All that cleaning Molly had performed last summer and the house was still a mess. Tonks closed her eyes against the cyclone of dust that had arisen with the mere moving of a pile of laundry—formerly clean, but still to be dumped in the laundry pile. Disgusting. Who could live this way? But it seemed to be the very nature of the Black house. Even her childhood memories of the few occasions she had actually come here included room upon room of dirt, dust, and cobwebs. At least her father was just sloppy. "Dumbledore, no one knows of any spell where I could just flick my wand and the house would be spotless?"

He turned the page of the book he was reading and gave a short laugh, his eyes twinkling like they rarely did anymore. "Believe me, Tonks, even the greatest wizards have not been able to learn such a spell."

She sighed and delicately pulled a large spider from the corner of the drawer she had been emptying. "On that Mary Poppins movie, she just snaps and everything is clean." Of course, that was a fictional Muggle movie, so everyone knew it wasn't real. It was common knowledge that the real Mary Poppins was much more proficient with a wand. "I guess I just hate cleaning."

"We all do."

"You're not even helping!"

He laughed again. "Not much of a threat, Nymphadora. It was your decision, your declaration to come to this God-forsaken place and proceed to go through all the bureaus. Quite unlike you. If I didn't know any better I'd say that you had something important to tell me."

A shirt, slippery with dust, fell from her fingers. Whatever had happened to her plan to come straight to Dumbledore with her news? Especially after Cornelius Fudge had become so conveniently distracted on the return to his office.

"Tonks?" Dumbledore set his book down.

Why in the world was he even up here with him? So she had come straight to Grimmauld Place when she had been informed the man was there. And so she had come, without saying a word to him. And yet, in typical all-knowing Dumbledore fashion, he knew. He knew something was up. She might as well start talking. She picked up the shirt from its fresh pile of dust. "It's about Fudge."

"It's always about Fudge," he said. "I'm sorry about this assignment, but is it really going so horribly for you?"

She shook her head instinctively. Not that day. It was just going… weird. The way he hadn't let go of her hand when he had helped her up. She almost shuddered. Disgusting. "No, not anymore. But…" Oh, she just had to say it. "I overheard something today. In one of the old halls of the Ministry."

He raised an eyebrow, attention suddenly and fully on her. It was not comfortable. "Oh?"

"Two people were talking. A man and a woman. Apparently one of them had tried to kill Fudge."

"There have always been assassination attempts. Why, I remember the time we had taken a trip to Dublin… some of those leprechauns didn't care for him. What a mess."

"It wasn't an assassination attempt!" The bureau drawer rattled from her voice. She hadn't meant to shout. "They had used the Killing Curse on him!"

He stared back at her. It was unnerving. This was Dumbledore. He wasn't supposed to look… so bewildered.

Of course, it did sound insane. Cornelius Fudge, surviving the Killing curse, like he were Harry Potter or something. She almost laughed. "Really, that's what I heard." So much for continuing a serious demeanor. "I know it sounds crazy…"

He waved his hand, muttering something under his breath. "Do you know who said this?"

"I didn't recognize either voice. But…" She took a deep breath, still marveling at how crazy this sounded aloud. But Dumbledore, he did seem to be believing her. So far. Or at least humoring her. This couldn't be good. "I asked him about it later. He seemed… he seemed to know something about it. Not surprised at all."

"The insane are never surprised."

She stared back at him, and this time the laugh did escape. "You think he's insane?"

He didn't reply for a long time. "I spoke with him the other day. He summoned me to his office. As he likes to do on occasion. He claimed he wasn't Cornelius. That was… someone else."

No. Dumbledore couldn't possibly have known what had crossed her mind. That Fudge was someone else… It was madness, pure and simple. "Apparently he is crazy."

"But you said they had used the Killing Curse. And that Fudge didn't deny it." He stood up, book falling to the floor. "Tonks, I didn't expect this kind of thing."

"Neither did I. Dumbledore, he's hiding something. I know he is."

"How has he been acting? Prior to this?"

Now that was a question. "Well, considering I've never really met the man before." She shrugged, thinking back to that day. "He's nice. Very nice, actually. I didn't think he'd be that nice."

Dumbledore nodded. "It's been the years that have changed him. I've always liked him. Before this mess, anyway. I guess being nice is something that can easily be hidden."

Dumbledore really didn't understand. She closed her eyes, wondering how he would react. If Fudge really were crazy, well, wouldn't this prove it? "He was casting "Kick me" enchantments on the back of people today."

"Fudge? Cornelius Fudge was doing this? Are you quite sure?"

