Author: J.A.K.

Rating: R

Author's Notes: This story starts in the middle of Tonks and Harry's relationship. There will be a few flashbacks alluding to situations and events that happened in the past between the two, but I felt it best to start here because the crux of this story lies in them being together not in how they came to be together. I also wanted to warn everyone that this is a darker Harry; less like the one written in books 1 through 4 and more like the Harry written in book 5.

AN 2: Again thank you all for the wonderful reviews. I would like to say that I'm very sorry this chapter took so long. Exams are over now, so I'm out for the summer. Right now as I'm typing this I'm in the process of trying to update all of my fics. And there are a lot. Please read, review, and most importantly…enjoy!

Chapter Four

"Let me get straight to the point," Snape said as he breezed by Tonks into the room. "Mr. Potter has been swaggering around these halls for too long now." Snape's eyes were unforgiving as he looked at Harry. "All of you have been reduced to simple dogs barking at his commands, jumping to meet his needs at his say-so." Snape trailed off in disgust. He could not, for the life of him, understand how grown adults could be coerced into twisting every rule, just so they could fit the whims of this insolent brat.

She closed the door behind him and moved to stand in the center of the room.

"Professor I have no idea what you're talking about." Tonks' eyes traveled nervously from Harry back to the sneering man in front of her. "I have done nothing for Harry that I haven't done for my other students."

Snape raised his eyebrows, a dry smile twisting his features as he relished the fact that he had caught her in a lie.

"Is that so Professor?"

Harry didn't know what to think of Snape's questioning. All he knew was that the man was an unimaginable bastard who held nothing desirable about him at all.

Snape pulled out several dry pieces of ripped parchment paper from the sleeve of his robe. He stepped closer to Tonks, stretching out his arm.

"Then what, pray tell, are these?"

Tonks looked at the paper in Severus' hands, heart hammering as she took them from him. She felt her brow furrow as she slowly unfolded them.

Oh no, Harry thought. He had done those so long ago that he'd almost forgotten all about them.

"Are these letters of exemption?" Tonks asked. She was truly and utterly confused now.

Snape grinned at her, seeing the look of growing alarm on the boys face. Perhaps things were going to be interesting after all.

"How perceptive of you Professor, and yes, those are indeed letters of exemption." Snape couldn't help but feel slightly thrilled that the boy had been caught in one of his many lies. "With your signature no less."

Harry noticed how pleased Snape sounded with himself. Fraught with anger, he spoke.

"You're mighty smug about this whole situation aren't you…Snape." He said the word as if it were some vile disease, in a tone deserving of the repugnant man that stood before him.

Snape turned his attention fully on James Potter's son.

"Yes, Potter I am, because I, unlike every adult in this place, was never and will never be deceived by you." Snape looked at the pieces of paper that were in Tonks' hands. "That right there, boy, reveals you to be the liar I've always known that you were."

Harry's eyes narrowed at his words.

"It's just like you to turn this incident into another let's despise Harry Potter campaign. He is after all a malicious and hateful person that nobody likes." Harry stretched out his hand. "Wait a tick…pardon me." He shook his head and lightly slapped his already upturned palm into his temple, as though he had just remembered something. "That's you."

"Harry, stop it right now." Harry turned to watch Tonks, almost forgetting that she was still in the room. "This is a very serious offense that you've committed and that is certainly no way to speak to your Professor."

She didn't get it did she? Snape was always only out to humiliate him.

"But Tonks—"

Tonks was too furious to listen to whatever nonsense Harry was about to say.

"Don't address me so informally." Harry had to make a conscious effort not to allow the shock to show on his face. "That goes for both of us." Tonks pointed to Snape. "We are your Professors and should be addressed as such."

Snape had to hand it to this little woman. For the first time in several years, the boy had been rendered speechless.

He turned to face the woman in point as she looked at him.

