Chapter Two
Harry walked up to the cash machine and looked at it warily. For one thing, he had never actually used one before. For another he did wonder if the Goblins had managed to interface with the Muggle device without doing something that would draw undue attention.
He slid his card into the correct slot, for which he was grateful, and tapped in his pin number as requested. The screen wavered slightly until a new one appeared showing the Gringotts dragon logo. There was a choice of amounts to withdraw. He honestly was not sure how much a night out on the town was going to cost him, so he picked 300 pounds. He idly tapped his fingers on the display until his cash dispensed. He quickly tucked it and his card away, casting an alarm spell on his wallet. Just in case.
He turned and walked a few steps from the cash machine and looked around the hubbub of Muggle London. He was not in fact that sure of where he was; he had just picked a direction and walked, hoping on a bus along the way. Having a late dinner in a restaurant and wasting away a few hours.
A few people seemed to be moving in one direction so he decided to follow them.
A few minutes later and a walk down a few alleyways they came upon an entrance to what appeared to be a Night Club. Something he had heard about from his cousin. Dudley and his friends occasionally tried their luck with the bouncers. Dudley had a supposedly full proof fake ID he used to gain entry. Harry tried to picture it clearly in his mind. He had in fact only seen it once, but with his new organized mind, it was not that difficult to bring to his minds eye.
He created a duplicate, replacing Dudley's name for his own and hoped it was only an over 18's club and not a 21 and up type of club. He noticed that the men around him were dressed in much the same fashion as himself, whilst the women were dressed in showy and in some cases barely decent clothing. This suited his libido just fine thanks.
He cast an eye over the girls that he particularly liked, smiling as he caught a few eyes. They did not immediately turn around and slap him, so he supposed he must have been doing something right. His new status came with it a certain confidence. It was not as if even the bouncers could actually hurt him and that confidence rolled off him in almost physical waves. He stood tall and proud with an air of danger and mystery about him that was quite a heady combination to most females. Not that he was actually aware of that fact yet.
He virtually ignored the few come hither looks he was receiving thanks to inexperience, and made his way to the front of the queue in all good time. Apparently, they had not long opened; either that or it was a popular club
"ID" a giant of a man demanded.
'Wow, its Goyle senior' Harry thought to himself wryly. "You know I bet you've got a lovely singing voice." Harry said impudently as he flashed his id at the man. Eliciting a few giggles from a gaggle of girls just behind him.
A grunt was his only reply and a hand firmly pushing him into the clubs interior. Harry rolled his eyes at the rough handling, but he had had much worse than a playful shove. Therefore, he meandered in through the entranceway, paying the cover charge with a crisp twenty and getting depressingly little change in return.
"Christ I should've just danced in the street" he muttered. He ignored the coat check, his coat was enchanted to deal with heat much greater than a club could provide. Besides his magic would keep him at a constant temperature anyway, all he had to do was think it. He thought, or hoped. Because just about everyone else was shedding their coats like they had plague on them or something and giving him strange looks in the process. Not that he cared much, it was not as if he was not used to people looking at him funny. He went up a few flights of stairs and walked into an almost physical wall of sound that made him smile.
This was not anything like the music he had been hearing in the world of wizards. Which was more like rock and roll, this was a synthetic sound with tribal leanings, and it thrummed through his diaphragm and shook his teeth in volume. His smile widened when he saw various good-looking girls writhing to the music. This place was really growing on him.
He almost glided over to the bar and waited his turn with more patience than anyone else was displaying. This alone made sure he stood out to the people-tending bar; a cute blonde-haired woman drifted over to him and shot him a smile. "What do you want?"
"Pardon?"
"What do you want?"
Harry just looked at her. So she pointed back at the bar. Understanding dawned on his face, then indecision, drinking had not really been something he had partaken in before, unless you counted Butterbeer which he did not, he shrugged, "Anything." he said as loudly as possible.
The blonde shot him a surprised look, then ducked down to grab a brightly colored bottle, "TRY THIS," she yelled.
Harry just nodded his thanks and handed over another twenty, which was taken and changed into less in the blink of an eye. Then she was gone, moving onto the next customer.
Harry really did not want to think what working in this place was like, frenetic, deafening and possible harmful to the health. Then it occurred to him he had just spent four quid on a bottle of drink. He took a sip, swilling it around in his mouth as the new taste hit him. Strangely sweet with a slight kick, he turned the bottle and tried to read what was in it, he was just about able to make out Vodka when the light changed to a different color and made the text invisible. He shrugged and chugged down the entire bottle. In a flash, his friendly neighbourhood bartender was back. He held up two fingers and some cash.
She flashed him a smile, grabbed two bottles, and took his money. Harry waived off the change and walked away from the bar. Just soaking up the sights and sounds, or rather did some drooling over the girls. True they were mostly about two years older than he was, but that did not much matter to him. No one knew him here, no one knew his age, future, past or anything else for that matter.
Unless you counted that blonde over in the corner who was looking at him with a totally gob smacked expression on her face.
"Oh shit," Harry muttered as the biggest gossip in his year made her way over to him. He could not help noticing however that she had a very nice pair of legs shown to full effect by her minuscule skirt.
"Hey Lav." he said almost resigned to his fate.
"Harry?" she yelled.
He merely nodded; she grabbed him by the arm and led him away from the bar and through a couple of doors. The noise level noticeably dropped off. "Harry" she repeated.
"That's me" he replied, glad he could actually make out what she was saying now.
"What are you doing here?" she asked aghast.
"A guy can't go clubbing?" he asked with a surprisingly charming smile.
"How'd you get in?" she asked
"I could ask the same thing" Harry shot back.
She picked up her skirt and did a twirl. "Short skirt, equates to age to your common garden bouncer."
"What can I say; my natural charisma must have gotten through to him." Harry said with a smirk.
She did a sort of double take, "Are you sure that's you?" she said with a smile creeping up on her face.
"Last time I checked, but if you want to make sure..." he said leadingly with a wink.
She laughed and smacked his shoulder playfully. "Christ Harry, you're not acting like you usually do. Last year you were pretty much a wet weekend."
Harry shrugged, "I decided that life's too short. It was time to have some fun."
"Good, you've got a nice smile. Hey where are your glasses?" she asked, her blue eyes meeting his emerald gaze.
"I wear glasses?" he asked with mock horror.
"Pretty much your call sign I'd say."
"I thought that was the ugly scar."
"So cleverly hidden with a honking great big plaster"
He just smirked, "Not many other ways to cover it up" he admitted after a moment.
"Well if you want I might be able to put a bit of make up on it for you... Oh, don't be such a baby; it's only a bit of make up."
"Do you honestly see me being able to face Ron when he finds out that I've worn makeup, I think I'll stick with the 'honking' plaster, mind you I could likely take it off in here. Not many of our sort around."
