Chapter 3: Taking a WalkNotes:Here is the next Chapter. Hope you like it.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
"Don't run so fast in the hallways Teddy. People work here." Her son slowed down as he kept going from hallway to hallway, getting a feel for the building. Croaker eyed the boy carefully as Teddy checked a few gaps in the walls and even hid in a few for a second before moving forward into the hallway. "Survival awareness turned into a game?" Hazel sighed but nodded. "When it became just us surviving I had a hard time leaving him anywhere alone, even under heavy wards. I took him with me on a few simple supply runs and taught him how to be safe as a game. Best way for a kid to learn, especially one as hyperactive as Teddy, is via games. Keeps his mind occupied with the important stuff, even if it's viewed differently than what an adult would take it." Croaker hummed. "I don't have any kids myself, so I wouldn't know. My great nephew isn't the active type, unless he is in a greenhouse. To business then. Our Legal and Financial Divisions believe they have a good case in claiming the Peverell name and Trust for you and your son. It's not going to earn you the status of a Noble House outright, but you could buy a small house with it."
Hazel shook her head. "Maybe in a year or two. I have a lot to learn about runic warding and while I am good at severing a wizard's head cleanly off their shoulders, something tells me you want me to be more than just an Assassin for hire. Unless that's what you want, then I am good to go." Croaker looked at her from the corner of his eye. "As satisfying as having an Assassin on my payroll might be, I have more need for a well rounded Operative. Tomorrow the Operations Division will be having trials for candidates our Battlemaster has vetted and selected. I will be submitting you myself. Horatio doesn't like it when I involve myself in his business, so he is going to be after you on principle alone. Prove to him you can handle yourself and everything should be fine." Hazel nodded, eyeing the double doors with a sign over the top of them. They had reached the medical wing. "I know you don't usually take requests but I was wondering if you could run a few names for me. I am curious if they are alive and how close they are to the people we knew. You can start with-" Teddy's loud voice cut her off. "Grandma!" Teddy shot off and tackled the legs of a clearly surprised Andromeda as Hazel looked on. "-the Tonks family. Great."
Teddy stared up at Andromeda. "Grandma! It's me! Teddy!" Andromeda looked at the boy and gave him a sad smile. "Sorry young man, but the only person I know by that name is my husband." Teddy's mind froze as he remembered. He remembered Grandma Andi getting sick and tired often. His Mom had stopped going out to find work as she cared for both of them at home, making sure Andi ate well. He remembered getting called in and talking with her one morning seeing her look so frail and weak as she told him how much she loved him. She asked him to take care of Mom for her. He sat in the hallway afterwards, hearing his mom and Grandma Andi argue over something until the room went silent. He poked his head in and found his Mom crying, her wand thrown to the floor. He looked at his Grandmother and felt tears come to his eyes. She had a smile on her face, her hands clasped over her chest and her eyes were closed. He knew. He ran to his Mom and hugged her as the two cried together, knowing they were alone now. His Mom moved him out of the house the next night. He looked up at the woman he knew wasn't really his Grandma Andi and all of those feelings returned. He fell to his knees and cried.
Hazel moved forward and pulled Teddy into her arms. He hugged her tightly. Hazel sighed and rubbed his hair gently. "I know Teddy. It's not her. Not really. How about you let me chat with her to clear things up. She might not be Grandma but she might be interested in getting to know you a little." Teddy nodded into her neck, his voice hoarse and shy. "Ok." Hazel hummed gently to him as they went to the far corner of the room and she sat him down on the closest medical bed. She pulled her backpack off her back and summoned a book into her hand. "Here. Try testing out on some transfiguration exercises. Look over the instructions and try and whisper. It helps in letting your magic not be overused for the simple stuff. When it gets too easy, try Freeform Transfiguration like I taught you." Hazel closed her eyes and waved her hand over the bed beside him, conjuring a variety of materials, including matchsticks, buttons and even a porcupine. Hazel hugged him softly. "You get these right and old McGonagall is going to be pleased. She might forgive you for not being a Lion." Hazel gave him her old wand and ruffled his head before kissing him gently on the head. "I will be right back, Teddy. I promise." Croaker eyed the older witch as Hazel returned to his side. "That explains the Metamorphmagus trait. You didn't know she worked at the DoM?" Hazel gave him a glare. "The Operations Division was scrapped in my world, remember?" Croaker thought about it. "Point taken."
Andromeda eyed the child closely, surprised to see how much he looked like Dora at that age. She looked at the woman as she came up to her. There was no mistaking them as anything other than mother and child after the way she cared for the boy, but the woman's white hair didn't seem natural. When she turned her eyes to her Andromeda felt her heart stop. She knew those eyes. "Lily?" Hazel shook her head. "Sorry, unless you are referring to my middle name, I am not Lily Potter. A pleasure to meet you Madam Tonks née Black. Names Hazel Potter, or at least it was. Croaker here is working on getting us some new identification papers." Andromeda turned and looked at the child. "And your son?" Hazel thought about how much to share. "Edward Potter. Teddy to family." The woman stared at Hazel. "He didn't confuse me with family for no reason, young lady." Hazel's eyes narrowed for a split second before turning to Croaker. "How much is she allowed to know?" Croaker sighed. "Depends what you want to say. She is our Chief Medic." Hazel closed her eyes and tried to bury the flash of irritation that had appeared earlier when she was called "young lady." She hated being treated as anything less than an adult.
Her temper reeled in, Hazel looked towards Andromeda. "Teddy was born to my world's Nymphadora Tonks. She died 3 months after his birth with her husband and I, as his godmother, raised him as my own. With a version of you." Hazel could see Andromeda was having a hard time processing that. The elder woman leaned back against a medical bed. "Tell me everything." Hazel told her about her world, about meeting Tonks and growing to see her like a sister. She refused to mention Remus' name or why they didn't get along. She told Andromeda about a few stories she knew about her youth and Dora's. Andromeda closed her eyes. "We haven't gone to the Hebridean Black Dragon Reserve, but we certainly did take Dora out for a carnival on her 9th birthday and I did dye her hair brown for the day. I didn't want to spend a lot of time casting confunduses at every muggle that spotted her hair changing color." Andromeda looked towards the child as he kept switching the porcupine to a pincushion and back again. He looked a lot like James at that age now that she knew what to look for. "I'm surprised he hasn't been shifting his hair as much." Hazel shrugged. "Teddy was always a bit self conscious about not being my son at first, so he kept shifting his appearance to match mine. After magic began to fade in our world and he had trouble shifting, he settled on that form for almost two years. It's probably a part of him now."
