Whenever Tonks wasn't off at the ministry to go through the process of becoming an auror trainee, she was showing Harry around to everything he missed growing up. After taking him to the theater, she brought him to some of the still standing magical attractions around the country where he was able to see the history of the wizarding world. They had spent nights down in the living room marathoning movies and she had even taken him to a water park to teach him how to swim. Harry felt that that one had been his favorite day, because there was just something special about seeing Tonks splash about in a bikini that well, you couldn't get that anywhere else.
Of course when she was at the ministry going through mountains of paperwork, Harry would sit with Mrs. Tonks and she'd explain more about the things that confused him in the magical world.
"So the shopkeeper expected me to know the styles because wizards like to dress up?" Harry scratched his head as he had asked her about his first time purchasing robes and he knew this would repeat itself so he wished to make sure he didn't cause the young lady distress like he had done last time.
"No, wizards care about their appearance because looking their best attracts more attention from the witches," Andromeda chortled because she had seen Harry's selection of robes, they weren't ugly, Madam Malkin's wouldn't risk a wizard wearing ugly robes that she had made, but they were clearly chosen at random. It certainly served to make a statement, but like many of Harry's decisions, they had not been intentional.
"I'll have Ted take you out to a muggle suit shop, they will help you learn some of the styles that you would have been taught growing up," Andromeda said as this would serve to help Harry better fit the role he was coming into.
"And since I've started a coven it's expected of me that I take more witches?" Harry questioned that piece of advice Andromeda had given him when he asked her more about his duties as a warlock. "And what am I even supposed to do?"
She started with what the purpose of a warlock was. That Harry was supposed to offer guidance to the witches, provide a safe haven for and ensure the magical lines.
Harry didn't know what that last part was, but the first two made him seem like he was to be the leader and keep them safe. He didn't mind that second part, he'd hate for Tonks to be in danger. But he wasn't sure about his ability to guide her, she knew more than him.
"It is not so much about knowing more than my daughter or any other witch in the coven, it is so that you as the head make the decisions, be that keeping the balance or putting them on the right path. A good warlock must be able to handle all the information and just knowing it doesn't do any good if you cannot see how it helps the witches you look after."
"Is that kind of like how Hermione," Harry said before remembering that the mother wouldn't know any of these students he went to Hogwarts with. "Sorry, a girl in class, she memorizes the books but the last couple of papers I got better grades because the professors marked her essays down for being too long."
"An apt comparison, while this Hermione might be able to know all the information in the textbook, she isn't able to consolidate it in the required manner, that is part of what you will need to be able to do," Andromeda said as she felt that was a good enough place to start, a good warlock needs to both see the bigger picture and the finer details.
"But what type of girls should I bring into my coven? I did it by accident the first time?" Harry asked where he should begin on that front.
"Well what types of girls interest you, surely you have a type," Andromeda raised an eyebrow, she had in the past seen many covens begin due to a shared hobby, or it was for the benefits of wealth, connections, sometimes simple carnal desires.
"I like Tonks, she's nice, fun and pretty," Harry blushed at the last part.
"So you want girls that you can play with?" asking for Harry to expand upon what he said to get to the root.
"No, well, it wouldn't be nice if the girl was serious all the time or bossy," Harry admitted because that didn't sound all that fun.
Andromeda agreed that so long as Nymphadora remained as the high priestess, another girl trying to exert authority would cause problems; covens needed structure. Which is why one witch was appointed as the head, so that the others could come to her before the warlock. If another witch tried to usurp that position it tended to come down to a duel, but there were other ways. It was not unheard of for a lower witch to gain favor with the warlock and have another girl demoted down. So she would prefer that the types of girls Harry surrounded himself with did not sabotage her daughter.
"But, Tonks is also just… she's smart and clever, confident. She knows who she is and isn't afraid to show that. I… really like that about her," Harry softly said.
"Is that because you had to hide so much of yourself growing up?" Andromeda inquired because her daughter told her of the situation she had found Harry in when she arrived at the Dursley residence. That mistreatment of a wizard was appalling to her, and one she would have expected out of a backwards family that never believed in magic to begin with, that Petunia had been the sister of Lily Evans, it just baffled her she would raise Harry like this. Surely she had to know it was wrong.
