Nymphadora's Beau Chapter 5
"Where to next?" Nym held Harry's hand as they walked down the stairs of Gringott's.
"Belinda's Baubles, right? I was gonna get you a gift." Harry squeezed her hand.
"Oh Harry, you don't have to. I was just kidding before," Nym beamed at him.
"But I want to. And I won't take no for an answer."
"Okay then. My hero." Nym gave him a quick peck on the cheek, as they walked on.
–-
"Good morning, how can I help you?" The woman behind the counter called as they came in.
"Just browsing for something for my girl ma'am," Harry called back. Nym beamed at him for that. Hand-in-hand they walked through the aisle, looking at the various jewellery on offer.
"What about that one?" Harry indicated a beautiful ring.
"Thinking of buying me a ring already? Mister Potter, you are a fast mover," Harry began protesting, and Nym kissed him to shut him up.
"A-hem," the saleswoman scraped her throat a little later. "May I help you two?"
Flushing heavily, the two split apart. "Erm... could we see your necklaces ma'am?" Harry hated the sound of his voice cracking, but if the lady noticed, she did not comment.
"Of course, right this way," she lead them to the counter. "Are you looking for something formal, or something for every day wear?"
Harry looked at Nym for the answer, "Something for every day," the blushing witch answered. She looked over the display on offer, and found a beautiful silver necklace with a pendant at the end, a stone set in it.
Harry noticed her looking, "You like that one Nym?" Getting a nod in reply, he pointed it out, "How much for that one, ma'am?"
"Two Galleons and twelve Sickles," she answered. "What is your girlfriend's birth stone? I have this item in all variants in the back."
"Opal, for October," Nym answered. "Harry, that's a lot of money, I can get something cheaper instead," she added.
"Hush Nym, I can get my hot girl a gift if I want to," he squeezed her hand. "We'll take it ma'am." She got in the back, and came out with a small box containing the necklace. Harry handed over three Galleons, and after he pocketed the change, he took it out.
"Allow me?" Nym bent forward a little so he could reach better, and let him clasp it around her neck.
"Beautiful," Harry breathed out, as it fell on her chest, resting just above the valley of her cleavage.
"You are so getting lucky later mister," Nym whispered in his ear, and gave him a quick kiss.
Harry thanked the saleswoman, and they got out into the Alley. Seeing the glares from some of the shoppers, Nym wrinkled her nose in distaste.
"What say you we grab a bite in Muggle London? It'll be my treat."
"Sure, fine with me," Harry answered. He wouldn't mind getting out of the Wizarding World a bit. Hand-in-hand they walked to the Leaky Cauldron, and quickly passed through it. They walked through the quiet shopping street filled with book stores and entered a side street, arriving at a small lunch-room.
"Table for two dears?" the waitress asked, Nym nodded and they were lead to a small table on the side.
"Two BLTs with potato wedges please," Nym ordered, and they waited. Harry was admiring how the necklace caught the scattered light, when he felt a soft foot slide up against his leg. He inhaled sharply, as the foot began going higher.
"Here you are, will there be anything else?" The waitress placed two plates with sandwiches on the table.
"Not for now thanks," Nym spoke. Meanwhile her foot crept up further, and rubbed on the inside of Harry's leg now.
"Nym! What are you doing?" Harry hissed.
"Eating lunch hero, what else?" Nym had a mischievous look, as her foot continued tormenting Harry.
Somehow Harry made it through their lunch without embarrassing himself, but not for lack of his girlfriend's trying.
"You evil minx," Harry growled as they exited the restaurant. "Did you enjoy teasing me like that?"
"It's not teasing, it's a promise," Nym shot him a wink. "I'm impressed, I was sure I could get you to... give me some extra sauce," she giggled.
Harry grabbed her other arm, and pushed her up against the wall. "You are going to get it now," he mashed his face onto hers, and kissed her deeply. Nym responded by wrapping her arms around him.
