Great Hall, Hogwarts, 9/2/1995, 07:29
Harry took a seat at the Gryffindor table feeling exhausted after the unexpected defence practice the night before. He had not expected it to be so rough and he knew he had a few bruises as a result of his first training session with Tonks.
The amount of spells Tonks had thrown at him was shocking, he thought they were friends!
Harry had been so tired that he fell asleep fully dressed and ended up sleeping on something he didn't remember having in his pocket. Harry was surprised to find a package wrapped in brown paper. Curiously he had torn the paper off to find a simple shaving mirror and a short folded-up note written in familiar handwriting.
Harry,
This is an old heirloom of the Potter family. If you ever need a word with me just say my name while looking into the mirror and we can talk face to face. Good luck at school and I will most likely be hanging around Hogsmeade during Hogsmeade weekends. So keep an eye out for your old godfather and we can catch a bite to eat while you're in town.
P.S- Give my cousin a good thrashing for me, won't you?
Sirius Orion Black
Harry had grinned when he had first read that, it gave him something to look forward to in a couple of weeks. Though he highly doubted he would be able to give Tonks a good thrashing anytime soon.
"You look like shit mate," Ron said as he took a seat beside Harry.
"That language is unbecoming of a prefect," Harry smirked as Ron poured himself a cup of tea.
"Bugger, now I have to give myself detention," Ron sniggered.
"Where is Hermione?" Harry asked surprised she hadn't come down with Ron.
"She's telling the twins off for placing an ad for human testers in the common room," Ron sighed uncomfortably.
"That's got to be awkward for you," Harry snorted.
"Yeah, I want no part of trying to tell my brothers not to do something," Ron said firmly.
"In fairness, your mum's been telling them what to do for seventeen years and they never listen to her either," Harry pointed out.
"Exactly and if I try and tell them to do something, I'll wake up with a giant spider in my bed or put on a pair of trousers that vanish thirty minutes after I put them on," Ron scowled.
"Huh, when you put it like that... maybe you should let Hermione deal with it. If you're lucky, you may get to see her in those vanishing trousers," Harry chortled, Ron quickly joining in with a slight blush colouring his cheeks.
"What are you two baboons laughing about?" Hermione asked as she sat down across from them.
"Just wishful thinking, did you tell off the twins?" Ron asked curiously, hoping to distract her from her original question.
"I did, thanks for the help by the way," Hermione huffed irritably as she poured herself a cup of coffee.
"Oh no Hermione, I am not getting pranked just to satisfy your need to follow senseless rules," Ron said flatly as he loaded his plate with food.
"There's that Gryffindor bravery," Hermione snorted derisively before fixing herself a small plate of French toast.
"So how were the first years last night?" Harry asked as he saw Professor McGonagall passing out schedules to said first years at the far end of the table.
"Quiet, they were too busy looking around in awe," Ron chuckled between shovelling forkfuls of eggs into his mouth.
"Yeah, I remember my first night here. It didn't seem real," Harry said with a far-off look in his eye.
"I know, I didn't believe half of what I read in Hogwarts a History and spent the whole evening trying to see if what I read was true," Hermione admitted with a fond smile on her lips at the memory.
"The ceilings bewitched to look like the night's sky, I read that in Hogwarts a History," Ron said in an uncanny imitation of Hermione, causing Harry to snigger at the look of annoyance on Hermione's face.
"I don't know why you're making fun. You had dirt on your nose the whole way to Hogwarts in our first year," Hermione huffed.
"Yeah, how did you get dirt on your nose anyway?" Harry asked, trying not to laugh at the look of embarrassment on Ron's face.
"Fred tripped me on the way out of the house and we were running late," Ron shrugged before stuffing a whole strip of bacon into his mouth.
"Well I expect brown nosing from Percy but you, I held to a higher standard," Harry sighed dramatically.
"And now he's gone and made prefect as well," Hermione added with a smug grin on her lips.
"I know, we're slowly losing him, Hermione," Harry sighed shooting Ron a disappointed look.
"Oi, it's not right teaming up on me like that!" Ron exclaimed as McGonagall approached them.
