Harry Potter and the Book of Magical Maladies

Harry Potter and the Book of Magical Maladies

CHAPTER 7 - The Search

---

Most of Grimmauld Place was awake before Ginny had finished reading Harry's letter the second time. She couldn't risk leaving it around to read later. She tried to remember everything she could, then burned it quickly and silently before heading down the stairs.

She'd worried about trying to explain why she had been awake, but her fears disappeared upon seeing most of the mansion's occupants crowded around the kitchen table, drinking an assortment of steaming liquids and looking quite somber. She reminded herself that she had to act as if she didn't know what had happened.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Bad news, Ginny," Ron said in a low voice. Bill was there, and he walked over to her, and knelt in front of her.

"It's a message from Harry," he said in a soft voice. "Something went wrong. Harry says that he saw a family get attacked last night. He-- he watched it." Ginny hoped her performance was convincing enough. Bill's head dropped a little. "We haven't heard from Dad yet, but the clock says he's okay. The Aurors are checking on him. Hedwig just arrived with the message a couple minutes ago."

Ginny walked over to the table and read through the note quickly. There really wasn't much in it, but then, she had to admit that there really wasn't much that he could have said. No one really said much other than commenting about the note. They all seemed to be waiting to hear what Ginny's father might say.

They never found out, instead, they heard the sharp sound of the front door slamming and a the sound of footsteps approaching quickly. A moment later, Tonks, wearing her hair a spiky black mess, strode into the kitchen.

"Arthur isn't coming," she announced. A moment of panic swept over Ginny as the thought of her father being captured by Death Eaters slipped into her mind.

"No, sorry," Tonks apologized. "I shouldn't have said it like that. He's not coming back here yet. He's at the Ministry. He's got a meeting with Minister Bones. The Ministry is taking this seriously."

The tension in the room seemed to break and Ginny even detected a hint of celebration. Bill was even smiling. Ginny glared at him.

"Why is everyone happy?" she asked him reproachfully. "A family is dead."

"We know, Ginny," he replied, as the smile was quickly replaced with an almost mournful expression. "But this means they're willing to believe Harry. If everything goes well, we won't have to fight alone. The next time, we might be able to stop them."

"The next time?"

Bill gave her a strange look. "This is just the first attack. I know it sounds bad, but if it's anything like it was sixteen years ago, there will be more attacks than you or I will be able to feel sorry for. It's tragic, but it would be so much worse if no one believed Harry."

He gave her a weak smile, then turned and walked over to where Lupin and Moody were trying to organize whatever members were currently available. Ron and Hermione were both standing out of the way, but watching intently. No one seemed to even be paying attention to her.

Her stomach felt heavy. She'd only been thinking of the immediate situation. Harry had seen it, and Tom knew it. It wouldn't be the last time. Ginny remembered the little that Harry had talked about his nightmares. He'd never explained just how bad they were, but Ron had even admitted that he'd heard Harry having nightmares the year before.

The attack was over. It was early in the morning, and he was awake enough to write letters to the Order. Ginny knew exactly what she needed. No one would even notice. She quietly slipped back up to her room and returned a moment later, only to walk silently into the pantry and down the wooden steps to the store room.

It would be easy enough. She found the bright blue Dreamless Sleep Potion quickly. Carefully she filled most of the small vial she'd brought from her trunk. It should be enough for a good twelve hours of sleep. Next, she searched for the clay pot the Honeydraught was kept in. A touch of the pale yellow liquid would be enough to cover the bitter taste. She pressed a stopper into the vial, pocketed it, and returned to the kitchen. She'd send it back with Hedwig, and Harry could at least get a night of peace and rest.

However, as she looked around, she realized that Hedwig had already gone. In fact, all the owls were gone. They'd all been sent on various errands. She'd have to wait until Hedwig returned, or until Harry sent Hedwig that night as he was scheduled to. Ginny grabbed a piece of toast and sat in the corner trying not to look extremely disappointed.

Her eyes perked up as she saw Lupin stand and transfigure his robes into Muggle clothing. Lupin never left Grimmauld Place. A smile stretched across Ginny's face. With her father at the Ministry, Lupin was the next best person to send to talk to Harry. But how could she get him to take the potion? Lupin would suspect something if she simply gave it to him. She needed it to seem like someone else's idea.

