2 February 1973
"OI! SNAPE! WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING!" Sirius' voice bellowed through the sixth floor corridor. Dora was on her way up to the Astronomy Tower. She found cold Scottish afternoons left the Tower unoccupied, allowing her to enjoy solitude before the sunset. Sirius' voice grabbed her attention.
Dora saw Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter standing across from a disheveled, scowling Severus Snape. He was joined by an angry Lily Evans.
"You watch where you're going, you prat," Snape seethed, sending a stinging jinx at Sirius in the process.
"You arse!" James yelled. James jinxed Snape right back, sending Snape into the wall across the corridor.
"Stop it!" Lily cried. "He didn't do anything to you, Potter!"
"He jinxed Sirius!" Remus interrupted.
"After Snape knocked into him!" Peter chimed in.
"That response is really unnecessary," Dora interjected. "I expected better – from all of you." She sighed heavily. This was one of the many occasions in which she felt too old for the time; she missed being a carefree twentysomething. She felt more like a parent these days, surrounded by unruly children.
"Snape started it!" Sirius spat. Severus was now stirring from the wall, being helped to his feet by Lily.
Dora rolled her eyes. "Even if he had knocked into you on purpose, jinxing him in return isn't fair play."
"Pandora's right!" Lily cried. "You could've really hurt Severus!"
"Who cares?" James hissed. "It's just Snivellus." He scowled at the young Slytherin.
"That's cruel, James," Dora said coldly.
"Sod off, Potter!" Lily screeched, reaching for Snape's arm.
"I don't need you sticking up for me, Black!" Snape yelled. "Or you, Evans!" Snape rushed down the corridor to the stairs.
"Wait up, Sev!" Lily called, running down to meet him.
"Why do you bully him?" Dora demanded of the young Marauders. "What did he ever do to you?"
"He started it!" Sirius bellowed. "He's always been a right, foul git!"
"I don't care," said Dora, exasperated. "He's a human being and deserves to be treated like one."
"I don't see you giving him this lecture," James snapped. "Why do you care about him? You fancy him?"
Remus snapped his head up at James' comment. He looked at Dora expectantly.
"No, you dolt," Dora replied. "I don't fancy anyone at this school at the moment. If I did, it certainly wouldn't be any of you immature prats." Remus looked suddenly downcast at Dora's comment. Now's not the time to deal with this, Dora thought.
"James, you fancy Lily, yeah?" Dora asked, trying to keep her tone even.
"Yeah – what's it to you?" James bit. His wand released a few sparks out of anger, alarming Remus, Sirius, and Peter in the process.
"Easy there, mate," Sirius called. "She's still my cousin."
"Did you ever think that being cruel to one of Lily's best friends would be a way for you to win her over?" Dora asked James, whose jaw had dropped. "I don't expect you to befriend Severus, but being civil would make a big difference with Lily."
"And you, Sirius!" Dora turned towards her cousin. "Fighting four against one? Is that really brave? If that's how you behave around Severus, no wonder he's cruel to you too."
"Lastly, you two!" Dora now turned to face Remus and Peter.
"We didn't do anything!" Peter protested.
"Exactly," Dora said. "You didn't do anything. Learn to stand up for what's right – even if it's against your best friends." Remus and Peter both grew red in the face at Dora's scolding.
"I'm going to find Severus and Lily now," Dora declared. "I hope I don't have to repeat myself." She stared sternly at the four boys before turning around and heading back down the stairs, but not before she heard James mutter, "Bloody Hufflepuffs."
….
14 February 1973
It was Valentine's Day, and Dora was dreading breakfast in the Great Hall. Her dormmates were excited to be sending childish valentines to one another, and even to a few boys they thought were "fit." Dora seriously considered morphing herself green to look ill enough to be sent to the Hospital Wing, but decided against it. She was confident Madam Pomfrey would have her hands full with love potion-addled teenagers, not unlike what she'd seen in her original timeline around Valentine's Day.
Reluctantly, then, Dora trudged out of the Hufflepuff common room and up to the Great Hall, which was abuzz with activity from hormonal teenage witches and wizards.
