A/N: *sigh* This one isn't as long as I thought either, but there's quite a bit that happens, keep your eyes peeled! :) I'm glad you're still here, and for those complaining about the amount of Harry/Tonks, well, this is the story of Erin's mother and she knows everything from about her birth on... so if you'll just bear with me (I know you Pumpkin Pieers want to see some H/Hr action), I'll say that it won't be long... there's only 6 more chapters left... thanks for all the wonderful reviews! :) (and for those of you who are enjoying the story and not letting me know you are, please do so, I'd like to hear from you and what you think!)
"James, could you get the door?" Tonks called from the kitchen as she plated breakfast for four.
James Baker trotted down the stairs to answer the refreshed knocking coming from the front door and opened it with a smile.
"Good morning, James!" Hermione said with a wide smile. "I bring company this time!"
"Hello, Mr. Baker," Harry said with a smile, offering his hand for James to shake.
"It's nice to finally meet the famous Harry Potter! And please, call me James," he said with a smile. "Don't worry... Hermione's praise comes from your other qualities, not your scar."
"Is everyone in the mood for breakfast?" Tonks said with a smile from the kitchen. "James and Hermione don't have much time before classes start..."
"Harry, I'd like you to meet my wife, Marion," James said, smiling as he pulled Tonks forward to shake the hand of The-Boy-Who-Lived.
"Very nice to meet you, Harry," Tonks said with a grin, blushing slightly as he shook her hand. "Come on into the kitchen, I've got breakfast waiting..."
The four of them sat at the table and enjoyed Tonks' improved cooking prowess. "Thank you for the lessons, Hermione," Tonks said with a shy grin. "I would be burning the house down otherwise..."
"I didn't know you were taking cooking lessons," James said with a crooked smile. "That explains a lot, actually..."
"You're so bad, James!" Tonks said with a blush and slapped his arm playfully causing the others to laugh.
Harry looked at his watch and frowned before smiling apologetically to Hermione. "I've got to get back to Tonks, Hermione," he said with a small shrug.
"Oh," Hermione checked the clock quickly and nodded. "I should get to the school... I still need to clean up for the day."
"Same here, it seems," James said with a slight smile. "I guess I'll see you at Hogwarts then, Hermione." He stood with everyone and walked Harry and Hermione to the door. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Harry," he said with an extended hand.
"Same here," Harry said as they shook hands followed by James hugging Hermione farewell.
"Take care, James, I'll see you in a little while," Hermione said, pulling out of the hug and hugging Tonks in turn. The women laughed in their own ways before pulling apart. Tonks finished the goodbyes by shaking Harry's hand before the couple left their house and the door was locked.
"Race you upstairs!" James said with a wide smile as Tonks bolted to their bedroom.
"I win!" Harry said as she ran in to see him appear in front of her.
"This is going to be strange..." she said with a deep blush creeping in her cheeks as James entered behind her.
"Ready?" he asked cheekily, sweeping Tonks up in his arms without warning and carrying her to the bed.
"JAMES!" she squealed and playfully hit his chest.
"I'll get the shirt?" Harry said with a crooked smile.
"And I'll get her skirt?" James said with an equally crooked smile.
Tonks didn't know what to do so she sat on the edge of the bed with her eyes closed.
"Can't you use the Time-Turner again?" she whined again as they crawled into bed later that night. "I'll be good..."
Harry laughed and shook his head. "I had to turn it back in before my friend got in trouble," Harry explained as he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. "It seems that you'll be the only woman who knows what it's like to be with two of me..."
"I'm spoiled now..." she huffed as he kissed her forehead.
"I'm sorry, Love, but it was a one time only deal..." Harry explained softly, a smile playing across his lips. "Besides, I don't want to share you with anyone like that again, even if it's me..."
Her eyes lit up at his proclamation and a smile crept across her face. "You mean that?" she asked quietly, smiling even wider at his nod. "Mr. Baker, you've just gotten lucky once again today..." she purred as she slid atop him and nibbled at his neck.
