24 December 1989
"Dress robes are stupid," Harry complained, lifting his arms up to swing them around. "I don't understand why I have to wear these."
"It's a special occasion, Harry. Christmas Eve," Tonks said, attempting to smooth down Harry's unruly hair. "Tonight we're doing the world's weirdest family reunion and then tomorrow it'll be just us, okay?"
"We can't even play Quidditch at Grimmauld Place! There's no room!"
Tonks rolled her eyes. "You can play wizard's chess, Gobstones, or talk to Draco. There are plenty of things to do. Let's go." The two of them went downstairs, where Andromeda and Ted were waiting for them. Tonks noted, with some amusement, that her father appeared slightly anxious.
"What's wrong, dad? Not looking forward to a family reunion?" Tonks teased.
"It's not often that one meets their mother-in-law for the first time almost twenty years after eloping," Ted said curtly. "I'd almost prefer an afternoon alone with Lucius."
"Is Gran coming?" Tonks asked, looking over to her father's mother.
"I am. I'd like to see what all the fuss is about with this Druella your mother has told me so much about," Gran said happily. Tonks was nervous about having her very Muggle grandmother in the same room as her very prejudiced, pureblood grandmother; suddenly, her father's anxiety was understandable and shared between father and daughter.
"No need to look so glum," Gran said cheerily. "We'll have a cracking time, won't we, dear?" She gestured towards Harry, who looked just as upset to be going to Grimmauld Place as Ted and Tonks were.
"Remember this was your idea, Nymphadora," Andromeda said. "Merlin knows why."
"My idea was going to Malfoy Manor," Tonks replied, blowing a tuft of emerald green hair out of her eyes. "We may as well get going, huh?"
Andromeda nodded and beckoned for Harry to come with her. A few moments later, they went through the Floo, followed by Ted and Gran. Lastly, Tonks went through the Floo, a sinking pit in her stomach forming at the thought of the family reunion.
As soon as Tonks stepped through the Floo into the library of Grimmauld Place, the tension in the air was palpable.
The Malfoys and Druella stood on one side of the library, looking disdainfully upon everyone else. Sirius and Remus were standing in the middle of the room; Sirius was grinning, clearly amused, while Remus was bewildered at the glares from all directions. The Tonkses, Gran, and Harry were on the other side of the fireplace. Gran was calm as ever, while Andromeda and Ted were shifting nervously from foot to foot.
"Well, this is fun," Tonks said, breaking the silence. "I guess I'll do introductions."
"Grandmother Druella," Tonks announced, walking towards the Malfoys and Druella. "That man over there is my father, Ted Tonks. Next to him is his mother, Doris Tonks. Uncle Lucius, Aunt Cissa, and Draco all know them. You know Sirius, looking too happy in the middle, and next to him is his best mate from school, Remus Lupin." Druella's expression was filled with utter loathing and contempt as Tonks introduced her family and friends, but Tonks decided to ignore it and went over to the Tonkses.
"All right, now it's Gran's turn," Tonks said. "Gran, you remember the Malfoys, and you already know Sirius and Remus. That woman standing next to Aunt Cissa is my grandmother, Druella Black."
Tonks' introductions were followed by silence, and she rolled her eyes dramatically before speaking again. "Why don't we eat?" she suggested, beckoning for the others to follow her to the dining room.
They slowly followed her to the dining room. Sirius was still wearing a shit-eating grin, Remus was looking as uncomfortable as ever, and Druella looked ready to murder.
As soon as they sat down, Kreacher and Mopsy made their way in to serve them all. The two grandmothers were seated on opposite ends of the table, with Tonks and Harry in the middle.
"It is very different here now," Aunt Cissa said, after looking down at the plates. "Even the dining ware is different. Whose doing was this?"
"Mine," Tonks said brightly, as Druella shot her another dirty glare. "I had Kreacher store up most of the snake and Slytherin stuff. Replaced a lot of it with hippogriff stuff, and made it a lot happier in here."
"Brilliant decorating sense she has," Sirius said gleefully, smirking at Druella. "Couldn't have thought of a better eye than Tonks here."
Remus, Ted, and Andromeda chuckled nervously while the Malfoys and Druella looked as if they'd eaten a whole lemon. The dinner continued in awkward, tense silence, reminding Tonks of the first time Lucius Malfoy had come to visit them after his release from Azkaban.
"Why did Nymphadora inherit all of this?" Cissa asked, after another long silence. "Do any of you know?"
