12 January 1990
There had been no return letter from Remus. Tonks assumed he had read it and agreed to her proposal. As difficult as it had been to choose to cut him out of her life so definitively, she thought it was for the best. She would never know if her feelings – past, present, or future – for him were truly hers or Dora's.
The letter had been the first step in dissolving her friendship with Remus. The second step was shedding the evidence that he had been in her life. She wasn't ready to part with the collection of letters from him over the years, or the photographs. She wasn't ready to part with anything completely – not yet. It hurt her heart to get rid of anything, but she felt she had to take a step forward in leaving behind the mementos of her childhood.
Tonks sat on her bed in her dormitory, alone, and removed the charm bracelet she'd been wearing for over three years. It still buzzed with warm, protective magic, but it was a near-constant reminder of Remus. She unclasped the bracelet and placed it in the velvet box in which Remus' last birthday gift to her, a heart-shaped locket, lay untouched and unworn. Her hands held two rings. They had been there for years, since the night Dora died in 1981. One ring had been from Regulus Black and the other from Remus. Both rings were removed and placed in the velvet box.
She held no ill will towards Regulus, but as she shed the mementos of her childhood, she felt lighter. She was moving past the childish affections she'd had for years and moving towards adulthood. Tonks wanted to make her own way in the world, separate from those things that defined her past – whether it was Dora or otherwise.
With a flick of her wand, all the jewelry was safely stowed in the velvet box, to reside in her nightstand until she was ready to part with them once and for all.
….
10 February 1990
Tonks heard a knock at her door early in the morning. She frowned, as she wasn't expecting anyone to see her that early on a Saturday, especially the Saturday of the Valentine's Day visit to Hogsmeade.
"Come in?" Tonks called, unsure. To her surprise, Avi rushed into her room with a wide smile on his face.
"Do I want to know what's got you in such a good mood?" Tonks asked wryly. "I didn't think Edith spent the night last night."
"Of course she didn't," Avi said, blushing. "We always ask."
"Because you forget to set Silencing Charms." Tonks crossed her arms over her chest; she had woken one too many times in the night to Avi and Edith spending the night together in his room. Her ability to cast Silencing Charms had improved significantly since becoming Head Girl and sharing a wall with Avi, the Head Boy.
"I need your advice." Avi moved across the room and sat at the foot of Tonks' bed, pulling out a faded velvet box from his robe pocket.
"What do you think?" He opened the box to reveal a dainty golden ring. It held a single, iridescent pearl, surrounded by tiny diamonds.
"Avi, are you going to ask Edith to marry you?" Tonks screeched. "We're only 18! She's not up the duff, is she?"
"No, of course not," Avi said hastily. "I hope." He frowned, shook his head, and looked back to the ring.
"We want to move in together after school but her mum and dad told her she's not going anywhere unless she's married," Avi explained. "We've been together for years. I want to marry her."
Tonks grinned at him, and glanced at the pearl shining in the light. "That's brilliant! When are you asking her?"
"Today, I think," Avi said. "I just got the ring yesterday from her parents." Tonks' surprised expression led Avi to explain further.
"I asked her dad for permission just before we got back from Christmas. I told him I didn't have a ring though and told him I'd get one as soon as I could. Her mum was listening and said she had her mum's ring and told me I could use it." Avi was beaming as he looked at the delicate ring in the box. "Her Nan's ring. Think she'll like it?"
"She's going to love it, Avi," Tonks said. "It's perfect. How are you going to ask her?"
"That's why I need your advice. What if I charmed a Quaffle to follow her and the Quaffle says 'Will you marry me?'"
"Must it be Quidditch related?"
Avi's forehead creased in concern. "Should it not be?"
"Well, Quaffles don't usually chase people. It's the other way around—"
Avi opened his mouth, and Tonks put her hand up to stop him. "—don't you dare suggest charming a Bludger to follow her, either. You could try a Snitch though, and put the ring inside it, but you'd have to make sure it doesn't get into the wrong hands."
"Okay…okay, I got it!" Avi stood and put the velvet box back into his robe pocket. "Thanks, Tonks! I'll see you later!"
