Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, London, 7/4/1995, 22:38
Tonks sat at the table as the other members of the order chattered around her. This had been a long week between her auror duties and having to take on duties for the order, which she had somehow let Mad-Eye talk her into joining.
Truthfully from the stories she had heard from Sirius, she felt the order was fairly useless on the whole. All they did was gather information and order members were instructed to avoid confrontations with the death eaters that they were watching.
She hadn't done much for the order but that was mostly due to Bones putting her on graveyard shift patrolling the alley, though for the past week, the order had her on guard rotation. It sounded impressive but all she had been doing was watching over the door to the Department of Mysteries during the evening until she had to go to her real job.
Needless to say, she was looking forward to going to her flat for a nice long rest. Tomorrow was her day off and she had already made it very clear that she would not be on guard duty.
"You look dead on your feet, Tonksie," Sirius said from his place across the table.
"You have no idea," Tonks sighed rubbing her eyes which were starting to feel pretty heavy.
Sirius was looking far too cheerful for her taste but that could be because the ministry had publicly cleared him of all charges after Pettigrew confessed (under veritaserum) to betraying the Potters and killing those twelve muggles in Leeds. The other charges for his multiple escapes were dismissed in hopes that Sirius wouldn't file a lawsuit against the ministry.
"Oh yes I do. I was fresh out of the academy when I joined the order in seventy-eight and I caught shit duty from both sides," Sirius admitted.
"That sums it up pretty well, I've been stuck on night patrol all week," Tonks muttered.
"You only have until September when the new rookies start. Then you'll get better patrols, though you'll still be doing monthly stints at the rock," Sirius said, trying to cheer her up.
"Don't remind me, I have to work Azkaban all next week," Tonks groaned.
Before Sirius could reply, Dumbledore entered the room and the chatter going on around them ceased. Albus was flanked by Snape and Minerva McGonagall who both took seats near the head of the table.
"Finally, now we can get this meeting started," Tonks heard Moody exclaim.
"Indeed. Thank you all for meeting with me at such a late hour. There have been a few developments in the last forty-eight hours," Dumbledore announced as he came to stand behind his seat and began addressing the gathered order members.
"Firstly, I have been informed by one of my contacts in the ICW that Walden McNair and a few of his associates left the country by portkey to the Ural mountain range," Dumbledore announced.
"What is the significance of that location?" Hestia Jones asked curiously.
"Tha's where th' giants are," Hagrid spoke up.
"Exactly, which means that our envoy must leave post-haste to try and stop them from joining Voldemort's cause," Dumbledore said giving Hagrid a meaningful look.
"Righ' I'll talk ta Olympe an' see if she's ready ta leave out in th' mornin'," Hagrid said looking nervous.
"Thank you, Rubeus. I shall have the gifts for the gurg ready for you later this evening," Dumbledore said looking troubled.
"We'll be ready," Hagrid promised.
"Thank you, Hagrid," Dumbledore said gratefully before speaking to the room at large once more.
"Now, I wish giants were the most troubling matter to discuss here tonight, but Severus has some very distressing news to share. Severus, you have the floor," Dumbledore said, turning to look at the sallow-faced potion master expectantly.
"I do indeed. The dark lord is recruiting heavily using his more influential followers to draw them in. He has already marked a dozen new recruits, mostly Hogwarts graduates. There is also talk of a siege on Azkaban around Halloween, whether that is hearsay or not, I cannot be sure," Snape said in a cold emotionless voice.
"What about the prophecy?" Sirius asked in a neutral tone.
"The dark lord believes the prophecy nullified with the death of Potter," Snape sneered.
"I didn't mean that, Snape. I meant what do you know about a follower who informed Voldemort of the prophecy in the first place, a follower if my sources are correct goes by the name, Severus Snape?" Sirius said with a dangerous edge to his voice.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Black," Snape hissed his face screwed up in fury.
"Sirius, this is not the ti-
"Fuck off Albus, you knew he was the reason Voldemort went after James and Lily, and you protected this snivelling piece of shit!" Sirius roared as he jumped to his feet his chair falling noisily to the floor.
"How do you know all of this?" Minerva asked looking very shaken at Sirius' proclamation.
"Harry, he saw Lily when he was hit with the killing curse. She told him about the prophecy and how Voldemort came to know of it," Sirius said in a voice of forced calm.
"And you believed him?" Molly exclaimed looking sceptical.
"I do," Sirius said simply.
"And where is his proof?" Snape scoffed.
"He told me the contents of the prophecy and that it had been fulfilled. I went to the hall of prophecy as his legal guardian yesterday and I saw for myself that the sphere is burned out like all the other nullified prophecies," Sirius said, directing a murderous gaze at Snape.
"It could have been a lucky guess," Remus said reasonably.
