Title: Will You Take Her?
Rating: T
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Minister Nobby Leach, Alphard, Walburga, Nymphadora
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em - not making any money off 'em. Dern it.
Word Count: 523
Summary: AU in which Andromeda is Walburga's sister, making Nymphadora Walburga's niece. The Minister of Magic needs to find a proper home for young Nymphadora Tonks.
Notes:
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: Charms - Consider the Bond of Blood charm and write your story based on it, but do not use the canon example
365 Days of Drabbles Challenge: Prompt Used - Regret
Walburga sniffed in disdain as Minister Nobby Leach stood at her door, holding something wrapped in a blanket.
"What do you want, Minister?" she hissed, the word 'minister' dripping from her mouth as if it was poison. She still couldn't fathom how there was actually a muggle-born Minister of Magic. It had never been done before, and she just knew this was the beginning of the British magical world's ruin.
Minister Leach kept himself from rolling his eyes. Instead, he held the wrapped bundle in his arms out to her. "This is your niece, Nymphadora Tonks. Her mother and father have been killed, and we fear that the perpetrator might come after her. Her mother sacrificed her life to save Nymphadora, so if she stays with someone that holds her mother's blood, we can do the Bond of Blood charm. I'm sure you've heard of it."
Walburga wrinkled her nose. "I know what it is, but I won't do it."
Minister Leach's lips were set in a thin line. "You can't be serious. She's your niece, your sister's daughter. How can you be so cold?"
Walburga smirked, twisting her pretty face into an ugly mask. "Easy. Andromeda was disowned for marrying a filthy muggle-born." She enjoyed the flinch on the Minister's face before continuing, "And as such, her spawn is also disowned, so I don't own her anything. I hope whoever killed her useless parents comes after her. The rubbish of the world deserves it." And with that, she slammed the door in Minister Leach's face.
The Minister looked down at the tiny babe. He knew he had one last chance, Cygnus had already said no, but there was still Alphard Black. Nobby had once heard the Alphard was kinder, less temperamental, so he hoped that would be enough for him to accept Nymphadora into his home.
When he entered the wards at Alphard's house, the door opened before he reached it. Alphard looked at the baby. "Is that her?"
"You know what happened?"
"Walburga Flooed me."
"Then you know she, as well as your brother, refused to take her in and do the charm that would protect her."
Alphard nodded. "And I know you're here to ask me to do what they refused."
"Will you?" Nobby held his breath.
"I can't have kids, and she might be my only chance. Even if she was disowned because of her mother..." Alphard trailed off in memory.
"Yes?" Nobby urged.
"I think Andy knew I'd never turn Nymphadora away if it came down to it. The answer is 'yes.' I'll raise her as if she was my own daughter and we'll do the charm as soon as possible, and I know I'll never regret it."
He opened his arms, and Nobby, who noticed Nymphadora had begun waking up, passed the girl into them. He watched as Alphard naturally comforted her and watched the babe fall back to sleep, content in her place.
Now he knew he should have come to Alphard first. He shuddered to think what would have happened if either Walburga or Cygnus had accepted the responsibility. Nymphadora was right where she belonged.