A/N
It has been a while and for that, you have my apologies. This will now be my main focus for my Harry Potter works so you can expect much more regular updates on this.
I did mention in the previous chapter that the relationship between Harry and Leo would be explained during this one. However, I have decided that this will be done a little later in the story as there are more important plot points to focus on. This is very much a fic centred on Harry, the Blacks and Tonks, who will be taking a very large role in the story as her relationship with Harry develops.
Anyway, enjoy as always and please do follow, favourite and review.
TBR
Chapter 4:
Nymphadora Tonks smiled sadly as she appeared at the gates of Hogwarts to begin her new assignment. Dumbledore had expressed his concerns of the Goblet of Fire having been tampered with and potential conflict arising between certain groups within the castle, and thus, giving that she had been working with Mad-eye prior, she had been sent to keep the peace, to ensure the tournament would run as smoothly as possible.
She was not displeased with the role, another year under the tutelage of Moody would be a boon after all, but her years at Hogwarts could be described as turbulent at best and the memories she had fought to repress over the last couple of years since leaving, surfaced once more.
Everything had been as wonderful as expected when she first arrived. She had been sorted into Hufflepuff like her father before her and she made fast friends with her peers. She excelled in most of her classes and was even well-liked by the staff. But her problems all began and ended with her abilities.
In the beginning, she was sought out by students and staff alike, all fascinated by what she was and what she was capable of. She would happily demonstrate what she could do and change her hair, her eyes and anything else requested of her, a gift that became a curse as time went by.
Third year arrived and things changed exponentially.
It began with muttered conversations and hostile glances from her female classmates, speculating that she was changing the way she looked to impress their male counterparts, enhancing certain assets to gain attention and the outright accusations followed soon after.
To the thirteen-year-old girl, it seemed both petty and ridiculous. She was not even aware that she could perform such changes until much later, not that any would believe her protestations of innocence. It took her a while but she soon realised her 'friends' were jealous of her.
In an attempt to stem the glances of disdain, she made a conscious effort to appear as plain or average as possible. She wore her hair in only natural colours and manipulated her features to blend in with the status quo, but it was to no avail. The accusations against herself and her assets being purposely accentuated continued. Although she would never admit it to any, it hurt the young metamorph to think that those she considered her friends would think such things of her. Many nights as a teenager were spent crying, as much as she tried not to, wishing that she was normal.
It was when she arrived for her fifth year of schooling that she decided she would no longer care, no longer attempt to cater to the envy of the others. The looks she adopted became more outlandish, her hairstyles more daring and features more prominently individual, very reminiscent of the style she wore to this very day. She wore it like armour and became almost exactly what she had spent the past two years denying. The females of the school had made her a martyr and she decided to play the role that had thrust upon her.
The boldness of her move attracted the attention of the opposite sex, something that she had not taken into consideration whilst contemplating it and a school full of hormonal boys caused much more trouble and heartache than she could have envisioned. Reflecting on this, she knew that she had been naïve and had underestimated the lengths that some would go to get what they wanted.
That particular plight had started with seemingly inane questions on what exactly she could change about herself. The scramble to date her followed shortly after. Unbeknownst to the girl, a lesson she would learn much later, the vying for her affection was not because of the outward and bubbly personality she projected, but the abilities she possessed. The males had figured out that she could become almost anything they desired and she was revered for it, sought after. Quite the change from being the one treated with contempt that she had become accustomed to.
Such attention had overwhelmed and confused her at first but she took it in her stride as best she could. She eventually agreed to a few dates that all ended the same way; with each of the boys asking her to change certain things to please them. After experiencing this, she avoided it. To shield herself from the advances, she became more extroverted, the outwardly full-on woman she grew into being now. She found that overwhelming the boys with her talents, though drawing more ire from the females, was the best defence. It was her putting them on the back foot now and it protected her from the inadequacy she felt when asked to make changes to her appearance for the sake of shallow aesthetics.
Only once did she allow her guard to drop, something she vowed to never let happen again when she became aware of the circumstances. Michael Jones, a fellow Huffelpuff a year her senior had had her attention since third year. He was handsome, strong, a beater on the Quidditch team and very bright with it. He had approached and asked her for a date quite out of the blue and the enamoured girl had agreed after much hesitation. He had always been respectful towards her, had even helped her a few times with schoolwork and had expressed little interest in her skills over the years. She had been rather nervous about dating due to how the others had ended but felt no reason to shy away from who she believed to be one of the few nicer guys in the school and so began her one and only true investment in another. One that treated her as a normal person, did not ask that she change a thing about herself, one that took the eccentricities she exhibited with little more than a shrug and had she not overheard the conversation between himself and a few members of the Quidditch team, the one she would have gladly given herself to.
It was late one evening after practice that she entered the changing rooms. Being December, it was chilly outside so she opted to wait for Michael in the female side of the room. The two were separated by screens for the purpose of modesty but that did not prevent her hearing the talking taking place on the other side.
"So, how's it going with the Tonks girl, Jones?"
Nymphadora recognised the voice as belonging to Daniel Roberts, the other beater on the team.
"Well enough," Michael answered coyly. "Another few weeks should do it."
Tonks frowned as she edged closer to the screen, flinching away slightly as the other boy laughed uproariously.
"Good man," he praised. "You'll be 10 Galleons richer if you pull it off."
Nymphadora felt her heart sink at the words.
"Yeah, yeah," Michael sighed.
"Cheer up, Mike. You'll be the first to finally get her."
She heard the other boy huff as the first tear fell.
"She's not so bad," Michael muttered. "Just…"
"She's not Melanie," Daniel finished. "Ahh come of it. A part of doing this is so you could get over her." He let out a sound of disappointment. "You were all for it. You wanted to see if she would live up to her name of being a little nymph."
Nymphadora heard nothing else as she backed out of the room both devastated and furious. She'd always experienced teasing for the name her Mother had bestowed upon her but nothing that made her feel as dirty as this.
She spent that night crying unashamedly at the treatment, cursed both Michael and Roberts for the slight the next morning and became outright hostile towards any that even uttered her accursed name. She was Tonks and that is all she would ever allow herself to be referred to. The experience hurt her beyond measure but instead of allowing it to define her, she used it. It kept her centred during the many lonely hours she spent preparing herself for her exams so that she could be an auror. She grew from it and became a stronger person and thrived on the progress she made.
