To all my wonderful lovers of Harry Potter and Fanfiction alike. I hope you all are enjoying this lovely season of riots, plagues, and Chinese bureaucracy (global bureaucracy really). More importantly, while it is mostly suspected, some reports suggest that the virus-that-shall-not-be-name-on-youtube is coming back for a second round in china. If true, let's all make sure we continue to inhibit its spread as best as we can. Please respect your fellow humans and live respectfully. And whatever you do, don't drop your common sense like many Americans are doing right now. Honestly my fellow freedom unit users; Riots, really? Come on America, this is disgusting and I'm ashamed that so many are encouraging this bullshit. It's shameful.
And on that note, A big thank you to Falcon 9 for making the world a bit brighter and more awesome in these trying days. A constant reminder that humanity and science is awesome.
Okay, my rant is over. Here for your reading pleasure is Chapter 5 of Book 2. When you're done, seriously check out Falcon 9's launch if you can.
Beta'd by: Scottken, give thanks to this awesome dude. I'm ashamed in my own spellcheck (it has nothing on this dude, thanks man for the great work)
Book II :: Chapter 5 :: Trails and Furniture
"Not worth it." Harry complained aloud as he reached for the mixing bowl. "This is so not worth it."
Tonks chuckled from the dining room, "Mum begs to differ."
"Cram it Nymphie." Harry bit back as he started to dice up the scallions and cabbage into thinly shredded pieces. The loud clapping of metal on wood sounded in rhythmic peaks in quick succession.
"Oh come on," Harry heard her say as he literally could envision her rolling her head back over the back of the couch. "It's your own fault for being such a good cook."
Harry huffed even as the large skillet pan started to smoke slightly as the buttery inside coated the bottom completely. Moving quickly Harry picked up his wand and with a flick turned the stove down to medium while levitating several pieces of pork into the pan. Afterwards, he returned his focus to levitating his freshly diced scallions, cabbage, dried kelp and flour into the mixing bowl. Another flick and the concoction was efficiently mixing itself together.
"As I recalled my punishment was going without magic until told otherwise." Harry countered as he continued to mix the concoction, more bacon floating out of the fridge onto a smaller pan that was still cold.
Tonks chuckled, "Yeah but that was before we had your cooking."
"Funny how before that the argument was made that I couldn't help you practice without magic. Then magically I find myself responsible for every breakfast and dinner only after no conclusion was made as to my punishment and after I made you all dinner on a whim."
"Yeah. It was a very tasty whim though."
"Piss off." Harry shot back even as he heard Tonks rolling with laughter.
Harry focused on the bacon as he waved his wand and made it into a slightly overlapping sheet. He then added another bowl of ingredients into the mixing bowl and whisked them together until they had the uniform consistency of cake batter.
"Chill Harry. Aside from cooking, which you're ridiculously good at, you can't really see this as a punishment."
Harry applied a quarter of the new batter to the cold pan with bacon in it while juggling a mix of toppings onto a cutting board. "I still feel like I'm being exploited."
"Well, you are still grounded." Tonks added snidely.
"Only because I'm going along with it." Harry bit back softly. "Look, I am your guest. Your house-" Harry waved his hand and the kitchen flew into a flurry of actions resembling an assembly line as small flat cakes flew around, topped with toppings before being glazed and plated in mid-air. At the end of the line, several plates flew into the dining room where Tonks was, filled with their contents and aligning themselves onto the table in order of a large feast.
"-your rules. Anyway, let's stop talking about it. Breakfast is served."
"Bloody hell Harry." Tonks cursed. "Italian last night, French, the night before. And now… what is this? A pancake?"
The last few dishes flew in from the kitchen, finalizing the display of food on the table.
"Okonomiyaki, with steamed rice with soy pork, and Tamagoyaki with a side of salted steamed green beans. Personally I would have preferred having proper dashi and edamame to make it but you make do with what you got." Harry explained before giving a slight bow. "Dig in."
"My that smells delicious."
Harry and Tonks looked up to see Andromeda walk in with Ted who did a double-take upon seeing his daughter already awake.
"Well, I'm up now." Ted said as he took a seat. "Excited Tonks? You're never up this early." Ted commented as he looked at the spread before him, uncertain as to what to start with. Ever since he and his wife agreed to have Harry's grounding include cooking breakfast and dinner, they learned two things. First, Harry was a decent cook. Second, let him eat first to see how to eat what he made.
Tonks smiled lightly as she picked up the bowl of rice next to her. "Um, yeah." She said, trying to figure out how to work the chopsticks Harry had laid out for them.
Harry coughed out a smirk.
"Yeah, excited." he sarcastically said with a grin. Tonks punched his shoulder to shut him up.
"Oh, relax dear." Andromeda cut in, "It's just nerves. Eat up and Ted will take you to the exam site."
"Easy for you to say." Tonks bit out under her breath as she looked at the food on her plate. As delicious as it smelled, and looked, she didn't quite have the surplus of courage to try new foods.
Harry smirked as an idea came to mind. "Hey, Nymphadora?"
Tonks turned angrily toward Harry. "Don't call me-Ny'mmn'phe'dor" she managed to get out before Harry stuffed a bite of his own into her mouth with his wand.
Overtaken by her anger, Tonks bit in and swallowed the bite and got up to rail on Harry. "That's it Potter, this time for sure." She said, pulling out her wand.
"Hey! No wands at the table!" Ted shouted.
"Expelliarmus." Harry muttered, pulling Tonks' wand out from her hand. Grabbing it he passed it over both to Ted with a grin. "Relax Nym. I apologize, but it tastes good, right?"
Tonks sat back down, eyeing her angry father and grumbled, taking a huge bite out of her own Okonomiyaki. Ted sighed in frustration placing both wands down next to his plate. Andromeda was watching the ordeal with a huge grin on her face.
Harry focused on eating his own but raised an eyebrow when he saw Andromeda lean into Ted.
"He handled that quite well." Andromeda muttered.
"Handled what?"
"Don't give me that. You saw it too dear, our girl was a bundle of nerves too busy fussing to even eat."
"He could have done that without, raising her ire."
Andromeda hid a giggle as she returned to her own meal.
Tonks, either too busy brooding or eating, failed to hear her mother's words, which Harry was grateful for. The last thing he needed was for her to take her frustrations out on him again. Glancing a peek in her direction he relaxed a bit. Even if she was still clearly upset at him, at least she was finally eating. Hell she even seemed to be enjoying it, although it was more likely she was imagining how sweet it would be to crush him.
Their training sessions were only getting more intense and Beating her into the dirt over and over again wasn't doing his relationship with her any favors. It was, however, making it more difficult for Harry to beat her down. The progress she made in the last month was astronomical. She may not be a veteran but she'd at least have her wand out with three spells fired before she'd be done in by anyone, no matter how good they are.
Pausing Harry took back that last statement, those that were experts or specialists in anti-magic combat would clearly kick her butt. Then again, how many combat obsessed paranoid war veterans could there be aside from himself on the magical side?
"Well, I can't say it's bad, but it's definitely different. What was this dish called again Harry?" Looking up Harry, "Okonomiyaki, it's basically a pancake mixed with cabbage with other stuff mixed and topping it."
Taking another bite of his own, Harry gestured to the other bowls, "That there is seasoned rice with soy pork, that there is salted steamed beans, and that's Tamagoyaki. It's sweet so it's more or less a dessert topper."
"Oh i've heard about that last one." Ted exclaimed, "Isn't it an oriental styled dish?"
"Japanese specifically." Harry admitted.
Andromeda moaned slightly as she tasted some of the eggs. "Oh that is sweet. And fluffy too. Mind sharing the recipe with my husband?"
"I could… if you unground me." Harry carefully remarked.
