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Let's Try That Again Redux - Chapter 12
🕑 Added 2024-07-08 15:00:06 +0000 UTCHarry ran through his evening routine of draining his magical core. He cycled through hair colors, lengths, and styles as he felt his limit quickly approaching. Harry used the last bit of focus to return his hair to its usual style. The next step in the process most of the time was him staggering to bed and passing out.
This time, something was different. He could feel his magic coming back at a much faster pace. The normal fatigue was nowhere near what it had been yesterday. He hadn't felt any change once Riddle was dead, so it had to be something else. The only thing he could rationalize was the ambient magic. Privet Drive was practically barren, recharging his core took hours. Here, surrounded by all these witches and wizards, he was filling back up much faster. Harry slipped out into the sitting area. He wasn't tired enough to go to sleep and his thoughts were keeping him too focused to relax.
There was no reason to allow Moody to be replaced, he could take care of Barty in the next couple of days. Without a figurehead the remaining Death Eaters were too focused on their own designs than to work together. Even with Voldemort alive there were clearly defined factions.
If Barty didn't replaced Moody, then no one would put Harry's name in the goblet. That meant no tournament. Which most likely meant he wouldn't become friends with Fleur, or Krum. Losing their friendship was more of a blow than he had expected.
Ginny had tried to keep Fleur at a distance, but Bill was her favorite brother and spending time together was unavoidable. He and Fleur had become quick friends once everything had settled down. They were both outsiders surrounded by the Weasley's. Even Hermione seemed to fit in better with the gaggle of gingers. Fleur and Harry were the ones that always had to adjust. He had learned French instead of letting their quasi-isolation ruin the family gatherings. And then there was that kiss under the mistletoe. Harry jolted upright.
The kiss.
~§~ Then ~§~
"I have been waiting for you to do that again for so long." Fleur whispered as her fingers trailed along his lips.
"Again?" Harry held her beautiful, hungry gaze with his own.
They were at the Burrow. It had been rebuilt after the war. Harry had even pitched in a decent amount of gold to get it look better than ever. He hadn't planned on paying for so much of it, but Ginny had asked him over morning coffee.
"Your birthday." She playfully hit his chest. "I thought I had left more of an impression."
"My birthday this year?" Harry asked.
The smile on her face drained away. "You don't remember."
Harry shook his head. He closed his eyes and concentrated, trying to remember something about his birthday. Something about Fleur being there. He found nothing. Only a vague impression of the day.
"There you two are." Hermione hurried over to the with a broad smile. "Some wine for you Fleur, and Eggnog for you Harry."
"Thank you." Harry took the offered drink. He sipped it while he thought. "Hermione…"
The question he wanted to ask drifted away. His perception of the memory shifted, watching from the outside. Ginny huffed as she found Hermione standing near a dazed Fleur and Harry.
"Again?" Ginny snapped.
"You're getting sloppy Gin." Hermione scolded the younger woman. "Today, Halloween, his birthday. That's three you owe me. The potions don't last as long. It has to be something with her not being human. Her allure must be interfering. Get your brother to stop coming over or convince him to let me up her dosage."
"I've tried." Ginny grumbled. "He won't listen and thinks that mom's potions work just as well as they did when they got together."
"Don't blame me if the next egg she lays comes out with silver hair and green eyes." Hermione twisted the knife. "If that happens, you can kiss the Potter fortune goodbye."
"And I'm sure you have a suggestion?" Ginny glared at Hermione. "I'm not ruining my body and my career by popping out a couple of kids."
"It sounds like you could use a partner." Hermione paused, making sure Harry took another drink.
~§~ Now ~§~
Harry clenched his jaw.
"It's not them." Harry repeated the phrase over and over. "They're just kids."
If he could give the Dursley's the benefit of a doubt, then Hermione and Ginny would get one too. He had no clue what Dumbledore had done to them. Not to mention Molly. It sounded like she may have done some work for Bill as well. That made Fleur falling for Bill make so much more sense.
Harry sat back, thinking about all he knew about Bill.
Bill Weasley was a curse breaker for Gringotts. He married Fleur and they eventually had a child. They had set up something of a safe house for people on the run during the war. Beyond that, he didn't know much about him. Even the holidays they spent together over the years that weren't tinted with memory altering didn't bring up much.
Fleur though. He could see her in his memories over the years, fading. Their eyes would meet and there would be so much hope behind them. A soul deep sorrow always replaced it. Another life stolen.
Harry wouldn't let his selfish desire to have her in his life ruin hers. He would miss her, but Fleur deserved better than to get pulled into this mess.
He hopped to his feet. A brief moment concentrating on Barty Crouch Jr had his vanish from the sitting room. Harry found himself standing near a thin wizard. The man was well-groomed, wore nice clothing, and seemed to be healthy. Barty was lounging on his plush bed, reading a book that was brand new. All in all, the Death Eater was living in a golden cage.
Their locked eyes. Barty sprang forward, throwing the book at Harry. It sailed harmlessly off to the side. The Death Eater pulled into a roll, dashing to the other side of the room before tumbling over an old writing desk.
"The butcher of Azkaban comes for me, eh?" His made voice had a Scottish lilt to it.
"My reputation proceeds me." Harry followed the mad dash with his eyes but stayed in place. "You were a Ravenclaw, right?"
"Ooh." Barty laughed. "Someone's done their homework."
"Do you like puzzles?" Harry asked.
"I'm a Ravenclaw therefore I must like puzzles?" Barty snapped in reply. "You like to hear yourself talk, does that make you a Slytherin?"
"Fair point." Harry sighed. "In my old life I was an auror. I worked on a lot of high-profile cases. They like to hand them to me because it looked good in the papers when Harry Potter solved a case."
