Stranger's NOTES [tonks]

[ELLA AMELIA SMITH !]

Ella Smith
Convince me that I've been sick forever.
And all of this,
Will make sense when I get better.

The girl wrapped her dark cloak around her more tightly. The wind has a chill upon it that sent shivers down her spine. She was alone thankfully; in one of her hands she twirled a letter. Although she was paying no attention to it, instead her eyes were gazing out across the grounds. She was completing a goal she had convinced herself was worth doing. She was completing her education at Hogwarts. Last year. She sighed; hell was pretty much her words for this place. She was one of the few muggle borns left in her year, the others had been scared away or had the hence to listen to the obvious 'you are not welcome' vibe most of the purebloods, or bloodsnobs as she called them gave. A sigh escaped her lips as she watched the frost blanket that had settled itself down on the ground sparkle in the waking sun of the morning.

This whole affair had started last night. Ella had been walking back to the common room when surprise surprise some of the Slytherins in her year were about. After making a comment that she dutifully ignored and carried on her way, they started talking. They mentioned some names; one had stayed with her, Tonks. The name had rung a bell in her head. She had no idea why, she couldn’t remember but it was like hearing an old tune, you can’t quite remember when or where you heard it but you remember the name. She had thought on it during the night, the name had her so wound up she had barely slept, thank the gods it was the weekend. Early that morning she had gone to her desk and pulled out quill and ink, trying to form a letter, but what would she write, excuse me who are you? Ella had been around long enough to know that the owls could find anyone. Her parents had had a shock when one came flying through their window in her first year, but they had got the hang of it by now. Mail from them was only her ever mail, no one else sent anything to her.
Ella looked back down at the twirling letter in her hands. She stopped, ont he front in her neat curved hand writing was the name ‘Tonks’ IT would be wonder if this letter would the right person, or if they actually replied to the letter. Her eyes looked to the roasting owls and her thoughts went back to the contents of the letter, she remembered writing it, she had done many drafts until this one had sounded best

Dear Tonks


You probably don’t know me, or maybe you do. I am Ella Smith, a student in my last year of Hogwarts. I heard your name last night, for some reason I know you but I can’t remember where or when. Can you help me?


Ella

She knew the name, but she couldn’t put a face to it, her memories of those years as they are with all children, are fuzzy. Ella looked up the signalled for one of the school owls, which woke up, and flew down lazily, looking rather grumpy to have to fly out in the cold morning. Ella attached her letter; she knew the letter sounded daft, even in her own head. But she felt it was important, she knew no one outside of Hogwarts in the wizarding world. Ella’s eyes followed the owl as it leapt into his sky and flapped its wings. She watched until it was a dot in the sky, and then sighed, oh she was silly, like anyone would reply to that. She wrapped her cloak around her abit more then made her way down, heading back to her common room.

[tonks]

Nymphadora was bustling around her tiny, rundown squat of a "home" that she had been "lucky" enough to find, far, far on the outskirts of London. Gone were the days of living harmoniously (well, almost harmoniously) alongside the purebloods, and now were days of quiet, lonely solitude if you were a halfbreed, impure or an Order Member. Tonks had married a halfbreed and was both one of the impure ones AND an Order Member - hence why she had only just got out of Azkaban. Oh, and the fact she was the daughter of a Black who had married a Muggleborn wizard - that didn't help much - family hatred and all that. Tonks never had letters - except the odd one from Order Members who were planning a regroup and attack, but this had always been more speaking than action.

However, as Tonks placed the last cracked plate into her cupboard, she heard the sound of wings. In the garden, she saw a large barn owl swoop down on to her kitchen window ledge. She stared at it quizzically, and then walked out into the garden, as the lock on the window wouldn't budge. Her bare feet made no sound as she walked through the overgrown plants and bushes, and her white shirt caught on a few of the bracken twigs. Her hair, pink as ever, was trying to get itself wrapped around any branch or stick it could. Eventually, she made it to the owl, and unwrapped the letter from its leg. She placed her hand out and the owl hopped on. She carried the owl on one hand, the letter in the other, back into the kitchen. She let the owl hop onto the sideboard, while she unrolled the letter. Instantly, something stood out.

