The Time of Change

3. OWLs and Owling

21 July, 1996

Dear Hermione,

I've finally finished the books you sent me earlier this week. Thanks very much, they've helped me understand a little bit about how I've been feeling. Wherever did you find them? How did you know they would answer my questions so exactly? Anyway, thank you.

Tonks told me that OWL results are due tomorrow. Are you ready? Do you think you'll pass them all? (Stupid question, I know.) Speaking of passing, I've been maintaining a little dictionary. I'm feeling especially Gryffindorish at the moment so I think I'll take a little risk. Here's a sample:

Pass (v) - (of an examination) to get an O.

Fail (v) - (of an examination) to get a grade of E or less.

Do you like it? I've got other entries. Perhaps I should put them together and publish a guide for next year - "Understanding Your Head Girl - 1997 Edition". What do you think?

Well, I hope you do well, I'm sure you'll let me know.

With love,

Harry

* * *

22 July, 1996

Dear Harry,

I did it! I passed them all! And no, for your information Mr. Sarcastic, I didn't get all O's, so I poke my tongue out at you. I got an E in Astronomy. So there! How did you do? Tell me!

I got a note from Professor McGonagall saying that I topped the OWL scores in Britain! Isn't that something? Wow, I'm so happy I could just burst!

Have you heard from Ron? I haven't written to him as I don't have my own owl and it seemed a terrible imposition to just send poor Hedwig off to Romania without asking you first. We've been keeping her terribly busy going back and forth between our homes. London to Surrey isn't very far, I suppose, maybe an hour by car and I guess about the same for Hedwig, but we've been writing so much I'm surprised she hasn't withered away! (I have a very impressive file of your letters this summer.) Anyway, Ron hasn't written to me and it seems Ginny hasn't, either - there's been no sign of Pig. I hope they're okay.

The books I sent you are from my parents. They picked them out for you after I told them a little about Sirius and how he was lost - I hope you don't mind me not asking first. My parents are dentists, as you know, but you may not know that their practice is in a medical centre they share with some GPs, a sports physio, a radiologist, and two psychologists. Mum asked me to make sure you knew, if this came up, that they didn't actually share any specific details with their friends the Radfords (the psychologists) but they asked for their advice only in the most general terms. (Apparently psychologists are used to this and the Radfords weren't surprised by the manner in which Mum and Dad made their inquiries; psychology is an intensely personal field and psychologists are one of a few Muggle professions that are required to keep discussions private even from a court of law.) May I tell Mum that the books were helpful? I'm so glad they've done good, and that you've found them useful. Hug!

We went to the swimming pool yesterday - it was so nice to spend a day with my parents, they work so much. I got to wear my new swimsuit, which looks very nice I think. Can you swim, Harry? I assume not given your childhood... although how did you survive the second task? If I can get Professor Dumbledore to let you go, I'd like to teach you to swim. We can even put it to him as learning a survival skill. (Sorry about that bit of black humour.) Still no luck on getting him to let you come over. I'll keep trying, though! Do you know why he's being such a stick? What possible benefit could there be in keeping you with those horrid people when there are others who not only would welcome you with open arms, but would love you and care for you?

After the pool, Mum and I went shopping - I've outgrown all the clothes I bought last year! She says that if I'm anything like her, this will be my last major growth spurt except for increasing in bust size a little over the next year. But I'm nearly as tall as her now, and she says I'm only a size smaller than her in the hips, so I guess I'm relieved to be done with all that. I can get some nice clothes at last without feeling as though I'm wasting money. I guess I'll be visiting Madam Malkin's at Diagon Alley this year, too.

So, what were your OWL results?

With love and hugs,

Hermione

P.S.: You'd better not be serious about that Head Girl book. If I become Head Girl at all, that is.

* * *

22 July, 1996

Dear Hermione,

Congratulations on acing your OWLs. As for the other thing - well, it's official, I'm best friends with the smartest Witch in Britain. I'm very proud of you, Hermione. Hug.

I got 10 OWLs. My results were:

Theory I - E

Theory II - E

History of Magic - D (don't know how I avoided a T)

Divination - A (surprising, but believable)

Astronomy - A (huh? I passed?)