She sat down gracelessly at the Hufflepuff table, trying to shovel as much food in her mouth as she could before classes. Unfortunately, she wasn't quick enough, and a storm of owls came through the Great Hall bearing gifts for their intended recipients.
One by one, owl after owl left a parcel in front of Dora, disrupting her breakfast. The other Hufflepuffs stared as the owls kept arriving for Dora, who scowled in disgust at the growing pile of Valentine's offerings. The pile was growing comically large, and students from other tables began craning their necks to see the pile of gifts steadily rising before the young Hufflepuff's head. Over her shoulder, Dora could see the young Marauders now standing on the table benches to get a better look at her, all bearing amused grins. Even several professors looked at the unusual scene; Slughorn looked particularly entertained at Dora's plight.
The owls finally stopped, and Dora began the work of sorting through the valentines. She counted thirty-seven of them. Grimacing, she sorted through the ones she wanted first: Regulus, Kreacher, Sirius and the Marauders, Walburga and Orion, Alphard and Titus, Narcissa, the Scamanders, and her Hufflepuff dormmates. She'd sent all of them enchanted Valentine's notes herself, except the Marauders. They'd be receiving a pile of unwanted chocolates.
The unwanted Valentine's cards were unsurprisingly unoriginal. Just over twenty cards from Slytherin boys, just over twenty boxes of chocolates, just over twenty declarations of admiration for the young Hufflepuff. Just over twenty scowls from Dora. She quickly cast spells to shrink the pile of valentines and the gifts they'd arrived with, drawing gasps of surprise from the students who had been staring at her. Dora was irritated enough that she didn't care if people saw her cast advanced magic anymore, however careless she felt it was to do so.
Stuffing the cards and chocolates haphazardly into her school bag, she stood up from her bench and rushed off to her first class of the day, Potions.
"Dora!" Sirius called. "Got any chocolate?" He gave her a toothy grin.
"Obviously," Dora said, rolling her eyes. "I need to check them for love potions first."
"Remus won't care," Sirius replied. "The rest of us would find it rather funny."
"I wouldn't find it funny," Dora retorted. "I do care if he is poisoned by someone else's desire." She huffed loudly. "I'll meet you lot after dinner tonight with what I know to be safe, yeah?"
"I'll tell Remus!" Sirius said excitedly, running back into the Great Hall.
Dora made her way down to the dungeons to await Potions with the Slytherins. Today, they were expected to brew rudimentary beautification potions in honor of the holiday. Dora planned on asking Slughorn if she could spend the time working on antidotes for love potions instead.
"Miss Black!" Slughorn's voice boomed. "I hadn't the foggiest that you were so popular in my House!"
"Being a Black has its…privileges, sir," Dora said flatly. "I was wondering if I could have a different assignment for class today?"
"What did you have in mind, Miss Black? Normally I wouldn't allow my first years to stray from the syllabus, but I may be able to make an exception for you!" Slughorn winked at Dora.
"I was hoping to make antidotes for love potions, sir," Dora offered. "I thought Madam Pomfrey might appreciate it."
"Why, Miss Black, that's very generous of you! However, I have already brewed Madam Pomfrey a substantial cauldron-full of love potion antidote for the holiday," countered Slughorn. "Might I suggest a different assignment?
"What did you have in mind, Professor?"
"A challenge, Miss Black," Slughorn replied, eyes gleaming. He strode to his desk and pulled out a copy of Advanced Potion Making, offering it to Dora.
"These are N.E.W.T. level potions, are they not?" Dora's eyebrows raised, wondering what Slughorn was thinking in assigning such a challenge to a first-year (despite her talents). Was it a trick?
"They are, Miss Black!" Slughorn chortled. "I daresay if you manage one of these potions, the reward will be great indeed."
Dora sighed; it was either this or a Beauty Potion. The former, harder, but certainly on par with her brewing skills; the latter, laughably easy and dull. Slughorn mentioned a reward – he'd best make it worth her while.
"I accept, Professor," Dora decided. "May I begin now?" Her classmates were beginning to trickle in from breakfast, and whatever was in the advanced potions text would take time. Slughorn beamed at her and handed her the textbook. If it existed, she'd be brewing Wolfsbane Potion for Remus; as it was, the potion wouldn't exist for at least a decade.
