"Wotcher, Harry," Tonks said half-heartedly at the bespectacled teenage wizard. He had just arrived at the Burrow after an evening with Dumbledore. Tonks had been at the Burrow for a few moments herself, hoping to get advice (and a listening ear) from Molly Weasley.
Harry looked tired, but content, and Molly fussed over him before Ron and Hermione came to meet him. Once Harry and his friends were safely upstairs, Molly broke the uncomfortable silence.
"I heard what happened between you and Remus," Molly said gently. "How have you been?"
"Bloody miserable," Tonks replied. "I don't get it."
"What exactly did he tell you, dear?" Molly asked, preparing a fresh cup of tea for the younger witch.
"He didn't really tell me anything," Tonks lamented. "He wrote me this long bloody letter and when I saw him at King's Cross, he just dismissed as if nothing had happened. I don't understand." Tonks ran her fingers through her dull, brown locks. "I haven't been able to morph since before the Department of Mysteries."
"Perhaps it's due to your injuries? Alastor told us they were rather severe," Molly offered.
"I thought that too, at first, but it's been nearly a month and I still can't morph. I think it's my emotional state, honestly," Tonks bemoaned. "I've never known it to last this long, or be this severe."
"This has happened before?" Molly asked.
"A few times, yeah," Tonks admitted. "When my Granny Tonks died I couldn't morph for a week, and anytime I was really scared or sad as a kid I couldn't morph for a few hours, maybe days? It's hard to remember." Tonks put her face in her hands. "It makes me useless as an Auror. I can't do disguise anymore."
"Don't say that, dear," Molly soothed. "You are as talented an Auror as ever, even without your morphing."
"Thanks, Molly, but I'm on desk duty for another few weeks and then I'm off to Hogsmeade for the year. Not exactly a promising spot for stopping Death Eaters."
"I'm certain Albus had something to do with it," Molly asserted. Tonks looked up at her in slight disbelief.
"You think Dumbledore wants me there?" Tonks asked. She would always be happy to do favors for Dumbledore, but even he knew she was more talented in more dangerous areas, rather than the charming Wizarding village.
"If the Ministry was sending Aurors to Hogsmeade, wouldn't you think he'd want an Order member there too?" Molly reasoned.
"I s'pose," Tonks said lamely. She hesitated before asking the question that had been on the tip of her tongue. "Have you heard anything about Remus, Molly?"
"Last I heard, he was going to meet with werewolves to get their support for our cause," Molly informed. "I'm afraid I don't know more."
"Did Dumbledore put him up to this?" Tonks demanded. If Dumbledore was the reason Remus might die at the hands of unfriendly werewolves while Tonks was playing babysitter in Hogsmeade, she might actually strangle the old wizard.
"I'm not sure," Molly admitted. "I believe it was a mutual understanding. Remus parlayed with werewolves in the first war, you know."
Tonks snorted. "How'd that work out for him?" Based on everything Remus had told her about his misadventures with werewolves, he hated everything about werewolf life and community. If he was being sent to live among other werewolves, there was simply no way he was doing so willingly or happily, Tonks concluded.
"It wasn't for very long, I believe," Molly replied, brow furrowed, evidently deep in thought. "We weren't members of the Order then. Having several young children prevents that sort of activity," Molly smiled.
"How are Bill and Charlie, then?" Tonks asked, attempting to distract herself.
"Charlie is doing just fine in Romania," Molly replied. "I wish he'd come home more often, but it appears he enjoys dragons' company far more than human company." A small, sad smile crossed her face.
"Bill? He's with that French bird, isn't he?" Tonks asked.
"They are soon to be engaged," Molly said tersely.
"Tell me how you really feel," Tonks teased, a rare smile gracing her face.
"Fleur is very…French," Molly decided. "She has her own way of doing things and does not like to see other ways." Tonks chuckled to herself; this was precisely how Molly was; no wonder Fleur bothered her. Same personalities, same flaws, thought Tonks.
"You don't want them to be married?" Tonks asked.
"It's too soon! They've only known each other a year!" Molly insisted. "Bill seems to have set his mind to the matter." Molly sighed, stirring a spoonful of sugar into a new, steaming cup of tea.
