Chapter 7
'Are you okay Harry?' Tonks asked gently. He had been silent for about an hour now and she was starting to worry. After Dumbledore left Tonks had pulled Harry to her and just held him, letting him think things through while she did the same.
'No, Tonks. I don't think I am. I don't like this bond. I don't want this bond. I have to find a way to break it...' Harry barely whispered. He was talking to himself more than to Tonks.
'Why Harry? Don't you want us to be that close? This bond seems like a very intimate and powerful thing. Closer then soul mates Dumbledore said. It means we are meant to be together. You don't want me that way, Harry?' Tonks voice held nothing but fear of rejection.
'It's not that Tonks. We don't know each other that well, and I want to get to know you better. I do have feelings for you, and we talked about all that in Diagon Alley that day. But you heard what Dumbledore said. You're bonded to a dead man Tonks. If I die, you die. You don't even have a choice in the matter. The fates have just signed your death warrant. I couldn't take you even getting a stubbed toe because of me, and now your life is literally in my hands. If I make one mistake and get myself killed, you die with me. How am I supposed to live with that? Now I can't even push you away to keep you safe, because if we are apart to long we die anyway.' Harry was crying openly by the time he was finished saying this. He just didn't know how to deal with it. He liked Tonks a lot and deep down inside himself he was starting to feel like they were meant for each other but now they were to be together in life and death no questions asked.
Tonks held him tighter and pulled his chin up so she could look him in the eyes 'Harry, all those same things could be said about me. Everything about this bond works both ways. With my job as an Auror and my being in the Order, my life is put in just as much danger as yours is, and more often at that. The way I see it, Harry is this is fates' way of telling us the only way we are going to make it through this war is together.' She looked deep into his emerald green eyes and was flooded by his emotions.
'I can feel our bond Harry. Can you? I can feel how frightened you are right now. You're scared of letting everyone down and losing the war. But that's not your main fear is it? You're scared of being alone, you have been alone all your life and you don't want to be alone anymore. You feel guilty that somehow you are forcing me to be with you because of the bond, and I have no say in the matter. You are also scared of the feelings you have for me, they are growing and you don't understand what they are. Am I right Harry?
Harry wanted to deny it all, to say he was not scared, but he knew it would be a lie. He closed his eyes and nodded his head and when he looked back into her eyes he to felt the connection between them, felt her emotions. He gasped at how intense they were. 'Yes Tonks. I can feel it. You're also scared. You're scared of me rejecting you, scared that you won't be able to help me understand that even without the bond you would still be right here with me. You're also a bit scared of the feelings you have for me. It's happening so fast you are afraid of my reaction if you were to act on your feelings right now. You describe them to yourself as love.'
'I can tell they are the same feelings I have for you Tonks. I desperately hope it is love, but I have nothing to compare this emotion I feel for you to. I know pain Tonks. I know fear. I know pride, loneliness, hate, lust, revenge, anger, friendship, happiness, sadness, jealousy. I know of all these things Tonks, but love is a foreign emotion.'
Before Harry could say anything else Cayden and Nydia flew over to there bonded, both singing a soft phoenix song to help comfort the pair. After a few moments they could hear Cayden speak to them in their minds.
It is alright my Harry. Do not fear the bond between you and your love. We are here to protect you and help guide you if need be. There is also no need for you to fear that you have trapped your love in a bond with no say in the matter, the bond could not have been formed if there was any doubt either consciously or unconsciously that she wants to be with you.
Tonks smiled at Harry after Cayden spoke and started running her fingers through his hair. 'He's right Harry.' Harry smiled back at her and hugged her a bit tighter. Nydia was the next to speak in their minds.
Do not fear love My Harry and My Lady. Love is a blessing to be cherished. You may think it is too soon to tell if what you feel for each other is true love but I must tell you. Love can strike in an instant or develop over time. Those few who find love in dark times must hold on to it, for it is only the truest of love that shines in the darkness. Your love is true My Harry and My Lady, for neither the bond nor we could exist with out it.
With that said, the pair of Phoenix flew back to their perch.
Tonks and Harry finally moved apart from their embrace but were still sitting quite close and holding hands.
'They are right you know Harry? This feeling I have for you must be love. If our Phoenix says it is so then it must be. We still have a lot to learn about one another and that will take time. We can go as fast or as slow with our relationship as you choose Harry, but I want you to know that I do not want to fear our love. I do not want to hide it either'
'I know Tonks. I really do, but it's all so new to me, I don't know what to do. I know I really don't want to hide our relationship either, at least not after my birthday. But then with that comes the press, the hate mail, fan mail, problems with the Ministry for you most of all because Fudge is an idiot.' Before he could continue Tonks cut him off.
'Harry, I don't care about the press. I don't care about hate mail, and as for the Ministry, I will quit. I only became an Auror to fight dark wizards and witches and that I can do right at your side Harry. I make more then enough money from my investments to live a comfortable life.'
