24 December 1971

"Happy Christmas, Father," Dora said, winking at Al as she entered the flat. Al had requested Dora be at the flat earlier than usual, as he and Titus were inviting a couple guests to a Christmas Eve brunch, and he wanted Tonks to be there for them.

Kreacher had come by to help Al and Titus set up, and once everything was in place, Dora waited patiently by the door to welcome the guests.

Dora heard a loud rap at the door and hurried to greet the guests. She was surprised to find both Albus Dumbledore and Alastor Moody at the doorstep.

"Professor! Moody! What a happy surprise! Al and Titus didn't tell me you were coming," Dora blurted. "If I had known I wouldn't have dressed up so much." Dora scoffed, and continued, "There's only so much pureblood mania I can handle."

Dumbledore chuckled, and Moody grunted. "Best we come inside, lass," grumbled Moody. "These conversations should happen behind closed doors."

Dora stepped out of the way and let the two men into the flat. Moody cast several silencing charms and security wards on the door before he turned to join Dumbledore, Al, Titus, and Dora in the dining room.

"Welcome, Albus, Alastor," said Al. "Please sit. Firewhisky?" The three other men nodded and Al poured generous glasses of firewhisky. Food appeared at the table and everyone sat down to eat and drink.

"I heard, Miss Black, that you met someone rather intriguing at the Malfoys' gala last night," Dumbledore began.

"Intriguing is one word for it," muttered Dora. "Bloody terrifying is a better one."

"Language," warned Al. "You may be 25 in your timeline but you barely pass for an 11 year old in this timeline." Titus chuckled at Al's attempt to chide Dora.

Dora sighed. "Fine, Voldemort is a terrifying, barely human menace. Does that get it better?" Al rolled his eyes while Titus continued stifling his laughter.

"Tell us about what you heard and saw, if you please, Miss Black," Dumbledore pressed.

Dora set into Auror mode as she described everything and everyone she saw. Names, physical appearances, speeches, and comments. She went into detail describing her encounter with Voldemort, including his use of Legilimency – twice – on her. Dumbledore, Moody, Titus, and Al had grave expressions as she described the Legilimency to them.

"No one told me about that," Al protested. "I had you do some magic to try to see the Dark Lord but I would never have sent you with Cygnus and Pollux if I'd known Voldemort was going to use Legilimency on you."

"I wasn't surprised, really," admitted Dora. "Last training session, Moody told me to practice my Occlumency, and I'm grateful he did. Voldemort barely got anything out of me, but I almost passed out from the effort. I'll have to keep working at it. Will I be able to continue practicing dueling and Occlumency when I get back to school?"

"Alastor, would you be willing to assist Miss Black in the coming years?" Dumbledore inquired.

"Unless Death Eaters get in my way first, I'll be there, Albus," grunted Moody.

"Thank you, Moody," Dora said, standing from her chair. "I'm glad you came by, actually, Moody, Professor. I have gifts for you, if you'll excuse me." Dumbledore smiled at Dora, and she returned a few minutes later with hastily wrapped presents.

"Moody, this one's for you," Dora said, handing him a small package. He opened it to find a Sneakoscope. "They're new, but in my timeline you had a bunch already. They detect if there's someone suspicious or untrustworthy around you. It's not lighting up right now, so I'm glad we're all safe." Tonks beamed at him and Moody set his mouth into a crooked almost-smile.

Next, Dora pulled out several vials from her robes. "I pulled these from my memory for you, Professor," she explained. "I thought you might find them enlightening. It's everything from the gala last night."

"Very considerate of you to produce these memories, Miss Black," observed Dumbledore. "Happy Christmas, indeed."

The brunch was over far too quickly for Dora's liking. Spending time with Moody, especially, made her feel at home, which she was sorely missing.

….

25 December 1971

Dora woke with a start early on Christmas Day. The last two nights had been filled with nightmares of Voldemort's gleaming red eyes and his inhuman face. She had hardly expected to be so frightened of him, but the way he invaded her mind and spoke sent shivers down her spine again. She wanted comfort, but found none. She could barely tell Sirius anything about the encounter, and she didn't have her own mother or Remus available to confide in. She felt unbearably lonely.

Dora had decided, rather surreptitiously, to send her parents a gift for the holiday. She had managed to convince Al to help her with it, based on a particularly sweet memory she had:

They were in the library at Grimmauld Place. It was after the first Order meeting, after Tonks had been inducted. She was feeling hopeful and determined, enjoying the company of her long-lost cousin Sirius, and his school friend, Remus.

