9 Chapter 9

As the three of us arrived at Grimmauld Place, it was to the welcome of someone I figured would be by sooner rather than later, as Dumbledore came through our floo as we were heading towards the stairs.

It appears he had almost instantly learned of the fallen wards, and rushed to check on things.

Taking in Rose's appearance, as she clung to me still, I could almost see the wheels turning in his head as he took in all the details he could see.

"Is everything well? Did you notice anything out of the ordinary when leaving Rose's home?" Dumbledore asked after a moment.

Rose however was quick to deny the last part of his question. "That place is not my home, and it never has been." The vehemence in her voice clear for even Dumbledore to not be able to deny.

And by the look on his face, by that statement alone he could hazard a guess as to the reason behind whatever trackers he had monitoring Privet Drive.

"Be that as it may, unfortunately something has occurred to break the protections living at your aunt's house provided." The look that crossed Rose's face at that information showed no loss for such a thing if it meant having to deal with living there to achieve it. "As is now the case, I will need to add some more protections to the wards to be on the safe side."

After giving the two of us a few more looks, Dumbledore turned and followed Sirius back to the central stone location, leaving me to show Rose to her room.

Grabbing her things that Sirius had left behind in front of the stairs, we climbed up the steps with Rose still attached to my side, still taking comfort from my presence.

Heading down the second floor hallway, we made a turn before coming to a few sets of doors. Pointing to the right I open the closest door and lead Rose into her new room.

All things considered it was pretty barren, I believe it being used previously as a guest bedroom and only had the basics.

"It's not much, but both Sirius and I have no problem with you adding anything you want in the future." Setting her things, as little as they were, down in front of the bed I turn back to her as she looks around the room, I am sure in her eyes it being much bigger than she is used to.

Pointing to the room across from hers. "My own room is right across the hall if you ever need something, just give a knock before entering." In an attempt to lighten the mood I decide to tease her a little. "Though if you want a show you can just forget knocking and come in whenever, I'm sure you'll see something quick that way."

Her eyes snap to mine and a massive blush climbs up her neck and most of her face, before she starts slapping me in the chest and arms while giving an almost silent shrill.

Achieving my goal, I rush from the room laughing as she chases me out, slamming the door behind me.

Leaving her to settle in, I head down the stairs and in the direction of the main ward stone.

No doubt Dumbledore will have questions regarding what happened at the Dursleys.

Before I am even able to get a few steps past the bottom of the stairs however, a series of loud knocks bang against the front door.

Turning to the direction of the entrance, I raise a single brow as I wonder who could be here and having such a vehement desire to enter.

As I open the front door, I see two woman standing there, obviously mother and daughter, the older of the two having an almost perpetual scowl on her face while the younger is watching everything with a look of anticipation.

Seeing me opening the door however was not what they were expecting as whatever words looked to be on the older woman's lips stutter as she realizes I am not who she was expecting to greet her.

Giving me a quick look, she seems to realize who I am as her entire countenance calms and she greets me with a smile. "You must be Jacob." She leans in to give me a light hug. "I'm your father's cousin, Andromeda, and this is my daughter N…" Said daughter immediately interrupts her, almost instantly knowing what was coming.

"Tonks." She gives me a quick glare before focusing back on her mom. "Just, Tonks. Nothing else."

Andromeda gives her daughter a look I am sure she has perfected over a decade as she just sighs and turns back to me.

A bit of anger returns to her face. "Is Sirius home? I have a few things I need to discuss with him."

Seeing no reason not to point her in his direction, and metaphorically throw him under the bus, I gesture inside. "He is, let me show you to him."

No way was I going to miss out on a free show.

Walking past the now bare wall that Walburgas portrait used to be, Andromeda clearly is curious but doesn't comment as she has more important matters to attend to I'm sure.

The closer we get to the central ward stone, the more the wards flicker and fluctuate as they are improved, and I see some curiosity show in both women's eyes as we round the bend to the room, seeing Sirius standing in the hall as he no doubt watches Dumbledore work.

"We have guests Father." I call out to him.

At my voice he leisurely turns towards us, before seeming to freeze on the sight of his cousin, scowl on her face as she whips out her wand and marches in his direction.

Not even questioning it, he spins around and transforms into his grim form, as his feet scrape across the floor and he flees, obviously not liking the look he's getting.

"Get back here you coward and take your lumps like a man!" Andromeda screeches as she starts pursuit.

