It was July before Cassiopeia received her OWL results with Ted setting the envelope in front of her with a certain levity at the breakfast table. Cassiopeia swallowed her cornflakes painfully, eyeing the letter cautiously, overtaken by a sudden dread and fear. What if she failed a subject? What if she misremembered something vital. She remembered leaving her examinations quite confidently, but what if it was the confidence of a fool who hadn't even realised they'd butchered the whole subject?

She was worried most for her examination in potions, something she needed an O in to advance to the NEWT course, and she also was a little concerned about her decision to drop many of her courses a few years earlier. She had no backup plan, not really, she needed to pass every course she was examined in to continue in the career that she wanted.

Well, that wasn't entirely true, she knew upon her 17th birthday she was going to be granted unrestricted access to the Lestrange vaults, and there was more than enough money in there to survive quite comfortably for the rest of her life. But she didn't want to be a rich, lazy heiress… she wanted to be a contributing member of wizarding society.

"No use in being afraid now," Ted said softly, smiling at the petrified girl, "you can't change the results in the envelope."

She felt sick.

"Want me to open it for you?" Nymphadora asked quietly, looking at her terrified cousin with pity. She remembered all too clearly her results coming the year previously. She had to have her mom open it.

"Would you?" Cassiopeia squeaked, staring at the envelope, her mouth suddenly very dry.

It was all very ridiculous she knew, being so afraid of something so innocent as a results letter. She had faced and witnessed a great many terrible and terrifying things in her life, and somehow this was the thing that froze her into inaction in terror? It was absurd.

But being absurd didn't make it less real.

She watched Nymphadora closely as the girl snatched the letter from the table and opened it. She held her breath and tried to read her facial expressions as her eyes flitted across the contents.

"Well?" she asked, irritation colouring her voice as she felt Dora was taking too long.

"You passed all of your exams obviously…" she said, smiling at her adopted sister.

That wasn't good enough. She figured she'd pass, but did she do well enough to advance?

Impatient she snatched the letter out of her hands, her eyes roving over the contents greedily.

Charms … O

Transfiguration….E

Defence Against the Dark Arts...O

Ancient Runes...O

Potions...O

Arithmancy...E

Astronomy...E

She melted into her chair, relief flooding her system. She had done it, she had bloody well done it. Even potions, she wasn't sure she would be able to pull off a high enough grade to advance in Snape's class.

The Tonks' were so pleased with her grades and her general progress on the behavioural front that they finally agreed to lighten her punishment and allow her to leave the house unsupervised again, on the condition she be explicit in where she was going and was always back by their set curfew. Cassiopeia accepted their terms greedily, desperate for any sense of independence. It had been hard staying cooped up in her room and she was keen to get out of the house.

It was another few days before she had heard back from the ministry about her independent study. She beamed having received her provisional acceptance of her topic and study programme. The ministry letter was followed by a personal letter from her head of house, a short missive stating he expected her to be practicing privately over the course of the summer on their lessons, and informing her of her provisional class schedule and list of supplies needed.

"What'd you do to receive personal tutor lessons from Snape?" Dora asked curiously, apparating into the chair beside her suddenly. Cassiopeia scowled, clenching her fist tightly around her letter and pulling it away from her adopted sisters prying eyes.

"Dora, I swear to Merlin if you keep doing that I will not be held responsible for punching you again." she growled, looking to the Tonks' for support.

"She has warned you Dora, just because you can use magic out of school now doesn't mean you should use it for every which way. There are literally 11 stairs between your room and the dining room." Andromeda remarked while placing a plate of food on the breakfast table.

"But muuuuuum…" Dora flopped back into her chair dramatically, throwing her hand over her forehead in mock dismay, her hair growing longer and curlier as the syllable was drawn out. "I am positively famished over here. Wasting away! I couldn't possibly make it down those stairs with so little energy. I need more fuel now that i'm working on my physical training." she pouted theatrically, giving her mother sad eyes.

Andromeda rolled her eyes, "Dear, apparition takes more energy to go a short distance than it does walking. If you're so hungry go fix yourself a plate."

