Thanks Seaver!
Thanks for reviewing this chapter and thanks linky2, SirDarlon,
Ginny is Shallow and Tropic Of Scorpio for reviewing earlier
chapters.
coolone007: Sorry it's late… 11 hours or so…
keebler-elmo: Yeah… well to be perfectly true you are stumbling on the
plot line here… I got a reason to why Fleur is just as involved in Vertex as
Harry is.
Devotion408: Err Harry and Cho… well sorry not in that story, she will
come to terms with it though….
Acacia Jules: Thanks you so much! Ginny feels a little better because of
that but not much. You are on the right track with the London visit…
Penterghast: Thanks, no I didn't get this review when I woke up but it
made me just as happy anyway! It's really good to know that people are reading!
Mmmm… not much left of this part now
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Chapter 34 Lily Selena Tonks
Hermione's eager to solve the mystery of Harry and Fleur's connection had
infested them all. After lunch they invited Remus and Nancy to Gryffindor
tower to ask them if they knew anything that might help them. They were
particularly interested in what Remus might say since he was the only one who
knew that the Delacours had visited the Potters. Remus and Nancy were not too
happy about having to see each other so soon again but they didn't say anything.
It was not usual for Selena to run around in school on her own but except for
her and Ginny Harry's friends gathered in the common room. Hermione seated
herself happily at one of the tables and started telling Remus all the details
about Harry and Fleur's connection.
"Have you informed Dumbledore of this?" Remus asked as soon he had gotten all the
facts strait.
"No… but he knows some part of it," Fleur replied, "If I know Dumbledore as well
as I think I do, he already knows enough and if he didn't he would ask."
"Yes probably," Remus said after a moment, "I am afraid I can't help you right
away this is a very precise branch of magic and I will need to read up on it."
"That would be nice but that was not why we asked you two to come," Hermione
said looking through her notes, "We understand Delacours and the Potters met
1980 or 1981 at least on one occasion."
"They did?" Nancy asked, "Are you sure? They never told me anything."
"Yes they did meet," Remus answered, "It must have been in May 1981. I don't
think they met more then once but as I told you before Harry people didn't tell
each other much back then. I suppose it could have been more then once."
"Madam Lyon can you remember anything from that time?" Hermione asked when she
had scribbled down what Remus has told them.
Nancy suddenly looked pale, "I think there may have been a magical accident.
Fleur's mother used to have a wand with a veela hair as core but it broke on the
trip and she got a new one in London."
"It broke?" Hermione asked enthusiastically, "Do you remember if it snapped,
cracked or by other physical means exceeded to function properly?"
"Hermione," Ron burst out, "Why can't you just ask: do you know why it broke?"
Hermione huffed, "These are the official classifications of damaged wands."
"Why did you have to learn that?" Ron groaned.
"They could be a part of our Newts in History of Magic or Charms," Hermione
explained with her nose so high in the air that she didn't even notice Ron
rolling his eyes.
"It snapped," Fleur stated making everyone look over at her, "I think I
accidentally broke it but I don't remember too well I was only four at the
time."
"A four year old can't break a wand, I would know," Tonks said dismissively.
"I don't know how I did it, but I remember a feeling or I think I do it's very
vague but I think I felt guilty," Fleur explained.
"Do you remember anything else?" Hermione asked, "Where you outside or inside?"
"Inside," Fleur said uncertainly and Hermione continued to scribble.
"Right so this is what I think happened." Hermione said proudly after a moment,
"In May 1981 the Delacours visited the Potters for an unknown reason in their
home. There was a magic accident that may be related to the fact that Mrs
Delacour transformed and tried to flame Mr Potter. The magical accident resulted
in the snapping of Mrs Delacour's wand."
Hermione took a deep breath before she continued, "However I believe that when
the wand snapped Fleur got hit by some sort of magic that affected her feelings.
I also guess Harry was somewhere near, perhaps even playing with Fleur and got
hit as well."
