Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, I am writing this fanfiction for my own amusement and make no profit, all recognizable characters in this story are the property of J.K Rowling, Scholastic, Warner Brothers, etc.
Room of Requirement, Hogwarts, 1/29/1996, 18:07
Harry felt exhausted, he had been running on fumes all day and was dying to finish the evening training finished so he could go to bed.
"Get in here and shut the fucking door!" Tonks ordered sounding livid.
"What's up?" Harry asked a bit taken aback by her anger.
"Malfoy was found dead in his bed this morning," Tonks hissed.
"Oh?" Harry asked feigning innocence.
"Don't try and bullshit me, Potter," Tonks hissed stepping forward and pushing him against the wall.
"Tonks," Harry asked caught off guard and stumbling backwards.
"I know it was you, I have a tracking charm on your wand holster," Tonks said her nose inches now from his and her hair turning a deep crimson.
"I-it was self-defence, he cast the killing curse at me, what was I supposed to do?" Harry defended.
"You weren't supposed to be anywhere around him!" Tonks exclaimed poking her finger into his chest.
"It was good that I did. I think they're planning on attacking the Bones' tonight," Harry said as he pushed Tonks off of him before he dug the diary out of his pocket and offered it to her.
"What's this?" Tonks asked as she stared at the name on the cover in disgust.
"I think it's connected to another book just like it. This is how Malfoy told them about Hannah!" Harry exclaimed as she pressed the diary into her hand.
"You're sure?" Tonks asked as she opened the book and flipped through the pages.
"Pretty sure, just look at the last entry," Harry said.
Tonks flipped through to the last page and read the passage that was signed N.M and gasped.
"Bugger!"
"Yeah, the little bastard has been getting mummy and Auntie Bella to take care of his enemies," Harry growled.
"Well, maybe we can use this in our favour," Tonks exclaimed as soon as she read the entry.
"That's what I thought," Harry admitted.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Tonks exclaimed as a large patronus burst out of her wand and disappeared through the wall of the room before Harry could get a good look at what form it had taken.
"What was that?" Harry asked in confusion
"Patronus message, I just sent word to Madam Bones about the possibility of an attack on Susan's parents' home," Tonks answered.
"Good," Harry sighed feeling a weight lift off of his chest.
"Now that we've got that sorted, let's get back to you," Tonks said as she tossed the diary on top of her school bag.
"Tonks-
"Do you have any idea how much trouble could have gotten yourself into?" Tonks demanded.
"Are you going to arrest me?" Harry asked warily.
"No, but you can't just go around killing people, Harry!" Tonks exclaimed.
"I didn't have much choice, Malfoy was trying to kill me," Harry snapped.
"We know that he was trying to kill someone. They found the killing curse on Malfoy's wand which is the only reason I'm not hauling you in," Tonks growled as she shoved him up against the wall again.
"I hadn't planned on killing him," Harry admitted as he looked into Tonks' eyes.
"Then what-
"I was just trying to scare him into setting up a meeting with Bellatrix, I just planned on doing what Susan did, you know rough him up a bit maybe break a few bones" Harry shrugged.
"You would have probably broken his neck anyway," Tonks muttered as she seemed to relax a bit, and rested her forehead against his shoulder.
"Malfoy wasn't worth killing but he forced my hand," Harry admitted as he wrapped his arms around Tonks' waist.
"You really want to go up against Bellatrix?" Tonks asked.
"More than anything, she killed Hannah almost killed Ted, and has done god knows what else, she needs to be taken down," Harry said flatly.
"Well you can't do it on your own," Tonks pointed out.
"I can try," Harry shrugged.
"I'm not letting you do it on your own, I'll help you get her," Tonks said looking up at him.
"Tonks I can-
"I wasn't asking, if you're going after her then I'm coming with you," Tonks said flatly.
"Fine," Harry sighed as the scent of her strawberry shampoo filled his nostrils.
"I have something for you," Tonks said as she stepped back much to his disappointment.
"What?" Harry asked as he watched her walk over to her school bag and dig a book out that looked almost identical to the diary he had just shown her.
"This is the Black family spell book, mum asked Sirius to let you have it," Tonks explained as she tossed the book to Harry who caught it on reflex.
"The Black family spell book?" Harry asked blankly as he opened the book, noting how old the pages were.
