18 June 1996
Nymphadora Tonks was speeding towards the Department of Mysteries. Just ahead of her, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Kingsley Shacklebolt had broken through the door to find Harry and his friends. Loud banging, frenzied shouts, and flashes of light consumed Tonks' vision. Invigorated by adrenaline, Tonks hurried when she found Hermione Granger lying unconscious on the floor, flanked by Ginny Weasley and a girl with long dirty blonde hair.
"Tonks!" Ginny shouted. "Please help!"
Tonks rushed to kneel next to Hermione's frail frame. Tonks cast a few rapid diagnostic spells and then muttered healing spells.
"Ginny, I've done what I can to slow the curse," Tonks said. "She needs to get to St. Mungo's as soon as possible. Is Ron here to help?"
"There's something wrong with him – brains – or something," replied Ginny. "Luna and I should be able to manage with Hermione for now."
"I'll check on Ron and then get to Harry," Tonks promised. Several crashes grabbed Tonks' attention, and she sprinted to what she thought was the Hall of Prophecies.
Instead, Tonks found herself running into the room in front of her. It was the Time-Turner Room, and nearly all the time-turners had been destroyed. Glittery, sharp pieces of hourglasses were spread throughout the room and in her haste, Tonks tripped over herself, face-first into a crunchy pile of time sand, and her vision went black.
5 November 1971
Tonks' eyelids fluttered. Soft lights flickered in her periphery. Tonks opened her eyes. Though her vision was still blurry, she could make out a figure in lime green standing a few meters from where she lay. Her head was throbbing, and she rubbed her eyes to try to clear her vision. Limp strands of mousy brown hair tickled her neck.
I must be at St. Mungo's, she thought. What happened? The battle!
"It's nice to see you awake," said a soft voice.
"What happened? Is everyone okay? Where's Harry? Did Hermione make it out?" Tonks blurted out the questions.
"Harry? Hermione?" the soft voice questioned.
"The kids! Did they make it out alright?" Tonks' demanded. Her vision was finally returning, and she matched the voice to the figure in lime green, a Healer.
"I'm not certain who you're referring to, miss," explained the Healer. "Unspeakables found you unconscious in the Time-Turner Room, alone."
"Alone?" Tonks gasped. "There wasn't anyone else?"
The Healer shook his head. "I'm Healer Morgan, by the way," he continued. "May I ask your name?"
"My name?" Tonks asked. "You couldn't identify me from my wand?"
"No, miss," Morgan replied. "Your wand appears to be unregistered. Are you an Auror?"
"Yes, I'm Auror Nymphadora Tonks," Tonks replied, slightly shuddering at her first name. "I qualified last year. I trained with Alastor Moody. How long have I been here?"
"You've been out for about 12 hours, Miss Tonks," Morgan explained. "You arrived 12 hours ago from the Ministry." The Healer looked pensive. "Your title will explain the Auror robes you arrived in, but no one in the Aurors' Office could identify you, even though you were found at the Ministry."
"Not even Mad-Eye?" Tonks asked. Morgan looked at her quizzically. "There's no one named Mad-Eye at the Aurors' Office, Miss Tonks."
"Moody – Alastor Moody, that's who I meant," Tonks asked, exasperated. "He couldn't identify me?"
"No, Miss Tonks," said Healer Morgan, shaking his head. "Auror Moody did not recognize you. He has been waiting for you to wake to ask you some questions," Morgan elaborated. "Moody insisted upon staying." Morgan grimaced.
"Sounds like Moody," mused Tonks, a smile creeping up on her face. "Let him in. It'll be nice to see a familiar face."
Healer Morgan nodded and exited the room. A few moments later, Alastor Moody limped into the room and stared down at Tonks.
Tonks' jaw dropped. Her mentor looked nothing like she remembered. His nose was whole. His two beady eyes matched; it was unnerving to see him without his magical eye. Even his legs were human – almost unharmed, save for the limp. He looked decades younger, too. Something felt very wrong with this Moody. Polyjuice Potion perhaps? It had happened once in the last year – surely it could happen again.
"Moody!" Tonks exclaimed. "Before you speak, what was my hair color when you met me?"
"We've never met, lass," Moody growled.
"Death Eaters are getting dumber by the day, then," Tonks spat. "Incapable of answering basic questions under Polyjuice. Get. Out." Tonks glared at the obvious impostor, standing up from her bed and trying to fight a bout of vertigo. She snatched her wand from her bedside table and pointed it at the impostor. She berated herself for forgetting to grab it beforehand.
"What do you know about Death Eaters, Miss….?" Moody asked, a curious look in his eyes, studying her as she lay in the hospital bed. Moody's hand twitched towards his wand.
