Chapter 9
Harry finally fell back onto the burgundy cushion of the plush couch before a fire in the Gryffindor Common Room. Harry closed his eyes as he let the fire’s warmth reach his body and lull him into a moment of relaxation. Harry’s day had been a hectic and memorable one for sure. Between surviving the first Trial in facing off against the Horn-Tail and being able to live to tell the tail, making up with Ron and putting their dispute behind him, and the after party orchestrated by the Twins Harry had little time to really process all that had transpired.
The Common Room had fallen into a quiet lull, and Harry released a long sigh of relief and exhaustion. Harry opened his eyes to look down at his bandaged hands. Pomfrey had promised that the burns would be healed by the morning as long as he kept the bandages and balm on them. But it wasn’t the burns that held Harry’s thoughts. No, it was the slightest of tremors that they now held. They’d begun a few hours after the task was complete, and at first Harry had chalked it up to the receding adrenaline. But, to Harry’s irritation the tremors continued at random times.
Harry’s attention was brought back to the present as a raspy and cheerful voice filled his ears, “Watcher Harry, why so glum? You’re the talk of the castle!”
Tonks rounded the couch and plopped down on a cushion beside Harry. Harry met her gaze with a tired lopsided grin, “Is it more of Potter is a Tosser? The pins were a nice touch.”
Tonks threw her hand up, “Oh no need to worry about those. Between the Twins and my keen scheming anyone still wearing those happens to now have an accidental case of the exploding acne to contend with.”
Harry now shot Tonks a wider grin, “You didn’t have to do that.”
Tonks shrugged, “Someone messes with my mate then it’s all fair game on defending their honor.”
Harry now put his bandaged hand over his heart, “My knight in shining armor.”
Harry expected a quick retort from Tonks, but instead he was greeted with Tonks expression falling as her dark brown hair grew streaks of burnt orange. Harry followed her gaze to his bandaged hand, and Harry immediately put it on his lap, “Tonks it’s okay! Pomfrey’s taken care of it, and by tomorrow morning it’ll be healed. Nothing to worry about.”
Harrys words either didn’t land how he wanted to, or this ran deeper than just his injured hands. Tonks frown spread to Harry as he spoke with a quieter tone, “Tonks? Are you alright?”
Tonks met Harry’s gaze as she replied with a strained tone, “I don’t know how you can be so blasé about what you’ve been through?”
Harry paused for a beat, “It was just a dragon? I mean I thought it had me there on the tower, but I’m alright; right?”
Tonks bit her pink lip, and Harry’s eye flickered for the briefest of moments to them, “I’m not trying to be a downer Harry, and I’m so bloody proud of you. It just… seeing you go against that beast… you were brilliant, and I mean that with all sincerity you put most grown Witches or Wizards to shame in your skill both under literal fire, and on a broom.”
Tonks sucked in a quick breath, “But…”
Harry now understood what the problem was, “It was different seeing me in danger versus hearing about it?”
Tonks nodded with a sad expression, “Exactly.”
Harry, “It’s hard watching someone that you care about be in harm’s way when there’s nothing that you can do about it.”
Tonks hair now morphed towards a muted blue as she nodded, “I’m guessing you’ve had plenty of experience with how this feels I reckon?”
Harry nodded with a small frown, “Something like that. Ron my first year, Ginny my second, and Sirius my third to name a few times.”
Tonks rested her temple on the couch as she tried to imagine being so young and having to shoulder such traumatic experiences.
Tonks, “You really are a strong Wizard Harry.”
Harry now ducked his head away, “If you say so. I feel like I’m just making it up as I go along.”
Tonks shook her head, “Harry seriously take the compliment.”
Harry now side eyed Tonks, “Only if you celebrate just a bit now that you’re off of official Ministry duty.”
Tonks replied with a slightly more chipper tone, “Oh if that’s what the champion wants then I guess I will have to oblige.”
