Omnia Mors Perimit

"How dare you!"

Her mother has hardly closed the front door, looking confused. "Hello sweetheart - nice to see you, too!"

"Don't give me this shit, mum! Spare your false nicety!"

"I beg your pardon?!"

"Congratulations! You've done it!"

"What?"

"Remus's broken up with me. Thank you, mum! Very well done!"

Realisation dawns on Andromeda's even features; she sighs and ushers her daughter into the kitchen. "I didn't - I'm sorry, darling, I had no -"

"You didn't - you had no - cut out this rubbish! You told him that he wasn't good enough for your precious daughter, you -"

"I said no such thing! I -"

"I know very well what you've said! Who do you think you are, mum! You of all persons! Why don't you turn dad out, too! He's totally substandard - and so are Lainey and I, thinking about it, being his kids!"

"Now hold your tongue, Nymphadora!" Andromeda has put her hands in her sides, infuriated. "Who do you think you are, talking to your mother in this fashion!"

"I talk to you like you deserve! You've got to reap what you've sown! Oh, I can imagine how you've lulled him in, always so charming, aren't you, mum? So understanding, so reasonable! You've simply pointed out the obvious, haven't you?"

Her mother's cheeks have flushed. "Indeed, I have! He is a man of thirty-seven years, for goodness' sake! And he looks even older! And why is that so? Because he is a werewolf, can't you get that into your stubborn head! He's not a muggle - I wouldn't mind a muggle for one second and you know that! He is a potentially murderous beast. He can kill you! He can mutilate you! And it's not only that!"

"Oh, isn't it," Tonks gnarls, glaring at her.

"Lupus pilum mutat, non mentem!"

"What?!"

"As you yourself keep on repeating, we're on the eve of war! He's got a mission to accomplish, you've got a full-time job, and your order work! And what are you doing? Spending your time with some boyfriend, spending his time, and endangering the both of you! What if one of his - his - fellow sufferers - observes him? Or sniffs him out? I'm sure they can do that, wolves got a fantastic sense of smell, much better than humans!"

Although Andromeda may have some material points there, Tonks is utterly disgusted by her nonetheless. "You are - god, mum, you're even worse than them! And I thought uncle Lucius was a bloody -"

"Don't you dare comparing me with that man!"

"You've practically begged for being compared to him! And you know what, mum? You're worse, because Lucius is honest, at least! He doesn't pretend to believe in equally, or be oh-so-tolerant like you!" She puts on a mock, "I'm sure his fellows can sniff him out, they're crafty like that - Merlin, I wish you could hear yourself!"

The scarlet has vanished; now her mother's face is paper-white. "You've got me wrong there, Nym-"

"No, you are wrong there! And you can't even acknowledge it, can you! No, not you! Andromeda Tonks is always right! That's the hereditary right of the Blacks, though she doesn't like to mention that, because her vile family was not content with her choice of a husband!"

"Shut up! Shut up!" In this moment, they're interrupted by the door bell. Andromeda exhales and her shoulders slack. "Pull yourself together, your sister and her fiancé are coming to visit us."

"Oh, so Lainey's fiancé is welcome to this house? Or are you just waiting for the right moment to have the talk with him, too?"

Her mother gives no answer but goes out to open the door. There's bustling in the hallway, a lot of 'hellos' and 'hola'; Andromeda announces that Tonks is there as well, and Lainey shrieks out and storms into the kitchen to embrace her sister. "Dory! Hey! Oh, it's so good to see you, I thought you wouldn't have the time!"

"Hey Lainey," Tonks mutters far less enthusiastically. She's glad to see her, sure, but her overall mood's just too gloomy.

Helena holds her at arm's length and appraises her. "Now that doesn't sound good. What's wrong, sis?"

"Tell you later - hey there, Miguel! How are you?"

Miguel, Helena's boyfriend - or that's what he was the last time Tonks has seen him - enters the kitchen, hugging her as well. Andromeda has called their father, who's coming down, too - more hugs, more hellos, but before her mother can lull herself into a false sense of security, Tonks tells her quietly, "You and me, mum, are finished!"

Lainey has overheard her nevertheless, raises her brows and asks, "What's the problem?"

"Yes, mum, please inform Lainey what's the problem," Tonks snarls sharply.

"I have absolutely no intention to bring up this topic now, Nymphadora. Helena and Miguel have only just arrived. You'll allow them to sit down in ease and have a cup of tea before pestering them with -"

"Pestering, eh? That's it! Fantastic! I had no mind staying here anyway! - Sorry, Lainey - Miguel - I should have liked to talk to you some longer. Have a good time. Oh, and Lainey - you ought to be careful of leaving mum alone with Miguel, or you might not see him again. Bye, dad!"

She can hear the 'what's' and 'why's' behind her, marching out and slamming the front door shut. Inside, Andromeda slouches onto a chair, covering her face with her hands. "Good lord," she whispers.

"What's wrong, mum?"

"Her boyfriend's split up with her -"

"And how come she figures that this was your fault?"

"I - she - he - pour me a scotch, Ted, will you..."

Ted Tonks, who's been silent all this time, does as he's told, but groans, "I told you, darling. It's none of our business, she -"

"None of our business? None of our business?! Whose business is it if not ours! We're her parents!"

"And she is a sensible girl of twenty-four years who knows what she's doing."

"Oh, since when! The last time I've looked, she was sending me owls, asking how to bake a pie!"

"You cannot compare that, dear, she -"

"Would anyone bother to inform me what the heck's going on here?! What are you talking about?" Helena asks with a frown. Andromeda chuckles mirthlessly.

"In short? Your sister's thrown herself into the arms of a werewolf, and I stand by my opinion! He's not good for her! End of discussion!"

"You're kidding!"

"No, indeed I'm not! A fully-fledged werewolf of thirty-seven years! Mind you, he's not five years younger than me! And a werewolf! And you!" She stabs her finger at her husband, glaring. "Don't you pretend you had been happy about it! I won't be the only villain in this piece! You said yourself that her choice was - now what did you say? Unwise?!"

"And it is unwise, still I don't believe that it's up to us to interfere," he replies, slightly vexed.

"Mum, did you consider that you're not the most credible authority, seeing you've run away from home to marry dad?"

"I didn't run away, silly girl! I was thrown out, lock, stock and barrel!"

Helena raises her eyes to the ceiling. "I know, mum! Gee, even Miguel can retell the story by heart! Anyway -"

"Anyway nothing! We're going to have a cup of tea now, and I've prepared a lovely roast for dinner. I don't want to hear another word on this unholy topic!"

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Mater... Mother versus daughter.

Lupus... The wolf changes his skin, not his mind.