Disclaimer: I own nothing, all of it belong to J.K Rowling, I am just playing in her sandbox for a while.

Authors Note: AU: Its not my first fanfic but its my first Harry Potter, so I hope you enjoy it. The story starts at the end of the 5th Book.

Andromeda Tonks née Black, tall regal, the middle daughter of Cygnus and Druella Black looked down upon her child with warm eyes. "You look beautiful, Nymphadora."

"Mom," Tonks whined much the same way when at the age of six she declared that she didn't like her name anymore.

"Hush." Moving her daughter's hair out of her face, she frowned. "So are you and your father planning on telling me anything about this dinner tonight?"

Andromeda's curiosity had been more than piqued when her husband had informed her about the dinner evenings plans, even suggesting that she take Dora to buy new dress robes.

Tonks sniggered, trying to ignore her mother; while changing the color of her hair a few times before deciding upon its natural coloring.

With an exasperated sigh, Andromeda gave her husband a reproachful look as he entered the living room. "For a Hufflepuff, you're acting awfully Slytherin like."

Before giving his wife of over twenty years a kiss, Ted Tonks couldn't help but smirk. It wasn't very often that he managed to keep things hidden from his very astute wife. However, he doubted that even she would believe what he had learned since the new head of the Black family requested a meeting. Although he had brought his daughter into some of the discussions, he knew that both women were in for a surprising night.

"Dromeda, Dora you both look lovely. In fact, I don't remember the last time I saw our daughter dress so well."

"Dad!"

Ted smiled at his two girls, taking them by the hand. "Are you ready?"

When the familiar feeling of being pressed very hard from all sides, as if pushed into a thin tube, faded, Andromeda looked around at their destination. Standing in the center of a small wooded park, surrounded by beautiful terraced Victorian homes, the location had been a familiar place to play with her cousins when she was a child. "Ted?"

Taking her arm into his, Ted led his wife out of the small park towards a familiar looking townhome.

"The wards..." Knowing the power behind the wards surrounding 12 Grimmauld Place, Andromeda was more than a little surprised to find them welcoming.

Nymphadora looked confused as well. "The Fidelius Charm?"

"The Goblins, through a request from the home's new owner, demanded that Dumbledore dispel the charm."

Andromeda, still a little overwhelmed couldn't help but chuckle. "I'm sure that Alya Black was quite upset when she couldn't find her home."

"But how did she know that Dumbledore had cast the charm?"

Her father smiled. "You will have to ask her yourself."

Before she could reply, the door to the home opened, revealing Alya Black, dressed in beautiful black and silver Acromantula silk robes.

"Good evening, Mister Tonks, a pleasure to meet you again. Please follow me into the front parlor; we have much to discuss."

As Tonks followed her parents into the house, she whispered. "Morgana's tits, what happened to this place?"

Even with Molly Weasley and all her brood cleaning the house, it never looked so clean. With the brass gas lamps giving off a soft almost welcoming glow, the wallpaper decorating the hallway appeared new. Along with the rotted carpet, the dreaded umbrella stand was missing as well, replaced with an antique stand that fit the hall quite well.

The front parlor, however, had always been inaccessible, the portrait of Walburga Black somehow keeping the door sealed. One of the largest rooms, in Victorian times it would have been the reception hall and the showplace of Black family power. Along with painting, statues and other items symbolizing the family's status, a small round table plus several comfortable looking chairs filled the room.

Wondering why Sirius mother's portrait appeared to be empty, Nymphadora followed her parents into the front parlor where her father quickly made introductions.

"Miss Black, may I introduce my family." Ted Tonks nodded to his daughter. "I believe you know my daughter Dora already."

"Nymphadora it’s good to see you again." Alya stifled a giggle, well aware that she would be paying the piper for the continued use of the dreaded name.

"And this is my wife, Andromeda."

"Greetings, Andromeda, my name is Alya Cassiopeia Black, and I welcome you and your family into my home."

Nymphadora looked at her mother, surprised as she curtsied deeply to the young woman. "Thank you, Lady Black."

"Please, call me Alya; we are all family after all." Helping her Aunt rise, Alya lead the three to the small table. "Please have a seat…Kreacher."