"And miss out on your cooking? Not a chance." Andromeda replied with a joyful smile.
Harry just eyed Tonks who blushed and refused to make eye contact even as she felt Harry's own eyes burn the phrase 'I told you' into her back.
"Oh come now, I'm a Black. When something as juicy as this comes along we Black women have to take advantage of it." Andromeda cheerfully put in.
Ted sighed, "I must admit, you cook far better than either myself or my wife."
Andromeda rolled her eyes, "Come now dear, we both know that the bar to beat me in the kitchen isn't a high one."
"Regardless, I believe we and by we I mean you, have had your fun." Ted said flatly.
Andromeda huffed. "Oh all right, ruin my fun why don't you. Harry is ungrounded, though why I have to say it when you grounded him is beyond me dear."
Harry shrugged. "So long as I'm no longer grounded. Sure the recipe is pretty simple. But there's a bit of a trick to making it with magic. It's easier if you make it with a pan but that's a very specific pan. Good luck finding it in London."
"I'm sure we can manage it." Ted said.
"Sorry, we?" Andromeda asked.
"Right, I can manage."
Tonks snorted a laugh in mid-bite. Swallowing she nudged Harry, clearly having calmed down and no longer angry at him. "Honestly moms a nightmare in the kitchen. It's not insane levels of bad but she's able to make something edible at least."
Andromeda smiled, "Yes, Yes, We all know I'm awful at cooking. Anyway, you and Ted should both finish eating, you both have a big day today. You in particular Nymp… *sigh* Tonks."
Nymphadora looked up at her mom in shock, that was the first time she made an effort to respect her wish not to be called by her given name. Ted seeing her daughter stall, caught and directed her to finish eating quickly.
Harry was almost finished eating himself. Although it was okay, he was slightly disappointed in the outcome of his dishes. Making Japanese meals without the right ingredients was pretty difficult.
Wolfing down the remainder of her meal, Tonks felt her nerves rolling over again. Ted grabbed his bags and met his wife at the fireplace. "Will you and Harry be okay alone?"
Andromeda gave Ted a kiss as she smiled. "We'll be fine dear. Make sure to give Nymphadora my support while I look after our second problem child."
"Just making sure." Ted said, tipping his hat. "Ready?" he asked Tonks.
Tonks let out a breath and nodded. Funny how all that worrying vanished the moment she saw the emerald flames in the fireplace. Harry grimaced slightly as he watched them both vanish from sight.
"Worried?"
Harry turned to Andromeda who was looking at him with a smile.
"About what?"
"Tonks."
Harry thought for a second before he shook his head. "A little. I'm more worried about her nerves."
Andromeda smirked at him. "So, you're not concerned about her skills?"
Harry grinned. "Not even a little. Skill-wise, even if she was three times more clumsy than normal, they would be idiots to not pass her."
"And how do you know that? Know something about Aurors that you're not telling me?"
Harry shook his head. "You know way more about that than I do." Harry admitted. "If Tonks fails its because they're idiots. Quick reflexes, a wide array of spells, competent at potions..." Harry said drifting off, completely aloof to Andromeda's growing smile.
"She is one of a kind."
Harry nodded. She was one of a kind, but then again he knew of two others who were more so to him.
In the silence that followed, Andromeda took the plunge in an attempt to break it.
"So, it's just the two of us until Ted and Nymphadora get back. What do you think we should do?"
Harry shrugged. "Not sure," Harry said as he picked up the mail that had just flown in. Noticing a small sticky note sized parchment mixed in Harry gazed at it before he smiled. On it was three things, a name, a location, and a number.
"Actually…" Harry muttered, drawing Andromeda's curiosity. "Am I still grounded?"
Andromeda thought for a second before shrugging herself. "I suppose you learned your lesson after a week?"
"Not sneaking out, and risking the Tonks family by being spotted." Harry repeated in a flat monotone.
"With that tone?" Andromeda asked, raising an eyebrow.
Sighing Harry said again with more energy, "Not sneaking out, and risking the Tonks family by being spotted."
"Then yes," Andromeda said grinning at Harry, "You're no longer grounded."
Harry fist-pumped the air silently with a wordless yes. Turning around he asked, "Then how do you feel about helping with a bit of interior decorating and shopping?"
:Ministry of Magic, Level 2, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Auror Examination Hall:
Ted and Tonks stepped out of the emerald flames and with confidence in their stride, walked up to the desk just off to the side of the fourteen or so fireplaces that lined the room.
"Ms Nymphadora Tonks, here to take the Auror Examination Test." Ted said confidently to the young man behind the desk.
Looking up he nodded and held out his hand. "Wand please."
Nymphadora handed her wand to the man and once it was taken, watched as he placed it on a two pan silver scale. It shifted ever so slightly left before steadying itself.
"Okay, no criminal record it seems, minuscule dark residue, stunners most likely. Let's see," he said aloud after watching the scales move before turning his head towards a pile of parchment which he started shuffling through. "Nymphadora... Nymphadora…" He muttered aloud as he glanced at each page, searching for the name.
Nymphadora Tonks was struggling to contain her displeasure at her name being used aloud in front of her but held her tongue. The test was already underway, and lashing out at the clerk would not help her chances of being accepted. Biting her tongue she resisted the urge to punch the clueless man.
"Ah, here we are. Nymphadora Tonks. 18 years old, Female, Graduate of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Exceeds Expectations in Potions, Transfiguration, and Herbology, with Outstanding in Defence Against the Dark Arts and Charms. Alright Miss. Tonks take this badge and proceed through the door on your left. The exam hall will be there, take a seat and wait with the rest of the candidates. Mr. Tonks, you will have to wait here or leave. Registered candidates and Department staff beyond this point only.
Ted nodded and smiled as his daughter. Placing a comforting hand on her shoulder he nodded. "You got this."
Tonks nodded and walked through the doubled doors, or at least she would have. Instead, she stubbed her toe and fell face-first into the door with a loud thud. With a groan and her free hand on her head, she got up, grateful that she didn't crush her wand underneath her during the fall. Back up she tried again and pale as a ghost she entered the room… for real this time.
Three figures stood in front of her overlooking the ground floor where she just walked into. The small sized room was roughly three stories tall which forced Tonks to crane her neck back heavily in order to see the six eyes glaring down on her from above. Needless to say, it felt horribly repressive, to say the least.
"Nymphadora Tonks. Auror applicant one, seven, seven four. Have your wand at the ready and demonstrate your qualities as an Auror. Your task is to make it through the maze or in failing to do so, demonstrate your aptitude as a future Auror." Tonks swallowed and walked forward with a wand already in her hand.
"Bloody chicken legs. Waste of time." A gruff and hoarse voice said as he watched Tonks walk forward hesitantly. The man was outlined by shadows but one could make out many scars on his face, as well as a massive burn on his left cheek and neck.
The old lady beside him similarly had a gaunt appearance and scoffed. "What did you expect, William. That any of these grade-schoolers would be capable of even standing let alone walking. They're all too green. Potions aside they're all barely capable of drawing their wands from their own arses."
The third figure remained silent, his eye glued directly on Tonks as it rolled down into his skull, never losing sight of her even as all three of them turned around to observe the open-top maze in which Tonks would partake in her exam.
"Shut it, Dickens. Your own ass is just as green if you're this blind."
The woman turned her wand on the aged man who looked three times as banged up as the man named William. His walking stick, however, landed on her wrist leaving a welt which she rubbed aggressively in reflex as the man snapped back, "Don't go pointing that at me, less you want to lose your other ear Dickens." before taking a swig from his canteen.
"Knock it off you two. Moody, explain."
"Use your eyes boy. Her wand, her wand. Look at her wand. She walked in with it already in hand."
