Thanks for sticking with me guys! Sorry about the delay, been lots of issues with our electricity, thinking we had it fixed but it was just toying with us! So internet access has been limited. Anyway enough of the excuses, I'm really enjoying writing this fic, I've always wanted to do a POA fic with Tonks and Lupin so I'm hoping you're enjoying the ride with me!

Chapter 5 – Thank God for the man in beige!

Tonks was fuming, what were the Ministry thinking – allowing Dementors onto a train full of school children. This wasn't just about finding Black for them anymore – it wasn't about making sure Harry and everyone else was safe, if it was then Aurors would have been the ones to check the train. No this was Fudge and his embarrassment that Black had managed to escape from Azkaban and the further embarrassment that the Ministry couldn't find him. People were already beginning to whisper that if Black wasn't caught soon, Fudge should hand in his resignation. Fat lot of chance there! Fudge wasn't a bad Minister to work for but it wasn't a secret that he liked the power the job gave him, he wasn't in it for the people or to make a difference like Tonks, Kingsley and Mad Eye were, he was in it for the status it could provide him. She knew if it came to it, others lower down the food chain would get blamed for Black's continued ability to evade capture.

Remus had sent word via Dumbledore that although he'd checked the train before departure and found nothing unusual, the Dementors had boarded and one had begun to perform a Dementors kiss on Harry.

Harry Potter! The very student she was supposed to be protecting hadn't even arrived yet and he'd already been attacked by a Dementor! She was upset with Dumbledore, she'd told him she wanted to be on the train, but she was furious with herself. Dumbledore had called her in as an expert in protection and as a dark wizard catcher – she was the Auror and she should not have backed down so easily – he wasn't her head teacher anymore, she had a job to do and she knew that she was going to need a bit more confidence in herself if she was going to do well.

She should have at least contacted Kingsley and asked him to send another team down to travel on the train – but she hadn't and it was too late now.

Thank God for the man in beige!

She couldn't allow herself to think about what might have happened if Professor Lupin had not been there. The kids would be arriving any time now – she had Perkins stationed along the platform, Braithwaite guarding the main gates and Wainwright standing guard on the main doors just in case Black somehow managed to slip through.

Tonks stood on the platform too, though no one would have recognised her. Her nose was a cute button like nose, her eyes a piercing blue, she'd fashioned her hair after a woman she'd seen in Hogsmeade earlier that afternoon, a short bob with tight curls in what looked like a blue rinse, although she decided at the last minute to make it brown, so she'd blend in more – she'd try the blue rinse when she was off duty. She retrieved bits of Hogwarts uniform from the lost and found, hoping that in the hubbub of arrival, no one would pay her too much attention.

As the train came into view, Tonks stepped back into the trees just behind the platform. She kept her eyes peeled on the train, she needed to spot Harry as quickly as possible so she could make her way to the carriages with him. She'd seen many posters of the Boy who lived, and had been studying his picture, as well as that of his two best friends Ron Weasley, Charlie's little brother and Hermione Granger, all morning – Dumbledore had told her if she spotted either of them Harry would likely be nearby.

The chaos and confusion as the students began to disembark from the train was worse than Tonks remembered from her own school days. Still her 3 years of training had prepared her for situations just like this, she focused on breathing slowly and repeating her objective in her head; find Harry Potter, find Harry Potter. As she was scanning the platform, for a second she could have sworn she spotted Charlie swanning down the concord, however she quickly realised it was in fact Ron and just as Dumbledore had predicted, Harry and Hermione were walking alongside him.

As she slipped out into the crowd and began to follow them she noticed that Professor Lupin was walking with the 3 students, talking happily as they made their way to the self-pulling carriages. As they got to the carriage, Tonks stood in line behind Harry, Ron and Hermione. As Harry climbed on and took his seat, she felt herself relax, they were that much closer now to him being safely inside the castle. Professor Lupin helped Ron and Hermione and they climbed up into the carriage then held his hand out for Tonks.

Tonks wanted to tell him just how grateful she was he'd been there to help today, but she knew he wouldn't recognise her. "Thank you Professor," she said anyway, smiling as she took her seat opposite Harry who smiled at her politely and grunted a very quiet – what she assumed was a hello, and then they spent much of the journey up to the castle with friendly chatter between the 3, Ron very interested in the feast they'd all soon be heading to, Hermione eager to get their reading lists for the term and Harry enthusiastic to get back to playing Quidditch.

The ride up to castle was uneventful as Tonks had hoped it would be. They were all now in the Main Hall tucking into the most wonderful feast. Tonks stayed long enough to see the first years sorted into their houses, something she'd always enjoyed watching as a student and then as the distraction of the food had appeared on the tables in front of them she'd quietly slipped away. Joining Wainwright the pair had helped Filch close the castle gates and checked all the security charms were still working, they'd then done a perimeter search just as a double precaution.

That was it – they'd done it. Day one of protection detail was done and apart from the tiny incident with a Dementor – Harry was – largely – unharmed.

One day – and she was already exhausted. She hoped, not for the first time, that they would find Black quickly.

Slowly, because she had no energy for anything else, she walked towards her room, meeting no one on her way except Peeves who was already enjoying the mischief of having students to terrorise again. As she rounded the corner and entered into the wing which housed the staff living quarters she stood at the bottom of the spiral staircase, wondering whether she had the energy to walk up that many stairs. Eventually her need for a refreshing drink and a long shower enticed her to use her last ounce of adrenalin and climb the stairs. As she approached her room, she noticed that the door next to hers was open, curious to see who would be sleeping in the room next door, she tentatively popped her head around the frame.

"Hello" Tonks called, "Is anyone…" as she stepped around the door further, she saw a flash of beige enter from the bedroom carrying a pile of books in one arm and a teapot in the other.

"Tonks! How nice to see you again," Remus said as he placed the books on the coffee table.

"You too Professor, sorry, I was just being nosey and thought I'd see who my neighbour was. I'm next door." Tonks couldn't help but smile – he really had saved her bacon today.

"No, no please do come in," Remus looked around the messy room and began to move boxes off of chairs, "I was just about to make myself a cup of tea" he said, waving the pot at her to indicate the trueness of his statement, "can I interest you in joining me."

The intrigue she felt in finding out how someone who seemed determined to wear beige could have so many scars and such an enticing charm, allowed her to forget her exhaustion. All thoughts of a shower and bed slipping her mind.

Stepping fully in the room she took the seat he offered. "Tea sounds lovely thanks."