Three For All
Chapter 1
By Kinsfire
The stories in this grouping have been abandoned by me, and will not be worked on again.
Harry heard the knock at the door and answered it, despite his aunt's order that he was not to touch the door when no one was at home. He opened it to find a girl with spiked hair in a shade of blue that made Harry think of a nuclear reaction. She was wearing a spaghetti strap top and a skirt that almost demanded that Harry stare at her legs, but he was not going to fall for that. "Hey, Tonks! How are you?" Besides being rude, if I stare at her legs, she's gonna comment and embarrass the hell out of me.
"Pretty good, Harry. How're you?" She gently pushed her way into the house. "So, ol' horse-face gone for now?"
"Yeah, Aunt Petunia is out of the house for the day, and 'Dudders' is out wherever it … I mean he gets to. What's up?"
"Nothing. Just doing the usual check-in, and it was decided that I would probably be best for it. At least if I show up, there can be talk of your girlfriend dropping by for a visit." She laughed. "People might talk if Moody showed up too often."
Harry thought for a moment what she might be talking about, and then shuddered as he laughed. "Woo…people thinking he's my lover? Yeesh. I'd rather be linked with Malfoy than that!"
Tonks laughed so hard that she fell to the floor, and the skirt rode even higher, high enough that he caught a glimpse of knickers. Blushing furiously, he looked anywhere else in the room. The ceiling; yeah, that's good.
"Whoops! Sorry 'bout that, Harry. You can look now." He looked carefully to see her standing again, with the skirt safely covering where it should. He was surprised, however, when she leaned over and kissed his cheek. "You, sir, are a gentleman, and some ladies like that in a man."
He snorted. "I'm still a child, even if I do want to be treated like an adult. Besides, I didn't want to be caught pulling a Dudley." At her amused look, he suddenly realized what she was thinking, and he quickly added, blushing, "I meant staring stupidly at you." He made a face of staring in slack-jawed shock.
"I didn't think that baby blue knickers could stun a man into insensibility," she chuckled.
"They can if he's never seen them before," Harry murmured under his breath. "Especially if they're on a particularly pretty girl."
Her eyes twinkled merrily. "How about we leave a note for your aunt, and you and I go for a walk in the park, Harry. We need to talk, and I think you need more than a simple 'Hi, you okay? Yeah? Bye.' from us. If we're gonna smother you by watching every move you make, then we damned well ought to take your needs into account. You need friends, and I'd like to be one, if you'll let me."
He blinked for a moment, and was surprised to find that tears were in his eyes. "I think I'd like that, Tonks. Ron and Hermione are great, but I'm getting a little antsy around them. I think it's just a matter of time before it becomes obvious how much of a third wheel I am around them." He laughed. "I think that if they haven't admitted it to each other when the school year starts, I'm going to bring it to a head."
"Hmm?" Tonks asked in a voice that told him she knew exactly what he was talking about. "Tell me."
"The way they argue? Everyone except them knows it's because they fancy each other, but each is afraid that the other one doesn't return the feeling. I'm just waiting for the day when they break in mid-argument and suddenly start snogging the hell out of each other." He burst out laughing at the imagery in his head.
Finally, he said, "Let me leave my aunt a note, and we'll go."
Aunt Petunia,
One of my protectors came by to talk to me and see how the summer is going. We went for a walk in the park, rather than run the risk of them being here when you return. I'll be back sometime tonight.
Harry
Before he could open the door, she scowled at him. "You, Harry, need clothes of your own. Let's go to Arabella's and we'll go to Diagon Alley from there. Hit some of the Muggle shops around there." He looked down to see the oversized things of Dudley's he was wearing, and nodded.
"Let's hit Gringott's first, then. I can get some cash from there."
"I can pay, Harry. You'll owe me." He shuddered. "What?"
"I just hate owing anyone, after the years of bitch … sorry, complaining from Uncle Vernon. 'After all we've done for you, boy! We let you live in that cupboard; fed you scraps; gave you Dudley's useless clothes — you owe us! '" Harry started in a surprisingly accurate imitation of Vernon Dursley. He shuddered again.
Tonks was staring at him closely. "I'm not surprised you have a problem with owing people. Using that as a club. Vernon's a bastard." She grinned. "You're pretty good with impressions. Can you do Hermione?"
He snorted as he thought, Not if I want to keep her and Ron from ripping off various body parts, I can't.
"Mind out of the gutter, you. I meant an imitation," Tonks laughed.
He cleared his mind from the laughter and said, "Okay, let me see. 'Really, Harry. You still haven't read Hogwarts — A History? That tells you everything you need to know about the fact that you simply cannot Apparate on or off school grounds! Really!'" He laughed. "How was that?"
"Better than you could know, Harry," she laughed. "Let's go out and get you dressed."
A minute later, they were walking down the street toward Arabella Figg's house. "Doesn't it bother you to be going somewhere with a girl with blue hair?" she grinned.
