Aurora,
I am your uncle Levi. Your mother's brother. There were many times I could have reached out to your father and brought you into my custody, but at the request of my sister, I have refrained from doing so. I left London when you were a few months old when I relocated to the United States.
You have been living a lie. Sirius Black has been accused of crimes he did not commit. Theodosia was there the night Sirius was taken into custody. She watched Peter Pettigrew lob off one of his fingers and flee like a coward rat bastard away as an animagus after killing 12 muggles. She wanted to tell Sirius she was leaving, but could not bring herself to do so.
It is a miracle Remus took you in. I always liked him. So did Theo. She is thankful you share his name and have had love in your life all these years. Theo always said that she could never love you the way you deserved. Your mother is alive, but will not return. When we speak in person, I will explain this to you as I cannot fit it into a letter. I will return to London on the 21st of December.
I will be speaking to the ministry about all that I know, and about all that I've been told by your mother. And she will make it known to the powers that be that she is alive and well and that Sirius has been falsely imprisoned.
Forgive my years of silence. But as Voldemort's power grows, it is imperative you know the truth. I'm sure you already know what you are. And you need to be prepared.
Levi Goldfinch
Rory was sobbing by the end of it.
"Aurora?" Tonks asked.
"My mum was there the night Sirius confronted Wormtail. She saw the whole thing. And she just let Sirius sit in prison for twelve years," Rory said.
Tonks's face seemed to break. "Aurora-."
"He says that Theodosia didn't think she was fit to be a mother. That she thought I was going to be better off with Dad," Rory said. "Certainly sounds like she was right. At least I wasn't left with her."
Rory sobbed and Tonks came to sit beside her. She put and around her.
"I'm sorry, sweetie," Tonks said. "I know this is a lot."
"How is Sirius? And my dad?" Rory asked.
"Your dad is worried about you. And Sirius is… He's thrown off by this as much as you are," Tonks said.
Rory wiped her eyes. "He's going to tell people all this. Everyone is going to know."
Tonks nodded. "That's why Fudge and Scrimgeour sent me. Because it's going to be a circus."
Rory wiped more tears from her eyes and Tonks grabbed her hand.
"Sorry, what's this?" she asked.
Rory froze and looked down at the words scarred on her hand. She began to cry even harder. And then what could she do except tell Tonks the truth about the detentions she had with Umbridge?
"Why didn't you and Harry tell anyone?" Tonks asked.
Rory continued to wipe the never-ending stream of tears from her face. "Harry said we'd figure it out. It's not as if we can do anything about it after all."
Tonks let out a deep sigh. "That's not the point. Your dad would want to know about this."
"I don't want him to see this," Rory said, pulling her hand away. "That's also why I didn't say anything… He just blames himself so much for everything… I didn't want him to blame himself for this too."
Tonks frowned. "Aurora, this is cruel. You told Remus detention was horrible, but this is beyond anything we were expecting. He needs to-."
"You can't tell him!" Rory exclaimed.
"Aurora, I can't pretend I didn't see this. That you didn't tell me this," Tonks said.
"But he-."
"He's your father," Tonks said. "It's his job to look after you. You're worried about how he's going to feel seeing this, but have you thought about how he'll feel knowing you didn't tell him?"
Rory frowned. Yes, she had. But she hadn't pushed it. Because Harry had asked her not to.
"Remus loves you so much. He is going to put you before anything, before himself even. If you're hurting, he wants to know. You can't keep something like this a secret," Tonks said.
Rory sagged in her seat. Her mother had abandoned her. She'd been lying to her dad for weeks and weeks about her detention with Umbridge and somehow Rory was sitting there frustrated about Harry.
"What is it?" Tonks asked.
Rory didn't want to say. From the first detention, she'd wanted to write to her dad and tell him about what Umbridge was making them do. But Harry had insisted they keep it quiet. It was only after three days that she even told any of their friends what was happening because she couldn't keep her hand from bleeding.
But she loved Harry. And he was obviously going through something horrible. But wasn't Rory going through something horrible too? Weren't they the same? And now she had all of this on her plate. A mother. An uncle. A brother. Her whole life suddenly different in just a moment.
"Aurora?" Tonks asked.
Rory pouted. "Harry's been kind of shitty lately."
"Oh," Tonks said, sitting up in her chair. "You did mention that."
"He said we shouldn't tell anyone about the detention. That we could handle it on our own. I told him I wanted to tell my Dad and Sirius but he insisted… So I just didn't say anything," Rory admitted.
"Aurora… Sweetie, Harry is great. He is fun and nice and brave, but he is absolutely out of line asking you to lie like this. I know you don't want to upset him, but that's unacceptable," Tonks said.
"I know," Rory said. "…You can tell my dad, I guess."
Tonks hugged her tightly and Rory hugged her back. "You'll be alright."
"Tell my dad I miss him. Both of them," Rory said.
"Of course," Tonks said. "I have letters for you from them. Straight from Grimmauld to my pocket to here." She released Rory and handed her the letters from her cloak. "Keep them hidden until you get to your room, alright?"
Rory nodded, stuffing them in her own cloak.