"This had centuries of spells created by the Black family, if you're going to have a chance against Bellatrix you need to know what you're up against," Tonks shrugged as she slipped off her outer robes.
"Some of these are just disgusting," Harry muttered as he skimmed through the pages.
"I know, I've read through it already," Tonks agreed.
"Have you tried any of them?" Harry asked.
"A few, there are some gems in there," Tonks shrugged.
"What would somebody want to skin a person alive for?" Harry shuddered.
"I imagine that would be quite debilitating," Tonks pointed out.
"I would much rather take a killing curse than getting hit with any of these spells," Harry muttered as a couch appeared in front of them.
"I don't suppose you're in the mood to train today?" Tonks asked.
"No, I am bloody exhausted," Harry admitted as he took off his outer robes and plopped down on the couch.
"Good, I am feeling lazy today anyway," Tonks admitted.
"I could use a nice long rest, do you think we could skip P.T?" Harry asked hopefully.
"We can but we're going to sleep here tonight," Tonks said matter of factly.
"Why?" Harry asked in surprise.
"So I can make sure you don't sneak off and get tangled up in what's about to happen at the Bones Manor," Tonks said, shooting him a knowing look.
"Alright, but I don't even know where Bones Manor is," Harry pointed out.
"Well, I don't mind snuggling with you so it's a win-win for me," Tonks shrugged.
"Alright," Harry said, not exactly opposed to the idea himself.
"If you wake up before I do, wait until I wake up before getting out of bed," Tonks muttered as she kicked off her boots.
"Why?" Harry asked when Tonks sat down beside him.
"Because you didn't cover me up last time," Tonks muttered, shooting him an annoyed look.
"Sorry."
"Just don't do it again," Tonks shrugged.
Harry looked back at the page he had stopped on and saw the instructions for a very nasty fire spell.
"Hellfire," Harry muttered.
"I saw that one, it's just a step below fiend fyre," Tonks muttered as she leaned over him to look at the book.
"Could be useful, there is only one counter curse," Harry said thoughtfully.
"Unfortunately my aunt would probably know it," Tonks pointed out.
"The rest of them wouldn't," Harry shrugged as he turned the page.
"So I have to ask, how did you... how did you kill Draco?" Tonks asked hesitantly.
"He dove to avoid a bone-breaking hex and got hit by another one that I had aimed at his knee," Harry explained.
"See why I told you not to flop around on the floor," Tonks pointed out.
"Yeah, I get it," Harry nodded.
"Was he any good?" Tonks pressed.
"No, he was way too full of himself and kept trying to use unforgiveables when a simple piercing hex would have been more effective," Harry shrugged.
"Well, I am glad you didn't get hurt," Tonks said softly.
The rest of the evening passed by with them just talking or reading through the Black family spell book. Harry was relieved that Tonks was in on his secret, it made things so much easier. He knew that she was still upset with him for putting himself in that situation but at least she hadn't pushed.
As Harry lay down later that night with Tonks snuggled up to him, he couldn't help but be grateful he had her in his life.
Bones Manor, Kent, 1/30/1996, 02:39
Walden McNair led his group of recruits out of the dense old-growth forest to the edge of the Bones Manor wardline.
The group of death eaters anxiously waited while their warder began setting up the wormhole to breach the incredibly powerful wards.
Walden was not supposed to be leading the group tonight, this was Bellatrix's job. Apparently, her nephew had turned up dead in his dorm this morning and she was rather... emotional. The dark lord had ordered him to lead the raid which he was not opposed to, Mrs Bones was a fine-looking woman and Walden always welcomed female companionship.
Walden waited impatiently while the warders pushed the wooden pipe into place that would soon form their passage through the wards. It was unusual to use a Gringotts wormhole for a raid but the warder assured him it would speed things up quite a bit.
The wormhole was just starting to activate when a nasty purple spell struck the warder in the square back, dropping him face-first onto the ground and making him lose his grip on the wormhole. The wormhole which was just an eighteen-inch-long by four-inch-wide section of wooden pipe was catapulted away from the ward line and shattered against a large oak tree.
Suddenly, spells began to rain down on the death eaters from all directions as red-robed men and women came out of the trees firing spells that tore through the death eaters' bodies. Walden was sprayed with blood as the death eater beside him was hit in the chest with a piercing hex. Everywhere he looked, the aurors were completely overwhelming them.
