A/N: Hello,

Welcome to 'A New Path.' This is a Harry/Tonks fic. For those returning to my page and wondering about the other two works I started last summer, I apologize. I tried to do too much with House of Black, and I do not feel capable to do it justice therefore I will be on a hiatus on that story until I find a muse for that again. I plan on continuing Real Friend as I have an idea of where I want to go with it. I make no promises on when updates will happen, my goal is once per two weeks, but as I figured out last August, things tend to come up. My versions of Harry and Tonks are a bit different than canon. Tonks will be almost eighteen at the beginning of this and she and Harry have interacted in the past. Harry will be a bit more mature and flirtier than in the books. Chapters will be named by songs I find fitting to the material. Beginning with Jimmy Eat World's The Middle.

Chapter 1: The Middle

Harry Potter was in a bind. With one month until he would go to Hogwarts for his third year, he made a mistake. He lost control of his magic and inflated his Aunt Marge, and now he was walking down some street, in the dark. He had nowhere to go, and no (muggle) money to hail a taxi, so he found the softest looking bench in a park to sleep for the night.

Harry sat down. "Ahh, feels good to take a rest after lugging this trunk around," spoken to no one in particular. He sat in the pale moonlight, bathing in the serenity of it all. He gazed up at the moon, "Do you ever get lonely?" He asked, never expecting a reply.

But receive one he did. "Only everyday Harry, every single day," a voice said from behind him. Harry jumped up and drew his wand on whoever it was. He found a shaggy looking man in what looked like a prison jumpsuit. "Who are you?" Harry demanded.

"I think you know who I am Harry, unless those pigs never let you watch the news." The man retorted.

"Sirius Black? The mass murderer?" Harry replied, feeling oddly calm as he looked upon the man.

"The very same, but the mass murderer part is not true. That is why I came to see you Harry, I am more than just a name to you Harry. Isn't it weird that you feel at ease while alone with a supposed mass murderer in the dark?" Sirius asked, Harry nodded looking inquisitive. "It's because I couldn't hurt you even if I tried Harry, I'm under oath to protect you. What I mean is, Harry, I'm your godfather." Sirius looked away from his godson, expecting to be yelled at or cursed, but instead he heard a thud.

"Well," Sirius sighed. "That could have been better." Sirius transformed into his animagus form and laid next to his godson to sleep for the night.

oooo

Harry awoke the next morning to the sight of a large black dog sitting on the bench, basking in the early morning sunshine. He reached up and patted the dog on the head, "You know what?" He asked the dog, "I had the weirdest dream last night, I dreamt that my godfather was the escaped prisoner. Unbelievable, right?" The dog rolled off the bench in what appeared to be... laughter? It righted itself, leveling its eyes with Harry's, then looked around, gave Harry a toothy grin, and transformed back into Sirius. Harry's jaw dropped. "So, I wasn't dreaming?"

Sirius shook his head, not expecting to be tackled by the teen, "I'm so happy! I thought I imagined it!" Harry said, dampening the front of his godfather's robes. After a few minutes of being held by Sirius, Harry composed himself and spoke.

"Now, how do we get that pesky 'mass murderer' tag off your name?" Harry questioned.

"I'm glad you asked Harry, and before I ask you to help me, I need you know some things." He paused, while Harry nodded in understanding. "Twelve years ago, your parents went into hiding because a spy in the Death Eaters let slip that Voldemort had set his sights on you. Why he did, I don't know, but they hid under a very advanced charm called the Fidelius. The Fidelius Charm imbeds a 'secret' inside the very soul of another human being, with the 'secret' in this case being the location that your family were hiding. Your father had three friends who were closer to brothers than normal friends, we called ourselves the marauders." Sirius took a moment to steady his wavering breath.

"You were friends with my parents?" He asked.

"Of course I was friends with your parents Harry! How else would I become your godfather?" Sirius chuckled. "Your grandparents practically adopted me when I ran away from my parents' place." At Harry's questioning look Sirius added, "but that's a story for another time. Back to your parents, the three friends were: me, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew." The third name Sirius spoke with such venom that scared Harry a little.

