Chapter 22
"Hermione, lets take a break already," said Ron pleadingly. "I'm
exhausted."
"Oh, honestly Ron, you haven't done anything, Harry here is doing all of the work and he's not complaining," said Hermione exasperatedly.
"Ah, Hermione, that's because he's asleep," said Sarah while trying to hide her grin.
"What?" Said Hermione as she turned to see Harry's head lying on an open book pertaining to blocking spells she had laid in front of him earlier.
"I guess McGonagall's tutoring sessions are harder then I thought. Did anyone think to ask him how they are going?" Asked Hermione.
"Yeah, He says they are going fine, and that he is almost able to transfigure an object into a phoenix. For some reason that's the animal he is most keen on learning to conjure," said Sarah.
"Well of course it is, Faukes, Dumbledore's phoenix, has helped Harry out several times when he has been in danger," said Hermione proudly.
"Well maybe we should call it a night, I ne. Harry needs his sleep. Besides it's Friday and Harry told me Tonks wanted him to meet her in Hogsmead tomorrow. Apparently she wants Harry to have a little fun and try to get his mind off all the bad things that are happening. You don't want him looking exhausted when he sees her tomorrow now do you?" Asked Ron.
"No, of course not, I would never want Harry to lose any more sleep then he already does," said Hermione. "I just want him to be ready, you know, for when the time comes."
"We all do Hermione, but now we all need some sleep so I am going to bed," said Ron.
"But what about Harry?" Asked Sarah.
"What about him?" Asked Ron confused.
"You can't just leave him here Ron," said Hermione.
"Why not, he's already asleep. I envy him right about now," said Ron with a sigh as both girls stared him down.
"Alright, fine, you two go on up and I'll figure out a way to get him to our dorm," said Ron.
"Knew you would see it our way," said Hermione brightly as both girls walked towards their own dorm room. ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
The next morning Harry awoke in the middle of the Gryffindor Common Room to a load of ogling first years and a very stiff neck.
"Hi," said a first year girl with blonde plaited hair shyly as Harry sat up slowly.
"Hello," said Harry as he tried to rub out the crick in his neck. "What's your name?"
"Kelly," said the girl brightening immensely from the attention Harry was paying her while the other first years looked on jealously.
"Well Kelly, do you know if Ron, Hermione, or Sarah are still here or have they already gone down to breakfast?" Asked Harry.
"Is that the people you are always with?" asked Kelly.
"Yep, that would be them. Lively crew don't you think?" Asked Harry getting giggles from all the first years.
"He doesn't look very lively now does he?" Asked Kelly as she motioned in the direction of the boy's staircase.
"Never fully does unless it pertains to food or Quidditch," said Harry as he smiled and bid Kelly and the other first years goodbye.
"Hey Ron, what did you leave me down here for all night? I think my neck would have appreciated a pillow instead of a book. I'm not Hermione you know," said Harry indignantly.
"Don't know," said Ron with a smile. "Just don't tell Hermione or it will be my head."
"Don't tell me what," said Hermione as she and Sarah walked up behind Ron.
"Huh, oh, Ron left me down here all night and he told me not to tell you," said Harry with a smirk in Ron's direction knowing full well that Hermione was about to blow a fuse.
"RON!" Shouted Hermione.
"Wanker!" Hissed Ron as Harry and Sarah burst out laughing.
"Deserved it," Said Harry smiling.
"Did not!" Mumbled Ron
"Ron I can't believe you sometimes you know that!" said Hermione.
"I've been told, anyway, I'm hungry," said Ron. "Lets go get some food, you can complain then."
After the four had a quick breakfast Harry bid the others goodbye as he departed for his meeting with Tonks.
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"Hey Tonks, I thought you wasn't going to make it there for a little bit," said Harry as Tonks walked over and plopped herself down quite ungracefully beside Harry. "What took you so long?"
"Hey love, just got tangled up in a bit of unimportant stuff. Unavoidable really," said Tonks as she ruffled his hair.
"I wish you wouldn't do that, I have a time with it as it is," said Harry as he glared lightly at her.
"Ah, did poor little Potter wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning," said Tonks cheerily.
"Nah, it was a coffee table," said Harry.
"Hah, been there before," said Tonks.