"Actually Parvati is around too."
"Trust me to pick this club huh?" he said with a chuckle.
"Something wrong with our company Potter?" Lavender asked with a frown.
"Absolutely not, I couldn't hope to choose two more gorgeous Griffs; I was just trying to get away from the ... magical world for a while."
Lavender smiled at him, Harry thought she was gorgeous when she smiled. He was dreading the stories that would doubtless abound when they got back to school. "That's alright then, sorry that your secret clubbing has been ruined."
"Just do me a favour; let's keep this between ourselves, anyone else with your tonight?"
"Nope, just me and Parv"
"Then perhaps I could ask for your company tonight. I've got a few quid burning a hole in my pocket and not enough people to spend it on?" Harry said with his best smile.
"Not backwards in coming forward are you Harry."
Harry just cocked an eyebrow at her.
"Come on let's see what Parv has to say about this. She wasn't best pleased with you after the ball you know."
"I don't blame her, I was a shit head."
"HARRY!" she said, once again slapping his shoulder.
"What?" he asked confused.
"You swore."
"Is that such a shock"
"You're a bit of a dark horse you, aren't you?" she said with a coy smile, leading him back into the thunderous dance floor.
She weaved her way through the crowd on the floor itself expertly as Harry sauntered effortlessly through. Somehow, they felt his potential and just moved out of the way, a fact that did not go amiss to the sharp eyed Gryffindor.
"Hey Parv, guess who I found" She said leaning right into her friends ear and shouting. Just then, the crowd separated enough for Harry to catch up and the Indian girl's eyes shot open.
"HARRY!" she virtually squealed, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"
Harry shook his head and pointed at his ear.
She reached out, dragged him closer, and shouted in to his ear. "What are you doing here?"
"Counting Coup" Harry replied with a laugh.
"What?"
"Never mind, I just fancied a dance or something different for a change, I've heard my cousin going on about clubs thought I'd come to London and check one out."
"Oh, wicked. It's great to see you."
"Yeah, look I wanted to apologize for the ball you know during the tournament"
She waived him off, "It's fine, old news."
He flashed a smile that had her knees weakened.
"As long as you dance with me tonight." she went on to add.
Harry nodded, "I was wondering if I could join you two actually, make the night my treat."
Her eyes widened and she shared a look with her blonde friend. Then nodded, "Sure"
"Then what can I get you?"
"Whatever you're drinking is fine for me," Parv told him.
"Lav?" he asked.
"Same as" she replied. He walked away and the two girls went into a huddle.
"Did you see him, isn't he hot now?" Lav said slightly dreamily.
"That ship sailed a while ago for me, besides one of them will end up with Hermione."
"Maybe; in the meantime though." Lav replied with a saucy smile.
"You are saying that you want to snog the boy that lived?"
Lav bobbed her eyebrows up and down with a big grin.
"Hell I might do as well," Parv said challengingly.
Lav looked at her seriously for a minute, and then shrugged, "Whatever Parv, he's only a man and we've been friends for ages. I say let's have our fun tonight and worry about it in the morning."
"LAV!"
She just smiled repentantly at her friend.
Harry arrived back and handed them each a bottle of the same Alco-pop that he was downing by the bottle. He was already on his third and he had only been in the club ten minutes.
"Shit this is alcohol!" Lav said in surprise. "I thought you were drinking pop or something."
"I can get something else if you like."
She shook her head, "No this is fine, it's just that normally the bar staff is harder to convince than the bouncers."
Harry shrugged, "I suppose I look a bit older than most my age. Now I'm not a dwarf at least," he said with a self-deprecating smile.
"You've filled out a bit too." Lavender commented eying him like a side of beef. "But aren't you boiling your arse off in that coat."
Harry shook his head, reached out, took her hand, and pulled it inside his jacket. Her eyes shot open.
"What?" Parvati asked wondering what the fuss was.
Harry repeated the effort with her and she looked surprised.
"Who'd you get to do that for you?"
Harry just smiled.
"Ohh, the boy that lived has secrets." Lav put in.
Harry rolled his eyes, "Can you NOT call me that. It's kind of redundant anyway don't you think. I mean it's obvious I lived because hey, here I am." He added a smile to take any bite out of his words. The two attractive girls laughed at his humour.
"So who's going to make me look good on the dance floor first?" he asked with a charming smile.
The two girls shared a glance then both got up and dragged him onto the dance floor. He smiled as he began to try to dance to the music. He danced somewhat spastically at first.
"Just relax Harry or you'll break something." Lavender told him.
"I've never danced like this before. Hell I barely danced at the ball," Harry said apologetically.
"It's all about confidence. Hell Harry you move more fluidly than anyone I have ever met during DA. Try to just use that." Parvati added.
"Oh great, so I just have to imagine I'm fighting everyone here and I'll be fine then"
Of course, the entire conversation was being held at the top of their voices and they were mostly leaning into each other. This was drawing some jealousy from some of the men surrounding them. Especially some of the more drunk ones.
Some one that thought he was particularly impressive and fancied himself a Romeo grabbed Lavender and started to force her into dancing with him.
"Hey get off."
Harry frowned, magic leapt to his command, but he forced it back down before he drew the wrong sort of attention to himself. Instead he grabbed the thuggish mans arm and swung him around.
"She doesn't want to dance with you," he said in a low voice that still managed to carry over the music.
"Fuck off twerp" the man, snarled into his face.
Harry waived a hand in front of his face. "What happened, fall into a brewery?" he asked sardonically.
"Keep the packy I'll take the blonde" the thug went on to say.
Harry's eyes went hard, "I think you need to fuck off right the hell now," he said.
Which was apparently too much for the mans pride to take, so he took a swing at Harry. Harry ducked under the punch and darted a sharp left into his armpit hard enough to elicit a slight crack. He followed through as he had been taught by a hard life to do. His heel slammed down on the mans knee sending him to the floor, "You alright Lav, Parv?" he asked as the man went down like a sack of potatoes. "I can't believe he said that." he added.
"It's okay Harry I'm used to it." Parvati told him sadly.
He frowned with anger leaking from his every pore, "Well you bloody well shouldn't be." he told her forcefully. She smiled at him, somewhat dreamily.
Just then one of the thugs equally brain dead friends decided to step in, catching Harry on the chin. Despite his relatively small size, Harry did not go down. He had taken much nastier than that. The pain was also easily manageable after being Crucio'd by the Dark Lord himself. So he span with the momentum and whipped his hand around to back hand the second man so hard he went down and stayed down.
Which was when, of course, the bouncers decided to show up.
"Knew you'd be trouble-," the man from the door said.
"Oh joy, its Goyle the second." Harry commented, causing Lavender and Parvati to titter, thus drawing the bouncer's attention to them as well.
