This story is set in 1992, is AU in that Tonks' parents are killed, but otherwise imagine everything else Harry Potter is going on, not that is bares any relation in what happens in this story. This chapter is the longest in this Short Story. I don't often write Short Stories, so I hope I've done the genre justice! Let me know what you think!

Tonks quietly entered her mentor's study hoping to find him there. The sound of papers rustling and the clunk of his fake leg as he walked told her that he was. Knowing that he hated being sneaked up upon she knocked on the already open door and walked in.

"Err… Alastor." She quietly began holding back tears as she clutched the parchment that was in her hands. She'd been told not to crease it but what did that matter. Nothing could change what had happened.

"I'm busy right now, Nymphadora. Come back tomorrow." He gruffly replied not looking up from the book he was reading. He held a quill in his mouth and with his free hand he was reaching for a piece of parchment. "How'd you get in here anyway?"

"Left your keys at work." Tonks replied looking to the floor so he wouldn't see her tears. "I need to talk to you."

"I said I'm busy." To most his tone of voice would have been one of finality but to Tonks… It was a comfort. It was normal. Expected. After what she'd read just fifteen minutes ago normalcy was what she needed. She smiled a little at the thought that most would have turned around already and run for the hills.

"I really need to talk to you." Her voice cracked as she spoke alerting her mentor to her emotional turmoil.

"I suppose I can spare you a few minutes." Alastor said brusquely. He got up from his chair and moved forward to one of the stools that was stood before his desk and motioned Tonks to take the other one.

She shuffled over and sniffed when she sat down. Still grasping the piece of parchment she fiddled with the hem of her Weird Sisters hoodie. Alastor looked at her with concern filling his eyes. There weren't many people he let his guard down for and Nymphadora was the top of that small list. She was a strong young woman who was never prone to tears yet here she was trying to swallow them.

"What you got there in your hands, Nymph?" he asked as softly as his battle, scarred voice allowed.

The only time he'd called her that before was when she had been almost fatally injured in combat training and a curse from her opponent had gone astray. He'd rushed to her side and begun the healing process of administering potions to counter the curse's effects calling her Nymph the whole time because her name was too bloody long to work around the lump in his throat.

Tonks felt herself relax when she heard the name. He'd come her rescue the last time he'd said that. Maybe he would do so again. She passed him the parchment.

"I left a copy at work." She said in a strangled voice.

Alastor looked at the parchment seeing an Auror Department heading on the top which was never a good sign when someone was as choked up as this. There wasn't a lot of text on the page. Just a few short sentences.

Tonks residence, Harlow nr. London.
Destroyed 09:50, Thursday 15th April 1992.
Mr. Ted Tonks and Mrs. Andromeda Tonks deceased.
Daughter Nymphadora Tonks alive.

He stared down at the document for a long moment anger welling up within him. They'd died nearly twelve hours ago and no one had had the courage to tell her! Instead they'd left the document lying around for her to find it and learn the truth that way. And in so few words. Alright this was probably just the covering page so that you could quickly learn the circumstances of the situation, but anyone deserved the whole tale if they were going to find out like this – which no one, especially Nymphadora Tonks – should never have to do.

Instead of letting his anger get the better of him Alastor put the crumpled, tear stained parchment on the desk and gathered his gir… student into his arms. She willingly let him pull her across his lap so that her head could fall against his shoulder. When she was safely enclosed in his strong, protective arms she allowed herself to properly cry the heart wrenching sobs that she had so far kept at bay.

As he held her tight lest she somehow managed to fall onto the floor Alastor wondered what he was going to do with her. She was only eighteen years old, hardly an adult and only part way through her first year of Auror Training. Sure he'd put her up for the night, until she had her affairs sorted even, but he was no care giver and usually not a great comforter. And anyway he was her mentor. People would soon get the wrong idea if she stayed too long. Nymph was a damned good student with a sparkling reputation ahead of her if she worked hard enough and he would not stain that before it had even begun to build.

After a while his hand betrayed him and he found himself smoothing her hair which was for once its natural mousy brown colour instead of purple or bubblegum pink. Though if to have natural coloured hair meant she had to be upset all the time he'd take whatever colour she chose.

