Maybe it was just his own wishful thinking going a step too far, but Sirius was up half the night waiting, just waiting, for an owl to swoop into the Minister's bedroom, or the fireplace to swirl into action, or that freaky house elf Ardy to run in with a message from no one else but Albus Dumbledore. And the message would be an apology, or an explanation that he really did believe Sirius was Sirius but wasn't allowed to admit it due to spies. Or something.

There was no way Dumbledore could not believe him. No way possible. He had to believe. Everything he had ever said. Who else could know that but he himself?

Maybe Sirius just hadn't tried hard enough. Maybe if he brought up all the horror stories that had given Dumbledore such a headache back in the good ol'd Marauder days… no, a spy could possibly know that.

It was next to useless. Every possible thing he could say could either be due to a very clever spy, insanity, or perhaps a combination of both.

It wasn't fair. Was there anyway to get Dumbledore to believe him? Or Harry, for that matter.

Something of an idea struck him at dinner, where Tawnya was all but luring him up to her bedroom; she put a special emphasis on her. It was perhaps one of the more sickening displays Sirius had ever seen. He was almost flattered, when he forgot that she couldn't see him and only saw the body of her husband Cornelius Fudge. Sirius wasn't bad looking, if he did say so himself. After all, how many hearts had he broken at Hogwarts?

But she didn't see Sirius Black. She just saw Cornelius. So Sirius came to the conclusion that she either really loved her husband, was somehow turned on by a pot belly, or a very devoted gold digger. Hopefully not a combination.

That would just be all kinds of wrong.

But there Tawnya was, all but hanging out, gazing simperingly at him over a… lemon chicken meal, was that it?

"I spent hours in front of the mirror just for you, dear," she breathed.

He tried to force a smile. It wasn't that Tawyna wasn't pretty, but she was also just… and Sirius couldn't take another man's wife, even if he actually wanted to. If she wanted to stare at herself in the mirror all day…

Mirror. He swore right then and there.

Tawnya gave a little cry and stared at him. "What are you using that language for?"

He shook his head and shoveled some chicken into his mouth. Chicken always had been good. "Oh, nothing. I just remember something that happened at the Ministry today."

"It must have been horrible, for you to act like that in front of me!" Good, he had her upset.

"No, no, not horrible. No, yes it was. Too horrible for you to concern yourself with."

She forced a smile. "Because I'm your little tree, aren't I?

He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Yes, you're my tree." Wow, did he just say that?

But the mirrors… how could he have forgotten about the mirrors? The ones he and James had always fiddled with, when in detention. Greatest source of communication yet. He had given Harry that one for Christmas.

But where was his own mirror now?

Had he had it on him when he fell through the veil? No, he probably would have remembered that, taking it with him. For all he knew, he had been in too much of a panic about Harry and the other kids to grab it. Of course, he still might have. That didn't mean anything.

"Cornelius?" Tawnya, trying to communicate with him. "Why aren't you listening to me?"

"Huh?" He stared blankly at her.

"I thought we could go upstairs."

Please, no. "Actually… dear… I have a…" He needed an excuse. "I have a headache. Sorry."

"Oh." Her face went stony. "I see how it is. I heard you were talking to that DeChant man's wife at the Quidditch match the other day."

"She's a business associate!"

"I don't want to hear it." With that, she marched away and slammed the door of the dining room behind her.

He could hear her sniffling.

Perhaps he should feel guilty.

Nah.

The next morning, all the way at the office, and still no word from Dumbledore. It was obvious now. The man had no real desire to believe him.

There had to be some way.

But if there was a way, wouldn't Sirius be out looking for it, rather than actually going back to the Ministry? Well, maybe something lucky would happen today. Heck, Tonks was coming back. Maybe. If he hadn't scared her away last time.

No, not Tonks. He knew her too well—well enough discounting the years he had spent in prison, of course. But she had spirit. She was a good girl, a true auror. Too determined for her own good. She'd be back. After all, she sent that note last night.

Percy was already waiting for him with a list of complaints when Sirius strode into the office. "Some of the Department Heads, Sir, are not at all pleased with working with the Order. As you probably already know."

"Of course I know that. I'm not stupid." Wow. He really needed to act like an adult and stop torturing the poor kid. But he had never really liked Percy much anyway. No offense to the rest of the Weasleys.

Percy frowned. For a moment it seemed that famous Weasley temper would erupt. No, didn't look like it. "I know that, Sir. But some of them feel we're giving them too much power."

"Weatherby, I'm not even in my office yet."

"But Sir, they're not happy. They think this really needs to be discussed."

Sirius sighed and glared at him. "And who do you work for? Me or them?"

