Disclaimer: I own my notebooks, my manga collection, my anime collection, tons of video games, and seven book shelves packed full of books. Sadly Harry Potter is not in my list of position unless you count copy's of the work.
A/N Okay every one I'm making some slight changes to the story, This will be replacing the previous chapter two and that will be moved up to chapter three. This was going to be a flashback chapter later but I decided to place it here instead. I hope you all enjoy this chapter and I'm going to try and type up the now chapter four tonight. Unfortunately am back in school so I can write the chapters on paper, but I'm having trouble finding time to type so please bear with me. Also this is not betaed by any one else, but myself who sucks at spelling so sorry about any mistakes you come across.
Chapter 2 The lonely road is only lonely till you talk to people walking you way instead of letting them walk past you
Sitting in the dark, a young man was unmoving. He had been in this position for almost three days. The only way one could know that the young man was alive stood parched in front of him in the form of a snowy white owl. Yet even his companion seemed more inclined to distant herself from the situation. Her attitude could be stereotyped of that of a mother. She constantly nipped on his fingers to get a response from him.
He went on a drugged haze. He fed and watered his owl. Yet other than that he had only sat in his bed staring at a wall or the ceiling. His relatives had taken Moody advice to heart. They had not so much as made a whimper as they walked by his room. No owls had shown up to badger him if he was okay. That could be the worst thing for him after his previous summer. So after the depression had set in the first day back he gave up abut it deciding that there were more important things to ponder than what ifs. However like many summers before had the young man's survival instincts started to take hold over so much complicated thinking. Yet they had been jump started by the parchment in his hand. It lay blank except for the greeting.
The silence was shattered by the tapping of a young barn owl. The snow owl looked indignant at the intruder of her territory. Attached to the birds leg was a letter and a note. So he grabbed the articles of post and observed the owl take off. Gently he tool the note and unbundled it.
Dear Mister Potter,
We regret to inform you that the passing of one Sirius Black. You have been requested to have a viewing of Mr. Black's will. Please come in at a time that will be given to your newly appointed magical guardian Mr. Remus Lupin. If said time is incontinent please send owl with request of a different time. We would like to inform you that the other piece of correspondence is to be read prior to the will reading session. Finally, this is our third attempt at making contact with you. Our owl has had attempts of interception. So please be warned other less secure post may have been lost.
Sincerely,
Griphook, Family financial Advisor, Gringotts
Harry stared at the final sentence of the letter. For the first time in over two weeks, an emotion besides despair and hopelessness rippled in his eyes. They filled with anger and determination. Harry reached out and picked up his wand from the nightstand next to his bed. He stormed down the steps to the front door. "Where do you think you are going with that thing boy?" Harry never let out an answer only slammed the door shut.
In a forced walk around the house to the tool shed in the back Harry began inventorying the various spells he had learned over the years. He did not even bother listening to the ranting his uncle spout out as he followed him. He reached out feeling for an invisible person in the area with a clear view of this room. As he grabbed hold of someone, he threw him or her to the ground. Placing his wand forward, "Does that old man just enjoy messing with my life?" His wand started to glow a red light of a reducto. "Well answer me."
"Put the wand down Harry and I will." Part of the clock started to move down the head of the person on the ground showing the tell sign of pink hair. "Besides you have no idea how many favors I had to pull to get this duty. I am not even supposed to be near you anymore. Dumbledore said something about emotional distress or some other bullshit along the lines."
Hearing that she was disobeying orders by being here brought Harry back out of his rage a little. "How do I know you're telling the truth?" However as he said this he pulled his wand back. "I'm waiting Tonks."
"First Moody would have a fit if he saw you threatening me and pulling your wand back. Second, don't have a clue how to convince you. And third if you just wanted to get on top of me Harry all you had to do is ask." Harry jumped off her quick. A slight blush coming to his checks. "Oh yeah that was enjoyable. You're a natural Harry or have you had practice."
"What are you doing over here boy? You're not allowed to do freak business over the summer. I swear if you do one thing and I'll."
Tonks pushed Harry the rest of the way off her shedding her cloak as she stood up. "I dare you to finish that sentence muggle." Her wand directly under Vernon's chin. Her posture did not even leave any doubts at her willingness to follow through on her threat. Harry just stared into the eyes of the Auror in front of him.
"And who are you to scare me you pink haired trollop?"