Her heart stopped. "Dear Tonks"? No-one knew she was alive, they all thought she'd perished in the war - all except from Bellatrix who seemed to have decided to maintain that she had died while in Azkaban, and her mother who almost seemed to decided she didn't exist at all when she had met her with Teddy. Why, Tonks didn't know. She continued reading, her heart in her mouth. Who was this girl? "Smith" didn't ring a bell...but wait! Yes, it did! Tonks ran to her room, pulling a huge book from under her be, and opened it. Inside was a copy of the Black family tree - or her branch of it, anyway. Yes, there was her grandmother and father...and her mum, Andromeda, and Ted...THERE IT WAS!

A line joined her father to a woman called Cassandra. A double line joined Cassandra Tonks to George Smith. George Smith and Cassandra were in turn joined to...Ella Amelia Smith. She was her cousin. A girl she had only met once, when Ella had only been a couple of years old. She had heard after her father's death that he had changed Cassandra and George's memories - so that they wouldn't be hurt for being related to one of the more prominent members of the Order, AKA Tonks herself. So how did their daughter remember her? Why did she remember Tonks as being her name, not her mother's maiden name? Her father hadn't put the spell on her - she had only been about 6, so he figured he didn't need to...

Tonks froze for a moment. What if someone had traced the owl? What if someone had read the letter? She ran to the window. No-one was there, and there was no trace of tampering on the letter. Maybe she'd been lucky. What did she do now, though? Did she reply, or did she allow her cousin to also think she was dead? Wait, maybe there was a reason she sent it. Maybe she was in trouble and wanted help - or advice...?

Tonks walked downstairs, the letter still in her hand, and she pulled a piece of parchment from one of her side tables, and then dragged a quill and ink pot towards her. Now...what to say...?

Dear Ella,

Yes, I know you. Only just, mind. Just out of interest, where did you hear my name? Very few people now mention the names of people such as myself.

The reason you remember me is that I am your cousin. Your uncle, Ted Tonks, was my father. I don't think you'd remember him too well, he died around ten years ago. My real, full name is Nymphadora Eloise Lupin - I married ten years ago to a man who once taught at your school. However, my surname and nickname (as I hate my first name) has still stuck. You have probably met me before, in passing around Hogsmeade and in Diagon Alley, but you won't recognise me. I use many different disguises. I am probably mentioned somewhere as being a metamorphmagus, and this is true. I can change my appearance at will - pretty useful, really, in a climate such as this.

I suppose that that is all I can really help you with, but I have one major favour to ask you. Please, do not tell anyone you are writing to me. As far as the rest of the world is concerned, I am dead. Long dead. You will probably find a book about the defeat of the Order of the Phoenix in your history books at school - the Death Eaters and Pureblood snobs like to record things like that. No doubt in there you will find a list of the dead at the Battle of Hogwarts. Most likely, my name will be amongst them. Please, therefore, do not mention these letters to anyone, especially not to Teddy Lupin - the first year Gryffindor. As you can probably guess from the surname we share, and you'll have no doubt have seen his appearance changing (he inherited my metamorphing ability), he is my son. However, I faced a ten year stay in Azkaban after the War and have only recently been granted my freedom again. I do not want to hurt him. My mother, Andromeda is very fierce on that, and so am I. I don't want him hurt.

I have but one more thing to ask you. Please send your letters to "Dora". It was your uncle's pet name for me and so far no-one has realised who I am.

Good luck, and I hope to hear from you again soon, my dear cousin.

Dora.

After finishing her letter, which took quite some time, due to not knowing what to say, Tonks placed the roll of parchment on the owl's leg, and took it to the door.

"Be quick now," she said softly to it, as it prepared to fly. "And don't let anyone see where you are going to and from, nor what the letter says." She said. The bird clicked, as if in assent, and then flew off into the distance.

"Good luck." Tonks whispered softly after it. "Be careful."

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[Word Count – 1,160]
[Comments – Uh, longer than I planned…[/center]

[ELLA AMELIA SMITH !]

