Ugh. Is it morning already? That extra shift yesterday really wiped me out! I'll bet Emmeline wasn't sick and just wanted the day off. Rufus Scrimgoer has been working all us to the bone lately. At least I held shift with Kingsly. I don't care what people say, he does have a good sense of humor. I should just stay home today in bed. People who do night shifts shouldn't have to go in the next morning.
Finally, I decide to open my eyes. My flat is the same as yesterday, as ever, messy. Clothes are all over the floor, still; I meant to pick them up, I really did. Empty takeout cartons are still on the kitchen table. EW. I had takeout a week ago. That's what happens when your boss has you running around constantly on bizree shift hours. Wonder why my alarm hasn't gone off yet? I am never up before it. As I turn to my nightstand, I realize my alarm clock isn't there. Looking down, I see it on the floor, shattered. Great. This has to be the third clock I broke in two months. Why couldn't I be the kinds of people whos internal clocks were so syncronized, they woke up the same time everyday without fail? Oh, right. It's because I go to bed late every night. I got to see what time it is. My bed stays unmade as I stumble to the livingroom to see the clock on the wall say seven-thirty. Seven-thirty! My shift starts at eight and I'm going to be late! Scrimgoer is going to sack me for sure. Not to mention, Moody will have my ass for this. They will tell me, blah blah incompetence, blah blah alarm clock. I've already got their lectures down in my head. I wouldn't dare dicate it back or immitate it to them, though.
They don't understand my ability to break alaram clocks in my sleep so they don't bother me in the morning. That kind of defeats the purpose for having one, but on most mornings, I'm able to get my butt out of bed and manage to stay in one piece.
If I get dressed and ready fast enough, maybe I can get there just in time. Thank goodness for apparation. Don't know how muggles get to work on time with London's busy streets. Hastily, I grab the cleanest clothes on the top of my wardrobe and dress. Where is my cloak? I see the hooded black garment in a heap by the door where I couldn't care less if it made it onto its hook or not last night. My boots were also at the door where I kicked them off. That only leaves one thing, my wand. Where did I put that thing? Lets see… I had it last night when I dragged my tired butt into my small loft. I took it out of my pocket when I plopped—It was supposed to be on the nightstand. It must've rolled off when my alarm clock took its leap. Checking behind the small table, there it was, in all its scratched and knicked glory. Show how much use it has been, thank you very much.
Slipping my boots on, I don't have time for the laces as I lock up and dash. Out of human sight, I apparated to the Ministry.
I have that "I was just here not too long ago," feeling as I make a run to my department before I have to get an earfull. I do a damn good job and am committed to my work, so why should it matter if I'm a few minutes late? I won't even allow myself to stop and check the time.
Suddenly, I feel a snag. My left foot won't move forward and I stumble. Damn. I should've tied my shoes this morning. Stupidly, I grab the shoulder of the bloke in front of me and we both go down.
"Ow," replies the man as he lands on the floor with me falling on top of his back. Damn, there goes me being on time.
"I'm so sorry," I mumble a few times as I try to get up. He cranes his head to see who took him down and smiles. This man is kind of handsome, even though he has a multitude of small scars and scratches. He looks as if he has a story, been on the dangerous side. And that smile—Tonks get a grip! You're already late as it is! The thought ripped through my fantasy as I remembered where I was.
Why is he smiling at me? I just knocked him down and probally gave him a great bruise with my elbow. The two of us stand up slowly, me a deer in the headlights, watching as the people bustling along the busy way step around us to get where they need to be.
The smiling man looks back at me and asks, "All right ther?" A large clock somewhere rings eight.
"I'm so sorry! I got to go!" I shout as I continue sprinting to the department, too worked up by my collision and the time to think about tying my shoe. I brace myself as I prepare to open the door. Surprisingly, I do not see Scrimgoer around, so I assume he is in his office and go to greet Hestia Jones, who is busy at work, sorting through a stack of papers.
"Wotcher Hestia," I greet as I walk over to her.
"You're late Miss Tonks," she greets casually as she stands up and stretches. Hestia Jones had long black hair that hung loose down her back and rosy cheeks. She was of medium height and medium build. She then sat down and started on her papers again. "Gp 6," she mumbles out of the corner of her mouth. I cough in response.
I am now a member of the Order of the Phoenix. That is Dumbledore's secret society of friends and Allies set on taking down you-know-who and his followers. No one but the members of the organization knows about it. The ministry is against Dumbledore right now, so the Ministry worker apart of the Organization cannot show we are in the Order or Pro-Dumbledore.