Ginny searched the room for Hermione. She found her by the fireplace, placing more toast on a large platter. Ginny walked calmly over to her and started helping. Between pieces, she quickly slipped the vial from her pocket into Hermione's.

Hermione immediately stopped spreading butter on the piece in front of her and stared into her pocket. Ginny elbowed her.

"For Harry. Give it to Lupin," she whispered.

"No," Hermione whispered angrily as she turned back to the toast.

"The twins were talking about you and Ron last night--" Ginny started saying in louder voice.

"Shh! What is it?"

"Dreamless Sleep Potion," Ginny said quickly, hoping Moody wasn't paying attention to her. "Harry has horrible nightmares."

Hermione sighed. "Fine. But that won't work again, so don't try again."

Ginny smiled and kept stacking the toast onto the platter. With a frown, Hermione left and quickly walked up the stairs. She returned a moment later carrying a small cloth bag. Ginny watched as Hermione walked over to Lupin and talked quietly with him. She pulled the small vial out of the bag, and handed it to Lupin. Lupin looked at it, then gave Hermione a strange look.

She was already walking away when he slipped it into his pocket with a shrug. Hermione didn't say anything when she returned, and avoided making eye contact with Ginny the entire morning, only giving her a single warning look as she sat down next to Ron.

Not long after taking the potion from Hermione, Lupin nodded to the rest of the Order members and walked out of Grimmauld Place.

---

"Boy!"

Harry stirred as his dreams seemingly got worse. Vernon had joined Voldemort, and together they laughed over the charred remains of Harry's only pictures of his parents.

"BOY!"

Harry jerked awake. Vernon was slamming his heavy fist against his door, shaking Hedwig's cage. What was so important that Vernon would care if he were awake? He wasn't certain he wanted to find out what it was, but he was at least relieved for the interruption. He needed to sleep, but the dreams were preventing him from actually getting any rest.

"BOY! Wake up, you lazy little--"

"What?" Harry yelled back.

"One of your ... friends is here." Vernon yelled back. Harry was amazed how Vernon could yell and still be subtly insulting.

Harry pulled himself up and walked to the door. He should have known. Of course someone would come to see him. When he got downstairs, he looked around and found no one. He checked the kitchen and saw Petunia scowling at the table.

"Er... Vernon said--"

"He's outside." Petunia replied. Her voice was high-pitched and strained.

"Outside? I was sleeping. You couldn't have sent him to my room?" Harry asked.

"And let another one of them inside?" Petunia screeched. "Are you mad?"

Harry shook his head and strode out of the kitchen toward the door. He opened the door and saw a slightly bewildered but mostly disgusted Remus Lupin.

"Don't even think of letting him in this house!" Vernon bellowed from the stairs.

Harry was too tired to argue, so he simply stepped outside and closed the door behind him.

"Come on, we'll go behind the house," he told his former professor.

"They told me that they didn't want me to turn their fireplace to rubble," Remus said. "Why would I do that?"

"The real question is why wouldn't you want to do that," Harry replied, attempting to lighten his own mood with humor. "Maybe if you spent more time around them you'd have more desire to see parts of their house in rubble."

Lupin smiled and nodded. "Perhaps you're right."

They walked silently to the rear of the small house. Harry looked around to see if anyone else was around. It was still fairly early in the morning and Harry could see no one. There was an odd moment of silence as Harry waited for Lupin to start talking.

"You look exhausted."

Harry slumped against the house and slid to the ground. "I didn't sleep well," he said with a wan smile. He paused and looked at the ground before continuing. "Are you going to tell me anything about what happened last night, or are you just here to ask more questions while keeping me in the dark?"

"Harry," Lupin started, "I can't tell you anything about what happened last night."

"Yeah," Harry said sullenly, "I figured that."

"I can't tell you because we don't know anything," Lupin responded, sounding apologetic.

"What are you here for, then?" Harry asked lethargically. "You've interrupted an amazing string of nightmares that I really should get back to."

Lupin gave him a strange look. "That, I believe, I can do something about." He handed Harry the small vial of a bluish liquid. Harry held it gingerly, as if the mere touch of it would put a bad taste in his mouth. He'd taken one too many potions to look forward to trying whatever Lupin had thought might make him happier.

