Chapter 33 — Tonks' House
The door opens, and the girl smiles as her hair shifts from brown to pink and then to blue.
"Arthur, you are here," she says in a cheerful tone.
"Yes," I say. "Thank you for accepting my request, Senior Tonks."
She waves her hand brushing off the formality. "It's no biggie. Come on. I'll take you to them. They're waiting."
I follow her inside. The house feels warm and lived in. We walk into the hall where a couple is sitting on a sofa. Tonks gestures toward them.
"These are my parents. Ted Tonks and Andromeda Tonks. And you know me, your Senior Tonks."
Her mother cuts in firmly. "Your name is Nymphadora Tonks."
Tonks bristles at once. Even her hair stands up like a startled hedgehog. "Don't call me that," she says. "My name is just Tonks."
Her father tries to hide his smile but fails. A small laugh escapes before he can stop it. Both mother and daughter turn to glare at him. He raises his hands in surrender and clears his throat, putting his serious face back on.
I cannot help smiling at their family dynamic.
Since their introduction stops midway, I step forward and speak. "Hello, Mister and Madam Tonks. I am Arthur Dursley. I have just finished my first year at Hogwarts."
Andromeda nods politely. "Hello, Mister Dursley. Dora told us about you. Please sit and tell us why you wanted to meet us. I don't think we know you."
"Yes, Madam," I say. "You don't know me. Actually, I wanted to meet you for a request and a favour."
Andromeda raises one eyebrow. "What favour, Mister Dursley?"
I take a quiet breath. "I request you that you help me set up a meeting with Lord Arcturus Black. Your grandfather."
The room turned pin drop silent as I said that name. Ted and Andromeda look surprised. Tonks just looks confused.
Both adults exchange a slow look before Andromeda speaks. "Forgive my bluntness, Mister Dursley, but from what I know, you are from a Muggle family. That is correct, is it not?"
"Yes," I say. "My parents are Muggles."
"Then," she continues, "how exactly do you know about Lord Black? And that he is my grandfather?"
"Because I have a relative who is also related to your Black family," I say.
"Oh," she says. "That is the case." She studies me with a sharper gaze now. "But why do you want to meet him? What is your purpose?"
"I have very important information," I reply, "which is essential to Lord Black and the Black family."
Both adults pause again. Another silent exchange of looks. Andromeda asks, "And what is that information?"
"Sorry, Madam Tonks but I can only tell it to Lord Black," I answer. "There can be many eyes and ears everywhere. I don't want the information to leak beforehand."
"That is fair enough," she says, "but you may be disappointed. I was struck off from my family for marrying a Muggle-born wizard."
Ted raises one hand like he is answering a roll call and smiling proudly as if saying 'that is me, boy.'
I smile back, but Andromeda continues speaking.
She shakes her head. "Arthur, even if I had not been cut from the family, I don't think anyone in the Blacks is in a sane enough mind right now to do anything meaningful. The truth is simple. The family has no legitimate male heir left. Not one. For a house that prides itself on blood and tradition, it is almost ironic. So many branches, so many names, and yet not a single proper male Black to continue the line."
"And I do not want to go meet them only to hear the same scorn again. The same pure-blood nonsense."
I am stuck for a moment. I think quietly. Then I speak again. "What if I tell you another piece of information about the mutual relative and his identity? It might interest you and Lord Black."
She leans back slightly. "Go on then. Make me interested. I am waiting."
"My relative," I say, "is Harry James Potter."
The reaction is instant.
All three Tonks freeze. Nymphadora actually screamed.
She jumps from her seat, grabs my hands tightly, and says, "You are saying you are related to Harry Potter? The Boy Who Lived?"
"Yes," I say calmly.
Her mother recovers first. "What is your relationship with him, Mister Dursley?"
"He is my maternal cousin," I say. "My mother, Petunia, is Lily Potter's elder sister. Lily Potter was my Aunt. Harry is my brother."
Andromeda is astonished. "And how do you know about him? The last time the wizarding world heard of him was on the night of 31 October 1981 when the Potters died, he survived the Killing Curse, and the Dark Lord fell."
"Yes," I say. "And from that same night, Harry has been living with us."
Tonks jumps again. "Are you serious?! Harry Potter is living with you? I want to meet him! I have read all the books about him slaying dragons and giants and—"
"You know those are fiction, Senior," I say. "None of that is real. They are just the illegal use of my cousin's name and influence by the authors and publishers."
She huffs. "Of course I know they are made-up stories for children, but he survived the Killing Curse."
"That is true," I say. "But you still cannot meet him right now. I'm sorry."
She seemed disappointed and it showed in her hair going dull. So I added, "But you can meet him in a couple of years. When its time for Harry to attend Hogwarts, you will still be in the seventh year. Then you can meet him."
She brightened up as the realisation hit her. She then thought inwardly, 'Why wait for Hogwarts, I will visit your house after he recieves his letter. That way no one can stop me.' Now her hair was a free flow of colours.
Her father then asked. "If I heard correctly, you said Harry Potter was left to live with his Muggle relatives?"
"Yes," I replied.
He rubs his face with both hands. "Oh Merlin, bless me. Who was so idiotic and smart to leave the most important magical child with Muggles? Who made that decision?"
"He was left with us so he could grow properly," I say. "Far from the magical world. Away from people who might want either good or bad things from him."
"I understand the reason," Ted says, "but it is wrong to leave a magical child with muggles without any preparation or knowledge of wizards, when he will have to face many people out for his blood in future. If even a single person identifies him in between, then you can imagine the consequences."
I nod gently.
Andromeda speaks next. "But now you are a wizard too. That purpose of hiding him is almost defeated."
"Yes," I say. "But I still don't want people to know. And Harry was raised better because both me and my brother Dudley were born with magic."
This surprises them even more.
"Both of you?" Ted asks. "Two wizards in one Muggle family?"
"Yes," I say. "I think my mother's family was a bloodline of Squibs. Magic is awakening again. First in Aunt Lily, then in us."
They nod slowly. Andromeda looks thoughtful now, not doubtful.
"You are right," she says at last. "This news is important enough to make me go through the trouble. And I think even Lord Black will be interested to hear what you have to say."
Relief spreads through me. "Thank you."
"I will send you an owl when it is arranged," she says. "Until then, you should prepare to meet the Lord of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Black properly. The costume, the etiquette. At least the basics. I suggest you buy a book related to these from the Diagon Alley."
"I have bought a book from Diagon Alley already," I say. "I have studied it and even taught both of my brothers. I will be ready."
She nods with a small approving smile. "Good. Then wait for my owl."
End of Chapter 33 — Tonks' House