Tonks was lying on her bed in her room at Hogwarts, staring blankly at the ceiling. In fact, this had been her pastime for the whole morning from 5am when she was woken abruptly by nausea. In between then she had showered, dress in her old jeans, thrown up a dozen or so times and resumed her position on her bed to gaze at an unspecific spot. Tonks knew that it was a very unconstructive way to spend her morning, but she had to admit that she was enjoying it much more than she thought she would.

A loud rap came at the door and Tonks snapped her head towards it, frowning. Finding the energy to move, she sat up on the edge of the bed. The knock came again, louder and more persistent this time. Tonks sighed loudly. She pulled the tie out from her dark hair and morphed in to a bob of tight emerald ringlets as she went to the door.

"I'm coming, hang on," she called as the knock came again. Opening the door forcefully, she was confronted by a familiar face.

"Kingsley, what –" She was cut off as her friend widened his eyes briefly, as in warning. Only then did Tonks realise that he was not alone. A middle-aged man with a pompous air to him pushed past the male Auror and stood face to face with Tonks. The man's name was Scrimgeour, Head of the Auror Office at the Ministry. He stared beadily at Tonks and she scowled back.

"Good morning, Nymphadora. May we come in?" He didn't wait for a reply, but pushed her aside to enter the room. Kingsley followed him, staring significantly at Tonks as he passed her. She wished he would stop doing it, as it was of no help at all. Baffled, she closed the door behind the two men.

"I believe you remember Kingsley Shacklebolt from your days at the Ministry." Kingsley gave Tonks a curt nod.

"Yes. Would you mind telling me what this is all about?" She asked Scrimgeour in annoyance, ignoring her friend's greeting.

"Well, Nymphadora–"

"It's Tonks actually."

" –I'm not sure if you are aware of our ongoing investigation into the murder of your aunt, Bellatrix Black, almost four months ago now." Tonks froze at his words, feeling her queasy stomach fall suddenly. She refused to meet Kingsley's gaze. Tonks swallowed quickly.

"It…it's Bellatrix Lestrange actually, sir. And, yes, I am vaguely aware of the investigation." Tonks tried to make her voice sound as strong as possible, though it was very difficult with a mouth as dry as dust.

"Well then you will understand why I would like to ask you a few questions–"

"Not really, no."

" –As you are one of her remaining relatives," he continued. "I had hoped to have spoken to your mother but unfortunately I have not been able to contact her. I don't suppose you would know where she is?" He looked smug, as if knowing that the answer would be no. Tonks risked a glance over at Kingsley, who stood with his hands behind his back, his face expressionless.

"No, I don't. She's out of the country. I've not spoken to her since before Christmas."

"A bit of a coincidence, don't you think, that her sister was found murdered around that same time?" Tonks bit her lip. It certainly did look that way. She would never forgive herself if her mother were to be accused of her own crime.

"Not really," Tonks tried to keep her tone casual. "They've gone to live near my father's relatives, Muggles. They always talked about doing it, when I had settled down." That was partly true, Tonks tried to justify herself.

"Then you must know their whereabouts." Scrimgeour pressed.

"I told you…no." Tonks muttered through clenched teeth. She wanted to sit down, have a glass of water, but she was worried that any movement would convey guilt and chose to remain standing.

"When was the last time you saw Bellatrix Black?" Scrimgeour asked loudly, breaking Tonks out of her reverie.

"Lestrange. And I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"No I don't remember. We weren't close." Scrimgeour took a step towards the witch and she resisted the temptation to take a step back.

"I think you're lying," he whispered in her face. "Am I to take it then," he had brought his voice back up for the benefit of Kingsley, "that you are glad your aunt is dead?"

"I never said that," Tonks said quickly, her voice cracking slightly. Scrimgeour gave her a patronising smile.

"Of course not. But Bellatrix Black was hardly your favourite relative was she."

"Lestrange!" He's doing it on purpose now, Tonks thought, he's trying to break me. "No, she wasn't ok!"

"Really? And why might that be?" Scrimgeour asked almost casually.

