Harry Potter and the Clash of Souls
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling and her fantastic creation, including its characters, places, and things belong to her and her alone. Being inspired, and being bereft of book six; I do nothing but emulate and elaborate. Thisis not intended to steal from her work, or for any monetary benefit.
-CHAPTER FIVE-
A Change To Nostalgia
Harry had spent the last couple of days since his birthday mostly reading through his Occlumency book. If he was going to ask Snape to continue his training, he wanted to know in advanced exactly what he was supposed to learn. He wouldn't blindly listen to Snape and let him treat him roughly as he passed it off as teaching him. He had never provoked Snape before, and by Merlin he wouldn't start now, and if doing his best in Potions would stop Snape from picking on him, then he would do his best.
Of course that didn't mean he was going to be a push over this year, neither did it mean he would retaliate with either words or fists if he was provoked. If there was one thing that Umbridge hammered home to him last year, it was that everybody had different methods to get their own back. He just had to find his own ways, his own distinct approach to get around such things.
Last year he was stupid to think that telling McGonagall what was happening in Umbridge's detentions was a sign of weakness. That it would mean she had won in some twisted game of control he had believed they were playing. McGonagall had told him straight not to give Umbridge any reason to have to deal with him, but he hadn't listened. He didn't think at all whom he was dealing with. Umbridge was dangerous and he didn't even consider it. That was one of his naïve moments leading him throughout that year; he didn't think Umbridge had any real power over him. Who was she to deny that he hadn't seen what he'd seen? Deny what he lived through? Deny the plain truth?
He knew if he did anything this year to provoke Snape, he would get his own back, just like how Umbridge did during each of her detentions. She asserted her power over him without even the use of her wand. Snape found him insufferable just because he was his father's son, and now that he knew his worst nightmare, well, he wouldn't be surprised if that dislike grew ten fold. This was why he was spending his morning digging through his trunk for all his potions essays. He had glanced over some of his older ones already, but now he was beginning to really look at what he wrote in earnest. If Snape couldn't find a reason to criticise his work in lessons, then supposedly that would be one less thing Snape would have against him.
Moonstones have a soft attractiveness that is in contrast with the flashing angles of the majority of precious stones.
Superstitious Muggles regarding the gem in medieval times believed that a moonstone held in the mouth would stimulate and refresh the memory or even foresee the future in prophetic dreams.
The moonstone is one in few gems that will hold a Wizard's charms for later use due to its natural magical properties, most noticeable the balancing of volatile emotions. It was in this medieval time that Wizards used gem charming widely as a special gift for children and their betrothed. Each gem was made into jewellery that was worn all the time once given. For children a gem was usually spelled with a memory charm to improve or help them remember things, as for the betrothed in mind, it was an efficacious love charm that helped the joining of two houses to a certain degree.
Gem charming slowly declined when the magical items fell out of favour, mostly due to the gradual decrease in the necessity of Pureblood family relations.
This was one of the first essays he had done in his third year, and reading over it really did put things into prospective. Snape still gave him equally bad marks for anything he did no matter what. This essay on moonstone fragments in potions sounded to him pretty well done for his age back then. Not to mention from what he wrote in one part of his essay; he could have done well with a few moonstones last year, considering the supposedly magical properties they held.
"Happy Belated Birthday Harry!"
Tonks had somehow managed to make it into his bedroom without him knowing. She was currently disguised as Natalie though so he figured she had done it without the aid of magic, but it still scared the hell out of him.
Mistaking his shock for pleasant surprise, Tonks pulled him into a one handed hug whilst pressing something into his hands.
"Here you go. It's from Remus by the way. He wanted to come, but the full moon..." She said with a shrug. "So I offered to drop it round for him, besides I'm taken you to Diagon Alley to get your present."
"Tonks you don't have to get me anything. Just taking me to Diagon Alley is good enough. I haven't been in ages."
"Yeah I know a little birdie told me." She said with a smile. "Well consider this an extra treat then, besides all Auror's have them."
Tonks' last statement peaked Harry's curiosity, but before he could ask what it was, she reminded him to open his latest gift. Tearing off the wrapping paper and opening a box, he was left surprised to say the least. All that was inside was a set of plain robes. He knew he needed more clothes, but this was just silly. He paused trying to think of something nice to say, but his brain just wouldn't work.