"What about Levi's letter?" Rory asked. "Won't they ask to see it?"
Tonks nodded and picked up the letter. She read it over. Then with a wave of her wand, the last three sentences disappeared from the page.
"This will be fine," Tonks said. "Didn't get to be an Auror without learning a few tricks." Rory nodded. Tonks placed a hand on Rory's back. "I have to meet with Umbridge later. Got word this morning that when your uncle is back he'll be facing an inquiry at the Ministry on the 22nd of December. The papers will likely have that information by tomorrow. Fudge wants her to be prepared for the media circus that will ensue. And you needed to know too."
Rory thought for a moment. "Do you think they'll look at Sirius' case again and realize that he's innocent?"
Tonks sighed. "I vaguely mentioned it and Fudge didn't consider entertaining the idea that Sirius might be innocent. But this letter might change his mind. If we could prove Pettigrew was alive or had another witness who was willing to come forward, it'd be a different story. But this helps."
Rory nodded.
"Go take a break. I think you're smart enough to miss a few classes and rest. This isn't easy what I just laid on you," Tonks said. "I'll talk to Dumbledore and see that you're excused, alright?"
Rory nodded. She was definitely going to need a break. She couldn't imagine focusing enough to get through her classes. But then she had another thought.
"You're going to tell my dads what I said about Harry aren't you?" Rory asked.
Tonks sighed. "Yes."
Rory nodded again. "Dad he… He'll be cross with Harry."
Tonks seemed to think for a moment. "You know… You don't have to stay with Harry just because you love him. You can love him, but he can also be not a good boyfriend."
"He's been great lately. I don't think he even realizes when he's being unreasonable," Rory said. Tonks seemed to roll her eyes at this. "He says he's going to do better and he has been."
Tonks nodded. "Write to me again. Tell me what he says when you tell him you told us about the detentions."
"Why?" Rory asked.
"Harry is very charming and he's very handsome. And I don't doubt that he loves you. But boys can be idiots no matter how charming and handsome they are," Tonks said. "I'm not going to tell you what to do but… I have some insight."
Rory nodded. She thought for a moment that her Dad had put Tonks up to this again, but did it matter? Things with Harry had been great until she was reminded that in less than two months she'd be back home with those hateful words carved on her hand and that her dad would see them. Did Rory think she could hide it?
"Thank you, Tonks," Rory said.
"Of course," she said. "We're family after all. Have to look out for each other."
Rory hugged Tonks and without evening meaning to, she felt something, predicted something. She let Tonks go quickly.
"You're more than that," Rory said.
"What?" Tonks asked.
Rory thought for a moment. "Somehow… You're more than just some relative of mine. Or you will be. You're more than that… I think you're going to stick around for me. In a good way."
"Did you just… Did you just hit me with a prediction?" Tonks asked.
Rory nodded. "Sometimes I can't help it. I'm better about now, but sometimes it's so intense I can't help it. It's not always a clear picture. Just an impression or a feeling."
"Well," Tonks started, "I am more than happy to be in your life for the long term."
Tonks walked into Grimmauld Place that afternoon and collapsed down into a chair in the dining room. She let out a deep breath and then laid her head down on the table. A few minutes passed before Sirius entered the room.
"Thought I heard someone," he said. "How did it go with Aurora?"
"A lot of tears as you'd expect," Tonks said. "More than anything she was upset about you."
"Why?" Sirius asked.
Tonks let out another. "Evidently… It seems as though Theodosia witnessed your confrontation with Pettigrew… And left anyway."
Sirius's eyes went wide and then he chuckled. He crossed his arms and sat back in his seat.
"You think you know a person," Sirius said. "You live with them, have a kid with them."
"I'm sorry," Tonks said. "Truly. If she has any conscience at all she'll come out of hiding and tell the truth."
"I won't hold my breath for that, but I appreciate your optimism," Sirius said. "You think Aurora will be alright?"
"Kids are adaptable," Tonks said. "Lord knows she's had to do a lot of adapting these last few years."
"True," Sirius said with a nod.
"Unrelated to all that insanity, I did find out something disturbing while I was there," Tonks said. "Did Aurora tell you about her detentions with Umbridge?"
"Nothing outside of the fact that they were ghastly," Sirius said.
"She made Harry and Aurora write lines," Tonks said.
"That's not so bad," he replied.
"Wouldn't be, except she's got special quills for them to use. So when they write the words get cut into their own skin and they write in their own blood," Tonks said.
Sirius' jaw dropped. "I'm sorry. What?"
"She makes them write in their own blood," Tonks said. "And it carves the words into their skin."
"What. The. Fuck," Sirius said. "Why didn't she say anything?"
Tonks rolled her eyes. "Harry asked her not to. Well, he didn't explicitly ask her to lie, but she said she wanted to tell you and Remus, but Harry insisted that she not."
Sirius groaned. "What is in that kid's head?"
"I wish I knew. She said that she doesn't even think he realizes he's being 'unreasonable.' That's the word she used. 'Unreasonable,'" Tonks said. "She did say 'he promised to do better and he has been' but, I'm waiting until I see some actual evidence of that. I told her to write to me after she talks to him about the detention."
