Pink Hair and Potions
A/N: as I understand things becoming an Animagus requires study of changing, while a Metamorphmagus (what Tonks is) is born to change. There is no reason to believe that the change into an Animagus would be hindered by the latter gift. If anything it would make it easier. Therefore in my mind Tonks would be a talented in that regard as she would be with changing her appearance. There was no indication where the personal quarters of the professors where or the name of Lucius’s mother so I had to improvise.
September 1, 1977
Eclipse shinning down
A strange gold watch with no chain and old ruins on them
A black leather bound book
The smells of cinnamon and lavender
A woman that she never saw before with travel cloak with a hood that covered her face. She was holding a wooden box with strange markings
She felt like she floating over her body, looking down at her and Tonks. Then she saw Hagrid run over to them and check their pulse and thrown the long jacket he usually wore over them both. She could see him disappear and reappear with Madame Pomfrey and three boys. One with soft brown hair and eyes, one with black hair and eyes, and the last with black hair sticking up in the back and hazel eyes peering out of glasses.
“Bloody hell Moony what happened to them?”
“I don’t know Prongs but we need to help Madame Pomfrey with getting them inside.”
“ They are pretty. I don’t think I have ever seen them before. Where do you suppose they come from?”
“Bloody Hell Padfoot! They need help and all you can think of is a shag! Worry about that later after they get attention!”
Hermione woke up in the morning with a dull ache in her scull. That was a really bizarre dream, she thought. She sat up in bed to find her nightshirt covered in mud. She felt the bed beside her and realized that Tonks was not there. She looked around to see that she was not in Grimmauld Place but in the Hogwarts hospital wing. How on earth was that even possible?
Then she remembered the uses of Padfoot, Prongs, and Moony. Oh Bloody Hell! She could not have gone back in time when they where still at Hogwarts could she?
Madame Pomfrey promptly came in and checked on her. This woman had an uncanny way of knowing when patients where awake. Her question was answered when she saw the now dead headmaster approach her bed. But where was Tonks?
“Ah Miss Granger. So happy to see you awake.” At her confused expression he added “Miss Tonks told me your name and explained to me what happened. She appeared to recover quickly enough. You however took enough time to make Madame Pomfrey worry.”
“Time?”
“Yes Miss Granger, you appeared here two days ago. This is the first time you have opened your eyes. Miss Tonks has kindly consented to taking the Defense against the Dark Arts post. With the fear of meddling with time she has taken the name Dora Johns.
It is probably wise for you not to use your true name as well. She suggested you use Jacobs. She has bought all of the school supplies that you will need. She had mentioned that you never took your seventh year, and it would be best to fit in as a student. Do you agree?”
Hermione was lost for words, she was still trying to comprehend what just happened. All she could manage was a nod. She did not know if it was from the shock of the situation or the fact that the name Jacobs was used. The person presumably a woman that Sirius and Remus spoke of so long ago.
“I am sending a student from Gryffindor to take you your uniform in the case that you are fit to attend the welcome feast.”
“Those must be the boys that helped you and Miss Johns inside, a bit mischievous but harmless. I have told them that it was a spell gone wrong that got you here and that you are from Beauxbatons.”
She could hear it now, how Dumbledore knew people where coming, the thump of heavy boots. Then she saw three figures in the hallway; one brown haired, one black haired and another black haired boy with his hair sticking up in the back. As they come closer her heart stopped at the sight of her friends alive and in their teens. The thumping of boots that she heard in the halls of Grimmauld Place. As they entered she saw that it was Sirius that was wearing the boots, some type of riding boots made out of black leather.
The trio approached her with friendly looks and a type of unguarded curiosity.
Remus had no lines of worry on his face marred with light diagonal scars. Sirius was as handsome as ever, but the haunted sadness in his eyes was gone. She looked up to see James; the man she always knew but had never met but knew by her years of dreams and visions in her youth. Visions was one thing, actual appearance was another. Hermione always knew that Harry looked like his father, but being faced with him, it was unmistakable and very nearly disturbing.
What was the most disturbing to her was that she dreamed something that actually occurred.
