The group found themselves at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream parlor. It was rather crowded, since it was a hot summer day. Tonks hoped they might have vanilla ice cream, but she was disappointed. Vanilla was a very rare flavor in the wizarding world. Tonks, however, had grown up on it and loved the stuff. She and Ginny had a scoop of pumpkin each, while the boys had mango floats.
After a few moments of eating in silence, Tonks realized something was wrong. Everyone in the shop was staring at Harry. Harry looked absolutely miserable. "We can leave, you know, Harry. We don't have to stay here," Tonks said softly.
"No, I want to stay. I can't help it if I make people uncomfortable," Harry said stubbornly.
"You know, if Hermoine was here, she'd say that people's curiosity have just gotten the better of them. First you were loony, sorry mate, and then you were a hero. People don't know what to think," Ron said, trying to be helpful.
"Ron, is that really your way of helping? Harry, forget that we're here. Let's pretend we're at the Burrow," Ginny said.
Harry put down his spoon and lowered his voice. "Tonks, I think Voldemort tried to get in my head the other day."
"Are you mad! Don't say his name in public," Tonks whispered furiously, while shuddering at the sound of you-know-who's name.
"Why not?" Harry's voice got louder. "Everyone knows he's back. Why shouldn't I talk about him!"
"Everyone grab your ice cream, we're leaving the shop," Tonks said strongly.
Harry looked worried, realizing that it was not good to make Tonks upset. "I don't want to go back already, Tonks. I haven't seen Ron since school was out. We can barely owl each other."
"What am I, chopped liver? You haven't seen me either," Ginny pouted.
Tonks stopped walking and faced him. "We're not leaving, Harry. You want to talk, right? We're going to a place we can talk without worrying it will be in the Daily Prophet. I can see the headlines now. 'The Boy Who Lived likes Mango Floats!'" Tonks said sarcastically.
They kept walking until they found themselves in front of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. She walked inside with the group. Either Fred or George was behind the counter. Tonks hated to admit it, but she couldn't tell them apart yet. She had to wait until it was pointed out to her.
"Hello, family members!" the twin cried.
"Hi Fred," Ginny and Ron replied. Tonks noticed that Harry hadn't said his name. Maybe he had the same problem she did.
"Fred," Tonks started, "I hate to barge in on you like this, but do you have a back room, a place these guys could talk?"
"Of course, m'lady. Let me lead the way. You know, my brother still pines away for you, Miss Tonks," George would often ask Tonks out jokingly. And then pretend to be heartbroken when she refused.
"Your brother is still about six years too young for me, Fred," Tonks smiled.
"Well, you're lucky I'm taken, or we'd both be fighting over you," Fred teased. Fred was still with Angelina.
They passed through what looked like an employee break room. A young witch was sitting at a table, reading a book. "Oi, Jeanette, can you watch the front?"
"I'm on break," the witch didn't even look up from her reading.
"You're not on break as of now. Go watch the front," Fred ordered.
Jeanette rolled her eyes and slowly got up, taking her book with her. "No reading behind the counter!" Fred yelled. "Honestly, good help is hard to find these days. I wish Mum would've let you help in the shop this summer, Ron."
"Your mum wouldn't let you? Why not?" Harry asked.
"I wish she would have! They were willing to pay me and everything. I would have loved to have gotten some extra pocket money," Ron sighed.
"But as always, Mum knows best. Or least that's what we tell her, so she'll get off our backs," Fred said, leading them to a door marked "Private." "Ladies and gentlemen, please be advised that what you are about to enter is forbidden. You will be the first people besides George and myself to enter these walls."
Fred stood right next to the door so that his nose pressed against the glass. "Fred Weasley with four visitors," he said. The door opened quickly and they stepped in. "Our workshop," he said proudly.
Tonks was amazed. She always thought that the twins were kind of sloppy. The workshop was one of the most organized rooms she had ever seen. The walls were white with shelves full of different ingredients from the ceiling to the floor on three walls. In the middle were two desks facing each other. George was sitting at one, his hair standing straight up.
"My future wife!" he cried. "And you caught me not looking my best. Fred, that's a no, using dragon hide powder in that one."
"Damn," Fred replied. "I was sure that would work. What's our next option?"
"Root of celery."
"We can try that later," Fred said. "They're not here to visit us, George. They want to talk. Are we allowed to talk, too?"
Tonks looked at Harry. She didn't want to push a confidence with him. If he felt comfortable talking in front of her, she would stay. If not, she was more than willing to go to the break room for a while.
"Of course, you all can stay," Harry said. "I wanted to talk in the ice cream parlor, but Tonks made us leave."
Ah yes, Tonks thought, he's right in the middle of teenage rebellion. He'll want to do anything that the adult says not to do.
"I bet Hermione would think it's a bad idea to talk in public, Harry," Ron said. Tonks noticed that Ron seemed to be bringing Hermione's name in the conservation a lot. She wondered if there was something going on between the two of them.
