Book II :: Chapter 3 :: It's the Cops
Stepping out of the local book store with fourteen books split between each of them, Ted couldn't help but joke at Harry's new-found obsession.
"Seriously Mr. Po-Returner." He stumbled, "First Potions, now you aim to be the next warding and enchanting prodigy?"
"Only runes and wards. And who says I'm not already knowledgeable in the art?" Harry in the guise of his older self, under the name Return Returner stated.
"Are you really?" Ted asked half in disbelief. "Potions and Ancient Runes?
"I'm self-taught in runes sir. Since I can't take the class until I reach Third year, I'm limited to twelve books at the moment."
"So, these two books on magical law enforcers and the art of a magic duel are for my daughter then?" Ted asked with an air of disbelief.
"No, I bought them so I could double-check my understanding of what is expected from an Auror. I did promise your daughter sir."
Ted nodded and paused in contemplating that. In all honesty, he wasn't really against the idea of Harry helping his daughter. Before he was worried about his daughter hurting the boy, the risk of the ministry detecting his magic and the trouble that would arise from that.
Now he wasn't so sure. The goblin wards that Gringott's placed on his house, made the latter a moot point if they were to be trusted. Similarly, after seeing Harry today, he was beginning to understand that this boy wasn't a boy, but a very young man with far more experience and maturity then he should have, at least from time to time.
At moments he felt he was dealing with a young child, like when he was nervous upon entering his home. In contrast, there were moments, like in Gringotts, where he worked and acted with the efficiency of an experienced and powerful young lord.
"So, anything else?" Ted asked.
Raising his hand Harry listed of their journey so far. "Gringotts and the three tasks to do there, proposing to the local apothecary, collect a few resource books. I suggest we head back. I don't have anything else to do for now, except wait for a few turns to pass."
"Waiting for a few turns to pass?"
"Sorry, it's a natural phrase." Harry explained.
"Natural?"
"Sorry, muggle. I really hate that word."
"What's wrong with muggle?"
"It sounds almost derogatory. Those no hint of respect."
"Well there aren't exactly many respect muggles in our society, unfortunately."
"It's foolhardy." Harry spit out drawing Ted eyes with rising interest. "Magic or not, humans are foolish no matter their standing. Especially if they mock what they fear."
"So why do you call them Naturals? Isn't that like comparing them to being not-supernatural?"
"It could also be considering us un-natural." Harry said with a shit-eating grin.
Ted looked back at Harry in surprise as Harry explained his reasoning. "I call them Naturals because they are masters of the natural. Wizards and Witches master and focus on magic to a near obsession. Naturals, or those without magic, specialize and focus in the physical and figuring how to control it through such arts as the sciences and chemistry. It's a term of endearment."
"James Potter…"
"I see." Ted stated. "That makes a fair bit of sense. I never would have thought of it like that."
"POTTER!"
Ted turned around to see a greasy-haired man pointing his wand at them, no, at Mr. Returner. Harry too turned around and spotted Snape sputtering like a mad man. Fear ransacking his eyes and his body shaking in a mix of fear and rage.
The silent spell was cast without a word, his wand slashing down like a sword. Ted stood there perplexed. The crowded street looked inward with curiosity.
Raising his bag of books Harry whispered a charm of strengthening onto the bag. He let go and the bag was hit hard by the surprise assault, cleaving a large hole into the bag permitting the seven books within to fly out toward Severus Snape, who in a blind rage of both anger and fear was forced to dodge.
The books flew at him and Snape raising his wand had to cast a movement hindering spell to prevent them from crashing into himself. By this point, the crowd knew a fight was happening but not over what. Whispers were being spoken and some were stating that Harry Potter was involved having heard Snape's shout clearly.
Harry weaved through the books quickly and low to the ground from behind Snape's blind spot, the books providing cover. Snape banished them to the side quickly to remove the hindrance, only to be caught unaware at the sight of James Potter.
Caught flat-footed from below Snape held a spell on the tip of his wand. In the second it took him to draw his wand back upon Harry, Harry was already one step ahead and one step too close dodging into the arms movement he stepped aside from the wands point reaching his arm out he grabbed Snape's wrist and push him back Harry unbalanced Snape who's natural reaction was to step away. Falling backwards Snape found his world spun around as Harry twisted him, mid-fall so that he landed on his stomach with his wand arm behind his back.
Harry settled the freefall with a controlled landing of his knee upon Snape's back. The greasy man yelped loudly in pain as the hard bone hit his spinal column. With his right hand still holding his wrist, Harry reached with his left, his knee and body firmly pinning Snape to the ground, Harry palmed the mans face with his left.
"Bring eternal resting slumber to the waring spirits within."
I quick glow of light, like embers of violet firefly's emanated within Harry's palm right in front of Snape's face. Instantly the sleep spell took effect and Snape went limp, dropping his wand and concluding the failed ambush.
Looking up harry yelled. "If someone hasn't already done so, please call the Aurors here."
The action was apparently needed as it took them six minutes to arrive.
"The hell is going on here?"
"Aurors! What happened here." A large bald man asked in contrast to his partners demand to know what was going on.
"Japkins, be quiet and gather witness accounts." The bald man ordered causing the man named Japkins to grumble not small manner of cursing's.
Deciding to focus on the bald man Harry greeted him. "Sir Auror, my associate and I were partaking in a pleasant morning discussion and business when this man here attacked my associate shouting..."
"James?" the bald man sputtered out in disbelief.
"Yes." Harry replied unassumingly. "How did you know that was what he shouted?" he questioned suspiciously.
"What? No, but aren't you?"
"Ah right, I haven't introduced myself." Harry exclaimed. Raising his left hand around, Harry offered it to the Auror.
"Mr. Return Returner. At your service. Potions entrepreneur and self-titled world traveler. I have wandered to London in hopes of selling my masterpiece."
"B-but you look just like…"
"Is something the matter sir…?" Harry asked.
"Shacklebolt. Kingsley Shacklebolt." Kinsley said regaining his composure. "My apologies, you resemble an old associate. Very strongly I might add."
"Ah, that must explain it." Harry stated. "Must be the glasses, I don't usually wear them except for when I do business. Make me look more intelligent than I actually am." Harry mused knowing full well it wasn't his glasses he was jokingly referring too. "So, I look like this James Potter fellow. If I'm not mistaken, was he the lord Potter that was killed eleven, twelve years ago?"
