Title: Chamomile
Part: 10/10 This One's For The Girls
Author: Jmaria
Rating: Pg-13
Disclaimers: Edgar, Cammi, Ezme Legace, Medusa Figg, and Kirkland Maltby? Mine. Everybody else are the results of Joss and J.K. brains. I also don't own the part titles. They're from Martina McBride's Martina
Spoilers: 5 (6ish) by 5 by 2 (3ish) (A:ts)
Summary: Wrapping it all up.
A/N: Sigh. It's done . . .almost there's an epilogue. Ok, it's gonna get interesting. Because, well I still have left three Weasley boys fully clothed, dangit! Battle scenes (which I think I've never written one).

10. This One's For The Girls

Tonks readied herself. Battles were never good for her. She'd been knocked unconscious when Sirius was killed. And last year, she'd been trapped under a tree, unable to help Aunt Narcissa when Aunt Bellatrix killed her. She zipped up the tight fitting jeans and yanked the jumper over her head. Her dark robes went over that. Her eyes locked on the image of herself in the mirror. She paused in that second to see what Percy had seen in her.

And wondered why she'd wanted to look so much like that blasted half-Veela anyway. She was a quarter Veela. Her grandmother had been a Veela. Mother had been half Veela, although she had none of the characteristics of a Veela. Aunt Narcissa had gotten the looks, and Aunt Bellatrix had the gotten viciousness of a Veela. Mum must have been a Changeling, She thought to herself. She darkened her hair and smiled, but then a figure was behind her. She turned around and sighed. It was only Bill.

"Wotcher, Bill."

"We're almost ready."

"Good," She said quietly, turning away from him.

"Tonks?"

"Hmm?"

"Was - were you using Percy to make me upset?"

"What?"

"Well, I know you had a crush on me, so I was - I mean, I know you were upset when Fleur and I started seeing each other."

Percy'd been coming to fetch her when he heard Bill's voice coming from inside the room. A spike of jealousy went through him as he paused at the entrance to the room she was in.

"Yes, Bill it's exactly like that. I'm getting back at you by snogging Percy."

He froze. This was worse than having his family think he was a traitor. Because he felt something for this woman. This woman who was admitting he was just a tool. This woman who hadn't spoken to him since this morning, when he'd kissed her. The woman who'd made the machine of a man feel something in such a short time. If he was honest with himself, he'd admit that the whole summer of being back at the Burrow had gotten him to notice the young woman who followed his older brothers around, and had for most of her life.

He didn't want to hear anymore. So he turned away. He didn't want to identify the ache in his chest.

But he almost didn't hear her next words.

"Merlin, Bill! Do you honestly think I'm that type of person? I wasn't a bleeding Slytherin, Bill. I'm not a heartless harpy who likes to hurt people! If I was, I'd be on Voldemort's side with my Aunt and Uncles. But I'm not."

"Then what are you doing with Percy?"

"Whatever the hell I want! Merlin! I don't know what this thing between me and Percy'll lead to. I don't know what's going to happen today. Or even if any of us'll live to see tomorrow. I just know that - I don't know what it is about him. But it's something, and that's a start. It's tons better than holding onto that pipe dream of you waking up one day and seeing me as more than just Tonks, Auror and one of your best mates. Because Percy already sees that."

Percy froze. And the ache melted away. He turned back down the hall and stopped outside the door.

"I'm happy for you, Tonks."

"Don't be too sure. I've got a shitty record with the Battles."

"You'll do fine."

"Go reassure French-y that you're not going to die, will you?" She chuckled.

Bill ruffled her hair before he left. He knocked into Percy on his way out, and grinned at his younger brother's territorial glare.

"You're one lucky bastard, Perce. She's a good girl. And she deserves a good man."

Percy watched his brother's back as he headed off in the direction of everyone else. He knocked on the half open door.

"Bill, will you just go bug Fleur!" She snapped, turning around. Her eyes widened as they landed on Percy. "Percy."

"It's - um, time to go."