It was early the next morning that a very tired, yet satisfied Harry Potter rolled out of bed and threw on his jogging clothes. "I'll be home for breakfast, Love," he whispered with a kiss as he reverted to his normal form. "See you in an hour."
"Remember the story," she mumbled quietly, pulling the covers over her shoulder and snuggling into the pillows.
"I know," he said, rolling his eyes.
"Don't roll your eyes at me," she commanded groggily. "Don't be late..."
"I won't," he said reassuringly and apparated to the school gates. Hermione was on her way to him as he slipped onto the grounds and waved.
"You ready for another jog to James' and Marion's?" Hermione asked with a bright smile.
"I can jog there, but I can't stay for breakfast," Harry said apologetically. "We're going deeper undercover and I need the time to get ready."
"Deeper undercover?" Hermione asked with a frown as they stretched their muscles for the jog down to the Bakers' home. "How long will you be away?"
Harry sighed and shrugged. "I don't know, a few days, a few months?"
"Will you be able to run with me?" she asked quietly before they started on their morning trip.
"I know I'll be able to when Christmas holidays are over," he said with a shrug. "But other than that, I can't make any promises other than sending Hedwig to let you know when I can get away..."
Hermione nodded, deep in thought as they started their run. It took them a good amount of time to run the route that Hermione had laid out to equal the Quidditch pitch laps and still end at the Bakers' house. They continued in companionable silence for half the trip before Hermione looked over at him.
"Am I pushing you away, Harry?" she asked, a blush forming on her face as the question left her lips.
"Of course not!" Harry said with a shake of his head then slowed to a stop. "What gave you that Idea?"
"Well, until the other day, you've been refusing my invitations to visit my new friends... though with your hours, I can see how difficult it is to get away," she looked to the ground and fidgeted slightly as he walked up to her.
"I know we don't spend as much time together as we'd like, Hermione," Harry said quietly, "but an hour a day is a good start. It's not the best, but we're getting back into our friendship again, aren't we?"
"Yes, we are," Hermione said quickly, "but I'm not ready to move to the next level yet..."
Harry laid a hand on her shoulder and smiled gently. "I'm not asking you to, Hermione."
She nodded quietly. "I would still like to spend more time with you... James and Marion are great, but I feel like a third wheel sometimes. I see what they have and I..." She looked up and shrugged helplessly. "I get jealous."
"You'll have what they do one day," Harry said with a gentle smile, the guilt that suddenly lodged itself in his throat hidden from her view. "You said you're not ready to be with me that way, just give it time and you'll feel better."
Hermione half smiled and shrugged. "Well, we should get going... I'm going to be late for classes if I don't get a move on..."
Harry glanced at his watch and winced. "Tonks is going to rip my arms off if I'm late."
They shared a nervous laugh and the two of them finished their run.
"See you later, Hermione, take care!" Harry said with a wave and disapparated. He had just appeared in the bedroom, startling Tonks who had just stepped from the bathroom. "Sorry I'm late!" he said quietly as he shifted to his undercover identity. "Hermione and I had a chat that took longer than I expected..."
"I assume that's her at the door?" Tonks asked nonplussed.
Harry nodded and stripped, bolting for the shower. He heard her grumble as she got dressed and rushed from the room to answer the door. He was showered and dressed quickly, running down the stairs in a rush to get Hermione to the school with enough time for her to get ready.
"Sorry about that, overslept," he said quickly, kissing Tonks on the cheek and letting Hermione through the Floo. "I'll see you at lunch, Love," he said quickly before following his friend to his office.
"Thanks for letting me use your Floo connection, James," Hermione said with a grateful smile as he cleaned himself off.
"Not a problem, you need to get ready for classes and you're running behind schedule," Harry said as he set down his briefcase.