When her NEWTS eventually came around, she was ready. The hours of preparation, the years of solitude all culminated in the success that followed. She achieved the required grades and was accepted into the academy only a few days after her application had been submitted and she left Hogwarts behind to begin a new venture, one where her talents would be appreciated for what they were and not what others could gain from them, or so she thought.
It took very little time of being in the academy before she was subjected to the same jealous stares from the females and the lecherous ones from the men. She once again felt like a schoolgirl until she met the more experienced members of staff and found a kinship of sorts with the older people.
Moody had taken her under his wing immediately when he witnessed the potential she possessed with her wand, much to the surprise of the senior aurors whom had never seen the man take such an interest in a recruit before. Both Madame Bones and Kingsley treated her as they would any other hopeful and quickly earned her respect also. Neither had any other expectations of her than to be the best she could nor looked upon her any differently because of her capabilities and the fait and respect she received from them made everything else much easier to endure.
She was, however, still Tonks and always would be. She had dropped that guard once and paid dearly for it. She would not make that mistake again.
When she had learnt of her assignment, she convinced herself that she could handle it. She was no longer the young girl that would cry because of the way others perceived her, she was a woman now, stronger. But she could not shake the vulnerability she felt in the moment she looked upon the place where most of the hurt had happened, so she did what she always did when she felt such a way; she brightened her hair a few shades bolder, accentuated her feminine assets more and adopted the flirty persona that frightened off the most determined of men. None would ever guess that she was lacking in experience by how she carried herself nor the way she acted, but it was the best way she knew to maintain her self-preservation. It had become second nature to the metamorph and was simply who she was to all, to those that both knew and didn't know her respectively.
(BREAK)
It was an exhausted Sirius Black that exited the rooms that himself and the rest of Harry's entourage had been assigned. For the better part of the past four days he, along with Harry, Leo and Cassiopeia had been sequestered within, developing a strategy to deal with the dragon in the upcoming first task of the tournament. The planning was still in progress and the sense of dread that had settled in since the revelation of Harry's name being selected had only increased since their arrival at the school. He had no doubt that Harry would perform admirably but he lacked any kind of faith in any other elements involved, particularly the unknown person or persons that had submitted the name in the first place.
He took a deep breath as he made his way to the Entrance Hall, craving fresh air and a reprieve from the discussion of dragons. So lost in the plight of the boy, he did not notice the approaching figure ascending the stairs he was walking down until he inadvertently bumped into them.
"Sorry," he muttered half-heartedly.
"Sirius," the voice called as he continued on his way.
He looked up, only for his eyes to narrow as he met the nervous stare of James Potter.
"Potter," he greeted curtly.
James dragged a hand through his hair as he gave a weak smile, his expression almost pleading.
"Can we talk, please?"
Sirius sighed and shook his head.
"I don't want to argue, Pads, please, I just have a few things to say."
Reluctantly, Sirius nodded and gestured for the man to lead the way.
James nodded gratefully as he opened a classroom door in the corridor that Sirius had just exited. Seeing that it was empty he entered and waited for Sirius to follow before locking the door and casting a few privacy charms. A rather uncomfortable silence settled amongst the duo as James attempted to find the words to convey what it was he needed to say to his former friend.
"How are you, Sirius?" he asked in an effort to break the tension.
Sirius again shook his head.
"What is it you want to say, Prongs?"
James nodded stiffly as he swallowed.
"First of all, I want to apologise, for everything. Whatever happened, there was never a reason for things to turn out as they did. I'm not going to make any excuses for what we did, it's inexcusable, but for what it is worth, I really am sorry."
Sirius nodded his acceptance as he leaned heavily on a nearby desk.
"It's not all your fault," he mumbled. "Dumbledore played his games with me too and if it wasn't for Cassie, I doubt I ever would have found Harry."
"How is he?" James questioned worriedly.
Sirius narrowed his eyes once more and deflated considerably.
"It's been hard, Prongs," he answered. "When we found him…" he choked and fought to gain his composure. "He was living in a cupboard, neglected, beaten and in his own filth. We barely managed to save him."
James was nothing short of horrified, his emotions a mix of heartbreak and righteous fury. He grabbed a desk to his left and threw it against the wall as he screamed. He shook uncontrollably as he thought of one of his children in such a state and looked at his friend, more grateful for the man than he could put into words. Without warning, he closed the gap between them and wrapped his arms around him, squeezing tightly.
"Thank you," he whispered fiercely, "thank you for being there for him."
Sirius stiffened at the contact, unsure on how to react. He was torn between punching the man and comforting him. Not a day passed that he did not think of how he had taken custody of Harry and the deplorable state he had rescued him from.
"We got him, James, that's all that matters," he sighed.
James pulled away and nodded as he gripped the man's shoulders, unsure of how he was going to explain this to his wife. Her sister had never been a pleasant woman but outright abuse was something else entirely.
"Really, thank you, Sirius," he reiterated. "There's nothing I could ever do to repay what you did."
"I am his Godfather," Sirius replied simply. "I only did what I swore I would the day he was born."
James nodded appreciatively.
"How is he, really?" he asked further, "How did you fix the issues with his magic?"
Sirius released a deep breath as he contemplated how much he wanted to say. James Potter was certainly not his favourite person and he did not want to betray Harry's trust.
"The whole magic thing was a big deal for Harry," he began wearily, "it still is. We were honest with him from the start and told him that it would not be possible to use magic the way we do. He took it in his stride, but I could see that it bothered him when all he could learn was potions and anything else that didn't require a wand."
He rubbed his eyes tiredly and took a steadying breath.
"He was seven when we were in Egypt visiting some old tombs. I don't know what happened but he got too close to a ritual table of some sort and it did something to him."
He swallowed deeply as he relived the memory of Harry being suspended in the air and the helplessness he felt.
"I almost lost him, James. If it weren't for Cassie and my Grandfather helping with the blood, I would have," he finished fearfully.
"Is that why he looks like you?" James questioned.
Sirius shrugged.
"I don't know what happened to him. It must have been a blood adoption of some kind. He registered as both a Potter and a Black when we tested him but no one can tell us anything definitive."
