My name is not JK Rowling; I don't own Harry Potter, although I enjoy playing around in her sandbox. However, any grammar issues are from Grammarly and my own. Oh, and T is for language; some people tend to be more colorful than others.
Nymphadora Tonks, just call me 'Tonks,' opened her eyes and groaned as memories of the night fiasco cleared her addled morning brain.
"Falling asleep on watch," she grumbled before heading to the bathroom. "I'm so fucked."
Not that the Unspeakable caught her sleeping, more like dozing and only for a second. Not that she thought that explanation would pass muster, but it could have been worse.
Thank Merlin, it wasn't a Death Eater who interrupted her nap time. Hopefully, Dumbledore had permission for the 'Order' to be guarding whatever it was, or she would be getting an earful from Director Bones.
Making her way down the stairs, she had a sudden scary thought. "Oh shit, Moody's going to kill me!"
"Language Nymphadora," a voice called out from the dining room.
Sitting at the table was Iris Potter, the 'Girl Who Lived' who had been missing for the better part of a week.
"Don't call me that, and where in the hell have you been?"
"What do you mean? I have been staying at the Leaky Cauldron. More importantly, why can't I call you Nymphadora? That's your name, isn't it?"
"Please don't call me that, OK? It's just Tonks. And you couldn't have been there. We looked."
"Well, I have a room, Just Tonks," she said, "Well, that was until your mother kidnapped me this morning."
"Hardly a kidnapping, dear, just breakfast." Andromeda 'Dromeda' Tonks, née Black, said happily, coming in from the kitchen with a food platter. "And as for staying at the Leaky Cauldron, as I told Ted yesterday, you don't need to waste your money. We have a perfectly good guestroom not being used."
"She almost didn't let me change," Iris grumbled.
"Why I found the pink heart pajamas and bunny slippers adorable."
Nymphadora agreed it sounded cute, although it was a combination she wouldn't be caught dead in, though.
"And the sun wasn't even up yet." 'The Girl Who Lived' pouted.
Tonks mum just smiled.
"So, how did you know I was missing?" Iris asked, making a plate for herself. "Was there a nationwide manhunt I missed in the Prophet?"
"Well, no, I was just told you went missing from your Aunt's home." Nymphadora tried to ignore her mother's stare. "Anyway, people are worried about you."
"Oh really?" Iris replied with a bit of snark, then cringed as three lavender-colored potions appeared in front of her.
"Three, Andy?"
Andromeda nodded, then added more food to the 'Girl Who Lived' plate. "I am unhappy with your weight, dear."
"What are those?" Tonks asked as she watched Iris down one of the potions with a grimace.
"Nutrition potions."
Tonks looked at her mother in confusion. "Why?"
Andromeda looked unhappy, but her husband entered the room before she could say anything.
"Oh, pancakes," Ted Tonks exclaimed happily, kissing his wife, then daughter, before taking a seat.
"This is all your fault," Iris grumbled before downing the last potion. "I was perfectly happy staying at Leaky Cauldron."
"Perhaps, but you will be more comfortable here," Andromeda smiled, then motioned for her to take more food.
"Plus, pancakes," Ted said cheerfully.
Tonks looked at the three at the table, confused. "Wait, how do you all know one another?"
"Your father is my solicitor."
"Why do you need one?"
"Why not? Everyone needs one now and then," Iris replied.
"True," Ted said.
Iris groaned as Andromeda placed another potion in front of her and then asked her daughter, "So, Nymphadora, why did you sleep here tonight? We only see you if you run out of food or something bothering you. Boy trouble again?"
"I wish you couldn't call me that," she said, still a bit confused about why Iris Potter was sitting at her kitchen table, but she knew her mum wouldn't wait for an answer. "No, well, work troubles, I guess,"
"I thought you had the day off?" Ted asked
"Does your working last night have anything to do with why you know Iris went missing?"
