Nym and Harry popped back into existence in a cluttered room. Trying to catch his balance, Harry stumbled forward, bumping into his new girlfriend. Nym took a step back, bumping her ankles against a suitcase lying on the floor, and fell backward. She reached out with her hands for support, and ended up pulling Harry on top of her.
"I didn't! It was an accident!" Harry defended himself.
"Thanks love," Nym gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Where are we? It's a mess here," Harry looked around. They were in a long room with what looked like another room build on top of it, there was a ladder running up. To the side were some doors, Harry assumed leading to the outside and other rooms.
"Oi hero, this is my place, I'll have you know," Nym bopped him on the head. "My own little flat."
"Is it hidden under all the rubbish?" Harry teasingly asked.
"Oh you! You should feel honoured to be here ya know, I've never taken anyone home before," Nym waved her finger at him.
"I'm kidding, just kidding," he said with a grin. "Cool place. Whereabouts is it?"
"Bethnal Green, that's in East London," Nym clarified. "Daddy bought it for me as a graduation gift when I finished Hogwarts, there's Muggles all over but nobody suspects a thing. My neighbours think I'm in college," she grinned.
Harry walked around the scattered piles of clothes and books and took the room in. "No floo?"
"Nah, I apparate everywhere," Nym followed him to the 'living room' end. "The window's spelled to let owls through so I can get my post, so you can let Hedwig out now if you want. Nobody should notice her fly in and out, there's a mild Notice-Me-Not on it as well. Keeps people from looking in, too."
Harry wrinkled his nose as he came close to an open pizza box. "Let me guess, you're not too fond of cleaning up?"
Nym got a blush, "Err... not really. I'll clean up some in a bit though, really haven't been back here too much recently with watching over a hot young man though."
"What hot young man – oh," Harry smiled at her. "I'll help clean up. Least I could do."
"Wow Harry, you're a good House Elf, too?"
"Oi, I'm no Dobby," Harry said back, with a laugh.
A 'pop' sounded next to him, and Harry and Nym both turned to see the House Elf in question standing there. "The Great Mister Harry Potter Sir is calling Dobby?"
"Dobby?" Harry blinked, "What are you doing here?"
"Dobby heard the Great Mister Harry Potter Sir calls Dobby's name, so Dobby is coming," the Elf replied, bobbing his head quickly. "Oh! This room is being a mess! Does Mister Harry Potter Sir wants Dobby to clean up?"
"Err..." Harry turned to Nym, who looked on bemusedly.
"Dobby was it?" As the Elf nodded quickly, Nym smiled at him. "Oi 'Great Mister Harry', you could have told me you have an Elf!"
"I don't, Dobby's free," Harry shrugged. "Err yeah Dobby, if you could help us clean up, that would be great. How much do you want to be paid?"
"Dobby is takings no more than one Knut!" The Elf declared.
"Ten Knuts," Harry countered.
"Two Knuts, and Dobby is workings here every day!"
"Seven Knuts, one for each day?"
"Five Knuts, and that is being Dobby's final offer!"
Harry shrugged, then held out his hand. "Okay Dobby, five Knuts. Deal?"
"The Great Mister Harry Potter Sir is shaking Dobby's hand..." the Elf looked on in awe, then nodded. "Five Knuts per month is deal! Dobby is beginning working now."
In a blur, the Elf rushed through the room, and the dirty dishes and other filth began to disappear.
"I meant per week, Dobby..." Harry looked after the Elf as he became a blur of activity.
"You've been holding out on me mister," Nym poked Harry's chest. "But I guess I'll keep you. Helps me clean up, buys me a gift, and shags me rotten... my hero."
"Nyyymmm..." Harry whined.
–--
The two sat on Nym's couch, watching the now clean room. Dobby had rushed through it and somehow left a room behind that looked like it was only just furnished, and was now cleaning the adjacent toilet and kitchen.
"Harry, I think I know what I'll do with you this summer," Nym decided. Harry winked suggestively and pawed for her, but she slapped his hand away softly. "Not that you horndog... well not just that. You, mister, are getting trained by little old me."
"Trained? What, you mean summer school?" Harry frowned.
"No magic allowed remember? You're not seventeen yet," she grinned. "Well okay I'll teach you some tricks later... but first we're working on your condition."
