7

Chapter 7

Many things had happened in the days after Peter's arrest. The dementors were sent back to Azkaban. The kiss on sight order having been rescinded.

Snape who everyone had forgotten about told, well yelled at me and Dumbledore about what had actually happened that night.

Dumbledore looked a bit miffed at being lied to but I pointed out that results were results. As long as no one got hurt.

Snape pointed out he had gotten hurt. Also he had nearly died that night haven woken up in the shrieking shack with a werewolf turned Lupin.

I pointed out that I had not known Lupin was a werewolf at the time. I told them both that Sirius had escaped haven stolen Lupin's wand after Harry had stunned Snape.

Neither knew about Sirius' dog form. At least for now. I in this story didn't even know. So I only told a lie by leaving out a large chunk of story.

Neither men were impressed. However Dumbledore was glad everything was resolved as cleanly as possible.

No students had suffered beyond what was fixable. Snap wasn't killed or bitten by a werewolf.

Sirius Black might be innocent of the crimes he had been thought to have committed. I had found and helped capture a thought to be dead wizard.

It checked most of my boxes for what I wanted that year too. While it wasn't easy with hard work and a lot of sweat I got the job done.

Snape won a bit too in the petty way that he would consider a victory. He had gotten to tell his story about escaping a transformed werewolf in Lupin.

Lupin having been exposed as a werewolf got fired from his Hogsmeade job. He is now with Sirius, wherever he's hiding until he can get his trial.

I wanted to have a conversation with Sirius but it seems that would be put off until a later date.

If he got cleared it might even suit me better for that wait. Sadly for Harry he couldn't stay with Sirius just yet.

For having turned in Peter Pettigrew I had received another award of gold, which I stored with my other award for my first year.

This time however I received Order of Merlin, First Class. Fudge seemed to like the way I talked to him. After he did some research he found out about the stone incident.

While he had signed the release to give me money, it seemed that he didn't know he had.

So I was getting the award for both years. My second year of teaching would stay a secret between me, the students involved, and Dumbledore it seemed.

That was fine with me. My stock was rising, and with it influence that could be used later.

Before the End-of-Term Feast I spoke with the Golden Trio. I told them the story we were going with. If they happened to be asked anything.

They agreed but Hermione needed to be convinced a little, "What do you mean you're lying to the Ministry?"

"Oh please ask that higher I think I need to be arrested quicker." I let my tone sneak through.

"They're the Ministry why do we have to lie?"

"Because if I didn't lie I'd be the one who let Sirius Black just walk out of here when he was to be taken down as soon as sighted."

"But he's not done the things they say he has."

"That doesn't matter, do you think people like Malfoy would let that go by unnoticed?" I gestured a bit, "No he'd point out that I had an obvious connection to Black and could possibly making things up."

"You are making things up!"

"Well yes, but in this scenario only good things can come of it." I put my hands in a praying position, "Please just go along with it, no one is getting hurt and everything is coming together better for it."

"Fine, but I need to talk with you about something else later."

"Very well, I'll be sure to remember."

At the feast itself Gryffindor won both the House and the Quidditch Cup. At some point they had scored 170 points.

It's all rigged from the start anyway. What does a house cup even mean? Wait now's not the time to start asking these questions.

I made sure to have that talk with Hermione she wanted after the feast. "What's this about then?" I asked.

"It's about the time time-turner."

"Oh right that thing." She hadn't used it for anything outside of class work I don't think.

Did she change something I needed to know about? Did something go wrong that she fixed.

I hate time travel as I have no idea how it works. I have theories based off of media but this is a whole other world.

"Well I've decided to keep it for another year to see how that works for me."

"What they let that happen?"

"Professor McGonagall, has allowed me to keep it over the summer and through the next year." She held the chain, "Only you know about it besides her and the Ministry, so they thought it'd be fine if I could keep it."

"This is why I hardly trust the Ministry" I said to myself.

"Do you not trust me with it?" She asked hurt actually formed on her face and in her voice.

"It's not that I don't trust you it's that they let a teenage walk around with the power of time around their neck."

