AN - This chapter is dedicated to Bernard and Spinach. Happy Belated B-day!

Chapter 3 – Going to Gringotts

Harry was still cooking breakfast when Tonks arrived the next morning. The Dursleys weren't up yet, but, luckily, Tonks knew enough about muggles to know not to ring the doorbell so early in the morning.

Despite his trepidation – he'd spent most of the night thinking of Sirius and what he could have done – Harry couldn't help but smile at Tonks' colour scheme of the day. Her manner, and hair, had been somewhat subdued lately. Harry knew that part of that was because of Sirius' death, but suspected that the entirely natural-looking colours she'd displayed lately were also because she didn't to attract any attention while on Prive Drive. and subsequently annoy the Dursleys, who had been rather quiet about anything to do with magic. Harry appreciated it but had missed the florescent pinks and purples that now graced her head.

"Wother, Har! Ready to go?"

"Not quite, Tonks. Why don't you come in? I like the dreads."

"Thanks." As she followed Harry into the kitchen, she couldn't help but notice the silence that rang throughout the house.

"Dursleys not up yet?" Lazy gits.

"Nah, they won't be up for nearly a half hour. I'll be done in a minute, though."

It was then that she noticed the small feast that adorned the kitchen table. And there was still more coming, she realized, as she watched Harry expertly flipped pancakes.

"Di-did you do all of this?" He's a better cook than I am! Not that that's saying much, she added ruefully. Her culinary skills left much to be desired, but this boy, this 15 year-old boy, seemed to ooze the confidence of a seasoned chef who'd had years of experience. Wait a minute

"Do you cook breakfast often?"

"Everyday." By now, Harry had finished the pancakes and was finishing up what looked like more eggs than Hagrid could eat. "I mean, I'm up anyway, most mornings, and it helps smooth things over with Uncle Vernon, ya know?"

"hmm" was the only response he got.

"and it's not like I'm not use to doing it…" He trailed off, realizing what he'd just said. Hoping that Tonks hadn't noticed, he began turning off all of the burners.

"What do you mean?" Drat. So Tonks had been paying attention.

"Uh… ummmmm…You see…"

"Harry."

He sighed. "I've been cooking breakfast since I was tall enough to see over the stove-top."

"I see." And she did. He got up every morning so that the Dursleys didn't have to. He probably did lunch and dinner, too! Tonks began to get angry. She knew that he did the yard work – the Order members had reported it – but the cooking as well? He's not a house elf!

Harry must have noticed her sudden anger because he sighed and said "Don't worry about it, Tonks. I only do it to keep things civil around here. I'm not a little kid anymore." Then, desperately casting about for a change of subject, he asked, "Do you think I'm dressed OK? I had no idea what to wear."

"Mhmmm." She didn't want to drop the subject, but turned her attention to his clothes. And it was a good thing, too. His overlarge jeans and t-shirt were not at all appropriate, which she said at once.

"I thought about wearing robes, but my dress ones are too small."

"Don't worry. I can take care of this." At his nervous glance, she sighed. "DON'T worry! Transfiguration's my specialty." She thought for a moment, then changed his clothes into black slacks and a green t-shirt that fit properly. The transformation was spectacular. Tonks had to remind herself to breathe. Unlike the sweats she usually sow him in, the tight shirt and comfortable slacks emphacized his lean legs and well muscled torso. The green of the shirt made his eyes glow behind his glasses and, despite the pain and sorrow she saw in their depths – or perhaps because of it – Tonks decided that a girl could get lost in that emerald gaze. Merlin, if he were only 5 years older… She blushed, glad that Harry hadn't been taught legimancy.

"-ot bad, Tonks, not bad. Thanks" Harry was examining his clothes with a pleased expression. "Let's get going."

"Aren't you going to eat anything?"

There was a pause.

"No – I had some toast earlier." And he led the way out of the house, trying to ignore the thoughtful look on Tonks' face.

Ginny Weasley was having a bad day. No, scratch that – she was having a bad summer. She never thought that she'd admit it, but she missed her brothers. Over the last four years, she'd gotten used to having at least one brother around to talk to.

She'd gotten used to Bill and Charlie not being there – they'd left school before she'd even started. Of course, she saw more of Bill now that he'd moved back from Egypt, but he was always at work or on Order buissiness. She had adjusted to Percy's abscense, although the way that he'd upset her mum and dad still pissed her off. It was her youngest brothers that she really missed. Fred and George were busy with their shop and with inventing. They'd really shown Mum. And they had – WWW's was extremely popular. And busy. she sighed. She'd barely seen them this summer. And Ron was too busy starring into Hermione's eyes to talk to his sister. It was about time though. The only person who'd been more annoyed with their dancing around was Harry.

