It was just one of those horrible rainy days when auror Nymphadora Tonks was absolutely fed up with everything and everyone. She had been at the Auror Department for almost seventeen hours and her eyes were beginning to droop from the lack of a comfortable sleep. There had been many reports that needed to be done and schedules that needed to be checked. Though she was still a junior auror, because she had only had her last exam months ago, she was still needed to take the reports for the seniors.
She glanced around the many cubicles in the department, searching for an available clock to tell the time. If she was correct her shift would finish in another half hour and she would be free to return to her small London flat. It wasn't much to come home to but it was enough for the colourful witch and it suited her fine. The flat was located near a park and it had once been tidy but was now littered with bright clothes and dirty washing. She just didn't have the time to clean it all up.
Tonks glanced back down at her nearly finished report wishing the day would just end. She had the worst back pain and her tummy was grumbling.
"Aw where is the bubblegum pink Nymphadora?" came a well recognised voice.
"I don't know Kingsley, maybe it's gone 'cause I haven't had a decent refreshment in ages and because you just used my dreadful first name," she grumbled looking up to see the senior auror leaning over her cubicle wall, watching her now pale green hair.
"That could be the possible reason but I was just coming over here to gather your report," his deep voice replied.
"I'm nearly done just hold up," Tonks said lowering her eyes back to the parchment in front of her and skimming through the remaining sentences.
She scribbled down the last few words, signed the bottom and handed it to Kingsley. He smiled at her and read the report in his hands.
"This is of good quality Tonks, now all you need to do is practice your writing to make it possible to read," he teased before turning on his heal and walking back to his office.
Tonks watched him go before turning around herself and throwing her long dark purple coat on. She wanted to get away quickly before another senior were to give her a report to finish. She slung her leather side bag onto her shoulder before briskly making her way to the lift. Tonks thought she was about to make it, nearly being at the elevator before a voice caught her attention.
"Tonks!" a gruff voice called and she heard a recognisable clunking sound.
She whirled around to see her old mentor hobbling towards her, his metal foot echoing with every step. He wore a grim expression that would have intimidated her if she hadn't known him.
"Not now Mad-eye, I was just about to head home," Tonks whined wishing she had been a few seconds faster.
"Don't whine to me Nymphadora, I need you to help me with something," he replied finally reaching her. His fake eye swivelled around in its socket searching for suspected eavesdroppers.
"The last time you said that we ended up sitting outside in the rain till one in the morning," she continued to complain.
"Are you an auror or not girl?!" he said raising his voice in annoyance "I want you to join me for lunch."
Tonks stood there for a moment wondering if she should decline since it was already way past lunch and she was extremely tired or to just get it over and done with.
"Fine, but I am going straight home after this," she stated simply moving towards the lift again.
Moody followed her at his own pace and pressed the button to take them to the Atrium.
He took his hip flask out and skulled back the liquid inside before returning it to its socket. Tonks looked him up and down before leaning against the back of the moving lift. It had been a while since she had seen the retired auror and mentor. She had missed teasing his 'constant vigilance' a lot as well as actually doing actions instead of just reports. He never showed much liking towards her but Tonks could tell he was fond of her and thought of her as a very capable auror, junior or not. But at this moment she wasn't too keen to be in his presence right now since her patience was worn thin due to her tiredness.
"This better be important Mad-eye," she said from behind him.
"Oh it is trust me," he said and though he didn't turn to look at her she could tell his magical eye already was locked on her.
She sighed heavily and thought of her comfy bed with her purple fluffy sheets.
Why couldn't she just go home and sleep? She also had to be in at work early tomorrow as well. Maybe I should just call in sick; she thought to herself, I could morph it to looks so. The great thing about being a metamorphmagus was that it was easy for her to fool people. She had used it many times to pull pranks with her friend Charlie Weasley when they had gone to Hogwarts together. Having access to both Hufflepuff and Gryffindor common rooms helped with these secret endeavours.
The lift came to an abrupt halt flinging Tonks painfully against the grates. Moody pulled on her collar to straighten her before hobbling out. Tonks followed reluctantly, her feet scuffing the floor with the effort to walk. Her old mentor stopped suddenly in front of her, causing her to knock into his back.
"For Merlin's sake Nymphadora, stop with the clumsiness," he growled lowly.
"I am not in the mood for this Mad-eye, and don't call me Nymphadora," she said raising her voice and stepping up next to him.
He gave an annoyed huff before holding out his arm for her to take a hold of. Tonks rolled her eyes dramatically before grabbing onto his arm and preparing for the side along apparition. The uncomfortable but recognisable pull came and before she knew it they were standing in a rubbish crowded alleyway with high building walls on either side. Moody dropped his arm and walked forwards, dodging the many rubbish bags the lay on the ground.
