Rory always felt relieved when she got to see Harry in the mirror. It wasn't the same as getting to hold him or kiss him, but it was still nice to sit quietly and talk to him uninterrupted. So Harry was probably surprised to see her scowling when he appeared in the mirror.

"I know this isn't the ideal way for us to talk, but you could at least pretend to be happy to see me," he said.

Rory chuckled. "It's not you. It's my dad. He said to keep it short this evening," she replied. "I don't think he likes you and me talking so much."

"I think he might not like that we're dating again in general," Harry said.

Rory also suspected that this was somewhat the case, at least a small bit. When she got home from school, he gave her the third degree, wanting to make absolutely certain that things would indeed be different this time and that she knew what she was doing. He hadn't openly said he disapproved, but she knew that when she and Harry finally did get to see each other, Remus was going to be watching them more closely than he had last summer.

"He'll get over it," Rory said. "Not planning on doing something stupid this time around are you?"

"Where you're concerned? No. In general? I think it's probably inevitable," he said.

Rory smiled as she sat down on her bed and laid back on her pillow. "Do

you have any idea when they plan to extract you from the muggles?"

"I do actually. It's fine that we have to keep it short tonight," Harry said. "Dumbledore is coming to get me tomorrow night. So I'll probably get to see you the day after tomorrow."

"Really?" Rory asked.

"Yep," Harry said.

"What a 180. Last year, Dumbledore wouldn't even look at you, and now he's personally escorting you out of there," Rory said.

"I had the same thought," Harry chuckled.

"Although, he's probably getting you because he needs a favor from you," Rory replied.

"Why do you say that?" Harry asked.

"He just seems to have ulterior motives when it comes to you," Rory said. "I'm sure he's always well-intentioned, or thinks he is, but honesty would be nice occasionally. Fully disclosing your circumstances or why he's doing what he's doing."

"I'm sure he has his reasons," Harry replied.

"I just think it'd be nice to know them," Rory replied.

"True, I guess," he said. Then he sighed. "All the same, I can't wait to be out of this house. To see you."

"Me too," Rory replied. "Although, my dad did say that I'll be spending most of my evenings at home, away from you."

"That greatly reduces your opportunities to corner me in the bathroom and do things that would cause your dad to murder me," Harry said.

"You would die happy though," Rory teased.

"I can't fault your logic there," Harry replied earnestly.

"You know my dad asked me earlier what on earth we could possibly have to talk about," she said.

"Invite him in. I'm sure he'll find this conversation completely appropriate for the two of us to have," Harry said.

Rory laughed. "No, I don't think he'd actually want to be privy to our private conversations."

"It's for the best," Harry said.

"The trick'll be getting me to send you away earlier," Rory replied.

"I could try annoying you so badly that you tell me to go away," Harry said. "Let's see… What are you wearing?"

Rory laughed again, and Harry laughed.

"You can see me," she said.

"Just from the neck up," he said.

"It's still a bit cliché, that line," Rory replied.

"It's cliché because it works," Harry said.

"What would you have done if I'd told you?" she asked.

"Probably wouldn't be impressed. You're about ready for bed so you're probably wearing flannel shorts and an ABBA shirt," Harry said.

That was in fact what Rory was wearing.

"What if I told you I was naked?" she asked.

"That would be a bold choice for you, seeing as your dad, Theo, Tonks, and Sirius are probably all camped out in your kitchen. They'd probably find it strange to see you eat dinner in the nude," Harry said.

"And what would you think if I was naked?" Rory asked.

"I dunno," Harry said. "I've never actually seen you naked."

"You can't imagine?" she asked. "Have you imagined?"

Harry sputtered and Rory laughed.

"I mean. It's crossed my mind before. I think we had one super uncomfortable Occlumency lesson where you found that out," Harry said. "What about you?"

"I see myself naked every day," Rory said dismissively.

"Very funny," Harry replied.

"Well, I've seen you shirtless, and I've seen you pants-less. So I can stitch the two images together," Rory said.

