A/N: Heres the next chapter. Just so you know, I plan to incorporate a few songs in to this story (in case you can't tell, I love songfics) but only one will be actually be sung by a person in the story, and that wont be happening until much later. But over the Christmas Break, there will be some music and dancing. Be Prepared, as I can't wait to write it. REVIEW PLEASE – I have like 30 alerts, but only 12 reviews. What's up with that?
Dawn broke brightly and Harry sat contently at the breakfast table watching his two friends argue over who would get the last sausage. Each had a fork slammed in to one end of it, and were arguing back and forth. Of course, both were ignorant that Harry was sitting directly between them and was forced to lean back to avoid the threats thrown back and forth. Finally, he snapped his fingers quietly and the sausage divided neatly in two, causing both girls to slip away and nearly collapse on the floor. Harry laughed as he lifted both of them up and back to their seat.
It was just over a week since he had told the girls the bad news about the giants. Both were disappointed but were confident that the Light could find a way to deal with them.
Harry laughed as Dean and Seamus, sitting across the table from them, mimicked Ginny and Tonks' fall from the table over and over, each time getting more and more exaggerated. Harry dissolved in to laughter, holding his stomach as the girls glared at the two boys. Both turned and slapped Harry across the back of his head.
"Hey! I didn't do anything. It was Dean and Seamus who were making fun of you!" He pleaded as both girls simultaneously arched their eyebrows.
"You encouraged them!" Both girls held their glare for a second longer, before finally breaking and laughing. Tonks rubbed the back of Harry's head. "Yeah it was pretty funny. Sorry we hit you." He waved her away, forgiving them instantly.
The conversation continued lightly, though all three of them noticed that Ron and Hermione had purposely sat away from them, and Hermione looked utterly despondent as they sat listening to Lavender and Parvati gossiping about who was snogging who.
Harry was pulled out of the conversation as McGonagall placed a note on the table. "From the Headmaster, Mr. Potter." The stern Transfiguration teacher nodded once and turned towards the staff table.
Harry opened the note and read the flowing script. Please join me in my office after breakfast. I will excuse you from your classes. I happen to be enjoying Milky Way today. – The Headmaster
Tonks and Ginny both read the note over Harry's shoulder. Ginny responded first. "What do you think he wants?" Harry shrugged, before vanishing the note with a snap.
"You think it's about Voldemort?" Tonks asked. Harry smiled, as he had made the effort to convince both Ginny and Tonks to call the Dark Wizard by his name, or even Tom for the entire year.
"Don't know, Nymph. I'll let you know later." Harry kissed both of their cheeks quickly before standing and walking quickly towards the doors, towards the Headmaster's office.
"Milky Way." The gargoyle leapt out of the way and Harry rode the staircase before knocking twice on the door.
"Enter." Harry walked in and saw the Headmaster sitting at his desk, fingers linked at the tips as he sat in thought. "Please sit, Mr. Potter. How has your year been going? We haven't been talking much."
"Fine Professor. I have been doing fine in classes. I would like to get back to Potions, as I doubt Professor Snape will let me go for this, regardless whether you excused me. Is there anything you wish to speak of, or was this purely a social visit?"
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows, surprised at the boy's directness. "Very well. I wanted to let you know that Voldemort has begun to attack again. It wasn't in the Prophet this morning, as it has mainly been muggles, and small-scale attacks at that. But we definitely know its Voldemorts work, though there has been no Dark Mark." At the Headmasters words, Harry's eyes narrowed. He sighed before speaking.
"Thank you for notifying me. I am glad that you have decided to keep me informed. Is there anything you wish me to do?" Dumbledore seemed surprised at his words, but quickly resumed his normally thoughtful face.
"No, nothing as of yet. Voldemort has been gathering forces for a year and I believe that his army has grown and will not just include giants, as Hagrid has no doubt told you." Dumbledore smiled wryly at his last words, and Harry grinned.
"Thank you sir, and yes he did actually. Wonder how you knew? I believe I should head off to Potions now. Thanks." Dumbledore nodded his goodbye before turning and looking out his window at the grounds, deep in thought.
Harry informed Ginny and Tonks who didn't seem very surprised at all. They had a quiet day, slightly brought down by the news. But over the next couple days, they were fine and were laughing as they returned from a quite boring library trip. A voice broke their conversation.