“Hello,” she said, “I understand you rescued me and my friend in the woods.”
Sirius gave his customary charming smile “We sure are my lady. I’m Sirius Black, whom you’ve heard of no doubt. This is Remus Lupin and James Potter. What’s your name?”
“Well, thank you, kind sir. My name is Hermione Jacobs, and why would I know of you?”
Both Remus and James tried but were unable to control their laughter upon hearing this.
Dumbledore also smiled but said nothing. “Miss Johns asked me to ask you to meet her at her rooms at the end of the feast. Good Day Miss Jacobs.
“Good Day Sir.”
Madame Pomfrey gave the boys a look.
“Shouldn’t you be settling in your dorms or something?”
“Ah but Madame Pomfrey we needed to check on the lovely ladies we saved. They are our responsibility you know” replied Sirius with a twinkle in his eye.
“Out now! I will not have you working your charms on a girl that is barely conscious!”
Before Sirius could respond Remus grabbed him and pulled him to the door. “Yes grandmother” he said in a teasing tone. James smirked and followed.
***
It was a bizarre situation to be sure. She was being passed off as seventeen years old when in fact she was closer to twenty. It was a good thing that she did not look like she was almost twenty; otherwise she would not be able to pull this off.
She looked up to see a figure in Gryffindor robes with a Head Girls’ pin on her left breast walk into the hospital wing. She was pretty with dark red hair and green eyes…Harry’s eyes.
Lily Evans.
It had to be. She had been head girl, Remus had told her so. Again, a face so familiar yet one she had never meet before today. She came up to the infirmary to help her dress in school robes Lily was sympathetic and seemed to accept her story with ease.
Harry’s mum was helping her out. It was a rather bizarre but warm feeling. Lily was one thing but she had no idea what it would be like around friends that have been dead for two years. Well only one way to find out.
***
Remus, James and Sirius where now sitting with their other friend Peter Pettigrew at the feast. They were telling him about what happened two days ago.
“That sounds pretty strange there Moony. What do you thing was the trouble?” asked Peter.
I don’t know for sure Wormtail, the official story is that it was a spell gone wrong when traveling from Beauxbatons to Hogwarts. I trust the headmaster, but it seems a bit off to me.”
“I wish I could have come with you to move in Remus I would have liked to have seen that”.
Remus gave a sad smile at that. “Be happy that you never where in that position Peter.”
Two years ago Remus lost his parents to Death Eaters when he was still in school. Madame Pomfrey took mercy on him and took him in as a ward. His family disowned Sirius when he refused to adhere to what he called “pure- blood mania". He was disowned and was living on his own ever since. James well James was loved but his parents where older and very little time for him. So the three of them feel into a pattern of returning with Remus and Madame Pomfrey. Since she was staff she always returned two days early. It was on this traditionally early return did that they came across such a peculiar situation.
Peter turned red and stuttered” I’m sorry I didn’t mean…”
“Forget it Wormtail”
“Bloody Hell Moony! Here she comes with Evans!”
Peter looked up to see his friend Lily a pretty red-haired girl walking with another pretty girl with brown bushy hair and brown eyes. A strange look passed her face when she looked at him, like he reminded her of someone she hated, then it was gone. She just smiled and waved to the four of them before Lily gave James a glare and took her to two seats down form where they were sitting.
“ I hear the other one is a professor for the DADA position. Never really caught her name”.
“Padfoot will you grow up! You can’t shag a teacher! It’s lunacy!” exclaimed Remus seeing right through his innocent act.
James rolled his eyes and said nothing. Peter shrugged and went back to his food.
“ I wonder what house they will put her in?” Sirius finally asked when she sat down
“GRYFFINDOR!”
