HP: Spirit Talker

The room was silent, broken only by the measured chiming of the old antique floor clock. Both mother and daughter were lost in their own thoughts, even the tea was completely forgotten. And while the older woman was lost in memories that rose like silt from the powerful paddling of a fish's tail, the younger Tonks was thinking of something else entirely. She couldn't say she thought her childhood was perfect, but there was nothing she could do about it, and others had it much worse. No, what bothered her was the fact that she had been kept from important information all her life, information that contradicted much of what she had heard and known, what she had believed to be true.

Nymphadora's mind knew that her mother was right, but her heart was heavy: irrational resentment filled her chest and she didn't want to admit any arguments, the main thing for her was that her mother hadn't told her everything sooner. And there was no telling how long she would have kept quiet if things hadn't turned out the way they did. What if she had never found out? What if she'd spent her whole life in denial, not knowing the truth? В

 A lump formed in her throat, her eyes watered, and the words she had once heard from Moody's teacher came to mind: ...dark families are all, without exception, cunning and sneaky creatures, they use each other, their children and parents, they easily lie to each other for their own gain, they don't know what love is... Could it be that her mother also decided to use her daughter for her own gain? Could it be that Andromeda Tonks had deliberately played a role all these years, just to have influence and a trickle of information directly from the Ministry through her Auror daughter?

Part of the girl said it couldn't be, and part of her was sure that the Slytherin mother of an ancient family was capable of more than that, and that was why she should run away from her, as far away as possible. But how could you be 'one hundred percent' sure? How could she know for sure if her mother was lying to her or not? Conflicting thoughts carried Nymphadora further and further along the path of doubt in her own family, she almost forgot where she was, so lost in her thoughts, but then her mother's voice brought her back to reality.

— The chosen role did not mean immediate enrichment — the girl did not understand where her mother was going, but she listened. — We just did not have the opportunity to create a reliable legend, but now these circumstances are not strong over us, so we can safely use my part of the inheritance and move ...

— Wait, wait, wait, what legacy are we talking about? — The girl was completely confused.

— After your grandparents died, we inherited a decent amount of gold that we could not use — it would immediately raise legitimate questions, and if we ran away from the country with that money, we would definitely be hunted down ...

— Why? He Who Must Not Be Named is dead...

— The One Who Must Not Be Named is dead, but there are others who wouldn't mind capturing the rest of the Black Family: capture you, marry you, and they have the family in their pocket — an old and reliable scheme. — The woman shrugged.

— Why should I agree to such a marriage? — The girl grinned. — A magical marriage requires the consent of both parties, otherwise it won't work.

— Yes, and you would have agreed, — Andromeda shrugged again, meeting her daughter's grin. — You wouldn't even have been tortured, and you wouldn't have needed potions: you would have spent a few years in a dungeon somewhere, or been threatened with something — it doesn't matter, but you would have agreed of your own accord. I'm telling you, the scheme is old and well-established, you can find such an episode in the history of any old family.

— Nymphadora didn't want to start a conflict, it was useless to argue, but she was sure that she wouldn't have been able to do that to her. She wasn't the type to give in to stupid blackmail or threats, and she was strong enough and skilled enough in combat that it would take a lot of effort to bring her down.

— Let's leave it at that. I'm more concerned about getting you out of this situation. Mom, you're being set up! — the girl cried expressively. — We're all going to Azkaban for harboring a prisoner! — Nymphadora jumped to her feet and began pacing the living room, waving her arms.

— I suppose, — Andromeda nodded calmly. — But that's assuming the authorities know Bellatrix is alive... — the woman said, playing with her voice and watching her daughter closely.

— Ah, it's only a matter of time! — Nymphadora dismissed her mother's words as something insignificant. — We have to rethink our strategy, maybe we can even make you a witness... yes... — the girl thought deeply, not noticing her mother's heavy gaze. — If you do it right, you might even get a reward... — the young Auror murmured in a low voice, but her mother heard her perfectly, and Andromeda Black-Tonks had her wand in her hand. Nymphadora turned nonchalantly and froze, catching a glimpse of her mother's frozen expression. — Mother...?

— You mean you personally intend to reveal information about Bellatrix? Even at the risk of harming me? — Nymphadora looked away for a moment, just long enough for it to sink in. — And what else have you decided to tell, and to whom? — The girl couldn't stand it anymore.

— Don't you understand? He saved the criminals! He's conspiring! He's threatening the peace of Magical Britain, it can't go on like this! — The girl shouted with expressiveness and fervor, her eyes shining with a firm confidence in her words.

— Is that so? — Her mother replied in a neutral tone. — You've decided to tell me all about us, about the blacks? — The girl's eyes turned away again. — Fine, I raised a traitor... — Andromeda shook her head, but didn't let her guard down for a moment. — You haven't even thought about how you're not only setting yourself up, but your father and me as well, have you? Do you realize, you little fool, that just for the safe of the Head of the Black Family that the Ministry could get their hands on, we'd be sprayed on the spot without a second thought, or trumped up into a false case and sentenced to a dementor's kiss? Our defense has always been based on secrecy, and once that's revealed, we're no longer tenants!

— You're being overdramatic, Mother... — she tried to soften her tone, but it only made her mother angrier.

— Stupid! Stupid stupid! Why did you listen to me?! — Andromeda raised her voice. — Who did I tell all that to, huh? All right, let her be. — The woman suddenly calmed down, and her gaze took on an unbreakable confidence and coolness that even made Nymphadora shiver. — I don't know about you, stupid daughter, but I still want to live, so I won't let you heroically kill for someone else's interests and ideals. — The woman waved her wand subtly, and no amount of Auror training and reflexes could help Nymphadora escape, and the wandless, nonverbal Protego dispelled her instantly. The girl could no longer feel her body, but she could see and hear and feel the touch of her skin, albeit severely weakened. — I didn't want to do this,

— Andromeda looked at her daughter regretfully but confidently. — But you forced me to. — Nymphadora collapsed, she felt really bad, because the worst suspicions were justified: her mother did not love her from the beginning, raised her only for her own benefit. Tears of resentment ran down the girl's cheeks. But quickly her eyes opened wide in shock and disbelief.

— It's a shame Hogwarts banned the wand, — Andromeda shook her head, stripping her daughter down to her underwear with a wave of her wand, then placing her on the couch in a position everyone could understand, and the girl felt a chill run through her. — I thought you were an adult, that you'd understand if I explained everything to you, but it turns out I was wrong. Well, since you haven't grown up, you still need to be educated... — the woman waved a long flexible wooden rod, a sharp whistle, and goosebumps ran down Nymphadora's body.

— Mommy... — the girl squealed softly, not even noticing that she was able to partially undo the spell out of fear.

— When we're done, write a letter to Aurorat, to Madame Bones personally, and while I'm knocking on your brain, think, think hard, my dear daughter, what there is for you family ...

There was a sharp whistle of a flexible wooden stick, a tinkling slap, and a loud shriek of pain and resentment in the drawing room...