Harry! Ginny cursed quietly. She'd never written him! Even after Tonks' rant, she'd forgotten. Here I am, moaning because I don't have anyone to talk to and I could have been writing to Harry, who really doesn't.

She hurried into her room and pulled out a sheet of parchment.

Dear Harry,

It wasn't the most dignified of entrances. In fact, that was downright embarrassing. Harry thought wryly as he picked himself up from the floor in front of the fire place. You'd think I'd be use to it by now. He knew that it took practice to land properly from flooing – and I haven't had much of that. Particularly in last year.

"Very smooth."

Startled, Harry glanced up from brushing soot off his robes. Standing by the door to the office he was in – at least this isn't the Leaky Culdron or someplace else where I could have really embarrassed myself. – was Bill Weasley, with a smirk on his face.

"I'd've thought that you would be a little more graceful."

"Yeah, yeah. I'll get the hang of it eventually."

There was a woosh! as Tonks stepped out of the fire. As Harry turned to greet her, Bill took a quick survey of Harry, trying to hide his concern. He'd hoped that some of the weariness he'd seen yesterday was due to the back-breaking work those muggles had him doing. But, if anything, Harry looked even more tired than he had the day before. Bill was glad to see, however, that Harry was dressed nicely and appropriately – the goblins placed a lot on first impressions.

"Are we ready, then?" Tonks asked, breaking Bill out of his reverie.

"yep." Harry nodded, although he looked a nervous enough that Bill felt the need to say something.

"Don't worry, Harry. This is just a formality, OK? There should be no surprises." He waited until he got a nod of acceptance from Harry, and then turned towards the door. "Good. Now, if you'll follow me. Sirious's account manager has an office on this floor. We won't even have to go through the lobby."

They walked in silence for a while, Tonks and Bill keeping an eye out for anything coming their way. Eventually, they left the small corridor that they'd been following and came out onto a large, brightly-lit hallway with doors every few feet. It was only a few seconds before Bill stopped at one with the name "Patterson", which he knocked on.

"Come in."

Bill gave Harry a reassuring smile. "Just go right on in. We'll be waiting for you here."

Panic swelled in Harry. "What? You aren't coming in?"

"We can't, Harry." It was Tonks who answered. She, too, gave him a reassuring smile. "This is private business. Even if we wanted to intrude, we wouldn't be allowed in. Neither of us is your guardian."

The thought of the Dursleys sitting down in Gringott's to discuss Harry's finances brought a smile to Harry's face. "Well, that's not going to happen."

"Right. So off you go."

With one last look behind him, Harry entered the room.

10 minutes later, Bill was ready to go. He didn't like standing around doing nothing or even just standing around. Since he couldn't sit down – there were no chairs and sitting on the floor would be unprofessional – he tried to appease the restlessness by walking around.

"Would you stop pacing!" Tonks growled, thouroughly tired of the constant movement. "I've never met a guy as keen to start shopping as you are."

"I hate shopping, thank-you-very-much. I also hate doing nothing."

"hmmm…" Tonks grimaced inwardly. She didn't know how to respond to that – in fact, she never knew how to respond to Bill Weasley. Something about him made her nervous. Not that he wasn't a nice guy. She like all of the Weasleys except Percy, but always got tongue-tied around Bill. Maybe it had something to do with how different he looked in comparison to the other Weasleys. His long hair certainly stood out. But he seemed nice. He certainly cared for his family – particularly his siblings. She'd seen him interacting with them at Grimauld Place. All of them, even Percy –probably- looked up for him. He was always ready to talk when they needed and he never seemed to stop worrying about them.

This included Harry, too. She'd noticed the look in his eyes when he saw Harry that morning.

He was concerned about how Harry was acting – so am ,I for that matter. She thought wryly. The had to do something before Harry did something.

"uh … Bill? Have you noticed…" but before she could finish, Patterson's door opened and Harry poked his head out.

"Could you guys come in here for a minute? I need a favor."

NEXT: In Patterson's office and it's time to shop!

AN - I know that this is short - sorry! There should be a longer chapter soon.

Reviews

InsomniacBoader - Yes, Harry will rebel, but not as much as you'd think. This isn't going to be a dark fic but will be able to kick Dumbledork ass.

Bernard and Spinach - Yes, he's buff. Deal. Oh, and he will NOT be a brat in this one.

Chris - Thanks, I think.

Destined Enchantress - Thank you.Yes, England was great - and certainly different from Wisconsin. And it will help with the story a bit.