"Right you three get out," he commanded.
Harry swigged the rest of his bottle and nodded, "The clientele here sucks anyway." he said as a final rejoinder and took the girls by a hand each and led them to the coat check. As they got their coats under the watchful eye of the bouncers Harry eyed the Goyle look alike who was taking a little too much interest in Lavenders legs for his liking. He suspicions were confirmed when the large man lent forward and whispered in her ear. She recoiled from whatever he said and Harry got in his face. "I think you should back off mate."
Goyle-alike eyed him like a bug under the microscope. Lavender grabbed Harry's hand and led him away from the staring match, Parvati following up the rear.
Once they were out of the club, she rounded on him. "Harry are you insane, that guy would've crushed you like a bug."
"What ever he said upset you," Harry said by way of explanation. He started to say something else but Parv grabbed him by the lapels and kissed him somewhat forcefully, her tongue slipping in his mouth for a moment.
"Thank you for standing up for me. I hate racists too," she said breaking away from the kiss.
Harry had just enough time to decide that kissing apparently did not actually taste like salt. When Lavender mirrored her friend's actions, only for longer, he found his arms wrapping themselves around her slender waist and pulling her to himself as he actually had time to kiss her back.
She moaned into is mouth and Parv rolled her eyes at them, with a smile on her face. "Come on hormones, its bloody cold out here."
Lavender broke the kiss, "Wow" she breathed with a silly grin. Then she backed away and shook herself slightly. "Not cold from where I'm standing." she commented in an aside to her best mate.
Harry gave himself a little shake and got his wits about him. "Shall we find somewhere else ladies?" he said. "Or if the rewards the same, we could go back in there and I'll rough up that bouncer."
"You wish" Lavender said with a giggle that was taken up by her friend.
"Fervently" he said shooting them both a wink. "But the night is young, I've escaped my jail cell for a night and I'm looking to have some fun. So- Do either of you gorgeous creatures know of another club?"
They shared a look, conversing with a single look as only two true friends can. Then Parvati sniffed and smiled, "Burger van!" she said with a smile.
"I swear she's part blood hound!" Lav said with a small chuckle.
"So I'll treat you both to some burgers and then we'll find a club, yeah?"
"Sounds like a plan." they said together.
Harry laughed, feeling freer than he had in some time. It was good just hanging with two pretty girls and the kissing had not hurt either. Though he doubted he would get a repeat of that. They set off with him trailing slightly behind, giving him many opportunities to check them out. Parvati was slender with long legs that seemed to go on forever, while Lavender was more curvaceous, still with incredible legs but a hell of a cleavage to match. Frankly, they were both gorgeous, and if he had not been in such a funk last year, he would have doubtless noticed before. However, school issue Mary Jane's did not do it for legs like a pair of high heels and the robes were not the most flattering of things to wear either.
"Enjoying the view?" Lavender shot over her shoulder with a cheeky smile full of mirth.
Instead of the blush she had been thinking would happen. Harry just nodded with a wide smile. "Oh hell yeah." he said, causing them to start tittering again.
Enjoying their enjoyment even if it was at his expense Harry allowed himself to be led to the nearest Burger van. Once there he got their orders and paid as any semi gentleman would, only Semi because the thoughts floating through his mind were not genteel.
"This isn't half bad," he said taking a bite out of his double cheeseburger.
"Burger vans are an important part of the clubbing experience," Parvati told him mock seriously.
"Is this the first time you've been out clubbing?" Lavender asked.
Harry nodded, in part because he was stuffing his face, and because he was not sure whether to be embarrassed by his lack of experience.
"We should definitely do this again at some point then" Parv said.
"Hopefully next time I won't get into a fight. I swear the day I have a boring day is the one in which I'm dead."
The girls laughed, but he was partially serious, he could not go anywhere apparently without something happening. Even a trip to Gringotts had turned out to be a production, with talking dragons, wills and all. However, the day certainly had some benefits.
"So Harry" Parvati said, chucking her rubbish in the bin. "Who was the best kisser, me or Lav?"
Okay, he was SO not falling for that one. He gulped his food and said, "You both totally blew my socks off. But for a proper comparison I'd have to have more samples."
Parvati blinked at his reply while Lavender died laughing. Then Parv got a twinkle in her eye, "Then I think we should give the man what he wants. Don't you Lav?"
Lavender stopped laughing, "It's only fair, for our savoir of course."
Harry chuckled missing the look that passed between the two girls.
"So," Harry said slapping his hands together for emphasis. "What's next?"
"There's a club just down the street, it's a bit more select than the one we were just in. But pricey." Lavender informed him.
Harry shrugged. "I'll cover it, how far away is it, and do we need a taxi?"
"Nah, we can walk it."
Harry pointedly looked at her heels.
"Checking out my legs Harry?" she asked teasingly.
"Honestly, you two the heats blistering" Parvati commented wryly.
They all laughed.
"Actually I was just wondering how you can walk anywhere in those." he said.
Parvati held up a leg, with an even higher pair of heels on, Harry eyed her long leg with a hint of a sexy smile building on his face. "You just get used to it I suppose."
"You know" Harry said slowly, "That gives me an idea," he said with an evil smile growing.
"I'm not your size honey." she shot back, causing him to bark out a laugh.
"No I was just wondering how the Slytherin's would like to be forced to wear a pair of stiletto's all day."
"Tracey Davis wouldn't have a problem with it, you should see some of the stuff she wears in her off time, and mind you she has got amazing legs." Lavender said thoughtfully.
"I'll have to check that out, for scientific research you understand. But I was actually thinking of the guys." Harry said, "I think it's about time someone took up the Weasley twin's banner don't you. Of course I'm trusting you two to keep this to yourself you understand," he paused, "In fact I'd be really grateful if you didn't mention to any of the older generation that you've seen me out and about. They like to keep me under lock and key."
"So we gathered from the Jail cell comment earlier." Parvati said with a soft smile. "Don't worry mums the word."
"Is it, is it really, I always thought it'd be more interesting than that. You know God spoke the word and thus the universe was created. Can't really imagine him saying, 'MUM' and bang there it all is."
"You can tell you were brought up by Muggles. Wizards aren't what you could call Christian." Lavender noted.
Harry shrugged, "Apparently I would've gotten a fat head otherwise."
"Probably true, with all that Boy Who Lived stuff." Parv said, tapping her chin in thought.
"You're really cute when you do that; you know that right." Harry said with a fully-fledged smirk.
"If you think I'm that cute, where's my kiss. I mean the ball was a bust you could at least make up for it."
"And don't forget me" Lavender told him, "It wouldn't be fair to let her get ahead."
"You're keeping score?" Harry said.
Parv rolled her eyes at him; got up from the bench she sat on and placed herself in his lap, then waited. "Well?"
