Andromeda Tonks was a pure-blood witch born to the Pure-blooded supremacist aristocratic family of the Blacks. She was the middle daughter of Cygnus Black and Druella Black and the wife of Ted Tonks. She had an elder sister Bellatrix Lestrange (née Black) and a younger sister Narcissa Malfoy (née Black). Andromeda also referred to as Dromeda, went to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from the mid-1960s to the early 1970s. She was sorted into Slytherin house just like her older sister and younger sister and most members of her family.
However, after graduating from Hogwarts, she married Ted Tonks, a Muggle-born wizard. This drew a major boundary between her and her family and she remained disowned for the rest of her life by the Black family as they could never tolerate a member of their family marrying a Muggle-born man. She was the mother of Nymphadora Tonks, the Auror for the Ministry of Magic, a member of the Order of the Phoenix, and the wife of Remus Lupin. Although Ted and Andromeda were apparently not official members of the Order of the Phoenix, they were always supportive of the group, and their daughter Nymphadora would eventually become an important member of this group during the Second Wizarding War.
The Black Family
The Black family was specifically known for their ideals in the olden days and for their magical abilities, as is evident from several important members of the wizarding community being born in this family. However, they were also known for their strong stand on Pureblood Supremacy and a skewed understanding of ‘cleanliness’ and ‘purity.’ A major part of the Black family seemed to be under Lord Voldemort’s control as Bellatrix, Narcissa, and even Regulus favored Voldemort until finally leaving him. However, Sirius’ loyalty was believed to be with Voldemort, too, after his imprisonment, until he finally broke out of prison and told everyone the truth. They were one of the sacred twenty-eight families in the British wizarding world. Their house was at Twelve Grimmauld Place, which was known to have several magical protections guarding them against any witch, wizard, or beast that would threaten their safety.
Most of their names, according to the Black family tradition, were taken from constellations, stars, and galaxies. For instance, Andromeda’s name comes from the Andromeda galaxy. Other names that follow this pattern include Cassiopeia, Sirius, Cygnus, Alphard, Bellatrix, Nymphadora, and Regulus. Cassiopeia was a northern constellation mentioned in Greek Mythology. Cygnus was another northern constellation among these, which was studied with interest by the forest centaur colony. Interestingly, the Black and the Weasley families were related to each other from ancestral ties, as was seen in the Black family tree in the tapestry of Twelve Grimmauld Place.
Appearance in the Harry Potter Series
Andromeda Tonks is mentioned in the Harry Potter series by Sirius Black for the first time when he shows Harry the Black family tree at Twelve Grimmauld Place. Sirius respected Andromeda a lot. She was believed to be Sirius Black’s favorite cousin. He mentions that some of the members of the family, himself included, were disowned by the Black Family for developing a friendship or other relationships with Half-blooded or Muggle-born wizards and witches as Sirius did with James and later with Arthur.
The family tree shows Cygnus and Druella black and their three children-Bellatrix Lestrange, Andromeda Tonks, and Narcissa Malfoy. However, the photograph of Andromeda is darkened as if burnt, with no sign of Andromeda’s husband Ted Tonks, and Sirius explains that this was done to express the Black family’s disapproval of their actions like defying rules like mandatory pure-blood marriages. Andromeda’s relationship with the Black family steadily declined after she married Ted. Andromeda’s sisters refused to speak to her and her family members never contacted her after that.
Other members of the Black family whose portraits on the family tree were burnt include Alphard Black, who gave a large amount of his fortune to Sirius after he was disowned by the family, and Cedrella Black for marrying Septimus Weasley, who was considered a blood traitor. The first time Harry saw Horace Slughorn’s photographs in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the latter mentioned that all the members of the Black family other than Sirius were sorted into Slytherin house, including the middle sister of Bellatrix, Andromeda.
