"AHHHHHHHHH!!!" Harry screamed as he doubled over in agony. The searing pain ran down his torso as the curse damage was transferred through Sirius from Hermione to Harry.
Sirius stumbled backwards and landed on his ass as sweat poured down his face. "It's done, it's finished."
Despite her exhaustion Hermione scrambled out of her chair and knelt beside Harry. She didn't have her memories yet, but with the potions washed out of her system she felt the old feelings resurface. She didn't need the memories to be in love with Harry. She wanted them back but she didn't need them.
Hermione snatched up a towel and mopped Harry's face. "Andi, is he ok?"
Andi ran her wand over Harry's body and frowned. "He's struggling, I need to get potions into him immediately."
Andi levitated Harry and guided him out of the room. Sirius helped Hermione to her feet and the two leaned on each other as they ascended to the second level of the house. Hermione stumbled into the room next to Harry's and collapsed on the bed.
As Andi prepared the potions she reached for a clean towel to mop Harry's face. Pulling back she frowned, noticing a black goo bubbling out of the scar on his forehead. Andi held the towel against Harry's head until the flow of goo subsided. Disposing of the soiled towel she cleaned Harry up and fed him the potions as she'd intended earlier.
Outside Sirius collapsed against the wall between the bedrooms and sat on the floor. A while later Andi emerged from Harry's room carrying empty potions vials. "You need to rest, Sirius."
"I am resting," Sirius countered.
"In a bed, Sirius," Andi said admonishingly.
"I can't, not until I'm sure Harry is ok."
Andi smiled fondly at her cousin. "I never thought I'd see my cousin care so much about someone else."
"He's my kid, I mean not literally but yeah, he's my kid. I love him."
Andi shook her head and kissed Sirius on the head. "Get some rest, Sirius. I'll check in after the vote tomorrow."
Joseph Greengrass rose from his seat in the Wizengamot chamber to address his fellow Wizards and Witches. "Esteemed Lords, it brings me no pleasure to address you this day. As I regrettably call for the resignation of Cornelius Fudge as the Minister for Magic. The minister has shown a lack of leadership in the face of repeated warnings about the return of You Know Who. He now must take responsibility for those failures and resign."
Joseph sent a withering glare in the direction of Fudge who was cowering in the minister's seat with Delores Umbridge sat behind him. The toad woman was glaring a hole through Joseph. He hoped that if things went their way today, the toad would be thrown in Azkaban.
"The claim that You-Know-Who had returned was being made by a single boy. Was I supposed to simply take his word for it? This is the same boy who a year earlier had made unsubstantiated claims about Sirius Black," Fudge asked, looking around the chamber for support of which he found little.
"There were avenues you could have pursued, Minister. You have the power of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at your disposal. And may I remind you that Harry Potter was proven correct in that instance also. Sirius Black was innocent. In that case you chose to take the word of a Death Eater over the Boy-Who-Lived…"
"Lord Greengrass, I would hasten to point out that Professor Snape was cleared of all charges against him in nineteen eighty one," Dumbledore protested from the Chief Warlock's chair.
"Nevertheless he was a Death Eater, can you dispute that?" Greengrass asked.
"He was never convicted…" Dumbledore began.
"I'll take that as a no," Joseph said, returning his gaze to Fudge. "You've had multiple opportunities to investigate Mister Potter's claims this year and yet no order was issued. Was that negligence on your part or was someone telling you to ignore it?"
"No one tells me what to do, I am my own man, sir. I take advice from trusted advisors before making a decision, as any good Minister would."
"Ah, yes, your trusted advisor, one Lucius Malfoy. The incarcerated Death Eater…"
"He was imperiused!" Umbridge protested.
"I have heard that excuse before. However I think most of us can agree now that it does not hold water. I call for a vote of no confidence in the Minister for Magic. Do I have a second?"
"Yes," Augusta Longbottom announced.
Dumbledore placed the globes on the table in front of him. The blue globe was for aye votes and the red globe was for nay's. With the question being 'do you retain confidence in Cornelius Fudge as Minister for Magic'. The votes flew in for no. Only a handful of votes were cast to keep Fudge on.
Once the vote was complete Fudge slinked away with his head lowered in shame. After Dumbledore moved the globes back under the desk he regarded the room. "We will now solicit for nominees to be the new minister."