"A guy's got to do what guys got to do" Harry said before kissing her.
Once they had stopped, he smiled at her. "You know the only experience I've had of kissing was a somewhat depressing affair. This is MUCH better. No tears either."
Lavender took her friends place, grabbed his hand and put it on her thigh, "Shut up and kiss me."
Harry happily did as he was asked.
-oOo-
Several hours, two clubs and quite a lot of drink later Harry found himself sat on the banks of the Thames with Lavender on his lap, her lips caressing his own and their tongues entwined. He was really getting into this kissing thing. From the way Lavender was acting he was sure he was doing it right as well. The sun was well on its way to rising now, and Parv had drifted off to sleep beside them, having had her fair share of kissing as well.
Lavender shifted in his lap and laughed in the back of her throat. "Is this getting to you Harry?" she asked teasingly.
"Oh, sorry" Harry said blushing slightly, "It's just... well you're really gorgeous and ..."
She shut him up with another drawn out and much more passionate kiss than before. "You know," she said after taking a breath. "I wouldn't mind doing this again. Strictly casual though. Frankly with the way, your life goes I don't think I could handle being your girlfriend. But I might let you take me to Hogsmeade."
Harry tensed up, "Not Madam Puddle foots or whatever it's called?"
She shook her head, "The unholy love child of a tea bag and a doily? Hell no. But there are a few good places for a damn good snog, and if you're really good I might let your hands wander a bit." she said with a teasing smile.
"You're such a slut," a sleepy voice from their side said.
"Trust me, I've had his hands touching my leg most of the night, I wouldn't mind a bit if they wandered right now in fact. He's got nice hands." Lavender said to her friend with a smug grin.
"Anyone would think he's a leg man. I've noticed his hand on my thigh a few times to. Do you like legs Harry?" she asked with a teasing grin.
"I like everything" Harry answered honestly. "Especially on you two"
"Well, this is a one time thing for me Harry. I've enjoyed it and all, and I'm certainly getting another kiss from you before we go, but I kind of have my eye on someone. Not to mention that you tend to be kind of focused at school."
Harry smirked, "Not so much this year I'm guessing."
"You're not going to turn into the moody git you were last year are you?" Lavender asked.
"Lavender!" Parvati said aghast.
"No, it's a fair question, I was a dick last year wasn't I?" Harry said with a smile, "To answer your question though, no hell no. I'm out to enjoy myself this year, make the snakes lives hell and generally cause mayhem where ever I go." he said with an unrepentant grin.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that. What about the DA, you going to run that this year?"
"I'm hoping we'll get a decent teacher this year. It is an outside chance I will admit, but I am hopeful. But I can still run the club either way I suppose" Harry looked over the glittering waters of the Thames, idly playing with Lavender's knee cap as he did so, thinking hard.
Lavender looked at her friend with her pupils dilated.
Parvati smirked at her somewhat turned on look and shook her head.
"I think I could rustle up quite a few spells they aren't likely to come up in the curriculum anytime soon." he said with an evil smile.
"Do I want to know where you learned them from?" Parvati asked, seeing as though her friend seemed incapable of speech at that moment in time.
The girl in question leaned her head into the crook of Harry's neck and laid some kisses along his jaw line, Harry smiled down at her, his hand gliding up the smooth skin of her thigh, which in turn caused her to purr at him. "No I don't think you would want to know," he said to Parv.
"Well it's... holy cow ... its 6am. We should really get back to my house before my parents wake up. Lav, Lav?"
"In a minute" Lavender purred.
Parvati shook her head, leaned round and planted a hot kiss on Harry, while grabbing her friend's hand, then dragged her off his lap. Lavender quickly darted back and planted one on him but good. "Remember what I said. I also know ALL the best places in Hogwarts." she said with a sexy smile before she was dragged off.
"Hey, do you guys want walking home?" Harry called after them.
"No thanks, Harry but it was sweet of you to ask. We're not actually that far from here." Parv told him with a smile. "Thanks for a wonderful evening Harry."
"Hmm definitely" Lavender put in.
Harry smiled somewhat smugly. The evening had worked out pretty damn well even if he did say so himself. He settled back into the bench a bit, stretching out his legs a bit. As light as Lavender was she had sat on his legs for about an hour, though the kissing had pretty much taken his mind off his dead legs. He winced a bit, then stood and shook out the leaden weight of his cramped up muscles.
He checked his watch; he had just enough time to pop home for a shower, a change of clothing some breakfast and then nip back in time for WWW's opening time. If he got a move on, he could probably be out of the house before anyone noticed he was there. Though he would have to get Hedwig to take his 'I'm ok' note to the order, he was supposed to report in every couple of days after all.
Darting a quick look around he noticed he was alone and no one appeared to be watching so with a swirl of magic and a projection of his will he was back in his 'flat' in Surrey.
Whereupon he was immediately set upon by a very worried owl
-oOo-
At first, he had been in a rush to get ready to go and visit the red haired troublemakers. He had then become a sidetracked with his owl who had demanded some attention. Then he thought about sending an owl to Lav and Parv, to thank them for the great evening. However, he decided against it. It was not as if he could make sure they would actually get the mail without it being 'monitored' in some fashion.
This set him off on a tangent thinking about a more secure way of communicating. There was a spell for sending a short message to someone using a similar method to creating a Patronus, but even then, it was only good for very short messages and somewhat visible. He did not want someone seeing prongs gallivanting over to wherever the Patel's lived. Though he was fairly sure, he was going to teach the DA the spell. It would be very useful for calling for help in a desperate situation.
A few hours later and he had the contents of his pockets laid out on the large desk he had created the day before. What he needed was something unobtrusive, something mundane. Something many people might carry around on their persons. He had a set of keys, quite a lot of small change and a Zippo lighter he had nicked from Dudley. Just because he could truth be told, it was a simple brass affair, from when the fat git used to smoke. Before he had gotten more interested in boxing and quit.
Talking of which, he was bloody well sixteen now and it would drive everyone mad, so why not. With a flick of his wrist, a brand new carton of cigarettes appeared in his hand. He unwrapped it, and took out the silver foil, then extracted a cigarette, he somewhat awkwardly put one in his mouth, and then he flicked his Zippo open and lit the end. Which resulted in one hell of a coughing fit, but along with that was quite a head rush. Blinking to clear the tears from his eyes, he took another puff and found he actually quite liked it. It was not that unusual for wizards to smoke, magic had a way of countering the negative effects of the cigarettes themselves. However, most smoked pipes or nasty looking hand made cigarettes, possibly because the majority of wizards still lived sometime back in the eighteen hundreds. He tucked the cigarette into a corner of his mouth and turned the solid brass lighter round in his palm.
It was small, easily fitted into a pocket. Unobtrusive and would not immediately be obvious as a communications device. Now he just had to figure out a way of turning a common garden lighter into a way of talking to others. Then it hit him. Fire, what other form of communication used fire in the Wizarding world.
