STERLING, NOT GOLDEN
I'm seventeen, Harry thought mentally, shifting to find a better and more comfortable position on the Infirmary bed. In truth, he'd been seventeen for nearly a week. July had come and gone, the lay of the world completely opposite in comparison of how the month had begun to how it had ended.
He was no longer speaking to Ron, his best mate. The gulf of the anger that had come between them in the two weeks since... since… well, since he'd made his discovery had torn their friendship apart. Even with the knowledge that he hadn't been completely in control of his actions, Harry couldn't shake the anger that bubbled inside. And that moved him directly to Hermione.
Hermione had slept with Ron. Again, she hadn't been in control of herself, but the pain of what had happened was still too raw for Harry to consider anything other than his feelings of betrayal. That meant that instead of being promised as he intended by his birthday, they were no longer together. They were over.
Wishing he could escape Madam Pomfrey's watchful and near tyrannical care, he settled further into the pillow behind his head and considered all that had happened.
Slytherin's locket had been stolen and left at Grimmald Place… a coincidence that staggered the imagination, but one he and Tonks would never had guessed at but for the information that had come from the most unlikely of allies: Draco Malfoy.
Draco had called on a cell phone to one left for Harry, apparently hidden at the Black home by none other than Severus Snape, the former professor of Hogwarts and the wanted murderer of Albus Dumbledore. The platinum-haired git had not had many answers, mostly only bringing more questions, but he did have the location of two of the horocruxes Harry had been seeking.
It had taken nearly no time at all to find the locket in his very own home and then to sneak out on a quick jaunt to Diagon Alley, or more specifically to Knockturn Alley, and then a highly illegal breaking and entering of Borgin and Burkes to find the Hugglepuff Cup.
Harry, Malfoy and Tonks had then studied the two fragments of Voldemort's soul, the immediate danger of such dark and evil influence so nearby, that they'd resorted to dark magics themselves to finally lend to the eventual discovery of a spell that had destroyed the two horocruxes.
He chucked without any mirth at the simple thought, though the actual horror of the spell was something that had lent to many nightmares since. The spell had been cast, a mere four days ago… the resulting backwash of energies nearly ripping Grimmald Place in half… the wards created by Dobby the only thing that helped contain the magical atomic bomb that they'd set off.
The dungeons and underground levels of his home were in ruins, the very foundation of the house now shifted in such a way that Tonks had worried that the house would fall within a year, two at the very outside most. Draco had agreed, though thought months rather than years was the closer and safer estimation. But that was just a house, a place to live. The really scary part was what nearly occurred to the three of them.
Harry had tried to throw up a shielding spell over them, to keep them safe, but the result of the two objects breaking at once (a really stupid idea, by the way) had been just too much. Hell, just one might have been. In any case, all Harry had done was give a momentary pause to the coming storm giving the others a chance to do something.
He'd had expected Tonks to throw herself into the danger, their new and precarious relationship enough that she'd acted in a way that Harry thought foolish, but he hadn't been able to stop her. No. Tonks had grabbed Harry by the back of his shirt and had thrown him to the floor, her own body pressed over him in the hopes of protecting him with her body.
It was a move that was both heroic and ultimately futile.
Harry closed his eyes as the wave of guilt ran through him at what it would have done to him to lose her, a burden he wasn't sure he would have been able to live with, yet one he didn't have to consider. Instead, Draco Malfoy have proven his worth and loyalty, much as Ron had during the chess game in search of the Philosopher's Stone, and had called for Dobby.
That the house elf had answered his former master was in of itself a miracle, but he had. In any other instance, the magical explosion would have destroyed all four of them, but the circumstances ha luckily been stacked in just the right order. Dobby was Harry's elf, freely chosen by the diminutive hero, as well as the bonded elf of the Black Manor. In saving the House and Harry's life, the elf had been taxed near to his limits but had been able to overcome.
So, Grimmald Place still stood, though severely weakened. All wards, charms and protections ripped away in that moment… the Floo connection torn away. Dobby had fallen unconscious. Harry and Tonks had suffered severe magical exhaustion, his own much worse at having tried to withstand the waves of dark energies.
In fact, the only one that could still walk had been Draco, who had taken on the role of their immediate protector and nursemaid, doing tasks that Harry had always thought the Slytherin would consider beneath him, nursing them back to health.