The two figures looked out and sure enough, it was already in her hand. "So?"
"Blind idiots." Moody groaned. "She walked into the hall with her wand in hand. Even tripping on herself she had it at the ready."
The two realized that he was right.
"When was the last time we had an applicant walk in with their wand drawn?" The lady named Dickens asked.
"Three years?" William asked.
"Four and a half" Moody corrected, taking another swig as his eye tracked Tonks as she entered the maze."
Really, calling it a maze was a misinterpretation. From above its true form was clear, A series of open-top rooms each with their own task that challenged the applicant in any number of ways. From Tonks's perspective, it might as well have been what it was called. With the walls too high to see over she didn't have much to go by.
Tonks gulped, her wand held down but ready for anything. Step by step she carefully advanced. The tension raising and causing flashbacks to Harry kicking her arse left and right.
Biting her lip she swore. Harry's week-long course of kicking her butt wasn't helping her self esteem at the moment. Worse it was stoking the self-doubt she was festering. She followed the maze before it split into three paths.
Out in the open where the paths diverged a lone plack stood with writing.
Tonks raised her wand quickly surveying the corners of the open space as well as above, subconsciously expecting Harry to appear and sting her ass again like he so loved to do. Realizing that was stupid she only dropped her guard to a lighter stance only after she was sure nothing was going to appear. Looking down she read the writing on the plack.
Heading North, death awaits, advance with haste.
Self-harm lingers to the west, recovering that which has already passed.
East of ease for journeys pass. traveling here will hopefuls past.
"Great, a riddle. Or is it a warning?" Tonks wondered. Damn it she wasn't ready for something like this.
"Well East says we'll pass… but that sounded like a trap."
Harry's voice overlapped the world trap just as she said it. Tonks looked up and shook her head.
"Great now I'm hallucinating." Tonks bemoaned. It wasn't a hallucination, the week of hellish and cruel training Harry performed was coming at her like a nightmarish flashback. She remembered when they played capture the flag. Harry had left it wide open, plain to see. What wasn't plain to see was the traps and wires that he used with magic to tangle her up into the air, wandless and without a means of escape.
"Like hell, I'm letting that happen." Tonks groaned. Bending down she pulled at her knitted socks, pulling off a line of thread she apologized to her mom before cutting it and tying one end to her wrist and the other to her wand.
"Okay, now that I know I'm paranoid, East is the right path so it's a trick. So I either go left or straight. The hardest path is going forward. So going left would be avoiding trouble."
Harry's words again rang in her ear. "Fighting is easy. You either advance your own plan, or you respond to your opponent's. Hesitate, and you lose. Second guess, and you lose. Hold back, and you die. You want to be an Auror Nymphie, then you better start pushing forward. Running away may keep you alive, but it's always at a cost. And once something is lost, nothing can return it."
Tonks let the words rattle in her head before she gripped her wand and ran headfirst, north.
Above her, in the observatory the three judges were perplexed, pleased but perplexed.
"What do you think? Thrill-seeker?"
"No," Dickens said, "the brat doesn't strike me as a thrill-seeker."
"Thrill-seekers don't think much. She paused to read it, shows she's able to take in a situation before acting. Let her guard down too. Looks like she's got it back up though. Nah, she chose to go straight."
William nodded in agreement. "Your right. This one might be worth something."
Dickens lazily shrugged. "Maybe, no way to know for sure until later. At least this one didn't try to take the easy route.
"Doesn't matter." Moody grumbled. "She'll be under heavy spellfire in the next room. A stunner to the head will tell us if she's any use to us."
Tonks ran ahead and saw the double doors ahead of her. Still on a nervous high, throwing subtlety to the wind she burst through the doors. Instantly a flash of red screeched at her and her mind instantly kicked into high gear. Ripping off her shirt with surprising dexterity in mid crouch she ducked the first flash of red in time. The next few behind it were still heading her way. Low to the ground she took her shirt and started waving around, intercepting and batting the stunners back. A trick she picked up in training.
Harry showed her how pathetic stunners were unless they hit cleanly with the chest or head of their target. Legs and arms made the target faint, but susceptible to self revitalization. They wouldn't be 'stunned' but it would inhibit and sting, a lot.
Harry had used his robes to do this and remembered Harry telling her to always wear a robe that was easily removable. She now wished she'd done just that as what looked like hundreds of stunners came shooting at her. Making do with her shirt she mimicked Harry and batted away the stunners that were on course with her, jumping and dodging as best she could.
Through the sea of red, Tonks spotted several points of cover in the open room. Apparating to cover she made sure to do so only after the spot was stunner free, so as to make sure she wasn't clipped.
Behind cover, she took her shirt and pointed her wand at it. "Riflettore" A flash of blue and the surface of her shirt became like a mirror. Flapping it down, Tonks used it to identify her assailants.
Stunners continued to hail her however she could only spot seven witches and wizards firing at her. Four were actually using stunners, the other two, however, were casting some kind of spells that were multiplying the stunners in mid-flight.
"Okay, four assault, two support, and judging by appearance, a single designated healer hiding."
Looking above them and around Tonks quickly anzalized the environment. The room looked like a miniature of Diagon Alley with the assailants attacking from a marble-like building, probably a representation of Gringotts. Currently, she was behind a street cart, a fact she was about to change.
Casting the repulsion charm she had picked up from Harry, she launched the cart at the four 'attacking' assailants. It would miss but would disrupt their momentum.
Tonks charged forward with it using the attack as both cover and as her starting attack.
"Use the environment, never use the same spell twice, always move, avoid predictability, never stand in place, advance your own attack, interrupt the enemies footing."
Spotting a large mirror in a 'store' Tonks acted quickly as her cart was losing its shape to the panicked enemy. "Accio mirror!" Summoning the mirror Tonks then used the levitation charm to throw it over towards the enemy. The 'enemy', uncertain as to what she was planning looked up, a mistake Harry would have punished them for. Thankfully for them, Tonks was the punisher.
"Lumos Solem!" Pointing her wand up with her eye down towards her adversaries, Tonks watched as the flash of light shone blindingly bright from her wand tip. The spell was unavoidable as its source was above Tonks's head. Regardless if they were looking at her or at the mirror the light was guaranteed to hit their retinas painfully. The flash of light blinded and incapacitated them as they reached for their eyes which felt like they were burned by fire.
Secondly she was now primed for a counter, throwing her wand down and shouting, "Confringo!" as loudly as she could. The result was perfect. In a panic the seven, blinded and in a heightened state of vulnerability, panicked completely and ran for cover, seeking shelter from the spell.
A spell tonks never cast. Utilizing spelless casting, Tonks cast two silent stunners taking down the 'medic' and one of the 'support'. She then cast expelliarmus, disarming the last supporter before apparating from sight.
"Shit, where'd she go!" one of them shouted.
"Damn it it was a ruse." another replied.
At that moment before they could regain their footing, Tonks whispered a true Conringo, out of sight and earshot causing an explosion behind them instilling panic in the assailants. Panicking again from the sudden effect of her spell, which confused them. Tonks grabbed some rope next to her and using a transfiguration spell turned it into a matching wand and swapped it with the real wand that lay on the ground.
The fake wand was then grabbed by the witch who Tonks had disarmed. "I'll recover those three, find and apprehend-" she shouted only to be gagged as Tonks cancelled her spell returning the 'wand' back into rope which like a snake tied up and gagged the witch before she knew what happened. Her associates turned to see what happened but that was also planned. Using the stone rubble Tonks whipped her wand and launched the rocks into the back of their heads. Two of them hit home, knocking them out. The other two were split. One realized where Tonks was coming from and when to warn his associate who hadn't noticed. A silent Silencio prevented the warning and cast Reducio on his jeans causing the man's pants to shrink almost instantly on him. Squeezing his family jewels painfully the man lost his wand and keeled over in silenced agony. Wand left him and trained her wand quickly on the other one who had yet to notice.