"To tell you the truth, we're not sure," Andromeda said, looking up at her mother and the Malfoys. "It was a surprise to us all. We expected it all to go to you and Draco."
"It was Pandora's doing," Druella said icily. "That brat got herself killed and decided a different brat ought to inherit what wasn't hers to inherit."
Gran cleared her throat. "If it was rightly Pandora's, then she had every right to do with it what she liked."
Tonks stared, openmouthed, at her Gran's rebuttal to her other grandmother. Druella's hand twitched to her side, and before anyone else could do it, Andromeda had disarmed Druella.
"Mother, you are not to harm anyone," Andromeda said hotly. Druella looked away, apparently unaffected by the admonishment.
Sirius shook his head, and set his fork down. "Dora did inherit the Black and Lestrange estates and Wizengamot seats legally. I don't know how the Lestrange one worked, but the Black one was pre-arranged between me, Regulus, and then Dora."
"Regulus?" Cissa asked, in surprise. "He had a hand in this?"
"They were betrothed," Lucius interjected. Tonks was taken aback that even he had something to say on the inheritance. "Of course he had a hand in the matter. As the heir to the Black fortune, he had every right to leave it to his betrothed."
Tonks smiled smugly at Druella, pleased that Dora's inheritance of the Black estate had been crafted years before.
"But why the Lestrange estate?" Cissa pressed. "How?"
"Is it the gold you're after?" Sirius retorted. "As if the Malfoys didn't—"
"Sirius, that's enough," Tonks said, cutting him off. "I've actually been thinking about the vaults and the properties."
Now all heads were turned to her, and she blushed upon realizing all eyes were on her, especially as her hair morphed to an anxious silver against her will.
"I'm perfectly content to share the gold with Draco." Lucius and Cissa's eyes grew wide, and both looked triumphant upon hearing Tonks' admission, while Sirius scowled.
"I am," Tonks insisted. "But not until Draco is of age. I'm going to give some to Harry, too, since he's Sirius' godson." Cissa, Lucius, and Druella all deflated slightly upon hearing this part of the plan. Tonks inhaled deeply, and continued. "If I have children, they'll get some of it, too."
At this, Remus' eyes flashed gold briefly as he stared intently at her. Deciding she had other matters to attend to, she ignored him. "It will be what I deem fair, as long as everyone behaves."
Lucius snorted, and Sirius growled in return. Tonks clapped her hands in front of their faces. "Boys! Stop!"
"What an insolent little brat," Druella muttered angrily, scowling at Tonks. "Stain on our house!"
"That's enough, mother!" Andromeda shouted, standing abruptly. "If you can't be civil, then leave!"
Tensions were running high, giving Tonks a headache. Andromeda slowly sat down, and everyone returned to their meals in silence.
While they ate, Tonks contemplated Aunt Cissa's question. Why had she inherited the gold? The Black estate made perfect sense to Tonks – her mother had been a Black, and Dora kept it in the family. But the Lestrange vault? What was so important in the Lestrange vault that…
Tonks gasped audibly, dropping her fork to the table with a loud clang. Though she had all eyes on her again with a mixture of incredulity, confusion, and outright disgust, she realized why she'd been given the vaults and estates. The horcruxes. The Hufflepuff cup had been in the Lestrange vault. The other three had been in Grimmauld Place for years. Dora had planned it all to go to Tonks to be destroyed by her. It had been planned!
"Nymphadora?"
Tonks shook her head, now noticing her hair had morphed to a curious purple. She scrunched her nose and turned it to a more festive, shimmery gold.
"What's wrong, darling?" Andromeda asked. All eyes were still on Tonks, unnerving her.
"Dad, do you know when Dora arranged for me to get the vaults and estates?" Tonks asked slowly, looking up at her father. "Were there any records?"
All eyes fell on Ted now, relieving Tonks. He cleared his throat, and furrowed his brow. "Not that I'm aware of, no. Goblins are fastidious about their records, which leads me to believe that whenever Dora did this, she did it surreptitiously, and very much on purpose. It was all legal," Ted said carefully, looking at the Malfoys and Druella.
"Legal, but hidden. It stands to reason, given the enormity of the estates. I doubt that even Dora thought all three Lestranges would die just after she did. How Dora became the heir to their vault is a mystery to me," Ted added, glancing at Lucius, who turned a delicate shade of pink.
"Dora was close to Bellatrix," Tonks said, now catching everyone's attention. Sirius and Remus were staring, openmouthed, at Tonks. "Dora was chosen to be the heir by Voldemort himself."