"He knew things that only a handful of people would have known," Sirius said quietly, never taking his eyes off of Snape.
"I wouldn't trust a thing that comes out of Potter's mouth. He's just as full of himself as his father before him and relishes in his fame," Snape sneered.
"Get out of my house, Snape. If I ever see you darkening my doorstep again. I will kill you," Sirius said in a cold menacing growl, his wand sliding into his hand.
"Sirius, he has been atoning for his mistakes for over a decade now," Dumbledore implored as he drew his own wand and rose from his chair.
"I DON'T CARE, ALBUS! HE IS THE REASON JAMES AND LILY ARE DEAD!" Sirius bellowed as he pointed his wand at Snape, the tip already starting to glow a familiar green colour.
"Severus go back to Hogwarts immediately," Albus said in a tone that brokered no argument.
"Ve-very well," Snape said shakily his eyes never leaving Sirius as he swept from the room.
"Sirius please calm down, I do not want to have to restrain you but I will if I have to," Dumbledore warned.
"No, you won't, Albus. The wards on this house will strike down anyone that raises a wand towards the head of house Black," Sirius said dismissively as he picked up his chair and retook his seat his face still set in a scowl.
"Very well, what else did young Harry see during his trip to the other side?" Dumbledore asked as he hastily stowed his wand up his sleeve.
"Just that he had a fragment of Voldemort's soul lodged in his scar until Voldemort's killing curse destroyed it," Sirius said watching the headmaster closely for his reaction.
"You mean it's gone?!" Dumbledore exclaimed, joy evident in his voice.
"You knew?!" Sirius growled his grey eyes boring into Dumbledore's.
"I suspected but there was no way to be certain if I was correct or not," Dumbledore said quietly.
"Lovely" Sirius grumbled looking close to exploding again.
Tonks had watched her cousin throughout the entire exchange. She had been completely taken aback by his initial outburst and had instinctively drawn her own wand. She had never seen him like this, Sirius was usually a pretty easy-going guy, but now he looked frightening. The usual roguish grin he always wore was now replaced by a snarl and his eyes had a crazed look to them that sent a chill down her spine.
Tonight Sirius had reminded her eerily of her aunt. Sirius had that same unhinged look in his eye when he looked at Snape as her Aunt Bellatrix had when she looked at her on those rare occasions that Tonks was assigned to work on the high-security wing.
"I believe that will be all for tonight, everyone. Sirius, I believe we need to talk in private," Dumbledore said with a look of resignation on his aged face.
Tonks rose with everyone else and quickly slipped out of the house. Thankful that she managed to leave without being stopped by anyone.
She had already decided to stay in the guest room at her parents' house tonight. She was certain Sirius would be there bright and early to share what he'd learned here tonight and she wanted to be there for that.
Once she was outside and had slipped into a side alley off of Grimmauld Square, Tonks turned on the spot, disappearing with a barely audible 'pop.'
Tonks' last thought before she disapparated was that she never wanted to piss her cousin off.
Tonks Residence, Reading, 7/5/1995, 08:38
A sweaty-faced Harry slowed his pace as he neared the Tonks' driveway. He had just run five laps around the neighbourhood and was breathing quite heavily. He already looking anticipating a hot shower to ease the aching in his muscles as he walked the last hundred yards to the house.
Tonks had been working the night shift ever since their trip to the alley so she hadn't been able to run with him in the mornings (not that he felt he needed an escort anyway).
His morning runs were about the only exciting thing that had happened since his trip to Diagon Alley... well other than the trip he'd taken to the hospital.
Harry involuntarily shuddered at the thought of his first visit to Saint Mungo's. Yesterday Ted had taken him to the wizarding hospital to get his immunisations. Much to his disgust, every potion he was given had tasted terrible. Luckily his aunt had at least gotten him his booster shots, so he was good as far as his muggle immunisations went.
Finally making it to the Tonks' driveway, Harry walked past the green 1987 Range Rover parked in the driveway and up the two steps to the front door. Pushed the door open with a slight creaking of hinges, Harry stepped inside and shut the door behind him.
Harry was surprised to find Sirius waiting for him at the foot of the stairs, looking a bit out of sorts pacing back and forth. As soon as his godfather spotted him, he stopped pacing and a look of relief crossed his features.
"Bout time you got back," Sirius said, giving him a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"What's the matter, Padfoot?" Harry asked worriedly.
"We need to talk, but first you need to get cleaned up. You smell like an armpit," Sirius said in a poor attempt at sounding like his normal self.
"Alright, I'll be down in ten," Harry said before running up the stairs in a rush to get a shower.
"I'll be in the kitchen," Sirius called up the stairs behind him.
Harry darted into the bathroom only to freeze in his tracks when he heard a high-pitched shriek. Harry just stood there in the bathroom doorway staring with his mouth agape at the source of the scream.
