argued.
"We want to know if our Dad is going to be alright."
"In the morning. I've already informed your mother. I'll have the elves deliver your luggage."
"She's on her way here, Albus."
"Thank you, Fortescue," Dumbledore said to the portrait. "Now you must hurry. Minerva I can trust you to run interference."
"Yes, Headmaster," Professor McGonagall said frostily, turning around and walking down the stairs.
Harry watched as the others walked through the fireplace.
"What is happening to me?"
"Later, my boy. You need to get out of here before she gets here."
Harry tried to get eye contact with the man again but Dumbledore was firmly looking over his shoulder. Harry angrily grabbed the powder from the bowl and stepped through to Grimmauld Place. He arrived upon an argument between Fred and Sirius.
"WE WANT TO GO TO ST. MUNGO'S RIGHT NOW!"
Harry cleared his throat. "And what will you do there? He is hurt bad and you won't be let in. Is that Firewhisky? I could use a drink."
Sirius pushed the bottle towards Harry, who took it and drank directly from the bottle. He wiped at his mouth. "Anyone going to miss this?"
He was only met by blank stares. Sirius was the only one who had seen him like this before. When nobody spoke up Harry nodded before walking out of the kitchen with the bottle still in his hand.
"Where are you going?"
"Bedroom."
"Alright."
Harry dragged his feet up the stairs, his dream playing through his mind on repeat. Everytime it reached the part where the snake's fangs pierced into Mr. Weasley. He kept drinking to wash away the taste of flesh still lingering in his mind. He hadn't watched the snake as he had told the others. He had known well enough how insane that would be for him to say. Didn't change the fact that he had been the one to attack Mr. Weasley. He made it to the landing which led to his bedroom here at Grimmauld Place. He debatted going there but his feet had already taking him up another flight of stairs to the Master floor. He pushed open the door to Buckbeak's room.
"Hey Buckbeak. Do you mind if I stay here?"
Buckbeak just lifted his wing and Harry crawled into the hippogriff's side. He rested his head against the fur and ran his hand across the feathers. He took another swig at the bottle before closing his eyes.
"I'm really fucked this time. I attacked him. I don't know how I did it but I was the reason he got attacked. I tried to stop it and nobody is telling me anything. I'm so tired of it all. The secrets, the excuses, the nightmares. That bloody door keeps appearing in my dreams. You know what I want right now? I'd like for Tom Riddle to die, for his people to go to jail and to rest my head against Jacque's chest. I miss him, Buckbeak. I miss him a lot. I wouldn't even say no to cuddling with Tonks at the moment. Do you understand how confusing that is?"
Harry took another sip of the bottle.
"It's like… I can't explain it. It's like they are one person with two bodies. They don't even know how similar they are. They even have the same handwriting. Why am I even telling you this? I must be going crazy. How can two people be one person? It makes no sense."
Harry took another swig of the bottle before putting it down on the floor. Buckbeak pushed it away from him, spilling the rest of its contents.
"Hey what did you do that for?" Harry asked angrily.
Buckbeak pecked him on the head before holding him down with his wing when he tried to get to the bottle.
"Get off me."
"Squawk!"
Harry stopped struggling and deflated back under the wing. "I don't suppose you'll let me leave now."
Buckbeak just held him tighter with his wing, not letting him move even a muscle.
"Fine. I'll just sleep against you. You're warm enough."
Harry woke up with a banging headache and the urge to vomit. The room stank of spilled Firewhisky. He retched and gasped for air. Buckbeak lifted his wing and Harry bent forward and threw up on the floor between pools of not yet dried Firewhisky, feathers and hay.
He slumped back as soon as he had emptied his stomach.
"Wow, that was in some horrific way slightly impressive. You look like shit."
Harry looked up at the door, still feeling woozy. "Tonks?"
"Yeah, Handsome. How are you holding up?"
Harry gestured in front of him.
"Sorry, dumb question. Here let me help you."
Tonks bent down and slung Harry's arm over her shoulder. She pulled them both up in a standing position.
