Was Tonks really Tonks?

Something about Tonks has been bugging me throughout HBP. It was mentioned repeatedly that she was acting very different from the old Tonks. Harry thought this was because she was mourning Sirius, but I think there could be more to it than that. Also, the sudden change in the form of her Patronus sounds very suspicious to me. With all the rumours about someone else being on polyjuice potion, I do wonder.. also in HBP Tonks never seems to metamorph into some other form. I wonder if she could be an imposter spying on the order. Everyone seems to think the change in Tonks was the combination of Sirius' death and her love for Lupin, but I think there are too many hints about something being up with Tonks.

I would think that her change in behavior was explained by her unquelched love for Lupin. But I do agree that her behavior was a bit disturbing especially after reading the MoM warnings for wizards to look out for.

I think the way we saw Tonks in HBP was as a Tonks for whom Sirius's death hadn't fully sunk in yet. She probably didn't have too much of a chance to come to grips with it while being healed in St. Mungo's after the Department of Mysteries. And she probably does, or did, on some level blame herself in at least a small way for Sirius's death.

But Sirius's death affected her most by making her realizing how powerful and fragile life is, and how life is too short to be alone. Thus her sulking over Lupin's refusal to enter into a relationship with her, and then her complete turnaround by Dumbledore's funeral once Lupin had apparently changed his mind.

I think it's as simple as it was explained in the book. The combination of her loss and unrequited love for Remus. It's unlikely that she was/is and imposter. An imposter would try their best to seem like the real thing. Also she did change her appearance in the book. She went from having brown hair to vibrant pink. Albeit it's the only time (I think) but she didn't have as much 'air time' so to speak in this book.

You raise some good points, however I do not think that the DEs, when choosing which auror to become, would choose a metamorphmagus (unless the DE was one him/herself), as it creates too easy a way to be found out. Then again, this could provide an alternative explanation to Tonks' inability to morph during HBP, so yeah, I suppose this is possible.

At one point during reading I had an idea that Draco was actually using Polyjuice potion to turn into Tonks, this mainly came about because they were both described identically, and I mean word for word.

But obviously I was wrong.*shrugs*

I thought that also as I read the book. Then there is the weird scene at the end where we find out Tonks and Lupin are a couple. Where were all the shippers when that one came in? Lupin says that the Patronus can change forms "Sometimes, a great shock, an emotional upheaval." (Book 6, page 340) But I think that what happened to Tonks would not fall into that category. The guy she likes doesn't want to get serious with her. She is in her early 20's, she is not 13, and is not an old maid. It shouldn't be enough to qualify as a great shock or an emotional upheaval. It is definitely possible that the Tonks of book 6 is a DE in disguise trying to get close to Lupin and the Order.

At one point during reading I had an idea that Draco was actually using Polyjuice potion to turn into Tonks, this mainly came about because they were both described identically, and I mean word for word.

But obviously I was wrong.*shrugs*

I remember that actually - Harry noticing that Malfoy and Tonks had the same grayish palor and the same tired, sullen demeanor. Coincidence, or to show that they both had a lot of weight (no matter how vastly different in type) on their shoulders.

I keep seeing the word "shipper."

What exactly does that mean, some COS lingo I haven't caught on to yet? :p

But I think that what happened to Tonks would not fall into that category.

Yes but look at what Sirius's death meant for her - reminding her how short life is and how we can go at any time, coupled with the fact that she probably feels at least a tiny bit responsible for Sirius dying (which she wasn't) and on top of that Lupin was refusing to be with her. I can see where that'd be an emotional upheaval - a friend's death, the blame game, and love that's in front of you that you can't have.

I keep seeing the word "shipper."

What exactly does that mean, some COS lingo I haven't caught on to yet? :p

It's lingo for 'relationship.' Supporters of different relationships have come up with pet names for whichever relationships they support and thusly form a 'ship' of sorts :)

Took me awhile to figure out as well! And I wouldn't have if I hadn't seen a page where it was explained on Mugglenet.

At one point during reading I had an idea that Draco was actually using Polyjuice potion to turn into Tonks, this mainly came about because they were both described identically, and I mean word for word.

But obviously I was wrong.*shrugs*

Now that you mention it, I remember that too. It was quite weird for example when Tonks showed up outside the Room of Requirement when Harry was trying to catch Draco there.

I really do believe that the changes in Tonks were caused by her love for Lupin and nothing else.


But I could be proved wrong. :)

I actually kinda liked Tonks in HBP. I mean the way she acted was quite appalling but it showed the moody and serious side of her character. And I highly doubt that she's an impostor working for the dark side. Her behavior was mainly due to Sirius' death and her feelings for Lupin, which IMO was very sweet.

I think that she was just upset! I think it was still her but she had just grown up abit since OOTP

Okay, I think that Tonks really was just Tonks. She had to have been feeling alot of guilt over Sirius' death (even though it wasn't her fault) and also there was the whole issue about Lupin refusing to start a relationship but, it can't have been only that. There was also the tiny matter of Lupin being undercover with the other werewolves. The love of Tonks' life was living in a highly dangerous situation (Lupin did say that the werewolves were suspicious about his motives and it took a while to convince them) and he could possibly be ripped to shreds if he were to be found out. Its not just about love, its about terror as well.

I agree that the combination of Siriu's death, Lupin's refusal and his high-risk mission were what caused her change of demeanor. I still find it kinda disturbing that someone as perky and full of life like Tonks could let herself go so totally for an "unrequieted" love, but itìs probably what in fact happened.


Only 1 thing bothers me, can't shake it off.
When Harry run into her on the 7th floor, while speaking of the Order, she "unconsciously touched her sleeve".
The only people we've seen doing that, are people who bears the Dark Mark...

It was odd that Tonks was near the room of requirement, and that her and Malfoy were described the same way. Why was Draco acting like that? Because he was being forced to do something he wasn't comfortable doing?

Can we say the same thing about Tonks?

Lupin says that the Patronus can change forms "Sometimes, a great shock, an emotional upheaval." This really bugged me, because we had learned earlier that the Patronus was a great way for members of the Order to communicate because you can't fake another person's Patronus, then suddently Tonks has a new one?

1. Change of Tonks's Patronus.
2. Change of Tonks's physical appearance (and described very similarly to Malfoy's).
3. Happens to be in the corridor outside the Room of Requirement.
4. Unconscious touching of sleeve (similar to DEs).

I don't buy it. I don't think it's really Tonks.

Everything that you've mentioned has already been explained in the book... assuming you've read it?

Well it was kinda explained that she liked lupin, but lupin didn't want to go out with her, because he was older

The guy she likes doesn't want to get serious with her. She is in her early 20's, she is not 13, and is not an old maid. It shouldn't be enough to qualify as a great shock or an emotional upheaval.
Actually, he's the guy she loves. And love is the most powerful form of magic.

When Harry run into her on the 7th floor, while speaking of the Order, she "unconsciously touched her sleeve".
The only people we've seen doing that, are people who bears the Dark Mark...
Well, obviously, I know no more than you do, but perhaps she had been crying and had wiped her tears on her sleeve? If she didn't want him to know she'd been crying, she would try to wipe her tears from her sleeve.

I think it is Tonks, and I think it's just reiterating the effect that love has.

I supose, but I still found it rather odd that she just kept showing up all the time at random.

One minute shes there the next minute shes leaving just as suddenly. I was so confused. I mean why was she near the room of requirments. I thought it was goyle with polyguice potion, but it was definitely her. But why? Ack!

Imperius anyone?

I'm not fully behind this theory, but Tonks was behaving strangely. And surely she knew where Dumbledore's office was, if she had been guarding the castle.

I don't think JK would focus all these little random tid bits on Tonks and it be totally innocent especially the Draco/DE references.

QUOTE: I don't think JK would focus all these little random tid bits on Tonks and it be totally innocent especially the Draco/DE references.

JK said that in the next book we would meet a member of the Order that we haven't really met yet. I reckon it's Tonks. All we know about her are superficial things like she's clumsy, funny, hip, cool. So maybe HBP was setting up all this for the next one. Here's what JK said:

Samatha Scattergood for Waterstones - Which is your favourite member of the Order of the Phoenix?
JK Rowling: I keep killing all my favourite members of the Order of the Phoenix, but there is one member of the Order of the Phoenix that you have not yet met properly and you will ** well, you know that they are a member, but you haven't really met them properly yet and you will meet them in seven, so I am looking forward to that.

Could be wrong, but maybe all the Tonks stuff in this book is to set up for the next one.

Everything that you've mentioned has already been explained in the book... assuming you've read it?Yes. My point is that I don't think it's credible, and I agree with the other posters who think there was something off about Tonks that's not accounted for by the explanations in the book. We know that Jo is a master of diversion, and she's very good at giving us explanations that seem to make sense in the moment but don't turn out to be true later.

Love!!! The big message of this series is that love is the most powerful thing, it is Harry's weapon against Voldermort, it is what prevented harry from dying in the first place (lily's sacrifice), it is what makes people great. Now if love is the most powerful thing it is quite likely to have a major effect on people, i admit that until the end of the book i was thinking is Tonks Tonks, I also had similar doubts about Dumbledore. But once I read that beautiful scene with her & lupin in the hospital wing, i knew why she had changed, her patronus has taken on Lupin's werewolf form, think if Harry's patronus is his father it is quite likely that Tonks would be the person she loves with her whole heart. Also the reason she could not perform her powers is depression, look at her description, she is decribed as havin mousy hair, she has lost her vivacousness her spirit and that is because the man she loves will not let her love him, will not let her be with him. This is quite a soul destroying thing, also her cousin (the mighty one) has died and not only does she feel responible, sirius was also Remus best friend his only remaining friend and she feels no doubt that she has hurt Remus, that his grief for sirius is her fault. And this is awful to her to be the cause of his pain. Also part of her may think that lupin won't be with her because he blames her. People when they are maddened by love are not always rational and many thoughts dark and otherwise are likely to cross your mind.
Also we see that once Lupin gives into love, Tonks regains her powers, see the description of her at the funeral.
Plus I think JK rowling was expecting us to think that polyjuice was being used, she likes red herrings she likes us to go off on the wrong tangent it increases the shock of the truth. So she gives description of characters and their actions with the intent to make us question their true identity, but i very much doubt polyjuice will be used again, it would be like repeating a storyline.

QUOTE: I don't think JK would focus all these little random tid bits on Tonks and it be totally innocent especially the Draco/DE references.

JK said that in the next book we would meet a member of the Order that we haven't really met yet. I reckon it's Tonks. All we know about her are superficial things like she's clumsy, funny, hip, cool. So maybe HBP was setting up all this for the next one. Here's what JK said:

Samatha Scattergood for Waterstones - Which is your favourite member of the Order of the Phoenix?
JK Rowling: I keep killing all my favourite members of the Order of the Phoenix, but there is one member of the Order of the Phoenix that you have not yet met properly and you will ** well, you know that they are a member, but you haven't really met them properly yet and you will meet them in seven, so I am looking forward to that.

Could be wrong, but maybe all the Tonks stuff in this book is to set up for the next one.


I had completely forgotton that Tonks and Draco are cousins! First cousins! And they're behaving similarly...

I think it's just depression due to Sirius' death and her love problem with Lupin. Nothing more. :)

Unrequited love does funny things to people. Just because Tonks is emotionally unstable at the moment doesn't mean that she is automatically on Polyjuice Potion. I think it is absolutely credible, and not in the least bit strange, for her to have such a strong reaction to Lupin's refusal to marry her, because when the person you love will not love you back, you tend to get depressed, to say the least.
~DogStarBlack :)

I was kinda hoping that people would have stopped accusing Tonks after the HBP, but alas! They still believe that she's evil (or not her). I am now going to try to take an objective view on this.. (if I start to side with Tonks just poke me with a large stick)

Okay going back to OoTP the Tonks we knew there was lively, jokey and happy, didn't have a serious bone in her body. She wasn't even entirely serious with other order members, check out the way she speaks to Mad-eye. We don't really get to see a serious side to her, unless you count passing references to her fighting at the ministry. This was of course taken as evidence that she was a death eater and was trying to get closer to Harry - cue maniacal laughter.

The Tonks in HBP is almost the opposite, she isn't livley, doesn't tell jokes and is probably the most depressing character in the book. her hair is no longer pink but instead a mousy brown. This is obviously her natural colour and there are two reasins for it reverting back to this: 1 - Hermione mentions that her metamorh powers aren't working properly, so she can't actually change it becase it won't work (or she's just too depressed to bother) OR 2 - polyjuice potion wouldn't dupolcate her pink hair, so it would explain her natural colour. Of course, the DE impersonating her would probably have researced her and would of had the good sense to die the hair pink, I'm sure a simple spell would do it but never mind. Maybe they were a paticualrly stupid DE.

Tonks on the train, looking thinne and iller then ever. Simple love sickness or something more sinister? WEll this can't prove to be polyjuice because it would take an extremely stupid DE to not feed themselves... But it could be the imperious curse, yes I can see it, she's slowly fighting back and the effects are showing Dum dum duh!
Or the love sickness, since breaking up with my boyfriend my figures never been better, all thos edays I wasted lying around not eating because I couldn't be bothered have really paid off, and they look like they're paying off for Tonks too. Oh yes, simple heart break hurts so bad that you completely stop looking after yourself, so much fun....

Snape mentions Tonks' patronus has changed shape, interesting... This could of course be because she's not Tonks. Then again, why would the DE be so stupid as to send a patronus off. CHances are Dumbledore knows what her patronus looks like and for all we know so do half the staff. It would be a bit of a give-a-way. Snape's dig at her patronus must be looked at as well, was he merely pointing out the DE's idiocy at using a patronus or was he maing a jibe at lupin? We all know that Snape's a nasty little git and would gladly take any opportunity to insult lupn (he doesn't hav sirius to insult anymore) and he's probably more then amused that Tonks loves lupin.