Ella Smith
I can hear you when you whisper
But you can’t even hear me screaming

'Wake Up Ella'

Ella did not move, she was in her usual place at breakfast, sitting with the half bloods in her house, they like her were considered impure. Had she actually had her head up and not leaning on the table she would have glanced at the table were Slytherins sat. However she was not. Instead she had her head in her arms, trying desperately to catch some sleep before the day began. Again the girl's voice rang out, and she groaned

“Ella you have a letter"

Ella shot up, suddenly sitting up her brown hair following her movements and making her look like she had just got out of bed. It took a few seconds for her eyes to focus and get used to the light. She looked around and an owl was nibbling at her cereal. Frowning she concentrated more. It was the same owl she had sent on Saturday. She quickly reached out and took the letter that was clearly not her own, but instead a reply. She mumbled thanks to eh owl that flew off for a good night's rest. Ella eyed the scroll and opened it. She scowled at it, she had got to the part about her uncle, and she had an uncle bill, her father's brother. She frowned trying to remember. The girl who had woke her tried to peep at letter

'So who is it from, you rarely get letters'

Ella closed the scroll so she couldn't read it. " It's just something from my parents, My uncle has become ill" The girl shrugged and lost interest. Ella's hazel eyes watched until he was sure the girl was no longer interested then continued to read. As she read, she glanced at the red table, her eyes scanning down it until there he was, the first year with the funny hair. He stuck out alright; she glanced at the letter again, so he was her second cousin. She eyed him, more curiosity gleaming in her eyes, as she looked down again at the parchment again. She shivered at the part about Azkaban; she feared she would have to make a stay there. Deciding to reply that night she tucked the letter safely in her cloak.

Lessons that day were hell, she could not concentrate. She had somehow managed to get through the day without detention but Ravenclaw had lost 10 points thanks to her. She sighed making her way back to the common room. She was impatient, she wanted to know more. All day her excitement had been building. Who was this person, could she believe this letter or as it a trick. She remembered now that her mother's maiden name was in fact tonks, she felt stupid for getting that one. However during the day she remembered vaguely about a cousin and another uncle, but she couldn't picture their faces. At lunch she had looked in the library for the original Order. She had found her and as Dora had said, she was known to be dead. It fit together with what she had said.

Ella had made it to a desk, some first years were doing their homework but no one else would bother her. She chewed the end of her quill, trying to think of what to write. It hadn’t really sunk in yet, she had a cousin, and she had a relative that knew magic. She eyed the black parchment and wrote

Dora

What can I say? I will keep your secret, as for passing you I rarely go into Hogsmeade, mostly full of bloodsnobs, it’s not worth it anymore. It hasn't really sunk in, when I sent that letter out I didn't know what to expect. As for your name it was some bloodsnobs, they were talking about something as I passed and I heard it. It stuck with me for some reason, hence why I wanted to know why. How come my parents never told me?

I saw your son, I won't tell him don't worry, although it’s strange to suddenly know that he is in fact a second cousin.

Maybe once I have achieved my goal and have finished here at Hogwarts we could meet. That was always my goal, when I came here and discovered about purebloods and their rule, the wizarding world for what it is nower days. I was determined that despite the fact they have made life here living hell at times, I was going to prove them wrong and get through it all. I am one of the few muggle borns in my year now.

Ella

Ella sighed; she always thought her letters sounded daft when he wrote them. She tucked the letter and Dora's letter into her cloak and went to her bed, storing Dora's in a pair socks were no one would find it. Her response remained in her cloak. It was too late now to send it. Early in the morning, beforebreakfast, and s he raced to the owlery, jumping steps in twos. Her uniform was scruffy but she could neaten that up later. She found a different owl. and Gave it the letter. She held it to the window and it took off like the first. Like the first, Ella watched it go before racing back down and through the castle to breakfast. Hope at last, she felt strangely excited by the prospect of having another witch in t he family. Her eyes then turned to teddy spotting his hair so easily, and Ella smiled to herself, maybe should have to try and get to know him. She decided not that moment however and then carried o eating her cereal.

[tonks]

Tonks had not slept well. Her dreams were crystal clear as she woke up, and they had been buzzing around all night. She couldn't help but have a sense of uneasiness in the pit of her stomach.

