When the Snow Melts

You're Hopeless

Tonks was for once enjoying her morning run. It was finally warm enough outside that the air didn't burn her lungs as she breathed, making them ache the longer she ran. She could actually start pushing herself again. It was imperative that she stay in shape while she was posted at Hogwarts; The Order would certainly have need of her talents in the months and possibly years to come.

A distracted raven-haired student almost collided with her as she rounded the corner. Stumbling backward, her almond-brown eyes widened in surprise upon recognizing his tear-streaked face.

"Harry?" she choked out in shock. "What's wrong?"

He sucked in a large gasping breath, frantically wiping the tears from his face, and schooling his features into some semblance of normalcy. "It's nothing," he assured her, his voice cracking slightly.

"Bullshit," she growled. "Spit it out."

He studied her in silence, weighing her worth with calculating emerald eyes as he contemplated his next move.

She crossed her arms in irritation and let out a noisy breath. "Why won't you trust me?" she questioned.

His uncomfortable appraisal continued before he sighed, his shoulders sagging in defeat. "It's stupid," he mumbled sheepishly. "I've only just now realized that no one is preparing for the next war because they're all counting on me to defeat Voldemort."

She couldn't help but chuckle at the very serious and forlorn expression on his face. "Oh, Harry," she snorted. "That's the way it always is. Nobody prepares for war until it's right on their doorstep. You should hear Remus rant about how frustrating it was to realize that they could have ended the last one within a couple of months with just the help of the wizards and witches of London alone, but everyone was too busy making excuses and cowering in their little hidey-holes. That's the way it is with most people, too attached to their creature comforts, too willing to sit back and hope that things will just work out for the best. It's only the extraordinary few who see a situation for what it is and have the backbone to stand up and fight. Honestly, if they didn't have you to pin their hopes on, they'd just be pinning them on The Order or The Ministry like they did last time, so don't let it get to you."

She ruffled his hair in a playful manner, hoping to elicit a smile from the boy. She didn't get her wish, but it seemed at least that the black cloud that had hung over him had begun to dissipate. His face was thoughtful as he quietly contemplated her impromptu speech.

"I guess you have a point," he conceded. "I just hate the idea of people needlessly dying while they are waiting on another miracle from me."

"Screw 'em," Tonks announced with a careless shrug of her shoulders. "They'd have died anyway; those types always do... and they're always so shocked when it happens," she added with a roll of her eyes.

He blinked at her in surprise and she instantly regretted how jaded and pessimistic that had sounded. It wasn't exactly what she should have said to cheer him up. Remus would have done better, but he was gone and she was here.

"What I'm trying to say is... well, those people aren't your responsibility. They are perfectly capable of taking responsibility for themselves, but they choose not to, so..."

He nodded at her, his body relaxing a bit in what she hoped was relief. "You're right," he admitted with a shake of his head. "I shouldn't let it get to me."

She pulled him into an awkward hug, his small body stiffening in her arms in response to the abruptness of it. She released her hold on him, pushing him away, her hands resting on his shoulders as she studied his face. "You feeling better now?" she questioned with a hopeful smile.