1 Fic; No Challenge
Title: Class Divisions and Forbidden Love | Part 1
Summary: Nymphadora Tonks is being sent to her mother's family's estate for the summer. She knows her mother and family have hopes of finding her a suitable husband, but is it possible she's going to fall for the last person they'd want her to?
Characters/Pairings: Remus/Tonks, Sirius, Andromeda, others.
Genre: romance, period fic
Rating/Warnings: pg
Word Count: 2027
The carriage rattled along the gravel road, and Nymphadora Tonks looked out the window, her eyes resting on the morbid clouds over head. Sighing, she sat back, glancing at her mother. This was all her idea, all her fault.
She could have stayed in London. She knew the city; she liked the city. But her mother had insisted that this summer they stay with her pureblood relatives, who, of course, did not live in a city teeming with muggles. Instead, they lived in a large manor house outside of Yorkshire.
She was dreading it. Absolutely and completely dreading it.
She knew what her mother’s relatives were like. Snobby, upper class. If she were not her mother’s daughter, she would be no better than a servant to them.
Self consciously, she checked herself in the window again.
Her hair was long and dark, curling in loose ringlets past her shoulders; her natural hair, just the way she hated it. But her mother had said not to show off her metamorphmagus powers, and so she was trying to fit in as much as possible. Her heart shaped face was whiter than usual, and the smattering of freckles across her nose stood out all the more vividly for it. Her dark, bright eyes were a stark contrast as well.
She wore a dress of navy blue, with short white sleeves and a lace collar. The new corset bit into her back, and she had to concentrate on taking short, shallow breaths. She hated fashion; at home she often wore men’s clothes, or if she did wear dresses, they were never with a corset. Breathing, she thought, was so undervalued until one had to wear a corset. She wished she could be in her familiar shirt and waistcoat and trousers; so much more practical and comfortable. But mother had refused to let her bring them. Instead, she’d been given a whole case full of new dresses, in pale blues and deep violets and emerald greens and ruby reds. They were beautiful; but it seemed ridiculous that she should need a whole new wardrobe to visit her extended family.
“Nymphadora dear, it’s just for the summer, don’t look so depressed!”
She glanced back at her mother, who clearly didn’t understand. Three months! Three months being watched and judged and appraised; all in the hopes, she knew, of finding her a suitable husband.
That was what this whole trip was about, really. Finding her a pureblood husband who would be able to give her a comfortable home. It was all a bit hypocritical, she thought. Her mother had run off with a muggle born, and they were happy enough, well off enough. But Andromeda wanted better for her daughter, apparently.
“And you’ll be able to meet your cousins, Sirius and Regulus. You’ll like them.”
She scrunched up her nose. “They’re so much older though.”
Andromeda rolled her eyes. “You’ll have plenty in common, don’t you worry. Maybe they’ll take you out riding.”
The prospect didn’t excite her so much as it usually would. She didn’t want to imagine what these cousins of hers might be like. Merely thinking of all the relatives she would have to meet was making her feel ill. And then there was the servants. She knew what to expect of course; whole teams of them running the house while they weren’t looking. In London, all they’d had was a cook, a serving girl and a chauffeur. So many more seemed ridiculous! After all, she was perfectly capable of dressing herself.
“There it is darling, just through those trees.” Her mother pointed one gloved finger out her window, and with an unwilling eagerness, she leaned forward.
It was a magnificent house. All ancient stone and spires, it was easy to tell that parts of it used to be a medieval castle. Much as she was loathe to admit it, she would enjoy her time here, despite everything. If she could just get out for an hour or two by herself each day... it would all be worth it.
The carriage drew to a halt, and the butterflies in her stomach grew more intense as she saw the long line of people waiting for her, and she realised she had forgotten to pack a single hat.
She took the footman’s hand and begged herself not to trip over the hem of her skirt as she stepped out. For once, she managed it. Taking as deep a breath as her corset would allow, she stepped forward and was led to the family she had never met.