Andromeda hummed. "Nymphadora still hasn't found a comfortable form she can call her own. Not entirely." She eyed the young woman. "What do you want from my family?" Hazel looked at her. "I brought my son here to give him a better life. He now has a chance for that. I don't expect you to take the place of our Andi but… I think he should have a family beyond just me. At the very least he deserves some friends." Andromeda looked at the boy. Hazel's words may ring true about not replacing the woman who helped raise the boy, but there was a part of her that wanted to be a part of the boy's life. Cygnus may have disowned her but she was always a Black and a Black took care of their family. Teddy wasn't her grandson but he was still a Black and a Tonks. He was still family. "If you would allow me, I would like a chance to get to know him. At the very least." Hazel eyed Andromeda carefully, her heart feeling heavy. She knew it would mean a lot for Teddy either way. The constant reminder would hurt but getting to know her again, a healthier and younger version of Andromeda, would probably do him well. Hazel hoped she was making the right choice. "You have my permission, just be careful. He will have a lot of getting used to, being in a world that feels so familiar yet so alien at the same time."
Hazel watched as Andromeda did her best to be friendly as she scanned Teddy and her son did laugh a bit at her jokes, which made Hazel relax a bit. Her turn under the Healer's care took much longer and Hazel could see she was confused by the readings. Croaker spoke up first. "Am I in need of a physical after this?" Andromeda shook her head. "No, both of them were surprisingly free of radiation and pathogens. Teddy will need a few vaccinations to reinforce his older ones. You, Miss Potter, are a bit of an oddity. Teddy's scans were what I expected to see of a Metamorphmagus. Yours are not, not even for a typical witch." Hazel nodded. "Low blood pressure, pulse, oxygen count, body temperature, metabolism and everything else. Andi saw the same in our world." Andromeda noted everything down. "Did she say why?" Hazel hummed. "The best guess we got was the Peverell Family Magic. As the owner of the three Hallows, something changed in my physiology and magic." Croaker choked on a breath and coughed as Andromeda stared at her.
"That would have been something you should have mentioned in the debrief." Hazel looked at Croaker. "Yeah, sure. Hello Unspeakable, I am a mythical Master of Death. Got an aspirin for the splitting headache I got cracking an Archway to work through space and time?" Andromeda fought to contain a laugh as Croaker glared at Hazel. "I see your point, but a heads up would have been appreciated. I am guessing you don't have a clue what being Master of the Hallows does for you?" Hazel shook her head. "I know the side effects because I live them everyday, but nothing beyond that. Hell, the side effects might be all the gift is, which doesn't amount to much other than your typical blessing and curse scenario." Croaker pinched the bridge of his nose. "Andromeda, just get a vial of blood enough for a Family Tree. Legal and Financial want to get the Peverell funds allocated to them quickly." Andromeda drew Hazel's blood and sealed it before giving it to Croaker. She turned to Hazel who had pulled Teddy onto her lap and was tickling him. She smiled at the pair. "You two are cleared to walk the streets, but you ought to be careful who you run into. Since Croaker is sure you will be Peverells, introduce yourself as such. I am sure you can come up with a viable excuse for your absence and return to England."
Hazel nodded and looked at Croaker. "Would being a victim of the war who fled to Canada work as a viable excuse? I can't fake the accent but it's the one country that I remember supporting refugees with the intention of eventual return, at least in my world. My delay could be attributed to this little guy." She tickled her son for emphacize. "Mom!" Croaker nodded and passed her a pouch. "I will get Legal on that but it should work fine. Here, a bit of an advanced withdrawal. Use it to get some new clothes and anything you see your son be interested in. I would avoid "Twilfitt and Tatting's," in case you want to see the coins last you the day." Hazel looked into the pouch. "You guys have a more muggle oriented clothing store? Otherwise I might stop at Gringotts and that might be a bad idea." Croaker was afraid to even ask. "What's wrong with Gringotts?" Hazel waved her hand. "Nothing, if I wasn't the only person to break into our Gringotts twice and get away with it. Our Goblins had it out for me and wanted my head. After I sent back a dozen of theirs they settled down. Nearly having my head chopped off makes me a bit twitchy around them." The silence in the Medical Wing stretched out for a bit until Teddy slapped Hazel's cheek playfully. "You said no more teasing Goblins." Hazel chuckled. "Yes, but I didn't have a reason to walk into Gringotts when I said that."
Croaker could feel a headache building in his skull. "Please Miss Potter, don't antagonize the Goblins. Madam Malkin's Shop has recently expanded into a more muggleborn friendly store with plenty of muggle inspired clothes. It should see to your tastes." Hazel lowered Teddy onto the floor and hopped off the medical bed. "Good to know. We will go check out Diagon then." Teddy rushed out to the double door and Hazel walked out at a steady pace. She popped her head back into the Medical Wing for a second. "Careful with that blood vial. I already had a Dark Wizard use my blood for nasty things. I don't want to hear about Homunculi with my blood running in their veins or wards made from it." Croaker sighed. "Noted. Please be on your way before I decide to get a pensive and retrieve every memory in that skull of yours." Hazel glared at him as she left. Andromeda began to straighten out her documents. "Well, Operations will certainly be busy with her here. That is what you're planning for her, right?" Croaker nodded. "She knows Wizards and Witches better than most in a fight. Be a shame not to foster that into a well rounded skill set. Horatio might curse me for adding her name without his permission but he would outright kill me if I let that much raw talent walk out the door."
Andromeda handed a folder to Croaker. "Your copy of their medical files." Croaker eyed his Chief Medic as she started storing her Healer's kit. "What are you planning to tell your family?" Andromeda turned to him and sighed. "Nothing for now. Nymphadora doesn't have clearance and Ted hasn't completed your evaluation yet." Croaker thought for a second. "Would they believe you if you said you'd do some follow up checks on your patients from today?" Andromeda blinked at her boss. "Who are you and what did you do with my emotionally stunted boss?" Croaker huffed. "Stunted or not, I am giving you a chance to know those two better. Well?" Andromeda sighed and nodded. "It will work. Add in a Mental Evaluation and it will sound solid. I read your note outloud and Ted already thought they were crazy. He thought they had been to Chernobyl." Croaker chuckled. "Oh, I like that. Their world was just as bad, all told. Due try and keep it simple." Andromeda nodded and stepped out of the Medical Wing, her mind on the two new people in her life. Hazel Potter was right though. She had to be careful how she approached the kid. It might be better as a friendly aunt. She started thinking of what to get the boy as presents as she stepped out of the Ministry building and apparated away.