"Your father originally wanted me to be the secret-keeper, but I persuaded him to choose Peter instead, as I felt I was too obvious a choice. You see, Peter was a rather cowardly man which is why I suggested we pick the least obvious choice there was. But that turned out to be the second worst choice I ever made. Peter turned out to be a spy for Voldemort amongst our group of friends and he gave the location to Him, which ultimately lead to the events of Halloween night, 1981." Now it was Sirius' turn to be afraid as Harry looked fit to explode with rage.

"What happened to Pettigrew?" Harry asked, angrily.

"Well son, when...when I went to Godric's Hollow to visit your parents that night to see them after I returned from my Auror mission, I found the house on fire and your parents'." He burst into tears that had been threatening to surface since he began his tale. Harry embraced his godfather and let the man grieve.

"Thank you, Harry. Now, I knew that we had been betrayed, but I was not thinking properly. I was angry, depressed, and exhausted all at the same time, so when Hagrid asked to give you to him, I agreed. I then searched for Peter, and when I finally cornered him, he did something that completely took me by surprise. He yelled out that I had betrayed your parents, then cut of a finger, cast a blasting curse at a gas line nearby that caused the explosion and the deaths of the thirteen muggles, then finally transformed into his rat animagus form, never to be seen again." Sirius finished his tale with his storm grey eyes alight with emotion.

"So, what does that have to do with me? Other than you're my godfather and once you are free then I can live with you?" Harry asked.

"Well, do you know Ron Weasley?" At Harry's nod Sirius continued. "Is his pet rat missing a toe on his front paw?" Harry's mouth gaped in realization. "Yes Harry, Ron's rat is Peter. I need you to stun and cage him without causing a fuss and bring him to Madam Bones, she is the Head of the DMLE and will be able to help you secure me a trial. The second thing I need for you to do is to take me in my dog form on the Knight Bus to 9 Cavendash Road in Rochester. It is the residence of the Tonkses which are my cousins." Sensing Harry's confusion Sirius added, "Just stick your wand out in the street to call the Bus. Got it?" Harry nodded and the pair walked to the road and Harry summoned the Knight Bus, excited to see a former competitor in Quidditch.

oooo

One jostling ride later, Harry and dog-Sirius hopped off in front of a small brick home with a white columned porch and 'Welcome to the Tonkses' doormat. Harry swallowed his nerves and rang the doorbell. Soon, taller man with light brown hair opened the door.

"Hello there, who are you?" The man asked.

"Hello Mr. Tonks, my name is Harry Potter. Is your wife home and Nymphadora as well? Something has been brought to my attention that I think we should discuss." Harry smirked as Mr. Tonks' mouth hung open.

"Yeah, they are home, but Mr. Potter if I may, what kind of thing has been brought to your attention that it is apparent to talk to my family at 7am on a Friday morning?"

"Well Mr. Tonks, this is an incredibly sensitive matter, a family matter if you may. Now, I understand it is early, but I am sure you all need to go into work and if all goes well, this entire matter can be wrapped up by nightfall." Harry responded, at the mention that family was related to the matter at hand made the well-built man pale a shade.

"Yes, of course Harry come in, may I call you Harry?" At Harry's nod, he continued. "Call me Ted, and your dog is welcome as well." Ted Tonks said as he turned into the house, "Andy, Dora we have a guest, to the living room please." Ted called, the motioned for Harry and dog-Sirius to follow him. They entered the room to find Nymphadora and Mrs. Tonks sitting on the couch, the prior looking disheveled, Nymphadora's eyes brightened at the sight of Harry.

"Harry? What're you doing here? How'd you find out where we live?" Dora asked.

"All will be explained in due time Dora. May I have a seat?" Harry asked gesturing to the position in between Mrs. Tonks and Dora." They nodded and Harry sat down, with Ted taking an armchair adjacent to the couch and dog-Sirius sat upright next in front of the fireplace.

