Emma came to the office the following morning with a coffee for Tonks and tea for herself and before she checked in (for she was an hour early), she went straight to the Auror offices and knocked on Tonks's door gently.

"C'min," Tonks grumbled, and Emma entered to find her friend with her elbows on her desk, hands on her forehead, hair brown and lip.

"You okay?" Emma asked, putting coffee in front of her as she shut the door. "Did you get any sleep last night?"

"Werewolf attack south of Leeds," she muttered. "Every time I see that word in the paper, I just..."

"He's fine," Emma said softly.

"You don't know that," Tonks whimpered.

Emma looked at her and frowned. Then, she said, "You do." Tonks looked up at her to retort, but Emma shook her head and said, "No, listen. When you were on missions last year, did you ever worry about him? Did you think he wasn't fine?"

"No," Tonks whispered, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. "No, I knew he was safe..."

"But when he was about to go into battle at the Ministry," Emma whispered, "and you came back to Grimmauld Place, what was it that brought you back?"

Few people knew that Tonks hadn't been expressly called to the expedition to the Ministry, but Remus had let it slip when they'd visited her in the hospital.

"I felt like he was in danger," Tonks whispered. "It was this... this awful, sick feeling in my gut like, like..."

"I know," Emma sighed, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Do you feel that now?"

Tonks sighed, leaning back in her chair hopelessly.

"It's so hard to tell. I just feel so dull and empty all the time, and-"

"And that really doesn't feel anything like a sick feeling in your gut, does it?" Emma prompted reasonably.

Tonks laughed shakily, like she was about to cry again.

"Yeah, I guess you're right," she whispered. "So he's probably fine."

"I would say so, since nothing serious even happened to him at the Ministry," Emma reasoned. "Listen, I know you're upset about Remus, but I'm really worried about you, about your health and everything. This is really not okay."

"M'fine," Tonks muttered, going back into herself again.

"You can't tell me you're going to be as safe if you can't transform," Emma replied scornfully. "Not knowing what an absolute klutz you are."

The two women just sat there in sad, companionable silence for a length of time, Emma occasionally glancing up at the clock to see if it was time for her to check in for her own day of work.

"I guess you're probably right," Tonks finally sighed. "I just can't stop worrying. And I know he doesn't want me, but I-"

"I have a hard time believing that," Emma said honestly, smiling slightly. "You couldn't see the way he looked at you when you were unconscious in St. Mungo's, Tonks. I've never seen a man more in love, my husband included."

She hadn't even realized what she'd just said until Tonks looked up at her, shocked.

"Oops," Emma then said sheepishly.

"You're ma-"

"Shh!" Emma hissed, putting a charm on the door. "Yes, we're keeping it quiet, and I can't believe I just said that," she laughed. "We eloped."

"Obviously," Tonks replied dryly, still not to her usual humor, but she seemed so much perkier that Emma decided to keep the conversation on its track.

"Molly doesn't know," Emma explained, "so I'd appreciate you keeping it quiet around her-"

"Molly spends half her time with trying to fix my love life," Tonks said dismissively. "I can't imagine it would even come up."

Emma shook her head.

"We can talk more about this if you come over for dinner sometime," she told her friend. "Fred will want to have his say as well. Are you busy all this week?"

"Ah, let me see," Tonks muttered, looking over her calendar. "No, I've got a day off tomorrow, from everything."

Which meant that she had neither work nor Order work to think of.

Order members were given a few days like that a month, just so they didn't get totally burnt out, like Tonks was already beginning to look.

"You'll come for dinner at our flat?" Emma said helpfully. "I know you don't want to talk, and we won't make you, but we should at least have a proper talk about my marriage."

"Yeah, I'll be there," Tonks said wearily. "You should probably head up to your office, though, or you'll be late."

Emma nodded, picking up her tea and making for her friend's office door.

"Oh, and Emma?" Tonks said with a weak smile as Emma turned the knob.

"Yeah?"

"Congratulations."

Emma smiled that natural, bright smile she got when she thought about being Mrs. Fred Weasley.

With Tonks's promise to make it to dinner, Emma hurried to her own office, checking in, getting to work right away on the mountain of paperwork that always seemed to accumulate whenever Emma had a rare day off. She pulled the stack to her, finished off her tea, and began reading and signing documents, approving reports from other departments, and sending many a thing along to Arthur via interdepartmental memo. She took a quick moment during her break to send an owl to Fred to let him know they would have company the following night.

Thankfully, the remainder of her day was uneventful, although exhausting. By the time she went home that night she was ready for food, a shower, and bed. The boys seemed to be of the same mind, apparently having had a very interesting day of researching where products were concerned.

"Remind me never to let Tien touch explosives again," Fred muttered as they ate their potatoes that night.

"She has reminded us," George groaned. "We just keep forgetting to listen."

"Remind me to listen to you," Fred then sighed.

"I always do," Emma quipped, kissing Fred's forehead, and they went about their night peacefully.