"Hey Ginny. Let's go for a walk, 'kay?" Michael smiled at Ginny before nodding stiffly to Tonks and Harry. Harry grimly remembered that Ginny was still going out with him. Ginny half-smiled at him, before turning an apologetic eye to Harry and Tonks.
"That okay guys? I'll see you later though right?" Harry glanced at Tonks who rolled her eyes. Harry was about to respond when he was cut off.
"You don't need their permission Ginny. Especially not Potter's." Michael grabbed Ginny's arm and yanked her away from Harry. Harry's face darkened but Tonks held him back as they walked away. Ginny mouthed SORRY to them over her shoulder as she uncomfortably let Michael put his arm around her shoulders.
Harry glared after Michael, but allowed Tonks to pull him towards the Common Room. As soon as they sat down in their normal spot, Harry growled. "Stupid git. He treats Ginny like shit; she deserves someone so much better than him." Tonks cast a questioning glance towards Harry but he was too wound up to notice. His inner wolf was howling and all he could picture in his mind was ripping Michael limb from limb. Tonks calmed him down by making fun of Snape from potions today, who had almost turned the trademark Weasley red when Ron knocked his cauldron over on to Snape's foot.
"Hey Nym-, I mean Tonks. You want to play Exploding Snap with me and Seamus?" Dean blanched as Tonks eyes narrowed at the slip of her first name. The only people who could call her Nymphadora were Ginny and Harry. But she softened as Harry broke out laughing and waved her away. He sat there and watched her play, delighting in seeing her laugh, and felt his inner wolf growling contently. But that wolf quickly woke up and started barking as he noticed Dean or Seamus whenever she looked down at the cards. Both boys would adopt a lustful gaze, glancing down Tonks' body as she sat hunched over in front of the cards. Harry thought that both of them looked like they were watching a particularly tasty dish during dinner. Harry frowned and tried to push down the feelings. He muttered to himself, "She isn't involved with anyone. Why shouldn't they look at her? She's obviously gorgeous." Harry shook his head and turned back to his homework, but couldn't dispel the bad feelings.
A few minutes later, Tonks returned to his side, collapsing and wiping away the soot from her face. She noticed Harry's hard look and glanced where he was looking. She realized what concerned him, and sighed as she held his shoulder lightly.
"Harry, I know that they were looking at me like that." Harry quickly averted his eyes before looking at her, and she was shocked to see an almost shy look in his eyes. "I don't care about them; guys look at me all the time like that because the form I happen to wear in public is quite provocative." She grinned evilly before winking at him. He laughed and leaned back against the couch, instinctively wrapping an arm around her and she leaned in to him.
She turned to him and looked at his face, as he was clearly wrapped in thought and she waited for him to ask her something. "Tonks, what does your real self look like? How come I haven't seen it?" Tonks was surprised at his question, as most guys, regardless of the relationship, never bothered to ask to see her real form.
"I'll show you later, I don't want to do it in the middle of the common room." Harry nodded.
"Show him what later? 'Dora, you holding back on me?" Ginny stood next to them, hands on her hips and a raised eyebrow on her face. Harry grinned and pulled Ginny down next to him and both girls curled up next to him. Tonks told Ginny about showing Harry her real form across his chest as he closed his eyes and leaned back on the couch contently. He noted that Ginny had already seen her natural form, as she changed back before bed. The fire roared and he slowly gave way to exhaustion, and slipped off to sleep, the girls light voices ringing in his ears.
"Wake up Harry. Haaaaaaaaaaaaarry." Harry's head shot up, looking around at the almost empty classroom. His mind slowly started to clear as he recognized the History of Magic classroom. Professor Binns had already floated through the wall and Tonks was alone in the room with Harry. It was a few days since he had seen Tonks' real features, and he had almost made her cry when he told that he thought she was quite beautiful naturally, and she had leapt upon him and didn't let go for what seemed like ten minutes. Harry hadn't complained. Returning back to the present, Harry thanked her sleepily and they walked out of the class together.
"Hello you two. Took you long enough to get out of History of Magic." Ginny stood, leaning against the wall smiling. She joined Harry and Tonks instep as they left the classroom. They chatted about various topics, though Harry snoring loudly in class seemed to keep coming up, much to his consternation.
"You won't believe it Gin, he almost broke my eardrums. Hermione kept poking him but he just smacked her hand away." Harry rolled his eyes and shoved Tonks playfully, though he did enjoy the sound of Ginny's laughter floating through the hall.
