A/N: Thanks to everyone that leaves reviews. This is a short interlude flashback. I'm not finished with this story yet. I have one remaining plot thread after this chapter before we finally go into the future for the 'Epilogue'. Enjoy…

CHAPTER 17: It'd Be So Easy (Interlude)

July 28, 1996 – A quiet night.

Harry was curled on his bed. A pitch-black room reflected his mood. Not even Hedwig had been able to cheer him up. Thoughts swirled with anger and loathing. A desire for death had started, overtaking his mind and plans for the future. As much as he wanted Bellatrix's head hanging from his wall, he wanted to end it for himself. It'd be so easy…

Tonks was losing it. She had volunteered to take the last weeks' worth of day shifts watching Harry. He hadn't left his room for that whole week. Both her and Moody, who took the weeks' night shifts, had relayed their concerns to the Headmaster, but he swatted their concerns away. His words were, "Harry needs to suffer; it builds character. If he can come through this, he can survive anything."

That worried the both of them. Alastor might not be the most expressive person ever, but even he liked the boy. He told his friend Albus several times that he would want to train Harry in combat, to ready for what came. Every time he was rejected. The way the old man kept Harry restrained was very worrying.

Tonks on the other hand, couldn't sit down and stay quiet. With her invisibility cloak wrapped around herself, and a silencing charm on her shoes, she entered the backdoor of 4 Privet Drive. The walruses were losing braincells staring at the TV in the ugly lounge. In fact, the whole house's interior was ugly. Forest green carpet met pinkish-white walls, orange paisley couches were paired with a wide and low oak coffee table, but the biggest offender were the dozens and dozens of Dudley photos. These people had no taste.

Tip-toeing up the stairs, she managed to not trip or fall over. When she wanted to really be serious, Tonks had the will to rein in her clumsiness.

Standing at his bedroom, Tonks saw the assortment of locks and the precarious-looking cat flap. She cracked the door open and slipped in. It was dark, too dark for her liking. "Harry?"

A lone and quiet voice squeaked. "Leave me alone."

"I…" She turned to leave, but heard the faintest sound – a sound that made her want to join in. She looked back and the hallway light showed Harry burying his face in his pillow. She could hear his crying and closed the door again. Not needing a light, Tonks tweaked her eyes to see in the dark and sat on his broken bed. A little hesitant, her hand hovered above the crying boy's shoulder before finally making contact. Harry froze, even his breath, for a few minutes. Tonks thought it was odd until she realised he wasn't breathing.

Quickly turning him over, Tonks saw his eyes. They were juggling several emotions at the same time, with most conflicting with the next. Anger, though, shone brightest. "Harry, please talk to me. Moody and I are worried. We've been watching you all week and you haven't moved an inch from this room."

"So?" That anger was now turned towards her.

"We're worried."

"Why?"

"Because we care about you."

"Tonks."

"Yeah, Harry?" Her voice sounded a little too hopeful.

"Leave me alone." The anger had passed, but that didn't make it any less hurtful.

Tonks remained firm. "No. No, I won't. You're not as you are, Harry, and no one should grieve alone."

"Why do you care?"

"I care because I lost someone I loved too! You think you're the only one who cared about Sirius? He was much a part of my life as he was yours!" By this point, Tonks had lifted him up—surprisingly easy, too—and shook the shit out of him. She then proceeded to rival Molly and Hermione in the rib-crushing-department.

"What are you doing?"

"You think you need the hug? This is for me as well."

Neither saw, but they both smiled. Harry wrapped his arms around her and they stayed like that for a minute or so. Tonks then broke and crunched her nose. "Harry."

Being in the dark for a whole week meant he saw crystal clear. "Yes, Tonks?"

"You need a shower."

"Thanks." Harry gathered some clothes together, not thinking too much about them.

Tonks spotted the belt. "Um, Harry, could you do me a favour?"

"Sure. What?"

Tonks hesitated for a moment. "Leave the belt."

Harry stopped, looking from her to the belt slung in the pants he was holding. "Tonks, if I was gonna kill myself I wouldn't do it with a belt in the shower."

"How would you kill yourself?"

Harry couldn't believe she actually asked it and with such sincerity. It was a little unnerving. "Probably see if I could survive a second killing curse, better yet my own."

"Oh. You've actually thought about it."

"Not really, you asked. So… Can I go have a shower?"

"Sure." Tonks reached across the bed and snatched Harry's wand from the bedside table. "But, I'm holding onto this."

"Suit yourself."

When Harry entered the room rejuvenated, he saw Tonks petting Hedwig, who rejoiced at the attention. "She won't let you stop now."

Tonks turned, breaking her petting of Hedwig, who nipped at her absent hand. "Ow!"

"I told you." Harry grinned and saw Hedwig bob her head as if laughing to herself.

Tonks backed away from the snowy owl. "No more pets for you, I think." She rubbed her hand and sat back down on the bed. Hedwig looked unfazed. Tonks turned her attention back to Harry. "So, how do you feel?"

Harry sat on his rickety desk chair. "Better. Thanks."

She nodded with a smile. "Well, that's good to hear. I-I really…"

"What?"

Tonks hesitated. "…I want to get you outta here."

"Outta here? Why?"

"And go do something. You need fresh air, people to be around-"

"Tonks, stop. Dumbledore will know if I go outside the wards. I can't leave without his permission."

Her eyes narrowed. "He told you this?"

"No. I just know it's true."

"Maybe… Maybe we could create a decoy that'll stay here while we-"

"Why do you care so much about this? Why do you want to spend time with me? I'm barely sixteen… and you 're a… an Auror."

Tonks breathed deeply. "Because I like spending time with you."

"What about the man in your life?"

"There is no man, no man that matters. And besides, you're better than any of them. Come on, Harry, when a super-hot girl wants to hang out with you, you don't try and talk her out of it."

"So, that's what I've been doing wrong."

Tonks smiled and shook her head. "Okay, so you can't leave but I can enter. How about we hang out here? You can cook, and I can show you a thing or two."

Harry's brows rose. "What things?"

Tonks choose to play it dumb. "I know Snape failed tremendously at teaching you Occlumency. You of all need strong defences. Besides, an organised mind will help with focusing and retention and learning…"

"I'm sure you can't be worse than Snape. Okay, that sounds great. Why am I cooking though?"

Tonks grinned. "Because I seriously doubt you're worse than me."

Harry replied with his own grin. "Lucky for you, I can cook."

"I have high expectations."

"So do I." Harry gave an honest smile. "Thank you, Tonks."

"You're welcome."

end of chapter 17

A/N: Again, I'm not finished with this story just yet.