5 November 1981

Nymphadora Tonks was uncomfortable. Her body felt sore all over, with a concentrated pain in her chest. Her head was spinning; it had been spinning since…

"Mum?" Tonks croaked. "Mummy?"

"Nymphadora, thank Merlin!" Andromeda cried. "You're awake!"

"Huh?" Tonks sat up in an unfamiliar room. It was sparsely decorated, and Tonks' limp, mousy brown hair, hanging sadly in front of her eyes, made the room all the more dreary.

"Where am I?"

"We're at St. Mungo's, darling," Andromeda said. "You were in a terrible accident."

Tonks closed her eyes, trying to remember what had happened. She had never hurt herself so badly to be at St. Mungo's. "What happened? I can't remember."

Andromeda's face fell. "You don't remember anything?"

Tonks' head was throbbing. "My head hurts, mum."

Andromeda stood abruptly. "I'll get a Healer."

Tonks sat back, struggling to recall what had happened. From the corner of her eye, she saw her wings – the ones she wore for Halloween. Halloween. Tonks closed her eyes, hoping the wings would remember what had happened.

It was Halloween. She was going to see Dora and Harry.

"MUMMY! WHERE ARE MY WINGS?"

"Nymphadora, lower your voice," Andromeda said, sighing. "Your wings are in the kitchen. You're not to put them on until you're ready to go."

"But I want Dora to see me as a bat when she comes!"

"She won't be able to see you as a bat if you rip your wings. Be patient, my darling."

Tonks stomped her foot in a huff and stormed loudly up the stairs, her hair morphing into an angry red to match her mood. She thought it terribly unfair that her mother was making her wait.

"Dora?" Tonks looked up to see her father crossing the threshold of the door. "What are you doing on the floor?"

"Mum's making me wait for my wings," Tonks pouted. "I wanted Dora to see them right away."

Ted smiled kindly, and furrowed his brow, as if deep in thought. "Why don't we make more wings for Dora to see?"

Tonks brightened at the thought, and followed her father downstairs, where she spent the afternoon cutting out paper bats with a Muggle slicing contraption. When her mother came in from the kitchen and saw the sitting room completely covered in tiny bits of paper, Tonks feared the worst, until her mother laughed and began charming the paper bats to fly. Tonks continued cutting paper bats, until she heard a knock at the door.

Andromeda swept out of the room to answer the door, and moments later, Tonks' favorite cousin, Dora, appeared in the sitting room.

Dora smiled warmly at her. "Hey, Tonks."

Tonks grinned, and clambered over her paper bats in a haste to see her cousin. "Dora! You're here! Where's your costume?"

"I'll put it on when we get there. Where's your costume?"

"Mum says I can't put it on till it's time to go," Tonks said angrily. "So I don't rip it up."

"You're in luck, as we should be going any moment now," Dora smiled. "Why don't you get dressed while I talk to mum and dad?"

Tonks ran up the stairs, now permitted to put on her wings. She had begged her mother to charm the wings to fly, but Andromeda insisted it couldn't be done. Tonks was determined to get Dora to charm the wings – if anyone could do it, Dora could.

"I'm ready!" Tonks shouted from the top of the stairs. "Dora, Dad, come look!"

Dora and Ted walked to the bottom of the stairs and Tonks looked down for them to see her dressed as a bat.

"Mum couldn't make the wings fly," Tonks complained. "Maybe Dora can?"

"I think it's more that she wouldn't make the wings fly," chortled Ted. "We don't want you to hurt yourself, sweetheart."

Tonks scowled and descended the steps with her comically large batwings hanging on either side of her. "I'm ready to go, Dora!"

Dora looked misty-eyed; Tonks was confused, but let it go, as Dora was now smiling at seeing the wings. "You look marvelous, even if you can't fly. Do you mind if I say bye to mum and dad before we go?"

