Dora, My Cousin

"Yes," Skylar nodded, "Under pressure from Grandma, Aunt, and others, Mother had no choice... But I want you to know that on the day you left for the funeral, Mother hid in her room and cried secretly."

"Ah--she..." Andromeda's face changed, and she couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. She wanted to say something, but no words came out.

"That's why I asked the question earlier," Skylar said lightly. "Aunt, you may not know this, but I'm someone who can really speak for myself in the House of Black and House of Malfoy these days. I can assure you that in the near future, I will eradicate the foolish idea of 'Pure-blood Supremacy' from both families. You can rest assured about that."

Skylar was actually being very modest. In these two families, he was more than just a figurehead; he was practically their spiritual leader. Even looking at all the Pure-blood families in Great Britain, there was no force that could rival him.

Just as Skylar often said, Pure-blood families only needs one voice, and that voice is his, Skylar Malfoy's voice!

For the first time, a look of interest appeared on Andromeda's face.

Seeing the change in Andromeda's expression, Skylar knew the matter was likely to succeed, so he pressed his advantage, saying, "Family and kinship cannot be severed in just a few decades. I'm doing this not only for you, but also for Mother. I don't want to see Mother shed tears over this again, and I believe that deep down, you sisters also want to mend your relationship."

A strange light flickered in Skylar's eyes as she continued, her tone slightly seductive, "Not only can you and Mother rekindle your sisterly bond, House of Black can also prosper again because of you. Not to mention, we can all become one family, living happily together with the family as our central unit..."

Skylar smiled and pointed to the photos on the wall, saying, "Speaking of which, I haven't met your uncle and cousin yet. I believe they must be very good people, just like you, and they value family ties. If we become a family, the House of Black and House of Malfoy will be your support. Think about your uncle and cousin too; how much help can their resources provide for their careers?"

Unsurprisingly, Skylar successfully persuaded Andromeda.

Moreover, Skylar did not actually use magic to change her mind; he simply knew Andromeda's emotional nature and amplified those emotions.

Skylar wasn't lying. He could tell that Narcissa still cherished her sisterly bond with Andromeda, but years of repression, coupled with the pressure of Bellatrix's continued existence, prevented her from expressing it.

So, part of the reason he did this was really for his mother, Narcissa.

Of course, the Tonks family has always been a target in his plans.

With the Pure-blood families already dwindling, they simply cannot afford to lose any more talent. If Andromeda and Nymphadora could return to the family, it would undoubtedly be a boost to the already sparse population of Pure-blood families.

In any case, Skylar genuinely opposed the outdated idea of Pure-blood Supremacy and didn't care about Mr. Tonks' Muggle blood.

On the contrary, Nymphadora is an important talent for Skylar. Not only was she able to pass the rigorous selection and internship of the Auror, but she is also a Metamorphmagus, naturally skilled in disguise and stealth. More importantly, she should now be a very core member of the Order of the Phoenix, and can become Skylar's eyes and ears within the Order of the Phoenix.

After winning over Andromeda also agreed to introduce Skylar to his cousin, Nymphadora.

That night.

Ministry of Magic.

After a long and tiring day of work, Nymphadora stretched and let out a long groan. These past few days, she had been juggling the work and responsibilities of both Auror at the Ministry of Magic and a member of the Order of the Phoenix, which had truly exhausted her. Now, all she wanted was to get home quickly, take a nice hot bath, and then enjoy the delicious dinner her mother had prepared for her.

Unexpectedly, Mom sent a message via owl to her while she was at work, saying that she would have a surprise visitor.

At this point, she, with her somewhat carefree personality, still hadn't realized who this visitor was.

It wasn't until she reached the exit of the Ministry of Magic's main hall, where she saw a strikingly handsome, almost eerily handsome blond boy, that she suddenly remembered her mother's message.

Could this visitor be him?

Nymphadora recognized the boy at a glance; in fact, there was no one in all of Great Britain who wouldn't recognize him.

