A/N: TPOV

Tonks finished getting ready in one of the four rooms that had been rented at the Three Broomsticks for the auror guard now posted at Hogwarts. Glancing at the mirror on the wall she was greeted by a young witch with purple hair, green pants, a pink tank top over a black long sleeve shirt, combat boots and a long brown trench coat. She made a face at herself, changing her nose into a pig snout, smiling wide before changing it back. With one last glance at the mirror she changed her hair from purple to a bright pink that matched her shirt. Double checking to make sure everything was in place, Tonks drew her wand and apparated to the Hogwarts' perimeter.

The edge of the Forbidden Forest took shape around her and she stumbled unceremoniously on a protruding root as she tried to move forward. She sighed, knowing apparition made anyone a bit wobbly but when coupled with her aptitude for clumsiness? She became a bloody walking hazard.

"Tonks?" a familiar voice asked. She looked up seeing the familiar face of Craig MacKenzie, the wizard whom she was relieving from his day watch, illuminated by the setting sun. "Always know how to make an entrance, don't ya?"

"Wotcher, Craig" Tonks smiled in greeting. "Anything to pass down?"

"It has been relatively quiet so far today. There was some minor commotion when a first year wandered too close to the Whomping Willow. Luckily I was patrolling nearby. Nothing Poppy won't be able to fix." He smiled, drawing attention to the many lines on his face making him look much older than he was.

"Poppy is a miracle worker. Merlin knows she patched me up enough when I was here. Have a good night Craig, I have it from here." Her colleague nodded back, giving a brief salute with his wand before disapparating.

Tonks took up the watch where he had left off, making her rounds along the grounds of Hogwarts, choosing a route that would take her along the far shore of the lake as the sun set below the horizon and darkness fell on the castle.

"Nymphadora. I see you're patrolling tonight as well."

Tonks turned at the sound of that name, her face set in a frown and her pink hair changing to a rather alarming shade of red. She held her wand forward for both illumination and to be used if necessary. Her eyes squinting as the shadows slowly took shape. "Snape" she said sharply, only his face discernable in the darkness. She willed her hair back to its previous shade of pink, irritated enough that she had shown that much of a reaction.