Harry marched towards the castle. He passed several students, all of whom stopped to gawk at the man carrying the woman who was only wearing a coat. When he reached the castle steps, the doors burst open on their own. It was a little odd, but Harry did not care at the moment. Harry strode towards the hospital wing. When he arrived the hospital door also burst open, and aged woman was standing before him. She motioned for him to bring the woman into the room. Harry laid her on the bed chosen by Madam Pomfrey.
"Harry, I've seen you come in here with everything from missing bones to sword cuts." The nurse started"Never before have I seen anything like this though. I'm sure you can tell me exactly what happened?" The nurse looked Harry in the eyes as she said this. Her aged face exhibited a kind expression.
Harry told her exactly what happened. Madam Pomfrey, the nurse was a shade of green when he finished. "You need to leave now; the procedures and examinations I have to use for this are quite personal. You may wish to see the headmistress to explain why you are here." Harry nodded.
After the nurse pushed Harry out of the hospital wing; he headed towards the headmistress' office. Harry wondered down the familiar hallways; avoiding students if he could. Though he wasn't in the media spotlight at the moment, he was still famous. When he reached the gargoyle statue that guarded the office, Harry suddenly remembered he didn't know the password. He tried several of the older ones, but they had little effect.
"You know, you sodding statue" Harry glared at the statue"I did graduate my N.E.W.T. Transfiguration class. I could do some really mean magic to you. I could probably transfigure…" Harry decided not to finish the sentence, because the statue had moved aside. Apparently Harry had mistakenly found out the password. When Harry reached the top of the stairs, he knocked on the door softly.
"Enter." A woman said behind the door. Harry walked in. He had to smile at the familiar surroundings. This room had not changed at all. Portraits of former headmasters and headmistresses donned the walls and a ragged looking wizard hat stood on a pedestal of its own. He had to have set a record for the amount of time spent in here. The head mistress sat at her desk. Her hair was pulled back in its traditional bun. "Why Harry, what are you doing back here. I thought you had left for good."
"Well, Ma'am, I just find it to hard to leave home." Harry smiled at his old teacher.
"Harry, now that you're no longer a student you may call me Minerva." She smiled at him. "So, Harry what does bring you here?" Harry told his tale. Minerva was no longer smiling. "I do hope the poor girl will be ok. She was fired from the Ministry a few weeks ago. She just left after that. No one has seen her for a while. Not even the Order."
Harry was more then a little surprised. "Why was she fired?"
Minerva smiled. "She accidentally spilled extremely hot coffee on the Minister… six times."
Harry couldn't help it, he laughed out loud. The Minister of Magic was a crabby old man; an ex auror if Harry remembered correctly.
Harry asked Minerva if she knew of the punishment for sex crimes in the muggle world. She didn't know. Harry who had grown up among muggles had not paid attention to that particular law when he was young; he had not been in the real muggle world for quite sometime now that he was an adult. Thanking Minerva for her time, Harry left for the hospital wing.
Harry arrived at the hospital wing just in time to see Madam Pomfrey open the door. She smiled weakly at him. She allowed him into the hospital wing, which was empty except for Tonks who seemed to be asleep. She had been cleaned up since he had been here last. Her face was no longer discolored, and she was dressed in a hospital gown. None of the former blood was to be seen either.
"Harry, this was very serious. We're out of the worst part, but there is still a very long way to go." Madam Pomfrey stated gravely.
"What is wrong?"
"Nothing physical; I could fix all of that." A small amount of pride showed from the woman as she spoke these words.
"What about…" Harry was about to ask about the possibility of pregnancy.
"There was no chance at her becoming pregnant. She is witch; there is long term protection available. Nymphadora was very responsible in that aspect."
Of course, thought Harry, potion could do everything. There was a potion to prevent pregnancy; it was fairly easy to brew as well. It protects the individual until an antidote is taken.
"So, she will be ok?" Harry asked becoming hopeful.
"Physically, yes. Mentally not yet. You have to understand what she has just gone through. She will need someone to help her cope with what she has gone through. It is very possible that she will be traumatized from her experience. Since you were the one to find her, why don't you sit here and wait for her to wake up?" Harry opened his mouth to ask a question but the witch cut him off. "You were he first person she saw afterwards, you rescued her, and she and you are already friends. You are the logical choice in the matter.