"Listen, Nymphadora, if you don't stop this little story, I can tell Gin Gin here about you sleeping last week, and scaring Binns by flashing through hair colors so fast he ran through the chalkboard!" Tonks narrowed her eyes and fell silent, which prompted Ginny to beg Harry to tell the story.
"Please tell me, I hate how I don't have classes with you guys. I am going to try to take summer courses, and move up next year, so we both can take seventh year classes." Harry nodded and launched in to the story.
"Alright, so Binns was talking about some Goblin Rebellion from the 14th century, and Tonks falls asleep. I was doodling, which kept me awake. Suddenly, Binns happens to look at Tonks and he runs from the room. Made a sound like a wet Kneazle." Tonks clamped a hand over his mouth.
"It was not that bad Potter. I think he just finally realized that he actually had a class listening to him. He usually tends to forget that fact." Harry wrenched her hand away before continuing.
"No, I think it may have something to do with everyone's eyes being scarred for life as your hair starts flying through every single conceivable color, and some that no one had ever seen. Makes me wonder you would were dreaming about?" Harry arched his eyebrow suggestively, as Tonks blushed, and her hair turned bright red. Ginny laughed and swung around to whisper to Tonks.
"About Harry right?" Tonks glanced at Harry, who hadn't heard, and nodded with a smile. "Don't worry, happens to me all the time." Tonks laughed and both girls shoved Harry, causing him to almost crash in to a suit of armor. They raced off down the hall before disappearing around the corner.
Harry recovered and laughed as he followed them. He came to a sudden stop as he saw where they were. Both girls were trapped against the wall as Malfoy stood in front of them, Crabbe and Goyle on either side. Malfoy was quite obviously leering at them as they told him to let them go.
"C'mon Malfoy, just insult us and let us go." Tonks tried to shove by him but Crabbe pushed her back in to Ginny.
Harry's eyes narrowed and he shoved Crabbe and Goyle in to the wall roughly before stepping in front of Tonks and looked Malfoy in the eye. "Move. Now." Malfoy sneered.
"Listen Potty boy, I know you're all talk. You're nothing but a little freak of nature." Harry rolled his eyes and led his way past Malfoy, making sure that he didn't bother Ginny and Tonks.
"Whatever Malfoy, I am quite used to the insults so why don't you save us both time and just stop now? Don't you have Death Muncher meeting to go to?"
"Fine Potty, you get away this time. But watch out, soon you won't be able to protect your little whores–" Malfoy was shoved back in to the wall and lifted up in the here by the collar of his shirt. Malfoy whitened, though the sneer remained.
"If you ever say that again, I will rip out your tongue. With my hands. No magic." Harry let Malfoy slide to the floor before turning away. Malfoy rose up and let Harry go.
Harry checked to make sure Ginny and Tonks had everything and turned to leave.
Malfoy sneered and snuck behind Harry. He reached back to punch the back of his head and was bringing his fist forward. Harry stopped, whirled around and caught his fist in his hand. By now a crowd had gathered, including Professors Snape and McGonagall.
Malfoy looked shocked at the situation, and looked for Crabbe and Goyle, both of whom were still slumped against the wall, seeming to be shocked at their situation. Malfoy turned back to Harry at the sound of his voice, which was dripping with intent. "Sneaking up on me from behind, I know many a wizard who would tell you that's a bad idea. My 'freakiness' as you call it happens to make it very, very hard to sneak up on me. Don't do it again." Malfoy looked relieved and tried to pull it away.
Harry grinned and kept his grip. "No, I believe you have had enough warnings." McGonagall and Snape had just reached the center of the crowd when Harry tightened his grip, causing a multitude of cracks to reverberate throughout the corridor. He released Malfoy who crumpled to the floor, in tears. He held his limp hand up in the light, the bones clearly broken and bruises already darkening, becoming a deep purple. Harry glanced at the Professors before turning on his heel and walking away with his arms around Ginny and Tonks.
Snape stepped forward. "Mr. Potter, turn around. You will be expelled for attacking a student, and Gryffindor loses 1000 points!" Harry turned and pointed cheekily to McGonagall, who Snape hadn't seen.
