Chapter 33 -
"Alright are we all ready?" Andromeda asked. Andromeda, Ted and Tonks had been invited to Number 12 Grimmauld place by Sirius for Christmas, Andromeda was very excited to finally have a Christmas with a member of her family that would not end with her being insulted, feel horrible or have someone try to set her up with a pureblood she didn't like. She had spent a great many Christmas's without her blood family, and while she was happy with Ted and her daughter she was looking forward to spending Christmas with a family member.
"Already ready dear." Ted said as he walked up to her and kissed her on the cheek. Ted was dressed in a simple suit while Andromeda was dressed in casual clothes, she had originally intended to wear a fancy dress but Ted had repeatedly pointed out that the invitation said 'casual clothes' and the fact that Sirius would simply be happy that she was attending. "Come on Dora." Ted called.
"Coming." Tonks shouted before she arrived in the room. "How about this? Does this look alright?" Tonks said as she gestured to her clothes. She was wearing green high heels followed by a simple red dress that ended just at her knees. Her hair was blonde and done in a twin tail style with her left tips being green and the right tips being red.
"You look lovely dear." Ted smiled.
"Yes, I am sure that Harry will be pleased to see you." Andromeda smirked.
"I am not doing this to impress Harry." Tonks said in a tired voice as she rolled her eyes. Her mother would not stop talking about Harry, much to her displeasure. The repeated mentioning of Harry had gotten Tonks to think about him and while she did not want to admit it she could not deny an attraction to Harry. He was a good looking, rich and handsome man so there was always a base attraction. He was always nice to her as well and she enjoyed having conversations with him. As for her powers Harry always seemed interested in hearing about them but for the most part he did not make a fuss out of it. Since her conversation with her parents Tonks had done some heavy thinking.
She had originally had a crush on Remus Lupin, but when compared to Harry she realised how different the two are. Not just in age and money or looks and popularity. Harry was brave and magically powerful, obviously, and he had suffered a lot from what she had heard. However unlike Remus Harry didn't let it get to him, or at least he didn't appear to let it get to him.
From the limited time she spent with Remus she learnt that he was respectable, quiet, smart or book smart at least, shy as well, he didn't really appear to like her jokes or when she used bad language. Remus also liked to read the newspaper and books that Tonks admittedly found boring plus he generally acted like an old man. Tonks had done a short test with Remus, she tried various looks to see which would grab his attention the best. From what she had seen he always looked more interested when she had a simple look like blonde hair or black hair in a simply hairstyle and he preferred her when she looked more mature.
From the limited time she spent with Harry she had seen that he preferred to read spell books, he liked to be independent, Mrs Weasley tried to boss him around and he didn't let her, Tonks couldn't help but respect him for that. Harry was smart, funny, he didn't mind her jokes, in fact he appeared to like them and he would actively joke back with her. Harry didn't seem to mind that she was different from other girls either. Ever since her conversation with her mother she had noticed Harry's reaction to her different looks while remembering his previous reactions.
It was the same, each and every time. No matter what clothes she wore he or what way her hair was he would always smile at her, sure he would sometimes raise an eyebrow if she went really weird like having a green afro but he smiled each and every time. So yes Tonks could admit to herself that she liked Harry, she just did not want to admit it to her parents.
"Of course not." Andromeda smirked. "Well I am sure that he will like it either way."
"Alright stop teasing the girl," Ted chuckled. "come on let's go."
"What do you think Harry?" Sirius asked as he entered the room. Harry looked at him and couldn't help the laugh that escaped him when he saw Sirius dressed as Father Christmas. He didn't have a big stomach or white beard but everything else was exactly the same.
"Sirius...the fuck?" Harry laughed. "What is this?" He said as he gestured to him.
"Show some Christmas spirit." Sirius grinned as he came forward and hugged Harry. "This is our first Christmas together! I am excited, aren't you?"
"Well...yeah," Harry admitted. "I wasn't trying to say that the costume was bad, just surprising."
"I look good in it right?" Sirius grinned.
"Yeah, you even have the same stomach as Santa as well." Harry joked as he poked Sirius in the stomach.
"Oi!" Sirius tried to hit him in the arm only for Harry to dodge. "I'm not fat."
"No but you are getting there Sirius, all the food is not good for you." Harry laughed.
