A/N: Ok, I'm throwing you a line to help you back up over that cliff face! :) Thanks for all the wonderful reviews! You've made me a very happy review addict! :) Keep 'em coming, there's no such thing as too much of a good thing! :)
"Hedwig?" Harry whispered quietly. "I'm sorry, but Hermione's here..."
The owl seemed to nod in understanding but held out her leg for Harry anyway. There was a note attached and he quickly untied it. "I'm sorry, you know you're always welcome here, but we have to lay low while on assignment," he whispered in explanation, caressing the owl's snowy white feathers. He gave her an owl treat and with a gentle nip at his finger, she took the confection and flitted off into the night, silent as a gentle breeze. He unrolled the parchment and read it carefully.
Dear Harry,
I'm so sorry that I denied you what you wanted today. I really wanted to kiss you too, but I can't let
myself fall into a routine of dependence so soon after leaving Ron. I hope that isn't why you left so early today,
I didn't mean to hurt you and if I did, I am truly very sorry.
Today was one of the most wonderful days I've had since we stopped talking. Just being with you made me so much
happier than I've ever been... you were right about the forced smiles and cheerfulness with Ron. I hadn't seen
it before my rose colored glasses were removed, but I'd fallen out of love with him quite some time ago. I guess I
stayed in the relationship because I didn't know what else to do, I was afraid to be on my own... I also realized
that I don't want you out of my life and if at all possible, I'd like to spend more time with you so we can get
to know each other again. I was so surprised when I found out about you and Tonks, but I guess it was inevitable with
both of you on assignment most of the time during and after the war. Today was also the first day that I learned more
about your past with those evil Muggles! I never knew that they had you cooking for them at such a young age!
I sincerely hope that we can spend more quality time talking together, just sitting on the couch enjoying a fire
and a nice book, or just being together... I'm rambling again, I know...
Harry, I'm not saying that I will never feel the same for you as you do for me, but please, please, be patient
with me while I work things out? I've found new friends in the Bakers; James is such a wonderful man and his wife
is amazingly kind. I hope to spend more time with my new friends and rebuild the life that I let squander away. If you
still want to spend time with me, send an owl, ok?
I hope I see you tomorrow morning at five...
Love from
Hermione
Harry set the letter down and buried his face in his hands with a sigh. He was happy that she wanted to be in his life more often, but he couldn't really commit to anything until after this assignment was completed. Harry took a long pull from his wine and leaned back in his chair hoping that Hermione would be alright and he grew curious as to what they were talking about downstairs. Several times he'd started to tiptoe to the door, his curiosity gaining the upper hand in his struggle to give them some privacy, but he decided against eavesdropping. He had just taken his seat once again after pacing around the room when Tonks appeared in the doorway.
"Is she alright?" Harry asked concernedly, crossing over to place his hands on her upper arms.
Tonks nodded and wrapped her arms around his waist, slipping into a comfortable embrace. "She's confused," Tonks said from his chest. "Spending the day with Harry was wonderful for her but she doesn't know if she loves him or even can... She's afraid that by not returning his affections that he'll push away from her," she said with a sigh. "You almost kissed her tonight?" Tonks asked quietly.
"I almost did, but I stopped," Harry admitted. "She didn't want to, and I wasn't going to force anything on her, even a simple peck on the cheek."
Tonks nodded against his chest. "She's gone back to the school for the night," she explained as she pulled away. "You've got classes tomorrow, we should turn in..." Tonks turned away, but Harry caught her arm.
"Hey, are you ok?" he asked tenderly, turning her back and frowning when she didn't look up. He hooked her chin and titled her sad face to his. "Why the long face?"
Tonks forced a smile and shook her head. "I'm just tired, we had a pretty active afternoon," she said in an attempt to change the subject, which Harry saw right through.
"You forced a smile and I can tell that you're still far from tired..." he said quietly, refusing to let her lie to him. He walked her to their bed and sat down with her. "What's wrong? You can tell me..."
Tonks shook her head. "I don't know, honestly," she admitted as tears began to form in her eyes.
"Hey..." he whispered when she wiped at her eyes in frustration. Harry pulled her into a soft, gentle hug and stroked her hair. "Shh," Harry cooed to her, "you don't cry easily..." he said quietly and tipped her face to his again. "Is the depression coming back?" Harry asked concernedly.
