Story 2: Exile - I honestly don't remember too much of this story, might have to go back and read it with you guys. :) 8k Words (3 Chapters) Sorry if you looked at this before this edit. It's turns out that my chapters weren't as formatted as I thought. :) Do let me know if there are any other mistakes. :P
Summary: Harry is faced with a series of Unfortunate Events, in true Harry Potter style, he bounces back better than ever before!
Authors Note: Basically this is my attempt at a piece of Fan Fiction which makes use of the total lack of Ancient Runes description. After reading RuneMaster by Tigerman, I had a few ideas which mixed with ideas from several other Fan Fic's I had read to create this. This will be my first attempt at Romance, however it will not be a focal point of the story.
Many ideas I use you will likely recognise from elsewhere, this is not intentional. You get to a point after reading so many Fan Fic's that you forget what you've read, and what you thought up. I can say that any idea represented will have come from a Fanfic on my Favourite's List.
I don't often dedicate a lot of time towards writing Fan fiction, so this project might be a long time coming.
I hope you enjoy. :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, and some of the ideas used in this piece of Fan Fiction, I do however own the way the piece is put together to create this story.
Prologue
A black haired and green eyed boy walked down the stairs of the house in which he lived. It wasn't really his home, he only had one home and that was the first place he was really accepted for who he was, kinda.
Ever since he had returned back from Hogwarts, things hadn't felt right. His feelings were confirmed a few weeks later by the appearance of Dementors in Little Whinging. Those flipping things always cause so much trouble. He couldn't believe it; a letter came. 'Expelled', it said, expelled from the only place he called home because for some reason there just happened to be a couple of Dementors in Surrey trying to suck his soul out...
He walked through the hall into the kitchen-diner; he was hoping that his Aunt would be out, shopping or something. He knew his uncle wouldn't be there, and that his cousin would be out terrorising the local children. Upon entering the room he knew that it wasn't his day; yet again he had the feeling of dread stuck in the pit of his stomach.
Sitting at the table was his Aunt, just sitting there; her hands wrapped around a cup of steaming tea. It appeared as if she was waiting for something. Most probably me, knew I couldn't survive forever without food. casually wondered if she was going to gloat, maybe try getting me into some more trouble before somebody came; which they definitely would, The-Boy-Who-Lived had been expelled after all.
"There is still some water in the kettle, there is some ham in the fridge too, help yourself." She said without looking up from her cooling mug.
"Um―okay." Harry said, deciding not to look a gift horse in the mouth, as they say.
A quick scan of the fridge revealed some edible food, which he quickly threw between some pieces of bread and butter. He poured himself a cup of tea, before heading for the door.
"H―harry, wait." She called out. Harry turned round to meet her eyes, "Yeah?" He knew it had been too good to be true. Damn it!
"Come and eat at the table, you don't need to go upstairs."
Harry looked at her with disbelief, "What?"
"I said, come and eat at the table." She looked up to meet his eyes.
"If I must" He muttered turning around to head for the table where he sat opposite his Aunt and started eating.
Towards the end of the sandwich, his Aunt looked up again and watched Harry finish when he met her eye with a questioning look, she started talking again.
"How are you, Harry?" She asked with some concern.
Harry just looked at her with some scepticism, "Fine, why do you ask?" His tone was slightly sharper than earlier.
"Well, I got a letter from your school telling me that you got into a fight at the end of the term, and that it was quite serious. It said another student was harmed at the time."
Harry barked out a laugh at the understatement, before asking the only real the question that he had about this whole situation, "Why?"
"Why, what?"
"Do you care? You've never taken any notice before, why now?" He asked.
"Harry, I have always cared. But as you know, I've never been able to show it, with your uncle around. I have tried, I really have." She said quietly.
Harry scoffed, "Yeah right!" Harry got up to leave when his aunt spoke again, "Harry―please―"
"Begging me now?" His voice was cold, "Maybe you should have thought about this a long time ago, a long long―"
"I WAS SCARED, ALRIGHT?" She rose from her chair as she shouted, before instantly deflating with a defeated exhale, back into her seat. "I was scared," She said in a whisper. "Scared, to fall in love with you, then when your time came, you'd be whisked off into a world I don't belong. Your uncle, you know how he is; everything has to perfect, normal. He used my fear, turning me against you, little by little. The lovely son of my sister Lily, to a devil's spawns." She shook her head in extenuation.
"Right―" Started a newly seated Harry.
"I had dreams you know." Harry looked at her oddly.
"I see that look you're giving me Harry, 'you had dreams?!'―" She laughed a hollow laugh. "I never wanted this," She waved around. "To be stuck in a house, to gossip on neighbours for entertainment, to be married to that man. It sounds funny now."
"Then why did you then?" Harry asked, generally curious about where this was going.
"When I found out that your mother was going to get married, I was jealous. Why was it that Lily, sweet precious Lily got everything. I was so jealous; I did the stupidest thing I could do; I started dating the first person that would. It wasn't long before I got pregnant. Trapped. Then you arrived at our doorstep and that was the first time I truly admitted my mistake to myself, I guess that just fed my resentment, even from the grave Lily could show me she was right, and I was wrong, again." His aunt was crying now.
"Look where I am now; married to a whale. All my son wants to be is like his dad. I know he's been off causing trouble, but how am I meant to stop him? It was just so easy to blame Lily for the disaster my life became."
Harry got up to leave the room, as he was crossing the threshold, he heard his aunt choke out, "I'm truly sorry Lily, I really am."
It wasn't long until his uncle came back, and just like everything else that day it went off the deep end. The feeling of dread returned once again when the sound of a car door bounced through the house; his uncle was home.
