I don't think I'd ever been happier to an assignment over and done with.

I returned to the ministry to file my papers then I'd be heading back to Grimmauld where Remus and Sirius would surely be waiting to see me.

"Oh, look. It's auror Tonks. Back from the Azkaban prison," Becca said. She was setting papers inside Kingsley cubicle. "Happy to be going home?"

"Er, I guess," I said, not having the energy to do a back-flip or moonwalk across the office to express my excitement.

"Heading home are you?" a voice at the door asked. I looked up to see Scrimgeour standing there.

"Yes, sir. I'm glad to finally have this assignment over with," I said.

"Yes, about that," another voice said.

Fudge entered the room behind, him.

"We were wanting you to return to Azkaban next week," Scrimgeour said softly.

"You want me to go back?" I asked.

"Yes well things are tight at the moment," Scrimgeour said.

"I can't work a 16 hour shift at Azkaban every day. It's cruel," I said.

"If you want to keep your job-."

"Keep my job? How is sending me to work at Azkaban is motivation for me to keep my job?" I asked. The mere thought of going back there for another week was making my sanity slip away.

"I expect there are other reasons for you to want to keep your job," Scrimgeour said.

"Other things? I became an auror because I was good at what I did. All you've done so far is stick me in corner, bury me under paper work and send me to work in the prison with all of the lunatics," I said. "I watched Bellatrix Lestrange kill a rat with her bare hands! Do you know how disturbing that was to watch?"

"Well what are you good at besides being a metamorphagus? Rufus has no choice but to assign these jobs. You're not really good at anything else besides causing catastrophe," Fudge laughed.

"I cause a catastrophe? Have you looked at the state of the country recently? That's what I call a catastrophe," I said.

"And you think you know what the country needs better than I do?" Fudge asked.

"As a citizen? Yes," I said. "The entire system is corrupt now."

I could practically hear Mad-Eye and Kinglsey screaming at me, telling me to stop talking. If they were here boy would I be getting the look of death right now.

"You do realize you work for this 'corrupt system'?" Fudge asked.

"There has to be someone with sanity within it for the sake of the people," I said. "As far as I see it without the Daily Prophet endorsing all of your rubbish then we'd be getting things done instead of trying to put innocent people in prison."

Inside my head I screamed and then flung myself out of a window. I. Was. Losing. It.

"Innocent people? I assume you refer to Albus Dumbledore and the Potters," Fudge said. I rolled my eyes.

"They're the only ones right now you want to do anything about. There are more important things going on right now. Did you even stop once to think the Potters might actually be telling the truth about anything at all?" I asked.

"No. They're children who want attention and are afraid being losing their spotlight," Fudge said.

"And you've room to talk about them now wanting to lose their influence in the Wizarding World?" I asked. "Take a long hard look in the mirror, Cornelius. You're nothing but a low life, bottom feeding, douche bag, publicity whore yourself."

Becca dropped her clip board. Scrimgeour's eyes widened. Fudge turned a dark shade of red and looked at me with such hate I thought he might explode.

"How dare you talk to me that way?" he asked.

"How dare you treat your people this way? Two years ago you were so far up the Potter's asses trying to keep them 'safe' from Sirius Black you-."

"Nymphadora that is enough!" Rufus said finally.

"Tonks," I corrected him, quickly.

"I don't care what your name is! You will not speak to your superiors that way. Especially the minister of magic. You've been suspended once already and your work ethic leaves much to be desired already," Rufus said. "You're on thin ice."

"Thin ice? She's already fallen through. It's over Nymphadora, pack your things," Fudge said.

"Of course sir as soon as you find a metamorphagus to replace me," I said.

Fudge let out an annoyed sighed. Being a metamorphagus was my trump card.

"If I may give my opinion, Minister," Becca said.

"Of course, Rebecca. You are, after all, my most trusted advisor," Fudge said.

"Yes sir. If you look at it in the grand scheme of things, Miss Tonks has had a rough time of it recently. Putting up with all Dawlish's work, her own work, then working 80 hours around dementors this week. I imagine she's barely slept or eaten all week. Even when she was on leave she was working if you remember sir," Becca said.

"And your point is?" Fudge asked.

"Well. . . Maybe she's a bit stressed out. . . Over worked and spending her time in the company of those dementors probably doesn't do much for her attitude," Becca said.

