Chapter 5
Tonks stood against a pillar of the tent clad in her black leather boots, burgundy high socks, hunter green fatigue pants, a bright pink and black jumper, and her black Aurors cloak. Her hair was currently a short bob of copper red hair mirroring the Weasley teens scurrying around the tent like cats to catnip as they explored the enlarged space. Tonks light brown eyes found Hermione putting away her clothes on the Witches compartment of the tent by hand and had to appreciate her level of detail in folding them. Tonks then surveyed Arthur who was busily putting up the final wards on the tent, and Tonks had to appreciate the usually mild mannered and cheery Wizard seemed to flip a switch when Molly wasn’t around to assume the role of responsible adult for well-meaning but trouble seeking teens.
Tonks gaze finally fell on Harry who was surveying the first match up of the Quidditch World Cup on the parchment handed out to the fans. Tonks stepped forward to join Harry on the couch as she spoke with a quizzical tone, “Pretty cool huh?”
Harry snapped his head in her direction with a nod, “It’s brilliant! The fact that the parchment updates with the live scores, who’s playing, and other bits of information… and they just hand these out?”
Tonks nodded, “Yep, and even local matches have a similar set up. Have you not been to a Quidditch match outside of Hogwarts?”
Harry shook his head with a ghost of a frown, “No I haven’t, and given that the Dursleys hate magic I think this might be the only ones I see until I graduate. Still, if I can only see one this is definitely the best way too, right?”
Tonks gave Harry a lopsided grin, “You’re not wrong there. But, how about next Summer, I break you out and we go to a few games?”
Harrys eyes widened, “Seriously Tonks?”
Tonks winked, “Don’t call me my cousins name, and you’ve got yourself a deal.”
Harry laughed as Tonks found his brilliant smile more appealing than the brief frown on Harry’s face from earlier, “Deal. You’re the best Tonks, se…”
Tonks bumped her shoulder against his as Harry caught himself, and they both shared a laugh. As Tonks and Harry shared a moment of laughter Hermione’s light brown eyes stared curiously at the two individuals on the couch. Though Hermione hadn’t gotten as much time as the Auror accompanying them on this trip as the others since she had only arrived the Burrow a few days prior to the step off for the Cup Hermione could see as to why Harry, Ron, and Ginny had such high praises for the Witch. Still Hermione felt a small bit of caution, and it had nothing to do with Tonks. Harry had so few people in his life that truly knew him as just Harry, and Hermione felt a duty as his friend to look out for him. Still a larger part of Hermione found herself warmed at the fact that Tonks seemed to bring out a brighter side of her best friend than she’d seen since Harry had learned the truth about Sirius.
Athur nodded to himself as the final ward was put up, “Alright children and Tonks gather around.”
The group gathered around Arther as George put his arm around Harry and mussed his hair as Harry ducked away seconds later laughing. Ginny and Hermione stood next to each other as they giggled at Georges antics, and Ron and Fred rolled their eyes with smiles. Tonks stood once again at the pillar watching the entire group. Arthur went into the ground rules once more for the trip. All of the teens had to stay in groups of two or more when leaving the tent. The trackers that Tonks had brought (small coins) had to stay on their persons until they returned to the Burrow. If anything happened outside of the norm they were to return to the tent and wait for Arthur or Tonks to arrive. Finally, Harry had to be within Tonks line of sight the entire tournament. The teens all droned on that they understood, and Athur finally cracked a smile that lifted the mood immediately, “Just remember plausible deniability when we tell your Mum how the Cup went, okay?”
All of the Weasley children nodded and laughed, Hermione and Harry smirked, and Tonks had to tip her cap to Arthur’s ability to gain the consensus of rule following while also creating a space of fun for the teens. Ron, Ginny, and Hermione stated that they were dragging Arthur to go check out the shopping booths. Fred and George were apparently going to meet up with some friends.
Tonks turned to Harry, “So which group are you going with then?”
Harry scratched the back of his head, “If it’s alright with you I was actually going to check out the pitch?”
Tonks nodded slightly, “It’s your first World Cup Harry. Besides it’ll be good to scope out what sort of scale you’ll be flying in a few years.”