"Sorry, Buckbeak. I'll get Dobby to come clean this up for you. Thanks for looking after him."
"Squawk."
Harry looked at her closely. "You look like shit too."
"Long day at work yesterday, followed by a long night at St. Mungo's. I'm knackered. Let's get you into a shower. Some water in you and then I'm off to bed. The rest are sleeping off whatever Sirius managed to get into them as well."
"Thank you."
"It was nothing. I'm here for you."
"You always are, aren't you? I don't deserve you or Jacque. You know…"
"You're still drunk."
"It's like you are the same person."
Harry was too far out of it to notice the small stutter Tonks did. "Yeah. You are drunk. You'll forget all about this conversation when you wake up. Do you need me to hold you up or can you shower by yourself?"
"I'll be alright. You can go to bed."
"I'll feel better if I made sure that you were alright."
"Suit yourself." Harry walked into the bathroom and began pulling off his clothes. He turned on the shower and stepped into it, releasing a long groan. "My head hurts."
Tonks stood there in the middle of the bathroom having just gotten a full show of Harry. Her cheeks red and her mouth open in shock. She gathered herself enough to reply. "You'll feel better if you sleep some more."
"Don't want to sleep. Nightmares. Don't want to be alone with my thoughts."
"You could sleep in my bed then." Stupid why would you suggest that?
"Where would you sleep then?"
"There's room enough for two." Not helping yourself here are you.
"Alright."
That was all Tonks heard until the shower was turned off. She watched as Harry stepped out in his naked glory. Not even the slightest bit embarrassed by his appearance. She absentmindedly handed him a towel which he used to dry himself off with. She oggled him as he tied the towel around his waist and walked out of the bathroom leaving his discarded pyjamas on the floor.
"You coming?"
Tonks nodded mutely and followed him into her room.
"I like the posters. Do you have anything I could wear?"
Tonks grabbed a pair of training shorts. They might fit him. She handed them to him and got another look at him before he pulled them on. He dropped himself on top of her bed and almost instantly fell asleep. She pulled the covers from under him and got in next to him. She wasn't sure what she should feel about this. On one hand it felt like she was taking advantage of him. Not that they would do anything other than sleep, even after the show she had gotten, the memory of him throwing up a few minutes earlier was enough to guarantee that. On the other hand, it's not as if this would be the first time they slept together. Not to mention that his face had been so strained and hurt until she had put her arms around him and pulled his back to her chest. He looked peaceful as he laid there in her arms. She felt at peace holding him too. He had grown in the last half a year. He had already eclipsed her in height. Still, he fit snugly in her arms as if he was meant to be there. She felt her eyes growing heavy. Harry's familiar scent was filling her head and it smelt safe.
She woke startled as something was moving, having not slept so well in a long time. A familiar black head of hair was tickling her nose.
"So, uhm… How did I end up here?"
"What do you remember?" Tonks asked with a hint of amusement.
"Not a lot to be honest. Buckbeak knocking over the bottle. Throwing up. Oh god… I'm so sorry."
"Whatever for?" Tonks was trying hard not to giggle at his embarrassed voice.
"You saw me naked?" Harry had turned around to face her, his face completely red. "And me sleeping here?"
"I should be the one to apologize to you for those things." Tonks smirked. "I feel like I've taken advantage of you."
"Oh shit, Jacque!"
"What about Jacque?"
"Don't you think he would be angry at me for sleeping next to someone not him?"
"Probably." Except you really aren't sleeping next to somebody else.
Harry rushed out of the bed, looking panicked. He looked down at himself and eeped. His head pounding as he did so.
"Don't worry," Tonks said. "I'm sure he'll understand. It's not like you cheated on him. Nothing happened."
"Except for you seeing me naked and us sleeping in the same bed," Harry panicked. "He's going to dump me."
"He's not going to dump you. I'll explain what happened to him if you want me to."
"No, no. It's better if I do it myself. I should own up to my own mistakes."
Tonks felt a stab of pain in her gut. Harry was freaking out about losing a boyfriend who didn't exist.
