A/N
These really are coming together quickly. Shout out to my muse for remaining strong.
TBR
Chapter 7: The Yule Ball
It was with a slight hesitance that Nymphadora Tonks entered the waiting room in the office belonging to her parents. Her father had opened their practice a few years after she had been born and had worked his way up to be a well-respected lawyer over years, supported by her mother who was as sought after in the field herself. It was not however a matter of legalities that brought the metamorph here today but one of a more personal and pressing nature.
The Yule Ball was just over a week away and the woman had found herself in quite the quandary: She needed advice on what to wear.
Other than the burden of fashion, things had returned to be almost what they were before the announcement of the ball and the article in the prophet. On a daily basis she would spend time with Harry, practicing magic or showing him around the castle, something he no longer held reservations doing since he could now politely decline would be suitors by explaining that he had indeed found himself a date for the ball.
Word on that had spread quickly. Most had taken the news well where others had been displeased. Many had expected that he would escort someone for political purposes and those that perceived to have been snubbed were vocal in their displeasure of his decision. She was a half-blood, and for her to be chosen over them, was seen to be quite the insult.
Not that any would dare say as much to Harry directly. His performance against the dragon certainly dissuaded any from potentially provoking his ire.
Nymphadora herself had been elated that he had asked her, at first. She cared little for the childish whisperings nor the hushed remarks about her, she had endured that, but shopping for a dress was a whole new thing and she had no idea where to even begin.
It had taken some time to gather the courage to approach her mother for assistance on this, and with only days remaining before the ball, she found herself here.
"Nymphadora?" her mother questioned with a slight frown from her open office door.
Tonks gave her a smile and entered before closing the door behind her.
"Hello, Mum," she greeted her with a kiss on the cheek and proceeded to take the seat opposite.
Andromeda shook away the bemused look as she followed her daughter's lead and sat in her own chair.
"You're in a better mood than the last time we saw you," she observed.
Tonks released a deep breath as she nodded.
"I'm sorry. I was just so confused with a lot of things," she briefly explained.
Andromeda smiled understandingly.
"So, everything is okay now?" she pressed.
"Better than it was," Tonks confirmed.
Andromeda sighed lightly as she looked upon the girl. She seemed much happier than she had been; her hair was back to its' usual vibrancy and she wasn't so upset, but something was bothering her.
"What's wrong, Dora?" she asked. "You never visit me here so it must be important."
"I need your help but you have to promise that you won't overreact or jump to conclusions," Tonks all but demanded.
"I won't," Andromeda agreed.
Tonks scrutinised her through narrowed eyes before shaking her head slightly.
"I need you to help me find a dress," she mumbled.
"A dress?" Andromeda returned with a frown.
Tonks nodded.
"Harry asked me to be his date for the ball. As friends," she finished firmly as Andromeda's eyes lit up.
It took a moment for the older woman to compose herself.
"Of course, I'll help you, sweetie," she offered. "What sort of dress were you thinking of?"
"I have no idea," Tonks sighed. "I've never bought one before."
Andromeda failed to hide her grin.
"Well, buying a dress is difficult and it will be much harder for you," she replied apologetically. "You could wear any dress you want to because you can change to suit it," she explained.
Tonks groaned at the enormity of the task ahead.
"It's okay," her mother comforted, "we can make it easier. What colour robes is he wearing?"
"He said his are black and green," Tonks answered.
Andromeda nodded thoughtfully.
"And what are you planning for how you're going to look?"
She took hold of one of her red locks and shrugged.
"I think I might tone it down a little," she revealed shyly.
Andromeda frowned.
"Tone it down?" she asked, surprised.
Tonks nodded.
"He saw me when I was having trouble with my morphing. It's the only time he mentioned how I look," she muttered.
She took a heavy breath.
"He said that's how he sees me anyway. It wasn't my natural form but not so far off."
Andromeda gave her daughter a sad smile.
"Dora, if he's never spoken about how you look then it clearly doesn't matter to him. You should always be how you feel comfortable."
Nymphadora opened her mouth to speak but closed it soon after and sighed.
"I'm more comfortable like this," she replied as she pointed to herself. "I've been this way for so long that I don't think I can be any other way. Not around other people."
"Then be whatever you're comfortable with," Andromeda advised. "If you're not sure yet, then black will be your best option for a dress, it will go with any colour you choose to have."
"Okay, so where do we start?"
Andromeda simply beamed as she pulled her daughter from her chair and dragged her from the office.
(BREAK)
Harry hissed a stream of parseltongue as he threw his egg against the wall, beyond furious at the implications of what was to come. It had taken the better part of the past two weeks for him to figure out the clue. He had attempted translations spells, he had tried to decipher the Arithmancy behind the magic of the egg and he had even tried to damage it in his moments of anger, but to no avail.
His breakthrough came only when he pondered exactly what it was he was trying to do. It was a language he was hearing, of that he had no doubt, the difficulty was identifying it. A standard translation spell theoretically should have worked but it had done nothing. The only other possibility was that it was a language that needed certain conditions to be heard. That had led him to the library which had yielded almost nothing. Strangely enough, it was Charlie that had mentioned that Barty Crouch was famous for his linguistic talents which had set Harry on a different path, one more fruitful. After all, if Barty was a master at employing different tongues, then it was only logical that he was the key to solving this task.
After a brief conversation with Aunt Cassie, Harry had obtained a copy of Wizarding Nobility: Who's Who in Magical Britain. The list of languages the man was fluent in was exhaustive but for the most part could be ruled out. He had been left with three possibilities and it hadn't taken him long to deduce which one it was; Mermish. He knew that there was a colony of them in the lake and it made perfect sense.
Immediately he had filled the bath and placed the egg under the water before opening it, sighing in relief as words he could understand spilled from it. After listening to the verse several times, he'd spent several minutes deep in thought before his angry outburst.
There was absolutely no way they could take anything that he treasured, let alone what he treasured most. He certainly would not part with his wand and anything else he held dear was in his trunk under several curses and parseltongue passwords. That left only one option and that did not sit well with him.
"How dare they?" he spat.
It was bad enough that he had been placed into this tournament against his will and now it seemed that they would be dragging other unwilling people into it. That did not sit well with the teen.
He was pulled from his thoughts by a knock on the door.
"Harry?" Sirius called, "are you okay?"
Harry took a few calming breaths before unlocking the door and exiting the bathroom.
"I've figured out the egg," he sighed.
"What is it?" Sirius asked with a deep frown.
Harry shook his head.
"They are going to take someone I care about and put them under the lake. I will have one hour to rescue them," he explained.
Sirius nodded as he rubbed his eyes.
"That doesn't surprise me," he muttered. "Don't worry, we will keep everyone on guard the week leading up to it. We won't let them take any of us."
Harry nodded.
"Now I just need to think of what I will do during the task. Gillyweed is an option but so is Transfiguration," he mused aloud.
"Well, you have time to think about it," Sirius pointed out. "Knowing you, you'll come up with something ridiculous," he added amusedly.
"I have a few things worth looking into," Harry replied coyly. "For now, I'm just going to focus on getting the ball over with."
"Ahh, you'll have fun," Sirius dismissed. "I'm still surprised you asked Tonks after what happened with the article."
Harry shrugged.
"It doesn't matter what I say or do," he sighed, "they'll always have something to say. At least this way I'm going with someone I know and not someone trying to cosy up to me for political reasons."
"That's how most will see it when you arrive with her, Harry. They will say that she is using you to get in with the Blacks or that Andromeda has put her up to it," he explained.
"Then let them think that," Harry returned, "I know that's not true and that's all that matters."
Sirius smiled at his son.
This was one of the things he respected about Harry. He truly had no care for what anyone else thought and did what he wanted to despite what others would say and think. When he had been younger, he was quite the opposite, always willing to please and do whatever he had to to earn the approval of others. Over the last few years, that had changed. He focused much more on himself and only those he truly cared for. He was no longer the pliant, abused and meek boy he had rescued; he was on his way to becoming a man that Sirius was proud of.