"Why are you suddenly training? You don't need to lose weight or anything...have you decided to take up quidditch in your final year or something?" Cassiopeia asked, carefully tucking her letter away.

Dora shot her a sharp look, her eyes narrowing as she examined her. "Well you've gotta be more than just good with a wand to be an Auror, gotta be physically fit. I'm getting a head start."

Cassiopeia swallowed thickly, taking a long sip of tea trying to encourage her food to go down properly as she processed her words.

"An auror?" she asked finally.

"Yeah. Surely you of all people know what an auror is. You've probably even met a few I reckon. I'm applying to join the cadet programme after Hogwarts." she said unkindly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Oh." her mind flashed to auror cadet Grimsby and her botched spellwork.

"Dont worry cuz, I promise I won't rough you up too much if I am ever the one with the pleasure of arresting you." she smiled cheekily, reaching for another slice of toast, uncaring to the sounds of disapproval coming from both of her parents.

"Cheers for that Dora," Cassiopeia said lowly, taking another sip of her drink.

The older girl gave her a wide smile and nodded deeply, as if she were accepting a high praise.

"And anyways, are we going to ignore the fact that you never answered my question? What are you doing with Snape in your free periods. Oh gross, that came out weird didn't it?" her hair was shifting rapidly now, going between multiple colours and textures, as she frowned into her food, suddenly disturbed by the direction her mind took.

"Nymphadora Tonks, that is quite enough." Ted admonished his daughter sharply.

The girl shrugged away his warning, pressing on, "So spill. Has it got to do with that independent study stuff you're doing with Flitwick?"

"Er…"

"What is your topic anyways? Is it one big one or a few small ones. Charlie Weasley, you remember Charlie, you almost beat him up two years ago? He did an independent study with Professor Kettleburn and I hear he's got a job now out on the continent now…" she rambled on, causing Cassiopeia to flush in irritation.

"Yes of course I remember Charlie," she murmured, her fingers tensing on her cutlery.

"And I knew this other kid who took it and failed the whole bloody thing, and he had spent so much time on it that he hadn't properly studied for his other exams. I think he works on the high street somewhere. He couldn't find an internship poor guy." Dora continued prattling.

"Dora darling, perhaps Cassiopeia would enlighten you if you let her. Right Cass?" Andromeda interrupted her daughter

"Er...what was the question?"

"Your classes with Snape. And your research project." Nymphadora repeated

"Oh. right. Yeah one big research project, a bit complicated, but highly theoretical. As for the lessons with Snape...Well... They're just….uh, well he's just...helping me with a few issues I had last year. Decided to formalise it I guess on our schedule."

Silence as the three other occupants looked at her questionably, waiting for her to continue.

"...So that was vague." Nymphadora finally said when it became clear she wasn't going to say more.

"Issues? What kind of issues? Should we be concerned?" Ted asked cautiously, looking at his niece carefully.

Cassiopeia flushed, fiddling with her silver bracelet and trying to come up with a way to allay their fears without revealing too much. "Yeah, I mean no, you don't need to be concerned. I was having some uh problems sleeping and concentrating because of some stuff, you know with Glynn and uh...well a few other things, but it's all grand now. Professor Snape has been teaching me a few useful tricks to help with the unpleasantness."

"He's helping with your nightmares?" Andromeda asked softly.

"Yeah, I mean I haven't had one in months, so it's been helping." she cleared her throat and fidgeted in her chair, highly uncomfortable with the topic. "So Dora, what's your backup if you don't make it into the cadet programme?" she tried changing the subject.

Dora spent the rest of the morning explaining to Cassiopeia how she was suited for an auror and she had everything they needed and more, including first hand experience with dealing with the Dark Arts because of her. It was an altogether uncomfortable breakfast .

The next day another ministry owl delivered another envelope, its contents turned what little appetite she had into apprehension.

"You've gone a bit pale there Cassie? Everything alright?" Andromeda asked in concern, frowning at her niece.

