"Well done, Tonks," Taylor praised her as she explained why noses were easier to transfigure than chin shape. "Especially for not just giving me the answer of 'the nose is squishier'."

Tonks smiled happily at that, it turned out that having to research the human body for your own abilities meant that you knew a lot of medical terminology. Who knew that that would ever be helpful for something other than healing? It was kind of nice being confident with her answer. It made her get a sort of high from it. Is this what know-it-all Ravenclaws felt like all the time? She would have to ask Eggleston and Young at some point. When she could figure out a better way of phrasing it.

She noticed that Jones pulled a face at her and frowned. But that was normal, really. He never had a pleasant expression on his face. Especially not around her. The prick. But whatever. She could ignore him because he didn't matter to her. As long as he kept to himself and she kept to herself then they should both be fine. Which should be easy because neither of them liked the other.

She didn't give the annoying guy another thought as the day continued. It was a pretty good one, all in all. She understood what was going on, managed to answer all the questions sent her way and was actually praised for her stance when they went over basic ways to hold yourself when you were about to duel. Not that they were doing any Duelling yet. But except for that, it was a good day.

And even better, it was over now and she, for once, didn't feel too tired. She felt like she could actually do something instead of collapse on her sofa or her bed. Which was nice.

Unfortunately, she didn't end up doing that. She didn't even get out the door at the end of the day because someone was blocking it.

"You're taking up the whole door, Jones," she said irritably.

It was really the only tone she used to talk to him.

"That's the point," he said.

"Well, move."

Why would he be blocking the doorway? That was just stupid.

"Rushing away home?" He asked her in a weird tone.

"Yeah..." she said cautiously. "Or, at least trying to."

"Should you even be allowed to be here?" Jones asked with one of those imperious sniffs of his.

It made him sound really stupid, by the way. Really, really stupid. Actually, never mind sound stupid, je actually was stupid because he wasn't making any sense whatsoever. She frowned at him.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Why wouldn't she be allowed to be here? She passed her exams, didn't she? Just like everyone else here. Was he implying that she had cheated or something? Tonks felt herself get very defensive and was about to say something else but he interrupted her.

"Well," he looked around for support only to get confused looks in return. Which was something, she supposed. "We all know what family you come from."

Tonks stiffened at that and narrowed her eyes. What was that supposed to mean?

"I don't," Jean said with a wave while McCabbert snorted.

Tonks didn't know if that meant she was on her side or not. You never could tell with her. And, yes, she was still referring to the girl as McCabbert. Tonks simply couldn't think of her as anything else.

All of the non-Hogwarts people were looking at Jones in confusion, though Dubois had a thoughtful look on his face that Tonks feared wouldn't bode well for her. The Hogwarts ones just looked uncomfortable with the whole thing. As you would if the Black Family was being brought up.

"Don't tell me you don't know the Tonks family," Jones said venomously.

Which just made everyone look either more confused or more uncomfortable.

"I told you to shut up," Tonks growled.

But Jones just did this unnerving smirk at her. Like he had something over her or something. Which he technically did but still.

"I think they ought to know."

"It's none of their business!"

"Of course, it is. The Tonks' were everyone's business once upon a time."

Tonks flinched at that. She couldn't help it. Yes, she was aware of the scandal her parents caused. The disapproval of almost everyone that they faced. That they struggled. That they were everyone's gossip for months if not years. But that was all in the past now. It didn't matter anymore. Especially not to anyone right here!

"I remember hearing something about them," Dubois frowned, looking like he was wracking his brain for the answer. "Maybe my mother was talking about it? Didn't they do something big? I can't remember if it was good or bad..."

Tonks looked away at that. Of course, he could have heard it from his mother. Her parents were around the same age as everyone's parents here. Hell, they probably went to Hogwarts at the same time and everything. Some of them might have actually seen the whole sordid business from start to finish. Maybe someone's parents saw her parents sneaking around when they dated. Or gossiped about what the Black family would do. Which sucked. Tonks hated being a part of gossip at the best of times but especially when it didn't involve her at all.

"Oh, they were a part of something big," Jones chuckled.

She would say he chuckled evilly but even he was too stupid to be evil.

"So?" Tonks spat out, reaching the end of her tether.

"Well, I didn't think someone from a Dark family would be allowed anywhere near the Auror Department. You know, unless they were being brought in."

There were actually noises of agreement from the surrounding trainees. What the hell? Tonks thought that they were her friends. That they liked her. Apparently, that wasn't the case. Jean was given her a suspicious look. Jean. Calm yourself Tonks. Calm. In through the nose. Out through the mouth. Slowly. Deeply. It would do no one any good if she punched this idiot.

"You can just fuck right off, you know that?"

Okay, maybe that wasn't quite so calm, though it did get a chuckle from everyone.

"We know that Tonks and her family aren't Dark," Young piped up.

"Yeah!" Eggleston added. "They're outcasts."

"That was the whole point of there being a scandal between Andromeda Black and Edward Tonks," McCabbert said sarcastically with an eye roll.

Huh. Tonks felt something squishy and warm blossom inside of her at those comments. They had stood up for her. Her. And they weren't even her friends. Tonks wasn't used to people sticking up for her.

"I still don't understand," Jean said in a lost voice.

Tonks heard Young start muttering to her. Probably the outline of the whole bloody scandal. Because kt was pretty much public knowledge. Whatever. Kt saved her explaining it. Not that she wanted to.

Jones was still smirking at her in that stupid triumphant way of his. She wanted to punch he face in. Or maybe gouge his eyes. She'd do a lot less damage to herself that way...

"Oh, that's so romantic!" Jean squealed.