Dream 1:

[/i][/u]
She was face to face with Teddy, his face red and eyes full of tears. She was sitting at her mother's house, and he was shouting at her. "They told me you were dead!" He shouted, between stifled sobs. "I met you in Diagon Alley, didn't I Dora? Why didn't you tell me? You're my mum! Why did you leave me? I HATE YOU! I never want to see you again! You're not my mum, you didn't care about me!" He then pointed at Andromeda. "She's more like my mum than you are! She cares about me!" Tonks was sitting there, tears running down her face as Teddy stormed out. She wiped her eyes, and turned to her mother. "How..." She began, between shaky breaths and tears, "...How did he... he find out? You...you told him...? About...me?" Her mother shook her head. "No. It wasn't me, but someone who said you'd been contacting her. Your father's sister's daughter, Ella, told him."

She had woken at that point, and wiped away the very real tears on her face. Her pillow had been soaked through. After putting that behind her, and telling herself that she was getting worried over nothing, she leant back upon the pillows, and slept again.

Dream 2:[/i][/u]
A girl was sitting at her desk in Hogwarts. Suddenly a man, someone she could only guess was a teacher, stormed into the room. "Smith!" He barked. "Where the hell is "Smith"?" The woman at the front of the class pointed to the girl, and the man strode over to her table. The girl looked up, panicked. "Here." The man said, with no explanation. "Now." The girl stood, and picked her things up. He beckoned for her to follow him, and she did so. As they got outside the room, he snapped the door shut. He turned to her, and the look on his face was purely evil. "We've heard you've been sending letters, Miss Smith. Letters to someone you shouldn't be writing to. Is that right?" The girl shook her head, and mumbled something. "Don't play games with me, Miss Smith - you know the punishments nowadays, don't you? After all, you are in your final year...you should know by now the punishment for lying." Again, the girl mumbled, and this time a curse was fired from the man's wand. She cried out and the man smirked. "Obviously not, then." He grabbed her by the shoulders and pinned her against the wall. "You've been writing to Nymphadora Lupin, haven't you? You know where she is. She isn't dead at all - is she?" The girl seemed to try to answer, but the man held her tighter. "Don't try and tell me you haven't," he said, his voice poisonous. "Because we found her letters to you in your trunk. Now WHERE IS SHE?" The girl said something and then...then so did he. A ray of green light erupted from his wand and...

...Tonks woke up, sweating. It was a dangerous game they were playing. A very dangerous one. No matter what they did, if someone found out that she had been writing to the girl, they'd both be in trouble - Ella more than Tonks. She had got herself out of so many scrapes that another near-death experience would have been nothing too bad. However, Tonks would not allow herself to be the reason her family got hurt. Not again.

That day, nothing much happened, but that night, the dreams came back. Round and round her head, like some demented game of "Cat and Mouse". But this time, she was woken finally by a good sound.

There was a bird tapping at her window. An owl. She instantly sprung out of bed, and opened her bedroom window. The owl hopped inside and she seized the letter. Sitting on her bed, she read it and wrote a reply on some parchment she had prepared the day before - just in case.

Ella,

Thank you for agreeing to keep my secret. It means a lot to me. At least I know there's someone in the family I can trust, eh? I understand what you mean about Hogsmeade, but sadly Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade are the only places I have left. I can't go anywhere else much for the fact there is a risk that I may be found out - as hard as that may be to believe. It doesn't surprise me that the bloodsnobs were talking of me, now. It's almost the tenth anniversary of the day they defeated the Order - of course they'll bring up our names.

I can tell you why your parents never told you. My father had to place them under a memory charm. You see...I was a major part of the Order of the Phoenix - from now on it'll be referred to as the OotP - both for time and safety, and everyone knew it. I had just got married to Remus Lupin, a werewolf, and the Black family (no doubt you'll have heard of them - the biggest bunch of pureblood snobs there's ever been) was my mother's family. They hated me for being a halfblood, and then even more as I had married a "halfbreed". They wanted revenge on me, and my family was the first place they were going to look.

My father had to go on the run, and thought it safer that your parents never knew of me. He was afraid they'd kill you three too, and under no circumstances was he going to let that happen. He didn't cast one on you though as you were seven, and he thought you wouldn't remember me. Shortly after this, my father was found and killed. His spell saved your family, I'll bet.

As for Teddy, please keep an eye out for him. I hate not being with him to guide his way, so if you see him in distress or trouble, please help him out. It would mean the world to me. If you're able to, could you let me know how he's doing - I feel so bad about him being there without anyone to help him.

