Disclaimer : I do not own anything of the Harry Potter universe, it all belongs to JK Rowling, I just love writing about the fantastic universe she presented us.

If there are still grammer or spelling mistakes, please let me know. English isn't my native language (plus I have dyslexia), so it is possible that there are still a few mistakes in my stories even though I edit them before I post them. I hope you'll enjoy the story.

Taking control - chapter 1

Harry was just returning from the headmaster's office after being told of the prophecy when an owl approached him in the hallway with a parcel attached to his leg. Normally it wasn't strange for an owl to bring letters and parcels in the wizarding world, but Harry had never before seen an owl to deliver something in the middle of the hallway. Sometimes something got delivered in the common room, but otherwise it normally only happened in the great hall.

That was why Harry approached it warily. He used the spells he had learned from Mad-Eye to check if there was something strange with it. After that he levitated the letter that was attached to it and unsealed it with his wand.

Dear Harry

I won't go into too much detail, but in this parcel is a mirror like Sirius had send you. This one is connected only with a mirror I have.

It is protected with a password, the same as a famous map you definitely know of. Just tap it while you say it.

I expect you to contact me regularly, so if you wish to talk, I'm here.

If you wish, I won't mention the recent events.

Tonks

A small smile appeared on Harry's face. He had gotten to know Tonks a little bit over the summer and Christmas holidays. He was glad she had thought about him. He also realized at that moment that she had lost her cousin, which made the knot that had formed in his stomach only bigger.

Trotting up to the seventh floor, he paced three times before the entrance of the room of requirement. Once inside, there was a little cozy room that had appeared. He went to sit in an armchair and opened the parcel.

He felt a little pang that he hadn't thought about the mirror Sirius had given him, but this time he wouldn't do the same thing. He tapped his wand on the mirror and said "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good"

Waiting for a few seconds before the blurry view clear up and Tonks' face appeared.

"Wotcher Harry. I'm glad you contacted me"

"How are you Tonks? Could I talk to you?" Harry asked.

Tonks' nodded "I'm fine, St Mungo's patched me up quite rapidly. Is there something wrong?"

This time Harry nodded and he asked, doing his very best to compose his emotions "What do you think of the headmaster?"

Harry's piercing emerald green eyes begged her to tell the truth. "Honestly I don't know. I don't agree with some of his decisions" admitted Tonks.

"You aren't the only one" Harry said and objects started to flow around him since he couldn't control his magic with the anger he felt towards the headmaster.

"Harry calm down, what happened" Tonks asked him, a bit afraid from the scene she saw in front of her. She knew that Sirius' death would affect him greatly, but she also understood that something else was going on.

"That meddlesome old fool" Harry grumbled.

"Look Harry, I need you to calm down. Take a deep breath" When she saw that less and less objects were levitating around him she said again "Good, now try to calm down a little more and then tell me what happened"

Harry closed his eyes for a moment and managed to keep his magic under control, although it took him a few minutes and a lot of effort. "I just returned from the headmaster's office. He there told me about the prophecy. It basically says that if I don't kill Voldemort, he will kill me"

Tonks nodded, trying to keep calm hearing that information as she could only imagine how it could affect Harry only a few hours after his godfather had died. "He just told you this?"

"Yes and he also explained me I had to go back to the Dursleys, so I could be protected from him through blood wards, but he doesn't understand that …" all of a sudden, Harry clamped up.

Tonks noticed this change and for the first time, she finally pieced together some things that she had found odd about Harry "What doesn't he understand" she gently probed.

Harry really debated with himself, could he tell her? Every time he told someone it hadn't ended well, or they didn't listen, like Dumbledore.

Tonks saw his inner battle "Harry look at me" she ordered him and when he did so she said "Do you trust me?"

He down casted his eyes for a moment before he looked back at her "Yes, but you've figured it our already, didn't you?"

"I think I just did, but I need you to tell me" urged Tonks.

