Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now
A/N: Takes place after the events in the Department of Mysteries. I'll write more chapters if there's enough interest. As for my other Tonks/Remus story I'll be writing more of it soon but I have more ideas for this story than that one at the moment. This story is based on the song of the same name by Jefferson Starship.
It had been a long day at the Ministry of Magic the day after Sirius fell through the dais. A busy day because Cornelius Fudge had finally been forced to accept the return of You-Know-Who and the Ministry was sent into chaos trying to clean up after the battle that had taken place in the Department of Mysteries. They had also been forced to start background checks on You-Know-Who's former followers to see if they had been re-enacted into his following. One Ministry employee who was not apart of the clean-up was Auror Nymphadora Tonks.
Tonks had been unconscious since ten minutes after her arrival to help the Hogwarts students. The last thing that she saw before she was knocked out was a purple light. She had been thrown back against the stairs below where she had been standing. The full extent of her injuries was unknown, without knowing what spell she was hit with it was difficult for the Healers to know what they needed to do to heal her.
This was a fear running through the mind of one Remus Lupin as he sat beside Tonks hospital bed hoping that she would wake up sooner rather than later. As he sat there Remus thought back to the moments that lead to Tonks laying unmoving in front of him.
Kreacher had a smug look on his face when Sirius and Remus entered the kitchen but neither of them thought anything of it, Kreacher was always smug and proud of himself especially when it came to making Sirius life hell.
"Go clean something why don't you," Sirius said in annoyance to Kreacher as he slumped out of the room.
Remus shook his head, "don't let Hermione hear you saying that."
"Why do you think I only say that when she's not around to yell at me," Sirius said matter-of-factly.
Remus sighed, "what do you think he was doing down here? He's not cooking or anything."
Sirius shrugged, "who cares, probably just doing my dear mother's bidding again or something."
Remus moved over to the kitchen and began making them tea.
Tonks arrived moments after Remus set the cups down on the table.
"Hey cuzzy," Sirius grinned.
Tonks sighed, "you can grovel all you want I'm not giving you alcohol."
Sirius started grumbling under his breath.
Tonks rolled her eyes and moved towards Remus who stood and pulled her into his arms. They shared a loving kiss and rolled their eyes when Sirius wolf-whistled.
"You're just jealous that one of us did well in the love department," Tonks mocked.
Sirius playfully stuck his tongue out at her.
Remus shook his head and moved about making a cup of tea for his girlfriend as she sat across from her cousin.
"How was work?" Remus asked Tonks as he placed a cup in front of her.
"It was work," Tonks said vaguely.
"That good huh?" Sirius grumbled.
Tonks rolled her eyes, she knew that her cousin hated being cooped up inside all the time but there was no reason for him to be rude to her.
"Well I did have to go to Diagon Alley and I did buy something for my dear cousin but I guess he doesn't want it now," Tonks sighed dramatically.
Sirius ears perked up and his eyes widened, "have I told you lately how fantastic you are?"
Tonks laughed and reached into her coat pocket pulling out two tiny paper bags, she waved her wand over them to make them their realistic size.
Sirius pouted slightly as she let the two bags sit there for a few minutes without acknowledging them.
Tonks took hold of one of the bags and handed it to Remus who smiled lovingly at her and looked in the bag.
The other bag sat there still unmoving much to Sirius disappointment.
Remus pulled four large blocks of chocolate out of his paper bag and kissed Tonks cheek gratefully.
Tonks smiled and then looked over at her pouting cousin.
Sighing Tonks grabbed the other bag and stood up to walk around and stand in front of her cousin.
"This is to thank you for letting me stay here and to hopefully help you feel better about being trapped here all the time," Tonks said as she handed the bag to Sirius.
Sirius grinned and grabbed the bag enthusiastically as he searched through the bag, pulling items out of it one at a time.
There were two large blocks of Sirius favourite chocolate, a few dog toys for Sirius to enjoy when he became Padfoot, and the final item was a picture book describing Padfoot's journey's with Moony and Prongs.