The next point and probably the hardest to decipher, what was Tonks doing up at the room of requirements? She says that she wants to see dumbledore about a rumoured attack but she knows that sumbledore isn't there (having been to his office already), so wha? did she just decide to have a wander round the castle? It is very strange... Of course one explanation is that she is a DE and was checking on Malfoy's progress. The only defence I can think for her is that she became lost in her thoughts worrying that Lupin might have been injured or killed and she started wandering around without actually realising it (I do it all the time). I'll have to think more on that...

And then we come to the fighting, she ought for the Order can't say much against that. Or can we! Did she simply have to protect her place as spy and fight her fellow DE's? Maybe she fired to miss or quietly cursed a few students as they were feeing after all who would have noticed in all the madness?

After that we come to the hospital scene where Tonks asks how did Dumbledore die? Why ask such a question? Grief? The need to know? Closure? Or was it sadistic pleasure! Was she hoping he suffered? Strange.. or maybe the question needed to be asked so that the answer could be given and she was as good as character as any to ask.

On to my favorite moment, where Tonks and Lupin have they're little moment (so cute). Tonks' strange behaviour is explained as depression from not being with the man she loves which would explain most of it, but not all. We see later at the funeral that her hair has returned to pink, a sign that she's happy again? or that the DE finally realised that a bit of hair dye goes a long way.

Uh... I think I'm done. Make of it what you will but I have to shout at my brother over this and many other HBP theories

What if Tonks has been going undercover as Draco (instead of the other way around)...

-natalia

I agree that the combination of Siriu's death, Lupin's refusal and his high-risk mission were what caused her change of demeanor. I still find it kinda disturbing that someone as perky and full of life like Tonks could let herself go so totally for an "unrequieted" love, but itìs probably what in fact happened.


Only 1 thing bothers me, can't shake it off.
When Harry run into her on the 7th floor, while speaking of the Order, she "unconsciously touched her sleeve".
The only people we've seen doing that, are people who bears the Dark Mark...

I am glad you posted this Remsy, because ever since I finished the book I have had a hard time with the whole R/T thing and no it is not jealousy :p

I agree after seeing her in OotP and her personality there it is hard to believe that because Remus has pushed her away that she is just that devastated that she totally breaks down basically but who am I to say people do strange things in the name of love. The seventh floor struck me as very odd also and why would JKR put in about her pulling at her sleeve if we were not suppose to notice it for some reason. Why was she on the seventh floor? I can't for the life of me remember what floor DD office was on but I wouldn't think you would randomly wander flights of stares in a daydream state, just me. The hospital seen yes touching but with DD dead, Bill attacked by a werewolf and Remus obviously beside himself with grief why bring up then the fact "you don't love me you should." And then a day or two later they are holding hands now I am going to be killed for saying this but what was all the talk about love potions in the book does JKR put anything that big in just for fun?

I am not saying Tonks is evil but I just don't know? Hope this was not some sensless rambling and made I made some intelligent points.

Throughout the whole book I felt that something was not right with Tonks. The thing that seemed most likely to me was that someone was using polyjuice potion to imitate her. But, then when JK ended it with the Lupin love story causing her behavior, I kind of took this as the true explanation, even though it is incredibly lame. After all, if Tonks loved Lupin this much, why wasn't it hinted at in OotP?

Now I am having second thoughts, since some of the theories posted here make so much sense. Maybe my initial impression was right after all.

Everything that you've mentioned has already been explained in the book... assuming you've read it?This is a nice jab in the gut. Let's just chew on it a bit. Go back to earlier books. Book one; we are lead to believe Snape is evil. It was explained in the book (assuming you've read it) that Quirrell is the real evil one and Snape just acts like that because of James. Fast forward to book 6, we find out it was all a smoke screen, and Snape really is evil. Just because we are told something in the post climax hospital scene doesn't automatically make it absolutely true and binding.

At first I thought it wasn't really Tonks either. However it was all cleared up when we found out she was in love with Lupin but he was trying to push her away. The woman was love sick most of the book and that is why she wasn't acting like herself.

All I want to say is that there is just as much chance of Tonks being a Death Eater as there is of her not being a Death Eater, what with the evidence that everyone's been giving.

I'm not saying you guys are wrong, but just be careful and keep in mind that we've just been thrown for a pretty big loop with Snape. It's really easy after something like that to automatically be suspicious of other characters. That could be exactly what JKR wants, or it could just be imagination put into high-gear.

It could have been that JKR wrote in all of this odd behavior for Tonks so that you would indeed suspect her of being a traitor or being under a spell, but that her love for Remus really was the cause of it all. Or, she could, as someone mentioned, have used the hospital scene as a clever ruse to put us in a position where we trust Tonks again, but we really shouldnt.

The only piece of evidence that can really work toward the "Tonks is a Death Eater" theory is when JKR wrote that she "unconsciously touched her sleeve." It's very random in the scene, and could hint at the Dark Mark. I honestly, at this point, cant think of a reason why that would be written in, and worded the way it is, unless it meant something.
But it's hard to believe a theory with only one really convincing piece of evidence.

It was because Lupin was down with the werewolves trying to convince them. She was in great love with him. And she wanted him back so she could try to get him to marry her.

honestly i think it was just supposed to demonstrate the book's theme of love and how strong of magic it is. i think that her love for remus was what caused her great character change and that when he realized that she loved him despite the fact that he was a dangerous werewolf. when they got together she got over her depressed state.

I think that Tonks was Tonks. I think that the change in her appearance was caused by both Sirius' death and Lupin's refusal to be with her. Facing one's mortality without having someone who loves you can be a very tough thing. I think that the appearance has to do with the fact that she just didn't have the desire to change her appearance. The Patronus took the form of Lupin's wolf as that was who she wanted more than anything and who she wanted to protect her.

As far as patrolling the halls goes, I think DD explained this when he said he had suspected Draco for months but couldn't do anything for fear the DE's would kill him. He had members of the order watch the room to watch over Draco and Tonks was one of them. It had to be secret because of the threat to Draco's life.

I also wondered if something was weird about Tonks in this book. When I read OotP, I was always confused by the "Wotcher, Harry" comments. I didn't know if Wotcher was a greeting of some sort or not, but I noticed that Tonks always seemed to say that. She never did in HBP. Quite suspicious to me. When I read about how the Ministry suggested to everyone to ask a special question to be sure that who they were talking to was really who they thought, I immediately expected Tonks to always say "Wotcher, Harry" whenever she saw him. But she didn't.

I'm not sure about the polyjuice theory, but I suppose it's possible since there was a whole cauldren full of it in the Potions class. I suspect more of an imperious curse type of thing going on, but I don't know. I was intrigued by the similarity of her aperance to Draco's appearance.

I don't think that Tonks is really Draco-using-polyjuice-potion, however. My main reason for thinking that is: would Draco have gone back to the train to get the immobilized Harry? I doubt it.

The idea that Tonks' Patronus is now "Lupin's werewolf form" (Sirius_amante, Tonks2005, and probably others) is quite interesting... I don't have my book with me right now, so I can't check, but I recall that it was stated over and over that her new Patronus was a four-legged thing. I think that Harry was the one who finally thought that it was Sirius' animagus form, but I think that it is suspicious that he didn't think so sooner. Wouldn't he have recognized Sirius' dog shape quite quickly? But he didn't seem to do so.

As a side note, if it's true that the Tonks in HBP is the same Tonks as in OotP, then maybe Harry's Patronus will change to a Pheonix in the next book... ;) He certainly knew Dumbledore better than he knew James...

I also wondered if something was weird about Tonks in this book. When I read OotP, I was always confused by the "Wotcher, Harry" comments. I didn't know if Wotcher was a greeting of some sort or not, but I noticed that Tonks always seemed to say that. She never did in HBP. Quite suspicious to me. When I read about how the Ministry suggested to everyone to ask a special question to be sure that who they were talking to was really who they thought, I immediately expected Tonks to always say "Wotcher, Harry" whenever she saw him. But she didn't.

I'm not sure about the polyjuice theory, but I suppose it's possible since there was a whole cauldren full of it in the Potions class. I suspect more of an imperious curse type of thing going on, but I don't know. I was intrigued by the similarity of her aperance to Draco's appearance.

I don't think that Tonks is really Draco-using-polyjuice-potion, however. My main reason for thinking that is: would Draco have gone back to the train to get the immobilized Harry? I doubt it.

The idea that Tonks' Patronus is now "Lupin's werewolf form" (Sirius_amante, Tonks2005, and probably others) is quite interesting... I don't have my book with me right now, so I can't check, but I recall that it was stated over and over that her new Patronus was a four-legged thing. I think that Harry was the one who finally thought that it was Sirius' animagus form, but I think that it is suspicious that he didn't think so sooner. Wouldn't he have recognized Sirius' dog shape quite quickly? But he didn't seem to do so.

As a side note, if it's true that the Tonks in HBP is the same Tonks as in OotP, then maybe Harry's Patronus will change to a Pheonix in the next book... ;) He certainly new Dumbledore better than he knew James...


She said Wotcher (which is a greeting from my understanding like How ya doing) in HBP.

Then he felt his Invisibility Cloak fly off him and a voice overhead said, "Wotcher, Harry."

That was when Draco had attacked Harry on the train and Tonks was the one who found him. :)

She said Wotcher (which is a greeting from my understanding like How ya doing) in HBP.

Then he felt his Invisibility Cloak fly off him and a voice overhead said, "Wotcher, Harry."

That was when Draco had attacked Harry on the train and Tonks was the one who found him. :)

Aah, thanks for pointing that out. Like I said, I don't have my book with me at the moment, but I didn't remember her saying that. In that case, then, I think we have more evidence that this Tonks is really the real Tonks since she greeted him in the same way as in OotP.

In that case, then, I think we have more evidence that this Tonks is really the real Tonks since she greeted him in the same way as in OotP.If she continues to greet him this way throughout. If she doesn't, it could be that Tonks is in town and someone masquerading as Tonks has been in Hogwarts.

Aah, thanks for pointing that out. Like I said, I don't have my book with me at the moment, but I didn't remember her saying that. In that case, then, I think we have more evidence that this Tonks is really the real Tonks since she greeted him in the same way as in OotP.

You're welcome! The fact that she said Wotcher Harry when she rescued him from the train is what made me think it really was her. It's like her thing, you know? I do hate that I keep second guessing almost every character now cause I wonder if it is really them or not.

Excerpt from Emerson (of Mugglenet.com) and Melissa's (of The-Leaky-Cauldron.org) interview with Jo Rowling on July 16th:

"Dorothy L. Sayers, who is queen of the genre said — and then broke her own rule, but said — that there is no place for romance in a detective story except that it can be useful to camouflage other people’s motives. That's true; it is a very useful trick. I've used that on Percy and I’ve used that to a degree on Tonks in this book, as a red herring."

So... there you have it. Tonks really was Tonks, but you were supposed to be fooled by her behavior.

No, she wasn't really herself.
I mean, people are bound to be a little more depressed/edgy/****** off when a close friend and family member is murdred. She's got a high stress job and then on top of that, she's got a thing for Lupin.

She's back to normal, or as normal as she ever was with her pink hair and Lupin's hand in hers.

Then again, I don't think we ever got a really big, clear picture of who she was so in the end, her behavior in the 6th book could have been normal. Who knows?

Tonks is definitely Tonks. Heartmoony makes an excellent point. At the funeral, Tonks is again herself with the "vividdest" pink hair and is holding hands with Lupin. That should be resolution enough for anyone.

Why would JKR have Tonks be a disguised DE and have that DE die and be replaced with old metamorphmagus Tonks without telling anyone about it? It just doesn't make any sense. And a Tonks in disguise would have no purpose in going about being love sick over Lupin. Obviously she has been and has been confiding in Mrs. Weasley. This would only make sense if this had been a previous behavior of Tonks's. If we suppose for the sake of argument that this was a previous behavior of hers, then that in and of itself undermines the DE theory because that already gives a reason for Tonks to be so changed - unrequited love.

Her patronus was a wolf. She loved Lupin.

I think we were meant to suspect her, that's what JKR wanted, keep us guessing. But yeah, I believe Tonks was really Tonks.

I think the fact that Tonks greeted Harry with her usual "Wotcher Harry" on the train and never again afterwards is significant. It could point to the fact that Tonks was really Tonks at that point and that a switch occured after that, because she doesn't greet him in her usual manner anymore after that, and if it's really the love angle that caused her to change completely, why would this change only be complete after the train incident?

Secondly, pointing back to Emerson's interview with JKR
"Dorothy L. Sayers, who is queen of the genre said — and then broke her own rule, but said — that there is no place for romance in a detective story except that it can be useful to camouflage other people’s motives. That's true; it is a very useful trick. I've used that on Percy and I’ve used that to a degree on Tonks in this book, as a red herring."

JKR is saying she used Tonks romance as a red herring - so everyone would think her weird behaviour's all down to romance, but it's not! The romance angle is a red herring!

I don't know, but the more I read, the more I feel there's definitely something wrong with Tonks, that can't be put down to mere disappointment in love. I guess this won't be cleared up until Book 7..

I thought that the Draco/DE references were to make us think she was a DE and be tricked into thinking that, then to find out we were wrong and it was just love.
Like bluffing.

This really bugged me, because we had learned earlier that the Patronus was a great way for members of the Order to communicate because you can't fake another person's Patronus, then suddently Tonks has a new one?

1. Change of Tonks's Patronus.
2. Change of Tonks's physical appearance (and described very similarly to Malfoy's).
3. Happens to be in the corridor outside the Room of Requirement.
4. Unconscious touching of sleeve (similar to DEs).

