Chapter 2: Approaching the Order
One by one members of the Order of the Phoenix arrived at number twelve Grimauld Place. When Tonks entered the kitchen, the elder members of the Order, all members of the first Order of The Phoenix, were seated around the large wooden table. She quickly spotted Remus Lupin and her cousin Sirius Black sitting next to each other talking quietly. She also spotted her former Department Head from the Auror Department, Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody, and tried to swallow down her nervousness. She hadn't felt this nervous since she took her qualifying exams for Auror Training!
"Wotcher Remus, Sirius," she greeted them as she pulled up a chair next to Remus.
"Greetings little cousin," Sirius sang out, pulling her into a one armed hug.
"Nice to see you again, Nymphadora," Remus said and smiled at her, making butterflies immediately come to life in her stomach.
"Nice to be seen, and Remus, don't call me Nymphadora," she smiled back cheekily. Sirius just chuckled at his best mate and cousin. He wondered how long it was going to be before they would admit to themselves that there were sparks between them. 'Honestly, they're as bad as Ron and Hermione' he thought to himself and laughed, drawing raised eyebrows from both Tonks and Remus.
At just that moment, Dumbledore stood at the head of the long table and called the meeting to order. "Thank you all for joining us on such short notice. I have called this small group together to hear this proposal and to discuss arguments for and against offering this witch or wizard a place in the Order."
Tonks, Remus, and Sirius sat on their side of the table, facing Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagall. Tonks wished that Mad-Eye had sat across from her, it would have eased her nerves more than Snape's scowling at her. Both Remus and Sirius noticed that Tonks seemed to grow more and more nervous and tried to give her encouraging looks. Remus realized with a start that he had been pondering Tonks uncharacteristic behavior through for the last several minutes and had not heard any of what Dumbledore had said. These days Remus was finding it harder and harder to shake thoughts of Tonks from his mind. Tonight she had removed her Auror work robes claiming that the roaring fire in the kitchen was making it excruciatingly warm. Her tight muggle jeans and form-fitting V-neck top drew his eyes. When she stood to stretch her legs before the meeting started his eyes could not help wandering to the outline of her wand that she kept in her pack pocket. He shook his head, trying to push away the provocative thoughts filled his mind.
Tonks was having a hard time concentrating as well. She went over the speech she had prepared over and over in her head in between stealing glances at Remus. How would the other members take to her recruiting a new member? Before she knew it Dumbledore was addressing her.
"Ms. Tonks, you have a recommendation for us?" Dumbledore asked politely.
"Yes, …I do," Tonks practically squeaked. 'Ugh, why am I so nervous about this?' she thought to herself. Then she saw Remus' eyes on her and knew exactly what had her nerves on edge. She was terrified The Order would be angry at her for stepping out of bounds as a new member, but it was Lupin's opinion that worried her the most. She wanted him to see her as clever and capable. She didn't want him to think of her as a clumsy child. She wanted his respect. Now all eyes in the room were on her. 'It's now or never' she thought and began to address the group and Dumbledore in particular.
"I've been asked by a witch on the outside to present the Order with a request to join us in our fight against Voldemort and the Death Eaters," she began.
"This is most unusual. I do have to wonder how a witch or wizard outside of the Order would know of the group's existence, but please continue, Ms. Tonks. My curiosity is indeed peaked." Dumbledore's face was unreadable but his eyes twinkled.
Tonks relaxed with a deep breath and presented Maya's (and her own if she was being honest) request to be inducted as a member of the Order. "She is a truly gifted witch in both defense and stealth. Her skills would be a great asset to our cause." The room was quiet while the five senior Order members looked to Dumbledore's reaction. Tonks cringed inwardly as she saw Sirius and Remus share a questioning look.
"Would it not stand to reason, Ms. Tonks, that in order for someone to make a request to join this cause they would have to be informed by someone within the Order itself?" Severus Snape asked silkily from his place across the table from Tonks. The tension in the room instantly became thick.
"Now Severus, let Tonks finish," Remus interjected.
"Hold on Snape," Sirius broke in at the same time.
Tonks mentally counted to ten. 'This is not the time to lose my temper. Think of Maya,' she thought. "The witch in question is a close personal friend and has been tracking Death Eaters in America since the beginning of the summer. She has been working alone since the American Ministry is viewing Voldemort's return in much the same way as Fudge," she replied. Everyone in the Order of the Phoenix was well aware of the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge's, refusal to acknowledge Voldemort's return.
Tonks was proud of herself for not taking the bait laid for her by Snape, the Hogwarts potions master. "I felt she would be much more useful to us as part of our united force then in a solitary suicide mission in America," Tonks continued. She looked to Dumbledore who appeared to be considering her words.