"Speaking of, where is she?" George asked.
"She's in Barcelona for the summer," Ginny answered.
Fred was about to say something witty when Harry broke in and said, "Voldemort tried to get into my head three nights ago. I could feel him there."
That brought Tonks to attention. "Have you told anyone?'
"How could I?" Harry yelled. "I'm stuck in that house again for the summer. Dumbledore told me why I have to stay there, but I don't care anymore! I'm not allowed to write anything in my owls in case they're intercepted. How can I tell anything to anyone!"
"As much as I hate to say this Harry, stop feeling sorry for yourself," Tonks said softly. "You know why you're staying there. So get over it. You know you have someone protecting you twenty-four hours a day. Why didn't you tell one of them?"
"What?" Harry looked shocked that she didn't agree with him.
"I mean it, Harry. We're all in this war together. A lot of us are doing things we never dreamed we'd be doing. But in the end, if it can end this war one day earlier and save one more life, it's worth it." Tonks stopped then. She realized what she wasn't speaking so much to Harry as to herself. And to her surprise, she believed every word she just said. If sleeping with Malfoy could lead to information that could save a life, then she was ready to do whatever she could. "Why haven't you told someone?"
"I just told you," he said mutinously.
"Three days later. Do you know how much can happen in three days?"
Harry stayed silent. "What happened when he entered your mind?" Tonks asked gently.
"I almost felt that he placed the imperius curse on me. I actually got out of bed and down the stairs before I started to fight it," Harry said.
"Harry, you know I have to tell Professor Dumbledore about this, right?" Tonks asked.
"You don't have to," Harry pleaded.
"Yes, I have to," Tonks said. "Like it or not, Harry, there are people risking their lives for you everyday. It sounds like you-know-who wants to get you out of the house so he could hurt you."
"Why don't you say his name?" Harry asked curiously.
"I'm not ready yet," Tonks replied. "Someday, I will be, I promise you."
"I'm going to say a funny comment now to break the tension," George said.
The group waited.
"What? I said my funny comment! Didn't you feel the tension ease?"
Tonks giggled, as did Ginny.
"I'm starved," Ron said.
"Oh, you're always hungry," Ginny said, punching him in the shoulder.
"I'm a growing boy! I need food to help me develop my full potential," Ron protested.
Tonks looked at the time, it was close to dinner. She suggested that they all, including the twins, go grab a bite to eat. Everyone agreed, and as they left the store, Jeanette demanded the rest of her break. Fred groaned, and told her that she'd get another one in an hour.
The group walked, and Tonks noticed that quite a few people stopped and stared at Harry. At the restaurant, The Finer Miner's Diner, Tonks requested and was granted a small room where they could eat in private. Determined to let Harry have a nice evening, she didn't bring up any touchy subjects. She did find it amusing how many times Ron talked about Hermione (five) and how many times the twins talked about expansion (three). George offered Tonks a sample kit that they had. The kit contained samples of their seven most popular items. The twins also very nicely paid for the meal for everyone. Business must indeed be doing well.
The restaurant was next to Bonnie's Brooms and that caught everyone's attention. Tonks looked at the brooms longingly. She loved to fly. Back at Hogwarts she was a reserve seeker for the Ravenclaw team. She liked to think she wasn't too shabby either. One of the first things she wanted to buy when she had some more money saved up was a new broom. Her Comet Two Sixty was reliable, but she'd love something a bit flashier.
Tonks was actually sad when the evening was over. Harry knew he had to get back to Privet Drive before it was too late in the evening. With protests, she got Harry, Ron and Ginny back to the Burrow after saying goodnight to Fred and George. She told the group that she saw a diabolical troll on the horizon and she had to make a portkey. Before they knew it, Tonks and Harry were back at Privet Drive.
"Thank you for tonight, Tonks," Harry said softly. "Can we do this again, soon?
"You're welcome. I'm not sure. I'm swamped with Auror work and work for the Order. I'll try, okay?"
"I don't want to go back in there, Tonks. Where are you going to be?"
"I'll be right in those bushes if you need me, Harry."
"Alright. Thanks again."
Harry opened the door slowly and with a final wave, went inside. Tonks settled herself in the bushes. She knew she had a long two hours ahead of her. She felt energized, so she worked on some morphing skills. Her latest trick was to give herself two pairs of arms. She had gotten to the point where she could make the extra pair easily, she wanted to be able to control the set as well. Imagine how much more power she could have if she branded two wands!
She allowed herself to reflect to bit as well. She really did feel happier than she did a week ago. She attributed to what she told Harry; she was now doing everything she could to help win the war. That was a good feeling.
Before she knew it, Emmeline Vance was tapping her on the shoulder. Tonks showed Emmeline the two-armed trick, Emmeline was quite impressed. Being relieved of duty, Tonks started walking away from Privet Drive, wondering what her next "date" with Malfoy would bring.