And your dreams - they are truly honourable ones. I would love to meet up with you - you seem a very strong and able young woman, and I'd like to finally be able to put a face to your name. Keep looking forward - the purebloods aren't going to rule forever. We'll all make sure of that, I promise.

Dora.

PS: Be careful now. I don't pretend to know about Divination or anything, but I've had some rather horrific dreams of what could happen if you're found communicating with me. I don't want you to get hurt because of me, I really don't. Please, keep on your toes, and at the first sign of danger, owl me. I'll be at Hogwarts before you know it - under what guise, I don't know.

She tied the message to the owl's leg, and stroked the owl. Giving it an owl treat she had found amongst her belongings, she opened the window again and watched it soar out. She just hoped it got to her, and that she'd take the warning seriously.[/font][/size][/color]

[Word Count - 1,246]
[Comments - Tell you what - my word count is going up while RPing with you, faster than any other RP I've ever done, lol!][/center]

[ELLA AMELIA SMITH !]

Ella Smith
I can hear you when you whisper
But you can’t even hear me screaming

Toss and turn, toss and turn. Ella's old nightmare was coming back to her....

She was running, fast the ground whirling beneath her, panic flooding her mind. Where are they? Are they alright? She ran down the familiar street she grew up on. She can see the smoke; she hopes to the gods that it is her father having a bonfire. Alas, She rounds the corner, her wizarding robes whirling, she had not bothered to try and change. She pulled out her wand ready as she runs forwards, towards the burning rubble. The smoke is thick and black in the sky. Ella jumps into he rubble flinging it aside with magic and bare hands, until she finds what her heart dreads. There next to each other lie two pale stiff bodies, a look of complete terror on their faces. Ella falls to her knees, the bodies have no markings on them, there are no bruises, no signs of what they died from to a muggle's eyes. However she knew exactly how they had died, in a flash of green light. Ella wept by their bodies, the tears nonstop with the guilt that this was her fault.

Ella awoke, her covers were all twisted and her entire body covered in cold sweat. She shivered, sorting her covers out, and she lay in bed. She gazed up to the top of her four post bed. She then noticed something, above her there was a little ledge were a broken bit of wood had come loose, she eyed her trunk were Dora's letter was, and then the ledge, it was an even better place, she eyed the other girls in the room, but she would wait until they were out. She glanced around at her watch, it was 3 am. Crap, she needed some more sleep. She lay back down, adjusting her pillow, and closed her eyes, drifting in and out of sleep, but not really resting, afraid of her nightmares.

Deep rings were starting to build up under her eyes. She yawned as she plopped down on the bench, ready to eat breakfast. Her usual black robes emblazed with the Ravenclaw symbol hung off her frame lightly, they were actually a bit small but she was not buying new ones just for the next few months. She decided to tie her hair back today; her brown straight locks tied back loosely a few strands of hair to the side of her face. She was about to tuck into some toast when the owls came in. She never used to be bothered by he owls, but now her eyes darted up as soon as they came. Like today her hazel eyes glanced up and waited, then it came the owl swooped down towards her. The pit of her stomach twisted in excitement as the owl landed. She stroked its feathers, and then untied the letter, offering some of her toast to it, which it ate, ruffled its wings then flew away. Instead of reading it and drawing attention to the fact she had once again got mail, she quickly pocketed it on and inside pocket in her cloak. She would have to wait. Unfornately lunch was taken, Professor Malfoy kept her behind. He was one of the biggest Bloodsnobs of them all. So she had to wait until the evening. She went to her room instead of the common room and as she had hoped it was empty, taking her chance she grabbed Dora's first letter and placed it in the new hiding place she had found, finding she could move the wood to cover it up even better, now nothing looked out of place and the letter was hidden. She then sat on her bed and read the letter. She read it and reread it. Ella reached into her trunk pulling out parchment, quill and ink and wrote back.

Dora

I am careful, I hide your letters. I do realise the danger I put myself and you in by contacting each other. Is it not worth it however. I finally have a promise of meeting a friendly face when I leave Hogwarts and maybe learning something other than the dark arts.

Of course I will look over Teddy, I am in Ravenclaw so it will be hard but if I see him in trouble, I will help, and we impurities must stick together. I know the bloodsnobs probably beat him up, they did to me in my first year. I am thinking of trying to talk to him, see if he does want any help.