"Well, I'm not as fortunate as you," Harry said. "I only know what my hands have seen."

Rory felt her face go red with heat thinking about all the places Harry's hands had been on her body. And how nice it might be to feel them there again.

"I don't think I've seen you blush that hard in a while," Harry said. "You still there?"

"Yep. My mind wandered off for a moment," Rory replied.

"Can't imagine why it would do that," Harry said. "Not as if there are memories worth reliving in your brain that involve my hands."

He was so obnoxious. She'd been teasing him and it had backfired completely. Now she was the one laying on her bed flustered. It always seemed to happen that way. Rory found it so funny because, in general, Harry was always so reserved and quiet about their relationship. He could barely kiss her on the cheek in front of other people without glowing red. But playfully teasing her about touching her, and Merlin, the things he would say when he was actually touching her.

Rory squeezed her legs together, trying to stifle the heat pooling between her thighs. Butterflies fluttered around obnoxiously in her stomach. It felt almost like a chore these last few days, knowing that she missed Harry emotionally and physically. She did everything she could to take her mind off it, but still, there was something frustrating about knowing that he'd be here in a few days, but that they would not have a moment alone together.

"Remember when I was the flirty, confident one and you were the awkward flustered one?" Rory asked.

"I do, which is why this conversation is so satisfying," he said. "I kind of enjoy getting you all wound up."

"I can tell," she replied. "If I were there in person, you wouldn't say anything nearly as bold."

"If you were here in person we wouldn't be talking," Harry scoffed. "I'd be too busy distracting you with my hands."

"Harry Potter, you cut that out," she warned him, though her tone was teasing. Her skin felt hot and her clothes felt too tight.

"Sorry. Wouldn't want you getting all hot and bothered when your dad could walk in at any moment," Harry said.

"I think we've already crossed that particular bridge, but thank you for your hindsight," Rory admitted.

"I'll try to stop distracting you," he said. "Although-."

"If anything even borderline scandalous comes out of your mouth, I'm going to say goodnight," Rory said.

Harry laughed. She wished she could see him laughing in person. Although he was right. They probably wouldn't be talking if they were together right now.

"Since you're so keen to change the subject, I have to tell you, I finished reading The Lost World," Harry said.

Rory gasped. "I didn't know you were reading it!"

"I wanted to surprise you," Harry said. "And now I have commentary. Number one, I can't believe the movie, Jurassic Park, tries to make you feel bad about Nedry making fun of Dodson. He's almost worse than Hammond."

"I know!" Rory replied.

"And also, I have to say, a little disappointed that this book did not involve a T-Rex running loose and terrorizing a bunch of Americans," Harry said.

And then her bedroom door opened. Remus leaned in. Rory frowned.

"Dad?" she asked.

"I need you to say goodbye to Harry," he said.

"We haven't even been talking for very long," she protested.

"I know and I'm sorry. Say goodbye and come here," Remus repeated sternly. He stepped out and closed the door.

Rory groaned. "I have to go."

"Remember, I'm leaving tomorrow," Harry said. "I'll tell you all about it in person."

"But I wanted to kiss your face off when I see you in person," Rory replied.

"Well, we have sacrifices to make. Do you want to kiss or do you want to talk about books?" Harry asked.

"Books, obviously," she said.

Harry chuckled. "You wound me."

"I love you," she said. "I miss you. I can't wait to see you."

"Just think of me when you're all alone in your bed tonight," Harry said. "Just pretend I'm there beside you and my hands are getting to see every part of you."

Yes, this was just what she needed before she walked out of the room. She really was going to have to sneak him away when they finally saw each other. She didn't know how she'd function if she didn't get to heavily make out with them when she saw him again.

"I'm going to go before my dad has an aneurysm," Rory said.

"I love you. See you soon," he said.

She set the mirror aside and pulled her pillow over her face. She was going to murder Harry Potter. Except not really. She was going to see him and they weren't going to talk about books or catch up. She was going to see Harry Potter and find somewhere to kiss him so hard that she melted into him.