Cyril Parkinson rose from his seat. "I nominate Pius Thicknesse to the role of Minister for Magic."
Tiberius Ogden rose from his seat, sending a scathing look towards Delores Umbridge as he spoke. "I nominate Rufus Scrimgeour to the role of Minister For Magic."
Finally Joseph Greengrass rose again and stepped forward. "I nominate Alastor Moody to the role of Minister for Magic."
An uneasy muttering rippled through the chamber. Dumbledore scanned the visitors' benches and quickly found his old friend rising from his seat to descend to the floor. He slowly joined his other nominees to stand before the members of the Wizengamot.
"We will now hear from the nominees in the order they were nominated. Mister Thicknesse you may begin."
Thicknesse spoke followed by Scrimgeour. They both commented in flowery terms on the honour and privilege of being nominated to be Minister for Magic. They talked in vague terms about how they would combat the threat of Voldemort and keep the people safe. Finally it was Moody's turn to speak.
"I agreed to be put forward to put Death Eaters in the ground. If you don't want that, vote for someone else."
Joseph pinched the bridge of his nose as his fellow Wizengamot member chuckled beside him. "I'm glad you find it funny. I doubt our allies will."
"They knew what they were getting by signing on. He doesn't need to explain why he should be Minister. His reputation speaks for him," She assured him.
Joseph made a non-committal noise as Dumbledore brought out three globes, coloured red, green, and blue for the vote. The chamber voted but the result wasn't what anyone wanted. Eighteen for Thicknesse, Eighteen for Moody, and Fourteen for Scrimgeour.
"Lords and ladies of the Wizengamot, as Auror Scrimgeour has the least number of votes, I declare him eliminated from the running," Dumbledore said, as he banished the votes from the globes and place the blue globe under his desk once again. "I ask for a final vote to appoint a new minister. Red for Alastor Moody, green for Pius Thicknesse. You may cast now."
Dumbledore's heart sank as the votes flowed in. It didn't take long for the result to become clear. Moody won, thirty votes to twenty. A fearful Delores Umbridge scuttled back in her seat, as Moody made his way to the Minister's chair. Dumbledore cleared his throat nervously as he eyed his old friend. He could see the wheels turning in the man's head, as his magical eye darted around in its socket. He was identifying known Death Eaters and signing their death warrants.
"We shall take a thirty minute recess and return for the new minister's inaugural speech," Dumbledore announced.
"If it's all the same, Albus, I'd rather skip the pomp and get to work," Moody growled.
"Minister, there is an order…" Umbridge protested.
Moody turned around, locking both eyes on Umbridge. "I don't remember asking you. Auror!"
One of the nearby Aurors scrambled to his feet and rushed over. "Yes, sir."
"Take the Undersecretary to an empty office and confiscate her wand. Keep her there until we're finished today. Don't let anyone near her unless I tell you personally." Moody ordered. He leaned in and whispered something to the young Auror who nodded.
"Yes sir."
"I protest…!" Umbridge said loudly.
"I don't care, Delores. Shut up and do as I say, or they'll take you out of here feet first."
Umbridge paled and nodded. She scowled as three Aurors escorted her out of the Wizengamot chamber. Dumbledore gave Moody a severe look before speaking again. "We will take a thirty minute recess before returning to discuss new policy ideas the Minister may have in mind."
Joseph's companion turned to him and smiled. "I think you can handle things from here."
"I suspect so. Isabella wanted me to remind you, you and Ted are required for dinner next week."
"I haven't forgotten, good day Joseph."
"Good day, Andromeda."
As Dumbledore sat pondering his next move, he saw movement out the corner of his eye. Nymphadora Tonks, who was guarding Amelia while she was in the chamber, had spotted someone she knew in the Wizengamot seats. Following her line of sight Dumbledore saw Andromeda Tonks sitting next to Joseph Greengrass. Dumbledore hurried after Tonks as she left the chamber.
"Mum!"
Andi glanced back down the corridor and smiled as Tonks approached. "Hello, Nymphadora."
"Mum, why were you sitting with Joseph Greengrass? You're not a member of the Wizengamot."
Andi's eyes moved past Tonks to the corridor behind her. "Why don't you come over later and I'll tell you all about it."
