Harry stormed out of the house quickly followed by Tonks. "Harry calm down." She put her hand on his shoulder. Harry was looking around as though he were deciding which direction to start running. "Come on Harry he's young and stupid. Don't listen to him!"
Harry glared at her. "I'm young and stupid too."
"Yeah," nodded Tonks agreeing with Harry. "I was when I was your age. Hell, I still am! Opps, I swore in front of an innocent child! Don't tell Mrs. Weasley!" Tonks winked and burst out into giggles. Harry stared at her a moment debating whether he should protest being called stupid or if he should be amused. In the end he joined her in a giggle. "Come on we need to start walking. There's a bus stop down about a mile and the bus will take us close to the Leaky Cauldron so we can go to Gringotts and if you want robes or anything else from Diagon Alley we can get that. Otherwise," Tonks grinned "we can go into muggle London and get something other than robes. Do you know if there are and shops you would like to go to?"
"I uhh don't really know. I have never actually been out shopping for clothes. The only shops I have heard of are those that cater to big boned boys like Little Dudkins." Harry's voice was dripping with sarcasm as he called Dudley by one of his pet names. "I don't think I have even owned a pair of underwear that weren't handed down." Harry then blushed when he realized he was talking bout his underwear to Tonks.
"Gross!" Tonks said making a bit of a retching noise. "I know I would rather go commando than wear your cousins handed down underwear."
Harry turned a bright shade of red. "A lot of times I do."
Tonks grinned and winked at Harry. "You wearing underwear now?"
"Well," Harry continued to stay a lovely shade of red, "no."
"Prove it!"
"NO! I'm not letting you see what's in my pants, or what's lacking in my pants." Harry stopped talking and grimaced, "That didn't sound right… I'm not lacking in certain areas… but I'm not wearing certain undergarments."
"Come on take off your pants!" Tonks barely taunted through her giggles and tears.
"No!" Harry's blushing had subsided by now and was replaced by a sly grin, "You better behave or I'll tell Mrs. Weasley."
"Oh yes, is Mrs. Weasley going to come after me with a frying pan?" Tonks snorted in laughter and slightly blushed. "Maybe I should tell her that you don't wear underwear. I am sure she could knit you a few pairs."
A look of horror crossed Harry's face. "My god, that would itch! Her dreadful sweaters I can handle, but underwear? No thanks."
"Oh come on! I am sure it's better than nothing at all!"
"I don't know about that," kidded Harry, "I kind of like the free feeling. Come on haven't you tried going the day without?"
"Well, yes, but I'm not going to tell you about it!"
Harry stuck out his lower lip in an exaggerated pout, "What? We can talk about my underwear but not yours?"
"Well it's different for me." Tonks blushed.
"Sure it is. Are you wearing any now?"
"Yes I am! Although," Tonks giggled a bit, "they don't cover much."
"What do you mean they don't cover much?" Harry was somewhat puzzled.
"Well I'm wearing a thong." Tonks said as she came to a stop at a corner and sat down on a bench to wait for the bus.
Harry plopped down besides Tonks, "A thong?"
"You know one of those stringy underwear thingies."
"Oh! I have seen those in some of the magazines Dudley keeps under his bed." Harry suddenly stopped. "Oh shit. I said to much. You didn't need to know that." Harry then smirked, "Oh, and opps. The innocent child swore. Don't tell Mrs. Weasley."
Tonks giggled as the bus drove up, "Perfect timing."
"Umm, Tonks. I don't have any muggle money."
"Don't worry. I have enough for both of us. Dumbledore told me to bring extra money and to assume you would only have a little wizarding money left on you."
Tonks paid for the both of them as they boarded the bus. Their bus ride was in silent. Neither Tonks or Harry knew what to say, actually both of them weren't to sure anything they would say would be appropriate for the ears of a bus full of people. After several stops Tonks grabbed Harry by the arm and dragged him off the bus. She mumbled to herself, "Hmm… Leaky Cauldron.." She looked around trying to pinpoint exactly where she was. "That way!" To Harry's surprise Tonks was still holding to his arm and started dragging him down the street.
"Tonks why are you holding me like this?"
"It's how Moody taught me to keep an eye on you."
"Are you planning on doing this all through London and Diagon Alley?"
Tonks chuckled. "Nope, just wanted to creep you out and prove to Moody it only attracts more attention. You know it feels like I'm either dragging a kid out of a candy shop or dragging someone to bed." she blushed slightly. "Not that I've had anyone in my bed."
"Sure, "Harry chuckled, "and I'm best friends with Lucius Malfoy."
