Dumbledore cleared his throat. If it were to silence them there was no need for everyone sat calmly, all eyes were on him.
"Firstly, I want to thank you all for coming. I know that being here today has been hard on a lot of people but it shows a communal strength that we are all here together. Now, all of us here have been affected by the loss of a great man; Sirius Black."
It's begun already, Harry thought, Run, run while you still have chance! "I am hoping that those who were close to him may be willing to say a few words," Dumbledore continued. Oh, come on legs! Stand…run…do anything! Harry kicked the vacant chair beside him, just to check that he hadn't lost the ability of his legs completely. What if Dumbledore asked him to stand and say something? Could he? He didn't know what to say and hoped that, if the time came, words would come to him on the spot. Andromeda Tonks had risen from her seat. She didn't look at the crowd seated before her; instead she looked up to the tree above her.
"Well, Riu what can I say? Growing up with you was one of the most interesting experiences of my life. And it's unfair that we now have to say goodbye." She paused and took a loud breath in before continuing. "We've already lost so many years with you. Nothing about any of this is fair. I only hope that, wherever you are now, you're happy and you're free. I love you." She finished with a sigh and returned to her seat. And so it went on. Harry listened intently, feeling distinctly worse as each person spoke. He was running out of speakers and that it would soon be his turn. He knew he didn't have to speak, but he wanted to. And yet, he could not think of the words that would do his Godfather justice.
"Anybody else?" Dumbledore asked quietly as no one else moved.
"I'll go." Tonks had spoken without realising it. She rose wobbly from her seat and walked with relative confidence to the tree. When she was there she stood silent for some time, staring at her feet. Harry thought that perhaps she was talking in her head, until she began to speak aloud.
"Sirius… well… I promised him I wouldn't tell anyone one this, but over his dead body. So here it goes Riu… When I was eight years old Sirius made up a dance routine to Cher's Shoop Shoop Song and asked me to be his backing singer." A light ripple of laughter ran through the observers. "And I think that sums him up completely." She gave a sad smile and paused in thought. "I… it would be wrong of me to stand up here today and tell you all how much I love my cousin," Harry looked up sharply, worried what she was about to admit, "when I really should have told him first. I hope he knows… knew." She blinked rapidly. "I think he did…" She gave a quiet laugh. "When I was six he made me climb the tallest tree in our garden. Once we were up there I couldn't get down. He said to me 'T-Bird you have 3 options. You can attempt to get down all by yourself, I can go down first and catch you or I can stay up here and help you down. What do you want to do?' And I gave it a bit of thought. Considered jumping, you know me! And I said to him that I wanted him to go down and catch me. He said to me, and I'll always remember this, he said 'I might not always be there to catch you T-Bird. I want to be but I can't promise you that. I need know you'll be alright by yourself.'"
She sniffed loudly. Silence rang through the grounds. "And I guess I'll have to be, won't I," she said to them, closing her eyes and causing tears to fall slowly down her cheeks. "Son of a bitch," she whispered bitterly. When she opened her eyes, she looked directly at the group and gave them her bravest smile. "Anyway, turns out that Riu pushed me, which I don't remember being an option personally." Harry smiled from his seat. Her breath quivered emotionally. "Well, I don't know what else to say except that, if Sirius is watching us now, he'll probably want us all to stop moping and go get pissed so that's what I plan to do." She walked back to her seat abruptly, leaving her friends agape.
Remus decided to stand next. As he neared the tree he looked at it as if the very sight of it brought so many memories flooding back. He shook his head slightly with a sad smile.
"Well, how can I follow that?" he asked. Tonks smiled at him. "I have many stories I could share with you, and if we had the time I probably would." His face suddenly became full of sorrow and he looked tired and old. "Sirius was my best friend, one of the closest friends I've ever had. I think we were all really lucky to have known him, and unfortunate enough to lose him… I don't really want to say much more than that, except that I loved him like a brother. I would give anything to get him back but I know I can't." He lowered his voice, as if hoping they wouldn't hear how much he was hurting inside. "I got him back once, but I know that's not going to happen again so I guess I'm going to have to get over it." He finished resentfully and, instead of going back to his seat he walked away. Harry began to get up but Hermione put a hand on his arm.
"Leave him, he'll come back when he's ready."
Having watched Remus walk off into the distance, Harry turned to find all eyes on him. He hesitated.
"Um, I don't actually have anything I want to say." He knew that this was untrue but there didn't seem to be any words to describe how his heart had been ripped out by the death of the man who was like a father to him. And even if he did know what to say, the words would be for Sirius alone, he told himself firmly. He would hear them one day.
