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 7 - A Good Man

Thinking furiously on what he was going to do, Harry drove back from Ottery St Catchpole. He knew if he warned Mad-Eye the old Auror would stay and fight, maybe even involve some of the order members.

While that wasn't a bad thing, Harry needed to get to the man he recognised as the assassin from the photo Clarke showed him. If the order or worse the Ministry got involved, he would never get near them.

He was just about to turn for home, when he was struck by an idea and instead changed direction. Half an hour later he arrived in a large multi-story car park in London, it was the nearest one to St Mungos.

As he walked he pulled his phone from his pocket in order to make a call.

'Hello.' Said the operator on the end of the line.

'Hi, this is Agent Potter, I need to speak with Clarke.'

'Identification Number Please.'

'5263725225'

The line clicked over to generic holding music for a moment before the phone was picked up again. 'Yes Potter, what is it?' Asked Clarke abruptly.

'I've found our assassin ma'am, hopefully I will be able to talk to him tomorrow evening.'

'Good job Potter, make sure you do talk to him before killing him, we need to know who he is working for.'

'Will do.'

'Is there anything else?'

'That's all ma'am.'

'Then have a nice day Potter.'

'You too.'

Pocketing the phone he walked over to what appeared to be an old shop, closed for refurbishment. In the window there stood old stuffed dummies of various sizes. Leaning nearer to the glass Harry whispered. 'I'm here to see Nymphadora Tonks.'

The dummy beckoned him towards the glass, smiling to himself he walked through the illusion into the bustling reception area of St Mungos. He stood in the line to see the welcome witch, in case Tonks had been moved.

He had to supress a laugh when he spotted a wizard who had grown an overly large wart on the side of his face. It was so hairy, it would have cost the man twice at the barbers.

Confirming Tonks hadn't been moved, Harry made his way over to her ward. When he got there, she was propped up in a sitting position, reading a copy of Witch Weekly whilst eating a fresh set of grapes. He cleared his throat as she went to pop a grape in her mouth causing her to jump and drop it.

Realising who it was, she fished the grape from the folds in her gown and chucked it at him. Harry caught it in his mouth grinning.

'Wotcher Harry.'

'Wotcher Tonks' He said as he sat down. 'How are you doing?'

'Ok, I'll be glad when I'm out of here though.' He smiled good naturedly. 'I hear you and Teddy had a run in.'

The smile faltered, 'Yeah.' He sighed heavily.

'He didn't mean it you know, he was quite upset when he came to see me.' Tonks told him gently.

'I know, I'm not mad at him, it's just he wasn't far wrong.' He said sadly.

'What do you mean?'

'I've not been there like I should have been. I'm sorry Tonks.'

She smiled and took his hand. 'Don't be, you've always been there. Not always prominently, mind you, but always. Will you speak to him when you get back? It would help if you explained some of this to him.'

'I will, he's old enough to know now.' He promised.

She squeezed his hand. 'What did you find at the Burrow?'

'More than expected.' He looked at her guiltily. 'I need your help.'

'Go on.' She said surprised, Harry rarely asked for help in these kinds of situations.

'I need you to convince Bill to hold an Order meeting at Grimmauld Place, Mad-Eye needs to be there.'

'Why?'

'They're planning to attack his home tomorrow at nightfall.'

'Merlin,' she gasped. 'You've got to warn him.' She said urgently.

'I can't. If I warn him, he either stays and fights or alerts the Ministry, I can't let either of those things happen.' He said earnestly.

'Why not?' She demanded.

'At the Burrow we were caught inside when the attackers turned back up to burn the place down. I recognised one of the men as the one who assassinated the Muggle agent.'

Tonks' eyes widened in surprise. 'They're connected.'

'I think so.' He admitted quietly.

'Ok, I'll ask Bill, be careful though Harry this could be a trap.' Tonks warned.

'Well yeah, for Moody.'

'I mean for Harry Potter.'

'You think their trying to lure me out?'

'I don't know, just be careful.'

'I will.' Suddenly there was a mischievous glint in his eye. 'So, in other news, how are you and Bill getting on?'

Tonks almost blushed, the hem of her nightgown had never looked so interesting. 'I like him, he's a good man.' As she said it a sadness seemed to wash over her, and a tear fell from her eye. 'I just feel so guilty.' She tried to pull her hand away from his, Harry just held on tighter.

'You have nothing to be guilty about.' He said soothingly.