The Malfoys and Druella all blanched upon hearing the name, while the Tonkses, Sirius, and Remus all gaped at her.
"Nymphadora, how do you know that?" Andromeda said uneasily, glancing back at Sirius and Remus. "Memories?"
"Mmhmm." Tonks furrowed her brow, deep in thought again while the others fell back into another uncomfortable, tense silence. It had all been left to her for the horcruxes. Even if the Lestranges had never died, Tonks had read that in Dora's first timeline, they had been imprisoned. She was certain that Dora would have found a way to get the Lestranges imprisoned so the horcrux could be obtained. As angry as Tonks was sometimes with Dora for leaving her with a world of responsibility, Dora had sacrificed herself to defeat Voldemort.
"What's worrying you, sweetheart?" Ted said, and Tonks looked up from her dessert to see the silver strands in her eyes again, betraying her anxiety.
"Nothing. Just thinking about Dora," Tonks mumbled. "Why and how she managed all those years."
"What makes you say that?" Andromeda asked slowly. Sirius, Remus, and Ted were now staring intently at Tonks.
"No reason," Tonks muttered. "I reckon it would've been hard to lose your parents young and then grow up fast."
Sirius, Ted, Andromeda, and Remus all breathed sighs of relief. The Malfoys, Druella, Gran, and Harry looked on in confusion, letting Tonks know that her Gran wasn't aware of her true, still-secret future-past.
Now lost in her own thoughts, Tonks let the adults continue the conversation. She saw Harry and Draco slip away just after dessert, likely to the nursery to play with Christmas crackers or play Gobstones.
Tonks, meanwhile, excused herself to go up to Dora's old bedroom and lay on the bed. More than ever, she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders, especially with the apparent purpose Dora had when giving Tonks as many horcruxes as she and Dumbledore had found.
Tonks simply hoped she would be strong enough to destroy them, whenever the time arrived.
….
25 December 1989
Tonks went downstairs for Christmas morning, lazy and disinterested. She had wanted to stay at the castle for the holidays, but with the special dinner with the Malfoys, she had been forced to go home.
"Tonks, Tonks, Tonks!" Harry said loudly. "You're awake! Come down please!"
"Happy Christmas, Harry. Did mum and dad say you couldn't open your presents until I came down?"
Harry nodded enthusiastically. "I've been waiting ages for you!"
"I'm sure you have," Tonks chuckled, tussling Harry's always-messy hair. She followed him downstairs, grimacing when she saw her parents, Gran, Sirius, and Remus waiting for her. Her parents and Sirius were wearing identical, conspiratorial grins, while Remus looked put out. Gran was amused, keeping her eyes on Harry.
"What's up Remus'—" she began, as his face shifted into a fake smile.
"Nothing is the matter," he said, all too cheerily. "Happy Christmas."
Tonks withheld her thoughts, and sat down on the floor next to Harry, who was practically vibrating with excitement before his comically large pile of Christmas presents.
"Can I please open my presents now? Please?" Harry begged. Ted chuckled and gestured for Harry to tear into his gifts. While Harry was massacring wrapping paper and bows, Andromeda handed a small, neatly wrapped package to Tonks.
"This came for you this morning," Andromeda said, her eyes bright with excitement. "I didn't recognize the script. Is that—"
"—yeah, that's Tristan's writing," Tonks sighed, rolling her eyes dramatically. Her family had been unusually chipper regarding Tristan, while Remus looked downright homicidal, to her puzzlement.
"I knew it!" Sirius whooped, clapping Remus hard on the back. Remus scowled and looked intently at the small package in Tonks' hands, as if he could set it aflame by staring alone.
"Open it, love," Ted said. "Let's see what he has for you."
Tonks was blushing as she opened Tristan's gift in front of her family. Only Harry was completely oblivious, now half-buried underneath the torn wrappings of his gifts. Thanking the fates for Harry and his obliviousness, she opened the small note that came with the box.
Dear Tonks,
Happy Christmas. I hope you like it.
Missing you,
Tristan
"Could you all stop staring at me?" Tonks asked irritably. "It's not exactly a love letter." She handed the scrap of parchment to her mother, who was as excited as Harry had been before opening his presents. Tonks watched as the note was passed from adult to adult, stopping with Remus, who looked ready to toss it into the fire. Sirius snatched it out of Remus' hands and returned it to Tonks.
She then opened the small box to find a delicate, badger-shaped pendant on a thin, golden chain. "Wow," Tonks breathed. "I really like this. He told me Edith helped him pick it out!" She grinned up at her parents, Sirius, and Remus, showing them the dainty badger. "Mum, can you put it on me?"
