Unofficial Portkey Archive

Tonks and Pappy-Chapter 10

Harry continued to wait for Ron as he polished his broomstick. The third weekend of this month was Slytherin Weekend as it became known in Quidditch circles. This was the weekend, no matter when it occurred during the year that Slytherin House would be crushed. `So the theory went,' thought Harry as he looked at the parchment he and Hermione designed to get everyone pumped for the upcoming match.

"So, Harry, have you seen Luna this morning?" Ron asked.

"No, she must be having a sleep in too. Are you corrupting her, Ron?" Harry asked with a smile.

"She was really psyched about classes this morning. It was about the history of the dungeons of Hogwarts." Ron said. Slowly his memories of last night and this morning started coming back to him. He'd wondered why his stomach felt like he'd done a hundred sit-ups and his legs felt weak. He smiled. `It wasn't a dream.' "She should have been there; she had a new theory to present."

"Well, we don't have that class with the Ravenclaw House, remember? Only Divination, duh? Ron, you surprise me. All of the highly intelligent blokes in your family and you can't keep your girlfriend's schedule straight." Harry chided the still groggy Ron.

"Well, I'm not lucky enough to snog with my girlfriend after every class, you prat." Ron retaliated.

They walked down to the Common Room where Hermione sat patiently. "What did you do to Luna?" Hermione asked with a wink.

"What do you mean?" Ron asked.

"She smiled from ear to ear when I saw her this morning and she said and I quote, `I think I got the better deal. Ronnie's a real good kisser and you know….' I had no idea what she was talking about, but then that's Luna sometimes." Hermione looked at Ron expecting him to confess to whatever she was talking about.

"I guess I'm a good kisser. Did you tell her how you pined for me during the summers before this one, and then chose Harry instead? What did you tell her? Hermione?" Ron was interrogating her.

"Ron, you didn't tell her that did you. You didn't tell her we had…." Hermione looked disgusted.

"I just said that you and I had been close for the past few years and I learned a lot from you." Ron said sheepishly. "Well, I did. I promise that's all I said."

"But not kissing and you know…whatever she's thinking." Hermione was either embarrassed or angry. "I can't believe you." She grabbed Harry's hand and walked off quickly dragging him with her.

"Harry, you don't think whatever means….sex. Do you? I don't want Luna walking around telling everyone that I taught Ron everything he knows about sex." Hermione was sick about it.

"I didn't think Luna was the kiss and tell type, sweetheart. Maybe she just had a little bone to pick with you because she figured you hurt Ron? I can't believe it's more than that." Harry said logically.

"Well, if they cooked up that little line she said to get my goat. It worked." Hermione was fuming now.

"Hermione, don't go off the deep end on me." Harry looked at her with compassion. "I know it hurts when someone tries to give you a good ribbing. They've done that for years to me. Just ignore it."

"I didn't expect her to do it though. I thought you said Ron would give us hell for a while. He has a helper." She smiled and Harry felt better as they started walking again.

In recent weeks, Harry started sitting with Neville for Divination. Today he and Neville sat reading the assigned material from their book. Harry glanced up and over his right shoulder to find Ron by himself at his table reading. Harry just thought it was strange that Luna missed class. He and Ron missed classes, but not Luna and Hermione.

After class Harry asked Ron. "Where was Luna?"

"Oh, she told me that the presentation went so well about that dungeon thing that Professor Binns asked her to check a few facts for tomorrow. She said she'd just go down and check them in the dungeons." Ron looked unfazed by what he just said.

"You let her go to the dungeons by herself?" Harry said.

"What's the big deal, Harry? She had begun this project before she and I started hanging out. She told me she knew exactly where she was going and would be back right before supper. She left right after lunch." Ron explained.

"You didn't skip classes to go with her? You'd use any excuse to skip a class. Not Divination, I wouldn't skip that class. We, Luna and I have studying hard so that she can get good marks there too. I had to take notes. It just happened that we were reading today." Ron explained.