Harry was lying on his bed; it was only a matter of time before his uncle walked through the front door, called for his aunt, only to find her crying her eyes out at the kitchen table. Result, 'The freak did something', followed closely by an enraged whale of an uncle thundering up the stairs to beat the crap out of him.
Harry could just hear the scrape of a key against the lock and the door open.
Suddenly a person appeared in his room along with a crack of displaced air. He watched with shocked amusement when the women proceeded to trip over her foot and stumble to the floor with a thump.
It was with the fall that Harry snapped out of his state, grabbed his wand and pointed it at the intruder.
"Listen, I don't know who you are, or what you're doing just popping into my room like that, but―"
"BOY, what's all this racket about, don't make me come up there―" His uncle interrupted. "Petunia dear, where―! I'LL KILL YOU!" His uncle bellowed has his started to race up there stairs. Predictable...
"Vernon stop, he didn't do anything!" He heard is aunt cry from below.
"As you can see, now isn't the best time for you to be standing in my room." He growled out in frustration.
"Didn't do anything?! First Dudders, and now you; this freakishness has gone on long enough !" His uncle shouted from just beyond the door.
"What?" She stared at Harry in disbelief.
"Don't Vernon!" She shouted again.
"I mean, that if he sees you in here, on top of all the other shit then he's―" Harry was cut off as the door to his room slammed open. The occupants of the room turned to the noise, frozen.
"I'M GOING TO KI―WHO ARE YOU?!" Raged Vernon, the colour of his face deepening ever further. Vernon eyed the women, robes, stick, one of them!
######
"Vernon, please don't!" His aunt sobbed.
Harry watched his uncle as he raged. He knew her being there wasn't going to end well. But nooo, she had question everything! He watched his uncle's eyes as they flickered over the woman, before darting to her wand which was still clasped in her hand. His eyes widened in recognition before narrowing. They had a glint; the glint of murderer. His uncles famous homicidal rage.
Harry zoned out, the adrenaline pumped into his system. His uncle bellowed something before charging into the room. Time was in slow motion.
His uncle charged, the woman's eyes widened further before the colour drained from her face. She was still frozen. Harry vaulted off the bed, one hand reached up to push her back.
"Please stop!" His aunt's cries falling on deaf ears.
Vernon's arm reached back ready to deliver a socking blow to her face. He didn't notice her moving backwards or his nephew appearing in his view. Replacing the woman's place in the room, seconds later a sickening crack reverberated throughout the room as Vernon's fist connected with the side of Harry's face.
It was then that Vernon noticed the changes, shock quickly faded, as his rage returned, he'd seen red. I'll kill him!
######
Petunia watched as her nephew vaulted off the bed, pushing the rooms other occupant backwards, to then take her brute of a husbands fist to the face, knocking him to the floor.
Vernon seemed to pause for a second, before starting to viscously pound on the child which was now curled into a ball. The other women in just as much shock as her. It's finally gone too far, he's going to kill him. With that statement, her chest seemed to constrict. She found it suddenly harder to breath; all attempts to stop her husband failed.
With a last ditched attempt, she screamed with everything she had. She poured all her emotion; her needs, her fears, the distant love for the child bleeding on the floor.
"STOP! " She felt her energy rush from her; the lights shuddered, and everyone in the room froze.
######
Vernon Dursley stared at his wife in shock.
Tonks stared at Harry, then Petunia, in shock.
Harry just stared at his Aunt.
"Er―Harry? Thought your Aunt was a muggle?" Queried Tonks.
"She is, isn't she?"
######
"Dudley, we're leaving! Pack your things!" Vernon stormed from the the room after a staring match with his better half.
"Daad, do I have to?" Whined Dudley.
"Do you want to stay here with these freaks?!" He growled in anger with skewed curiosity.
"N―No."
Ten minutes had done little to sedate Vernon's anger, his son wasn't helping either.
"Dudley, don't bother with the Television, it's easily replaced. Just pack your clothes and valuables already!" Vernon shouted up the stairs, "I'll be in the car; don't make me wait!"
######
The minutes passed quickly and before they knew it; it was just the three of them.
Harry struggled off the floor onto the bed, where he stared at the celling not daring to break the silence.
As if suddenly realising her husband and son had just left, his Aunt broke into a fresh set of tears, the first of many for what was turning into quite the emotional day for everyone. Harry thought back to the conversation he had with his Aunt earlier; as much as his Aunt was unhappy with her life, there was still a love for her family. He didn't think her quite cold enough not to be effected by their departure.
Harry heard a sound and looked towards the window; a Ministry owl. Great.
"Oh Harry, this isn't good." Harry looked towards Tonks who was perched at the end of the bed, she wore a worried frown. "They're going to pin it on you aren't they? Maybe I should contact Dumbledore again; that's what I came here to tell you."
Harry went to the window and let in the owl, removed it's letter before offering it an owl treat, and a drink of water.
"Yeah, about Under Age Magic again. 'You have shown yourself incapable of following reasonable restrictions for the safety of the Wizarding World in accordance to Section 13 of the Inter...', yada yada yada, '...hear by ordered to attend a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic at 9 am, on the twelfth of August. Any offences between now and the disciplinary hearing will be taken...', yada yada yada, '...warrant issued for your arrest..', yada yada yada, '...facing a term in Azkaban Prison.' Well, that's new." Harry placed the letter down with indifference.
Tonks stared at him as if he had grown a second head, "'That's new'?! Harry, this is serious―"
"No, Sirius is Sirius." Harry joked.