Harry now replied with a smirk, “I appreciate that.”
Tonks raised a now purple eyebrow, “So champion now that you’ve proven yourself in the first task have the fangirls and boys been trying to break down your dorm room to get a piece of the Boy-Who-Lives?”
Harry rolled his eyes, “Tonks you seriously have to stop thinking that anyone has an interest in me like that. Even with surviving the first task I’m still the bloke everyone thinks set a snake on Malfoy.”
Tonks eyes widened, “What?!”
Harry sank back into the seat with a sheepish smile, “How was I supposed to know that talking to snakes was rare even for Wizarding kind?”
Tonks looked incredulous, “You’re a bloody Parseltounge as well?”
Harry nodded slightly as Tonks crossed her arms, “What else are you hiding from me?”
Harry now replied with a serious tone, “Well you know how I said that I wasn’t a Metamorphagus?”
Tonks now for a moment was enthralled and leaning in as Harry replied with a hushed tone, “Well I was telling you the truth on that one.”
Harrys faced was quickly met with a small throw-pillow as he laughed while Tonks reached to grab another and chuck it at him. Harry was only saved as Tonks fell over the side of the couch reaching for another round and landed on her side with her bum up. Harry’s laughter died in his throat as Tonks skirt road dangerously high as he caught a glimpse of her toned thigh. Harry grasped his wand as he waved it at Tonks, and she floated back to the couch.
Tonks had a small glare as she crossed her arms in agitation, “That was a low blow getting my hopes up like that tosser.”
Harry nodded in faux remorse, “How can I make it up to you?”
Tonks narrowed her gaze, “Carry my book bag to class for the next month.”
Harry’s expression dropped, “Is that all? You know people will think we’re err…”
Tonks raised an eyebrow with a haughty expression, “Oh am I not good enough to be dating Gryffindors champion then?”
Harry with a nervous tone, “No that’s not it!”
Tonks took a beat before breaking out into a giggle and Harry now frowned, “Okay, I deserved that.”
Tonks stuck her tongue out with a cheeky grin, “You completely did.”
Harry rested his head on the back of the couch, “Thank you Tonks.”
Tonks, “For what?”
Harry, “For just checking up on me. Most people have been congratulating me, but other that Hermione, Ron, and Neville no one has really asked me how I’m doing.”
Tonks smile fell, “Of course Harry, and I can only imagine the fall out that you’re feeling now that the adrenalines gone.”
Harry nodded, “It’s… it’s like I’m both tired and wired at the same time? My hands… they just tremble for whatever reason and…”
Tonks, “You feel as though your chest is clenching up at the most inopportune times?”
Harry, “Yes!”
Tonks replied with a frown, “Harry what you’re feeling is completely natural. The important thing is not to ignore these signs. And, if they get any worst, you can always go and talk with a Medi-Witch, or me if you need too.”
Harry broke his gaze with Tonks, “I just don’t want to feel like more of a freak.”
Tonks replied with an understanding tone, “Harry none of this makes you a freak, and it’s normal to feel on edge after a life and death situation let alone the long-term fallout of it all.”
Harry spoke with a low tone, “Have you ever felt this way?”
Tonks swallowed before replying, “I have, and quite a few times Harry. My first was on my second case after the academy. The long and short of it was that a Wizard tried to hit me with the Killing Curse, and luckily their aim was quite shite and I knocked them out. Still for weeks after I kept thinking what if I’d been just a meter closer. Would that really have been it?”
Harry replied with a soft tone, “I’m sorry that happened to you Tonks.”
Tonks nodded, “It’s alright now, and besides that’s the job, isn’t it? Either way Harry, you and me? It’s something that’s a part of us now. And it doesn’t make us freaks. It means that we’re human, and we’re allowed to feel how we need to feel.”
Tonks watched as Harry looked at her as though she were the most special Witch in the world, and Tonks felt her heart warm as she gave Harry a supportive smile. Harry released a small yawn, and Tonks peered over at a clock.