Harry didn't know why it bothered him so much that he hadn't seen Luna. `Maybe it was because he wanted to find out why she said those things to Hermione?' he thought. Harry just said good bye to Ron and went to meet Hermione for their last class, potions.

Just before dinner, Harry raced up the last staircase to put away his books when he saw Luna walking away from the Gryffindor portrait of the Fat Lady. "I was thinking about you today, Luna. I heard the presentation went well."

"Yes, it did. Professor Binns had me go check out a couple of my facts. You know, him being a ghost and all, he knew I had a few errors." Luna looked really peaceful. "Have you seen Ron? I was just looking for him here. They said he hadn't been back yet."

"He might be waiting for you to return from the dungeons, the entrance is right next to the Great Hall and it's dinner time." Harry said without a doubt. `Ron's not even going to miss a meal for you darling,' Harry thought.

"Okay, bye Harry." Luna said as she walked down the staircase. `That was close. Potter would have figured it out right there. I'd have had to stun him and do a memory charm. We have to get everyone, that meddling Dumbledore too.' she thought.

Harry looked down the staircase at her as she walked, shrugged and said "Imbruglio." At first he couldn't recall the new password for the Gryffindor tower, and then he remembered the word was the last name of the Australian pop artist and actress. He put away his books and took off his robes. He loved that sixth years and above had a choice of robes or not after the last class of the day this year.

He ran down to the Great Hall where Hermione was waiting. "I thought Professor Snape was going to accuse me of helping you cheat or something. He just asked me if I knew why Ron's grades have improved. He sits with Parvati and them since the beginning of term because you guys weren't getting along. I told him it had to be Luna. He just said. `Oh, I see, Miss Lovegood, eh?' I just thought it was weird."

"Well, at least it wasn't trouble for anyone. Do you want me to take your things to the Tower for you and leave them under one of the tables?" Harry asked.

"That's sweet, Harry, but no I'll just carry them until we go back. Aren't you starving? I am. Let's eat." Hermione replied as she smiled. `Harry, you surprise me everyday,' she thought.

___________________________________________________________________

The young pregnant woman stepped out of the bookstore and started for her late model Ford. She opened the door and saw the old man washing the windows in the antique shop next door. She put her new purchases in the front seat and walked over to Pappy.

"Hi, good day, Sir. It looks like you could use some help. Unfortunately I'm not in much shape to do that." Tonks said in a very kind and unassuming way. "Maybe you could use the rest from that back-breaking work by helping me find something?"

Pappy looked at her as she spoke. Every nuance even the gestures seemed just like Francine, only he'd never seen her pregnant. He hesitated for a moment while the shock of the memories passed over him.

"Are you okay, Sir?" Tonks asked very politely.

"No. Yes, I'm fine. I just had a flashback to someone you reminded me of and I kind of went blank for a second." Pappy said to Tonks, the truth filling the air.

"I'm Jane, pleased to make your acquaintance." Tonks was glad for the time spent in coaching by Minerva. She could see the old man already wanted to wrap her in his arms and hug her.

"They call me, Pappy. How can I help you today?" Pappy asked.

"Well, I have a table in the corner of my living room that needs something to accent it. I was also hoping to find an older hanging basket for my flowers. I don't use real ones though, too much work watering them." She'd seen what she wanted the day before as she'd bought two pieces of old jewelry she thought were just gorgeous, she'd pretended they were for her wife as she went dressed as a man.

"We, well, I have some very nice pieces over here." Pappy looked at her again. He saw her through a much younger man's eyes and looked at her form as she filled out the maternity dress. He noticed that she felt uncomfortable the way he looked at her. "I'm so sorry. Except for some minor features you look exactly like my dear, departed wife did when she was in her late twenties. I don't mean to look at you so…" Pappy couldn't find the word.

Tonks found it for him. "…longingly." She knew she struck the nerve. `Minerva was quite good,' she thought. "I'll take that as a grand compliment from a very nice man. I can see in your eyes that you loved her and miss her still." Tonks liked Pappy so much she was disturbed having to deceive him. She knew that one of her greatest defenses against his ability to read people was to keep him focused entirely on Francine.