"They've pulled my provisional acceptance for my independent study. It's now a rejection pending a formal review. I've got to be at the Ministry tomorrow to defend the research at a formal review panel."

"What? Let me see that." Ted frowned as he read through the letter, "what nonsense, the panel is taking place up on the second floor committee hearing rooms. I'll take you there of course, and accompany you as your guardian." he huffed, throwing the letter down angrily.

Another letter arrived a short time later, this time from Professor Flitwick, informing her that he was aware of her rejection, and he would see her the next day at her committee hearing. He was confident that there must have been a misunderstanding about some of the finer, nuanced points of her research project, and that with some proper clarification it should pass through.

His confidence did nothing to replace the apprehension that was building in her gut.

The review panel was being held in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, in what was either a large interrogation room or a small trial room, she wasn't quite sure. Professor Flitwick was there to greet her as promised, and the little man gave Cassiopeia such a bright and optimistic smile that it almost eased her fears about the whole ordeal she was about to undertake. Regardless of what happened, at least she had his cheerfulness at her side.

Ted was directed to take a seat in the back as the committee meeting convened. She was facing a high table of five individuals, one of which she recognised as being her charms examiner. The wizard, Mr. Spavin if she recalled smiled kindly at her and greeted Professor Flitwick warmly on his way up to the high table.

The man in the middle cleared his throat loudly and signalled for all to take their seats. Cassiopeia and Professor Flitwick were given nothing to sit on and were forced to stand in front of the table as if facing a tribunal.

In fact, she was very certain this was a form of a tribunal.

"We are gathered here today, the 25th of July 1990 to discuss the personal research project entitled "Mining magical data, an experimental approach to analysing spell diagrams." proposed as an independent NEWT research project in the field of theoretical Charms by a Miss Cassiopeia Meissa Tonks, incoming 6th year student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The project is being supervised by Professor Filius Flitwick, and is proposed as one large thesis project resulting in a large body of written work. You all should have copies of the proposal in front of you.

My name is Mr Marcus Crowdy, chairman of this committee and representative from the Department of Magical Education. If we could introduce ourselves…" He looked pointedly down the table at his colleagues.

"Oh! Uh… I am Mr Francis Thomas, clerk from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement." said a nervous looking middle aged man. Cassiopeia narrowed her eyes at him, trying to place him...he seemed awfully familiar.

"Professor Emeritus Phoebus Penrose, Head of the Ministry of Magic Research Committee." said an elderly wizard in tweed with large glasses that magnified his eyes.

"Ms Imelda Milliphutt, Wizarding Examination Authority." she was a thin woman with a narrow face and sandy hair.

"My what an interesting composition for this committee, hello there Mr Thomas, dont think ive ever seen a clerk on one of these before. I am Lionel Spavin, acting on behalf of the Experimental Charms Committee who could not spare any ministry based members for today. I am also head of the research department for Spell Calamities at St. Mungos. Full disclosure to this committee, I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet this young witch to examine her for her OWLs. She passed with an O naturally."

The chairman of the committee glared down at Mr Spavin, his dislike plain on his face for the enthusiastic man.

"Your potential conflict of interest is noted sir. A pity neither Blaine nor Wimple could attend. Now onto the order of business Miss Tonks, we have reviewed your documentation and initially it seemed like a valid course of research, it was appropriate on the surface. However when we looked deeper into the matter several concerns were raised about the details of your application.

Before we dig in, I would first like for you to, briefly, explain your proposal to us in a succinct manner. I have read it but I feel better hearing it directly from the candidate themself."

She swallowed thickly, looking to Professor Flitwick who gave her a bright smile and at Mr Spavin who winked at her. The rest of the committee looked bored and like they wanted to be anywhere but in that room.

She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry.

"Certainly. If I may ask sir, for quick clarification on my end. Would you like me to give an executive summary of the research project, or would you like me to summarise the overall project without going into the minutiae, or should I include details about the research method."

The chairman scowled at her, "I am uncertain how you could possibly misconstrue my simple request Miss Tonks, I can only guess that it is born out of insolence or willful ignorance. I have never heard of an executive summary in all my years here in the department."

