Word count: 1,935
Tonks put on her best sheepish smile as her mother opened the door.
"Sorry for not visiting sooner," she said before Andromeda could begin her complaints. "I've been busy at work, and well, I have some new, unexpected commitments."
Andromeda sighed loudly as Tonks brushed past her to the living room of the house she'd grown up in. Most of the decor was unchanged from when she was younger, and each time Tonks visited, nostalgia enveloped her. Sometimes it was unpleasant, but sometimes it was comforting. Tonks felt the latter as she sunk into her favourite armchair, letting it envelope her just as the nostalgia already had.
"You've always kept yourself busy," were Andromeda's first words, her tone riding a fine line between a mere observation and a rebuke.
Tonks gave her mother her best smile. With a shake of her head, Andromeda went into the kitchen, coming back several minutes later with a tray laden with tea for both of them.
"Is Dad at work?" Tonks asked as she watched Andromeda set only two cups on the table in front of them. "Doesn't he still have his policy about not working past 5:00?"
"You're not the only one who's been busy lately," Andromeda said, her forehead creasing in a frown as she poured Tonks tea and added sugar just the way she liked it. "For all the Prophet's talk of Dumbledore being off his rocker, people are hedging their bets. Everyone's getting their affairs in order in case things go south. Your father says he's notarized more wills in the last month than he can count."
A shiver travelled down Tonks' spine.
"That's morbid," she muttered.
Though she understood the dangers You-Know-Who presented, she couldn't shake the feeling that many of her father's clients were preparing to flee if needed, and she didn't like it.
Andromeda handed Tonks her tea and kept her firm gaze on her instead of pouring a cup of her own.
"What do you know about You-Know-Who?" she asked in a hushed voice as if they'd be overheard. Having set many of her parents' wards herself, Tonks was almost offended. "Technically, your father's a Ministry employee like you are, but they're never told anything about the real problems. As an Auror… If you'd heard anything, you'd tell us, right?"
Tonks took a sip of her tea to force herself not to answer recklessly.
"Would it make a difference if I told you?" she asked quietly, staring into her teacup.
Andromeda glanced at her as she poured her own tea, foregoing any sugar or milk.
"It would," she said as she cradled the cup in her hands. "At least I would have a better idea of what you're getting up to at work every day. When your daughter decides to become an Auror, it's hard to have some peace of mind."
Mother and daughter watched each other in silence for a moment before Tonks caved, setting her tea aside with a sigh.
"Dumbledore's created a group called the Order of the Phoenix. Actually, he created it when You-Know-Who was in power nearly two decades ago, but he's brought it back together and invited new members, including me."
Andromeda's lips pressed into a thin line.
"You believe he's back then? Just like Dumbledore says?"
Tonks captured and held her mother's gaze as she leant forward in her seat.
"I don't think so, Mum. I know it. Fudge has never been a competent Minister, and he knows he can't handle a war. That's why he'd rather pretend nothing is happening. He's idiotic enough to believe that, if he just ignores it, it won't be true, but You-Know-Who is back. I've met Harry Potter; I've heard what he saw. He's not lying, and any Auror who bothered to pay attention would see the evidence that's right in front of us. We're not safe. Not for much longer at least."
Tonks watched anxiously as Andromeda stared at the wall, her face impassive. Finally, she looked at Tonks, a small smile warming her features. She reached out to take Tonks' hand, the skin of her palm warm from the tea.
"You were always quick to do the right thing," she said, giving Tonks' hand a squeeze. "During the last war, I made excuses for why I couldn't fight. You were young and needed your mother. I wasn't skilled enough with a wand to make a difference. Maybe those excuses were all true, but even if they were, they don't change the fact that I wasn't brave enough to fight. But from the time you were a little girl, I knew you'd never be the type to sit around when you could be doing something, even if it was dangerous. And I'm proud of you for it, Nymphadora. I'm scared out of my mind, but I am proud of you."
Tonks, not knowing what else to do, blinked tears from her eyes and gripped her mother's hand tightly. Andromeda visibly swallowed, widening her smile with effort.
"How is the famous Harry Potter then?" she asked, pressing on before Tonks could answer. "You know, I've never met the boy, though I'm sure I've told you before that my cousin was named his godfather."
"Sirius Black," Tonks said, unable to hold back a short laugh. "Yes, I know, Mum. I've met him. Sirius is also in the Order of the Phoenix."
Andromeda froze for a second before exhaling.
"He didn't run as far as the Prophet said he did then," she muttered to herself. "I wasn't surprised when he broke out of Azkaban despite it being impossible. If anyone was going to do it, it would be Sirius, but why would Dumbledore let a convicted criminal join his Order?"