-∞-
Teddy looked around Madam Malkins, trying to decide what else he liked while his Mom was getting fitted in the back. Their original clothes were far too warm for a snowless Britain and it showed on him after stepping out. His Mom had transfigured his clothes a bit before they apparated into Diagon Alley. The place looked nice and felt comfortable, though there were few people walking about, since it wasn't Hogwarts season yet. Mom had said it stayed like that until the war got started, when the shops started to close and people had been too scared to walk under the sun. He hoped Mom and that Croaker guy stopped that from happening again here. He eyed a few clothes that matched what his Mom said were the uniforms for Hogwarts. "Heading to Hogwarts this year?" He turned around and met a pretty redhead girl with a ponytail. "Not yet. I'm only nine. We were out of the country though and needed to get some clothes." The girl eyed him closely. "You look a bit older for nine." Teddy shrugged. "Mom said I grew a bit in the last year, but I am still nine." The girl nodded. "Aunti said I had a growth spurt too when I was nine. My name's Susan Bones. What's yours?" Teddy had to hold his tongue for a second. "Edward Peverell."
Susan offered her hand to him. Edward tried to remember what Grandma taught him about greeting. He held her hand, bowed and blew on her knuckles. "A pleasure to meet you." Susan blinked at him before scrutinizing him again. "You don't look like a pureblood and they are the only ones who greet like that." Teddy shrugged. "Mom's Half but Grandma was from an Old Family. She taught me how to behave when not amongst friends." Susan hummed. "You got a house you want to be sorted into yet?" Teddy beamed. "Hufflepuff." The girl smiled. "Me too! My whole family has been Hufflepuff for years." Teddy nodded. "Grandad and Mama were Hufflepuffs but Mom was a Gryffindor, though she hates her old house. She's a hard worker too so if she got resorted again I am sure she would be a badger." The two chatted for a few minutes about clases with Teddy being careful about not letting anything else slip. He forgot that Mom hadn't gone to Hogwarts here. Whoops. A tall woman with red hair wrapped tightly into a bun and a blue dress joined them at the store and Susan went straight to her.
"Aunti, meet Edward Peverell! He will be a Hufflepuff in two years. This is my aunt, Amelia Bones." Teddy gave her the traditional greeting, earning himself a smile. "A pleasure to meet you, young man. We haven't had a Peverell in Britain for quite some time. Are your parents here?" Teddy gave her a sad smile. "Mama died when I was a few months old. Mom raised me with Grandma since, until Grandma passed. Mom is in the back getting fitted." Susan and Amelia shared a look before Amelia spoke. "Sorry for bringing that up." Before Ted could answer he heard his mother's voice. "Teddy, are you still here?" Ted walked over. "Here Mom." Amelia had to take a double take for a moment. While she knew a few witches who didn't wear robes, the one in front of her seemed to not be concerned with showing too much skin. Her arms were completely uncovered. The woman looked up and seemed to freeze for a second, the green eyes looking vaguely familiar. "Oh, I see you met yourself a Hufflepuff. Madam Bones, if I am not mistaken." Amelia nodded. "Young Edward has been keeping my niece company while I was busy on the street. A pleasure to meet you, Miss… ?"
Hazel eyed her carefully. "Hazel Peverell." Amelia smirked. "Not one for formalities?" Hazel rubbed Teddy's hair. "Ted's Grandmother was raised in an Old Family while I was left to piece everything together on my own. When the war happened, I simply stopped caring about the niceties, though I did learn them prior. Didn't seem to keep the curses from flying my way at the time." Amelia nodded. The look on the woman's face was clear to her. Her eyes were eyeing the exits and the people walking on the street. This was someone like Alastor and Scrimgeour, a survivor of the war. "War's tend to do that. I am surprised to hear your family name." Hazel shrugged. "I wasn't born with it but I had the right to inherit it so I did. Gives my son a bit more protection from the less friendly members of society." Amelia hummed as she remembered who else would be at Hogwarts with her niece. "I don't disagree. Are you looking for work as an Auror? You seem to have the build for it." Hazel gave her a less than friendly grin. "I tried it once elsewhere and I got a lot of complaints about my spell choices and aim. Got approached by another outfit as soon as I landed here and they don't seem as picky. Still working for the Ministry, so you can relax your grip on your holster, Madam Bones."
Amelia blushed a little as she lowered her hand from her wrist. "My apologies. There has been some talk about the less pleasant people of our society making moves of late and I made a wrong assumption." Hazel nodded and turned to her son. "Anything else you want from the store or are we good to go?" Ted mentioned some longer sleeved shirts and long pants and Hazel sent him to the back to get Malkin to find those that would fit him. Amelia watched the woman turn around, exposing a whole lot of naked back before she watched her pull out a blackish green jacket from an extended bag and slipped into it. "Dragonhide?" Hazel gave her a toothy smile. "Basilisk, actually. The snake nearly got me too. My Godmother suggested I wear it as a sign of surviving the worst of the worst." Amelia eyed Hazel with renewed interest. "You sure I can't tempt you to sign up with the DMLE? We could use someone of your skills." Hazel hummed. "Alastor Moody still scaring the Purebloods stiff?" Amelia chuckled. "Indeed." Hazel smiled at her. "Then I am needed elsewhere. Don't worry, Madam Bones. I am sure we will meet again." Amelia watched as the white haired woman walked her son out the store, wondering who might have offered her a job at the Ministry. A name came to mind and she groaned. "Croaker, you better put her to good use, you damned spook."
Later that day Hazel stared into the fogged mirror before wiping it clear with her hand. She bit back a groan as she fought her memories again. The moment Teddy had asked her if they could see the owls, she knew it could happen. It did. A beautiful white snowy owl flew from its perch and landed on the arm she had instinctively lifted up. Those bright yellow eyes stared at her and she had wanted to cry. She wanted to take the bird and bring her home. But it wasn't hers. She had looked the bird in the eye and spoken to it. "There is a boy who just might need you more than me. Please, look after him." Hedwig had moved up her arm and rubbed its face against hers before returning to its perch, leaving the store owner dumbfounded. Wishing to not leave it to chance, she paid for the owl and told the owner it was for Harry Potter when he visited the Alley. She mentioned that if Hagrid or any of the Hogwarts staff entered looking for a present for the boy, to make sure he received the owl. When asked who to say it was from, Hazel thought for a second. "A friend."
It took all of her willpower to make it back to the DoM and reach the bathroom before the tremors started. Tears she had thought were long since used up ran down her face as she sat on the ground and cried. Hedwig had been her first true friend. In some ways, her only friend. Everyone else eventually turned their back on her, abandoned her or worse yet, betrayed her. To them she had only been the Girl Who Lived, Voldemort's chosen equal and his likely doom. They hadn't cared about the little girl who spent years wishing for her parents to take her away. They hadn't cared that she didn't want the name, the fame or the attention. She had just wanted to feel the warmth of a friend. Ron had been nice at first but the jealous bastard had always hated being in her shadow. Hermione had also been there and Hazel did have a crush on her during their 4th year; it ended when the brunette admitted she couldn't love another girl. Hazel had barely anything good to say about her afterwards. They all ignored her when her Godmother died. They all abandoned her after she killed Voldemort for them all. Hedwig hadn't ever stopped caring for her. She stood by her to the end.