Tonks nodded and gave both her parents a quick hug and kiss on the cheek before standing by the fireplace excitedly. She was bouncing on her feet, elated that she would be going somewhere new for the night. Halloween had always been Tonks' favorite holiday; it was the only day of the year in which she could make herself look as ridiculous as possible, without alarming Muggles. This year was different. This year, she wouldn't be permitted to get candy from kind Muggles. Cruel witches and wizards were hurting people like Tonks, including her own auntie.

By some miracle, Dora had convinced mum and dad to let her visit with Harry for Halloween. She was hoping that Remus would be there too – he acted differently around Dora now, but Tonks didn't mind. Adults were strange, she thought.

Dora took her to the Potters' and they read stories, until Dora was upstairs with them. Dora was behaving so peculiarly that night…her palm. Dora made a cut on each of their palms and stuck them together. That's when Tonks began feeling dizzy. Her thoughts became jumbled and confusing. Dora said something about loving others – Tonks just had to love others enough, and she could save them from the bad witches and wizards.

The terrifying wizard came in. Even Dora was scared. Tonks could see the fear in Dora's eyes. Dora called him Tom.

Tom was cruel. He tortured Dora. He wanted to hurt Harry. Tonks didn't want Tom to hurt any of them…

"I will not fight," Dora said. "I am not fighting you. If you want to get to either of these children, you'll have to kill me first."

"What a waste of talent you were, Pandora," Tom said softly. "A Metamorphmagus, no less. What a pity." Tonks remembered shaking, screaming for Tom to stop hurting Dora.

"You need not kill anyone tonight, Tom. It doesn't have to be this way."

Another flick of his wand, and Dora screamed again in agony. Tonks was shrieking as well, pleading with Tom to stop the torture.

"Enough," Voldemort hissed. "You can redeem yourself by stepping aside."

"No," Tonks and Dora said simultaneously.

"You'll have to go through me, Tom," Dora countered, her voice now barely more than a whisper from the screaming.

"And me," Tonks added, stomping her foot. Tonks didn't feel as brave as Dora, but she had to fight. She would love – that's all Dora asked her to do.

"I have no need to kill either of you," Tom considered. "Yet you stand in my way."

"You can choose to leave, and all will be forgotten," Dora rasped. "It's your choice, Tom."

"A pity," Tom said softly. Tonks saw him raise his wand in one swift motion, and there was a flash of green light.

Dora fell over, stiff and motionless, and Tonks rushed to her side.

"DORA, ARE YOU OKAY? WAKE UP! YOU HAVE TO WAKE UP!" Tonks screamed.

"She won't wake," Tom hissed, raising his wand before Harry. Tonks' eyes grew wide with panic and she stepped instinctively in front of Harry.

"Step aside, you cretin."

"NO! You can't have him! He's just a baby!" Tonks stood still in front of the crib, thinking hard. I love mum, dad, Dora, Sirius, Remus, Harry…love them, Dora said to love them.

"Foolish child," Tom said softly, while raising his wand. "Avada Kedavra!"

Tonks saw the flash of green light headed in her direction, but she stood in place. The last things she heard before she lost consciousness were the cries of baby Harry, and an inhuman, anguished cry that pierced her eardrums, followed only by still silence.

"So very good to see you awake, Miss Tonks," a man chirped, as he walked through the door. He wore lime green robes, with an emblem on the front.

"This is Healer Morgan, sweetheart," Andromeda explained. "He's been taking care of you."

"I understand your head hurts?" Healer Morgan asked kindly, lifting Tonks' chin up to see her face.

"Everything hurts," Tonks moaned. "Mum, what happened? Is Dora okay? Is Harry okay?"

Andromeda's eyes widened, her lips tightening into a grimace. "We'll discuss that later, Nymphadora. Right now, you need to rest."

"But—"

"—you've been unconscious for almost a week. Rest. We can discuss this later."

Tonks pouted and threw herself back into the pillow with force. What were they hiding from her?

"Miss Tonks, you'll need to take these," Healer Morgan said, bringing her three vials of steaming potions. "We're very glad you're awake, but these will help you heal and rest."

