CHAPTER THREE!!!!!!!!!!!
THANK YOU TO:
kneh13- I'm glad you find it interesting. Thanks for reading! (And reviewing)
COOLINSANEDUDE- Ah! Great name. Tis fun to be insane. I am glad you like my story. As for more fluff give me some time! It was only the second chapter! Thanks!
Tamsy, Daine+Lilac (to lazy to login)- *hands a cookie* Here it is! I made it especially for you! lol. Orlando is HOT! Yum. He's a good actor as well. You should DEFIANTLY see the movie. I mean, C'mon! Anything with Orli in it has got to rock. I'm glad you think my story is good. And as for not thinking I was a good writer it's all the fault of REALLY good writers like J.K. Rowling who are just so good that they make people like me look bad. I should sue.
MandaB- Why thank you! I was rather proud of it. I hope it will continue being a story that you will read! THANKS!
jenjen5- I like the Tonks and Harry ship. I think it seems like a fun believable ship. Here's your ice cream and cookie!
Foxachick- Why thank you! *takes a bow*
Der- You rock! Thank you for voicing my own thoughts! People never seem to car4e in the girl is underage and it bugs me! Grr... But I love all my reviewers all the same. And I am SO glad you think I'm an outstanding author. That made me feel really good about myself. In conclusion: You rock. 'nough said.
Ix Kara xI- Ah! Well you're special so you get an ice cream sundae! *hands it out* It has a nice cherry on top just for you. I thought it would be quite amusing for dear Snape to have a little crush on our Tonks. Hehehe.
ChrismKing208- Oh. Sorry for making you sick. I just LURVE Orlando v. much! Hehe. Yeah, the last line was cheesy but you have to have a little cheesyness in a story or it's no fun! Thanks!!!
JoeBob1397- GREAT movie! Mmmmm... I'm glad you like it!!!! And your name has Bob in it! My sn and email addie have HannahBob in it. It's my nick-name but for the most part people don't call me Hannah anymore. Just Bob! Hehehe. Thanks for reviewing!
Slacker- I agree with you. My parents are seven years apart. Snape is a heck of a lot older than Tonks. I think that the main reason people are so astounded by this ship is the fact that the girl is the older one. Just a thought, I could be wrong. Anyway, thanks a ton for reading and reviewing!
Savv- SAVVY! CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW! Be you the Savvy I like to call Cubed? Or someone else? Anyway, thanks a bunch and I am continuing... Uh... Now!
Speaky- SPEAKY! I lurve you! I will update but only if you do to! lol, hard deal there. Anyway, thanks!
Warbl365- I'm glad you like this story. I have to say I read Changing Faces and felt V. ashamed of my humble little Honks fic. That one is just so good!
Achilles- Thank you! I really like the Tonks/Harry ship. It's different and fun! Thanks!
iiiwildfireiii- Your fic is so good! Thanks you so much for reading mine! You rock socks! Thank you very much. I like getting A's. Makes me all happy! And I update just for you! Hehe. THANK YOU!
CR- Harry went to the beach in book one? When? Ohhh... When they were out on the rock island thingy. Well, I seem to have forgotten that. Oops. I always kinda thought that it was a lake they went to but I guess that doesn't make sense since there were waves. Well, then I just suck. Oh well... How could one NOT love PotC? I thought it was wonderful! Johnny Depp was so cool!
Raven- Why thank you! And I am afraid to say that you are wrong! He is suppose to be kissing me! *giggles* My favorite line in the movie is: " And Will... Nice hat."
Daner- Ok! Here it is!
Legacy(FD)x- Ok! I'll update... NOW!
linky2- *bumps back* Hehe. Thanks for reviewing. And bumping!
Ok, well, I think that I got all of you. Thank you so much! Do you realize that in two chapters I have 50 reviews? That is so cool! I love you all so much!
Disclaimer: *giggles* I read in the paper that J.K. Rowling is richer than the queen of England. If I was richer than the queen I would have a faster Internet.