"I'm in fine condition," Harry grumbled. "Quidditch is a demanding sport."
"Sure it is love," Nym humoured him. "So how often have you flown last year?"
"Err..."
"That's what I thought. You're getting a pass today since it's closing on the evening, but tomorrow morning we're going to Victoria Park early, and you're going to start jogging."
Harry looked at her disbelievingly. "Jogging? Are you serious?"
"Nope, Sirius is your godfather," Nym said with a laugh. "I'll start you off easy with a single loop, once you make good time we'll start on the real stuff."
"Jogging?" Harry repeated.
"Oh don't complain ya goof, it's not even 3 miles. Shouldn't take you more than 25 minutes. There's something in it for you as well."
"Oh?" He perked up.
"Yup... you get to watch me in tight training trousers running ahead of you," Nym grinned.
Not too long later Dobby popped in the main room to tell them he was finished cleaning the flat, but found them kissing deeply. He'd left them dinner under a Keep-Warm charm for later so he just left, feeling happy the Great Mister Harry Potter Sir was having a good summer for once.
–--
"Waking time love," Nym spoke in Harry's ear. Harry opened his eyes and saw her long black hair framing her cute heart-shaped face as she stood next to the bed. She was dressed in stretch leggings and had a tank top on.
Harry reached out for her, but she darted out-of-the-way of his hands. "Ah ah Harry, not this morning. You're gonna need your energy for your training," Nym shot him a grin. "You're gonna take a quick shower now, then come to the kitchen for your breakfast – that wonderful Elf of yours prepared just the right thing – and then it's time to see just how out of shape you are.
"I put your clothes out for you," Nym blew him a kiss, and climbed down the ladder to the main floor.
Harry sighed as she escaped his grasp, and got up a little later. Showering and dressing – she had laid out his loosest jeans and a shirt of Dudley's that wasn't too bad on him – he came into the kitchen.
"We've got to go shopping for you today," Nym commented as she drank from the milk carton. "You need to show off that bod of yours, make all the girls jealous of me."
"Sure," Harry agreed, not having experience of clothes shopping with girls yet. "Hey Nym... you changed them today?"
Nym looked at where he was staring, "Oh my boobs? Yeah, smaller ones are more comfortable running," she grinned. "Don't worry hero I'll make them bigger for you later on, if you do well," the last bit was punctuated by a wink.
"Now finish your brekkie, and it's off to the park."
–--
Harry wheezed as he leant against a tree. Nym hadn't been kidding... she'd made him do some light stretches as they arrived at Victoria Park, then lead him on a brisk jog around the park perimeter. After ten minutes Harry felt the burn, and the last mile had been more walked than ran, as he was simply out of breath.
"Pathetic performance," Nym teased him as she stretched in front of him, teasing him with her movements. "You're gonna have to step up love, if you want more nookie."
Harry glared at her as he tried to catch his breath.
After he had finished the route and Nym helped him stretch his tired muscles they went back to her flat to shower – individually much to his regret – and then she took him shopping for proper clothes. The horror of clothes shopping with an enthusiastic girlfriend took a spot in his nightmares quickly...
To further the 'torture', Nym made him take out his first year textbooks from his school trunk, and went over all spells from the year with him. Harry was ashamed to have to admit he had trouble casting some of them, and had forgotten others.
By the time evening came he was tired, embarrassed, and no little frustrated as he had not got more than a single kiss from Nym all day. Luckily Dobby had made dinner for them both, since he was in no mood to cook, and Nym didn't seem the type.
'At least she's not making me sleep on the couch,' Harry thought as he climbed into bed next to her.
Harry had dozed off a little when he felt Nym nuzzle his neck, and her hand roaming over his body.
"I'm not punishing myself just because you can't even run twenty minutes, but you'd better do a better job tomorrow," Nym said before she kissed him, and climbed on him.
After a day of exercises, school work, and a gruelling shopping trip, Harry was not going to complain.
–--
This set the stage for the coming days. Each morning Nym took him to the park, and they ran the route. Harry had to admit it was getting easier, and when after four days he was able to do the circuit within half an hour Nym rewarded him by joining him in the shower for some fun. This of course only inspired him further.
Following their shower and a quick lunch it was back to school revisions. Nym was watching Harry brew some Potions he should have had in third year according to the curriculum – Snape had skipped a lot of basic instruction, she found as she went over Harry's school years with him – when Hedwig flew in.
