29
THE poor kid had been at it for days and according to Snape when he'd briefed her on the Dark Lord's plan, he was close to repairing the Vanishing Cabinet, Tonks thought, nervously biting at the wall of her cheek as she took in the sight of her younger cousin, the nervous wreck that Draco Malfoy was.
His cheekbones were sunken in and emaciated, almost hollow, and if the dark circles, those heavy purple bags underneath the sixth year's eyes were any indication for her to go off of, it was obvious to Tonks that Draco hadn't slept well, maybe in months.
A full night's rest was practically foreign to the pale Slytherin at this point. Tonks let out a sigh and folded her arms across her chest, silently watching from the shadows. At least until she felt a figure nudge beside her. She stifled a smile as her old friend and former student of Slytherin House, Ollie, nudged alongside her, their shoulders almost touching.
Though as she caught wind of her mate's expression, his handsome features were twisted into a pained grimace as he clutched onto a scroll of parchment that he'd obviously just unraveled from an owl that had arrived for him. His expression was as grim as a graveyard and his brilliant blue eyes had lost their usual twinkling, mischievous sheen she'd come to know and love over the years.
"What is it?" she asked, feeling a stab of a panic prick at her heartstrings as she feared for the worst, thinking something had happened. She didn't like the look in her mate's blue eyes as Ollie Brennan swiveled his gaze to look towards Tonks, his pale face expressionless.
"I just heard from Dom," he answered, his gaze unabashed and unwavering as he fixed Tonks with a somber look that Tonks immediately decided she hated in her best friend.
Though hearing Ollie mention his older brother gave her pause.
"And?" she pressed, thinking that something awful had happened. She leaned forward, unaware she was hanging onto her friend's every word, or that she'd seized onto fistfuls of the man's crisp black Auror robes and was shaking him slightly for more details. "What's wrong? Is it Dom? H—has something happened? Where's Norah?" she asked, referring to the man's wife. "Is she…?"
But her voice trailed off, unwilling to complete that thought.
"A—and Rhys?" she squeaked, feeling her face drain of what little color was left as she brought up mention of their one-year-old son. "Are they safe?" Tonks questioned, not noting the growing look of annoyance in the handsome dark-haired, blue-eyed Auror's face.
"They're just fine, Tonks. My son and wife are safe. But Mrs. Longbottom," Ollie added grimly. "There was an attack last night, on Mrs. Longbottom's house. I think it's Maggie, she—if I read the letter my brother sent right, she's an Obscurus," Ollie tried to reassure her. "But it's Remus, there's news," he whispered, lowering his voice as he took note of how Draco Malfoy had stopped his work on the Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement and had stilled his movements.
Tonks froze, resting her back against the wall outside the Room of Requirement for support, feeling her stomach churn as it hallowed as her face fell. She tried to ignore the feeling of foreboding and panic that welled within her.
Ollie sensed his friend sending herself into a spiraling panic, plunging his hands into the interior pocket of his Auror's robes, waving his wand, and conjuring a chair, gently guiding the pink-haired Auror to sit down before she keeled over and passed out.
"Sit," he barked in a hoarse voice. "And eat," he snapped, waving his wand as a small plate of a few cold sandwiches and a flagon of pumpkin juice appeared in front of her. No doubt Ollie had thought to knick it from the kitchens. "I didn't agree to this ruddy assignment to save your sorry ass if you get in trouble just to have you pass out from exhaustion and starvation. Your husband and my wife would murder me," Ollie weakly joked in an effort to light the tension Dora felt.
Ollie's wife, Norah, was a close friend alongside Tonks who worked in a separate department from her and her husband at the Ministry to avoid conflicts of interest on cases.
She worked in the Department of Mysteries and had been more than a huge help to Tonks in times past, especially in cleaning up after the Battle of the Department of Mysteries when Lord Voldemort made it public knowledge of his return to power, however prematurely.
"Merlin, Ollie, tell me about him!" she pleaded, shoveling a bite of her sandwich into her mouth as she fought back the onset of nausea. "Is he…h—has something happened?"