"It's Dreamless Sleep Potion. I'm almost certain," Lupin said, seeing Harry's reaction. "I don't know why Hermione thought of it, but now that I see you, I'm glad she did."

Harry clutched the small bottle as his body slumped in relief. He could sleep. He felt better just holding the liquid. But how had Hermione known? As he looked at the vial, he saw a pair of letters faintly etched into the bottom: 'G.W.'

"I'll have to find a way to thank her," Harry said faintly.

"She said that she wasn't the one you should be thanking. Though, I don't know why you should be thanking me."

Harry pocketed the potion. "She probably thought she was returning a favor." He slowly stood up. "I think it's time for me to get some sleep. I trust when you get any information you'll try your best to tell me only the really worthless parts."

Lupin pursed his lips. "We aren't trying to keep things from you Harry. We aren't--"

"You're a horrible liar," Harry interrupted. "Or perhaps I'm turning into a Legilimens," he finished with a smirk.

Lupin looked uncertain of himself. "We aren't sure if what you saw really happened." Anger flashed in Harry's bloodshot eyes.

"Harry," Lupin said calmly as he started pacing, "It's not the first time." Harry wondered if he was just trying to put some distance between himself and Harry's anger.

"In the past, when the Death Eaters attacked, they would always conjure the Dark Mark. They wanted everyone to know what they had done." He stopped and looked at Harry. "If anyone had seen the mark, Kingsley would know. He would have told us."

Harry tried to think of an explanation. "It just happened last night. Maybe they haven't heard the news yet." Lupin gave him a dubious look. "One of the Death Eaters said that no one was around. Maybe there it was there, but no one was close enough to see it."

"Then why attack them?" Lupin asked. "When Voldemort attacked someone, the whole point was to make sure everyone knew it happened because they angered Lord Voldemort. With this attack, you're the only one who knows."

"It wasn't like... like Sirius," Harry choked. "This was real."

"I believe you. It all fits. All the visions pointed to something happening last night, but if anyone saw anything they would have reported it." He looked as frustrated, as he continued, "I don't know where to tell them to look! We don't even know who was... involved."

"But you are looking?"

"They started looking late last night, and assuming the worst. Arthur was adamant about it. He had all the Aurors out trying to find anyone who fit the description. Do you remember anything from the dream that could help? Anything?"

Harry tried to think back. He could remember the vision well enough, but he had trouble thinking about anything other than the photos burning and Voldemort's command as he ordered the family killed. Harry understood now that he'd been meant to see it. Voldemort wanted Harry to be watching. He didn't want to tell Lupin about that. He didn't want anyone else to know how Voldemort was tormenting him through the link they shared. It was much easier if everyone just thought that Harry occasionally saw things.

"I didn't see all that much," Harry said truthfully. "There was a father, a mother, and a daughter. I didn't see anyone but the father. I only heard the others being..."

"Did the wizard say anything that might help?" Lupin asked, trying to steer Harry away from the man's family.

"He said..." Harry closed his eyes to think. "He said that he had wanted to help Dumbledore, but Dumbledore didn't let him." Harry leaned against the house for support and looked at Lupin. "But he must have. Voldemort told him he'd interfered with his plans. He must have done something. Voldemort really hated him."

"Well, that's a start. He couldn't have been a member of the Order or an Auror. But it will probably help. I should go. That may be just what we need to find them," Lupin said, looking a little more hopeful.

Harry turned toward the back door and searched his pockets for the potion.

"Hold on," Lupin called out, causing Harry to turn to him. "Did you tell Ron or Hermione anything about this?"

Harry was grateful that he didn't have to lie. "No," he replied, "I figured you would tell them."

"I did," Lupin said. "They read the letter only minutes after I did." He turned to leave, but stopped again. "I was wondering... well... Hedwig. She didn't come directly to me. She came in from the kitchen."

Harry tried to act like he wasn't lying to an old friend. "She probably flew in through the parlor. I've told her to always use that window."

"I was in the parlor waiting for word from Arthur" Lupin said with a smile.

"Maybe she got lost--"

"Hedwig has never gotten lost." He paused and looked in Harry's eyes. "I don't mind if you told them. We're just trying to protect you."

"Well you're doing a superb job so far," Harry replied. Lupin looked away immediately. Then he turned and started to walk off.