Andromeda smiled knowingly and gently clasped the necklace around Tonks' neck.
"What do you think?" asked Tonks, looking up at her family. Remus avoided her gaze completely, while the others oohed and ahhed over the pendant. Harry now squealed, opening up the grandest of his presents. It was a new broomstick, the newly released Nimbus 1900, which was the fastest model yet.
"Auntie 'Dromeda, Uncle Ted! Let me go fly! Please can I fly?" Harry cried, triumphantly holding the broom over his head. Bless Harry Potter for providing distractions, thought Tonks.
Andromeda agreed, and Harry went speeding out of the living room as fast as his legs could take him.
"How did he end up with another broomstick?" Tonks asked in disbelief, once he was out of earshot.
Sirius burst into his familiar, bark-like laughter. "I'm getting his older one so we can fly together whenever he likes."
"Why don't Sirius, Remus, and dad all go to watch Harry fly on his new broomstick, then? Mum, Gran, and I can stay here to clean up?" Tonks offered.
"Nymphadora, you want to help clean?" Andromeda asked, taken aback.
"It's Christmas. Why can't I be in a jolly, charitable mood?"
"Don't question it," Andromeda said seriously. "This might be a Christmas miracle. My daughter, willing to clean! Off you go, boys."
The older men followed Harry out the door, and began watching a jet-black haired blur zooming happily in the yard.
"What's the real reason you wanted to stay behind?" Andromeda asked, after cleaning the sitting room in a few minutes' time. "Surely it can't have been to clean."
"What's up Remus' arse?" Tonks asked bluntly. "He's putting on a good face, but he's being a bloody prat."
"The moon—"
"—that's not it. Full moon was thirteen days ago. Be honest with me."
"He's just a little disappointed," Andromeda said lightly. "Another job fell through."
Tonks crossed her arms over her chest. "You're lying to me."
"Nymphadora, don't make a case of this. Ask the man yourself."
"Fine. I'm not going to ask him anything. He's clearly upset about something and you're all hiding something from me."
Andromeda glared at Tonks. "So much for 'jolly and charitable,' as you put it."
"Families don't lie to each other!" Tonks shrieked. "I know you're hiding something from me and I will figure it out!"
"Don't shout, dear," Gran interjected calmly. "Your mother wouldn't hide anything from you. Apologize to her."
Either Gran was unaware of the truth, or she was an even better liar than her parents, Tonks thought sullenly.
"I apologize," Tonks said tersely. "Now, can I go write my boyfriend a letter to thank him?"
"Of course. Be back for lunch, Nymphadora." Andromeda bit her lip, a tell-tale sign she'd been lying.
Tonks grunted a reply and stomped up the stairs to her room. Her mother had lied to her face and had the gall to deny it. Then again, she admitted to herself, she was lying to them about knowing the truth. Perhaps deceit was a Black family trait.
….
28 December 1989
Tonks wandered downstairs to take a break from her revising. Other than the meals for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, she had spent little time with her family. Most of her time was spent in revising for her upcoming N.E.W.T.s. She was determined to earn as many as possible so she could become an Auror, and no one was going to stop her.
"Nymphadora, good," Andromeda said, upon seeing Tonks come down from the stairs. "I was just about to get you."
Tonks narrowed her eyes at her mother. "Why?"
"Your father and I would like to have a conversation with you." Tonks' heart raced – were they finally going to tell her the truth about Dora? She'd been waiting months to reveal to them that she already knew, and she felt the anger rising in her chest at them for keeping the truth from her.
"I don't know why you're angry," Andromeda said, smoothing down Tonks' tomato red hair. "This shouldn't be a difficult conversation."
"Oh." Tonks now slumped her shoulders. She'd been looking forward to screaming at her parents, Sirius, and Remus for quite some time, but apparently, it wasn't the time for that.
Andromeda led her to the dining room, where her father sat with stacks of parchment.
"What's all this for?" asked Tonks, eyeing the multiple stacks and scrolls of parchment littered on the table and floor.
"We need to discuss the vaults and the Wizengamot seats," Ted said calmly. "We've put it off as long as we can, but it needs to be done."
Tonks groaned; she hated paperwork. "This can't wait?"
"No, it can't," Andromeda said curtly. "Please, sit."
Tonks reluctantly took a chair, staring ahead at the stacks and scrolls of parchment. No wonder Sirius and Regulus didn't want to be the heirs, she thought.