Srimgeour and Fudge exchanged glances. Whatever they were thinking, it was the same thing.

"Alright Miss Tonks, your job is safe," Fudge said.

"But Monday morning I expect to have you in the office nine sharp, well rested and fed. I do not want to see you here either. Do you understand?" Rufus asked.

"Yes, sir," I said.

Rufus apparated away, as did Fudge. I turned to Becca.

"Becca, I-."

"Are you crazy? What were you thinking?" she asked. "You totally lost it."

"I know! I could hear myself but I couldn't stop. I was seconds away from karate kicking him," I said.

"And go home and go to bed, now, you lunatic," Becca said. "If I had a galleon for every time I've saved your job-."

"I know, Beckers. Thank you," I said.

888

My mood hadn't changed at all since I'd left the ministry. I was still tired, depressed, angry and hungry when I arrived there. I dragged myself down the hall way towards the kitchen.

To add to my fabulous mood, I tripped over the stupid troll foot umbrella stand. It made a loud clatter, and I did too, as I hit the ground.

Mrs. Black's portrait came to life screaming as she always did.

"Stains of dishonor! Filthy-."

"I AM IN NO MOOD!" I shouted angrily. The portrait went silent Just as Sirius appeared to shut his mother up himself.

"Well. . . That's never happened before," he said. "Tonks, in a bad mood I see."

I ignored him as I we walked into the kitchen.

It was empty. No Remus as I had expected.

"Remus has been up in his room all day. That time of the month and all," Sirius said, as if reading my thoughts.

I sighed. It didn't do much for my mood that my new friend was ill today, even Sirius had tried to make a joke of it. I'd forgotten all about the fact that he was a werewolf, as I often did. He was just Remus to me. I didn't think anything of it.

"So, how was work?" Sirius asked.

"I just spent 80 hours with a bunch of dementors and my psychotic aunt Bellatrix Lestrange. Fudge went through with firing me when I told him he was a publicity whore but then his assistant told him I wasn't in my proper mind so he let me keep my job. All together I think I may've slept 12 hours in five days. I haven't eaten properly since Monday. I keep having a recurring nightmare about a flesh eating teddy bear. My landlord harasses me about rent every morning and I can't pay him yet because the ministry held back my money since I got suspended. I hate my life. I hate myself and I hate my job," I said.

Sirius had kindly listened to every word I had said.

"I think some sleep will do you some good, Tonks," Sirius said. "Wake at your own leisure."

"No argument from my side," I said.

"Good," Sirius said.

I dragged myself upstairs, no dinner even though I was starving I wasn't in the mood to eat. I crawled into bed after putting on some pajamas. I'd cut pajamas out of my routine this week as it was much faster to just sleep in my clothes and change only once a day.

I laid in bed awake for a moment before I crashed. My thoughts drifted to Remus, whose room was two doors down from mine. Somehow the fact that he was having a rough night as well made me feel better. Even though he was suffering differently and worse than I was, I knew in the morning when I got up he'd great me with a smile, even a hug if I asked him. Then he'd be curious to know how work was and he'd listen attentively as I'd explain how horrible it was.

Even though he'd be the one who'd really need a hug, even though he'd be the one who would need to talk, he'd completely kick it aside just to see how I was doing. I knew this because he'd done it last month. Not to mention his random acts of kindness had grown past giving me a plastic unicorn and to making sure I didn't starve to death.

Morning hadn't even come yet and I couldn't help but think how sweet he was.

Oy, you're doing it again, Tonks. Get it together. It's Remus. Sirius's best friend, he even helped baby sit you on one occasion. Think how absolutely wrong the thoughts you're thinking about him are.

Just as I'd told myself before, it didn't change the fact that it was still very sweet of him.

888

"Spherical?" I asked.

Hannah nodded as Hermione shook her head.

"Sphereical. Not quite a sphere but almost," Hannah explained.

"Please shut up," Hermione said. Hannah rolled her eyes and went on talking.

"You see, the earth has a slight bulge in the middle, so it's almost technically an oval, but it appears to be a sphere. Which is why all globes are wrong," Hannah said.

"That. . . That is fascinating," Sirius said with false interest. "We never learned that in school."

"I didn't either. I read it in a muggle geography school book. I think we should have a geography class," I said.

"The last thing we need is another class, sis," Harry said. Hannah stuck her tongue out at him.