A slight tinge of pink found its way onto Harry’s cheeks as he shook his head, “I don’t know about that… besides we can do whatever you’d like afterwards?”
Tonks now smirked as she hooked her arm around Harrys and led them out of the tent, “Famous last words there Harry.” Harry chuckled as they entered into a cavalcade of tents, booths, and camp sites. Harry was staring in wonderment at all forms of Wizards and Witches, magical creatures, and sounds and smells that permeated the magical area. Harry was brought back to reality as he felt Tonks wand tap his forehead, and a slight coolness washed over his body. Tonks then stowed her wand, and Harry felt her slender fingers wrapped around his own as she now held his hand leading him through the crowd.
Harry, “Was that the disillusionment charm?”
Tonks looked to Harry with respect, “Close Harry, it was a weaker version of it that more so draws the attention away from you. I’m not taking chances on you getting mogged down by adoring fans. Too many people to vet, and so we’ll do the next best thing.”
Harry replied with gratefulness, “I didn’t even think about that Tonks. If it’s easier I can just go back and get my invisibility cloak.”
Tonks shook her head, “I don’t want you to have to hide during all of this Harry. Just take it as walking around like the rest of them for a few days.”
Tonks didn’t think she’d seen Harry smile so widely before, and selfishly she was grateful that she had caused it. Eventually the two made it to the pitch entrance, and stood in the rafters as they took all of it in. Harrys green eyes were in wonder as he looked from one end of the pitch to the other. It was far greater than he ever could have imagined even compared to the pitch at Hogwarts. Tonks watched with a gentle grin as her haired changed to bubblegum pink and fell into choppy layers as her bangs covered her forehead, “So what do you think? Still going to act all demure when this is where you could be playing in a few years?”
Harry replied with a deep sigh, “Tonks this is wild.”
Tonks had to admit that it was definitely a grand sight, “Take it all in Harry. You lot deserve some fun outside of Hogwarts.”
Tonks watched as Harry’s expression fell a bit, “I’m sorry you have to watch me during all of this. I’m sure that you’d rather…”
Tonks put her hand over Harry’s head as she brought him in for a loose side hug. Harry’s cheek fell to her shoulder as his eyes widened, “Harry I took this assignment in addition to caring about your safety because I knew that’d, we’d have a blast. Besides it’s more than just a job. So, you can stop with all of the self-deprecating attitude while I’m around.”
Harry nodded as he replied with a quieter voice, “Right, thank you Tonks.”
Tonks nodded as she raked her fingers along his soft raven locks, “Besides I’m betting ten galleons, and if I lost, you’re good to cover my losses; right?”
Harry now pulled away with an incredulous look, “Seriously?”
Tonks continued to stare out at the pitch with a faux serious expression, “I’m only kidding.”
Harry sighed, “You actually got m…”
Tonks folded her hands and placing her chin a top it still not looking at Harry, “It’s 50 galleons actually.”
Harry, “Tonks!”
The following night as the Death Eaters attack began.
Tonks rushed past the chaotic crowd of Cup goers who fled in every which way. Bloody hell she stepped away for one moment to pick up the plodding jersey, and all of a sudden, all hell broke loose. With her keens ears Tonks could pick up what sounded as much as she hoped wasn’t like masked cloaked figures akin to Death Eaters. Tonks immediately peered at her small map, and much to her dismay it appeared as though the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione had been separated. And, while Ron and Hermione and the rest of the Weasleys were grouped together of course Harry had somehow found his to be stranded alone amongst this mayhem.
Tonks heartbeat was spiking as her mind began to race with worst case scenarios. But she took deeper breaths as she ran through the crowd. She could do this. Remember your training, and you can do this. Find Harry, provide security, and Apparate to the Portkey. Tonks heart rate began to calm as she forced herself to remain objective. Tonks eyes were now a dark brown as she counteracted the bursts of fire from tents going up in flames to maintain her night sensitive vision.
