Hello and welcome to my fic! I'm a sucker for stories told through letters. There's so much opportunity to read between the lines and discern what people are feeling about each other. What do they put on the page and what do they hold back? How quickly do they reply? Which questions do they answer and which do they ignore?
I've been wondering what made a vivacious, oddball girl like Nymphadora Tonks become something so formidable as an Auror, and how much she knew about her cousin Sirius's involvement in the Order of the Phoenix as she was growing up. When, also, did she find out her future husband was a werewolf? This is my attempt to answer those questions while following canon as closely as possible.
In this chapter, Tonks is embarking on her first year at Hogwarts and is eleven. Remus is living in a cottage in Yorkshire and is twenty-four.
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August 22, 1984
Dear Mr Lupin,
That sounds so formal. We have met, you know, but it was four years ago so you probably don't remember me. I was with my mum in Diagon Alley, and you were with my cousin Sirius and they stopped to talk. You said you liked my lilac hair and I said I liked your moustache. Do you still have it? I was only just seven and you and Sirius couldn't stop long because you were busy. I found out this year that it was probably about the time … oh, but I wasn't going to bring that up. Sorry.
Anyway. Why I'm writing to you. I'm going off to school next week. Mum says I'm being silly and that I'll get what I am given and I'll be happy about it but I DON'T WANT TO BE A SLYTHERIN. Can you please tell me how I can make sure I'm a Gryffindor like you and Sirius?
Yours,
Dora (It's Nymphadora really but I HATE when people call me that. Terrible thought – will the teachers insist on calling me Nymphadora at school?)
P.S. I hope you don't mind me writing but I didn't know who else to ask. People don't like to talk about what house the Blacks … but then you probably know all about that better than me.
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August 24, 1984
Dear Dora,
When I got your letter I sat down and had a think for a while and tried to remember that day in Diagon Alley. I don't often go there so I thought it should stand out, but then people were always stopping to talk to Sirius. He knew everyone. But then I remembered – we were outside Ollivander's and your mother was carrying a new, very grand, very grumpy owl in a cage and it was snapping at her fingers. I realised it was he who came swooping through my window with your letter. His temper seems to have settled.
Why don't you want to be a Slytherin? I think I may know why but I don't want to put words in your mouth. Try not to feel too anxious about Hogwarts. It's a marvellous place. My time there was the happiest of my life.
I still have my moustache. What colour is your hair now?
Yours,
Remus
P.S. You are quite safe from your name. The teachers will all call you Miss Tonks.
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August 25, 1984
Dear Remus,
Yes, that was the day we bought Nimblin! You do remember! He can still be a cantankerous old coot. My hair changes colour with my mood. At the moment it is bright pink because I am so happy you wrote back.
So. Why I don't want to be a Slytherin. I'm half Black, you see, and they're all Slytherins except for Sirius. I just know the Sorting Hat is going to put me in that house. Mum was a Slytherin like her sisters and she says Slytherins are very clever and that she had a great time at school. But, you know, that was BEFORE. Before she married a half-blood and before my aunts went over to You-Know-Who. Mum was the daughter of an important family and had a big sister that everyone was terrified of. (I'm still terrified of Bellatrix even though I've never met her and she's in Azkaban now.)
I'm not explaining myself very well, and I don't want to hurt you by bringing up things you don't want to think about. I'm only eleven but I know more than my mother thinks I do about what happened three years ago.
Yours,
Dora
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August 28, 1984
Dear Dora,
That is a remarkable talent you have in being able to change your hair colour. Am I right in thinking that you are a budding Metamorphmagus? How simply wonderful if so. Do you know how rare you are? You need never worry that you will be like your aunts because you are very much your own person. Professor McGonagall will be simply delighted with you. You'll see what I mean when you get there.
Any house at Hogwarts will be lucky to have you.
Yours,
Remus
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September 5, 1984
Dear Remus,
I am so sorry that it has taken me a week to write back, but so much has been happening! The train, the sorting, the feast. Getting my schedule. Going to my first classes.
You're right, I am a Metamorphmagus. I was very excited to attend my first Transfiguration class as I saw Professor McGonagall teaches it and I remembered her name from your letter. When we went into her classroom there was no teacher there, just a lovely tabby cat sitting on her desk, watching us all. But you'll never guess – she was the cat! Oh, but you know that of course. When I showed her that I could grow fur too she told me not to show off as it was disruptive, but she smiled when she said it so I don't think she was really angry.
The best thing of all is that I'm not a Slytherin! I've been sorted into HUFFLEPUFF! I'm so happy. Hufflepuffs believe in kindness and loyalty, hard work and fairness. I believe in all those things, Remus. Maybe I'll be happy here after all.
The only class I don't like is Potions as Professor Snape is frightening. Why does he have to teach in a freezing old dungeon? I don't think he likes Hufflepuffs very much. He said that we'd only have to 'put up with each other' for a short time as Hufflepuffs don't attend his advanced classes. Do you know him? Does he not let Hufflepuffs take Advanced Potions? Well, I don't care if he does or not, I'm NOT taking Advanced Potions. He reminds me too much of my aunts. It's the eyes.
Are you sure that I didn't upset you with what I put in my other letters? You have been so kind to me that I feel dreadful about bringing up the things I did.
I'm in the library and it's curfew for the first-years now. I had better say goodbye.
Yours,
Dora
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Did you enjoy chapter one? I hope so! Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.