"Expeliarmus!" was shouted and the man reacted turning around in an attempt to catch his wand and failing to do so was left unarmed. "Partrificus Tortalous!" Tonks shouted and the man snapped into a nutcracker salute, arms at his side and legs together, he keeled over onto his back.
Returning to the poor man, Tonks cast a stunner on him and knocked him out. Finally she turned to the last one who was almost out of the rope bindings and cast Levicorpus on her and then Incarcerous which further tied her up. Hanging her from the lamp post. Tonks first surveyed the surroundings for another enemy she might not have seen, casting one Homeo Revealio to be sure.
She was the last one standing. Turning back on her assailant she realized her breath was erratic and heavy. She wasn't done yet. "Never assume, ensure the enemy is incapacitated and unable to fight." She quoted to herself.
One by one Tonks ensured each member was bound, gagged, and wandless with their arms tied up in such a manner that they wouldn't be able to get free without any significant effort or magic. Even if they cast wandlessly, the binding method and knots would be difficult to undo without a wand or aid.
The last one she took care of was the man with the unfortunate wardrobe malfunction. She could sympathize with him though she couldn't with how painful it was for him, being male and all. Harry had done the same to her and while not as painful it did stop her in her tracks when he was training her.
"When did I start considering him beating me to a pulp as training?" Tonks wondered aloud as she realized just how much Harry's methods were now helping her out. Hell despite her breathing, she wasn't winded. A few weeks ago, Tonks was sure she'd be out of breath right now and in a panic, if not outright knocked out.
Looking around Tonks noticed that behind the seven tied up combatants, now lay an exit which wasn't visible before.
"Straight ahead then." Tonks thought to herself.
Above, the three veterans were no longer bored or agitated. Instead they were now very excited.
"Did you see that chick? What the hell was that?" the one known as William said.
Dickens nodded in thought, reviewing Tonks's performance in her mind. "Quick to respond, even quicker to dodge. Her response was lacking but was still impressive. There's a lot of unnecessary movement but she took them all down with barely any trouble."
"Keep in mind those brats aren't combatants." William said speaking up. "The best they can do is do what they're told. This scenario is supposed to catch the trainee off guard and overwhelm them. Still, when was there a time a trainee took down all seven during the exam?"
"I think Moody was the last." Dickens speculated.
"Was it? Oy, Moody? Hang on… Where did that bloody old rag run off too?" William asked, causing Dickens to look around. Sure enough, at some point Mad-Eye Moody had left his fellow examiners.
"Bloody hell, abandoning his post. Amelia's gonna be off her rocker when she hears about this." Williams complained.
"Sucks for you then. You're telling her."
William looked at her and flipped her off. "Piss off Liz."
Pulling up her wand she smirked back at him. "Sure you want to fight for it?"
Raising his own hands William withdrew, "Screw it, I'll call her up." he said, casting a Patronus message up the ladder. "Manda's gonna be right pissed."
"Focus. The cadet just entered the stealth and tracking portion."
William laughed as he turned to focus on Tonks who sure enough was now trying to sneak her way through a makeshift manor while trying to find a required object.
"Cadet? She needs to pass first."
Elsewhere and two floors above the exam hall, in the far end of the Department of Magical Law Enforcements Office floor, Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Law Enforcement was busy rubbing her head as more paperwork flew into her work bin. The papers alone would give her a migraine but Amelia was more frustrated with the enrollment of the new Aurors. Five. Only five candidates, six if she included the one, two floors down, being tested and so far not one had passed the application test. Not one. If the one below didn't pass that would mean two years straight where no new Auror's would be joining her department. Worst still was that their most veteran Auror was being pushed into retirement, with little resistance from said veteran himself, and worse yet her newest recruits within the last seven years weren't even half as capable as him. Not even all of their skills combined.
Regardless of all the mess, Moody made for her, he at least did his job and did it seriously. Ten years after being on the losing end of the war against he-who-must-not-be-named and her department was being neglected.
Students were getting less and less capable. And worse, she was losing both capable men, women, and funding.
"Damnit if Fudge's policies aren't gonna drive this department into the mud." She railed out upon reading the top document that just flew in. Another budget cut. At this rate, she'd have to lay off some of her people to stay afloat. A reality she wasn't going to like.
"Only silver lining to this mess is my best or leaving of their own will and I might not have to fire anyone." she muttered aloud as she redoubled her efforts to message her head.
While she understood why the Ministry was forcing these budget cuts, at some point, it had to be too much. Any more and in fifteen years there wouldn't be a department of Law Enforcement in the Ministry. Hell if he got the support they might be gone in Five if he actually wanted that.
The sudden slamming of her door flying into her wall, upon opening, instantly brought Bones out of her day and into combat readiness. Wand flying to strike and take out the bastard who came after her. Said bastard however she noticed had a magic eye and a limp.
"MOODY!" she shrieked as her adrenaline dimmed down enough for her to feel her pulse racing. "DAMNIT ALASTOR WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!"
Limping forward Moody ignored her. "I want her."
Amelia was left perplexed and a little annoyed at being pissed. "What?" she bit out as she was more frustrated than before.
"If she passes as not being an imposter, I want her."He again imposed, drawing Amelia's confusion deeper still.
"That Tonks brat. She wants to be an Auror. I want her."
Amelia dropped her jaw. Was she hearing this right, Alastor not requesting, demanding, the right to train a recruit? Sure if they had any good candidates she was going to strong-arm him to train him or her, she was desperate, but for Alastor Moody, the legend and paranoid bastard, to be demanding to train someone.
"Tonks?" Amelia confirmed aloud in doubt, looking at the clock. "Her test is over?"
"No, I left after watching her clean house in the second room." Alastor admitted.
"You left your post?" Amelia shouted. Now she had heard everything.
"The test doesn't matter. This brat is something else."
Limping forward he sat down and taking a swig gathered his breath. Amelia was shocked yet again. He ran. Well, limped, but Alastor ran to her office to claim the applicant before anyone else could.
"Is she good?"
Alastor scoffed, "She's a bloody novice, she crap. Wasted movement, responding on impulse and adrenaline. She got zero training. She's crap…"he said, pausing only to sigh out, "-but she isn't complete crap." The slight grin on his face spoke more to Amelia then his harsh words. He absolutely loved whatever he saw.
He leaned in and Amelia noticed that Moody's eye hadn't once left its spot staring straight down behind him. Two floors in all likelihood.
"The girl's a clumsy mess, hesitant, brash, and weak, she'd be eaten up and spat out by any death eater in a minute." He mocked in a grunt. He leaned in with a crooked smile thanks to his deformed and scared face, "But she's got potential. Cleaned out the middle room, Seven on one, avoided the first shot and responded better than most Auror's in the field. Didn't once use a single spell twice. Took them out. She's creative, smart, responsive, and most of all vigilant. Not once did she not have her wand ready for anything. She needs focus, but she was ready. The other brats wouldn't even last a second, this one… reminds me a little of me." Moody said with a grin.
Amelia was silently screaming inside. Leaning back she nodded. "If she gets a pass, she's yours. I'm kinda surprised you're not paranoid that she has training."
Moody got up and started to leave. "I know her pops, good man Tonks. Her mother too. She's a Black too. Sure she has training. That man's no death eater less he tries walking up to me.
Stopping in the door he turned to look at Amelia. "Before I forget. Albus wanted to know if you found anything on the Potter boy."
Ameliasighed. "And what did you tell him?"
Alastor grunted. "I'm friends with the man, not his nanny. I ain't telling him anything about the job unless there's reason too.
