To answer a question in one of my reviews women like to join in a serene moment while men like to just look on. That and I see Tonks as compulsive and not having any of societies scruples about being friends with a male cause she's surrounded by male aurors. That and she did listen in or Remus and Harry talking the other morning.
Chapter 6 - Fireflies
Harry awoke the next morning far later than he usually did. Looking around the room he noticed not even Tonks was still in bed and figured if he didn't hurry up then he might miss breakfast. It was a new feeling for him wishing he had stayed asleep longer, he had been dreaming about Sirius, Harry's age again and living a full new life out in the open with Remus. It was almost like the world had never come crashing around him and he would always be able to be happy.
He tromped to the bathroom and let the water run over his face like he had the day before; a warm shower was enough to make anyone feel better. He was nearly miserable trying to think of a way to make Sirius happy, there had to be a way. He knew when everything went down he would still be right here.
Harry threw on some jeans and an undershirt, not really feeling like getting fully dressed just yet he started down the stairs, looking in Remus and Sirius' room and seeing them talking and having a butter beer before continuing down.
Oddly enough Tonks wasn't anywhere he looked and when he finally went back to the kitchen to start some lunch, it being around noon, he finally saw a note stuck to the pantry right on his eye level.
Harry,
I had to actually work today but I should be home
around 1 or so with someone who wants to meet you.
Hope you don't mind!
N. Tonks
It was completely beyond Harry who she was bringing here but that was no reason not to have a good lunch ready for her and their guest. Starting on lunch Harry pulled out some chicken breasts and started peeling the skin off of them and putting them in some marinara.
Not sure if they would actually be hungry or not Harry didn't make too big of a meal he just got a large bowl of salad ready and went upstairs to put on a shirt so Tonks didn't glare at him when she came in. He ran up the stairs and pulled a green shirt with silver pinstripes on and then tried to fix his hair a bit then sprinted back down the stairs to get the chicken out of the frying pan.
Putting everything down on the table right as they walked in Harry looked up catching Tonks' eyes first, holding them for a moment and then looking at their guest. It was a nondescript guy really and later if asked Harry wouldn't be able to even recall a single feature beyond him being slightly shorter than himself.
"Harry this is Mr. Clifton" Tonks said, introducing the man who awkwardly shook Harry's hand.
"Nice to meet you sir, I wasn't sure if you would be hungry but I was so I made lunch" Harry said, looking over to Tonks.
She smiled at him and guided Mr. Clifton towards the table before sitting down next to Harry's seat. "Don't be afraid Clifton; Harry is quite a good cook so far."
Harry smiled and sat down himself stabbing a couple of the pieces of chicken and getting a good scoop of salad on his plate before speaking again.
"I don't know who you are Mr. Clifton and I'm confused as to why you would want to meet me really." Harry finished this off by taking a bite of his salad, giving the other man time to explain himself.
Mr. Clifton didn't touch the food or the drink by his plate for that matter he just sat and studied Harry for a second while the younger man continued to eat and look at him, plainly letting him know he wasn't going to budge on this matter.
Tonks was smiling for some reason, Harry noticed. Without knowing it he had passed the first unofficial test that Clifton had set for him and Tonks was prouder of herself than she rightly should be.
"I am Douglas Clifton, the head recruiter for the Department of Mysteries." He said, succinctly and without adding anything else.
Harry for his part just finished the bite of salad he was chewing and then looked at him with those emerald green eyes clearly letting the man know he could elaborate or get more silence.
Clifton sighed "I am here to offer you a trainee position in our department if you'll accept it."
Instead of answering him immediately Harry lowered his head and took a bite of chicken. He was going to think seriously about this although his first instinct was to take it. These were the people who had taken away his godfathers life and if anyone could give it back it would be them.
Closing his eyes Harry saw his godfather falling through the veil, Hermione getting hit by a curse and Ron with the brain sucker attached to him. A moment of realization hit him. That death eater had stuck his head accidentally into a bowl and had aged and de aged right before Harry's eyes. It was rather odd looking to be honest but with enough of the liquid and a way to pull him out at the right time.