She hopped off her bed. She marched out of her room and back toward the kitchen.

"You said not to chat long but that was barely ten-."

Rory stopped talking because, along with her dad, Theo, Sirius, and Tonks, Dumbledore was also standing in her living room. This was fine. She could definitely have a conversation with her headmaster moments after her boyfriend was being inappropriate with her. This was totally fine.

"Hello, Aurora," he said.

"Hi," Rory said. "Wasn't expecting to see you, professor."

"I'm sure you weren't since I've only decided to come just now," he replied.

"A surprise for us all," Sirius said. "But not unwelcome."

"You don't even live here," Tonks said.

Sirius shushed her.

"I've already talked to your father, but I have something I'd like you to do to help the Order if you're interested," Dumbledore said.

She was interested in what it was, but that didn't necessarily mean she wanted to help.

"What is it?" Rory asked.

"Let's have a chat," Dumbledore said.

Remus motioned down to her room and Rory led the way. Dumbledore was going to ask her to do something that he didn't want her dad to know about? Now she was curious.

She was glad her dad hounded her all day to tidy up her room now that someone was actually going to be seeing it. She motioned for Dumbledore to sit on the chair at her desk and she sat across from him on her bed.

"Sorry to interrupt your chat with Harry. I hope he's doing well," Dumbledore said.

"He is. He says you're taking him from Privet Drive tomorrow," Rory said.

"Yes, I am. Which is part of what I wanted to talk to you about," Dumbledore said.

Rory sat up straighter. "What?"

"I'd like you to come with me," Dumbledore said.

Rory paused. "To get Harry?" Dumbledore nodded. "And why is that?"

"I'm taking Harry to meet someone tomorrow. Someone I hope to place on the staff at Hogwarts. It would motivate him to meet Harry and you," Dumbledore explained. "He's a collector, but he doesn't collect things, he collects people."

"Connections," Rory clarified.

Dumbledore nodded.

"So you need him to join our staff because?" Rory asked. "Most people would jump at the opportunity to have a position at Hogwarts, but this person needs convincing. Why?"

"He's retired. A former professor at Hogwarts," Dumbledore said. "I'd like him to take his old position back."

Rory nodded. "Is that all?"

"Pardon?" Dumbledore asked.

"You just want to hire him back on because he used to teach? That's the only reason?" Rory asked.

"You're dubious about my intent?" Dumbledore asked.

"It seems like a lot of trouble to go through to drag Harry and me along to convince someone to teach at Hogwarts," Rory said. "So I figure he's important for some other reason."

Dumbledore nodded. "I will admit that there is something important that he can contribute to the Order. But also, he's being sought after by Voldemort and his followers for his talents."

"So he'd be pretty safe at Hogwarts," Rory replied.

Dumbledore nodded. "Feel free to decline."

"I'm not declining, yet," Rory said. "I just want to have as much information as possible. I don't know if you're aware, but you tend to withhold details as it suits your purposes. And I'm sure you're always well-intentioned but it doesn't make me trust you implicitly like everyone else does. The only reason I'm giving you the time of day now is because Harry and my dad would be upset if I didn't."

"I suppose that's fair," Dumbledore said. "This last year I certainly haven't given you any reason to take me at my word, especially where Harry's concerned. But I hope you'll believe me when I say that your cooperation, and Harry's, will be paramount."

Rory's cooperation and Harry's, he'd said. She caught the meaning behind his pointed statement. Rory's suspicion could easily sway Harry's opinion and plant the seed of distrust in him. Dumbledore would certainly not be a fan of that. Harry trusted Dumbledore without question, on principle. And once upon a time, Rory had too, until last summer. Until she had to read Harry's letters about how horrible his summer had been. How his cousin was being extra cruel in light of the nightmares he suffered from his harrowing experience. She'd warned Dumbledore that Harry was in danger and he hadn't listened. And then Dumbledore spent all year ignoring Harry, never once telling him the truth of his situation.