"Wait, what?" Tonks said. "What are you going to do?"
"You'll see!" Avi shouted, as he went back into his room and closed the door behind him. Tired and confused, she fell back into her bed, wondering what Avi would do to propose to Edith.
….
By the evening, Tonks still didn't know how Avi was going to propose. He hadn't been anywhere near his room for the remainder of the day, to her knowledge. By evening, the door was closed and neither Avi nor Edith were anywhere to be seen.
"Do you think I should go in there?" Tonks suggested to Tristan, after looking back at the door once more.
"You realize that's my twin sister we're talking about…and her boyfriend? Unless you've gotten really good at Memory Charms, I'd rather not see what's happening," Tristan said, shaking his head. "Anyway, how do you know they're in there?"
Tonks pulled out her copy of the Marauder's Map and tapped her wand against it, murmuring "Don't call me Nymphadora."
"Don't look at it yet," Tonks warned, as Tristan turned to look alongside her. "If their dots are on top of each other then we know what they're doing, and I doubt you want to know that."
She looked closely at the Map and saw that both Avi and Edith's dots were moving frantically in his room. They weren't on top of each other, but they were moving frenetically in varying directions.
"That's weird," Tonks murmured. "Look."
Tristan's brow furrowed while he looked at the Map. He glanced back to Avi's room and then to the Map. "What does this mean?"
"I haven't the foggiest. Want to find out?" Tonks grinned, pointing back to Avi's room.
Tristan rolled his eyes. "How about you find out and I don't need to be obliviated?"
"Deal." Tonks stood and pressed her ear against Avi's door. They had either put up a Silencing Charm or were silently flailing about the room. She knocked on the door without answer, staring quizzically at Tristan.
She shook her head and decided to try unlocking. "Alohomora," she muttered, and the knob unlocked. Tonks twisted the doorknob but as soon as she did so, dozens of flying golden Snitches emerged from Avi's bedroom, now flying throughout the Head Boy and Girl's common room.
"What the f—"
"Oh, shit," Avi said, looking up as the dozens of Snitches left his room. He and Edith were red-faced and breathless, but thankfully, fully clothed.
"What did you do?" Tonks asked impatiently. "Is this related to—"
"Yes," Avi snapped. "I should've—"
"—listened to me, yeah. Well, get on with it." Tonks shrugged and returned to sit next to Tristan, who was staring up at the flying Snitches in bewilderment.
"You'll see eventually," Tonks whispered in his ear. The Snitches were zooming while both Avi and Edith tried catching them. Tonks and Tristan began laughing as the other pair struggled to catch the Snitches with their bare hands, as their jumps and leaps over furniture did little to stop the Snitches from escaping their grasp.
"Have they forgotten they can do magic?" Tristan muttered. "A simple Immobulus would take care of this."
"Want to put them out of their misery?" Tonks smiled. Tristan shook his head.
"Not yet." They waited until Avi and Edith were slumped against the wall, wiping sweat off their foreheads and panting breathlessly from the effort.
Together, Tristan and Tonks cast "Immobulus" on the Snitches, leading them to stay still mid-air while Avi and Edith stared up in wonderment.
"Did you both forget you're a witch and wizard?" Tonks said, laughing.
"We can't use magic during Quidditch!" Edith protested, while holding her sides from the effort of running after the Snitches.
"Take a rest and tell us when it's all over," Tonks said. "Tristan and I will be in my room if you need us." She took Tristan by the hand and brought him into her room. The two lay side by side on her bed, laughing at Avi and Edith.
"What in Merlin's name were they doing?" Tristan asked.
"You'll see!" Tonks was still laughing from the Snitches, and it wasn't long until she dozed off on Tristan, waking upon hearing the sound of delighted squealing from the other side of the door.
"Hrmrph?"
The door swung open and Edith came running in, shoving her left hand in Tonks' face. "Tonks! Look! I'm engaged!"
"Blimey, I know," Tonks croaked, still tired. "What time is it?"
"2 o'clock in the morning," Tristan said hoarsely. He had apparently fallen asleep as well while waiting for Avi and Edith to sort out the Snitches.