"Well I am glad you two have developed such a lovely relationship" Tonks snipped as they walked into the Leaky Cauldron.
"Tonks babe!" the bar tender hollered. "Your usual five drinks to start with and keep them coming?"
Tonks turned a bit red, "Not drinking tonight."
The bar tender snorted a bit. "But the only time I ever see you here is to get blasted."
"This is a special occasion." Tonks snapped at the bar tender and pulled Harry out of the room to the entrance of Diagon Alley and quickly tapped the bricks to let them in. "Harry just to let you know; I don't go to the Leaky Cauldron a lot. I don't want you thinking I'm a drunk or something."
Harry shrugged not to sure what to say but Tonks continued, "I'm human sometimes, I hide in unhealthy ways. Last time I was here is when I got out of St Mungos and found out Sirius was dead. The time before that was maybe two years ago."
Harry nodded. "I can understand wanting to hide."
They walked in silence to Gringotts where Harry withdrew about 300 galleons and exchanged most of it for muggle money. Harry seemed to bit intimidated by the large amount of money but Tonks had convinced him that a new wardrobe would cost that at least. They then wandered about Diagon Alley for a bit window shopping and then stopped at Weasley Wizarding Wheezes. Harry shopped about a bit picking up several essential items. Tonks on the other hand had pulled George into the corner and was discussing using the basement floo to get home. After Weasley Wizarding Wheezes Tonks pulled Harry into Madam Mulkins "Now you at least need one or two casual robes." she was saying to Harry as she pushed him toward the racks of colorful robes. She pulled out a lime green robe, "What about something like this."
Harry snorted, "Not my color."
"What about this, baby blue would look good on you."
"Maybe. I just don't know what size I am."
Tonks pushed him towards the dressing rooms with several different sizes of robes at hand. "If anything goes wrong just holler." she giggled a little bit. "You realize that Moody wouldn't be to happy to know that I let you out of my sight?"
"I'm not letting you watch me change! Mrs. Weasley would have your head for that!" with that Harry entered the dressing rooms to decide on a size.
Tonks and Harry left Madam Mulkins with three robes in colors a bit to dull for Tonks, but Harry was pleased with navy blue, black, and a forest green robe trimmed with gold.
The pair made their way into muggle London. "So Harry any clue where you want to go? Or at least what kind of clothes you want?"
Harry shrugged, "I don't know much about clothes. You seem to be the expert, so someplace that doesn't sell something you would see my uncle or cousin in and preferably someplace that doesn't sell Weasley sweaters."
Tonks debated to herself a bit, "Why don't we just wander a bit until you see someplace that interests you. I mainly shop at muggle thrift stores, and I am sure you actually want new clothes."
Tonks and Harry wandered around until they found a store that carried clothes that looked to cater to younger people. Harry surveyed the clothing racks carefully occasionally picking up a pair of jeans or a t-shirt in a size that looked appropriate and brought them into the changing room. Harry came out the dressing room giggling. "Never having clothes that fit has made me naive when is comes to sizing." He ran back to the clothing racks and began exchanging clothes and grabbing more. Harry had began to create quite a pile of clothes. He was worse than a small child in a candy shop and grabbing everything in sight. He finally stopped looking at his selection and asked Tonks, "Do I need anything else?"
"Do you still plan on going commando or should we check out the underwear section?"
"I uh, guess that would be a good idea." Tonks and Harry walked over to the underwear section and Harry looked slightly lost. "I never knew I had so many choices."
"Just pick out what looks comfortable."
Harry began to grab random styles of underwear and throwing them onto his collection of clothes, while ignoring Tonks looking on. He then remembered who he was with and blushed. "Now you can tell everyone what kind of underwear I wear."
"Hey, at least I can tell them that you wear underwear now." Tonks chuckled
"I don't think this is fair. You get to see what I wear, but I don't get to see what you wear." Harry whined a bit while joking.
Tonks shrugged. "I guess it's not, but you still aren't going to be able to see what I wear." She shook her head, "Adolescent hormones kicking in for you Harry?"
Harry blushed and quickly changed the subject. "So, all I need is socks now." He quickly grabbed a few packs of socks and began to take his large pile of clothes to the register to check out.
Tonks and Harry finally left the store carrying about seven bags. "Harry," Tonks grinned, "taking you shopping is worse than shopping with a girl. You take forever!"
"Sorry, I just never have been able to do that before."
"I'm just teasing you. I understand. How about instead of going back we go to a restaurant for dinner."
Harry grinned, "I haven't really ever been to a restaurant. I was always left at home and when they did take me to places like McDonalds the Dursleys ordered for me. I always got the cheapest thing on the menu while Dudley got 2 full meals to himself."