"Oh how dare you?!" Sirius said in mock outrage.
"Oh I dare, what are you going to do about it?" Harry smirked.
"Oh you're going to get it!" A second later Sirius turned into his animagus form and began chasing Harry around the room, right until Harry transformed into his tiger form. Padfoot slid to a halt as he suddenly came face to face with a giant growling tiger. Padfoot turned and ran just as the situation had reversed and it was now Harry who was chasing him. "Alright, alright I yield!" Sirius said quickly after hoping on a table and changing back into his human form.
"Glad to see that you can teach an old dog new tricks." Harry smirked once he changed back into his human form.
"Master Harry," Dobby popped into the room. "the Tonks's be here."
"Thanks Dobby, please tell them we are here." Harry said to Dobby, the excitable house elf nodded before popping away.
"Hmm, Tonks huh?" Sirius raised an eyebrow.
"You're the one who invited them." Harry reminded him.
"Have you thought about our conversation?" Sirius asked, he did not need to tell Harry which conversation he was talking about and Harry did not need to ask. Harry did not get to answer as he was cut off by the sound of footsteps, a few moments later the Tonks family came in.
"Sirius?!" Andromeda blurted out in surprise.
"Ah Andi! Ted Tonks! Other Tonks!" Sirius grinned before he rushed over and pulled them all into hugs.
"What in Merlin's name are you wearing?" Tonks laughed.
"I am just feeling happy, so sue me." Sirius shrugged before he walked off. "I'll be right back." He called out.
"Mr Tonks." Harry said as he shook Ted's hand.
"Mr Potter." Ted greeted him. "You remember my wife?" He said as he gestured to Andromeda.
"How could I not?" Harry asked as he took Andromeda's hand and kissed the back of it on her knuckles. "You are looking lovely Miss Tonks."
"Why thank you," Andromeda smiled. "your words are appreciated."
"Great, that's much better than when they are not." Harry smirked before he turned to Tonks.
"Oh I believe Sirius is calling us." Andromeda suddenly said as she quickly pulled an amused Ted out of the room.
"Do I even want to know what that was about?" Harry asked to Tonks as he gestured to the retreating form of her parents.
"No." Tonks said simply. "No you do not." She said as she looked at Harry, he was wearing black shoes, blue jeans and a green shirt, her earlier thoughts were definitely not helped by how good looking he was to her right now.
"Fair enough, but can I just say..." Harry whistled and made a show of looking up from her toes to her eyes. "...wow, looking good Tonks."
"Thanks." Tonks smiled before a question suddenly came to her mind and blurted out her mouth before she could stop herself. "Do you like blonde hair?" She asked as she gestured to her hair.
"Depends on the hair and who it belongs to." Harry answered honestly.
"No, I mean do you like me as a blonde?" Tonks asked.
"Hmm." Harry's face turned thoughtful as he looked at her, Tonks stood absolutely still as she felt his green eyes staring at her. "it's not your usual look but you do make it work. I think when you have pink hair then you look more happy and bubbly," Harry smiled. "you look nice as a blonde as well though." He quickly added. "Blonde makes you look slightly more mature, you still look great though if that's what you are worried about. I am babbling a bit but yes I like it."
"Thanks," Tonks smiled at him. "do you have a preference?" She asked. "Blonde? Pink? Black?"
"Not really." Harry shrugged. "I have only really seen you with pink, blonde and white hair. Plus that one time you went green, I like them all because you just kind of make them..." Harry trailed off as he tried to think of the right word.
"Make them what?" Tonks asked.
"Well you just make them you, you know?" Harry replied. "It's hard to explain but..." Harry was interrupted as Dobby popped into the room, Harry looked towards the elf which caused him to miss the frown that had quickly appeared on Tonk's face before it left.
"Master Harry, Miss Deliflower is here." Dobby said. Harry took a moment to translate 'Deliflower' into Delacour and nodded.
"Thanks Dobby, bring her in." Harry said. Dobby nodded and popped away, a few seconds later Fleur walked into the room wearing silver high heels, a beautiful blue dress that ended at her knees along with a pair of diamond earing, her hair was also done up in a bun and she had put a small amount of make up on. "Whoa, hi Fleur." Harry smiled.