While Dumbledore was thinking about this new information, Snape spoke up again, not ready to let Tonks off so easily. Although he would never admit it, he actually enjoyed pushing her buttons. He had just returned that morning from a Death Eater Summons, and he was not in the mood for her silly banter. Getting a reaction out of her would do a great deal to improve his mood. Lupin and Black indulged her impertinence far too often for Snape's liking. It would do her good to be put in her place. He had no idea why she was a member of the Order to begin with. She was more likely to fall on her face than to actually apprehend a Death Eater. He remembered having her in his 7th year Potions Class as a new Professor. Every lesson brought the fear that she would blow up the castle before she finished.
"I can only imagine the stealth and skill an acquaintance of yours would possess. We should remove the rest of the furniture from headquarters before your dear cousin has nothing left. Two members with your skill and grace would be quite a lethal combination," Snape said giving her a mocking sneer.
"Steady on! Snape, that's enough," Remus jumped to Tonks' defense.
Sirius, ever the man of action was already reaching for his wand.
"Enough," Dumbledore said calmly sending a penetrating blue gaze at each of the three wizards.
Tonks was furious and could feel the color rise in her cheeks. Her hair was changing from pink to a deep shade of red, a tell-tale sign that her temper would soon be unleashed. He was making fun of her in front of the Remus and Moody, her mentor. She felt her heart flip when she looked over and saw Remus' eyes darken and his body become rigid with anger as he jumped to her defense. Given her audience, Tonks took a second to compose herself. 'Think professional,' she said to herself. 'You can't help Maya if everyone thinks you're an emotional twat.'
"Maya Ladon is no klutz I assure you professor," she said, addressing Snape directly. I assume you recognize her family name? And I doubt I am the only one in the Order who has heard the rumors of the Black Dragon that has been taking on Death Eaters single-handedly in America since Voldemort's return."
Snape's eyes narrowed. He knew of the Ladon name. They were rumored to be a powerful and ancient wizarding family. However, last accounts were that followers of the Dark Lord had killed the remainders of that line just after his defeat.
If it was possible, the tension in the warm room thickened. Dumbledore was quiet for a long moment and Tonks was certain her heart had stopped beating from the anticipation. Dumbledore looked Tonks squarely in the eye, "It would seem there is more to our young Auror then we all thought. I was not aware that your friend in America was Ms. Ladon."
"Yes, sir. We've been friends for years now," Tonks replied.
"I am acquainted with Ms. Ladon's skills as a witch, at least I was at the time of her graduation. She was very accomplished in defense and dueling, quite an aptitude for concealment charms and human transfiguration too if my memory is still sharp. I must say I am surprised to learn she has chosen to rejoin the wizarding world. I was under the impression she had given up magic for good," Dumbledore said eye's pensive and hands stroking his long white beard in thought.
"Now wait a minute," Minerva McGonagall's crisp voice broke in. "This witch has been in hiding for over a decade? How do we even know for sure that she is trustworthy? This Black Dragon sounds an awful lot like a dark wizard if you ask me," the old witch snapped.
"Maya, for her own reasons, chose to live in the muggle world. We met quite by accident several years ago and I have kept her secret. Last June Maya chose to return to our world. Her reasons are her own but she would be a valuable asset to the Order. Her dueling and defense skills rival Remus and Sirius. Severus, the Black Dragon could give you a run for your gallons in stealth, and her concealment charms and human transfiguration are strong enough that she can disguise herself almost as effortlessly and completely as I can." Severus gave Tonks a truly murderous glare at her allegations that this invader from across the pond could even compare to his own abilities.
"Indeed, it seems she has been very successful in hiding her existence," Dumbledore said thoughtfully.
"Can we be sure she is who she claims to be?" Remus asked. Tonks couldn't help feeling crestfallen at Remus' words. Did he doubt her ability or think she was too young to make sound decisions?
"Remus, I'm sure Tonks has thought of that," Sirius argued. "Tonks' word is good enough for me."
"Albus, I'm not convinced. How can we trust this person? This woman could be deranged," McGonagall demanded from her place by Dumbledore's side, unconvinced by Tonks testament to the young woman's character.
"Now keep your hair on, Minerva," Mad-Eye spoke up. "Sirius is right. Tonks is an Auror and a thumping good one at that, I trained her myself. She knows how to spot a dark wizard." Tonks caught the quick shift in Mad-Eye's magical electric blue eye in Snape's direction. "The real question is recklessness. We need to know that she can be cautious, constant vigilance I always say! She won't be any good to us if she ends up dead her first week."