"If you'll give me a moment, please." Pappy went to the back of the shop and brought out three pictures. He showed them to Tonks with such loving care that she was afraid to put her fingers anywhere near the images. The old man moved as quickly as he could saying, "I'm forgetting my manners. You should probably like to sit down. I can bring those things to the table next to you so you don't have to be on your feet."

Tonks had to maintain her composure. He was going to make cry. She had to do this as planned. `For Merlin's sake, this is why I became an Auror-to become a spy.' "Thank you, you don't have to go to so much trouble."

"Juice, water?" Pappy offered.

"Really, water if you must." Tonks found this character she played very nice and calming to her inner soul. "These pictures are beautiful. She was quite a striking woman."

Pappy brought the water and set it on the table. He immediately spied the items he wanted to get for her to see. He brought them over two by two in three trips. "These should give you a reasonable selection." He smiled at her and grabbed a chair for himself. "Do you mind if an old man has a seat?" He said quietly.

"No, please do, I'd feel horribly if you were to be uncomfortable after going to such trouble for me." Tonks said with such conviction she surprised herself. Minerva told her that Francine had been a lady in all respects and would acknowledge kindness very openly. "Thank you so much for your kindness, Pappy, is it?"

"No trouble at all, Miss Jane," he responded. "Which of these catch your fancy? One of them, I won't say which was restored by my late wife the week before she passed."

Tonks considered herself a woman of the new millennium and was not prone to worrying too much about men. She knew that she could make herself available to anyone depending on her taste. She looked at Pappy now and wished she'd known someone as kind and devoted as he'd been. She thoroughly enjoyed their talk. She talked to him about Francine's death and had drawn out parts about Harry and Hermione as he spoke of Nathaniel's and Francine's dream of having a family. `A bright boy and girl,' he'd said.

She sat and talked with him for hours.

______________________________________________________________________

Late that night, Luna had come to Ron at the bottom of the stairs in the Common Room. She called him silently through his dreams. He awoke somewhat startled and looked down at her at the bottom of the steps. He'd heard Bellatrix voice, but now saw his sweet Luna.

"What are you doing, Luna? You'll so be in trouble if they catch you breaking into other Houses." He saw she wasn't budging. She had that look he'd remembered from last night. He wanted to see where it led this time.

"Don't worry, I know a way to enchant the portraits that stand guard at the doors to the Houses. Besides, don't we have fun together Ronnie?" She was wearing shorter than short shorts and no bra under her night shirt.

Ron couldn't take it. He put on his slippers and met her downstairs. "Can you get the map again, Ronnie? Just go up and get for me, pretty please."

Ron stealthily went back up the stairs and opened Harry's trunk luckily he had the map wasn't where he kept it-over the broom servicing kit. He quickly and quietly nicked it and ran down the stairs. "Here it is."

"Open it for me." He could smell the sensuality in Luna tonight. It was if she'd become every man's dream. Like she'd become the other woman many men wished they had. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." The map showed it's opening page.

"Show me where we are," Luna begged. He opened the map and showed her their names in the middle of the Gryffindor Common Room. The counterfeiting worked it now so it showed anyone attempting to use a false identity as the one they were portraying. She'd left yesterday for fear that any use by Harry of the map would expose her. It had been better for it to have appeared lost for a short time than be exposed. She'd wished she had thought that way the night before.

Bellatrix was using every prurient thought Ron had about Luna to entice him. She didn't want to control him by the Imperius Curse if she didn't have to. It was dangerous for the victim. If her master wanted Ron left alone, she couldn't very well leave a babbling idiot. `Not that anyone would know the difference,' she thought. "Let's do it right here on this sofa and the floor. Wouldn't that be exciting?" She undid the drawstring of his sweats and looked at him while licking her lips. Ron tensed as he felt himself exposed.

