Monday, February 7, 1994
(Nymphadora Tonks)
Today is the day.
The day Mum drags me kicking and screaming to Hogwarts in order to humiliate me publicly.
Fortunately, I still have a chance to prevent it. All I need to do is tell Gilderoy this morning.
…
(Five hours later)
Yeah… things didn't work out as intended.
Turns out today's Wizengamot meeting was cancelled, so Gilderoy had absolutely no reason to come to the Ministry.
Which means I didn't see him.
Which means I didn't tell him.
Which means…
I should probably start running before Mum comes to pick me up.
She said we were doing it after lunch, since Gilderoy has to teach a class at that time, so he's guaranteed to be at Hogwarts.
Guaranteed.
I hate that word.
But first… I really needed a chocolate milkshake.
Damn pregnancy cravings.
…
(Twenty minutes later)
I was enjoying my third milkshake when the door of the diner opened.
And there she was.
Andromeda Tonks.
In all her terrifying, composed, utterly inevitable splendor.
Honestly, if you didn't know her, you might have confused her with her crazy sister. The resemblance was there; the sharp features, the commanding presence. The only real difference was the hair.
Mum's was brown.
Also, she wasn't cackling madly.
Yet…
"There you are, Nymphadora."
I froze mid-sip.
Slowly, very slowly, I tried to sink deeper into my seat.
Damn it.
I knew I shouldn't have ordered the third one.
"Mum," I said weakly, lowering the glass.
Her eyes flicked to the table.
Two empty glasses, and one half-full.
Her eyebrow twitched.
Oh, that couldn't be good.
"Enjoying yourself?" she asked.
"Immensely," I said. "I've discovered a new passion in life. Dairy."
She did not look amused at all.
Time for Plan B.
Which, unfortunately, was running.
I suddenly sprang forward and threw the almost full milkshake straight at her face.
For one glorious second I could see it.
Victory.
Chocolate.
Chaos.
Freedom.
Then Mum made a small, sharp motion with her hand, about to use her wand, but then remembered where we were and froze mid motion.
Bless you, Statute of Secrecy.
She managed to shift her head at the last moment, but most of the milkshake still got on her hair.
…
I bolted.
Chair legs screeched as I shoved past the table, sprinting toward the door with all the grace of a startled deer.
Or at least, that's what I'd like to believe.
In reality, my foot caught on a chair and I went down in a spectacular tangle of limbs, barely managing to twist so I didn't land directly on my stomach.
Ow.
Before I could even process the pain, I felt a firm grip on my arm.
Mum hauled me upright like I weighed nothing.
Her curly hair was still dripping with the thick chocolate milkshake.
I watched as it slowly dripped down her face.
Yep.
I was definitely dead.
Utterly, completely dead.
"Are you done?" she asked calmly.
I swallowed.
"…Yes."
"Good."
Ignoring the curious Muggles, she pulled me out and dragged me into an empty alley before finally pulling out her wand, and with a single flicker, the milkshake vanished from her hair instantly, leaving it pristine and perfectly in place.
Show-off.
"Because we are leaving."
"I don't want to," I said.
"That was not a suggestion."
"Muuuum!"
"Nymphadora."
"I can still fix this!" I said quickly. "I'll tell him! I just need…"
"You had a week."
"I had complications!"
"You had multiple opportunities."
"I had interruptions!"
She gave me a sharp look and I immediately wilted.
"…Okay, yes, I also had a severe case of cowardice, but that's beside the point."
"It is precisely the point."
"Mum, please," I tried again, pulling back slightly. "Can't we just… delay it? A few more days? Hours? Minutes?"
"No."
"That seems unnecessarily rigid."
"That seems completely necessary."
I groaned, dragging my hands down my face.
"This is going to be a disaster."
"Yes."
"I'm going to die."
"Unlikely."
"I'm going to wish I was dead."
"That is more probable."
I tried walking away, but mom's grip was like a troll's.
"Muuuum!"
She turned to me, her expression calm.
"You had your chance to tell him, and you missed it," she said. "So now I will do it."
I stared at her face.
She really meant it.
Of course she meant it.
I sagged, feeling completely defeated.
"…Can I at least grab another milkshake first?" I asked weakly.
"No."
"So cruel."
I sighed.
Right.
This was happening.
No more running.
No more excuses.
Mum looked at me, "now take a deep breath, I'm going to apparate us."
