Chapter 14

One benefit of Tonks' assignment in Hogsmeade was that she never had to encounter Barry Pruce. However, one day toward the end of January she had to go to the Ministry and hand in some reports. Sure enough, she ran into one of her least favorite people in the world.

"Long time, no see, Nymphadora." His blinding smile was practically giving her a headache.

"Never long enough, Pruce."

"You keep telling yourself that, Tonks." She glared at him. "You know, you never responded to my flowers that I left you when you were in St. Mungo's in June."

"Flowers?" she asked innocently. "Hmm. I never saw them." She grinned inwardly at the look on his face.

"I came to visit you, but there was the most irritating bloke sitting at your bedside. I didn't get the impression that he liked me very much."

"I can't imagine why." Tonks rolled her eyes. She smiled, though, as she remembered how angry Remus had become on her behalf.

He ignored her. "Speaking of irritating blokes, I've still never met your boyfriend, if you're still seeing him."

"I am, in fact. And you have no reason to meet him." He was still blocking her way to get to Kingsley's office when Dolores Umbridge arrived.

"Good afternoon, Auror Tonks," she purred in a sickly sweet voice that covered her venom. "I hope that all is well in Hogsmeade. I'm sure you like being close to Dumbledore."

Tonks wasn't sure how to respond. She knew that Umbridge had long suspected her and Kingsley of being involved in the Order. She also knew that, because the Ministry now recognized that Voldemort was back, she would not be persecuted for her membership. But she didn't want to give Umbridge another reason to dislike her. "Besides the occasional Dementor attack," she stressed those words ever so slightly, "everything is fine. And Hogsmeade has been nice with the snow." She finished, matching Umbridge's sweetness. She decided not to reply to her comment about Dumbledore.

"And I see you've taken full advantage the lack of a Ministry dress code." She glanced disgustedly at Tonks' brownish pink hair and the rainbow scarf that Remus had given her the previous Christmas. "Although, I must say, your hair is a little better than it was last year." Tonks only just managed not to scowl. Umbridge simply smiled more broadly.

"Well, Madame Senior Undersecretary, I am under quite a lot of stress lately, what with Voldemort being back and all. It reduces my energy to morph." She knew that she made a bold, and probably unwise, move by saying You-Know-Who's name, but seeing Umbridge's fit of coughing was worth it.

Umbridge's smile faltered slightly. "Yes, well, just remember to be careful about the company you keep." She proceeded to waddle off.

"She's a delightful woman. She really knows the way things are supposed to work." Tonks just gaped at Pruce, who actually seemed serious. However, he shifted enough, so that she could get around him, and she didn't waste anymore thought on him.

"Wotcher, Auror Shacklebolt. I have some reports for you." They didn't like to show too much familiarity at the office.

He nodded in greeting. "Auror Tonks." She smiled and waved at him and left.

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"Wotcher, Sirius." Tonks entered Grimmauld Place.

"I'm glad you managed to silence my dear old mum all by yourself." Tonks mock scowled at him and stuck out her tongue.

"How's your day going, cuz?" He grimaced. "The feeling's mutual."

"First, I opened a cupboard, only to be greeted by a boggart. Second, Buckbeak's been sick, and I've had to take care of him. Finally, I'm still trapped in this bloody house." He let out a frustrated sigh.

"I'm sorry, Sirius." She really did regret his captivity. "Your day definitely tops mine. I only had a run-in with Pruce and the Hag."

"Well, at least we can have bad days together." They moved into the kitchen to reheat some of Molly's leftovers.

"Thank Merlin for Molly." Tonks was grateful because neither she nor Sirius could cook, and she got tired of take away. Throughout dinner Tonks tried to cheer Sirius up, but he only ate dejectedly and took an occasional swig of firewhiskey.

"Fancy a game of chess?" She thought a little competition might brighten his mood, and it was their habit to play at least a game a week. He simply looked at her incredulously. She shrugged.

"I'm going up to check on Buckbeak." He left abruptly.

"I'll be in the library." Tonks went upstairs and picked up the well-worn copy of Jane Eyre. As was her wont, she sat down in Remus' preferred armchair and flipped to a random page.

That night she opened to page 158. She was captivated by one of Mr. Rochester's quotations. " 'I knew,' he continued, 'you would do me good in some way, at some time: I saw it in your eyes when I first beheld you: their expression and smile did not' (again he stopped)- 'did not' (he proceeded hastily) 'strike delight to my very inmost heart so for nothing. People talk of natural sympathies; I have heard of good genii: there are grains of truth in the wildest fable.'"

Tonks smiled to herself. While she would never say that she experienced love at first sight when she met Remus, she did realize very soon that they were kindred spirits. She had always valued their time together. At some point it seemed inevitable that their natural affinity would grow into something much deeper, as it had.

Awhile later she went up the next flight of stairs to say good night to Sirius. She found him passed out in Buckbeak's room. Sighing sadly, she levitated him down to his room. When she was back in her room at the Three Broomsticks, she was still thinking of ways to get Sirius out of his depression.