-∞-
OW July 31st 1997
"Dora! Get down!" A piercing hex just barely missed Dora as they literally dueled their way up the road to the Tonks residence. Why Hazel had agreed to Mad-Eye's crazy plan, she would never know. When she was safely behind closed doors, she was going to take a Purging Potion. She wouldn't put it past the mad Auror to doze her. Taking her Godmother's flying bike had been a mixed bag of nostalgia and agony for Hazel as she and Tonks dodged the flying Death Eaters in the skies of Surrey. How the bastards knew where she was became clear as she saw a familiar mop of greasy black hair among the sea of black cloaks and green flashes of light. Said Dungeon Bat had followed her through the chaos, despite Dora doing some driving her Godmother would have high fived her for managing. A blasting hex to the side had ripped the enchantments clean of the bike as they reached Dora's neighborhood. Worried about Snivellus attacking them, Hazel had casted a bright Light Charm, enough to briefly blind the bastard as they crash landed.
He and another Death Eater followed after them as they ran down the streets, flashes of red and green being traded between them as they got closer and closer to the warded home. Dora managed to stun the other Death Eater but not before his errant blasting hex knocked Hazel off her feet. She sat up and watched her former Potion Master aim his wand at her. " Avada Kedavra." Hazel had frozen in place as Dumbledore's supposed double agent and spy casted the killing curse at her. She barely registered Dora's screaming her name as the green streak closed in on her until she heard a familiar screech and watched the curse impact Hedwig, her Familiar dropping onto the pavement, perfectly still. She didn't know how she moved or even casted as she couldn't remember anything past the mounting grief, but she knew she blasted Snape's wand and arm clean off his body. She did remember taking his legs out from under him with a wide cutting curse and scrambling to look him in the eyes. "I should have killed you when I had the chance, you bastard!" The man laughed at her. "Stupid girl, I could have killed you many times over as well. In the end we were both living on borrowed time, at the mercy of my master."
Hazel felt her magic snapping against her wand hand. "Maybe we all are, but you just took the last thing you will ever take from me, Snivellus. Sectumsempra ." The cutting curse he invented struck him on the throat and chest, causing him to bleed out quickly. Hazel watched over him until she was sure he died before daring turning to look. Her heart broke instantly as she knelt down to pick up her oldest friend, cradling her in her arms as she and Dora walked into her parent's house. No one spoke a word to her as she cried for hours, her mind flooded with images of the times they spent together walking along the Hogwarts grounds alone in every season. The joy she had felt in calling her name and watching her fly towards her, landing gracefully on her arm or shoulder. She had been her companion from the beginning and now… now Hazel was being asked to continue on without her. Andi sat down with her and plucked some of Hedwig's feathers before making them into a charm. "You need to go. We will take care of her, I promise." Hazel hardly remembered how she moved after that, only that she did. She knew because she remembered sitting in Ginny's room silently, staring at the feather charm Andi had made for her. A permanent reminder of Hedwig. No one dared to bother her, not even as they prepared for that stupid wedding. All she knew now was that she was alone. She was utterly alone.
-∞-
NW June 1991
"Oh, hi Mom. You're up late." Andromeda looked up and smiled at Nymphadora. "Yeah, I had a lot on my mind today." Dora looked at her. "You sure you're ok?" Andromeda stood still for a bit before tapping her empty side of the sofa. Dora walked over and sat down. "Is this about your two patients? Are they ok?" Andromeda nodded. "Mostly. My boss asked me to check on them in the next few weeks to see if there might be some mental concerns. They didn't want to let a Mind Healer check on them." Dora chuckled. "Newsflash Mom, no one likes Mind Healers in their heads." Andromeda gave her a glare. "I studied to be a Mind Healer, you know." Dora smiled. "I can see where that went. No one would want to be under the care of a former Black, but especially in their head. You are all supposed to be insane, remember?" Andromeda sighed. "The fact that you are not wrong doesn't mean you should be so dismissive. Mind Healers are important." Dora nodded. "Sure, but isn't the whole point of Legilimency to be an invasion of privacy? An oath may be enough for some people, but you aren't going to get everyone to trust you just because you said some pretty words."
Andromeda nodded. "I see your point. Anyways, the adult of the pair might be seeing work at the Ministry and it's partly up to me to see them not be a problem." Dora hummed. "Sounds like you are going to have to get to know them better. Maybe after a while they might trust you getting in their head. If not, you can just help them the old fashioned way." Andromeda drank from her cup of tea and eyed her daughter. "I know you don't like talking about it with me but be honest. Would you like to be a mother?" Dora had been about to give her usual answer but she could see how serious her mother was. She tried to think about what being a mother might be like. "I… don't know. I mean I know I can be impulsive and immature so I think I would make a terrible mother." Andromeda sighed. Her daughter had a point. Still … "What about if you woke up pregnant tomorrow, ignoring the impossibility and the absence of another parent. Would you be willing to raise the child as a mother?" Dora eyed her mom, "Please tell me you didn't have an affair and are pregnant right now." Dora yelped as a stinging hex landed on her ribs. "Ok! Just needed to ask!"
Ignoring Andromeda's glare, Dora thought about her mother's question. "I think so. I know I will be terrible and will make a lot of mistakes, but I think I would like my child to at least know me. To know how much I loved them. I don't know. It's weird, thinking about it seriously. I mean, I am going into law enforcement, which means long hours and a lot of danger. You are already mad at me for even trying out at the Academy, I can only imagine how bad I would be actually having to work as an Auror while also caring for a kid. It's why I haven't thought about it at all. If I am going to be a mom, it should be when I can make time for them." Andromeda thought back on what Hazel had told her and what she omitted. She never spoke of the other parent, only that her alternate daughter and they died together at the hands of terrorists. If her daughter and this other version were alike, it meant that the pregnancy was probably unplanned. She spoke of living through a war. The thought of another war made Andromeda grow cold. A war where she lost Ted and Nymphadora, forced to raise a grandchild alone with the child's godmother.
"What's with all the questions, Mom?" Andromeda eyed her daughter. "I know we don't see eye to eye with your chosen career but please, promise me you will take care of yourself. The people I met today… one was a young woman a few years older than you and she was raising her godchild all alone because the child's parents died. It was startling seeing such a lively kid next to a woman that felt so emotionally cold. Auror work is important but it's dangerous too and I am not talking about physical injuries. You could lose yourself in the bad things that happen to others and to yourself. Moody is called mad because of all the horrible things he has lived through. Hell, he is the last one left of both his families and they all died in the war. That sort of life isn't one I want for you, Dora. Promise me you will take care of yourself. Please?" Dora could see the concern in her mom's eyes and she leaned forward to give her a hug. "Ok, Mom. I promise."
Notes:How was it? Hazel's old world wont always be dark and depressing but she has been shaped by all the things that happened to her.
