Chapter 4 –
Harry woke up early the next morning, Tonks in his arms, and he smiled contentedly. He kissed her lightly on the forehead and she began to stir. "Morning sleepy head, time to get up." Harry said happily.
"Too early," she mumbled and snuggled closer to Harry. Just as they were both about to fall back to sleep Ron came running into Harry's room. "Harry, mum's looking around the house for you since you weren't at breakfast so I suggest you get up and get dressed before she finds you two." Harry heaved a disappointed sigh and reluctantly shook Tonks awake as Ron ran out to head off his mum.
"Tonks we've got to get dressed or Molly will go spare." She moaned and they both got out of bed. Harry saw how seductively Tonks' nightgown clung to her body. Tonks seeing Harry in only a pair of shorts stopped to stare as well. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him closer, "we shouldn't have to keep it a secret. Let her find us, she'll get over it eventually." She placed a gentle kiss on his lips and Harry felt his defenses break.
"O.k. we'll tell people but we can't let her catch us like this. We'll tell everyone tonight." Tonks nodded and they both got dressed and headed downstairs.
"There you are Harry!" Mrs. Weasley said when she caught sight of him. "There's food left in the kitchen if you're hungry. I suppose you deserved a lie in." Harry just smiled and he and Tonks headed to the kitchen for breakfast.
They were sat at the table chatting happily about quidditch when Ron and Hermione walked in and sat with them. "Morning guys," Harry said. Ron said hi back before piling his plate with food.
"Ron! You've already had breakfast!" Hermione said with a disgusted look on her face. Since she and Ron had walked in on Harry and Tonks she hadn't said one word to Harry. "Hermione, look," Harry started to say but Hermione cut him off.
"Harry, it's ok. I'm sorry for the way I reacted, I was just shocked because of your age difference but Ron convinced me how sweet you look together and I realized he was right. You deserve some happiness." She smiled a genuine smile and Harry got up and hugged her then sat back down.
"Thanks Hermione," Tonks said appreciatively. "You don't know how much this means to me." She cast a look a Harry. "How much Harry means to me." She took Harry's hand and they shared a quick kiss.
"You gonna eat that?" Ron asked taking some of the toast off Harry's plate before he could answer. They all laughed and finished their breakfast chatting about anything they could think of until Mrs. Weasley came in demanding that they all help clean the house. She delegated downstairs to Tonks and Hermione and upstairs to Ron and Harry. She strolled out of the kitchen and the other four followed grudgingly. Harry and Tonks snuck a quick kiss before getting on with their jobs.
It was mid afternoon and Harry and Ron were almost falling over from exhaustion. After barely stopping for lunch they had cleaned about 6 bedrooms, the landing and far too many windows.
"I bet they don't make any of the order do this," Ron said grumpily and Harry was forced to agree.
"So what did you and Dumbledore talk about last night," Ron asked Harry.
"You know, this and that," Harry lied. He didn't like lying to Ron but he had told Dumbledore he would keep it to himself.
"Not allowed to say are you?" Ron asked knowingly. Harry just shook his apologetically. "Don't worry about it mate, it's not like you asked to get caught up with these things it just kind of happened." When did Ron become so accepting Harry thought? Not wanting to push the matter he just got on with the cleaning and after a while they decided they'd done enough and headed to their rooms to get a shower before going to dinner.
Harry came out feeling refreshed with a towel round his waist and sore Tonks sat on his bed. He blushed and asked her what she was doing there. She laughed at his obvious discomfort. "I just came to see if you're ready to go down to dinner," she paused. "And to see if you were still happy to tell people about us." Harry hadn't thought about it all day but he decided it was the right thing to do and putting it off would only make things worse.
"Yep, I still want to." He said as he threw some clean clothes on.
"Good," she said and they kissed passionately. "You know, if things go well maybe we can leave early and come up here for desert?" she said as she nibbled his ear making Harry powerless against her. What an offer he thought to himself but he was still nervous about telling people.
"Let's just see how it goes." He said motioning that they should go down to dinner.
Hand in hand they walked into the dining room where everyone was already sat down. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were there as were Ron and Hermione and also Lupin, Dumbledore, Moody and Harry's least favourite person in the world, Snape. All their heads turned to see who had entered and it took a moment for it to register that Harry and Tonks were holding hands. There was a long silence broken only by Dumbledore, "Would you like to tell us the meaning of this?" he asked politely
"Well…" Harry said. "We've got something to tell you."
Everyone's jaws dropped in shock, all except Snape who wore nothing more than a sneer. Dumbledore's original shock turned into disappointment. "If I recall Harry, we had a conversation like this just the other day in which you passionately told me that nothing was going on between you and Miss Tonks." Harry knew what was coming next, "Am I to believe," Dumbledore said "that you lied to me Harry?" Harry knew Dumbledore would react this way but it didn't make it any easier.
