"Wotcher, kiddo!"
The voice came so suddenly, Betty nearly dropped the bottle of ink. She spun around.
A young witch leaned against the shop wall, bubble-gum pink hair sticking out in all directions. She wore a slightly oversized leather jacket over a patched denim skirt and dark burgundy boots. Arms folded, one knee bent, she grinned at Betty.
As she shifted her weight, her elbow bumped into the corner of a shelf. A row of ink bottles rattled; one tipped over and clattered to the floor. Tonks lunged forward to catch it, but in doing so, she bumped her hip against a stack of parchment on one of the display tables next to her, which immediately collapsed in all directions.
The shop owner gave her a nasty look.
"Sorry!" Tonks called loudly. "I'll take care of it!" she then muttered, as she searched her bags for her wand. "Brilliant. I swear, I don't even try."
When she found her wand, she let it flick, the broken glass reassembled itself, and with a second flicker, the ink pots and parchment scrolls landed in their places.
"Dora!" Betty beamed at her.
Betty was one of the few allowed to call her that. Tonks was her second cousin and had been around for as long as she could remember. Tonks was a born Metamorphmagus, a rare talent that let her change hair colour, face, even body shape at will. And now her hair had taken the rosy pink colour of her cheeks.
"Last minute shopping for your first year at Hogwarts?" Tonks asked, clearly trying to cover up the accident by acting nonchalant. She eyed Betty from head to toe. "Fancy outfit."
She gave a short nod toward Betty's clothes. "You're actually wearing those Muggle shorts. I told Mum you'd pull it off better than I ever did."
Betty glanced down at her wide shorts, faded band shirt, and sneakers with worn soles. She smiled faintly.
"I like them. Muggle clothes are just more comfortable than those old-fashioned wizard robes."
Tonks laughed out loud. "Our ancestors would've hated it." She winked. "I love it."
Tonks's eyes landed on the wand box Betty carried under her arm. "Got yourself a wand yet?"
"Wenge wood and Thestral tail hair. Eleven inches."
Tonks whistled softly. "Sounds rare. And mysterious. Just like you," she winked, "mine's ashwood and dragon heartstring—stubborn as anything."
She looked Betty up and down, mock serious. "You ready for all the drama? Peeves—the poltergeist—throwing stink bombs at students, staircases that make sure you end up anywhere but punctual to class, and portraits yelling insults?"
Betty smiled slightly. "You make it sound like a battlefield."
"It is," Tonks said, grinning. "But you'll like it."
Betty raised an eyebrow, unsure if that was a joke.
Tonks glanced at Lucinda, who was carrying Betty's shopping bags.
"This is going to be a big adventure. But you're well prepared, I can see that."
Then casually, with a playful tone, she added, "if Betty fancies it, she could come for a little trip with me around London? See the city a bit before school starts. What do you think?"
Betty's eyes widened, a faint sparkle appearing in her eyes. "Can I, Mum?"
Lucinda hesitated briefly, then nodded. "Yes. But be back in time for dinner."
Tonks grinned widely and winked at Betty. "Promise. And don't worry, I'll get her back in time."
Betty felt excitement spreading inside her. An afternoon in London with Tonks before school started felt like a small adventure. A brief moment just for her before everything would change.
"Take good care of yourself," Lucinda said softly, then she glanced at Tonks. "And no impulsive decisions."
"Yes, Ma'am," Tonks replied without hesitation, wrapping her arm around Betty's shoulder.
Her tone was light, even playful, but her grip on Betty's arm tightened just a little, and Betty knew right away that her cousin was up to something.
After just a few steps, Betty gently slipped out of Tonks' grip. Together they left the shop, walking side by side toward the Leaky Cauldron, while Lucinda stood, watching until the door closed behind them.
They entered the Leaky Cauldron, said goodbye to Tom with a quick nod. But instead of disappearing back through the fireplace to Diagon Alley as usual, this time they stepped out through the large, heavy wooden door into Muggle London.
A tingling sensation ran through her body as she took in the impressions. She rarely set foot into Muggle London, but each time she did, she felt the excitement. She couldn't say exactly what it was, but she had always found comfort in watching Muggles go about their everyday lives, each absorbed in their own world.
Betty moved closely behind Tonks, who led her confidently through the streets, hands casually tucked in her coat pockets. After a few minutes, they reached the nearest tube station.
"Northern Line," Tonks said with a grin.
Betty stopped and looked at her. "Where are we going?"
Tonks turned briefly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I've got a surprise for you. You're going to love it."
Betty couldn't hide her grin. Despite her curiosity, she mostly felt excited. They left the tube and walked up the stairs and out of the station at Camden Town.