(BREAK)
Leo took a deep breath of fresh as he exited the castle, the first time he had done so in almost nine days. For the most part, he enjoyed working under the tutelage of Cassiopeia Black but he could not deny that she had a very high level of expectation from him. Day in and day out, she would put him through his paces just as much as his former instructor at school did, though they were much more averse to using the same measure Aunt Cassie employed to motivate him.
That aside, he was enjoying every moment of it. He had a gift for battle magic and the tuition in what most would consider darker aspects, was proving to be similar.
Today however, was a well deserved and needed day off, for the most part. He still had to secure a date for the ball much to his own annoyance. He had hoped that Harry would drop the subject now that he was taking Tonks but it had only served in having his friend remind him daily. Not that he discussed it with him but the look of expectancy he received every morning at the breakfast table was more than enough to get the message across. Thus, he found himself outside hoping that he would find a suitable girl to take and not make a complete fool of himself. He knew less about the opposite sex than Harry and the boy was clueless to a fault.
He shook his head as he walked in the direction of the forest, thinking that maybe some time with Rasputin would inspire him, though he doubted it. That creature wouldn't have a clue on how to woo a female.
He was passing the entrance to the Quidditch stadium when his attention was grabbed by a commotion by the gates. A large group of students in robes with a green trim were harassing a smaller assembly in red and gold. Identifying the two redheaded twins made him want to continue on his way but the blonde at the front of the other group had him pausing. The redheads were irritating but the Malfoy boy was nothing but a bully, just like his father.
Noticing that the exchange was soon to get rather unpleasant, he pushed his way through the larger and placed a firm hand on the shoulder of the boy.
"Ahh, Draco, I'm pleased to see that you're doing much better. Please do thank your father on my behalf for his generosity. I didn't get the chance to myself as he didn't seem to keen on being in my presence any longer than necessary."
The boy flinched, his face flushing immediately a purple colour.
"What is he talking about Draco?" a dark haired, rodent-like boy questioned.
"Oh, did he not tell you? Lucius Malfoy was very pleased that I saved his son's life and even rewarded me with a rather tidy sum," Leo explained enthusiastically. "You don't need me to save you again, do you?" he added malevolently as he drew his wand.
By now, Draco was trembling in fury but shook his head, paling slightly as the wand was pointed in his direction.
"No," he ground out.
"Shame," Leo sighed. "Best you all run along before I decide to start saving you all."
Most of them were wary but one stepped forward, older than the rest but who wore a mask of fury.
"You filthy mudblood," he hissed as he reached for his wand, only for a sickening crunch to be heard as a left hook from Leo clattered against his jaw.
The boy collapsed in an unmoving heap causing the rest of his housemates to take a step back and look on in shock at what had become of him.
"How clumsy," Leo commented. "I think you should probably get him to the hospital wing. That was quite a nasty fall," he added as he gestured to the two biggest of the group flanking the Malfoy boy.
They nodded dumbly as they picked their fallen comrade up between them and the group disappeared without another word.
"Did you really get money from Lucius Malfoy for cursing his son?" the voice of one of the twins broke in.
"Aye," Leo confirmed. "He wasn't happy at first but when he saw it from my point of view, he was rather inclined to reward me."
The two redheads began whispering amongst themselves excitedly.
"We could have handled them, you know," Angelina huffed.
Leo snorted.
"Twelve against five in your position would not have ended well for you. You would have been overwhelmed and you had no solid defence. That on top of the fact that you are already fatigued from training would be a disaster to even try it," he explained with a shrug.
"Oh, I didn't really think of it like that," the girl replied with a thoughtful frown.
"When in a fight, you should always consider your advantages and disadvantages," he said firmly. "If the odds are against you, find a way out and fight another day."
"That's just being a coward," Alicia returned.
"That's being smart," Leo countered. "You can't win if you're dead."
"I suppose not," Alicia conceded. "Why did you step in then? It didn't increase our odds."
"Because I had the advantage over their leader. He is a fool but not so much a fool to try to attack someone he has been bested by, not so openly at least. He will leave that to his idiot of a father, lass," Leo answered.
"Fair enough," Alicia agreed reluctantly.
Leo simply shook his head and began heading towards the forest once more.
"Oi," one of the twins called, "did you teach our brother a spell to stick us together?"
Leo fought down his smirk as she shook his head.
"Me? Now why would I do that?" he asked, not able to hide his grin any longer.
"Well, if you did then I guess that this makes us even," the other broke in. "We were looking forward to pranking you."
Leo smiled challengingly at the pair.
"I would advise against it. I've spent a lot of time with Sirius Black, one of the infamous Marauders," he revealed with a wink, leaving two wide-eyed twins in his wake as resumed his walking.
He had only managed a few steps when he realised that he was being followed. He turned to find one of the girls approaching him wearing a nervous smile.
"I just wanted to apologise," she began. "I did try to look for you but I didn't know where you would be."
"Apologise?" Leo asked with a frown. "What for?"
"For talking about Ireland before," Katie clarified. "I recognised your accent and thought hat was where you lived."
Leo shook his head as he remembered the conversation.
"Think nothing of it, lass," he insisted. "Aye, I am from there but things weren't ever good so I moved on. Not your fault," he added with a smile of his own.
Katie breathed a sigh of relief and turned back towards the four teammates waiting for her.
"Hold up," Leo called as he followed. "Aye, I know this is out of the blue and late," he said sheepishly, "but would you already have a date to this ball thing?"
Katie blushed slightly as she shook her head in response.
"No, I was just going to go home for Christmas. Most boys don't like that I am better than them at Quidditch and being a half-blood doesn't really help," she explained.
"Well, I'd like to take you, if you don't mind?" Leo replied. "Only if it won't ruin Christmas for your family."
Katie smiled as she nodded.
"I'd like that," she replied. "You will have to put up with those two though," she added as she pointed at Fred and George over her shoulder with a thumb.
"Aye, a price worth paying," Leo answered. "Do you already have a dress?"
Katie shook her head.
"No, but I can come up with something."
"Nonsense, lass. I sprung this on you, the least I can do is take you to get one. You don't mind sneaking out for a bit, do you? I'm sure we can find us a shop somewhere," he offered.
Katie laughed.
"You're taking me to the ball and you want to get me a dress? Where's the downside?"
"Aye, seems like the right thing to do," Leo answered with a thoughtful frown. "Best you explain to them where we are going. I don't need the gingers or the other two out for my blood."
Katie smiled as she almost ran back to the others. After a quick exchange with the two girls she returned as Fred and George gave Leo a thumbs up from behind her whilst Alicia and Angelina gazed at him warningly.
"Ready?" Katie asked breathlessly.
"Aye," Leo answered as he offered her his arm, not mentioning the fact that she was still wearing her training gear from Quidditch practice.
(BREAK)
After almost six hours of shopping in which she tried on more dresses than she thought even existed, a thoroughly fed up Tonks arrived at the Black rooms. Sirius was lounging on the sofa and Harry was studying an old tome at the table. With a frown she approached the latter and flicked him on the ear, eliciting a yelp of shock from the unsuspecting boy.
"Ow, what was that for?" he questioned as he rubbed away the sting.
"I spent my entire day trying on dresses, being dragged from shop to shop and treated like my mother's personal dress up doll," she growled.
Sirius snickered but silenced quickly when Tonks glared in his direction.
"How is that my fault?" Harry asked.
"It isn't," Tonks sighed, "but you invited me to the ball so I'm blaming you."
"If you remember correctly, I told you to wear whatever you're comfortable in," Harry pointed out.
Tonks shrugged.
"I'll blend in more if I wear a dress," she replied.
Harry shook his head as he grinned.
"I've got someone for you to meet," he informed her.
Tonks frowned.
"Who?"
Instead of answering, Harry hissed and a large, black snake emerged from within his sleeve, startling the girl into taking a hurried step back and tripping over her feet.
"This is Mira," he introduced as he stroked its' head.
"You bloody idiot, I almost wet myself," Tonks scolded him, eying the reptile warily.
Harry chuckled.
The snake reared up and hissed loudly. Whatever it said caused Harry to flush and speak back rapidly.
"What did she say?" Tonks questioned, alarmed that the creature actually looked amused.
"Nothing," Harry returned quickly.
"Nothing?" Tonks asked in disbelief.
Harry hissed again and shook his head.
