Chapter 21: May 1st, 1998, 1:52 pm

"Did you hear? Did you see?"

Andromeda only realized after she had let Nymphadora, Remus, and Teddy inside that she had forgotten to verify their identities first. And a moment after that she remembered that she didn't have to anymore, because of the Fidelius charm.

"We saw," Nymphadora replied. She was holding Teddy awfully tightly.

"Harry, Ron, and Hermione might have broken a dragon out of Gringotts," Remus added.

"No, about the Death Eaters."

"What about them?" Nymphadora asked.

Remus just lunged for the parchment that connected them to Ginny. "They're massing at Malfoy Manor. Wait, this is an outgoing message, how did you find out?"

"Kreacher went to check," Andromeda replied. "He volunteered, I didn't even suggest it," she added at their incredulous looks.

"Where is he now?" Nymphadora asked, looking around. "We need to find out more about what he saw."

"He reported back and then left again immediately," Andromeda said. "That was only a few minutes ago."

"I never told Harry that we rescued Kreacher!" Remus exclaimed, clapping a hand to his forehead.

"You were distracted," Nymphadora pointed out.

"But if I'd gotten Harry to countermand his order for Kreacher not to look for him then we could find out where he is and what he needs from us."

"It doesn't matter anymore," Nymphadora said. "We need to organize what we do know and take it from there."

Kreacher appeared on the rug between them with a sudden popping sound. He was shaking visibly. Andromeda immediately dropped to her knees at his side and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Kreacher! Are you all right?"

"Kreacher saw…Kreacher saw…He was there."

"You-Know-Who?"

Kreacher could only nod.

"What'd they do?" Nymphadora wondered.

Something made a 'ding' sound. After a moment Remus started and looked at the parchment in his hands.

"Kingsley said he's been asked to mobilize the Aurors."

"Did he or Ginny say what side the Ministry expects us to be on?" Nymphadora asked.

"No, but I can guess."

"Me too. Kingsley's mostly managed to keep them out of the fight so far, but…" Nymphadora was pacing now. "No Auror's ever taken orders blindly – well, maybe one has – but on the whole…"

"What's on your mind, Tonks?"

"I've been away so long! I haven't even been to the office since before all this started! I don't know what side everyone will pick!"

"Kingsley's in charge," Remus said. "Do you really think he'll send out someone he thinks would oppose the Order?"

"He may not have a choice! Aurors work for the Ministry and the Ministry works for Voldemo-"

It had been so long since one of them slipped up that they were all a little slow on the draw. It was unclear if Nymphadora managed to stop herself, or if she heard Andromeda's poorly articulated warning, or if Remus's hand over her mouth was enough, or if she completed the word after all.

"Andromeda, take Teddy please," Remus said.

Andromeda hurried to comply, and Nymphadora and Remus drew their wands. Nymphadora was muttering, "Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit," under her breath like it was a jinx.

"I think the wards are still up," Remus said, waving his wand slowly.

"Shit, shit, shit, I'm sorry, I don't know what I was thinking, shit, shit, shit, shit."

"What about the Fidelius charm?" Andromeda whispered. "Even if we broke the Taboo, how would they find us?"

Remus shrugged. "Kreacher, would you mind checking to see if anyone is outside?"

Kreacher nodded and disappeared with a pop. He reappeared several long moments later.

"Kreacher saw no one."

Andromeda drew a full breath for the first time since hearing those forbidden syllables.

"Thank you," Remus said. "It would help if you check again in a few minutes."

"Kreacher will."

"I'm so sorry," Nymphadora repeated.

"It's fine," Remus said, touching her arm. "But tell me what you think about the wards."

Nymphadora pointed her wand at each of the four corners of the house in turn. "They seem fine," she decided. "Maybe you stopped me before I said it?"

"Or maybe the Fidelius charm protected us, or the Death Eaters are too busy to deal with us right now," Remus said. "The important thing is that we're still safe here."

"Oh, that was so stupid," Nymphadora said, rubbing her face.

"I have an idea that might help you sort out the Aurors," Andromeda said abruptly.

Nymphadora and Remus both looked at her like they could hardly believe she was bringing that back up again, but the notion had come to her while she was mentally preparing herself to defend her grandson against all-comers, and she thought that if she didn't speak it soon her courage would fail her.

"I need to impersonate Bellatrix again."

"And do what?" Nymphadora asked.

"Walk into the Auror department."

