Written for the third mile of the Marathon Competition and for the 365 Drabble Challenge (Prompt: Weary)
" Mad-eye, I'm capable of this!" Nymphadora Tonks exclaimed, panting as she caught up with the famous Auror.
"Sorry, kid," Mad-Eye Moody said pityingly. "But you don't have the needed skills to become an Auror. Can't have you tripping over everything, you understand."
"But I do have the skills!" Nymphadora said, frustration leaking into her tone. "I passed my stealth and tracking test. I even managed to get top marks in all my other classes. I graduated first in my class, for merlin's sake! So why is it so hard for you to agree to take me on as your trainee?"
Mad-Eye Moody stopped to face Nymphadora, who unconsciously grew an inch until she could glare into the older man's eyes. "Listen, kid, I'm going to say this once and once only because no one else is going to be this blunt with you. You could be as great as merlin himself but no one's going to take you into the Auror department with that kind of family tree."
For a minute, the world seemed to freeze. A silent battle of wills ensued before Nymphadora threw her head back in harsh, mocking laughter.
"You want to talk about the truth? Here you go: my aunt wiped out a quarter of this department with nothing more than her own wand. You may not want me, but you need me. Especially with this type of family tree."
Mad-Eye Moody spat on the ground. "We can't trust people like you. You'll play nice and then I'll lend up dead. CONSTANT VIGALLENCE!"
Nymphadora laughed. "Have you even met my mother? You don't scare me."
Mad-Eye looked critically at the girl standing beside him before sighing, still weary. "Look, Black, why do you even want this job? You're going to be the joke of the department."
Nymphadora crinkled her nose at him. "It's not Black, Its Tonks. My mother's a blood traitor, remember? And secondly, I don't care what people think of me. I just want to save the world."
Mad-Eye sighed internally. They got a couple of those every year, young kids who wanted to save the world. They usually ended up dead within a year. But this one… it was stupid but there was something about her that made him think he should give her a chance.
"Fine," Mad-Eye said. "But you better be the damn best Auror this apartment has ever seen."
"Thank you! I promise I won't make you regret it!" Nymphadora exclaimed and Mad-Eye grunted in response.
As he turned his back, Nymphadora silently cheered, pumping her first in the air. Her hard work had finally paid off.