Tonks sputtered a laugh and shook her head. "Not more than usual," she said quietly. "Why are you so bloody nice to me all the time?" she asked incredulously.
"Because I happen to care a great deal about you," he explained, wiping away her tears with his warm thumbs. "Because you're beautiful no matter what you look like, you're kind, giving, and wonderful," he said quietly, followed by a soft kiss.
She smiled and hugged him tightly. "You always know what to say, don't you?" Tonks asked quietly from his chest. She stifled a yawn and laughed nervously afterwards.
"I guess you are tired, aren't you?" Harry said with a laugh. "It's late, and you were right, I do have classes in the morning," he whispered in her ear. "Why don't we get some sleep and see how we're feeling tomorrow?"
She nodded from his chest but stayed in his arms for a bit longer as he rubbed her back. "Okay," she said simply after a few minutes. Tonks looked into his eyes and smiled at the kindness and compassion she saw reflected in the deep green pools that were scanning her eyes.
"I still say that hazel is a perfect fit for you," Harry said with a smile after she kissed him tenderly. He stood and they both undressed, climbing under the covers to share each other's warmth. Harry was half asleep when he felt Tonks pull him in tighter and whisper something that he didn't quite catch. "Goodnight," he said quietly, wrapping an arm around her, feeling a moist, soft kiss on his jaw before he fell asleep.
Harry woke the next morning to his alarm, signaling it was time for his morning walk with Hermione. Tonks was still protectively wrapped around him and he didn't want to wake her, but couldn't be late for his morning get-together with his friend. He tried to move her arm and leg gently, but she fidgeted in her sleep and clung to him even tighter. He chuckled slightly and with a wave of his hand, Tonks floated off of him gently. He quietly slid out of bed and dressed for a morning of exercise and turned to find a bleary-eyed woman looking at him from her pillow.
"Off to see Hermione?" she asked quietly, rubbing away the sleep in her eyes.
"Morning walk today," Harry said, leaning in to kiss her forehead. "I'll be sure I'm back by breakfast..."
"Don't go as James," she warned as Harry reverted to his normal state.
"I wasn't," he said with a soft chuckle. "Get some more sleep and I'll see you when I get back."
Tonks rolled over in the bed, hugging his pillow to her as she closed her eyes. "Don't be late!" she reminded him just before he apparated.
Harry shook his head and walked to the Quidditch pitch. Hermione was walking slowly from the castle and he waved to her once she'd seen him.
"I was hoping you'd come..." she said as her smile grew wider.
"Wild hippogriffs couldn't keep me away!" Harry said with a laugh. "Look, I didn't leave because of you, honest..."
Hermione nodded. "I believe you..." she said quietly.
"And I'm sorry I didn't return your owl last night," Harry said apologetically, "I figured I could just talk to you this morning..." He gently set a hand on her shoulder and smiled. "I do understand how you feel and if friendship is all you want right now, then that's what you'll have."
Hermione smiled and hugged him tightly for a moment. "Thank you, Harry," she said quietly, "you don't know how much this means to me..."
"Oh, I beg to differ," he said with a laugh as they began stretching. "I seem to recall wanting to spend time with you for a while as well..." He smiled reassuringly to show that he wasn't angry before they began their laps.
They talked animatedly about their pasts, before they'd met. Neither was very comfortable speaking about why they'd drifted apart and kept the topics to before they went to Hogwarts. With their exercise finished, they bid each other farewell, both feeling lighter than they had before meeting that morning.
"I'm home!" Harry called from the bedroom in his James persona. There wasn't an answer and Tonks wasn't in bed so he went downstairs after changing into a set of robes, just in case there was company. He felt lucky when he walked in on Hermione and Tonks, who were deep in conversation, and he stopped at the bottom of the stairs when both women looked up at him.
"James!" Tonks said with a surprised smile. "I didn't hear you come home..." She rose from the couch and welcomed him back with a proper hug followed by a kiss.
"I just apparated into the bedroom," he explained with a sheepish grin, "thought I might surprise you, but it was turned back on me... Good Morning, Hermione," he added with a cheerful smile.
