Disclaimer: I really hope people are enjoying this story. I grew up around playing computers and game boys so I have no idea what kids would do in the early 70s on weekends with no tec.
A Weekend To Relax
Close to the end of breakfast when most people had managed to rouse themselves out of bed, and the teachers had handed out peoples timetables, a parliament of owls and one Raven flew into the Great Hall carrying packages, letters and newspapers. Edelweiss and one unknown owl with a Daily Prophet tag landed on the table in front of Severus and Regulus. Severus, who had subscribed to the paper, thought that Regulus did as well, right up until the moment he unrolled the front page and dropped it in shock. On the front page of Regulus' newspaper was an article outlined in bright red;
FORMER BLACK HEIRESS ANNOUNCES BIRTH OF BABY GIRL!
By Rita Skeeter
The bottom of the prophet's front page was taken up with a large black-and-white picture of Andromeda and her husband Edward "Ted" Tonks grinning broadly. Severus could also see a small squirming baby being held securely by her father and Andromeda holding up a sign that said;
'Andromeda and Ted Tonks welcome:
Nymphadora Tonks
Saturday, September the 2nd 1972 at 2:30 am
7 pounds and 5 ounces.'
Mr Ted Tonks and Mrs Andromeda Tonks (nee Black) are proud to announce the birth of a beautiful baby girl Nymphadora Tonks was born earlier this morning.
'We are so happy to welcome a new member of our family to the world. I know my parents are ecstatic and adore their brand new granddaughter.' Said the proud new father Ted Tonks.
'She is absolutely perfect and already showing signs of being a Metamorphmagus having changed her hair colour from black to yellow within an hour of being born. We just couldn't wait to share the news.' said her beaming mother Andromeda Tonks.
We at the Daily Prophet wish the very best for this brand new family
'How sweet a new member of the family.' Tansy said leaning over Severus to get a better look at the picture of the baby
'My parents aren't going to see it that way' Regulus explained uncomfortably
'What do you mean?' Rose asked
'My parents and pretty much all of the Blacks hate Squibs and Mudbloods -'
'Don't say THAT word!' Severus hissed angrily, ice-cold with fury, as venom dripped from his words. Rising like a wraith from the table he used the added height to stare down the younger boy.
Regulus sank down in his seat in the face of such ferocity, 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I've been taught to use that word rather than using Muggleborn since before I could even talk.'
'SEV!' Lily scolded racing around to stand protectively in front of the younger boy 'what on earth did he say that made you act so rude?'
'It was the use of the word Mudblood' Petunia explained causing Severus to flinch and scowl unhappily when he heard the word again. 'It's a really foul name for someone who is Muggleborn - you know people who have non-magical parents like us. Some wizards think they're better than everyone else because they're what people call Purebloods.'
'The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black are one of the largest, oldest, and wealthiest pureblood wizarding families in Great Britain, and one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. My parents, her parents and pretty much all of the Blacks care about blood purity. They don't think Tonks is good enough for Andromeda because he is a Muggleborn just like they thought Granduncle Marius wasn't good enough just because he is a Squib.'
'It's so sad that the rest of your family rejected her' Lily said sadly, pushing Severus on the arm to stop him towering over Regulus, and placed herself between Severus and Regulus at the table. 'I just wish she didn't have to raise her daughter without her family's help.'
'But she still has a family! She has us! We can write to her and even tell mum and dad about her' Rose said warming up to the idea
'That's a great idea, Rose!' Petunia said, pulling out her letter from her pocket. 'We can tie all of Mother and Father's letters together and send them off with E.B.O and maybe borrow a school owl for Andromeda's?'
'You can borrow Edelweiss if you want' Severus said 'I can add my letter to your parents' pile that you're sending with E.B.O.'
'That's a great idea Sev!' Lily said beaming 'but we don't have any paper'
'I brought some with me, here!' Severus said, giving each of the girls a piece of parchment, envelope, quill and ink. The girls, Severus and Regulus spent a few minutes writing...
'This is what I have written from all of us to Cousin Andromeda' Petunia said;
"Dear Andromeda Tonks,
You may not know us but our grandfather is Marius Black a squib who was thrown out of the Black family. He is your Grandfather's younger brother which would make us second cousins.
