"How'd tea go?" Tonks called from the kitchen. "That was rather quick... Did you even eat?"
"No, things got too awkward," Harry admitted as he walked into the room. "I asked her what happened and said she wasn't like herself," Harry grumbled as he ran his fingers through his hair and slumped into a chair at the kitchen table. "It turns out that Ron lied to her about why I didn't join them that summer. He said I was ill and didn't want to go."
"I remember something like that," Tonks admitted. "She wanted to visit you but Ron reminded her about the Dursleys and how they hated your friends so she stayed back." She stepped behind him and hugged him around the shoulders. "Hermione wasn't happy until they left for the Express, but you had already left via portkey at that point."
Harry shrugged. "We couldn't risk it with the increased Death Eater attacks."
"I know, Harry," she whispered and kissed his cheek.
"I'm going to take a nap," he said after a moment. "Today was a bit draining."
"Want me to join you?" she whispered with a nibble on his ear.
"If you want," he said with a slight smile. Harry turned and kissed her tenderly before he went to the bedroom and stripped to his boxers. He slid into bed and stared out the window wondering what had happened to the Hermione Granger he'd grown to love. A few moments later, he felt Tonks slip her arm around him and snuggle into his back.
"Why didn't you tell her how you felt?" Tonks asked as she kissed his shoulder. "I mean, before..."
"I didn't make it in time," Harry said with a sigh. "I planned to give her a break from studying with something to eat and tell her then, but Ron somehow told her just before I did." He rolled to his back and stared at the ceiling. "She was so happy that I didn't have the heart to tell her. Needless to say, Ron would have gotten angry and who could say she wouldn't have stuck by his side?"
Tonks kissed his cheek and slid in closer as he explained what happened. She settled her head on his chest and nodded for him to continue.
"When Ron owled me telling me to stay away from the Burrow, I figured that was the end of our friendship. At school he was cold towards me and was always coming between Hermione and me. She became more distant, though we talked from time to time, it just seemed like she didn't want to be around me that often."
"I thought for sure that you and she were meant for each other," Tonks said casually. "You two seemed to be on a completely different wavelength than she ever was with Ron..."
"Do you know what's funny? I can still read her," Harry said with a sarcastic snort. "And she can still read me... Things fell apart when I asked her why she was forcing her smiles and happiness... Oh, did that make her angry."
"She probably felt you were saying she didn't love Ron..."
"In a way, Ron makes me think of that one guy you dated..."
"Peter?"
"No, the controlling one," Harry corrected with a shake of his head.
"Oh, Adam," Tonks said with a roll of her eyes. "He started laying down the lies... When I found out; he got what was coming to him."
"I wonder how many more lies Ron's been telling her..." Harry thought aloud. "I overheard one of their conversations today, he Floos her several times a day... she wanted to buy new robes but he said they didn't have enough money, yet he has enough to keep in touch with her?"
"Floo powder is pretty expensive," Tonks said with a yawn.
"That's what I'm thinking too," Harry said quietly. "Tonks, you should have seen her, I mean she's still beautiful, but she's put on weight. And no, I didn't point that out to her. I have more tact than that," he added with a grin. Tonks playfully slapped his chest. "She used to be more active and when it comes to what Ron wants, she's so subservient... and that's just not like her."
"She's not going to see it that way, at least if she's bought his lies," Tonks said sleepily from his chest. "Love or thinking you're in love can blind you to certain things."
Harry kissed her forehead and hugged her gently. "I see someone else needs a nap as well..."
"More than a nap," she mumbled. "I'm bloody ready to pass out."
"Get some sleep then," he whispered quietly. "I'll be there in a minute as well." He punctuated the comment with a yawn of his own and within a matter of minutes they were both sound asleep.
The morning started as early as it had the day before and Harry Potter found himself cursing at the unforgiving light that was streaming through the open curtains. He rolled over with a groan and covered his face with a pillow. "Is it me or did the sun rise earlier than it should have today?"
"Well, now that you're awake, you may as well get ready for our shift," Tonks said from the doorway. Harry squinted to see a blurry Tonks wrapped in a white blur. "I saved some hot water for you."
With a stretch and a yawn, Harry pulled himself out of bed and shuffled sleepily to the bathroom. One invigorating shower later, he was dressed and wolfing down the food of the morning. "What is this again?"
"Leftovers from last night," Tonks deadpanned. "We won't need to go to the market until we move to Hogsmeade and Moody sent our new identities this morning so they should be here before we leave."