"Don't worry. I'm sure he will understand. As I said nothing happened between you and me."
"But what if he doesn't?"
"He will. Go on write a letter. I'll take it to him at work if he's a git about it."
"Thanks Tonks."
"You're welcome. Now let's go see if we can scrounge up some food. I wouldn't be surprised if Mrs. Weasley was here already tearing into Sirius."
"I need to put some clothes on first. I can't walk around like this. What am I even wearing?"
"My shorts obviously," Tonks smirked. "Do you like them?"
"Tonks…" Harry whined. "Could you go get me some of my clothes?"
"Nope. After your little stunt, they should be burned - or at least washed thoroughly."
"Dobby?"
Harry was happy to find that Dobby had already brought a set of clothes with him.
"Thanks Dobby. Tonks could you turn around?"
"Nope."
"Tonks?! I'm not wearing anything under these."
"So?"
Harry turned around before pulling down the shorts and quickly pulling on his own clothes. He didn't see the angry look on Tonks's face as he revealed the long thin scars on his back. By the time he was dressed and turned around nothing seemed amiss about her.
"Thanks for the show."
"If I lose my relationship because of this I'm blaming you."
"You won't. Trust me."
Harry looked at her, suspicion plain on his face for a moment before sighing loudly.
"How's Mr. Weasley?"
"He's… critical. The healers are doing everything they can but the bleeding isn't stopping. If he had gotten there just a few minutes later he might have died. I don't know how you knew but you likely saved his life."
"I see… and the rest of the Weasleys?"
"Don't know yet. Molly and I agreed that she should be the ones to tell them. She came back with me here. That was hours ago though."
"You should probably sleep some more then."
"And leave you to face this alone? Not a chance. I'll always be there for you."
Harry tried to hide himself wiping at the corners of his eyes. He turned his back to her, mumbling. "Suit yourself."
Harry looked over his shoulder and got a full view of Tonks in her panties and a tightfitting sports bra. He instantly turned his head back around flushing all the way to his hairline.
"I just need a minute to change into something else."
"A little warning would have been nice!"
"I don't mind if you peek it would only make us even after all."
"Don't you have any shame?" Harry groaned and took her lack of movement as a sign that she was decent. Which turned out to not be the case.
"When you look as good as I do, you have nothing to be ashamed of. And you don't see anything you haven't seen before," Tonks replied cheekily and ran a hand across her stomach, feeling Harry's eyes follow her fingers before she grabbed a top and pulled it over her head. "Alright all done."
Harry felt his breath hitch a little. She looked amazing in her tight-fitting tanktop and leather pants that looked almost like they were painted on her skin. His eyes unconsciously roamed her body taking all of her in.
"Like what you see?"
"Mhmm - Wait?! I'm sorry. I shouldn't have."
Tonks stepped closer and stepped onto her toes, so her mouth was right next to his ear. "I like it when you look at me like that."
She walked past him and Harry could swear she was swinging her hips a little wider. Her arse looked even tighter than the rest of her body. He tried to cleanse his mind of her with images of Jacque, but somehow the two of them mixed together into a weird sort of hybrid in his mind. He shook his head once more before walking out of the room after her.
Harry mumbled a weak sort of apology to Jacque as he increased his pace to catch up to her. He had no idea what her game was. It was bad enough that Cho had tried to kiss him at their last DA meeting. He still didn't like the name. It might have been popular with the other's but calling themselves Dumbledore's Army was not only stupid but it left a bad taste in his mouth. It made him seem like Dumbledore's little soldier and he didn't like the sound of that at all.
Harry stepped through to the kitchen just half a step behind Tonks. She looked over her shoulder and winked at him before turning to the other side of the table and sitting down.
Harry took a seat across from her not really sure what was going on. He tried to make sense of everything in his mind but he was interrupted by a set of arms trying to crush the life out of him.
"Oh, thank you thank you thank you, if it weren't for you, my Arthur would have died."
"I… can't… breathe." Harry wheezed.
