"I won't stand for this! I won't stand for this at all!"

There was a faint mutter and then.

"It is absolutely atrocious that such things happen!"

Mote murmuring though Tonks could tell that it was in a conciliatory tone. Someone was trying to reassure someone important that everything was fine from the sound of it.

"It is an outrage! An outrage I tell you!"

And now the other voice that she still couldn't make out sounded more soothing, the tone you would use in an obvious attempt to calm someone down. Except that obviously wasn't working. Who even used the word outrage anyway?

"How dare he! Does he not know who my son is? Who I am?"

Ah, lovely, pompous tones with a hearty dose of self-righteousness. What Pureblood was making a complaint today? This sort of thing apparently happened at least once a month. She had missed the last ego-driven Pureblood last month because of the Patrol incident and she had been curious. It wasn't as interesting or amusing as she had thought it would be.

She wondered what Pureblood kid got arrested and what they got arrested for? According to other Aurors it was usually because they got their hands on some family heirloom that was cursed or they bought this old trinket from a dealer and wanted to impress their friends by doing borderline Dark Arts. They were mostly not malicious just full of their own self-importance and dumb. Still a pain in the arse, mind you.

"This is not an Auror Department matter, Lucius."

Lucius? As in, no, not Lucius Malfoy? Lucius Malfoy was here? Were there any other Lucius's in the UK?

"Moody's an Auror, isn't he?"

"A retired one."

Huh. His papers must have finally gone through. The amount of grumbling he had done about the snail's pace of paperwork had been impressive. Also, hilarious when he had realised, he had left a vital piece out. He had found that out when he had taken her out for celebratory drinks and had cursed loudly into his flask which had definitely held a stronger drink than what she had had. She had seriously expected him to still technically be an Auror, but apparently, not anymore. His papers had obviously gone through. Truly the end of an era in her book when Alastor Moody was no longer an Auror.

"Retired? He retired?"

She didn't know that Lucius Malfoy could splutter like that. She almost wished she could see his face. Almost.

"Yes. Retired. No longer our responsibility."

"You should still have some measure of control over him!"

"If you think anyone has control over that man, then you really don't know the man."

"There's having no control over him and him being out of control."

Was there really a difference there?

"Nonetheless, he is not our problem."

It was impressive that Scrimgeour managed to stay so calm when interacting with a seething Malfoy. As much as she didn't like the man, she had to admit that he could look intimidating.

"Then who's problem is he then?"

"This is something you should really take up with Dumbledore. He is the one who employed him at Hogwarts, after all."

Lucius Malfoy spluttered quite inelegantly, and Tonks muffled a snort. Looms like someone didn't want to go up against Dumbledore. Not that she really blamed him. Tonks didn't think that anyone could pull the wool over that man's eyes, not even Moody.

"Did Moody really turn his son into a ferret?" Eggleston asked, looking somewhat scared at the answer

"I wouldn't put it past him, " said McCabbert. "What do you think, Tonks?"

"I think that I'm very grateful that I didn't annoy him so much to do the same to me in the Academy."

She shuddered at the thought. Though seriously, she had definitely annoyed him plenty when she was his trainee, and the worst spell ever shot at her had been a well-aimed, stinging hex. So, what in Merlin's name did the little Malfoy do to get turned into a ferret? And what was the limit?

Then there was the noise of shoes striding quickly across the floor. Could someone stride angrily? It sounded like this person was. Was it Scrimgeour? It didn't bode well for any of them if he was in a bad mood after dealing with Malfoy. She poked her head out of her cubicle.

And saw blonde hair.

Crap. Lucius Malfoy. Well, obviously she already knew that it was him nut it was one thing him being put of sight and another for him to come right up to you. Dear old Uncle Lucius. He was coming back this way. He was leaving. He couldn't see her. She didn't want him to. Who knew what sort of comment he would make and she didn't need anyone to be reminded that she was related to the Malfoys through the Black. Eurgh. That would be a whole bunch of rumours and gossip she did not want to have to listen to. Especially since she wouldn't dispute any of them considering she was related to the Malfoys! Stupid Aunt Narcissa. Marrying a stupid blonde with his stupid, blonde hair right there.

Except it wasn't right there, technically it was a few cubicles over but still. The man was tall and imposing and shit and so was easy to see. Unfortunately.

Back into her cubicle she went and she was going to stay here until he left. Fingers crossed his path didn't take him past her cubicle.

Except, of course it did, didn't it? He was approaching hers because the universe hated her that much. She was going to keep her head down and keep her hair dark blonde and she ignore, ignore, ignore. She didn't need to see him and he certainly didn't need to see her.

Footsteps brought him closer and closer and closer (and seriously did he really have to wear heeled boots). She held her breath. Then they walked right past. Right past her. Without noticing her. She had never exhaled so loudly before in her life.

Crisis averted.

[xxxxxx]

"Ah, young Nymphadora, isn't it?"

She stiffened so fast she was pretty sure she had pulled a muscle. All she had wanted to do was go home. That was it.

A chuckle came from behind her and she turned around to the silver-grey eyes of none other than Lucius Malfoy.

"Uncle," she said curtly.

Look, she might not like the man in any capacity but she knew how she was supposed to address him even if neither of them particularly liked it if the tightening of his face meant anything. Stupid social niceties that her mother drummed into her head.

No one paid attention to whoever anyone was talking to in the Atrium. Everyone had places to go and people to see. They were going to stop and wonder about anyone off to the side, talking calmly.

They eyed each other up, trying to get the measure of the other. As usually, dear old Uncle Lucius was immaculately dressed and groomed. Deep blue robes that had some fancy sort of finish to them, his usual cane and very pointy looking boots. He didn't appear to be impressed with her at all though she didn't like the curl of his lip.

"An Auror, hmm? Such a noble profession."

Why did he have to make everything sound so condescending?

"Yeah, I always liked the idea of fighting for the right side."

Was that blunt and not at all subtle? Absolutely. Did she care? Absolutely not. She particularly liked the shade of puce he turned at her comment. So, in her books, she had won.

"Indeed. Don't we all?" He said through gritted teeth.

He didn't even wait for a reply before spinning on his heel and walking away.