Tonks had gone to a Muggle bookstore to get it made and then she did some research on how to turn it into a wizarding child picture book. It was the safest way for her to keep their secret of their nicknames and the illegality of their becoming animagi while at the same time putting the stories that Sirius would tell her into a form that he would be able to keep with him forever.
Sirius eyes actually welled up, "this is amazing," he choked out.
Tonks smiled sweetly and hugged her cousin tightly, "I figured you'd like to have your stories in a cute book form."
Sirius chuckled, "yeah the animation does make it nicer than it actually was at times. Thanks for leaving the traitor out."
Tonks shrugged as he released her and handed the book to Remus to examine, "I figured you'd probably kick me out if I didn't. Besides he is in one story. If you actually read the last story, I made it up, it's the way that I think you two would have handled the situation if Harry, Ron, and Hermione weren't around."
Remus read it before handing the book back to Sirius, "probably would have been more violent than that."
Tonks laughed, "well I went to a Muggle kids bookstore so I decided not to be too violent with it."
Sirius had just finished reading the story and went to tell Tonks what he thought when they heard the front door slam open.
The book and treats were forgotten as the three occupants jumped to their feet with their wands raised and ran into the entrance hall to quieten Walburga Black and see who had intruded on their peaceful evening.
The moonlight shone through the door lighting the room and illuminating the newcomers, Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody and Kingsley Shacklebolt.
"Wha-" Tonks started but was interrupted by a bright white light that appeared beside her colleagues.
Remus had gone into the other room to silence Walburga and returned just before the white light began to speak.
"Potter thinks that Black has been taken by the Dark Lord, he and five other students are on their way to the Department of Mysteries where he thinks Black is being held. All available help required. Black should not be there, he needs to stay behind to tell Albus what's happening," Severus Snape's voice spoke out before the white light disappeared.
Alastor nodded in the direction of where the light had been moments before, "that Nymphadora is why we're here."
Without hesitation Tonks and Remus nodded in agreement to the unspoken words of 'you're going to help us save these kids'.
Sirius spoke up as the four pairs of eyes turned on him uncertainly, "don't you dare think that I'm staying behind. You're taking me with you."
"Siri you should stay here. I know that you won't but you should. Harry's already going to feel horrible when he realises that he was played, he doesn't need to see something actually happen to you. He needs to know that you are here and safe waiting to see him," Tonks said despite knowing that it was pointless to argue with her cousin when he had already made his mind up.
Sirius just gave her a tight hug, "you're the one that should be staying here. Dromeda will kill me if something happens to you and I didn't protect you."
Tonks laughed slightly, "she'd forgive you. Mum misses not seeing you."
"After this I'll go see her whether Dumbledore likes it or not," Sirius said definitively as they pulled apart and the five left the house and headed to a safe apparation point.
They all apparated to the Ministry of Magic.
It took them ten minutes of searching through the various rooms in the Department of Mysteries before they found the five Hogwarts students.
Tonks spotted Lucius stood over Harry and quickly sent a stunning spell in his direction, it hit him just as he raised his own wand to cast who knows what spell at herself or Harry.
Tonks shared a quick worried look with Remus before they all headed in different directions sending off spells everywhere ensuring that they didn't put the students in more danger than they already were.
Tonks felt her heart leap to her throat when she spotted Bellatrix heading towards her. Tonks had never been scared of her crazed aunt but then again the last time she saw her the woman was locked up in Azkaban and Scrimgeour had been testing her loyalty to his department. Now as she came face-to-face with Bellatrix knowing that she could fight her Tonks had to admit to feeling slightly nervous.
Tonks nerves immediately disappeared however when Bellatrix sent a cruciatus curse towards her. Now was not the time to freak out.
Remus was on the opposite side of the room and wanted to scream to get Bellatrix attention away from Tonks but he knew he wouldn't be heard over the chaos around him. With his attention having been on his girlfriend he nearly missed the green sparks heading in his direction that would have taken him out without hesitation if he hadn't quickly jumped out of the way.
Remus decided that Tonks could look after herself and he quickly went on the defensive as more spells were sent in his direction.
Remus heart dropped as he watched Tonks fall down the stone steps on the other side of the room but he didn't have time to think as he flung spell after spell towards his attacker who he still hadn't identified in the chaos. With each movement Remus moved further around the room trying to reach his unmoving girlfriend, hoping that because he hadn't seen any green sparks near her that she was still alive.
Remus noticed Lucius heading towards Harry and Neville. He knew that as worried as he was of Tonks he needed to save the boy's otherwise she would kill him. Without another thought Remus jumped down to stand between the two students and the determined Death Eater.
"Harry, round up the others and GO!" Remus heard himself shout as he hauled a spell at Lucius.
Moments later the fighting came to a halt, all except Bellatrix versus Sirius. Remus looked up and spotted the cause for the ending, Dumbledore.
Remus watched in horror as he saw Sirius getting hit by a spell and falling back into the veil. He was frozen on the spot as he watched his friend disappear into the nothingness. It was like his entire world was falling apart again. He'd lost his last friend and there was a chance that the only woman he's ever loved was dead or dying on the steps mere metres from where he stood.
Remus was pulled from his reverie seconds later when he heard Harry shouting for Sirius. He could see him sprinting to the veil and knew instantly that he needed to stop Harry before he followed Sirius into the veil.
Without a second thought Remus grabbed Harry around the chest to hold him back.
"There's nothing you can do Harry..." Remus said.
"Get him, save him, he's only just gone through!" Harry insisted.
"It's too late Harry," Remus tried again.
"We can still reach him…" Harry tried again as he struggled against Remus' hold.
"There's nothing you can do Harry… nothing… he's gone," Remus voice broke.
Harry continued to fight against Remus hold and yell at him.
Remus continued to hold onto Harry tightly and try to tell him that Sirius didn't need saving, he was dead.
Remus finally got the upperhand and dragged Harry away from the veil and over to where he saw Alastor trying to revive the love of his life.
Neville crawled over to them. Remus struggled to tear his eyes from Tonks but noticed that Neville needed his help. For the moment his love would have to wait.
"Here," Remus spoke quietly as he pointed his wand to Neville's legs, "finite," Remus spoke as Neville's legs repaired themselves, "let's find the others. Where are they all Neville?"
Remus didn't know where he was supposed to look, looking at the veil made him regret letting Sirius come with them, looking at where Tonks lay made him regret letting her come along. It didn't matter what he regretted though, he knew that there would be nothing that he could have done to stop either of them from coming therefore there could be no way that he could have protected them both.
"Dey're all back dere," Neville spoke, "a brain addacked Ron bud I dink he's all righd and Herbione's unconscious bud we could feel a bulse."
They all turned to watch as Kingsley hit the ground yelling in pain as Bellatrix fled.
Dumbledore attempted to take her out but his spell only hit a shield.
Remus hadn't been holding onto Harry tight enough and he took advantage of this by ripping his arm from Remus slackened grip.
Remus felt the release a moment too late and yelled hoarsely, "Harry….. No!"
It was pointless though Harry was already chasing after Bellatrix and yelling about having to kill her for killing Sirius,
Remus sighed as he helped Neville over to his friends.
Remus felt his heart shatter as he turned to see Alastor still trying desperately to revive Tonks.
Slowly he moved over to Kingsley and helped his friend hop over to the pair.
"How long?" Kingsley asked Alastor as Remus helped him sit down beside the two.
"I don't know," Alastor admitted quietly.
Remus knelt beside his girlfriend and kissed her limp hand gently before planting a kiss to her cheek then her lips. There was no response in movement from her but Alastor pressed his fingers to her neck and found her pulse.
"It's weak but it's there. You need to get her to St Mungo's," Alastor said firmly.
Remus nodded, despite feeling shattered he picked Tonks up bridal style and headed to where Dumbledore was setting up a portkey for him to take Tonks to St Mungo's.
"She's tough, she'll be fine," Dumbledore attempted to reassure him.
"Look out for Harry," Remus requested.
"Of course," Dumbledore responded as he handed the portkey to Remus and watched as the couple disappeared.
After that Remus had been forced to let Tonks go into the hands of Healers, that had been twelve hours ago.