"Ah my three troublemakers, here are your class schedules," Professor McGonagall cut into their conversation before handing them each a slip of parchment with their class schedules written on it.
"Professor, that is an awful thing to say. I am always trying to keep these two out of trouble," Hermione protested, sounding highly affronted.
"Yes, and to date that is the only thing you have failed at during your time at Hogwarts, Miss Granger," McGonagall quipped before moving down the table to hand Seamus and Dean their schedules.
"I think I'm offended," Harry said matter-of-factly before taking a sip of his coffee.
"You're offended," Hermione huffed incredulously.
"Yes, some of our shenanigans take months to work out and she trivialized it to a black mark on your academic record," Harry explained, finding it hard not to laugh at the look Hermione was giving him.
"Whoa, that is the worst-looking Monday I've ever seen!" Ron exclaimed before Hermione could reply.
"Let's see... history, potions, divination, and defence, yeah that is going to be a very long day," Harry muttered darkly as he read over his own schedule.
"Well it's Saturday, you've got time to mentally prepare," Hermione shrugged.
"This kind of ruins my whole weekend," Harry muttered after he finished the last of his eggs.
"I told you to drop divination," Hermione shrugged.
"I just wish I could drop potions and history of magic," Ron said wistfully.
"And herbology," Harry added, having never liked working in the garden as a child.
"You can drop those classes next year though most of the better jobs require a N.E.W.T in potions," Hermione pointed out.
"So what are we doing today?" Ron asked not wanting to get drawn into a conversation with Hermione about classes.
"Potter's going to be showing me around the school this morning," said a voice behind them.
"Who are you?" Ron asked as he turned to see the Hufflepuff girl standing behind him and Harry.
"Wendy McDonald, transfer student," Tonks answered, giving Harry a pointed look.
"Alright, I'll catch you two later," Harry said as he got up from his seat.
"Are you sure?" Hermione asked worriedly as she eyed the strange Hufflepuff suspiciously.
"Don't worry, I'll keep him safe," Wendy assured them as she hooked her arm through Harry's and led him out of the hall.
"Where are we going?" Harry asked apprehensively as soon as they stepped out of the hall.
"To practice your dodging skills," 'Wendy' beamed.
"Oh bugger," Harry groaned knowing that the next few hours were going to be unpleasant.
"You'll get used to it," Tonks grinned as she pulled him up the main staircase.
Somehow Harry did not believe her.
Two hours later, Harry collapsed to his knees on the floor of the training room. His face was covered in sweat and his chest was smarting from the many welts courtesy of the stinging hexes Tonks was sending his way.
Dodging practice was miserable as it involved Harry standing inside a ten-foot circle and dodging stinging hexes Tonks sent his way. The pink-haired auror was merciless and had pushed him as hard as she could. Harry was finally to the point that his knees had given out and he just sat there panting heavily, trying desperately to catch his breath.
"You need to stop diving to the floor every time I throw a spell at you. You are able to avoid my first spell but you make it easy to tag you multiple times when you try and get back up," Tonks said as a comfortable armchair appeared behind her.
"It's *ha* instinct," Harry defended, his breathing still coming in sharp pants.
"Well if you react like that in a real fight, it'll get you killed," Tonks rebutted bluntly.
"I noticed. That was how Voldemort kept hitting me with the cruciatus curse last summer," Harry admitted, finally able to catch his breath.
"Then stop flopping around like a landed fish and stay on your feet!" Tonks snapped.
"Well, how am I supposed to avoid your hexes?!" Harry demanded.
"Step out of the path of the spell," Tonks said as if it were obvious.
"How?" Harry demanded as he shakily stood up.
"I'll show you but if you don't manage to hit me then we're doing these drills tomorrow morning," Tonks warned as she stood, the chair she was sitting on vanishing into thin air.
"So you're going to let me throw hexes at you?" Harry asked as she shucked her outer robes.
