I own nothing, JKR is the master of the HP Universe, I am just playing in her sandbox. Will return all characters to her in better shape than she left them. Though I guess, Mim and most things relating to her could be argued as somewhat original.
GrandeVanilaSkimLatte rocks! She is a fantastic beta and writer. Hugs ~M
A/N Please remember that Tonks is disguised as Miriam and Miriam is disguised as Tonks in the majority of this chapter. So until the switch back after leaving the Ministry. Please try to keep in mind that Miriam doesn't know Tonks very well and is trying to imitate her, she will also say things that seem to be out of character (because she is really Miriam she just looks like Tonks). Remember that people will address her as Tonks since she looks like her.
Four
Miriam tried to walk at a calm pace to Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office. Arthur was waiting inside for her, just as they had planned. He smiled when Tonks walked in the door, "Morning Tonks, are you ready to go take a look at that artifact?"
"Wocher, Arthur? Yes let's get on about it, I can't be all day, I have a lunch meeting in an hour," she said in her best "Tonks" voice.
The two walked out of the office and were on their way across the Atrium in no time. They exited the floo network to the employee apparition point and reappeared in the alley behind the coffee shop.
Tonks walked in the front door, went up to the counter and bought three bottles of expensive spring water. She went to the table with Arthur and Moody handing each one a bottle. Arthur opened his, looking at it with amusement, Moody on the other hand ignored his bottle and took a swig from his hip flask.
"Before we go, I just want to let you know that I was reassigned today to the Department of Magical Equipment Control. I am to report to a wizard named Biggerton tomorrow morning. I've never heard of him. Apparently, it was a direct reassignment from Fudge and Umbridge. I'm being punished or threatened from further action, one or the other," she was barely able to control her anger. "I would have quit right on the spot, but I wasn't sure if Dumbledore would want me to work there or not. I need to get a message to him, but it is rumored that Umbridge is reading every piece of owl mail that enters the castle. Do you have a secure way to contact him?"
Moody answered, "We do." He answered her succinctly before turning to their companion, "Arthur when I take her to HQ could you send your patronus to Albus?" and then back to her with barely a pause, "Miss, where should he contact you?"
"Tonks and I will be going back to HQ as soon as we get my belongings from my apartment, so I would think we'll be home by noon. And please, call me Miriam." She smiled sweetly at the scarred man.
"Not when you are disguised as Tonks," he growled. "I don't think you should go to your flat alone. Give me the address and I'll meet you there at eleven. Constant vigilance, you must conduct yourself in constant vigilance or you'll be the next casualty," Moody said shaking his fist.
After her odd conversation with Mr. Dolohov this morning, Moody's insistence was welcome. "Sounds good," she pulled a pen and note parchment out of her purse and scribbled her address on it. "Now let's be on our way. I am ready to be done with all of this and safely back at HQ for the day."
The party of three stood up, Moody and Tonks took a right out of the shop going only half a block before finding a nice alley to apparate from. Arthur took a right out of the shop and went back to the original alley to disapparate back to the Ministry. Before leaving, he quickly produced his silvery weasel, imparted his message and watched as it slunk away to the Headmaster of Hogwarts.
As he stepped on the lift in the Atrium on his way back to his office, Scrimgeour walked in behind him and growled, "Where is Tonks?"
"She was having lunch with Moody, last I saw her, sir," Arthur answered. The best lies are ninety percent true, right? Scrimgeour huffed out of the lift on the second level and slammed his office door behind him.
Tonks and Moody stopped at the tree on Grimmauld Place across the street from Number Eleven. They looked both ways for inquiring eyes and walked purposefully across the street, up the steps and through the door of Number Twelve.
"Black! Lupin! We're here!" Moody called out, loud enough to rouse Mrs. Black. "Ah shut it, you bloody bitch," he snapped, drawing the curtain over her screaming likeness.
"Who was that?" Miriam cringed.
"That was my dear Mother. She prized blood status, money and power - may she rest in Hell. I'm so glad to see you back in one piece. We made the other room on the upper most landing your workroom. It's across the hall from Moony and my rooms. Where are your things?" Sirius asked, attempting to be chivalrous and tote her belongings upstairs for her.
"They're in my purse, I shrunk them down. I have a copy of everything I've reported on in the past seven years. I was sacked, too, well reassigned to Magical Equipment Control, same thing, really. Fudge is making a point," she said as they walked up the stairs.
"There's really a department of Magical Equipment Control? What do they do?" Remus asked.
"I have no idea really. I saw once in the Daily Prophet Newsletter that they issued a warning about substandard wands being sold by a street peddler named 'Honest' Willy Wagstaff, but other than that I've not heard of anything they do," Sirius answered. "Wonder what old 'Honest' Willy's up to now. He used to consort with Dung."
"So, what did you do?" Remus asked as he watched Miriam unload her purse and enlarge her box of belongings.
