Guys thank you so so much for the reviews. I'm really glad you liked the first chapter - hopefully you'll like this one too!
Chapter 2 – 'He truly became a Black – In the most atrocious way'
The windy, wet, dreary afternoon meant that most people in Hogsmeade were rushing around, trying to get out of the unseasonably hostile weather. The annoyance on their faces and their hunched shoulders as they tried to brace themselves against the fierce Scottish winds was in stark contrast to the young woman currently dragging her trunk along the high street. Her vivid pink hair and Cheshire cat grin worn seemingly in defiance to the highland weather.
Tonks was on her way to her first lone assignment. She was to co-ordinate the protection of Hogwarts Castle, its students and teachers throughout the school year. The last few months had been so completely shite, she'd been tainted by a name her mother once had, but people seemed unable to accept that when Andromeda Black and become Andromeda Tonks, she had left the Black world behind for good. The most ancient and noble house of Black would rather kill her than have any further associations with her. Tonks was no more a Black than anyone on the street. The only Black she'd ever met was Sirius, and what she remember of those few meetings could easily be not real memories, but implanted ones she made as she heard her mother talk of him over the years. She knew that Sirius' betrayal had hurt her mum, though they never talked about it – because though Andromeda was a Tonks through and through, some of those staunch Black traits were hard to leave behind.
She was stoic, strong and rarely showed her emotions. In many ways she was the antithesis of Tonks and so Tonks could clearly remember the few times she'd seen her mother cry. The day Sirius was carted off to Azkaban Tonks had found her sitting on the floor of the study, surrounded by photo albums and old trinket boxes, crying unashamedly. Though only 9 at the time, she could still remember it all so clearly. Her mother spent the rest of the day with her, curled up under a blanket showing her pictures of her as a child, of Sirius. Though she couldn't understand her mother's sadness and anger at the time, she could now.
Sirius was supposed to be different. He was the only person in her entire family that Andromeda had felt she could rely on and he too had let her down.
As a child, when Tonks had complained about her full name, Nymphadora – her mother had always chastised her. "Nymphadora," she would say calmly and lovingly, "your name does not define you and it certainly should never constrain or limit you."
She'd tried to be proof of that, living as a Black and yet not allowing that family name to shape and mould her – she'd been so proud that Sirius had fought against those same constraints.
Until in 1981, when he had truly become a Black – in the most atrocious way. Tonks remembered so clearly over the weeks that came, Andromeda crying regularly, once in the arms of her husband as she asked him if she was destined to succumb to the weight and strain of the Black name like Sirius had.
Tonks felt that if anything, she would have been one of the best people to put on the search for Sirius Black because it was personal. He'd hurt her mother like no one else ever had, he'd betrayed them all.
At least now, though she still couldn't search for Black herself, she could be helpful in some way.
She'd make sure that Sirius Black didn't enter Hogwarts.
Her determination to get started meant that even the combination of the wind and her heavy trunk hadn't been able to slow her down.
As she reached the School entrance, the usual nostalgia began to fill her and all thoughts of Sirius were overridden by memories of school feasts, illegitimate late night wanderings around the castle, lessons with old McGonagall and snogging Charlie Weasley under a tree by the lake. Like for most witches and wizards, her 7 years at Hogwarts had been some of the best of her life and she was always glad to be back here.
Filch greeted her at the doors in his distinctive gruff, rude sort of way. He'd never like her – he'd never liked any student, but she prided herself that she would always be on his list of the worst students the school had ever seen, simply because he'd never been able to catch her doing anything wrong. Oh he'd known she was up to things she shouldn't have been, but her ability to morph into anyone she may choose, made it very difficult for Filch to ever prove it.
Tonks was sent in the direction of the headmaster's office whilst Filch carted off her trunk – no doubt to inspect before sending it to her room. As Tonks tread the familiar corridors and passed the old tapestries and suits of armours she began to feel her first pangs of nerves. She was about to address Albus Dumbledore, not as a student but as a Ministry employee, in the castle on official and very serious business. As she approached the office, Tonks neatened her hair, shortening it but keeping it pink and dusted her robe, making sure she looked professional. As she stepped onto the revolving staircase she took a few steadying breathes before knocking on the headmaster's door and stepping inside.
I realise that a Remus/Tonks centred fic must at some point include Remus and I promise he will making an appearance soon(ish!). I'd love it if you could leave me a review :) thanks!