Gift of Black

Chapter One: Chaos in Grimm, Tonks In Control

"HE GOT OFF, HE GOT OFF, HE GOT OFF-" Fred, George and Ginny sang, as they danced around the kitchen of Grimmauld Place. Harry had come home from his trial cleared of all charges and was once again, a Hogwarts students. Molly was just as happy as the children, but believed that they should be sitting down to eat, not turning the kitchen into a three ring circus -although a three ring circus would be calmer than this. She had told them to stop multiple times, but they just kept on going. Sirius, was off delivering a message to Dumbledore, and thank goodness, because somehow, Mrs. Weasley knew that he would find a way to make it even louder. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore.

"SHUT UP!" She roared just as the kitchen door opened.

Everyone turned to see who was coming through, and was more than a little surprised at what they saw. There stood Professor McGonagall, Lupin, and Tonks with a small group of children that looked strangely familiar. Tonks was holding a baby girl in one arm, while holding the hand of a girl who looked to be about five or six, Lupin was in the same position with two boys -one that looked to be a toddler, and the other, five or six- and Professor McGonagall was guiding a boy who looked old enough to be going to Hogwarts and slightly younger girl by the shoulders.

"Come along dear, it's perfectly safe" McGonagall said to the girl who was trying not to cry.

"Where are Mummy and Daddy?" She cried.

"Your mother will be along shortly, dear, now please come into the kitchen."

The girl complied and the group began walking inside. Unfortunately, everyone had forgotten about Tonks's clumsiness and had not thought to take the baby from her before letting her walk down the stairs. Needless to say, Tonks went flying. Lupin, who had been anticipating this, let go of the little boy's hand to grab Tonks and make sure that she did not drop the baby.

"See? This is why I told you not to carry the baby. You could have dropped her. Hand her over."

Tonks steadied herself before giving the little girl to Lupin. The little girl, who had been giggling, thinking it was a game, gave Lupin a panicked look and began turning her head between the two adults before crying.

"And this is why I told you, I should hold her. She doesn't know you and is in a bit of a phase."

"Well, then sit down and I'll give her back to you."

"Oh, relax." Tonks said as she moved towards a chair, "I've already dropped her five times! Wait, make that seven!" Tonks exclaimed as she sat down. "Don't look at me like that, she's one, she's supposed to be dropped at this age!"

"Remind me to have a talk with your future husband." Lupin said as he handed the baby over.

"Oh, don't worry, I think that can be easily arranged." Tonks smiled at Lupin. "Wotcher, Harry!" she said turning to him as the girl's cries died down, "How'd the trial go? Are you a convicted criminal now? Are they tossing you in Azkaban? Have you lost your buttocks yet?" Tonks asked as she bounced the baby up and down.

"Um… no, it went fine actually." Harry replied as he looked at all the kids in the kitchen, and Professor McGonagall talking to Mrs. Weasley quietly in the background, while Lupin ran out saying that he had to find Sirius. "Not to be rude or anything... but… what's up with all the kids."

"Hm? Oh, yes I guess this must seem a bit strange, bringing children to top secret headquarters like it's a daycare center. There's a good reason, just can't tell you quite this second. Sorry Harry." At this point, the younger children had become quite comfortable in the kitchen, and were running around trying to make friends with everyone, play with Crookshanks, and explore this new place. Harry and the other teenagers wanted to ask more, but Tonks seemed rather occupied, trying to keep the kids in order while following Lupin's orders not to walk around with the baby.

"OI! PHOEBUS!" she yelled at the youngest boy, "Don't stick your hand in there, it could get stuck! Fred! George! Grab him!" The twins scrambled to grab the little boy who was trying to see if his arm could fit through the spindles of a kitchen chair. "Peader! Get off of Ron! Ask him before trying to get a piggy back ride!" She yelled at the middle boy who was climbing on Ron and accidently shoving his face in the table.

"Thanks Tonks." Ron said in a muffled voice.

"Welcome Ron. NYMPHIE!" She yelled, the little girl looked up from her conversation with Ginny and Hermione, and blinked her big eyes at Tonks. "... You're fine! Keep going!" Tonks declared as the little girl happily went back to her conversation and showing off how "good" she could dance.

.

"I've got it aaaall under control." Tonks smiled happily to herself, as she continued to bounce the baby. "EAMON! DEIRDRE! GO MAKE TROUBLE! IT'S TOO PEACEFUL HERE!"

Harry stared at Tonks in disbelief. 'How could this be peaceful?' he thought. His head was buzzing trying figure out what was going on. What were these kids doing here? Why did the older ones look upset, while the younger ones played? Where were their parents? Why couldn't they know about the kids being here? And why did these children look so familiar? He'd never met them before! They didn't even look that much alike. Their skin ranged from snow white to light gold, some had blue eyes, some had brown. Half of them had black hair, while the other half had brown. They all looked so different, and yet he could tell that they were siblings, and they still looked very familiar, like he should know them… but he didn't! The other teenagers were trying to entertain the kids, so he couldn't ask them. And if their reactions were anything to go by, they were all just as clueless as him. The adults weren't going to tell him anything, but judging by the expressions McGonagall and Mrs. Weasley were exchanging, he guessed that whatever was going on, was not good. What was going on?

Name Pronunciations

Phoebus- Fee-bis

Peader- Pador

Eamon- Amon

Deirdre- Deer-druh