Mad-Eye Moody suggested it to Dumbledore to let me join and seeing that I was an auror, showed I had some serious skills under my belt, they joined me in. My first meeting was last week. It was very intimidating seeing all these experienced adults and there I was, a woman in her early twenties with the style and nature of a teenager. It didn't help that my hair was a lovely shade of bubblegum pink, which to most people is very unnatural and "freaky," but to a metamorphagus like myself, a simple change in style in which most people don't have. Try to find someone else for miles with pink hair like mine, I dare you. Also, Sirius Black was there, but that is a story for another day. Let's just say, if you are part of my family and hate most of the others as much as I do, then we will get along just fine.
"So tell me what else is new," I reply with a sigh as I saunter over to the office and give it two short knocks to see what my assignment was going to be for the day.
"Come in," came a gruff voice from behind the door. I take a breath and slowly open the door. Inside, Rufus Scrimgoer was sitting at his desk and Alastor Moody was sitting at a chair in front of it. Moody turns slightly in his chair and they both look at me. At that moment, I wished the ground would have opened up and swallowed me. All of my worst fears were confirmed. They are going to let me have it now.
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The clock on the wall read four in the afternoon. It was a surprise I didn't fall asleep at my desk. I was assigned desk duty for my lateness. After Scrimgoer let me have it for ten minutes; lecturing about the importance of being on time and being responsible. I think Professor McGonagall gave me a lecture similar to this a few times during my fifth year when her class was the first of the day.
After he had his bit, I went to my desk and Mad-Eye let me have it. He told me he did not want to regret suggesting I join the Order if I couldn't handle the simple matter of arriving to work on time. Ten minutes! Stupid handsome man, for making me crash into him!
Alastor's comment got to me. He was my mentor and I did not want to disappoint him. I was going to try harder next time and make sure he does not regret any decisions he makes reguarding me.
I can't even focus my eyes right now. I rub them a bit, blink a few times and regain my vision. No one else is in the entire office. Hestia was sent on a mission unknown to me. I'd have to ask her about it at six when the Order of the Phoenix met at Number twelve Grimmauld Place.
Since I did not get much sleep last night, I decided to go back to my flat and take a nap before the meeting started. Molly Weasley always cooked dinner after the meetings so I would eat then. Since I had tomorrow off from work, my first order of responsibility would be to clean my entire flat from top to bottom. Right now, my bed is calling my name.
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Wonder how long I've been out for, I wonder as I get up to check the clock in the livingroom. Second order of business, get a sturdy alarm clock. The clock on the wall said…SIX-FIFTEEN! Bloody Hell! How did I oversleep again! The words that rang through my apartment were enough to make anyone blush. If my neighbors could hear through the thin walls, they would wonder who was killing who. Mad-Eye Moody now KNOWS I can't do it, Dumbledore will be furious, Snape will have some form of smart comment for me and everyone else will think I'm just some punk kid who can't handle the secret. People already wonder how I became an auror in the first place.
I could just stay here and leave them all to their opinions of me and just tell Alastor I want out. He is probally telling Dumbledore now that I cannot handle it and to kick me out. On the other hand, I can show up with my head held high and try not to make a big deal about it. Afterall, accidents do happen. They won't believe that something happened to me, but I don't have to tell them the reason I am late is because I overslept. I can make up an excuse along the way. Maybe I can prove to them I can still do it if I participate in the meeting and show them my brillant ideas.
I quickly fixed myself up, put on my boots and tied them up, grabbed my wand and was on my way. Apparating to the outside of Number twelve Grimmauld Place, I entered quietly. There was low conversation coming from the dinning room and I did not want to make a noisy entrance, so I walked quietly down the hall that led to the dining room. *Bang* *Crash* Shoot! I just had to trip over the umbrealla stand! Trying to regain my professionalism and I trip over the bloody umbrella stand! Everyone must've heard it. So much for making my quiet entrance...
The dining room door opens and Molly Weasley enters through it.
"Are you alright dear?" she questions me worriedly. From behind her back, I can hear Snape smartly question the room, "Look whos decided to join us."
"Wotcher Molly," I reply gloomly, looking down.
"We've just started the meeting," she summed up, seeing the expression on my face. "A few members were also late so there's nothing to worry about. I look up to see the motherly instinct shining through her eyes. As long as other members were late, they shouldn't be angry with me. If I had to hear about it, so would they. Molly moved aside and I enter the room. All eyes were on me as I found an empty seat next to Sirius, but stopped when I saw the person sitting next to him. He was not here at my first meeting, yet I knew his face. He was the handsome man I fell on earlier that day.