Had Walden known that he was leading his men into a slaughter, he would have let them move in ahead of him. Walden did his best to shield as he tried desperately to figure a way out of this.
The aurors had set this trap under the impression Bellatrix LeStrange was leading the assault and were taking no chances. Madam Bones had already given the order to give no quarter though that could have something to do with it being her younger brother's house that the aurors were protecting.
Walden watched as the last of his twelve-man team was torn to pieces by volley after volley of piercing hexes. His focus on the battle was interrupted when he took a piercing hex to the right side of his chest. As Walden's lungs began filling with blood and he struggled to draw breath, he tried desperately to activate his emergency portkey only for nothing to happen.
Before Walden could process this a piercing hex struck him in the left temple, the force of the spell evacuating what little brain matter he had out of the right side of his head.
Within thirty seconds of the team of aurors engaging the enemy, all thirteen death eaters lay dead on the edge of Bones manor wards, all of them having been struck by multiple piercing hexes.
The warder that was trying to break through the Bones wards was still barely clinging to life, but having taken a bone breaker to his spine, he was no danger to anyone.
"Sorry mate, we have our orders," Kingsley said as he stood over the warder before directing his wand at the man's forehead and casting a piercing hex.
"All clear," Auror Savage called loudly.
"Good, get the clean-up crew out here to get this trash off of my brother's property," Madam Bones ordered.
"Yes ma'am, we'll have 'em shipped to the morgue for identification," Auror Proudfoot answered at once.
"Alright, I'm going to start processing the paperwork. Good job, all of you," Amelia said before she activated her return portkey.
'About time we hit back,' Kingsley thought to himself as he began helping his team process the bodies.
Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, London, 2/1/1996, 22:39
Tonks took her seat around the table and got comfortable. She had been thrilled when she had read the paper this morning. Amelia had taken her warning seriously and put her best squad on the case.
"Good evening now the Nymphadora is here we may begin," Dumbledore said as soon as she had taken her seat.
"Sorry Albs, I had to let Harry know there was no training this evening," Tonks said
"Not to worry, you're right on time," Albus waved her off before continuing, "we've had a very interesting few days and quite a few deaths."
"Aye, Fourteen dead at the Bones place and not one of them a Bones," Moody agreed sounding quite pleased about this
"Yes, that is the good news though I do wish they had been taken alive. We also had an unfortunate incident in the castle the night before the attack on Bones Manor," Dumbledore said in a grave tone.
"Our investigation hasn't turned up a thing, it's clear the Malfoy boy was killed somewhere else and moved to the Slytherin dormitory but finding the crime scene is like looking for a needle in a haystack in a semi-sentient building," Kingsley admitted, sounding a bit frustrated.
"What do you know?" Severus demanded of Kingsley, looking much more emotional than usual.
"The boy was killed by a bone-breaking hex to the neck, whoever killed him vanished all traces of their magical signature and used Malfoy's wand to do it so it didn't do us any good checking other students' wands," Kingsley shrugged his eyes narrowed at Snape's tone.
"I am at a loss, all signs point to a Slytherin student but we checked all of their wands and interviewed every Slytherin student n the third year and up and didn't find shit," Moody grunted.
"This is very disturbing, I am tempted to close the school until the culprit is discovered," Dumbledore confessed.
"We all know Potter did this," Snape sneered.
"And how did he find his way into the Slytherin common room?" Minerva snorted.
Snape stared at her a moment his mouth opening and closing before he scowled and looked towards Dumbledore.
"I highly doubt Harry was behind this, if it were Harry it would have been much more.. obvious," Dumbledore said with certainty.
"So on to more important matters, who did you take down at Bones Manor?" Sirius asked, ignoring the furious look on Snape shot his way.
"Walden McNair, Jess Murtaugh and a bunch of recruits barely out of their teens," Kingsley shrugged.
"You got Murtaugh?" Bill asked in surprise.
"Who's Murtaugh?" Sirius asked.
"He's a curse breaker, I worked with him in Egypt, he was bloody brilliant," Bill explained.
"He was the one breaking the Bones' wards, took a bone breaker to the back and shortly after a piercing hex to the head," Kingsley answered.