The Floo.
What he needed was some floor powder to inspect. Another thought and a packet of powder landed on his desk. He pulled out a notebook and began to write reams of calculations, carefully noting each step he took. Every idea he rejected and what could work. Eventually he had a workable idea and a spell that could do the work.
He cast the spell wandlessly, making sure he actually performed the spell itself and not using his more esoteric powers.
He held his breath and rolled the wheel the opposite way to which it was supposed to go, sending sparks and some conjured powder into the flame. It turned green, then promptly exploded in his hand. Luckily, his magic flared to protect him, shielding him at the last moment.
He shook his head. Perhaps the Floo was protected in some way, or required a properly created fireplace to use. He seemed to remember to remember that one had to be specially hooked up to the network.
Therefore, that option was out. Nevertheless, perhaps he could use the basic idea behind the Floo as a basis. Trouble was he had no idea how it worked. Nothing in his newly gained memories had any information on the subject either. This meant he would have either to reverse engineer the process or find out an easier source of information.
He blew out a breath from pursed lips and shook his head. On the other hand, he could cheat. However, he was hoping to be able to get the twins to market this idea. They could certainly do so; they had the practical understanding and the premises to mass-produce. If they required anything, he would provide it. This was something that could be very useful. Though he would loose the secret aspect, it was still something he could use.
"Shit!" he commented as his mind came up blank. Organized mind or not, a wealth of new knowledge or not he was still stymied.
Of course, he could just will some into being and get the twins to reverse engineer them. If he concentrated on making that possible, using a similar method to the Floo itself.
He tried it, creating 10 identical lighters. He picked one up and once again wheeled it the wrong way, a bright blue flame appeared in the chimney and held steady. He allowed himself to relax somewhat. Now he just had to get the twins to duplicate them. If that was even possible.
He grabbed his leather coat; he hadn't the heart to recycle it back into energy. He quite liked it and it seemed to be quite the lucky charm considering the night before.
A smile appeared on his face. If he concentrated, he could still feel Lavender and Parvati's lips on his. It was a most pleasant memory and one he had ensured was filed for prosperity in his 'good times' room.
He tossed on his coat, did it up and drew up the hood. Then once again, with a brightly colored swirl of energy he was off to Diagon Alley. Not that he saw the after effect of his unusual transportation. He after all was already arrived by time the effect was disappearing.
He arrived in the same alleyway he had used before. He darted a quick look around to make sure he had not been noticed. Then sure he was undetected he stalked off into the Alley itself.
It did not take long to find the bright green shop front, which appeared to be the busiest shop in the Alley by all the custom they were doing. Which left Harry with a bit of a quandary, he was hoping the store would be empty, he should have known better he supposed.
He pushed his way to the front of the shop where he could see one head of flaming hair. It turned out to be George, possibly. It could quite easily have been Fred. Who knew, frankly he doubted if the twins themselves could tell each other apart.
"George?" Harry said.
"Yes young man, how can we help you today?"
Harry leaned forward, causing George to do the same. "It's Harry, can we talk privately."
George, god blesses him, showed no outward sign of recognition. Instead, he merely said, "Of course we can talk over your idea good sir. If you'll just follow me to the office." and led Harry to the back room and away from the mad crowds.
Using secret Twin Communication Fred appeared in the office himself. It was a comfortable looking area with a door leading to a private lab and a few couches littered around the place. It was quite a big room actually.
"Harry?" George said uncertainly.
Harry threw back his hood, "Hey Fred or George." he said with a wide grin.
"Jesus Harry what are you doing out?" Fred said.
"Well, Fred or George. I'm tired of being tied down to one place so I'm making a break of independence. I'd be most grateful if you kept that to yourself though. Otherwise, DD will find a way to lock me in permanently."
"DD?"
"Dumbledore" Harry said shooting the twin in question a smirk.
"Well, what can we do for our favourite business partner?"
"Well, Fred or George. I've got something to show you and I'm hoping you can inspect it and work out how it works, and then I think we can market it."
"What is it?" George asked.
Harry fished in his pocket, "Unspecified twin one, it's a communications device." He said tossing it to him.
"Unspecified Twin Two, I've got one for you too. To use it, open it, and turn the wheel upwards and the connection is opened. Then speak the name of the person you wish to speak to and it will attempt to connect. It should buzz when you've got an incoming call."
"If you know all that, why don't you know how it works Harry?"
"It's easy Gred; I wasn't exactly myself when I made that. Oh and PLEASE, keep my name out of this okay. Silent Partner here."
"What do you mean not yourself?"
"I was pissed Forge, totally pie eyed drop down drunk" he said lying glibly.
"Can't remember a thing?" Forge asked.
"Not a bit of it. I made a few though. So you can have those and this one. The magic just knows who you are and who you're calling. A bit like Floo I suppose."
"But you're not supposed to do magic outside of school" Gred said.
"I've found that unless the ministry is out to get me I can indeed do magic. My place is heavily warded." he said thinking on his feet. "But again..."
"Keep it to ourselves." Forge said thinking hard, "I can see how this would be right useful though. A portable Floo connection."
"It's not, floo that is. That much I do know. Try it."
Forge flicked his lighter open and lit it; nothing happened other than a normal flame.
"No the other way, roll the wheel the other way." Harry said.
"Oh" he said and extinguished the flame and tried again. This time the flame turned bright almost sapphire blue. "George"
'Well at least I know which one is which now.' Harry said taking careful note of their individual magically signatures.
"Oh!" George said as his lighter buzzed energetically in his hand. "The girls would love this thing," he said with a smirk.
Harry snorted a laugh. Causing the twins to look at him. "I'm not 10 guys, come on!"
"Sorry Harry, I guess our little Harrikins is growing up" Fred said with a very fake sniff.
Harry chuckled at their antics. "So what say you twins two? Can you do it?"
"I don't see why not. Got that spare. We may have to take it totally apart," George, said thinking hard.
"The amount of money this baby could earn us!" Fred said with glee. Then looked at Harry, "And out business partner of course."
"Well I think the flint will run out too." Harry said lazily lighting a cigarette and leaning back in his chair in a haze of smoke.
"Since when did you start smoking?" George asked after sharing a look with his brother.
Harry shrugged, "I'm going through my rebellious phase," he said with an impudent smile.
"Hmmm, something tells me missing school this year is going to be a drag." Fred commented.
"True, which brings me to the other reason I'm here."
"There's more? You've just given us a couple of months work."
"This one's easy." Harry shot back, crossing one leg over the other. "I intend to pick up where you and my father left off this year."
"How so?" Fred and George asked at the same time.
"The fine art of Pranking" Harry said laughing. "Is to be resurrected in the hallowed halls of Hogwarts."
