Nymphadora Tonks

Nymphadora Tonks, who insisted on being known simply as Tonks, was a half-blood witch, a powerful Auror, and a member of the reconstituted Order of the Phoenix. As a Metamorphmagus, she could alter her physical appearance at will, a rare magical ability she was born with. Tonks was a key figure in the fight against Lord Voldemort during the Second Wizarding War, known for her bravery, loyalty, and somewhat clumsy nature. Her relationship with and eventual marriage to Remus Lupin was a significant subplot, and she was the mother of Edward "Teddy" Remus Lupin.

Nymphadora was the only child of Ted Tonks, a Muggle-born wizard, and Andromeda Tonks (née Black), a pure-blood witch who was disowned by the Black family for marrying him. Through her mother, Tonks was the niece of Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy, and a first cousin to Draco Malfoy. She attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from roughly 1984 to 1991, where she was Sorted into Hufflepuff House (Pottermore). She later admitted to Harry Potter that she was never made a Prefect because her Head of House said she lacked the ability to behave properly.

After graduating from Hogwarts, Tonks began three years of Auror training under the mentorship of Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody. She qualified as an Auror in 1994. She confessed to Harry that while she excelled at Concealment and Disguise, she was clumsy and nearly failed Stealth and Tracking. In 1995, she joined the renewed Order of the Phoenix and became a vital member. She was part of the Advance Guard that escorted Harry Potter from Privet Drive to Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. During the 1995-1996 school year, she was part of the guard protecting the Department of Mysteries and later fought bravely in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, where she was injured by her aunt, Bellatrix Lestrange, but recovered.

During the Second Wizarding War, Tonks fell in love with fellow Order member Remus Lupin. He initially resisted her affections, believing his status as a werewolf made him too dangerous and would make her an outcast. This emotional turmoil caused Tonks to fall into a depression, which affected her Metamorphmagus abilities and caused her Patronus to change into the form of a wolf. She was part of the Auror contingent assigned to protect Hogwarts and fought in the Battle of the Astronomy Tower at the end of Harry's sixth year. Following Albus Dumbledore's death, Tonks and Lupin married in a quiet ceremony in the summer of 1997. She participated in the Battle of the Seven Potters, flying with the “fake” Harry portrayed by Ron Weasley. She soon became pregnant, a fact that caused Lupin great distress, leading him to briefly leave her. After a confrontation with Harry at Grimmauld Place, Lupin returned to her side. Tonks gave birth to their son, Edward "Teddy" Remus Lupin, shortly before Easter in 1998, and Harry Potter was named his godfather. Teddy inherited his mother's Metamorphmagus abilities. Despite having a newborn son, Tonks could not stay away from the final conflict. She joined the fighting at the Battle of Hogwarts, where she was killed by her aunt, Bellatrix Lestrange. Her body was laid out in the Great Hall next to her husband, who had also been killed in the fighting.

As a Metamorphmagus, Tonks's appearance was fluid and often reflected her mood. She had a “pale, heart-shaped face” and “dark, twinkling eyes.” She frequently sported brightly-coloured, spiky hair, with bubble-gum pink being a particular favourite. She could change her features for amusement, such as transforming her nose into a pig's snout or a duck's bill. When she was in a state of severe emotional distress over her love for Lupin, her powers were weakened, and her hair remained a mousy brown. Tonks was energetic, friendly, and enthusiastic, but notoriously clumsy, often tripping over objects or breaking things. She disliked her first name, Nymphadora, and would become annoyed with anyone who used it. Beneath her cheerful exterior, she was incredibly brave, fiercely loyal to her friends, and wholly committed to the Order of the Phoenix's cause.

• Metamorphmagus: Her most defining ability was being a Metamorphmagus, allowing her to alter her appearance at will. This is an extremely rare, innate talent that cannot be learned.
• Auror Skills: As a qualified Auror, Tonks was highly trained in advanced magic, particularly defensive spells and martial magic. She was a proficient and courageous duellist.
• Patronus Charm: Tonks could cast a corporeal Patronus. Initially, it took the form of a jackrabbit (Pottermore). However, due to her intense love for Remus Lupin, its form changed to that of a wolf, a large, four-legged creature that was at first mistaken for Lupin's own.
• Non-Verbal Magic: She was skilled enough to use non-verbal spells, a mark of a powerful and well-trained witch, often packing Harry's trunk with a simple flick of her wand.

• Wand: The wood, core, and length of Tonks's wand are unknown.
• Broomstick: Tonks used a broomstick for travel as a member of the Order of the Phoenix, including during the Battle of the Seven Potters.

• Remus Lupin: Tonks's husband and the love of her life. Their relationship was initially strained by his insecurities about his lycanthropy, but her persistent love won out. They married and had a son, representing a union of love against prejudice.
• Ted and Andromeda Tonks: Tonks was very close to her parents. Her father was murdered by Snatchers in 1998, and her mother, Andromeda, raised Tonks's son, Teddy, after the Battle of Hogwarts.
• Edward “Teddy” Lupin: Her infant son, who inherited her Metamorphmagus abilities. His upbringing was entrusted to his grandmother Andromeda and his godfather, Harry Potter.
• The Black Family: Tonks was a blood relative of the Blacks through her mother but stood in stark opposition to their pure-blood supremacist ideology. She was killed by her maternal aunt, Bellatrix Lestrange, and was the first cousin of Draco Malfoy and cousin once removed of Sirius Black.
• Harry Potter: Tonks acted as a friend and protector to Harry, treating him with a familiar, sisterly warmth. Harry's anger at Lupin for considering abandoning Tonks and their unborn child demonstrated his deep care for her.
• Alastor Moody: Her mentor during her Auror training. She held a deep respect for him and was visibly devastated upon learning of his death.

• Nymphadora: The name is derived from Greek. Nympha refers to nymphs, mythological female nature spirits, and dora is from dōron (δῶρον), meaning “gift.” Her name translates to “Gift of the Nymphs,” likely alluding to her magical, shape-shifting nature.
• Tonks: A common, slightly informal-sounding English surname. It creates a stark contrast to the aristocratic and sinister “Black” and “Malfoy” names, highlighting her separation from that side of her family.

• In the film adaptations, Nymphadora Tonks is portrayed by Natalia Tena. Her hair is most frequently shown as purple rather than the book's signature bubble-gum pink.
• J.K. Rowling revealed on Pottermore that Tonks was a member of Hufflepuff House and that her original Patronus form was a jackrabbit.
• Rowling has expressed that she regretted killing both Tonks and Lupin. She explained that she wanted to illustrate the terrible cost of war, where children are orphaned, creating a parallel between Teddy's and Harry's childhoods. (J.K. Rowling interview)