Even the great Dumbledore didn't know what to think. "I'm positive. I saw him do it. He admitted to it. That's something I really didn't expect out of him. When you talked to him, who did he claim to be?"

For a long time he said nothing, simply watching her, as if afraid she would suddenly throw the bureau at him. Fudge had claimed to be someone else, that much was evident. Then he sighed and headed to the door. "I really must go and speak with the others."

Tonks grabbed another shirt out of the drawer and through it at his feet. "He told you, didn't he?"

"Is it really so important?"

Probably not. "Yes!"

His hand was on the doorknob now, in the process of twisting. He wouldn't even look back at her. "Considering all that has happened in the past month, I think it's best you not know the workings of whatever is going on in the Minister's mind."

"Why not? I'm working with him! I'm the most directly involved here."

"I don't think it matters."

It didn't matter? She felt her heated temper rising within her. "How doesn't it matter? Dumbledore, something is very wrong in that place. Fudge has a secret he isn't telling me, and I've just heard people say he's survived the same curse that only Harry has survived. You know that's impossible." Was it? "And they plan to try and kill him again."

Dumbledore stopped.

Tonks took a deep breath. She had to remain calm. If she really thought she was going to try and toss urgency all over this place, she had to be calm. "The only people I can imagine wanting to kill anyone so high up in the Ministry right now would be those working for the Dark Lord. If they are at so easy access as to try and kill him once, they are very close. We have to do something. We can't let him be killed."

A slow, serious smile had enveloped his face as he turned around. "And to think you had wanted the man dead the other day, from what I've heard. You're right, Tonks. He can't die."

"Do you have any ideas?"

"I'll figure something out. Just keep doing what you're doing, and use your common sense. Everything will be fine." He left the room.

Then how did he explain Fudge's innate ability to dodge curses? Her temper flared up once more, in the form of a pile of laundry, fresh from the dusty realms of the drawer, flung against the already closed door.

There wasn't supposed to be a crash.

Tonks gave a small cry and the tinkle of something breaking. There was only supposed to be clothes in there! She dropped to the clothes and began to fish through them. Ouch. She pulled her finger out and grimaced at the spot of blood. Something had nicked her. Something sharp, like…. Glass. Oh lovely. What had she broken? Gingerly she peeled away the clothes.

Shards of mirror were mixed in with the cloth and dust.

She swore. Everyone knew the seven years bad luck ordeal was Muggle fantasy, but this mirror was probably some ancient heirloom of the Blacks. And she had just crushed it.

Well, a repair would put it right, but the Blacks were so whiney about the littlest things. Her mother probably wouldn't care, but if that awful Narcissa found out. Or worse, Bellatrix. Though they could both go to hell, for all Tonks cared. Now who might the mirror have belonged to?

A wave of sickness flooded through her. This had been Sirius' room.

She closed her eyes, trying not to cry. This really was a bad day.

A knock came at the door. Someone probably asking about the crash. Or her swearing. She sighed and pushed the mirror-ridden clothes over. "Come in," she called.

The door opened, revealing the beaming face of a house-elf. "Mistress Tonks?" she asked.

Tonks stared. She had never seen the house-elf before in her life. "Who are you?"

"Deena, Miss," the elf said, curtsying. "My master is the Minister Cornelius Fudge, and he did ask that Deena come to give you something."

"Wait," Tonks said, climbing to her feet. "How did you get in here?"

"Too much time to use door of big ugly house, Miss, so I appeared in the hall. But it was still best that I would knock first on door where Mistress Tonks is."

No one was supposed to know where the house was. How much did they know? "But how did you find this place?"

"Master Cornelius told Deena."

Tonks sniffed. "Did Master Cornelius, now? How convenient."

Deena blinked, looking for the first time like she would rather not be there. "He asked Deena to bring you flowers, Miss."

"Flowers?"

A small bouquet of a rather unattractive flower combination appeared from behind Deena's back. "Yes, flowers. And an apology for today." She pressed both the flowers and an envelope into Tonks' hands.

Something wasn't right about this. How in the world did the house-elf know where to come? They had their own little powers of transportation, but still Tonks imagined they would need to know a place existed in order to come there. How did she know? She tossed both card and flowers onto the bureau behind them.

The two people had mentioned a house-elf. One of Fudge's house-elves was supposed to have poisoned him.

And this one seemed to be too smart for her own good.

Tonks pulled out her wand and in a flash had the house-elf completely immobilized. "How did you get into this house?"

Deena stared up at her, terrified. "I just… I just come! Like we house-elves always do. It is what we do!"