_______________________________________________________________

Harry awoke at four-thirty in the morning and heard noises from the Common Room. He walked down the stairs and saw a sight he'd never expected. His best mate was having sex with Luna on the floor of the Common Room. He wiped his eyes to be sure he was seeing what he thought he saw. He watched quietly for just a few seconds as they gripped each other hard, released each other and fell to their backs. He didn't want to see any more. He reasoned that he could pass it off as a dream when he awoke. Luna spied Harry as she lay naked, but said nothing. `Good he found us,' she thought. `And, so did she.' Hermione had scampered back up the steps as soon as she saw what was going on.

Harry was shocked at the total disregard for school rules and whatever other rules there were against this behavior. Ron and Luna had changed over the past weeks and he was going to find out how or why.

At breakfast he looked at Ron and Luna briefly, but shifted his gaze out of embarrassment for having spied on their private moment. They said, "hello" and walked to her table for breakfast.

He, Hermione and Ginny were sitting together this morning for breakfast. "I was going to ask Hermione, but you see them more and know them better as a couple. Do Ron and Luna seem different to you?"

"No more than you two did once things settled down." Ginny said.

"Whoa, what do you mean by that?" Harry looked confused.

"Once you and my brother reconciled, you and Hermione became more comfortable with each other and stopped a lot of behaviors you had before you knew each other." Ginny said.

Hermione said defensively, "I did not."

"I'm sorry that probably sounded bad. What I meant was Harry was less prone to feeling alone so he didn't react as strongly to personal slights as he used to. Remember when he just smiled and let Draco have it the day after the fight. And, you began studying like a normal very intelligent young witch. You don't seem obsessed. Besides, you walk around with that flicker of a smile like someone just having been snogging. I have seen it quite a few days during the past weeks." Ginny giggled.

Harry wasn't convinced but he saw the logic in it. Ron was obsessed with sex this summer. Charlie had said so, but having sex with your girlfriend in a public place like the Gryffindor Common Room. "Does he talk about how he and Luna are getting along?"

Harry slipped in the conversation as nonchalantly as possible.

"Why are you jealous that he's getting sex and you're not?" Hermione asked. "You saw them, didn't you? I saw them too last night. I couldn't watch but Ginny did for a second or two. You can have her if you want her, but that's not me." Hermione was upset. It was clear she found what she saw as revolting and indecent.

"Well, what do we do?" He said. "I'm not like that either." He looked truly hurt by Hermione's words.

"Well, if I were you two, I'd say nothing. Look you can't prove it now? What happens when your relationship develops to that stage?" Ginny looked at them and shrugged. "What?"

"We've been together now for nearly three months and we have more respect for the consequences than that. Why am I telling you anything? You watched them." Hermione said with disgust.

"I'd never seen it that close before so I just watched. If it makes you feel any better it didn't do anything for me." Ginny said.

"Uh, let's go Harry. I can't talk about this anymore." Hermione grabbed his hand and forced him out of his seat.

"Hey, I'm hungry. You can eat lunch later. Besides who could eat with a discussion like that going on. Gross." Hermione pulled Harry along as he finished his toast with his book bag hand.

Tonks went back the next day to see Pappy. They'd grown pretty fond of each other. "Hi, Pappy. How's the arthritis this morning?"

"Okay. What brings you back? Well, I went to sleep thinking about the boy you had here this summer. Harry, was it? Well, where did he go?" Tonks asked. "I mean, why isn't he still here?"

Pappy looked at Tonks with a grin. "I like you. But you know where he went just as well as I do. You are a very good Metamorphamagus. What's your name?"

"Shit, how'd you figure it out?" She changed back to her normal appearance once inside the shop.

"Please, would you mind remaining in Francine's likeness? You are a very pretty girl, with pink hair and all, but I just love looking at my wife's expressions." He said as he prepared to explain. "I only knew from my dreams last night. I saw you and Minerva carefully planning. Once my awareness was back to where it should be, I recognized you immediately today, Tonks. It's not a failing on your part. It takes one to know one."

"If I hadn't come back?" she posed.

"I wouldn't be able to tell you the rest." Tonks was flattered.

"You'll tell me anyway? Why?" She asked.

"There are some conditions." Pappy said.

______________________________________________________________________

"Wormtail feed Nagini." Voldemort ordered.