"Do I have to?" Tonks asked, looking at the steaming vials with suspicion.

"If you want to feel better, this will help."

Tonks reluctantly took the vials and gagged on two of them. They tasted terrible, but did help her feel better. It wasn't very long until she felt her eyelids grow heavy, and she fell asleep.

….

"What are we going to tell her?" Andromeda whispered.

Tonks hadn't yet opened her eyes, but she could hear her parents murmuring to one another in the hospital room. She kept her eyes closed, pretending to sleep, to see if she could learn any more.

"It's her birthday, couldn't we wait until tomorrow?" Ted replied. "It's too much."

It's my birthday? Yesterday was Halloween, Tonks thought.

"We'll wait until tomorrow," Andromeda agreed. "If we're lucky, she might be able to go home by then. I hope that having Harry around will help her cope."

"It's a lot of change for our Dora," Ted said, choking up. "I don't know that I'll be able to call her that anymore."

What in Merlin's name is happening, wondered Tonks. Why wouldn't dad call her Dora?

"Let's not alarm her any more than necessary," Andromeda said quietly. "She's going to have a lot of changes soon. So are we."

"You're sure you don't want to take both seats?" Ted asked. "I'm going to stick out like a—"

"—you should be doing it for her. She can't do it herself, and it's time they had a Muggleborn there," Andromeda insisted. "It will be good for you, and for magical Britain. I'll have a seat, and so will you."

Tonks burned with curiosity. What were mum and dad talking about?

"Mum? Dad?"

"Nymphadora!" Andromeda cried. "How are you, darling?"

"Did you say it was my birthday?"

Ted and Andromeda exchanged furtive glances. "It's your 10th birthday, love," Ted said gently. "Happy birthday."

"Yesterday was Halloween," Tonks said, confused. "How is it my birthday?"

"You've been unconscious for several days. We're hoping you'll be home by tomorrow. We have some…surprises for you," Andromeda said carefully.

"Good surprises or bad surprises?"

"It's a little of both, but it's nothing you need concern yourself about," Ted replied. "Tonight, it's the three of us."

Tonks' face fell. "I can't go home for my birthday?"

"You need a little more time to heal, and then you'll be home. Just be patient."

"If it's my birthday…isn't it Dora's birthday, too?" Tonks asked. "Where is she?"

Both Andromeda and Ted looked grimly at one another. "We'll discuss that tomorrow, Nymphadora. You need to rest."

"But—"

"—please, Nymphadora. Be patient."

Tonks frowned at her parents, certain that something was terribly wrong. They weren't answering her questions. They were speaking in hushed, panic tones. Something wasn't right, and Tonks needed to get to the bottom of it.

….

6 November 1981

"You're going home today," Andromeda said, forcing a tight smile. "Isn't that nice?"

"Something's wrong," Tonks replied, narrowing her eyes at her mother. "You're smiling wrong."

"Do you feel hurt?"

"No," Tonks lied. "You and dad are acting funny. What's wrong?"

Andromeda closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "There have been a lot of changes to our lives in the last few days. We'll discuss it when we get home."

"Tell me now," Tonks demanded, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Nymphadora, don't talk back to me," Andromeda said crossly. "You will wait until we are home."

Tonks scowled, but her mother didn't give her much of a choice. If she was to learn anything, she would wait until she was home.

St. Mungo's was surprisingly quiet, Tonks thought, as her mother took her through the corridors to the Floo. Almost no one was around. For a hospital, Tonks thought it was too quiet and calm.

Andromeda held Tonks' hand tightly as they went through the Floo, arriving in their familiar sitting room. The paper bats she'd made for Halloween were still hanging from the walls and ceiling, only moving slightly from the charms her mother had placed on them at Halloween.

Tonks was led out of the sitting room, concerned to see the kitchen filled to the brim with colorful packages and stacks of letters. Was it all for her birthday? Tonks wondered.