"I'm only going to use it for course work."

"I'm sure, that's why I trust you with it." I then pointed at the students boarding the train, "A normal student however wouldn't even waste a second before abusing it, the Ministry doesn't know the difference between a student like you and the whole student body."

"But-"

"Hold on, think about it, I know you're smart enough." I held up my hand, "Would you trust from the experience you've had in school with any other teenager with that power?"

"No." Wow she didn't even think about it.

"Then you see why it's a bit weird."

"Do you think I should give it back?"

"I wasn't given the time-turner." I told the truth, "You were, if you think you should keep it then that's up to you."

"Then I will, this conversation has made me want to reexamine some things though."

"Glad I could help, I hope you have a good summer Hermione." I then walked back into the castle. She followed the crowd out and onto the train.

July was a month filled with red tape. Getting an Order of Merlin required a press junket. At least that's what Fudge wanted. It was more for his appearance anyway.

I didn't require any big speech it just required me to show up and take pictures with the Minister of Magic.

It was pretty much just a party, with journalists hiding around every corner. I didn't see anyone I recognized. Maybe they used a B team to cover this stuff.

I then thought about it. Maybe Rita was considered the B team. Covering school tournaments that only became front page material because she was covering Harry Potter and all the drama that came with him.

Later in the month I testified my story to Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt. "So you say you noticed that the rat was missing a finger."

"I noticed it after seeing Peter's name on the map and not seeing him there."

"Where is this Map now?"

"I don't know, I left it in my office when I went to go investigate."

"It seems convenient."

"Have you turned him back into Peter?"

"I'm not at liberty to say." He said while nodding.

"If you have then there is no reason to fight me on how I found out."

"We need to find out because we are missing a period in time only you can clear up."

"I've answered as best as I can remember."

"I appreciate that you have done a lot for us with finding Pettigrew, so I'm trying to make this as easy as possible for both of us."

"Thank you, geeze there really is so much bureaucracy and hoops to jump through."

"If we're lucky we can have a trial done later in the year, are you sure there's not anything more you can tell us?"

"I have nothing that comes to mind."

We both walked out of the interrogation room, Shacklebolt escorted me to the elevator to leave the Ministry. "You have friends in high places Nymphadora, Dumbledore made sure to get you under a simpler investigation."

"I'm just lucky."

"Luck had nothing to do with it, you've placed yourself here."

"I don't know anything about that, I was just protecting my students." I stepped into the elevator leaving the Auror behind.

While they hadn't stopped searching for Sirius Black, they had definitely put that on the back burner.

Papers as I had expected ran with the story about the failings of the previous administration.

A thing that had backfired on Fudge though was his ability to get things done in a fast manner.

The outcry for a trial for Sirius was loud but results weren't happening fast enough. The Ministry wasn't giving Sirius a trial because they couldn't get Sirius.

They couldn't get him because they couldn't give him a guarantee that the same wouldn't happen.

A guarantee couldn't be made because they couldn't try Peter because he wasn't admitting his guilt.

It was looking like Fudge would need to force a trial to come and get Peter to talk with the use of veritaserum.

He couldn't get that approved right away because of the red tape surrounding its use.

So it was all one big cluster fuck. As soon as one of the things would be broken through it might get solved.

For now though nothing changed and public frustration was palpable. Then it was August.

Due to my recent gaining of the Order of Merlin first class Fudge wanted to use me to help with his public image problem.

He thought if they could see him next to a hero that kept children safe that it would be better for him.

I wasn't exactly sure how well it would work but I accepted his invitation to the Quidditch World Cup Final.

More damned quidditch. Why was the sport I hated the cornerstone of this world somehow.

Both Bill and Charlie were coming back to the U.K. at the same time. Charlie probably because of the Triwizard Tournament.

Which Dumbledore informed all the teachers about. When asked which schools would be joining use he told us Durmstrang and Beauxbatons.

Snape questioned if it was wise to have Durmstrang come to Hogwarts. Dumbledore waved his concerns away though.

Keeping an eye out for news I had noticed that I recognized the name of the witch that had gone missing Bertha Jorkins.