AN- I am kinda borrowing the way Harry is going to learn to meditate from my dear friend Mrs. Tamora Pierce. So... Yeah, don't sue me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" The beach?" Harry asked and pulled his hands slowly away from Tonks. " I dunno. I need to get back to the Dursleys soon. Aunt Pentunia will freak if I'm not." Tonks looked impatient and said,
" We'll let her know that you are going to be somewhat late in coming home today."
" Not home." Harry said automatically. Tonks looked confused and said,
" What?"
Harry mumbled,
" It's not home. The Dursley's..." He trailed off and Tonks put out a hand as if to touch him but seemed to think better of it and said softly,
" Where is home, Harry?" Harry shrugged and after a tense minute Harry broke the silence.
" Uhm... Are we going to go tell Aunt Petunia?" Tonks nodded and gestured for Harry to follow her. She went into the kitchen.
" Arabella? I'm just letting you know that I'm leaving and so is Harry." Mrs. Figg looked around quickly and pleaded,
" Won't you stay for one cup of tea with me?" But Tonks shook her head. She said,
" Dumbledore said it was very important for him to start learning this as soon as he can. But I'll take a rain check." She said with a kind smile. Ms. Figg nodded and went about feeding her cats.
" So, Harry. Since you can't Apparate we'll have to travel Muggle style, I'm afraid. Only way we can without the Ministry having a cow. But first we need to go see your Aunt." Tonks said. Harry nodded and they walked to the front door. Harry glanced at Tonks from the side of his eyes.
" Uhm... Tonks?" He said in a tentative voice. She looked at him inquiringly and he said,
" Well, my Aunt and Uncle are... Not very fond of our kind. And the robes..." Tonks looked confused for a minute then said,
" Oh! I forgot. I'll be right back."
Harry waited in the foyer for Tonks and thought about his lessons with Snape. They had brought back things he didn't want to remember.
Harry thought about his talk with Nick, the ghost of Gryffindor House.
" He will not come back," Nick had said to him. " He will have... gone on."
Harry knew in his heart that Sirius would not come back. And yet... A tear that had come to his eye unbeknownst to Harry trickled down his cheek.
He thought of when he had thought Sirius was a killer. If it had not been for Wormtail his parents would be alive and even more important: Sirius would be alive. Harry had never known his parents that he remembered, but he had loved Sirius.
And now he regretted the fact that he had never had a chance to tell him.
H remembered telling Sirius and Lupin to leave Wormtail alive. To not kill him. And because of that, Sirius was dead. If Wormtail had not gone free then Voldemort would have never risen again. And Sirius would be alive, maybe even have his named cleared. Maybe Harry would be living with him instead.
He remembered last summer, when Harry was kept from knowing anything to keep him safe and how frustrated he had been. And how Sirius seemed to be the only one that noticed. The only one that even cared. More tears leaked from Harry's green eyes and he sniffed.
He heard a floor board creak and he quickly wiped his face to find Tonks walking towards him. She had on a pair of jeans and a Blink 182 band tee-shirt. She had also changed her hair to long wavy blond.
" I remember that your Aunt seemed to be somewhat disapproving of my hair before." She said with a crooked grin. Harry was glad she had not seen him crying. Instead he put on a sunshiny smile that felt fake even to him. And said brightly,
" Let's go then." They walked in a comfortable silence to the Dursley's house. When they got there Harry opened the door and gestured for Tonks to go in first. She smiled and went into the house.
Aunt Pentunia came out of the kitchen at that moment and into the room. She stared at them then said,
" Who're you?"
Harry opened his mouth to introduce Tonks but she answered first,
" Tonks. I'm a friend of Harry's. I was just wondering if it would be all right with you if Harry went with me to the beach? We will be back by tomorrow afternoon."
Aunt Petunia looked taken aback and stammered,
" Uh... Harry would you come with me? I... Need to ask you a question." She then looked back in the kitchen and called,
" Dudley? Will you get our... Guest something to drink?" Dudley waddled out and his eyes grew large at the sight of Tonks. He glanced from her to his mother then to Harry then back to his mother again. Before he grunted which Aunt Petunia seemed to take as a "Yes".