The upstairs was eerily quiet, too. All doors but Tonks' bedroom door were closed.

"Mum, what's going on?" Tonks asked, feeling more uneasy by the minute.

"Let's go to your bedroom." Andromeda led Tonks into her colorful bedroom, and sat Tonks down on her bed, while her mother pulled a chair and sat across from Tonks.

"Nymphadora, what do you remember from Halloween?" Andromeda asked tentatively.

"Dora took me to see Harry," Tonks said slowly. "We read stories and then a bad man called Tom came. He hurt Dora a lot, and wanted to hurt Harry too. I don't know what he did to Dora, but she wouldn't wake up. Dora told me that I could save her and Harry if I thought of how much I loved them. She also cut my hand."

"She did what?" Andromeda asked abruptly. "Show me your hand."

"There's nothing there now," Tonks said softly, looking at her palm. "She made a cut here—" Tonks pointed to a place on her palm. "—and made a cut on her hand the same way, and put them together. It made me feel funny."

Andromeda's brow arched. "Did she do anything else to you?"

"No? She was trying to protect me and Harry. Where is she, mum? Where's Dora? Where's Harry?"

"This is going to be very hard, Nymphadora," Andromeda said quietly, taking Tonks' hand in her own. "Your cousin Dora died trying to save you."

"NO!" Tonks felt the lump in the back of her throat, and a heavy, unsettling weight in her stomach. "No, mum, she can't be dead—"

"—I'm sorry, sweetheart," Andromeda said, her own eyes glistening with tears. "There's nothing any of us could do. She died."

"But…no, mum. She can't die," Tonks protested, tears streaming down her face. "You're wrong."

"She gave her life for yours and Harry's. You're alive because she died for you both."

Tonks felt guilt washing over her. Dora had died to save her. Dora had died to save Harry. She stood, and went into her mother's arms, sobbing violently over the loss of her favorite cousin. After several minutes of hot, blinding tears, Tonks felt dizzy, and sat back down on her bed, clutching her hand to her chest.

"Are you alright?"

"It hurts here," Tonks said, pointing to her chest.

"Your heart's a little broken, that's all," Andromeda said, squeezing Tonks' hand tightly. "I'll get you potions for the pain."

Tonks sniffled on her bed, clutching her beloved stuffed wolf to her chest for comfort. "Is Harry okay?"

Andromeda's expression changed, her face now schooled into neutrality. "Harry is safe and well. He…he's going to be living with us now."

Tonks was taken aback. "Why?"

"Dora isn't the only person who died recently," Andromeda said carefully, taking Tonks' hand in her own again. "Harry's mum and dad died this week, too."

"Mr. and Mrs. Potter?" Tonks asked, feeling all the color drain from her face. "They died?"

"Yes, and we were chosen to take care of Harry from now on."

"He's my little brother now?"

Andromeda paused for a moment. "You can call him your brother if you'd like. We're going to have him call us aunt and uncle, unless he chooses otherwise when he's older."

"Why is he coming to live with us?"

"Your cousin Dora was his godmother, and she left a letter that made it clear that if something happened to her, Sirius, or the Potters, Harry would be safest with us."

"Sirius? My cousin Sirius?"

"Sirius is Harry's godfather."

"Where's Sirius? Why isn't he taking care of Harry?"

Andromeda bit her lip, staring at Tonks intently. "Your cousin Sirius has been sent to Azkaban prison for a few years. He can't take care of Harry right now. When he's out of prison, perhaps, but not now."

Tonks felt as if she'd been run over by a herd of hippogriffs. Dora – dead. The Potters – dead. Harry – her new brother. Sirius – in prison. What happened?

"Why is Sirius in prison?" Tonks asked anxiously. "Did he do something bad?"

"He did something rash. He has a bit of a temper, and he took it out without thinking and broke a few big rules," Andromeda explained delicately. "He should only be away for four or five years."

"That's a long time!" Tonks protested. "All my cousins are gone!"

"Yes, but you have Harry now, and Remus will be around from time to time."