"Sort of. "Tonks ignored the look her mother was giving her.
"They work you too hard. You have been on late night shifts all month, then they make you work on your day off. I am half a mind to say something to Director Bones about it."
"I wish you wouldn't, dad."
"Every new Auror has to suffer through those shifts, Ted," Iris commented.
"How do you know that?" Nymphadora asked.
"For a time, I wanted to be an Auror, so I asked what it was like," she replied.
"You can always be a healer, dear," Andromeda said with a small smile.
Iris tilted her head in thought. What did she want to do after getting rid of Tom? If things went as planned, she would most likely work for Saul again on the sly. So, being a healer might be a change of pace.
"Huh, that might be fun. I'll have to ask you later what I need to do."
"Not that I'm unhappy about breakfast, mum, but aren't the two of you supposed to be a work?" Nymphadora asked while adding more food to her plate.
"I took the morning off as I am helping your father with a client who should be arriving shortly," Andy replied, then looked towards Iris.
Who looked up at the clock over the mantelpiece and said, "That's the plan, but we still have plenty of time."
Sirius Black groaned as though he heard the blasted family house-elf call out to him. He knocked a couple of empty fire whiskey bottles on the floor while cringing at the noise.
Finding Kreacher standing at the foot of the bed, he growled, "What the hell do you want? Did they find Iris?"
"Mistress said you need to get up."
"Why would my mother care if I have a bit of a lie-in?"
Kreacher snapped his finger with a sneer, and a small envelope landed on the bed, "Mistress said you would know the password."
Sirius, of course, didn't trust the elf, then looked down at the letter without touching it. However, he knew that handwriting. "Oh, thank Merlin."
Opening the letter, he looked at the Black family's house-elf in confusion." It's blank."
The house-elf just continued to stare at him with disdain.
"Oh right." Then, Sirius laughed, saying, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."
Kreacher cackled at the look on the horrible master's face as he vanished.
Sitting comfortably on the Tonk's couch, Iris cringed when her godfather hit the floor with what sounded like a splat.
"God, that must have hurt," Ted murmured.
"What the fuck!" Sirius screamed as he tried unsuccessfully to stand up while reaching for a non-existent wand.
"Sirius, language."
"Andy," he said in surprise, then leaped to his feet, finding his goddaughter sitting comfortably in front of him.
"Hiya, Padfoot," she said with a grin, then held up her hand. "Really, Sirius, a hug. You need a bath, and you smell like a tavern."
"And you need to put on some clothes," Tonks agreed.
"Where have you been?" He asked, then turned to his cousin accusingly. "Did you know she was here, Nimmy?"
"Don't call me that, and no, I was just as surprised as you are."
Iris turned away from her half-dressed godfather, mumbling, "Really, Kreacher, you could have allowed him to put some clothes on."
"Come on, old boy. Let's get you sorted while the girls clean up the mess you made of the room." Ted chuckled, then motioned to the stairs.
Sirius looked around confused, then nodded, "Ahh, I am sure you know I am innocent."
Andy smiled, "Hardly, but we already knew you had nothing to do with Jimmy and Lil's deaths. Now go, take a shower."
Almost an hour later, Sirius sat at the kitchen table, shock written all over his face as he looked over the lack of documentation on his trial.
"So, my goddaughter got me a Solicitor."
"According to the Ministry records, you never spoke to one, much less even appear in Court."
"Good old Barty just tossed me into Azkaban. I thought at first, they were just holding me until the trial, but after a while," Sirius said, then murmured, "I gave up hope."
"Sirius," Ted began. "You were never charged with anything. There is simply no paperwork."
"How is that possible, dad?" Tonks asked. "All I do day in and day out is fill out paperwork."
"All I have is the daily's, which mentions the arrest, then nothing."
"You don't look surprised, Iris," Tonks said.