"Doesn't it bother you to be walking somewhere with someone in clothes as ugly as these?" he responded, avoiding the first response he'd come up with. She's an adult, Harry. She's not going to be interested in a child like you. Besides, she's just being friendly. Do not ruin the friendship by assuming that her friendliness means more than just friendliness.
She laughed, but then said, "Why the scowl, Harry? What's wrong?" She looked around, and proceeded to trip over her own feet.
Faster than either of them expected, his hand shot out and caught her before she could hit the ground; fast enough, in fact, that she could get her feet back under her. When she finally was standing again, her face was split in a wide grin. "Fast worker there, ain'tcha Harry?" At his puzzled look, she said, "Damn, you could have at least enjoyed it if you were gonna grab my tit!"
He turned red, followed by white. "Oh my God! I'm sorry, Tonks — I never meant to …"
"Harry! It's all right! I'd rather you accidentally cop a feel than have to fix a few scrapes and cuts. I mean, yeah, it's just a scrape, but I'd rather not have one anyways." She leaned forward and kissed his cheek again. "I'm sorry if my comment made you feel bad, Harry. I was just trying to make a joke about my clumsiness." She stood back up and melodramatically put the back of her hand against her forehead. "It must be the closeness of such incredible studliness."
He snorted a few times before he broke down into outright laughter. "Are you trying to kill me, Tonks?" he finally said through his laughter. "'Studliness' my arse," he murmured.
"That looks pretty good too," she said, grinning.
"What?" he asked.
"Your arse. It looks good too. Must be all that working out you've been doing this summer." She reached out and patted him quickly on his rear end.
#####
Harry stopped dead on the sidewalk. He started to say something, and then shook his head, and continued onward.
I think I might have a talk with some of the Hogwarts staff, she chuckled to herself. I’ve never run across someone before who didn’t understand the signals I’ve been sending him.
Are you really sure you want to bed him? You know that’s exactly what your signals have been. You’ve basically been trying to let him know that you want to take him back to your place and screw his brains out.
Is there anything wrong with that?
If you don’t take into account that he’s the type who probably is not interested in a simple roll in the hay. You know him. He’s the type who wants love in his life, not something that can best be described as ‘wham-bam-thank you ma’am’. Would you hurt him for a chance to get your hormones back under control?
No! I’d never hurt him intentionally! she thought indignantly. Then in a mental voice best described as small she added, I love him.
What was that, Nymphadora? I didn’t hear that. I think you need to repeat it..
Shut up. You know I hate that name. Damn, I'm arguing with myself.
And losing, the voice taunted. She grimaced as they reached Arabella's house. The door opened as the got near the door. "Harry, Nymphadora! How good to see you! What brings you here?"
Harry blushed. "We were hoping to borrow your fireplace, to be honest. Do something of a shopping trip into Diagon Alley and environs."
"'Environs'?" Tonks laughed. "Sounds like someone's been hanging around Hermione too much."
She was both surprised and pleased to see a spark of mischievousness in Harry's eyes just before he said, "Jealous, Tonks?"
Affecting the same pose as on the street, she got melodramatic again. "Oh, the injustice of it all! A quick feel, and thrown over for another woman! Whatever shall I do with my life, now that I'm a used woman?"
"Take acting lessons, first of all," Arabella quipped. "That was horrible. Now what's this about a quick feel?" She laughed as she saw Harry turn red.
Tonks joined her and explained what had happened on the street. "And then this gentleman apologizes for grabbing me the way he did, even though it was the only thing he could do."
Harry cleared his throat. "Tell you what, I'll step through and wait for you in the Leaky Cauldron, okay?" Tonks nodded, letting him know she'd be right behind.
Before she could step through, though, Mrs. Figg grabbed her arm and said, "Be careful, honey. I think he's the only one who doesn't see it. And I won't see him hurt. You understand me?"
Quite seriously, Tonks answered, "Yes, I do. You'll be second in line if I hurt him."
"Who'll be first?"
"Me."
#####
Harry landed in the Leaky Cauldron and rolled to his feet to some scattered applause. He suddenly remembered what Tonks was wearing, and realized that she'd likely land with her — well, she'd be displaying quite a lot. He saw the flare of green in the fireplace and steadied himself. She came rocketing out, and he caught her before she could go flying arse-over-teakettle. Of course, skidding to a stop, he fell to the ground, and she landed on him. Again, scattered applause happened at the impressive stop.
As he shook his head to clear it, he suddenly realized that she was straddling him, sitting on his … in that skirt … he felt himself start to react, and her eyebrows rose. She stood quickly and helped him to his feet. "Thanks for the catch, Harry. Tripped at the end there."