"Remus?" Tonks brightened upon hearing that Remus was still around. "Can we see him, please? He's probably sad too."

"Remus needs a little time. He loved your cousin Dora very much, and he lost his best mates this week. We'll see him soon, I hope."

"Where's Harry?"

"Your father and Gran are out with him. They're looking for a new house for all of us to live in."

"We're moving? Why? I thought we were safe here because of the bad witches and wizards."

"A lot happened in the last week, darling. We need to move, anyway, since Harry is coming to live with us. Gran is going to stay with us, too, so we'll need another bedroom for her."

"I can share with Harry!"

Andromeda smiled weakly at Tonks, and held her hand tightly. "It's kind of you that you want to share your room, but as you grow older, it will be better for each of you to have your own space."

Tonks' head continued spinning with all the changes. "Where are we moving?"

"Your father will let us know when he comes home this afternoon. He's getting the paperwork sorted."

Tonks stared at the floor, thoughts racing through her head. The ache in her chest still wasn't going away, and her head hurt.

"Let me fix you lunch, and bring you potions," Andromeda offered. "I'll bring it up here."

"Why was there so much stuff in the kitchen?" Tonks blurted. "I saw packages. Was it for my birthday?"

Andromeda's face was unreadable in the moment. "We're moving, remember? We're just packing. Stay in bed, Nymphadora. I'll have food for you soon."

Tonks pushed herself back against a few pillows, feeling uncertain. She felt she was missing something. If only she could remember what she was missing, she thought glumly.

….

9 November 1981

"Mum, something is wrong with my morphing," Tonks said unhappily. "There's a scar I can't get rid of."

Andromeda paled, holding Harry in her arms as he wriggled to the floor. Her expression grew from worried to neutral in an instant. "Have you noticed that Harry has a scar, Nymphadora?"

Tonks outstretched her arms, beckoning for Harry to come for a hug. The boy came toddling over, and Tonks looked to see a thin, lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead. She traced it with her finger, looking back up to her mother. "Is this new?"

"It's as new as your scar."

Tonks frowned. "How do you know I have a scar?"

"You were very injured the night the accident," Andromeda replied. "You had more cuts and bruises I've ever seen on you, including that cut on your chest."

"It's shaped like a half-moon," Tonks said softly. "Why can't I morph it away?"

"The Healers think it's a cursed scar, which means it won't go away, no matter what we do. We tried everything for you and Harry, and the scars are rather stubborn."

"Oh," Tonks replied, chin quivering. "At least no one can see mine."

"Nymphadora, please don't be upset. You have a wonderful gift to be able to morph almost everything away, and it's alright if there's one little thing you can't change."

Tonks bit the inside of her cheek, and pressed her hand up to her chest, where the scar sat squarely in the middle of her sternum. "Is this why my chest hurt so much?"

"Possibly. Harry can't really talk yet and tell us if his head hurts, but maybe as he grows older he'll let us know."

"I'm stuck with it forever?"

"Even if you are, you're as beautiful as ever, Nymphadora. Harry is still a handsome boy, isn't he?"

Tonks held Harry against her body, his jet-black, messy hair tickling her chin. The lightning bolt shaped scar wasn't as noticeable under the fringe of his soft baby hair.

"He's still a cute baby," Tonks admitted. "My new brother, Harry Potter…is that still his name?"

"Unless he chooses to change it as he gets older, he'll be Harry James Potter for life," Andromeda said, with a soft smile. "I think it's important he keeps his name as his parents wanted it."

"You only say that because I want to change my name!" Tonks snarked, as Andromeda's lip curled.

A sound of rustling came from the sitting room, distracting the two witches. Tonks set Harry down and rushed to the sitting room, elated to see her father come through the Floo.

"Hello, love," an exhausted Ted greeted, kissing the top of Tonks' head. "Have you finished packing your things?"

"I can't wait until I get a wand so I can use magic. It'll be so much faster!"