"Yes, little miss." The House Elf appeared.

"Refreshment if you please."

"Seems my husband has been keeping secrets from me." Andromeda gave him a questioning look as the House Elf passed him a large white envelope.

"Entirely my fault… first things first." Alya nodded to her uncle who pulled out a parchment and a quill in front of his wife.

Andromeda Tonks née Black raised an eyebrow before looked down reading the document. With tear-filled eyes, she whispered. "Oh."

Alya smiled happily. "One of my father's last requests was for you to be brought back into the family, which I am more than happy to do."

Picking up a blood quill, Alya leaned over signing the document before passing the parchment into Andromeda's shaky hands.

"Your father was Sirius." Nymphadora looked at the young woman who nodded sadly.

Setting down the quill, Andromeda closed her eyes happily, then opened them looking at her Head of House. "I'm sorry…."

Alya smiled, wiping away tears of her own. "He said…you were his favorite cousin."

"He was an idiot," Andromeda replied happily.

Suddenly Kreacher returned, setting down a small rosewood box.

"Family rings," Nymphadora whispered. She too had tears in her eyes, knowing how much all of this meant to her mother.

"Hello, Andromeda…why don't you introduce me to your family." One of the empty portraits suddenly came to life as Walburga Black appeared.

Nymphadora gave a startled "eeep," much to the disapproval of her parents. She waited for the woman to start screaming about filthy half-breeds, blood traitors and the like so when she didn't, Tonks looked at Alya in confusion.

"Come, Dora, let me introduce you to your Aunt."

Dinner was delicious, served on fine bone Edwardian China, a wedding gift for Pollux Black and Irma Crabbe. As the meal progressed, the four kept the conversation light, Nymphadora enthralling everyone with stories of her fellow Aurors, while her Aunt spoke of her work at St. Mungo's Hospital."

"Charlotte Abbott." Alya murmured, the name sounded familiar.

"Yes, she works with me in the spell damage ward. She has a daughter your age I believe named Hannah." Andromeda explained.

"She's a good friend of Susan Bones, my boss's niece," Tonks said, looking over at Alya. "I heard from Madam Bones that Harry trained both of them."

"Trained?" Ted asked.

"Umbridge was your typical Defense Against the Dark Arts professors, in other words horrible, since most wanted to pass their OWLs and NEWTs, his friends convinced Harry to teach."

"I'm surprised that it was allowed with all of those education edicts that Fudge kept putting out."

Tonks sniggered. "He didn't exactly ask permission." It had been one of her better moments hearing how Harry had managed to outwit the pink harridan.

"Unreasonable woman, she has tried on numerous occasions to deny muggle-owned solicitors the right to represent their clients."

Alya explained somewhat angrily. "She also had the nasty habit of making students use a Blood Quill when writing lines."

"What?" Nymphadora exclaimed. "That's a Class C artifact, that's illegal."

"So, do you think anyone would have done anything about it? What do you think the Prophet or Fudge would have said if Potter tried came forward?"

Tonks frowned for a moment, and then nodded, looking somewhat contrite.

Andromeda, however, didn't miss the small look that passed between her husband and her Head of House.

"I don't remember Kreacher cooking so well."

Alya gave a small laugh before setting down her spoon. She like her cousin had just finished a beautifully created chocolate mousse while both Andromeda and Ted enjoyed summer pudding.

"He hasn't changed, although I love his devilled kidneys for breakfast." Turning her head slightly, Alya called out. "Tipsy."

A smiling House Elf appeared, dressed in a simple skirt and blouse in Black family colors. "How may Tipsy help you, mistress?"

"Dinner was simply delicious."

Bobbing her head happily, she asked. "Thank you mistress; was there anything else Tipsy can bring you?"

"Yes, please a bottle of Fire Whiskey and perhaps the 1825 Chateau d'Yquem in the Black room."

Alya silently thanked her grandmother for her little lesson, from the wine selection, what went with what type of food to how the table would be set. Who knew there were different kinds of forks? Besides basic knowledge, her grandmother had also been invaluable in choreographing tonight's dinner making sure everything was perfect.

Reaching for a glass of the dessert wine, Tonks took a seat before looking around the room. "The Black room, huh."