Tonks and I just stand there watching the show as the two cousins bolt down the corridors, one chasing the other.

A second later, Dumbledore calm as you be just leans slightly out the door and glances in the two's directions, before turning to look at us. Not saying a word he just shrugs and turns back around to continue his work.

This however was not something Tonks was expecting. "What is the Headmaster doing here?" She queries.

"Miss Potter is staying with us now, and after a slight altercation at her previous place of residence, the Headmaster felt it was a good idea to further increase the house's wards."

A degree of worry crosses her features. "Is she okay?"

I just nod. "Everything is fine, just some exchanged words regarding her previous living arrangements that were not appreciated."

My statement however does not calm her worry, as some anger now joins it. "Previous arrangements?" She asks with a bit of steel.

"No need to think on it further." I give her a look. "It is in the past now, and Rose won't have to deal with any of that in the future. If you still wish to know more you can ask her herself, I don't have a right to say anything she doesn't want spread around."

Running my words over in her head for a few seconds she eventually nods and drops the subject.

After a few moments of the two of us just standing in the hallway, listening to the chaos from further in the house, she turns back to me properly, holding out her hand. "As my mom said, she's your fathers cousin, and I'm Tonks. I heard some things about the situation and it's nice to properly meet you."

Taking her hand and deciding to be a bit dramatic, I put jut my chin out and set my shoulders as I raise her hand to my lips, miming a kiss to the back of her hand.

Her eyebrow simply raises, her hair shifting through a few colors. "You cheeky little shite." She laughs.

"Who you calling little shrimp." I counter as I shift a couple feet taller.

The look on her face is priceless as she knows instantly what I just did, as a massive grin grows on her lips. Taking it as a challenge she shifts her hair to an afro as her skin darkens, the proverbial gauntlet thrown.

The next 10 minutes are spent one upping each other as our forms rapidly shift to and fro. The entire time the grin never leaving her features as her eyes twinkle more than even Dumbledore could achieve, obviously something done on purpose on her end.

From there the conversation obviously turns toward our experiences dealing with being a metamorph, as a wave of understanding passes through the two of us. Obviously I've never had problems controlling my form, but in her case, she's spent years being defined by her shape changing and has spent all that time trying to prove she is more than her shifting looks.

Almost 20 minutes pass as our chat has moved us to the living room, before we are disturbed by Sirius barreling past the two of us, and up the stairs, still fleeing from his cousin.

The two of us follow his form as he passes, Andromeda not far behind as she quickly notices how close the two of us are siting next to each other, and she gives Tonks a telling look and a smirk before focusing back on the chase.

Not liking the look in her mother's eyes, she turns back to me and continues asking and answering questions, making no comment about said look.

While we talk further, I notice a certain someone leaning out from the top of the stairs, as Rose looks at the two of us and how close we appear to be, before she turns around and presumably returns to her room.

A few minutes later, Sirius back in his normal form, seems to almost bounce down the stairs as if made of rubber, coming to a stop flat on his face and twitching exaggeratingly with Andromeda strutting down behind him.

Coming to a stop above his twitching form she takes a moment to bask in her victory. "What have we learned." She asks to the body still insensate on the floor.

A gasp and whimper flows from Sirius as he instantly responds. "To ask first before making any decisions regarding you and your family."

"Good boy." She leans down and gives his head a few pats before straightening back up. "I appreciate the sentiment Siri, and I am grateful that you brought me back into the family, as well as setting Nymphadora up with a family vault, but you should have asked Ted and myself first."

At her name, Tonks immediately glares in my direction, promising murder as she silently threatens me to never, ever, call her by her first name. Her name is Tonks, and nothing else.

I give a nod, but the smirk on my lips causes her to distrust my agreement.

"I just wanted my favorite cousin back Andy." Sirius' further comment brings our attention back to the other two.

Andromeda gives a sigh as she undoes the charms holding Sirius prone on the floor. "I never truly left you dummy, not in the way it counts."

Helping him up she gives him a brief hug before she turns back to her daughter. "Now with that done, I believe I have some questions for my lovely daughter and the young man that has seemed to have caught her attention."

Tonks immediately jumps to her feet as she races at her mother. "And that's our queue to leave, thank you both for your time, we'll get out of your hair, nothing more to talk about, good chat, lovely weather we're having, yes I know its raining outside, don't talk back to me like that, is that a troll's foot?"

Proceeding to spout anything that come's to mind to derail any embarrassment, her mother just cackle's as her daughter proceeds to shove her towards the front door.