Tonks was just stepping out of the shower her foot frozen in midair as if she was stepping over the tub when the door opened. She was staring at him in shock, her wet pink hair pushed back on her head, and water was beading on her tan skin. Her puffy pink nipples were hardened from the cool air blowing in from the open window and her wet breasts seemed to glisten in the light.
Tonks quickly realized what was going on and that Harry was just standing there staring at her nude form in awe. The last thing Harry noticed before Tonks picked up her wand was a tuft of bubblegum pink hair between her slightly parted legs.
Harry had barely processed what he was seeing before a spell hit him in the chest and literally threw him into the hall. The bathroom door slammed shut behind him a millisecond before he slammed into the wall and then hit the floor with a heavy 'THUMP'.
"What on earth is all this racket?!" Andromeda's voice rang out from down the hallway as she marched over to stand over him looking very cross
"Um I- Tonks was- bathroom," Harry sputtered out as he shakily got to his feet.
"Harry, calm down and explain in coherent English," Andi said though from the glint in her eye, Harry was pretty sure she already knew what had happened.
"I went to take a shower after my run and Tonks was-
"Already taking a shower," an annoyed voice growled out as the bathroom door was flung open to reveal a very angry-looking metamorph.
Harry and Andi both turned to see Tonks standing in the doorway dressed in a fluffy bathrobe, her hands on her hips and her hair a fiery shade of red.
"Ah, I see," Andromeda nodded, looking like she was fighting to keep from grinning at the crimson colour of her new ward's face.
"I didn't mean to," Harry protested weakly.
"You didn't knock, then you just stood there staring at me like a perv!" Tonks growled as her grey eyes bored into Harry's.
"He's probably never seen a woman in that... state before, Nymphadora," Andromeda said placatingly.
"I didn't even know you were here," Harry said hoping that he could find a way to escape this very uncomfortable situation.
"Ugh, just get in there and get cleaned up. We have a lot to talk about," Tonks sighed before pushing past him and heading into the room he had been sleeping in.
"Don't mind her, she is always moody in the morning," Andi said still looking highly amused.
"Well, I'm just going to get in the *um* shower," Harry said, his face still feeling very warm.
"Go ahead, and Harry," Andromeda said as Harry stepped into the bathroom
"Yes?" Harry asked, pausing in shutting the door behind him.
"Knock before going into the bathroom, won't you?" Andromeda said and gave up trying to hold back her grin.
"Y-yeah," Harry nodded his face feeling even warmer, if that was even possible.
"Good. Breakfast will be ready in a few," Andromeda said before sweeping down the hallway.
Harry groaned as he shut the door wondering if this day could get any worse. Though, as he rushed through his shower, he couldn't stop his mind from drifting back to what he saw earlier.
'Maybe today wasn't so bad after all,' Harry grinned as he turned off the water.
Twenty-two minutes after leaving Sirius at the foot of the stairs, Harry stepped into the kitchen to find Tonks glaring daggers at him. Meanwhile, the Tonks couple and Sirius were having a whispered conversation at the other end of the table.
"Not a word, Potter," Tonks warned moodily as Harry took a seat beside her.
"I really am sorry," Harry said sincerely as he fixed himself some bacon and eggs from the platter on the table.
"Whatever just drop it," Tonks sighed, sounding utterly exhausted.
"Alright. Are you okay?" Harry asked, giving her a look of concern.
"I'm tired, been working double duty for the last week," Tonks admitted stifling a yawn behind her hand.
"So Harry, I heard you've had an... interesting morning," Sirius said in an overly casual tone as he looked up and noticed Harry seated at the table.
"Don't even think about bringing that up, Sirius," Tonks warned, her hair shifting to the same colour red as it had earlier.
"Alright, then let's get to the reason I'm here," Sirius said his tone getting grim.
"What's up?" Harry asked, forgetting about his breakfast.
"I guess the simplest way to say this is that everything Harry said Lily told him was correct," Sirius sighed.
"Y-you're sure?" Harry stuttered out.
"Yeah first off, the prophecy has been fulfilled I saw the sphere myself," Sirius said.
"Sphere?" Harry asked in confusion.
"The department of mysteries makes a copy of every prophecy given and stores them in glass spheres. These spheres glow white when a prophecy is either active or has not yet been set into motion. When a prophecy has been fulfilled or it is no longer possible for the prophecy to become active, the sphere turns black," Sirius explained.
"So how did you see this prophecy sphere?" Harry asked curiously.
"I am technically your magical guardian, I went to the ministry the other day and was taken to see the prophecy pertaining to you. There is this massive room in the department of mysteries that stores every prophecy made in Magical Britain since the founding of the Wizard's Council," Sirius elaborated.
