2827/07/16
Hello I'm back again people :)
Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling
A big thank you to my beta for this story Moony-is-my-life!
Christmas morning had finally arrived and everyone in Tonks manner was up and out of bed before the sun had risen. Well, that could be due to an overly excited five year old Nymphadora Tonks banging on everyone's doors shouting: "COME ON WAKE UP, IT'S CHRISTMAS!" Her joyful squeals of happiness echoed down the corridor as the Marauders woke up.
Remus Lupin shook his head with a small, cheerful smile, remembering when he was that age and how much he loved, and actually still loved, Christmas. He got up out of bed, getting ready to wake the others up when a pink haired child ran into the room and leaped for his bed.
"COME ON WAKE UP YOU THREE IT'S CHRISTMAS!" Tonks bellowed at the top of her voice and giggled, even though the others did not wake.
"Do you know what Santa's got you?" Remus asked her kindly as he picked her up and twirled the girl around in his arms, making her laugh with glee.
"I don't know, that's why I'm trying to wake you all up so I can go and find out." Tonks huffed with annoyance, a frown marring her young face and her hair merging into a fiery red.
"I'll get them up for you." Remus laughed. Sighing with relief, the young metamorphmagus headed out the room, tripping on the rug as she left.
Remus turned to the other occupants in the room who were still sound asleep; he decided he would wake Sirius up first, as he was by far the hardest.
"Sirius…Sirius." Remus tried, he started shaking his friend's shoulders roughly but still the raven haired boy slept, merrily turning over in his sleep so that he was on his back. Remus tried to think of a different strategy and slapped Sirius fairly hard on the forehead, but still the boy did not even flinch. Last chance…quickly walking over to the opposite side of the room and getting into position the werewolf took off at a run, jumping onto his sleeping friend.
Sirius woke with a scream of pure horror. "Moony, why the hell did you do that?!" he asked, holding his chest as if he just had a heart attack. Remus rolled his eyes then continued to try and wake up his two other friends: James Potter and Peter Pettigrew.
Ten minutes later arrived four still very sleepy Marauders into the living room where Andromeda, Ted, and Nymphadora had already taken their seats around the Christmas tree. Tonks who had a disappointed frown on her face before because she couldn't open her presents yet, now had a face of pure joy. She dived under the Christmas tree and brought out a present which was oddly shaped, opened it and found it to be a junior broom stick from her parents.
"Well, why are you not opening your presents?" Tonks asked, her voice riddled with confusion as to why she was the only one opening presents. Once asked, everyone dived forward, getting their own presents and opening them.
Once everybody had finished, the Marauders and Tonks all headed up stairs into the Marauder's bedroom whilst Andromeda made breakfast. They were all each carrying an armful of gifts and laughing merrily.
Remus smiled happily to himself as he got onto his bed to look at all his gifts.
"What did you all get?" Sirius asked, jumping around everyone's beds like an excited puppy, ending up at his own where Tonks sat happily, smiling broadly at him her little legs pointed out in front of her.
"Broomstick Servicing Kit from my parents, some clothes off my family, and a bit of stuff from Zonko's from you guys." James answered. He did not even attempt to look up from his broomstick servicing book which he was studying intently with unblinking eyes, wanting to remember every word.
"I got quite a lot of money," Peter started, scratching his head trying to remember, despite them only opening the presents a little while ago "some clothes and some sweets and chocolate from Honeydukes."
Remus smiled eagerly at his friends, "Chocolate, but I did get a letter from my parents saying they're saving up for me to get a pet." The Marauders shared a look and smiled sadly at their best friend, all of them knew that Remus' family didn't have a lot of money and because of that Remus never really got a lot of presents. The aspect which saddened them though was he didn't care if didn't get a lot of presents, he was just grateful for the ones he did get.
At that moment Tonks ran out of the room and came back in with four, small, and badly wrapped presents, handing them out to the shocked boys "I forgot to put these under the Christmas tree but they're for you guys from me." she smiled and anxiously waited for the boys to open them.
They all smiled at what the presents held within them, all four boys got a piece of string with a charm on it. Sirius got a dog, James a stag, Peter's was a rat and Remus' was a wolf. Tonks didn't really understand it but she heard the Marauders all talking about those animals and decided to act upon it. The Marauders then slipped it round their necks and each in turn gave Tonks a warm, grateful, hug.
Remus began to tickle her when it was his turn and couldn't help but think of how much she loved that little girl as a friend.
"KIDS, BREAKFAST IS READY!" Ted shouted from down the stairs.
Turning her head at her father's call and getting off the bed Tonks clumsily ran out the room leaving the Marauders behind who went at a slower pace.
"She's going to be a stunner when she's older." James observed.
"What do you expect, she's a metamorphmagus. She can turn as pretty or ugly as she wants." Sirius barked with laughter.
"That's not what I meant." James narrowed his eyes at his friend, smirking at the same time at Sirius' half-hearted joke.
"I have to agree with James, she will look beautiful naturally." Remus said as they walked down the stairs while Peter nodded his agreement.
"Well no way am I allowing people to gawk at her, I shall protect her from boys with my life." Sirius gave a mock bow making the rest of the Marauders laugh uncontrollably.
Heading towards the kitchen, Remus spotted something in the living room. Stopping abruptly and ignoring the moans from the others about them being hungry, he watched Tonks who was sitting by the Christmas tree looking fascinated at something.
"Hey guys, what's Dora doing in there?" Remus whispered to the others who shook their heads truthfully not knowing why the young girl was there. So they went in to join her.
"What's the matter little cousin?" Sirius asked, moving over to sit down beside her, staring at the girl with a quizzical look on his face.
"There's another present, but it's glowing" Tonks answered, looking at the said present in confusion. That got the Marauders attention, the other three sitting down next to her looking at the glowing gift.
"What should we do?" Peter asked timidly.
James reached forward but Remus put a hand on his arm. "James… what if it's dangerous?"
"Well we won't know until we open that thing." James retorted. And after a second of contemplating on what to do, Remus nodded, his lips thinning as he let go of his friend's arm.
Reaching forward, James grabbed the present and brought it towards them. They all shared a look and nodded. Sirius then took the present from James and started to unwrap it. Once open the whole group just stared.
"What is it?" Tonks asked, looking at the seventeen-year-olds with a frown of confusion riddled upon her face.
"It's a time turner, only it looks a bit different." Remus answered, locking eyes with Tonks who nodded.
"You don't think it's a time healer, do you?" asked Sirius, wide eyed. They were extremely rare.
"Nope, got the wrong engraving…"
The time turner was still glowing but all of a sudden it got brighter and brighter, blinding the people in the room. Remus grabbed onto Tonks protectively who in turn hugged him tightly around the waist. A flash of light then the Marauders and Tonks were all gone; but only moments later they landed with a loud thud on a hard floor and all groaned.
"What the hell was that?" Sirius questioned, rubbing his aching head, he had more or less landed head first.
"I have no clue, but one thing is for sure: I don't want to do it again." James put in, running a hand through his hair in confusion. What the hell just happened?
Tonks was still hugging Remus, who had taken the fall. They all quickly stood and Remus picked up Tonks and held her close, resulting in her burying her face in the crook of his neck.
"Where are we?" Peter asked his voice shaking.
"It looks like" Sirius paused, "Grimmauld place."
There was a loud clang behind them, turning round the Marauders came face to face with a pink haired female. She had tripped over something and as she got up the Marauders paled. There standing in front of them was an older version of the girl Remus held in his arms… Nymphadora Tonks.
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