"Ahem," someone cleared their throat. Nym opened her eyes, which had been closed as she was enjoying her French kiss with Harry, and saw a police constable standing near them.
"You two may want to head home now, right?"
Blushing, they broke apart. "Yessir," Harry mumbled, not daring to catch the PC's eyes. The officer nodded, and walked on.
"Such a bad boy you are Harry, assaulting little helpless me in public," Nym giggled. Hand-in-hand they walked to a more empty side street.
"I didn't exactly hear you complain," Harry countered. Nym looked around and found they were alone, and hugged Harry to him. A moment later they disapparated away.
Once they re-appeared in the Dursley kitchen, Harry began pawing at her pants.
"Eager are we hero?" Nym playfully pushed his hands away. "Maybe in a while. First, we need to talk a bit."
She led Harry over to the Dursley living room, and sat down on the couch, padding it. Harry sat down next to her.
"Listen hero, my babysitting shift will be over at four, and we need to figure out what to do before then."
"Don't need a babysitter," Harry grumbled. "And I'm no hero, I'm just a normal guy."
"Well to me you're my hero," Nym smiled down at him. "Handed me a towel and all, and made me very happy last night and today."
"I guess, but can't you call me something else?"
"I can try," Nym got an evil smirk. "Snookums?" "No." "Huggybear?" "No." "The-Boy-Who-Shagged?" "Definitely no," Harry grumbled.
Nym seemed encouraged. "Big boy?" "No!" "Potty?" "Nym..." "Sir Loves-a-lot?" "Nym... quit it." "Captain Biggus Di – Eek!" Harry twisted around, and his hands grabbed Nym's sides, tickling her sensitive spots. Nym didn't exactly fight hard as she let him strip off her jeans.
Showing once more he was a quick study, Harry made her scream shortly after.
–-
"What time is it?" They were cuddling on the living room couch. Nym reached for her wand, lying on the floor near them, and cast a Tempus spell.
"Oh crap! Half past three? You made me lose track of time, hero!" Nym scrambled to her feet, and began dressing.
"What's wrong?" Harry started looking for his own clothes.
"The next Order member will show up soon ya goof! Unless you want us to get caught?"
"Are you ashamed of being found with me?" Harry said in a small voice.
"Oh Harry, that's not it!" Nym stopped buttoning up her shirt, and rushed over to him, hugging him. "If that's what you want, we can face the Order together. I'm simply afraid a certain bearded teacher may get the wrong idea and try to force us apart."
"Do you really think he would do that?" Harry sounded worried.
"Do you really want to risk it?" Nym hugged him again. "Tell you what hero, I'm going to figure something out. You just wait until I get back, and no moping okay mister?"
"Fine," Harry said with a sigh. Nym gave him a deep kiss, then quickly buttoned her shirt.
"Harry, I'll be back tonight okay? Stay vigilant!"
"Okay Nym," Harry sighed as he watched her walk to the kitchen and the back door.
–-
Arthur Weasley apparated to the back alley near Privet Drive that was the arranged handover spot for the Order, and found it empty. Carefully he took out his wand and cast a revealing spell, but no-one was there. As he was trying to recall who had the shift before him, and if it was the unreliable Mundungus Fletcher again, a flushed Nymphadora Tonks came running into the alley.
"Tonks, you're late!" Arthur chastised her. "Phoenix feather."
"Hah... hah... hah..." Tonks was panting. "Phoenix wha?"
"Today's password, you're supposed to check if it's really me?" Arthur looked at her critically. "Why are you late? Why aren't you under your invisibility cloak? Come to think of it... why is your shirt not buttoned correctly?"
Nym blushed deeply. "I lost track of time Mr Weasley, but don't worry, everything is fine! Harry is doing okay, and nothing happened here today.
"Oh, here's the cloak... I had it rolled up in my pocket," Nym blushed, handing it over.