"What else did you learn?" Andromeda asked somewhat anxiously.
"As I said, everything Lily told him was true. Snape was the one who told Voldemort about the prophecy, and there was a portion of Voldemort's soul embedded in Harry's scar," Sirius answered, looking very troubled.
"He just about murdered Snape at the order meeting," Tonks grimaced.
"I let him go last night but I will make Snape pay for this," Sirius muttered, his voice sounding more like a growl.
"If you don't, then I will," Harry said quietly.
Harry's anger was starting to build as he thought about how Snape had treated him since he had entered Hogwarts. The slimy bastard was the reason both of Harry's parents were dead and he had the nerve to bully and belittle him every chance he got!
"You let me deal with Snape, as talented as you are, you are not ready to take on someone like him in a fight," Sirius warned.
"Alright," Harry said, though he still was pondering ways to make Snape pay for what he had done.
"Anything else?" Tonks asked, having already known everything Sirius had said so far from last night's order meeting.
"Yes, Dumbledore told me how he believes Voldemort survived his first attack on Harry," Sirius said quietly.
"Really, how?" Harry demanded.
"He split his soul into pieces and hid those pieces in objects that anchored the piece of his soul inside of him to the mortal realm, in short, he created horcruxes," Sirius said in a quiet voice.
"As in more than one?!" Andi asked sharply.
"Yes, as in more than one," Sirius nodded gravely.
"What is a horcrux?" Tonks asked in confusion.
"Exactly what Sirius said. They are soul anchors and are the darkest and foulest of dark magic," Andi said, her face screwed up in disgust.
"And as long as he has these things, he cannot die?" Harry asked in horror.
"Right in one, mate," Sirius confirmed.
"Wonderful, I don't suppose they can be destroyed?" Harry asked hopefully.
"You're living proof that they can be, dear," Andromeda said with a look of dawning horror.
"You mean I was-
"Yes, though one made completely unintentionally," Sirius said, cutting Harry off.
"I think that is enough talk about that, Sirius," Ted said, finally speaking up and looking very troubled.
"Quite right. Have you settled all of your affairs with the ministry, Sirius?" Andromeda asked, giving her husband a grateful smile.
"Yes, they returned my property and issued a full apology. I also signed the right of guardianship for Harry over to you and Ted," Sirius said, getting a wide smile from Andromeda.
"So I am staying here?" Harry asked, feeling a small sense of relief at this news, he was really starting to feel comfortable here.
"Only if you want to," Andromeda said, looking over at him with a comforting smile.
"I-I would like to stay here with you and Ted," Harry said, shooting Sirius an apologetic glance.
"I figured you would. The alternative would be living at my mother's old house for the summer," Sirius said, giving Harry an understanding nod.
"Then it's decided, I think that I speak for the both of us when I say that we're delighted to have you stay here," Ted said, giving Harry a wide grin, Andromeda nodding her head in agreement
"Th-thanks you. You have no idea how much that means to me," Harry stuttered out, his voice cracking a bit as Ted's words sank in.
"Alright, if the talk is over I'm going back to bed. If anyone wakes me, there will be hell to pay," Tonks warned before she drained the orange juice from her glass and got up from the table.
"You have a flat you know," Andromeda said matter-of-factly.
"I have to take Harry to see his friends this afternoon. It's just easier to sleep here and take him when I wake up," Tonks shrugged before leaving the kitchen.
"Poor Nymphadora, she's never been a morning person," Andromeda giggled.
"Did she mean she's taking me to see Ron and Hermione?" Harry asked hopefully.
"Yeah, I already informed them of your situation. I told Dumbledore I wanted to let you visit with them either today or tomorrow," Sirius explained.
"Thanks, Sirius," Harry said gratefully.
"Don't mention it, I would take you myself but I have plans this afternoon," Sirius grinned
"So how did you talk her into taking him?" Ted asked curiously.
"She has a thing for Remus, I promised to introduce her," Sirius said looking very amused.
"You mean that bloke you went to school with?" Ted asked looking alarmed.
"That's him. I don't think Remus will be very receptive to her, he's terrified of women," Sirius assured him.
"Why, is he into men?" Andromeda asked shrewdly.
"No, he's a werewolf and has avoided relationships for fear of passing on his condition," Sirius said, sadness clear in his voice.
"Bloody hell! She has always had the worst taste in men!" Ted exclaimed looking alarmed.
"Yes, I still remember that Weasley boy she dated all through her sixth year only to discover that he was gay," Andromeda sighed, looking very troubled by what Sirius had said.
"Like I said, Remus won't be very receptive to her," Sirius said.
"Doesn't matter. Nymphadora is persistent and she will wear him down," Andromeda said knowingly.
Harry tuned out their conversation feeling somewhat unhappy by what he was hearing but not really knowing why.
