Tonks looked around, her mind hazy. She could vaguely see the outline of a handsome man with grey eyes. He was leading her down a pathway... it looked vaguely familiar but where it was, she couldn't tell. Around them echoed the sounds of hushed voices and their footsteps as they took each stride. After an eternity of walking down the long black corridor, the man led her into a round room them descended in flights of stairs and ended with a round dais at the base. Tonks felt herself freeze as the man smiled at her before walking calmly down the steps and through the solitary curtain that was blowing slightly in a light breeze. She wanted to cry out; to stop the man. Remus appeared next to her and held her waist as she fought to run down the steps.

"He's gone Tonks. There's nothing you can do..."

The scene changed.

Tonks found herself in an alley way, cornered by three men in white masks who were laughing and taunting her. She was screaming, praying for an escape. Praying that she was dreaming and that soon she would wake. Suddenly a man fell into her and looked up with pleading, silver eyes. His hair was dark, his mouth stained with blood which Tonks was horrified to see, was not his own.

"Tell him. We need... we need him. Tell..."

The man was suddenly struck to the floor and Tonks screamed as the closest death eater strode forward, his wand raised. She could see the blood stains on the robes of the man before her, a cruel picture of what would become of her blood once he had muttered the curse...

"Avarda kedavra..."

Tonks screwed up her eyes in frustration as the sunlight streamed in from the wide window in her loft bedroom. She rubbed her bleary eyes and rolled off the bed and hit the floor with a dull thud. Groaning, she stood up awkwardly, stretching widely to un-flex the muscles in her back, and walked zombie-like out of her bedroom door and down the three flights of stairs that led to the kitchen. The dream she had been having was blurry in her mind. She could still see a man, cowering infront of her. The words "tell him" still burnt upon her memory but what or whom they were for were a mystery to her.

Yawning, Tonks pushed open the kitchen door and walked inside, waving at Ginny and Molly who looked up and smiled at her. At the corner of the table sat Bill who -once he looked up from the newspaper he was reading- beamed and waved back at Tonks.

"Good morning sweetie. How are you today?"

"Not ba--ba--d" she mumbled stifling a yawn. "Anything interesting?" She gestured towards the news paper and Bill threw it towards her.

"Page 4. It's not a lot of good now..."

Tonks frowned, unnerved by Bill's tone of uncharacteristic bitterness, and opened the Daily Prophet to the designated page. She gasped as she read the large title.

"SIRIUS BLACK - FULL PARDON GIVEN TO GRYFINDOR HERO."

Bill gestured for her to read on as Tonks glanced at him with saddened eyes.

"Sirius Black, famous for being the traitor that caused the death's of Mr James Potter and Mrs Lily Potter, was today pardoned in an official speech by the department of Law enforcement and unspeakables. Arthur Weasley, minister of magic, stated after the speech that it was an overdue apology and one that is useless due to the death of Black two months ago. However, the thanked the ministry for their cooperation in handling the matter with dignity and discreteness. Black's relatives will be given a metal for his bravery and determination as it has been found that through his search, Black constantly fought in the battle to overcome...well... you-know-who...."

Tonks frowned and gazed across at Bill who sighed heavily and reached for a piece of toast on the rack in the centre of the table.

"Did Arthur have anything to do with the pardon?" asked Tonks dully.

"No," replied Molly as she set a plate of bacon and eggs down infront of Tonks. "They came to the conclusion themselves after a confession of Fudge's and a witness statement from Dumbledore and Moody.

Tonks nodded, looking at the plate and not feeling hungry in the slightest. Every mention of Sirius caused another dull ache to throb in her chest.

Merlin, she missed him.

"When...when you going back to school Gin?" Tonks said, trying to change the subject. She smiled weakly, aware that her eyes were beginning to fill with tears and grabbed a piece of toast, taking a bite so that she could concentrate on anything other than her cousin.

"Two days," said Ginny gloomily. "I swear the holidays are becoming shorter each year..."

