Tonks opened a sticky eye, closed it again and let out a small groan.

Water.

She reached out a hand, groping blindly on her cluttered bedside table for her glass. A small crash told her she had knocked it onto the floor. Urrrgh Her tongue felt furry and her head was pounding. Need water Trying to move as little as possible, she fumbled on the floor and retrieved the now empty glass. Pulling her wand out from its usual spot under her pillow, she aimed it at the glass. 'Aguamenti,' she croaked, and gulped at the fresh cold water she had conjured. Bleakly, she wondered as she always did on the rare occasions she suffered a hangover, what would happen if she just pointed her wand at her mouth and performed that spell.

Thank goodness she did not have to work today. She could sleep all morning, have an afternoon to herself for the first time in ages, then head to the Ministry in the evening for her guard duty in the Department of Mysteries with a clear head.

She thought back to last night, though the memory was slightly hazy. She could vaguely remember a pub. She could certainly remember Firewhisky. A lot of Firewhisky. It was all Hestia Jones's fault. Tonks had never been much of a drinker, but for some reason last night she had found Hestia's idea of drinking shots of Firewhisky a great idea, and that was the beginning of a downward spiral: after the first two, things had become a little blurry. It was definitely Hestia's fault. Hestia was about thirty and worked for St Mungo's Hospital as a researcher into magical illnesses and cures. She had joined the Order not long after Tonks, recruited by a St Mungo's colleague who had been in the Order the first time round as well. Both of her parents and her husband were muggles. In fact, her husband Andrew had been there last night too – he had seemed a little nervous at first, but soon relaxed and after a short time Tonks had forgotten he was even a muggle. Although that might have been the Firewhisky.

Fleur, of course, hadn't gone near the stuff, sticking to her little glass of Gillywater all evening. Fleur was far too graceful and sensible to get drunk.

The sun was so bright. Far too bright. It hurt her eyes. In fact, it almost looked like it was getting brighter and brighter … and instead of a golden glow, the sun now seemed to be emanating a silvery shimmer through her window. She shielded her eyes from the painful glare and squinted at the square of blinding light.

A silvery mass hovered outside Tonks's window for a moment, before floating straight through the glass. Eyes screwed up against the dazzling light, she stared at the glowing shape, startled. Then she recognised it.

It was a patronus. Tonks sat up, feeling more alert all of a sudden. This was the first message she had received from the Order via someone's patronus, and she had been so eager to see how it worked. Her excitement turned to wariness as she realised it could only mean something was wrong. The message came, clear as a bell, in Arthur Weasley's voice:

'An emergency meeting of the Order of the Phoenix has been scheduled for eight o'clock this morning. Please try to attend if at all possible.'

Tonks moaned and checked her watch: it was seven-fifteen.

Three quarters of an hour later, Tonks let herself into Grimmauld Place and scurried down to the kitchen. The room was crowded with a dozen or so Order members drinking the usual cups of tea and extra-strong coffee, most of them looking almost as bleary-eyed as Tonks. Molly Weasley was handing out bacon sandwiches. It looked like Tonks was the last to arrive.

Bill flashed a knowing smile at her as she refused Molly's offer of food (the smell sent a wave of nausea through her) and took one of the last empty seats at the table. Bill did not look remotely worse for wear. Hestia, too, looked wide awake and breezy as she waved at Tonks from the other end of the table. Why me?Tonks wondered forlornly.

Remus, who was sitting opposite her, kept looking at her oddly. Oh no. He knows I'm hungover. It had been obvious last night that he disapproved of her going to the pub, and Tonks wondered crossly what was so wrong with daring to have a little fun. The next time he glanced her way, she gave him a defiant, questioning look and he turned away, his cheeks colouring with annoyance. He really needs to lighten up.

Albus Dumbledore arrived, and that was when Tonks began to worry properly for the first time. It was only the second time out of the eight meetings Tonks had been to that Dumbledore had attended.

As usual, his business was quick and to the point.

'Harry was attacked by Dementors last night.'

