Chapter 7: A New Home
Andromeda Tonks sat alone at her kitchen table, a cup of tea next to her and an edition of The Daily Prophet in her hand as she gazed out of the window of her family home. The bright mid-morning sunlight was shining down on a good-sized, well-kept garden surrounded by high hedges, perfect for hiding any magical displays from passing Muggles. The house was quiet. Her husband Ted had left for work early in the morning and wasn't expecting to be home until much later that evening - being a successful practitioner of Magical Law was very demanding of his time – and her daughter, Nymphadora, was spending the day, and then the night, at a friend's house.
Andromeda sighed. She enjoyed the peace and quiet but it did put her in somewhat of a melancholy mood. Following complications during the birth of her daughter, they'd been unable to conceive again and, especially when Nymphadora was at school, she missed the noise and bustle that was naturally a part of having a child around the house. She missed the family she'd grown up with – not the hate and insanity filled witch that Bella had become, or the haughty, obsessive blood purist that Cissy developed into following her marriage to Lucius Malfoy, but the girls she'd spent time playing and laughing with at Black Manor before she'd been unceremoniously disowned after her wedding to Ted Tonks. Most of all she missed her favourite cousin Sirius – locked away in Azkaban for almost 8 years after allegedly betraying his best friends and murdering poor Peter Pettigrew.
In her mind, Andromeda always tagged the description of Sirius as a murderer with the word allegedly. Knowing how the Potter's had taken Sirius in after he ran away from home, and how he considered James to be almost a brother to him, she had never been able to correlate those facts with someone capable of such a level of betrayal – but Sirius must have been guilty to have been sent to Azkaban mustn't he?
A flicker of movement at the far end of the garden drew Andromeda out of her thoughts and she caught sight of two figures beginning to walk up the garden path towards the house. One was a tall man with greasy looking hair that she immediately identified as Severus Snape – what on earth was he doing here? The other was a small boy with round glasses, messy black hair and a face that looked like…
Andromeda stood suddenly, her breath catching as a young James Potter appeared to be walking toward her home. She knew at once that this was Harry, a boy she'd not seen since he was a baby and before Lily and James were forced into hiding. Their footsteps crunched up the gravel pathway and came to a stop outside the front door. One knock. Then another. Finally, Andromeda managed to gain enough control of her legs again to hurry to the door and welcome her visitors into the house.
She pulled the door open quickly and stared down at the child in the doorway. Now she was closer she could see that, while the face was indeed the spitting image of James in photos she'd seen of his childhood, the piercing green eyes had been absolutely inherited from Lily.
"Harry?" she said finally as he grinned up at her.
"Mrs Tonks. May we come in?" Severus enquired smoothly.
"Of course!" Andromeda ushered them into the house. "My apologies Professor Snape – good morning. Please, call me Andromeda. I just…"
"Severus, please. I'd imagine this is a bit of a shock," he had a wry smile on his face, something that was completely out of place on the face of the Severus Snape she knew of. "Can we sit?"
Andromeda led them into a comfortable living room and offered them refreshments before they all took seats. She couldn't stop staring at Harry – she'd often wondered what had become of him following the death of James and Lily but whenever she had enquired as to his whereabouts or tried to arrange to see him, Albus had insisted he was protected and happy but being kept away from the Wizarding world to keep him safe from any 'disciples' of You-Know-Who. She'd even tried sending him letters, offering to speak with him about his parents if he wanted to know more – she'd already left Hogwarts by the time James and Lily had attended but had got to know them through Sirius and had been quite close to Lily before her death – but had never received a response.
Severus cleared his throat and attempted to regain her attention. "Andromeda – what Mr Potter here is about to tell you is going to sound like the ravings of a babbling idiot but I assure you it is the truth. He's provided me with enough evidence to convince me of it, to the point that I've made a vow to assist him in any way I can. Please just keep an open mind…"
Andromeda shifted her focus back to Harry, wondering what this 8-year-old boy had to say and how he had managed to convince Severus Snape of all people to help him.
"Andi," said Harry warmly, a wide smile on his face "it's good to see you again." He chuckled at her confused expression, then began to tell her about the future.
It was early evening when Harry finished speaking. His voice had taken on a hoarse quality as, apart from a few short comfort breaks, he had spoken almost continuously since beginning his story that morning. Before he'd managed to get into too many details Andromeda had stopped him and floo-called Ted, insisting he came home immediately. Ted was surprised by the identities of their visitors but upon hearing Harry's tale both he and Andi had conjured parchment and quills and taken extensive notes.
Andromeda slumped back in her chair and gazed around at the occupants of the room disbelievingly. "This is crazy – you just can't be from the future. It's not possible…"
Harry sighed. He knew his story would sound far-fetched but he needed Andromeda and Ted to believe him. "Andromeda Tonks. The second daughter of Cygnus and Druella Black, sister of Bellatrix and Narcissa, wife of Ted Tonks, mother of Nymphadora Tonks and future grandmother of Teddy Lupin. A member of Slytherin house, you were disowned by your family for marrying Ted after leaving Hogwarts and burned off the Black family tapestry that resides at number 12 Grimmauld Place…"
Andromeda's mouth fell open in surprise. "How do you know that?"
"For a long time after the second war, you were one of the only people I could open up to. We spent a lot of time together looking after Teddy and we became friends. I know this stuff because you told me. As for the tapestry, I've seen it with my own eyes."
"But the only way you could have seen it…"
"Is if I've been to the Black townhouse. I swear I'm telling you the truth, Andi. I need your help."