"So what did you want to meet me for?" Asked Harry.
"Nothing really, just wanted to see you, and check to see how things are going with everything. You know like school, Quidditch, girls, and how you're sleeping," said Tonks.
"Great, wonderful, Sarah's fine, and never better," said Harry.
"That's not what I meant and you know it!" said Tonks snapping at him lightly.
"Easy Tonks," said Harry.
"Don't tell me to take it easy, you haven't written to me in over," Tonks said while ticking off days on her fingers. "Two bloody weeks."
It was true, with all of the studying and training he had been doing with the others, writing to Tonks and Remus had completely slipped his mind. "Listen if you are mad at me for some ungodly reason then you best tell me now before I really let you have it," said Tonks angrily.
"I'm sorry Tonks, it's just, I've been rather busy with school. You know I got finals coming up pretty soon and well it kind of slipped my mind. Besides," said Harry narrowing his eyes. "You haven't written to me either. You think you're the only one that worries. I spend half my time wondering when I'm going to lose someone else I love, so don't get all nippy at me, your just as much to blame as I am," said Harry hotly.
Now it was Tonks turn to squirm under Harry fierce glare. "Sorry sweetie, I know it's rough on you, it's just I had got in a patter of writing after I got a letter from you, and got kind of pissy whey you hadn't written in so long. It's a women thing I can assure you," she said smiling wanly over at him.
"It's all right, I'm sorry too," said Harry dropping the hateful glare to smile brightly at her.
"Well then now that that's settled, lets go have some fun," Tonks said pulling Harry from his seat and heading for the door.
"What you got planned?" Asked Harry as they walked out into the bright morning sun.
"You know me, I don't plan things, I just go wherever my feet take me," said Tonks happily.
"Well then you might want to let go of my hand, your feet tend to make you see the ground far to much for my liking," said Harry.
"Watch it Potter, and just for the wise crack, your just going to have to hold my hand the entire time," said Tonks. ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ````````````````````````````````
"Harry that's the most fun I've had in years, it's to bad you got to head back now," said Tonks as the two of them walked back up the cobble road towards Hogwarts as the sun began to set over Hogwarts.
"Tonks, thanks for doing this, I haven't really been aloud to leave Hogwarts with out a lot of people around me the entire time," said Harry.
"It was nothing really," said Tonks.
"How did you manage to let Moody and Dumbledore let you spend the day with me alone anyway. Not that I mind in the least, actually this has been one of the best treats you could have possibly given me, I'm just curious," said Harry.
"I'll tell you if you promise not to get mad at me," said Tonks not quite meeting his gaze.
"What," said Harry stopping to face Tonks.
"Sweetie, we haven't been alone since we left the Three Broomsticks, that's why I was so late. I had to go over with Moody exactly where we were planning on going and when. We've been followed by several people the whole day," said Tonks as she watched Harry's face lose its once happy appearance.
Harry gave her a quick nod and continued to walk back towards Hogwarts leaving Tonks to catch up with his fast pace.
"Hun, slow down, please. I knew you would be upset, that's why I didn't tell you to begin with," said Tonks as she hurried to catch up with him. "It's for your own protection you know," she added as an afterthought.
"I'm not mad at you Tonks, I'm touched that you went through all the trouble so that I could have some fun, it's just not the same when you know you're being watched the whole time," said Harry with a sigh. "I just thought for once I wasn't having every move I made watched by others."
"I know it must be rough, but at least it's with people you know," said Tonks.
"Yeah, well lets see how you like it if someone is watching your every move," said Harry testily before he quickly apologized for snapping at Tonks again. "I just don't think I can take my whole life being like this."
The rest of the walk was met with silence until they approached the front entrance. "You know Harry, it won't always be like this," said Tonks as she hugged him goodbye.
"No the odds are not favoring me there," whispered Harry in her ear before smiling lightly at Tonks and then turning to head through the front doors of Hogwarts.
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Well there you have it. I know it's rather short for the length of time it has taken me to get this chapter out, but what can you do with tests bearing down on you. Thank you for your understanding and the next chapter is already started. I was going to put them both together, but I kind of liked Harry's last line to Tonks and decided to end it here. So until next Saturday have fun and stay safe.
