Usually in the morning, it is Severus waking Tonks up. Today was different. "Severus," Tonks whispered, "Time to get up! Time to go to Hogsmeade."
He rolled over. "Go without me," he grumbled. "No student in their right mind wants me there."
"That might be true, but the faculty want you there to keep the students you love and respect safe," she teased.
Hearing "love and respect," Severus shot Tonks an evil look and got out of bed. Tonks was dressed and ready to go. "Give me a moment to get ready and we'll leave," he said.
"I'm leaving now. I have to go home and let Remus out. He's been locked up for two nights," she said, almost daring Severus to make a rude comment.
He started to open his mouth, and then obviously decided to save his comment for another time. "I'll see you there then."
Tonks ran over to Severus and gave him a brief kiss on the lips. "I love you, please don't ever forget that," she told him.
He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "I won't," he said, "Don't forget that I love you as well, Dora."
"You make it hard to forget," she said, smiling. Merlin, she wished they could make love. But, true to their word, they would not do that again until Malfoy was out of the picture.
Tonks ran over to the fireplace and quickly flooed to 12 Grimmauld Place. Tonks congratulated herself as she caught herself as she was about to trip on the first step of the staircase. When Tonks got to the top, she paused for a moment. She scrunched her nose and decided on long, straight, silver hair that fell half way down her back.
Gently she knocked on Remus' door. "Remus?" she asked. "May I let you out?"
"Please," came the voice behind the door.
Tonks found the key in her robes and undid the lock. Remus slowly emerged. "You look like shit," Tonks said cheerfully.
Remus laughed, "You say that every month."
"That's because every month you look like shit!" Tonks teased.
"What's happened? Where can I help?" Remus asked quickly.
Tonks filled him in briefly on what had happened two nights before. When she finished the story, Remus let out a low whistle. "At least I won't miss the memorials," he said softly. The memorials for Hestia Jones and Emmett Ramsbottom were to be tomorrow evening.
Tonks nodded. "If you want something to do, I know people are working over at The Burrow. It was destroyed. The Weasleys are staying here for awhile."
"What will you be doing?" he asked.
"Apparently Dumbledore has lost his mind and is allowing the Hogsmeade visit. I'm going as patrol," Tonks told him.
Remus nodded at her and they went their separate ways.
88888
"Tonks, hey Tonks!" a voice cried. Tonks was at The Three Broomsticks. The place was packed. She knew she shouldn't be surprised. People wanted to be near one another when tragedy struck.
Tonks looked towards the voice. It was Ron Weasley. He was in a booth, with his arm around Hermione Granger. Tonks walked over to them, and slid into the booth next to Harry.
"How are you three doing?" Tonks asked.
Harry looked like he hadn't slept in three days. "Harry, are you alright?" she asked quietly.
"Tell her, Harry," Hermione said, her eyes pleading.
"What, what's wrong?" Tonks asked quickly.
"Usually after an attack like on Thursday, my scar stops hurting for a while. Not this time, my scar still is really painful. Tonks, I think something else is going to happen, and soon."
"Really?" Tonks asked.
"You should see him, Tonks," Hermione said. "It's hurting him right now, isn't it Harry?"
Harry nodded. "You'll let us know if anything else happens, won't you?" Tonks asked Harry.
Harry nodded again. Tonks wished she could find better words to comfort him. But none came to mind.
"So, Tonks," Ron started hesitantly.
"Yes, Ron?" she smiled at him brightly.
"It was my birthday five weeks ago. I'm of age," he said shyly.
Tonks racked her brain, trying to remember why that was important. "Of course!" she cried, "I owe you a drink!" Tonks ran up to the bartender and order four small firewhiskeys. Yes, Harry and Hermione weren't of age yet, but they certainly deserved a small treat, didn't they?
She brought back the drinks to the table and set one down in front of each of them. Harry grinned but Hermoine's jaw dropped. "This is illegal," she whispered.
When Tonks raised her glass, Harry and Ron did the same. After twenty seconds of staring straight at Hermione, she did the same as well. "To absent friends," Tonks said.
"Absent friends," the trio chimed together, clinking their glasses. Tonks gulped the firewhiskey in one sip, and the others did the same.
"It burns!" Hermione said.
"That was excellent," Ron said, grinning. "Just think, I can get more if I want."
"Ron, I don't want you drinking another," Hermione said.
He patted her hand, "Yes, dear," he said as Harry started laughing.
Tonks then left the trio, citing that she had to continue patrolling. She was grateful a few hours later when the students were finally rounded up and sent back to Hogwarts. She decided she needed to speak to someone about Harry.
Tonks ran to Severus' bedchamber and knocked on the door. He opened it and let her inside. "Severus, have you heard anything about another attack?" He shook his head.