"His of age bodyguard that means I can use magic incase you didn't know. So please give me an excuse I would love to hex you." Her wand jabbed harder in to his neck. "You're not even a worth wild human being so it would not lay on my conscience in the slightest." Vernon back up on that note. "SO Harry fancy a bit of lunch. I would like to have a chat with you."
Hr aggressiveness never left her voice causing the anger he had previously felt dwindle back under the surface. "Sure Tonks. When ever you are ready." the confusion he felt danced in his eyes. He followed Tonks back to the front of the house. She was checking to make she was the only Order member here. Than she reached out and pulled him close to her.
"Don't struggle this will be over quick." The sensation left a lot to be desired. Opening his eyes, he saw the Three broomsticks. Than he felt it again planting him at the Leaky Cauldron and finally a small restaurant he had never seen before. It had no signpost and very few windows.
Tonks half dragged him into the small café. The place was completely empty. Not even the sound of a fryer vat could be heard. "Why are we here Tonks?"
"Just go find a seat and I'll be back in a minute."
"Tell me were we are Tonks I'm not trying to sound ungrateful or anything. Its just I've had a run of bad luck trusting people at the moment, so where are we?" He had drawn his own wand again.
Tonks' hair switched from pink to electric blue. Than she stated laughing. "This is my place Harry or should I say this was my grandparent's restaurant. I won it and had it closed today so we could talk." Harry lowered his wand.
He walked over to a table in the middle of the room. Just as he sat down Tonks came back with a wicker basket with fried fish and chips in it. Sliding it across the table to him. She than flipped a chair around backwards and sat down looking at him. Her gaze sent a shiver down his body. "So when did you become so graceful?" He let the words out mainly to ease the intimidating tension created by Tonks.
"I have my moments. " She gave him a smile that just built the heaviness in the air right back. "Now eat up so we can have a serious talk. "Her smile slowly evened out as she spoke bringing seriousness to her face Harry had never seen. Therefore, he quickly put away the meal in front of him. The restaurant seemed to have stopped breathing like it was also waiting for the conversation to start. "First thing first. I want your wand."
Harry shot up. "Why do you want my wand?" His eyes if followed could be seen scanning the room for exits and death eaters.
"Calm down you're almost as jumpy as Moody. "I want it because personally after what I'm about to say I really don't want to be hexed."
"Fine, but it stays on the table." With that he placed the wand in the middle of the table. "Can we get this over with please I prefer my bad news quickly lately."
Tonks gave him a strange look than went forward with her intentions. "How are you since Sirius…" She stopped reevaluating the sentence. "Since he was murdered."
Harry leaned back in the chair. "I miss him. I don't think I can say it any other way. I failed him and he died for me because of it. I feel like I have his knife embedded in my chest and they just keep twisting it." He looked towards the ceiling as he spoke. "Than I feel horrible I almost got Hermione and the others killed. I don't know if I could live with myself if I lost her or them. Than you guys had to come in and save us. Which got you hurt Tonks."
Tonks had a look of sympathy for a second than it vanished. "Can I ask you something Harry?" He nodded for her to continue. "Are you mourning the loss of Sirius or your own loss? Because to me it seems like you're having a pity party." That's when hell broke lose. "Because I think your just being mopy because your being selfish."
The air charged and all the tables surrounding them blew outwards. Harry was standing hand outstretched out towards her with a red glow in his palm. "You think I'm pitying myself. You don't have a clue as to what you're talking about. How are you taking it? It's just as much your fault. Since you couldn't handle the bitch. He was one of the last members of my already dwindling family." The tears dropped a little on his checks, but no farther. His wand had flown to his hand. "And to top it off I have to keep looking around and worry if Voldemort is going after me or after what little family and friend I have left. I can't be there to protect them because that old bastard sent me back to that hell hole for my own fucking good." Tonks raised her wand smiling as she reset the tables and chairs back to their place. "You didn't even flinch when I said his name."
Tonks' smile grew even wider. "Good even in an emotional state you keep your observational skills about you." Harry scowled. "It was a complement."
"Why would you day things like that?" His scowl drew even deeper.
"He asked me to. I'm going to offer you something that he asked me to do." Harry sat back down at her words. "I'm going to tell you that headquarters has been abandoned. It is not protected with a secret keeper right know, but there is enough wards to keep you safe."
"How do you know what he wanted? It's not like he knew he was going to die."
"No he didn't, but you don't give Sirius enough credit. Twelve years in Azkaban, a war before that, and a fugitive on the run he knew it might not end good. He had instructions for lots of circumstances. People think Moody was paranoid."
