Chapter Ten: Consequences
Andromeda Tonks nee Black was a very angry woman on a mission when she Apparated to Ottery St Catchpole the same morning after receiving a very angry mirror call from her cousin, Sirius, in Bulgaria—with the latter having left her a call mirror prior to his return to Britain in case he needs to contact her, or vice versa.
Andromeda knew for a fact that her husband is in the midst of securing the patents for Sirius who had created those call mirrors or floo mirrors during his time in school with James Potter. If it went through and are available for sale in Britain, the Floo companies in Britain would definitely be feeling the pinch.
Bulgaria would definitely be opened to new inventions, as like most of the world, they're always open to trying new things that would make their life easier. Britain on the other hand however are very resistant to change, especially when muggleborns tried starting up their own businesses. It is little wonder why Liese Pearce had finally given in, and accepted Sirius' offer to move herself and her business to Bulgaria.
Tonks and Tonks, Andromeda and Ted's law offices, is the one that had assisted Liese in getting her business license and shop space—though even then, it had taken a hell of a fight that had lasted for almost six months before getting the approval.
Andromeda had gotten close to the young woman during this period, and she had really felt for Liese's circumstances. Sirius and James have never stayed silent about what Liese had gone through in Hogwarts, especially when Sirius had to save Liese from a horrible attack from a group of Slytherins that have ultimately all gone on to become Death Eaters. Save for Severus Snape, the rest of that group are currently all incarnated in Azkaban Prison. And even then, Snape only got off due to Albus Dumbledore vouching for him—something that Andromeda knew from Amelia that she, along with the entire Auror office, were less than pleased with.
The current head of the DMLE had been itching for a reason or even an excuse since the end of the war to haul Snape into her interrogation room and dose him with Veritaserum.
Andromeda was as pleased as punch when she had heard that Liese had decided to accept Sirius' offer, and had gone to Bulgaria. Either it is a total coincidence, or she had planned her move around the time when all of Britain was up in arms about the embargoes and levies that were implemented on Britain because of Dumbledore's illegal entry into Bulgaria, but was ultimately caught just because he had underestimated Bulgaria's security measures.
Though Andromeda most definitely isn't expecting to wake up that Saturday morning to an angry mirror call from Sirius, only to learn what had gotten both Sirius and Narcissa so furious that had also resulted in why Andromeda Tonks nee Black is currently in her best lawyer robes and currently marching up the pathway that leads to the Weasley family's residence.
While Andromeda was never a member of Dumbledore's vaunted Order during the war, she did assist Sirius and James occasionally with information that they need. And hence, was familiar with the members of the Order.
Additionally, when Andromeda had sent her only daughter off to Hogwarts earlier this year, in her first letter back home, Dora had very excitedly written to her parents about the first friend that she had made on the train being a certain Charlie Weasley. While Dora was sorted into Hufflepuff like Ted, Charlie was sorted into Gryffindor like his older brother before him—William who is two years ahead of him, and hence, had looked out for his younger brother and his best friend.
James even back then didn't much like Molly Prewett who would later go on to become Molly Weasley. Though it wasn't until Sirius had told her why, and when Andromeda had attended one Order meeting herself during the war in her position as a lawyer when she understood why.
Andromeda's silver eyes flickered towards the upstairs bedrooms where she could spy a few pairs of curious eyes peeking from behind the curtains—the Weasley children, no doubt. From what she knew, Arthur Weasley had seven children—with one of them being the same age as Hadrian and Draco.
Not for the first time, she wondered why in the name of the Great Lady would Arthur even go on to have seven children with his wife when they could barely managed to feed two. Wouldn't it be better to know that they could give their children all they could want instead of having so many children and struggling to even make ends meet?
Arthur after all is the head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts in the Ministry—not a department that anyone would want to work in, if given the choice. And as far as Andromeda knows, Arthur's salary is not even a quarter of what a department head's salary would be, and he only had one worker under him—Perkins, who is almost completely deaf as it is.
