S n a p s h o t s o f P a r a d i s e

A Battle

(Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live you life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten)

---Unwritten, Natasha Bedingfield

I padded down the hallway, my boots making hardly any noise as they sank into the carpet. I rounded the corner, only to find Remus cramming his wand into his pocket and preparing to Disapparate.

"Where are you going?' I asked, staring into his chocolate brown eyes, even though I already had an idea.

Remus glanced at me, his eyes flickering wildly.

"Just … just going to see Kingsley," he stammered, after a long pause.

Merlin's beard, my husband was a hopeless liar.

"The battle's started, and you're going to fight, aren't you?" I demanded.

Remus made to say something in reply, his mouth opened like a goldfish, but I cut him off.

"And don't make just stand there and make excuses."

"Yes," he said, with an air of being forced to admit something he'd rather not reveal.

"Yes … I'm going to fight. Voldemort has infiltrated Hogwarts, and the Order needs all the help they can get."

"Then why aren't you letting me come? I'm a member of the Order too."

"I could die there." His voice was matter of fact, as though he had resigned himself to the idea that he might not survive. I wondered how anyone could die, or even think of death without being scared.

"And if you go, you'll be facing the same fate. Teddy needs you, and if you die, he's got no-one."

"Then you're the one who should stay here." My voice was calm and collected, but, inside, I was raring for a fight. Remus was far too protective of me for his own good.

"Why?" he asked. I could tell that he really wanted to just go, but that he was going to do everything possible to make sure I stayed behind before he left. As if I was going to listen.

"Because I'm a fully trained Auror … and … and you're just a werewolf."

It was a low blow, but hopefully it would show Remus exactly how much I wanted to get out there and fight. There was no time to reflect on how much that would cut him internally anyway.

He looked away, and I could see a few lone tears mingling with the strangled expression that marred his face.

"If that's the way you feel, Nymphadora," he said, "although I thought I knew you better than that."

And, with a loud crack, he Disapparated.

---

"I love you." I whispered, planting a kiss on Teddy's forehead as he lay in his cot, wrapped up in his blankets. He stared back at me with bright brown eyes, so much like his father's, but other than that he showed no signs of having heard me.

"Goodbye."

And, stealing one last look at my son, his bright green hair illuminated by the moonlight that streamed through his bedroom window, I tiptoed out of the room, ignoring the choking feeling in my throat. As I shut the door behind me, I heard a soft sniffling sound; Mum was standing in the hallway, an imploring look flooding her eyes.

"Are you going to fight?" she asked, her voice weary and saturated with underlying emotion.

"Yeah."

She appeared to be struggling with her response, she seemed to be torn about whether or not to let me go, knowing that I might never come back. Finally, after several tense minutes of staring at me, she spoke.

"You're a lot like Sirius, you know. He always had to be in the thick of things."
I took that as a sign that she was letting me go.

"If anything happens, look after Teddy for me, will you?"

She nodded, burying her face in the palms of her hands.

"I love you."

Mum mumbled something in response, but I knew that she cared, and that was all that mattered.

And then I felt that familiar churning sensation, like my stomach was being sucked into my throat, and I was gone.

---

"Tonks!"

"It's Lupin now," I said to Aberforth, waggling my fingers at him and laughing. We'd been friends for years; he had always helped me sneak Firewhiskey into the castle, agreeing with me that, every once in a while, Ravenclaws needed to do more than just study.

"Who's the lucky man, then? Not Remus Lupin?"

I nodded, ignoring the amazed look that happened across his face.

"Oh … I could tell you stories about him. There was this one time, he came into my pub with Sirius Black, and …"

"Aberforth," I snapped, a little more harshly than I intended.

"Where is Remus?"

"Through there."

He pointed to a painting of a little girl with shining blonde hair, laughing slightly as I gazed at him. But then, a tunnel appeared, and he gestured to me to walk through it.

"Here goes," I said, and I climbed into the tunnel, Aberforth right behind me.

---

"Tonks!"
I was smothered in a blanket of flaming red hair as Ginny leapt at me, her arms flailing widely.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, surprised that she wasn't fighting, as she had said so many times that she wanted to do.

"Harry won't let me. He's as overprotective as Mum," she scowled, and I thanked Merlin that I wasn't the only one whose man didn't want them to be in the thick of things.

I opened my mouth to ask my next question, which was obviously about Remus, but Harry interrupted me, barging through the door.

A voice spoke from the corner, and I realised that there was another person in the room, a grumpy old lady I recognised from my NEWT days, although I couldn't for the life of me remember her name.

"Ah, Potter," she said,

"You can tell us what's going on."

I glanced at Ginny, whose face showed just as much anxiousness as mine, and we asked together,

"Is everyone OK?"

"'S far as we know," Harry replied, but he seemed distracted. "Are there still people in the passage to the Hog's Head?"

The old lady in the corner, who I now recognised as Neville Longbottom's grandmother, spoke to Harry again. He said something in reply, and she went speeding off, the vulture perched on top of her hat wobbling precariously.

Harry glanced at me, clearly surprised.
"I thought you were supposed to be with Teddy at your mother's."