"She said that she can smell you on me," he muttered.
Sirius guffawed from his position on the couch as Tonks blushed a brighter pink than Harry.
"Not like that you disgusting pig," Tonks growled. "Oh, you had better be free on Boxing Day. Mother has invited you for dinner," she revealed with a smirk. "You'd better be ready to grovel."
Sirius paled at the words, all signs of his previous amusement all but gone.
Harry laughed at the plight of his father but his own mirth vanished soon after.
"You've been invited too," Tonks continued, wincing slightly. "You don't have to go. You can just say that as the future head of the family you have to refuse because she was banished," she added hurriedly.
Harry shook his head.
"I would love to meet her," he responded with a teasing smile. "How else will I get all of the embarrassing stories of you growing up?"
Tonks was horrified that he had agreed and the thought of him speaking to her mother. The woman was certainly not shy about sharing tales of her adventures.
"There's a lot of them, I remember one time that Andi was trying to dress her and she escaped into the garden with no clothes on. We found her an hour later, asleep under a tree," Sirius piped up.
Harry snorted and Tonks glared at her older cousin.
"I'm sure mum will be happy to share a few about you too, Sirius," Tonks replied with a vindictive smile of her own.
The man shook his head and mumbled under his breath unhappily.
"So, did you just come here to hit me?" Harry asked the metamorph.
"That was the main thing," Tonks answered with a smirk. "We could always do something?"
"Like what?" he asked with a frown.
Tonks shrugged.
"As long as it doesn't involve wearing dresses, I don't mind."
"We could always duel or go out on my bike?" Harry offered.
"Your bike?"
Harry nodded excitedly as he pulled her towards his room and opened his trunk. He removed a miniature orange and black motorcycle.
"Sirius got it for my birthday," he explained. "I haven't really used it much."
"He bought you a motorcycle?" Tonks sighed as she shook her head.
"Well, he did catch me riding his once," Harry explained sheepishly. "He said he'd get me my own if I wanted one."
Tonks laughed.
"A bit of a rebel aren't you, Harry," she said approvingly.
"I have my moments," he returned as he led her from the room.
"We're going out on the bike," he told Sirius, who sat up immediately.
"Alright," he sighed. "No muggle police this time and stay away from the biker pubs. I will not be coming to get you out of a cell," he warned.
"That wasn't my fault," Harry protested. "Leo punched the guy, I tried to get him out. Besides, they started it."
Sirius raised an eyebrow at him.
"Just, behave," Sirius said sternly.
Harry nodded as the pair exited and made their way out of the castle.
"Bar fights?" Tonks questioned.
Harry shook his head.
"It really wasn't our fault," he protested. "They didn't like Leo because he's Irish. It was fun though," he added with a grin as he resized the bike and mounted it before putting on his helmet and offering Tonks another.
The engine fired into life and the woman wrapped her arms around his waist tightly, squeezing even more so as they picked up speed and left Hogwarts in the distance only a moment later.
(BREAK)
Leo quickly pulled Katie aside as the sound of an approaching bike sped towards them as they were walking through Hogsmeade. For Leo, the day had been good if not a little strange. He had expected to spend some time with his companion in the forest, instead he had ended up escorting a rather beautiful girl whilst she shopped for dresses and other things. The experience was a new one for him but he couldn't deny that he had enjoyed it. Katie was easy to talk to, down to earth and just fun to be around. He had happily waited for her as she tried on her outfits, shoes and such included. At the end of the day, the girl had walked away with two new dresses, some shoes and even a bag at his insistence. He personally couldn't think of any better way to spend Lucius Malfoy's money other than the home he would purchase at the end of the year.
There was ample money for such a thing but something he would ponder closer to the time. He was almost certain he would end up in Japan, though the feeling of being so far away from Harry did not sit well with him, being away from the rest of the Blacks for that matter.
"Here he comes," he chuckled as the bright orange bike came into view and screeched to a halt as it reached the pair.
Harry took off his helmet and looked between him and Katie as he shook his head.
"Are you going to introduce us?" he questioned.
"Katie, this is Harry," Leo sighed. "Harry, this is Katie Bell," he complied, "my date for the ball."
Harry offered the girl his hand which she took nervously.
"I can't believe he had the balls to ask you," Harry deadpanned.
Katie raised an eyebrow at him.
"What makes you think that I didn't ask him?" she retorted.
Harry smirked as he nodded.
"I like her," he declared. "Where have you been?"
"He took me dress shopping," Katie informed them, "he's been really sweet."
Harry frowned as Tonks swatted him across the shoulder.
"Why didn't I think of dragging you along," she growled.
"He offered to take me," Katie pointed out causing Leo to rub the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Aye, it was fun," he replied with a smile.
Harry shook his head.
"Now you're just making me look bad," he moaned though he was grinning. "Have you got your bike?"
Leo nodded.
"Aye," he answered as he patted his pocket. "Do you want to go for a ride, lass?"
Katie nodded nervously.
"I'm probably in for a detention already, so why not."
"No need to worry," Leo assured her. "It's Tonks that should, being on the back with him," he added as he jerked a thumb in Harry's direction. "I'll make sure you get back safe."
Katie and Tonks laughed as Harry sputtered incoherently.
"Oi, I can ride," he bit back.
"Aye, I know," Leo soothed. "I'm sure Tonks wouldn't mind you sitting behind her if you get in trouble."
Both Tonks and Harry blushed, lost for words as Leo set up his bike and helped Katie on who was giggling at the two attempting to immolate the Irish boy with their respective glares.
Leo gave the pair a grin as he took off ahead, waving at the two of them.
"I'm going to curse him," Tonks vowed.
"Aye," Harry mocked before placing his helmet back on and following in their wake.
(BREAK)
It was just before midnight that Katie returned to the common room having received a look of disapproval from the Fat Lady. Thankfully, it was empty and she made her way to the dorm she said with Angelina and Alicia unimpeded. Strictly speaking, she should be in the room above them but as they'd always had a bed free, she had opted to stay with them since first year. Even the Elves now put her trunk in the room every September.
"Where have you been?" Alicia hissed as she entered. "We had to tell McGonagall that you were asleep."
"Sorry," Katie replied. "I kind of got caught up," she said as she placed her bags on her bed.
Alicia smirked.
"So, how was it?" Angelina enquired eagerly.
Katie smiled wistfully.
"He's really nice," she answered. "We went shopping, he brought me dinner and even took me on his motorbike."
The other girls giggled.
"I think our Kate is smitten," Alicia sighed dramatically.
Katie responded by throwing a pillow at her friend as she tried to hide her blush.
"He is really sweet," she replied. "He's a little shy but he's a good guy. He didn't complain once about how long I was taking to pick a dress. He even got me back here without us getting caught."
"Doesn't hurt that he's handsome," Alicia quipped.
"Or that accent," Angelina added.
Katie's blush deepened as she shook her head and tried to hide her face.
"So, you're looking forward to the ball?" Alicia pressed.
Katie nodded shyly.
"Yeah, I really am," she answered. "I think I'm going to enjoy it."
(BREAK)
Nymphadora Tonks awoke in her old bedroom at her parent's on Christmas morning, a light tapping at her window rousing her from her sleep. Grumpily, she stood and allowed the persistent owl entrance. She grumbled under her breath as she relieved it of its' burden and sent it on its way.
Yawning, she enlarged the small sack and emptied it onto her bed before retrieving a card that was attached to one of the four parcels and read it.
To Tonks
Have a wonderful Christmas and keep an eye on those two tonight.
Love,
Sirius
She shook her head as she opened his present and marvelled at the invisibility cloak he had gifted her. It would certainly come in handy at work. She set it aside and opened the next one; a bottle of Ogden's Single barrel aged 20 years. It was a rare vintage, one they she wouldn't part with her own galleons for. There was another note, this one stack to the side of the bottle.
Tonks,
Merry Xmas, Lass.
Leo
PS; If you want to ever hear Harry sing, give him a few of these. He's not half bad.
Tonks laughed as she stored that information away for later.
She grabbed the smallest of the remaining two presents and removed the card from the front. Recognising Harry's neat scrawl, he removed it from the envelope.