"We can't help who we love, can we?" Tonks observed. Molly looked at Tonks sympathetically.
"No, we can't," Molly agreed. "I hope you and Remus can work it out together. You both seemed so happy."
"We were," Tonks emphasized. "Now he's up and left me and you're the only one who seems to care that I'm miserable about it."
"Your parents didn't know you were together?" Molly asked. "You never told them?"
"They know, and they met him. My dad liked him just fine. My mum was…another story, I s'pose," Tonks explained. "Mum wasn't keen on the lycanthropy business."
"Ah," Molly understood. "But that doesn't matter much, now does it?"
"Not to me," Tonks said matter-of-factly. "It never has, not really. I hated when he hurt himself during the full moon. Just not fair, y'know? My dad never seemed to care much about the werewolf thing, but my mum worried about how dangerous it could be for me to spend so much time around a werewolf."
"Remus has always been careful with his lycanthropy. He would never willingly hurt anyone," Molly reassured.
"It's not the willing piece he takes issue with," Tonks said darkly. "He's convinced that me just being with him makes me exposed to more danger. Thinks he's doing me a favor by leaving me. Mum seems to agree."
"Perhaps they'll both see reason," Molly offered.
"Perhaps," Tonks repeated, not believing for a moment that her situation would improve.
…
"Tonks!" Aflie's overly enthusiastic greeting grated Tonks' ears. It was too early for his cheeriness. It was too early for him.
"Yes, Alfie?" Tonks sighed. "What do you need?"
"We need to start planning for our mission in Hogsmeade," Alfie informed. "You've been doing the research, but I wanted to put my skills to good use and figure out where we'll be staying."
"Staying?" Tonks asked in disbelief. "What has Scrimgeour told you?"
"He wants us there at all hours," Alfie shared. "It's not a daily mission. He wants us living there."
"Is that really necessary, Alfie?" Tonks rubbed her temples with her index fingers, trying to soothe the headache that was now building behind her eyes. "Did Scrimgeour assign this, or did you put the idea in his head?"
Alfie looked down at his shoes guiltily. "It may have been a bit of both," he admitted sheepishly.
Grand, Tonks thought. Not just a year at Hogsmeade with Alfie, but a year living at Hogsmeade with Alfie. Without any escape. Without any reprieve.
"So you volunteered to take us from our current homes to settle into Hogsmeade?" Tonks asked angrily. "What were you thinking? Do you really want a promotion that badly?"
"Not all of us can get them from disregarding direct orders," Alfie retorted. "Besides, it won't be all bad! It's so much cheaper to live there than London!"
Tonks rolled her eyes. Gold was the least of her concerns at this point. "Fine," Tonks agreed angrily. "Let's discuss where we're staying." Alfie brightened at this and conjured a chair to sit next to her.
"There's a flat above Honeydukes I found," Alfie began rapidly. "Two bedrooms. A bit small, but it would serve us just fine for the mission."
"Two bedrooms?" Tonks asked in confusion.
"One for each of us," Alfie explained quickly, as he continued detailing the pros and cons of the Honeydukes flat.
"Alfie," Tonks put her hand up, prompting the other Auror to stop talking. "I'm not living with you."
"Why not? It's a mission," Alfie defended. "We've shared sleeping spaces before, like last year when we met with the giants."
"That was different," Tonks explained. "That was a short-term mission. If we're to be at Hogsmeade for any more than a few weeks, we should have our own spaces."
Alfie's face fell. "You said yourself it's cheaper to live there than in London," Tonks continued. "We may as well have our own spaces and spread out. We'll be patrolling together all year, so it's not as if we'll be missing each other for long."
Alfie seemed appeased by this line of reasoning; Tonks continued to suspect that Alfie harbored feelings for her, and may have been using the flat under the guise of spending even more time with her.
"Where will you stay, then?" Alfie asked. "If not with me?"
"I'll figure something out," Tonks replied. "I've a few contacts in Hogsmeade. Maybe Madam Rosmerta can spare a room for a while."
"Let me know as soon as you find someplace," Alfie insisted. "So I know where to find you." Alfie smiled broadly at Tonks, causing her to shudder slightly.