Over the next hour, Dora worked carefully to brew Amortentia, in the spirit of Valentine's Day; she presumed Slughorn would be delighted by the concoction. She hadn't made it since her own originalseventh year at Hogwarts, and by now it had been seven (eight?) years since that time. Trying not to focus on the absurdity of the movement of time, or the frustrated sighs of the others' attempts at making Beauty Potions, she spent the hour in near-silence until the cauldron simmering in front of her finally reflected the textbook-mother-of-pearl sheen. She felt giddy upon reaching perfection, confirmed now by the scents filling her nostrils: chocolate, cinnamon, and the musk of an adult Remus. She was dizzy with thoughts of the Remus she missed, drawing her face closer to the cauldron's surface, until Slughorn's booming voice broke her reverie.
"Miss Black! You've done it!" Slughorn roared. "Absolutely perfect! 50 points to Hufflepuff!"
Gasps were heard around the room as the other first years gaped at Dora and Slughorn. Dora felt herself grow red and absentmindedly morphed the blush away. What a foolish thing to do, Dora thought, all to avoid the boredom of a Beauty Potion.
The young Slytherin boys surrounding her were now drawing towards her cauldron; Regulus' face in particular was amusing, leading Dora to wonder what smells he found most attractive at his age. Watching the scene, Slughorn emptied the contents of Dora's cauldron into a large beaker and stoppered it.
"Does anyone know what Miss Black has managed to brew?" Slughorn asked excitedly. Blank stares from all the first years looked back at him and at Dora.
"Has anyone heard of Amortentia?" Slughorn inquired. A few of the young students appeared to recognize the name, but didn't dare to raise their hands.
"Miss Black, care to explain?" Slughorn suggested.
"It's the most powerful love potion in the world," Dora explained. "It smells different to each person. It smells like what they most love in the world, but it doesn't create true love."
"Perfect, Miss Black, perfect!" Slughorn beamed. "It appears our young Hufflepuff friend has quite the hand for potions," he continued. "You could teach my seventh years a thing or two!"
Dora felt herself blush at the praise, feeling it rather undeserved. "Thank you, sir," she replied meekly, as the other students continued gaping at the praise and points Slughorn had showered on her.
"Dora, how did you do that?" Regulus hissed. "That's a N.E.W.T. level potion, that is!"
"I'm good at potions," Dora replied. "Remember? I showed you my mum's lab on Christmas. Let it be." The murmurs hadn't stopped around the hazy dungeon, so Dora made a decision.
"Professor Slughorn," she began, addressing the portly Potions Master. "Might I take a vial of my potion to show Professor Sprout? I believe my Head of House will be most pleased with it."
"But of course, Miss Black!" Slughorn grinned. "I'll let Professor Flitwick know you'll be arriving late to Charms."
"Thank you, sir," replied Dora, taking a vial of the Amortentia with her. She quickly cleaned her station and ran out of the dungeons in the direction of the Headmaster's tower. She sped along to the opposite end of the castle, out of breath by the time she made it to the password-guarded gargoyle statue.
"Fizzing whizzbees!" Nothing.
"Fudge flies!" Nothing.
"Pepper imps!" Nothing. Dora groaned.
"Cockroach clusters!"
"Ice mice!"
"JELLY SLUGS!" Dora bellowed.
"Miss Black, whatever are you doing here?" Professor McGonagall called from the other end of the corridor.
"Fuck," Dora slipped.
"Miss Black! Language!" Professor McGonagall scolded. "10 points from Hufflepuff!"
"It's a bloody good start I've gotten then," Dora replied cheekily. "Care to take anymore, Minerva?"
Professor McGonagall's jaw dropped. "Thirty points from Hufflepuff, Miss Black!" she scowled. "Detention with me every Saturday for the rest of the year!"
"What's all this?" Dumbledore's calm voice emerged from behind the gargoyle statue.
"Miss Black is behaving most improperly, Headmaster," admonished McGonagall. "Poor language and utmost disrespect!"
"Is this true, Miss Black?" Dumbledore looked sternly at Dora.
