"So, you're off to Hogwarts now?" Remus asked once all of the laughter had died down.

"I bet Ted was a wreck," Sirius said knowingly. "He cried when you first got a cut knee."

"Seriously?" I asked, my dad was a softy but really? Crying when I got hurt?

"Oh yeah," Sirius replied, nodding. "He was absolutely distraught. I think he nearly took you to St Mungo's because he was convinced he heard a 'snap'. Thankfully Andromeda was home and stopped him."

I sniggered. That was so dad. Overreacting to everything.

"Turns out you'd landed on a branch and weren't even crying," Sirius continued, eyes lighting up at the memory. "I got a very scathing letter from Andromeda about it."

It took a few minutes for us all to stop laughing, Remus really did have a nice laugh. Finally, we did and I could tell them what happened on the first of September.


1 September 1984

"Remember Nymphadora, try to behave for at least the first week," Andromeda told her daughter sternly, tugging at the front of her school robes.

"Mu-um," Dora complained, hair briefly flashing deep red.

"She'll send a howler otherwise," Ted teased with a wink.

Dora gave her mother and anxious look.

"Edward Tonks, I will do no such thing!" She scolded, glaring at her husband.

She turned to sooth her daughter.

"I would never do something so uncouth, honestly."

Ted pulled a snotty face behind her, nose in the air and everything. Dora couldn't help it, she sniggered though it came out a bit watery and the end of her plaits went white. Andromeda rolled her eyes at their ridiculousness.

They were at King's Cross, ready to bundle her off to Hogwarts. Dora was practically vibrating in excitement. Hadn't stopped since six am this morning. She had broken five plates and three glasses in ten minutes at breakfast. Impressive even by her standards. At least she didn't get scolded today. Soppy parents were good for something. But Hogwarts! She couldn't wait! All the stories she'd heard made it sound so awesome. But she was also a bit nervous. She had only been away from her parents for a few nights not for whole weeks. She hoped she wouldn't cry; she didn't want to be a cry-baby. And what if she could do anything right? Or didn't make any friends?

She looked all around her to distract from her thoughts. There were so many people! Even more than in Diagon Alley, she was sure. Dora had never seen so many kids all together. There must be thousands. So cool!

Oof. Whoops. Dora had nearly tripped over her shiny new trunk. It still smelt strongly of polish. Ted grabbed her shoulders and steadied her. Her hair flipped in her eyes. She flicked her head so the braids weren't tickling her neck. She was au natural today, mostly. Boring but necessary.

People were staring. She didn't know whether it was because of her mother or her abilities. Even in the wizarding world, colour changing children were considered odd. Dora shrank behind Ted. She hated those stares; they were never nice. Made her feel like a freak. Her mum tugged her forwards with a frown, Dora refused to look at her.

She felt two slim fingers press under her chin, encouraging her to look up. Dora's eyes matched the deep chocolate of her mother's as she met them. One pair wide and anxious the other soft and comforting.

"Never be ashamed of yourself," she informed her daughter firmly.

"But-"

"Never. You have nothing to be ashamed about," Andromeda repeated and pulled her into a hug.

Dora buried her head deep into her mother's robes. What was she going to do when the stares started at school and no mum to glare at them?

Ted tugged one of her plaits to get her attention.

"Give 'em something of you to talk about," he advised her. "Remember our plan?"

Dora wiped her eyes and grinned broadly.

"Yep! "

"Really?" Andromeda asked exasperatedly.

"Hey, the finishing touch was your idea," Ted defended.

"Because it was more sensible," Andromeda retorted.

"Nothing about the plan is sensible," Ted muttered, dodging a swat.

Dora giggled at her ridiculous parents and felt a pang. She was going to miss this. Andromeda tried to straighten Dora's robes again.

"They're fine, mum!"

She was not going to miss this, however.

"Hush, let me fuss. I won't be able to until Christmas."

Dora bit her lip to stop it quivering. Christmas was so far away.

The whistle blew. It was eleven. Ted buried her into a massive hug, she could feel her ribs protest. Andromeda was stroking her hair.

"Write every day," she was told.

"Make friends and please no detention until at least Christmas."

"If you've forgotten anything well send it in the next week or so."

"You did remember your socks, right?"

"Be careful around the lake."

"Don't be cheeky to the Professors!"

She was soon bustled onto the train with lots of kisses and was waving vigorously out a window with all the other students.

"Love you! Don't forget to feed Hokey!" She called. "See you at Christmas! Love you!"

Oh! She bumped into a girl next to her, they were moving. The train was off!


"What was the plan?" Sirius burst out before Remus could say anything.

I ignored him and turned to Remus.

"What were you going to ask?" I asked pointedly.

Sirius pouted.

"Oh, answer his first or else he will interrupt us or moan," Remus replied with a sigh.

"I will not," Sirius said with an affronted look. He paused before adding at our incredulous looks, "OK, maybe I would."

I rolled my eyes and said teasingly, "The plan is executed in my next story."

"Aw!"

"Sucks to be you. Remus?"

I gave him an expectant look.

"Did people really stare at you that much?" He asked gently.

I knew what he was leaving unsaid. After Sirius. Unfortunately, Sirius knew what he was talking about. He frowned.

"Sorry about that."

I patted him awkwardly on the knee, "S'okay, not your fault and anyway you were only one of three possible reasons for the staring."

"Oh?"

I shrugged, "Yeah, it could also be because mum looked like Bellatrix or because of my hair changing colours."

"Surely people got used to seeing you," said Remus.

I snorted. As if.

"The Wizarding World loves it a freak. That and I didn't get to go to Diagon a lot because mum prefers Hogsmeade or the muggle world so I was always a sensation."

Sirius snickered. Idiot.

"You deliberately made your hair bright, didn't you?" He asked knowingly.

"When I got some control, yes."