"I don't know Harry," Fred said with a hidden grin. "It's a difficult art to master."
"Many have tried and failed." George added.
"Only a few have come close to filling ours, and the marauders shoes."
"Perhaps I should describe my linage." Harry said with a puff on his cigarette. "My father was Prongs, My godfather was Padfoot and my good friend is Mooney. Wormtail can go hang though."
"You're the son of a marauder?" George asked excitedly.
Harry nodded, "So you see it's in my blood. I wasn't interested before. I was far too serious, but I've decided to... be more laid back this year."
"But what about Voldemort?" Fred had to ask, only wincing slightly as he said the dreaded name.
"The Dork Lard? I don't think he'll make a move until Christmas time at least, maybe Halloween. Plenty of time to make the snakes lives a living prank in the meantime."
The twins choked on his new name for the most feared Dark Lord of the last century, perhaps more. "Is he sane do you think?" George asked his brother.
Fred shook his head. "Nah, I think our Harry has lost the plot."
"Yep" Harry inserted. "I said to you when I gave you the money for this little venture of yours that we'd need some fun in our lives. Well I stand by that and furthermore say to hell with fear, on to the fun stuff."
"Totally bananas"
"A sandwich short of a picnic basket."
"A basket short I'd say."
"So you up for supplying me with some goodies or what?" Harry asked.
The twins shared a look, smiled at each other and held out a hand each to him crossing their arms in the process.
Harry crossed his arms, took their hands in his, and shook on it. "I take it we have a deal gentlemen. You can contact me on the, whatever the hell we're going to call them, Harry should do it, just think of me when you call. It works a bit like a spell I think." he said getting up and looking around for somewhere to put out his cigarette.
George handed him a mostly empty coffee cup, "Mum will freak when she sees you doing that."
"I wouldn't try it in the house. We don't mind, but mum will flip."
Harry dumped his finished smoke into the coffee eliciting a slight hiss as it hit the liquid. "So I'll smoke outside. I expect that DD will get me over there within the next week or so?" he half asked.
"As far as we know Harry, it's over to the Burrow as normal, though it could be the . . . other place." George said with a shrug.
Harry grimaced but nodded, "Good, Good. Okay so give me some of your best stuff that I can smuggle into Hogwarts. No doubt you're entire catalogue will make its way onto Filch's banned items list this year."
The twins laughed but at the same time were forced to agree.
-oOo-
As it turned out Harry had a familiar owl waiting for him when he returned to his pad. He grabbed the note attached to the excitable little creature and scanned it.
His lips twitched as he read his best mates familiar frenetic scrawl. Apparently, he had to be ready that night at midnight and he then go to the burrow. Therefore, this time they were in fact going to the burrow. Which suited Harry just fine; he did not much like the HQ of the Order of the Phoenix. It was dark dreary and above all depressing. It had been another jail for Sirius and frankly, he never wanted to see the cursed place again. Though he did wonder if Dumbles had managed to get rid of that old hag that passed for a portrait.
He also found himself curious to know what had happened to his OWL results. Surely, they should be with him by now. Not that his results were terribly important to him, but they would give him some idea of what he would be doing for the next year class wise. However, with the large amounts of both mundane and arcane information floating around in his head he figured that school would be pretty much a breeze this year whatever courses he decided on.
The one thing you could say about moldy was that he was a learned man. However, his application of said knowledge was dodgy at best. Or at the very least with dark leaning, but that was no shock considering his past time was blood purity pep rallies and ordering his sycophants around.
Therefore, he had a few hours to kill. Just how was he going to murder them? He could add more to his room. Go shopping, which sounded good. Of course what he'd really like to do is find out how far Lavender would let him run his hand up her leg and just what she meant by allowing his hands to wander. He smirked to himself before disappearing in a swirl of magical lights.
Reforming in a back street, he had come across last time he was in London. What he should really be doing was catching a nap, but he could not be bothered. He would sleep when he was dead, in the meantime, he had far too much to see and do.
With that aim in mind, he walked out of the alley way and straight to a taxi rank. It was a matter of a few moments to find a black cab, "Harrods please mate." He had always wanted to go there.
"Right you are guv." the cabbie told him and navigated the London traffic like the pro he was, dropping Harry off virtually at the door. Harry paid the man and gave him a good tip for making such short work of the infamous London traffic. Then smiled as the door attendant let him in the famous shopper's heaven of Harrods.
He looked around with a grin forming on his face. Now where to start he mused. Picking a direction and setting off. He perused the food court sampling some of the finest food available, and then picked his way through the floors spending a few hours just browsing around. Only pausing every so often to grab some caffeine, the shopper's friend, before moving on hungrily. Though he did not really buy much, he did buy himself an electrical doodad or two. Something called a PDA, whatever that was. A personal stereo and some CD's to go with it. He would figure out someway to make it ignore magical interference later. He had really liked the music that had been playing in the various clubs he had visited the night and morning before hand. Therefore, with the help of a very attractive sales assistant he blew a fair bit of money in the music section alone. He also brought some speakers for his stereo vowing to drive his dorm mate's nuts with his music choices.
He then went back to his flat and charged his new toys, placed batteries where they were required and spent some time tinkering with a way of shielding them from magic. Anything electrical tended to go haywire around magic, the single plug socket he had in his room was actually in the 'real' part of the room and was pretty much unaffected by the magic surrounding it.
Once he was happy, he had protected his toys he put on his stereo and blasted out some techno beats as loud as he could, until he was fed up with the tinny sound coming out of the state of the art speakers. State of the art they may be, but they were still tiny. So he tweaked them magically then roared with laughter when he managed to duplicate the sound from the best club they had visited the night before. He cast a general silence spell around the flat so he would not incur the wrath of bozo the clown and just let it rip at full volume. Dancing around as the girls had shown him and generally having a ball.
At half eleven he packed his trunk, carefully including his music collection, player and speakers. He paused over the PDA. He had brought it on a whim really, but what the hell. It went into his pocket. He then realized a slight flaw in his plans. He did not have his trusty Firebolt. How the hell was he supposed to get anywhere without giving himself away?
He shouldered his hefty trunk, slipped on his leather coat with the hood tucked away out of sight and strolled outside. His uncle and aunt were fast asleep; they rarely stayed up past 10pm anyway. The only person that was likely to see him would be Dudders, and frankly he was too scared of getting another pigs tail. Harry smirked to himself, sat on his trunk shifted until he was comfortable with his back to a wall and focused on the air around him.
He took a few moments to 'feel' the wards that protected the house, they were indeed quite powerful and very complex, but he was not so sure, how he charged them. Unless they had a power sapper built in, this made him slightly angry to think that someone set him up to be a battery of all things. Then, he did need to protect his mother's sister. To that end, he supercharged the wards until they were just about glowing with power. Wouldn't Dumbles have a heart attack when he inspected them, he thought with a dry chuckle.