That statement brought a shaken Kinsley back to solid ground. "Y-yes, that's right. My apologies the resemblance is uncanny."
Harry nodded. "So much so that this man decided to attack me and my associate. I thought he was attacking my newly met friend, but it appears he was after me then."
Turning toward said friend Kinsley eyes widened. "Mr. Tonks, I haven't seen you for a while."
"You may see me more frequently seeing as my daughter is hoping to join your group, Kingsley." Ted stated jovially.
"So, you witnessed this attack?"
"Yes." Ted said calmly. "This man attacked us shouting Potter, and my friend here responded most efficiently."
"What did he do?"
"He closed the distance dodging spellfire and pinned this man to the ground."
"I also cast an Arabian spell of slumber on him to prevent further actions." Harry added from behind the two men.
Kingsley was only now taking in the fact that Harry was sitting on a man's back, his right wand arm raised behind his back, knee firmly planted in the man's spine.
"Mind removing yourself from him?"
"Not at all, please take it from here." Harry said with a wisp of amusement. Lifting himself off Snape he did so without digging his knee even further into the man's back which Kingsley took note of.
Waving his wand, he proudly shouted the rope binding charm, conjuring ropes that wrapped Snape up like a present. When he did so he was shocked to see exactly who the assailant was.
"Shit." He whispered. Dumbledore wasn't going to like this.
Before he could contemplate the mess further, Kingsley's partner rushed up to them. "Sir, all witness accounts state the same thing. They heard this man-wait, is that Snape!?"
"Report Japkins," Kingsley groaned out in annoyance.
"Right, they all heard this man shouting before casting some kind of cutting curse. They also stated that this one," he pointed at Harry, "used his bags to block the spell while hurling them at the suspect before putting him into a body hold."
"How did he put him to sleep."
"Witnesses say he used some kind of magic they didn't recognize."
"Old Albanian magic. A chant that prays for a miracle of magic through words of power. A simple sleeping spell but effective in placing someone into blissful slumber." Harry explained.
"Albanian? So, you put this man to sleep then? I've never heard of such magic. Is it Dark?" Kingsley asked.
Harry shrugged. "Not sure, your Ministry's definition of what is considered dark has always been a bit vague by definition. Personally, I'd say no but that's for you to decide. It is outdated magic though."
Shacklebolt nodded at this in deep thought. Lifting up Snape's wand, he waved his own at it and drew out three wisps of magic, one grey, one green, and one violet. Raising an eyebrow and sighing in mental anguish Shacklebolt pocketed the evidence while shaking his head.
Shacklebolt contemplated this before coming to a decision in his mind, unaware of the slight glow within Harry's eyes. "Well, then it seems this is pretty cut and paste case. Japkins, secure the assailant and take him in. We'll wake him up once he's behind bars for assaulting a fellow wizard with questionable magic."
"It seems your free to go then, Mr. Returner. Where would we find you should we need your account?"
"I'm sorry to say I have no residence at the moment. I'm nomadic by trade so I don't own a place of residence. However, you can likely reach me through my new friend here," Harry said while gesturing to Ted. "Seeing as I'll be working with him on a private job for the goblins this summer."
"I see. It doesn't seem that I'll need further witness accounts, but this is just in case."
"I understand," Harry said calmly. "Do go easy on him."
Kingsley looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "You want us to go easy on him? He attacked you and your fine with that?"
"Aside from damaging my bag, he did no harm. Plus judging from both your reactions, isn't it natural to enact self-defence, when a dead man appears before you, walking down the street?"
Kingsley stared vacantly at him in shock. "Well you said it yourself, Kingsley was it? If a dead man was walking before me, a rational man would assume necromancy was afoot. The hopeful," Harry raised a teasing eyebrow at Kingsley, "Would assume it was the person in question. Sadly, I am neither and thankfully no one was hurt. I hardly see why anyone should suffer for an act of mistaken identity when no one came to harm."
Raising the ripped back up Harry added, "Property damage aside, my purchased books are fine, a bit dusty. I am and everyone around us are perfectly unharmed. I say let happy endings conclude as happy."
Kingsley nodded with a twitch of a relieved smile. "We shall take that under consideration when he is under trial."
"Thank you. Now if it is alright, I still have a busy day ahead of me."
"You're free to leave then." He stated, and with a nod and after gathering his books Harry walked off after rejoining Ted Tonks.
Brushing hard into his shoulder Harry whispered. "Return home, next time we go with my cloak."
Ted said nothing but agreed. "That was splendidly handled Harry."
"There was no reason to get worked up. Plus, after hearing what I did, I'm just glad it was Auror Shacklebolt who was here, or else things would have been worse."
"What do you mean?"
"Shacklebolt seems to have worked with Dumbledore before and was concerned over how he should handle not getting Snape incarcerated. Thanks to that, my few words of good faith managed to let us leave sooner before questions became a problem." Harry explained.
"They don't want Snape arrested?" Ted asked with mild curiosity.
"At the least Dumbledore doesn't. Which begs the question… what did he do and why the importance?"
Ted chuckled, "That was very well done all the same. Though did you have to fake it so much?"
"Fake it?" Harry asked.
"Your good faith, from what my daughter said, the man isn't exactly fit to be a teacher if not for his qualifications in the art of potions."
"Oh, that." Harry said, realizing that Ted was referring to his words of compassion that would hopefully sway his uncertain punishment. "That wasn't fake."
"It wasn't? Nym said you hated the man."
"Well, he does grate on you if you're not careful. But there's something more to him that I can't quite figure out. Like he's a kindred spirit."
"You see him as a kindred spirit?"
"No, well not really. I just feel that there's something more to him than his greasy exterior though I have no idea what it is. Also, the reason I want him not to go to prison is for a completely different reason."
"And what was that?"
"He can't go to jail until he's given me my Masters in potions." Harry said with he glibness to his words.
Ted couldn't help but smirk. "Now that, sounds like a very Slytherin thing to say."
"It is a give and take arrangement. Sure, if they hired someone else, they might be inclined to do the same for me, but that's if they are willing and if they possess a Masters in Potions."
Harry looked back and glanced over the sea of heads that began to return to their evening shopping.
"Let's go back to your place for now." Harry said coldly as his eyes steeled before them.
Ted looked back and not spotting anything turned to Harry and asked, "Did you spot someone else?"
"No… and while I'm thankful for that, I guess I'm just paranoid."
