Disclaimer ... I didn't think I'd be writing one of these again, let me tell ya'. But, I do not, probably never will, own Harry Potter. All rights belong to J.K. ... Good enough for you? Splendid, moving on ..

Long time no see ... I wasn't planning on re-picking up this story because life is just so ... busy. I'm trying to put off homework so I was just reading through some fanfictions, when - low and behold - I found this. I honestly didn't realise what it was and then my mind took off, thinking of improvements and ideas and oh so amazing plots. So, I decided to try to continue this story.

The updates will probably be sporadic, random and after long periods of times. Don't kill me! I'm a busy woman ... But yeah, I'm continuing the story ... YAY!

Any questions, death threats, flames, intimidation messages and criticism .. please review ... Only one thing left to say ...

Enjoy the chapter :)

Fancy Changing The Future?

Previously -

Then, the note burst into flames. Breaking the obvious tension in the room, George picked up the waiting book and exclaimed "Is everyone sitting comfortably ..." He paused, waiting for a response. When he looked at Snape he burst into laughter as the poor man was gagged, unable to even cough.

He cleared his throat and continued. "Now everyone is sitting comfortably, let us begin."

The Advance Guard

"Ooooh! Harry, I'm in this bit." Tonks smiled excitedly, glad to finally be a part of the story, not wanting the attention completely on Harry. He seemed to suffer intense blushing under everybody's enquiring, and often admiring, glances. Still holding his hand lightly, she marveled at the fact that it fit perfectly in her own. She felt the rough callouses from quidditch and hard work carved into his palms and fingers and shivered slightly, imagining the very same hands worshipping her body, caressing her as a lover. Harry noticed her shiver and moved closer to her, believing her to be cold rather than aroused. His body, so close to her own, didn't help Tonks. However, she revelled in the comfort it induced, strong and silent next to her.

"I'm sure you'll get to hear my first impressions," he smiled down at her cheekily, "well, maybe you should cover your ears for that bit. Don't won't an angry Auror on my hands." He winked at her glowering form, not bothered by the nails now digging into his hand.

Their brief moment of teasing wasn't noticed by anyone around them apart from the remaining Marauders. Whilst Remus was regarding the couple, curiosity burning in his eyes, Sirius was mentally cheering. Only his godson could pull an older woman so well. Both chose not to comment and listened to the excited ramblings of the people around them.

"I think I'm in this chapter, oh, I hope my hat looked presentable,"

"Thank Merlin I don't need to visit that house again, unnatural it was, I'm telling you,"

A swift bang on the table from a scarred fist jolted everyone out of their musings. Moody glared at the table and waved a hand at George. The unspoken message was clear, 'Read or welcome the pain'. He read.

I've just been attacked by dementors and I might be expelled from Hogwarts. I want to know what's going on and when I'm going to get out of here.

everyone shifted uncomfortably, the reminder of Harry's wrath still fresh in their minds. They knew they were wrong from with holding information from him, but they honestly thought it was for the best.

"Nice letter Harry, simple and to the point." It was obvious that Tonks was trying to diffuse the awkward atmosphere and she succeeded as Harry smiled at her fondly.

"Thanks Dora," he then proceeded to ruffle her short, bright purple hair. Tonks pouted and stuck her tongue out at the laughing teen. She didn't seem to notice that Harry called her Dora, either that or she didn't mind. However, everyone else did. A few more adults were looking at the pair now, seemingly oblivious to the world around them. Despite their appearance, Harry did notice their stares. He could feel them tracing their hands, entwined, to their bodies, which were facing each other comfortably. Molly was going to speak to the girl later, heaven knows he didn't need a girl leading him on at a time like this.

Ron, as always, hadn't a clue what was going on. "Er, sorry about the whole letter thing again Harry. But, you know, orders and stuff." He mumbled the last part but Harry could hear him well enough. He didn't blame Ron, not at all, he was just frustrated. He could admit this now as he was no longer being kept in the dark about events and other important information. Harry could truly relate to Ron's predicament though as he knew that in times of war, orders had to be followed. He just hoped that his friends didn't have to find out what that was like.

Harry copied these words on to three separate pieces of parchment the moment he reached the desk in his dark bedroom.

"You really should out a light on Harry, writing and reading in the dark is bad for your vision." Molly tutted. She failed to notice everyone looking at her, disturbed. Subconsciously, Harry adjusted his thick glasses. A thought came to him suddenly. His glasses were a weakness.

"Erm, I hate to interrupt the story, but, I don't suppose you know any potions or spells to fix my vision do you?" Harry questioned the Headmaster. "S'just that someone could easily summon them in a duel and then I'm left blind. Also, if I trip I could lose them as well." Kingsley nodded, agreeing with his assessment.

"It is quite an obvious disadvantage. I believe there are certain spells you can cast on your glasses for that very reason. An anti-summoning charm isn't too advanced." He spoke to Harry, remembering a friend of his who cursed the Academy for not letting him in because someone broke his glasses during a duel. Whilst he was let in eventually, he searched high and low for a way to get rid of the disadvantage.

Dumbledore sighed softly to himself. Children should be worried about their looks and their grades rather than the weaknesses of impaired vision during a duel.

He addressed the first to Sirius,

"'Cause I'm awesome." Sirius smiled, smug. Harry tried to hide his laughter. He lent down to speak into Tonk's ear,

"Don't tell him, but he was first because he can actually read my handwriting and my head was still a bit fuzzy so my handwriting was even worse than normal." Tonks was unable to contain the snort that escaped and tried to ignore the incredulous looks being thrown her way.

the second to Ron,

"Whoo, second! In your face Hermione!" He then started dancing. Hermione's hair seemed to frizz in her anger and her neck was slowly becoming red. Trying to keep calm at Ron's obvious excitement, she hit him over the back of the head, rolling her eyes at his complaining.

and the third to Hermione. His owl, Hedwig,

"I love Hedwig, she's such a beautiful owl. She's probably been blessed by the Wiglet's, who worship the full moon's beams. Your owl must have reminded them of the moon's rays."

At the new voice which joined the fray, the Aurors (and Harry) spun round, wands blazing, unsure of who the blonde was and how she got there.

"Put your wands away please, this is just Miss Lovegood, who I doubt means any harm. I believe Serenity sent her as she may have a part to play in the book," Dumbledore explained. He wasn't certain, but he hoped that Luna and the Gryffindors became friends. He knew about how the Ravenclaw house treated her and unfortunately, he was unable to do anything about it.

Harry, still tense, nodded silently to the guest. Putting his wand away in his newly acquired wand hostler (which Tonks had slid onto his arm silently before they started reading again) he went over to the dreamy guest and held out his hand.

"Hello," he smiled, hoping she didn't take offense to being at wand point, "I'm Harry. I'm sure that Hedwig agrees with you, she's a bit arrogant." At this statement, Luna giggled and instead of taking his hand, wrapped her arms around his middle.

"I'm Luna, but people call me Looney. It's very nice to meet you Harry Potter, there are barley any nargles around you. You must be very strong-willed." She looked up to his wide eyes, looking into her own for any hint of a threat. She tilted her head to the side, her radish ear rings brushing her shoulder. "I expected you to be thinner, but you've got quite a lot of muscle haven't you." Saying this she poked Harry's stomach, which indeed did have muscle covering it. Despite Dudley's diet, he had managed to get some decent meals in and he often ran in the mornings, preparing for the inevitable fight between himself and Voldemort. He had even taken to lifting a few of Dudley's weights, hoping to be in a fit state for the war. The tournament, and before that, quidditch, helped him stay fit, so it wasn't too much trouble to stay in shape.

Despite knowing this, he still blushed at her blunt statement. "Er, thanks ... I think," Tonks, giggling to herself, pulled him back to the couch which they were lounging on. The table were all trying to hide their amusement. A few of the females though were observing him closely. Whilst he was on the thin side, he seemed lean and strong. Also, without the baggy clothes to hide him, they could clearly see the muscled biceps straining against the thin sleeves of his shirt.

"Aww, look at my pup, all grown up and dazzling the ladies." Out of no where, a pillow was thrown at Sirius before he could comment further. Choking on a mouth full of pillow, he glared at Harry, who was looking decidedly too innocent.

Snape, still gagged, rolled his eyes at the mongrel. They were all fools, taken in by the spoiled brat, simpering over him like idiots with no dignity. He was being completely ignored by the group and he hoped it would stay that way, not wishing to be part of proceedings. What use was it reading about Potter anyway. Although he heard the prophecy, he couldn't believe the spawn of James Potter could have any real influence over the war. His thoughts went unheard and George continued.

Hedwig, was off hunting; her cage stood empty on the desk. Harry paced the bedroom waiting for her to come back, his head pounding,

"Maybe we should get Madame Pomfrey, dear. You might have seriously injured yourself." The Weasley children (and a few adults) rolled their eyes at the mothers worrying. Nothing short of a miracle would change Mrs Weasley, even turning into a dog!

his brain too busy for sleep even though his eyes stung and itched with tiredness.

"Really dear, sleep's important," Molly tutted.

His back ached from hauling Dudley home, ("Ouch") and the two lumps on his head where the window and Dudley had hit him were throbbing painfully.

Up and down he paced, consumed with anger and frustration, grinding his teeth and clenching his fists, casting angry looks out at the empty, star-strewn sky every time he passed the window.

"Temper, temper Harry." The twins spoke. Luna, still new and uncertain of her place in the group, decided to speak up.

"They're right Harry Potter. You shouldn't let your emotions overwhelm you. Bad things might happen." Luna looked worried for the boy whom she had never met before. Her wide eyes locked onto his with a fierce intensity which he didn't know was possible for the absent-minded Ravenclaw.

"You can just call me Harry, Luna. No need for the last name,"

"Oh, but isn't that what friends do?" Her eyes were even wider now, if that were possible.

"We are friends, or we're going to be. So you can call him Harry and I'm Tonks," Grinning now, Tonks encouraged the young girl to climb out of her shell. She understood something of what Luna was going through because when she was younger, she was isolated by her peers, who either wanted her to change her appearance constantly or feared her ability to do so. Luna, eyes suspiciously wet, nodded slightly to Tonks. Harry squeezed her hand in a silent thanks.

Dementors sent to get him, Mrs. Figg and Mundungus Fletcher tailing him in secret, then suspension from Hogwarts and a hearing at the Ministry of Magic-and still no one was telling him what was going on.

"Surely ya can figure that out Potter?" Moody said. Harry, still wary of the grizzled Auror, tried to explain.

"My head was in agony and I really wanted to collapse and sleep until September. I doubt I would have been able to work out how to spell my name, let alone figure out what was going on."

Moody, still not happy with his reply, ignored him and motioned to George to continue. His thoughts went to the McKinnon's, who were both too injured to come up with a good excuse to why they were in The Spider's Lounge, one of the Death Eater's common haunts. They were quickly dealt with, their bodies found a few days later, hanging in Diagon Alley.

And what, what, had that Howler been about? Whose voice had echoed so horribly, so menacingly, through the kitchen?

"Yes, I'm wondering about that too. Do you know anybody who has blackmail on your Aunt?" Hermione looked to Harry, trying to figure out the mystery. Harry just shook his head, wanting to finish the book so he could figure out what happened to him.

Why was he still trapped here without information? Why was everyone treating him like some naughty kid? Don't do any more magic, stay in the house...

