THOUGHTS, MUSIC, AND HEALING

Summary: A girl is offered a gift. A dead mother unlocks strange magic. An accident leaves an unfortunate boy alone. Follow a young woman's thoughts as she unravels the mysteries around her. And guess who is who.

Rated T (goes up as the story advances)

Disclaimer and warnings: I don't own anything you might recognize: the Harry Potter universe belongs to its owners, and this story is written only for enjoyment; as such, I may own the plot and some non-canon characters and locations, but that's all – and I certainly get no money from it. This work of fiction contains spoilers for some Harry Potter canon books. Some facts and characters are taken from them, although a couple of these could be twisted from the original. Just a bit. The theory behind how magical things work might be changed from what's presented in canon… and in my other stories as well.

Chapter 1 – Gifts
posted August 11th, 2006

Dear Diary,

(giggles)

I can't believe my parents got me a diary, for my birthday! A diary, of all things! I wanted a puppy!

I want to cry.

Still, mum said that it would help me, and dad said nothing. As usual. I don't know if he's happy with... what happened.

But I believe I have to introduce myself, first.

Dear Diary,

My name is Dora Tonks and I'm 11.

Yes… Dora!

Despite me telling my parents I didn't want to, they registered me under my full name at the local primary school.

That being said, the boys quickly learnt that I'll kick anyone who calls me Nymphadora, or Nymphie, for that matter. The girls, on the other hand... well... let's just say that they don't like me and that's all.

So... just call me Dora. That's better.

I hope they won't give my full name at my new school, or some boys will have sore shins, older or not. Dad wouldn't say a thing about that name thing or even about the school altogether; and mum... she gets that smug look each time I ask. It's like when I ask what I'll get for Christmas: I think she knows but she doesn't want to tell.

Hogwarts.

That's a strange name. Yet, it's a magic school.

Magic...

I still don't understand everything, but I hope I'll understand once there. Mum said it was the best school of magic in all the kingdom. Dad said... nothing.

It was weird. One day, that big bird (yes, mum told me it's an owl, I just didn't know, at that time) came down and dropped a letter in my scrambled eggs. Mum and dad shared a look and dad stormed out.

Since then, he didn't say anything to me.

Mum told me that dad doesn't like magic, and that she never practised at home because of that. She said that, even so, they still loved each other and that he'd come around. I hope it's soon. I don't like him like that.

Then, mum brought me to the magical street. Diagon Ally it's called... what a strange name!

I got a wand! And mum showed me hers and showed me a couple of spells. That was weird. Imagine discovering a side to your parents. You knew them all your life, and poof! Mum is a magician.

A witch, she said I should say.

A witch...

My name is Nymphadora Tonks, and I'm a witch.

To be continued in next chapter: Happenings...