Harry couldn't help staring when she revealed that she was wearing a short black and yellow plaid skirt underneath her school robes. He this looked really sexy with her dragonhide lace-up boots that came halfway up her calves, and the skin-tight black Weird Sisters tee shirt she wore that only came down to her navel, showing off her toned stomach. The curves of her breasts were stretching out the white Weird Sisters logo on her tee shirt, drawing his eyes to them like a magnet.
"Stop leering at me and start casting spells, Potter," Tonks smirked when she caught his gaze.
"Stupify," Harry exclaimed directing his wand at her.
Tonks took a lazy step to her right, easily avoiding the red beam of light coming at her. To add insult, she brought her hand to her mouth and pretended to yawn loudly while rolling her eyes at him.
"That was pathetic. Don't just stand there watching to see if your spell hits me. Keep casting spells at me!" Tonks barked as she threw a stinging hex at him that clipped his shoulder.
"Oi, I'm the one casting spells!" Harry exclaimed before casting three stunners at her.
The spells went so wide enough that she didn't even have to dodge much to Harry's embarassment.
"Yeah but you couldn't hit the broad side of a dragon's ass," Tonks taunted as he threw more stunners at her, his mouth getting dry very quickly from constantly saying the incantation out loud.
"Getting closer but you still slower than my grandmother," Tonks snorted derisively as she lazily avoided another stunning spell.
Harry scowled and started swinging his wand as fast as he could, the room starting to echo with a chant of "Stupify, stupify, stupify...
"I really need to teach you nonverbal casting, listening to you bellowing incantations is giving me a headache," Tonks said as she avoided his spells with contemptuous ease.
"Stupify!" Harry roared wanting nothing more than to silence his very irritating opponent.
"The spell doesn't get more powerful the louder you say it, Potter," Tonks sniggered as she avoided the red beam of light.
"Stupify," Harry hissed and the colour of his spell seemed to change from a bright red to a clear pink colour.
The spell moved much faster than a normal stunner, zooming from his wand to Tonks in the blink of an eye. Tonks barely avoided it this time, nearly stumbling over her feet in the process. Harry saw a look of surprise cross her face for a second before it turned into a wide smile.
"Now that's more like it!" Tonks exclaimed as she raised her hand to stop him from casting his next spell.
"What just happened?" Harry asked in confusion.
"You put some real power into the spell. This entire time, you've been just casting spells like it explains in the textbook but on that last spell you channelled your intent into it," Tonks answered, looking very pleased.
"So that's why the spell moved so fast?" Harry asked non-plussed.
"Yes, I frustrated you so much that you wanted nothing more than for your spell to reach me and your magic made it happen," Tonks beamed.
"Oh," Harry said still not fully understanding what happened.
"We'll go over this more later, it's damn near lunchtime," Tonks said as she checked her watch.
"Alright, does this mean I don't have to do dodging drills tomorrow?" Harry asked hopefully.
"Nice try but you didn't land a single spell on me and you're still flopping around on the floor to avoid a stinging hex. No, we're going to spend hours going through dodging practice, Harry," Tonks said cheerfully as she threw her arm over his shoulder and led him out of the room.
'Maybe spending more time with Tonks isn't such a good thing after all,' Harry thought as she led him out of the room.
Great Hall, Hogwarts, 9/4/1995, 07:39
Harry was never going to get used to his training with Tonks. She had been pushing him all weekend and last night she instructed him to run every morning before breakfast.
Today was the official start of classes so the hall was quickly filling up. Most of Ravenclaw and Slytherin were already tucking into breakfast, while the Gryffindors and Hufflepuff's steadily trickled into the hall looking half awake.
Hermione was seated across from him reading through The Standard Book of Spells Grade Five while Ron looked half asleep and seemed to be eating on autopilot.
"Cheer up mate, you can catch a nap in Binn's class," Harry chuckled and smacked Ron on the back, making the boy jump in surprise.
"Harry you two should both pay attention, this is our O.W.L year," Hermione huffed.
"Lighten up, Hermione," Ron grumbled before taking a sip of his tea
"I am warning you now, I will not be carrying you two through that class again this year," Hermione said flatly.