When the sun rose her sobs turned into sniffs and then her sniffs into light snoring. Alastor sighed and picked the girl up in his arms. Ascending the stairs he had to juggle her so that he didn't whack her head on the walls of the narrow staircase. When at the top he kicked open the first door on the left and gently laid her down on the large double bed that was still unmade from the previous morning. He shut the curtains and then quietly as his leg would allow exited the room.

When back down stairs he sat in his lounge and decided a measure of whisky was in order. With a flick of his wand the fire lit and began to warm the cold room. He sat there for a long time staring into the fire.

Alastor fell asleep eventually to be woken up by a loud crash from upstairs. Instinctively he pulled out his wand but then remembered he was playing host to his less than agile student and so stowed it away and went to see what damage the girl had already managed to inflict upon his small home.

"No go back!" she whispered to whatever inanimate object she was trying to replace. "Stay there… good."

He reached the top of the stairs to see her talking to the foe mirror that took up a large portion of the wall facing the bedroom door. He folded his arms and watched her jump back as it once again fell off the wall.

"Nymphadora!" he barked.

"Gah!" she jumped back another foot and crashed into the bedroom door. "Ouch!" she cursed and rubbed the back of her head. Then the mirror fell forward and landed on her toes. "Ow!"

"When you're finished, Nymphadora." He said hiding a smile.

"Don't call me Nymphadora." She mumbled looking to the floor as a tear rolled from her eye.

Alastor picked up the mirror and affixed it to the wall once more. Then he guided his student down stairs and into the lounge where surely she could do no damage as there was nothing in there to knock over. Well there was a bookcase and a few instruments lined against the walls but even she should be able to skirt around them.

"What do you normally eat in the morning?" he asked.

"Cornflakes." She glumly replied.

"And with far too much sugar knowing you."

"Dad says that too." she said bursting into tears.

Unsure of what to do Alastor hovered on the threshold between the lounge and kitchen. Would she want comforting again or to be left alone to her tears? She curled up on the leather sofa and hugged her knees facing away from him. Taking the hint all he did was drape a thick blanket around her shaking shoulders, squeezed one of them in what he hoped was a comforting gesture and left the room.

Tonks trudged into the kitchen an hour later holding the blanket tightly around herself. Crying always made her cold when she was finished. She sat down at the small, thick set table and pulled her knees up. There was a row of cabinets along one wall and the usual kitchen appliances along the remaining wall. A large window overlooked the back garden which had a bunch of herbs and a well kept lawn. Alastor was sat at the other side of the table making notes in a small notebook.

"What're you doing?" Tonks asked trying to distract herself from the hollow sorrow that filled her heart.

"Recording your progress." Alastor gruffly replied.

"Oh." Was all Tonks said before a fresh bout of silent tears arrested her.

Alastor quickly got up and moved around the kitchen getting a bowl, spoon, box of cornflakes and the pot of sugar. After setting them down on the table he got the milk from the fridge. He then sat down and finished making his notes as Tonks ate.

"You've left a lot." He noticed when she pushed the bowl away from herself.

"I don't want to eat." She quietly replied and hugged her knees.

Alastor snapped his book shut and drummed his fingers on the table for a few moments wondering what to say.

"You'll be needing to get some clothes."

"I haven't got any money. Dad had to spend all his wages to pay the bills and for the house last week." She swiped a tear away and sniffed.

"You can get a grant from the Ministry and then pay me back. Want me to come with you?"

"No. I need some time alone." Tonks stood up and shrugged herself out of the blanket. Looking down at her top to make sure it was clean she remembered that it was only nine months ago that her Mum had taken her to the concert and bought the jumper as a surprise for the next morning.

"Alright but be back before night fall or I'll come looking for you."

"For such an old man, Alastor, you can be really embarrassing."

"Cheeky chit." He muttered to himself but Tonks heard and cracked a small smile. "And remember –"

"Constant vigilance." She finished for him taking comfort in the familiar mantra.

Diagon Alley was the same as always when Nymphadora Tonks arrived. The April sun shone weakly through the clouds that promised to bring a light shower but the colours of the shops and the Alley's occupants were as vibrant as usual. Stall holders in the square called out to the swarm of people trying to attract them to the items they sold.

