Hey everyone, this premise has been bouncing around my head for a while. So after spending some time plotting and planning it I decided to just go ahead and write it up. Harry/Tonks has always been a long standing favorite of mine, so I really hope to do it justice.
Quick disclaimer; I don't own the rights to Harry Potter, nor do I claim to.
Well with that said I hope you enjoy.
This chapter was Beta Read by Haphne24, So many thanks for your help. :)
Chapter 1: Fat Bottomed Girls
Chapter 1
The buzz of excited voices quieted to a hush. Dumbledore had risen once more. Harry craned his neck to get a good look, most of the Gryffindor table was doing the same. Dumbledore watched the gathered students with a little amusement.
"Before you all scurry off to bed, I must make a few announcements. Mr. Filch has asked me to tell you that the list of objects forbidden inside the castle this year has been extended to include Screaming Yo-yos, Fanged Frisbees, and Ever-Bashing Boomerangs. The full list comprises some four hundred and thirty-seven items and can be viewed in Mr. Filch's office. If anybody would like to check it."
Fred or George Weasley took that as a good time to loudly boo, much to the delight of most of the school, even Dumbledore laughed.
Dumbledore quickly picked back up from where he left off. "This year Hogwarts will be changing things up a little, from this year onwards, our fourth and sixth year students will be taking the month of January off."
An eruption of whooping cheers came from most of the house tables. The Weasley twins got up and danced while Hermione sat on the edge of the bench looking torn between horror and queasiness. Harry almost laughed at the sight of her but didn't want to get smacked.
"During this month, you shall be doing work experience." Dumbledore said, his voice crisp and clear as a bell. The sudden uproar died down as quickly as it had begun.
Hermione gave an audible sigh of relief and Ron groaned just as loudly.
"Working?" A Weasley twin said.
"Yes, Mr. Weasley. Work, a terrible curse we all must bear." The students had calmed down a little bit and Dumbledore continued. "We have been working tirelessly with the businesses in Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, and the Ministry of Magic to ensure your safety and variety in choices."
"There are very few places not open to application. Your head of house will be around to talk to you about your options later on this evening. I heard Honeydukes had a place open for a sweet tester." A few students laughed, and before long they were dismissed.
Harry, Ron and Hermione walked along with the other Gryffindors. The talk was all about this new work experience thing, Harry had always been really interested in what wizards did when they had left school. He knew Ron's brothers Bill and Charlie, but their jobs were hardly ordinary.
"What do you think, Harry? I bet you could get into a Quidditch team." Ron said looking like Christmas had come early, likely imagining joining the Chudley Cannons for a month as a star player.
"I really doubt it." He said.
"Really, Ron! Of all the jobs out there all you can think about is quidditch!" Said Hermione. "This is an amazing opportunity to learn some really useful skills. I can't wait to see what we have to choose from."
Ron looked appalled that Hermione could consider this exciting because they could learn.
Katie Bell grumbled along between them and the rest of the Gryffindor quidditch team ahead.
"I'm sorry Katie. There's always next year, and at least we are the test run." Harry said trying to cheer his teammate up, she gave him a weak, but pretty smile.
"Yeah, I know, and it's not like I don't have my OWL's to look forward to." She said, sounding more and more miserable with each word.
"I can hardly wait for my OWL's; they're supposed to be really important." Said Hermione, she must have missed the dejection in Katie's tone.
"Thanks for making me feel better Hermione…" Katie rushed ahead and joined up with some other fifth years. Hermione looked confused and Ron scoffed.
"I wonder if Zonko's is taking students...I bet working there would be loads of fun." Ron said.
"Over our dead bodies, dearest Ronnikins. It is ours. Would you really deprive your favourite brothers of achieving their lifelong dream?"" The Weasley twins said, popping up out of nowhere.
"No, I guess not, but I don't want to be stuck in some dusty old shop for a month." Ron said.
"Well, all the good places will be taken quickly, so keep that in mind." Fred said.
"How are you two so confident in getting those two stores?" Harry asked.
"Bribery. The oldest trick in the book." George said.
Before Hermione could get her outburst out, they had reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, a fifth-year prefect Harry thought was called Leanne was giving out the password. They shuffled through and found McGonagall already waiting for them, taping her foot with irritation.
"Gather round please, there is rather a lot to get through." She said in her usual clipped and stern tone.