"Good Morning, James," Hermione returned with a smile of her own. "Sorry if I've ruined any of your plans..."
"You haven't ruined any plans!" Tonks said in a huff then sat back down beside her with a laugh.
"I'll just take that shower before heading to the office," Harry said with a smile and left the two women alone. It didn't take him too long to wash up and change into a clean set of robes so he went to the kitchen for a quick breakfast.
"Do you mind if I Floo in with you this morning?" Hermione asked from the doorway. "I don't have a class until later so I'll be able to catch a shower when we get there..."
"Not a problem, I'll be leaving in about ten minutes, is that fine?"
"That's perfect," Hermione said with a smile and disappeared back into the sitting room.
Harry laughed and finished his morning meal before catching Tonks in a hug from behind.
"Don't scare me like that, James!" she scolded him with a laugh.
"Ah, but you love me for it!" he teased in return.
"I do, but stop it..." she said with a quick kiss. "You two should get in to work, I'll see you at lunch, Love." Tonks added with a kiss to punctuate her pet name for Harry.
Harry blushed slightly and smiled, scooping up his briefcase and throwing in a pinch of Floo Powder. He waved and followed Hermione into the bright green flames to his office.
"Sorry to have surprised you this morning," Hermione said with an apologetic smile. "I wanted to thank Marion for the other day."
"Don't worry about it," Harry said with a slight chuckle, "you're always welcome in our house."
Hermione smiled and gave Harry a quick hug. "Thank you for being such wonderful friends," she said with a wide smile. "I don't know if I could make it alone..."
"I'm sure all your other friends are there for you too," Harry said with a shrug. "Our door is always open if you need to talk, and it seems Marion has been doing an outstanding job so far!" He let out a laugh. "She isn't normally a morning person, but she must have been up when you got there."
"She was," Hermione admitted, "but I'm thankful none-the-less... Oh, you have class in a few minutes! I should head to my suite..." she said quickly and blushed. "I'll see you at tea!" She waved and smiled before leaving the office in an attempt to get to her room before the students began to file into the classroom.
Harry shook his head and laughed as he pulled out the coursework for the day and after the bell rang his morning disappeared in a flash.
"I'm home!" he called as he set his briefcase on a table near the fireplace. "Marion?!"
"In the back garden..." He heard faintly from the back of the house. Harry crossed to the back yard to smile at the sight of his pretend wife hunkered down on all fours, repotting a plant in their garden.
"Hey there," he said with a smile, crossing his arms and admiring the view, "what made you decide to work in the garden today?"
Tonks turned to look at him and beamed at the appraising look on his face. "I just got an urge to plant a few flowers this morning," she admitted as she stood and dusted herself off. "What do you think?" She stepped aside and Harry smiled at the amount of work she'd gotten done.
"All of this, the Muggle way?" he asked with a raised eyebrow as he looked over her handiwork.
"Does that surprise you?" she asked in a huff.
"Well, yes, since you've been born and raised as a witch, I thought magic would have been the first recourse," he looped an arm over her shoulders and smiled brightly at her. "You did a wonderful job! My aunt would be jealous of this work!"
Tonks beamed at his praise and wrapped her arms around him. "I'm glad you like it," she said excitedly, "there are lilies, asters, and acacias here." She pointed animatedly to her right and left.
"I like the daffodils you've set off by the... gardenias?" Harry asked, looking at the small arrangement.
"Yes, gardenias," Tonks said, squatting next to him. "I couldn't decide if I liked the jonquil or mimosas better so I bought them both and they fit wonderfully well here..." She pointed around the daffodils to a trail of differing flowers that eventually led to a pair of new rose bushes.
"White and Red roses?" Harry asked as he bent to sniff at a bloomed red rose. "You're really getting into this, aren't you?" he asked with a laugh.
Tonks wrapped her arms around him from behind as he plucked one of the rose blooms from the bush. "We're going to be here for a while... I can't just sit around and read all day..." she said with a wide smile as he slipped the flower into her hair.
"I don't have much time left, how about a quick lunch with your husband?" he asked with a slight grin, turning to capture her fully in his arms.
"Sounds like a wonderful plan, Love," she returned with a kiss.
