Personal Instruction

August 7.

Inside Ella Cottage, candlelight flickered, casting a warm glow across the wooden walls. Skylar reclined half against a chaise lounge, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest, his posture languid yet composed.

A visitor had arrived today.

Nymphadora Tonks.

She still wore her distinctive short purple hair and a heavy cloak. Her face showed a trace of fatigue, yet she retained her sharp, capable, energetic air as she stood straight before Skylar.

She casually removed her cloak, revealing the fitted wizarding robes beneath. Embroidered over the fabric at her chest was the crest of the House of Black—a shield bearing two rearing hounds, an inverted V-shaped chevron in the center adorned with two five-pointed stars, and a short sword beneath it, proclaiming the strength and majesty prized by that ancient family.

Skylar slightly raised his eyes, his gaze passing over the family crest on her chest as a faint smile appeared on his lips.

After bowing in salute, Nymphadora respectfully said, "Master, I have important news."

Skylar smiled in satisfaction and said softly, "My cousin Dora, there are only the two of us here. You needn't be so formal. Go on."

Nymphadora gathered her thoughts, as though choosing her words. "Last night, Harry—Harry Potter—was moved into 12 Grimmauld Place under the Order of the Phoenix's arrangements. The process was more troublesome than expected."

Skylar slightly raised an eyebrow and waited for her to continue.

She curled her lip and complained with obvious disdain, "The Advance Guard deployed a full ten people—Moody, Lupin, Podmore, Diggle, Jones, Vance, Dogie, Bill Weasley, Hobbden... oh, and me."

The Advance Guard in the original story had only nine members. Bill and Hobbden had not been among them; Kingsley Shacklebolt had been included instead.

The events in this world were slightly different, but none of