The fifth years separated without much fuss, leaving a not too small group of fourth and sixth years crowding around McGonagall. She had a bunch of paper lying on the table next to her, Harry could tell at a glance that there was enough for each of them.
McGonagall looked at them all, her eyes tightened when looking over the Weasley twins. "As you can no doubt imagine there is ample choice, Headmaster Dumbledore wasn't exaggerating just how much we worked to get as wide a choice for you as possible."
"I believe only Gringotts and anything in Knockturn Alley is unavailable. I will say this only once though, while you are on work experience you will be expected to be on your best behaviour, as you are representing not only yourselves but Hogwarts."
Her eyes had definitely lingered on Fred and George with that last remark. Harry could see Hermione bursting with enthusiasm, well they all were, even Neville was eagerly listening to McGonagall.
"As such I have some recommendations for each of you, should you wish it, if not there is a list of open posts on the table. Potter a quick word."
Harry groaned as the others darted for the list, he was surprised not to see a fight break out, even with McGonagall right there. He hardly needed to move for them to get privacy, as the others were so engaged in the list.
"Potter, I have some bad news. As Sirius Black is still at large and after you..."
"No, Professor, he's not."
"Potter." She said cutting his interruption off, her face adopted a patient look, but Harry knew how quickly she could lose that patience if provoked. "Black is still at large, the Minister has said as much. And don't forget what happened at the quidditch world cup, I heard you managed to get yourself mixed up in the nastiness too."
"I'm not stuck, here am I?" Harry said before he could stop himself, there was a deep pit in his stomach trying to devour his joy. McGonagall shook her head, and the feeling lessened a little.
"No, of course not Potter. You just don't have much of a choice, after all to ensure your safety there are only two options left to us. You could see if any teachers here would wish for you as an assistant." Harry was quick to make sure she knew that was not an option he wanted to pursue; she even cracked a slight smile.
"Or Dumbledore thinks a position with the Auror's should provide for your safety and education." She said. She looked almost worried, Harry couldn't be sure though, he had almost never seen her worried.
"The dark wizard catchers?" He asked, McGonagall nodded. "That sounds great, I guess they are looking for Sirius now that the dementors are gone."
"Yes, Professor Dumbledore thought it was an amusing coincidence. The Auror department only takes the best of the best, however, and considering as this is the only safe option for you, I do expect you to knuckle down and work hard."
Harry nodded emphatically, he wouldn't miss a chance to see how the people who hunted dark wizards worked, he had always been really interested in Aurors since he had heard of them.
"Excellent Potter, you will still need to fill out your application form though, here is the information you will need for it to reach Amelia Bones." She handed him a small piece of parchment.
"Bones? Is she related to Susan?" He asked.
"Yes, her Aunt to be precise, a very capable witch and very reasonable." McGonagall sounded like a fan of the woman; she couldn't be very reasonable if that were the case.
Harry turned to see the group of students were all holding their own copy of the list, McGonagall gave a quiet laugh. "Trust Hermione Granger to learn that spell." She said and walked back towards them.
"Five points to Gryffindor, for excellent thinking and good charm work." McGonagall said while giving Hermione a smile, Hermione almost instantly blushed and tried to hide it.
Harry made his way over to Ron and Hermione, the two of them seemed plenty excited, Harry nudged Ron to get his attention. But McGonagall was talking again.
"As you won't have any responsibilities at the school during your work experience you are free to spend your free time at your own homes, or wherever else you might be staying, Hogwarts will obviously be open to you should you wish it." She said.
Harry looked to Ron, hoping to see him share in his excitement. If Mrs. Weasley would let him stay at the burrow it would be amazing, he always loved spending time there. Ron however just groaned, Hermione and Harry shared a look.
There would be time to investigate that later, when they had some decent time to talk together. Harry knew whatever was bothering Ron would be something that only Ron would be annoyed about.
Professor McGonagall stayed to answer a few questions, and then she left to retire for the evening. Fred and George rushed off after her. When the portrait hole swung closed, they all started to chatter amongst themselves.
Neville was really excited to apply for the apothecary, he claimed they had all sorts of amazing plants that needed lots of care and attention. Dean Thomas was loudly boasting about improving the Department of Magical Games and Sports, Harry laughed at that, Dean and Ron had an annual argument about quidditch being better than football.