Wherever she did find a place to stay, she hoped it would be as repelling to Alfie as possible.
…
"Wotcher, Professor," Tonks greeted Dumbledore in his office. She offered her hand to his, and noticed the ugliness of his withered hand.
"Professor!" Tonks cried. "Are you alright? What happened? Can I fetch Madam Pomfrey for you?"
"No, no, my dear girl," Dumbledore replied kindly. "It's a story for another day, I fear. I'm as healthy as can be." Tonks eyed the Headmaster warily, but decided to accept his excuse for the time being. She had her own business to attend to.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your company, Tonks?" Dumbledore asked.
"Did you put me up to being stationed at Hogsmeade this year?" Tonks asked bluntly. "I'll be at Hogsmeade from mid-August till next summer, probably. Did you do this?"
"I did not," Dumbledore admitted. "Although I am rather pleased you'll be close by." Tonks stared at him, dumbfounded.
"I'm afraid I will be traveling a little more than usual in the coming months," Dumbledore explained. "When I am away from the castle, it will be reassuring to know I have a bright young Auror close by to assist with any emergencies that may arise."
"Where are you going?" Tonks asked instinctively.
"Around," Dumbledore replied enigmatically, as Tonks resisted the eye roll that threatened to make its snarky appearance show. "I might add that it will be useful for you to monitor the students as they enter and exit the castle for outings, as you will provide a familiar face for some of the more troublesome ones." Dumbledore smiled; Tonks assumed he was referring to Ron, Harry, Hermione, and any of their 'Dumbledore's Army' friends.
"Scrimgeour must have it out for me then, if he'll have me at Hogsmeade all year," Tonks sighed. "But that's not why I'm here. Do you know of anywhere I can stay in Hogsmeade? Anywhere but Honeydukes," Tonks added hastily.
"You don't enjoy chocolate?" Dumbledore asked, his blue eyes twinkling merrily.
"I do, but my colleague Alfie will be staying there and I'd rather not be anywhere near him," Tonks explained rapidly.
"Mr. Wallace, no? He was a Ravenclaw?" Dumbledore pondered aloud.
"Third to last Auror trainee before me," Tonks explained. "Fancies himself in love with me and I can barely stand him."
"I see," Dumbledore replied. "As it happens, the barkeep at the Hog's Head owes me a favor. I believe I can arrange room and board with him, if this is amenable?"
"Hog's Head?" Tonks asked in slight disbelief. She wanted to be away from Alfie, and the dingy, grimy pub would certainly keep Alfie at an arm's length…but at the cost of living in the dingy, grimy pub with the grouchy barkeep.
"I can assure you that the barkeep, Aberforth, keeps the lodgings much nicer than he does the pub. He's an excellent cook," Dumbledore added. "I believe I can arrange room and board for you."
Tonks considered the option momentarily. A year without worrying about what to cook, even if it came in the form of greasy, heavy pub food, seemed good enough.
"I'll take it," Tonks agreed. "When can I move in?"
"Give me the date and I'll arrange it," Dumbledore replied happily.
"14th August, sir," Tonks said. She paused momentarily, as another thought crossed her mind. "Professor, can I ask you about something else?" Tonks asked hopefully.
"Remus?" Dumbledore supplied kindly. Tonks nodded guiltily; Remus had told her not to contact him or find him, but she merely wanted to know if he was alive.
"He's alive and well," Dumbledore said kindly. "However, I am not certain where he is. He is with werewolves who are friendlier to him, but that is all I know, Tonks." He was no longer smiling, but had his face set in a somber expression.
"That's all I wanted to know, I s'pose," Tonks said. "Please, professor, if it isn't too much…?"
"I will notify you if anything unfortunate befalls Remus," Dumbledore promised gravely.
"Thank you, professor," mumbled Tonks. It wasn't what she wanted, but it would have to be enough to know that he was, at the very least, alive.
…
"I'm giving up my flat," Tonks announced to her parents over Sunday tea, blowing the still mousy brown strands of hair out of her face. "There's no point in keeping it anymore."
"Why's that, Dora?" Ted asked. "You know you're always welcome here, but we know how much you enjoyed living on your own." Living on my own? Yes. Living with Remus? Even better. Living alone after living with Remus? A bloody nightmare, Tonks decided.
