27. Answers to Unspoken Questions

"Tonks!" Mad-Eye called. "Come on!"

"Just give me a second," she said, enunciating every syllable as she pulled on her boots. "I'm coming."

"Hurry up," he growled from outside the door. "Bruce Claris isn't going to have all day, and neither is Umbridge."

"Don't get your wand in a knot, Mad-Eye, I'm coming," she reassured him, finally getting her boots on and grabbing her wand from the table where it lay. She opened the door to find herself face to face with Mad-Eye Moody.

"Come on," he growled, "Kingsley's waiting."

"Kingsley?!" He was coming on their interrogation? Oh no. She had avoided him for the past ten days, and he had avoided her, so things had worked out just fine. But now he was coming on their investigation? This made no sense.

"Yes, Kingsley. Shacklebolt. Come on!"

So she trotted down the halls of Hogwarts with him, her mousy brown hair tied into a French plait. She had noticed that though she could morph if she really tried, it consumed a lot of energy recently. So she had accepted that she was going to live with the mousy brown hair, at least until this entire Order dilemma was fixed.

Kingsley was waiting at the entrance. She met his gaze, which didn't flinch as he stared right back. Finally, he gave her a small nod and looked away. Mad-Eye obviously seemed to sense the tension.

"Look," he grunted, "you're going to be working with each other for a long time at the Ministry. And remember, Kingsley, Tonks hasn't been proved guilty yet. So put all of that behind you. We've got things to accomplish."

"Right you are, Mad-Eye," she grumbled, rolling her eyes. "Let's go."

The three of them exited Hogwarts once more, finding themselves at the side of an abandoned road.

"Are we apparating, then?" Kingsley asked Mad-Eye.

"Can we take the Knight Bus?" she pleaded. Her old mentor gave her a quizzical look (well, as best as he could manage with the magical eye).

"Apparition is a lot faster, you know," he said.

"Yes, but," she protested, "I'm in no rush to get back to Hogwarts. This way we can take our time."

Kingsley nodded stiffly. "Can we do that?"

Mad-Eye looked at both of them incredulously. "You want us to take the Knight Bus just so that we can waste time?"

They both nodded in unison.

"Well, then," he grumbled, "let's go."

In no time, they were at the entrance of St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. They entered, waiting in line at the front desk while the blonde witch pointed people to where they were supposed to go.

At long last, they reached the front of the line.

"Can I help you?" she asked irritably.

"We're here to conduct an investigation with Healer Claris," Mad-Eye growled. "Where is he?"

"Are you from the Auror Department?" she asked in a bored voice.

"Yes, we are," grunted Mad-Eye.

"All right, he's on the ground floor. Artefact Accidents."

"Thank you," Tonks added as Moody, Kingsley, and she stalked past the desk and traveled to their destination.

They didn't see him anywhere in the ward, so Kingsley decided to ask the Trainee Healer, Dana Hughes.

"Good morning, do you know where Healer Claris is?" Kingsley asked courteously.

"Yes, sir, he just nipped up to the fifth floor, there's a Healers' lounge up there. I expect he wanted to freshen up," she answered dutifully.

"Thank you," he replied, flashing her a smile, and the three of them headed up the flights of stairs that finally took them to the fifth floor: Visitors' Tearoom/Hospital Shop. Upon observation, there was no lounge in sight; presumably, it was hidden.

"Excuse me," she asked the witch at the desk, "we need to speak to Healer Claris for an investigation, and we were told he would be up here." She gestured to the Auror badge on her chest. "Where's the Healers' lounge?"

"Er, right there," the witch responded hurriedly, pointing to a door tucked away in the back. "It'll be locked, though, would you like me to open it for you?"

"Please," she replied, trying her best not to show any sarcasm. Of course they wanted to open the door, how else would they get in?

"Right, this way," the witch said, scurrying to the locked door. She waved her wand at the doorknob and muttered an incantation, and it sprung open to admit them.

"Thank you," Tonks replied, and she, Mad-Eye, and Kingsley entered the lounge cautiously.

It was a small room with a tattered sofa pushed against a wall, a couple of armchairs pushed against another, and countertops lining the other two walls. There was a stove, on which a kettle lay, plenty of mugs, lined up neatly on the counters, and there was a bowl of assorted candies sitting on the nearest table top. The room was empty, except for a Healer in lime-green robes. Bruce Claris.

He was tall and had sandy hair, with well-toned muscles and a kind smile.

"Morning, Healer Claris," Mad-Eye growled. Tonks gave the Healer an infinitesimally small nod.