They were chatting animatedly, and had nicknames Tonks didn't quite understand. Remus kept referring to Sirius as "Padfoot," Sirius referred to Remus as "Moony," and they both referred to James Potter as "Prongs."

"How did you get those nicknames?" Tonks asked.

Remus hesitated and glanced at Sirius.

"You may as well tell her, mate," Sirius told Remus. "Better off to figure it out from us."

"Figure out what?" Tonks curiously wondered.

"You remember that Sirius escaped Azkaban as an Animagus?" asked Remus. "And that Peter was able to escape by transforming into an Animagus himself?"

"Yes?" Tonks asked, wondering where they were going with the discussion.

"Sirius, James, and Peter became Animagi in our fifth year," Remus explained.

"Why not you?" Tonks asked.

"They became Animagi for me," Remus shared, looking uncomfortable.

"If that's what you're into, I guess…?" Tonks joked.

Sirius snorted, but Remus kept his expression steady. "They became Animagi to keep me company at full moons."

Tonks felt the understanding wash over her. "You're a werewolf?" she asked.

"Yes," said Remus, quietly. "I would rather you heard it from me. I understand if you're uncomfortable around me." He shifted awkwardly in his seat, while Sirius let out an exasperated sigh, rolled his eyes, and slumped into the armchair.

"I've never met a werewolf before," said Tonks. "That I know of," she clarified. She thought for a moment, "What does your fur look like when you transform?"

Sirius barked a loud laugh. He gasped for air as he asked, "Of all the questions you could ask a werewolf, you ask about his fur?"

"I've never seen a transformed werewolf before," she explained. "But I had this stuffed wolf growing up that I was unhealthily attached to because I thought it was the cutest thing. It had brown fur. Is that what yours looks like, Remus?"

At this, Remus burst into laughter too. "I am sure the stuffed wolf you had was much nicer than the monster I become," he explained, as Sirius punched him in the shoulder.

"You're not a monster, you prat," Sirius joked.

"I very much am, arsehole," Remus retorted. "To answer your question, Tonks, my fur is a bit like my own hair, this brown color with some grey, I think? Sirius?"

"It's always dark when you transform. Next time I'll get more lights to see if that's right," Sirius mused. "Check if you're as cute as the stuffed wolf Tonksie is going on about."

Remus rolled his eyes and huffed.

"So, we didn't scare you off, did we?" asked Sirius.

"Not in the slightest," Tonks said, truthfully. "It's really sweet you became an Animagus for Remus."

They spent the evening discussing how the boys had become Animagi and how much better full moons became for Remus once he had the company of his friends. When Tonks returned to her parents' home for the evening, she found the stuffed wolf in her closet and decided to put it back on her bed, where it had stayed for several years. She didn't understand the pull then, but it was the beginning of her feelings for Remus.

Dora had convinced Al to take her to a toy shop and, as fate would have it, she found a brand-new version of the stuffed wolf she'd been attached to as a child. Time worked in funny ways. She sent the stuffed wolf off to the Tonks family with a brief note from herself as "Nat," from the hospital. It filled her with nostalgia to think that her infant self would be receiving the stuffed wolf just this morning.

She heard a soft pop next to her and found Kreacher bowing before her. "Miss Dora is requested in the drawing room for Christmas morning," he announced.

"Thank you, Kreacher." Dora got out of bed and found elegant robes waiting for her. Walburga must have ordered Kreacher to prepare clothes for Christmas morning at Grimmauld Place.

She slipped the robes on and brushed her hair so it was neat. She hadn't realized she had bags under her eyes from two nights of poor sleep, so she morphed them away and ensured she looked appropriately rested for the morning.

She stepped out onto the landing to find Regulus waiting for her.

"Happy Christmas, Dora!" he excitedly announced.

"Happy Christmas, Regulus," she murmured. "Is everyone downstairs?"

"Not yet," said Sirius, leaving his own room. His hair was disheveled, but Dora suspected he had purposefully mussed his hair before leaving his room for Christmas morning. Dora rolled her eyes at the sight and led the boys downstairs to the drawing room.

Walburga, Orion, and Al were all waiting for them. Dora was surprised that Grimmauld Place could look slightly cheerier with Christmas decorations. The tree in the drawing room was elegant and had fairies in its branches. A generous pile of presents awaited them below the tree.