James nodded in acceptance.
"As long as he is okay, that's all that matters."
"He's incredible, James," Sirius whispered. "He may look like us Blacks, but there's a lot of both you and Lily in him. He makes me proud every single day. He's smarter than we ever were and more skilled with a wand. I haven't beaten him in a duel for almost two years," he admitted sheepishly.
James chuckled as he was filled with pride for his eldest.
"I'm glad," he replied sincerely, "but not really surprised. He was performing accidental magic from when he was eight months old. I still remember when he levitated his full nappy and dropped it on Lil's head."
Sirius snorted at the memory.
"That little giggle of his always meant trouble for someone," he mused aloud.
James nodded, the grin he wore slipping into a hard line.
"I don't expect you to forgive me, Padfoot, but for what it is worth, I just wanted to say I'm sorry and to thank you. The one thing I got right was picking you to be his Godfather. You've been a better father than I ever could have ever hoped to be."
Sirius shrugged once.
"It's not been easy," he muttered, "but worth every minute."
James nodded.
"After what he has experienced, I understand why he hates us," he sighed.
Sirius' expression became grim at his words.
"He had it rough, James and it's not something he's ever gotten over. He may seem like he has, but I know that it still bothers him. He's a closed book when it comes to how he feels and he has real intimacy issues because of it. It took months of him being with us to relax and he doesn't let many close to him. But he's a good kid and bloody dangerous to get on the wrong side of," he finished ruefully.
"I don't plan on doing that," James assured him.
Sirius huffed as he shook his head, unsure on if he was making a mistake in giving James the chance to atone for his past actions.
"He's not a forgiving person and I doubt he will come around, but if he does decide to talk to you, be patient with him, let him get what he has to off his chest and be completely honest with him. He will not appreciate being lied to," he finished warningly.
James offered a weak smile.
"Thank you," he replied seriously. "We will wait until he comes to us, if he chooses to."
Sirius nodded stiffly as he removed the charms and unlocked the door.
"Don't give me any reason to regret this, James," he advised as he left, the need for a few moments of solace greater than when he had left his rooms a short while ago.
Thankfully, he was not hindered by any other distractions as he made his way through the castle and into the grounds, breathing in deeply as he took in the familiar surroundings. The desired peace however did not last as long as he hoped. Lost in thought, his legs had carried him near to the front gates and into the path of a red-robed auror. Having been at their mercy on a few occasions in his youth, he was not keen on crossing paths with one in his current Mood.
"Sirius Black?" a female voice questioned.
The man cursed under his breath as he turned to face her, realising quickly that she was far too young to have been on the wrong side during any his escapades.
"Yes?" he replied with a suspicious scowl.
The woman smiled excitedly, her pink hair shifting between colours as she bounced on her toes.
"Nymphadora?" he queried, pleasantly surprised by the appearance of his young cousin. "Bloody hell, I haven't seen you since you were running around the garden in your knickers and making a nuisance of yourself," he chuckled as he pulled the now flushing woman into a tight embrace.
"It's just Tonks, Sirius," she said firmly as she returned the hug.
Sirius pushed her away gently and frowned at the stubborn look that adorned her face. Shrugging dismissively, he smiled once more.
"Whatever you say," he laughed. "An auror?" he questioned unnecessarily, nodding towards the robes.
Tonks nodded proudly.
"It's all I ever wanted to be," she returned happily.
"What are you doing here then?" he questioned with a slight frown.
Tonks sighed.
"This is my new assignment for the year. Dumbledore requested auror presence. He's not happy about Potter's name coming out of the Goblet and Amelia decided I was the best for the job as I'm the youngest and was taught by Moody," she explained with a shake of her head.
"He's not a Potter," Sirius corrected firmly. "He was raised a Black and has our name."
Tonks nodded apologetically, taken aback by the ferocity of his words.
"Sorry, Sirius, I only know what's been printed."
The man grumbled under breath briefly before waving off her apology.
"It's fine," he assured her. "We should catch up properly though. When you get some time, our rooms are behind the portrait of Sir Cadogan. You're welcome any time," he offered with a warm smile.
"I'd love to," Tonks replied. "I have to check in with Dumbledore but can come after if you like?"
Sirius nodded, his smile widening at her eagerness.
"Arcturus isn't here and I can deal with Cassie. You know that I never had any issue with your mother and father, don't you?"
Tonks grimaced at the mention of the other members of the Black family but nodded her understanding.
"I know, Sirius. Mum was really hurt that you didn't stay in touch after everything happened."
Sirius let out a deep breath.
"I will write to her," he promised. "So much happened and I wanted to forget all about this place."
"It's not me that you owe an explanation to," Tonks pointed out. "She'll be mad as hell with you but I know she misses you."
Sirius shook his head as he remembered the fiery nature of his cousin. She was the politest but still not one to upset.
"I'll fix it," he sighed.
Tonks smiled brightly at his declaration.
"Well, I will check in with Dumbledore and see you soon?"
Sirius nodded.
"It's good to see you, Nym… Tonks," he corrected when he noted her glare.
"You too, Sirius," she replied cheerfully as she turned and headed towards the castle.
Sirius watched her retreating form fondly. He had always been entertained by the girl when he had visited her. She had always been rather rambunctious and he could only imagine the trouble she had caused Andi and Ted growing up.
(BREAK)
"That fella really wants to hate you," Leo whispered to Harry from his left.
With Sirius taking a break, the duo decided to attend one of the many classes on offer at Hogwarts and, at the insistence of Harry, had made their way to join the sixth year Gryffindors and Slytherins in the dungeons for their lesson.
The potions professor had begrudgingly permitted them to join and had taken the opportunity to fire some rather obscure questions at Harry only moments after they had settled. The more questions he asked that were answered, the more the man became irritated, the vein in his temple throbbing prominently. Harry, the ever-respectful boy he was, answered them all, much to the man's chagrin.
"It seems that you inherited your mother's ability when it comes to this subject," he conceded, taking glee in the flinching of the young man before him at the mention of the woman.
Satisfied by the reaction, the greasy-haired professor set the students work, tasking them to brew the Draught of Living Death. Having gathered the required ingredients from the cupboard, they began in silence, the only sounds audible being the crackling of the flames beneath the cauldrons and steady sounds of chopping.