Today all this met Tonks in muted tones. Nothing looked as bright or happy as usual. No sound properly penetrated the bubble of sorrow she was in making everything sound muffled and far away. Today in the alley she was the only person not wearing a smile. Instead she looked blandly ahead, seeing but not seeing at the same time.

She turned off the main street to get to the shop she normally brought clothes from. It was smaller than the shops on the main street but the clothes it sold were much better for an auror in training. More durable and a lot cheaper. And the owner wasn't likely to jump towards you as you entered the shop and give you her assistance whether you wanted it or not. Usually Tonks didn't mind talking to people as she shopped but today… well, today…

The bell tinkled as she opened the door but she ignored the cheery sound. Instead she walked in and mulled around the isles of clothes for a while not really taking in what she saw. She'd walked around the whole shop twice before she began to concentrate on the task in hand.

She was stood in front of a brownish red leather trench coat that she immediately decided she liked and it was the only one in the shop. She picked it up and threw it over her arm. Further down the isle she picked up a couple of scarves, some dark t-shirts, a few black skirts, tights, half fingered gloves and other items of clothes she needed. All in all when she got back to the front of the shop and the till she had a fair amount of clothes to pay for. The shop owner looked as if he couldn't decide to be pleased or shocked at the amount of clothes she had.

Once back in the street with three large bags of shopping in hand and feeling a little better Tonks decided it was time for breakfast, or rather lunch considering the time. There was a small café down the street that not many people frequented but had the best creamy hot chocolate in the world. Topped with marshmallows and cinnamon there really was nothing better.

There were a few tables sat out front under umbrellas, two of which she managed to knock over as she tried to get to the door. Sighing she righted them and the chairs that had fallen over as well with a quick flick of her wand and then she entered the café. There was only one other person in there today, his hair blending in with the black of his billowing robes. Only one person looked intimidating from behind as well as when he was snarling in your face and that was Professor Severus Snape.

Cursing her luck that she had to pass him to get to the counter Tonks put her bags down by a table in the opposite corner of the shop and then carefully picked her way through the tables.

Snape had always been the professor most annoyed by her clumsiness. Other teachers had found it wearisome and sometimes amusing but Snape… Well he'd banished her from the potions classroom for a month once just because she dropped her knife which went through the tip of his shoe. But he was the one who sneaked up behind her and given her the fright of her life.

As she got closer she began to watch her movements more carefully, keeping her arms to her side and making sure she didn't trip over anything.

"I fail to see why you could not take that much care whilst outside, Ms. Tonks." Snape said just as she stood level with his table.

Tonks jumped out of her skin succeeding in knocking his tea over and crashed into the table on her other side. Before she fell she managed to right herself and glared at her former potions professor who was irritably glaring back at her.

"What the hell was that for?" she demanded not caring that this teacher was one who used to scare her most when he was in a mood which was pretty much all the time.

"What are you standing there for? Clean your mess up." Snape growled.

"No. I don't think I will." she said and carefully spun on her heel to walk away.

"How dare you?" he snarled and grabbed her arm.

"When you've had a week as bad as mine then you might understand."

"I assure you Ms. Tonks you will never have a week as bad as mine." Snape smoothly replied.

"Try me!" Tonks snapped. "Yesterday I found out that my home was destroyed and my parents killed by dark wizards. If you know where they're hiding, Snape, tell me. I expect they are old pals of yours."

As if stunned Snape's grasp on her arm loosened. Tonks shrugged her arm away from him stormed back to where she'd put her shopping and swiftly exited the shop not caring that she knocked a few chairs over in the process.

Once outside she disapparated back to Alastor's house and slammed the door open. It automatically closed behind her as loudly as she'd opened it and she thundered into the kitchen where she dumped her bags and heavily sat on a chair.

"Can I put him in Azkaban just for existing?" she snapped to Alastor who was making himself some lunch.

"Put who in Azkaban, Nymphadora?" he asked.

"Snape." She spat. "Did you… Did you take a file from the ministry?" she asked looking at the other end of the table where a folder with the auror department logo printed on it.

"Yes. It's about you mum and dad. Take a look if you want."

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Remember: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter.