"Incarcerous!" Harry yelled.
With a flick of his wand he sent a whip of rope hurling at his opponent but a quick "Avifors," from his foe transfigured the rope into a flock of birds that flew back towards the Boy-Who-Lived with murderous intent.
Scowling Harry cast a quick, "Protego." It was a basic spell in dueling normally not taught until sixth year but Moody had made sure Harry knew it. Unfortunately at the moment Harry was only able to maintain the spell for a few seconds and not against anything stronger than the weakest jinxes or hexes.
Thankfully the clear shield stunned the birds for a few seconds allowing Harry to cast "Caerulum Igne." From the tip of his wand sprang a jet of blue fire similar to an Incendio except the flames were hotter, quickly burning the flock of birds to ash.
However Harry was immediately forced to dive out of the way of the "Stupefy," that his opponent had followed up with.
For a moment as he dodged the red spell Harry's mind flashed back to his first day of training with the mad auror, "Ya got a body don't ya? Why risk being hit by a spell when ya can dodge it?" The rest of the day had consisted of Harry jumping, dodging, and generally looking like a circus monkey as he tried and mostly failed to dodge the hexes and jinxes his two auror guards had sent at him.
As soon as Harry hit the ground he immediately rolled to the side to avoid a Full Body-Bind curse. "Tonks," he shouted at the metamorphmagus who cast him a grin as she drew back her wand. Still on the ground Harry quickly cast another "Incarcerous," this time aimed at Tonk's feet which forced her to jump around since despite the morning light provided by the rising sun the darkness of the trees surrounding the clearing made it difficult to see the ropes as they snuck through the grass towards her the only sign of their passing was them brushing against the grass.
Concentrating on the ropes Tonks failed to hear Harry as he quietly but quickly cast "Serpensortia," hissing at the snake he ordered it to sneak behind the witch and bite her. The snake bowed respectively to the speaker before slithering away to carry out its task. Turning back to his opponent Harry watched Tonks banish the last of the rope as she cast him a fanged grin, literal in this case as she had decided on a cat appearance for the day with yellow eyes, elongated pupils, fangs for teeth, and purple pixie hair that stuck up in two tufts resembling ears. Frankly she reminded Harry quite a bit of Hermione's mix up with the polyjuice potion the previous year albeit purple instead of brown but Harry quickly shook his head to clear his thoughts. Moody may have been mad but he'd driven into Harry that distracted equals dead.
"That the best you got, Harry?" Tonks asked casually as she spun her wand in her hand. "Frankly after two weeks I was hoping for a bit more."
"Real mature Tonks, an Auror in training picking on a third year. What would the public think about its protectors and their interest in children?" Harry asked, in order to deal with Tonks you needed to give as good as you took.
Cupping her cheek in her right hand Tonks gave a mock sigh, "To think the great Harry Potter cares what his adoring fans think? If I had to guess," she mused, trailing her hand down her face to tap her chin, "then I'd say that based on the stories about you they would expect nothing less," she finished flashing the Boy-Who-Lived a trouble-making grin.
Harry couldn't help but gulp and quickly launched into a spell chain. A spell chain was a simple enough concept: take some spells then link them together by using the finishing motion of one spell to begin the starting motion for the next one. However spell chains came with several risks, once started it could be hard to stop a chain especially since fast casting speed was a major reason wizards used them in the first place. Additionally, going too fast or slow be it the motion of the wand or the pronunciation of the spell could offset the whole chain while creating a blowback that might harm the caster.
These drawbacks meant the only way to learn about spell chains was in NEWT Arithmancy during 6th year. Contrary to popular belief the elective class actually wasn't about predicting future events with numbers making it almost a numerical counter to Divination, rather the class was about the science of magic. In Arithmancy students learned how to create their own spells by breaking down the incantations and movements of spells to learn the different effects. It wasn't a mandatory class but for certain fields of work in the magical world it was highly recommended. Math was only needed to work out probabilities but the rumors were more than enough to convince the lazier students that the class wasn't worth taking.
Harry honestly hadn't given much thought to his future after Hogwarts but after speaking with Moody and Tonks (who'd had the misfortune of taking Divination for the first semester of her third year and told him of how the professor was both a kook, a fraud, and a drunkard) Harry had made the easy decision to drop the elective in favor of picking up Arithmancy and Ancient Runes. He'd kept Care of Magical Creatures seeing that one as at least relevant considering both his past luck with a certain Cerberus and Founder's pet snake as well as his abysmal luck which almost guaranteed that he'd run into another creature of some sort this year as well. Harry'd already sent Hedwig to McGonagall three days ago and honestly didn't expect his owl to even bother flying back since he was leaving for Hogwarts today after his morning duel with Tonks under Moody's supervision. This time they were going to be flooing directly to Platform 9 ¾, an option open to magical families for a small fee but free to Auror's which both Tonks and Moody happened to be.