Hermione had been reasonably quiet, oh she piped up with suggestions for her friends, but what excited her she wasn't sharing. Harry knew that her mind would be racing, she was one of the few people he knew who was as serious as they were supposed to be.
"Ron what are you looking at?" Lavender Brown asked.
"Dunno, Quality Quidditch Supplies sounds good, but everyone will want that, maybe that Honeydukes one Dumbledore mentioned." said Ron, as he rubbed the back of his neck. "What about you Harry?"
"McGonagall said I don't have a choice, because of this." He pointed at his damned scar, Ron grimaced and nodded. "They've managed to get me a place with the Auror's, she says it's the safest place."
"That's really amazing Harry, think of all the things you could learn, Auror's have to get almost all O's in there OWLs and NEWTs." Hermione said.
"Yeah, you could learn some really incredible spells, they're always fighting dark wizards. Lucky really, could have ended up somewhere boring like Flourish and Blotts." Ron ignored Hermione's indigent squark and continued talking. "What about you Lavender?"
"We were thinking about Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, it's so cute after all." She replied while looking at Parvati Patil. Most of the boys groaned at that answer, Harry was amused to see Lavender and Parvati raise their noses at the rest of them.
"I wish there was some kind of modeling job listed." Seamus said, sounding dejected. Harry saw Lavender and Parvati both swell and grin, then deflate as Seamus wasn't talking about them.
"You? Model?" Ron asked.
"No Ron, I meant for you, I'm sure I read that Magical Monkeys are doing a special cover on orangutans sometime soon. I'm sure you'll fit right in. Of course, for me you numpty." Seamus said while playing with his short blond hair.
Harry laughed at Ron's indignant scowl, Neville and Dean joined in too. Ron sulked most of the rest of the evening after that, as if he hadn't implied Seamus wasn't suited to be a model. Ron baffled Harry sometimes.
Before too long they went to their dorm rooms and settled into bed. Harry felt a wave of relief wash over him as he felt the familiar warmth and squishiness of his Hogwarts bed.
He closed his eyes and felt the all too familiar stab of pain washing through him. His scar was alight with pain, he made sure not to cry out, after all his roommates wouldn't understand. He tossed and turned trying to shake the pain, but it persisted late into the night.
The next day Harry found himself in the library at lunch time, he was filling out his application form to be sent off to Amelia Bones, Hermione had insisted he get it done right away. She herself sat filling out at least four different application forms, she wasn't exactly sure what she wanted.
At least she had a better idea than Ron, Harry watched as Ron poured over all the different potential jobs, he had been groaning a lot more frequently. If he didn't slow down Harry thought he might start losing his hair, after all Mr. Weasley didn't have much.
Harry shook his head and looked back at the paper. He really had to sound like he wasn't being fake, but with what he knew of his fame nothing he wrote sounded any good.
What kind of child had a vested interest in besting dark wizards? Harry had certainly had his entire world shaped and ruined by one dark wizard, but this Amelia Bones woman who Professor McGonagall respected so much would likely not be impressed with halfhearted attempts to sound invested.
Hermione had claimed he was overthinking it, after all, there weren't many wizards or witches who actively wanted lawbreakers running around. But Harry couldn't write that down.
He might have to have a word with Susan, get a feel for what her aunt might be like. If word made it back to her aunt though…
"This is hopeless Hermione." He said, while letting his head thud gently against the table. Ron didn't need much more prodding to stop working on his decision.
"For goodness sakes Harry, you said you were relieved when McGonagall said you were going to the Auror's, why was that?" Said Hermione, as she carefully placed a third completed form on an ever-growing pile.
"Well, they are out there making a difference." He said. "You know, like actually fighting against what's out there."
"Then write that Harry, you're passionate about that. It will show."
Harry frowned, to him it all sounded like bootlicking. The kind of talk his uncle had loved. He caught sight of Hermione's raised eyebrow; her lips thinned slightly. He shivered; it was almost as if he were in trouble from a young McGonagall.
"Okay, I'll try it again, but you have to read it."
She didn't say no, so Harry took that as her usual grudging agreement. After a short while he submitted the form to Hermione, her eyes darted back and forth over the page. He waited, watching her frown, he tried to remember what he had written to make her stop.
She suddenly picked up one of her completed forms and added a few extra lines to the bottom of it, she smiled at him when she caught him looking.