As they walked out the back, toward the wall, she whispered in his ear, "Thanks for the compliment, too, Harry." He looked at her, puzzled, until her eyes flickered downward for a moment, and then he felt himself turning bright red. "It happens, Harry, so I'm not offended." As he tapped the stones, she added, "My fault more than anything else. I'm dressed more provocatively than I should be." Once in Diagon Alley, she pulled him aside. "Be right back." With a crack, she was gone. A few moments later she was back in another skirt, this one coming to just above her knees. "This better?"
#####
"Yes and no," he laughed. "The previous one threatened to show you off if you turned around too fast. This one hugs you kinda close." As she frowned, he said, "I'm sorry, Tonks. I'm a sixteen year old boy, who finally really noticed the difference between boys and girls last year. If I'm around a beautiful girl, I'm going to notice her. I'll just try to keep it to a minimum, okay?" He smiled, and she realized that he honestly didn't realize that he'd just called her beautiful.
"Look all you want, Harry. I'm not going to complain," she smiled.
"If I look as much as I want, I'll walk into walls," he murmured, unaware that her hearing was exceptional. At conversational level, he said, "Well, Gringott's first so that I have money." A short time later, Harry was carrying enough money for a very expensive school year, and a card that acted as a Muggle debit card. "Now, Harry, let's step out into Muggle London and do some proper shopping for you. I warn you, if I see you about to make a fashion mistake, like paisleys, I'm going to take over." He laughed and nodded. She stopped. "Actually, there's a shop I want to take you to here in the Alley. If you want to drive the girls crazy at Hogwarts, then you simply have to wear what I have in mind." She dragged him down to a shop that simply read "Lillibett's Leather".
"What? What are we getting here?"
"We're getting us both some leather clothing. I'm going to see if I can convince you that you're a good looking man."
"Good luck on that," he said. "My hair has a mind of its own, and I am what people would call scrawny."
She raised her eyebrows and pushed him into the store. "Hey Lilli! Got a scrawny young man here to clothe!"
A plump witch bustled out into the room and swooped down on Harry. "Ah, young Mr. Potter! It's not often I get an Adonis in my shop to clothe!"
"Adonis?" he snorted. "Yeah, right."
"Yes, Mr. Potter. Adonis. I've watched you play Quidditch and that is not a sport for the flabby. Best Seeker anyone's seen in far too many years."
"I didn't play at all last year, though," Harry replied.
"And you sat around and did nothing all year, right?" she asked with some amusement. "Honey, even in those hand-me-downs, I can see a body most men twice your age would kill for." She grabbed his T-shirt and said, "Off, that shirt comes off right now. You are not wearing that … thing out of my store." He reluctantly peeled out of the shirt, and was greeted by a score of wolf whistles. He spun and discovered that it was all coming from the mirrors. Madame Lillibett had grabbed a fan and was waving it in her own face. "Merlin's beard — if I were half my age … son, are you absolutely sure you need to wear a shirt?"
Harry looked to Tonks, quite confused, and was surprised by the look on her face — her eyes were wide, and her jaw was open slightly. "Damn, Harry! You have time for studying at school?"
"Yeah — why?" He looked in the full-length mirror and saw his bare chest. He had some muscles on it, and his stomach was flat, but there were a handful of small Quidditch scars here and there. He looked back to Tonks. "I don't see what you do, apparently."
"Morgana, give me strength," Tonks murmured, her hand on her chest. "Harry, she's not lying to you. You have a body most men would kill for. If I thought you were interested, I'd pounce you myself." She almost laughed as she audibly heard him gulp, but felt tears threaten when she heard him mutter something.
"If it weren't for the fact that no one is safe around me, I'd think about taking you up on that."
#####
Harry looked on Tonks with alarm as he saw her eyes water, and realized that she might have heard his last comment. "Uh, Tonks?"
"Lilli, trousers first. I intend to put this boy in trousers tight enough to make the girls have trouble breathing." She grinned impishly at Harry and wiggled her eyebrows at him. "I'll be your first victim."
Despite his mood, he couldn't help but laugh; her attitude was so infectious. "Do they have to be that tight? I'd like some blood to make it to my feet."
"Don't you worry your head about it, honey," Madame Lillibett said. "That's why she brought you here. My clothes will feel like second skin; you'll almost feel naked in them." His eyes jumped to Tonks, unbidden. No. Do not think about being naked in front of Tonks! Do not think about … Snape in underwear — think about Snape in his underwear! That image now secure in his thoughts, he smiled as Madame Lillibett handed him three pairs of leather trousers. "Oh, one thing, son — they wear best when they're the only thing next to your skin."
His eyes widened. "Are you kidding?" Quietly, he murmured to Madame Lillibett, "I was kind of hoping not to advertise what she's doing to me today. From what you're telling me, anyone who looks at me is going to know." His face fell slightly as her eyes twinkled, and he pulled her aside. "Please. I'm very attracted to her, but I'm only sixteen. No matter what she said before, there's no way she's actually interested in me. Is there something we can do clothing-wise to make her happy, but not … well …" He blushed furiously.
