Author's note: Some have asked and I can tell you very surly right now that this will NOT be Harry/Tonks. Nope. Not a ship I sail. Tonks, I see as someone who is old enough to know Harry is still pretty naïve about flirting and girls but young enough to get away with teasing him and goading him. My greater philosophy on Harry-shipping is that Harry is not someone who opens himself up very easily to other people. It has taken him a long time to become as trusting and as open as he is (and that's not all that much) with the good friends he has--Ron and Hermione. He has way too much crap in his life to simply be able to learn how to have a relationship with a completely new person who knows nothing of his baggage. Before Harry can find true, romantic love (if ever) he will have to first know what it isn't and what other kinds of love he already has. As you can see in my story summary, this fic will begin and be mostly H/Hr. You will see them begin to blur the lines of platonic friendship love, simple boy/girl teenage lust and real attraction as a diversion to the other crap that fills their minds. At this point, I kind of doubt they will be madly in love and planning names for children--but that's mostly because I just do not see either of them as those types of people. This is a story about a 16-year-old teenage boy; not many of them know what love really is and are much more likely to just follow their hormones and perhaps stumble upon love, if at all. I digress…on with the fic!!
Chapter 8. Plans to Do SomethingHarry could not recall being so happy since before the third task of the Triwizard Tournament. Even thoughts of Sirius couldn't deflate his mood. Harry knew that if Sirius were here to know the marks his Godson had earned, that Sirius would be ecstatic with glee. The evening after Harry had received his marks and after he had finally calmed down (he had given in and cast a silencing charm in his room so he could shout for joy at the top of his lungs at least once), he had written Hermione to tell her the good news and to ask how she had done. He knew Hermione would be thrilled with his success and would be eager to share her own results. Harry had then began a letter to Ron but then wondered if Ron would think he was bragging and then rationalized that since Hedwig was already away with his letter to Hermione, that he could write Ron later. The following morning, Harry's good mood had not dissipated any as he made his way down to the breakfast table.
"This is an OUTRAGE!!! A cook?! A security guard?!? A BUS DRIVER?!?!" Harry could immediately see that Uncle Vernon was back to his old charming, cheerful self as he spat across the food on the table while holding an open piece of post in his sausage-fingered hand. "No boy of mine is going to drive a bus!!! Now see here, these standardized testy thingys are biased against a creative young mind like my boy...they've been saying it for years!!!"
Dudley was staring open-mouthed in shock at absolutely nothing and most notably, was not eating despite there being a spread of food before him.
Harry thought it was quite obvious that Dudley had just received the results of his own Ordinary Level exams. Harry also silently agreed with his uncle that there is no way Dudley should be a bus driver; no way a boy like Dudley should be let to interact with the common public. Harry grabbed a piece of toast then headed quickly out the door to avoid being blamed for Dudley being the intellectual equivalent of a flobberworm.
Harry arrived later that day at Mrs. Figg's house around noon to find no one home and a note on the hall mirror telling Harry to make himself at home at wait as Mrs. Figg would be returning shortly. He was just staring out the window into the back garden when he was startled by the sound of a Floo, a 'thwump!' and a squeal as he was attacked by the squealing blur with an awful lot of bushy hair.
"Harry!! Did you get them? Oh! Of course you got them--Hedwig just gave me your note this morning!! Guess how I did?? I passed everything!! I got all Outstanding's except for the Astronomy practical--oh!--but I plan to write a contestation on the fact that there were considerable disrupt--"
"Ms. Granger, you might want to let him breath!" As a beaming and slightly flushed Hermione finally let go of Harry, he noticed that Professor McGonagall and Lupin had also arrived and were watching the two of them with slight amusement.
"I take it you did well on O.W.L.s then, Hermione?" Harry was also rather amused at her exuberance.
She was beaming, "Yes. But so did you! Oh, Harry, I am so proud of you!" She just could not help but bring him into another hug, this one with a kiss on the cheek, "I knew you could do it if you applied yourself!"
"Yes, Mr. Potter, I was also quite pleased with your performance. It may sound redundant now, but I also knew you had it in you." Professor McGonagall had stepped forward and given Harry a firm handshake in congratulations.
Lupin stepped forward next to grasp Harry's hand, "Hermione showed me your letter; well done, Harry." He pulled him closer for a manly one-armed hug and went on, "I know that your parents and Sirius would be very proud."
Harry surprised everyone by smiling at this and saying, "I know."
Lupin smiled back and went on, "I daresay if your father or Sirius were here they would be announcing your scores from the roof with a sonorous charm and throwing a bash.
"Why, I remember when we received our own O.W.L. marks that James and Sirius threw a tremendous bash. Your grandparents had taken an ill-timed trip out of town and left those two home alone and they proceeded to invite over nearly all of Gryffindor and even several students from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw houses that were in our year.
"A few hours in and several pints of ale and firewhiskey later, we had to drag your father out of the Floo because he was determined to invite your mother over. If we told him once, we told him a dozen times that muggleborns would not be on the Floo network." Lupin shook his head as he reminisced.