Her face fell. She could feel the small man next to her straightening in indignation, opening his mouth to respond to the chairman. He was beaten by Mr. Spavin, who leaned forward to gaze down the table.

"An executive summary might be best for this audience Miss Tonks, as i'm afraid your details, interesting they may be, will be lost on most of this committee. Myself and Professor Emeritus Penrose are more than capable reading the finer points ourselves and question you accordingly." He smiled at her warmly, Professor Penrose was already buried into her proposal document, his quill scrawling notes in the margin, completely lost to the conversation around him. Mr Crowdy was turning slightly red, glaring angrily at the Charms representative.

"Right. Well, i'm not sure where to start, but I guess some background information for context is required to understand the topic.

Spell diagrams are a relatively new invention by witches and wizards in the last millennia, they are essentially written representations of visualising magic that is used predominantly in the creation of new or altered spells. Before then, we have no written records of how new magic was being created, though we have some tantalising passages in ancient texts. Interestingly, curse breakers and magic historians have been able to create spell diagrams of ancient spells that were created before the written documentation of spell creation. This suggests that its less to do with the actual creation of the spell and more to do with the human brain's way of understanding and codifying magic. Spell diagrams differ widely from culture to culture, language to language, and person to person. For example, even though Professor Flitwick here is my teacher, he and I would use very different methods to write a spell because we are different people with different influences and understandings of magic, and yet our diagrams would be more similar than say a spell creator trained at Uagadou. But for years, these diagrams were made through exhaustive trial and error study on mainly cursed or heavily warded objects, magic that outlives the caster.

As some of you well know, there was a breakthrough in the 1930s by the Experimental Charms Committee. They managed to invent a spell that creates a visualisation of the the cast spells individual diagram. It is a rather complicated bit of magic that creates even more chaotic and complicated spell diagrams, or a written representation of the magic cast.

The complexities of these diagrams has many factors. If the witch or wizard isn't the original creator of the spell, as is the case in the vast majority of the magic cast, the original creators diagram is present, but is overlain with the castors marks, be it the interpretation of the spell, the intent, the emotion, the power, even the type of wand have ways of effecting the diagram. And then we have to take into account regional and historical differences in diagramming spells, languages involved, whether the caster was using a wand, and literally every little change to the spell over time.

For even older spells, what we would consider basic magic, the spell diagrams are a multi-layer complicated mess that would take someone skilled decades to decode entirely. But it potentially provides a historical origin story of the item of magic.

My research project will be looking at a few objects that have wards cast on them, each object will be identical in every way outwardly, and each caster has willingly agreed to take part in the study by lending their magical skill. My supervisor, Professor Flitwick, will keep track of each of the objects and the details about the caster, and I will attempt to mine the spell diagram data to see if I can come up with any identifying features of the most recent caster, from simple things such as educational background, to the very specific, and highly speculated about but thus far elusive, magical signature.

This has obvious applications in the law enforcement field and in the spell reversal field."

Three of the five committee members eyes were glazed over, lost and perhaps a little bored with her brief explanation. Professor Penrose looked pensive, and Mr Spavin was leaning forward eagerly, his grin wide and his eyes sparkling.

"Brilliant topic if I must say so myself. Extremely ambitious, and yet you've managed to take a large topic and problem and narrow it down to one specific spell and a small group of diverse volunteers. Even if you do not achieve your goal in two years, something that is also very likely, you will still have ample material to write on and be examined on. I for one heartily accept this topic and look forward to reading your results, as I am sure Professor Penrose would agree."

"I remember this proposal clearly as just last week I issued my acceptance of it without the need for review. I was unaware the vote was the reject pending a formal hearing. Like my colleague, I too would be curious to read the results of this particular thesis." his voice was dry and papery, and all had to lean forward to hear exactly what he was saying.

"Yes, well there have been some concerns raised with the department on this matter that forced me to issue a rejection pending review. You have requested formal access to the ministry's collections of Revelatione Fenestras, or RF spectacles."