"You must be hungry. I don't know what Sirius was thinking giving teenagers Firewhisky. The rest are still sleeping in their beds."
"It likely stopped them from storming to St. Mungo's," Tonks commented.
"But they are just kids."
"Relax, Molly. We were all young once. As long as it doesn't become a habit there is no problem with having a little alcohol to calm the nerves. And your twins are of-age anyway. I imagine the tensions were high when they arrived last night."
"Fred did seem ready to storm out," Harry said softly. "I definitely needed something to calm me down last night."
Harry was expecting Mrs. Weasley to continue her rant but she was thankfully interrupted by the devil himself appearing.
"Good afternoon everybody," Sirius said too cheerfully, making Harry's head pound.
"Shut up!"
"Someone had a little too much to drink last night."
"Can someone make him stop?"
"If you can drink dear, then you should also be able to deal with your hangover."
"Fine…" Harry grumbled. "Is there anything to eat? I'm starving."
Mrs. Weasley moved to the kitchen and Harry could have sworn she was clanging the pans louder than what was necessary. Harry was halfway through his plate of food when the twins arrived with a distraught looking Ginny in between them. She squealed, making both her brothers and Harry wince in pain before she ran and buried her head into Mrs. Weasley.
"How are you two holding up?" Harry asked.
"Feels like I ran my tongue over the outside of Snape's cauldron."
"Like a herd of unicorns danced on top of my skull."
"How much did you drink?"
"We took a note out of your book and emptied a bottle. How are you still alive?"
"Buckbeak knocked over most of mine. Ungrateful drinking partner. Good bedfellow though. Where's Ron?"
"Probably still sleeping. His first time drinking Firewhisky, well more than the sip we gave him after his stay in the Black Lake last year. He might have gone a bit overboard."
"A galleon says he'll still eat like nothing happened last night."
"Even we don't take such bad odds."
"And that's coming from the guys who bet on Krum getting the Snitch but Ireland winning the world cup."
Harry smirked at them. It was good to see them more relaxed if not slightly hungover. Harry turned to the crying Ginny and felt a pang of sympathy for her. It must be horrible for her.
"Where is your brother? We are only waiting for him to arrive."
"He's sleeping in."
"Might have had a bit too much."
"He'll be right as rain after some food."
"Not sure anything could stop him from eating."
"Enough!"
The three of them winced again. It was like nails running down a blackboard in their ears.
"He might come down when he smells the food," Harry suggested.
Tonks had to hide her mouth behind her hand but her eyes betrayed her real feelings. Harry tried hard to hide his own smile. It wasn't fair to say that about Ron. He was much more than his eating habits. He just had a sort of one-track mind when he was hungry.
A loud groan from the door brought their attention towards it. Ron was walking in with a hand on his head, mechanically taking a seat and pulling a plate in front of himself. Harry exchanged a wry smile with Tonks before sitting back with a cup of tea and a large glass of water.
"Now that you are all here and somewhat able to function," Mrs. Weasley sent an angry look at Sirius. "I've got news from St. Mungo's. Your father is stable and he will likely survive but they are still keeping him there until they can make an antidote for the venom in the bite. There are no risks of him dying."
Harry could feel a change in the energy in the room. The tension that had existed between all the Weasley's including Ron had faded considerably. Harry saw the Twins leaning on each other in a one-armed hug. Ginny was still plastered to the side of her mum and Ron had picked up the pace of his eating, happiness clear in his eyes. Harry felt like he was intruding on something sacred. It was moments like this where he felt the clear differences between himself and the family in all but blood. It wasn't that he wasn't relieved that Mr. Weasley was going to be alright, he was but it was obvious that he wasn't as affected by his survival either. He idly wondered if that made him callous.
Sirius and Tonks had seemed to pick up on his odd mood and both moved to sit next to him with Tonks pulling him into her side almost pushing his head to rest on her shoulder while Sirius put a supporting hand on the opposite one.
Harry was pulled out of his thoughts when he saw the Twins stand in front of him on the opposite side of the table.