"Is there?" Amelia asked.
"He's hiding something." Alastor admitted. "Albus's a bit too interested in the boy and hasn't told me why. Trust Albus and all," Alastor said leaving the sentence incomplete. Shaking his head, "Asked me to lend him an eye, only for the boy to go missing and then try to keep it quiet. Albus knows something but isn't speaking. So I ain't either. Sides-" Moody took another swig. "I'm still under oath."
He limped out without a word. Amelia considered what he said. Moody was right, something was up. Shuffling through her desk she pulled out a muggle newspaper that was already in circulation. Word was going to spread quickly and once it did, questions would be wanted from Albus.
Questions that involved, Harry Potter's upbringing, His childhood, and more recently, his whereabouts. A silent investigation wasn't going to cut it but somehow Albus convinced the Minister to force her to keep it off the books.
Amelia didn't like it but at the same time she did have a job to do. Harry Potter's disappearance was nothing good. No leads, no body, no signs of magic. Harry Potter just vanished from the train without anyone noticing. Once the Daily Prophet got wind of this story, they were going to be in for a shit storm.
Unbeknownst to Amelia Bones, Not even two miles from her location under Whitehall London, just outside 31 St. Thomas St., London Andromeda Tonks and Return Returner, aka a disguised Harry Potter were currently walking into the Shangri La Hotel and without so much as drawing an eye to themselves, walked straight in like they owned the place. The two followed a small dwarf of a man who was waiting for them and led them into the nearby elevator.
Once inside the dwarf of a man grunted and Harry grinned as its ears protrude outwards and his smooth skin turned wrinkly. Pressing the button for the top floor, and the elevator rose.
"Glad to see your punctual Mr. Returning." The goblin said with a hint of disdain and respect. "Your request to Ragnuk has been finalized and completed as of this morning. Once you have confirmed the product, Payment will immediately be drawn from your accounts and you will be left with the amount listed on his note to you."
Harry nodded, "Understood".
A few seconds later and a pleasant ding from the elevator, the doors opened to a rustic red polished wood hallway.
"Magic corridor?"
The goblin grunted in annoyance. "Magically separated space. Similar to what your ministry has."
Andromeda who was behind them was impressed as she followed behind them. Traveling from room to room, each one as barren and open as the one before, Andromeda had to ask, "It's got a wonderful view of London, but it's pretty empty."
"Payment was given for the rooms only. The Penthouse is stuck in a collapsed space between the actual penthouse and the Tower itself." Turning to Harry he asked the twenty-something, "Is this sufficient, enough for payment?"
Harry remained silent as he looked around. Harry traced his hands along the wall as he moved out into the open area where the zen-like garden would be in the actuarial penthouse suite.
It was a flawless replica of the actual penthouse, minus the furniture. So far everything seemed exactly as he requested it.
"What of the other features I required?" Harry asked.
Groaning, the goblin complained aloud in an annoyed monotone, "All features requested were implemented. Muggle electronics, gas, water, and in general all provided appliances are efficiently siphoned and concealed to this complex. Three rooms have been protected as purely magical in use, while everything else is ensured to be magic 'proof'" raising his fingers into quotations, "and lastly the final feature will remain unspoken but is untraceable."
The Extension Charm, Harry thought. Giving one last look Harry nodded. "Which is unspoken, its parameters matched what was given?"
The goblin grinned arrogantly, "Wizard magic was pathetically simple to implement."
Harry however could hear otherwise. Smiling back knowingly he cheekily said, "I'm sure it was." Handing the green bastardized gnome a slip of paper, he instructed, "Send this to Ragnuk, your service will be rewarded both for the tour and that paper's deliverance."
The goblin sneered and trudged off into the elevator throwing daggers at them the entire way while grumbling. When he was finally gone Andromeda smirked. "He's about as cheerful as Kreecher."
"Who?" Harry asked. Looking at him she waved him off, "Just an old house-elf that my parents owned. So what exactly does an eleven-year-old plan to do with a place like this? Besides living alone apparently."
Harry looked around and shrugged. "Live for a change I guess." He mumbled.
"Like I told you and Ted before, I… well... haven't exactly lived a life worth living. Ignoring Albus and the very real possibility that his intentions for me might not be in my best interest, having a place I can call mine that isn't a four by two by four room under some stairs."
"You know, we're completely fine with you living with us Harry."
Harry looked at Andromeda who was smiling at him and for a moment Harry wondered if his own mother had smiled at him like that when she was alive.
"I know." Harry admitted, letting a smile grace his own features. "I didn't buy this place to move out and live alone. I bought it because I wanted a place of my own." Harry said while mentality reminding himself that he needed a base of operations that wasn't listed at the Ministry, was isolated from the magical world, possessed restricted access and existed in a building that he could protect magically from any wizard with his own spells.
He also needed a place where he could perform his more, unorthodox experiments with potions and runes which wouldn't result in blowing up a friend's house. Though to be fair he wasn't planning on setting any off in his new home either. Not yet anyway.
"I haven't mentioned it yet but, Thanks, for everything."
"Oh don't mention it dear." Andromeda said sweetly. "Your practically family as far as I'm concerned."
Harry blushed as he rubbed that back of his head. "Look I only did that because Nym needed it and honestly in hindsight I needed it too I guess."
"Not what I meant, but yes I noticed." Andromeda said surprisingly. "It's only been a week and you've been brooding a whole lot less."
"Wait if you didn't mean… what did you mean?"
"Oh right, no one probably told you. James, your Father, had an uncle, Charlus who married Dorea Black. Dorea was Pollux Black's younger sister and my Grandfather. None of it means anything really, but it makes one feel connected like they had family." Andromeda explained.
Harry's smile grew slightly as he went over and gave Andromeda a hug. Surprised Andromeda accepted and returned it with her own. From the moment he arrived, she and Ted noticed Harry's aversion to physical contact and reflexive responses to being touched when caught unaware. He'd shake hands and bump shoulders without problems but closeness like hugs and such always carried a tension with them.
"No child should have to endure what you did Harry."
Harry nodded silently, taking in the very different feeling of warmth then he was accustomed to.
"What those monsters did, it's unforgivable."
Harry would agree. Any normal kid would have broken down completely had they gone through what Harry did. Honestly, he didn't even go through it himself. Up until his magic fully connected with his past self, everything was dumbed down, grayed out like he was living in a fog. At the time it felt normal. Only in hindsight did Harry realize how utterly incomplete he was for those eleven years in which the ritual remained incomplete, when he was incomplete.
Pulling away from Andromeda, Harry shook off the feeling of loss and unease from leaving her embrace. Despite knowing better, he still felt safe in her grasp. Something he wasn't used to feeling, ever. Except, perhaps at Hogwarts which was anything but safe at times.
Suddenly a fit of chuckles broke out of him causing Andromeda to look at him funny.
"Sorry, it's just weird. Only a week ago you set me up with your much older daughter, when just days before you were treating me like a client turned guest. Now you're treating me like family or something."
Andromeda chuckled at this. "Ted said it was part of my charm. Us Blacks, despite what many might think, are a weird bunch. You should have seen my cousin," Andromeda said as she grew very sad. "He was such a nice child, trouble maker and playboy mind you, but…" She added growing distant.
It was then that Harry noticed his legilimency was starting to act up and doubled down on his occlumency. Carelessness, Harry berated. One week in which he could go without ibuprofen, with nearly complete control over his legilimency for the first time ever and he slipped because he dropped his guard. Sloppy.
"You read my mind, didn't you" Andromeda said with a teasing grin.
"Honestly, I didn't." Harry said looking down as he continued to berate his lack of vigilance. "My control almost slipped through. Honest. All I got was a feeling of regret and sadness nothing more.