They walked arm-in-arm into the house, Tonks sitting Harry down at the table and bringing him a drink and a sandwich.
"I didn't mean for you to serve me," he said with a laugh as the plate was set in front of him.
"I don't mind," she said with a wide smile. "Start your lunch, I'll be right back." She returned a few minutes later with a catalog and her own food and drink. "Do we have enough time to look at some decorating guides?" Tonks looked into his eyes hopefully and after a quick glance at the clock Harry smiled and nodded, eliciting a wide smile from the woman sitting next to him.
"What did you have in mind?" he asked with a curious grin.
The remainder of his lunch was spent going over different color options and curtains for the house. Harry had to admit that the place was still far under decorated for a married couple, but they'd just arrived and he felt there was no harm in playing the role that he was in at the moment. The time to return to the school was soon upon him and with another kiss and a wave, he found the afternoon speeding by just as quickly as the morning.
"How were classes today?" Hermione asked as she took the seat next to him at the professors' table.
"Truthfully?" Harry asked as he ladled some stew onto his plate. "They went by far too quickly. How were yours?"
"The first half of the day was spent chasing animals around the room... Transfiguring pets into water goblets... Thankfully I have a few detentions doled out to clean up what the pets left behind or Filch wouldn't be too happy" she replied with a sigh. "The other half of the day went by much more smoothly, however." Her plate filled with what was on her training diet for the day and she smiled at the glass of pumpkin juice that also magically appeared before her.
They were interrupted from their small talk by the clinking of a spoon on the deputy headmistress' glass. The Great Hall quieted as the headmaster of Hogwarts stood and cleared his throat.
"This weekend marks the first Hogsmeade trip of the year," Albus said with a slight smile, "as I'm sure most, if not all of you are aware. There is an announcement concerning trips to Hogsmeade: Until further notice students are to remain in groups of three or more while visiting the village." A slight murmur rose from the students at the proclamation. "Yes, it is a different policy than in previous years but there is good reason. The Ministry has informed me there may be trouble brewing in the village and I'd like for you to be careful and watch each other's backs while you enjoy your liberty this weekend. Professors Baker, Granger, and Sinistra will be added to the normal contingency of chaperones to help in case of emergency. Please enjoy your meal!" With that, he sat and smiled at Professor McGonagall, engaging her in a conversation of sorts.
Harry turned back to his plate, taking a long drink from his goblet.
"Did you volunteer?" Hermione asked after finishing the last bite from her plate. "For the Hogsmeade trip that is..."
Harry shrugged. "I live there so I offered to help when I was needed," he said with a chuckle at her smile. "Is there something funny about that?" he asked with a grin as her smile quickly hid itself.
"No, nothing at all," she said quietly, smiling nervously for a second. "I'm just glad I'll have a friend out there with me, in case, well... you know," she said with a slight shudder.
"Don't worry about him," Harry said evenly, trying to keep his anger for Ron at bay. "I won't be the only one keeping an eye out for you, so enjoy the trip and watch over the students..."
"Thank you for that," she whispered, "even though my friend Harry is back in my life, it's good to know that there are others out there willing to be there for me..."
Harry smiled reassuringly and patted her arm. "No need to thank me," he said as he pushed his empty plate away. "That's what friends are for and you can count on Marion and me to be there should you need us." He stood and patted her shoulder before leaving for his extra lessons, which flew by rather quickly as well. Harry soon found himself walking the corridors listening to Hermione talk about her adventures when she was younger and a student at the school. He laughed at the right places and cringed when necessary. When it became his turn, he shrugged and talked about all the moving around he did. Harry imagined what his real parents were like and used them as a model when describing them to her. Luckily, he'd spent a year visiting both Beauxbatons and the Salem Witches' Institute so he was able to elaborate more when talking about his school days.
Hermione seemed mildly disappointed when their shift ended and Harry walked her back to her room as he had been doing every time they'd patrolled. "See you tomorrow!" he said cheerfully with a wave goodbye. Hermione mirrored his actions and forced a smile as he turned to his office.
She's not happy about something... Harry thought as he went over a few last minute lesson plans. I'm sure she'll talk to Mari... err Tonks about it... He chuckled to himself for mixing up his partner's names then thought for a moment. "I shouldn't correct myself, just for safety's sake..." he whispered as he stepped into the fireplace.