Even back when Andromeda had eloped with Ted, and they had a quick wedding ceremony in which only Sirius and the Potter family were invited, along with Ted's family; both of them have made sure to get their lawyer licenses and have good revenue coming in before they even decided to have a child. In fact, Andromeda is relatively certain that Dora is most likely conceived on the same day when Ted had finally gained his lawyer license, and they have celebrated that milestone in the way that young couples do.
Andromeda kept her face blank even as she avoided the scuttling brown chickens in the front of the Weasley residence as she approached the door, knocking on it sharply.
There were a few moments of silence before the door swung opened only to reveal Arthur Weasley. It is a Saturday, and hence, Arthur didn't have to work that day—so Andromeda wasn't that surprised to see him at home. In fact, she had hoped that Arthur was home that day, so she didn't have to deal with Molly Weasley on her own.
Sirius had actually wanted to confront Molly Weasley with Andromeda because of the woman's sheer audacity in sending a Howler to a four-year-old and frighten said child to the point that from what Sirius and Narcissa could tell Andromeda, had been getting nightmares all night.
Andromeda had however managed to convince her furious cousin to let her handle it, even promising Sirius a Pensive memory that she is sure that he will enjoy.
"O-Oh, Andromeda." Arthur recognised Andromeda immediately; given how she is the DMLE's go-to lawyer. And the Weasley patriarch had met Andromeda a few times in the Ministry of Magic. "This is a surprise."
"I'm afraid that this isn't a social visit, Arthur." Andromeda said briskly. "Can I come in?"
"U-Uh… Yes, of course." Arthur was very bewildered, but stepped aside to allow Andromeda to enter.
"Arthur, who is it?" Molly Weasley was in the kitchen, trying to feed her squirming daughter who is currently in her high chair. There were already food splatters visible on her dress and even around the toddler's mouth. "Ginny, please!"
"'no wan'!" The little girl cried, trying to avoid the spoon that her mother is trying to feed her with. "Gin no wan!"
Andromeda cleared her throat, and Molly looked up. "Andromeda. What a surprise. I didn't know you were coming." The little toddler cried and wailed, and Molly turned a sharp look to her daughter. "Ginevra Weasley, enough!"
Needless to say that this only frightened the little girl more, and she cried louder.
"This isn't a social visit, I'm afraid." Andromeda kept her face blank. "I need to speak to you both privately."
"U-Uh…" Arthur was bewildered, but nodded. He lifted his wailing daughter out of her high chair, cuddling her, and patting her on the back gently that slowly soothed her cries before the little girl is giggling in her father's embrace. "Percy?"
"Yes, Dad?" A small head with red hair, and with a pair of glasses perched on his nose peered in from around the corner, which Andromeda knew leads to the Weasleys' sitting room.
"Can you take your sister and look after Ron and the twins for a bit upstairs?" Arthur handed his squirming daughter to his son. "She's probably due for a nap soon, anyway. As is Ron. Make sure Fred and George doesn't come downstairs."
"Okay." Percy was obviously curious, especially with the way he kept looking at Andromeda curiously, but he said nothing before leaving the kitchen with his now happy sister who kept babbling, "'Perce! Perce!" even as he carried her away. The sound of the child's footsteps and the children's voices soon faded away.
"All right." Andromeda finally turned towards the two Weasley parents who were bewildered at the stern look on Andromeda's face. "Like I said, this isn't a social visit. I am here on business as a representative of Lord Black."
"F-From Lord Black, you say?" Arthur was nervous. He might not really follow the Old Ways due to his wife not liking it, but he is still raised as a pureblood, and knew that when a lawyer is here stating that she is a representative of a lord, it isn't good news most of the time.
"Yes." To the Weasley parents, Andromeda Tonks looked almost like a venomous snake at the moment. "Molly Elizabeth Weasley, I have a complaint from Lord Sirius Black that you sent his ward and heir—Heir Potter, a Howler, when you had no right to do so!" Andromeda thundered. Molly flushed red whereas Arthur looked horrified.