I am glad you approve of my goals, I have never told my parents about the real hell of this place. They were so proud when I go the letter. I had wondered why they had accepted magic so easily, maybe the spell had weakened a little. I don't have the heart to tell them about what the real wizarding world is like.

Next weekend there is a Hogsmeade, normally I wouldn't go, but maybe we could meet, I can't remember your face, even if you can change it.

I too hope my nightmares don't come true

Ella

She put the parchment into an envelope and sealed it sighing. Hope, oh yes hope, and she was more determined to find Teddy and make herself known as a friend, she stood one her bed and hid Dora's letter. She sat down on her bed again, putting her letter to send in her cloak inside pocket ready for the morning, she pulled out her potions books and started on her mountain of homework. Suddenly a girl came in, nodding to her in acknlodgement. Ella silently worked on her bed.

In the morning she dressed and washed quickly, running to the owlery. She quickly picked out a light brown barn owl, stroking its feathers, she tied the letter addressed to Dora. She smiled to herself, wrapping an arm around herself, as the bird became a speck in he sky. Another day, it felt like getting through this hell was worth even more now. She moved and went down to breakfast.

[tonks]

The next night was exactly the same as before - more nightmares, more tears, more sweat...but there was also something else. A new dream appeared, one that Tonks was more than happy to have.

Dream 3:

[/i][/u]
She was standing in the grounds of Hogwarts yet again - in exactly the same place as the Battle of Hogwarts had taken place ten long years ago. However, there were two major differences. The first was that the position of the sides had changed - now the Order stood as intruders on the grounds, while Voldemort and his followers stood "protecting" Hogwarts. The second difference was who was leading and who was following - and the amounts. Voldemort was leading the snobs, as always, and there were 200, maybe 300 of them standing against the walls of Hogwarts. Yet instead of Harry leading the Order...It was her who was leading the oppressed ones. Tonks was at the front, the surviving members of the Order behind her, and the many others who had been forced to lead lives shunned in the gutters, were behind them. As she stood there, she heard voices - bodiless voices. Four people who she had not let go of, despite their deaths. The first, inside her head, said something like "I didn't imagine you going to Azkaban - but nor did I think you'd become Harry in this situation. Go for it cousin. You can do it!" It was Sirius, most definitely. Her cousin who had been locked up for 13 murders he didn't commit who had been killed by Bellatrix Lestrange. Then came a voice she had heard all her school years. "Nymphadora, you always were a strong woman. Thank you for helping the Order so much." It was her old Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. The one man she had never talked back to in her life. The third was someone she had greatly missed, who had taught her everything to do with being an Auror. "Constant Vigilance, that what you've got. You've done me proud. Don't let them defeat you. You're tougher than before." It was Mad-Eye Moody, her teacher. She had learned everything about being a Dark-Wizard Catcher from him, and his death had affected her greatly. Yet, even that didn't shock her as much as then final one did. "Go on, Dora. This is your chance. We never doubted you. You can do it. You're watching out for Ella and you're doing her proud." It was her father. Her father who had protected her always. She was doing the right thing, at least, according to the voices in her head - which was concerning. The battle cry was yelled from Voldemort's amassed army, and Tonks awoke from her daydream. She called her team, and the two sides collided in the centre. Flashes of red and green lit the grounds up like fireworks, the cries of the fallen echoing through the night, never to be forgotten.

The battle didn't last long, but one thing she knew was that Voldemort...was finally dead.

And then she awoke, a sad, reminiscent smile upon her face, when she realised what had woken her. Another owl. Seriously, Ella needed to find another time to send the owls, but she didn't mind. It was nice being woken by an owl that you knew did NOT contain bad news. She let it in, as she had done the day before, and looked through the letter, smiling at the penultimate paragraph, and then looking deadly serious at the next.

She ran to the living room in her nightgown, and pulled yet another sheet of parchment from the drawer. Running back to her bedroom she dipped her quill in the ink and wrote.

Ella,

I am glad to hear of your carefulness. It is worth it, of course, but I do not want you to get into trouble or danger. I can handle being sent to Azkaban again - the place no longer scares me - but I would rather die than let it be my fault that you are sent to that awful place; and I'm not joking. You'll definitely have a friendly face when you leave Hogwarts, and I used to be an Auror, if any of the skills I have from that may help you further your learning. The offer is there, and I'm more than happy for you to take it up.