"We never got to thank you for saving our dad. So, thank you."
"Don't mention it."
George looked about to say something but Fred must have noticed the hollowed shade that had passed over Harry's eyes as his thoughts were once more pulled into the nightmare of that night and had stopped George from saying anything. Harry nodded appreciatively to Sirius when he felt his hand squeeze his shoulder.
"When are we going to see Dad?" Ron interrupted the fragile silence.
"We'll need to arrange for protection and transport. It won't be until the break fully starts. I'm sorry Sirius but it seems that we will have to intrude on you during the break."
"Don't worry about it. We would love the company. Wouldn't we Tonks?"
"Sure. I'll have to work a bit between Christmas and New Years, so I would prefer it if you didn't make too much noise late at night on the second to top floor."
"Of course dear." Mrs. Weasley sent a stern glare towards her sons. "I'll make sure they don't disturb you up there."
Tonks nodded before yawning. "Well with all that excitement I probably should go catch some shut eye again. Thank Morgana that I had a day off today."
"Sirius. Could I talk to you?"
"Any time, Pup."
"Do you want me to join you?" Tonks asked.
"No, that's alright."
"Is this about what happened?" Tonks whispered so only Harry could hear it.
"Yeah."
"You sure I shouldn't be there to tell my side of the conversation then?"
"What? No?"
"What do you mean no?"
"You weren't the one with the nightmare vision," Harry whispered a little puzzled. Then he blushed and planted his forehead to the table, realizing what Tonks had been talking about. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been more specific. Do what you want."
Harry got out of the chair and walked up to the library where he sat down in the couch, waiting for Sirius to arrive and possibly Tonks. Who was he kidding? Of course she would come.
He wasn't surprised in the slightest when she was the first to arrive, planting herself next to him and pulling him tight to her again. Harry wasn't sure about all of this physical attention coming from her. It wasn't the same way as Jacque would touch him but he felt slightly guilty for enjoying the soft sensation of her chest on his arm. Harry was even more afraid that Sirius would reprimand him for not pushing her away, when he arrived.
Harry was even more surprised when Sirius didn't even acknowledge the closeness between them as he walked into the room. Instead Harry was drawn to the serious look on his face.
"So, what's this talk about? I have an idea and I'm not sure I like the implications of it."
Harry breathed in deeply trying to control the anxiety flooding through his body. He closed his eyes before he mechanically recounted the nightmare as he remembered it. This time he didn't censor it to make it seem like he was watching it from the side. He explained in detail the sensations he felt through the nightmare, how he had smelled the man and had wanted to attack him. The feeling of his fangs sinking into Mr. Weasley's flesh as he struck over and over. Harry felt Tonks holding him tighter and tighter. He was almost surprised that she hadn't pulled him into her lap yet or maybe crawled into his as he told his story. He kept silent after he was done telling his story.
"Before you say anything. It was impossible for you to be in two places at once. I asked Ron yesterday. You were screaming in your bed long before you woke up. You did not attack Mr. Weasley."
"It just felt so real."
"I know pup. This isn't the first time you have had a dream like this. You've told me about them before. I have a theory and you are not going to like it. I've been going over the darker books here in the library and what I've found is only small references. It isn't even mentioned by name in these books."
"What is it?"
"I think… that whatever he did that night he went for James and Lily…" Sirius hesitated. "Or through some fluke of your mother's magic, I think he managed to establish a connection between you - your souls or, well I don't know what else could have happened under those circumstances. You feel the pain around your scar right?"
Harry paled but nodded.
"We know he did something to make himself not die that night. Something that was enough for him to regain a body before the summer. Dumbledore probably knows more about this than I do. I've had half a year and found a dozen magics and rituals, each more repugnant than the previous one. I could not even begin to guess which one he chose or if there are other methods. Dumbledore has had at least fifteen years to figure it out if not more, and he is on record saying that Vol - Voldemort survived as early as November 3rd. And, Merlin, that might have given my insane cousin ideas because they were sure that he was still alive when they went after the Longbottoms. Or maybe they knew something we don't."