"Molly, you didn't…" Arthur looked horrified.
Sending a Howler to one's own children is one thing. Most adults wouldn't interfere, as while receiving a Howler is embarrassing, some parents still do so, especially when the child is away at Hogwarts. But sending a Howler to a child not your own is considered the height of bad manners, especially if said child is a Heir.
"W-Well, Harry shouldn't be running from his responsibilities and running away to a Dark country like—"
"HIS NAME IS HEIR POTTER!" Molly is older than Andromeda by a good few years, but at the moment, the older woman looked absolutely petrified of Andromeda who looked absolutely disgusted. "You have neither been given leave or permission to address him by his name, and even if you do, his name is Hadrian, not Harry! And despite what you like to believe, Molly, James and Lily Potter are not friends of yours. You forget that while I was never a member of your vaunted Order, James and Sirius are my cousins, and they complained enough about you and how you tried to dictate how Lily and James, and even Frank and Alice raised their kids. And just because James and Lily are too polite to say anything, Sirius definitely told me of the Order meetings how you were already trying to match-make when Hadrian and Heir Longbottom are no more than a few months old! But that isn't the point here! You sent a Howler to a child not your own—a child that might I add, had just been recently rescued from an abusive household! Were you even thinking at all?!"
Molly paled, before she set her jaw stubbornly. "But Albus said—"
"Albus Dumbledore has no say in how the Lord of my House raises the Heir of my House!" Andromeda snapped back, being utterly sick and tired of the way the Weasleys constantly swallowed whatever that Dumbledore says. "But that's not the point here that I'm making! You sent a Howler to a child not your own—a child recently rescued from an abusive household, and hence, had a setback to his recovery!" Andromeda thundered, wishing that it's legal to curse the woman right here and now. "Do you know that I had to convince Sirius not to return to Britain and hex the hell out of you for traumatising his child so?!" Andromeda snapped. "And not just Hadrian, but Draco Malfoy was also with him when the Howler you sent reached him. You frightened two small children to the point that they were having nightmares all night! My sister was all for returning to Britain and cursing the hell out of you, but I managed to convince her not to."
Andromeda was breathing heavily by the end of her rant.
And it is true what she had said. Sirius and Narcissa were both furious due to the Howler, as it did frighten Hadrian and Draco. More Hadrian than Draco, thanks to his history. Draco didn't exactly had the best upbringing from Lucius Malfoy either, but Narcissa was there to balance things out, so he wasn't as traumatised.
When Sirius had ended the mirror call with Andromeda earlier that morning, the last thing he had said is bringing the kids over next door to the Krum residence.
"A-Andromeda…" Arthur Weasley was speechless, especially seeing how pale his wife had gone. "I-I don't know what to say…" He swallowed nervously. "I-Is Lord Black pressing charges?" He prayed fervently that he isn't.
The Weasley family definitely has neither the influence nor the funds to fight the House of Black that is one of the wealthiest families in the wizarding world, and also one of the most influential. The Weasleys have a bad enough reputation as it is amongst most of the wizarding families. So much so that Arthur has never seen so much as a raise or a promotion despite his years of service to the Ministry.
The centuries long blood feud that they have with the Malfoy family certainly doesn't help matters.
If Sirius Black is upset enough to press charges or declare a feud on the Weasleys, there will be nowhere they can run.
Andromeda's look was frosty. "He wanted to, but I managed to convince him not to," she said grimly. The truth is that Sirius is busy settling in Bulgaria at the moment, and also maybe starting his own business—so any negative attention drawn to the Black name at the moment is ill-advised, especially with Liese there too, but Arthur doesn't need to know that.
Arthur breathed a sigh of relief. "You have my most sincere apologies for this, Andromeda," he said sincerely. "I swear that I honestly have no idea. I wouldn't have allowed Molly to send it, otherwise." He gave his wife a grave look.
