13th of March 1995

Department of Magical Enforcement was placed on Level 2 in the Ministry of Magic. Inside of it was Ministry's Auror Headquarters, led by Rufus Scrimgeour. The Aurors were highly trained and skilled witches and wizards with the main goal of catching dangerous ones and sending them straight to Azkaban. All of them, well most of them, were serious, blended and usual people. Of course, Mad-Eye Moody was one of those who was always standing out. And so did his latest protégé, Nymphadora Tonks.

It was grey Monday morning and Tonks was sitting in her cubicle looking into some old reports. She quickly became bored with them. Her hair was pink with blue tips and shoulder length for the day, and she matched her outfit with it. Actually, she was feeling kind of blue. Since Sirius Black broke out the Azkaban the main goal for the entire Auror Office was to capture him again. And that proved to be not so easily managed. Tonks already knew everything about Sirius Black; his life, crimes, arrest and Azkaban. Only thing that no one, including her, didn't know was how the hell did he escape the Dementors. The investigation was quite dull, to be honest. All the leads weren't leads at all because they still didn't have any proof that Black was... well, anywhere. And Tonks knew she won't find the answer in some dull reports.

She suddenly jumped from her chair, having enough of reading. Most of her colleagues grew to ignore her sudden movements and clumsiness. Tonks was one of a kind, the most unusual Auror that ever set foot in that office. She was quite young and still managed to get through whole three years of training and not even her clumsiness stopped from getting her place there. Plus, her mentor was Alastor Moody, and they all knew how Moody can get... well, demanding. But Tonks liked Moody and liked working with him. He was different, just like her. And he was the best of the best.

Her cubicle was one of the closest to the doors. It was a place for rookies, juniors or whatever senior Aurors called those who were just accepted into the Office. She didn't mind at the beginning but now she was there for a half of the year and started to feel left out. She started marching towards Kingsley Shacklebolt's cubicle which was the furthest from her own. There were a few senior Aurors who were always in a good mood and helpful to the juniors and Kingsley was surely one of them. Tonks hoped that Kingsley had some new information or basically anything that isn't written in those old reports, something to work with. Her clunky combat boots made her trip a few times, and in those moments she figured how everyone was watching her with the corners of their eyes. Tonks decided to ignore that as she approached Kingsley's cubicle.

„Wotcher, Kingsley," she said brightly with the biggest smile she could manage at the time.

„Good Morning, Tonks," Kingsley lifted his head from the report he was writing. „I like your hair, it's a bit less vibrant than usual though. Is everything alright?"

„Oh, thank you and everything is fine," she said but quickly changed her mind. She can use that in her own advantage. „Well, I'm quite bored with those Sirius Black reports."

„Is that so?" Kingsley put aside his writing quill and lounged himself in his chair. He was only Auror who had an extra chair in his cubicle because it was the last one and had more space. „Sit, please. You know that I don't like talking to people like that," he said and made a gesture with his hand, inviting her to sit. Tonks smiled and sat down. As soon as she's done that, she started fidgeting with her sleeves.

„Well, I've read all those files a million times. It's not like something new will come up in them," she said, shyly looking at Kingsley. She didn't want to seem frivolous, but she really didn't want to read those files either. „Don't get me wrong, I like the job and everything but..."

„I get it. Long investigations can get boring but you must not loose your focus. It's imperative for us to catch that man," Kingsley interrupted her and tried to console her. „You are only here for like, what, six months? Auror job is not only catching bad guys, and I think you know that more than anyone here given how involved Moody was with your training."

„Constant vigilance," Tonks smiled and did some funny hand movement which Kingsley didn't understand, but he chuckled. He had great respect for Alastor Moody, and he knew if that man chose this girl to be her protege, she must really be something. „But it's boring! It's been two weeks since I was on the field and I want some action done!"