The hustle and bustle of the market stalls, the mixture of music, smells and people jostling past them almost overwhelmed her when they arrived at Camden Market. She concentrated on her breathing, clinging to Tonks' arm. Then, the older girl stopped and pointed to a small shop with bright neon lights and a big sign reading Piercing 'n' More.
Tonks grinned. "You always wanted your ears pierced, but your mum won't let you, right?"
Betty looked surprised and amused. She nodded, feeling her heart quicken in her chest. "Mum's going to kill us. She warned you. 'No impulsive decisions'", she said, imitating her mother.
"Right. And… I planned it quite a while ago." Tonks shrugged and smiled wider.
Betty swallowed, then giggled. "That's… technically not an impulsive decision."
However, she doubted that her mother would let that pass.
"Let's do it then. After you." Tonks opened the door and gestured Betty to enter. Hesitantly, she passed the threshold.
Inside, Betty scanned the shelves and chose a pair of simple gold studs, elegant but discreet.
Tonks spoke briefly with a bald, bearded man whose arms were completely tattooed. Betty looked at them in awe, then noticed Tonks holding out a piece of paper. He nodded and gestured for Betty to take a seat on one of the chairs.
The man explained the steps, wiped her earlobes with a tissue, then pushed the needle through each earlobe with quick precision. It barely hurt, just a quick pinch, and left behind a faint tingling warmth. Shortly after, they left.
"How'd you get the piercer to do this?" Betty asked curiously. "Wouldn't I have needed Mum's permission?"
"I'm of age, kiddo," Tonks said with a grin. "Muggles are easy to persuade. You basically just need a handwritten permission." She shook her head. "He believed me right away."
Betty's eyes widened. "You're bonkers."
Tonks leaned back against the wall at the store. "I'm meeting some friends soon. Want to come along?"
Betty frowned. "You want an eleven-year-old coming along?"
Tonks shrugged and smiled. "You're a pretty cool eleven-year-old. Besides, I need your keen nose."
Betty raised an eyebrow. "Huh." She looked at Tonks closely. "And what exactly do you want me to find out?"
Tonks expression suddenly changed; her usual confident demeanour gave way to a slight flush, and she shifted nervously from one foot to the other. She hesitated and fiddled with her collar.
"Well..." she said finally, "I really like this boy—Julian. He's good looking and popular. It's just...I'm not sure if I should make the first move."
Betty tilted her head. "And you want me to find out if he likes you?"
Tonks nodded, her voice was quieter now, almost hesitant. "Exactly. I—uhm—I don't have the courage to go to him directly. Maybe... you could dig a bit for me?"
Betty frowned. "But Dora, you know I'm not supposed to snoop inside other people's heads!"
Tonks laughed out loud. "First—You don't really stick to that rule anyway," she said dryly. "Second—call me Tonks, just Tonks. Please. Third—I'll buy you an ice cream."
Betty sighed. "Alright then," she said, "but only because it's you."
They walked back to the tube station. The air was still warm from the summer day. Chater and music drifted from nearby pubs. Down in the subway shaft, they waited for the train to Piccadilly Circus.
"What's the plan then?" Betty asked as the train pulled in and they got on.
Tonks grinned and settled into a free seat, looking at her. "My friends have never been to Muggle London. I thought I'd show them around."
Betty asked sceptically. "And they'll find their way? Muggle underground isn't easy. Especially if you come from a purely magical household."
"I told them where to apparate safely and gave them a hand drawn map—with colours and arrows. I feel like a tour guide on a mission. And Frankie's mum's Muggle. Frankie hasn't been to London yet, but she knows how to stay low key."
Betty grinned and leaned back as the tube rushed through the tunnels.
At Piccadilly Circus it was loud, voices came from all directions, in many different languages, some of those she recognised—some however not. It sounded like French, Spanish, German, Japanese. Colourful, bright lights flashing everywhere from giant billboards. It smelled of exhaust fumes, perfume mixed with sweat and something else Betty couldn't identify. She wrinkled her nose.
They stopped near a corner stand where a vendor sold ice-cream. Tonks bought a cone with lemon ice cream for herself, vanilla with nut brittles for Betty.
"Wow..." Betty murmured, stopping as she took her first lick.
Tonks turned to her, licking from her cone. "Good place to remember there are people out there different from you. And that's a good thing."
Betty nodded slowly, eyes wide. "Everyone looks different. And nobody seems to mind. A strangely dressed wizard wouldn't even draw attention."
"Exactly. Here no one's strange just for being strange. Because everyone's a bit strange," said Tonks. "That's why I love this place."