Harry chuckled when he saw the auburn-haired woman asleep on the couch with a gardening book resting on her stomach. He marked the page and set the book aside before lifting the slumbering Tonks in his arms. She shifted and wrapped her arms around him, resting her head in the crook of his shoulder, mumbling something he didn't catch. This time, she didn't complain when he sat her on the bed and removed her clothes for the evening. He smiled slightly and helped her under the covers before doing the same for himself.
Tonks rolled into him and kissed him tenderly on the neck. "Hi," she said groggily, "I've missed you, Love."
Harry smiled and wrapped his arms around her. "I'm right here, Marion," he whispered back sleepily, "get some sleep..."
She nodded slightly and as Harry began to lose consciousness, he felt her deep, even breaths tickling his chest.
"Will you be going on every Hogsmeade trip?" Tonks asked irritably the next morning after Harry returned from walking with Hermione.
"I most certainly am," he replied bewildered. "I'll be able to watch over the students when they're here, we live in Hogsmeade so it's not that far away, and I can keep a covert eye on people around the village. What's wrong with that?"
"Weekends are the only time we can spend together!" she exclaimed, still irritated. "I know we go to the Three Broomsticks usually, but at least we're having an enjoyable time without hundreds of students swarming between us..."
"We still can," Harry said shaking his head and wondering why they were even arguing about this. "I just have to be available if something happens, it's not like I'm inviting the school to our house for brunch!" Just then the clock signaled that it was time for class and Harry frowned. "I have to get to work. We'll just have to continue over lunch!" He grabbed his briefcase and stormed into the fireplace, completely irritated that he was late for class and that Tonks was even arguing with him about a simple trip to the village.
"I'm sorry I'm late," he announced to the first class of the day, "Please open your books to page fifty-seven..." The rest of the day went just as well as his morning, Snape seemingly irritating him for the joy of it by suddenly pulling him out of the class just before lunch.
"What is it, Severus?" Harry asked somewhat grumpier than he intended. "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you... What's on your mind?"
"The headmaster would like to see you during lunch," the potions master said breezily. "He asked me to inform you and I have." Snape sneered and swooped down the corridor, causing a few first years to shuffle against the wall in fear. Harry shook his head and grumbled as he re-entered the classroom to assign homework. The bell rang and he found himself in his office, on all fours with his head in the fireplace.
"I know this is bad timing!" Harry snapped back. "I've got to meet with Dumbledore about something; I'll have to see you at tea."
Tonks looked at him crossly before leaving the sitting room for the kitchen, stomping angrily the entire way. Harry watched her storm off with a mix of anger, resentment, guilt, and surprise before returning fully to his office. He walked swiftly to the headmaster's office and at the invitation extended to him, stepped into the room and closed the door behind him.
"Is there anything wrong?" Albus asked concernedly from behind his desk. He waved his hand causing a platter of sandwiches and two goblets to appear on his desk.
"Marital problems," Harry growled as he slumped into his chair. "There shouldn't be any, but I guess some friction was going to come up, living in close quarters for as long as we have..."
The headmaster's eyes twinkled momentarily before he cleared his throat. "I have news for you concerning your case," he said gravely. Harry perked up immediately at the nibble he was offered and nodded for his old mentor to continue. "It seems that there have been movements in the new Death Eater factions," Albus explained, "and there might be an appearance in the area this weekend."
"You're going to cancel the trip, aren't you?" Harry asked earnestly.
"I can't do that," Dumbledore said as he stroked his beard. "If I were to suddenly cancel the Hogsmeade trip, it would raise too many suspicions. The trip will continue as planned, I'll inform those professors who know of the Order and grant them leave to attend the village as well."
Harry nodded and rested his chin on his steepled fingers. "I'll let Marion know when I get home tonight," he said, anticipating Dumbledore's next question. "We're going to have quite the talk anyway but I'm sure she'll be happy to know we might have a lead..."
The rest of the day went by in a flash, his final class ended just as he was getting impatient to get home. As the bell rang, he rushed to put his papers together and announced that his office hours would be after tea during the extra hour of instruction. With homework also assigned, he was in his office and magically in his sitting room.