Ollie shot her a withering look as she reached for her golden goblet of chilled pumpkin juice. "I'm trying to if you let me get a word in edgewise!" he huffed, growing impatient. "Merlin's Beard, Tonks, just listen! Maggie's turned into an adult Obscurus. I—I don't know the details, but what's left of Longbottom's house is fucking demolished," he swore through gritted teeth. "Dom told me Remus is the only one Prewitt will listen to, and that she was last seen headed towards Azkaban."
Crouch. Tonks's eyes widened as she stiffened, taking her time chewing and swallowing her bite of the sandwich before pushing her plate away on the small wooden table Ollie had conjured so they could take a break and talk.
"Will they be alright?" Tonks whispered in a breathless voice, already sure she had the answer, but somehow, still wanted the reassurance from her best friend at this moment.
"Dom's with Remus, he'll look after him, Dora, I promise. He won't let anything happen to your husband, I swear. You've got my word," was all Ollie said, and probably the only answer she was apt to give.
She knew Ollie wasn't the type of man to draw things out or give her false hope where there was none, but she couldn't detect any of that in his rough voice that sounded like sandpaper.
She stared as he flinched, rubbing at his left arm as a white-hot flare of pain shot up his arm. He gritted his teeth to try to remain silent, but it wasn't enough to stop a small cry of pain from escaping as he rolled up his sleeves. Tonks stared at the Dark Mark on her best friend's left arm.
It wasn't long before her own mark started the same thing, though she curled her fingernails into the palms of her hands to prevent herself from touching it in sheer agony while it burned.
"He's stronger now," Tonks hissed as she ground her teeth. "Snape was telling me that Draco should have the cabinet fixed by tonight. I don't know who's going to come through those doors when they do, but I want you by my side when they do come. I'm leaving his service after this mission, and if I'm going to go out fighting," Here, she paused to rest a hand on Ollie's right forearm. "Then I want my best friend by my side," she whispered.
He smiled, though the gesture did not reach his crystalline blue eyes. "And Remus?" he questioned, a slight teasing lilt to his tone as he attempted to make light of such a heavy burden.
"Him too," Tonks sighed, resting her head in the crook of Ollie's shoulder. "This is some shit, isn't it, Ollie? I always thought we'd go out a different way, but I suppose getting killed by Lord Voldemort's followers, fighting to defend something you love, is worth the risk."
He blinked in surprise at hearing his friend's words, but he quickly nodded his agreement.
"It is," he said in an amused tone. "But that doesn't change our immediate reality, T," he finished calmly, before rising from his chair and striding over to the door to peek into the room where Malfoy was still diligently working on putting the finishing touches on the Vanishing Cabinet. Outside, light drizzling of rain could be seen on the Hogwarts Ground and scattering onto the murky surface of the Black Lake. "We have to be prepared for whatever comes through that cabinet, and whoever," he emphasized. "Even…even Voldemort himself."
The Auror's words had a heavier impact than the man had intended, for Tonks's shoulders seemed to tense for a moment, her grey eyes turning glossy with fear and trepidation as she nodded numbly, unable to speak a word.
Ollie flinched as her skin took on a greyish tinge. Even as Tonks continued to look at him, now with some confusion in her pale eyes. "The attack will be soon. I can feel it," he pondered, stroking the ends of his rough and closely cropped beard.
He could not help but shudder at the thought that tonight was bloody it. And the last time he'd fought on Voldemort's side, he'd had nothing to fight for, nothing to protect. But ever since befriending the young woman in front of him and meeting his wife, having a baby with her, his perspectives had shifted. Voldemort would never know love or friendship.
What it meant to hold your newborn son in your arms, to have something worth fighting for. And the Legilimens felt sorry for him. Tonks felt the breath froze in her lungs.
"Promise me," she whispered, clinging to fistfuls of Ollie's robes as she shook him. "Promise me that we'll survive tonight, mate, no matter what happens. All of us. You, me, Remus." She swallowed, her mouth going dry. "That everything's going to be alright, Ollie."
"I…" He hesitated, not wishing to give Tonks false hope where there may be none. But as he stared into her cold grey eyes, he couldn't bring himself to lie to his friend.
