9 November 1989

"Cockroach Clusters," Tonks said confidently, looking at the gargoyle statue. It moved aside, as usual, and she proceeded upstairs to meet with Dumbledore for another lesson on casting Fiendfyre. She had been observing him for weeks, and was hoping that one of these evenings, she would get the chance to cast it herself.

"Welcome, Miss Tonks," Dumbledore said. "I hope you enjoyed your most recent birthday."

"It was nice," Tonks said simply. "Will I finally be casting Fiendfyre, or are we doing something else tonight?"

"You will be observing again tonight, but first, I have a proposition for you." Dumbledore sat back in his chair, his eyes bright behind his half-moon spectacles. "I would like your help, if you're willing."

"You need my help? You're sure?"

"Never been more sure in my life, Miss Tonks. There's an item I'd like for you to retrieve for me."

Tonks sat up straight, suddenly far more interested in what the Headmaster had to say. "I can? What's the other item? Is it a horcrux?"

"It is indeed. I believe that it is at the Malfoys' home, Malfoy Manor."

"Guess it's a good thing mum's been attempting to make nice with the Malfoys for years…wait, you didn't put her up to this, did you?" Tonks yelped. "It wasn't all for the gold?"

Dumbledore's mustache twitched, and Tonks' face fell. "You did, didn't you?"

"I may have suggested that rebuilding family relationships might be better for you, Draco, and Harry," Dumbledore said, still amused. "I will admit that it isn't solely for our benefit in obtaining another horcrux. Based on the memories I saw from Dora, your cousin Draco could use better influences in his life. The fact that they're interested in the Lestrange gold gave us an advantage in that they wanted to seek you out as well."

Tonks slumped back in her seat, uninterested in continuing with any familial relationship with the Malfoys. "Fine, but I'll do it only for Draco and for the last horcrux. My Uncle Lucius is a git, even after all these years."

"Azkaban may have changed him, as has being without magic for so long. I do not expect him to have changed in personality, but he may be more open to new ideas."

Tonks snorted loudly. "I doubt it."

"Give it time," Dumbledore recommended. "It may help if you are friendly to him, to retrieve what I believe is another horcrux."

"That doesn't seem very honest," Tonks said uneasily. "I don't think it's right to use people like that, even if they are Lucius Malfoy…but the older I've gotten the harder it is to see what's right and wrong sometimes."

Dumbledore gazed at Tonks through his piercing blue eyes, and his lips curled into a smile again. "This is why you are a Hufflepuff, Miss Tonks. Your integrity speaks volumes."

"It doesn't seem nice to use someone," Tonks said quietly, blushing at the thought that her relationship with Tristan had begun very much as a way to use someone. She was silently thankful they were now in a proper relationship.

"You may not have to lie to your uncle, and please know there is no rush to get what I hope is the last horcrux. I want you to destroy them with me, as I do not trust myself to destroy them alone."

Tonks gaped at Dumbledore. He doesn't trust himself to do it alone?

"You'll recall that Dora saved my life once. Horcruxes are unpleasant objects, and some of them can draw an individual into madness or possession," Dumbledore said gravely. Tonks' jaw dropped. Madness or possession? What was Dora thinking, putting three of them in Grimmauld Place?

"The objects that Dora took did affect her," Tonks said, thinking aloud. "She wrote in her journal that she had nightmares from having them under her bed. When I got the Hufflepuff cup I had nightmares, too."

"They are the Darkest, foulest objects. This is understandable. The ring that you saw – I assume you saw it?"

Tonks nodded in understanding, recalling the shiny ring with the black stone. She had been too scared to touch it after the diadem and locket had burned her.

"That ring drew me in enough that I was dueling Dora to the death. She transformed into a badger and broke my leg, but that saved my life. She Apparated us back to Hogwarts before I did anything fatal to either of us. Keep that in mind if you're ever to handle the ring."

"Holy shit," Tonks breathed.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that," Dumbledore said wryly. "Dora had a penchant for colorful language. I let it go because of her true age, but you are still my student, Miss Tonks."

Tonks sank in her seat, blushing furiously.