Minerva looked about to argue with Moody, but Dumbledore silenced the group with a raise of his hand. "You have brought us an intriguing offer, Ms. Tonks. The Black Dragon's reputation has indeed crossed the Atlantic. However, I would like to counter Ms. Ladon's request with one of my own. Please advise her to expect an owl from me to set up a face-to-face meeting to discuss this matter in more detail. Minerva, Alastor, Remus, you all make valid arguments. Caution is the wiser course and I have many questions about the Dragon's methods before the Order makes its decision."
"Very well sir. I'll notify her tonight," Tonks said. "I know she'll be pleased to hear that you are considering her request."
"Excellent, Ms. Tonks. For now, I think it best that we keep Ms. Ladon's identity as the Black Dragon within this room," he said, looking around the table.
"Are you sure Albus? The others might want to know. If she's unstable she could be placing them at risk. Shouldn't they have some warning that they should be on their guard?" Minerva questioned still uncomfortable with sound of this strange witch.
"I quite agree, headmaster," Snape said.
"Aye, but we let you in didn't we, Snape?" Mad-Eye interrupted accusation in his graveled voice, "with no-one's word but Dumbledore's. So maybe we could give this lass a chance to explain herself?"
"Please," Dumbledore pleaded again trying to head off an argument before it could escalate further. "Rest assured I will be inquiring into all of these issues when I meet with Ms. Ladon personally. I feel confident I will be able to ascertain if she is attempting to stray from the truth. I ask all of you for your word that you will not share this information with anyone outside of this room."
Tonks and the others nodded in agreement. "If there is no other pressing business the meeting is concluded," he said looking around the table. Snape, McGonagall, and Moody stood to leave the kitchen. After a brief word with Remus, Dumbledore followed the other three out of the kitchen and up the stairs to the front hall.
Tonks, Remus, and Sirius sat around the table. "Tonks, are you staying for dinner? Molly sent some things by so Sirius wouldn't starve to death," Remus said with a smile.
Tonks let out a long sigh, "Yes, I might as well. My kitchen is fairly empty this week. No time for shopping, and Molly's cooking sounds much better than takeaway."
Sirius beamed at her. "My little cousin, friends with the last member of the house of Ladon, who turns out to be a vigilante that can make grown men afraid to go out after dark. Who'd have thought?" He laughed. "She sounds like quite the tiger if you know what I mean, eh Mooney?"
"Sirius, you don't even know the young woman and she has already taken up residence in your fantasies. Maybe you should wait until you actually meet her before you plan out your torrid affair," Remus said, looking sternly at his oldest living friend. The harsh look did not last long though, and soon both men were laughing at Sirius's prowess.
"That's enough - both of you!" Tonks frowned at her cousin and his best friend. "I want you both to like Maya, but Sirius, if you try to chat her up like a randy teen she'll hex your bollocks off. And believe me she can do it."
"No problem Tonksie, I like a bird that can keep me on my toes," Sirius laughed.
"Tonks is right Padfoot," Remus said. "Besides, Ms. Ladon is obviously a good friend of Tonks and we want to make her feel as comfortable as possible when she returns to Britain."
"Remus, how did you know that Maya used to live in the UK? I don't remember mentioning it at the meeting," Tonks asked, curious if Remus knew more about the Ladon family and Maya in particular, than she had originally guessed.
"Well, it's common knowledge that the Ladon family is an old pureblood line that was at one time very wealthy. The last Ladon I knew of worked for the Ministry and was transferred to the American Ministry before the first war. Going by your description I'd say Maya must have been old Lysander Ladon's daughter," Remus said, looking at Sirius for conformation. "Don't you remember, Sirius? The Ladons were always friendly with the Potters going back centuries."
"Mr. Sherlock Holmes himself, eh Tonksie?" Sirius laughed.
"Eewww, Sirius, don't call me that. And Remus, you're right Maya's father was transferred to America when she was eight. I don't think Maya's been back to England since she left," Tonks said. "I never knew about the family's connection to the Potters though. I don't think Maya has ever mentioned it," she said with a questioning tone, hoping Remus would continue.
This time it was Sirius that responded. "Yes, Mooney, now that you mention it I do remember James talking about the Ladons. The Potters and the Ladons often married. Though I don't think the either family cared much about blood." Sirius sighed as though remembering something long forgotten.
"As interesting as all this ancient history is I must go owl Maya with Dumbledore's news. I'm sure she'll be excited." Tonks stood and headed for the door.
"Sure thing, Tonksie," Sirius said cheekily and had to duck as Tonks sent a jelly legs curse at him over her shoulder. As she walked out of the room she could hear Remus chuckle softly as Sirius had to move quick to duck her spell and the sound of his laughter warmed her heart.