Harry decided to push those strange thoughts from his mind, the squirming in his stomach was starting to kill his appetite.
His thoughts drifted to the prospect of seeing his friends that afternoon. He always missed them over summer break though admittedly he had seen them a few weeks ago. Still, it seemed like much longer with all that had happened to him.
'I just hope they're not to put out about me letting them think I was dead,' Harry thought worriedly as he finished his breakfast.
Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, London, 7/5/1995, 15:39
Harry and Tonks appeared with a soft 'pop' in a side alley near a rundown neighbourhood, Harry doubled over gasping for breath and Glared at Tonks as he got his bearings.
"You... said... it gets... easier," Harry panted out feeling as if his chest had just been squeezed in a giant's fist.
"It does when you do it yourself," Tonks Shrugged as she waited for him to compose himself.
"That isn't helpful," Harry sighed as he straightened up and looked around the dingy alley.
"A trick I've found is to hold your breath," Tonks said as she pulled a folded slip of parchment from her jacket pocket.
"What's that?" Harry asked curiously as she offered the parchment to him.
"Your key to getting into headquarters. Just read it," Tonks instructed as she pulled a Zippo lighter out of her pocket.
Curiously Harry unfolded the parchment and read the single sentence written in slanted cursive writing.
The headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix can be found at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, London.
"I don't get it?" Harry said in confusion as he handed the parchment back to Tonks.
"You will now come on," Tonks said as she flicked the lighter open and lit the parchment before dropping it on the ground and watching it burn to ash.
"Where the hell are we?" Harry asked as Tonks stopped the ashes out before leading him out of the alley, the bright sunlight hitting them in the face.
"Grimmauld square," Tonks said as she led him across the street to a row of houses.
Harry's first thought as he surveyed the neighbourhood was that this place looked rough. Many of the houses on this street had broken windows and peeling paint on their walls. The house they had just passed had bin bags piled up on the stoop, the smell permeating the air making Harry involuntarily crinkle his nose in disgust.
Down on the corner where Grimmauld Street met the main road, there was a man in his mid-twenties with baggy pants and a shaved head standing on the curb. Twice in the time it took him and Tonks to cross the street, Harry saw cars pull up beside the man. 'Skinhead' would reach inside the car with something in his hand, only to pull his arm back seconds later with a handful of pound notes.
"I think that bloke is a drug dealer," Harry said quietly.
"Yep, I'm pretty sure he's selling weed," Tonks shrugged.
Harry walked behind Tonks as they passed a house with the number '13' on the front door and loud music blaring from inside the house.
Next, they came to a house with the number '11' stamped on the door and the sounds of a man and woman screaming at each other from the open second-floor window carried down to them.
"Am I missing something?" Harry asked in confusion as Tonks led him to the six-inch gap between the two houses.
"No, weed isn't that great. It makes me really paranoid," Tonks grinned as they came to a stop.
"No, I mean the paper said... the paper said... Harry cut off as he could not say what the paper said and looked at her in confusion.
"You can't say it out loud. That was the secret for the fedelius charm," Tonks explained.
"Okay, so what do I do?" Harry asked feeling somewhat perplexed.
"Think about what was written on that parchment," Tonks explained patiently.
"Alright," Harry said quietly before thinking hard about what he had read on that slip of parchment.
Harry jumped when the gap expanded outward and was quickly filled in by dark grey brick. Looking up Harry saw a rooftop pop up in the widening gap between the two houses as another house seemed to inflate between number eleven and thirteen. Harry counted four rows of grimy windows as the house finally seemed to stop expanding outwards.
"That was pretty neat," Harry grinned as Tonks led him up a small set of stairs.
The stairs led to an old-fashioned style door with a serpent doorknocker and tarnished brass numbers nailed to the door forming the number twelve. The house kind of reminded him of a haunted house, something about this home felt... off.
"Alright, let's get inside," Tonks said as she tapped the door knocker with her wand, causing the sound of multiple lock clicks to be heard.
Harry followed Tonks through the door noticing immediately that the house had the sweetish rotting smell of an abandoned house. The carpet was green and ancient and had started to fall apart, the silk wallpaper was peeling off of the walls, and the large chandelier was absolutely covered in cobwebs. The hallway was lit by tarnished gas lamps casting the room in insubstantial flickering orange light.
"This place is filthy," Harry muttered noticing the dust lingering in the air.
"FILTH, BE GONE FROM THE HOUSE OF BLACK! MONGREL SPAWN OF MY BLOOD TRAITOR NIECE, YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE!
A grating female voice shrieked, making Harry jump a foot in the air. Harry looked around wildly trying to find the source of the screeching and found that it was coming from a painting. The painting was of a hideous woman in her seventies with crazed eyes and a bit of drool coming out of the corner of her mouth. The painting was set into the wall over the first landing on the staircase, making it easy to spot from anywhere in the entrance hall.