"He might keep me safe from Voldemort with the blood wards, but he can't keep me safe from my relatives there and he doesn't want to listen when I tell him about it"

"We are going to figure something out Harry, but I won't let you go back to them and I won't let you be manipulated again by Dumbledork, not after everything that has happened"

Her nickname for the headmaster made Harry genuinely smile for the first time that evening.

"Now, you will first go to sleep, because you look like a wreck and probably feel like one just like me. I'm on leave for the next week so you can contact me every moment you want, alright, we'll try to think about something"

Harry nodded, feeling a bit better now he had talked with Tonks, but more so since she believed him about the Dursleys.

"And try to talk to your friends, not about this, I wouldn't mention this to be honest, but you should try to talk about what happened in the ministry"

"I'll try" Harry promised.

"That's all I can ask for"

"Thank you Tonks, you're the first person to believe me and also thank you for not pushing me"

"You're welcome Harry" and she looked him straight in the eyes to show him she meant it.

"What do I do to close the connection"

"Tap your wand again and say the closing spell of the map. See you Harry"

The next time Harry blinked, the mirror was blotched again. "Mischief managed" and he tapped the mirror. He carefully placed it his pocket.

He went back to the Gryffindor tower. The moment he went through the portrait of the fat lady, he immediately was tackled by Hermione who was shooting questions about how he was doing. Harry ignored this, but saw that Ron, Ginny, Neville and even Luna where also waiting for him.

"If you don't mind, I would like to go to my bed. I know you're concerned, but for the moment I really need some sleep" he told them.

Hermione who had released him from her hug said "Are you sure you don't want to talk about it. I wouldn't want you to bottle it all up inside, you always do this and you shut us out. You should talk to us about Sirius"

Harry cringed hearing Sirius' name, but tried to ignore the pang of guilt and the pain in his chest. "Hermione please, it's been a very long day" pleaded Harry.

Neville, seeing the pleading in his eyes got up and laid a hand on Hermione's shoulder "Let him sleep"

Harry didn't wait for an answer. He just passed Hermione and went upstairs to the fifth year dormitories. He hoped it wouldn't be a trend for the next six weeks or he'd kill himself from the smothering rather than the grief.

After quickly changing, he went to lay in his bed, recalling everything that had happened since he had his vision. He knew he should have trained better to shield his mind, but he was convinced that Snape's technique and grudge actually held him back from learning the actual skill. Also, if they had explained to him why it was necessary or what they were protecting and stuff, he might have thought twice about barging into the ministry.

It was only a couple of hours and he already missed his godfather. Not really his presence, since he sadly hadn't had the chance to enjoy that very often, but more the fact that he knew he could write a letter to Sirius if he had any problems. He was there for Harry, unconditionally.

He felt rather guilty that his godfather had died, because he had tried to save him. Although many other parties shared a part of the guilt, he knew that if he hadn't let himself being tricked in the first place, Sirius might still be there.

Harry heard footsteps coming upstairs, so he guessed that Ron and Neville were coming upstairs. Quickly shutting his curtains and casting a silencing spell, he let himself fall in the warm covers of his bed. Not that he was able to sleep much.

The rest of the night was spent blaming himself about Sirius' death, but also in the amazement that Tonks believed him and had told him she would try to keep him away from the Dursleys and Dumbledore as fast as possible.

Eventually he fell asleep, but immediately, the moment that he had been picturing the entire evening, the picture of Sirius falling through the veil, started replaying through his dreams. Except now his friends and the other members of the Order died too, or blamed him. Over the course of three hours, Harry awoke 4 times.

In the next following weeks, Harry's sleep didn't improve and his friends kept nagging him about Sirius, like that was the only thing to talk about. The only person he sometimes talked a bit about Sirius was Tonks and he was very grateful for the fact that she let him talk about it without forcing him.