Next Chapter?: DoM Operative Training Day 1
I hate wanting to write but my mind being stuck. Not plot wise, I have outlines, but when I can't write what is in my head down. Very frustrating. As stated, these chapters will be posted with intervals of 3 days, for my sanity's sake. This helps in going back and changing details that I decided were better differently. Recently had to do a lot of revisions as I narrow down my plans for the future. 3 chapters away from end of Year 3. Being stuck here is torture as my outlines are just so appealing to me. Here's hoping I can do better tomorrow.
Leave a comment, discuss and see you all in three days.
Chapter 4: First Day of TrainingNotes:Here we are, the next Chapter. Hope you all like it. Posting Schedule will remain at 3 days per chapter until the moment the story is completed. Might bump it down to 2 when that happens. We will see.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Teddy latched onto his mother's legs from the side as she was cooking breakfast. Her hand touched his hair gently. "I'm good now, Teddy. I'm not going anywhere." Teddy tightened his grip. "You weren't well yesterday. You were hurting." Hazel sighed but kept her focus on the food. Her jaunt down memory lane after meeting Hedwig had dragged her into a breakdown. They were nothing new. She had plenty of them while raising Teddy with Andi. How Andi put up with them she never knew. No, what was new was getting her bearings and finding Teddy hugging her desperately under the running shower. She hated when her son saw her vulnerable. It made her feel like she was failing him. After getting the scrambled eggs onto the plates, she brought everything to the table before pulling her son off her leg and into a hug. "Mom has bad days Teddy, you know that. Seeing Hedwig again brought back a lot of pain. She was my first true friend and Familiar. Getting one is rare enough as it is. She meant a lot to me and having to leave this version of her behind was harder than I thought. I am good now, thanks to you. So how about we eat before I get to go kick some butt." Teddy giggled and nodded. His mom definitely seemed in a better mood.
"You think you can get the job?" Hazel swallowed her fork full of eggs, ham and vegetables. Hazel hummed. "If not, the redheads at the clothes store offered me a job. Lots more paperwork but I might get to annoy more morons. Pretty sure I am getting the job here though." Teddy ate a few more bites. "Do you think I will get my letter? It's not like I was born here." Hazel could feel some concern under her son's words. "I am and if it's late, I promise to go personally to collect it. Might punch an old goat while I am at it." Teddy giggled as Hazel thought about Dumbledore. She hated the man she knew. He had yanked her from a nightmare straight into another and dared to say he cared about her. He constantly judged her against parents she never got to know, all because of his pet Death Eater's fault. She had tried killing Snape after Dumbledore died but bloody Remus Lupin stopped her before she could have sliced his head from his body. Remus told her that Dumbledore had to have a plan for this, that Snape had a mission to do. That lie died the moment the bastard failed to kill her. She spent 6 years tormented by the man for absolutely nothing, all because of Albus Bloody Dumbledore. She hoped the one here was just as bad. She would enjoy tearing him apart.
"Mom, your eyes are glowing again." Hazel sighed and pulled her magic back. Being in a world full of magic again would be a bit harder to get used to. "Sorry, got lost in thought thinking about all the different ways to punch a mean old goat." Teddy giggled. "Can I watch?" Hazel ruffled his hair. "I'll wait until you are old enough and then you ask me again. Until then, no watching Mom beat up bad guys. I get dirty and it's not a good look." Teddy pouted but nodded. "Ok, but you best wait for me to be old enough." Hazel drank her coffee. "I promise to wait. Now, let's see what you can study today while Mom works. Leafsby will be here keeping you company." Teddy ran to the desk in his room and brought out the books he was working on. Hazel told him to work on the Herbology and Astronomy books. "Try sketching the pictures again to help memorize how they look. I will see if we can bring a few real plants here so you can get some real practice before impressing your Hogwarts Head of House." That got Teddy pumped for the class. Hazel had stayed in Herbology all the way to her sixth year because she was used to working on plants but she honestly couldn't care much about them beyond what was medicinal and what was edible. She learned how to deal with the dangerous ones quite early.
Seeing the Astronomy textbook, Hazel looked at Teddy. "The Andromeda here wants to get to know you. She will never be Grandma Andi, but she could still be family if you want. Croaker will have her be here once a week at least. Do you want to get to know her better?" Teddy thought about it. "Does that mean one day I get to meet this world's Mama?" Hazel nodded, feeling her heart grow heavy. "She's here, probably just as clumsy and crazy as yours." Teddy swung his feet under the table. "I… think I would like to know her. I wouldn't mind knowing the rest of the Tonks too. I never did get to meet Grandpa." Hazel kissed him on the head. "Kay, then you best get through that Astronomy book. Dromeda here is just as much a Black as Andi so you need to know your stars." Teddy nodded and got started on some reading as Hazel stood up and went to wash the dishes. Leafsby popped in. "Mistress leaves washing to Leafsby. Mistress has work." Hazel sighed and lowered the sponge. "Alright Leafsby, but next time ask. Dishwashing can be a decent stress relief for the annoyed." Leafsby nodded and started to wash the dishes with magic as Hazel hugged Teddy from the back and kissed his hair. "Take care, son. I will be back by dinner. Leafsby will have your lunch ready. Hopefully after today I will be having lunch here too." Teddy waved at her as she left the Apartment. "Later Mom. Show them what you got!"
-∞-
Dora looked around the massive training room. She knew the Department of Mysteries would have a lot of weird stuff, but a large training room bigger than the Great Hall of Hogwarts was something unexpected. Her attention and those of the other candidates was drawn to the man who had shown up to recruit her, his head now on full display, the man sporting a very short haircut that displayed a massive scar across the top of his skull over greying hair. His eyes jump from candidate to candidate, as if gauging them again, his jaw claw clenching and unclenching. "Alright everyone! You all signed the papers so we can all get started. The name's Horatio and I am your Instructor straight out of Hell. I am here to make sure each and every one of you is worth putting real effort into. I don't care about blood, skin or what kind of junk you have in your pants or your heads. You give up, you're out. You get seriously hurt, you are out. You do the work, I work you harder. Maybe if you work hard enough, we start paying you. Got it?" The Candidates nodded, including Dora, who was currently feeling a lot less confident about managing this gig. Horatio's eyes landed on someone behind her. "Saul, what did I say about sticking your nose in my business? Get that person out of here."