"I…" Percy rolled his eyes. "Sir, this concerns you as well."

Why did Percy care so much?

"Percy, please."

"But—"

Those Minister of Magic powers could probably kick in now. Enough to make Percy shut up. "Actually, I've decided to put the Order completely over the whole Vol—You-Know-Who incident. They actually know what they are doing."

Percy stared at him.

"Really?"

Both men turned. Tonks was already there. Dressed somewhat professionally, even. Not the goth disaster of the prior day.

"Miss Nymphadora!" Sirius said. "You're here early today." Actually, he had no idea what time she was supposed to arrive.

She forced a smile. "I've decided that this is important not just for the Order of the Phoenix, or just for the Ministry, but for everyone. So we're actually going to work together."

Percy seemed ready to protest. Apparently he couldn't.

Tonks had amazed herself by actually going into the Ministry that day. Molly and everyone had been right. She had no right to be immature about this. No matter how she felt about the assignment. Heck, it had been bad enough to spew out that line just then about working together.

But she was an auror. And aurors did what needed to be done to fight dark wizards. Even if it meant working with equally unsavory characters.

But at least Corneliius Fudge seemed to be at least thinking about coming around to their side. It couldn't have been a show, that line, about putting everything under the Order's jurisdiction. She had just been walking in.

"You really mean that?" she asked, ignoring the glare from Percy.

"Of course I mean that," Fudge said pompously. "Besides, it's less for us to worry about around here. Why do you think we denied the whole thing so long?"

Now that was definitely true. Because you're stubborn morons? But she couldn't voice that aloud. So instead she just smiled. "Of course."

"Oh, Weatherby?" Fudge asked, returning his attention to Percy. "Send a message to the members of the school board. Tell them that I want to get that law changed about no magic during holidays."

Percy's eyes went wide. Tonks felt her own widen as well. That was an idea. As a student she had always whined about the rule. But now she could sort of see the logic behind the law. But Fudge.

"Sir," Percy said. "Do you think that's appropriate?"

"I'm the Minister, I say what's appropriate. Now go."

Percy nodded fearfully and grabbed a quill and a sheet of parchment, upon which he scribbled something. "I'll just go make copies… somewhere else." He headed to the door.

"You want to change that law?" Tonks asked.

Fudged shrugged, laughing. "Eh, I could actually care less. Wasn't there when I attended Hogwarts, but oh well. And like the law will be changed anyway. I just wanted to scare him away and get him among people."

Percy was just barely out the door, his back to them. Before he finally disappeared, Tonks spotted… she blinked. No, it couldn't be.

The floating words "Kick Me" at his back.

She couldn't stop herself, but doubled over into a laugh. What in the world was going on here? She glanced at the Minister. No. It couldn't be. Not in a million years.

"I was bored," he replied. "And no one's going to take advantage of it. Everyone's too stressed. At least, I hope so for his sake."

Tonks continued to laugh.

"It'll wear off in half an hour, anyway. I've already done it to half a dozen people, just on the way in."

She nodded, trying to get a hold of her breath.

The Minister sighed. "Well, let's forget that. What do we have to talk about today?"

She had been given some news bites. "Well…"

"Let's do it over some brunch then. I haven't eaten yet."

She blinked. What was with Fudge? Oh, well. She had skipped breakfast as well. "Okay. Brunch sounds good."

SHOUT OUTS!

xPussyWillowKittenx: Yay for invisible mosquitos. Something will be going between Sirius and Tonks (as bad as it is) but it hasn't quite happened yet…

Willow Evenstar: Well, the others aren't completely stupid.. but it probably will take a while considering the guy looks like Fudge and Sirius is supposed to be dead. And thanks for your compliment about Tonks. I really appreciate it. It's been hard to get her character, because we've only seen so much of her from the fifth book, and… it's just hard because everyone seems to have a different idea of how she should act. So thanks!

scared-of-mimes: You know what… I actually haven't decided yet if he can transform! I don't know if the animagus spell applies to the body itself, of if it just a spell. Hmm.. Thanks for bringing that up. Now I've some pondering to do.

Phillipa of the Phoenix: Yay for Tonks! Though I'm still trying to get her character. And Sirius needs to listen more often!

meenyrocks: Don't worry; he'll eventually find some decent proof.

Marquerida: Someone will believe him. Eventually.

Lady Meriadoc: You know, it really is a scary thing. But could you imagine Sirius as Bush?

IamSiriusgrl: Thanks!

hydraspit: Eh, I can handled flattery. I've been busting my butt to add in all the criticism points and that, so that's fine. Thanks!

Aerinha: Yes. We have one confused Dumbledore on our hands. Of course, maybe he just didn't admit to believing Sirius.