It didn't take long for the rumour to break out about Hydrus and like always it had become almost like a game of Chinese whispers- changing every time it reached a new person. By the time for dinner not one student did not know the rumour and were buzzing as they filled the great hall. Seeing Dumbledore with an expressionless face at the podium caused the students to fall into silence as they sat at their respected tables with the rest of their houses as the whole school seated themselves. The whole school was seated but not one student dared to talk, mostly because of the sombre look on the Headmaster's face as he scanned the students in the hall, all of which were holding their breaths until he broke into a large smile, reassuring all of them.
"Good evening!" He welcomed. "Before we start the feast this evening I would like to bring up a matter of which you all need to know about. As you all know Professor Snape wasn't in yesterday because he came up some personal matters of which I have heard rumours spreading about this morning. I would like to end those of now. Professor Snape has allowed me to tell you that he has a new arrival in his new found family and I would like to introduce little Hydrus Snape." Whispers broke out across the room as Snape entered through the side door holding Hydrus. "He will be staying here at Hogwarts with his father and I trust that you all will be welcoming and kind to him."
No one in the hall dared to speak as they saw Hydrus hop out of Snape's lap irritably and look at the mass of students in the hall in front of him while sucking on his thumb worriedly, he continued scanning the hall until his emerald eyes fell on the Hufflepuff table and focused on the long florescent pink hair near the back of the hall. His wide eyes filled with joy as he eventually broke the silence.
"NINFADOOORAA!" He screamed happily running as fast as he could towards the girl as she picked him up and hugged him causing nearly the whole hall to smile.
"Take example of Nymphadora Tonks, well done- ten points to Hufflepuff" Dumbledore announced with a proud smile. "Now let the feast begin!"
Hydrus watched in awe as food appeared on the table as Dumbledore waved his arm and he shifted on Tonks' lap looking at the food which now laid in the center of the table. Tonks smiled noticing the small boys fascination of the magic- wait, she had an idea.
"How do you think that happened Hydrus?" She whispered in his ear.
"Magic" He whispered with out even realising.
"Good boy" She smiled.
Hydrus looked up at her, his eyes near tears in shock about what he just said but she just shook her head and placed a feather soft kiss on his forehead to calm him down and it worked making the boy smile again happily. She slightly turned her head and was met by the gaze of Professor Snape, who surprisingly looked at her in almost a proud way. She sent him a curt nod which he responded to and then turned back to Hydrus on her lap who was eating apple segments from his small plate which had appeared along with the rest of the food. Tonks smiled at him before taking a bite out of her chicken drumstick not noticing her hair turn orange until hearing a gasp from Hydrus who was looking at her with fascination.
"Ninfadoooraa! You hair change cowor!" He gasped with a mouthful of apple.
"And my eyes" She smiled closing her eyes and willing for them to turn pink as she opened them again and causing Hydrus to gasp.
"Wow" Hydrus gasped before his face screwed up with concentration. "Is mine?"
Tonks could feel a giggle rising up her throat but couldn't stop it in time as she started giggling with laugher, Hydrus didn't take no notice though- his face was still screwed up in concentration trying to cause his hair to change colour also. She could sense her hair and eye colour change from the amount of emotions she was letting off and didn't take no notice until a familiar Gryffindor flopped down onto the bench next to her with a smile on his face.
"Tonks, dude, what's got you so emotional?" the boy asked with a cocky grin.
"Shut up Charlie" She laughed smacking his arm lightly.
Charlie Weasley, fourth year, sat next to Tonks grinning happily at his friend giggling to herself. Shaking his head he finally noticed the tuff of black hair resting against Tonks' chest and eventually recognised the child as Hydrus Snape, he saw the look of pure concentration on the five year old's face and started chuckling to himself silently. Tonks started grinning and wiping the tears, caused by her giggle fit, out her eyes before noticing Hydrus on her lap, his hair was slowly changing to an emerald green at the roots.
"Bloody hell" She heard Charlie whisper beside her.
"Is it working?" Hydrus asked opening his eyes which were now a brilliant blue.
"Merlin's beard" Tonks whispered with a smile. "You're a metamorphosis!"
"Huh?" The small boy asked in an confused manor.
"It means your like me! You can change your appearance!" Tonks smiled.
"Weally?" Hydrus smiled giggling happily.
None of the three noticed a figure making its way up to the Hufflepuff table until a shadow loomed over them. The two students almost started cowering until Hydrus' face lit up and his hands were reaching over Tonks' shoulders greedily.
"Daddy!" Hydrus squealed as Snape picked him up and held him on his hip.
"Yes I'm here Hydrus" Snape said giving him a smile. "Good evening Weasley, Tonks"
"Good evening Professor" The two chorused.
"Was what I was seeing over here real or just a prank?" He asked them seriously.
"Daddy! Daddy!" Hydrus giggled. "I'm a…a….met…meta…moor…fa…I'm like Ninfadoooraa!"
"Really now?" Severus pondered turning his gaze to an almost sheepish Tonks.
"Yes sir" She nodded enthusiastically.
"Come with me Tonks" Severus told her about to walk away before noticing Charlie looking frightful. "Don't screw up in potions tomorrow Weasley"
"Yes sir" the boy sighed before returning back to his own table.