She pulled Harry into the living room and whispered quickly and somewhat nervously,
" Wh-Who is she?" Harry gulped and said,
" Uh... Well, she's a friend of mine. A... Non-wizard." He said with his finger crossed, although he wasn't REALLY lying. She wasn't a wizard. She was a witch.
Aunt Petunia immediately seemed to un-tense and said,
" Oh... Well, in that case of course you may go but you have to be home by ten o'clock tomorrow morning. I am going to Bingo and I want to know where you are."
Harry wasn't really surprised. Aunt Petunia had been wanting Harry in her sight ever since he got back from school. Harry began to wonder if Aunt Petunia was as bad as he had always thought she was.
" I will." He said and then they walked back into the dining room to find Dudley serving Tonks a glass of ice water. Tonks had on an amused sort of face, as though she was trying not to laugh. Dudley was trying to impress Tonks. Harry could tell and had to bite his lip to keep from laughing.
Tonks smiled nicely at Dudley and thanked him which only succeeded in making Dudley blush harder than ever.
Aunt Petunia said to Tonks,
" Harry may go with you. I would like him home by 10 o'clock tomorrow at the latest." Tonks nodded and smiled cheerfully,
" I'll make sure that he is, Mrs. Dursley." Harry saw that Aunt Petunia approved of Tonks. Perhaps she was thinking that by allowing Harry to spend time with Muggles that he would become less interested in Magic.
After five more minutes where Harry packed up his things with Aunt Petunia asking everything from what Tonks real name was to what her parents did for a living (which Harry made up, having no idea what they did.) to if she was a criminal. And Dudley continued trying to impress Tonks, they left.
They walked in silence to the near by bus stop. Harry noticed Tonks glancing at him from the corner of her eye but didn't mention it. When they got to the bus stop Harry was glad to see there was no people there. He sat down on a bench and pulled a bus schedule out of his pocket.
" The bus will be here in about ten minutes, give or take." He said to Tonks who nodded and sat down next to him. Harry asked her,
" How come I've never known I was a Metamorphmagus before now. I mean, surely I would have known?"
Tonks said,
" Ah, I was wondering if you were going to ask. And for the most part I am not completely positive but I have an idea that Dumbledore agrees with.
" When your parents died, your mother passed along her strength to you. And in her blood was the blood of a Metamorphmagus. And your mother was not one herself but she did have the blood in her. When You-Know-Who's spell hit you but did not kill you, it took something from you. It took away a great deal of your own power. It leaked it away from you." Harry tried to concentrate on what Tonks was saying but his head started pounding and he felt himself slip away from consciousness. He swayed and his vision turned inward,
" Harry... Harry..." He heard vaguely in the distance. He felt his scar burn on his forehead. He heard a laugh in his mind. A laugh he recognized... A laugh...
Suddenly Harry slipped from the bench and hit the ground and snapped back into consciousness. His hearing slowly came back to him.
" Ever. Scared me. Harry. Are you ok? Harry. Don't ever do that again!" Harry looked up and saw that he was on the floor of the bus stop and Tonks was kneeling by him.
He sat up and looked at Tonks. He closed his eyes. He felt a presence lurking in the back of his mind... Waiting for him to let down his guard. Just waiting-
" Harry?" Harry opened his eyes and told the worried Tonks,
" I'm fine. I just... Was more tired from Snape's lesson than I thought." Harry didn't know why he was lying to Tonks but when he couldn't bring himself to tell her the truth.
" Go on. I'm sorry, I wasn't listening." Tonks looked unbelievingly at Harry but continued,
" As I was saying, You-Know-Who," She saw Harry roll his eyes and said, " Fine. Voldemort," She shivered, " When Voldemort hit you with the spell it sapped some of your powers. Your mothers protection kept him from taking it all but it kept away most of it from you.
" Over the years it has been slowly coming back. But only when you are most desperate or angry. Do you remember in your third year?"
Harry nodded trying to figure out where she was going with this. Tonks took a deep breath and continued,
" In your third year you came face to face with the dementors. I think I am right in saying they brought back things you would not have remembered otherwise? Such as your parents deaths.
