A Long Memoried Woman

A Long Memoried Woman Chapter 3

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We arrived on a dark street. Not just dark because it was the middle of the night, but also because someone had put out all the streetlights. Very useful for Apparating wizards appearing out of nowhere, and I guessed the lack of light had something to do with the wizard in front of me.

Not a hard guess, as Albus Dumbledore had something to do with most things. Or he seemed to, anyway.

"Ah!" He said upon seeing me. "Nymphadora Tonks! Gryffindor, wasn't it? Very good. Lemon drop?"

Considering that I was dizzy from Apparating, tired from being pulled out of my bed in the middle of the night, scared I was about to be murdered by a secret cult and more than slightly confused about everything that was going on, I think I can be excused that my most intelligent comment was, "Uh?"

Dumbledore smiled, putting a paper bag back in his pocket. "Perhaps another time then. Nymphadora, I have come to tell you something." He leaned forward, a smile twitching his lips, eyes twinkling like mad. "The headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix are at number 12, Grimmauld Place, London."

"Wh - " In the corner of my eye, something was moving, shifting. Spinning around to watch, I could only stare as a house - a house! - appeared from where none had been before. It wasn't even like there'd been a gap or space for it to come from - it had just shoved the other houses aside! What spell could do that?

Dumbledore stepped behind me, placing a hand on my shoulder. "The Fidelius Charm, Nymphadora." What? How? Had he read my mind?

Come to think of it, he probably had. Sneaky old bastard. Oops. Sorry, Professor, if you're listening. I mean it in a complimentary way.

Was it me, or did he smile?

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Ok, I didn't trust them anymore. Outside, with Dumbledore, I had thought they were the good guys, but now it looked like the Daily Prophet was right. This was clearly the lair of some very, very dark wizards.

The signs were all around: snakes, dark shadows, more black than was necessary, and were those house-elf heads? I leaned forwards as I walked towards them, disgusted and intrigued. It was then I met the umbrella stand.

CRASH!

"OW!"

"Tonks!"

"Filth! Scum! Mutants, half-breeds, Mudbloods, leave this place! How dare you enter this place, befouling the home of my fathers, the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black!"

While I could only stare at the mad-woman in the portrait, someone behind me grabbed my arm (not too gently) and dragged me up. "Recognise anything, Tonks?" He had to yell to be heard over the noise. Remus and Kingsley seized the curtains, trying to drag them back together again. The woman just screamed louder.

"She wouldn't." Dumbledore spoke from behind us. "Her mother was disowned before she was born. She has never been here before."

Wait. He couldn't mean......"That woman is not my great-aunt!" I paused, considering what my mum had told me, replaying her rants in my head. "Actually, she is, isn't she?"

Dumbledore smiled. "Yes. That woman," He gestured at the portrait, which had just been silenced. Kingsley and Remus gasped for breath from the effort of pulling shut the curtains. "Is your great-aunt." He smiled again, leading us further in down the hall, guiding me with a hand on my back into a dark room. Inside, a man sat with his back to me, long, dark hair trailing down his back.

He turned towards us, and it was then I saw his face. "Sirius Black!" I screamed.

Some odd expression, strangely like hurt spread over his face. "Remember me, Tonks?"

Panicking, I whirled to the side, only to see Kingsley looming over me. Kingsley, who was looking for Sirius Black, didn't look at all surprised to see him there. "Oh my god. You're all Death Eaters, aren't you? Are you going to kill me now?"

I had my wand in my hand, but against Albus Dumbledore and Sirius Black, and the others, how much use could it be? But maybe I could take out one, at least, before... "Nymphadora." Dumbledore grabbed my hand, no doubt reading my intentions. "Do you remember Sirius before he went to Azkaban?"

"Yes. Of course! You were my favourite cousin, you bastard. But how could you do that, you - "

"Nymphadora." Dumbledore cut me off again, before I could fully let Sirius know what I thought of him. I settled for glaring instead.

"Miss Tonks," Dumbledore repeated, drawing my eyes off Sirius to himself. "Do you believe that Lord Voldemort has returned?"

"I....I don't...."

"Do you believe it or not?"

"I don't know! I mean, I haven't seen any sign that he's back, and...."

"Will you believe me if I tell you he is?"

Would I believe him? I didn't know. On the one hand, this was Dumbledore - the man my mother had told me I should always trust, the man my father had so admired. He was a hero, the wisest and most powerful wizard alive. And he was trusting me with this, this information that would let me become someone more than just clumsy me.

On the other hand....I was clumsy me. If You-Know-Who had returned, did I want him to target me? Joining him, if he was telling the truth, that would make me a target too. But then...being a target, at least it would mean something. At least it would mean that I, Tonks, was opposing him in a way that was meaningful, rather than just being scared. How many people could say that?

"I would believe you, and join you."

After all, why had I become an Auror? To run and hide, bury my head in the sand? I didn't think so. I had joined to make a difference, to try and protect people.

Dumbledore was smiling at me, and the atmosphere around me seemed slightly more relaxed than it had been previously. "I cannot say how glad I feel that you will be joining us. And now, introductions. You already know Sirius, and Kingsley, of course, but this is Remus Lupin and Arthur Weasley."

Weasley? Why did that sound...."Oh! I knew... some of your...Charlie!" Arthur gave me a slightly bemused smile, but nodded all the same.

"Yes, he's my son. You were at school with him?"

"Yes. And Bill. And Percy. And Fred and George. "

"You missed Ron and Ginny, then."

"Yes." There were more of them?!

Remus Lupin, the gentle one who had been speaking to me like I was a nervous 4 year old, held out his hand. I shook it, being polite. He smiled. "Good to have you here. We need more Aurors."

"Well, I hope I'll be useful. I can be a bit clumsy though." Apologising in advance is normally the best tactic.

Kingsley muttered something under his breath that I didn't catch. I glared.

Dumbledore placed his hand back on my shoulder. "Well! Now you know everyone here at present, all that remains is to tell you the time of the next meeting." He paused. "We normally have meetings at least once a week, always at a different time, for security reasons. Kingsley will contact you when it is time to come."

Kingsley nodded. "Don't make any arrangements you can't break quickly."

Okay. I could do that. Pretend I was ill, or something.

Dumbledore spoke again, sounding more serious, "And now, Nymphadora, I must apologise for what I am about to do. It is not that we don't trust you, but it is necessary for security reasons." By this time, I was very nervous, again. "I must place a simple charm on you. Rest assured, it will not prevent you from living your life as you normally do. It will simply prevent you from talking about the Order and its work, to anyone who is not also a member."

"Oh. Okay, then."

Screwing up my eyes, preparing for some pain or at least discomfort, I was pleasantly relieved when I just heard a low mutter, and felt a slight draft around my head.

"Was that it?"

Dumbledore smiled at me. "Yes, Tonks. That was it."

And that was it. Returning home that night, I could barely believe it hadn't just been one long, and rather vivid, dream.

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