"It's Arthur, you know you can call me that. Okay, I'll not tell anyone this time you fell asleep on watch," Arthur gave her a smile. "See you around Tonks."
"Sure Arthur, thanks," Nym gave him a weak smile, and apparated away. Arthur shook his head about the young Auror, put the invisibility cloak on, and walked to number four Privet Drive.
Nym re-appeared on the doorstep of Grimauld Place, and rang the doorbell. Immediately she heard screaming coming from inside, and she winced.
"Oh for Merlin's sake!" Sirius' voice sounded from inside, as he threw open the door to let her in. "Dammit Nymphadora, you're supposed to knock, ringing the bell wakes the wicked witch of the pest up!"
"UNGRATEFUL SON! TRAITOR!" Nym drowned out the yelling, ducking under Sirius' arm to walk on to the kitchen.
"Wotcher kids," Nym greeted Hermione and Ginny, who were writing some parchment. "Is the Headmaster around?"
"Hey Tonks," Ginny smiled at her. Hermione waved a greeting, but didn't look up. "I haven't seen him since we got here. Mum may know where he is, she's upstairs busy yelling at Ron."
"Oh? Do I want to know why?" Nym opened the fridge, and took out the milk. With Molly upstairs she didn't bother getting a glass, and drank directly from the carton as Ginny answered her.
"She found Ron in our bedroom, going through Hermione's trunk," Ginny said with distaste in her voice. "Ron claims he was just looking for some quills, but mum isn't happy she found him with one of her bras in hand."
"Boys," Hermione huffed. "Ginny, I'm about done with my Transfiguration essay now. Do you want me to go over yours?"
"In a minute Hermione," Ginny replied. "Tonks, how is Harry? Has he said anything?"
"Don't bother her Ginny, you know she isn't allowed to talk to him," Hermione interrupted. "Professor Dumbledore said we are to leave Harry alone."
"He looked happy," Nym replied to Ginny, rolling her eyes a bit at the brunette's interruption. "Your dad is watching him now, so he'll be fine."
"Thanks Tonks," Ginny beamed at her. "Okay Hermione, here's what I have so far... want me to look over yours?"
"No need Ginny, you can get started on your Potions summer homework while I edit."
Nym left the two girls to their work, and walked past the shouting match of Sirius and his mother's portrait to the Black family living room, finding it empty. Once there, she headed to the floo and threw in some of the powder, "Hogwarts Headmaster's Office," and crouched down in the flames.
"Professor Dumbledore, are you there?"
A moment later the floo opened for her, and she looked in on the Headmaster's office. Dumbledore was sitting at his desk, paperwork in front of him.
"Nymphadora, I wasn't expecting a floo call. Is everything all right with Harry?"
"It's Tonks sir," Nym said with a grumble. "And Harry is fine. May I come through sir? I have some rather urgent questions."
"Of course, of course," Dumbledore assented. Nym got back on her feet, and stepped through.
"Would you a lemon drop?"
"No thank you," Nym sat down in a chair. "Sir, it's about Harry –"
"Ah yes young Harry. I'm glad the lad can enjoy his summer in peace."
"Err... sir, are you aware the Dursleys are on holiday? And Harry was left behind alone?"
"Yes, I know. I am sure he appreciates some time by himself," Dumbledore nodded.
"But wouldn't it be better if he were at Headquarters with the Weasleys and Hermione? So he has some friends to talk to?"
"I think not Nymphadora, Harry needs to be by himself now."
"Its's Tonks sir, I asked you several times before," Nym looked annoyed. "And I think you're making a mistake with Harry. What possible reason can you have to keep him away from people that care about him?"
"I have very good reasons I assure you," Dumbledore said sagely. "If that is all?"
"No, that's bloody well not all! Sir... Albus... please, is there no way you can allow Harry to come to Grimmauld Place before the end of July?"