"Good. In that case we're in agreement." Ted said. "Today was too close an encounter for comfort."
Harry nodded in agreement. "What are the odds the Aurors will come to you asking for a witness account or testimony?"
"Very low. He attacked us in front of a horde of witnesses. Despite the magic you used everyone saw you defend yourself. They might ask for conformation, but I can handle that should it come to it."
Harry stood behind Ted as he walked up to the Alley public fireplace, splashing a pinch of powder he walked into the fires as he called for it to send him home. Harry mimicking the action couldn't help but be thankful that his compulsions did their job.
At the very least, the likelihood of the incident being traced back to him and the Tonks family was slim. On top of his request for leniency and his wordless compulsion charm, to begin with the likelyhood of them seeking out more info from them was low to begin with and not a cause for concern.
Stepping into the flames Harry ignored them as they tickled his skin, spinning his world up until they spat him out of the fire. Gliding on the floor the melodious tones of laughter from Andromeda rang out as he came to a stop before their couch.
"You two are right on time." She chuckled joyfully as she pulled Harry up with an offered hand.
Grabbing it and pulling himself upright Harry nodded. "I'm glad that we are but, exactly for what?"
Andromeda smiled as she guided him downstairs with him and her husband behind her.
Heading into a side room she showed the two towards a large open space that was recently made.
"Tadaaa." Andromeda said joyfully. "A place for Nymphadora and you to practice together."
Ted felt his jaw drop. "Dear… when… but we haven't even agreed to…" He sputtered out only to be hushed by her.
"None of that. Tonks wanted a place to practice and I want a house that isn't trashed from her clumsiness. This way they both can practice."
"Wait…" Harry interjected upon being included, "What do you mean both of us?"
Andromeda smiled. "Well… Nymphadora and I talked, and we came up with a wondrous plan. Nymphadora wanted to help you out someway and wanted to be the one teaching you for once. You never told me that her recent progress in potions was because you taught her. So, realizing that you're a Metamorphmagus yourself while helping her practice for the exams she's planning on taking, she'll also be helping you learn to control and use your abilities now that we know you can use them."
Harry gave a non-committed nod at this. Honestly, he was still unsure how to respond to the fact he was a Metamorphmagus. In fact, he was still in disbelief about it. Harry just couldn't wrap his head around the fact that he was one. When in all his years having lived, he had never shown signs of being one.
On the other hand, Harry was excited as the back of his mind was enthralled with the possibilities of experiencing another branch of magic that was rarely experienced.
"So where is Tonks anyway?"
"Oh, she's upstairs cleaning your mess up." Andromeda told him. "You did leave a lot of stains on the tiled floors you know. Not to mention the mirror you broke."
Harry frowned and bowed his head slightly in apology. "Sorry for the trouble."
Rushing upstairs he called back, "I'm going to help clean up my mess."
Andromeda watched with her arms crossed. Silently appraising the young man with a smile.
"Despite everything he's experienced he can still smile like that. He's a good boy isn't he." She said to herself.
Ted nodded in agreement. "He's definitely something else. His past aside, he's young, hopeful, kind, and overall a powerful wizard."
Andromeda raised an eye at this. "Powerful, what gave you that impression."
Ted sighed. "I'll tell you later. We had a bit of a problem on our way back." Ted informed her as his features shifted from one of reflection to that of concern.
"Is there something wrong?"
Ted shook his head. "Not wrong per say… it's just, the way he moved. It suggested something akin to experience. Like Harry was used to fighting or reacting to surprise attacks."
Andromeda's frown which appeared upon hearing this grew more as she listened to her husband.
"There was no hesitation, the moment he heard the spell he was already reacting before anyone knew what was happening. He took down a skilled duelist, a man known for being capable in the dark arts, and yet he was taken down and immobilized within seconds of attacking Harry from behind." Tonks continued.
"That's not everything you're worried about either." Andromeda said knowingly.
"No, it's not. Shacklebolt was there. I know how Auror's work, and I know the man well enough." Ted began, pausing as he wrapped his head around the words that followed. "I've never known the man to pass over a situation like that so quickly. He barely asked us any questions, not even delving deeper into whatever magic Harry used to put Snape to sleep-"
"Hold on, Snape!?" Andromeda shouted out. "As in Severus Snape, the potions master at Hogwarts? That Snape. He attacked you!?"
"Yes, I'll give you the details later." Ted insisted, waiting for his wife to calm down. "It's just everything went too smoothly. Like Harry did something to make himself and me, less of a focus."
Andromeda wrapped her arms around Ted as she leaned up to look into his eyes. The worry that shadowed them, slowly lifted as they were replaced with a subtle want. "If there is something else, he will tell us when he is ready too, or when we bring it up naturally. We've raised our daughter to know right from wrong and to stick to the right crowds. If Harry really was such a bad person, she would never talk about him like she does." Andromeda said airily.
"I know but," Ted began but Andromeda shushed him with a finger. "You worry too much dear. Harry is a young man who's clearly experienced a lot, thrown into a world of magic, and has thrown himself into it with a passion that showed us all how much talent he has."
"Foreknowledge or not, Harry is not a bad person." Andromeda whispered. "Besides if we're wrong its nothing we need to worry about."
"Why do you say that?" Ted asked enjoying the look in her eye.
"Well, I may be a Tonks, but don't forget dear I was raised a Black."
Ted chuckled, "And every Black replays their debts." He finished.
Andromeda laughed aloud as she hugged him. "See, you do know me."
Ted rolled his eyes even as he saw the sinister mirth sparkling in her eyes.
"AH!"
Ted and Andromeda snapped apart, their heads spinning to look up the stairs as a loud cry from their daughter rang out. The moment they looked up, a very naked Nymphadora Tonks tumbled ungracefully down the stairs, rolling and clashing loudly before being stopped at the base of the stairs.
Her legs were left sprawled out with her head resting on the floor look up from between her open legs that hung in the air. Between the welt on her head and the hard floor, Tonks could only hiss out in pain.
"Ow. Ow. Ow. That smarts." Opening her eyes she saw her father, staring flustered, and her mother smirking quite proudly.
"I'm sure there's a story to go along with this." Andromeda sang out pleasantly.
Tonks quickly blushes and screamed as she ran up the stairs and into her room all the while shouting expletives to the air.
Andromeda burst into a fit of laughter which broke Ted from his kerfuffle. "What was that?"