"It'll be a while until you're good enough with magic to get that all by yourself. Only your mum is good at those spells!"

Tonks crossed her arms over her chest, slightly put out that she couldn't yet use magic. She wouldn't be turning eleven for almost another year, and then she would have to wait nearly another year to begin at Hogwarts.

To Tonks' surprise, the fire in the Floo grew emerald again, and a mysterious figure appeared through the fireplace. He was an older man, with a long, greying beard, and velvety plum robes.

"Oh, hello," the man said kindly, his electric blue eyes twinkling merrily at Tonks. "You must be Nymphadora."

"Tonks," she growled. "I hate my name."

"Professor Dumbledore, we weren't expecting you till later!" Andromeda said, surprised. "What brings you here so early?"

"Andromeda, please do call me Albus. I'm happy to be Professor to your children until they're of age," Dumbledore said cheerily. "I was hoping to speak with your daughter, Tonks, before dinner. Is young Harry available?"

"What do you need them for?" Andromeda said, narrowing her eyes at him. "I don't want to leave them alone."

"You and Ted are most welcome to stay, of course," Dumbledore said. "There are a few things I'd like to check with their scars, if you don't mind."

"You know about our scars?" Tonks asked, cocking her head to one side. She morphed her hair to match the plum on the professor's robes, finding the color rather pretty.

"I do, Miss Tonks. I have a good knowledge of unusual scars. In fact, on one of my knees, I have a scar that looks remarkably like a map of the London underground."

Tonks couldn't help but smile. The old professor was kind, reminding her of her grandpa Tonks. She sat on the sofa, and clapped her hands when Harry came into the room, beckoning him to join her. With a little help, Tonks sat Harry on her side, and morphed her hair to his own jet-black.

"You're not surprised I can do this," Tonks said, pointing to her hair. "Most people are."

"I knew you were a Metamorphmagus, Miss Tonks," Dumbledore said. "I had the pleasure of knowing your cousin Dora while she was a student. I was very sorry to hear of her passing."

Tonks sniffled a little; Dora's death still stung.

"I was hoping you might be able to answer some questions for me, Miss Tonks," Dumbledore said gently. "If you're willing?"

"Sure!"

"Are any of you opposed to snakes?" Dumbledore asked, looking around the room. Andromeda snorted. "As long as it's not poisonous, be my guest." Ted shifted uncomfortably, while Tonks sat on the edge of the seat.

"Is it a magic snake?" asked Tonks. "I haven't found many from my books."

"This is an ordinary grass snake," Dumbledore said, producing a small cage from his robes, in which a small snake was resting. "I was wondering if you might be able to speak to it for me."

"Why can't you do it?"

"Nymphadora, don't be rude," Andromeda sighed, eyeing the snake cautiously, as Dumbledore chuckled.

"She is very much like her cousin, isn't she?"

"I want to be just like Dora when I get to school," Tonks said proudly. "I'm going to be a Hufflepuff!"

"Hufflepuff or not, you might be able to help me," Dumbledore said, pulling the snake out of its cage. "Do you think you can say hello?"

"Hello, little snake," Tonks said, watching its slit-like eyes open, and its tongue slither out.

"Hello, little girl," the snake said. "Where am I?"

"You're at my house," Tonks replied. "I'm called Tonks, this is Harry. My parents are over there, and Professor Dumbledore is holding you. I didn't know snakes could talk." Tonks hadn't noticed that her parents' jaws were dropped, nor that Dumbledore's eyes grew somber and concerned.

"Do you have a name, little snake?"

"No name for me. Humans cannot talk to me. You are the first. The little hatchling can understand too."

"Harry?" Tonks asked, looking over to the infant at her side, who was watching the interchange interestedly. "Harry, can you say hello?"

Harry babbled incoherently, making 'mama' and 'dada' sounds.

"He doesn't know how to talk yet, we think. How do you know he can understand?"

"The hatchling watches me."

