Chapter 2- Watering
A/N: This is a filler chapter waiting for Neville to grow up a bit. Still, I hope you enjoy!
Tonks was always glad to receive any post that wasn't a bill or the Daily Prophet. Neville was actually more consistent in writing to her than any of her classmates had been, and Tonks found herself making more effort in writing him back than she did anyone else, even her own parents. The boy really would have made a good Hufflepuff. They'd written back and forth during the summer and continued as Neville went back to school and Tonks began training at the Ministry. She told him as much as she could about her accelerated auror training without violating anything confidential. She was receiving personal instruction from Alastor- "Mad-Eye" Moody himself. Somehow the man with a wooden leg was better at stealth that the eighteen-year old metamorphamagus, but at least he hadn't given up on her yet. Tonks even suspected that she might be somewhat of a favorite of his, though he'd never admit it.
In turn, Neville would regale her with tales of Hogwarts life, making Tonks feel more than a bit homesick for the old castle. The new Defense teacher seemed even more incompetent than Quirrell or any that Tonks had had before. Tonks could not help but feel a bit vindicated when it seemed that the great Gilderoy Lockheart was at best an idiot, and at worst, probably a fraud. Tonks had never liked his public persona, and had refused to read his acclaimed "defensive" books, despite her mother's incessant prodding that they would be "excellent auror training."
As the year went on, tales of cornish pixies and mandrakes were replaced with worrying news of students, particularly muggleborns being petrified, of all things. Attacking the vile cat made sense, because to be honest, even the most dedicated cat lover hated Filch's companion. But who would attack students at Hogwarts?
There were rumors of some "Chamber of Secrets" being opened, which Tonks had certainly never heard of before. Neville also mentioned in at least half of his letters that he was worried about the youngest Weasley, the only girl. She was always looking ill and worried about every new attack even more than the other students. Tonks wondered if Neville was having his first little crush, but he didn't even seem to notice when Tonks teased him about it.
Tonks,
The teachers have tried raising security, but nothing seems to work. Ginny is looking more ill every day, and even all of her older brothers don't seem to be paying much attention. I think it's worrying her more than anyone else, even though she's a pureblood. I guess it could be a coincidence that whatever it is has attacked muggleborns. The first one hit was really Filch in a way, and I know I'm almost a squib too.
~Neville.
Tonks frowned slightly as she tried to quickly formulate a response. His letters were getting shorter as she could tell that Neville was becoming more worried about whatever was going on at that castle.
Neville,
First of all, you are nowhere near a squib and shouldn't say things like that. I know it doesn't sound like me to say it, but be sure to stay safe and out of trouble, especially when I'm not there to look after my junior lion-badger. I'm sure you can look after the little Weasley girl yourself. Talk to her a bit- it would probably give her quite a thrill, I'd think.
Stay safe,
Tonks
Even with work and education between them, the strange friends managed to write back and forth at least once a week.
His most worrisome letter came after a particularly long day in training. The Hogwarts school owl seemed agitated that it must have had to wait to deliver its message.
Ginny has been taken into the Chamber of Secrets. She must have known something. They could shut down Hogwarts after this.
~N
Tonks didn't even know what to write back after that. She didn't know that her life could feel like it revolved around letters from a twelve-year-old, but it seemed that everything important was happening at Hogwarts, which was saying a lot since she worked in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement- weren't aurors supposed to handle difficult things like this? Tonks vaguely thought back to her few visits in the summers to the Burrow to see Charlie and Bill. Ginny Weasley had been the tiniest little scrap running around, never wanting to be outmatched by her much older brothers, and the little girl had idolized a younger Tonks. How could Hogwarts close? A thousand years of educating the children of wizarding Brittan to be ended in a year?
Tonks half-wrote letters to everyone from the Headmaster, to the Board, to the Minister of Magic, scrapping each one far before completion. She wasn't sure how she kept breathing until Neville's final message of the school year, just hours after his last one. Tonks hadn't even formulated a response worth sending to Neville let alone anyone else.