"Long-term assignment," Tonks said flatly. "I'll be in Hogsmeade for the foreseeable future. Probably till the end of the school year." She sighed unhappily.
"That's not a bad assignment, Nymphadora," Andromeda commented. "It's not desk work, is it?"
"I get to patrol Hogsmeade and Hogwarts all year," Tonks grumbled. "They could've gotten any Aurors to do it, but they chose me and Alfie! It's a dull assignment. I'd rather be out looking for Death Eaters." Tonks set her cup of tea down hard, smashing it in the process.
"Reparo!" Ted cast, righting the cup to its original state. "Dora, honey, I know you're upset, but if they sent you and Alfie to Hogsmeade, it's for a good reason. They thought you were the right Aurors for the job."
"I don't care, dad," Tonks said irritably. "I don't want to be there."
"Why not, Nymphadora? You always liked Hogsmeade when you went to school," Andromeda reminded.
"I'm not at school anymore, mum. I don't exactly love the idea of being around happy-go-lucky teenagers and being their glorified babysitter," Tonks groaned. "I'm an Auror, not a babysitter."
"I'm sure it will be more than babysitting, as you so nicely put it, Dora," Ted reassured. "Will you take Ophelia with you?"
"I suppose," Tonks conceded. "Little monster will probably like the change of scenery."
"When do you go?" Andromeda asked.
"A little over two weeks," Tonks replied. "I'm to do research on all the inhabitants and shops in Hogsmeade until then."
"What kind of research?" Ted asked. "You're spying on villagers? That seems a bit paranoid, even for the Ministry. I suppose we're at war though." Tonks' father looked pensive.
"No, not spying," Tonks explained. "Checking to see if anyone there has any criminal records or ties to Death Eaters. As if Madam Rosmerta is readying herself to kill someone, all of a sudden." Tonks rolled her eyes. "It's ridiculous."
"Better safe than sorry, as your Granny Tonks would say," Andromeda stated simply. "I'm sure Professor Sprout would be delighted to see you again."
Tonks snorted inelegantly. "Miss Tonks, what have you done this time? Which of your professors have you morphed into now? Professor Snape was not amused with your performance!" Tonks imitated the Herbology professor's reactions; she had heard that particular reprimand from her matronly Head of House for nearly every professor at Hogwarts, save for Dumbledore himself. Tonks had one limit to her fun, and the Headmaster was it.
"I'm sure Professor Sprout will be just delighted to see her favorite troublemaker," Tonks said sarcastically.
"I'm certain she will be happy to see you," Ted insisted. "Where will you be staying, anyway? The Three Broomsticks?"
"No," Tonks said. "Hog's Head."
"Is that safe?" Andromeda asked, stunned. "The Hog's Head isn't exactly known for its honorable clientele."
"Why do you think I'm staying there?" Tonks said, waving her hand dismissively. "Alfie wanted me to split a small flat with him above Honeydukes, but I'd rather gouge my own eyes out than live with him."
"Wouldn't it be safer to have a roommate, Dora?" Ted asked. "It's not as if you're dating the bloke, is it?"
"Absolutely not," Tonks spat. "He's been after me for years, and I want nothing to do with him, much less share a living space with him. The Hog's Head is fine," Tonks emphasized. "Ophelia and I will be happy as clams there."
"If you insist, Nymphadora," Andromeda sighed. "Leave it to you to make a relatively safe assignment as dangerous as possible."
"Only way I'll make it out of there without going mental, mum," Tonks said tonelessly. "A whole year with Alfie and a bunch of teenagers. What could go wrong?"
…
"Alright, little monster," Tonks said, opening Ophelia's wicker basket. "This is home for a while." The cat stepped out of its basket and meowed loudly at Tonks, as if in protest.
"Not my first choice, either, but we'll have to make do," Tonks said to the cat. She looked around the room she would call home for the next ten to eleven months. It was about the same size as her previous flat, but felt roomier, as the room did not have a kitchen. Aberforth, the Hog's Head barkeep, had offered Tonks room and board as part of her rent. Tonks didn't mind; she could barely keep herself alive, and whatever Ab cooked would be better than what she could make for herself.
