Author's Note:

Hm, the story kind of takes a darker turn from here, but hey we've got to get on with their plot right? So this chapter there's still a little bit of fluff but it's more on like hurt/comfort stuff. Still I hope this chapter is ok ^_^ Remember to Review if you can and I hope this chapter is enjoyable! Thank you! And especially thanks to those who read and reviewed! As for the new character, I've got it all sorted out and will come later xD Oh and deathnoteno1fan-codegeasslover , THANKS! wow I can't believe I inspired you. The picture is really nice and it totally clashes like Remus and Tonks! and thanks to SaDiablo19, I tried to organize it a bit more ^_^

Chapter 06 – Unfavorable News & Animosity

She found herself staring at the clock again for the millionth time that day, wondering when the work hours would end so she could return home, to Grimmauld Place. It wasn't exactly the building that made it feel like home. It was the people in the building. Tonks had her head rested on her hands with her eyes glued to the clock that ticked by so slowly. For the past week she'd neglected her paperwork, drawing complaints from Scrimgeour and Umbridge while grunts from Moody. It didn't matter to her. Her dream job as an Auror was to be out fighting, not trapped in an office cubicle loafing around all day with endless paperwork assigned to her.

"Tonks," Kingsley's voice came in as he poked his head around the wall into her cubicle. "Umbridge wants to see you in her office." The tone in his voice didn't sound appeasing and the eye roll he gave her wasn't exactly comforting either. "Good luck."

Wreaking havoc at Hogwarts and still being able to serve as a constant nuisance at the Ministry. Just you wait. One day I'll hex you so badly your mum won't even recognize you.

By the twist and displeasure in her face, she was grimacing. Tonks grunted as she pushed herself off her chair, wobbling as she found her balance and stumbled out into the hall. She rolled her eyes as she headed left, glaring at anyone who looked at her funny. She wasn't in the best of moods and with Umbridge wanting to see her only made her more irritable. She had ice in her glares as she passed, and the ice turned to a raging turmoil of hate when her eyes fell on Lucius Malfoy who had just walked out of Umbridge's office, a sickly twisted smirk on his face. Tonks knew that it must have been Malfoy's doing that she was visiting Umbridge so urgently.

"Is Remus Lupin, that dog, really worth the trouble?" he sneered.

If not for being in the Ministry right now I'd hex you again.

"Anyone is more worthy than you, you cowardly toe rag," she mumbled.

"You wretched little mudblood," he spat in an insolent tone.

Tonks ignored and brushed past him, making her way into the office of Umbridge. Tonks had always loved the color pink. She loved any vivid color to that fact, but the pink interior of Umbridge's office sickened her. The walls were pink, lined with archaic plates with pictures of cats, flowers and frills everywhere. Just being in that room made Tonks sick to her stomach and suddenly morphed her hair into a brilliant turquoise to purposely clash with all the pink, much to Umbridge's distaste. The short and portly woman in pink gave her a phony smile as she signaled Tonks to take a seat. The young Auror in brilliant and offending turquoise hair did so grudgingly.

"Nymphadora…"

"Tonks," she corrected impudently without a care who she offended.

"Nymphadora," Umbridge chided warily. "I will not hesitate to give you a warning letter for improper state of conduct. I call you here today to speak with you about your latest report. It had occurred to me that what you've written in your report is far beyond any information released to the public. This could only mean that you have had access to strictly confidential information. How do you explain yourself Nymphadora?"

Tonks cringed internally at the mentioning of her first name. She glared back at Umbridge with intense animosity. "I didn't use anything confidential nor did I even have access to it. I only used what I found in books, newspapers, and some thought based information."

"Then how do you explain your thorough knowledge of Fenrir Greyback and his pack?"

She shrugged nonchalantly, remembering when Remus had helped her write the report.

Oh Remus, why must you put in so much effort?

The woman pinched the bridge of her nose. "I'm afraid, Nymphadora, that I will have to suspend your work as an Auror until the investigation involving you and the confidential information has its results. Afterwards, rest assured Nymphadora that the proper punishment will be given out to those who broke the rules." She spoke so confidently as if Tonks had accessed the secret information of the Ministry. Tonks though, had nothing to fear so she simply nodded without interest. Her indifference only fueled Umbridge's frustration, but she aimed for it to.