"Marion?!" Harry called before searching the ground floor and the garden when he didn't receive a response. He climbed the stairs and sighed when he found her passed out with an empty bottle of Firewhisky lying on the floor next to the bed. He checked her over gently before sitting on the bed and gently rubbing her back.
"Geroff!" she growled drunkenly and tried to push him away but her attempt was feeble. Instead her hand slid off his side and fell to the floor where she patted around for the empty bottle of liquor.
"Why?" he asked quietly, turning her to look at him. "I thought you swore to stay away from the stuff..."
"You don' unnershtand!" she slurred angrily at him, tears starting to form in her eyes.
"Come on; let's get you sobered up..." Harry said tenderly, reaching for the squirming woman.
She tried to wiggle out of his arms but eventually collapsed into him and sobbed into his shoulder. "Shh, it's ok," he cooed into her ear as he carried her downstairs. Harry set her on the couch and set to work on a sobering potion. Fifteen minutes later, she was drinking the concoction. Her bleary eyes cleared up and she slumped back into the sofa with a pitiful sigh.
Harry sat next to her and laid a hand gently on her knee. "What's wrong?" he asked quietly, frowning when she turned away from his gaze. Harry captured her chin and gently turned her to look at him. "Tell me what's wrong..." he said again, looking into eyes that were beginning to well with tears again. "You're angry because I volunteer to watch over the students then I come home and you're pissed on Ogden's... You know what this stuff does to you..."
Tears rolled down her cheeks unbidden but she couldn't pull her eyes from the compassion that was overflowing from his. She winced when he wiped the tears from her cheeks and she closed her eyes with a sigh. "I'm sorry," she said with a trembling voice.
"Apologizing won't get you out of anything this time..." Harry said gently, stroking her cheek with his thumb. She pressed her face into his hand and a new set of tears fell from the corners of her closed eyes. "Hey, did something happen?" he asked tenderly as he pulled her into a hug.
"Nothing's happened," her muffled voice replied from his chest.
"Then what's wrong?" He pulled back slightly so that he could kiss her forehead.
She didn't answer him with her words, but with a tender kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him into her. They sat on the sofa kissing passionately for an indeterminable amount of time when the clock signaled it was time for his extra lessons to begin.
"You better get to the school," she said softly, resting her head on his shoulder.
"We need to talk when I get back," Harry said quietly, kissing her temple before rising to his feet. "It's about why we're here..."
Tonks' eyes widened at his news but nodded her understanding. "I won't dip into the Firewhisky, I promise," she said softly. "See you when you get home?"
Harry nodded before stepping into the fireplace and disappearing. This time the hour dragged on for eternity, his hunger causing the apparent lengthening of the time. His mind was rarely on the class or his empty stomach because his fight with Tonks and how she'd been acting the past few weeks kept creeping to the forefront of his thoughts. Ten minutes before class ended, something occurred to him and he decided to call it a night.
"You're dismissed, great job, all of you!" he said with a smile, patting Dennis Creevey on the back. "I'll see you tomorrow night, enjoy the early evening!"
His students seemed happy at the prospect of an extra ten minutes to do as they pleased and left the room talking happily about their lesson. Harry smiled at their enthusiasm and after a quick check of the classroom, entered his office, locked it up and Flooed home.
He found Tonks sleeping soundly on the sofa and smiled at the sight. Harry had grown so accustomed to finding her there each night that he missed carrying her to bed. This time, however, he was famished and with another smile, found that she'd left sandwiches out for him. Harry gently kissed her forehead before devouring a few sandwiches and downing a glass of pumpkin juice.
"Why didn't you wake me?" Tonks asked sleepily from the sofa.
Harry glanced over and smiled. "I thought I'd eat before I carried you to bed tonight," he said as he finished off his sandwich. After dabbing at his mouth with the provided napkin, he sat next to her on the sofa, letting her lean into him as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
"I'm sorry about earlier," she said quietly. "I shouldn't have yelled at you, you're doing your job and you're also working on the project..." she said and shook her head. "Don't deny it, James, I've seen you up late at night going over paperwork for the office..."