In a few more moments Tonks map read that Harry was within ten meters. Tonks stowed the map as she hid herself with a spell to muffle her footsteps. Smoldering skeletons of tents surrounded her as she stepped over discarded memorabilia. Tonks eyes fell on the form of what appeared to be a shaken Harry sitting alone. To her surprise she saw meters away from him two figures cloaked in black unconscious.
Tonks heartbeat in her chest with relief as she rushed to Harry and knelt before him. Harry flinched in her grasp as he came to and was about to raise his wand before Tonks hand reached out to steady it. Tonks spoke with a slow and raspy tone, “It’s me Harry, it’s Tonks.”
Harrys eyes appeared to finally focus on her, “Tonks? I didn’t mean to… they just appeared, and had their wands raised and I had to defend myself…”
Tonks nodded as she looked over to the two cloaked figures. One appeared to have both legs broken, and the other’s arm was contorted in a way that signified a clear hit by a bombardment spell. Tonks returned to gaze at Harry as she spoke in a softer tone, “It’s okay Harry. You did everything right, and you were defending yourself, okay?”
Harry couldn’t nod as he looked to Tonks with fear and worry, “Hermione, Ron, and the Weasleys?”
Tonks nodded slightly, “They’re all okay. Now we need to get out of here alright? It’s not safe, and their group probably knows that somethings happened to them.”
Tonks motioned to the two unconscious Death Eaters. Tonks helped Harry stand as he looked to her with a surprised expression now, “You came back for me?”
Tonks brought a hand to his cheek to wipe away some soot as she spoke with a lighter tone, “I couldn’t very well leave you alone now, could I?”
Harry narrowed his brow, “It was dangerous.”
Tonks smoothed her thumb over his cheek, “Pot meet kettle.”
Harry now snorted a dark laugh, “Fair.”
Tonks smile dropped, “I’ll always come for you, right?”
Harry with a hallow grin, “Right.”
Tonks took a deep breath as she surveyed their surroundings. Before she could Apparate them to the Portkey three events happened in quick succession. First, Hermione and Ron like homing pigeons apparently had a sixth sense for coming to Harrys side in a crisis. Second, a figure that was most definitely the ringleader that Tonks couldn’t make out shot a bloody Death Eaters Mark into the sky. Finally, members of another Auror team arrived and nearly Stupefied them all to oblivion. Tonks had to give Sirius and Remus kudos for finetuning Harry’s reactions, because between Tonks and him their shielding charms deflected all of the spells, and even maimed some of the other Aurors.
Following a yelling match to sort out their identities between Arthur and Tonks, and the Aurors and Crouch they finally were able to make their leave back to the Burrow. Tonks had to admit that Molly’s reaction to the sudden return of her family and two young teens that she considered as much her own kin as her own children was appropriate in this situation. As Molly doted in the shocked teens Tonks and Arthur were fielding Owls well into the night as they sorted out what they had seen, the appropriate use of magic from their underage Witches and Wizards and follow on actions. It was close to midnight as Tonks finally had the last questions for both the Ministry and Order sorted out when she put her quill away.
Seated on the Weasleys couch in their den she bid goodnight to Arthur who went up to join Molly and Tonks let her eyes close as she rested her head on the couch seated slouched against its burgundy and patched upholstery. Tonks felt the adrenaline ceding away and replaced with just cortisol and frayed nerves. Tonks had never felt as much imposter syndrome as in this very moment. Sirius and Remus had been too quick to lay on the praise, and Kingsley was trying to put Tonks in for an award. But Tonks hair turned a deeper red and purple as she balled her fists together in disappointment and anger at herself.
How was everyone just skipping over the fact that Tonks had failed at her one task above all else? Tonks had left Harry alone before the attack, Harry had been alone for most of the attack, and Tonks had only just found Harry before her fellow Aurors nearly turned him into bruised flesh. It was protection detail one-oh-bloody-one. You never leave your ward alone, especially in cases of emergency. All for a bloody…
Harrys quiet and worried voice brought her back to the present, “Tonks are you alright?”
Tonks opened her eyes as Harry was staring at her with confusion and worry, “Harry what brings you down here so late?”