"Look. I'm sorry," Harry apologized. "I know you all mean well, but you can't protect me from this."

Lupin looked back dejectedly. "I know," he replied. As he walked away he paused to look back at Harry. "Things are going to get worse soon. We'll be in touch." Harry watched him walk down the street. Eventually he turned down an alley.

Harry went back inside and quietly sat in a corner of the kitchen eating a few pieces of toast. He toyed lightly with the small bottle of blue liquid. He wondered how long it would make him sleep. Hours? He tried to remember how much Madam Pomfrey had given him. Maybe if he drank the whole thing he could sleep long enough for the family to be found. He dreaded waiting for the Ministry to find them. Until then, he felt somehow responsible for them. He was the only one who knew they were attacked.

Harry heard heavy footsteps approaching and looked up to see Dudley enter the room. Vernon was close behind him.

Dudley looked at him. "You look like death."

"Thanks. You look like gluttony."

Dudley narrowed his eyes and Vernon's jaw dropped. Harry had been too tired to exercise restraint this morning. He groaned to himself and waited for Vernon to start yelling.

"See here, I won't let you go around insulting everyone just because they aren't an abomination like you," Vernon said in a stern yet quiet voice.

Harry was surprised. He must be afraid that Lupin is still around. Harry decided to forego the effort of remaining diplomatic.

"I insulted him because he's a bullying git," Harry replied.

Vernon's face was red with anger. "You-- I--" he sputtered. Harry rolled his eyes and it only made him more angry. "Perhaps you'll cool down after you've spent the morning pulling the weeds from the flower garden."

"I did that three days ago," Harry replied.

"The windows need cleaning, then!" Vernon shouted.

"Maybe tomorrow, I think I'll just sleep," Harry said. He couldn't help the smile spreading across his face.

"Sleep?" Vernon barked. "What makes you think we'll just let you sleep all day?"

"This," Harry said as he held the Dreamless Sleep Potion in his hand.

Vernon pushed Dudley behind him, "You wouldn't dream of poisoning us! That old man, Dribbledum, wouldn't have it! You'll go to prison for it!"

"His name is Dumbledore, and this--" Harry said as he popped the stopper off the vial and poured the contents into his mouth, "--isn't poison." He stood up and started walking to the stairs, hoping it wouldn't work too quickly. "It's actually rather pleasant, but I don't think you'll be able to wake me for the next few hours."

As he walked up the stairs he decided he'd have to ask Ginny where she got the potion from. It didn't have the vile taste that he associated with all the other potions he'd drank.

He got to his room, and layed down. Though he wasn't very worried, he tried to clear his mind of all emotions and thoughts. The potion was already making him feel groggy and his limbs were heavy. Soon he descended into blissful oblivion.

---

When he woke up, it was dark and very quiet. He searched for a clock and choked as he realized that it was past four o'clock in the morning. The sun would be up in two hours, and he'd slept through almost an entire day.

He had to admit that he felt quite rested, and he hadn't had any nightmares. His stomach, however, was empty and aching. Hedwig still hadn't returned, or if she had, she'd left again after failing to wake Harry up.

It was horribly early, but Harry couldn't imagine going back to sleep. He pulled on some clothes, grabbed his wand and quietly walked downstairs to the kitchen. The sleeping potion had been much more powerful than he had imagined. He hoped it was also stronger than Ginny had intended, but it had spared him from having to deal with the Dursleys, and had given him the sleep that he'd been needed.

Right now, he needed food. He carefully rummaged through the fridge, looking for a few spare sausages he'd hidden in a back corner a few nights back. They were still there. He put them on a plate, and poured himself some fruit juice. With a bit of hoping and a wave of his wand, the sausages were steaming hot on the plate.

"Brilliant," he whispered to himself. Magic was much quieter than trying to fry them up again, but the last time he'd tried it his potato had ended up more burnt than baked.

He sat quietly at the table eating what would be his breakfast. No doubt Vernon would be angry today, and Harry would have to try and avoid him yet again. It wasn't terribly difficult to accomplish. Vernon didn't like entering Harry's room anymore, so it was simply a trick of getting food to his room and finding something to occupy his time.

When he finished his meal, he gathered for enough food to get him through the day, and carefully walked back up to his room. Perhaps if he was quiet enough all day, the Dursleys would think he was still asleep.