"I'm fucking tired, Albus," Dora said, looking the Headmaster in the eyes. "So fucking tired." Dumbledore was not amused by her admission.
"10 more points from Hufflepuff, Miss Black!" McGonagall reproached. "Headmaster, what has gotten into this young lady?"
"I suspect Miss Black may have been given a potion, Minerva," Dumbledore replied. "If I'm not mistaken, she received quite a few boxes of chocolates this morning from her admirers. Perhaps one of them was laced with something far more sinister than a love potion?"
"Oh, dear, dear," Professor McGonagall lamented. "I should never have been so harsh on you. 60 points to Hufflepuff! No need for detention, Miss Black. Shall I send for Horace?"
Dora groaned. "That's the motherfucking opposite of what I was trying to accomplish here."
"That's enough, Miss Black!" Dumbledore chided. "Follow me to my office. Minerva, I'll take it from here. No need to alert Professor Slughorn. I believe I have just the antidote Miss Black needs in my personal stores." Professor McGonagall looked at Dora worryingly, but obliged and allowed the Headmaster to take the Hufflepuff up to his office. Dora followed Dumbledore up the steps behind the gargoyle statue until the door closed behind them both.
"May I ask what this is about, Miss Black?" Dumbledore inquired gently.
"It's Tonks. I'm not a Black. I'm a Tonks."
"I'm sure this has been most frustrating for you."
"You don't know the half of it," Tonks said. "All I want is to go back to my timeline. The man I love is just a child here. I can't use any advanced magic without shocking everyone, and learning the simple spells and potions just isn't enough for me. I feel completely useless here. I'm not helping to defeat Voldemort. I'm not using any of my skills to good use. I keep earning points and praise I don't deserve. I'm 25, not 12! I'm taking advantage of everyone here!"
"Is that why you decided to exhibit such poor language and behavior in front of Professor McGonagall?" Dumbledore asked. "To lose the points you felt you didn't earn?"
"Not initially," Tonks admitted. "I swore when McGonagall arrived when I was trying to get into your office. She took points and I took the opportunity. I couldn't get to you, so I had her take the points instead."
"Did you really think I would take all the points you've earned for Hufflepuff House away?" Dumbledore's twinkling blue eyes pierced Tonks' own; she had hardly noticed her hair had morphed to an angry red in her fury.
"I was going to try," confessed Tonks. "Here, take this." Tonks handed Dumbledore the vial of Amortentia. "I brewed it in Potions this morning after I asked Slughorn for an alternate assignment."
"Why an alternate assignment?"
"I got a load of chocolates this morning from future Death Eaters and I was sure they'd have love potions in them," Tonks explained, sighing heavily. "Thought I'd make antidotes for Madam Pomfrey, but Slughorn had already done it. He challenged me to make something from the N.E.W.T. level text, and I was bored, angry, and foolish enough to do it."
"I see," Dumbledore said simply. "Your hair has changed."
"It does that when I have sudden emotional turns," Tonks clarified, changing her hair back to its Black black. "This hasn't happened in ages. I haven't been this upset in a while..." Tonks' voice trailed off.
"What would you suggest I do?" Dumbledore looked calmly upon Tonks.
"Try something – anything – to get me back home," Tonks replied. "I'm useless here." She sighed, running her hands through her hair. "I've lost any semblance of freedom I had. Being a child is one thing, but being a child underneath all these – lies – is so much worse!"
"I'm afraid the Unspeakables have already confirmed this is not possible," Dumbledore explained gently. "Moreover, I can assure you that the work you're doing here is making a difference. I've noticed a decrease in animosity between a certain young Mr. Snape and four Gryffindors. I've noticed more Slytherin students reaching out beyond their own House. That is making quite a bit of difference, if I do say so myself."
"Improving children's relationships is hardly my area of interest, Albus," Tonks said grouchily. "It's glorified babysitting, is what it is." She slumped in the chair, groaning slightly.
"These children will become adults," Dumbledore said. "Adults whose futures you are trying to improve. I daresay that is very valuable work indeed."
"I – didn't – ask – for – this!" Tonks gritted through her teeth. "I used to be happier. More alive. Not this sodding excuse for a human being! I hardly recognize myself anymore!"