A ripple of shocked voices ran around the room. Molly clapped a fearful hand over her mouth. Several people called out, asking why … what had happened to him … where his guard had been.

'He's fine, he's fine. He managed to fight them off, although his illegal use of magic has got him into a spot of trouble with Ministry.' Another ripple went round the room, of outrage at this unfairness, but mostly of surprise and appreciation at how talented a wizard the young boy was. Tonks herself was amazed: she had never heard of a fifteen-year-old being capable of fighting off Dementors.

Dumbledore patiently waited for silence before continuing. 'However, this occurrence has brought to light how much danger Harry may be in at his Aunt's house. It is my decision to remove Harry from there as soon as possible. Apart from the peril he might be facing, if Harry is forced to defend himself again he could find himself expelled from Hogwarts, or worse.'

'How do you plan to get the boy here, Albus?' growled Mad-Eye Moody. 'If he wasn't safe in his own neighbourhood, he can hardly just stroll onto a train, can he?'

'Exactly. It is rather problematic. My first suggestion is to send a large group, an Advance Guard, to the house to escort Harry.'

Mad-Eye nodded approvingly. 'The more people we have there, the better. But it'll take careful planning. It could turn into a matter of life or death.'

Though she understood the seriousness of it, Tonks fought the urge to roll her eyes at Moody's dramatic assessment of the situation. She glanced up to find Remus looking at her disapprovingly once again, and fought to keep a perfectly solemn look on her face. He was really beginning to put her on edge. Just because he's so straight-laced that he never has any fun.

'What about his aunt and uncle?' Sirius interjected. 'Do you think they're just going to let a band of wizards traipse into their home and take their nephew?'

'Well, from the way they treat him I don't think they'd mind us taking Harry off their hands.' Molly pointed out, her face reddening with obvious indignation at how Harry was treated by them.

'No, Sirius has a point. It would probably be best if the Dursleys were not at home when the Order arrived,' Arthur pointed out.

'How can we get them out of the house?' Remus wondered aloud.

'Perhaps we could pretend to be one of their son's teachers … say he's in trouble and they need to come to the school to discuss it?' suggested Molly.

'No, the Dursleys would never go for that. They think that fat son of theirs can do no wrong,' said Sirius. 'We need something that will play on their weaknesses.'

There was a long silence as everyone thought hard. In her head, Tonks ran through everything she had heard from Sirius, Molly and Arthur about the awful Dursleys.

'Maybe … maybe if we send them a letter, make them think they've won something … tell them there's a ceremony to go to, to collect their prize …' Tonks said, screwing up her face in deep thought.

'Brilliant idea, Tonks!' said Hestia, grinning at her.

'Yes, well done. I'll let you arrange that, Nymphadora,' said Dumbledore. He was the only person whose use of her first name did not annoy her. 'I trust you know how the Muggle postal system works?'

'Yes, my Dad told me all about it,' she replied.

'Excellent!' Dumbledore exclaimed. 'Now then, Alastor, I imagine you have some ideas for transporting Harry safely …?'

It seemed like hours later when the meeting finally drew to a close, though it was not even nine o'clock yet. Tonks felt her eyelids flickering and had to fight to stay alert, propping her head up with both hand as Mad-Eye Moody finally finished showing them his complex, moving illustrations of the route they were to take and the formation they were to fly in. They were just finalising who would make up the Rear Guard to take over in the event that any of them were incapacitated, when Mad-Eye suddenly jumped out of his seat. His magical eye was whirling crazily and even his normal eye was darting about as far as it could.

'Alastor – what on earth's the matter?' Arthur asked urgently, standing up and looking panicked. Tonks glanced around the kitchen warily but she had not seen or heard a thing to make Mad-Eye act like that.

'The room's not secure. Someone is listening at the door,' Mad-Eye announced ominously.

With these words, a scuffle was heard on the other side of the kitchen door. When Arthur threw it open, Tonks could just make out two pairs of feet disappearing as their owners scrambled up the stairs. Ginny Weasley was standing in the doorway, her cheeks flaming the colour of her hair.