"Tonks," she replied, rolling her eyes. "Seriously, you lot are dumber than I remember. I thought I told you to get out." She glowered at the imposter, keeping her wand steady at him.
"Miss Tonks," Moody growled. "I am not a Death Eater, and frankly I'm concerned that you know about them."
Tonks didn't know how to respond to this. "Where's Dumbledore? I need to talk to him," she demanded. If anyone can help, it's him, she thought. No Death Eater will go near him.
"You need Dumbledore?" Moody questioned.
"If you can get him here, it would help me identify you," Tonks glowered. "Show me your Patronus while you're at it," she continued. "If I see it for myself I'll know if it's you."
Moody muttered the Patronus charm and sent the light out of the room. It was non-corporeal, but fully capable of sending a message, just as she hoped. Few Death Eaters could even conjure a Patronus, she reasoned, let alone get a non-corporeal one to deliver a message.
Tonks lowered her wand slightly and breathed a small sigh of relief. A phoenix Patronus burst into the room, announcing Dumbledore's imminent arrival. Tonks lowered her wand fully and sat back on the bed, relieved.
"What did you lower your wand for, lass?" barked Moody. "Lowered your suspicions already?"
"You may not look like the Moody I know, but between your Patronus and Dumbledore's reply, I'm no longer concerned you're a Death Eater," Tonks replied calmly. "I know you both enough."
Moody's pensive gaze fell back on Tonks. The curious look was back in his eyes – still unnerving her that both of them matched. What is going on here? Why can't Moody remember me?
Tonks heard a click at the door and Albus Dumbledore crossed the threshold towards Tonks and not-quite-usual Moody. Tonks looked curiously at the Headmaster; he didn't appear quite right to her, either. His hair had less white in it and more gray and auburn; his beard wasn't nearly as long as she remembered it. His robes were midnight blue, and his eyes still twinkled in their electric blue. He looked younger, too.
"Greetings, Miss…?" Dumbledore began.
Tonks' jaw dropped. Dumbledore couldn't remember her, either.
"Tonks, Professor," she replied. "You d-don't remember me?" Dumbledore shook his head.
"Are you related to Mr. Edward Tonks?" Dumbledore asked gently. "He married recently."
"That's my dad," Tonks said. "My mum is Andromeda. Her maiden name was Black. You know them?"
Dumbledore nodded.
"But you don't know me?" Tonks reiterated. Dumbledore shook his head again.
Tonks was beginning to panic. Neither Dumbledore nor Moody could remember her. What happened at the Department of Mysteries? Where is everyone? The Time-Turner Room…no. No. It couldn't be.
Tonks took a deep breath. "What day is it?" she ventured.
"The fifth of November, Miss Tonks," replied Dumbledore. "You may also know it as Bonfire Night, or Guy Fawkes Day? I named my lovely phoenix after the fellow."
"My birthday," Tonks whispered. "It's my birthday today."
"Many happy returns to you, then, Miss Tonks!" Dumbledore smiled. "May I ask how many years you're celebrating today?"
"I-I'm not sure," Tonks confessed. "I must've had an injury…something is wrong, Professor. Yesterday wasn't the 4th of November for me. Yesterday was the 17th of June. Healer Morgan said I'd only been here 12 hours." Tonks fiddled with a loose thread on her threadbare hospital gown.
"May I ask Healer Morgan a few questions concerning your arrival, Miss Tonks?" Dumbledore asked, gently.
Tonks nodded, and Dumbledore swept out of the room. "You can go too, Moody," said Tonks. "I'm sure you're curious too."
"Not leaving you alone, miss," Moody growled. "You're in no state to be on your own."
Tonks felt like pouting, but her worries over the date change, coupled with no one's recognition of her identity, was overwhelming her senses. She last remembered the Time-Turner Room. She thought all the time-turners had been destroyed – hadn't they?
Just as Tonks felt the panic wash over her again, Dumbledore stepped back into the room. Tonks had difficulty reading his facial expression – was it worry? Curiosity?
"Miss Tonks, when was the date and year of your birth?" Dumbledore asked.
"The fifth of November, 1971, sir," replied Tonks. Dumbledore and Moody glanced at each other, each with a grave expression. Dumbledore tugged at his short beard, looking contemplative again.
"It's today, isn't it?" Tonks squeaked. "It's the 5th of November in the year 1971." She looked back and forth between Dumbledore and Moody, as each nodded in her direction. Harry isn't alive yet. Hermione isn't alive yet. Ron, Ginny, the girl called Luna…Remus is alive! Sirius is alive! Her heart ached, remembering the two men. If it's 1971, they're just barely 12 years old.
"Can one of you get Healer Morgan?" Tonks asked. "I need to know something."
Moody shuffled out of the room growling low in Dumbledore's ear on his way out, leaving Tonks with the Headmaster.