"Harry Potter?" Barty popped his head up to look at him. "The chosen one himself killed all my mates on the island and now come for me. What's this about being an auror? You're a bit young, ain't you?"
"In another life." Harry waved the question away. "I understood the standard cases. Leftover Death Eaters trying to become the next Dark Lord. Some wizards who thought they were the first one to ever try to take over the world. The random murder. That sort of thing."
"You're as batty as I am." Barty stood.
When Harry didn't move to attack, he hopped up onto the desk and sat with his feet hanging off.
"If you knew what I knew, you'd be much crazier." Harry laughed. "There was this one case, that I had that was causing a panic. A magical serial killer. Not some dark lord, but an actual serial killer."
"This is the most entertainment I've had in years. Last time was when Trixie remembered a full song from the Weird Sisters and belted it out for three days." Barty crossed his legs and listened.
"I cut her head off." Harry shrugged.
"Go on you." Barty chuckled. "The story?"
"Right." Harry nodded. "The thing was the killer wasn't using any The Killing Curse. The curse specifically made to kill people. They would leave the remains of their victims in two piles. One for the bones and the other for everything else."
"Ohhh." Barty bounced in his spot. "How did you catch him?"
"Her." Harry corrected. "A witch. Third daughter of a Pureblood that didn't have any future once she got out of school. They didn't have the money to set her up with an apprenticeship, so she did… independent study of sorts."
"A Ravenclaw after my own heart." Barty beamed with pride.
"Exactly." Harry smiled at the Death Eater.
Their eyes met for a brief moment as they shared a smile. Barty froze as he realized that the young man in front of him was much more dangerous than anyone he had ever experienced.
"She would remove the bones completely from her victim." Harry continued. "No cuts, claw marks, or burns. Every single one intact. Just outside of the body." Barty watched as Harry raised his hand, pointing a finger at him. "Do you know what she was doing?"
The Death Eater shook his head.
"Accio Hyoid." Harry spoke clearly.
A splash of blood erupted from Barty's throat as a small bone flew over to Harry's waiting hand.
"She learned the common Latin names for the bones of the human body." Harry explained. "Piece by piece, starting with the Hyoid. That way her victims couldn't cast spells, call for help, and were too panicked to think straight."
Barty held his hands up to his throat, trying to keep the blood in.
"We would have never caught her except she had to go to Muggle London to buy the books she needed." Harry watched as the Death Eater continued to struggle. "They don't have the same sort of books in Diagon Alley. Blocking the summoning spell is possible, you just have to know the counter charm, and what they are summoning."
Barty struggled to his feet. He stumbled over to Harry, one hand against his bleeding throat and the other reaching out for the bone.
"She came peacefully once I caught her." Harry stepped to the side, just out of reach. "She told me that she'd do the hands next. The bigger bones took more power and focus. They were easier to get once the person was dead. Otherwise, their struggle would cause the bones to break."
Harry watched Barty collapse on the bed.
"I never understood her fascination with keeping the bones intact." Harry shrugged.
Barty stopped struggling. Harry flicked his wrist, decapitating the corpse. That would hopefully disguise what had really killed the Death Eater. Harry dropped the bone near the loose head. He disappeared before it hit the ground.
Harry walked back to the bathroom and washed his hands. He took extra care to make sure that he hadn't missed any blood. Then, just to be sure, he used a cleaning charm to give himself a once over. He was going to need to plan better if he wanted to continue his nighttime excursions.
Riddle and Barty were dead. It had been a productive day.
Now that he thought about it, the last week had been productive. Harry had 'saved 'the Weasley family, destroyed all of the horcruxes, killed a lot of Death Eaters, including stopping Barty from being alive to replace Moody, and killed Voldemort. He deserved a couple of days off.
The fact that he was now surrounded by witches from all over the world had nothing to do with it. For that matter, the fact that he was now a raging ball of hormones was not a factor at all.
With all the changes he had made his past experiences were practically useless now. There was no one to enter him into the Tournament, Voldemort was dead, and there were only a few scattered Death Eaters that he had to clean up. The thought of not being in the Tri-Wizard was a little bitter-sweet. He wasn't sure how to approach Fleur without the champion connection. Would she dismiss him as just another hapless suitor? Would her life be better without his involvement? Without the Tournament and the Weasleys, there wasn't a reason for them to cross paths. Deep thoughts like that were not going to help his mood. He needed some fun and there were plenty of options right outside the tent.
"Come on Harry!" Tonks was bouncing with energy. Her hair was flashing between bubblegum pink and neon blue. "There are two games later and I've got a month of pay burning a hole in my pocket."
Tonks burst into his room and froze. Harry stood, completely nude, beside his bed. Her eyes roamed over his body taking in his lithe form, the various scars, and his… other features.
Harry chuckled as her hair went from pink to bright red.
"Enjoying the show?" Harry asked.
Her eyes snapped up to look him in the face. She chuckled, visibly relaxing at his joke. Her hair shifted back to the standard pink.
"Give a girl a little notice next time." Tonks fanned herself. "My innocent eyes are not prepared."
"I doubt that." Harry rolled his eyes.
"You dare question my innocence?" Tonks scoffed.
Harry turned to face her, giving her a taste of full-frontal. "Nym, I will be severely disappointed in the wizarding community if you haven't been shagged yet."
"I think that's a compliment." Tonks did her level best not to look down.
"It was." Harry nodded. "Casual?"
"Yeah, haven't had an actual boyfriend in a while." Tonks sighed.
"Clothes, Nym." Harry laughed. "I don't want to look like a moron on my first real outing."
"Oh." Tonks blushed. "Right. Yeah." She waved a hand at her outfit. "Something like this works."