Tonks rubbed her eyes with her hands. "It took you this long?!"
"It took a long time to catch 228 Snitches," Avi said sheepishly. "Our anniversary is February 28 so that's why there were so many."
"You had to catch 228 to get to the one with the ring in it?" Tonks asked, as Edith nodded enthusiastically.
"You'll be my maid of honor, right?" Edith said. "Please say yes. I can't ask Alfie's wife, she's insufferable."
"Of course I will! But first, will you let me go back to sleep? We'll plan in the morning, okay?"
"Set a Silencing Charm while you're at it," Tristan said, grumbling. "I'm happy for you both but you're still my sister and soon-to-be brother-in-law."
At this, both Edith and Avi shouted in delight and ran into his room together, letting Tonks and Tristan fall back into their slumber.
….
22 February 1990
Tonks and Dumbledore Apparated along a frozen seashore somewhere in the North Isles. It was a brutally cold winter day. Tonks felt the chill in her bones as her boots crunched along the frozen ground. It was one of Dumbledore's favorite places for practicing Fiendfyre. Few living souls ever wandered in that area, save for the occasional sheep.
Dumbledore stopped and put up his usual enchantments to keep others from finding them. Tonks now stood, chilled to the bone, waiting for him to allow her to begin casting Fiendfyre. The last few Thursdays, she had managed to cast it without hurting herself. Every Thursday in January had resulted in angry, red welts on her forearms from licks of flame that escaped from her grasp.
The herbal scent of Dittany was now part of her near-daily life from caring for her burn wounds.
"The wind is blowing away from us," Tonks noted, while shivering and chattering her teeth. "That should help, right?"
"It ought to, yes." Dumbledore looked out into the distance before turning back to her. "On my count…one, two…three."
Tonks waved her wand and cast the incantation for Fiendfyre. She held onto her wand with both hands, trying to control the stream of cursed fire emerging from it with difficulty. The first few times she had cast it, Dumbledore had had to cast the countercurse almost instantly because of how uncontrollable the cursed fire was. It had taken a month for her to cast Fiendfyre and keep it steady in one direction.
Tonks concentrated on the steady ribbon of cursed fire being flung out into the freezing ocean. Billowing puffs of steam now emerged from the water's surface as it boiled rapidly under the intense heat of the fire.
Tonks felt the prickling heat now on the front of her body. Beads of sweat began forming along her brow and they fell down her face and into her eyes, blinding her slightly. Her backside remained frozen in place, as the cold winter air whipped against her small body. The sweat that ran down her face and neck formed small ice crystals once they reached her tailbone.
She strained under the effort of controlling the fire now. Both hands were tightly gripped around her wand. Her arms were shaking as the fire raged on in front of her. The Fiendfyre had taken the shape of a basilisk, flailing against the icy water's surface. The fiery, demonic basilisk surrounded by a cloud of sizzling water and steam made the scene all that more menacing.
"I – CAN'T – KEEP – GOING!" Tonks screamed, holding onto her wand for dear life as the cursed fire grew by leaps and bounds on the water's surface. She saw more fire than water, and felt the familiar burning sensation on her forearms and cheeks as embers flew back in her direction.
Dumbledore made her wait a few more moments before casting the countercurse. She struggled against the flame, but once it was gone, she fell over, face-first into the frozen, rocky sand underneath her.
Tonks was on all fours, panting and breathing hard. Casting Fiendfyre exhausted her, physically and mentally. The sheer effort of controlling the cursed flames was enough to knock her off her feet for hours at a time.
Dumbledore had cast multiple charms on her to heal and strengthen her as she lay on the rocky soil, gasping for air. A vial was offered, and she took the potion greedily. A warmth settled in her body, and the pain eased.
"How long this time?" Tonks croaked.
"Four minutes," Dumbledore replied cheerily. "I was tempted to let you keep going, but you're not ready just yet."
Tonks groaned. "How much time will we need to cast this for if we are destroying horcruxes?"
"It depends on how many we have and where they are when they are destroyed," Dumbledore said, as he looked out on the horizon of the sea. The water was calmer now, but almost no ice remained anywhere near them. "Have you given any thought as to where you would like to destroy them?"
