Disclaimer: I still don't own anything but thank you for thinking I do, it gives me hope for the future.

A/N: Sorry I haven't updated for a while. I had some family business that took a bit of time. I'm back and hopefully can keep going with out too much interruption.

Chapter 10

Amelia Bones was beyond pissed as she walked back to her office. She finally gets the old man out of the infirmary and the only answer he would give was that it was Harry's destiny to face Voldemort and die, that Voldemort couldn't be killed until Harry was dead and he could only die by the Dark Lords hand regardless of what Mr. Weasley said. When asked about Ginny Weasley he insisted that there was no oath and that even if there was then it was Mr. Weasley's fault for the whole misunderstanding.

The Wizengamot wasn't being any help either. They had told her that she could hold him for five days but if she couldn't bring him to trial by the end of the week she would have to let him go. They even told her that she couldn't use veritaserum to question him until the trial, and then only if the evidence supported the use. The first time that they give a damn about evidence and it has to be with this case. Now she had to figure out who could prosecute the case. The time frame wasn't a big deal because of all the evidence and the fact that they had him on record saying Harry had to die. The problem was finding someone that wasn't a Dumbledore worshiper. Normally she would have done it herself but with everything that she was coordinating with the goblins she just didn't have the time.

Everyone in the vicinity of Madam Bones at that time seemed to find someplace else that they needed to be. A slow evil looking smile started forming on her face. The goblins, they had enough lawyers to be able to spare one or two. Since this was Dumbledore she would have no problem proving that it was the only way to avoid a conflict of interest, almost the entire ministry went to Hogwarts under him in some fashion, so the ministry would pick up the tab. Madam Bones changed direction and headed to the atrium.

XXXXXXXX

Tonks and Harry were just leaving the clinic that Rebecca worked in after being introduced to some of her coworkers. They had decided to spend another day just wondering the neighborhood he would call home after this weekend, and both of them were enjoying another day with nothing to do but relax. Tonks had been joking that to make his move last as long as hers had they would have to take his things over on piece at a time.

"Yeah right, you just want a reason to wave those boxers you got me around again. I swear those things are so bright if you had them out at night, planes would use them as a landing marker."

"Oh come on, you'd look good in them. And you know I like pink." She gave him a wink and laughed as he rolled his eyes.

"HARRY" A voice they both recognized came from behind them. Harry turned around just in time to be hit by a redheaded missile.

"Ginny, what are you doing here? We left the clinic so we wouldn't run into you today."

It was another voice that answered "She wanted to come a little early to get out of the house. Things have been a little intense there since Monday."

Harry ignored Remus "Hey Gin, how about you show up about an hour early on Friday, we can grab a late lunch before your appointment. We won't have to worry about you know what."

"Sure, do you want to meet here or someplace else?"

"Here will work. Tonks and I are exploring the area we can try to find someplace that might have some good food. But for now why don't we separate, I don't want to risk hurting you. I think Rebecca is still fee at the moment so she should be able to work you in a little early."

Remus spoke again "Harry could we talk while Ginny's with Rebecca?"

Harry looked at Tonks for a moment.

"Your choice, but you know I'm here."

He nodded and turned back to his old professor and when he spoke his voice held no emotion. "There's a small café a block over, we can check out the food." He looked back at Ginny and the emotion returned along with his smile "See you Friday, one o'clock, ok?"

"Sure, see you." She turned and went into the clinic as Harry and Tonks went the opposite direction leaving Remus standing alone.

"You know he's going to try to talk you into seeing Sirius don't you?" Tonks asked

"Yeah, but it's not going to happen, I'm not ready yet. If I don't talk to him now he'll keep trying to see me and I'll just lose my temper."

They walked the rest of the way to the café in silence. Once inside they ordered three teas and some biscuits and sat at a booth in the back of the almost empty room. Harry took a bite of a biscuit and gagged, he stared at it for a moment before looking at Tonks.