"G-good morning, sir," he said, looking flustered. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"We're here for a small investigation. I'm going to be asking you questions, and you will be answering them under the influence of Veritaserum." He drew a vial of clear liquid and a scroll from his cloak. "This investigation serves to find evidence if you have any affiliation with Death Eaters. Do you consent to this investigation?"

"You want to question me about my association with Death Eaters?" Claris repeated.

"Yes," Moody barked. "Sign your name at the bottom of this if you consent."

"Of course," Claris agreed, conjuring a quill and ink and signing his name neatly at the bottom of the scroll. Mad-Eye was too intimidating to argue with.

"I am Auror Moody," Mad-Eye introduced. "To my left, Auror Tonks. To my right, Auror Shacklebolt. They will be witnesses of your confession."

"Sure," Claris said, looking utterly bemused.

"Right, then," Mad-Eye said, and he tipped a few drops of Veritaserum into the mug of tea Claris was holding. Claris held it up and drained the mug, setting it on the counter. He closed his eyes for a second, and then opened them again and seated himself on the sofa.

"Please, take a seat," he offered them, so they sat.

"First," Mad-Eye began. "Do you or have you worked with or relayed any information to any Death Eaters, directly or indirectly?"

"No, sir," Claris responded. "I haven't ever worked with or helped any Death Eaters."

"Do you believe that Lord Voldemort has returned?" Moody asked.

"It seems more likely, now that there's more evidence. I'm not entirely convinced of it, but the Ministry is definitely hiding something from us," Claris answered.

"What is your affiliation, if any, with Death Eaters, then?"

Claris frowned. "I hate them. I'm terrified of them, if I'm being honest. They… they killed my wife. Irene. And my daughter, Alisa."

"Please explain in detail this event."

"It was any normal night, three years ago. I had informed my wife that I'd be working overtime and I would be back a little later than normal. She had always been okay with it. By the time I got home, the door was wide open and there was a terrible bloodstain on the threshold. I walked in to see my wife dead, and I found my daughter's body a few feet farther away. Th-there were claw marks found in her. I was informed that the murderer of my wife and daughter was Fenrir Greyback."

A horrible pang shot through Tonks. Greyback had killed Claris's wife and child. The same way Remus had been attacked.

"Since that day, I vowed to never associate myself with Death Eaters," he finished, looking shaken.

Kingsley was scribbling everything down furiously while Tonks listened with rapt attention.

"Many people are under the impression that you are a Death Eater," Mad-Eye informed him. "Why do you think that is?"

"Last year, I was briefly placed under the Imperius Curse by Lucius Malfoy," he explained. "They were forcing me to heal the wounds of some bloke named Travers. I nearly did, actually, but the Imperius curse was lifted accidentally, and I escaped."

"Have you got it all down, Shacklebolt?" Mad-Eye grumbled.

"Yeah," Kingsley responded.

"Good."

Mad-Eye continued asking questions for about half an hour more, and Claris answered them all properly. After Mad-Eye had done a thorough inspection, he said, "I think we're through here. Healer Claris, is there anything you'd like to add?"

"Nothing, sir."

"Good," Mad-Eye grunted. "In that case," he drew another vial from his cloak, "drink this. It should wipe the Veritaserum clear. I daresay you should be fine in a few minutes."

Claris accepted the vial gingerly and emptied the contents into his mouth. "Thank you."

"Thank you for your time," Mad-Eye growled. "This investigation is through."

"Thanks," repeated Tonks quietly, sending the Healer a smile.

"Let's go," Mad-Eye huffed, and the three of them set out of the lounge to the visitors' tearoom.

"So? What do you think?" Tonks asked.

"I told you, lass," Mad-Eye grunted. "I believed you from the start. This investigation was just to get evidence for the rest of them."

"So what do you say, Kingsley?" she asked him. He frowned and didn't meet her eyes.

"Will you accept my apology for doubting you?" he said finally.

She beamed and wrapped him into a hug. He seemed startled, at first, but then he put his arms around her too.

"Fine," she relented. "So this is evidence enough for you?"

"It is," he replied, frowning. "But then who's the spy?"

"We'll figure out all of the details later," Mad-Eye growled. "Now let's get back to Hogwarts, and this time, we are apparating. And don't give me your pouty looks. They're not going to work."

"Fine," she and Kingsley sighed in unison, and she gave him a cheeky grin.

In no time, they were back at Hogwarts, inside the great halls of the castle. There were many students bustling around the halls, making it easy to hold a conversation without being overheard.

"So when can Tonks join the Order again?" Kingsley asked.