McGonagall's lips were in a straight line and her eyes narrowed, "Yes, I seem to recall a party in Gryffindor Tower at the end of your fifth year to celebrate the end of O.W.L.'s and then yet another one at the beginning of your sixth years to--what was the excuse? Ah yes, 'to celebrate the fact that it isn't fifth year'!" Her eyes sparkled with a fondness that belied her admonishing tone.
"Yes, well, it was all their ideas…" Lupin gave a wry smile and winked at Harry as he settled himself in a chair by the window.
"Mmmm…I'm sure. Well, to business now. Mr. Potter, Professor Dumbledore has already informed you, I believe, that it is his wish that this summer you receive training in defensive magic and, I believe he termed it, 'Life Preservation Skills'?" Harry nodded as he settled himself on the sofa next to Hermione. "Well, I have volunteered myself to help with this and to arrange a schedule for you for the remainder of the summer. Several members of the Order have volunteered their personal time to help you and I trust you will appreciate the sacrifices they have made and will dedicate yourself to learning all that you can?"
"Absolutely, Professor." Harry had been dying to try out many of the new curses and spells he had been reading about and was eager to begin doing something that would prevent him from sitting around and just wishing he could do be doing something. "There is just one thing, where can we go to do this?" The Dursleys would never allow anything in their home and Harry just couldn't see practicing blasting curses in Mrs. Figg's muggle home where anyone could peer through the window.
"Well, I am pleased to know you are aware that magic does not belong out amongst muggles. However, we have made some alterations to Arabella's potting shed out back that I think you'll find makes it quite a spacious and accommodating place." Harry thought this likely meant that they had enlarged the interior space and reinforced the building to withstand any magic. "Now, I myself will be training you each Thursday from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Kingsley Shacklebolt will be able to dedicate his Friday afternoons to your training. Alastor has agreed to work with you early each Saturday morning--and Potter, I warn you, he will check that you've polished your wand-- the man hasn't shut up about Hogwarts lacking in basic wand care instruction for the past week! Nymphadora will be dedicating her day off-Tuesdays - once she returns to work next month, but in the mean time, will be working with Remus here to fill in the other days with you. Oh yes, and Professor Dumbledore will meet with you each Sunday afternoon, himself. Are there any questions?"
She had handed Harry a schedule of whom he could expect to be with at what times and on which days. Hermione was reading over Harry's shoulder and sounded disappointed as she said, "I've already asked if I could join you but it was just a coincidence that I was able to even visit you today. I'll have to wait until you move to Headquarters until I can join in--at least to watch and learn."
Harry knew from his earlier chat with Dumbledore that Harry was only required to remain at Number Four for four consecutive weeks to qualify as 'his home'. "So, do we know when I will be moving specifically and will this schedule change then?" Harry had figured he would technically be able to leave the last week in July and was eager to leave the Dursleys--even if the alternative was dreary old Grimmauld Place.
Lupin answered, "I think Albus wants to work that out with you himself. You should be seeing him this Sunday for your scheduled training." Harry felt a surge of independence at the idea that he was finally at least being consulted in decisions affecting his life. Lupin continued, "We hadn't hoped that the Ministry would lift the underage magic ban so quickly. We had thought we would only be doing training after you were moved but when we got news, Albus insisted there was no time to waste."
Hermione added, "Don't worry about going back to Headquarters. It is loads better than last summer or even since you've last seen it at Christmas." She gave a slight smile and her eyes sparkled as she said, "I think you'll be quite surprised."
Wondering which, of the many possible improvements that could be made, had occurred, Harry narrowed his eyes and asked, "Is Kreacher still there?"
Hermione got a furious look on her face and Harry thought she just might have finally found a house-elf she for which she could not feel sorry. "Oh those BARBARIANS!"
Lupin was the one who explained, "It seems that when Kreacher went to Bellatrix or Narcissa or whomever he was serving, that he had requested that his 'punishment' for betraying Sirius would be his own death--that he might be properly beheaded as his ancestors before him." Harry had tensed at the name 'Bellatrix' but was thinking that it was quite all right with him that Kreacher was dead and gone as it saved him from having to restrain himself from strangling the wretched creature. He decided to change the subject and turned to Hermione, "So how was it you managed to get to visit this stunning town of Little Whinging?"
Hermione was beaming even more that she had earlier, if it was possible, but Lupin cut in before she could answer, "She was driving me crazy going on and on about her marks and how she was so happy about yours that I thought someone else should have to suffer to listen to her."