"I wanted to quit right on the spot, but until I hear from Dumbledore I won't do anything. I told Mr. Dolohov that I needed the rest of the day off to 'adjust' to the change. So, Tonks and I are going to meet Moody at my flat at eleven o'clock to get my things and then we are coming right back here. Arthur was going to get him a secure message to contact us at noon."
"I say quit and come work for the Order full time. Living here, you'll have everything you could want," Sirius said.
"Padfoot, she needs to find out what Dumbledore wants her to do," Remus spoke up.
"Does everyone always just do what Dumbledore says?" she asked thoughtfully.
"For the most part, he has more of a 40,000 foot mentality, as in he can see the whole picture," Remus said, obviously respectful of his former headmaster.
"But that kind of view can miss the tree's for the forest, much less all the woodland creatures in the underbrush," she volleyed.
"Everything he does is for the greater good. Sometimes we have to sacrifice," Remus retorted.
"That may be true, but our creator gifted us with free will as well as intuition and magic, therefore, I listen to all sides and then make my decision," she countered.
Sirius watched his oldest friend and his newest friend debate and he was taken back to the summer before his world changed. Lily and Remus were debating the very same thing. Remus would always follow Dumbledore, because he afforded him privileges that most others would have refused him, like an education and a job. Dumbledore never judged him or looked at him any differently than any other student, actually that wasn't true. He was very fond of Remus and did have a more personal relationship with him than most other students. This young witch was like the perfect meld of Lily and Hermione, and the more he got to know her, the more beautiful she became in his eyes.
"So when you and your parents researched your genealogy, did you come across the most noble house of Black?" Sirius asked sarcastically, partly to change the subject and partly because he wanted to curb his attraction to her if, she was too close a relative.
"No and we went back several hundred years. I think that if we are related it was so long ago that we'd have to ask Merlin," she laughed. "All right that's it. Moody are you ready to go back?"
As they trudged down the steps, Remus spoke up, "Moody, I think that I will go with you to Miriam's flat. Why don't you come back here after you get her to the Ministry?"
"Sure thing, a little extra back up won't hurt. CONSTANT VIGILENCE!" Moody thundered on the first landing.
"SHHHH, you'll wake up the demon in the entrance!" Sirius shushed him. Turning to Miriam disguised as Tonks, he kissed her hand and said, "Be careful and I'll see you before noon. And take care of my baby cousin," he chuckled, winking at her.
"No problem," she whispered back. She was suddenly hyper sensitive of the large warm hand holding hers. There was a familiar tingle behind her belly button, which she hadn't felt in a very long time. "Well, I guess we're off then. Moody?" she said blushing slightly.
"I don't see anyone, let's go," he said as they walked down the street and apparated back to the Ministry apparition point, just as they reached the end of the street.
Arriving at their destination, she walked to the lift and up to the ladies loo.
As she exited the lift, she heard a booming voice, "Junior Auror Tonks, I have been looking for you all day. What are you doing with Moody?"
Turning on her heel, she found herself eye to eye with Rufus Scrimgeour, "I was having brunch with my mentor. I was just coming back to check in with Kingsley. Did you need me?" she was working hard to look confident and aloof.
"Yes, well, actually Kingsley wants you to assist him this afternoon on his hunt for Sirius Black. I know he is your cousin and I wanted to make sure that there is no conflict of interest."
"No sir, I want all convicted murderers in prison where they belong, not roaming the streets. I am proud to do my duty and serve where ever Kingsley assigns me." Crap, I hope that is what she would say.
"That is exactly what he said you'd say. All right, I'll sign off on it. Report to him immediately." She stepped away quickly and began walking toward the ladies room. His booming voice stopped her again, "Where are you headed? The Auror office is the other way."
"Um, sir, I was going to the Ladies' Loo, if that's alright with you?" she said looking almost as uncomfortable as her superior.
"Right, well he's expecting you," he said as he strode off. She had fifteen minutes left before she was to meet herself in the loo, so she headed to Kingsley's office first.
"King?" she had heard Tonks call him that last night at the meeting. She hoped it was appropriate for work.
"Yes Tonks, I am so glad you are here to see me. Have you spoken with Scrimgeour?" he asked.
"Yes sir, he said I was report to you right away, before I went to the loo even," she winked to the tall dark man in front of her.
"Well then, I heard a friend of yours was reassigned this morning. She inquired about your help moving her personal items home, since she won't have her own workspace down there. If you would assist her over lunch and report to this address at one pm, I'll meet you there and we can begin tracking down a lead I have on Black's activities. Also pass on a message to her, will you? Tell her that things are not as bleak as they appear."
"Yes, sir," she said pocketing the address. "Now if you'll excuse me I still need to visit the loo."
"Carry on, then. I'll see you at one," he said as he dismissed his subordinate.
Sorry that it has taken so long to update. RL has kicked my butt recently, but I am back on task now. Please hit the little button below and let me know what you think. Reviews feed my muse. ~M