„Don't be so eager to get in action. Action means facing dangerous people. You are trained to do that, but you also have to learn how to follow trails, stories... For instance," he pulled one of the reports and handed it to Tonks. It was the most famous picture of Sirius Black, his mugshot, and a report about his arrest. Tonks used to flinch when she saw that mugshot, but working in the Auror Office apparently considered watching that stupid photo everyday since the space was full with copies. „What do you know about this?"

„Well, Black killed that Pettigrew bloke and those muggles. Aurors came and stunned him while he laughed like a maniac, in what? Pool of blood?" She knew the story, but she noticed something before in it. She didn't bother to share it with anyone since she found it irrelevant, but maybe Kingsley was pointing at that. „Although..."

„Yes?" Kingsley's eyebrow raised curiously.

„Well... When Aurors came at the crime scene, Black was already laughing and mental, right? You see, my dad is a muggle-born and muggles study psychology a bit different than us. By their teaching, it would mean that Black was incompetent to manage his doings, or to defend himself," she stopped only to notice Kingsley's curiosity rising. Tonks instantly felt pumped. Kingsley was interested in what she had to say, and that was meaningful to her since she really valued his opinion, and appreciated him as a colleague. „And if you look at this photo, you can see Black's wand away from the spot where he was arrested," she pointed Sirius' wand on the photo, showing it to Kingsley.

„Right. And what do you think why is that?" he asked.

„Maybe he wasn't resisting arrest at all..." Tonks sighed. She never thought about that. But it wasn't unusual for her, as she would often come to conclusions only when talking her thoughts out loud. „As I said, he was manic. Why would he surrender like that if he was powerful enough to kill thirteen people with one curse? It doesn't add up."

Kingsley watched her with a hint of impression in his eyes. Then he clapped his hands once and smiled at her, removing the report from her hands.

„You see, Tonks, I was thinking the same thing. Why would he do that? If Black really was You-Know-Who's fanatic, he would at least do something before being stunned by Aurors, don't you think?" He asked, but wasn't really expect her to answer. „And my former mentor was there, one of his last days on the field. He told me that it was a scene almost as gruesome as the one in the Godric's Hollow. Black is vicious and hot-headed, but he isn't a fool. Neither was James Potter," he turned to his desk again on his chair, and put the reports in the drawer. Tonks didn't know what to say, so she started to fidget her sleeves again. Kingsley stood up and put his traveling robe on.

„If your only job today was rereading those reports, you can come with me," he said while fastening his robes.

„Oh..." Tonks jumped. „Sure, let me get my robes." She was now directed to her own cubicle, almost running. She thought that there is finally something to do beside dull desk work. While putting her robes on, she knocked down some writing equipment from her desk. She sighed, and lifted it annoyed when she saw Kingsley waiting for her.

„Ready?" he asked, suppressing his laughter.

„Yes!" Tonks said enthusiastically, and joined Kingsley's side.

As they were waiting for the elevator they met Scrimgeour who was usually nosy and asked where they were going. Kingsley did the talking since he was superior to her, and he got rid of Scrimgeour quite quickly. They arrived into the atrium which was full with wizards and witches, loud and crowded. They used the floo network to get to Diagon Alley, but Kingsley still hasn't said what were they up to.

„So, you think something doesn't add up about him being arrested?" Kingsley asked, looking a head of them. Diagon Alley wasn't so crowded, but Tonks could barely hear him.

„I mean, yes. Off the record, I know all the Blacks are mental and please, let's not talk about the detail because I know you know about my mother, the third Black sister," Tonks was a bit embarrassed. Not of her mother, of course, she loved her and was so proud that she managed to escape the pure blood lunacy her family nurtured. She knew that her connection to the Black family has been quite the topic when she began working. She felt tainted because of someone else's doing, in this case by her mother's whole family.

„That's fair. Go on," he said calmly.

„And we know how devoted my aunt and her husband were. I mean, if they were like that, Black would never go in peace, right? You knew him?"

„Well, I thought I did. I met him and his three best friends briefly during the first war; Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew and James Potter. And you're right. Something doesn't add up and I eliminated Lupin from that equation because he was away when all that happened."