Herbology - E (better than I expected)

Transfiguration - E (about what I was hoping for)

Care of Magical Creatures - E (again, about what I was hoping for)

Potions - E (not sure what to say)

Charms - O (better than I dared hope for)

DADA - A ??!!

The DADA result was huge surprise. I expected an E or an O after what Mr Tofty said to me as I left the practical exam. He as much as told me that I got an Outstanding... so to get an Acceptable? Something's not right, Hermione. I've written to Professor McGonagall to ask what I can do, but frankly, I suspect Fudge (or that unspeakable toad Umbridge) at work. He's interfered in my life without apparent reason several times before, why stop now? I've told you before that I've been becoming more and more disillusioned with the Ministry, but this is absolutely the last straw. I've been trying not to group that self-serving little bastard in the same league as Voldemort or Bellatrix LeStrange, but now I'm past caring. When I have defeated Tom Riddle the hypocrite (Voldemort's true name, in case you've forgotten), I'll be only too happy to take a little revenge on that twat Fudge. Until then he's not worthy of my attention except as something to be overcome or avoided.

Sigh. Please excuse my language.

Anyway, A or no A, I still got 10 OWLs. Not bad for an academic nobody like me. And I simply cannot believe the Potions mark - I'm terrible in Snape's class, I barely keep my head above water. I think I owe my mark in that class to you and Professor McGonagall. Thanks very much for all your help during the year. I'm really sorry for being a total prat last year and I'm very, very lucky to have a friend like you.

Speaking of Snape, we've come to an understanding, I think. I'll tell you more about it when I see you, which I sincerely hope will be soon. For all that we write each other as much as we do, I miss you very much.

I haven't heard from Ron either. I hope he and Ginny are having a good time over in Romania. I suppose Dumbledore might be restricting their owls as he is mine. Yes, we have been keeping Hedwig busy, but I think she's really enjoying being used so much. She's the happiest I can remember her being in summer. She usually gets bored and hard to deal with while I'm with my relatives - she's often kept locked up. You remember when Ron and I came to Hogwarts in his parents' car in second year, of course? That was one time when they kept both me and Hedwig locked up all the time, with padlocks, and the poor girl just hated it.

To answer your question about what Dumbledore said: I have to stay here for a certain amount of time every year. I'll tell you the details when I see you if you want. But if I can, I'd really like to visit with you and your family this summer.

My relatives? Surprisingly, they aren't mistreating me for a change. They're just ignoring me. As far as they are concerned, I don't exist. They've got me locked in the attic. It could have been horrible -for the first few days it was - but Tonks has helped me fix it up so it's really comfortable. Dumbledore has supplied me with some books to keep me from climbing the walls, so I've been keeping myself occupied despite not having homework to do. I only wish I could go outside, I really miss the sun.

Hey, guess what? My aunt just paid me a visit! Well, not really. She unlocked the attic hatchway (which holds a kind of extending latter which comes down when you open it), stuck her head up into the attic, gasped in surprise (at the changes Tonks and I have made, I suppose), and left after stammering something about making sure I was alright. I guess she isn't totally heartless after all. I wonder whether she'll tell my uncle about the changes to the attic? I think Ron would have found her expression funny.

So you've grown? I wonder if you're taller than me? As for swimming, I'd really like to go swimming with you. It'd be lovely to spend time with my friends - Tonks is wonderful, but I miss you and Ron. I don't really know how to swim. I should learn it, I guess. In the meantime, Gillyweed has been useful.

It must be nice to have clothes that fit. I need to buy my robes and uniform again, too, as I have outgrown last year's set. I didn't notice at the time, distracted as I was, but judging by the way they fit - or rather, don't fit - now, my school clothes must have been getting a little small towards the end of the year. Plus of course, the Muggle clothes I have are all Dudley's hand-me-downs as somehow I've never quite found the chance to buy clothes that actually fit. I've either been locked up, under house arrest, at school, or just never thought of it I suppose. It's certainly not a matter of having enough money, although all the money I do have is in Galleons, not Pounds Sterling. I must admit I don't actually know the full extent of my holdings at Gringotts - I've never asked, it's just been an enormous pile of coins that I take an insignificant amount from every year (or not, in case I can't get to Diagon Alley like last year).