"Well? Take them out the box then. I want to see them on you!"
Tonks sounded just too eager about some plain robes that he instantly felt weary. Instead now his brain began to spin out different wild imaginings. The foremost being Remus standing just outside his door holding his real present, and the robes were hiding some kind of prank that would somehow thoroughly embarrass him, not to mention make him look completely stupid too. Throwing just a little caution to the wind he slowly took the robes out of the box and was struck dumb. As the natural morning light fell upon the plain robes, they seemed to transform in front of his eyes, from the bare colour they were, to an astounding blend of whites, greys and gold.
"They're battle robes for formal duelling, mostly competition stuff. McGonagall's been dropping hints that this year's professor will be much better then the last one. I have a feeling you might need a set of these, and if you don't…well it's good to have anyway. So with a little prodding, I managed to convince Remus to get you a set." She said with a wide smile.
"Its amazing. How comes it changed colour though?" Harry said as he gazed at the robes.
"That's because they're charmed to suit whatever natural light you're in. If there's hardly any light, I suppose this set of robes white would change to black and the gold would change to silver. I'm not quite sure what Remus asked for when he got it, but that should be near enough the standard. Well aren't you going to try it on?"
Nodding he turned away from Tonks, a slight tinge across his cheeks as he took off his t-shirt. Putting on the now white undergarment shirt that buttoned up along his right hand side, he then paused once more to look at the outer robes. They were edged with gold before merging into a light grey; the sleeves at the moment were pure white, which led up to dark grey shoulders and downwards to equally coloured wrist protections that had dark silver buckles. He supposed he had to fasten them on to himself to make sure they were secure.
He must have been taking to long admiring his robes because Tonks made an audible sigh of annoyance and took the robes from his hand and put them on for him. She tucked one side of the robes around his body and tied it to a little piece of cloth he hadn't noticed earlier. The other side of the robes were then tucked over the first side and tied in a similar way. Taking out the last thing from the box, which was a small dark golden belt, she tied it around his waist hiding the two knots of cloth. She finally finished by tightening all the buckles and turned him around so he could look at himself in the mirror.
"It really suits you Harry, can't wait to see what it looks like in the dark. I suppose Remus was telling the truth when he said he did have taste after all."
Harry chuckled slightly, but his attention was drawn to the engraved Lightening bolt that were lightly indented into the metal clasp of his belt, and also darkly stitched into his wrist protections. You could hardly see them from far, but Harry thought it gave his new robes a personal touch, even if it was to do with his blasted scar.
"It feels like this ones made mostly from Dragon hide, though I could be wrong. I have to ask Remus more about all this when I see him. I wonder how he managed to get the sizing almost right." Tonks said more to herself then him as she too admired the robes. "These robes should protect you from any lasting affects from any minor jinx's or curses, but I doubt it would stop any of the initial contact from the spells. Altogether, the perfect training gear I suppose. It'll allow you to learn the affects of the spells you practice with, but will cut the recovery time by half. Here, stand up and let me stun you; you'll see you wake up faster then before." Tonks said pulling out her wand smiling.
"No! That's all right! I believe you!" Harry said hurriedly backing up and falling onto his bed with his arms thrown up in an attempt to protect himself from anything Tonks might do.
"Spoilsport that was going to be my first demonstration. I bet I could be a good sales rep." She said after poking her tongue out.
Shaking his head, Harry started to take the robes off; thinking to himself, without them on Tonks wouldn't be able to surprise him with a tester of the robes full stop.
"So these are the battle robes then? I mean kind of like the ones Auror's wear, yeah?" He asked.
"Nope, this sets purely for exhibition duelling, though they're called battle robes they're aren't as complex as the ones we Auror's use for full on raids. They're further advanced ones for actual battle, but I've never had the chance to use a set before. They haven't been issued out to Auror's for a long time now, I think…not even since Mad Eye was in his prime." She paused for a moment to think on it. "Well that doesn't matter right now, but I know it's going to bother me till I remember exactly when they were last used.
"Anyways you can also get battle robes that Pureblood families have tailored to each of their family crests. They're usually past down throughout the generations, but I think only the prestigious Pureblood families now still do all the ceremonies according to the old times. I know mother said the Black family used to do so, and I think the Malfoy's too, but I doubt there aren't that many more who still do."