When it came to fighting however the risks involved with spell chains hadn't stopped Moody from teaching his new pupil and so it was that Harry launched into a Disarming Charm followed closely by a Full Body-Bind Curse and a stunner.
Tonks weaved around the first two and a quick "Protego," took care of the stunner. She immediately launched into her own chain and although Harry dodged the first few Tonks's casting speed and spell repertoire carried the day leaving Harry dangling upside down from his ankle, paralyzed from the Metamorphagus's own Full Body-Bind.
"You need to work on your dodgin' and casting speed," Tonk's advised before letting out an undignified yelp when something penetrated the bare skin on her ankle. Hopping on her free leg Tonk's looked down to see a snake hissing at her as it drew back to strike again. A quick banishment and the snake was gone but Tonk's could only groan and hang her head at the lecture she knew was coming.
"Constant Vigilance!" Moody roared as he stepped forward, casting a casual "Finite'' at Harry causing him to fall to the ground where he landed on his back and moaned. "I've said it a thousand times and that right there's why!" He said, gesturing to where Tonk's had banished the snake. "You never know what traps your opponent could have laid. Always question, always watch, and always, ALWAYS keep your eyes open." Moody gave Tonk's a dark smile as he tapped his artificial eye which spun around to lock onto the metamorphmagus. "Constant vigilance. It saved my life a dozen times durin' the war and a dozen times after. If ya use it, it might just save yours."
Tonks could only nod her head which hung low as her pixie cut grew bangs to cover her eyes. She hadn't expected much of Harry when he'd asked her and Moody to train him but in the two weeks he'd gone well beyond what she'd expected. Not only had he learned half a dozen new spells he'd used a spell chain, something two weeks ago she would have said that you'd at least need to be a fifth year at least to do. Hell he was trying to figure out how to use a summoning charm in combat but if the ingenuity of today's morning duel was anything to go by Tonk's had no doubt he'd be able to do it.
The only things holding Harry Potter back as far as she could tell was a lack of knowledge, something easily solved with a little bit of study, and what seemed to be a mix of an inferiority complex and a fear of loneliness. When his friend Hermione and the Weasley clan had shown up at the Leaky Cauldron Tonks had noticed how Harry had seemed to go from the bright kid she knew him to be to someone who struggled to do even basic work. Harry had no problem in private with her and Moody but instead of reading down in the restaurant as he'd done in the past he'd changed to only reading in his room. He also didn't talk about his training or ask his friends to either join in or help him when he went back to school instead just ignoring the issue completely. And it bothered her.
Tonks didn't know why Harry dumbed down his abilities with his own friends but she hated that he did it. It reminded her too much of another girl she'd known, one who'd tried to fit in by changing who she was so she'd fit into the masses unnoticed. It was only when her friend Hestia had found out that the girl had stopped and decided to hell with it. Who cared what others thought, as long as she could be true to herself then she didn't care what rumors were spread or how she was treated. She knew she wasn't a whore, vixen, or a homewrecker and so did those who truly cared about her. So it was that the third year metamorphmagus Hufflepuff had worked towards her dreams and achieved them by not only joining the Aurors but distinguishing herself enough to get an apprenticeship from one of the department's best, Mad-Eye Moody.
However after studying his friends Tonks wasn't sure any of Harry's friends would be willing to give him the push Hestia had given her. Ronald Weasley was easy to understand, he was lazy, jealous, and thought the world belonged to him without him even doing anything. He stuffed his face constantly and despite seeming loyal to Harry Tonks has seen the look in his eye when Harry took out some money to buy his friends treats or gifts when the trio had gone into Diagon Alley under her or Moody's supervision. She'd seen the flash of envy when Harry had casually mentioned that he had Aurors protecting him. Ron didn't seem to care that Harry's life was in danger from two of the most devout followers of You-Know-Who; instead he seemed jealous that his friend had bodyguards when he didn't. Tonks couldn't contain the snort of derision she directed at the boy in her thoughts, as if aurors didn't already deal with idiots like Fudge and his pink toad of an undersecretary, both of whom couldn't seem to go more than five minutes without reminding people of their oh so important jobs. No Ron wasn't a good influence on Harry if the constant challenges to Wizard's Chess or Quidditch questions were anything to go by. Harry was clearly smarter than Ron but Tonks couldn't see him giving it his all when it would risk the friendship that only one of them seemed to cherish.
