Disclaimer : Skip back to chapter one

The door clicked shut and seconds later she stepped onto the pavement, took a deep breath and apparated away.

Chapter 2 - Arrival

At five to seven, Tonks walked on the dark floor of the ministry´s atrium, past the fountain and towards the elevators. There were people. Many of them ! She was lucky not to stumble and fall. 'They wouldn't even notice me laying around and stamp me to death.'

Chuckling to herself she tried to hurry and squeeze her way through the crowd. It was impossible. Her appearance was indeed noticeable and not 'quite the norm' in other people's opinions. 'Fuck. I will never get there if those dumb heads continue staring at me and stand in my way.' After what felt like ages, 'Always feels like ages when you try not to be late and fail anyway' she mused, she arrived in front of the elevators.

One was about to leave, before the doors could close completely, she squeezed through and collided with a tall wizard. Her glared down at her. She grinned up at him

"Wotcher." Now he sneered.

'Tsk. Couldn't hold the smallest candle to Snape with that one, fella'

At that thought her grin widened, she decided to ignore the man and turned around. 'Come on...move quicker blasted thing. Move!'

Some more ages later, the lift reached level two. She stepped out quickly and jogged towards the auror department.

'About time. My ears would have shrivelled if I had to listen to one more lame floor announcement.'

Tonks started jogging down the corridor. All wizards and witches she passed, stared after her, somewhat dumbfounded. With slightly flushed cheeks she reached the office door. Tonks opened it and stepped in, hastily.

Glancing around she noticed that all of the open cubicles were empty. Where was everyone ? Several pictures and Daily Prophet clippings were lining the walls. Actually, it was her first time around in this office. She had passed the selection procedure at the end of her seventh year at Hogwarts, shortly after taking her N.E.W.T.s. That was, in fact, five weeks ago. Some of her fellow students wanted to become Aurors as well. Each applicant had to pass some psychological stress tests, different surveys and a sports test. Some ministry's recruiters had overseen the process, so she didn't get to meet an Auror until now.

The letter she had gotten three weeks ago stated, that she had succeeded with the first step of becoming an Auror. Many weren't capable of managing the pre-tests and she was curious who else got a look-in. All trainee Aurors would meet here today at seven in the morning. There were bureaucracy things that needed to be done. They would sign their articles of apprenticeship, get new robes and other equipment for education.

Glancing around the room again, she spotted a small group at the far end.

She walked forward to join them. Two girls and a boy about her age were standing there, obviously waiting for something to happen. She didn't recognise any one of them. "Wotcher." she greeted. They all turned around, looking at her irritated.

The boy arched his right eyebrow and sneered at her. The girls grinned at each other, trying to suppress a fit of laughter, but failing miserably. Tonks spoke up again "Yeah, nice to meet you too." All three narrowed their eyes, laughter dying on their lips. 'What a great start...maybe I should have -'

She didn't get to finish her thought, as a loud BANG disrupted the room's silence. The young adults were startled and jumped up, Tonks included. The former giggling girls let out a high pitch scream, while the boy seemed to panic. Tonks, as so often, stumbled and fell to the ground.

Getting up slowly, she took a look at the direction where the noise came from. A man on a wooden stick walked towards the small group. Was it him ? The Auror, Tonks had hoped to meet ? Alastor Moody ? He was a living legend. The most famous wizard of all time- or so they said.

"CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" he bellowed, walking towards them quickly.

The three others stopped their screaming and panicking, and kind of tried to hide behind Tonks. She rubbed her ears, well those screams were certainly too high pitched for her liking. Not that she liked screaming people anyway. Still kind of agitated she couldn't hold her tongue.

"Wotcher mister, was that really necessary?" He came to a halt and towered in front of her.

"Constant vigilance!" he repeated, but this time it wasn't really shouted. Now that she got a closer look at him, Tonks had to admit that he really looked as intimidating, as the Prophet stated. The man just had to be him. Plenty of scars visible in his face, his head covered with strands of greying blonde hair. The most frightening part were his eyes though. His right one looked pretty normal but the other one...well yeah, frightening abnormal.

Both eyes fixed on Tonks as he spoke again with a gruff voice. "Dead meat, all of you. Could've killed ya' within seconds."

A shiver ran down her spine. 'Yepp. Pretty intimidating indeed...Merlin's balls, where did he get all that scars from!?'

None of the others dared to speak a word, so it was Tonks' turn again. "Then I'm glad that you are a good guy and not our enemy."