"Absolutely not." Dumbledore looked directly at her. "It seems you are unsuited to deal with the stress of watching young Harry. I will take your name off the Harry watch roster starting directly. I thank you for your effort thus far, now if you'd please leave? I have to try to find a new teacher for Defence Against the Dark Arts for the upcoming year, alas Alastor is unwilling to return."
"You're making a mistake Headmaster," Nymphadora said, but seeing the look in his eyes she stepped to the floo. "Harry is a human being with feelings, and you should ask him what he wants!" Glaring at the older wizard, she flood out.
Dumbledore took off his glasses and polished them. "What do you think Fawkes? Can she be right?
His phoenix familiar twittered, cocking its head.
"Yes, Harry was quite upset indeed... but the risk of contacting him is too large. Tom may be using the connection and influencing his feelings. No, I think it's best if he is kept away from others as long as possible after all." Dumbledore nodded, put his glasses back on, and read through profiles of potential teachers.
–-
Nym was fuming as she returned to Grimmauld Place, and nearly knocked Sirius over as she stomped out of the room.
"Easy there Nymmie, people are walking here," Sirius grinned at her.
"Pungo!" Nym whipped up her wand, sending a stinging hex to her mother's cousin. "Dammit Sirius, it's Tonks! How many times do I have to tell you!"
"Watch it!" Sirius dodged the spell, then took her by the arms. "Easy there Tonksie, what's got you so upset?"
"Bloody Albus Too-Many-Names-Goat-Screwing Dumbledore is what," Nym grumbled. "I tried to talk to him about letting Harry out of his isolation, but whiskers thinks he knows best as usual."
"Is something wrong with Harry?" The joker was out of his voice, and Sirius sounded serious for a change.
"Not directly, but it's the whole situation... come on, I can't be the only one to see that it is just wrong to lock Harry up in a place he hates, all alone with no-one to talk to, and that after he was tortured by You-Know-Who!"
"A place he hates? Aren't you exaggerating a bit?" Sirius guided Tonks to a seat, then handed her a drink to calm her down more.
"Sirius, I'm sure he hates being there. And the Dursleys hate him in return. You heard about how the Weasley boys had to rescue him in the summer prior to his second year didn't you?"
"The bars locking his window? I thought they were joking?"
"Sirius, I saw the remnants of them on his bedroom window. Dammit, I'm certain Harry has been abused by them in the past!"
Sirius paled. "That would explain why he was so looking forward to live with me two years ago... me, a man he had no reason to trust! How sure are you about this abuse?"
"I saw the scars on his back, and he still flinches a bit when you hug him," Nym sighed. "His instincts took over after a while fortunately, but at first while we were snogging he seemed afraid I'd hit him... hang on a bit." Nym looked at her drink critically. "Fuck. What did you just give me you jerk?"
Sirius carefully stepped back a bit. "A single drop of veritaserum and some modified babbling potion..."
Nym debated taking out her wand and hexing him, but decided against it. "Shouldn't have let my guard down around you. Bastard. Why? Are you gonna turn me in to Dumbledore now?" Nym felt tears welling up in her eyes.
"No, no no!" Sirius spoke quickly. "Crap... I was just planning to find out the name of your latest lover, to tease you, and maybe a little info on Harry... nobody's telling me anything here... but man I wasn't expecting this." He knelt in front of Nym and took her hands in his. "I'm on your side cousin. Harry deserves someone to be there for him. And if what you told me is true, he needs to get out there fast."
"You're still a – sniff – jerk," Nym said with a sad smile. "Dumbledore said he'd take me off the guard roster Sirius... but I'm not giving up on him yet!" Resolve returned to her eyes. "Screw Dumbledore! Madam Bones gave me the order to be Harry's bodyguard, and that's what I'm going to do!"
"Easy there Tonks," Sirius got back on his feet, and started pacing. "What is this about Madam Bones?"
"Give me the antidote to this potion crap and I'll tell you," Nym poured the rest of the potioned drink over a plant.