The only reason Rory still trusted Dumbledore was that he was actively pursuing Voldemort. As annoying as his tactics were, he truly was doing something important. Still, she didn't want to give in to him outright. Rory would give him her help, but she'd get something out of it.

"And what's in it for me if I help you?" she asked.

Dumbledore seemed amused by her question. "Pardon?"

"I get that you need my help, and maybe it's in the best interest of everyone else if I do help you. But you know, after the year I've had, I think I want to take a moment to be selfish," Rory said. "I gave a lot of something for nothing last year when it came to the Order and that blew up right in my lap. So I think if I'm going to do whatever this is for you, I need something in return."

"And what is that?" he asked.

She thought about her earlier chat with her family at the dinner table. Rory knew exactly what she wanted.

"I want to see Harry. I want to go on a walk with him. I want to be able to take a stroll around Surrey or sit in a restaurant or do any of the other normal hundreds of things that normal people get to do when they're dating," Rory said. "I get that you want to protect Harry and me. But I think it'd be nice to have a day where I can hold his hand without having another human being standing five feet away from us at all times."

Dumbledore pondered this for a moment.

"That seems reasonable," he said. "Mind you—."

"We'll never actually be alone, obviously," she said.

"Then I'm sure I can arrange that. In fact, in the interest of making a single trip, I'll have you arrive at Harry's home earlier in the day and remain there with him until I arrive that evening," Dumbledore said. "I'm sure the Dursleys will be delighted to have you."

"I mean, they're not very delighted to have Harry so, I doubt they'll be over the moon to have another magic user in their home," Rory said.

"I'm sure you can win them over with your charming personality," Dumbledore said.

Rory was sure she could charm lots of people, but Harry's aunt and uncle didn't seem like they'd be receptive to her.

"Until tomorrow, Miss Lupin," Dumbledore said.

He departed from her room and shut the door behind himself.

"She can stay the night," Sirius said.

Before he left, Dumbledore explained the arrangement he made with Aurora. Tonks had volunteered to watch them during the day while they were in Surrey and was sure that Kingsley and Moody would be on board with helping as well. Dumbledore wouldn't be by to get Harry until late in the evening, so he'd drop them off at Grimmauld Place when they got back.

Tonks glanced over to Remus and she could tell immediately that he was not on board with this idea.

"It'll be late. She'll probably just go straight to sleep," Sirius said.

"All she does is sleep," Remus said with a sigh.

"She'd probably be delighted to spend a bit of the morning with him," Tonks said.

Remus sighed again. "I just don't want—."

"Wait a minute," Sirius interjected, "do you not trust me to watch Aurora on my own?"

"Of course that's not it," Remus said. "Aurora's not any trouble."

"But Harry and Aurora are trouble," Sirius said. "And you think I'll just let them run wild, don't you?"

Remus looked appalled, but his pause was brief enough that it was obvious that his concern was correct.

"Remus, I can't believe—."

"I don't think that you'll just let them run wild," Remus said.

"You just think that I won't pay enough attention," Sirius said with a frown. "This may surprise you, Remus, but I do know how to be a responsible adult. And, might I remind you that I found Aurora and Harry fooling around in the middle of the night and not you."

Remus frowned.

"If I might interject," Theo started, "I know it's not my place to make commentary where Aurora is concerned, but has either of you considered just… Backing off a bit?"

"What do you mean?" Sirius asked.

"It's just that, when I was a teenager, I put a lot of effort into sneaking around because my grandfather and Levi were constantly watching me to make sure I wasn't sneaking around. After Levi moved out and my grandfather died and I was left unsupervised I actually think I relaxed a little," Theo said.

Tonks nodded in agreement. "I mean, teenagers are going to make out with each other. It might be a touch unreasonable to expect them to not touch each other when they're under the same roof as you. Maybe just, I dunno, be okay with them sitting alone in the same room with each other. Expect that they're going to be snogging."