"I had to steal a line from yours," She said. Harry felt his eyes bulge, she had never borrowed from him like that before. It was a sign of grand success.
"So, I take it you like it?"
"It's really good Harry, I don't know why it was so hard for you." Her eyes flickered to Ron with that last part. Harry saw Ron playing with his quill, when he noticed them watching him, he dropped it and picked up his list. Harry and Hermione laughed as quietly as possible.
Ron grumbled to himself.
Harry had sent the form off that evening, after having McGonagall look over it after a particularly rough transfiguration class. He actually felt pretty relieved to see Hedwig flying off with it, he had gotten it done and out of his hands.
Hermione had finally managed to get one of them to get some work done as early as possible, she would be on cloud nine for a long time. Harry had assumed so at least.
With him applying for a role with the Auror's she had gotten a not so short list of useful spells he might want to learn, and all the books to cross reference. She had even managed to convince McGonagall to allow them to practice in her classroom when there were no classes.
Ron meanwhile left his decision until the last minute, he had sent an application form to Quality Quidditch Supplies in the end, Hermione had tried to warn him it would probably get lots of applications. But Ron had just wanted to be done with the stress.
Harry couldn't blame him, if he had been given a real choice he might have been overwhelmed too.
Fred and George Weasley had been on their best behaviour ever, Harry had heard of no incidents that they had caused or even witnessed that could be considered a prank. They were almost acting responsible. Harry would still see them laughing at jokes and being silly with each other or Ron, but it was almost unnerving.
Harry had been keeping his head down and working hard, he was accepted by Amelia Bones, though she was clear to say he wouldn't be taking on the exact duties of an Auror. Not that he had expected to, of course, he was mostly expecting to file paperwork and such.
He had actually been really enjoying his quiet year, as December flew past, he so far hadn't had any near deaths or even close calls. Hermione was working him like crazy, she was trying to eek out any last vestige of magic out of him. The spells she had recommended had been a solid foundation.
Harry quickly found that learning for the sake of curiosity and desire to improve was a great motivator, as opposed to needing to master a spell to survive, like with the patronus charm. He had been positively flourishing, even mastering a few tricky spells that Hermione had been unable to perform.
Hermione had been accepted by the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, since then Hermione had been researching all sorts of topics. She seemed to think she could make a real change in the wizarding society if Harry knew anything about Hermione; it was her persistence that was legendary, if anyone could make a change it was her.
She had begun a tiny crusade against the enslavement of house elves, which had been amusing at first, but her ardor had made Harry take note of just how the strange little creatures were treated. Harry wished her the best in her endeavors, Dobby surely wasn't the only house elf out there who had been mistreated.
Ron had been rejected by Quality Quidditch Supplies, Honeydukes, Zonko's, and just about every other store of note. Harry secretly thought it was because he had put it off for so long to actually send out his applications, Hermione thought it was because he wasn't trying as hard as he could. So, Ron, much to his disgust, would be working in the Department for the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts.
Mr. Weasley was delighted to share in his work with his son, Ron just grumbled about it non-stop.
The Christmas holidays began with a bang, Harry was invited to stay at the burrow, he and the Weasleys had enjoyed a delightful few weeks. Even Ron's older brothers Bill and Charlie had come back to share in the festivities. Hermione had gone back to her parent's home, she wrote often though, and would be staying at the burrow during work experience.
Harry had hardly felt as content as he had in those moments.
Tonks groaned, her desk was piled with everyone else's paperwork, as per usual. If only that old goat Moody hadn't stomped off when Dumbledore crooked his finger, she would be doing something useful. Not reporting what her 'peers' were doing.
The last few months had been agonizing, she simply wasn't cut out for paperwork, least of all other peoples. She flipped over the folder on the top of the pile, the usual neat writing of Kingsley Shacklebolt glared up at her, mocking her with its careful neatness.
He had been hunting for her dearest cousin, one of her many criminal cousins, perhaps the most heinous of those. Sirius Black. He had been evading Shack for a good long while now, but Tonks knew Shacklebolt to be as patient as a saint.
The report claimed a short and fruitless trip to some tropical location, poor Shack, she carefully double-checked all the documents. As usual, all were there, so she closed the folder and dropped it into the large basket on the floor. No sooner had it landed than it folded itself up and flew off towards the records chamber.