"You want me to pick where we destroy Voldemort's soul bits?" Tonks asked hesitantly. "Really?"
"So long as there are no other living souls present, you may," Dumbledore said. "A self-contained structure will be most helpful, I should think." He stroked his beard, seemingly unaffected by the recent bout of Fiendfyre.
"Can I burn down Lestrange Manor?" Tonks rasped. "I hate it."
Dumbledore's brow flew up into his forehead. "You would like to destroy Lestrange Manor?"
"I'm never going to live there and I hate it." Tonks coughed, prompting Dumbledore to give her another vial for her throat.
"I'll consider it," Dumbledore said simply. "For now, we ought to return to the castle. We will try again next week."
"Hrmph."
Dumbledore chuckled softly and helped Tonks up on her feet. He released the enchantments on the area and took her arm. In an instant, they turned on the spot and Apparated away from the icy beach.
….
9 March 1990
"Is it really the ninth already? Board meeting today," Tonks said sleepily, as she poured herself a cup of tea for breakfast. "My dad's there, isn't he? Reckon I should talk to him?"
"He's coming this way, whether you decide to talk to him or not," Edith muttered. "I can talk to him for you if you want."
Tonks scowled. "I can be civil for a few minutes, if I must."
She watched as her father made his way to the Hufflepuff table with a neutral expression on his face. She held her breath, wondering what her father wanted to tell her. She hadn't spoken to her parents since New Year's Eve; only Harry and Gran received letters from her, as neither of them had lied to her for over eight years.
"Nymphadora, it is good to see you," Ted said evenly. "May I sit?"
"Sure."
Ted sat across from Tonks, and glanced at Edith, widening his eyes slightly. "I see congratulations are in order, Edith. When are you getting married?"
Edith beamed and showed off her ring to Ted. "The 25th of August! I'm so excited, and Tonks is going to be my maid of honor, but I'm sure you knew—"
"—I did not know that, but it's good to hear all the same," Ted interjected gloomily. "Nymphadora, how are you?"
"Fine. Classes are fine, being Head Girl is fine, Tristan is fine, all fine," Tonks said, waving her hand dismissively. "Nothing unusual or notable."
"Good. Your mother and I are well, as are your grandmother and brother," Ted said. "Tomorrow we are visiting Grimmauld Place to celebrate Remus' 30th birthday." Tonks forced herself to appear disinterested.
"That's nice."
Ted cleared his throat. "Were you planning on sending him a letter or a note?"
Tonks arched a brow at her father. "Why would I? We're not friends. We're not anything." Ted's brows lifted and he shook his head slightly, closing his eyes as he did so.
"Would you like to hear how he is?" Ted asked, keeping his blue eyes steady on her steely grey ones.
"Am I supposed to do something about how he feels? Because if you expect me to care, I don't," Tonks said coldly. "You can wish him a happy birthday from me, but I'm not going out of my way for him. I just told you that we're not friends."
Ted exhaled forcefully, his expression grim. "If you change your mind, I think he might appreciate hearing from you."
"Sounds like a Remus problem." Tonks shrugged, and took a piece of toast from a platter.
"Nymphadora, you know he didn't intend to—"
"I know, dad," Tonks snapped. "I'm not mad at him. I nothing him. He's just another person I know, okay?"
Ted pursed his lips together, looking at Tonks with somberness in his eyes. "Will you be writing me or your mother anytime soon?"
"I wasn't planning on it."
"You know where to find us. We're always waiting for you."
"Okay."
Ted shook his head again and stood from the bench. Tonks gazed at her father, feeling the pangs of guilt for how badly she had just treated him.
"The next board meeting is in May. I hope I see you then, Nymphadora," he said, with some finality to his tone.
"Okay, bye." Tonks remained in her seat, and went back to her toast as her father walked away.
"That was a disaster," Edith said, as soon as Ted was out of earshot. "It's like you were someone else entirely!"
"I know. I feel bad, but now I think I'd look stupid if I apologized," Tonks said anxiously. "Or I'd give him the wrong idea? I can't just pretend that what they did was right."