A double bed stood against the wall, with a rickety nightstand next to it. A small wooden desk and matching wooden chair stood across from the bed. All the furniture was worn, but the covers were clean. The bathroom hadn't been updated in decades, but its charm included a vintage clawfoot tub without a showerhead. Ah well, Tonks thought, that's what wands are for. All in all, while it wasn't what Tonks would describe as cheery, it was clean and functional. As good a place as any to mend a broken heart.
Tonks put away the clothes and few personal belongings she had brought with her. Her wardrobe added a few pops of color to the drab space, but did little else to improve the gloominess. Tomorrow was the first true patrolling day of her long-term mission at Hogsmeade. She was expected to meet with Alfie in the morning over breakfast at The Three Broomsticks (he had insisted that the Hog's Head could not be trusted with food). Then, they would begin the task of moving up and down the village and getting to know the area.
She looked at the clock ahead and noted that it was nearly dinnertime. She prepared tinned tuna for Ophelia; ever since Remus had given it to her, the tuna had become one of Ophelia's favorites. Each time Tonks prepared the tinned tuna, she was reminded of Remus.Then again, she thought to herself, nearly everything reminded her of Remus these days.
Once the cat was fed, Tonks made her way down the stairs to the pub. Ab was waiting for her and grunted towards an open table near the bar. Tonks smiled in spite of herself. She seemed to have a talent for warming herself up to grumpy older men, wherever she went. Tonks sat at the proffered table, and Ab brought her dinner. Cottage pie, handmade rolls, and Butterbeer. It was surprisingly delicious; she reminded herself to tell Alfie that the food at the Hog's Head was, in fact, quite the feast. Once she had finished dinner, she looked out onto the late summer evening. Deciding she had little else to do, Tonks took herself on a walk towards the Shrieking Shack.
She approached the rickety, run-down house at the edge of Hogsmeade village. She had never been in the building, as it had been strictly off-limits in her time at Hogwarts. Had she known what it was truly for, she would have spent time exploring the space, knowing its previous inhabitant would become close to her. She threw caution to the wind and decided to explore the place, mystified that no wards or enchantments existed to prevent anyone from going in. She supposed, however, that now that it was abandoned by decades of loneliness, it hardly mattered whether passers-by entered the space.
Tonks walked into the Shack through the dilapidated front door, and began coughing lightly at the several layers of dust that had accumulated over the years. Once she cleared the place of dust, she began walking through the space. The house had once been handsome, she supposed, but years of abandonment and an adolescent werewolf had destroyed the home entirely. Every bit of furniture had suffered damage. Claw marks, bite marks, ripped bits of upholstery all littered the place. Bits of ancient fur – or was it dust? – formed piles of grime in the corners of the rooms. Even spots of dried blood were found in various parts of the home. The blood had long dried, years, if not decades, before. Knowing Remus had been in the Shack with his friends, it was as likely that it was the wolf's blood, as it was any of the others'.
She came upon a relatively untouched bedroom in the Shack. The four-poster bed was caved in completely, but it was covered in a smaller amount of grime than the rest of the Shack. Being upstairs, Tonks supposed that it may have been harder for the young werewolf and his friends to access the space. She approached the sunken bed, and placed her hands on the edge of it. She sunk down to the floor, not bothering to wipe off the dust that now covered her hands and robe.
The wreckage of the Shack surrounded Tonks. She was sitting in the place that had seen a transformed Remus too many times. She was in the midst of the damage that Remus had inflicted on the place, simply because he had been the unfortunate victim of another's bloodthirst. She was sitting amid the evidence that Remus was dangerous when transformed, and she didn't care. She couldn't find it in herself to care, despite the evidence. She couldn't find it in her heart to be worried that the man she loved transformed into a bloodthirsty beast once a month.
Tonks could only think of the man when she was in this space. The man who had loved her. The man who made her tea and breakfast. The man who wore faded cardigans and threadbare trousers. The man who had opened his heart to her. The man, who, by no fault of his own, the world had shunned. Remus. She sobbed quietly, wondering where he was. Wherever it was, she hoped he was safe.