"Now that you're of age, I'll need you to make a few more decisions regarding the vaults and the seats," Ted said. "We'll start with your heirs."
"Heirs? Dad, I'm 18," Tonks said flatly. "My heirs are currently dust bunnies under my bed."
"Your future heirs, then," Andromeda said impatiently. "Unless you're not planning on having children?"
"I dunno, I'm only 18!"
"Let's assume you have at least one child," Ted said gently. "We can begin with this hypothetical child as your heir. They would receive the seats and the contents of the vault, if they existed. If there is no child, who would you like the rest of the estate to go to?"
"The houses, the elves, the gold, and the seats?" Tonks asked, listing off the items with her fingers as her father nodded.
"All of it requires your signature and approval." Ted flipped through a few sheets of parchment, until he pulled out the desired one. "Most of this can be done quickly once you've decided on succession. We assume a child first, followed by a spouse?"
"I'm 18, and have no plans on marrying anytime soon, thanks."
"We'll plan on your child and spouse first, unless you want to skip the spouse and go directly to another family member?" Ted suggested lightly.
"Give it to the imaginary kid first, I guess," Tonks relented. "Then give half of it to my imaginary spouse. The rest can go to you and mum, Harry, and Draco, if he behaves himself."
"That's kind of you, dear, but we doubt we'll outlive you," Andromeda said, patting Tonks' arm affectionately. "Is there anyone else you'd like to consider?"
"Is there anyone else I should consider?" Tonks asked irritably. "It's not like there's much family left."
"There is your cousin, Sirius, and there's also Remus," Ted said carefully. "Would you leave anything to either of them?"
"Yeah, whatever, give them ten percent each," Tonks said, as she waved her hand dismissively. "Can we be done now?"
"Can you tell us who you'd like the elves, the houses, and the seats to go to?" Ted asked exasperatedly. "You or someone else?"
"Elves can go to Hogwarts, Grimmauld Place to Sirius or Harry, Lestrange Manor can be donated to whoever wants it, and the seats can go to me and my spouse, I guess," Tonks said, after a few moments of thought. "Is there anything else I should know?"
"Not on this," Andromeda said briefly. "Will you be home for New Year's Eve?"
Tonks raised an eyebrow at her mother. "Yeah, why?"
"Good. We're having Sirius and Remus over to celebrate the New Year. Thought you should know," Andromeda said, as Tonks held in a groan. Next time, she thought to herself, just lie!
….
31 December 1989
"What is your boyfriend up to tonight, dear?" Gran asked Tonks over New Year's Eve dinner. "Unless he's not your beau anymore?"
Tonks noticed Remus sitting up straighter at Gran's comment, but turned to her grandmother to reply. "Tristan and Edith's older brother, Alfie, and his wife had a baby boy so they're spending the holidays with the new baby," Tonks said coolly. "Tristan and I are definitely still together and he's the best boyfriend I've ever had." She looked up at Remus now, who was scowling at his plate.
"It's nice they have a new nephew," Gran said pleasantly. "I'm looking forward to being a Great Gran one day, you know."
Tonks choked on her wine. "You'll be waiting awhile, Gran, sorry."
"Our girl's only 18, mum," Ted said. "She's got plenty of time to make these decisions."
"Yet you and dear Andromeda here eloped at 18," Gran said, smiling, as both Ted and Andromeda grew red in the face. "Made me a Gran at 45 with Nymphadora, you did!"
Sirius began laughing raucously while Harry looked bored. Remus was still pouting to himself, and Tonks was amused that her parents were being embarrassed.
"It's all in good fun, dears," Gran said, now laughing herself. "It's what family is for, isn't it?"
Tonks snorted loudly, leading the others' eyes to fall on her. As soon as she noticed everyone staring, she snapped. "What?"
"Nothing, dear," Andromeda said, sighing. "I do wish you'd keep the theatrics to a minimum at holidays."
"Theatrics? Are you serious?" Tonks asked hotly.
"No, I'm Sir—" Sirius began, but the joke stopped in his throat as Tonks glared at him.
"Nymphadora, calm down," Andromeda said. "You made an odd sound, and we were ensuring you were all right. You've been a little testier as of late. No need to shout."
Tonks inhaled deeply and exhaled forcefully, keeping her hands flat on the dining table as she did so. She was forcing herself to calm down before she lost her temper with her family for keeping secrets. Families were for fun, love, and caring…not deceit, she thought.