Harry listened to what Tonks had said; it was all quite interesting really. He hadn'tknown that much about being an Auror before Tonks told him anything. He didn't really know anything about what it meant to be a true Pureblood either, well other then through his own experiences with others of the kind, most noticeably the Malfoy's.
"Come on let's get you packed up. Dumbledore warned me to take every precaution when we're out, and having all your stuff on you if we run into anything is a good start." She explained at his confused look, he thought they were only going for the day. "Anyways I've been practicing."
Tonks quickly said some spells and everything floated into his trunk, much neater than the last time she packed for him, though his sock still hadn't managed to fold up into themselves completely.
"You should let Hedwig out. She'll be able to find you wherever you are, so you don't have to worry about her. That's everything yeah?"
At Harry's nod she pulled out a bent spoon and a sealed letter from her pockets. Making sure it was the right one she chucked it on his bed saying that it was a message for the Dursleys from Dumbledore.
"Now that the Ministry aren't watching you like last year we can travel like this instead of having to fly."
Harry froze.
"The ministry was watching me?" he asked disbelievingly.
"Of course they were. Why do you think the Order was looking out for you last year? Fudge wanted to use anything against you to turn you against the public and discredit your comments about Voldemort coming back. That was one of the reasons why that old toad Umbridge got the jobat Hogwarts,instead of a Ministry representative that was actually trained to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"I thought…I thought Dumbledore had the Order watching me because of Voldemort. I never even thought about Fudge going into such detail to discredit me, I just believed it started and finished with what the Daily Prophet was saying about me. Even when Umbridge admitted sending those Dementors after me I never made the connection." He said mostly mumbling to himself.
Before now Harry didn't realise how dangerous Umbridge actually was. She wasn't just a Witch hell bent on controlling everything at Hogwarts, making sure that everyone followed the rules to the Ministry's letter. She was part of the Ministry and she wielded real power that he didn't take seriously before. Fudge wasn't a bumbling fool, he did what he thought was right and he managed to convince too many people that he was just a boy who told lies for attention, even if it wasn't true. He'd have to be careful what he said this year that was for certain.
"All right Harry, grab the spoon and we can go."
"Don't you want to…you know? Disillusion me so no one can see me?"
"Harry, we're going to Diagon Alley, not to a secret location. Just try and keep a low profile." She said exasperated, but Harry merely pointed to his scar, which his hair still didn't completely cover.
"Hmmm, your right, maybe I should disguise you a little. Longer hair for a start and let's change the colour as well. I'm partial to pink, but somehow I don't think you'd carry it off quite as well."
With a wave of her wand, Harry soon felt his scalp start to tingle and he made his way over to his mirror. His usual messy black hair had now changed to a light brown, which covered most of his forehead and tickled the back of his neck. It wasn't long enough to tie back, but it did the trick to hide his scar far better, and being that little bit longer helped it to sit better on his head.
"I think you should change my eye colour as well, it seems like everyone knows I have eyes like my mothers." He said staring into his reflection wondering how odd he would look like with different coloured eyes.
"Have you started self-transfiguration yet in school Harry? More importantly on your eyes?"
"Er, no not yet. Haven't actually done any self-transfiguration, only on animals so far, but I know from the notes we'll start it later in the year. Why'd you ask?"
"I better not then. I can remember when my friends first started to transfigure their eyes back at Hogwarts, and nearly all of them blinded themselves temporarily when it came down to it. Besides me being me, I haven't exactly had a lot of practice at transfiguring others, mostly just hair really, which is the easiest bit seeing as it's not actually alive."
Harry nodded his head just about to suggest something else when Tonks interrupted him.
"If you think someone recognises you or you see someone who you think will cause a scene, just warn me all right? I'll do my best at changing your eye colour, but then I'll have to get you straight out of Diagon Alley so you can recover just in case I mess up. It's better to be safe then sorry Harry, and I need you watching everywhere making sure that it's all safe. You can't do that if you can't see."
Harry nodded once, quickly agreeing with her.
"Look at me for a second Harry."
"All right?"