…
"Wotcher, Alfie," Tonks said unenthusiastically at her co-worker the following morning. She had spent the evening in tears and sleeping fitfully. She woke to dark circles under her eyes, and unsurprisingly, had been unable to morph them away. Pale and exhausted, she had given up on morphing, and rushed to meet Alfie at The Three Broomsticks for their early meeting.
"Are you ill?" Alfie asked, upon seeing Tonks' obvious fatigue.
"No," Tonks replied grumpily. "Ever since the Department of Mysteries, my morphing's been off," she lied. "I may still be healing for all I know." Alfie nodded, looking at Tonks with the same pitiful gaze she had been given too many times by those around her. She thrust several pieces of parchment into his hands.
"I'll get us coffee and we can start on our plans, yeah?" Tonks offered. Alfie agreed, taking the parchment to the table, and she proceeded to order coffee and bacon sandwiches from Madam Rosmerta.
Tonks set down the food and drink on the table, and found Alfie deep in thought over several parchments. "What do you think?" Tonks asked.
"This is really impressive, Tonks," noted Alfie. "Quite detailed."
"I had six weeks of desk work," Tonks said flatly. "What else was I going to do with myself?"
"I never took you as one to enjoy paperwork," Alfie said, looking up at Tonks. Tonks glared at Alfie; if only he knew that torturing herself through endless paperwork had been a means to take her mind off Remus.
"I don't," she said curtly.
"Oh." Alfie looked surprised, but didn't comment further.
"I thought we could begin by interviewing all the shop owners," Tonks said. "Get to know the goings-on in the village and see what they know or suspect."
"My thoughts exactly," Alfie smirked. An entire year with this smarmy prat, Tonks groaned inwardly. It will be a miracle if I make it out of this place without strangling him.
"Where would you like to start?" Tonks asked. "I thought we could start here, actually. Not many folks at The Three Broomsticks for breakfast."
"Good thinking," Alfie agreed rapidly. "Shall I ask Madam Rosmerta to join us?" Tonks rolled her eyes; Madam Rosmerta had always been a favorite among the students at Hogwarts.
"Go ahead," Tonks directed. She watched as Alfie blundered his way through an introduction to Madam Rosmerta, until Tonks stepped in to take over the conversation.
"Good morning, Madam Rosmerta," Tonks said pleasantly. "I think what my colleague is trying to ask is if we could spare a few minutes of your time to ask about what happens in Hogsmeade when students aren't around. Right?" She turned to Alfie, who had blushed furiously in the presence of the attractive barmaid.
"Right," Alfie mumbled, looking embarrassed. Tonks tried not to grin at his blunder, but couldn't help herself as she gestured for Madam Rosmerta to join them at the table.
"You look familiar, dear," Rosmerta said, looking at Tonks with a scrutinizing eye.
"I'm Tonks, Madam Rosmerta. I usually didn't go by this hair color when I visited though," Tonks said hastily.
"Oh, you were the Metamorphmagus! What happened to your hair colors? Aurors don't let you morph it?" Rosmerta asked kindly.
"Had some injuries over the summer," Tonks explained quickly. "Seems to have affected my morphing. Not forever, I hope."
"Poor dear," Rosmerta consoled. "If you need anything, let me know, dear. And do call me Rosmerta." Tonks smiled at the barmaid, glad to have a sympathetic ear in Hogsmeade. Alfie loudly cleared his throat, as if to remind Tonks that he, too, existed. Tonks glared at him before gesturing for him to introduce himself properly.
"I'm Alfie Wallace, ma'am," Alfie introduced. "Tonks and I are working together to patrol Hogsmeade."
"We were hoping for your cooperation, Rosmerta," Tonks said carefully, as Rosmerta eyed her suspiciously. "Not that we expect any trouble, but we were hoping you could give us a general picture of what it's like here and who comes in and out of the village, other than the students."
"When we had the dementors here, it was terrible for business," Rosmerta began. "The Ministry isn't bringing them back, I hope?"
"The Ministry no longer has full control of the dementors," Tonks said bitterly. "Ever since the mass breakout in January. Why we're here, really."
"That means dementors can come to the village any time they like?" Rosmerta asked, horrified.