"Miss Black - ," Dumbledore began.
"-Tonks. Please, if it's just the two of us, call me Tonks," she demanded. "I've lost nearly everything that kept me, me. I can't morph anymore, can't be an Auror, can't use my name – please, just give me this!"
"Very well, Tonks," Dumbledore sighed. "When you and I are alone, I will refer to you by your preferred name."
"Thank you," breathed Tonks. "You've no idea how much that means to me."
"I am sorry for your distress," Dumbledore said somberly. "Unfortunately, the options before you are quite limited. Assuming an identity as an adult to become an Auror is out of the question."
"What else could I do? Surely I can be of more use to the Order by spying?"
"The spying you've done already has been very informative," Dumbledore assured. "Do you remember writing to me of a ring in Voldemort's possession?"
"Yes?" Tonks thought back to the previous spring. "It was an odd-looking thing, family ring. Abraxas Malfoy wears one for his family, and so does Orion Black. I saw it only a few times before it disappeared. Haven't the foggiest what he did with it."
"Tonks, I understand your frustration with what I've asked you to do," Dumbledore said slowly. "I may have you assist with another – project – in addition to your current one. That ring, in particular, might be involved with this project."
"REALLY?" Tonks cried. "Please, sir! I'll do anything!"
"Before I tell you more, I must ask you a few questions," Dumbledore informed. "Regarding the events of the future."
"Are you certain this is for the best?" Tonks asked. "I thought being vague would be better…for everyone."
"I wanted to ask you about the Chamber of Secrets and the events surrounding the diary found by the Boy-Who-Lived," Dumbledore began.
"I don't know everything," Tonks responded quickly. "I'll do my best from what I learned from Mo-the mum of the girl who was taken."
"You told me that the diary had a 'bit' of Voldemort in it?"
"It would seem so," Tonks said. "The diary possessed Gi-the girl. The girl wasn't a Parselmouth, but somehow, the diary allowed the girl to open the Chamber and control the basilisk. The girl's mum said the girl would 'black out' for periods at a time, forgetting where she was."
"What happened at the end, to the diary?" Dumbledore's expression was grave.
"The Boy-Who-Lived stabbed it with a basilisk fang," Tonks continued. "It destroyed the diary, somehow. The boy said when he was in the Chamber with the girl, that Voldemort looked no more than 16 or 17 years old. He wasn't quite a ghost, but not quite flesh, either."
"Did the boy say anything about what the teenage Voldemort said?" Dumbledore asked.
"Not that I can remember, sorry," Tonks apologized. "Did you find the Chamber over the summer holidays?"
"We did, in fact," Dumbledore explained. "The basilisk was in a state of enchanted sleep. We decided to let it be, as attempting to kill the beast was far too dangerous."
"There's a basilisk in the castle right now?!" Tonks asked incredulously. "It's alive and you've done nothing about it?" She was horrified that below the girls' bathroom, there lay a monstrous creature.
"Several more enchantments have been added to the basilisk and the entrance to the Chamber," Dumbledore defended. "Protective spells have been placed to assure us that the entrance shall not be opened without the Headmaster or Headmistress' knowledge."
Tonks huffed, but she realized she wasn't able to kill the basilisk herself. Instead of complaining further about the presence of the beast, Tonks asked, "What does this have to do with the project you have for me?"
"Everything," Dumbledore said gravely.
"Tonks, do you know what a Horcrux is?"
"Only that it's among the Darkest uses of magic," Tonks replied. "No idea what it is or how it's used."
"Based on what you've told me about the diary, I have reason to suspect that it was a Horcrux."
"That makes sense," Tonks mused. "A Dark object possessing a kid to set a beast to kill Muggleborns? Think it was something of Voldemort's?"
"Not just something, Tonks," Dumbledore said. "It was, is, or will be his own Horcrux."
"What is it, exactly?"
"A Horcrux is an object in which a wizard or witch has placed a part of his or her soul," Dumbledore detailed. "It makes the bearer immortal. The object containing the part of one's soul can be kept away so that if the physical body dies, the soul will continue living, until it can find another body to inhabit. I suspect what you told me of the Boy-Who-Lived, and the professor who died following Voldemort's departure from his body, confirms he created a Horcrux."