Harry couldn't help but smile at her. He was starting to realize that once she set her mind to something there was no changing it
'Okay Tonks. How about this? We set no limits on our relationship, except that it must be kept secret until my birthday. What will come; will come in its own time. If we both are ready then it will happen.'
'That sounds perfect Harry.' Tonks pulled him into a hug and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. 'Now what do you say we take a look around your new house and find us something to eat?'
Harry smiled, gave her a light kiss back and took her hand again. 'Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. I want to take a look around my house'
As soon as Harry opened the bedroom he was attacked by a rainbow colored flash... 'MASTER HARRY POTTER SIR! Dobby knews yous be alright, and Mistress Tonks too.' Dobby was wearing hats and socks of every color of the rainbow and a rainbow jumper.
'Hello Dobby, it's good to see you. Dumbledore said you were here. How are you?' Harry said laughing while trying to pry the rambunctious little House-Elf off his legs.
'Hi Dobby.' Tonks said chuckling at his antics.
'Hello Mistress Tonks. Dobby is doing fine Master Harry Potter Sir; Dobby has come to serve the greatest wizard in the world. The house is big and is keeping Dobby very busy, Master Harry Potter Sir, but Dobby is wanting to ask if Winky could come work here too. She is not liking working at Hogwarts Sir. She is used to working for a family but will not go looking for one Sir.' Harry could tell that Dobby was worried that he would say no or punish him for even asking in the first place. Dobby was wringing his hands worriedly and hopping from one foot to the other.
Harry smiled and knelt down in front of the elf to look him in the eyes. 'I think that will be grand Dobby, if you can get her to accept ten galleons a month and every other weekend off she will be more then welcome. It's the same for you to work for me to Dobby.' The little elf looked like he was about to protest until Harry cut him off. 'Now I don't want to hear any arguments Dobby, if I do, I will pay you more.' Harry said smiling
This shut the elf up immediately. 'Why don't you go and talk to Winky now and do your best to convince her to come. Tonks and I are going to look around the house some, and we will make ourselves lunch.' Dobby nodded his head, mumbled a few incoherent things about the greatness of Master Harry Potter and disappeared with a POP.
'That was a very nice thing you just did Harry. That elf seems to adore you.' Tonks was laughing as soon as the elf was gone.
'What, Dobby? He's harmless, well mostly harmless anyway. There was that time I had my arm busted because of him. And the time I had to take a flying car to school because of him, and the time I got a warning from the Ministry because of him... but he's ok. Besides I had to let him bring Winky, I think they have a thing for each other. Maybe Winky can help calm that elf down a little bit also.'
'You are going to have to tell me some of your stories. I've heard bits and pieces of them but I want the full thing.'
'Sure Tonks I'll tell you over lunch,'
After they finally got over the shock of finding the house was actually built ten meters up in the trees, they wandered around the house, crossing bridges and skywalks that connected many main rooms. After finding eight different guest rooms, a few sitting rooms, many balconies, a few looking over the Quidditch pitch or the gardens down below. They opened a door to step into a huge living room. It was built around a very large and very tall oak tree whose trunk could be seen in the middle of it. They looked around the room; it had a large sitting area with a few couches, chairs and low tables. It had what they called a muggle section that held a very large TV, stereo and pool table. The room also held a study area with a few desks for private work, and a large round table with chairs all around it for group work. A bridge crossed from the study area to a room that held a library that would have had Hermione drooling. They decided to take a closer look at that another time.
After a few more minutes of wandering they finally found the kitchen and prepared themselves some sandwiches. Finding an eating area on the patio right outside the kitchen, they sat to eat and talk. Harry talked of his life with the Dursleys, his time at Hogwarts, and anything Tonks wanted to know about. Tonks talked of her times at school, adventures as an Auror, and anything Harry wanted to know.
After the stressful morning they had, they talked more about the bond and decided they would study more about the connection between them when Dumbledore brought back the books he was going to bring the next day.
While talking they had slipped back into the easy manner they had shared in Diagon Ally, the teasing each other, and the flirting. Tonks's uncanny ability with innuendos had Harry blushing and stammering more often then not. He was starting to pick up on it and by the time Dobby had come back with Winky he had Tonks blushing almost as much as he had been.
'Hello Dobby, and welcome to my house Winky. I am glad to see that Dobby was able to talk you into coming.' Harry beamed at the pair of elves. 'You do understand that you will be free and paid while you work for me?'
'I is understanding Master Harry Potter sir. I is not wanting paying but I is not being happy at Hogwarts and Dobby says I will being happier here so I is coming. Oh, Professor Dumbly is asking me to be telling yous that he will not be able to make it here tomorrow like he is saying. He said yous and Mistress Tonks may be wanting to get your wand instead.'
'That's great, thanks for delivering the message. I really do now hope you like it here with Tonks and me. Now there are three things I want you both to do right away. First please just call me Harry. I don't like being called master, and if you most put a title to my name just "Harry sir" will be more than fine.' The elves looked like they wanted to argue but Dobby must have taken the threat of being paid more to heart because they kept quiet. 'Now if you Dobby can go to Tonks's flat at Grimmauld Place, get all of her things and bring them here? You can put the clothes away in the master bedroom and she can tell you later where she wants the rest of her stuff or we will put it away ourselves.'