"I know he was. I didn't think too many people saw it. Snape" Harry stopped as if the name burnt his tongue. "egged him on, but it only got to him because he felt he wasn't protecting us enough. I truly don't see what the old bastard sees in him."
"Having Dumbledore issues I see. Don't worry we all do at one point or another than he proves us wrong."
Harry tensed and his eyes glowed a darker green. "Not this time. I'm right and he knows it."
Tonks straightened up. "Why do I get this feeling it isn't just about Sirius anymore. He must have really pissed you off."
"You could say that. The little outburst I had, sorry about that by the way, was nothing compared to what I did to his office." Harry stopped talking and got up. "Okay Tonks what is this about?"
"Grimmuald has wards on it that makes it impossible to detect underage magic usage. Our ancestors were a paranoid lot. He wants me to train you as best as I can so that you can protect yourself. He wants me to protect you as best as I can. I swore an oath that I would so there is nothing you can do to change it. So do you want my help?"
Harry closed his eyes. "On one condition. Hermione comes with. Nothing I say or do will stop her from watching my back so she needs to know this to."
"Damn I was hoping you would say Ron and Sirius was wrong, but no." Her smile finally returning. "Just one problem. All the owls to you three's houses are being searched and all unwanted information taken away. I don't know where she lives ether so I can't apparate there."
Harry smiled. "Do you trust me Tonks?" He flashed his green eyes as he spoke.
The gleam in his eyes brought forth a quick memory to Tonks of a time when she was six. She had been crying because Sirius and James were picking on her. All she wanted to do was follow her heroes. And they left her stuck to the wall. Than her savior came to release her. Red hair to her shoulders and the most beautiful green eyes she would ever see for the next sixteen years. After being released from the wall, Lily Evans asked, "Are you okay Nymphadora?" All the six year old could do was nod her head. "That was a mean thing those boys did to you. Do you want to get them back?" All little Tonks could do was continue to nod and stare at the woman in front of her looking straight at the smile and green eyes.
"Okay here is what we do Nymphadora." All she had understood was she had to get James and Sirius to follow her outside. She could do that, but she was scared. "Don't worry honey after we are done with them they will be to embarrassed to mess with you." Lily grabbed Tonks' hand. "Do you trust me Nymphie?" Tonks could only smile and mouth yes. So they went ahead with the plan which left Sirius and James in their boxers planted in the garden. "Just be glad 'Boys' that Tonks is present or you would be missing that last article." Tonks mesmerized her laugh. It made her feel sage and cared for.
"Tonks are you okay?" Harry had a worried look on his face.
"Sorry what you said brought back a memory. Did you know that no matter what anybody says about how you are like your dad and how you look like him you are more like Lily everyday you get older?" This brought a somber look to both Harry and Tonks. "You know she is the reason I became an Auror. After what happened to her and your dad I wanted to protect people like her as much as I could." Tonks grabbed the wicker basket off the table and headed back to the kitchen leaving both to there thoughts and tears.
After about ten minutes apart to collect themselves Tonks came back out. "So what is this surprise to get in contact of Hermione?"
With this Harry brought back out his lopsided smile. "Dobby." with that a house elf appeared. "Dobby remember the routine we had last summer to get letters to Hermione." The house elf jumped up and down in excitement. "Well could you tell her to be ready for visitors in about fifteen minutes?"
"Yes Mister Harry Potter. Dobby would do anything he can help you."
"Thanks Dobby. You are a great friend." and with that Dobby was gone. Tonks had a mischievous smile on her face. "What? With the lack of owls last summer got desperate and found out that Dobby could get to Hermione that way. Got lucky even when she was at number 12. Any way do you know where Capital Hill Park is?"
"Yeah we had to learn London well in training."
"Okay apparate us there and it's a ten minute walk form there."
"Grab hold Harry." And the transport spell started back up. Next time he opened his eyes it had been three jumps. "Well which way? You know the area." Harry agreed and led the way to Hermione's. "So Harry how do you know the way to Hermione's?"
"Last summer Dobby brought me over a few times. Don't recommend it much though house elf transport spells hurt."
"When you were under surveillance all summer?"
"Well I am the son of a marauder." He said this with a grin that he turned abruptly down a walkway. He heard the distinct thud of a body hitting the ground. "Good to know you still a bit of a klutz when it's called for."