"Your daughter dear." Andromeda managed to breath out.
"I know that, what I want to know, is what did you do?" Ted asked knowingly.
"Well, our daughter was in quite a state after you left. We sat down and I discussed with her our plans with Harry and her own. Together I had her work to set up a room in the house for Harry to work with her in. After we finished, I told her to go shower since we both needed one after moving the furniture. I told her not to run, but you know our daughter." Andromeda explained with a huff at the end.
"She ran." Ted answered.
"She ran." Andromeda confirmed. "It was about then that you two came home. So, I sent Harry up as a bit of punishment for her knocking over two portraits and the hat stand and breaking to house rule regarding running in the house." Andromeda said cheekily.
"You know, there's a saying, something akin to like father like son." Ted smugly teased.
"Well," Andromeda huffed. "I happen to think you like it when I'm causing trouble."
"Well, I'm sure I'll be forced to punish you for embarrassing out daughter. Speak of which you didn't explain how all of that led to our baby girl, naked and exposed on the first floor."
Andromeda stepped back and looked back up the stairs. "Well, I was down here too so I'm not quite sure myself."
Heading up herself, she walked in and saw Harry levitating the pieces of the mirror into his hand.
Andromeda smirked as she looked at him. "Aside from using magic when you're not supposed too," she teased, "I must say my daughter did a very good job cleaning up the mess before taking her shower."
Harry looked up a sheepishly smiled. "I'm pretty sure your little prank prevented her from taking a shower." He replied.
"Oh? And how do you know that?" Andromeda teased.
"That's easy. You let me go up here before she could even enter the shower."
"Oh, that's a shame." Andromeda said with heightened flair. "So, how did my daughter end up down the stairs?"
"Oh… that." Harry muttered. "Well, the door was open, so I walked in. Tonks was standing there, freaked out and took a swing at me and I might have, kind of, flipped her over on reflex."
"And then?" Andromeda asked.
"Well, she got flustered at being thrown and left sprawled out on the ground, so she cast a stinging curse at me, and I swatted it back at her which sent her tumbling down the stairs."
Andromeda glared at him when he said her daughter attacked him. "She sent a curse at you?"
Sensing the danger Harry quickly added. "It's a kind of game we play between us. It started off as her trying to stun me for saying her name, but it turned into a game where she tries to get the jump on me. She tries to cast a spell on me, and I just flick it back at her if I spot it."
"Interesting. Has our daughter ever hit you?" Andromeda asked.
Harry took up a thinking pose as he thought about it. "I don't think she has yet."
"It's only been a few months you've known her Harry. Do you really need to think about it?"
Harry shrugged. "She's made a lot of attempts."
Andromeda's merry laughter rang down the halls. A mix of pride and humor sang out even as Tonks sighed. "She's so much like her mother."
"So, my girl has been on the receiving end of her own spells for several months now?" Andromeda said before breaking back into laughter.
Harry could almost see the red blush that must have been on Tonks's face as he was certain her mother's laughter and words could be heard all the way up the stairs.
His suspicions turned out to be true as a pillow came flying down the stairs colliding with Andromeda.
While Andromeda looked angered at first, her fit of laughter overwhelmed her as she realized why the pillow came flying at her. Ted held his smile even as he sighed. Leaning down to Harry he whispered, "I'll handle my wife. I'll leave you to make it up to my daughter."
"Come on dear. It's time for your punishment."
He whispered these words, but Harry was still able to hear them clearly. Turning to look at Harry once more he added, "And you better keep your pants on."
He said this with a fatherly glare of the most traditional sort, but that only made it funnier when Harry pointed out calmly, "Shouldn't I be more worried about your daughter jumping me?"
Ted held his glare for an impressive and imposing thirty seconds before dropping his shoulders in defeat.
"Yeah… You're probably right there." Turning around he looked over his shoulder at him even as he climbed the stairs guiding his wife who was finally calming down and blushing slightly.
"Just tell her that for now, you both have our permission to train and practice."
Harry nodded while trying his best to ignore the thoughts that were surfacing from both adults.
Harry pocketed his wand which he was still holding and put the glass shards away on the sink to be taken care of later.
Going up the stairs Harry made his way to Tonks's room. When Harry knocked, he heard a muffled sound but couldn't make out what it was. Knocking again, he was greeted by silence. Opening the door cautiously Harry saw Tonks covered by her blankets and her head under her pillow.
"Go away."
Harry looked at her and smirked.
"Not falling for it Nymphie. Your embarrassed but you're playing it way too hard. So, I'm just going to stay over here until you realize you can't jump me that easily."
Tonks stiffened under her blanket before shuffling out from beneath it and clicked her tongue.
"Che, should have known better." Tonks stated in annoyance.
Walking over Harry sat down on her bed as she rolled herself around to a sitting position. Turning away Harry shyly requested. "So, are you going to put any clothes on?"
Tonks slyly chucked as she subtle reached her hand around him. "Oh come on. Is the big bad firstie afraid of a bit of skin?"
Pulling her wand out from her sheets she cast a silent stinging charm from Harry's left who simply leaned back, letting Tonks hit herself.
"Ow! Damnit. What does it take to land a hit on you?" Tonks whined.
"Quite a bit more if I'm honest." Harry smugly said. "Get dressed."
Tonks just shrugged and without even caring got up and put her robe on. Harry smiled in relief that the girl had the decency to at least wear panties during her surprise attack.
"Plan on taking me out?"
Harry laughed and nodded. "I indeed plan too."
Tonks turning around looking at him with interest. "I didn't think we had that kind of relationship Mr. Potter? Should I be worried?"
"Nymphie, we've been at this for a while." Harry said ducking another shot from his blind spot. Harry smirked again as Tonks clicked her tongue in annoyance as she went back to getting dressed. "Nice try, and as I was saying, we've been at this for a while and yes you should be worried."
"Why's that?" Tonks asked hesitantly.
"Because," Harry turned around with a shit-eating grin, "Until now all I've done is dodge and reflect your spells back at you. Now I get to take a swing at you without remorse."
Tonks blushed as she muttered a simple, "oh."
This forced Harry to break out into laughter.
"You, smug brat." Tonks yelled. No malice in her tone and a mirthful grin on her face.
She chucked her sole remaining pillow at Harry even as he broke out into fits of laughter.
"What did you think I was referring too." Harry asked, gripped his stomach.
"Not that mister." Tonks said confidently.