Arthur doesn't even like Molly sending Howlers to their own children at Hogwarts, let alone children not their own. But because he worked such long hours, he normally allow Molly free reign to discipline and raise their children the way she sees fit. Seems like that's a mistake.
If he isn't careful, Molly is going to drive their children from the house. Arthur isn't blind to see how relieved that Bill and Charlie are to be going to Hogwarts, and he will be surprised if they will return for Christmas at all. Bill didn't his first year at Hogwarts.
Even Percy who is only nine years old at the moment had been either spending most of his time at the village library or at the meadow not far from the house just to get away—that is if he isn't babysitting his siblings.
The twins too who always managed to put a smile on Arthur's face whenever he came home from a long and hard day of work with their pranks too didn't escape from Molly's overbearing ways. It hurt Arthur to see the twins upset when Molly shouted at them for their pranks that Percy had taken to shielding his brothers from the brunt of his mother's temper. Even going as far as taking the twins with him whenever he went to his usual spot for reading.
Ron and Ginny are after all still too young for Percy to take them from the house—not when they still need constant supervision. And with Bill and Charlie away at Hogwarts, this gave Percy the chance to bond with the twins.
Andromeda looked from Molly to Arthur. Surprisingly, Molly had stayed surprisingly silent—a rare occurrence for the woman who always made sure to make her opinion known even from the time when she is a student.
Andromeda did definitely remember Lily and even Alice complaining more than once about how Molly tried to dictate how they raise their own kids when Hadrian and Neville were born. With the two boys being godbrothers, since Lily and Alice were the godmothers of the two boys, they were practically raised together until the Longbottoms and the Potters have to go into hiding.
"I'm only saying this once." Andromeda said. "If this happens again, I'm not going to even try to stop Sirius and Narcissa from pressing charges. And you know Britain's standing with Bulgaria at the moment. Having charges pressed against you too would just be the least of your concerns. Because if Wizarding Child Services even heard how you sent a Howler to a four-year-old, the first thing that they are going to do is to look just a little closer at your family. I doubt I need to elaborate on just what I meant." She added, seeing the faces of the two Weasley parents went pale.
Sending a Howler to a child not their own could be considered a form of abuse, especially with the amount of vitriol in said Howler, and with said child being no more than a toddler—not even five years old. If Wizarding Child Services heard about it, they would incorrectly assume that if Molly could 'abuse' a child not her own, what of her own children? Would they even be safe with her?
Wizarding Child Services would more than likely take the Weasley children away under protective custody until who knows when whilst investigations are ongoing. And depending on the results, Molly might even be ruled as an unfit mother, and denied custody of her children, especially considering the number of witnesses who have seen her sending Howlers to her children, or even berating her twin boys in a voice loud enough that even their neighbours—the Lovegoods and the Diggorys, could hear them.
"Y-You'll take my babies away?" Molly stuttered, managing to find her voice at last. Her eyes flickered towards the entrance that would lead them to the sitting room; as if she wants to go to her children and stop anyone from taking them from her.
Andromeda looked sympathetic. She too is a mother, and had raised her only daughter during a time of war. How many times had she heard her deranged sister threaten Dora's life more than once when she had the misfortune to run into Bellatrix in the streets?
During the time when Andromeda and Ted were establishing their law offices, they have often brought Dora with them to their office where one of them would always be with her. If one of them is working on a case, the other would tend to Dora, and teach her how to count and even her letters. Later on, when they started taking in interns, the interns too were more than happy to keep an eye on the bubbly girl.
So Andromeda does understand Molly's feelings with the fear of losing her children, though she could hardly find it in herself to sympathise with her when it is a result of her own actions.