Tonks focused on Harry's face and he watched as her eyes, mouth and nose grew smaller, almost slightly changing her face into the feminine version of Harry. She then scrunched up her face and shook out her hair as it gradually changed to a lighter longer brown of what Harry's new hairstyle now looked like.
"Wow Tonks."
"Figured this would help the disguise better. At the odd chance anyone asks we're brother and sister who go to Hogwarts. That all right?"
"Hmm…What? Yeah that's fine."
The likeness was really uncanny, and he couldn't quite concentrate on anything else until she turned away to pick up the old bent spoon. They each placed a hand upon the portkey and in the next few seconds and a jerk behind the bellybutton; Harry was once again heading to Diagon Alley.
The patrons in the Leaky Cauldron didn't even bat an eyelid at their arrival, or either when Tonks pulled him towards the back of the pub and out to the little area filled with rubbish.
Tonks quickly tapped the back wall bricks in the correct order, and after three years away Harry stepped through the portal to the alley. A wave of nostalgia overtook him as he remembered his awe and amazement the first time he'd entered this place. He'd wished then that he'd had more eyes to see everything around him, but that now seemed like another lifetime ago. He'd been a child then, innocent and naive.
Although Diagon Alley had always seemed so busy to Harry in the past, there wasn't that many people out today. It was probably because there was still a lot of time until school term started. He figured the biggest crowds must be when the families came to shop for the new books and other equipment for Hogwarts. He supposed that was why he was already excited about the quieter street. He felt more relaxed looking into the storefront windows, and of course there was less chances of him being recognized.
Just like all the other times he had visited the alley, he was first guided towards the huge old goblin building of Gringotts so he could get some money. It didn't take too long for him and Tonks to get down to his vault, and pretty soon they were free to start shopping.
"Come on lets go to my favourite shop first to get your present, I bet your dying to know what it is." Said Tonks as they were stepping out into the sunlight after being in Gringotts damp tunnels.
With the pace they were walking they were already nearly half way down Diagon Alley, and past most of all the shops he usually went to. He was rather sure that none of these ones would have been her favourite shop anyway; they were pretty much the normal essentials for your everyday Wizarding family household. The only place that was down where they were heading was the entrance to Knockturn Alley, but she wouldn't shop down there, would she?
"Tonks we aren't heading to where I think we are, are we?" he asked.
"What Knockturn Alley? Yep that's where we're going."
"But it's filled with Dark Art shops and criminals. You can't be serious!"
Tonks took one look at Harry expression before she burst out into laughter, attracting some irritated glances from passing customers. Well the customers weren't the only ones who were irritated with Tonks laughing. After all he remembered Mrs Weasley saying that Knockturn Alley wasn't the place for law-abiding people to go to.
"It's funny you still think that. Parents like to scare their kids with horror stories to make sure they stay in the main alley while they shop. Not all the shops in there are bad, it's just that stores like the one we're going to don't normally get the business that Madame Malkin gets, or any other of those stores in Diagon Alley for that matter. Most of the shops in Knockturn Alley aren't dark; they're just small, specialized stores that most people don't have the need for. Even the shops known for selling Dark Arts stuff don't openly display that it's not legal, would be really stupid wouldn't it?
"The MLE would be on their case all the time, and that would be bad for business. I doubt there's anything really dark going on so close to Diagon Alley, where loads of families shop anyway. I'm sure there are more then a few braver kids who've wandered down that alley, despite what their parents may say. What dealer of Dark Arts would take the chances of someone wandering in on their business, and telling everyone about it afterwards?"
Harry was just about to tell her about Lucius Malfoy selling things at Burgin and Burkes the summer before his second year, but Tonks interrupted his thoughts by announcing that they were already here and ushered him in. He doubted that he would ever enter a shop like this one by himself, the dark atmosphere and the seedy feel of the place was light years away from shops like Flourish and Blotts. He didn't care what Tonks said about Knockturn Alley, it would always seem like 'Dark Arts 'R' Us' to him.
The shop looked like a small bookstore, but all the different sorts of sharp looking weapons stacked around and above the shop, definitely didn't suit the comfortableness needed to look for a good book. Tonks didn't look that interested in the many daggers and swords that littered here and there though; she took him instead right to the back, past the owner who watched them with a wary eye, to a dark secluded corner.
