Disclaimer: I am old and poor. I therefore do not own Harry Potter and affiliated terms, characters and plots.

Spinning Ends

Chapter 7: And She Thought 'Nymphadora' was Bad

Tonks found herself later that evening in a rather shady looking pub. She had to resist twirling the mustache she has given herself. She also regretting giving herself eyebrows so thick that they interfered with her vision. Being in a Muggle pub and in disguise she couldn't risk changing it now. She sipped her whiskey slowly, marking each of the patrons of the pub.

She still did not know exactly what she was looking for. There were a few gentlemen playing cards at the corner table, a woman and her boyfriend making eyes at each other on the other end of the bar. The man closest to her seemed to be intent on drowning himself in his sorrows. It seemed to be a regular pub clientele. Tonks took another sip of her whiskey and waited.

A few people came and went and Tonks began to think that this was pointless. As she made to finish the last of her glass, though, a few men walked through the door. Tonks could tell that several of the patrons were staring at the men, though they were trying to look like they were not. The men were wearing suits—dressed much nicer than any of the other patrons. One man, who was most likely the oldest of the group, walked up to the bar and ordered a drink. The others—there were three of them—approached one of the men who was playing cards. Before Tonks knew it, the three younger, suited men were walking out the door with the man who was playing cards. The man who had ordered the drink put his glass down with some amount of money and walked out after them.

Tonks watched this curiously, as did the rest of the pub. The man who had been sitting closest to Tonks then slid off his stool and ran out the door. Tonks decided as she had finished her drink, that this was her queue. She was grateful that she seemed to be in the right place at the right time. She paid quickly and walked out of the pub.

Tonks saw that further down the street a man was running. She quickly morphed her face back to normal and transfigured her coat before running after him. She slowed as she saw the man turn a corner and approached cautiously.

Tonks rounded the corner into an alley way. The man she had followed was crouching behind a dumpster. Beyond him two of the men in suits she had seen in the pub holding the card playing man against the wall. The other two men were standing around them, seemingly interrogating the man—with words and their fists. Tonks couldn't understand a word of it and started wondering if her French was really that bad.

At the third thud against the man's body, the man she had followed sprang to action. He pulled his wand and shot a stunner over the dumpster, hitting one of the suited men. The other three men became alert and unsure of what was happening. Soon all of them were hit with some kind of curse, The man, the wizard, then came out of his hiding spot and helped the beaten man up.

"Wha…wha happened? How?" slurred the man.

"Do not worry about it just get yourself home. Bar your door," said the wizard.

The man stumbled off while the wizard pulled out a Muggle device. He started to talking to the device and then put it away. Tonks guessed that it was some kind of telephone—she was behind times on her Muggle studies. The wizard then slipped past her out of the alley.

She followed the dark figure around the corner. She got the impression, though, that the wizard wasn't as dangerous as the Ministry thought. She had seen what happened. This was just some guy wanting to play hero. Use his magic to help the Muggles. In thought, Tonks stumbled over a bottle that was lying in the alley. She managed to catch herself and hoped that she didn't make any noticeable noise.

As Tonks rounded the corner she found herself being shoved against the side of the building. The man said something in French and Tonks stared blankly. The man rolled his eyes. "I know you are following me," said the man.

"Aren't we perceptive," said Tonks, eyeing him warily and cursing her clumsiness.

"Why?" he asked.

"The Ministry wants you on breeching the secrecy. You ought to be more careful," she answered. She felt his grip loosening slightly, which gave her the chance to disarm him. She then grabbed his arm and swung him around so that they had switched positions. "Now, from what I have seen, I don't think you are a bad guy, but I am going to have to take you in anyway—"

"But—"

"Don't interrupt," said Tonks sharply. "I expect you to come quietly. It could just be a slap on the wrist, but we will have to see."

"I don't see why I should go anywhere with you," said the man defiantly.

Tonks just laughed. The man seemed to have the disposition of a ten-year-old. "Come. Now," she then said, grabbing his arm and making to apparate. Strangely enough, though, nothing happened. Tonks could tell that the man was grinning, despite not being able to see his face.

Tonks frown and sent a stunner at him. Nothing seemed to happen. The man gave a short laugh. Tonks was growing sick of this game. Time to do this the old fashioned way, she thought. She kicked the man, knocking him down, something that he did not expect. She tried another spell, but nothing seemed to hit the man.

She conjured some rope and tied his hands behind his back. "Nice try," she said, even though she did not know exactly what had happened.

The Auror at the field station was quite surprised to see Tonks walking her captive to in. The Auror had air of arrogance about him. "You seem to have interesting methods, Miss Tonks," he said.

"Yeah, well, whatever works," replied Tonks, "I think this is your breech of secrecy bloke."

"Indeed…Jean Pierre Jackson von Eboneisor Fletcher," said the Auror menacingly.

"Er..I just go by Jack Fletcher…" said the man timidly.

"The notorious outlaw!" continued the Auror. "Thought you would escape this time, eh?"

Tonks started to giggle. She really could not help it at the idea of this Jack bloke as a "notorious outlaw." He paled each time the Auror spoke. He was reasonably attractive—probably only a bit younger than Tonks—but also at that moment looked a little like a scared puppy.

The Auror's eyes shot to Tonks when she giggled. "Is there something you would like to add Auror Tonks?"

"Well, Mr. von Eboneisor Fletcher, while he was breeching secrecy codes, was doing so for visibly noble reasons. He very well might have saved someone's life tonight. Quite commendable, if you ask me," said Tonks, earning a small smile from Jack.

"Well, I did not ask you, Auror Tonks," said the Auror huffily.

Tonks wanted to point out that he had asked her. But, she thought it best not to get on the Auror's bad side…given that he had any other side.

"The sentence you will likely receive, Mr. von Eboneisor Fletcher," continued the Auror, "is death!"

Tonks really could not help it this time. He was entirely too dramatic. She burst out with full-fledged laughter, drawing the stares of both Jack and the Auror.

"Miss Tonks, if you will please control yourself! This is a serious matter!" snapped the Auror.

"Death? Really?" she giggled. "Yes, off with his head! Then we might play some croquet."

"If you mean to make a mockery of…" sputtered the Auror.

"Oh, you do that just fine yourself. Honestly," said Tonks, cringing slightly since this was exactly what she had been trying not to do.

The Auror turned red in the face. He sputtered some obscenities, which Tonks did not follow very well. Finally he just glared at her and said, "Take him to his cell."

Tonks rolled her eyes and went to grab Jack from his chair. She then noticed something peculiar—Jack's hands were no longer bound. A few obscenities of her own ran through her head before there was a long bang and she fell unconscious.