***
Hermione was walking down the familiar hall full of House Banners and their tables below: Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, and Slytherin.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw dark skin and a glint of gold in one ear at the Ravenclaw table. Kingsley! She knew that Kinglsey and Lily and James knew each other but she had no idea they had been in school together! Her heart broke at the thought of him. He was so good, so brave without a care for himself. At the Slytherin table she saw the Black Sisters, all sitting in a row looking as if nothing would tear them apart. Poor Tonks. It must be so heartbreaking for her to see her mother and not be able to acknowledge her Next where the Lestrange brothers, further down the table she saw familiar dark hair and hooked nose. Severus Snape. Her heart almost stopped at the thought of him. She remembered the helplessness as he bleed to death after his attack by Voldemort’s snake and the feeling as though he heart broke into a million pieces. Then they stopped at the table where she had spent all her time in her youth, which felt like a lifetime away, the Gryffindor table. The boys known as the Marauders where there already. When Peter looked at her with curiosity rage boiled in her blood. It took all that she had not to run up to him and strangle him with her bare hands.
Remus and Sirius where sitting next to each other, James and Peter where facing them. Remus gave a small wave, James gave her a Harry-like smile and Sirius smiled and gave her a sexy wink that made her weak in the knees. She just smiled and waved before Lily glared at them James in particular and at her two students down from them.
She now knew what Harry must have felt like the first time he was noticed by everyone, the looks of curiosity and surprise following him wherever he went. The Sorting ceremony was over and they were about to eat.
“Welcome to all the new students of Hogwarts. And to all our returning students, welcome back. Before we start our wonderful feast I would like to make three
announcements. Mr. Filch would like me to remind you that the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds. Secondly we have a new Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, Miss Dora Johns. “Good Luck Professor” He paused as the students politely clapped for Tonks
with a few hard claps and whistles coming from the end of the table where the Marauders sat. “Lastly, we have a transfer student, Ms. Hermione Jacobs, here this year from Beauxbatons. I hope that you will make her feel at home. Now it is time sort her into her house, Miss. Jacobs, if you will”
Funny how time changes things. She remembered how she practically ran to the stool and almost crammed the hat on her head. Now she was frozen and apprehensive. What if she was put in another house? How was she going to be with the Maunders then?
Lily gave her a comforting pat on the shoulder as she got up and started to walk to the familiar stool.
She took a deep breath as the hat was placed on her head. The old hat started to speak in her ear “Oh, it’s you again. Hmm…still loyal to the death I see, still able to beat any Ravenclaw, still have a heart of a lion. I see there is no reason to change my first choice, however.”
“GRYFFINDOR!”
A smile graced her lips for the first time in ages
She was going to be a Gryffindor again with the two best friends beside Ron and Harry that she ever had.
***
Tonks now known as Dora was sitting uncomfortably at the front of the room. Never in a million years did she think that she would be a professor in school, much less a professor in 1977. The way that they had gotten here was unclear, the reason also unclear. She was worried when she woke up and could not wake Hermione.
The headmaster had come in immediately, after being summoned by James. Now that was a strange thing seeing people that you cared for dead.
She remembered falling off her bed in shock at the sight of the old headmaster, she even thought that she was dead for a moment. It took her a moment to realize what truly happened.
She blushing at her state of undress and borrowing Madame Pomfrey’s cloths to go the headmaster’s office where they could talk privately.
She remembered telling the headmaster the truth, “I am Nymphadora Tonks, you can call me Tonks. The friend that came with me is Hermione Granger and we are from the future.” Then she proceeded to tell their story being careful not to reveal things that where crucial for him not to know. No one really should know how he or she dies. Then he said “ Perhaps it would be best if you stay here till we figure this all out. My Defense against the Dark Arts Teacher passed away yesterday and I am hard pressed to find a replacement.”
“I know enough sir I was an Auror once.” Now I’ve done it I practically begged for the job. .
He looked at her and smiled, ‘Thank you Miss Tonks.”
Tonks decided to let herself have her natural look to avoid suspicion. Her natural look as she called it was soft brown hair, and dark blue eyes with a pretty heart shaped face.
Tonks thought to use Hermione’s father’s name Jacob, for her cover name. Tonks used her grandmother’s maiden name Johns.
Dumbledore went to his desk and removed two bags full of money for them both.
“You will need clothing and supplies. Considering you are both essentially orphans I bear no guilt giving you money from the Hogwarts orphans found.”
“Thank you sir. I will get them for both of us now that Hermione is unconscious I hope she is alright, she is asleep much longer than normal.”