'Ginevra!' her mother cried in outrage, leaping up to stand next to her husband. 'What on earth do you think you're playing at?'

Arthur looked mildly impressed.

'I just came down to see if the meeting was finished yet,' Ginny replied calmly.

'What's that you're hiding?' Molly demanded, advancing on her daughter.

'It's nothing, Mum,' replied Ginny weakly, backing away. Tonks was amazed at how well Ginny held up against Molly's interrogation: she'd have been terrified. Molly snatched something from behind Ginny's back.

'Extendable Ears – I should have known,' said Arthur, suppressing a smile as he inspected the item in Molly's hand.

Tonks had to work harder than ever before to hold in her laughter. It was exactly like something she would have done at Ginny's age. Glancing up, she caught Remus's eye once again, but this time, thankfully, he was not giving her a look of disapproval but looking quietly amused himself.

'Well? I'm, waiting, young lady. You had better explain yourself!' said Molly.

Two figures sheepishly descended the stairs.

'It wasn't all her, Mum. The Extendable Ears are ours.' Fred and George grinned warily at their parents.

'I want you to go straight back upstairs and bring me every set you have. No, George, I refuse to believe this is the only pair. Go and get them all right now, go on! And if I find out you've kept any there'll be big trouble!' Molly's voice carried up the stairs after the children, before she turned back into the kitchen, shaking her head angrily. 'Honestly! We'll have to start putting an Imperturbable Charm on the door from now on.'

It was difficult to settle back down to the meeting after that. Molly was seething, Mad-Eye was on edge and many of the other members seemed to be holding back smiles, secretly impressed at the Weasley children's inventiveness. For a few minutes they returned to a discussion about possible risks they could face on the journey and Tonks found the nerve to voice what she had been wondering.

'So … so is there really a chance that Harry's being watched? Could he really get attacked by a Death Eater on the way here, or even by V-Vol— by You-Know-Who?'

Tonks flushed with shame at her failed effort to say the name aloud and felt as though everyone was staring at her, wanting to shake their heads with pity.

'Yes, there's certainly a risk that Voldemort or his followers are watching Harry's every move,' replied Remus.

Tonks felt his eyes on her, convinced he had placed an emphasis on Voldemort's name, that he was trying to point out her immaturity for not being able to say it. It may have simply been paranoia, but something in the way Remus looked at her as she spoke always made her feel like he noticed her weaknesses and looked down on her, waiting for her to slip up. Ever since her first meeting, when he challenged her suitability for joining the Order, she had wanted to prove to him more than anyone else that she belonged in it. Today, especially – though she could not put her finger on the reason – she constantly felt she was under his scrutiny.

After the meeting finished and people filed out of the room to go to work, Tonks remained in the kitchen and thought again about what she knew about the Dursleys. One of their most valued things was respect from their neighbours … what could they win to impress their neighbours …? She thought about her Dad's muggle parents, how her Grandmother was forever pottering in her beloved garden, keeping it in shape even when old age rendered her practically immobile. 'Can't let the weeds grow in, what will the neighbours think!' was Granny Tonks's insistence.

Tonks doodled idly on a piece of parchment, letting the concept form in her head and scribbling down ideas. Molly and Sirius wandered in and out of the kitchen at intervals but she was concentrating so hard she was barely aware of them. When Tonks finally finished drafting a letter she looked up to find Sirius making yet another cup of tea. Sirius made a lot of cups of tea. Tonks, though she had been jealous at first that Sirius had so much free time compared to her, was beginning to feel sorry for him being all cooped up here, bored out of his mind.

'Sirius? What do you think of this idea?'

Sirius moved very grudgingly over to read the parchment, but as he scanned the page, he began to smile to himself and even make suggestions, and Tonks quickly suspected he was glad to be involved in something. They discussed the letter, passing ideas back and forth, talking about Harry and slagging off the Dursleys until Tonks realised they were laughing almost like old friends.

