To my great pleasure, I've finally managed to mitigate the problems plaguing my to submit the most requested update. Chapter 5 (25) is already in the works but my own problems keep hindering me at this time. Thank you all for your patience and great interest in this work, It means a lot. My computer while barely working, will be in use to get you the next chapter asap. I'd like to say it will be done by next week but the last three times I told peeps that it would be done it wasn't so… yeah, enjoy the chapter. My new computer parts should arrive in maybe a month… hopefully.
Book II :: Chapter 4 :: Breaking Headlines
Harry woke up feeling slightly sore. On top of having helped Tonks work on her aim and clumsiness, he had fallen asleep while reading the final chapters of Runic Lays: Binding the Boundaries. With drooping eyes he slowly gazed around himself. Apparently he was more tired then he realized, clearly falling asleep in the middle of his studies.
Surrounding him on his bed were his scattered notes and theories he had written down while reading, with said book lazily opened next to him where he apparently passed out in mid reading. This surprised Harry since he was heavily interested in the topic.
In truth, he was learning more about Runes from this one book then he ever had from his own self studies back in the day. Not all that surprising when he was stuck piecing together what equated a lost art.
It was fascinating and a bit depressing how much knowledge was lost over the course of Humanities decline. While some aspects of the study in the book were completely false, like the statement that not all runes could work together, other aspects made sense in hindsight. Something he realized having used them sporadically himself without taking note of such.
Harry had always known that runes could be compounded into strings and phrases that could hold power. What he hadn't known was that these words don't necessarily equate words that hold power.
The symbolic or original meaning of the Runes for example rather than what the rune flat out translated to.
The Symbol for Unicorn, for example, could represent the power of one, but he had known it to embody the meaning of purity, being a good example of him using the symbolic form unknowingly despite his rough translation being that of the summarized meaning of one.
This alone opened up a can of worms that he had literally slept on, as he crumpled and sat on the numerous scraps of parchment around him as he got out of his bed.
Stepping up and stretching Harry looked around, half drowsy, for a pair of boxers to wear. Stumbling over to several boxes and cauldrons Harry navigated through the mess of his trunk to his dresser and pulled out some clothes for the coming day.
Harry might not have been a morning person himself, but old habits did die hard. Those who aren't quick to wake or aware when they do tend to die after all. So naturally by the time he got his pants on, he was fully aware and awake.
Turning around Harry lazily gestured his hand, reaching for his wand, before waving it with a half-assed flick.
All the papers were strewn over his bed and around it floated up and rearranged themselves into a neat pile, about two inches thick. He smiled at the fruit of his labors as well as the numerous uses the levitation charm had.
He was looking forward to putting his theories to practice, especially the one he came up with that made use of the Natural's theories and ideas about algorithms.
Grabbing his family's cloak, several vials of his most prized elixir, and his bag of gold before he finally exited his trunk, Harry made one last check before he was certain he had everything he needed for this morning's mission..
Pulling himself out of his trunk he closed the lid behind him as he stood in the Tonks's guest room.
Just in case Harry popped one of his aging pills into his mouth before he headed for the front door, being as quiet as possible as to not alert the family to his actions.
With the pill popped, Harry checked himself in the mirror by the door to make sure everything was right. It might not have mattered really since he was also taking his cloak, but Harry was of the mind that taking precautions when taking risks were worth making despite the inconvenience.
Not to mention, he really didn't want another Snape incident. Yet at the same time, he wasn't going to waste his newfound life stuffed away in the corner of a closet; Or as the case being, a trunk.
In the early warmth of the summer season, Harry began his jog comfortably down the street, unknown to any who passed him.. Being both 'muggle' London and due to his appearance, Harry enjoyed the fleeting moment of liberation in the knowledge that it was highly unlikely anyone would find him unless he used magic. The cloak, the pill, and his caution were just him being paranoid, but that too was backed by experience.
In truth, while he had yet to confirm it completely, Harry knew he didn't need to worry about his magic being detected at all. A neat side effect regarding his return to his past was that Harry figured out that the Ministry's Trace functioned on one's chronological age, not their biological one. A hefty shout out of thanks towards Snape for helping Harry figure that one out. The only way the ministry or anyone for that matter could find him via magic was if he used it in a non magical area.
Continuing to march down the block, Harry picked up the pace and turned it into a sprint.
He had three hours to kill exercising before the nearest eatery to Diagon Alley opened and three hours hopefully to make up for his departure from early morning exercise. Thankfully it was a good two or so hours away from said eatery but that was only if Harry headed there directly.
Caffè Vergnano, not his first choice but they did sell good coffee and were rather close to the Leaky Cauldron.
Taking a bit of an excursion Harry eventually arrived at the Caffè just in time for it to open. Seeing the clock Harry was reminded that while he was limited for time, he wasn't pressed for it.
Thankfully it was unlikely that the family would even notice his disappearance and he'd be free to get a few things taken care of.
Ted and Andromeda would be returning home around noon, closer to two and Tonks would be asleep for as long as he didn't wake her.
Thankfully waking her up was left to him, though Harry wasn't sure why Andromeda presented the task to him. Over the course of the week, she had unofficially dubbed him as Tonks's 'trainer', much to her daughter's annoyance and reluctant acceptance. Seeing as he was teaching her more about fighting and dueling than anyone expected him to be capable of, it did make a bit of sense..
At first Harry was suspicious of her calling him that, except every time she did, it was more or less to tease Tonks. Now it was just what he was considered. In hindsight, the woman had one strange relationship with her daughter.
However, thanks to Andromeda shirking off her task of waking Tonks up to him, and Ted's job requiring him to take leave early in the morning, it made it easy for him to sneak out of the house. While he wouldn't normally sneak out, between the need for some fresh air and the unfinished task of trying to find a seller for his potions, Harry wasn't going to sit around and wait.
Unlike at Hogwarts, this task could only be done in the summer and Harry knew that come next year, he was going to need that increased funds for his desired goal. With his current wealth, partaking in the magical worlds equivalent of the black market was but a pipe dream.
Sighing, Harry shook his head. He honestly wasn't expecting to have hit such a snag. After all, what business wouldn't want to monopolize the selling of an eternal youth potion.
He let out another frustrated sigh.
Ted wasn't wrong when he said most people didn't look kindly to patents. So far of the three times he had visited Diagon Alley, both the one with Ted, and the two without his knowing, not a single store was willing to even agree to sell his potions, let alone samples.
It probably didn't help that he was essentially trying to pitch a legend in a bottle.
But that was neither here nor that at the moment. It was eight in the morning and Harry was content to simply enjoy a cup of coffee, something that meshed fashionably with his external appearance, after a few hours long run.
Carrying his coffee to one of the tables, Harry looked around the shop to find it was still pretty quiet, a bit unusual considering it was a Monday morning.
Only one other person, a man, was sitting in the shop. A tourist from the looks of it, reading a newspaper with an espresso at his side.
Harry was going to ignore him when a caption in the paper caught his eye.
"Pardon me." Harry stated, eliciting the man's attention.
"Forgive me, but that caption, mind if I see it for a second?"
"Huh?" the man mumbled out, turning the paper over to see what had caught Harry's eye.
"Oh, yeah sure." He said, pulling the paper apart and handing over the sheet with the inquired article. "The Dursley case huh, nasty bit of business that is."
Harry took the paper and took a deeper reading of the report.
The Dursley Case, still under investigation. As of a week ago, no further information pertaining to the criminal arrest of Vernon Dursley of number four privet drive. The residence in question continues to remain cordoned off from viewers as investigation continues. Reports state that the case might be worse than initially believed. While few facts are being revealed a statement was given to this reporter.
"While information in this matter is still under heavy scrutiny I can say that this case has shaken me to my core. While the signs aren't visible to the human eye, the evidence reveals a telling tale. I can only imagine what the young boy left with these people had endured."
On a similar note, no word has been found in regards to the missing person in question, one Harry James Potter. Originally reported to have been going to St. Brutus' Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys over the last year, investigations have shown that Harry Potter was never accepted, sent, or attended the aforementioned academy. In fact, further questions appear as the boy's disappearance coincided just before Vernon Dursley, the main suspect in question, was sent to a local hospital for serious medical injuries.