Mounted on the walls and positioned on tables covered with glass were all sorts of different contraptions. Here and there he noticed things that wouldn't feel lost in Dumbledore's office, but the main items that stood out were the sneak-a-scopes and devices the fake Mad-Eye Moody had in his Defence Against the Dark Arts room.
"You're right handed yeah Harry?"
"Er…Yeah?"
"Good. I can get you one like mine then," she mumbled to her self.
"One what Tonks? What is it?"
"A wand holster, see I have one." She said with a smile as she rolled up her sleeve to show something strapped to her lower arm. "Most Auror's have them and they're dead useful in a pinch." She flicked her wrist and a wand shot out, which she grasped straight away. "See? No one sees it coming unless they suspect you have one; plus it safer then getting your arse blown off." She said with a light chuckle.
"Tonks, I can't believe your getting one of those for me. You don't-"
"I know I don't have to get you a present, but I wanted to. Plus when you start the Auror training program, I want my future student to be well equipped."
Harry was completely speechless he had forgotten what Tonks had offered to do for him, and it now really seemed like she actually meant. He felt his eyes start to sting, but dismissed it, smiling a wide smile in return that he couldn't help forming.
"I was thinking about getting you a dagger or something else nice and pointy, but Remus said that was too much. He can be such a spoils sport sometimes, like you would do anything stupid and fall on your dagger. Oh well, maybe next year." She said with a wink.
On the way to the counter Tonks stopped several times to quickly flick through a couple of books, each time saying that it be worthwhile to read. He had already heard of the of 'The Art of War', but had never had a copy he could read. He didn't mind buying that, but the dusty old book Tonks gave him next he wasn't quite sure about.
The text was very thin and hard to read, Tonks said it explained the different focuses for magic and was a good general all round read. He was about to put it back on the shelf when he flicked to the near to last chapter, 'Creation and Uses of Magical Implements', now that sounded interesting. He never thought before about exactly how a wand worked or how it was made, just that the wand chooses the wizard. He wasn't even sure if you were breaking the law if you owned another wand. He didn't think it was allowed as he hadn't heard or seen anyone in possession of two wands.
Really if you thought about it, there couldn't be just only one wand for you, or no other wands would work if you tried to use them. Ron and Neville managed with a wand they didn't pick out for themselves and they're seemed to work all right. Though he had to admit maybe that was why Neville wasn't that good at the practical side of lessons, and not just because he was a bit introverted. If you thought about it, and you did somehow create a focus for yourself, was there any guarantee that it would even work for you? Right now he didn't have a clue, but the idea did intrigue him enough that he finally decided to buy it with the other book Tonks had suggested.
Finally back on what he felt was the safer of the two alleys, and guided straight towards Flurish and Blotts, he was momentarily left to look for the books on his list. Tonks had offered to find any good books that she thought would help him during the last years of Hogwarts. Considering it wasn't that long ago since she left the school, she did have a general idea of what he would be leaning soon.
Some time later and a few books under his arm, a book with duelling wands on the cover caught his attention. He quickly flicked through the contents admiring the number of advanced hexes and curses that looked really interesting, luckily it turned out to be the last book on his school list. 'The Art of Dual: Know your opponent.' He tossed it on the counter next to Tonks couple of choices and the clerk added the price to his other purchases. Soon they were back outside walking down the alley.
Harry glanced at Tonks who was once again leading at apace just faster then a stroll. He had just finished stocking up his potions ingredients for the year when he was bundled into another shop.
Unlike the apothecary this shop held many more children, but that wasn't what he noticed first. For behind the counter were the Weasley twins and this was their brightly multi coloured shop, 'Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes.'
"Hey guys it's great to see you again." He said walking up tothe front past the children looking at the different types of merchandise.
The twins blinked at the same time, but returned the welcome nonetheless.
"And its great to see you again too. You've obviously been here before so no grand introductions are needed then to the Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes."
"Well my dear brother, your wrong there, your forgetting about our latest newest brand spanking invention."
"Of course, how silly of me to forget an introduction must be made to…this fine young chap…" one of the twins paused waiting for him to state his name. He was gob smacked to say the least, what were they playing at?