"Shut up you old bat," Tonks scowled as she flicked her wand causing curtains on either side of the painting to cover it, thankfully muffling her voice.
"Unfortunately, we can't take that painting down," Tonks sighed as the sound of feet could be heard on the stairs over their head.
"Tonks, is that you?" Missus Weasley's voice called as she came down the stairs, her eyes lighting up when she saw Harry.
"Yeah, I brought Harry over for a bit," Tonks said and had to step to the side as Missus Weasley swept forward to pull Harry into a bone-breaking hug.
Harry thought he was going to suffocate, and drew in a breath of relief when she broke the hug and held him at arm's length looking him over critically.
"It's so good to see you, Harry dear," Molly gushed.
"Thank you, Missus Weasley, how have you been?" Harry asked breathily noticing she seemed thinner than he remembered.
"I've been wonderful dear and I must say you have grown so much since last summer," Molly said as she finally released her hold on his shoulders.
Before Harry could say anything else, the door across from the staircase opened and Remus Lupin stepped into the hall. He was followed a second later by an exhausted-looking Ron and a very excited Hermione. All three of them looked to have recently been cleaning an oven or a fireplace if the soot smudges on their faces was anything to go by.
"Harry!" Hermione squealed as she shoved Ron out of her way and wrapped Harry in a bone-crushing hug.
"Good to see you too, Hermione," Harry gasped out as he returned the hug, idly noticing her developing chest pressing into his own.
"You grew a lot," Hermione exclaimed as she released him and Harry was pleased to note that he was taller than her now.
"Glad to see you, mate," Ron said as he smacked Harry on the back.
"Missed me, did you?" Harry grinned.
"Well somebody has to keep Hermione off of my back," Ron chuckled, ignoring the look of annoyance that Hermione gave him at this comment.
"Hello Harry," Remus said kindly offering his hand.
"Hey Moony, how have you been?" Harry asked, shaking his former professor's hand.
Remus didn't look much different from the last time Harry had seen him, he still had on heavily patched and faded blue robes and Remus' hair was just as grey as he remembered. Though Lupin seemed to have picked up a few more scars on his face.
"I'm doing well, I am working at a bookstore in Leeds now. The owner knows of my affliction so I get full moons off," Remus beamed.
"I'm glad, it's a shame you stopped teaching," Harry smiled.
"Yes well under the new laws, werewolves cannot be employees by any ministry-run institution," Remus said somewhat bitterly.
"Now that Tonks is here we have to take care of a bit of order business, why don't you three run along. I'll call you when dinner is ready," Molly cut in before Harry could reply.
"Try and stay out of trouble, I'll see you in a bit," Tonks smirked before she followed Missus Weasley and Lupin through the door that said Marauder had entered through moments ago.
Harry watched them disappear before turning to his friends only to gasp when Hermione captured him in another hug that could rival Missus Weasley's.
"Right, come on mate we have a lot to talk about," Ron said when Hermione released her hold and Harry took in a deep breath.
"Lead the way," Harry grinned as he followed the two up the stairs, making sure to stay quiet when he walked past that painting.
They walked in silence up the stairs before getting off on the first floor and stepping into the first room on the left.
"So what happened after the first task?" Hermione demanded as soon as the door was closed.
"Where are we?" Harry asked distractedly as he looked around the dimly lit room.
There were two leather armchairs and a leather sofa set around a lit fireplace, thankfully it wasn't putting out any heat. There was a large window letting in light but the glass was so grimy he couldn't see out of it, the drapes were thrown open on either side of the window and seemed to buzz sounding like the drapes were full of bumblebees. On the far wall, a massive tapestry hung and he could make out the script, 'Toujours pur' embroidered over the top in gold thread. The final pieces of furniture in the room were a large writing desk and a glass china cabinet that looked to be full of knick-knacks.
"The drawing room, just stay away from the drapes they're infested with doxies," Ron warned as he took a seat in one of the chairs.
"How are you both?" Harry asked looking between them.
"We're okay," Ron said distractedly.
"Harry please, what happened during the third task?" Hermione asked pulling him back to her original question.
"Alright chill out Hermione. It's not exactly something I really want to talk about," Harry said darkly.
"But this is important, from what we've been able to overhear, you know who is back and you saw him," Hermione said looking stricken at the thought.
"He is, and I did," Harry nodded.
"You're sure?" Ron asked weakly.
"Positive," Harry said in a grave tone.
"How?" Hermione demanded.
"Okay Hermione, listen closely and don't interrupt until I'm done. The cup was a portkey. When me and Cedric took hold of the Tri-Wizard cup, it took us to a graveyard...