"It's okay Harry, I'm teasing." she reiterated. "You're young and a powerful wizard. Legilimency is a difficult art to master, and being a natural doesn't make you a master over it. Give it time, as your magic develops inside you, so too will your control over it grow. I know you try your best, but it's difficult." She told him.
Kneeling down she looked Harry in the eye. "Sometimes you're too mature for your age Harry. Relax and let go sometimes. Always stressing and trying to hold your magic in is bad for you. You know that better than most." She said poking his chest, a subtle reminder of what lay dormant inside him. Something Harry had almost forgotten was inside him.
"Now, get your barriers in check. I believe you promised me a shopping trip and this flat isn't going to dress itself." She said cheerfully.
Excited and slightly uncertain as to how shopping with Tonks's mother would be, Harry walked toward the elevator and descended for the short walk to Leadenhall Market where Diagon Alley resided.
Back at the Ministry, Tonks stumbled out of the 'maze' and let out a sigh of relief. She was finally done, pass or fail there was no way her day could get any worse than that.
When the door opposite of her opened she raised her wand up, aimed and pointed, expecting a fight under her adrenalin high. Upon seeing the individuals Tonks relax slightly, recognizing the man in front by his reputation alone. Alastor Moody, better known as Mad-eye Moody. And just like his moniker, the old man started laughing madly.
His laugh was more like a series of angry grunts which was unnerving and sounded nothing like a laugh, but to Amelia who was on lunch break behind him, it was amazing to see and hear from the grizzled man. She was there purely due to curiosity as to what kind of person could draw Moody's interest to such a degree.
"What I tell ya Bones." Moody said limping forward. "CONSTANT VIGILANCE" he cheered proudly. "Didn't drop her guard completely upon victory. This one's got potential."
Tonks not knowing what to do just nodded and replied with a curt show of thanks, nodding dumbly.
"Tell me girl." Moody asked, lurching forward. "You're the Tonks's brat, right? What's your name?"
"Tonks, sir"
"Tonks Tonks, eh? Funny. Your submitted documents confirm your name is Nymphadora?"
"I don't like my name. Sir!" Tonks said quickly adding on 'sir' as a secondary thought.
"Well then, good thing you won't be needing it." Moody said with a villainous grin. "Tell me, cadet, think you can survive three years under my tutelage?"
Tonks's mind was screaming in parallel. On one hand, he had just confirmed she passed the assessment test and she was now allowed to be trained underneath a veteran Auror for three years. Terrifyingly, she was getting Mad-Eye Moody.
Pulling her thoughts together she was caught off guard when Moody swung his cane like staff, tripping Tonks who was lost in thought. In mid-fall, Tonks's reflexes kicked in and she rolled back into a crouch with her wand drawn. It was deftly knocked out of her hand by Moody's staff.
"Sloppy Cadet. Sloppy. Constant Vigilance!" he shouted looking down at her with a grin. "For a novice, you've got some potential. I'm gonna grind you down into a proper Auror."
"That will have to wait until the papers are filed."
Moody grumbled and moaned in annoyance, even as Tonks leaned sideways to get view of the women who talked behind him. The tall, fit women, had a square jaw with close-cropped grey hair. At the roots there still injured a hint of the amber collar it once was, lost to both age and stress. Her voice was loud and booming but not overly so. Everything about her shouted stern, unbending, and unflinching.
"Cadet, Nymphadora Tonks. Your exam is over. Your results will be given to you officially within the week. Unofficially, congratulations. I now suggest you go home and hold off celebrating while preparing yourself for Alastor's tutelage." Amelia Bones stated firmly before turning around and walking off.
"Oh and Alastor, you're now a mentor. I suggest you start filing the paperwork now rather than later if you want her."
Alastor Moody grunted angrily but limped off in a hurry, clearly not wanting to lose first dibs on the girl.
Moody pushed past Amelia, who gave Tonks one last look smirked and stated gently, "Your father is waiting for you at the front desk where you began. Take the door behind you on the right and down the hall, you'll find him. Good day."
As they left and an employee gestured for Tonks to follow him, which she did, her mind was left thinking back to her test. She passed and apparently drew the attention of the Mad-eye Moody, one of the best Aurors alive, if not the best.
Travelling down the hall Tonks was surprisingly dexterous in her steps. Even while her mind was a mile away back in the exam, she moved with the same directness and linearity that she had while in combat. Deft and capable she moved automatically, barely registering her father's presence when she saw him.
With a faint smile that vanished quickly, she approached him and in silence they left together. While he was due at Gringotts in twenty minutes, it was more than enough time for Ted to escort his exhausted girl home.
The two left quietly, Tonks lost in reflection of how she could have done better, as Ted remained silent due to the morbid air around his daughter. Unsure if words of encouragement would make her feel better or worse so, he remained quiet. His comforting presence alone was more than enough to bring a slight smile to Tonks's face.
In Diagon Alley, Harry was surprisingly enjoying a magic-filled shopping trip with Andromeda. On top of getting decked out with a new wardrobe, Harry also had the pleasure of retrieving a series of new equipment and ingredients for his experiments.
Currently he and Andromeda were stationed in Flourish and Blotts. Specifically in a corner of the store on the second floor looking through several tomes on runes and enchantments.
"How bout this one?" Andromeda suggested, handing over a very hearty tome.
"Expanding Letters and Boundaries: Senior Guides to Lost Arts, by Sibis Senior. Is Senior his last name or was he named after his father?" Harry asked as he opened the book giving it a glance.
"Senior is his family name, at least I think it is. If I remember correctly there's a Rigel Senior Senior but I might be wrong."
The book held several theories, and spells which Harry already had reference to. "This isn't it. All of these are commonly recorded, just rewritten. Plus look here. They didn't even double-check their facts. The greek rune for bond should be here. Instead, they used the roman rune of together."
Leaning over his shoulder Andromeda raised an eyebrow. "I never get tired of how impressive your studies are." She said in agreement. The strengthening array would function linking the object(s) the array was placed on, but it wouldn't work as intended. Instead of strengthening the objects structure, it would only glue them together, instead of fusing them as one piece via magic.
Sighing, Andromeda took it back and placed it on the shelf. "Well, we managed to find seventeen books. Hopefully, you'll have plenty to work off of."
"I guess." Harry said reluctantly. "I just wished there was more, especially regarding genealogy lines and magic conductivity."
Andromeda laughed. "If I was still a Black I might have been able to help there."
"Why's that?"
"Oh, well, my old family wasn't what you'd call a 'good' family. The Blacks were always, traditionally, aligned more to the dark side of magic."
"They allied themselves with To-*cough*, You-Know-Who." It wasn't an accusation but an assumed suspicion. One that hit home and caused Andromeda to flinch but nod in confirmation.
"Yes, well, not every Black turned out like that. As I said, traditionally, Blacks were dark. Aside from myself I think Sirius was the only one that I know who adamantly refused to follow our traditions."
Harry stopped and froze in place, rigid as stone. "Sirius?"
Andromeda's eyes shot wide as she resisted the urge to cover her mouth. Quickly recovering and doing her best to not show any concern. Harry wasn't buying it though.
"Who's Sirius? Is he related-"
"Please don't ask Harry." Andromeda said calmly. Harry noticed he had touched some kind of nerve as anger and pain emanate off of her in waves, despite her efforts. Harry knew whoever Sirius was, three things were certain. One, he was a Black, two, he went against the Black family traditions, and three. He had some connection to himself. Andromeda's response upon realizing she said his name to Harry alone would have sparked Harry's curiosity, but the gut-wrenching pull in his mind confirmed a strong connection to the man.