"Tell you what, honey. You try those on, and I'll talk to her about how embarrassed you feel, and see if there's something else she'll be happy with. Who knows, you might like the feel of those trousers."
He nodded, his eyes giving her a fervent 'thank you', and stepped into the changing room.
#####
Lillibett walked over to Tonks once Harry was in the changing room. "Honey, that Potter boy is …"
"I know. My ears are better than he knows. He's been watching me all day, but now that he's mentioned it to you, I can't do what I wanted to." She blushed. "He's sixteen; why does he make me feel like I'm sixteen again, rather than seven years his elder? I have to admit, those trousers are as much for me as they are for him. I want to look at him dressed like that, just so I can growl 'He's mine!' to any girl who makes a move on him." Her eyes dropped to the floor. "I want to mean it, too. I'd like to make him mine."
Lillibett smiled. "Leave it to me. I'm known as a matchmaker, too." Raising her voice, she said, "Honey, while you're here, I have a dress that'll make you look fabulous." She flipped her wand and a dress shot out into her hand. "Try it on."
Tonks walked into another changing room, and slipped out of her skirt and top in a second. Another second later, she had the skin-tight dress on, and looked in the mirror, which whistled. "You look good, honey!" it said as she looked at the vision before her. Even with the blue hair, she looked — astounding. The dress went from a band around her throat, left shoulders, arms, and back bare, but covered everything else. It fit like a second skin down to her waist, where the skirt flared out and fell loosely to halfway to her knees. As she looked, she realized that her hair simply would not do, and flipped back and forth for a while before she sighed. Closing her eyes, she changed her appearance back to her 'normal' appearance — dirty blonde hair, violet eyes, and a face-shaped face.
She stepped out of her dressing room to face Harry, who was standing in his trousers, and her jaw dropped. She felt other reactions, and quickly brought her hands up to cover her breasts. Do not advertise right now, Tonks. Think of 'cousin' Severus in his underwear — yeah, Severus in boxers. That should do it. She was finding that difficult to do though as she saw that she had apparently caused the male equivalent response in him. As her eyes met his, she was shocked to realize that his eyes were locked on her face. "Yeah, I know — freaky. It's why I change away from it so much."
"No." He breathed his astonishment. "You're …" He gulped, and his face fell. She saw him steeling himself, and calm settled over his frame.
"What were you going to say, Harry?" she asked, intrigued.
"You're my friend, Tonks, and I don't want to lose that. Even saying what I am now will change things, but the less I say, the better off I am. We are."
"Bullshit, Harry," Tonks barked quietly in his face. "You're going to make me say it first, aren't you?" She clenched her fists. "No, I will not tell you that while I am angry. I will tell you before this day is over, though, make no mistake, Harry. And I'll keep telling you until you believe me." She forced a smile onto her face. "So, I think the reaction I saw tells me what you think of the dress."
He started, and looked down her figure, and she saw his trousers tighten again. "Holy shit!" she heard him breathe softly. "I thought her face was … but wow!" He suddenly realized that he was advertising his reaction, and jumped back inside the changing room. "Looks good, Tonks," he said, his voice noticeably unsteady.
"Lilli, this dress is going home with me. Just let me change …"
Her clothes came out of the changing room and shot into a small bag. "Nothing doing, Tonks," Lilli said. "You are wearing that out of this shop with your young man on your arm. You'll need him around just to keep the fellows off you." Her eyes twinkled, and Tonks laughed.
"Let me change out of these," said Harry.
"No!" said Lillibett. "Let me get you some other clothing that'll help your modesty. Wait for a second, all right, dear?"
"Okay." He stepped back out into the room, looking down at the floor. "Sorry, Tonks. I … uh …"
"Harry, answer me something. I'm going to be blunt, so blush all you want. Had you even looked at the dress when you stiffened the first time?"
He closed his eyes as if in pain, and spoke while they were squeezed shut. "I was in awe of how beautiful the form you chose is, Tonks. It was only when you mentioned it that I reacted to the dress." He opened his eyes to see her with tears in her eyes. "What did I say? I'm sorry for making you cry."
She came forward and hugged Harry tightly. "No one has ever called my base form beautiful before, Harry. This is what I look like naturally."
He looked at her in astonishment. "May I say something crude, then, since I can't possibly damage our friendship any more than I already have?" She nodded, so he said, "Please visit me in another form, then, if you decide to keep visiting, because I want some blood making it to my brain. Your base form is incredibly sexy to me, Tonks."
She whispered in his ear. "Be careful, Harry. I'm a young woman with as many hormones as you." She separated from him and laughed at his puzzled look. "Telling a woman that she turns you on when she thinks she's ugly is a surefire way to get into her good graces as well as her bed."
"But you are beautiful!" he protested. His eyes went wide as he realized what he had just said, and he turned bright red.