"Hermione, lets take a break already," said Ron pleadingly. "I'm
exhausted."
"Oh, honestly Ron, you haven't done anything, Harry here is doing all of the work and he's not complaining," said Hermione exasperatedly.
"Ah, Hermione, that's because he's asleep," said Sarah while trying to hide her grin.
"What?" Said Hermione as she turned to see Harry's head lying on an open book pertaining to blocking spells she had laid in front of him earlier.
"I guess McGonagall's tutoring sessions are harder then I thought. Did anyone think to ask him how they are going?" Asked Hermione.
"Yeah, He says they are going fine, and that he is almost able to transfigure an object into a phoenix. For some reason that's the animal he is most keen on learning to conjure," said Sarah.
"Well of course it is, Faukes, Dumbledore's phoenix, has helped Harry out several times when he has been in danger," said Hermione proudly.
"Well maybe we should call it a night, I ne. Harry needs his sleep. Besides it's Friday and Harry told me Tonks wanted him to meet her in Hogsmead tomorrow. Apparently she wants Harry to have a little fun and try to get his mind off all the bad things that are happening. You don't want him looking exhausted when he sees her tomorrow now do you?" Asked Ron.
"No, of course not, I would never want Harry to lose any more sleep then he already does," said Hermione. "I just want him to be ready, you know, for when the time comes."
"We all do Hermione, but now we all need some sleep so I am going to bed," said Ron.
"But what about Harry?" Asked Sarah.
"What about him?" Asked Ron confused.
"You can't just leave him here Ron," said Hermione.
"Why not, he's already asleep. I envy him right about now," said Ron with a sigh as both girls stared him down.
"Alright, fine, you two go on up and I'll figure out a way to get him to our dorm," said Ron.
"Knew you would see it our way," said Hermione brightly as both girls walked towards their own dorm room. ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
The next morning Harry awoke in the middle of the Gryffindor Common Room to a load of ogling first years and a very stiff neck.
"Hi," said a first year girl with blonde plaited hair shyly as Harry sat up slowly.
"Hello," said Harry as he tried to rub out the crick in his neck. "What's your name?"
"Kelly," said the girl brightening immensely from the attention Harry was paying her while the other first years looked on jealously.
"Well Kelly, do you know if Ron, Hermione, or Sarah are still here or have they already gone down to breakfast?" Asked Harry.
"Is that the people you are always with?" asked Kelly.
"Yep, that would be them. Lively crew don't you think?" Asked Harry getting giggles from all the first years.
"He doesn't look very lively now does he?" Asked Kelly as she motioned in the direction of the boy's staircase.
"Never fully does unless it pertains to food or Quidditch," said Harry as he smiled and bid Kelly and the other first years goodbye.
"Hey Ron, what did you leave me down here for all night? I think my neck would have appreciated a pillow instead of a book. I'm not Hermione you know," said Harry indignantly.
"Don't know," said Ron with a smile. "Just don't tell Hermione or it will be my head."
"Don't tell me what," said Hermione as she and Sarah walked up behind Ron.
"Huh, oh, Ron left me down here all night and he told me not to tell you," said Harry with a smirk in Ron's direction knowing full well that Hermione was about to blow a fuse.
"RON!" Shouted Hermione.
"Wanker!" Hissed Ron as Harry and Sarah burst out laughing.
"Deserved it," Said Harry smiling.
"Did not!" Mumbled Ron
"Ron I can't believe you sometimes you know that!" said Hermione.
"I've been told, anyway, I'm hungry," said Ron. "Lets go get some food, you can complain then."
After the four had a quick breakfast Harry bid the others goodbye as he departed for his meeting with Tonks.
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"Hey Tonks, I thought you wasn't going to make it there for a little bit," said Harry as Tonks walked over and plopped herself down quite ungracefully beside Harry. "What took you so long?"
"Hey love, just got tangled up in a bit of unimportant stuff. Unavoidable really," said Tonks as she ruffled his hair.
"I wish you wouldn't do that, I have a time with it as it is," said Harry as he glared lightly at her.
"Ah, did poor little Potter wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning," said Tonks cheerily.
"Nah, it was a coffee table," said Harry.
"Hah, been there before," said Tonks.