I don't buy it. I don't think it's really Tonks.
I tend to agree. I took it at face value whilst I was reading the book (big no no in the land of Harry Potter!) but the more I think about it the less I believe it was Tonks... I don't know.

It seemed to be Tonks at the end though, once she had Lupin, so perhaps it was just that she didn't have his love and was depressed, but it seems like too many hints have been dropped and the new patronus is especially strange... Polyjuice potion was featured in HBP so perhaps sometimes we were seeing the real Tonks (at the funeral for example) and sometimes we weren't... I like the idea!

Secondly, pointing back to Emerson's interview with JKR
"Dorothy L. Sayers, who is queen of the genre said — and then broke her own rule, but said — that there is no place for romance in a detective story except that it can be useful to camouflage other people’s motives. That's true; it is a very useful trick. I've used that on Percy and I’ve used that to a degree on Tonks in this book, as a red herring."

JKR is saying she used Tonks romance as a red herring - so everyone would think her weird behaviour's all down to romance, but it's not! The romance angle is a red herring!



THANK YOU!!! I thought exactly the same thing when I read the interview and I was looking everywhere to see if someone else shared my thoughts...

Besides all that's been said here...isn't it a bit strange that, being Draco the only one who knew where Harry was on the train, it just happens to be Tonks the one who finds him? Also, the "wotcher" thing is not conclusive, anybody who knew her would know that this is how she greets people, and if you're going to impersonate someone you have to know this things (just look at the fake Moody!).

Anyway, I don't think that what happened here was Polyjuice potion or that Tonks was impersonating Draco (or the other way around). But I believe there's a conection somewhere, there are too many clues about it to be just casual...

Secondly, pointing back to Emerson's interview with JKR
"Dorothy L. Sayers, who is queen of the genre said — and then broke her own rule, but said — that there is no place for romance in a detective story except that it can be useful to camouflage other people’s motives. That's true; it is a very useful trick. I've used that on Percy and I’ve used that to a degree on Tonks in this book, as a red herring."

JKR is saying she used Tonks romance as a red herring - so everyone would think her weird behaviour's all down to romance, but it's not! The romance angle is a red herring!

I don't know, but the more I read, the more I feel there's definitely something wrong with Tonks, that can't be put down to mere disappointment in love. I guess this won't be cleared up until Book 7..


Yeesh, I hope that she doesn't play with Lupin though. That's just cruel. I hope it turns out well between the two of them.

I wonder what her love for Lupin is a red herring for.

I wonder what her love for Lupin is a red herring for.

I thought the red herring was that Tonks wasn't acting like herself so we were supposed to think that either she blamed herself for Sirius dying, she was in love with Sirius or someone was impersonating her.

The red herring was to throw us all off track so we wouldn't see that she was in love with Lupin and that would be like a wow I didn't see that coming moment when we finally saw that scene.

I thought the red herring was that Tonks wasn't acting like herself so we were supposed to think that either she blamed herself for Sirius dying, she was in love with Sirius or someone was impersonating her.

The red herring was to throw us all off track so we wouldn't see that she was in love with Lupin and that would be like a wow I didn't see that coming moment when we finally saw that scene.


OH!!!! I see, I totally misunderstood what was being said. Silly me. :p

I think the way we saw Tonks in HBP was as a Tonks for whom Sirius's death hadn't fully sunk in yet. She probably didn't have too much of a chance to come to grips with it while being healed in St. Mungo's after the Department of Mysteries. And she probably does, or did, on some level blame herself in at least a small way for Sirius's death.

But Sirius's death affected her most by making her realizing how powerful and fragile life is, and how life is too short to be alone. Thus her sulking over Lupin's refusal to enter into a relationship with her, and then her complete turnaround by Dumbledore's funeral once Lupin had apparently changed his mind.

I agree 100%

if she was indeed someone else she would be more carefull not to let anyone suspect, so the change of attitude would be less evident

it seems significant that draco was crying to myrtle, no? doesn't that seem more like something tonks would do than draco?

but i'm conflicted about the whole tonks/draco polyjuice theory. i can think of more reasons for tonks to pose as draco (protection, spying on him for the order) than for draco to pose as tonks (especially given his mission this year, which, as we know, kept him quite busy anyhow.) however, there seems to be more evidence of draco posing as tonks as seen in previous posts.

I don't see why tonks would pose as draco, could someone explain to me why?

I was wondering what was up with Tonks for the whole book! This idea crossed my mind once or twice though.

But, in the end of the book we find out that she had been vying for Remus. So I think this is the reason why she was so sad. Because she was getting repeatedly recjected by Lupin. She just wanted someone to love after the shock of losing Sirius, she realized that she (or Lupin) could be gone just as suddenly as Sirius, so she wanted some romantic fullfillment.

I was sort of let down that this was the big mystery behind Tonks in HBP, but it was a more pleasant reason than being an imposter.

I had posted this on a different website today. I'm glad I came across this here.

Why do you think Tonks was wandering around on the seventh floor of the castle when she ran into Harry? I thought it was odd. She said she came to visit DD, but he wasn't there.

1. Why didn't she just communicate with DD through her patronus?

2. Why was she in the hall near the room of requirements?

When she ran into Harry, she just turned around and left with him. What was she up to? Any thoughts?

I do think that it is really Tonks, but I think she may be up to something. I'm not saying she is bad, but even bad people can love. Look at Draco's mom. She really loves him, and she is BAD!

Yes, I was suspicious while I was reading the book, but at the end I think it became clear that she is neither under the Imperius spell, nor is doing things against the Order. She is simply in love with Remus, who is acting in extremly altruistic manner, like he always do. Top block :rotfl: .

I still don't buy the "I lope Lupin" angle. It's too weak for a total character transformation that lasts an entire year! I was thinking then, if Tonks was an imposter or under the Imperius curse, then why pretend to love Lupin at all? But Lupin is acting for the Order undercover among the werewolves, in fact he's a spy himself! So it wouldn't be too farfetched for Voldy's side to want information on how far their plans have been penetrated by Lupin - what better way than to get him to talk to Tonks once she earns his trust? I mean, I doubt every single thing he finds out undercover is simply spread freely among all Order members - as we know it's always on a need to know basis as far as the Order is concerned.

I just reread the whole Tonks-on-the-seventh-floor thing, and here's what I think.

Tonks mentioned to Harry that the Prophet was behind the times a bit. That intrigued me, so I kept reading to find out what new event happened that the Prophet hadn't reported yet: The younger brother of two sisters was bitten by a werewolf. He later died.

I think that Tonks was really upset over the fact, and wanted to ask Dumbledore if the werewolf that did the biting was Lupin or not. (I mean, how would you feel if you were afraid that someone you loved might have (accidentally, perhaps) just done something horrible?) Dumbledore wasn't there, so Tonks went looking for Harry hoping that Harry might have been notified about the situation if it had been Lupin. (How she knew he would be by the RoR, I don't know, but maybe she was just wandering around.)

What do you guys think?

Aside from the fact that JKR said that she was using red herring tactics with Tonks, all of her "quirks" are well explained throughout HBP.

Her powers were lost because of her depression, either from knowing Lupin cared about her but not wanting to be with her or from blaming herself for the death of Sirius, she was likely trailing Draco on Dumbledore's orders, etc etc etc.

Tonks is Tonks and has been for as long as we've known her.

Tonks mentioned to Harry that the Prophet was behind the times a bit. That intrigued me, so I kept reading to find out what new event happened that the Prophet hadn't reported yet: The younger brother of two sisters was bitten by a werewolf. He later died.

Oooh - this is very interesting. Thank you!
I've been looking for a thread with some juicy Tonks speculation - with mixed results I have to say. When I first read HBP I kept on thinking, has Tonks been bitten by a werewolf? I was unconviced by the Lupin explanation, so I was very pleased JKR came out and said it was a red herring. I think there is some truth in it though.
Some, IMO, pretty good evidence for this is:
The wolf-like patronus.
Lupin's long pause when Harry asks him what's the matter with her. He would definitely know about it having been hanging around with Fenrir.
Her comment "but it doesn't matter to me, Lupin". I imagine Lupin's turned her down because he thinks two werewolves having a relationship would be pretty, well, difficult.
There has been a comment by JKR saying she was shocked, ages ago, stumbling across a comment on a forum saying "Tonk's can't be in love with...because her and Lupin are going to get together and have lots of werewolf cubs, etc."
Well, loads of stuff bascially so being reminded of the quote above has pretty much sealed it for me, especcially now we know that Fenrir targets specific families.
It'd be good to amass a lot of evidence for this, or maybe someone has a better explanation. I, without any sarcasm, would love to hear it.

Isn't the RoR on the way to DDs office? I mean Harry passes it on his way to DD's when he sees Trelawney who has just been tossed out of the room. Also it was DD who said he was on his way to the bathroom and walked into a room full of chamber pots - so I think its close to his office which makes since that Tonks was near it because she wanted to see DD.

I think a lot happened to Tonks in a very short period:
1. She was seriously injured in the MoM fight (remember she was the only one taken to St. Mungos)

2. she blames herself for Sirius because she was fighting Bellatrix and let her get away (not only is she Sirius' 2nd cousin, but she is an Auror so part of it would be feeling she wasn't up to snuff at her job either)

3. She loves Lupin who won't enter into a relationship and who was best friends with the person she blames herself for getting killed! He is a werewolf and he is on a very Dangerous assignment!

Who wouldn't feel a big emotional upheaval!

While I was reading the book, specially when she appeared outside the room of requirment, when Harry was trying to get in I thought it wasn't her. Harry notices that Malfoy is thinner and sick, as well as Tonks who looks thinner...she appeared outside the room when Harry was trying to find out about Malfoy and she asks about the Dumbledore or the order (I can't remember) what I thought at that moment was that Tonks was actually Malfoy, he had been taking Polyjuice, but then when Harry mentioned Sirius she started crying...which didn't add up if it was Malfoy. But!!! I am conviced there was something there, she was't herself at all!!!

Now that you mention it, I remember that too. It was quite weird for example when Tonks showed up outside the Room of Requirement when Harry was trying to catch Draco there.

i thought the exact same thing too. if tonks went to hogworts how could she not know where dd's office is, and why was she on the 7th floor?

Everything that you've mentioned has already been explained in the book... assuming you've read it?

It is not explained to my satisfaction. First of all, we have no indication in OOTP that Tonks has any feelings for Lupin whatsoever. Remember, the start of 6, Tonks is already depressed, and its only been two weeks since we left book 5. When did they fall in love? I think that its hard to swallow, just because it was explained to us in a few lines at the end of book 6. Whether or not its true, it is hard to buy, so if true, it was not executed well.

Anyway there are too many clues that they are one and the same, so I believe that at some times, Draco does become Tonks.

Tonk's Mother was Sirius favorite cousin (OOTP). Considering how the rest of the family is either into the Pure Blood mania or Death Eaters, Tonks was probably pretty happy to find out that Sirius was innocent and to see him once more. The two probably got to be quite close. And then to have him snuffed out when all the while blaming yourself and thnking if you had only been stronger, your fav cousin would still be alive...that's a mind job right there. To be in love with someone who doesn't want you would make you feel even worse.

As for the change in Patronuses, there's never been any proof in the books that Draco even knows how to make a Patronus, and Snape recognized the shape that Tonks new Patronus had taken as being Sirius, judging by the extremely callous remark he makes about it. Then again, we might be assuming that the Patronus is of a big dog when it might have been of a werewolf. Harry only catches a glimpse of it in the book and merely says that it was big and hairy.

Tonks was depressed over a great many things. Furthermore, Tonks is an Auror, and I'm sure they teach you things in Auror school to destroy excess hair after combing it out, etc, to protect you against such things. The only reason why they got Mad-Eye was because he was overpowered and Imperbed, but they had the trunk to store him in. The Polyjuiced Tonks impostor would have no idea that she was in love with Lupin or other details, and Dumbledore would probably had been the last person they would have been looking for.

I was considering this issue the entire time I was reading Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Tonks seems to be herself at the end of Book Six; her pink hair has made it's return, and she has a bright smile on her face. Somehow though, I think something about her is still changed. If you remember when Dumbledore and Harry met Tonks at the Burrow, she seemed hesitant and never looked Dumbledore in the eyes. She knows that Dumbledore is an accomplished Legilimens, so by not facing him directly and avoiding him, was she hiding a secret? A truth? The unconscious sleeve touching and appearances near the Room of Requirement surely seem suspicious, but it's very difficult to see that someone was impersonating Nymphadora Tonks. If a death eater had been consuming a Polyjuice Potion, why would they want to show love for Lupin? Surely a death eater wouldn't be thinking about romance, but about their duty owed to The Dark Lord. The death eater idea doesn't seem to match up.

It is not explained to my satisfaction. First of all, we have no indication in OOTP that Tonks has any feelings for Lupin whatsoever. Remember, the start of 6, Tonks is already depressed, and its only been two weeks since we left book 5. When did they fall in love? I think that its hard to swallow, just because it was explained to us in a few lines at the end of book 6. Whether or not its true, it is hard to buy, so if true, it was not executed well.

Anyway there are too many clues that they are one and the same, so I believe that at some times, Draco does become Tonks.

We have to remember that both Tonks and Remus are out of Harry's POV (thereby out of the books), so we don't exactly know what type of relationship they did have in OoTP. Could be that the seeds of love were already being planted then. How else could it have been explained? I'm sure not everyone will delight in hearing a long-winded story of Remus and Tonks' love affair--so we got a short, simple statement that gave the explanation without really having to go into specific details.