The youngest recipient of the Order of Merlin, a candidate for the Wizengamot, a youth representative of the Medieval European Wizards Association, and most recently, a winner of the Triwizard Tournament representing Hogwarts.

This boy is naturally the most beloved protagonist of the book Skylar.

"Hello, Miss Tonks, it's a pleasure to meet you. Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Skylar Malfoy of the House of Malfoy. I suppose Aunt Andromeda has already informed you of my visit?"

"Oh... this... yes..." A hint of panic flashed in Nymphadora's eyes. Her feelings towards Skylar were quite complicated. She used to hate the House of Black so much for driving her mother away and immersing her in pain. By extension, she also hated all the Pure-blood families that valued bloodlines above all else, including the House of Malfoy from which Skylar came.

She knew that, in fact, Skylar was her blood relative, one of her only two surviving cousins, and an outstanding young man who had made remarkable contributions to the Great Britain wizarding world, but she just couldn't bring herself to like him.

Perhaps this is because the deeply ingrained beliefs she developed growing up are difficult to change.

However, one thing caused her initial dislike to transform into a more complex emotion—

That was at her grandmother Druella Black's funeral, when her mother was allowed to attend the family ceremony for the first time because of Skylar. Although this did not mean that her mother was reintegrated into the family, she knew clearly how important that day was for her mother.

Her initial hatred for Pure-blood families had lessened due to her dazzling achievements and reputation, and the gratitude she felt for his help to her mother had shaped her complex emotions.

"Do you have a moment? I'd like to invite you to a nearby bar for a drink, Miss Tonks, or rather... Cousin Nymphadora?" Skylar extended the invitation in a gentlemanly manner.

"Uh... alright," she couldn't refuse, given Skylar's sincere invitation and her mother's instructions in her previous letter.

The dim, yellow light in the private room softly illuminated the space between the two, casting faint shadows in the wine glasses on the table.

Skylar watched Nymphadora quietly. As their conversation deepened, Nymphadora gradually lowered her guard. Besides, she had drunk quite a bit of strong liquor, and a smile graced her slightly tipsy face. She was completely unaware that an invisible magic was spreading from her.

"Cousin Dora, joining the Order of the Phoenix is truly a brave choice." Skylar's tone carried a hint of teasing, yet he subtly traced the rim of his wine glass with his fingers. As the glass clinked, magic was quietly activated with the movement, seeping into Nymphadora's consciousness.

Nymphadora's expression changed drastically. She tried to stand up, but suddenly felt dizzy. The scene before her eyes distorted abruptly, the lights in the private room dimmed, and a blurry chaos replaced them.

"What... is this?" She instinctively touched her forehead, her voice tinged with panic.

Skylar smiled slightly, but did not answer. She simply leaned back in her chair and quietly watched as the illusion pulled her into the abyss.

In the illusion, Nymphadora heard horrific screams and the explosive sounds of spells. She saw members of the Order of the Phoenix fall one by one, and the terror and despair on her family's faces pierced her heart. Her mother Andromeda, shielded her as she rushed towards cover, but was struck by a green light and fell into Nymphadora's arms.

"Mommy! No!" Nymphadora cried out in anguish, clutching Andromeda's cold body, tears streaming down her face. But the battle did not end.

She saw her father, Ted Tonks, surrounded by Death Eaters, struggling to fight back, only to be brutally murdered by Death Eaters. She herself, covered in blood, knelt helplessly on the ground, surrounded by the corpses of her fallen comrades, unable to do anything.

Not a single mistake, not a single poem, not a single post, not a single piece of content, all in one look!

"Your mother is a noble Pure-blood wizard, and you are the most precious talent the House of Black has had for centuries. All of this could have been avoided..." A deep and familiar voice suddenly rang in his ears.

She looked up abruptly and saw Skylar. His figure appeared before her like Ghost, his gaze calm yet carrying an irresistible power.

"Nymphadora, what has the Order of the Phoenix given you? Protection for your family? Hope?" Skylar approached slowly, his voice as cold as winter. "No, they only turned you into a sacrifice. Look around you; this is the consequence of your choices."