Dora dug into her own gifts and was pleasantly surprised to find gifts from Walburga and Orion, Sirius, and Regulus. Though she had gotten gifts for them all, she was most surprised that both Sirius and Regulus thought to give something to her for the holiday.

Regulus had gifted her a silk black scarf; Sirius had gifted her a set of luxury quills. Walburga and Orion had given her a soft, warm traveling cloak embroidered with the Black family crest, and an emerald brooch she was sure cost at least half her annual salary as an Auror. Dora wondered if she could charm the family motto, "Toujours Pur," off the crest on her cloak. Alphard and Titus gifted her a set of jewelry, to match with the emerald brooch. The whole ensemble was absurdly gaudy and expensive, but she thanked them all the same.

She gifted Sirius and Regulus each with generous amounts of Honeydukes chocolate; she supposed that they hadn't visited Hogsmeade yet and hoped that Sirius would share some of his chocolate with Remus when he returned to school.

She hadn't the foggiest what to get the adults, so she asked Alphard to purchase what he thought was appropriate for them. Orion received a set of high-end dragonhide gloves with a matching jacket; Walburga received a set of knee-high dragonhide boots. Tonks thought the gifts were ridiculous, but Orion and Walburga seemed pleased with Tonks' offering. Alphard purchased himself several bottles of Ogden's Finest Firewhisky, and Tonks contented herself with the gifts.

Dora was especially pleased with the gift from the Scamanders. A gorgeous half-kneazle kitten had arrived for Tonks as a Christmas present from her grandparents. It was entirely black with emerald green eyes. Tonks decided to call the half-kneazle Athena, and it sat perched on Tonks' lap for the rest of the evening.

Despite the gloominess of being at Grimmauld Place and the loneliness of being away from her true family, Dora felt like she was settling into her new reality with her maternal family.

….

26 December 1971

"Tell me about your friends, Sirius," commanded Dora. She had been dying to hear about the young Marauders' adventures, but with the busyness of the holidays, she barely had time alone with Sirius. He often retreated to his room, likely to avoid the family gatherings downstairs. Now that it was the day after Christmas, she was pleased to find him lounging alone in the library.

Sirius' eyes lit up when Dora asked about his friends.

"First, there's James Potter. Met him right away on the train to school," Sirius grinned widely. "He and I play pranks on everyone, especially a few Slytherins that like to hex and jinx us back. James is totally besotted with this girl Lily. She's a swot, though. No idea what he sees in her."

Dora smiled back at Sirius, imagining Harry's parents at such a young age. She couldn't wait to meet them.

"Then there's Peter Pettigrew," Sirius kept smiling. Dora quickly set a neutral expression on her face to hide her scowl; she still hadn't forgiven Peter for ruining Harry and Sirius' lives with his selfishness. "Peter's a small bloke and up for anything. He's the best lookout and he's so quiet no one really notices if he's around. Perfect spy." Sirius beamed.

Perfect spy, huh. I'll catch him if I need to, thought Tonks. What about Remus?

"Last there's Remus Lupin," Sirius explained. Dora couldn't help but beam when Sirius mentioned Remus. "Remus is the good boy, but he's the brains," Sirius elaborated. "He gets the best marks and knows his way against Dark Arts better than any of us. He gets sick a lot, though, poor bloke. Said something about migraines that Muggles get, since his mom's a Muggle."

"Are they all in Gryffindor with you?" asked Dora.

"All of us," Sirius said proudly.

"Did you know any of the boys that danced with me at the Malfoy gala, Sirius? Were any of them Gryffindors?" Dora asked.

"Merlin, no," Sirius grimaced. "Every last one is a Slytherin and a prat. You don't want to get involved with any of them."

"What if Regulus is sorted into Slytherin next year?" asked Dora, softly.

Sirius scowled. "I may have to disown him," he joked.

"No!" Dora protested. "He's your brother and he'll need your support no matter what, Sirius. Will you promise me that you'll still treat him kindly?"

"As kindly as any brother does, Dora," muttered Sirius.

Dora accepted the answer for now. "Can I write to you at school, Sirius?" she asked.

"Please, please write me," Sirius begged. "The only letters I get from home are Howlers from Mother."

Dora smiled warmly at her cousin. "I promise I'll write, Sirius."

….

31 December 1971

"Mother, I am not wearing them again," Sirius growled. "I don't care that it's your bloody New Year's Ball, I'm NOT GOING!" Sirius slammed the door to his room.

