The next few days flew by for Tonks. Between work, and trying to spend time with Draco, she was wiped out, and only saw Severus once or twice a week. Before she knew it, the students living at Headquarters only had a week to go before school started.
One night, Tonks was lying on her bed, writing in her journal. She was supposed to spend the evening with Severus, but he cancelled on her at the last minute. He promised her he would make it up to her, because the potion that had been consuming him was almost finished.
It was late, so Tonks was in her pyjamas, a pair of Severus' boxer shorts and a tank top. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. "One minute!" Tonks yelled, jumping up off of her bed. She placed her journal in her nightstand just in case. She hated the idea of anyone reading that.
Yawning, she opened the door. Harry was standing there, still in his day clothes. "Hiya Tonks," he said, looking sad.
"What's up?" she asked.
"Do you think I could come in?" he asked quietly.
"Sure thing," Tonks said brightly. "My door is always open, as they say."
Harry walked into her bedroom and closed the door behind him. Tonks sat cross-legged on her bed. Harry stood in the middle of the room for a moment and then settled himself next to Tonks. She tried not to notice as he stared at her body for a moment.
"I guess I just want to talk," he said.
"What's on your mind?" Tonks asked.
"I dunno," he said finally, after nearly a minute's silence.
"Is anything wrong?" Tonks asked quietly.
"Did you always want to be an Auror?" Harry blurted out.
Tonks thought about it for a moment. "Not when I started Hogwarts, since I didn't know about my powers yet. When I had my career counseling session, fifth year, Professor Dumbledore encouraged me to consider being an Auror an option."
"Professor Dumbledore told you to become an Auror?" Harry asked sharply.
"No," Tonks said, "He said that my talents would be very helpful in that career path. If you haven't noticed, I really don't do anything that I don't want to do. No one told me to become an Auror. I decided to become one."
"Sure," Harry said, like he didn't believe her.
Tonks decided to take the risk, and tell Harry something not many people knew. "I almost didn't become an Auror," she said softly.
Harry looked at her insterestedly. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"I failed the entrance exam the first time I took it," Tonks shrugged. "I don't like failure, so I decided that I was going to look for another career path."
"You failed it?" Harry repeated her words.
Tonks nodded, "Yep. Luckily, six months later I decided to take the test again, and that time I made it."
"Why'd you take it again?" Harry asked.
"Same reason I almost decided to quit the first time. I hate failure," Tonks giggled, "Looking back, it's a good quality to have as an Auror."
"I'm pretty sure that's what I'm going to do after school," Harry said softly.
"Hells, Harry, you already are an Auror, look at you going after Voldemort," Tonks joked.
"You said his name!" Harry said excitedly.
Tonks nodded proudly. "I've been able to say his name since after the Battle at the Ministry," Tonks said.
"Good for you," Harry said, putting his hand up for a high five.
Tonks gave him a high five and laughed. "What's in a name anyway? It's not like my first name really means anything, right?"
"Are you saying I can call you Nymphadora?" Harry joked.
"Don't you dare!" Tonks laughed.
"Can you help me become an Auror?" Harry asked, suddenly serious.
"You already know plenty of Defense Against the Dark Arts, Harry," Tonks started.
"There are other things involved, aren't there?" Harry asked.
"Of course there are," Tonks said.
"Help me with that," Harry said simply.
Tonks thought it over for a moment. Her schedule was already full, but on the other hand, she would be glad to help Harry in anyway she could.
"I'll help you, Harry," she told him.
"Thank you, Tonks," Harry said softly. Their eyes met, and the next thing Tonks knew, Harry's lips were pressed against hers hungrily.
Tonks was too surprised to even move. Harry obviously took her silence as consent, and gently pushed her down on the bed, gingerly putting his weight on top of her. Tonks could feel his hand stroke her bare stomach.
Tonks broke away, "Harry…" she started. Harry didn't give up and kissed her again, this time sliding his tongue into her mouth. To be honest, Harry wasn't that bad of a kisser.
That thought brought Tonks to her senses. She rolled out from underneath him. "Harry," she said again.
"I really like you, Tonks," Harry said, looking her over.
"You're too young for me, Harry," Tonks said. She wanted to yell out that she was taken, but she knew she couldn't.
"I'm of age!" Harry said hotly.
"I know you are," Tonks answered patiently. "I'm eight years older than you, Harry."
"That's nothing," Harry said, taking her hand. Tonks snatched it right back.
"I don't think things would work out between us," Tonks said gently.
"Are you seeing anyone?" Harry demanded.
Tonks wished she could shout out YES! "No, I'm not," she lied.
"Then what's the matter?" Harry asked, reaching for her again.
Tonks jumped off of the bed and stood by the door, arms crossed. "I don't have feelings for you Harry," Tonks said honestly.
Harry looked like his favorite toy had been taken from him. "Oh," he said, standing up.
Thinking of how many times Remus asked her out last year, she said, "I can't just be with someone I don't have feelings for, Harry. It's not fair to me or to the other person."
Harry walked over to Tonks. "If you ever change your mind…" Harry trailed off.