"You caught me..." he said with a soft chuckle. "I wasn't going to let you do everything."
"You're running yourself into the ground," she said as she gazed deeply into his eyes. "You need to get some rest."
"I will when Christmas holiday is here," Harry whispered as he kissed her temple. Tonks closed her eyes and leaned into his kiss, smiling lazily. "But we have news... you'll need to come to my office..."
Tonks slid off the sofa and waited for Harry to do the same, after traveling the Floo Network, he sat her down in the spare office chair and cast privacy charms on the walls, ceiling, and door. He went over everything that Albus had told him concerning the attack and that he'd already spoken with Moody using the secure crystal.
"So our assignment might be over this soon?" Tonks asked after a moment of thought.
"Only if our mark is present," Harry answered, also deep in thought. "I'm going to need you on that trip with me..." he said after a moment. "Is that ok?"
"Of course it's ok!" she replied incredulously. "We're partners and I'm not going to let you deal with anything like that alone!"
"I just wanted to make sure," Harry said cautiously.
Tonks rolled her hazel eyes and let out a sigh. "I told you I was sorry, James..." She thought for a moment then shook her head. "I really am sorry, Love," she whispered as she took his hands in hers. "I've been a giant prat and all you've done was your job..."
"And I keep leaving you by the wayside..." Harry said quietly. "Hermione asked if we were close..." he added hesitantly and noticed Tonks' wince at his words. "She was surprised that we were together..."
"We're not together," Tonks said quickly.
"I told her that we each needed someone to lean on," he said gently, "that during the war we had both been so lonely that we'd found each other..."
"But," Tonks whispered.
"She asked me if I loved you..." he continued, "And I told her I did, but not romantically and that you felt the same."
Tonks fidgeted in her seat then looked at their clasped hands. "Is that why she was so confused the other day?" she whispered quietly.
"It could be..." Harry replied, "but I might have been mistaken," he admitted, catching her gaze immediately when her head snapped up in surprise. "When I realized that I'd almost forgotten my promise to you, and the reality that Hermione didn't feel the same for me..." His eyes flicked to Tonks' lips then back to her eyes. "I realized that I do love you..."
Tears slipped from her eyes as his last words echoed in her ears then reverberated to her heart. "Y-you love me?" she asked in a tear-induced stutter. At his nod, she closed the distance between them, sealing his testimony with a kiss. "I love you too," she said with a trembling voice, feeling his warm arms wrap around her body and pull her into a crushing hug.
"Sorry I didn't catch on sooner," Harry whispered after a few minutes, "I didn't want to be blind of the fact again and lose you..."
"You're not going to lose me!" she said with a slight laugh, "but what about Hermione?"
Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I still love her," he admitted, fully expecting Tonks to beat him about the head and neck in anger but when he opened his eyes he only saw her caring face watching him intently.
"I knew that," she said with a reassuring smile.
"I don't want to cut her out of my life again," Harry continued at her smile. "I hope you're not angry with that, because I'd still like to exercise with her in the mornings and get together every once in a while..."
"Truthfully, I've been jealous of her," Tonks said, looking away from him, "I know she's really important to you but are… are you going to leave me when she starts to feel the same for you?" She looked to the ground and tears began to form in her eyes as the words she'd just spoken sank in. Tonks didn't resist when Harry turned her face towards him and her tears increased at the seriousness in his eyes.
"I'm not like that," Harry said quietly, "and I'm not going to leave you if she begins to feel the same way for me." He cupped her cheek and pulled her into a tender kiss. "I love you," he whispered against her lips, "and I always will..."
Her tears changed from those of sadness to joy at his words and she broke down in his arms. He could feel the relief flooding out of her and guessed that she'd had deeper feelings for him for quite some time now.
"It's nice to not hide them, isn't it, Love?" he asked as he slid back to wipe her tears away with gentle kisses.
"It is," she said with a soft smile. "How long have you known?"
"That's not important now, is it?" he asked with a grin. "What's important is we can be open about how we feel now."
"Why don't we go home?" she asked with an immeasurable number of twinkles dancing gleefully in her eyes.
Harry didn't say anything. He just stood, removed the privacy charms from the room and led her to the fireplace, where they magically transported to their house and made love for the first time.