"That…um…" Nymphadora struggled a minute for the words. "While that might be effective…suppose most of them are loyal to our side? They might not be in a prisoner-taking mood…"

"If they are loyal to our side then they've successfully hid it for the better part of a year," Andromeda pointed out. "They can't have done that by attacking any Death Eater that sets foot on their floor."

"Fair, but you'd be taking an awful risk."

"I can't believe I'm saying this," Andromeda said, "but that's why I'd need you to come with me."

"Wait, I'll go instead," Remus interjected immediately.

"They're looking for you, remember?" Nymphadora said.

"They're looking for you too."

"I can disguise myself."

"Teddy needs you."

"He needs you too," Nymphadora said, unmoved. "Look, the longer we stand around arguing the more likely the Aurors will have already deployed to wherever they're going. Unless you'd rather face off against a fully trained Auror during whatever fight we're heading toward…"

"Well, no…"

"Great. Mum, get changed. Remus, relay our plan to Kingsley."

"Kreacher saw a Snatcher wandering around the street."

Andromeda had almost forgotten about that.

"That's all right," Nymphadora decided. "I could use a warm up round."

Andromeda handed Teddy off to Remus and ran upstairs to change into her replica of Bellatrix's robes and fix her hair and makeup. She even remembered to give herself the Dark Mark tattoo this time. She shook out her neck and tried Bellatrix's face in the mirror. Sometimes it worried her how easily she could impersonate her sister now.

By the time Andromeda got back downstairs, Nymphadora had altered her appearance to look like a nondescript witch with only an identifying lock of red hair and she and Remus were in a bit of an argument.

"You don't have to do this. At least wait until we hear back from Kingsley."

"He's probably busy. By the time he has the chance to respond it might be too late."

"Dora, you're about to walk right into the Ministry. Why are you really doing this?"

"Those are my friends, Remus! I've gone into battle with all of them, trusted them with my life, and they've trusted me with theirs. And I abandoned them this year!"

"Look at your reason!" Remus exclaimed, lifting Teddy slightly.

Nymphadora brushed a hand over Teddy's head. "I don't want to fight with you, but we can't have another Snape, this is too important. I'm an Auror, this is my responsibility."

Remus closed his eyes for a long moment. "Okay, but please come back."

"I will," Nymphadora said, and kissed him. Then she turned to face Andromeda. "Nice work on your hair, Mum. Are you ready?"

Andromeda swallowed with difficulty and nodded.

"What was that?" Nymphadora asked harshly.

"What are we waiting for, underling?"

"Better. Let's Apparate to the corner and take care of that Snatcher first."

Andromeda chanced a glance at Remus. He still looked troubled and for a moment she wondered if she ought to call a halt to this. But Nymphadora could easily impersonate Bellatrix herself now if she chose, and she probably would, in that case. Better that she did not go in alone. Andromeda followed her daughter outside, and they Apparated together to the nearest street corner.

The patrolling Snatcher was two houses down and spotted them immediately.

"Madam Lestrange!" he exclaimed. "I wasn't-"

Nymphadora stunned and bound him in two neat waves of her wand. Two more hid the unconscious Snatcher in the neighbor's bushes and sent his wand sailing off in the opposite direction.

"Merlin that felt good," she said. "To the Ministry Special Entrance?"

"Don't you think it would be better to see if Arthur has any spare tokens?" Andromeda asked.

"Only if you want to get spotted as an imposter immediately," Nymphadora replied. "Can you really imagine Bellatrix flushing herself down a toilet?"

"No?"

"Me either, so make sure to put on your scary face for the security guards."

"This is my scary face. You wouldn't believe how much lipstick I have on right now."

"Scary attitude, then. Ready?"

"What do you think Ted would say if he could see us?"

"Hey, put that away for now," Nymphadora said. "It won't help you in there."

Andromeda knew she was right, so she tried, she really did, and nodded to Nymphadora, who pulled them both to the Special Entrance.

The security wizard at the desk stood officiously when he saw them. Three of his colleagues stepped in front of the elaborate doors, wands at the ready.

"This area is restri- Madam Lestrange. We didn't know to expect you."

"I can't be bothered to announce my comings and goings to every worthless peon they stand in front of a door," Andromeda replied. "So step aside."

The security wizard took the insult with dignity.

"Of course. If you would please just present your wand for verification I will have you on your way momentarily."

"I will not."

"It's standard procedure, Madam."

"I am here to inspect the Auror forces on the Dark Lord's personal orders. Would you like to explain to him why I was delayed?"