"I don't understand why you don't even care; any more magic and they'll put you in Azkaban, Harry!" Tonks growl in exasperation.
"Oh, don't get me wrong Tonks, I know it's serious. But lets be honest, they'll do what they want to do. I mean, two of the three times 'I've done magic here' and it wasn't even me. First it was a house elf trying to get my expelled, and just now it was my Aunt. Merlin, even the time I did do it, it was in self defence. Not like they'll even admit that, with Dementors being Ministry 'controlled' and everything." He ran his fingers through his hair.
"I'm sorry, Harry. I should have guessed something along those lines; it's not like you to be indifferent by the chance of being put in Azkaban, especially now of all times, merlin, even expelled!" Tonks looked at her hands.
"Oh, by the way, what's with a big bad Auror freezing in a fight." Harry teased.
Tonks' head shot up, "Oh Harry, I'm so sorry, I forgot! Are you alright, you took quite a beating before? I'll go get Madam Po―"
"Tonks! What would Moody say, ay?" Harry swollen eye wink, before he winced.
Tonks stared at him dumbly, "What?"
"You were rambling, I should be fine, nothing a bit of rest won't―"
"Harry, you really must see somebody about this you look awful―"
"Tonks, no! I'm fine. Anyway, what did Dumbledore want?" Harry directed.
"Just wanted me to tell you that you shouldn't give up your wand. Oh, and to not do any more Magic." Tonks said with a lopsided grin.
"Can't say I was expecting much; always end up with my questions than answers after talking with that guy." Harry shook his head.
"Well, that was all I was going to say. And as much as I hate to leave you like this―"
"I'm fine Tonks, really. Couple hours sleep will do me good." He said with a smile.
"If you say so. Night Harry." She threw him a wink before disappearing.
"Harry, I'm sorry."
"What are you sorry for now?"
"I'm sorry about yesterday, I kind of made your situation worse and for that, I'm sorry. If there is anything I can do to help, just say."
"It's alright Tonks. I do have a question though."
"What is it Harry?"
"Why are you being so apologetic lately?"
"Well―I―" Harry grinned at her as she fell over herself trying to answer. She blushed under his gaze.
"No worries Tonks, I understand." Harry reassured her.
"Yo―You do?" Her eyes shined.
"Sure I do. I know under all that attitude, and 'Don't call me Ny―"
"Don't!"
"Fine, anyway, I believe you have low self-worth." Harry stated.
Tonks just stared at him, and blinked. She had not been expecting that; secretly she wished he'd understood what she was really trying to say. Nonetheless she was pleased that he had noticed. She vowed to try change that in future.
"Yeah, kind of happens after being an Apprentice under Moody," She lied, with a self-conscious smile.
"I can understand that." Harry replied, "So what brings you to my place. Not stopping by just to apologise, I hope."
"I have a few things to relay." She smiled.
"Shoot."
"Pardon?" Tonks asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh, never mind, muggle slang. What do you have to say?"
"Well, Dumbledore held an Order meeting last night, and I offered to take you to your trail. He said it was a good idea, and as I might get called to take the stand anyway, with me being a witness. He said not to worry about it, and that it would all take care of itself. H―"
"'Take care of itself'?"
"Which leads me to the second message. Hermione has been pestering Dumbledore whenever he's been at Number 12 about what he's doing about your case. He keeps replying, 'The truth will out, everything will turn out just fine.'. Naturally, that isn't good enough for her and she has been doing research." Harry rolled his eyes. "She says that by law, you should leave an innocent man―"
"'By law'? What is she expecting to happen?"
"Harry, have you not been reading the Daily Prophet?"
"No, why?"
Tonks looked uneasily around the room, "I'm not sure if I'm the best person to tell you this―"
"You'll do fine, what is it? What happened? Has Voldemort done something?" Harry asked hastily, he also noticed Tonks didn't flinch.
"Well―Harry, the Prophet has launched a smear campaign against you and Dumbledore. Fudge spoke, outright denying the return of You-Know―"
"Voldemort."
"V―Voldemort. And he started saying things like, 'He's a deluded, attention-seeking person who thinks he's a great tragic hero' ―"
"What?!"
"I know, none of us, The Order, believe it, expect Snape of course. But that didn't stop the Prophet picking it up; they've turned your name into a running joke. I'm sorry Harry."
"For merlin's sake, Tonks! Stop apologising!" He shouted angrily.
"I'm―er―Sorry, I'll just be going then." Tonks tried to make a hasty retreat, only to be stopped by Harry's hand around her arm.
"Listen Tonks, I shouldn't have blown up on you like that," He let go of her arm and looked down to his lap. His anger having dissipated with Tonks' statement. "I know it's not your fault, Fudge just hits a sore spot, you know?" He looked up towards her eyes.
"Try working for him." She laughed, Harry soon followed.
######
As the afternoon rolled on, Harry and Tonks continued to talk. After apologising to her Tonks had quickly forgiven him, and they spent some time in each others company.
When 3 o'clock drew near Tonks interrupted Harry.
"Listen Harry, it's been great. But I'm meant to be on Duty―and your not meant to know that." Her face fell into her hand.
Harry laughed, "Don't worry Tonks, I knew."
She looked up to him, "You knew, how? I was told I wasn't allowed to talk to you, never mind actually tell you that your being guarded?"
"You honestly believe, that people would be able to follow me, and me not know about it?" He replied honestly.
"Well, yeah?―" Tonks' shrugged.
"But that's besides the point. You weren't allowed to talk to me, and your not allowed to tell me that I'm being guarded?" His face impassive.