"As to why I am here so early in the morning, I came here on the recommendation of my furry little friend over there. He said you, Mrs. Tonks, could be trusted with this sensitive matter, and I knew that Dora was the up and coming Auror trainee with the ear of Mad-Eye who can get me to Director Bones." Dora looked confused at the mention of her mentor and the Director but nodded. Mrs. Tonks looked between the dog and Harry, then nodded in understanding. "Call me Andy, Harry." She asked and he nodded in recognition.

"I ask that you do not do anything rash and that you keep an open mind for the next five minutes." Harry requested and at the approving nods of the Tonkses, he continued, "Show us your parlor trick buddy," and the dog transformed into Sirius. Ted fainted, Dora eeked and drew her wand while Andy leapt from her seat and embraced him.

"It's about time you got out of there Siri, prison is very unbecoming of you." Andy chided. "And Dora dear, please put your wand away, Cousin Sirius means us no harm."

"But didn't he kill those muggles?" Dora asked, and Sirius responded.

"No, I was there, but it was Peter Pettigrew who killed the muggles." Dora gasped and plopped herself back down next to Harry as Sirius began his story of the events of Halloween 1981. At his description of finding the cottage in Godric's Hollow Dora started crying and grabbed Harry's hand, until she noticed that she did, then quickly let go and blushing furiously. Harry reddened a little but smiled warmly at her. Sirius completed his story with the information that Peter Pettigrew was Ron Weasley's pet rat dropped the jaws out the conscious Tonkses. Andy was the first to recover.

"So, what is the plan Sirius?" She asked.

"Harry is meeting Ron in Diagon Alley today and he will suggest they go to the Magical Menagerie to get Ron's rat looked at. Then Dora will stun Peter when Harry distracts Ron and swap Peter with a normal rat. Harry will then say that he must leave and then he will meet with Dora outside then they will go to the Ministry and talk to Madame Bones, who will arrange me a trial." Sirius finished laying out the plan when Ted awoke.

"So, judging by the calm demeanor of you Dora, I'd venture a guess that Sirius is innocent of the crimes he was arrested for?" At his daughter's nod, Ted added. "How are we going to prove his innocence then, or is that what you are doing?" The group nodded, "How about I go fix up some breakfast and Andy can fill me in later." And Ted left the room.

"Sirius, what are you doing during this?" Andy asked.

"I'll be catching up with my dear cousin and her husband until Dora and Harry come back." Sirius said smiling as Andy groaned. The call of "breakfast's ready" drew the quartet into the kitchen.

oooo

Over breakfast Sirius raised a question that had been bugging him all morning. "Harry? How do you and Dora know each other?"

"Well, I first met Dora when she hit me a bluger at me as I was catching the snitch to end the game against Hufflepuff during my first year. She came over in a blubbering mess trying to apologize, and-" Harry was cut off by a smack from Dora who added the true ending.

"I was not a blubbering mess, I just wanted to make sure that Harry was ok and that the Weasley Twins didn't want to seek reparations for possibly damaging the poor fragile firstie." Dora smirked as Harry reddened a shade.

"I'll have you know that although I was fragile, I was never poor." Harry retorted, causing the table to burst out in laughter.

"Dora, I remember when you cracked William Nott's head open with a bluger and I heard you tell Hestia that 'if he dies, he dies.' Did you finally develop some empathy or is Harry a special case?" Andy asked, causing the assembled males to burst out in laughter and Dora's hair to redden as her face did the same. A muttering of "Harry's different" from Dora caused even more laughter and her blush to deepen, so much so that she did not see the look that Harry gave her. 'Does Dora like me?' Harry thought, his mind flitting back to the crush he had on her since his first year, but he had dismissed the notion due to the age gap and the fact that they'd be apart for most of the year.

"On that note." Dora said, standing and checking her watch. "C'mon Harry its almost time to be in Diagon and I want to run an errand first." Harry nodded and walked over to Dora; the pair bid farewell to the adults and the left the house.

