Destiny

Chapter 9

Tonks caught a look of something in the way the dragon Ron presented. IT was something she was all too familiar with and was quite sure it was of an utmost personal nature. She boosted her daughter so she could get a better hold on the child before approaching the dragon cautiously. She looked up at it slowly, taking in every emerald scale and those eyes that were trying very hard not to burst into tears.

"Ron," she interrupted the din of excited witches and wizards suddenly. "Why don't you take everyone in the other room and tell them of your daring escape. I'll take this fellow outside and get him freshened up, alright?"

Ron was eager to tell the tale and agreed, ushering everyone out of sight. TOnks motioned to Draco.

"Walk with me, won't you?"

Draco nodded and followed her, feeling awkward with his four legged gait next to her swift two legged one. The two reached a large metal gate which Tonks opened with a switch of her wand. Terps cooed in her grasp as sparks ushered from her mother's wand.

"You're human, aren't you?" Tonks asked, already knowing the answer.

Draco's eyes widened.

"I can tell. I am married to a werewolf, after all. I can see the human in you the same way I see it in Remus when he transforms. Not many others can see it. It takes a trained eye. Terps here even knew before me,"

The little girl beamed at the mention of her name. She pointed at Draco.

"Man,"

"Very good, sweety. We don't mention that around people other than Mommy and Daddy, right?"

"Yesh," Terps slurred.

Tonks returned her glance to the dragon boy.

"What's your name?"

He didn't move, but he felt his mane bristle.

"Please tell me, I won't tell anyone else if you really don't want me too. But, I generally like to know the names of my friends," Tonks grinned.

Draco gave her a sharp "you swear?" glance before scrawling his name in the dust on the street. His full name.

Now it was Tonks' turn to widen your eyes.

"Oh…my…you," she looked at him, trying to piece together anything specific to the young man she had seen at King's Cross Station all those years ago. Draco noticed that she must have found it because she nodded to herself with certainty.

"He did it, didn't he? Voldemort, I mean," she asked plainly.

Draco nodded.

"Wow. That's pretty twisted. You're the son of one of his most loyal Death Eaters, too. Imagine what he does to everyone else. Believe it or not, its even more horrible. I worry about this little one and the future sometimes. You know?"

Tonks and Draco looked up at the stars for a few moments.

"We'd better go back in. I'll get you a drink of something and something civilized to eat for once. I really have to say that bubblegum charm was brilliant,"

Draco felt a smile tug at the corners of his mouth. He did feel better now that somebody knew who he really was. Now all that remained to be seen was if anyone else could put together the pieces Tonks had.

END Chapter 9