Before the two can fully make it out however, Andromeda can be heard screaming. "I will have grandbabies to spoil!" Followed by a 'Mother!' as the door slams shut behind the two.

"So. Someone had a good time." I poke fun at his attempted escape.

Sirius squawks before turning a smirk back at me. "I could say the same to you. Into older women huh?"

Calmly standing before heading back to see how the headmaster is coming along with the upgrades I easily deflect his returning shot. "I have no idea what you are referring to." I deny everything. "I was merely catching up with family."

"Sure you were." Sirius wiggles his eyebrows as he follows along.

As things turned out, it seems Dumbledore was just finishing up as we arrived back to central room, and after explaining the events that lead to Rose leaving her prior home, we returned back to the living room.

"Since you are here, I figure we can get things finished regarding a certain locket." I suggest since it really would be convenient to do as soon as possible, with any luck Voldemort hasn't created a homunculus yet and with his final anchor destroyed he will just cease to exist.

I doubt we'll be that lucky though.

As Sirius heads to get the locket from Kreacher, I head back upstairs to let Rose know of the situation.

Knocking at her door, it only takes a few moments before it opens and Rose gives me a questioning look.

"If you have a moment." I gesture behind me. "There are some things we feel should be brought to your attention."

She gives me a questioning look before silently nodding, closing the door behind her and following me downstairs.

"Oh, hello professor." She greets as she sees Dumbledore, Sirius, Kreacher and Regulus standing around in front of the fireplace. "Who's this?" She asks motioning to Regulus.

Giving a slight smile and nod, he introduces himself. "My name is Regulus, Sirius is my older brother."

"You have a brother?" She asks Sirius, surprise clear on her face.

"Yes." He turns to Regulus for a moment before turning back to her. "Though until recently he was missing, and thought dead. This somewhat leads to what we wish to talk to you about."

"Ominous…" I can't help but snark, even knowing what's going on.

Sirius gives me a deadpan look as Dumbledore smiles, a twinkle lighting up his eyes.

"Can't we all just be 'sirius' for a moment?" My father decides to fight fire with fire. "Oh wait, that's just me."

I give him a snort in response. "You're never serious father."

"You take that back!" He pouts and exaggeratedly points a finger. "I am 'always' Sirius!"

Regulus just sighs. "God there's two of them now."

Both Sirius and I just grin, as we throw and arm over each others shoulders.

The entire joke seems to lift Rose's mood though, as she smiles.

Deciding to be 'sirius', I bring things back to the topic at hand.

"Rose." My tone seems to clue her in, as she gives me her full attention. "We wanted to let you know about a few things, as we feel it's only right for you to know, and to make a decision regarding something we have found."

The next few minutes are spent bringing her up to speed on the past few weeks, and how Voldemort is still around. Finding the Relics and how there is only one left, said Relic being found by Regulus and how Kreacher was tasked with destroying it, but not being able to find a way to succeed. How Regulus was left behind by his own choice, thought lost only to be found alive when Sirius and I went to retrieve him. How knowing of a way to finally put an end to the man who is responsible for the death of her parents, and how it is only right she have the option to be the one to do it.

Holding out a crystal vial filled with a slightly glowing green liquid, the locket in question is placed on a goblin silver tray that was found in one of the cabinets.

Rose is silent through the entire explanation, and in the silence after, just gives the locket a blank stare.

She gives the vial I am holding out only a quick glance before practically ripping it out of my hand and pouring the venom over the locket.

At first, it doesn't seem to do anything, and a sense of worry almost rises before steam starts to burst from the locket.

A few more moments later, the relic cracks almost fully in half, as a clump of vapor rises upwards, the twisted face of Voldemort screaming out in silent agony, before almost instantly dissipating, the remaining venom seeming to seep into the tray underneath.

Rose seems to take a shuddering breath before twisting into herself, her arms wrapping around her shoulders and chest as she falls to her knees, tears of utter relief and joy falling from her eyes and she cries out.

I rush over and immediately take her into my arms, holding her face to my shoulder, giving her all the support I can.

Dumbledore and Sirius look on giving her all the time she needs, as Kreacher too cries in relief, his face shoved into the leg of Regulus, who just slowly pats him on the shoulder.

After all the emotions running through her, she quickly cries herself to sleep, and giving everyone else a look, I carry her up to her bed, letting her rest after finally, hopefully ending Voldemort for good.

I doubt our luck is that good.