" Dementors suck every happy thought from you and make you only see that which you would rather be forgotten. Or powers that you would not find any other circumstance. Do you see where I am going with this?" Harry held up a hand,
" Wait. You're saying the Dementors brought back my ability to be a Metamorphmagus?" Tonks nodded and before Harry could do more than open his mouth the bus pulled up. Harry paid their fare and they got onto the bus.
They rode in silence for the most part. Harry was amused to see a few young guys who looked maybe in their late teens watching Tonks who, with a sly wink to Harry tossed her long blond hair and giggling waved to fingers at the guys who blushed and looked away. Harry laughed and so did Tonks.
He looked at Tonks. He wondered what she really looked like. Then he came to a horrific thought: What if this wasn't what he really looked like? What if... It was no use what-ifing though. He saw Tonks lift an eyebrow and he realized he was staring at her. He blushed crimson and looked away.
" I never knew your parents." Tonks commented. Harry blinked and looked up at her in surprise.
" But I thought you went too school, together." Tonks shook her head and laughed,
" I'm a great deal younger than your parents would be now. When I went to Hogwarts they had already left."
Harry looked at Tonks. He had always thought he was a lot older than him. Not only a few years. It was a long drive to the ocean so when they got there the sun was beginning to get low in the sky.
They had to walk up a path over a dune to get to the water. Harry could smell the sea, he could feel the sand under his toes, and he wondered if Sirius had ever been to the ocean.
*Don't think about him* He commanded himself fiercely. Tonks reached the top of the dune, panting a little. She smiled and took a deep breath. Harry got to the top and saw the ocean for the first time.
It was beautiful. Water as far as he could see stretched before him. The sun was sinking and looked ready to fall with a splash into the depths of the dark water.
" It's amazing," He mumbled. He looked over at Tonks and saw that she had her eyes closed and her head leaned back as if you soak up the spray from the water crashing on the rocks. Harry stared at her, she was different. She seemed... Alive.
They slid down the dune to a small deserted beach. Tonks lit a fire with her magic and motioned for Harry to sit down. He did so a Tonks plunked down next to him. She waggled her toes in the sand and smiled. Harry glanced at her. She smiled wistfully at the ocean then looked at Harry, her smile changed slightly.
" So Harry. Do you see the waves? How they come up and then sink back to join the rest of the water?" Harry nodded and looked at the ocean again.
" I want you to breath with the waves. In..." The water rushed in a crashed upon the hard rocks. " Out..." The water flowed out back to the deep ocean. Harry felt himself get calm and focus only on the pounding of the ocean on the rocks and Tonks voice guiding him.
" Now." Tonks quiet sing-song voice directed, " Now, think of something small. Like the eye of your owl. Got something? Good. Now imagine floating into that small space, putting your entire being into it."
Harry did so and felt all thoughts drift away from him. He felt calm and untroubled. He heard Tonks voice, as if it were far away,
" Try and find the part of you that is missing. The part of you that can change. Keep breathing with the ocean and go down deep into yourself. I am going to come with you."
Harry felt Tonks join him inside himself. He cast around looking, searching...
*There.* Tonks voice echoed inside his head. His mind eye saw a small purple thread and reached for it with his mind.
*Grasp it tightly. Don't let it get away* Tonks said quickly. Harry held tight to light. It felt slippery and warm. But not in a bad way. It felt wonderful. Under Tonks instructions he brought it to the surface of his mind and released it. It stayed there, hovering.
Harry felt Tonks leave his mind and followed her out.
He blinked and his eyes smarted. Things seemed so bright outside of his own being. Be looked over at Tonks and saw she was the same way. Blinking he said,
" Did it work? Am I like you now?" Tonks turned to look at him and smiled,
" We've still got some work to do yet."
!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!
AN/ so what did you think? It's a bit longer than my chapter normally are. Go me! Anyway, PLEASE review! I dunno when I will be able to update again seeing as how school starts on Tuesday. Ick. At least I'm not a freshman anymore. I'm a big bad sophomore! Yeah... REVIEW!