"You and Marion are such wonderful friends," Hermione said with a smile and a tight hug. She kissed him on the cheek and left his office with a wave.
He shut his door and sat in the chair at his desk, sighing as he buried his face in his hands. "WHAT WAS THAT?!" Tonks screeched from the fireplace. Harry nearly jumped out of his socks at the sudden appearance of her large, green, flaming head.
"What was what?" Harry asked defensively.
"You know what I'm talking about!" she said angrily. "You left your lessons folder on the desk and I was just sending it to you!"
The folder in question slid across the floor to land at his feet and Harry looked at the irate face still lingering in the fireplace. "She was thanking me for letting her use the Floo," he explained as he scooped up the file. "She hugged me and kissed my cheek, you know how Hermione is with her friends..."
Tonks rolled her eyes and glared at Harry for a moment before shaking her head. "I'll see you at lunch," she said curtly and disappeared from the office.
"Could this day get any worse?" he asked exasperatedly under his breath as a knock came at the door. "Come in..." he said wearily and turned to see Snape hanging in the doorway. "Yes, Severus?" he asked quietly, looking up at the man and sneering back in his mind.
"Staff meeting at noon," he drawled with a sneer firmly planted on his waxy face then left the office in a flourish.
Harry shook his head in disbelief and found himself looking at an angry Tonks in their sitting room. "I won't be home for lunch... I will after rounds tonight, staff meeting at noon," he explained as her face seemed to get redder. "I can come home between classes if you'd like to talk."
"No, that's fine," she said, closing her eyes in an attempt to calm herself. "I'll see you when you get home tonight."
"The bell just rang," Harry said irritably. "I'll see you later."
The day dragged slower than he'd imagined it could. Classes were uneventful, the staff meeting was about mundane business and Hermione was quiet through most of their patrol. She'd mentioned Harry having to go deeper undercover and she'd be jogging alone until after the Christmas holidays and that led the conversation to where it currently was.
"What do you and Marion have planned?" she asked as they turned down another corridor.
"I was thinking about surprising her with a trip," Harry said with a smile. "I've been so busy with work since we've arrived that I haven't had enough time to spend alone with her in a relaxing sort of way. Do you have any plans?"
"I'm spending them with my parents," Hermione said with a wide smile. "I haven't spent Christmas with them in several years and I think it's time I remedy that. Have you gone shopping yet?"
"We were planning on doing our shopping Christmas Eve," Harry replied truthfully. "Just to get out and enjoy the carols and atmosphere if nothing else... have you?"
"Not yet," Hermione replied with a shrug. "I was thinking about going out then as well, though I've already got presents for Harry and the Weasleys I care about."
"Maybe we'll see you in Diagon Alley then," Harry said with a grin. "We could tap the Leaky Cauldron for a butterbeer and stew after we're done shopping..."
"I'd like that," Hermione said with a slight smile. Their conversation ended when Snape and Filch caught up with them and the shift changed hands. They parted ways at the entrance to her quarters and Harry Flooed back to the house after he'd reached his office.
Tonks was sitting on the sofa, wide awake and staring at the flames as he stepped into the room.
"Hey," he said tenuously. "Are you still mad at me?"
"No," she sighed, standing up and crossing over to him. She pulled him into a hug and laid her head on his chest. "I'm sorry I was so grumpy today..."
Harry caught her up in his arms and let out a low whistle. "Grumpy?" He stopped himself before getting into too much hot water and instead kissed the top of her head. "I won't be jogging with Hermione until after the holidays," he informed his girlfriend quietly.
"After the holidays?" Tonks asked with wide eyes. "I thought we agreed on just a few weeks?"
"We did, but I want to spend more time with the woman I love," he said with a slight smile. "I was also hoping we could spend a week of that time on a warm beach somewhere... As far as I know, we never had a honeymoon, did we?"
A grin crossed Tonks' face as she thought about the background of their undercover identities and it transformed into a wide smile. "No, we haven't..."