"What – the – fuck."
"It is very Dark magic, Tonks," Dumbledore said. "Splitting one's soul is not a pleasant task. It requires pure evil – murder – in order to be successful. I believe Voldemort had murdered someone in order to create the diary as a Horcrux."
Tonks' jaw dropped. "Voldemort can't – he can't - die?"
"I'm not certain if he can't die now," Dumbledore emphasized. "I have no evidence to suggest he has created a Horcrux as of yet, although the ring you mentioned leads me to believe that he has created at least one."
"You think he's made more than one? What kind of monster does that?!"
"Voldemort," Dumbledore said simply. "I have a peculiar memory from our Professor Slughorn on the matter."
"Slughorn? What does he have to do with this?" Tonks wondered aloud. "He hasn't made any of these things, has he?!"
"No, my dear girl," Dumbledore answered. "Though I believe Slughorn may have discussed the matter with Voldemort when Voldemort was Slughorn's student."
"Why in Merlin's name would Slughorn discuss that? With Voldemort, of all people?!"
"At the time, Tonks, Voldemort was known by his given name: Tom Riddle," Dumbledore explained. "He was an unusually gifted and talented student, and he had a way of charming his professors, even as a teenager. You may have noticed that Professor Slughorn takes a liking to certain talented students."
"He's the one who put me up to making a N.E.W.T. level potion and awarded 50 points to Hufflepuff for it!" Tonks exclaimed.
"You are well on your way to becoming one of his favorite students, Tonks," Dumbledore illuminated. "Which helps us tremendously, in this endeavor."
"How?"
"I've a tampered memory in my possession, by none other than Professor Slughorn. I would like the full memory to confirm my theory."
"You need me to get the real memory?"
"Yes."
"Another reason for me to stick around here, posing as a student?" Tonks asked, shoulders slumping. Of course it would mean I'd be stuck here. Of course.
"For now," Dumbledore said. "If my theory is correct, you may be assisting me in finding Voldemort's Horcrux, assuming there is only one."
"What if there are more? What if he's made twenty? Thirty?!"
"I'm afraid I don't know how we will proceed with an unknown number," Dumbledore said. "I have reason to believe it will be a significant number, but not more than seven. Collecting that memory from Professor Slughorn will be essential to determining that number, I believe."
"If I find the memory, I can help you find and destroy the Horcrux?" Tonks asked, skeptically.
"Yes, Tonks," Dumbledore smiled warmly. "I believe you will have earned the right to assist in such an endeavor."
"I can do that," Tonks said slowly. "Slughorn is one of my many admirers," she snorted.
"Tonks, is it true that all the chocolates you received today came from those who would grow up to be Death Eaters in your timeline?" Dumbledore asked, solemnly.
"Oh yeah," Tonks replied. "Here's the pile." She dug into her rucksack and produced the offending valentines, casting a quick "Engorgio!" to bring them back to their full size.
"Every last one of them, unfortunately," clarified Tonks.
"I see," Dumbledore said, brow furrowed. "If even one of these individuals does not become a Death Eater, know that your interference will have been the reason why."
"You think too highly of me," Tonks admitted.
"Few individuals would verbally attack a figure of authority – in your case, Professor McGonagall - in order to lose what they felt they did not deserve," Dumbledore pondered aloud. "You have a good heart."
"It's why I've been a Hufflepuff twice over," Tonks smiled. "We really don't get the respect we deserve."
"I believe your heart can change lives, Tonks."
"That makes one of us," she snorted in reply. "I'll give it my best."
"Might I suggest a solution for the points you feel you haven't earned?" Dumbledore asked, now smiling.
"Please!" Tonks insisted. "I love that Hufflepuff has so many points right now, I do, but so much of it is my doing alone. It doesn't feel honest to me."
"I can cast an enchantment that prevents House points from being added, so long as they have been earned by you and you only," Dumbledore explained. "It will work to prevent House points from being deducted, as well. I suggest you avoid abusing this privilege." Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling again.
