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FIC: Special Assignment (Tonks, Kingsley, Gen)
Title: Special Assignment
Author: shiiki
Rating: G
Characters/Pairings: Nymphadora Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Gen
Fandom: Harry Potter
Word Count: 472
Summary: Tonks gets a special assignment from Kingsley. Set in PoA.
The rain made it tempting to stay in bed, where it was warm and cosy and she could dream of hot sausages and eggs without having to blunder around the kitchen and make them for herself.
Tonks dragged herself out of bed anyway.
There were things she needed to do and although the rain didn't make what lay ahead of her today any more palatable, it was her job.
She read over the meticulous notes she'd put together, highlighting the parts she meant to keep an eye out for, while she made herself breakfast -- which meant she burned all but one sausage as she invariably did when cooking with her brain scattered . She practised her Patronus Charm as she ate, and she was reasonably confident she could handle the reconnaissance mission to Azkaban. As long as she focused on the facts.
It turned out she was wrong. No sooner had she Apparated into the office than Kingsley called her over.
'You won't be coming out to Azkaban with us, Tonks. You're off the case.'
It took a moment for Tonks to process this.
'I ... what?' she yelped.
'You're off the case,' repeated Kingsley. He sounded irritated, though Tonks could not imagine what she could have done to annoy him.
Nor did she think she'd done anything to deserve being dismissed like this.
'Why?' she demanded.
'It's nothing against you as an Auror,' said Kingsley. 'Merlin knows I could use you, but they --' he jerked his chin crankily in the direction of Rufus Scrimgeour's cubicle '-- think you're too close to the subject matter, so ...'
Tonks felt her jaw drop in indignation. 'I haven't seen Black since I was-'
'I know, Tonks,' said Kingsley. 'And I agree with you. You're a damn fine Auror and it's a bloody waste not to use your skills because of some illogical prejudice about your tangential family connections ... but my hands are tied.' He rubbed tiredly at his forehead. Tonks bit down on her tongue to stop herself snapping at him. This wasn't Kingsley's fault.
'Fine,' she said at last. 'Fine.'
'Look,' said Kingsley, lowering her voice. 'I could still use your help, off the record.' He leaned in closer to her. 'There's a bloke, name of Remus Lupin.'
Tonks frowned. 'I read that report. He was a friend of Black's, wasn't he?'
'Yes. And I've just received information that Albus Dumbledore has persuaded him to take up the Defence Against the Dark Arts post at Hogwarts. Dumbledore rarely does things without a reason -- I'm guessing he wants Lupin close, but whether it's to watch him or to use him as security ...'
'That's what you want me to find out, isn't it?'
Kingsley's lips twitched. 'Always knew you were quick on the uptake.'
Tonks sighed. 'All right, I'll do it.'
Author: shiiki
Rating: G
Characters/Pairings: Nymphadora Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Gen
Fandom: Harry Potter
Word Count: 472
Summary: Tonks gets a special assignment from Kingsley. Set in PoA.
The rain made it tempting to stay in bed, where it was warm and cosy and she could dream of hot sausages and eggs without having to blunder around the kitchen and make them for herself.
Tonks dragged herself out of bed anyway.
There were things she needed to do and although the rain didn't make what lay ahead of her today any more palatable, it was her job.
She read over the meticulous notes she'd put together, highlighting the parts she meant to keep an eye out for, while she made herself breakfast -- which meant she burned all but one sausage as she invariably did when cooking with her brain scattered . She practised her Patronus Charm as she ate, and she was reasonably confident she could handle the reconnaissance mission to Azkaban. As long as she focused on the facts.
It turned out she was wrong. No sooner had she Apparated into the office than Kingsley called her over.
'You won't be coming out to Azkaban with us, Tonks. You're off the case.'
It took a moment for Tonks to process this.
'I ... what?' she yelped.
'You're off the case,' repeated Kingsley. He sounded irritated, though Tonks could not imagine what she could have done to annoy him.
Nor did she think she'd done anything to deserve being dismissed like this.
'Why?' she demanded.
'It's nothing against you as an Auror,' said Kingsley. 'Merlin knows I could use you, but they --' he jerked his chin crankily in the direction of Rufus Scrimgeour's cubicle '-- think you're too close to the subject matter, so ...'
Tonks felt her jaw drop in indignation. 'I haven't seen Black since I was-'
'I know, Tonks,' said Kingsley. 'And I agree with you. You're a damn fine Auror and it's a bloody waste not to use your skills because of some illogical prejudice about your tangential family connections ... but my hands are tied.' He rubbed tiredly at his forehead. Tonks bit down on her tongue to stop herself snapping at him. This wasn't Kingsley's fault.
'Fine,' she said at last. 'Fine.'
'Look,' said Kingsley, lowering her voice. 'I could still use your help, off the record.' He leaned in closer to her. 'There's a bloke, name of Remus Lupin.'
Tonks frowned. 'I read that report. He was a friend of Black's, wasn't he?'
'Yes. And I've just received information that Albus Dumbledore has persuaded him to take up the Defence Against the Dark Arts post at Hogwarts. Dumbledore rarely does things without a reason -- I'm guessing he wants Lupin close, but whether it's to watch him or to use him as security ...'
'That's what you want me to find out, isn't it?'
Kingsley's lips twitched. 'Always knew you were quick on the uptake.'
Tonks sighed. 'All right, I'll do it.'