"What does this mean for me?" Harry whispered.
"The problem with a connection, pup, is that it goes both ways. I think you might have entered his mind as he either possessed his snake or he has a similar connection to it. Or he wanted you to see that, to see your friend's father die. You told me it was like he could feel where it was without actually seeing it."
"You're telling me he could possess me?"
Sirius looked at Tonks for a second before nodding to Harry. Harry felt sick. Not just because of the lingering effects of the Firewhisky from last night but because of the ramifications such a connection could have.
"Don't lose hope yet," Sirius kneeled in front of him. Tonks's hug had reached the same level of intensity as Mrs. Weasley's and Hermione's hugs by now. "You remember that book on meditation from the summer. Do you still do the exercises?"
"Of course. It helps me keep a clear head and a better control of my emotions."
"Good, good. The thing is there is a type of magical discipline. A lot of the Old Families have a tradition of practicing the art. It helps block intrusions into your mind."
"Can you teach me?"
"Yes and no," Sirius sighed. "I would love to be able to teach you, pup, but you need someone proficient to try and break down your defences to point out weak points and sometimes the connection can go two ways. It would potentially allow you to enter my mind as well and you do not want to go in there."
"Why not?"
Sirius smiled sadly. "My mind is not a good place. I have it somewhat under control but my stay at Azkaban Spa & Resort left me with some major issues that are not nice. Also the dog in me is in there. It'll automatically try to rip your mind to shreds. Part of the training to become an Animagi is to meditate and control the animal inside of you that you are bringing out. It's too dangerous for me to teach you directly."
Sirius got up from his position and walked to a nearby bookshelf. He ran his finger over the spines before pulling a large leather journal out of it.
"Since it's usually taught between a parent and child there aren't really any official instruction methods. It's called Occlumency. Dumbledore could teach you but I'm guessing he already knows or at least suspects about the connection and is actively avoiding you because of it. This here is a journal passed through the generations with different people adding their own experiences and techniques. It's more of a guideline than anything. Maybe it will help you a bit."
Harry received the book from Sirius and ran his hands over the smooth black leather binding. He cracked it open and found the first entry to be more than three hundred years old. In some places it was faded and almost unreadable.
"I want you to read this and do your best at building up defences. It'll help you find the connection between you and him as well. I wouldn't be surprised if Dumbledore has a plan for you to practice after this."
"Anything to stop the nightmares. Thank you, Sirius."
"You know, Mum taught me a bit. The Aurors taught me some more. We sometimes use legilimency in interrogation," Tonks offered. "If you are okay with me entering your mind. Or I could ask Mum to give you a hand since - from what she has told me the Blacks were not gentle in their teachings, but they got results."
"Maybe after I've read the book."
"That's alright. You know where to find me. I'm not saying I'm a master at it but I can at least help you to test out some of your defences."
Tonks squeezed him once more before getting out of the couch. She stretched her body languidly while keeping an eye on Harry's reaction. She smirked inwardly when she saw his eyes follow the contours of her body. It did feel good to have his attention.
"I'm going to head off to sleep a bit more. If I'm not up by dinner time, would you come wake me up Harry?"
Harry nodded mutely, not trusting his voice to sound hoarser. He carefully opened the faded pages of the journal and read the first entry. Sirius watched him with exasperation as he had been completely forgotten between the other two and a book.
"Sure forget about me when a pretty girl leaves the room," he grumbled goodnaturedly. "Mind you, if she wasn't my cousin and I didn't remember changing her nappies - "
He sat back in the chair watching Harry for a moment with a frown on his face. Sirius had thought that his joke would get a reaction from Harry, but his godson was staring at the wall with a blank expression. He wanted to press Dumbledore for information, but the Headmaster seldomly made his way to Grimmauld Place. It was only when they had their Order meetings that Sirius saw him as of late. In fact, lately it seemed like he had been seeing more of Snape than he did Dumbledore. Not something he was all that keen about.