Hermione on the other hand confused Tonks. The girl was a clear Ravenclaw and Tonks could only wonder how she'd ended up in the house of the lions. She was inquisitive but seemed to struggle with the concept that not everything from the muggle world translated to the magical one. More than once Tonks had found herself beset by the girl who couldn't seem to understand that the auror in training didn't know the answer to everything. The girl had spent three bloody hours alone ranting about the treatment of House Elves and evils of slavery. Tonks agreed that slavery was wrong but the girl hadn't even read up on House Elves and when Tonks had told the bushy haired girl that the species needed to be enslaved to survive as once an elf bonded with a family they would live off of the high magic concentration in the enviroment produced by the magicals who lived there Hermione had refused to listen to the matter on principle.
Additionally Hermione seemed to have an almost godlike view of teachers if the hour she'd spent chatting to McGonagall was anything to go by. The deputy headmistress had flooed in to do some shopping but hadn't even been able to go into the Alley before being accosted by the Gryffindor. After an hour and a half she'd muttered an excuse about needing to check the letters sent to first-years in the muggle world (something Tonks knew had already been done a month ago) before flooing away although Moody had commented to her that the woman had returned that evening with some basic transfiguration changes to her appearance.
Tonks could have passed her behavior off as a desperate desire for acceptance, learning more and more in order to fit in only to be refused, creating a cycle of learning which only led to further isolation. She was almost like Harry except for one small thing; when Tonks had ended up being right about House Elves the girl had refused to accept that she was wrong! She'd gone on and on for another two hours about how 'Oh the issue would be so easy to fix if the Wizengamot would only research the need. It couldn't take more than a few years for a solution to be found.' No! Why would they when not only were those elves in service to the very people who would need to approve such a ridiculous request but that it would overturn centuries of tradition and the elves seemed quite happy with their position in life. Sure Tonks had seen elves be mistreated before but the one time she'd seen one freed and from an abusive one at that the elf had been in tears. Not of joy but of sorrow. The poor little thing had turned to Butterbeer for a month before it'd bonded to another family, a rather long time for any elf in that particular situation as they were normally snapped up as soon as they were available. Who didn't want a free servant to do the housework, odd tasks, and other menial jobs you had?
However despite her faults Hermione was something that Ron was not, she was loyal to Harry and would be for as long as she lived, or at least until she repaid her life debt. Tonks had learned about the debt when Harry had asked her what they were as the two left Gringotts. Tonks had explained that basically magic was a massive scale in some things and life debts were a way the scales balanced out. Harry had saved Hermione's life with no regard for his own safety nor with any ill intent or a desire to create a debt between them. As such until Hermione repaid the debt by saving Harry's life with the same conditions or carried out one task for him that magic, not Harry, recognized as equal value to her life she was in a way his servant.
Harry had immediately blanched but Tonks had been quick to reassure the raven haired boy. Hermione hadn't lost her free will nor had she become his slave instead she was just basically inclined to help him, and while she could lie to Harry she wouldn't be able to betray him directly as it would go against the debt. Harry was still loth to accept it but Tonks knew he'd come around. She had jokingly teased Harry he could just order Hermione to have sex with him as commands that went against the debtee's will, while still carried out, would free them immediately. The glare she'd received had Tonks quickly apologizing for going too far although Harry hadn't spoken to her for another three days. Strangely though after a talk with Moody once the two returned from Gringotts to the Leaky Cauldron Harry had blushed every time he'd looked at her for the next week while Moody still flashed her dark grins when he thought she wasn't looking. That was Moody though so Tonks just shrugged it off.
Tonks was shaken out of her thoughts by a stinging hex from the man who grinned at the glare she sent his way. Sighing she healed the bite on her ankle which had thankfully clogged, at least the snake wasn't poisonous. With a sigh she apparated to an alley near King's Cross Station and made her way inside and to the barrier having been ordered to watch it by Moody until he came with their young charge.
When they finally came through three and a half hours later Tonks could only sigh in relief having gone through three different disguises so as not to appear suspicious. As she watched Harry get on the train, Twilight draped over his shoulders, she made her way over to stand beside her mentor. "Anything ya need to report?" Moody growled under his breath.
"No."
"Then what are ya still doin' on the platform? Get on the train already."
"What?!" Tonks turned to Moody confused.
For a moment confusion flashed across Moody's face until a look of realization dawned on him. "Ohh, I didn't give ya the letter did I? Well here," he said, pulling a letter out of his cloak which he handed to her, "and congrats. Ya did me good kid, I'm damn proud of ya."
