PERSONALITY

History

Everyone has a story. In every tale there's always something to be learned. We all have a part to play in this journey of life, so I'd like to tell you a little about mine. My name is Andromeda Lyra Tonks nee Black. I was born to Cygnus and Druella 'Rosier' Black. When I first made entry into the world in the early fifties, I'd already been a disappointment. The second for my parents. As the first disappointment was that of my sister Bellatrix.I'd been born into the legendary house of Black. It came with great honor and also fear. Fear, of everything that was unknown. Albeit, my family they didn't see it that way. My parents weren't the most hands-on in mine and my sister's raising. We had nannies, those that my parents trusted that were in the inner circle. My birth was not the last, as just a few years later my mother had her final offspring. Yet again another girl, and she....was called Narcissa.

I loved both my sisters. Even then I knew how different we all were, even if I resembled my sister the most. Yet as a growing girl, I learned all that a proper pureblood lady should. How to always look the best, speak only when spoken to, and to never interrupt men as they spoke. I never did understand such a thing but I learned early on not to question anything because that, only got me into trouble. I'd tried to emulate my sister, Bells, because she'd had a little more life experience than I had, although not much.

In the early years of my youth, both my sisters and I were trained to believe that only the purebloods deserved anything at all. That anyone whom was "less" than pure were not even close to worthy of survival. I remember one day wanting to play with some kids that were outside of the manse. Bella stopped me, said they were unworthy and that Mother would disapprove. Yet I yearned to, mostly because they looked like they were having fun. But, I did not wish to disobey my mother, those scolding tones and the eyes that could make one's skin crawl, no thank you. It wasn't important enough.

The truth is you never know what you miss until it's gone. I grew up in the Noble House of Black, a house that I once cherished. I grew up with my sister Bella, and a younger sister Narcissa I couldn't imagine then that it wouldn't always be that way. How close the three of us were. We had to be. We were all each other had, as play mates or confidants. We shared practically everything. Secrets, hopes, everything. Of course there were certain things each of us held close to the vest, but for reasons that were our own. While neither Mother nor Father were hands on in raising us, both were equally disappointed that we weren't boys. Father especially. Father would state that women were only good at one thing and one thing only. Bearing children. To bear more pure-blood children. In order to do that, many in my family--stayed within our own family to keep our blood pure.

I was raised to believe that that, was normal. They'd always preached about how pure-bloods were the best. That we--were the best. That anyone whom wasn't a pure-blood wasn't even worth concerning ourselves with. Though when I was 6 years old, my aunt Walburga brought home a little boy, of which would become my favorite cousin, Sirius Black. And for the first eleven years of my life, that was all that I knew to be true. Once my Hogwarts letter arrived, I was able to see for myself that not everything I was taught by my beloved family--was actually the truth.

Upon entering Hogwarts, when I was eleven, my world completely turned upside down. The fact was, I'd always listened to the advise of my sister, of Bella, whom always seemed to know the right thing to do or to say. Up until I arrived at Hogwarts I had always taken what Bella had said to heart. That she'd never lead me in the wrong direction. The first few days after I arrived at Hogwarts I was nervous but excited. You see, even though I'd done what I was supposed to, by being sorted into Slytherin, it hadn't mattered to dear old Mum and Father. I loved my family and I wanted to do what was best for them. To make them proud, though I knew that would be hard given I wasn't the son they so longed for. Soon , my youngest sister Narcissa joined me at Hogwarts. The three of us were in Slytherin. A point that was respected among our family, since everyone had always been in Slytherin from the very beginning.

My time at Hogwarts was everything I could have imagined it would be. Even though it meant playing a certain role, in a way I was sure of, yet not thrilled with. I knew my place, I knew what I had to do. How far I had to go to do what needed to be done. Yet I could see the differences between my house and those in the other three. There was kindness and compassion between members of the other houses not seen in my own. They say that your house is like your family. And with family, comes honor. Comes protection no matter what.

Not that anyone in Slytherin would ask for it. Slytherins like myself were known to be a bit more resourceful, determined, clever and sneaky. Traits that came in handy as I learned and navigated this world I was born into. Bells taught me that I was not to take orders from anyone, not even the professors at the best of times, or at least the ones that weren't pure-blooded. She always did seem to know whom those were. I wrote home, only because it felt like the right thing to do, not that I expected any sort of response from dear old mum and father. Bells said not to be surprised if I didn't receive anything in return. As neither Father nor Mother were inclined to send post if they didn't see fit to.

Through the first year I learned many different spells and potions. Created a sort of name for myself. Quite a bit I was referenced as being my sister when I was alone. That, was frustrating to no end. I don't know how people mistook me for her when although we look similarly we were not identical in appearance. I focused more on my studies than I did bullying others. Though while I may not have hexed students the way that my fellow Slytherins did, I certainly didn't approve of it. Questioning that though would have most certainly gotten me hexed as well.

I found each of my classes to be rather comforting in their own ways, some more so than others. Flying was not something that I felt all that much confident about though I did enjoy it to a certain degree. Transfiguration and Charms were perhaps two of my favorite courses, as there were complex magic involved. There were good things and bad things about certain individuals in school. I saw things I never wanted to see, yet knew I would. It was all about choices, some were made for us and some were ones only we could make. Over the years I made some good friends, and some rather complicated rivalries. I followed the rules, even if I didn't always follow my heart or my instincts.