In the meantime, Harry and Tonks had been planning how they wanted to proceed. They talked every evening about their plans. She had quit the Order and even her job and had been traveling since. That was because they didn't want anyone to know they were making plans together and if they would disappear at the same time, it would be to obvious.

Tonks helped Harry study for his OWL's which he found difficult to focus on, but luckily Tonks helped him, or he would probably fail every course.

One evening, three weeks after Sirius' death and a few days before the OWL's would start, Tonks asked "What do your friends think you're doing during the time you're talking with me?"

"I just tell them I'm studying. They've been trying to force me to talk about Sirius. Quite literally by putting my in a body bind and such" Harry answered her.

"They should know that that isn't really the best way to approach it. Even I know that" Tonks half murmured, half said.

"Exactly, so I've been distancing myself from them a bit to be honest. I don't understand that they don't get that I don't want to be forced into talking about it"

"It might be harsh to hear this, but it might be better like this" Tonks said sadly.

"I know, but now we should focus on our plans and getting me through OWL's, I still want good results" Harry told her.

So Tonks continued helping him study and together they made their plans. They knew it had to be thought out thoroughly since they would have a lot of people searching for Harry once they discovered he was gone.

Harry made his OWL's, and to the surprise of his friends, he wasn't really worrying about them and felt good after almost each exam.

He was also almost constantly watched by Ron and Hermione when he was with them, like they were waiting for him to break down. It made it all the harder to get away from them to talk with Tonks.

When the OWL's were done completely, the only time they saw Harry was at meals, other times he was just in the room of requirements. As part of their plan, Harry had applied glamors, so he would look even more haunted and pale and he also made sure he almost didn't eat a thing in the great hall, only to have Dobby bring him food to the room of requirement.

The reactions to this was divided. Hermione and Ron were worried. Dumbledore was glad to see that Harry wasn't doing so well, which would help him control the boy again. The reaction of the rest of the school and the teachers was divided, as always when it came to Harry Potter, or better said, the boy-who lived since they often didn't look further than the title.

Harry used his time to read in the room of requirements everything he would be able to use while they were hiding. Their plans were made and already set into motion, so they were looking at some practical stuff like how they would live and how they would pose for the outer world.

It was two days before he would leave Hogwarts that Harry posed the question that had been nagging him from the beginning "Tonks, can I ask why you are helping me so much, giving up so much?"

"I came to realize, more and more, that you are just a pawn, even though I'm not sure for what greater plan. I want to help you lead your live, help you prepare for what you are unfortunately destined to, so you stand a chance against him. But also because I feel that you are old enough to make your own decisions and you are going to need real help" Tonks explained to him.

"Thanks Tonks, I'm glad I'm not alone in this" admitted Harry.

Tonks smiled "Yes well, we're going to have to put step two of our plans into motion, you will have to convince the headmaster to let you stay at Privet Drive, without the body guards"

Harry nodded "Wish me luck" and he disabled the mirror and left it in the room to be safe.

He made his way up to the headmaster's office, but it was only when he was standing in front of it, that he realized that he didn't know the password.

He turned his head towards the gargoyles and said "Could you please see if professor Dumbledore could see me?"

He got no response, but seconds later, they moved aside, so he could go to his office.

"Harry my boy, have a seat, what can I help you with?" professor Dumbledore said with his usual twinkle in his eyes.

"First of all, I wish to apologize for my behavior last time is was here" Harry told him, doing his utmost best to look sincere.

"You don't have to apologize Harry, it was understandable to be upset"

Harry nodded before he proceeded "I wanted to ask how my summer would look like. I know I have to go back to the Dursleys"

"That is true. And because of the amplification of the treat, I'm afraid this will have to be for the entire summer"

Harry let his head hang for a moment so it would look like he felt defeated before he spoke "I understand headmaster, but could I ask you a favor"

"If it is reasonable, I will comply with it Harry"

"I would like to be left alone this summer. I need time to think about S.. I need time to think about things, but I don't want anyone to see me go through it"

"Could you give me a minute to think about this" the headmaster asked.