"As soon as she can," Mad-Eye responded. "We need to fix this entire problem as fast as possible. Death Eaters aren't going to stop their plans so we can regroup."

"True," she mused. "So am I just going back? Just like that?"

"I'm going to speak with Dumbledore," Mad-Eye said. "Right now. I'm going to tell him what he needs to know. And if everything goes well, Tonks will come to the next Order meeting. It's guaranteed to be awkward, though, with everyone staring at you."

"Are we planning to tell the rest of the Order?" Tonks asked cautiously, even though her heartbeat was rapidly speeding up, and she had a very good idea as to why.

"Dumbledore and the Hogwarts crew," Mad-Eye replied. "The rest will be told at the meeting. Why?"

"Just wondering," she replied, trying hard not to blush.

"Why, Tonks, do you have a special someone?" Kingsley teased.

"You'd be surprised," Mad-Eye mumbled. "Right, then. I'm off to tell Dumbledore. See you two later." And with that, he stalked off, grumbling under his breath.

"Wait, so you do have a special someone?" Kingsley asked, clearly confused.

"I might," she replied cryptically.

"Who?" he asked, sounding very much like a child.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" she asked, smirking.

"Please?" he begged, following her as she started walking towards the Herbology greenhouses. "For a friend?"

"Let's see," she contemplated. "You didn't believe that I was innocent."

"Nobody did!" he protested. "Mad-Eye was the only one!"

"But you still didn't believe me," she pointed out.

"Not fair," he pouted. "It's someone in the Order, right? So I can just go ask everyone in the Order if they're dating you."

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Kingsley," she chided. "I'm not dating anyone."

"But you said you had a special someone!"

"It doesn't mean I'm dating them."

"But then what does it mean?"

"I don't know, you were the one who came up with the term."

Kingsley groaned. "Let's make this simple. Do you fancy someone?"

"Possibly."

"I need an answer! Yes or no?"

"You need or you want?"

"Please? I'm sorry for doubting you! I'll defend you at the Order meeting."

"Fair enough," she agreed. "But you have to guess. I'll tell you if you're wrong." She was quite enjoying this.

"Fine. Er, Bill."

"Nope."

"Charlie."

"Nope."

"Any of the Weasleys?"

"Kingsley, the rest are either married or underage."

"Just checking. Mundungus?"

"Do I look like I fancy Mundungus?"

"You never know. I'm going to take that as a no."

"If you're going to be guessing people like Mundungus, it's going to be a very long day."

"I have to make sure! Is it someone at Hogwarts?"

"More specific, please."

"Snape?"

She stared at him, eyes wide, mouth open in horror. "What kind of person do you take me to be?"

Kingsley grinned. "Yes or no?"

"Figure it out yourself."

"No."

"Good choice."

"Okay, then," Kingsley contemplated, rubbing his chin. "Hagrid?"

"Kingsley, why? No! It's not anyone who works at Hogwarts!"

"Er, okay. It's someone older than you?"

"Obviously."

"A man in the Order who is older than you."

"Correct."

"Does he work at the Ministry?"

"Nope. What were you expecting me to say, Mad-Eye?"

"Not really. Elphias? Aberforth?"

"Merlin, Kingsley, not that old!"

"Neither of them?"

"No!"

Kingsley looked lost in thought. It really couldn't be that hard, she thought.

"Sturgis?" he guessed.

"No."

"Dedalus?"

"No."

"Sirius?"

She spun around to look at him again. "Sirius is my cousin!"

"Oh. That's right. No, not Sirius."

She snorted. "Definitely not."

"Remus?"

By this time, a smug expression had formed on her face. "Took you long enough."

"Blimey, you fancy Remus?"

She snorted again. "I don't go around wearing a sign saying it. You really couldn't guess?"

He shook his head. "I've never noticed."

"According to Mad-Eye, it's obvious."

"Because he can see through everything. Walls included. So he could see what you've been up to…"

"Kingsley! That's gross! We haven't been up to anything!"

"I'm just saying."

She rolled her eyes. "Right. I'm taking the Herbology class, by the way."

"You mean you made me walk all the way here for no reason?"

"If I remember right, you were the one who followed me. Trying to guess."

He scowled. "Great."

She smiled sweetly at him. "Thank you for keeping me company."

His expression softened. "I'm sorry for doubting you."

"It's fine." And she found that it was. "See you later."

And with that, she spun around and headed into the greenhouse.

A/N: And now she has Kingsley! With the promise of Mad-Eye talking to Dumbledore, things are looking good for Tonks. How will Remus react when he sees her at the next Order meeting? Coming up in chapter 28!

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