Much love,
Hannah
THANK YOU TO:
kneh13- I'm glad you find it interesting. Thanks for reading! (And reviewing)
COOLINSANEDUDE- Ah! Great name. Tis fun to be insane. I am glad you like my story. As for more fluff give me some time! It was only the second chapter! Thanks!
Tamsy, Daine+Lilac (to lazy to login)- *hands a cookie* Here it is! I made it especially for you! lol. Orlando is HOT! Yum. He's a good actor as well. You should DEFIANTLY see the movie. I mean, C'mon! Anything with Orli in it has got to rock. I'm glad you think my story is good. And as for not thinking I was a good writer it's all the fault of REALLY good writers like J.K. Rowling who are just so good that they make people like me look bad. I should sue.
MandaB- Why thank you! I was rather proud of it. I hope it will continue being a story that you will read! THANKS!
jenjen5- I like the Tonks and Harry ship. I think it seems like a fun believable ship. Here's your ice cream and cookie!
Foxachick- Why thank you! *takes a bow*
Der- You rock! Thank you for voicing my own thoughts! People never seem to car4e in the girl is underage and it bugs me! Grr... But I love all my reviewers all the same. And I am SO glad you think I'm an outstanding author. That made me feel really good about myself. In conclusion: You rock. 'nough said.
Ix Kara xI- Ah! Well you're special so you get an ice cream sundae! *hands it out* It has a nice cherry on top just for you. I thought it would be quite amusing for dear Snape to have a little crush on our Tonks. Hehehe.
ChrismKing208- Oh. Sorry for making you sick. I just LURVE Orlando v. much! Hehe. Yeah, the last line was cheesy but you have to have a little cheesyness in a story or it's no fun! Thanks!!!
JoeBob1397- GREAT movie! Mmmmm... I'm glad you like it!!!! And your name has Bob in it! My sn and email addie have HannahBob in it. It's my nick-name but for the most part people don't call me Hannah anymore. Just Bob! Hehehe. Thanks for reviewing!
Slacker- I agree with you. My parents are seven years apart. Snape is a heck of a lot older than Tonks. I think that the main reason people are so astounded by this ship is the fact that the girl is the older one. Just a thought, I could be wrong. Anyway, thanks a ton for reading and reviewing!
Savv- SAVVY! CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW! Be you the Savvy I like to call Cubed? Or someone else? Anyway, thanks a bunch and I am continuing... Uh... Now!
Speaky- SPEAKY! I lurve you! I will update but only if you do to! lol, hard deal there. Anyway, thanks!
Warbl365- I'm glad you like this story. I have to say I read Changing Faces and felt V. ashamed of my humble little Honks fic. That one is just so good!
Achilles- Thank you! I really like the Tonks/Harry ship. It's different and fun! Thanks!
iiiwildfireiii- Your fic is so good! Thanks you so much for reading mine! You rock socks! Thank you very much. I like getting A's. Makes me all happy! And I update just for you! Hehe. THANK YOU!
CR- Harry went to the beach in book one? When? Ohhh... When they were out on the rock island thingy. Well, I seem to have forgotten that. Oops. I always kinda thought that it was a lake they went to but I guess that doesn't make sense since there were waves. Well, then I just suck. Oh well... How could one NOT love PotC? I thought it was wonderful! Johnny Depp was so cool!
Raven- Why thank you! And I am afraid to say that you are wrong! He is suppose to be kissing me! *giggles* My favorite line in the movie is: " And Will... Nice hat."
Daner- Ok! Here it is!
Legacy(FD)x- Ok! I'll update... NOW!
linky2- *bumps back* Hehe. Thanks for reviewing. And bumping!
Ok, well, I think that I got all of you. Thank you so much! Do you realize that in two chapters I have 50 reviews? That is so cool! I love you all so much!
Disclaimer: *giggles* I read in the paper that J.K. Rowling is richer than the queen of England. If I was richer than the queen I would have a faster Internet.