They moved with the flow of people, each working their way through their cones. Betty licked hers carefully, letting the sweetness cool her tongue as she took in the chaos of the square.
Betty stood in the middle of it all, with her new earrings and half melted cone, soaking everything in.
"Do you think Mum will be angry?" she asked eventually. "About the earrings?"
Tonks shrugged. "Probably. But then I'll just be her awful, incorrigible niece again, and you'll be her innocent little angel, too young to know what's right or wrong."
"That won't last much longer."
"Then enjoy it while it lasts," Tonks said with a conspiratorial look.
They were standing at the edge of the crowd, across from the statue with angel wings, when Tonks suddenly stopped—her eyes widened as she stared into the crowd.
"Wait a second... isn't that—Harry Potter?"
Betty blinked, turning to where Tonks pointed. Amid the mass of tourists, she spotted a boy with messy black hair and round glasses, walking beside a blonde woman who looked deeply displeased to even be out in public. Next to her trailed a blond, chubby boy talking unstoppably.
But the dark haired boy suddenly looked up, as if had heard his name being called. He glanced around until his eyes met Betty's, and for a brief moment time froze. She recognised him.
Her eyes widened, her mouth parted slightly as she stared at the boy.
"Harry?" Betty called, raising a hand in greeting.
The boy stared back at her, his eyes widened as well, like someone remembering something long forgotten. He had recognised her too.
And he slowly raised his hand and waved back, his mouth opened.
"Is that your girlfriend, freak?" the blond boy walking beside him said mockingly.
The woman gave Betty a sour look, then she grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him away, her mouth set in a hard line. Harry looked back at Betty one last time before they vanished into the crowd.
Betty just stayed there, still frozen, and despite the loud noise around her, she felt her heartbeat hammering in her ears.
Tonks looked at her in surprise. "Wait... he recognised you? How? You haven't seen each other in... well since… you know—that happened."
Betty shook her head slowly, still dazed. "I... I met him once. I was maybe seven or eight," she said, still puzzled. "I went with Mum to Mrs Figg's sometimes. She had him there occasionally."
she paused, as if to process what she just realised. "No one ever said he was Harry Potter. I thought he was just a Muggle boy."
Tonks' eyes widened. "Figg? The squib clady? The kneazle breeder?"
"Yep, that one," Betty said. "She's nice. Odd, but nice."
Tonks crossed her arms. "And you had no idea that was Harry Potter? The Harry Potter?"
Betty shook her head. "He seemed... sad, a bit shy. Not like someone everyone in the wizarding world tells stories about. Mum never explained who he was. I wasn't allowed to talk about magic then."
"Merlin, what a coincidence to see him here."
Betty stared at the spot where he had vanished, unsure if he'd really been there or if she'd imagined him. Without Tonks here, she'd have brushed it off as a daydream.
But in her chest, something felt heavy. Harry. The boy who never got birthday presents. They had laid together on Mrs Figg's soft carpet, and building towers out of toothpicks. They'd only seen each other once or twice more.
And now he was gone again.
"The women—she looked pretty nasty," Tonks murmured. "Like a troll in pearl earrings. Poor kid."
Betty nodded slowly. Her thoughts lingered on Harry's face, that look like he'd just seen someone he wasn't sure he'd dreamed or remembered.
"They always left him with Mrs Figg," she said quietly. "When they went to the cinema. Or on holiday. Or when his cousin had his birthday. They just wanted to get rid of him. I think he was always glad when someone came. Even if it was only me, and I hardly knew him."
Tonks raised an eyebrow. "They don't celebrate his birthday?"
Betty shook her head. "No. I asked once if his cousin had to go to Mrs Figg's on his birthday too... and he just said, 'They don't celebrate my birthday.' Like it was normal."
"That's awful. I mean... this kid survived You-Know-Who, and his family treats him like a doxy?"
Betty looked down. "I don't think he even knows he's a wizard," she said quietly. "I thought he was just a muggle boy." She bit her lip. "He was afraid of his uncle. He doesn't treat him well."
Tonks regarded her for a moment, serious, without her usual grin. "That does something to a kid."
"Hm," Betty whispered. "That's why... I hardly recognised him. He's changed. But his eyes... and the glasses. I gave him the bracelet", Betty remembered suddenly. "The one with the coloured beads."
"The one with the subtle protection charm?"
Betty nodded slowly.
"Good. He really seems to need it."
Tonks leaned back slightly, her eyes scanning the crowd. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then she suddenly looked up and pointed into the crowd.
"There they are," she said, waving energetically.
Two teenagers made their way through the crowd. A girl with short dark hair grinned widely and moved with confidence through the hectic crowd. The boy looked like he had pulled his outfit blindly from a laundry basket that morning.