"We have a strong belief the boy is alive. It is suspected but not confirmed that the initial tip was sent by Mr. Potter earlier this week. While the full extent of what the boy suffered is still unknown we do know and have ample and unarguable evidence that states the young man was and has been neglected and abused for a long period of time. If what we, the force, has seen is confirmed, then I feel I owe the young man an apology for not coming to save him sooner."
This statement came from Sergeant Biggs, the officer who first investigated the claims on the Dursley family.
"It's inexcusable." The man said, drawing Harry's attention to him. Harry took note of the American accent that accompanied his words. Harry was almost certain the man hailed from the east coast. Possibly New York or somewhere in the region thereof, but he wasn't certain.
"To neglect a kid like that. It's inexcusable." He repeated and Harry nodded. "I sure hope they find that young man."
"In a way, I hope they don't." Harry muttered.
The main broke away from his cup to stare at Harry inquisitively. "And why is that?" He said with a slowing boiling attitude. "That young man's suffered enough already and you're fine just letting him go off on his own?"
Harry raised an eyebrow at this. "It was people in positions of power that put him there right? I certainly wouldn't trust them to do the right thing. Mind if I sit here?"
"Sure." The man reluctantly said. His frown slowly faded as he reconciled with Harry's words. "I can see where you're coming from. The report itself has been consistently buried in the paper. It should be front-page news but the best you can find is in a no-ma-obscure paper."
Harry raised his eyebrow again as he took a sip of his coffee. "So what's a yank like you traveling around London for? Sightseeing."
"Wha? Oh, um, no. Job searching actually."
"Nothing to be found back in the States?" Harry asked.
The man looked up at Harry impressed. "How'd you know I was from the states?"
"Accent. I'm guessing New York."
"Connecticut actually."
"Oh. So, no luck."
"No. There's plenty of work there but there are more opportunities here."
"Really? Would have figured you'd have greater opportunities to rise through the ranks in America than in Britain."
"Well you can, but certain things are more… stagnated there then they are here."
"I see." Harry said, putting his cup down. "So what kind of job are you looking to apply yourself to?"
"Oh…um…"
The man stuttered and Harry took the opportunity to give him a good look over. He appeared to be of Irish descent, with a stereotyped white skin and red hair. Thankfully it was a few shades darker then that of a Weasley's, god knew there were plenty of them around. He held himself with an air of experience and pride. Possibly a scholar or businessman. Definitely someone educated and well versed in 'muggle' customs.
Deciding to throw the man a lifeline, Harry suggested. "I hear there are a few governmental positions available. Surely someone with your suave demeanour could acquire a position there."
The man smiled but shook his head, "Thank you for the compliment but unfortunately I lack the family… connections to receive a post in government."
"Ah nepotism, keeping our governments rotten since 1707."
The man froze as he was about to raise his cup. Looking up he gazed cautiously up at Harry. Harry smiled slyly and laughed. "Oh come now, they might make the law but that doesn't mean you have to be suspicious. Though I do agree, secrecy is a big deal."
The man went wide-eyed and laughed. "Well I'll be. I didn't know you were-"
"I am which doesn't change the fact we're in a coffee shop enjoying our coffee, or cappuccino as your case may be." Harry interrupted.
"Oh right." The man agreed, remembering where he was.
"So?" Harry asked after several silent seconds passed them by. "No luck in politics huh."
"Nope, as you said, nepotism at its finest."
"Have you considered other ventures?" Harry asked.
"I have. My family used to own a business. Went to ground during the Great Depression. Technically it died out three years ago, but it was always going downhill since that time if I'm honest."
"So, you're knowledgeable in business. Have you considered opening your own shop?"
"Oh god no. I'm good at manning a store, sure, but I don't have any goods or services that I could sell. Plus I lack the money to even start a business. Without any goods, I couldn't even get an investment from a beggar."
"Have you tried baking?"
"Baking?" the man asked in confusion. Harry grinned. "Yes, baking. You know the art of mixing ingredients together to create a new concoction that people can eat or drink?"
The man's hazel eyes lit up in understanding. "OH baking. I can't say I'm bad at it per say, but I wouldn't say I've um, mastered the art."
"What about chemistry?"
"Chemistry?"
"You know, kinda like Baking but working with metals like lead, gold, silver."
"I'm not sure. I'm not really familiar with that topic." The man admitted not knowing what Harry was referring to.
Harry smiled. This entire time Harry had been probing the surface of the man's thoughts. Don Handsinn, or Donohan Handsinn was a half-blood, graduate from Ilvermorny. His parents had just passed away and had just recently arrived in London with hopes of reaping the benefits that existed only within England's magical community. By no means a top mark student, he was capable and definitely had a knack for business despite the shortcomings of his family's shop. Apparently, his shop was well received but blood lineage, not to be confused with blood purity, inhibited their store from growing or expanding until it was finally bought out by a much larger and wealthier family.
Slipping a hand into the cloak beside him, Harry pulled out a small vial.
"I happen to have a few connections to my name, unfortunately those connections, while powerfully are few in number. Fortunately, they hold economic weight." Harry said, placing the vial in front of Donohan.
Donohan looked curious for a moment before he carefully lifted the vial to examine it.
"I happen to dabble in both Baking and Chemistry. As a result, I made this high quality… wine lets say." Harry explained gesturing to the vial. "A few chemists have tried to make this particular wine with only one rather famous name actually succeeding to a small degree. It's worth its weight in gold despite its lead origins?"
Donohan looked at the red liquid then back to Harry. Starring, he returned his gaze again to Harry, this time a realization striking him. Frantically his head went back and forth, as he tried desperately to not overreact.
"Are you serious?" He whispered.
Harry just smiled. "In its pure state it's potency is a bit too much for human consumption. When diluted in water and left to sit for twenty-four hours it can be sold as an elixir or spirit if you will. A drop of that diluted elixir in a teaspoon of water will make you feel five years younger. Over the course of a month, you'll even look healthier and spryer."
"Is-is this real?"
Harry grabbed a toothpick from a dispenser on the table and removed the lid momentarily dipped it into the red substance. Slowly from the wood, a leaf began to sprout from it within Harry's concealed hand. Donohan looked gobsmacked at the results.
"Holy shit."
Harry just nodded in agreement. "Over the course of a month, anyone who possesses our gifts can look and feel like they did in their prime."
"Holy crap. Ponce de León eat your heart out."
Harry smiled. "The explorer who sought out the Fountain of Youth. Not a bad name for it, Fount of Youth." Harry said appraising the bottle. "Unfortunately I lack the business sense to manage a store, despite being able to mass-produce it. Similarly, my other concoctions that I've made in my dabblings remain shelved as I can get no one to sell them."
"Are they patented?"
"Which is the very reason why." Harry admitted.
"You English are just as foolish as the folks back home." Donohan pointed out.
"Pretty sure it's universal." Harry commented. "So, tell me. Why would I tell you this?"
Donohan looked up at Harry who was smiling. Light dawning on the two of them as the first rays of the morning sun broke past the tall skyscrapers of London.
"For real?"
"What do you say? Work for me and you'll make a mint. Plus, it'll put those sorry bastards in their place."
"Your kidding, where am I gonna get the money to-"
"500 galleons," Harry said, patting his pocket. "If you agree we can set up a contract at Gringotts in less than an hour and I'll leave the business side all up to you."
"You'd trust someone you just met with something so valuable?"
"It'll be a joint venture. I want nothing to do with fame, only the profits that could be made. I'm thinking sixty, forty split. Seeing as I spent a fair amount creating the substance in question."
"Considering what forty percent of something this big could rake in, I'm inclined to sign on right here."
Harry just grinned. "Let's finish our beverages for now and then head to Gringotts."
Donohan nodded in agreement. Lifting up his cappuccino Donohan mused over the good faith that had literally fallen in front of him. "Here I got up in the morning thinking I'd never find a job. Spent a whole month looking for work and you just fall in form nowhere and offer me a chance of a lifetime. What a coincidence that someone like me, who needed a job, encountered you in a coffee shop of all places."