Not right now.
"I swear it," he forced himself to proclaim after a moment's silence. "On my own life," he whispered to her before he took her in his arms and pulled her tight for a hug, which made Tonks believe her friend with her heart.
Merlin, but she wished Remus were here.
Satisfied that Malfoy was going to be fine on his own for a little while, the pair of friends and fellow coworkers walked reluctantly down the hallway, down the Grand Staircase, intent on heading to the Great Hall to get something to eat and then give Dumbledore an update on Draco's progress, and the startled cry of a little girl's voice broke Tonks out of her musing on the uncertainty that her and Lupin's future tonight held.
"Daddy!" came the breathless squeak of a little girl coming from behind them.
Ollie startled, his blue eyes widening as the sound of his seven-year-old daughter, Emma, came barreling down the hallway after him, trailing behind her was Norah, his wife, holding onto their one-year-old son, Rhys, looking fussy in his mother's arms as he teethed.
"Peanut!" he exclaimed, immediately kneeling into a crouch, and outstretching his arms so his daughter could run. "What are you doing here, baby girl, I told you to look after your mother and little brother, didn't I? It's not safe, you need to get far away from here as possible, and I want you to look after your mother and little brother, alright?" he asked, shooting Emma an admonishing stare, though his head whiplashed sharply up to regard his wife, a petite blonde woman with short white-blonde hair cut in a short, shaggy pixie.
Norah Brennan's blue eyes lifted to meet Tonks and shot her friend a sympathetic smile.
"Tonks," she whispered lowly, her blue eyes twinkling, but her face looked saddened. "It's good to see you. I only wish it were under different circumstances. Dumbledore told us you were here, Ollie. I wanted to—to come to see you," she whispered faintly. "In case…something happens," she swallowed, but quickly shook her head to clear it. She looked at Tonks and smiled. "Congratulations on getting married, I wish Ollie and I could have attended."
"Me too," Tonks said quietly, fiery heat of shame creeping to her cheeks. "I—I'm sorry you guys couldn't be there, Norah, it was…quiet," she stammered, swallowing down thickly past a lump in her throat as she returned her attention to Ollie and their young daughter.
She'd never seen little Emma look so upset. Emma's blonde braid was coming undone from its elastic band, and her blue eyes were filled with tears. His daughter wound her tiny arms around her dad's middle, trying to block her dad's path.
"Don't go! Please!" Emma tearfully begged through her sniffles as tears poured down her pale cheeks.
She was the spitting image of her mother, while Rhys was slowly looking more and more like Ollie as the one-year-old aged. Tonks gave Ollie a loving look and knelt down beside her friend to tap Emma's shoulder.
Tonks closed her eyes as Emma flung herself out of her father's embrace and towards her favorite babysitter and her godmother.
When Emma finally let go of Tonks, Tonks' shirt was damp with her cried tears. Emma stepped back and eyed her father and godmother with distress, not even feeling Norah move to stand beside her daughter.
Ollie sighed, shrugging his shoulders, and gave his daughter an exaggerated hurt look. "No, really, baby. Don't worry about me or anything," he joked, pretending to be insulted as he ran a hand through his thick tuft of black hair. He stood and rose to greet his wife, kissing her briefly, pausing to plant a tender kiss on his son's forehead, tousling his head of dark hair that was so like his.
Emma pursed her lips, her blue eyes inherited from her mother flashing dangerously.
"It's not funny, Daddy!" the seven-year-old declared in a breathless squeak, stomping her foot in frustration. "You have to promise me you'll be alright. You always are. You win every time you fight," she pleaded, sticking out her bottom lip in a lower pout, staring at him with wide, unblinking eyes filled with her salty tears.
"So does your godmother. Tonks hasn't lost a fight yet," Ollie boasted proudly as he shot his friend a triumphant little smirk, as he moved closer and wound his arms around his wife's waist, resting his chin on Norah's right shoulder.
Ollie was happy his daughter had such faith in him. He didn't want his baby girl to worry, but he also wanted to reassure himself that his best friend and godmother that Tonks was going to be just fine tonight, no matter what.