"Professor" Tonks cut in, "We weren't together then. We didn't plan on this happening." Dumbledore seemed to ponder this while everyone else sat stunned at what they were hearing.
Snape looked Harry directly in the eye and said, "I see you that you still not have any sense of propriety Potter. Decided to see what your fame could get you this week?" he sneered.
Harry felt rage build up inside of him as Snape turned his attention to Tonks. "He must have made quite an impression for you to go out with him, being an underage wizard and all." Harry could sense the rebuke in his voice. "Don't be fooled by his 'charm'" Snape said, "He'll get bored of you when his head gets bigger and he thinks he can get someone better. I'm surprised his ego fits into this room."
Harry locked eyes with Snape wishing that he could wrap his hands around his neck and crush his windpipe but he knew starting a fight would not help his situation.
"You!" he spat at Snape, "You think you know me so well. YOU KNOW NOTHING! You presume to understand me again and I will curse you where you sit!" Harry was radiating with fury and everyone looked taken aback at his sudden outburst. Tonks put a reassuring hand on his shoulder calming him slightly.
Snape stood to face Harry. "I will not tolerate such insolence Potter! It may be hard for you to hear but you are not anything special!" Any calmness Harry had achieved now vanished as he leveled his wand at Snape's chest.
"DO NOT PUSH ME SNIVELLUS!" For once in his life Snape was speechless. When he saw the naked hatred in Harry's eyes he was afraid but masked it straight away. He stormed out of the kitchen slamming the door behind him.
"You can put your wand away now Harry," Dumbledore said calmly and Harry complied taking a seat at the table. "Now that your little argument with Severus is over I think we should get back to the matter at hand." Harry nodded and took a few deep breaths as his anger evaporated. I shouldn't have let him bait me he thought.
"Miss Tonks, I believe you when you say that nothing was going on at the time and that you did not plan on this happening. Also I am not angry because I believe there is no reason to be." They both looked at Dumbledore questioningly and so did the rest of the table surprised by his lenience. "When I shouted at you at Privet Drive Nymphadora it was because it was your job to protect Harry which at that time was of the utmost importance. Now however, Harry no longer needs your protection so you are free to have whatever type of relationship you like." He smiled at them and gave Harry a quick wink. Harry was surprised he had reacted so well but it was obvious that the rest of the table did not share Dumbledore's opinion.
"Dumbledore this is completely inappropriate!" Molly Weasley said. "He's only fifteen! She's far too old for him!" she shot Tonks a contemptuous glare which she readily returned. How dare she say what was inappropriate for her to do she thought.
"This is a strange pairing," Moody said gazing at the couple and then to Molly. "But I know Tonks well enough to know that she wouldn't do anything without thinking it through, even if she is a little clumsy." He turned his head back to Harry and stared at him with both his normal eye and his magical one. "You've got your hands full with this one Potter. She can be worse than the unforgiveables" he let out a slightly manic laugh and Harry couldn't help but laugh as well at Moody's sense of humour.
"I still don't agree." Mrs. Weasley said sulkily. Mr. Weasley put a hand on her shoulder and said, "Molly he's old enough to make his own decisions, and I think he's entitled to a little happiness with everything that's happening." She didn't say anything but her face was far from approving.
The only person who hadn't commented, apart from Ron and Hermione who already knew was Lupin. Harry looked at his new guardian, "Moony?" he asked.
Lupin looked to be having an internal debate with himself. "I don't know Harry. You are old enough o make your own decisions but I think molly has a point with the age difference issue. I won't try and stop you Harry but as your guardian I'm asking you, take it slow ok?" Harry smiled and nodded at Lupin and everyone looked ready to eat their meals. Molly muttered something about only having Harry's best interests at heart at which Tonks looked offended.
"Molly, I promise I won't hurt Harry. I couldn't hurt him if I wanted to, he means to much to me." Mrs. Weasley seemed slightly more convinced than before and everyone heaved a sigh of relief and began to eat their meals.
Conversation seemed slightly forced at first but they soon loosened up. Moody congratulated Harry on being able to scare Snape enough that he was afraid to stay in the same room as him. Dumbledore didn't seem too pleased with Moody's attitude but let it go.
When dinner was finished and conversations began to end people started heading up to their bedrooms. Harry walked Tonks to her room and sat down on her bed. "I suppose that went ok." She said smiling.
"Yeah except for Snape." Harry said bitterly.
"Well I think you handled him quite well," she said pushing him down onto the bed and kissing him passionately. The contact made Harry's heartbeat quicken and he knew he should get back to his room.
"Tonks, I better go," he said pulling himself away from her. "If I go back too late I'll wake Ron up."
