Harry couldn't even begin to interpret complete sentences from anybody in the room. The only thing he could hear were small chunks of words from different people. The most pronounced was Mrs. Weasley.
"-too young-"
"-never work-"
"-6 years older-"
"-happened to decide this?-"
"-just like his arr-"
He even heard something that sounded like crying and looked up in time to see who he thought was Ginny leaving the kitchen.
Harry finally tuned them out and looked over at Tonks. She seemed to be amused by the proceedings. She felt his eyes on her and turned to look at him. She gave him an amused smile and leaned over to whisper to him.
"How long do you think this is going to last? Even Dumbledore can't calm them down."
"I don't know. My guess is old Voldy himself could make an appearance and not draw any attention."
"You're way to used to this whole dark lord trying to kill you thing if you can joke about it like that."
"Yeah well it seems to happen every year. I just figured if you can't escape from it then you may as well adapt to it." Harry then looked a bit nervous. "You do realize what this will do to you right? He will start to go after you to get to me."
"I knew that it was a likely possibility when I agreed to marry you. It was kind of difficult not to add Him into the equation when thinking this through."
"And you still agreed to do it?"
"I'm still sitting here aren't I? Harry. I am a trained Auror. I have been in danger since this war started. Granted I may be a bit higher up on the priority list now but I think I can handle most of the situations that may come up."
"I would almost bet that it would put you at number 1, above me. It would be better for his psychological warfare games to hurt me by killing the people that are close to me before actually getting to me. He is a sick person Tonks."
"Harry, listen to me. I am telling you I already know this. I spent a great deal of time last night going over what this marriage would mean to you, me, my job, my family, your family, the Order, and everyone else. I knew the risks and I accepted them. Just leave it at that. I wouldn't be sitting here if I didn't want to be."
Harry still didn't look very convinced. However their conversation ended as they realized that everyone had stopped talking and was now looking at them.
"What?"
"You two really are serious about this aren't you?" Dumbledore mused.
"Would we have brought it up to begin with if we weren't?"
"Of course you would have. It's just another way to gain even more attention by flaunting your fame. Your father was no different. He went parading around with your mudblood mother on his arm the second they started dating." Snape sneered from his corner.
Harry lost his temper at that and stood up and drew his wand before anyone could stop him. He was almost through with an incantation before he saw a purple beam hit Snape and knock him out of his chair and to the floor.
Confused, Harry looked around to see who had cast the spell. He saw some of the Order drawing their wands but the only one that had a wand in their hand was Tonks. She had an equal look of hate on her face as she stared at Snape's fallen figure.
Harry lost some of his anger due to his confusion. He lowered his wand and looked at Tonks expectantly. She finally seemed to calm down a bit and turned to face him. Upon seeing his quizzical look she responded.
"After everything that we talked about today and everything you did for me at my parents I think I should be allowed to do the same for you. The only difference is there wasn't any hexing involved at my parent's house. Besides you would have gotten in trouble at the ministry again. Can't have that happening any time soon. It might interfere with the wedding." Tonks finished smirking at him.
Harry just groaned. His anger almost completely forgotten. The wedding was already dictating his life and it was only decided on today. He couldn't even hex his most hated professor without it interfering with 'the wedding.'
"What's this about the two of you being at Tonks' parents Harry? You know better than to go anywhere without telling the Order." Mrs. Weasley chided while muttering under her breath about 'how they were leading Tonks' parents on because there was no way this wedding was going to happen.'
Harry loved Mrs. Weasley like a mother but sometimes she just didn't know when to keep to herself. "For your information, Remus was aware that we were going to be at the Tonks' house and he was prepared to inform you of our whereabouts if we were not back here in time for the Order meeting. The reason that nobody else knew where we were is because we left for the Leaky Cauldron before anyone else was up. Not that it was anybody else's business to begin with. This was a personal matter between me, my fiancé, and my future in-laws."
"You can't be serious about getting married Harry dear." Mrs. Weasley just wouldn't quite.
"As serious as I can be. Would you prefer me to state a wizard's oath here and now declaring my intentions?"
Mrs. Weasley blanched. 'He can't get married to Tonks. He is supposed to fall in love with Ginny. They would be perfect together.'
"Mrs. Weasley. It is obvious to everyone here that you care a great deal about Harry. However it is time that you realized something. Sirius spent all of last year trying to get you to understand this and it bears repeating again. You may love him like a son and he may love you like a mother, but you are not his mother." Tonks interjected on Harry's behalf before he lost his temper for the third time that day. It amazed her, now that she thought about it, how much everyone truly did try to control his life. It seemed like everyone had their own agenda for him and he was cursed with having to deal with manipulations for the rest of his life.