"You're undercover and you're asking for a joint holiday?" Moody growled at his two top agents.
"Neither of us has had a chance to relax since the war, Moody," Tonks replied matter-of-factly.
"Since I've been out of training, we've both taken what, three days each for personal days?" Harry asked rhetorically. "Neither of us has taken holiday and I think the stress is getting to the both of us."
"We'll even go in our undercover identities," Tonks added with a shrug. "Give the illusion that the Bakers are taking a week to vacation over the Christmas holidays."
Moody eyed the two suspiciously, his magical eye spinning lazily in its socket. He looked over their request forms, noting that everything was in order and let out a sigh. "We can have two agents there before you leave but we're going to need your contact information," he grumbled, obviously in a disapproving manner, but they'd made good points that he couldn't refute.
Harry and Tonks smiled brightly and after giving their supervisor their contact information, they left to enjoy the rest of the weekend.
"Could you get the door, Love?" Tonks yelled from the bedroom. "It might be Hermione!"
Harry left the kitchen for the front room and smiled at his fellow professor who was standing at the door with a bag of groceries.
"Sorry I'm early," Hermione said with a smile. "I thought I'd stop by the market for tonight."
"You don't have to cook for us again," Harry said with a laugh as he took the bag from her. "You've been helping us decorate this place for the past few months..."
"And you're doing it all the Muggle way," Hermione returned with a snort of laughter. "I don't know why..."
"I've always wanted to decorate the Muggle way," Tonks said with a smile as she stepped into the room. "It makes it more personal."
"Are you alright?" Hermione asked concernedly as she walked to her friend for a hug. "You're not looking too well..."
"I think I'm coming down with the flu or something," Tonks said queasily, "I haven't felt this ill since I was younger."
Harry returned to the room and helped his girlfriend to a chair, then left and returned with a cool glass of water. "That should help, Love," he said comfortingly as he stroked her hair. "She's not been feeling well for the past few weeks, Madam Pomfrey said that she'd have to wait it out, drink plenty of fluids, and eat healthy foods..."
"Mmm, do we have anymore chocolate left?" she asked with a hopeful smile. "It's always made me feel better when I was under the weather before."
"We're all out," Harry said with a smile. "Why don't you two have a seat and I'll run out to Honeydukes?"
Tonks smiled brightly at Harry as Hermione sat on the sofa. "Thanks, Love," she whispered and kissed him tenderly on the lips.
"Be right back!" Harry said with a smile. "Help yourself to anything in the kitchen if you're thirsty or hungry, Hermione."
"I'm fine, but thanks," Hermione said with a laugh.
Harry left quickly, smiling to himself as he made a slight detour toward the jewelry store. He thanked the shopkeeper as he made the final payment on the ring he'd set aside and pocketed the velvet box after he left. His trip to Honeydukes went just as easily and he made sure to buy far more than what they had previously.
"I'm back!" he said with a grin as he stepped into the sitting room, only to find Hermione unloading the paint for their project for the day. "Is Marion...?"
"Upstairs? Yes, she didn't feel well and had to make a run to the loo," Hermione explained with a glance up the stairs. "I mentioned stew for tea and she went green in the face..."
"It's something about beef and chicken that really sets her off," Harry explained as he stowed the chocolate bars in the refrigerator. "She's fine with most fish and vegetables however, does that put a damper on tea?"
"No, I can pick up some tuna steaks instead," Hermione said with a shrug. "The rest was mash and vegetables, nothing else..." Without a word, she grabbed her pocketbook and smiled. "I'll be right back with those steaks."
"I'll hide the meat," Harry said with a grin. "No need for her to see it and spend all afternoon in the loo..."
The rest of the afternoon, Tonks seemed to be fine, though queasy a few times while they painted the sitting room.
"When are you going on holiday?" Hermione asked as they stood back and admired their handiwork. "You were right, Marion, burgundy and hunter green really made the room more comfortable!"