"I can't earn or lose House points," Tonks clarified. "I shouldn't use the opportunity to wreak havoc on the castle or its inhabitants." She beamed at Dumbledore. "Thank you, Headmaster."
"Is there anything I can give you in return?" Tonks asked. "Chocolate? I've got loads of it."
"I believe your young friend Mr. Lupin will be most appreciative of that offer, Tonks. Needless to say, check them for love potions before you give them away."
"Of course, Headmaster! I can go back to being Miss Black for now," Tonks offered. "Please do call me Tonks when it's just the two of us, though."
"Gladly, Miss Black," Dumbledore winked at Dora. "I suggest you hurry off to lunch now; it appears you've missed Charms and Transfiguration."
"No real loss, sir," Dora replied. "I mastered all those spells half a lifetime ago." She grinned at the Headmaster before hurrying off to lunch, her thoughts brimming with hope for the newest mission.
….
10 March 1973
"Happy birthday, Remus!" Dora smiled broadly at the young werewolf sitting alone at the Gryffindor table, as it was rather early on a Saturday morning. "Did you get my gift this morning?"
"I did, thank you, Dora!" Remus said, hugging Dora tightly. "I started on the book on Advanced Charms and the Dark Arts. I've read all about the Patronus Charm already. Did you know that your Patronus can change if there's been a significant event in your life?"
"I think I did, yeah," Dora replied. "Quite rare, if I'm not mistaken."
"I'd love to see it happen," Remus said. "But you'd have to know the person's Patronus first, then get a change, and then see it change. I dunno if I'll ever get the chance to see it!"
"I'd like to see it too!" Dora replied. "D'you reckon you know what your Patronus will be?"
"As long as it's not a wolf," Remus said in a lowered voice, "I think I'll be happy about it." Remus' words triggered one of Dora's earliest memories of meeting adult Remus:
Remus and Tonks were spying outside Nott Manor; Nott Sr. had recently entertained both Lucius Malfoy and Antonin Dolohov, almost immediately following the latter's escape from Azkaban. It was only their second mission together, and Tonks was nervous around the older man, not wanting to make a fool of herself.
"Have you let anyone know that Dolohov is visiting with Nott?" Remus asked Tonks.
"Shit, sorry, I didn't think of that," Tonks apologized. "I'll let Moody know now." She thought of a happy memory – the day she passed all her Auror training – and cast "Expecto patronum!" so that a silvery jack rabbit emerged from the tip of her wand to bear a message to Moody.
"A jack rabbit?" Remus asked, a quizzical expression on his face.
"D'you have a problem with my Patronus?" Tonks asked, a bit more sharply than she'd intended.
"No, not at all," Remus said, pensively. "Not what I was expecting."
"What were you expecting?"
"Not a jack rabbit," Remus said cryptically.
"What's yours, then?" Tonks asked, now curious.
"What do you think?" Remus frowned.
"A flobberworm?" Tonks suggested facetiously. Remus burst into laughter, to Tonks' delight and surprise. She'd never seen the man laugh so swiftly, or deeply. His smile and laugh were infectious, and she noticed a beauty and warmth in his smile she hadn't noticed before. Laughing was a good look on him, she remembered thinking.
"As much as I wish it were a flobberworm, no," Remus chuckled. "It's a wolf."
"Because of your, uh, um?" Tonks' voice faltered.
"I don't think so," he replied. "I'm not sure that's how it works."
"Wolves are cute," Tonks smiled. "I bet your Patronus is very handsome."
Remus snorted. "If by handsome, you mean horrifying, then yes."
"I'm sure that's not true, Remus," Tonks pressed. "You'll show me your Patronus sometime?"
Remus stared at Tonks and sighed. "Just this once, and only because you made me laugh." He cast "Expecto patronum!" and a large, striking wolf emerged from the tip of his wand.
"Remus, it's gorgeous!" Tonks gushed. "No need to be ashamed of that."
"Easy for you to say," Remus grumbled. "I hate the reminder."
"Maybe it'll change one day," Tonks offered. "Significant life change perhaps?"
"Not for a long while," Remus concluded. Tonks thought his answers were enigmatic, but let them go. It'd have to be a conversation for another day.