"How is Voldemort handling this turn of events?" Dumbledore asked as he glanced over at Severus.
"Shocked, the brutality the aurors used against the death eaters unsettled him. Between the botched attack on Bones Manor and one of his spies inside the Slytherin common room found murdered in his bed, the dark lord is trying to figure out what happened," Snape answered.
"Who tipped Madam Bones to the attack?" Sirius asked.
"She wouldn't say all she told me was that the tip was actionable," Kingsley answered.
"She also has assigned a team to watch over the Greengrass family property," Moody cut in.
"Which has given the dark lord pause, the Greengrass family was intended to be the next target though they were not meant to be killed," Snape admitted.
"Who has been picking these damn targets, there is no pattern to them" Sirius demanded.
"Bellatrix, she picks them and the dark lord either gives her the nod or tells her to pick another target," Snape drawled.
"Wouldn't want to be Trixie right about now," Sirius snorted.
"I believe the incident at Bones Manor may buy us a temporary reprieve from these attacks while Voldemort gets to the bottom of this," Dumbledore said thoughtfully.
"I heard something on my way out of work today that could be important," Hestia Jones said getting everyone's attention.
"What did you hear, Miss Jones?" Dumbledore asked, giving the dark-haired woman his full attention.
"There was an arrest made this afternoon in the floo regulation board. Bones learned that the floo was shut off last night and ran her own investigation," Hestia answered, looking uncomfortable with every eye in the room focusing on her.
"Who was it?" Tonks demanded.
"Grace Edgecombe, Auror Savage made the arrest just after lunch and from what I've heard, Edgecombe is being interrogated tonight under veritaserum," Jones admitted, shooting Tonks a meaningful look
"About time! I always said they had someone in transportation that was shutting off the fucking floos," Moody exclaimed.
"Madam Bones is furious, she still hasn't gotten over what happened to the Abbott girl so when she got word of the attack last night she gave us the order for no quarter," Kingsley admitted.
"I hope she does not make a habit of that," Albus sighed.
"Bellatrix LeStrange is too dangerous to try and capture. It was a miracle they were able to capture her last time and seven aurors died in that confrontation. Bones isn't going to risk her aurors trying to capture that Lunatic alive," Moody shrugged.
"Very well, is there any other news?" Dumbledore asked.
"There is, Hagrid arrived at me bar a few hours ago," Aberforth spoke up.
"That's wonderful, he's much later than I expected," Albus said looking pleased.
"Now that you mention Rubeus, I have finally got in touch with Newt Scamander. Newt has agreed to evaluate the acromantula colony after the spring thaw and begin the process of removing them from the forest," Minerva said looking pleased with herself.
"Hagrid will be most upset to hear that," Dumbledore sighed.
"He'll just have to get over," Moody snorted.
"Indeed, how has Harry been handling himself?" Dumbledore asked, glancing over at Tonks.
"He's getting better, he is finally talking about Hannah without blowing things up," Tonks shrugged.
"Good, how is he progressing in his studies?" Dumbledore pressed.
"He got apparition down pretty quickly, and I've been teaching him some spells," Tonks answered.
"What spells?" Sirius asked.
"Fulminius, incendio flagellum, and the bone-crushing curse," Tonks replied.
"Good heavens!" Molly exclaimed looking aghast.
"He needs something good up his sleeve, I doubt he would ever use them unless he had to," Tonks assured the Weasley matriarch.
"Good work, Nymphadora I have been monitoring him during his sessions with the defence group and he seems to have a gift for teaching," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling brightly.
"Why does it always revolve around that brat?" Snape sneered.
"Shut it Snivellus," Sirius scowled.
"I believe that is all for tonight please send word if you learn anything about young Mr Malfoy," Dumbledore said as he stood up.
"I doubt we'll ever learn more about that. It was probably one of those death eater brats who decided to off him for one reason or another," Moody grunted.
Moody ignored Snape's venomous glare as the greasy-haired man followed the headmaster out of the kitchen.
"I still don't know about Snape," Moody muttered as he made his way out of the kitchen followed by the other order members.
"Hang back a moment, Tonksie," Sirius said before she could get up.
Tonks stayed in her seat as the other order members left until it was just her and Sirius sitting at the table.
"What's up, Sirius?" Tonks asked the kitchen door shut behind Remus.