"Where are we going exactly," Tonks asked nearly stumbling over a box full of old bottles.
"Just follow," Moody grumbled as he turned right after exiting the dark alleyway.
They turned onto a slightly busy street that she recognized easily. We are heading to the Leaky Cauldron, she thought to herself.
They reached the bars doors and Mad-eye strolled through not bothering to hold it open for Tonks. Some things never change, she smirked. They made their way to the far booth sitting in the corner. A man sat snoring with his head resting on the bar and a bottle hanging dangerously loose in his hand. Tonks pulled out a chair at the booth and resting her chin on her fists.
"You're not ordering anything are you?" she asked Mad-eye.
He shook his head in response, his magical eye swivelling in its socket at a ridiculous speed. She rubbed her eyes before continuing.
"Well what did you drag me all the way out here for?" she asked.
Moody glanced around before swiping his wand in the air and she knew he was casting a non-verbal silencing spell.
"Rubbish isn't it? All this nonsense about you-know-who being back," he said with both eyes scarily locked onto her.
She was confused for a moment, not knowing how to answer this statement. She had heard many rumours concerning this but she had never really thought about it herself. The fact that someone like Dumbledore would fake something as massive as this just didn't seem right to her. She hadn't known him too well but she had had quite a few conferences with the headmaster during her time at Hogwarts. Personally she had partially believed him and the boy harry potter. It all seemed so shocking but it was believable.
"But Mad-eye," she said nervously," I thought you were close to Professor Dumbledore."
"Yes but this is all nonsense, don't you think," he said lowly.
She focused on her mentor, contemplating whether she should tell him what she really thought or if she should just go along with a lie. If she were to tell him the truth she would be risking her job at the ministry. But he's my mentor and he wouldn't want all my work to go to waste, she thought, well here goes nothing.
"Well I sort of believe him, to be honest," she responded, staring at the table," I mean why would Dumbledore fake something like this? I always trusted him and believed him. He's a powerful wizard and has a good heart. And Harry Potter boy wouldn't do it either, at least that's what I think."
She watched Mad-eye across from her now, not wanting to break the intense eye contact. She felt heat rising to her face fast hoping he wouldn't got to the ministry and tell them what she had just said.
"Are you really loyal to Dumbledore?" he asked leaning in.
Oh Merlin Tonks now you have done it, she thought swallowing hard.
"Well yes, I guess that's true," Tonks replied.
Moody let out an amused huff and sat back in his chair watching her with what should have been a smile were it not for all the battle scars lining his face.
"Stop your worrying girl, you answered right," he said reaching at his hip and taking another drink from his flask.
Tonks' mouth fell open as she watched her mentor. But hadn't he just said it was all nonsense? She thought.
"I believe Dumbledore's telling the truth as well Tonks, in fact I am supporting him in what he believes, I don't know if you have heard of this but there was once a group of people in the last wizarding war who fought against you-know-who. Their leader was Albus Dumbledore and they worked undercover to take down the dark forces. Now this was a very dangerous task and there were only very few people who joined. Once the war was over they stopped meeting. But now that you-know-who has returned they have joined up once again and are trying to recruit new members. They are called 'The Order of the Phoenix'," he said, watching her with his good eye.
Tonks tried to digest all this information at once. She was glad that she had been right in assuming that Mad-eye was on Dumbledore's side and she was glad for that but she was confused as to why he was telling her all this. It all sounded to exciting, undercover groups taking down the dark forces.
"And why are you telling me all this Mad-eye," she asked curiously.
He gave another annoyed huff before saying "because Nymphadora, I think you would make a respectable new recruit."
Tonks eyes and mouth grew wide. That's why, she thought. Moody and Dumbledore both thought she was a witch capable enough to join a group of experienced witches and wizards in a fight against Voldemort.
"Not that I am not interested but why me? And don't call me Nymphadora" she shuddered at the name and tried sitting up straighter.
"You are an auror and you a loyal to Dumbledore. We need eyes inside the ministry," her mentor stated while watching the bar with his magical eye.
Tonks didn't need to consider this. She was definitely all up for joining this secret organisation. It was her ambition to fight the dark and defend the innocent. Plus it would be way more exciting instead of just doing dull reports, she thought while smiling.
"I'd be happy to join you guys Mad-eye," Tonks chirped happily.
He gave another huff at her attitude before pulling a slip of parchment out of the pocket of his old cloak.
