Jesus here we are again and may I say again thank you all for everything you've been able to do with this story. I am so glad people are enjoying this story and I shall continue to work on it as much as I possibly can. I'm hoping you enjoy this chapter as hopefully Harry finally gets some answers.
A week passed before Harry got word back from the people he had sent letters out to. First was, unsurprisingly, Hermione who had been in a panicked wreak wondering about him. He was actually surprised she had not sent him a howler like Mrs. Weasley would do to her children at Hogwarts when they did something bad or got in trouble. Then again she did call him an "IDIOTIC, SELF ENDANGERING, HEARTATTACK INDUCING HEADACHE" but it was clear she meant it in the most loving way possible. Just like Hermione, Harry thought.
Next came from the Weasleys. It was much more simple asking if he was alright, and if he needed anything than to floo them instantly and they would be over faster than a Firebolt. Harry suspected that last part was most likely Fred and George. They seemed to understand that with Tonks there Harry would be safe. After all she was a fully trained Auror and even Dumbledore didn't know where they were. Surely Voldemort couldn't as well.
Finally, came probably the hardest. From Dumbledore himself. It seemed He was still worried about Harry's wellbeing and for the most part demanded to know where Harry was. Well that was short, Harry thought. Then again it made sense Dumbledore was always trying to do what was best. Either for Harry or the Wizarding World itself. Harry grabbed the rope his cousin had given him and began to tie it up in a knot. The simple act of tying a knot made the thoughts comprehendible. The process itself was simple. The question was asked when the rope was straight and unknotted. Then as he thought the facts that surrounded the question he began to tie the knot slowly at first. Getting the facts together. Then growing more complex in understanding how the facts are all connected and how they affect the question itself.
He was broken out of his concentration when a hand gently rested on his shoulder.
"Wotcher." Tonks smiled down at him. "Tippy says Dumbledore's been calling her every hour asking to come here. Are you ready to speak with him?"
"Ready? No not really." Harry admitted as he undid the knot and leaned his head back in the chair. "I'm just nervous he's gonna give me half answers and more questions."
"Well your in charge here Harry. We've worked your mind shields as best we can. Honestly I don't think even he will be able to get in there." She rubbed his shoulder. The past week had been a mass of training, teasing, training, Harry's amazing cooking skills, and sleep. Harry lifted his hand up to hers on him and gripped it softly.
"Thank you again. They wouldn't be as good as they are if it wasn't for you." He stood and stretched. "I guess I've put it off enough. Tippy!" He yelled up to the house's ceiling and a small popping sound brought the little house-elf to him. "Ah there you are."
"Yes Ma-...Harry. Does Harry and Harry's Mistress need something?" Tippy asked looking up at them gently. And just like that it seemed like the house elves had once again found a way to turn both of them red faced. Harry and Tonks looked from Tippy up at each other only briefly and away again. "Did Tippy say something wrong?"
Tonks coughed softly before looking away. "Harry and me are not together Tippy...Though I don't know I think I could get use to being called Mistress." She smirked up at Harry who's face went from red to positively crimson.
"Damn you Tonks." Harry admitted this round to her in their teasing game. "But anyway." Harry rubbed his face as if it would lessen the red from his face. "Please bring Dumbledore to the front yard when he calls on you again. I and Tonks will meet him. We plan to speak to him in private so please have the Dursleys stay away from the living room when we move there please." With a nod Tippy was off like a bee. "Cesar I know you can hear me. Please prepare tea and biscuits for the meeting with Dumbledore."
"Right away Master Harry." Cesar had been one of the elder house elves in the manor and in doing so was really stuck in the old ways especially when it came to talking about their masters.
"I hate it when he calls me that..."
"I think he knows Master Harry." Tonks grinned looking at him. She stopped him from continuing to interrupt him. "I think he does it in honor of your family's heritage and I bet he also does it to get a rise out of you...unlike how I prefer to get a rise out of you." She winked as she began to walk away.
"Jesus Dora if you really wanna call me Master than you must be into some really big kinks." Harry smirked as it caused Tonks to trip a bit. He broke out laughing before he saw her slowly turn around . Her wand pointed directly at him and a red sparkle on the end. "Oh...I should run now." She nodded confirming his thoughts before he took off running.
"You get back here Harry Potter!" She yelled chasing after him up the stairs. "When I get my hands on you I'm gonna treat you like the bad boy you are!" She rushed after him.
"Wow you're really not helping your case are you Dora?" Harry laughed as he dashed through and pushed open the bedroom door and turned just in time for a spell to hit him in the chest. The moment he felt it he knew it was petrificus totalus. Being around Hermione long enough will make sure you recognize that spell. If he could he would grunt because as she ran at him, Tonks' feet got caught by the rug and she went flying into him and onto the bed cushioning the fall...though not as much for Harry as now Tonks laid on top of him and he couldn't move.
