Chapter 16: First year close
"So that's it then? Hogwarts?" Tonks lets out a triumphant sigh as we settle into our compartment on the Hogwarts Express. Hermione is, of course, engrossed in a book already. Tonks sits beside her with her feet up next to me.
"For you at least." I say as I bring my legs up and cross them.
"Six more for us." Hermione adds absently.
We received our results a few days ago. Tonks had done a celebratory dance which had ended abruptly when she tripped over. She is now more than qualified to begin her training as an Auror, which she will be doing come August first.
"Alright, Harry?" Tonks asks me as she unwraps a chocolate frog.
"Just thinking." I say, closing my eyes.
Having been brought up mostly by the Dursleys, I never thought I would have anyone care about me. The first time I met Albus completely threw that on its head. And now, after all this time, the fact I care so much about somebody else feels alien. It's not like Tonks is going anywhere, it just feels that way. Next year is going to be difficult. Hermione will still be here, of course, as will Albus, but I can't exactly string them along to check out a weird painting at 2AM. She won't have much free time once here training starts, None at all really, maybe if I -
"Tonks." I say, opening my eyes. She looks at me expectantly. "How do you suppose your Mum is going to be when you're in training?" Her face drops into a scowl.
"She'll probably insist on making sure I'm not hurt every night, I love her to bits, but she can be a bit intense." She sighs. "Why'd you ask?"
"I might happen to have a spare room in my flat in a week or so." I say casually. I offered to let Sirius stay there whilst he is recovering. He was hesitant at first, but after thinking about it, he changed his mind. 'Not fit for a cockroach' He had said. He's been there for a couple of days now he is free from St Mungos. Albus had told me that Sirius had said he wouldn't stay more than a fortnight, something about facing his demons.
"Really? You mean it? Seriously?" She looks surprised, but also excited.
"Give Sirius a while to get his shit together, then he'll go home. After that, it's all yours." I smile and shrug. She starts to almost bounce on the bench. It might be a bit selfish of me, but we don't have to part quite so suddenly. She jumps over to my side of the compartment and wraps her arms around me.
"You're the best!" She kisses my cheek and squeezes me as tightly as she can.
"Is that a good idea?" Hermione asks, looking up from her book.
"Whad'ya mean?" Tonks asks, wrapping her arms around me possessively. Hermione rolls her eyes.
"Is the two of you, and only you, being in a flat together for any length of time a good idea?" Tonks looks down at me and grins.
"It's a brilliant idea."
"What could go wrong?" I add as Tonks returns to crushing my ribcage.
"Sirius not meeting you here?" Tonks asks as we step off the train. I shake my head.
"Too many people here." I explain. "Let's say that one of them hasn't heard the news, or doesn't care – They might attack him."
"Sirius Black kidnapping Harry Potter." Tonks laughs.
"Exactly. It would quickly dissolve into chaos." I look around at the reunited families. Fucking Voldemort.
"That was a dark look." Tonks says as we push through the crowd. "Wanna tell me what it was?" Read me like a book.
"Fucking Voldemort." I explain, seeing her smirk from the corner of my eye.
"Fucking Voldemort." She agrees as we manage to get to the other side of the platform. "Right." She says, pulling me into a tight hug. "To save us both the embarrassment of meeting my parents, I'll head out now."
"I'm gonna miss you." I wrap my arms around her too.
"It's only a couple of weeks." She says, pulling away. Her left sleeve makes contact with my hands – The designated 'tear drying' sleeve. She'd been crying just before breakfast.
"Come on, don't look so glum. I'll kick Sirius out if you decide to come earlier."
"Alright." She smiles at me affectionately. "See you later then?" I nod and watch as she backs through the platform's wall, or attempts to do so, her elbow smacks against the wall. The last thing I see is red hair as she vanishes, holding her arm. I sigh heavily: It's going to be a long- Somebody taps my shoulder.
"Draco." I say before turning around. Oh, great. "Lord Malfoy, it's been a while."
Standing side by side behind Draco are his parents. If I wasn't under such close scrutiny, I'd glare at the stupid prick. I shake the proffered hand. A wedding ring, to which his wife wears the partner. A portkey ring that he's rarely taken off since he purchased 14 years ago when he was 23. The last ring is the Malfoy Lordship signet. 20 years old, created magically on his 17th birthday. Should eleven year olds be shaking hands? "I think Draco and I had just been attacked by a masked lunatic when last we met." He nods slowly.
"Narcissa and I would like to thank you for … distracting it." His smile seems almost forced. "And to meet one of our son's friends." He adds after a look from his wife. I quickly shoot Draco a dirty look before they turn back. "Come along, Draco." The boy in question gives me a wave and follows on, leaving Narcissa with me. I give her a once over whilst she isn't looking. Tonks' aunt. Solid genes.
"Lucius would never say it, but we both know that you are responsible for keeping our son out of trouble. His letters explain as much."
"Trouble?" Silly me for hoping this would be a simple 'Hello Mr and Mrs Malfoy, goodbye.'.
"With students of certain … heritage." Her eyes widen almost imperceptibility, as if she didn't mean to say that.
Draco had been hurling insults at some muggleborns and they were going to jinx him, I'd resolved it peacefully by telling them he was a worthless flobberworm and wasn't worth it. That did the trick.
"I suppose I couldn't just stand and watch, even if he did deserve it." I shrug. She nods slightly, looking relieved, and turns to catch up with her family. I hate politics. Readjusting my grip on my bag, I exit through the faux wall. The regular people walk busily up and down, seeming to not care in the slightest about the oddly dressed people lugging trunks and animals around. It is London after all.