"It was Harry," Sirius said after casting a privacy spell over the door.
"What do you-
"Harry offed Malfoy," Sirius said cutting Tonks off.
"How do you know that?" Tonks asked nervously.
"The look on your face when Snape said Harry did it," Sirius shrugged as he summoned two bottles of butterbeer and passed one to Tonks.
"Lucky he did or the Bones' would have been killed last night," Tonks shrugged.
"So you're the one who tipped Amelia off?" Sirius asked in realisation.
"Yeah, Draco had a diary that he was using to communicate with Bellatrix kind of like those mirrors you and Harry use," Tonks said as she pulled the diary from her pocket.
"Remind me to raise Harry's allowance," Sirius said as he thumbed through the pages.
"He was pretty torn up about it but it was self-defence and I don't care enough to press this anymore. The little shit would have been marked in less than a year and from the look of this he was just as twisted as the rest of them," Tonks admitted before taking a big drink from her bottle.
"I'm not judging," Sirius said distractedly as he thumbed through the diary.
"Good, you were right by the way," Tonks said.
"About what?" Sirius asked, looking up from the diary.
"He wants to go after Bellatrix, I told him I would help him," Tonks admitted.
"Good, I would feel much better knowing you're watching his back," Sirius said.
"So would I, he's good but I don't think he's up to fighting her... yet," Tonks confessed.
"If you think about it, send me a patronus. I would gladly help put Trixie down," Sirius offered.
"I'll keep that in mind," Tonks said as she finished her butterbeer and stood up.
"Be careful out there," Sirius said.
"I always am," Tonks assured him.
Tonks left the kitchen noticing Remus trying to catch her eye in the entrance hall. She pretended she didn't notice before she quickly stepped out the front door and out into the cold January night.
Eight months ago she would have been thrilled to get Remus' attention now she didn't find him near as appealing for some reason.
She couldn't deny that she already had feelings for someone else, she knew her mother was right. She had started developing feelings for Harry, hell if she were being honest with herself she had been having those feelings for months but she had been lying to herself.
Tonks turned on the spot apparating away never noticing the figure hidden in the shadows observing the headquarters to the order of the phoenix from across the street.
Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire, 2/1/1996, 23:29
Voldemort sat at the head of the table in the main dining room of Malfoy manor as his death eaters took their seats.
The recent failure at the Bones' made him realize that things had to change, they were suffering too many losses of late. The recruits were always somewhat expendable but so far they had lost thirty death eaters, plus five inner circle members due to botched attacks. He was just lucky McNair had already gotten the alliance with the giants or his death would have been a catastrophe.
"Corban, what do you know about the Bones incident?" Voldemort demanded.
"Bones was tipped off to the attack, our people walked into an ambush, my lord," Yaxley answered nervously.
"I am aware of that, Corban. What I want to know is who tipped them off. Bellatrix was the only one who knew about the Bones attack until I ordered the Mcnair to take a team there yesterday evening," Voldemort said testily.
"S-she r-received a patronus message from an outside source," Corban stammered.
"Bellatrix, did you tell anyone other than me about our plans to attack the Bones'?" Voldemort demanded.
"Just Draco, I told him I was going to make them pay for hurting him," Bellatrix admitted in a soft childlike voice.
"The same Draco that was killed the night before the attack?" Voldemort asked evenly.
"Y-yes my lord," Bellatrix stammered.
"The same Draco who was the reason you were not on the mission to Bones Manor?" Voldemort hissed in fury.
"Y-yes my lord," Bellatrix whispered.
"Bellatrix, I am going to give you one chance to redeem yourself, if you fail I am going to kill your sister and make you watch, do you understand?" Voldemort asked in a voice of forced calm.
"Yes, I will do anything, my lord. Bella will not fail you again," Bellatrix said sounding fearful.
"I want you to go to Azkaban and bring your brother-in-law home, then I want you to free all of my imprisoned servants," Voldemort ordered.
"It will be done, master," Bellatrix promised.
"Then I want you to lay the prison to the ground. It is time the ministry learns the consequences of standing in our way," Voldemort ordered.
"I will start planning immediately, my lord," Bellatrix promised.
"It goes without saying that this information is not to leave this room," Voldemort said as he looked around the room making eye contact with each death eater in turn to enforce the seriousness of the order.