–-
After recounting how she had taken Harry to the DMLE to deliver his memory on Voldemort's resurrection and resolve the issue with his Trace, Sirius was thinking out loud.
"That Trace business doesn't make sense... unless..." He paled.
"Unless what? I've gone over it as well, and I can't see the purpose?"
"It would make perfect sense if someone wanted to hide any spells Harry might cast from the Ministry. Didn't you say that the first false report was in the summer following his first year?"
"When he got into trouble due to that Elf, yes... where are you going with this?"
"Think! What happened at the end of Harry's first year?"
"He fought off his teacher... who was possessed by You-Know-Who..." Nym paled.
"Exactly. I bet, our someone is expecting Harry to face another situation like that, or the resurrection ritual, and wanted to make sure the Trace was not on his actual location, but only his home."
"Well... crap."
"Couldn't have said it better myself," Sirius nodded. "Damn now I need a real drink..." He paced about a bit, then his eyes lit up.
"Got it! Cousin of mine, you're going to love me," he let out a small laugh.
"I'm more likely to hex you, if you don't tell me what you have planned," Nym countered.
"Easy there Hexing Queen! Tell me... do you know about simulacrums?"
–-
Arthur Weasley was hanging against the front wall of Number Four, when he heard the pop of apparition from the back garden. He took out his wand, and crept to the back under his cloak, when he spotted Tonks.
"Password?" he demanded, his wand aimed at her.
"Phoenix feather Arthur, phoenix feather," Tonks blurted out.
Arthur dropped the cloak hood, revealing his face. "Oh good it's you Tonks, for a moment I was worried. Why are you back? Did something come up?"
"In a way Arthur, hey, what's that?" Nym pointed to his back. Arthur turned quickly... then felt a spell hit him in the back and things went dark.
"Sorry Arthur, I don't have time to talk things out now," Nym apologized as she put him in a comfortable position, and aimed her wand at him again. "I'm just gonna delete the last minute or two from you now okay? You'll not notice a thing... Obliviate." She winced a bit as her spell erased their encounter from the stunned wizard's mind, then stepped in through the back door.
"Wotcher Harry! It's your hot girlfriend, come out to play!" she called up. She heard a door fly open upstairs, and Harry came running down.
"Easy there hero!" Nym laughed, as he embraced her in a hug.
"I missed you," Harry beamed at her.
"Missed ya too, goof," Nym smiled back, then here face sobered.
"Hero, it's decision time. Do you want to stay here, or come with me to another place?"
"I can leave this place?" Harry sat up.
"Unless you want to stay here," Nym offered. "I'm taking a huge risk here, but I really don't think this place is right for you... and I can watch you better there anyway."
"Sorry, where do you mean?" Harry asked.
Nym looked away. "Errr... I'll tell you in a moment if you still want to go that is. You should really decide now, I don't know how much time we have."
"Will you be there as well? I mean can we still..." Harry trailed off, watching how the necklace she was wearing diverted his focus to her décolleté.
"Focus, ya goof," Nym softly hit his arm. "Of course we can. You're mine Potter, and I'm not letting anyone take you from me!"
"I'll go then," Harry nodded eagerly.
"Well then, why don't you start packing? Take your wand and your summer homework only, and Hedwig of course. I'll need to prepare some things in the mean time."
"Will do," Harry beamed, and ran up the stairs.
Nym smiled after him, then began to unpack the bag she had with her, taking out a wooden beam of about four feet tall, and a foot wide. Magically expanded bag of course.
'Good thing we took care of that Trace issue... this is pretty dark magic,' she reminded herself, as she began chanting. Before her eyes, the wood began to slowly change shape.
–-
Nym made her way upstairs and found Harry had made a pile on his bed, which he was now beginning to shovel into his trunk. "Let me hero," Nym waved her wand, "Pack!". The items trembled, and began flying into the trunk.
"Handy spell," Harry offered.