The silence was consuming and the everyone noticed the betrayed glare that Harry was shooting Dumbledore. The headmaster sighed quietly, regretting the course of action he had decided to take. He had hoped that Harry would enjoy his remaining time as a child and forget the burden which would soon be passed onto him.

"I made a mistake Harry and for that I am sorry. But I will never regret trying to protect you." Quite a few eyebrows were raised at Dumbledore's words but Harry barely even noticed. He was trying to detect a hint of a lie, or perhaps searching for the patronising pity he had come accustomed to seeing. Unable to identify the emotion coming from the Headmaster's eyes, Harry turned his attention back to the book.

He kicked his school trunk as he passed it, but far from relieving his anger he felt worse, as he now had a sharp pain in his toe to deal with in addition to the pain in the rest of his body.

"You know Harry, for a living legend, you sure act like an idiot." No one knew how to react to Tonk's remark and just stared at the brightly coloured woman.

"You know Dora, for an amazing Auror, you sure are clumsy." That statement influenced a wave of laughter and Tonks just crossed her arms, sulking. Harry watched as she pouted, his eyes tracing her lips, imaging what it would be like to touch them, to taste them.

Quickly, he shook his head, trying to get rid of that thought. What was he thinking? Sure, Dora was attractive and anyone would be a fool not to see it. But he was far too young for her and he doubted she would find him good-looking. She probably has a boyfriend already, either that or a long line of suitors. Sparkling gold eyes found his, questioning his brief silence. He shook his head, signaling it didn't matter. Instead of replying, Tonks silently moved closer to him, now pressed against his side, her knees resting against his, offering him her support and comfort. Her kindness knew no bounds.

Just as he limped past the window, Hedwig soared through it with a soft rustle of wings like a small ghost.

Just as the twins opened their mouths, Harry's piercing green eyes glared at them. A warning.

"If either of you even try to speak about Hedwig, any insults or barbs, you will seriously regret it." As he spoke, the twins shivered. Every Gryffindor knew not to get Harry angry. It was common knowledge.

"We were only going to,"

"Comment on how,"

"Lovely your owl,"

"is and her obvious beauty."

Harry was still staring, unwilling to stop without an answer. Both twins gulped and gave in.

"Okay, okay. No insults towards Hedwig." They spoke in unison, hands lifted in surrender.

'About time!' Harry snarled, as she landed lightly on top of her cage. 'You can put that down, I've got work for you!'

Everyone looked at Harry in surprise. From the previous display, they had thought he was possessive about his familiar and cared for her deeply. Harry felt heat travel up his face, covering his cheeks. He looked down in shame. However, Tonk's bony elbow dug into his side.

"If you even think about getting that moody with me, I'm demoting you from the rank of best friend." Harry gasped, his face a picture of mock horror.

"Oh no! Anything but, how can I survive without your wonderful presence at my side."

"Well, avoid speaking to your best friend like you just spoke to your owl." She glared at him. Message recieved - don't let his temper influence his behaviour. Continuing in jest, he dropped to his knees, his arms wrapped round her legs.

"Never could I think such a thing, let alone speak it. I would deserve to walk to hell and back before I ever would disregard our friendship in such a way. Forgive me for the sins I have not yet, nor ever will, commit." The students, and a fair few adults, were unable to hide their laughter at the surreal situation. Tonks, who looked unbelievably smug, patted Harry on the head condescendingly.

"I suppose I could forgive you, but it will cost you," she spoke, her hand now playing with a few unruly locks of Harry's hair.

"Anything for you and your friendship Dora, anything!" Tonks had to hand it to him, he was a good actor. Whilst the table was laughing, he held his own chuckles at bay and looked up at her with dark green eyes which seemed to look into her soul. His voice was deep and soft, washing over her, awakening a fire deep inside her. Many thoughts ran through her head, but she tried to settle on a decently appropriate one.

"To earn my forgiveness, you must become my slave and do what I ask. You must also call me your Lady or your Goddess. I am not fussy about which." That was too much for even the most stern adults. Moody's growling chuckles could be heard and even the Headmaster was laughing at their display. However, Tonks, whose eyes were a deep molten gold and her hair long and seemed to spun from wheat cast in moonlight, could only look at Harry. He had a slight smirk on his face and it took all of her effort to hide the blush which wanted to paint her cheeks.

"I am nothing but your lowly servant if only you will forgive me. I will do whatever my Goddess asks, I shall protect her from those whom wish her harm," tears were now rolling down many of the room's occupant's faces, clutching their stomach's from the force of their amusement. Harry spoke softly now, too softly to be heard by the others. "I shall bring her pleasure in ways that no other man can," his voice was husky now and Tonks felt an inferno envelope her, making her heart hammer wildly in her chest. Harry, almost disbelieving at what he had done, continued to stare at the beautiful woman in front of him. Where had that come from? It was completely unlike his normal behaviour, yet Dora brought out a side to him he never knew he had.

Tonks, whose blush was thankfully unnoticeable, finally spoke. "I shall forgive you Hadrian James Potter*, you may continue using the title of Tonks' Best Friend. This is an honor that I need not remind you of. You shall remain at my feet though and let me take your previous place," with that, she quickly sprawled out over the couch and made her self comfortable. The chuckles were dying down now, although the occasional one escaped. Everyone was smiling, watching as Harry leant against the couch, his head resting against Tonks' leg. Both Harry and Tonks shared a secret little smile, although Harry's was more like a smirk. George, now capable of reading, decided to start before Tonks decided to make Harry wear a chain and ball.

Hedwig's large, round, amber eyes gazed at him reproachfully over the dead frog clamped in her beak.

"Eww." Ginny squealed. Severus rolled his eyes at the young Weasley's behaviour. Her constant refusal to touch many of the potions ingredients had left Gryffindor with a lot less house points and the female Weasley a lot less marks.

"Don't worry Ginevra, dead frogs release magic that keep the beezle-wits at bay." Ginny flushed at the sniggers of her brothers from the use of her first name and wrinkled her nose in confusion as to what Beezle-wits actually were.

"honestly Luna, I'm sure there are no such things as Boozle-nits and dead frog magic." Hermione said, hoping to stop some of the younger girls outlandish comments. Really, she was meant to be a Ravenclaw yet Luna was shaping up to be the most illogical person Hermione had met.

"It's Beezle-Wits Hermione and just because you haven't seen them or read about them doesn't make them any less real." Tonks spoke up for her new friend now, still annoyed at the bookworm's previous behaviour toward Harry. Sensing the rise in tension, many people motioned for George to read quickly, averting an argument.

'Come here,' said Harry, picking up the three small rolls of parchment and a leather thong

"Oooh, kinky much Harry," Fred grinned at the now blushing teen.

"Frederick Gideon Weasley!" Mrs Weasley yelled, such language was not suitable for the children in the room.

"But Mum, I'm George, he's Fred!"

"And you call yourself our Mother." George shook his head in disappointment. Everyone stifled their giggles, hoping the Weasley matriarch wouldn't catch their amusement.

and tying the scrolls to her scaly leg. 'Take these straight to Sirius, Ron and Hermione and don't come back here without good long replies. Keep pecking them till they've written decent-length answers if you've got to. Understand?'

"Oi! I thought she was just being mean but it was you!" Ron cried, his hands clutching the faint lines from wear Hedwig had viciously attacked him.

"Sorry Ron, I was a bit angry about not knowing anything," Harry rubbed the back of his neck, guilt ripping through him. He felt Tonks hand replace his own, gently massaging the muscles there. He bit back a moan at the sensations she was causing him and waited for a response from Ron.

"If I forgive you, can you be my slave too?" He grinned at his friend, liking the idea of having someone to do everything for him. However, Tonks had different ideas.

"Get your own slave Weasley, this ones mine," and to emphasise the point, she pulled her tongue at Ron. Just then, a package fell down onto Tonks lap. Bouncing on the couch in excitement she opened the present. Inside was a T-shirt which was a deep shade of green. On the T-shirt, the words 'I belong to the bad ass Auror were written in gold. On the back was written 'Tonks' bitch' in bold. Giggling now she through the T-shirt at Harry.

"Put it on slave!" Harry looked at her, and then at the T-shirt. Laughing at the label, he quickly took of his shirt and pulled the other one on. In that brief moment of time where his chest was bare, the females in the room took advantage. Their eyes greedily drunk in his lean and muscled frame and Tonks noticed a litter of scars all over his body. Probably from all his adventures. The new T-shirt left little to the imagination as it fit Harry perfectly. The room, now noticing the writing, were once again unable to contain their laughter. As the Weasley twins wolf whistled, Tonks just smiled in triumph.

"Thank you Serenity," she chimed and with a swift kick to Harry, he too thanked Serenity for the wonderful gift. Although he did not like the idea of belonging to anyone, his freedom being his greatest gift, he enjoyed making people happy and of that meant wearing a shirt that proclaimed him as Dora's, then he would do it whenever they wanted.

Hedwig gave a muffled hooting noise, her beak still full of frog.

Ginny wrinkled her nose again at the mention of the dead amphibian. Seeing Luna about to open her mouth and Hermione eager to prove her wrong, Ginny spoke first.

"Don't you feed your owl Harry!"

"Of course I do," Great, Ginny thought, I've just offended the only person in the room who can probably use magic. "She likes the independence of hunting though. She's no spoiled house pet, she's a fierce warrior!" Harry exclaimed. He and Hedwig had that much in common, much preferring to accomplishing things on their own rather than have someone do it for them.

'Get going, then,' said Harry.

She took off immediately. The moment she'd gone, Harry threw himself down on his bed without undressing and stared at the dark ceiling. In addition to every other miserable feeling, he now felt guilty that he'd been irritable with Hedwig;

"At least you feel guilty, if you didn't, you'd be a terrible person," Luna said, her fingers idly wrapping themselves into her long, blonde hair.

she was the only friend he had at number four, Privet Drive.

"Aww, that's so sad yet adorable." Tonks launched herself at her slave, pulling him into an embrace. From the force of her leap, they were both on the floor. Harry was on his back as Tonks stroked his head. "It's okay slave, you have me now." He heard the Weasley children snigger around him as Tonks 'comforted' him. She looked at him, waiting for a response.

"Thank you for your kind words my Lady," he bit out, uncomfortable of everyone laughing at him. "I don't know how I lived before I met you." These words just made Dora more enthusiastic in petting him, he realised. Sighing, he put his hands behind his head, getting comfortable on the floor. He would refuse to move and seeing Tonks sat on the floor, leaning against the couch, made him realise she probably wouldn't move too.

But he'd make it up to her when she came back with the answers from Sirius, Ron and Hermione.

The three mentioned shifted guiltily in their seats.

They were bound to write back quickly; they couldn't possibly ignore a Dementor attack.

Harry stared at the ceiling but he could feel the stares of the others. Tonks' hand was stroking his hair still and the action was repetitive and soothing. He couldn't honestly bring himself to feel angry at his Godfather and friends because right now he was happy. Yeah, he was a bit annoyed with everybody reading his thoughts and being stuck in a situation where people would pity him, but he had made a new friend, he was being more trusted and he would find a way to win the war. Not too bad in the grand scheme of things.

He'd probably wake up tomorrow to three fat letters full of sympathy and plans for his immediate removal to The Burrow. And with that comforting idea, sleep rolled over him, stifling all further thought.