Tonks,
I can't imagine you enjoying jewellery but here's something for you to wear tonight.
Thank you again,
Harry.
She frowned as she opened the parcel hesitantly. Harry was right, she had never taken to jewellery and she was not intending on wearing any tonight if she could help it.
She laughed as she tore the paper off and a wand holster fell into her lap along with another note.
This will stay invisible on your arm. Merlin knows where you would have put your wand without it.
Harry.
She shook her head in mirth as she attached it to her arm and slid her wand in. The two immediately became invisible but rematerialized when she flicked it into her hand.
"Handy," she chuckled as she reached for the final package. Noticing it was another one from Harry, she frowned. The box was larger than the others had been and significantly heavier. She opened the top to reveal a motorcycle helmet that changed colours to match her hair when she lifted. Inside the box was another note.
Dear Tonks,
Merry Christmas
Harry x
PS; The helmet has been charmed to change to whatever colour you like.
She smiled warmly as she held it. She had enjoyed her time on the bike with him, more than she thought she would have and hoped this was a promise that she would get to do it again.
It was a good start to the day though she was not sure about the rest of it. She found that when she pondered the evening to come, she was nervous, a smattering of butterflies having formed in her stomach at the thought. She didn't know if it was that she wasn't a good dancer and all eyes would be on her and Harry or the fact that she would be wearing a dress in front of them all.
She shook her head. It mattered not.
She was doing this for Harry and she would do her best to not let him down and embarrass herself in the process.
(BREAK)
Christmas day had been a relaxed affair for Harry. He had breakfast with Sirius, Cassie and Leo and he had spent some time doing some light training with the latter of the trio before having lunch with the addition of his Grandfather to the group.
Charlie had visited briefly along with his friends Ron and Hermione who had gifted Leo with a box of treats from Honeydukes, the girl thoroughly embarrassing him as she gave him a hug. He in turn had given them both a wrapped gift and asked Hermione to deliver something to Katie on his behalf.
Much to Charlie's surprise, Leo had gifted him a metal shield that turned into a bracelet when it wasn't being used and Harry had given him a book on low power curses for him to learn.
Charlie had returned the favour by giving Harry a book on the Potter Family magic and Leo a Gryffindor Quidditch shirt, smirking at him knowingly.
"She hasn't shut up about you," he sighed with a wink.
Leo had mumbled under his breath as he flushed uncontrollably.
Shortly after, the younger teens left and Harry and Leo retreated to their rooms to ready themselves for the ball.
"You don't clean up too badly," Cassie remarked as she straightened Leo's robes and fussed over him, much to Harry's amusement.
"Git," Leo muttered but did not protest against the attention Cassiopeia gave him.
Sirius grinned as he ruffled Harry's hair and followed suit.
"Now, you better be on your best behaviour," Sirius warned.
"We will," Harry sighed.
"I don't mean that, I mean with Tonks," Sirius retorted with a chuckle. "I won't have you sullying her."
Harry turned red as he swatted his father's hand away irritably.
"Shut up," he groaned. "I'm not you, you know."
"And in that, I have failed," Sirius quipped. "By the time I was your age, I'd been with a prefect from every house and even the Head Girl," he informed the horrified boy.
"I don't want to hear it," Harry yelped. "You're a bloody disgrace."
"Ahh, the words of my sweet mother," Sirius sighed wistfully. "Anyway, you'd best be off. You don't want to keep your dates waiting," he added as he waggled his eyebrows.
Harry huffed in disgust as the pair exited the room.
"Do you believe him?" Leo asked.
Harry shook his head.
"Knowing him, I'd bet my life that it's true," he grumbled as the two reached the packed Entrance Hall.
"There's Katie," Leo whispered only a few minutes after their arrival and rushed off towards the girl without bidding Harry farewell.
Harry frowned after the boy and smiled as he watched the greeting between them, both looking rather pink in the cheeks.
"Aww, aren't they cute," the voice of Tonks interrupted his observations.
He turned to face her only for his mouth to dry instantly. He had no words to describe how she looked and couldn't speak them even if he did.
Her hair had been styled to be long and wavy, falling past her shoulders and coloured a dark red. She stood taller than he was used to seeing her, the black heels matching the formfitting black dress she wore in an off the shoulder cut.
"It's too much isn't it?" Tonks mumbled, her hands fidgeting uncomfortably.
Harry steadied them with his own as he shook his head.
"No, you look amazing," he disagreed. "Beautiful," he added under his breath.
The two shared a smile before the moment was interrupted by the Scottish brogue of the deputy headmistress.
"Mr Black, Miss Tonks," she greeted them, "Please follow me to where the other champions are waiting. You are to be announced before you enter the hall," she explained.
With a shrug, the pair followed the tartan-clad woman to where Krum, Diggory and Delacour were stood with their dates. Hermione, who was surprisingly attending with Krum gave them a wave and warm smile.
"Hi Harry," she greeted him enthusiastically.
"Hello, Hermione," Harry replied. "Why aren't you quite the picture. You look fantastic," he offered sincerely, causing the girl to blush.
"You haff your date, Black," Krum broke in, absent of his usually surly demeanour, his eyes crinkling in mirth above the grin he wore.
"My apologies, Mr Krum," Harry returned. "You're a lucky man. But you're right, I do have a date. Miss Tonks could certainly do better than me as I'm sure Miss Granger could too," he added with a chuckle.
"Da," Viktor agreed. "Ve haff both done better than ve deserve."
"Can't say the same for Delacour," Harry said as he nodded towards the boy she had brought. His eyes were misted over and his mouth agape as he stared at his date vacantly.
"No control," Viktor sighed in disgust.
Harry nodded as McGonagall beckoned the eight of them forward.
"You will enter when you are called and take a seat at the table set up on the platform at the front of the room," she informed them. "You will eat and then you will open the dance. When that is done, the rest of the evening is your own."
They nodded their understanding before the woman disappeared.
Delacour and her date, Davis, were called first followed by Diggory and Chang and then Krum and Hermione second to last.
"Nervous?" Harry asked.
Tonks swallowed deeply as she nodded and Harry took her hand. Squeezing it gently he waited for them to be announced.
"And finally," an unfamiliar voice sounded, "the current leader of the Triwizard Tournament, with his date Nymphadora Tonks, please welcome, Harry Black."
"Sorry about that," Harry offered as he led her into the hall amidst the applause.
"Don't worry," Tonks replied as she smiled through her nerves under the many watchful eyes of those gathered.
When they eventually reached the table, Harry pulled out her chair for her before taking his own next to Viktor leaving Tonks sat next to Madame Maxime with the Hogwarts Gamekeeper to her on the end.
He watched how the woman ordered her desired dish and mimicked her, instructing Tonks on how to do the same.
"What's wrong?" he asked the girl noticing that she had gone quiet during the meal.
"I really can't dance, Harry," she whispered. "It's going to be bad."
Harry chuckled.
"It doesn't matter, Tonks," he assured her. "Just follow my lead and look at me and it will be over before you know it," he comforted.
She nodded appreciatively and finished her food just in time for Dumbledore to stand and tap a spoon against his goblet, silencing the room immediately.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, our champions and their partners will now officially open the Yule Ball with a dance," he announced, gesturing towards the dancefloor that had been added for the event.
Tonks smiled weakly as Harry offered her his hand, her legs trembling slightly as she followed his lead. She took a deep breath as the came to a step and looked up towards him as his hand rested on her hip. He gave her a comforting smile of his own as her fingers intertwined in his own, his grip much more certain than hers.
He had encouraged her to focus only on him and that was what she did, something she realised she couldn't avoid if she tried. His larger hand engulfing hers and his hold on her hip had sent a tingle up her spine and she couldn't help but be captivated by her eyes, his stare unwavering as he led her into the first step of the traditional waltz.
"I'm sorry," she whispered as she stepped on his toe, feeling very self-conscious.
Harry simply twirled her in a new direction.
"It's okay," he replied unflinchingly. "Forget everything else. It's only us here."
And she felt it. She had not paid any heed to the dozens of onlookers or the other champions dancing nearby. The moment he had touched her, she had been fixated on only him.