One night after her daughter and her warlock were snoozing on the floor having eaten pizza and watched movies, she apparated to the address she had taken from the slip in her daughter's pants. For once she was glad that Nymphadora had a habit of leaving things in her pockets before bringing them down for the wash. So she arrived at the home under the cover of darkness.
A muggle house broached no problem for a talented witch such as herself to enter, Petunia was forthcoming with information once she understood that there was no other choice. Andromeda would have struck the woman down at the dinner table hearing the nasty way she raised Harry, but this revenge was not for her to take.
In a way the mother believed that Harry had been the perfect type of warlock for her daughter. Despite the age difference Harry was a very reserved and thoughtful wizard, she wondered if it was because he had been so wholeheartedly rejected before being introduced to the world he was meant for that he holds it in reverence or if he was just naturally a more subdued person.
This would contrast well because Nymphadora had always been a wild child growing up, sometimes causing more problems than even she believed a kid or teenager could do.
Andromeda hoped that as Harry tempered that boundless fire in her daughter, she in turn brought a warmth for him to grow with. Watching the two of them, they were close, and it was obvious that the way Nymphadora always scooted her chair just a little bit closer to Harry, reached out for his hand when they sat together, pushing her body against his just for the feel of the contact, he was already having an effect on her.
It left her wondering what types of witches would be joining the coven he made in the future. They would most certainly be unique though.
"Harry, my mum told me that you weren't sure if you wanted to take any more witches into your coven," Tonks said to him as the two laid on the roof of the house to watch the stars.
"I mean… do I have to?" Harry rolled onto his side, to look at Tonks.
"No, of course not, no one would force you to let any witch join your coven. But Harry, it wouldn't be easy," Tonks sighed because her heart soared when her mother mentioned this to her. It was one of the nicest things she had heard and many witches growing up fantasized about being the one and only for a wizard. But even in a world of unicorns and dragons, fantasies weren't all they were cracked up to be.
"It would just be you and me, any problem that came our way to the coven would be on just us to handle. It might not seem like a big deal right now but. My aunt, not the crazy one that followed You-Know-Who. My other aunt Narcissa, she was in a small coven, just her and another witch with a wizard. It was pretty much as storybook as it gets."
"But things got really nasty and she…" Tonks gulped because she had asked her mum why she never saw Aunt Cissa anymore and was told the truth. The other witch became jealous, to the point that they fought all the time, and then one night Aunt Cissa showed up dead in Knockturn Alley, aurors never got to the truth of what happened, but they did find out that she didn't die quickly, she was beaten to death.
"Then it can just be us," Harry sat up because he could imagine what Tonks thought was nasty and why her aunt was referred to in the past tense.
"That would be great but Harry there are," Nymphadora sighed because she didn't want to tell him that other witches might band together to get her out of the picture to move in with Harry. He didn't need to know how some witches could get when it came to wizards.
"Think about your quidditch team, even if Oliver's a cracker Keeper and Ange is amazing as a chaser, they couldn't ever win a game on their own. She'd never be able to score or let Oliver have a moment's rest to protect the goalposts. Maybe just adding Frieda or Georgina, they might have a fighting chance but they could still just as easily fail and then they might fight among themselves because there is still a lot of pressure on them."
"But you add in the second beater, a second then third chaser and now they are a team. They can function together, protect each other, keep Oliver from being overwhelmed and he can effectively stop the opposing team from scoring."
"But I'm on the team too," Harry said with a pout.
Reaching over to ruffle his unruly hair, Tonks snorted as Harry grumbled, she shifted herself closer to pull Harry into her side. "Yeah but I get it," Harry nodded. "A small coven could just get too overwhelmed. But doesn't it… worry you."
"That you'll be inviting other girls to the coven, a little bit, that's why it's important that you get a feel for the girl, don't just rush in," Tonks said because that could end poorly. She knew witches could put up a front to seem like the perfect candidate but it was just so they could have quicker access.
"But that's what I did with you and I think that turned out alright," Harry said while looking up towards Tonks' face.
Getting a grin on her lips, she rolled so she was straddling Harry and had pinned his hands to the rooftop. "And now I got you in my clutches, bwahahahaha."
Harry let out a gasp as Tonks lowered her head to take playful bites out of his neck causing him to laugh. "Tonks, quit it," Harry squirmed underneath her.