~}-{~

The follow days and weeks fell into a routine, my early mornings spent training, both physically and magically, going through my spells and working out different combinations, or creating little trinkets for different scenarios, like my ring.

Always a good idea to have a storage space filled with necessities I always say.

I also took some time to prepare a few gifts for Rose's upcoming birthday.

A week before that, Hermione had gotten permission from her parents to come and go occasionally, and even for her parents to stop by when possible to see more of the world their daughter is now a part of.

Sirius certainly had a good time going over things with her parents when she wasn't showing them all that she had learned in Horgwarts.

Though I have to say, I got the occasional look from her mother and father, both different depending on the one giving me said looks. Her mother seemed to give me the occasional ponder, as she would sometimes speak with Hermione causing her to frequently blush and try to make sure I didn't overhear.

Her father was much simpler in his opinion, as most of the time his looks were a variation of glares.

It wasn't that hard to work out why they both would look at me in the ways they did. Though I didn't give it much mind, and gave no signs of having noticed anything they were doing in regards to myself.

Most of the times Hermione showed up alone were spent with Rose in her room, helping each other with there summer work and by Hermiones insistence going over previous years for revision.

I even think I heard them talking about me a time or two when they thought I wasn't around to notice, and I gave no thought to listening in during such times. Whatever they wanted to talk about I'm sure they would bring to my attention when they decided to, no need to risk them catching me and setting their opinion of me back any.

Both however quickly noticed my penchant for training early every day, and after a while both decided to ask about it. After giving them a quick rundown they wanted to join me and learn about some of the magic I was able to do.

At first, they really did not enjoy the physical aspect of what I did daily. Both quickly lagging behind, although Rose did have a bit of a leg up on Hermione with her training for quidditch. That however could not come close to the workout I did and they were quick to find that out, though they never once complained beyond a whine here and there, which honestly, is more than fair.

I did not take it easy on them.

Hermione especially was interested in my form of battle movement, as I did not stay in one spot, constantly shifting around the room I used for battle practice. One of the first things I did when I fashioned the room I used here at Grimmauld was to make a few training spheres, similar to a certain classic movie that is beloved by many.

'Let go your conscious self, and act on instinct.'

One day, she had wandered where I went to after my morning runs and found me in a nearby room, surrounded by floating spheres, which occasionally shot out a few different types of bolts, to signify different charms and curses. She found me in a particularly challenging setting, as bolts of different colors flew around the room, my form twisting and turning, disappearing and reappearing all over, my wand flowing back and forth tagging orbs that would shut down before restarting a few seconds later.

She had barely been standing there a few moments before a particular bolt landed a foot from her head, which wouldn't have done much beside sting a bit, though certainly a shock all the same.

Seeing the audience I had, I gave a wave of my hand as the training orbs stopped firing and floated back to the cradles they rested on when not in use.

"Careful now." I watch as her eyes take in my form, as I walk to a nearby shelf to grab a towel, the only form of clothes being a pair of workout shorts.

The thoughts in her head are obviously focused on my lack of attire, as the blush on her face is easy to see, however the display she just saw allowed her to focus on the magic she had seen me go through. With a moment to center herself, she proceeded to bombard me with questions regarding the types of magic I was using and if I could teach her how to do it as well.

Giving her a smile I told we could try, though there was no guarantee she could learn all she had just seen me do. The very insinuation however sent her into a determined rage as she glared at me before stomping away.

Unsurprisingly it did not take her long to learn most of the charms and hexes I used, but after a few weeks she still found herself unable to figure out how I was warping around the room. Time after time she listened as I tried to explain how I did what I did, but she just couldn't seem to make it work.

As her frustration grew, I decided to give her a break as a few days before Rose's birthday, she arrived at my training room to the sight of me holding a small wrapped box.

Before she could question it, I decided to explain. "Due to the difficulties we've found you having, I thought I would make something to help you along." Holding out the gift, she took it hesitantly.

I'm sure a part of her was insulted at my insinuation of her not getting what I was trying to teach her, but the biggest part of her was just happy at the gift.

That turned to shock as after unwrapping the gift wrap from it, a certain box was revealed that is usually used in conjunction for proposing.

The blank look I received was funny, as I chuckled. "It's not what you think." I comment with a gesture of my hand, and as she opened the box to see a simple ring I elaborated further. "I put a charm on the ring that mimics a portion of my magic. Specifically on the aspect of space that I use to warp around."