Tonks,
I don't know how they did it, but everything seems okay now. We don't really know any details, but everything is supposed to be over now. Harry and Ron saved Ginny, and Professor Lockheart was involved somehow, but he was hurt and won't be teaching anymore. I probably shouldn't be happy about that. I guess we will need another Defense teacher next year, but that isn't really very surprising. I know I wouldn't take the job after what's happened to the last ones. I don't even know what I should be thinking, but I just hope that everything is better now. Even with everything that has happened, and with all of the negative parts, Hogwarts is special, and I really need it to be there.
Neville
Tonks smiled. Even though she had graduated, she still needed Hogwarts too. It was so big and solid, timeless, dependable. The idea that it could have ended shook everything that Tonks knew. It was nice not to have your beliefs shattered so terribly that they couldn't be patched back together.
*****Tonks*****
Summer was not a break for auror training, so after her own graduation, Tonks had actually begun marking the passage of time in her head by Neville's school years. During the summer between Neville's second and third years, Tonks was as shocked as anyone else by the news of the escape of Sirius Black. Fear, betrayal, and the small, very conflicted hope of catching him herself. But could she really do anything to cousin Sirius? Could she send him off to get the dementor's kiss? Because that was what faced him after an Askaban escape. They couldn't put him back and risk him escaping again. Would it be kinder just to kill him in action? Could she even do that?
Realistically, she wouldn't have the opportunity to face that decision. They would find him soon; one man couldn't run forever. The Ministry was shifting people around, accelerating training programs, all because of one wizard. But even now they wouldn't give her any more than simple grunt work, even if it was grunt work that someone more experienced usually performed. Tonks only noticed the change in seasons as the change in subject matter of Neville's letters that signified the start of the school year again.
N. Tonks,
I know it's somewhat melodramatic to say that life might as well be over, but we faced boggarts today in Defense class and mine was Professor Snape. Snape of all things. I'm sure he'll hate me even more after he hears, and news like that spreads quickly. The whole class saw me change it into wearing Gran's clothes, complete with bag and vulture hat. I should probably write a will, because I won't survive my next Potions class. I really like the new Defense teacher though, Professor Remus Lupin.
Neville
Tonks paused momentarily over her first initial, but smiled as she read the note from her younger friend. She was surprised to recognize the name he listed, Remus Lupin. Tonks thought for a second before realizing where she knew the person. Remus Lupin. He was one of Sirius's friends, years ago, and Sirius had brought them all around often enough since he spent so much time with the only family who didn't hate him after the Blacks had more or less been done with him, even if she was pretty sure it had been Sirius's decision to leave. Was the abandonment of his family what had caused him to go so bad in the end? Was he tired of being the black sheep in the Black family? Remus Lupin- he had brought this train of unhappy thoughts. Yes, Remus was sweet to her when she was just a little girl. He wouldn't tease her like Sirius and his other friends, even if they were all just having fun. Tonks shook off the thought. Dwelling on such old memories could only lead to more heart ache. She tried to refocus and write back to her young friend. She tried to think of some bright spot in this ordeal. She would be near Hogwarts again soon, even if it was in circumstances that she didn't wish.
Neville,
Don't worry, people will have forgotten soon, and I'm sure someone else had a worse boggart anyway. But hey, maybe I'll get to see you on Hogsmead trips this year. We trainees will be rotating around as extra security at Hogsmead until everything is cleared up, especially on Hogwarts's Hogsmead weekends, if the school doesn't become too afraid to have them at all. Maybe I can see you there.
Tonks
She sent the Hogwarts owl back with her letter before finishing her morning scramble to get dressed presentably enough for yet another day of training. At least the owl had caught her before she arrived at the Ministry this time.
*****Tonks*****
Tonks went to work on the first Hogsmead weekend with more excitement than the situation probably merited. She had been stationed there for the entire week before, but having only been to Hogsmead before when other students were there, the place seemed more than a little deserted on the "normal" days that she had been posted there off and on in the last months. She knew that she shouldn't be exited, because it was a terrible situation that prompted additional Hogsmead security, but the enthusiasm in the students was absolutely infectious, even if most of the people that she knew had already graduated.