"Now, as to the horcrux I'd like for you to retrieve. It is a small book, a diary. It is black and leatherbound, if I recall correctly," Dumbledore continued, as if nothing had happened. "It belonged to Lord Voldemort, while he was a 16 year old student here. He was known then as Tom Riddle."

Tonks gasped. "That's what Dora called him that night! I can't believe she did that, after all those years."

"Did she?" Dumbledore smiled, his eyes gleaming with pride. "I'm impressed. Few are able to get away with calling him Tom."

"She didn't really get away, though," Tonks said sadly. "She died."

"Dora did, but you didn't," Dumbledore said gently. "That makes all the difference in the world."

"I guess." Tonks shrugged, looking down at her hands. Sometimes, she swore she saw lines on her wrists, but she always imagined it was a trick of the light.

"Tom's diary became his first horcrux, if I'm not mistaken," Dumbledore continued. "It was last kept at Malfoy Manor, possibly in the library. I would like for you to find it."

"What if it's not there?"

"I hope that it is there. You could ask one of the Malfoy house elves to assist you, if they're willing."

"Dobby. One of them is called Dobby."

"Yes, I have some curious memories of a house elf called Dobby," Dumbledore said, amused. "Perhaps he can help you. If not, I have a feeling that the diary will resurface when Harry goes to school."

"I'm assuming that's really, really bad," Tonks said, feeling uncomfortable with the idea that her brother would be anywhere near a bit of Voldemort's soul.

"I've taken all the preventive measures to ensure that if it happens, we will catch it swiftly and without harm to any student," Dumbledore assured. "Dora helped with that as well."

"So you need me to find a little diary written by a teenage Voldemort that the Malfoys have," Tonks said, running her hands through her silver hair, indicating her anxiety. "But not tell them I'm taking it?"

"Ideally, yes. I know it may seem questionable to you, but it is not a safe item to keep in any home, as you will know by now."

Tonks bit her lip, wavering between the morality of stealing a bit of Voldemort's soul, and the absolute necessity of destroying it. "Right. Okay. I'll try."

"If you cannot find it, I'm sure it will turn up somewhere. Try your best, but don't hurt yourself while doing so. It is important, but not urgent yet."

"Yet?"

"I believe Lord Voldemort will be seeking to return when Harry begins at Hogwarts, as the enchantments on your home are too strong for him to consider breaching them, due to Dora's sacrifice. If possible, I'd like to have the horcruxes destroyed by 1991, before Harry begins, but if we are unable to do so, we will work to take them down one by one."

Tonks nodded weakly, feeling more apprehensive by the minute.

"I don't want you destroying any of them until you have completed your education, Miss Tonks. When you can cast and control Fiendfyre with ease, and have collected the remaining horcruxes, we will take care of them then. Until that point, I would like for you to do your best with your studies."

"Okay," Tonks agreed. "I'll try."

"Please don't exert yourself too much in searching for the diary," Dumbledore added. "If you find it soon, it will be helpful, but I strongly believe it will turn up sometime. I recommend trying over the holidays."

Tonks groaned. "I was hoping to either stay here for the holidays or see the Wallaces. I still haven't forgiven my family or Remus for lying to me."

Dumbledore looked suddenly somber. "I don't know what it is like to have one's life be filled with lies, but I do believe it's important to reconcile with one's family before it's too late. Consider this, before you do anything rash, Miss Tonks."

She said nothing, now working hard to figure out a way to get to Malfoy Manor for Christmas to get the horcrux. Dumbledore wasn't concerned yet, as he was already on his feet and heading towards the Floo.

"Come along, Miss Tonks! We've a cursed fire to start!" he said cheerfully. Rolling her eyes behind his back, she followed him for another terrifying display of magic.

….

16 November 1989

Dear mum,

Change in plans. I'm coming home for Christmas. We should go to the Malfoys' for dinner sometime – maybe Christmas Eve? I'm checking in on Uncle Lucius.

Your daughter,

Nymphadora

"You don't believe she's coming home just for Lucius, do you?" asked Ted. "There's a reason she wants to come home, and I'm not buying her proposal to go to Malfoy Manor. They should come to us, not the other way around." He set the letter on the countertop in the kitchen, having received it first thing that morning.

"If the Malfoys are going to be here, I'll figure something else out," Remus said uncomfortably. "I don't think they want me anywhere near them." He took a sip of tea to hide his nervousness before the others.

