Andromeda Tonks, née Black, stared at the picture of her cousin, Sirius Black. Andromeda's father, Cygnus Black, had once lodged a complaint with the Chocolate Frog makers when his own great-grandfather, Phineas Nigellus Black, was denied a card. She could vividly imagine the types of hexes he'd toss around if he still lived today and saw his nephew on a card.
Even with a five year difference in age, Andromeda and Sirius were close as children. Neither one fit in well at the large holiday family gatherings where the young witches and wizards were expected to take turns performing for the adults - reciting the Black family lineage, cursing the names of known blood-traitors, and practicing hexes. Andromeda exhibited better abilities in going through the motions than Sirius; she begged him to just do the same.
Yet, when he got sorted into Gryffindor, even she was shocked. For the two years their schooling overlapped, she once again went through the motions, pretending to be a good Slytherin, denouncing her cousin.
In secret she would pull him aside to check on him. She warned Sirius about plots against him when she could. She always made sure to hug him before he escaped back away with his little pack of friends. Pack. If only she had known then what she knew now, she thought wryly.
When the family disowned Andromeda for marrying Ted, she received entry into a club of sorts. Blacks who found themselves blasted off the family tree stuck together. Uncle Alphard helped her and Ted buy their house. Great Aunt Dorea was there for her during and immediately after her pregnancy with Dora. When Sirius was in turn disowned at age 16, Andromeda prepared to open up her home to him. Instead, he chose the Potters.
At his graduation from the Auror Academy, Andromeda remembered beaming with pride. She took Dora with her to the ceremony to see him receive his badge. Sirius had looked so handsome in his red robes; Dora had stared in awe.
Sirius lifted her up on his shoulders after the ceremony, and paraded her around, introducing her to everyone. Andromeda felt sure the impression made that day by little Dora's older cousin influenced her decision to eventually follow the same career path.
Andromeda wished with all of her heart she could say she never doubted Sirius' innocence; that she had fought for him when he was accused of betraying the Potters. Even now, she carried so much guilt, that reading the words "wrongfully incarcerated in Azkaban" on the card pained her.
Andromeda looked at the picture of Sirius with his motorcycle. The same motorcycle Sirius' godson and her grandson were currently outside working together to restore. She walked out to Harry's shed and taped the card up to the wall so Sirius could watch.