I've returned the books you sent me. Unwrapping the package this letter is attached to will undo the shrinking and lightening charms. Please do pass on my great thanks to your mother for the books, I found them terribly useful as I wrote above. I've also been talking with Tonks, and she's helped put perspective on a few things as well.

I really hope that Dumbledore allows me out of here soon. I can't wait to see you again, I have so much to share with you that I can't say by owl.

With hugs and love,

Harry

* * *

22 July, 1996

Dear Professor McGonagall,

Thank you ever so much for your help studying for the Potions OWL. I am sure that it was largely due to your help that I achieved an E in Potions.

If you don't mind, I have a question for you as Head of Gryffindor House. I was somewhat surprised to see that I scored an A in Defence Against the Dark Arts. Given that my examiner for the practical portion, Mr. Tofty, said as I left that I was all but assured of an O result, and that Hermione and I led a DADA study group this year, I wonder how I came to earn an A result overall for the subject. Could it possibly be due to interference?

Is it possible to appeal a mark? Please tell me what actions you feel I can or should take in this regard.

Sincerely,

Harry Potter

* * *

Hedwig disappeared as she flew out the attic window with the two letters and he let out a sigh. He glanced at the large wizard's window he had added the day before yesterday. It was not visible from the outside, but it showed a view of the street and skyline outside as if the window was real. The sky was darkening, and he knew that he would soon have to face Snape in Occlumency. He was dreading Snape's coming, since as far as he could tell he had made no progress in his Occlumency at all since last week.

The sessions with Tonks had been interesting, however. As his fitness and wind increased, Harry found Tonks was having him do more and more things he could only describe as 'strange'. She somehow seemed offended that there was not room for a running track inside and they were not permitted outside. Part of what she had him doing was straight gymnastics, and he was learning to love those exercises since they were giving him a sense of flexibility and power. Part of it was a kind of athletic dance, which Tonks insisted was one of the branches of martial arts although Harry could not see how what he was doing was in any way related to fighting. Finally, he was finding it easier all the time to exercise whilst maintaining a kind of meditative state, although his awareness was still concentrated inwards rather than outwards to his surrounding environment. She drove him in drills which worked on his speed and accuracy, and drills to force him to strengthen his shields and speed their invocation.

For all the variety, however, Harry still felt impatient. His true power was waiting for the critical breakthrough, a breakthrough which was showing no sign of appearing. Despite Dumbledore's assurances to the contrary, he was sure that his magic sense was the power 'that he knew not'. His lack of progress was frustrating but he tried to put a good face on it and learn as much as he could. His reading on the subject of wards, shields, and security charms had proved invaluable already.

The detection ward tingled and Harry rose from his spot at the kitchen table, moving automatically to meet Snape in the centre of the practice area.

* * *

Snape had just left when Tonks hauled Harry out of his chair and draped his arm over her shoulders, just as she had at the same time last week. He was all but totally unaware of his surroundings, and did not complain when she dragged him into the bathroom, the taps of the enormous tub already running. She draped him face-down onto the massage table she had conjured on her third day and stripped off his shirt. His shorts and boxers followed soon after. She stripped off as well then half-carried half-dragged him into the still-filling bath. She sat down and supported Harry by holding his back to her right front, her right arm around his chest.

Harry was somewhat aware of proceedings, but he was so tired he could not gather the energy to manage himself. It was so nice to just lay back and be pampered. Somewhere along the way he noted that Tonks was thorough when it came to hair colour changes. It didn't seem important but somehow that little factoid stuck fast in his mind.

When he awoke, light was just beginning its slow creep into the day. Somewhere along the way as he swam back to awareness he noticed that he was nude, that Tonks was present, and that the tip of his morning erection was resting against Tonks' arm. She was curled up against his side, her head on his shoulder, and her arm was draped over his abdomen. Comfortably warm, still tired and hugely comfortable, Harry could not work up the motivation to feel embarrassed and he allowed himself to slip back to sleep.