"Now," she cleared her throat in a pitchy sound. "I wanted to question you about your association with a certain dark creature. A reliable source had informed me of seeing you with Remus Lupin, the werewolf. Am I correct?"

Tonks had a stubborn look in her eyes. "Yeah, and? So what?" You can go kiss your own arse. I'm not flailing to the likes of you, you and your twisted blood beliefs. Remus is great.

"Nymphadora, you do know that as an Auror, being associated with such a savage can make you look very bad, don't you?"

"He's not a savage, Umbridge," she drew the woman's name out with disgust and raised her voice. "From what I can see, he's a lot nicer of a bloke than your reliable source."

"It is unwise to show such animosity to your pure blooded elders, Nymphadora."

She's not even attempting to be courteous about it. What a git.

"It is unwise to show such discrimination to someone who had done you no wrong."

"Enough," Umbridge snapped in a pitchy, airy voice. Her lips were pressed in a tight, scornful line as her eyes shot arrows at Tonks. "Nymphadora I'll have you know that I will not tolerate such thoughts. Werewolves are dark creatures, beasts, savages, and that is that. No Auror is to be associated with such."

"And who made up that law?" Tonks asked, standing up defiantly. "From what I know, it is not illegal to befriend a werewolf."

"You are not to mix yourself in with those barbaric swine do you hear me?"

"For what I'm concerned, I don't have to listen to you outside of work, and I'm suspended from my work. It's because of sickly people like you that a bright man like Remus Lupin can't get a job. If you ask me who deserved all the pain and discrimination he's faced, I'd say you and your ghastly prejudice on the purity of blood. It's a stupid and sickening belief." She hadn't been able to control herself with the foul words Umbridge had used to refer to Remus. If Tonks was pushed a little more, she knew she would find herself hexing Umbridge with everything she's got in her arsenal. Tonks' hand was shaking beside her wand, ready to draw it at any second. Her eyes returned a cynical glare at Umbridge who was turning red with her chin raised high and her lips pressed even tighter together. "And I don't care what you have to say."

"That is enough," Mad-Eye's scratchy voice sounded from the door. "The work day has ended and I will be taking Nymphadora out for a chat now if you don't mind." His words were only to inform her as he had gripped Tonks roughly by her upper arm and was dragging her out, grumbling and grunting as he clonked aside her.

Sometimes I'm thankful for Mad-Eye's uncaring nature. He just does what he wants to.

They got to his untidy office in a hurry. Tonks sat herself down in the chair facing him as Moody dropped ungracefully into his own. He eyed her carefully and finally began speaking. "If you talk like that they will only make trouble for you," he spoke, a little softer.

"It's not illegal."

"But it will cause you trouble. The last thing we need is to lose an Auror source."

"I don't care. She was bashing on Remus and he doesn't need any more of that."

"I know you care about him and keeping you away from each other is impossible…"

Are we so obvious that even Mad-Eye sees it? Remus is always so discreet though.

"So you shouldn't yell at me for defending him against the likes of her."

"But if you keep up with your relentless comebacks, you could get yourself fired."

"I am only suspended. She has no right to fire me," Tonks countered adamantly.

"But she will cause trouble for you don't you understand? You're so stubborn," he growled. "Just keep a neutral face around her. She is the least of our worries as of tonight."

Tonks had noticed that Mad-Eye suddenly looked grim and restless. She eyed him carefully. After spending two years under his wing, she'd come to know how to read him despite his constant wariness of his emotions being visible. Mad-Eye was on edge and there had to be a valid reason why. "Something is wrong, isn't there?" she asked him but he didn't answer.

"Mad-Eye what's wrong?" she asked him again, growing wary and concerned.

"Calm yourself lass and I'll tell you."

She took a deep breath and tried to show him she was calm. "Now tell me."

"Just now, Lupin had been attacked by Death Eaters." Mad-Eye looked down.