"My lord, I learned tonight that Madam Edgecombe was arrested today," Severus said.
"Are you certain of this?" Voldemort asked looking at Snape sharply.
"Yes my lord, it was brought to Dumbledore's attention by a ministry employee at the order meeting tonight," Snape replied.
"How much does she know, Corban?" Voldemort demanded as he looked over at the blond man.
"Nothing of importance, I merely pay her to turn off the floos but I never give her information as to why, my lord," Yaxley assured him.
"It would still be best if she never made it to interrogation, your position in the ministry is crucial, especially after the loss of Walden," Voldemort said after some thought.
"That might be a problem, she is being interrogated tonight," Snape said knowing what was going to happen and trying to prepare himself for it.
"CRUCIO!" Voldemort roared, hitting snape in the chest with the twisting red curse.
Snape slid out of his chair letting out a blood-curdling scream as he flailed around trying desperately to escape the horrific pain. Snape bit his tongue as the pain intensified, giving his screams a gurgling quality as Voldemort continued to hold him under the curse.
After what felt like an eternity but was actually only a few minutes, the curse was lifted and Severus lay on the floor gasping in deep lungfuls of air.
"It's not nice to withhold information, Severus," Voldemort said in a scolding tone.
"Y-yes m-master," Snape stuttered out as he shakily got to his feet, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.
"You cannot go into ministry if you are captured you would compromise our plans. I still wish for you to kill the Edgecombe woman so figure out a way to engineer her death or suffer my displeasure," Voldemort instructed as he did his best to contain his fury at the loss of yet another ministry spy.
"It will be done, my lord," Corban promised.
"Amycus, have you prepared your lands for the giants' arrival?" Voldemort asked.
"I have, they should be more than comfortable when they get here, my lord," Amycus assured.
"Good, then I believe you all may leave," Voldemort said in dismissal.
The room emptied in short order, no one wanting to be the last person in the room with a very agitated dark lord.
Severus hurried from the room as fast as his sore muscles would allow towards the apparition point. It seemed that the dark lord planned on escalating things rather than letting things settle as the headmaster had predicted mere hours ago.
He would have to relay these developments to Albus though he doubted there was much that could be done without compromising his position as a spy. Personally, he would be quite pleased if they did act on the information as it would give him an excuse to quit this charade.
"I couldn't get that lucky," Snape thought wryly as he turned on the spot, intent on apparating to the Hogwarts gates.
Room of Requirements, Hogwarts, 2/5/1996, 19:49
Harry waved his wand at the conjured stone disk Tonks had sent flying at him like a frisbee and transfigured it into a metal boomerang and guided it back towards her
Tonks transfigured the boomerang into a small boulder and sent it flying through the air, aiming it at his chest.
Harry waved his wand again, transfiguring the rock into a flock of birds and sent them zooming back towards her.
Tonks flicked her wand, hastily transfiguring the flock of birds into a boar. The boar hit the ground running before it turned on the spot and charged back at Harry.
Harry twirled his wand before jabbing it forward, sending a trio of daggers flying from the tip of his wand.
One of the daggers buried itself between the boar's eyes while the other two sliced its throat open in a scissor-like motion, spraying the floor in blood as the animal's lifeless body slid to a stop.
"That was pretty good, that spell is usually a nightmare to get right on a moving target," Tonks exclaimed, giving him an approving nod.
They had been practising Transfiguration duels, they could only fight each with transfiguration spells which was much more difficult than he thought it would be.
Tonks had started focusing on his magical knowledge now that he had the fundamentals of duelling down. Transfiguration was a valuable tool in a prolonged fight as you could turn the terrain against your enemy and use your magic to overpower your opponents effectively using their own spells against them.
"That spell came from the Black spell book," Harry admitted as the boar slowly began to vanish as the Transfiguration wore off.
"I know, I've tried that spell a couple of times myself," Tonks grinned.
"So I've decided we can go to muggle London the Saturday after next, Jumanji is playing and from the poster, it looks pretty neat," Tonks said as a couch appeared behind her and she plopped down on it.
Harry watched in amusement as the room reformed around them to where it looked like a common room with a fireplace in front of the couch, plush bubblegum pink carpet on the floor and tapestries covering the walls depicting various scenes from The Quibbler articles.