"Nonsense, Remus. You're practically family," Andromeda said curtly. "If my sister and her husband have a problem with you, so be it. It's not as if they know of your lycanthropy, and there's no need for them to know, either."

"Old Lucy can shove it up his arse if he doesn't like you, Moony," Sirius said sternly, as he clapped Remus on the back.

Remus exhaled in relief. He was looking forward to Christmas with the Tonkses, especially now that he knew Nymphadora would be coming home. After her rejection of his offer to meet her for lunch on her birthday, he felt more anxious than ever to see her. It had been months – since June, really – since he knew what was going through her mind.

"I'll invite Cissa, Lucius, and Draco, only," Andromeda clarified.

"Your mother, 'Dromeda?" Ted asked. "Without you and Narcissa, your mother will be alone for Christmas. I don't think I've actually met her, now that I think on it."

Andromeda glared at him, her nostrils flaring with anger. Remus was amused, finding the resemblance between mother and daughter's enraged expressions uncanny.

"Andy, c'mon, invite Aunt Druella," Sirius said teasingly. "I haven't seen her in years. We're due for a good Black family reunion, aren't we?"

"I will consider it," Andromeda said, through gritted teeth. "I'm not allowing my mother anywhere near this home."

"Grimmauld Place, then," Sirius suggested, shrugging. "Remus and I are already there. Druella knows where it is. The Malfoys know where it is. Good ol' family reunion, just like old times…sans the Cruciatus Curse, of course."

Ted and Remus stared in horror as Andromeda and Sirius chuckled to themselves, and Ted cleared his throat to ease the tension.

"Should we invite Nymphadora's boyfriend?" Ted said. At the mention of a boyfriend, Remus clenched his jaw and kept his gaze steady on the floor, forcing himself to stare at the pattern of the wooden planks rather than any thought of Nymphadora with another young man.

"Let's not, this time," Andromeda said carefully. "If my mother is there, it may be enough to scare the young man away for life."

Remus snapped his head up, ready to very enthusiastically welcome Tristan to the Black-Tonks-Malfoy family dinner, but Sirius had already put his hand on Remus' arm to prevent him from speaking. Remus scowled at Sirius but returned to nursing his cup of tea in brooding silence, as the rest of the family continued planning for the upcoming family event.

….

25 November 1989

"I don't see why we can't go to the Malfoys' place for Christmas rather than one of mine," Tonks said irritably, as she set down the letter from her parents. "Their manor is gigantic!"

"Maybe your mum thought it best to have everyone on neutral ground?" Edith suggested, as she glanced at the letter from Andromeda. "She says right here that 'Sirius wants the Black family reunion in the Black family home'. Isn't that good enough?"

"No." Tonks scoffed. "I need to go to Malfoy Manor for something."

"But you can't tell us what it is?" Tristan said wryly. "Not unlike many of your family goings-on?"

Tonks patted Tristan's cheek affectionately. "Exactly. I need to go there for something important, but I don't know how. If only they were holding that sodding gala again!"

"Gala? What gala?" asked Theo, from the corridor that led to the Head Boy and Girl's quarters. He walked in, hand-in-hand with Charlie Weasley, and the two took their favorite places by the fire.

"The Malfoys used to hold a big gala every year on New Year's Eve but they haven't since before Lucius went to prison, I think. Or, if they do, they don't invite us," Tonks explained. "Big, fancy party with all the purebloods and their friends. Voldemort came by—"

Everyone shuddered upon hearing his name, but Tonks continued. "—anyway, Tom came by every year, and it was a big to-do. If they had a gala again this year…maybe I can convince them somehow." Tonks flopped back into the sofa, next to Tristan, who wrapped his arm around her shoulders and held her against his side.

"Do you have to get it by Christmas?" asked Charlie. "Whatever this thing is?"

"Well, no," Tonks said, frowning. "I could wait until another time, but I want it sooner rather than later."

"You can't tell us what it is?" Edith said. "Maybe we could help you?"

"No, it's got to be me getting it, but don't worry about it," Tonks said, waving her hand to dismiss the subject. "We should talk about something else." She looked to Charlie and Theo. "What are you lovebirds doing next year?"