Lillibett walked back over to them with several shirts that matched the pants he was wearing. "Ah-ah-ah! If you're going to flirt, you have to flirt with me, too!" she laughed, and laughed harder at Harry's stunned look.
"Lilli, I hate to tell you this, but he's naturally this charming. I don't think he could flirt believably if his life depended on it."
#####
The image that ran through Harry's mind caused him to double over laughing. "Oh, that's just … hoo … that's just wrong …" When he was finally under control, he looked at the two extremely bemused ladies. "I'm sorry, it's something that probably only I'd ever find funny." He looked to Tonks. "You know my history, right?" At her nod, he said, "Imagine me trying to flirt my way out from his clutches."
The contortions that Tonks' face underwent were priceless, and caused him to start laughing again. "You're right, Harry, that is wrong. Can I mention that to some of my Auror friends the next time we need a laugh?" Her look told him that he knew exactly which ones she was thinking of.
"Sure, if you think they'll understand the humour." He took one of the shirts and put it on, and as he buttoned it, it seemed to mould itself to his body, and he ran his hands down his chest. "Feels nice. Let me look in a mirror." Walking over to one of them, he scowled at the face before him. "I hate these glasses. I'd love to get rid of them, but …" He took them off and scowled at the blur before him. If only I could straighten my eyes out so that I didn't need these damned things. He concentrated hard on looking at himself in the mirror, and stepped back suddenly in shock as the image came into sharp focus. He looked around the shop and couldn't believe what he was seeing — his glasses were in his hand, but he was seeing clearly. "How … what happened?" he asked.
"We'll talk later, Harry. I suspected this." She grinned. "Do you think you look good in that outfit, though?"
He looked back to the mirror and looked at himself. Without the glasses, and with the clothing, he could begin to understand why Madame Lillibett called him an Adonis. That's some impressive magic on the clothes. He looked at her. "Madame Lillibett? Can I get enough trousers for a week, in various colours? And shirts that match? Maybe some short sleeved ones as well?"
Madame Lillibett's eyes widened. "That may get a bit expensive, dear."
"I can afford it. I rarely spend that money in the vault. I don't think buying clothes to make me look good is going to empty it. If you can do clothes that can make me see it when you called me an Adonis — well, I think it's a good idea to keep that sort of thought in my head, as long as I don't let it go to my head."
Lillibett smiled. "I think you'll enjoy the heating and cooling charms on them, as well. It's still best to wear winter cloaks and such, but you can stand in the snow in these without worrying about freezing, and you'll be able to stand outside in this August weather comfortably."
Tonks spoke up. "Lilli, I'd appreciate it if you'd burn the clothes he wore into your shop."
"No," Harry said with a grin. "I think I'd like to make sure I have plenty of clothing, including work clothes, and then return what they gave me. One less thing that I owe them."
Tonks nodded with admiration. "Agreed." Lillibett headed into the back of the store.
Harry thought of something. "Oh, Madame Lillibett? If you have any more of those dresses in various colours, add two more of those to the bill."
"I didn't think you were into that, Harry," Tonks laughed.
"I'm not. I'm feeling good about myself for the first time in a very long time, and while the magic of these clothes is doing that for me, let me give you a gift. Consider it birthday presents for birthdays I never knew you, if necessary." He stopped and laughed as he realized what he'd said. "And if you ever figure out what I just said; what it means, that is, I'd appreciate it if you explained it to me." She laughed and took his arm.
#####
A few minutes later, Harry's arms were full and his purse was lighter. "Think I'll need another Gringott's stop," he laughed. "Actually, yeah," he said. "I need to buy a new trunk for school, and it couldn't hurt to buy a wizard's trunk. One with a little more room, and maybe the ability to keep it locked unless I want it opened."
"Sounds good. Let me help you on that one, though," Tonks said. "You didn't have to buy these dresses for me, and I never bought you a birthday present this year."
He grinned. Tonks was really getting to enjoy that look. "Actually, I wanted to see you in that dress. I consider getting to look at you present enough."
She stopped and stared at Harry. "Who are you? That is not the shy Harry Potter I've known for this last year. The Harry I'm used to has been shy, and made quiet comments about my figure when he didn't think I could hear them." He blushed furiously. "This Harry is sure of himself. What happened?"
"It's the clothes. With all the charms on them, I'd imagine one of them is a confidence charm. So I finally have the confidence to tell you that I think you're a very beautiful woman, and I wish I was a few years older."
"Why?" she asked, a little breathless. I don't dare tell him yet that it's him, and not the clothes.
"Because I'd ask you out on a date if I weren't still a child."
She looked at him carefully. "Harry, you're sixteen, and I'm twenty-three. We’re both adults as far as the law is concerned. You act properly adult, as well. If you ask me honestly, I will give you an honest answer."
He gulped audibly. "Tonks, would you be willing to go out with me some night? On a date, that is?" He looked extremely nervous.