She nodded as she met his gaze once more, the warmth she saw in his now emerald orbs, spreading throughout her own chest. Her own smile formed as she lost herself in the moment, their eyes firmly fixed on one another's.
It wasn't until they bumped into another couple that the contact between them broke and she was filled with a sense of disappointment as Harry released her hand, the mandatory dance for the champions seemingly having finished.
"See, that wasn't so bad was it?" he asked.
Tonks shook her head.
She avoided dancing as a rule, much to the consternation of her mother, she had always been too clumsy to find enjoyment in it. That itself had not changed but the closeness to Harry had made it worth it, made it an enjoyable experience even. It had certainly affected her more than she thought. She had never experienced an intimacy like this and she found that she wasn't quite ready for it to end.
The disappointment at the loss of contact had been unexpected and though he only stood a foot or so away, it could have been a thousand miles and the distance would have felt the same.
She shook herself from her thoughts.
"No, it wasn't," she agreed, "How are your toes?" she questioned, hoping to change the subject.
Harry chuckled.
"All there," he confirmed. "How about we get a drink?"
Tonks nodded and took his offered arm, enjoying the feeling of closeness she had been deprived of since he had released her.
"Oh, Merlin," she sighed internally.
(BREAK)
"Look at them," Katie sighed as she watched Harry and Tonks dancing.
"Aye, both as clueless as the other," Leo agreed.
"How can they not see it?" Katie questioned exasperatedly.
They cared for each other deeply, even someone as inexperienced as she could see it and no doubt everyone else had noticed it too based on the whispered conversations and pointing in their direction that could be seen around the hall.
Leo shrugged.
"Harry has never had a girlfriend," he explained. "Maybe he just doesn't know what he's feeling."
Katie shook her head.
"Do you think they'll figure it out?" she asked.
Leo snorted.
"Aye, eventually. They'll probably need a swift kick up the arse."
Katie giggled.
"Can you dance as well as him?"
Leo smirked.
"Aye," he replied as he offered her his hand. "One of the lessons Cassie insisted we both take."
They made their way onto the rapidly filling dance floor and joined in the fray of dancing students and staff. Finding a space, Leo pulled her into his arms and began to lead her through the steps.
Katie herself was an able dancer, her own lessons as a child proving to be a useful investment of her time.
"Not bad, lassie," Leo praised.
"I'm not just graceful in the air," she replied as she spun under and then back into his arms.
He smiled at her.
"Aye, you put me to shame," he returned.
Katie shook her head as she grinned.
The two danced for an inordinate amount of time before they headed to the drinks table, the hall already significantly emptier than when they had started.
"Ahh, our two twirling pixies have returned," Fred quipped.
"The dancing duo of Hogwarts," George added.
"Quite the pair they make," Fred continued.
"Abandoned us for most of the night," George finished with a bow.
"Oh, shut up," Katie returned. "We weren't gone that long."
"An hour at least," George piped up.
"Closer to two," Fred argued.
"Enough, you two," Alicia scolded the pair as she arrived and offered Leo and Katie a butterbeer each. "Are you having a nice night?"
Katie nodded.
"We are," she answered.
"I didn't know you liked to dance so much," her teammate replied questioningly.
Katie attempted to shrug it off.
"It's okay when you have someone you enjoy doing it with."
"Well, you'd better get it out of your system, there's only a couple of hours left," Alicia said with a smirk.
Katie checked her watch and saw that it was almost ten pm.
"Some fresh air first?" Leo offered.
Katie nodded and the two left the hall into the crisp air of the Christmas night. She shuddered as the cold wind reached her and smiled gratefully as Leo cast a warming charm on her.
"Thank you," she said.
They walked around the temporary gardens, through the other revellers that had sought the outdoors and took a seat on one of the stone benches that had been added.
"Thank you for the bracelet too, you really didn't have to get me it," she added.
Leo simply smiled.
"You missed a Christmas with your family to be here," he replied, "you should at least have something to remember the day by."
"I would have remembered without it," she mumbled shyly. "I wasn't expecting to be here and the only reason I was going home was because I didn't want to be here alone."
"Aye, then we both got what we want," he grinned.
Katie nodded.
"And what about after tonight? Do we just go our separate ways?" she questioned casually.
Leo frowned slightly.
"Aye if that's what you want," he sighed. "But I wouldn't say no to spending more time with you," he added hopefully.
It was Katie's turn to frown.
"Really?" she asked disbelievingly. "Why?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Leo returned. "I like being around you, lass."
Katie shrugged.
"I play Quidditch, more than likely better than you and that's what I want to do when I finish school."
Leo chuckled.
"Aye, you're probably right there. Why would that bother me? If it makes you happy that's all that matters."
Katie smiled.
"You're not like other boys," she muttered. "The ones here are either intimidated because I'm better on a broom or don't talk to me because I'm not a pureblood," she shrugged.
"Your blood doesn't make you better than anyone else," he grumbled. "Harry is a half-blood and would wipe the floor with all the bigots here. If they can't see what a good lass you are then they don't deserve you."
Katie smiled brightly at him.
"Are you a pureblood?" she asked.
Leo nodded.
"Aye, I never knew anything about my family until recently but I come from a small pureblood family. It doesn't matter. The closest thing to a family I've got is Aunt Cassie and the rest of the Blacks," he explained.
"Aren't they, you know, really scary?" she questioned warily.
Leo guffawed.
"They are if you go up against them or piss one of them off. Old Arcturus can be a funny chap and Cassie is the closest thing I had to a mother growing up. You wouldn't know it and she'd murder me for saying it but she's got a heart in her somewhere."
"I'll take your word for it," Katie replied.
"Aye, how about we go get another dance in before this is all over?"
Katie nodded happily and the two returned to the Great Hall and straight onto the dancefloor as the slower songs of the evening began. Without hesitation, he pulled her into his arms and began swaying to the rhythm, nodding once at Harry who was dancing with a very comfortable looking Tonks.
(BREAK)
As the night drew to a close, Harry and Tonks found themselves amongst the final stragglers still within the hall and on the dancefloor, enveloped in the arms of the other. Further dancing had not been something discussed between them, it was as though they naturally gravitated towards it, each of them caught up in a daze of the festivities. As the final note of the final song faded, they pulled apart almost embarrassedly, each as sheepish as the other, each adorning a look of confusion and what appeared to be guilt as each emerged from the stupor that had befallen them this night.
"Shall we go for some air?" Harry questioned.
Tonks nodded.
"Yeah, I should head to my parent's soon. I promised mum I'd help her with dinner for tomorrow," she explained. "Are you still coming?"
"I'll be there," Harry confirmed with a smile. "I promise I won't ask for any stories of little Tonks," he added, taking note of her reticence.
"There isn't that much to tell," she replied distractedly as they made their way towards the gates, a comfortable silence falling between them.
"Thank you, for tonight," Tonks clarified as they left the grounds. "I've never done anything like this before, I never wanted to really but you made it fun."
Harry smiled warmly at her.
"No problem," he replied. "I'll remember that for the next time I'm forced into something like this."
Tonks shook her head and narrowed her eyes at him good-naturedly, her stomach sinking once more at the thought of being away from him.
"Could you do something for me?" she blurted.
Harry nodded.
"If I can," he answered.
Tonks fidgeted nervously and took a deep breath.
"Do you remember when we weren't talking and you came to see me?" she asked tentatively.
"Yeah," Harry said with a frown.
"You said that how I looked then was what my magic felt like," she reminded him. "Can you really feel my magic?"
"I said it wasn't far off," he corrected, "and yes, I can feel magic."
"And you know what people look like just be sensing it?"
It was something that she had pondered over the past couple of weeks but had no intention of mentioning, until the words were already out of her mouth.
Harry's frown deepened in thought.
"I don't think so," he mused aloud, "It's just that you change the way you look so much that I pay more attention to your magic than what you look like physically. I guess it kind of gives me an image of you in my mind," he explained with a shrug.
"Oh," she replied. "What do I look like exactly?"
Harry went silent for a moment as he looked at her and smiled before nodding, seemingly satisfied.
"I can try to show you if you like?" he offered.
"Show me?" How?" she answered nervously.
Instead of answering, he gripped her shoulders gently and closed his eyes.