Filling the office were books of all sorts, along with other family memorabilia, at the back of the chamber, a large mahogany desk dominated its space. Tonks had been surprised when Alya led them downstairs to open up a hidden doorway.

"Most important family conversations take place in this room." Andromeda nodded to her Head of House before taking a seat herself.

"And until you were brought back into the family, you wouldn't have been able to enter," Alya answered the unasked question. With a wave of her hand, the door closed before she turned to the others with a smile. "Since it's only the four of us, perhaps we will skip the usual formalities. Except for …."

"The oath." Andromeda finished with a nod. With the shocked look on her daughter's face, she continued. "We are going to discuss family matters, Dora. We will not be permitted to discuss what goes on in this room without Alya's permission."

"Mom?"

"It's a necessity dear."

"I'm not sure..." Tonks began, looking at her parents.

"I understand, Tonks," Alya said sincerely. "I won't force you, but I would ask you to leave."

Nodding, Tonks turned her head to look at her father. "You took these oaths already?"

"Yes, beyond the standard client and solicitor oaths. We both felt it necessary considering the current political atmosphere."

Andromeda looked at her husband for a moment, before raising her wand and stating the Black family oath.

As the light around her mother faded, Tonks sighed. She had hoped that Alya Black would be more forthcoming with information. She shouldn't have been too surprised; her mother too knew how to keep family secrets. Since she believed this would be the only way to learn whereabouts of Harry, Tonks raised her wand.

Raising her wand, acknowledging the oaths, Alya thanked her cousin. "Since we were discussing our favorite ministry official, perhaps we should deal with her first. I think Uncle that I might be able to help you with your solicitor problems. You would, of course, have to talk to your partners about it."

"You plan on having our family sponsor my husband's firm." Andromeda looked at Ted with a smile.

Alya nodded, she had spent part of a day discussing with her grandmother how to help them. One of the things she discovered, Muggle owned businesses pay a substantial fee just to do business within the Wizarding world.

Ted Tonks looked startled for a moment. "That would be helpful, plus it would increase our clientele."

"True, the Blacks aren't the only old family that has one foot in the Muggle world. It would be in their best interests to have legal counsel when dealing with the British government. "

"Dora, do you have the ability to start an investigation?"

"What are you thinking, Dad?"

"Well, if Harry and the other gave you their depositions could you open an investigation on Madam Umbridge's time at Hogwarts?"

Tonks shook her head. "No, I'm a little junior; however we can speak to Savage. He had a cousin in Hufflepuff. I'm sure he would be happy to help."

"I'm sure we can include some interesting memories for DMLE pensives."

Tonks looked at Alya Black a little confused. "No disrespect, I know you brought my mother back into the family but wouldn't you wish to side with Madam Umbridge?

"She didn't have to, darling."

"Huh? I don't understand."

Andromeda smiled. "The Head of the House can invalidate a Will if they so desire. That's why it became a tradition for so-called "Mortem Munera" to be given away well before the Head of House dies."

"Still, I guess our family's reputation processes us," Alya smirked. "So I shouldn't behave like my father."

"I..."

Alya nodded towards Tonk's mother. "Or like Aunt Andy or my grandfather."

"Wait, Uncle Orion?" Andromeda sat up.

Alya sat back on the comfortable Head of House chair. "Historically speaking, the Black family sided with Voldemort correct? Originally, that's how it all began. However, Orion didn't exactly approve of the so-called Dark Lord's methods." Setting her hand on a pile of folders, she continued. "I have just started reading through his letters, but grandfather believed there was a plan inside this house to allow Voldemort complete access to Black family wealth."

"So what happened?" Tonks asked.

"First of all, he made sure that the family would survive whatever happened with Voldemort. For example, he did not force Aunt Andy into a marriage contract. If he wanted to, he could have just simply annulled your parent's marriage. Nor did grandfather officially disown his son when he ran off to the Potters. In fact, I believe he actively pushed Sirius away." Alya said sadly.

"I thought your grandfather burned Sirius off the family tapestry?" Tonks said.

"That was my grandmother. "Alya chuckled. "So unlike Aunt Andy's father, my grandfather never officially disowned my father. So upon his death…"

"The Black Head of House would still fall to Sirius." Andromeda frowned, trying to understand this new information. "What about Regulus?"