The security wizard hesitated, a bead of sweat tracing its way down his temple. Hating that she had to do it, Andromeda stared him down with all the menace she could muster, but he did not budge until her hand twitched toward her left sleeve.

"Of course not!" he exclaimed, waving the other three guards aside. "Shall I relay to the Auror office that you are coming?"

"You shall do no such thing!"

"Of course not! Of course not! Enjoy your visit, Madam Lestrange."

"I very much doubt that I will," Andromeda replied and swept off through the doors with Nymphadora trailing along in her wake.

"You've got this figured out," Nymphadora whispered as they made their way down the grand hallway.

"I hope he doesn't get in trouble," Andromeda said.

Nymphadora fell silent. That could have meant that she was either trying to prepare herself for whatever they were about to face, or that she thought the security guard would be punished for what had just happened.

"The Auror office is on the fifth floor," she said eventually. "It'll work best if we can get them individually or in small groups and surprise them. Their first reaction to you will be our best indicator. If they stop to think, act indifferent, or react violently they're probably on our side. Anyone who looks friendly toward you is worth keeping an eye on. We should contain them until we can get some opinions from the others."

"When you say 'react violently'…"

"Don't worry, I know the same tricks they do."

They reached the grand entrance hall at last and Nymphadora stifled a groan. Andromeda immediately turned her back on the scene.

"Is Bellatrix there?" she whispered.

"No, but the Aurors are, all of them, and half the Ministry, it looks like."

Reluctantly, Andromeda turned around to look. Apparently, the Ministry was giving the Aurors a hero's sendoff.

"There are more than twice as many Aurors as there were the last time I was here," Nymphadora said.

"You can't fight that many by yourself."

"I won't have to. Anyone who's loyal will join in-"

"Unless they've been Imperiused."

"These are Aurors, they could shake off Imperius in their sleep. Mad-Eye claimed he actually did, twice. The real trouble is all these other people."

The scratching sound of a microphone powering on filled the room, followed by the high pitched sound of someone clearing her throat.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules today to give our brave Aurors the send off they deserve."

"I've got an idea," Nymphadora whispered.

"As you know," Umbridge continued, "we have been besieged for months by the forces of anarchy and disorder, culminating only this morning in the wholesale destruction of Gringotts bank, one of the country's oldest wizarding establishments."

"Take the stage from her," Nymphadora said. "Get everyone else to clear out, and keep the Auror's attention on you. And step on Umbridge's foot for me, if you can manage it."

"Gladly."

"But our enemy's brazen actions have given us a window of opportunity to strike back, and strike we will! We have assembled the Aurors, and will- Madam Lestrange!"

"Quit your croaking, little woman," Andromeda snarled, ascending the steps to the makeshift stage where Umbridge stood. "Your words are empty." And, making good on her promise, she stepped on Umbridge's foot while shoving her away from the microphone.

Andromeda lost a moment trying to adjust the microphone stand to suit her height, but in the end could not find a way, so she just spoke louder. In any case the microphone hardly seemed necessary anymore; the entire hall had fallen silent.

"What are you all staring at?" Andromeda shouted. "Don't you have work to do? Yes, you too, Runcorn. Not you, Aurors, I have words for you."

The audience began to rapidly slink away, no one wanting to be last. Turning to the Aurors, Andromeda immediately spotted Nymphadora sneaking around the back of the group. Finding her was easy, because she had retaken her normal face and hair. Andromeda nearly lost the thread in her surprise.

"Aurors! I want you to think…" Andromeda shouted, wishing she knew how this sentence was going to end, "…about what you are doing! What are you doing?"

That question was mostly for Nymphadora, but if she heard it that way she did not give any sign. She was still working her way among the crowd of Aurors, getting the attention of those she recognized. Kingsley was at the front, Nymphadora had not reached him yet, and by his expression Andromeda had to wonder if he had gotten their message about this operation at all. He seemed awfully confused about what Andromeda was saying.

"You are dark wizard catchers, are you not? Collectively responsible for bringing to justice countless rabble-rousers…"

Apparently, Nymphadora was listening. She shot Andromeda an incredulous look. Andromeda could only hope her daughter would take it as a request that she hurry up.

"Yet today you are deploying to capture or kill a seventeen year old boy? All of you? How much trouble could he really be? How much of a dark wizard can he be if all he's ever done is tell the truth?"

That was the polarizer they needed. The Aurors Nymphadora had already tagged marked their targets. To Andromeda, they were the ones who looked confused.

"Oh, don't look so surprised, it's just us here, and we all know the situation," Andromeda continued. Nymphadora had finally reached Kingsley. "You-Know-Who is back and Bellatrix Lestrange works for him. So why aren't you arresting me?"