Dora shifted uncomfortably. Remus' Patronus would be a wolf, much to his adult chagrin. He almost never conjured a corporeal Patronus because he was ashamed of the connection between the Patronus and his affliction. Best not tell him that, yet, Dora decided.
"Even if it is, Remus," Dora said softly, "you should feel proud of yourself for being able to conjure a Patronus. A lot of adult witches and wizards can't do it. I know you're capable of it." She smiled kindly at him, hoping he'd believe her.
"What do you think your Patronus will be?" Remus asked.
"A jack rabbit," Dora replied, too easily.
"Why?"
"Just a feeling," Dora said nervously. "Maybe I'm wrong?"
"Wrong about what?" Sirius asked, sauntering into the Great Hall for breakfast, with both James and Peter at his side.
"The form my Patronus will take," Dora said. "I believe it will be a jack rabbit, but Remus thinks otherwise."
"What d'you think mine will be?" Sirius asked, sitting down next to Remus and affectionately punching him on the shoulder.
"A dog," Dora supplied. "A big, shaggy dog." May as well place some bets and get gold out of it, Dora thought. "I'll bet you five Galleons!"
"It'll take years to collect on that!" Sirius protested. "The Patronus Charm is advanced magic!"
"Make it ten Galleons, and mine's a jack rabbit," Dora retorted, holding out her hand. "Deal?"
"Deal!" Sirius agreed.
"What about mine?" James asked. Dora thought back to Harry; he was able to cast a Patronus at the tender age of 13, and it was a fully corporeal stag – like his father's.
"A stag," Dora replied confidently. "Definitely a stag."
"And me?" Peter squeaked. Dora narrowed her eyes at him. His Animagus form was a rat, but she'd never once heard of his ability to conjure a Patronus.
"Flobberworm," Dora said flatly, as the rest of the boys laughed raucously. "I'll leave you gentlemen to celebrate Remus' birthday," Dora offered. "I'm off to study!"
"Stay, Dora!" Remus pled. "Please?"
"Let me get something from my dorm," Dora replied. "I'll be right back." She ran through the door that led to the Hufflepuff common room, now curious about the Patronus. She hadn't cast the charm in over a year, having had no need to communicate with Order members (who didn't realize she existed, anyway).
Dora ran into the dorm, glad to find that her dormmates were sleeping in on the Saturday. Conjuring the happiest memory she could – finally kissing Remus – she cast "Expecto patronum!" and to her shock, a slender, elegant wolf emerged from her wand-tip. It changed!
A feeling of euphoria that her Patronus had changed to match Remus' – adult Remus' – came to mind. Was this the major life change Remus suspected one day? No, he wouldn't have known about that. Her Patronus, up until the last few days since she arrived in this new timeline, had been the jack rabbit. Had it been the kiss? She might never know.
The feeling of euphoria was quickly changed to one of despondency. She wanted to tell her Remus – adult Remus – that her Patronus had changed to match his own. It would have to wait. At least she could promise him, honestly, that he'd live to see someone's Patronus change. No wonder he was so surprised when her first Patronus was a jack rabbit!
She ran out of the dormitory and back up to the Great Hall. If nothing else, she could tell Remus the change was real, even if he wouldn't see it for twenty years, assuming that when she returned to meet her own timeline, it would still be a wolf.
"What did you forget in your dorm?" Sirius asked, upon seeing Dora out of breath at the Gryffindor table.
"Huh?"
"You said you had to go back to your dorm for something?" Remus asked.
"Oh, right, that," Dora hastily replied. "I must've gotten distracted."
Sirius burst into laughter, and the other young Marauders joined in. "Unlike you to be so forgetful, Dora!" Sirius barked.
"I must've been preoccupied," Dora replied dreamily.
"Thinking about boys, Pandora?" James teased.
"Something like that," Dora smiled, much to the boys' surprise. "Ah, but I have remembered what I've forgotten now, so I really must be off. I'll see you boys later!" She grinned at them again and made her way up to the Room of Requirement to practice her Patronus again. She hoped it wouldn't change back to the jack rabbit, so she could bring the wolf back with her when she saw her Remus again.