As for Draco becoming Tonks, I find it rather difficult to believe that a sixteen-year-old wizard could overcome a fully-trained Auror, incapacitate her for long enough, chop off her hair, and make a potion that takes a very long time to do

I think possibly Tonks was set up as a red herring in the Half Blood Prince. The comparrison to Draco, appearing on the seventh floor when Harry was looking for Draco and also knowing where to find Harry after Draco curses him and leaves him invisible, I think was trying to set the reader into specualting whether or not it was just Crabbe and Goyle using the Polyjuice potion (it would of also explained why she couldn't trasform, assuming the Polyjuice potion doesn't also give you tha abilities of the person you transform into)

We have to remember that both Tonks and Remus are out of Harry's POV (thereby out of the books), so we don't exactly know what type of relationship they did have in OoTP. Could be that the seeds of love were already being planted then. How else could it have been explained? I'm sure not everyone will delight in hearing a long-winded story of Remus and Tonks' love affair--so we got a short, simple statement that gave the explanation without really having to go into specific details.

As for Draco becoming Tonks, I find it rather difficult to believe that a sixteen-year-old wizard could overcome a fully-trained Auror, incapacitate her for long enough, chop off her hair, and make a potion that takes a very long time to do


I understand what you say, and as I may have said on another thread, I think I just want it to be something more mysterious because I didnt like the way it was resolved in the book.

I absolutely would not have wanted more narrative about their relationship, but some dialogue or scene in OOTP that would have set up this ending in 6 would have been more satisfying.

Tonks is definitely Tonks. Heartmoony makes an excellent point. At the funeral, Tonks is again herself with the "vividdest" pink hair and is holding hands with Lupin. That should be resolution enough for anyone.

Why would JKR have Tonks be a disguised DE and have that DE die and be replaced with old metamorphmagus Tonks without telling anyone about it? It just doesn't make any sense. And a Tonks in disguise would have no purpose in going about being love sick over Lupin. Obviously she has been and has been confiding in Mrs. Weasley. This would only make sense if this had been a previous behavior of Tonks's. If we suppose for the sake of argument that this was a previous behavior of hers, then that in and of itself undermines the DE theory because that already gives a reason for Tonks to be so changed - unrequited love.

Her patronus was a wolf. She loved Lupin.

Exactly! Love can do strange things to you including what it did to Tonks. She is herself and no one else as evidenced by her final scene in HBP.

Tonks is Tonks, and she is not a spy for that matter either.

As the others have pointed out, and Lupin said himself, "A great deal of emotional upheaval".

I don't think she is an imposter. She is just as love sick as Ron, Hermione or Harry. Book 6 is about Romance.

I also wondered if something was weird about Tonks in this book. When I read OotP, I was always confused by the "Wotcher, Harry" comments. I didn't know if Wotcher was a greeting of some sort or not, but I noticed that Tonks always seemed to say that. She never did in HBP. Quite suspicious to me. When I read about how the Ministry suggested to everyone to ask a special question to be sure that who they were talking to was really who they thought, I immediately expected Tonks to always say "Wotcher, Harry" whenever she saw him. But she didn't.

I noticed this immediately. In fact, when Harry got his MoM letter I thought of Tonks because I noticed that she always greeted him with a Wotcher. The only scene she hasn't greeted him this way is when she met him outside the Room of Requirement. At that time he noticed she was walking the hall there as if she did it frequently. He then seemed so distracted and uncomfortable about her sadness that he stopped thinking about it. She was tearful in that scene, so if it wasn't her it was someone who knew about her state of mind. I'd guess it was Snape trying to figure out what Draco was up to.

This really bugged me, because we had learned earlier that the Patronus was a great way for members of the Order to communicate because you can't fake another person's Patronus, then suddently Tonks has a new one?

1. Change of Tonks's Patronus.
2. Change of Tonks's physical appearance (and described very similarly to Malfoy's).
3. Happens to be in the corridor outside the Room of Requirement.
4. Unconscious touching of sleeve (similar to DEs).

I don't buy it. I don't think it's really Tonks.
I agree. Tonks also seems to have trouble with changing her physical appearance.
Tonks finding Harry after Malfoy smashed his nose was too much. He could have been anywhere and was under an invisibility cloak. Draco knew exactly where he was though. It puts Draco in a rather different light if it really was him .
Could Draco's patronus be a wolf though? Perhaps Greyback, but it didn't seem like he liked him. Maybe it was something else. We have never really known for certain - just assumed after knowing about Lupin.

I didn't think Tonks was Tonks either, when they first talked about her being different I got suspicious and I still don't believe it just is solved now. She isn't just in front of rooms or changing Patronus because she's in love.

I didn't think Tonks was Tonks either, when they first talked about her being different I got suspicious and I still don't believe it just is solved now. She isn't just in front of rooms or changing Patronus because she's in love.


Don't forget, toward the end DD says he knew what Malfoy was up to and had certain Order members on alert, so Tonks was watching the room under DD's orders.

That's true, I just read the book today and only once, so it didn't all sink in yet, but right, DD had people around there and DD knew Malfoy was up to something, so it actually does make sense. Mhmm, then just the change of the Patronus. Which was a way for the Order to identify the members, so a change is not common. So still not convinced.

That's true, I just read the book today and only once, so it didn't all sink in yet, but right, DD had people around there and DD knew Malfoy was up to something, so it actually does make sense. Mhmm, then just the change of the Patronus. Which was a way for the Order to identify the members, so a change is not common. So still not convinced.


I like your style :)

But no I can't 100% convince you because I am not JKR and I can't invent cannon that isn't there.

For me, a lot of this book was implied, like the whole Tonks is upset therefore her patronus changes etc... With everything JKR has ever hinted at, this is a lot to swallow and does leave a lot of room to theorize.

The only defense that I have is my own feelings. What I mean is, I put myself in that situation. If I were Tonks (which I actually am according to my sign on :rotfl: ) how would I feel if the man I love would no let me love him? Not only that but, what would it do to me to know that he does love me but is hurting himself more by not allowing himself to express his feelings? I would be torn apart if I truly loved him. Its a tough thing to know someone you love is hurting and that you could fix it but they won't let you. And it seems that Tonks was deeply in love with Lupin.

SO with this in mind, I return to the part where Lupin states that an emotional upheaval can cause a change in patronus. To me, Tonks' feelings over Lupin could qualify.

Maybe, just a thought that occured to me now after dinner, she also had the feeling that she had to change, because Lupin is a werewolf and he thinks it doesn't work because of the curse and that's why he doesn't want the relationship. So, it could be that Tonks felt like she had to change, but she can't really, so just her Patronus changed.

As you can notice I'm starting to believe it was Tonks, probably, sounds not as weird as it did before at least.

I think it was the combination of Sirius' death and her love for lupin. Both would have a taxing effect on a person.

Does anyone know what "wotcher" means exactly?

Just found the answer (i think): It is the shortened version of the English greeting "What Cheer!".

Maybe, just a thought that occured to me now after dinner, she also had the feeling that she had to change, because Lupin is a werewolf and he thinks it doesn't work because of the curse and that's why he doesn't want the relationship. So, it could be that Tonks felt like she had to change, but she can't really, so just her Patronus changed.

As you can notice I'm starting to believe it was Tonks, probably, sounds not as weird as it did before at least.

Yes come over tot he dark side :)

But seriously you do make an interesting point. She changed to try to become what he needed or her patronus did :)

Does anyone know what "wotcher" means exactly?

Just found the answer (i think): It is the shortened version of the English greeting "What Cheer!".
What cheer! Never heard anyone ever say that, if it was ever in use it's certainly fallen out of fashion...
I'm pretty sure it's a shortened version of "what are you up to"
which comes out as "wotcherupto?" and so "wotcha"

I noticed the odd (circumstantial granted) similarities between Draco and Tonks too. I'd like to add the Hogwarts Express incident to this mysterious list of odd behaviour. Tonks has a very good explanation/cover story for why she knew to find Harry there, but she didn't seem to be very convincing. I mean she wasn't concerned about Harry, and didn't seem relieved or worried or...anything. I haven't got an all-emcompassing theory. I'm not that convinced about polyjuice, I think Draco might have bragged to DD about it on the tower if he had had a hand in impersonating a member of the Order. I more suspect that Snape has got some sort of hold on her - he would want Harry rescued as there is no sense in sending him off to London - he'd rather keep him close. Snape also - to Tonks surprise - manages to intercept her patronus (if I remember rightly) which is odd. You'd think that it would be foolproof. Snape could have imperiused her to get her to track Malfoy, maybe?

For those saying "it's just coz she's sad about Lupin etc" you have to remember that JKR said, more or less, that the Tonk and Lupin love story to some extent was a red herring, which I take to mean that she is love-sick, but that's not the whole reason.

I also think that Lupin either a) knows her problem exactly or b)knows that something is up but isn't sure what. He takes his time in answering Harry and, in a typical Lupin way, chooses his words carefully. He merely suggests a reason why it might happen and, I feel, is holding back a fuller answer.

That was quite a long post, wasn't it...bit rambling too...

Tonks was Tonks. Not only is all of the "evidence" for a switch explained away very well in the book, but if it WAS someone imitating Tonks, they were doing a remarkably poor job of it.

And Draco imitating Tonks is just way, way out there. It's implied that Draco and company STEAL the polyjuice potion they end up using. For Draco to be Tonks as early as the train he would have needed to make the potion at home and have had some of Tonks' hair at that point. Then he paralyzed Harry, broke his nose, transformed, healed Harry's nose, took him up to the castle and conjured a patronus on the way? From what we know of Draco, ALL of this was beyond his ability. It took him the better part of a year to fix a magical cabinet. The idea of him making the potion then overcoming the real Tonks all before school, doing a lousy impression of her, conjuring a patronus, having time to learn Tonks' mannerisms enough to say "wotcher" to Harry on the train and then talking to Dumbledore as Tonks... to what end? Draco was afraid of Dumbledore until he had a score of Death Eaters behind him. There's no way he would have had the stones to walk into Dumbledore's office impersonating an Auror if he could even overcome her in the first place, which he couldn't.

She was depressed because Sirius was dead and her love was seemingly unrequited. That's a lot to deal with. Everything else is perfectly well explained, including the change in her patronus. JRK even said the plot with her and Lupin was a red herring. We were supposed to suspect Tonks. She's still got some people chasing that fish.

CVSTODES - Think your getting your theories crossed a bit. It was me who was talking about the train incident, with reference to Snape having some kind of involvement, the polyjuice theory - as far as I follow it - refers to later in the book.
I'll post JKR's actual quote as, in my eyes, it makes it pretty obvious that the relationship, not the other stuff, is the red herring.

that there is no place for romance in a detective story except that it can be useful to camouflage other people’s motives. That's true; it is a very useful trick. I've used that on Percy and I’ve used that to a degree on Tonks in this book, as a red herring.

Like your sig though!
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A couple of days later I'm starting to doubt the meaning of the quote. I didn't think it likely or indeed possible that Tonk's odd behaviour could be a red herring. Mainly because it was all very subtle. Too much of a sophisticated red herring if that makes sense, but I've been re-reading GOF and I was really struck by how much more like a book for children and/or new comers it seemed - lots of repetition of back story etc, whereas HBP seems much deeper and aimed at a well, an older, more sophisticated audience. So, maybe the doubters are right. Just love and that's that. I'd still like there to be more mystery involved though - bit disappointing otherwise. And it leaves no opportunity for wild speculation, which I do enjoy.

I want to stand by the theory that Tonks was Tonks...usually. Remember, not everyone wants to/has to take the polyjuice potion most of the time. The fact that Tonks was stationed near Hogwarts simply gave opportunity to get a bit o' DNA. After a slow reread, the only time that stuck out to me about Tonks being someone else was outside the room of requirement. Here's why:
- she is described as having lost her color, a description that is applied to Draco only a few pages later
- she's just acting odd, flighty...even for Tonks. Just wondering about members of the order and looking for DD (something we now know Draco to be doing...). She even abandons her post outside, something that Harry found to be odd, and I do, too.
- She's all teary-eyed and weepy, however when Sirius is mentioned it doesn't seem to be about him. This normally wouldn't support my theory, except we're told just a little before that event that 'some boy' has been crying to Myrtle - we know that Draco has been lonely and crying...

Anyway, just wanted to add my 2 bits (mainly the part about the crying, which I don't recall being mentioned in a quick sweep of this thread.

I dont think Tonks was an imposter...i just think she was sad/depressed about Siruis and Lupin... remember it said in the book that your patronus can change depending on your mood.. and they believed that Tonks metemorphic powers werent working b/c of her mood too, i dont have my book handy otherwise i would show you the parts... but you made some good points... you never know what could happen :huh:

It is quite possible that she was impersonated, but i doubt it. Dumbledore's office is on the same floor as the RoR so her walking down that specific corridor to get out isn't really too much of a strech now is it? She came running when Greyback attacked a small child, Malfoy couldn't even hope to get that good of timing. My bet is she was subcontiously touching where Lupin was bitten by Greyback. Plus all the clues lead up to that being the reason that she was acting the way she was, Molly was looking at Lupin "as though it was all his fault that she was getting Fleur for a daughter-in-law instead of Tongs", Snape hates Lupin and believes him weak and he called her patronus (im guessing it was a wolf) weak (or quite possibly it could have been Sirius because he was probobly the closest person to him before he was killed and she wanted to take the job or something along those lines), Lupin paused for a moment when Harry asked about Tongs' patronus, and the kicker? She was back to normal when she and Lupin get together.

It is quite possible that she was impersonated, but i doubt it. Dumbledore's office is on the same floor as the RoR so her walking down that specific corridor to get out isn't really too much of a strech now is it? She came running when Greyback attacked a small child, Malfoy couldn't even hope to get that good of timing. My bet is she was subcontiously touching where Lupin was bitten by Greyback. Plus all the clues lead up to that being the reason that she was acting the way she was, Molly was looking at Lupin "as though it was all his fault that she was getting Fleur for a daughter-in-law instead of Tongs", Snape hates Lupin and believes him weak and he called her patronus (im guessing it was a wolf) weak (or quite possibly it could have been Sirius because he was probobly the closest person to him before he was killed and she wanted to take the job or something along those lines), Lupin paused for a moment when Harry asked about Tongs' patronus, and the kicker? She was back to normal when she and Lupin get together.