Tonks spotted Neville and attempted to sneak up behind him. Neville managed not to laugh too hard when she fell on her face right behind him. In auror robes even; she was an embarrassment to the department. "Watcher Neville," Tonks mumbled. Neville at least graciously helped her to her feet. Tonks realized that she didn't have to look down as far as she expected to look Neville in the eye. They had kept in contact so much since she graduated that it didn't seem like nearly a year and a half had passed since she had seen him last. But it should hardly be surprising for kids to grow, Tonks thought as the two ambled around the streets. Most students had taken shelter in buildings to avoid the chilling weather.
"Scary about Black, isn't it?" Tonks asked before she could kick herself into silence. It wasn't like she wanted to talk about the circumstances that led to extra security on Hogsmead, and then she had gone and brought it up herself.
"Yeah," Neville admitted. "I don't like to think about people being able to escape from Azkaban. There's a lot more people locked up that deserve to stay in there," Neville said.
Tonks was silent, thinking about the people who had taken Neville's parents from him when he was just a baby.
Neville spoke again. "Is the rest of your family doing okay with all of this?" he asked quietly.
Tonks's eyes snapped to his at his words. What about her family? As in implying that they would have more reason to care than the general populous? "How do you know about my family, Neville?" Tonks asked quickly, trying not to sound too accusatory of the younger wizard. She was thinking back and wondering if she had ever mentioned that her cousin was Sirius Black. Tonks had actually been more open with Neville than with most people, but Sirius wasn't a topic that she brought up or even tried to think about. It wasn't like she had expected Sirius Black to affect her life again. No, she had mentioned him, that first night she met Neville and told him about sort of knowing his mother. Had she even mentioned Sirius by name? That had been a wretched night.
Neville shrugged, "Even though we know that muggleborns and half-bloods are just as good as purebloods, Gran has made sure that I kept up with knowing about pureblood society," Neville explained. "The Blacks are an Ancient and Noble family, which isn't just bragging. They traditionally have a Wizengamot seat, though it's been empty often since your great grandfather passed. Your great uncle never took the seat, but he didn't let your grandfather have it either. Since both have passed now as well, no one has clear claim. I believe the Malfoys are still trying to take control of the seat at the moment, because of Narcissa Malfoy's line. The Malfoys already have one of their own already, with a representative standing in place, ever since the last war, keeping a lower profile even though Mr. Malfoy plays a large role behind the scenes of several Ministry departments," Neville explained as if it were common knowledge. She'd never thought of Neville as someone who would know anything about pureblood society, but he seemed to know more about her own family than she did. "But with Sirius Black still alive, the legal issues are difficult. Many of the laws are old and still talk about inheritance following only the males in the family, even though several women use their families' seats now," Neville said quietly, Tonks listening to his every word. It probably wasn't a good sign on her part if a thirteen year old boy knew more about her extended family than she did.
"Well, at least his life is doing something good then?" Tonks said gruffly.
"Yeah," Neville said softly.
"You should do well in school with a memory like that," Tonks teased lightly, trying to raise her own spirits as well as Neville's.
"Well, I have incentive with Gran watching so closely. You would think that Professor Snape would have the same affect, because he scares me a lot more, but I guess it's just too much," Neville shrugged, a shy teenager again.
"Does your family have a seat? In the Wizengamot?" Tonks asked, curious for more information again. "I just assumed that the Wizengamot was appointed or voted on or something. I guess I've never heard of an election or anything of the sort though. It just doesn't seem right, to keep the power only with the old pureblood families," Tonks said, realizing she never really questioned much about the Ministry she herself worked for.
"It isn't right, but it's always been that way. And yeah, we have a representative to fill our seat. Gran can't sit in it because she is only married into the family. She wants me to- when I'm of age-" Neville shivered, "But I think our representative does just fine," Neville said hastily. "He talks to us often when issues arise that need to be voted on, and he's an honest man."