'What about Remus? I made a promise that I would love him and no other! We were going to be married, now here I am with someone else.' She broke down sobbing.

Harry moved to sit on the edge of the bed and wrapped an arm around her. 'Remus would want you to be happy Dora, you deserve to be happy.'

'No I don't.' She sobbed. 'I shouldn't be forgetting Remus. He's Teddy's father, what will he think.'

'He'll be happy for you. He wants you to be happy.' He pulled her closer and stroked her hair with his other hand 'Dora, it's been over ten years, I've never seen you with another guy in that time.'

'I know, I couldn't.' She hiccupped.

'That's not forgetting Remus, maybe now you're ready to move on.'

'I shouldn't be!' She argued.

'Why, what rule is there to say you can't?' She didn't answer. 'You know how close I was to Remus, I know for a fact he would want you to be happy. I remember Bill from the war, he's a good man, don't throw your happiness away.'

'It's just, I never thought I'd feel like this again. Now that I do I'm questioning whether it's real or even if what I had with Remus was real.'

'Don't be daft, it's real, and what you had with Remus definitely was.'

'How do you know?' She asked desperately.

'Bill's eyes never left you when you were lying there unconscious, if he could, he wouldn't have even blinked. I almost had to go for a piss for him.' She laughed reluctantly. 'And if I didn't know better you were almost blushing just at the sound of his name, you could walk through the streets naked and not blush.' She slapped him lightly on the chest. 'So, I reckon there's your answer.'

'I love you, you know?'

He kissed her on the top of the head. 'I know, I love you too.'

The hallway of Grimmauld place was eerily quiet when Harry walked back through the front door. The only light came from the gap under the door leading to the stairs down to the kitchen. Not feeling hungry or up for playing host, Harry made his way upstairs hoping that Teddy was in his room.

Along with the Weasleys, Andromeda had decided to move in temporarily as well, along with Teddy. He walked up to the second floor, Teddy's bedroom door was open slightly and light flooded out of the gap. He was about to knock when he heard two people talking.

'Are you sure Uncle Harry's not mad?' he heard Teddy ask hopefully.

It was the repliers voice that surprised him. 'He's definitely not angry with you. Although he is completely and utterly mental.' Teddy giggled at Ginny's description of him. 'He really loves you.'

'I know.' Said the boy quietly 'I just wish he was around more.' Harry winced.

'Why isn't he?' She asked gently.

'I don't know.' He mumbled 'Mom says he works away a lot.'

'What does he do?'

'He's like an Auror but in the Muggle world.'

'Really?' She asked surprised.

'Yeah, I know Uncle Harry is a wizard, but I don't remember the last time he used magic.'

'Why doesn't he use magic?' Ginny asked softly.

'I don't know.' There was a break, where neither of them said anything. 'Why were you angry with Uncle Harry earlier?'

'How did you know I was angry?'

'I heard you shouting and then Kreacher laughing, I guessed he's done something.'

'He just put himself in danger.'

'Oh.'

'Which makes me think he's a bit of a prat.'

Snorting, Harry, decided this would be a good time to interrupt. He steadily pushed the door open, 'Are you allowed girls in your room Ted?'

The two of them were sat on the bed, resting against the headboard, Ginny was holding Teddy closely in a one-armed hug. Teddy blushed brilliantly

'Ignore him Teddy, he's just jealous.' Said Ginny with a glint in her eye.

'What's there not to be jealous of?' Asked Harry smirking slightly as he made his way around the bed. 'Move over.' He told them before jumping on, leaving Teddy in the middle.

'It's been a while since I've been alone with such a handsome man.' She said tickling Teddy on the stomach causing him to laugh, despite his embarrassment.

'I'm afraid the rest of the male population won't be able to hold a candle to Teddy.' Said Harry morosely.

'I know, I'll have to hope no one steals his heart at Hogwarts.' Said Ginny theatrically 'I don't know what I would do.'

'You two are daft.' Teddy informed them, causing a round of chuckling from the adults. He looked up seriously at Harry. 'I'm sorry Uncle Harry.'

Harry sighed, 'Come here kiddo.' He held his arm up and Ginny loosened her grip as Teddy scooted over. Harry rested his arm around Teddy's shoulders. 'It's me that should be sorry Teddy. I'm sorry I spend so much time away.'

'It's ok Uncle Harry.'

'No it's not.' Ginny watched the exchange silently, unsure whether she should leave. 'I do care you know, sometimes though, especially when things like what happened yesterday happen, I only know how to deal with it one way.'