She nodded, "yes, the use of the RF spectacles is an essential part of my later research. As you know the RF spectacles are an extremely valuable resource that scholars and researchers have access to. They allow the user to see magic in its purest, raw form across objects. The secret to making them died out centuries ago and there are only a few left in the world."

"Indeed. As you have rightly pointed out, they are extremely rare and valuable and we don't just let anyone have access to such a priceless resource. Some concerns have been raised about your behavioural record in relation to this project."

She felt her stomach drop.

"Miss Tonks has been an exemplary student, and has not had even a single detention in the past year. I can testify to that fact and I can have the headmaster send over verification. Her conduct has been exemplary, especially in the face of added pressure from her O.W.L.s" Professor Flitwick interjected.

Her palms felt sweaty. Mr Crowdy was smirking. That couldn't be good.

"Yes, her fifth year was a clean one. Her only clean record. Tell me Miss Tonks is that the only name you've been known by?" His voice sounded smug.

"What does this have to do with her research topic?" Professor Flitwick continued, his face turning red.

"Candidates are judged on their academic ability and on their personal conduct. Especially when said student is requesting highly restricted and valuable artefacts. Answer the question if you would be so kind."

"I have been known by other names, though Tonks is my legal name." she bit out, unwilling to come out and say it.

"Well...What else then?" asked Ms. Milliphutt.

She closed her eyes, her heart dropping. It was all over, they were going to reject her. She knew it. "I went by the name Mildred Smith for a three years, when I lived in the muggle world as an orphan."

"Any other names you've had?" Mr Crowdy urged her to continue.

She made direct eye contact with him, her temper flaring briefly before she could gather it under control. "And before then I was Cassiopeia Lestrange. I changed my name for, as you can imagine, obvious reasons." She growled, clenching her fists briefly before letting out a huff of air.

Mr Crowdy was grinning like a shark now, Ms Milliphutt looked appalled, Professor Penrose and Mr Thomas were looking at her curiously, and Mr Spavin was frowning deeply now.

"And please, Miss Lestrange-"

"Tonks. I was adopted by my aunt and uncle, who is here with me. My muggleborn uncle I might add."

"Apologies, Miss Tonks, please can you tell this committee if you have ever had dealings with law enforcement, either magical or non."

She scowled, feeling the way the tide was turning. "I have never been arrested if that is what you're asking." she said, completely confident in her words.

Mr Thomas disputed that immediately. "On the contrary, if I may bring some information to the council, I have met Miss Tonks here before, when she was brought into the department under arrest back in 1981. If I recall correctly Auror Alastor Moody was her arresting officer."

Now she remembered who he was. He had been the clerk to that horrible man, Mr Crouch, the one who sent her to the orphanage. He was carrying her file, and filling in her information.

"I was never charged with a crime, and I would hardly call that being arrested. I have had no problems since with the magical wizarding authorities."

"And the muggle authorities." He looked like a shark now. She was starting to hate him.

"This is preposterous. I do not see how knowing the details of childhood events have any bearing on this girl's ability to conduct a research project. Surely we should be judging on the merit of the project and the students ability to undertake said project. The topic has been deemed appropriate by the two academic members of this panel, and her marks in her Charms O.W.L. as well as the testimony im sure Professor Flitwick, as her main instructor, should conclusively answer this problem. Any rejection at this point, and for the reasons Mr Crowdy is so clearly setting up is clearly prejudicial."

Mr Crowdy's face was turning a deep plum colour in his anger as he glared fiercely down at Mr Spavin. "This review has been called because there are concerns about the student's past and her request to use the RF spectacles. They are a priceless artefact and we can not allow just any witch or wizard in to use them, as they also can give an insight into the very fabric of the Ministry's or the school's ancient defense mechanisms. This is a clear security risk from an individual with a history of law enforcement contact and a direct relation to the most notorious and savage criminals in modern wizarding history." Mr Crowdy was panting angrily after his tirade.

She cleared her throat, "Er… I can just forgo using the RF spectacles if that is what you are concerned about. My project can be modified to not include them."