Harry checked out her outfit now that he wasn't concentrating on teasing her. She wore a pair of Muggle jeans, a T-shirt for a band he didn't know, and had on a pair of boots. Tonks noticed him checking out her footwear.
"Boots are for the best." Tonks explained. "We're going to be doing a lot of walking in crowded areas. You'll need something to protect your toes."
"Noted." Harry gave her a mock-salute. "Are you going to watch me get dressed?"
"Don't mind if I do." Tonks strolled over to his bed. She hopped into it, landing on her back and spreading out her arms. "This isn't fair. My bed sucks."
"It's big enough for two." Harry said.
The words just rolled out of his mouth. He turned, trying to appear casual as he hurried over to his wardrobe. Harry busied himself getting dressed.
"Mister Potter." Tonks said in a scandalized voice. "Do you always invite strange women into you bed?"
"None of them have been as strange as you." Harry looked over his shoulder and shot her a sly grin.
Tonks huffed in faux outrage. She hopped out of his bed once he was dressed. He held out his hands to give her a look at his outfit. It wasn't too different from hers. Muggle jeans, boots, and a simple light blue T-shirt.
She tapped her chin as she studied him. Tonks nodded.
"Acceptable." She stepped closer, running a hand through his hair. "You should grow your hair out a bit. That slightly-wild look you've got would look better with some length."
"Give me a moment." Harry closed his eyes.
He concentrated, focusing his magic, guiding it to his hair. A slight sheen of sweat covered his brow. Tonks gasped as his hair grew a couple of inches.
"You're a metamorphmagus?" Tonks gaped at him.
"No." Harry shook his head. "It takes a lot of focus to do something like that."
"How did you figure that out?" She asked.
"I can't use my wand over the summer." Harry shrugged. "I didn't want to lose touch with my magic, so I was experimenting. Changing my appearance wears me out, but it's like working a muscle."
"Most people can't do any sort of human transfiguration without a lot of training and a wand." Tonks shook her head. "You do make things interesting."
Harry chuckled.
"You have no idea." He offered her his arm. "Ready?"
The next hour was spent wandering around the campgrounds. They bought breakfast from a passing cart selling some sort of pastry that looked like the lovechild of a cinnamon roll and a croissant. It was one of the best things Harry had ever tasted. The vendor was happy to provide a card for future orders.
Sirius joined them once they hit the international section. He introduced Harry to the ladies at the Salem League of Witches. Two of which blushed constantly being around Sirius. The ladies giggled like schoolgirls when the old dog smiled at them.
"Story for another time." Was all Sirius said.
His godfather looked torn between going with Harry and staying with the witches.
"We've got a few more days here." Harry laughed at the man. "Have fun. Nym is showing me around."
The crowd got thicker as they moved into the Merchandise area. Teams from all over the world had set out booths to sell jerseys, posters, banners, and all sorts of things. The players on the National Teams were recruited from the domestic teams similar to the Muggle Olympics.
"Harry!" A female voice called.
Tonks stepped closer to him. He scanned the crowd as a girl with short black hair jogged over to them. It wasn't until she got closer that he recognized her. She wore a Kestrels jersey and there was a slight tan line along her face in the shape of goggles.
She pulled up short as she saw how close Tonks was to him.
"Do you know her?" Nym kept her voice low.
"We played Quidditch together." Harry replied.
"She was a Gryffindor?" Nym appraised the girl as she approached.
"Slytherin." Harry shook his head.
"Didn't think you liked Slytherins." Nym bumped him with her shoulder.
"A lot of people are under that impression." Harry rolled his eyes. "She didn't get to play in the official games, but she was amazing whenever we got one going for fun."
"Alyn Lind." Harry motioned to the approaching young woman. "This is… Tonks."
"Girlfriend?" Alyn asked.
"She's kind of my bodyguard." Harry looked at Tonks.
"It's about time!" She laughed turning to Tonks. "You'll have your work cut out keeping him safe. Did he show you the basilisk scar?"
"Basilisk?" Tonks turned to Harry.
"I'll tell you later." Harry blushed. "What are you doing here?"
Alyn pointed to her jersey, she turned to show him her name on the back.
"They've got us doing autographs and peddling goods. We're not a top tier team like the Harpies so we don't have all that many sponsors. Any money earned today goes to upgrading the teams' brooms. Firebolts are not cheap." The girl was practically bouncing with energy.
Harry smiled at her.
"I've started the last three games of the season!" Alyn hugged him. She sighed. "I know it's because they recruited Lynch and wanted him fresh for the tournament. Still! Three games as a rookie!"
"That's awesome!" Harry smiled at her. "I should get an autograph now so I can brag about it when you're out there next year."
"Did you want to see my tent? Our tent. The teams tent." Alyn blushed.
Harry looked to Tonks. She gave him a wink.
"I'd love to." Harry smiled at Alyn.
Nym shrugged and let them go. She was awesome. He needed to remember to get her a gift.
Alyn led Harry passed the merch table to a bright green tent with the Kestrel logo on it. The thing could have actually been a muggle tent, one used for outdoor events rather than recreational camping. It wasn't until they stepped inside that the magical aspects were revealed. The entry way was a large lobby with boxes of merch stacked in rows.
"Hey! Lind!" A young man called.
Harry saw her shoulders droop. A guy wearing a Kestrels jersey like Alyn. The guy had long blonde hair pulled back into a tail and had an athletic build that was on the bulkier side. He smiled brightly as he hurried over.
"Jenner." Alyn said flatly.
"Who's this?" The guy, Jenner, asked.
"A friend from school." Alyn replied. "I'm showing him around."
Jenner looked at Harry. His face scrunched up for a moment.
"You're a Second year?" He asked.