"Well, I was allowed to talk to you, to tell you about me taking you to the trial. But that was it; I was meant to just pop away, back to the garden."
"Who?" Harry demanded.
"What?" She asked, confused.
"Who has that right. Not allowed to talk to me... Let me guess, Dumbledore?"
"Right in one, I didn't want to follow orders. And well, I didn't did I?" She laughed, "And I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell him―"
"Why would I? I had fun. And let me backtrack a moment, I suppose Dumbledore is also the reason for totally pointless pieces of mail from my friends."
"Yeah, when I spoke to Hermione, she said that she had been told not to write anything important, about the Order, or what is happening. She hates it, so she talked to me about it. I've agreed to forward anything she wants to say. And she's coming over too, she wants to talk to you about your case. I'll be sneaking her in." She winked. "You really had fun?" She continued.
"Yeah, was nice to talk to somebody for a change. It didn't hurt that she was quite pretty either." He blushed.
"Good, you shouldn't have to stay in here with nobody to talk to." She smiled, "I don't know what Dumbledore is doing. Anyway, I have to go. I meant to be outside in 5 minutes for switch over. Later, lover boy." She winked and left with a crack, missing Harry fall over himself trying to find a reply.
######
It was a week later before Harry had any contact with the Magical World. He had spent most of his time reviewing last years school work. He found with preparing for the Tournament he had huge holes in knowledge, thus it was a good thing he had be exempt from the end of term exams.
Flicking through his Divination book, his doubts about the subject rose. He couldn't believe the subject was even 'taught' at Hogwarts. Everything he had seen so far about the subject was that it was more a skill you were born with that was cultivated, and that allowed you to divine the future, or whatever.
And one thing Harry knew was; he didn't have even a touch of the skill. Or so he thought.
Chucking the book down onto his bed, he jumped up and left his room. He wanted to take a walk; just get out of the house for a while. Having been in there all week, as well as looking after his Aunt somewhat.
His aunt had gone into a serious depression, and nothing he said or did helped, she just sat there and stared. Vowing to get some advice from Hermione when she arrived; he slipped on his shoes and walked out the front door.
It wasn't until the end of Privet Drive until the raised hairs on the back of his neck couldn't be ignored any more. His hand slipped into his over-sized jeans, and he gripped his wand.
Hoping not to raise suspicion he quickly glanced behind just as a gust of wind blew past. His nose picked up the faint smell of hibiscus, plum and chocolate. Yet he couldn't see anybody.
He recognised that smell; he'd never admit it to anyone but he secretly savoured that smell before he went to bed a week back.
He faced forward quickly to hide his grin. Tonks.
######
Tonks watched from under her cloak as Harry stepped out of the house, and started off down the street. Sighing to herself, she rushed after him, keeping a distance.
What is he doing leaving the house for, anybody else would tell him to get inside.
She watched as he left Privet Drive, glancing back briefly before grinning at the sight of the local park.
Harry quickly sped off, and Tonks struggled to keep up under the cloak. Making sure to keep low so her shoes didn't show.
When she arrived Harry was sitting on a swing, flying backwards and forwards recklessly, the grin still plastered on his face. She shook her head at him in amazement.
"Trouble keeping up, Tonks?" He shouted, laughter in his voice.
She stood there rooted to the spot. How did he know?
She removed the cloak after looking around. "How did you know?!"
"I told you. Do you really think you could follow me, and me not know about it?" His grin widened at the sight of the flustered Tonks.
"Yes, by how?" She said with emphasis.
Harry slowed down to a stop. He shrugged, "I don't know, I just feel as if somebody is watching me. I felt it since I left the house, and by the end of Privet Drive I just couldn't ignore it any more."
"Al right, but how did you know it was me?" She questioned on.
He smiled, "Your perfume." He said simply.
"Perfume?" She asked astonished.
"Yeah," He reached down and pulled some grass from the ground and threw it into the air. They watched as it floated away in the wind. "The wind was blowing towards me, you were behind me, I smelt your perfume, yet nobody was there. How?" He smiled again.
Tonks grinned, "How did you know what perfume I wore?"
Tonks was rewarded with a reddening Harry as he replied, "You honestly think you could spend a few hours in my room, and I wouldn't remember the smell of your perfume?" Harry started to inspect his hands.
"Relax, Harry. I was kidding." She laughed. "Your just so easy to make blush."
Summoning his courage, he replied, "I'm not the only one." With a wink. He watched with satisfaction as her cheeks started to colour.
Tonks just looked at him. Dammit! My own bloody body betrayed me. She receded the blush with help of her morphing powers. He is kind of cute though. What?!
"Tonks,Tonks!" Harry shouted.
"What?" She blinked.
"You sort of spaced out there for a second, you alright?" He asked with concern.
"What―Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry about that." She looked down for a second.
"Its alright. So your on duty today, when you bringing Hermione over?"
Tonks' disappointment didn't show on her face, "Er―I'm bringing her on Wednesday, are you free?"
"Good, I need to ask her something. And yes, of course I'm free. Not a lot else I can do is there?" He laughed.
"Al right then Harry, lets get back, you weren't even supposed to be out of the house." She threw the cloak over her head.
"Okay, only wanted some air. Been in that house all week." Harry started off towards home.
Tonks sighed in defeat, before following after him.
######
"Harry, are you home?" Tonks shouted up the stairs after she apparated in with Hermione.
She looked around, at least the house wasn't unnaturally tidy any more. Good bit of dirt never hurt.
"He's in his room. Could you tell him it's lunch time too." Said Petunia from the kitchen doorway.
