'Have you seen Remus?' Tonks called after him.
'He was duelling Dolohov,' shouted Aberforth, 'haven't seen him since!'
'Tonks,' said Ginny, 'Tonks, I'm sure he's OK-'
A dagger of fear sliced through Tonks' heart. All she could think about was Remus. She couldn't lose him now, not after everything they'd been through, not after avoiding death for so long, not after Teddy had been born.
She took off, sprinting after Aberforth. She glanced through a window, scanning the hall below for any sign. Rounding a corner so quickly she skidded, Tonks looked up a staircase to see the hem of a coat disappear round a doorframe. Somehow, she knew it was him.
'REMUS!' she yelled, taking the stairs three at a time. 'REMUS, NO!'
Tonks leapt through the doorway. Dolohov was slashing his wand wildly, emitting purple flames alternating with bright flashes of green light, Lupin barely avoiding them. Tonks froze. No spell came to mind, only fear.
Remus suddenly saw her out of the corner of his eye. She saw his eyes flick towards her, a brief expression of confusion spread across his face, his concentration broken for just a split second, and she could think again.
She took a breath in preparation to shout a spell, any spell at Dolohov, to protect what they'd made together, when her gaze connected with Lupin's and Dolohov slashed again, using the momentary distraction to his advantage.
As if in slow-motion, she saw the green jet of light hit Remus' ribs. His expression changed to one of horror as he tried to glance down at himself, but she saw the light in his eyes blink out before he'd moved an inch. He fell, not gracefully, to the floor, and she was shattered.
She moved towards him as if the air itself held her back. She didn't see Bellatrix Lestrange appear in the doorway behind her, see this unrivalled opportunity, take aim, and fire. She didn't see anything but Remus' lifeless eyes as she fell towards him, her arms outstretched to reach him.
She hit the floor, dead, her hand just an inch away from his.