Tonks' eyes widened as she nearly bounced out of her seat. "Is he ok? I've got to go…"

"Sit down lass I'm not done with the unfavorable news yet."

She clenched her jaw and her hands balled into fists as she forced herself to sit down.

Mad-Eye didn't look in her eyes and it only drove her closer to the edge, knowing it wasn't like him to beat around the bushes. "Bellatrix Lestrange had escaped from Azkaban."

Tonks was silent. As if the news of Remus being attacked and in pain hadn't been enough to strangle her, it was followed by the news of another Azkaban escapee, that one not being something she had hoped for. From her childhood she still remembered a faint image of the wicked Bellatrix Lestrange nee Black. She had hated that ghastly woman from day one and after recollecting what curses and forms of torture the inhumane monster had used on so many innocent victims, she couldn't deny that a cloud of fear shrouded her as well at the thought.

Mum's in danger. She doesn't know yet and that devil woman would attack her first!

"Tonks, you ok?" Mad-Eye's raspy voice put a halt to her panic inside her head.

Tonks merely nodded, her eyes off somewhere into a whirlwind of thoughts.

"Kingsley will send an owl to Andromeda to inform her."

Tonks simply nodded again, her eyes lost in space.

This day has got to be the worst! First Remus got hurt, who knows how badly. I've got to get back to Grimmauld Place. Then Bellatrix escaped and no doubt she'll come after mum and Sirius and basically everyone else close to me. How much worse could it get?

"Let's go lass, back to Grimmauld Place," Mad-Eye said as if reading her mind. He was already up on his feet and gently nudging her along.

Lying limp in the sofa, Remus' face was twisted in pain as he tried to move his limbs to push himself up. He groaned slightly and slopped back into the hard cushion of the couch, watching as a restless Sirius rushed to his side with a hot towel. He laid there as Sirius carefully placed the warm towel over his forehead, his lips mumbling something about vengeance but Remus ignored him. Sirius sighed, watching as his best friend was in pain and trying to fight it on the sofa. Remus' robes were blood covered, being hit with such a special spell called sectumsempra left his wounds unable to be treated by magic and so he was left to groan in the pain until it healed normally. There was a huge gash down his ribs, but luckily no bones had been broken, and nothing fatal seemed to appear.

"Someone's got to be behind this. You don't find Death Eaters out and about in broad daylight," Sirius grumbled angrily as he wiped up the small trails of thick blood.

"I don't think I've offended anyone lately," Remus sighed casually.

Maybe it was Lucius Malfoy. Tonks had hexed him at the Leaky Cauldron and we did force him back once during Guard Duty. You-Know-Who could've possibly punished him and he could've been taking it out on us.

"I wonder…ah." Remus suddenly flinched.

"Dammit Moony, sit still," Sirius snapped, his hands trying to clean up the wound with the utmost care. "Who did you think would do this?" His eyes suddenly widened. "Malfoy…"

"It's only a possibility," Remus tried to clarify his pacifist thoughts.

"Malfoy is known to keep grudges to heart. Tonks told me how she hexed him at the Leaky Cauldron, and about a month ago he lost to you again at the Department of Mysteries. No doubt that snake would be the one responsible for your injuries. I'm going to kill that little blonde headed vermin if it's the last thing I do."

I hate to admit it but the world would be better off without him too.

Suddenly the sound of the front door opening came to their ears. Sirius walked out into the hall to greet whoever had arrived while Remus attempted to hide himself, wishing to get no pity or sympathy for that night. His head was throbbing and his body pained.

"Tonks, welcome home. Mad-Eye," Sirius suddenly paused. "Is something wrong?"

Tonks shook her head with melancholy in her face as she passed him, her eyes down.

"Mad-Eye what happened?" Sirius asked, sensing the woe immediately.

"Sirius, where's Remus?" Tonks asked him in a stern voice.

"In the living room," he pointed. "Now someone tell me what is wrong."