"After what happened between him, Sirius and the rest of them at school, I'm not surprised," Harry muttered in response.
Leo shrugged.
"There's a man who holds a grudge. Unless you've already upset him some way?"
"Just the fact that I exist upsets him," Harry sighed.
"Black, and your friend," Snape called loudly. "Unless you are discussing your potion, I suggest you both shut up."
"You have my apologies, Professor Snape," Harry answered with barely concealed sarcasm.
The man glared at the pair for several moments before he began moving around the class and inspecting the work of the other students.
"Git," Leo mumbled causing Harry to snort and the man to turn sharply in their direction.
Under the reproachful gaze of the irked professor, the two completed the assigned work in companionable silence, both looking forward to the end of the class when they could escape the oppressive atmosphere.
"I don't think I've ever met a more unpleasant chap," Leo exclaimed as they exited. "Must be the combination of darkness and potions fumes that make him so miserable."
Harry nodded.
"He knows his stuff though," he countered defensively.
"Shame he doesn't want to actually teach us anything," a voice interrupted to the right of the duo.
"Or have a sense of humour," another similar one added from their left.
"Twins," Leo sighed, "and bloody ginger ones too," he added as he took in their appearance.
"Fred…"
"And George Weasley," the two introduced themselves with a bow. "And I think you'll find our hair is a beautiful copper colour," George finished.
"It makes us rather dashing," Fred quipped.
"Quite the lookers I'd say," George added.
Leo shook his head as he looked between them, both amused and overwhelmed by their antics.
"You two are enough to give me a headache," he muttered. "I'd best check on Rasputin, Merlin only knows what he's up to in that forest," he announced as they reached the Entrance Hall.
"Who's Rasputin?" Fred asked.
Leo gave the questioning twin a devilish smirk.
"He's a friend of mine, maybe I'll introduce you both to him some time," he offered, his grin turning feral.
"Some mischief to look forward to," Fred replied to the retreating boy.
"We would never refuse a stroll through the forest," George added challengingly.
Harry laughed as he shook his head.
"I wouldn't be too keen," he advised. "Rasputin is not the most accommodating beast."
"Beast he says," George mused aloud as he scratched his chin. "What type of beast is he?"
Harry's gaze flittered between the attentive twins as he smiled.
"One that I would avoid if you like your limbs attached to your body," he answered cryptically. "See you later, gentleman," he added as he left two nervous Weasleys in his wake, intent on heading back to the Blacks' rooms to get some much-needed time away from the chaotic activities of the castle.
He arrived to find a much more relaxed Sirius than the one that had left them earlier in the day, lounging in an armchair.
"Where have you been?" the man questioned.
"We went to have a potions class with Snape," Harry answered as he removed his robes, leaving him in a white t-shirt and dark jeans.
"And how did old Snivellus treat you?"
Harry huffed slightly as he shot his father an annoyed look.
"How do you think?"
Sirius chuckled unashamedly as he stretched his legs and groaned.
"All in seven years work," he stated.
Noticing that Harry was heading towards the bathroom, he flicked his wand towards the door and quelled the urge to laugh.
"You can't blame me for what I did as a kid," he shouted.
Harry paused for a moment, his grip tightening around the handle as he simply shook his head. Not wanting to discuss it further, he pushed the door open only to be stopped in his tracks by a yelp of shock.
On instinct, he drew his wand and levelled it at the thoroughly embarrassed woman who was trying to preserve her modesty, his eyes flashing a dangerous emerald.
"Who are you?" he demanded.
Nymphadora Tonks covered herself as best she could, mortified that someone had walked in on her making use of the facilities. She met the eyes of the trespasser and froze under the glare. It took a lot to shake the young auror and the young man stood in front of her had done it with only a look.
She could only sputter incoherently, torn between anger and indignance.
Thrown off by the appearance of the strange woman in the bathroom and receiving no answer to his question, Harry turned away to confront his father, only to find him doubled over, laughing at the predicament of the two. Seeing no humour in the situation, Harry growled as he stalked towards the man.
"We had a deal," he seethed. "No women during the day and you would be discreet."
Sirius held up a placating hand, still unable speak through the level of his mirth.
The two were interrupted by the sound of the toilet flushing and were shortly joined by a furious red-haired woman, her face blushing a similar shade. Undeterred by his anger, she approached Harry and poked him in the chest forcefully.
"What the hell? Do you make it a habit of walking in on women using the lav?" she ground out.
Harry was surprised by her aggression but shook his head irritably.
"Me? You might want to try locking the door if you're going to use someone else's bathroom," he returned.
Tonks pushed her face upwards towards his angrily.
"I did lock the door."
Harry narrowed his eyes and turned his attention to a somewhat composed Sirius, though he still wore a triumphant grin.
"You did it," he accused.
Sirius chuckled.
"Only returning the favour," Sirius returned with a mock salute.
Harry shook his head, remembering when he had done the same to the man and his Aunt Cassie. The woman's wrath had been something he would never forget and it had taken Sirius almost a fortnight to be able to sit down comfortably after he had walked in on her.
"That doesn't change the fact that you broke the rules," Harry retorted grumpily.
"It's not like that," Sirius denied, cringing at the implication. "This is my cousin, Nymphadora. I told you about her, years ago."
Harry immediately turned to face the woman once more, noticing with a frown that her hair was now a bright pink.
"I'm sorry, Nymphadora," he offered sincerely. "I got the wrong idea and I'm sorry for the embarrassment."
"My name is Tonks," she corrected. "It's okay, but Sirius is going to pay for it," she promised with a sinister grin towards the now wide-eyed man.
"It was just a harmless joke," he muttered petulantly.
"Not a funny one," Harry chastised. "I could have really hurt her."
"Or seen more than you did," Tonks added with a wink.
Harry blushed slightly as he shook his head.
"Again, I'm sorry," he offered.
Tonks shrugged.
"No harm done," she sighed. "Besides, Sirius will be the one paying for it. He's not the only one who likes a good joke."
Harry chuckled.
"What happened to your eyes?" the woman questioned. "They were green a minute ago."