The kids were returning to school tomorrow and the summer was drawing to a close. Only Hannah and Hermione seemed excited about returning to school. Even Sirius seemed to be a rather bad mood now that the kids were leaving.

"You know they're just going to be getting us ready for our OWLs this year," Ron said.

"Yep and thank goodness. Can you imagine if they just sent us out to take this test with no idea what we were getting into?" Hermione asked.

"Professor McGonagall gives OWL prep courses after her classes every Friday," Hannah said.

"Guess who'll be there?" Hermione asked excitedly.

"Not me," Harry said just as excitedly.

"Why not Mister 'I Want To Be An Auror?' I heard those test are hellish," Hannah said.

"They are," I said.

The auror exams were hellish. I remembered taking mine. Sometimes they actually gave me nightmares.

"See," Hermione said.

"Look, I'm trying hard enough to pass school as it. The last thing I need to do is worry about a test," Harry said.

"True. . . Even though it is linked to most 5th year student break downs and it decides your entire future. Passing or failing any section of it could decide whether you end up working as an auror if you're the pushing the supply from department to department," Hannah said.

"But let me guess, no pressure right?" Harry asked.

"Suddenly everything seems really bleak," Ron said.

"Now come on. You're a smart bunch. You can pass this test no problem. The way I see it the OWLs are just a way to show how absolutely brilliant you actually are," I said.

"Gee, Tonks. Thanks. That inspires a lot of confidence unlike some people who want to make the test seem dark and scary and terrifying," Harry said.

"Yeah, we can't all get straight A's in everything," Ron said.

"You can. . . But you don't try. I mean you play table quidditch during history of magic," Hermione said.

"I'm never going to need to know about the Giant Wars or whatever in my life," Ron said.

"But it's good to have the information. People will view you as an intelligent person," Hannah said.

"I'd rather people think I'm stupid than sit through another semester of Binns class," Ron said.

"Well people already think you're stupid and you still have to sit through another semester of his class," Hannah said.

"Oh, so I'm stupid now, eh? I don't have to take this," Ron said leaving the kitchen. Hannah jumped up to follow him.

"I didn't say I thought you were stupid. I said people. I'm your best friend after all," she said as they left.

"You know it's a decent change to have him angry with Hannah for once and not me," Hermione said.

"Indeed," Harry said.

"You argue a lot do you?" I asked curiously.

"Just a bit. Mostly we bicker about stupid stuff. . . Mostly school," Hermione said.

"During dinner usually," Harry said. "I've learned to ignore it. . . Except when they're about to stop talking. Usually I step in then."

"I hate when Hannah does it. She just says 'you're both ignorant, now shut it.' She's very blunt," Hermione said.

"Painfully blunt," Harry said.

"I don't think that's an inherent trait. I remember both your parents being able to let people down easily," Remus said.

Sirius scoffed. "You didn't do anything stupid so Lily never had to tell you were but she had a low tolerance for ignorance. Unfortunately I was great at being ignorant."

"I'm sorry you've had so much childhood trauma," I said.

"Yes and I bet they loved you at Hogwarts, Nymphadora," Sirius said.

"They ignored my name and decided that it was better to laugh at me for falling down the stairs," I admitted.

"It is really fun to watch you fall down," Sirius said.

"My self esteem has greatly decreased since I joined the order. Do you know that?" I asked. Sirius smiled.

"Well Remus doesn't laugh at you," Sirius said.

"And that's the only reason I haven't killed myself yet," I joked.

"That's what I'm here for," Remus said.

"Anyway," Hermione said, trying to find a change of subject, "how's the Quidditch season looking, Harry?"

". . . Since when did you care about Quidditch?" Harry asked.

"I don't, but furthering that previous conversation is not something on my agenda," Hermione said.

"Well how about we talk about something you actually care about," Harry said.

"Like what?" Hermione asked.

"Like. . . Like how you fancy Ron for instance," Harry said.

"Hermione fancies Ron?" Sirius asked.

"No! He's lying," Hermione said turning a deep shade of red.

"Ah, Hermione, I think you are the one who is lying," Sirius said.

"I'm not. Ron is merely my friend. . . He's my best friend. Besides, I have a boy friend," Hermione said.

"Do you? Who is it? Who is it?" I asked.

