Winter 1989 – 5th year.
A very agitated, green haired Tonks was running through the almost deserted corridors, her bag bouncing against her ribs. Even though she seemed to be tripping a lot over some invisible obstacles, she continued running, she was late. And if there ever was a day she should not be late, it was probably today. Finally she reached Professor Sprout's office, and hitting her foot against the door frame, she entered without knocking.
"Wotcher, Professor!" she panted.
"Tonks," said Professor Sprout, with an expression between exasperation and amusement. She was sitting at her desk looking out of place, still wearing the apron and hat she usually had inside the greenhouses.
"Sorry I'm late…"
"Don't worry. Take a sit." There was a file on her desk labelled 'N. Tonks', she opened it, apparently oblivious to the fact that her hands were partially covered with dirt as usual. "Well, Tonks, you know why we are here."
"Yes, to discuss my future," she said bluntly. She had been both nervous and thrilled about her coming Career Counselling. Finally, after two years of harbouring a small hope of a dream, she was going to find out where to go from here.
Professor Sprout chuckled.
"Something like that, yes. We're discussing what subjects you'll have to take next, according to what do you want to do after school. Have you thought about something?"
Tonks was waiting for this question and had her answer ready. Breathing deeply she prepared herself to say it aloud.
"I want to be an Auror."
It was the first time the word had came out of her mouth like this, not talking about any random facts but herself. And despite of the newness of the situations, there was conviction in her voice, and even a hint of pride. She stopped for a second to savour the sound of it: 'Auror'. Yes, it was just right.
Professor Sprout was looking at her, blinking. She seemed very surprised.
"An Auror, Tonks?"
"Yes, Professor," she nodded in conviction. "I'm going to be an Auror."
"You know that's one of the most difficult career paths you could possible chose?"
She could not say if Professor Sprout was doubting her or testing her will. She had the feeling it was a little bit of both. She needed to sound convincing now.
"I know" Tonks said calmly. "I've been thinking about it for a while now. I want to be a Dark Wizards catcher. It just… it's just fair," she added in an undertone.
"Excuse me? I didn't get that last bit."
"It's nothing, Professor. What should I do, then?"
Professor Sprout sighed deeply. For a moment it seemed that she was going to try to convince Tonks that his wasn't a good idea, that the path might prove to be too difficult, that she could try other options. She didn't want to risk that possibility, she was convinced and now she would have to prove to the others that she was good enough for her chosen career, so she looked back at her Head of House, her jaw clenched and rising slightly out of her chair.
Finally Tonks felt the slightest change in Sprout's attitude; she opened the file in front of her and started reading.
"For the sake of this interview, I am not going to talk about some... misbehaviours you might have had on the past..."
Tonks felt heat on her face and wished she had already mastered her morphing in order to hide it.
"... which I am sure you are not going to continue if you really want to be an Auror." She looked sternly at Tonks and she nodded. "So, let's see what's next. Your grades are not bad, Tonks," she muttered, reading the parchments, "but you need to work harder, that's for sure. The minimum required by the Auror Office is five Exceed Expectation N.E.W.T.s. And you will be tested before entering the program."
"What kind of tests are those?" Tonks asked curiously. She suspected something of the sort but she had never actually researched on what would exactly lay ahead of her.
"Character and aptitude tests, a great deal of them and not the easy kind."
"I was expecting that. I only…"
There was something that was hunting her, a dreadful fear that came over every time she thought about becoming an Auror.
"What is it, Tonks?" asked Professor Sprout gently.
"It's just…" she needed to say it, now or never. If something was going to keep her from being an Auror, it would be better to know it sooner than later. "Will my family background matter, Professor?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well… the fact that I'm related to half of the Death Eaters in Azkaban. The Lestranges, the Blacks, you know. Will that matter to the Auror office?"
Professor Sprout scratched her chin thoughtfully, leaving a dirt mark behind.
"I will give you an honest answer. You may find people thinking that it does matter. As I said before, being an Auror is not an easy path and I'm afraid that with your family background behind you, it won't get any easier."
Tonks sunk lower in her chair and stared at her shoes. She had been cursed with the worse family ever!
"However," Sprout added, "I know there is no rule whatsoever impeding you from starting your training if you pass the tests."
Tonks jerked her head to look at Professor Sprout, who continued.
"I'd say that if you prove you're capable of dealing with the pressure, of achieving the necessary goals, of passing every trial, no one will have any reason to stop you becoming an Auror."
"Honestly?"
"Honestly, Tonks," said Professor Sprout with a kind smile. Then she added in a more briskly, business like tone. "About the subjects you have to chose then, there is Defence Against the Dark Arts… I see your grades are between Outstanding and Exceeds Expectations, you won't have any problems with that one… Potions… Professor Snape only accepts N.E.W.T. students with Outstanding in their O.W.L.s, you'll have to work harder on it, Tonks, since until now your grades barely scratch Exceeds Expectations."
"I can manage." Tonks said, although she was not so sure about it. For a moment she thought about the dungeons, where Professor Snape's classrooms were located. For some unknown reason, when it came to potion making, she was not as prone to accidents as one should expect and still, having that particular teacher breathing over your potion with such an air of contempt use to make it very difficult to remember every ingredient she should use and their proper orders.
Professor Sprout kept talking.
"I see you have Outstanding in Transfiguration, so it would be logical for you to continue with that subject. Professor McGonagall seems to be very happy with your work at classes only…" Professor Sprout read from the parchment in front of her and sighed. "She wishes you'd behave in her class, and, I quote 'avoid replacing your nose with the ones usually displayed by animals'."
Tonks gave a small cough.
"I'm sorry."
Sprout ignored her feeble attempt at an apology.
"I am hoping to see you again in Herbology as well and you might want to sign up for Charms too, although you'll need to put much more effort on that one too, Acceptable is not good enough."
"It's that wand-flicking thingy! I can't get it right!" Tonks groaned.
Professor Sprout chuckled.
Both of them stayed silent for a moment. Professor Sprout kept on looking at the notes in front of her and Tonks desperately tried to rack her brains in search for a question she might later regret not having asked.
"Professor?" she finally had it.
"Yes, Tonks."
"Can I continue with Muggle Studies?"
"Well, of course," she finally closed the file, and clasped her hands on it. "Bear in mind, though, it's going to be a lot of work to do as it is, let alone adding an additional subject. But I'm sure Professor Burbage will be delighted to see you back. There are not many students that choose to follow Muggle Studies on a N.E.W.T. level. Do you have any more questions?"
Tonks remained silent for another moment. She never liked to speak about her fears, having the feeling that they became more real when said aloud. But she needed some reassurance now, she needed to hear somebody else's opinion, she needed to be as convinced as possible that she was going to succeed. Finally, taking a deep, steadying breath, she spoke.
"Do you really think I stand a chance, Professor?" Although she had wanted to sound firm and serious, there was longing in her voice, coupled with fear.
Both witches stared at each other for a moment.
"I do," Professor Sprout said finally. "You're tenacious and capable, there is no reason for you not to succeed."
Tonks beamed at her and saved the relieved sigh threatening to escape her lips for a better moment.
"Thanks, Professor." She stood up so quickly that her chair tumbled on the floor.