Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, but that would be cool. Not that I'm into slavery, but it would be fun. The world is JK Rowling's, strictly. I don't make any money off of this.
Chapter 1: New Recruits
The bloody thief was getting away. With all her might, the pink-haired auror sprinted after the fugitive, throwing stunner after stunner at him, but sacrificing accuracy for speed. Frantically running around looking for the building's exit, he made it harder by throwing trap jinxes over his shoulder for her to dodge while in pursuit. The anti-apparation wards only held true within the building, and if he made it out he'd be able to disappear again. Tonks wasn't going to let that happen.
They were on the third floor still, so there was still a chance of catching up, even though the thief had started out with a huge lead on her. If she could have just kept her footing and not tripped...
He leaped down the stairwell onto the second floor and almost made it to the first when a flash of red light from the auror's wand hit the wall behind him and he froze, looking back. Tonks had almost caught up. She heard him shout his frustration and throw a jelly-legs jinx at her, but she dove out of the way just in time. The last thing she needed was a spell to make her even more clumsy. The filthy thief ran down the steps to the first floor and made his way across to the exit. Tonks got to the bottom to watch him near the door, where he could disapparate immediately. She had to do something.
"Mad-Eye, take down the wards!" She screamed into the receiver on the inside of her hood. Her mentor didn't respond but she had to assume he had heeded her command. Tonks turned on the spot, squishing her face in concentration, and reappeared just outside the doorway, except she wasn't Tonks. In her place stood a long-bearded old man with a navy robe, waiting for the thief to cross the threshold. As expected, he made it out into the open air and collapsed with shock as he saw Albus Dumbledore standing inches from him.
"Mundungus Fletcher. Might we be able to have a chat?" asked the old man, although he had the distinct voice of a woman. Fletcher turned over and made to get up and disapparate when a heavily scarred man appeared seemingly out of nowhere and bound him with conjured ropes. Mundungus shouted with defeat as he looked up to see Dumbledore turning back into the pink-haired auror and bending down to pick him up.
"Nice work, Tonks," the scarred man said sarcastically. "I'm guessing he got a head start from a trip or fall on your behalf?" he asked, growling as he led the two into an alley.
"I got him didn't I, Mad-Eye?" Tonks scowled in self-defense. She took down the thief like she was supposed to, not even knowing why they were bothering with such a low-life, and didn't expect snide remarks from the man she was helping.
"You should have had him from the beginning! I know he's a slippery weasel but I'd expect a fully fledged auror to have caught up to him by the second floor." Mad-Eye was digging in his pockets for something while still grumbling about his frustrations. "Anyone could have seen...not safe...traitors...constant vigilance."
"I see retirement's treating you well," Tonks said under her breath, low enough for Mad-Eye not to hear. She knew that he had spent the better part of the last year inside of his own wizard's chest while being impersonated by a Death Eater, but she still didn't like that she was being reprimanded by the man when her being there was a favor to him, so she wasn't cutting much slack. "Can you tell me what we're doing with him now? All the mysteriousness has me nervous, Mad-Eye."
"That's my girl," said Mad-Eye appreciatively, proud at her slight paranoia. He had trained her well. "But before I fill you in," he put his wand to Fletcher's face and stunned him. "Drop him on the floor for a moment." Tonks did so, glad to have her hands free of the alcohol-reeking Mundungus. She wiped them on the front of her robes as she returned her gaze to Mad-Eye.
