So, I'm back again. I hope you all enjoyed the last two chapters. I know it had been a really long time since I updated, and if any old readers returned, and even better went back and reread, I thank you so much. :]

I'm trying to keep this as canon as possible, but I am taking creative licensing on some things, especially if I'm not sure about them because they weren't focused on or really mentioned in the books.

Enough of my jibber jabber, on to the next chapter!

Chapter 14

A Silver Intruder?

Thankfully, the ball had gone off without a hitch. No one had tried to make his way into the Department of Mysteries, the prophecy was still safe, and Tonks had managed to stay on her feet the entire evening.

Work had been almost unbearable the Monday afterward. All people seemed to talk about was the stupid ball, how nice everyone looked, how great it was to see so and so's husband, and how it was so wonderful to have everyone together. Tonks couldn't stand it, but luckily she was so immersed in paperwork, she really didn't have to pay that much attention.

If work was unbearable, the prophet was ten times worse. They made the ball out to be such a spectacular evening. There must have been ten or eleven articles about it. Tonks couldn't understand how something this insignificant was causing such a stir among the wizarding community. She supposed Fudge got his wish. Even more people were eating out of the palm of his hand. Tonks shoved her head inches away from her reports any time he came anywhere close to her desk. She couldn't stand to look at his smug expression.

Despite all the news and conversation about the ball, work went along as normal, dull as ever. Tonks lived for the Order meetings when she got to feel useful. She longed for the evenings that she spend in the Order's company, the dinners Molly made, and the conversations she had with Sirius and Remus afterward, even if they, well Sirius, made fun of her for being a Hufflepuff. She remembered a conversation they just had a few nights previously.

"You all really did get into a lot of trouble at Hogwarts," Tonks acknowledged after hearing another story about the Marauders. "Makes what I did seem just fine."

"Oh Tonks," Sirius said, "don't tell me you were a trouble maker too."

"On occasion," Tonks responded as she sipped her tea. "I wasn't too bad. I did get a note sent home once though."

"What warranted that?" Remus asked.

"Well, this girl, she always bothered me. Made fun of me for my hair, and my clumsiness," she added. "So, when she was coming out of transfiguration I decided to jump out from behind a suit of armor kind of resembling a teacher, and well, she got so frightened that she slipped backward and ended up in the hospital wing with a broken arm. " She sipped her tea again. "I felt awful afterward. I mean she wasn't supposed to get hurt, just a little… jolted is all. I got a howler from my mum the next day. I never tried to use 'my being a metamorphmagus to hurt others,'" she quoted. But, she never tried to mess with again," Tonks smiled.

"Sounds like something we did," Sirius added.

"You got someone into the hospital wing?"
"No, but we almost hurt someone, almost killed really," Tonks looked shocked. "Shame James wouldn't go through with it."

"Padfoot," Remus glared at him. "That's not funny. Severus really could have died and you, James, and Peter could have been expelled." Tonks could tell that Remus looked pained by this.

"What happened?" Tonks asked.

"Remus was transformed and James and I thought it would rather funny if Snivellus met him in the shrieking shack. He was so nosy, always trying to figure out where Remus was. If he found out and happened to die in the process, well that was his own fault," Sirius stated. Remus looked almost sick. Tonks was sorry she asked about it.

"But," Sirius continued, "James chickened out and saved Snivellus before he met Remus. Snivellus found out about Remus' furry little problem, but Dumbledore made him swear not to tell."

"Well," Tonks said trying to change the subject and the mood of the room, "I've never done anything that…extravagant," she added after some thought. "A lot of the things I got in trouble for were because I'm so clumsy. I'd hit into things, be out of bed after hours and smash into something and filch would find me, drop pots in Herbology. You know the black lake?" She asked them. They both nodded in return. "I fell in it first week at school. I was playing with a fanged Frisbee, and I reached up to grab it and tripped over my robes. McGonagall had to pull me out." They were both laughing.

"Well, that's a Hufflepuff for you," Sirius stated.

"C'mon Sirius," Tonks said, irritated. "Enough about my house."

Christmas was rapidly approaching, and Tonks had put off shopping even later than usual. She knew she'd hit the holiday rush, but she'd honestly just forgotten about shopping all together. A few days before Christmas, Tonks walked out of the Ministry building for the last time that year. She'd taken off of work until the New Year. Tonks was so excited at the prospect of sleeping in, and not doing any paperwork( she'd actually finished everything before she left), and spending time at Grimmauld Place with the Order—she just had to get through the rush at Diagon Alley first.