Harry told them everything that happened at the graveyard, Wormtail killing Cedric, the resurrection ritual, the death eaters showing up, what he remembered of Voldemort's speech, and even getting hit with the killing curse and seeing his mother. By the time he had finished speaking, Ron was staring at him in horror his mouth hanging open in shock, while Hermione looked to be bursting to ask a million questions.
"You really got hit by the killing curse?" Hermione asked looking at him disbelievingly.
"I did," Harry nodded.
"How did you...
"Survive?" Harry asked as he plopped down on the sofa, Hermione taking a seat beside him a second later.
"Do you remember in first year how my scar hurt whenever I was around Quirrell?" Harry asked.
"Yeah," Ron and Hermione said in unison.
"And this year when I had all of those visions?" Harry asked, getting nods in the affirmative from his friends.
"There was a piece of Voldemort's soul lodged in my scar. When the killing curse hit me, it destroyed that piece of soul," Harry explained as the door creaked open and Tonks came in looking a bit put out.
"Retelling the tale?" Tonks asked as she took a seat on the couch beside Harry.
Harry watched in amusement as she put her feet up on the coffee table, her combat boots clunking loudly on the wood.
"Yep, did they kick you out of the kitchen?" Harry asked in amusement.
"No, we got everything sorted out and then Remus left," Tonks huffed.
"So how long were you unconscious?" Hermione asked.
"A week give or take," Harry shrugged.
"Didn't you say that your wand exploded?" Ron asked noticing the wand holster on Harry's forearm.
"It did. This one is new," Harry said as he drew his wand and offered it to Ron.
"What is it?" Ron asked curiously.
"Ebony and dragon heartstring eleven and three quarters. The heartstrings came from the horntail I faced in the first task," Harry explained as Ron passed the wand to Hermione to look at.
"Oi, you never told me that," Tonks huffed.
"You distracted me with ice cream," Harry grinned as he accepted his wand from Hermione.
"Is it any good, I mean is it as good as your old one?" Ron asked curiously.
"No idea, I can't exactly practice with it until school starts," Harry scowled.
"Of course you can. The ministry can't really tell if you're doing underage magic unless there are no other magicals in the area," Tonks cut in.
"What?!" Hermione asked sounding indignant.
"The instrument that the ministry uses to detect underage magic is not very precise. They can only really pick up underage magic in muggle areas," Tonks shrugged.
"That's ridiculous," Hermione huffed.
"Well they believe muggleborns are the biggest threat to the statute of secrecy so they pay more attention to them than purebloods who are hidden away behind family wards," Tonks explained.
"She's not wrong, muggleborns are more likely to draw the attention of muggles," Ron spoke up.
"Well of course you would agree, you can use magic whenever you like," Hermione snapped.
Harry could sense one of Hermione and Ron's infamous arguments coming on and got up from the couch to check out that cabinet. Something in there was calling to him, he had noticed it as soon as they entered the room and the feeling had been growing stronger the longer he was here.
Harry tuned out Hermione's going off on pureblood favouritism and carefully opened the glass-paned door of the cabinet, the pull intensifying the closer he got to whatever it was inside the cabinet.
Harry couldn't explain the feeling, it was so welcoming, so familiar he yearned to get to whatever it was calling to him.
Harry idly shifted objects around until he found the object that was calling to him. It was the most beautiful golden locket he had ever seen in his life. It had a fine gold linked chain and the locket pendant itself was the size of a small chicken egg and had an intricate 'S' pattern set into its face composed of dozens of tiny emeralds. In the right light, the 'S' looked like a tiny snake coiled and ready to strike.
Harry picked the locket up and felt a charge go through his body, it felt like he was whole again, like a piece of him he didn't know was lost had been united at last.
Idly he heard Tonks speaking to him as if from hundreds of miles away, "Whatcha got there, Harry?"
Harry ignored her, all that mattered was this locket and he felt this undeniable urge, to put it on. If he wore this locket nothing could stop him.
"Harry, put that down!"
Harry ignored Tonks as he lifted the chain preparing to put it over his head.
"Give me that!" Tonks snapped and snatched the locket out of his hands.
Harry saw red and lunged for Tonks, intent on getting the locket back only for everything to go black.
Tonks saw Harry about to attack her and quickly hit him with a nonverbal stunner. From the look in his eye when he held the locket, she knew this was likely going to happen and had ger wand already pressed to his back when she took the locket.
Tonks watched Harry collapse with a muffled 'thump' onto the carpeted floor and tried to process what exactly had just happened. Deciding she needed to call in back up, Tonks turned to the other two occupants who were bickering and hadn't even noticed what had just happened.
"Granger quit bitching about purebloods and go and get Sirius here," Tonks barked, cutting off their heated argument.