Charlie rolled his eyes while Theo grinned. "I'm writing to a dragon reserve in Bulgaria. If all goes well, I'll be moving there this summer!"

"That's wonderful, Theo!" Tonks said, standing up quickly to hug him. "Charlie?"

"I'm a sixth year, remember?" Charlie said drily. "I've got another term to go."

"If he does as well as he's been doing with Care of Magical Creatures, I'm hoping we can get him on the dragon reserve too in Bulgaria," Theo chirped. "Far from our families, and we can do whatever we want."

"I thought the Weasleys didn't care about you two?" Edith said, cocking her head to one side. "Mrs. Weasley always makes Theo a jumper too."

"My Auntie Muriel doesn't know, and she's always sticking her abnormally large nose in our family's business," Charlie said, grimacing. "She's ancient but always has a stick up her arse about one thing or another."

"My family have no idea, and I'm keeping it that way," Theo said firmly. "My older brother better get married and have a kid soon so they've got a grandkid to keep them busy…maybe when I've got a niece or nephew, I'll tell them about…us."

"Bulgaria sounds like a good fit for you both, then," Tristan said. "Good luck."

"What are you doing after you're done here?" Charlie asked, glancing from Tristan to Edith. "Tonks is going to be an Auror, obviously."

"You say that like it's a given," Tonks said, blowing her currently periwinkle blue hair out of her eyes. "I still have to pass my N.E.W.T.s, get through the application process, and then training."

"Someone's a little too modest for her own good," Edith said, punching Tonks playfully on her shoulder. "You'll be brilliant, Tonks." Edith put her hair up into a loose bun, and turned back to the others. "If I keep up with Quidditch this year, I hope the Holyhead Harpies will come by to see one of our matches. That would be a dream come true."

"I don't know if you will, Edith," Tonks said, as Edith gasped. "But I don't not know, if you know what I mean." Edith looked mollified by the clarification, while the others stared in confusion.

"It's a girl thing," Edith said to the perplexed boys. "Tristan? You going to be a Healer like our parents and Alfie?"

Tristan bit his lower lip, looking unsure. "I still don't know what I'm going to do. I've been reading to get some ideas, but nothing yet." Tonks had often wondered what Tristan had planned for his future career; in all their conversations, he had yet to say anything about his career aspirations. Noting his discomfort, Tonks changed the subject again to Quidditch, allowing the others to launch into a spirited debate on each house team's prospects that term.

She let them speak, while tugging on Tristan's sleeve to follow her into her room. As much as she'd resisted becoming Head Girl, having her own dormitory was a blessed advantage in her last term at Hogwarts.

Once inside, Tonks cast a Locking and Silencing Charm on her door, and sat Tristan down next to her.

"It's okay if you don't know what you want to do. We're only 18, after all," Tonks said gently, as she took his hand in his.

"I do know what I want," he said softly. "It's an impossible dream."

"Rubbish! Nothing's impossible," Tonks said swiftly. "What is it?"

"You won't tease me?" Tristan said, shifting uneasily next to her.

"Of course I won't!"

Tristan took a deep breath and said, "I want to be a Muggle healer. They call them doctors."

"You do?" Tonks was surprised by Tristan's admission. "Why?...Not that it's wrong, of course," she added, upon seeing Tristan's reaction.

"My grandparents on my mum's side were Muggles, but you probably knew that from Edith. They both died of a Muggle illness called cancer, and their healers couldn't fix it. Wizard Healers don't know much about Muggle diseases. Even my mum and dad couldn't do anything, and they're both Healers."

"So you want to fix it," Tonks murmured, as Tristan nodded.

"Mum and dad say it's a nice dream, but pointless and a waste of my talent," Tristan continued, exhaling forcefully. "I want to combine magic and Muggle science. There's got to be a way to do it, but I need to go to Muggle university and medical school to be one of their healers."

"And? Go do that," Tonks said emphatically. "Go to the university and school!"

Tristan laughed darkly. "As if it were that easy. I've got to take these exams called A-levels and do other paperwork to be admitted. They don't teach A-level material here. Muggle Studies is pointless when it comes to preparing wizards for Muggle life."