Dora turned her head a little as she heard a man chuckle. "Trust me Horatio, this one can take all you got. You'll kill me if I let Amelia have her. They already met and she offered her a job less than ten minutes into a simple chat." Dora saw Horatio's eye twitch. "Fine! Let's see if you can all crack it. Draw your wands, aim at the targets behind me and cast a Killing Curse." Dora's stomach dropped as his words registered fully. What? One of the other candidates, a guy, spoke up. "That's illegal." Horatio walked up to the guy and stared him in the eyes. "Outside this room without a license, you are damned right it is. You cast it at a person here, I will personally send you off to meet your maker right after. Sadly, the Dark Witches and Wizards out there won't hesitate to hit you with an AK, and neither will one of our own if you end up on the other side. As Operatives, you will find yourselves in a fight to the death more often than not, so I want to see you give it your all. You can't be squeamish and you can't be expected to get out of every fight with your hands clean. They never stay clean for long. So get on the line and start cursing." Dora sighed and did as she was told. She drew her Ebony wand from her wrist holster and tried to remember what Moody taught at the lecture. The Killing Curse needed hate and power. She visualized Bellatrix, her mad Aunt responsible for so much death. She focused on building up the hate before she casted. "Avada Kedavra." No curse came from her wand.
The result was repeated all along the candidates. "Come on! You all have at least 17 years of life. An abusive family member, an ex, a bloody bully. Anyone of them can be enough. Get that feeling up and Cast!" Dora tried over and over again and nothing. She wanted to scream at the coach when she felt a hand touch her shoulder. "If hate's not doing it for you, try mercy." She turned and froze. Standing beside her was a woman that she could only describe as beautiful, from her bright green eyes to her puffy lips. She had to pull away when her eyes wandered lower because she was wearing a halter top shirt, some hot leather pants and a sweet leather jacket. The woman was everything she ever found cool and hot wrapped into one package. It was a good thing she was a Metamorphmagus and she remembered, otherwise she would be as red as a tomato. The woman's words came back to her and she frowned. "Mercy?" She looked over, doing her best not to drool as the woman nodded. "The Killing Curse didn't start out as an Unforgivable curse. It's not painful or devastating. It is death in its purest form. You can kill just as easily with a cutting hex and a piercing charm, let alone the nastier curses."
Dora thought about it and could see the point. "Still, how does mercy work?" The woman sighed and had a far off look to her face. "Think of the person that means everything to you. They are lying in a bed, consumed in everlasting pain and misery. There is no cure, no fix. Only pain. You have the means to end it. Two words, the certainty that they need to die and it's done. That was one of the origins of the Killing Curse. Hate makes it easy to cast for those who are full of hate, but if you can't hate someone enough, then focus on your love. Love them enough that you are willing to let them go. Send them on their way. A mercy killing. Try it." Dora took in her words and focused. She saw her parents, strapped to a medical bed screaming in pain, begging to die. She heard the pleas over and over again until all she could think about was giving them relief. Mercy. " Avada Kedavra. " Her eyes stared at the target in front of her as a jet of cyan light shot out of her wand and struck the target dead center. She heard a noise come from the wall like an alarm and saw Horatio walk towards her. "Not bad, Candidate. Not the usual color but the target registered the spell as a legitimate Killing Curse." Dora blushed, "Thank you, sir, but I did get a little help."
Horario's eyes latched on to the woman with the white hair. "Interesting. Care to cast it yourself, Hotshot?" The woman looked at the instructor, one of her eyes raised in question. "That an order, sir ?" Dora shivered at the cold response. Horatio didn't seem fazed by it. "It is. Draw your wand and hit the target." The woman stepped into the spot beside her and Dora froze. The woman raised her arm without a wand. Horatio growled, "I said draw… " His words ended as the woman spoke the words. " Avada Kedavra " and the curse shot out of her hand, a dark green unlike any spell Dora had ever seen before striking the target. The noise from earlier was repeated, indicating a successful cast. Dora dared look at the Instructor and she took a step back. He looked furious. "Care to tell me why you didn't draw your wand?" The woman grinned at him, showing a lot of teeth. "My AKs tend to be overpowered. Without a wand they work fine, with a wand you might be looking to replace the target, or the wall behind it. I would rather not kill someone just because my spell pierced one of your walls." Dora shivered down to her toes, utterly confused as to why she was both terrified and aroused.
The instructor looked to Dora. "Cast it several times until you are tired. I want to know your limit right now. We will work on getting it higher in time." He gave the woman next to her a measured look before turning back to the rest of the candidates. Dora released a breath she hadn't known she was holding. "Thanks for that." The woman turned her green eyes back to her and Dora had to fight a blush. They were very pretty eyes. "No problem. It's not the easiest spell to learn to cast without being a prick or having a shitty life." Dora nodded and turned back to the target. She managed five more successful casts before she felt winded. Horatio called them all back into a line in front of him and he started pacing. "Hardly any of you managed to cast it. If you think you could do it in a week, then you can stay and keep trying until then. If you know you can't do it then you know where the door is. I suggest you go now." Dora watched half the Candidates leave, leaving only a few others besides her and the scary woman. The man nodded and stepped further back. "Staring from my left, I want you to come up here and take me down. Non-lethals only. You have two minutes before I retaliate. Begin."
Dora felt her jaw almost go unhinged as Candidate after Candidate came up and failed spectacularly as the Instructor blocked every spell with shield after shield before two minutes passed and he then stunned them with great ease. She was about to step up when the woman beside her spoke up to her. "Don't be stupid and make sure you move around. No one is supposed to beat him, you're just supposed to show him you know how to think in a fight. He's been doing this for years." Dora nodded and took her position before she started casting. Like before, all the spells hit a shield and her time was getting shorter before started casting at her as she moved around the mat. She thought carefully and casted Aguamenti at the floor before casting Glacius, earning her a look of interest from the instructor before he started casting. The woman had been right, she dodged hard and fast, casting at him as much as she could before raising a few shields, some that broke instantly on contact with a spell. Dora tried an overpowered banishing spell that forced the Instructor to step out of his spot. Her iced over floor failed, though, as he took a long jump that landed him outside of it. The distraction ended with her getting a stunner to the face.
Horatio's face was the first thing she saw as she woke up. "Not bad at all, Candidate. Your trap was shit but you thought around the issue better and you got me out of my spot. Thinking like that will get you far. Next." Dora sat up and watched the white haired woman take up her position on the mat. "You know any non-lethals, witch?" The woman grinned. "You mean useless spells numbers 1 through 10? I do, but I might be rusty." Horatio grunted and took up a defensive posture. "Begin." Dora stared at the scene in front of her. The woman charged straight at the Instructor and the two got into a magicless fist fight. The man looked decidedly surprised at first before he responded with his own fists and kicks. He clearly knew how to fight better with his fists and legs than the woman, but she kept pace with him, the two landing a few blows on each other. The moment the alarm sounded for two minutes, things got even weirder as the woman conjured blades into her hands without uttering a word. The Instructor kept trying to get distance, casting cutting spells and stunners, all of which were suddenly blocked by slabs of stone coming from the floor. "Gods damn it, witch. Cast some proper battlemagic so I can evaluate you!"