"You'll have to forgive them someday, Tonks."
"I wish it were that easy," Tonks said sadly. "It feels impossible now."
"Why don't we do something to cheer you up?" Edith suggested. "Want to pretend to be Filch and scare some of our friends?"
"Theo and Charlie would be fun to catch in a broom cupboard, now that I think on it," Tonks said, a little more brightly. A smile crept over her face as she thought of pranking her friends. "Let's do it."
….
15 April 1990
Tonks was reading quietly at the Hufflepuff common table, enjoying the peacefulness of the castle during the Easter holiday. She, along with many fifth and seventh years, had stayed behind over the holiday to revise for their upcoming exams. Avi and Edith had gone home to begin planning their wedding with their families, while Tonks stayed behind to study. Tristan went home with Edith, as the Wallace and Attel families were getting together to celebrate the engagement.
A flurry of owls ahead indicated the post was arriving. There were more owls than usual that morning, it being Easter Sunday. Tonks had multiple owls drop off packages and letters, creating a sizable pile for her to sort through.
The first package she opened was from Edith and Tristan, containing several chocolate eggs and a note from each of them. The second was from Kreacher. He had outdone himself that year and sent her three dozen beautifully decorated chocolate eggs. Her parents had sent her a letter and package filled with sweets, as had Gran and Harry.
Sirius and Remus sent a package as well. She didn't bother opening the letter that came with it, instead stuffing it unceremoniously into her rucksack. Of those who had sent her things for Easter, she'd only sent things to her school friends, Harry, and Gran.
Now that her packages were unwrapped, she began sorting through the letters. Edith's came first.
Dear Tonks,
Happy Easter! Mum and dad are making me include Alfie's wife, Tabitha, as a bridesmaid. To "keep the family peace" mum suggested Tabitha pick the bridesmaid outfits. She decided the two of you will be wearing floor length gowns (I'm sorry), heels (I'm really sorry), and she's doing your makeup (I am really REALLY sorry).
Awkward question now. Do you think you'll still be with Tristan by then? Mum and dad are hoping you are so we don't have to give you or Tristan dates for the wedding. If you do break up try not to do it till after the wedding, please? Also don't break my brother's heart, please.
See you soon.
Love,
Edith
Tonks snorted upon reading Edith's request for the wedding. Tristan was easily the best boyfriend Tonks ever had, and she had no intention of breaking up with him. She opened his letter next, glad to hear from him too. She found herself missing him fiercely in the week they'd been apart for the holiday.
Dear Tonks,
Happy Easter! I've got good news. I've been accepted at three universities for next term! All the acceptance letters arrived to my parents' address in Framlingham. I'm bringing them with me to show you. Thank you for your help with the applications, and I'll see you soon.
Love,
Tristan
Tonks squealed, delighted that Tristan was accepted to not one, but three Muggle universities to continue his studies and his dreams to become a Muggle healer. She felt proud of him and all he'd accomplished – all his reading and revising for the Muggle exams in addition to the N.E.W.T.s had been truly a sight to behold.
She tucked away several chocolate eggs just for him. When he returned from the holidays, she would have plenty to share with him to celebrate his many successes.
….
26 April 1990
"How – long – was – that," Tonks gasped. She was breathless and sweaty. Her robes were singed; her eyebrows likely were as well. Not for the first time since learning to cast and control Fiendfyre, she was thankful she could regrow hair instantly as a Metamorphmagus.
"Eight minutes," Dumbledore said happily. "You've improved greatly since we began our studies. 20 points to Hufflepuff!"
Tonks coughed violently on the gravelly soil. Dumbledore had chosen a large rock just off the coast of a beach in Scotland for them to practice Fiendfyre on, for more direct target practice. The rock was nowhere in sight after Tonks destroyed it with cursed fire.
She was gobsmacked at how destructive Fiendfyre could be. Dumbledore helped her sit up on the soil to see her handiwork. The sea was calm as ever but the sharp rock that had emerged from the water was missing.
"What happened to it?" Tonks rasped. "It's gone."
