Disclaimer: I don't own this. I am just amusing myself and perhaps others by using another person's characters for my own whims.
Hermione Granger; gentle, nice, and some say the smartest witch to ever grace the halls of Hogwarts was currently standing knee deep in the Thames River. To say that the usually sweet witch was livid at the moment would have been an understatement. This morning she had woken up and decided to stop by her friend Harry's apartment to visit with one Nymphadora Tonks. After bathing and all the things women do to prepare for going out, she apparated into Harry's living room. Moments later she found herself falling into the river. Hermione let out a sting of curse words and apparated again.
Harry checked the apartment and was relieved not to find anyone; he was going to go back to breakfast when he heard a knock on the front door. Harry called to Tonks to reassure that everything was ok before walking to the door. After reaching the door, he cast the peephole charm. Hermione was standing in front of his door soaked from head to toe.
"Oh." Was all he said before Hermione beat on the door a second time. "Hermione, I'm going to open the door. Promise me you won't hit me."
"Harry James Potter! You will open this door now, or I will blow it off its hinges."
"Hermione, please. Just calm down."
"One!"
Harry stepped back from the door as far as his arm would allow him. He knew that he was in for a whole new world of pain when he opened the door.
"Two!"
Harry pulled open the door.
Nymphadora Tonks was sitting in the kitchen thinking about the conversation she and Harry had just had when she heard someone knocking. She heard Harry talking to who ever it was then silence. Tonks was about to finish eating when she heard Harry scream.
"Hermione! Just wait! Tonks…"
Tonks thought to herself for a moment, if it was indeed Hermione at the door, then there were not any problems. But, she had heard Harry scream. Before Tonks could decide what to do, the kitchen door opened and Hermione walked in followed by a black cat she had never seen before. Hermione smiled at Tonks and sat down in Harry's seat.
"Good morning, Tonks. How are you doing this fine day?" Hermione was again smiling.
The cat rubbed Tonks' leg before jumping into her lap. Tonks immediately began to pet the sweet little cat. Tonks did not reply to Hermione's greeting, she just asked where Harry was. It was not that Tonks did not like Harry, she just felt safer with him around. If Hermione was offended by the lack of welcoming she didn't show it at all.
"Actually, he's in your lap."
As if on cue, the cat leapt off of Tonks lap and transformed mid leap. Harry stood where it would have landed. Hermione was dumbfounded. Nobody, not even Harry Potter should have been able to reverse transfigure themselves; especially, not without a wand.
Harry glared at Hermione a second before saying, "Of course you know, this means war." Harry looked at Tonks. Upon seeing her, his glare vanished and was replaced with the kind and intelligent eyes that Tonks knew. "You ok, Tonks?"
Hermione had not failed to miss the change.
"Yes, I am ok. I was a little surprised when the alarm went off."
Harry glanced at Hermione, "Hermione set it off by trying to apparate into the flat. If it's ok, I have to run a few errands. I'll reset the alarm if you want. This time, I'll set it for Antarctica or somewhere just as cold."
Tonks nodded. Hermione felt a little guilty; the only reason Harry had his alarm in place was because Tonks had requested it. Oh well, she thought, his revenge can't be that bad can it? How wrong she was.
Harry said the required incantation and did the proper wand movements before bidding the girls farewell and apparating away without the customary "Pop!".
Harry popped into existence inside Hermione's study. If he wanted to do this right, he would have to start soon. Harry cast a sticking charm to every book in Hermione's extensive collection. Harry wrote down a riddle he had picked up while traveling the world right after his graduation from Hogwarts on a sheet of parchment he had pulled from his pocket. After he finished writing it, he looked at it and frowned. To easy. Harry used his wand to erase it. He rewrote the riddle in Greek. Keying the sticking charms to the riddle finished quicker then Harry had expected. Harry pulled out a second piece of parchment and wrote a quick note to his friend.
Hermione,
I told you this was war. You have one chance and one chance only to answer my riddle. If you don't get it, your books stay stuck until I release them.
Pleasant reading,
Harry
After signing the note, Harry apparated to the market and finally back to his home. Tonks and Hermione were just finishing their conversation when Harry arrived. Hermione left soon after his arrival; she knew she had some damage control to do in regards to Harry's revenge.
Two months had passed since Tonks had moved in with Harry. Thanks to the help from Madam Pomfrey and Harry, Tonks was feeling much better about herself. Today would be the first time she and Harry went anywhere that would be occupied by a large number of people; she and Harry were going to Diagon alley today. A week ago, Harry received a Hogwarts school owl offering the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor. Harry had accepted on the terms that Tonks would be able to accompany him to Hogwarts.
Today, Harry and Tonks were picking up all the needed materials for him to properly teach. At noon Harry dual-apparated himself and Tonks to the alley; immediately they set about shopping. Tonks, still a little fearful of large crowds kept close to Harry never letting go of his hand. The day had progressed uneventfully, they had stopped at all the stores needed to purchase a gross of wand holsters, several cages and tanks, food for the different dark creatures that Harry would keep, and some quills and parchment.
Harry and Tonks were walking by Madam Malkin's when Tonks felt Harry tense slightly. Harry led her past Malkin's and whispered into her ear.
"We're being followed by a man. I'm going to lead him into an alley to get him away from all of the civilians. Once we get there, I want you to find a good place to hide. I know you're a trained auror, but you don't have a wand."
Tonks' only thoughts as Harry led her into the alley were When did Harry become so sure of himself? And Why did he use the word civilians. Why not innocents or people? There was so much about Harry that she didn't know.
Harry had shrunk all of their purchases and put them in his robes as soon as he bought them, so they were not a problem. As soon as Tonks was out of eye sight Harry turned around to face their stalker. The man walked until he was about three feet from Harry and stopped.
Tonks was scared. Harry was facing down a man who was obviously a dark wizard. The man looked to be built pretty solid; he was a good head taller then Harry too. Tonks watched as the two men exchanged words, then without warning the dark wizard raised his wand at Harry.
Harry looked the man in front of him up and down. He had not changed a bit.
"I've finally found you Harry Potter," the man said in a deep gravelly voice.
"Flint, how positively corking to see you."
Marcus Flint glared at Harry. "Today, I will finish you off and avenge the death of the Dark Lord."
Tonks watched as the wand came level on Harry. Harry didn't flinch. He didn't move. He didn't do anything. Harry suddenly sprang into action; his harm shot up in a silver blur. Flint's want fell to the ground clearly split in two. Flint turned to run, but Harry cast impedimenta on him. Tonks looked back at Harry and was surprised to see him wielding a sword in one hand and his wand in the other. Harry bound Flint tightly in ropes.
"Marcus Flint, I am hereby arresting you for assaulting a Ministry Official, endangering the life of a civilian, jay walking, and treason." Harry tapped the bound Flint with his wand and he disappeared. Harry walked over to Tonks and pulled her into a tight hug. He apparated home.
Harry and Tonks appeared in the kitchen; Tonks immediately found a chair to sit in. She looked up at Harry. He saw the questions just floating on the surface of her mind.
"Harry, are you an Unspeakable?"
Harry laughed; he knew where this was going. "No, try again."
"A hit wizard?"
"Nope, higher up then those two."
Tonks thought for a moment, before her eye widened in shock.
"No Harry! You can't be."
Harry only nodded.
A/N: Well, I decided that since I shorted ya'll on chapter four I'd work doubly hard and get five out today as well. Thanks for the reviews. See ya'll next time.