'Of course Harry Sir, Dobby will do it right away.' Without another word the elf was gone with a POP.
'Moving me in already Harry?' Tonks said with a cheeky grin 'and into your room no less? And here I thought you wanted to take it slow.'
Harry could tell she was joking with him and that she didn't mind in the least being moved into his room. They had talked a bit more about there relationship, and she had confessed to wanting to dive in head first but she would wait forever if Harry wanted. She had made it clear that HE was the one setting the pace. So Harry grinned back and said. 'Well I normally don't sleep well at night and with you in my bed I slept for two weeks straight. So I figure if I can get a good night's sleep I'll be willing to share my bed with you.' Tonks just laughed and gave him a playful swat on the arm.
'Now Winky, Do you want to do something important for me?' The little elf nodded her head with a smile on her face. She was truly happy to be given something to do. 'Okay. I want you to take a look at all the guest rooms, find a nice small one with a good view and make sure it has a balcony. Do that as fast as you can then come back to me alright?'
'Yes Harry Sir, Winky will be right back.'
'What are you going to do with that room Harry? Is it for me to stay in when you don't need me to sleep?' Tonks asked laughing but Harry felt from the bond that she was a little worried that it was indeed that.
Harry had come to realize that her biggest fear in their relationship was the fear of rejection and being asked to change. She saw being asked to change what she looks like as rejection of whom she truly was, and she had been through that enough.
Harry put on his sexiest voice, gave her a coy smile and said. 'Naw, your place will always be in my bed, Nymph. And when I can't sleep, well? Well, there are other uses for a bed.' Tonks was shocked and more then a little aroused. The way he had spoken sent pleasant shivers down her spine. She didn't even mind the not so original use of her given name when he said it. "Does this man know what he does to me when he talks like that?" she wondered but before she could reply to him Winky appeared with the usual POP.
'I is finding the perfect little room Harry Sir. It is having a nice balcony overlooking the gardens. Would Harry sir like to look at it now?'
'No Winky, I trust you that is it a very nice room. Now I need to ask you a personal question if I may. Will you answer it?'
Winky looked a little worried but nodded her head and said. 'Yes Harry Sir. I will answer your questions.'
'Good. Now Winky, are you and Dobby together, as in a couple? Or would you like to be? I know it's a strange question but I have to ask.'
Winky smiled at Harry. 'That is being another reason I is coming here Harry Sir, so I could be being with Dobby. Dobby is always being sweet to Winky and I is liking him very much.'
'That's very good Winky, I'm happy for the both of you. Now, that room you picked out, that room is for you and Dobby. You may change it in any way you like. I will not have my friends sleeping in a broom cupboard or some such.'
Winky opened her mouth to say she and Dobby couldn't take such a thing, but a raised eyebrow from Harry and remembering what Dobby said about arguing and getting more pay she changed her mind and said: 'Dobby was being right about Harry Sir. Yous must be being a great wizard to call us house elves friends. Thank yous Harry Sir.'
The rest of the day was spent between wandering around the rest of the house, the gardens, and sitting in the living room talking and watching TV, which they figured Harry's mother had charmed along with the rest of muggle equipment to work on magic.
Dobby had returned and Tonks had asked him to put her spare things in a storage room and just put away the clothes. Dobby was also speechless about having his own room with Winky and it took Tonks, Harry and Winky a half hour to calm the elf down.
After a fantastic dinner under the stars on the outside dining area they all decided it was time to turn in. Once Harry and Tonks returned to their room Harry turned to Tonks and gave her a kiss on the cheek 'I'm going to take a bath Tonks' he whispered into her ear. 'A nice long hot Jacuzzi bath sounds nice right about now. It might even be nicer with some company.' He brought his face around to in front of hers, mere centimeters apart. Tonks leaned forward a little but Harry leaned back still just out of reach of her lips. 'But it's up to you whether you want to join me or not.' Harry said then leaned forward brushed his lips lightly across her lips for just a fraction of a second before turning away heading for the bathroom.
Tonks watched his retreating back as he peeled off the silk robe he had never changed out of. "That man just loves to tease me" she though to herself "well I will just have to do something about that now won't I?"
Harry was relaxing in the Jacuzzi tub in the bathroom with his eyes closed, wondering if Tonks would come. He hoped she would. The innuendo and sexual tension had been building all day and it was getting too much to handle. He also feared she would come. He didn't know how to treat a woman and he was not sure how fast or slow she wanted to take things. He was confused. His teenage hormones were screaming at him, his heart was telling him it was okay, but his brain was telling him to take it slowly and carefully. Just then he heard her voice from the door. That voice sounded like a phoenix song and a death drum at the same time, filling him with happiness and fear once it reached his ears.
'If you for one minute think you are going to leave me hanging like that you are sadly mistaken.'
Please R/R
