Disclaimer I don't own Harry Potter. All rights to the characters and universe the story belongs in belong to JK Rowling

Reviews welcome. Any advice to help me improve would be brilliant. I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Chapter 1 - Crashing a Meeting

'What the bloody hell is going on?!' Raged an angry voice as the door to the kitchen was thrown open.

The meeting that was happening in said kitchen was abruptly silenced as all in attendance stared dumbstruck at the source of the voice. All but one that is, Nymphadora Tonks smiled sheepishly at the tall figure in the doorway. 'Wotcher Harry. Sorry, I didn't think you would be back so soon.'

Tonks (as she preferred to be called, god forbid anyone called her Nymphadora) was a remarkably pretty witch who sported bubble-gum pink hair, sparkling dark eyes and a kind round face. She had grown up with a loving mischievous personality which had sadly dimmed over the years, war had left its mark on her, one she would never forget.

'So, what is going on? A bloody mothers meeting?' Glared the handsome man as he leaned on the doorway with his arms folded, grey eyes boring into her. His black hair was unruly and untamed as it stuck up at the back.

'Actually, we are having a meeting and you are ever so rudely interrupting.' She replied defiantly, rocking back on her chair. 'You are more than welcome to join us.'

He looked around the room noticing they were all dressed in wizarding robes rather than the more traditional muggle dress he preferred.

There were eight others in the room. One was a broad-shouldered dark-skinned man with a bald head and dragon fang earring, another a small white-haired wizard with an air of excitability and a young curly haired witch.

The rest of the attendees must have been family. They were all red heads, four men and one woman. The eldest of the men wore his hair in a ponytail and Harry instantly recognised him as Bill Weasley, he hoped Bill didn't recognise him.

Two of the others were clearly the infamous Weasley twins, they were identical in every way, even their hair was cut and styled in the exact same manner. The youngest brother was the tallest and lankiest of the lot, he had short hair and was sat hand in hand with the curly haired witch.

Finally, Harry looked upon the last person in attendance, she was oddly familiar. Her long, fiery red hair cascaded freely down her shoulders and her eyes of molten chocolate never wavered from his own.

If he wasn't so angry, he would have been wondering where he knew her, instead he was too busy fuming. How could she bring witches and wizards here? Harry raged silently whilst looking around the room. This lot would have my head!

He brought his gaze back to Tonks and clenched his jaw, 'I'm OK thanks.' He replied tightly.

'Suit yourself.' She said shrugging.

Harry entered through the doorway and walked over to the kettle 'Anyone want a drink?' He asked the room as he lifted the appliance from its stand on his way to the sink. He missed Tonk's grimace as he was answered with a chorus of "No's" from around the room.

Some quiet chatter broke out from behind him as he busied himself with the art of making tea. He gave a grunt of pain when he went to reach above his head for the cupboard where the teabags were kept.

'Are you OK?' Came the concerned voice of Tonks from the table.

'Fine.' He grumbled without turning around. He gently massaged his shoulder before reaching with his other hand for the cupboard. He found it bare.

'Tonks.' He said darkly turning around and leaning on the counter.

'Yeah. Sorry. We used the last of the tea and coffee earlier. There's water in the tap.' Tonks offered him without a hint of irony.

'Thanks.' He said sarcastically.

'You're welcome.' she chirped with a sweet smile.

He knocked the kettle off, poured himself a glass of water from the sink and slumped into a chair. He smacked his lips having taken a long swig from the glass. 'What?' He asked after looking up to find the entire table staring at him.

'I didn't think you wanted to be involved in our meeting.' Tonks said incredulously.

'I don't.' He said nonchalantly.

'Well then scat.' She made a shooing gesture with her hands.

'Would you really kick me out of my own kitchen?' He asked with mock surprise.

'Yes.' She confirmed.

He placed both hands over his heart theatrically 'Nymphadora I'm hurt.' One of the twins snorted.

Her hair instantly turned red 'Don't. Call me. Nymphadora.' She growled. Harry grinned innocently at her.

'EVANS!' Came a booming, bullfrog like, croak from somewhere in the house. Harry winced.

'What have you done now?' Tonks asked him with a sigh, her hair returning to her preferred pink colour.

'Nothing,' he said defensively.

'Doesn't sound like nothing.'

'Yeah well I best go and see what he wants.' He said rising 'You fancy a drink when you're done?'

Tonks smiled at him 'Sure, I'll come and get you, that's if Kreacher hasn't killed you first.'

'Ha ha' he said rolling his eyes. 'It was a pleasure to barge in on you all.' He announced to the table on his way out. As he shut the door behind him he heard a gravelly voice ask 'Can we continue our meeting now?'