"I'll apparate us, give me your hand." Dora asked a bit nervous.

Harry held his hand out, "Why don't you just take my hand, you didn't seem to mind earlier." He chided and smirked as the metamorph reddened. Dora grabbed his hand, muttering something about 'damn Gryffindors' and then he felt like he was squeezed through a tube and they appeared in an offshoot of Diagon with a soft crack.

"Where are we going Dora? We have to meet Ron and Hermione at the Leaky Cauldron in fifteen minutes?" Harry asked.

"You should never carry your wand in your jean pocket Harry, so I am giving you your birthday present a little early. C'mon Ollivander's is close." Dora pulled Harry along the Alley; her pink pixie cut flitting in the wind. 'Jeez, she is beautiful' Harry thought as they entered the wand shop.

"Ahh Miss Tonks and Mister Potter, what brings you to my humble store today?" Mr. Ollivander asked.

"I would like to purchase an Ironbelly wrist holster with anti-summoning, invisibility, and twist activation charms please." Dora requested, Mr. Olivander nodded and walked to the back.

"A wand holster? Thanks Dora, and here I thought you were going to give me a snog." He said, laughing. Dora blushed, then leant down and whispered.

"What if this is just part of the gift and second part is a snog for the birthday boy?" Dora said, then roared with laughter as Harry's face when it turned Weasley red.

Harry recovered then said, "Then it would be the best birthday gift ever, my little Nymph." It was Harry's turn to laugh as Dora reddened, they were brought back to reality when Mr. Olivander returned and cleared his throat. "I'm glad you are having a good time, but I am sure you two have further engagements and would like to get on with them." He said as he set the holster on the counter. "That'll be four galleons and 3 sickles Miss Tonks." Dora set the coins on the counter and strapped the holster to Harry's forearm.

"There Harry, now you can't blow that cute little butt of yours off." Dora smirked.

"Jeez Dora, my eyes are up here, now we are going to be late for Ron and Hermione if we don't leave now." Harry said grabbing a slack-jawed Dora out of the shop, sliding his wand into the holster, which then disappeared.

The pair separated before entering the Leaky Cauldron. Dora would wait outside under the invisibility cloak and then follow the kids to the Menagerie. Harry walked in, only to be ambushed by an ecstatic bushy haired girl.

"Her-mione, can't-breathe." Harry managed to vocalize while still in the vice that was his friend.

"Oh, sorry Harry! Ron's over there. Come on Ronald!" Hermione called across the room and the red-haired boy came running.

"Alright there Harry? Good, let's go. Can we stop by the Menagerie? Scabbers isn't looking good and I want to get him checked out." Ron asked.

"Ooooh, I want to stop there as well, I've been thinking about getting a cat." Hermione added.

"Then its settled, we'll stop at the Menagerie first." Harry said, but what he thought was 'this is going to be even easier than I thought!'

The trio, followed closely by Dora, walked into the Magical Menagerie, Hermione went over to the cat cages while Harry and Dora followed Ron to the counter.

"Hello sir," Ron said to get the clerks attention. "Could you please take a look at my rat, he seems to be getting ill."

The clerk pulled Scabbers over to him. "Does this rat have any magical abilities?" The clerk asked as he waved his wand over Scabbers.

"No sir, he hasn't shown any abilities except for being able to eat a lot and sleep even more sir." Ron said, never noticing on of the rats that looked like Scabbers vanish from the cage on the counter.

"Excuse me sir? I would like to enquire about this cat?" Hermione called to the clerk. The clerk gave a 'wait one moment' gesture to Harry and Ron and walked over to where Hermione was. Harry nudged Ron and pointed to the cat in question, it was a rather large orange cat with a face that looked like it was flattened. This distraction proved to be enough for Dora to make the switch between Scabbers and the other rat who would become Scabbers. Dora signaled to Harry through a not-so-gentle butt slap that the switch had been made and that it was time to go.