"I honestly don't care if I fail history of magic. I'm dropping the course next year anyway and I'll bet anything that it won't be a requirement for any career path that I'm following," Harry shrugged unconcernedly.
"Fine, then you can explain to Andromeda why you've been slacking off in your studies," Hermione huffed, taking the wind out of Harry's sails.
"Did anyone ever tell you that you were annoying?" Harry asked tiredly.
"Yes once or twice," Hermione said before hiding her smug grin by sipping her coffee.
"You may have cowed Harry but that won't work on me," Ron grumbled.
"I know but there is still hope for Harry," Hermione quipped.
"Harry's right, you are annoying," Ron chuckled, seeming to be more awake after two helpings of breakfast.
"Yes, I know Hermione's a nag blah blah," Hermione huffed before shutting her book and slipping it into her bag.
"Might as well get to class that way we can get a seat by the window," Harry said as he stood up.
"Why, so you can stare out the window?" Hermione asked suspiciously.
"No, so I can contemplate jumping out of it while Binns drones on about the umpteenth goblin rebellion," Harry replied matter-of-factly.
"That would be bad," Ron pointed out helpfully.
"I know, the fall would probably kill me," Harry agreed as they crossed the hall.
"It's almost fifty feet over the courtyard, it would definitely kill you," Hermione corrected.
"Not what I meant," Ron said as they exited the hall.
"Oh?" Harry asked in confusion.
"I meant like what if you were stuck as a ghost, you know Moaning Myrtle still fancies you. Didn't she visit you in the tub last year?" Ron explained and chortled at the look of horror on Harry's face.
"I don't want to talk about that and she said she covered her eyes," Harry said, his face feeling very warm.
"Her hands are transparent," Ron pointed out with a knowing grin.
"I hate you," Harry muttered, his face getting redder as Hermione giggled.
"Still want that window seat?" Hermione asked with a smirk.
Harry remained silent as they neared the third-floor landing, not liking when Ron and Hermione teamed up to take the mickey out of him. He much prefered it when he wasn't in the hot seat.
Harry was pulled back to the present when came face to face with Cho Chang, who was coming down the stairs. They all came to a stop on the landing leading into the third-floor corridor.
"Hello Harry," Cho said softly as soon as they made eye contact.
"Hey Cho, how are you doing?" Harry asked, somewhat surprised that he didn't feel the butterflies he had felt last year when he looked at the pretty Ravenclaw seeker.
"I'm o-okay but it was a... a rough summer," Cho admitted, a slight hitch in her voice.
"I can only imagine," Harry said at a loss for what else to say.
Harry was saved from any more strained conversation by the warning bell echoing through the hall and
"Well, I have to get to charms," Cho said before she quickly darted down the third-floor corridor in front of them.
Harry pondered Cho's strange behaviour, she didn't seem to be all there, not that Harry could really blame her. Harry knew she really liked Cedric, he had stared at the pair of them enough last year to know that. Cedric was a good bloke and Harry couldn't imagine what Cho must be going through since the end of the third task.
Harry took his seat by the window and took out a quill and parchment preparing himself to sit through the most boring class known to wizardkind and wondered if Andi would be upset with him if he did fail this class.
Harry took his seat with Ron and Hermione at their usual bench in the back row of the potions classroom and waited for Snape to arrive in his usual dramatic fashion.
Harry didn't feel any better for staying awake through Binn's entire lecture, though he was a little surprised that the ghostly professor had covered something other than goblins for a change. Though how that wheezing spirit could make violent giant wars seem so boring was beyond him.
'SLAM'
Most of the class didn't even flinch as Snape swept into the dungeon before slamming the door to his classroom in an overly-dramatic fashion.
Harry watched with barely restrained contempt as the greasy-haired potions professor glided to the front of the classroom, his black eyes lingering on Harry for a second as he passed by their table.
Snape started off the lesson by giving them a speech about the upcoming O.W.L exams before he set them to brewing the draft of peace, a potion used to bring the drinker into a peaceful state as the name suggested.