"So are we calling it a day on the training, then Harry asked as he sat down on the other end of the couch.
" Yep, I'm exhausted," Tonks said as she kicked off her heavy boots and put her feet up on the coffee table.
"So what's up with the order?" Harry asked knowing they had a meeting two days ago.
"Not much, an muggle born under the imperius curse was caught trying to kill Grace Edgecombe last night," Tonks said as she glanced over at him.
"Who is Grace Edgecombe?" Harry asked as the couch seemed to shrink underneath them so that it was the size of a small loveseat.
Harry couldn't fight the smile, he and Tonks were sitting very close and he put his arm over her shoulder without much thought, enjoying the feeling of her body pressing against his.
"Grace Edgecombe is responsible for turning off the floo to houses under attack by death eaters," Tonks said as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"Like what happened at the Abbotts?" Harry asked.
"And the cattermoles," Tonks nodded.
"They should have let him kill her," Harry muttered.
"No arguments there, she was costing people their lives for a couple of galleons in her pocket," Tonks scowled.
"Explains why Cho Chang's friend is in such a foul mood," Harry muttered.
"Yep, She's a little bitch from what I hear," Tonks snorted.
"I know, she was part of the group of girls that were stealing Luna's clothes until the room started getting them back for her," Harry admitted.
"That was you?" Tonks exclaimed.
"Yeah, Ron was hoping they kept stealing Luna's clothes for the rest of the year," Harry chuckled.
"I'll bet he did," Tonks sighed.
Harry sat there listening to the crackling of the fire, letting himself really relax for the first time that day.
"Are you going to start dating again?" Tonks asked pulling Harry back to the present.
"I'm going on a date the Saturday after next," Harry pointed out.
"You know what I mean," Tonks said, giving him a pointed look.
"No, probably not," Harry admitted.
"Why not, there are plenty of girls around this place that like you," Tonks said looking up at him.
"I'm not looking for another relationship," Harry shrugged.
"Because of what happened to Hannah? That wasn't your fault," Tonks said looking at him with an intensity that made his heart speed up.
"I know what happened to Hannah wasn't my fault but I don't want to risk some girl getting hurt because they got involved with me," Harry answered looking away frm her.
"You can't let them stop you from living your life," Tonks whispered.
"I don't think I'm ready to date anyway," Harry said.
"If you're sure, I think Luna may have a crush on you," Tonks teased
"I love her to death but she gives me a headache," Harry snorted.
"I get that," Tonks snorted as she snuggled into him.
"How come you don't date?" Harry asked changing the subject..
"Because men are pigs," Tonks muttered.
"The metamorph thing?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, once they learned I can make my tits bigger on cue, I had blokes tripping over themselves to try and get me in a broom closet," Tonks scowed.
"Yeah I think Seamus would faint if he knew there were girls that could do that," Harry snorted.
"Well Bones has plenty in that department though I pity him if he ever steps out on her," Tonks said.
They both lapsed into silence again as the chandeliers overhead were extinguished so that the only light in the room came from the fireplace flickering merrily in the grate.
"Can we have another sleepover?" Tonks asked hopefully.
"I guess," Harry shrugged.
"Thanks, I always sleep better when we fall asleep in here," Tonks admitted as she got up and made her way to a door that had just appeared in the wall.
They had fallen asleep in here a few times since that first incident and Harry would have to agree with her, he always slept better with Tonks cuddled up next to him.
Ten minutes later Harry had changed into his pyjamas and had started knocking out his homework while Tonks took a shower.
Homework for defence took a little more effort now that Dumbledore was giving them real assignments but it wasn't very difficult considering how far ahead the D.A was. He had already knocked out his potions essay before dinner so the only thing he had left was his essay on history of magic.
He was just letting his homework for defence dry and had started going over his notes from history of magic when the bathroom door opened. Harry couldn't help but stare as Tonks stepped out of the bathroom wearing a long Weird Sisters tee shirt. Her tee shirt only came about halfway down her thigh and her hair was still damp from her shower, if that wasn't enough it was fairly obvious she wasn't wearing a bra under her shirt.
"Bloody hell, Tonks," Harry muttered.
"What?" Tonks as she took a seat beside him, her bare leg pressing into his.
"Nothing," Harry said, quickly looking away from her chest.
"No, what is it?" Tonks pressed.