"Did you use Hedwig?" Harry asked, noticing the snowy owl wasn't resting over the cooler.
"No, she was gone when I got up," Tonks said with a yawn, joining him at the small table. "Maybe she's picking something up?"
Harry nodded. "If anything, she'd be at Hermione's. It's been that way for quite some time, actually. I remember when she was in France with her parents and Hedwig showed up when she wanted to send me a present for my birthday."
"That's one smart owl you have there," Tonks said with a grin.
"She is, isn't she?" he said with a slight laugh. "Hagrid helped me pick her out when I first found out about the wizarding world. Oh, and thanks for picking up the treats, she gets rather moody if she doesn't have any."
"Speak of the devil," Tonks laughed as Hedwig swooped into the room and landed gracefully on the table. She looked indignantly at the laughing female before offering the letter on her leg to Harry.
"It's nothing bad, Hedwig," Harry said with a smile and offering her a treat. "We were just discussing how intelligent you are."
If owls could smile, Hedwig would have beamed at Harry's explanation. She nipped Harry ever so gently on his finger and fluttered to her usual perch to finish off her treat.
Harry turned the letter over in his hands, noticing the tidy handwriting that Hermione had grown into and with a slight sigh, opened it.
Dear Harry,
We seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot, haven't we? I was hoping that things would have worked out better
than what they had but I had to go and mess everything up, didn't I? I'm sorry that I got angry with you but it
felt like you were telling me that Ron and I weren't meant to be together. Harry, he loves me so much, he really
does! I just wish that we were all together again... I miss your company, even if we were just sitting in the common
room and you two were playing wizard's chess. When we found you bleeding to death in the forbidden forest after
your fight with Voldemort, I thought I'd lost you forever! It almost ended my relationship with Ron when I sat by
your side until you woke up. We patched things up after that but the thought of losing you broke my heart. I hope we
can sort out our differences and be able to see each other more often... the time we spent together yesterday felt
great, even if it was only for a few hours.
I'm sorry that I've put my foot in my mouth and I hope you reconsider coming over more often. Can you
forgive me?
Love from
Hermione
Harry stared in disbelief at what he'd just read then reread it just to be sure he hadn't made a mistake.
"Is something wrong?" Tonks asked concernedly as she scooted next to him.
"Hermione just apologized for messing everything up yesterday," Harry said to his partner and handed her the letter which she read quickly. "She made it sound as if..."
"She was in love with you..." Tonks finished. "I remember the fights she and Ron had when she refused to leave you alone. He was livid."
Harry sighed and rested his face in his hands. "I can't believe it was his jealousy that pushed them away. HIS BLOODY JEALOUSY!" Harry slammed his fists on the table causing both Tonks and Hedwig to jump.
"Calm down, Harry," she said soothingly. "Listen, why don't we take care of our shift and then we'll see what we can do about this when we're done?"
Harry clenched his fists slowly and closed his eyes. After a few deep breaths he looked at Tonks and smiled apologetically. "Sorry about that. It seems Ron and I need to have a heart-to-heart chat sometime in the future."
"I don't think that's a good idea," she said warningly. "With you angry at him and Ron being protective of Hermione, things could get ugly quick."
Harry grimaced and nodded his acquiescence. "Maybe I'll do a bit of checking around first, talk to her parents and Mrs. Weasley. That is, if he hasn't spread his lies to them as well."
"That's a bit better, you haven't seen them in a while, and perhaps it'll be a good idea to visit everyone again, for them and for you," Tonks said with a kiss to his cheek.
Harry returned the kiss and stood from his chair. "Let's get this shift over with. We'll probably have to move in the next week," he said after concentrating for a moment. When he opened his eyes, he was looking at his lovely wife, Mrs. Smith and she at her husband. They donned their rings and left for the day in Muggle fashion.
Taking their positions on the rooftops surrounding the Leaky Cauldron, they kept their lookout for the person they were tracking. Four months of surveillance had proven futile in their efforts and Kingsley arrived shortly before their shift ended.
"Any luck?" The baritone voice of Kingsley Shacklebolt rang out as he approached.
"Not a peep," Harry said in frustration. "The wards are up, I can see them, but no disguises detected. Everyone else has been regulars."
"Diggle was in and out a few times, Crockford, several other witches, wizards and hags, but nobody that fits his description," Tonks added, not turning from the entrance below.