The girl reached them first. She gave Tonks a quick, enthusiastic hug and then turned to Betty. "I'm Frankie."
Her outfit was much more subtle.
The boy followed, offering a crooked grin. "Julian. And before you say anything, this is Muggle clothing, right?" He spun in a slow circle, looking entirely too pleased with himself, as if he were wearing a designer piece.
Tonks laughed and pulled them both into a hug, though she held Julian a beat longer. As she stepped back, her foot caught on the edge of the curb and she stumbled slightly, bumping into a passing tourist.
"Whoops—sorry!" she said, hastily.
Her ears turned a little pink. Julian murmured something to her that Betty couldn't hear, but it made Tonks' expression shifted briefly. She looked at him a moment too long before recovering her composure.
Tonks turned back to her and rested a hand on Betty's shoulder. "This is Betty, my little cousin. Off to Hogwarts next week, so be nice."
Frankie grinned and offered Betty a fist bump. "Welcome to the madhouse, Betty."
Julian blinked. "Oh, the one with the knack for figuring people out? I've heard about you."
Tonks elbowed him in the ribs. "Julian."
"What? I didn't mean anything by it," he said, laughing and raising his hands in surrender.
Betty crossed her arms, studying him, mockingly. "I know."
Julian swallowed, Frankie laughed, and Tonks shot Betty a satisfied glance.
Then she suggested, "How about some drinks somewhere at Leicester Square?" Her friends agreed immediately.
Betty walked a few steps behind the others. They fought their way through the bright chaos of Piccadilly Circus, then ducked into a side street leading towards Soho. Here, the noise softened and cafés and small shops stood closer together.
Tonks walked beside Julian. Maybe a little too close, Betty thought. Tonks bumped him with her shoulder, laughed too loudly at his half decent jokes, and shot him quick glances whenever she thought he wasn't looking. Betty noticed all of it. She rolled her eyes.
Julian didn't seem indifferent either. He played it casual, gesturing animatedly as he explained something to Frankie, but his eyes kept drifting back to Tonks. When they stopped at a crossing and Betty found herself directly opposite him, their eyes met for a fraction of a second. She held his gaze for a heartbeat—not for too long to risk slipping too deep and letting him notice the pulling feel—but it was enough. She saw a flickering image that appeared without her trying to look for it. Tonks, in Julian's mind, close. His wish to kiss her. Tonks in his arms. Not a clear picture, more a blur of longing and hope. Betty saw it anyway.
She blinked, looked away fast, and stared at a shop window full of garish Union Jack mugs. Why did I even have to do this? she thought, her cheeks burning.
Thoughts like Julian's were private, sometimes intimate, and sometimes—inappropriate. She shoved that feeling aside, reminding herself again why the adults were right about not intruding other's thoughts; at least she had found the answer Tonks asked for.
Her cousin called something about a milkshake shop nearby, and the group turned off, unaware of what had just passed through Betty's—or rather Julian's mind. She exhaled slowly, walking half a step behind the others, still flushed.
They settled into a small, slightly chaotic café that looked as if someone had rescued a bunch of mismatched furniture from attics. Tonks dropped into a bright blue armchair, Betty sank into a worn sofa. Frankie and Julian went to the counter to order something that smelled of vanilla and was probably twice as sweet as necessary.
Betty watched Tonks idly shred a napkin, her expression carefully neutral.
"You're not exactly subtle."
Tonks glanced up, raising an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well," Betty said, still a bit uncomfortable, "you laugh at all his dumb jokes, walked so close next to him, and you held onto him for a bit too long back there."
Tonks blushed. "I was just being friendly."
Betty said nothing, just held her gaze, frowning. Tonks lasted a moment before rolling her eyes. "Fine. Did you find out anything? About Julian, I mean?"
Betty shrugged. "He wants to kiss you, and hold you," hesitating briefly before saying in a low, almost embarrassed voice, "and, um... see you without clothes."
Tonks froze, staring as if she'd misheard. "You saw—that's what you saw?"
Betty nodded. "He thought about it. Just for a second. I didn't look for it; it was just there. It was very obvious." She paused, voice dropping. "I know what I saw. He must really like you."
Tonks looked unsettled. "So... you know...?"
"I know how babies are made," Betty said, frowning. "And I know that's not the only reason people do it." She clearly wanted to drop the topic.
Tonks raked a hand through her hair, uneasy. "I... didn't mean to drag you into that."
"It's fine," Betty said quietly, even though it was not.
Tonks' face twisted, half shocked, half flattered. "Merlin..."
Betty leaned forward, the curiosity overcame her. "Do you want that too? What he's imagining?"
