Chapter 2 "Dora" was originally Ch. 1, please re-read if you want to :)

This story is going to be compatible with "Something To Talk About" which I will continue writing as well after a long long time.

Changes from Canon:

1. Tonks is 2-3 years younger.

2. Tonks has an older sister.

3. Tonks was Charlie's girlfriend (technically could be Canon, but we don't know).

4. Tonks had a girlfriend after her relationship with Charlie ended.

5. Either Tonks or Remus survive the Battle of Hogwarts.

6. Remus isn't as reluctant as in the books to be with Tonks (frankly he was getting on my nerves), it's more the other way around.

7. Involves an older teen (17, of age in the Wizarding World) doing mature stuff with an adult of 20-22, will post warnings at each chapter.

Lastly, please tell me what you think about the story. :)


1978, around Christmas

Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmaster's Office

"I'm counting on you."

Albus Dumbledore's deep voice echoed through his office.

"Will it be safe? For our daughter?"

"I shall provide you with the best magical protection available, Mrs Tonks. I will be your secret keeper myself, and rest assured that I'd rather abstain from eating Sherbert Lemons for the rest of my life than to divulge your whereabouts to anyone, not even to Order members.

"Sherbert Lemons?", Ted cut in. "I don't understand."

"What I mean to say, is that your secret is absolutely, 150% safe with me. But we would have to take other precautions as well. I understand that your daughter Nymphadora is a Metamorphmagus?"

"She is!", Ted affirmed, his voice swelling with pride. "Started to morph her hair the day she was born, that little bugger. Dromeda and I were thrilled!"

"Yes, it's quite a rare gift." Dumbledore agreed. "Are you sure there are no magical relatives on your side of the family, Mr Tonks?"

"Uh- as far as I know, yes I'm sure."

"Quite unusual, quite unusual..." the Professor murmured. "Well, seeing as the child is still a toddler, I suggest we use some spells to keep her magic somewhat in control, and of course, we would have to plant some memories into her brain..."

"No way!" Andromeda's voice was shrill. "There's no way I'm letting you experiment on my infant daughter!"

Ted cast a quick side glance at his wife.

"Look, we really want to help, but maybe we're the wrong people for this job.", he told Albus Dumbledore with a shrug. "After all, neither of us was sorted into Gryffindor..."

"There are not many people I could ask.", Dumbledore replied quietly. "For obvious reasons, all the so called pure-blood families or pure-blood supremacists are out of the question. And Order members too, as that's the first place where they would look. You two are in fact perfect for this task. Nobody would suspect that a former Slytherin-" he looked at Andromeda, and she winced. "That a former Slytherin and a muggle-born wizard with a small child would risk their lives over something like this. Think of all the good it would do. Please."

"'Meda?" Ted addressed his wife cautiously. "I think we should do it."

Andromeda Tonks closed her eyes, and her face went very pale. When she opened her eyes again, they seemed to have darkened, looking almost black.

"Fine, we will do it...", she said slowly. "But only if you swear to us on your mother's grave that nothing bad is going to happen to Dora. She is all we have."

"I'll swear on both my mother's and my sister's grave if I must, Dumbledore answered earnestly. "You will be safe."

Ted Tonks looked somewhat relieved, yet Andromeda Tonks was still not convinced, that much Dumbledore could tell from the sourly look she was giving him.

Suddenly, Fawkes cried and exploded into ashes, startling them both. Ted watched in awe as a small egg appeared on the spot and a baby Phoenix hatched out of it, but Andromeda looked terrified. If only people had more than one life, just like this Phoenix, she thought. If only...