"Note for me girl?" Harry looked up.
"Oi! Pay attention to the fire ya goof," Nym chastised him. "I'll take that Hedwig, mister Explosion there needs to watch out he doesn't hurt himself."
Hedwig barked out something that sounded suspiciously like a laugh as she landed near Nym and let her take the letter off her leg.
"'News' from Headquarters," Nym said in a sarcastic tone. "Well at least they're writing you now, seems my rant had a little effect. Should I put them aside for later?"
"Nah you read through them, tell me if there's anything interesting," Harry decided. The Wiggenweld Potion was not particularly difficult, but like all Potions it needed constant attention during the initial brewing phase.
Nym opened the first letter, "Ron complains he is in trouble with his mum, she's making him disinfect the doxies on the second floor," she read out loud. "He's also angry Hermione is giving him the cold shoulder and nobody else wants to play chess with him."
"That's it?"
"Yup," Nym popped her lips at the last 'p', then opened the next letter. "Hmm, Hermione is reminding you you need to do your homework, and she'll go over your essays later."
"Imagine that, a girl telling me I need to do school work," Harry commented and shot her a wink.
"Keep working you," Nym shot him a grin back. "Oh this is better. Apparently Ron still can't get the Unlocking Charm to work. She put the Locking Spell on her trunk – I told you Ron was caught with his grubs on her stuff before right? – and they caught the red-haired idiot failing to cast it as he tried to get back in her stuff. Apparently he forgot the incantation. Guess that explains why Ron's in trouble again," Nym laughed.
"He forgot Alohamora? Man, Hermione used that one in her first year!" Harry sniggered. "Anything else?"
"Eh, she's telling you not to feel bad over last year, and that she hopes she can see you soon. Not a word on where she is though, guess she is still following the Headmaster's orders there."
"Well at least she's telling me something," Harry shrugged. "Okay this Potion needs just a few more stirs and I'm done."
"Last letter is from the little firecracker," Nym read through it. "Ginny is upset with Ron as well, and mentions she wishes you were there. Apparently she had a bit of a fight with her mother over talking back to Dumbledore over you being locked at Durskaban. Molly has her cleaning up the carpets for that, but she says it was worth it. Good on her!"
"Yeah, she's proving to be a good friend," Harry smiled. He put out the flame charm below the cauldron, and began cleaning up the ingredients.
"All done then Mr Great Harry Potter Sir?" Nym put the letters away for Harry to read in full later, and walked to her beau to inspect his work.
"All done Auror Nymphadora Tonks Madam," Harry joked back.
"Harry... remember what I said I'd do if you used the name?" Nym growled.
"Oh crap... you'll have to catch me first!" Harry yelled, running out the door. A wide smile belying her mock anger, Nym gave chase.
–--
Another couple of days later Harry was beginning to feel the effect of working out. He felt stronger and healthier than ever before, even more so than when Oliver Wood was driving the Quidditch Team hard. Nym definitely seemed to appreciate his enhanced stamina as well.
The revisions of his school work also meant that he found it easier and easier to cast spells, and with Nym instructing him in Potions he finally understood why it made a difference in what direction you stirred, what kind of ladle you used, and how the ingredients were chopped, sliced, or diced – something Snape should have taught him but never bothered to. To his surprise, Harry found he actually liked making potions now. It helped that his current instructor liked to reward him with kisses rather than detentions...
As they were lounging on Nym's couch later that afternoon watching a film – 'The Princess Bride', one of her favourites – a brown owl flew into the window. Nym accepted the letter, and read through it, then paused the VCR.
"Bonesy wants to see us tomorrow love, she has some more questions on the memory I guess."
"I was wondering about that, nothing happened so far. And the Prophet is still slandering my name."
"Don't worry hero, only idiots believe that," Nym reassured him.
"So that means ninety percent of Hogwarts at least," Harry grumbled.
"Oi you're... well... okay you're right," Nym apologetically said. "Don't see what we can do about it though, there are no libel or slander laws on our side so the only thing you could do is send in a letter with your side of the story, but they might not even bother to print it. I think the Minister is behind this, Fudgy is terrified of You-Know-Who really being back."
"But doesn't Madam Bones have my memory now? They have actual proof now!"