"Okay." Harry said, respecting her request. Looking at the bookshelves Harry wondered why despite there being so many bookshops in Diagon Alley there was hardly any diversity in the books written. From what he did read, there was little to no debate or inquiry to the validity of the works published. It was like no one bothered to question conventional magic. Something that concerned him.
He then wondered about what Andromeda said about her past family.
Leaving the story Harry took the package of shrunk books and carried them with him. "Okay," Andromeda said aloud. "That's books, utensils, storage, the only thing left… is furniture."
The tension behind how she said it was with a slight unease that brought Harry's attention onto her.
"Is that a problem?" he asked, to which Andromeda shook her head no.
"Aside from being rather… unpleasant, it should be fine." she said. "We just need to keep our heads down and avoid some of the more isolated alleys."
Nodding Harry kept in step with Andromeda. Turning into the small shoulder with entrance was like walking through a portal, or apparating into a distant land. The difference was night and day as drifting dust, soot, and cobwebs floated through the air. Where Diagon Alley inspired wonder, color, and magic, Knockturn Alley was its opposite. Dirty, grimy, and ominous, Harry couldn't help but feel it apt to consider Knockturn Alley to be the true shape of the wizarding world. Diagon Alley was all the good magic brought to the world, what it wanted to be, in contrast to what it really was underneath the facade.
It wasn't much of a walk, only twenty steps into the Alley and Andromeda led Harry to a store. The name of which was unknown as a solid layer of dust covered the sign that would have informed him of its name.
"This is the place." Andromeda announced to Harry. Opening the door for her, Harry followed in after she entered. The doorhandle was rough and abrasive against his touch. Much like everything else, it was unpleasant to touch, and even less so to look at.
"Ha-*cough*- Mr. Returner, welcome to Hapgood's Habitable Habitats." Andromeda said with a cough. A poor attempt to cover up the fact she almost said his name.
The shop looked much like the Room of Lost Things at Hogwarts. Only instead of 'things' it was specifically furniture, shelves, and rugs. The latter of which lined the walls and ceiling of the building.
"It's like some bizarre form of artwork." Harry muttered.
Chuckling, Andromeda gave Harry a slight push. "See if there's anything that catches your eye. We'll shrink what you buy and put it in your cloak so we're inconspicuous."
Harry doubled back in shock as he gazed up at Andromeda. "How…?"
"Oh don't be so surprised. You left your ancient rune notes all over the place back home. Plus I saw your work on the cloak itself." she said with a smile.
"I really should try to keep my notes hidden better." Harry grumbled to himself. Andromeda only laughed, much harder than she intended which drew the attention of the shop owner to their presence.
"C-coming!" a small voice called out from the second floor, followed by a loud crash, which Harry assumed was the shopkeeper themself.
"Don't worry. It's not dark magic and the idea itself is interesting. And while extension charms are illegal, if I read your notes correctly, there are no laws against runes that compress and isolate objects. Even if it does do the same thing essentially."
Harry and Andromeda looked up as a short woman, possibly a year older than Tonks, fell down the stairs in a tossed heep, kicking up dust everywhere.
Even from her awkward position she tried to remain professional even as she spoke to them. "Ow. Sorry. Welcome to Hapgoods Habitable Habitats. What can I do for you? I mean- What can I do for you?"
Leaning over Andromeda whispered, "I don't know why you're keeping your skill in runes secret, but keep helping my daughter and I'm sure I'll forget everything I saw."
Harry noticed the mirth and teasing in her eyes and knew that she wasn't blackmailing him. Even so, he couldn't help but feel annoyed.
While Andromeda walked up to the shopkeeper Harry took to walking around. He originally walked up to the keeper herself but gave up trying to talk with her since his physical appearance was making conversations with her impossible as she stuttered like a blushing mess.
Walking through the store Harry picked out several pieces that drew his attention. Anything with low surface space that would, to any rationally knowledgeable wizard, look to be incompatible with rune placement. Harry had to admit he was impressed with the carpentry and craftsmanship of the goods. Many were elegant and while the majority was simple in design, each was handcrafted and flawlessly put together.
When Andromeda finally came around Harry noted she was holding back her giggles again. A look behind her told him why as the shopkeeper apparently was reenacting a poor school girl's crush.
"You're getting a kick out of this aren't you?" Harry complained.
Andromeda nearly broke out laughing. "What can I say, I like a good laugh and joke."
"I can see where Nymphie got her funny bone from." Harry replied.
Quieting herself Andromeda smiled back, "Yes, however unlike me she got her self-control from her father."
Harry raised an eyebrow at this. "Ted?"
"I know, shocking isn't it. Ted had a pretty wild streak in his youth, back when we first met." Andromeda said wistfully. "He calmed down when we got married. Back then I was the refined and composed one. A byproduct of my upbringing really."
Harry nodded as he saw the signs of regret that appeared earlier when she brought up Sirius.
Looking out the window, Harry spotted someone that caught his eye.
"Speaking of wild streak… mind if I indulge my own?" Harry asked with his gaze stealthfully following the shadows outside the window.
Andromeda looked and turned to see what he was looking at without giving it away. Spotting that all too well known silver-blonde hair she grew stern. "What did we say about unnecessary risks?" She said glared at him with a disapproving look.
"I know. That's why I brought my second cloak just in case. Plus I'm not doing this on a whim. There's something I want to confirm and do."
"Oh? And what might those be?" Andromeda said with no shortage of disapproval.
"Find out where their money is and place a trace." Harry said, pulling out a pair of leather gloves from his dark-grey cloak. "If I said not too, you'd go anyway." Andromeda said knowingly. Sighing, she placed a hand on her head. "I swear, you're just as bad as Ted and Nymphadora. Once they both make up their mind there's no changing it."
Placing a hand on his wide shoulders, she leaned in to whisper. "Be careful and don't do anything that might get you or my family caught."
"Don't worry, all I really need to do is shake his hand." Harry reassured her.
Nodding Harry walked past the flustered shop keeper, intentionally giving a smile which made her blush madly and nearly faint. "Well, that was annoyingly simple enough." Harry muttered.
Walking hurriedly out the door Harry watched as the two figures walked into a store further down the street. Walking up, Harry took notice of the store's sign.
"Borgin and Burkes, huh." Harry said to himself. "Let's see if I can still pull off an act."
Walking in like he truly belonged, Harry entered the store and gazed around quickly. Unlike the goods in Diagon Alley, the items here were far more of interest to Harry then he expected. While Harry could tell many of the items present were of the darker variety, not all of it was dark. Some would call the store a shop for dark magics, but Harry's eye could tell that wasn't the case. Yes, most of it was dark, but more importantly, everything was unique.
"Interesting, a shop that focuses on the more outlandish and exotic artefacts of magic." Harry murmured to himself with an impressed air. "Like fishing a trout and finding a whale." Harry thought to himself.
"Don't touch anything, Draco." said a voice that pulled Harry away from his musings. There in fine silk black robes and an ivory black cane to boot, was his target. A target who so kindly confirmed Harry's suspicions to be Lucius Malfoy. Beside him, looking more like a miniature pet of the man, was none other than Draco Malfoy, who successfully held Harry's notice for a whole half-second.
Harry watched Lucious reprimand his son, with a warning.
Now all he needed was a cleave excuse to get close to him. Harry watched as Malfoy walked up to the counter and rang the small silver bell on the counter. Almost instantaneously a stooping man appeared with greasy hair that hung slightly over his face.
"Mr. Malfoy, what a pleasure to see you. And what have we here? Is this your young progeny?" The man said with a humped and crawling tone.
"Yes." Malfoy said curtly, moving a strand of his long ivory silky hair from his face with a leather glove. "I am here for… something unique."
"Oh I see." the man said, "Well what might it be that you need, Mr. Malfoy."