But Hedwig didn't return next morning. Harry spent the day in his bedroom, leaving it only to go to the bathroom.

"But what about food! You need to eat Harry dear. You're all skin and bones." Mrs Weasley protested. As she said this a box came parachuting from the sky, landing softly on the floor. Picking it up with caution, she read the note attached.

Dear Everybody,

Hope you're all having fun. I just thought that if Tonks is going to have a slave, he needs to be healthy. So ... low and behold, potions! (Be happy, potions in the future don't taste nearly as bad as they do in your time). There i two of the,. The first one will make the body have the nutrients it was missing. So, even though Harry didn't get enough meals, it would be ,ike he had the perfect balanced diet since he was a kid. Does that make sense? Don't worry, it doesn't happen straight away - you'll wake up like you've never been starved! Wait, that sounds worse than it is. We use it on some of the prisoners or the muggle borns who escape from the Palace.

The second potion is to fix your eye sight. Yay future knowledge! Dad has - had - the same problem as you so he got his friend to find a way to make his eye sight better. He still probably needs them for reading small writing, but he said he's able to see things farther away a lot easier. You're a seeker, right? It might help.

So, thank me graciously whenever you feel like it,

Yours Sincerely, Serenity xxx

Everybody watched as Mrs Weasley passed the two vials to Harry. He didn't like the concerned gazes of those around him. It made him feel weak and the only thing worse than being weak, was being trapped. Sighing, knowing there was no way to escape this, he sat up and removed the corks, downing one after the other. They both tasted faintly of peppermint so he didn't really have any reason to complain. Noticing the stares still, he brought his fingers to the bridge of his nose, right where a headache was forming.

"She said there would be no changes until after I've slept so will you all stop looking at me like I'm going to grow antlers?"

"It's not that Harry. It's just that your trusting Serenity really quickly. I mean, every time you get sent to the hospital wing, you always check to make sure the potion isn't poison," Hermione said. Everyone looked at Harry who flushed under their slightly bewildered stares.

"Considering how many times people have tried to kill me and who makes the potions in the infirmary, it is safe to say I'm not being out of line," at this everybody glanced to Snape, who was still chained and gagged. They'd forgot he was there for a while.

Three times that day Aunt Petunia shoved food into his room through the cat-flap Uncle Vernon had installed three summers ago.

"Was that,"

"When we,"

"Daringly rescued you,"

"From your wicked relatives?"

Harry nodded, falling back to the ground. The carpet was quite comfortable and he felt his eyelids dropping as a hand returned to playing with tendrils of dark hair. Without realising, he fell into a fairly peaceful sleep, no dreams or nightmares consuming him.

Tonks, noticing the sudden even breathing of her friend looked down at him.

"He's asleep."

"I believe it is a side-effect of the potions. His body has a lot of work to do," Dumbledore explained, watching his pupil, who, even in sleep, seem guarded and tense. His brow was furrowed and his jaw locked. Sirius, seeing the predicament, went to pick him up and put him down in their room. However, he felt Remus put a hand on his shoulder and watched as he pulled his Pup into his arms and carried him from the room. When he sat back down, they continued reading.

Every time Harry heard her approaching he tried to question her about the Howler, but he might as well have interrogated the doorknob for all the answers he got. Otherwise, the Dursleys kept well clear of his bedroom. Harry couldn't see the point of forcing his company on them; another row would achieve nothing except perhaps make him so angry he'd perform more illegal magic.

"Has anyone else noticed Harry's temper is getting worse. It's not so bad now were in this room, but before, I was honestly scared of him." Hermione questioned, her voice soft and trembling over the last words.

"All teenagers get a little more stubborn and angry dear, its just a part of growing up." Molly spoke softly, not wanting to believe that her little boy ... that Harry had something wrong with him.

"I think Hermione might be onto something. Harry usually is so even tempered and usually quite timid unless aggravated. In fact, he doesn't have many friends outside Ron and Hermione. This temper of his isn't normal," Remus noted, worried for his Cub. Although he was no longer as close to Harry as he had been as a child, he had been his Professor for a while and did not like to see someone with so much potential and so much compassion, hurting.

"He did see Moldyshorts return and he had to watch a friend die. That changes a person." Tonks said. Her heart felt heavy in her chest, worrying about Harry. Even though they hadn't known each other long, she liked to think he too felt a connection between them. Their personalities suited each other and they seemed to support each other without being pushy or patronising. The room had gone quiet, thinking about their hero who was resting in a room not too far away. She sighed and focused on what was being said.

So it went on for three whole days. Harry was alternately filled with restless energy that made him unable to settle to anything, during which time he paced his bedroom, furious at the whole lot of them for leaving him to stew in this mess, and with a lethargy so complete that he could lie on his bed for an hour at a time, staring dazedly into space, aching with dread at the thought of the Ministry hearing.

"Whilst were in a timeless room, we could start to prepare for the trial. We'll soon know how its going to go so we could use that to our advantage." Hestia spoke softly, afraid to break the almost silent atmosphere.

What if they ruled against him?

"But they can't!" Hermione cried, "If they actually follow the laws they're meant to enforce, he's well within his right to use magic. Hogwarts won't be the same without Harry," she trailed off, looking into her lap to hide the tears that were threatening to fall.

"Hey! Even if they chucked him out, you and Harry would figure out a way to get him there. And if not, I'll teach him all he needs to know. Promise!" Tonks said, not comfortable with people being unhappy. She preferred happy environments like clubs, bars and anywhere with smiling people.

"I never took you for a teacher," Moody grunted, struggling to imagine his protegé teaching a class of youngsters. All he could imagine was her being laughed at by the students for her crazy coloured hair.

Tonks, however, seemed excited at the prospect. "That was my second option if I never got into the Academy. Wouldn't mind teaching transfiguration, but I think Minnie's got that sorted. I suppose there's DADA but everyone says that only a fool would teach whilst the curse was in place." She stopped suddenly, realising everyone was watching her.

"Er ... why are you all looking at me?"

"I assume it's because we never would have guessed you'd want to be a teacher. Hogwarts teachers don't usually look ... well, they don't look like ..." Molly trailed off, unsure how to continue the sentence. Her sons, however, took the responsibility onto themselves.

"What our dear Mother is trying to say,"

"Is that Hogwarts teachers are either,"

"Old,"

"Mean,"

"Boring,"

"Frauds," A faint 'Lockhart' was coughed from across the room.

"Death Eaters,"

"Or just possessed by Voldemort." They finished together.

"You do not fit into any of the previous categories, you'd be a young, nice, fun, talented, teacher who is not possessed by any evil spirits. therefore, you cannot be a Hogwarts teacher!" Ginny said, attempting to hide her smile.

"What 'bout me!" Hagrid boomed. The students turned to him and looked him over.

"You're one of a kind Hagrid and you're the best Care of Magical Creatures Professor we've ever had." All the children chimed together. The adults were worried now because when six children all spoke at once, it was quite creepy. Nevertheless, Hagrid was smiling and beneath his massive beard, a blush worked its way onto his cheeks.

What if he was expelled and his wand was snapped in half? What would he do, where would he go?

"We've already agreed he's living with me," Sirius proclaimed, his arms crossed, unwilling to forgive himself for not being there for his Godson when he needed him.

He could not return to living full-time with the Dursleys, not now he knew the other world, the one to which he really belonged...

"Many Muggleborns are the same, finding it harder and harder to adjust to a muggle environment after experiencing magic." Dumbledore stated, still undecided whether this was a good thing or a bad thing.

Might he be able to move into Sirius's house, as Sirius had suggested a year ago, before he had been forced to flee from the Ministry? Would Harry be allowed to live there alone, given that he was still underage?

"Why would he be alone?" Ron spoke.

"He still thinks Sirius is on the run with a Hippogriff called Buckbeak." Hermione said slowly, as if talking to an idiot. Ron huffed and a flush crawled up his cheeks in embarrassment.

"I forgot," he spoke softly, not really wanting to argue because Harry was asleep and it seemed he didn't get enough all ready.

Or would the matter of where he went next be decided for him? Had his breach of the International Statute of Secrecy been severe enough to land him in a cell in Azkaban?

"This is why we don't usually allow Harry to stew with his thoughts. They become progressively more and more outrageous." Hermione answered the silent question in all the adults minds.

Whenever this thought occurred, Harry invariably slid off his bed and began pacing again.

On the fourth night after Hedwig's departure Harry was lying in one of his apathetic phases, staring at the ceiling, his exhausted mind quite blank, when his uncle entered his bedroom. Harry looked slowly around at him. Uncle Vernon was wearing his best suit and an expression of enormous smugness.

"Urgh, I don't want to know. Any expression on that lard's face is enough to knock anyone sick."

'We're going out,' he said.

'Sorry?'

'We-that is to say, your aunt, Dudley and I-are going out.'

'Fine,' said Harry dully, looking back at the ceiling.

"Aw, come on Harry. Where's that stubborn boy who refused to let us kill Pettigrew!" Sirius asked the book, his voice intentionally light, despite the dark words.

"After being left with no contact, barely any food and no information, I'd give up fighting useless fights too." Tonks pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms round them silently. She missed Harry. He'd only been gone for a few minutes, yet she still missed his silent support and his warm body beside her, giving her whatever strength she needed.

'You are not to leave your bedroom while we are away.'

'OK.'

"We'd use this as an oppurtunity to prank everybody!" The twins cried in joy. "If Harry's going to become our protege, then we really need to work on using moments like these to his advantage." Mrs Weasley thought it best to ignore these types of comments and just hope that the twins didn't drag poor Harry into any trouble. It seemed that she was also ignoring the fact that trouble often finds Harry.

'You are not to touch the television, the stereo, or any of our possessions.'

'Right.'

"I hate it when all the fights gone from Harry, he's not witty anymore," Ginny complained, no longer eager to listen to this conversation if the Dursleys weren't getting insulted.

'You are not to steal food from the fridge.'

'OK.'

"It's not stealing if its from your own house!" Tonks roared, aware of the shocked looks she was getting. "It's not fair! What did Harry do to deserve this treatment, he's the nicest person I've ever met." A tear trailed down her cheek, glinting gold in the light. No one knew what to say to console the young Auror, so they left her to the comfort of her own mind.

'I am going to lock your door.'

'You do that.'

"Arghh! I swear if I ever meet Dursley, I'm going to take that stick that's shoved up his arse and beat him bloody with it! Next I'll kick his balls so hard they end up in his throat, then I'll tie them around his neck and choke him with them. After that, I'll bring him back to life just so I can hunt him down, disarticulate all his limbs, then feed them to small, ugly dogs. Then the dogs will throw him back up because he tastes like shit and I'll make his ghost clean up the fucking mess! Anything that remains of him I'll burn in celebratory fire and invite the death eaters to spit on it until it goes out. " Tonks was breathing heavily, her hair a raging red. During her rant, she never noticed the people around her moving away silently, their eyes wide with fear.

"I think its safe to say Mr Dursley will never be meeting you," Dumbledore spoke, eyeing the young woman cautiously. Moody just looked at the girl with a grin on his face, which in itself is terrifying.

Uncle Vernon glared at Harry, clearly suspicious of this lack of argument, then stomped out of the room and closed the door behind him. Harry heard the key turn in the lock

"Isn't that a fire hazard? Or what if people came to kidnap him or kill him?" Hermione exclaimed, her voice becoming shriller with each word.