"He really has been doing that for quite some time now Professor." Snape looked towards the boy. "He seems to not know his place, and I'm glad that someone has finally addressed him in the proper—"

"Severus, I think it would be best if I spoke to Harry now." Tonks kept her eyes carefully trained on the man standing in front of her, as she was way too furious to even glance at the boy standing behind her. "Or if you would prefer to speak to me privately at a different place at another time then feel free to tell me that exact place and time so that we can continue this conversation. Until then…please leave."

Snape forced himself to hold his tongue as he knew that Potter was about to receive the scolding of his life. Instead he settled with a good old fashioned glare; and with a swipe of his cape, he was gone.

Tonks whirled on Harry.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

Harry knew she had a right to be angry, but so did he.

"What the hell is wrong with me?" He took several steps in her direction to lessen the gap between them. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

That was not the right thing for him to say. It only stoked her ire further.

"Don't take that tone with me Harry." Tonks shook her head in disbelief. "You forged my signature so you could go late to Snape's classes?"

Harry rolled his eyes and folded his arms, disregarding the latter half of her statement.

"Oh cut the 'I'm the teacher and you're my student so you can't talk to me like that' crap." He narrowed his eyes at her. "That was cute when Snape was here, but we both know that I can talk to you however I want to."

That hadn't been quite how he'd intended to phrase his words but before he could recall them, Tonks responded.

"Oh you can, can you?" Tonks knew that her skin had turned varying shades of pink as blood rushed to her face. "Well I'm speaking to you as your professor, and right now you are completely out of line."

Who in Merlin's name did she think she was? One minute it was 'faster Harry faster,' and the next it was 'Harry I'm your teacher so you can't talk back to me?'

"Well you don't get to decide when you're my lover and when you're my teacher." His voice had raised a few decibels while somewhere in the back of his mind something reminded him that Hermione and Ron were only one room over, and that they could probably overhear everything they were saying.

"If you're gonna treat me like a grown man when you fuck me, then you can treat me like a grown man now too." Harry saw her eyes widen at his words. Well good. He stepped closer to her, his eyes darkening with emotion. "And I most certainly did not appreciate the way you spoke to me when Snape—"

"Paah!" Tonks couldn't believe he'd said those things to her. With his friends in the next room no less. "Harry, in case the memo didn't reach you yet, I'm here to tell you. You are NOT a GROWN MAN." She pressed her index finger against his chest with every word she spoke, emphasizing her fury. "You are a little boy—"

Harry couldn't believe his ears. Had she really gone there?

"Little?" Harry asked, purposefully inflecting a malicious tenor into his voice. "You didn't think I was so little last night, did you?"

The heat on her face was the unfortunate result of a full scale blush. Her internal voice was sputtering in response to what he'd just said. 'You can't let him speak to you like that. You're the adult here, act like one.'

"Harry your friends are in the next room," she hissed, in a dangerously low voice. "Shut the bloody hell up."

Harry saw with satisfaction that his last comment had done its job, and had sufficiently irritated her.

"So now I have to shut the bloody hell up." An unpleasant looking grin crossed his face. "I thought you always told me to be relaxed when we're together, that I shouldn't hold back with you, that I should shout your name as loud as I wanted to."

She almost gasped at his crassness and to her horror, she felt moisture begin to gather in the corners of her eyes. Her tears, however, were not tears of pain, although his words had undeniably hurt her. They were tears of frustration and unreleased anger. Right now she wanted nothing more than to hit Harry with all of her might. Or perhaps hex him to kingdom come.

Tonks quickly brushed the wetness off her cheek as a lone drop escaped from her eye. Taking deep breaths, she looked passed Harry at her robes that were still strewn haphazardly across the back of her chair. She brushed by him, reaching for her things and stuffed them into her bag. Tonks knew she had to leave before she did something horrible to Harry. Like kill him.

Harry felt a pang of guilt as he watched tears form in her eyes. He felt even worse when one actually slid down her cheek. He silently cursed his unrelenting sharp tongue; pride before common sense was to be his downfall.

"Tonks," he tried.

She did not glance in his direction. She merely continued to stuff all of her books and various paraphernalia into her bag with sharp angry jerks.

