It had been half an hour.
Tonks was getting worried, as she hadn't seen a sign of Charlie or any of the others. Keeping Harry securely on her back as he had been while they were waiting, she scrambled down the tree, gripping her wand.
In the quietest of whispers, she uttered a spell. "Auxiliumi," She murmured, after a second, looking around in fear.
Their surroundings had vastly changed from the bright, happy jungle Charlie and her and created. It was dark and creepy, a thin blanket of frost covering the ground. She winced, pulling Harry off her back and into her arms protectively.
Harry was shaking, scared. He trusted Tonks, though, she'd protect him.
He didn't know why he trusted her so, but he did.
And then Aella came along.
Tonks didn't know what it was about her, whether it was her strange eyes or cold charm and personality, but she just didn't like her.
Aella grinned, her appearance altering as her own did, but not as hers did. She gasped as she realised who was standing in front of her.
"Shit." She muttered.
Eira smirked at her.
"Sirius!" Xiuhcoatl yelled, running into the drawing room. He had received Tonks' message but knew he couldn't face Eira alone.
Sirius was out of his seat and beside him in seconds, concerned; if Xiuhcoatl needed help, it was bad. Almost immediately, Cassiopeia was also on her feet, wand aimed at Xi as if he were a threat.
"Tonks is in trouble. It's Eira. She's here." The breathless firebird said, currently in his human form, ignoring Cassiopeia and Andromeda, who had stood up at the mention of her daughter.
"Okay, Xi, calm, breathe." Sirius urged gently. "Are you sure? How would she get past the wards?" He rationalised.
"The girl, Bellatrix's 'daughter', it was her, in disguise," Xi growled, regaining his breath. "And I somehow doubt Tonks would make a joke about this, she can be serious when necessary." He said.
Sirius frowned, about to argue. Cassiopeia would have none of that, though, grabbing her grand-nephew by the ear and marching him out and upstairs, wand at the ready. Sirius sighed and pulled out his wand, fully aware of Xi, Molly, Arthur, and Andromeda following quickly.
Once they were upstairs, they gasped.
Tonks was struggling.
To be totally honest, she was struggling majorly. Being only in her second year, she knew very few defensive and wasn't sure how to counter half of those Eira was using.
Mercifully, Harry was whispering some in her ear, some he and Hermione had learnt when reading in the huge library in the Potter Mansion.
"Protego." She growled. "Protego Horribilis," She continued, using as many protective and defensive spells as she could, not only shielding herself but Harry.
Eira smirked, countering and countering, again and again.
"Locomotor Mortis," Tonks yelled at Harry's suggestion. Eira laughed, making the curse ricochet to hit Tonks instead.
"Shit!" She yelled, falling as she tried forwards, carefully pulling Harry round so he was protected under her, kissing his head lightly to let him know he was safe, wincing slightly when he whimpered.
"Don't worry, Har, Xi will be here soon." She assured him softly, glaring up at Eira fiercely. "Petrificus Totalus." She snarled, using the appropriate wand movement and smirking when the Dark Mistress was paralysed.
Cassiopeia laughed when she saw the scene before her. Nymphadora was sitting up, recovering from a leg locker curse while Eira lay nearby, paralysed completely.
Sirius growled and ran forwards, scooping up Harry and rocking him protectively, glaring at the icy jungle surroundings.
Harry hugged him, scared, whimpering. "Tonks protected me from the mean woman." He whispered, noticing his fierce glare at the girl, who was currently healing with the aid of Andromeda and Mrs Weasley while the others ran off to find the children. Narcissa and Arthur came back with the Weasley children, Hermione and Draco.
Bill and Cassiopeia were restraining Eira.
Cassiopeia then marched over, casting a quick spell to recover Tonks faster, and then grabbing her arm and Eira's. She apparated to the Ministry of Magic, Sirius following after with Harry in his arms.
A/N: This will be the third to last chapter, but there will be a sequel! Eventually...
Spell Guide:
i Auxilium – A spell used to call for help, sending a telepathic message to the carers of the sender and whoever is near them. In this case, Tonks uses it to contact Xiuhcoatl, who she believes will be able to help the most.