Sensing this was a private moment, Ginny decided to leave them to it. When she made to get up Harry knocked her elbow and shook his head ever so slightly. Confused, yet oddly happy he wanted her to stay, she settled back down.

'I went looking for the people who attacked you, luckily Ginny invited herself along.'

'You did?' Asked Teddy awe inspired, looking between the two of them. 'Did you find them?'

Harry grimaced 'Sort of, we landed ourselves in a bit of hot water. Thanks to some quick thinking on Ginny's part though we're both ok, have you ever asked her to go flying with you before?' The boy shook his head. 'You should, she's better than me?'

'Really?' He asked with wide eyes, he turned to Ginny. 'Can you take me flying?' He asked excitedly.

'Sure, I can.' She said bemused. 'I didn't know you like flying.'

'I love it, I go as often as I can. Uncle Harry's really good, aren't you Uncle Harry?'

'I do ok.' Said Harry smiling.

'Maybe we could all go together.' Suggested Ginny.

'Can we?' Asked Teddy with an excited grin.

'Course we can.' Said Harry, 'Not tonight though.' He said grinning, cutting off the boys next question. 'It's bedtime, maybe next weekend.'

'Ohhh.'

Ginny ruffled his hair. 'Don't worry we'll go I promise.' They stood off the bed and tucked Teddy in.

Once he was settled, Harry knelt down next to the bed, so his face was level with Teddy's, which rested on the pillow. 'One last thing Ted. What do you think of Bill?'

'He's cool.' Said Teddy grinning. 'He tells me loads of stories of the places he's been, plus when he's around mom seems happier.'

'Can you tell your mom that the next time you see her?' Teddy nodded. 'I think she might like to hear it from you.'

'Ok.' Said Teddy sleepily 'I will.'

'Thanks Teddy, sleep well.' Said Harry,

'Goodnight Teddy.' Called Ginny from the door.

'Night.' Teddy replied almost inaudibly.

Harry stepped out of the room after Ginny, flicked the light off and shut the door behind him. Once the door was shut Ginny whirled on him 'You've got some explaining to do Evans.' She hissed.

'I know.' He admitted., holding his hands up in surrender. 'All I need is tomorrow night, afterwards, I'll explain everything.'

She looked at him calculatingly 'It best be good.'

'It will be.'

'Fine.' She said, still glaring.

Harry scratched the back of his head awkwardly. 'I'm sorry if I was a bit presumptuous in there with Teddy, telling him to ask you to go flying, you don't have to if you don't want to.'

Her expression softened. 'It's OK, I love flying. I like spending time with Teddy too, he reminds me of his dad.'

'You knew Remus?' Asked Harry surprised.

'Yeah, he taught me at school.'

'I forgot he spent a year at Hogwarts,' admitted Harry 'he loved that job, it's a shame he didn't want to continue after he was outed.'

'He was one of the best teachers we had.' Her brow furrowed. 'Thinking about it, you can't be that much older or younger than me, I don't remember you from school.'

'I was home tutored.'

'That's a shame, Hogwarts is amazing.'

'I know, I've heard stories from Tonks. When I was a kid we moved around a lot, even living in different countries, so it was just easier.'

'Really, where have you lived?'

'France, Germany, Australia and a very cold couple of months in Russia.'

She smiled a little sadly 'As grand as it sounds it must have gotten lonely.'

'It was ok, Sirius and Remus were both good fun.'

'I didn't know you grew up with Remus.'

'Yeah, he was good friends with my dad and godfather, Sirius was my godfather. It was great growing up with Tonks when we settled more permanently over here, despite her being older than me.'

She didn't want to ask the next question 'What about your parents?'

'They died during the first war.'

She sighed regretfully 'I'm sorry.' She said, laying a hand on his forearm.

'Don't be it wasn't your fault, we all lost during the wars.'

'I lost my uncles and my third oldest brother Percy.'

'I'm sorry.'

'Don't be it wasn't your fault.' They stood in comfortable silence for a while before the sound of people coming up from the kitchen cut through the air. 'I'd best get to bed, it's late, I need to be at work in the morning.' Said Ginny reluctantly.

'Ok,' She smiled at him and went to head back down the stairs. 'Ginny.' She turned around to look at him. 'Be careful, they recognised you today at the Burrow, I think they're going to come after you.'

She went to ask for more information but resigned herself to finding out in a couple of days. 'I will be.' She promised. 'Night Harry.'

'Night Ginny.'