"I couldn't stand not knowing," I replied, trying to keep all the anguish that was starting to seep through me out of my voice. What if he died, and I never got to apologise for my harsh words? I couldn't live …

"She'll look after him – have you seen Remus?"

All I heard were a few key words: 'fighters and grounds,' but it was enough to make me scurry off.

---

I sped down the corridor, broken glass and dirt the only testament to the skirmishes that had been taking place. I thought of Remus, who could be down there, battling any number of Death Eaters right now, and I ran faster.

"Tonks! Look out!"
I turn around to see Ginny, who was pointing at something in front of me. Looking up I saw a massive giant, one who looked rather scarily like Hagrid. He was stomping along the corridor, every one of his footsteps booming like thunder. I ran backwards, and Ginny dragged me into a corner. I shuddered at the enormity of him, standing there with my wand raised, as Harry, Ron and Hermione came sprinting out of the Room of Requirement. Ron and Hermione both seemed to be blushing, and I wondered if something had happened between them - the Order had been placing bets on the likelihood of them developing a relationship – because it was that obvious.

Ron and Ginny were shouting at each other, but I couldn't hear them over the roars of the people fighting below. Then Aberforth ran past, screaming about Death Eaters and Giants, and I took the opportunity to ask him if he'd seen my husband.

"He was duelling Dolohov, but I haven't seen him since."

I sprinted off, into the dust.

---

There were more and more people fighting now, as I bolted along the corridors; anguished screams filled the air, and flashes of red and green light were everywhere.

"Remus," I cried, hoping he would answer, but my voice was lost among the chilling cries. I shot spells left and right, not even bothering to check if they hit their targets. The thump of bodies hitting the ground echoed throughout the dimly lit rooms as I ran, still yelling Remus' name.

"Tonks!"

Remus grabbed me roughly by the shoulder, dragging me into the nearest broom closet.

"What are you doing here?" he snapped, glaring at me.

"I told you, Teddy needs you."

Outside, there was a ear-splitting bang as something hit the ground, close to the cupboard we were hiding in.

"I couldn't …" I choked.

"I couldn't let you go without apologising … I'm sorry for what I said."

Remus smiled at me, but there was something hidden behind it, like he was wearing a mask that couldn't quite disguise his true identity.

"There's a war going on out there, and you risk your life to say sorry?"

I laughed.

"Well I couldn't have you thinking that I hated you, that you were a stupid werewolf."

"Well, I'm always going to be a werewolf, and I must have been stupid to marry someone as determined as you."
He laughed as well, and for the first time that night, it seemed natural.

"Not to mention the fact that, if I ever see him again, Sirius is going to tease me about being a sugar daddy."

I opened my mouth to reply, but Remus cut me off, back to his serious state.

"But just because I'm stupid, there's no excuse for you to be. Go home, and look after Teddy."
I glared at him, crossing my arms and stamping my foot furiously on the ground.

"No."

He glared back, refusing to drop his gaze.

"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."

"N – holy shit Remus!"

There was a persistent banging on the door; I wrapped my arms around Remus' waist, as a harsh voice shouted,

"Alohamora."

A leering face appeared in my vision as the door blasted open, its hinges creaking. There was Dolohov, and my dear, dear Aunt Bellatrix.

"I love you Dora," Remus whispered in my ear, "but I'm off to see Sirius and James."

My eyes widened as I realised what he meant, and I grasped his waist even harder.

"NO REMUS!"
But it was too late.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Rage tore through me as I scrambled out of the closet, rushing at Dolohov with my hands in front of me. I clawed at every bit of him I could reach; my body trembling and my hair becoming a rainbow of colours as it continually change.

"Crucio," cried Bellatrix, and a searing pain shot through my body, I fell, clutching my sides, tears dripping down my cheeks and burning my skin.

"Miss your little werewolf boy, do you?" Bellatrix jeered.

"Does he do it doggy style in the bedroom?"

"You … you evil, twisted, sick bitch," I panted, letting go of Dolohov and starting to dance around my aunt.

"How dare you?'

"How dare I what?" she replied, sending jets of red light streaming at my as I dodged and ducked.

"How dare I kill your little darling lover boy? That wasn't me - that was my friend here."

"THAT'S IT!"

My voice seemed to boom like thunder, even through the screams and shouts of the battle that was raging around us.

"How can you maim people like that, without feeling a thing?" I asked, continuing to dance. I stepped backwards, and tripped, most probably over my own feet. Leering, Bellatrix loomed down over me, her wand at the ready. Damn, I'd always complained my clumsiness was going to be the death of me, and it looked like that statement was coming true.

"Easily," she said, and I could see her grip on her wand tightening.

"After a while, it becomes second nature, and you feel nothing."
"Well Bella," I sneered, sounding a lot more confident than I felt, "I hope you feel this."

A stream of bright red light burst from my wand, hitting her squarely in the chest. She doubled over in pain, and fell to the ground, hissing, I'd hit her with the Cruciatus curse, and yet …

"Avada Kedavra."

A blinding flash of light surrounded me, and I could see and hear no more.

---

(a/n: I'm not the best with battle scenes, so any concrit is welcomed, as well as praise or anything else you see fit to say …)

tbc,

- Cuba …x

dor.