Thank you for saying you will look out for Teddy, I'm glad there will be someone to look out for him. I know you can't be there all the time, and nor would I want you to be - he does have to learn some things on his own - but just knowing there's someone there for him is good enough for me. The bloodsnobs beat you up? I was verbally attacked when I was at Hogwarts, even when the bloodsnobs didn't rule, but never attacked physically. The school has lost it's way since Voldemort took over, and it can't continue like that.

Of course I approve of your goals, and I also understand why you wouldn't tell your parents. The chances are that they accept magic because, yes, they remember it. I think it's a sensible idea not to tell them the truth, but then again, should you wish to talk about it, I am always here to write to. You're never alone, you're just a little bit further away than we'd like you to be.

I'd love to meet you in Hogsmeade. I'll be at the Three Broomsticks - it's loud so no-one will overhear - and I'll be wearing a bracelet with a phoenix on it. I was given it by my mother when I joined the OotP. It's handmade, so no-one else will have anything like it. If you...I dunno, bring one of the letters I've sent you or something so I'll know it's you - be creative. We can always wander off, should you wish, and I'll change my appearance to what I used to look like before I had to keep changing my appearance. It would also be a time where you can talk to me in person should you want to, and say anything that's too sensitive for a letter. There is a cave that my cousin used to use when he was in trouble, down on the outskirts of Hogsmeade, where we can go and be certain no-one else is there.

I hope my nightmares don't come true, except one. One of a victory. One of a victory for us and a defeat of those who have made us stay in silence.

Freedom, Ella. That's what we all must think of.

Dora.

She sighed and smiled softly. She was finally going to meet her cousin again, after almost 15 years. They'd both have changed a lot - even Ella herself had said she didn't remember her. She tied the letter once more to the owl's ankle, and saw it soar into the blue sky.

As it left, Tonks lowered herself on to her bed, and looked at her wrist. There was the golden Phoenix on her bracelet, the one mid-flight - on its journey to freedom; just as Tonks and Ella were now. The last words of her letter drifted in her head, bold and clear as day.

[/size]Freedom, Ella. That's what we all must think of.[/i][/u][/size][/color][/font]

[Word Count - 1,225]
[Comments - Back to you!] [/center]

[ELLA AMELIA SMITH !]

Ella Smith
I can hear you when you whisper
But you can’t even hear me screaming

The flutter of owl wings, and once again likes he did every morning now, she looked up at the owls. Of course there wasn't something every day, and she didn't look strange compared to others, only if you had noticed beforehand that she never really used to get mail. Who would? No one watched impure and those who did didn't care. She smiled to herself; it had been awhile since she had not had to force a smile. Her genuine smile was actually pretty, her face lit up with it. She had toast ready to offer to the bird. She quickly took the letter giving it the toast. Storing it carefully in her cloak, she started her day.

The day was as dull as the rest but thankfully uneventful. She still had not had the chance to approach Teddy, something she wanted to do. She couldn't tell him they were related, it would be too hard to explain without mentioning his mother. After returning to her bed, a place she had found out to be quiet and most of the time empty, a good place to read her letters. She lay on her bed still in her cloak s he took out her letter, reading it like she had the others, and rereading it. Smiling weakly to herself, allowing herself that pleasure. She reached into her bag and took out her writing equipment. She wrote, letting her hand drift over the parchment fluidly. She replied thinking about her words

Dora

Wow an Auror, I would love to learn anything you have to teach me. The school is put in place to brain wash and stomp down on any impure person. Many muggleborns drop out and go back to being muggles. Many of the teachers are death eaters and bloodsnobs themselves. For example potions, I am really good at it, but Professor Malfoy still finds a way to put me in detention. As for the physical beatings anyone impure soon learns the rules. Grit your teeth and be quiet if you want to survive.

I will bring the first letter I ever received from you. I am glad I have someone. I too hope that one day we can be free of the fears we have.

Ella

Ella sealed it like she had done many times. She glanced at her cloak and decided to send it that night, wondering to the owlery she placed the letter on a large owl and like she had many times before she watched it go, she sighed leaning against the wall, her eyes drifting to the stars, oh yes there was hope.

[tonks]

THREAD ENDED