Tonks's eyes flickered sideways before she nodded. "Ok, Mum."
Tonks walked back to the Wizengamot chamber leaving Andi seemingly alone in the corridor. "You can come out now, Albus."
Albus smiled as he emerged from a nearby alcove. He showed no remorse for listening in on Tonks and Andi's conversation. "Good afternoon, Andromeda. I wasn't aware you'd been ceded a seat on the Wizengamot. Are you acting for yourself or sitting in for someone else?"
"I would think that's my business, not yours," Andi replied.
"I'm simply concerned about you over extending yourself. You are a very busy woman."
"Thank you for your concern, but I am well aware of my limits. Good day, Albus."
"Good day, Andromeda."
Dumbledore ducked into an empty office and cast his Patronus. "Remus, would you be so kind to accompany Miss Tonks to dinner with her parents tonight. Andromeda has been making moves in the political sphere that threaten to destabilise magical Britain. I need to know if she's acting alone or working with others. You're the only one I can trust to bring me this information."
Tonks let out a breath running her fingers through her hair as she returned to her apartment. Hanging up her robes Tonks snatched up her leather jacket and approached the door of her apartment, only for someone to knock. Peering through the peep-hole, Tonks frowned.
Remus was waiting on the other side of the door for her. The same Remus who'd barely spoken three words to her since Sirius died. She found it somewhat suspicious that he'd shown up at her door after the day she'd had. Particularly when Dumbledore had been skulking around, listening in on her conversation with her mother.
"Hello, Remus," Tonks said upon opening the door.
"Hello Tonks, are you on your way out?"
"Yes, actually, why?"
"Oh, I was hoping we could go out to dinner…" Remus said smiling.
"I'm sorry, Remus, I'm having dinner with my parents tonight," Tonks replied.
"I see, well, you've been wanting to introduce me to your…"
"No."
Remus paused. "Excuse me?"
Tonks palmed her wand as her eyes darted from his face to his hands and back. "I said, no. Don't treat me as if I'm stupid Remus. Dumbledore…"
"Professor Dumbledore, Tonks…" Remus admonished.
"Dumbledore, sent you here to find out what my Mum has going on. You don't care about our relationship, you never have. I can't believe I've invested so much time in a jerk like you. Fuck off Remus, go slithering back to your boss. You won't get anything out of me."
Tonks pulled the door of her apartment closed, having already locked it and stormed off. She paused near the stairs and spun around. "Oh, and tell Dumbledore I quit the Order of the Burnt Chicken too."
Upon landing in her parents' entry hall, Tonks sat down on her haunches and buried her face in her hands. It hurt to reject him but it was the right thing to do. Remus has proven whom he was loyal too and it wasn't her. She felt her mother's arms wrap around her as she kissed her daughter on the back of the head. "What's wrong Nym? Please tell me."
"I dumped Remus. He showed up after three weeks wanting to go out to dinner, except he didn't. Dumbledore told him to spy on us, because he knew you'd tell me about why you were at the Wizengamot today. That jerk didn't even blink, he just did it. He didn't care about betraying my confidence, he just did as Dumbledore told him."
"I'm sorry, love. I know you cared about him," Andi said gently. Privately she was happy Tonks had finally dumped the older man. She'd never trusted him, it had nothing to do with being a Werewolf but everything to do with him being unreliable. Remus Lupin only cared about himself, that had never changed in the entire time she'd known him.
Tonks mopped her face with a handkerchief and stood up. "Thanks, Mum. I told Remus I quit the Order too. I'm supposed to be one of his allies, but he's spying on me and using my relationship with Remus to spy on me. That's bullshit, we're supposed to trust each other."
"Yes," Andi agreed.
The two walked from the hall into the kitchen where they sat down. Tonks considered her mother for a few moments before speaking. "So, why were you sitting with Joseph Greengrass today?"
"I was sitting proxy for the Black and Potter families."
"What, when did that happen?" Tonks blurted out.
"A few days ago. It was agreed I would sit proxy for Harry when we decided to nominate Alastor for Minister."
"That was your idea?"
Andi smiled. "Not quite. Come with me."
Andi led Tonks out of the kitchen into the entry hall. "Ready?"
"I suppose…" Tonks replied hesitantly taking her mother's outstretched hand.