"Thanks, Mrs Dursley." Hermione's smile slipped when Mrs Dursley burst into tears and walked back into the kitchen-diner. She looked at Tonks who shrugged.
They walked up the stairs towards his room when Hermione gasped, she whirled at Tonks, "You mean―They put―What is that for?!" She growled pointing at the cat flap, "He doesn't have a cat."
Tonks raised her hands, "Hey, don't look at me!"
"You knew, and you left him here to be locked up?!" She screamed.
"Now hang on just―"
"It's alright, Tonks―" Said Harry as he opened the door.
"Harry!" He had a split-second warning to brace himself before a brown haired missile hit him.
"Ug―Hey 'Mione," He said as he relaxed into the embrace.
She pulled away, "Harry, I'm sorry, you shouldn't be here. What was Dumbledore thinking?! And you!" She whirled on Tonks again, "You knew, and you left him here!"
"Hermione,"
"I absolutely cannot believe you would just leave him here,"
"Hermione!"
"When it is blatantly obvious that something is wrong when you see this," She waved her hand at the door.
"Hermione Jane Granger, stop!" Harry commanded, and she did. She looked at him. "This has nothing to with her, it hasn't been touched since my Uncle left. There was no reason for me to leave."
Righteous anger faded, Hermione flung herself at Harry again, "Oh Harry, I didn't know, I swear I didn't know," She sobbed, "Didn't know they were so―so, horrid."
As Harry held her as she cried, Tonks stood in the doorway, shocked at being berated by a 15 year old girl. A stray thought entered her mind. How can I compete?
She shook herself as the sobs seemed to lessen, she heard Harry whisper, "Come now, less of this, it's over now, it's alright here."
"Hermione I have something to ask you." Harry said releasing the hug.
"Should I―" Tonks pointed outside the room. Compete; I've already lost.
He shook his head. She blinked.
"Hermione, and you as well Tonks," He said meeting each of them in the eyes, "I―I need some advice."
"Well, you see―er," Harry started to pace, as the girl sat on his bed. He didn't know how to approach the subject.
"Oh I know, it's a girl isn't it Harry?" Said Hermione.
Harry stopped pacing and his head whipped up, "What―No! Of―What? Why would you―"
Hermione laughed, and Tonks cracked a smile, "Oh course it is, only a girl could get you this flustered, who is it, do we―"
"Hermione, no! It's my Aunt." Harry blurted out, his face turned to shock, then pure embarrassment, as he realised what he'd said.
Tonks choked up, which turned into a violent coughing fit. Harry moved to her, and started patting her back, "Tonks, you okay?" He asked in concern, previous conversation forgotten.
"Wh―What? Yeah, yeah I'm fine. I just imagined that, right?" She looked over at Hermione, who was just staring at Harry, mouth agape, "Right?!" She turned to Harry, "Harry, please, please, I'm begging you, your just joking right?"
He just looked at her, "What?"
It was Hermione's turn to talk, "Harry, not that I want to criticise your feelings or anything, but she's your aunt, your mothers sister, and what, 25 years older than you, er―"
Harry stared at he, feeling slightly ill, "What?! Hermione, no! No! I meant, it's my Aunt I need advice about! For merlins sake, you think I fancy my Aunt! No! She's depressed, I needed help! Oh my god."
Harry put his face in his hands again.
"OH Harry! I just―"
"Assumed you were correct?" Asked with a blank face.
"Yes, sorry. But, I thought, Cho, oh Harry. I'm sorry." Her head fell down.
"I'm sorry too, I know you hate it when I keep saying it, but it did sound pretty bad. Especially when you told Hermione that your Uncle had gone, she just put it all together wrong." She giggled.
They spent the next few hours laughing at Harry, even if he did join in, and talk over his case. By the end he had a folder of arguments, memories, written and signed statements.
Had Harry guessed what his next 3 weeks would be like; he wouldn't have guessed correctly. In fact, he didn't guess correctly. Which was the reason he was currently standing in the doorway of No. 4 Privet Drive, stuttering like a fool.
Chapter 2
"Wha―Herm―Wh―"
He looked from Hermione to Tonks, and continued spluttering out half words. They both burst into laughter.
Hermione started to catch her breath, "Oh―I'm sorry Harry―Just so funny."
"I guess the questions were 'What?' and 'Why?'?" Asked Tonks, Harry nodded.
"Well, we figured you wouldn't be doing much. I'm on duty again. And nobody seemed to miss Hermione yesterday, so, here we are!" Tonks spread her arms wide in an expressive gesture.
"Oh―Right, suppose you want to come in?"
"I will―"
"I can't, I'm afraid. Gotta' do some protecting!" With that, Tonks apparated away.
"Right," Harry closed the door.
Harry started to walk into the Kitchen-diner, "Would you like anything to drink, we've got-t-t," He open the fridge door. "Milk and water?"
Hermione smiled, "Cup of tea, please."
Harry turned to her with a neutral expression, "That wasn't an option―"
"Yeah, but you have milk and water, a kettle over there. I'm sure you've got tea bags and sugar round here too!"
Harry stared and managed to get out, "Yeah, that doesn't mean you get to have a cup of tea―" Before bursting into laughter at the look of outrage on Hermione's face. "Got―cha" He said between gulps of air.
Hermione issued a soft growl before swatting his head, "You!"
"Me?"
"Make me a cup of tea already," She turned in a huff, making Harry bark a laugh again.
"Coming right up,"
######
Harry sat down on the table opposite Hermione, and slid her drink over. She rapped her hands around the warm cup and stared down into the murky drink, unconsciously repeating the actions of Harry's aunt a few weeks earlier.