"Now Severus, you know as well as I do that Mr. Malfoy attacked him first. I believe I will take 50 points from Gryffindor and Slytherin each." Snape's face fell as Harry smirked. McGonagall continued. "And 100 points to Gryffindor for defending two damsels in distress, though knowing who it is, I doubt they needed it." Harry smiled and almost choked as he saw a ghost of a grin on McGonagall's face. Snape's jaw actually fell, as he gaped at McGonagall, before he recovered and brought Malfoy to the Hospital Wing.
Harry inclined his head towards McGonagall and left with Ginny and Tonks. McGonagall quickly broke up the crowd, shooing people to their different classes. He was thinking that it was great to see McGonagall sticking up for her House when Tonks' voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"I can't believe she called us 'damsels in distress.' Utter rubbish." Ginny nodded in response. Both girls looked incensed and Harry started to regret stepping in.
"We could take Malfoy and his goons any day. He just snuck up on us. That's all. Harry, you don't have jump in for us, we can take care of ourselves!" Harry frowned and dropped his head, before muttering a quick sorry to Tonks and Ginny. Both girls pulled him aside.
Tonks spoke first. "That being said, thanks." She kissed his right cheek and smiled at him.
"Yeah, it was very sweet, our hero." Ginny kissed his left cheek before fluttering her eyelashes at him as he laughed and picked up both girls and swinging them over each shoulder, bags trailing behind them. Both girls yelped and started smacking his back and shoulders as he ran through the hallway, scattering younger students.
"Put us down right now Mr. Potter! Or you will pay!" Ginny screamed as Harry stopped and starting spinning around in a circle, causing both girls to yelp and fall silent, too busy trying to avoid coating the walls with vomit. Finally, Harry staggered in to the Common Room before dumping them all on the couch, and all three of them closed their eyes and waited for the world to stop flipping.
Finally, they righted themselves and pulled out their homework, which had gotten quite messy within their bags during their walk back to the room. They settled in for the night, getting in to the accustomed position on the couch, though it had changed slightly. Harry had curled his arms lightly around their necks, rubbing their far shoulders softly as he levitated his book in front of him. All three of them agreed it was an improvement when Harry originally did it to provoke Ron. Both girls sighed as they felt his fingers fluttering down the outside of their upper arms. They burrowed their heads deeper in to his chest, until the back of their heads were touching.
Harry smiled blissfully and refused to acknowledge the fact in his mind that he would not be getting much more work done. He quickly fell in to a monologue in his mind. Who would want to study like this? He quickly realized where he was going. What am I going to do? I think I fancy them both. But it's not just a fancy, it's deeper than that. But, who should I pick? Can I pick? Both of them just make me feel like the luckiest guy in the world. Harry looked to his right, the bright pink poking up, as Tonks' heart-shaped face looked intently at the book she was reading. As he watched, she crunched up her face, thinking about her upcoming Transfiguration essay. He couldn't help but think that she was beautiful regardless of her metamorphmagus abilities, and it wasn't because of her pink hair. He had seen her natural form and quite liked it. He smiled and tickled the back of her elbow lightly, making her squirm and glance up at him. He winked and turned away until she went back to her homework.
Harry turned and glanced at Ginny, whose bright red hair seemed to sparkle in the remaining sunlight sinking through the window. As he watched, she paused in her essay and bit her bottom lip in thought, and his mind melted, thinking how sexy she looked like that. He grinned and blew lightly at her ear, causing her to turn and glare at him before laughing and going back to her essay. Both girls snuggled deeper in to his chest.
He leaned back and rested his head on the backrest of the couch. He closed his eyes and sighed. He didn't know what to do. I can't choose one over the other. Both of them are so amazing and I couldn't hurt one by choosing the other. Besides, who says either of them like me that way in return? Ginny is going out with Michael and Tonks has plenty of admirers.
Harry's mind continued to go in circles, centering on the two lovely girls beside him. He let the setting sun put him to sleep, waving his book towards the table and settling in. He finally fell asleep, and smiled, his dreams centering on two girls, one with bright red hair and the other with a heart-shaped face.
A/N: Thought I would end this chapter on a bit of a fluffy note. Voldemorts back but Harry doesn't really think about it. What will Harry do regarding his feelings for Ginny and Tonks? On a completely separate, and I realize how late this is, but the reserve seeker from the Quidditch chapter, Natalia Wright: where do you guys think I got her name from? First person to guess gets a high five. Keep reviewing please, it really makes me day. It can be a critique, question, praise, whatever you want.