"Nymphadora? Sweetheart? Are you all right?" Ted said gently. The wine glass in front of Tonks began shaking and she held it tightly in her fist to prevent it from shattering. She had to tell them she knew.
"Gran?" Tonks said tightly, while keeping her eyes closed. "Can you take Harry upstairs? I need to talk to the others about something."
"Of course, dear," Gran said. "Come along, love."
"I want to stay," Harry protested, looking back at Gran. "What's going on?"
"Harry, dear, your sister looks like she has something important to say and she might need a little privacy," Gran said. "I'm sure she'll tell you later, won't she?"
Tonks nodded, with her eyes still closed tightly, and waited until Gran and Harry's footsteps receded. She inhaled and exhaled several more times as the silence grew in the room.
"I need to tell you all something," Tonks said, her eyes still closed. "I know."
"You know what, dear?" Andromeda said slowly.
"I know about Dora," Tonks said, now opening her eyes slightly to see four identical shocked expressions.
"What about Dora do you know?" Ted said, in a strained voice.
"Everything," Tonks replied coldly. "She is me. She was me. I won't be her. I can't be her. I don't want to be her."
"How did you—" Andromeda began.
"I overheard your conversation last summer," Tonks said, her breathing now shallow and ragged with stress. She was certain her hair was its tell-tale anxious silver, but she didn't care. She needed to get the words out.
"I know Dora was a time traveler. I know she came from a different timeline, and was me once. I know you all hid it from me for eight years," Tonks said, now trembling with anger. "How could you? How could you keep this from me?"
"You were young, Nymphadora," Andromeda said, her voice still strained with emotion. "How could we have told you at ten years old?"
"You couldn't have said 'Dora was a time traveler and was you' at any point?" Tonks asked, seething. "I could bloody well keep and understand Remus being a werewolf, but I couldn't be trusted with that?"
"We weren't sure you could underst—" Ted said, before Tonks cut him off.
"Do you know what it's like to learn your life is a lie?" Tonks continued trembling, furious at the people who were supposed to be truthful and honest with her. "I've spent eight bloody years trying to be like her. I've spent years trying to be better than Dora, only to learn it's fucking impossible because Dora was twice my age when she did the things I'm trying to do?"
An eerie, cold silence lingered in the dining room as Tonks' emotions were boiling over. "Do you know what it's like to know your family and friends have been lying to you?"
She looked up at Remus now, whose eyes were golden brown. A pained look painted his features, and his own hands were in fists, clenched on the dining table.
"Mum and dad, you could've spared me so much trouble by just telling me that the amazing Dora Black who got twelve Os in her O.W.L.s wasn't, in fact, a sixteen year old witch. No, she was almost thirty years old and had done it all before!" Tonks cried. "But I was compared to her! I tried my fucking hardest to be better than her!"
"Tell me, if she hadn't died, would you have preferred her as a daughter?" Tonks asked, crying. "Would you have liked her better than me? Should I have been the one to die in 1981?"
"No, Nym—" Andromeda began, while Tonks pounded her fists on the dining table.
"Do you know what it's like to think there was another version of you – a better one – that you could never live up to? That you would be a disappointment next to them?" Tonks continued, tears falling down her face in earnest now.
"You're not a disappoint—" Ted said, but Tonks smashed her fists down on the table once more, jostling the plates and glasses as she did so.
"I am. I know I am," Tonks said. "Remus as good as said so!"
Remus' jaw dropped, and the others' eyes fell on him in horror.
"No, N-Tonks—"
"Shut it," Tonks snapped. "I heard you last summer. You said you wanted me to stay away from you. You said I should be kept here whenever possible. Do you know what that felt like? You broke my heart, Remus Lupin. I thought we were friends, but you broke my heart."
Remus held a fist to his mouth, obviously struggling to keep his composure.
"I was nothing but a nuisance to you, wasn't I?" Tonks cried. "My parents let you write letters to me to keep me busy, and you come back and I'm nothing like the Dora you wanted. I'm sorry I'm not her, and I can never be her!"
"I thought we were friends!" Tonks was sobbing now, letting the tears fall thick against the wood of the table. "But it was all a lie!"
"All of you have been lying to me for years and none of you had the decency to say anything," Tonks said, her tears now blinding her from being able to see clearly. "That's not what families do. People who love each other don't lie like this."
Tonks wiped the tears from her eyes and stood abruptly, pushing her chair back hard against the floor. "I can't trust any of you anymore." With one final glance at the people who had lied to her for the better part of a decade, she stomped out of the dining room and up to her bedroom, to lock herself in until the Christmas holidays were over.