"I have recent personal experience with how inept our Ministry can be. Besides, many families were not happy with the Black family's involvement in the war, considering some of its members' actions, so they thought nothing of Sirius going to jail along with Bellatrix. Or better, his wrongful imprisonment was a boon, especially if he died."
"Like Malfoy," Sirius grumbled, knowing that Lucious had been using the Black family's votes at the Wizardmont.
"And others who knew you were innocent were quick to take advantage of it."
"Like Dumbledore."
"Mom, I know you don't like the man, but what the heck. How can you say that?"
"Dora," Ted began to explain. "There are a lot of issues and quite a few inconsistencies with Iris's placement with her current guardians. And at the time of the Potter's death, she did have other families with which she could have been placed. Even if some of them were distant cousins."
"We would have been happy to take her in," Andromeda said with a sad smile.
"Sirius, did the Headmaster know you weren't the Secret Keeper?" Tonks asked, sounding upset.
"I don't know."
"But he could have gotten you a Solicitor," Iris interjected angrily. "Snape had his day in court. Bellatrix was given a trial. Why not you?"
Sirius didn't want to say he didn't know again. He really didn't.
"If you were free, I would have lived with you, right? That would have been unacceptable. Because I can tell you I was placed with the Dursleys because of two things," Iris tapped the table with her finger. "Blood wards, for the Headmaster to control my return's narrative and to keep me in the dark on many things."
"I'm sure he was thinking of your safety," Tonks tried to say.
"Dumbledore left me on a bloody doorstep like a milk bottle in late autumn," Iris began to get heated. The girl's life, whose life she stepped into, was horrid so much that she welcomed oblivion.
Before she could get angrier, a warm pair of arms surrounded her. Iris took a deep breath and leaned back into Andromeda's arms.
"Sorry, this isn't about me. It's about Sirius not getting the trial he deserves." She looked up and smiled. "Thank you, Andy."
The Black sister smiled before wandering off and returning with a wooden box. "I have included instructions on which order of the potions you need to take."
Sirius looked down at the potions box in confusion. "I had Poppy look me over. She gave me a few already."
"Madam Pomfrey is an excellent healer, but she has little experience with long-term Dementor exposure. Besides, you are underweight and have some nerve damage, among other issues you and I will discuss later. As you are also technically Iris' guardian, I will also state I am not happy with how she treated your goddaughter."
Andy waved her hand. "Nothing nefarious; however, Poppy's lack of experience in some things is telling. Iris should have been admitted at least twice to Saint Mungo's. After her encounter with the Basilisk in her second year and at the end of last year. Thankfully, she has all her inoculations."
"Basilisk," both Sirius and Tonks said in horror.
Iris nodded. "Another scar added to the collection."
"Wait, you got bit?"
"I did, ruddy big snake too. But thankfully, Fawkes was around to cry on it," Iris said before showing the scar to the horrified Junior Auror. "Hurt like a bitch. Cruciatus Curse is worse, though."
"Cruciatus Curse," Tonks almost whimpered.
"Old Snake face wasn't happy that I didn't simply roll over and die." Iris shrugged.
"Exactly, Sirius, your goddaughter has been exposed to the Cruciatus Curse, which for an adult, a potion regiment is fine. However, for a young person or child who is still growing, it can have long-term effects if not treated properly."
"Yes, well, story of my life," Iris said. "Cousin Ted will explain everything, Sirius, but I have already given testimony on your behalf, so he will take it from there. Also, I have his firm on retainer, so don't worry about the cost."
"Iris, you don't have to pay. I have plenty of money."
"Who said I was paying; well, I am, but it's coming out of the Black family's vault."
"How?" Sirius looked confused.
Andromeda turned towards her daughter and said, "Nymphadora, I will ignore for now that you were aware of Sirius's innocence, and by your lack of reaction, you know where he has been staying."
Tonks looked down at her lap unhappily and nodded.
"I see. Will you keep this discussion from certain parties, or do we need to ask you to leave?"