And so Harry sat in his room through the hazy sunrise and rather dreary morning. The sun was a little brighter in the afternoon, but not even so much as to make Harry wish he could go outside. Hedwig still hadn't returned, leaving Harry without any way of contacting anyone else. Still, being stuck in his room seemed like a better choice than cleaning or repacking the closets.

The worst part was the uncertainty of what was happening with the Order. Harry forced himself to assume that the Order was working so hard on finding the family he'd seen attacked that they needed Hedwig to run messages for them. But if Hedwig hadn't returned and he hadn't heard anything, it could only mean that either something was still happening, or that they still hadn't found anything to tell him.

Sometime after Harry had finished eating the last of the cold food he'd brought up from the kitchen, he heard Hedwig tapping at the window. Harry opened it immediately, and Hedwig gave a few short hoots, before flying to her cage.

She wasn't carrying any letters at all. They hadn't found anything. Doubt crept into Harry's mind. Had he really seen anything? What if had all been a trick? What would the purpose be?

His mood soured and he flopped onto his bed. No one would ever believe him. Maybe that was the point. Voldemort would torment him by showing him horrible things, and he'd never know if they were real or not.

It felt real.

Harry curled under his covers. There was no potion for him that night, but he wasn't concerned. The predictability and familiarity of his nightmares sounded more comforting than another day of uncertainty.

Harry was woken up the next morning by Hedwig hooting and rattling her cage. The sun was already up and flooding his small room with warm, but unwelcome light. He slowly sat up and walked over to Hedwig's cage.

"What do you want?" Harry asked. "I still don't have any owl treats." He opened her cage, and Hedwig hopped out onto his shoulder and gave his ear a friendly nip.

"Yeah, I still like you too, and I still don't have anything for you. You'll have to get something from Ron or Ginny."

He wished that he had anything for his owl. Hedwig had been quite busy, and though she seemed happy to perform her duties, Harry had long since run out of any way of rewarding her. However, he knew that Ginny and Ron both gave her owl treats, and either would be more than willing to reward Hedwig for him.

He walked to the window and opened it. A fresh morning breeze slipped into his room. The day looked cheerful, but Harry felt none of it. Each day that Voldemort's victims went without being found seemed darker and drearier to Harry. He looked outside, searching for any sign that today might be different than yesterday.

There were very few people around. It was still early, and Harry could mostly empty, except for a pair of businessmen standing across the street. One was reading the morning paper, and the other was drinking something dark orange from a glass. Both were leaning against a signpost, and looking as if it was natural for them to be there.

As he was trying to figure out what the men were doing, a delivery truck pulled up in front of Number Four. Hedwig hooted and nipped at Harry's hand. She was standing on the windowsill, stretching her wings.

"You'd better be off. See if Ginny has any news for me."

As Hedwig flew off, a middle aged woman in a wide hat stepped out of the delivery truck carrying a rack of milk bottles. Harry was just about to close his window again, when he heard a scuffling of feet followed by the sound of a number of glass containers shattering.

He peeked his head out the window to see the woman sprawling on the pavement, with a large amount of milk spilling back down toward the her face. She looked at the pavement and then the house. She finally shrugged, placed her hat back on her head, and walked up to the door. Harry could hear her knocking, followed by Vernon walking to the door and opening it.

"Oh, good morning," said the woman. "I'm dreadfully sorry, but I'm afraid I've made quite a mess of your walkway. If you'd be so good as to lend me a brush and a bucket of water, I'll clean it right up." There was silence for a moment, as Harry imagined Vernon seeing the mess, and then staring at the woman angrily.

"Very well," he said finally. "Wait here. I'll get you some help," he continued with false cheeriness.

In a moment Harry heard him pounding up the stairs, calling him.

"Boy! Boy, Come down here immediately! And bring a bucket of water!"

It was the perfect start to what Harry knew would be another dreadful day. He threw on some of Dudley's old clothes, filled a bucket with water, and was lugging it down the stairs a minute later. Vernon stopped him before he could open the door.

"Do a good job, and behave," he whispered, "--and be normal, or else..."

Harry opened the door and found the woman sitting on the steps outside the door examining her fingernails as if they were something new and wonderful. The door closed behind him, and the woman turned to look at him. She looked amused. Harry scowled.