Awakening again was nowhere near as comfortable; hydraulic pressure meant that while it was not imperative that he rose, it would be nice to do so. Tonks was no longer curled up against him; instead, her warm buttocks pressed against his hip. As Harry realised that what he could feel was flesh, not cloth, he felt a flash of temptation to turn over and spoon her. As soon as it came, however, it was gone, replaced by an almost instinctive don't touch without checking. He rolled away from Tonks and got up, slipped on some boxers and padded over to the bathroom.

Re-emerging, Harry looked around and was not surprised to see no sign of Hedwig. Usually she stayed overnight after delivering his letter to Hermione, returning in the morning with her reply. He smiled to himself, knowing that she would be back by the time he needed her tonight. She always was.

Back at his bed, Harry sat on the covers rather than sliding back beneath them; it was time to begin the morning exercises. He studied Tonks' sleeping face. She looked cute with her apricot-coloured hair and a matching light skin tone and even a few freckles sprinkled across the bridge of her nose. Harry smiled to himself before he leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. Sitting back, he watched as she awoke. 'Good morning, cutie,' he said with a smile.

Tonks returned the smile. 'Good morning, lover boy,' she said. She lifted the covers ostentatiously and looked down at herself. 'My, what did we get up to last night?' she asked with a patently fake expression of shock on her face.

Harry snorted, unembarrassed. He was becoming used to Tonks' little jokes and digs. 'We did nothing. I seem to remember you bathed me then put me to bed. Thanks for that, by the way. Anything else is just wishful thinking on your part, Nymph.'

With a gamine grin, Tonks said, 'Can't blame a girl for thinking.' She slipped out of bed and stood with her back to Harry. She slapped one taut, round buttock. 'You can't tell me you saw me curled up there, all ready for you to ravish me, and you did nothing? Are you a man or a mouse?'

'Huh,' said Harry, smiling but slightly nonplussed. 'If there's any ravishing going to happen, it will be with the knowing cooperation and vocal encouragement of both parties.'

Tonks threw a pout over her shoulder and walked towards her side of the attic to dress. 'Your loss, lover boy,' she teased. Harry thought she was pleased, though, despite her outward show of disappointment.

* * *

17 Chisholm Court,

Wimbledon, SW19 8RT

23 July, 1996

Dear Professor Dumbledore,

* We wish to have Harry Potter stay with us for the last three weeks of summer.

* Please advise whether this would be possible and if not, why not.

* From a psychological point of view it's important to get Harry away from the Dursleys.

* We feel that a visit such as this would be in Harry's best interests.

My husband and I have been given to understand that you are acting in loco parentis for Harry Potter. We are therefore writing to you to request that Harry be permitted to visit with us for the last three weeks of the Summer holidays. We would very much like to spend time getting to know this young man who is such a great friend of our daughter Hermione, and we see this as a very good way of doing it. We are also asking for Harry's benefit, as Hermione tells us he has a very difficult home life, neglected and verging on the abusive, and we would like to do anything we can to relieve that burden. He would go with us to Diagon Alley once school lists became available, and we would ensure he meets the train to Hogwarts on 1 September.

Please advise us whether any special measures are needed to make this possible, and if it is not possible, why not. Hermione tells us that Harry is being hunted by that creature Voldemort, and that there are special magical protections in place, presumably in part to prevent him being magically located and spirited away. We understand that in order to accommodate our request you may need to go to some trouble to establish necessary protections around our home, but we feel that such trouble would be well worth it.

Hermione has shared with us much of an extensive correspondence she has been carrying out with young Harry this summer. We have consulted in general terms with psychologist friends of ours and they - and we - feel that although Harry appears to have recovered well and is starting down the road to adjusting to the loss of his only parental figure as well as his perceived betrayal by most of those he loves most, that recovery is fragile, and spending some time in an environment away from both the Dursleys and Hogwarts is vital to reinforce the progress he has made. In particular, failure to get him away from the Dursleys may be seen by him as a total lack of trust and faith in his abilities which could easily move him further down the negative road towards being a cynical, untrusting person. It is necessary to act promptly to prevent this.