Tonks looked around, making sure that they were still alone. They'd wandered near the Shreiking Shack for privacy, because students rarely visited the supposedly haunted place. Tonks told herself that the most damaging spirit she had met was Peeves, and he wasn't so bad once you got on his good side. She brought herself back to the less pleasant discussion at hand, "So you know about all of my family?" Tonks asked nervously. "And you don't hate me?" she ventured softly. Tonks looked slightly down at him, acknowledging again mentally that he would already be almost her height in her "natural" form. Of course, she would also look more like her psychotic aunt in that form, so she avoided it when possible.
"It's not your fault," Neville said, placing a hand on her arm awkwardly. He would know exactly what she was thinking about, particularly her evil aunt and that side of the family. "You aren't responsible for any aunts, uncles, or cousins, just for yourself."
"I'm really sorry," Tonks mumbled. "It's a big part of why I wanted to be an auror, you know. Your- your mum was nice, and I wanted to be like her, and then my own so-called family... I just wanted to redeem the family, I guess. My mum's not like them, you know. You'd like her, I'm sure," Tonks spoke quickly.
"I'm sure I would," Neville said, actually smiling somehow, "Maybe I'll meet her one day."
They left uncomfortable conversations behind and attempted to enjoy the afternoon. The day at Hogsmead made Tonks feel like a student again, even if she was in auror robes instead of Hogwarts ones. Tonks rationalized that she was here to protect the students, so visiting typical student stops like Honeydukes and the Three Broomsticks was practically required for her job. It was definitely the most pleasant day of work, and it made Tonks await the next one.
*****Tonks*****
Tensions were rising at the Ministry and evidently at Hogwarts as well as months had passed without capturing Black. Tonks couldn't think of him as "Sirius" anymore because it hurt too much. She had thought that she had recovered from what she had felt was a personal betrayal years ago, but evidently not. Tonks had hoped that the students at Hogwarts could at least be isolated from the problem when they stayed within the walls, but apparently even that was too much to hope for. There were some whispers that Black was after Harry Potter, but Tonks could still barely believe that.
Months wore on for Tonks with growing frustration, feeling that even though she was declared a fully qualified auror just before the the end of the year, she still knew nothing of the Black case. And apparently being an official auror meant that she could fill out a bunch of paper work while the other trainees had some amount of fun patrolling Hogsmead for the students' last visit before the winter holidays.
*****Tonks*****
Even Christmas didn't seem as much fun now that she wasn't a kid anymore. She went to her family's house, her mother bemoaned over her hair, green that day, which Tonks herself thought was quite festive. Her father would good naturedly tell her mother to lay off, and Andromeda Tonks quickly would. Tonks wasn't even sure if her mother really minded her hair anymore, or just thought it was her motherly duty to attempt to make her only child look respectable. Her parents would ask about her work, congratulating her on becoming a full auror so quickly. Not a single mention was made of Sirius Black, though Tonks was sure her mother must have been thinking about him just as much as she was.
Tonks begged out of staying at her family's house for the night. It didn't seem right to stay in her old room when she was trying to be independent in her own flat. And, as much as she loved her family, she could only take so much. She was surprised when she arrived home to see one of the Longbottom family owls, one she recognized from Neville's letters over the summer. They had never exchanged so much as Christmas cards before, but there was a lumpy package waiting for her. She tore it open to see a Weird Sisters t-shirt, when she vaguely recalled mentioning to Neville was her favorite band. She smiled, clutching the shirt to her. She'd have to go to Diagon Alley tomorrow if she could to get Neville something in return. Hmm, maybe something in Hufflepuff colors or with a badger on it, she thought with a smile.
*****Tonks*****
NT,
It's all my fault. I left a bloody list of the password out, right where he could find them. Sirius Black was in our dormitory. But I don't know why he didn't do more when he was right there. It doesn't make sense. He could have killed all of us in our sleep, but he didn't. It doesn't add up. I think there must be something that we don't know about going on. Some plan. It's still all my fault though, and it would be if we were dead. I should have been chucked out of this place on my head years ago.