"Arry." Fleur smiled as she came over and pulled him into a hug, she noticed the look that passed over Tonk's face but decided not to comment on it, once she broke away from Harry she turned to Tonks and smiled before hugging the metamorphamaugus. "It is good to see you again Tonks." Fleur said.
"You too." Tonks said as she returned the hug before the two let go. Fleur resisted the urge to frown as she looked at the metamorphamaugus in front of her, she understood why Harry liked her. The woman was pretty and had a very cheerful and jokey personality most of the time, her presence in a room was almost always noticed as well just like with Fleur except Tonks did not have a magical allure. She found it amusing in a way that while she stood out because she looked perfect, Tonks always stood out for looking different.
"I am glad you are both here," Harry smiled. "I..."
"Harry! Food time!" Sirius called.
"I...guess it is time to eat." Harry shrugged. "Still, glad you both could come." Harry said before he walked towards the kitchen, Tonks and Fleur followed after him.
Tonks glanced at Fleur and suddenly remembered that Harry had been physical with the beautiful blonde veela, she also remembered that the French witch was Harry's first. She wondered if Harry and Fleur had feelings for her, if they did then Tonks thought she might as well throw in the towel. Fleur was ridiculously good looking even without her veela allure, Tonks knew she could probably just change into Fleur but she did not want to do that. When she was a student at Hogwarts the other students either wanted her to change for them or scared about what she could do if she changed, Tonks wasn't about to suddenly change into another woman for a boy and she wasn't going to become what she was accused of either.
After a rather lovely dinner the group sat down to open their presents, Sirius was rather disappointed that Remus was not with them but with it being a full moon he was not really able to attend. Everyone looked amused as Sirius looked to be the most excited of all the group however nobody wanted to call him out on it much as they knew why, this was his first real Christmas in a long time.
"Okay my turn!" Sirius grinned after Andromeda and Ted had opened their presents. "First is from the lovely 'Nymphadora'." Sirius smirked at Tonks.
"Hey!" Tonks complained, looking ready to take out her wand.
"Dora," Ted interrupted what was likely going to be a painful hex. "it's Christmas, let him have this one."
"Fine." Tonks said through gritted teeth. "Just this once."
"Ah! A wand holster! Thank you!" Sirius said as he put the holster on his wrist, he placed the wand inside holster, he tried to flick it into his wrist only for it to shoot out. It was only Harry's lightning quick seeker reflexes that allowed him to catch it before it ended up hitting Tonks on the forehead.
"You might want to practise first." Harry suggested as he tossed the wand back to Sirius.
"Probably best," Sirius agreed before he went to open his next present. "oh, chocolate from Miss Delacour!" He grinned.
"French chocolate," Fleur corrected him. "the best chocolate." She could not help but add.
"Debatable." Tonks said just as Harry snorted with amusement.
"And I debate that it is." Fleur said with a smirk and small shrug of her shoulders.
"Thank you Fleur, I will save this for later." Sirius said as he placed the box to his side and continued opening his presents. "Ah and what is this?" Sirius asked as he opened the present he got from Ted and Andromeda.
"Just a large amount of clothes." Ted said.
"Sorry Sirius," Andromeda said in an apologetic voice. "I didn't really know what to get you and..."
"Oh it's fine Andi," Sirius waved her off. "I am just glad you're here to be honest."
"Thank you Sirius." Andromeda smiled at him.
"You are most definitely welcome," Sirius said before he turned to Harry. "so, where's my present from you?"
"What present?" Harry blinked.
"My Christmas present, come on where is it?" Sirius asked.
"I didn't get you a Christmas present."
"What? Of course you did, where is it?"
"Didn't get you a present Sirius, I'm sorry." Harry shrugged.
"Come on Harry, no jokes."
"Not joking, I never had time to get you a present and I had forgotten, I am sorry."
"Oh?"
"Yeah no presents."
"Not even a single one."
"That's...fine I suppose but..."
"Except this one." Harry grinned as he clicked his fingers and Dobby arrived in the room with a small present which he handed to Sirius.
"Knew it!" Sirius cried out happily as he opened his gift to reveal a photo album. "What?"