Harry shook his head. While she put up a good front, he could tell that her engine was a lot hotter than it appeared. Whether it was stress or worry, Tonks wanted some action and Harry wasn't so disinterested to ignore her.
"I'll meet you downstairs. Which room did you and your mother fix for us to use?"
"First floor, second room past the dining room." Tonks said as she pulled down a sports bra over her head.
Harry nodded and went down to said room. Opening the door Harry was introduced to a large open room with several white sheets covering the furniture within. If he imagined it without the sheets, Harry could easily see it as being a second living room. Walking in Harry could feel the floor give way a bit.
Kneeling he put his hand to the floor and pushed. The carpeting that covered the floor caved in with his hand.
"Cushioning charms." Harry reasoned. Nice for when it was possible one could fall.
Then again it was also nice when one needed to lay down for a prolonged period of time.
Shaking his head at the ceiling Harry had to wonder which of the women of the house thought up that particular idea. Nymphadora aside, Andromeda was quickly turning out to be a more mature, astute, and in all honesty 'active' individual then he first envisioned.
Tracing a hand over the covered furniture Harry took in the environment that was made. The cloth was loose and only held in place with a few sticking charms and a couple charms that made it more durable.
Deciding to take the initiative Harry pulled out his wand and wrote a few runes upon them.
"A Mountain stands firm, unwavering to all. Lead retains its form, as Iron is steel. Unwavering and unmoving, it shall retain its form…" Harry sang as he wrote the runes for, Mountain, Lead, and Iron into a triangular matrix. Circling them he united the three words with the rune for truth, upside down, the rune for forward following it, then the rune for path and then finally self.
Once done, Harry tapped the array and wrote a few dozen other runes to reinforce those three primary runes. These were the same arrays he used on his door back at Hogwarts.
In runes, the words held weight. Depending on how they were written down, three runes could hold one effect, present none, or backfire spectacularly. In this case, Harry had essentially written down the runic phrase for, reject the forward path toward myself.
Harry smiled at his work. Unlike his door which needed to be both impervious to attack, but also impenetrable, these 'obstacles' were simpler. They need only be protected and sturdy not forged to be a singular object.
Harry grinned at this. With those runes, they could use the furniture as cover without it being damaged.
With the sheets covered along with the floor, Harry took in the rest of the room. The walls were sturdy enough and would allow for enough room to spam spells at each other. For a practice room, made with whatever was present, it was pretty good.
Tonks picked this moment to come in. Harry turned around and saw she was dressed in pop-rock style shirt and a pair of jeans.
"You ready?"
Tonks shrugged and crossed her arms. "Ready for what exactly?"
Harry grinned, "Well you seem frustrated and I figured I'd spend the rest of the day helping you express that frustration."
"Oh sure, and you're just going to let me wail on you. I'm not an 'M' Potter."
"I was thinking more along the lines of giving you three minutes where I do nothing but dodge."
Tonks peeked at him through an open eye with mild suspicion. "No parrying?"
Harry nodded, "No parrying."
"No magic?"
"Not on my end." Harry admitted.
"For three minutes." She asked, a smile encroaching on her frown as she started to get excited.
"Or until you hit me." Harry said.
"Stinging jinx only?"
"That would be nice." Harry answered.
Tonks raised her wand, "On three?"
"When you're ready."
"Stupify!"
Harry ducked and chuckled. "That wasn't a Stinging jinx!" Tonks smiled evilly. "Too bad kiddo, I'm just in that kind of mood."
Harry dodged another flash of red, jumping over what he suspected was a couch.
For nearly sixty minutes Harry continuously dodges Tonks's spellfire, enjoying the activity almost as much as Tonks was. Whenever Tonks grew winded from casting too many spells, Harry would pitch suggestions on how to improve her accuracy. As they went on, after each pitch, a noticeable difference could be seen. At least by Harry anyway. If he was basing his opinion on Tonks's view rather than the difficulty, he was having to evade her spells, then Tonks wasn't improving in the least.
Alas, Harry was impressed by the improvement he saw as they went on. It was slow, sure, but he noticed the increasing pressure on himself, as her aim came closer to home.
After another hour passed and Tonks clearly peeved at having not once landed a hit on him, the two stopped to catch their breath.
"How… Why can't I hit you!" she demanded. Harry chuckled as he watched her collapse and fall to the ground on her back. Sprawled out she huffed in exhaustion. "I even apporated that time. How in the world could you have known where I would be." She complained.
Harry just sat down, calming his ragged breathing and controlling it which experienced focus.
In the silence Tonks shook her head, believing Harry was just as winded as she was, which wasn't completely wrong.
"That last time, when I apparated it felt like you knew exactly where I was going to be?"
Harry chuckled, "Well," he admitted, "you're not exactly wrong about that."
Huffing Tonks asked, "What… do you mean?"
Standing up and stretching his back Harry admitted. "Well as a passive Legilimens, I could hear where you were focusing on appearing."
"Hey!" Tonks shouted out in indignation. "You said no magic."
"And I didn't." Harry retorted.
"You just said you used Legilimency on me!" Tonks said taking up a mocked pose of someone who was just violated.
"Passive, Nymphie. I told you no magic. That included the magic I use to somewhat stop my rampant uncontrollable legilimency."
Pulling herself up she stared Harry down with an accusing eye. Harry could make out the rise and fall of her chest as she talked, slightly disappointed at seeing it. "So, that's the secret to why I can never seem to hit you? You've been reading my mind this whole time and dodging based on what I was thinking?"
Harry stuck his tongue out at her cheekily.
With a large second wind, Tonks lunged at Harry only to trip up and crash into the floor where he was standing. Pulling herself out of the cushion charmed floor Tonks demanded, "Get back her Potter, I want payback."
"You're not wrong but you're miss informed too." Harry teased, grinning and holding back his laughter at her spectacular faceplant.
"What do you mean?"
Harry sat down and looked down at her. "What has your mother taught you about Occlumency and Legilimency?"
"Well Legilimency is a spell that lets its caster invade a person's mind while Occlumency is how a victim protects their mind." Tonks bashfully repeated roughly.
"That's not wrong, but it's a gross simplification." Harry pointed out.
When Tonks's head perked up at this Harry continued. "Legilimency is a spell, but it's rather foolishly the same term for the umbrella of mind magics, specifically the ones that extend beyond one's own mind. Occlumency is the form of mind-magic's that focus on the control and centring of one's mind."