Harry walked behind her and took hold of her elbow. Tonks quickly pulled it out of his hand.

Harry sighed deeply and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Dora listen—"

Tonks whirled on him for the second time that hour.

"Don't you dare Dora me. I'm angry with you Harry." She picked her bag up with so much force that it almost hit him. Maybe she was trying to hit him on purpose. "No…angry isn't quite the word." Tonks slung her robes over her shoulder. "I'm furious."

Harry didn't want them to part like this.

"Tonks wait." He stepped in her way so she couldn't leave.

She was startled by his audacity. How dare he try and coerce her into talking to him.

"No Harry, I'm not waiting. Now get out of my way." When he didn't budge she added an incensed sounding NOW to convince him just how serious she was.

There was no speaking to her when she was like this. They just had to calm down before more hurtful things were said.

Harry stepped aside and watched as Tonks showed him how one effectively stormed out of a room.

Hermione and Ron glanced at one another, unsure if this was the proper time to come out of their hiding place. Lucky for them Harry answered that question.

His face was weary when he opened the door.

"You guys can come out now." He made a few gestures that showed that he wanted them to step out of the room. "Snape's been gone for a while."

Hermione, brave soul that she was, took on the role of being the first of the two of them to speak. "Harry, we knew Snape was gone, we just didn't know if the arguing had stopped."

Ron cringed internally as he stepped over the threshold that led into the classroom. Way to go Hermione. Remind him of the obvious.

Harry, however, didn't seem to mind the comment.

"Right then. You heard that did you?" his tone was nonchalant as he sat down in one of the chairs that was jutting into the narrow isle. He took off his glasses and rubbed his hand along his face.

Hermione noticed his fatigue. When she opened her mouth to speak, she took that fact in mind, consciously trying not to sound too imperious.

"Of course we heard." She quickly looked him over trying to gauge what the reaction to his words would be. "And if I were you I would go begging on my hands and knees for her forgiveness."

Harry looked at her quickly, unable to tell whether her face had taken on that know-it-all-attitude that annoyed yet endeared her to him at the same time. He slid his glasses on.

Her face was serious and sincere. Trust her to take Tonks' side, Harry thought, shaking his head.

Women.

"How can you say that?" That came from Ron. His body was turned to face hers. "Didn't you hear what she said to him?" Ron rolled his eyes and folded his arms. "Obviously not. And when Harry gave her a taste of her own medicine, she doesn't want to talk anymore." Ron shook his head in slight disgust. "That's just like you women, you can dish it out but you can't take it."

Harry cringed internally at Ron's comment. Those, he knew, were fightin' words and they would lead to another long and infamous Ron and Hermione argument—one that he didn't have the energy to referee right now.

Harry stood up before Hermione could respond.

"I know the two of you are only looking out for me but I think I'll feel better if I just go and get some sleep now."

Hermione turned her attention towards Harry and away from the git that was standing next to her.

"But Harry—"

He held up his hands, cutting off whatever she was going to tell him.

"I just…I need to be alone right now. Okay?" He looked at the two of them, seeking their consent.

They both nodded, if a bit sadly.

Harry almost smiled at their forlorn looks. He knew that they wanted to talk about everything that had been unsaid for the past year, but he couldn't do that right now.

"In the mean while, you two can find out why Dumbledore cancelled classes, and we can meet up and talk about that later."

Hermione shrugged to herself. That offer was better than nothing.

"Alright Harry."

Ron must have agreed with Hermione, because he readily gave his approval.

"Later then, mate."

Harry turned around and left the pair inside, thinking of how he was going to fix things with Tonks.

It was later that night and Tonks was in bed; sleep, however was not forthcoming. She had turned and twisted for the better part of an hour before her mind, in an effort to calm her nerves, began to relive the memory of Harry's and her first time. As the scenes from that day played itself across the backs of her eyelids, she laughed in short chortles at the fact that she would have an even harder time falling asleep now. Tonks felt her eyelashes flutter against her cheeks as she strained to keep her heartbeat under control, but the memories kept coming.