"It's a photo album, it has a copy of photos of my parents and it has room for anymore you might want to put in." Harry smiled. Sirius looked frozen for several seconds as his eyes were locked onto the photo album, eventually he looked away and walked over to Harry before pulling him into a strong hug which Harry gladly returned while the others smiled at the scene in front of them.
"Alright it's my turn now," Tonks said as she began opening her pile of presents. She opened "clothes from mum and dad, again," Tonks rolled her eyes but smiled at her parents to show that she wasn't unhappy. "thanks. Though I do remember suggesting a motorbike."
"I also remember saying 'no way in hell'." Ted replied.
"It's for the collective good of everyone on the road dear." Andromeda replied with a small smile tugging on her lips.
"Shut it." Tonks said when Harry started snickering, Harry raised his hands in a surrendering gesture but was not able to stop the smile from staying on his lips.
"Open my present now." Sirius said as he handed her his present.
"Thanks Sirius," Tonks said as she opened it. "Holy crap is this a knife?!" Tonks blurted out as she held a sharp dagger with a black handle that had a snake carved into it with a red gem fitted into the handle.
"Sirius!" Andromeda gasped. "Is that..."
"Yes," Sirius smiled. "it is."
"I am assuming that this dagger means something?" Harry asked while raising an eyebrow at Sirius.
"Why indeed it does," Sirius nodded. "it is a black family tradition for any and all daughters born in the family to be given a Black family dagger. And since I am now in charge of the Black family I am inviting Andi back into it and accepting Tonks over here as an actual member."
"Oh Sirius!" Andromeda happily pulled him into a hug as tears poured out of her eyes.
"It's alright, I knew how much it meant to you." Sirius replied, everyone was silent as the two cousins hugged it out. Eventually they stopped, Andromeda kissed Sirius on the cheek before sitting down with her husband.
"T...thanks Sirius." Tonks said to Sirius as she glazed at the dagger with disbelief.
"It's fine, just do me a favour please," Sirius replied. "get somethings safe to hold it in and get your mother to teach you how to use it, I don't want to go to St Mungo's because I hear that you have somehow fallen or sat on it."
"I wouldn't sit on it!"
"I hope not," Harry smirked. "no need to damage perfection." Harry winked at her.
"Shut it!" Tonks said while using her powers to hide her blush and did her best to ignore her mothers chuckle.
"This is my present for you." Fleur said, "it is chocolates as well, I apologise but I was not really sure what to get you."
"Chocolate is fine," Tonks waved her off as she accepted the box from Fleur. "thanks a lot."
"You are welcome." Fleur said as she smiled at Tonks.
"Oi Potter, where is my present?" Tonks playfully demanded.
"I was also not sure what to get to you," Harry admitted. "I mean I thought make up but you don't need that, I came up with a few other things but they weren't good so I got you two presents. The first being this," Harry said as he handed her a small gift wrapped present, Tonks opened it to reveal a green book. "that's a book from my vault, apparently one of my ancestors was a metamorphamaugus and he wrote a lot about it, I figured you might like it. There are also a couple of spells in that could be helpful as an auror." Harry explained.
"Ah, thanks Harry." Tonks replied as she gladly took the book from him.
"You are welcome." Harry said as he pulled out a small box and handed it to her. "This is your second present." Harry told her as she took it from him, Tonks opened the box and her eyes widened as she saw what it was. A pair of bright emerald earrings.
"You got me earrings?" Tonks asked as she held them up only to be surprised when the earrings changed into a grey colour before shifting into a yellow then red colour. "Whoa!" Tonks gasped.
"They are colour changing earrings." Harry explained. "They shift into any colour the user wishes. If you don't like them then I can...
"No I love them," Tonks said quickly as she pulled the earrings out of his reach. "no take backs. She said with a mock glare.
"Fine." Harry snorted in amusement. "Just glad you like them. I believe it's Fleur's turn now."
"Ah, well this is from all of the Tonks family." Ted said as he handed her a box of chocolates. "English, naturally." He added, causing her to Laugh.
"There sure is a lot of chocolate, can magical people get diabetes?" Harry wondered out loud.
"They have a potion to fix it." Ted replied before his face shifted into a frown. "Shame it doesn't work on muggles though, my grandfather had diabetes when he was alive."
"That killed him?"
"Oh no he got drunk and walked into the middle of a road."