Tonks knew all those names. Her mother used to talk about Sirius before his arrest. They were quite close, both rebels in the eyes of the family. She talked about how he used to crash at their house and how he had his little gang; the Marauders they called themselves. She remembered one picture Sirius sent from Hogwarts with all of them in hideous Christmas jumpers. Lupin was the one with scarred face.

„You think that maybe there is something more about Peter Pettigrew," Tonks said, not even questioning. Kingsley looked at her surprised.

„I do. But let's keep that between us. With those rumours about Black being in Tibet, the focus should be on that," Kingsley turned into the Knockturn Alley and Tonks followed.

„To be honest, I don't think he's there," Tonks blurted. She didn't really want to say that. Well, not in that words anyway. Kingsley stopped and turn to her.

„Oh? And why is that?" he asked raising his brow.

„Well, if you think about it... He managed to get from the Azkaban. That means he knows how to become and stay undetected. Why would he go to Tibet when he can hide himself somewhere here and, I don't know, wait for better days? And, as we agreed, he wasn't resisting arrest, so we don't really know that he can overpower an Auror," she said nervously but managed to keep looking into Kingsley's eyes.

„I understand your train of thought, but as leading Auror for that investigation I advise you to work on the Tibet theory. Until we get some new proof... If you come with some other conclusion, please, come and see me. Got it?" He was no longer relaxed like before. His authority was undeniable, and Tonks could only agree with him. Kingsley broke the tension he made by high-fiving Tonks right after she did that.

They then went to talk with some informants, basic work. No one heard anything about Black, except Mundungus Fletcher selling some heirlooms he swore was from ancient families including the Blacks. Tonks was still impressed with her talk with Kingsley. He was someone with whom she really liked working, and she liked that he was listening to her ideas. She could never do that with other colleagues since they treated her like a kid, and she was then desperate to prove herself only managing to make things worse.

She was fine working with Savage and Proudfoot, and even Audrey McNamara and Mary Pickett. Audrey and Mary were older than Tonks, but they were friendly to her inviting her for drinks after work. She even celebrated New Year's Eve with them. Couple of wizards from work asked her out, but Tonks wasn't really in a mood for dating or anything like that. She felt exhausted with talking about work all the time, and all those guys knew was just about that. She found Moody and Kingsley to be the most interesting people at work, but of course not in that way. Casual dating proved to be not worth the fuss. And Tonks wasn't really a relationship kind of girl, wasn't she? She was scared to admit, but she never had a real relationship. She had that thing with Charlie Weasley, but it wasn't serious and they both agreed on that, just physical.

Kingsley and Tonks returned to the Ministry and Kingsley went back to do his reports. He once again told Tonks to focus on the official investigation, at least while at work. She was so eager to know more about Black's friends now, so she decided she will definitely ask her mother about them. As the working day was over, she apparated in front of her building. She rented a flat near the Ministry because she couldn't stand her mother's mothering any more. And she was independent, capable Auror now! She must learn how to make a meal or two.

Tonks entered her apartment, knocking the boots of her feet. She pulled down her robes and thrown them on the floor. She fell head down on the couch and sighed loudly. Because of her field work with Kingsley, she was a bit behind on her „homework" as Scrimgeour called it. He gave junior Aurors random assignments about reports they were supposed to read and Tonks absolutely hated it. Moody too, so he sometimes did hers in the protest because he found that stupid and not really necessary. But Moody was now teaching at Hogwarts, so he couldn't really help her. She wiggled herself from the couch, and decided to make some large coffee, and get her work done. Her flat was a studio one, but she divided the space where the bed was placed with some thick curtains which were drawn to sides now. Furniture was in the shades of dark wood and yellow. It wasn't much, a small kitchen had a small kitchen island she mostly used for eating. She didn't have a desk, so she did all her work on the dining table which was placed by the window. It was so gloomy outside that she just wanted to go to sleep, but the work doesn't wait. She made herself a coffee, and started doing the paperworks, hair morphing in deep blue.