"I do not remember Harry's door being locked. In fact, Harry came down stairs to meet us when we picked him up," Kingsley said, his deep calm voice over powering Hermione's whimpers. They all shared curious looks before reading once again, eager to read about the future and not the past.

and Uncle Vernon's footsteps walking heavily ("Heavy alright") down the stairs. A few minutes later he heard the slamming of car doors, the rumble of an engine, and the unmistakeable sound of the car sweeping out of the drive.

Harry had no particular feeling about the Dursleys leaving. It made no difference to him whether they were in the house or not. He could not even summon the energy to get up and turn on his bedroom light. The room grew steadily darker around him as he lay listening to the night sounds through the window he kept open all the time, waiting for the blessed moment when Hedwig returned.

"Oh Ron! We're such horrible friends," Hermione cried, hugging Ron tightly, needed some semblance of comfort.

"Hey, its alright, Harry forgives us, he knows that we had to keep him in the dark 'Mione. We're not that bad," he said, trying to stop the flow of tears that ran down her face.

The empty house creaked around him. The pipes gurgled. Harry lay there in a kind of stupor, thinking of nothing, suspended in misery.

Then, quite distinctly, he heard a crash in the kitchen below.

Even though the room knew who the intruders were, it did not stop them from stiffening and leaning closer to the book, wanting to hear Harry's fate.

He sat bolt upright, listening intently.

"Good instincts, that lad. He'll make one heck of an Auror." Moody said, proud of the boy he had only just come to know.

"Oh, Alastor. I'd wish you'd stop putting dangerous ideas into the boys head. He shouldn't be running about catching dark wizards. He should work at a nice desk in the Ministry." Molly said, daring Moody to argue with her. She was not expecting everyone around her to snort in disbelief at her suggestion.

"Molly, I don't believe Harry's capable of sitting still long enough to actually have a desk job." Arthur said, trying to placate his wife.

"I just don't think that such a sweet boy should be pressured into ..."

"You even breathe that thought, I'll choke you until your eyes pop right out of their sockets, then plop them into your open, gasping mouth where you'll swallow them whole. And choke to death on your own eyeballs." Tonks said, still unbelievably angry. Everyone was watching, completely shocked. Where was this violence coming from? Moody had never seen the metamorphmagus so angry before but he knew that she could be deadly. Hell, he'd seen her take out a whole army of death eaters in the stimulation exercises at the Academy.

"No one is pressuring Harry to do anything. I've only known him for a while yet I know that even before knowing about magic, he wanted to be the muggle version of an Auror or work in the muggle military. He wants to help people Molly and you're smothering him. He's not a child, he can make his own decisions!" Tonks had never felt so strongly about anything before. She just knew that Harry had been dealt an unfair hand in life. First his parents dying, then having to live with the Dursleys and not knowing his heritage, then battling his parents murderer however many times until he watched said murderers rebirth over his freind's dead body. She'd do whatever it took to make Harry happy, even if it meant making a few people unhappy along the way. That, and Molly annoyed the living hell out of her. Harry may not be a man, but he couldn't be labeled a child. Not after what he'd been through, what he'd seen.

George looked down at the book, wondering whether to continue or let his mum get the stuffing pulled from her by Tonks. Watching his mum, he could see clear shock and underneath that, a small dash of acceptance. Perhaps she just needed a very angry shape-changer to make her see that she didn't always know best. He noticed that Sirius was about to join in Molly!Bashing and thought that his Mother needed a break. So, he continued.

The Dursleys couldn't be back, it was much too soon, and in any case he hadn't heard their car.

There was silence for a few seconds, then voices.

Burglars, he thought, sliding off the bed on to his feet-but a split second later it occurred to him that burglars would keep their voices down, and whoever was moving around in the kitchen was certainly not troubling to do so.

"What he lacks in academics, he makes up for in common sense and street smarts," Remus said, proud of his Cub.

He snatched up his wand from the bedside table and stood facing his bedroom door, listening with all his might. Next moment, he jumped as the lock gave a loud click and his door swung open.

"You don't think ..." Kingsley trailed off, looking at the Headmaster for some form of conformation.

"It shouldn't be possible, merely a myth. But it does seem like ..."

"Let's face it, if anybody is going to be able to, the boy is the most likely." Moody said, joining the other two in their considerably ambiguous conversation.

"Anybody wanna tell us whats going on?" Sirius asked, not liking being left out of the loop. Especially if it concerns his Godson. surprisingly, it wasn't Dumbledore, Kingsley or Moody who answered. It was Hermione.

"I think they're wondering if Harry's capable of Wandless magic. The display shows evidence towards that theory, also the lumos charm previously also approves of this theory too."

The Headmaster looked at the young witch in surprise. Once again he had underestimated the ability of todays youth. Knocked out of his daydream of young witches and wizards ruling the country (and probably doing a better job than Fudge), he only just heard Sirius' reply.

"But I thought that's a myth. I mean, a fairytale from the days of old, before wands were invented." Sirius queried, unsure of whether they were serious or just speculating.

"Accidental magic cannot be the cause for most of the events as that is completely random and doesn't manifest in useful situations. However, as he gets older, Harry's own mind, his subconscious if you will, recognised that he could use all this extra magic, which is bubbling away inside of him whenever angry or stressed, into something useful. When the dementors came, it allowed him to find his wand, when speaking to the Dursleys it shot sparks which intimidated them into not physically hurting him. It's just a theory of course, and he may grow out of it in time, but quite of the evidence points to the suggestion that Harry indeed has some influence over magic without a wand." Tonks looked at Dumbledore and realised he was completely serious. She pondered silently at this.

"A bit like metamorphmagus' then. I mean, its all instinct and will, you don't use a wand to channel it." She asked, her head tilted at an angle, her hair now a Ravenclaw blue.

"It is quite alike that, I imagine. I would not be surprised if Harry has some ability to change his appearance, although not to the extent you can, Nymphadora." the Headmaster said, his inner scholar wondering about the limitations on his theory.

Harry stood motionless, staring through the open doorway at the dark upstairs landing, straining his ears for further sounds, but none came.

"It was like he was born for the job," Moody proclaimed, excited at the prospect of a new trainee. Start 'em young, he thought, especially with the war.

He hesitated for a moment, then moved swiftly and silently out of his room to the head of the stairs.

"I'll admit, I didn't hear him or notice him until Mad-Eye spoke," Hestia said, blushing.

"I was the same," said Emmeline. Elphias, Strugis and Dedalus all agreed.

His heart shot upwards into his throat. There were people standing in the shadowy hall below, silhouetted against the streetlight glowing through the glass door; eight or nine of them, all, as far as he could see.

'Lower your wand, boy, before you take someone's eye out,' said a low, growling voice.

Tonks, calmer now, was excited that she was now included in these books. However, she was slightly disappointed that Harry wasn't here with her to tease her about it. Despite this, she would not let her anger over take her again.

"Oooh! I can guess who this is. Mad-Eye, you're in the book!" Tonks said enthusiastically, bouncing up and down hyperactively. She caught a few people casting her wary glances, most probably because of the mood change from before. She decided to ignore this and focused on the book.

Harry's heart was thumping uncontrollably. He knew that voice, but he did not lower his wand.

"Aye, good lad. Don't know if I'm an imposter yet." Moody growled. When everyone got comfortable once again he decided to take his chance, after all, it had been a while since he had said -

"CONSTANT VIGILANCE!"

Tonks shot into the air, her wand out, her legs moving her instinctively into a fighting stance. Kingsley also had his wand out but was still sat down.

"Blimey Mad-Eye, if you wanna give a gal' a heart attack, carry on. You're doing a pretty good job of it" Tonks huffed, the sarcastic response dropping of her lips.

"You seem a bit jumpy. At least you'll be ready." Moody nodded to her in approval. Oh Merlin, Tonks thought, I'm becoming worse than Mad-Eye.

'Professor Moody?' he said uncertainly.

'I don't know so much about "Professor",' growled the voice, 'never got round to much teaching, did I? Get down here, we want to see you properly.'

"I don't suppose it would make much difference because if he really was an imposter he would have taken Harry's form rather than stay hidden in the shadows." Luna debated. Whilst she had stayed silent for the better half of the chapter, her hair seemed to have knotted and found itself twisted and braided haphazardly onto the top of her head.

No one mentioned Luna's unique hair style, but Moody did manage to nod towards the strange girl, accepting her point.

Harry lowered his wand slightly but did not relax his grip on it, nor did he move.

"The poor child, he'll end up as bad as you someday Alastor," Molly sighed, wary of her 'sons' future.

"Nothing wrong with being suspicious, never know who's out to get you."

"But Harry does. You-know-who, his Death Eaters, the Ministry, the Slytherins, the rival houses Quidditch teams, the Dursleys ..."

"Ronald, please don't tell me there's more." Mrs Weasley begged, her face ashen.

"Of course not. Maybe a few Acromantula ... well, a lot of them. Oh, and Professor Snape. That's about it." Ron finished, unaware of the slack jaws around him.

"Acromantula! When have you ever come across any Acromantula!" Mrs Weasley shrieked. Ron looked up, his face suddenly showing every bit of worry he should of felt moments ago.

"Erm ... its a long story. I'll get Harry to tell it to you when he wakes up,"

"Ronald Billius Weasley!"

"Maybe we should get on with the books Molly, we wouldn't want Harry to wake up and find out were not even finished this chapter." Arthur suggested, persuading his wife to forget about what Ron had just said. George seemed to take that as a prod and continued.

He had very good reason to be suspicious. He had recently spent nine months in what he had thought was Mad-Eye Moody's company only to find out that it wasn't Moody at all, but an impostor; an impostor, moreover, who had tried to kill Harry before being unmasked.

"I'm surprised at how well Harry acts around you then, considering. If I had to look at the guy who tried to kill me, I'd constantly be on edge!" Bill said.

Ron and Hermione exchanged a look, one that was quite a common occurence when it came to Harry. "Hate to break it to you Bill, but Harry's always on edge. He's always last to sleep in the dorms and is usually the first up. He has to sit with the doorway in sight, usually close to it, for a quick escape. He'll never leave his back open, so he sits sideways, with either Ron on one side of him and me opposite him, so he just looks social rather than ... well, edgy." As Ron trailed off, he sighed quietly to himself. He didn't want them smothering Harry more than they already were. He was just worried about his friend.

But before he could make a decision of what to do next, a second, slightly hoarse voice floated upstairs.

"Let me guess, let me guess!" Sirius was now bouncing up and down, eerily similar to Tonks previous excitement. No one responded to his pleas so he just answered instead.

"It's the one, the only, the bookworm of the Marauders ... Moony!" Fred and George fell off their chairs and bowed at their ex-professors feet.

"We are not worthy, we are not worthy," they were bowing now, making the werewolf blush. Running a hand through his greying hair, he laughed to himself.

"Planning to read anytime soon George?" Fixing themselves once again, but unable to stop the looks of awe on their faces, they seated themselves, reading once again.

'It's all right, Harry. We've come to take you away.'

Harry's heart leapt. He knew that voice, too, though he hadn't heard it for over a year.

"He was upset that you never wrote or kept in contact." Hermione offered, knowing that Harry would probably rant at her for this, yet ignoring the fact because all she wanted was him happy.