"Sorry Ron, but I just remembered that I have to meet Oliver to talk about some new plays this year. I'll catch up with you guys later." Harry rapidly said. Not waiting for a reply, he hurried out of the store and met Dora in the next door alleyway.

"Ready to go hero?" Dora asked as she shed the invisibility cloak.

"Hero?" Harry replied but nodding.

"Yes hero, hero of the wizarding world, mostly payback for calling me Nymph." Dora answered, offering her arm.

"I call 'em like I see 'em Dora." Harry responded as he felt the tube sensation once again.

They appeared in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement apparition point for Aurors and other DMLE employees. Dora threw the cloak over Harry and whispered that they'd never get to Bones' office with him in sight. She then led him through a maze of cubicles and offices, until they got to a corner one that said 'Master Auror Moody' on the door. Dora knocked and a barking voice told her to come in.

"What can I do for you Trainee Tonks? I thought today was your day off?" Moody asked.

"Well Mad-Eye, I need to talk to Bones. It's about Black and I have some information about where/who he might be staying with, and since Bones is leading the investigation, I thought I'd tell her." Dora said quickly, hoping that her mentor would by that load of shit.

Mad-Eye whipped out his wand and sent a Patronus through the wall. "Alright, the Director has an opening in her schedule, this better be good Tonks or you'll regret it." He said in a warning tone.

"Oh it is boss." Dora said as she whipped around and sped down the corridor to the Director's office. She was about to knock before the door opened on its own accord.

"Shut the door Trainee Tonks, what information do you have to present me on Black?" Director Bones asked, she was an imposing woman despite being rather petite, Dora personally thought that it was the monocle.

"Well Madame Director, I first have a question." At the Director's look she elaborated, "Humor me please." The Director nodded and Dora continued, 'Do you know what the vote was on Sirius Black's trial Madame?"

"I would expect that it would be unanimous, would it not?" At Dora's head shake, the Director asked. "Fine. What was the vote on Black's trial?"

"There was no trial for Sirius Orion Black, Heir to the House of Black. He was sent directly to Azkaban within an hour of being picked up." Dora finished. The Director's mouth hung open.

"There was no trial for one of the department's most esteemed Auror's?" As Dora shook her head, she asked. "Well, Trainee Tonks is there any more bombs you wish to drop on me or is that all?" It was Harry who spoke next as he removed the invisibility cloak.

"Tell me Madame Director, what do you know of anamagi?" The Director almost screamed when a younger, green eyed James Potter materialized out of thin air then, it clicked.

"First, how are you here Mr. Potter? And how are anamagi relevant to Sirius Black?" The Director demanded.

"Family secret Madame Director. Secondly, do you know the spell to reverse an animagus?" At the nod from the Director, he proceeded. "Please cast the spell on this rat." The Director did so, then gasped as she saw the stunned visage of Peter Pettigrew appear where the rat was.

"Is this legitimate?" The Director asked, then after the two teens nodded, she sent several Patroni out of the office. "I am calling an emergency session of the Wizengamot to convene on this matter. I would assume that you know where Sirius Black is at this moment Trainee Tonks?" Dora nodded, "Good, I will see you two tonight at seven in courtroom thirteen. And I will keep this rat bound and stunned until the session tonight. You are dismissed, but Mr. Potter, I expect you to tell me how your cloak fooled my monocle sometime." The Director said, smiling.

"Alright Madame Director, perhaps sometime when I do not have supply shopping to do," Harry said as he left the office with Dora. As the door closed Madame Bones pulled out a bottle of firewhisky and poured herself a healthy glass, for it was going to be a long day.

oooo

"Where to Harry?" Dora asked as she and Harry walked down Diagon.

"Well, seeing as Ron and Hermione are probably done shopping and back to the Leaky already and I still have to get my books, I suggest we get some shopping done." Harry replied.

"After that then, you are buying me lunch Mr. 'I-was-fragile-but-never-poor.'" Dora smirked.

"I set myself up for that one huh Nymph." Harry laughed, then recoiled when Dora smacked his arm.