Harry just finished blowing his drink before taking a noisy slurp. He looked up towards his now silent company. Noticing the slumped shoulders, and downcast face, he asked, "'Mione, what's wrong?"
She stay silent, he noticed her shoulders started to shake. He reached across the table and tilted her head up. She was crying silent tears. Harry rushed round the table and pulled her into a hug, she let go of her drink and burrowed into his chest, her crying increased as they gently slid to the floor.
Harry gently rocked her as he whispered none-sense words into her ear. It seemed like hours before the last tears fell; neither moved as they sat huddled on the floor.
Eventually Harry broke the silence, "Do you want to tell me what all that was about?" He whispered.
Hermione burrowed further into his chest in reply. He leant back and placed his finger under her chin again, tilting her head up once again, their eyes locked and Harry could see the fear, sadness, love?
Hermione looked away, he was just about to speak when he heard her whisper, "I―I thought you were starting too." Tears started to fall again.
"Start what, 'Mione?" He rubbed her back.
She flashed him a quick smile of gratification, "Ron, I don't know what happened to him. Ever since we got back from school; I was at Headquarters with him. He was just so, spiteful. He would go out of his way to be hurtful towards me." She paused, Harry let her continue, "It was why I wanted to be here, away from him, with you. Then when you started teasing my about the drink―" Harry pulled her closer.
"I'm so sorry, Mi―"
"I could take it from Ron, I always knew he was a git. I ignored him because you two were friends. But I couldn't take it from you Harry, not you―"
"I'm so sorry, I'll do anything to make it up to you. I'll even make you dinner." He joked.
Hermione twisted out of his grip, and looked him right in the eye, inches from his face. She could see his honesty, the remorse he felt for his comments, his fear of rejection, his love?
She leaned forward, and asked huskily, "Kiss me?"
######
Tonks' morning couldn't have been more embarrassing. Having woken up with a splitting headache, she proceeded downstairs where she was overheard Ron's voice through the library door.
She couldn't believe what she was hearing; they were meant to be best friends, and if she was honest with herself, this wasn't first time she'd heard comments like this. She heard movement in the room, so she quickly entered the room opposite, where she peered through the keyhole. It didn't take long for Hermione to burst through the door, leaving it open in her wake. Still standing in the room, was Ron with a smirk on his face.
Tonks left and went downstairs after Ron left the room, she entered the kitchen to see Sirius, Hermione, Mr and Mrs Weasley eating breakfast. She slumped into the seat next to Hermione, and bumped her gently with her shoulder. Hermione turned round and threw Tonks a quick smile before starting to eat again.
Tonks got a plate and started to get some food when Sirius spoke, "How's your head this morning, Nymphy?"
She growled at him, "Don't you dare call me that again, or Padfoot gets neutered." Hermione choked on her food, and Sirius looked horror struck, "You wouldn't," His whispered.
"Try me." She started on her food again.
"That doesn't stop me talking about my favourite godson, though does it?" He smirked.
"What about Harry?" Ask Hermione.
"Oh, I don't know. Just something Ny―Tonks," He quickly glanced at Tonks. "Said last night, isn't that right Tonks?"
"Oh, is it about the trial?"
"Eh―Yeah, the trial," She blushed.
"Yeah, Tonks, the trial. Or was it, how much fun you were having with Harry the other week, hmm?" Sirius teased.
"You spent time with Harry?" Hermione asked, "Before, I went that is?"
"Er―Yeah, when I went to give him your message. I kinda―"
"Spent your whole shift with him?" Said Sirius, she blushed, "Yeah."
"Well―Good, he needs some company. Say Tonks, you think you and I could have a chat for a second." Hermione stood up, "In the hall?"
However before Tonks could reply, Molly spoke up, "That's alright, dear. Anything you have to say can be said in front of us. We're all family after all."
"Er―No, it's alright. We'll be right back." She dragged Tonks into the hall after receiving a disapproving gaze from Mrs Weasley.
"What is it, Hermione?" Tonks said, head slightly downcast.
"I was wondering if you would take me to see Harry again today?" Asked Hermione nervously.
"Wha―Sure, sure. Er, listen, Hermione, about me and Harry―"
"It's alright Tonks, I know you like him, I like him too. But if you think about it, it isn't really our choice. Hell, he may not even like either of us! But then again, if if he does..." She trailed off and took a deep breath. "Listen, I'm not one for a polyamory relationship, having been raised in the muggle world. But who knows what will happen; I guess I could share if he asked." She said with a wink, then walked out.
######
As Tonks apparated away she was hit with a pang of jealousy. She felt like leaving her duties again; it's not like being in his presence wasn't guarding him, right?
Arriving in the garden with a small pop, she looked around. The garden at No. 4 were usually more maintained than they were. The grass was overgrown, you could see the odd weed had sprouted up throughout it. The borders a wash of green as plants and bushes raced to outgrow each other. What little space was left was dominated by even more weeds.
She threw her cloak over her shoulders and disappeared from view, not that it did much good, as the crushed grass marked her progress.
She watched as they entered the kitchen, exchanged a few words when Hermione hit his head. She chuckled to herself.
As they sat with their drinks at the table, she decided it was time to check the perimeter and started off down the side of the house.
######
The usual rounds took her nearly one hour more as one of Mrs Figg's cats caught her attention. It didn't take much to work out that it want her to follow; so follow she did. Once at Mrs Figg's house she was given a note with addition orders and left to complete her path.
As she entered the back garden again, she walked to a window and peered through. The instant she did she felt a jolt go down through her system. Sitting on the floor, bodies tangled in each others, were Harry and Hermione. Their lips melded together, as both sort to dominate the other in a spell of hormone driven lust. It was hot!
