It was all dark and she couldn't see anything. Well, that's not true, she could see blackness. Tonks felt panic well up inside her, where was she? She was meant to be fighting! Did Bellatrix kill her?
"Dora, Dora, wake up," Tonks heard a voice say. It didn't sound like mum or dad. No one else called her 'Dora' besides;
"Remus," she gasped, her eyes fluttering open, attempting to sit up.
Remus gently pushed her back and said, "Yes, it's me," while grinning but she noticed that his eyes looked more haunted.
There were so many questions running around her head. She decided to ask the most obvious one.
"What happened? All I remember is fighting with Bellatrix . . ." Tonks garbled, her hair turning blue as she noticed the haunted look, mingled with grief, in Remus' eyes spread to the rest of face..
He sighed and stated bluntly, "Sirius took over your duel but he wasn't as lucky."
Tears welled up in her eyes as her love's words sunk in. Her hair lengthened, turning dark blue with black tips in her sorrow.
"How?" she had to ask.
"The Veil." Remus replied simply and she broke down into sobs.
He held her in the safety of his arms as she wept.
"We'll get through this, you're strong, and Sirius would want you to be happy." Remus whispered.
"Oh God, I barely knew him. Did someone tell mum?" she asked, looking up at him.
He nodded.
Her eyes narrowed a she remembered something, "Why were you grinning when I woke up?"
A shadow of his old grin lit up his face as he responded, "Oh, I had a bet with Dedalus about when you would wake up. I knew I could rely on you."
Tonks punched him on the arm, "You haven't changed at all," she muttered.
"Glad to know," said Remus, grinning even more broadly, "I'm going to tell your mother that you're awake," and he leant down to kiss her.
She watched him leave the room and lay down on her hospital pillow, almost lying on a cardboard box. She lifted out the note first.
I trust you more than anyone
Your strength will always help you.
She set the charm, engraved with Eihwaz rune of strength, reliability and dependable, beside her bracelet. It had been taken off her wrist so that the Healers could fix her.