"Relax your magic," he whispered.
Hesitantly, she did so and felt his own invade her body. It was a foreign yet comforting feeling, stronger than anything she had ever experienced and it engulfed her as she allowed it wash over her completely. She felt a slight stirring within her own and her body began to change, morphing, though she had no control over it.
After a moment, the feeling ended and she found herself looking into his emerald eyes as he smiled at her.
"This is what I see when I think of you and feel you near," he explained before he placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow, Tonks," he bid her farewell, his blush prominent even in the pale light the moon provided.
With that he made his way back towards the castle, leaving behind a breathless metamorph, reeling under the weight of the magic he had pushed into her.
It took her several minutes but she eventually managed to compose herself and apparate onto her parent's street and made her way into the sleepy house, both her mum and dad long since having gone to bed.
As quietly as she could, she entered the kitchen and turned on the light, pausing at the sight of her reflection in the window.
She was slightly taller than she had been when she left, her waist smaller and chest more pronounced, but it was the differences in her hair and features that were the most striking. Her hair was longer, still wavy but was now coloured a light brown. Her nose was now more delicate, her cheekbones higher and more refined and her eyes were now a light grey.
She hurried forward to get a better look, her mouth agape at the familiar woman staring back at her. It was not a form she would wear in public or even in the privacy of her own rooms. She made a point for her transformation to be the first thing she did every morning to avoid seeing what it was she now faced.
With a trembling hand, she grazed her fingers over one of her cheeks as the first tear fell. It was like looking at a stranger but an image she had known well once upon a time, though she had been younger, a victim in truth. No longer did she look as such, and was this is what he saw when he thought of her?
The voice of her mother pulled her from her thoughts as she entered the kitchen, wand drawn and aimed at her back.
"Dora, is that you, Sweetie?"
(BREAK)
Andromeda had been woken by the sound of the front door closing. She had no doubt that her daughter had tried to be quiet but she had always had a clumsiness to her that she couldn't hide. She had flicked her wand into her hand as she looked upon the woman in her kitchen. Were it not for the lighter hair and different coloured eyes, Nymphadora could easily have been mistaken for her older sister.
"It's me," her daughter whispered in response, her defeated tone spurring Andromeda into action.
Instinctively, she pulled the girl into a tight hug.
"A bad night?" she asked soothingly.
Much to her surprise, Dora shook her head after a moment.
"No," she whispered. "The opposite more than anything."
Andromeda was just as confused as her daughter seemingly was. Her strange appearance aside, there was nothing to suggest she'd had an enjoyable evening. Her confident, bubbly and vibrant little girl was nowhere to be seen, what stood in front of her was someone oozing vulnerability and uncertainty. She filled the nearby kettle and tapped it with her wand, boiling the water instantly.
"You'll have to explain, Dora. If it didn't go badly then why are you upset?" she asked as she poured out two mugs of tea.
"I'm not upset," Tonks denied. "I don't know what I'm feeling," she huffed.
Andromeda gave her a sad smile as she sat down.
"Why don't you tell me what happened?" she offered.
Tonks nodded gratefully as she joined her mother.
"I was terrified about tonight. I don't like wearing dresses and I'm awful at dancing," she mumbled. "I almost ran away during dinner because I was so scared."
"But you didn't?"
Tonks shook her head.
"Harry told me to just focus on him and not to worry. He said it would be over before I know it," she explained with a smile.
"Then what?" Andromeda pressed lightly as she took a sip from her steaming mug.
"We danced," Tonks shrugged. "I did as he said and it worked. It felt like is was just us and we ended up dancing most of the night. I didn't want it to be over," she finished quietly, worrying her lower lip.
Andromeda chuckled.
"There's nothing wrong with enjoying dancing, Dora," she pointed out.
"It wasn't the dancing, mum," she sighed. "It was dancing with him. I put it down to the occasion but I felt different than I would of if it had been anyone else."
"And was it the same for him?"
Tonks shrugged.
"I really don't know. He didn't complain," She replied uncertainly.
Andromeda nodded.
"Is that why you're feeling the way you are, because you don't know how he feels about it?"
"No, that was nice. Even if it wasn't the same for him, it doesn't matter. It's what I did afterwards," she returned exasperatedly.
"Oh, Dora, what did you do?" Andromeda sighed.
Tonks took a deep, steadying breath.
"You remember a few weeks ago when I spent the day with Harry and I found out he had to find a date"
Andromeda nodded, the memory of her daughter in the same chair very vivid.
"I avoided him for a few days and he came looking for me. It was the same night he asked me to the ball," she explained. "I was having trouble with my morphing and he said the way I looked was similar to what my magic feels like."
Andromeda's eyebrows rose. Feeling other peoples was not unheard of but a rather unique talent.
"I was curious so I asked him to change me into what he felt, and this is it," she added, motioning to herself.
"I don't see anything wrong, Dora," Andromeda sighed.
"It's me, mum," Tonks retorted. "This is what I look like when I don't morph."
Andromeda smiled as she shook her head. She hadn't seen her daughter in her natural form since she was fourteen.
"You are a very beautiful girl, Dora. With or without all the colour," she emphasised.
"I like him, mum. I really like him and I don't know what to do," Tonks admitted sadly. "I just thought it was because he was nice. He never spoke about my morphing and never commented on anything that I did and now it feels like he never even noticed it, that he always saw me like this," she added with a shake of her head.
"That is a good thing," Andromeda returned firmly. "Isn't that what you always wanted?"
Tonks nodded.
"When I was younger and I had all the problems at school because of what I am, that was what I wanted. I gave up on it a long time ago. I stopped caring and looked the way I wanted to and people started to leave me alone. Now I feel like that stupid little girl again and it's all my fault," she choked.
Andromeda pulled the girl into her arms and allowed her to vent.
"What do you mean?" she asked after a few moments had passed.
Tonks sniffed and swallowed.
"This is me, mum. I'm scared to let anyone close because I think that they'll just want me for what I am. I'm a broken mess and then he comes along and just makes everything feel better," she sighed.
"Do you think Harry would do that to you?" Andromeda questioned.
"No," Tonks replied vehemently. "But I can't have these feelings for him. He is going to be the Head of an important family. I'm just a neurotic, half-blood auror," she finished, hanging her head.
"Oh, sweetie," Andromeda whispered as she tightened her grip around her. "I wish you weren't so harsh on yourself."
"It's true," Tonks mumbled.
"Do you think what you are bothers him?"
Tonks shrugged and Andromeda sighed deeply.
"I could tell you to push it all down and hide it from the world as you have done these past five or so years. I could tell you to do the opposite and shout it for everyone in Diagon Alley. This is one of those things that you have to figure out for yourself but if I were you, I'd speak to him," she advised.
"How would I even begin to explain the mess that I am," Tonks snorted.
"If he cares even a little bit, he will listen. I had to do it with your father," Andromeda responded. "I saw the way he looked at me and how he was too scared to even talk to me."
"What did you do?" Tonks asked.
"I made him listen," her mother shrugged, "and 25 years later, we are still together."
"That's different," Tonks sighed.
"But it doesn't have to be, Dora," Andromeda returned. "You deserve a chance at happiness just like I did. But it is up to you if you want to take it. Speak to him at least," she pleaded. "If he is the boy you've told me all about, he will listen to you and it might turn out to be the best thing you ever did."
"And what if it goes wrong?" Tonks asked worriedly.
"Then you live with it, but you don't have to spend the rest of your life wondering what could have happened," Andromeda explained.
Tonks nodded her understanding.
"I'll think about it," she agreed.
Andromeda smiled as she stood.
"That's all I'm asking, Sweetie."
(BREAK)
Harry woke the morning after the ball and completed his morning workout, thinking of how the night before had gone. He had never enjoyed events like that and had been dreading attending but this had been different. He had thought having Tonks with him would have made it at least tolerable, instead, the night had been much more than he could have imagined. It had felt so right to have her in his arms whilst they moved around the dancefloor, oblivious to all around them and it had felt right that it was her that he had shared the night with.
He entered the shower and began to wash himself mechanically as his thoughts remained on the ball.
