She murmured another apology and tried to get up while not rubbing him too much; however, she only succeeded in falling on her behind causing her robes to flutter up and down.
This gave Harry an awkward view of almost everything she wore under her robes from the waist on down. And of course, the first thing that came to his mind was: Isn't Tonks kind of old to be wearing underwear with pink heart shapes on it?
Harry scooted back, keeping his gaze down to the wooden flooring, all the while not giving a clue that he'd seen anything (especially lots of pink hearts), but his face betrayed him with a slight blush.
When he finally stood up, extending a hand down to Tonks, she took his hand while also giving him the most embarrassed and horrified look she could muster.
"Sorry about this." Tonks murmured again.
Harry coughed and murmured, "It's okay. It was my fault too."
"It wasn't," she interrupted, straightening her robes.
An awkward silence…
"Sorry," they both said at the same time.
They both chuckled at the verbal jinx.
"I'm Harry Potter by the way. Are you okay?"
"Tonks. Don't ask for my first name; just call me Tonks. I'm fine. Sorry about crashing into you. What about you? Are you okay?"
"Yes. I'm fine."
Very fine, Tonks noticed. Stop that! He's a first year! You're too old for him!
"Sorry, I'm a little clumsy and I took a wrong step and fell," she said quietly.
Harry waved off the apology. "It's okay. I was glad I managed to grab you in time, or you could've really gotten hurt. It's a long way to the main floor."
She nodded meekly.
"Well… I need to go send a letter… err bye," Harry said awkwardly.
Tonks blushed, and followed right behind him.
About 11 steps later, Tonks tripped again, this time going forward and accidentally grabbing Harry's robes to try to keep herself from falling over. She managed to stop herself but Harry's balance was offset and he teetered a few times before she pushed him stable again.
"You know," Harry began, "perhaps it would be best if we walked side by side the rest of the way. You know, in case there are any more accidents."
"I'm really sorry," she started.
"Tonks, really, it's okay. No harm, no foul."
"I feel like I should owe you a witch's debt of some sort for saving my life."
"Nah, I'm cool. Comes with the job of being an apprentice. But if you really want to make it up to me… does your mother still make Dark Chocolate Brownies?"
"How'd you know…?"
"I may jump around with where I stay in the houses, but I do notice a few things, Tonks, and when I smelled the brownies you brought into the common room about a month ago, I started to drool."
"Yes, she still makes them."
"Get me a batch and we'll call it quits then. Deal?"
"You mean all I'm worth to you is a pan of brownies?" Tonks said with a little indignation.
"She puts nuts in then, right?"
"Well, yeah."
"They smelled really good, Tonks."
"And what are you going to ask for should I fall and you have to rescue me again?"
"I heard she makes some good fudge as well…" Harry said hopefully.
Tonks arched her head and took a good look at Harry. He couldn't help it any longer and began to smirk.
"You prat! You had me going there for a moment."
"Maybe. But you still owe me a pan of brownies. I'll be back in Gryffindor before the end of the year, so anytime after then is fine, Nymphadora."
"How'd you know my first name?"
"Like I said, I observe quite a bit. Also, it doesn't help your case any that Sirius Black is my neighbor and he's told me a few stories about you this past summer."
"Nothing good I hope," she shot back with a grin.
"Of course not. Just little bits about you growing up and how you really like to wear panties with pink hearts on them!"
"You saw!"
"Of course! But if you want to pound me, you've got to catch me!" he chortled, running the rest of the way up the stairs.
She took off in hot pursuit, intending to teach him some manners and not peek at a lady's knickers.
She eventually caught him and the two continued their conversation (after a brief punch on his shoulder for peeking) in order to get to know each other a little better. As Harry listened to her quick rundown of what life was like in Hogwarts as a 6th year, he was constantly reminded of her amusing nature. She liked to laugh and it showed in her eyes. That must have been what Mooney found so alluring in her when they began to date.
One thing was for certain, he had no intention of allowing her to end up on the slab at the coroners this time around.
....
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