"That settles it we're going out to dinner, I'll pay and you can order whatever you want. Just let me call Molly first." Tonks pulled out a mobile phone and punched in several numbers. "Mrs. Weasley it's Tonks." she paused a moment, "Yes, yes, everything is fine. We just wont be home for dinner we are going to go to a restaurant. We'll be home in a few hours via Fred and George's. Yes we'll see you then. Goodbye."
Harry stared. "That's brilliant. Using mobile phones. No one in the wizarding world would think of it. Hell, most people in the wizarding world wouldn't touch one."
"The phones were Arabella Figg's idea. She's a really bright woman. She would make a fantastic witch. It's such a shame she's squib."
"She was always nice to me when I was younger. It's just her thing for cats that scared me."
"Yeah, I'll agree with you on that one." Tonks led Harry into a small restraint where a waitress quickly led them to a table and handed them menus.
Harry looked his menu over salivating. He looked up from his menu, "Can we get dessert?"
"Of coarse, but what about a meal?"
Harry went back to his menu. There was so much to choose from. He finally decided on a cheese burger, fries and a milk shake. Once the waitress left he turned his attention to Tonks, "Thank you."
"For what? Teasing you about your underwear all day?"
"No, for caring enough to take me out."
"It was mainly Dumbledores idea."
Harry continued his thought. "I am sure I could have asked Mrs. Weasley to take me but that would have been really awkward. I know she has taken me school shopping or has actually done my shopping for me in the past but I always feel… I don't know how to describe it."
"Guilty?"
"Well not quite. More ashamed. They are such wonderful people and have worked so hard for all they have, and then there's me. I haven't done anything to deserve what I have. Hell, I don't even use what I have."
"Harry, I don't think that how much money you have really bothers the Weasleys. They have it harder than most, but it's the way they chose to live life. So far you haven't made any choices on how to live your life really. It seems everyone has made those choices for you."
Harry nodded but was distracted from the conversation by the arrival of food. Harry began to eat quickly barely allowing time for him to breathe. "Harry! Your going to suffocate if you don't slow down" Tonks teased.
"Hey its been awhile since I have had a good meal."
Tonks shrugged and went back to picking at her food as Harry ate his meal and then ordered a large piece of pie for dessert and quickly eating that. When Harry was done inhaling his food Tonks paid their bill and they headed towards Diagon Alley to go back to Number 12 Grimauld Place.
Harry glared at her. "I'm young and stupid too."
"Yeah," nodded Tonks agreeing with Harry. "I was when I was your age. Hell, I still am! Opps, I swore in front of an innocent child! Don't tell Mrs. Weasley!" Tonks winked and burst out into giggles. Harry stared at her a moment debating whether he should protest being called stupid or if he should be amused. In the end he joined her in a giggle. "Come on we need to start walking. There's a bus stop down about a mile and the bus will take us close to the Leaky Cauldron so we can go to Gringotts and if you want robes or anything else from Diagon Alley we can get that. Otherwise," Tonks grinned "we can go into muggle London and get something other than robes. Do you know if there are and shops you would like to go to?"
"I uhh don't really know. I have never actually been out shopping for clothes. The only shops I have heard of are those that cater to big boned boys like Little Dudkins." Harry's voice was dripping with sarcasm as he called Dudley by one of his pet names. "I don't think I have even owned a pair of underwear that weren't handed down." Harry then blushed when he realized he was talking bout his underwear to Tonks.
"Gross!" Tonks said making a bit of a retching noise. "I know I would rather go commando than wear your cousins handed down underwear."
Harry turned a bright shade of red. "A lot of times I do."
Tonks grinned and winked at Harry. "You wearing underwear now?"
"Well," Harry continued to stay a lovely shade of red, "no."
"Prove it!"
"NO! I'm not letting you see what's in my pants, or what's lacking in my pants." Harry stopped talking and grimaced, "That didn't sound right… I'm not lacking in certain areas… but I'm not wearing certain undergarments."
"Come on take off your pants!" Tonks barely taunted through her giggles and tears.
"No!" Harry's blushing had subsided by now and was replaced by a sly grin, "You better behave or I'll tell Mrs. Weasley."
"Oh yes, is Mrs. Weasley going to come after me with a frying pan?" Tonks snorted in laughter and slightly blushed. "Maybe I should tell her that you don't wear underwear. I am sure she could knit you a few pairs."
A look of horror crossed Harry's face. "My god, that would itch! Her dreadful sweaters I can handle, but underwear? No thanks."
"Oh come on! I am sure it's better than nothing at all!"