"Are you sure that would be okay"
"Yes, Nymphadora has already become accustomed to your presence. Harry, you must also understand that, like the former headmaster, you have a certain calming presence about you. You cause those around you to feel calm and safe."
Harry nodded, deciding not to comment on what the nurse had said. He pulled a chair up to the bed and sat watching Tonks slumbering features. Eventually, Harry fell asleep.
Soon, Harry was awakened by somebody thrashing around beside him. It was a moment before he realized it was Tonks. She was having some sort of nightmare.
"Tonks!" Harry said. "Tonks, calm down!" Suddenly, upon hearing her name, her eyes flew open. The first person she saw was Harry; she screamed. "Tonks, it's me Harry! Please calm down!" She calmed as he named himself. She began crying.
"Shhh, it's ok." Harry looked around for the nurse; she wasn't in the hospital wing. Harry was a little uncomfortable with the crying Tonks. He had no experience with this. Harry decided just to listen to and comfort her. "You're going to be alright."
"Harry, it was terrible! They wouldn't let me go." She had to stop because she began to cry uncontrollably. When she was calmed down again she started again, "The got me from behind. I… I… I tried to use my wand but they broke it. What they did was…" She broke down again.
"It was terrible." Someone spoke from across the room. Harry looked; it was none other then Albus Dumbledore. Fresh from the beach, Albus sported a slight tan. He walked over and stood beside Harry. Harry caught the faint smell of coconuts. Harry who was still holding Tonks felt her tense up when Dumbledore came closer. Her entire demeanor changed, she hung her head and let her shoulders fall. "Are you alright Nymphadora?" Dumbledore put his hand down on her shoulder; she immediately drew away from him. She was shaking violently now. If Dumbledore was offended by this, he didn't show it.
Tonks began to change while Harry held her. Instead of the striking blond that he had been holding, a brunette now occupied his arms. Harry, though unsurprised by the change, was surprised by what she had changed into. Usually, Tonks choose something to stand out. But, Harry reasoned with himself, she does not want to stand out right now. She would rather be able to disappear into the crowd. Harry continued to hold the girl in his arms.
Dumbledore stood and motioned for Harry to follow him. When they were far enough away from Tonks to where she could not hear them, Dumbledore spoke.
"Harry, this is a most terrible thing. Nymphadora is going to have quite a long time before she is her usual self. It seems that you are one of the only people she is comfortable being around. For obvious reasons." At Harry's clueless expression, Dumbledore explained further, "Harry, you saved her from those… men," Dumbledore spoke the word as if it wasn't quite strong enough for the meaning he put behind it. "You were also the first person she saw when she woke for the first time. I don't know if you've noticed but you have a comforting presence when it comes to poor Tonks." Harry nodded again refusing to comment about this 'presence' others said he had.
"I would like to ask you a favor on behalf of Tonks here, I am sure she really will not mind." Harry nodded, intrigued, "Could you find a place in you hectic and busy life," Dumbledore smiled because he knew that Harry's life was anything but hectic and busy. "to watch over and help Tonks? She could stay here of course, but the general rush of the school would 'hamper her healing' as Madam Pomfrey told me just a few moments ago. Tonks would probably move in with you considering she does not currently have a place of residence. I understand you have a spare bedroom?" Harry who seemed to have lost the ability to speak only nodded. This man has a plan for everything Harry thought.
"I'm sure Tonks would love to hear of her new living conditions." Dumbledore stated.
Harry walked back over to where Tonks was now sitting up and staring directly at the wall in front of her. He sat down. "Tonks. Tonks look at me." Harry reached out for her shoulder. She flinched only a little under his touch. "Listen to me Tonks, we are not going to be staying here too much longer; if it is ok, I'd like you to come back to my apartment. It may not be exceedingly large, but it's the whole top floor all to you and me of course. It will get you away from everybody; you will have a chance to heal in peace." Tonks only nodded.
"Do you have any clothes I can pick up? Or any friends you want me to owl" Tonks shook her head. No. Harry sat beside her again and simply held her hand in support.
