Chapter Four:
Harry walked down the road with rivers of sweat streaming down his face and back. It
was noon in Surrey and not a soul could be seen outdoors. Except for Harry. Vernon and Petunia
had locked him out while they took Dudley shopping for new summer clothes since a few pairs of
his shorts had burst at the seams.
His tattered Converse hit the hot asphalt, threatening to melt into the road. He had already
taken his hand-me-down shirt off and walked around in a pair of khaki shorts. The park. Yes, the
park had lots of trees. He could stay there until the heat died down. Ten minutes later Harry lay
on the dry, stubbly grass under a large oak tree. He stripped down to his boxers, knowing that no
one would see him in the secluded area he was in.
*Besides, it's not like anyone is mad enough to be out here this time of day.*
*pop*
Harry recognized the sound as someone apparating close by. It was probably someone just
changing shifts. But not wanting to take a risk he stood up, his wand held tightly in his right
hand.
"Been working out, Harry?"
"Tonks!" Harry dove for his shirt, rushing to put it on. "You could have given me a
warning or something."
Tonks laughed, "Wotcher, Harry. Grown a bit taller this summer already? It's only been
three weeks! You're still scrawny as ever. Don't the muggles ever feed you?"
"Nice to see you too, Tonks," Harry grinned.
Tonks plopped down on the grass and motioned Harry to sit beside her.
"Harry, you do look a bit peaky. Are you feeling ok?"
"Yea, I could be better but I'm fine." Harry suddenly began to feel uncomfortable.
"Moody keeps telling Dumbledore that you should send a letter every two days now
seeing how miserable you sound in all of them."
"Miserable? Ok, my godfather just died. Of course I'm miserable! But it doesn't mean I'm
too fragile to have some space!" Harry grabbed the rest of his clothes and stormed off. Why had
he become so angry at Tonks? He knew she had meant well. She hadn't even said anything that
offensive.
"Harry...I didn't..." Her voice faded away as Harry stormed off.
* * * * * * * * * *
*What in the world set me off like that?
I can't believe I just yelled at Tonks.*
Harry fell onto the flower bed beside the window with a sigh, confused and sorry with
what he had just done.
That outburst of anger came out of nowhere. Worst of all, it was directed at Tonks. Aside from
Remus she was the one adult he could never recall being so angry with. He had to apologize.
* * * * * * * * * *
"I'm telling you Remus, I only mentioned vaguely that Moody thought it would be a good
idea to send out letters every two days. Then he started yelling about Sirius's death."
"Well, I'm not surprised in the least that Harry is still blaming himself. We have to make
sure the state of his mental health isn't too bad. If it isn't already that is." Remus looked up at
Dumbledore as he said this.
"I agree, Remus. Though I do believe giving him a bit more space would be helpful."
"Someone should go check on him now. You know, just in case." a hint of worry was
apparent in Tonk's voice.
"Can it be me, Albus?" Remus pleaded.
Dumbledore gave a slight nod and handed Remus a tiny pouch of Floo Powder. Remus
walked over to the fireplace of the Black Headquarters.
"Arabella Figg!"
Harry walked down the road with rivers of sweat streaming down his face and back. It
was noon in Surrey and not a soul could be seen outdoors. Except for Harry. Vernon and Petunia
had locked him out while they took Dudley shopping for new summer clothes since a few pairs of
his shorts had burst at the seams.
His tattered Converse hit the hot asphalt, threatening to melt into the road. He had already
taken his hand-me-down shirt off and walked around in a pair of khaki shorts. The park. Yes, the
park had lots of trees. He could stay there until the heat died down. Ten minutes later Harry lay
on the dry, stubbly grass under a large oak tree. He stripped down to his boxers, knowing that no
one would see him in the secluded area he was in.
*Besides, it's not like anyone is mad enough to be out here this time of day.*
*pop*
Harry recognized the sound as someone apparating close by. It was probably someone just
changing shifts. But not wanting to take a risk he stood up, his wand held tightly in his right
hand.
"Been working out, Harry?"
"Tonks!" Harry dove for his shirt, rushing to put it on. "You could have given me a
warning or something."
Tonks laughed, "Wotcher, Harry. Grown a bit taller this summer already? It's only been
three weeks! You're still scrawny as ever. Don't the muggles ever feed you?"
"Nice to see you too, Tonks," Harry grinned.
Tonks plopped down on the grass and motioned Harry to sit beside her.
"Harry, you do look a bit peaky. Are you feeling ok?"
"Yea, I could be better but I'm fine." Harry suddenly began to feel uncomfortable.
"Moody keeps telling Dumbledore that you should send a letter every two days now
seeing how miserable you sound in all of them."
"Miserable? Ok, my godfather just died. Of course I'm miserable! But it doesn't mean I'm
too fragile to have some space!" Harry grabbed the rest of his clothes and stormed off. Why had
he become so angry at Tonks? He knew she had meant well. She hadn't even said anything that
offensive.
"Harry...I didn't..." Her voice faded away as Harry stormed off.
* * * * * * * * * *
*What in the world set me off like that?
I can't believe I just yelled at Tonks.*
Harry fell onto the flower bed beside the window with a sigh, confused and sorry with
what he had just done.
That outburst of anger came out of nowhere. Worst of all, it was directed at Tonks. Aside from
Remus she was the one adult he could never recall being so angry with. He had to apologize.
* * * * * * * * * *
"I'm telling you Remus, I only mentioned vaguely that Moody thought it would be a good
idea to send out letters every two days. Then he started yelling about Sirius's death."
"Well, I'm not surprised in the least that Harry is still blaming himself. We have to make
sure the state of his mental health isn't too bad. If it isn't already that is." Remus looked up at
Dumbledore as he said this.
"I agree, Remus. Though I do believe giving him a bit more space would be helpful."
"Someone should go check on him now. You know, just in case." a hint of worry was
apparent in Tonk's voice.
"Can it be me, Albus?" Remus pleaded.
Dumbledore gave a slight nod and handed Remus a tiny pouch of Floo Powder. Remus
walked over to the fireplace of the Black Headquarters.
"Arabella Figg!"