The next one was nowhere near as complete as the first, if it hadn't been for the untidy scrawl, she knew to belong to Dawlish she would have had so little to go off that it would have been impossible. He had been a mistake, a big mistake. He filed his paperwork this way every time, always in the hopes that she would run to him for his 'help'. He was one of those men that couldn't differentiate flirting from claims of utter devotion, he was an idiot.
Some shuffling steps made her stop what she was doing.
"Morning Tonks, Madam Bones wants you." A deadpan voice said, she turned to see Savage. He was a tall and morose man, she heard a rumor he had smiled once, but couldn't find any evidence.
"Oh, thanks, Savage."
She dumped Dawlish's poor report back on the top of the pile and went to the boss's office. On her way a few people said hello, she only gave them the quickest of greetings, she had been warned about chatting before.
She knocked on Madam Bones' door, when it swung open, she stepped inside and closed it behind her. Bones' wand lay on her desk, not too far from Madam Bones but far enough that she would be able to react.
Madam Bones was a severe woman, tough as old Moody, and as stubborn as an oak tree. Tonks nodded towards the wand, "Even if Moody was shipped off to the madhouse, I'm sure he's still yelling about proper wand etiquette."
"Well luckily for me Tonks, Alastor is far too busy to consider me his student." Her pointed look made Tonks control her face, there was no way she would let a blush show. She did smile; however, her boss was implacable but that didn't mean she was bad.
"What did you need me for?" She said.
An almost feral grin blossomed on Bones' face. Tonks swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly drying.
"Oh, just a little assignment for you."
Tonks frowned. The rules were pretty strict, three entire years of training before being able to go on assignments. Bones was pretty much the last witch to break the rules.
"Stop that, your eyebrows belong on your face." Bones said. Tonks shifted her face, her eyebrows had just fallen below her eyes, not off her face. "Are you aware of anything going on at Hogwarts?"
"No, should I? After Black escaped, I doubt he would rush back." The news that Sirius Black had evaded justice when captured by the Minster and an entire hoard of dementors had shaken the department. Most attributed it to Black's abilities with the dark arts, she was one of them, but she also knew Fudge must have bungled it.
Madam Bones blinked, then shook her head. "No Tonks, nothing to do with Black. Hogwarts is starting a new 'initiative' there will be a flood of underage wizards entering the workforce for the entirety of January. Fourth and Sixth years, a brilliant idea"
It was Tonks' time to blink, Dumbledore was an amazing wizard but as mad as a bag of weasels. There would be carnage all over the country. And come the fifth of January it would be her job to clean up that mess. "Great." She said.
"It is great, Susan has gotten a spot with the Department of International Magical Cooperation." Tonks smiled, whatever Bones' severe exterior implied she had a soft heart, deep down.
"I'm shocked that they are letting untrained students come work in the ministry." She admitted, Bones' nodded her agreement.
"I know, but that's the problem. Not many other places they can go, is there?"
"Oh, I can think of a few places." She chuckled at her more absurd ideas.
"Well anyway, we have accepted a student too." Bones' waited patiently, as if expecting an explosion. Tonks tried not to give her one. "I've never seen that color of hair before."
"So that's what I'll be doing, babysitting some useless kid, and just as I'm promoted to full auror." Her voice was level, maybe a tiny bit short of respectful.
"Yes and no. The student in question is obviously not to be allowed to get into certain situations, however you will both be allowed to go on certain… hand-picked assignments." Bones said, she fixed Tonks with a very level stare.
"I guess I don't have any choice?"
"No."
Tonks fumed inside, the first month of her glorious ascent to aurorness was sabotaged by some bratty sixth year. Bones was clearly far too happy with this outcome; she had been trying to crush her ardor for catching Black. It wouldn't shock her if it had been her idea.
"Who is it?" She asked, it wouldn't change anything, but if it was some spoiled little pureblood bigot at least she had a chance to vent her rage before meeting them.
"Harry Potter."
"Oh."
Well, she hadn't expected that. Her mind raced, if she knew right, he was a fourth year. So, she would be babysitting after all, but she would be babysitting Black's godson. She had been given a link to Black, even if Bones didn't know it yet.
And the reports of what had happened at Hogwarts said Harry had seen Black, perhaps he had an idea of where she could find him. Yes, with some careful poking around she might gleam some useful information.