"Um...at least it wasn't diabetes." Harry said, trying to shift a positive spin on it.
"Ok, enough about that. My turn." Sirius grinned as he handed Fleur a small box, Fleur opened it to find a bottle of perfume. "I hope you like it, it's one of the best available. Guaranteed to help attract any man you might have your eye on, not that you'd need it." Sirius smiled.
"Thank you Mr Black." Fleur smiled as she took it.
"Please, it's Christmas, call me Sirius."
"Sirius." Fleur amended before she turned to Harry. "Well Arry, where is my present?" She asked, raising an eyebrow, her voice suggesting that there would be consequences if there was not a present.
"Would you believe me if I said I had just brought you chocolate?" Harry asked.
"No."
"Good because I haven't," Harry said as he handed Fleur two gift wrapped presents. Fleur opened the first one to find a red book. "that is apparently a very good book for curse breakers, I hope you like it, it's even got the author's autograph." Harry added the last part proudly.
"Harry! I can't believe you got me this! This must have been expensive!" Fleur gaped as she took the book from him, she recognised it, the author was a charms master and one of the best curse breakers in the world. He was in fact one of Fleur's idols and reasons behind loving charms, she could hardly believe that she was holding this book.
"I got it cheaper than normal," Harry admitted. "I just had to autograph a picture for his granddaughter. Oh, open your other present." Harry said, Fleur barely managed to put the book away long to open the smaller present, in it she found a small but expensive looking diamond wrist bracelet. "Do you like it?" Harry asked hopefully.
"Arry I love it!" Fleur said as she took the bracelet and put it on.
"Oh good, I'm glad because I am really not experienced with giving presents." Harry admitted. 'or receiving them.' He mentally added to himself. "So I guess it is my turn now."
"Yep, but before we start you got a present sent to you from a 'Daphne and Tracy' plus one from a 'Luna' and another from 'Astoria'. " Sirius said as he pushed a small groups of presents to Harry.
"Who are they?" Ted asked, Fleur and Tonks seemed to be paying close attention to his answer.
"Ah well Tracy Davis and Daphne Greengrass are my new friends," Harry smiled proudly. "I decided to make new friends, it was surprisingly easy actually. In fact if I knew it was that easy then I would have done it ages ago." He added as he opened their presents. "Ah candy and spell books, nice." He smiled. "As for Luna, she is a year younger than me and I helped her out with some bullies. Astoria's my favourite," Harry admitted. "don't tell the others." Harry added in a mock whisper. "She's a first year and Daphne's little sister." Harry added, "I think she looks up to me."
"And these friends, are they just...friends?" Andromeda asked, hoping for her daughters sake that they were. Harry was probably the best potential boyfriend Tonks had ever had, she was really hoping that he and Tonks got together. She could not handle any more idiots and Merlin forbid Tonks going back to considering Remus Lupin.
"Yes, they are." Harry nodded. "Just normal and actual friends." Harry added before he began opening his presents. "Okay I got a lifetime subscription to the Quibbler from Luna plus a corkscrew neckless and from Astoria I got some chocolates, considering that she is a first year that's pretty nice. Okay what did you guys get me?" Harry asked around the room.
"Well first of all I've got you a friends and family discount in case you ever need me as your lawyer again," Ted smiled. "Andi and I also heard that you're a major quidditch fanatic, so we've got you a broom kit." Ted said as Andromeda levitated their present over to Harry.
"Thank you." Harry smiled happily, he was already enjoying this Christmas much better than the other ones. Before he would simply get one random thing like a sock or fifty pence coin from the Dursley's, his first Christmas at Hogwarts was nice but this one was with real family and friends, he was also glad that this wasn't the fifth year in a row where Ron would get him something Chudley Cannon related which Harry would have always given to Ron later on in the year because he didn't like the Canons and was too nice to throw it away, Ron thought he didn't notice that but he did.
"Oh me next," Sirius said quickly. "here is my present!" Sirius said as he handed Harry a broom shaped present.
"Let me guess...it's a book." Harry joked as he took the present and opened it. "Fucking Merlin on a bike!" Harry blurted out when he saw it.
"Language." Tonks said just as Andromeda was about to, Andromeda looked at Tonks who simply smiled and winked at her.