"Don't eat these, you might not survive."

"Oh come on, they may not be yours but they can't be that bad." She took a bite. Harry started laughing at the look on her face as she grabbed a napkin to spit it back out. "I may need to go back and see Rebecca after that."

Harry waved over their waitress. She was a blonde about his age and a little shorter than him.

"Can I ask who makes your biscuits?"

"We buy them, why?"

Tonks spoke "Because you're being robbed, can't your cook make some that are better than this, I don't mean to offend you but these could be considered attempted murder."

The blonde hung her head slightly "I know they're horrible but my Uncle makes ones that are worse than these. He's a good cook for most things but baking is beyond him and he can't hire a baker for what he's willing to pay."

Harry saw Remus walk in and turned back to the waitress "We have to talk to this guy coming in but when we're done could we talk to you? I may be able to help out."

She smiled "Sure, it's not like I'm real busy right now." She waved a hand around the practically empty room and then walked away as Remus sat.

"Don't eat the biscuits." Tonks told him as a way of greeting.

They sat in silence for a few moments before Harry finally said in his emotionless voice "You wanted to talk to me, this isn't talking."

"Harry, everyone is sorry about what happened, and after what we all saw on Monday and heard about what happened at the hearing, we're worried about you." Harry just looked at him not saying anything. "Hermione is worried that she's ruined your friendship and Sirius would really like to see you. They want to apologize to you in person."

Harry took a breath trying to keep his anger in control. "I have my reasons for what I did at the hearing. As for what all of you saw, I was kidnapped, accused of some things, found out that people were trying to kill Ginny, and told that the purpose of the Order was to set me up for being killed. I think that might excuse my behavior as justified. If you people want me dead then kill me yourself, I'm tired of being thrown in front of Voldemort for some old mans twisted pleasure."

Remus paled "None of us want you dead Harry, we had to hold Sirius back because he was going to kill Dumbledore."

"So you're saying that because someone has finally shown some interest in my health I should be happy about it. You're a little late in worrying about me. I needed someone to talk to a couple of weeks ago; I needed my friends and my godfather. I got one letter basically telling me that I was on my own. I had three people I didn't know take the time to help me just because I needed it, not because some old man told them that they should. Two of them were risking their jobs. I would have jumped into hell for any of you and you know it. I have to rely on strangers to get half as much consideration. What is that supposed to tell me about my friendships? You and Sirius were my Dad's best friends, but you don't seem to give a damn what happens to his son unless it's convenient for you. Sirius has an excuse for not coming to see me, but we've written to each other since I met him. Don't give me this crap about being told that you weren't allowed to write because it would have put me and the Order at risk. Everyone knows Cedric died that night, how could talking about it put anyone at risk? How is putting my damned nightmare in writing going to compromise Dumbledore's plan for me to die?" Harry was growling by the end and Tonks was rubbing his back.

Remus was looking sick by the time Harry was finished. He swallowed "All I can do is say I'm sorry, and I am." He waited for a moment noticing Tonks arm go around Harry and pull him into a half hug. "Can I ask what's going on between you two?"

Harry's head shot up and his voice was colder than either of them had ever heard. "You don't have the right to ask anything about my life."

"I'm only asking because I do care about you and she's…"

"If you finish that sentence you had better use every bit of that strength because I'm coming at you. You will not disrespect either Tonks or Rebecca or you will find me doing my best to kill you. If either of them is ever attacked again I will come after every one of you and worry about who did it afterwards. You people are so bent on controlling me so that I can be killed. I'll show you what it's really like for you to lose control of me. I have two people who everyone now knows are trying to kill me and I will ignore them until all of the rest of you are dead. Do you hear me?"

Remus had no color left in his face and could only stare at this person in front of him. He had said it himself and was willing to prove that he would go through hell for those he cared about. Who those people were was the only thing that had changed.