I didn't know why she was important I just recognized the name for some reason it was unique.

Moody didn't appear in any news form. I had no idea what that meant. I thought there would at least be something about him that popped in on my radar but nothing came.

Then at the start of the third week of August a portkey to the Quidditch World Cup came in the morning with my mail.

I activated it and found myself outside the stadium where Fudge and a few other men were waiting right near where I arrived.

"Ah, Nymphadora so glad you arrived on time." Fudge ran up to me and shook my hand. Where a bright flash blinded me.

Yes he was still surrounded by bought press. "I wouldn't miss out on such an event especially after receiving such an invite from our Minister."

"Well, thank you for coming" He gestured to the other men behind him, "This is Ludo Bagman, he will be commentating the game."

The identified Ludo approached me, he didn't seem like the foolish gambling over excited type, then like a switch it happened, "So are you a fan of quidditch, I used to be a beater myself for the Wimbourne Wasps and when required of me the English National team."

"How impressive." I tried to be enthusiastic about the whole thing, "I've recently become a Chudley Cannons supporter."

"Recently, why?" He seemed thrown off, "They've not won a League in hundreds of years."

"I like an underdog." I gave a fake smile.

Then Fudge introduced me to, "This is Barty Crouch Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation."

A man with a terrible mustache and just as awful if recognizable hat stepped forward. We shook hands but he didn't speak. Next to him was a small house-elf.

"And this here is Obalonsk, the Bulgarian Minister of Magic." The man cringed at the slaughter of his name, "Don't bother introducing yourself, he doesn't speak a word of English."

"I think it would be inappropriate not to even if that's the case." I spoke then held out my hand the the Bulgarian Minister, "Nice to meet you, I'm Nymphadora Tonks Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts, I hope that you find your stay in Britain to your liking."

The Minister shook my hand smiled and nodded. I saw a twinkle in his eyes though. How can our Minister be so incompetent.

"Well enough of these introductions let's head out." Fudge spoke, starting to walk into the stadium.

All of us followed him trailing behind. At some point we lost Crouch but the house-elf slowly followed behind us at a snail's pace.

I didn't even notice when we lost Bagman. I guess it didn't matter to them being seen with Fudge.

They were both locked in their spots anyway not to make any rise in station. With how they both end up couldn't happen to nicer people.

We made our way into the top box. My seat wouldn't actually be close to either Minister.

My seat would be closer to the front away from the most important people. In fact I was just next to where the Weasleys would be.

What a coincidence. Then I discovered something worse than quidditch. Waiting for quidditch to even start.

Yes in all our Ministers wisdom he brought us up to the top box much to early it seemed he wanted to kill me with boredom.

Things only started to spice up when the Weasleys arrived. I saw both Bill and Charlie. In a moment of shock to everyone that new me.

Including myself I was running at both of them. Then I leapt into the air at the two where I extended both my arms around the two.

I wasn't a hugger normally but it seems that when I hadn't seen two of the people I spent most of my childhood and teenage years with I was.

I quickly snapping back into myself released them both and dusted myself off. Ginny giggled.

The Twins asked for a hug of their own which I did my best to ignore. The best way to deal with troublemakers wasn't to give a reaction.

"What a way of saying hello." A clearly older Weasley I knew as Arthur spoke.

I think this would be the first time we actually met. In school I made sure to avoid the Weasley parents as much as possible.

I didn't want to have to deal with what I knew would be an over personal family style.

Then as a teacher I made sure not to switch that up. I made sure Ron kept out of enough trouble to help keep that dream alive.

It's not that I disliked them. I just didn't like the mojo they had going on with them.

However it seems that streak ended today of all days. "You must be Arthur Weasley." I stood up straight and extended a hand.

"Yes, and you must be Nymphadora." He shook my hand, "I wouldn't think of anyone else that could pull of the hug you did around these two grown men."

"That was some hug Dora." Bill laughed. Charlie nodded along.

"It didn't happen, it won't happen again!" I childishly stomped.

"You really have changed, I couldn't tell from your letters you sound the same as you always do." Charlie wore a puzzled face, "But all the letters that I get from other people describing you didn't sound like you at all."