"Don't call me Nymph in public Harry." Dora chided back and led him into Flourish and Blotts.

As they perused the shelves, collecting Harry's books Harry whispered in her ear. "So, can I call you Nymph in private Dora?" She reddened, then he spoke again. "I thought you were a Metamorph? Can't you control your blush?" Her blush deepened for a moment, then vanished. She spun him around and pinned him against the back bookshelf.

"I'm sorry, Hero," she said sarcastically. "It's just that I seem to lose control whenever you're around." She said with a hint of lust in her otherwise joking tone. She gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek, let go of his shirt and walked towards the front of the shop like nothing had happened. 'She kissed me!' Harry thought affirming his thoughts that she was romantically interested in him. He followed her up to the front to pay for his books. He then dragged her from shop to shop, spending as little time in each as possible, until they had completed his booklist.

Dora brought them to a little restaurant in a secluded part of the Alley. "Master Strongleg's, apparently he's Madame Puddifoot's cousin. His soups are to die for." She said as she led him in and requested a private booth. The waitress sat them and took their order, then left the pair alone to talk.

"Harry, I'm sorry for what I did in the-" Dora said before Harry cut her off with a finger to her lips.

"Shush Dora, what you did in the book shop solidified a hunch that I've had that you have feelings for me." He paused and met Dora's eyes, which had begun to glisten with hope. "Feelings, that I reciprocate." Dora felt a weight lift off her shoulders and shed tears at that, not tears of sadness, but tears of joy. She leant forward and met his lips with hers in a kiss short, but full of love. The couple broke apart and sat in silence for a moment, basking in their newfound relationship.

Dora broke the silence. "Doesn't the age gap bother you?"

"Dora," he leaned forward a little. "There is a very good chance we'll live to be over one-hundred, the gap will seem smaller and smaller as we grow older. Also, I would say that I am more mature than your average thirteen year old." Harry finished, grasping her hand in his.

"I can tell Harry, it's just that you'll be at Hogwarts for most of the year and there's no telling whether our schedules will line up when you're on holiday." Dora responded.

"We'll figure it out Dora, maybe I can sneak out to meet you in Hogsmeade sometimes." Harry offered, which seemed to sate Dora's worries for the time being, not that she had time to respond as the waitress returned with their food, fish and chips for Harry and clam chowder for Dora. The pair made light conversation while they ate, they talked about hobbies then their pre-Hogwarts years. Harry was shocked to learn that the bouncy extroverted girl that sat across from him was a friendless introvert as a child.

"None of the neighbor kids wanted to play with me, because a few times my magic flared up, there would be a bunch of kids around to witness something unnatural, which they deemed 'freaky,' and thus began my life of a social outcast." Dora finished her story and met Harry's thoughtful gaze. 'He has such beautiful eyes,' Dora thought as she stared into his emerald pools.

"I'm truly sorry that you had such closed-minded neighbors, I know how it feels to be an outcast." He stopped, and at Dora's questioning gaze he elaborated. "I'm sure Sirius will want to hear my whole life story and I'd rather not tell it twice."

"That's fair Harry. Shouldn't we get back to your friends? I'll bet they are looking for you." Dora asked, Harry nodded, and they made their way out of the restaurant, leaving a healthy tip for the waitress.

They walked hand in hand up the Alley, towards the Leaky. Upon entering, the pair were engulfed by a sea of redheads, with a bushy haired brunette leading the charge.

"Harry! We were so worried. It's been hours Harry! Where did you get off to? Ron and I looked everywhere." Hermione asked in her usual mile-a-minute manner. She grabbed Harry's wrist and pulled him, and by extension Dora, across the room to the Weasley's table. Dora took the chair next to Harry and across from Arthur. Harry answered the onslaught of questions that were asked rapid fire from Hermione and the younger Weasleys. Dora had a harder question, courtesy of Mrs. Weasley.

"Nymphadora dear, why are you with Harry today? I didn't know you two knew each other." Molly asked innocently.