So we implore you, please let Harry come stay with us this summer.

We look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Emma & Dan Granger.

* * *

Hedwig didn't arrive until almost dark that evening, far later than usual. Harry was sitting in one of the armchairs in front of the fire - it was a cool evening - and Tonks sat near him at one end of the couch. Hedwig flew to Harry and he removed a letter from her leg. It was from Hermione, her writing now as distinctive to him as his own or Dumbledore's, and certainly it was the hand he most looked forward to seeing.

His hands trembled slightly as he turned the letter over and he paused before breaking the little blob of the dark crimson sealing wax that Hermione always used.

23 July, 1996

Dearest Harry,

Congratulations on your OWL results! 10 OWLs is no mean achievement, well above average. And you are not an intellectual nobody! You just didn't study as hard as I did, and of course you had distractions - the Ministry, and your scar. You should contest the Astronomy and History marks as well. I agree that it's basically impossible for you to have achieved only an A on DADA - I got an O, and I feel sure you did better than I on that exam. I can't believe that it's Fudge interfering directly in your life, but then as you pointed out he's done it plenty of times before now, hasn't he? What do you think his problem is, why would he go to the trouble? I admit that it doesn't look good, and the thoughts you have me thinking are not favourable of the Ministry in general and Fudge in particular.

I want so much to respond to some of the other points in your letter, but I think I'll wait until I see you. My parents have become involved now and Mum said she was pretty sure you'd end up staying or she'd know the reason why. Mum can be quite forceful when she gets worked up about something (and is she ever worked up about you and your situation since talking to the Radfords), so I pity Professor Dumbledore if he chooses to stand in her way.

Good luck with your DADA appeal, and I hope to see you soon.

With love & hugs,

Hermione.

* * *

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster

25 July, 1996

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Granger,

Your points regarding Harry's psychological well-being are well taken. I have consulted with a psychiatric Medi-wizard of St. Mungo's Wizarding Hospital, and she agrees with the substance of your assessment. Harry must spend four weeks every year at the Dursleys; after that he is free to move about provided reasonable precautions have been taken to protect the people and place where he sleeps.

It is vital that Harry continue to heal and that the negative effects of my well-intentioned mismanagement of him be undone to the extent possible. Dr. Humbert-Smith also reminded me that, regardless of the objective truth of the matter, Harry's perceptions are the governing factor, and that not only should we do the right thing, but he must feel that we are doing our best by him. One of the best ways to do this, she said, is to extract Harry from the Dursleys as soon as possible.

Therefore, in addition to granting your request to host Harry for the last three weeks of the holidays, may I prevail upon you to take him from 1 August, or as soon as possible thereafter? Please let me know the date you can take him from, and I will put in place appropriate arrangements such as the warding of your home etc. It would be of benefit if you would also accept Harry's bodyguard, Miss Nymphadora Tonks. We would of course magically create the necessary extra rooms to accommodate Miss Tonks (and Harry if needed) as well as contribute to their upkeep.

I pray that I do not impose unduly, and hope to hear your reply soon.

Yours faithfully,

Professor A. Dumbledore

Headmaster, Chief Mugwump of the International Federation of Sorcerers, Leader of Wizengamot

* * *

25 July, 1996

Dear Professor Dumbledore,

Thank you for arranging for your bird to wait for our reply. We do not have an owl so it was very thoughtful of you. Hermione tells me it is a phoenix. What a handsome creature!

While we would be delighted to accept Harry from August 1, we regret that it is simply not possible as we will be away at a conference until August 5. We can and will accept Harry and Ms Tonks from August 6, however.

We look forward to receiving any necessary visitors to perform the warding etc. that you mentioned previously. Please be aware that we will be departing for Bristol on the morning of 29 July. Other than the time we will be away from home, we remain, for Harry's sake, at your disposal.