"Come sit down and we'll explain everything to you," Mad-Eye grumbled as he followed Tonks into the dark living room. She turned the lights on, her eyes falling on the beaten Remus, still covered in blood and his face growing pale. He breathed heavily and tried to pick himself up when he saw her but it was too difficult for him to move without hurting himself even more. Tears welled up in her eyes as she dropped down beside him, her hand carefully caressing his face that was twisted in turmoil and pain. Remus tried to smile to her but it only came out as a grimace. Tonks frowned, her hand gently fixing and running through his hair.

"Why do you look so sad?" he asked her gently through a short breath.

Why wouldn't I be sad when you're in this state? Other than that, my insane psycho of an aunt had just escaped from Azkaban and is no doubt out to wreak havoc on anything she sees!

"Mad-Eye? Tonks?" Sirius asked. "Someone tell me what the bloody hell is wrong!"

"Bellatrix Lestrange escaped from Azkaban today," she mumbled moodily.

"Bellatrix…?" Sirius nearly gasped, staring wide-eyed back at them.

Tonks nodded, darkness shrouding her as she admitted to the awful truth.

It was silent for a moment, until Sirius blurted out something she had been afraid to admit. "What about you?" he asked her. "What about Andromeda? Before she went to Azkaban, she already had something against you, wanting to kill you."

Tonks didn't answer. She didn't know what else she could say. On the verge of even more tears, she turned to Remus who in return was looking at her with clairvoyant, understanding eyes on a warm face. He didn't say anything for he too knew that enough had been said and no words could comfort her at that time. Remus simply held her hands tightly in his, the most reassurance that they could give each other at that moment. She could only keep her head down as she silently tended to his open wounds, cringing as he grimaced in pain.

That evening an impromptu Order meeting had been called for. Unlike the couple of meetings before, Dumbledore had shown up in person for that night, looking more worn and aged from all the pressure and upsets, despite his mirthful façade he put on for everyone. Even Remus who had been under intense pain, had risen from his sofa and slumped into his usual seat and for that night, Tonks sat beside him as support. He looked like he could pass out at any minute, but sitting beside Tonks gave him an unknown urge to stay awake.

Tonks was sulking beside him, trying to divert his pain elsewhere through various measures while she wished for the meeting to be over so that he could rest. She had noticed a few reproachful glares on her from other members she was less associated with, but she could care less, already in a terrible mood from the unfavorable turnout of her day.

Just look at him. Remus can't last any longer. His jaw's already clenched in pain.

Her attention was on and off as she listened to the mundane voice of Severus Snape. "As I have noted from the last few meetings with the Death Eaters, Lucius Malfoy did seem to be planning something, something even the Dark Lord has no knowledge of."

"And what do you think his reason for his plan would be?" Dumbledore asked.

"I believe it would be out of mere childish intentions."

Snape's curtly voice had never sounded so irritating.

"And what would those intentions be?" Sirius asked him, his expression still dark.

"To teach certain individuals the importance and status of purebloods," Snape reproached, his eyes falling specifically on Tonks and Lupin.

"Malfoy is known to easily hold grudges," Arthur Weasley nodded from his seat.

"What would you suggest we do Severus?" McGonagall asked with pressed lips.

We're asking for suggestions from Snape now?

"There really is nothing we can do but be wary. Especially with Bellatrix Lestrange's newfound freedom, surely any half-breeds relating to the Black family would be targeted." His reviling glares were more pointed towards Tonks as he finished his words.

After not so long, the meeting had finally ended for the night. Tonks though had been stirred by the topics up for discussion that night, had managed to push it all into the back of her mind as she helped Remus up from his seat and up the stairs. Sirius had offered to help bring Remus upstairs as she followed behind them. A cold hand suddenly held her back by her shoulder, and she turned around to see a pale faced Severus Snape sneering at her.

"Nymphadora," he called in a low, monotone voice.

"Don't. Call me. Nymphadora!" she snapped, feeling more irritable than ever.

Whatever Snape had wanted to say before, he suddenly retracted his words by her scathing eyes on him. His expression never changed as he spoke. "You're still so childish Nymphadora. You're foolish, weak," he chided coldly.

He held me back to tell me this? If only I'm not in a hurry I'd hex you into pieces!

"I'm not weak!" she retorted impudently, her wand gripped and ready, shaking.

