The meeting took about an hour, which I didn't mind 'cause it was really interesting. That just might be because I'm a dork, but it's making me feel like I'm a secret agent.
I found out that I would be doing a shift at the ministry, to guard one of the rooms in the Department of Mysteries. I didn't know with whom though, or when. Dumbledore said he would tell me after the meeting, when he had sorted it out.
When the meeting finished, Dumbledore invited me up to the end of the table. I felt a bit uncomfortable standing at the end of the table in front of all those people. I looked around at everyone. Their eyes were all fixed on me. I noticed that because of my nervousness, my hair had started changing colour. I managed to control it and it went back to my normal colour, pink. Well, I say normal, but pink isn't really a normal colour, it's just a colour I like better than my natural one.
"Right everyone, we have a new member." Dumbledore's voice interrupted my inner ramblings and brought me back to the real world. "This is Nymphadora Tonks; she is an auror at the ministry. She will be helping us with some of our missions. I hope that you will make her feel welcome." I hated it when Dumbledore called me Nymphadora, but I couldn't really do much about it.
I suddenly noticed everyone was waiting for me to say something. My cheeks suddenly flushed red; I had been off in my own little world.
"It's nice to be here, everybody can call me Tonks. I'm not really fond of my name blame my mum for that one. I hope that I don't cause too much hassle and that you enjoy working with me. I'll do my best." Oh God, shut up Tonks! You're rambling again. "Yeah, that's it really."
I sat down feeling completely embarrassed. I just wanted the ground to swallow me up. I wish I knew when to shut up.
"Right, well that's it. I think it's time for some of Molly's pumpkin pasty." Dumbledore said, rubbing his hands together.
I didn't really know what to do, I didn't really know anyone. I could see Arthur Weasley he worked in the ministry and Kingsley Shacklebolt, my boss. That was really it though, no one else. Oh, I feel like a spare wheel right now.
Suddenly I got this tap on the shoulder I almost fell off of my seat in fright. I turned around and saw this man who looked like he was in his mid thirties, dressed in shabby clothing. He looked a little creepy to be honest. My cousin Sirius was standing right behind him. I was still finding it hard to grasp that he was innocent and wasn't in Azkaban.
"Hi, my name is Remus Lupin it's nice to meet you." He extended his hand, I took it. I couldn't really do much else, why couldn't there be younger people here. Sirius stepped in front of Remus, I took a step back.
"Tonks don't worry, I didn't do anything. I'm innocent." He said, with a half smile on his face.
"So the ministry has let you out of Azkaban?" I said, curious why it hadn't been in the Daily Prophet.
"Well no, not exactly, they still think I'm guilty. I was freed by Harry and his friend before I got the kiss. I have to stay in this house so no one can see me." Sirius explained. This was a lot to take in, but my cousin was free. That was a good thing, I suppose.
"Oh right, well that's good then." What else was I supposed to say?
"Tonks don't be like that, I never did anything. Dumbledore believes me, why can't you?" Sirius was looking kind of desperate.
"It's not that I don't believe you. I mean you try acting normal when a cousin you thought was a murderer suddenly turns up and he's innocent." I explained. I hoped that I didn't hurt his feelings, but this was hard for me.
"Yeah I suppose, I'll leave it time to sink in then." He walked off looking hurt, I felt so bad.
"It was nice to meet you." Remus said. I'd forgotten he was there, I almost jumped in fright. I gave a weak smile and looked around the room to find someone to talk to. It was then when Molly came towards me with a tray of her pumpkin pasties. Now I knew where I remembered her from, she was Bill's mum. I used to go out with Bill back when we were both in Hogwarts. That would mean that she is married to Arthur. The infamous Molly Weasley, now I knew who she was.
"Ah Tonks dear, you might not remember me, I'm Molly Weasley. Pumpkin pasty." She said, shoving the tray in my face. I took one of them and began to eat it, I was so hungry. I hadn't eaten all day, because I was so nervous about the meeting.
"I remember you, you're Bill's mum." It was probably a mistake to say that.
"You should talk to Bill again, he will be here later. You two made such a lovely couple, maybe after this you two could go for a drink. I'm sure you two lovebirds have a lot to catch up on."
"As much as I liked Bill, we had broken up and grown up.
"Ok whatever you say, but I'm sure of it." Molly said with a slight smile.
Where was Dumbledore when you needed him? I want to know what my duties are. What do they say? 'Speak of the devil and he shall appear.' Well Dumbledore isn't exactly the devil, but he certainly managed to appear out of nowhere.
"Nymphadora." I had to bite my tongue, as much as I wanted to shout at Dumbledore for calling me Nymphadora. "Your duties have been sorted out. Your first shift will be on Saturday, you will be with Remus." Oh God, this is so not going to be interesting. Saturday, that was four days away. I was looking forward to it, but at the same time, I was dreading it.
I decided it was best to go home now, to sort myself out and let everything sink in. I also wanted to leave before Bill got here, I didn't want Molly to be faffing around us trying to get us back together. I said bye to everybody and walked out the door and apparated out of the street.
Well that's how I would have liked it to go, but no, obviously that didn't work. I tripped over a chair leg and landed on my boss, Kingsley. Oh the shame. I stood up as quickly as possible and ran out the door, cheeks flaming red.