Disclaimer: Nothing here is mine, I am just borrowing the characters for my pleasure!

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"Mum, if you don't let go of me, I am going to suffocate, and I will never make it to Hogwarts."

"I'm sorry Nymphadora." Mum sniffed as she let me go, finally. "I just can't believe it's your final year. It only seems like yesterday when we came through that barrier for the first time, with a little girl with bright pink hair."

I couldn't help but smile at the memory, "Well, not much has changed after seven years. I'm still coming through this barrier, and I still have bright pink hair. And, I still hate it when you call me Nymphadora." I warned, my eyes narrowing, my lips pursed, but she got the message and I smiled softly.

Finally, Dad appeared through the barrier with my trunk, and it gave me a good excuse to ignore Mum's nostalgic ramblings.

"Thanks Dad." I said, giving him a quick hug, glad he wasn't as emotional as Mum. He squeezed me tight and kissed my cheek.

"Take care of yourself, Dora. And do write to us, for my own sake! It stops your mother worrying, as you know she does."

I laughed softly and nodded, pulling away from him. "I'll try to write every week. Busy year y'know, lots of study to be done." I said with a cheeky grin, and he raised his eyebrows, knowing full well studying was not my priority.

"Tonks! Tonks, come on! The train is getting ready to go!" I heard the voice of my best friend, Charlie Weasley call from the train, having already gone in to get us a carriage.

"Oops." I mumbled, noting that I would more than likely be late for my own funeral, that was no real surprise. "Bye Mum, bye Dad! I'll write soon! See you at the holidays!" I called, taking the handle of my trunk, and starting to hurry to the train.

Of course, I tripped over the edge of my case, and fell right on my knees, in the crowded platform. I groaned, I could feel my mothers eyes on my back, wincing with me. I knew how she hated my clumsiness, but there was really nothing that I could do about it.

A strong hand pulled my up by the elbow, and took my trunk, and I was met with the beaming smile of my already noted best friend, Charlie Weasley.

"On your knees for me again, Tonks? Not in public, yeah?" He teased with a smirk.

I hit him in the chest, as I pushed past him onto the train. "You wish, Weasley, you wish."

We had been best friends since we were about eight years old. Our Mums knew each other, and I used to be forced to his house with Mum when she went for tea. Of course, to my mothers horror, I was more of a tomboy than a girly girl, so we hit it off straight away, and since then, we had been the mischevious best friends.

We made our way to our carriage, which only contained us for the moment, and being seventh years, we were unlikely to be disturbed by students from lower years, but it could not be guaranteed to be an empty carriage for long.

"Well, Nymphadora, what do you think of us making this one school year to remember?" He questioned, as he plonked himself down on the seat, and I sat opposite him, with my feet up on the chair, my back to the wall, stretched out.

"Well, I think if you use that name once more, you will remember nothing other than your undying love for McGonagall, and decide to admit it to her." I warned seriously.

He blanched, which only caused me to lose my serious look, and I burst out laughing. He seemed to lighten up then, relaxing.

"But yes, Charlie Weasley, I do believe we have to make this a one to remember, for years to come."

The rest of the train ride was spent plotting a few pranks that we could pull, mostly aimed at Slytherins, seeing at they were the enemies of both Hufflepuff and Gryffindor, even a few involved Snape. It was going to be very interesting indeed.

After a quick change into our robes, and the carriage ride to the school, we once again found ourselves back in the Great Hall, illuminated by what seemed to be thousands of floating candles in the sky, giving the appearance of a twinkling night sky.

It was then Charlie and I had to go our seperate ways, and I sat myself at the Hufflepuff table beside two girls in my year whom I was talkative with, but not overly friendly. I preferred having guys for friends, they were much less complicated. We engaged in light conversation, about the summer while awaiting the sorting ceremony.

This was always the most boring part, the sorting ceremony, but there was nothing that could be done. This was the very last one I would have to suffer through. Just as it started, I cast my eyes up to the teachers table at the front, taking in the familiar faces of the teachers. Just as my eyes found Snapes, he looked to me, his eyes set in a glare. I beamed brightly at him, and morphed my hair to an even brighter shade of pink, with streaks of yellow running through it.

I knew he would make me pay for that, but the disgusted look as he turned his head away from me was enough to make it worth it. Sitting beside him, was a stranger, a man I did not recognise. I assumed him to be the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, seeing as we had a new one of them every year since I was in first year. Apparently the post was cursed, although I still was not sure as to why it was.

I took in his appearance carefully. He was a young man, but he looked tired, frail almost. I quietly wondered if he was sick. He had light brown, with the beginnings of grey ones in it, a thin mustache and shabby cloaks. He wasn't hard on the eye, I couldn't help but notice.

At that moment, I had to look away, as Dumbledore took to the front for his highly anticipated speech, apparently I had zoned out through the entire sorting. Oh well, it wasn't like I had never witnessed one, and it didn't matter to me who ended up in Hufflepuff, it's not like I would know them.

Of course, silence fell over everyone as they watched Dumbledore take to his podium, everyone was intently listening, awaiting, minus a few Slytherins, of course.

I was thankful that he usually kept his speeches before the feast short, well, as short as he could, knowing we were all starving!

He did the usual welcomes and welcome backs. I only really paid attention when he made an acknowledgement of the new member of staff.

"I would like to welcome Professor Remus J. Lupin, your new Defence Against the Dark Arts Teachers."

Remus J. Lupin, eh?

He stood, almost shyly, and bowed his head a little, his hands clasped tight together, as everyone started to applaude.

He looked up, his eyes seeming to meet mine (it had to be the pink and yellow hair, it made me stand out), and as soon as he did, I found myself clapping unconsciously. I gave him a small smile as he sat back down, and I looked away from him.

Maybe Defence Against the Dark Arts would be alright this year. And maybe Charlie was right, this would be a year to remember.

I didn't really take in anything else Dumbledore said, although I still looked at him, with the occasional glance to my new Professor. It was only when he finished, and everyone clapped, that I actually shook out of my thoughts, to clap lightly, just as the food appeared on the table.

I turned my attention to the feast, talking to Ana and Sinead once more, about the summers antics, to occupy my mind, although they kept wandering back to a new professor. I actually found that I was looking forward to Defence Against the Dark Arts, whenever I had it next.

I didn't know what had gotten into me, but it was a strange feeling that I could not describe nor place, so instead I decided to ignore it. That was the easiest thing to do. The rest of the meal was spent chatting aimlessly, before everyone made their way to their common rooms.

I was just glad to get to bed, to fall into my comfortable four poster, and shut out the world. If only my thoughts were as easy to shut out.

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First chapter done and dusted, let me know what you think. Worth continuing?