AN- I am kinda borrowing the way Harry is going to learn to meditate from my dear friend Mrs. Tamora Pierce. So... Yeah, don't sue me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" The beach?" Harry asked and pulled his hands slowly away from Tonks. " I dunno. I need to get back to the Dursleys soon. Aunt Pentunia will freak if I'm not." Tonks looked impatient and said,
" We'll let her know that you are going to be somewhat late in coming home today."
" Not home." Harry said automatically. Tonks looked confused and said,
" What?"
Harry mumbled,
" It's not home. The Dursley's..." He trailed off and Tonks put out a hand as if to touch him but seemed to think better of it and said softly,
" Where is home, Harry?" Harry shrugged and after a tense minute Harry broke the silence.
" Uhm... Are we going to go tell Aunt Petunia?" Tonks nodded and gestured for Harry to follow her. She went into the kitchen.
" Arabella? I'm just letting you know that I'm leaving and so is Harry." Mrs. Figg looked around quickly and pleaded,
" Won't you stay for one cup of tea with me?" But Tonks shook her head. She said,
" Dumbledore said it was very important for him to start learning this as soon as he can. But I'll take a rain check." She said with a kind smile. Ms. Figg nodded and went about feeding her cats.
" So, Harry. Since you can't Apparate we'll have to travel Muggle style, I'm afraid. Only way we can without the Ministry having a cow. But first we need to go see your Aunt." Tonks said. Harry nodded and they walked to the front door. Harry glanced at Tonks from the side of his eyes.
" Uhm... Tonks?" He said in a tentative voice. She looked at him inquiringly and he said,
" Well, my Aunt and Uncle are... Not very fond of our kind. And the robes..." Tonks looked confused for a minute then said,
" Oh! I forgot. I'll be right back."
Harry waited in the foyer for Tonks and thought about his lessons with Snape. They had brought back things he didn't want to remember.
Harry thought about his talk with Nick, the ghost of Gryffindor House.
" He will not come back," Nick had said to him. " He will have... gone on."
Harry knew in his heart that Sirius would not come back. And yet... A tear that had come to his eye unbeknownst to Harry trickled down his cheek.
He thought of when he had thought Sirius was a killer. If it had not been for Wormtail his parents would be alive and even more important: Sirius would be alive. Harry had never known his parents that he remembered, but he had loved Sirius.
And now he regretted the fact that he had never had a chance to tell him.
H remembered telling Sirius and Lupin to leave Wormtail alive. To not kill him. And because of that, Sirius was dead. If Wormtail had not gone free then Voldemort would have never risen again. And Sirius would be alive, maybe even have his named cleared. Maybe Harry would be living with him instead.
He remembered last summer, when Harry was kept from knowing anything to keep him safe and how frustrated he had been. And how Sirius seemed to be the only one that noticed. The only one that even cared. More tears leaked from Harry's green eyes and he sniffed.
He heard a floor board creak and he quickly wiped his face to find Tonks walking towards him. She had on a pair of jeans and a Blink 182 band tee-shirt. She had also changed her hair to long wavy blond.
" I remember that your Aunt seemed to be somewhat disapproving of my hair before." She said with a crooked grin. Harry was glad she had not seen him crying. Instead he put on a sunshiny smile that felt fake even to him. And said brightly,
" Let's go then." They walked in a comfortable silence to the Dursley's house. When they got there Harry opened the door and gestured for Tonks to go in first. She smiled and went into the house.
Aunt Pentunia came out of the kitchen at that moment and into the room. She stared at them then said,
" Who're you?"
Harry opened his mouth to introduce Tonks but she answered first,
" Tonks. I'm a friend of Harry's. I was just wondering if it would be all right with you if Harry went with me to the beach? We will be back by tomorrow afternoon."
Aunt Petunia looked taken aback and stammered,
" Uh... Harry would you come with me? I... Need to ask you a question." She then looked back in the kitchen and called,
" Dudley? Will you get our... Guest something to drink?" Dudley waddled out and his eyes grew large at the sight of Tonks. He glanced from her to his mother then to Harry then back to his mother again. Before he grunted which Aunt Petunia seemed to take as a "Yes".