Voldemort was standing over Luna as she struggled against her ropes. They tightened the harder she struggled. "Dear Miss Lovegood, you will lose your hands and feet soon if you struggle anymore. You will cut off the blood supply. So, be still." His voice threw terror into Luna she'd never known possible. `How had Harry faced this monster,' she thought. `And what had he done with Ron.'

She heard a boy scream just at that moment. She cried, "No, Ronnie, not Ronnie. God no."

"Nagini has been fed." Wormtail said with delight. She loves those live ones with young blood to sustain her.

"Not your precious Ronnie, yet. I promise that that will be your fate too if you don't cooperate. Tell me what you know about Potter." Luna was so scared she gave every detail she knew beginning with the first time they'd met. She left out no detail. "So the prophecy was broken. Bring Dolohov to me and if Malfoy escapes bring him to me, dead or alive."

Harry and Hermione stayed in the Room of Requirement after the DA meeting that Tuesday to discuss the conversation with Ginny and Dumbledore's warning about the gifts.

"Should we tell Dumbledore? This is severely strange behavior, even for Ron. Luna doesn't strike me as the sexually adventurous type." Hermione said. "I am worried for their health and future. You know if they're engaging in sex there, they will do it again--maybe in her Common Room next time. Besides, what about a possible pregnancy that leaves a child with teenage parents?" Hermione was worried about them.

"We'll tell Dumbledore next week when we are scheduled to see him." Harry said. "Other than some potion or charm that Madame Pomfrey has to prevent pregnancy, there is nothing we can do? She doesn't have one for stupidity or we'd all be volunteering at our age to take it." Harry looked frustrated. He loved Ron as a brother. If it were once behind the shed with a girl or in the dorm once where he swore it wouldn't happen again, he'd be okay. But Ron looked at Luna like she had touched a nerve and made him happy. It was going to continue. Of that, he could be sure. "Let's change the subject."

"So, what can we do to evaluate our gifts to one another?" Hermione inquired.

"Does the music do something to you, Hermione? I mean except make you want to jump my bones." Harry laughed. "No seriously, does it make you feel more peaceful? Any other effects?"

"Ha ha, you sicko. Well, now that you mention it. It calms me. I see things more clearly. I don't get so emotional. I used to get angry and write letters about House-Elves and things. I still care, but I feel more at peace, yeah."

"Me too, when I see your picture or Pappy's, or Dumbledore's I get a sense of well-being." Harry said.

"You said once that you saw your parent's. Do you see them too?" Hermione asked. They were amazed that they were asking such good questions. Maybe the Room of Requirement also stimulated brainwaves for better thinking.

"No, not really. Well, kind of. They appear very lightly and pass quickly like ghosts or something. It's as if my memory of them is so weak that they can't appear or it's because they are dead." Harry said with a sad longing look.

"Harry, it is because the pictures in your heart are strong enough to bring them out, but not strong enough to sustain them. That's what I believe." Hermione thought, `it was also a possibility that it was the issue of death, but hadn't Harry said Pappy looked at Francine in the watch or was it McGonagall.' "Who was it that said Pappy looked at his wife right before he came to give it to me?" Hermione asked.

"McGonagall learned that from her discussion with Pappy." Harry said.

"So, see it's only a matter of time. You just need to concentrate more on your parents when you look at the watch. Just get a good clean picture of them and it will make you happy again." Hermione said.

Harry put his hand on her neck and caressed it. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Hermione? You make everything in my life make sense."

"Harry, you owe me a massage?" She said demandingly.

Harry said, "Okay, lay down on your stomach. I really don't know how to do this you know." He wanted to touch her and this was a sensual way to do it without terrible temptation.

"Go ahead, darling, I'll give you one when you finish." Hermione said already falling into a trance as Harry lightly massaged the back of her neck. He felt for the bones in her back and concentrated on where the muscles connected. He pressed softly and then harder each time up and down her spine.