"Eight minutes of Fiendfyre, localized to that rock, meant it melted into lava and fell to the bottom of the ocean," Dumbledore said cheerfully. "As the lava cools it will return to rock to create a new habitat for ocean creatures. Fascinating, no?"
Tonks might've found it fascinating if she wasn't totally breathless from eight minutes of Fiendfyre. Perhaps one day she would find the life cycles of the ocean intriguing, but today was certainly not that day.
"Is that enough to destroy the horcruxes?" Tonks asked hoarsely. "Eight minutes?"
"It might be," Dumbledore replied. "It depends on where and when we destroy them. Are you still considering Lestrange Manor?"
"Yeah. Do I need to do anything to burn it down? It's my property now."
"I'll look into it. You ought to consider telling your parents if you plan on setting fire to it, even if it's yours now."
Tonks pouted. She didn't want to talk to her parents. Despite their many efforts at reconciling with her after their lies, she hadn't found a good way to communicate with them. She was beginning to fear her stubbornness would get the better of her – what if they neverreconciled?
"Consider speaking with them," Dumbledore said kindly. "Life is too short to continue family disputes for decades."
"I'll think on it," Tonks croaked. "It's not like I have that bloody diary, anyway. I still need to get that."
"If you have not acquired it by the end of this year, we can still destroy the others sooner. The diary, if I'm not mistaken, will be easier to destroy."
Tonks frowned. "How do you mean? It's still a sodding horcrux, isn't it?"
"It is, although it is a leather bound journal, rather than a metal or goblin-forged object. A dagger or sword dipped in basilisk venom ought to destroy the journal easily," Dumbledore explained. "The others are better off being destroyed by Fiendfyre."
"All right," Tonks agreed. "I'll try by the end of the year. We're burning down Lestrange Manor with or without it." A smile grew on her face, as she imagined the flames that would one destroy the site of so many unspeakable, inhuman horrors.
….
11 May 1990
"What does 'waitlist' mean?" Tonks said, furrowing her brow. She was rifling through Tristan's university acceptance letters, when she found one that didn't immediately read 'regret to inform you,' or 'pleased to inform you.'
"It means that they liked my application well enough, but not enough to accept me straightaway," Tristan said. "It was a stretch for me to try to get in there. It's one of the best universities in Canada."
"I'm surprised you wanted to go abroad," Tonks said, as she held the 'waitlist' letter in her hand. The letterhead read 'McGill University,' indicating the university was located in Montreal.
"Pipe dream, really," Tristan said drily. "I applied on a whim. Never been away from home, y'know. I thought they'd reject me outright."
"There's a chance they'd take you, though?" Tonks asked.
"If there's space." Tristan shrugged, and took the letter in his hand again. "Even if they did take me, the cost of tuition would be a nightmare. I'm better off at one of the British schools."
"What if this Canadian school did take you? Would you go?" Tonks pressed.
"I'd be an idiot not to. It's the best of all the universities I applied to," Tristan said, "but, I couldn't afford it, anyway."
Tonks frowned; if he had been accepted at the Canadian school, she would've gladly given him gold to study there. However, he had not been accepted, and his options remained in Britain. "Have you decided which one you'll go to, then?" she asked, looking at the other letters.
"I'm between Sheffield and Bristol. What do you think? Which one would you rather visit?" he asked shyly. Tonks grinned and looked back at the letters.
"Bristol. It's where my Gran used to live before she moved in with us," Tonks said happily. "I'll visit you anywhere, though."
"Good," Tristan said, kissing her softly. "You won't be too busy for me when you're an Auror?"
Tonks laughed. "You and everyone else think I'll be an Auror no matter what I do. We haven't taken our N.E.W.T.s yet!"
"I'm sure you'll be brilliant, Tonks." Tristan smiled at her and kissed her again, leaving her happily sighing into the crook of his neck.
"You won't forget me when you're off doing your uni classes?" Tonks murmured.
"Not even if I tried." Tristan kissed the top of her head, and pulled her into his arms. "You're unforgettable, you know that?"
Tonks beamed and felt the rush of love as she and Tristan kissed. They slowly undressed each other, and Tonks felt grateful once more for having such a kind, brilliant boyfriend.
