A/N: Ok! The day has gone SOOOO slow that it's felt like a week to me! Here's the next chapter!
"What is he doing here?" Ron asked Hermione stiffly.
"It's not what you think, Ron," Hermione said quickly. "I was at the hospital and he brought me home."
"So you call him instead of your boyfriend?" Ron spat accusingly.
"I was at the hospital with Tonks," Harry said coolly. "She had an accident and Hermione needed to get home the Muggle way because of her medication."
Ron glanced menacingly at Harry then took Hermione's arm. "I can take it from here," he said coldly and pulled Hermione into the house.
Harry watched angrily as the door closed forcefully in his face and his blood boiled when Ron began shouting. He thought about bursting in and knocking some sense into him but Hermione somehow calmed Ron down. Harry let the porch door slam and with a quick look around, apparated back to St. Mungo's.
"Hermione's really changed, you weren't kidding," Tonks said when Harry stepped back in the room. "She was so quiet, not like what I remembered at all."
Harry grunted and slumped in the chair that Hermione had been in just an hour or so beforehand. "Ron was home when we arrived," he announced with venom dripping from each word. "I was tempted to break their door down and beat the hell out of him. He was yelling at her for having me bring her home!"
"You're kidding me!" Tonks said in disbelief. She winced suddenly and stiffened with a groan. Harry took her hand and squeezed it slightly. "Thanks," She said through gritted teeth. "You did a good job setting my leg, but the Skele-Mend still stings."
"I had to re-grow the bones in my right arm after Lockhart tried to heal it," he said with a grimace. "I'm glad that he's still stuck in the mental ward here."
"That must have hurt," Tonks said with a sigh. Harry handed her a glass of water that was sitting on her nightstand and she took a sip. "Thanks. I can't imagine re-growing an entire arm..."
"Why did they feed you Skele-Mend instead of using a wand?" Harry asked quizzically. "Surely that'd be faster?"
"With the concussion they didn't think the spell would hold for some reason," she explained with a tired shrug. "I've gone through this before, the first few hours are the hardest, after that, when the itching starts, it isn't as bad."
"Hermione was here due to stomach problems," Harry said quietly after a moment. "It seems she worries a lot and Ron thinks it's all in her head."
"That doesn't sound too good," Tonks said with a nod. "She winced when you kissed me on the forehead, by the way. I think she was jealous."
"She's always had a problem with me and other women," Harry said with a grin. A dreamy look entered his eyes as he remembered her reactions to Cho and Ginny's subsequent attempt later that summer. "I wish I would have seen the signs sooner," he admitted with a sigh. "Maybe..."
"There's no use in living in the past, Harry." Tonks said softly as she stroked his arm. "Why don't you get some rest? I'll be ready to go tomorrow morning."
Harry nodded and smiled gently at his friend before leaning in and kissing her tenderly. "Sleep well," he whispered as they parted. Tonks smiled slyly and winked.
"You know, I could get used to having you around... Hermione doesn't know what she's missing."
Harry chuckled. "If Ron has any say, she never will. Goodnight, Tonks, I'll see you tomorrow. You can't lift, but you can sure pack!" He laughed when she stuck out her tongue and he waved before heading back to the apparition point and disapparating.
Harry looked around their temporary flat the next morning, making sure everything was accounted for and in one trunk or another. Tonks was lounging comfortably on the sofa with her leg elevated.
"It looks like everything is accounted for except for Hedwig," Harry said as he tossed the remaining leftovers and half-eaten food in the dust bin. The Wizarding device munched away happily on a box of Chinese take away while Harry wiped down the counters and Tonks joined him by sweeping the floors.
"We don't have to be at the new house for another few days, Harry," Tonks said as she dumped the floor refuse into the dustbin and sat at the small table. "Why don't you stop by your flat and see to things there?"
"There's nothing there but my clothes and old Hogwarts things," Harry said with a shrug. "We'd be better off working on our disguises."
"Why don't I come with? You've never shown me your place," Tonks added with a smile.
Harry shrugged. "I guess we could, there's nothing spectacular about it, but sure. Let me get our luggage there and I'll come back for you. Let Hedwig know if she comes back before I do."
"Apparation is pretty quick. I think she'll figure it out on her own," Tonks said with a chuckle.
Harry nodded and with a few quiet pops, had their luggage sitting in his entry way. He apparated back to the temporary flat and with his help, Tonks joined him.
"Harry Potter has returned! Did he do well on his last assignment?" a small squeaky voice asked from behind them.
Harry turned and smiled. "Nothing good on the last one, Dobby, and this is Tonks, she's welcome here."