I don't doubt that, on most occassions, Tonks was Tonks...esp. toward the beginning of the books. On a reread, her actions fit with her love, considering she told Mrs. Weasley. I'm just concerned about the 1 night in the Corridor, where Harry waits for Malfoy to appear, closes his eyes for just a second, and sees Tonks, looking very much as Harry describes Malfoy later.

If you read the above quote from JKR in a certain light, you could read it as the TOnks/Lupin relationship was a red herring for her odd actions, whereas it seems most people in this thread are reading it as her odd actions are a red herring for something else when it's really about her relationship.

Her new happiest moment could be a scene between her and Lupin, before he started pushing her away?

Her new happiest moment could be a scene between her and Lupin, before he started pushing her away?
Perhaps in the Ministry. If I remember correctly, after the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, Lupin was hunched over her prone form, trying to revive her. He would be the first thing she would see when she became conscious. Lupin did not start avoiding her until then, perhaps that's when she decided that she had to reveal her true feelings for Lupin (the near-death experience showing her how she can't afford to dawdle) and he backed off.

Actually it was Mad-Eye who tried to revive Tonks at the MoM battle. That being said I think Tonks has always been Tonks.

She's in love with Lupin and he is telling her it is a no-go because he is a werewolf, can't get a job, etc., etc., etc., I think I would be pretty down if the man I loved was refusing to hear me out for what turns out to be several months. The poor girl's depressed, how would you feel???

Her patronus, whatever it may have been is now Lupin...or at the very least a werewolf.

Its a tough thing to know someone you love is hurting and that you could fix it but they won't let you.

That's so true. It also goes with the fact that Tonks' situation isn't really unrequited love, as a lot of people are calling it. Yes, it might be childish or strange to Tonks' character if it really was just a matter of unrequited love, that she wanted Lupin and he didn't want her, so she was sulking; but really it's deeper than that. It's a much tougher situation for anyone to handle - loving someone, and knowing that person cares about you but believes himself unworthy, or wants to protect you from himself. He could be happy but he's keeping himself from being happy, and if you really do love him knowing that would hurt a lot, and be extremely frustrating.

Also, about the red herring thing, what JKR meant was that she was trying to make readers think that Tonks was up to something suspicious, when really it was because she was in love with Lupin. It was the same with Percy in CoS - she made readers think that Percy was up to something suspicious, when really all it was was that he secretly had a girlfriend.

I think that Tonks' situation in HBP is comparable to Merope Gaunt's. To quote Dumbledore: "It is also possible that her unrequited love and the attendant despair sapped her of her powers; that can sometimes happen." Referring to Merope on page 246 of UK hardcover edition. I think that JK was throwing in a hint before the Hospital Wing scene to tll us what had caused Tonks to be so different.

I doubt that she's evil/a Death Eater in disguise. Besides; can you think of a Death Eater who could produce a Patronus of a werewolf? It seems unlikely because most people fear them.

I think that Tonks' situation in HBP is comparable to Merope Gaunt's. To quote Dumbledore: "It is also possible that her unrequited love and the attendant despair sapped her of her powers; that can sometimes happen." Referring to Merope on page 246 of UK hardcover edition. I think that JK was throwing in a hint before the Hospital Wing scene to tll us what had caused Tonks to be so different.

While the effects were similar, I agree with JasmineFlower that it was not unrequited love as in the case of Merope and Riddle. Also, I think Merope's loss of powers might have had as much to do with her terror of her father and brother as her unrequited love.

Also Lupin is out spying and very well could be killed, remeber the scene where Nymphadora was going to Albus?

wotcha is an english thing. it should be read watch ya. it's basically a friendly greeting.

i don't think tonks was an imposter. one of her close friends had just died and the man she was in love with was keeping her at arm's length, despite reciprocating. it's only natural her personality would change.

and for someone to be using polyjuice potion to transform into tonks they would need some of her hair.

and their voice would stay the same, wouldn't it?

I've just reread the part of book 6 where Harry attacks Mundungus in Hogsmeade, and I can't help but notice how weird Tonks acts then too. The narrator says that Tonks "appeared out of nowhere" and shooed them into the three broomsticks. For a moment I had the fleeting theory that something big was up with Tonks there. Is it possible that Tonks could have been posing as Mundungus? Even with her powers at full strength, could she change her appearance so much that she would basically mimic Polyjuice potion? After the theory making little voice in my head asked these questions, the voice of reason butted in and said, no, that wouldn't further the story any and she has never before changed her appearance that much, and she was having trouble changing at all and later on Dumbledore says something about Mundungus stealing from #12, and it would mess up all the Regulus-Kreacher-locket-Mundungus theories that I already hold dear. So, just on the off chance that this turns out to be true, you heard it here first.

I always thought the love thing which is still a strong probability but is it possible that tonks is not tonks or uinder the imperius curse.

Well if it was infact a death eater, they got real personal with the lupin thing wich means it would have to be someone who knew her real well, like a cousin, who were both there at the beggining.

If you look at when barty crouch impersonted Mad Eye he never got real personal. Sure he acted like moony but you never heard about anything that only a "close friend" would know.

so if its an impersonator I think they would be taking a big risk with the lupin thing.

My theory is that Tonks is under the Imperius Curse. She acts so strange all through HBP. But she gets so emotional so she may just be depressed over Sirius Black's death.

That and Lupin's deciding not to marry her, or even see her. It's my opinion that this was far more of an issue.
This question is really hard to answer: we don't even know what Tonks looks like.

I dont think that there was anything weird about Tonks behavior in HBP. Sirius had died and the man she loves was keeping hers at arms length and also endangering himself by being in with Greybacks lot as a spy. I think that if i loved someone who could be killed or discoverd as spy at any minute by a very ruthless werewolf, then my behavior would change aswell.

Okay, I think that Tonks really was just Tonks. She had to have been feeling alot of guilt over Sirius' death (even though it wasn't her fault) and also there was the whole issue about Lupin refusing to start a relationship but, it can't have been only that. There was also the tiny matter of Lupin being undercover with the other werewolves. The love of Tonks' life was living in a highly dangerous situation (Lupin did say that the werewolves were suspicious about his motives and it took a while to convince them) and he could possibly be ripped to shreds if he were to be found out. Its not just about love, its about terror as well.

Yup, I agree and by the way I find it really wierd that Harry thought that Tonks loved Sirius because Sirius told Harry in OotP that him and Tonks were cousins...I guess it was just an error...

Or it could have been Harry forgetting important information again, he's bad about that. Or, it could have been he didn't think it was as determining a factor in Tonks as it would be in someone else because of how interrelated pureblood families are.

Maybe Draco's mom was taking polyjuice potion and become Tonks. She would have a excuse to keep an eye on Draco. She and Tonks are related, and she would look like Draco.......

if it was someone impersonating tonks, they wouldnt be able to enter 12 grimmauld place. im not saying she did in HBP though

Tonks was upset about Sirius's death and Lupin and all that stuff that's already been mentioned. Even Dumbledore says in HBP (sorry don't have my book so I can't tell you what page) when he and Harry are talking about Merope Gaunt's failure to use magic to save herself, that a person's emotional state can and does sometimes affect their ability to use magic. She was an emotional train wreck.

My theory of the "Tonks" on the 7th floor corridor is that it was Draco polyjuicing his cousin Tonks.the ROR sprung a back door because Draco needed it, being trapped in there by Harry (like Harry got a whistle in OOP) Harry was waiting for someone to "put in an appearance" Draco came out and walked down the hall past Harry (no Wotcher, drawn & ill, tears in eyes - Myrtle says he cries now) vague reference to the "Order", Draco knows about OOP, per "your Phoenix lot" comment to Dumbledore on Tower Draco was Mr. Polyjuice in Book 6 Tonks/Draco in the 7th floor corridor INTERUPTS Harry - Tonks was a good listener - but even a polyjuiced Draco can't stand Harry knowing more than him next time Harry sees Draco, he is reminded of how ill he Draco and Tonks look*]plucking absently at the sleeve is like Snape with his dark mark, which we know Draco has

It's the other brown haired times I can't figure:at Burrow, tea & sympathy, seems a foolproof authentication, and Dumbledore calls her "Nymphadora" on train - uses word Wotcher, yet her personality is massively different and Harry calls her 'this new Tonks' Snape calls this new Tonks "Nymphadora" and she doesn't react, and she has a new patronus, was s/he angry because Snape blew his/her cover? in Hogsmeade with Mungdungus - no Wotcher the new Tonks is not "interested" in what Harry is saying and not a good listener, almost like an older adult, not like Tonks with the gang in OOP

I keep wondering if the word "Nymphadora" is code for someone signalling they recognize the Tonks polyjuice.

I have big problems with Tonk's changed appearance, personality and patronus:JKR's site says that a Patronus is unique "no wizard can conjure another's patronus" the patronus was a mode of communication designed for the Order of Phoenix, i.e. for WAR, so must be durable (able to withstand shocks) Tonks is an AUROR, who are chosen for emotional stability per McGonagall it doesn't add up.

The love stuff would be a wonderful excuse as to why Lupin and Tonks are not in same scenes until the Hogwarts battle.

Tonks had pink hair at the end of OOP, so she was recovered from the fight at the MOM.

I wondered if Tonks was polyjuiced by the GOOD side (Dawlish / Proudfoot - the 4 legged patronus?), so that she could appear to be working in Hogsmeade/Hogwarts but was actually off doing Order work.

Erm, I don't get it. How could Malfoy, Narcissa or who knows who other evil wizard, impersonate Tonks. Ok, polyjuice potion. They'd need a part of: hair, toenails.... They'd have to capture her, cut off some hair, keep her under imperius so that she tells more about herself so they can impersonate her (like the real Moody in GoF)... Tough. And at the end she tells that she's in love with lupin and all pink hair again holding hands with Remus... Sorry, can someone explain the theory to me (just the main points, mind)...
Cheers

I'll be honest - Tonks really scared me in this book. Everytime she and Harry were alone, I just wanted to tell him to leave. She certainly did act very strange in this book, and I really hope that her new behavior is a reaction to Sirius' death and Lupin's rejection of her. But if it isn't - if Tonks is being controlled, or if she is working for Voldemort, I wouldn't be surprised in the least.

Realistically, I really can't see how Tonks could be a traitor:

1) She would have been brought up by her rebel mother strongly against the dark arts, not for them. Remember she is still only young- apparently the same age as Charlie Weasley, so the last war was fought when she was still a young child. Voldemort was thought to be dead and the death eaters were imprisoned/inactive the whole time she was growing up, so what reason or motivation has she to become a death eater now?

2) When would she have been ‘recruited’? Voldemort and his few remaining followers that are at liberty were in hiding until the end of book four, by which time Tonks had already completed her auror training, decided where her loyalties lie, and she was a member of the Order by the start of book 5.

3) Neither do I think it likely that she would be impersonated or placed under the imperius curse, firstly because she spends way too much time with Moody for it to go unnoticed, and secondly because if a Death Eater was going to risk it at all, they’d be much better off with an experienced ‘core member’ of the Order like Lupin, or Arthur Weasley, or a Proffessor such as McGonagall with access to the school (which would shock and surprise us much more than a new character like Tonks). And besides, -it seems likely they have had Snape on their side spying for them- (or at least think they do! hehe) so why would they bother with Tonks?

In my opinion the only reason for the Tonks sub-plot was to provide us with a distraction and sub-plot in the 6th book. I do believe that Tonks will play an increasingly important role, because her morphing ability is too good a gift to give a character and not use, so all that detail about how Tonks’s abilities work is probably background info for a plotline later on.

I like Tonks and hope she is not a spy or being kidnapped and putting someone else in her place. Her weird behaviour for me is based on her love for Lupin and Sirius' death, not because she is evil.

Um, no, she was Harry Potter. *says sarcasticly*

She was different because she was in love with Lupin, that's why!!! She was just depressed!!!!!Is Tonks really Tonks...honestly!!! (Sorry for being like that, it's just that I love Tonks being with Lupin, and I honestly don't think she was someone else, you know...) *smiles sweetly*

Remember when Draco hurt Harry on the train. No one knew he was there but "Tonks" immediately found him. Did not call for him. Just picked up the invisibity cloak. Only Draco knew he was there. Then when "tonks" took Harry to school the patronus went to Snape instead of Hagrid. When Harry got to school, Draco was not surprised to see him even though he told Harry he wouldn't be found until London.

Tonks said she noticed Harry didn’t get off the train, and noticed that the compartment where Harry was, the window curtain was closed, the only one on the train I have a feeling she was his “bodyguard” because she was always popping up, even when he went to visit hogsmeade

Tonks IMO was just love sick, it happens I have never experienced it myself but I have had friends who have, just recently a friend's boyfriend dumped her just before v-day too, said he didn’t love her anymore. She still a wreck

But where did her clumsiness go? Did depression cure her of clumsiness?

I don't see the point of setting up a whole character & foibles in Book 5, then have the character completely different in Book 6, having polyjuice as a central idea in Book 2 & Book 4, for it to be completely dropped as a possibility.

"Apparent" Tonks was definitely really Draco in the hall outside the RoR when Draco was trapped inside. But otherwise... I don't think Draco did Tonks all through Book 6, or else it would have been very easy to poison Dumbledore, and instead Draco found it hard to do.

I think Dawlish was doing Tonks. The quiet effective taciturn manner. Yet brown hair, boringness. All Dawlish.

I think her clumsiness in book 5 was due to nerves. She was eager to be accepted by the Weasleys, she was very attracted to a man that was often present when she had her mishaps, and during her auror tests she probably was very nervous. In book 6, she's too down to be nervous.