Harry didn't know how to feel about this, he was confused.
"That is quiet a theory," Remus said thinking it over, "You are aware how rare
this particular magical effect is especially as it probably was an accident with
common household magic."
"Yes," Hermione replied, "But I can't come up with anything better, we just have
the fact that something must have made Harry and Fleur the way they are before
they met last summer and probably before the tri wizard tournament as well."
"I could ask Ollivander if he can remember if Mrs Delacour mentioned the reason
she needed a new wand," Remus said thoughtfully. He seemed to accept Hermione's
theory in lack of a better one, "Unfortunately I won't be able to ask until the
summer holyday."
"Are you going on a mission?" Harry asked, hoping to hear something about what
the order was doing and changing the topic.
"I am afraid I can not tell you," Remus said apologetically.
"Is it dangerous?" Ron asked.
Fleur caught Harry's eyes and nodded discreetly towards Nancy. Nancy had fixed
Remus with her gaze and watched him carefully. Her expression wasn't easy to
read but Harry knew her well enough to know that she was very worried about
Remus's safety.
"You are going to make sure you are safe Remus won't you?" Fleur asked worriedly.
Harry had a very hard time keeping his face straight. Fleur was making the risks
Remus took seem much larger then they really were.
Harry forced a worried look, "So when will we see you again?" He asked as if it
wasn't sure they would ever see each other again.
Nancy's expression hardened slightly and she looked even more worried.
"It is a perfectly safe mission," Remus reassured them.
"Of course it is," Fleur agreed quickly, making the mission seem very dangerous.
"Yes we know Dumbledore wouldn't let you take any risks intentionally," Harry
added reassuringly, pronouncing the word 'intentionally' slightly clearer then
the rest.
"Besides hardly any order members have died," Fleur said matter-of-factly.
Nancy had now gone pale. She like Fleur had developed a tendency to expect the
worst and now probably expected Remus to die.
Remus was just about to reassure everyone that there really was no danger when
the portrait opened.
"Hi Selena," Harry called, interrupting Remus successfully.
"Hi Harry," Selena replied and glanced around at everyone else, "Uh… I have to
talk to you, but its okay if you don't have time… I can wait."
Fleur caught the moment, "Its okay we are just done here. Tonks and I have to
decorate the great hall for Easter… prefects are asked to help as well."
"Right come on Ron," Hermione said catching on.
Soon Remus and Nancy were left alone in Gryffindor common room. A place they
both probably had very special memories from Harry figured.
"She's hooked!" Fleur exclaimed when the fat Lady closed behind them.
"You were great," Harry said enthusiastically.
"Thanks, but it was all luck. And thank you Ron!" Fleur said and gave Ron a
quick hug.
It took some explanations until Ron, Hermione, Tonks and Selena understood what
had happened. None of them had even noticed that Nancy was worried.
As they had said they were going to decorate the great hall they didn't have
much choice. Harry and Selena got away however and walked outside. Selena was in
a very good mood and she skipped down the stairs.
Harry smiled at her, "So, what did you want to talk to me about?"
Selena grinned back she was very pleased with herself for some reason, "You know
that day when you had breakfast with Ginny?"
"Yeah," Harry said following her away towards the Quidditch pitch.
"Hermione was right," Selena said happily, "Ginny is hiding something."
"Oh… has she told you?" Harry asked.
Selena lost her smile and looked down, "No, I figured it out another way."
"That's okay," Harry said comfortingly.
"I followed her," Selena said looking uncertainly back up at him.
"Oh," Harry replied, "And what did you find out?"
Selena regained her smile, "After lunch she headed strait off towards the
hospital wing and she got dreamless sleep potions… she has been using them for a
long time too."
"Ginny uses dreamless sleep potions?" Harry asked.
"Yes, and I looked them up in the library on my way back to Gryffindor tower,"
Selena said quickly, "if you take them for a really long time they can make you
touchy… I don't remember what the book said exactly but it was something like
that."