In the end he decided to just find a book on his own to kill the time until dinner was ready. Dobby would likely find them when Mrs. Weasley was done cooking. It wasn't that Dobby's existence was a secret anymore, it was just easier for them all if they didn't fight her on her ridiculous notion of commandeering the kitchen space.
Harry was deeply engrossed in the entries in the journal. He found that a lot of Sirius's ancestors did meditation under different names but in essence the same. It all boiled down to clearing the mind before organising it until finally you would fortify it by imagining physical defences. He found that both the second and third part differed significantly from person to person. Harry had already had some success with both the first and the second step of the process. One entry from a woman called Cassiopeia Artemis Black from around three hundred years ago had a similar style as him but she had taken her bookcases to another level. She had apparently imagined a study where she could sit and review her memories. On the other hand, a Miranda Black had sworn on just imagining an impenetrable sphere rather than something more specific. It seemed to be dependant on the person rather than following an universal recipe.
Harry closed the journal and found himself pulling his legs up under him as he closed his eyes and entered his own mind. Focusing on the sound of his heartbeat. He imagined the space he had become familiar with for a long time and watched it more critically. There was no structure in the placements of the book cases. They almost stood in a circle like stonehenge around him but everything else was dark and black. Harry began imagining a room, slowly making it appear from the darkness. He filled it in with everything he would need. The bookcases were placed along the wall now sorted by topic rather than randomly put there. He imagined a desk and a fireplace with a crackling fire. He even imagined a window to the outside with an idyllic landscape. He made sure it wasn't a weak point, something more than one person had harpered on about in the journal. He was just about to make a door and go outside to proceed with more defences when he felt a hand on his shoulder shaking him.
"It's dinner time," Sirius said as Harry blinked his eyes open. "I think you are going to have to wake up Tonks too. She still hasn't shown her face since she left."
"Do I have to?"
"I'm sorry, pup, but yeah. I'm not going to get myself hexed for doing it," Sirius grinned.
"Ugh… she does not like being woken up?"
"Nope."
Harry hated the gleeful tone that surrounded Sirius's voice. The smirk on the man's face didn't help much either. He felt like hexing the man himself and he had learned quite a few good ones from the Twins during the DA session about creative duelling. He was certain he could give Sirius stiff joints if he wanted to.
"Up you go. Tally-Ho!"
Harry ran a hand down his face before getting out of the couch. He couldn't stop himself from actually taking a swing at the back of Sirius's head with the journal. Unfortunately Sirius must have been an arse for so long that he had developed a sixth sense for when he deserved a smack to the head.
"One day I'm going to get you."
"The day I grow old and tired, maybe," Sirius smirked. "Now, you've got to hurry before she gets even more grumpy."
"That doesn't make any sense."
Still, Harry walked towards the door, sending a reproachful look over his shoulder. He felt like he was being led around by the nose at the moment. He couldn't comprehend why Tonks was acting so differently. He made his way to Tonks's bedroom and awkwardly knocked on the door. In his mind it would be far better if she would just wake up from the knocking. When he didn't hear anything from the room he tentatively spoke up.
"Hey Tonks. It's teatime."
Harry knocked again when he still didn't hear anything from the room. He opened the door and was met by a familiar smell. It was a bit pungent and it made the room almost unbreathable. Harry couldn't understand how she could still sleep in it. He looked around the room. He had been so panicked earlier but Tonks was a slob. Her discarded clothes were casually strewn around the floor. Her cover had almost fallen off her body and she was drooling open mouthed on her pillow, her limbs spread-eagle on top of her bed.
Harry shook his head at her disappointing appearance. It somehow fit her perfectly if he was being honest with himself. Somehow the sloppy appearance seemed so completely natural in a very Tonks-way. Harry involuntarily imagined how Jacque would sleep in his own bed. It somehow seemed different, more controlled like Jacque would be completely still.