It was a full week since Sirius met Harry on the outskirts of Hogsmeade and his worries about his godson only grew stronger. Not because of him or getting caught, but because he felt he couldn't do anything to protect Harry. He would mostly pace around the cave in his dog form because it made him think less. He didn't mind being outside all the time. After Azkaban, every hole in the world is a five star hotel.

He tried to hunt down some wild rabbits and mostly succeded, but Buckbeak wasn't so impressed with rabbit meat, so Sirius would chase ferrets too. He found quite secret spot in the woods where he could have a bath, so the flies wouldn't jump on him so much. So confident in his disguise, Sirius would happily roam the streets of Hogsmeade, trying to provide some extra meal. He was happy to get some food from Hogwarts, almost forgetting how tasty it was. In the most desperate of times, he would go around the last houses in the village, hoping to meet Gwen because he was sure she would help him. But, he had no luck there because he hasn't seen her since he left her house in the middle of December.

At least he wasn't alone. Buckbeak became his first companion since they both were running from the law. Sirius was amused about the stories about him all around the world, even though he still wasn't sure why those stories even existed. Even after twelve years in Azkaban, Sirius was still missing someone to talk to. He never got used to constant silence. Before, when everything was right, he had James. They were always in contact and that hasn't changed even with James and Lily's marriage or the birth of Harry.

After all that happened last year, he felt guilty even more when he saw how easily Remus Lupin threw aside all the accusations, all the stories, everything that pointed at him as a traitor. He was resenting himself ever doubting Remus, thinking how everything would be different if they, perhaps, made Remus a secret keeper. After all the thinking he had in Azkaban, he figured that Remus would, as he would too, died before betraying James and Lily. And that wound kept hurting more and more.

When not pacing in the cave, Sirius would just sit on the stones by the entrance and watch the sky or trees, enjoying fresh air without the smell of rotten which Dementors spread through the corridors of Azkaban. He would often think about his first days there, including his twenty-second birthday. He was still manic when they brought him there, couldn't even say a word on the mockery which was his hearing and verdict. He was sentenced in a second and he was surprised they didn't hand him over to the Dementors right away. He didn't care, though.

He was in state of shock, mortified with the fact that Peter Pettigrew turned to the one to get the best of them. All of them. Everybody always excluded him due to his limited social intelligence, but Peter was quite good at magic. Hanging out with Remus, James and Sirius only gave him more and more knowledge. He managed to became an Animagus in the same night as James and Sirius, proving that he indeed was talented. But Sirius was still surprised of how evil the fate can turn. How did the little Pettigrew who worshipped them managed to screw everything up? Sirius was disgusted with all the fuss Ministry made over Peter's alleged death. He felt sorry for his mother, and figured it's better for her to think that her Peter was a hero rather than knowing the truth.

No one, not one living soul, came and even tried to defend him. Sirius wasn't sorry, though. His idea was most definitely the worst idea anyone ever had. His idea. Because of his idea, James and Lily were dead, and Harry was sent to live with Dursleys. Lily told him about her sister and her hatred towards magic and, in fact, anything not perfectly normal and ordinary and Sirius' knew that Harry won't be loved there. And that was breaking his heart even more with each day passing.

After their encounter in the Shrieking Shack and his and Buckbeak's escape, Sirius swore to himself and to his memory of the Potters that he will protect Harry with his life, just like he was supposed to protect them. He felt like he betrayed everyone to whom he swore to protect; his brother Regulus when they were children, the Potters, Marlene and Dorcas... Because all of those losses, he was so happy to see his only living friend healthy as he could be. Remus was always looking rather sick so it was really hard to guess. When he heard that Remus Lupin is teaching at Hogwarts last year, he felt a bit relieved because he knew no matter what Remus would never let anyone hurt Harry. Even though, he was still wondering if Remus ever tried contacting Harry or his low self-esteem and high anxiety got the best of Remus again.