She had been training him for less than a year in secret. With the cover of her new title as Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, she was able to roam the halls freely without rousing suspicions from anyone. In the meanwhile, she had been able to effectively teach Harry how to perfect all the spells he had ever learned, and then some.

Neither of them knew exactly when the sexual tension had started. She did remember that it had reached a point that was almost unbearable for her. She had even considered asking Dumbledore to have someone else give him private lessons. But that would have been foolish. Dumbledore had a way of seeing right through people when they spoke to him. Any excuse she could have prepared for why she couldn't teach Harry would have been found out for the lie that it was. The real reason would probably jump into the equation as well, leaving her to sputter and stutter in front of the headmaster. The image, at the time, had been enough to send Tonks back to Harry, without him ever knowing what she had been planning to do.

Tonks twisted in her bed, feeling a smile grace her full lips. Not speaking to Dumbledore on the matter had been the point of no return. Had she somehow coerced another teacher, perhaps McGonagall or even worse Severus, to take her place, things might have never progressed to the stage it was now. Perhaps, deep down, she had known that.

As immersed as she was in her daydream, she never heard the sound of another presence entering her room.

Tonks couldn't help but vividly recall the moment his lips had touched hers in a kiss that was hesitant and assertive all at once. She later admitted to herself that as his teacher, she should have stopped him from letting things go any further, but as his lover, she was forever grateful that she hadn't. Harry's hands, which she had known were strong, had framed the span of her back, until they eased their way down and settled comfortably on her hips. Tonks had long ago placed her hands lightly at the blade of his shoulders—for balance more than anything—but found herself winding her arms around his neck as the kiss became more sensual—infinitely more erotic. She was several inches shorter than him, and in his excitement he had picked her up until they were almost at eye level.

Tonks' hands were traveling lower and lower down her body as she seemed to be reliving a pleasant memory…or maybe she was envisioning some sort of fantasy. He wondered briefly who the person of her desire was, and was suddenly struck jealous at the realization that she might not have been thinking of him. Feelings of insecurity slowly crept their way through his mind.

He put his wand and his glasses on her bedside table as softly as he could without disturbing her; if she was having fantasies of being with someone other than him then he would have to remedy the situation.

He was reaching out for her when she emitted a moan that stopped him in his tracks.

"Harry…" she breathed. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she chastised herself for behaving in such a manner, but she was still angry with Harry and there was no way she was going to call him to help her play out her fantasies. She would just have to relieve herself of the insatiable heat that had settled deep within the core of her stomach.

Harry couldn't help the smile that came to his face as she said his name. Not only did it do wonders for his slightly damaged ego, but it caused all of the blood in his body to run straight to his lower appendages.

She let out another hushed version of his name. God…even as angry as she was with him she still wished he was here. Forcing herself to stop what she was thinking and doing, she focused her mind on getting up and taking a cold shower…but it was so hard to move. Just open your eyes Tonks. Open them.

The very last thing she expected to see upon doing so was a very aroused Harry standing over her bed. She let out a surprised gasp and scooted away from him until her back was pressed against the mahogany wood of her bed head.

Harry had to forcibly keep his laugh in check at the momentary horror that crossed her face. He plopped himself down on the foot of her bed.

Tonks could tell by the look on his face that he was trying to keep himself from laughing; she couldn't help the irritation that subsequently welled up inside of her at his unexpected visit.

"Harry, how the hell did you get in here?"

Harry let his eyes slowly roam over her body. Her cheeks were still flushed from her previous thoughts and her body was practically bare from the waist down. In the illuminated light that came from the one candle on her table, she looked completely stunning.

Instead of answering her he leaned over her legs until his head was at the same level with her waist. He flattened his palm so that it was almost covering the entire width of her stomach.

Tonks felt her abdominal muscles clench at his touch, but put her hands over his to stop them from going any further.