Harry motioned to the fireplace that because of her accidental magic was overflowing with red flames. Tonks gave an eep as she waved her wand calming the flames. Now she felt embarrassment on top of her already stoked emotions.
Tonks spoke with a tired voice, “Let’s just keep me almost burning down the Burrow between us then?”
Harry gave her a sympathetic nod as he sat beside her with a foot of distance between them. Tonks looked away from Harry as she tried to get her tumultuous emotions under control lest her voice betray her.
Harry spoke with worry still evident in his voice, “How’re you doing?”
Tonks shook her head, “I’m fine. Better than most, and I’m trained for this right?”
Harry frowned, and dropped his gaze, “Well I’m scared.”
Tonks gaze snapped to Harry as he held his hands together and his knee slightly bounced, “You are then? Do you want to talk about it?”
Harry now peered to Tonks, “If I do then, will you?”
Tonks had fallen into his trap, “Oh you’re good, aren’t you?”
Harry shrugged, “A Witch way smarter than me once said that if I need to talk to someone that I could come to her, and so I’m just returning the favor.”
Tonks bit her lip as she shook her head trying to bite down the smile, “Well I guess we can’t go against such sage advice?”
Harry shook his head and Tonks swallowed dryly, “I messed up tonight, Harry, and there’s no way around it that I failed.”
Harry now sat up with a surprised and confused expression, “What are you talking about? You were brilliant!”
Tonks shook her head, “Harry what was my one job for the Cup?”
Harry, “To protect me, and unless this is a really strange after life that is eerily similar to real life I’m here and alive?”
Tonks frowned, “I left you alone.”
Harry shrugged, “Tonks I was with the Weasleys, and you were only going to be gone for 15 minutes tops. It wasn’t your fault that…”
Tonks shook her head as her tone turned sterner, “Harry there is no excuse. I left your side, and because of it you could have gotten hurt or worst.”
Harry now had a challenging expression, “But, I didn’t? And, besides you came back for me Tonks, and when the Aurors attacked you…”
Tonks cut Harry off with a colder expression, “I left you Harry, and whatever I did after doesn’t make up for my failure.”
Harry now was getting angrier, “So what? You had one failure in weeks of success, and now what? You’re going to just quit?”
Tonks narrowed her eyes, “Failures as an Auror Harry get people laid up in the hospital or worst, and you deserve…”
Harry now stood with tight shoulders as he glared at Tonks, “I deserve what Tonks? Please let me know what I need like everyone else! You know what I need? I need someone who actually listens to me and treats me like an equal, and you do that!”
Tonks choked back a slight tremble in her voice as she stood, “Harry…”
Harry shook his head as he pointed, “No Tonks! I’m not going to sit by and let you bad mouth yourself, okay? Look we all make mistakes, but you came back and because of you I wasn’t alone, and…”
Tonks knew that she had made a mistake, but in this moment, it didn’t seem to matter as much. Tonks crossed the distance and wrapped her arms around Harry’s torso. Harry initially stiffened in Tonks embrace, but eventually his arms snaked around her torso has he reciprocated the hug. Tonks cheek rested beside Harry’s ear as she stroked his back, and spoke with a soft tone, “I didn’t mean to upset you, Harry. It’s okay; you’re okay, I’m okay, and we’re all okay.”
Tonks felt rest his face in the crook of her neck as he nodded, and they stood in the embrace for a few more moments. Tonks could smell his freshly showered scent as she noted hints of evergreen trees and spice. Harry pulled back as Tonks kept him close. Tonks eyes now mirrored his own emerald green as Tonks continued with a quiet tone, “We should get some rest Harry.”
Harry nodded as he stepped away and before he turned, he spoke with a low tone, “Thanks again Tonks.”
Tonks nodded as she tilted her head and crossed her arms as she replied, “Don’t mention it. Now off with you, I’m not far behind.”
Harry gave her a smile once more as he left her alone in the den. Tonks fell back on the couch as she finally ran out of energy. Placing her arm over her eyes she laid her head back on the arm rest as she finally let the tears fall. Merlin Harry just had to be so earnest and honest, didn’t he? Somehow, he’d gone and made her feel better, and that just wasn’t fair now, was it?