Chapter 4

Training For The Auror

The Ministry of Magic was as it always was. Crowded with dully-cloaked witches and wizards on their way to work. The statues in the middle of the entrance were as always, gleaming and towering over everybody. Unfortunately Sirius had been reluctantly dropped off back to Grimmuald place. They had all told him that for him to walk into the Ministry was like dropping a barrel of blood into the ocean near sharks.

So lead by Moody the party took up a full elevator and when they reached Level 2, they were out by the time the smooth voice of the witch rang out:

"Level Two Auror Headquarters-"

"Don't know why they have to announce that every danm time we come up here" muttered Moody darkly striding down the hallway.

"It's for people who have never set foot in the Ministry, so they end up where they want to be instead of 'The Department of Misuse and Muggle Artifacts Office' or somewhere else" replied Tonks with a smirk "You of all people should know that Moody, being an extremely talented Auror and all."

Moody only growled in annoyance at her. But Remus could swear that he saw him smile faintly as he turned back. He knew Tonks was Moody's favorite student and partner at the Auror headquarters and they were as thick as thieves. Remus couldn't help himself as he looked over toward Tonks, as she walked down the corridor in Moody's wake. She had a faint smile on her face and Remus knew she was thinking about something behind that mask of a smile. He could just tell.

As they approached the Auror headquarters they were greeted by various Ministry members and co-workers. Saying farewell to Arthur and Kingsley who were heading for the Auror offices, Moody, Tonks and Lupin continued onto the private training chambers. Passing fifty different doors on their way, all which contained the owner's name on their door and a room number, they finally came upon the door that read:

Nymphadora Tonks

Room 66

They entered and Lupin who had never seen how Auror's spent their free time suddenly knew what most of them they did. The room was pack-loaded with fitness machines, agility testers and brain strength techniques. The walls were like Nymphadora's bedroom, they were covered with colorful posters, which contained various Quidditch teams and famous wizards performing complicated magic. Remus gazed about the room with interest and Tonks who had caught the look of wonder written on is face said:

"Not all these rooms are like this, some of them are just boring offices that have huge amounts of filing cabinets, some of them have Aurors who practice duels" she said as if it was the simplest thing. "The rooms are just suited to fit the Aurors needs and wants."

"And you need all this muggle stuff for physical practice?" Remus asked poking a set of weights to see what they'd do.

"Well, when you have a mentor like Mad Eye…" she whispered casting a small glance in Moody's direction as he was setting up the leg weights, "yeah."

Smiling slightly Tonks headed over to the Leg weights where Moody was waiting, like it was her daily routine. Sliding her robes off to reveal her training suite, which was a short pair of bike pants, a black muscle top and sports snickers. This caught both of Lupin's eyes as he sat down on a small couch watched her do a series of tests that tested her strength, agility and wit. He had never watched a woman with a figure like hers train like she was. He checked and saw she had all the right curves that a woman should posses. Her skin which was a nice pale color was gleaming with sweat from all the strain it was being put under as she continued to strain. He sat amazed as she pulled off a number of stretches that he knew if he tried he'd end up in St. Mungoes.

Through his thoughts he could faintly hear Moody instructing:

"Come on bend those knees, twist that arm, no not like that, twist it left not right, yep like that, reflex is the most important tool when looked upon in times of need, and don't roll you're eyes at me like that!"

Lupin could only sit there and watch her in awe. Tonks as if feeling his gaze upon her looked up and met his eyes. And Lupin's heart melted as he saw the hurt, frustration and confusion that was mingled there, but vanished instantly as she turned away. He knew now that she knew something and it was causing her great stress. And he also knew she was becoming increasingly frustrated with the tasks Moody was giving her, he knew that that got her thinking about things with a tone of rage to them, and it would leave her depressed and angry later on.

The hours slowly crept on and by the end of her training (which included magical combat) Tonks was nursing new bruises and was mentally and physically exhausted and frustrated.

"Well, it seems you're still in good shape" Moody commented as he watched Tonks sink to the floor rubbing her sore ankle.

"Same to you old man" she retorted.

"Humph" he grunted, "you know all this training is going to be useful to you one day."

"He means Bellatrix" thought Tonks as she looked up at him.

"How so?" she asked, pulling her black over her muggle clothing.

"Well, it's you're job to fight Dark Wizards, what did you suddenly get Alzheimer's?" he mumbled annoyed.

"That's true… about the job" she added quickly seeing his raised eyebrows, "but-"

"There's a saying: 'Hurry up and wait', it means prepare quickly so you're ready for what's ahead, and in you're case its going to be; focus on training so you're prepared for fighting Dark Wizards!" he concluded stumping away out the door.

"Sound's like something an old person would say" muttered Tonks, Moody growled with irritation. "Hey, just being honest" she called out to him grinning broadly. Standing up she stumbled after him and lost her footing on the carpet. Lupin darted forwards and caught her in his arms before she hit the ground.

"That damn carpet, but then again it's just probably me" she said avoiding his eye contact, she could feel his breath tickling her neck and had to fight the urge to shudder. She already felt extremely embarrassed, although she had gotten used to falling over and wouldn't usually care about being laughed at, there was just something about Remus that make her seem foolish and almost to a degree immature. She knew he was to grown up for her and he would never love or have somebody like her…. but still.

"That's probably true" he said clutching her tightly. He could feel her muscles tense where he held them. "Nymp-" he started in a gentle voice, but was rudely interrupted.

"TONKS….REMUS!!!!!" roared Mad Eye's voice from further down the hallway, "HAVE YOU BOTH DIED IN THERE, HURRY UP!!!"

"Shut it!!!" Tonks yelled at the top of her voice, nearly blowing Lupin's eardrum out. Deciding this wasn't the best time to talk he gentle set her on her feet again.

"Uh, thanks" was the only thing she said to him before striding down the hallway with Remus glued behind her incase she fell again.

Hurriedly catching up with Mad Eye In one of the deserted elevators they quickly scrambled in and Moody instantly turned to them,

"We've got another meeting, involving our Patrol Duties, Arthur just told me, 7:00pm sharp so you both better be there" he quietly muttered under his breath, even though it was just the three of them in the slowly descending elevator. Remus nodded while Nymphadora remained silent. The only time they did patrol duties was when there was something going on, or when it was predicted that something bad was going to happen. And Tonks thought she knew what was going on. Voldermort was after a prophecy about Harry, he must have done something that had made the order jumpy and they were going to react by putting their defenses up. The elevator slid to a smooth halt and the doors rattled open, but Tonks didn't register anything else until 7:00pm that day.

A/N: Thankx for the reviews so far appreciated. So tell me what you think about this one, the next Chapter will be up soon.

I might have to move the rating up a notch for future chapters involving Tonks and Remus and some minor pieces of violence. R&R.