Mrs. Weasley had not been as discreet as she thought she was with her own agenda. It was obvious to Tonks that Mrs. Weasley wanted Harry to date Ginny. That much had been disturbingly clear in the times she had seen her talking about Ginny while Harry was within hearing range.
It was obvious that Harry had picked up on the main reasons for Mrs. Weasley's objection too.
"Mrs. Weasley. I know that you always thought Ginny and I would be perfect together. I know that she still has feelings for me regardless of what she tells Hermione. The only problem is that I don't have feelings for Ginny in that way. I love Ginny like a sister. She and Hermione are the sisters that I never had. I will always love Ginny in that way but it is not romantic feelings."
"What's the matter, mate?" Ron spat the last word out of his mouth like he did Malfoy's name. "My little sister not good enough for the great Harry Potter?"
Harry was taken aback by Ron's attitude. He knew that Ron had been hinting that Harry should ask Ginny out at the end of last year. Ron wasn't the most subtle person in the world, but he obviously still harbored ill feelings towards Harry and his fame. He obviously thought that he was only pushing Ginny aside because he was going to marry Tonks.
"I'm not quite sure what you are so mad about Ron" Harry made sure to draw out the name. "but I just don't feel that way about Ginny."
"You only 'don't feel that way about Ginny' because you have a whore who can be anybody you desire. Not for the first time Harry Bloody Potter gets everything he could ever want."
For the second time that day somebody fell to a curse and Tonks was reduced to tears. This time the curse had come from surprisingly Hermione. Before moving over to Tonks to try and comfort her again he shot a raised eyebrow at Hermione. She just shrugged.
"I've never used magic out of school before. I will only get a warning."
Harry merely smiled at her and moved over to Tonks.
"What is it about me that makes everyone think I'm a whore?" She cried. "What did I ever do to him? I've never even talked to him before."
Harry shot a look at Dumbledore that told him 'You had better get these people out of here now' to which Dumbledore merely nodded.
"We have concluded the business that needed to be discussed here today. This meeting is adjourned."
"Surely you aren't going to allow them to get married Albus?"
"That is not your concern Molly. Tonks is old enough to make her own decisions and on Harry's sixteenth birthday he reaches the age of consent in Great Britain and may marry anyone he chooses. End of discussion." With that Dumbledore disapparated without a sound.
Most of the other members left the same way with the exception of the Weasley's and Professor McGonagall. The Weasley twins levitated Ron out of the kitchen followed by the rest of the Weasley's and Hermione. McGonagall levitated Snape over to the fireplace and threw in some floo powder before levitating Snape into the grate and sending him to Hogwarts. She disapparated immediately afterwards.
Harry made no move to speak until he was sure that every one else was out of the room.
"Tonks?" she didn't move or acknowledge other than to hold on to him a bit tighter so he tried again.
"Tonks? Please look at me." He slowly pulled away from her and she looked up into his face.
"Why is it that you care so much what other people think? You know that he was just saying that to hurt you."
"I know." She whispered almost to herself. "It's just that it reminded me of my first boyfriend at Hogwarts. We had been dating for a bit over a week and he told me that he wanted to date a redhead and wanted me to change my hair. I broke up with him a few days later because the only thing he would ever do was to ask me to change some part of myself."
"The next morning I walked into the great hall and every guy in there started cat calling and making suggestive comments. I learned from some of my friends later that day that my boyfriend had gone around and started telling everyone that I was the best lay he ever had and that I was so loose from being around the block that he was able to act out most of his fantasies with me."
"I was devastated. It seemed like everyone in the entire school thought that I would put out for anyone. Even some of my 'guy' friends came up and asked if it was true and why they never got a chance at me."
"This was my 6th year at Hogwarts. I had to live with that reputation for the last 2 years of school just because I wouldn't change my hair color. I never dated again while I was at Hogwarts."
"Just hearing him calling me a whore and not to mention seeing red hair on top of that, it was just too much. It was like I was reliving that day all over again."
"I'm sorry Tonks. I really am. He said those things to get to me and all they did was cause you pain."
"It's not your fault Harry. Call it even since I took away your chance to hex Snivellus." She finished with a smile.
"And just were did you hear about that nickname, Nymphy?"
"If you call me that again, Potter, I will finish what I started with old Snivelly." Tonks retorted with the tip of her wand at Harry's throat.
"Ok. Ok. Jeez. I was just joking."