Tonks' eyes widened; she raised her hands as if to ward it off. "Oi, oi, Betty... you might be a bit young for this conversation, don't you think?"
Betty met her gaze coolly. "I've had my period. Since March," she returned calmly.
"That doesn't mean you get all of it yet," Tonks said laughing.
"I get enough."
Tonks studied her sidelong. "Do you want to kiss anyone?"
Betty thought for a moment. She'd never really considered it. "Well... I know some boys... but I never thought about kissing them." She grimaced in disgust.
Tonks smiled. "Doesn't sound like butterflies."
"Nope," Betty said.
"Good," Tonks said, her grin softer now. "You've got time for all that."
Frankie and Julian returned with a tray of milkshakes, Julian carrying it with exaggerated care.
"I paid with real Muggle money!" he announced proudly, as if this made him an adventurer.
"And even held it the right way up," Frankie said mockingly, passing Betty a vanilla shake.
Tonks looked at Julian like he'd just tamed a hippogriff. Betty rolled her eyes.
"Are you nervous about Hogwarts yet?" Frankie asked, leaning forward with her elbows casually propped on the table.
Betty nodded. "A bit. I'm excited, but... it's a lot."
"Oh, I know that feeling," Frankie said with a grin. "When my letter came, I nearly lost it. I wasn't even sure I was a witch. My Mum's a Muggle, my dad's a wizard. And me—nothing for years. No exploding stuff, no floating teacups, nothing."
Betty frowned. "And then?"
"Then I accidentally turned my little sister's hair bright red when I got angry," Frankie said with a grin. "After that, there was no doubt."
Tonks snorted into her cup. Julian, who was sipping a milkshake, grimaced like he'd heard the story too many times.
Frankie turned back to Betty. "Tonks says you can already do magic?"
Betty hesitated, then shrugged. "A bit. I'm not allowed to do much yet."
"But you can do it without a wand, right?"
Betty glanced at Tonks, who only grinned and raised her eyebrows.
"Yep," Betty said simply.
Frankie nodded slowly. "Wow. I couldn't do anything at eleven."
Julian moved his chair closer. "When I was a first year, I tried to turn an apple into a goldfish. It twitched and squeaked."
"The squeaking apple was the creepiest thing I've ever seen," Frankie muttered, rubbing her forehead. "You should've seen McGonagall's face!"
Betty couldn't help but giggle. Suddenly, it all felt a little less overwhelming.
Julian leaned back with a grin, pulling his soda across the table. "Any idea what house you want?" he asked curiously.
Betty stirred her milkshake. "Not really. Doesn't the hat decide?"
"It does but... Hufflepuff's the best," Julian said at once. "Chill, loyal, none of that endless Gryffindor vs Slytherin drama." He rolled his eyes. "Best food nearby and a common room full of plants and big armchairs."
Frankie rolled her eyes, though her smile showed she wasn't serious. "You're recruiting again, Julian."
"So what? Cool people belong with us."
Betty looked at him for a moment, then turned to Tonks. "Were you sure about your house back then?"
Tonks smiled. "I was sure I didn't want Slytherin. That was enough."
Betty smirked faintly, then glanced back at Julian. "I think I'll just let the hat decide."
"Fair enough," Frankie said. "It took ages with me. I think it wasn't sure I belonged anywhere."
Julian chuckled. "And it still put you in Hufflepuff. Just proves it was completely right."
Frankie gave him a look but kept smiling. Betty leaned back in her chair. The thought of Hogwarts still made her nervous, but the conversation made it feel a little more real. And less frightening.
She turned to Tonks. "Is Slytherin really that bad? Our mums were in it."
Tonks raised her eyebrows, as if she had expected the question but would rather not answer it. She took a sip of her drink, leaned back, and met Betty's eyes.
"Slytherin is... complicated," she said slowly. "Not everyone there is cruel or manipulative. But the house values ambition and status. That draws a certain kind of person."
Betty dropped her gaze. "But our mums aren't like that."
Tonks gave a short laugh. "Your mum is ambitious. But no, not in the way people usually mean. She had to work hard to stay there because she didn't follow the old traditions. And mine... well, she chose to distance herself later."
Betty stared at the wood grain of the table. "But what if the sorting hat says I belong there?"
"It might suggest it," Tonks said gently, "but it won't force you. It sees who you are, what your potential is. But your choice still matters."
Frankie, who had been half listening, leaned in. "My dad always said if you know who you are, the house doesn't matter. And if you don't, you'll figure it out while you're there."
Julian nodded. "Exactly. In the end, it's the people around you who shape the experience, not the colour of your tie."