"Wotcha"
Harry opened his eyes and allowed his gaze to drift up the stylishly attired, for wizards, form of Tonks. 'Yowl' he thought to himself. He plastered a sexy smile on his face, "Sorry miss do I know you?" he said with laughter in his voice.
Tonks smirked at him. "Well I'm not sure, you do look awful familiar. But the young wizard I know normally has a scowl on his face."
"Ow, I suppose I deserved that, but DAMN Tonks you look good."
She shot him a bemused smile.
"Will I be riding with you this evening?" he said with a tone loaded with double meaning.
She gave him a little double take, "Are you sure you're Harry?"
He chuckled at her, "Want to check?" he asked with an unrepentant smile.
It was Tonks turn to laugh. "Okay lover boy, I'm guessing you had a good summer. Let's be off hey?"
"How are we getting wherever the hell we're going?"
"Port Key"
"I think the neighbours might notice if we just up and disappear you know."
"Notice Me Not Charm." Was her reply, "Come on, and get on with it. Grab your trunk and then touch this."
"Why Miss Tonks that's very forward of you." Harry said with a smirk, since Tonks was fishing around in her pocket.
"What's with you?" she asked with a faint blush.
"Not a lot." he answered, grabbing his trunk.
"Where's your owl?"
"I sent her to find me."
"I thought you didn't know where we're going."
"She'll find me no matter what." he said confidently.
Tonks sort of half shrugged. "Come on lover boy, grab this."
Harry did not comment, this time. Grabbed the length of robe she was holding out for him.
"Burrow" she said, triggering the port key into action.
A pull behind his navel, and a nasty sensation of dizzying flight later he made damn sure to fall onto Tonks.
"Now who's being forward?" she asked with a laugh.
"It's your magnetic personality." he shot back, helping her to her feet. Rubbing his shoulder as he did so. She was surprisingly solidly built. Then she had to keep that extra mass she used for transformations somewhere.
"Well we're here."
Harry nodded at the sky.
Tonks looked up in worry, until she saw the familiar sight of a snowy owl. "Well I'll be hung"
"I'll ignore the obvious come back" Harry replied glibly.
"Someone's been working on their flirting." Tonks said with a smirk. "But I'll have you know I'm taken."
Harry was tempted to tell her that she was not taken like he could take her, but decided that may be crossing the line somewhat, especially if she called his bluff. He was still a virgin after all, even if he had been working on his kissing skills of late.
"Who's the lucky guy I have to duel to win fair ladies hand?" Harry asked smoothly.
"Damn, nothing rattles you anymore does it? I was hoping for at least a blush or something."
Harry just smiled. Lifted up his trunk, "You know this thing is heavy. Any chance of a feather light spells. And leaving it on?"
She regarded him with dancing eyes for a moment, and then nodded. Her wand was in her hand in a flash and she cast the spell for him.
"Damn, that was a fast draw." Harry complimented her.
"Auror issue Wand Wrist Sheath," she explained.
"Who do I have to sleep with to get one of those?" he asked.
She laughed in a slightly surprised manner, "I'll get you one."
"Does that mean I get to sleep with you then?"
She laughed gaily and somewhat loudly. Causing the inhabitants of the house to notice their arrival. The door opened flooding the immediate area with light.
"Ahh Nymphadora, you have our wayward traveller," a familiar voice said. His silhouette was blocking out most of the glare.
"Isn't it after your bedtime grandpa?" Harry muttered quietly; though apparently not quiet enough as Tonks shot him a surprised, but mirthful look.
"Harry!" she admonished in a whisper.
"Do you smell coco?" he asked in a louder voice, causing her to snort.
"Ah yes, I believe that Molly has put some on for us. Don't stand on ceremony my good man, come in, come in."
Just then, Molly appeared in the doorway, almost shoving the defeater of Grindlewald out of the way in her haste to get to 'darling Harry'.
"Oh shit!" Harry once again muttered. "Promise me mouth to mouth when she suffocates me," he whispered in an aside to the attractive young Auror, who fell about in giggles.
He was swept up in to one of Molly Weasley's patent hugs of death. "Gurgh... Ohff" was all he was able to say.
"Harry, I'm so pleased to see you safely with us." she beamed at him. "I've made you some supper because I know those Muggles don't feed you properly." she paused, sniffing at him. "Is that alcohol?" she asked, her mother's nose detecting what others could not. Even through his shower earlier, it was still on his breath.
'Shit, fuck shit!' Harry thought his mind freewheeling. "It's my uncles; my cousin thought it'd be funny to slip me some scotch in my tea. Which really wasn't pleasant." He was quite proud of that one, believable from what they knew of his cousin, and spontaneously too. Perhaps he should become a politician?
"Oh my poor dear, let's get you something to drink and wash out that taste." As she led him away, he turned back to Tonks and winked at her. Causing her to dissolve into snorting laughter, shaking her head at him.
He allowed himself to be virtually dragged into the comfortable kitchen of the burrow, his trunk tailing behind him. He was then firmly pushed into a chair at the table, a supper placed in front of him and a cup of hot coco plopped down within reach. His eyes bugged out at what Mrs. Weasley considered a supper, which consisted of all the makings of a full English breakfast. Then he dug in with relish. "Thanks Mrs. Weasley" he said between mouthfuls, playfully batting away Tonk's hand as she tried to nick some of his bacon. Then he smirked at her and offered the rasher to her.
She smiled at him and took it when the Weasley Matriarch was not watching. All of which was done under the amused but watchful eyes of Dumbledore.
"Have you had a good summer Harry?" he asked after a minute of watching Harry's interactions with the vivacious Miss Tonks.
Harry looked at him, all hints of mirth beading out of his eyes. "Not bad." he admitted.
"I trust your relatives took their warning to heart."
'Are you kidding!' is what Harry wanted to say. Instead, he replied with, "I think they learned their lesson sir."
A slight frown creased the elderly wizard's forehead at the slightly weird phrasing of Harry's answer. However, he refrained from pushing for a different answer. Harry seemed happy enough though it appeared that he harboured some resentment towards him. Well hopefully that could be countered during the year, they had much to discuss after all. "Ah!" he said suddenly and started to search through his voluminous pockets. Finally finding what he was looking for he gave it to Harry with a flourish. "Your Owl results."
"Cool" Harry said.
"I'm sorry?" he said totally bemused.
"It means good." Harry replied, placing the envelope on the table and turning back to his meal. Noticing he was down a sausage, he turned a baleful eye to the pink haired honey perched on the table beside him. "Sneaky" he whispered.
"Aren't you going to open that?" Tonks said with a grin and pointing to his results.
"Feel free." he said, chomping down on some black pudding.