And that Draco as Tonks theory isn't possible. When Harry was escorted by Tonks to the gates, and then escorted by Snape to the dining room, Draco was there joking about the stomp. There's no time for him to hide somewhere, wait for the polyjuice potion to wear off, and then slip into the dining hall unnoticed just before Harry. Same with the RoR scene, Draco is trapped in the room because Harry is trying to get in. Even if he did make a "back door" in the RoR, and drank his Tonks-polyjuice, and went through the lengthy transformation, and then walked to the hallway where Harry was, Harry is constantly trying to get in. Harry would have gotten in the second Draco left. There's just no time for Draco to accomplish all that.

But where did her clumsiness go? Did depression cure her of clumsiness?

I don't see the point of setting up a whole character & foibles in Book 5, then have the character completely different in Book 6, having polyjuice as a central idea in Book 2 & Book 4, for it to be completely dropped as a possibility.



I think Dawlish was doing Tonks. The quiet effective taciturn manner. Yet brown hair, boringness. All Dawlish.


I agree. I just do not buy that Tonks has gone completely off character over Sirius and Luipn. Aurors deal with death in their jobs. That is why they have psychological testing and such. I do think someone is using polyjuice. The brown hair Tonks is supposedly Tonks having trouble with her powers. So that is probably what she really looks like. If you put a Tonks hair in polyjuice that is what you would get. In addition, there are quite a few references to Dawlish for him to be nothing.

If someone was impersonating Tonks via Polyjuice Potion, what would be the point of the emotional scene with Lupin at the end of HBP? She has clearly been talking to people about her love problems...I doubt very much that someone who was impersonating Tonks would bother pretending to fall in love with Lupin.

If someone was impersonating Tonks via Polyjuice Potion, what would be the point of the emotional scene with Lupin at the end of HBP? She has clearly been talking to people about her love problems...I doubt very much that someone who was impersonating Tonks would bother pretending to fall in love with Lupin.


Very true. I think that the real Tonks is also at large. So she probably is in love with Lupin, but people are using her identity as a means of achieving certain things. Tonks at the end of HBP was more like the Tonks we knew from OOTP

You know what? To tell you the truth when Harry ran into Tonks, I thought that she was Draco, acting as Tonks. But now that I know that she was pinning over Lupin, i think otherwise now.

Very true. I think that the real Tonks is also at large. So she probably is in love with Lupin, but people are using her identity as a means of achieving certain things. Tonks at the end of HBP was more like the Tonks we knew from OOTP
So are you suggesting that Tonks in HBP is sometime the real Tonks and sometimes an impersonator?

Yes I think that may ne the case. Certainly at the funeral it was likely Tonks, but not in Hogsmeade with Mundungus nor in Hogwarts.

I think it's as simple as it was explained in the book. The combination of her loss and unrequited love for Remus. It's unlikely that she was/is and imposter. An imposter would try their best to seem like the real thing. Also she did change her appearance in the book. She went from having brown hair to vibrant pink. Albeit it's the only time (I think) but she didn't have as much 'air time' so to speak in this book.

I agree, I think that it was all explained in the book. I think that JKR may have written it that way to get our own minds reeling, even though HArry thought that it was something as simple as her having feelings towards Sirius, or gulit. I don't really think there is anythin more to the subject tho, Tonks and her ability to change form makes you wonder how many other wizards can do the same.

It's kind of creepy knowing that Tonks can change her appearance to look like an old woman, can she look like Harry as well?? Or Snape? Or anyone else in the HP world for that matter?

I am so happy that someone started this thread, because this whole notion has been bothering me for the longest. I think Tonks had the switching spell cast on her in Book 5 prior to the battle at the MoM. The person I think she switched with was Sirius! Here are my llist of reasons:

1. She would have wanted Sirius to get out and have some sort of freedom without the order knowing. Afterall, she was his cousin and she wanted to help.

2. In HBP, Tonks took on a whole new persona. She did not have the same qualities, and it seem that she was sulkier. Most people would say , she was mourning over Sirius or Lupin, but this make no credible sense. I think it was Sirius mourining over the stupidity of his actions, and the fact he could let no one know what he had done.

3. The fact that Tonks seemed not to want to be around Dumbledore. She would hastily leave whenever he or Lupin came around. She never made eye contact with Dumbledore. This was because of Occlumency. She/he knew that if given the slightest chance, Dumbledore may find out the true identity of Tonks.

4. The huge interest in Lupin. If my theory is true: this part would make perfect sense as well. Lupin was the only true friend that Sirius had left. Of course he would seem overally concerned about his welfare. Afterall, he could no longer speak to him normally, so he would have to badger the other members about information.

5. Snapes' actions. When Tonks returned with Harry to Hogwarts, it was Snape who came to meet them at the gate. Snape said it was because he was "interested" in Tonks new patronus. I think he had reconized it as Siriu's and wanted to investigate. The fact that Tonks had wanted Hagrid to receive the message is important as well. Hagrid, for all his glory, is not the brightest one in the bunch. He would not have noticed something like this.


It always seemed that Tonks was around Harry in his time of need. Almost like a gaurdian watching over. Now, some would argue that it was because she was in Hogsmeade. But what if she volunteered. Maybe this ws the only way that Sirius/Tonks could be near Harry without too much suspicion.

I am so happy that someone started this thread, because this whole notion has been bothering me for the longest. I think Tonks had the switching spell cast on her in Book 5 prior to the battle at the MoM. The person I think she switched with was Sirius! Here are my llist of reasons:

1. She would have wanted Sirius to get out and have some sort of freedom without the order knowing. Afterall, she was his cousin and she wanted to help.

2. In HBP, Tonks took on a whole new persona. She did not have the same qualities, and it seem that she was sulkier. Most people would say , she was mourning over Sirius or Lupin, but this make no credible sense. I think it was Sirius mourining over the stupidity of his actions, and the fact he could let no one know what he had done.

3. The fact that Tonks seemed not to want to be around Dumbledore. She would hastily leave whenever he or Lupin came around. She never made eye contact with Dumbledore. This was because of Occlumency. She/he knew that if given the slightest chance, Dumbledore may find out the true identity of Tonks.

4. The huge interest in Lupin. If my theory is true: this part would make perfect sense as well. Lupin was the only true friend that Sirius had left. Of course he would seem overally concerned about his welfare. Afterall, he could no longer speak to him normally, so he would have to badger the other members about information.

5. Snapes' actions. When Tonks returned with Harry to Hogwarts, it was Snape who came to meet them at the gate. Snape said it was because he was "interested" in Tonks new patronus. I think he had reconized it as Siriu's and wanted to investigate. The fact that Tonks had wanted Hagrid to receive the message is important as well. Hagrid, for all his glory, is not the brightest one in the bunch. He would not have noticed something like this.


It always seemed that Tonks was around Harry in his time of need. Almost like a gaurdian watching over. Now, some would argue that it was because she was in Hogsmeade. But what if she volunteered. Maybe this ws the only way that Sirius/Tonks could be near Harry without too much suspicion.


But whoa, so your saying that it's really Sirius playing as Tonks? I dont think so. Why would he be holding hands with Lupin at the end of HBP? Im sorry Sirius is gone.

I don't think it is fair to say Tonks was not Tonks, we just met her in OotP, so we do not know how she reacts to tragic events. What if Tonks always acted this way when something bad happened to her? We wouldn't know because we just met her. I think she just was extremely distraught about Sirius and Lupin that she reacted in this way.

He he, I was considering writing a fanfic with Tonks being impersonated, but not for evil reasons...

I think it was really Tonks. After Moody being an imposter in the 4th book, it would be a little repetitive and I don't think Jo would do something like that twice. Plus, that would be a big mystery to start in one book and leave for the next.

I think Tonks was really Tonks because I can't really see that happening (I don't want to either) but in the end she was herself again; her hair was pink how could a imposter go from themslf into Nymphadora Tonks overnight AND Dumbledore would know he is leginmens after all. I think Remus Lupin would have noticed because he seemed to have an excellent judge o f people.

Yes I think that may ne the case. Certainly at the funeral it was likely Tonks, but not in Hogsmeade with Mundungus nor in Hogwarts.
But it wouldn't make sense for the imposter Tonks to let the real Tonks take over again. What if she told someone that somebody was impersonating her? She may have been under the Imperius Curse to avoid her spilling the beans, but as an Auror, I'm sure that the real Tonks has had a lot of training about resisting the Imperius Curse. If you're going to argue that we are seeing the imposter some of the time and the real Tonks some of the time, you have to come up with a reason for the imposter to let the real Tonks take over.

I am so happy that someone started this thread, because this whole notion has been bothering me for the longest. I think Tonks had the switching spell cast on her in Book 5 prior to the battle at the MoM. The person I think she switched with was Sirius! Here are my llist of reasons:
Now I'm a severe lover of Sirius :love: , but I have to disagree with this. First off, Sirius wouldn't let someone else die for him. Secondly, in order for Tonks and Sirius to switch identities, they would have had to do it before going to the MoM in OotP. Why would Sirius want to switch identities with Tonks before they left for the MoM? In order to save himself from dying? How would he have known ahead of time that Bella would kill him at the MoM? The only way this theory would work is for you to prove that 1) Sirius would allow someone else to die for him and 2) Sirius knew-before going to the MoM-that he was going to die. There's no way to explain that. Plus, knowing Sirius as we do, I feel that he would have revealed himself to Harry by now if he was really alive. So, I'm sorry, but Sirius is really dead...:upset:

But it wouldn't make sense for the imposter Tonks to let the real Tonks take over again. What if she told someone that somebody was impersonating her? She may have been under the Imperius Curse to avoid her spilling the beans, but as an Auror, I'm sure that the real Tonks has had a lot of training about resisting the Imperius Curse. If you're going to argue that we are seeing the imposter some of the time and the real Tonks some of the time, you have to come up with a reason for the imposter to let the real Tonks take over.

This is true and why I do not think that she is under the Imperius curse. I think it must be Polyjuice and that is why she always looks so flat. Remember the MOM memo said to look out for DeathEaters impersonating known people. Tonks would have no knowledge that someone was impersonating her unless someone told her.

Thanks tp the supporters and the nay sayers. I take all of your opinions into considertation!

I'm really surprised that some people doubt that Tonks in HBP is real Tonks. Some of you have already mentioned it that Tonks is in love. She loves Lupin so much and he tries to push her away. So she is very sad and she can't think about nothing else but Remus. How can people whose love is unrequited feel? She seems to lose her powers but maybe she just doesn't want to use them just to look like Remus who she loves all her heart? Her patronus looks like a wolf or werewolf just because moments with Lupin are her best memories. She was a person full of joy and happiness in book five. But how can she be joyful if her cousin is dead (?) and her beloved doesn't want to be with her? She is pale, thin, her hair is brown. She is like Lupin, they are like two halves that have to be together to make one piece. How can a death eater show their feelings like Tonks shows in hospital scene? What makes Tonks change is love, nothing else.

Seems likely really but I never thought of it that way.

I'm really surprised that some people doubt that Tonks in HBP is real Tonks. Some of you have already mentioned it that Tonks is in love. She loves Lupin so much and he tries to push her away. So she is very sad and she can't think about nothing else but Remus. How can people whose love is unrequited feel? She seems to lose her powers but maybe she just doesn't want to use them just to look like Remus who she loves all her heart? Her patronus looks like a wolf or werewolf just because moments with Lupin are her best memories. She was a person full of joy and happiness in book five. But how can she be joyful if her cousin is dead (?) and her beloved doesn't want to be with her? She is pale, thin, her hair is brown. She is like Lupin, they are like two halves that have to be together to make one piece. How can a death eater show their feelings like Tonks shows in hospital scene? What makes Tonks change is love, nothing else.

That is the exact embodiment of what I wanted to write:D
But I'd like to add that the fact that he felt the same but was pushing her away for what he considered to be her own sake, was in my opinion, potentially worse than if he hadn't had feelings for her at all. I don't think there's anything worse than being in love with someone, knowing they feel the same, but also knowing that you can't be with them.

This is true and why I do not think that she is under the Imperius curse. I think it must be Polyjuice and that is why she always looks so flat. Remember the MOM memo said to look out for DeathEaters impersonating known people. Tonks would have no knowledge that someone was impersonating her unless someone told her.
If the Tonks we were seeing in HBP was an imposter, he/she would have had to interrogate the real Tonks to find out the secrets of the Order. There are places in HBP where Tonks knows things that only an Order member (or someone who interrogated an Order member) would know. And if they had interrogated her, they certainly wouldn't let the real Tonks walk around, since she would definately tell someone that she was being impersonated. Here are the times that we see Tonks in HBP, as far as I can remember:

1) She is talking to Molly, when Harry arrives at the Burrow. She looks upset. At this point, she doesn't do or say anything that only the real Tonks would know.
2) She rescues Harry from the train and walks him to the gate of Hogwarts. She then proceeds to use her patronus to send a message to Hagrid, which Snape intercepts. Only members of the Order know how to use their patronuses in this way, so the only way an imposter could learn is by interrogating the real Tonks.
3) She meets Harry in the hall, near the RoR, and says she is looking for Dumbledore. Her eyes tear up when Harry mentions that no one in the Order writes to him anymore. Would the imposter bother crying? And if it was the real Tonks, wouldn't she take this opportunity to tell someone that she had been interrogated?
4) We see her in the hospital wing at the end of HBP. She has an emotional scene with Lupin, which makes no sense for an imposter to do. She also acts more like the Tonks of OotP. This is definately the real Tonks. Now, if she was being impersonated all this time, the impersonater would have had to interrogate her, as I outlined above. The real Tonks would certainly take this opportunity to tell people that she was being impersonated.