"Al-alright," Hermione said, looking taken aback by Tonks' tone.
"Tell him to get the headmaster, tell him it's urgent," Tonks said as she conjured a canvas bag and dropped the locket inside of it.
It took about twenty minutes before Sirius, Dumbledore, Moody, and Remus came into the room.
After Tonks had explained what had happened, she handed Albus the bag with the locket inside it and went over to revive Harry.
Harry groaned when he opened his eyes, he felt like he had been clobbered over the head with a bat.
"You feeling alright, mate?" Ron asked as he helped Harry get to his feet.
"My head hurts, what happened?" Harry groaned as Ron led him over to a chair.
"I think Tonks stunned you," Ron said looking questioningly over Harry's shoulder.
"I did. You were acting like someone under the imperius curse," Tonks shrugged as she took a seat on the arm of Harry's chair.
"I was?" Harry asked in alarm.
"Yeah, you were about to put on that locket," Tonks said indicating the one Dumbledore was examining with a grim look etched into his features.
"What is it," Harry asked as Tonks ran her fingers through his hair.
"Beats me," Tonks shrugged as she pointed her wand at a spot on the back of his head, casting a spell that instantly relieved the ache he was experiencing.
"I believe it is a very important find," Dumbledore said giving Sirius a meaningful look.
"You mean it's an anchor?" Sirius demanded looking alarmed.
"Yes, I believe it is., I think this locket once belonged to Salazar Slytherin and would be exactly the sort of thing Tom would require for one of his anchors," Dumbledore said before placing the locket back in the canvas sack and slipping the sack into his robe pocket.
"Can you destroy it?" Sirius asked hopefully.
"I can. I think that Alastor and I shall take care of that post-haste," Dumbledore said before turning to Harry.
"Harry, we need to talk in the next few days," Dumbledore said gently.
"Yes, Professor," Harry nodded, knowing full well what Dumbledore wanted to talk about.
"Until then, try and stay out of mischief," Dumbledore suggested his eyes twinkling in amusement.
"You know me, sir, trouble usually finds me," Harry shrugged.
"It does indeed my boy but thank you for your help today," Dumbledore said sounding very serious.
"Not sure what I did," Harry muttered.
"A good day to you all. Alastor, Remus, if you would accompany me to Hogwarts," Dumbledore said as he swept from the room.
"Aye, but you had better tell me what the fuck is going on," Moody muttered as he and Remus followed Dumbledore from the room.
"Bloody hell, Harry," Sirius sighed as soon as the door shut.
"What was that thing?" Hermione asked speaking up for the first time since Tonks had sent her to get help.
"Sorry, Hermione but I can't tell you that," Sirius said regretfully.
"Why did it affect Harry so badly?" Hermione pressed.
"I cannot say yet but it has something to do with Voldemort," Sirius sighed.
"The locket had something to do with Voldemort?" Harry asked in surprise.
"Yeah, he was the one who cast the dark magic on it," Sirius said looking uncomfortable.
"Wait, was it about what you told me this morning?" Harry asked having an epiphany.
"I uh," Sirius stammered.
"Shit, no wonder I felt drawn to it," Harry scowled.
"What are you two talking about?" Hermione demanded.
"I'll tell you later," Harry promised.
"Harry you can't tell her," Sirius protested.
"I tell them everything. They're going to find out one way or the other," Harry shrugged.
"Fine, I'll fill you two in on this but you have to keep this quiet," Sirius said looking between Ron and Hermione who both quickly nodded their assent.
"Alright, years ago Voldemort decided he wanted to be immortal...
"Thanks for stopping me from... whatever I was going to do," Harry muttered to Tonks who was still sitting on the arm of his chair having already heard the explanation for what a Horcrux was.
"Don't mention it, how are you feeling? You hit your head pretty hard," Tonks asked.
"Still a bit groggy," Harry admitted as he watched his friends' faces pale the longer Sirius spoke.
"Never been stunned before?" Tonks smirked.
"No. I've been knocked unconscious and the feeling is pretty similar," Harry snorted.
"I know. It's part of auror training to learn how to function after being stunned," Tonks admitted as Hermione began bombarding Sirius with questions.
"She's a bit high-strung," Tonks whispered.
"She is but she's scary smart and usually figures stuff out before the staff does," Harry said as Hermione went quiet, no doubt she was thinking about all Sirius had just told her.
Before Tonks could reply, the door opened and Ginny Weasley walked in shooting Tonks a curious look before speaking.
"Mum says dinner is ready," Ginny said before turning and heading back the way she had come from.
"Come on kids, let's go eat," Sirius said looking thrilled about the interruption.
"Thanks for filling them in," Harry whispered to Sirius as they left the drawing room.
"Don't mention it," Sirius shrugged as he threw his arm over Harry's shoulder.