….
25 May 1990
"Your dad's on his way again," Edith whispered. "Is this going to be another train wreck? I can't watch that again."
"I need a favor from him, so no," Tonks muttered. "I'll be good, I promise."
Edith rolled her eyes and returned to her breakfast, just as Ted arrived at the Hufflepuff table.
"Nymphadora? Could I join you for a few minutes?" Ted said anxiously.
"Sure."
Edith shot Tonks a glare, and Tonks bit back the urge to snap at her. It wouldn't do either of them any good, and so she stayed quiet as her father took a seat across from her.
"How are you?" Ted asked lightly. "Exams are a few weeks away, aren't they?"
Tonks closed her eyes momentarily, steeling herself for civil, pleasant conversation. The longer she went without talking to her parents, the larger the gulf between them felt, and the more insurmountable the gulf became.
"They are," Tonks said slowly. "I wanted to speak with you about my plans after school, actually."
Ted's eyes grew wide and he smiled. "You did?"
Tonks nodded. "I'm going to move out. I was hoping you could help me get the gold and find a place to live. I'm not coming home after the train ride. I'd like to go back to a flat or small house, or whatever I can find."
Ted's smile faltered, and he cleared his throat. "I can help you. Where would you like to live? London?"
"No. Bristol, please. Tristan's going to uni there and if we can get a flat or house with a Floo connection, I can Floo to the Ministry."
"You are going to move in with your boyfriend?" Ted asked, turning a delicate shade of pink. "Are you, err…" He glanced at her left hand, which held no ring, and gasped, looking worriedly up at her.
Tonks arched her brow. "Am I what?"
"Holy Helga Hufflepuff, Tonks, he's asking if you're up the duff," Edith said exasperatedly. "Aren't you, Mr. Tonks?"
Ted nodded sheepishly. By then he'd turned crimson, and Tonks' jaw had dropped in horror.
"Sweet Circe, no, I'm not pregnant," Tonks said forcefully. "Tristan's going to uni in Bristol and we want to live with each other."
"It's totally unfair," Edith said, while rolling her eyes dramatically. "Just because I'm a girl I need to get married to live with my boyfriend but Tristan and Alfie do whatever they want because they're stupid boys."
"I see," Ted said curtly. "If this is what you want, Nymphadora."
"It is. I'll write Kreacher with the arrangements for furniture once I have a place," Tonks said coolly. "Is that all right?"
"He's your elf, and this is your gold," Ted replied evenly. "You can do what you'd like with it."
"Good. I'll be moving out just after the term ends, so there's no need to come get me from King's Cross in June."
Ted wore a pained expression and Edith coughed loudly. Her eyes bulged and she cocked her head towards him.
"Be nice," Edith mouthed. Ted was just beginning to stand when Tonks took the plunge.
"Err, Dad?" Tonks said nervously. He turned around to face her again as he wiped something from one of his eyes.
"You can come see me at King's Cross before I move out," Tonks offered.
Ted smiled and nodded. "I'll let your mother know. Just us?"
"You, mum, Harry, and Gran," Tonks clarified. "Absolutely no one else."
"I understand." Ted closed his eyes for a moment and opened his mouth as if to speak again, but shut it again promptly. "Thank you, Nymphadora. Your mother and I would like to see you off."
"'S'no problem," Tonks mumbled. "Bye for now?"
"We'll see you in June," Ted said, his smile growing a little brighter. "I'll write to you with the arrangements for Bristol."
"Thanks, dad," Tonks said gratefully. He gave her one more smile before he turned back to the Board of Governors.
Edith sighed loudly in relief. "Thank Merlin that's over. I thought I was going to die from secondhand embarrassment."
"It wasn't that bad," Tonks grumbled. "I managed, didn't I?"
"Do you want me to be there when you say hi to your family at King's Cross?" Edith offered, arching her brow at Tonks.
"Would you really?" Tonks said, a little too eagerly. "Please."
Edith burst into laughter and agreed. "Of course I will! What else are friends for, silly?"
….
