Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, or any of the characters that might appear in these stories.

Part seven: In which the gang learns some unsettling things, and Harry makes plans. RR, please. And huge thanx to everyone who has already. Lots of love.

Payback

By: WhyteRoze28

Chapter 8

Harry felt the shock radiating from Draco. At first, he assumed that it was just because Tonks had just admitted that she was related to them, but then…

"Uncle" The quietly spoken word held so much confusion. Harry knew instantly that Draco had never known that he was related to a half-blood.

"Uncle" Draco repeated. "Wait, how is that possible"

Tonks studied him appraisingly. "My mum was your mum's sister, Andromeda. She married a Muggle named Ted Tonks, and they had me. Not really all that much of a story as they go."

Draco shook his head. "Andie, that's what they call her, isn't it"

"Yup" Tonks grinned. "Mum was always the tomboy of the group, and…"

But Professor Snape interrupted her. "As fascinating as your family history is, Tonks, I think we'd all like to hear what the Order's been doing to rectify this situation."

"Oy, keep your knickers on" she grunted, and Harry laughed.

Draco watched in amazement as she glared at the Professor, and her hair shifted from blue to red. "You're… you're a Metamorphmagus" he exclaimed. "That's really rare"

He was stunned. Not only was he related to this strange half-blood, but she had one of the rarest gifts in the wizarding world… almost as rare as Parseltongue.

"As I started to say" she began, still glaring at Snape"We've been tryin to get through to you lot for almost a week. We tried owls, Floo, even Apparating to Hogsmeade. But, it's like there's some kind of spell on the place. Nothing can get in."

Harry was watching her with a contemplative look, not seeming to notice the way her hair kept shifting. Draco assumed that it only did that when she was agitated. He'd heard that it usually required a lot of concentration to change an aspect of someone's physical form.

Then, Harry spoke. "So, nothing can get in, but we could call out? That doesn't seem right to me."

Blaise agreed. "Yeah. If You-Know-Who is doing it, then wouldn't he want it the other way around"

Snape shook his head. "Not if he wants to lure us into a false sense of security. It would take at least two weeks for most people to figure out that their letters were going unanswered. And The Daily Prophet could be having problems as far as anyone knows."

Hermione stood up, suddenly. "We're under siege" she exclaimed. "They want us to think we're safe, and then when we finally realize that no one's able to contact us, they'll attack, and we'd be unprepared."

"No way" Ron said. "Now that we know what's happening, we can start preparing. We'll try to get the lower years to safety, probably by Floo, and then…"

No, Ron" Harry replied. "It'll be like Umbridge. "They're probably watching the Floo. Now that we've contacted Tonks they'll realize that we know. So we probably don't have very much time."

As the others nodded, he continued. "Tonks, you and Professor Snape need to go tell the Headmaster. Ron, Hermione, you guys go tell the Gryffindors, and the Hufflepuffs. Blaise, Ginny, the Slytherins and the Ravenclaws."

"But, Harry" Ginny asked, looking at him"What are you going to do"

He smiled at her. "I'm going to get this room going. Use it to find any information I can get about how to get everyone out. There has to be a reason this room is here. If we have to, we could probably make it large enough to hide everyone in here, although I doubt it will come to that."

Hermione looked thoughtful. "Come to think of it" she stated"I wonder if the fireplace here is even monitored. Surely, this room isn't on the Hogwarts Floo Registry. What if it's listed as somewhere else entirely"

"Ask Dumbledore" Harry told Tonks, before they all hurried off to their appointed tasks.

"That was a brilliant piece of leadership" Draco said, watching Harry stride over to the wall with the map on it.

"Thanks" Harry replied, shooting his love a quick smile. "Now, what did you mean the map helped you feel better"

"I mean we talked, and… Harry"

Harry's face had gone pale. "You talked to it? Why didn't I ever think of that"