Then when February came, she would snap Black up, having him locked back up in Azkaban or better yet kissed would give her a great starting point.
"Tonks." Bones' voice was whip like.
"Huh."
"You weren't listening. Potter will be joining us first thing tomorrow, he is scheduled to be fitted for some auror robes at Madam Malkins today, if you wish to join him and Arthur Weasley you may. It would do some good to introduce yourself."
She gave her boss a genuine smile. "When is it?"
"Ten, so you have enough time to go home and change into more official robes."
Tonks basically ran off, the floo networks in the atrium were going to be cluttered but she didn't mind, her first step towards catching Sirius Black was in her reach. Nothing would stop her now.
Harry stood next to Mr. Weasley as he threw the floo powder into the fireplace, he took a nice deep breath and stepped into the suddenly green flames.
"Speak clearly this time Harry dear." Mrs. Weasley said very helpfully. Ron and the Twins chuckled from the kitchen, he caught Mr. Weasley's eyes and even he was fighting a grin.
"Diagon Alley." He said. Clearly.
A sudden weightless spinning sensation took him, and he found himself catching glimpses of rooms. Some big, some small, but all from the oddest angle. Before too long he saw a room, he was very well acquainted with, it was the Leaky Cauldron, he tried to stop and move forward.
And he went tumbling out of the fireplace headfirst. He was lucky the innkeeper Tom kept the floors clean, as he had a close inspection. A small commotion erupted as the innkeeper shuffled over, ignoring the murmurs of his more dedicated guests.
Harry managed to shake him off and get on his own feet without much issue. He had a soft spot for Tom, he had done his very best to keep Harry at ease during his stay here last summer.
"Sorry about that Tom, not used to floo yet." He said as he fought his burning cheeks.
"Not a worry Mr. Potter, none at all. Will you be wanting anything, or just passing through?" He asked.
Mr. Weasley came neatly out of the fireplace as if he had been doing it his entire life. Harry gave him an embarrassed smile; he knew he had to look a complete mess.
"No thanks, Tom, just going into the Alley." He said.
Tom waved him off and Harry and Mr. Weasley went to the entrance to Diagon Alley without wasting any time. Harry kept his head down; he had heard a few mutters and knew if he stayed around, he would be swarmed.
He could still remember his first time in the Leaky Cauldron, Old Doris Crockford had been trying to shake his hands off, Dedalus Diggle had nearly had a fit of ecstasy at being remembered. And he had met Quirrell for the first time.
The Alley was still as magical as it had been that first time, the old styled building all mashed together and leaning in over each other. It was a charming sight, and it would be forever one of his fondest memories as he walked the street with Hagrid that day.
Diagon Alley was a lot quieter than he was used to, probably due to the time of year, but it gave him a good chance to actually look into some of the more obscure shop windows. Mr. Weasley had to nudge him a few times, so Harry tried not to slow down as he looked around.
In front of Madam Malkin's shop was a pretty witch, she was wearing a "weird sisters" t-shirt that looked well used, and some frankly illegal leather trousers. Harry had never seen someone dressed like her in the wizarding world, maybe at a muggle rock concert but nowhere else.
Not to mention her wild and erratic bubblegum pink hair. Her boots were clearly dragonhide or some such. Her face looked delicate and smooth, she had a button nose and a certain energy about her as she waited.
And she waved at them.
"'Lo Arthur, Bones' said I'd find you two here." She said, her voice was playful. She winked at Harry, he tried to smile back but it felt more like a grimace.
"Hello Tonks. Harry, this is Tonks, she's the newest Auror to graduate, and Alastor Moody's protege." Mr. Weasley said. Harry felt stupid, he had been busy staring at a pretty face, when she was clearly a well-respected witch. Not to mention Moody's protege, whatever that was.
"Hello, I'm Harry Potter, nice to meet you." He held out his hand. She took it and shook his hand, then laughed.
"Haven't done that in ages, my dad still likes to make people shake his hands." She said with a laugh. "The poor purebloods act like they might lose their arms."
Mr. Weasley gave a polite laugh, and Harry joined in.
"Oh right, Watcher Harry. I'm Tonks, and you're stuck with me for the next month. Amelia Bones thought it would be good for us to meet before tomorrow, lessen the nerves and all that." She gave him a pat on the back and waved him forward.