"You're wearing that to sleep in?" Harry asked his cheeks feeling hot all of a sudden.
"Yeah, it's comfortable, sorry if I didn't have any sexy lingerie handy," Tonks snorted.
"Your dressed plenty sexy enough," Harry said before he thought about what he was saying.
"Thanks, Potter but if you get handsy, I'll break 'em off," Tonks warned, her hair shifting to an orange colour.
"I never get handsy" Harry defended as Tonks leaned against him.
"Good, what are you working on?" Tonks asked as she tucked her feet underneath her.
"The giant wars of seventeen sixteen," Harry sighed.
"I hate that class, I hated it the first time and I despise sitting through it a second time," Tonks ranted.
"Yeah, I wouldn't want to take it twice," Harry muttered.
I wonder if the room can get us anything from the kitchens?" Tonks wandered before concentrating hard on what she wanted, only for nothing to happen.
"Damn!"
"I may have a solution," Harry offered.
"Well go on then," Tonks ordered, looking at him expectantly.
"Dobby," Harry called out tentatively, half-expecting nothing to happen.
'Pop'
"Master Harry Potter sir calls for Dobby?" The very oddly dressed elf asked excitedly.
"I did, could you get Tonks something from the kitchen, please?" Harry asked hopefully.
"Yes master Harry Potter sir, I be's glad to get Harry Potter sir's Tonky something from the kitchens," Dobby agreed at once.
"I was just wanting some chocolate cake and a glass of milk please," Tonks asked, looking to be fighting not to laugh.
"Oh, could you get me the same?" Harry asked, suddenly craving a piece of chocolate cake himself.
"At once," Dobby exclaimed before he vanished and reappeared less than a second later with a small chocolate cake, a pitcher of milk, glasses, plates, and utensils hovering in front of him.
Harry watched as Dobby gracefully hovered the food onto the coffee table with a snap of his fingers.
"Is that all you's be needing master Harry Potter sir?" Dobby asked as he snapped his fingers again and all f Harry's school supplies zoomed back into his school bag.
"Yes Dobby, thank you very much," Harry said appreciatively as the smell of chocolate filled the room.
"I's be needed in the kitchens but Dobby was glad to help the great Harry Potter," Dobby exclaimed before disappearing with a soft 'pop.'
"He's a strange one," Tonks muttered as she leaned over the coffee table to fix herself some cake.
"He's a bit odd but he's loyal. Just be careful when he tries to save your life," Harry chuckled.
"There's a story there," Tonks grinned as she plated two big slices of cake.
"Yeah, he used to be the Malfoy elf," Harry explained as he accepted the slice of cake Tonks offered him.
As they ate, Harry told her the story of his first encounter with Dobby and the elf's attempts to save his life.
By the time they had finished their desert they were both laughing uproariously when he retold the story of the rogue bludger.
"So that's why Lockhart vanished the bones in your arm?" Tonks giggled.
"Yeah, that was awful," Harry shuddered as he set his plate on the coffee table only for it to vanish along with the empty cake platter.
"I'm still getting over the fact you tricked Lucius Malfoy into freeing him," Tonks guffawed as she set her own plate down.
"The fucker tried to cast the killing curse on me for that but Dobby knocked him on his ass," Harry chuckled.
"I wish I could have seen that," Tonks yawned as the loveseat transformed into a four-poster bed underneath them so that they were sitting on the end of the bed.
"This room is something else," Tonks muttered as she stood up and stretched her arms over her head, causing the hem of her shirt to ride up her thighs.
"It does seem to almost read your mind because I'm getting pretty sleepy," Harry admitted distractedly as he watched her walk around to the right side of the bed.
"Then let's go to bed," Tonks said as she pulled the covers back and climbed into bed.
As Harry lay down and Tonks snuggled up to him, he couldn't help but think he could get used to falling asleep like this every night.
Sunny JS: The easy question first, My favourite version of Harry Potter from any of my fics is the one From Lavender Moon. But that is my favourite story so I may be biased there.
If we set the age at seventeen when the characters in the two completed AU stories hit their peak, then Harry from A Different way Forward is probably the most powerful magically. Both Reaper Harrys were basically canon at Seventeen and Lavender Moon Harry was embracing the wolf and wasn't concerned with wizardly things.