Feeling the jealousy washed over her for the second time that day. With thoughts of being an unwanted voyeur she turned to watch over the house from a distance.
######
Harry pulled away sharply, "Hermione, stop."
"What is it, Harry? Did I―" Hermione was cut off as Harry looked behind him.
"No, no, it was great. Just, somebody was watching us. But I don't see anybody." Harry made to stand up, but Hermione grabbed his arm and yanked him back down.
"Don't worry, Harry," She grinned, "It was Tonks, how long was she watching?"
"I don't know, five minutes?" He shrugged.
"Five minutes! I knew she―" She stopped abruptly and looked up sharply. Harry's eyes were expectant.
"'I knew she―'?" Harry continued.
"Oh―It's nothing," She said hastily, but Harry continued to look right into her eyes.
"You sure?" He pried.
"Fine! I'm not meant to tell you, but-t-t, she kind of has a crush on you."
"No she doesn't." He stated.
"Yes, she does."
"I don't believe it, what could she possibly see in me?" He cast his eyes downward.
Hermione just crossed her arms, and stared at him. He eventually looked up, and with a slouch of his shoulders he breathed out, "Fine. So, she's attached to me?"
"Yup," She nodded.
Mustering his courage he laughed, "Probably enjoyed what she saw. You almost had my top off!"
Hermione blushed as she realised that Tonks had watched her battle with Harry.
######
"Hey guys, what you doing?" Tonks asked as she walked into Harry's room. Hermione and Harry were sitting side by side with the backs against the wall. Both had pads on their knees and books were tossed about the bed.
"Summer homework," Hermione answered without looking up.
Tonks gave Harry a look which obviously meant 'what's with her?' "Don't worry Tonks, she's just embarrassed." He answered.
"About what?"
"Oh, you know. You watching our make-out session and all," Tonks started spluttering and he tried to hold back a blush.
"How?" She finally asked.
Before she could answer Hermione ground out, "Five minutes, you watched for five minutes?"
Tonks' blush deepened, and she shrugged sheepishly, "What? It was kinda hot." Everyone in the room had matching red faces.
After a few more minutes of playful banter, Tonks spoke up again, "Sorry Hermione but it's time to go, I'll wait outside the door." She winked at the pair.
After a few kisses, Hermione started to leave. "Hey 'Mione, can I borrow this book?" He held up her copy of Ancient Runes: The Introduction.
"Runes?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, I just flicked through, seems quite interesting." He said sheepishly.
"Yeah sure, just make sure I get it back before Term so I can do my homework."
"Okay thanks, bye 'Mione." He smiled.
AN: JK said that each Galleon was worth approximately £5.
Sorry that's far from realistic, so I'm invoking a little writers freedom and changing that. I spent a long time trying to work out the approx price of a Galleon. I based it's size of a doubled up 2 pence piece, 25mm diameter, 4mm depth. Resulting in 1963mm cubed volume. Volume to Weight conversion, on 0.000002 Cubic meters of Gold is equal to approx. 38.64 grams. Which at current gold prices equals £1018. That's expensive, and also creates absurd amounts of sickles and knuts to equal prices.
So I'd going with.. 1 Galleon = £100, 40 Sickles to a Galleon, 30 Knuts to a Sickle.
Chapter 4
Harry heard the knock at his bedroom door, but what he was doing was just too interesting. The endless possibilities, just waiting to collected and constructed. His musings were interrupted as the door banged open.
"A ward on the door Harry, honestly―what the―!"
"Oh hey, 'Mione. What are you doing here?" Asked Harry from the end of the room.
"I may have escaped your notice, Harry. But those 3 weeks since I first came over? Yeah, well they're up―Have you been to sleep?!" Hermione asked suddenly noticing the made bed which was covered in strange materials, and what looked like gold sheet; Wait what? Gold sheet?
"Harry, what the hell is going on here?" Asked Tonks from the door.
"Er―Welcome to the Potter factory of all things weird and wonderful?" He replied sheepishly.
"I can―see that..." Replied Hermione and Tonks.
"Why don't I fill you in?"
"Honestly, Harry! Now is not the time to be thinking about sex!" Hermione replied automatically, before blushing deeply.
"Thanks, but no thanks." Harry stuttered.
"You were going to explain?" Provided Tonks.
"Right―yeah, erm. Well you see after I read through the Introductory Runes book, I started to get loads of ideas, it just seemed so―so―"
"Versatile?"
"Right, versatile, so I sent Hedwig off to Flourish and Blotts, asking for all the books they had, and there you have it."
"Sorry Harry, your not getting away with that little. It might explain why this room is a little bigger than before, but it doesn't explain why everything is covered in gold." Exclaimed Tonks in exasperation.
Harry glanced around the room; he didn't notice it before but they were right. The window and door frames were covered in gold. His bed, completely covered, draws, covered. He raised an eyebrow at his lack of observation.
"Er―Well, I came to realise something. Runes are usually caved in wood, metal or gold. That's from worst to best. The flow of magic between the runes is almost like―well, electricity, however the connection seems to be unnaturally efficient when using gold. Which I haven't worked out why, yet." He said with a thoughtful look on his face. He ran his hand through his scraggier-than-normal hair then continued, "Anyway, I also picked up from reading these many books; which is also where I got the room expansion runes, they were surprisingly simple to place.
"Anyway, what I also picked up from these books is that people use these other materials as substitutes for gold, as gold is generally expensive, and if you wanted a Runic Necklace it would be cheaper to make it out of a metal instead, depending obviously on how many runes you want to place. So I tried to think of a way to keep the price low, while maintaining the highest efficiency.