Now here she was two days later facing down students wanting to change into her Animagus form and run for the hills. It was strange, she was once an Auror, so she been in many tough situations and keeping a cool head, but facing children she wants to turn tail and hide. It really broke her heart to see Kingsley, her partner and friend sitting there without a care in the world, not knowing the sudden and brutal way he would die. She could see the Lestranges, her hated aunts, and Snape at the Slytherin table. How she wished she could run over and strangle them all. Oh poor Severus. He was so brave, braver than anyone guessed or gave credit for. Then she could see the faces of Hermione and the Marauders. It really must be hard for her too, being so near to their dear friends and pretend they don’t know each other. She felt the same pain when she saw the face of her mother and could not say anything or acknowledge her. The witch took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. Her partner and the headmaster needed her; she could not fall apart. She smiled when people clapped and whistled at her introduction. She was glad Hermione would be back in her old house, a small comfort in a very difficult situation.
***
Later On that Evening
Nothing in Griffyndor has changed much since she was there, the year that she was there, just the Aura for a lack of a better word, was different. The common room always seemed as though it belonged to Harry and the Weasley twins. But now in this time it belonged to the Marauders. They seemed to have had a presence that always-commanded attentions wither the person wanted it or not. It appeared that Harry had inherited that particular ability from his father just as he seemingly got his looks, athletic prowess and magical ability from him. If she did not see that the eyes where different then she defiantly would confuse the two. She quickly took her schedule from McGonagall not wanting to look at her too long. Doing so would bring back the horrid memories of her death and she could not afford to fall apart now.
She could feel Lily before seeing her coming to look at her schedule. “Arithmancy, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Transfiguration, Charms and Ancient Runes. Lily looked over and said, “We are in every class together, how wonderful.” Hermione smiled a friendly face in the classroom was always welcome. Lily was kind enough to help her arrange her things quickly so she could be free to meet Tonks as was requested. Hermione felt strange climbing up the stairs to the personal quarters of the professors where no student was allowed without permission. There was a section all to themselves in the very center of the castle. The older witch’s quarters were not that hard to find it was one of the first doors on the floor. The room was modest but comfortable looking.
She had one outer room that was divided into two areas; on the right was what some would consider a living room where there were chairs and a desk against the wall in the left-hand corner under the window. To the left was a sort of kitchen area where there was a table chairs and stove. There was a small cabinet to the left of the stove for dishware. Tonks emerged from the bedroom in nothing but her black lace underwear smoking a cigarette. Her room had a double bed with a canapé, a modest wardrobe to hold her personal belongings.
Tonks put out the cigarette and guided her to the bed where they both sat down. Tonks took Hermione in her arms and took her with her as she lay down on the bed. Hermione knew that Tonks needed comfort as much as she did so she did not raise any objection.
“This is so bizarre Tonks seeing everyone as they were.”
“Yes it is especially Sirius, Lily and James”
“You met Lily and James?” asked Hermione intrigued
“Yes it was just before they went into hiding. My mum had left home and was friends with Lily Potter. We visited their house once or twice. She was a nice lady, she didn’t deserve to die the way she did” replied Tonks
“Are you alright Tonks? It must have been horrible to see your mum and not acknowledge her,” said Hermione against her chest.
“I am alright Darling it is hard of course but I know how to deal with hard situations”
She replied in reassuring voice.
“What do you think happened Tonks?” The wild haired witch asked as she stroked her lover’s arm.
“I don’t know Love. The only thing certain is that we did not do this on purpose. Ella was a powerful witch from the little I know of her. It is possible that we stumbled over one of her spells” replied the other witch
Tonks must have felt Hermione’s body tense at the name of Ella for she asked, “What is the matter love?”
“Ask me again another time. I just need to be with you tonight. It could be a long time before we are able to be together again.” Begged Hermione in a heartbroken tone of voice.
“Of course love” was her reply as she kissed her with deep passion.