She was able to pick out her cousins and aunts quickly enough; her mother had told her all about them. That one must be Sirius; his shirt tails were un-tucked, his dark hair long and dishevelled. His eyes, however, were alight with curiosity. Beside him was Regulus, hair brushed back, well dressed and looking utterly bored. After looking her over, his eyes returned to the surrounding trees. At the other end of the line of people was Narcissa, her blonde hair a sudden shock amongst the rest, all of whom had hair at least as dark as her own. Her small son stood in front of her, looking properly haughty. Her sister, Bellatrix, stood beside her; all wild curls in a dress as black as midnight, she did not seem pleased to see her sister and niece again.
The rest of them were strangers to her. Various Uncles and Aunts and cousins, she was sure. And of course, the owners of the manor house; her grandparents. Apparently it was a regular thing for most of the family to converge there over the summer months, not that they had been invited before.
“It’s Nymphadora, is it not?” Her grandfather Cygnus and grandmother Druella did not look too impressed with her. She wondered if there was something visually unappealing- had she forgotten to button her dress? Or was it simply that they all knew who and what her father was? A muggleborn. They had standards, these old families, and if she couldn’t meet them... well, what use did they have for a half-blood then?
“Please, call me Dora.”
They didn’t say anything to that. At least she hadn’t told them to call her Tonks, as all her friends in London did. Then she was sure they would have been shocked.
She had to wait patiently while her mother spoke to everyone, and introduced her; so many names that slipped away from her as soon as she moved on to the next one. Her mother had been right though; she did like Sirius. He was cheerful and cheeky, sending her off with a wink after telling her he had been disappointed that she hadn’t turned up with green hair. He had promised to take her riding as well, and to show her the surrounding forest. According to him, it was full of all sorts of monsters that a lady wouldn’t want to run into alone. She’d laughed at that, telling him that it was a good thing then that she was not a lady.
Being shown her room was somewhat like trying to find her way through a maze, and Tonks wasn’t sure that she would remember the way back down at all. But her room was comfortable enough, and she was introduced to her ladies maid, Anna, a pretty young blonde girl who promised to come as soon as she could if she rung the bell.
They hadn’t had a bell in their London house.
Everything was so new and strange; it was a relief to be able to sink into bed. Beds, at least, were the same in every house.
She had to join the family for breakfast the next morning, and she was gruelled with questions about her house in London, her friends, her education, her hobbies... it was all so nerve racking, especially seeing how everyone’s faces fell when she told them that since she had just finished Hogwarts, after the summer she was intending to train to be an auror.
Well, everyone’s face but Sirius’. His eyes glowed and a grin spread across his face. It didn’t leave for the remainder of the meal.
She had left the room as quickly as was possible, but he caught up with her.
“Dora! Wait!” she did so, smiling as he climbed the stairs towards her. “I was wondering,” he said breathlessly, “If you wanted to be shown the forest today? Its quite safe in daylight, I promise.”
She rolled her eyes at his smirk. “Thank you. I’d like that.”
Back in her room, she changed into her riding gear; new as well. A long skirt, this one without hoops of any kind for which she was grateful. Her mother had packed her a matching blouse and a red velvet jacket as well, and she pulled them on before heading downstairs, her hair still long and dark and tumbling over her face before she pushed some of it behind her ear.
She nearly laughed out loud when she saw Sirius and a man she guessed must be his valet, standing next to three horses; it was obvious which was to be hers from the side on saddle.
She raised an eyebrow at her cousin. “I don’t ride like that, you know.”
“You ride like a man?”
She shrugged. “its easier.” She’d been taught that way by her father; skirts were really no hassle, even though everyone assumed they were. And she often wore trousers riding anyway.
“Here, take my horse, Ill go change the saddle.”
Her breath stopped as she took the reins from him; she couldn’t help it.
He was handsome enough, with sandy hair that fell into his eyes and blue eyes like the sea on a summer afternoon. His clothes were old but neatly patched and fixed, but it was his face that drew her attention. Three long scars raked across it, strikingly red against the white of his skin.