Tonks stood from the table and started to follow the Professor, the both came to a halt when Hydrus started squirming and reaching for Tonks until Snape eventually handed him to her causing the hall to fall into silence. Tonks turned her head slightly towards the Gryffindor table and locked eyes with Charlie who was shooting her a questioning glance, she only shrugged and stuck her tongue out before following the Potions Master down the hall. He guided her into a small room off the side of his private quarters and ushered her in.
"Uh…sir? Why have you brought me here?" Tonks asked loudly as Snape disappeared towards the bookshelf.
"To show you something Tonks" Snape replied just as easily coming back with a large book, slamming it down unto the table in the far corner and beckoning her over.
"And what would that b-"
"If you are able to be quiet for more than a second Tonks that I will tell you" Snape snapped stunning the girl into silence. "Yourself and Hydrus are related"
"What?" The girl gasped looking at the book, opened at the family tree of themselves. "How? Where?"
"You are half siblings" Snape stated pointed to the tree. "You're mother was not able to bear children and desperately wanted a child, so Lily being the generous and giving person she was bore the child for your mother- that child was you."
"Lily is my mother?" Tonks gasped looking down at the proof on the parchment.
"Your biological mother, yes, she got very attached to you while she was carrying you- the original person to name you Nymphadora I might add, she was nearly heartbroken having to give you away but she knew she had to" Snape explained.
"I confoosed" Hydrus mumbled.
"I'm your sister Hydro" Tonks giggled. "I'm your sister"
"Weally?" Hydrus gasped happily tuning to his daddy who nodded. "Yay! I have a sistwer!"
"Yes son, you do but she isn't my daughter" Snape told him. "So she isn't going to call me Daddy"
"Okay Daddy" Hydrus beamed before his face broke out into a yawn.
"Time for bed I think" Snape stated taking the boy in his arms.
"But Daddy…I'm not sl…eepy" Hydrus yawned before slowly falling asleep with his head on Snape's shoulder.
Snape nodded his head curtly to the bright haired third year before disappearing with a swish of his robes into his private quarters with Hydrus. Taking a deep breath Tonks stepped outside the room and continued to walk up to one of the deserted unused towers where she was met by Charlie Weasley, Zakk Nagal and Desdemona Hummings. Taking in her surprised appearance of sky blue hair and golden eyes they all pounced asking as many questions as they could before she silenced them.
"SHUT IT!" She screamed stunning them all into silence. "Now one at a bloody time!"
"Where did you go with Snape?" Zakk- her fellow Hufflepuff- asked curiously.
"He took me to the family tree room to show me something" She answered.
"Show you what?" Desdemona, her only Slytherin Friend, asked.
"My family tree" Tonks replied.
"What about it, Ninfadoooraa" Charlie questioned, imitating how Hydrus said her name, causing her hair and eyes to burn red as she turned towards him.
"THAT MY MOTHER ISNT ACTUALLY MY MOTHER, CHARLES. THAT I WAS THE DAUGHTER OF LILY EVANS NOT ANDROMEA TONKS!" Tonks shouted angrily turning on her heel and storming out of the secluded spot and back to her common room.
The other three took that as their queue to leave and did so, Charlie's face was burning red with embarrassment while Desdemona was snickering nastily at him. Neither one noticed the concerned look on the remaining Hufflepuff's face as he took off towards his common room. Upon entering the room Zakk took notice of ho sombre the mood was, looking around he noticed that everyone's attention was that on the staircase to the boys dormitories. He shook his head and then made a start towards his dorm room where he noticed the bundle of quilts on his bed, with a tanned leg donned with a black Doc Martin and yellow and black striped sock hanging out.
"Hey Tonks" He whispered. "Its ok, its just me and you no one else is here"
"Zakk" She croaked looking up and into his eyes, showing her new appearance of sad grey eyes and long black hair. "I'm sorry"
"Hey now" Zakk frowned walking over to the bed and sitting cross-legged across from her. "You don't need to apologise, you did nothing wrong"
"I did" She replied. "I yelled at Charlie and-"
"Nothing wrong" He repeated. "You needed to get it off your chest"
"I just can't believe my mother has been lying to me for all these years" Tonks whispered.
"Come here" Zakk sighed sadly opening his arms.
Tonks did all but leap forward into them, she clutched onto his robes and cried into his chest as he slipped his arms around her and enveloped her into a comforting hug. Resting his chin upon her sadly coloured hair he released a sad sigh and felt himself get emotional over the subject- Tonks did not deserve this, she would still be Tonks if someone would of at least told her! He hugged her closer as he heard her breaths soften and slow down, as he looked down he noticed her calm, tear stained, sleeping face turn into his chest and broke into a sad smile as he felt his own eyes grow heavy. The boys who shared the dormitory with Zakk entered the room not long after and didn't give the two sleeping forms on the bed a second glance before falling asleep themselves.
And I'm back with another chapter!
I really do love Tonks she's one of my favourite ever characters (and she totally kicks ass),
Please please PLEASE review with real comments not just update soon or cool because I really do try and your comments help me to improve!I'm wondering whether to give Tonks a relationship or not? And if so with Charlie, Zakk or someone completely different...comment with what you think!
Happiness is found in even the darkest of places if someone remembers to turn on the light
The strongest of us are the ones who can smile in even the darkest of times.
~J.H