Author's note:

Getting into the action now folks, plus a few more characters. This one's longer than the others, but not as funny. The next two chapters are in development and I'll write them soon, but I'm trying to work on some original prose for uni right now, plus I just joined an HP RPG, busy busy busy.

Analia's Broom: Thanks! I have my eye on one like that from CoS Pagan radio's store :D

Deadly-viper-assassin: Action? Which kind? ; ) hehe Hope this is okay for now, and I'll try not to pull that rug hard, really I will.

Izy: Is that English sweetheart? Hehe, I shall take 'yummy' as a compliment. And no, not Ron.

Abesapien: I'm afraid I can't say who it is or isn't, not yet. The oddness will be half revealed in chapter 8, half in the last chapter, so stay tuned!

Rottentunafish: Thanks, I'm trying not to rush it, I'd like Tonks and R to have quite a developed relationship before they finally meet up. And they will, never fear.

Mirror, Mirror

Chapter seven: Sighting

Having fallen over the umbrella stand again, Tonks and Harry floo'd over to Diagon Alley. They appeared in the fireplace of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, much to the surprise of it's owners. The place was full of people, and most seemed to be buying things. The pair wandered around the shop, the twins had definitely been busy. There were a lot of new products on the shelves and Harry suspected the best was yet to come. They strolled over to the till, where George stood, happily serving customers.

"Business booming I see," Tonks noted, smiling.

"Tonks! Harry! How are you both?" George said enthusiastically, putting a large quantity of Skiving Snack boxes into a paper bag for a nervous-looking teenage girl.

"I'm okay I guess," replied Harry, "under the circumstances,"

George nodded sympathetically. "And Professor Lupin? He's alright too?"

"As well as could be expected," Tonks sighed, a small wave of sadness spreading across her face. "I'll tell him you asked." Fred was now waving like a maniac from the top of a ladder, at the other side of the crowded shop.

"Well, we'd better go get my mum's present," Tonks said, waving back at Fred. "We'll probably pop back later though."

"Okay, see you," said George. "Oh oh, Harry, wait a minute!" Harry stopped and came back to the till while Tonks waited at the door.

"Take one of these," George said, passing him a bowl of free samples. Harry picked up a small, bright purple gobstopper. "They were my idea, whatever Fred'd tell you." Harry rolled the little globe between his thumb and forefinger.

"What does it do?" He asked, not wanting to try it himself knowing it's origins.

"Well I'm not really sure. It does something different for each coloured layer and I haven't worked them all out yet. The free samples have helped add to the list though," he giggled, handing Harry a small piece of parchment. "Here's what we've got so far, if you find any others let me know, yea?" Harry nodded and followed Tonks onto the busy street.

"So you know what you're going to get her?" asked Harry, putting the gobstopper and parchment into his pocket for safekeeping. Tonks nodded, looking around like she couldn't quite remember where she was going.

"So where're we headed?" He asked.

"Watson, Blithrom and co." She said, remembering the way, and led Harry to the alley which sat between two packed wizard clothes shops. They didn't have to go far before they reached a small door in the wall. On it's small window read the words:

'Watson, Blithrom & Co.

Repairers and creators of fine tapestries

Since 1786'

Tonks knocked on the door, hoping they were open. From her remote knowledge of the place, she recalled it had very bizarre opening hours. To her relief, the door swang open with a creak and they stepped inside. They found themselves in a hall with nothing in it except a rickety stairway and a few posters on the walls. They made their way upstairs. Tonks was quite pleased to have only tripped up two steps out of the lot. They seemed to be above one of the clothing shops, in a surprisingly bright room. It had two big windows which made up the end wall, there was a desk with two chairs, and also a small sofa scattered with outdated copies of Witch Weekly and The Quidditch Journal.

Tonks stepped up to the desk and rang the small call bell as Harry sat himself down on the sofa. It rather reminded him of his Muggle optometrists. A few seconds later, a man far younger than Tonks was expecting appeared through a door near the sofa.

"Good afternoon miss, Seldus Blithrom, how can I help?" He held out his hand, sounding more like a solicitor than a weaver. As Tonks explained what she wanted, Harry lost interest and picked up an issue of The Quidditch Journal. There was a double-page review of the Nimbus 1000, various league tables and some interviews with players and managers. It was an old one. He was sure it had been very interesting at the time, but he soon grew bored with it, and his attention turned back to the room.

"Friday? Yes, nine days should be long enough." Blithrom said, making notes on a piece of parchment.

"No no, this Friday," Tonks explained. This was her own stupid fault. "It's a present see?"

"Hmm, I'm really not sure that's possible," he told her, trying to sound as nice as possible. Harry switched off again when Tonks started flirting with poor Blithrom, and went back to the ancient magazine.

"A pleasure doing business with you miss Tonks," Blithrom said. Tonks was sure he winked at him.

"I'll see you first thing Friday then Seldus," She smiled back, grabbing Harry and leaving as quickly as she could without it being obvious she was doing just that.

"So was there anywhere you wanted to go since I'm all done?" Tonks asked as they re-entered the busy main stretch of Diagon Alley.

"Well, maybe we could have a look in Quality Quidditch Supplies," Harry suggested, thinking he'd like to pick up a recent copy of the magazine. He looked at Tonks, who hadn't moved. She was staring at something across the street looking very worried. And with good reason. Amongst the usual bustling crowd, she had spotted someone who, if he had any common sense, should not be there. Tonks had made eye-contact with Rodolphus Lestrange. Her hand went immediately to her wand but she didn't use it. The Aurors had been permitted to use Unforgivables when it came to certain individuals, but it was too dangerous here, there were too many people.

"Stay close Harry, do not lose me," She told him, her usual jolly tone was obviously missing as she fixed her eyes onto his. Tonks blinked. He was gone.

"Come on Harry, we have to go," She told him, taking hold of his arm and leading him away. "Now Harry!" She was almost shouting, panic was clearly on the verge of taking over. She led Harry back into Weasley's Wizard Wheezes as quickly as she could.

"Fred, George, I have to go to the ministry, Auror business," she told the twins. "Look after Harry, if you see anything remotely odd he's to floo to my flat, understood?" The three boys nodded, feeling rather intimidated by Auror Tonks.

"I thought you were on holiday?" Harry asked.

"An Auror's job is never done Harry," she said, backing away from them. Without realising who she sounded like, she shouted back "Constant vigilance!" and apparated to Kingsley's office.

With a loud crack, Tonks appeared in front of Kingsley's desk, causing him to drop a bundle of parchment and go for his wand.

"Tonks, you're not back 'til next week," his deep voice boomed.

"Rodolphus Lestrange in Diagon Alley," she panted, seemingly out of breath.

"Are you serious?" He asked, taken completely by surprised.

"Deadly serious," she choked. "He saw Harry and me."

"Is he alright? Where is he?" he asked, walking to the door and shouting. "Level 9, Diagon Alley, number two present!" Tonks saw several of her colleagues rush past.

"He's fine, I left him with the Weasley twins," she told him. Kingsley turned red.

"You did what!?" he screamed. He was clearly under a lot of stress at the moment.

"Oh come on! They're both of age now, they're good wizards when they put their talents to something other than mischief." She wasn't so much defending them, as her decision to leave Harry in their hands.

"That's as maybe, but I think you should go and take him back home."

"Of course." Tonks said. "And I think you should switch to decaf." She poked a pink tongue at him. He was not amused.

"Nice reflexes by the way," she told him, as she left with a crack.