His facial expression turned into a scowl. 'Uh-oooh. Bad idea Tonks, bad idea. Why do I have to be that cheeky, for fu..-'

"I am not a good guy. Couldn't even call me nice. You're not here to get pampered. Look at me." he growled. "Look at my face. Do I look like a bloody nanny?" They shook their heads slowly, Tonks holding her breath. "So I thought." A chuckle escaped his throat, low and rumbling. Seconds later he continued.

"This is what the job is about. Fame ? Praise ? Forget about that. There are no god damn rainbows and fairies. No rules. This is reality." Tonks exhaled slowly as his index finger pointed at his magical eye. "What's going to happen then ? I tell 'ya. You will try to protect yourselves and catch them. They will try to blast you apart, rip you into pieces. If you're lucky they'll make it quick. Well..." with that, he finally stopped scowling at Tonks and gazed at one of the other girls.

Peering over Tonks' right shoulder, the girl gasped frightened. "What a gorgeous witch you are. I just noticed now... What's your name ?" Short moment of confusion later, a self-satisfied smile spread over the girl's face. Stopping to hide behind Tonks, she stepped aside. "Bianca, sir."

'Huh, what's happening here ?' Tonks' eyebrows rose slightly.

The Auror bowed his scarred head in admission. "A pleasure to meet you Bianca."

'Ummm...that was unexpected.'

Moody stepped some inches closer to the girl. Scratching his scarred cheek, he seemed to be thinking hard about something. "Right. At first I am going to rape you." They gasped in unison. An insane expression on his face, he went on."After a while I'll get bored. I could start with a finger. Or better an ear ? No, let's cut off one of your pretty little fingers first."

'What the hell?!' Tonks couldn't believe it. Was that really happening or was it just a bad dream ? She looked from Moody to the girl and back. Something was not right, she could sense it. That couldn't be Alastor Moody. Well...they called him "Mad-Eye"... but he couldn't be that mad ?! He was an Auror for fuck's sake !

The girl stood rooted to the spot. It seemed that she was too shocked to move, even when Moody stepped some more inches closer towards her. The former sneering boy and the other girl stumbled backwards.

Tonks couldn't think straight anymore. Shock and confusion filled every inch of her body. But thinking didn't matter, because in fact, she did know one thing for sure...she wouldn't let that happen.

"Leave her alone." she stepped forward, in between Moody and the girl. The girl she didn't even know. Her voice did waver a lot.

Moody's head snapped towards her, his eyes narrowed. "What ?"

Tonks took a deep breath, before repeating slowly, voice less wavering "I said, leave her alone."

'And I thought he was mad...where the hell did that just come from ? I probably couldn't even stand a minute against him. He will knock me unconscious in a blink of an eye.' Kicking herself mentally she drew her wand from her pocket and faced Moody.

Before anything else could happen, the office door got opened and a handful of wizards streamed inside. At the front of the group stood a bald-headed man with rather dark skin colour. All of them eyed Tonks curiously and some murmurs emanated. Half of them reached for their wands.

The bald man, who hadn't drawn his wand, walked towards Tonks and the others.

"Mad-Eye." he stated.

Moody turned around, his face blank now, and glanced over to the new arrivals. "Kingsley."

"What happened Mad-Eye ?" Tonks liked the bald man's voice. It was deep, calm and had a soothing effect on her. 'Alright, looks like we're safe now. What kind of a strange thing is going on here anyway ?!'

"He, he wanted to torture me !" The girl named Bianca spoke up with a high pitched voice. "He is insane !" she shouted, pointing at Moody.

The man in question threw back his head and gave a loud, barking laugh. 'Huh ? How can he laugh now ? Isn't he going to get in trouble ?' Tonks' mouth gaped open.

His laughter stopped abruptly. "Bunch of incompetent greenhorns they are."

Both girls behind Tonks made a kind of outraged noise.

The man - 'What did he call him ? Kingsley ?' - ignored Moody's comment. "You tested them Mad-Eye ?" he sighed. Moody simply stood there and shrugged his shoulders. "Well, you weren't supposed to do that. I remember that there was a similar conversation last year."

Moody leaned forward, resting both hands on his wooden stick. "Send them home. Except for the red haired one."

Kingsley's eyebrows rose, and the murmurs coming from behind him, grew louder. "Do you mind to tell us how you got to that conclusion ? What did you do anyway ?"

Tonks eyes darted back and forth between the two. By now, her wand hung loosely at her side.

"Simply showed them what to expect."

Understanding dawned on Tonks. 'It was a test ! I had a strange feeling but got trapped anyway. He talked about sending them home. Except for me. Why is that?'