"I didn't know I could talk to snakes," Tonks said, looking up to her parents, who were now staring at her, horrified. Dumbledore placed the grass snake back into its cage, and tapped it with his wand to keep it enclosed.

"What do you think we should call him?" Tonks asked, peering back into the cage. "Are all snakes this talkative?"

"Nymphadora," Andromeda said slowly, "Did you understand what that snake was hissing about?"

"Duh. You didn't?"

"No…we didn't," Andromeda said, looking between Ted and Dumbledore uneasily. "You're the only one who understood."

"Harry did too," Tonks said instantly. "The snake said Harry could understand, but we don't think he's learned to speak yet."

"Miss Tonks, I believe you have a rare gift," Dumbledore said, after a few moments of awkward silence. "I don't believe you were born with it, but it is now recently acquired."

"Is it why I can't morph the stupid scar away?"

"It is very likely connected, yes," Dumbledore replied carefully, stroking his beard pensively. "Do you know what happened to you on Halloween?"

"A bad wizard called Tom hurt me and Dora, and wanted to hurt Harry. He hit me with something but I can't remember what happened after that."

"Andromeda. Ted," Dumbledore said quietly. "Might I have your permission to speak with Miss Tonks candidly?"

"I'm not leaving this room," Andromeda said fiercely. "If we hear anything objectionable—"

"'Dromeda, it will be fine. Better Albus to explain this than us." He placed his hand on Andromeda's waist, pulling her closer to him, making Tonks blush and look away.

"Explain what?" Tonks said eagerly, sitting at the edge of the sofa again, as she wrangled Harry back towards her.

"The wizard who attacked you – called Tom – goes by another name. He is known as Lord Voldemort. You might have also heard of him as You-Know-Who or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and he is the one who killed your cousin, and Harry's father."

Tonks' jaw dropped. The He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had tried to kill her? And Harry? He had killed James?

"I'm not certain how much your parents have explained to you," Dumbledore continued delicately, "But did they say that your cousin Dora saved your lives?"

Tonks nodded quickly. "Dora's the reason Harry and I are alive."

"Yes. Your cousin Dora put herself between you, Harry, and Voldemort. When Voldemort killed her, and then tried to kill you, the curse backfired partly. It's believed that you were able to dodge the curse, but were injured as a result. Your parents were worried you weren't going to make it, but you survived. I can't begin to explain how remarkable that is."

Tonks looked down at her chest, rubbing a small circle where her half-moon scar was. "Is that why I have the scar?"

"Precisely, Miss Tonks. Your scar is where he tried to kill you, but you survived. It's a cursed scar, which is why you can't morph it away, but you should feel proud of it. It's the reason why you survived at all."

"Is Harry's the same?"

"It is. His father, James, also died trying to save Harry. He arrived at the house just moments after you were struck, and rushed to Harry's side. James was killed by Voldemort, and when he turned to young Harry, the spell backfired worse than before, and Voldemort fled."

"Where is he now? Can they catch him?" Tonks asked breathlessly.

"He's been defeated, love," Ted said gently, eyeing Dumbledore curiously. "Harry did it somehow."

"Harry? This baby?" Tonks asked, as Harry slid off the sofa and wandered to his wooden toys.

"There's some complicated magic at work, Miss Tonks," Dumbledore explained. "Between you and Harry Potter, Voldemort has disappeared."

Tonks smacked her palm on her forehead, remembering what Dora had told her. "The love worked?"

Dumbledore gazed curiously at Tonks. "Can you explain what you mean, Miss Tonks?"

"Dora – right before she…err…she told me I could save everyone if I loved them enough."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled merrily, and a gleam of excitement shone in them. "Your cousin Dora was a brilliant witch. She was correct, and I believe you helped Harry live, too."

"What does this have to do with me talking to snakes now?"

"I'm under the impression that when Voldemort tried to kill you and Harry, and the curses rebounded, he transferred some of his…abilities…to you both." Andromeda and Ted both gasped audibly, looking even more horrified than before.