"So what did you want to meet me for?" Asked Harry.
"Nothing really, just wanted to see you, and check to see how things are going with everything. You know like school, Quidditch, girls, and how you're sleeping," said Tonks.
"Great, wonderful, Sarah's fine, and never better," said Harry.
"That's not what I meant and you know it!" said Tonks snapping at him lightly.
"Easy Tonks," said Harry.
"Don't tell me to take it easy, you haven't written to me in over," Tonks said while ticking off days on her fingers. "Two bloody weeks."
It was true, with all of the studying and training he had been doing with the others, writing to Tonks and Remus had completely slipped his mind. "Listen if you are mad at me for some ungodly reason then you best tell me now before I really let you have it," said Tonks angrily.
"I'm sorry Tonks, it's just, I've been rather busy with school. You know I got finals coming up pretty soon and well it kind of slipped my mind. Besides," said Harry narrowing his eyes. "You haven't written to me either. You think you're the only one that worries. I spend half my time wondering when I'm going to lose someone else I love, so don't get all nippy at me, your just as much to blame as I am," said Harry hotly.
Now it was Tonks turn to squirm under Harry fierce glare. "Sorry sweetie, I know it's rough on you, it's just I had got in a patter of writing after I got a letter from you, and got kind of pissy whey you hadn't written in so long. It's a women thing I can assure you," she said smiling wanly over at him.
"It's all right, I'm sorry too," said Harry dropping the hateful glare to smile brightly at her.
"Well then now that that's settled, lets go have some fun," Tonks said pulling Harry from his seat and heading for the door.
"What you got planned?" Asked Harry as they walked out into the bright morning sun.
"You know me, I don't plan things, I just go wherever my feet take me," said Tonks happily.
"Well then you might want to let go of my hand, your feet tend to make you see the ground far to much for my liking," said Harry.
"Watch it Potter, and just for the wise crack, your just going to have to hold my hand the entire time," said Tonks. ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ````````````````````````````````
"Harry that's the most fun I've had in years, it's to bad you got to head back now," said Tonks as the two of them walked back up the cobble road towards Hogwarts as the sun began to set over Hogwarts.
"Tonks, thanks for doing this, I haven't really been aloud to leave Hogwarts with out a lot of people around me the entire time," said Harry.
"It was nothing really," said Tonks.
"How did you manage to let Moody and Dumbledore let you spend the day with me alone anyway. Not that I mind in the least, actually this has been one of the best treats you could have possibly given me, I'm just curious," said Harry.
"I'll tell you if you promise not to get mad at me," said Tonks not quite meeting his gaze.
"What," said Harry stopping to face Tonks.
"Sweetie, we haven't been alone since we left the Three Broomsticks, that's why I was so late. I had to go over with Moody exactly where we were planning on going and when. We've been followed by several people the whole day," said Tonks as she watched Harry's face lose its once happy appearance.
Harry gave her a quick nod and continued to walk back towards Hogwarts leaving Tonks to catch up with his fast pace.
"Hun, slow down, please. I knew you would be upset, that's why I didn't tell you to begin with," said Tonks as she hurried to catch up with him. "It's for your own protection you know," she added as an afterthought.
"I'm not mad at you Tonks, I'm touched that you went through all the trouble so that I could have some fun, it's just not the same when you know you're being watched the whole time," said Harry with a sigh. "I just thought for once I wasn't having every move I made watched by others."
"I know it must be rough, but at least it's with people you know," said Tonks.
"Yeah, well lets see how you like it if someone is watching your every move," said Harry testily before he quickly apologized for snapping at Tonks again. "I just don't think I can take my whole life being like this."
The rest of the walk was met with silence until they approached the front entrance. "You know Harry, it won't always be like this," said Tonks as she hugged him goodbye.
"No the odds are not favoring me there," whispered Harry in her ear before smiling lightly at Tonks and then turning to head through the front doors of Hogwarts.
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Well there you have it. I know it's rather short for the length of time it has taken me to get this chapter out, but what can you do with tests bearing down on you. Thank you for your understanding and the next chapter is already started. I was going to put them both together, but I kind of liked Harry's last line to Tonks and decided to end it here. So until next Saturday have fun and stay safe.