Two days afterwards, Tonks had awoken and immediately began aiding Draco in helping to restore him. When that had failed, Tonks had decided to risk Hogwarts, which ended with how things currently stood, Harry laid up in his usual bed at the Infirmary under the school nurse's care, while Draco stood watch at the doorway. Tonks refused to leave his side.
He must have yawned, because a soft laugh caused him to flutter his eyes open, the blurry image of Tonks resting in a chair, obviously transfigured to be more comfortable, her feet up on his bed, came immediately into sight. He didn't have even a chance to ask anything before she stood and set his glasses in his hand, her soft lips pressing a kiss upon his forehead.
"Awake again, sleepyhead?"
Unable to stop it, he smiled, the warm feeling of her watching over him filling the emptiness that was usually there in the mornings. "I guess so… though a nap sounds like a nice idea." He wiggled his eyebrows. "Want to join me?"
"A laugh from the other side of the room interrupted anything Tonks might have responded with. "If you're well enough for that, I think you're well enough for us to consider getting out of here."
Harry ignored the slight blush on Tonks' cheeks as he sighed loudly. "You're just jealous…"
"Dan right." Draco drew closer, his image finally coming into view from around the privacy curtains that had been put up. "Any guy that can get a girl that can look like anybody…" he smiled at the teasing joke he'd thrown at them once he'd learned they were sleeping together. "Always wanted to have a go at a few classmates."
Tonks visibly shuddered. "Even if we weren't related by blood, Draco… eewww."
Draco smiled, something Harry never thought he'd be a part of. "Too true… and besides, I don't think I'd like to take anything that had been Potter's. Not unless I took it from him."
Harry rolled his eyes at the look Tonks gave him. Sitting up, grimacing at his need for her to help him. "So… to completely change the subject…" He smiled at the grateful look in her eyes. "Has McGonagall said anything more?"
The young man standing at the foot of his bed crossed his arms over his chest. "You mean after she stormed out of here in a huff because you and Tonks told her to leave me alone and not call the aurors? Not really. No. Haven't seen her."
"We really need to get out of here." Tonks sighed. "And while I believe that she won't call the aurors, she will have spoken to the Order."
Harry nodded as he turned and pulled the blanket off of him. Reaching for his clothes that were left for him next to the bed, he ignored the grin on his lover's face at his state of undress but for underclothes and started pulling his shirt on over his head.
Draco sighed, his gaze turning to look at the doorway. "Where are we going to go?"
He stood and stepped into the jeans Tonks had brought and brought the zipper up. "Not sure, really. What are our options?"
The other boy shrugged as the woman's hair changed to a dirty blonde and her skin tanned… an American tourist… Californian, maybe… and switched her gaze between the two young men. "Well, the paperwork finally arrived that I've been suspended as an auror…" She shot Harry an apologetic look. "Skipping work for two weeks does that."
Harry nodded as she continued. "Grimmald Place is out… Malfoy Manor is so not an option…"
"How about Godric Hollow, Potter?"
He looked over at Malfoy. "What? Why there?"
The blonde-haired boy pinched the bridge of his nose as he shook his head. "I am so ashamed that you ever beat me at anything… you never think. We could camp there… you have plenty of galleons and I have a few…"
"I have some, as well." Tonks offered.
Draco nodded. "See? We can rough it while you finish getting up to snuff and all the while we can plan the next move, maybe find that last one of the…" he paused, looking around. "Well… you know."
Harry nodded and started to agree, when a commotion towards the front door of the Infirmary brought all three of their heads around in surprise and worry. Draco cursed under his breath as he quickly moved over to somewhere behind Harry and grabbed his cloak, pulling the hood up high. Tonks shifted fully into a very matronly look… gray hair and everything… and moved away from the immediate vicinity of his bed. Sighing, Harry sat on the edge of the bed and started pulling o his socks and trainers.
Madam Pomfrey rushed out of her office at the sudden noise disrupting her domain. He waved cheekily at her crossed look at his getting dressed, but rather than scold him for disobeying her orders, moved instead towards the source of the noise.