"Nope. You're just doing more," called Ron's voice as he entered the room with Harry and sat down beside Tonks. Harry on the other hand sat beside Ginny. Tonks noticed that he was trying very hard to make the action appear casual. However, HE didn't see the small grin flash between Ginny and Tonks before Hermione walked in, rubbing her eyes just as Tonks had done and looking very tired.

"Ruff nigh'?" called Ron as he munched his way through the breakfast that his mother had just placed infront of him.

"Mmm... I was up late."

"'Ow cume?"

"Oh, I was just writing a letter."

Tonks had to struggle hard as Ron's eyes flashed and he nearly spat the piece of bacon that he was chewing out.

"Who to?" he growled as he swallowed the meat.

"Oh, no-one." Hermione's cheeks flushed as she realised that the whole table was now staring at the couple with avid interest. Molly obviously picked up on the silence as she bustled over and began talking about the journey to Hogwarts. Tonks smiled, glad that she was in such a loving family that could ease her pain in minutes.

"How are you doing Harry?"

The table went silent but Tonks kept her smile on her face. No-one had openly spoken to Harry all summer and she thought it was about time to change that. Infact, Harry grinned as he looked up at Tonks.

"I'm alright," he replied.

"Good," Tonks said cheerfully. She was about to take a slice of toast when she saw Harry reach for the newspaper. Her mind flashed the picture of Sirius in black and white and she dived across the table knocking over a bottle of milk onto the floor.

"Oh I'm so sorry Molly!" cried Tonks as she stood up and went to mop up the milk.

"Sit down!" Molly swept the mess up in an instant with her wand and turned to the newspaper. "Why on earth do you want--"

"Tornado results, got to know them before I go to work, keep on top of the lads."

Bill snorted into his breakfast and Tonks hit his leg hard under the table.

"Sorry Harry." Harry grinned at Tonks once more looking quite worried about her mental state of health and Tonks took the newspaper from him and hid it under the table.

"Hello, hello!"

Tonks looked towards the door where Charlie was stood in a loose vest and baggy, checked trousers. Tonks groaned, wondering if her morning could get any worse, and lowered her head, taking a long draft of coffee in the cup beside her which turned out to be...

"Hey! That's mine!"

Tonks stared horrified at Bill who was trying to frown but grinning widely never the less. Tonks handed the mug back but he laughed and pushed it back towards her.

"It's alright love; I can handle having yours instead..." He reached for Tonks' untouched mug and took a sip. "At least you have it the same as me..."

"White, two sugars," said Charlie as he sat opposite Tonks. "Starting early today are we?"

Tonks blushed but Bill stood up for her...

Kind of...

"She's not ALWAYS stupid," he countered, looking almost angrily at his brother. Tonks was burning scarlet now and she got up hastily, her chair scraping on the blue slate of the kitchen floor. A brief flash of realisation swept into Charlie's eyes before Tonks mumbled her goodbye and jogged to the door, squeezing past Charlie. He grabbed hold of her arm with his large, calloused hand and smiled with embarrassment.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean--"

"It's alright. You don't even know me. I don't mind insults from strangers." Tonks ran out of the kitchen and rolled her eyes as she saw Charlie leave the kitchen and try to come after her. "I'll see you for tea," she yelled before jogging up the stairs to her bedroom, feeling worse than when she had read the newspaper.

--

"What's wrong with you!?" laughed the wizard at the reception desk in the ministry of magic as Tonks apparated into the halls half an hour later.

"Nothing," she hissed, stumbling over her long cloak. Passing the guard, who was trying not to snigger, Tonks strode hastily into the lifts and ascended into the auror level. Taking a deep breath, she watched with bored interest as each person got on and off the lift, flying letters and notes accompanying each colleague. It was only as they reached the auror sector that Tonks realised that a letter had been hitting her elbow.

Taking the letter, Tonks smiled at the trademark red letters 'Only to be opened by the addressee', opened the letter and read the spiky script of Kingsley.