"Oh poo! You only take Owls once in your life--"
"Unless you fail too many--"
"Argh!!!" not to be distracted she was, "No-Harry, you won't believe what else both you and I get to learn!!!" Harry thought that Hermione just might explode if she didn't get to tell him her news. "Apparition!! Oh, isn't it wonderful?!" McGonagall and Lupin were both watching amusedly as Hermione was not about to let anyone else tell Harry this news, "See, I got to go the Ministry today apply for my training license since I'll be 17 in nearly two months, and when we got there, Emmeline Vance came over and gave us a training license for you as well!! Isn't it great! She said that Dumbledore had applied for it for you acting as your legal guardian. She said that they both had to pull a lot of strings but that you were allowed an early license since you were a special case! We get to train together!! It's one of the things that Tonks and Professor Lupin will be working on with us--isn't it great?" Harry watched as Hermione had went on with her explanation and cold not believe that one person could be so excited about learning one single thing. Her eyes were shinning with joy and anticipation and she was nearly quivering with excitement. Then it sunk in-- I get to learn apparition!!
"Wow…really?" He looked at Lupin to make sure Hermione had not been making it all up.
Lupin was smiling at the two of them, "Yes. As long as Hermione stops calling me 'Professor'."
She laughed at him, "But you are teaching us now again, aren't you? Speaking of teaching, is there any word yet on who will take on the Defense Against the Dark Arts post this year?" She looked warily, as did Harry, as Lupin and McGonagall frowned. The position had a reputation as bad as Hagrid's rock cakes.
McGonagall sniffed as she said, "The Headmaster seems to have someone in mind who might be interested--which is half the battle at this point. But I daresay you will be beyond N.E.W.T level by the end of the summer. The class may be a bit slow for your tastes depending upon who is brought in." Harry could easily see that someone with the talent of Umbridge or Lockhart would be good reason to continue with his own DA lessons, if the need arose. "Speaking of classes, Potter, I brought a N.E.W.T. Preparatory Course Sign-Up form for you to complete. Have you made your decisions?"
Harry had of course went over it the night before and so easily marked his advanced course selections, "Transfiguration, Charms, Potions--Ha!, Defense, and…do you have a suggestion for the fifth course? I was thinking about Care of Magical Creatures…?"
Hermione gasped and whispered, "Harry! Who knows what you might have to work with in Hagrid's advanced class…" She looked downright fearful.
"Exactly, Hermione. So if we don't sign up for it, who will?" He gave her a hard look that clearly said he expected her to show up for the class as well.
"Oh why not Herbology or Astronomy-- you qualify for both of those-- or look!! Divination-- there is no minimum requirement for Divination-- you could do that?" She was quite clearly grasping at straws if she was desperate enough to suggest Divination as a course. Harry gave her a look that conveyed he was in no way buying it. She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms and pouted, "Oh fine."
McGonagall surmised as she finished marking on Harry's form, "So two for Hagrid's class? I'll add it to your list Ms. Granger." She looked at Harry and then leaned towards him, "Completely off the record of course," she had her mouth quirked in a half smile and went on, "I can't wait to see Professor Snape's reaction to seeing you on his attendance list. He was sure you would not qualify." She had a full out self-satisfied smirk on her face now, "But I warned him…that if he insisted on pushing my Gryffindors so hard and giving out such advanced work and always holding them to such high standards that he just might ensure they join him for an additional two years." She smiled broadly, "It seems that with two of his favorites in one class-- yourself and Mr. Longbottom--that he produced for the first time since he began, an entire class of Gryffindors who passed their Potions O.WL.! Oh, he will be sooo pleased!" She was sighing and grinning like mad. Harry thought she looked rather frightening like this and could only imagine that Snape would be beyond frightening if both he and Neville showed up for the advanced Potions course. But he doubted that Neville would have earned an Outstanding and would volunteer for the class. Smart man.
As McGonagall, Lupin and Hermione prepared to leave through the fireplace, Harry asked, "So, has Mrs. Figg always been on the Floo network?"
Lupin answered, "No, Arthur was able to pull some strings through a friend in the Floo Regulation Panel to get her discreetly hooked up. If you needed, you could call or get to Hogwarts--Dumbledore's office is open to you--if there was an emergency, of course. Grimmauld place is calls only--no entry. We Floo'd here from The Leaky Cauldron after leaving the Ministry. We'll be going back that way. See you soon and take care, Harry." He gave Harry a squeeze on his shoulder, as was their customary parting.
Hermione stopped as she recalled, "Oh yes, and I hoped you wouldn't mind-- I sent Hedwig on to Ron and gave him news of our scores and told him to write back and let us know how he did." Hermione was smiling sadly, a little reluctant to leave Harry all alone again but gave Harry a warm embrace and impishly whispered into his ear, "And I almost forgot, I like your new haircut." before she followed Lupin into the fire.
Professor McGonagall had finally recovered from her evil-grinning fit and gave Harry a last firm handshake and promised to see him next week Thursday at ten o'clock sharp and reminded him to be ready for Shacklebolt tomorrow and then Moody on Saturday, "And don't forget to polish your wand!" With that, she was gone in a roar of green flames.
As Harry walked back to Privet Drive, remembering the feel of Hermione's breath in his ear, he was grateful for being able to do magic and thus being able to cast a silencing spell as he thought, "I just might have to polish my wand, indeed."
A/N: I admit it-- I am way too amused with my coined phrases about "polishing the wand" but hey-- he is nearly 16-- this is what boys this age do, isn't it?!?!?