Tonks smiled at the compliment. "We're spending the week before Christmas somewhere warm," she said with a smile to Harry. "James won't tell me where we're going yet."
"It's a surprise!" he said with a laugh. "You know that it's warm there, no need to spoil the rest..."
"Will you be back in time for Christmas Eve?" Hermione asked hopefully. "My parents and I would like to invite you over for our traditional Christmas feast."
Harry looked at Tonks, a soft smile playing at his lips.
"I don't see why not," Tonks said with a loving smile directed at Harry, "neither of us have spent Christmas Eve with friends or family in a while..."
Hermione brightened at the words and hugged Tonks tightly. "Thank you! I didn't want to be without friends over the Holiday," she explained afterwards. "I've only had my ex-boyfriend since we'd finished Hogwarts..."
"Well, now you have us and your parents," Harry said with a smile as he set a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Not to mention Harry..."
"Harry won't be here this year either," Hermione said with a sad look in her eyes. "His job as an Auror is pretty demanding on his time. I haven't seen him for the past few months because of it," she said with a sigh, turning away as a tear fell to her cheek.
"I'm sorry that you miss him," Tonks said quietly, rubbing Hermione's back. "You'll see him again, won't you?"
"After the holidays," she replied with a sigh. "I didn't realize just how much I wanted him back in my life until I couldn't see him again," she admitted with a shrug.
Tonks looked to Harry who had started feeling another bubble of guilt rise in his throat. "We should clean up if we're going to eat tonight," Harry said with a soft smile. "Hermione, why don't you take a shower and I'll take care of the sitting room?"
She nodded and smiled in return. "Sorry for that," she said simply and grabbed her bag on the way up the stairs. A few minutes later, they heard the shower start and Harry slumped into the sofa with a sigh.
"It looks like she's taken with you," Tonks said quietly as she sat in the chair next to the fireplace. "Is this the end then?" she asked in a raspy voice.
Harry looked up at his girlfriend and crossed to her, kneeling on the floor in front of her. "Look at me," he said gently but she continued to look at the floor, ignoring his request. Harry sighed and tenderly turned her face to his. "I love you," he said reassuringly, "and I'm not going to up and leave you because she might be coming around..."
"But you've been in love with her for so long..." Tonks whispered as tears began to well in her eyes. "How can I compete with that kind of devotion?"
Harry took her face in his hands and kissed her softly. "I can't wait forever for someone who might not see me as anything more than a friend," Harry said compassionately. "Yes, I've been in love with her for a long time, but I'm in love with you now and as long as you want me in your life, I'm there. I'm not going to leave you for a pipe dream, Love," he explained quietly, "and that's what she is, a pipe dream... Do you love me?"
Tonks nodded silently, the tears cascading down her cheeks uncontrollably. "Yes," she whispered, averting her eyes again.
"Look at me," he commanded softly and her gaze returned to his eyes. "I'm not going to leave you, ok?"
Tonks nodded again and hugged him tightly. "I'm sorry I'm so jealous," she whispered into his ear. "I can't help it... you two have so much history..."
"History as friends," Harry corrected. "You and I have a history too, and it's one that I'm happy to have. I'm not going to throw that all away for a dream..."
"Is everything ok?" Hermione asked from the bottom of the stairs, freshly showered and dressed.
"Oh, sorry," Tonks said with an apologetic smile as she wiped her cheeks. "Everything's fine, just a talk..."
"Do you want me to go?" Hermione asked as she started to collect her things. "If you need privacy, there's no problem..."
"No, no, that's fine," Tonks said hurriedly and stopped their friend. "We've already said what we need to, why don't you start on tea and we'll finish cleaning up the room?"
"If you're sure..." Hermione said comfortingly.
Harry nodded as he stepped up behind Tonks and placed his hands on her shoulders. "We're sure, Hermione."