29 June 1990
"I'm glad it's just the three of us tonight," Tonks said, sitting down in the cool grass next to the lake. She, Edith, and Theo were celebrating their last Friday at Hogwarts. Their exams were over and they were celebrating the end of their careers at Hogwarts with snacks from the house elves and firewhisky they'd purchased the previous weekend.
"We've come a long way, haven't we?" Theo said, clinking his glass of firewhisky against theirs. "It used to be pumpkin juice and biscuits."
"And Edith slathering jam all over her hand instead of her toast," Tonks said, laughing.
"Or Tonks turning into a badger whenever she wanted to avoid a conversation," Edith retorted, chuckling and shaking her head.
"If I hadn't done that, Pettigrew would've never been caught," Tonks said seriously. "I believe I did the world a service."
"You'll make a great Auror, Tonks," Theo said. "Have you heard back from them?"
"I've got to get my N.E.W.T. results in first," Tonks replied. "When do you leave us for the dragons?"
"Early September," Theo said, grinning. "If Charlie does well in Care of Magical Creatures, as he's sure to do, they'll have a spot for him next year."
"Then you'll raise baby dragons together?" Edith asked wryly. "Have you thought of any names?"
"Call one Molly, after Mrs. Weasley," Tonks said, giggling. "She'll love it, I'm sure."
"I don't think so," Theo said impatiently. "We've both got to be there first before we think about any of that."
"You really want kids, then?" Edith said, gaping at him. Theo laughed now and shook his head.
"No, not real human kids," Theo replied. "Charlie has enough siblings that he doesn't want to be a dad, and I never wanted kids, either. Dragons for us. How about you and Avi?"
Edith tilted her head from side to side. "Not for a while, I hope! I'm on the reserve team for the Holyhead Harpies and I can hardly play Quidditch if I've got the equivalent of a pumpkin strapped to my abs. You, Tonks? You and Tristan going to make me an auntie again?"
Tonks scoffed. "Not for a long while. I do want to be married first and I'd like to be done with Auror training. Tristan's going to be in school for at least eight more years, so we've got a ways to go."
"Eight years? That's mental," Theo said. "That's how long it takes to be a Muggle healer?"
"Three years for uni, three years for medical school, and then training after that?" Tonks said, scratching her head. "He won't be a real Muggle healer till we're almost 30, I think."
Theo whistled low and loud. "While I get to play with dragons at 18, he's got years to go before he can heal people! Do they get paid before then?"
"As students?" Tonks asked, as Edith and Theo nodded. "No, they don't. Muggles have to pay for school and housing. They take out loans from their banks or work part time while they go to school."
"No wonder mum and dad say it's impractical," Edith said. "Are you paying for everything?"
Tonks blushed, feeling slightly guilty. She had insisted on paying for all of their living expenses while he was in school, while he insisted on paying his own way for tuition.
"Not everything, no," Tonks said slowly, "Just our living expenses. Rent, food, that sort of thing. Do you think I should be paying for his tuition too?"
Theo burst into laughter. "Tonks, I don't think you understand the fragility of the male ego."
Tonks and Edith both furrowed their brows. "What's that supposed to mean?" Tonks asked.
"It means that he probably doesn't want you paying for everything, even if you have more gold than Midas," Theo said, chuckling. "It probably makes him feel—" he put his forefinger and thumb close together "—this big."
"You think so?" Tonks said, cocking her head to one side in puzzlement. "He hasn't said anything about it."
"'Tonks, my beloved, please don't pay for everything for me because it makes my manhood feel tiny" Theo said, poorly imitating Tristan's Yorkshire accent. "Do you really think he'd say anything like that to you?"
"Not when you put it that way!" Tonks exclaimed. "Edith, what do you think?"
"I think my brother is a bit terrified of you," Edith said nonchalantly. "You can be intimidating when you want to be."
Tonks winced. "I'll talk to him. I'll…we'll figure something out."
"Cheers to growing up, yeah?" Theo said, offering his glass once more. Edith and Tonks clinked theirs against his. They drank in unison and toasted on their favorite memories of their seven years at Hogwarts for the remainder of the evening until the sun set and they returned to their dormitories for the last time.