After travelling through London, I finally reach Diagon Alley. It's as busy as the last time I was here, not much change from any other day – People pushing and shoving to get to their destinations as quickly as possible. I join the fray and quickly make my way into a side street just past Gringotts.
They were kind enough to send me instructions on how to find and access my flat. The doors along this street each have 2 door handles, one on either side. Supposedly each handle opens the door into a different space. The doors don't adhere to any linear numbering system, the road started at 17 and the second door was 80. I soon find the large black door pictured in the letter. The two handles are labelled '221A' and '221B'. Gringotts issue 'blank keys' for the flats along here, which look remarkably similar to uncut muggle door keys. I'd almost expected an ancient cast-iron key. The key doesn't actually open the door, but lets the holder open it. I twist the left handle and push the door inwards. Sirius has already come and gone many times. I close the door behind me. A staircase leads upwards from the door and a line of coat hooks are attached to the right-hand side of the wall. Sirius' black leather jacket, a gift from James on his 19th birthday, and the only other hook being used sports a dark green scarf. I reach my hand out to inspect it.
"That bastard." I laugh. The scarf belongs to Roseanne Abbot, a nurse from St Mungos. I ascend the stairs and confirm my suspicions – Sirius has a woman here. I open the door into the flat.
It's bigger in person. The main space houses a large sofa and a plush red armchair. The carpet starts at my feet and ends as it reaches the kitchen, black and white square tiles are lain down. The carpet matches the walls with a neutral cream colour. The kitchen itself is modern looking, for wizards anyway, with an oven topped with hob rings, probably run on magic. I drop my bag on the sofa.
"Sirius!" I call out, dropping onto the armchair and picking up the Daily Prophet. "I'm home. I do hope I'm not interrupting." I look up as the closed bedroom door opens, Sirius slides out of the small gap and closes it carefully. He's yet to button his shirt up.
"Harry!" He smiles. "I thought you wouldn't be back for a while."
"Maybe the train has sped up since your day." I smirk, pretending to read the old paper again. "I see that you've made yourself at home. Along with Roseanne. I think her niece is in my year."
"How did you-"
"Sirius?" A sleepy voice comes from the bedroom doorway. Sirius whirls around and we both look at Roseanne. She has, at least, put clothes on before she opened the door. "Who are you talking to?" She rubs her eyes sleepily.
"Uh." Sirius looks between the two of use. "Harry, This is Rosey – A er friend of mine."
"This is Harry?" She asks quietly.
"So, you're a nurse?" I ask, carefully concealing my grin behind the paper. "This is an odd sort of house call."
"House call … right." She says, glaring at Sirius as she picks up her handbag. "It was nice meeting you, Harry." She says quickly as she walks down the stairs.
"Rosey! Wait!" Sirius makes it to the top of the stairs as the door closes. I walk to his side and we stare down the stairway. "You couldn't have been a bit more subtle?" He moans.
"This was the subtle route." I smirk, slapping his bare stomach with the back of my hand. "I see they've put you back together." I walk back into the flat to inspect the kitchen.
"Cost a pretty penny too." He sighs, leaning against the worktop. "How'd you know I had someone here?"
"Her scarf was downstairs." I explain. "Enjoying your freedom I see." He looks healthy and happy. Far better than when I'd first met him.
"Good, Brilliant actually." He takes a deep breath. "Better than I've felt in years, no matter how clichéd it sounds." He laughs. "But enough of that, Tell me about your first year. Dumbledore said there were some incidents."
The second day of being home, I explain my ability to Sirius, it takes a while and he needed some demonstrations, but he understands for the most part. We are now situated opposite each other, Sirius on the sofa whilst I recline in the armchair.
"So where you sit on the toilet ..." He says leadingly. I smack my hand to my forehead.
"Yes, Sirius. I know everyone that's ever sat on the John."
"So like ..."
"No, I do not frequent the girls toilets." I pinch the bridge of my nose."
"Right, right." He leans back on the sofa. "And wands? You are like a long-term back tracer?"
"Exactly."
"And you've managed to avoid touching all but Lily and James' wands?"
"And my own."
"And your own." He nods. "So you figured out Peter was the keeper from that?"
"His name was in the spell." I nod.
"Clear as day over a decade later?"
"Yep."
"All the spells they ever cast?" He asks. "Even the ah 'personal' ones?"
"Before you ask directly, I will not be discussing their sex life with you of all people." He starts to laugh.
"Ok, ok." he tries to get himself under control. "So if you grab a bird's wand, you know what they've done … down there?"
"Jesus." He break down laughing. "You've been locked up too long." I stand up. "Go and find Roseanne or something, I'm going out."
"Wait!" He calls out as I head down the stairs. "Harry, Come back!" He says as he howls with laughter.
A/N: So here it is. Taken a bit longer than i'd have liked, sorry!
I've been trying to decide a few things about the story. Harry's character can go a few way. Part of me wants to write him like Artemis Fowl, but i don't think that would fit. Harry's a smart kid, but he's not that high level of genius, it's his special ability that sets him apart. Another way he could go is to be like Tonks or Sirius, a much more fun loving and outgoing character, let me knwo your thoughts on it all.
I don't really know if i can continue the story from here. I've got a few loose ideas for his next two years of schooling, but without the whole Prisoner of Azkaban thing ( Because Sirius is free ) I don't really think i can fill two more years of story. The reason it's two yers is because my ideas pick up again for his fourth year, i've got plenty of plot for that year.
Thoughts and suggestions are, as ever, greatly appreciated. Until next time, Enjoy!