"Not if we're here," Tonks said solemnly. "We can cast Patronus Charms as needed. We don't expect dementors here, anyway, as it's not heavily populated."
"Good. Any other Aurors other than you two? I can't imagine the two of you taking on dementors on your own," Rosmerta said.
"We're quite capable," Alfie interjected smugly. "We are highly trained, after all." Tonks glared at Alfie again; his tactlessness, if possible, was worse than hers.
"Occasions involving the arrival and departure of students will require more Aurors," Tonks said. "If there are dementors, or anyone else interested in harming the students, we would expect activity with the arrival or departure of the students. We've scheduled additional Aurors for those occasions, including Hogsmeade visits."
"The students will still be allowed to visit Hogsmeade?" Rosmerta asked, a look of disbelief on her face. "Even with the mass breakout?"
"The Headmaster is requiring us to check the students before and after they leave the castle to ensure they are safe," Tonks informed. "Again, it's part of why we're here, in an effort to prevent anything problematic."
"As much as the students irritate me sometimes, they bring in quite a bit of business," Rosmerta noted. "I'll be glad to see them back, but I'll close my shop to them for the day if they cause me any trouble."
"They shouldn't bother you," Tonks promised. "Alfie, would you like to be assigned to The Three Broomsticks on Hogwarts visit weekends?" She turned to her colleague, who looked positively gleeful at the thought of spending more time with Rosmerta. Meanwhile, Rosmerta looked as though Tonks had just offered her a slap in the face with a dead fish.
"I would do it myself, Rosmerta," Tonks explained. "But the Headmaster contacted me and asked me to keep an eye on the students entering and exiting the castle those weekends. I have the fortune of knowing the more…troublesome ones." Tonks smiled, thinking of the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione.
"He did?" Alfie asked incredulously. "How do you know Dumbledore so well?" Rosmerta appeared intrigued as well that the young Auror had been asked a favor by the Headmaster.
"I got to know the Headmaster a little better than others," Tonks said cryptically. "He helped find me the room at the Hog's Head, so I owed him a favor." Tonks shrugged.
"You know the students he's referring to, then?" Rosmerta asked.
"I'm assuming it's the Weasleys, Harry Potter, and any of his friends," Tonks grinned, as Rosmerta rolled her eyes and nodded enthusiastically.
"The twins are off starting their own business," Tonks explained. "You'll still have the youngest two, Harry, Hermione, and their friends."
"You know Harry Potter? The Harry Potter?" Alfie asked incredulously. "How come you never told me?"
Tonks smiled mischievously; if only Alfie knew the half of who and what she knew. "You may not know this, Alfie," Tonks explained, "but a good friend of mine knew Harry personally and I had the chance to get to know him in the last year. He's a good lad."
"Surprising, isn't it?" Rosmerta interjected. "I expected something else, but he's a skinny little thing. Keeps his head down, tries not to bring attention to himself. Poor fellow didn't deserve the press he got in the last year."
"I think everyone expects the 'Boy-Who-Lived' to be a bit livelier, but he's had a harder life than people know," Tonks explained, thinking of the first time she met Harry, nearly a year ago. His relatives' home had been impossibly clean and it was clear Harry was an afterthought there.
"Harry seems to attract trouble wherever he goes," Tonks added. "Why more Aurors will be around with the students."
"So, other than dementors, is there anything else we should know?" Alfie interrupted, clearly bothered with Tonks' knowledge and connections.
"Dementors, Death Eaters, mass breakouts," Rosmerta counted off on her fingers. "As long as none of them interrupt my business or hurt my employees, I think we'll get along swimmingly."
"Excellent," Tonks smiled. "Have you any recommendations for who we should talk to next?"
"Try the Hog's Head," Rosmerta suggested. "I know you're staying there, but the barkeep keeps to himself. He might know a thing or two."
"Thanks, Rosmerta," Tonks said, offering her hand to the kind barmaid. "We'll be sure to keep in touch." Alfie attempted to shake Rosmerta's hand as well, but Rosmerta had decided to busy herself with cleaning up their plates. Smirking, Tonks turned around for Alfie to follow her to the Hog's Head for the next line of questioning.