She gave a short smile that fell from her face when he walked away with the other horse.
“Don’t stare, please. He hates it.”
“Oh- oh of course.” Tonks bit her lip. “But what happened to him?”
Sirius looked away, mounting his horse. “He was attacked. By a wolf.”
“That's terrible.” She mounted her own horse, pulling it round to face her cousin. He just shrugged.
“He won’t be long. Come on, we’ll stick to the path till Remus catches up.”
The headed towards the forest, but she couldn’t help looking back towards the stable, hoping for another glimpse of Remus. Despite his scars, he was still handsome. And he seemed genuinely kind.
She wished it wasn’t just the servants and Sirius here who were like that.
Remus caught up quickly, and Sirius led them off the path, although the track still looked well travelled. As they rode, he told her stories of the monsters that were said to live here; trolls, werewolves and vampires, kelpies and merpeople in the lake at the forests centre. Bowtruckles who would gouge your eyes out soon as look at you. Hinkeypunks who would try and lead you into the boggy marshes that lay farther in; farther than Sirius had ever been. She couldn’t help but wonder how many of these stories he was making up on the spot; looking back to Remus gave her a fair idea that they were all made up- he was having extreme difficulty keeping a straight face.
It was just as Sirius was telling her an extremely dramatic, extremely funny story about an encounter with a grindylow that it happened. One second she was laughing so hard she thought she might fall off her horse, and the next she was thrown from it as a wild roar ripped through the trees. Her horse reared in fright before bolting, and Sirius and Remus’ mounts were trying to do the same as the giant bear growled again. Sirius’ horse took flight, with him still stuck on its back as Remus was thrown from his.
She wanted to run and check that he was alright, but it was already too late because the giant bear was already running for her.
She drew her wand from her jacket, ready to stun, ready to do anything- but before she could even open her mouth its great paw had swept her aside like a ragdoll, throwing her into a tree.
Everything went black.
Gini//Gryffindor//68 points (maxed)
Summary: Nymphadora Tonks is being sent to her mother's family's estate for the summer. She knows her mother and family have hopes of finding her a suitable husband, but is it possible she's going to fall for the last person they'd want her to?
Characters/Pairings: Remus/Tonks, Sirius, Andromeda, others.
Genre: romance, period fic
Rating/Warnings: pg
Word Count: 2027
The carriage rattled along the gravel road, and Nymphadora Tonks looked out the window, her eyes resting on the morbid clouds over head. Sighing, she sat back, glancing at her mother. This was all her idea, all her fault.
She could have stayed in London. She knew the city; she liked the city. But her mother had insisted that this summer they stay with her pureblood relatives, who, of course, did not live in a city teeming with muggles. Instead, they lived in a large manor house outside of Yorkshire.
She was dreading it. Absolutely and completely dreading it.
She knew what her mother’s relatives were like. Snobby, upper class. If she were not her mother’s daughter, she would be no better than a servant to them.
Self consciously, she checked herself in the window again.
Her hair was long and dark, curling in loose ringlets past her shoulders; her natural hair, just the way she hated it. But her mother had said not to show off her metamorphmagus powers, and so she was trying to fit in as much as possible. Her heart shaped face was whiter than usual, and the smattering of freckles across her nose stood out all the more vividly for it. Her dark, bright eyes were a stark contrast as well.
She wore a dress of navy blue, with short white sleeves and a lace collar. The new corset bit into her back, and she had to concentrate on taking short, shallow breaths. She hated fashion; at home she often wore men’s clothes, or if she did wear dresses, they were never with a corset. Breathing, she thought, was so undervalued until one had to wear a corset. She wished she could be in her familiar shirt and waistcoat and trousers; so much more practical and comfortable. But mother had refused to let her bring them. Instead, she’d been given a whole case full of new dresses, in pale blues and deep violets and emerald greens and ruby reds. They were beautiful; but it seemed ridiculous that she should need a whole new wardrobe to visit her extended family.