"I asked you a question, your hearing is supposed to be superior so I think you heard it."

Remus just looked at him for a moment more before nodding and getting up. He turned back about to say something but the glare on both of their faces made him reconsider so he just walked out.

"Harry, would you like to sit down? You might be more comfortable."

Harry looked at her for a moment still breathing hard; he slowly started to calm down enough to notice that he was standing. He sat down and Tonks pulled him into a hug and just held him for a moment.

"You were saying something about getting this over with so you wouldn't lose your temper?"

Harry chuckled "Yeah, it worked too. If we had played that game of him asking to talk and me saying no I would have gotten mad eventually." He leaned back and gave her a kiss on the cheek "Thanks."

Before Tonks could say anything two cups of tea slid in front of them "My Uncle's special blend, he says it will calm an angry rhinoceros. I don't know who would be dumb enough to try to get one to drink it, but he swears by it." The blonde waitress said with a grin.

"It might be fun to watch though, what do you say Harry want to give it a try? I bet I can get Lupin to come back and get you slightly miffed again, I think you could take the rhino then." She had a huge grin.

"You really don't like rhino's, do you? I'm Lisa by the way."

"I'm Tonks and calm cool and collected over here is Harry."

Harry had his face in his hands and gave a mumbled hi.

"He was such a conversationalist a moment ago, what happened? It's the biscuits isn't it? I told my Uncle they would ruin my reputation." Her grin was almost as large as Tonks.

Harry pulled his hands away "Sorry about that, I kind of lose my temper at certain things." He took a sip of the tea and stared at it. "What's in this? It's great."

"It's a family secret so you'd have to marry into the family to get it. Sounds like you have your hands full at the moment though, defending the honor of two women at once. And they say chivalry is dead."

Tonks laughed "It's not dead; it just decided to gather together in one person. Harry's the lucky one. And I know of at least one more he defends on a regular basis, he just had an opening too. Want the spot? You could do a lot worse than having Harry defending you."

"I don't know it sounds like he's pretty busy right now. Lets see two people out to kill you, one with a group of people helping him, having to go after more people to kill them for attacking Tonks and a Rebecca, apparently saving a Ginny while being kidnapped, and I do believe that there was a bit about a hearing thrown in for good measure. Are you sure he can work me into his schedule?" She was smiling until she saw the look on Harry's face. She looked over at Tonks who was now the one that had their face in their hands.

"I'm sorry Tonks; I should have kept my mouth shut. I should have met him someplace less public, I screwed up. I'll tell Madam Bones about it and that it wasn't your fault, you won't get into trouble for this. She's seen my temper she'll understand there was nothing you could do."

"Oh god, you mean that it was all true? Jesus, you can't be any older than I am how come you have all of this happening?" Harry just kept looking at Tonks as she shook her head with it still in her hands. "Jesus, what did I step into?" Lisa said quietly.

A rather large man stepped up to the table. "I think that this might be a conversation better left for someplace more private. My office is in back if you'd like." He was holding his arm up to point the way, the look on his face told them that this was not a suggestion.

Lisa got up and walked the couple of feet to the kitchen door and waited. Tonks looked around the room and saw that nobody else was close to their table so she nodded to Harry. He slowly stood and followed Lisa to a small office in the back of the café. Once they were all inside Tonks whispered to Harry.

"Obliviate"

Harry started shaking his head "I'm not going to be part of that Tonks. You know I don't like that stuff, it's not going to happen here."

"Harry, its standard procedure."

"No, I'm the one that screwed up not them, I should be the one punished. I can't let that happen to them because I can't keep my temper and mouth in line. Please Tonks don't do this."

Tonks sighed "Madam Bones is going to hang me. We have to tell them something so they know to keep quiet about this."

Lisa decided to pipe in "What are you, secret agents or something? Killing the bad guys and saving the world."

Harry paled as Tonks glared at him "Tonks please no, it's my mess and I'll handle Bones."