Sirius shook his head. "How did you get her to tell you about the detention?"
"Because I saw her hand. The words are literally scarred onto her hand. Which is also another reason she said she was reluctant to tell you what happened because," Tonks let out a sigh, "because of Remus."
"What did she have to write?" Sirius asked.
"That abominable woman made her write 'Half-Breeds don't belong' and now it's permanently etched onto her skin," Tonks said. "So, I guess it's not all Harry's fault because she's obviously not in a rush to tell Remus that."
"No, I bet she's not," Sirius said.
The door opened and Remus walked in.
"Did I miss the recap?" he asked. "How's Aurora doing?"
"She'll be fine. She's in shock, rightly so," Tonks said. She explained the contents of the letter she'd given her to Remus.
"I can't believe that Theo wouldn't say anything," Remus said.
"I know," Sirius agreed.
"I'm sure Rory will be alright though," he said. Tonks and Sirius exchanged a glance. "Is there something more?"
Tonks frowned. "Yes. Unrelated to all this actually."
And so she told him about the detentions, and Harry, and how upset Rory had been she talked to her.
"I was upset listening to her. I very gently encouraged her to break up with him, but she insists things are better," Tonks said. "And I did tell her that I would be telling you because, it's one thing to be a moody, grumpy, teenaged boy, but Merlin, to ask her to lie about this of all things? Unacceptable."
Remus was frowning and seemed upset about this.
"I don't know what to say," he said. "I have absolutely no idea what's going through her head."
Rory left her meeting with Tonks and went straight back to her room. She read her letters from her dads. She fell asleep crying because she could practically taste their concern. And she missed them so much. And even with all her anxiety about Harry, she really wanted to talk to him before anyone else. She had to tell him all of this.
When she woke from her sleep, Harry was lying beside her on the bed reading their potions textbook.
"What time is it?" Rory asked.
Harry looked over at her in surprise. "Barely four. Classes just let out." She rolled onto her side and sat her head on Harry's chest. "We were worried after you didn't show up for the rest of classes. We saw Tonks and she said Dumbledore excused you from classes for the day and then Matilda saw you up here asleep at lunchtime."
Rory wrapped her arms around Harry.
"A lot is happening," Rory said.
"What is it?" he asked.
And so Rory told him everything. About Levi, her mother, Sirius and Peter. All of it. Harry held her close. She was so thankful she was able to wrap herself up in him.
But she knew there was something else she needed to tell him.
"Tonks saw my hand," Rory said. "With the words on it."
Harry was silent for a beat. "Oh. What did you tell her?"
"The truth. About the detentions," Rory said.
"Why?" Harry asked.
It made her angry that Harry was genuinely frustrated by her admission.
"Because it's awful and cruel and she saw it. Was I supposed to lie to her?" Rory asked. She sat up. "It's not fair of you to ask me to lie."
"I didn't ask you to lie," Harry said.
"Then why are you upset that Tonks knows? That she's going to tell my dad like I wanted to this whole time, but didn't because you asked not to, because you said we could deal with it?" she asked.
"We have dealt with it," Harry said.
"No. We haven't. I told you to stop provoking her so we stopped getting detention," Rory said. "But we step out of line again I'm going to have carve those words into my hand again, and I just can't do that. I can't."
And then Rory was crying again. She felt like she spent most days crying. She was so overwhelmed. Everything was too much or too heavy or just annoying.
"I was so worried about what my dad would think if I saw this, but Tonks pointed out that it's going to wreck him that I hid it from him in the first place," Rory said. "I used to tell my Dad everything and now… I just feel like I lie to him all the time."
Because of you, Rory wanted to say. Every lie she'd told in the last year had been about or because of Harry. But it didn't seem fair to saddle him with the blame.
Harry sighed. "Okay. I get it." He kissed her. "I'm still… It doesn't matter. It's your dad. You're right. It's not fair."
Rory felt so relieved to hear him say that. He really did get it.
"There's more important things to think about anyway," Harry said.
"Yeah," Rory said.
"Your mum is alive. And she can vouch for Sirius' innocence," Harry said.
Rory sighed. "I think that's the most upsetting thing. Maybe you don't want to be a mum. Fine. Leave. But Sirius. He was punished for something he didn't even do. All he wanted was to be my dad. She could have stopped all of this. And she ran away instead."
She laid her head back down on Harry's chest.
"I think part of growing up means that you find out your parents aren't perfect. That people aren't perfect," Harry said.
She could tell he was thinking of his own parents. The whole of the Wizarding World held James and Lily Potter in such high esteem. Even Sirius and her dad talked about them reverently. But there were cracks beginning to show. Especially in James who Harry favored in looks and personality. Apparently, James Potter could be a cad, sneaky, and untrustworthy around people's daughters.
Harry wasn't exactly running around flirting with every girl around, but he was handsome and he was charming. Every girl who didn't think he was crazy noticed him, especially now. Especially Cho Chang.
And Sirius, Rory's biological father, was clearly far from perfect. Even her dad was imperfect.