"My names Harry. You should know that." He said feeling angry and just a bit hurt that they didn't even stop their sells pitch.
"Well of course we know that Harry, but don't let your eyes deceive you now; here is the newest edition to the Weasleys-" Harry was gradually starting to lose his patience, but that soon didn't matter when Tonks erupted in a fit of laughter, interrupting the twins in the process.
"You dimwits, its Harry!" Tonks said as she changedback into a more recognisable adaptation of herself.
Both the twins shared an identical look of comprehension before moving closer to Harry, expecting his longer hair and the seemingly more weight he had put on.
"Mum's going to freak when she sees what you've done with you're hair Harry."
"Not to mention the colour too, she's going to flip now that she can't say how well your black hair went with your sparkling green eyes."
Tonks snorted as she tried to regain her composure at the twin's antics, but with a quick glance around the shop and a wave of her wand, Harry's hair was back to the same unruly raven black state.
"Brilliantly disguised Harry."
"Absolutely brilliant disguise." Said the other twin.
"Never thought how your hair made you stand out so much before Harry."
The twins suddenly looked at each other for a moment, andtheir eyes seemed to slightly widen in sync. Harry thought if this were a comic book, a lighted light bulb would've popped into existence above each of their heads.
"Dear brother of mine, I don't deny, we've just had a brilliant idea for a great new invention."
"Don't they say great minds think alike?"
The brothers then mock hugged, each pounding each other on the back and as suddenly as they started, they stopped. He didn't even bother to ask what was going on in their crazy minds; he knew they wouldn't spill their idea before they made it, just in cased they jinxed it he guessed. Oh well.
"So what brings you here old friend of mine?"
"Ah isn't that obvious? What better place then the Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes?"
"Of course! He's come for a full test of the products. That's our business partner for us."
"Yes dear brother, it's such a sight. Personally testing each and every product himself so nothing harmful may come into contact with his esteemed public."
"Well what shall we start him on?"
"Sorry boys, as much as I would love to see you torture Harry, we just don't have the time for it." Rescued Tonks, with humour greatly evident in her voice.
"No matter, we'll just get Ronnikens to do it for us."
"He loves helping his big brothers, doesn't he?"
"Oh certainly. Who better else to work for?"
"Oi Ron, get out her for a sec." Said Fred, Harry thought, shouting into the back of the shop.
Fred, he was pretty sure it was Fred now, walked into the back room when Ron hadn't come out. He wasn't gone long, but when he returned he was dragging a very tired looking Ron, who was clutching a broomstick and wearing dirty overalls. As soon as he spotted Harry his eyes widened and he shook his brother off to run the rest of the way to him, thumping him on the back as he gave him a one armed embrace.
"Harry! When did you get here? Have you already been around the Alley yet? Want to go into Quality Quidditch for a bit?" He asked quickly, already untying the back of his overalls.
"Hey! I thought you said you were tired? There still a whole load of Doxies in the back you just managed to let out, and we're not going to be the ones left to clean up your mess."
"Guys come on! I'll do it later." Ron said with the wave of his hand. "Harry's here!"
"And Harry will be here still later, but there will be twice as many Doxies when you get back. Watching you clean up that much mess just doesn't outweigh having an infection of pests in the back room."
"Come on guys, give the two at least a few minutes. I know Doxies don't spread that fast, besides Dumbledore wanted me to tell you something." Said Tonks as she guided the twins into the back room, but before she went in she turned back to give Harry a smallwink. He didn't think Tonks really had anything to pass on, but he was grateful for her thoughtfulness either way.
As they used up whatever little time Ron had to catch up with each other, Harry noticed that Ron appeared different. Well his physical characteristics were slightly the same, but it was the look on his face and the way he carried himself that had faintly changed. Ron always seemed to have that bright-eyed look, but now there was something there that he was trying to hide; he just seemed more sombre and ominous whenever anything remotely concerning Death Eaters came up in their conversation. It was as if he seemed to forget about his cheerful exterior and it faded away into something Harry just didn't want to think about. Harry shook it off though. He remembered thinking how different Remus looked and how he himself acted when he first got back to Privet Drive. It made him wonder again if the death of Sirius affected not only just him, but also everyone who knew him for that short time? Or was it just something else Ron hadn't told him about yet?