"We'll get to work then, shall we?" she said smoothly.

Harry followed her out to the pavement, and handed her a brush. He took one for himself and immediately got down on his knees and started scrubbing the milk out of the cracks. The woman was looking at him and trying to imitate his work, but only succeeded in making herself look foolish.

Harry wanted to grab the brush from her and just do it all himself, but he made himself relax, and instead tried to start a conversation.

"You're not one to do much cleaning, are you?" he said, trying to sound friendly.

The woman didn't react, but responded in a low voice, "Don't turn around. There are two Aurors leaning against a signpost across the street."

Harry paused and remembered the two odd men he had seen. "Aurors? Why--"

"Just keep scrubbing," she said firmly. "They're here to keep an eye on you. Just try and act normally... Er-- well, act like you'd think they'd expect you to act--wait... act like--"

Harry interrupted her, "How do you know..."

The woman looked up and winked at him. "Wotcher, Harry."

Harry stopped and stared at the woman. "Tonks?"

"Sorry about the mess," she apologized. "I had to get you away from the Muggles without making anyone suspicious."

Harry suddenly didn't mind the scrubbing anymore. He felt relieved and comfortable to be able to talk to someone in the Order in person.

"Well, it was a clever plan. Vernon loves assigning me chores."

"Right, well... I had planned to ask you to help me find all the addresses."

"Oh," Harry replied. "Well, riding around in a truck isn't nearly as fun as trying to scrub milk out of the pavement now is it? Myself, I like the idea of trying to scrape tar off the walkway, but milk will do in a pinch."

Tonks looked upset until Harry flashed her a quick smile.

"Well, it's not like I planned to chuck the jars," she said returning the smile. "These things just... happen to me."

"Of course," replied Harry. The patch of pavement in front of him had been thoroughly clean for a while. He moved on to a different patch.

"So why am I being watched by Aurors?"

"The family. We've found them," Tonks said simply.

Harry stopped scrubbing again. He felt saddened knowing that what he had seen was true, relieved that it hadn't been another one of Voldemort's tricks, and angered that the Ministry of Magic would send Aurors to spy on him.

"The Aurors are here for protection," Tonks added.

Harry doubted it immediately. "If they're helping, why all the secrecy?"

Tonks concentrated on her scrubbing. "It's complicated."

Harry began scrubbing a little more vigorously. "There here to watch me," he declared. "The Ministry thinks I might be involved in the attack somehow."

"Well--" Tonks began, but then frowned and nodded, "--yes, some of them. Most of us actually think you might be in danger."

"And you're disguised so they don't connect you with me."

"We can't let them think the Order is involved," she said firmly. "Arthur had to tell them the information came from you. They were going to investigate him and the rest of the Order."

Harry stopped scrubbing. They were trying to blame him again. He wasn't sure if he could take another year of it. He didn't know if he'd survive another year of it. Without thinking he massaged the back of his hand, as if the cuts from the previous year's detentions were still there.

"How many more times do I have to do this?" he asked quietly.

Tonks tried to give him an encouraging smile. "Once more, it seems."

Harry gave a frustrated sigh. "What am I supposed to do?"

"Nothing," Tonks replied. "Or rather, whatever you like. Act naturally around them. They expect you'll find out about them, I hear. After all, you are the Great Harry Potter."

Harry looked at her, and found her smiling back at him. She looked suddenly younger. Then he noticed the hair peeking out from under her hat turning black and her eyes turning a bright green. He found himself laughing and it felt as if a great weight was lifting from his shoulders.

"If you talk to them, they'll want to ask you questions. Just be honest, Harry, but remember who they work for, yeah?"

Tonks face slowly changed back to the middle aged woman and she resumed her poor job of scrubbing.

"Is that all?" he asked when she hadn't said anything more.

"Oh," she said shaking her head, "Don't send any owls unless it's an emergency. The Aurors will be watching, and we don't know if they will intercept them. I'll be around, and Arthur will come by if we get worried."

"Right." Harry was beginning to feel frustrated again. The Order was still doing it. They weren't telling him anything. When he spoke again, his frustration was apparent.

"There's no more news than that?"

Tonks caught the tone of his voice. "I'm just here to make sure you knew the Aurors were here. Other than that I don't know any more than you do," she said while trying to look at the pavement. "They've been found. It's as bad as you said. Only there was no Dark Mark cast, so... some people refuse to believe it was Voldemort." She gave Harry a sympathetic look. "I'll try to get more information for you."