The draught of peace was a potion used to bring the drinker into a temporary peaceful state, just as the name suggested. The potion was unbelievably complex and more difficult than anything Harry had ever brewed before. Harry quickly gave up trying to decipher Snape's scrawled instructions through the cloud of steam filling the classroom and pulled out his potions textbook. Using the recipe in his copy of Magical Drafts and Potions simplified things a lot but it inevitably drew Snape's attention to him. This didn't really surprise him much, since Snape was always looking for an excuse to single him out. Harry had barely gotten started on the third step in the potion when Snape's voice carried over the classroom.
"Potter, the instructions are on the blackboard, why do you have out your textbook?" Snape demanded.
"The instructions are in here too, professor," Harry said unconcernedly as he continued what he was doing.
"Ten points from Gryffindor for not following instructions," Snape hissed.
"Of course professor," Harry said, sounding unbothered as he completed the step of the potion he was on before flipping his hourglass over to let his potion stew for seven minutes.
"Detention Potter," Snape said, sounding thoroughly annoyed.
"For what, sir?" Harry asked curiously, finding this whole situation a bit amusing.
"Insubordination," Snape snapped irritably a bit thrown by Harry's lack of reaction.
"Alright, but I will have to let my guardian know about this, sir," Harry said in a casual tone, but the threat was quite clear.
Snape was very good at hiding his expression but Harry caught the look of worry flash across the potion professor's face for just a split second.
Tonks had told him the secret to dealing with Snape, the man was terrified of Andromeda. Apparently, back in Tonks' first year, Snape had chewed her out for knocking over her cauldron and reduced her to tears. When Andromeda got wind of this she stormed into the school and had a private 'chat' with the potions professor. Snape had avoided Tonks for the rest of her time at school and never singled her out again.
"Very well, you will not serve detention now stir your potion," Snape scowled before stalking over to harass Neville.
"What was that about in Potions?" Ron demanded as soon as they had taken their seats at the Gryffindor table for lunch.
"A trick Tonks told me about," Harry shrugged as he began piling casserole onto his plate.
"He was being incredibly unfair, it's hard to even see the blackboard as soon as Seamus's cauldron starts belching out black smoke," Hermione sighed.
"Yeah, I think that's why he makes us read off of the blackboard, to begin with," Harry admitted.
"Wouldn't surprise me much, though I have never seen Snape back down that quickly before," Ron said sounding impressed.
"He's terrified of Andi," Harry smirked.
"He did cancel that detention pretty quickly," Hermione said in a thoughtful tone.
"He did, didn't he?" Harry agreed, not even bothering to hide his amusement.
"Maybe he'll leave you alone now," Ron mused between large bites of casserole.
"Yeah but he'll probably take things out on Neville," Harry sighed feeling a slight pang of guilt as he glanced down the table to where Neville was sitting.
"So are you ready for divination this afternoon?" Ron asked in an obvious attempt to change the subject.
"As ready as I can be with her constantly predicting my death," Harry scowled.
"Don't you want to learn how you'll be killed this year?" Ron asked, sounding amused.
"I would say jumping out the window but you ruined that for me this morning," Harry snorted.
"Not nearly imaginative enough for someone of your celebrity status," Hermione pointed out.
"Yeah, it would have to be something amazing, like taking on a whole battalion of goblins and dying from an infected splinter after you've won the battle," Ron predicted.
"Or perhaps dying from exhaustion on a goodwill mission to the veela enclave," Harry suggested, with a far-off look in his eyes.
"Doubtful," Hermione snorted in amusement.
"No you are the hero of the wizarding world, it has to be something really heroic," Ron agreed.
'I prefer my version,' Harry thought to himself as his friends thought up creative and more ridiculous ways he could die.
Harry followed the rest of the class into the defence classroom, divination had been the same nonsense as usual. Harry deeply regretted letting Ron convince him to take the class with him. Runes would have been dreadfully dull but at least he would have learned something useful.
Currently, the class was getting seated while Umbridge sat behind her desk shuffling some papers around fussily. Just like in potions, Harry and his two friends took a seat in the very back of the room and took out their textbooks.