The group began to disperse as the afternoon drew to a close. Tonks found herself breaking away from her friends in order to have a sneaky cigarette. She was half way through a drag when a voice behind her made her cough.
"Hi." It was Kingsley. His eyes moved from the cigarette back to his former Auror partner.
"Oh, I thought you were my mum. I'm only having one, honest. Dung gave it me," she lied, hoping he wouldn't see the box-shaped bulge in her trouser pocket.
"Just thought I'd come let you know that I'm heading off now."
"Oh right. I dunno when I'll get to see you again, so take care won't you." He nodded in promise.
"You too. Good luck with your new job. Lets hope you make a better teacher than Auror," he jested, trailing off as he saw her glance over his shoulder to the Forbidden Forest in the distance. Her forehead was crinkled slightly in a frown.
"What is it?" he asked, turning around to follow her gaze.
"Nothing, I just thought I saw someone that's all. It's probably nothing."
"Just a feeling?" he enquired.
"Yeah, something like that." He gave a light laugh.
"You're getting more and more like Mad-Eye every day. Well, I'd best get going. Keep in touch. I'm sure I'll see you soon." He sqeezed her shoulder and headed back to the castle. Tonks finished her cigarette, her eyes fixed on the spot in the trees where she had sworn she had seen somebody. As she glanced up to the castle, a white gold shimmer caught her eye. She looked again and was surprised at what it was or rather who it was.
"Hey," she called. The person turned and fled up the steps. "Wait. Stop!" Discarding her cigarette, letting the sparks dance off into the air, she headed towards the castle at a pace.
Once in the castle, Tonks had to squint. The corridor was a great deal darker compared to the summer light outside. She heard footsteps to the left and took after them. Then she saw her again.
"Would you wait? Please!" The woman carried on walking. "Narcissa!" she cried exasperatedly. The woman stopped. She turned around slowly.
"What do you want Dora?" Tonks froze. What did she want? She had chased her aunt half way around the castle and was now lost for words.
"What are you doing here Aunt Sissy?" she asked. Narcissa lowered her pointy face to the floor.
"I needed to know of it was true," she said bluntly. "I needed to know if he was dead." Her words echoed off the stone walls.
"Well he is," Tonks said in a small voice. Narcissa nodded.
"I know. And I'm sorry." Tonks looked up. "Don't get me wrong Dora. He was my cousin too. But he was foolish. I guess he paid for it, one way or another." She regarded her young niece for a moment. "You know, you look more like a Black than I thought you did. Just goes to show. I guess you might have it in you after all." She began to walk away again, and stopped. "I saw your mother. Don't tell her I was here." Her words were firm and Tonks could do nothing but nod. Her aunt disappeared from sight, leaving nothing but uneasiness in Tonks' heart.
Harry entered the Great Hall that evening to find one end of the long Gryffindor table set. He wasn't hungry at all, and didn't really feel like company, but Hermione had insisted that he eat something. Many of the Order members had left. Andromeda Tonks remained, with her daughter, the Weasleys, Hermione was there of course, Dumbledore and McGonagall had joined them, and Harry noticed that Lupin had also returned though he kept very quiet.
"Ah, Harry. Come join us," Dumbledore requested and he did as he was told. Placing himself between Hermione and Ginny, he helped himself to some pumpkin juice but refrained from drinking it once it was in his goblet. The tension in the group was unbearable. Tonks spoke first. Her voice seemed rather loud in comparison to the recent silence.
"Where was Dad today?" she asked her mother, as if they were discussing family matters at home in front of the television. Her mother's lips tightened.
"I don't think now's the time to talk about that, do you Dora?"
"I think now's a perfectly good time. Where is he…working? Couldn't be bothered? What?"
"He's busy at work if you must know." Andromeda's voice was unimpressed.
"What does your dad do Tonks?" Ginny asked, hoping to save her friend from her mother's glowering looks.
"He's a plumber-electrician." (Arthur looked up in interest.) "He started training to be a Healer at St Mungo's when he left Hogwarts but he dropped out of training when his twin sister got sick. When she died he just couldn't be bothered with the Wizarding world anymore." Ginny nodded, satisfied with the answer, and turned away wishing she hadn't asked.
"So, Tonks, are you looking forward to teaching at Hogwarts?" Professor McGonagall asked casually from the other end of the table.
"What?" Ron and Harry exclaimed together. The twins looked at each other in surprise. Hermione and Ginny's mouths hung open, stunned.
"Oh yeah, kinda forgot to mention that, didn't I."
"Kinda, yeah!" Ron agreed in astonishment.
"Well, I am. What do you reckon guys? You think you can put up with me as a teacher?" she asked, ignoring her mother's disapproving glare. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny exchanged looks of disappointment. "Well, don't get too excited!" Tonks said cynically.