Andromeda looked over at Severus who had ensconced himself in a squishy armchair in the corner of the room. He hadn't spoken since Harry had begun his account but now cleared his throat and sat forward. "Andromeda, I'd remind you of the vow I've taken. I would not have done so if I didn't believe what young Mr Potter has told you." She glanced at Ted who inclined his head slightly.
"OK," she said. "I believe you."
Harry grinned.
After a wonderful dinner, Harry answered as many of Andi and Ted's questions as he could. He stressed the importance of Dumbledore not discovering his whereabouts under the fear that they would all be obliviated and Harry simply returned to his abusers and was delighted when both Tonks' immediately and categorically stated they would not allow that to happen under any circumstances.
"First things first," Ted said as he scanned over his notes "we need to legally get you away from those muggles and out from under Dumbledore's control. In the morning you and I are going to head to Gringotts and meet with the Potter account manager. From what you've said it sounds like Sirius made you his heir before being sent to Azkaban – I can't see him allowing a Malfoy to remain the beneficiary of the Black estate if he were to die suddenly. We can request a full review of your status to bring that to light and, whilst you can't take on head of house responsibilities until you are of age, it will give you more than a measure of protection in the Wizengamot and make our task that much easier moving forward."
"How so?" Harry asked.
"When it gets out - and it will get out - that the heir to not one, but two, Noble and Ancient Houses, was placed into an abusive home and forced to remain there by the Chief Warlock, without any justification other than because he 'knew best', there's going to be outrage in the court. Throw onto that the whole 'boy-who-lived' angle and the average Witch and Wizard in the street is going to be screaming for something to be done about it."
Ted paused and looked at Andromeda who nodded briefly. Turning back to Harry he continued. "Once we've got you away from Dumbledore's grasp you'll need a new magical guardian until you reach your majority. I hope I'm not being too forward in suggesting this, but Andi and I would be happy to take on the role if you would like?"
Harry smiled at Ted, "That would be great – thank you. How do you suggest we deal with the Muggle Guardianship?"
"For now? We could threaten thee Dursleys with exposing their treatment of you but I'd like to save that card to play down the line to ensure they get what is coming to them. From what you've said they place great stock in material things. We could buy them off in return for them signing over your guardianship – with a new car perhaps? That should see them falling over themselves to sign the proper paperwork required for us to become your legal guardians. We need to make sure this is done as quietly as possible through the Muggle courts – I don't want Albus to be able to find any reason to object to the change."
Andi took over "Once your status is confirmed we can start preparing you for everything you'll need to know as an heir. Eventually, we'll introduce you to some of the friendly families so you can start to make connections and build the alliances you'll need in the future."
Harry brightened at this. He was looking forward to getting to know some of his old classmates at an earlier age, particularly Neville who had turned out to be a loyal and dependable friend once he'd gained a bit of confidence. Perhaps he could nudge that process along without affecting future matters too much…
Severus now interjected. "There is one other matter we need to discuss." He turned and made sure he had Harry's full attention. "You need to be careful. We all know your secret but most others will not. In your mind you are an Auror, approaching your 40th birthday…"
"38th" complained Harry, pretending to be irritated by the extra couple of years Severus had thrown on.
"…BUT" Severus continued regardless, "to the world you are 8 going 9 years old. You need to make sure you act your perceived age. You'll get away with some things under the explanation of being mature for your age and preparing to take on your role as heir, but it is imperative that you appear 'normal' in society."
Harry had already pondered this and knew the wisdom of Severus' words. Before he could respond, however, Andromeda cut in. "Well that shouldn't be too hard," she said with a laugh "with Nymphadora as a 'big sister' he won't be allowed to be too mature – I can guarantee that."
Severus winced, having taught the youngest Tonks at Hogwarts he knew all about her clumsiness and sense of humour. He nodded then rose from his seat. "Unless we have anything else to discuss I'll be on my way."
"Thank you, Severus. We'll do our best to help Harry."
Severus now stepped in front of Harry who had also risen from his chair. "I've got to head to Hogwarts now. You can reach me by owl if you need me."
Harry nodded and held out his hand. "Thank you again."
Severus looked down, then took Harry's hand and gave it a brief shake. "You're welcome. If nothing else I'm looking forward to the Headmaster's expression when he realises what's going on. It should be very entertaining." He smirked, then strode from the room with Ted escorting him to the front door.
Harry heard the door close and focussed on Andromeda as Ted walked back into the room. "I want to thank you too. I know how crazy this all sounds but I'm so appreciative that you're willing to help. Both of you".
"It's OK Harry – I'd like to think that if your parents were still here you'd have met us much sooner. Of course, we'll do what we can to help Lily and James' son." Andi hesitated. "I know for you it's been decades but for us, they died much more recently… and for you to lose your family too… Harry – we're so sorry for your loss." Andromeda opened her arms, inviting Harry for a hug if he wanted one. He gratefully took the opportunity and when he backed away tears were silently running down his cheeks.
"Thank you," he said huskily, wiping the wetness from his face.
"Now then, time for bed. There's lots to do tomorrow." Andi's voice was uneven as well and the emotion was evident on her face. "This way." She led him out of the living room and up the stairs, opening a door to a good-sized bedroom. "This is normally a guest room but it will be yours moving forward if you're happy to stay."
"It's brilliant," Harry said "thank you. Once I've got access to my vault I can pay you…" Andi cut him off.
"Don't be silly. If we're going to be your guardians I won't hear of it. Now, the bathroom is down the hall and I've left a pair of Nymphadora's old pyjamas on your pillow. Ignore the colour for tonight, I'll pick you up some of your own tomorrow while you're out with Ted."
Giving him one last hug she turned to leave the room. "Good night Harry," she said
"Good night"