"I don't want to do it. But if something like this happens again, do you think Sirius will stay silent? Will Narcissa?" Andromeda pointed out, and both Weasley parents flushed. "In fact, I won't even try to stop them if something like this happens again. Let me make things clear for you both." Andromeda looked from face to face. "Heir Potter is also the Heir to the House of Black. And while we are an Ancient and Noble House, Sirius believe in allowing Hadrian to choose his own life partner. So banish any delusions of yours, Molly, that your daughter would be Lady Potter someday." Andromeda wisely kept quiet about the fact that Hadrian's life partner will more than likely be an alpha, seeing as how he is an omega. It seems like Hadrian's secondary gender isn't really public knowledge as of yet, and Andromeda has no wish to be the one to release that information.
"I have every respect for the betrothal practices that the pureblood houses practices, but I wish to allow my children to choose their own life partner." Arthur cut in hurriedly, seeing Molly go very red.
Unlike Molly and even Dumbledore's beliefs, Arthur knew that betrothal contracts are also there to safeguard the futures of children and their Houses. And it is not an 'archaic practice' as what Molly believed. His parents set one up for his eldest brother in fact, who is then the Weasley Heir, until he and his new wife have passed away due to Death Eater attacks, and Arthur had then taken up the mantle of Lord Weasley in his place.
But by the time that Arthur was an adult and had married Molly, the Weasley name had lost much of the influence and power it once had, no thanks to the actions of his ancestors from long ago that had infuriated the House of Malfoy at that time.
Andromeda nodded in response to Arthur's words. "Because I know you, Arthur, and I know that my Dora and your Charlie are best friends in Hogwarts, and even looked up to your William as an older brother, I didn't want to blow things up and ruin the kids' friendships with each other," Andromeda said forcefully. She more than anyone else knew how the feuds between families could affect the friendships of children. "It's why I convinced Sirius and Narcissa to not press charges this once, and that I would handle it in their place. But if this happens again, I will not stop them next time. Do you understand me?"
Arthur nodded wearily, making a mental note to speak to each of his children individually about how their mother is really treating them when he's away at work. He doesn't want to believe that his wife would abuse their children, but he too knew that there are ways to hurt a child without laying a finger on them.
Emotional abuse can be worse than physical abuse in a way, and the few times he had seen how Molly had shouted at the twins and cut them down for their pranks can be considered as abuse if an officer from Wizarding Child Services had witnessed it.
Even Percy, young as he is, had brought his concerns to Arthur more than once, but Arthur had brushed him off at that time, thinking that his son was just blowing things out of proportion due to his concern over the twins.
"I'll…show you out if there is nothing else?" Arthur said at last, looking at his wife who looked white as a sheet. "Molly, why don't you go and lie down? I can take care of the kids today. Once you get some rest, then I think that we need to have a talk. A real talk."
"I…" Tears were starting to roll down Molly's cheeks, but she nodded, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand. "I think it's best…"
Molly Weasley was very subdued even as she left the kitchen, before Arthur then led the way to the entrance of the Burrow to show Andromeda out as all good hosts does.
"I'm really sorry about this. I have no idea. If I had known, I wouldn't have allowed Molly to send that Howler." Arthur said sincerely. He is after all good friends with quite a few Aurors and even Amelia Bones, having been a former Auror himself before requesting for a transfer to a less dangerous department when he had married. Hence, unlike most people before the news had broken out, Arthur knew the details of what had actually happened to Heir Potter, and why Sirius Black was so furious.
Andromeda shook her head. She knew a little of how the Weasleys run their household. With the long hours that Arthur worked in order to put food on the table, it is only natural that he would leave the child rearing to his wife.
"Arthur, you need to keep an eye out." Andromeda lowered her voice even after casting a Silencing Charm, having spied three pairs of curious eyes on the stairs when Arthur had shown her to the door. Arthur's twins and that Percy kid, no doubt. The seven-year-old twins were clinging to their older brother with huge eyes, whereas Percy had his arms protectively around the twins. Clearly, those three were closer than they were to their younger siblings, and Andromeda had a nasty feeling that it's because of how much Molly had been betitling the twins, which from what she had heard from Pandora Lovegood, are quite mischievous. "I realise you can't always be there, as you're working, but you need to at least be aware of just what your wife had been teaching your kids, or even how she's treating them."
