EDIT JULY 13
Tonks played idly with her pink hair, thinking back to the moments before Remus had pulled her up from the floor back in her own time. Would she be able to get back? Or was she going to be stuck here forever? Stuck in the years just before the war started.
Running her hand through her short hair, Tonks stood up from her bed. She needed a distraction, her mind kept going back to the ministry. To Harry and his friends standing before a group of Death Eaters, to the look on Sirius' face when he approached Lucius Malfoy. What had happened? Did everyone make it out okay? Oh, she would kill to know.
After much too long of being lost in her thoughts Tonks was grateful for the knock on her door. She rushed to open it and found Professor McGonagall standing in the doorway.
Tonks could clearly see how different she looked. Her face was so much younger. The wrinkles that she had once thought made McGonagall McGonagall were almost nonexistent. Her hair had almost no trace of grey. Yet despite all this her choice in robes still remained the same and she was dressed in something from the last century.
"Professor Dumbledore wanted me to go over a few things that he forgot to mention." The older woman spoke stiffly.
"Er," Tonks noticed how awkward the conversation seemed to be. Almost like it was forced and that McGonagall would rather be elsewhere. "Okay."
"As Dumbledore explained earlier, you are to protect the students from themselves more than the outside world."
After Tonks had formally applied and Dumbledore had happily hired her, he had gone over the basics of her job. He said that many parents with himself included were worried about the attacks that had been happening throughout the wizarding world. Tom Riddle or Lord Volemort was becoming a danger to society, however the Ministry did not think that he would dare come close to the school.
Dumbledore knew that the students would be sucked into whatever was happening outside of the world. They may take sides or begin to fear what was happening. Tonks' main job was to keep the peace at the school. Keep the students calm and focused on their studies.
"Yes Professor," Tonks nodded more from habit than anything else.
McGonagall gave her an odd look before continuing, "I trust that you were informed about the Remus Lupin?"
Remus? He was here? "Um..."
"He's a werewolf," McGonagall stated. "He has permission to leave school grounds once a month during the full moon, but his friends do not. If they are seen out of bed with Mr. Lupin they are to be punished. Is that clear?"
"Yes?" Tonks was unsure about that. Why should Remus' friends be punished for trying to help him out? Weren't they all animagi? Didn't they join him for the full moon? Tonks tried desperately to remember.
McGonagall gave Tonks a doubtful look and Tonks was beginning to wonder if the older woman disliked her. "The students will be here soon, you are expected to be at the feast."
"Okay." Tonks nodded.
"Thank you Miss Tank," she said before leaving.
Tonks couldn't help but to smirk a little to herself. She was really proud of herself for coming up with a fake name to go by, just in case, and Nova Tank was a pretty good name considering she had come up with it on the spot. With a smile Tonks left her room and headed for the Great Hall for the beginning of the year feast.
For some odd reason Tonks had always enjoyed the sorting. Maybe it the confidence the tiny first years seemed to gain after the hat was removed from their heads, but it reminded Tonks of herself. She too had been nervous, the most nervous she'd ever felt. Although both her parents were magical, she'd really never been involved in the wizarding world. Her mother's family had shunned her after she'd married her father, and her father was muggle-born. Right from the start Tonks had been a bit of an outcast, and for those few short moments at the beginning Tonks wasn't sure if she was okay with that or not. It wasn't until after the hat had yelled out Hufflepuff, she no longer felt unsure. She felt empowered.
That fond memory stayed with her throughout her years at Hogwarts and resurfaced every sorting, and now as she sat at the end of the table next to Hagrid with a small smile she was much too happy. All too soon the sorting was over and Dumbledore was addressing everyone. Almost automatically Tonks tuned it out and began looking through the faces trying to pick out familiar faces.
She'd spotted a few but a certain face made her do a double take. Sitting in the middle of the table surrounded by three other boys was Harry. How did Harry get here? How was this possible? She stared at him, her heart pounding until he looked over at her, sensing her gaze. Once his eyes met hers she realized it wasn't Harry, he didn't have those eyes. Now that she knew it wasn't Harry, she could easily pick out the differences between this boy and him. His glasses weren't the same, his hair was styled differently, and he didn't have a scar peeking out from underneath his hair.
Tonks couldn't seem to tear her eyes away from the look alike, even when he frowned at her obvious gaping. She watched as he leaned forward, sharing a few words with the boys he was sitting with without taking his eyes off of hers. She watched as one of the boys looked up at her with a smirk, his shaggy hair bouncing as his head moved. He blew her a kiss, and suddenly Tonks knew who these boys where. The flirty one had to be her cousin, Sirius, which would make the Harry look alike James Potter.
"-Ms. Nova Tank!" Her fake name rang through her ears as everyone began to clap. Tonks looked around, unsure of what was happening.
Hagrid whispered for her to stand, which she quickly did. Tonks stood awkwardly before the students of Hogwarts for what felt like forever until the clapping died down. She quickly flopped back down in her seat as soon as she could, earning a chuckle from her neighbor.
As Dumbledore turned back to his audience Tonks let her eyes wonder back over to the four boys. Sirius was muttering something to his friends which earned a laugh, and Tonks had a hunch that it was a joke at her expense. With a huff, Tonks let her eyes continue scanning the crowd, and again she caught a familiar face. Little Severus Snape sat across the room from the four laughing boys and was glaring heavily at them. He looked almost exactly as he did when Tonks had seen him last, if that was possible. He had obviously matured since he was a student, but he truly did like exactly the same. It was astonishing.