The conversation was drifting again to the thoughts of Death Eater plans, and Ron was gradually getting quieter.
"So is Ginny here as well in Diagon Alley then?"
Harry couldn't identify what the look Ron just gave him was about, but he thought it might be surprise. If it was he didn't know what for, he might not have asked about Ginny in recent times, but the change in conversation was justified, and also he wanted to thank her for his birthday present.
"Yeah she is. I hope the day out is enough for her to get over her disappointment on not being a Prefect." Said Ron rubbing his forehead, obviously thinking back to whatever happened.
"I didn't know she wanted to be a prefect," said Harry surprised.
"Well its not that she really wanted to be a prefect. I mean she wouldn't have mind being one, but she really wanted to get a new broom like what mum did for me last year. You know she wants to try out for chaser, and she doesn't think her broom can cope anymore."
Harry was just about to comment when Tonks and twins came out of the back room. He was pretty sure that he noticed each of them held quite serious expressions before their faces broke out into warm smiles. Harry didn't have time to think about that though, as it was time for them to move on and let the others get back to work.Apparently the Doxies where getting harder to control, and so it was a decidedly much more irritable Ron he watched disappearing into the back,as he made his way outside with Tonks.
It wasn't too far from Quality Quidditch Supplies when Tonks noticed the last of the red headed Weasleys walking back from the store with a cheerless look on her face.
"Hey Ginny." Harry shouted waving her over.
"Harry its great seeing you again," she said giving him a quick hug before turning to the extra presence that was near them.
"Oh Ginny…"
He drifted off just seeing Cho Chang and Michael Corner making there way over to them, he thought Ginny must have noticed as well, for she gave a slight groan and forced out a fake smile.
Not really wanting to have to talk to her, he nudged Tonks to get her attention and with a wave of her wand, he felt the familiar slight pain on his scalp, but also his eyes started to water as the same tingling feeling flowed outward from the centre of his pupil.
It was odd how his stomach didn't back flip by just being in the presence of Cho. He presumed it was because he still felt kind of annoyed at the older girl. The last time they talked they really didn't part in the best of ways.
"Hi Ginny." Cho said looking around. "Umm... where did…have you seen Harry?" She asked puzzled.
Ginny was just about to say that he was right next to her, but with her eyes slightly widening and a small gasp escaping her as she looked back at the duo, she had just met up with, she was quite surprised to see an unfamiliar looking Harry and Tonks instead.
"I…err…?"
"Never mind." Cho said frustrated, as she turned her focus on the other people who she felt looked closer to her age. "Well Ginny, aren't you going to introduce us to your friends?"
"Erm…yeah, this is..."
"Dora." Tonks quickly said.
"Yeah…and this is…err…"
"Black, Ethan Black" Harry said quickly making Tonks snigger.
"Yeah, Ethan and Dora Black." Said Ginny, not noticing that shegave a nervous laugh, apparently puzzledfor the reason for the act.
"Well its good to meet you Ethan."
Harry suddenly felt rather uncomfortable noticing how Cho gave him a stunning smile whilst ignoring Tonks completely, much to the annoyance of Michael. He was surprised himself that Michael paid no attention to Ginny what so ever, but then he remembered that they had broken up at the last quidditch match. Michael and Cho must be going out now he figured.
"Cho we've got to go now, we've got plans remember?"
Cho merely ignored Michael's attempts to move on, and slightly tilted her head instead. With an appraising look she narrowed her eyes, before saying,
"You looked so like my friend Harry when I was further away. It's really odd that I thought you were him at first, but your hairs longer and lighter. Not to mention your eyes look almost purple when the light hits them right. I've never seen eyes like yours before, but I have to say they're almost on par with Harry's, he has the most strikingly green eyes I've ever seen," she said just a tad dreamily.
Harry was now quite sure that Michael and Cho were more then friends and if it wasn't for Michael being visibly annoyed at how Cho was acting, she would have noticed Harry's cheeks slightly turn a light shade of pink. Apparently Micheal had had enough and he pulled Cho away towards Fortescue's, without even giving her another chance to sayanything more.
"You're the regular little James Bond aren't you? To bad you don't share his smoothness with the ladies though."