She pulled Harry into the living room and whispered quickly and somewhat nervously,
" Wh-Who is she?" Harry gulped and said,
" Uh... Well, she's a friend of mine. A... Non-wizard." He said with his finger crossed, although he wasn't REALLY lying. She wasn't a wizard. She was a witch.
Aunt Petunia immediately seemed to un-tense and said,
" Oh... Well, in that case of course you may go but you have to be home by ten o'clock tomorrow morning. I am going to Bingo and I want to know where you are."
Harry wasn't really surprised. Aunt Petunia had been wanting Harry in her sight ever since he got back from school. Harry began to wonder if Aunt Petunia was as bad as he had always thought she was.
" I will." He said and then they walked back into the dining room to find Dudley serving Tonks a glass of ice water. Tonks had on an amused sort of face, as though she was trying not to laugh. Dudley was trying to impress Tonks. Harry could tell and had to bite his lip to keep from laughing.
Tonks smiled nicely at Dudley and thanked him which only succeeded in making Dudley blush harder than ever.
Aunt Petunia said to Tonks,
" Harry may go with you. I would like him home by 10 o'clock tomorrow at the latest." Tonks nodded and smiled cheerfully,
" I'll make sure that he is, Mrs. Dursley." Harry saw that Aunt Petunia approved of Tonks. Perhaps she was thinking that by allowing Harry to spend time with Muggles that he would become less interested in Magic.
After five more minutes where Harry packed up his things with Aunt Petunia asking everything from what Tonks real name was to what her parents did for a living (which Harry made up, having no idea what they did.) to if she was a criminal. And Dudley continued trying to impress Tonks, they left.
They walked in silence to the near by bus stop. Harry noticed Tonks glancing at him from the corner of her eye but didn't mention it. When they got to the bus stop Harry was glad to see there was no people there. He sat down on a bench and pulled a bus schedule out of his pocket.
" The bus will be here in about ten minutes, give or take." He said to Tonks who nodded and sat down next to him. Harry asked her,
" How come I've never known I was a Metamorphmagus before now. I mean, surely I would have known?"
Tonks said,
" Ah, I was wondering if you were going to ask. And for the most part I am not completely positive but I have an idea that Dumbledore agrees with.
" When your parents died, your mother passed along her strength to you. And in her blood was the blood of a Metamorphmagus. And your mother was not one herself but she did have the blood in her. When You-Know-Who's spell hit you but did not kill you, it took something from you. It took away a great deal of your own power. It leaked it away from you." Harry tried to concentrate on what Tonks was saying but his head started pounding and he felt himself slip away from consciousness. He swayed and his vision turned inward,
" Harry... Harry..." He heard vaguely in the distance. He felt his scar burn on his forehead. He heard a laugh in his mind. A laugh he recognized... A laugh...
Suddenly Harry slipped from the bench and hit the ground and snapped back into consciousness. His hearing slowly came back to him.
" Ever. Scared me. Harry. Are you ok? Harry. Don't ever do that again!" Harry looked up and saw that he was on the floor of the bus stop and Tonks was kneeling by him.
He sat up and looked at Tonks. He closed his eyes. He felt a presence lurking in the back of his mind... Waiting for him to let down his guard. Just waiting-
" Harry?" Harry opened his eyes and told the worried Tonks,
" I'm fine. I just... Was more tired from Snape's lesson than I thought." Harry didn't know why he was lying to Tonks but when he couldn't bring himself to tell her the truth.
" Go on. I'm sorry, I wasn't listening." Tonks looked unbelievingly at Harry but continued,
" As I was saying, You-Know-Who," She saw Harry roll his eyes and said, " Fine. Voldemort," She shivered, " When Voldemort hit you with the spell it sapped some of your powers. Your mothers protection kept him from taking it all but it kept away most of it from you.
" Over the years it has been slowly coming back. But only when you are most desperate or angry. Do you remember in your third year?"
Harry nodded trying to figure out where she was going with this. Tonks took a deep breath and continued,
" In your third year you came face to face with the dementors. I think I am right in saying they brought back things you would not have remembered otherwise? Such as your parents deaths.