"Tonks,

Where are you girl? I couldn't find you at work yesterday 'noon! Did you stay at Grimmauld Place over night? I haven't seen Remus either. He wasn't home last night. Moody's at home - he'll be at Arthur and Molly's for dinner. I'll meet up at lunch. 2 O'clock sound good to you? We can go to Diagon Alley. No-one from the ministry goes there for lunch and I've got to get a few things. We can call in on Fred and George while we're there too!

See you then,

Love K."

Tonks grinned and stored the letter away in her trouser pocket, brushing a strand of her purple hair out of her eyes. It was still vital that as little as possible knew of her and Kinsley's friendship. It could easily jeopardise the order.

Tonks entered her office to the left of the long corridor and sat down heavily on the revolving chair at her desk. Her mind was still buzzing from breakfast, heat rising in her cheeks from the embarrassment that she still felt. Groaning, Tonks rubbed her eyes before taking off her coat and reaching for the two letters that lay in her inbox tray.

The first happened to be a letter discussing her patrol times for the following week. She groaned when she noticed that every afternoon and evening was taken up by patrolling Knockturn Alley. Nevertheless, she thought vaguely that she could go and see Fred and George in Diagon Alley afterwards. This cheered her up somewhat and she opened the next letter which turned out to be sent by Emmiline Vance who worked in St Mungo's and requested the help of Tonks to discuss a case involving a man who was breeding Illegal poisonous chickens and selling them to people. She also sent her love and promises of seeing Tonks soon.

Tonks massaged her neck and set to work, pausing only for a second to greet the auror, Yates, that worked in the same office as her. It was 1 o'clock when a beautiful brown owl swept in through the window and landed perfectly on Tonks' desk. Picking the letter up, Tonks' heart leap as she recognised the flowing script immediately. Tearing open the envelope addressed to "Miss Tonks", Tonks virtually skim read the letter, desperate to take it all in.

"Dearest Tonks.

I'm sorry about last night. Please forgive me but after Kinsley... I love you too much to see you get hurt by me. Are you staying at the Weasleys tonight? I can't come home for the next three days (I'm sorry, my love!) because Dumbledore wants me to patrol and meet up with a few contacts. But I'll see you when I get back.

All my love,

Remus

X"

Tonks read through the letter again unbelievingly and slumped in the chair, feeling as though the wind had been knocked from her. He wasn't coming home for another 3 nights. 3 Nights.

3 nights without Remus.

Tonks lay her head on the desk and groaned softly before sitting up and hitting the desk in frustration.

Merlin, he is so dead.

3 nights. She had hardly seen him, if not for the hospital visits where he fussed, since Sirius' death. And what made matters worse was that she now had to go and live with the Weasleys for 3 days.

And that meant living with Charlie.

"What is it?!" she growled as someone knocked loudly on her door. A very timid looking Kingsley peered around the door before he grinned. He walked in a shut the door before seating himself on Tonks desk, hands between his knees, and staring at her with obvious amusement.

"You alone?"

"Yates just left," mumbled Tonks, biting her thumbnail as she worried over the letter.

Kingsley raised one eyebrow. "What's up with you?"

Tonks scowled and threw him the letter that had been crushed in her anger. Kingsley skimmed the letter quickly before smiling sympathetically and throwing the letter back onto Tonks' desk.

"Fancy having lunch early?"

Tonks looked at the odd bits of paperwork on her desk and stood up. "Let's go."

Kingsley grinned and stood up also. "That's my girl. I don't have anything on until 3 o'clock. My departments been really quite what with Sirius' death and suchlike--" He stopped as he saw Tonks' face. "Oh, Tonks. I'm sorry..."

"It's ok," she said quickly. "I'm going to have to get use to his name soon aren't I? Right, I don't have anything specific until patrols later at 5. Emmiline wants to see me but that can wait," she said, running over what she had to do in a desperate effort to forget the letter. Kingsley opened the door and drew his wand out. "We better meet there in case we are seen. I'll be outside Quality Quidditch Supplies." With that Kingsley apparated loudly leaving Tonks alone in the empty office. She walked towards the door slowly, thinking things could only better as her night shift came.

How wrong she was...