"She's still pretending she likes Viktor Krum," Harry scoffed.

"The Quidditch player?" Sirius asked.

"Yes," Hermione said.

"Lucky," I said. "He's really, really cute. I was so excited when turned 17 and I was allowed to like him without it seeming pedophilic and creepy."

"I know," Hermione said.

"Please. They broke up once," Harry said.

"Shut up, Harry," Hermione said impatiently.

"Krum broke up with her in fact," Harry said.

"I'm warning you, Potter," she said more impatiently.

"And why might you ask did Krum break up with Hermione?" Harry went on.

"How about this Harry. Continue on with your story and I'll tackle you to the ground. . . Just giving you fair warning. I'm gonna be on you like I was on Malfoy," Hermione said.

Harry saw through her bluff.

"Krum suspected that Hermione-."

WHAM!

Harry had been, as she had promised, tackled to the ground by Hermione, who knocked over chairs as she went.

"Excellent execution, Granger," Sirius cheered.

Remus immediately went over to remove Hermione from atop Harry.

"Want to finish your story now?" Hermione asked, being held back by Remus.

Harry was lying on the ground, disgruntled and a bit afraid.

"No. . . I'm done talking," Harry said.

"Woman are you mad? Attacking Harry like that," Remus said.

"No, no. . . I should know better than to not take her seriously," Harry said climbing to his feet. "Sorry, Hermione."

". . . It's fine. . . Sorry I attacked you," she said.

"All is forgiven," Harry said.

"Can I let you go without fear of you attacking anyone else?" Remus asked.

"Yes, Sirius," Hermione said.

Sirius released her.

Molly walked into the kitchen and looked crossly at Hermione and Harry.

"Merlin's beard. You have school tomorrow. There's no time to be horsing around like this. Harry get off the floor and to bed with you two and tell the others as well," Molly said.

"Goodnight," Harry said without argument. Only Fred and George seemed to be the only ones unafraid to invoke her wrath.

Harry and Hermione slinked upstairs out of the kitchen.

"You three ought to be ashamed not sending them off to bed with it being so late," Molly said.

"Just letting them enjoy their last evening away from school," Sirius said.

"Well it'd be better spent resting. Of course if you'd rather wake a bunch of tired, grouchy children in the morning then call them downstairs and let them stay up until two in the morning," Molly said. "And you two had better be getting to bed as well. You know you've got to drop them off at the station tomorrow."

"You know I don't sleep, Molly," I said.

"You had better start, Tonks. You've gotten into so much trouble already for not sleeping," Molly said.

"It wasn't my lack of sleep. It was the combined ignorance of our minister and my boss," I said.

"And you'd have handled yourself better if you'd actually slept properly," Remus said.

I gasped. "Well take her side why don't cha?" I said, pretending to be appalled.

"All the same you both had better get to bed, and you too, Sirius, if you mean to see them off in the morning," Molly said.

"Alright, alright then, Molly. We're going," Sirius said. "I'm positively tired anyway."

"Well I'm going to straighten up down here and I'll be off to bed as well," Molly said. "Make sure they're all in bed before you go yourself."

"Alright then," I said.

The three of us walked upstairs, as if we were children ourselves.

"Does lack of sleep really make me cranky?" I asked.

"Terribly cranky. You're quite the Grinch when you're tired," Remus said.

"A right terrible one," Sirius said. "When you're well rested and well fed you're much more pleasant to be around."

"I shall have to remember that then," I said.

"We can't really blame you for being awake though. You've mostly been babysitting while you've been here and kids are a handful," Sirius said. "Thank goodness they're teenagers. I remember when I was little I'd be up at the crack of dawn. Teenagers will sleep until the crack of dusk."

"If Molly would let them," Remus said.

"Especially that Hannah. There's not an amature sleeping bone in her body," I said.

Just then a burst of laughter came Hannah, Hermione and Ginny's room.

"Girls. What could you possibly find amusing this late in the evening?" Siriu asked.

"Probably talking about boys or their hair," Remus commented.

"I love how you've stereo typed us," I said. "Girls do not always talk about boys and their hair."

"Then what do you talk about?" Sirius asked.

"Why would I tell you that?" I asked.

"So we can stop stereo typing you," Remus said.

"But if you stop stereo typing us we can't yell at you for it," I said.

"Sadist," Sirius said.

"It's genetic," I yawned.