September 2nd, 1995
The Leaky Cauldron

"After what happened with the Tournament last year, I just don't feel like he's safe there."

Delia eyed Lily for a moment, lightly sipping her wine in thought. After what felt like forever, she forced herself to speak:

"Albus has his faults, but he's no fool," Delia said. "I have my quarrels with him, as does Cornelius, but, at the end of the day, he's probably the only thing standing between You-Know-Who and the absolute collapse of the British wizarding world. I wouldn't say I'm comfortable with that, but I have faith in Albus'...abilities."

Lily tiredly rested her palm against her head. "Perhaps I am simply ruminating…" She muttered. "Harry and El have survived quite a lot since that night and…"

"Well, between the violence your family has endured and the media obsession, I can't say that I blame you for being worn out," Delia sent the small group of people that had begun to crowd around them a threatening look, pursing her lips and reaching for her wand. Almost immediately, they all scuttled away. "Case in point," She lowered her voice. "I can't say I envy you."

Lily rolled her eyes. "You wouldn't be able to survive being Lily Potter," She told her. "The only thing we had in common when we met was that both of us grew up with parents and siblings with no magic."

Delia chuckled under her breath. "I'll give you that," She lowly replied.

"Well," Lily said, sparking up a cigarette. "You are six years my senior. Good thing James and I met you the way we did, or I probably wouldn't have taken it as well when the Ministry appointed you as our escort."

Delia grimaced. "I was on probation in the States. I had no choice. Believe me when I say that the only good things that came from that arrangement were meeting my husband and becoming friends with you, the latter of which was towards the end of my….punishment. Come to think of it, I still haven't forgiven former Director Thicke for those ten years. I suppose it's some comfort that I ended up replacing him, but the point stands.."

Lily smirked. "You always have been arrogant."

Delia stared at her aghast. "Lillian Potter!" She gasped, turning pink. "I -"

"Calm down," Lily laughed. "I never said it was particularly obnoxious, Cordelia Amelié."

Delia glowered. "Shush," She said, looking around so quickly she nearly fell over.

Paranoia, Cornelius, and the kids are your only constants, now, a treacherous voice in the back of her mind whispered. Don't forget what your father is doing with the Massachusetts estate, either.

"Ah, tomorrow's cover is just here, right before me! How exquisite!"

Lily nearly dropped her cigarette on herself and Delia turned around, shielding her face with her arms as more camera flashes went off.

"Miss Skeeter!" One of the aides with a camera turned to his boss with wide eyes. "Is -"

"Put that away," Delia stood up, covering the lens of two of the cameras with her hands. "As for you, Rita -"

"Delia," Rita came over to her and cupped her face in her hands, much to Delia's disdain. "You are the Minister's wife, and you are oft with Lily Potter. The people want what they -"

Delia let go of the cameras to slap Rita harshly across the face, her wedding ring cutting deep into her cheek. Lily clapped, but the thrill quickly dissipated when camera flashes continued to go off yet again. Delia took a few steps back, and Lily stood up, stubbing out her cigarette and setting a hand reassuringly to Delia's back.

"I might have a new cover," Rita reached up to wipe the blood away from her cheek. "Lily Potter applauds Delia Fudge for the latter's violent temper. No wonder MACUSA has so often found itself considering suspending you from your position."

Delia began to start towards her again, fists clenched, but Lily pulled her back.
"It's not worth it," She whispered. "You tell me that all the time….listen to what you tell me for once."

September 5th, 1995
Hogwarts

"Mister Malfoy, if you don't put that away this instant, I will ensure you will never see it again."

The entire room class froze the second the doors slammed shut behind their new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Her hair as wild as her eyes, Nymphadora Tonks strutted into the room, swept up the small bag of powder Draco had been showing his friends, and dropped it into her pocket without so much as looking at them as she passed. She then all but attacked the chalkboard with her wand, and it began to spell out the curricula. She hopped up onto the desk and kicked off her shoes, drawing her legs up to be cross legged and appraise them all. She caught the disdainful eye of Draco and several other Slytherin students and, perhaps to mock them, intentionally transformed her feet to talons. Pansy Parkinson let out a shriek of disgust. Across from her, Cat Fudge leaned over (oddly, leaning backwards so that she was upside down) to flip her off with both hands, her wand in her hair. Harry and Ron started laughing, ignoring the disapproving look from Hermione.

"Alright!" A sharp snap rang out throughout the room, silencing everyone in an instant. "That's enough fun. You all are….fifth years, correct?"

Everyone nodded, including Cat, though in the process she nearly flipped forward onto the floor.

"Miss Fudge, if I were you, I would learn to sit in a chair like a normal human being," Tonks sent her a pointed look. "Although, having met your mother, I can see why that may very well be a challenge."