"No offence Tonks, but we don't exactly have a good record when it comes to DADA teacher's," Ginny explained. Fred laughed.
"Yeah, I give you a year. Nah, forget that, I doubt you'll even last the year!" Molly scolded him for his comment.
"Well, thanks for the vote of confidence guys!" Tonks said sulkily and continued to pout for a great length of time after.
Harry felt Dumbledore's eyes on him and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He wanted nothing more than to go upstairs to his dorm, get into his four-poster bed and hide there. Harry smiled at the Headmaster politely, and looked at the table.
"I was just wondering Harry," Harry gave a cringe and looked back up, "if you were interested in knowing who Sirius had chosen to be your legal guardian." It was the first time anyone had mentioned Sirius all night. Harry froze. It hadn't occurred to him that Sirius would have thought about anything like that. It felt as if he was being passed on from person to person. He swallowed hard and nodded.
"Go on then," he said rather sharply, and hoped he hadn't sounded too rude.
"Lupin and Tonks," Dumbledore said simply. Harry blinked, taking the information in. Molly Weasley's face showed a brief flash of disappointment, before she turned to her husband to hide it. Tonks had raised her eyebrows. She now realised why Dumbledore had sent herself and Remus to collect Harry from Privet Drive, what seemed like forever ago. Remus spoke up, much to all of their surprise.
"I don't think that's a good idea," he said shortly. "Lily and James obviously didn't think I was capable of looking after Harry then. Why should I be now?"
"Well, Remus, it wasn't their decision, it was Sirius'. And if no one else objects to it then I don't see what the problem is. Tonks, do you have a problem with that?"
"Well, no. But I can hardly take care of myself, let alone someone else." She was annoyed to see her mother nod in agreement and quickly added. "But I'll do my best." She gave Harry a wink. Remus still looked unsure.
"Maybe you should choose someone else, Dumbledore. Molly and Arthur perhaps."
"No, Remus. Sirius has chosen you. Unless you refuse and then I suppose I'll have to choose someone else."
"When you've quite finished passing me around like I'm some sort of object!" Harry interrupted loudly, surprising even himself. "Although I am quite old enough to take care of myself," Molly began to disagree, "I can't think of two guardians I would want more," he finished with a grin; the first grin they had seen from him in a long time.
"Great. It's settled then." Dumbledore said firmly, ending the discussion.
Night fell upon the castle and the group said their farewells. Charlie had plucked up the courage to talk to Tonks, much to the amusement of his older brother. He saw her brace herself as he approached.
"Hi," he said brightly. She smiled at him.
"Hello, Charlie."
"We're off now so I thought I'd say goodbye. Haven't really had chance to talk to you today." There was a definite note of disappointment to his voice. "I guess I'll see you at the Order meetings though. And maybe you'd like to go out for a drink sometime." His face went as red as his hair. She gave him a smile and nodded.
"I'd like that very much," she told him.
"Great, well I guess I'll see you around." He hesitated then gave her a kiss on the cheek before running to catch up with Bill who was grinning madly, and gave him a jovial thump on the arm as he approached. She watched the brothers leave out of the large wooden doors, and then turned to see Harry talking to Lupin.
"Well, bye then Harry." Lupin was saying. "Take care of yourself. And stay out of trouble!" Harry nodded to him. Hug him, hug him! Tonks thought. Remus offered his hand. Aww, never mind, sheresigned glumly before approaching them. She managed to put her arms around Harry's neck from behind him, and rested her head on his shoulder. It was difficult, as he was so tall now. Remus smiled to her and turned to walk off.
"Hey! Don't I get a goodbye?" she asked indignantly, letting go of Harry and putting her hands on both hips.
"I'm sorry. Goodbye, Nymphadora." She stuck her tongue out at him and moved forward to hug him. He held her back, tighter than she had expected, then whispered something into her ear that Harry missed. She nodded to him and took his hand.
"Miss you already," she teased and he gave a small laugh. He let go of her hand and left the Entrance Hall without looking back at them. Before Harry could ask Tonks what Remus had said, Mrs Weasley came over to him and squeezed him too-tightly. Eventually Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were left alone in the Entrance Hall. Ron turned to them.
"We have the whole castle to ourselves. What do you want to do?" The others exchanged glances. Hermione spoke up.
"Well I don't know about you lot, but I just want to go to bed." Harry had to agree. As he climbed into his bed half an hour later, he lay there thinking of the day's events. Many feelings towards Sirius would have been put to rest. However he knew that he, like his newly appointed guardians, was going to need a lot more time to heal.
A/N: Next chapter is Tonks' first lesson. Should be interesting. I hope she's planned it well :)