Our daughter Hermione would very much like to visit with Harry as soon as possible, possibly even staying with him during the time we will be in Bristol. Since I now know Harry has a responsible adult staying with him, I have given her my endorsement. Would this be possible to arrange?

Yours faithfully,

Emma & Dan Granger.

* * *

The tingling of the outer ward jerked Harry's attention from the reflex drill he was performing under Tonks' guidance and he looked up to see Moody grunt in surprise as his disillusionment was stripped from him as he floated into the attic on his broom.

'Nice to see some basic vigilance, Potter,' he said as he drifted to a stop, his feet about a foot from the floor. He grinned unwholesomely. 'But how do you know I'm me?'

Tonks grinned and Harry smirked. 'Identification ward. Try again, Moody.'

Moody said nothing more but raised his eyebrows. 'Letter for you. I'm to wait fer a reply.'

Harry stepped to Moody and took the letter. He stepped away as he cracked the seal, ignoring the way Moody's magical eye spun in its socket. He scanned the letter, then jumped for joy. 'Yes!'

'What is it, Harry?' asked Tonks. 'Good news I gather?'

'Yes. Dumbledore says we're to stay with the Grangers from the sixth, but Hermione's parents will be at a conference from the twenty-ninth to the fifth, and she's asking to stay here while they're away.' He looked up from the letter, adding, 'He says he's in favour as it will allow consolidation of resources and he trusts you as chaperone, Nymph.'

'Now look here, lover boy...' started Tonks, only to be interrupted by a loud throat-clearing from Moody.

'Tonks, have you been fraternisin'?' he asked sternly.

'No I haven't!' she shouted, flustered.

'It's just a running joke, Moody,' added Harry. Turning back to Tonks, he said, 'May Hermione come here during that time, Tonks?'

'You'll be doing the set up for her,' Tonks replied sternly, but she was grinning.

'Okay! After all, who did the set up for this place anyway?'

'Yeah, yeah.'

'I'll reply saying yes, then. Moody, is the reply going to Dumbledore, the Grangers, or both?'

'Dumbledore,' he said gruffly.

'Hedwig isn't back yet. Could I please ask you to send a letter to the Grangers for me as well?' Moody nodded, a faint smile creasing his craggy face, and Harry returned the smile. 'Tonks,' he said, 'would you offer tea to Moody please?'

* * *

25 July, 1996

Dear Hermione,

I was overjoyed to receive a letter earlier today from Professor Dumbledore regarding your parents' kind offer. I would be delighted to stay at your house from the 6^th. Even better, I have received permission for you to stay here from the 29th. We have ample room here in the attic; it really is surprisingly large (it's magic!). Be ready to practice! Tonks is a hard taskmistress.

I'm really looking forward to seeing you again.

I've got to go now, Moody is waiting and is getting impatient.

With love & hugs,

Harry

* * *

It was that night that Harry discovered a most interesting book in the collection that Dumbledore had sent. Its spine label had been rubbed off, but the title on the flyleaf was intriguing: A Comparative Study of Techniques of Magical Transport and Movement, Their Monitoring, and Control, by Thomas MacGiven. Intrigued, Harry immediately sat down with the thick volume and began to read.

Later, when the time came for bed, Tonks came over to see what was holding Harry's attention.

'Wotcher, Harry,' she said with a grin. The old slang had become something of a joke between them. 'Wotcher got there?'

'It's a book on magical transport.'

Tonks smirked knowingly. 'You should know that there's anti-apparation and anti-portkey wards up all around here,' she said.

'I know,' he said distractedly. 'It's still fascinating.'

'Well, I'm going to bed.' She kissed him on the cheek, then dropped a book in his lap. He oof'd in surprise. 'Perhaps you'd like to read this instead. Good night, Harry.'

'Night, Tonks,' he said, putting aside the book on magical transport and picking up the book Tonks had dropped on him. It was of moderate size, perhaps two inches thick and a foot on a side. This book, too, had its spine lettering mostly rubbed off; only specks of gilt remained. Harry opened the cover and read the flyleaf.

On the Creation of Magical Jewellery, Oddments, and Other Useful Items

by Nicholas D. Flamel

There was also an inscription:

Albus,

I hope you find this humble work of use in your suit.