"Dobby is happy to meet a friend of Harry Potter's," Dobby said with an exaggerated bow. "Do Harry Potter and his friend wish to have lunch?"
"Only if you're having lunch as well," Harry said with another smile. "Don't worry about the luggage, Dobby. We're going to take it with us on our next assignment."
"Dobby understands. Dobby has sorted Harry Potter's mail and Hedwig flew in a few minutes ago," Dobby said as he snapped his fingers and hung their cloaks for them. "Dobby has the mail on the table in the kitchens and will start lunch," the house-elf snapped his fingers again and disappeared.
"You have a house elf in your flat?!" Tonks asked in a harsh whisper. "That's a first!"
"Well, this isn't exactly a flat," Harry said with an embarrassed shrug. "And Dobby works for me. He's been free for some time now."
"You pay wages to an elf..." Tonks said in disbelief as she examined the entrance hall and shook her head. "And this is too big, even for a house."
"This is actually my ancestral castle," he said after a moment.
"Castle? You must be loaded!" Tonks let out a low whistle. "Why'd you never tell me?"
"Nobody really knows," Harry said as he led her to the kitchens. "I inherited my parent's estate in full when I turned twenty-one. The only one who knows is Diggle and I had him swear secrecy."
"When you said you liked your privacy, you weren't joking, were you?" Tonks continued to take in her new surroundings as they made their trek and smiled when the smell of lunch reached her nose. "It's been ages since I've had a good home cooked meal..."
Harry nodded as he opened the door to the kitchens and smiled at what awaited them. Two or three courses beginning with soup and ending with dessert sat at the table. By Harry's normal seat were several stacks of mail, sorted in order of importance, and Hedwig was at her perch, letter attached and nibbling on an owl treat.
"No matter where I am, you seem to find me, Hedwig," Harry said with a laugh as she nipped his finger in greeting. He stroked her immaculate, white feathers before he accepted the letter then joined Tonks at the table. He set aside the new correspondence and began to shuffle through the rest of the parcels that lined the table.
"Dobby was unsure where to place parcels that were larger, so Dobby put them in the storage room," the diminutive elf said eagerly as Harry sifted through the junk mail piles quickly.
He immediately pitched those that didn't interest him - which was nearly every letter in the first two piles - into the closest dustbin and shook his head. "They're still sending me offers to work at Hogwarts," he said with the shake of his head. Harry stopped himself from pitching the letter, looked at Tonks then back to the job offer. "This might come in handy..." he said with a slow grin forming on his face. "How would you like to be married to the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts?" Harry asked with a fully formed smile.
"Wouldn't we be living at the castle?" she asked with a gleam in her eye. "I haven't had Hogwarts food in a long time."
"I'll talk with Dumbledore, I'm sure he'll let us live in Hogsmeade, but the house elves there cater to all the professors and their families, within reason that is," he said with a short laugh. "I do have to find a job there after all, and spending it teaching might be a new experience to add to my skill set." Harry noticed that Dobby wasn't moving anymore and he looked over to see his small friend staring at Harry with wide eyes. "What's wrong, Dobby?"
"H-Harry P-Potter is getting m-married?" Dobby squeaked in a high-pitched voice. "Why didn't Harry Potter say so?"
Harry smiled in understanding and shook his head. "It's undercover work, Dobby, the marriage isn't real."
Dobby let out a breath of relief and slumped back in his chair. "Dobby didn't know if he would have time to arrange catering or have the castle ready for a wedding!" he smiled apologetically. "And Dobby didn't think he'd marry anyone other than his Hermione Granger."
The mention of her name returned Harry's attention to the letter he'd just received. He smiled wanly and shook his head. "She's not going to marry me, Dobby," he said quietly as he opened her letter.
Dear Harry,
Thank you for bringing me home last night. I'm sorry that Ron treated you so badly. I explained to him what
happened and he calmed down. He went to bed shortly after you dropped me off and I was able to finish the chores before
turning in as well. It was nice visiting Tonks, please tell her 'hello' for me. I hope she's feeling
better!
If you want to visit, the only time I'm free is when Ron is at practice, he's usually gone for four hours
or so. Oh, his alarm just went off, I have to get breakfast ready. Hope to talk to you soon!
Love from
Hermione
"Hermione says hello," Harry said as he set her letter in the most important pile before grabbing his flatware. "She's apologized on Ron's behalf for last night if you can believe that."
"He wasn't going to," Tonks said around a mouthful of sandwich. "She's trying, Harry, there's just a problem with time."
Harry nodded absently as he flipped through more mail, pitching even more to the dustbin as he went along. "I'm going to set up a private meeting with Dumbledore," he said after a few minutes. "We've got what, one and a half to two years for this next assignment?"