It was weird, comparing the two he found himself feeling more comfortable about the thought of sleeping next to Tonks than Jacque. He did not know whether it was because he didn't want to disturb Jacque's sleep as he imagined it or if it was because a small part of him felt something about his image of a sleeping Jacque seemed mocking in a way. Either way, it made him feel slightly guilty, but then again, there were other activities he could imagine with Jacque, activities where he wasn't disturbing his sleep. Because while Harry could not imagine his boyfriend being a sleepy mess, he could certainly picture him in bed, pressing him into the mattress...
Harry shook his head, walked over and gently prodded Tonks's foot with his own keeping himself clear of any half-asleep lashing outs towards his body. He had a feeling he wasn't waking up an older sister but poking a sleeping dragon ready to burn him if he got too close. When she didn't even react to him pushing her sharply he carefully edged himself closer. He got up to her face and reached out to gently shake her.
A pair of arms grabbed him, pulling him into the bed. Harry struggled but he didn't have any leverage to get out of the arms.
"There you are. What took you so long?"
"You've been awake all this time?"
"Of course. I sleep light. Auror thing. Mad-Eye would attack me in my sleep until I learned to defend myself."
"He's crazy… you can let me go now."
"Awe… but I just got you?"
"What you mean you got me?" Harry groaned. "Let go of me you drooling slop."
Tonks stiffened. Harry looked up in her face. He felt a sense of dread wash over him as he spotted the twitching near Tonks's eye. Her brows were furrowed and her lips had gotten impressively thin for one with such full lips. Why was he staring at her lips? He watched as the thin lines split apart.
"Could you repeat that?"
Harry winced at the frigid tone of her voice. He turned his head away quickly. He tried to get up one more time but her arms were holding him even tighter. Harry felt more trapped than he did facing an actual dragon.
"What did you call me?" she asked once more.
"A drooling slop?" Harry asked cheekily.
"That's it! I'm getting you for that!"
Tonks tickled him viciously with both her hands. Harry wriggled and struggled to get out of her arms. His laughter turned forced, wheezing and gasping for breath. She didn't let him go until she was finally satisfied with his punishment.
Harry instantly got to his feet and jumped out of her reach.
"That should do it," Tonks said smugly.
"How do you even manage to keep something dirty when Dobby cleans all the time?"
"Hey!"
"I'm just asking. Seriously and the smell. When did you last open a window?"
"It's december. It gets cold when I open one."
"Yeah yeah, you tell yourself that. Tea's ready. I'm getting out of here before you have any more crazy ideas, you madwoman."
"I'mma get you for this!"
"Not if you keep drooling like this."
Harry had already sprinted out of her room by the time he had called her a madwoman. He did not want to test how close to her she kept her wand. Good thing too if the lights behind him were any indicator. He quickly made his way downstairs and sat in a chair in the kitchen.
"How did it go?" Sirius asked.
"I survived, didn't I?"
Sirius was just about to open his mouth when an irate Tonks burst into the room.
"Harry James Potter! I am NOT a madwoman!"
"Could have fooled us," one of the twins snickered.
"Sorry, sorry great goddess," Harry said cheekily.
"That's better," Tonks smirked.
"Uhm… Tonks," Ginny asked. "What are you wearing?"
Tonks looked down herself and shrieked. Harry found it funny to see the usually confident woman act like a young girl. She was still wearing some soft cotton shorts that barely covered what they should and the same tank top from earlier. She ran back out of the kitchen in a hurry. Harry looked around at the amused faces at the table. He almost groaned when he saw Ron staring absentmindedly at the door where Tonks had just been. Harry wasn't really surprised. Tonks was a beautiful woman but that reaction was almost like when Ron had seen Fleur the first time the year before. Harry shook his head disappointedly. It wasn't that he couldn't understand where Ron was coming from, he had probably reacted like that the first time he had gotten an eyeful of Tonks. But for some reason, Harry just felt a bit annoyed looking at him at the moment.
Mrs. Weasley entered with the food having completely missed everything that had happened. She looked at all of them before shaking her head. She waved her wand to make the food float onto the table. Harry filled his own plate quickly and began to eat before Tonks returned. He was pretty sure she was going to take it out on him when she got back.
Sirius really is a bad influence on me.