The witch jumped a bit of a distance back, raising several slabs of stone in her wake. "You asked for it!" She drew an odd yet familiar looking wand out of somewhere and started swinging it wildly around. Horatio looked on unsure until he looked up and he started cursing under his breath. Dora watched in stunned silence, as did the rest of the candidates, as metal spears started raining down onto the mat, the Instructor dispelling and dodging as many as he could, though a few clipped his arms and thighs. Dora turned and looked at the white haired witch who kept circling around, looking for a good shot, her wand constantly in motion. She watched the witch cast a wide cutting curse that forced Horatio to duck underneath it before he casted a massive dispelling spell over and over again. Because the cutting curse had sliced through the embedded spears and created new ones to launch straight at him. Eventually Horatio had enough. "That's it! Stop!" The witch flicked her wand and all the spears vanished in an instant as Horatio glared at her. "I said non-lethal!" The woman twirled her wand. "A spear to the leg is non-lethal, as is one to the hand, the foot, the lungs and your shoulders. Only two targets on your person to miss and it's all non-lethal. Lungs and major arteries are only lethal if your stupid and pull it out, but you don't strike me as a moron."
Dora watched the Instructor rub his face. "Alright! All of you just got an impromptu demonstration of what a real fight is like. I don't expect you to match it but I expect all of you to beat your previous time every two days for two weeks straight. If you feel you can't manage it, walk away. This ain't the Academy or Hogwarts. I ain't here to hold your hands all the way. I am here to take the best of the best and make them better. Now I want twenty laps around this entire room starting now!" The few remaining Candidates started jogging around the Training Room, including Dora. She did have to bite her tongue as the hot witch jogged up a bit more ahead of her, her back fully exposed after she had taken off her jacket. She had to squash a thought of how it would feel to run her hands over that back. Dora sped up a little to be next to her. "Where did you learn to fight like that?" The witch shrugged. "Fighting wizards whose prefered spells were AKs and Torture Curses. Most of them forget Conjuration and Transfiguration can be used for fighting too, including offensively. Got to say the Instructor surprised me. Never met a Wizard who actually practices physical combat before. This might be fun after all." Dora shook her head. "Well, you certainly make it look fun. Name's Tonks. Just Tonks." The woman gave her a grin. "Hazel Peverell. By the way, nice trick with the ice. Next time, try making icicles and launching them. You might hit something." Dora chuckled. Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea after all.
-∞-
"Saul! What the hell did you just dump on my lap!" Saul grinned as he took his coffee spiked with a bit of whiskey. He had a feeling he'd be seeing Horatio soon. "So, how did she do?" Horatio slammed his arms on Saul's desk, "The hell you don't know! You had to have watched the whole thing from the start!" Croaker stared at his Division Head. "I do have better things to do than watch a few Candidates train, Horatio. I didn't stick around and watch. So, how was my Candidate?" Horatio growled. "You didn't send me a Candidate. You sent me a Wizard Killer. The woman nearly took my head clean off with a few conjured curved blades and actually nailed a few hits with conjured spears." He showed Croaker the gashes on his arms, making the DoM director hum. "Sounds like you got yourself an Operative in the making." Saul grunted and sat down, swiping the bottle whiskey and serving himself a shot. "The woman's killed before. Her AK is the darkest I have ever seen and she only pulled out her wand when she had to do multiple Conjurations at once. I haven't had a Conjurer stalemate me for 15 minutes straight since before my days upon the Circuits. Where the hell did she come from?"
Croaker thought about what to say. "She just walked into the Ministry two days ago." Horatio glared at him. "The longer explanation, please." Croaker chuckled. "She walked out of the Veil in the Death Chamber with her kid two days ago." Horatio coughed as he swallowed the liquor down the wrong pipe in his throat. "That's the witch that got the Death and Transportation Divisions at each other's throats?" Croaker nodded, grinning. The chaos was a bit much for his taste, but seeing his Division Heads excited was always a pleasure. They were all here to expand their knowledge after all. "I thought about asking her to replicate her stunt with the Archway, now that it got reseted, but if what you just said is true, I think I will wait for her to be in a better mood. If you're wondering what she got up to on the other side, she got dragged into a war at the age of 11 and ended up as a mother by 17. She's been killing her way to keep herself and her son safe ever since." Horatio nursed his drink. "You sure you want me to train her to be an Operative? We might just make the next Dark Lady. I fought Voldemort once and I can tell she is either his equal or his better. She just needs work." Saul tapped his cup of coffee. "So far I don't think she will become a Dark Lady. A rampaging Killing Machine if something happened to her son? Absolutely. But not a Dark Lady."
Horatio grimaced after taking the last of his alcohol in a shot. "You best make sure that kid is safe then. I stalled her when all she was doing was having fun at my expense. She has no finesse and her fighting form is shit but the witch has power and drive. I'm willing to help shape her, but I will not be getting in the way of her should she turn. I may be rough, but I am not suicidal." Croaker nodded. "Any other Candidates of note?" Horatio leaned back. "We got seven total Candidates sticking with the first two weeks of trials. Your witch should be fine. The Tonks' Metamorphmagus might make it, especially if she listens to her new friend." Croaker stilled. "You scouted Nymphadora Tonks?" Horatio waved his hand, "Of course I did. Had to see if she could hack it. Mad-Eye had his eye on her, meaning she might make it. Your Witch taught her how to do an AK for the first time in less than 5 minutes, a cyan one." Croaker rubbed his face. "You do know Andromeda works here, right? When word reaches her that you're training her kid, that cut on your arm may just get infected." Horatio hummed. "True, but if Nymphadora makes it, Andromeda's kid will probably live through a war just fine."
Croaker leaned back. "Well, it's a good thing the two witches are getting along. The kid that came through is Nymphadora's too, from the other world." Horatio served himself one last drink before corking the bottle. "Is the kid any good as a fighter?" Croaker glared. "He is bloody nine and his mother would fillet you alive for suggesting that. We just talked about not pissing her off." Horatio shrugged. "True, but only so much you can do to keep someone safe. Training beats all other options." Croaker finished his coffee and eyed the bottle of whiskey before setting his cup down, storing it in his desk drawer. "That may be but let him be a kid for a while. His mother has given us some warning about the things that happened in her world and we and the ICW Observers are going to look them over and try and avoid a Nuclear Winter. Your job is to get her up to shape. If her world is any indication, Voldemort ain't dead and we have a few short years before he starts making trouble for us all." Horatio stood up and placed the shot glass on the table. "Better get to work then." Croaker watched him open the door to his office and step out. "And Horatio? Go get those cuts looked after. You're bleeding all over my floors."