"That isn't it." Harry said looking into his empty coffee cup, the remains of which were a black smudge at the bottom. "There is no such thing as coincidence, only inevitability. No matter how much time passes, humanity changes, the workings of fate will never function off of chance."
Harry looked at him dead in the eye. "We are never a product of fate or chance. We came here because we deemed it necessary. Our needs aligned, and our desires aligned. Fate had nothing in its handling of this auspicious morning."
Donohan smiled at these words and looked at his near finished cup. "It was inevitable, huh?" He looked up at Harry and smiled. "You're pretty strange, but something tells me that sticking with you will take me places. Definitely better places then I've been going too anyway."
Knocking back the contents of his cup, he finished his drink with a sigh of satisfaction. Standing up he gestured for Harry to lead the way. "After you, mister?"
"Returner, Return Returner."
"Odd name that. Call me Donohan, Donohan Handsinn."
"Well then Mr. Handsinn. Fortune awaits."
The two left in mildly high spirits as they entered Diagon Alley.
Three hours later, however, Harry would part ways with Mr. Handsinn who was left behind with a thousand-watt smile. Gringotts was an even bigger investment not to Harry then it was before. Somehow Grigotts managed to convince Donohan to sign a thirty-seventy profit contract with Harry, split in Harry's favor.
As they pointed out, the youthful figure of the type Harry's potion provided was a big sell and something unseen by wizarding society. Not even Nicholas Flamel has created an elixir that ensured a return of one's youth.
At the end, the contract was made and written on two Gringotts contract scrolls and ministry lease documents permitting the establishment of a store.
Harry was certain that the Ragnuk had some kind of involvement in the deal since that lease seemed to be some kind of payment of debt the Ministry owed the Bank.
Whatever the story behind that was, it definitely benefited Harry and his new employ.
The whole transaction took about forty minutes. The remaining two hours and twenty minutes centred around the two settling into the small shop that would later take shape as their own. After purchasing several ingredients, furniture, and utensils.
In Knockturn Alley, with the use of a powerful compulsion charm and his cloak, Harry procured the service of two-house elves who were named Spitsy and Roastsy respectfully. Harry had to wonder the intentions behind the names but ignored it for now. While he wasn't very deep into Knockturn Alley the momentary sights, he saw instilled a desire to investigate and return as several magical objects within a few nearby windows caught his eye. But that would have to be done later.
For now, Harry returned and with everything in tow, gave his partner a list of potion recipes from his own textbooks, as well as a bag load of galleons to establish the shop. They both agreed that the first floor would be the shop itself with the backroom being used as storage of stock. The second floor they would use as a laboratory, a place to create new stock to sell, and the basement would be used as a home for Donohan to reside.
Harry argued that it would be beneficial to be nearby when thieves set out to steal their stock or worse the recipes. Donohan agreed but argued that Harry should keep the secret of the elixir since he didn't want to have to deal with that secret. Harry agreed.
So, they made the basement his place of residence. Far away from the lab and the rising fumes from the soon to be brewing cauldrons.
At the end of the day, the shop was still pretty bare but Donohan agreed that with the simplicity and quality of Harry's brews, He'd be able to get the shop rolling in a matter of days.
Harry nodded and left Donohan to get settled in. The two had a nice set up going and Donohan had to admit that he didn't get that short of a stick. He now had a rent-free residence, a job that paid double that of a low tier governmental position, and if the projected sales were to be believed he would soon be the co-owner of one of the, if not the, most sought after potions store in Diagon Alley.
Before Harry left for good, he placed a few runes and protective arrays around the store. Later, once he was more comfortable doing it, Harry would establish a more grounded barrier and protective seals to ensure the safety of the store and the goods within.
Looking at the time on his watch that he had bought earlier when shopping for furniture with Donohan Harry noted that the second pill he had taken before entering the coffee shop during his run was about to run out. Making a dash for it Harry quickly left Diagon Alley and hitched a ride on the night bus.
The ride was unpleasant but thankfully quick. Making it into the house just minutes before the potion was about to expire. Popping the blue pill into his mouth Harry proofed back into his younger self.
Heading up the stairs Harry knocked on Tonks's door. When no sound came out Harry shrugged and pointed his wand at the lock.
"Aloramora." The keyhole snapped open and provided Harry with zero resistance to its contents.
Opening the door Tonks was laying sprawled out, ungraceful and unladylike on her bed. Her covers were in shambles and Harry had to wonder how one of her two pillows managed to make it all the way across the room.
Smirking Harry strolled over to Tonks side and raised his wand pointing it at Tonks's exposed posterior.
"Aditus, Doloreminor"
A flash of white and then a pink shot out of Harry's wand. Each spell making contact with Tonks's rump. 'GYAAAA!"
With a loud screech, a mix of both pain and shock, Tonks awoke instantly while her contracting body launched her out of bed and onto the floor.
"The hell was that for Mum." Tonks shrieked out in a raving and fuming fury.
"First," Harry said with a snicker, "I'm not your mum. Second, you got five seconds to get ready."
"ready for- OW!" Tonks asked before yelping in pain again as Harry cast the spell a second time.
"I told you yesterday, Since I can get away with magic while hiding here – thank you goblins – we're going to work on your stamina and dodging."
"And why should I bother with tha- OW! WILL YOU STOP THAT!" Tonks angrily spat out.
"Nope, I need to work on my aim, and you need to learn how to dodge. I know from experience that dodging is the greatest skill to have when dealing with magic."
"Oh yeah? Well, I got a pretty handy Protego charm." Tonks retorted, waving her wand smugly. Asa
Harry looked at the misty white wall that shielded her and Harry smirked. "Doloreminor."
Harry's wand flashed pink again, and the spell bypassed the shield with a flash of white. Again the spell hit its mark and Tonks sprung up on the balls of her feet in pain.
"WHAT THE HELL! WHAT SPELL IS THAT!" Tonks shouted as the pain shot through her as if Harry had spanked her. The pain was mild but sharp, very much like being spanked.
"That was Doloreminor. A minor stinging jinx. At most all it does is illicit a sharp stinging sensation. Unlike a Stinging Jinx, it doesn't cause swelling or welts to appear. However, it will still produce adequate results and motivation for not getting hit."
"Observe." Harry levelled the wand again and this time Tonks dodged the incoming pinprick of light. "As you just saw it's a very linear spell. Easily evadable if dodged properly."
Tonks pulled herself up while rubbing her still sore boob where the spell had landed. Harry's grin turned downright sinister. "Since I don't want you to fall short as an Auror and get yourself hurt or worse, today we're gonna work on your dodging." Harry's grin turned nearly murderous with a show of teeth that even Ragnuk would be proud of, "And I'm going to make sure you know how to save yourself."
Casting the spell again, Tonks tripped as she attempted to dodge only to collide headlong into the spell. The spell hit her square in the face and Harry smirked. Walking forward he squatted in front of the prone and exposed Tonks.
"I'm gonna beat into you the importance of staying alive. Every wand can potentially cast a killing curse, or worse. That means we should treat every wand drawn just like a loaded gun pointed at us." Harry whispered with a darkness that caused Tonks to go through several emotions in quick succession.
With an almost pitiful squeak, she requested, "Can I get dressed first?"
Harry's grin turned into a serious frown. "You got five minutes. Be down in the sparring room by then or I'm going to get really serious."
Harry left the room and rushed down the stairs to the training room. He had four minutes and forty-eight seconds to work. Raising his wand Harry levitated the sheet covered shelves and bookcases around the corners of the room into various positions. While his work practising with the levitation charm was progressing, the weight of the objects in question was still proving to be a difficult variable.
Creating and holding the image of them floating was easy enough, but the output required was a bit messy to nail down. Being honest with himself Harry knew he worked well under pressure. With self-imposed restrictions and time-limits, he produced the best results when he knew what he had or needed to do.