"Molly wouldn't hurt the children!" Arthur defended his wife.
"You know as well as I do that there are ways to hurt a child without laying a finger on them." Andromeda pointed out, and Arthur wilted. "Molly had an aunt, doesn't she? Maybe you can ask her to drop by for surprise visits every now and then? Just to check in on the kids? It wouldn't hurt for you to ask Lady Muriel if she can tutor the kids before they go off to Hogwarts too. If they understood pureblood culture, they wouldn't make more enemies than they have to. It is very easy to make enemies of another House, even if you don't know you're doing it."
It's why muggle-borns are so disadvantaged at Hogwarts, in a way. Most of the time, it is because they unknowingly offended the wizard-raised kids at Hogwarts.
Arthur nodded slowly. Molly doesn't like Aunt Muriel for some reason. Arthur has no idea why, as Lady Muriel had always been polite to him, even when he had first approached her for the permission to court and marry Molly, with Molly's parents having passed away even when she as well as the Prewett twins were still in school.
Muriel was present at the full month celebration of each child that Arthur and Molly had, and he had seen the way how Muriel had doted on the kids—especially when Bill and Charlie were born. But Molly had never liked Muriel, so Arthur didn't want to go behind Molly's back to invite Muriel to Weasley dinners, even during their birthdays. But he had made sure to send photographs to Muriel—something that he knew Muriel had appreciated.
If things get out of hand, Arthur wouldn't even be surprised if his own children goes to Muriel and begged to take on the Prewett name. Lady Muriel had pointed it out more than once when he is able to make the rare visits to her during his day-offs, that if Molly continue pushing the children away with her overbearing ways, they are only going to leave as soon as they could once they're old enough.
Muriel had particularly doted on Bill and Percy, Arthur knew, seeing a rare form of intelligence in those two boys. Lots of the books that the two boys have received for Yule and their birthdays have come from Muriel—particularly Bill who Arthur knew had a dream to become a curse-breaker—a career path that Molly had been trying to discourage their eldest from taking.
"Well, this is all that I came to say." Andromeda said, feeling slightly bad at seeing how upset Arthur looks. "You need to talk to Molly, Arthur. If she can do this to a child not her own, what would she do to her own?"
XXXXXX
"Have you seen Tonks?"
"Sorry, no. But you might want to try the Black Lake. I know she received a letter from home this morning. It might be bad news."
Charlie Weasley made sure to bundle up warmly before he had made the trek across the Hogwarts grounds towards the Black Lake, also waving at Hagrid the gamekeeper as he did so—with the Weasley having befriended Hagrid his second week at Hogwarts, with both of them being avid lovers of animals.
It is getting colder now that they're approaching the close of the end of the school year, and not to mention that Hogwarts is located in the mountains of Scotland. Even during summer, it can be cold.
As it is, Charlie could see little white puffs escaping every single time he breathed in and out.
He spied a little figure with a Hufflepuff scarf wrapped around the neck seated by the large oak tree next to the Black Lake. The tentacles of the giant squid could be seen just above the surface of the lake, even as the squid waved lazily at Charlie as he approached the figure which the Weasley recognised a moment later as his best friend.
Nymphadora Tonks, or Tonks as she liked to be known as, was seated at the foot of the tree, frowning deeply, reading a letter in her hands.
"Hey Tonks." Charlie greeted his best friend, sitting next to her. Even though they were the butt of jokes and teases their entire year and even the years above, Charlie and Tonks are just very good friends. In fact, Charlie is tempted to write to his father and ask for permission to stay with the Tonks family for the summer. He almost dread returning home to his mother and her overbearing ways. And then again, he will be abandoning Bill to said mother. Even Percy and the twins, whom from Percy's letter, are getting the brunt of their mother's temper.