I looked back.
"…If I scream, will that change anything?" I asked.
"No."
"…Worth a try."
I took a deep breath.
And then the world twisted.
…
Hogwarts, clearing at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
(Gilderoy Lockhart)
"As you can see," I said, gesturing with effortless grace, "Graphorns have these tentacles on their faces that they use to bring food to their mouths."
The large beast beside me huffed, its tentacles brushing rather affectionately against my cheek. I allowed it, naturally. One must maintain an image.
Marcus Flint raised his hand, looking deeply skeptical.
"Then… is it trying to eat you?"
A ripple of laughter spread through the students.
I chuckled, indulgent and magnanimous. "No, Mr. Flint. They also use them to show affection."
The Graphorn let out a low rumble, as if agreeing with my statement, and I gave it a light pat.
"Now," I continued, turning back to the class, "while this big fellow looks friendly, you should be extremely careful. Graphorns are notoriously aggressive creatures; unless, of course, you have earned their trust, as I have."
I allowed a brief pause for admiration.
"It is also worth noting that their resistance to magic is… extraordinary. Attempting to subdue one through spells alone would be, quite frankly, foolish. If you ever encounter one in the wild, your best options are to hide and pray it does not notice you, or, if you possess the skill, apparate away."
A few students shifted uncomfortably at that.
Good.
A healthy respect for danger builds character.
"Of course," I added smoothly, "proper understanding and a certain natural charisma can often turn even the most dangerous of creatures into allies."
The tentacles gave my face another exploratory pat.
Yes, perfect demonstration.
And then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw her.
A woman approaching from the direction of the castle.
Long curly hair. Sharp features. A presence that practically cut through the air.
For a brief, deeply concerning moment, I thought Bellatrix Lestrange had somehow decided to stroll onto Hogwarts grounds.
But then I noticed the hair was brown instead of black.
And the lack of murderous glee.
Ah, this must be Andromeda Tonks.
And just behind her, walking like a condemned criminal being dragged to execution was Tonks.
Oh dear.
That could not be good.
Not good at all.
I turned back to the class with a bright, unbothered smile that I am quite certain fooled absolutely no one of intelligence.
"Hagrid," I called lightly, "I have a pressing matter to attend to. You are in charge of the class."
Hagrid, who was enthusiastically scratching a smaller Graphorn under the chin, startled slightly before straightening up.
"R-right, Professor! Leave it to me!"
Excellent.
I then turned to Percy Weasley, who was already standing straighter than physically necessary.
"Mr. Weasley, you are in charge of ensuring everything proceeds… smoothly."
Percy puffed up immediately. "Of course, Professor! As Head Boy, it is my duty to…"
"Miss Clearwater," I cut in smoothly, turning to Penelope with a charming smile, "you are in charge of ensuring Mr. Weasley's head does not become too large."
A burst of laughter followed, and Percy turned a delightful shade of red.
Splendid.
"Now, if you will excuse me," I said, dusting off my sleeves, "I appear to have a meeting with an even more dangerous creature."
That earned another laugh.
If only they knew.
I stepped away from the clearing, my posture relaxed, my stride confident.
Inside, however, I was running multiple calculations.
Andromeda Tonks did not seem like the type to seek people out without reason.
And Tonks looked way too nervous for it to be a casual meeting.
This had all the markings of something… significant.
Potentially troublesome.
Potentially dramatic.
Potentially… Interesting.
By the time I reached them, I had already composed myself fully, my expression settling into one of warm, effortless charm.
"Miss Tonks," I greeted smoothly, offering a polite nod. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Andromeda's gaze swept over me, sharp and assessing.
"Lockhart."
Not warm.
Not pleased.
And definitely not impressed.
Ah.
Just as I thought, this was not a social visit.
I turned my attention to Tonks, or rather, let's refer to her as Nymphadora for now, considering they're both Tonks, offering her a reassuring smile.
"Nymphadora. I trust your day has been… productive?"
She looked like she wanted to vanish into the ground.
Fascinating. She didn't even complain about my using her name.
"Yes," Andromeda said before her daughter could answer. "It has been."
Her tone suggested the exact opposite.
I clasped my hands behind my back, maintaining composure.
"Well then," I said lightly, "how may I assist you both?"
Andromeda stepped forward.
Tonks made a small, distressed noise behind her.
Oh, this was going to be good.
Or catastrophic.
Possibly both.
…
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