Slowly Harry shifted each of the new 'obstacles' into position. On top of a bit of practice for himself, he was also doing this so Tonks would have some full body cover to work with, instead of just waist-high cover that the various table and couch shaped objects in the room provided.
Harry might have been serious about teaching Tonks the importance of dodging, but he wasn't heartless enough to go all out and torment her without reason.
With the work completed in just under two minutes, much to his own surprise and ease, Harry spun around as the door opened with Tonks tripping over her feet into the room. She recovered her footing but fell down as Harry hit her with another stinger.
"Shit! Damnit Potter."
"Good, you made it down in five minutes, now you just need to learn how to dodge." Harry smirked as she glared at him.
Harry was surprised that Tonks managed to get down within five minutes, let alone two. Her appearance, however, showed why. She was barely dressed in a tight-fitting sports bra, and spats. The fact she had her wand in her hand led Harry to believe she was trying to catch him off guard and snap a shot at him before he was prepared.
"Damn it Potter, you don't just spell people like that." Tonks complained. Something that was both strange for her to do and become a more common occurrence.
Harry just shrugged. "What do you think a dark witch or wizard will do when you bust open the door shouting 'Aurors!'? They won't wait and serve you coffee Tonks." Harry declared giving her a flat toneless monologue. "The moment you take up the intention of doing your job assume they will attack first."
Harry lifted her up and smirked. "Now tell me, Auror's aren't allowed to fire the first spell. In fact, their first word has to be 'Aurors', an announcement that you're an enemy and possibly hostile. So, how would you avoid being the first victim?"
"How the hell should I know," She said angrily, frustrated at how she had been rudely awakened and how her rump stung from the earlier stinging spell. Harry was serious today which was why she moved and didn't argue… much, but she was too frustrated and annoyed at how worked up and pathetic he was making her feel like.
"You presume. Enter a room with the expectation you will be attacked. Expect an ambush around every corner. Every witch and wizard carries or owns a wand. A wand that, need not remind you, can take a life in any number of ways."
"You're starting to sound like Mad-eye." Tonks grumbled.
"He is famous for a reason. He's also still alive for a reason." Harry countered. "The ability to move is your greatest ally. The ability to avoid and dodge your greatest feat of strength." Harry turned to glare deeply into her eyes, boring holes to her very soul. "Today I'm not going to let you rest. I'll only be using the stinging charm, Dolorminor, today, but every hit I land is a hit that killed you. Try not to die too much." Harry said cruelly.
The words hit their mark and provoked the response Harry wanted. At that moment Tonks was of the mindset that Harry was evil and a danger. She reached for her wand but realized it was gone. Harry had levitated it away while he glared into her eyes. Without her wand, Harry's own seemed that much more dangerous and with it pointing down at her, Tonks unknowingly felt the same way someone would feel facing down an Abrama's 105mm turret.
"Dolorminor." Harry said it so sweetly, so softly, but despite that it rang in Tonks's ears like a firework. Loud, crisp, and dangerously.
She didn't think, she didn't rationalize. Her body screamed for her to move and it did. Spell after spell she ran and dodged. She kept moving. Everytime she continued a linear movement Harry would focus his aim and nail her. Anytime she tripped up, he nailed her. Anytime she stopped moving while exposed behind cover, he nailed her. Any time she stayed still behind cover for more than a few seconds he nailed her.
Ten minutes in, Tonks was silently screaming at Harry who had hit his mark no less than a few thousand times. Her body was sore and she felt raw from the numerous stinging sensations that she had experienced. This wasn't from his spell though. The stinger he fired constantly left a quick spontaneous pain that shot through you then died off.
No, she was tired, winded, exhausted, and out of breath. Her breathing was irregular and heavy, coming out in frantic pants. Harry had told her on their first day that stamina was important. All week he promoted and prompted her to improve her core stamina. She had taken his words and reflected on them, exercising and working on extending her casting time. But she had nothing on Harry's stamina. Before she was shooting him while he dodged and she basically stood around.
Now he was shooting at her and she had to move away from him. The difference here, Harry was moving too, never standing still or in the same position. This forced her to always move, taking in and keeping track of where he was, which she was failing to do constantly. It felt like he was Aporating sometimes, just popping silently beside or behind her.
She even tried to take an offensive approach, swinging her fist to take him out. He didn't say she couldn't after all. Unfortunately like all her sneak attacks, Harry dodged with ease putting distance between himself and her and unloading ten stingers into her before she recovered herself and dodged.
This went on for four hours and Tonks was nearing her mental limit, her physical one long surpassed and broken ages ago.
The entire time Harry couldn't help himself from smiling. On top of having fun being on the giving end for a change, he was overjoyed with Tonks's unbelievable progress over the course of a mere four hours.
At the beginning she just stood still, barely moved, and hardly dodged. She recklessly tried to take the initiative without so much as a plan. Four hours later she was moving sporadically, with unpredictable dodges and weaves to avoid being hit. She used cover to move around the room, subconsciously minimizing the time she spent exposed to his wand.
Sure, he could hit her during those times but that would defeat the purpose and just be punishing. She was improving steadily, and at a staggering pace.
She was also tripping up less. She was still clumsy but now she was clumsy and rolling with it, sometimes literally. At the beginning, Harry was hitting her with spell after spell, sometimes thirty to forty per minute. Now keeping to his own rules and limits he was hitting her about twenty times a minute, sometimes ten.
Had she not been so winded or terrified of being hit, Tonks would have also noticed this fact too. Having pushed her to her limits, Tonks finally was unable to go any further. Exhausted and tired, she just fell to her knee, her arms holding her up from the floor while she breathed in deep lungfuls of air while sweat dropped off her forehead and chin to the floor.
Harry put his wand away. Her stamina aside, she had managed to make great leaps in this one session and even if she was upset with him, Harry knew she'd do pretty well when her evaluation finally came around.
Offering his hand Harry smiled softly with reassurance. "Come on. Let's get you something to eat."
Not even strong enough to argue Tonks just nodded.
Using his shoulder as a crutch Harry helped Tonks limp into the living room where he plopped her on the couch. Upon entering the room, Harry was surprised to see Andromeda and Ted waiting for them.
"Harry, how was Nymphadora today? Wow, looks like you really put her through the ringer." Andromeda said with less energy than he was used too.
"I did, I think we managed to get her to learn how to dodge today." Harry said smiling down proudly at Tonks. It really surprised him how quickly she caught on. She probably didn't realize it herself how much she actually achieved subconsciously.
"Try not to run her too ragged." Ted interjected. "The auror evaluation recruitment exams are coming around the corner. We don't want her too tired to be ready for it."
Harry nodded in agreement. "When exactly are they?"
"This Sunday. Six days from now." Andromeda answered.
That didn't leave Harry with a lot of time to help her.
"The exams contain a practical and a written exam right?" Harry asked, confirming what they had already told him the previous week's Wednesday."
"Yes," Ted said sipping some of his tea, "Although since Tonks just came out of school the written part will be wavered in favor of the practical. The NEWT's she received would constitute her written score and the academy will take that and mold her under those evaluations."
"So basically she just has to worry about the practical. Any ideas on what it will constitute?" Harry asked.
"They mostly focus on the person's actions. They put potential cadets together and see how each applicant responds to a situation. Most fail this part and pass the written exam to get into the auror program." Ted explained.
Harry contemplated this before asking, "So the exam's practically is to see the mindset of the cadets, see how they respond under pressure and what actions they take when put in a difficult position? Sounds like the practical is used to weed out those who are likely to abandon their post, allies, and evaluate the skill, latent, and response time of the cadets to a surprise situation."
Ted lowered his mug and stared august at Harry. "That's actually a pretty accurate assessment."
Having set Tonks down and taking advantage of Ted's complement Harry shrugged. "In any case, if it's okay with you two I'm going to go fetch some food for Tonks. She hasn't eaten since last night.
Andromeda raised an eyebrow at this, "You mean you two started without breakfast."
Harry just shyly nodded. "I let Tonks sleep in since she was going to need the extra rest for what I ran her through."
"More like ran through me." Tonks groaned impatiently and irritably.