He may have been obtuse but he knew he cared for her, the few days away had been enough to make him aware of that. Last night, however, was something else though he couldn't fathom what it was that happened to make it so. It may have been the dancing; it could even have been the way she looked at him whilst they were intertwined or it could simply have been the surprise he felt that he was enjoying himself. He couldn't be certain; all he knew was that the night had left an impression on him.
He thought back to their parting moments, the usually assured girl had seemingly wilted before him, had become what he imagined he was as a young boy. She had become hesitant and made the strange request of him. He knew her ability was a double-edged blade at best but had complied with her request only so that he could see the nervousness fade. It was the one part of the evening he hadn't enjoyed at all.
He couldn't understand why she had asked it of him, her ability was not something they had ever discussed. It was not important to him; he had a picture of her in his mind and that was what he always saw when he looked at her despite her efforts to appear entirely different.
With a confused sigh, he left the shower and dressed before entering the living room where Sirius and Cassie were now eating breakfast with Leo just leaving his own room.
"Good night, boys?" Sirius questioned with a lecherous grin.
"Aye," Leo answered with a suspicious frown.
Sirius snickered as Cassie shot him a disapproving glare.
"Harry?" he asked further.
The other boy nodded as he sat and helped himself to some fruit.
"Any tales of debauchery to share?" Sirius probed.
Harry sighed as he shook his head.
"No, but even if I did have, I wouldn't tell you. Some of us actually respect discretion."
Sirius feigned a look of horror as he pointed accusingly at Cassie.
"This is your doing," he grumbled. "You turned them both into gentleman," he added mock disgust.
"You could learn something from them," Cassie replied as she buttered some bread.
"Aye," Leo agreed. "You don't really want to hear about him defiling your cousin, do you?"
Sirius choked on his coffee as he glared at Harry.
"Nothing like that happened," the teen said firmly as his eyes narrowed towards his friend.
"Aye, I know," he soothed. "I saw you leave and you were back here before me."
Harry nodded gratefully.
"How did it go with you and the lovely Miss Bell?" Sirius asked Leo, recovering from the thoughts that had bothered him only a moment ago.
"Was a good night and that is all I'm saying. She's a good lass," he replied.
Sirius shook his head.
"Boring, the pair of you," he mumbled. "If I had been there…"
"You'd be in Ministry custody?" Harry butt in.
Leo snorted over a mouthful of cereal.
Sirius huffed as he stood, looking between the teens defeatedly.
"Fine," he conceded. "Remember we are going to Andi's today," he reminded Harry.
The boy nodded before making his way to his room. He decided that he would keep his outfit smart but casual. He placed a white t-shirt, a pair of dark jeans and some trainers on his bed.
With his outfit arranged he decided that he would go for a fly to clear his head and then practice some magic when he was done.
He indulged himself in both which passed quickly and he took another shower to clean away the grime and sweat before dressing and fastening a grey parker coat, just as Sirius called him.
"Are you ready?" the man asked as he finished buttoning up a shirt.
Harry nodded knowing his father was more nervous about the visit than he was showing. He hadn't seen Andromeda in over a decade and if she was anything like Tonks, he was not in for the warmest of welcomes.
"Come on then," he sighed.
The two of them exited the grounds, the castle having been quiet for the most part, likely, the students were having a much more relaxed day after the excitement of the ball.
"Am I taking you?" Sirius questioned.
Harry shook his head.
"Show me where we are going," he instructed.
Sirius pushed the image of the street to the forefront of his mind and shuddered at Harry's mental probe. It was very subtle but it was undeniably there. He had always had the ability to unsettle any mind he entered. Thankfully, he did not use the art often if at all. It was an invasion of privacy that he refused to undertake without permission unless he felt it necessary. Cassie had taught him well.
"Got it," Harry declared before disappearing with only the slightest of pops.
Sirius shook his head before following.
He had been reluctant to teach him to apparate but he could not deny it was a necessary skill and could save his life.
He arrived and found Harry waiting for him only a few feet away.
"It's that one there," he informed him, pointing to a reasonably sized house on the opposite side of the road.
Harry smiled as he approached.
Tonks was quite a vivacious girl and it was hard to imagine her growing up in such a quiet, well-kept place.
Sirius exhaled a deep breath as he rung the doorbell and attempted to prevent himself from fidgeting.
A moment later, the door opened to reveal a middle-aged man with a slight paunch. His hair was a dark blonde, his eyes blue but his expression guarded.
"Sirius," he greeted his father stiffly. "And this must be Harry," he added, his look more wary than it had been whilst addressing his father.
Harry couldn't blame him. The man's experiences with his family in the past had not been pleasant. Pushing those thoughts aside, he stepped forwarded confidently and smiled as he offered the man his hand.
"It's nice to meet you, Mr Tonks," he greeted cordially.
Ted Tonks hesitated only a moment before gripping the younger man's hand and returning the smile.
"You too," he responded, his posture relaxing considerably. "Come in," he offered, stepping aside. "Andi and Dora are just finishing up," he explained.
"Dora?" Harry questioned with a slight frown.
Ted chuckled.
"She tolerates it," he shrugged. "I can't go around calling my daughter by my own last name."
Harry laughed.
"That's true," he replied as he removed his coat and hung it on the rack by the door.
Sirius followed suit, his eyes darting around the hall.
"She'll be pleased to see you," Ted assured him. "Eventually," he added under his breath.
Sirius steeled himself as the man led them into the living room where Tonks was sat on one of the sofas.
"What are you doing in here?" Ted asked.
"Mum kicked me out," she huffed. "I broke one of the plates."
Ted barked out a short laugh as he ruffled her hair affectionately.
"I'm surprised you lasted as long as you did," he praised. "Not to worry, you know what she's like when we have people over."
Tonks nodded.
"You're in for it," she said to Sirius who paled at the words.
Harry snickered.
"She's not wrong," an unamused voice sounded from the doorway.
Harry turned to find a very displeased woman scrutinising his father, hands on hips, her nostrils flaring. Andromeda was without doubt a Black, in looks and temper evidently.
Sirius paled even more so as Tonks was trembling in mirth.
Andromeda stalked towards him and poked the man firmly in the chest causing him to wince.
"Almost fifteen years," she hissed. "You disappear, no letter or anything. You could have been dead and I never would have known."
"Sorry, Andi," Sirius replied.
The woman rose a delicate brow at him.
"You're sorry?" she returned heatedly. "I mourned for you, Sirius. The war was over and you just never came back. What else was I supposed to think?"
Sirius nodded his understanding.
"I should have got in touch," he admitted. "I got caught up with raising Harry and everything. I am sorry."
Andromeda nodded as she pulled her younger cousin into a hug, surprising him.
"Don't ever do that to me again," she whispered.
"I won't," Sirius assured her.
Andromeda smiled as she released the man and turned her attention to Harry who had to fight the urge to not wither under her stare.
"It's nice to meet you, Harry," she said warmly as she hugged him also.
Harry returned it and noticed Tonks trying to hide in her mass of pink hair behind her mother's back.
"And you, Mrs Tonks," he replied as her daughter shook her head.
"Well, dinner is ready," she informed them. "Why don't you come through."
After the initial frosty greeting Sirius received, the meal was a relaxed affair. Andromeda and Ted were both nice people and it was easy to see that Tonks took after both in equal measure. Ted was quite a jovial man, quick-witted and very outgoing. Andromeda was much more poised than her husband but a very warm person in her own way. She doted on her daughter and even Harry, ensuring he had enough to eat. It was easy to see why the woman was his Father's favourite relative, she was nothing like the insane Bellatrix or stuffy Narcissa he had heard about growing up.
Tonks on the other hand, had been relatively subdued. Harry had put it down to them being with her parents. She shot him the occasional nervous smile but kept to herself for much of the meal.
"How about a drink?" Ted asked as he stood and made his way to one of the kitchen cabinets. "Is whiskey okay?"
"Perfect for me," Sirius declared. "Him," he added pointing to Harry, "he can't be trusted."
Harry shook his head.
Once, he had drunk whiskey with Leo when they were fourteen. The night did not go exactly as planned. He had somehow ended up singing karaoke and the pair were asked to leave after Leo had passed out, sprawled across the bar.