Tonks nodded as she washed down her latest mouthful with a bit of butterbeer. "They want us to become a part of the community. It looks like they're not in too much of a hurry to track this guy down."
"We should expand our search for animagi as well, there's a good chance he may have gone native," Harry said after some thought. "I'm going to Floo the headmaster now, Dobby, could you show Tonks to my room when she's finished?"
"To Harry Potter's room, sir?" Dobby asked cautiously. "There are many fine guest rooms..."
Harry smiled and shook his head. "My room is fine. Could you transfigure the bed to twice its size?"
"Of course, Dobby will do as Dobby is asked."
"Thank you Dobby. I don't know how long I'll be so please make yourself at home," He patted Tonks' shoulder as he left for the sitting room. "Hogwarts: Headmaster's office!" Harry called clearly as he threw in a pinch of powder then kneeled and stuck his head in the green flames. "Albus, are you about?"
"Ah, Harry, please, come in," the old wizard said with a smile from behind his desk. With a whoosh and a flare of green flame, Harry stepped into the headmaster's office and quickly muttered a cleaning charm on himself before shaking his mentor's hand. "What brings you here on this fine afternoon?"
"I received the latest invitation to teach the defense class," Harry explained as he took a seat. "There were a few things I wanted to discuss with you about the position."
"You've considered? Excellent, of course we can discuss the position, what's on your mind?"
"To tell you the truth, Tonks and I are on an undercover assignment here in Hogsmeade. I can't go into particulars, and we're to pose as a married couple. I understand there are accommodations for professors and their families here at the school. The problem being we need to live in Hogsmeade."
"Housing accommodations are available here, as you have surmised, however it is not unheard of for professors to live off school grounds. Madam Hooch lives in Hogsmeade rather than the school, but you'll have certain responsibilities that will require you here once, maybe twice weekly for hall patrols and grounds duties."
Harry nodded. "I think that would work. Another issue would be my identity. Being Harry Potter has more disadvantages than advantages when working on a case. I'll need to disguise myself, as will Tonks, for the duration. You can send word that I've turned down the position again and we can work with my alter ego instead."
"I'm sure that will have no bearing on your experience," Dumbledore said with a smile.
Harry smiled in return. "I'll brief my supervisors that you should be informed of the situation, it might affect students if something happens during a Hogsmeade trip. I'll notify them that I've obtained a position here and I'll have the necessary paperwork forwarded to you."
"That will be fine, Harry," Albus said with a smile. "How are Ron and Hermione? Things were a tad shaky when you three finished your time here, has the situation improved?"
Harry frowned and gently shook his head. "No, Ron still wants me out of their lives it seems. Hermione's changed tremendously since I'd last seen her," he said, thinking for a moment then nodded. "I think Ron might be controlling her somehow, not with the imperius, but through lies and manipulation."
"That doesn't sound like the two bright students I've had the honor of seeing grow over the years," Dumbledore said with his long fingers steepled before him.
"It doesn't. Hermione's gained weight due to inactivity, she has no friends, doesn't read anything but cookbooks and what deals with work, and I'm surprised that she turned down the offer to take over for Minerva," Harry explained as he rubbed his chin.
"Frankly, we were surprised as well. She would have made an excellent addition to the Hogwarts' staff," Albus said quietly. "Her refusal of the offer wasn't like her either, settling for a lower paying job in the Ministry..."
"She's been working on a cure for Lycanthropy and just recently made a breakthrough," Harry said after a moment. "She could have discovered it years ago if she had the proper time to research the subject, but most if it is spent keeping the house in order and feeding Ron. I don't think he could handle coming back to school, even as a spouse or significant other. Is the position still open?"
"We haven't found anyone to fill that position as of yet," Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eye. "Do you think she'll change her mind?"
"I don't think so, not right away. I spoke with her recently and she said she missed school... but I think she may take the position if she and Ron weren't together..." Harry shook his head. "That won't happen anytime soon, she's quite convinced that they're in love. I don't doubt they are, but you'd think she would be happier about it."
Dumbledore nodded as Harry stood from his chair. "I'll get the information to you and notify Moody and Kingsley about the plan to work here. It may take a few weeks with the red tape and everything, but I think it's a go."
"It was nice to speak with you again, Harry, I hope relations amongst you three improve. It's a terrible shame how such a wonderful friendship disintegrated," Albus saw him to the fireplace and clapped him on the shoulder as they shook hands.
