Trap

Every member of the Order had gathered in Twelve Grimmauld Place, minus Severus and Remus who were now both missing, and Tonks who was sleeping dreamlessly in one of the third floor bedrooms. There in their places was a bashful Hermione, ashamed of what had taken place earlier that day. By no means a substitute however, her growing ability granted her a place.

The meeting was drawing to a close a little after nine in the evening with a sombre and melancholy atmosphere. Hermione and Molly left the room in order to begin super for everyone. It was the first chance they had to speak about the incident concerning Harry and Ron.

"How are they?" Minerva questioned, it would be her who would have to relay the conversation to Tonks. Hopefully it would be good news, the fight had only just happened when she had left in search of Remus and Tonks.

"Apart from bruised egos they are both fine. Everything has been explained to Mr Weasley and they are both friends again, although Harry has expressed wishes to be removed from Tonks' classes." Albus explained regretfully. "Thankfully this is something which has yet to reach the students and I intend to keep it that way. As bitter as Harry is right now, he would not think twice about blaming Tonks for the kiss, and then her career would truly be finished."

"I really think that's the last thing on her mind right now Albus." Kingsley muttered "I went up to see her; she's a state. I pray Luscious doesn't find out about this incident with Harry or Severus; he'll torture her."

"He knows." Minerva expressed solemnly. "He probably concocted the plan. It wasn't Severus' style."

"We don't even know what really happened. For all we know she was with Remus and Serverus replaced him in the middle of the night… Lets face it, the polyjuice potion only lasts an hour, it's not as if they were doing something that he could excuse himself from and get a top up-" Kingsley explained with a vulgar grin.

"- And I don't think it's appropriate for you to talk about a colleges personal life." Minerva replied hotly.

"All I'm saying is, Severus would have had to have been mighty convincing to get that ice maiden's knickers down. And once they were down, she would have wanted the full treatment."

"That's enough. That is not the issue here. The only one who has the right to question what happened is Tonks herself. Only she can know the truth, although she is in no state to see the wood from the trees right now." Albus hoped to bring an end to this conversation. What had happened that night was between Remus and Tonks, it should not have entered the public sphere.

"Then we should get her to give us a blow by blow account of what her and Severus or Remus did-"

"You really are a vulgar man. Tonks loves Remus, her memory of a sacred moment between the two of them has been tampered with. I believe it was Remus she was with last night, but you make her re-live it while she believes it was Severus you will kill her." Moody growled. The girl he saw as his daughter had been hurt, and the man who did it must be punished. "Besides we are getting way off track here. If what Minerva said is true, we have five days to find Remus. And I think Tonks knows how to find him."

Popopopopopopopopopopopop

Hermione softly rasped on the oak door of Tonk's bedroom before entering the darkly lit room, her hands laden with a tray full of food. The stressfully sleeping girl stirred instantly. Her puffy and dark eyes fluttered open and looked sheepishly towards a hesitate Hermione.

"Hey, how you feeling?" Hermione asked lovingly as she placed the tray on the bedside. She stood awkwardly away from the bed "Hope you're hungry."

"I'm sorry Hermione." A single tear cascaded down her face. "I should have told you." Hermione was on the bed hugging Tonks in an instant. It didn't seem to help. "You should be hitting me, shouting at me- You've poisoned the soup haven't you?"

"Tonks, why would you think that?" Hermione questioned.

"Ron. He's dying isn't he?" Tonks stomach fell.

"No. Snape was lying to you. They're both ok." Hermione smiled. "In fact I should thank you. He was so enraged at the thought that he could have lost me… we'll let just say second time around was much more…" She chose her words carefully. "Simulating." She blushed a deep crimson. "He realised that he wouldn't have blamed me if I had been cheating, that he was taking me for granted and that he would do his best not to do it in future," Tonks looked as if she was about to cry. "It was Remus Tonks, Snape's just playing with you."

"Deep down in my heart I know what you're saying is the truth. But, I can't stop making my skin crawl. Now, all I can picture is him touching me, kissing me. Until I hear it from Remus himself, I can't and won't get it out my head that I've betrayed him." Tonks closed her eyes and thought for a moment. "The bastards lucky Sirius isn't alive, Severus would be dead now."

"Don't worry, we'll have Remus back soon enough… I know Severus told you there's a month before Remus will turn, he got it wrong, there's a full moon in five days… there's a plan to go and go get him." Hermione explained soothingly.

It suddenly dawned on Tonks. She scrambled weakly but quickly out of bed and reached for her thin dressing gown.

"Tonks? What's wrong?" Hermione followed her as she bolted out the door and to the nearest window, darkness had set in.

"Stupid, stupid stupid." Tonks muttered to herself. "Played straight into his hands." Hermione watched her with fear. Tonks strength was returning to her with fearful speed.

"Tonks?" Hermione asked again.

"Hermione, I want you back at hogwart's. NOW!" Tonks ordered angrily. "There isn't much time."

"Tonks please tell me what's going on?" Hermione asked as Tonks began running down the three flights of stairs.

"Ok, I'll tell you with the others then you have to leave." Tonks led her to the empty meeting room. "They all still here?" Hermione nodded. "Shit." She continued through the hall and down into the kitchen. The moment Tonks entered the room fell silent.

"Nymphadora, you're up?" Minerva asked.

"I want you to take Hermione back to Hogwart's once I've finished what I've got to say." Tonk did not receive a verbal reply but a silent nod. "They're sending Remus here. He'll be here soon, Severus planned this to get you all together to kill you or curse you, I'm not sure to what extent they can control. I need to be chained, because through Remus I could turn too, I know I didn't turn the other night now, but I still don't know. Mortsang; the drug he was giving me has some form of mind control Remus and I felt a connection last night." Kingsley scoffed at this. She really didn't want to go into details. "Severus, thought that I would be either too delirious to contradict the lie… he assumed that you would use the pensive though and assume you had a month, Or that I would have killed myself and for you to be unable to retrieve the information." Deep down both herself and Severus had known that she was much too strong to kill herself. "They planned to attack tonight, I'm sure of it. They won't leave survivors, and I don't think there's enough time to evacuate everyone."