Tonks, “I think you should get some rest Harry. You’ve had quite the day.”
Harry replied with a small shake of his head, “But, I’ve barely gotten to see you the past week, and I’ve missed talking to you.”
Tonks heart warmed just a degree more, “I know Harry, and I’ve missed talking to you too. But now that the first task is over, I’m back to being your shadow. So, you’ll see me first thing tomorrow, okay?”
Harry released a small retort under his breath, and Tonks readied a pillow, “What was that Mr. Potter?”
Harry threw his hands up, “I give!”
Tonks smirked as she dropped the pillow and the two stood. Tonks crossed the distance pulling Harry into a tight hug as Harrys arms wrapped around her middle. Tonks took in Harry’s scent of forest, sweat, and oddly enough burnt hair, which the latter was disconcertingly pleasant. For Harrys part Tonks warmth, softness of her curves, and her slight chuckle as his breath tickled her ear left him with a big grin.
Pulling apart Tonks reached up and tucked a now pink strand of hair behind her ear. Harry smiled at Tonks and spoke with a quiet tone, “I wish you could keep your hair as it is.”
Tonks gave Harry a small and intimate smile, “Me too, but it’ll be our little secret.” Tonks scrunched her nose as her hair shifted to a muted brown. Tonks tapped Harry’s nose with her pointer, “Now off to bed with you.”
Harry nodded but before turning spoke with mirth, “By the way love the knickers that you chose today.”
Harry immediately turned tail as Tonks was stone faced at first before shaking her head, “You didn’t see anything!”
Harry yelled back with a laugh, “Right! And they weren’t Gryffindor crimson!”
Tonks now had a slight blush on her cheeks. That blood Wizard… they did happen to be a festive Gryffindor crimson, but he was just giving and eerily correct guess, right?
Tonks yelled after Harry stomping her foot as her hair bristled out in orange waves, “Harry James Potter!”
Harry fell asleep with a Cheshire smile imagining Tonks fuming.
In the Great Hall during the Yule Ball.
Throughout Kingsley’s career he had a plethora of partners, but none were as talented nor as eager as Tonks. But, with eagerness came a brashness that all new Aurors started out with. But Kingsley had witnessed time and time again Tonks professionalism, candor, and tact in even the direst of situations. So why was the Senior Auror currently beside himself with internal laughter at his partner’s current emotional turmoil riddled state? Because Tonks was currently in the form of her 14-year-old self, and she was glowering while seated at a table at none other than their charged protective ward who was currently slow dancing with the French champion.
Tonks knew that she was acting irrationally. Given that she was supposed to be keeping a field of vision in a crowd with multiple outside entities from the other two schools it only made sense that she was seated at the table for reconnaissance. And the impropriate still stood that she was still an adult albeit in an adolescent form. But all of this rationality was moot as that French floozy continued to hoard Harry to herself and use every opportunity that he seemed to peel away to throw her arm around him, whisper in his ear, and cause him to bloody well laugh as though she were a comedian.
Tonks should have been happy at the very fact that Harry appeared to finally be enjoying himself as a Wizard should be able to. Tonks was grateful that Harrys smile hadn’t left his face for the majority of the night, but the very fact that Fleurs hands were dangerously close to the small of Harrys back as they slow danced set the Aurors patience on edge. Tonks could only glower more as Fleurs gaze met Tonks for the briefest of moments, and she shot Tonks a challenging eyebrow raise before returning her focus to Harry.
Fleur to Harry with low tone, “‘Arry I think your friend doesn’t like me too much?”
Harry turned his gaze which quickly found Tonks sitting in her seat with her arms crossed, and the ends of her hair holding a tinge of red, “I don’t think…”
Tonks having met Harry’s gaze turned away with her eyes closed and Harry’s expression fell, “Err… you might be right? I’ll be right back Fleur.”