"She's always like this." Harry spoke, "I think she acts more like a student than a teacher."

"She wasn't always like this Harry." Bill looked amused, "No back then it was nose in the books, she was sometimes more unforgiving than the teachers at times."

"I'm right here." I pouted turning my hair an orange red.

"Oh look they found a lost Weasley, I for one am happy for them." Draco snarked as he followed his parents into the top box.

"Little Cousin!" I reached out to ruffle his hair. He backed up to avoid it. I heard a deep quick inhale to my right.

Narcissa Malfoy looked at me with shock in her eyes. I felt my hair shift on it's own to a curly black form. Another quick breath from the woman.

"Auntie Cissa!" I showed as many teeth as possible in my smile, "This would be our first meeting, a pleasure to meet the mother of a dragon."

She seemed to pale, which was impressive considering her already pale features. "...yes, a pleasure." She seemed to let out a whisper.

I cackled. Mr. Malfoy seemed to piece together I was unsettling his wife and turned to glare at me. I was thankful he was off the school board but he still had some influence.

It would be best to handle this with a mix of Gryff foolheartendeness and Slytherin cunning. "And Lucy!" I laughed, "It's a full set, all seen at once."

Lucius didn't seemed pleased at all with the nickname. However being in a major public setting there wasn't much he could do with me looking as pleasant as I did.

Well to outsiders looking in. "Ms. Tonks." he sort of spat out. Distaste for my last name coming through loud and clear.

Draco looked upset that I had wound up his father and freaked out his mother. He seemed to pull them both forward and up the steps to go to their seats.

"Goodbye Malfoys, see you at school Draco!" I waved.

"That was brilliant." Ron complimented from behind me. I seemed to have moved ahead of the Weasleys during my exchanges.

"Yes it was handled quite well." Arthur agreed seemingly pleased with how I handled the Malfoys.

I then greeted my students, "Right you lot, how was your summers?"

The twins talked about how they made some side money and how they were going to try and make a bit more with some side bets tonight.

The latter part was whispered to me as to not allow Arthur to overhear them. Ginny had replied it went well but she wished that she could have been allowed to play with the boys.

From the three Harry replied a bit unenthusiastically. Ron with a slight blase attitude. Hermione it seemed had the better summer of the three.

Also I had noticed something. She stood a clear head above both other boys. Either she really hit a growth spurt or something magical happened.

I made a note to question her when I had the chance. Then we all took our seats. I swapped with a man to be closer to the Weasleys and my students.

The match started and I had to say it was one of the better matches I have seen. It still was slightly miserable but there was a lot of movement.

I guess this is what comes of pros playing verses a bunch of teenagers. Although they had Krum. Which was still a student so technically still a teen playing.

At some point in the match my students and I nearly fell over the railing when the mascots for the Bulgarian mascots started dancing.

We were snapped out of our trances by Bill who made sure we were placed back in our seats.

Charlie being a bigger expert on quidditch than I told me that the veela were a major strategy that the Bulgarian team used.

Veela. Magical in nature known to be able to seduce men with a thrall. Also with the ability to transform into a bird like being and huck a fireball like no-ones business.

Apparently with the ability to affect even me. Did it have to do with the fact I could transform into a male as well.

This might require investigating. The feeling wasn't exactly like an imperius, it felt more like a creeping sensation.

I do think that I could break it the same as the imperius curse. A strong will would be required.

Knowing I was affected was half the battle. Next time I planned to be ready if the thrall were to be used on me accidentally or otherwise.

I asked Charlie if the Cannons used that strategy. He told me that they did not, and asked how I had come to care to learn a team name.

I informed him that I had become a fan after Ronald Weasley had given me a Cannons' flag for Christmas.

He laughed and said he didn't know where Ron got the idea behind supporting them but wished me luck in supporting one of the worst teams.

Hermione made sure to tell Ron to wipe away the drool that had formed on his chin.

It was quite the moment for all of us. I looked for Draco to see what happened with him.