"You had better because I'm not sitting on that damned desk alone even if I have to tie you to it." She looked back at the man and girl. "I assume you're her Uncle?"

The man nodded "Name's Conner, could you just tell me how deep we're in this please?"

"Deep. Why don't you both sit down and I'll try to tell you why you need to keep quiet."

Lisa asked in a quiet voice "Are you really secret agents?"

Tonks glared at Harry again so he spoke. "Why don't I take it, you look like you could use some of that tea."

"Give it a go."

Harry took a seat in front them "She can't tell you who she works for and you wouldn't believe her if she did. Right now she's my protection, there's a…terrorist who doesn't like the fact that I'm breathing and keeps trying to make me stop. The people she works for are of the same opinion that I am. We'd rather it was him that was no longer breathing and they're trying to make it happen." He took a breath and looked at Tonks "This is harder than I thought."

"It might help if you told the truth. A terrorist is after you? Terrorists don't try killing just a boy they try to kill lots of people." Lisa said.

Tonks stepped forward, anger evident in her face. "How's this for the truth. Everything he said is the truth, he's just trying to gloss it over. You want to know how deep you are. You're lucky because you can walk away from it if you can keep quiet; Harry is stuck and has been since he was a year old. This man killed his parents and tried to kill him. We don't know what happened but he left that place wishing he'd never shown up in the first place and Harry came away with that scar on his forehead and the memory of his mother being killed. Four years ago this guy and his cronies start showing up again, and guess who the number one target is. Harry. He does want to kill hundreds of thousands but wants Harry the most. Harry killed…one of his best and stopped his plans, almost dieing in the process. He killed another of his best saving a girl they were trying to murder. They both almost died but Harry got her out. The last time Harry had to face him a friend of his was killed and Harry almost died again. To top all of this off we find out that one of our top people has been dangling Harry as bait and hoping he would be killed this whole damned time. That guy that was out there with us is part of his group, not to mention that Harry's best friends and only links to his parents are also part of the group. Even though we don't think they knew his plans we're having a little trouble trusting them at the moment. Now how deep do you think you're in compared to Harry?" She was breathing hard and glaring. Harry put a hand on her shoulder and she spun on him. Seeing tears building in his eyes she pulled him into a hug. "Oh shite, Harry I'm sorry. I lost it a bit."

"It's ok, just a little hard when it's all laid out like that."

Tonks looked over at Conner and his niece who had terrified expressions on their faces "I'm sorry, it's been a long couple of weeks." She took a deep breath "Harry wants a normal life and there's a couple of us who are going to make sure it happens. If everything goes right he'll be free by the end of the day tomorrow. He's moving into the neighborhood this weekend with his new guardian who works at the clinic. He just wants a life he can actually live."

Conner asked "The Rebecca you were talking about earlier is Rebecca Monroe?" Tonks nodded. "I know her, she found my wife's cancer early, and she's the reason why my wife is still here. We visit her often for check ups to make sure it doesn't come back. She's a fine woman, and I know she wouldn't bring trouble down on us so I have to believe that the lad is all right. We'll keep this to ourselves, my wife is out front right now, but she'll keep quiet too."

Harry pulled back from Tonks and looked at the man "Thank you. I'm sorry I brought this on you."

"It's all right lad, I've had my touch of temper and know how things can get out of control when it happens." He looked thoughtful for a second "Lisa said you might be able to help with our biscuit problem, how so?"

Harry looked sheepish "I thought I could bake them for you. But I understand if you don't want me in here again."

Tonks laughed "I thought you were going to sell them your recipe or something, I didn't know you were looking for a job."

"Just something part time in the mornings so I can get tutors for the afternoon is all."

Lisa started to look less frightened "You bake biscuits?"

"Harry bakes the best biscuits; he's pretty good at dinners too. I'm going to miss having him at my place; I haven't ever eaten so well."