He stepped into the shop while Tonks and Mr. Weasley spoke, Madam Malkin was dashing around her shop picking up loose bits of fabric. Harry noticed her wand laying on the front desk.
The store was its usual colorful self, lots of racks were scattered around the store, each with a baffling assortment of clothes. Madam Malkin had clearly never been to a muggle clothing store, as all her outfits were jumbled up. It certainly explained some wizards outfit choices. He resisted the urge to glance behind him.
She stopped and turned around after a few seconds and gasped. "Oh, I'm sorry, rushed off my feet. Mr. Potter is it?" At his nod she came rushing up to the front desk. She picked up her wand and ushered him towards a stool.
Harry got a good view of Mr. Weasley walking back up the path toward the Leaky Cauldron, and Tonks walking into the shop. Harry frowned; Mr. Weasley was almost as careful with Harry as his wife was.
"Arms up dear, thank you." Her usual rough tugs made him wobble on the stool he stood on.
"Where did Mr. Weasley go?" He asked Tonks.
"Oh, I told him to run off for some peace and quiet, I owe him a few favours. My dad had some trouble with a set of muggle cards, cleared it up, so he's enjoying a bit of alone time."
Harry had a vague memory of Hagrid wanting to vanish off to the Leaky Cauldron the first time he had come here. Adults were odd sometimes.
"These robes are too bulky, your Auror ones need a certain fit. Would you mind taking them off." Madam Malkin said sweetly.
Harry pulled them off over his head, he tried to hurry as his baggy t-shirt tried to come up with it. He hardly wanted to flash Tonks the first time he met her. As he got the robes off and pulled his top back down, he found Tonks grinning at him, his face exploded in red.
"Nice scar." Tonks said and she walked over and touched his arm.
Harry looked down to see the scar where the basilisk had taken a pretty good bite at him. Her hands were warm and soft, Harry shook his head.
"Got it from a basilisk." He said with a grin. When she pulled back slightly, with a shocked look on her pretty face, Harry felt his grin deepen. "Lucky Dumbledore's bird was there, or else I was a goner." He had been boasting, like an idiot to a complete stranger.
"That's amazing, you'll have to tell me all about it someday." Tonks said with another wink, and Harry knew he would tell her all about it.
Madam Malkin poked and prodded at him with her needles and wand, the usual treatment. Tonks stood against the wall watching him, Harry squirmed slightly under her scrutiny.
Tonks retreated to a rack of clothes and began to rummage through it, Harry watched out of the corner of his eyes. Those leather trousers were skintight. And no matter how he tried to distract himself he failed utterly, especially when she bent down to inspect something. Luckily, she didn't catch him looking.
And then Madam Malkin was measuring his legs, and to Harry's horror up his inseam. He could have died on the spot out of embarrassment. Tonks turned and watched, occasionally giving the expert some not so helpful advice.
Harry had never been teased so much, and it felt very much like Madam Malkin was in on it. She had ordered him to turn around, and when he had Tonks wolf whistled. He felt like a piece of meat on display.
Before long Madam Malkin brought out some heavy red robes, she laid them down on the counter and told him it would be a few minutes before he could try them on. Harry found himself basically alone with the pretty witch Tonks.
"You must play quidditch right?" She asked.
"Yeah, I'm a seeker. How did you know?"
"You've got a really nice physique." Harry felt the blush rise up again. "Quidditch does that, it's really good for Auror's, it can get tiring pretty quick." She said.
Of course, she was an Auror, of course she was talking about for the job. Harry could clear his mind of a fog that had settled on him.
"Did you play quidditch?" He asked, trying to take his mind from his less than pure thoughts.
"Nope, but thanks. My physique is from lots of exercise." She said with yet another wink. She giggled when Harry just stared.
She took a pair of trousers in hand and started to gush over how soft they were, Harry watched but was still trying to recover. And not look at her physique, after all in those pants he could get a good look. No.
Harry tried to look around the shop, there were plenty of things to look at, after all it was a shop. Tonks walked over to the countertop and placed the trousers on them, she clearly really liked them. He had no idea if they were nice, he had barely caught a glimpse.
As Tonks made her way back to him Harry fought to keep his face clear, he couldn't believe he was perving on the first Auror he met, he had been interested in girls before, but school robes did a good job of hiding what Tonks was flaunting.
