"Come on," growled Moody to Tonks as they made their way through the Leaky Cauldron, hot on the tail of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. "Don't get too close to them - they can't know that they're being followed. And remember -"
They had been given the task by Dumbledore and it was either this or going to crooked places with Mundungus Fletcher. They had both quickly agreed to follow the Malfoys with Tonks disguised as a middle-aged woman with a penchance for the Weird Sisters and heavily patched jeans.
"- Constant Vigilance," finished Tonks, rolling her eyes, only to trip over a mop and bucket that clattered horrendously. "Sorry," she whispered, but fortunately the Malfoys had already gone through the brick wall and into Diagon Alley.
Their first port of call was to Gringotts bank. Moody and Tonks waited outside, mingling with the shoppers, but did not take their eyes from the huge entrance doors. They stayed their for a while, but, eventually, the Malfoys strode out of the bank, even more gold in their pockets than there had been. Mad-Eye gestured to Tonks. "Come on."
They continued up the street, the Malfoys being greeted by many acquaintances with a tipped hat or polite bow.The Malfoys never responded with anything other than a smirk, which Tonks supposed was the closest they ever got to a smile.
As Narcissa stopped suddenly and turned around, Tonks was forced to dive behind a plump woman to avoid being seen. Moody let out a breath of fustration at her as the woman screamed, causing Narcissa's eyes to sweep over them. She waved a dismissive hand to her husband, muttered something to him and they continued walking. Moody grabbed Tonks' arm again and pulled her behind a group of women heading in the Malfoys direction. They stopped outside Eeylops Owl Emporium, now able to listen to the Malfoy's conversation.
"- And Draco said Pansy is a very nice girl," said Lucius, his cane gripped firmly in his hand. "Her parents are the Parkinsons," he said, giving an approving nod.
"Speaking of Draco," said Narcissa, eyeing the sweet shop in front of her, "he said his weekly supply of sweets has not been delivered. We shall have to deal with that, Lucius."
"Quite, Narcissa," said Lucius, putting his hand on the door to push it open.
"No," said Narcissa quickly, glancing behind them, "why don't I do it? Draco needs - ah - a new quill. Could you possibly ...?"
"Oh," frowned Lucius. "What happened to the peacock-feather quill we sent him last week?"
Narcissa hesitated. "That idiot boy - Crabbe, I believe his name is - destroyed it in one of Severus' classes."
"Very well," said Lucius. "I shall meet you back here, Narcissa."
And with that, he marched off as his wife entered the shop.
"You go after her," growled Moody, gesturing to Narcissa, "and I'll take that idiot."
He stumped off in the same direction as Lucius Malfoy and Tonks hurried to follow Narcissa.
¤x¤x¤x¤x¤x¤x¤x¤x¤x¤x¤x¤x¤x¤x¤x¤x¤
"I'm sorry," said the shop assistant nervously to Narcissa, who had pulled herself up to her full height, her head held arrogantly high. "I don't know what happened - I'll go and get your order now!"
She hurried off to the back room and Tonks, extremely careful not to trip on the doorway's step, lurked behind the display of Licorice Wands. Narcissa tapped her nails upon the countertop, looking around disinterestly. No other customers were in there which Tonks found most unusual; she had always loved the wizarding sweet shops, even the strange ones such as this one.
"Have you come here to buy something, Nymphadora," said Narcissa coldly, her slim figure appearing around the sweet display, "or do you wish to merely stand there and look as gormless as ever?"
"Oh no," muttered Tonks, wincing at the thought of what Moody would say once he found out she had been seen. "I - I'm not her."
Narcissa pursed her lips and Tonks was unexpectedly reminded of her mother. "I have the displeasure of acquainting with only one person with clothing taste as vile and atrocious as yours, Nymphadora."
She paused for a moment before continuing.
"I know you are following me, and I do not appreciate it."
"I don't know what you're talking about -"
"You have been following Lucius and I from the minute we stepped foot in Diagon Alley," said Narcissa. "I have not, however, told Lucius of it, and should you and your cohort decide to leave us alone, I shall not bother."
As Tonks stayed silent, Narcissa continued, quieter this time. "We do not need this right now - Lucius' father is dying from dragon pox."
"If you don't want to be followed then you should be more careful who your friends are," said Tonks. "If your husband wasn't a Death Eater we wouldn't have to be doing this -"
"I must warn you, Nymphadora," said Narcissa ominously, "that blood ties can be pushed only so far."
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
At that moment, the door flew open and in marched Lucius Malfoy. "Can you believe it, Narcissa? No peacock-feather quills -" He trailed off as he noticed Tonks and sneered, "Ah, and what do we have here?"
He stood next to his wife. Looking at them, Tonks wasn't quite sure why she felt rather uneasy, but was certain that it had nothing to do with their futile attempt to intimidate her.
Looking at her heavily-patched jeans with disdain, Lucius turned to his wife and drawled, "Good heavens, the Tonks' offspring has been taking fashion tips from the werewolf Lupin."
As Narcissa smiled nastily, Tonks pulled out her wand, pointed it at Lucius and snarled, "Remus is worth hundred of you!"
"Do not point your wand at my husband!"
"I won't have him insulting my friend!" shouted Tonks.
"Then," said Lucius coolly, "you should choose them more wisely."
Moody stumped in as Lucius drew his wand, growling, "You can put that away, Malfoy."
"Come, Narcissa," said Lucius, eyeing Moody warily, "I didn't know they allowed this kind of riff-raff to frequent this shop."
The Malfoys swept away with Moody roaring, "You'll get what's coming to you, Malfoy!"