Harry knew he was a bit short and skinny with his body playing catchup now that it had regular, healthy meals. Even then he'd look like a giant among Second Year students. Either this guy was a moron or insulting him.
"Sure." Harry rolled his eyes.
"Jenner." The guy held out his hand. "Reserve Beater. I've been showing Alyn the ropes since she's a rookie. I'd be happy to join you. Probably know more about the place too."
Harry looked to Alyn. She had a thinly veiled annoyed expression on her face. He shifted back to Jenner, his eyes dropping to the extended hand.
"No thanks." Harry shook his head. "Ready?"
Alyn smiled. She led him out of the lobby, leaving Jenner standing there with his hand still out. Alyn quickly stepped through a door to the side. The two stood in a short hallway.
"I cannot stand that guy." She muttered once the door closed behind them. "He has one year on me and thinks he knows everything. Hasn't even played in a real match but gave me 'tips' after all three of mine. He's constantly trying to push in on interviews too."
Harry wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him. Her eyes went wide as he kissed her deeply. Alyn giggled as they broke apart.
"You were going to show me where your room was?" Harry asked.
"Yes, yes I was." Alyn smiled, grabbed his hand, and quickly pulled him along. "That's the showers." She pointed at the first door. "Managers office." She pointed out the second door. "Ladies Bunks. The guys are on the other side. Fraternization between teammates is looked down upon."
She opened the door to show him a room with six beds, three on each wall. They were separated by a three-quarters wall. Alyn led him to one of the beds in the middle. The wall had a couple of pictures from Hogwarts as well as some newspaper clippings.
"We'll be alone for a bit." Alyn sat on her bed.
"Are you okay with someone discovering us?" Harry asked as he joined her.
"They've seen me naked in the showers." She leaned in, nibbling on his ear. "I'm fine with it if you are."
"That is a nice visual." Harry teased.
She gasped as Harry pushed her onto her back. He kissed her neck and his hands slipped under her jersey. His fingertips traced the outline of her abs as they traveled upwards.
"Mister Potter." Alyn breathed. "What type of girl do you take me for?"
"One that I'm going to give a limp and a smile." Harry replied.
"Prove it." She grabbed the bottom of her jersey, pulling it off in one fast motion.
Harry paused, taking in her body. Her athletic stomach had the ghost of abs. She wore a sports bra that held her breasts tightly. Harry kissed her flat stomach, nibbling on her bellybutton. Alyn let out a sharp moan as his teeth brushed against her skin.
"That's new." She whispered.
His hands stayed in motion, slipping her bra up to expose her breasts. He sat back up to appreciate the view. Her chest was larger than he expected. Her perky button sized nipples made them look even bigger. He didn't have a catalogue of bra sizes readily available to compare her measurements. It didn't matter, they were gorgeous.
"Freezing up?" Alyn teased.
"Works of art deserve to be admired." Harry smiled at her.
She chuckled. "Take that shirt off. I want to feel your skin against mine."
Harry was happy to fulfil her request. He tossed his shirt off near hers.
"Sweet Morgana." She whispered as her eyes traveled along his chest.
He looked down to see her tracing the various scars on his skin.
"Stories can wait." Harry kissed her. "I have a promise to keep."
Harry kissed her cute, little nipples. His hands traveled down her sides, hooking along her pants, and sliding to the front. He began to work on her buttons, adding a bit of suction to his kisses. The only thing she wore now was the wrist-brace that contained her wand. He needed to remember to pick one of those up for himself.
"There are spells to get the clothes off faster." Alyn giggled.
"I know." Harry finished with her buttons. He grabbed her pants and yanked them down. "I like doing it this way."
Harry shifted lower, placing his head between her legs, setting them atop his shoulders. He smiled when he saw her panties had an embroidered snitch on them. Looking up, he locked eyes with her. Harry placed mouth against the thin fabric over her pussy.
"Those are in the way if you're going to do what I think you're planning." Alyn held his gaze.
He adjusted his mouth, finding the top of her slit, and began to hum. Her legs shot out straight, her muscles tensing, as the vibrations traveled through her body.
"By Maeve's clit, what was that?" Alyn moaned.
"Resonance." Harry grinned wickedly at her.
"Whatever it is, do it again." She breathed.
Harry repeated the process. This time moving his mouth up and down in small motions. Alyn gripped the sheets, her mouth opened in a silent scream.
"Where did you learn that?" She managed to say as Harry paused to take a breath.
"A girl hums during a blowjob, and it feels amazing." He explained. "Figured it would work the other way too."
Alyn drew her wand. A flick of her wrist and their remaining clothes vanished. He had no idea where they went. At the moment he didn't really care.
"Fuck me." She growled.
Harry kept her legs on his shoulders as he raised up. Her hand reached down, grabbing his shaft, and guiding him to her wet lower lips.
"You've earned the smile." She locked eyes with him as she slid the crown of his cock along the length of her pussy. "What about that limp?"
Harry gave her a wry smile as he pushed forward. Alyn moaned as he steadily pressed inch by inch into her warm, wet pussy.
"Oh Merlin, you're huge." She moaned.
Harry leaned forward, placing a soft kiss on her lips. She shuddered as he bottomed out in her. They locked eyes. Harry stayed hilted inside of her, letting her adjust to his size. Alyn leaned forward, placing her forward against his. She nodded. He began to pull back, stopping once only the head of his cock was still inside. They moaned in sync as Harry began to press forward once more.
He grabbed onto her hips, picking up the pace. His steady, hard thrusts rocked her body.
Harry pulled her hips to mean him, clapping their bodies together. Alyn pulled his closer, pressing her forehead against hers and running her fingers through his hair. Harry groaned as her tits bounced against his chest, dragging her hard nipples along his skin. Her pussy desperately tried to pull him back in with every thrust. He slammed into her faster and harder, his mind set on getting her to orgasm first.