"I don't know about that," kidded Harry, "I kind of like the free feeling. Come on haven't you tried going the day without?"
"Well, yes, but I'm not going to tell you about it!"
Harry stuck out his lower lip in an exaggerated pout, "What? We can talk about my underwear but not yours?"
"Well it's different for me." Tonks blushed.
"Sure it is. Are you wearing any now?"
"Yes I am! Although," Tonks giggled a bit, "they don't cover much."
"What do you mean they don't cover much?" Harry was somewhat puzzled.
"Well I'm wearing a thong." Tonks said as she came to a stop at a corner and sat down on a bench to wait for the bus.
Harry plopped down besides Tonks, "A thong?"
"You know one of those stringy underwear thingies."
"Oh! I have seen those in some of the magazines Dudley keeps under his bed." Harry suddenly stopped. "Oh shit. I said to much. You didn't need to know that." Harry then smirked, "Oh, and opps. The innocent child swore. Don't tell Mrs. Weasley."
Tonks giggled as the bus drove up, "Perfect timing."
"Umm, Tonks. I don't have any muggle money."
"Don't worry. I have enough for both of us. Dumbledore told me to bring extra money and to assume you would only have a little wizarding money left on you."
Tonks paid for the both of them as they boarded the bus. Their bus ride was in silent. Neither Tonks or Harry knew what to say, actually both of them weren't to sure anything they would say would be appropriate for the ears of a bus full of people. After several stops Tonks grabbed Harry by the arm and dragged him off the bus. She mumbled to herself, "Hmm… Leaky Cauldron.." She looked around trying to pinpoint exactly where she was. "That way!" To Harry's surprise Tonks was still holding to his arm and started dragging him down the street.
"Tonks why are you holding me like this?"
"It's how Moody taught me to keep an eye on you."
"Are you planning on doing this all through London and Diagon Alley?"
Tonks chuckled. "Nope, just wanted to creep you out and prove to Moody it only attracts more attention. You know it feels like I'm either dragging a kid out of a candy shop or dragging someone to bed." she blushed slightly. "Not that I've had anyone in my bed."
"Sure, "Harry chuckled, "and I'm best friends with Lucius Malfoy."
"Well I am glad you two have developed such a lovely relationship" Tonks snipped as they walked into the Leaky Cauldron.
"Tonks babe!" the bar tender hollered. "Your usual five drinks to start with and keep them coming?"
Tonks turned a bit red, "Not drinking tonight."
The bar tender snorted a bit. "But the only time I ever see you here is to get blasted."
"This is a special occasion." Tonks snapped at the bar tender and pulled Harry out of the room to the entrance of Diagon Alley and quickly tapped the bricks to let them in. "Harry just to let you know; I don't go to the Leaky Cauldron a lot. I don't want you thinking I'm a drunk or something."
Harry shrugged not to sure what to say but Tonks continued, "I'm human sometimes, I hide in unhealthy ways. Last time I was here is when I got out of St Mungos and found out Sirius was dead. The time before that was maybe two years ago."
Harry nodded. "I can understand wanting to hide."
They walked in silence to Gringotts where Harry withdrew about 300 galleons and exchanged most of it for muggle money. Harry seemed to bit intimidated by the large amount of money but Tonks had convinced him that a new wardrobe would cost that at least. They then wandered about Diagon Alley for a bit window shopping and then stopped at Weasley Wizarding Wheezes. Harry shopped about a bit picking up several essential items. Tonks on the other hand had pulled George into the corner and was discussing using the basement floo to get home. After Weasley Wizarding Wheezes Tonks pulled Harry into Madam Mulkins "Now you at least need one or two casual robes." she was saying to Harry as she pushed him toward the racks of colorful robes. She pulled out a lime green robe, "What about something like this."
Harry snorted, "Not my color."
"What about this, baby blue would look good on you."
"Maybe. I just don't know what size I am."
Tonks pushed him towards the dressing rooms with several different sizes of robes at hand. "If anything goes wrong just holler." she giggled a little bit. "You realize that Moody wouldn't be to happy to know that I let you out of my sight?"
"I'm not letting you watch me change! Mrs. Weasley would have your head for that!" with that Harry entered the dressing rooms to decide on a size.
Tonks and Harry left Madam Mulkins with three robes in colors a bit to dull for Tonks, but Harry was pleased with navy blue, black, and a forest green robe trimmed with gold.
The pair made their way into muggle London. "So Harry any clue where you want to go? Or at least what kind of clothes you want?"
Harry shrugged, "I don't know much about clothes. You seem to be the expert, so someplace that doesn't sell something you would see my uncle or cousin in and preferably someplace that doesn't sell Weasley sweaters."
