As the lift grunted and ground its way between floors, Tonks closed her eyes and slumped against the panelling. Right now she felt dirty-down-to-the-bone tired. It wouldn't take much for her to crumble and blow away like some vampire from an old movie, exposed to light. She decided to leave Fortinbras with her animagus papers and take the rest of the day - stuff that, the rest of the week - off. There was a jerk and a weary rattle and, without properly opening her eyes, Tonks pried herself off the friendly wall and allowed her legs to roll her out into the corridor. She was congratulating herself on realising that there were already people there before actually running into them when Granger asked: 'Tonks, should you be out of Saint Mungo's?'

The young Unspeakable sounded concerned. Potter and Weasley were hovering as if they expected Tonks to fall over. 'Just got my Animagus Registration Papers,' said Tonks, waving the little pink book.

Weasley snatched and opened it to display the photograph of dragon-Tonks. 'Hermione, you've got to see Goyle's memory of . . .' He broke off when Granger elbowed him.

'That's great,' she said. How's the Dormouse?'

Big and green thought Tonks and concentrated on sounding rational. 'Ok. Not too keen on his the mirror breaking though. Decided to go 'sick' when I told him we were on the sixteenth floor.'

'Sixteenth?'

Tonks nodded.

'And the mirror broke?'

'Twice.'

'Oh dear,' muttered Granger. 'That's not good. Well, it could be good but I doubt it.'

'Sixteenth floor?' asked Weasley, rubbing at his side.

'Any sort of crisis and that end of the Ministry acquires extra levels,' explained Granger. 'We think part of it may be the remains of an old spell to provide a refuge in times of crisis. Of course you'd have to be mad to go anywhere near those stairs, let alone attempting the phantom floors. They're not in ordinary Wizard space. Look, I'd better go.' She slipped through the lift doors before they could close and jabbed at a button.

'Tonks, I think you need to sit down,' said Potter.

Treading firmly on his foot to prevent him escaping, Tonks wrapped an arm around Weasley's head and reacquired her papers. 'I'll just hand these to Fortinbras and then I'll go and lie down,' she said, veering towards Fortinbras's cubicle. 'Anyone who disturbs me will be eaten.'

Fortinbras was filling out yellow forms. Prisoner release, Tonks mind supplied and then she noticed the folder labelled 'Severus Snape'. 'Please tell me we didn't arrest Snape?'

'You were quick.' Fortinbras got up and perched on the edge of her desk.

'Mr. Thomas was keen to go home,' said Tonks.

'Did his mirror break?' Fortinbras tried a smile.

'Twice'

One eyebrow rose. 'Twice?' Fortinbras took the pink booklet from Tonks' hand. 'Looks like we're going be busy. Ok. I'll get your files updated. You'd better go and spring Snape.' She bent and signed the first and second of the yellow forms and offered them to Tonks. 'Don't worry: it's not Azkaban. Just 'Holding' and he's being treated very well. First Mad-eye had a word and then Potter and Weasley had a few more.'

Unspeaking, Tonks took the form, folded it, and tucked it into her robes.

'McGonagall's been raising hell,' said Fortinbras. 'Personally, I think Snape's enjoying the break. He's got Potter, Weasley and Granger running errands for him.

Go and turf him out before the poor sods in 'Holding' do something they might regret.'

Tonks gave a small 'hmf' of wry amusement. She was sure that ir hadn't been Fortinbras's idea to arrest Snape, however defensive she seemed. 'Pepper-up potion,' she said.

'Probably not a good idea.'

'Give.' Tonks held out a hand.

Fortinbras slid open a drawer and handed Tonks a small blue bottle. Tonks unstoppered it, checked the level within, drained it and coughed. Wincing, Fortinbras took back the bottle and stopper. 'And then go home,' she said. 'And not to the Ministry flat. Go and visit your mother. Tell her you're not to be disturbed. Don't even think of coming back here until you've had some sleep.'

Tonks nodded and stumbled off, head clearing as the potion cut in. She reached the lifts, called them and waited. And waited. And cursed under her breath and kicked the panelling. After the Dormouse's 'Office', she really didn't want to use the stairs but neither did she want to wait all day. Sod's Law she decided, right down to the bloody lifts.

Finally a lift arrived and Tonks made to enter it. 'Hem,' said Umbridge. Tonks resisted the temptation to deck her. 'I'm really not sure that you should be out of Saint Mungo's, Auror Tonks.' The woman smiled. 'I do wonder if you're taking proper care of yourself. Come along and we can have a nice little téte a téte. Just the two of us.' Tonks put her fists behind her back, opened her left hand far enough to grasp her right wrist firmly, followed Umbridge and didn't morph into a dragon.

It wasn't easy.

'Now dear. Don't stand on ceremony. Sit down. Sit down.' Umbridge inserted herself behind her desk.

Tonks stood and waited.

Umbridge folded her hands on her desk 'Well, Auror Tonks, you mustn't worry about the enquiry. There will be plenty of time for that when you're feeling better.'

'Enquiry, Madam Umbridge?'

'The enquiry into your . . ..' She grimaced and held up a pudgy hand. 'Now don't you worry. Anyone who talks out of turn will face serious disciplinary action. What happened needn't ever come to light.'

'I'm sorry Madam Umbridge; I don't understand the need for an enquiry.'

'Auror Tonks, may I remind you that you were . . . You do know that you ate three people?'

'I was a dragon at the time,' said Tonks, 'and I ate a few chickens. Animagi sometimes hunt prey. I understand that I might have had to pay for the chickens if they'd belonged . . .'

'Stop.' Umbridge took a deep breath. 'Am I to understand that you propose to claim that you acted as you did under the influence of an animagus transformation?'

'Yes.'

'So, if I were to ask you now to show me your Animagus Registration Papers, you could do that?

'No,' admitted Tonks. Umbridge looked regretful. 'Auror Fortinbras has them. And please don't worry. While I'm a bit embarrassed about the chicken-eating, I certainly don't regret doing what was necessary to stop the Death Eaters.'

'I see,' said Umbridge. 'Very well. Auror Tonks, you can go.'

This time the lift was waiting for her. Five minutes later she was handing over Snape's Release Papers. The clerk looked up at her unhappily. 'I wish you people would make up your minds,' he grumbled. 'Have you any idea how much paperwork's involved in getting someone out of Azkaban?'

'Azkaban?' Something terrible roosted in Tonks' belly, cold wings fluttering under her ribs.

'Yes. Not ten minutes ago. Fowler and Murchison. Orders signed by Madam Umbridge.'


Thank you whitehound.