"We have agents in and around Gringotts now," Kingsley said quietly. "You'll need to move to your house in Hogsmeade by the end of the week, and here are your new identities," he said, handing them both dossiers containing the proper Muggle and wizard documents which looked to be another married couple in their early twenties. "Have these memorized as per standard procedure and we expect you to be in place within two weeks. Standard cover, no need for stakeouts unless you're in the Hogshead or the Three Broomsticks. As far as anyone knows, you're a happily married couple."
Harry and Tonks nodded their understanding and packed their new orders and lives in their robes. "We'll finish up here and start the move tomorrow," Harry said after returning to his surveillance.
"This assignment is over, Potter," Kinsley said in a way that made it final. "Follow your new orders, they take effect immediately."
Harry nodded and with a final look over his shoulder, he and Tonks started on their way to their flat. They were climbing down the fire escape when the storm from the other night seemed to return in full force and they doubled their efforts to get to the alley below.
"Tonks, the steps are wet, slow down," Harry said cautiously as he looked up to find her quickly gaining on him.
"I don't want to be on this bloody thing when the lightning starts, Harry," she said nervously just before everything slid into slow motion.
Harry looked up just in time to see her cloak wrap around her foot. He reached to catch her but she somehow, in Tonks' seemingly unique clumsiness, fell away from the slippery ladder. Harry reached for her hand but the rain made it slick and she slipped from his grasp. With a sickening thud, she landed in a pile of garbage at the base of the building.
Harry slid down the remaining length of ladder as quickly as he could and checked on his partner. "Tonks, are you alright?!" He checked her pulse and breathing, which were fine, but she'd been knocked unconscious and her leg was sticking out at an awkward angle. He grimaced as he gently took her calf and thigh in hand. "This is going to hurt..." he whispered and set the bone gingerly. Luckily, she was unconscious and didn't cry out in pain. With a wave of his wand, he produced a splint and checked her over for further injury, of which he found no trace besides a possible concussion. With a grunt, he picked her up and apparated to St. Mungo's.
"What happened?" a passing mediwitch asked as Harry set Tonks down on a gurney.
"She fell from a wet ladder, possible concussion and a broken leg," Harry explained as he finished laying his partner on the mobile bed. "Her name is Nymphadora Tonks, but she goes by Tonks exclusively."
"Ah, Miss Tonks... I've heard of her," the mediwitch said with a slight smile. "If you'll fill out the necessary forms at the front desk, we'll get her fixed up."
Harry smiled his appreciation and stood in line, which was thankfully short. After a brief explanation of the situation and several signed forms later he took a seat in the waiting area until called.
To pass the time, he watched people come and go. Little children who'd swallowed things they shouldn't have, an old wizard suffering from a Blast-Ended Skrewt attack, and a few other emergencies from around London made their appearances in staggered intervals. He looked up and smiled as an old school friend walked up.
"Harry Potter! I haven't seen you in ages!" she said with a smile, stopping in front of him. "How've you been?"
Harry stood and gave her a quick, friendly hug before stepping back and looking her over. "I never thought you'd go into the healer business," he said with a grin.
"You, on the other hand, screamed Auror," she said with a laugh. "Though I guess you were groomed into that, weren't you?"
"I guess," he said with a shrug. "It keeps the Death Eaters from attacking anybody else at least."
"So, are you here to pick up Hermione?" she asked with a smile. "You three were inseparable in school."
"Hermione's here?" he asked quietly. "What happened, Susan?"
Susan Bones looked at him for a moment in confusion then smiled slightly. "She meant it when she said nobody was going to come then?"
"What room is she in?" Harry asked concernedly. "Was it something bad?"
Susan shook her head. "She'll be fine, some stomach problems that her prescribed potions will take care of if she keeps up with them," she explained as she examined the chart she was carrying and nodded. "Hermione's in room two hundred... I was just about to call her parents but since her best friend is here, I think you can handle it."
Harry smiled his thanks and as quickly as he could, without running, rushed to her room. The door was open and she was staring out the window with a lost expression on her face. His heart fell at the state she was in and he collected himself before knocking softly on the door.
The noise startled her and she spun around to the door. A wide smile started to fill her face before she looked to the floor in shame. "Hi, Harry," she said quietly and fidgeted uncomfortably on the edge of the bed.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" he asked quietly, stepping into the room but keeping his distance at her nervousness.