So, as far as I can tell, it couldn't have been the imposter in the hospital wing and likely wasn't the imposter in the hall outside the RoR, because of the tears. If it was the imposter that rescued Harry from the train, he/she had to interrogate the real Tonks to learn how to use a patronus to send a message-and the real Tonks would have told people, when she appears in the hospital scene, that someone had interrogated her. As far as I can see, the only time when we see Tonks and she is not doing or saying something that only the real Tonks would know is when we see her briefly at the Burrow. Now this might be the imposter, but why would the imposter bother to go visit Molly and talk about Lupin?

It seems to me that all of Tonks' actions that seem out of character in HBP can be explained more easily by depression than by an imposter using Polyjuice Potion.

could she have been under the imperius curse?

She's an Auror, so I imagine that she's quite skilled in fighting the Imperius Curse.

In HP_6 we find out that Tonks is stationed at Hogsmeade to "give the school extra protection", along with Proudfoot, Savage and Dawlish. When Tonks finds Harry petrified in the train and brings him back to Hogwarts, Snape does not allow her into the school. He shuts the gates in her face and comments on her new weak Patronus (chpt. Snape Victorious).
1. What is Tonks doing then in the castle in chapter "the Unknowable Room"? ("What did you want to see him (Dumbledore) about?" "Nothing in particular' said Tonks, picking, apparently unconsciously, at the sleeve of her robe.) => the dark mark on her arm?
2. What I find curious is that Dumbledore specifically picked patronuses for communication amongst Phoenix members. Patronuses are to be easily identifiable and unique.If it is possible that a shock of loosing someone dear or worry changes their (Patronus) shape then choosing Patronus for communication is rather risky. In the time of chaos as it is during Voldemort's attempt to rise again, people will be very worried. Proof can be shown in Molly when she cries her heart out trying to rid of boggard at 12 Grimmauld and seeing dead bodies of her family.
3. Is it possible that someone, (whether Dumbledore or Snape), is forseeing use of the Room of Requirements and has it guarded, or is it someone impersonating Tonks to provide double guard for Malfoy?

We do not find Tonks in the castle on any other occassion (I can't remember any) but she's noted to be "walking towards him (Harry) as though she frequently strolled up this corridor." (p. 436 Canadian). She's described as thinner with her hair lank. If she was held captive, and her hair was used for Polyjuice Potion, would the impersonator take a sick-looking-Tonks-appearance? Or is this all simply because she's in love with Lupin?

1. What is Tonks doing then in the castle in chapter "the Unknowable Room"? ("What did you want to see him (Dumbledore) about?" "Nothing in particular' said Tonks, picking, apparently unconsciously, at the sleeve of her robe.) => the dark mark on her arm?

Or it might be an old habit. If a person is uncomfortable in a situation, they normally don't stand stock-still (even a comfy person doesn't do that), so it might just be that she needs something to do with her hands. Sometimes it's better to do anything other than thinking ...

2. What I find curious is that Dumbledore specifically picked patronuses for communication amongst Phoenix members. Patronuses are to be easily identifiable and unique.If it is possible that a shock of loosing someone dear or worry changes their (Patronus) shape then choosing Patronus for communication is rather risky. In the time of chaos as it is during Voldemort's attempt to rise again, people will be very worried. Proof can be shown in Molly when she cries her heart out trying to rid of boggard at 12 Grimmauld and seeing dead bodies of her family.

Lupin said in HBP that it takes a great emotional upheaval to change a person's Patronus, so if anyone in the Order was going through that, someone else in the Order would know and that would probably stop too much confusion. Also, a Patronus is something that the person feels protected by. E.G. Harry feels protected by his dad, so his Patronus is a Stag, Hermione fels protected by Ron so her Patronus is a member of the Weasel family (!) and Tonks feels protected by Lupin so her Patronus is a wolf. A Patronus seems traceable, if the change seems random, then I'd be worried, but there's a pretty sturdy explaination for it.

3. Is it possible that someone, (whether Dumbledore or Snape), is forseeing use of the Room of Requirements and has it guarded, or is it someone impersonating Tonks to provide double guard for Malfoy?

If someone foresaw the use of the RoR, why was no one posted directly outside it when Dumbledore and Harry went Horcrux hunting?

Why would anyone be giving Draco extra protection? Voldemort is angry with Lucius and sees Draco as expendable, he wouldn't waste good resources on protecting him. Dumbledore knows that Draco is after him, but why would he need Tonks to get him guarded? He could just ask one of the ghosts to follow him around.

If she was held captive, and her hair was used for Polyjuice Potion, would the impersonator take a sick-looking-Tonks-appearance?

But wouldn't an impersonater want to use a normal Tonks, rather than one thats acting a bit OOC? Also, I think the phrase "thin hair" was refering to the way it was growing (fine, wispy) rather thsn clumps of it missing.

Tonks' situation, I think, was very similar to Hermione's in HBP.

Hermione's had a thing for Ron for quite some time, but she still acted relatively cheerful, even if Ron never really told her that he loved her. Hermione started getting angry at Ron when he started going out with Lavender. In other words, what could have been perceived as destroying all hope.

Tonks, I believe, loved Lupin since OotP, but she kept herself cheerful, basically, in hope. At the end of OotP, (when Sirius died) Tonks could maybe have realized that it just as easily could have been her or Lupin, so she confessed her feelings to him. When he said no, he, too, was destroying her hope, thus leading to different behavior. So, yes, I do buy the explanation about "she loves lupin".

I don't believe in the Tonks impersonator theory.

Sometimes, even in the world of Harry Potter, things are just as they seem.

Tonks had a hard time getting over Sirius' departure and add to that problems in the love department. I'd be depressed too!

Explaining Tonks' behavior by being in love was the most unenxpected twist in the entire story. I thought she could have been watching/protecting Draco, maybe using an invisibility cloak all along, but it doesn't seem correct. She could neither be that depressed, since she hardly knew him, nor would she be in Hogsmeade in that Mundungus scene - Draco didn't leave the shool - or did he?

If she were so deeply in love, wouldn't she celebrate Christmas together with Lupin at the Weasleys'? So she could assure herself Lupin was all right?

And the bit from The Burrow, when she doesn't look into Dumbledore's eyes.

And her Patronus is quite suspicious, too. As one of you has written, if it had been Sirius, Harry would have recognised him. But Harry has also seen Lupin as a werewolf, so he would recognise him as well. Or just a wolf or anything. If Jo wrote a wolf-like creature or a dog-like creature, it would give us a hint either of her love to Remus or it would just fit in the lines Harry is thinking within. But she calls it a four-legged creature. Why?

There are so many questions and I can see no theory that would answer them all.

Something about Tonks has been bugging me throughout HBP. It was mentioned repeatedly that she was acting very different from the old Tonks. Harry thought this was because she was mourning Sirius, but I think there could be more to it than that. Also, the sudden change in the form of her Patronus sounds very suspicious to me. With all the rumours about someone else being on polyjuice potion, I do wonder.. also in HBP Tonks never seems to metamorph into some other form. I wonder if she could be an imposter spying on the order. Everyone seems to think the change in Tonks was the combination of Sirius' death and her love for Lupin, but I think there are too many hints about something being up with Tonks.
Are you saying Remus fell in love with someone other than Tonks? Maybe it was a Werewolf impersonating her? I don't think I want to go down that road.

ya, I mean sure, Tonks reaction to her and Remu's breakup might seem a bit over the top, but it was neccesary to have her acting strangely, so that the reader would wonder about her being a DE or being controlled by one and not discover JKR true plot. JKR did the same thing with Ludo Baggman when he acted oddly in Book 4, and we all thought he was a DE, but it turned out he just had a gambling problem.

She was in love with lupin, and lupin refused to love her back as he was 'too old' so she was a bit depressed, all this was explained in the book you know?

JK Rowling has explined this in an interview - she said she has used this secret love device (where people appear to be doing suspicious things and act strangley, but in the end it turns out that it's just a love story), which is very common in detective novels - once with Percy and in HBP with Tonks. Her suspicious actions ar explained at the end of HBP with her desperate love for Lupin, including her frequent visits to the Burrow - they do not indicate to her being someone else, but are a part of the mystery around her, which is solved by her confession to Lupin at the end of the book.

I usually love theories about Tonks, but I can’t see how this one could be true, all of Tonks’ behaviour is explained in full at the end of HBP: or at least all the questions from the original post. I’m more interested in knowing who she has/ is going to impersonate as I don’t believe Jo has finished with the whole metamorphagus thing- it’s too big a thing only to use when Tonks is looking out for Harry in OOtP.

Tonks wasn't there at Christmas because Remus was there. It would only give her more grief to see him and be near him, but not be able to really be with him. It's as simple as that. Nothing else to it!

I would think that her change in behavior was explained by her unquelched love for Lupin. But I do agree that her behavior was a bit disturbing especially after reading the MoM warnings for wizards to look out for.

I my gosh, that totally explains it!! :tu:

Yes, her behavior in HBP is due to her feelings for Lupin. She wants to have a relationship with him, but at the beginning he said no and it affected her emotionally.

The only reason why I think Tonks was acting strange was because of her love for Remus. It makes sense since after that whole scene where she says it out loud, Harry notices that at the funeral that she is holding hand with Remus and her hair was bright pink again.

I think Tonks was Tonks. I think that you act differently when you are in love with someone that does not love you back. She was not acting like herself because Remus was not letting her know that he cared about her. She was just so unhappy. when he let her kniw that he did care she was back to acting like herself.

I agree that it was probably because of Lupin that Tonks was being depressed and weird. But I find the timeline more interesting than anything else here. Think about it:

At the end of OOTP Tonks is happy and her normal self on the platform of 9 3/4. A couple weeks later, she is sullen and forlorn. That means whatever happened with Lupin happened really soon after the platform thing, and that people like Mrs. Weasley were used to her behavior by the time that Harry appears at the Burrow, because Mrs. Weasley was comforting her repeatedly.

I dont think that was the case. JK said that being in love is a great way to mask true motives. She mentioned Tonks and Percy. I dont think that shes depressed solely because of Remus. I think thats another one of Jo's red herring. I dont kno exactly why and I dont really have any theories but there is something else going on there.

If Tonks wasn't TOnks,, wouldn't someone else notice???

I think she is really she

but it's a good theory after all

I posted something about this to. The whole thing with her abandoning her post to look for Dumbledore when she new he wasn't in the castle. I had issues with this because she works for the ministry and the ministry has been trying to have him followed.

If she new he wasn't in the castle it seems like she would have also known that were ever he goes it takes him awhile to get back. Then it was were she was, she just happened to be close to the room malfoy was in.

I dunno anymore though some people brought up some good points that explain the suspicions away :-(

I've been thinking of this question for a while. I do think her feelings towards Lupin changed the way she acted but I'm sure there's more to it. i just think Tonks is getting a bit too strange to be Tonks anymore, there's definetly more to it. The only thing I'm wondering is who is the imposter Tonks if this theory is correct.

If Dumbledore knew what Draco was up to all year (as he claims on the tower) and he obviously knew of Harry's suspicions about Draco since Harry told him, Dumbledore probably wanted to keep Harry from finding out what Draco was actually doing. Maybe Dumbledore had Tonks watching over Harry in his absence and that was why she showed up outside the ROR - to stop Harry from finding out what Draco was doing. She should have had a better cover story ready!

I dont think that was the case. JK said that being in love is a great way to mask true motives. She mentioned Tonks and Percy. I dont think that shes depressed solely because of Remus. I think thats another one of Jo's red herring. I dont kno exactly why and I dont really have any theories but there is something else going on there.

Actually, she said she used the symptoms as a red herring, in order to midirect reader's suspicions, and then it turns out to be just love.

If Dumbledore knew what Draco was up to all year (as he claims on the tower) and he obviously knew of Harry's suspicions about Draco since Harry told him, Dumbledore probably wanted to keep Harry from finding out what Draco was actually doing. Maybe Dumbledore had Tonks watching over Harry in his absence and that was why she showed up outside the ROR - to stop Harry from finding out what Draco was doing. She should have had a better cover story ready!

One of those good points I mentioned. This is a good reason for her to have been there and if she was watching the door, thinking about Lupin, and add the surpise of the magical appearing potter she was prob to thrown to come up with a good excuse and thats why it seems so suspcious.

JKR: There's a theory - this applies to detective novels, and then Harry, which is not really a detective novel, but it feels like one sometimes – that you should not have romantic intrigue in a detective book. Dorothy L. Sayers, who is queen of the genre said — and then broke her own rule, but said — that there is no place for romance in a detective story except that it can be useful to camouflage other people’s motives. That's true; it is a very useful trick. I've used that on Percy and I’ve used that to a degree on Tonks in this book, as a red herring.

oh i like this idea, because i never really understood why she started crying outside *** room of req when she bumped into Harry, and he thought it was because of Sirius, but then it turned out she hadn't heard him.. a possible fake tonks!

The only question I have from this thread is: Why wouldn't she be?

"Well it was kinda explained that she liked lupin, but lupin didn't want to go out with her, because he was older"


Right. Older and... as a werewolfe, a possible threat. And I must say I bought it because a heartbreak can cause such temporary damage (depression, therefore loss of a lot of her powers). Nonetheless, knowing JKR the way she's proven to be with all her past books, all avenues are open and it is for a fact, IMO, that there could be MORE to her strange attitude during HBP than a heartbreak.

I am not inclined to thik so yet I am open to consider so...

"i never really understood why she started crying outside *** room of req when she bumped into Harry"

Well, when a person is depressed (would it be out of a heartbreak or for any other reason) crying for no apparent reason (especially at the sight of a friend or of a person who reminds you of someone else) is a quite common thing...
Yes, it seemed weird in the context, then again was it just a coincidence (JKR misleading us like she knows so well how to do it) or was there another reason?