"Is it just me or is she more… edgy than usual?" Harry asked in a slight whisper.
"Sod off Potter." Tonks bit out as her head lulled over the backrest of the couch she was now laying on. You have got to be kidding me.
Harry looked back at her in surprise while shrinking a little where he stood. He knew that pushing her like he was, wasn't going to make him any friends. Still, he didn't expect the animosity behind her words. Andromeda gasped and stood abruptly forward.
"Nymphadora! I won't have you spouting such crass language in front of our guest." Andromeda declared, drawing out her full matriarchal presence. The glare she sent at Nymphadora gave no leeway for the rebellious teen.
"Oh piss off mum!" Tonks grumbled weakly before rolling over and laying haphazardly on the couch.
Ted having decided to avoid getting caught up in the yelling contest that was about to begin snuck over to Harry's side who was also stealthily making his way to the kitchen.
"Let's go get something made for them." He whispered while Harry nodded knowing a losing battle when he spotted it.
Once they made it into the kitchen the two could easily make out the insults being tossed back and forth between mother and daughter.
"I swear, my daughter is the only one who can bring out that short temper of hers." Ted stated, only partially complaining about the volume. "What did you do that put Tonks in such a mood?"
"Didn't I already tell you that?" Harry asked.
"Well you summed it up, but you avoided any details."
"I could say the same." Harry countered to Ted's confusion. "What about your day? You and Andromeda left early this morning. When did you get back?"
"Oh, just a little after three."
"Three? Did something come up? Normally you back around two at the latest." Harry pointed out.
"Oh, well. Nothing too big popped up, rather there was some kind of big commotion over at the Ministry today. Gringotts sent me over there to represent and observe for them."
"What happened?" Harry asked.
"I'm not sure…" Ted answered, his voice drifting a bit. "It was very strange. Several members were in quite a state. Whatever it was kept hush hush. Amelia was in the foulest mood I've ever seen before. Several department heads weren't there, but the departments were in a right scramble. Word says a few were even fired."
"Departments?"
"No, Heads." Ted clarified. "The Improper Use of Magic Office, The Registrar of Magic Residency Office, The Muggle and Wizarding Interactions Standards Committee, several offices in the Department of Magical Transportation," Ted listed off, "It was a right mess. Even with their heads gone they were all rushing all over the place." Ted stated.
"An emergency summons of the Wizardinmort, every active CEO of the Daily Prophet was summoned to the Ministry, I don't know what was happening, but it was a nightmare. Even after the extra hours no one knows what happened or what was going on."
"What about Mr. Weasley?" Harry cautiously asked.
"Arthur? He's been on leave for a while."
Harry turned worriedly toward Ted. "He's on leave? Why?"
Seeing this Ted noted Harry's concern for Arthur as he reassured him, "Nothing to do with today Harry. He's been gone for a week now. Family matters I hear."
Harry nodded, concern rolling in the backlog of his thoughts as he worked the stove. Harry zoned out even as he fried and stirred the vegetables in the skillet before him. Passively Harry went through the motions of cooking with relative skill and experience even as his thoughts went to the Twins and Ginny.
"Perhaps I should send them a letter, just to reassure them." Harry thought to himself.
"Do you think Albus finally gave in and asked for help?" Harry speculated after realizing the awkward silence between them.
"What?"
"Do you think Albus admitted he doesn't know where I am and told the Ministry?" Harry repeated.
"Unlikely." Ted said. "I've never known Albus Dumbledore to request help from anyone. A year ago I'd say that because he was Albus Dumbledore, why would someone of his skill and power need help. In hindsight that's kind of foolish thinking on my part. Now, I still can't see him asking for help, just the reasoning has changed."
"He means well you know." Harry muttered.
Ted looked at Harry with a glance and nodded. "I don't doubt the man isn't evil. He's not a dark lord or anything of the sort. But still, in hindsight, it only seems logical and reasonable that he's human and doesn't always make the right choices."
"Really answers the aged old question, why did he wait so long to confront Grindelwald." Harry commented.
"Yeah, it certainly does." Ted agreed, waving his wand as a soup pot came just short of a boil.
The two nodded in agreement as Harry turned his ear towards the living room. "Sounds like the battles over."
"The what?" Ted asked with a slight brow raise.
"The match of Tonks versus your Wife." Harry clarified.
Pausing for a bit Teds had to agree. The silence was quite telling. "Let's go see if they left each other alive and in one piece." He suggested, turning off the stove as he went over to the doorway.
Harry nodded, and poured the finished stir fry into a bowl, put down the skillet and joined Ted. In the living Room a large mess containing an upturned table, a flipped over couch, a slanted painting and a hog tied Tonks presented itself before the duo.
"Dear, why is our daughter tied up and hanging in nothing but her underwear?" Ted asked as politely as he could while suppressing both a sigh of exasperation and chuckle of amusement.
"That would be because that's what she had on when she came out of the training room with Harry, dear. You already knew that."
"Yes, but why is she tied up?"
"Because she was resisting her mother." Andromeda cheerfully said.
Ted simply hung his head in embarrassment.
"You really are quite the family, aren't you." Harry commented with a grin.
"Harry, please. Just don't say anything." Ted pleaded out before raising his head, his self-collected.
"Dear, I love you, but for the love of Merlin please reign in your Black tendencies."
Harry noted that Tonks was quiet throughout the entire discussion. In fact, despite this, she had a fuming glare situated on her face. For the normally energetic, cheery and fun-loving Tonks to be like this, it was just unusual.
Sure, Harry knew there was some tension between the mother daughter duo, but not enough for her to be so, abrasive. If her agitation hadn't been increasing steadily over the course of the week Harry would have considered that it was his fault for pushing her too far.
"Fine." Andromeda sighed out. Flicking her wrist, her wand unbound Tonks who promptly fell onto the floor. Gathering herself up and displaying a fair shade of red to those present, Tonks didn't say a word and just stormed off. In the distance Harry could hear her heels digging into the wooden stairs as she made her way likely towards her room.
"Thank you dear." Ted said. Clearly it wasn't easy moderating the two and keeping the piece. On one hand he agreed with his wife that Tonks shouldn't be spouting curses so freely. On the other hand, he knew that tying his daughter up like a turkey wasn't the best method to go about punishing her.
And mediating the two clearly wasn't easy for him as Andromeda dismissively suggested, "You should finish making dinner dear. You wouldn't want your efforts to go to waste."
Seeing the stubbornness of his wife Ted just shook his head. Clearly not making friends with anyone tonight he marched back to finish dealing with dinner while he let the two ladies in his life cool off.
Harry was going to do the same but a gently yet firm grip on his shoulder stalled his plans. Turning he saw Andromeda placing a finger to her lips, waiting for her husband to leave before turning back to him.
"Do you mind if we talk?"
Harry shook his head and taking a seat was joined by Andromeda who had a very peculiar look upon her. A mix of unease and sincerity that Harry had a hard time placing.
"We haven't had a lot of time to talk alone like this have we." She started, the age and worries she had taking shape before him. "Between the family being home and my husband and I going out for work constantly as of late, we haven't been able to thank you properly."
"Thank me?"
Andromeda smiled weakly, "Yes. You may not know this, but my daughter didn't have an easy childhood. The name I gave her when she was born didn't do her any favors, and her abilities made her very attractive and exotic to those around her."
"She's hated her name ever since we moved here into London. I won't say I know exactly what happened, Nymphadora never outright told us, but I can hazard a guess. Children can be very cruel and vulgar when young."
Harry nodded in understanding. From both actual experience and having seen the likely event that caused Nymphadora to hate her name.
"It didn't get better, even as she got older either. She's always been the rebellious sort, going with her own flow. It's good for her. She's a strong, independent woman, capable and talented and sure of what she wants in life. I couldn't be prouder." Andromeda said with rising pride echoing in her voice.
"Unfortunately, that very nature of being rebellious not only gets her into trouble but also attracts it. Too many times have I seen her get mixed up with the wrong crowd only for my girl to be hurt at the end."