Alyn moaned loudly with every as she grabbed a handful of his hair, gripping it tightly as she began to buck underneath him. He took that as a good sign. His whole body hammered away with everything he could. Every thrust was met with a resounding slap.
"Cumming." She muttered before trailing off into gibberish.
Harry tried to hold on, but the feeling of her pussy milk his cock pushed him over the edge.
Their lips found each other, kissing each other deeply as they rode out their climaxes. Alyn rolled to the side, taking him down to the bed. She breathed in short gasps. True to his words, a smile played across her lips. Harry pulled out of her, laying on his back. He pulled her close against his side. Without a thought she tucked his arm under her head to use as a pillow. She draped a leg over him as they basked in the afterglow together.
After a moment she let out a little giggle.
"What?" He asked.
"I just fucked Harry Potter." She continued to giggle. "I would be in so much trouble if I was still at Hogwarts. I can picture the look on Snape's face."
"He is the last person I want to think of right now." Harry said. The image of an outraged Snape flashed in his mind. He started to chuckle. "Okay, that would be pretty funny."
"Too bad I don't have a camera." Alyn sighed. "No one is going to believe me." She held up her hand, miming taking a picture. "Harry and Me. With an arrow pointing between my legs. Harry's cum."
Harry shook his head. He froze. "Uh, I forgot to ask. Are you on the potion?"
"A bit too late for that." Alyn laughed. "I'm on contract with the Kestrels." She said after a moment, as though that explained everything.
"What does that have to do with things?" Harry asked slowly.
"The first three years I have a No Pregnancy Claus in my contract." She explained. "It doesn't make sense for a team to sign a rookie just for them to get knocked up halfway through the first season. All the teams do it these years. Think about it, have you heard of one of the Harpies having kids before they retired?"
An intense anger began to build in his chest. Ginny had never mentioned that. She knew he wanted a family. He was upfront about that. Ginny asked for his support in her quidditch career, saying that they could keep trying and she'd take time off once she was pregnant. It was just another lie. She never planned on having kids while she was in the pros.
"Are you alright?" Alyn interrupted his thoughts.
"Yeah." Harry looked over to her, giving her a smile. "Had to tap down that moment of blind panic."
She laughed. "We should get dressed. Someone is going to start looking for me, probably already have."
Alyn slipped out of the bed. She scanned the area for her clothes. Harry grinned as she shuffled over and started to get dressed.
"Smile and a limp?" He asked.
"You didn't disappoint." She nodded. "Next time I'll be ready."
"Next time?" Harry got out of bed to find his clothes as well. "I like the sound of that."
Once they were both dressed Alyn led him back outside. She winked at him as they split off.
Tonks was waiting nearby. She looked incredibly bored and annoyed. Harry saw the reason as he got closer. Jenner stood beside chatting away.
"You ready?" Harry asked stepping up in front of her.
"Yes." She practically yelled.
"But…" Jenner said.
"Why were you talking to that guy?" Harry asked as they walked away.
"He asked if I was a Kestrels fan." She sighed, rolling her eyes. "I said they were better than the Cannons but not my team. Then he started to 'explain' the game of Quidditch to me."
"Should I hex him?" Harry asked.
"Already did." Tonks shot him a sly grin. "Just something small."
"Oh?" Harry waited for her to continue.
"I turned his socks into bread." She said happily. "He didn't seem to notice."
Harry smiled broadly at her. "Where to now?"
"I don't know." She chucked bumping her shoulder against his. "Any other professional quidditch players you plan to bed?"
"I wouldn't say no if the Harpies have a station."
~§~
Tonks and Harry spent the rest of the day exploring. Sirius popped back up a little after lunch looking properly disheveled and sporting a silly grin. Lupin was with him. Harry had to hold back a laugh when he realized the werewolf was making a concentrated effort to stay upwind.
Sirius showed them to his favorite international cuisine among the many food stalls. Harry had expected something simple, maybe a steak with a bone in it. It turned out that Sirius loved Thai food, the spicier the better. Lupin, on the other hand, wouldn't even come close to one of the stalls and constantly shot Sirius glares.
After that they split back up. Harry was happy to see Sirius so alive. He didn't know if it was the time as Rook, the wards, or a steady string of casual encounters, but his godfather looked better than he ever had the last time through.
"I need a nap." Tonks groaned as they headed back to their tents.
Harry gave her a tired smile. "That sounds wonderful. Can I join you?"
"If we're sleeping together, we're doing it in your bed." Tonks froze once she spoke.
"Nym!" Harry gasped.
"Cuddling!" She spoke a little too loud. "I meant cuddle."
"Auror Tonks, is there a reason you're yelling about cuddling?" A stern, yet amused female voice spoke from nearby.
The duo looked toward the source to see a statuesque red-headed woman nearby. She had an amazing body, and her large breasts were the sort that people wrote poetry about. Her outfit was well put together, classy, and still showed off just a bit of her figure. More than anything, it was the ghost of a smile that made Harry ravish her.
"Madam Bones." Tonks stiffened, snapping to attention. "I… uh…"
"Relax, Nymphadora." Amelia Bones spoke casually. "We're both off duty."
Harry noticed the brief flush of bright red that ran through Tonks' pink spikes.
"Harry Potter, behaving I hope?" Amelia asked turning her attention to him.
The way she said his name sent a shock right to his cock. Damn hormones.
"Yes, ma'am." Harry bowed slightly.
"Please, call me Amelia when not in official capacity." She replied with a nod. "My niece Susan is in your year."
"Hufflepuff." Harry replied with a smile. "Is she here?"
"Somewhere." Amelia gave him a rare warm smile.