"Then prove it!" He suddenly sounded like a distressed professor. "Prove that you aren't weak. Stop instigating trouble. Stop stirring unnecessary battles! Learn to behave! Malfoy is a shallow man and just verbally insulting him you've caused us enough trouble! Behave!"

She paused, stopping herself from recklessly taunting him as she processed his words. No matter how much she hated and wanted to kill herself to admit it, Snape had some sense to his words. Tonks swallowed hard, pushing back the guilt that part of it had been her fault. If she had gone with Remus' pacifist ways, they wouldn't have provoked Malfoy, and Remus wouldn't have gotten hurt. Her knuckles tightened into white skin as she forced herself calm.

"I don't need you to lecture me after I've already graduated," she spoke in a low voice.

Hearing those words from Snape hadn't made her feel any better. Not only were the previous problems of the day weighing on her, she was also feeling guilty and disappointed with herself. Snape was right. Malfoy was a shallow man. She had heard Harry tell her of how the man had nearly tried to kill him in his second year after he freed Dobby the house elf. She was messing with fire and she just got herself and others burnt.

Tonks sighed and rushed up the stairs, not wanting to turn around to even look Snape in the eyes anymore. She didn't even turn back as she tripped on a step and nearly hit her face on a ledge. When she got to the top of the stairs, her heart sank when she heard Remus' muffled groans escaping from the partially opened door to his room. A wave of reproachful guilt consumed her as she rushed inside, stumbling again on a loose floorboard and cursing at herself inside her mind. Her clumsiness wasn't really tolerable at the time. Soon she was at his bedside, looking at him with an apologetic expression as Sirius left them alone. Remus laid on his side, quiet, and first avoiding her gaze but wounded up trapped in her ardent spell.

"What did they do to you?" she breathed, taking in the brutality he had met while her fingers gingerly trailed his wounds, soaking them in the medication she'd found beside them.

"Sectumsempra," he replied weakly. "We don't really know much about that spell."

A tear slipped from Tonks' dark eyes as she carefully finished his bandages, not speaking and fighting the remaining tears that were threatening to fall. She had never seen him that hurt and yet he was still putting on a strong front. She could tell by the wounds that he could just as easily grovel over in pain, but it was unlike Remus to succumb to such. A small part of her cried because it had been her fault the attack happened.

His body was marred with old scars and new wounds. Two wounds in particular gave him the most trouble. The long and deep gash down his ribs and the crescent shaped slice under his shoulder blade looked the most terrible. Another tear slipped as she saw the old scars protruding from his skin, claw marks and teeth marks still looking new.

Snape was right. It had been my fault one way or another. If I didn't instigate him…

"Dora why are you crying?" Remus asked, stroking her tear streaked face.

She shook her head but he held her in place with his good arm.

"What's wrong?" he asked her.

"If I hadn't instigated Malfoy, this wouldn't have happened to you. I should've just ignored him like you. He's a shallow man, but I…"

A warm and gentle finger was placed on her lips, hushing her soothingly. Remus had a gentle look in his eyes as she shook his head. "Don't blame yourself. This would've happened anyways. We're on the verge of war Nymphadora."

She shook her head as well. "Just look at how much pain you are in. I…"

"I'm used to it. It's alright."

"It's not alright and you shouldn't be used to it. It's wrong for this to happen to you."

"Nymphadora," he sighed.

Without even realizing it, Tonks soon found herself sitting in his arms. He had a loose white jumper over his back as he held her with his bare arms, rubbing against her bare arms as her robes had been left down in the living room. He held her close, fiddling with a loose thread on her black glove as she pulled it off slowly, her fingers laced between his and fitting so perfectly. Tonks still couldn't let Snape's directing words leave her mind and she began again.

"Remus I'm…"

"Hush, don't apologize. It's not your fault Nymphadora. Don't let anyone lead you into thinking so. Please?" He spoke in a velvet-soft voice only Remus Lupin could pull off.

She was quiet but nodded.

"Dora please stay here tonight," he sighed, kissing her neck and resting on her shoulder.

She placed her hand over his and nodded, knowing she should be happy but she can't.