"I was busy trying to find employment and trying to find the rat." He said. Of course, what he wouldn't admit was that he was worried that Harry wouldn't want anything to do with him after him turning into a werewolf and trying to kill him and his friends. Hermione just shook her head, not willing to accept the poor excuse.

'P-Professor Lupin?' he said disbelievingly. 'Is that you?'

'Why are we all standing in the dark?' said a third voice, this one completely unfamiliar, a woman's. 'Lumos.'

"Whooo! I'm in the book, I'm in the book," Tonks was now dancing to the music Serenity had provided, her hair flashing different colours as if it were lights in a club.

A wand-tip flared, illuminating the hall with magical light. Harry blinked. The people below were crowded around the foot of the stairs, gazing up at him intently, some craning their heads for a better look.

"Maybe we shouldn't have sent so many," Dumbledore said, amused at the behaviour of some of the Order Members.

"Can never have too many," Moody repeated what he had said later that night.

"Unless it raises suspicions as to why you're travelling in a big group." Luna stated, her voice for once logical and reasonable, not a hint of the dreaminess she seemed to enjoy. Mad-Eye decided to ignore the girl, who constantly seemed to be correcting him.

Remus Lupin stood nearest to him. Though still quite young, Lupin looked tired and rather ill; he had more grey hairs

"Someone's getting ooollllddd," Sirius sang. Remus' face was blank.

"You're the same age as me, if I get old, you do to."

"Yeah, but I have Azkaban to blame for that," Sirius said, completely firm in his belief that he would have looked as fabulous as he had before if it weren't for that damned island.

"Yeah, but I'm a werewolf." Remus dead panned. A few people chuckled, knowing that Remus had won the argument.

than when Harry had last said good-bye to him and his robes were more patched and shabbier than ever.

"You know, I have lots of Black money which needs to be spent. My Mother would have a heart attack if she figured out a werewolf was wearing her money." Sirius grinned at his final remaining Marauder. Remus just shook his head, smiling at his 'brother'. He gave no answer, knowing thar Sirius would pester him later.

Nevertheless, he was smiling broadly at Harry, who tried to smile back despite his state of shock.

"A bit of warning would probably have been wise. For all you knew, Harry could have been firing spells at you before you even entered the property!" Ginny said. Although they hardly spoke, she knew Harry from years of watching him. Despite getting over her crush, she still often observed him because he was just intriguing. His behaviour reminded her of adults. What was stranger was that Harry and Severus Snape acted quite alike. They would both, quite subtly, sniff their drink before sampling it and would not swallow immediately unless they were sure it wasn't poisoned. So far, it never was.

She had also noticed that Harry hated being surprised. Like in duelling club, she had sneaked in to watch them duel, hoping for some defense about this monster which seemed far too familiar to her. She watched as Malfoy summoned the snake, she watched Harry's eyes widen, his hand clench over the wand and his legs sliding into a more comfortable position to deal with the threat. Even back then, Harry had been a natural fighter, a warrior. However, it made her heart ache for the boy, because that's what he was, a boy who had seen and heard far to much to ever be put at ease. Still lost in her thoughts, she hadn't noticed George continuing reading.

'Oooh, he looks just like I thought he would,' said the witch who was holding her lit wand aloft. She looked the youngest there; she had a pale heart-shaped face, dark twinkling eyes, and short spiky hair that was a violent shade of violet. 'Wotcher, Harry!'

"At least its not insulting," Ron said, knowing how Harry was likely to describe people in the bluntest way possible, just their distinguishing features to pick them apart in a crowd.

Tonks hummed. "I like it, it could have been a lot worse." She stopped. "You don't think I'm too pale do you?" She questioning, holding her arm out in front of her and concentrating until it started to tan, awaiting no response. Once she was happy with her tan, she focused her hair on becoming a dark, rich brown with 'natural' highlights of blonde and red.

'Yeah, I see what you mean, Remus,' said a bald black wizard standing furthest back; he had a deep, slow voice and wore a single gold hoop in his ear. 'He looks exactly like James.'

"James was taller though. Actually, so was Lily. I was surprised at how short Harry actually is, but now I know I have Dursleys to blame for that," Sirius' eyes narrowed, his voice becoming cold.

'Except the eyes,' said a wheezy-voiced, silver-haired wizard at the back. 'Lily's eyes.'

Tonks sighed thinking about those deep green eyes, always intense and showing some form of emotion. You could look into them all day and never get bored as they were constantly changing, like a fire, the embers dancing among the emeralds. Unknowingly, her own eyes had changed into the same colour and Remus watched, amused. He doubted anything would come from the attraction the two felt, but it was sweet to watch.

Mad-Eye Moody, who had long grizzled grey hair and a large chunk missing from his nose,

"Damn Rosier, taking my good looks with him to the grave," Moody growled. A few people blinked in surprise at the rare joke escaping the aged Auror's lips.

"Couldn't they heal it?" Tonks asked, curious why her mentor would refuse treatment.

"They probably could have but I want to be reminded of my accomplishments, my weaknesses, my fears and my strengths. It's all in the scars."

"Harry's the same," Hagrid said, surprising them all with this knowledge. "He got hurt first year with Quirrel, a piece of glass or some it cut right into his back. He asked Madame Pomfrey not to put any Murlapp on it. Also, when he got back from You-Know-Who's ritual, he had a massive cut from the crook of his elbow to his wrist. He kept that one as well. I think he mentioned one from the basilik, on his shoulder, and one from the acromantula in the maze on his leg. He has loads of 'em, but he says each one helps him remember what's important."

Dumbledore agreed whole heartedly. Why, he had a scar that looked like the London Underground on his knee. It was awfully useful for getting around ... well, in London anyway.

was squinting suspiciously at Harry through his mismatched eyes. One eye was small, dark and beady, the other large, round and electric blue-the magical eye that could see through walls, doors, and the back of Moody's own head.

"I'm curious, where did you even get the eye?" The twins asked, pranking opportunities running through their brains.

"Someone made it for me, a thank you." He gave no more information after that and the twins were left slightly disappointed. Oh well, they'd figure something out.

'Are you quite sure it's him, Lupin?' he growled. 'It'd be a nice lookout if we bring back some Death Eater impersonating him. We ought to ask him something only the real Potter would know. Unless anyone brought any Veritaserum?'

"A Ministry restricted potion, oh yeah, I'm sure my pockets are exploding with the stuff," Tonks muttered to herself.

'Harry, what form does your Patronus take?' Lupin asked.

'A stag,' said Harry nervously.

"What's the usual age to successfully cast a patronus?" Hermione asked, aware that Harry seemed to defy many rules of magic.

"There is no set age limit. However, you need a significant amount of power to cast one with a dementor near and enough happy memories to fuel them. If anything, it would've been the happy memory part that would have stopped Harry, if anything." Bill said. He was upset that Harry had to grow up in such an environment where he and his siblings all had plentiful love and support, even if they didn't always have enough money.

Hermione nodded, biting her lip. She knew she was a great witch and she excelled in magic. However, that was due to continuous practice and determination. She was unsure if she would be able to cast the charm successfully. She's have to ask Harry how to do it eventually.

'That's him, Mad-Eye,' said Lupin.

Very conscious of everybody still staring at him, Harry descended the stairs, stowing his wand in the back pocket of his jeans as he came.

"Ah, the lecture. You should really write a book on it Mad-Eye, interesting title - Man Who Lost Buttock, elementary Wand Safety - you'd make a killing, " Tonk was becoming bored, where was his juicy thoughts about how he thought her beautiful/ugly? She didn't know what she wanted him think, she didn't know what she could handle.

'Don't put your wand there, boy!' roared Moody. 'What if it ignited? Better wizards than you have lost buttocks, you know!'

'Who d'you know who's lost a buttock?' the violet-haired woman asked Mad-Eye interestedly.

"I must've asked over a 100 times and you've still never told me!" Tonks said, eager to hear the story. He ignored her, wanting the chapter to end. The future was only a few chapters away.

'Never you mind, you just keep your wand out of your back pocket!' growled Mad-Eye. 'Elementary wand-safety, nobody bothers about it any more.' He stumped off towards the kitchen. 'And I saw that,' he added irritably, as the woman rolled her eyes towards the ceiling.

"You see everything, it's not going to stop me from doing it." Tonks said, poking her tongue out at the retired Auror.

Lupin held out his hand and shook Harry's.

'How are you?' he asked, looking closely at Harry.

"He's depressed, angry, frustrated, probably suffering from some form of concussion and he's very, very confused." Luna said.

"Thank you Luna, but I've been hearing his thoughts for the last few chapters, so I have an inkling into what he was actually feelings," Remus smiled reassuringly at the young girl, who beamed back at him.

'F-fine...'

Harry could hardly believe this was real. Four weeks with nothing, not the tiniest hint of a plan to remove him from Privet Drive, and suddenly a whole bunch of wizards was standing matter-of-factly in the house as though this was a long-standing arrangement. He glanced at the people surrounding Lupin; they were still gazing avidly at him. He felt very conscious of the fact that he had not combed his hair for four days.

"I doubt it would have made much difference, the Potter Curse - untamable hair and a thing for red heads. I'm not at all surprised he's friends with a whole family of them," Sirius said, grinning at said family. The twins started mock sobbing, muttering about how he only liked them for their hair. Everyone ignored them.

'I'm-you're really lucky the Dursleys are out...' he mumbled.

'Lucky, ha!' said the violet-haired woman. 'It was me who lured them out of the way. Sent a letter by Muggle post telling them they'd been short-listed for the All-England Best Kept Suburban Lawn Competition. They're heading off to the prize-giving right now... Or they think they are.'

"Tonksy!" Fred said, getting up and sitting beside her.

"How would you like to become ..."

"Someone everyone envies ..."

"Who people que to see ..."

"Who get pulled by their ears into detention ..."

"Forget the last one, were being persuasive here ..."

"How would you like to become a Prankster ..."

"That's with a capital P! Weasley Wizard Wheezes ..."

"Is offering those with potential ..."

"To help us prank thousands ..."

"If not millions ..."

"Think about it, it'd be fun!" They, once again, finished in unison.

The group groaned, thinking of all the trouble they could get into.

Harry had a fleeting vision of Uncle Vernon's face when he realised there was no All-England Best Kept Suburban Lawn Competition.

everyone laughed at the thought. "Oh, if only we had a camera." Sirius said, acting wiping a tear from his eye.

Remus raised an eyebrow. "You would actually stand in front of Vernon Dursley to get a photograph?"

"Oh, your right. The camera would probably break," This started another new wave of laughter.

'We are leaving, aren't we?' he asked. 'Soon?'

'Almost at once,' said Lupin, 'we're just waiting for the all-clear.'

'Where are we going? The Burrow?' Harry asked hopefully.

Molly and the Weasley's sighed sadly. The Burrow was home and they missed it dreadfully. Those still at Hogwarts only stayed a night or two till they were whisked away to the dark, damp and depressing walls of Number 12 Grimauld Place.

'Not The Burrow, no,' said Lupin, motioning Harry towards the kitchen; the little knot of wizards followed, all still eyeing Harry curiously. 'Too risky. We've set up Headquarters somewhere un-detectable. It's taken a while...'

Quite a few people snorted around the room. That was an understatment if they'd ever heard one.