It was Mrs Milliphutt who interjected next, "Miss Tonks, if the use of the RF spectacles isn't necessary then why include them in your research proposals."

"Because they provide more raw data." Professor Penrose answered the question for her, his magnified eyes gazing at her thoughtfully. The room grew quiet to listen to the elderly professor speak in his quiet dusty voice.

"I for one have much more important things to be doing and this panel is a clear waste of my time and energy. Her school record, perhaps not ideal, has been spotless for the previous year, which demonstrates a willingness to take her studies seriously and her marks clearly indicate a capable mind. She had offered a solution to your objections, and though it would be a shame to see the loss of such an interesting dimension of this project, I do not see why we can not just approve this and continue with our day." He conjured up a cup of water to take a long sip from and leant back in his chair, obviously tired from the effort.

"Nonsense, there is no reason why this research should have to suffer because of the prejudice of one man. I see no real argument why she shouldn't have access to the RF spectacles." Mr Spavin interjected, his voice was sharp and his eyes sharper as he took in the panel.

And thus the argument continued, Professor Flitwick jumping into the thick of it, supporting Mr Spavin while Cassiopeia stood helpless.

The security concerns were plainly ridiculous, even if she could understand the wards on the school, she couldn't think of any useful avenue for that type of knowledge. There wasn't a force alive today that would attempt to break into the castle, and even if they wanted to and understood the wards, attacking them was a whole other matter.

Professor Penrose had been correct in his assertion that she was after the artefact to gather more data, and Mr Crowdy was correct that Cassiopeia had ulterior motives beyond her research. Mainly she was dying to see what her mother's cursed bracelet looked like when viewed through the RF spectacles. She was certain her mother had invented this curse herself, meaning the spell diagram would be clear of other casters influences and should give her a place to start untangling the curse. But if the fate of her independent study relied on her not using the spectacles she would continue without them. There were other ways to view the curse diagram.

In the end, despite Mr Spavin and Professor Flitwick's best efforts she was forced to modify her project to gain approval from the majority of the committee. Mr Crowdy and Clerk Thomas were holdouts, voting against her in the final tally, however she was won over Ms Milliphutt, which was all she needed.

"Know this Miss Lestrange-"

"Tonks," she interjected lightly,

"I will be watching every step of this research and will be following your future career closely. I will not let someone with your pedigree unsupervised into the world." Mr Crowdy sneered, his face still an angry plum colour.

Cassiopeia shrugged, "If you like I could send you copies of every draft from my research. I cant promise it'll be riveting, but I could always use the proofreading." she said casually, giving him a small, sharp smile.

"Oh, i'll take you up on that offer." Mr Spavin exclaimed enthusiastically, eliciting a more genuine smile from Cassiopeia.

"Of course sir, any advice, within the remits of what is allowed of course, would also be appreciated." She responded. He winked at her, before gathering up his paperwork and making a move to stand.

"Well all, this has been a delightful waste of my day. If there is nothing else, can we all get a move on?" he said, peering down the table at his colleagues, taking their nods and grunts as agreements. "Till next time Miss Tonks, always a pleasure Filius." and with that the committee hearing was over.

She conversed briefly with Professor Flitwick, politely turning down his offer to grab a cuppa in the lobby, and thanking him profusely for his help and support. He waved her off, reminding her she had his full support and the hearing was nothing more than one man's way of abusing his power to get petty revenge against her for the wrongs of others. He also warned that it would probably not be the last time something like this would happen, and if it ever did she could always count on his full support.

Cassiopeia went home feeling both deeply touched by the Professor's words ane profoundly exhausted. She put on her headphones, clicked in a new tape into her player, and lost herself in the music, at least for a little while.

A/N sorry again for the long update, I was travelling abroad for a bit, came home and had to evacuate almost immediately due to wildfires. Just made it back to my house which is luckily still standing. Enjoy this chapter, and sorry its a little short. I think we'll be breezing through the sixth year a bit, and heading quickly into the seventh.