Tonks made her way through the Leaky Cauldron, and tapped the bricks in the back as she tried to think of all the people for whom she needed to get gifts. She hoped that as she browsed through the shops, ideas would just come to her. Upon entering Diagon Alley she met the chaos she knew she should expect a few days before Christmas. There were people everywhere looking over lists, running in and out of shops, and struggling with mountains of packages. The lines in most of the shops stretched out into the street. Tonks was so happy she'd finished with work until after the holidays. She knew it was going to be a long day and couldn't wait to return home and get herself some hot chocolate and a grilled cheese sandwich.

After shopping for several hours, Tonks miraculously was finished for Christmas. She stopped in the Leaky Cauldron and got a small fire whiskey while she looked over her purchases. She bought her mom, Andromeda, a cook book, she was always cooking, much like Mrs. Weasley. She bought her father, Ted, a book on the England National Quidditch team. Tonks and her father shared a love for Quidditch, although older, he could still fly very well and always played with Tonks whenever she came to visit. She bought Mrs. Weasley a biography of Celestina Warbeck, her favorite singer, and Mr. Weasley a book about muggles called "Magicless Muggles: How Muggles are Making it through the 20th Century without Magic." She bought Ginny a book on the Holyhead Harpies, and Fred and George a book of spells used for concealment and disguise; she knew they had a knack for creating products. She heard the Ron had become keeper for Gryffindor and bought him a book on Keeping techniques, Hermione a folder enchanted to fit all one's papers without getting any larger, and Harry a working model of a Firebolt. She bought Mad-Eye special cleaner for his eye that was supposed to stop it from sticking so much, cream to stop his wooden leg from creaking so much, and a book about Aurors' tactics from the most famous Aurors of the 18th and 19th centuries. She bought Remus his own chess set and Sirius a book of special household enchantments (to give him something to do while stuck in the house) and a book called "Helga's Hufflepuffs, where are they now: A Look at Famous Hufflepuffs and Their Contributions to Society. She couldn't wait to see his face when he opened that on Christmas morning.

Christmas was knocking at the door, and Tonks still hadn't wrapped any of her gifts. She promised herself she would do them the next day as she headed off into bed, the new Weird Sisters song playing in her head.

Tonks awoke in the middle of the night to a rapping at her door. At first, she brushed it off, but as it continued she grew more uneasy. After a few moments, she shot straight up in bed and instinctively reached for her wand, which lay on the night stand. She wasn't sure what to do. She knew that she had charms and enchantments surrounding her flat, no one could possibly get in, but the rapping persisted and was getting louder and more determined. She felt her stomach drop as she thought that perhaps it was some type of emergency with the Order. Tonks realized that she had to at least go and find out who was at her door. Maybe it was an Order member, and if it wasn't she could call for help.

Tonks tiptoed quietly though the hallway and into her kitchen, wand lit ahead of her. She didn't want whoever was outside to see the lights. She moved slowly to the front door, careful to not hit into anything, and peered through the hole. There wasn't a person there, but rather a silvery form of light that resembled a dog—a patronus. Tonks knew that the only reason she would get a patronus is if there was some kind of emergency. This idea was furthered by the persistence of the patronus standing on the other side of the door. It couldn't move past her enchantments, but it continued to try. Slowly Tonks opened the door to face the silvery patronus. Immediately, Tonks heard a familiar voice.

"Arthur has been injured on duty. Still alive. Do not go to Headquarters. You will be updated." It was unmistakably the calm voice of Remus Lupin. The silvery dog-like creature disappeared. Tonks's heart began to race. How had Arthur been hurt? Did a security wizard find him? Did someone try to break in and they dueled? Why couldn't she go to headquarters?

She couldn't stand the thought of waiting around for an update. How could she find out? She couldn't go the headquarters. She didn't dare go to the Burrow; Molly had enough on her mind. She could ask Remus, but she wasn't sure she could muster a patronus at the moment, and she had no clue where to apparate to find him. She couldn't get in touch with Dumbledore. Then a thought struck her—Mad-Eye. Mad-Eye would have to know what was going on, and Tonks knew where he lived. Without giving it a second thought, Tonks ran back to room, grabbed her traveling cloak and pulled it tightly around herself, locked the door to her flat and ran into the hallway. She disapparated within seconds and found herself standing in front of Mad-Eye's home.

Tonks rapped harshly at the door for about ten minutes, becoming more irritated with each rap. It was freezing outside. She was standing in her pajamas and a traveling cloak on Mad-Eye's front steps in the dead of night, and he was taking his time to answer. She knew he must have had tons of protective charms on the place, but honestly he could have been quicker once he saw it was her outside. A few more minutes passed before Tonks heard a clanking behind the door, undoubtedly Mad-Eyes wooden leg.