-NL
Tonks read the note several time. Neville, even highly distressed, was picking up on what everyone else seemed to be ignoring. Logic could be clouded by fear very easily. It just didn't make sense if Sirius- if Prisoner Black- wanted them or at least Harry Potter dead. A man who had killed another wizard and a street full of muggles, and knocked the muggles off at the same time, could kill some sleeping third years in the blink of an eye. Why didn't he? Her heart had been hurt too much to consider something else by this point. But just perhaps there was more to the story of Sirius Black than everyone knew.
It was almost surprising how after the Black break in, everything could return back to being monotonous. Tonks didn't care as much about missing Hogsmead weekends, because Neville had been banned from the trips after the list of passwords incident. The poor boy had been banned from Hogsmead and given detention, which was well enough, but his Head of House also instructed all of the other students not to tell Neville the password when he had forgotten which seemed outright cruel. Neville had only gotten the list in the first place because it was so hard for him to remember the passwords, and the damned new portrait after Sirius- damn it- Black's first break in- changed the password multiple times per week.
Neville's letters didn't have much more interesting than telling of school classes, including Hermione Granger, the little brain, walking out on Trelawney's divination class planning on never returning. Tonks silently congratulated the younger girl. She'd always thought Divination was a bit rot herself, and had not taken the class even though it was supposed to be easy. Then again, she'd taken Muggle Studies instead, and she had loads of muggle cousins and spent time In the muggle world, but whatever, she needed time to focus on the auror prep classes and have some sort of life. It wasn't like scraping by in Potions came easily.
Neville had written about the girl, Hermione, taking three classes at the same time one day, and finding it odd that no one seemed to notice. No one had gotten a straight answer out of the girl anyway, even though her schedule was ridiculous. He also wrote that he was really enjoying his Defense professor's classes, but he was fairly certain the man was a werewolf. Tonks was surprised but smiled at how her young friend seem to intuitively notice oddities, just like he had with the little Weasley girl the year before. Tonks did a bit on investigation before writing back that she didn't think Neville had too much to worry about. The gir's class schedule was easy enough- occasionally students were given Time Turners, heavily regulated by the Ministry. She knew that Bill Weasley had gotten one for a bit, determined to take all of the classes he could. However, he soon decided that the stress of trying to not be seen in the same place as yourself wasn't worth possible benefits of taking more classes. As for the werewolf Professor Lupin, Tonks found documentation of his hiring, including information that he would be on a potion to control his transformations. Tonks felt bad again for the kind young man she'd met as a girl. Had Remus been a werewolf when she met him? Did Sirius know about his friend's affliction? It wasn't a very pureblood supremacist thing to accept half-breeds.
Excitedly, Neville also wrote about Gryffindor winning the Quidditch House Cup, which Tonks was happy enough about, even if she had been really hopeful for the Hufflepuff team. Cedric Diggory had gotten so good at being a seeker, he was the team's first legitimate chance to make a run at the cup in years. Oh well, he still had another year at Hogwarts, so perhaps next year would be Hufflepuff's time, Tonks thought.
*****Tonks*****
Sirius Black had escaped again, this time from Hogwarts. Tonks hadn't even heard that he had been captured on the grounds before she heard that he had gotten away. She received a letter from Neville saying what she had already heard at the Ministry from going in to work the next day. This was one more happening that didn't add up. How on earth could a crazed man that spent twelve years in Azkaban, escaped auror guards, Hogwarts itself, and the Minister of Magic? Tonks supposed she shouldn't be surprised, because he'd escaped out of Azkaban, so Hogwarts couldn't be as difficult, but still. The only thing he hadn't done now was break into Gringotts, but Tonks wouldn't actually doubt his ability to do so. She told herself that she was most certainly not relieved that Sirius Black hadn't been given the dementor's kiss, because if anyone deserved it, he did. She tried not to think about the teenager who had often bounced her on his knee, the young man who had let her fly his broom when she was far too young to do so. She couldn't bear to think about it.