After months in the cave he became more and more nervous and had to get some answers. He didn't get to talk properly to Remus, or Harry given all the things that happened that night. And with all the tournament craze, he was more worried than ever and just couldn't bear talking to the hippogriff anymore. That day, after hours of reminiscing, Sirius figured what he had to do. He decided to visit his old friend. Knowing Remus, he hid himself in his Yorkshire cottage and hasn't seen anyone in the past few months, only to get something to eat. He was feeling sorry for Remus, though. Anytime Remus talked to Sirius about his condition, he would describe it as a prison which he outgrows once a month. After being in the worst of the prisons, he couldn't imagine coping with that for the bigger part of his life. The truth was, they both needed a friend in the given moment, and they were still friends.

Sirius decided to go by night, using Buckbeak. Walking as a dog would take too long, and he couldn't risk leaving Buckbeak alone. He knew where Remus' cottage was since he's been there a few times. The last time was on the day of James' bachelor party, when him, Peter and James came to Remus even though it was the full moon. They did what they did best, roamed around Remus' cottage, keeping an eye on their friend and the next day they made the best barbecue ever, joking around and enjoying their so early ended youth. Sirius remembered that day, just as he noticed that scenery became more and more familiar. In a matter of seconds Buckbeak landed. He didn't even need to secure Buckbeak because they were connected now, and he knew Buckbeak wouldn't leave him. At the sight of Remus' cottage Sirius' eyes started to wet, the sadness for the long-lost times and friends became unbearable for a minute. He just stared at the crooked house, noticing the smoke coming from the chimney which meant that Remus was home. Sirius was relieved. He didn't bother taking his dog form, he knew nobody can see him there except Remus.

Sirius walked to the door, took a deep breath and knocked three times. First two knocks were fast, the last one slower. That was the Marauder knock, the knock which meant that another one is present and that there is no one else around. Remus knew that Peter won't be visiting him, so there could be only one person knocking on his door. Sirius heard commotion from inside the house, and he became slightly more nervous again. Remus opened the door, hair messy just like his stubble beard and shabby clothes. Dark circles on his eyes meant only one thing, the full moon is coming, so he doesn't sleep so much.

„Moony, hello," Sirius said a bit nervously.

„Sirius," Lupin was surprised by his late night visitor. „Come in, hurry."

Sirius stepped into the cottage which seemed emptier and even more tumbled down than before. Sirius was always so sorry to know how Remus lived, but never actually did anything to help him, truth be told. He knew that Remus wouldn't accept any financial help, though so why even bother? He sat in the one armchair facing the fireplace, while Remus took the other one.

„Is everything alright? Is Harry okay?" Remus said concerned.

„Well, as far as I know everything is fine," Sirius said, trying to escape the look of his old friend. He was still uncomfortable around people, and because of all the guilt he felt for not believing Remus it was even harder.

„Oh, alright. Do you want some tea?" Remus asked. He was too nervous with Sirius' presence, not because he didn't want him there but because he didn't know how to act around him. Their friendship was tainted even before everything fell apart, but Remus chose to trust Sirius last year, and he didn't regret it since it was the right thing to do. Remus felt guilt too. For never visiting Sirius, even to yell at him or to demand the truth. But he couldn't face the man who, he thought in that time, made all the worst choices.

„Yes, thank you," Sirius' manners was always on point, even with being rebelious and even with Azkaban. Remus stood up and poured some freshly made tea into two cups, giving one to Sirius and keeping another one for himself.

„If anyone told me I would ever drink another cup of tea with you, Sirius, I would tell him to piss off," Remus joked and smiled. „I mean, before last year..."

„Hah! If anyone told me I would be breathing that werewolf stench of yours and not the Dementors one I would call them straight loony," Sirius signature bark laughter filled the cottage along with Remus' husky and soft one. They both took a sip of tea, and looked at each other. „How are you, Moony?"

„I'm fine... Well, the full moon is close, only three nights left, so I haven't been sleeping much," Remus said tiredly. It was obvious, and he knew that Sirius must've noticed it already.

„Ah, same old you then," Sirius tried to make the conversation a bit more brighter.

„Yes, some things will never change, and we both know that. So where have you been? Are you in more trouble than usual?" Remus asked, still a bit suspicious about Sirius' visit.