"Nymphadora!" He barked after cautiously opening the door. "What are you doing here?" He lowered his wand slowly. Without answering, she tried to walk past him, but he pulled his wand back on her, causing to her stop abruptly. "What form does your patronus take?" He asked, wand raised dangerously close to her face.

"A chameleon," she answered. She tried to move forward, but Mad-Eye still wouldn't move.

"Mad-Eye, are you mad?" She questioned, very aggravated. Mad-Eye still wouldn't budge.

"You could be under the imperius curse," he stated. Tonks changed her hair color rapidly to pink, blue, and then back to its current shade of brown.

"There," she answered trying to push forward, but Mad-Eye still wouldn't move. If she thought she could duel him, Tonks would have taken out her wand. She knew if she so much as moved her wand arm Mad-Eye would hex her. He had always been paranoid, and it was getting worse.

"Mad-Eye this is ridiculous," Tonks started to plead. "It's Tonks. My patronus is a chameleon, I'm a metamorphmagus, I was a Hufflepuff, I work in the auror department at the ministry, I'm an awful klutz, I'll hex anyone who calls me by my first name, and my favorite band is the Weird Sisters—it's me."

"What was the second lesson I taught you in January, the first year I was your mentor at the ministry?"

"You really are Mad!" Tonks yelled. "How could I possibly remember that?"

"Here Mad-Eye," a voice from within the house said, "I'll tell you if it's really her." Remus Lupin came to the door, looking shabbier than he had the last time Tonks had seen him.

"Who were we following in Diagon Alley, and what color did you change your hair to when you followed him alone?"

"We were following Jugson, and I changed my hair to," she thought back to that day for a moment, "black."

"It's her, Mad-Eye," he said. Mad-Eye begrudgingly stepped aside to allow Tonks into the room. Although she was unsure why Remus was with Mad-Eye, she was certainly glad he was there, and very impressed that he remembered she changed her hair to black when they were tracking Jugson.

Tonks had only actually been inside Mad-Eye's house once, but everything looked pretty much the same. The furniture was ancient, there was a large rug in the center of the floor at which Mad-Eye cursed every time he got is wooden leg caught, and there were two gigantic book shelves on the wall filled with books and newspapers about death eaters, protective charms, and defensive spells.

"Tonks," Mad-Eye growled. "Why did you come here? You should have gotten Remus' patronus. We said we'd send word."

"Mad-Eye," Tonks retorted, "you can't honestly believe that I would sit around in my flat and wait after hearing that something happened to Arthur. The Weasley's are like my family, Molly and Arthur have been like parents since I've joined the Order, and I've known them since I went to school with Charlie." She wondered if Remus had been scolded the same way when he arrived. "I'm not the only one here," she said.

"Remus wasn't at home when we were contacted by Dumbledore. He came here to send out his patronus." Tonks suddenly realized why Remus looked so horrible; the moon had been full the night before.

"What happened?" Tonks began. "Did someone attack him? Did a Death eater find him? Do they know if he's going to be alright?"

"Silence, Tonks," Mad-Eye said. "Stop your blabbering." Tonks was very taken aback by Mad-Eye; she just wanted to know if Arthur was ok.

"He's alive," Remus sighed stepping forward. "Kingsley was staying late at the auror office. He got the message from Dumbledore and was heading down when a security wizard found Arthur. He was in very bad shape, but they've taken him straight to St. Mungo's." Tonks knew her terror showed on her face.

"Do…do they think he'll make it?"

"There's been no word yet," Remus answered stiffly. Tonks could tell he was very worried as well. "But he's in the best hands at St. Mungo's; we'll just have to wait it out." Remus must have still been able to discern the fear and worry in Tonks's face. He stepped forward and rubbed her shoulder gently, "why don't you sit, Tonks and I'll get some tea." Tonks took Remus' suggestion and sat down on Mad-Eye's old weathered couch. She could feel a slight burning sensation where Remus had placed his hand on her shoulder. Mad-Eye took a seat next to her.

"Mad-Eye," Tonks began after a few moments of silence, "why aren't we supposed to go headquarters? I was certain they'd want someone else to guard the area, and for us to try and find out what happened."

"Dumbledore doesn't want anyone at headquarters because the Weasley children are arriving by portkey there, along with Potter. They're worried enough, doesn't want everyone bustling about making things worse." Tonks understood. If something happened to either or her parents, she wouldn't want a bunch of people milling around making it worse.