"We haven't spoken beyond working together in Herbology. This year I want to start making friends beyond Gryffindor." Harry said. "Would you tell her I said hello when you see her?"
"Of course." Amelia replied. "She'll be sorry she missed you."
"His tent is just over there." Tonks chimed in. "The castle across from the discreet green one."
Harry rolled his eyes. "I didn't pick it."
"Sirius?" Amelia asked Tonks.
There was something the way that she said it that made Harry want to know more. Tonks not-so-subtly elbowed him before he could speak.
"Ready for that nap?" Tonks asked.
"Yes." Harry let out a heavy sigh. "It was nice to meet you Madam Bones. Please excuse us."
"It was nice to meet you as well, Mister Potter." Amelia inclined her head.
Tonks pulled him away.
"Don't flirt with my boss." She grumbled.
"I make no promises." Harry said with a sly smile.
"You're worse than Sirius." Tonks shook her head.
"Please." Harry scoffed. "Like she'd go for me."
"What about that Kestrel girl?" Tonks asked.
"Like you said, Nym. A girl." Harry shook his head. "I doubt my considerable charms would work on a woman."
"And that makes me?" Tonks stepped in front of him, blocking entry to the tent.
"My Nym." Harry wiggled his eyebrows at her.
Her pink hair went a bright shade of red. She shook her head.
"Come on, lover boy." Tonks stepped into the tent. "I wasn't kidding about that nap. Or the cuddling."
Harry followed after her. Even in his tired state he had to admit she had a nice bum. Tonks looked over her shoulder, catching him looking. Harry blushed but managed to make eye contact.
Tonks shucked off her coat once they were in the room. Harry closed the door, and by the time he turned back around she had stripped down to her T-shirt. Harry's eyes traveled up along her lovely legs. He could see a flash of blue panties.
"Enjoying the view?" Tonks asked.
"Very much so." Harry let out a slow sigh.
He crossed the space between them, setting his hands on her hips. Tonks laughed and placed the flat of her palms on his chest.
"I can't sleep in pants." Tonks shook her head.
Harry took a breath. It came out shaky. He casually stripped down to his boxers. Tonks giggled.
"What?" Harry arced an eyebrow at her.
"Looks like she was a biter." Tonks motioned to his shoulder.
Harry walked over to the mirror. Sure enough, there was a couple of hickeys along his neck and collar bone. He trailed a finger over them.
"I didn't even notice." Harry shrugged.
"You should get rid of those if you're planning on hooking up with anyone else." Tonks slipped into the bed. "It's fine with a steady girlfriend, but not so much when you're single."
"Good point." Harry nodded.
He made sure she wasn't looking when he windlessly and silently healed them. Covering them up with a glamour only served as a temporary fix. Harry joined her in bed. He slid behind her, pulling her close, and resting his arm over her side.
"I think you're too short to be the big spoon." Tonks mumbled as they settled into each other.
"In that case, I'm your backpack not the big spoon." Harry nuzzled the back of her neck.
Tonks shuddered.
"Sleep well, Nym." Harry whispered.
"Mmhm." She replied.
Harry felt her go limp. He smiled as her breath slowed. Now, in the quiet, his mind started to roll heavier thoughts. Alyn had mentioned Snape. There wasn't a reason to keep him alive with Voldermort dead. Harry would have never named one of his kids after the bastard if he hadn't been compelled.
That had Hermione written all over it. His 'tragic backstory' was being an asshole to the girl he was obsessed with then taking it out on everyone when she didn't fall at his feet and profess her love.
The slimy bastard would be a pain to deal with once Dumbledore turned his sights on Harry. As much as he hated to admit it, but Snape was a Potions Master and a good duelist.
He had no doubt that Dumbledore would target him. The old man must be furious with Sirius being free and Harry potentially out of his control. That meant that the old bastard was probably up to something already. As it stood, Harry couldn't publicly oppose Dumbledore just yet and he wasn't close to being able to take him on in a fight.
Currently, he was probably as magically strong as he had been before he died, but he still wasn’t certain that would put them on even footing. He had already gained this much power. By the end of the year, he'd probably be able to defeat his old self without an issue. It was absolutely mental how much he had been hindered his first time around. Kicking down the door and blasting the old goat wasn't a viable plan, even as tempting as it was. Harry couldn't deny that a part of him wanted to duel Dumbledore, just to see how he stacked up to someone touted as the Second Coming of Merlin.
He shook his head gently as to not wake up Tonks. Back on to the original train of thought.
Snape.
There didn't seem to be a downside to killing him. He was a Death Eater and, hopefully, whoever investigated his death would count it with the Azkaban Massacre. Harry would just need to make it obvious that Snape had been killed because of it.
Harry chuckled darkly. After a lifetime as a Auror he was now a serial killer. He was going to need to put some thought into things if he wanted to keep the appearance up. Popping all over the world to take down Death Eaters wouldn't make sense. International travel required documentation, having them turn up dead all over the world would raise too many questions. He'd stick to the remaining locals, which meant Malfoy was safe for now.
Umbridge didn't have the dark mark, but she was worse than a Death Eater. It also wouldn't fit the theme. Serial killers really loved their themes. Not so much as to be cartoony but they all had some sort of requirements.
Tonks moaned in her sleep, pressing her wonderful ass against him. Harry smiled. These were thoughts for another time. He was on vacation.
His eyes started to droop as he let his thoughts drift away.
~§~
"Wake up, lovebirds." Sirius called from the doorway.
Harry sat up, blinking the sleep out of his eyes. Tonks had rolled over at some point and draped a leg across his waist.
"What?" Harry swayed in his spot.
"It's dinner time." Sirius clarified. "We're going to have a family meal."