"Harry, I really hope you didn't apparate in here." When he didn't answer her, Tonks felt her heart flutter. "Harry, Dumbledore can monitor all apparitions that are done inside the castle."

Harry bent his head in frustration. He had come here with hopes of allaying the hostility that had formed between them from their argument that had transpired earlier in the day. Tonks, however, seemed to be trying her hardest to spoil the moment.

He propped his head on his hand, his elbow digging into the bed as he stared up at her.

"Tonks, I've known about that since fourth year." Harry knew that the matter shouldn't have even been a problem, as on every other occasion that he had come to her room she had simply let him in.

Tonks wiped her suddenly clammy hands against her sheets as she slowed her heart beat until it felt like a dull thud against her chest. She knew that her irritation was not truly directed at Harry and the fact that he had surprised her, but at the thought that she had let herself be surprised in the first place. She was an Auror after all. No one should be able to sneak up on her.

Harry sighed, watching her try to calm herself.

"I used that spell you taught me last year." Harry softly drummed his fingers against the cotton material that covered her stomach as he waited for her to say something.

With his fingers touching her in such an intimate place, Tonks tried to remember why she had been mad at him. The things they had said to each other earlier were spoken in anger. She'd thought that she would still be furious with him the moment she laid eyes on him, but now, looking at his young handsome face, she found that whatever it was that had caused her to be angry, could wait until later to be resolved.

The right side of her mouth turned up in partial amusement.

"So you thought you could come in here and what…seduce me?"

Harry felt relief flood his system at her change in attitude. Admittedly he wasn't as clueless about the female gender as he'd been when he dated Cho, but sometimes her mood swings completely baffled him. He knew that Tonks wasn't one to stay angry for long, so her previous irritation with him had to be about something other than their argument. He shrugged, no longer concerned about the cause of her annoyance.

Instead he focused on the skin that was exposed right above her underwear. He placed a few kisses on that area, moving slightly away to lightly blow on her belly button. To his immense satisfaction, he felt her shiver underneath his fingers. Harry looked up at her.

"Is it working?"

Tonks moaned in response, running her fingers through his hair as she closed her eyes in anticipation. Like everything else he had ever been taught, Harry excelled at the finer points of foreplay, constantly thinking up new and inventive ways to make her squirm.

"Harry," she breathed, opening one eye. He was slowly dragging his tongue along the span of her body, pushing her shirt up at the same time.

"Hmm?" That was the most Harry could get his mouth to say, as it was busy doing other things. He slowly pushed the shirt up over her breasts. In response, she arched her back and stretched out her arms, allowing him to take it off completely.

Kissing his way across her face, he stopped as he now covered her entire length with his body. His eyes leisurely shifted from her lips to her eyes and back.

"Dora…" he whispered.

Tonks had already had her eyes open, but they closed in response to a name that only he called her.

They stayed closed as Harry kissed her. His tongue very gently and skillfully parted her lips as he pressed his way inside of her mouth. When her mind registered the symbolism of his actions, a slight shiver coursed through her body. They stayed that way for a while, kissing each other breathless. The depth of their kisses brought her mind spinning back to that first time in the training room.

Harry pulled slightly back from her, breathing raggedly against her mouth.

"Dora, I'm sorry." He couldn't help but place a quick kiss on her nose. "I know it seems like I've been saying that a lot lately, but I really am."

Tonks opened her eyes at those words. It wasn't just him that had crossed the line; she had said hurtful things as well.

"Harry…I'm sorry too." She ran her hands through his hair, stopping when her fingers touched the nape of his neck. "I shouldn't have—"

Harry moved as close as he could get to her without actually kissing her.

"Don't say anything," he said against her lips. "Just kiss me."

She readily obliged as she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to sear this moment into her mind.

The next time she opened her eyes was to watch Harry as he took her to a place that largely resembled utopia, over and over again.

AN 3: Do you like? Please review if you do, as reviews are muchly appreciated and greatly adored. If you don't, respond anyway so I can know what to change or add in future chapters.

Remember: Embrace the ship of Tonks and Harry forever!!!