"I need something that could prove…" He eyed Harry before carefully speaking, "helpful, for an associate of mine." Malfoy said with a cold silvery tongue. "He seems to believe that working alone, for his own gain, would lead to his pastures being… Greener. This could prove troublesome for him. Do you have something that could alleviate that?"
With a cruel smile, the man nodded with his shoulders, bobbing his upper body in agreement. "I see. Well surely we have something that could be of use." the man said.
Dropping his Occlumency just a bit, Harry unleashed the full might of his Legilimency. He knew he'd need every advantage to not overstep or miss his chance.
Internally Harry picked up several thoughts of note. From what he could make out and see, apparently Lucius Malfoy was currently at ends with Galloran Greengrass. Whatever transaction apparently involved several apothecary shops and Galloran's control over rare and foreign ingredients. Harry knew the Greengrass family were a well known and capable shipping family. Mostly they dealt with imports from foreign magical communities and two-thirds of British ingredients went through their hands.
For whatever reason Galloran refused to buckle under Malfoy's attempt to politically pressure him into reducing costs for shops that paid him. Whatever his plan was, he was furious.
Oddly enough, apparently the reason for this desire was two-fold. To make more money for his family using his influence, and to try and reverse engineer the newest potion on the block.
The Fount of Youth Elixir. Or as those who were trying it were calling it, the Foy Elixir.
Harry felt a small hint of pride, that the Malfoy family felt intimidated by his own creation. Of course, an elixir of youth would be big money for anyone. It also was surprising that Malfoy tried to break into the shop, in an attempt to steal the product. Actually he was quite successful. Effortlessly breaking in and stealing several vials of Fout of Youth Elixir.
"Should probably visit soon and place some wards on the shop." Harry thought to himself. Harry was grateful that they bypassed the recipe book Harry left Donohan, and that Mr. Handsinn was smart enough to have hidden it.
With his week-long study of Runes, Harry was sure he could patch together a good enough system to protect his investment. He would just need to stop by at some time. His current stunt right now, however, would require him to push that to a later telling how much interest he was liable to spark from Malfoy Senior.
Thankfully Harry knew that potion experience alone wouldn't be enough to remake his elixir. Without a near-flawless stone, like the one Harry made, it wouldn't be possible to make and not even Flamel had made such a stone.
Returning his attention to the task and Malfoy's desire for something to combat Mr. Greengrass's reluctance to work with him, Harry wondered if he could use Malfoy's plot to his advantage. Looking around with a calm gaze, Harry spotted something he recognized. A cabinet. One that looked sneakingly identical to one he spotted at Hogwarts.
"Now why would a normal cabinet be here amongst this collection of the abnormal and rare?" Harry wondered as he walked towards it. Mr. Malfoy glanced over at Harry, keeping a cautious eye on him as he moved. Suspicious he kept a wary watch even as Harry opened the cabinet and peeked inside.
While Harry didn't know exactly what the cabinet was, his understanding of the runes and the array within it, made him grin ear to ear.
Linked space between Identical objects. If Harry's understanding was correct and his suspicions sound, this cabinet's twin resided within Hogwarts.
"How about this, Mr. Malfoy." The man suggested.
"Something, discrete, Mr. Borgin." Malfoy repeated clearly with displeasure at whatever it was. "I need something, less apparent. More distant Mr. Borgin."
Hunched over the man again nodded with his body giving him the look of a man with a hunched back.
Walking to the counter Harry politely waited behind Malfoy.
Turning to eye Harry suspiciously, Malfoy said nothing.
Harry stood like this for a while, simply eyeing Malfoy as if simply waiting while watching him. Harry hoped this would be enough to annoy the man into taking the first step. It did.
"Borgin!" Malfoy shouted, drawing the man's gaze. With a stiff jab of his head towards Harry, Malfoy hinted at his displeasure at Harry's presence.
"Is there something you need?" Borgin demanded, also clearly upset seeing that Harry was troubling his wealthy customer.
As smoothly as he could, Harry played the scenario out. "No need to worry Mr. Borgin. Mr. Malfoy, was it, was here first. Tend to his needs, I will wait as that is most respectful."
The calm and dignified tone Harry used caught Malfoy off guard. Turning to get a better look at Harry, he nearly scoffed upon seeing Harry's less than wealthy apparel, until Harry grinned at his gaze.
"Looks can be mistaken, Mr. Malfoy."
"Apparently." Malfoy said, the words almost crawling with disdain.
Playing the act of the ignorant, Harry almost oversold his realization. "Oh forgive me, where are my manners." Harry held out his hand. "Returner, Return Anwir Returner, Mr. Malfoy."
Malfoy felt curious at the green-eyed stranger's actions. His form was far more uniform and practised to be that of a common peasant.
Hesitant in his following action, Malfoy eyed him momentarily before extending his hand towards Harry. Harry noted that the man's hand was gloved, silently annoyed that he couldn't burn the mark onto his skin. Though that wasn't his goal in the first place. Placing the mark on skin, while most efficient, wasn't the best means. He needed it on something else, something that Malfoy would always carry with him, or most of the time.
So Harry blessed Malfoy the moment he noticed the foolish boy touching something else in the shop. In the heat of the moment, Harry sensed the oncoming aggression attuned toward his progeny. Lucious raised his cane's handle and went to bring it down on Draco's wandering hand.
With his reflexes, Harry's hand-stretched outward and intercepted the head of the cane before it landed on Draco's fingers, grasping its head firmly enough to burn his concealed mark into it.
Malfoy was shocked at the speed and fluidity of Harry's movements. The only aspect of his power that he had so far managed to generally regain after coming back.
"Easy there, we wouldn't want to trigger anything." Harry said with a grin. "Young Mr. Malfoy, I believe you were told not to touch anything, yes? Best do as you were told." Harry said with a hint of malice which caused the boy to cower behind his father.
Lucius seemed significantly annoyed at this, but Harry could feel a hint of admiration and respect in his thoughts. Releasing his grip from the cane, and Lucious none the wiser. Harry could have hugged Draco right then and there if not for the fact his ruse needed to remain until his departure.
"I see. You are not ordinary at all." Lucious said suspiciously. Harry chuckled.
"No, I dare say I am anything but."
"Nonetheless, I request that you finish your business and leave, Mr. Returner."
"Ah, I see." Harry said turning to Borgin who was watching this play out.
"It seems your customer wishes me to leave quickly. So let us make it so." Harry said, turning their attention to the cabinet. "How much for that cabinet?"
"Three hundred galleons," Borgin said with a sneer.
Harry smiled knowing full well that was a rip off considering it was useless without its pair. However Harry had a suspicion as to its twin's location and even if he was wrong, the enchantments and rune within alone could be broken down on his Runeforge. But these two needn't know that.
Pulling out three rolls of parchment that held one-hundred galleons each.
"Three hundred galleons," Harry said leaving it at the desk. Turning away he walked over to the cabinet as he said, "Don't worry, I'll take it with me."
Removing his cloak, Harry revealed his middle-class suit, which he borrowed from Ted. Like any Los Vegas strip magician, Harry flung the cloak over the Cabinet and to the witnesses behind him watched as the Cloak fell as if the Cabinet wasn't even there. The flat surface of the cloak soon was flat with the ground and rapping it back around his body, Harry grinned as the Cabinet was gone.
Turning around and giving a mock bow, Harry grinned as he replied to their shock, "Good day gentlemen. Mr. Borgin, I look forward to future business with you."
Leaving the two stunned men behind Harry walked out of the shop, all the while plotting the next coming days. His work with Tonks, his studies on modern wizarding understanding of runes, Setting up his new home, decorating and improving it's defenses and furnishings. Not to mention making a stop at his latest investment to improve the shop's protections.
"Well," Harry grinned to himself. "At least I won't be bored this summer."