“Nymphadora dear, it’s just for the summer, don’t look so depressed!”
She glanced back at her mother, who clearly didn’t understand. Three months! Three months being watched and judged and appraised; all in the hopes, she knew, of finding her a suitable husband.
That was what this whole trip was about, really. Finding her a pureblood husband who would be able to give her a comfortable home. It was all a bit hypocritical, she thought. Her mother had run off with a muggle born, and they were happy enough, well off enough. But Andromeda wanted better for her daughter, apparently.
“And you’ll be able to meet your cousins, Sirius and Regulus. You’ll like them.”
She scrunched up her nose. “They’re so much older though.”
Andromeda rolled her eyes. “You’ll have plenty in common, don’t you worry. Maybe they’ll take you out riding.”
The prospect didn’t excite her so much as it usually would. She didn’t want to imagine what these cousins of hers might be like. Merely thinking of all the relatives she would have to meet was making her feel ill. And then there was the servants. She knew what to expect of course; whole teams of them running the house while they weren’t looking. In London, all they’d had was a cook, a serving girl and a chauffeur. So many more seemed ridiculous! After all, she was perfectly capable of dressing herself.
“There it is darling, just through those trees.” Her mother pointed one gloved finger out her window, and with an unwilling eagerness, she leaned forward.
It was a magnificent house. All ancient stone and spires, it was easy to tell that parts of it used to be a medieval castle. Much as she was loathe to admit it, she would enjoy her time here, despite everything. If she could just get out for an hour or two by herself each day... it would all be worth it.
The carriage drew to a halt, and the butterflies in her stomach grew more intense as she saw the long line of people waiting for her, and she realised she had forgotten to pack a single hat.
She took the footman’s hand and begged herself not to trip over the hem of her skirt as she stepped out. For once, she managed it. Taking as deep a breath as her corset would allow, she stepped forward and was led to the family she had never met.
She was able to pick out her cousins and aunts quickly enough; her mother had told her all about them. That one must be Sirius; his shirt tails were un-tucked, his dark hair long and dishevelled. His eyes, however, were alight with curiosity. Beside him was Regulus, hair brushed back, well dressed and looking utterly bored. After looking her over, his eyes returned to the surrounding trees. At the other end of the line of people was Narcissa, her blonde hair a sudden shock amongst the rest, all of whom had hair at least as dark as her own. Her small son stood in front of her, looking properly haughty. Her sister, Bellatrix, stood beside her; all wild curls in a dress as black as midnight, she did not seem pleased to see her sister and niece again.
The rest of them were strangers to her. Various Uncles and Aunts and cousins, she was sure. And of course, the owners of the manor house; her grandparents. Apparently it was a regular thing for most of the family to converge there over the summer months, not that they had been invited before.
“It’s Nymphadora, is it not?” Her grandfather Cygnus and grandmother Druella did not look too impressed with her. She wondered if there was something visually unappealing- had she forgotten to button her dress? Or was it simply that they all knew who and what her father was? A muggleborn. They had standards, these old families, and if she couldn’t meet them... well, what use did they have for a half-blood then?
“Please, call me Dora.”
They didn’t say anything to that. At least she hadn’t told them to call her Tonks, as all her friends in London did. Then she was sure they would have been shocked.
She had to wait patiently while her mother spoke to everyone, and introduced her; so many names that slipped away from her as soon as she moved on to the next one. Her mother had been right though; she did like Sirius. He was cheerful and cheeky, sending her off with a wink after telling her he had been disappointed that she hadn’t turned up with green hair. He had promised to take her riding as well, and to show her the surrounding forest. According to him, it was full of all sorts of monsters that a lady wouldn’t want to run into alone. She’d laughed at that, telling him that it was a good thing then that she was not a lady.
Being shown her room was somewhat like trying to find her way through a maze, and Tonks wasn’t sure that she would remember the way back down at all. But her room was comfortable enough, and she was introduced to her ladies maid, Anna, a pretty young blonde girl who promised to come as soon as she could if she rung the bell.