"I'll do it Mr. Clifton." Harry said, eyes opening and turning to Tonks.
She squealed and winked at Harry while Clifton took out a piece of paper and slid it across the table to Harry before getting up.
"I'll show myself out, welcome to the team Mr. Potter" He said before going out and leaving the house.
Tonks couldn't seem to control herself there for a second she flew out of her seat and hugged Harry for all he was worth for a few seconds before planting a kiss on his cheek.
"This is amazing Harry, we will be working together and after you've been trained you get an automatic auror position so it doesn't look suspicious when your there all the time. Unspeakables aren't exactly the person everyone wants to see walking down the hall you know?" She said while sitting back in her seat and starting back in on her chicken with much more relish.
"What exactly are we doing Tonks'?" Harry asked wondering what exactly he had gotten himself into.
"Basically we are the wizarding world's secret aurors, the ones they never know about until it's too late. Other than that I can't tell you anything until you're inducted." She said between mouthfuls. "Ooo Harry this is really the best chicken I've ever eaten, I don't know how you managed to do it but it really is wonderful."
Blushing at the compliment and still trying to take everything in Harry looked down at the note in front of him.
Mr. Potter,
When you sign this paper you will have
formed a magical contract with the department
of mysteries. Your signature will be recorded in
our office, this paper is for your own personal records.
After you sign we will expect you at 9a.m the
following Monday morning.
Sincerely,
Douglas Clifton
Unspeakable Recruiter
Harry finished his meal, it was just now Tuesday and he had the rest of the week to get ready for his new job.
"Tonks if you don't mind I'm going to carry some of this up to Sirius and send Remus down to eat while I talk to him about it. I'll see you later yeah?" Harry asked before getting up from his chair.
Though Tonks' nodded she didn't look like she was ready to let Harry go but he managed to push this thought from his mind as he fixed Sirius a plate and then walked up the stairs.
"Lunch is ready Remus," Harry said as he pushed open the door a little.
"Ah thank you Harry, I'll go grab some then. Is Tonks' home yet?" He asked while getting up. He leaned down and kissed Sirius tenderly on the lips before walking towards Harry.
Harry found himself wanting someone to kiss him like that, to care about how he was feeling and to not want him to leave. Harry wanted what Remus and Sirius had, even though one was horribly sick and aged beyond belief the other devoutly stayed as if the thought of leaving had never entered his mind.
"Yea she's eating now." Harry said as Remus walked past him with a pat to his shoulder.
When he had left Harry walked over to Sirius' side and he leaned down hugging his godfather.
"Tonks' brought a visitor with her when she came home today Padfoot. This bloke named Mr. Clifton. Anyways he offered me a job in the Department of Mysteries and I decided to take it." Harry said quickly, as if he needed courage to tell his godfather he had gotten a job.
"Harry isn't it a bit quick for you to have a job. I just mean that life has got to be hard enough you don't need anything else worrying you." Sirius said quietly before opening his mouth for a bite that Harry was holding in front of his face.
"Not really Sirius I've found a way to make everything alright for you." Harry said.
For the next hour Harry described to Sirius his plan to get him back to whatever age he wanted to be at again, how life was going to go back to a semblance of normal and that Harry was going to defeat Voldemort whatever it took. It was impossible for Sirius to tell him that it wasn't his task since Dumbledore had revealed the prophecy to him.
The only thing Harry left out was his own fate. He still hadn't decided whether he wanted to go back to his own age. He liked being older, liked Tonks' company and the freedom that came with being his own man.
He wasn't sure he could give all that up just to go back to being a scrawny kid controlled by every adult who thought they knew what was good for him when really they were just getting him into position to die for them all.
Suddenly everything had changed……….
AN: Alright so another chapter up, this one is slightly shorter but this felt like a good place to end it. I hope you all liked the idea I came up with to save Padfoot and the progression of the relationship. R&R