"I know, and Bonesy knows, but it's not like she can just take Fudgy by the collar and force him into her pensieve. Although that would be funny," Nym laughed. "We can ask Bonesy tomorrow."
"I guess," Harry sounded a bit morose. "I'd hoped it would all be over once she got the memories, don't tell me I'll have to go talk with the Minister himself again at one point. He ignored me after the Third Task, and also when I helped Sirius escape."
"That's why Bonesy is taking it slow ya goof, she's taking the official path," Nym bopped him on the head. "Now sit back down and let me rest between your arms. I want to watch my film with my boyfriend."
"More Muggle Studies it is," Harry smiled.
–--
They skipped their morning run the next day since Madam Bones had requested an early meeting. Just before nine, Nym side-along apparated Harry to the Ministry Atrium, and they made their way past the guard. Harry noticed a new sign hung on the wall, 'No owls past this point'.
The lift cabin was already occupied by several people, one of them a rather short and fat woman wearing ugly green clothes with a pink cardigan on top. She wrinkled her nose in distaste as Harry stepped into the cabin.
They rode up to the second floor, then got out. Harry looked back at the lift before the doors closed, and saw the rather toad-like woman glare at him.
"What's that woman's problem?" Harry asked Nym after the doors closed.
"That's Madam Umbridge, the Senior Undersecretary to Fudge," Nym said with a shudder. "She's bad news Harry, best avoid her if you can."
"She looks like a toad," Harry offered.
Nym winced, "Don't let her hear you say that or she'll make your life a living hell. Smidge, that's one of my fellow Aurors, he said something like that in the lunch room here and she heard him. The next day he was permanently reassigned to Azkaban.
"She does look like a toad though," Nym giggled.
They walked past the Auror desks and a few smaller offices until they arrived at Madam Bones' door. Nym knocked, and they were let inside.
"Auror Tonks, Mister Potter, thanks for coming," Madam Bones greeted them. She indicated the two chairs waiting for them and sat down behind her desk.
"Nym said you had more questions Madam," Harry spoke.
"Nym?" Madam Bones raised an eyebrow. "Mister Potter, I have reviewed your memory extensively, along with Auror Proudfoot, one of my top men. We believe that this is sufficient evidence to bring the matter to the Wizengamot, and call in the named 'former' Death Eaters for questioning."
"That's great! Serves Malfoy right, after that diary stuff and all he got away scot free," Harry beamed.
"Diary? You'll need to tell me about that later mister Potter," Madam Bones sounded intrigued. "Now if I may continue uninterrupted," Harry blushed a bit, "Unfortunately almost all the men named are considered upstanding citizens, and some of them are 'personal friends' of our Minister. As such, it will take a lot of time to prepare the case. I don't want to risk moving too early, and have them find out. At this stage they could easily force me to drop it still."
"Understood madam," Harry frowned a bit. "And what about Voldemort?"
Nym tensed, Madam Bones winced. "Please do not use that name mister Potter. I understand you were raised to be ignorant, but those of us that survived the war still remember the Taboo on it. That name is not offered in civilized company," she rebuked him.
"I apologize Madam," Harry dropped his head. "Headmaster Dumbledore told me that I should use it as fear of the name is giving more power to him."
"Dumbledore is an idiot sometimes," Madam Bones nearly spat. "Now Mister Potter, we've been able to successfully identify nearly everyone in your memory, except for this 'Wormtail' fellow. From your interactions with him, it seems you know who he is."
"Wormtail is the betrayer of my family," Harry growled. "I nearly had him in my third year."
Madam Bones blinked, "Sirius Black? Was he under polyjuice at the time?"
"What? No!" Harry looked confused. "Wormtail is Peter Pettigrew! Sirius Black is innocent, as I told the Minister two years ago."
"Mister Potter, tell me everything," Madam Bones took out a self-writing quill, and sat back.
–--
"Unbelievable, that man!" Madam Bones had stood up after Harry finished retelling the events of the Shrieking Shack and after, and was pacing around, her monocle dropped and dangling from its chain.
"Who do you mean Madam?" Nym asked. She had sat silently as Harry told his story, holding his hand for support.
"Dumbledore! He is supposed to be the Chief Warlock and Merlin knows what other possible influence he has, but he doesn't lift a finger to help an innocent man?"
"But the Minister ignored us," Harry defended his Headmaster.