"Am I to understand that you know what happened to you, Miss Tonks?" Dumbledore enquired.
"I have a guess," mumbled Tonks. "I was in a…battle…at the Department of Mysteries. I tripped in the Time-Turner Room, and I don't know what happened after that. I'm here now. There must've been an accident," she said, lamely.
"That is my suspicion as well, Miss Tonks," replied Dumbledore. "I will try to assist you in any way I can, but I'll need more time. May I ask what time you are from?"
"1996, sir," Tonks replied. Dumbledore's brow furrowed deeply. "This must be deeply upsetting to you, Miss Tonks. Moody mentioned that you knew what Death Eaters were. Am I right in assuming they are still a problem in your time?"
Tonks nodded. "They are, but different than what you have now, I think. A lot happened," she finished.
Dumbledore contemplated this once more. "You were an Auror in your time?" Dumbledore asked. "Trained under Alastor?"
"Yes, sir," she replied. "I was the last Auror he personally trained," she stated proudly. Moody might not know me here, but he will know me one day.
"Moody mentioned on his way out that he was impressed with you," Dumbledore stated. His eyes twinkled at her, and Tonks' heart soared at the praise.
The door clicked again and Moody limped back into the room, with Healer Morgan in his wake.
"You wanted to see me, Miss Tonks?" asked Morgan.
"Am I well enough to leave?" Tonks inquired. Though she had nowhere to go in 1971, she needed to get back to the Department of Mysteries. Maybe the Unspeakables had a solution to bring her back to her own time?
"No, Miss Tonks," replied Morgan. "You were unconscious for 12 hours. We would like to keep you for at least one more night before we can release you."
Tonks frowned. "Can I walk around the hospital?" she asked. "I don't like sitting still for too long, if I can help it."
"Once you eat something, we can reassess," replied the healer. "Auror Moody told me that you were ready to hex him upon his arrival, so I think we can arrange a stroll along the corridors, given your apparent strength." Morgan smiled at her. Tonks grinned in reply.
"Miss Tonks, it may be better for you to stay the night," Dumbledore pressed. "Allow me to use the time to determine a solution to your concern. May I stop by tomorrow afternoon?" he asked.
"Of course, Professor," replied Tonks. "I'm grateful for any help I can get."
"Excellent," Dumbledore said. "I look forward to seeing you tomorrow." He turned towards Moody, who grunted a goodbye to Tonks.
"I'll be right back with some food for you, Miss Tonks," assured Morgan. "Once you eat, we can see how steady you are on your feet." He smiled warmly at her and left the room.
"What time is it?" asked Tonks. She had just finished eating the barely-edible hospital food and was ready to explore St. Mungo's.
"It's about 8 o'clock in the evening," replied Morgan. "Healer Stuart will be caring for you overnight. If you need anything, she will gladly assist. I've already informed her that you may be wandering the corridors, but we expect you back in your room by 9 o'clock for your evening potions." Morgan looked at Tonks sternly. "Do not exert yourself, Miss Tonks."
Tonks rolled her eyes. She hated being coddled, but considering her last trip over her own feet hurtled her back 24 years, she felt mollified in the healers' decision to keep her walking hours restricted for the evening.
Tonks stood up from her hospital bed, wrapping herself in the hospital dressing gown. Thoughts were racing through her mind before her stroll. It is my birthday. The day I was born. I'm in…Merlin's beard! My parents must be here!
Suddenly, the wish to go walking became terribly urgent. She gathered herself quickly and stepped out of her room. The corridors were quiet. She strolled down towards the lifts, looking at the guide for the various hospital wards. Scanning the guide, she entered the lift and pressed the button. She could feel her heart pounding loudly in her chest.
The lift stopped gently and let her out onto the ward. Delicate murals adorned the walls. The colors were soft, with various magical animals greeting her cheerily in the images. She wandered along the corridor, taking in the sweet beauty of the scenes, until she felt herself bump into something solid.
"Pardon me, miss!" a jovial voice broke her reverie.
Tonks looked up and her jaw dropped for the third time. Before her stood her father, Ted Tonks. He was considerably thinner than she remembered him, and his hair color was fuller and darker. He was beaming – Tonks had only ever seen him so deliriously happy on the rarest occasions.
"Da…don't mind me!" Tonks gasped. "I'm dead clumsy."
"No trouble at all, miss!" he said, grinning. "I've had the most wonderful day."
Tonks couldn't help but beam at him. If it truly was the fifth of November, 1971, then her father would have become her father that very day.
"If you're in this ward, I'm thinking you had a baby hippogriff, huh?" Tonks snarked.
"She screamed like a bloody hippogriff when she arrived," Ted joked. "She's the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to my wife and me."
