Warning: This authors note may contain swearing due to the authors pissed off mood. Hello my loyal, faithful, funny, crazy and generous readers. I basically have fuck all else to do after finally finishing all the coursework that my evil teacher set me (a.k.a. dragon lady) so have finally got round to writing this next chapter. It continues from the last one, sort of like aftermath. And just so you know, I blame my teachers for slow updates because if they didn't set so much bloody work, I would have time to write. *rant over*.

Right this chapter is probs a bit boring, but pretty essential. Here's the general plotline i've made up for HBP. this chapter essential, bit boring. Next chapter will have some revelations about the ministry. Couple of chapters after that will be exploring the Savage, Proudfoot, Tonks plot and be quite mellow. Might have her parents pop up somewhere. Then we have some dark stuff and then the battle. Sound ok?

I do not own anything, but boy I wish I did. Then there'd be no need for coursework.

The morning after the night before

"Ack, my head". Bang. Crash. "Ouch, that was my foot". Smash.

"Oi".

"Sorry". Thump. "Ouch, door frame. Light switch, light switch... found it". Flick.

The lights came on in the room, and I groaned in pain. The light was too bright, so I screwed up my eyes and lay my head back against the cold surface I was leaning on.

"Mark, do you have to make that noise" hissed a voice from, oh, over there somewhere.

"Sorry" hissed Savage back. I felt myself being shaken. "Come on Tonks, up you get" I opened my eyes and saw Savage smiling down at me. I was on the floor. The kitchen floor. How the hell did I end up here? Savage put his hands under my arms and hoisted my up. "There up you get, that's it. Good girl".

"Am I a puppy now?" I asked half sarcastically, half curiously.

"No, but Dawlish will be back any minute, and it's your shift" he said. I groaned and shut my eyes, leaning against him.

"I'm too hungover, you do it" I replied.

"I can't, here sit down". I was placed on a chair at the kitchen table, and a glass was slapped down in front of me. "Here, drink this".

"Mark, what are you doing?" came Proudfoot from the door way. I looked round at him, he looked as rough as I felt. Savage ignored him, and I took a sip, before promptly spitting it out again in disgust.

"That's vile".

"Mark, what's going on?".

"Just drink it, Tonks" snapped Savage. "Please, just drink it, it'll help". He then walked over to Proudfoot and pulled him into the hall. I could hear them whispering but couldn't work out what they were saying. But I did as Savage wanted, I drank. I mean, I could trust him right? As soon as the liquid worked it's way down my throat, my head started to clear.

"Tonks" said Savage, striding back into the room. "Good, you drank it, it'll help with the hangover, i've already had some. Sorry about the noise earlier, my only excuse is that it was dark" he said.

"That's fine...".

"Look Tonks, you trust me right?" cut in Savage quickly.

"Yes, of course. Why?" I asked, looking around at Proudfoot, who was standing in the door looking grave.

"Well, then go to your room, wrap up warm and i'll make you some coffee. Then you can go on duty" he explained. "Go". I heard the urgency in his voice and jumped up immediately, speed walking out of the kitchen and into my room. I've never got undressed and dressed again so fast. I should try for the world record.

When I returned to the kitchen, Proudfoot and Savage were standing on opposite sides of the kitchen, staring at eachother, as if silently communicating. I waited for a minute, silently thanking the genius who invented the pepper up potion, perfect for hangovers. I'm so glad i'm not a muggle, those poor things must go through hell. I coughed when I got bored of waiting. Both of them jumped and looked at me, what scared me most was how serious they looked. All playfulness that had been there last night had vanished. Savage walked over to me, picking up two things from the counter as he passed it. A letter and plastic cup full of steaming hot coffee. He handed them to me and then stood in front of me, waiting. I took that as my oppurtunity to ask questions.

"Savage, I don't understand. With a sober brain, i'm piecing things together. I never do morning duty. And you caused all that racket, but you were sober and you must have been for awhile" I took a breath "so what's going on?".

"I was coming to wake you up, and it really was dark and I couldn't see a thing. My wand is somewhere around, but I lost it after last night. I've been sober for awhile, waiting. And your taking the morning shift because you have to get out of here" he said, I was about to open my mouth to argue but he silenced me. "Just trust me Tonks, go on duty, read the letter, drink your coffee. There's nothing to worry about, now go" he said, shoving me towards the door. I trusted him, and so I moved to the door. Just as I was about to walk out he whispered. "And be careful of the woods".

And then I ran. I don't know why, but I did. I ran through Hogsmead and up to Hogwarts as fast as I could, spilling my coffee slightly and slipping on the icy ground. As soon as I got to the gates, I stood against it, gasping for air, my throat felt as rough as nails, as if i'd been gargling nails.

What had been going on, back at the flat? What was the exchange between Savage and proudfot about? Why was Savage so keen to get me out of the flat and back into work, especially after last night? Last night, what had exactly happened last night... I remembered quite a bit of it, up to a point. I remember going to the pub, drinking, walking, the shreiking shack, daft tails and rolling around on the floor with Remus. Remus... what had happened to him?

I glanced down at the letter in my hands. Maybe that held the answers. I took a hearty swig of coffee, before ripping open the letter and pulling out the parchment inside. It read;

Dear Nymphadora,

I apologise for the fact that when you wake up I will not be there. I don't know how much you remember of last night, but maybe that's a good thing. I, of course, remember it all. No smirking Dora, i'm not being arrogant just truthful... in a pompous kind of way.