"Are you sure?" Harry asked enthusiastically, "Did you hear what Madam Pomfrey
said?"
Selena nodded, "She said that Ginny should be careful but she was very gentle
not at all like she usually is… she must have really horrible dreams."
Harry nodded; he understood the dreams must be bad if someone like Ginny choose
to take potions against them.
"I'm impressed," Harry praised, "Not even Hermione could figure that out."
"Thanks Harry," Selena said and hugged him quickly around his middle. Harry
ruffled her hair but stopped abruptly. He had never done anything like that
before.
Selena didn't seem to notice however when she pulled away.
"Err… feel up for some Quidditch?" Harry asked, "I can summon our brooms and
Ron's Quaffle."
"Yes," Selena said happily.
Selena enjoyed flying as much as Harry did and they had an unusually funny game
together since they hadn't played for so long.
It was one of the best days for Harry in a very long time. Everything had gone
right. They had found out about his connection with Fleur, managed to set Remus
and Nancy up and Selena had figured out why Ginny was moody. To top it all off
Harry played Quidditch and had a wonderful evening with his friends.
To everyone's disappointment Remus left the following day after breakfast. Nancy
didn't say goodbye to him quite as warmly as they had hoped but she was
definitely not mad at him anymore.
Selena spent most of her holiday with Tonks doing all kinds of stuff that
normally was extremely forbidden for students such as sneaking off to Hogsmeade
or brewing dangerous potions.
One potion they brew was extra spectacular it would cause the gravity to reverse
for the drinker. So Selena and Tonks ran around in the ceilings of Hogwarts
upside down. To Mr Filch anger they had poured some of the potion in Mrs Norris
fur. Mrs Norris of course, being a cat had, licked the potion up and been forced
to join the two girls.
McGonagall had not been pleased with Selena's behaviour but didn't say anything
since Tonks was a professor. Tonks also made her utmost to include Ginny in
their adventures but she refused flatly and claimed that she needed to study for
her OWLs.
Harry had only told Ron and Hermione about Ginny taking dreamless sleep potion.
The three of them had then decided not to tell anyone more since they all
trusted Madam Pomfrey to take care of Ginny.
Harry spent his free time with either Fleur and Nancy or Ron and Hermione. He
also tried to offer Ginny help with her studies but she had just snarled at him
that she didn't need help. Harry wasn't bothered with her behaviour at all
anymore and only smiled.
Much too soon the holyday was over and Nancy had to return to Beauxbaton. The
remaining Gryffindors except Ginny had gathered outside the entrance hall
together with Fleur, Tonks and Dumbledore to say goodbye.
"I trust we will see each other soon, Nancy?" Dumbledore said.
"Yes I believe we will," Nancy replied.
Harry, Ron and Hermione gave each other a significant look there was only one
reason they could think of that they would see each other soon and that was that
Nancy had become an Order member. They had all suspected it of course but since
they were still students and not of age even Fleur wouldn't discuss the matter
with them.
"See you soon love," Nancy murmured as she hugged Fleur Harry was the only one
standing close enough to over hear.
"I'll miss you anyway," Fleur murmured back.
"Take care and be nice to the students especially the boys," Nancy said
teasingly.
"I will," Fleur promised.
"Come here Harry," Nancy said and held her arms open for him.
"I never thanked you for helping Fleur through everything," Nancy whispered in
his ear and hugged him hard.
"She helped me as much as I helped her," Harry whispered back
"Thank you anyway," Nancy said and broke the hug.
The rest of them said their goodbyes and soon Nancy's carriage was out of view.
"Now before the students return I have a few matters to discuss with you, Selena
and if you like Harry and Tonks may accompany you," Dumbledore said seriously.
"About what, Profess… Albus?" Tonks asked she had loads of troubles calling
Dumbledore his first name. She claimed that she had actually spent more time
with him getting detentions in his office then she had gone to classes and was
far too used calling him Professor Dumbledore.
