"Wake up, lovebirds." Sirius called from the doorway.
Harry sat up, blinking the sleep out of his eyes. Tonks had rolled over at some point and draped a leg across his waist.
"What?" Harry swayed in his spot.
"It's dinner time." Sirius clarified. "We're going to have a family meal."
"Ok." Harry slumped back into bed.
"Nope." Sirius laughed.
A moment later both of them were splashed with ice cold water. Tonks shot up, her wand-hand moving like crazy as she cast spell in every direction. Her wand was safely tucked on the bedside table. In reality she was flailing around spouting off half-slurred spells. Sirius retreated from the doorway, cackling like a madman.
"Sometimes I really hate that guy." Tonks grumbled.
Harry rolled out of his now drenched bed.
"Thanks for the nap, Nym." Harry yawned. "I don't think I've slept that well ever."
"You're a pretty good cuddler yourself." Tonks smiled at him. "Hold still, I'll dry us off."
She plucked her wand from the nearby table. A swish and flick dried their clothes and the bed. Now that they weren't drench the two found their clothes. Harry hugged her, placing a soft kiss on her shoulder. Tonks looked away, focusing on getting her belt settled and hiding the blush on her cheeks.
"What was that?" She asked.
"Just felt right." Harry shrugged.
"Let's see what's for dinner." Tonks paused at the doorway. She scanned the area beyond, then cast a couple of detection charms before stepping out. "You can never be too careful around Sirius."
"I'll try to remember that."
Harry waited until she was out of the room. He held out his hand, summoning his wand. It sailed through the air, landing perfectly in his palm. Harry sighed and tucked it into his pocket. He needed to pick up a forearm holster. Having his wand in his pocket felt sloppy.
They entered the dining room to find Sirius, Andromeda, Ted, and Lupin waiting for them as well as two others. Harry smiled as they turned to face him. Neville gave a shy smile. His grandmother simply glared at him.
"About time, sleepyheads." Andi chuckled. "You almost missed dinner."
"I blame Harry." Tonks said as she took an open seat. "He's just too damn cuddly."
"Language Nymphadora." Her mother scoffed.
Tonks grumbled something under her breath.
"Neville, Madam Longbottom, it's nice to see you." Harry gave both a nod. "What are you doing here? Sirius said this was a family dinner."
"The houses of Longbottom and Potter have been allies for many generations." Augusta replied in a polite tone that was bordering on snide. "Since you are the last remaining Potter, House Black is arranging a meeting to renew those bonds."
"Dumbledore." Sirius said in explanation.
"Ah." Harry nodded.
"What's wrong with Professor Dumbledore?" Neville asked.
"He's the bad guy, Neville." Harry said as he took his seat. "Practically everything after Grindelwald leading up to the war was due to his machinations."
"That's quite the accusation, Lord Potter." Augusta studied him.
"He had a direct hand in creating Voldermort, through deliberate in-action and agitation." Harry continued. "He uses considerable amounts of mental magic to manipulate those around him and turns a blind eye when it suits his plans." He took a breath. "He had layers of charms and spells placed on my person altering my personality, how people perceived me, and limiting my magic. On a more personal level, he arranged himself to be my magical guiding and has sealed my parents will. He crafted wards around my relatives house to increase aggression, obscure those who were inquisitive, and set it so my own magic was feeding into it."
"We've done some digging." Sirius added. "The times when Dumbledore is absent from the 'Mot coincide with times that the Dark faction has pressed through laws that limit the exposure muggle-born have to the magical world."
"As well as those steadily turning half-breeds and non-humans into criminals for simply existing." Lupin added. "Hagrid found this out previously when he was thrown into Azkaban on hearsay alone."
Augusta nodded. "And your plan for dealing with him? Storm Hogwarts and drag him out by his beard?"
Harry laughed. "Tempting."
"We don't have a plan yet." Sirius said flatly. "We're collecting proof, gathering allies, and preparing for the future. As it stands, he has too much power to oppose outright. There are too many who follow him without question."
"He's focused on Voldermort right now." Harry added. "We can use that."
"Why aren't you worried about him?" Augusta asked.
"Someone is going around hunting Death Eaters." Tonks answered. "The ministry downplayed the assault on Azkaban. There wasn't a single Death Eater left alive. A few that managed to avoid getting locked away have turned up dead as well."
"Who else have you gathered as allies?" Madam Longbottom asked.
"We'll tell you that once you sign a contract." Ted spoke up.
"If I refuse?" She asked staring at the man.
"You'll find it hard to remember anything that happened after your stepped foot inside." Sirius gave her a feral smile.
The severe old woman nodded. "I'll sign, as will Neville."
Neville nodded quickly.
"You'll know our allies, as they will know you, but you will be unable to reveal them." Ted explained.
Madam Longbottom signed the parchment before passing it to Neville. Her eyes flashed as the knowledge settled into her mind. She made an approving noise. Harry snagged the parchment and added his signature. A neatly place list faded into view with his name sliding into the last spot.
He recognized a couple of names. Amelia Bones and Griselda Marchbanks being the ones that stood out the most. Harry stopped as he went along the list. He had to read one name a couple of times before it sank in. Professor Filius Flitwick. Harry smiled. That man was a sneaky one.
"I will approach some other parties who are less than pleased with Dumbledore." Madam Longbottom seemed to relax by the slightest margin.
"And now for dinner." Sirius clapped his hands.
The food appeared on the table before them.
"So." He smiled broadly. "Who do you think is going to make it to the Cup?"