A long pause hung in the air before Tonks intelligently replied, "huh?"
Shaking his head Harry asked, "How do you stop someone from entering your mind?"
"By practising Occlumency."
Harry nearly coughed at the simplistic answer that was completely off base. Not that he could blame her since she only just learned of this field of practice just the night before. "Okay, how does that help?"
Tonks stared at him and realized that she didn't know. Guessing she thought, "By…blocking… out the persons…magic?" she hesitantly asked.
"Close." Harry smiled. "It works by centring your own magic so it's less accessible to a Legilimency attack."
Raising his finger Harry lectured, "Legilimency aside, Occlumency works by organizing your own thoughts into a form that can't be accessed by magic. Simply it blocks out another from reading your mind, but the method differs from person to person."
Pointing at his own head Harry explained, "Mine, for example, is a replica of Hogwarts. The result of my practice was to envision a place that I consider 'protected' or 'fortified'. Rather than 'block' a Legilimen's attack, I 'permit' them entry and force them to wander aimlessly, looking for something they want to find. This, however, requires a mindscape which is apparently the pinnacle of Occlumency."
"Okay, and how does this remotely involve explaining you reading my mind?" Tonks pointedly spat out, still pissed at learning Harry was reading her thoughts this entire time.
"Because it can just as easily 'block' out thoughts as easily as it 'permits' them." Harry explained.
Pulling out his wand Harry asked, "May I have your permission to use Legilimensy on you?"
"It's not like you haven't been in my head until now." Tonks sighed out.
Ignoring her statement Harry again sincerely requested, "Do I have your permission?"
A little confused Tonks just shrugged and mutter, "Sure what's the worst that could happen."
Doing so Harry pointed at her between the eyes and with a clear stare he shouted, "NYMPHADORA!"
Tonks angrily glared at him but the moment she did he mutter, "Legilimens."
Tonks felt a rush as a series of memories flashed before her. She saw herself as a first-year, tripping over the floor and spilling all of her soil in the greenhouse, resulting in a huge mess. Another image popped into her mind, the time she was in her flying lessons. She watched in embarrassment as she flew clumsily, crashing into the astronomy tower, the owlery and the Whomping Willow as her classmates laughed at her and Madam Hoot shouted at her before she crashed face-first into Hagrid's Pumpkin patch."
The images flashed again, and again. Her first kiss with a boy, his laughter at her hair changing color. Her third-year classes in Transfiguration where she succeeded in class, earning Hufflepuff points. She saw herself making out with another girl, a Ravenclaw Prefect. She saw herself facing a boggart that took the form of her greatest fear after it appeared from within a potted plant in herbology. Finally, she saw herself, a six-year-old girl crying as a large group of kids sang around her. Calling her a slut, a whore, and other names as they poked fun at her name.
The embarrassment was finally too great. She didn't want Harry to see that and she cried out for it to stop.
And it did.
As suddenly as it began, the first sign of resistance, active resistance, Harry pulled back on the spot.
Huffing and puffing Tonks felt her face sweating as beads of perspiration fell along her cheeks. Looking up she saw Harry staring at her while putting his wand away, completely at ease and calm. Neither looking at her with pride, pity, disgusted, hatred, none of that. He was calm and composed, not judging, nor imposing his own expectations on her.
Offering a napkin, Harry waited for Tonks to gather herself first. When he felt she was ready he slowly started, "That was active Legilimancy. Both the spell and the magic."
Seeing she was listening while collecting herself Harry continued. "I did it so that you could see what I saw. Active legilimency is forceful and shows the caster images, views, of a person's thoughts, memories and or feelings against their will. Passive Legilimency is akin to a more informative version of cold reading, a muggle trick."
"Cold reading. Isn't that, that thing where you keep asking questions until the person gives you the answer or something?" Tonks asked.
"Sort of, but for now, yes that's good enough." Harry shrugged out. "I'm a passive Legilimans Nymphie. My magic and mind aren't able to stop me from hearing, seeing, or feeling what others feel, remember, or think. I can inhibit it with Occlemancy but I can't stop it completely. Occasionally it slips and I hear another's thoughts or see their view or memories."
"So, you don't do it intentionally?" Tonks asked.
"No, or rather, you're the first person I've used Legilimency on." Harry admitted.
Tonks looked up at him in confusion. When she opened her mouth to speak Harry cut in, "No I'm not lying, and I haven't used it before."
Tonks stared at Harry as he continued to explain. "Passive Legilimency is just that, Passive. It's not invasive. When you think of something or a question, it rises to the surface. A Legilimans is able to read a surface thought without intruding into your mind. I don't see it, feel it or anything. I can only hear and understand it."
"So, active Legilimency is invasive."
Harry nodded. "Everything becomes bare, open to interpretation and review. Secrets are irrelevant and are ripe for the picking. Legilimency isn't mind reading either. You can't control what you see unless your drudge up the thoughts with questions or suggestions. Otherwise, like what you experienced, you see a bunch of random memories associated with whatever you're looking at when you perform the spell." Harry explained.
"So, everything I saw…"
"I saw." Harry finished with a soft smile. "And with me, they will stay. I won't mention anything unless you wish me too."
Tonks looked up at Harry who sat down in defeat. "I can't stop using my legilimency. But I respect another's privacy to not tell others of it unless it could hurt someone. While I can tell that you will attack me, at best, it would be something like, 'I'll cast a stinger from behind him once he turns."
Looking up at her Harry stated. "If you don't believe me that's fine, but most of the time I block out such thoughts with occlumency and avoid your ambush with my own instincts. Even when practising today, I dodged your shots from my blind spot because it was a process of elimination. You weren't appearing in front of me, so you had to be behind me."
"You weren't reading my thoughts?" Tonks asked.
"Not until the end. When you started apporating the images of your destination came into my head pretty hard." Harry admitted.
Tonks sat up and looked at Harry. Her tone was wistful and almost pleading when she asked, "And you won't tell anyone about what you saw?"
Tonks could see the almost fearful look of regret in his form. His eyes appeared hollowed and caste in hate for one's own self. A look she knew she had whenever she thought about her name. A name, that Harry's reason, was slowly causing her to warm up too.
"No." Harry said his head still down almost in penance.
"You don't think less of me?"
"I understand you better now." Harry replied his eyes rising to look up at hers.
"You won't change because of what you saw?"
"You're still Nymphie to me." Harry teased.