„Well, since everything that happened at that Triwizard Tournament, I decided to settle in Hogsmeade to be closer to Harry. Almost died once, though, but that's whole another story and not a tea story, either."

„Oh, I wouldn't expect anything less of you, I'm afraid," Remus chuckled lightly. He was happy to have Sirius there. Even after all those years, he was still his friend and all they've left are each other.

„Yeah, well," Sirius flinched his nose and set his eyes on the fire. „Old habits die hard. And you? Given the state of this," he waved his arms like he was showing the cottage, „you aren't doing well, either."

„Not really, after my resignation at Hogwarts and people knowing about my condition it's borderline impossible for me to find something to work. But, I'm used to it," Remus took another sip of the tea. It was the truth, he mostly had jobs way below his skill level just because he was what he was.

„Sorry to hear that," Sirius said sincerly. He meant that because he knew that Remus was the one with the class A work ethic, and it was sad that he was the one who couldn't find the job. Suddenly, Sirius thought about what would it be like if he managed to get a job, but shook the thought from his mind because he knew that's impossible.

„Yeah well, you get what you get," Remus said flatly. „Why visiting me now? Sorry, but I'm a bit confused."

„You don't have to apologize. I was thinking and thinking and thinking... And I really needed someone beside Buckbeak to talk to. It's not like I have many friends left and..." Sirius felt unwanted suddenly. Almost like when he would come home from Hogwarts.

„No, pardon me and don't get me wrong, I don't mind you being here..." Remus said in full speed. He was twitchy and tense.

„And I thought you could use a friend. If you still think I am one," Sirius said looking down at the floor. Remus started to laugh.

„Sorry, couldn't help myself. Remember when you've found out about my condition? When you said that we, all four of us though, will be friends forever? Of course, we were children then, but I hope you know by now that I will always be your friend," Remus said sadly. He said something similar to Sirius when Sirius confronted him for the first time during the first war. Then, he added that him, Peter, James, Lily and their baby are not only his closest friends, but the people he considered his family. And his mother thaught him that family always comes first. Remus knew back then just as he knew now that Sirius had a different family experience than him, but that he also considered them a family. And that hurt Remus the most, the fact that Sirius was suspicious of him after everything they went through together. But he bit his tounge and never said those words out loud. Not then, not now.

„Yes, but fuck Peter Pettigrew. I should've let him drown in the lake in our sixth year," Sirius said grinding his already bad teeth. He didn't want to hear another word about Peter as their friend because he was simply a traitor, human scum.

„Well, to be honest, I thought about that just the other day. But, then again, who knows what would happen then," Remus was always the one to think most logically among them. „But in this time, and in all the circumstances... I guess even with the downfall we are all that we have left," he lifted his tea mug like cheering, so Sirius took his and clanked into Remus'.

That night and all the following morning, Sirius and Remus talked. Remus informed Sirius about the things that were no written in the Daily Prophet and he knew a lot of things since Dumbledore kept him updated. Sirius wanted to talk about Harry and Remus, but decided not too. Remus seemed genuinely happy with having him there. and he really enjoyed talking with his friend. All the sad topics and memories had to wait. Both of them knew that one day they will have to have a real conversation. A conversation about all the things that went wrong in 1981.

Remus agreed with Sirius staying for a few days and Remus even agreed with Sirius' company during the full moon. Remus never remembered those nights, and being the only one not to remember anything frustrated him in Hogwarts, but now he didn't mind. He was actually relieved because that meant that he won't hurt himself again. Sirius enjoyed that night more than Remus, like always, but he was negatively surprised with how much energy was necessary to overpower the wolf. Three days after the full moon Sirius went back to Hogsmeade because he was too worried about Harry. But both Sirius and Remus felt better. Both of them felt less alone than in the whole past thirteen years. And it was enough for that time.

And there it is, the first chapter of the story. Planned on doing something entirely else for the first part, but I really liked Tonks and Kingsley working together. Don't forget to let me know what you think :)