"Says the woman with talons for feet," Cat muttered, scowling as she shoved her glasses back into place.

The class started to snicker, falling silent when their professor set off another small explosion.

"Tell me," She began, scanning over them again. "How many of you want to be aurors?"

Some murmuring sprung up but over half of their hands, including Harry, Ron, and Hermione's slowly raised. Tonks clicked her tongue with a frown.

"Maybe a third of you, by the time you get through NEWTS, will be even considered as applicants," She coldly informed them. "And maybe half of those selected will make it through the three year training process. Some of you might want to reconsider."

Her gaze fell onto Neville, one of the only Gryffindors who seemed less than enthralled by the thought of becoming an auror.

"Seems to me like some of you have ideas of….alternate career paths," She jumped down, her natural feet returning, and walked over to Neville, stopping in front of him and offering him a kind smile. "Have you any ideas, Mister Longbottom?"

Neville looked up, startled. "Yes," He admitted. "I...I've considered healing."

She raised an eyebrow. "You have the aura for that," She finally said. "Pale green. The aura of a natural Healer."

Neville fidgeted uncomfortably. "T-thank you?"

She patted his shoulder and then started back towards the front of the room.

"You would be horrified to know just how many bodies I've seen on the job," Tonks lectured, turning back to face them and erasing the blackboard with a tap of her wand. "The Ministry has one thought of what is important to learn during your OWL years, but I have never concurred. I have more leeway than ever, however, given that the country is in dire straits because of the return of You-Know-Who. The Minister gave me special permission to teach…..otherwise untaught, old curses and hexes, as well as their counters because of the situation, and I am not taking any of this lightly. Furthermore -"

"Because we should be taking advice from a blood traitor like you," Draco remarked under his breath, swearing loudly when Cat all but stabbed him in the back of the leg with the heel of her stilettos. "Your mother is a mudblood, Catherine, don't you -"

"Enough!" Tonks snapped, giving Draco a dark look. "If you use that word again," She said coldly. "I will not hesitate to give you three weeks detention, which would include mandatory, extracurricular work into muggle studies."

Draco stiffened. "You wouldn't dare."

She narrowed her eyes, coming over to him, her face only a few inches from his. "Believe me," She hissed. "I will not tolerate people like you destroying what it means to be a Slytherin. You are not loyal or fraternal. You….you are a fool."

"This is going to be a good year," Ron whispered to Harry.

"I sure hope so," He replied. "It'd be nice, for a change."

September 7th, 1995
Number 12 Grimmauld Place

"I have to say, I'm worried about you, Sirius," Remus sat down across the table from his husband, his brow furrowed in concern. "What's bothering you?"

He hesitated, absentmindedly stirring his butterbeer with his finger.

"It's Harry," He finally said. "Well, Eleanor too but to a lesser extent. She has always taken after Lily. I've never seen El be anything less than calm. But Harry….he's seemed upset these last few months and I just can't seem to figure why."

"His encounter with Voldemort likely is still bothering him," Remus calmly said, reaching over the table to rest his hands over Sirius'. "I can't even imagine how that must have felt. Surely it wouldn't be shocking if that was still on his mind, would it?"

Sirius sighed. "Maybe I am reading too much into things," He said quietly. "But I don't know. Even Lily is concerned."

"She is his mother," Remus reminded him. "After losing James, of course she's going to be constantly worried about her children. And, after everything he's been though…."

"I know," Sirius said shortly. "I just can't help but wonder if there's more to it."

"That thought has crossed my mind more than once too," Remus admitted, squeezing his hand. "And not just about Harry. Voldemort -"

"Voldemort could be anywhere," Sirius bitterly replied. "At least Nymphadora is teaching those kids how to fight. Of all of my nieces and nephews, she is the only one who came out normal. I suppose that isn't much of a shock, though, considering that Andromeda is the only one of my cousins I actually like. Narcissa…..well, I suppose the best thing I can say about her is that she's not Bellatrix."

Remus sighed. "I'm sorry, love."

"I have no need of them," Sirius gave him a small smile and squeezed his hands back. "I replaced my family just fine."

Remus smiled. "I'm glad I've been that much of a help to you. With my….condition, I often worry I'm an undue burden on you."

Sirius shook his head. "You never have been," He quietly replied. "I promise."

Remus let go of his hands and came around the table to embrace him, nuzzling his neck.

"We're going to get through this," He whispered. "Voldemort has been defeated before by the Order, and he can be again. We just need more time."

"I know," Sirius tightly held him, closing his eyes as he leaned into his embrace. "I just worry we won't get that. Time is fickle enough….and we all are well aware that He is on the move."