"Undo my jumper. Just so I can feel your bare hands on my back. It's not going any further than this, Lover Boy. Even though it would be nice to…" her voice faded as Harry unzipped the back of her tunic-like sweater.

Harry touched her and undid the bra as well, but just far enough so her back was exposed. This was erotic. He wasn't excited like when they kissed, but he could feel the pleasure she got from it in her occasional groans of pleasure. Twenty minutes later she awoke from what seemed like a trance. "That was so relaxing I think I fell asleep."

"I think so too." He pulled her hair away from her back and kissed her from the middle of her back to her neck.

"Oooh, that's nice, but too bad for you. Hope you have nice dreams." She laughed. "It's your turn. Harry fastened her bra and zipped her jumper. She jumped up and they reversed places.

Harry realized immediately that she was from the `you have a knot right there' category as well as the sensual massage school. "What are you trying to roll cookie dough?" he asked jovially.

"You, just be quiet, you'll see." She stopped for a second and then he heard the music box playing. The song suspended his senses. Her light touch on his bare back felt like feathers and the sensation of a light falling rain on his back. He'd never felt so relaxed but so alive in his life.

When they got ready to turn in for the night, Hermione looked in Harry's eyes and said, "When we make love for the first time, we'll share what we did tonight first. We'll have nights of passion where nothing matters but rushing to the end. But I love you and I don't want to cheapen the experience like it seemed for Ron and Luna. They don't know what they're missing." She kissed Harry lightly and brushed his face. He looked in her eyes. His heart was on fire and only his heart. He loved her.

"So, Tonks, how was Nathaniel? I mean Pappy." Dumbledore asked.

She shared the entire story including her return, but some of the information Pappy had told her he'd made her promise to only tell Harry or Hermione. She admired Pappy and followed his wishes.

"Well, overall, he is very distraught at times with the loneliness. He said he was glad for the opportunity to meet Harry and get to know him." Tonks said.

"Did he talk about the anger toward the Ministry? He might have just said police or authorities." Dumbledore queried.

"Professor, with all due respect, I think he is just a sad old man whose time has come to forget all that nonsense. He might have borne a grudge like that years ago, but I actually think meeting Harry and going to find Hermione was a good thing. He hadn't left Little Whinging for the entire time he'd been there except this summer." Tonks knew she was playing a dangerous game leaving things out while telling Dumbledore, but she trusted Pappy.

"Are you sure? Did he tell you if he could see anything that presents an opportunity for us to ensure Harry and Hermione is safe?" Dumbledore asked again.

"No," she lied. "He said he'd already provided enough to ensure they were as safe as they could be. He said freewill changes the dream every night lately. He wouldn't tell me how." She gave a little of what he'd told her to save but only enough to satisfy Dumbledore's curiosity.

"I will go see him soon. I must. We have a mutual interest then in Harry's safety." Dumbledore dismissed Tonks as he departed up the winding staircase to the anteroom of his sleeping chambers. "Go now, I am tired."

Harry slept soundly that night. His dream unfolded as a misty night where it was dark and dank. There were trees. It eerily reminded him of the days of detention with Hagrid and Malfoy his first year. He walked down an almost hidden stone stairway to a dimly lighted corridor. He finds himself faced with a dilemma. Right or left. He turns left. The walls have no markings. He can hear the sounds of the forest echo through the tunnel as he goes deeper and deeper with his wand at the ready. He sees rats throughout the tunnel and looks closely for one that has a bald spot.

He continues down the corridor. He recognizes these as the extension to the dungeons that were going to be used as burial tombs, catacombs. The skin on his arms begins to crawl as he here's the voice of a large snake. "Come to us Harry Potter. Come to us now. Let this be over. You cannot win."

He sees two green orbs extending over his head and the laugh of a maniacally recognizable voice…Voldemort…"Game over. You're dead."

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Harry sits up in bed dripping with sweat again. Ron runs over.

"What's wrong mate?" Ron asked.

"Voldemort…," Harry said. His scar was scalding hot. Harry put his hand to his head. "I must have let my guard down."

The pain slowly subsided, but Harry was now on guard and had to see Dumbledore….

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