"It is, but hopefully things will work themselves out," Harry said with a slight smile. He threw a pinch of powder in the fireplace and once inside called "Home" clearly and with a whoosh, he was standing in the sitting room once again. After muttering another cleaning charm on himself, found Tonks sound asleep in his newly transfigured bed.
Not wanting to wake her, he decided that he may as well talk to Moody about the new developments and an hour later returned with an affirmative and the clearance to speak with Dumbledore about anything that might involve the students. His paperwork was filled out and Flooed to the headmaster, complete with the identities of himself and Tonks.
"Dobby, I'm going to Diagon Alley to do some shopping. Tonks needs her sleep, but if I'm not back by time she's awake, let her know?"
"Dobby understands, Harry Potter," he said with a hesitant smile.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked as he changed into a different set of robes and tossed the set he had been wearing into the hamper.
"Dobby is wondering why Harry Potter and Harry Potter's friend are sharing a room..." Dobby cringed as if he were about to be struck but opened an eye and smiled nervously when Harry laughed.
"It's nothing to worry about, Dobby. We keep each other company since we've only got each other for the time being," Harry explained and clapped his friend's shoulder followed by an amused smile. "I'll be back later today," he said and disapparated.
Harry looked over the list of supplies he'd obtained from Hogwarts for his new job and decided to browse for the schoolbooks that would be needed first. He stepped into Flourish and Blotts and quickly found the defense section. Harry studied each book with a calculating eye for use in the post Voldemort era but kept a lookout for anything new. He'd just returned a book to the shelf when he felt someone breathing down his neck.
I should have been paying attention, damn it! he cursed as he inched towards his wand. The tip of what he sought dug into his back causing him to freeze in an instant.
"Don't go for your wand, Harry," Ron said in an angry growl. "Keep away from her."
Harry turned around when Ron's wand was no longer pressed in his back to find that his former friend had just disapparated. Anger started to bubble from the pit of his stomach and it took every ounce of self-control to keep himself from bashing down their front door and hexing Ron to high heaven. Instead, he sat on the floor and took several deep breaths to calm himself. Harry stood once again and cursed under his breath as he went about his previous business.
He'd gone through several stores, stopping by Eeylops at one point for special treats for Hedwig, and grabbed a few icecream cones for Tonks, Dobby and himself. Harry arrived home to find Tonks and Dobby spending some quiet time in the sitting room chatting about the goings on of the castle.
"I thought you might like a treat," Harry said with a smile. "Banana strawberry for the lady, and if I'm not mistaken, the orange sorbet is Dobby's favorite."
"Harry Potter is too kind to Dobby," Dobby said with a smile, gladly accepting the treat from Harry.
"How did shopping go, Harry?" Tonks asked as she happily lapped up a few drips that were running down her cone.
"I ran into Ron," Harry said with an undercurrent of disgust. "He actually pulled his wand on me then told me to stay away from Hermione."
"Didn't you show him who the boss was?" she asked with wide eyes.
"No, he disapparated before I had a chance to curse him, the ruddy coward," Harry spat.
"I don't understand what happened with Harry Potter and his Wheezy," Dobby said perplexed. "He was most important to Harry Potter."
"Things change, Dobby," Harry said with a sigh. "I don't know what's happened to him. He changed drastically during my sixth year at Hogwarts."
"Could it have been those brain things that attacked him?" Tonks asked quietly.
Harry shook his head. "Ron was fine after that, he'd been stung, but Dumbledore was able to cure him of the conflicting thoughts," he explained with a wave of his hand. "Are you up for a visit to the Burrow? I'm sure Molly and Arthur would be happy for a bit of company," Harry said with a smile to Tonks shortly after they'd finished their treats in comfortable silence. "I haven't seen them in quite some time and I think it's about time for a visit."
"That sounds like fun," Tonks said with a sly grin. "Or is this a fact finding mission?"
Harry grinned in return as stepped in front of the fireplace. "A little of both, I'd say." For the fourth time that day, Harry found himself on the floor with his head immersed in a roar of green flames. "Mrs. Weasley? Are you home?" he called into the kitchen of the Burrow.
There was some shuffling upstairs and someone rushing down the stairs to the kitchen. "Harry dear, it's good to see you!" Molly said with a bright smile. "Why has it taken so long for you to say hello?"
"It's a long story," he said with a slight grin. "Do you fancy a couple of old friends stopping in for a visit? Tonks is with me and we thought it might be a good time to stop by."
"Of course, dear, you're always welcome here!" Molly said with a smile. "I'll just start the tea while you step on through the Floo."
Harry grinned and a few minutes later, he and Tonks were laughing with Mrs. Weasley and Ginny at the kitchen table.