Harry rubbed the back of his head.
"They change when I'm angry or using magic," he explained. "What about your hair?"
Tonks gave him a wicked grin and cycled her hair through several colours.
"I'm a metamorph," she explained proudly.
Harry nodded in understanding.
"Full or partial?"
"Full," she confirmed, shifting her features a few times before turning them back to her chosen form for the day.
She noticed that Harry seemed a little uncomfortable with the revelation and she frowned slightly.
"Must be useful for your job," he offered, gesturing towards her red robes.
"Yep," she answered with a nod. "Useful for lots of things," she added with a wink.
Harry shook his head as he gave his father another glare.
"Anyway, I'll leave you to it. I'm going to train a little," he announced. "And the weighing of the wands is tomorrow," he added. "Nice to meet you," he offered stiffly before exiting the room.
"Did I say something wrong?" Tonks questioned once he'd left.
Sirius sighed.
"No. Harry is not great with meeting new people and I think your ability has fazed him a little. He will come around," he promised.
Tonks could only nod in confusion at the thought of the younger Black. His curiosity had stretched only as far to query the level of her talents. After that, he had clearly distanced himself from her. She couldn't help but feel a little put out and think that she had done something wrong. Instead of dwelling on it, she decided that she would speak to him later. Sirius had briefly explained what had happened to him as a child and she did not want her presence to make anything uncomfortable for him, or herself whilst she was spending time with her older cousin.
(BREAK)
Harry awoke the next morning having spent his evening completing some light training and tending to his wand, something he did regularly. It was his most treasured possession, not only because he once believed that he would never be able to wield one, but because of its' origins.
He completed a morning run around the castle grounds before showering and waiting for Sirius to rise, something that would not happen at a reasonable time. He occupied his time with a little bit of light revision on the different types of dragon breeds that Leo had identified upon his arrival, marvelling at the beast's size and immense power.
"Unbelievable," he muttered, perplexed that the Ministry had included them in the tournament. Creatures of this calibre meant only destruction and were a threat to any they deemed to be a threat or prey. The list of animals they did not, was very small after all.
He had pondered if the other champions were aware of what they would face but had thought nothing else of it. As both Leo and Sirius had pointed out, it was an advantage and he himself certainly wasn't going to announce it for the others to hear, though the latter of the two was convinced they would already know somehow.
"Morning," a sleepy Sirius greeted him before yawning loudly, pulling him from his thoughts. "Sleep well?"
"Not bad," Harry replied as the man pulled him into a hug.
It was a simple show of affection but something that Sirius always did when he first saw Harry each day. For Harry, it was one of the things he never took for granted.
"Are you ready for the wand weighing?"
Harry shrugged.
"I don't like the idea of having it inspected but it has to be done I suppose."
Sirius nodded.
"I imagine it will be Olivander checking them. He's a good guy, a bit nuts, but damn good with wands," Sirius explained.
"Then why didn't I get my first one from him?" Harry questioned.
"Because you have to be eleven to purchase one from him," Sirius answered as he ruffled the teen's hair.
Harry mumbled under his breath as he fixed his locks, shooting a scathing look at the man.
"It's not like you will need a new one either, so tough luck kiddo," Sirius pointed out. "And remember, don't let anyone look down on you because of it. It's your wand and all of it is a part of you."
"I know," Harry sighed.
The revelation of Harry being a Parselmouth had been met with a lot of curiosity amongst the Blacks. Harry, having only been nine when he found out had no understanding as to why the language was held in the regard it was amongst certain wizards. When Arcturus explained that the last Dark Lord was one, Harry did everything he could to forget he possessed the ability. That was until his Aunt Cassie gave him a long talk about magical intent and having a unique ability that he had the chance to explore. Ever since then, it had been something he had invested a considerable amount of time in to. Arcturus had acquired a few books for him to peruse and his skill with the branch of magic had only increased over the years. He had not looked back since.
"Well, we have a little time before we have to be there. How about I show you where the kitchens are and we get some breakfast?"
"Sounds good. Leo and Cassie are already doing lessons so it's just us today," Harry explained as he stood and followed Sirius' lead out of the room.
An hour later, after sating their appetites and witnessing the very amusing House-Elves going about their business, the two left the kitchen and made their way to the fourth floor to the room that had been allotted for the event. The other three champions had already arrived with their entourages, along with a reporter, her cameraman and two aurors that Harry recognised as Tonks and James Potter. He paid no heed to any of the people within as he found a seat and waited for the proceedings to begin, keen for this to be over as soon as possible.
The other champions conversed amongst themselves amiably enough, all ignoring his presence, something he was grateful for. The same could not be said for the reporter. He felt her gaze boring into him and he met her hungry stare with narrowed eyes, his hand twitching towards his wand at the discomfort he felt.
He looked up towards his father as his hand came to rest on his shoulders and relaxed as Sirius gave him a slight shake of the head, urging him to remain calm.
Instead of cursing the woman, he took a deep breath, just in time for Dumbledore to arrive, a man that could not be much younger than himself in tow, who in turn was followed by both Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch.
"Wonderful, everybody is here," Bagman exclaimed excitedly. "Dumbledore, if you will."
"Thank you, Ludo," Dumbledore acquiesced. "We are here today to carry out the weighing of the wands. This is to ensure that they are functioning correctly and are adequate for the tasks ahead," the man explained. "May I introduce to you, Mr Garrick Olivander, who will be the expert examining them."
Olivander gave a brief bow and took it upon himself to begin his work.
"Mr Krum, if you please," he requested of the surly Bulgarian.
Harry had of course heard of the man but could not understand why he always appeared to be so miserable. He watched as Krum slouch towards the wandmaker and handed his over for the required inspection.
"Ahh 10 ¼ inches, Hornbeam with dragon heartstring," Oliver said more to himself. "An excellent example of Gregorovich's work," he praised. He gave the wand a gentle wave producing a fountain of wine and deemed it satisfactory before handing it back and beckoning for the French champion to step forward.
Fleur Delacour approached him, flicking her long, silver hair over her shoulder, her nose turned upwards. Harry shook his head at her snootiness, his previous meeting of the girl having not been pleasant.