It is like nothing they ever did is good enough for their mother. Charlie doubts his mother even noticed that his and his brother's letters home to her have shortened to a letter a month. Whereas they have sent weekly letters to their father and Percy who is the only one old enough to be able to read properly. Bill and Charlie too did send letters to their Great Aunt Muriel which both boys knew were the ones to pay for their Hogwarts education, and even ensured that they attend Hogwarts in new robes and books and even new wands.
Their father had told their mother that he had money set aside for their Hogwarts supplies, not wanting their mother to kick up a fuss as she would should she know that it was Great Aunt Muriel who had paid for their education. Both boys only knew that it was their Great Aunt Muriel who had paid for their Hogwarts education when they have overheard a late night Floo call that their father had made the night before Charlie was due to go to Hogwarts.
Even the books that Bill and Percy received for their birthdays no doubt came from Great Aunt Muriel too, considering the books are on topics that Bill and Percy are interested in, instead of the typical second hand books on topics that their mother thought they would like.
Charlie himself too had received a few books about Dragonzoologists and even about dragons for his birthday this year that he knew is from Great Aunt Muriel; Great Aunt Muriel no doubt knew that Charlie wanted to work with dragons, and had sent a few books to point him in the right direction. Charlie had managed to write a thank you letter for his books. And while he had never received a reply, he is sure that Great Aunt Muriel would be pleased.
For some reason, their mother didn't like their Great Aunt Muriel; a reason that none of the boys understood. But to keep the peace, none of them mentioned Great Aunt Muriel in the household.
"Hey." Tonks looked up as Charlie sat down next to her, smiling, but her smile looked forced. "Can you give me a moment? Let me finish reading this letter."
"Sure." Charlie shrugged, merely looking at the lake, and at the scores of Hogwarts students all milling about the lake—all of them celebrating that their exams are over. He might be a Weasley, but he does know his manners, and know that it's the height of bad manners to peek at someone's letter; thus, he tried hard not to look at the letter that his best friend was reading.
Though from the large letters and the untidy handwriting that he had a glance at when sitting down, he'd wager that it's from a child. Probably even around Ron's age, at that, as Charlie and Bill had the same untidy handwriting at that age until they started attending reading and writing lessons with their Great Aunt Muriel. At least until their mother had put a stop to it for some reason.
Honestly. It is like their mother didn't want any of her children to succeed. Bill and Charlie have snuck off to their great aunt's house whenever they could even before Hogwarts, and she had taught them things that their mother had never taught them. Even things like how to behave so that they wouldn't offend more people who already dislike their family, and incite even more blood feuds.
"Charlie?" Tonks nudged him in the side, and he turned his attention towards her. Tonks had her hair in bright purple today. From what Tonks had explained, she found it easier to maintain her look longer if her hair colour is bright. "Do you know that your mother had sent a Howler to my little cousin?" Tonks was frowning. "It frightened Hadrian almost to death. Draco was complaining about it." She tapped a finger on the letter that she is reading. "He sent this letter to me. I'll wager that Uncle Sirius would have contacted Mum as well. He won't take this kind of thing lying down. Not when Hadrian is already so traumatised."
Tonks had yet to meet her little cousin, as she is still in school when the entire drama had gone down. But her parents have written to her, telling her everything in a letter before the news had broken in the Daily Prophet—if so that she wouldn't find out through the papers. Her parents too have promised to take her on a trip to Bulgaria that summer so that she will have a chance to meet her two cousins, and even her aunt who had been forbidden to meet Tonks' mother since the latter had eloped with her father.
Tonks however did send a few letters to Hadrian and Draco, which Aunt Narcissa and Uncle Sirius would have read to them, since they are still too little to read on their own. Or even that friend of Uncle Sirius' that Tonks had met a few times when she was still little. What is his name now? Something about the moon.