We would like to congratulate you on the birth of your daughter and if you would like to stay in contact with other "disgraced" members of the Black family feel free to contact any of us.
We hope that you enjoy your new baby girl
Your cousins
Petunia, Lily, Rose and Tansy Evans"
'Here Severus, she is your Raven!' Petunia said when her letter had dried and folded up into an envelope, handing it over to Severus, Regulus also handed him a sealed envelope. Severus respected his wishes about not wanting to divulge what was inside it.
'Edelweiss!' Severus called to his Raven who hopped over from stealing a piece of Tansy's bacon off her plate. 'I have a job for you girl, Can you deliver this to Andromeda Tonks?'
Edelweiss croaked and clamped the letter in her beak launching herself up and out of the Great Hall.
'Now we just need to tie up all the letters to send to Mum and Daddy.' Lily said 'this is what I have written how does this sound;
"Dear Mum and Daddy,
Guess what! We found cousins here at Hogwarts and even someone who was thrown out of the family just like Grandpa Black. The cousins here are Narcissa Black a Fifth-year Slytherin prefect, Powel Parkinson a third-year Slytherin, Sirius Black an obnoxious bully who is a Second-year Gryffindor, and Peony Parkinson a second-year Slytherin. The cousin who was thrown out of the family is Andromeda Tonks who was a Black before her marriage. I'm enclosing the newspaper article announcing the birth of her daughter for you.
See you at Christmas Love Lily"
'You will have to get one of the teachers to enchant the newspaper article so that your parents can read it otherwise all they would see is a blank page' Severus said
'Oh right, I'll go and do that now!' Lily grabbed the newspaper and raced up to Professor McGonagall at the staff table, who after listening to Lily smiled one of her rare smiles and waved her wand and handed Lily the newspaper and the article which had been magically removed and spelled so that muggles could read it. Lily raced back to the table, folded up the article and her letter and placed them both in an envelope.
'How does mine sound?' Rose asked
"Dear Mum and Daddy,
I was sorted into Hufflepuff! The Hufflepuff dormitories and common room are accessed through a pile of large barrels, found stacked in a shadowy stone recess on a right-hand side corridor near the kitchens. If you tap on the barrel in the middle of the second row, in the rhythm of "Helga Hufflepuff" it will open up to the common-room.
The common-room is a large, earthy, round room with low ceilings and plants hanging and resting all about the room, some that even sing and dance. The plush, cosy yellow and black patterned sofas and chairs scattered throughout the room are really comfy and Professor Sprout the Head of House allows us to move them around wherever we want when she brings in interesting specimens to look at.
The view from the round windows is of dandelions and rippling grass and we get to our dormitories through two big, round doors in the back walls of the common room.
I really miss you and can't wait for Christmas.
Love From Rose'
'Sounds great, here's mine Tansy said;
"Dear Mum and Daddy,
Daddy guessed correctly I'm a Slytherin! To get to the Slytherin dormitories and common room you have to get through a whole labyrinth before you can even get to the plane stretch of wall our common room is hiding behind. Hogwarts is so awesome! Even though our common-room has a window that takes up one entire wall of the room. Professor Slughorn said that the window wouldn't break even if the giant squid rammed into it! The other three walls are decorated with tapestries featuring the adventures of famous Medieval Slytherins.
Large, low backed black and dark green button-tufted, leather armchairs and ottomans are set up in groups around the common-room and there are several study tables situated along the window. The girl's dormitory is down the right-hand side corridor that is warded against boys. In our square stone bedroom, we have very plush four-poster beds, each with green and silver covers and curtains.
Severus has been taking very good care of me. My second-year buddy, who is supposed to show us to all of our classes and look after us, didn't really like me, so Sev volunteered for the job. He's now looking after both me and Regulus Black, a cousin of ours I'm getting to know.
Lots of love and see you at Christmas Tansy.'
Severus took one more look at his letter;
To Mr and Mrs Evans,
Second-year hasn't started very well, Potter and his marauders have already tried their antics against me and the girls but I managed to stop Potter from attacking with the lesson that Mr Evans taught me. Tansy who was buddied up with a girl named Alecto Carrow, who didn't seem to take too kindly to Tansy. Carrow tried to attack her but I was fortunate enough to cast a shield spell to block it and Tansy was able to cast a defence spell to knock Alecto over but had gotten a few scratches. I'm really sorry that happened and promise to protect them better, but I'll understand if you don't want me staying there for the Christmas holidays.