As she admires the ring, I motion for her to try it on, and with a small blush she slowly slips it on her left pointer finger, mimicking the one I have on mine.

"When you try to warp around, keep a thought of the ring in mind when attempting it." I instruct as the wards for the room go up, preventing normal apparition like it usually is during her attempts.

It doesn't take her long before shes zipping around the room with a giant smile on her face, before she appears next to me, throwing herself at me in a hug as she hangs off the ground, my arms going around her in return.

"Thank you!" she screams into my ear, the utter joy in her voice heard loud and clear.

Chuckling I just continue to hold her before she realizes the position we're in and jumps away with a cough.

After a few more days, the end of the month approaches and Rose's birthday arrives.

After only a few weeks, her entire demeanor has lifted, especially after destroying the locket, it's as if a weight has been lifted from her shoulders. The time she has spent here talking to Sirius, and with Remus at the times he is around, about her parents, she soaks in everything she can about their time at Hogwarts and the times after.

As we all sit around the table, with a giant cake in front of her singing happy birthday, the look of happiness she has is radiant as she enjoys the feeling of finally having a family.

By the time the gifts are given, I give her the two gifts I had gotten for her.

Unwrapping the first, she pulls out a string with a pendant attached to the end. It looks like a slightly bigger sized black tooth, the lower part of it showing a swirl of white and blue, as the entire thing looks like it is made from glass.

"With the help of a few people, I was able to get some memories of your parents growing up, and was able to infuse them in the pendant." The look on her face grows more astounded and joyful the more I explain. "When wearing it, just take a grasp of it and you'll feel the corresponding emotions and see your parents from the memories in your mind." By now there are tears in her eyes as she jumps up from her seat and gives me a hug, thanking me over and over.

As everyone around chuckles at her reaction after returning to her seat, I push the second gift forward. Opening it, a book is revealed, and she gives a look as Hermione perks up next to her.

"This book will help with your recent nightmares." I answer the question she doesn't voice. "Its about an area of magic called Occlumency, which is the art of shielding your mind from outside intrusion. As a side effect it helps with memory retention and sorting your memories, which should help at night when sleeping to avoid dreams."

By now Hermione has practically ripped the book out of Rose's hands and is already skimming through, as Rose is giving her an indulging smile probably realizing Hermione didn't even notice in her excitement.

Turning back to me she gives me a thanks as the gifts are finished giving and the cake is handed out, Hermione still enthralled by the book in her hands.

~}-{~

That night I find myself sneaking into Saint Mungos, as I prepare to give someone else a birthday gift I am sure they will forever appreciate.

Sneaking past the front desk is hardly a challenge, it is however a much more difficult task as I climb higher and higher floors, the security surprisingly high for certain areas, as I make my way to the Janus Thickey Ward in search of two particular residents.

As I finally reach my targeted destination, I silently close the door as I come to two particular beds, which house two currently sleeping patients.

Alice and Frank Longbottom.

Both tortured by Barty Crouch Jr., Bellatrix, Rodolphus, and Rabastan Lestrange, into insanity before help could arrive to save them. As far as the rest of the world was concerned, there was no cure for the damage done to them and they were kept in assisted living and forgotten about by almost everyone.

Everyone except their son and mother.

And myself.

Hopefully after tonight, things will be much better for this family torn apart by horrible circumstances.

As I approach the beds, I come up upon Alice, pulling out a talisman, upon which are written thousands of runes, so small that it looks as if one whole design, in the shape of a tree. After tying it to her wrist, I pull out a potion vial, and gently pour it into her mouth, helping her swallow as she struggles at first.

Giving both a moment to work, the runes on the talisman begin to shine brighter and brighter, as I move to repeat everything with a second set for Frank.

By the time I complete that, Alice has started to stir, the runes on her wrist having grown dim, and barely able to be seen, the white of the talisman looking as if burnt.

As I turn to leave, clarity returns to her eyes as she looks at me, her husband going through a similar reaction in the bed next to her.

"Who are you?" She takes a moment before asking, memories no doubt flashing through her mind as she realizes her past and current situation, Frank now stirring awake as he comes to terms with his own restored memories.

Only giving her a side glance, the hood covering my head and most of my face all she can see, I only give her a few words of response. "A friend of your son, righting a wrong long left to fester."

With a twirl of my robes, I leave, passing rushing medi witches and wizards as attention is brought to the room I just left.

By the time people realize there was someone unauthorized in the building I was long gone, a mystery of healing left unanswered to many.

~}-{~