"Oh my," the wandmaker exclaimed as he grasped her wand. "Rosewood, 9 ½ inches with Veela hair," he stated in confusion. "A very volatile core but if it works for you," he finished with a shrug.
"Oui," Fleur responded simply.
Olivander gave the wand a flick and handed the conjured bouquet of flowers to the girl along with her wand.
"Mr Diggory," Olivander called.
Cedric approached the man, giving his wand a cursory rub with a cloth before allowing him to take possession of it.
"Now this one I do now," Olivander mused aloud. "12 ½ inches, Ash with the tail hair of a rather aggressive male unicorn," he announced thoughtfully. "In excellent condition, Mr Diggory," he offered with a smile.
The man twirled the wand between his fingers, unleashing a barrage of multicoloured sparks before deeming it worthy and handing it back to the Hogwarts champion.
"And finally, Mr Black," the wandmaker requested, his eerie eyes landing on Harry.
With an internal sigh, he stood and approached the man, still no less comfortable about handing his wand to a stranger.
"You might want to put on some dragonhide gloves," he advised. "My wand does not like to be touched by other people."
Olivander's eyebrows rose momentarily before he schooled his features and nodded. Harry did his best to ignore the questioning whispers around him as the man took the wand in his gloved hands.
"A very strong bond indeed," Olivander whispered, the room falling silent as he carried out the inspection of the final wand. "12 inches, Blackwood…"
His monologue paused as he met the eyes of the teen, his own widening as he nodded excitedly.
"The cores freely given," he muttered. "How did you come across such a creature?"
Harry shrugged.
"She was old," he replied. "She bonded with me and asked me to kill her so that she could pass on," he explained.
Olivander smiled as he nodded.
"May I see?"
Harry undid the top three buttons on his shirt and exposed the skin on the left his chest and shoulder.
"All three bit you?" Olivander questioned in disbelief.
Harry nodded as he chuckled.
"She assured me it would not be fatal but I was sick for almost two weeks and it hurt like hell."
"Indeed," Olivander replied with a laugh of his own. "Well it is a spectacular wand. Did you craft it yourself?"
"With some help," Harry clarified.
Olivander nodded thoughtfully.
"Fangs, heartstring and venom core," he announced to the surprise of those gathered.
"Of what exactly?" Madame Maxime asked.
Harry nodded his consent when the wandmaker sought his permission. He knew that he would be accused of cheating if he attempted to hide its contents.
"A very old Hydra," Olivander confirmed.
"Impossible," Maxime declared as the other people in the room began whispering furiously. "Such a wand would be an unfair advantage."
"And your student being a veela might prove to be to hers," Sirius broke in angrily. "It's his wand, it doesn't make him any more powerful than he is naturally."
"Correct, Mr Black," Olivander interjected. "A wand is only as powerful as the wizard that wields it. There are very few exceptions to this but this wand is not one of them," he finished firmly.
Madame Maxime was not satisfied but the other champions were not at all perturbed by Harry's wand.
"My champion cannot 'elp 'er 'eritage," she defended.
"And my son cannot help his," Sirius returned. "Your champion has her allure and gift with fire but you don't hear the other two complaining."
"It does not matter," Krum huffed, "Ve haff Veela at Durmstrang."
"It just makes it more fun," Cedric shrugged with an easy smile. "We have to use what we are good at."
"Excellent," Dumbledore declared, putting an end to the disagreement "If you are happy Garrick, then we can end the ceremony."
Olivander gave a nod as he handed Harry his wand back.
"Photos, Dumbledore," the reporter reminded him.
"Ahh yes, of course," the old man complied benignly.
What followed was an uncomfortable thirty minutes of the champions being shifted in various positions and poses for the photographer as the reporter fired instructions at the man.
Much to Harry's relief, the photographer finally took the last shot and he headed immediately towards the door, only to be accosted by the reporter who took his forearm in a vice-like grip. He drew his wand and placed the tip under her chin, ready to let loose a curse and whispered a few words in parseltongue to calm his stirring familiar. He did not appreciate being grabbed in such a forceful way and the look he found himself under. Thankfully, for the sake of the reporter, Sirius had witnessed it and stepped in before the situation could become much less pleasant.
"You will unhand my son," he commanded furiously.
"The public has a right to know his story," the woman returned, undeterred by the burning emerald orbs of the teen. "I'm sure Harry has much to say."
Sirius growled as he drew his own wand, all eyes now firmly on the altercation as Dumbledore began approaching the group.
"We owe no explanation," Sirius spat, "now let go of my son or so help me I will kill you where you stand."
The woman wilted under the threat, now fully aware of the mistake she had made.
"Rita, release Mr Black," Dumbledore advised.
Reluctantly she did so and attempted to give the teen a warm smile.
Sirius, not satisfied with her actions, seized her by the front of her robes and glared into her eyes malevolently.
"If a single negative word is printed regarding my son, I will bring the full weight of the House of Black down on you and your employers, do you understand me?" he hissed.
Rita nodded fearfully as Sirius released her.
"Good," Sirius declared. "Now, Harry, why don't you go and practice whilst I have a word with the headmaster here," he suggested as he shifted his gaze towards the aged man.
Harry shrugged and exited the room, giving the reporter a final scornful stare as he closed the door behind him before heading towards the third floor and the sanctity of his room.
He made it to the end of the corridor without interruption, only to be caught up to by an almost running Tonks.
"Wotcher, Harry, mind if I walk with you?" she greeted him breathlessly.
"You can walk where you like. At least this way, I won't walk in on you in the toilet," he deadpanned, the ghost of a smirk gracing his lips as his eyes sparkled impishly.
Tonks blushed and shook her head irritably.
"Not the ideal way to meet someone," she muttered.
"No, not really," Harry agreed, not missing a step as he continued walking.
An awkward silence fell between the two and Tonks took the opportunity to take her first real look at him. The day before had not been her proudest moment and she had been too embarrassed to focus on him.
He was taller than her by quite the margin and carried himself with confidence, his steps purposeful yet very quiet and graceful, the opposite of her own clumsy feet. His jet-black was cut shorter than the other members of his family and he had the beginnings of dark stubble adorning his face but it was his features that were most striking. He certainly had the look of the Blacks to a degree, the high cheekbones and lithe figure but there was much more to him. He was without doubt handsome and would only grow more so as he aged a little more.