I have enclosed copies of the first and second-year timetables for you;
First-Year's Timetable (Tansy & Rose)
The Hogwarts library opens at 6:30 am
6 am - 7:30 am: Breakfast
Noon: Lunch and the library is locked between 12 pm and 12:30 pm
6 pm - 7:30 pm: Dinner
The Hogwarts library closes at 8:00 pm
8:30 pm: 1st - 4th Years curfew (except Astronomy)
9:30 pm: 5th - 7th Years curfew (except Prefects or Astronomy class)
First Years: Magical Theory · Flying
Core classes: Astronomy · Charms · Defence Against the Dark Arts · Herbology · History of Magic · Potions · Transfiguration
Elective Classes: Arithmancy · Care of Magical Creatures · Divination · Muggle Studies · Study of Ancient Runes
Extracurricular classes: Ghoul Studies · Muggle Art · Art · Muggle Music · Music · Xylomancy (elective classes only run if demand is sufficient)
Sixth and Seventh years only: Advanced Arithmancy Studies · Ancient Studies · Alchemy
Seventeen years and over: Apparition
Monday
8 am -10 am: Double Herbology, Gryffindor/Hufflepuff with Professor Sprout
1 pm - 3 pm: Double Herbology, Slytherin/Ravenclaw with Professor Sprout
5 pm – 6 pm: Magical Theory with Professor Katrin: all Houses
Tuesday
8 am – 10 am: Double D.A.D.A, Gryffindor/Ravenclaw with Professor Roman
11 am - 12 pm: Charms, Slytherin/Hufflepuff with Professor Flitwick
2 pm – 3 pm: Charms, Gryffindor/Ravenclaw with Professor Flitwick
4 pm – 6 pm: Double D.A.D.A, Slytherin/Hufflepuff with Professor Roman
Wednesday
8 am -9 am: Transfiguration, Slytherin/Ravenclaw with Professor McGonagall
11 am – 12 pm: Transfiguration, Gryffindor/Hufflepuff with Professor McGonagall
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm: Flying, Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff with Madam Hooch
Midnight - 1 am: Astronomy with Professor Propos: all Houses
Thursday
Morning Free
1 pm - 2 pm: History of Magic with Professor Binns: all Houses
3:30 pm: Flying, Slytherin/Gryffindor with Madam Hooch
Friday
8 am – 10 am: Double Potions, Slytherin/Gryffindor with Professor Slughorn
10 am - 12 pm: Double Potions, Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff with Professor Slughorn
Saturday and Sunday students are free to take this time to catch up with friends or homework, any students Third-years and up who have a permission form may go into Hogsmeade.
Second-year's Timetable (Severus & Lily)
Monday
8 am - 10 am: Double D.A.D.A, Slytherin/Hufflepuff with Professor Roman
10 am - noon: Double D.A.D.A, Gryffindor/Ravenclaw with Professor Roman
Tuesday
9 am - 11 am: Double Herbology, Slytherin/Ravenclaw with Professor Sprout
2 pm - 4 pm: Double Herbology, Gryffindor/Hufflepuff with Professor Sprout
Wednesday
8 am - 9 am: Charms, Slytherin/Hufflepuff with Professor Flitwick
11 am - noon: Charms, Gryffindor/Ravenclaw with Professor Flitwick
Thursday
9 am - 11 am: Double Potions, Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff with Professor Slughorn
1 pm - 3 pm Double Potions, Slytherin/Gryffindor with Professor Slughorn
Midnight - 1 am: Astronomy
Friday
1 pm - 2 pm: History of Magic with Professor Binns: all Houses
3 pm - 4 pm: Transfiguration, Gryffindor/Hufflepuff with Professor McGonagall
5 pm - Dinner: Transfiguration, Slytherin/Ravenclaw with Professor McGonagall
Saturday and Sunday students are free to take this time to catch up with friends or homework, any students Third-years and up who have a permission form may go into Hogsmeade.
Please let me know if there is anything I can do to apologise for letting Tansy get hurt.