Walburga screeched, "SIRIUS ORION BLACK! YOU WILL ATTEND THIS BALL OR YOU WILL BE PUNISHED, YOU UNGRATEFUL BRAT! YOU SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN BORN!"

"NO, I WON'T, MOTHER," Sirius screamed back. "YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!"

"Crucio!" shouted Walburga. Sirius' cries of pains filled the whole corridor. Tonks sat on the floor of her room, knees tucked against her chest, trying to drown out the noise from Sirius' anguished screams. What seemed like an eternity later, Sirius' cries died out and Tonks could hear shuffling in the corridor.

Dora had always known Sirius had a contentious relationship with his mother. She thought it was due to Sirius' own rebelliousness and temper, and an old-school form of raising children with an upper hand. She had not expected the woman to use an Unforgivable Curse on her own child. Dora was wiping tears from her eyes as she contemplated Sirius' suffering. She had never heard Regulus cursed in such a way, but she had seen the occasional bruise on his body that couldn't have come from boyish roughhousing. Al must have told Walburga to lay off Tonks, as the worst she'd been subjected to so far had been verbal insults.

When the corridor was quiet, Dora crept out of her room and hesitated before knocking lightly on Sirius' door.

"Enter," his hoarse voice called. He flinched at the sound of the door opening, but visibly relaxed when he saw it was Dora.

Dora furtively cast a silencing charm on the door and turned towards Sirius. He looked haunted, a mere shadow of the man Dora had come to know in her timeline. A sizable gash was on his cheek; it might have been Walburga's doing before the Cruciatus Curse, or an injury on his way down from the curse. It hurt her heart to see this young Sirius suffering already.

"I'm sorry," Dora said, softly.

"Nothing you can do about it," Sirius mumbled, eyes watery from the after-effects of the curse. Dora had yet to experience the Cruciatus Curse for herself, but her Auror training had given her enough exposure that she would never will it on anyone, even an enemy.

"Do you need healing for that gash?" Dora asked. Sirius shook his head.

"I don't want to give her the satisfaction of knowing she hurt me," Sirius murmured. "It's not like you can do anything about it. I'll just clean it up myself like I usually do."

Tonks hesitated. With her wand, there were various spells she could cast to stitch the skin back together without a trace of injury.

"Have you not learned any healing spells at school yet, Sirius?" asked Dora. She had a tough time remembering when those spells were introduced to the students.

"Just a couple, but it's hard to heal myself," muttered Sirius. Dora bit her lip, considering her options.

"Can I try with your wand?" she ventured.

"You know healing spells?" Sirius asked.

"If you hadn't noticed, despite the etiquette lessons, I'm still clumsy and my mum had to heal me a lot," Dora explained. This much was true, albeit in the wrong timeline.

Sirius hesitated, but gave Dora his wand. The wand wasn't as familiar as her own, but she cast the spell on Sirius' cheek and it stitched itself cleanly. She handed the wand back to Sirius, and instructed him to wash his face.

Sirius stepped to the bathroom attached to his suite and washed his face. "Dora, this is perfect," he admired. "How did you get that so perfectly?"

"Practice," Dora replied. "If you need help again, let me know, okay? I've got to get dressed for this bloody ball too. Dance with me later?"

"Of course, Dora," Sirius promised. "It's the least I can do."

….

The Black family New Year's Ball was well underway when Sirius, Dora, and Regulus appeared in the ballroom. It was a much smaller event than the Malfoys' Gala, but still filled with pompous purebloods dressed in tawdry robes.

Dora decided to engage with Narcissa. She was still very apprehensive about Bellatrix, but when her mother, Andromeda, was disowned, she always wondered if Narcissa was any better than Bellatrix.

"Good evening, Narcissa," Dora greeted, curtsying in front of the slightly older witch.

Narcissa was a gorgeous witch. Tonks had only ever seen her from afar and she was always struck with how beautiful, but cold, her aunt appeared. This younger version was much warmer.

"Good evening, Pandora," Narcissa said, returning the greeting. "How have you been enjoying living with Aunt Walburga and Uncle Orion?"

"Very well, Narcissa," Dora lied. "I am grateful for the instruction in proper etiquette. I still have much to learn."

"You're doing quite well, Pandora," praised Narcissa. "Feel free to call me Cissa, if you wish. We are cousins, after all."

Tonks smiled at Cissa, and returned, "Call me Dora, please," she offered. "Pandora feels too formal for me."

