Chapter 5

All You Need Is A Cold Shower

Tonks stood on the door step of number twelve Griummald place and pressed her ear against the door, everything was silent and calm. Sighing, she rang the door bell, and instantly the noise coming from inside the house was like listening to elephants run from mice.?

Around six different voices were shouting over the screeching of a woman's horrible voice. The door flung wide open and there stood Ginny Weasley, her eyes wide.

"Hello Tonks" she said looking over her shoulder at the chaos. "Quickly come in, I think the Order meeting is about to start, real soon."

"How many other Order members are here? Asked Tonks as she shuffled past Ginny and glanced about the house.

Mrs. Weasley was shouting at Fred and George for running down the hall way and waking Mrs. Black up. Ron and Sirius were yelling t Mrs. Black to shut up while wrestling with her curtains. Kingsley and Moody had come up from the kitchen to see what all the commotion was about. And Remus stood against the wall an amused look on his face as he watched Fred and George cop it.

"Well, nearly all of them" shouted Ginny above the noise, "As you can see were still waiting on Dumbledore, cause if he was here, she would shut up" she jabbed a finger in the direction of Sirius's shrieking mother.

"You know I think I knocked twice before ringing the bell" said Tonks staring around at them all.

"Yeah I know, and I was on my way to answer" said Ginny innocently.

Mrs. Weasley who had stopped shouting at her son's shouted to Ginny: "And you Ginny Weasley are never answering the door again, what did you drag you're self up here half asleep… Oh and hello Tonks dear."

Ron and Sirius had finally covered the portrait up and now joined the others in the small hall. Now it was really packed and crowded.

"Alright, anybody who has red hair" Remus started before catching a glance at Tonks'es short, fiery red hair today, "and is under the age of 18, in the kitchen.. Now!

The Weasley children ran back down the hall and into the kitchen.

Mrs.Weasley sighed, "Got to get back to the cooking, nice to see you Tonks dear" she smiled at Tonks and followed her children to the kitchen.

The excitement was over so Moody and Kingsley proceeded to follow them.

"Hiya cuz" said Sirius now able to move freely said, giving Tonks a huge hug which she returned. "Sorry I couldn't say a proper hi before because... you know."

"It's alright," said Tonks smiling into her cousin's huge bear hug.

Letting go of Tonks he ruffled her hair which annoyed her a lot.

"Red huh, what did you suddenly turn into a Weasley over night or something" he teased.

"What doesn't red suite me?" she asked glaring at her cousin mockingly.

He shook his head and grinned as she turned her hair the deepest shade of red she could possibly manage.

"Remus" she turned to him as he was still leaning on the wall, "does red suite me, because quite frankly I just don't trust my prat of a cousin's judgment."

"And what you trust his?" asked Sirius with a gleam in his eye.

"Shut it you "she snapped at him playfully turning back to Remus.

He circled her taking in the shocking red hair and Arour's uniform. Was it Sirius's imagination or did he see a spark in Lupin's eye as he stared Tonks up and down, and God how long was he taking, if Sirius had been asked that question it would have taken him two seconds to answer. Sirius grinned even wider as a thought came to him."

"I don't really know Nymphadora, I guess any color suites you, Sirius there was just being his stupid self" he concluded turning and walking down the hall way. Smiling to himself as he saw the stunned look on his best friends face.

"See Sirius" he heard her saying "why can't you be like Remus, he thinks its fine."

"Yea but, I don't think so" was Sirius's reply. Remus walked into the Kitchen and Tonks made to follow, but was held back by her cousin who spun her around, with a knowing grin on his face.

"You like him, don't you" he said grinning down at her.

"God how do cousins seem to know everything about you when you don't even say a word about it?" she thought, bringing an annoyed look across her face.

"No I don't Sirius, he's just a friend that I can trust, that's all!" she said glaring at him.

"Yeah, Yeah what ever you say," he said turning down into the kitchen, grinning stupidly. Tonks started after him, after all Sirius could be a big mouth if he wanted to.

"Siri-"

But she never finished as she tripped over the trolls, umbrella stand again, and again she fell to the floor with a loud thump that would leave new bruises in the morning. And again Mrs. Black's portrait flew open and started to wail:

"Filthy mudbloods, abomination and stink-"

Tonks stood up quickly, sighing and went to help Sirius cover his evil mothers portrait up again.

The meeting was long and in Nymphadora's opinion very boring. Sirius who had been mentally depressed throughout his days in his dreaded home had busied himself with making up the rosters for their patrols under the eye of Dumbledore. They were now about to be issued with their rounds and monthly partners. Nymphadora hoped to the heavens that she didn't get Snape this month. He was always so negative and making snide remarks about her hair that she completely ignored. She wouldn't be able to stay on guard looking after a certain location when he was breathing down her back, jeering her and she wasn't sure anybody else could either.

"Now these are you're new rosters for this month and this month only, Mundunges!" Dumbledore cast a sideways glance at the filth and stink that was Mundunges, who was sorting through three months worth of roster papers.

"And be sure you get along with you're partners, it is only for a month, and as you are all adults I presume that there will be no fights among any of you." Dumbledore said while Sirius handed down papers for everybody to pass along. Nymphadora got hers and studied it carefully.

Roster for Patrols

Minerva McGonagall…..Severs Snape Kings Kross Station

Mad-Eye Mood…..Mundunges Fletcher Diagon Alley

Bill Weasley…..Kingsley Shaklebolt Gringots Bank

Molly Weasley…..Charlie Weasley Hogsmede

Nymphadora Tonks…..Remus Lupin Hogwarts Station

Arthur Weasley….. Sirius Black(Dog) Hogwarts grounds

Nymphadora relaxed.