CW

I think that Tonks is mourning for Sirius and wanted to be loved back by lupin so she was confused and didn't know how to acted. she probably lost herself when this all happened

JKR: That's true; it is a very useful trick. I've used that on Percy and I’ve used that to a degree on Tonks in this book, as a red herring.

This quote seems to end the discussion about what Tonks was up to. Although, with JK the words "to a degree" is very interesting. I would have dismissed this theory out of hand, if i had not read through the thread and then seen this quote. It seemed to me that the change in her attitude was due to love, her rejection from lupin, and her worry over his death eater/werewolf spying assignment. Her patronus as well changed to a wolf. I am now wondering if there is more I haven't seen. I do not believe she was under the imperius curse, since i think JK would have told us at the end of book six, and wrapped up the storyline, like she did with her love intrest to explain her behavior. However, if it is just to a degree then something she did during that year may have been important, but we have overlooked it and explained it away because of the love story.

Ok I am running around in circles in my own mind over this theory now, Tonks is now wholy more interesting than before.

I really do believe that the changes in Tonks were caused by her love for Lupin and nothing else.

I thought and think the same! I do not see that there could be some impostor :no: It just shows how a person could be depressed when he/she isn't loved back...

"i never really understood why she started crying outside *** room of req when she bumped into Harry"

Well, when a person is depressed (would it be out of a heartbreak or for any other reason) crying for no apparent reason (especially at the sight of a friend or of a person who reminds you of someone else) is a quite common thing...

I do agree with you. I had experience in such things myself. When I was depressed, I could start crying without any obvious reason.

I think the change of patronus is an excellent indication of another person, and I don't really buy lost love as an excuse. However, think of how hard it would be to keep producing polyjuice potion. Yes, Crouch Jr. managed it, but he also had Moody in a Trunk for close to a year. Could such a trick really be repeated and concealed from an Order thats highly suspicious of others? Also, would someone who uses such a potion gain the metamorphagus ability of the true Tonks?

I think the change of patronus is an excellent indication of another person, and I don't really buy lost love as an excuse. However, think of how hard it would be to keep producing polyjuice potion. Yes, Crouch Jr. managed it, but he also had Moody in a Trunk for close to a year. Could such a trick really be repeated and concealed from an Order thats highly suspicious of others? Also, would someone who uses such a potion gain the metamorphagus ability of the true Tonks?

How can you say love wsn't the reason?And also i doubt if her powers would be controlled IF she was an imposter.And a big four legged thing stands for a werewolf.ANd she had mousy hair.

Yes, I think she was. What would be the point of complicating her part of the story?

Yes, I think she was. What would be the point of complicating her part of the story?

now this i agree with, pointless twist.

"I think the change of patronus is an excellent indication of another person"

Well... but you DO become another person when you are depressed (lovesick or else), so it would make a LOT of sense to change Patronus. So that might only mean that she's lost (temporarily or not) herself. Healthy, you may feel like a lion...and make it your Patronus. Yet, depressed you may feel like a mouse and make it your new Patronus. Even worst, when deeply in Love (or infatuated more like, but still that kind of passion is generally speaking considered as Love) one might tend to identify with the object of their Love. Which might be coherent with the fact that the (vague) description of Tonks' new Patronus might fit a werewolfe's profile...

CW

I think that it's more of the fact that when you love somebody so much, you would be so devestated and heartbroken because they didn't want to be with you. There's plenty of people who have sunk into depression because somebody broke their heart, so I don't think that Tonks would be somebody pretending to be Tonks.

Tonks practically was a different person, being so depressed. Yeah, I'd say Tonks was Tonks

Yes she was herself, just not as 'happy-go-lucky' because of what was happening and the stuff with Lupin and Sirius.

hmm, never thought about this in depth before, i just kind of accepted the explanation given in the book, though i do admit, the remus/tonks love story did come out of the blue, it was like something out a fanfiction.

i like the idea that draco could be impersonating tonks, because there are many similarities pointed out between them, and we know polyjuice potion was being used by draco and his cronies. i still think tonks was herself but it's interesting and it may even be right. i'll have to read carefully between the lines in my next reading of HBP, i am currently at the beginning of OOTP.

hmm, never thought about this in depth before, i just kind of accepted the explanation given in the book, though i do admit, the remus/tonks love story did come out of the blue, it was like something out a fanfiction.

I thought so too. To many shades of Tonks trying to stay close to Lupin because he was close to Sirius. I didn't really understand the attraction, I guess. I'm sure it was explained, but it just refused to register with me.

i like the idea that draco could be impersonating tonks, because there are many similarities pointed out between them, and we know polyjuice potion was being used by draco and his cronies. i still think tonks was herself but it's interesting and it may even be right. i'll have to read carefully between the lines in my next reading of HBP, i am currently at the beginning of OOTP.

You took the words right out of my mouth.

I thought Draco was impersonating Tonks, but then I couldn't recall how or when he would have been able to get a bit of her hair, etc. to make the Polyjuice Potion work. Still, it would make sense.

I agree that when you are in love you can act a bit out of character, but Tonks being where she was was awfully coincidental, especially given what house elf pointed out (which struck me as odd when I read as well):

This really bugged me, because we had learned earlier that the Patronus was a great way for members of the Order to communicate because you can't fake another person's Patronus, then suddently Tonks has a new one?

1. Change of Tonks's Patronus.
2. Change of Tonks's physical appearance (and described very similarly to Malfoy's).
3. Happens to be in the corridor outside the Room of Requirement.
4. Unconscious touching of sleeve (similar to DEs).

I don't buy it. I don't think it's really Tonks.

I could go either way here. I'm a romantic and I like nothing better than an "against all odds" sort of romance, but we do know Draco was having Crabbe and Goyle take Polyjuice Potion and impersonating younger students (and female ones at that) to act as his lookouts while he fiddled about in the Room of Requirement, so what was to stop him from impersonating someone Harry trusted in order to cover himself?

But then again... how would Draco get something personal from Tonks?

It's an endless loop... :hmm:

I think most of her behavior was because of Sirius and Lupin.
But the section where Harry runs into Tonks on the 7th floor corridor really makes me wonder if that was her or not.

OMG!! What if it was Kreacher who got some of Tonks (who's been at 12 Grimmauld many times) hair or something to Draco.

Why couldn't Kreacher STILL be playing both sides? even if he is bound to Harry (which I doubt - I think Bella ordered him to stay with Harry)... why couldn't he do for Draco (his quasi family) what Harry has not FORBIDDEN him to do? And Harry never forbid Kreacher from ... well what did he forbid him to do ...?

house elf[/FONT] pointed out (which struck me as odd when I read as well): ...

But then again... how would Draco get something personal from Tonks?

I think that it's more of the fact that when you love somebody so much, you would be so devestated and heartbroken because they didn't want to be with you. There's plenty of people who have sunk into depression because somebody broke their heart, so I don't think that Tonks would be somebody pretending to be Tonks.
I think this would fall under the "lovesick" expression... ; )

CW

Maybe...
But I don't think Tonks very different behavior is becuase someone is impersanating her, should would have had pleanty of time to kidnap Harry.

Maybe...
But I don't think Tonks very different behavior is becuase someone is impersanating her, should would have had pleanty of time to kidnap Harry.

Not sure I understand you there, sorry. :)

And as for kidnapping Harry, I'm not sure that's what the plan was. Assuming it wasn't the real Tonks, I'd lean more toward someone (ie Draco or even Crabbe or Goyle) choosing to impersonate her to get past Harry without raising his suspicious, rather than to kidnap him. Although the fact that Tonks was there at all was what raised my suspicions in the first place- unless she too was looking for the Room of Requirement or looking for Harry (which honestly I recall and since I can't put my hands on the book right now I rely on someone else to remind me) it's rather random that she should be in that part of the castle, fiddling with her sleeve, looking pale, etc.

"it's rather random that she should be in that part of the castle, fiddling with her sleeve, looking pale, etc."

But then again, this is the first book in which she is:
1) part of the official surveillance squad placed in either Hogsmeade or Hogwarts, depending on the need;
2) mentally and/or emotionally lost from a heartbreak (which would explain "fiddling with her sleeve, looking pale, etc.")...

So, all in all I think this is very well knitted because all those symptoms could correspond to a spy as well as to a "lovesick" person. Another proof of JKR's genius, IMO...

CW

OMG!! What if it was Kreacher who got some of Tonks (who's been at 12 Grimmauld many times) hair or something to Draco.

Why couldn't Kreacher STILL be playing both sides? even if he is bound to Harry (which I doubt - I think Bella ordered him to stay with Harry)... why couldn't he do for Draco (his quasi family) what Harry has not FORBIDDEN him to do? And Harry never forbid Kreacher from ... well what did he forbid him to do ...?

Since Tonks was also patrolling the school, it would have been just as easy for Draco to impersonate Harry or some other student and just accidentally tug out a hair or two to mix up some Tonks potion.

So, all in all I think this is very well knitted because all those symptoms could correspond to a spy as well as to a "lovesick" person. Another proof of JKR's genius, IMO...


Genius indeed!

I also think the "brutal faced death eater" could have been Tonks (we KNOW, it was demonstrated by JKR that her face is plastic), and that the person who picked Harry up from the train was DAWLISH, the dour, taciturn, older male pragmatic Ministry of Magic auror, who is just faking being Tonks by saying "Wotcher" while having none of her humor.

The "inability to metamorphasize" to me means that it is a polyjuiced person. They get the appearance of the other, but not the entire range of magical abilities.

I get the impression that a lot of Book 6 was Dumbledore knowing the Order was being spied on - AGAIN - and taking steps to severely control information.

the person who picked Harry up from the train was DAWLISH, the dour, taciturn, older male pragmatic Ministry of Magic auror, who is just faking being Tonks by saying "Wotcher" while having none of her humor.

I am rereading HBP and when Tonks "rescues" Harry from being petrified by Draco (and stomped in the face), she doesn't have that great of an excuse HOW she knew he was in that compartment. She says it was because the blinds were drawn, she knew he had his Invisability Cloak, and she didn't see him get off the train. That seems very farfetched that she would have found Harry w/o Draco having tipped her off. Or tipped off the person inpersonating her. And then Snape points out that Tonks has a different patronus, and Harry didn't pick up on the clue Snape was giving him (as I believe Snape is on the OotP side).

I am rereading HBP and when Tonks "rescues" Harry from being petrified by Draco (and stomped in the face), she doesn't have that great of an excuse HOW she knew he was in that compartment. She says it was because the blinds were drawn, she knew he had his Invisability Cloak, and she didn't see him get off the train. That seems very farfetched that she would have found Harry w/o Draco having tipped her off. Or tipped off the person inpersonating her.

To me, if the person they are assigned to protect/follow is Harry, they'd be watching for him to get off the train. If he doesn't, a good policeman would scan the train for the first places to look. Dawlish to me = good policeman.

I just didn't like that Tonks didn't met Dumbledore's eyes when she left Molly's house. Either s/he wanted to avoid DD's legilimency...or he was embarassed to be seen impersonating a girl.

And then Snape points out that Tonks has a different patronus, and Harry didn't pick up on the clue Snape was giving him (as I believe Snape is on the OotP side).

Yes - but it made Tonks-ish angry - angry that they had been deliberately given away. And I agree, to me this is a sign of Snape Protector.

I am rereading HBP and when Tonks "rescues" Harry from being petrified by Draco (and stomped in the face), she doesn't have that great of an excuse HOW she knew he was in that compartment. She says it was because the blinds were drawn, she knew he had his Invisability Cloak, and she didn't see him get off the train. That seems very farfetched that she would have found Harry w/o Draco having tipped her off. Or tipped off the person inpersonating her. And then Snape points out that Tonks has a different patronus, and Harry didn't pick up on the clue Snape was giving him (as I believe Snape is on the OotP side).

I agree it's far-fetched. But Harry had to be rescued somehow from that predicament, and I think any scenario would have been far-fetched, because there are very few believable ways for anyone to have guessed where Harry was. And Tonks had to be the one to rescue him in order for her new Patronust to be displayed, as well as the Order way of communication.

Tonks' peculiar behaviour has already been explained in full.

YOu know what, ever since i first read HBP, i had that same kind of feeling (because knowing JK Rowling's style in the previous books, i've learned to watch out for foreshadowings of future twists in the story...), and i've got to admit her changes seemed very ominous, pointing out to the possibility that she was an impostor. But i've come to realize after reading the whole book that it was just because of her love for remus lupin after all... Besides, Dumbledore would have found it out:cool:

Book 5 Tonks:

clumsy
irreverant
self depreciating
humerous
smiling
metamorphagus
young
playful with kids


Book 6 Tonks

taciturn
solemn
different patronus
no metamorphagus skills
not clumsy
no reminiscing with kids
older


Ok you can be depressed - but where does the clumsiness go?

Also, Aurors are chosen for EMOTIONAL STABILITY !
(OK, so are U.S. Astronauts, but still...) :cool:

To me, we had:

polyjuice in Book 2 (by heros)
animagi & werewolves in Book 3
polyjuice in Book 4 (by enemy) - undetected (shouldn't that get your antenna up?)
polyjuice in the dungeon in Book 6
a character that changes FUNDAMENTALLY patronus / metamorphagus abilities from Book 5 to Book 6
we know Books 5-6-7 are an arc.


I mean SOMEONE had to be polyjuiced!

polyjuice in Book 2 (by heros)
animagi & werewolves in Book 3
polyjuice in Book 4 (by enemy) - undetected (shouldn't that get your antenna up?)
polyjuice in the dungeon in Book 6
a character that changes FUNDAMENTALLY patronus / metamorphagus abilities from Book 5 to Book 6
we know Books 5-6-7 are an arc.

I mean SOMEONE had to be polyjuiced!

On the contrary, polyjuice has been overexploited. I doubt it needs any more appearances.

no im sure shes really tonks if not then a lot of stuff bad stuff would have happened for the order
:td: