the_debt_of_time

get away with what I want to attempt. If Voldemort takes over the government, there may
not ever be another chance. What I need right now could be destroyed at any point in the
future, and I'm not willing to let that happen before I can test my theory."
Tonks looked more than pleased to help, which was surprising, considering the fact
that she had absolutely no idea what exactly Hermione was planning.
Remus, brilliant wizard that he was, seemed to be in tune with Hermione's thoughts
somehow, or perhaps it was something more primal than that. His intense gaze made her
feel like he was looking for a quality in her that she did not possess; as though the way she
breathed around words and held her posture when speaking was missing something crucial.
To be found lacking made her want to look away in shame.
"All right," Remus agreed after a long moment of contemplation. "I trust you."
"Thank you." Hermione breathed a sigh of relief, her shoulders losing a bit of the
tension she had been carrying. "I have everything I need ready to go. Shall we meet here
tomorrow morning, say six?"
"That will work," Remus said.
"Are you sure? Do you need more time to recover?" Hermione inquired, a worried
look in her eyes.
He smiled kindly at her. "I'll be fine, Hermione, thank you. Six is good."
"Sounds good enough to me," Tonks echoed. "Big speech is set for seven since
Scrimgeour is an early bird pain in the arse. That'll give us enough time to get ready to Side-
Along to the Ministry. I can get you through during the commotion. Security's only going
to be tight in the main Atrium where the Minister will be. I can take you in through the
Auror entrance in the back; we've got a private lift. How long do you think you need to do
whatever it is you're gonna do?"
"I'm not sure." Hermione winced, the tension in her shoulders returning as she
thought back over the details of her plan. "Do you know if the Department of Mysteries
is active right now?"
"It might be. They put a lot of effort into repairing the damage you lot caused last
summer." Tonks's words were tinted with mirth and admiration as though she were
applauding the destruction that had been caused during the battle against the Death Eaters.
"'Course, I threw a few good hexes myself," she said smugly, settling back in the chair as
though it were a throne. She doubtlessly did not want anyone to overlook her part in the