I've had this idea for quite a while. It's kind of lame, but why not?
In hindsight, Harry had not thought through his plan with Dawlish. While it was true that Dawlish, despite a few minor fumbles that Harry had witnessed over the many years, was a very capable Auror- there was something about the way Tonks was that had made him freeze, almost too scared to get to close to her. Whether it was because he had known her from the day she began Auror training, and the mere sight of an undead version of her was what bothered him, or what she had said when they approached her.
"I'd say I was sorry about your wife's death, Dawlish, but really I'm not." She said slowly.
Dawlish froze, blinking in confusion. "What did you say about my wife?" He asked, and even Harry was shocked. How would Tonks have known? Belinda Dawlish had died five years after Tonks had, there was no way she should have known.
"Lindy, wasn't it? And a house fire? Shame her wizard husband wasn't there, could have saved the poor Muggle. I don't suppose your kids were home?"
Dawlish lunged at her, apparently deciding for a more physical form of detaining the young witch in front of him. Harry would have expected it to work as well. After all, Tonks was a very petite witch- and had been dead for eleven years. But as soon as Dawlish reached her, she had twisted his arm and pinned it behind him.
"Now, Dawlish, how about you sit this one out?" She suggested calmly. "I need Potter, and Potter alone."
"You have me, Tonks." Harry said, holding up his wand. "I can't curse you, right, if I don't have my wand?" He asked, placing the wand on the ground, grateful that there were no Muggles to be seen. He stepped over his wand so that it was behind him.
She shoved Dawlish to the ground. "Don't get up." She demanded, stepping over him. Dawlish wrapped an arm around one of her legs, causing her to trip forward and land on her hands and knees. And suddenly Harry found himself thanking Andromeda for the fact she insisted her daughter wear shoes in her casket, despite the fact no one would see them- after all, the heels couldn't be helping Tonks' constant lack of balance.
Tonks turned over, aiming a good kick to Dawlish's ribs and Dawlish's eyes widened for a split second as he stared at her. Harry reacted fast, grabbing his wand and aiming at her back. "Stupefy!" The red jet hit her directly in between her shoulders blades, and she fell limply to the side.
Harry pocketed his wand, and stepped over her form to help Dawlish up.
"Quite a kicker." Dawlish said, rubbing his ribs. "But Harry- I saw- when she turned around again, her eyes are-"
"Pure white? Like Sirius and Remus, I'd assume-"
"No." Dawlish said. He leaned down, wrapping an arm under Tonks' arms and hoisted her up, lifting one of her eyelids- none too gently, but Harry supposed in a way, Tonks wouldn't really care. And then Harry gaped. Her eyes had been pure white when they had approached her, but now, there was a thin circle where the iris would have met the whites.
"They've changed." Harry commented unnecessarily. "But why?"
"Harry!" Ginny cried, jogging down the stairs from the door. "The Ministry Flooed- they've got another one- didn't say who." She looked at Tonks being supported by Dawlish's arm. "I suppose she was no match for you two, huh?"
"Nah, she got Dawlish good." Harry commented as Dawlish hoisted Tonks up higher to place an arm under her knees. "We'll take her through our fire, detain her separately from the others as well. I just hope no Muggles are watching us, they'll think we've kidnapped some poor woman."
Alecto Carrow paced. The spell had worked, but she had only wanted four of the people from the Hogwarts Battle. The other three, she couldn't explain. But if it worked, it worked. She wanted Harry Potter dead, for her Master, and she was sure it would work.
It had to. Anyone who rose the dead commanded them. But why, so far, had four of them been detained at the Ministry? Honestly, one was a werewolf, one was an ex-Auror. One had escaped Azkaban before! Three perfectly capable adults and a student, and one by one, they had all gotten detained.
She cursed. It couldn't fall apart, not now. She had three chances left, and three only. If they were all found and detained, there was a chance it would be linked back to her. They'd know what she had been doing since her release. She'd go back to Azkaban.
No. If her plan failed, she'd kill Potter herself.
Harry stared at the cell. It was Ron. He was staring at Ron. The redheaded lanky, freckled covered boy was supposed to be a few months older than him. Older. Instead he was younger, he was still seventeen. Still young. Nothing had changed between his death and now, except for the thing that changed for everyone else.
"Potter, I hate to say it." Dawlish said, appearing.
"Maybe don't."
"We won't be able to detain all seven." Dawlish continued anyway. "We don't have enough cells."
Harry cursed under his breath. It was true. Six graves had been empty, and Sirius had shown up. They had five holding cells. Five.
"Right." Harry said. "We need to put some of them together. We need a cell left empty, in case we need it later."
"Put them together?" Dawlish asked, frowning.
"Yes. Those who didn't know each other while alive, maybe that'll be a good idea. Colin and my Mum can be in Tonks' cell- there's no way the three of them ever met. Dad, in with Ron."
"I said, where's my wife?" A loud voice demanded at the end of the row. Harry and Dawlish turned to see the Watch-Wizard standing there with wide eyes. "My son! Where is he?" The voice demanded, louder. Harry made his way down to the voice. He froze a few steps away. Remus Lupin was clutching a bar of the cell in one hand, reaching for the Watch-Wizard with the other. Harry stared- Remus' eyes were his own. "Where are they? Answer me!"
There was a scream from the other end of the long hallway. Harry turned to see Dawlish rushing forward to help Savage and Williamson, who were pulling a young redhead through the door. The woman looked up and Harry felt like he might faint. His mother was struggling, screaming and looking around with bright green eyes.
"Keep her separate!" Harry demanded. "Put her by herself, not with Tonks!" Now that at least two had seemingly become themselves again, he wasn't sure that any of them should be together. But now he was down to no empty cells.
Dawlish nodded, helping the other two drag Lily into the empty cell. Harry felt sick. What was going on? These people- his friends and family were returning, and it seemed one by one- they were becoming themselves again.
"Head Auror Potter?" The Watch-Wizard asked, appearing beside him. Harry looked over at him, weakly. "Do you need to sit down? You look faint-"
Harry shook his head. "No, I need to find out what's going on." Harry said quietly. His eyes wandered back to the now quiet cell that held Remus Lupin. He walked to the cell, standing in front of the bars. Remus had sunk onto the bench, his head in his hands, muttering to himself.
"Remus Lupin?" Harry asked. Remus' head snapped up and his eyes widened.
"Who are you? What have you done to my family?"
Harry took a deep breath, taking on a tone of professionalism. "I am Head Auror Harry Potter. I have questions for you."