It seemed to take forever for the bell to ring but finally it finally did. As soon as the bell's ringing had come to a stop, Umbridge stood from her seat and looked out over the class a moment before speaking in the same little girlish voice she'd used last night at the feast.
"Hem hem, welcome to the new and ultimately improved defence against the dark arts class. The ministry experts have thoroughly gone over the curriculum and pruned away things they found unnecessary or exceedingly dangerous. While the fundamental principles in defence against the dark arts are crucial to your magical education, the fact is you are just citizens of Magical Britain and as such, have no reason to learn advanced combat techniques. The minister and by extension the ministry, feel that the abundance of combative magic being taught to underage witches and wizards could have detrimental effects on our society at large. To this end, we will be going back to the basics of your education. There will be no magic used in this classroom as I am not here to teach you magic, I am here to educate you on the theory of defensive magic and what situations it is acceptable to use defensive magic in," Umbridge said sounding as if she had given this speech many times already
Harry had to fight to keep from scowling when he processed what she was saying. What Umbridge had said made no sense whatsoever, why would the ministry want its citizens defenceless?
Though he supposed a fascist government would encourage such policies. Keeping the masses uneducated and defenceless would prevent them from rising up and overthrowing their oppressors.
Harry thought he could see Voldemort's hand in this new ministry policy, Harry just wondered how he had managed to pull it off. If Harry was to guess, he would think that Malfoy had gotten into Fudge's ear but he highly doubted that Malfoy was Voldemort's only agent in the ministry.
"Hem Hem, please copy down the class aims from the board and then begin reading for chapter one of Defensive Magical Theory," Umbridge said as she flicked her stubby wand at the blackboards and the three class aims appeared written in very curly cursive writing.
Harry copied the aims down, having to struggle not to snort at the ridiculousness of what he was writing.
Defence Against the Dark Arts
Course Aims
1. Understanding the principles underlying defensive magic.
2. Learning to recognise situations in which defensive magic can legally be used.
3. Placing the use of defensive magic in a context for practical use.
Harry quickly copied the words down before opening his textbook and sighing internally as he began reading the first paragraph of the mind-numbingly boring text. Harry ended up reading the same paragraph three times as his mind kept drifting off, it wasn't until he finished reading the introduction to the chapter that he noticed Hermione wasn't reading her own text and had her hand in the air.
Harry continued to read though he found Hermione a bit distracting with her hand in the air right beside him.
Apparently, the rest of the class found Hermione distracting too, as many others kept glancing back towards their row. Professor Umbridge on the other hand, was being willfully oblivious to Hermione and determinedly looking in the opposite direction of her raised hand.
Finally, it seemed Umbridge couldn't ignore Hermione any longer and looked at her with an overly exaggerated look of confusion on her face.
"Yes dear, did you have a question about the text?" Umbridge asked in a simpering tone.
"No, I have a question about our O.W.L exams at the end of the year," Hermione replied in a carrying voice.
"What question is that miss...?" Umbridge asked her eyes narrowing.
"Granger, Professor. As for the exams, I was wondering if the O.W.L exams had changed to reflect the ministry's curriculum change?" Hermione asked innocently.
"No, the O.W.L testing is regulated by the I.C.W's universal education panel," Umbridge said, looking very annoyed at the question.
"So we are not learning what we need to pass our exams?" Hermione exclaimed in faux surprise.
"If you study the theory, there is no reason you should not be able to pass your examinations," Umbridge said dismissively.
"There are no incantations in this book or anything involving the use of magic. How could we perform spells on the practical portion of the exam if we don't know anything about them, professor?" Hermione asked incredulously.
"Detention Miss Granger, I have had enough of your interruptions," Umbridge snapped, abruptly putting an end to their back and forth.
Harry went back to reading (or pretending to read) and pondered what Hermione had done. He had known that Umbridge was trying to keep them from learning magic but he hadn't considered how badly this would affect the O.W.L and N.E.W.T students.
Harry was impressed with how Hermione had handled the situation. She had pointed out the major problems in the ministry curriculum and what's more, she had gotten Umbridge to confirm it for her.