Harry nodded and not much later he felt the headmaster's probe in his mind. Thankfully for the few lessons he had gotten from Tonks, the protection spell he had applied and the fact that Dumbledore didn't expect Harry to have done those things, he led the headmaster to see the moment Sirius fell in the veil, over and over again.

After a minute of this, Dumbledore left his mind and thought for a moment while his eyes twinkled even more than usual "I see no problem with that request, under two conditions"

Harry plastered his face to look like what he hoped was a hopeful smile before the headmaster proceeded "I want you to carry a portkey with you at all times and I want you to take an oath that you won't leave the premises of privet drive 4"

Expecting this, Harry said "I can agree to that sir, thank you. What does this oath imply?"

"Since the nature of the oath, I will make sure you will get warned when you are about to leave the premises and that you can leave in an emergency. If you break the oath, you can lose your magic" the headmaster explained.

"And how do we do this?" Harry asked.

"I will outline the specifics of the oath, while we are holding each other's hand, after that you have to say, I, your name, promise on my magic and my life that, and you insert what you promise"

"So I have to say that I promise to stay on the premises of privet drive 4 while I stay with my relatives this summer?" Harry asked.

"I think that would be correct, are you ready?" the headmaster asked.

Harry nodded, so Albus held out his hand so Harry could take it. Waving his wand over their hands, a silvery rope appeared over their hands "I, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, witness and receiver of this oath, agree on the terms that Harry James Potter will be warned before he breaks his oath and can break it in a case of emergency"

"I, Harry James Potter, promise on my magic and my life that I will stay on the premises of privet drive 4 while I stay at my relatives' house this summer"

The ropes around their hands disappeared and they could both feel the magic set into place.

Before Dumbledore said something, he waved his hand over a pendant "This is the portkey I made for you, you only have to hold it and say 'aegis' before it will be activated"

"Thank you sir, I just want to be alone while I try to come into terms with what has happened. It's hard to do so here, because Ron and Hermione try to force me to talk about it" Harry said.

"I'm glad we came to this understanding Harry" Dumbledore said.

"Me too professor, but how can I know that you will keep to your word? Since I gave you mine."

"If you wish, I can give you my oath to it" Dumbledore said, but without a twinkle in his eyes.

"That wouldn't be necessary sir, I just… It's just hard to know who I can trust these days, after what happened" Harry said, trying to look so sincere as possible.

Dumbledore got his twinkle back. "I promise on my magic and my life that I will not put any guards on Harry James Potter this summer, except in the occasion when he needs to be escorted away from his relatives"

Harry had to try and bite back his smile and said "Thank you professor, that means a lot to me"

"I understand that you have trouble trusting people, but know that you can always come to me or contact me if you have any problems" Dumbledore pressed.

Harry nodded "Again thank you sir" and he left Dumbledore's office.

Harry was extremely glad with how everything had unfolded like they had planned, it was even better than he had expected. At the same time, Dumbledore was extremely happy too. He was sure that Harry would dwell on Sirius' death during the summer and he was confined to privet drive 4. He didn't even need to put people of the Order on guard to keep him safe. At the end of the summer, he would collect Harry and make sure he was the one to help him with Sirius' death, so Harry would trust him completely again.

Back at the room of requirement, he activated the mirror again and Tonks' face appeared after a minute.

"Sorry for the waiting, I wasn't decent" and she winked to him.

Blushing, Harry told her how it went at the headmaster's office.

"I almost wish I could see his face at the end of the summer when he realizes that his plans bit him in the ass" Tonks chuckled.

"I know, he even made it easier than expected for me to escape and giving me time to do so during the summer" Harry smiled.

"Try and spend some time with your friends tomorrow, I'll see you in two days when we put our plan into action" Tonks told him.

"Ok, thanks Tonks"

"Your welcome Harry"

(Edited 16/07/2019)