"Dora," Cissa lingered on the syllables. "Have you heard much of my sister?"

"Bellatrix?" Dora ventured. "I have enjoyed the pleasure of Bella's company many times now."

"My other sister," Cissa hissed. "Andromeda."

Tonks' heart thumped loudly. She couldn't know, could she?

"I heard she is no longer welcome in the Black family," Dora said, flatly. "Nor is her husband or child." Dora fought to keep her facial expression neutral.

"I did hear she had a child," Cissa said, absentmindedly. "Better for the family that Andromeda and her – choices – are no longer present." Dora could see the sorrow in Narcissa's eyes; it was clear that Andromeda's departure had hurt both sisters. Maybe I can change that, Tonks thought.

"Yes," Dora agreed. "You have made a more appropriate choice, cousin."

Narcissa flashed a wide smile; it looked like her first genuine smile of the evening. "Lucius is everything a proper husband should be, Dora," gushed Cissa. "I look forward to becoming a Malfoy when my education is complete."

"You'll marry summer after next?" asked Tonks.

"It will be the most popular wedding in British Wizarding society," Narcissa boasted. "Perhaps you may meet your own proper husband then."

"I think I might be too young for that," Dora said. "I won't even be 13 by then."

"I was betrothed at 14, Dora," Cissa said. "I saw all those young men dancing with you at the Malfoys' Gala. Unce Alphard would be a fool to leave you without a betrothal agreement for much longer. I suspect you'll have plenty of eligible suitors when you arrive at Hogwarts."

"Aunt Walburga suggested Sirius, actually," said Dora. "If I'm not Sorted into Slytherin, I think."

"I heard no one expects you to be Sorted into Slytherin," said Cissa, airily. "Bella knows the Dark Lord spoke with you. Quite an honor at your age, don't you agree?"

"Yes, an honor," Dora said, gritting her teeth. "If I misbehave enough maybe Aunt Walburga will get her wish."

"It sounds as if you already have an eye on your cousin, cousin," Cissa said, smirking. "A touch unusual these days, the relation so close, but no one will question it, as it is quite an advantageous match for the House of Black."

"Uh huh," said Tonks, feeling more uncomfortable with every minute. "Do you mind if I excuse myself? I believe I owe Regulus a dance."

"Another fine match, Pandora," Cissa said, winking.

Dora sped off as gracefully as she could until she found Regulus. "Dance with me next, yeah?" she whispered to him. Regulus took her hand and whisked her off to the dance floor.

"What happened over there with Cissa?" Regulus asked. "It looked like you were getting along rather well."

"She kept telling me I need a betrothal agreement and I couldn't take it anymore," hissed Dora. "How can she think it's a good idea? I'm 11."

"It's harder for witches," clarified Regulus. "You have a lot more work to do if you're expected to bear the next heir of a house. If Cissa is talking to you like that, she probably knows something."

"Heirs?!" Tonks blurted. "Is that all they take me for?"

Regulus shrugged, spinning Dora around in the dance. "They wouldn't be grooming you so early if they didn't think someone important wanted you," Regulus explained. "Father told me that if Sirius fails to take up the responsibilities of an heir, I've got to do it."

"You're 10," Dora deadpanned. "That's too much responsibility to put on a child."

"Not sure if you noticed," Regulus whispered, "but there's not much they won't do to a child. Try to keep your head down. Sirius is an idiot and doesn't learn."

"What makes me an idiot, now?" Sirius demanded. "May I cut in?" he asked, facing Dora, offering his hand.

Dora happily accepted Sirius' hand, noting Narcissa's grin from the other side of the dance floor. Dora shuddered, but stepped into the rhythm with Sirius all the same.

"You're not an idiot, Sirius," commented Dora. "Reg was just telling me you don't like to follow rules."

"Why should I follow them if they're shitty rules?" Sirius asked.

"No one said you had to, but it might help you fit in a bit better."

"What if I don't want to fit in?"

"I know you don't, Sirius, but it might help you to try for a little longer."

"Why in Merlin's name should I do that?" Sirius growled. He was becoming agitated at Dora's insistence.

"Because it might hurt your brother or me in the process," Dora said softly. "Please don't leave us earlier than you have to."

At this, Sirius' expression softened. "I'll think about it, Dora," he said. "I promise I won't try to hurt you or Reg, yeah?"

"Thank you, Sirius." The rest of the dance proceeded in silence, until the song was over and Dora was able to escape the dance floor for refreshments and her own thoughts.