Hermione knew perfectly well who was in charge of O.W.L and N.E.W.T examinations but she had made Umbridge say it in front of the whole class!
The rest of the lesson seemed to crawl by and Harry could tell most students weren't really reading the text either. Most of his classmates were staring at their books with a glazed look in their eyes, though some were doodling on a spare bit of parchment, or in Seamus' case, taking a nap. It felt like the clock was moving in slow motion and Harry was very thankful that today's lesson wasn't a double period.
At long last, the bell rang and the class packed away their things and shuffled out of the room, many of them whispering to each other as they stepped into the corridor. Harry thought he heard the words 'fail' and 'owls' from students passing him on the way out of the classroom.
"I can't believe you got yourself detention on the first day, Hermione," Ron exclaimed as soon as they stepped into the corridor.
"I had to bring the issues to everyone's attention," Hermione shrugged unconcernedly.
"You managed that. By dinnertime, the whole school will have heard about this," Harry conceded, remembering the mutterings he'd just heard on his way out of the classroom.
"Yeah, but by the time the rumour makes its way back to us it will be completely exaggerated," Ron pointed out.
"Yeah, I bet the new story will be that she punched Umbridge in the face or something," Harry sniggered.
"And galloped away on the back of a centaur," Ron added.
"Who is also her secret lover," Harry grinned as Hermione scowled at the both of them.
"Well, centaurs are better equipped than wizards where it counts," Hermione said thoughtfully.
"Hermione!" Ron exclaimed, looking scandalized.
"I was talking about their intelligence. Get your mind out of the gutter," Hermione said though Harry could have sworn he saw her eyes twinkle in amusement at Ron's reaction.
"Come on, let's go drop our stuff off and get to dinner before Harry ditches us to go play with that Puff," Ron said shooting Hermione another look of annoyance.
"Trust me there is no playing involved," Harry snorted as they stepped onto the main staircase.
"Then what are you two up to?" Hermione asked in confusion.
"I can't say right now but I will tell you... eventually," Harry assured her.
"If you're snogging her, you can just tell us," Ron said, a knowing grin playing on his lips.
"There is none of that going on," Harry said gruffly.
"Don't get so defensive, Harry," Hermione chastised, though she looked amused as well.
"Yeah mate, there is no reason to be embarrassed, that bird is pretty fit," Ron said smacking Harry on the back as they stepped off of the staircase onto the seventh floor
"I am aren't I?" A familiar voice said from behind them, making Ron sputter in surprise.
"To- *cough* Wendy, what are you doing up here?" Harry asked, coughing to cover up his almost slip.
"Looking for you for some more playtime," Tonks said, shooting Ron a suggestive wink.
"But it's almost dinner time," Harry protested.
"We'll have dinner after our activities. You'll need your strength after I'm done with you," Tonks said in a husky voice before grabbing his arm and dragging him down the hallway, leaving Harry's two shocked friends staring after him.
"Now they're going to think we're... snogging," Harry said, his face heating up at the thought.
"Let them," Tonks shrugged as they approached the tapestry.
"Can't I tell them what we're really doing?" Harry asked, not liking the idea of keeping stuff from his friends.
"No, the more people that know, the more likely my cover will be blown," Tonks said firmly as she dragged him into the familiar room.
"So what are we doing today?" Harry asked hoping she wasn't going to say-
"Dodging practice, then we can get dinner in the kitchens," Tonks grinned as she shucked off her outer robes and drew her wand.
"Oh bugger," Harry muttered as he ducked under her first spell.
"Better but less movement," Tonks called out as she caught him in the thigh with a stinging hex.
"I am going to get you for this," Harry growled.
"Not as slow as you are, you won't," Tonks snorted before casting another hex that Harry narrowly avoided.
"Better but less movement," Tonks corrected as she nailed him in the shoulder with a punching hex.
"I am so getting tired of this,'" Harry growled in frustration as he hopped out of the way of her next spell only to catch another stinging hex in the stomach.
"Then move faster," Tonks shrugged.
'This was going to be a very long evening,' Harry thought as he dodged two more hexes only to get hit with a third.