Still confused, Tonks tore open the letter and began reading, "Dear Miss Tonks...blah, blah, blah...congratulations for your exemplary work under Master Auror Alastor Moody. I am pleased to inform you that you will now be moved to special assignment. Due to recent events at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry you are, as of the completion of this letter, assigned to head the personal protection detail of one Hadrian Potter until such times as it is ruled that you are no longer needed. Please note that failure on your part that results in injury or death to Mr. Potter could see you detained while a team reviews your actions during the assignment. The results of that review may result in anything from special recognition to employment termination and imprisonment. Once again congratulations and good luck on your assignment. Sincerely Madame Amelia Bones, Head of the DMLE." When Tonks finished reading she turned to look at Moody, jaw agape. "But, but," she stuttered, "I need to complete three years of training before I become an Auror."
"Yeah ya do." Moody nodded, "But Bonesy's heard some things from her niece that's made her just a wee bit suspicious of Dumbledore. She thinks that the man's got an interest in the boy and she wants an inside person to keep an eye on him. Don't worry Bonesy's got it all set up so that this goes down as special assignment bodyguard training under me. You happen to not only be uniquely suited to the role but ya also are beyond suspicion. Dumbledore would be lookin for a teacher or an adult. Who'd look at a third year transfer from Ilvermorny?"
"You mean ya already got a background for me?"
"Yep," Moody handed over a sealed vanilla envelope. "She's a real person too, actually legitimate. Dad owed Bones a favor from back in her Auror days so they agreed to homeschool the girl for another year. Has the same wand type as you although hers is just a bit shorter but who looks at that. All ya got ta do is avoid changing in public and you'll be fine."
Tonks couldn't help but glare at her now former mentor. "Oh and what about school supplies and uniforms. You're shipping me off in bloody muggle clothes! I don't have a robe on me."
Giving her the same dark grin that Tonks had seen a hundred times Moody once more reached into his robes and pulled out a shrunken trunk. "Already packed, consider it a goin' away gift from yours truly. It's one of mine, all the normal defenses included and I did the enchantments myself. Your mom packed the clothes and told me ta tell you to write her while you're at school. She's especially interested in knowin your thoughts on your ward."
Tonks groaned, slapping a hand to her forehead. "You told her?! You know that she's gonna bug me to get a date with him now don't ya? And has it occurred to you that I've already graduated? How the hell am I supposed to take third year lessons without hexing somebody?"
Moody shrugged in a way that told Tonks that it was her problem not his. "Practice your occlumency, read some books in the forbidden section of the library. Hell," he once more turned the dark grin her way, "go on a date with the boy. Something tells me he's not quite used to dealing with his adoring fans of the feminine variety or the sex in general for that matter."
Leaving Tonks sputtering on the platform behind him the grizzled Auror walked over to the marble fireplace set in the wall and with a burst of green flames flooed away just as the warning whistle blew. With a resigned groan Tonks stuffed her trunk in the pocket of her jeans and headed into the train after casting a quick disillusionment charm on herself. She wasn't planning on revealing herself to Harry or his friends just yet. She had a background to learn and a new disguise to perfect but once she had those down, well, nothing in her assignment said she couldn't at least spend her time teasing her charge.
Harry's thoughts whirled as he strode down the train. Ron and Hermione had already found seats in a compartment with someone who looked to be their new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor for the year, a Mr. Lupin. They'd expected Harry to sit with them but Harry had told them he had something else to do. The two had been about to get up but Harry had been quick to reassure them that he just needed some space at the moment and he'd see them at the feast.
Now however as he sat in an empty apartment with the door locked as he lay down long ways on one of the seats Harry couldn't help but think over everything he'd learned in the past two weeks. It had all started with the Merlin-damned Inheritance test and everything had only gotten worse from there. He'd learned from Tonks that magic basically said he was now owed one by Hermione and Ginny which made him question how much of his relationship with the two was real and how much was magic keeping them close so as to repay the debt. Then there was Ron, Harry had told him last night about the life debts and the two of them had almost come to blows over it with. Harry could forgive Ron for being mad and even being a prat about it, Ginny was his sister after all, but Ron had crossed a line when in the heat of the moment with blood pounding in their veins and adrenaline running high the redhead had called Harry a Dark Lord imposing his will on people that couldn't fight back. Harry'd just about punched the boy magic and wands be damned but although Ron had quickly apologized once they'd both calmed down Harry wasn't sure that their friendship could recover this time around.
Stroking Twilight Harry thought back to the other issue. His apparent betrothal to not one, not two, but three women. He'd asked Moody about what they were and the old man had merely given him a blank look before telling Harry that the answers were all in one of the books in his trunk. Confused, Harry had gone upstairs and sure enough buried at the bottom of his trunk were several books he had no memory of buying. He'd almost told his two guards about them but Twilight had gone digging through them and pulled out one which she'd pawed looking between the book and him. Since his new familiar didn't seem to think there was anything wrong Harry had opened it and found the book, A Purebloods Place in Pureblood Society by Vern M. Polits to be an interesting, if bigoted read.