Ok, I suppose I should tell you about the events which took place after midnight. I always love telling people how they acted the night before, especially if they've been drinking and will probably not remember what they did. I hope you remember what happened before midnight, but thats beside the point at the moment. There was a fair amount of drinking involved, but for me this is not much of a problem because I need a lot of alcohol for me to be truely drunk. As for you, Savage and Proudfoot, you're a bunch of lightweights! I know your probably protesting to yourself right about now that your not, but i'm afraid you are, trust me.

We got back to the pub and starting downing drinks like there was no tomorrow, and when I say 'we' I mean 'you'. You and Jacob Proudfoot got into a drinking contest which landed you both well and truelly under the table, while Mark Savage tried his best to sober up so he'd be able to look after you both. He had still had a fair bit though. You have a lovely singing voice by the way, no joke. A Weird Sisters track came on so you stood up and sang to it. This was around one am, if I remember correctly.

Ok, i'm about to tell you a secret, you should not reveal it to Savage or Proudfoot, because it will only embarass them. Jacob Proudfoot was that drunk last night, that he kept trying to 'make a move' on Mark Savage. I'd love to say 'I told you so' but I have no justification for it, because even I did not believe what i'd said earlier that evening. I was only teasing. So don't tell them Dora, I mean it, i'm trusting you.

Anyway, the reason for this letter is about a bit more than informing you of what you did last night. It is also a warning. I was speaking to Savage this morning, don't ask him details or anything because he's trying his best to protect you at the moment, for me. You see, last night (or this morning, depnding on how you look at it) a man named Dawlish came in and saw me, with you. Now according to Ministry files, i've been spotted with Greyback's Pack (as you know, i've been there for some time) and he tried to arrest me. I don't know whether you remember but you used some very colourful language towards him and he went away. But that's not the end of it Dora. He WILL tell the Ministry that you are involved with me, and you could be arrested yourself. That's why Savage has (hopefully) got you out of you flat before ministry officials show up.

See how much trouble I cause, now Tonks? See what i've done? Because of me, your career is on the line. Savage has promised me he will do his best, but this is all my fault. I was so stupid, thinking I could have a normal night with you. I let myself into your life again and look what happened? You see why I distance myself from you, see why we can't be together?

So, goodbye. I'm not sure when i'll see you next, or whether I will see you again. Just do one thing for me Dora, be safe. No risk taking. Please Dora, for me. I have to leave now, Greyback will get suspicious and I don't want him following my trail here.

(I'll probably regret this) Love Remus x

The words on the page whirled around in my head, getting blurred and mixed, and jumbled up. I found myself wishing that I could go back to last night and change things. I could remember all of what happened before midnight, in the Shack, but after midnight I only remember sitting at a table drinking, and then everything goes fuzzy from there.

I suddenly jump as a cracking sound comes from the forest, as if someone just stood on a stick. I thought back to the letter, and immediately tensed, wondering whether I was being silly or whether to run for it.

I tried to calm my rapidly beating heart, but once another cracking sound was heard, I bolted. As I ran I felt sick. A mixture of alcohol, fear and guilt. I'm an Auror, for Merlin's sake, why the hell am I running away? But I had to get back to the flat, I was scared of what was out there, but it was probably my overactive imagination plays games with me. And also, I needed answers, I couldn't let Savage deal with my mess. I had to face up to what was being thrown at me, by myself. That was the right thing to do. And so I ran, I ran so fast. By the time I got to the flat's staircase I was wheezing, exhausted.

I climbed the steps slowly, catching my breath. I briefly wondered where the letter and my coffee were, but I quickly dimissed the thought with the fact that I must have dropped them. I opened the flat down to shouting in the hallway. It stopped abruptly as I walked in. Savage, Proudfoot and Dawlish were standing with two Ministry officials I had never spoken to before. Savage and proudfoot looked fuming, mingled with worry. Dawlish looked smug and the other two looked strictly professional.

The woman with long red hair and a pretty pale face stepped forward. She was tall, slim and smiled sincerely at me, while the bloke behind her looked on with a sour face, mixed with disgust. She pushed her glasses further up her nose and walked over. I stood apprehensively, trying to catch Savage's eye, but he was looking at Proudfoot.

"Sorry" the woman whispered, so quietly I only just heard her. "Miss Tonks, i'm afraid I have to take you into custody" she said, her voice louder now.

"On what charges" I demanded.

"Fraternizing with a known werewolf, by the name of Remus Lupin" sneered the man behind her.

"And who are you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow, trying to conceal my panic.

"Mr Ebbs. And this here is Miss Campbell" he said, pushing past Miss Campbell and grabbing my wrists, so they were binded together. "You'll be coming with us".

"I hardly think those are neccessary" said Miss Campbell, pointing to the cuffs.

"Oh, but I think so" he said. I suddenly felt great sympathy for the woman, no-one should have to be spoken to the way he was speaking to her. there must be some reason behind it, and I was determined to figure out why. But for now I had bigger problems. I regretted coming back. "Do you want to lead the way?" he sneered. I turned on my heel and walked out of the flat, with him following behind, a forceful hand on my shoulder.

I always did the arresting, but I had never been arrested. I suddenly realised what it must feel like to be in there shoes. I felt like a criminal.

Okay, short filler in kinda chappie, yeah? Sorry about that. oh and for the next few months, i'm focusing on exams so really sorry but there won't be any updates for awhile. Have no fear, I have no abandoned the story, and never will. I will stick it out til the bitter end, as long as you want me too. It's just... exams have to come first. You understand that, right? gurugirl x