Shaking his head Harry made his way back up the stairs from the basement the kitchen resided in and walked into a long dimly lit corridor. The house was as large as it was once grand, unfortunately, a few too many generations at the hands of dark wizards had turned the place dull.

Harry had never thought to do it up, the place reflected his own mood perfectly. He had inherited the house from his godfather, Sirius Black, after he had fallen during the wizarding war. They hadn't lived in the Black ancestral home long when Sirius perished at the hands of Voldemort, and although it was painful to be in, Harry felt tied to the place so had never moved.

He walked up the stairs until he reached the third landing, where he pushed open the door he was sure the shout came from. Sure enough, there was a house elf in the middle of the room. He had a large crooked nose and pointy, bat like ears. His large orb like eyes bored into Harry.

'Hey Kreacher.' Harry greeted brightly 'You called?'

'What is this?' Asked the old house elf seething as he held up a white garment.

'It's a shirt Kreacher, one I threw away by the looks of it.'

'I know that.' Snarled the house elf 'What is this though?' He asked pointing to a hole surrounded by a rather suspicious red stain.

'Well that would be the reason I threw it away.'

'Don't play clever with me Evans. Have you even bothered to get healed?'

'I've been patched up by the medical team at work. You'll be sad to know I'll live.'

Kreacher shook his head sadly 'You need to stop this, one day you won't be here to joke about your death.'

'You know I can't stop Kreacher, it's my job.' Said Harry gently as he kneeled in front of the old house elf placing a hand on his shoulder.

'Then at least go to St Mungos to get your injuries healed!' Demanded Kreacher.

'I can't.' Harry exasperated dropping his hand 'I'm not a part of that world anymore.'

'Do you really believe that? I am, Tonks is and even young master Teddy will be going to Hogwarts later this year.' Pointed out Kreacher 'We are all part of that world, you aren't as far away from it as you think.'

Kreacher prodded Harry's injured shoulder causing him to wince and inhale sharply. 'Your work is dangerous, an injury like that could get you killed.'

'That doesn't change the fact that I won't use magic or ask anyone to use it for me.' Said Harry beginning to get annoyed.

'Even to save your life.'

'Especially to save my life!' Snapped Harry.

A look of complete sadness washed over the elf 'Very well master.' He clicked his fingers and dissaparated from the room.

Harry bundled the shirt up that Kreacher had dropped on the floor and launched it as hard as he could against the wall in anger. Breathing deeply to reign in his temper he walked over to his desk and started flicking through the open photo album that was lying there.

The album was his most treasured possession. It contained photos of his family, too many of whom he would never see again. He stared at the photo of his parents on their wedding day wondering what their life would be like had he died on that fateful night instead.

When he was just a year-old Harry was orphaned when Lord Voldemort, the most evil man the wizarding world has ever seen, arrived at the Potter family home in the dead of night. Lily and James Potter had taken their son into hiding. Their cover was perfect, as long as the one they placed their trust in stayed loyal they had nothing to fear.

Unfortunately, Peter Pettigrew's loyalty could be brought. Pettigrew sold them out to his true master, in essence signing their death warrants, because no-one lived once Voldemort decided to kill them. Or so the story went.

When she died protecting her son, Lily Potter, gave him the ultimate protection. So, once Voldemort turned his wand on the newly orphaned boy, the spell backfired causing his soul to be split from his body. Thus, the great Lord Voldemort was forced into an horrific exile for fourteen years. Fourteen years he spent plotting the downfall of the Boy Who lived.

Harry would give anything and die a countless number of deaths so his parents could live again, unfortunately, death is one thing that can't be bargained with.

'They would want you to live you know.' Came a quiet voice from behind him causing him to jump. He turned around to find Tonks looking over his shoulder at the photo.

Deciding this was something he didn't want to discuss Harry abruptly changed the subject. 'Have they all gone?'

She looked disgruntled at him not addressing her statement, luckily, she knew better than to push. 'Yeah they've all gone. I'm sorry about that by the way, I really didn't expect you back for another couple of weeks.'

'Why didn't you just have them over at your place or your mom's?' He asked her.

'I needed a place big enough and didn't really want Teddy anywhere near the meeting. Kreacher said you would be gone for another few days, so I thought nothing of it.'

'Did Bill recognise me?'

'No, I don't think so. It's been years since he saw you and with your scar covered and contacts in you look different enough from your wanted poster.'

Harry snorted 'I take it I'm still undesirable number 1 then?'

'Unfortunately yes.' Sighed Tonks 'I can't believe they are blaming you for these attacks after all these years.'

'What attacks?'

'Don't worry about it.' She told him with a sad smile. 'As you keep saying, it's our problem now. Come on let's get that drink.'