The following night was a completely different story, Emma rushing home from work in order to make a nice dinner. She knew that the expectation when going to visit a Weasley was a good home-cooked meal, and she didn't want to drop the ball on her first time entertaining as a 'Mrs. Weasley.'

"What's all this?" Fred said with a laugh. "Tonks won't mind if you don't act like Mum, you know."

"I'm not acting like your mother," Emma snapped, and then she paused, eyes wide with shock. "That... that..."

"Sounded just like Mum?" George asked, grinning. "Yeah, pretty much."

"Ugh," Emma groaned, but she still put the pasties on the table and began checking her beef wellington to see that it was cooked but still a bit pink.

There was a buzz and George rushed downstairs to let in Tonks, who still didn't have clearance to Apparate straight into the shop and walk up from there.

"How is everything looking to you?" Emma asked nervously.

"Darling, relax," Fred told her, pouring some wine for the four of them. "Everything's going to be fine. She doesn't expect you to be my Mum, as we've said."

Emma knew they were right, and yet still she felt an inexplicable anxiety to make sure everything was perfect.

She put the beef wellington and the steamed brussel sprouts on the table quickly as the footsteps up the stairs to the flat grew louder and she heard George opening the door, leading a still-dejected Tonks in.

"I brought a pudding," Tonks said weakly. She held up a bag that held some cream-filled meringues from Tesco.

"Oh, those are my favorite, that's not even fair," Emma said, grinning. "Did you chill them, or-"

"Yeah, I did a spell," Tonks replied, smiling thinly and putting the bag on the kitchen counter, taking off her coat, which George took and hung up. "I wasn't sure if you'd have Muggle appliances, living in Diagon Alley."

"As long as you're above street level you're allowed to have them," Fred explained. "The magic level is a lot less each story you go up. Sometimes the microwave down above the Menagerie has some issues, but otherwise people don't seem to have too much of a problem, and our fridge works fine."

"Oh, wow, Emma, this looks delicious," Tonks said, not quite with her old enthusiasm, but with a lot for how she was lately.

"Thanks," Emma said nervously, tucking a lock of hair behind her hair. "So, now you know our little secret."

Fred took her hand and kissed it before resting their entwined hands on the table. Tonks gave their hands a watery smile as George dished up the food all around.

"Yeah, congratulations, Fred," Tonks said. "You're a lucky guy."

"The luckiest in the world," Fred said lovingly. "But in case we need someone to hide behind when my mum finds out," he added, teasing.

"You're not hiding behind me," Tonks said, laughing hollowly and wincing. "I've seen your mother's spellwork."

"Fair enough," George laughed. "Emma, this beef is perfect."

"Thanks, George," Emma sighed, more than a little relieved, taking sip of wine. "So, Tonks, how was work today?"

"Work today was just like work yesterday and the day before," Tonks sighed. "We're all too busy chasing shadows to go after the people we actually know are Death Eaters and associates thereof, thanks to Madam Umbridge."

"I hate her," Emma said bitterly.

The three of them blinked at her, and Emma took another sip of wine.

"What?" she snapped. "She's a vile excuse for a human being."

"Of course she is, love," Fred said dully. "We're just not used to you being angry."

"Work makes me a bit angry," Emma admitted sheepishly.

When they finished dinner, the four of them broke out the delicious cream-filled meringues, sitting on the couches an enjoying the sweets with their wine.

"This is the perfect wine for this pudding," Tonks declared. "It's got to be officially promoted this way."

"Agreed," George said happily, licking a bit of cream off his freckled face. "I know what Angelina and I are having on our next date."

They all laughed, and it was so good to hear Tonks laugh, really laugh.

"I've not had a night off in ages," Tonks moaned, leaning back into the sofa. "It seems like even when I'm supposed to be off, Albus needs me for something or there's some big bust for work. I don't get enough of them scheduled in as it is."

"Yeah," George said with a knowing nod. "My last date off with Angelina I got called in to do a last-minute bit for the Order."

Emma raised her eyebrows.

"I didn't know about this," she said sternly.

Fred shifted nervously beside her and said, "I didn't want to wake you, love."

Emma gave him a look that told him quite plainly that they would be discussing this later and he shrank away slightly, turning a bit pink.

"It's the way of things," Tonks said dully. "It's almost impossible to keep track of what anyone is doing anymore, no matter how much we..."

She cut off, looking around at them, realizing that they all knew she was talking about Remus.

"Well," she sighed, getting up, downing her wine quickly, "it was lovely, Emma. Thanks for this. But I should be getting back and getting to bed. I've got work in the morning."

Emma got up and got Tonks her coat, seeing her down to the shop.

"You can come by any time, you know," Emma said honestly. "We're always happy to have you here."

"Thanks," Tonks sighed, her face already looking low and empty in the near-darkness. "But I'm pretty busy."

"I know," Emma whispered. "But when you're less busy... Well, take care of yourself, Tonks. I'll see you at work."

"See you," Tonks said with a wave, going out and Disapparating.

Emma walked back up to the boys feeling conflicted about how to best proceed in cheering up her friend.