Ignoring a wave of fatigue, angry at how week he was truly feeling, he cocked his head to the side as he listened to the cacophony still approaching. Though he couldn't make out any distinct voices just yet, the falling feeling in the pit of his stomach warned him that he knew anyway who at least one, most likely two were going to be.
Deciding to keep his gaze at the task at hand… tying his shoes, he took a steadying breath as Pomfrey had obviously failed to cower anyone from entering and the sounds of footsteps neared. There was a hard intake of breath, the footfalls all coming to a standstill, forcing him to finally look up… he hoped the schooled face he had erected withstood the coming confrontation.
Eight people waited there, all of their faces running through the spectrum of possible emotions. Remus looked worried, his eyes haunted. The headmistress looked angry, her eyes only resting on Harry for a moment before moving about the room to find his two constant visitors. Arthur and Molly Weasley both seemed to match, their faces stern in disappointment. Ron was there… Harry had to push down the negative feelings that wanted to break loose. His face looked hopeful, albeit scared.
Net to them was a very irate Pomfrey, her clipped tone admonishing them all for barging into the Infirmary, as well as a few unkind comments towards Harry for being dressed and looking ready to leave. Ginny was there, though her face was carefully masked. He only wanted to nod at that. She was being held back by her brother, Bill, who looked both pissed off and concerned all at the same time.
But it was the figure in front of them all, the one he dreaded the most and had wanted the least that held his gaze the longest. Hermione was crying, her skin pale. She even looked thin, like she wasn't eating. Harry hated the fact that the idea of her wasting away tugged at his heart, even after everything.
"Harry?" Her voice was brittle, rough, almost as if she had grown accustomed to not talking very much. There was a whisper in her words, a carry over of… something… Harry tried to place it, but lacked the time to worry it out.
Standing, Harry reached to the table next to the bed and started picking up his personal items and placing them in their carefully arranged spots. The wallet went in the back left pocket, while the locket that had been a fool's quest on his and Dumbledore's last mission went over his head, carefully placing it under his shirt. Coins and other knickknacks went in his front jeans' pockets… leaving only his wand that he carefully set in the wrist holster that Tonks had given him for his birthday.
He'd still not responded, but that seemed not to matter, as his ex-girlfriend drew closer, hesitantly. "Harry? Are you sure you should…?"
"Should what?" He was proud that his voice was strong. "Leave?" He nodded. "I have things to do… I can't just sit here."
"Hey…" Harry knew that his eyes had grown cold at Ron's attempt to bridge the gap between them. He had to take yet another deep breath before he could face him. "No, Ron. Not now. Not yet. Maybe later… I don't know…"
"We just want to help, Harry…" Molly's voice was full of anguish.
Harry looked past Hermione, the guilt of hurting the only woman to ever be a mother to him almost causing him to give in. Almost. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Weasley. I am. Trust me that I know about all that's going on, but the plan for me has always been to… well, take care of a few things this summer."
"Isn't there any way that we can help, Harry?" Arthur hugged his wife. "Perhaps the Order…"
He was already shaking his head. "No. I'm sorry, but no."
"And you think you can do this on your own?" Professor McGonagall spoke then, bringing up the arguments she had proverbially slapped them with upon first arriving. "Poppy says you were near to burning out your magic when you first arrived… as it is, its still a miracle that you're up and better, though we all know you're not as well as you'd like the rest of us to believe."
"You can't do this alone, Harry…" Hermione's voice was pleading, her eyes begging. "I have to… we need to help you."
Harry finished putting his belt on around his pants as he straightened his shirt, a white tee shirt with a yellow smiley face in the middle, another gift from Tonks. "Is that what you want to talk about? What I have to do?"
She flinched. Hermione was suddenly unsure about anything to do with Harry. "I-I… well, uhm… I need you safe… you need to be safe." Tears started erupting from her eyes even harder. "B-but if you…"
He waved his hand dismissively as he shook his head. "No. You're right." She jumped to the wrong conclusion as relief flooded her face and she took another step closer, but he stepped back, keeping the distance between them.
"Harry?"
"Hermione," Harry looked over to see Tonks, still looking like someone's grandmother, carefully trying to not watch the conversation but failing. The hooded Draco was nowhere to be seen… hopefully a strong obfuscation charm at work. He looked back into Hermione's brown eyes. "I have help doing what I need. You and Ron don't have to worry about skipping seventh year."