"Well, um..." Dora spluttered, but Harry covered her. "We were acquaintances in school Mrs. Weasley and when I came across her in the Alley, I had to catch up with her about Auror training." 'Nice one Harry' Dora thought.

"Oh, that's nice dear." Mrs. Weasley said, letting the conversation go back to 'Scabbers' miraculous recovery and manifestation of his ability to camouflage himself when scared. The conversation topic changed from Scabbers to the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year to Hermione lecturing Ron on choosing Divination and Care of Magical Creatures as his electives. After over an hour of chit-chatting Dora and Harry made an excuse to leave.

"Well, that was entertaining." Dora said truthfully.

"Indeed." Harry deadpanned. "Back to your place?"

"Oh, my Mr. Potter! Well I suppose you did buy me dinner first..." Dora said, trying and failing to maintain a straight face as she and Harry both gave into the humor of the phrase. After they both recovered Dora offered arm to Harry who took it and the pair popped away to the Tonks residence.

Dora opened the door loudly, yelling "Mum! We're back!" Harry just chuckled at his new girlfriend's antics and followed her in. The couple found the three adults in the living room, midway through a game of Monopoly.

"Hey Dora, I'm about to bankrupt your parents so just have a seat. Harry, Andy put your trunk up in the guest bedroom on the second floor, and I bet you want to put your books and stuff away then?" Sirius said and at Harry's nod Sirius suggested Dora show Harry his room. Dora gave a mischievous look at Harry and agreed and practically dragged him up the two flights of stairs.

"At least they aren't dating, or I'd be worried that they would be going to snog." Sirius said, causing Andy to burst into laughter. "What Andy?" He asked.

"I have never seen Dora act this way with anyone, none of her several past boyfriends have elicited such flustering in her like we saw this morning, and for that floundering around to simply go away gives me two options. Either they talked about being in a relationship and agreed or Dora is very excited to have a little brother-esque figure in the house. I personally am leaning towards the first option as Harry did not look apprehensive in the slightest as she dragged him upstairs." Sirius' jaw dropped.

He spluttered incoherently for a few minutes, trying to get his dementor damaged mind to wrap around the possibility of his godson and baby cousin being in a relationship. "My baby cousin an-and Harry, dating? How? When? Why?" was the final product of his mutterings.

The two teens in question came downstairs in time to hear Sirius' muttering and roared with laughter. "Yes Sirius, Harry and I are dating." Dora responded.

"As to the how and when, well, I asked her over lunch what her feelings were towards me, and we decided that getting together was a good idea. The why is hidden in there as well." Harry said, he then ruffled Sirius hair and added, "You really need a shower Sirius. You have to be presentable for your hearing in two hours." The man's eyes lit up with raw unfiltered happiness.

"You-you got me a trial? That's amazing!" He hugged Harry and Dora tightly. Then whirled around to Ted. "Can you lend a pair of reasonable robes to wear tonight? And would you mind if I used your shower?"

Ted patted him on the shoulder, "Mind? Why Sirius, I insist you take a shower." Sirius hurried off, mind whirring with thoughts of what he was to do when he was free. After Sirius disappeared upstairs he sat back down in the armchair and looked at the boy who had his arm around his only daughter.

"Now, why don't you tell me exactly what are your intentions with my daughter?" He asked.

"Exactly what yours were when you started dating Andromeda Sir." Harry cheekily replied.

"I see." Ted said. "If I had a gun, I would point it at you for that comment young man."

A chorus of "DAD!" and "Ted!" came from the women in the room while Harry just started laughing.

oooo

A/N: That's a wrap for this chapter folks. Next up will be the trial and whatever comes after. Speaking of which, how would you guys feel about Harry and Sirius, occasionally accompanied by Tonks, going on a world tour instead of Harry's third year. Yes, he would still be learning his material, and it would allow me to fill the third book time with something more fun than 'Harry had class' and 'Snape was a berk.' Let me know your views bellow.

See you sometime,

MMM