"No, I'm the monster you didn't vet properly and now your soul is mine," Tonks fake growled before she felt a pair of hands grip her waist.
"Well you said I should get a feel for the girl, so why don't I start with you," Harry threatened as he dug his fingers into her side causing Nymphadora to bust up and try to protect her ribs.
"Ah Harry," Tonks squealed as Harry now had the upper hand and was pressing the advantage. She was red in the face as Harry flipped her onto her back.
He continued like this for a minute before stopping, looking down at her panting face as she tapered off her laughter. "Hey Harry," Tonks said.
"Yeah?" Harry blinked at her.
She reached a hand around the back of his head and pulled him closer to catch his lips in hers, the two stayed like that for a few seconds before she let him go and she could see him silhouetted by the night sky.
From where he was, all he could see was the reflection of the stars above in her eyes. "Happy birthday Harry," offering her congratulations before Harry leaned down and pulled her into a hug.
Shopping now was a different event, he knew what to expect and as the Tonks family took him around to the shops. This time Harry was watching the people just as much as he browsed the store's inventory.
He could see groups for more than just people walking together. And the wizards or muggle men, the way people looked at them or the witches around them. He was so grateful for Mrs. Tonks that she explained all this so he wasn't blindly stumbling into social situations he didn't understand. The way that they held open the doors or got prompt service over witches who had been waiting longer. "I should apologize to Hagrid," Harry said to himself for going out of his way to open a door for her in the bar last year. He might have felt that he should have been holding doors for the girls, but this wasn't quite the opposite but it was close enough.
"Molly," Andromeda said as they entered the robe shop, seeing all the red hair really gave it away.
"Ah, Andromeda, how are you," Molly said before kissing Ted's offered hand. "Mesir and this must be Nymphadora, I haven't seen you in ages."
Tonks grumbled at the name from the mother of her friend. "Yeah, Charlie went off to Romania and I got too busy during my N.E.W.T. year."
"You most certainly did," Mrs. Weasley chortled while looking at the choker. "Frieda and Georgina gave me the news when they popped by the Burrow from their holiday spent with Oliver Wood."
"Yeah mum, not everyday Harry Potter," Frieda came over with a handful of bras.
"Proposes to a bird in the stands," Georgina finished the sentence while carrying a stack of panties.
Harry looked away from the twin witches as they passed him by to go try on the undergarments. "And you mesir must be her warlock, she's quite lucky to have you," Molly said with a smile to the famous wizard.
"It's the other way around, I'd be lost without her," Harry shrugged to the mother because he honestly didn't know where he'd be if he hadn't taken Nymphadora into his life. Just constantly bumbling around and making embarrassing social mistakes before he wound up in a tight spot without knowing how he got there or how to manage it.
"Oh I need to introduce you to my son. Gindrey, Gindrey," Molly hurried around a corner only to come back with a young redheaded wizard. "This is my son Gindrey, say hello."
"He-hello," the redheaded boy timidly said before clamming up in the presence of the celebrity.
"Hey there," Harry chuckled because this was going to be interesting to have a younger wizard than him in the castle now. Rather than go with the social cues that Andromeda had taught him to do with witches, Harry wanted to make a statement with this wizard. Grasping his hand, he gave it a shake before the other boy could even tell what was happening. "I'm sure we're going to get along great in the castle."
Gindrey just nodded his head in awe before being called back by the clerk for his measurements. "Harry Potter, shook my hand," his voice carried as he walked away.
"Sorry about that, he was an avid fan of your book series, had us reading them to him almost every night," Molly chortled, only for her son to groan loudly and beg her to stop.
Harry kept a straight face as he went over to look at some of the articles while the clerk was busy, once out of hearing range he turned to Tonks. "Why didn't you tell me there was a book series written about myself?" He inquired while making it look like he was just checking a pair of shoes.
"I just… it wasn't my cup of tea growing up," Nymphadora admitted that she had picked up one and gotten bored with it a few pages in. "Too flowery for my tastes. Besides I got the real deal and he's more of a hero than those books could ever come up with, plus he's cuter too."
Figuring that was the best he was going to get from her at this time, he decided that he'd pick a more traditional style of robes than his last year so that he didn't look like he was trying to be a rebel the entire year.