The Auror force erupted in a brief but furious civil war. Andromeda finally abandoned her charade entirely and hit the deck, and when she looked up again she saw that the advantage had gone to the forewarned. The traitor Aurors were stripped of their wands and knocked unconscious, tied up, or, in one case, nursing a gushing bloody nose. No one seemed to quite know what to do with Dawlish, but Kingsley had him by the collar. The friendly Aurors who were not guarding the traitors had gathered around Nymphadora, their exuberant voices carrying up to the stage.

"Tonks! Where in the hell have you been!"

"Yeah, we could've used your disguise trick a few times, y'know."

"Sorry about that, I had a baby."

"A baby? Merlin, you can't turn your back for five minutes around some people."

"So you finally wore down your Moony fellow after all, eh?"

"Did you try my suggestion?"

"The Confundus charm? Thanks but no, just good old fashioned perseverance, and some battlefield camaraderie."

"Well, good for you, but you've deprived us all of the chance to threaten him with bodily harm if he does you wrong."

"That's not necessary."

"Oh, but it is, and now I must insist that you invite us all to dinner."

"You might want to rethink that, Wells. You've never tried her cooking."

"I've faced Death Eaters, do you really think an overcooked pot roast will scare me?"

"It should."

"Hey!"

"Er, pardon me…" Everyone, even the traitor with the bloody nose, turned to face a red haired man who had just emerged from behind a corner. He pointed at Andromeda. "What are we going to do about her?"

"Nothing! That's my Mum!" Nymphadora exclaimed when several Aurors turned in Andromeda's direction.

"Bellatrix Lestrange is your mother?" Dawlish demanded. Kingsley gave him a little shake.

"Bellatrix Lestrange is my aunt," Nymphadora corrected. "That's Andromeda Tonks. You should tone down the disguise before someone gets curse happy, Mum."

Andromeda nodded and started setting her hair back to normal.

"The question is," Kingsley said, "what are we going to do with you, Percy Weasley. Or should I call you Wetherbee?"

Andromeda looked again and only then recognized the third oldest Weasley child.

"Weasley," Percy said to his shoes.

"Well, Weasley, your father asked me to keep an eye on you," Kingsley said. "Would you like to know what I saw?"

Percy looked like he thought he wouldn't.

"You follow whoever you think can give you more power and influence, like a hungry puppy. They're usually only interested in using you to help themselves, and you let them. It's sad to watch."

Percy nodded but did not reply.

"You have a much stronger stomach for Dolores Umbridge than anyone else I'm willing to speak to civilly," Kingsley continued. "On the other hand, for all your power mongering, you've never gone so far as to associate with an actual Death Eater or Thicknesse. In fact, you've resisted more than the usual number of attempts at recruitment, because of your family connections. So as far as I'm concerned, what we're going to do with you depends on what you're doing here, now."

"I recognized Tonks, and I know she's close with my family," Percy explained. "I haven't seen Dad or Bill in weeks and I was hoping she could tell me if they're all right. I…I can't remember the address of the Burrow." He looked despondent.

"They're fine," Nymphadora assured him. "I just saw Bill this morning. They've had to go into hiding, is all."

"And everyone else?"

"All fine, just hiding, going a little stir-crazy. Except…Ron is with Harry and Hermione. No one quite knows where they are."

Andromeda could see Kingsley watching very carefully to see what Percy thought of that.

"That's…good? That's good. That's…Harry needs all the help he can get."

"Well, Percy, you seem to have pulled your head out of your arse," Kingsley decided. "I'm willing to consider you on probation."

"I'd understand if you didn't."

"Of course, I'm not the one you have to convince, in the end."

Percy nodded. "I know, but for now if I don't get back to the office soon they'll start to suspect."

"Go on then," Kingsley said.

"So, about Gringotts," Nymphadora said when Percy had gone, turning to Kingsley and the rest of the loyal Aurors. "We think that was Harry, he might be ready to take his fight into the open. Where were they sending you?"

"Hogwarts," Kingsley replied. "Apparently there's something there the Chief Death Eater thinks is worth protecting."

When he spoke the words 'Chief Death Eater' a couple Aurors released 'oh's of recognition.

"I'll make sure the Order knows," Nymphadora promised. "How were you supposed to get inside?"

"Break down the wards. Not orders I was intending to follow, but I don't know another way in at the moment," Kingsley replied.

"If we find one I'll pass it along. Keep in touch?"