Harry listened quietly as she talked to him. Not entirely sure where she was going with this.
"It's also made her pretty distant and uncertain." Andromeda said. "Have you ever wondered why she goes through hair styles and color like she does socks?"
Harry thought for a minute before he pondered, "Either she's uncertain of her appearance, or she is freely reflecting on her mood that particular day."
Andromeda nodded. "I've been of the belief she changes her style constantly because she's uncertain of who she wants to be. Everyone out there sees her as a Metamorphmegus who can fulfill their wildest fantasies."
Andromeda frowned at saying this but knew it to be true. There was also always that concern to think about, but she wasn't about to say anything to Harry about it just yet.
"So, when we started getting letters this year about her interactions with you, I felt overjoyed. She might not have said it directly, but a mother knows." Andromeda said closing her eyes with a wistful smile on her face. "Harry, you are the first person she's really opened up to."
"You don't judge her or question her. You take her in stride and are mature and understanding in the struggles she's gone through in life. You've made her smile more and even made her accept the name I gave her, not as something she hates but something that she can accept."
"My little star, my gift from the nymphs, Nymphadora."
"I don't mean to be rude, but could you be barren?" Harry asked.
Andromeda looked up in shock. "Sorry," Harry said. "It's just that look, I've seen it once before."
The look of longing and regret, Harry had seen it once before.
Andromeda swallowed and nodded. "Nymphadora was a gift to me and my husband. He said he would stay with me, that he loved me, but I always regretted the knowledge I'd never be able to bare his children. Then we had Nymphadora. An impossibility that I never thought would come to be."
Harry wondered if she was miss diagnosed. But then he remembered that they lived in a world of magic. Andromeda wasn't just an energetic, fun loving mother, she was also a Black. A former Black.
"Is it a curse?"
Andromeda sighed, "Harry, you are far too insightful for your age."
"Sorry."
"Don't be." Andromed said standing up. "I rejected my family's attempts to control me. Even though I suffered at the beginning, I have my happy ending right here."
She turned and looked Harry dead in the eye. "You've brought my daughter happiness. She's been working too hard and is too backed up. Right now, we're both too stubborn to take care of our needs." She said walking over to Harry.
She placed a hand on his shoulder as she bent down to his ear. "But she'll open up to you, Harry."
Pulling back she looked at him, not breaking eye contact. "Can I trust you to always be a friend to her?"
Harry shook his head. "Honestly I don't know. We're friends now, and while I don't know how I'll feel later, I can promise you I suck at understanding what women feel." He admitted with a smile.
Andromeda went from a frown to a mirthful giggle, as she struggled to keep serious. "I see, yes, you men do tend to be a bit dense to women." She said, sultering towards the kitchen. Placing a hand on the door frame she winked before whispering. "She should be in her room."
Harry shook his head and lifting himself up he climbed the stairs. The empty and ambient light gave Harry's battle-hardened nerves a slight jostling but did little to inhibit him.
Walking into her room without knocking Harry was greeted with a sight that his mind heard long before he opened the door.
Tonks was lying on her bed rubbing herself furiously, her panties soaking wet and drenched enough that Harry could make out her hand underneath them. Freezing in place Tonks realized someone entered and, in a panic, flipped over, throwing her blanket to cover herself. Recognizing it was Harry she shouted.
"DAMNIT POTTER KNOCK BEFORE YOU ENTER!"
Harry gave no indication he heard her, instead he closed the door and muttered a silencing spell that would halt the vibration in the air. Normally used to protect against naval grade explosive rounds, it was also useful as a spell for secrecy since it inhibited sound waves just as much as air pressure.
Walking over to her bed Tonks continued to shout at him but Harry ignored it. Grabbing her pillow, she chucked it at him, and Harry just deflected it with his arm, while catching a lamp that she chucked at him a second later. Placing the lamp down and ducking the second pillow Tonks threw at him Harry spontaneously lunged forward grabbing Tonks's hands pinning her to the bed rest.
Tonks struggled to move while demanding Harry left her go. Her protests while defiant and strong, intent on breaking his hold, contrasted heavily with the feelings and rush she felt when he pinned her.
"Let me go Potter." She growled at him.
"Harry."
"I said let go!"
"You've never called me Potter before." Harry said calmly, his eyes distant yet concerned.
"Why do you care? It's not your concern."
"Considering it's my name I believe it is." Harry countered.
"Just shut up and let me go."
She glared up at him and shuddered at the direct and commanding look in his eyes. "Do you really want me to let you go?"
She froze. It was a fraction of a second, but she thought for a brief moment, no.
"Yes, I do."
Harry leaned into her, his weight pressing down on her as his face approached hers. God did he look so imposing in her eyes. For a moment she forgot that Harry was still a twelve-year-old boy, not that one could tell by looking at his eyes.
"You're a lot more docile now than before." Harry pointed out.
Tonks went flush and sputtered, "N-no I'm not." She struggled weakly, closing her eyes as she shook back and forth in an attempt to break free. She was torn between loving how he was taking charge yet at the same time she couldn't picture herself simply taking it lying down. She may not have carried the Black name, but she was of Black blood, and Black women never took it easy.
"Nymphie." Tonks was thrown off balance by the sudden change in this tone. She opened her eyes and stared into his, paralyzed by the sudden change. "You're also a Tonks."
Nymphadora blushed a deep red as she looked away. She had stopped struggling and Harry let go. Pulling back he maneuvered himself off her and to the side of her bed.
"It's kind of pointless to hide at this point isn't it." Tonks whimpered out before moving around to sit next to him.
"So?" Harry asked.
"I don't want to say it. Besides you already know."
"I do, it wasn't hard to notice."
Tonks smirked and huffed cheekily at that.
"But, I want to hear you say it."
Tonks bit her lip and turned away. She wasn't the embarrassed type, not by a long shot, but she didn't like admitting she was wrong either.
In the battle of silent wills, eventually Tonks's will crumbled, and she flung her hands in defeat as Harry stared at the wall like a statue, waiting.
"Fine, you win. I know I can't beat you. I'm magically charged, frustrated, and pissed. I hate that I've been beaten, mocked, and belittled by a kid who should just be getting their feet wet. Happy?"
"Not exactly what I meant." Harry smiled back. Tonks looked at him with a roll of her eyes. "Then what did you want me to say? That I want to make out with you. Roll you up in my bed and fuck the green out of your eyes?"
"I won't say no, but no that's not it." Harry stated even as he continued to look at the wall.
"THEN WHAT!? What do you want from me?"
Harry turned and again he stared at him as if he was focusing on her very soul.
"I want to know why you let it build up to the point where you would pick a fight with everyone you see."
Tonks froze turned away. Her hair shifting to a light blue as she nibbled on his finger. Waiting patiently Harry sat contently next to her as he let her work out the answer.
Finally, she admitted. "I don't have a lot of friends. Those that I have done it with were all thrown away. I didn't care for any of them. They used me like a makeshift fantasy, and I used them like a damn finger."
Taking a breath and bracing herself she admitted. "Aside from the twins, you're one of the closest people who sees me for me. Not even the twins dared to call me by my name. You called me and you do so without seeing me as some sex toy. I know you also have to worry about building up too much magic and I know I'm reaching my limit."
"Pretty sure that limit has been passed." Harry countered. "Irritability, frustration, heightened anxiety and stress… Madam Pomfrey gave out a pretty long list of symptoms when she talked with me."
Tonks smirked and stuck her tongue out at him. "That's not the point. I was too cowardly to ask for help because mom's been making fun of our friendship and I was too scared to try and change it."
"That's not the only reason is it?" Harry asked.
Tonks bit her tongue as she hesitated to speak up. The knowing look in his eye told her Harry already knew what she wanted to say. His waiting was a sign of respect, respect for her privacy and waiting for her to tell him herself.
"… Mom's always helped me when I've gotten too… stressed." She admitted a slight blush. "I didn't want you to see me like that."
Harry shook his head and sighed. "Did you think I'd think less of you for that?"