Andi nodded and side apparated them out of the house landing in a heap elsewhere. "Oww! Mum, damn it, a little warning!!"
"I did ask if you were ready…" Andi replied as she resumed her feet.
"Yeah, yeah…" Tonks muttered. "Where are we?"
"Andi? Is that you?" A voice called out from down the hall of the house they'd landed in.
"Good evening, Sirius," Andi said.
"S-s-s-SIRIUS!!" Tonks exclaimed.
"Hiya, Nymmie, you look well," Sirius commented with a grin.
"You're supposed to be dead!" Tonks shouted. Adding a smack over the head for using her first name.
"It's nice to see you too…" Sirius muttered.
"Can you please lower your voices, Harry's resting," Hermione scolded as she entered the hall.
"Hermione, should you be up and around?" Tonks asked worriedly.
Hermione huffed angrily, frowning. "I'm fine, my idiot boyfriend decided to be stupidly noble."
"Your boyfriend? Ron?" Tonks asked hesitantly.
A disgusted look crossed Hermione's face. "No, Harry."
"Come on, Hermione. Let's leave Sirius to explain everything, I need to check you and Harry over anyway."
As Andi led Hermione upstairs, Tonks turned to Sirius. "What the fuck is going on?"
Sirius pushed himself off the door frame he was leaning against and walked away from Tonks. He stopped and glanced back at her with a serious expression on his face. "Who are you loyal too, Tonks?"
"What do you mean?" Tonks asked challengingly.
"I can answer some of your questions, but if you're loyal to Dumbledore you won't remember having this conversation. So, I'll ask again, who are you loyal to?"
"My family, and Bones, in that order," Tonks replied.
"What about Remus?"
"I used to be, not anymore. I dumped that prick today."
Sirius nodded. "Sorry."
"Yeah. And no I'm not loyal to Dumbledore either. As I said, my family comes first, then Bones. I have other friends whom I'm loyal to, but they're not involved in whatever this is."
"Ok. Then come with me, I need to show you something."
Tonks followed Sirius to the third floor. "I don't think I've ever been up here before."
"There's no reason for you to have been. The only rooms up here are the Lord's bedroom and office. I might be Lord Black, but I have no interest in sleeping in my father's bed. Might give that room to Harry, he'll probably need it," Sirius explained, smirking to himself.
The two entered the Lord's office and Sirius sat down behind the desk. In between them was a pensive. "I left the memories in the pensive from last time I showed them to someone. They should be all cued up for you to watch."
"Whose memories are they?"
"Mine and Harry's. Take a look."
Tonks did as instructed and dipped her head into the pensive. A few minutes later she emerged, looking enraged. "What the fuck is that sad old bearded fuck playing at?!"
Sirius let out a dry chuckle as he pushed a glass of fire whiskey across the table towards her. Sirius moved the Pensive to the cabinet behind the desk before returning his attention to Tonks. "Dumbledore is helping the Weasley's. We're not sure why, but Molly wants Harry to marry Ginny regardless of Harry's feelings. Pomfrey is also involved, we think, as she dosed Hermione's medicine with loyalty potions. Molly wanted Hermione out of the way…"
"That's why Hermione seemed so hyper focused on Ron last year," Tonks said.
"That's what we think. Andi is still having tests conducted to figure out exactly what the potions were supposed to do."
"How can I help?" Tonks asked.
"We're facing a war on two fronts. Voldemort and his death eaters on one side and Dumbledore and his sycophants on the other, with us stuck in the middle. They both want Harry. Andi, Moody, and I aren't enough to protect him, them. I need another wand arm."
"You have it," Tonks immediately agreed.
"Thank you, Nym."
"How is he?" Hermione asked worriedly.
"Surviving, I'm worried about his condition," Andi commented as she waved her wand over Harry's body.
"Why, it didn't affect me this badly?" Hermione asked.
Andi pondered the question for a moment. "Harry has Black family blood running through his veins, by way of his paternal grandmother. My progenitors were insane, they enjoyed hurting people. Especially if they're part of the family. My sisters, Sirius, and I all bear the scars as proof. It wouldn't surprise me if one of my ancestors made the spell particularly vicious when it encounters family blood."
"That's horrible," Hermione muttered, clasping Harry's hand tightly.
"Yes, yes it is," Andi commented quietly.