"He could talk to snakes? What else could he do?" Tonks asked apprehensively. "I thought he was a bad man."

"He was," Dumbledore said simply. "But being able to speak to snakes is not inherently a bad trait. I have reason to believe your cousin might have given you some of her abilities as well."

"Dora? Really? She's brilliant," Tonks sighed, suddenly unhappy. "Was."

"Andromeda, Ted, can we move this lovely table out of the way? I'd like to see if your daughter is able to do something unusual."

Andromeda and Ted gave each other furtive glances, but levitated the coffee table out of the way, leaving an open space between the sofa and armchairs in the sitting room.

Dumbledore produced a picture of a badger, and showed it to Tonks. "Close your eyes and think of this badger. Think about becoming the badger."

Tonks did as she was told. She memorized the picture of the badger, and closed her eyes, thinking especially of the badger's nose. Before she knew it, her entire body was contorting, snapping, and rearranging itself.

Tonks wasn't sure what had happened, but in the place where she was sitting, she felt much smaller, with a cold, wet nose (snout?) and sharp claws where her hands had been.

Tonks tried to speak, but anxious hisses and screeches were all that came out of her mouth (snout, again?).

"Merlin's beard," Ted said, aghast and fascinated. "Is she an Animagus now, too?"

"Andromeda, it might be useful if you take your daughter to the loo. She might not know how to transform back into a human, and when she does, she might not be clothed. Try Finite incantatem, and clothe her if necessary," Dumbledore explained, sounding rather amused.

Tonks scrambled on the sofa, feeling terribly foolish. She felt clumsier than ever, little paws flailing about, claws now stuck in the fabric of the sofa. She was screeching for help, having heard Dumbledore's command.

"Nymphadora?" Andromeda said softly, as Tonks-the-badger's eyes grew wide and she garbled sounds out of her snout. "Can you walk, or do I need to carry you?"

Tonks continued flailing against the sofa, until she rolled over and landed with a soft thump on the floor. Ted was chuckling, and Andromeda gingerly picked her up and took her to the loo, placing Tonks on the floor.

"Finite incantatem," Andromeda murmured, and Tonks returned to her human state, but without clothes, and yelped upon finding herself nude.

"It appears my cousin had more secrets than I thought," Andromeda muttered. "Nymphadora, stay here while I fetch your clothes."

Tonks stood in the bathroom, naked, and thought of the badger again. Moments later, she was back on all four paws, her new claws clanging happily on the tile. This is way better than speaking to snakes, Tonks thought gleefully. I wonder what else I got from Dora?

Andromeda opened the door and shrieked, upon seeing the badger. "Finite incantatem!"

"This is not at all what I imagined for my day," Andromeda said flatly. "First snakes, now this."

"I'm a badger, mum! Am I an Animagus like Sirius now?"

"I'm gobsmacked that you can do this at all, Nymphadora. It takes a great deal of effort to become an Animagus, and you're just ten years old. Please dress yourself, and try not to think of badgers. I don't need a badger on the loose."

Tonks grinned, delighted at her newfound ability, and dressed hastily. She ran downstairs, where Dumbledore was playing with the wooden blocks with Harry.

"Am I an Animagus?" she asked excitedly. "Like Sirius?"

"Your cousin was an Animagus, although few knew that," Dumbledore said, a soft smile growing on his face. "She was a badger. It appears that ability transferred to you as well. I'll register you myself."

"A Metamorphmagus, an Animagus, and a Parselmouth…" Ted said, in openmouthed shock. "What in Merlin's name happened to our daughter?"

"I think it's wicked," Tonks said, grinning. Her parents continued exchanging worried glances, while Dumbledore's face was serene.

"Why don't we have dinner?" Andromeda said, through a strained voice. "You must be hungry, Albus."

Dumbledore stood from the floor, whisking Harry into his arms. Harry took immediate glee in tugging on Dumbledore's beard, and with a grinning Tonks and a squealing Harry, the five made their way to the kitchen to eat.