He stopped that line of thought as soon as he realized where it was leading. Tonks walked right up close to him and leaned into whisper to him.
"When you tell me about that basilisk encounter, you'll have to tell me about your run in with Sirius Black."
Harry felt her breath on his cheek, he could have fainted if her words didn't put him on edge. She was an Auror, Sirius was on the run from the ministry.
"How'd you know about that?" He asked. He quickly managed to claw back some sense of, well, sense.
"It was all over the ministry, Black being captured at Hogwarts, then he escaped. Fudge was nearly sacked." Tonks said in a hushed voice.
Did she know he had a part in breaking him out? Harry had no idea what Auror's could learn, had this been why they let him join them?
"What do you want to know about it?" he asked, hoping he sounded casual. Tonks met his eyes; Harry saw a fervor in that look that made him catch his breath. She looked amazing. Her eyes were the most incredible shade of violet and her lips were just slightly plump.
"Back on the stool dear." Madam Malkin announced.
Harry jumped, and quickly darted to the stool. When he turned around Tonks was gone. Another witch stood where she had been. This witch had black hair and her face was twisted in a grimace.
She saw his reaction and looked past him at the mirror. Her face shifted, and she was Tonks. It wasn't a spell or anything like it, one second, she wasn't Tonks then she was.
"Oh, I forgot to mention, I'm a metamorphmagus." Tonks said, as if that explained anything.
"A what, sorry?" Harry blurted out before he could think.
"It means I can change my appearance however whenever I want. See." All of a sudden, her face changed, and she looked like a rough image of Mr. Weasley, then it changed again, and she looked like Dumbledore.
Harry found himself laughing.
Madam Malkin 'accidently' prodded him with a needle. Harry gasped and hopped on his good leg.
"Oh, sorry dear, it was hard to work with you bouncing around like a baboon." She said a little tartly.
Harry apologised and glared at Tonks, who sent him another wink and was back to her normal face. Harry stayed as still as possible.
The red robe was thrown around him, and he found it lighter than a feather. The fabric felt extremely durable, much more so than his school robes anyway. He saw Tonks watching with a small secretive smile on her face, when she caught him looking, he raised his eyebrow.
"The robe looks good on you, I didn't think it would look right on a Hogwarts student, but it fits you well." She said.
Madam Malkin tutted heavily. "I've yet to make it fit at all, you kids and your flirting."
Harry spluttered, flirting… Tonks meanwhile laughed at the older witch.
Before long Madam Malkin had the robe almost fitting perfectly, she claimed he needed a little bit of room to be able to move around in. Tonks chimed in saying it would help if he needed to take it off in an emergency.
As he was paying Mr. Weasley had arrived back at the shop, he gave Harry a warm smile. As they were leaving Tonks gave Harry a quick hug which made him blush and gave Mr. Weasley a pat on the back.
"See you tomorrow Harry. Bright and early." She said as she walked a few steps and disappeared after turning on the spot slightly.
"Tonks is a good girl; you could have gotten a lot worse than her. What did you think of her?" Mr. Weasley asked.
"She was nice." Harry tried not to grin like an idiot. Mr. Weasley laughed and patted him on the back.
"I'm sure she was."
And they went back to the Leaky Cauldron to floo back to the Burrow.
Tonks kicked off her pants, they were always such a bother to get off it was almost not worth wearing them, almost. She knew very well the effect they had.
She flung her arms up in delight, she felt like a giddy schoolgirl once again. It had been a long time since simple flirting had gotten such an effect out of someone, poor Harry must not have had much experience with girls. Well that just worked in her favor.
Her plan had gone smoothly, Harry Potter was putty in her hands, and she would drain every bit of information about her dear cousin out of him.
The poor boy had been so flustered, it was nice to know she still had it. After three years of endlessly working at being an Auror, a little kicking back and letting loose felt amazing.
She might even call off for the rest of the day.
Nah Bones would skin her alive, she had paperwork to do. So, she got changed into her normal work clothes, and made her way to her fireplace. She caught a glimpse of her hair in the mirror as she passed and it had melted to a dull brown color, even the thought of paperwork made her miserable.
Well with Harry around, maybe things would change.
AN: Thanks for reading, please review let me know what you like, what you don't... not too much I hope. This story is currently the most thought consuming, so I will probably update it more often than my other fic.