Tonks frowned slightly, but did as he suggested. He eyes flicked from side to side as she read. Her jaw dropping slightly. "Harry, this is... just wow!"
"Oh?" he said totally uninterested. "What courses can I do next year?"
"Pretty much anything except divination and history." she replied somewhat mystified at his disinterest.
He smiled, "Cool. I was thinking of doing some... Hang on I passed Potions?" he said in shock.
"O"
"Shi...sugar wasn't expecting that."
"You also got a commendation for DADA, O+ I didn't even know they did that."
"In fact this year has seen quite a few notable good marks for a ... certain group of people. Just thought you'd like to know that."
Harry smiled and nodded, noticing the hint. He was glad his crew had done well; they deserved it for all the hard work they had put in. "Shame that dozy bint messed everyone else's chances up really."
"Harry!" Molly admonished him.
"Believe me that wasn't the first choice of word I had." Harry said darkly.
Dumbledore actually chuckled slightly at that. "Luckily the 'bint' in question will not be returning to Hogwarts."
"What unmitigated disaster have you lined up for us this year?" Harry asked casually, but without real bite behind his words.
"I will admit" Dumbledore started, waiving off the agog Mrs. Weasley. "Some of my past choices in DADA Professor were less than stellar."
"Voldemort himself and a death eater to mention but two." Harry said with a smirk.
"Indeed though in fairness to myself Voldemort didn't appear out of the back of Professor Quirrels' head until the first term you attended," he replied sardonically.
"So I'm the curse of the DADA professor. Have you at least warned the new professor?" Harry said with a chuckle.
"Indeed the professor in question is quite... aware of you."
Harry frowned slightly then realization dawned. "Finally decided to give him a go then. Who's taking his place?"
"That is something that I actually require your help with Harry."
"What are you two talking about, who is the new professor and what replacement." Tonks asked.
"Professor Snape will be teaching Defence Against The Dark Arts this year." Dumbledore replied.
"Which means Potions may be bearable this year, so I might add that to my Rota." Harry noted.
"Any other courses that take your fancy?" Dumbledore asked.
Harry finally took up his results and scanned them. "Auror track I think, with Arithmancy and Ancient Runes."
"At Newt level?" Dumbledore said somewhat surprised.
"They're listed." Harry replied. "I've done some reading in that area and I kind of wish I'd taken it earlier."
"Well Hagrid will be sad to see you go."
"Oh hell I hadn't thought of that. He'll be back this year then?"
"Indeed he will."
Harry hummed.
"I don't believe you'll be able to fit it in as well as the other courses."
"I'll drop Runes, and do care of magical creatures." Harry decided.
"Are you sure?"
Harry nodded.
"So you want to be an Auror then Harry?" Tonks asked with a light behind her eyes.
"Perhaps" was his noncommittal reply. "I've recently discovered that I don't really need to work at all," he said with a baleful look at his headmaster.
"Ah" was the immediate reply, "May I ask how you came to be in possession of this information?"
"A friend" was all Harry was willing to say on the subject.
"Which friend?"
"No one you know." Harry replied. However, it was highly possible that the headmaster did in fact know Fliptrask either in person or by word of mouth.
"You are proving to be even more resourceful than I gave you credit for... My Lord."
Harry inclined his head slightly.
"What's this?" Tonks asked, now very confused.
"I take it you realize the full ramifications of that law?"
"Yeah my wands in the trunk over there somewhere. I think." Harry said waiving a hand in the trunks direction.
"You can do magic?" Tonks said taking a slight leap.
Harry nodded, "More pureblood bull...crud. Apparently because my family hails back to the damn stone age I get some rights that everyone should have but don't."
"It's a good thing that you can use magic though isn't it. From a security stand point it's much better to protect someone that can handle themselves too." Tonks reasoned.
"I don't think the headmaster agrees." Harry said with a nod at the man in question, "Since he kept this little tit bit of info from me."
"I was unsure if you would use the freedoms allowed you responsibly." Dumbledore admitted, "Especially after then end of the last year."
"I won't blow up your office again I promise" Harry said with a grin that was totally giving away just how sorry he felt about doing that in the first place. "Conversely it does mean that I can at least shave without a razor now."
This surprised a laugh from all present, even the to this point quiet Mrs. Weasley.
Then he smiled wider, "And contraception charms too." he said tossing a wink at Tonks.
Who blushed and slapped his shoulder. He just smirked back at her.
"You appear to be in a rare mood Harry," Dumbledore said over Mrs. Weasley's stunned spluttering.
"Let's just say I've decided not to take life so Sirius-ly anymore."
Tonks smiled at him, "I like this new you. The old one was kind of a grumpy git."
"True."
"I too am happy to see this change in you Harry," the headmaster admitted with a smile. "I trust you will use your wand wisely."
Harry snorted.
Dumbledore took a moment to review his words over Tonk's snorting laughter and rolled his eyes. "You are worse than your father ever was for innuendo you do realize."
Harry smiled happily, "Good"
"I think I should warn your head of house to be wary."
"You can tell Professor Pussycat that I'll be Purrfect." he replied causing Tonks to fall of the table.
"I'll tell her you said that." Dumbledore said with a super nova twinkle in his eye.
"Oh hell, please don't she'll transfigure me into a toy mouse and ... play with me." Harry said with a slightly worried expression on his face that was as false as it was convincing.
Tonks was now laughing so much she had tears running down her face; even Molly was chuckling behind her hand. Only Professor Dumbledore wasn't laughing... overtly.
"Well, on that note. I shall leave you in Molly's more than capable hands Harry." he paused, "That just sounded so wrong." he added causing Harry to fall off his chair laughing and Molly to blush a familiar Weasley beet red.
Shaking his head and muttering about perverted teenagers the venerable, supposedly, headmaster left the burrow and made his way outside of the wards and Appareted to HQ. However, he did play with the idea of telling the outwardly stern Professor McGonagall what had transpired that night. He knew she would get a kick out of it.
"Right!" Molly said, wiping away a tear of laughter, "You should head up to bed Harry, Tonks are you staying the night."
"Room for two in my bed." Harry muttered to the young Auror.
Tonks bit her lip and shook her head. "I'm only on transport duty Moody is out there somewhere."
"Oh no, he's likely to leap on me in the middle of the night shouting 'CONSTANT VIGILLANCE!'" Harry bemoaned.
Tonks chuckled, "He could, and in fact I might suggest it to him."
"I'll be sure to find a proper way to repay your kindness," Harry said with a straight face but a twinkle in his eyes.
"Go on, off with you." Tonks said, pushing him towards the stairs.
"Don't wake Ron."
"Do I look like the entire compliment of the Weird Sisters and a gong?" Harry asked, grabbing his trunk and making his way up stairs.
"He had a point," Molly admitted.