She leaned forward and brushed her lips across his. "Yes, Mr. Potter, I would love to go out with you."
He now looked as if he were going to pass out. "Do we go somewhere in the Muggle world, or in the wizard world?" he asked. "I don't really know either one very well."
"Let's go see a Muggle movie. Think that would work?"
"Lady's choice," he said, starting to regain his confidence. "I'll be watching the lady during that night as it is," he grinned.
"Now you're just flattering me," she blushed.
"Actually, no," he chuckled. "I've never had a real date before. Ever. Those attempts with Cho Chang at Hogwarts — well, if it weren't for these clothes helping my confidence, I'd have given up on dating all together."
"Disastrous, huh?"
"Yeah. She'd been Cedric Diggory's girlfriend, and I was a way of staying in touch with his memory." He snorted. "Didn't help when there was a point when I wouldn't abandon Hermione on a day that I was supposed to hang out with Cho."
"Would you date Hermione, if you had the courage?"
"I really can't say. I've always thought of her as Ron's girl, y'know? It's so obvious that they fancy each other, so I never even let my mind wander in that direction. And at the moment, I'd rather not spend the day with a beautiful woman talking about other girls. I'd rather talk about her."
Oh, do I ever dare tell him that this is all him? Great Merlin, he could be a real heartbreaker if he wasn't serious — hell, he can be one right now! Impulsively, she pulled him close and kissed him rather more seriously than she had earlier, and she felt him melt into it, and then return it. His arms came around her waist, pulling her closer, and she surrendered herself to his passionate response.
It was when her knees threatened to give out that she felt his entire body stiffen, and she knew something was wrong. "What is it, Harry?" she breathed. Clearing her throat, and cursing her unbelievably fast pulse, she asked in a more normal voice, "What's wrong? Do you sense something wrong?"
He seemed to deflate against her. "Other than getting your picture plastered all across the damned Daily Prophet, and making you target number one for Moldie and his Death Eaters?" he murmured in her ear.
She backed away from him. "I'm an Auror, Harry. I'm better trained to deal with a Death Eater than you are, so don't worry on that account. Are you ashamed to be seen with me; is that why you have the problem with the Daily Prophet?"
"My God — no!" he said, eyes wide. "I'd never be ashamed of being with you. It should be the other way around — you should be ashamed to be seen with the Boy Who Lived. I've never had a good reputation around the wizard world, and this could drag your good name down."
She looked at him, quite seriously, and contemplated a course of action. Sometime soon I'm going to have a very intense talk with Dumbledore. There is no good reason why he should be staying at the Dursley home ever again. She made a quick decision. "Harry, would you leave the Durlsey home for the year if you had the chance?"
"Hell yes! But that's the only safe place, unfortunately."
"Let me talk to Dumbledore. I think I have a solution. Might shock you, but I think it will work."
"If I'm moving out for the year, let's buy my trunk first."
#####
A new trunk later, they were at Tonks’ apartment, where she called Albus Dumbledore. "Ah, Nymphadora! Harry! Good to see you both. Is something wrong?"
"Tonks, sir. And yes. Is there somewhere we can talk? Somewhere secure?"
"Come to Hogwarts. That is about as secure as we can get for the moment." Moments later, they were both in the Headmaster's office.
"Sir, we need to get Harry out of the Dursley household. The psychological damage those people have done to him is far worse than anything that Voldemort can do to him physically."
"I think you are over-reacting …" Dumbledore began to say, but Tonks exploded.
"Bullshit! We were in Diagon Alley today, and he told me that I should be ashamed to be seen with him! As if he's not worthy to have love in his life!"
Dumbledore sat back in surprise. "Is this true, Harry?"
Harry shrugged. "Well, my reputation isn't exactly the greatest, you have to admit. Plus the fact is that people die around me. My parents died for me, Cedric died because of me, and Sirius is dead because I was too stupid to realize I was walking into a trap. Not really the type of boy you might want to bring home to mother, you know?"
His cheek was stinging suddenly, and his eyes were watering from the pain. "How dare you talk about one of the most caring and loving men I know in so insensitive a manner! I will not have it, Harry Potter!"
He blinked for a moment. "I'm sorry, Tonks. I didn't realize I was insulting Sirius. You know I'd never do that intentionally. He was the only connection I really had to my parents, other than Professor … sorry, Remus."
Tonks turned to Albus. "See what I mean? He refuses to admit that it might be himself that I'm talking about!"
"Well, that slap would tend to lead one away from such a conclusion," he said with a slight smile.
"That's what I'm saying, though. Haven't you noticed a tendency for him to take all the world's problems onto his own shoulders?" She looked back to Harry, and he was surprised to see tears in her eyes. "Those bastards have abused him since they've had him. He slept in a cupboard under the stairs until he came back from Hogwarts, damn it! What good is blood magic in protecting him if he feels so unworthy of love that he's willing to let Voldemort kill him while he kills Voldemort?"