A few days later, Emma was called in to a 'department meeting' with Arthur, Madam Umbridge, Percy, and the Minister. Basically, it was to evaluate her performance.

"Hello, Emma," Arthur said kindly as she sat down. "Having a good morning?"

"Not bad so far," Emma said with a weak smile. "George made breakfast, but I escaped."

Percy was shifting in his seat, but a moment later Madam Umbridge entered with the Minister and the family reunion was interrupted.

"Miss Norwick," the Minister drawled, opening her file as he sat down. "Your work has been...exemplary."

"Thank you, sir," Emma replied, glancing at the file and wondering what Umbridge was going to bring to the table in order to get Emma fired.

"Except you aren't keeping up with your workload," Umbridge said in a simpering voice. "I've seen your desk, Miss Norwick, the papers are piling up."

"May I comment on that, Minister?" Arthur asked nervously. The Minister nodded. "I've seen the work that is being put on Emma's desk, and she deals with all of it well, but it seems that even things that are a closed book without her input are requiring a signature even if there is only a cursory relationship to Muggle objects." He glanced briefly at Emma before saying, "It is as if someone wants to overwhelm her. She works through everything in the timeline reasonably required to do so, but there is an unreasonable amount of work being put forth to her. Even the best of Ministry workers could not do as well as Emma, I believe."

No doubt, Albus had asked him to say this in the meeting. Otherwise, right-seeking man he was, Emma didn't think Arthur would have had the courage to stand up to his boss on her behalf.

"Interesting," Scrimgeour muttered, going through the file. "So it seems. And she makes more than satisfactory progress for someone in a department by herself." He looked up at Umbridge. "Do you have any reason why her desk is being artificially flooded, Dolores?"

Emma raised an eyebrow as Umbridge turned an unattractive shade of purple. Could it be that Scrimgeour was looking for reasons to deflate Umbridge from power somehow? She glanced over at Arthur, who seemed to be realizing what she was. They would have to report it to Albus later.

"I'll look into it, Minister," Umbridge squeaked.

They went through basics of the department after that with few interruptions from Madam Umbridge, which Emma was thankful for. Umbridge did have some objections when Emma said that she would need increased resources for her department, including at least a part-time worker to help her because she was already working more hours that was legally allowed for government work in order to get all of her reports and signatures in by their various and copious deadlines.

"We do not have the resources to add to her department," Umbridge argued. "Neither personnel nor the funds to hire further personnel."

"I'll look into it," the Minister said slowly. "Percy, make a note of it."

Percy scribbled quickly on the parchment in front of him, still eager to please. Emma watched her brother-in-law and fought the urge to slap him across the face for all he'd done, to their cause, to his family, to his own pathetic dignity.

But he wasn't worth it.

"If there's nothing else," Emma said softly, "I do have a rather large stack of papers on my desk, Minister. Assuming you have nothing further to discuss..."

"Yes, Miss Norwick," Scrimgeour said dismissively. "That will be all."

Emma said polite farewells to everyone in the room. She made her way back to her office, Arthur not far behind her.

"You did a very good job in there today," he said kindly. "Just keep your head up, dear, and I'll do what I can on my end."

"I'm going to send an owl tonight," Emma said slowly, hinting that it was for Albus. "Or do you want to do it?"

"Go ahead, dear," Arthur said softly. "I'll speak to Molly later tonight."

That of course, meant that he would talk with Albus at the Order meeting, so there would be no need to write a letter on his part.

Emma went to her desk a few minutes later, frantically going through reports and paperwork, not wanting to give Scrimgeour any excuses to cut her department. She'd done all she could thus far to ensure the continuation of her usefulness to the Order, but if she couldn't keep her department alive, there might not be anything anyone could do to keep her aboard at the Ministry without making it painfully obvious that she was essentially spying for Albus Dumbledore.

All she could do was work like she'd never worked before.

And so she did, and when she finished work for the day Emma cleaned up her desk as best as she could, gathered her things, and scribbled a quick letter to Albus, making sure it got to him before the meeting so he would know to bring it up in case Arthur forgot.

Her heart pounded as she delivered the letter, worried every moment that she'd run into Umbridge as she chose an owl to send it, but she got lucky and saw no one.

Emma then checked out of work, went home, and had a quick dinner with the twins.

"How was work?" Fred asked.

"It was fine," Emma told him. "The meeting went surprisingly well. Your father was splendid."

"How is Dad doing?" George asked, frowning. "I know he misses his old job, and that this one is taking a large toll on him-"

"I think he's happy regardless," Emma assured him. "And he's making quite a bit more money. I think he's grateful of that, especially with the world going the way it is."

The twins had offered their father to give a bit of money back to their parents every month, sort of an offering of thanks for raising them and helping out with Ron and Ginny, but Arthur wouldn't hear of it. Emma knew the twins felt better every time they were reminded of their father's pay raise, because it helped them think that they'd done enough in at least trying to provide that extra.

And maybe, if the Ministry collapsed, she thought wryly, it wouldn't matter who made what anymore.