A few days later Tonks returned to Grimmauld Place having been placed on special assignment by Moody. In reality this was to give her a cover story for disappearing for long stretches of time to help Sirius and Harry. Tonks made her way upstairs to the second level where her mother, Sirius, and Hermione were waiting.
"Ready?" Sirius asked, looking at Hermione.
"Yeah," She replied, looking past Sirius to Tonks. "You'll look after Harry right?"
"Of course, I'll mop his brow and whisper sweet nothings to him," Tonks assured her with a cheeky grin.
"Hmmm," Hermione grumbled, turning her attention back to Sirius. "Do it."
Sirius cast the spell and Hermione slumped on the bed. Andi sat on the bed and pulled Hermione's head into her lap, while casting a diagnostic spell on her. "She's ok, simply unconscious."
"Time to play nurse," Tonks said. "I should have brought a costume…"
*Flashback*
Harry smiled at Hermione as she poured over his transfiguration homework. She brushed her hair behind her ear and chewed on her bottom lip. "Hm, no, that should go here," She muttered as she made a note in the margin.
When she realised Harry was staring she looked up. "What's up?"
"Nothing, you're cute when you're concentrating," Harry commented.
Hermione blushed and stared stubbornly down at his essay. "Dummy, focus on your homework."
"Yes, dear," Harry replied teasingly.
"You are such a prat sometimes…" Hermione mumbled, unable to hide the smile on her face.
Harry spotted Ron marching downstairs. He glanced in their direction before storming off out of the common room. Harry sighed and shook his head. "I guess I have to talk to Ron at some point…"
"You don't have to, he's the one being a prat about the Yule ball. It's not your fault Krum invited you to go flying with him. Maybe if Ron wasn't being such a jerk he'd be joining you."
"Yeah, I guess," Harry replied pensively.
Hermione reached across the table, grasping Harry's hand. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, weirdly. Apart from this stuff with Ron and the tournament thing, this is turning into the best school year I've had at Hogwarts. And it's all down to you."
Hermione blushed. "Thank you."
"I just wish my friendship with Ron was going as well as things with you… maybe not quite as well. I'm not interested in kissing him, unlike you," Harry said grinning.
Hermione pouted. "I should hope you're not thinking about kissing anyone else…"
"Nope, there's only one girl I want to kiss," Harry said leaning over the table to capture Hermione's lips. She glanced around but the common room was mostly empty.
"Focus on your homework," Hermione said, pushing Harry back into his seat.
"Yes, dear."
Fleur stood among the stacks in the Hogwarts library. She'd been standing with books in her arms for at least five minutes. She was peering between the shelves at the study desk on the other side. Harry Potter was sitting alone completing schoolwork.
Cho had told Fleur all about Harry, his heroics had caught her attention. She assumed the stories she'd heard were false, or exaggerated to maintain the myth. But having talked with Cho she realised at least some of the stories were true.
From an aesthetic perspective Fleur found Harry acceptable. Most girls at Hogwarts, and even from Beauxbatons, would, and did, find him attractive. She'd even heard some of her schoolmates describe him as dreamy. She'd watched the devastation that crested over the carriage when it was discovered Harry had a date to the Yule Ball. It was even worse when news reached them that Harry might have a girlfriend.
The thought that still nagged at Fleur was, why did they take time out of their night to talk to her. The pretty brunette, Hermione, was seemingly unconcerned that they were talking to a Veela. The girl was either oblivious or ignorant. Which based on her conversations with Cho was certainly not the case.
Fleur stood watching him for a few more minutes before returning the books she was holding to their respective shelves. What she hadn't realised is that while she was watching Harry, someone was watching her.
Hermione had been walking through the library to join Harry, when she realised someone was observing him. It surprised her that it was Fleur Delacour. She expected it to be one of Harry's many fangirls. He was endearingly ignorant of his status among not only the female students of Hogwarts but also among the female students of the other schools.
Plenty of the girls at Beauxbatons had designs on being in Hermione's position, but they would have to fight her. She finally had Harry and she wasn't letting him go, unless that's what he wanted.
"Hi," Hermione said with a smile as she approached Harry's table.
"Hey," Harry replied. He watched her quietly as she got her books out and spread them across the desk. "Hermione, do you get the feeling we're being watched?"