"Well I haven't got Snape that's alright, Remus is ok" her mind was filled with relief at not getting Snape. But reality hit her as the thought slowly hit her brain.

"REMUS!"

She glanced at Sirius who was watching her as she had read the roster and he smirked. She glared at him and gave him a look that said "I'll get you later" and turned back to Dumbledore snatching up her butterbear from the table.

"So now that you all have you're new rosters, I hope you're all happy with the person you got and will work with them without any complications."

"Huh, yeah having Mundungus is one really happy thing that's happened to me today. Not to mention I'll have to wear a mask if I come within five steps around him!" said Moody sitting unhappily next to Kingsley.

Tonks who was drinking butterbear from a bottle snorted and sprayed it everywhere. Making Sirius and Bill who were already shaking with laughter, have to cover their faces. Choking and laughing at the same time Tonks dropped the butterbear and it shattered on the floor, spraying everybody's feet with liquid. Remus who sat next to her, quickly started patting her back. Finally able to breathe again Tonks, looked up at him and saw a glimmer in his eyes.

"Thanks" she said rubbing her throat. Concise of Lupin's hand resting on her thigh she turned back to Dumbledore as Molly repaired the bottle and cleaned the mess. "Sorry Professor."

"Albus, Nymphadora, my name is Albus!" chuckled Dumbledore, "Anyhow, Molly, Charlie will meet you in Hogsmede, on Thursday at 1:00pm sharp, and as for the rest of you check the back of the paper for you're time, and I believe" he said turning the paper over, "that Nymphadora and Remus start in half an hour."

"Okay" said Tonks standing up.

"Not before you go and wash up, you look terrible" said Sirius pulling her by the arm to the door like a little child. Shoving her up the stairs he kindly said: "Third Floor, second door is the showers, go take one klutz" before slamming the door shut.

Tonks stood on the stairs, amazed at how fast she had been excused. Why would she need to wash up when all it was, was a bit of Butterbear that could be soaked up easily with a spell. She listened carefully but the house was completely silent. Too silent for her liking, something was going on.

"They're going to talk about Bellatrix, and they don't want me hearing, so they're sending me away." This infuriated her and turned her hair a deep dark red, like lava. She wasn't going to miss this opportunity. Thinking fast she walked heavily up the stairs and down the corridor, she carefully picked up the trolls leg umbrella stand which was fairly heavy and threw it with all her might toward the ugly portrait. It landed with a huge thump and Tonks swore at the top of her voice making sure it floated down toward the kitchen as Mrs. Black's portrait flung open and started to wail.

Thinking fast above the noise, she struggled with the curtains for a moment and getting them shut, she pulled her wand out and murmured "muffliato" on the portrait, and stomped up three floors, opening a door then slamming it hard. Instantly Mrs. Black's portrait flew open but couldn't be heard as the spell worked its affect. Using her skill's on Stealth and Tracking, Tonks quickly but quietly ran down the stairs muffling her foot steps with a spell.

Arriving at the Kitchen door she once again pressed her ear against the thick wood. Her friend's voices caught her like she was standing next to them.

"Do you think we should cast Muffliato on the door?" asked an anxious Sirius. Tonks remembered mentally to jinx Sirius hard later.

"There will be no need to Sirius, you heard her yourself going to the bathroom." Dumbledore said, "Lupin about the Patrol with you and Nymphadora…. Protect her as best you can. We've put you two in the least likely place a Death Eater would show up or track her but still-"

"Sir, let me go with Remus I can help if anything happens." Sirius sounded desperate.

"It's to risky Sirius, you could get caught by the Ministry while you're at it, Hogwarts is safe for you to be around since Dumbledore's there but any further than that and who knows what could happen." Said Kingsley in his slow deep voice that echoed around the room.

"I know that but she is my family, and probably the only living relative that is closest to me, like my little sister. I cant let anything happen to her." Sirius said on the verge of shouting.

"Sirius" said Lupin's voice quickly "you know I won't let anything happen to her, I care about her to if you haven't noticed-" Tonks heart skipped a beat

"-and everybody else in this room cares about her as well!" Her heart returned to normal.

"Of course we do, Sirius dear, trust Tonks, she's a fully grown Auror anyway she can look after herself-"

"Kick ass Mrs. Weasley, girls rock" thought Tonks thankful that somebody thought of her as something but immature.

"- even if she is clumsy at some times."

Tonks was becoming extremely annoyed at them all, and just wanted to run in there and yell at them all. Her eyes turned to fire and she felt as if her temper really was on fire as she continued to listen to them.

"Yeah, you mean the world's biggest klutz." Sirius corrected her.

"We just have to keep an eye on her, and very carefully" said Mr. Weasley who could be heard pacing the room.

"Has anybody told her about her father?" asked Bill.

The room fell silent. Tonks wasn't breathing now, she wanted to catch every word.

"I guess I'll tell her about it tonight on patrol" Remus stated.

"That you should, Remus, but for now don't tell her about Bellatrix, she hasn't made a move yet and that's surprising, we will have to wait and see" concluded Dumbledore.

Tonks took this time to leave as Sirius started with the 'what if's' again, and decided with a low heart and dampened spirit that maybe a cold shower was what she needed.

A/N: Next chapter will be up soon, this is the longest chapter yet and I think I'm gonna need a good sleep.

Reviews would be cool and it would encourage me to keep writing, don't mind what you say, anything.

I might have to tab the rating up a bit for the upcoming chapters, to a T, donno yet. R&R.