"I received a letter from Mr Zabulus Malfoy Selena's father this morning that I
would like too discus with the three of you," Dumbledore said.
"I'll see you later," Harry called to his two best friends and Fleur before he
walked off towards Dumbledore's office. Selena was very pale Harry noticed. He
and Tonks exchanged a worried glance.
"Don't worry darling I won't let anything happen," Tonks cooed and held Selena's
little hand.
Selena managed a small smile even though she was almost petrified. The walk up
to Dumbledore's office seemed very long. Dumbledore walked ahead of them and
they walked on a line with Selena in the middle.
Harry was very worried; he wondered what Selena's parents had written in that
letter. Harry supposed it could be bad, they were her parents after all and
could force Selena to do whatever they wanted. Harry didn't come out of his
thoughts until Dumbledore asked them to sit down in his office.
"Have a Chocolate frog Selena?" Dumbledore asked and held out a package, "If you
are lucky you will get someone more exiting then me."
"Thanks," Selena said and took a chocolate frog. Harry noticed that Selena's
hands were shaking as she unwrapped it.
"Mr Zabulus Malfoy informed me today that that you was specifically told to go
home over the Easter," Dumbledore told Selena.
"Yes" Selena confirmed she sat stiffly up in her chair as if waiting to be
executed, her chocolate frog forgotten in her hand.
"I also understand that you did not reply to the letter in which he asks you to
come home?"
"Yes," Selena croaked and tears started to fall from her blue eyes, "I don't
want to go back, they would never let me return they would just ship me off to
Dermstrang but I like being a Gryffindor and they can't make me."
Dumbledore reached for a napkin to hand Selena but Tonks was quicker.
"Your father writes that if you don't return home now at once you are no longer
welcome and no longer a Malfoy," Dumbledore said seriously the usual twinkle in
his eyes completely gone.
"That's it?" Selena asked hopefully, "They won't force me?"
"It appears as they have given you a choice" Dumbledore said gently.
"So I can come back here after the summer?" Selena asked.
"If that is what you choose" Dumbledore said.
"Yes!" Selena exclaimed, "I choose that! Can make up my own name? You said I was
no longer a Malfoy so can I be a… whoever I want to be?"
Dumbledore chuckled, "Yes of course you can be who ever you want to be but there
are certain technicalities."
"Don't worry about that I can take care of my self I could… uh live in London…
and then I could get a job maybe so I can pay for my books or I could sell my
broom. It's still worth enough I better put up notes right away so I can sell it
before we leave for the summer."
Harry looked sadly on as Selena happily wanted to sell her most precious
possession, her broom, so that she could pay for school books and come back for
her second year. Harry knew exactly how she was feeling she reminded him of him
at that age. He knew what it was like to feel alone without parents.
"We won't let you do that," Tonks exclaimed with tears in her eyes, "You are
going to stay with me and I will pay for your school books and robes it's not
your fault your sorry excuses for parents aren't there for you! And next year
you will come back here just like any normal girl."
Selena looked startled, "But I can take care of myself…"
"No you can not you are twelve!" Tonks said forcefully.
"This is precisely why I asked you and Harry to accompany Selena," Dumbledore
said pleasantly, "I wanted to ask you to become Selena's legal guardians, it
will do with one of you but as being a guardian is a huge responsibility,
especially these days…"
"I will do it!" Tonks interrupted Dumbledore.
Harry was not sure what to say he had never considered nor expected this. He
tried to think rationally at it and it help somewhat. He didn't know exactly
what would be expected of him as a guardian. He supposed that technically, he
had all the money needed and she could stay at Grimmauld place, it was his and
Remus's house after all.
"Is that safe, professor?" Harry asked, "Selena has already once been exposed
because of me."
"It would not be safe," Dumbledore said thoughtfully, "But as it would not make
matters any worse."
"But Professor," Selena said abruptly, "Are you sure my father really means it
could he not just write that to scare me enough so I will go home?"