Remus arrived a few minutes later with the tea, which eased the silence a bit. Finally, Tonks decided to speak up.

"How did they find him?" She asked. "The only people who knew he was there were members of the Order.

"Harry found him," Remus answered.

"Harry?" Tonks asked quite shocked. How could Harry have found him when he was at Hogwarts?"

Remus responded to Tonks's stunned appearance, "Harry envisioned it while sleeping. Minerva took him to Dumbledore and he sent one of the portraits to the ministry."

"How did Harry know? Is he a seer?"

"Of course he's not a seer, Tonks," Mad-Eye barked. "Somehow Potter can see into Voldemort's mind." Tonks had no reply.

"We're not sure of anything else. Although, I suppose Dumbledore will have Harry learn Occlumency. He needs to close his mind to anything having to do with Voldemort."

"Do they have any idea what happened to Arthur based on his injury? Tonks asked

"He was attacked by a snake," Remus responded.

"A snake?" Tonks asked, unsure of what to make of it.

"Yes," Remus answered. "Harry woke up tonight somehow knowing that Arthur had been attacked by a snake, woke up the other boys in his dormitory. One of them woke Minerva and she took him straight to Dumbledore, and he was able to send word to make sure Arthur was found."

"Why was there a snake near the Department of Mysteries?"

"We don't know," Mad-Eye answered. "We do know; however, that Voldemort failed to get the prophecy."

"How do we know for sure?" Tonks asked.

"One of the old headmasters at Hogwarts was able to figure it out," Remus answered.

"They've got portraits everywhere. It's easy for them to travel through and find out things," Mad-Eye said.

All three went back to drinking their tea in silence. Almost an hour had past and they hadn't heard anything about Arthur. Sitting with Remus and Mad-Eye was making Tonks incredibly uneasy. Remus looked completely worn; his eyes were red from lack of sleep, his grayed hair out of place, and his robes shabbier than ever before. Mad-Eye kept staring intently at the table. Tonks hated the fact that she knew Mad-Eye was worried too. He was always the strong one.

Tonks thought about Arthur's children, how horrible it must to have to wait for news like that. Arthur couldn't die, he just couldn't. He had too much to live for; his wife, his children, the Order. Tonks thought about Harry. How was he dealing with something like this? He had seen the attack happen. He must be terribly frightened. Tonks knew the Weasleys were like his family too. She knew how Mrs. Weasley doted on Harry, how they had always stepped up to care for him. They still hadn't heard anything about Arthur, and Tonks was beginning to doubt they would until the next morning. Molly was up to eyes in fright and worry. Even if Arthur was alright she wouldn't have time to send word yet. Remus seemed to read Tonks' thoughts.

"Well," he said standing up tiredly, sending his tea cup into the kitchen sink, "I think it's very unlikely that we'll hear anything more tonight. I suppose no news is good news. I think I'll head back to my flat and try to get some rest. I'll let you both know if I hear anything." Mad-Eye stood and nodded as Remus walked toward the door.

"I'll do the same, Remus," he said. "Be on the lookout. Check everywhere near your home. We don't need anything else happening to any other Order members."

"I'll be sure to, Mad-Eye. Goodbye, Tonks," Remus added nodding to Tonks. Tonks feebly smiled in return.

"Bye Remus, be careful," she cautioned. He walked onto the step, hastily moved to the front of the lawn, and disapparated into the air.

Mad-Eye was fumbling about with books near the bookcase while Tonks took the tea cups into the sink. She could see Mad-Eye out of the corner of her eye. He looked tired. She knew he was even more paranoid then ever had been, and he must not be getting a lot of sleep. He would never force her to leave, not during a time like this, but she wanted him to try and get some sleep.

"Don't think we'll get any word tonight, do you?" Tonks asked preparing to leave.

No," he answered matter-of-factly. "Molly's got enough to worry about."

"Well," Tonks answered. "I'm going to head home and try to get some sleep, in case the Order needs me for anything tomorrow."

"Be on the lookout Tonks. Watch anything out of the ordinary."

"I know Mad-Eye," she said grasping the door handle. "Please try and get some sleep yourself," Tonks answered. "If the Order needs you tomorrow, you have to best rest. Constant vigilance, remember," and with that she walked to the lawn and disapparated back near her flat.

So, that was it. I needed this chapter to help move along the story. It was supposed to be a part of the next chapter, but it would have been too long. I'm sorry this took so long. I was on vacation, then I was babysitting, and then I had overnight Orientation for college.