It is believed that while Andromeda Tonks and Ted Tonks never joined the Order of the Phoenix officially, they must’ve used their wands and supported it during the First Wizarding War in whatever way possible. The nature of her involvement with the Order of the Phoenix is not completely known. They were also close to Albus Dumbledore. However, they were clear allies of the Order of the Phoenix as they offered their house as one of the Order’s safe-houses for temporary refuge, their daughter Nymphadora was an essential member of the Order, and their son-in-law who was also a werewolf and an important member of the Order was warmly welcomed by them into the family. They were also in touch with the members of Dumbledore’s Army as Ted Tonks seemed to trust Dean Thomas when they were camping in the forest.
Andromeda Tonks first appears in the Harry Potter series in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows when Harry Potter and Rubeus Hagrid reach the Tonks’ home from Privet Drive which is used as a safe house by the Order of the Phoenix after the Battle of the Seven Potters takes place. Harry acts surprised and defensive when he sees Andromeda for the first time but it is revealed that this is because of Mrs Tonks’s resemblance in appearance with her elder sister Bellatrix. She had brown hair just like her, and interestingly there was an online petition by fans of the movie adaptations of Harry Potter for Helena Bonham Carter, the actress who played Bellatrix to play Andromeda. However, her husband Ted Tonks convinces Harry that she is not Bellatrix and they eventually become cordial towards each other. Andromeda takes care of Hagrid and Harry since they are both injured from the battle, and they eventually leave the Tonks’ household to the Burrow through a Portkey. Hagrid is severely attacked during this battle but Hagrid’s half-giant nature allows him to move back to the Burrow immediately after some basic medical care from Andromeda Tonks.
A few months later, Harry, Ron and Hermione see Ted Tonks camping in a forest where they, too, are camping amidst their search for Horcruxes. He is later killed by a few snatchers and Death Eaters for being a Muggle-born on the command of Voldemort under the strict and stringent rules set up by the Muggle-born registration commission. Andromeda, therefore, became a widow. In the meantime, Nymphadora Tonks, Andromeda’s pregnant daughter, stayed in the Tonks’ home for a major part of her pregnancy during the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Eventually, Andromeda’s daughter’s son, Teddy Lupin, was born. Remus Lupin had decided that the baby would be Harry’s godson. Eventually, both Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks died in the Battle of Hogwarts, with Bellatrix killing her own niece Nymphadora. Molly Weasley finally killed Bellatrix putting an end to this chain. However, Teddy Lupin grew up decently well with the help of his godfather Harry Potter and grandmother Andromeda who had been overjoyed after the birth of her grandson Teddy. Andromeda is said to have been a good wife, a good mother, a good friend in her younger years, and a good grandmother. However, the kind of relationship Andromeda had with her parents and sisters was a divine punishment to her for the rest of her life.
FAQs
Why was Andromeda Tonks disowned?
Andromeda Tonks was disowned by the Black family because she married a Muggle-born man named Ted Tonks. Since the Black Family was an old aristocratic family that believed heavily in pure-blood supremacy, it was essential for them to make an example out of Andromeda. However, even Sirius Black and some of their older relatives were disowned for similar reasons. Andromeda lived very happily with Ted Tonks and had a daughter named Nymphadora.
Are Andromeda and Tonks the same person?
No, Andromeda and Tonks are not the same people. Andromeda, or Andromeda Tonks, was a British Witch who was born Andromeda Black. She later married Ted Tonks, a British wizard who was Muggle-born. They had a daughter named Nymphadora Tonks. In the Harry Potter series, Nymphadora is constantly referred to by her surname, ‘Tonks,’ probably because she hates being called by her first name.
Is Andromeda Tonks related to Bellatrix Lestrange?
Yes, Andromeda Tonks is related to Bellatrix Lestrange as she is her younger sister. They were both born to Cygnus and Druella Black but eventually married Ted Tonks and Rodolphus Lestrange, respectively. They cut ties, especially because Bellatrix was a believer in pure-blood supremacy while Ted Tonks, the wizard whom Andromeda married, was Muggle-born.