Tonks smiled. "In that case I want another go."
Harry looked up. "You want me to dodge you for another round?"
"So long as you're up for it." Tonks chucked out. "I mean, you're not exactly getting anything out of it."
Harry smiled, "Not true." He rose to his feet. "I'm getting a workout and I'm regaining my touch at dodging. Only this time it's with magic flying at me." Harry said.
Tonks grinned, "Good," she said, "Cause this time I want you to read my mind."
Harry looked at her dumbly. "Huh?"
"Well, you said you were holding back for the most part. This time I want to see how well you can dodge when you're actually trying."
"You won't hold it against me?" Harry asked.
"Nope, only if I don't see a difference." Tonks admitted. "If I can't see a difference, then I'll know you were lying to me." Her features grew dark as she glared at him. "And I won't like that."
Harry smirked, "When you're ready then."
A minute passed as they stared each other down. Tonks's mind racing to figure out how best to spell him. When she made up her mind to perform a faint, she was shocked as Harry didn't just dodge the faint but in such a way that he moved clear of the actual spell she had cast silently in its shadow.
Trying again, she pointed her wand to cast a binding spell that didn't shoot a flash of light. Again, Harry simply dodged the point where the spell would have hit and manoeuvred his body back upright, still standing in the same spot.
The more they got into it, the more Tonks realized how in over her head she was. Harry wasn't lying when he said he was trying not to read her mind. Compared to before, Harry was untouchable now. Faints, traps, lures, chain spells, even spells he shouldn't have known, Harry dodged each one flawlessly and most of the time without even looking at her. As time went on it became clear that Harry was improving too. No longer making excessive movements, Harry would simply lean to the side while moving, just enough to avoid the spell in question as it flew by. Tonks found out that apparition was an even worse strategy as Harry tripped her up each time, she tried to get the drop on him.
Once three hours had passed the two were breathing heavily. Again, Tonks more so than Harry. Again, Harry was a little upset at the lacklustre stamina of Tonks as she had done very little dodging to speak of.
While she caught her breath, Harry stated, "You really need to work on your physical condition."
"My… what?" Tonks breathed out, out of breath.
"Your physical condition. Stamina. You've barely moved and you're already out of breath." Harry pointed out.
"I'm… just… a bit… winded." Tonks got out between breaths. Once she collected herself, she asked more smoothly, "And what's with you, you've been jumping around all over the place. Why aren't you as exhausted?"
"I only did that near the beginning. Plus, did you think I was letting my house chase me around during last year for no reason?" Harry asked.
"Your kidding. That's why… wait, you let them?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "I can read minds Nym. How could I not already know what they were planning?"
Tonks chocked and fell over grasping her stomach. Harry ran over worried at first before her coughing and inability to breath turned into a roaring fit of laughter. "I can't, *cough* believe it. You played them, HAHAHA!"
Harry shrugged and smiled.
"Oh man, you really are insane. You sure you're not a Gryffindor. That sounds like something someone foolish and reckless would do." Tonks got out still keeling over the revelation.
"I thought it was rather Slytherin. Using my adversaries' ploys to further my physical gain, improving my stamina, while publicly humiliating them by evading their attempts and constantly outmanoeuvring them.
Tonks stopped rolling as she thought about it. Her jaw dropped as the rationalization of the events hit her like a blasting curse.
"Oh," she muttered with an evil grin. "Your good. Oh, that is sooo Slytherin."
Harry just shrugged but his own shit-eating grin was hard to miss. "Slytherins are those who use everything they have access to in order to succeed. Just because I have morals doesn't mean I don't do that."
"Then what are you getting out of this mister?" Tonks asked.
"Besides time with a beautiful lady?" Harry teased eliciting a laugh from Tonks.
"Yeah, besides that you playboy."
Harry shrugged, "How often would a first-year going on second-year, get to practice dodging active spellfire? Say whatever you want, it's a handy skill to have."
Tonks nodded in agreement. "I can believe that. After casting so many spells at you and not one hitting, I'd have to agree."
"So?" Harry asked as he turned to look at Tonks. "Do you believe me?"
"Believe what?"
Harry looked peeved at Tonks who stared back. Suddenly remembering how she had gotten to this point she explained, "Oh! Right… um yeah, I believe you. Sorry, I shouldn't have been so distrusting. You're not that kind of person."
"Thanks." Harry replied, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders.
"Hey, mind if I ask something?" Harry turned to Tonks and waited for her to ask. "Why don't you just use occlumency all the time to block out other thoughts?"
Harry sighed, "Because, occlumency is an active art. You try going through an entire day patting and rubbing your stomach and head respectively without stopping or slipping up an entire day." He answered sarcastically.
"What if I need to pick something up?" Tonks asked seriously.
"What if I need to talk or think about something else?" Harry countered.
"Oh, yeah that makes sense. Gotcha." Tonks said realizing that constant Occlumency would be incredibly difficult to manage for twenty-four hours straight. "Must be nice, being able to know what others are thinking thought."
"It's not so nice in the great hall." Harry countered. "Or in public."
"Why's that?"
"Trying imaging everyone's thoughts coming at you all at once."
Tonks shivered at that thought. "That's got to hurt."
"It actually does." Harry admitted. "I mitigated the problem with potions, but it still lingers as a throbbing pain. Makes it hard to think too."
Tonks nodded at this. "You also get to have Malfoy in your head too." She added with a teasing grin.
"He's not so bad." Harry said with a smirk. "most of the time his head is just filled with Senior Malfoy bending him over."
"OH, Eww! I do not need that in my head!" Tonks shouted out while Harry laughed. "Is it really?"
"His head? No." Harry stated. "And don't ask what he thinks about."
"What? Worried I'll say something?"
"It's my policy. I don't talk about other people's insecurities unless other people could get hurt."
"You really won't tell anyone about what you find out." Tonks stated.
"Not unless they want me too." Harry replied.
"So, you won't tell anyone about what you saw."
Harry nodded, "I won't."
Pausing Tonks reflected on that evening. She learned Harry was very talented, skilled, and that he could read her thoughts to a certain degree. His ability to dodge improved greatly too when he joined it with his passive legilimency.
"Do you think I can learn passive Legilimency?"
Harry looked up at her and thought about it. "It's unlikely. While I think it can be learned I don't think anyone can teach you how to use it passively. It's kind of like a Metamorphmagus actually. You have to be born naturally attuned with Legilimency."
"Damn, I thought it would be nice to be able to do like you do. Would give me an edge in the exam."
Harry chuckled, "Well I can agree it would be helpful. But it's not flawless. If someone is skilled enough in Occlemency, I won't be able to hear their thoughts."
"Damn, I was hoping."
Harry smiled. "Ask your mom for lessons."
Tonks scoffed at that, "Was kind of hoping to avoid that."
"Well I can teach you by repeatedly casting Legilimancy on you until you get a feel for the magic, but that's not a good method."
"Yeah," Tonks sighed out in remembrance, "Didn't really like showing you my worst moments."
"You were kind of cute riding your broomstick." Harry teased.
"Shut up, I sucked at flying back then. I got better."
"I wasn't referring to your flying lesson." Harry clarified.
Tonks went bright pink along with her hair. "But I didn't see that…" She started before realizing she had been played.
Laughing like a mad man Harry jumped out of the way as Tonks shot another spell at him. "You are so dead Potter!" Tonks shouted as she gave chase.
Eventually, Harry tired Tonks out and after collapsing from exhaustion he placed her on the covered couch. Once she was settled Harry smiled that the earlier embarrassment was gone from her mind. Sleeping contently, Harry left and retrieved one of his newly acquired books on runes.
Settling down next to her, Harry relaxed as he began reading. Slowly he started to fall into slumber as he read, and he welcomed it freely. Not fearing a repeat of the night before.
He was finally free to be himself. He was no longer the silent child from back then. His life began when he turned eleven. No sooner, no later. He came alive on that day in the Hospital. Today proved that to him. He was welcomed and lived with magic. No longer would he be exiled from the world of magic.
Until today he carried the pain of his mundane life with him, ignoring the pain but letting linger in the foreground of his experiences. Now, he was truly free of it. It might have loomed in his mind before, lingering, festering, but now it was done. Reality proved that this was no dream and he was no longer bound to suffer that pain again.
Just as slumber began to great him Harry wrote a letter on his book, putting it down, he pocketed it in his pants. The next morning Harry would send it off. The next day he would embrace his summers without hesitation.
While his day started with pain, Harry couldn't have been happier with how it ended. Feeling like he was officially casting off his pain and suffering. No longer the Harry of War, no longer the Death Walker, no longer that child tormented by his relatives. Harry finally felt like he was truly home, embraced by magic wholeheartedly.
oOoOo
Patunia Dursley hid her concern well. She paced in place, in front of the stove, shifting her weight from one foot to another before being forced to accept that he wasn't coming today like they said. At least that's what she rationalized as she left Kings Cross Station to return home.
Her nephew was supposed to have been at the station that evening. But he never showed. Eventually, she had to leave the station without Harry, because she was still responsible for caring for her Husband. She originally was very peeved at his tardiness. She was forced to wait for seven hours, and he hadn't shown.
At first, she was pissed that the boy had wasted her time like this. However, now a lingering sense of worry haunted her. She had no hatred for the boy. Sure, she had no motherly affection for him either, but she didn't hate him. He was her sister's son. The same sister she still loved.
If she was ever honest with herself, Patunia would admit that her troubles with her sister all stemmed from her own wish to be apart of the magical world that Lily belonged to. Instead she held a grudge against the very magic, that in her eyes, took her sister away.
Now she hated magic for another reason. Not only did it take her away, it killed her too. And instead of including the boy into their world where he belonged, they pawned him off on her until they felt he should rejoin them.
Magic would never be a friend of hers. They took and killed her beloved sister, rejected her, and abandoned her son, Lily's son, to them.
However, he was her son. The son of her beloved sister. It was for that alone, if nothing else, that she took in and cared for her nephew. She wouldn't have taken him in if he wasn't. She had her own problems and son to take care of and it didn't help that Vernon hated anything that didn't fit into his own views of life.
"That ungrateful boy. Making me wait for him and not even showing up when he was supposed to be there. I have to take care of my Dudders and Vernon who is still recovering from whatever monstrous freakishness that thing was."
When she returned to Number Four Privet Drive, Dudders had gone out to hang out with his friends leaving Vernon lounging in the living room in quite a mood.
"Boy! Your late! Dear what took so long?" he called out.
Walking in to see him Petunia said, "He didn't show dear."
"WHAT?" Vernon growled out.
"He never showed."
Vernon went into a myriad of vocal announcements about how the freaks lied, how they didn't know how to follow a clock, and an assortment of insults in general.
Petunia, with what little time remained of the day, went to work cooking dinner. It was a normal day. No freakish magic, no rebellious teen, no abnormalities to be sighted. Just an average summers day.
This sat well with Vernon and would have remained if her son hadn't asked what became of Harry. The topic was settled with a simple, "He didn't return.", and was left at that.
When she went to sleep, similarly, everything was normal. Nothing out of the ordinary. The day that followed, Petunia became even more restless.
None of the freaks had returned to ask her where Harry was. None of them had come to shout how she abandoned him at the station where he wasn't even present at. For a moment Petunia thought she might have gotten the dates wrong.
She didn't.
The unease still haunted her. Slowly it dawned on her that her unease wasn't from the… wizard's side, not keeping her informed, nor the very normal days they were having. It was how utterly tense and frustrated Vernon was becoming. He was moodier now then he was before her return and as each hour ticked by his shouts, demands, and over all frustrations grew.
It was a side of her Husband she had never seen before, and it was growing and unsettling her.
As she went to sleep after going about her day as normal, checking her garden, spying on her neighbors, she wondered why Harry's lack of presence seemed to exemplify these traits in her husband.
The answer came the next morning.
Dudley had left the house to hang out at the park. Earlier that evening Petunia had driven her husband to his rehabilitation doctor. He still struggled to walk even after three season passed them by. In fact, his recovery was only starting to make progress at the start of the summer season. Whatever Harry had done that night in that lighthouse shack, had left him in particular in a right state with near death injuries.
With both of the men of her life gone for the eve, she took to caring for her guardian when a man walked up to her house. Curious she arose to greet him but was beaten to the punch by the man in black and white.
"Hello, are you perchance Petunia Dursley?"
Taken aback a bit Petunia curtly replied, "I am. Who may I ask is asking?"
Taking off his hat, the man smiled with a slight bow. "Forgive my late introduction, I'm Sergeant Biggs. We received a tip this morning from a Mr. Harry James Potter. Would you mind letting me inside?"