"Whoops sorry Harry..." She muttered as she slowly pulled her face from his chest and looked up at him. For a moment she seemed to study his face and as she did that Harry began to do the same with her and noticed something. Tonks wasn't looking like how she normally did. Her hair more long and black clearly that of the Black family and at the same time her face showed freckles. That's when it hit him. This wasn't Tonks he was looking at clearly now. This was Nymphadora Tonks. She slowly lifted her wand and pressed the tip to his chest. With it his breathing hitched momentarily, why he didn't know but it happened. He looked up at her. Slowly he felt his body be released from the spell. Still it felt like he was stuck in it as he was looking up at her.
"Dora..." Harry whispered as if the breath was gonna be stolen from his lips. Tonks looked up at his eyes. it felt like forever as it paused him in thought. He didn't know why he did it but he pushed himself up and for only a moment pressed his lips to hers. Almost a second afterward he pulled off and looked away. "I...I'm so-." He felt his chin get pulled back straight and her lips upon his once again. This lasted a good bit longer.
"Tonight. We'll talk about it tonight." Tonks whispered to him after pulling away from him and helping him stand. "For now you need to speak to Dumbledore." She said and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and formed back into her average Tonks form.
After a few minutes to prepare themselves and have the events of what just happened sit on both of their heads they waited out on the front lawn for Dumbledore to appear. Harry could feel his foot tap in nervous rapid motion until he felt Tonks slip her hand into his and squeezed. He looked to her and smiled softly. It was small but it showed him she was here for him. Moment later a pop sound announced the presence of Tippy and Dumbledore. They approached slowly together.
"Thank you Tippy. Go help Cesar with tea and biscuits please." Harry nodded to Tippy who disappeared. "Professor." Harry smiled up at his elderly teacher who has been very much like a grandfather for him in the past several years.
"Ah Harry, my boy, it pleases me well to see you are well." Dumbledore smiled and a twinkle was present in his eyes. "Now I understand we have much to discuss, but may I say I have missed Potter Manor quite a bit."
"You've been here Professor?" Tonks asked him.
"Yes early in the years of the Wizarding War. We had a big dinner here right before a huge battle...it was there Lily announced she was pregnant with you Harry." Dumbledore looked up at the house as if remembering that very day. In fact it made Harry look at the old man and realize that he was looking much much older than usual. As if the years were finally starting to wain on the old man. With that they entered and moved to the living room for them to discuss as the elves brought them tea and biscuits.
"Professor. I've got some questions to ask." Harry looked up at him gently and reached over grabbing a cup of tea. "And I feel that if we are going anywhere further into this war together that it is time I have them answered."
"Very well Harry." Dumbledore said and gestured for him to continued surprised by how much Harry is acting quite mature for someone his age. In hind sight of being thrusted into war for a teenager it would of course mean he would have to mature faster than a normal person and not be able to enjoy life or have a normal childhood into teenage years where one should enjoy the taste of freedom.
"Where was the Order when he attacked?"
Dumbledore sighed in annoyance and anger. "Mundungus Fletcher..." He said. "He snuck off to drink and get wasted in the curses of alcohol."
"Why is he even part of our Order? He could be another Pettigrew." Tonks pointed out which Harry nodded in agreement.
"I had not thought of that and i apologize Tonks...we needed people and resources...but now that the Ministry is now aware of the situation we can aim to attack larger scale attacks and situations. He shall be removed and obliviated at once." With that Dumbledore waved a wand and sent a message to Madeye to do so.
"Okay. We need to figure out who in the Ministry and at Hogwarts is feeding this information directly to Voldemort. It makes no sense otherwise how he found out of my majority so fast unless he had members who were directly involved with the Trace." Harry pointed out.
"I will let Madam Bones know immediately and inform Kingsley to begin investigating in the Auror department."
"Why did my parents go to Godrics if this place's wards affected you too?" He asked him.
"That is my fault. I had not researched this place's magic and since I held a very powerful wand i suspected that if i casted wards with it they would be even stronger than that of this manor's...I was full of my hubris and i apologize...it is my fault you have no parents." Harry's eyes widened as Dumbledore seemed to begin to cry at this.
"Finally...what have you been hiding from me Dumbledore." It wasn't a question it was a demand more or less.
"I was so afraid to inform you of this but it seems I have no choice Harry." Dumbledore's eyes did not meet Harry. "It's time i told you everything i've been meaning to tell you since we confirmed that Voldemort was back...and how my past five years have been dedicated to figuring out what kind of monster we've been dealing with."