"Memorise what this says and make sure not to tell anyone about the Order," he said gruffly passing the parchment to her.
it was quite weak and the edges were worn but the ink was still clear 'Number 12 Grimmauld Place, Headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix' she read. Tonks re-read the slip over and over, mentally noting the words for later. She chanced a glance back up at Moody who was watching the pub for intruders.
"Finished have you?" he said taking the parchment from her hands and burning it in mid air. She watched the flames engulf it all the while reciting the words in her head. Number 12 Grimmauld place... Grimmauld place... Number 12...
"Now we have a meeting tomorrow at seven lass, and your presence is expected," Moody said.
"That's fine cause I get off tomorrow at lunch so I'll finish my reports at home," she smiled, forgetting all about her tiredness.
"Remember girl, Constant Vigilance," her mentor replied.
Tonks smiled again before a question passed through her mind. She had no idea who else was in the order. What if they think I'm too young, she thought.
"Umm, Mad-eye who else is in the order?" she asked.
Moody turned his gaze back to her once more before turning back to the bar and scanning the room. There weren't many people left. The man asleep at the bar was still in the same position. The owner, tom, was cleaning the bench around the sleeping body.
Mad-eye cleared his throat before saying "There's a few you may know such as Snape, Mcgonagall, Dumbledore, Hagrid, Sirius Blac-"
"SIRIUS BLACK?!" Tonks shrieked her eyes almost as wide as her mouth.
Moody looked at her angrily for interrupting. Why would Sirius be a part of the Order? Wasn't he a murderer? It was made pretty clear with all the wanted posters hanging everywhere. Maybe he's innocent? She thought hopefully. Tonks and Sirius had once been great friends and had spent summer days playing together. He had been like the older brother that she never had and he had shown her small magic tricks. They would spend hours causing trouble for her mother Adromeda and her father Ted. When he had been sent to Azkahban Tonks had been devastated. The man described in the paper had been nothing like the boy who had made her laugh and giggle with his handsome and charming smile.
"Yes, Black, your cousin, I forgot to tell you that he was innocent," Mad-eye continued glancing towards Tom.
If it was possible Tonks' mouth opened even further and her eyes became saucers. Sirius was innocent? After all this time?
Tonks was suddenly overcome by a great amount of happiness at this new found knowledge.
"I can't believe it," she whispered.
Mad-eye looked at her with amusement in his eyes.
"Aye, you better, we don't need you arresting him when you see him," he said.
Tonks smiled happily. She couldn't wait for tomorrow. In 24 hours she would see her beloved Sirius once again as well as attend her very first order meeting. It was all so exciting.
"Well I better go Nymphadora, I still gotta sort some business out with Albus, I'll come by your flat tomorrow at six, be ready," said Mad-eye standing up from his stool, his magical eye checking for the all clear.
"Thanks Mad-eye, but stop calling me Nymphadora, you know how much I hate that horrid name," Tonks warned.
Moody swiped his wand through the air and removed the silencing charm. He then hobbled towards the door where the sound of rain was coming through. Before he exited he turned back to Tonks and gave her a warning look.
"Remember girl, Constant Vigilance," and with that her mentor was gone.
Tonks made her way out of the pub and into the pouring rain. She was thankful that she had decided to wear her purple coat; at least it repelled the worst of the water. Moving towards the nearest aparation corner she smiled to herself thinking about her dear cousin. Well cousin once removed, she thought with a chuckle. Tonks reached the small alleyway and turned on her heel and disappeared with a faint crack, muffled by the rain.
Seconds later she stood in the light blue hallway to her flat. Once she removed the safety enchantments she moved inside, avoiding the tripping obstacles.
Tonks removed her dragon skin boots and her dark purple jacket, dropping them on the floor near her door. She moved towards the bathroom where a yellow towel awaited her. The young witch placed the kettle on the stove to make some tea while drying her hair and moving into the small lounge. The bright blue couch stood in the middle facing a well crafted fire place. Her bright green walls were lined with posters of Quiditch and her favourite band The Weird Sisters. Tonks flicked her wand towards the fire, which lit up in an instant before moving back towards her small kitchen. Suddenly her foot caught on a pair of Yellow jeans and she tripped, crashing to the floor with a thud.
"I think it's about time you did a bit of tidying up around here Tonks," she muttered to herself before standing up and brushing down her orange top.
For the next half hour Tonks set about her flat picking up all pieces of clothing while thinking about her meeting tomorrow night. She was so excited she had forgotten about how tired she really was until she finally rested her head on her plush blue pillows. She pulled her fluffy purple duvet up over her body before falling asleep to the sound of the rain against the window.