Apparently betrothals were a way for families to make or secure alliances, carry on the bloodline, or even punish dissenters in the family. Additionally the fact he had multiple betrothals while uncommon wasn't anything new either as there were numerous wizards throughout history, particularly in the middle east who'd had multiple wives. In fact if one had multiple lines to carry on, such as Harry did, it was actually encouraged as it would dissuade his children from fighting each other as the children of each wife would have a line of their own to continue. Add in the fact that it apparently wasn't uncommon for pure-blood wizards to have concubines to 'keep it interesting' in bed and Harry wasn't doing anything wrong according to magical history.
Still having been raised in the muggle world Harry actually wasn't sure what to think. He wasn't particularly religious despite the fact that the Dursley's had gone to church every Sunday at nine to appear normal; they'd been more than happy to leave him at home with a list of chores to do. The fact that they'd attempted to get a priest to exorcize the magic out of him had been more than enough to put him off theology altogether and where had the man upstairs been during his time starving at night in the cupboard or running away chased by Dudley and his gang. No Harry had been by himself reliant on his own skills and abilities but the main thing that bothered him about the betrothals was how it seemed to take the love out of it. He'd known his parents had married for love but he couldn't understand why they'd make it so he couldn't. Worse from what he'd read in the book he was actually a right bastard for not having spoken to his betrotheds about their engagement earlier.
He'd reviewed the three agreements in the privacy of his bedroom at the Leaky Cauldron and from what he understood he was supposed to take up his heir rings upon his thirteenth birthday and then send a letter to each family to confirm the betrothal contract. He'd gotten three of the rings which now sat invisible on his right hand, the Gaunt one having apparently been lost several decades ago. Apparently it hadn't been destroyed and the fact that it existed kept Harry from creating a new one.
Still Harry just wasn't sure what to do next. Apparently it had been his magical guardian's duty to ensure that Harry was prepared to take up his position as Heir Primary, especially when it was several houses some of which belonged to the Sacred Twenty-Eight. However Dumbledore hadn't done so, in fact he'd failed to mention at all that Harry was heir to anything.
Thinking about it Harry had to wonder just how wise it was to annonce to a school full of children just where in fact the Philosopher's Stone was. The fact that three first years had made it through the traps spoke a lot about just how bad the protections for the stone actually were. Dumbledore forcing him to return to the Dursley's despite what Harry had told him about his treatment told Harry all he needed to know about the man. It was his duty to care for Harry and he had failed to do so. Harry hadn't known about magic, he didn't know about his status as the Boy-Who-Lived, he didn't know about his future position in the government, and he'd been mistreated from the moment he'd been placed with the Dursley's. Dumbledore may have been trying to help but until he proved trustworthy Harry was going to keep his distance.
Now for what he knew about his betrotheds. Susan Bones was a Hufflepuff in his year and the niece of the head of the DMLE Amelia Bones. Her parents had died in the war against Voldemort and apparently at some point his parents had made a betrothal agreement with her parents or guardian. She had red crimson hair and was also one of the first students in the school to start, um, developing in the upper body.
Daphne Greengrass was a Slytherin also in his year and was known as the 'Ice Queen' due to her cold personality. She was frankly beautiful with blond wavy hair that fell to the small of her back. However he remembered her eyes, the cold arctic blue that had seemed to glare at him whenever she caught sight of him since their first year. He hadn't known what he'd done but if Harry had to guess he'd likely insulted her in some way, shape, or form. The fact that he had likely done so while insulting Malfoy was a moot point.
Last on his list of intended was Nymphadora-don't-call-me-that Tonks. She was ironically the one he knew best which was strange since he had only met her two weeks ago. She was a metamorphmagus so her shape changed and she didn't have a definite form. In fact now that he thought about it she likely didn't have a true form since she would change as she pleased, whatever form she wanted to be in would be her true form. She was childish, hated her name, and was like the other two frankly too good for him.
The final issue Harry had to deal with after friendships, life debts, betrothals, heirships, and a senile headmaster who failed as a magical guardian were the Hands of Voldemort. Sirius Black and Bellatrix Lestrange were likely hunting him down and to make it worse Sirius had been the one to betray Harry's parents to Voldemort. What made Harry mad at everyone around him was the fact that nobody had told him and he'd only found out when he'd read about it in the Daily Prophet. He'd stormed off and confronted Moody who'd just confirmed what the paper said. When Harry asked why the man hadn't told him the man had looked down at him with a look of cold anger, both eyes locked on him with frosty hostility.
"I wasn't aware that it was my job to tell ya about things you ought ta know, Boy." Moody'd growled. "It's well known who was responsible for your parents death and it's your fault if you never bothered to look it up. I knew your parents but from what I can see you don't know anything about them." His next words made Harry freeze, "And that's your fault. Teachers, classmates, friends, never once have you reached out to anyone or tried to read up on history. Binns may be a bad teacher but I know there's plenty of books in the library you can use so try for once to put in some effort why don't cha."
Sitting up Harry moved Twilight from his chest to his lap as stared out the window resting his head on his left hand while he used the other to stroke his familiar as the English countryside flew by. "But what do I want?" He asked.
As the train sped further north it began to rain which turned into a pounding sheet of water that turned the window into a solid, shimmering gray making it impossible to see anything outside. As the natural light darkened lights flickered to life all along the corridors and over the luggage racks. As the rain poured and the wind howled the train sped on.
However eventually the train began to slow, shaking Harry from his thoughts within which he'd dwelt the entire trip. As the sound of the pistons hissing fell away the rain and wind roared louder than ever. Harry turned to his window wiping away the mist that had built up on it and peeked outside but in the dim light he failed to see any hint of the station. Twilight leapt from his lap to the seat beside him and looked as confused as a cat could get. Slowly Harry drew his wand fingering it as the train stopped with a jolt, distant thuds telling him that luggage had fallen out of racks somewhere on the train. Then, without warning, all the lamps went out and Harry was plunged into darkness.
Alarmed screams echoed up and down the train but a quick "Lumos," gave the boy some light. Harry quickly stood up and moved towards the door only to hear the locks click as someone on the outside unlocked it. Aiming his wand at the door Harry looked towards Twilight to see she'd already leaped onto the luggage rack above the seats ready to jump on the head of any wannabe intruders.
As if responding to the summons the door opened and a girl Harry'd never seen before stepped inside, or rather attempted to. Somehow her foot got caught in the small groove the door slid open on and the girl fell forward landing on her stomach on the floor in front of Harry. The girl looked up to be met with a wand in her face tip sparking, "Um...Wotcher, Harry" she greeted with a sheepish grin.
"Tonks?!"
"Shh, shh, shh." the metamorphmagus hissed standing up quickly to cover his mouth. "I'm incognito at the moment, special assignment, real important. Name's Nymph Selkie, I'm a third year transfer from the states." Tonks quickly withdrew her hand from Harry's mouth as something wet moved along it, "Did you just lick me?" she asked incredulously.
"Yeah," Harry said unashamed, his wand lowered but still in his hand as he took in Tonks's new appearance. She was still taller than him although now it was only by a few mere inches compared to the near half a foot it'd been before. Her hair kept its pixie appearance although it was now bronze in color, a sharp contrast against Tonks's pale skin. She seemed more tomboyish than anything although Harry thought he could make out the first signs of puberty hitting her new form. He shook his head, stupid hormones. "So what's the assignment?" He asked trying to change the subject.
"Um…actually, you're the assignment." Tonks said, rubbing the back of her head with her non-licked hand as she grinned.
"Me?"
"Yep-p" she said, popping the p as she gave him a salute, "Auror in training Nymphadora Tonks reporting for duty as bodyguard to Mr. Potter."
Harry couldn't help but grin at his friend, "At ease soldier. So what's going on?" He asked, peering around her to look at the doorway.
Don't knowwww…" her voice trailed off as her eyes locked on something behind Harry. Quickly Harry spun around wand raised as he looked towards the window. As he watched frost appeared on the bottom right part of the glass but it quickly spread until the whole pane was covered just as a shadowy figure in a cloak passed by.
"No," Harry turned to look at Tonks and nearly did a double take. The wide eyed girl was shivering, her arms and legs visibly trembling. "They didn't. The Minister, he, he wouldn't do this. No one would. Near children, is he insane?!" Tonks yelled.
"Tonks, what's going on?" Harry asked, grabbing her left shoulder. Tonks' eyes locked onto him and Harry was surprised at the fear he saw there. "Tonks…"
"Shut up Harry, and get behind me. NOW!" Tonks yelled as she drew her wand while she pushed Harry closer to the window. Twilight seemed to know what was happening as she quickly leapt atop Harry's shoulders. "Expecto Patronum," as Harry watched confused out of Tonks's wand sprang a silvery, white rabbit which hopped around the compartment before settling on the floor in front of the two wizards facing the doorway. Strangely the presence of the rabbit seemed to cheer Harry up pushing away a feeling of cold he didn't realize he had.