Fleur nodded as she squeezed Harry’s shoulder, “Don’t take long ‘Arry.”
Harry nodded with a grin as he cut across the dance floor and stopped before Tonks as he pulled out a chair to sit near her, “How’s it going Tonks?
Tonks, still in her teenage form, glanced at Harry with a mixture of annoyance and jealousy, "Oh, it's just wonderful, Harry. I'm thoroughly enjoying my thrilling view of the back of your head and your enchanting slow dance with our lovely French guest."
Harry chuckled, trying to diffuse the tension, "Come on, Tonks, she's just being friendly. Besides, I thought you'd be thrilled to see me enjoying myself for once."
Tonks huffed, her hair shifting to a shade of burnt orange, "Oh, I am thrilled, Harry. Absolutely over the moon. In fact, I'm considering taking up tap dancing lessons with Professor Flitwick just to enhance the experience of watching you dance with other witches."
Harry grinned, "Well, if you ever do, be sure to invite me to your first performance."
Tonks raised an eyebrow, "Oh, I will, but don't expect me to invite Fleur. She might outshine me with her Veela charm, and I wouldn't want to steal your date.
Harry laughed, "Fleur's not my date, Tonks. We came together as friends, and you're reading too much into this."
Tonks sighed dramatically, "Harry, you're so naive sometimes. It's almost adorable."
Harry chuckled, "Well, I can't help it if I don't have your experience and wisdom. Should I be worried that you're going to hex Fleur if she gets too close?"
Tonks grinned, her hair turning a playful shade of blue, "Oh, you know me too well, Harry. But don't worry, I'll try to contain my jealousy and save the hexing for another time."
Harry nodded, “I’m holding you to that. Are you having fun at least?”
Tonks rolled her eyes, “I’m alright Harry. I’m here on business remember?”
Harry’s expression fell, “Oh, right… I’m sorry sometimes I forget that you’re here to keep me safe.”
Tonks bit her lip before replying, “Harry all that matters is that you’re safe, and it looks like you’re having fun?”
Harrys eyes lit up a bit more, “Honestly? I didn’t think I would. I never really had the opportunity to go to dances or anything growing up, and if it hadn’t been for your advice to invite someone as a friend versus trying to find a date it definitely would have been a bit more awkward, I’d imagine.”
Tonks inwardly cursed herself as she ate her words. How was Tonks to know that Fleur and Harry were getting along so swimmingly?
Tonks held back her frown as she nodded, “That’s all that matters then. Now why don’t you get back to your dance partner? Looks like a few blokes are circling like piranhas on a sealion carcass.”
Harry cringed at her use of words, but chuckled as she reached over and mussed his hair, “Will you at least dance with me once before the night ends?”
Tonks shot Harry a wink, “Behave yourself their Mister and we’ll see. Now go!”
Harry nodded with a grin as he rejoined Fleur while Tonks looked on with a tinge of jealousy that she smothered quickly. Harry was allowed to have fun at a Ball and was allowed to dance with a pretty Witch all that he wanted. Tonks shook her head as her hair returned to a neutral brown. Tonks was an Auror with a mission, and her personal feelings about Fleur aside she appeared to be bringing out a relaxation in Harry that Tonks knew was good for him, but still her hands were too close to the small of his back for her liking. Tonks crossed her arms as she narrowed her eyes watching Harrys movements. She was supposed to keep a look out from this vantage point because it afforded the best range of view of all of the guests.
Tonks stood as she marched over to Kingsley and spoke with a low tone, “I’m requesting a change of our vantage points.”
Kingsley raised a dark eyebrow, “Reasoning?”
Tonks narrowed her gaze, “We have enough security here on the perimeter but none on the actual dance floor watching Harry.”
Kingsley sighed, “Fair enough. How do you plan on…”
Tonks had already spun around marching to the dance floor as Kingsley sighed. Tonks was definitely a force to be reckoned with.