"Of course," Kingsley said. "All right, Aurors, I think there are some Dementors downstairs that would be fairly interested in these traitors, don't you?"

A cheer went up. Andromeda and Nymphadora shook hands with the Aurors they passed on their way to the fireplaces. By the time they got back home it was already growing dark outside.

When they knocked on the door, Kreacher let them inside, sparing barely a moment to verify their identities before racing back to the sitting room. Concerned, Andromeda and Nymphadora followed him at speed. Remus and Kreacher were hunched over the communication parchment, actually it looked like it was the third one, scribbling furiously, with Teddy lying on a blanket on the floor nearby.

Nymphadora knelt down to pick up Teddy and asked, "What's going on?"

Remus was writing, so Kreacher answered.

"Miss Ginerva relayed Mister Aberforth's message that Hogsmeade is under lockdown. The Order is trying to decide how to proceed."

Andromeda peered over Remus's shoulder to try and decipher some of the discussion so far. The messages were coming in so quickly that Remus had to continually shift down the page to keep adding to his own sentence. Kreacher stood at his elbow and read out the messages as they came in so Remus would not have to. When Andromeda had agreed to teach Kreacher how to read she had not realized how important it would become.

"Mister Fred says there is a secret passage leading from Fortescue's in Hogsmeade to the castle."

Remus shook his head and wrote on furiously, barely even taking the time to ink his quill. Andromeda fetched him a pen and swapped it in the next time he ended a sentence.

"Miss Ginny suggests the vanishing cabinets."

"Remus, when you can, the remaining Aurors are loyal and are under orders to get to Hogwarts," Nymphadora said. "But they don't know how to get inside either. The last resort is breaking down the wards."

"We can't do that," Remus said, writing out another line. Then he paused. "What did you do to the Aurors who aren't loyal?"

"Locked them up with the Dementors."

"I have always and will always love your style." And he returned to writing.

"How is Ginny keeping up with all this?" Andromeda wondered.

"Miss Ginerva could not," Kreacher replied. "Everyone can see everyone else's messages."

"Ah."

"Mum! Take Teddy!"

"What! What's wrong!"

Andromeda lunged for the infant but was already too slow; Nymphadora had managed to shift him enough to slip something out of her pocket. The false Galleon.

She flipped it to tails and read the message.

"Neville says Harry has returned to Hogwarts."

They all paused a minute to absorb that. Death Eaters, Aurors, and the Order were all converging on Hogwarts, and now Harry too.

"How did he get inside?" Remus asked.

"Hang on." Nymphadora tried to reach into her sleeve for her wand.

"No, I have it," Remus said, reading the parchment. "There's a secret passage from the Hog's Head."

"Since when?" Nymphadora demanded, sitting next to Remus on the sofa. "Never mind, tell them Harry's at Hogwarts."

Remus scribbled it out. Watching over his shoulder again, Andromeda saw the messages abruptly stop when everyone else read what he had written, and then changed tenor when they resumed.

"Kingsley and the Aurors are going in," Remus reported. "Bill, Fleur, Molly, Arthur, Fred, George, Charlie, Hestia, Dedalus, Emmaline too, Dean and Luna…"

A little more of the life went out of his voice with every name he read. Eventually he just turned away to look at Nymphadora. She looked back at him, Teddy nestled in her arms.

"I think this might be it," Remus said at last, reaching out to put a hand on her knee.

Nymphadora swallowed. "Are you going?"

"I have to." By inflection it was a question.

"Yes."

"Are you going?" It sounded like it was wrenched out of him.

"I…"

And then Andromeda saw something she had not expected. Her daughter, a born fighter, who once broke the nose of a bully three times her size and reclaimed the lunch money of the victim, a boy twice her size, looked at her son, and hesitated.

"I don't know."

Remus gave a relieved sob and kissed her hair, then her lips, then Teddy's forehead.

"Second wave?"

Nymphadora nodded but looked uneasy with her decision. She caught his hand and said, "Take out some Death Eaters for me. And come back."

"Of course," Remus replied, and wrote his name out on the parchment alongside the others.

He got to his feet, checked his pockets, pulled on his cloak.

"Kreacher, you've been a good friend. Thank you for everything." They shook hands.

Andromeda pulled him into an embrace. "I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't been here," she told him.

"I could say the same about you," Remus replied.

"Stop talking like you're not coming back," Nymphadora said, wiping tears away before pulling Remus into another hug.

"I love you."

"I love you."

"Be brave, Teddy."

And he was gone.