"Ok." Harry slumped back into bed.
"Nope." Sirius laughed.
A moment later both of them were splashed with ice cold water. Tonks shot up, her wand-hand moving like crazy as she cast spell in every direction. Her wand was safely tucked on the bedside table. In reality she was flailing around spouting off half-slurred spells. Sirius retreated from the doorway, cackling like a madman.
"Sometimes I really hate that guy." Tonks grumbled.
Harry rolled out of his now drenched bed.
"Thanks for the nap, Nym." Harry yawned. "I don't think I've slept that well ever."
"You're a pretty good cuddler yourself." Tonks smiled at him. "Hold still, I'll dry us off."
She plucked her wand from the nearby table. A swish and flick dried their clothes and the bed. Now that they weren't drench the two found their clothes. Harry hugged her, placing a soft kiss on her shoulder. Tonks looked away, focusing on getting her belt settled and hiding the blush on her cheeks.
"What was that?" She asked.
"Just felt right." Harry shrugged.
"Let's see what's for dinner." Tonks paused at the doorway. She scanned the area beyond, then cast a couple of detection charms before stepping out. "You can never be too careful around Sirius."
"I'll try to remember that."
Harry waited until she was out of the room. He held out his hand, summoning his wand. It sailed through the air, landing perfectly in his palm. Harry sighed and tucked it into his pocket. He needed to pick up a forearm holster. Having his wand in his pocket felt sloppy. They entered the dining room to find Sirius, Andromeda, Ted, and Lupin waiting for them as well as two others. Harry smiled as they turned to face him. Neville gave a shy smile. His grandmother simply glared at him.
"About time, sleepyheads." Andi chuckled. "You almost missed dinner."
"I blame Harry." Tonks said as she took an open seat. "He's just too damn cuddly."
"Language Nymphadora." Her mother scoffed.
Tonks grumbled something under her breath.
"Neville, Madam Longbottom, it's nice to see you." Harry gave both a nod. "What are you doing here? Sirius said this was a family dinner."
"The houses of Longbottom and Potter have been allies for many generations." Augusta replied in a polite tone that was bordering on snide. "Since you are the last remaining Potter, House Black is arranging a meeting to renew those bonds."
"Dumbledore." Sirius said in explanation.
"Ah." Harry nodded.
"What's wrong with Professor Dumbledore?" Neville asked.
"He's the bad guy, Neville." Harry said as he took his seat. "Practically everything after Grindelwald leading up to the war was due to his machinations."
"That's quite the accusation, Lord Potter." Augusta studied him.
"He had a direct hand in creating Voldermort, through deliberate in-action and agitation." Harry continued. "He uses considerable amounts of mental magic to manipulate those around him and turns a blind eye when it suits his plans." He took a breath. "He had layers of charms and spells placed on my person altering my personality, how people perceived me, and limiting my magic. On a more personal level, he arranged himself to be my magical guardian and has sealed my parents will. He crafted wards around my relatives house to increase aggression, obscure those who were inquisitive, and set it so my own magic was feeding into it."
"We've done some digging." Sirius added. "The times when Dumbledore is absent from the 'Mot coincide with times that the Dark faction has pressed through laws that limit the exposure muggle-born have to the magical world."
"As well as those steadily turning half-breeds and non-humans into criminals for simply existing." Lupin added. "Hagrid found this out previously when he was thrown into Azkaban on hearsay alone. Twice."
Augusta nodded. "And your plan for dealing with him? Storm Hogwarts and drag him out by his beard?"
Harry laughed. "Tempting."
"We don't have a plan yet." Sirius said flatly. "We're collecting proof, gathering allies, and preparing for the future. As it stands, he has too much power to oppose outright. There are too many who follow him without question."
"He's focused on Voldemort right now." Harry added. "We can use that."
"Why aren't you worried about him?" Augusta asked.
"Someone is going around killing Death Eaters." Tonks answered. "The ministry downplayed the assault on Azkaban. There wasn't a single Death Eater left alive. A few that managed to avoid getting locked away have turned up dead as well."
"Who else have you gathered as allies?" Madam Longbottom asked.
"We'll tell you that once you sign a contract." Ted spoke up.
"If I refuse?" She asked staring at the man.
"You'll find it hard to remember anything that happened after your stepped foot inside the tent." Sirius gave her a feral smile.
The severe old woman nodded. "I'll sign, as will Neville."
Neville nodded quickly.
"You'll know our allies, as they will know you, but you will be unable to reveal them." Ted explained.
Madam Longbottom signed the parchment before passing it to Neville. Her eyes flashed as the knowledge settled into her mind. She made an approving noise. Harry snagged the parchment and added his signature. A neatly place list faded into view with his name sliding into the last spot. He recognized a couple of names. Amelia Bones and Griselda Marchbanks being the ones that stood out the most. Harry stopped as he went along the list. He had to read one name a couple of times before it sank in. Professor Filius Flitwick. Harry smiled. That man was a sneaky one.
"I will approach some other parties who are less than pleased with Dumbledore." Madam Longbottom seemed to relax by the slightest margin.
"And now for dinner." Sirius clapped his hands.
The food appeared on the table before them.
"So." He smiled broadly. "Who do you think is going to make it to the Cup?"
Conversation stalled once it swapped to casual topics. Neville didn't care about quidditch. Madam Longbottom wasn't keen on being around such large crowds. They had left after dinner.
Harry hadn't seen the Weasleys at all during the time he had been out with Nym. The spot where their tents had been last time were taken by an enterprising group that had turned it into a small café. Them not being around made sense with their life going crazy so recently. Still, he would have liked to see the how everyone was holding on. He had planned to lose a bet with the twins on who would win the game. That way he could make sure they had enough money to start their shop and not rely on the winnings from the Tri-Wizard Tournament.