Tonks continued to watch him for a little longer until food appeared on her plate, distracting her. Pushing all the boys out of her mind she eagerly picked up a fork and dug in.
The night had passed by quickly, and before Tonks knew it she was lying in bed in her own room drifting off to sleep. It brought back memories of when she went to Hogwarts and she was thankful. She didn't know what she would've done if she hadn't had found Dumbledore. Surely she wouldn't be as relaxed as she was now, she almost felt as if she was at home.
Her last thought before she fell asleep was about her duty. She had taken a job, and was committed to do it. It was another thing added to her list. Protect the students from each other, and get home.
XXX
When the sun had fully risen and the entire grounds were covered in light. The last shadows disappearing from sight. Tonks felt at ease as she watched the last students scurry off to class. She definitely didn't miss the stress of being a student that was for sure.
She strolled through the halls of the school, suddenly hearing voices. They seemed giddy, and excited. Following them she had expected to find a few First or Second years skipping class but as she rounded the corner she was surprised to see four Seventh years peering over an object hidden between them. They hadn't noticed her approach until she cleared her throat.
"Ahem."
All four jumped in shock, the tallest hiding the object behind his back. The four look shocked to see her, as if they hadn't remembered that she now worked here.
"Why aren't you in class?" Tonks asked.
"Erm," the tallest stuttered.
"Well my dear lady," rang a silky voice of the boy with the darkest hair. "We don't have class at the moment, it's our free period."
"Oh?" Tonks responded. "Then what are you hiding?" She took a step closer, pointing at the tallest. "Certainly it's not a textbook."
"It's nothing," the tallest responded. Tonks took him in. His clothes were a bit worn, most likely second hand, but kept in excellent condition. His face held tiny, blearily noticeable scars, and eyes that looked much older than they really were.
"Then do you care to show me?"
The four boys looked between themselves and nodded. The tallest then handed then handed the object over to Tonks. She took it carefully, and looked at it. It was just a blank piece of parchment, but as Tonks turned it over in her hands she realized what it was.
Looking up at the four she noticed they seemed slightly smug, "may I have your names? For future reference?"
"Well of course," declared the boy with glasses, the Harry look alike. "James Potter." He said proudly.
"Sirius Black," the dark haired boy joined in. "At your service."
"Peter," the smallest said in a soft voice. "Pettigrew."
"And Remus Lupin," the tallest finished.
"And I take it you know who I am?" Tonks asked.
"Yes, you're Nova Tank, the head of security." James replied sassily.
"Nova Tank, however did you get lucky with that good of a name? I don't think it's real," Sirius commented. His words earned a glare from James.
Tonks almost froze up, but quickly responded. "No, course not. My real name is horrid, can't believe my mother named me something that bad."
"What? It can't be that bad." Peter asked.
"I know, no one can top Serverus. Am I right James?" Sirius said.
"Yep, nothing worse." James joined in. "Tell us, what is it?"
"That won't happen, I suggest you get on now. Prepare for you next class." Tonks declared.
"Okay, if you'll give us back our parchment." Remus asked, holding out his hand.
Tonks shook her head, "I think I'll keep it. I'm new here after all. I am in need some parchment. No one thought to give me any."
All their faces fell.
"Welcome back to Hogwarts," Tonks greeted as she turned and walked off. She didn't stop until she got into her office which was next to her room.
Quickly closing the door and charming it with a silencing spell she laid the parchment down on the table. She spread it out till it was flat before pulling her wand out. With a glance over her shoulder to check the door she whispered, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
The map showed itself, the ink appearing and showing the castle. Looking at her office on the map, she saw the boys all stationed outside her door. She smirked, these boys were smart and they're going to want their map back. She'd have to keep it with her if she wanted to keep it, and it would be useful to help keep the peace.
However, if she did keep the prized map she would be in for a hellish year. The four would not stop for anything when it came to the map. She would be able to work with much more ease with them on her side rather than against.
She bit her lip as she continued to look at the map, her eyes trailing over her own dot. Her breath caught at the sight of it, the sight of the name that stared back at her. Nymphadora Tonks.
She sighed and let her head fall into her hand. Great.
XXX
Tonks was leaving Gryffindor Tower later that day when she spotted Professor Dumbledore strolling down the corridor. As he came closer he spotted Tonks. "Ah, Ms. Tank adjusting to Hogwarts I hope?" He asked.
"Oh yes sir, its lovely here." Tonks replied truthfully.
Dumbledore motioned for her to walk with him. "And have you met any of the students?"
"Yes, Remus, Peter, Sirius, and James. They're quite the bunch." Tonks replied, keeping pace with the older man.
"Oh yes, the Marauders I believe they call themselves. They do have quite the personality, and they do give Minerva a hard time."
"I'd believe it," Tonks thought back on her time here at Hogwarts. She too gave McGonagall a hard time, but not nearly as bad as she gave Professor Sprout. More than once had the woman declared that she had better get her head on straight or she'd never get anywhere. Always the encouraging one, Pomona Sprout.
"I hope you like it here. I must say I've had trouble keeping the security position filled, mainly due to those four. The teachers aren't too keen on dealing with them." Dumbledore said.
"I think I can handle them." Tonks smirked. "Professor I have a question for you though."
The older man glanced over at her with a nod and Tonks continued on. "How familiar are you with time travel?"
With a frown Dumbledore responded. "It is not one of my strong suits, if you are interested on the topic I suggest you look in the library."
Tonks nodded, "Okay."
"Any reason behind this?"
"Uh, oh no. I'm just interested in the topic. Time Turners interest me."