This could be very awkward. "Are you loyal to your Master?"

Deena nodded, almost crying. "Please, let me go! I would never hurt Master Cornelius! I is a good house-elf for him!" She snapped her fingers and was suddenly free of the spell.

Not until Tonks found something out. She sprang down, wrapping her hand around the elf's wrist. With difficulty. The creatures were surprisingly strong.

Deena gave a high-pitched squeak and shoved, with incredible force, Tonks away. "You leave Deena alone! You want to hurt Master Cornelius, don't you?"

Tonks gasped for breath. Tough little buggers. "I'm trying to protect him!"

"Then why did you attack me? Just because Master Cornelius sent you?"

"I—" She tried to stand up, but Deena gave another snap. The air seemed to harden, then rebel. Tonks found herself thrown to the other side of the room, ramming painfully into the wall. "Ouch. Okay, I'm sorry I grabbed you."

Deena stared. "Is you?"

"I am. Very sorry." She managed a grin. "And you have very impressive force, I must say."

Deena blushed. "Oh, I isn't so strong. But I is strong enough to protect Master Cornelius. I'm a good house-elf for him. The best. Not like some others."

"Others?"

Fear darted across Deena's eyes. "Oh, I didn't say that. Not at all. I was just saying…"

Tonks, almost cautiously, came forward. "Deena, this is just between us girls. I think you broke one of my ribs with that throw. You could at least indulge me in some gossip. I promise I won't tell. I want to protect your Master Cornelius just as much as you do."

"Really?"

"That I do."

Deena looked around cautiously, as if expecting someone to just jump out of the wall. "Well, there is another house-elf. Ardy. Deena doesn't like him much. Stupid. Too good for his station, he thinks. He sometimes cooks for Master Cornelius. I think he is still loyal to former master."

This was good. "So who was Ardy's former master?"

She shrugged. "I doesn't know, Miss. Deena just delivers flowers according to Master Cornelius' instructions. Now I'm most late for other chores." She gave another curtsey. "Nice to meet you, Miss Tonks." With a loud snap, she was gone.

The little bugger was probably lying, Tonks thought. Ardy could be innocent. Well, she'd just tell Cornelius about both of them. Poor guy, having to suffer with at least two house-elves. But it was something. Now all she needed to know was how in the world Deena had found the place.

If only Tonks could get into Cornelius' house—and have a little chat with Ardy.

But how was she supposed to do that? She glanced back at the flowers. Why in the world had he sent her flowers? He was so weird and secretive… and then he would send her flowers. She picked them and smelled them. Not bad, actually.

He was kind of sweet.

She opened the card.

That smelled so much worse. Even worse than what she and the kids had sent him.

She set the card on fire and gasped for fresh air. That… creep! Sending her stuff like this, like a prank war he was trying to start!

All of her worries suddenly vanished. Oh well. She'd bring them back up soon enough.

There was revenge to be sought. And if she had to figure out the Minister's secret while such revenge was pulled, so be it.

Cornelius Fudge was a heck of a lot more interesting than she had anticipated. Maybe all she would have to do was ask to see his house.

xPussyWillowKittenx: Sirius might not be thinking that she would have believed him. Silly boy. He can tell everyone else just fine. Sigh.

vbabe24: You can do the kick me thing if you really wanted! If you had magical powers! But for now you can use paper and tape.

Thoughts and Pondering: I know! She's so awful! But I was trying to be very mean to the REAL Fudge, and I thought maybe he would like a girl like her. But Sirius is above that. And yes, there will be a thing between Tonks and Sirius.

milky way bar: Or maybe we only think they need to be smacked upside the head because we are blinded by omniscience.

meenyrocks: That's a big problem I've noticed in my other fic. There is a reason why Percy has suddenly been drawn back, besides the usual desire to go bug people, as angels probably do, but I haven't been able to squeeze it in yet! I need to do a rewrite of that part.

Marquerida: Yes, he will be changing bodies in the future. I'm not so cruel as to leave him in Fudge's body.

Lady Meriadoc: Well, Sirius did talk quietly, and she off. And as far as she is concerned, Sirius is dead. But still, the girl could get a clue.

Lady Kazaana: I don't think there is anyone who can understand what he is going through!

IamSiriusgrl: Thanks!

hydraspit: Well, that's what it is! I can't lie! )

EternallyLost: Thanks!

ArcherofDarkness and Callie: Whilst I definitely would not put "That time of the month" in a fic, it's probably true. But give her a break: she's used to people dying and not coming back.