The games were exciting and fresh. He had only seen the final match last time, so these preliminary ones were completely new to him. Their seats were in the same VIP box as last time. Being there with Sirius and not having to deal with Malfoy just made it all the better. Fudge wasn't there yet since it was the championship.
It was the perfect night to do some more cleaning. Plenty of people had seen him at the game. Tonks had made it clear she intended to cuddle with him all night. After that nap she had stayed over for the rest of the trip. Sirius had booked a portkey the day after the finals, so they had plenty of time to enjoy the festivities. The campground was scheduled to stick around for a few days, so everyone had time to leave in an orderly manner.
Harry snuggled up to Tonks, waiting for her to go to sleep. Once she was out, he slipped out of bed. She grumbled a little but stayed asleep. Harry shuffled quietly to the bathroom. Tonight, he had opted for pajama bottoms rather than just his underwear. Getting dressed would have caused too many questions, so he stayed in his sleep clothes.
He closed the door and locked it out of habit. If Tonks woke up, then it would make sense that he had needed to heed the call of nature. A moment later he stood in the cramped reading room of Severus Snape. The man in question froze, a glass of amber liquid just short of touching his lips. Harry flicked his wand, clearing the nearby chair of debris and sat.
Severus put the glass on the small, scratched table beside him.
"Potter." The man sneered at him. "What are you doing in my home?"
Harry didn't fail to notice that Snape was carefully drawing his wand.
"I wanted to speak with you." Harry looked around the room.
"This is outside of my office hours." Snape locked eyes with him.
Harry could feel the man trying to invade his mind. He didn't flinch, truth be told, he was curious about what would happen. Snape maintained eye-contact. Sweat began to gather on his brow.
"How?" Severus slumped back in his chair, breathless.
"If you promise to listen to what I have to say, I will tell you." Harry offered.
"Fine." The man snapped.
"Ever since you first saw me you cast me as some horrid thing in your mind." Harry relaxed into the chair. "I was just another reminder of the love that was stolen from you. Everything had been handed to me. I acted like I was so much better than everyone. I demanded the rules bend to me."
"Get to the point, Potter." Snape spoke through gritted teeth.
"The truth of the matter is that there was no love to steal." Harry sighed. "At one point, Lily may have thought of you as friend. I don't understand why that's such a bad thing. I would die for my friends. I have died for my friends."
Snape didn't speak. The rage radiated off of him.
"Imagine that like, Severus." Harry continued. "Imagine that smile never fading. That love she would have felt for you, her best friend. The family she chose. Lily as your lifelong friend. She would have invited you to her wedding, probably as a guest of honor. Your kids would have grown up together."
Harry watched the words sink in. Snape reached for his drink. He drank it all in one go.
"What does this have to do with anything?" Severus asked.
"You were wrong about everything." Harry stood. "Except for one thing."
"And what is that?" The glare returned.
"I am better than you." Harry sliced his hand horizontally in front of Snape.
Severus blinked as his mind tried to catch up. He opened his mouth to speak only to find his voice wasn't working. His head fell into his lap. The light faded from his eyes.
Harry reached down, ripping Snape's sleeve to expose the Dark Mark. With that done he disappeared and reappeared in the bathroom back at the camp. Harry washed his hands. Then checked himself over to make sure there weren't any stray strands of blood. Tonks scooted over as he slipped back into bed.
"My Harry." Tonks mumbled as she draped her arm and leg over him.
Harry kissed her forehead.
One more Death Eater claimed by the Butcher of Azkaban. The name needed work. Not that he'd need it once this mess was done. There weren't many more Death Eaters left in Magical Britain. Aside from them the only other people he planned to kill was Dumbledore and Umbridge. Harry hoped that he wouldn't have to kill any of the Order of the Phoenix. Dumbledore wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice each and every single member if he thought it would further his plans.
Tonks, Lupin, and Sirius weren't attached to them this time around. He wasn't sure about Arthur now. Fred and George would stand with him if Harry asked. Hopefully there wouldn't be a reason for Fleur to even join this time around. Hestia was an unknown, as was Moody and Kingsley.
Harry really didn't want to have to have to face down McGonagall or Hagrid. They were faithful to Dumbledore. He'd probably have to kill Molly. No great loss there. Mundungus too. His thoughts were interrupted as Tonks shifted in bed. Her leg hooked his own, pulling him closer to him. She lifted her arm then began to gently stroke his chest.
"Shh, shh." She whispered. "You're safe."
Harry wasn't sure if she was dreaming, or if she felt his muscles tensing up. Either way, he settled into her touch and was fast asleep.
~ ~
Edited to fix the Amelia interaction.
Comments
Scott
There wasn't much to change in this one. I was pretty sure this is the first time he met Amelia
BushDid9711
Is this not the same chapter as in the original? Hell he's "giving Hermione and Ginny the benefit of the doubt" when he's seen they've been potioned and compelled. Also Amelia Bones introduced herself again here after Harry and her met in chap 11. I do enjoy Hermione isn't one of the bad guy's in this version.
orthodox1057
That's a quick, ruthless and efficient cleanup. I wonder how things will proceed and how the focus will shift. A random stray though I had is that the narrative reminds me of Mass Effect 2 where there is an overreaching goal but the journey there is focused on the people participating in said journey. Truthfully I am curious at how the student interactions will work out. A full grown man, a veteran auror will struggle trying to connect with teens. Slughorn is an interesting character, he strikes me as a man who knows people just as much as potions. Like almost any other magical he has his silly side but I can't help but notice that there is no fully functional adult to balance out Harry, hence my mentioning of Slughorn, there's also Flitwick as mentioned in the chapter. I am really eager for the development.