Not bothering to listen to the response, he knocked on the door. The door flung open and Harry was tackled to the grass with a mildly busy haired young woman latching her lips to his. "SO Harry you were saying earlier about how last summer mind telling me what you were doing on your visits."
The voice startled Hermione enough she jumped off Harry at the same time accidentally kneeing him in the process. "Bloody Hell"
Hermione got a quick concerned look on her face. "I am so sorry Harry. Are you okay?"
"I think he wants you to kiss it better Hermione." Tonks comment got the desired effect as Hermione instantly turned red. "Ah you're so cute that color Hermione.'
"Okay Tonks you can embarrass us later." With that he slightly hobbled into the house with the two women following him. "Okay Hermione before you ask she wants to train us. Hermione just let a smile across her face as Harry stated answering all her unasked questions. "And finally number 12 has a ward that will make us able to use magic. Did I miss any thing?"
"No you got everything Harry, but with you on house arrest how are we going to pull this off. I mean you if you just left the most obvious place would be number 12."
"Got it covered Hermione. I'll just take him home every night." The slight seductive smile she had been using all day resurfaced.
"And what about your job?" Hermione brow wrinkled up slightly.
"Right now I'm on personal leave." She shrugged the comment off. "Don't worry Hermione I'll take good care of you two. I will just apparate into you and Harry's bedrooms every mourning and night. I promise to take care of you both I could even be persuaded to tuck you in." The smile on her face brought both of them to a slight red hue. "My god the way you two blush I would say you both have very dirty minds." this brought a slight scowl to Hermione's face with the newly acquired red taint. "You tow are both really easy to get going you know it.' Finally all three of them started laughing. "You know he really is easy to get going Hermione."
"Yeah he is sometimes." She stopped talking realizing what she said. That and the smile on Tonks' face reminded her to much of when Fred and George had a prank on thee mind. Then it went back to a seriousness Hermione had only seen on Dumbledore's face never the witch in front of her.
"Know that I've broken the ice I'm going to warn you two this is going to be hard. I'm not going to lie buy the time we are done your two are going to think I'm a bitch. I'm going to show you spells to keep up with Aurors because frankly you both seem to attract trouble." Tonks got up to stretch. "I'm also going to teach you some not so smiled upon techniques. I am a removed Black after all."
"Sounds good Tonks. I'm sure Dumbledore has plans to remove me from the Dursley's sometime later in the summer so do you know when?"
"No like I said I'm not even suppose to be watching you anymore. So I'm sure you'll get a few days warning than we will move on from there. Now are you both okay with this. We will be learning illegal spells and I heard Hermione has a thing about rules."
"Don't worry I'm okay with it. After the tournament in fourth year I had very little idealistic visions of my elders." Tonks just looked surprised. "Don't be so surprised I'm not stupid there were a lot of things wrong that year. So Harry and I decided it was best to keep my naivety up last year, but after the disaster that was last year I think I am going to drop the act. Now what are you going to be teaching us?"
"Well that's a little surprising. I was hoping to be the corrupting force in your life. Anyway, I can't say what I'm going to be teaching you here. Don't worry Harry it will help. And Harry I would like to apologize I promise I'll never hold back again unless the situation calls for it."
Harry looked out the window. "Did you hold out in the fight?"
"I could have used some spells that would have changed the tide earlier."
"Would they have gotten you in trouble?"
"At least a year and loss of my job."
"Than only use them if the situation calls for it."
The tension faded. "Okay enough depressing talk. How long have you two been together?"
"Awhile." Was all of an answer Harry gave with a smile back on his face? He leaned over kissed Hermione. "So let's get going. I'm sure I have to make an appearance at the house so nobody suspects anything. So let's head out Tonks." He pulled Hermione closer for a kiss. "I'll see you later love."
"Harry are you okay?"
He paused and waited for Tonks to leave the room. "Not really, but I think I will be. I have something important to tell you, but first do you think we can trust Tonks?"
"Enough for right now. Let us hold off on judgment and you can hold off telling me what you're going to say. I know you're still thinking about it so tell me when you're ready."
"Not even curious?"
"Of course I am but I've learned to on push you on some things." She pulled him back in to a kiss grabbing a handful of his ass before letting him go. "Now go so this plan doesn't fall through before it takes off." With that Harry left after Tonks.
E/N Well there it is hope you enjoyed if not go ahead and berated me, make fun of me, or what ever else you can over the internet. As usual review, flame, or move on to the next story that catches your interest. Later everyone