She looked awfully disappointed but her face quickly changed into a mischievous grin. "You know," her voice was soft and endearing. "Now people know we're together they won't be surprised if we sleep in the same room." Harry couldn't argue with her logic, in fact he didn't want to.
"Looks like I'm staying then" he said grinning as they fell back onto the bed.
"You still want desert Harry?" she asked seductively.
"Oh yeah."
The sun filtered through the curtains in Tonks' bedroom and shone directly into Harry's now open eyes. He sat up in bed and sighed contentedly. He felt as though he were in heaven after what he had experienced last night. Looking at Tonks' beautiful face outlined by the sun his heart skipped a beat and he bent down and kissed her head. She smiled slightly in her sleep and Harry was happy just to sit there in peaceful bliss.
It wasn't long before his happy thoughts were overshadowed by a new thought that came unbidden to his mind. He was putting Tonks in danger. Now that it was official that they were together her life was at risk from Voldemort. He wondered if he had made a mistake getting involved with Tonks knowing that now he could not willingly give her up without feeling as though he'd lost part of himself.
Getting up he decided to go and have some time alone before the rest of the house got up. He put on his clothes from the night before, that were scattered around the room, and headed downstairs. The people in the portraits were all sleeping quietly and looked completely peaceful. Life's so simple when you live in a portrait Harry thought enviously.
He went to the kitchen and poured himself some cereal and a cup of coffee. He ate slowly, trying not to think of anything this early in the morning. Harry turned as he heard the kitchen door open and saw Dumbledore there looking no different early in the morning than he did at any other time of day.
"Ah Harry," he said sitting opposite him using his wand to conjure a cup of hot tea. "I was just looking for you, have you been up all night? Mr. Weasley said you didn't sleep in your bed."
Harry looked into his cereal bowl slightly embarrassed. "I err… slept in Tonks' room last night."
Dumbledore smiled knowingly to Harry's surprise. "Young love," he said, more to himself than to Harry.
Harry took this opportunity to tell Dumbledore about his worries concerning Tonks. "Err professor," Harry started.
"yes Harry?"
"At first when Tonks and I got together I was happier than I've ever been but now I'm not so sure I made the right decision."
"What makes you say that Harry? Whats changed?"
"Nothings changed as such," Harry said. "But I've just been thinking about some of the things I should have considered in the beginning, like how me being with Tonks puts her at risk from Voldemort." Somehow saying what he thought out loud made it sound even worse and gut wrenching.
"Dumbledore sighed heavily which in Harry's mind was not a good sign. "You have to understand Harry; this is not a black and white choice you have made. On the one hand yes, being with Miss Tonks does put her at risk from Voldemort and makes her more of a target if he comes directly after you. Then on the other hand, if you push away any potential happiness that comes your way, your will to fight may well decrease and there is more chance you will not succeed in your task."
"So I'm screwed either way?" Harry said bluntly.
"Not necessarily Harry." Dumbledore said. "As I have said in the past, we are all ruled by our emotions, some dictate our decisions more than others. I believe that your overriding emotion is love. So you see, your love for Miss Tonks and your friends may be exactly what you need to overcome the war that lies ahead."
Dumbledore was making perfect sense Harry thought, but the thought of Tonks being killed or taken because of him made him feel very guilty. Dumbledore sensed this and smiled sympathetically at Harry.
"Do not beat yourself up Harry. What's coming will come and, in my opinion, you have yet to make a wrong choice, so release your doubt and go and dressed we have something we need to do."
Harry surprised by the abrupt change of topic asked Dumbledore what they needed to do.
"Well, I wanted to be at Diagon Alley early so we could get some shopping done before the press conference."
"The press conference is today?" Harry asked slightly annoyed that Dumbledore had not told him earlier.
"Yes I am afraid so Harry." He gave Harry a rare friendly smile. "It's time to show the wizarding community what we think. Together."
The bond of trust that Harry felt Dumbledore had violated at the end of last year was all but forgotten when he said the last part. Harry knew he was only needed as a tool to help the wizarding community but he saw the emotion in Dumbledore's eyes that told him he was far more than that: to Dumbledore anyway.
"I'm sorry I almost destroyed your office professor. I had no right."
Dumbledore put his arms on Harry's shoulders in a fatherly gesture. "Do not worry Harry; in times of war we all do rash things. If you would have stayed calm and showed no emotion I would have been far more worried. At least by getting angry you showed signs of grieving instead of denial. Considering your plight I would have to say you coped quite admirably. Now come, I hear the Weasley twins have opened their own new shop in Diagon Alley, let's go and see what they have." His eyes twinkled and Harry couldn't help but laugh at the most powerful wizard in the world getting excited over a joke shop.