"You should have seen the look on his face!" Molly said with another laugh. "Imagine, Draco Malfoy being carried off by half a score of garden gnomes!"
Ginny chuckled politely, but Harry could see the hurt in her eyes. He put a hand on her arm and patted it gently. "So how are Ron and Hermione?" he asked in an attempt to change the subject.
Molly looked at him strangely for a moment. "Oh, I'm sorry, dear. I forgot that you haven't been speaking since Ron and Hermione started dating," she said with a sigh. "You three were inseparable back then but I guess they're fine... Ron sends owls when he's on the road and I haven't talked to poor Hermione since Draco was ejected from the property."
"Poor Hermione?" Tonks asked curiously.
"The dear is home alone when Ron is out of town or practicing. It's almost as if they've been pushing everybody away from some secret they're keeping... I haven't seen Ron in three years!"
"Mum, Ron's cut off relations with everyone, even Fred and George... even me," Ginny said sadly. "He still hasn't forgiven me for dating 'a Malfoy'" she said sarcastically, "and still refuses to let me visit. The last time I snuck over to see Hermione he went spare."
Molly looked at her daughter in shock. "Ron's always been stubborn, but this is getting ridiculous."
Harry nodded. "I ran into Hermione in the hospital, she has stomach problems from worrying," he explained quickly. "When she had nobody to take her home, I did and Ron went off on her for calling me for help instead of him. He was supposed to be out of town but came back early, much to Hermione's surprise."
The four of them sat around the table sipping their tea and listening to the clock tick the time off slowly, each of them digesting what was said and lost in their own thoughts. "Maybe we should hold a Muggle-style intervention?" Ginny asked after a moment.
"But they're used for people with drug or alcohol problems, aren't they?" Harry asked thoughtfully. "I mean, I guess we could at least find out what Ron's problem is, but that might push him farther away and he'd take Hermione with him."
"There's that possibility," Ginny said with a sigh. "I haven't seen her happy since that summer you were ill."
"That was a lie," Harry said evenly. "Ron came up with that story after he'd told me to stay home. I think this might all stem from jealousy and here I thought I'd seen the brunt of it during the Tri-Wizard Tournament."
"I remember that," Ginny said quietly. "The git wouldn't believe you and he got even angrier when Hermione did."
"There was a lot going on then," Molly said with a slight blush. "I treated Hermione so unfairly."
"She's still getting Howlers about Skeeter's articles," Harry growled then let it slide into a sigh. "At least a catch box was set up after the bubotuber pus letter she received..."
"The poor dear," Molly said with a sigh. "I think I'll bake some biscuits and visit her this week."
"She'd like that," Harry said with a smile. "I think I'm going to pay a visit to her parents and see how they're getting on. Hermione told me they haven't spoken since she and Ron moved into their cottage." He and Tonks stood and after hugs from the Weasley women, were strolling through the garden. They disapparated and continued their stroll not too far from the Granger's house. Harry rang the bell, hoping that one of the doctors was home and he was rewarded with Hermione's mother.
"Hello?" she asked tentatively, looking curiously at the two people on her front stoop. Her gaze fell on Harry then to his forehead and she smiled slightly. "Harry, what brings you by?" She opened the door but didn't offer them an invitation into her home.
"Actually, I stopped by to talk about Hermione," he announced cautiously. He didn't want her becoming angry with him. "I haven't seen her in so long and met with her the other day. She's changed a lot," he explained at the cross look her mother was giving him.
"Hermione hasn't spoken to us for three years, Harry," she said curtly. "I'm sorry, but we don't know what's happened." Her eyes softened somewhat and Harry saw the pain she was hiding when he glanced into them.
"She said you got into an argument when she and Ron moved in together," Harry offered, "and seems rather protective of their relationship."
Dr. Granger sighed and nodded. "We didn't think that she was old enough to make that kind of decision. Hermione looked like she was about to agree, but after she talked to him, she changed her mind. There was a tremendous row then she stormed out of here with her things. We haven't seen or heard from her since."
Harry put a comforting hand on her shoulder and patted it gently. "I know how you feel, they pushed me away at school and it's been hard not talking to her. At this point, I'm not sure I want to see Mr. Weasley again."
"Harry, if you see her again, could you tell her that we miss her?" Dr. Granger said sadly.
"You have my word," Harry said with a soft smile and before he could turn around, Hermione's mother hugged him tightly.
"Thank you, Harry," she whispered then went into the house and shut the door.
Harry and Tonks stared at the brick-red door for a few seconds afterwards before slowly turning to the street. Harry wracked his mind trying to pinpoint what exactly happened with Hermione. He sighed when he came to the conclusion that it wasn't going to be easy.