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Chapter 4: Interrogation Over Dinner

Her parents absolutely loved Hermione's new boyfriend, that much was for sure.

They were practically eating out of his hands, though they barely knew him for more than a few minutes. Mum laughed at all his jokes like everything he said was so witty, while her dad nodded his head approvingly, and said "Good lad", as Hermione's boyfriend described his plans of working for the Wizengamot after graduation. Something that required top of the class high grades and recommendations, which Hermione's boyfriend assured them he had. It was all a bit too perfect. and cozy.

Luckily, Tonks had a degree of reservation and while her parents made complete fools of themselves over him and Hermione looked smug...Tonks sipped on a goblet of wine and quietly observed everything he said, every little hand gesture, tic, facial expression...that told her something about him was lying.

She remembered Mad-Eye Moody's words, 'constant vigilance'. Yes, constant vigilance indeed, one never knew where the enemy might show up. It didn't matter that this was a family dinner, one could never be too careful. Tonks could only imagine how disappointed Mad-Eye would be in her if she let the enemy infiltrate her own family. She'd never live it down.

And she had a gut instinct that something was off.

There was something she didn't trust about Hermione's boyfriend. Or rather he felt familiar but she couldn't quite place where she'd seen the blue-eyed, brown hair Hufflepuff before.

Tonks put down her pea and ham laden fork.

"Sorry what was your name again?" she asked him.

"Dora!" Andromeda said through gritted teeth while Hermione glared at her across from the table, "Steven has already told us his name, or have you drunk so much wine that you're starting to forget things!"

"S-orry, I just could've sworn I've met him somewhere before..." Though she couldn't figure out where so she continued staring at him rudely.

"My name is Steven Collins, seventh year Hufflepuff?" he raised an arrogant brow mockingly.

Yes, that is precisely what she didn't believe. She was a auror, for Merlin's sake, she could smell a lie a mile away... Or what had Mad-Eye's training taught her? No, there was definitely something off about 'Steven', though she couldn't figure out what her sister had to do with it, or if Hermione even knew. 'Steven' neither seemed like a Hufflepuff in the slightest.

She stared at his brown hair and blue eyes mistrustfully. "Okay Steven, what is the house motto of Hufflepuff?"

"Dora quit it!" Hermione and Andromeda both hissed before he could answer. Hermione glared at her and placed a hand protectively around her boyfriend, while Andromeda looked she wanted to strangle her for ruining the family dinner.

"I'm sorry Steven, I do not know what's gotten into my oldest daughter!" Andromeda trilled in embarrassment and gave Steven one of her charming apologetic smiles.

But Steven merely smirked. "It's alright Hermione, Mrs. Tonks," he drawled politely in an voice much too posh for his stated background, "Your sister's questions don't bother me." He smirked. "She has a right to know who her sister is dating. Feel free to ask me anything you like Nymphadora." There was a challenging glint to his eyes as he said this, staring right at her.

Oh it is on, Tonks thought.

She smirked. "Where did you grow up?"

"Tottenham."

"Ha!" she laughed triumphantly, "You don't have the accent to match!"

"My mother was Australian," he said quickly.

"That would make you sound more like South London!"

Steven's facade flinched for the briefest moment. "There's more than one province in Australia."

Andromeda's nostrils flared and looked like she wanted to burst but Tonks continued undaunted.

"Alright Steven, tell me one province then where your mother is from and don't think I won't check the facts after!"

Hermione loudly scraped her knife against her plate.

"Enough!"

Everybody looked at Hermione. She had been quiet all evening, because everybody was more interested in speaking to her boyfriend than her. But it seemed her patience was up.

"Dora," she pointed at her sister, "You and me. Outside. Right now."

Bugger. Tonks felt she had been so close to unraveling Collins' disguise. Steven smirked at her as he watched both sisters leave the table. Tonks narrowed her eyes at him as she left the room, Oh don't think you've gotten off yet, Steven. I'm onto your arse.

~/~

As soon as they were out in the hall, Hermione yanked her roughly by the arm.

"What on earth is your problem?!"

"What?" Tonks rolled her eyes churlishly, "I was just asking him a few questions."

"No you weren't! You were interrogating him like he was some criminal!" Hermione shouted, "You completely embarrassed me, now he's probably never going to want to come back here again!"

"Oh, please, 'Steven' was loving it, mum and dad were completely licking his arse and balls and you know it!" she crossed her arms, "I'm the only one that asked any real questions."

Hermione made a disgusted face at that mental image. "Just keep out of it Dora! Or are you just completely jealous that everyone wanted to talk about Steven instead of your promotion at the Order?"

Tonks scowled, "Please, I'm not even allowed to talk about the Order! The only reason you even know I work for them is because your friends with Harry. Otherwise I can't tell a single detail to anyone not even to my own sister, not that you're being honest with me," she said heavy with implication.

"What are you talking about?!"

Tonks laughed. "Oh come on, I know you and this Steven fellow are hiding things!"

"We are not," Hermione huffed.

"You are!" Tonks insisted loudly, "Do you really expect me to believe he's Steven the Hufflepuff from Tottenham?!" she asked incredulously, "His accent doesn't even match!"

Hermione's lips set in a firm line but she said nothing.

"I know when you're lying Hermione, and honestly, I don't care if Steven is actually some bad boy you're dating that you want to cover up!" she laughed at Hermione's grim expression, "I've done it myself before, though I actually liked shocking mum and dad instead of pretending he was some preppy!"

Hermione looked like she was fuming. "You know nothing about Steven, not one thing! So just back off!" She stormed off.

Oh there was definitely something going on here. No matter what Hermione said. Tonks knew when her sister was lying. She could only just wonder what...Usually Hermione told her everything and they didn't keep secrets. But what was big enough that Hermione wanted to keep it a secret even from her?

Tonks shook her head. I just know there's something off about this Steven fellow.

She grimaced as she heard Steven tell a joke to her parents and she heard all three of them laugh loudly at him like he was a bloody comedian.

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A/N: So does anyone think Steven Collins might actually be a certain blonde Slytherin? Haha I'll let you guess for now but I think you've probably figured it out ;)