"This... this can't be real!" A determined look flashed across Nymphadora's face as she shook her head, but tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. "This must be fake!"

She tried hard to recall the knowledge she had learned in her Auror internship about how to get rid of various illusion magic, Hypnosis Magic, and nightmare magic, and tried to remember her memories of reality. She also mobilized all her mental and willpower in an attempt to wake herself up from the illusion.

Unfortunately, all of this will be in vain.

Putting aside the fact that Skylar's mental strength was already far superior to hers after absorbing the Crystal of Wisdom, the "Mind Cage" talent inherited from Lestrange alone was not something that ordinary wizards could break, not even the most powerful elite Auror in the Ministry of Magic.

It could be said that as long as the opponent wasn't someone of Dumbledore's caliber, Skylar that no one could escape his illusions.

Skylar slowly squatted down to meet her gaze, his eyes filled with scrutiny and pity. "Fake? Do you really think so? Look at your hands, look behind you."

Nymphadora trembled as she looked down at her hands, which were covered in blood; the sensation was so real it sent shivers down her spine. The blood and corpses behind her seemed to silently condemn her defeat.

"I..." Nymphadora's voice trembled, tears blurring her vision. She looked around, her eyes filled with blood and death, and endless regret and fear welled up in her heart.

Skylar bent down to meet her gaze, his voice gentle yet alluring. "But there is another path. Follow me, and I can protect you, protect your family, give you true power, and let you control your own destiny, instead of becoming someone else's tool."

Nymphadora's face was streaked with tears, her eyes filled with pain and struggle. She looked around and saw the fallen bodies of her mother and father, heard countless desperate voices, and finally understood that although this illusion was false, it revealed the deepest fear in her heart.

She knelt helplessly on the ground, her cold hands trembling erratically before finally falling limply to her sides. She choked back sobs and whispered, "I... I don't want to lose them... I don't want to see this future again..."

Skylar withdrew his hand, a hint of coldness in his voice. "You don't want to lose, but only action can change things. Nymphadora, cast aside your hesitation and naive beliefs, forget the hypocritical justice of the Order of the Phoenix, swear your loyalty to me, and you will possess all the power to protect those you love."

Nymphadora raised her head, tears streaming down her face, her eyes filled with a mixture of pain and hope. She slowly reached out and grasped Skylar's hand, bowed her head, and said in a trembling voice, "I, Nymphadora Tonks, swear allegiance to Skylar, to serve you as my master... to protect those I love."

The moment she finished speaking, the illusion vanished, and she was back in the dimly lit bar room. Tears still streamed down her face, and her eyes were filled with confusion as she looked at Skylar. He simply smiled calmly, took a sip of his drink, and said softly, "That was the wise choice, my dear cousin Dora."

Although Skylar's actions were cruel, they were the best choice for Nymphadora personally—in fact, what she lost in the original story was far more than what was shown in the illusion. In the original world, she had a husband and children, but she and her husband died in battle, leaving behind an orphan.

The light in the bar's private room returned to its soft glow. Skylar at Nymphadora, her tear tracks still wet on her face. The initial bewilderment in her eyes as she looked at Skylar was slowly replaced by a light of piety and worship.

A victorious smile crept across Skylar's lips.

"Very good." Skylar's voice was deep and gentle, with a hint of approval. "My cousin Dora, from today onwards, you will be my loyal subordinate. My organization is called the Sleeping Dragon Society, and you will become one of its Seven Dragon Fangs, a fierce warrior. I will teach you the various secret magics of the House of Black. In the organization, your code name will be 'Thousand Charms'!"

Nymphadora lowered her head, an indescribable, fervent power filling her heart and washing away all the weakness that had just appeared. She revealed an unusually resolute expression and replied in a deep voice, "Yes, Skylar."

[The "Servant" Thousand Charms has been obtained!]

[The House of Tonks, our "ally," has been acquired!]