Tonks bit her lip. Tristan was kind, intelligent, and had a wonderful dream, and she wanted to help him. "What would it take for you to get those A-levels?" Tonks asked slowly. "Gold?"

Tristan began chatting animatedly about the British school system, courses, and other qualifications that Muggle universities asked for. Though much of it was over her head, she tried listening intently to his findings.

"Even if I got all of it done, there's no guarantee I'll be admitted," Tristan said sadly.

"Try," Tonks said firmly. "Really try, Tristan. There's no reason you can't try. If it doesn't work, you at least tried to make it happen. Promise me you'll try."

"I'm not so sure, Tonks." Tristan fell back, and rubbed his palms against his eyes, brushing his hair away from his forehead. "I'll try, if you insist."

"I do insist," Tonks said, as she squeezed his hand, and brought his face to hers to kiss him. He smiled against her, and kissed her in return. Though they had yet to go any further than exploring each other's mouths, neither Tonks nor Tristan seemed to mind. They enjoyed each other's company, and it was all they needed in the moment.

….

12 December 1989

Remus lay in his bed at Grimmauld Place, staring up at the ceiling. That evening would be the full moon, and although he had Wolfsbane Potion aplenty keeping the wolf at ease, his mind was reeling with worry for Nymphadora. He had been unsuccessfully trying, for months, to learn how she was. Short of stopping by Hogwarts himself to find her, he had no other options.

Something had happened to Nymphadora over the previous summer. Between the first time he saw her and her first weekend at Grimmauld Place, there had been a shift in her behavior and disposition. She had been seemingly happy to see him the day he arrived in Britain, but by the weekend, her temper had soured and she had avoided him.

He recalled the evening in which she was upset at him and Sirius for asking how she was; at first, Remus chalked it up to hormonal teenage behavior. As the summer progressed and Nymphadora's cantankerous, antisocial behavior persisted, he grew more worried. Her outright refusal to see him for her birthday, combined with the sudden halt in correspondence, had only increased his worries. Though she was now 18 years old and an adult by any definition, he felt uncomfortable attempting to seek her out on his own. Remus had no right to question her, or demand she see him to assuage his fears over her welfare. He simply had to wait for her to speak to him, whenever she was ready. If she was ever ready, he lamented.

Remus struggled to think of what had caused the shift in her behavior. As far as he was aware, as of June, she had been her usual cheerful self. She had been worried for her end-of-year exams, but had otherwise no other issues.

The only "new" phenomenon he could think of between June and July was the introduction of a new boyfriend in the form of a seventh year Ravenclaw called Tristan Wallace.

Like Nymphadora's previous relationship with Damian – the second time around, Remus thought angrily – she had hidden it from her family until it blew up spectacularly. Nymphadora's admission of the relationship a few weeks into the summer led Remus to believe that something was terribly wrong with whatever she was doing with Tristan. She had been steadily happy and content until Remus returned from America, but her mood had shifted between June and July. Remus couldn't help but think it had to do with the new boyfriend.

Remus didn't trust Tristan one bit, especially as his arrival into Nymphadora's life had coincided with a massive shift in her happiness. By all accounts, the boy seemed quiet, introverted, and studious. Sirius and Remus had interrogated him at Harry's ninth birthday, much to Nymphadora's chagrin. Tristan gave no indication that he was menacing or disrespectful, but after recalling Nymphadora's previous relationships, Remus struggled to trust her judgment in her dating partners.

It didn't help that he missed her. Despite being in Britain once more, Remus had never felt so far from Nymphadora. He had grown so accustomed to her frequent, steady correspondence over the years that he felt a gaping hole in his heart for the now young woman who he'd become close to.

It had to happen sooner or later, he thought bitterly. Nymphadora was no longer a child but a young woman with her own hopes and dreams. She was independent and headstrong, and she would carve her own way into the world whether or not Remus was a part of her life. The bond he had with her would only last for so long, at least for her. As long as she was in his 'pack,' he would care for her.

She was growing up quickly, and it was only a matter of time before she outgrew him and left him behind, along with all other mementos of her childhood. There was little he could do but let her go her own way, as she deserved nothing less than total happiness.

….

21 December 1989

"How's the uni stuff going?" Tonks asked gently in Tristan's ear as they cuddled together on her bed in the Head Girl's room.