"It's not appropriate." Tonks huffed in annoyance. "You can't do that with your parents." she sighed out in annoyance. "You have to take care of your body Tonks, they say. Tons of people would love to get a handle on you, they say." Tonks complained, mockingly quoting the words that others had spoken to her before.
"It's not like I have many other options…" she added in a whisper.
"Plus, it just felt wrong to admit it, or do you personally not get off doing it with someone younger than you?" Harry added with a smirk.
Hesitating slightly Tonks bit her lip before she said, "I kind of have a fetish for older men."
Harry let out a fake gasp of astonishment. "My word Tonks, I didn't know. No wonder you were a right mess in the great hall when the headmaster arrived." Harry teased eliciting a shove from Tonks who was now fighting back a smile..
"Oh, shut up, you know I slipped and spilled my drink back then, you prat."
Harry laughed and soon Tonks was laughing with him. As the two shared the moment Tonks felt a little better than she had in the last three days. Frustrated and backed up as hell, but more at ease with several of her concerns laid bare and taken care of.
"So, you have a thing for older men…" Harry pondered with a hint of amusement. Tonks just punched his arm slightly, "Don't make me regret telling you."
Harry shook his head, "No, I'm just wondering." He pulled out a plastic bag from his pocket, inside were three sets of pills, three blue, three red.
"I've never shown you what the red pills do, have I?" Harry said with a grin. Tonks nodded with a hint of curiosity. "The blue ones reduce the age of the person who eats it by roughly five years." Harry said while he reached in and pulled out a red pill. "The red ones on the other hand-"Harry said taking a red pill out, "-do the opposite by about ten years."
Tonks eyes shot wide with both surprise and hunger… and a slight blush. "So, taking that right now…"
"Aside from shredding my current cloths, it will make me grow up by about ten years for four hours." Harry said with mild enjoyment at the sight of Tonks's face turning beet red.
Her mind was racing a mile a minute and slightly knowing it, Harry was along for the ride with her. A tug of war raged within her mind as she weighed the pros and cons of her desires and needs. A part of her, the weaker half, resisted shouting words of a fear monger, that he would betray and mock her, that Harry was just like every other guy.
The more intimate part of herself, the more honest half, unrestrained by inhibition and society, her rebel side, countered that Harry was different and shouted to take the plunge, too imagine what a Harry, twenty one years old would look like and more importantly how good it would feel.
Tonks bit her lip and looked up at Harry and smirked, her mind made up. She lunged and snogged Harry, taking his lips on hers and making out madly, disregarding her inner demons completely. Landing on the floor with a solid thud Harry ignored the sharp sting of the wood focusing entirely on Tonks her hands descended upon him.
Harry relaxed into the kiss and reciprocated it in earnest. While having less backed up magic then her, having not actually felt intimidated or stressed for the longest time, Harry could still feel the difference from before when his magic was completely messed up by the Binding.
The flow of magic felt more vivid, lively, but this also made it easier to feel the changes in its flow when he used it. Harry while not in need, now had a clearer picture of how important that need was.
And if he was honest, Tonks was a hot piece of work to begin with. She was strong, intelligent, confident, with her own worries and inner demons that made up her unique quirks. His kind of woman. So, if asked, yes, he liked Tonks a great deal and wasn't against pushing things a bit further.
Parting Tonks pulled back eliciting a moan while both of them missed the contact. A sloppy and smirking grin plastered across her face.
Harry smiled as he teased, "I thought you had a thing for older men?"
"Don't make me arrest you Harry." Tonks teased back. Harry grinning and retorted, "You can't arrest me. You're not an Auror yet Ms. Tonks.
"Yet, huh?" Tonks said, smirking down at him.
Harry grinned, "Yes, yet."
"You really think I can pass then." Tonks said biting back a moan as Harry's leg rubbed up against her velvet folds.
"The only thing you're lacking is their acknowledgement that you're able. You have everything else." Harry stated, prodding and shifting his leg more so it rubbed against her more uniformly.
Tonks continued to hold back her voice as his menstruations teased her through her panties. The wetness between her legs giving way long before her voice did.
"I can't even take down a first year though." Tonks insisted, reminded of her earlier fights with Harry.
Harry, using leverage to his advantage, pulled Tonks over and flipped himself on top of her. Using his knee he pressed firmly against her clit while stealing a kiss. Tonks was unable to move, taken completely off guard as she lulled into his dominance.
Pulling back Harry let Tonks take a breath as he grinned down at her, his emerald eyes piercing hers. "You already know, I'm not your average First Year."
With his taking up all of her sight, Tonks stared motionless as Harry banished his clothes to the bed and popped the red pill into his mouth.
The sudden appearance of smoke surprised Tonks breaking her from her trance. Kneeling hunched over her was Harry as an adult roughly four years older than her completely exposed.
She felt her mouth go dry as if her snatch was summoning all of her fluids to prepare her for the hunk of man meat that loomed over her.
While he was about average compared to the height of her ideal man, the combination of his stone carved muscles with the scars made her already moist panties go completely drenched. He didn't even have any major display of muscles either and she loved it. He wasn't some beefy bull, or some jacked up nut job. This was the body of a soldier mixed with a boxer. Enough muscle to be visible but reframed from warping his natural frame of a slender and tall man.
If she had any saliva left in her she was sure she'd be drooling under his form. "Merlin be damned. There's no way I'm not letting him take me…" she thought to herself.
Just as suddenly as his form appeared, Harry grabbed Tonks and flipped her with a rough and practiced ease, tossing her onto the bed and pinned her down on it with smooth precision.
Screaming in surprise, the moment she landed with a bounce Harry's hands were already back in place holding her down.
"So, Nymphie, tell me. What do you want?" Harry asked his pitch a few tones deeper than her father's, making her wet with how his own hunger in his tone seemed to match her unspoken one.
"All of it." She thought as she whispered, "W-what makes you think I'm the kind of girl to take it?"
Holding her arms above her head, Harry pinned her down with a single arm, his body and legs pining her torso to the bed, leaving her unable to move. Pulling his wand into his hand Harry traced the tip down her cheek and towards her chest.
Muttering the words "Alohomora" Tonks gasped as her bra unclipped itself from her and with his wand pulled the flimsy fabric from her body. "Then I'll take it all." He whispered into her ear.
While he was leaning down over her, Tonks took a breath as unseen by her, she could feel his hard length rub up her stomach. Not having seen it, she felt like his wand would threaten to piece straight through her if he went in her. The mix of fear and uncertainty blended into her desire and want as his lower half pulled away, heading straight for her drenched pussy.
Worse still she couldn't look down to alleviate her fears, her eyes stuck looking into his as he forced another kiss on her. Loving every second of it, unable to think properly about what she should or shouldn't do, about if she was still acting like Nymphadora or not, she basked in the feeling of Harry fulfilling a side of her that she hadn't known existed but wanted, nonetheless.
Feeling his hard rod prod her entrance. Tonks, feeling more girlish then she ever had blushed harshly as she squeaked in surprise. His rod was molten to the touch and seemed to burn away the juices that leaked from her innermost depths.
God, she felt embarrassed, but she also wanted, no, needed it. She needed it now, this specimen of man who saw her for herself, wanting and expecting nothing more than her own enjoyment who didn't even need her permission to take her. She absolutely wanted him to take her.
"Take me, Merlin take me please. Don't let me think, just let me enjoy this for a little more." She thought to herself.
Instead Harry paused as he held her down. Unaware that she hadn't taken a breath since Harry took her lips, when he pulled back, she wanted to moan out in loss but could only moan out in bliss as the sudden rush of air spired the wildfire in her.
"Who knew you were so submissive." Harry mockingly teased causing Tonks to grow embarrassed and frustrated since he stopped pushing against her.
"Don't get cocky Harry." She replied between breaths all the while screaming at him to just shove it in.
"I see," Harry said, pulling back away. The sudden loss of what little heat touched her made Tonks jump in retaliation but she remained unable to move thanks to his hand pinning hers and his own weight.
Before she could reply, in a single thrust Harry shoved his entire length into her and Tonks's retort died as she gasped in shock. She froze as a sudden wave of bliss hit her and overloaded her mind.