Tonks debated to herself a bit, "Why don't we just wander a bit until you see someplace that interests you. I mainly shop at muggle thrift stores, and I am sure you actually want new clothes."
Tonks and Harry wandered around until they found a store that carried clothes that looked to cater to younger people. Harry surveyed the clothing racks carefully occasionally picking up a pair of jeans or a t-shirt in a size that looked appropriate and brought them into the changing room. Harry came out the dressing room giggling. "Never having clothes that fit has made me naive when is comes to sizing." He ran back to the clothing racks and began exchanging clothes and grabbing more. Harry had began to create quite a pile of clothes. He was worse than a small child in a candy shop and grabbing everything in sight. He finally stopped looking at his selection and asked Tonks, "Do I need anything else?"
"Do you still plan on going commando or should we check out the underwear section?"
"I uh, guess that would be a good idea." Tonks and Harry walked over to the underwear section and Harry looked slightly lost. "I never knew I had so many choices."
"Just pick out what looks comfortable."
Harry began to grab random styles of underwear and throwing them onto his collection of clothes, while ignoring Tonks looking on. He then remembered who he was with and blushed. "Now you can tell everyone what kind of underwear I wear."
"Hey, at least I can tell them that you wear underwear now." Tonks chuckled
"I don't think this is fair. You get to see what I wear, but I don't get to see what you wear." Harry whined a bit while joking.
Tonks shrugged. "I guess it's not, but you still aren't going to be able to see what I wear." She shook her head, "Adolescent hormones kicking in for you Harry?"
Harry blushed and quickly changed the subject. "So, all I need is socks now." He quickly grabbed a few packs of socks and began to take his large pile of clothes to the register to check out.
Tonks and Harry finally left the store carrying about seven bags. "Harry," Tonks grinned, "taking you shopping is worse than shopping with a girl. You take forever!"
"Sorry, I just never have been able to do that before."
"I'm just teasing you. I understand. How about instead of going back we go to a restaurant for dinner."
Harry grinned, "I haven't really ever been to a restaurant. I was always left at home and when they did take me to places like McDonalds the Dursleys ordered for me. I always got the cheapest thing on the menu while Dudley got 2 full meals to himself."
"That settles it we're going out to dinner, I'll pay and you can order whatever you want. Just let me call Molly first." Tonks pulled out a mobile phone and punched in several numbers. "Mrs. Weasley it's Tonks." she paused a moment, "Yes, yes, everything is fine. We just wont be home for dinner we are going to go to a restaurant. We'll be home in a few hours via Fred and George's. Yes we'll see you then. Goodbye."
Harry stared. "That's brilliant. Using mobile phones. No one in the wizarding world would think of it. Hell, most people in the wizarding world wouldn't touch one."
"The phones were Arabella Figg's idea. She's a really bright woman. She would make a fantastic witch. It's such a shame she's squib."
"She was always nice to me when I was younger. It's just her thing for cats that scared me."
"Yeah, I'll agree with you on that one." Tonks led Harry into a small restraint where a waitress quickly led them to a table and handed them menus.
Harry looked his menu over salivating. He looked up from his menu, "Can we get dessert?"
"Of coarse, but what about a meal?"
Harry went back to his menu. There was so much to choose from. He finally decided on a cheese burger, fries and a milk shake. Once the waitress left he turned his attention to Tonks, "Thank you."
"For what? Teasing you about your underwear all day?"
"No, for caring enough to take me out."
"It was mainly Dumbledores idea."
Harry continued his thought. "I am sure I could have asked Mrs. Weasley to take me but that would have been really awkward. I know she has taken me school shopping or has actually done my shopping for me in the past but I always feel… I don't know how to describe it."
"Guilty?"
"Well not quite. More ashamed. They are such wonderful people and have worked so hard for all they have, and then there's me. I haven't done anything to deserve what I have. Hell, I don't even use what I have."
"Harry, I don't think that how much money you have really bothers the Weasleys. They have it harder than most, but it's the way they chose to live life. So far you haven't made any choices on how to live your life really. It seems everyone has made those choices for you."
Harry nodded but was distracted from the conversation by the arrival of food. Harry began to eat quickly barely allowing time for him to breathe. "Harry! Your going to suffocate if you don't slow down" Tonks teased.
"Hey its been awhile since I have had a good meal."
Tonks shrugged and went back to picking at her food as Harry ate his meal and then ordered a large piece of pie for dessert and quickly eating that. When Harry was done inhaling his food Tonks paid their bill and they headed towards Diagon Alley to go back to Number 12 Grimauld Place.