"Tonks, what is that thing?" Harry asked as he looked at the rabbit, its ears twitching around its head as if it was listening for something.
"A patronus Harry. Now I swear to Merlin shut the hell up I need to focus." Harry didn't bother replying because on the glass of the compartment's windows that led into the hall the same frost that had covered the windows was appearing. Through the frost he saw a dark cloaked figure appear, the individual pressing a boney, almost skeletal hand against the frosted glass.
The door to the apartment slid slowly open and standing in the doorway, illuminated by the light from Harry's wand and Tonks patronus, was a figure that towered to the ceiling, its face completely hidden beneath its hood. Harry's eyes darted downwards and his stomach churned; there was a hand protruding from the cloak and it was glistening, grayish, slimy-looking, and scabbed, like something dead that had decayed in water…
It was visible for only a second, the hand suddenly, without warning disappearing beneath the black cloak, as if the creature had sensed Harry's gaze. Harry was shivering and he could feel Twilight on his shoulder doing the same. Glancing at his familiar Harry saw the black hairs on Twilight stood straight up, ears pressed flat on her head, while her wide eyes seemed to shake though they remained locked on the figure. Her breath came in quick misty gasps and Harry noticed that it was so cold the three of them were exhaling clouds. Only the cloaked figure seemed to be different as Harry couldn't see mist or even the rise and fall of its chest.
"N-n-neither Sirius Black or Bellatrix Lestrange are here. De-depart." Tonks' quivering voice rang out in the silence that seemed to encompass the compartment.
For a moment it looked like the figure wouldn't leave but with a seeming mental command from Tonks the rabbit patronus hopped forward. The thing seemed to recoil from it and with one last look at them all, seemed to glide away.
"W-what was that, thing?" Harry spat out this time without the mist. With the departure of the creature the temperature had rapidly risen and the presence of Tonks's rabbit only seemed to help. As if in agreement the lights in the corridor came back on and the Hogwarts Express once again began to move.
"That was a dementor," said Tonks as she pulled a trunk from her pocket that she hurriedly opened and began to rifle through. "Dammit where is it? They're the creatures that guard the prison of Azkaban. It's said no one's seen their face and lived to tell about it. Aha!" she exclaimed as she pulled out a bar of, chocolate? "It helps," she explained at his look, "now eat it."
Harry took a small bite and the tips of his extremities which had been slowly warming seemed to jump back to normal. "I've been keeping track of time, we're only a few minutes away, ya might want ta hurry up and change." Without needing to be told Tonks stepped outside leaving Harry with Twilight who looked away as he changed.
The last few minutes of the journey went by quickly and at long last the train pulled into Hogsmeade station. It was a desperate rush to get into the carriages, the rain coming down in icy sheets that soaked everyone within moments. Somehow Harry and Tonks stayed together getting into an empty carriage and upon shutting the door the carriage began to move despite there being space for several more people.
"Guess the thestrals want to get out of the rain too," Tonks noted.
"Thestrals?"
"Yeah, they're what pull the carriages. They're basically horses with black skin that sticks tight to their bones and bat wings they use to fly. They can only be seen by people who've witnessed death, the reason you can't see them is probably cause you're too young to remember."
Harry thought back to when he killed Professor Quirell and momentarily thought about arguing but then remembered what Dumbledore had said about the professor already being dead. Harry wasn't sure how much he trusted the old man but the fact that he couldn't see the thestrals was a point towards him being honest at least then.
As the carriage trundled toward a pair of magnificent wrought iron gates, flanked with stone columns topped with winged boars, Harry saw two more hooded dementors standing guard on either side of the gate. A wave of cold seemed to run over him and Tonks too began to shiver. As soon as they were through Tonks summoned her patronus which warmed the two of them up once again. The carriage picked up speed on the long, sloping drive up to the castle and through the windows Harry, Tonks, and Twilight watched the many turrets and towers draw nearer. At last the carriage swayed to a halt, and the two wizards got out, Twilight having draped herself over Harry's shoulders once the carriage came to a stop.
As the two stepped into the castle Harry out of the pouring rain Tonks quickly cast a drying charm on the two followed by a warming charm that made Harry feel like he'd put on clothes directly from the dryer. As they headed towards the Great Hall Tonks excused herself saying she had been told she'd need to be sorted with the rest of the forest years.
Once Harry was seated at the Gryffindor table next to the Weasley twins and Neville he noted that Ron and Hermione had yet to make an appearance. As if summoned by his thoughts Ron walked in but after an unreadable look at Harry he moved to sit elsewhere. Harry couldn't help but feel saddened, knowing that their friendship may have finally reached its end.