With a hug to Tonks, Hermione went into the kitchen and started about her business while Harry and Tonks magically cleaned up the room. Tea went off without a hitch and it was late into the night when Hermione left for the school.
"It looks like she was crying as well," Tonks said with a sigh as they watched her disapparate from the street.
"Only one more week until the Christmas holidays," Harry said absently as he wrapped his arms around his girlfriend. "What have you been eating?" he asked with a smile as he rubbed her belly.
"What?" Tonks asked quickly, taking his hands in hers. "Are you saying I'm fat?!"
Harry's face paled instantly and shook his head vehemently. "No!" he replied immediately. "It's just..."
"Just what?" Tonks hissed at him.
"Nothing, forget I said anything..." he said quickly, backing away from the angering woman.
She raised an eyebrow at him and shook her head. "It's ok," she said after a sigh. "I'm kind of drained. I think I'll go to bed early."
"Alright," Harry said quietly as she came in for a hug. "I'll be up in a little while. I just have to prepare for classes." They kissed for a moment before Tonks went up the stairs to bed. Harry shook his head in confusion before starting on his lesson plans for the final week of the term. "Women," he whispered to himself as he sat at his desk.
The last week before holidays started went by in a blur for Harry as he and Tonks geared up for their trip to the Caribbean. His girlfriend was still completely unaware of where they'd be going even though she'd taken to asking him several times a day. Regardless, after their talk, Tonks' mood had improved dramatically and no longer became upset when Harry spent time with Hermione. He'd been able to jog with her on two occasions and his guilt at spending time with his girlfriend and not with Hermione lessened after spending more romantic time with Tonks.
Hermione's mood, however, had swung from happiness when Harry was with her in the morning to showing clear signs of depression when on their patrols. He knew what was bothering her, but had asked anyway, considering he was her friend in both personas. Her reply was always the same, that she was fine and just wanted to spend more time with Harry.
The last day of classes slipped by uneventfully and Hermione was over for tea, which had become a tradition of sorts on weekends.
"Has he told you where you're going yet?" Hermione asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Not yet!" Tonks said with a faux scowl, the bright twinkles belying any real anger she may have felt.
"I'm right here," Harry said with a laugh. "She'll find out when we get there, no sooner than that!"
"I should be going," Hermione said as a sad look flashed in her eyes. She looked at Harry and smiled softly, "Take good care of her."
"I will," he replied with a smile. "You have a good week, Hermione." He stood and hugged his friend tightly. "Things will turn out fine, trust me on that," he whispered as he glanced to Tonks.
Hermione smiled wanly and hugged Tonks before stepping out into the cold evening air. "See you in a week! Take care!" She waved before disapparating, leaving Harry to close the door.
"I hope she'll be alright," Tonks said quietly as she looked out the window.
Harry caught her from behind and hugged her gently. "She will be," he said as he kissed her neck, "she needs time to heal after everything that's gone on."
"When do we leave?" Tonks asked as she turned around to return the hug.
"Whenever you're ready," Harry said with a smile. "We'll be traveling via portkey and if I'm not mistaken..." He raised his hand and two suitcases floated to them, landing quietly on the floor. "We're already packed."
"You packed for me too?" Tonks asked in surprise. "But when?"
"While you were sleeping the other day," Harry said with a laugh. "I told you the trip would be a surprise... now, let's grab those handles and be off, shall we?"
Tonks grinned and after a brief kiss grabbed the handle of her luggage. Her eyes went wide as she disappeared, leaving Harry to laugh and follow suit. He locked the doors and grabbed his bag to the familiar pull at his navel and he stumbled onto a beach with crystal blue waters.
"James, it's so beautiful!" she squealed in delight and caught him in a bone-crushing hug.
"I thought you might like it," Harry said with a laugh. "I know how you hate the winter..."
"I love you, you know that?" she asked as she came in for a kiss.
"And I love you," Harry replied, reveling in the fact that he adored the woman in his arms. "Let's go find our hut..."