"You know why!" Tonks shouted at him. Scrimgeour blinked at her in mild curiosity. Tonks was getting frustrated. She looked at Kingsley, who shook his head ever so slightly. She knew what he meant; keep quiet, don't mention the war. But Tonks was panicking. She didn't know what to say. There were too many lies around her and they were tearing her apart.

"Because she was a Death Eater," Tonks mumbled quietly.

"Ah, yes so she was," Scrimgeour sang. "But you have dealt with Death Eaters before, it was your job. No…if you were to have killed her then there would have to have been more to it than that."

"I didn't kill her!" Tonks screamed suddenly. She was breathing heavily as her words hung in the air. She had done it; she had lied to save herself. No, I'm doing this for my child, a part of her tried to reason. But Tonks had a sudden sense of guilt and selfishness come upon her. Silence fell uncomfortably. Tonks wished she were alone again, staring at her ceiling.

"Tell me about Sirius Black." Scrimgeour's sudden words made Tonks whimper. She couldn't deal with this, not Sirius, not now. She gave a sniffle.

"What about him?" she mumbled.

"He was a relative of yours also, I believe. Is that correct?" You know it is! Tonks thought. She refused to answer and remained staring at the floor.

"Yes, it is," Kingsley's deep voice spoke up from the corner. Scrimgeour nodded to him.

"Were you close with Black?" Silence.

"Yes," Tonks whispered feebly.

"Then his death must have affected you badly."

"You don't know anything about that!" Tonks hissed at him testily.

"No I don't. Why don't you share it with me." Tonks blinked at him defiantly. She chose now to sit on the edge of her bed, not really caring what subconscious message this gave her former boss.

"Have you ever heard of a place called Oakedene Farm?"

"No."

"Have you ever been there?"

"I just told you…I haven't heard of it!"

"Well then, let me inform you. It was the place where your aunt was murdered, on a cold early morning last December. She was attacked using a Muggle weapon, then left for dead in the barn. This bringing anything back to you?" he asked mockingly. Tonks refused to answer.

"Shacklebolt…" Tonks saw Kingsley move out of the corner of her eye, and pass something to his boss. "Do you recognise this, Nymphadora?" Tonks raised her head slowly and saw a familiar looking, blood-stained knife. She felt like fainting, and was extremely grateful that she had chosen to sit down.

"No."

"No? Are you sure? Take a closer look." He moved the knife closer to the witch. It barely caught the light with it's deep red staining.

"I've never seen it before in my life," Tonks' voice held a sudden strength. She knew that there was no going back. She had lied, and would have to continue to do so.

"Are you sure?" Scrimgeour asked again.

"Are my fingerprints on it?" Tonks asked sarcastically, but in truth she actually wanted to know.

"No, it would seem that whoever used this weapon was clever enough to clean up after themselves," he admitted. Or someone else, Tonks thought feeling incredibly grateful towards Kingsley and Mad-Eye. She rose from her bed and faced Scrimgeour squarely.

"If you don't mind, sir, I would like to be getting on with my work now." Her confidence surprised him, and herself also but she didn't show it. "If I can help you in any other way, let me know. But I am rather busy right now, so I would appreciate it if you would leave. She walked to the door and opened it for the two men. Scrimgeour looked at her intently.

"Very well, Nymphadora–"

"Tonks."

"Tonks…but you lied to me before. Answer me this…I know you know…when was the last time you saw Bellatrix Lestrange?" Tonks met his grey eyes directly.

"Last summer, in the Ministry of Magic…the Department of Mysteries to be precise. She killed my cousin, Sirius Black, and that was the last time I saw her. And you were right, sir, I am glad she's dead, but I did not kill her."

They locked stares for several seconds before Scrimgeour nodded briefly.

"Thank you for your time, Tonks." The man brushed past her and through the door, followed by Kingsley who offered Tonks a looked of concern before leaving the woman on her own again.

She slammed the door angrily, feeling herself trembling with shock and fear, before sliding down the door and onto the floor where she began to cry.