May I suggest Chapter 5, and good luck!

Nicholas, 1869

His eyebrows raised nearly to his hairline, Harry contemplated the flyleaf for some time before turning the page and checking the table of contents. Chapter five had to do with rings. Noticing that the work began with a chapter on introductory concepts, he opened the book to the first page and began to read.

* * *

Hedwig woke Harry late morning by nibbling on his ear. His first attempt to move resulted in blazing pain as his back and neck complained. Opening his eyes, he realised that he had gone to sleep whilst reading Flamel's fascinating book. He groaned.

'Hey there, lover boy!' called Tonks from the kitchen. 'Go take a shower and I'll have lunch ready. Brunch for you,' she finished with a snicker.

'Urgh,' groaned Harry. He directed a glare at Tonks as best he could with a wonky neck. 'I don't think I'm ever going to move again.'

'Well I guess you'll want this potion, then,' she said. Harry saw a glass goblet containing a pinkish potion sitting on the near end of the table. 'But you'll have to replace it if you drink it,' Tonks continued.

'Anything, just give me the potion please.'

'Get it yourself, it'll do you good.'

Harry tried to get up but stiffened in pain half way out of the chair. Collapsing back, his face drawn and eyes closed in pain, he gestured and the goblet floated into his outstretched hand. He drank it and sighed in relief almost straight away. 'Ah, that's better,' he said. He could feel the potion working its way through his system, starting in his neck and flooding like a wave of relaxation and warmth to his hands and feet. Grinning he got easily to his feet and padded over to the kitchen to replace the goblet on the table. Ignoring Tonks' somewhat fixed smile, he said, 'Thanks, Nymph,' kissed her on the cheek, and wandered over to the bathroom to start his shower.

Emerging from the bathroom with a towel around his waist, Harry wandered over to his wardrobe and, with his back to Tonks, quickly dressed. He picked up his wand from the bedside table and turned to return the towel to the bathroom when he paused in mid-step. For a long moment he stood there, one foot in the air, staring stupidly at his wand. 'Tonks?'

'Yes, Harry?'

'Did you take my wand from the bathroom and put it on my bedside table?'

'No. I took it from the floor next to your chair and put it there... when I got up this morning.' Harry turned uncertainly to Tonks, who was grinning like a maniac.

'So when I accio'd the potion...'

'Your wand was on your bedside table, yes.' Tonks ran over to Harry and leaped into a hug. 'That's fantastic, Harry!'

Automatically returning Tonks' hug, Harry wondered at her enthusiasm. Finally he made the connection, and he stopped her and stepped back, shaking his head. 'It's nothing special, Tonks. I still can't "see".'

'It's a sign that you're making progress!'

Smiling, Harry nodded a little uncertainly. 'Yes,' he said hesitantly. 'I suppose.'

Hedwig chose that moment to interrupt, screeching from her perch on the back of one of the kitchen chairs. 'Oh, Hedwig, I'm sorry,' said Harry as he hurried over to take the letter from his now rather miffed owl. He stroked her for a minute or two to calm her before opening the letter and reading it. As expected, it was from Hermione, but unexpectedly it was her shortest letter yet this summer.

26 July, 1996

Dear Harry,

I'm so happy! Moody says to tell you my parents will drop me off and he'll 'give me a lift' for the final step. I can hardly wait! 3 more sleeps!

I'll see you Monday morning.

With love,

Hermione

Harry smiled to himself. Tonks wandered over and asked, 'Hermione's coming?'

'Yes!' he replied, calming down and tucking the letter into the waistband at the back of his shorts.

'We'll do the set up after lunch, then. Where were you thinking of putting her bed?'

Harry looked around for a moment and said, 'I think on the other side of the library from mine, and we'll put up something between her bed and the practice area. That way she'll have some privacy, anyway.'

'Good answer, lover boy.' Tonks snickered and Harry chased her around the kitchen table before she turned and launched a tickle war.