Mad-Eye Moody was now sitting at the kitchen table swigging from a hip flask, his magical eye spinning in all directions, taking in the Dursleys' many labour-saving appliances.

'This is Alastor Moody, Harry,' Lupin continued, pointing towards Moody.

'Yeah, I know,' said Harry uncomfortably. It felt odd to be introduced to somebody he'd thought he'd known for a year.

'And this is Nymphadora-'

"Ow ... I'm only reading what it said in the book, no need for violence Nymphy!" George exclaimed. However, the grin soon wiped of his face as he watched Tonks hair change into a fiery red and her eyes narrowed dangerously. Taking his chance, he got up and sprinted to the door of his and Fred's bedroom. Unfortunately, he was too late.

"Someone save me!" Tonks now had him, her arm around his neck, holding him in place, whilst her other hand made a fist, rubbing his head ... hard.

"I give in! Merlin's saggy balls, you aren't half violent."

"Frederick Gideon Weasley!"

"Mum, I'm George, he'd Fred. Sorry for any confusion." He was once again smiling until he noticed the same expression as Tonks' on his mother's face.

"Take my twin, I'm too pretty to die!" He yelled, trying to disengage his mother's hand from his ear.

"Oy! I'm far more handsome, so I can't give myself up,"

"Please I'm far more dashing, see this freckle. Girls go mad for this freckle!"

Kingsley, whilst amused, was tired, so he picked up the book and carried on where George left off.

'Don't call me Nymphadora, Remus,' said the young witch with a shudder, 'it's Tonks.'

'Nymphadora Tonks, who prefers to be known by her surname only,' finished Lupin.

'So would you if your fool of a mother had called you Nymphadora,' muttered Tonks.

"What was she thinking," Tonks and Sirius said. You could tell her mother was a true Black based on her penchant for naming things with either really difficult, long and stupid names, or after ancestors. apparently, Tonks looked like a little nymph when she had turned her hair the same colour as her mother's eyes when she first opened her own. Ever since she could remember, she promised that her child would have a normal name, even if she had to go behind her husbands back to sign the birth certificate.

'And this is Kingsley Shacklebolt'-he indicated the tall black wizard, who bowed-'Elphias Doge'-the wheezy-voiced wizard nodded-'Dedalus Diggle-'

'We've met before,' squeaked the excitable Diggle, dropping his violet-coloured top hat.

The person in question blushed under the amused stares. His hat was resting in his lap, fraying slightly around the edges. He liked the thing since he had read an old muggle book a long time ago. The Mad Hatter had always interested him and it was with his first pay check after getting his first job that he bought his purple hat, only brought out for special occasions.

'-Emmeline Vance'-a stately-looking witch in an emerald green shawl inclined her head-'Sturgis Podmore'-a square-jawed wizard with thick straw-coloured hair winked-'and Hestia Jones.' A pink-cheeked, black-haired witch waved from next to the toaster.

Harry inclined his head awkwardly at each of them as they were introduced. He wished they would look at something other than him; it was as though he had suddenly been ushered on-stage. He also wondered why so many of them were there.

"He can be a little slow at times," Charlie said, noticing that Harry seemed to be either super observant or completely oblivious.

"When it comes to his fame, he chooses to ignore. If he does, he hopes everyone else will too." Hermione explained.

"He's mental if you ask me," Ron muttered.

'A surprising number of people volunteered to come and get you,' said Lupin, as though he had read Harry's mind; the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

"I'm sure he'll thank you for that later." Sirius chuckled, imaging his Godson getting revenge in a true Marauder fashion.

'Yeah, well, the more the better,' said Moody darkly. 'We're your guard, Potter.'

'We're just waiting for the signal to tell us it's safe to set off,' said Lupin, glancing out of the kitchen window. 'We've got about fifteen minutes.'

'Very clean, aren't they, these Muggles?' said the witch called Tonks, who was looking around the kitchen with great interest. 'My dad's Muggle-born and he's a right old slob. I suppose it varies, just as it does with wizards?'

"You're really good at breaking the tension aren't you Tonks?"

"Of course I am Ginny. If I didn't do it, everyone would think they're about to die with Mad-Eye in charge."

"You need to be more serious, its not a game." Moody felt like he needed to stress this point. If she wanted to survive this war, she'd have best start taking things a little more seriously.

Tonks just rolled her eyes at her mentor, her thoughts drifting back to the boy who was slumbering a few doors away.

'Er-yeah,' said Harry. 'Look'-he turned back to Lupin-'what's going on, I haven't heard anything from anyone, what's Vol-?'

"It was a tad bit stupid of him, but if I was in the situation I wouldn't have remained calm for introductions. I'd have been firing of questions until you'd have burst!" Ginny felt sorry for Harry. He wasn't even here to watch them invade his thoughts.

Several of the witches and wizards made odd hissing noises; Dedalus Diggle dropped his hat again, and Moody growled, 'Shut up!'

'What?' said Harry.

'We're not discussing anything here, it's too risky,' said Moody, turning his normal eye on Harry. His magical eye remained focused on the ceiling. 'Damn it,' he added angrily, putting a hand up to the magical eye, 'it keeps getting stuck-ever since that scum wore it-'

"Oh, that's gross!" Ginny's nose was once again wrinkled delicately. Give her a broom and she fly with the rest of them, give her a gnome she could chuck it as far as the rest. But some things were just far too disgusting that not even having 6 brothers would help her get over it.

"Ey Missy, I'd like to see you try cleaning it everyday!"

"I'd rather not," she replied, looking slightly green, a colour which clashed tremendously with her hair.

And with a nasty squelching sound much like a plunger being pulled from a sink, he popped out his eye.

Everyone was now looking slightly ill and those who were there felt the memory come back.

'Mad-Eye, you do know that's disgusting, don't you?' said Tonks conversationally.

"Conversationally? I don't even want to know what else you talk about," Ron said.

"Well, once we had a conversation which lasted about 2 hours. It was all about why you should always carry an engagement ring with you. We came up with some pretty good reasons too." Saying this, she fished out a simple silver band with a sapphire placed in the middle. Simple, cheap and surprisingly useful.

'Get me a glass of water, would you, Harry,' requested Moody.

"Tut, he's not your servant Alastor," Mrs Weasley sighed.

"May as well make the boy useful, he looked uncomfortable with you lot gawking at him like idiots."

The mentioned few were turning red.

Harry crossed to the dishwasher, took out a clean glass and filled it with water at the sink, still watched eagerly by the band of wizards. Their relentless staring was starting to annoy him.

"Quick, retreat! Get out, save your selves!" Fred and George screamed.

"If Harry's annoyed, it means you have to pursue the conversation carefully unless you want him to blow up on you,"

"It's really not as amusing as it sounds." Both the twins shuddered, holding onto one another in comfort.

'Cheers,' said Moody, when Harry handed him the glass. He dropped the magical eyeball into the water and prodded it up and down; the eye whizzed around, staring at them all in turn. 'I want three hundred and sixty degrees visibility on the return journey.'

'How're we getting-wherever we're going?' Harry asked.

'Brooms,' said Lupin. 'Only way. You're too young to Apparate, they'll be watching the Floo Network and it's more than our life's worth to set up an unauthorised Portkey.'

'Remus says you're a good flier,' said Kingsley Shacklebolt in his deep voice.

"Duh, youngest seeker in a century. They don't just give away the title you know." Ron said, not appreciating anyone who questioned Harry's ability on a broom.

"Maybe you should also remember that he out flew a dragon." Ginny suggested, watching many people's faces confused, curious - and, once again - full of awe.

"It was during the Tri-Wizard Tournament. I'll explain later, but can we please read, its taking forever!"

Nobody wanted an angry female Weasley yelling at them, so they all fell silent.

'He's excellent,' said Lupin, who was checking his watch. 'Anyway, you'd better go and get packed, Harry, we want to be ready to go when the signal comes.'

'I'll come and help you,' said Tonks brightly.

"Pfft. Everything about you is bright. Your hair, clothes, personality. You should be named Sparky or something!" Sirius teased.

"You call me Sparky and I'll shove my wand so far up you ass that sparks are coming out of your nose, go it Black?"

"Yep," squeaked Sirius. He really should remember not to mess with woman in his family. They were deadly.

She followed Harry back into the hall and up the stairs, looking around with much curiosity and interest.

'Funny place,' she said. 'It's a bit too clean, d'you know what I mean? Bit unnatural. Oh, this is better,' she added, as they entered Harry's bedroom and he turned on the light.

"Let me guess, it was an absolute dump," Hermione asked, her tone slightly exasperated.

"In his defense, it is his room so he can have it how he wants it. Also, he's had a lot going on the last couple of days," Tonks said, remembering the state of the room. The mess had looked chaotic, but when she looked closer, she had noticed that most of the mess had been thrown around in frustration.

His room was certainly much messier than the rest of the house. Confined to it for four days in a very bad mood, Harry had not bothered tidying up after himself. Most of the books he owned were strewn over the floor where he'd tried to distract himself with each in turn and thrown it aside; Hedwig's cage needed cleaning out and was starting to smell; and his trunk lay open, revealing a jumbled mixture of Muggle clothes and wizards' robes that had spilled on to the floor around it.

"Boys," Mrs Weasley and Ginny complained. Then Ginny's face turned to on of horror at the thought of turning into her mum.

Fred and George noticed her distress but just sniggered to themselves.

Harry started picking up books and throwing them hastily into his trunk. Tonks paused at his open wardrobe to look critically at her reflection in the mirror on the inside of the door.

'You know, I don't think violet's really my colour,' she said pensively, tugging at a lock of spiky hair. 'D'you think it makes me look a bit peaky?'

"Don't answer," Bill, Charlie, Fred, George and Sirius all shouted to the book. Each one had been caught out by a variety of females asking about their appearance.

'Er-' said Harry, looking up at her over the top of Quidditch Teams of Britain and Ireland.

'Yeah, it does,' said Tonks decisively. She screwed up her eyes in a strained expression as though she was struggling to remember something. A second later, her hair had turned bubble-gum pink.

'How did you do that?' said Harry, gaping at her as she opened her eyes again.

"You did just kinda spring it on him. Ever heard of talk now, and demonstrate later." Ginny asked.

"That is not even a real saying so I refuse to acknowledge it." Tonks huffed,crossing her arms and lifting her head high.

'I'm a Metamorphmagus,' she said, looking back at her reflection and turning her head so that she could see her hair from all directions. 'It means I can change my appearance at will,' she added, spotting Harry's puzzled expression in the mirror behind her. 'I was born one. I got top marks in Concealment and Disguise during Auror training without any study at all, it was great.'

"What happens if they're looking specifically for a metamorphmagus?" Luna asked, her eyes as wide as before but sparkling with some unknown intelligence.

"I'd have to stay in one shape and not change."

"You've changed shapes lots of times whilst we've been in this room. I don't think your comfortable not changing." Whether she knew it or not, Luna was hitting onto unchartered territory and if she didn't back down soon, she'd have a very angry Auror on her hands. Tonks decided just to let it go. However, she was wondering if she'd be able to stay in one shape, it was not something she'd ever had to do before.

'You're an Auror?' said Harry, impressed. Being a Dark-wizard-catcher was the only career he'd ever considered after Hogwarts.