Betty leaned back again. It wasn't a clear answer, but maybe she didn't need one yet.
Tonks crossed her arms and gave her a crooked smile. "If I had to guess, I'd say Gryffindor or Ravenclaw."
Betty raised an eyebrow. "Not Hufflepuff?"
"You've got a lot of Gryffindor in you," Tonks said, ignoring the question. "You stand up for people, even when it's risky. You've got courage, the quiet kind that stays when things get difficult. And you speak your mind, even when it's uncomfortable."
Betty stayed quiet, listening.
"And you might fit in Ravenclaw too," Tonks went on. "You're sharp. Not the type who memorises books, but you see patterns. You notice things. You think quickly. Sometimes a bit too much."
She chuckled. Betty looked down. She was surprised by the way her cousin knew her.
Tonks took another sip and added, more thoughtfully, "Honestly, you might surprise us all and end up in Slytherin."
Betty frowned slightly.
"You're more strategic than you let on. You know when to stay quiet. And if you truly want something, you usually find a way to get it," Tonks grinned.
Betty shrugged, her face tightened. "I don't really care. But I heard their common room's in the dungeons." She pulled a face. "But I'd rather be in a tower."
Julian, Frankie, and Tonks burst out laughing. Julian tilted his head and grinned. "What house do you want?" he said in a mocking voice. "Doesn't matter, as long as there's a good view."
Betty smirked despite herself, her expression settling back into her usual quiet restraint.
"Hufflepuff isn't in a tower," Julian went on. "But it's warm, comfortable, and peaceful."
Frankie nodded. "And it's right by the forest. You see animals outside sometimes. It feels very homey."
Betty eyes brightened.
Tonks gave Betty a knowing look. "See? Every house has strengths and weaknesses. What matters is where you feel you belong."
Betty looked toward the crowd outside, her eyes moving from face to face without really seeing them, her thoughts drifting somewhere she couldn't name.
"We'll see," she murmured, and looked out of the window.
They gathered their things and stepped back into the street. Betty walked next to Tonks who had gone ahead. A sudden thought slipped in.
"But what if the hat can't decide? What if I fit nowhere?"
The question lingered in the space between them. A cold knot formed in her stomach, creeping upward until it settled in her chest.
"Would they send me back?" she asked softly. "What happens then?"
Tonks stopped. Her voice was calm and sure. "That's not going to happen. The hat always finds a place. Sometimes it takes a bit longer, but it always decides."
Julian grinned. "That's called a hatstall. Last one was Professor McGonagall, I think."
Frankie nodded. "It's rare, but it happens. The hat considers your choice, too. If you really want a house, it listens."
Betty nodded slowly. The worry didn't leave. She knew she was different. She had always felt different. She never quite fit in. The idea of not belonging pressed against her chest.
"No matter where you end up," Tonks said softly, "you can always come to me."
"Thank you," she said quietly.
Julian smiled at her. "You're lucky to have her." He glanced at Tonks with more meaning than the words alone carried.
Tonks flushed and looked away. "Oh, stop," she muttered, half laughing. "That's just what family does."
They wandered through the city, past old stone buildings and red buses, until they reached Buckingham Palace. The late sun cast a golden glow across the square.
Frankie stopped at the gates and turned. "The guidebook says the Queen has over seven hundred rooms. And apparently there's a wizard living in the palace, but it's not officially confirmed."
Betty slowed to a halt, her breath catching slightly as her eyes followed the towering gates and grand stonework. Even for someone from a magical family, the palace had a presence—old and unshakable. Something about it felt sacred. As they walked on, Frankie and Julian talked about evening plans. A concert in Camden. Maybe drinks after. Loud, typical Muggle things.
Tonks hesitated. "I'd love to join, but I promised my aunt I'd bring Betty home."
"Just drop me at the Leaky Cauldron," Betty said. "I can floo home from there."
Tonks shook her head. "No chance. I promised," she said, glancing at Julian, "I don't want to get in trouble with your Mum. She's a bit scary."
"Then we'll take her home," Julian said, holding her gaze for a beat too long, then his eyes gleamed. "I heard it's like a tunnel curse on wheels."
Betty raised an eyebrow, her voice dry. "You mean a train."
"That's what I said," Julian replied and grinned.
Betty caught the looks they exchanged and couldn't help a smile.
They headed toward the nearest station. The sun began dropping as they stepped down the stairs into the tiled hall. The air smelled of rubber, metal, and damp stone. It was loud, filled with echoes and screeching brakes.
Julian stopped in his tracks, eyes wide as he took in the strange, humming machines and bustling crowd. "Now this is Muggle magic." He pointed at an old beige machine.