Later that afternoon, after an exhausting session spent dodging hexes without the benefit of shield charms, Harry spent some time conjuring and banishing things of various materials. Finally after a string of failures, Harry looked up to see Tonks watching him curiously. 'Say, Tonks, do you know why I can't seem to conjure anything with gold in it? I can do silver okay, but gold's a no-no.'

Tonks stared at Harry, then frowned in disappointment. 'I'm sure you'll find the answer in the library, Harry. I thought you'd know that already.'

He looked at her oddly, then nodded and stepped over to the library. Picking up Flamel's book, he remembered there was a chapter on conjuration. Checking the table of contents, he saw it was toward the back of the book. 'I didn't get that far last night,' he said to himself. Quickly flipping to the relevant page, he found what he wanted only four paragraphs in.

Conjuration can produce any material except the noble metals. Materials which are alloys of noble metals also cannot be produced by conjuration. The noble metals are Gold and Platinum. To overcome this limitation requires the use of the Philosopher's Stone, an alchemical object of extreme rarity.

A marginal note had been written in Dumbledore's elegant hand. It said: Noble metals: Ruthenium (44-Ru), Rhodium (45-Rh), Palladium (46-Pd), Rhenium (75-Re), Osmium (76-Os), Iridium (77-Ir), Platinum (78-Pt), Gold (79-Au).

Harry closed the book with a thump. 'Well, that's that then,' he muttered. He set the book aside, then returned to Tonks who was brewing a potion on the kitchen table. 'I guess I know the answer to the question now, Tonks. Thanks.'

'No problem, Harry.'

'What's that?'

'It's some more of that muscle relaxant potion you drank this morning. We might need it and since you didn't brew it, I'm doing it.' She was smiling at Harry. He felt very guilty.

'I'm sorry, Tonks, it never even crossed my mind. And to tell you the truth, me and potions really don't get along at all.'

Tonks looked at Harry with a disappointed expression. 'Harry, Potions are more than a subject to study. They're a way of life in the wizarding world. For all that you've got magic in your blood on both sides of your family you might as well be muggle-born. You missed out on so much information by being brought up in the muggle world. Like that you can't conjure noble metals, every wizarding child knows that, it's one of the great alchemical conundrums. And potions are almost as important as food. Not only should you learn to be at ease with them, but you really should learn to love them and, more importantly, learn how to achieve the ends you need even if you don't necessarily have quite the ingredients you need. At the very least you need to know what potions exist, and in general how to use them.'

'But, I... Snape...'

Sighing, Tonks nodded. She put on her lecturing face and changed her hair colour to a sober black. 'Yes, I know, Snape. But you need to know potions, Harry, even if you don't become an Auror. You need to be comfortable with them, particularly since they--err, nevermind.' She blushed, and her hair changed to a violent crimson. 'Anyway, they're a part of everyday life in the magical world and you have to know them.'

'Oh,' he said in a small voice. He straightened, straightening his shoulders and setting his jaw in determination. 'Well... I guess I know what's on the study agenda from now on, then.'

'Yes,' said Tonks with a nod, her hair black again. 'You'll be reading about potions in the morning, and brewing them in the afternoons. But before we do any of that I need to lay in a supply of ingredients and vessels, and you need to do some basic preparatory reading.' She let him over to the library and picked out a bright yellow book. Potions for Dummies Muggles. The "muggles" had been written in over the top of a scratched-out "dummies".

'Here, this will get you started,' she said as she returned to the now-bubbling potion on the kitchen table.

'Thanks, Tonks,' said Harry before settling down into his favourite chair in the library and beginning to read.

* * *

Moody,

Attached is a list of potions ingredients and quantities, would you be a dear and have someone get them for me please? Harry has finally realised that he needs to know potions, and to fix Snape's "teaching" I'm going to have to start with the most basic of the basic since Harry isn't the kind of student who reacts well to Snape's style.

Also, Harry asks that you get him six ounces of fine gold bullion. I suspect he's going to make something for Hermione. Ain't young love grand?

Dumbledore has Harry's key.

Ta muchly,

Tonksie.

P.S.: Don't forget the Grangers will be arriving about 8:30am the day after tomorrow. See you then if not before!