"You know, get over yourselves," Theo said. "Neither of you were particularly innocent when you were their age."

Sirius and Remus both exchanged glances.

"You say that you trust them, but have you ever actually acted on this supposed trust and just let them be?" Tonks asked.

"It's not going to matter what either of you thinks in a few weeks anyway," Theo said dismissively.

"What do you mean by that?" Sirius asked.

But Tonks got it. "Right, they'll be 16. They'll be able to be able to have all the sex they like and no one can do anything about it. They could get married, though no danger of that."

"Really?" Theo asked.

"Aurora doesn't believe in marriage," Tonks said.

Theo smiled. "Good on her. Glad that specific character trait was genetic."

"She's very independent. I admire it, really," Tonks said.

"Will the two of you stop for five seconds?" Sirius asked. He was exasperated with the conversation. Remus looked to be as well. It was a little funny seeing Sirius worked up. He'd been increasingly hands-on with Aurora since she'd met him. Watching him get worked up about Harry and Aurora sneaking around Grimmauld Place in December had almost been amusing because most of the time he wasn't very paternal. But he'd embraced it in the last few months, no matter how much he insisted that he wasn't Aurora's dad. Things had very much turned into a co-parenting situation with Remus.

Tonks didn't think Harry and Aurora's relationship in this context should be a matter for conversation, but Merlin knew these two overprotective idiots needed a reality check. Most of the time, when they weren't thinking about their daughter's well-being, they were perfectly rational and intelligent.

"Remus," Sirius started, "they may have a point." Remus nodded in agreement. "Aurora likes to dance around the truth, but she doesn't actively lie. I feel like she was being honest earlier when she said 'No one's getting pregnant.'"

Again, Remus nodded. "Perhaps, it's worth having a conversation with her."

"She's going to strangle you if you have the sex talk with her again," Tonks said with a laugh.

"No, no. Maybe just… A conversation about…" Remus was struggling to put his thoughts into words, which was unusual for him.

"They're almost 16, they're probably going to have sex, just be responsible," Sirius said. Remus nodded. "And try not to snog in front of everyone all the time."

"Mutual respect of everyone's boundaries," Remus said.

"That's why you're the smart one, Moony," Sirius said. "Think you'll be alright with Aurora staying the night then."

"Yes," Remus said. "As long as you have a chat with Harry as well."

Sirius groaned. "Can't you? It's very hard work maintaining my cool and carefree demeanor when I'm trying to tell Harry to make responsible decisions."

"And you think it's easy for me to talk to Aurora about these things?" Remus asked.

Sirius scoffed. "Remus you have not been cool and carefree about anything since I met you, which is why I love you because you made sure that I at least thought about making responsible decisions."

"Everyone relax," Theo said. "I did not know I was going to open a can of worms with this suggestion. But Harry and Aurora seem responsible and reasonable. Talk to them like they're adults. It will probably make them listen better."

Theo looked a lot like Aurora, but this was the first time Tonks had seen her sound like Aurora. She could practically visualize Aurora requesting to be treated like an adult instead of coddled like a child.

"I'll manage with Harry," Sirius said. "If you insist."

"I do insist," Remus said.

When he finally stopped complaining, Sirius and Theo went home. The light had gone off in Aurora's room after Dumbedore left. Tonks and Remus were alone. She helped him tidy the kitchen and do the dishes. They packed away the leftover food and were sitting at his dining table finishing off the third and final bottle of wine of the evening.

They were chatting, laughing like they always were, but Tonks was distracted. All she could focus on was Remus sitting inches from her. Every pause in the conversation seemed like an opportunity she kept letting pass her by.

Remus always seemed like he might say something, but kept changing his mind. With each sip of wine, Tonks was feeling a little braver. She couldn't let it go on like this any longer. She needed to say something and get her heart broken, or put an end to all of this nonsense for once and for all.