She blushed again as she looked away, having no desire to dwell on such thoughts.
"Did I do something to upset you yesterday?" she questioned suddenly.
Harry came to a stop and frowned at the woman in confusion.
"No," he denied, "why would you think that?"
"It's just that when you realised I was a metamorph, you just left. I don't want it to be weird when we're around each other."
Harry chuckled as he shook his head.
"You're talking to a parselmouth," he reminded her. "I'm not a hypocrite and wouldn't hold a gift against anyone," he finished firmly.
He sighed.
"It's not what you are, Tonks," he assured her, "it just threw me off."
"Too many thoughts of what I can do with my talents?" she questioned with a grin.
Harry frowned and shook his head again.
"When people find out what I can do with snakes, they decide that I am somehow a performing monkey. I can only imagine how people react to you and what their expectations are," he offered sympathetically.
Tonks nodded dumbly. He'd never be able to understand fully what she had experienced but he had the maturity and intelligence to at least consider, more than what could be said of anyone else she had met, other than her parents of course.
"It's a special gift you have," Harry continued, "and as Sirius said to me about my own, it doesn't have to define you in any way. It's only a small part of who you are," he recited dismissively.
Tonks gave him a genuine smile which turned into a smirk.
"Doesn't mean I shouldn't use it when it helps," she replied with another wink, changing her eye colour to match his silvery own.
Harry merely shrugged in reply.
"You have to do what you want to do," he returned. "I'll see you later, Tonks."
Nymphadora Tonks watched him leave with a frown of confusion marring her features. She got the impression that Harry was not as fazed by her as Sirius had said but he was certainly not comfortable around her either.
She sighed deeply as she pondered him.
He'd shown understanding towards her to an extent, his own ability garnering just as much as her attention. She thought that it would create a form of kinship between the two but only served to distance them further based on the conversation they had just shared. It both confused and irritated the young woman to no end at how much he intrigued her and left her feeling worse than before she had spoken to him.
She huffed as she contemplated him further, vowing that she would fix the rather strange rift between them and as she turned to go about her duties, she formulated a plan to do just that.
(BREAK)
Having bypassed Sir Cadogan by simply changing her appearance to match that of her older cousin, Tonks approached the room that she had seen Harry entering the previous day as she morphed her features back to her own. She had waited until past midnight, not only to ensure that the Blacks would be sleeping but because it was the optimum time for what she intended to do. For that however she wanted to invite Harry to help. It was he that had been wronged also.
As quietly as possible, she determined that there were no wards placed on his door and turned the handled carefully and entered the room, closing the door behind her with little more than a gentle click of the catch. Allowing her eyes to adjust to the darkness within, she couldn't help but notice how neat and organised the room was. At his age and even to this day, her own room and now flat was in a constant state of disarray. It wasn't unclean, just a manageable and familiar chaos for her.
Her eyes drifted to the bed and the sleeping form, his bare chest rising and falling rhythmically as he slumbered on, currently unaware of her presence. She approached, debating the best way to wake him. She had already witnessed how quick he was with his wand and did not want to provoke his ire. As she drew closer, she noticed six darker circles of skin across the left side of his chest and her eyebrows rose at the deep, purple scars of where the hydra he had bonded with had bitten him. Her curiosity getting the better of her, she tentatively reached towards one of the puncture wounds with her finger tips only to release a startled yelp as she found her wrist in a tight grip and looking down the shaft of a wand into a pair of very alert emerald eyes that glowed brightly, even in pitch blackness of the room.
"Tonks?" Harry questioned hoarsely.
"Wotcher, Harry," the metamorph replied with a grin.
Harry shook his head to clear it.
"What are you doing here?"
"Well, I was going to see if you wanted to help me get some revenge on Sirius for what he did yesterday, but now I'm worried that you're going to kill me," she finished weakly as his gaze continued to burn into her own.
"It's one in the morning," he grumbled.
"Can you think of a better time to get him?" she returned.
Harry chuckled despite his sleep being disturbed, not to mention the fact that this woman had broken into his room. He released her and rubbed his eyes as he nodded.
"What did you have in mind?" he asked with a dangerous smirk.
"I…don't know," Tonks sighed. "This is about as far as I got when I planned this," she admitted with a pout.
Harry snorted as he shook his head.
"Alright," he huffed, "I have an idea."
Tonks grinned at him.
"Well, come on then," she urged.
With another sigh, Harry lit his wand, pushed his duvet away and summoned his jeans from the back the chair at his desk. He slipped them on and stood to fasten them only to feel they eyes of the woman on him.
"Like what you see, Tonks?" he questioned, snapping her from her observations of him.
"I guess we are even now," she replied, glad that she could hide the blush that was threatening to make its way on her cheeks.
She chided herself for her actions but could certainly appreciate what she had seen. Clearly, Harry trained very hard if his physical condition was anything to go by. He was not overly muscular but he had an athletic build.
She shook those thoughts away, refusing to fawn over someone's appearance like a schoolgirl.
"Actually, you've seen more of me now," Harry quipped, forcing her to work harder to keep from blushing. "I didn't see anything other than those lovely white knickers you wore," he added casually.
This time, the blush did form and she fired a stinging hex towards him for his comment only to watch him flick it deftly away with his wand and a winning smile.
"I didn't have time to wash any others," she defended weakly.
Harry chuckled.
"I'm not one to judge, Nymphadora," he continued jesting, enjoying the fact that he had the upper hand. "The little butterflies were adorable."
Tonks growled. She never allowed anyone to get the better of her but she had nothing to come back with.
"I'll get you back later," she vowed, "but Sirius is first."
Harry only laughed in response as he summoned a t-shirt and retrieved a box from under his bed. He opened it and checked the contents before gesturing for her to follow him.
He led her into the living area and gestured for her to be quiet before casting a Silencing Charm on two of the three bedroom doors and the bathroom for good measure. He tiptoed towards the remaining door and entered, gesturing for her to wait whilst he checked that his father was indeed sleeping.
(BREAK)
"Wozzat?" Sirius Black mumbled sleepily as he sat up suddenly having been woken by the strong feeling that something was amiss.