-∞-
Hazel dropped onto her bed, fully intending to go to sleep after a long day of workouts and a filling dinner with her son. That thought ended when she felt her bed dip slightly and the weight of a nine year old settled onto her back. "Did something happen? You were quiet at dinner." Hazel groaned playfully. "Found this world's Nymphadora in the Candidates Training." A long silence lingered until Teddy broke it. "Oh. What was she like?" Hazel thought for a second. "Young. She's barely 18 or 19 years old and has a lot to learn about casting magic. A good thinker and fast on her feet, though her tripping problem might be worse here. Of the twenty laps we did today, she tripped in ten of them." Teddy hummed. "You think she could get to know me?" Hazel gave it some thought. Her insecurities reared up and she questioned whether Teddy knowing the Tonks was a good idea before she buried the thoughts. If she were Teddy, she would have done anything to know a version of her parents. Teddy had a chance at knowing a close version of his birth mother.
"In time. Like I said, she is young and thinking about getting a career first. We did talk a bit at least. Once she gets out of training and gets clearance, then we should be able to tell her. We might want to ask Andromeda too." Teddy nodded and moved his body until he was sitting on Hazel's upper back. "You know, massages are supposed to be somewhat pleasant." Teddy giggled before he yelped as Hazel lifted herself up, causing him to fall on the bed. He then started laughing as Hazel tickled his chest. "Mom! Quit it!" Hazel pouted but stopped before laying down on her side. "Still want to spend the night here?" Teddy nodded. "My room is nice but it just feels weird being so far away from you." Hazel could see that. Even after all the suffering she endured at the Dursleys, she had some trouble sleeping in a bed rather than in the cupboard for her first year. She thought for a second, "How about the first break I get, we go looking for a furniture store? Then we can buy some things to make it feel more like your room. Then I can spend the night with you. Get you used to the place?"
Teddy snuggled into Hazel and yawned. "Sounds nice." Hazel watched carefully as her son slipped into a light sleep as she pulled the blanket over him. She thought about what the next few days had in store for them and how these would just repeat themselves over and over again. While surviving on food she spent weeks hunting wasn't a pleasant experience, there had been a peacefulness to it. Here she would be surrounded by noisy people, doing the same thing day in day out. The more she thought about it, the more she realized how unusually dynamic her life had been. The longest stretch of monotony had been when she took out people for money. Most days she spent home with Andi and a very tiny Ted, chasing him in his animagus form every time he refused to bathe. Those would be interrupted by requests for a kill. The ones she agreed too were dead within 24 hours, just so she could go back home faster. She hoped Horatio wasn't too boring, or she might just spend more time with Teddy. On the other hand, Nymphadora needed to complete the trials if she was to get the clearance to meet Teddy. Hazel sighed as she hugged Teddy and started slipping into sleep. Nothing was ever easy, was it?
-∞-
Nymphadora looked at the front door of her parent's house. After her long day of working out and casting curses she never expected to ever cast, she had decided it might be a good idea to hit a bar. It was odd though. She thought about getting wasted but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She drank a bottle of beer and half of another before she decided to come home. She knew she was tired. Her legs were killing her, as was her back. More than that, she was magically exhausted. The shift she kept on her body kept failing a bit. So she prioritized. Her hair grew a bit long and regained some of it's waves, but it stayed pink. Her eyes… those she kept a close watch on. She refused to let her eyes take their natural color. As she drank the rest of her bottle, she chastised herself. She wasn't 11. She shouldn't be afraid of her eyes. But she couldn't bring herself to let the shift fall. Dora sighed and almost drew her wand before she remembered. Her parents lived in a muggle neighborhood and she wasn't in the wards yet. She took a few steps forward until she felt the magic was over her flesh. She drew her wand and vanished the bottle before freshing her breath.
She opened the door and saw her parents look up from the coffee table, a mess of papers strewn about. She remembered that it was just about time for the bills to be paid. "Hi Mom, Hi Dad. That time of the month?" Ted gave his daughter a shudder. "Phrasing Dora." Andromeda shook her head, "Please. That was on purpose. How was your first day, dear?" Dora smiled. "It was good. Lots of exercise and lots of casting. The Instructor seems to know his stuff. Got a few weeks to go before we get told if we hack it for the special program or not." Slipping to the kitchen for a second to drink some water, Dora came back and found her mom eyeing her closely from the entryway. "You tripped." Dora blushed. "A bit." Andromeda sighed as Ted came around with his stack of papers all wrapped together. "Please Andromeda, you know it's going to happen." Watching the two of them chatting made Dora's heart warm. She closed her eyes, the imagery she used to cast the killing curse coming back to her mind. Her eyes watered as soon as she opened them and Dora pulled her parents into a hug. Andromeda stilled, knowing her daughter rarely initiated a hug. That was usually Ted. "You alright, Nymphadora?"
Dora nodded as she pulled back, rubbing her eyes a bit. "Yeah. Our workout just had a few rough moments. I just… I wanted you to know that I love you two. I love you so much." Ted pulled his daughter in for a tighter hug. He kissed her hair. "We love you too, Nymphadora." Andromeda soon followed and kissed her daughter on the cheek. "You should go take a warm bath, if not a shower. You feel a bit cold. Will help get that beer out of your system too." Dora blushed. "Ok, Mom." Dora went up the stairs gingerly before reaching the bathroom, stripping out of her clothes completely. Leaving the water in the shower running until it got warm, Dora looked in the mirror, her appearance shifting. She shuddered, hating what she looked like. She hated who everyone compared her to. She shifted her eyes back to match her dad's before stepping into the shower, feeling the warm water mark all of her sore muscles. Especially her knees. She knew this was just the first day. The training would get longer and harder. She would follow through with it as long as she could. While being an Auror had been her dream, being an Operative seemed so much more. She hoped she could do it. She just had to cast the killing curse and all the other nasty ones without turning into her. She'd settled for not getting emotional every day after casting them either.
Notes:So, what did you think? Horatio is my reimagining of Horace from FFN lorddwar's "Harry Potter and the Summer of Change." It's one of my favorite Harry/Tonks fics and I always wanted a sequel. Oh well. That fanfiction is part of my inspiration for this story and how I fell in love with the pairing. He and another character will be recuring characters as I expand Operations to include more people. No memory for this chapter, though we did have the fallout for the last one. Also, I learned a lesson. Don't write an emotionally driven moment/traumatic expirience at 2am in the morning. Sleep left me alone for several hours after. Not fun. Not saying what chapter it is, but trust me, its written. It will have a warning attached to it when its posted.
Next Chapter?: everyone settles in.
Yesterday was prime example why I am posting this story a bit slowly. I completely reworked the ending outline as I considered what I wanted from this story, while I try to figure out how to make the Triwizard Tournament more exiting, unique and with a purpose. There are a lot of awesome reimaginings out there and its so hard finding something that doesn't lean to heavily in any direction. Having that headache caused me to look at the end of year 4-6 and wonder what I wanted. I want it to be meaningful. So I scrapped my last one and remade it. I am now happier with what I have planned, atleast up to the end of year 5. Just need to get the Tournament on track.
Anyways, hope you are liking this so far. Leave a comment, discuss and I will see you all in 3 days.