"Is this true, Harry?" Albus asked in shock.
"Well, it's more that I prefer not to get involved with anyone until Voldemort and his Death Eaters are gone. Everyone I love has been badly hurt or killed, and even some bystanders have taken damage."
"Elucidate."
Harry's voice was almost dead; he spoke without inflection. "My parents are dead, because Voldemort marked me as his equal. Ron and Hermione have been hurt very badly, especially this last time; either one could have been killed easily at the Ministry. Hermione almost died from that damned basilisk — luckily she's smart enough to think a problem through. Cedric Diggory is dead because Voldemort needed me to bring him back into a new body, and Cedric was a third wheel. Then, as I said, there was last year, when I didn't properly learn Occlumency from Professor Snape, which led to Voldemort fooling me with a scenario that I could have checked out at least two separate ways, which led to my godfather dying. Besides, why should I get involved with anyone? Enough people already are going to grieve when Voldemort eventually kills me — why should I let anyone else get close, and hurt that person when I die?"
Albus Dumbledore stared at Harry for a long moment, and Harry finally saw a tear come from each of the man's eyes. "Harry, there is no excuse for what I have done to you these years. We will find some way to keep you safe. You will never return to the Dursley household, except to get your belongings."
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about, Professor," Tonks said, sniffling. It was obvious that Harry's exposition had hit her hard. "I know exactly where to move him. No one would really expect it, and if they do — well, I think an Auror can protect their home better than some Muggle might. True?"
"Who did you have in mind for Harry to move in with?"
"Me," she said. Harry's eyebrows rose at that, and then he looked at her, and started to blush. "At least you're not dead, lover-boy. You've got a lot of people who are going to work very hard at convincing you that you have a lot to love … I mean live for." She suddenly blushed furiously. "Since I've been watching you, I've fallen for you, Harry. I'd like it if I could be one of the things you're willing to live for." She spun quickly. "I have more than one bedroom, by the way, Professor."
"That is your business, Tonks," he smiled. "If becoming intimate with Harry helps him to realize that he truly is loved by people, then I support it wholeheartedly. I would like to see Harry live a very long, very happy life, preferably with grandchildren in it. This requires, of course, that Voldemort be defeated, but he is much more likely to survive the fight if he has someone to live for." He paused. "Would you complain if I asked that the Fidelius Charm be cast to hide the fact that Harry's hiding place is with you? No one else would know unless all three of us agree."
"Not at all, Professor," Tonks responded. "How about you, Harry?"
"Can you take care of getting letters to me? Sort of a post owl drop, that someone can pick up for me?"
"Are you saying that you'd like to move in with me?" Tonks said in a mock seductive tone.
In response, Harry finally broke a smile. He brought his fingers to the wrist as if to take his pulse, and finally said a few seconds later, "Yeah, I have a pulse. Therefore, the answer is yes." At her puzzled look, he said, "Well, any guy with half a brain and a pulse would say yes when a beautiful woman offers to let him be the lucky one that gets to live with her."
"You haven't heard me snore — it'll wake you in the other bedroom." She kissed him on the cheek.
He laughed. "Obviously you've never had a chance to hear Ron when he's asleep. I don't think anyone can be worse than that. And I've shared a bedroom with him for five years, both here and at the Burrow. If I can sleep through that, then I can sleep through you in another room."
"That assumes you sleep in the other room," she purred. His pole-axed look made both her and Dumbledore laugh. That also assumes I let you sleep, she chuckled to herself.
Harry looked at his watch. It was four o'clock, and he grinned. "Why don't we do the spell? Then I go back and pack, and I can say good riddance to the Dursleys. Forever. I have no reason to love them, and while I'd be bothered to hear that they had died in an attack, any tears I shed would be acting on my part. I don't wish them dead as I once did, but I won't mourn them."
Tonks was chosen as the Secret Keeper (rather fitting, in Harry's opinion), and they Floo'd back to Tonks apartment. "I know it'll drive you crazy while I'm at work, Harry, but please stay here until I get home. I'd prefer to have someone around you when you leave the apartment, and until further notice, no one but you, Albus and me will know where you're staying. I'd appreciate your not telling anyone at school where you're living until you've finally killed Voldemort."
"Understood." He stopped and blushed. "I'm sorry, Tonks, but I don't think even the enchantments on my clothes can help me on this one. Did you really mean it when you said that you wanted to be one of the things I lived for?"
Tonks matched his shade. "I wanted to take any possible relationship we might have slowly. I wanted to admit that to you later, if I ever needed to, but you were just so damned depressed … it just slipped out." She bit her lower lip. "We will take this other feeling a bit slower — someday I want to peel you out of those clothes, Mr. Potter, and teach you some things about life." She smiled as what she meant struck him, and his trousers tightened once more.