They hadn’t had a bell in their London house.
Everything was so new and strange; it was a relief to be able to sink into bed. Beds, at least, were the same in every house.
She had to join the family for breakfast the next morning, and she was gruelled with questions about her house in London, her friends, her education, her hobbies... it was all so nerve racking, especially seeing how everyone’s faces fell when she told them that since she had just finished Hogwarts, after the summer she was intending to train to be an auror.
Well, everyone’s face but Sirius’. His eyes glowed and a grin spread across his face. It didn’t leave for the remainder of the meal.
She had left the room as quickly as was possible, but he caught up with her.
“Dora! Wait!” she did so, smiling as he climbed the stairs towards her. “I was wondering,” he said breathlessly, “If you wanted to be shown the forest today? Its quite safe in daylight, I promise.”
She rolled her eyes at his smirk. “Thank you. I’d like that.”
Back in her room, she changed into her riding gear; new as well. A long skirt, this one without hoops of any kind for which she was grateful. Her mother had packed her a matching blouse and a red velvet jacket as well, and she pulled them on before heading downstairs, her hair still long and dark and tumbling over her face before she pushed some of it behind her ear.
She nearly laughed out loud when she saw Sirius and a man she guessed must be his valet, standing next to three horses; it was obvious which was to be hers from the side on saddle.
She raised an eyebrow at her cousin. “I don’t ride like that, you know.”
“You ride like a man?”
She shrugged. “its easier.” She’d been taught that way by her father; skirts were really no hassle, even though everyone assumed they were. And she often wore trousers riding anyway.
“Here, take my horse, Ill go change the saddle.”
Her breath stopped as she took the reins from him; she couldn’t help it.
He was handsome enough, with sandy hair that fell into his eyes and blue eyes like the sea on a summer afternoon. His clothes were old but neatly patched and fixed, but it was his face that drew her attention. Three long scars raked across it, strikingly red against the white of his skin.
She gave a short smile that fell from her face when he walked away with the other horse.
“Don’t stare, please. He hates it.”
“Oh- oh of course.” Tonks bit her lip. “But what happened to him?”
Sirius looked away, mounting his horse. “He was attacked. By a wolf.”
“That's terrible.” She mounted her own horse, pulling it round to face her cousin. He just shrugged.
“He won’t be long. Come on, we’ll stick to the path till Remus catches up.”
The headed towards the forest, but she couldn’t help looking back towards the stable, hoping for another glimpse of Remus. Despite his scars, he was still handsome. And he seemed genuinely kind.
She wished it wasn’t just the servants and Sirius here who were like that.
Remus caught up quickly, and Sirius led them off the path, although the track still looked well travelled. As they rode, he told her stories of the monsters that were said to live here; trolls, werewolves and vampires, kelpies and merpeople in the lake at the forests centre. Bowtruckles who would gouge your eyes out soon as look at you. Hinkeypunks who would try and lead you into the boggy marshes that lay farther in; farther than Sirius had ever been. She couldn’t help but wonder how many of these stories he was making up on the spot; looking back to Remus gave her a fair idea that they were all made up- he was having extreme difficulty keeping a straight face.
It was just as Sirius was telling her an extremely dramatic, extremely funny story about an encounter with a grindylow that it happened. One second she was laughing so hard she thought she might fall off her horse, and the next she was thrown from it as a wild roar ripped through the trees. Her horse reared in fright before bolting, and Sirius and Remus’ mounts were trying to do the same as the giant bear growled again. Sirius’ horse took flight, with him still stuck on its back as Remus was thrown from his.
She wanted to run and check that he was alright, but it was already too late because the giant bear was already running for her.
She drew her wand from her jacket, ready to stun, ready to do anything- but before she could even open her mouth its great paw had swept her aside like a ragdoll, throwing her into a tree.
Everything went black.
Gini//Gryffindor//68 points (maxed)