"I expect as much," Selena's face fell, "but as he gave his word in this letter
and I intent to make him keep it." Dumbledore said forcefully, "You may do
whatever you wish."
None of them argued this point with Dumbledore and Harry continued turning the
aspect of being a guardian over in his head. He glanced down at Selena and saw
her tear streaked face, he knew then that even if he wasn't her legal guardian,
he would always be her guardian.
"Yes," He said abruptly, "I want to be your guardian as well, if you don't mind
having me that is."
Selena smiled and nodded vigorously.
"Are you sure?" Dumbledore asked, "You will both be responsible for Selena until
the day she becomes seventeen. And that I can assure you, is not something to be
taken lightly even with children as well behaved as Selena."
"I am sure," Tonks said proudly.
"Me too," Harry said.
"Excellent!" Dumbledore said when and stood up so quickly that that they all
startled, "As guardians of Miss Selena who-ever-she-wishes you are welcome here
at anytime to discus Selena's education and grades. Good luck on figuring out
who you want to be, Selena."
"Thank you Professor," Selena replied.
Dumbledore nodded happily in reply and the three left his office.
"I suppose we have to start arguing about your allowance now don't we?" Tonks
asked Selena.
"You don't have to" Selena said at once.
"Sorry, but it's something that comes with the guardian part," Tonks said, "Hmm…
let's see… I used to get four sickles a week when I was you age, will that do?"
"You don't have to give four sickles every week," Selena said quickly.
"She won't have to I'll give you half of it," Harry said happily.
"But I am happy with out it!"
"You may be so," Tonks said smiling brightly, "But no one is going to tell me I
don't take proper care of you."
"Thanks," Selena muttered.
They walked in silence for several minutes all three of them deep in though.
"Tonks?" Selena asked carefully.
"Yeah?" Tonks replied.
"Would you mind very much if… if…" Selena trailed off.
"Yes," Tonks asked gently.
"I was just wondering if I you won't mind if I… choose Tonks?" Selena asked.
"Choose me?" Tonks asked wrinkling her forehead for a second but then her eyes
went wide, "Are you sure?"
"Well, yes but if you don't want me to that's okay I can think of another name,"
Selena said nervously.
"No let's hear it out… Selena Bellatrix Tonks," Tonks said pronouncing the name
very clearly.
"No Bellatrix goes, I don't want to be named after her I can be who ever I want
to be," Selena said enjoying her newfound freedom immensely.
"Just Selena Tonks? It sounds well enough but there usually are at least three
names." Tonks pointed out.
Selena turned to face Harry with a very nervous expression.
"You can use any of my names," Harry offered happily, "But I don't think Selena
Harry Tonks would sound very well, not to be rude but people might even think
it's a bit stupid."
Selena giggled, "Not your name I was thinking of your…" She took a breath, "I
was thinking Lily Selena Tonks… but it it's just a thought."
"After my mother?" Harry asked stupidly he had not actually expected her to want
to be named after his mother.
"I know it's stupid I just though it sounds nice and since you are… I know this
is pathetic… but anyway…" Salina swallowed nervously, "I think you should be
named after your family and you are the closest thing to a family I got."
"She would have been honoured," Harry said and even though he never knew his
mother he knew she would.
"So it's okay then," Selena asked.
"Yes," Harry said, "Lily Selena Tonks… but I figure you will have a couple of
month to make really sure before all the paper work gets done."
"We got to celebrate," Tonks said happily, "I can't wait to tell everyone that
someone actually wanted to be named after me… think I should announce it in the
great hall at the feast tonight?"
"Alright," Selena said, "I can't wait to see my cous… that Malfoy git's face!"
"That's the spirit," Tonks said happily, "Let's go down to the kitchens and
order a party up to the office."
As Tonks said she would, she stood up when Dumbledore was done with his short
welcome to all the students who had arrived back from the holyday. Harry had
agreed to not tell his friends anything until after Tonks announcement.
"Come on give us a clue?" Ron pleaded for the fifty-sevenths time.