"Harry thinks something is going to happen soon," she told him.
"Why?"
She told him about what his scar was telling him. "I have a theory. Would you escort me to The Poison Arrow?" she asked.
"When?"
"Tonight, at ten o'clock. Meet me there."
88888
As she changed into Celeste clothes, she hoped she knew what she was doing. She didn't know why, but she was convinced something was going to happen soon. She wanted to do anything she could to find out what.
When she was dressed, she apparated over to Knockturn Alley. She entered The Poison Arrow, but Severus was not there yet. However, the two gentlemen that were there would do very nicely.
Slowly, she walked over to Crabbe and Goyle. Tonks was hoping a Death Eater or two would be here, and she got her wish. "Hello," she said seductively. "May I sit down?"
They stared at her. "Of course," Crabbe finally said.
"Thank you," she said, smiling. "So did you boys have fun the other night?" she asked.
The pair started laughing. Tonks noticed their glasses were empty. "Let me buy you both a drink," she purred. Tonks stood up and went to the bar. She ordered two fire whiskys and one virgin fire whisky for herself. She really wished she could come up with a plan more creative than "let's get them really drunk so they'll talk."
She set the drinks in front of the two men and they drank them thirstily. "Did you have fun?" Goyle asked.
Tonks smiled. "I always know how to have a good time," she said quietly.
Fifteen minutes later, Severus appeared. Tonks ran up to the bar and ordered more drinks, real ones for Crabbe and Goyle, non-alcoholic for her and Severus. She hoped Severus would catch on quick.
He did. The next round, he bought. It stayed that way for two hours. Crabbe and Goyle were wasted, that was the only way to put it. Tonks knew it was time to start asking some questions.
"So boys," she said, leaning in towards them, "I know how respected you both are."
They seemed to sit up a little straighter at that. "I had so much fun the other day, that I want to do it again, and soon."
Crabbe started laughing. "We will be!"
"Great!" Tonks said, briefly glancing over at Severus, who whispered something at the same time she had spoke. Tonks couldn't make out what he had said though. Severus was staring straight at Crabbe, eyes not leaving his face. He was up to something, Tonks just didn't know what.
"Do you know when?" she asked casually.
Crabbe nodded. "Monday night. Time to attack the Ministry itself!"
Tonks looked over at Severus again. Tonks didn't think Severus had even blinked, he was still just staring at Crabbe. What was he doing?
"Is that true, Goyle?" Tonks asked him.
"Yep!" Goyle hiccupped. "We're gonna take it over!" Severus finally looked away from Crabbe, only to change his stare to Goyle.
"That will be so much fun!" Tonks said. Again, Severus said something at the same time!
"Yep!" Goyle repeated.
Severus closed his eyes. "Gentlemen, I suggest we move this party to another location."
The group stood up. Tonks put Goyle's arm around her and Severus supported Crabbe. She knew just to follow Severus' lead. They walked into the night air and towards a small park that was deserted. Severus sat Crabbe down on a bench, and Tonks did the same with Goyle. She walked over to Severus.
"On three, stun Goyle," he told her.
"With pleasure," she said cheerfully.
"One…Two…Three!"
"Stupefy," they said together.
"Keep watch, Tonks. I'm going modify their memories so they don't remember talking to us."
"Yes, sir! Keeping watch, sir!" Tonks said.
Fifteen minutes later, Severus was finished, and covered in sweat. "That shouldn't have taken me so long," he said, sounding disappointed.
"They were drunk," Tonks reminded him, "That's always harder."
"Let's go to Head Quarters," he said and quickly they both apparated.
"Why were you staring so hard?" she asked him when they both reached her room. Tonks started changing out of her Celeste clothes.
"Legilimency," he said.
"Really?"
He nodded. "Since teaching Potter Occlumency, I've been able to develop my skills at Legilimency. I've become quite good," he said.
"Is there anything you aren't good at?" she joked, changing her hair to light pink spikes.
"Arithmancy," he said softly, "It was the only subject I didn't receive an O on in my N.E.W.Ts."
"What did you get?" Tonks asked, thinking she already knew the answer.
"An E," he told her.
"Bit of a perfectionist, aren't we?" she teased.
"You would be too if you grew up with my father," he said under his breath.
"Didn't quite catch that Severus," Tonks said.
"That's a story for a different day, Dora," he said, grabbing her hand. Together they flooed to Severus' bedchamber and walked up to Dumbledore's office.
"He's not going to believe me," Tonks said suddenly. "Not after last time."
"He will," Severus said, squeezing her hand. "That's why I did Legilimency. They were telling the truth."
Severus whispered the password. The gargoyle sprang to life and Tonks went into Dumbledore's office to tell him about a Death Eater attack for the second time in her life.