Chapter Four – Read Auror 'bout it!
Two days later Tonks was reading beside the fire when she heard a tapping at the window. She glanced up and saw a dozen or more owls fighting for space on the windowsill.
"The owls are here, the owls are here!" she yelled, as she ran to let them in.
Everyone appeared in a trice and took their envelopes from the Ministry owls.
Some withdrew into their select group of friends; others tore into their envelopes straight away, and some clutching their envelopes to their chests withdrew to their dormitories or the grounds so as to open them in solitude. Tonks noticed dully that most of the latter were retakes such as herself.
She took her envelope and looked at it in dread. Within lay whether or not her long held ambition would ever be fulfilled. She bit her lip fighting her tears back. She withdrew to an unoccupied corner and held the envelope out in front of her examining it carefully. How could one little thing such as this make her feel so awful, like it held the answer to whether the world would end or not? Taking a deep breath she turned it over and fingered the seal, wondering what she would do if she had failed again. It would mean the end and she had no idea what else she could do. She was too old to start training in another field. She'd have to find someone to marry and that would be it. She went to break the seal and then losing her nerve placed the envelope in her robe pocket and made to the apparition point.
She needed a drink.
Five minutes later she was sitting in the Three Broomsticks with a Butterbeer and a large Firewhisky before her. She sipped the Butterbeer, enjoying the memories of Hogsmeade weekends whilst at Hogwarts it brought. Things had seemed so simple then, good grades at OWL and NEWT level and then three years of Auror Training, before becoming an Auror.
Piece of Cake.
Well this was the last chance for that to come true, right there in the ordinary looking envelope before her. She gritted her teeth and then opened the envelope and drew out the folded piece of parchment. Her hands were shaking as she unfolded it and looked at what it said:
AUROR EXAMINATIONS – NOTE ALL TRAINEE AURORS MUST ACHIEVE 100 PASS RATE IN BOTH THEORY AND PRACTICAL EXAMINATIONS TO QUALIFY
TRAINEE: MISS NYMPHADORA TONKS
CANDIDATE NUMBER: 0104935
ATTEMPT NUMBER: 3
EXAMINATION: ADVANCED CHARMS
THEORY: PASS
PRACTICAL: PASS
EXAMINATION: ADVANCED POTIONS
THEORY: PASS
PRACTICAL: PASS
EXAMINATION: ADVANCED DEFENCE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS
THEORY: PASS
PRACTICAL: PASS
EXAMINATION: CONCEALMENT AND DISGUISE
THEORY: PASS
PRACTICAL: PASS
EXAMINATION: DUELLING AND MULTI WIZARD DUELLING
THEORY: PASS
PRACTICAL: PASS
EXAMINATION: MINISTRY OF MAGIC AUROR CODE
THEORY: PASS
PRACTICAL: N/A
EXAMINATION: MINISTRY OF MAGIC DECREES AND LAWS
THEORY: PASS
PRACTICAL: N/A
EXAMINATION: SPEED APPARITION AND RAPID RESPONSE
THEORY: PASS
PRACTICAL: PASS
EXAMINATION: STEALTH AND TRACKING
THEORY: PASS
PRACTICAL: PASS
PASS PERCENTAGE: 100
FAIL PERCENTAGE: 0
QUALIFIED: Y/N
There it was, Stealth and Tracking, Practical, Pass.
She had passed!
There was also a letter attached which Tonks knew to be the personal report on her examinations. She read it with interest as the previous two had only pointed out her failings and hopefully this one would have some pointers within for her role as a Auror, and with any luck a job offer,
Dear Miss Tonks.
As part of the assessment process we provide a written report of your overall performance in the examinations so that you may learn and grow from the experience. As you may be aware the Stealth and Tracking practical section of your examination was once again your main weakness but we are pleased to report an increase in awareness and a quick witted resp0nse allowing self- correction. Thus with this new mature approach you succeeded in achieving the desired outcome of remaining undetected. Please note that without your unusual metamorphmagus abilities it is unlikely that you would have passed this part of the examination. Instructor Cavendish informed us of your determination to assess the risk your subject posed to the magical community and it was duly noted as part of your examination result. All of your other practical tests were exceptional as were all theory parts. As a result we are pleased to inform you that we have accepted your application and examination results and must now declare you as a fully-qualified Auror.
As a qualified Auror you will be stationed at the Ministry of Magic in London and will be under the direction of Rufus Scrimgeour, Head of the Auror Department. He at any point may send you elsewhere to work and as such you must be aware that flexibility is required. You will be required to work a shift pattern, including nights and weekends. We suggest you find lodgings in London although there are floo and apparition points within the Ministry foyer. You will receive the basic salary which contains the Auror uniform allowance and this shall be paid into your Gringotts account on the 1st of every month.
You are entitled to two weeks leave effective immediately after which you will be expected to report to the ministry. Please return the enclosed forms by Owl as soon as possible. You will also find enclosed some leaflets on after hours Ministry employee activities, details on what is expected from the Ministry workforce and specific details on the Auror department.
We wish you well in your new profession
Congratulations.
Mr T M Travis
Head Examiner
So she was now a fully qualified Auror and one of the few females in the last century who had succeeded in completing and passing the stringent and exhausting examinations. She was an Auror! She couldn't quite believe it and re-read the parchment again to make sure.
She placed it down on the table grinning and picked up the Firewhisky, raising it in the air in a silent toast and downed it in one. She spluttered a bit and then looked in the envelope again to see what forms she had to fill in and what the leaflets were about. She was surprised to find another piece of parchment which read,
Dear Miss Tonks
As part of your stealth and tracking examination you and Mr Manders were asked to follow a Mr T Jarad. Your detailed surveillance notes and skilled tracking were as expected of Aurors but you may be pleased to know that your work foiled a polyjuice disguised burglary and allowed the Ministry to capture and try the culprits including those involved at the ministry. All of the culprits are now in Azkaban awaiting trial. We will need to hear your testimony at the aforementioned trial on the 6th of this month at 8am in the Ministry Courts.
Yours truly,
Alphias Masters
Tonks grimaced as she finished reading and placed the parchment back into the envelope, giving evidence at a trial was a bore and not exactly her favourite pastime.
They had practiced repeatedly for months during Auror Training, and perhaps it was the repetition and being forced to sit still which had irked Tonks. She liked to be moving and doing things, that was why being an Auror had attracted her so much, something different everyday, and the thought of a long drawn out trial was not appealing. Still few newly qualified Aurors could claim a trial so early in their careers. Tonks smiled, she couldn't help it, she was so happy. She felt like she was flying and knew she must look like she had a coat hanger stuck in her mouth. This thought made her grin even more and the barmaid noticed.
"Good news then Tonks? You pass?" inquired Rosmerta
"I did indeed Rosmerta. You are looking at the newest Ministry Auror" Tonks grinned happily, enjoying the look of joy her news brought to the other woman's face.
"Congratulations dear. I knew you could do it. Here have a Firewhisky on the house," she said as she poured them both a healthy measure, "to Tonks and her successful career! Congratulations"
They both slotted their drinks and then Tonks informed Rosmerta that regrettably she had to return to the Auror Training headquarters, as she had promised to metamorph on command at the end of year Congratulations and Commiserations party. She promised to return soon and then apparated back to Headquarters feeling slightly tipsy, but not just from the alcohol. Her dreamed of life was finally beginning. She had done it. She was an Auror. Miss Nymphadora Tonks, Auror. It had a certain ring to it.