Tonks and Moody sent smug looks over to Molly, who looked slightly disheartened. Why couldn't a few more of her children pick safer jobs. One was breaking into Egyptian tombs with terrifying curses in them, one was chasing dragons. The twins were set on opening their own joke shop and she knew that Ron would stick by Harry's side and become an Auror. She was even sure that Ginny would be taking off into the sky to play professional quidditch. Only Percy had picked a low-danger level job and now he no longer wanted to be a part of the family.

Molly stopped herself from bursting into sobs, remembering her son, her little Percy. It would do no good to cry, it would only make the others upset. So, she would try and be strong. Merlin help her.

'Yeah,' said Tonks, looking proud. 'Kingsley is as well; he's a bit higher up than me, though. I only qualified a year ago. Nearly failed on Stealth and Tracking. I'm dead clumsy, did you hear me break that plate when we arrived downstairs?'

"I think everyone in Surrey heard you break that bloody plate. I'm surprised the Academy even let you in." Moody sighed, knowing she was lost cause. It seemed impossible to teach her any balance or co-ordination. He only hoped it wouldn't be the death of her.

'Can you learn how to be a Metamorphmagus?' Harry asked her, straightening up, completely forgetting about packing.

Tonks chuckled.

'Bet you wouldn't mind hiding that scar sometimes, eh?'

"You know, you're one of the first people to notice that," Hermione said. "Not the scar," she continued, noticing their confused looks. "Not many people can appreciate that Harry doesn't like the scar. It reminds him of his parent's deaths."

The room grew silent, in respect for those that were lost in the war. The somber atmosphere was quickly becoming stiffing and everyone felt weary. They hadn't even gotten to the future and they were feeling like this already. It was going to be a long few days.

Her eyes found the lightning-shaped scar on Harry's forehead.

'No, I wouldn't mind,' Harry mumbled, turning away. He did not like people staring at his scar.

"Oops, sorry book-Harry. Guess my curiosity got the better of me," Tonks remarked, not at all bothered by the looks being sent her way, questioning her sanity.

'Well, you'll have to learn the hard way, I'm afraid,' said Tonks. 'Metamorphmagi are really rare, they're born, not made. Most wizards need to use a wand, or potions, to change their appearance. But we've got to get going, Harry, we're supposed to be packing,' she added guiltily, looking around at all the mess on the floor.

"Why don't you just use magic?" Hermione asked. Tonks chose to ignore and just gestured to the book. Hermione huffed at being snubbed and her hands clenched into fists, trying to fight down her anger towards the metamorphmagus.

'Oh-yeah,' said Harry, grabbing a few more books.

'Don't be stupid, it'll be much quicker if I-pack!' cried Tonks, waving her wand in a long, sweeping movement over the floor.

Books, clothes, telescope, and scales all soared into the air and flew pell-mell into the trunk.

'It's not very neat,' said Tonks, walking over to the trunk and looking down at the jumble inside. 'My mum's got this knack of getting stuff to fit itself in neatly-she even gets the socks to fold themselves-but I've never mastered how she does it-it's a kind of flick-' She flicked her wand hopefully.

"Andy was always a neat freak, we used to pay her to do our rooms when the dear old mum ordered the elves to let us do everything ourselves. I swear, that woman made a fortune!" Sirius proclaimed, remembering better times, before he had been forced to act a certain way and before Voldemort had ensnared his parents.

Running a hand through his now graying hair, Sirius sighed softly to himself. He really needed to get back in touch with Andy, he hadn't spoken to her since his imprisonment.

One of Harry's socks gave a feeble sort of wiggle and flopped back on top of the mess in the trunk.

"You're hopeless!" Tonks just glared at Charlie, who was just as bad as her when it came to house hold spells. What she really needed was a house elf, but she could never find the time to purchase one. She wondered if Hogwarts had any elves who were willing to work.

'Ah, well,' said Tonks, slamming the trunk's lid shut, 'at least it's all in. That could do with a bit of cleaning, too.' She pointed her wand at Hedwig's cage. 'Scourgify.' A few feathers and droppings vanished. 'Well, that's a bit better- I've never quite got the hang of these householdy sort of spells. Right-got everything? Cauldron? Broom? Wow! A Firebolt!'

"This was what really allowed him to out fly a dragon," Charlie said, his eyes alight in excitement. "It is capable of going from nought to one hundred and fifty miles per hour in ten seconds. The Firebolt also boasts an unbreakable Braking Charm, superb balance and precision, and hovers at a reasonable mounting height when let go." He was now bouncing in his seat, his enthusiasm causing a few people to laugh.

Hermione and Emmeline shook there heads at the Quidditch enthusiasts who were all practicaly slobbering over the mention of a mere broom. A voice that sounded suspiciously like Harry sounded in her head, 'It's not just a broom, 'Mione, it's the broom!'

Her eyes widened as they fell on the broomstick in Harry's right hand. It was his pride and joy, a gift from Sirius, an international-standard broomstick.

"Sirius, because I'm your favourite family member ..."

"By default because most of them are evil, dead, in prison, Death Eaters, insane or they like cats," He shuddered at the last one. The only decent cat in the whole world was Crookshanks as he was part kneazle and helped him catch Peter. It's a shame the bastard escaped again.

"Could you pppllleeeeaaaasssseeee buy me a firebolt," Tonks was now pouting, her eyes impossibly wide with long eyelashes, pulling off the perfect puppy-dog face. Score!

"I may be horrendously rich, but it might cause problems if I walk into Quality Quidditch Supplies and ask for a Firebolt, you know, me being an infamous mass murdering escaped convict who kills and cooks children for breakfast!"

"But you did for Harry!" Tonks was getting this Firebolt, she was determined and Merlin better pray she gets it or she'll skin him alive.

"Well, number 1. or A, Harry's much cooler than you and a far better flyer. I'd like to see you out fly a dragon," at this, Tonks stuck her tongue out at him. "number 2, or B, or maybe tha little (ii) you see in footnotes, we're stuck in a room, frozen in time and trying to save the future where Voldemort is king. Do you want me to continue?"

Tonks did not give up. "We'll continue his discussion after we've finished the book." She glared at him, silently daring him to even think about protesting. It's a good thing he didn't.

'And I'm still riding a Comet Two Sixty,' said Tonks enviously. 'Ah well ... wand still in your jeans? Both buttocks still on?

A few snorts escaped from around the room. Moody just rolled his eyes at the girl. She may be his protegé, but she sure as hell could be annoying.

OK, let's go. Locomotor trunk.'

Harry's trunk rose a few inches into the air. Holding her wand like a conductors baton, Tonks made the trunk hover across the room and out of the door ahead of them, Hedwig's cage in her left hand. Harry followed her down the stairs carrying his broomstick.

Back in the kitchen Moody had replaced his eye, which was spinning so fast after its cleaning it made Harry feel sick to look at it. Kingsley Shacklebolt and Sturgis Podmore were examining the microwave and Hestia Jones was laughing at a potato peeler she had come across while rummaging in the drawers. Lupin was sealing a letter addressed to the Dursleys.

"Why, you should have let them think he ran away. Then they'd be pissing themselves, scared thinking that Dumbledore will bash there brains in!" Sirius cheered excitedly. Remus, however, did not.

"Someone has to be a responsable adult."

Sirius drew back as if burned. "Remus, don't worry, we'll get you some help. You'll be fine soon. Just try and stop thinking adult things like work and tax and ... responsibilities." He shuddered. Remus just rolled his eyes at the convict.

'Excellent,' said Lupin, looking up as Tonks and Harry entered. 'We've got about a minute, I think. We should probably get out into the garden so we're ready. Harry, I've left a letter telling your aunt and uncle not to worry-'

"They won't," Tonks said, certain the Dursleys didn't feel any type of emotion.

'They won't,' said Harry.

Everyone just blinked in shock. Maybe Harry and Tonks were more alike than they were led to believe.

'-that you're safe-'

"That'll just depress them."

'That'll just depress them.'

"Okay, this is getting creepy now," Hestia commented.

'-and you'll see them next summer.'

"He doesn't have to!"

'Do I have to?'

"Close enough."

Lupin smiled but made no answer.

'Come here, boy,' said Moody gruffly, beckoning Harry towards him with his wand. 'I need to Disillusion you.'

'You need to what?' said Harry nervously.

'Disillusionment Charm,' said Moody, raising his wand. 'Lupin says you've got an Invisibility Cloak, but it won't stay on while we're flying; this'll disguise you better. Here you go-'

"Are you able to disillusion inanimate objects? Or will his broom be seen with no one flying on it?" Hermione questioned.

"Yes it does, now can we just finish this bleedin' chapter and stop with all the pointless questions and gossip!" Moody yelled. Every person in the room sat quietly, unwilling to be the first to break the silence.

He rapped him hard on the top of the head and Harry felt a curious sensation as though Moody had just smashed an egg there; cold trickles seemed to be running down his body from the point the wand had struck.

"Got to admit, the boy's good at describing things," Mad-Eye spoke. No one dared call him a hypocrite though.

'Nice one, Mad-Eye,' said Tonks appreciatively, staring at Harry's midriff.

The Weasley twins whistled appreciatively. They could just sense that this books was gonna be full of major teasing and pranking opportunities.

Harry looked down at his body, or rather, what had been his body, for it didn't look anything like his any more. It was not invisible; it had simply taken on the exact colour and texture of the kitchen unit behind him. He seemed to have become a human chameleon.

'Come on,' said Moody, unlocking the back door with his wand.

They all stepped outside on to Uncle Vernon's beautifully kept lawn.

"I doubt he put any work into it. I bet Harry had to do everything all by himself. The poor boy," Molly sobbed, tears not just for her dark haired child, but for the child that was missing.

'Clear night,' grunted Moody, his magical eye scanning the heavens. 'Could've done with a bit more cloud cover. Right, you,' he barked at Harry, 'we're going to be flying in close formation. Tonks'll be right in front of you, keep close on her tail. Lupin'll be covering you from below. I'm going to be behind you. The rest'll be circling us. We don't break ranks for anything, got me? If one of us is killed-'

"And we thought Harry was over dramatic," 2/3 of the Golden Trio spoke in unison. Even though Mad-Eye ignored them, the rest of them were laughing softly at him under their breath.

'Is that likely?' Harry asked apprehensively, but Moody ignored him.

'-the others keep flying, don't stop, don't break ranks. If they take out all of us and you survive, Harry, the rear guard are standing by to take over; keep flying east and they'll join you.'

'Stop being so cheerful, Mad-Eye, he'll think we're not taking this seriously,' said Tonks, as she strapped Harry's trunk and Hedwig's cage into a harness hanging from her broom.

"Tonks, you are seriously a legend. I mean, you're like Harry, all wit and sarcasm! It's great." Sirius grinned.

'I'm just telling the boy the plan,' growled Moody. 'Our job's to deliver him safely to Headquarters and if we die in the attempt-'

'No one's going to die,' said Kingsley Shacklebolt in his deep, calming voice.

"I'm glad someone can see sense." Molly commented.

"Oi! What am I then, chopped liver?" Tonks questioned, angry at being forgotten or looked over

"You're encouraging him to look down at authority and his role models. It's not proper."

"Oh Merlin, I really can't be putting up with this at the moment, just read,"

'Mount your brooms, that's the first signal!' said Lupin sharply, pointing into the sky.