"Mister Potter," Amelia sat back down. "I can understand that you have a skewed view of the Ministry, and I don't blame you, but he is still the Chief Warlock. He could call a trial for Mister Black today, and the Minister would be forced to give him one. If your godfather is as innocent as you believe he is, he would be a free man by the end of the day."
"Then... why hasn't he?" Harry insecurely asked.
"If wish I knew that Mister Potter." Amelia put her monocle back in, and read through Harry's story a bit. "I want that memory as well before you leave. You should have brought this up last time, this will take at least as much time as the other business. I hesitate to ask, but do you have any more interesting tales for me?"
"Erm, what do you know about the Basilisk?" Madam Bones paled.
–--
Madam Bones looked to have aged a few years as she took her head out of the pensieve. Harry had given her the memories of the end of first, second, and third year, and she had watched them all in succession.
"A class one possession and a proscribed magical artefact. Then the next year you kill a class-5 fifty feet magical creature. And then you scare off a hundred Dementors. If I didn't see these memories I'd..." Madam Bones went silent a bit, and closed her eyes to clear her head.
"He must be going senile. I refuse to believe the alternative," she said to herself.
"Erm boss? You okay?" Nym sounded worried. She too was shocked, having viewed the memory along with her boss and her boyfriend. She now hung on to his arm for support.
"Auror Tonks, no I'm not okay," Madam Bones let out a sigh. "I just had to find out that Hogwarts, supposedly the safest place in Britain, was home to at least two class-5 wizard-killers, has had You-Know-Who walking around while possessing a teacher, has employed another teacher who liked to obliviate his students – and as soon as Lockhart can do more than drool he's going on the docks for that –, has a member of the Wizengamot prepare to cast a bloody KILLING CURSE on a student, and that's just the first two of Mister Potter's years! And all the time Dumbledore hasn't even told anyone!"
She rubbed her monocle. "Auror Tonks, new assignment. You're to get yourself hired as the new DADA teacher. I want eyes and ears inside Hogwarts. No scrap that, I want Hogwarts closed, Susan and Harry at Beauxbatons and Dumbledore either in chains in Azkaban or being treated for severe dementia at St. Mungo's, but I can't have that yet. So for now, you'll just have to be my woman on the inside."
"Yes ma'am," Nym nodded. Joy at being able to stay closer to Harry began to override the shock of seeing what Harry had gone through.
"Mister Potter, I know my Auror has been training you," Madam Bones focused on Harry again. As he began to splutter she glared at him and Nym. "Don't bother to deny it. Now officially, I don't know she is doing this and can't support it. Unofficially, I hope she's doing a damned good job, and is also teaching you the messenger Patronus. Because the next time you are in any way in danger at that death trap masquerading as a school, I expect you to send me your stag so I can get my Aurors over there and do my damned job, am I understood?"
"Yes ma'am," both answered.
"Good. Now Mister Potter, go outside for a moment, I need to talk to my Auror in private."
"Go on hero, I'll be right out," Nym smiled at him. Harry stood up and walked out the door.
"So what do we need to talk about boss?" Nym had watched Harry exit and now turned back, and found herself under Madam Bones' glare.
"Auror Tonks, what is the age of consent in Magical Britain?"
"Err..." Nym shrunk back in herself under the glare, but had to answer. "Fourteen for girls, and fifteen for boys, madam. Err... why?"
"And what is Mister Potter's birthday?"
"July 31st madam," Nym answered quickly. "Oh... crap."
"'Oh crap' indeed," Madam Bones said in a dry tone. "Dammit Nymphadora, I should arrest you, you know. But you're having a great influence on him, he's looking much better than the last time I saw him, and I don't want him to slide back into depression. Really, couldn't you wait until August before hopping in his bed?"
Nym had the decency to look guilty.
Madam Bones sighed. "You're lucky I like you, Auror, so I'll have to let it slide. But for magic's sake, DO NOT GET CAUGHT before August, am I clear?"
"Yes ma'am," Nym gulped.
"Right. Now get out of here. Make sure you leave Mister Potter somewhere safe, and then go make Dumbledore hire you as a teacher. Officially you're now on an extended assignment working directly for me, I'll smooth things over with your squad leader."
"Yes ma'am, thank you ma'am," Nym blurted out.
"Get out of here already," Madam Bones waved her off.