"Somehow Dumbledore showing up and asking my daughter to help recruit someone for the order made this evening feel much longer than it's actually been," Remus said.

"I suspect that she's only agreed to help because she gets to spend the day with Harry," Tonks replied.

"Dumbledore's no fool. I'm sure he knew that's the only way he could get Aurora to agree," Remus said.

"Slughorn taught when you were at school?" Tonks asked. Remus nodded. "Do you know what he'd want from him as far as information goes?"

"Well, that's just it. Slughorn always prided himself on having connections. He used to hold special dinners and parties for his favorite well-connected students. Sirius and James found him loathsome. Thankfully I wasn't nearly important enough to be on his radar," Remus said. "Anyway, it's likely he's connected to something important."

"And if he likes famous well-connected people, Harry and Aurora are going to be highly motivating," Tonks said. She sipped her wine.

"Heaven help anyone who tries to play Aurora for an advantage, especially seeing as even Dumbledore had to bribe her," Remus said. Tonks laughed. "I feel like I spend so much time worrying about her, but every once in a while there are things where I know I absolutely don't need to worry."

"I feel like there'll be a lot more of that from now," Tonks said. "She'll be 17 in a year."

"Don't remind me," Remus said with a sigh. "After I graduated I moved out of my dad's house."

"Well, you have a complicated relationship with your father. Whereas Aurora was nearly expelled from school multiple times this last school year because she loves you so much," Tonks said. "I doubt she's going to want to fly out of here as soon as she's able."

"That boyfriend of hers might be an enticing reason," Remus said. "You've seen how quickly she gets out of the room to talk to him."

"I know," Tonks said.

She took another drink and they sat in silence for a moment.

"Aurora had a point you know," Remus said swirling the wine in his own glass, looking at it instead of her. "About how much you're here."

Tonks was stunned. And here she'd been thinking she'd have to be the one to break the ice, to finally put it all out on the table. And yet here was Remus, opening the door.

"Imagine what she'd think if she knew how often I was here before she got back from school," she replied with a chuckle. "Probably the same thing everyone else is thinking. Just like Sirius said."

"Sirius says a lot of things," Remus said.

"Not always wrong," she said getting to her feet. Maybe it was the wine and her exhaustion with the flirting and teasing. She didn't want to pretend she didn't feel this anymore. "Can I be honest with you?"

"Of course," he said getting to his feet.

"For months and months, I've been wondering what it would be like to kiss you. And I am sick of wondering," she said.

Remus' eyes widened at this. "Dora-."

"Don't call me that and then try to make me believe that this is one-sided," she said. "Don't try to convince me that I'm making this up."

"Dora, listen," he said, putting his hands on her shoulders, trying to quiet her, but she had to get all of this out before she lost her nerve.

"No, you listen, Remus, I can't remember the last time I had a free thought in my head that wasn't about you," she said. "You are all I think about most days. I-."

He placed a hand on the side of her face and kissed her. His fingers were calloused and rough against her skin. His lips were firm and he tasted like wine.

Tonks imagined kissing him about a million times. This was different than anything she'd pictured in his head. Stopping her mid-sentence in his kitchen to gently pin her against the counter to kiss her was more assertive than she'd ever seen Remus. It made her skin tingle with heat and electricity. It was just a kiss, but she felt it all over, from her lips to her toes, and in her very bones.

It wasn't just desire and longing pounding in her chest. It was relief. Finally, finally, finally, her body said.

He pulled back from her and brushed a thumb across her cheek and she leaned into his touch.

"Wow. Okay," she said with a quiet chuckle. "I'm not used to you being so forward."

"I had to stop you talking," he said.

"I did pick up on that," she said. He kissed her again and broke it all too soon. "I'm guessing you wanted to shut me up because we're more or less on the same page."

"More or less," he parroted. She pulled him into another kiss. She pulled him back to her lips and he held her waist just a little tighter. He kissed her a little harder. In her head, Tonks kept thinking "Finally, finally, finally."