Far, far above them, a shower of bright red sparks had flared among the stars. Harry recognised them at once as wand sparks. He swung his right leg over his Firebolt, gripped its handle tightly and felt it vibrating very slightly, as though it was as keen as he was to be up in the air once more.

'Second signal, let's go!' said Lupin loudly as more sparks, green this time, exploded high above them.

Harry kicked off hard from the ground. The cool night air rushed through his hair as the neat square gardens of Privet Drive fell away, shrinking rapidly into a patchwork of dark greens and blacks, and every thought of the Ministry hearing was swept from his mind as though the rush of air had blown it out of his head. He felt as though his heart was going to explode with pleasure; he was flying again, flying away from Privet Drive as he'd been fantasising about all summer, he was going home... For a few glorious moments, all his problems seemed to recede to nothing, insignificant in the vast, starry sky.

"I love that feeling," Charlie spoke to the room at large. To be something so tiny, insignificant, somewhere where the Gods once lay. That was true magic, that shot of pure freedom that could never be found anywhere else.

'Hard left, hard left, there's a Muggle looking up!' shouted Moody from behind him. Tonks swerved and Harry followed her, watching his trunk swinging wildly beneath her broom. 'We need more height... Give it another quarter of a mile!'

Harry's eyes watered in the chill as they soared upwards: he could see nothing below now but tiny pinpricks of light that were car headlights and streetlamps. Two of those tiny lights might belong to Uncle Vernon's car... The Dursleys would be heading back to their empty house right now, full of rage about the nonexistent Lawn Competition ... and Harry laughed aloud at the thought,

"I don't care what the fat lard says, as long as Harry is safe." Sirius said, hiding his face in his legs, like a child, unaware of the world around him.

though his voice was drowned by the flapping robes of the others, the creaking of the harness holding his trunk and the cage, and the whoosh of the wind in their ears as they sped through the air. He had not felt this alive in a month, or this happy.

"He'll catch his death in that weather," Molly was once again slowly becoming more worried about Harry. It seemed that even the Aurors in the room didn't regard his safety as they should. The poor boy looked frozen when he arrived.

"Don't worry, Molly, I convince Mad-Eye to get us out of the weather soon." Tonks didn't really know why she was trying to give the woman some semblance of comfort as it was obvious that Molly didn't really like her. Nevertheless, she knew when to pick her fights and no one really wanted a Weasley woman as an enemy. She shuddered to herself, imagining her in battle. It was a scary thought.

'Bearing south!' shouted Mad-Eye. 'Town ahead!'

They soared right to avoid passing directly over the glittering spiderweb of lights below.

'Bear southeast and keep climbing, there's some low cloud ahead we can lose ourselves in!' called Moody.

"Alastor, maybe you should just focus on getting Harry there quickly and put faith in your disillusionment charm. I doubt anyone would want to go through a cloud." Noticing the varying horrified looks on many people's faces, Dumbledore took it on himself to keep the peace.

The only reply he got was a snort and a brief muttering about 'I didn't know you were an Auror for over 50 yrs Albus." Believing the statement was not meant for him, he hummed happily under his breath, wondering if lemon drops would be supplied at Lunch.

'We're not going through clouds!' shouted Tonks angrily, 'we'll get soaked, Mad-Eye!'

Harry was relieved to hear her say this; his hands were growing numb on the Firebolt's handle. He wished he had thought to put on a coat; he was starting to shiver.

"Oh, Harry, even when you're not in school, you're always putting yourself in danger, he'll probably get ill, the poor dear."

"Mrs Weasley, this already happened, he's didn't get ill and ... wait, I can't actually remember getting sick. I mean, he's been injured and in the hospital wings more times than I can count, but nor for an illness." Hermione said, wondering if this was another form of Wandless magic. It was a valid theory, she supposed, if Harry was subconsciously allowing his magic to keep his body healthy (well, healthier than what it should have been.)

Dumbledore looked interested and made up his mind to speak to Poppy later. He also wanted a full medical check on the boy, Merlin knows what else he's hiding. The twinkle seemed to disappear from his eyes as he thought about Harry. He had wronged the lad, he was sure of that. He never realised the consequence of his actions. Sometimes, he expects the best in people. The Dursleys seemed to prove him wrong though,. every time.

They altered their course every now and then according to Mad-Eye's instructions. Harry's eyes were screwed up against the rush of icy wind that was starting to make his ears ache; he could remember being this cold on a broom only once before, during the Quidditch match against Hufflepuff in his third year, which had taken place in a storm.

Fred, George, Hermione and Ron shivered in horror at the memory of the game. Even Hagrid looked pale and Dumbledore's face was etched with guilt.

"What happened!" Mrs Weasley demanded, concerned about the looks of horror on the Hogwarts residents faces.

"There were Dementors,"

"And you know how they affect Harry,"

"So when they came onto the pitch,"

"He fainted and fell of his broom,"

"30 feet of the ground." The twins finished, remembering watching their brother fall, lifeless and pale, toward the ground below. They were frozen at the time, they couldn't move, only watch. It was terrifying.

Molly's mouth opened a few times and then closed again, unsure how to answer to that. The colour had completely drained from her face and her hands were visibly shaking.

The guard around him was circling continuously like giant birds of prey. Harry lost track of time. He wondered how long they had been flying, it felt like an hour at least.

Molly and Dumbledore sighed at Moody's obvious diversions as the journey should have only taken them half an hour at the most.

'Turning southwest!' yelled Moody. 'We want to avoid the motorway!'

Harry was now so chilled he thought longingly of the snug, dry interiors of the cars streaming along below, then, even more longingly, of travelling by Floo powder; it might be uncomfortable to spin around in fireplaces but it was at least warm in the flames... Kingsley Shacklebolt swooped around him, bald pate and earring gleaming slightly in the moonlight... Now Emmeline Vance was on his right, her wand out, her head turning left and right ... then she, too, swooped over him, to be replaced by Sturgis Podmore...

'We ought to double back for a bit, just to make sure we're not being followed!' Moody shouted.

"Are you mad, Alastor! We don't want Harry frozen to his broom stick." Molly sniffed in distaste. Couldn't he see how dangerous his lifestyle was and what a bad effect it had on Harry. Ron and Hermione glanced at each other, conveying their thoughts silently. If Harry was here, he would not like Mrs Weasley's constant mothering. At all.

'ARE YOU MAD, MAD-EYE?' Tonks screamed from the front. 'We're all frozen to our brooms!

Molly blushed under the amused stares. Well really, how juvenile. It's not like she was wrong to say such a thing.

If we keep going off-course we're not going to get there until next week! Besides, we're nearly there now!'

'Time to start the descent!' came Lupin's voice. 'Follow Tonks, Harry!'

"Whooh! Go Moony, ever the peace keeper!" Sirius decided it was far to quiet, but to be truthfully honest, he didn't really feel like speaking much. He just wanted his Pup in front of him, safe from harm.

"I've had to play peace keeper far to often being friends with you. Half the time it was teachers I had to convince!" Remus was now stuck in memories of a happier time, where him being a werewolf didn't matter and he and his friends were also up to mischief.

Harry followed Tonks into a dive. They were heading for the largest collection of lights he had yet seen, a huge, sprawling crisscrossing mass, glittering in lines and grids, interspersed with patches of deepest black. Lower and lower they flew, until Harry could see individual headlights and streetlamps, chimneys and television aerials. He wanted to reach the ground very much, though he felt sure someone would have to unfreeze him from his broom.

'Here we go!' called Tonks, and a few seconds later she had landed.

Harry touched down right behind her and dismounted on a patch of unkempt grass in the middle of a small square. Tonks was already unbuckling Harry's trunk. Shivering, Harry looked around. The grimy fronts of the surrounding houses were not welcoming; some of them had broken windows, glimmering dully in the light from the streetlamps, paint was peeling from many of the doors and heaps of rubbish lay outside several sets of front steps.

"I suppose we could come up with some bull shit, saying no one would think to luck for them in a run down street. That's more Death Eater style." Tonks commented. Mrs Weasley shot the metamorphmagus a disapproving look. Honestly! Such language around children. Being an Auror gave her no excuse for the appalling language and death threats which seemed to spew from her lips.

'Where are we?' Harry asked, but Lupin said quietly, 'In a minute.'

Moody was rummaging in his cloak, his gnarled hands clumsy with cold.

"Bloody hell! If you were cold, Mad-Eye, it must have been freeezing," Ron said, trying to duck away from his Mothers swiping hand.

"Why didn't you all apply heating charms?" Hermione asked, considering that most of these people were Aurors, who, in her opinion, followed the lifestyle of 'Act now, think later.'

"Course we couldn't lass, to temperamental and it could of caused us to fall of our brooms." Mad-Eye watched as she nodded slightly in understanding. "And we were a lot higher than 30 feet." Her face instantly turned pale at the mere thought. She had a weak stomach, not a good quality to have during the war. Not that he'd want kids to fight, but he didn't really want them unprepared either. At least give 'em a fighting chance.

'Got it,' he muttered, raising what looked like a silver cigarette lighter into the air and clicking it.

The nearest streetlamp went out with a pop. He clicked the unlighter again; the next lamp went out; he kept clicking until every lamp in the square was extinguished and the only remaining light came from curtained windows and the sickle moon overhead.

"That's really cool!" Ron exclaimed. It would come in handy when ... well, it probably wouldn't, but it was still awesome. Fred and George were thinking the same thing, thoughts of pranks coming thick and fast.

"We're nearly finished the chapter, I don't suppose you could hurry up please." Hestia spoke softly, not really appreciating all the attention fixed on her.

'Borrowed it from Dumbledore,' growled Moody, pocketing the Put-Outer. 'That'll take care of any Muggles looking out of the window, see? Now come on, quick.'

He took Harry by the arm and led him from the patch of grass, across the road

"You should really look both ways when crossing the street," Molly said. Fed up of her constant worrying, the majority of the room ignored her. Arthur was busy trying to soothe his wife who was pale with worry.

and on to the pavement; Lupin and Tonks followed, carrying Harry's trunk between them, the rest of the guard, all with their wands out, flanking them.

"Not suspicious at all," Fred chimed in, helpfully. Moody's glare though was even worse than Harry's so he decided not to comment on any plan of his in the future.

The muffled pounding of a stereo was coming from an upper window in the nearest house. A pungent smell of rotting rubbish came from the pile of bulging bin-bags just inside the broken gate.

'Here,' Moody muttered, thrusting a piece of parchment towards Harry's Disillusioned hand and holding his lit wand close to it, so as to illuminate the writing. 'Read quickly and memorise.'

"That's really unsafe. What if you were captured by Death Eaters, they'd know Headquarters immediately," Really, Hermione thought, they all lacked common sense!

Harry looked down at the piece of paper. The narrow handwriting was vaguely familiar. It said:

The Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, London.

"Ah, home sweet home," The room turned around at the voice, recognising it almost instantly despite it being a bit deeper than usual and still fogged with sleep. Everyone's eyes widened as they took in Harry. Oh my.

Ta da! Finished this chapter, and let me tell you, it took me forever!

If you'd review, I'd be extremely grateful. Cross my heart!

Thanks for reading, tell me what you think ... was it terrible? Did it fit in well? Is their too much dialogue? I don't know, you tell me.

Thanks for reading,

Vickie1996 xxx