She took a deep breath. "I don't know why, Harry, but as much as I joke and all, something feels so right when you and I are together. I'm seven years older than you, but I feel like a sixteen year old when I'm with you. And somewhere along the line, I fell in love with the charge I was minding."
He looked at her in wonder. "I feel something for you, other than what's stretching these trousers, and I'd like to find out if it's love, infatuation, or just a really strong friendship." He smiled shyly. "It'd be nice to be able to call someone my girlfriend, and know that she's not using me to remember someone else, or get back at someone, or wanting to be the girlfriend of the famous Boy-Who-Lived. That she wants to be mine just because."
She took his hands shyly. "If you'll let me, Harry, I'll be that girlfriend. All I want from you is a chance to see if what you’re feeling is love." He pulled her to him and hesitantly initiated a kiss. This one didn't contain the raw, searing passion of the one from Diagon Alley; instead it was full of tenderness and possibilities. When it broke finally, she said, "Harry, you kiss wonderfully. You must tell me who your teacher was, so that I can thank her properly."
"Her name is Nympadora Tonks, and she's my first real girlfriend," he smiled at her. "My adorable little Nymph."
"I usually hate it when people use my first name. Why does it make me tingle when it issues from your lips? And why Nymph?"
He blushed furiously. "Because nymphs are supposed to be so beautiful as to strike men blind. When I'm with you, I can't see any other women."
Breathlessly, she said, "Harry, how in hell did you make it to sixteen a virgin if you can say things like that to a woman and mean it?"
"You're the first one ever to inspire me to speak like this." He laughed. "The charms on the clothing don't exactly hurt, either."
She laughed. "Harry, I hate to tell you this, but there are only four charms on those clothes. Temperature charms, a sizing charm, and a cleanliness charm, to keep the leather clean and supple. There are no charms for confidence in any of her clothes. That's all you, my dear Harry."
#####
His jaw dropped. "Are you serious? I've admitted everything like that … oh my god …" He sat down heavily. "I am so embarrassed."
"Why? You said what you really wanted to, didn't you? And the only time I've slapped you was when you were insulting yourself."
"You really feel the way you've said? It wasn't just to make me feel better?" He realized how that sounded and said, "I'm sorry, that didn't come out the way …"
"I know what you meant, Harry. Remember, a number of things you said to me were in response to what I'd said to you." She smiled again. "Harry, let's contact Arabella and get your things. Obviously, all we tell her is that Dumbledore has finally seen the light about what the Dursleys have been doing to you, and that we've found a safer place for you to live now."
"We just don't tell her I'm living with the sexiest witch in England," he replied, then clapped his hand to his mouth as he realized that he'd vocalized it. "Are you sure that these clothes don't have any extra charms on them?"
Laughing, she hugged him. "Positive. I think we'll have to admit to her that we're an item, though."
"I think she'll figure that out on her own," he replied. "So, should I go first, and catch you again?" His grin was infectious.
"Too late," she smiled. "You've already caught me."
Arabella had been ecstatic to discover that the two of them were seeing each other now, and if it were possible, even happier that Harry was going to be leaving the Dursley home forever.
The Dursleys, on the other hand, were not as pleased, especially when Harry carefully returned all the clothing that he had been given over the years. "I've found a better place to live, and I'm moving there today. You'll never see me again, and I think that makes us both happy."
"After all we've done for you?" Vernon roared. "Put a roof over your head? Fed you?"
"Vernon, shut up!" Everyone, including Tonks, stared when they realized that it was Harry. "You have hated me for the last fifteen years; ever since you were made to take care of me. You are everything that makes the wizarding community hate Muggles — bigoted, narrow minded, and generally stupid about things you have no knowledge of, despite the fact that you will talk endlessly about them as if you were an expert. You've raised a son with one prospect in life, because you spoiled him — to beat people up for a living." He turned to Petunia. "You could have cared for me as a last reminder of the sister you'd never see again, but instead you saw me as a reminder of how much you hated her, and decided to get back at her through child abuse. I've got a teacher at school you'd get along with wonderfully. He hates me because my father could be an ass more often than not." He stopped and took a breath. "I'm also going to make sure that any payments you've been getting for my upkeep will stop. It's the only reason you would have kept me all these years; if you were getting a stipend to raise me." He turned to Tonks. "We've got everything, right?"
She nodded, and as they turned to leave, Vernon said, "At least you brought a normal girl to the house, even if she is dressed like a tart." Before Tonks could stop him, Harry had Vernon off the floor and against the wall.
"You should be glad I'm forbidden to do magic during the summers, Vernon, or else I'd turn you into the slug you are. You can also be glad that I'm leaving forever, because right now, after insulting her like that, I am more than a little tempted to put you through this wall. Say one more word of any sort, even goodbye, and I will put you through it." He stalked over to the door where his trunk sat. Tonks came over, shrank it to a easily manageable size, and they left the Dursley house, never to return.
Things begin between Harry and Tonks.