Yours apologetically Severus Snape
Severus placed his sealed letter onto the pile next to Petunia and she tied all of them together in a bundle.
'E.B.O!' Petunia called to the owl who had just finished eating an Owl Treat in the shape of a mouse that he had gotten from Lily.
'Can you take these home to Mother and Father please?' Petunia asked, handing E.B.O the bundle of letters, E.B.O let out a hoot and clamped the letters in his talons and took off.
After everyone had finished breakfast they all wandered down onto the front lawn, Severus walking on Tansy's left side to make sure her arm wasn't jostled, and flopped under a tree relaxing and playing with Butterscotch by the lake, the girls giggling as they watched her pounce on frogs and insects. Severus could see Narcissa off to one side angrily tearing up a newspaper while Lucius was trying valiantly to calm her down. Some older students were tickling the tentacles of the giant squid, which was basking in the warm shallows. Despite it being September in Scotland it was a surprisingly warm morning. It wasn't until lunch that the six of them decided to go back inside Hogwarts.
Since Tansy was restricted to using one hand, Severus made up lunch for her that consisted of finger foods. Saturday afternoon seemed to melt away, with the girls deciding to teach the boys how to play Cluedo. Lily ran to get the game which she had stored in her trunk
'The rules are that we take three cards: one suspect, one room, and one weapon chosen at random and put into a special envelope so that no one can see them. These cards represent the solution, ' Petunia said, sorting out the cards into the three groups, shuffling them and then closing her eyes, picking one from each pile, keeping them face down so no one could see the answer and placing them in the yellow game envelope. She distributed the remainder of the cards among them.
Now we all get the token of the suspect nearest us so Tansy you get Miss Scarlett which is the red token that would make Severus, Colonel Mustard He is represented by a yellow token. Lily your Mrs White she is the white token, I'm Reverend Green the green token. Regulus your Professor Plum. He is represented by a purple token. Which leaves Rose as Mrs Peacock. She is represented by a blue token.'
Petunia handed out the tokens to everyone along with a piece of paper that read; Detective's Notes pad and had lists of rooms, weapons and characters, so they could keep detailed notes during the game.
'To start the game players roll the die/dice and move along the board's corridor spaces, or into the rooms accordingly, Miss Scarlett goes first and then it goes around the players clockwise.
'The objective of the game is to guess the details of the murder. As soon as a player enters a room, they may suggest the details, naming a suspect, the room they are in, and the weapon. For example: "I suspect Professor Plum, in the Dining Room, with the candlestick." The player's suggestions must include the room they are currently in and may not be made in the corridors. The tokens for the suggested suspect and the weapon are immediately moved into that room if they are not both already present. Suggesting an opponent's token is a legitimate board strategy; likewise, the weapon icons, though esoteric. A player may even suggest himself or herself as the murderer and may include cards in their hand.'
'Once a player makes a suggestion, the others are called upon to disprove it. If the player to their left holds any of the three named cards, that player must privately show one (and only one) of the cards to them. Otherwise, the process continues clockwise around the table until either one player disproves the accusation, or no one can do so. A player's turn normally ends once their suggestion is completed.'
'A player who believes they have determined the correct elements may accuse their turn. First say "I accuse (Suspect) of committing the crime in the (Room) with the (Weapon)" Then, so that the other players do not see, look at the three cards in the envelope. In a Suggestion, the Room you name must be the Room where your token is located. But in an Accusation, you may name any Room. If the three cards in the envelope match the accusation, the player shows them to everyone and wins; if not, the player returns them to the envelope and loses. The other players can still move their tokens into rooms when making suggestions and they must continue to privately show cards to disprove suggestions. If a player's suggestion has brought another player's token into a room, the second player may make their suggestion in the room when their turn comes up, if desired. If not, they may move out of the room, and if able to reach another room, make a suggestion therein, as usual, if they wish to make a second suggestion, they must first spend a turnout of the room. If a player is withholding a card that another player has called out the player is disqualified as this will be revealed at the end of the game.'
'Are we all ready to play?' Petunia asked. Everyone nodded and started the game with Tansy rolling the two six-sided dice. The afternoon passed by with very few interruptions and in what seemed like no time, it was ten minutes to Dinner.