"Right."
"I passed Bill on the way in."

"Oh. He just came to tell me -"

"I know what he came to tell you," Percy adjusted his glasses. She fidgeted. What did she have to feel guilty about? She hadn't done anything wrong!

"That it was time to go. You're staying here, aren't you Percy?" She asked, breezing past him and out into the corridor.

"No, I'm going with them."

"What?" She spun around. "But you're not combat tested, Percy! You've been desk bound for the last four years!"

"Cammi is my niece as well, and my whole family is going. I'm not about to sit back and twiddle my thumbs. Are you are staying here?" He asked.

"No, I'm not! It's my job to chase after Death Eaters, Percy. I'm an Auror."

"Yes, and your battle record -"

"Is shitty, I know! And I'll probably die. Third times a charm, you know."

Percy's gaze went steely, which was pretty impressive, seeing as his eyes were brown. It was a look that she'd credited to the Black family, because Draco and her mum often wore looks like that. It niggled a bit at the back of her mind, that the Weasleys were distant relatives of the Black family. Before she could comment on this, he grabbed her shoulders and kissed her firmly. When he set her back on her feet, she looked dazed.

"You are not going to die, Nymphadora Tonks." He hissed.

"Then neither are you , Percival Weasley." She sighed, turning away from him.

Luna gaped at the sight before her. Her eyes went larger, if that was even possible. Her hand was gripping the door so hard that her knuckles were white.

Blaise walked up behind her, concerned - both for the girl and himself for being concerned about her - and nearly gagged.

"Bloody hell, Lovegood! Warn a chap before he has to see something like that!"

"Ah!" Hermione screeched, pulling her robes shut in front of her.

The nearly completely naked Ron grabbed his robes off the floor and dragged them over himself. Then, glaring at Blaise and Luna, he rose and tugged the door shut. Nearly taking Luna with him. That was, until Blaise yanked her back.

She broke out into a fit of giggles. She'd been set off both by Blaise's face at seeing Ron naked and by another thought she was having. The dark haired Slytherin looked down at her, confused.

"And what's so bloody funny, Lovegood?"

"Besides your face?"

"Should I be outraged at that comment?"

"Probably. I just realized why I had a crush on Ron is all." The girl said, smiling dreamily. "We're leaving in a few moments, you two! To fetch Cammi, so you two better wrap it up in there!" She called, before turning out of Blaise's arms.

"And why is that, Lovegood?"

"It's Luna, Blaise."

"I realize what you name is, Lovegood." He was waiting for an explanation.

"Because, my dear Head Boy," She said in a near perfect imitation of how he always addressed Hermione, which was just damned unsettling, "He has one of the finest arses I've ever seen."

"Really, now?" He asked in a low voice.

"Uh-huh." For a second, it almost seemed as if Luna were flirting with him. Which just couldn't be so. She was a very logical Ravenclaw, and he a very typical pervy Slytherin.

"And how does my arse rank?" He asked.

"Fifth." She leaned up towards him, her face a scarce few inches from his own.

"Fifth?" He shouted as she spun away from him.

"Yes, Fifth."
"Who are the first bloody four?"

"Percy Weasley, Ron, Draco, and Neville." She said over her shoulder.

"Longbottom has a better arse than me?"

"Yes and no. You see, you and Harry are tied for fifth." She smiled back at him. "Although, that Connor chap had quite a nice bottom."

"You're evil, Lovegood."

Dawn readied herself. The fact that someone was trying to raise Glory scared the crap out of her. She swallowed as they all gathered up to apparate. Hermione and Ron had been the last two to show up.

"All right, we go in. Anya, Tara, Lorne, and Willow will do the Wicca shield spell. Connor, Angel, Spike, and I will be the first wave." Buffy said.

"Along with Tonks and me," Charlie glared.

"Right. Gunn, Xander, Wesley and Giles with Albus, Minerva and Severus will be the second wave."

"And Arthur and I." Molly spoke up.