"Has something happened to Selena's parents?" Hermione whispered to Harry so
that Selena wouldn't overhear since she was sitting close by.
"Tonks is going to announce something," Harry said gesturing over at the staff
table.
"You know what she is going to tell us don't you?" Ron asked, "Is it about the
dueling club?"
"Voldemort," Tonks said suddenly and the great hall was shocked in to silence at
once, "Good now that I got your attention I have a little announcement to make."
Tonks paused dramatically and the entire great hall was silent, "The Gryffindor
girl you knew as Selena Bellatrix Malfoy is gone."
"No she isn't!" Ron exclaimed loudly, "She's right here!"
Everyone in the great hall turned to look at Selena.
"No Mr Weasley that would be from today and fourth Miss Lily Selena Tonks,"
Tonks said smiling smugly, "Thank you… Headmaster may I say dig in?"
Dumbledore nodded, "Thanks… Dig in!" Tonks said.
"Lily Selena Tonks?" Hermione asked.
"Uh-huh?" Selena said proudly, "Nice isn't it?"
"You changed your name?" Ron asked, "Won't your parents be kind of furious?"
"No they disowned me so I got to choose a new name," Selena said still very
proudly, "Lily after Harry's mother and Tonks after Tonks of course."
"That went fast," Ron said starting to pile food on his plate and taking a swig
of pumpkin juice.
"I know and I'm so happy I didn't know what to do this summer but then Harry and
Tonks adopted me!" Selena said and Harry beamed proudly at her.
"Wh…" Ron started but as he was drinking at the time he started coughing
violently.
"Ron?" Hermione said, thumping him in the back.
"You adopted her?" Lavender asked eagerly from down the table.
"Yeah, well me and Tonks," Harry replied.
"Just like that?" Hermione asked bewildered.
"Well we haven't filled out any papers yet," Harry said.
"And they are only technically adopting me it's not like Harry will be my father
that would just be too weird," Selena said she couldn't stop smiling, "They are
just guardians."
"But you aren't of age," Hermione said, "You are only sixteen."
"We don't expect the ministry to be done with the paperwork until after my
birthday," Harry replied, "And since that is formalities it doesn't really
matter anyway."
"No I suppose not," Hermione said and a smile spread over her lips.
"Better not let the twins find out they have been waiting for something like
this since those ties at Christmas," Ron warned him.
"Ron!" Hermione scolded at once, "Harry doesn't have to be ashamed of anything
he is very mature to take that kind of responsibility."
"Say that to the twins," Ron said severely, "They'll laugh themselves to death."
"Have they always been this way or just since they fell in love?" Selena asked
Harry.
"Always," Harry said, "It started on the train in our first year."
Selena giggled a lot as Harry told her about all the silly arguments Ron and
Hermione had fought. Ron and Hermione didn't notice of course they were too
caught up bickering. She was especially amused when Harry told her about how
Hermione had gone with Viktor Krum to the Yule Ball.
"Harry?" Selena asked, "Were will I live this summer? Do you know were Tonks
lives or will your aunt and uncle let me stay with them as well?"
"Tonks used to have a flat in Diagon Alley but she sold it when she started
working here so I suppose you would have to stay with her in a house I inherited
a while ago unless she gets another apartment," Harry answered, "Don't worry
about it, it will be somewhere nice."
"I don't worry about it I was just curious," Selena said happily.
When the feast was over Selena and some of her first year friends together with
Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fleur and Tonks had a toast in their office for Selena's
new life.
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Loads of events in this chapter… things are clearing up a bit.
So what do you think of Lily Selena Tonks… quite a name for a biological Malfoy
isn't it? It went a little fast perhaps with the guardian part. On the other
hand, Harry doesn't turn down a chance to expand his family. The real question
is perhaps, why did Dumbledore think of Harry as a guardian and nor Remus or the
Weasleys?
Then we have the broken wand and Remus and Nancy part as well in this chapter. I
am really curious to hear what you all thought….
Next chapter: End of Term