"Like his parents, he was enamored with the cult of Voldemort but eventually became disillusioned. According to my grandfather letters, Uncle Regulus ended up spying on the Death Eaters for the Black family, ultimately discovering something that caused both their deaths."

"What about Narcissa and Bellatrix," Ted asked.

Andromeda gave a sad smile. "Cissy was always a good girl, never questioning anything our parents said. We all assumed she would end up as some pureblood's wife."

Alya thought Narcissa must be a good mother at least, remembering the rumors which said she sent Draco sweets and cakes by owl almost every day during their first year at Hogwarts. Too bad her son was such a prat.

"And Bellatrix" Reaching into her robes, Alya unshrunk the photo book passing it to Andromeda.

Looking at the cover, she smiled. "I didn't think Sirius was so sentimental."

Slipping around the desk, Alya knelt next to her Aunt. Flipping a couple of pages, she pointed to the one with Bellatrix and her father.

"Oh, I remember that one, we were about to go to some Muggle music festival. The little girl is Marlene Mckinnon; your father had such a crush on her. He was absolutely beside himself when he found out she and her family had been murdered."

"That's not really the image of Bellatrix Lestrange I would expect."

Andromeda nodded. "She was a bit of a rebel, hated school, drank, smoked, pretty much did her own thing. She loved Muggle music, told my parents she planned on going off and follow some band around the world when she graduated from Hogwarts."

"So what happened?" Nymphadora leaned over to look at the photo. Her mom's description of her sister didn't sound like the Death Eater they fought in the Department of Mysteries.

"She grew up...got married." Andromeda closed the book, passing it back to Alya. "I would have thought you wouldn't want anything to do with Bellatrix Lestrange."

Walking back to the desk, Alya sat down. "No you're correct, I really hate her. She…"

Clutching the book to her chest, Alya closed her eyes with images of the fight in the Death Chamber coming to mind. Even with both Order members and Death Eaters falling, Sirius charged forward like a stupid Gryffindor to protect his child.

As the pain return, tears started to run down Ayla's face. She hated Bellatrix so much for what happened, however, another part of her saw her Aunt's face when she realized what she had done. For a brief moment, there had been confusion, pain, and absolute horror and then it was gone, replaced with that familiar crazed look.

"I don't think she meant to kill my father," Alya whispered, remembering the spell that passed by to hit her dad in the chest, a simple stunner.

"What does that mean?" Tonks asked.

"I don't know," Alya said.

As the group became quiet, trying to assimilate the new information, Alya took a deep breath calming herself down. "So, Tonks, can I assume now that you don't believe I have Harry Potter buried in the back yard."

"I never believed that," Tonks said, surprising herself. She thought that he went voluntarily. She also thought the two of them were somehow romantically involved considering the way Alya seemed to be protecting Harry.

"Why would you think Harry Potter is buried in the back yard, Nymphadora?" Andromeda asked. "You've involved with Order business again aren't you?"

"Yes, mom," Tonks replied waiting for the usual comments to begin. When they didn't start, she looked at her mother.

"So what happened?"

"Oh, well while watching the house where Harry's relatives live, Alya came walking out the front door. It seems she had been shacking up with Harry or something."

"I was not shacking up with him," Alya said, amused.

"Whatever you say, Alya." Tonks continued, somewhat annoyed.

"Jealous?"

Tonks ignored her Head of House. "Next thing we know, Harry is no longer at his relative's house. We're pretty sure he left with her."

"Did he?" Andromeda asked with a small smile on her lips.

Alya returned the small smile. "Yes, we left together."

"See I was right." Tonks slapped the chair, almost spilling her wine. "Alya, where is Harry? I hoped he would have joined us for dinner."

Alya Cassiopeia Black, Head of House Black, Heiress of House Potter turned her head to look at her Uncle.

"You were going to tell them anyway?" Ted said trying not to laugh.

"Wait for Dad, you knew?"

"Calm down Dora, let her explain."

Alya nodded thanks then decided it would be easier just to start at the beginning.

*Edited 4/14/17 Elsbeth*