"Right. Harry, Ron, and Hermione will cover their backs -"

"Until Voldemort shows up and I kick his arse."

"Harry, it's -" Hermione started.

"I'm making it the last battle. Three years. I'm sick of seeing his face." Harry muttered.

"Cool. Kirkland, Oliver, Remus and Arabella Figg will be guarding the Wiccas. Cordy, Luna, Blaise, and Draco with Percy and the twins guarding them, will go get Cammi."

"What about us?" Dawn pointed to herself, Fleur, Ginny and Neville.

"Last resort. If one of Cordy's team fails, you finish the mission. Get Cammi out."

"Last resort? As if!" Dawn snorted.

"Medusa and Moody will be guarding you four," Charlie said pointedly.

"Oy, I don't need a guard."
"Shut up, Weaselette, you and Summers do. And the Veela and Longbottom aren't going to cut it," Draco sneered.

"Let's go save my baby." Buffy sighed.

"And kill Voldemort." Harry muttered.

"And beat the ever-loving-shit out of Ezme Legace." Dawn smiled brightly.

Malfoy Manor

The Battle

Sometimes, plans don't work out. This was one of those times. The heavens opened up and drenched the fighters on either side. The Wicca group was chanting continuously, shielding the group that had gone in search of the baby. Tonks was blasting Death Eaters left and right, trying to make a path for Percy's group to go in and save Chamomile. She watched as he hung back, trying to get a witch off of his back. He shouted for the others to go on. But she watched as he knocked the woman unconscious.

And she knew he didn't see the wizard aiming his wand at Percy. She jumped over the wizard she'd just body bound and raced to his aid. She screamed as the words Crucio were flung at where Percy had been a moment before, as the worst pain she'd ever felt in her life ripped through her body. It coursed through her body. She writhed in pain. She felt it blessedly leave her body in peace. And Percy gazed down at her, tears streaming down his young face. She weakly smiled up at him, tracing her hand over his damp cheek.

"You're so young." She whispered, for the pain still wracked her body, and it was getting hard to breathe. "So very young. Do good things with it, Percy." Her head slumped to her shoulder, breathing weakly. "Go. . .save the . . . day. . . and write about . . .cauldron bottoms."

She didn't say anything more, just laid there unmoving. A red haze went over his sight and he gazed up at the battlefield. The muggle warriors were working on dispatching most of the Death Eaters. The professors and other wizards and witches were battling as well. Dawn, however was chasing after his group. Followed by none other than Bellatrix Lestrange.

Percy gave a gut-wrenching scream as he and the muggle boy Connor threw themselves at the witch. She merely laughed at them, but she was restrained.

"My master is in there! And now he has the true Key! And willing sacrifices!" She cackled. Percy dragged his hand back and punched the insane woman. He turned to Connor.

"Stop him, get Harry and stop that bastard. Protect Dawn." He hissed at the boy. He watched as the remaining students followed Connor into the building. He would guard the entrance. Percy pulled Tonks' limp body behind him and shook in fury as Death Eaters charged him.

Buffy turned to find Dawn in the middle of the melee. She saw Percy casting spells with his wand at the entrance. She stared for a second. There was a large number of bodies in front of him. And one behind him.

"Tonks," She whispered as she fought her way beside him. "Where's Dawn?"

"It was a trap! They knew Cammi wasn't the key!" Percy yelled. "Voldemort was waiting for them. Connor and Harry went in to help!"

"With the rest of the students!" Medusa yelled from behind Buffy.

"NO!" Charlie and Buffy screamed. They raced to help Percy finish off his lot, before racing into the mansion.

"Bloody hell! Thank god wizards aren't normal mortals, or this bleeding chip would be going off!" Spike growled, following Buffy into the building.

Dawn nearly screamed when a hand wrapped around her arm. She turned, wand ready, and found herself staring at Connor.

"GOD! You scared the crap out of me!"

"It's a trap."

"What?"

"The Voldemort thing is in there."

"They know Cammi's not the Key," Harry explained. Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Neville were right behind him.