"Lad, how old are you?"

"Fifteen at the end of the month sir."

"That could be a problem; you have to be sixteen to work in a kitchen."

Seeing the hope start to go out of his eyes Tonks said "Madam Bones could take care of that, she can make your next birthday your sixteenth with a few pieces of parchment."

"Really, do you think she would?"

"If she doesn't hang both of us for all of this I don't see why not. She already owes you big for everything you've given her the last two weeks, after tomorrow you can probably ask to live in the palace and she'd make it happen."

Harry looked at Conner "Would that be acceptable sir?"

"Whoa, slow down there, I haven't even tasted them yet. Can you bring some by for me to sample?"

"How about five dozen tomorrow about twelve would that work sir?"

He laughed "That should do lad, tomorrow at twelve it is. We can talk more after that and see about these papers."

Harry and Tonks apologized once more and said goodbye as they left. Conner noticed that Lisa stared after them for a few moments after they were gone. "What're you thinking lass?"

"He's only fourteen."

"What's wrong with that? You just turned fifteen yourself."

"But he's been through all of that, he's killed people Uncle. Why?"

"Ahh lass" he pulled her into a hug "The world sometimes makes people grow up too early. When my dad went off to war there were lads who were lying about their age so they could join up early to defend the Isle. Some times the young are the ones called to do the job; it's just the way life can be."

She looked up into his eyes "Do you think he's safe to be around, I mean with what they said about him killing people and everything else?"

Taylor sighed "Have a seat lass. You're seeing it from the wrong direction. He didn't kill, he saved. That lad was put out there for someone to kill and from what the lass said he ended up saving people instead. Yes he's had to take a couple of lives to do it, but those were people who were out to kill others. You read about what's going on in the world in school, a terrorist's plans are almost always to strike at average people. They usually use themselves as bombs to do it. The lady said he stopped this person's plans, what if those plans were the average terrorist plans? He may have targeted Picadilly and killed and injured hundreds. That's what the lad has been up against and from the sounds of it he's been on his own for most of it. You heard what he told that man at his booth about this Cedric dieing and his nightmares about it. My guess is that he's the friend who was killed and if he's having nightmares about it he either saw it happen or he feels responsible, maybe both. That's someone who doesn't kill people, he saves them by doing what he has too and he's been doing it since he was a very young lad." He chuckled "With everything he's done and been through what's he want to do when he's free from it all? He wants to make biscuits." She smiled "Lass, the lad wants peace in his life. From what we've heard he's earned some. Miss Secret Job strikes me as the type to keep that little promise to make sure he gets it. You can see she cares for the lad and you heard clearly that he'd protect her to the point of going after the ones he feels are responsible for harming her. That man had the look of someone who's seen a lot in this world and he took the lad to heart when Harry made that promise to him. You could do a lot worse than having someone like that as a friend. I think that we'll be plenty safe if he's around, ok?"

"All right Uncle." She smiled "He was kind of cute, did you see those eyes?" Taylor groaned.

XXXX

As they walked back to the clinic Harry glanced at Tonks "You do a pretty good angry act you know."

She stopped "How did you know?"

He laughed "Don't worry the only reason I spotted it is because your hair didn't change to red. It had to be an act."

"So what, the tears were an act too?"

"No, I wish I could say they were, but they were real. It's ok I'm fine with what you did and know why you did it. It made them believe and they'll keep quiet about everything because of it. Hearing it said so plainly was a little hard and it kind of hit me that that's my life in a nutshell, almost fifteen years and all I have to show for it is a bunch of scars and some busted friendships." He nudged her "Your hug made me realize that in the last two weeks things have changed for the better. And I have a woman who decided to help me regardless of what others and even I said to thank for it all." He pulled her into another hug "Thank you."

She gave him a kiss on the cheek "Anytime Hero."

They started walking again and she asked "So does this mean you're going to model those boxers for me?"