"You'll be the first to know," Tonks said.
Harry gave her a half-hearted smile and then opened the door and walked out.
Tonks walked to her bed and flopped down. "What was that?" she asked out loud. Harry just kissed her! That certainly explained all the looks he had been giving her this summer. Tonks took out her journal and started writing the events that just happened down, wanting them on paper before they left her memory.
Two hours later, well after midnight, there was another knock on her door.
"Merlin's beard!" Tonks said, having picked up that phrase from Arthur over the summer. Would anyone let her have some privacy? Tonks tossed her journal back into her nightstand and went to the door.
This time, Hermione was standing in front of her. "Can I come in?" she asked worriedly.
"Of course," Tonks said quickly. Tonks sat down on the bed. Hermione started pacing up and down the room. "Are you allright?" Tonks asked the young witch.
Hermione stopped pacing and ran her hands through her hair, which Tonks noticed was more bushy than usual. "I have a favor to ask," Hermione asked embarrassedly.
"How can I help?" Tonks asked.
"If I ask you, can you promise not to tell Mrs. Weasley, or anyone else?" Hermione asked. She was now chewing on a fingernail, looking very worried.
"Hermione, are you okay?" Tonks asked gently.
Hermione sat down next to Tonks and looked at her hands. She said something under her breath, which Tonks couldn't understand.
"Hermione, if you don't ask, I can't help you," Tonks said softly.
She finally lifted her head. "Do you have any birth control potion?" she asked quietly.
Tonks raised her eyebrows in surprise. Ron and Hermione were just kids, they couldn't need to worry about birth control yet. Tonks thought about it for a moment and realized they would be starting their seventh year. Tonks had lost her virginity in a broom closet in the beginning of her sixth year. She couldn't say a word.
"I thought I had enough to last until our Diagon Alley trip," Hermione said softly. "But when I went to take some, I realized I was out."
"How much time do you have?" Tonks asked. Birth control potions generally had to be taken within six hours of sexual activity.
Hermione glanced at the hourglass on Tonks' nightstand. "Four hours," she said finally.
Tonks jumped up off of the bed and went to her desk. She generally stayed at Severus', and he kept a stock for her. She wasn't even sure if she had any here. Tonks scrunched her face, trying to remember where she might have some. Without realizing it, she changed the color of her hair to the color of Codsworth's Complete Contraceptive Control Potion, which was a pretty rose color.
Then she remembered! There should be some in the lower drawer of her desk. Tonks opened up the drawer, and sure enough, a vial was there. Not the good stuff that Severus made for her, but beggars can't be choosers.
Tonks held up the vial triumphantly. "Here you go!" Tonks said brightly. "You lucked out. It's my last batch."
Hermione accepted the vial eagerly, and drank it quickly. "Disgusting!" she said, making a face.
"When are you going to Diagon Alley?" Tonks asked seriously.
"Three days," Hermione said.
"I'll buy you some more tomorrow," Tonks said. "The last thing I want is you to shag and not have any protection."
At the word 'shag,' Hermione turned a bright shade of red.
"First rule of sex, Hermione," Tonks lectured. "If you can't talk about it without blushing, you're probably too young to be having it."
Hermione nodded, and stood up. "Thank you," she said gratefully.
"You're welcome," Tonks said simply, and let Hermione out of the room. Good lord! Tonks thought to herself. First Harry kisses her, and now Hermione and Ron are shag partners. When did they get so randy?
A few minutes later, she heard, "Dora!" from the fire.
"Severus!" she said happily.
"I'm coming over," he said quickly. The next thing she knew, Severus was in front of her. He grabbed her by the waist and lifted her into the air.
"It's finished!" he said excitedly.
"The potion? That thing you've been slaving over all summer?" Tonks joked.
Severus nodded. "Finally done, and just in time," he said huskily. Tonks looked up and saw the desire in his eyes.
They kissed greedily, having been a while since they had been together. Severus lowered them on the bed, nipping gently on her neck. He took his wand and placed a silencing charm on the room.
Clothes started flying off, and Severus growled, "I think we might have to make this a quick one, Dora."
Tonks threw back her head and laughed. "And here I was thinking you were taking your time!"
Tonks let her hands drift, and felt the bulge that was already in his pants. She raised an eyebrow. "Then let's go," she said softly, removing the rest of her clothes.
Ten minutes later, Severus collapsed on top of her. "We should have quickies more often," Tonks giggled.
"I agree," Severus breathed into her neck. They started adjusting themselves to get comfortable in her bed.
"We're going to have to make a trip-" Tonks started. She stopped suddenly when Severus grasped his left forearm.
"Damnit," Severus muttered under his breath.
"You're being summoned?" Tonks asked quietly.
Severus jumped out of bed and started getting dressed. "I'm so sorry to leave you like this, Dora."
Tonks sat up, "It's fine, Severus. You have to go," she said simply.
He finished dressing, and walked over to her. "I love you," he whispered, giving her one last kiss.
"I love you too," she whispered as she watched him apparate out of sight.
Tonks sighed. She had six hours to find herself a contraception potion.