"YES! Yes, yes, yes. That's it." She screamed in her own head. He'd taken her and unlike the pricks she was with before, this one didn't want some dreamed up fetish or princess. Nor was he some submissive slut that wanted to enjoy her touch. He was taking her, pleasuring her, and claiming her.
Not Tonks, not Nymphadora, he was plowing her, right there, right now.
"Oh gods…" Tonks breathed out, all breath lost. Harry smiled as he dragged his length slowly and intentionally against her fleshy interior, pulling and teasing it with the mercy of a grindstone.
"OH GODS," Tonks breathed out again with a ragged reverberation in her voice as it rolled off her tongue.
Just as he was about to pull out, just as her curtains threatened to close, Harry thrust it back in spreading her wide and pushing her up against her pinned arms. Tonks screamed out silently.
Again, and again, he did this, repeating the action faster each time until he was no longer dragging his wand out of her in slow agonizing long trails. Between being immobilized and being conquered was stuck rolling in pleasure. Both sated in submission and in the roughness of the sex she loved, her eyes threatened to roll back as her voice rolled in echoes of screeching pleasure.
Then it came. The feeling of a spring tightening within the bowls of her stomach. She was going to come, she felt it building, the crescendo of her pleasure. All of her magic, all of her need, building into a single point.
"You're going to cum aren't you." Harry said with a grit to his tone, his voice rough from his efforts.
"Yes," Tonks screamed out.
"Do you want to cum?" Harry asked.
"Yes." Tonks shouted.
"Then, I guess I should get a bit more serious." Harry mused and with a solid thrust Harry hit core. His dick pressing flush against her cervix and Tonks's eyes shot wide as a thousand sparks lit up inside her.
"OH, MERLIN YES!" she shrieked. "RIGHT THERE!"
Harry smirked as he targeted her g-spot, over and over again. Tonks lost control over her legs as they tensed and began to shudder violently. She couldn't take it. Her body, realized what she hadn't, tried desperately to stop him but was unable to. Her muscles twitched and spasmed in preparation for her end while Harry looked into her eyes with an all-knowing gaze.
"Go on, let it come, I'll catch you." He whispered softly.
The sudden change and care in his voice caught her off guard and the sudden shift made her let go. The pressure she had been holding, trying her best not to lose, finally crumbled.
Tonks screamed out in a silent wail as her body twitched and swam in agony as Harry buried himself into her, unleashing his spunk into her womb.
The sudden rush of cum, its molten heat flowing freely touching everything in her, along with his words finished her. Still stuck in a wail of pleasure she was unable to cum for a solid minute until finally the pressure unleashed and he love juiced squirted out in a torrent of pleasure. Her body shook even long after Harry had left her.
The pleasure flowed unendingly as it took everything she had just not to black out from the pleasure.
Eventually she regained her senses and breathing deeply she came down from an ungodly orgasmic high.
She felt like she was on air, all of her worries were gone and evaporated. Suddenly feeling that she was being propped up and clutched warmly she glanced upwards only to find that she was laying against his chiseled chest, his watchful eyes looking over her.
Tonks would have been taken aback at the look in his eyes. Warm and soft his gaze watched her with a compassion and desire to never lose or let anything harm her. Having lived her life in constant worry, those eyes filled her with a safety that meshed with her own wants.
Content and relaxed Tonks fell back asleep in his embrace. His eyes guiding her to a peaceful sleep.
Harry settled for stroking her back gently as he watched her fall into peaceful slumber. Unable to find slumber himself he retained his centurion post, content to stoking her back.
Looking down Harry could almost see the physical difference in her posture. In the throes of passion, Tonks magic had settled within her, expunged and freed. Similarly, his own felt greater and also flowed more freely. Taking advantage of this situation, while letting her rest against him Harry meditated on the feeling.
His magic had grown, but not in capacity. Rather it was because his flow had improved.
"... so it's like muscles relaxing…"
Not sure if it was because of their one-off night or something else, Tonks if nothing else had left Harry with something interesting to think about. Gently lifting Tonks up and setting her down on her bed, Harry covered her up with her blanket before sneaking out of her room. Grabbing his clothes Harry folded them in his arms before leaving her room.
Just as he left Harry paused to allow his time limit to pass. In a second he returned to his normal self, the tower of flesh that brought her to orgasm reduced once again to a pre-teen youth.
Forgoing sleep, Harry took a quick shower before returning to his trunk. Inside he went to sleep, thinking over the events that happened that day.
The next morning Harry awoke having slept longer than he usually did, almost a total of seven hours. Looking around Harry left the pile of dirty clothes from that night where they were and fetched a clean batch. He'd take care of it later.
Heading downstairs, Harry met Ted and Andromeda in the living room, already eating breakfast. Ted looked up and spotting Harry, grinned at him. "Glad to see you are up. Was getting worried."
Harry bowed slightly in apology. "Sorry, slept in longer than I expected."
Andromeda giggled as she rose up taking her dirty breakfast plate with her. "Well that's to be expected after the workout you gave our dear daughter."
Harry blushed slightly along with Ted whose disgruntled look clearly told everyone he wasn't completely happy with what happened. Knowing better than to say anything Ted returned to his morning cup and was pleased when an owl swooped in with the morning paper.
Grateful for any distraction from Harry and his daughters actions the night before, Ted went about reading the paper with an eager vigor. "Well know… that explains the ruckus yesterday."
Harry perked up at this just as Andromeda returned placing a cup of pumpkin juice in front of him. Glance over at the paper herself, curious at what caught her husband's attention. "What did you find?" She asked.
Looking over the headline she raised an eyebrow. "Boy-who-lived abused?"
Harry was thankful he hadn't drank any of the juice just yet, he was sure he'd have choked if he did.
"What the hell?"
"Mind your language Harry." Ted said aloud. Harry apologized and Ted returned to the Paper.
"Recent reports from Muggle sources reveal startling evidence of abusive treatment from the relatives of his late parents as well as the mysterious disappearance of the young Mister Potter as of his departure from Hogwarts just last week. Further investigations show from the esteemed Department of Magical Law Enforcement further discovered that Mr. Potter has been missing for the last week and that evidence to his mistreatment during his time under the care of the Dursley's (relatives on his mother's side) proved to be far more credible then muggle sources announced." Ted said aloud, reading a small section of the Prophets findings.
Ted paused for a moment his face turning more serious as he continued to look over the paper, reading it in more detail.
Andromeda looked over at Harry with a hint of worry as Harry looked at the paper with a mild amount of amusement.
Harry knew exactly what the muggle source was having read it himself the previous morning during his unsanctioned excursion outside. Harry had intended to rock the boat a little when he sent that tip to the cops. He knew that it would make headlines eventually, but Harry didn't expect the whole ship to capsize. Shrugging Harry simply accepted that what was done was done. No point over worrying about something he couldn't change.
Ted took a sip from his coffee cup and turned the page. His eyes shifting over to Harry and glaring down at him. "Harry… what did we tell you last week?"
Harry raised an eyebrow and looked up at him. "Um several things. Why?"
Turning the page around Ted showed him the article he just found, half soaked in coffee. Harry struggled not to add his own pumpkin juice to the mix.
Impossible Discovery, Grand Opening Sale: Fount of Youth
Elixir of the age for all ages, only at 16 Diagon Alley.
Harry coughed out as he swallowed his sip. Looking back at Ted he tried to grin sheepishly.
"What did we say about needing you to stay in the house. You were unable to sell any of that potion the last time we went to Diagon Alley. How did you manage to sell it and even start a store with a business partner you never met? What do you have to say for yourself, young man?"
Harry looked up at Ted and back at the paper before he carefully considered his answer. Looking at this Harry sighed and gave an apologetic smile.
"That made headlines pretty quickly… I guess."
Ted, unamused, looked down at Harry with a serious disposition. "We are going to have a talk when I get back from work, young man. You're grounded."
Harry nodded in weak acceptance. Looking back at the paper Harry couldn't help the smile on his face.
"Worth it." Harry whispered to himself.