"What is that? A creature?"
Frankie laughed. "Just a machine. Feed it coins, push a button, and it spits out a ticket."
Tonks already had hers and nudged Julian toward the counter. "Go there and say, 'A single to South Wimbledon, please.'"
Julian shuffled toward the booth where a tired-looking Muggle man sat behind glass. Tonks followed to make sure he didn't end up with a pensioner's pass.
They stepped onto the creaking escalator. Julian grabbed the rail with both hands.
"It's moving on its own. Without magic? What if it reverses?"
"Then you'll move backwards in time," Betty said flatly.
Tonks snorted. "Don't scare him," then addressing Julian, "She's joking."
"I figured," Julian muttered and grinned.
He stayed by the window for the whole journey, staring into the dark tunnel. Tonks explained where to change trains, guide them through the passages towards the platforms. Frankie watched to keep them from getting caught in the doors. Betty, familiar with the route, let her gaze drift calmly from face to face. She watched passengers slump into seats and rustle their newspapers.
After a change and several more stops, they finally disembarked in south-west London. The afternoon sun hung low as they emerged from the station, and it took about fifteen minutes to reach the small house at the end of the quiet street.
Tonks led the way and knocked on the door. Barely half a minute later, the door opened.
Lucinda stood in the doorway, elegant as ever, the sleeves of her robe were pushed up. She had clearly been in the middle of cooking or preparing something. Her pale green eyes widened slightly at the sight of the group.
"Oh—you've brought company," she said, stepping aside. Her gaze quickly swept over Frankie, Julian, and finally settled on Betty.
The moment her eyes met her daughter's, her expression altered subtly. Her eyes widened almost imperceptibly and her shoulders tensed. Without a word, she leaned forward slightly, her sharp gaze lingering on Betty's ears, before stepping back and let them in.
The door had barely closed behind them when her eyes darted once more to Betty's ears.
"Since when do you wear earrings?" she inquired dryly, but with an unmistakable undertone, then she looked at Tonks, who swallowed immediately.
"Nymphadora, would you mind explaining that to me?"
Tonks stepped back with her hands raised, as if to absolve herself of blame, with an uncertain smile on her face.
"It's a present," she said quickly. "She has wanted them for ages. Honestly, it wasn't a big deal."
Lucinda's eyes were fixed on Tonks with a cool gaze that would have unsettled even experienced Aurors. Tonks held her gaze, but the smile faded from her face.
"Well," Tonks glanced at Julian, then at Frankie, who was inching discreetly toward the door. "We'd better be off. I promised Julian a view of the Thames by night, didn't I? And Frankie probably needs to head home."
"What?" Julian asked, who had clearly mistaken the situation. "But we—"
Tonks gave him a playful jab in the arm. "Come on, move it." She bent down and whispered to Betty, "If she tells you off, just say it was my fault. But only partly—just half."
"But—"
Frankie grinned and waved. "Lovely to meet you, Betty! You'll be brilliant at Hogwarts!"
With that, Tonks, Frankie and Julian left. Lucinda watched them leave, before slowly turning to Betty, who stood in the hallway with flushed cheeks and her chin held in quiet defiance.
"Sit," Lucinda said, her voice still calm—too calm. "We are going to talk about choices and responsibility."
Betty lowered herself onto the old wooden hall chair. It was uncomfortable and wobbly, and was positioned so that it would be directly face her mother. Her mother approached, closing the front door with a brisk click, and folded her arms.
"So," she began, "you had your ears pierced without my permission."
Betty nodded but said nothing. At that moment, there was nothing she could say that her mother would accept.
A long silence followed. Then Lucinda sat down slowly on the bench opposite.
"You are nearly twelve. I know you see yourself as very independent, and in many ways, you are. But decisions like this are not trivial. It's not about the hole in your ear, Betty. It is about the fact that you knew I would not approve and did it anyway."
Betty spoke quietly. "But I have wanted it for ages."
Lucinda raised an eyebrow. "Then you could have talked to me."
"You would have said no."
"Yes," Lucinda replied evenly, "and then we would have discussed why."
Betty shrugged. "It doesn't hurt anyone. It... didn't hurt me."
Lucinda was silent for a moment before taking a deep breath. Her voice softened, though her seriousness remained.
"You know why I react this way?" She sighed. "Because I know you—and I want you to learn when you can make your own choices and when you cannot yet see the consequences." Her gaze softened. "You carry a lot of responsibility for your age. You have abilities most children your age cannot even comprehend. But that doesn't mean you should handle everything on your own."
Betty looked down, chewing the inside of her cheek. "Tonks said it wasn't a big deal."