"Tonks fell," Connor added softly.

"No!"

"Well, well, what do we have here?" a sinister voice hissed.

They turned to face a group of Death Eaters. Led by none other than Lucius Malfoy.

Luna kicked, scratched, and clawed her way out of the portly Pettigrew's clutches. Blaise, Draco, the twins and Cordelia were also struggling against their captors. Cammi was high on an alter, her little body locked in full body bind. Luna felt the tears pouring down her cheeks as she finally managed to knee Pettigrew and raced to the alter to snatch the child. But Voldemort was in front of her as she spun away with Cammi in her arms.

"Miss Lovegood, I do believe that is mine."

"I - I won't let you have her!" She screamed.

"Really? Crucio!" He yelled.

Luna's scream pierced the ears of all of them present. There were screams coming from the hallway that lead to the Ballroom. But none of them pierced as sharply as Luna's did. She curled around the still form of the baby in her arms, shielding the child from the curse as pain wracked through her already weakened body. She hit her knees, but refused to drop further. Blaise fought like a madman to free himself from the Death Eaters holding onto him.

"Had enough, my dear? Give me the child!"

"Never . . . you blimey bastard," She spat before another spell wracked her body. Her scream was louder this time.

Blaise finally managed to free himself and plowed into Voldemort. The Dark Lord's great snakelike red eyes widened in anger as he raised his wand to kill the boy who'd dared lay a finger on him. He went to Luna's side and started to drag her away.

"Zabini, I do believe that's my job," A voice shouted from the doorway.

"Potter."

"Riddle."

They all turned to stare at the teens who'd made their way into the room. Neville and Ron were pushing their weight against the door.

"Hey, don't forget about us!" Dawn cried. "Summers, formally known as the Key."

Voldemort snapped his gaze to Ezme, who backed away in fear.

"And Connor Angel, known as the Destroyer in Quor-toth."

It was hours later. Voldemort was dead, burnt to a crisp, and hacked to bits. Glory wasn't raised, lots of folks were in prison. Luna was in critical condition at St. Mungo's and Blaise Zabini hadn't left her side. Snape and Dumbledore were also in critical condition.

Cammi was safe and sound in her mother's arms, who was crying into her father's shoulder. Giles was shakily pouring tea, and ended up splashing Medusa Figg with hot tea. Fred and George were recounting the battle to their girlfriends, Alicia and Angelina. Bill and Fleur were snogging. The Wicca group were knocked out for the night. The mediwitch said they probably would be for the next day or so.

Dawn, Harry, Connor, Neville, Ginny, and Draco were asleep. Ron was holding the crying Hermione in his arms as he rocked her to sleep. Remus and Arabella Figg were laughing at Giles as he apologized to Medusa over and over again.

And Percy was by the side of the woman he loved. Praying for a miracle. He kissed her knuckles, wishing she'd squeeze his hand.

They told him it was unlikely that she would wake from the coma. That the curse had been too powerful. Had a larger person been hit with it, they would be fine. But Tonks was so petite in frame and build, that it was unlikely that her body would have been able to sustain such a blast.

"Please, Tonks. Wake up for me." He whispered against her skin. He gave a small chuckle. "I - I think I need you. . .no, I know I need you. Please, Nymphadora, please wake up." He said tearfully, bowing his head over her hand.

"Don't . .. Call . . .Me . . .That."

His head shot up as she spoke. A smile broke out on his face. He really was quite fetching when he smiled.

"You're awake!"

"Yeah. Oh, my body! What happened?"

"Harry killed Voldemort. And I hit your Aunt."

"Good, she was a right bitch."

"They said you - you wouldn't wake up."

"Have to be awake. Got a birthday gift I gotta give you."

"My birthday was two weeks ago."

"Don't worry, it'll keep." She gave him a weak grin. "Kiss me, Percy."

"Yes, Ma'am."

A/N: Fluffy, I know! But I couldn't just kill her! The next and final installment is short and pure fluff, so be warned.