The room was dark and silent so the man steadied his breathing as he swept his dark locks away from his face, listening intently for any sound. After a moment of awareness, he shrugged and shook his head, grumbling about his own paranoia as he slid back beneath his duvet to resume sleeping, only to release a girlish scream as an obnoxiously loud sound of a horn blowing disturbed him further.
Breathless and infuriated, he growled, mentally preparing to discipline his son and his friend for their actions. It had been a while since the two boys had targeted him but he should have expected. It was he that had begun the pranks amongst them.
"Little bastards," he muttered as he stood, only for his feet to slip away from under him.
He hit the ground with a mighty crash and groaned from the impact, the wind having been knocked out of him. His hope that the humiliation would end with this lasted but a few seconds as a larger than necessary amount of ice-cold water splashed over his head, leaving him a sodden mess.
"That's it," he roared, pulling himself to his feet. "You're both in for it."
He stalked towards the door and paused as he heard the laughter from the other side, one easily identifiable but a sound he did not hear often enough. It was an almost alien sound that quelled his anger immediately, the giggling of his son never failing to do so. The accompanying female sounds did surprise him but he deduced immediately that it could only be courtesy of his younger cousin. The thought of the two conspiring against him together made him smile, despite being the one on the receiving end of their endeavour.
He opened the door a few inches and listened to giggling almost basking in a display that Harry would demonstrate more often. He had never been a typical child nor teenager but it was these moments of utter joy that Sirius Black lived for.
"I'll get you both for this," he warned half-heartedly.
And he would. He would concede nothing to the surprising new allies, it was not in his nature. With a shake of his head and a few waves of his wand, he cleaned up the mess and dried himself off hoping that having Nymphadora around may just help Harry loosen up somewhat.
"Merlin knows he needs it," he sighed sadly as he rested his head on his pillow and casted a few wards on his door, just in case.
(BREAK)
With Sirius's declaration of revenge ringing in their ears, Harry and Tonks settled on the couch in the living area, still laughing at the results of their deed. It had gone better than either could have hoped although they had almost been caught by Nymphadora tripping on the corner of the rug. Harry had managed to catch her and they both had to stifle their giggles as the man had stirred from his sleep.
"Do you think he will get us back?" Tonks questioned.
"He will," Harry replied with a grin. "It will be back and forth for a while until Aunt Cassie gets annoyed and puts an end to it."
"Well, I wouldn't have thought you had it in you, Harry."
Harry shook his head in amusement.
"I was raised by Sirius Black, you have to have it in you to survive," he explained.
"He is a bit of a legend around here, him, Potter, Lupin and Pettigrew," Tonks sighed.
She noticed Harry's eyes flash furiously at the mention of the three other men.
"Sorry," she offered quickly.
"Don't be," he insisted. "I dealt with my demons long ago, but if I ever get my hands on the rat, I will gladly rip him limb from limb."
Tonks could not help but believe him. Her career centred around dangerous people and Harry certainly had such a side to him from what she had seen thus far.
"Anyway," he spoke once more, quickly moving away from the awkward subject, "why did you have to wake me up to help? Couldn't do it without me?" he jested.
Tonks huffed as she sat up arrogantly.
"Of course I could, I was just trying to be nice and let you in on the fun."
"And to stop you falling on your arse," Harry returned with a smirk.
"Downside to this," she explained as she morphed her torso and features, acutely aware of the grimace he wore.
"It does make you uncomfortable," she accused.
Harry shook his head and help up his hands.
"It's not you or what you can do that makes me uncomfortable," he denied firmly. "It's just a little unnerving for me."
"Why?" she asked with a frown.
His silvery gaze met her own and she shuddered under it, feeling as though he was staring straight into her soul. Seemingly satisfied, he gave her a sad smile.
"When my parents gave me up, Dumbledore sent me to Lily's muggle sister and her husband," he began, his countenance much more timid than she could have expected from him. "In public, they were these friendly, happy people who doted on their son and nephew with warm smiles and such. Showering me with praise and even buying me presents, that sort of stuff."
He took a deep breath before continuing.
"Behind closed doors, they were different. They locked me in a cupboard, didn't bother feeding me and used me as a punchbag when they felt like it…and I have no idea why I'm telling you this," he finished with a pained look in his eyes.
"I'm so sorry, Harry," she said sincerely as she took his hands, fighting her own emotions back. "I didn't know."
Harry shook his head and gave her a weak smile.
"It's fine. It's just that I learnt from a young age that what you see with people isn't always who they really are. People can hide behind masks and it unsettles me a little than you have the ability to do it so easily."
Tonks snorted slightly.
"That's exactly what it is perfect for," she muttered. "What if I choose just form and stick to it when I'm around you?"
Harry frowned.
"No, you shouldn't have to do that. This is a part of who you are, something that I must get used to. You shouldn't have to change because of me and my stupid insecurities."
"They're not stupid," she insisted stubbornly.
Harry shrugged.
"Either way, you're not changing the way you are to spend time here. You're family. I will have to deal with it."
"Then I guess I will just have to spend more time here until you do," she replied with a smirk. "Someone will have to watch your back for when Sirius plans his revenge."
Harry chuckled.
"You can spend as much time here as you like. Especially if you're willing to be a human shield," he quipped.
"I may be clumsy at times…"
"All the time I bet."
"But," she continued with a scowl, "I am quite handy with my wand."
"Do you know how to take down a dragon?"
Tonks frowned.
"A dragon?"
"Never mind," Harry chuckled as he waved her off. "I had best get to bed, unless you need to disturb my sleep for anything else?"
Tonks tap her chin with her finger and shook her head.
"Not tonight," she sighed. "Maybe some other time," she added with a wink as she rose and exited the room.
Harry simply shook his head at the woman. He had quickly understood that Tonks was a flirty kind of person and it was just one of those other things about her he would have to learn to handle.
A/N
Next up: An irate Lucius arrives at Hogwarts, Harry finally meets his younger brother and spends more time with Tonks and maybe the first task if the chapter length allows it.
Please do check out my and ko-fi pages where I am posting my own works. There is currently a competition/giveaway on the ko-fi page also. (Details of both can be found on my profile)
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1.A Hedwig statue from the noble collection
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5. UK print Harry Potter books
And much more.
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