"I've run into a bit of a problem," Tristan replied, sighing heavily. "It appears that applications require payments, and I haven't enough gold to do it."

"I'll pay for it," Tonks said instantly, as Tristan shook his head.

"I can't make you do that. It's your family's gold, not mine."

"Don't be silly. I haven't gotten you a Christmas present yet," Tonks said casually. "I'll pay your fees and that can be your Christmas present."

Tristan turned around, staring at Tonks in disbelief. "You will? Why?"

"Because it will make you happy, you numpty," Tonks said, kissing him softly. "You deserve to have your dream come true, don't you?" She didn't bother letting him respond before continuing. "If all that's standing in your way is a bit of gold to get your applications in, I'll get it for you."

"Are you sure?" Tristan's deep blue eyes were sparkling with joy, a rare occurrence Tonks had only seen when he had solved a particularly difficult problem on one of his essays, or gotten a difficult spell correctly.

"Of course I'm sure!" Tonks took her hands and placed them on either side of Tristan's face, bringing his lips back to hers. He grinned after they kissed for a few moments, a full, toothy smile she saw as rarely as the sparkle that lit up his eyes.

"Look how happy you are," Tonks murmured. "If this isn't a good Christmas present, I don't know what is."

"I hope you like what I got for you. Edith helped pick it out."

"If Edith helped, I'll probably like it," Tonks said, smiling. "Avi's been asking for my help for years for Edith. Bit annoying, but then she always gets something she likes. Why none of my exes ever tried that is beyond me."

Tristan frowned for a moment, worrying Tonks. "What's wrong?" she asked, brushing her fingers against his cheek.

"I really wish I'd asked you out before," Tristan said, with a heavy sigh. "I've fancied you for years. Since third year, I think."

"You have?" Tonks asked, astonished. She sat up, looking at him in complete bewilderment. "How come you never said anything?"

"Err…bad timing?" he said awkwardly. "You were with Declan for a while, and he's in my dormitory, so I couldn't have gone for you then. You don't date your mates' exes, yeah?"

Tonks raised an eyebrow at him. "Are you even close to him? I never saw you spend time with him."

Tristan sighed. "Not really, but he's a prick and I didn't want to bother with him. Then that Belby bloke asked you out right before Valentine's Day, and you were with him another long while."

Tonks made a face, remembering her latest ex-boyfriend. "Then I got back together with him, and that ended in a fiasco for me."

"Edith told me everything, yeah," Tristan said, now smiling wryly. "At that point, you scared the shit out of me."

Tonks laughed loudly. "Why?"

"You could kick anyone's arse if you wanted to! I dunno if you noticed, but Belby and Rosier talked and the whole school thought you'd almost murdered them, and your dad had to pay off Dumbledore and the board to keep you here," Tristan said quickly, as Tonks' jaw dropped.

"No way."

"Edith probably didn't tell you about it to spare your feelings," Tristan said, shrugging. "She said you felt terrible about it and were having the worst summer at home, and didn't want to make it any worse."

"I should buy her a new broomstick," Tonks murmured, thinking of how kind Edith had always been to her. "Did she know you fancied me? Is that why she set us up, mostly?"

"Merlin, this is embarrassing," Tristan said, blushing. "You're going to think I'm pathetic."

"I've got enough embarrassing moments for at least three people's lifetimes," Tonks said seriously. "Lay it on me."

"When you started coming over to our house this past summer, I started reading outside every morning so I could see you before you came in," Tristan said rapidly, his blush growing into a deeper crimson. "I hate reading outside. I only did it so I could see you."

Tonks beamed and launched herself onto him. "Tristan, that is the sweetest thing I have ever heard. Now I wish you'd said something years ago!"

Tristan's eyes were sparkling again, and his grin was wider than Tonks had ever seen before. "Me too, but at least we're together now."

"Is that why you didn't want a fake relationship with me? Because you wanted a real one?" Tonks asked suddenly.

Tristan blushed again and nodded. "By then Edith figured me out and teased me mercilessly. She said that if I didn't make a move, she'd do it for me."

"You better get her a good Christmas present," Tonks said, as she kissed him again. "We both owe her."

Tristan laughed, and it wasn't long before the two of them were done speaking and onto other activities.