"Better now," she replied with a slight smile. "I thought Susan was going to call my parents..."
"I happened to be in the waiting room when she walked through," Harry explained. Hermione looked up at him curiously and he smiled softly. "Tonks had an accident and I had to apparate her here. She fell, broke her leg and got knocked unconscious..."
"I hope she'll be alright..." Hermione said worriedly.
"She'll be fine. It seems she's a legend around here," he chuckled softly. They fell into a deafeningly awkward silence and Harry cleared his throat. "I got your letter today and you've done nothing that requires forgiveness, Hermione."
"I ruined a perfectly good afternoon with you, Harry..." she started and jumped when he set a hand on her shoulder.
"No, you didn't," he said firmly. "I brought up something you weren't comfortable talking to me about and you reacted normally. The relationship that you have with Ron is none of my business."
She looked at him and smiled softly. "I wish it was as easy to talk to you about everything like it used to be," she said sadly.
Harry sat next to her and put a comforting arm around her shoulders, she stiffened slightly at the touch, but this time he didn't relent. "Hermione, how long have you had stomach problems?"
"Oh, well, for the past three years," she admitted with a shrug. "They started after we finished Hogwarts. You know me, worrying about this or that," she said with a slightly nervous chuckle. "We just haven't had enough money to pay for the potions. As luck would have it, I made a slight breakthrough and got a bonus at work. I had an attack today but was able to make it here via Floo."
"Does Ron know about this?" Harry asked concernedly.
Hermione nodded. "He thinks it's partly ulcer, partly in my head," she admitted. "After the last few times I had to come here, he figured I'd be ok with the supply of pain killers and potions we got last time."
"Hey, if you need anyone to pick you up again, send Hedwig, I'll be here as quick as I can," Harry said softly as he rubbed her back. "I know that it might cause some friction, but I'm here if you need me."
Hermione smiled thankfully and patted his knee before slowly standing from the bed. "Thanks, Harry," she said after she'd finally gotten to her feet. "But you don't have to do that; you must be busy with work."
"Tonks can cover for me," he said with a reassuring smile. "Why don't we get you home and into bed?"
"You don't mind?" she asked with a slight smile.
"Of course not! How many times did you watch over me when I was in the hospital wing at Hogwarts?" he asked with a smile as he led her out into the hallway. "I didn't know that you and Ron almost broke up because of me, sorry about that."
Hermione stopped and looked at him. "Why are you sorry about that?" She began walking again after he motioned for her to follow. "I mean, I was ignoring him for two weeks, he was bound to get upset over it. I didn't think he'd leave me because of that... I just couldn't bear it if you died."
"I couldn't have either," Harry said with a soft chuckle. He was rewarded with a smile and smiled in return. It took them a while to reach the lobby where another mediwitch approached Harry.
"Mr. Potter? Your partner has just woken and is asking for you," she said with a flirtatious smile then gave him the room number before continuing with her duties.
"Hey, want to stop by and say hi to Tonks?" Harry asked with a grin. "It's been some time since you two have seen one another as well."
Hermione thought for a moment, looked at the large clock in the lobby and smiled. "I think I have time for a visit," she said after considering the request. Harry smiled and the two of them slowly made their way to Tonks' room.
"Wotcher, Hermione?" Tonks said with a smile as the two of them stepped inside. Hermione smiled and waved nervously as Harry stepped into the room.
"I found her wandering around so I thought I'd bring her in for a visit," he said with a smile. "How's your leg and head?" Harry pulled up a chair for Hermione then kissed Tonks on the forehead before leaning against the wall.
"I'll be fine in the morning," she said with a slight smile. "Just waiting for the potions to work and I'll be ready to go after that."
"How did it happen?" Hermione asked concernedly.
"Ah, you know me, tripping over something or other," Tonks said with a laugh. "I just happened to trip over my cloak while we were climbing down a metal ladder in a thunderstorm. I didn't think it was wise to be on one with lightning blasting around the area."
"She took a tumble, I tried to help, but her hands were too slick from the rain," Harry added with an apologetic smile to Tonks. "Sorry about that, I couldn't get my wand out fast enough to levitate you."
"You got me here fast enough," she said with a shrug. "No heavy lifting for two days though, so you'll be doing most of the packing," she said with a grin. "Nobody said that accidents didn't have purpose!"
"Luckily for me we don't have much," Harry retorted with a grin. "Just our clothes and three trunks to worry about..."