"You can't just let it go," he sighed. "It wasn't me that was sick on Cassie's rug."
"True," Sirius conceded, "but it was you that woke her up with your singing."
Ted laughed as Harry frowned at his father.
"Is he the reason you are looking old, Sirius?" Andromeda questioned with a smirk.
Sirius was positively affronted.
"I'm only 37," he yelped.
"You look closer to 47," the woman returned.
Sirius shook his head.
"See, you did this to me," he accused, pointing at Harry.
"And if I turned out like you, you'd look 57," Harry quipped.
"Make it a double, Ted," Sirius requested. "Or better yet, bring the bottle."
Ted shot him a look of sympathy as he poured the man a generous measure.
"Aww, it's okay, Sirius," Andromeda cooed, "I'm sure someone will take pity on you one day."
Sirius muttered under his breath and drained his glass.
"It's not for me," he replied with a shrug. "I raised him, admittedly with Cassie's help. I doubt I've got it in me again."
"I wasn't that bad," Harry protested.
"You could have been worse," Sirius conceded. "I'm proud of you, Harry. Despite my attempts to corrupt you, you turned out good."
"So, he never stole any of his relative's underwear?" Andromeda broke in.
Sirius wore a look of complete embarrassment.
"You swore you wouldn't tell," he hissed.
Andromeda shrugged.
"Who's underwear?" Harry questioned.
"Mine," Andromeda answered with a shake of her head.
"I didn't realise they were yours," Sirius replied weakly. "I thought they were Priscilla's."
Tonks laughed gleefully as Harry stood.
"I don't think I want to hear this," Harry sighed. "I knew you were bad but your own cousin's underwear. I think I need some air," he declared.
"I'll come," Tonks volunteered, her eyes still alight in mirth.
"Maybe you can show him the tree we found you under," Sirius called after them after they exited through the back door, the girl glaring at him as she closed it.
The two of them began their walk around the garden in silence, an unfamiliar tension settling. Harry had thought that it was because they were here with her parent's but as the night had wore on, it had become more discernible.
"Have I done something wrong?" he asked suddenly.
The thought that he had did not sit well with him, it reminded him of the days they were not talking.
"No," Tonks sighed. "You haven't done anything, Harry."
Harry nodded and gave her an awkward half smile.
"Then what's bothering you? Something is, I can tell," he added.
Tonks ceased her walking as she looked at him, uncertainty clear in her eyes. She exhaled, the sense of vulnerability she had felt the previous night making itself known once again.
"Can you…," she began before cutting herself off.
"Can I what?" Harry urged gently.
Tonks attempted a smile of her own.
"Can you do what you did last night? Change me," she clarified.
Harry frowned.
"Why?" he asked.
"Please?" she almost pleaded.
Harry nodded and placed his hands on her shoulders as he closed his eyes and followed the same path he had taken the night before. A few moments later, he was staring into the same light grey eyes he had seen.
"Is this how you really see me?" Tonks whispered.
"It is," Harry answered.
He took a moment to study her and nodded. She looked very much like her mother and just the way he had envisioned her in his mind.
"Why are you crying?" he asked, worried he had done something he shouldn't have.
Tonks shook her head.
"It's stupid," she replied.
"It can't be stupid if it's upsetting you," Harry countered.
Tonks gave him a watery smile as she sat on a wooden bench at the end of the garden and motioned for him to join her.
"It is," she replied with a shrug.
"I really don't understand," Harry said helplessly. "I'm sorry for whatever I did."
"It's not you, Harry," she assured him.
She hadn't planned on having this talk with him, not here, but it now felt unavoidable. She now wished that she hadn't asked.
"I tried being like this when I was younger, but it was too late," she sighed.
"What do you mean?" Harry questioned worriedly.
"When I was at school," she explained. "When I first got there, everyone wanted me to transform for them. I didn't see any harm in it and I was naïve so I did what I was asked. By the time I got to my third year, it changed. I guess the novelty of what I am wore off and they all realised what I could do. The girls hated me for it because the boys paid more attention to me than them. It wasn't me they were interested in, I was a clumsy little girl, but I could be whatever they wanted," she shrugged.
She took another breath before continuing, her eyes firmly on her feet.
"It hurt me a lot. All the girls I thought were my friends turned their backs on me and all the boys just saw me as an object. I spent most of my third year trying to be as plain as possible but that didn't work. Fourth year, I hid myself away as much as I could. By the time fifth year came, I stopped caring and used my abilities to become whatever I felt like. I hid behind them and people more or less left me alone by then but I didn't get over why that did to me, not until I left school. I thought I'd doe the right thing and even tried dating a guy. It turns out he had done it for a bet to see if I lived up to my name," she growled.
"That's why you don't like people using it," Harry broke in.
Tonks nodded.
"It reminds me of how he made me feel and what he would have done. A part of me never really got over it. All of that is why I have my hair the way I do and change the way I look. It's stupid, I know but it made me feel safe. I like the colour, it's become a part of who I am but it made me forget the rest of me," she shrugged.
"Sorry, Tonks, but I'm confused," Harry said. "All of that just means none of those people were worth it and they're not worth your tears now."
Tonks shook her head.
"I'm not crying because of them. It's because of you," she replied with a smile. "You're not like any of them and I feel like I've been lying to you."
Harry was about to interrupt but she held up a hand to stop him.
"When we first met, you said that what I was threw you off because you felt like it was a mask that I could wear to hide things," she reminded him.
Harry nodded.
"You were right, in a way it is a mask I wear and I'm sorry. What I'm saying is, I don't want to hide myself from you. This", she said as she pointed to herself, "is what I look like. I've tried to hide it for so long but you saw it anyway."
Harry took her hands in his own as a fresh wave of tears fell silently down her cheeks.
"You don't have to apologise," he comforted. "What you can do is a part of who you are and people ruined that for you. I was wary at first, I can admit that but I didn't really pay attention to what you are because it doesn't matter to me. The way I see you won't change because of how you wear your hair or how you look."
"That's what scares me," Tonks whispered. "All I wanted was for someone to see me the way that you do."
"And now you've got that," he pointed out. "What's so scary?"
She shook her head.
"I'm getting feelings for you, Harry. Not just because of all of this but everything you are. I think I was in denial until last night or just too stupid and stubborn to realise it before," she explained sadly. "I know I shouldn't but I really can't help it."
Harry squeezed her hands.
"I'm not very good at this kind of stuff," he admitted. "I've never even been on a date."
"I find that hard to believe," Tonks muttered.
"I really haven't," Harry sighed. "Apparently I'm emotionally stunted."
"Bloody good pair we make," Tonks replied with a forced smile.
Harry snorted slightly.
"I care about you, a lot, I know that much. When we weren't talking for those few days, I was miserable because I missed having you around and the thought of leaving at the end of the year and not seeing you every day isn't nice," he explained with a painful expression marring his features.
He shook his head.
"Last night, I don't know, something changed. I've never felt anything like that or how I feel when you're there. I don't know what that means but I do know that I don't want to stop spending time with you. If wanting you around me all the time and thinking about you is what it's like to have feelings for someone, then it is the same for me," he said.
"So, what do we do?" Tonks asked hopefully.
"I guess we just keep doing what we are," Harry answered with a smile.
Tonks bit her bottom lip worriedly.
"And what if doesn't work out?"
"Then we can at least say that we tried," he offered. "That won't change anything about me wanting you around."
Tonks nodded and sighed in relief.
"I'd like that," she agreed. "Thank you," she whispered before placing a kiss on his cheek.
Harry simply pulled her into his arms and enjoyed the familiar feeling from the night before of her being there.
He didn't know what would happen in the future, but the thought of having her with him made the prospect of it much more bearable.
A/N
Another one in the books.
The romance between Harry and Tonks was never going to be a sudden declaration of love, their characters are far too complex for that.
The whole Leo and Katie thing won't be a major part in the story but it will come up later on.
I have had a few messages from people asking if it is possible to enter the competition directly through . It's not something I had considered but I am more than happy to do this, so if you do want to enter, you can message me directly on here and I can give you the details. Links to my social media are of course on my profile.
Anyway, please do continue to favourite, follow and review.
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