'Thanks a lot for giving me a hand, Sirius. I don't think anyone else here knows Harry like you do – you've been a great help,' she told him, feeling awkward now. 'You know, I can't wait to meet him.'

Sirius's face lit up. 'He's great, he's a really great kid. He's so much like his father, James, in some ways, but then in others …' Sirius trailed off looking somehow happy and sad at the same time.

'…he's like his mother?' Tonks ventured.

Sirius chuckled nostalgically. 'I suppose he does have Lily's modesty … even some of her common sense … but Harry's something else altogether. He risked his neck to save mine last year. He was only thirteen. He knew nothing about me except that I'd been his father's best friend. I've never known someone so loyal. Lily and James would have been so proud of him.'

'They sound like wonderful people. I wish I'd had the chance to meet them,' Tonks said uncertainly, giving Sirius an encouraging smile, praying for him not to close off from her again the way he always did. Neither of them had much in the way of family and Tonks was desperate for them to become close, but she constantly felt on edge with him, just waiting till the next time she said the wrong thing and he withdrew from the conversation again. For a second his expression was unreadable. Tonks held her breath, but Sirius's face relaxed.

'They were great people. Amazing. The best friends anyone could have.'

'They certainly were,' said a voice from the doorway. Tonks jumped.

'Remus, I thought you'd gone out,' said Tonks, flustered. She felt awkward enough trying to connect with Sirius without finding out someone was listening in to their conversation.

'I did, but I got back just now. I just had to fly down to Surrey with Mad-Eye for a couple of hours, check what the best route for Thursday will be. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop.' He wandered into the kitchen and sat at the table next to Sirius.

'That's all right, Moony,' Sirius replied with a grin.

Moony? What does that mean? Tonks thought moodily. And who says it's all right? I don't! Sirius and I were really getting somewhere.

'Looking forward to seeing Harry, Sirius?' asked Remus.

A broad smile crossed Sirius's face: Tonks didn't think she'd ever seen him look so cheerful. 'Yeah, can't wait. How do you think he's doing? I suppose he must still be pretty shaken up after what happened last month.'

Remus nodded and the pair began to discuss Harry and how strong he was after all he had had to deal with. Tonks listened intently at first, interested in hearing about Harry, but their conversation quickly drifted onto James and Lily, and soon it was like they were speaking a different language as they reminisced about their time at school with them.

As Sirius and Remus chatted, Tonks was vaguely jealous, though she knew it was daft. Why would Sirius not open up to her the way he did with Remus – like a brother? She was an only child and felt as though she had never had that kind of closeness with anyone. Yes, she had always had lots of friends, but Tonks was always the funny one, the silly one, the life and soul of the party but nobody's best friend, no one's confidant. She had always longed for a brother or sister to experience that familiarity.

'Oh, you're all in here, are you?' came Molly's voice as she staggered into the room, weighed down by a huge mound of dirty laundry. Remus jumped up to help her. Suck up, Tonks thought irritably.

'Tonks and I were just planning how to get rid of the Dursleys on Thursday night,' Sirius explained and Tonks's mood lifted as she felt a small swell of pride, at both doing something important for the Order and the fact that Sirius was acknowledging their shared effort.

'That's nice,' Molly replied absently. 'Well, seeing as you're all down here, you can give me a hand making lunch for the children.'

As Tonks lay awake that night one thought was keeping her awake. They all say Voldemort's name. She would have to be brave and speak it too. She would not have Remus and the others look down on her and pity her because she was afraid of a name.

'Voldemort,' she said out loud. Although, actually, it was more of a whisper. 'Voldemort. Voldemort,' she said. Better. 'Lord Voldemort … I am a member of the Order of the Phoenix and we are ready to fight you, Lord VOLDEMORT!'

Her voice had grown louder and more shrill by the end of the sentence and she realised she was breathing a lot faster. She felt naughty, like she had just sworn out loud in front of her father, but rather than the fear she used to feel when she heard people speak the name, she now felt a sense of triumph.