Charlie paled. Surely his mother wouldn't be stupid and impulsive enough to send a Howler to a four-year-old not even her own? And one just recently rescued from an abusive household even!
Tonks sighed, handing the letter over to Charlie. Draco didn't write anything that isn't already common knowledge. And knowing her mother, she would be right over to the Weasleys' residence to complain, so no doubt that Charlie would find out himself soon enough. If not from a personal visit from his father, then from a letter.
"Here. Draco wrote this. I received it this morning along with a letter from Aunt Narcissa and even Dad."
Charlie then read the untidy scrawl of a five year old carefully, having to reread certain words again before he figured out what it meant. Draco Malfoy's handwriting is definitely better than his when he was the same age, so it is not completely unreadable.
The more he read, the angrier that Charlie became—and that is assuming that little Draco Malfoy isn't exaggerating. All of Magical Britain had heard of what Lucius Malfoy had done to his wife and child, and why Narcissa Malfoy had now became Narcissa Black, having filed for divorce. Narcissa wanted to give her child the choice to take on the Black name or retain the Malfoy name when he is old enough, and hence, had allowed him to retain the Malfoy name.
With where Lucius Malfoy is at the moment, Charlie doubts that he would have the chance to produce another heir, anyway.
"I'm so sorry." Charlie apologised profusely even as he returned the letter to Tonks who folded it neatly and placed it within a folder that she had brought with her to school. Her dad had bought it for her from a Muggle stationary shop so that her letters and notes would always be kept neat and organised. "I don't know what's gotten into my mother. Sending Howlers to me and Bill is one thing. We're her children. But sending it to a child not her own?"
Honestly, Charlie won't be surprised if Tonks decided to end her friendship with him. That is if the House of Black doesn't declare a feud against the Weasleys.
"It's not your fault." Tonks said gravely, unusually serious for the first time since Charlie had met her. "Look Charlie, Dad wrote to me as well." She hesitated, looking around to ensure that there is no Hogwarts student close enough to overhear their conversation. "Dad wants to know…if you're being abused by your mother." She said in a low voice that even Charlie strained to hear her. "Not just physically, but mentally."
"M-Mum… She has never laid a hand on us!" Charlie spluttered after a moment, his eyes wide. "Sure, she shouts at us sometimes, but…" His voice trailed off slowly upon seeing the look that Tonks is giving him.
Nymphadora Tonks was born in a generation of children during wartime. This means that she had seen her fair share of abused kids. Lots of the cases that her parents have taken on during that time period, and even during the recovery period after the war mainly had to do with abused kids. Tonks had played with a few of those children, and was taught by her father how to behave with them, so she knows how to tell when a kid is abused—whether it be physical or mental.
When Tonks had extended an invitation to visit her home and even stay over the summer to Charlie, he had immediately jumped at the chance. That had already rung several alarm bells. Especially with the way how Charlie rarely mentioned his mother.
His father, yes. And even his siblings. Especially Bill whom he was very close to, and only two years above them. But never his mother.
"There are ways to abuse a kid without touching them, Charlie." Tonks said quietly. "We were raised during the war. You know that."
Charlie hesitated. "How bad is it?"
"I don't know. Dad didn't include specifics. But I know that it's bad enough for Mum to head down to your house this morning after she received a mirror call from Uncle Sirius. Hadrian is terrified and traumatised, Charlie." Tonks pointed out. "Draco said that he had 'bad dreams' all night." She drew quotation marks in the air. She eyed the nervous Charlie. "Talk to me, Dragon-boy." She nudged Charlie, using the nickname she gave him.
Charlie hesitated before he sighed. "I want my brother," he said, wincing at how he sounded like a little child. "I think…Bill should know too. And… And my Great Aunt Muriel." Great Aunt Muriel was placed as the Weasley siblings' emergency contact for the school if their parents aren't available after all.
Tonks nodded slowly, having a bad feeling about it. "All right. Let's go to Professor Sprout."