"What!" Chorused out from all of the adults in the room, the majority of the glares aimed at Ron, though Ginny was staring at him and the Headmistress at everyone.
"Mum, look…" Ron had his hands out in front of him in a weak attempt of fending off her approach. "We had to help 'em…"
"Not finish school!" The Mother Weasley's face was flushed. "That you'd consider something so stupid… on your own… education is too important… and when… when were your father and I going to be told?"
"A note after we'd left." His answer was almost too quiet to be heard.
Molly looked ready to start again, but Arthur pulled her back, the words "later" and "we'll take care of it" mixing in with her curses.
"And you Miss Granger?" The transfiguration professor asked from the back of the assorted group.
Hermione's gaze never left Harry's. "I was going wherever Harry was. "I still would, if he'd let me."
There was a question to Harry in her answer, her eyes pleading. He so wanted to give in… to redo the past two weeks, but that wasn't possible. Even with a perfect time turner, things would have played differently. He would have been at the Burrow… completely missing the cell phone call from Draco. They wouldn't have destroyed the two horocruxes… and he wouldn't be with Tonks.
Tonks versus Hermione. What was the comparison between the two?
The various similarities and differences ran through his mind. Hermione represented the idea of the school romance and ideal normalcy of a best friend turning lover finally turning into his wife. She had been his rock, his conscious and his confidant… his best friend. She had been everything he'd ever wanted… then.
Tonks was the now. She was older, though her attitude and outlook made her sometimes seem younger. She was fun and made no demands, allowing for whatever was to happen to happen. There was no planning… nothing long-term. Why worry about the future when death was chasing after you?
Harry sighed as he looked over at where Tonks was standing. Idly, he noted that McGonagall had already deduced who the old woman was… and Remus… his eyes had gone completely amber, wolf coloured… something Harry had learned meant the older wizard was using some of the benefits of being furry once a month. Tonks had told him one night that he was never fooled by her shape changing, while the look could be completely different, her smell always stayed the same.
He met Remuis gaze for a moment before pulling forcefully away. "Tonks?" He called out to her. "We need to go."
The older woman jerked in surprise as Harry called her name, revealing her disguise. She gave him an admonishing look as her features melted down to her "usual" appearance, her skin pale and her hair spiked up and bubblegum pink.
Most of the room seemed to start at realizing the former auror and Order member (was she still?) was there. Harry smiled sadly at Hermione, ignoring her questioning glance as he walked past her and reached out for Tonks' hand. He saw the look of surprise and then the rush of red in her cheeks for a brief second before her hand met his halfway. Once their fingers were intertwined, he started pulling her towards the door, ignoring all of the sudden talking and shocked looks on everyone's faces.
Calling over his shoulder, he barely glanced at the rest of the room. "Are you coming? We're leaving… it was your idea, after all."
No one was quite sure whom he was talking to, Hermione almost taking a step to go after him, the idea that he was calling her almost too much to hope for, even after seeing the looks shared between Harry and Tonks… a look that broke her heart in away that she had thought no longer possible, when a cloaked figure suddenly pulled away from the shadows and moved silently after them.
Everyone stood still, shocked again, until finally even the sounds of their footsteps began to fade. Hermione woke up from her stupor, her thoughts shooting in a billion different directions at once, as she started to give chase, but Remus caught her around her waist.
"No… let me go! Harry! HARRY!" She screamed, her voice echoing off the stonewalls.
Remus wasn't sure what to feel, the coldness of a loss he never expected in his heart at watching Harry take Tonks' hand and then leaving. Hermione fought him, her nails digging into his arms as he held her tight, until she slumped down, her body limp.
He quickly picked her up and carried her to the bed Harry had just vacated. Immediately, she turned her head and pulled the pillow close, inhaling deeply. "It smells like him…"
She seemed to break down almost immediately after that statement. Remus sat on the edge of the bed while Poppy jumped into action and moved to grab a calming draught for the poor girl. Ron was silently and quietly arguing with his parents, the announcement that the Golden Trio had planned to skip their seventh year still raw in his parents' ears.
His gaze met Bill's, the eldest Weasley son hugging his sister. Silently, no words spoken, the two seemed to be asking each other the same thing…
What the hell is going on?