I found him being scolded by his mother just a tiny bit. I got a laugh out of that. Ireland had more points so while Krum caught the snitch and ended the game it was not enough points to win.

After the match ended I said my goodbyes to the Weasleys, and my students. Fudge had made a quick escape.

We said our goodbyes as well with a final flash of a bulb going off. The Malfoys had left before I could even attempt a goodbye with them.

The Bulgarian Minister shook my hand and said, "Goodbye, Professor." addressing me by my title with a bit of an accent.

"I knew it." I laughed, "Have a safe trip home, Minister." Then he was off too.

I had portkeyed to the finals so there was no campsite for me to stay in. I did need to be around though.

I decided I'd stay near the wood-line and transfigure myself a small fire just for myself. I transfigured what amounted to a beach chair for myself.

I chose to watch from the treeline. As the campers below partied with green sparks and fireworks flew into the air.

Every few minutes or so I nearly jumped out of my seat anything resembled the dark mark in the sky.

Hours went by as I heated some coffee I had borrowed from one of the camp sites. They were friendly enough.

The partying had died down a once in awhile laugh cutting through the near silence of the grounds.

After finishing a cup's worth of coffee and getting ready to heat back up another batch did the fires break out.

Screaming had started. People were starting to run out of their tents. A few families made it out and into the woods.

Some passed by me. I made sure to wave people into the forest for cover. I kept an eye for any masked people that came near but they seemed to stick to the camps.

As soon as I spotted the dark mark start to form in the sky I gunned it down the hill and into the panic.

I heard people falling down around me as the DMLE moved throughout the camps. Crouch seemed to be leading the charge.

I made sure to flag him down and asked if he'd seen any of the students nearby as I hadn't seen them escape.

He replied that he hadn't but his team would keep an eye out for them. I made my way behind them making sure not to get in anyone's way.

Waiting for them to come across Harry and the others. Then it seems they found them. I sprinted to the people holding Harry, Ron, and Hermione at wand point.

"Stop their just students!" I put myself in between the auror and teens.

"Hold your fire." Crouch came from the back of the line. Instantly the man holding the wand dropped it.

Then Crouch dragged the house-elf he came to the game with earlier into the circle. He threw her forward.

She was holding a wand in her tiny hands. "That's my wand." Harry pointed.

After a prior incantato was performed on Harry's wand, showing that it had been the one to cast the dark mark spell.

Crouch yelled at the elf, "Well?" He then commanded her, "Give the boy back his wand!"

The house elf cried, "Winky is sorry Mr. Potter!" before giving Harry his wand back.

Crouch then gave her a tongue-lashing berating and demeaning her. Before finally firing her in front of all of us.

Hermione who had to witness to it all found the entire thing barbaric. Even I couldn't exactly stomach what the man did.

I found solace in knowing he would be getting his. Which didn't disturb me as much as it should have. Then again he did a lot worse than yell at an elf.

After Arthur arrived I handed the teens off to him to watch over. "Thank you for protecting them."

"Don't mention it, it's my job most of the year while in school." I shrugged, "Why not just before, eh?"

After Arthur left with the teens, Bill came over to speak with me, "What are you still doing here."

"I just didn't want to go back to an empty castle when I could party a bit with the people here." I gestured around, "Some after party though, glad I was here to help out."

"Definitely changed." he muttered to himself, "Anyway I was wondering if you noticed the people in the masks that ran away as soon as the Dark Mark was cast?"

"What?" I did not know that I must not have known, "I didn't."

"I think they might have been two separate things going on."

"What does that mean?"

"I don't know." Bill admitted before having to catch up with his family.

The information slightly disturbed me. If they didn't know who got to Voldemort then. Peter was locked up and being questioned. Did someone else come in to take his place?

Questions I couldn't answer yet swam around in my brain. I apparated to Hogsmeade then through The Three Broomsticks' fireplace I flooed my way to my room.

I made changes, that had caused slight ripples. What I had known for years had changed in a choice.

I might have a basic guideline but major events had to have changed Peter played a big role.

As I stared into the sky from my chambers I wondered if the changes I made were for the better or worse.