Harry moved nearer to her so he could finish the patch of pavement she had unsuccessfully been trying to clean the entire time.

"Well, next time, perhaps you could choose a disguise that won't require so much scrubbing. An old woman, perhaps. Or maybe someone walking some dogs." He stood up and picked up the bucket of water.

Tonks gave him her brush, and joined him as he walked to the door again.

"I'm sure I could find something more fun than that," she said. Her voice sounded higher pitched than it was before, and Harry turned to look at her. The hair under her hat was flaming red and small tendrils were curling down in front of her brown eyes and freckled nose. Harry froze and stared at her. What did she know?

"What is that supposed to mean?" Harry whispered. He tried to act confused but he didn't think it was working.

"We think Ginny likes a boy," she whispered back with a smile. Even though Harry knew it wasn't real, it felt nice to see a friendly face. Tonks gave him a funny look. "But she doesn't say who it is."

Harry shrugged. "It's not really a secret. It's Dean Thomas. She told us on the train home."

"Oh..." Tonk's face fell into a surprised frown, and with Ginny's features Harry discovered he found it slightly disturbing. Her face slowly melted back into the woman who had dropped the milk, with a slightly confused look. "You're certain?"

"She was pretty clear about it," he replied as he turned and started walking toward the door again. For some reason he didn't feel comfortable talking about it. "Ron didn't like it. She's probably just trying not to get him hacked off at her over the summer." Hoping to end the conversation, Harry knocked on the door. Seconds later, Vernon pulled the door open, smiling shallowly at Tonks, then giving Harry a suspicious glare.

"Done already, are you?" he said while trying to look over their shoulders to see if he approved of the quality of their job.

He looked at Tonks, who again looked like a middle aged woman. "I imagine you'll be off now," he told her shortly. Turning to Harry, he continued, "And so long as you've got the bucket out, you might as well clean the kitchen floor as well." Tonks had turned to go, but stopped and looked at Harry's uncle.

"He did a good job there. I think he deserves a day off."

Vernon was incredulous. "Do you?" he said as his eyes narrowed. "Well, it's none of your business, is it? Good day." Vernon started to close the door, but Tonks stopped the door gently.

"Actually, I think I'd like to step in."

"You'd like--" Vernon huffed. "You'll leave before you smash more jars on my walk!"

Harry had set down the bucket and looked across the street at the Aurors still leaning against the signpost. They hadn't seemed to taken notice of the situation.

"I think you should invite her in, Uncle Vernon," Harry said calmly.

"Really!" Vernon barked. "And why do you think I should let her--"

The woman in the doorway no longer looked middle aged. She looked young, with bright blue eyes, violently green hair and a rather ominous, threatening glint in her eyes.

Vernon shouted, then jumped back from the door. "Fine! Come in! Just don't let anyone see you like that!" Tonks calmly stepped inside and Harry closed the door behind her.

"We figured you'd forget the deal, Mr. Dursley," Tonks said firmly. "Harry is to do no more work than Dudley. Has that been true?"

"D-D-Dudley has other things-- other responsibilities he has to see to," Vernon said.

"So does Harry," she said firmly, "though his responsibilities are a little more important than finding time to beat up Francis Ingleton and his eight year old brother." She pulled her wand from her sleeve, but did not point it at him. Just exposing it was enough to make Vernon back away.

"I will be nearby," she said as her face changed to that of an old woman, then again to that of a young businesswoman, and again to a teenager with a ring through her nose and a number of earrings. "You don't want to know what will happen if I see Harry doing any chores without Dudley by his side."

Vernon Dursley was pale and slowly backing away. He was slowly making his way to the kitchen. "Yes! Yes, very well," he reluctantly agreed.

"And you should be kinder to your secretary."

A yelp escaped Vernon's mouth as he ducked behind a corner leaving Harry and Tonks alone by the door.

Harry laughed and turned to Tonks. "You've disguised yourself as his secretary?"

"Well, no," Tonks said with smile and a shrug, "but he'll never know that, will he?" She turned her face back into the same middle-aged woman Harry saw out of his window. "And after meeting him, I feel very sorry for her, whoever she is."