"Sweetheart."
"No, Ted, I may have been disowned by my parents, but I will not have someone go and tell our secrets to someone, not family. Even if it's our daughter."
"Well, obviously, she can keep secrets from her boss," Ted commented dryly.
"Yes, and those secrets may cost her job, but that's not who we are talking about, is it? I don't want to do it, but I will obliviate you, Nymphadora, if I can't get you to promise to keep what is said here a secret."
"Mum!"
"Andy, that's not necessary, I trust…."
"Well, I don't, Sirius," she replied angrily. "If you had taken your responsibilities as a godfather seriously that night, we would be having this discussion."
Sirius remained silent, knowing better than to make any joke about his name when his cousin was on a roll.
Andy reached over and cupped her daughter's chin. "What's your answer, sweetie?"
"You're not going to be breaking any laws?"
Iris snorted.
Ted answered with a smile, "No, Dora."
"I'm glad you're concerned about breaking laws when you yourself haven't arrested dear cousin Sirius."
"But he's innocent, mum," Tonks replied. "Alright, I'll keep this conversation to myself."
With that out of the way, Sirius turned towards his goddaughter and said, "Explain."
Iris raised her hand, and the Black Family ring appeared on her finger.
"Shit."
"Language, Nymphadora."
Sirius rolled his eyes, "That's impossible. I am guessing you discovered that I made you my heir, but you shouldn't have been able to claim Head of House."
"Did you make such a claim, Sirius?" Andy asked.
"Well, no," Sirius turned away from his cousin, embarrassed.
Iris nodded, obviously not planning on explaining in detail. "The goblins agree with you. It should have been impossible, but here we are."
"So, Black family magic made you the Head of House?" Tonks asked, confused.
"Not surprised, "Andromeda replied.
"I see, so the goblins told you," her godfather said. "And Kreacher calls you Mistress."
"He does," she replied, raising her wand.
"That's not your holly wand."
"Correct, I found this in the family vault, which also validated my claim. Works better than my old one, which quit working properly a week ago after my little altercation with Dementors."
Andy and Ted looked unhappy, already knowing the story, but Tonks and Sirius looked horrified.
"What, Dumbledore didn't explain I left the Dursleys because someone tried to kill me?" Iris asked with a chuckle.
"I'm going to kill that bastard. Mundungus was supposed to be watching you. He said you just left and never came back."
"So, you and your little friends were stalking me, Padfoot?"
"No! They were supposed to be protecting you," Sirius interjected.
"Right, they did a wonderful job. I did a better job protecting myself. No one knew where I was until I met with Ted a few days ago. Not that anyone cared, as far as I was concerned, as I was left in the dark like a good little mushroom all summer."
Ted snorted, one of the only ones who got the reference.
"But I care," Sirius objected.
"I know you do, but I figured that I would be safer someplace else with someone trying to assassinate me before school even started."
"Assassination," Tonks sputtered. "But the Dementors are controlled by the ministry."
"You don't say," Iris replied dryly. "You have been keeping tabs on what the prophet's been saying about me, correct?"
Sirius suddenly shifted, looking his goddaughter over, "Are you OK?"
"I had Andy check me over, but as you are well aware, Dementors and I are old friends. Although this time, it ended poorly for them."
"I, err, did overhear that three of the Dementors had gone missing," Tonks said. "What happened?"
"Not sure. Dudley said that the two of us were suddenly bathed in white light, and then we both fell to the ground. Pretty sure I did something. Anyway, my scar is gone, and I don't have to wear glasses anymore, so that's a win." Iris grinned.
"But you were attacked by Dementors," Tonks said.
"I'm fine, anyway; evil shades, giant spiders, basilisks, dragons, what does a few Dementors matter. Just another day in the life of Iris Potter, well now Black, I guess."
She then smiled when Andy reached over to hold her hand.
"Enough about me. Ted, how do we get my godfather free?"