"Who?" Ginny asked confused, but that didn't last long as she turned on Tonks with a raised eyebrow. "Dora? Since when have you been going by that?"
"I only use it when I'm on the job, don't get any funny ideas! It's still Tonks to anyone else, other then lowlife criminals who think I want in on power and Dark Arts."
"So what was that all about? Are you going to be hiding from Cho all year Ethan?" Said Ginny, laughing at the prospects of such a thing.
"Nah I just didn't want her spoiling my day, it's been great so far and I want it to stay like that. Besides, she probably would have dragged me off somewhere."
"Well you needn't have worried Harry, Madam Puddifoot's is nowhere near here."
"Oh ha…ha. Very funny."
"Well all the girls in Gryffindor were laughing at-"
"What?" Harry asked completely shocked at how this conversation was turning out. Did everyone know how his onetime with Cho ended up?
"What happened to lover boy over hear Ginny, and please don't spare the details." Tonks asked, her arm now thrown over Ginny's shoulder.
"Well it all started-"
"Ginny!"
"Oh we're just teasing you Harry, you didn't really expect me to miss that opportunity now, did you?" Tonks said poking out her tongue playfully.
Though he had missed the short look Tonks had quickly given Ginny, he still didn't feel comfortable with the two of them together at the moment, well what could he do? He thought to himself.
"Ron's at the twins store if you haven't been there already. I left him cleaning in the back room after the prat knocked over a cage filled with Doxies." Said Ginny, moving the conversation on.
"Yeah I've been there already, actually I was hoping to see you. The present you gave me was really amazing. I wasn't expecting anything."
"Yeah I know, but I finished it a while back, and I thought you might like the painting." She said with a small hint of pink rising across her cheeks as she enjoined the praise she received.
"So where to now?" Said Tonks after they started to gingerly walk down the alley. She had glanced at her watch again, but there must have been time for at least one more shop.
"Well I wanted to pick up some uncut moonstones so I could try charming them, but I'm not sure where I can buy any."
"Charming moonstones? Harry, charming gems and the like is just a myth." Said Ginny, but when Harry opened his mouth to protest Tonks interrupted.
"I'll see if I can get you some, but I won't make any promises. Like what Ginny said Gem charming, well...it's just old wives tales really."
Harry frowned to himself, he couldn't remember where he got the information for his essay from, but that could be one reason why he got such a low mark for it. He was taken from his thoughts when Tonks nudged him with her shoulder and gave a timid smile.
"Come on. I'll buy you a drink at the Leaky Cauldron."
Ginny had left themchoosing to go back to the twins shop to see how Ron was doing, deciding against the quick drink. They had only sat down for a moment however when a figure stopped by their table.
"Tonks? Bit earlier then we planned to meet up for, well all the better. Hello their Harry."
"Mr Weasley! I didn't expect to see you here." He said offering to let the man take his seat.
"Well..."
"Here let me return your trunk to normal so we can put all the stuff we bought inside. I better return Hedwig's cage to the right size too before you go." said Tonks
He had almost forgotten he would have to go back to Privet Drive and it seemed like Mr Weasley was here to take him back. He was enjoying himself so much more now that he was back in the Wizarding world that he couldn't help his shoulders from slumping.
"Don't look so sad Harry. Molly's looking forward to seeing you, and I doubt she would want to see you seeming so gloomy." Said Mr Weasley with his usual joyful smile.
"You mean I'm not going back to Privet Drive?" At his pleased nod Harry couldn't help feeling happier, but his smile faulted with what that meant. Was he going back to Grimmauld Place then instead?
This time they didn't seem to notice his mood as they guided him towards the fireplaces in the Leaky Cauldron. When he was standing near the warm flames, Mr Weasley gave him a smidgen of floo powder that he took from a pot next to the fireplace.
"Ok Harry. Throw the powder in and remember to call out nice and clearly now. 'The Burrow'."
Harry blindly went through the motion and soon was whisked away, flying through the Floo network before he even realised what he'd said.
He was finally going back to The Burrow.
Author Notes-
Thanks for reading.
As my Beta's MIA, I'll be looking to you to tell me if I've missed anything.
Please let me know what you think. - 'Review.'
I would,'t mind a lot more feedback, and if you've got any questions for me about the fic, feel free to ask them.
Thanks