"Then it came to me. How can you use gold, without creating it from gold." He held up a thing piece of golden foil, "Gold leaf.
"So naturally I contacted to the Goblins about the price of gold. I was actually a little surprised to find out Galleons weren't solid gold, if I'm honest, I wonder how many Purebloods know that. Regardless, I'm going off on a tangent again. They said that a Galleon was worth 5 pounds, and it uses something like 0.5 grams of gold, which coats the outside of their coins. They offered me, for 2 Galleons, 1, 1 meter square of gold leaf. Which I started using to experiment with." He shrugged, "That's it."
Hermione just stared at him, "Wow."
He grinned before moving across the room and giving her a quick kiss on the lips, "I know, right?"
"Ugh―When was the last time you washed!"
"Erm―"
"Harry, what do the golden balls do?" Enquired Tonks from his side.
"Why don't I show you?" He picked up a ball from the table, and his wand.
The balls on the table were all different sizes, ranging from golf ball sized to footballs.
He placed his wand to a rune on the ball; suddenly it started to flash. After a few seconds his hand dropped down, and he blew out a breath. "Wow, they still take a lot out of me." Before they could ask, he threw the ball out the room.
It bounced once on the stairs, it changed colour. It bounced for the second time, it changed colour again.
They watched with curious eyes, and just as they thought they figured out the purpose of the ball, the brightest white light shone from the bottom of the stairs, causing the occupants of the house to quickly shield their eyes.
"Bloody―" Exclaimed Hermione.
"―Hell―" Finished Tonks.
"Well, that was, unexpected, still did the job though." Harry tuned around and started fiddling with something on his desk as the girls collected themselves.
"Did it's job? I thought it was just a colour changing bouncy ball?" Questioned Tonks.
"It's a 'Flash Grenade' made from a simple one pound bouncy ball craved with runes and covered in gold leaf. Surprisingly efficient."
At Tonks' confused gaze, Hermione elaborated, "A Flash Grenade is used in the muggle armed forces, they're thrown into rooms where they explode and daze the occupants. This leaves them vulnerable to the attacking force."
"Wow, that's handy. How many did you make?"
"Well, that was my newest design. I tested another five or so, and I still have those. They can be reused, just recharge the correct rune and your ready to throw." He explained.
######
"Listen Harry, there is a reason we are here."
"Oh, there is?"
"Yes, your trial remember. And it's in 2 hours so you better get a move on. Your a state."
"I completely forgot! I'll be 20 minutes."
Harry raced out the room, only to race back in a moment later to take his clothes from Hermione's hands. He had a quick shower, brushed his teeth, and tried miserably to tame his hair. He walked back into his room and saw Hermione sifting through the papers on his desk.
"Harry, how did you work all this out?" She called without looking up.
"I don't know, I suppose it seems so straightforward to me. It's like writing a story but with pictures instead of words, because remember, words can have multiple meanings. So I suppose it's about intent, and context."
"Anyway Harry, it's about time we left." Interrupted Tonks.
"Wait, Hermione isn't coming?"
"No, I'm going to wait here for you to get back. If that's alright with you?" Hermione asked looking up for the first time.
"Yeah, sure. Just don't mess with the papers too much alright. I'm working on something. You know where the kitchen is if you need anyting."
Harry and Tonks walked out the front door. Tonks pulled Harry into a hug and before he could protest he felt like he was being pushed in from all sides, he tried to breath but found he couldn't. He started to panic, then it was over.
"What. The. Hell?" He barked at Tonks while catching his breath.
"Sorry Harry, I should have warned you, that was apparation. Anyway, let's head off. We're going to the ministry through the guest entrances."
Before Harry could argue, Tonks started walking.
They left the courtyard of the Leaky Cauldron, where Tonks had apparated them moments before. They passed through the main bar, and waved to Tom the barman on the way out. It was surprisingly empty, Harry thought. But he guessed it was because the times he had been there, were always after receiving a Hogwarts letter so the alley was bound to be more busy.
They seemed to walk off in a random direction, taking lefts, and rights. Before a traditional red telephone box came into view. Tonks walked over to the door and held it open as Harry shuffled inside, Tonks entered behind. Tonks leant over his shoulder and picked up the receiver. Tapped 6, 2, 4, 4, 2 and held it to her ear.
"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic, state your business." Droned the women.
"Auror Tonks, and Harry Potter for Harry Potter's trial."
"Please take the badges, have a pleasant day."
Harry heard a clinking sound, and looked over towards the phone as Tonks collected two badges out of the 'coin return' slot. Tonks handed one to Harry as she pined her own onto her Auror robes. It read, 'Harry Potter, attending trial'.
Suddenly the phone box gave a lurch, and Harry almost lost his footing. The phone box was moving downwards, and before he knew it he was in a huge room.
The room was larger than the great hall in Hogwarts, it seemed to span at least a quarter of a mile. He arrived in a small off-shoot, the walls were covered with other similar phone boxes, and people were walking to and throw.
As Harry followed Tonks down the strip, he noticed the fountain in the middle, decorated with various magical creatures, ranging from Goblins to Hippogriffs.
Tonks directed him towards an alcove off the hallway about half way along the atrium, there was a a large desk blocking the way. People were queuing up, and talking to a person behind the desk. They waited in line.
It took almost twenty minutes to reach the desk. Harry was silently thanking Tonks and Hermione for interrupting his experimenting, as it wasn't long till his trial. Harry guessed he would have been late, or worse, not attended, had he been left to get there on his own.