"Good. So was I." Tonks finished cheekily. "And to answer your question I did spend quite a bit of time around Sirius while I was working for the Order. We both had a mutual dislike for the man. It seems you have it too. However I have never seen him go out of his way to goad anybody like he does you."
"Yes well apparently since I was born looking almost identical to my dad that is enough of a crime to be hated with more loathing than most people have for Voldemort." Harry was happy to see she didn't flinch at the name. Apparently she didn't share the same fear that most people in the Wizarding world did.
As it was getting close to dinner time they vacated the kitchen so Mrs. Weasley could start cooking. She only acknowledged then with a withering glare as she passed.
It appeared that she harbored almost as many ill feelings toward them as Ron did right now. He would have to deal with that later.
Tonks said that she needed to speak with the Headmaster and she would appreciate it if he were there with her as it involved him too.
Trying to figure out what she could possibly need to see the Headmaster about 'right now' that regarded him he simply shrugged and followed her to the study where there was another fireplace connected to the floo network. She threw in some floo powder and called out "Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts." After a few seconds she pulled her head out and told Harry that the Dumbledore would see them now. She grabbed another handful of powder and floo'd to his office. Harry quickly following.
Harry and Tonks took the offered seats opposite of the Headmaster and respectfully declined the proffered lemon drops.
"Now you two, what is it that was so urgent that you needed to speak to me right away?"
"Well, sir, since you obviously know of our decision I had a request to make."
"Go ahead."
"I would appreciate it if you would allow me to take a month's leave from the Order. I am going over to do the same at the ministry after we leave here."
"And why would you need a month away from the Order?" Dumbledore asked with a knowing smile.
"Before this morning, Harry and I have only had a few conversations. We agreed to be married but we know next to nothing about each other. I want to be able to take my accrued time off from the ministry and spend that time at the Dursley's with Harry getting to know each other better. But I would also need the time away from the Order." Glancing over at Harry who seemed stunned, quickly added, "Only if its ok with you course."
Harry snapped out of his stupor. "Yeah. I mean, I never really thought about it but that would make sense. It would give us the time to get to know each other before the wedding. But I don't think the Dursley's is the best place to do that."
Turning to Dumbledore. "Is there any way I can stay at the Order HQ or somewhere else for now, sir?"
"I'm afraid that's not possible Harry. We had this discussion at the end of the term."
"Oh." Harry said and muttered just loud enough to be heard. 'How could I forget? Conveniently waiting until 30 minutes after my godfather died to tell me why you made my life a living hell and kept the reason from me.'
"I really am sorry about that Harry." Dumbledore supplied with a tear running down his face. "But now is not the time to discuss this I would imagine."
"Yes, of course, Headmaster."
"Can I have my leave from the Order then?"
"Of course you can Nymphadora."
"I still don't want the Dursley's anywhere near you." Harry muttered
"We will deal with that tomorrow, dear."
Harry's head snapped up at the term of endearment and Tonks snickered.
"What's the matter Harry? You are going to be married soon. You might as well get used to it now."
"I think it would be best if we just leave now."
"Of course, dear."
"I'm never going to escape from this am I?"
"Hmm?" She replied, mock thoughtfully. "I don't think so. It's too much fun this way."
"Anyways thanks for the help, Albus. I think it we should probably head back now. We have already missed dinner and with the mood Molly was in she isn't likely to save us any. If you need to get a hold of me anytime this month you know where I will be." Tonks said prior to flooing back to Grimmauld Place.
Harry appeared right after her and knocked them both to the floor. Harry got up first since he was on top and helped Tonks to her feet. "That's what you get for calling me dear. Hon." Harry smirked at the gaping Tonks while going into the kitchen.
They both settled in to the kitchen for dinner. Remus had informed them that Molly had tried to get rid of the extra food but Remus snagged enough for two plates before it disappeared. The three of them sat at the table talking about the events of the day. Remus did most of the talking since he had already eaten.
Tonks informed him of their new living arrangements for the rest of the month. Remus almost doubled over in laughter at the look on Harry's face when he asked if Harry needed a copy of any of the diagrams they had gone over during their 'talk.'
After dinner Tonks returned to her room and Harry went into the study to sleep on the couch. He didn't want to be anywhere near Ron right now. He resolved that this was an issue where Ron was going to apologize and he had no intention of speaking to his friend until he does so.
He decided that at some point during the summer he was going to try and talk to Ginny and make her understand how he felt about her. He loved her. Just not the way she wanted him to. With that thought Harry fell asleep. In the morning he would be returning to Dursley's house with his fiancé. Unknown to him his least favorite Aunt was stopping by for a visit.