" Dementors suck every happy thought from you and make you only see that which you would rather be forgotten. Or powers that you would not find any other circumstance. Do you see where I am going with this?" Harry held up a hand,
" Wait. You're saying the Dementors brought back my ability to be a Metamorphmagus?" Tonks nodded and before Harry could do more than open his mouth the bus pulled up. Harry paid their fare and they got onto the bus.
They rode in silence for the most part. Harry was amused to see a few young guys who looked maybe in their late teens watching Tonks who, with a sly wink to Harry tossed her long blond hair and giggling waved to fingers at the guys who blushed and looked away. Harry laughed and so did Tonks.
He looked at Tonks. He wondered what she really looked like. Then he came to a horrific thought: What if this wasn't what he really looked like? What if... It was no use what-ifing though. He saw Tonks lift an eyebrow and he realized he was staring at her. He blushed crimson and looked away.
" I never knew your parents." Tonks commented. Harry blinked and looked up at her in surprise.
" But I thought you went too school, together." Tonks shook her head and laughed,
" I'm a great deal younger than your parents would be now. When I went to Hogwarts they had already left."
Harry looked at Tonks. He had always thought he was a lot older than him. Not only a few years. It was a long drive to the ocean so when they got there the sun was beginning to get low in the sky.
They had to walk up a path over a dune to get to the water. Harry could smell the sea, he could feel the sand under his toes, and he wondered if Sirius had ever been to the ocean.
*Don't think about him* He commanded himself fiercely. Tonks reached the top of the dune, panting a little. She smiled and took a deep breath. Harry got to the top and saw the ocean for the first time.
It was beautiful. Water as far as he could see stretched before him. The sun was sinking and looked ready to fall with a splash into the depths of the dark water.
" It's amazing," He mumbled. He looked over at Tonks and saw that she had her eyes closed and her head leaned back as if you soak up the spray from the water crashing on the rocks. Harry stared at her, she was different. She seemed... Alive.
They slid down the dune to a small deserted beach. Tonks lit a fire with her magic and motioned for Harry to sit down. He did so a Tonks plunked down next to him. She waggled her toes in the sand and smiled. Harry glanced at her. She smiled wistfully at the ocean then looked at Harry, her smile changed slightly.
" So Harry. Do you see the waves? How they come up and then sink back to join the rest of the water?" Harry nodded and looked at the ocean again.
" I want you to breath with the waves. In..." The water rushed in a crashed upon the hard rocks. " Out..." The water flowed out back to the deep ocean. Harry felt himself get calm and focus only on the pounding of the ocean on the rocks and Tonks voice guiding him.
" Now." Tonks quiet sing-song voice directed, " Now, think of something small. Like the eye of your owl. Got something? Good. Now imagine floating into that small space, putting your entire being into it."
Harry did so and felt all thoughts drift away from him. He felt calm and untroubled. He heard Tonks voice, as if it were far away,
" Try and find the part of you that is missing. The part of you that can change. Keep breathing with the ocean and go down deep into yourself. I am going to come with you."
Harry felt Tonks join him inside himself. He cast around looking, searching...
*There.* Tonks voice echoed inside his head. His mind eye saw a small purple thread and reached for it with his mind.
*Grasp it tightly. Don't let it get away* Tonks said quickly. Harry held tight to light. It felt slippery and warm. But not in a bad way. It felt wonderful. Under Tonks instructions he brought it to the surface of his mind and released it. It stayed there, hovering.
Harry felt Tonks leave his mind and followed her out.
He blinked and his eyes smarted. Things seemed so bright outside of his own being. Be looked over at Tonks and saw she was the same way. Blinking he said,
" Did it work? Am I like you now?" Tonks turned to look at him and smiled,
" We've still got some work to do yet."
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AN/ so what did you think? It's a bit longer than my chapter normally are. Go me! Anyway, PLEASE review! I dunno when I will be able to update again seeing as how school starts on Tuesday. Ick. At least I'm not a freshman anymore. I'm a big bad sophomore! Yeah... REVIEW!
Much love,
Hannah