"Really?" Emma asked, finding something else to hold her godmother in awe.
Tonks quickly realized Ollie was trying to take the worry away from his daughter's mind, and she was glad to have a part in that, however small. "Your daddy's right, Peanut," she told her godchild, giving the seven-year-old the most confident smile she could manage to muster up.
"She's the strongest Auror in our department at work," Ollie bragged, his blue eyes beaming with pride as he looked at Tonks. "And the best fighter. Better than me. She can kick my butt and knock my block off anytime," he added proudly, sniggering at the look on Tonks's face. She was looking flabbergasted.
Quickly composing herself, Tonks knelt down again at Emma's level. She breathed slowly as deeply as she could and spoke softly.
"Your dad and I don't want you to worry, Peanut," she told them as she felt Ollie rest a hand on her shoulder, having disentangled himself from his embrace of his wife. "I can take care of myself." She acknowledged Emma, moving her hand up to cup at Emma's cheek. "Listen to me, Emma, okay?" She drew the young girl's attention from the ground she was staring at as she shuffled her feet together. "Your daddy has reasons to stay alive tonight. And so, do I. Nothing's gonna stop us from coming back. I promised to teach you Gobstones, didn't I?" Tonks swore to Emma with a brave smile as she rose back to her feet.
Emma Brennan nodded. "Take care of Daddy, Tonks," the seven-year-old bravely tasked her godmother as she clasped onto the skirts of her mother's dress, darting behind Norah's legs shyly.
Norah chuckled but didn't comment, instead resting her head against the crook of Ollie's shoulder.
Emma frowned, not convinced at all. "Pinky swear it?" She held out her pinky finger expectantly.
Tonks exchanged a brief glance towards Ollie, who wore an odd expression on his face.
A muscle in his jaw twitched and unshed moisture glistened in his eyes. She wasn't sure if he were trying to hold back tears or not, but if Tonks had known Ollie's family would pay them a visit, she'd have made other plans for tonight.
Tonks turned back towards Emma, who was still patiently waiting. She stepped forward, bent at the waist, and locked her pinky with hers.
"I promise," Tonks swore solemnly, nodding empathetically to the bright seven-year-old, who she'd be shocked to learn if when she came of Hogwarts age in a few more years to learn she was sorted into a House that wasn't either Slytherin or Gryffindor, after her parents.
Tonks stood back in the Great Hall, giving her best friend a moment alone with his family. A pang in her chest welled, spiraling as warmth as she wished Remus were here. She watched as Ollie gently took hold of his daughter and held her close. She wrapped her arms around her father and squeezed as tight as possible.
"Take care of them, baby," he told Norah, pressing his lips against hers in a kiss.
She broke apart first, looking seriously towards her husband, her blue eyes alight with a fire that Tonks hadn't seen in her friend before.
"You too, and come back to us," Norah ordered Ollie in a slightly shaking voice. He nodded decidedly to his wife, pausing once to ruffle his son's hair, and pressing his lips to his one-year-old boy's forehead.
Almost the moment he pulled away, the entire floor of the school seemed to shake.
"What…?" Tonks swore under her breath as an explosion from upstairs rent the air. She faintly heard Ollie shout at his wife to get the kids out of here, and the screams of the Hogwarts students could be heard. Tonks didn't bother to look behind her, taking the stairs of the Grand Staircase two or three at a time, Ollie right behind her on her heels, his wand drawn.
Both eager to rush ahead and end this fight, it was obvious Malfoy had repaired the cabinet, and the explosion had undoubtedly been caused by whichever Death Eater had stepped out of the Vanishing Cabinet's doors.
"Be careful!" Tonks shouted to Ollie over her shoulder as they barreled their way towards the Room of Requirement, hoping they weren't too late.
"You, too!" Ollie pleaded to her, glaring darkly into her eyes as they rushed the Room of Requirement's door, wrenching it open so hard that the ancient door rattled in its rusted hinges.
Tonks froze, skidding to a halt, almost causing poor Ollie to barrel right into her, as she found Draco Malfoy no longer alone in the Room of Requirement. She now found herself face-to-face with none other than Aunt Bellatrix.