"You two are moving?" Hermione asked in confusion.
"New assignment," Tonks said with a smile. "Undercover operation so we can't say much."
"The Auror division must have a field day with two Metamorphmagi in their ranks," Hermione said with a smile. She glanced at her watch, which she'd been doing subconsciously throughout the visit, and frowned.
"Ah, you need to get home for Ron's next call?" Harry put in as he bent to help her up.
"I'm sorry to cut this short," Hermione said apologetically.
"You can keep in touch with Hedwig," Tonks said with a smile. "It was nice to see you again, maybe next time we can talk about you instead of my two left feet?"
Hermione snorted out a laugh and shook her head. "I'll try to, Ron comes home tomorrow and time tends to slip away quickly after that."
"Do you two have a date set yet?" Tonks asked with her smile still in place.
Hermione looked at her in confusion then smiled wistfully and shook her head. "No, he hasn't proposed yet, but we'll see what happens."
"Take care, Hermione," Tonks said with a wave. "Don't be a stranger!"
Hermione waved and smiled as Harry escorted her into the hall. "I'll be back in a little bit. I'm just going to take her home."
"Take your time, Harry," Tonks said with a wink.
Hermione held a small smile on her face through their slow walk back to the lobby and the hospital's apparition point. "Oh, I can't apparate while taking these painkillers, Harry," she said apologetically. "Actually, I can't take any magical transportation. It's one of the things that irritated Ron about these visits."
"I'm sure we can manage the Muggle way," he said with a smile. Harry walked her to the exit and after a moment, they found themselves standing in the small alcove that served as the Hospital's entrance. "I'll get us a taxi, wait here," he said and dashed off into the darkness. A few minutes later, he jumped out of a car and helped her into the back seat. She gave the address and the two of them were on their way to her cottage.
"Thank you for seeing me home," Hermione said quietly. "I thought I'd have to wait for my parents..."
"Is that a bad thing?" he asked nonchalantly, turning from gazing out the window to her. "You've always been close."
"We... ah... haven't been on speaking terms since Ron and I moved in together," Hermione admitted quietly. "They weren't happy about it and tried to belittle our relationship. They just didn't see how much we care for each other," she said absently as if it were a rehearsed answer.
"I'm sorry," Harry said sympathetically. He laid a hand on her arm and patted it gently. "You know about my parents and I thought it was wonderful that you had yours to talk to."
"You don't have to apologize, Harry," she said with a sigh. "Ron and I decided that it was best if we didn't stir anything up with them, they were angry enough as it was."
"We're here, Madam, Sir," the driver said as he pulled over.
Harry looked out the window to see Hermione and Ron's cottage standing defiantly in the darkness. The lights were on in the sitting room and Hermione gasped in surprise.
"Ron's home early!" she said with a wince. "I didn't finish the laundry or the dishes before I left..." She struggled to get out of the car as quickly as she could.
"Hermione, calm down, you're going to aggravate your condition," Harry said sternly. He paid the driver and opened the door. "Don't worry about anything, get inside and get some rest."
"Harry, I don't know what Ron will do if he sees you!" she said worriedly.
"Don't worry about it," Harry said calmly. "He's treated me coldly for so long that I don't remember him being my friend."
"Harry!" she scolded in a very Molly Weasley-like manner as he helped her out of the car. "You might not be best friends anymore but that's no way to think! We've had many good times together, you can't have forgotten those."
Harry told the driver he could go and helped Hermione up the stairs to the front door. "I haven't forgotten, Hermione. I remember how Ron was and it makes me sad how things changed. He's different now," Harry said sadly. "If you need anything, anything at all, I'm just an owl away, Hermione."
She nodded and smiled gently. "I can make it from here, Harry," she said quietly just before she grimaced at the first step.
"I can take you to the door," Harry said reassuringly, "and before you say anything, I don't care if Ron is upset with me for bringing you home, somebody had to and I'm glad that somebody was me."
Hermione smiled genuinely and didn't refuse his help up the steps to her front porch. Just as she opened the screened porch door, the main door opened and a very livid redhead appeared in front of them.
A/N: I don't really want to litter this story with author's notes, but I just wanted to say that the updates won't be two days apart from now on, it'll go to weekly. I wanted to thank everyone for their lovely reviews and I'd like to ask that if you read the story, please review it... I need to keep up my addiction! :) Anyway, thanks to everyone who's left a review and also to my Betas who I'll list at the end of the story...