Lucinda gave a quiet snort. "Tonks had a tattoo done at fourteen—only Merlin knows how she made that happen—to protest something she cannot even remember now. She is wonderful, but not always the model of sound judgment."
Betty couldn't help but smile faintly.
"You won't be punished," Lucinda said at last, "but no more piercings. And should you even think of getting a tattoo—believe me, Betty, I would know before you even walked through the shop door."
Betty nodded slowly.
Lucinda rose, pushing her hair back. "I have to admit, though, it suits you."
Betty looked up with a hesitant smile. "Thanks for not freaking out."
Lucinda was already heading toward the kitchen. She paused in the doorway and gave Betty a dry look. "I am saving my energy. You will have plenty of chances to test my patience once you are at Hogwarts."
With that, she disappeared into the kitchen.
Betty leaned back, exhaling softly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. Then a sudden thought struck her.
"Mum!"
She jumped up and ran into the kitchen.
"Tonks and I saw Harry at Piccadilly Circus today! Harry Potter."
The cauldron was floating mid air when Lucinda froze. Letting it set down slowly, she said evenly, "Did you now? Are you sure?"
"Yes! When Tonks called out his name, he looked straight at her. And he looked at me—he recognised me! It was the boy at Mrs Figg!" She hesitated, then added more quietly, "Why did you never tell me he was the Harry Potter?"
Lucinda's gaze darkened. She didn't look up immediately, and the silence stretched before she eventually spoke.
"I promised Dumbledore he would not find out. Not from me. Not from you. He was meant to grow up without being told who he was. Not as the Boy Who Live—just as Harry."
She paused briefly, then added in a lower voice, "I still visit him sometimes, though, at Arabella's. Discreetly of course. Just to check on him. Dumbledore knows. He tolerates it as long as I say nothing and leave no trace."
Betty studied her, unwilling to accept that answer. "But why did you never tell me? I wouldn't have said a word!"
Lucinda looked at her with sad eyes. "He is meant to grow up as normally as possible, Betty. No child should have to carry a story like his. Every witch and wizard in Britain knows his name. Dumbledore wanted to give him at least a few years where he could just be a boy, not a legend. I wanted you to treat him... like a normal boy."
Betty frowned, shaking her head in disbelief. "But Mum!" she insisted. "He's a not a normal boy. His parents are dead, and he has to live with... them! And they treat him badly! His aunt touched him as if he were something dirty. And when he saw us, it was as if he had done something wrong. She pulled him away straight away. And—" She hesitated. She had promised not to tell anyone, it had been years since the last time she saw him. She whispered "—his uncle hurts him."
Lucinda set down the ladle, turned fully to her daughter, and said quietly, "I know."
Betty's voice wavered. "You know? If you know, why does no one do anything?"
Lucinda stepped closer, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Dumbledore... he believes it's safest place," she said, and Betty sensed the deep sadness. "Even if I don't agree. But I can't do anything about it. But—believe me—I've made sure he won't be hurt anymore."
Betty looked up. "But if he is suffering, that's not enough."
"No," Lucinda said softly, "but not everything that is wrong can be changed straight away." She withdrew her hand from Betty's shoulder.
Betty stared down at her hands.
"I gave him a bracelet then, from Tonks—Dora. Nothing special, but to him it meant a lot because he never gets presents. Not for his birthday, not for Christmas. And his cousin laughed at him for 'having a girlfriend.'"
Lucinda's brow creased, then a smile appeared on her lips. "You gave him something they couldn't break—warmth. That stays."
Betty looked up at her, tears welling up. "Are you you? But I only saw him a few more times after that. Why could we not visit him again? Why was I never allowed to come along again?" She hesitated, her voice trembling as she added, "Harry had said he hadn't got a single friend because his stupid cousin beats up anyone who tries."
Lucinda closed her eyes briefly, swallowing the lump in her throat, then opened them again. Her voice was calm, tinged with quiet pain.
"Sometimes the paths we must take are not the ones we would choose. You gave him a light, Betty."
Betty lowered her gaze, her voice barely more than a whisper. A tear rolled down her cheek. "It's not fair."
"No, my love, it isn't. I wish it were different. But I cannot undo Dumbledore's decision. He used ancient magic to protect Harry with his only remaining maternal relatives. As long as he lives with them, he's safe."
She paused, holding Betty's gaze.
"You have empathy and a strong sense of justice. Never lose that." She wiped Betty's cheeks dry with her sleeve. "You are going to see him again. Soon. He starts Hogwarts in one year."
Betty looked at her mother. "Then I'll make sure he's not alone when he gets there," she whispered.
Lucinda smiled softly. "You will, my dear."