Everything had been purchased without issue until it came to the bookstore. It was a madhouse as their new defense professor was doing a signing in person, Gilderoy Lockhart, one of the most acclaimed wizards of his age, spoken of in the same sentences as Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore for his legendary accomplishments.
Getting into the building proved a difficult task on its own, Andromeda had said she would wait outside with Ted while Nymphadora would take him in and keep a very close eye on him. Harry just hoped that it would be quick if everyone else was trying to get their books signed he could be in and out without trouble. But trouble always came looking for him.
"Is that," Gilderoy said as he came around his desk. Him just brushing a witch with an elbow was enough to make her scream hysterically. Getting his arm around the young boy he was able to pull him into the circle of witches who had all come for the signing, which stopped Tonks from grabbing Harry and getting him back by her side. "Harry Potter, here to get my autograph."
Harry had no idea what this man was talking about, he'd never met him before, so why was he trying to play up the idea that Harry had been mentored by him. "And while he might have thought to just come in for my autograph, he will be walking away with my entire collection, free of charge."
This act of generosity had caused the crowd to surge again, Harry couldn't pull away as the photographer took a number of photos but finally Harry managed to be released when his professor needed both hands to start autographing again. This allowed for Tonks to squeeze her way past the crowd and get Harry away from the masses. But being front row to the man allowed Harry to see that it wasn't just books being signed, posters, note cards, and even some girls were shoving their chests out for him to write on.
Tonks leaned down next to Harry's ear so he could hear her over the crowd, "I'll grab the rest of your books, wait right here, I'll be back in less than a minute." Harry nodded in response and watched Tonks start to move through the sea of patrons, her hands reaching over to lift tomes off the shelves and in more than one case, her clumsiness nearly toppled a dozen people.
"I bet you wish that were you Potter," a snarky voice came from above and behind him, causing him to look in that direction.
Dracaena Malfoy came down the steps to stop in front of Harry with a sneer. "Enjoying seeing what a real wizard is like?"
"Not really," Harry replied because he didn't get how anyone could like all that attention, it was like Professor Lockhart was caged in by the crowd and he was putting on a performance for them. It all seemed too overwhelming for his tastes. "How's your summer been Dracaena, you're looking well?"
The blonde witch stepped back and stammered. "Nuh- none of your business," she huffed and stomped away with a blush because she was so frustrated that Harry Potter always seemed to get the upper hand on her. That it was just him being nice was lost on her.
"Ah the infamous Harry Potter," another voice said, drawing his attention.
"Hello ma'am," Harry greeted because he hadn't a chance to meet this lady. She wore, what was obvious to even him, a very expensive dress. She had long blonde hair and very sharp steel grey eyes. "I'm sorry, I don't know your name?"
"Lucinda Malfoy," the woman said while smiling down at the young wizard like he was prey.
"You must be Dracaena's mother then," Harry connected the names pretty easily, so far he hadn't really come across any magical families that shared names.
"That I am," Lucinda chortled. "My daughter had told me that Harry Potter had come to Hogwarts, but it is another thing to meet him in person. I do hope that my daughter has been exemplary in her behavior towards you. If not, I'm willing to do anything to make it up to you."
Harry nervously chuckled because he wasn't quite sure he liked the way she said that but a hand resting on his shoulder that he recognized worked to ease the tension he was feeling. "Harry, I've gotten them all," Tonks said while looking at the woman in front of her. "We should hurry up, don't want there to be any trouble."
"No, you're right, this store is crowded enough as it is," Harry agreed because he was certain the only reason he wasn't being squished in with everyone else was because he was a wizard.
Tonks patted Harry on the back to get him moving before she locked eyes with the opposing witch and reached up a hand to flick the lightning bolt charm on her choker with her middle finger, intentionally drawing Lucinda's attention to it and leaving that digit extended as an additional insult. Lucinda huffed in annoyance before noticing a large group of redheads enter into the store, she shouldered Nymphadora as she passed the girl.
Andromeda noticed the satisfied smirk on her daughter after she came back out of the shop. "Someone's feeling confident," commenting on her daughter's much more enthusiastic disposition while Harry and Ted walked ahead of them.
"Just made sure some sneaky skank knew that Harry Potter isn't for her to sink her Death Eater claws into," Tonks proudly said. It felt really good to put another witch in her place by flaunting her position in the coven.