Tonks did the only thing she could think of doing and turned around and ran. She couldn't process this in front of everyone. She couldn't.

So, she ran and ran and ran. Blindly. Not paying any attention to where she was going but that didn't matter as long as she got away. Far away.

Stumbling over doorways and pushing through doors, Tonks got as far away as she could. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes. But they weren't going to fall. They weren't. She wasn't going to cry. She wasn't. No. No one was going to see her tears.

Eventually, she ran out of breath and finally came to a stop. Panting heavily, she looked around, realising that she didn't recognise the corridor she was in. At all. She must be somewhere that was only used when you got assigned a mentor. They were kept to a select few rooms and halls the first six months. But Tonks couldn't even bring herself to be curious about her surroundings. Not even a little bit. Mainly because she couldn't see them anymore as she lost the battle with her eyes and tears fell frown her cheeks. Urgh, she hated crying. The way it made your nose all blocked up and your face all blotchy. No one cried attractively, no matter what books wanted to tell you.

She certainly didn't feel attractive right now. Or feel anything positive actually. Tonks just felt like a fool. She thought that this, training to become an Auror, meant that she wasn't the butt of jokes or the target of teasing. But apparently, she was wrong. She was always wrong. The difference now was that she'd got hopeful. Thought she had fitted in. Well, she wouldn't be making that mistake again, would she?

It was a prank. It had to be a prank. She wiped the tears from her eyes. A pretty rotten prank, that's what it was. Everyone knew that Auror Moody didn't take any trainees. He never did. So, no one would fall for him choosing anyone, never mind her. See? A stupid prank. She was going to have to go back and figure out who her actual Mentor was but she would do that when everyone else had dispersed. She wasn't going to face everyone again. Not when they'd made a fool out of her. Tonks had honestly thought that they were supposed to be her friends. Well, obviously not. She really should have known better. She knew better now. Catch her associating with them after this. If she was even here after that. Did she even have a mentor at all?

There was a heavy sort of stumping noise coming her way but Tonks didn't even bother to look up. Any older trainee could just walk around her. She wasn't in anyone's way. Just let her sit here and mope.

Then she felt the hairs of the back of her neck stand on end. The kind of feeling you get when you were being watched. Now, she was used to being watched and gawked at so she was pretty immune to that feeling. But it wasn't like she was expecting anyone to be here. She looked up to meet the mismatched eyes of one Auror Alastor Moody. That electric blue eye was extremely weird looking. Kind of made him look a bit mad. Bit of wonder they called him "Mad-Eye" behind his back.

"Auror Moody," she greeting quietly, not even bothering to get up.

What was the point when your whole life was a joke right now? There was no point.

"Trainee Tonks."

He didn't ask a question so she didn't bother saying anything. Just let him stare at her. Whatever. Yeah, it was unnerving and little bit freaky and all but eight now, Tonks couldn't bring herself to care.

She doubted he cared either. Hell, he was probably angry. Somebody went and used his name without permission. Moody didn't seem to be the type of person who would take kindly to that. He'd probably blow them up or something. Even that thought didn't make her smile. Nothing was ever going to make her smile ever again.

"You know, I expect my Trainees to have a bit more confidence and intelligence," he said conversationally, leaning on his cane.

"And?"

Thankfully, that didn't come out rudely though Tonks didn't know if the doleful tone that came out instead was any better. It was kind of pathetic sounding. What was his point? She was ready quite aware that he probably picked the best of the best in the past and made them even better. Obviously, that was the case. He didn't need to tell her that.

"Well, you aren't exactly demonstrating them, are you?"

Tonks didn't even bristle at the apparent insult. He could insult her all he wanted. He was Moody, after all. And she couldn't bring herself to care.

"We'll have to work on that."

Look, she already knew she had a confidence issue. That's why she was so loud and joked around. Classic signs of hiding that fact from people. She already knew that about herself.

Wait.

We?

She looked at him with a shocked look on her face. She had actually been struck dumb. That had never happened to her before!

"You mean, I'm your-"

He nodded seriously. "You're my trainee. Your arse is mine for the next thirty months, you got that?"

Finally, she scrambled back to her feet. Why had she been sitting on the floor in front of her mentor for all this time? Was she trying to make a fool of herself? Though, she supposed she'd already managed that.

"Yes, sir!"

He grunted at that and a weird look passed over his face but Tonks ignored that. Because Moody was her Mentor! Her honest to Merlin mentor! And she wasn't dreaming!

"Nah, you're not dreaming, lass."

She blushed. Had she said that bit out loud?

"Sorry."

He shook his head. "Don't apologise. It's a sign of weakness. Especially when you don't know what you're apologising for. Or if it's not something you can apologise for."

"Uh... okay?"

Tonks wasn't sure that made sense but she would go along with it. He didn't look like he was going to explain that further anyway.

"Good," he praised. "You're trainable."

"Kind of the point of being a trainee," she said without thinking and then looked at him in horror. Was she trying to sabotage herself now? "I mean-"

"Exactly," he said with an approving nod.

Huh. Okay, then. Um. That worked. How was she supposed to respond to that?

It turned out, she didn't.

"So, trainee, I'll be seeing you tomorrow," he told her and she gave him a confused look.

"I thought that there was the induction day on Wednesday?"

Today was Monday. The induction day was supposed to be tomorrow but apparently a third-year student had overpowered some sort of blasting spell and it had gone through four walls, including the hall her class was supposed to be using. So, Wednesday it was.

He just stated at her, long enough to make her feel uncomfortable but she wasn't going to look away. Even if that crazy eye of his made it feel like he was looking right through her.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he repeated and then gave her this weird look and just walked away!

He didn't even give her a chance to respond!

"Okay!" She needlessly called after him.