"I'll teach you that one later," Nym beamed at him. Then she spotted one left over item. "Don't forget your souvenir here," she threw her wadded up panties from the morning to Harry. He caught them and blushed, putting them in his pocket, much to Nym's pleasure.
"Is that everything?"
"I guess," Harry shrugged. "Erm, what about the rest? And the bed and desk?"
"Oh, they'll revert back in a few days. Why do you care?"
"Won't the Dursleys –"
"Harry, to be blunt... I don't give a dime about them. We'll have a chat about them later, but if it's up to me – and I can be a very stubborn witch – you're not coming back here."
"But Professor Dumbledore said that –"
Harry was shut up as Nym kissed him deeply. "Harry, who do you trust more? Old whiskers, or your hot, sexy, amazingly cool girlfriend?" She kneaded his bum, before letting go. Harry was flushed all over.
"That's what I thought mister," Nym giggled. "Okay, one more thing... promise me you won't freak out?"
"Why? What do you have planned?" Harry sounded suspicious.
"Nothing bad love... look, you promise not to freak out, and later we'll –" she leant in real close, and whispered something in his ear. Harry went beet red in a second.
"Promise," he blurted out, his voice cracking.
"Okay Harry... come downstairs with me." Nym cast a feather-light charm on his trunk and let Harry lift it with one hand, took his other hand in hers, and led him down. Harry froze at the entrance to the kitchen.
"Is... is that a dead body?" Lying on the kitchen table was the unmistakable form of a naked young man, rather short for his age... Harry tentatively stepped closer, and saw the dead body had dark hair like his... and even a scar like he did...
"Is... is that me?" His voice seemed to rise an octave.
"Easy hero," Nym took his arm. "That, Harry, is your decoy, so the Fried Chicken Club doesn't realise you are gone... it just needs a final touch before it works."
Harry just stared, so she continued: "I'm going to need to drain some of your blood hero... afraid this may hurt. Harry... please?"
Harry looked to his side, and saw Nym's eyes seemed to have grown larger, as she was pleading at him.
"Is it... is it alive?" he croaked out.
"No, it's a simulacrum Harry," Nym said. "A kind of puppet. It will seem to breathe and can respond to simple questions, but it is not you. Once I get a bit of your blood on it it will activate, and we can leave. No-one will know you are gone."
"But what about the Dursleys?" Harry wavered. This seemed wrong somehow.
"They'll just think you're a morose teen who refuses to leave his room. It won't need to last that long, just long enough until Old Whiskers will officially let you leave here.
Come on Harry, I don't think we have that much longer... please?" she pleaded again.
"Do it," Harry nodded.
"Thank you hero," Nym gave him a quick kiss, then took an athame from her bag. "Hold out your arm over its face?"
Harry did so, and Nym took a breath to steady herself, then cut a deep gash in Harry's arm. Harry winced as the metal shred skin, but held his arm steady as blood dripped down.
Tonks removed the knife, and immediately cast, "Vulnera Sanentur". The wound started healing quickly.
"That's enough love," she hugged him to her. "I'll make it up to you later, promise. You were great."
"Hello, what am I doing here?" Harry's voice sounded from beside them. Harry stiffened, as the simulacrum sat up.
"One final step..." Nym took a memory string from her head with a wordless spell, and dropped it on the puppet's head. Fake Harry blinked as he processed the info, then his expression dropped into a deep sulk.
"I'll be in my room. I want to be left alone," he said in a sad voice, and got upstairs.
"I don't sound that whiny," Harry complained to Nym. She smirked, "Sure you don't hero. Now hold me close, and we're leaving Durskaban for greener pastures."
Arthur Weasley woke up twenty minutes later, wondering how he had nodded off. 'Best make sure nothing is wrong,' he thought to himself. A "Homenum Revelio" later he affirmed Harry was in the house all alone, in his bedroom, and nothing seemed to be wrong. Arthur continued the watch.
A/N: I have amazing readers. Thanks for the great response to this story so far!