Tonks felt her eyes water at his enthusiasm. Before she was aware, the tears started flowing in earnest. Ted frowned at her and asked, "Are you alright, miss? Do you need help getting back to…?"
"No, no," Tonks said, wiping her joyful tears away from her eyes. "You reminded me of my own dad. I miss him more than I realized. He's the best dad a girl could ask for." This was true. Having spent the last year exhausted by Ministry and Order work meant she hadn't spent as much time with her parents. This realization led to further blubbering tears.
Ted looked awkwardly at her. Tonks realized her father was younger than she was at the moment; her parents had her when they were just 20 years old. Surely he wouldn't know how to comfort a stranger crying in the maternity ward.
"Your father must be very proud of you, miss," Ted finally said. "It seems like you've had a rough day. Would you like to see something spectacular?" Ted's eyes shone in the soft light of the corridor.
Tonks nodded enthusiastically. "C'mon then, miss," Ted said. "I didn't catch your name though, did I?"
"It's Ny-" shit! Can't use my real name! Why couldn't they have given me a normal name? "Call me Nat," she settled. Her parents had given her the name Nymphadora Andromeda Tonks. Her initials made a fine pseudonym for the occasion.
"Nat, nice to meet you, I'm Ted," replied her father. He was walking her down towards the end of the corridor, where a little light shone from under the door. "Do you mind if I check something first?" he asked.
"Of course, go ahead," Tonks replied. He must be asking mum if it's alright for a perfect stranger to meet her baby – her!
Tonks cast a few charms on the door to eavesdrop on the conversation.
"You want a stranger to see our daughter?" Andromeda asked, incredulous. Mum's protective already. Tonks chuckled quietly. If they only knew.
"She seems distraught, 'Dromeda," replied Ted. "She looks like she's been through a lot and looked so lost. Her hospital badge shows she's from Spell Damage. Poor thing looks terribly disoriented and was just crying about missing her dad. I'm a dad now and it just broke my heart."
Tonks felt the tears coming again and wiped her eyes once more on her sleeve. The next time she saw her dad – in 1996 – she would remember to hug him fiercely.
"Fine, but keep your wand on you," Andromeda negotiated. "Anything out of line and that stranger will regret the day she was born."
Tonks stifled a laugh. If I regret today, it's not because of this.
A moment later, Ted stepped out of the room and beckoned for Tonks to come in. Tonks set her eyes upon her mother and a bundle in her arms. Her eyes watered again, but she kept the tears at bay for the time being.
"Nat, I promised I'd show you something spectacular," Ted said, excitedly. "This is my daughter, Nymphadora." He beamed at Tonks. Andromeda kept a wary gaze at Tonks.
Tonks' heart felt fit to burst. She looked upon her mother – exhausted, beautiful, fierce – and then looked upon her own newborn face. She looked at her newborn self – this newborn self had mousy brown hair, matching Tonks' current shade. Tonks nearly morphed it out of panic, but the moment she thought to morph, her newborn self morphed her hair instead, switching to what would become her favorite shade: bubblegum pink.
"Isn't that spectacular?" Ted marveled. "They think she's a Metamorphmagus."
"She's definitely a Metamorphmagus," Tonks confirmed. "I've known one before, and I heard she started changing hair colors the day she was born."
"Little Nymphadora was born just today!" Andromeda said, excitedly. "A little over 12 hours ago."
Tonks hesitated. She had arrived unconscious a little over 12 hours ago. Had she arrived at the moment of her birth?
Tonks bit the inside of her cheek, a question burning at the tip of her tongue. "Why Nymphadora?" she asked. "It's an unusual name, no?"
Andromeda responded, "She's the most beautiful girl I've ever laid my eyes on. She's the gift of life I've waited for, and she reminded me of the goodness of beauty from the mythological nymphs. She is my little nymph." Andromeda gazed back at the newborn with adoration in her eyes.
"That's quite lovely," Tonks said. I still don't like the name, but mum looks too happy with baby-me to argue. Her newborn self changed hair colors again; it was now black to match her mother's hair color.
"Nymphadora agrees with me!" Andromeda cooed. Whatever you say, mum. Tonks chuckled at the sight. She glanced up at the clock and saw the time nearing 9 o'clock. She would be due for more potions.
"I must be going," Tonks said, reluctantly. "Ted, thank you for introducing me to your beautiful family. I wish you every happiness. Your daughter is very lucky to have you both as parents." Tonks' eyes watered again, and glanced once more at her newborn self in her mother's arms before crossing back through the threshold of the room and up to her own room.
A/N Note for timing: Tonks doesn't have a canon birthday, so I've made it 5 November. For the purposes of this story, I'm making Tonks one year older than her canon age, having been born in academic year 1971/1972, rather than 1972/1973.