"Because he knows Sirius isn't a murderer. Mum, Sirius didn't betray anyone to You-Know-Who, and he certainly didn't kill anyone. He was framed by Peter Pettigrew. Pettigrew is alive and a Death Eater. He helped You-Know-Who come back this summer, and if he's caught, then the Ministry will have to acknowledge that Sirius is innocent. He'll be free."
Tears shone in Andromeda's eyes as she pulled her hand away from Tonks' and patted the back of it instead.
"Thank you for sharing that with me," she said in a wavering voice. "I've always struggled to believe that Sirius could do something like that, but then, you tell yourself that most murderers have loved ones who would say the same thing. I couldn't cling to hope when it seemed naive."
Tonks watched her mother for a long time, but Andromeda was unable to say anything else as she processed the news that, in a strange and distant way, she'd regained the only family member who'd stuck by her after she was disowned.
"I wish you could see him," Tonks said. "He's miserable locked up in Grimmauld Place unable to leave, but no one but Order members are allowed in. There are spells and enchantments on the place stronger than those on the Ministry possibly. If there was a way to get you in, though, I'd make it happen."
Andromeda stroked Tonks' cheek with a smile, something she hadn't done since Tonks was a child.
"Thank you," she said. "I'm just happy to know that he's safe for the time being, and I'm glad that you're getting to know him as an adult instead of relying on the memories of a young girl. One of my biggest regrets is that I couldn't give you more family as a child."
Tonks rolled her eyes and batted her mother's hand away from her cheek.
"Shut up. I've told you before that it doesn't matter. I'm happy that I've met Sirius though. He's a good person. So is his friend Remus."
As soon as the words were spoken, she snapped her mouth shut. She hadn't meant to say them. They'd merely come out on their own. But Andromeda didn't notice Tonks' discomfort. Her own smile was wistful as she thought of the past.
"Remus Lupin is in this Order too? He and Sirius were always close. It's good to know that Sirius still has a friend after everything."
"You knew Remus?" Tonks asked, eyes wide as she leant forward. "What was he like before?"
Andromeda shook her head.
"I didn't know him well," she admitted. "To me, he was just Sirius' friend. He was a nice boy, always the most level-headed of the kids Sirius hung out with. He kept the rest of them in line. Somewhat. Despite not knowing him well, I was quite fond of him because Sirius was. Ostensibly, James Potter was Sirius' best friend, but the way he talked about Remus was different. As far as I know, there was never anything more than friendship between them, but I always kind of wished…"
Her gaze snapped back to the present, and she gave a short laugh.
"Well, it doesn't matter what I would want, does it? I'm happy they have each other's friendship after the difficult times they've both surely been through. Besides, Sirius always told me he didn't want a committed relationship during a war, that there'd be time for such things after. He was always busy doing what he thought was right. Being locked in that house has to be the worst punishment imaginable for him."
"It's still a prison," Tonks agreed. "Even if it's gaudier and doesn't have Dementors."
Andromeda hummed in agreement, her eyes focusing on a distant spot again.
"You've always reminded me of Sirius in that way," she said, her smile growing sad. "When you decided to become an Auror, I had no idea there'd be a war, but I knew you were as eager to be fighting for what's right as Sirius always was. He may have been a black sheep within the Black family, but somehow, you're like him in many ways."
"Is this your way of saying you want me to focus on dating and finding a good spouse instead of fighting, Mum?"
Tonks kept her tone light even as her stomach sank. Her mother had never put that sort of pressure on her, but she knew many of her friends, especially those with ties to old wizarding families, had been victims of it even while at Hogwarts. She'd counted herself lucky that her parents hadn't cared.
Andromeda shook her head.
"I'm not telling you to get married or even to date," she said in a firm voice. She took Tonks' hand again, cradling it in her own. "You should never do anything that doesn't make you happy, and I'd never rush you into marriage without you being sure of it. What I am worried about is you purposefully putting off your happiness because you think you need to focus on some greater duty. I'm very proud of you for becoming an Auror and joining Dumbledore's Order, but if you think being with someone will make you happy, don't put it off in the hopes that there will be time for it later. We don't always get that chance."
Tonks sighed and tugged her hand from Andromeda's grip. They had entered dangerous territory where she didn't want to tread, and she had no idea how to extricate herself without revealing more than she intended.
"I don't plan to avoid anything, Mum. Sure, I've been focused on my career, but I'm not purposefully putting anything off. If something happens, that's great. If not, I'll be fine. Don't worry about me."
Andromeda laughed and pulled Tonks into a hug, rubbing her back.
"That's an impossible task, sweetheart. You can't ask that of me."