"So Harrykins..." one of the red headed menaces said leaning in on Harry's left.
"What did you do..." the other said, matching his twin from Harry's right.
"To make dear old Ronnie..."
"Hate you so."
"We had a fight," Harry said, his friend's rejection hurting despite it not being him who started the fight. "He called me a Dark Lord."
"Why would he…"
"Do that?"
"I told him I have two life-debts." He'd whispered his response not wanting anyone to overhear and at his words the twins drew back in shock.
"Well that certainly…"
"Is new information…"
"How did you…"
"Come about this information?"
"I took my inheritance test over the summer. Apparently I'm owed a life-debt by Hermione for the troll and Ginny for what happened last year in the Chamber. Ron's mad."
"Don't worry old chum…"
"Old chap…"
"Oh stealer of maidens hearts…"
"Dreamboy of Hogwarts…"
"Jerk-off"
"OK, I get it," Harry said, cutting the two off, his face flushed red. He sighed, "Thanks for that guys I really needed it. Ron's just the first friend I've ever had." He said sadly.
"Trust us Harry," the twins said together as each looped an arm over his shoulder.
"If Ron ends your friendship because of these debts…" The one on his right that Harry suspected might be Fred said.
"Then he was no true friend." the one on his left that must be George finished.
The doors to the Great Hall slammed open and through them came the first years led, surprisingly by Professor Flitwick although one student stood notably tall then even the professor. As their eyes locked Harry saw Tonks flash him a quick wink which made him roll his eyes but earned him approving elbows from the twins. The Sorting Hat launched into song and then came the sorting Harry clapped appropriately for each student, even the one's sorted into Slytherin which earned him more than a few quirked eyebrows. Finally there was only one student remaining and Dumbledore stood up to address everyone.
"Our final student comes to us from across the Atlantic, please give a warm welcome to Nymph Selkie of Ilvermorny in the States who will be joining the third year students." There was a general welcoming applause for Tonks although there was a bit of murmuring as well. As the hat settled on Tonks's head Harry couldn't help but wonder which house she'd go to.
Hufflepuff was a likely prospect with Tonks friendly nature and her ability to get along with almost anybody as well as it being her alma mater. Gryffindor too was a possibility since he knew she was quite brave, you couldn't be an Auror without bravery. Harry didn't think she suited Ravenclaw since despite being knowledgeable she didn't seem to go out of her way to learn and he, frankly, thought it quite likely that she was the type of student who'd complain about homework until the last minute where she'd rush to get through it.
"SLYTHERIN!" the Sorting Hat proclaimed with a shout and Harry froze his eyes flashing up to meet Tonks who seemed to turn and find him in the sea of faces all around him. In her eyes Harry saw fear, panic, and resignation. As she stood up and placed the hat back on the seat Harry could only think one thing as she went to sit with the house of snakes.
'What?'
Author's Note:
I'm back! Fresh off my punishment and here to reward all those loyal servants, sorry readers, of my most popular story. Although I am disappointed that we ended up being six reviews short of the goal, don't worry I'm proud of you all. As such take a new chapter to read and enjoy. So what happened this chapter? Ron's and Harry's friendship is broken beyond repair, I got to release all my complaints I have about the golden trio, and Tonks is coming to Hogwarts and joining Daphne in Slytherin which I don't think any of you saw coming. Why Slytherin you may ask? Don't worry all will be revealed next chapter. As for why Tonks is at Hogwarts, well I was thinking 'What's better than a Howler in the Great Hall from Nymphadora-don't-call-me-that Tonks. The girl herself coming and yelling at him of course, so that's why she's here. Apologies for not introducing one of the other character that will be joining Harry's harem. I was planning on having him run into her in Diagon Alley but I realized I could always have a flashback of them meeting and I didn't want to have too many characters too early. Besides she'll have too appear next year if nothing else, she's a champion after all. I hate it when author's don't spend time developing the individual characters and I want to avoid that mistake. As of right now I intend to have Harry keep the Potter/Peverell line as one line and Tonks will be a wife not a concubine. However things can change and I am an evil god that rules over this story so who knows what I'll do.
Keep the comments coming I enjoy reading them and they keep me slogging through my writing. Let's aim for a goal of 100 comments before my next update. I'd say have a Merry Christmas but as a demon lord I can only say do not, not have a Merry Christmas.
Anyway follow, favorite, review, and if any of you are decent artists please make me cover art for this story of Harry with Twilight on one shoulder, and Hedwig on the other. I'd appreciate it.
Anyway until next time this is a Demon Lord of Hell, and King of Death signing off
-D'yavol Lucifer 3;)