It wasn't until my sister left Hogwarts that I felt content enough to slow down. To not always be looking over my shoulder as ridiculous as that might sound. Don't get me wrong I loved my big sister to death, still do, but it's hard being under someone else's shadow. That being said though, I wasn't entirely free since my baby sister was still in Hogwarts. I couldn't do anything too risky. As I was still living at home and still, under dear old mum and father's rules. Rules like the ones mum and dad had were not ones to ever be regarded as not to follow. You either followed them or well it wouldn't be pretty. I for one did not want to find out what repercussions they had in store for those that didn't follow the rules.

School was something that I enjoyed. I enjoyed it far more than I let on. I had freedom, in regards to most things. I did my homework, I worked hard. I had good grades in most if not all of my classes. Sure, I struggled in some classes more so than others. After my sister graduated, I was in my sixth year, it wasn't as difficult to hide in the shadows. Whereas my sister took light in being a socialite, like dear old mum, I stayed in the background. I knew how to make a mark, of course, but I'd mostly be found in the library or on the grounds reading. Kept myself out of trouble in that regard.

It was one day when I wasn't paying attention that my world turned upside down, in the presence of one individual. His name was Edward Theodore Tonks. He was far different than anyone else I'd ever come face to face with. He was brilliant, and I was curious about him, about the world that he came from. The muggle things, the way that he spoke about certain things that I didn't quite understand, captivated me. It captivated me not just because it was something new but because he trusted me enough to share it with me.

We fell in love, and I was at a loss as to what to do. Could I turn my back on everything I'd ever known? It scared me. Scared me more than anything I'd ever imagined. Do I follow my heart? Trust my instincts? Family meant everything to me. But I didn't want to be like my sisters whom were just alright following the rules. To marry for loyalty to the family, or obligation rather than for love. I know that Narcissa and Lucius were deemed to be wed, and so was Bellatrix to Rodolphus Lestrange. I loved my sisters, and the last thing I wanted was for them to regret their choices. I couldn't get mad at them for following the rules even if I didn't want to agree with it.

By the age of seventeen, I knew I had a choice to make. During one of our trips to Hogsmeade, he got down on one knee. Oh how I loved this man. I was scared. Part of me wanted to just jump for joy because I loved him. But then I thought of my sisters. Of my family. What would they think? What sort of danger would we be in? Could this work? Did I want it to? So many questions were lingering in my mind. Yet as I looked at Ted, I knew that this..that he was whom I wanted. Part of me wanted to wait. To reveal it all to the world after my last year at Hogwarts. I even expressed that it would be safer for us both as school would be coming to a close in a few short months. And I had two choices. One, to follow with what dear old Mother and Father requested. To be in a marriage to a man that I'd most likely never feel anything in the world for. Yet have my family's support. Or, be with Ted.

To be happy, to have a love that I'd never even imagined could exist. I knew that I had to listen to my heart. So with a heavy heart, I made my choice. It was right after graduation when I told my family how I felt and what I desired. I remember the way that my mother looked, with daggers in her eyes. And Father, giving me less than a half an hour to get out of his house. That I was not to be welcomed back. I knew that was coming. So I grabbed what mattered most to me of my belongings. I remember crying as I approached Ted's home. He of course was there, with his arms wide open. Waiting and helping me through it all. I knew then, that I lost all contact with my family. With the very souls that had once embraced me. But, my being different wasn't a bad thing. It was a difference between right, and wrong. That every choice, came with a consequence. Sometimes good and sometimes difficult.

Not long after I joined Ted, I realized how different his life--our life was than what I once knew. It wasn't lavish, or expensive in how we lived, but it was great. We had a roof over our heads, food to sustain us, and best of all we had each other. We didn't stay engaged very long as I couldn't wait to marry my best friend.

Though the engagement was not a long one. It was great. After we wed in a small ceremony, not long after Ted and I learned that I was pregnant. How was I supposed to raise a child? In a world like this one? I feared for my child. What sort of world was she or he going to be born into? My pregnancy went by almost as quickly as our engagement. And soon we had little Nymphadora. A name that I chose, though Nymphadora would say  that I "the fool of a mother" gave her that name. 

Through the next eleven years things were perfect. Ted had his job, I had mine. I was staying at home with Dora as Ted affectionately called her, as she detested the name I gave her. Choosing Dora or Tonks over the name I chose. It was only after Nymphadora went to Hogwarts that I went back to doing something I loved doing. Healing. I was proud of our daughter, whom took after her father. Hard to believe now that our daughter is fifteen. No one says raising a child is easy, but it's almost impossible once they turn into teenagers.

I fear for my daughter. I can't help it. I fear for her sake more than I do myself. As I've lived a good long life, albeit I'd like to live much longer. I want the best for my husband, my daughter, and my sisters as much as I neglect or refuse to admit it. It seems like a life-time ago....but as the darkness continues to rise over the land, a light shines through. My old professor, one of my absolute favorites, Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. I trusted him explicitly. Perhaps more so than my sisters did. Not because he was more powerful than I, but because he was so much wiser. I learned through various conversations with some of my oldest friends that he, was putting together a group to defend against the dark forces that were brewing, that were called Death Eaters. While I did not officially join, per say, I did allow my home, with Ted's blessing, as a safe-house if needed and to heal anyone that needed it from time to time.