****
Meanwhile at Malfoy Manor
Abraxas finally decided to do the ceremony that he was asked to do that very night. He himself was not exactly sure how exactly the incantation worked he only knew how to perform it. He was asked long ago to do that ceremony the day the Dark Lord erased his own memories of a girl named Helwena Greengrass-Lestrange also known as Ella. He went by the chart that was drawn long ago as guide. He often wondered why the Dark Lord thought it was important to erase all memory of her.
He often wondered if he was allowed to keep his memories of Ella out of a reward, or punishment. He was loyal to the Dark Lord for the better part of his adult life. He however was human and he fell in love with Ella, who the Dark Lord himself was in love with or so he liked to believe. On one hand the times that they had with each other where happy at times took him through the bad times. On the other hand there where times that he wished that he could forget her, how he loved her and the pain that almost killed him when she died so young. He was planing to ask her to marry him when he found her dead in the forest behind Hogsmeade. To this day there was no satisfactory explanation to how she died. The official cause of death was accidental. If she had fallen off a house or a turret then it would have been more plausible. She however was found in the woods, far away from anything that could have accidentally caused her death. The strange part was there was not a mark on her. It was as though she simply fell asleep.
The Ministry no doubt became frightened at all the pure blood prominent names that arose in the investigation including Potter, Black, Lestrange, Longbottom, Crouch that they closed the case calling it an accident. The ministry was always a strong supporter of pure bloods and justice for them. In the case of Ella they did not do as he thought they would. Ella was pure-blood from both sides of her family yet they chose to protect the accused rather than the victim.
He lost all faith in the Ministry after that practically cutting himself off from it.
The blond sighed. He loved her so much but he knew that the road to have their marriage accepted would have been a long one. Her parents as all old blood families where negotiating a marriage contract with other families to ensure the purity of their line. Ella’s stepbrother Rodolphus was being considered so were Orion Black, Amadeus Potter and distant cousin Evan Rosier. The Malfoy family was a pure family but there have been problems with the Lestranges and Malfoys in the past, so far past that he could not remember anymore why, but the Lestranges did and still held the Malfoys in low esteem. Ella was a Greengrass but her father died when she was ten. Her mother remarried Rodolphus Lestrange Senior making her a Lestrange and part of their value system. It was the clearest motive that he could see at the time, someone found out about the love affair and killed her out of a perverse sense of family honor.
The pureblood investigated into it himself when it was clear that the Ministry would be no help and come up to get some answers, but only got more questions.Ella was having secret meetings with the newest Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore and the groundskeeper assistant Rubeus Hagrid. It made no sense for someone like her to talk with such common folk, he could not fathom them having any sort of thing in common to discuss at all. He also found she was doing secret work for the Crouch and Longbottom families that did not add up to her own profession of tutor in Herbology and Divination. The jobs looked like more Arthamacy, Astronomy, Potions and Transfiguration. There was also something mysterious about her meetings with the Shacklebolt and Prince families there were almost no proof of these meetings at all. Why would they take such care to removing almost all evidence of these occurrences? Why? What would be so terrible that she could not even acknowledge meeting them? Abraxas also found out that Walburga Black had an eye on her cousin Orion and was intensely jealous of her. From what he gathered about this woman, she was powerful and vindictive, she easily could have done it or had someone do it for her. She had gotten her wish shortly after Ella was buried. Lastly he found out that one of the brotherhood became obsessed with Ella, following her everywhere, writing her letters, frightening her constantly. She herself never knew who it was, or she did know and was afraid to name him by name. So many possibilities but they covered their tracks well.
The elder Malfoy got up from his winged back chair in his comfortable drawing room that was part of the outer chamber of the master bedroom that he once hoped to share with Ella. The fates had a different plan for him. Instead of an Ella Malfoy sharing his bed and and life there was an Ilsa Malfoy. His wife Ilsa was an adequate match for him. She was from a good family, she knew her duties, never questioned him, and bore him a son, whom they named Lucius. If things where different he might have even loved her, but his heart was stolen a long time ago by Ella. He crept past his son's room to the spiral staircase that lead down to room set up for magic. He hoped he was doing the right thing as he started the complex ceremony that he was charged to do.
All over the wizerding world that night memories of a girl named Ella where awakened for those who had known her, including one with white skin and red snake shaped eyes.