"Sirius you brought me the Firebolt 2.0?!" Harry said as he looked at the new broom.
"It's our first Christmas and I wanted to make it a great one." Sirius said as he ran a hand through his hair. "Can I guess that you like it?"
"Fucking come here!" Harry laughed as he pulled Sirius into a hug. "Thank you so much!" Harry pulled back and admired his present.
"Alright well I am going to give my presents before Harry starts drooling." Tonks said, snapping Harry out of his daze. "Here you go Harry." Tonks said as she handed him two presents that Harry began opening. "The first is a classic wizard story book, I figured it would be nice for you to have one book where you don't actually have to learn something."
"What about the names of the characters?" Harry asked.
"..."
"..."
"Touché." Tonks eventually replied. "My second present is this ring." Tonks said as Harry opened a small box to reveal a silver ring.
"Now Tonks I like you but don't you think that this is a bit too fast?" Harry joked as he took the ring out.
"It's a magical ring," Tonks rolled her eyes but couldn't help the smile that appeared on her face. "if you activate it then it forms a small shield, nothing that would stop unforgivables or anything but it would definitely help against curses and most stuff. Fair warning it takes a limited amount of spells and it will need to recharge for about an hour after using it."
"Thanks Tonks." Harry smiled as he put it on his right middle finger. "How'd you get it?" Harry asked as he wondered how expensive the ring was.
"A mate of mine owes me a favour after getting her out of a tight spot."
"Sounds like there's a story there." Harry commented as he looked at the ring. "Hopefully I won't have to try it out but I doubt it. So Fleur, where is my present?" Harry asked, instead of a verbal response Fleur sat up and turned to Tonks.
"Tonks, will you please come with me and help me get Arry's present?" Fleur asked in a polite tone.
"Oh...okay." Tonks blinked, feeling confused but got up and followed Fleur out of the room.
"Wonder what that's about." Sirius said out loud.
"Hmm...probably nargles." Harry replied.
A short while later Harry left Ted, Andromeda and Sirius to talk and went to find Tonks and Fleur as they had not yet returned since they left to room to go get whatever Fleur had planned to give him. Harry had only taken a few steps when he nearly bumped into Kreatcher.
"Oh hi Kreatcher," Harry said. "have you seen Fleur and/or Tonks?" Harry asked.
"Theys be in kitchen master." Kreatcher replied.
"Kitchen? Right, thanks Kreatcher, are you enjoying Christmas so far?"
"Yes master." Kreatcher nodded.
"That's good, by the way I left your present with Dobby."
"M...Master got Kreatcher a present?" Kreatcher said softly as if he did not believe what he had just heard.
"Yeah, I hope you like it." Harry smiled before he walked off and went to the kitchen, he saw Tonks and Fleur sitting together. Fleur waved her wand when they both noticed him, Harry was pretty sure that she had just cancelled a privacy charm. "Hi guys, how are you two?" Harry asked as he walked up to the two.
"We are fine Arry, what are you doing here?" Fleur asked.
"Well you two have been gone for a bit so I thought I would come and check on you two." Harry answered.
"Oh are sure you didn't come just to find your present?" Tonks smirked.
"That may have been a factor." Harry smirked back.
"Ah yes, your presents." Fleur said as she stood up. "I have first of all brought you some clothes." Fleur said as she levitated a box on to the table. "I assure you that you will look even more handsome if you wear it."
"I will take your word for it."
"As well you should, I have also brought you some food," Fleur said as she pointed to a picnic basket on the table. "It is magically expanded, inside is a variety of excellent French food, all have been put under preservation charms so you do not have to worry about them going bad."
"Wow thanks Fleur."
"You are welcome, but there is one thing I must ask you." Fleur replied.
"What?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
"Not really but I..." Harry was cut off as Fleur wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a searing kiss as she pressed her body against his, Harry had barely been able to process what happened before she pulled away. "Fleur I..." Harry was once again cut off, this time however he was really surprised as he felt a hand on each side of his face shift his head so he was looking right at Tonks who leaned forward and kissed him just like Fleur had done, she lingered slightly longer but eventually did pull away.
"Well...that was pretty good." Tonks grinned after a while.
"Alright," Harry said as he was still recovering from what had just happened. "I am not complaining or anything, but can somebody please explain...the fuck?!"