Chapter 9- Following Tonks
"Why'd you tell him," Charlie could hear George demanding as he entered the lift. Just after, he could hear footfalls at a fast pace running towards him, but couldn't understand the words of warning that were shout at him.
He thought about where he could apparate to, where it would be safe. The prior time they had invaded from the forest, but Deatheaters weren't likely to make that blunder again. He had to be close enough to get to the old fortress, which had been in ruins by the end of last summer.
The lift doors opened just as Charlie had decided. George was there, eyes wide and determined. "You can't go," he said. "Dumbledore said that—"
"Tonks doesn't know anything about the papers does she?" Charlie countered.
"Well, no, not really, but it's still not—"
"I'm not leaving her there," Charlie said, his voice strong, the fear only underlining the topic.
George pulled out his wand, grabbing Charlie by the arm. Several people were looking over now. "Don't make me," he said. "Mum couldn't handle it if—"
"Mum will understand," Charlie said, standing just outside the lift, George's wand still poking into his frame. At the beginning of the summer he had been so strong from working with the dragons, but he felt so weak, he wondered if he would be of any assistance. Still, he had to try. "I hope you do too," he said.
Before George could do anything, Charlie had pulled out his wand and sent a spark of blue from his wand. George fell back, asleep, looking as if he had been hurt, though there was pillow beneath where his head would have hit the clean tile.
"Sorry George," Charlie said with remorse, but started running for an apparation point before any of the Mungo security could detain him.
With a crack, he was in the middle of a historic Muggle village. The tourist shops were closed, and no one was in sight. He was easily a Kilometer from where Tonks was being held, if Fred's information was correct. He started running, the urgency of what might be happening right then. He slowed his pace and steadied his breathing as he approached the familiar building.
The sight of the ruined mansiongave Charlie the chills. There were dark birds that fluttered away as a scream came from inside the house. A man's screams. Charlie made his way up the small courtyard, and heard voices in a hall off the side. He stayed hidden. "You idiot," the voice said, irate and surprisingly young. "Crucio."
The man screamed again. When the pain seemed to subside, Charlie listened for more words. "How was I supposed to know?" the man said. "She looked like—"
"Bring her to me," the younger man shouted, and several people stood to fulfill this demand. "Maybe you can fix this, Flint," he said.
Minutes later, the likeness of Ginny was drug into the center of the room, and shoved to the ground. Charlie had to hold back, keep himself from stepping forward then. "How are you doing, Nymphadora?"
Tonks got to her knees, breathing deep, and looking at the ground. "That's not my name," she said. Charlie could tell that she had been mimicking Ginny's voice, but her voice was fading, and this pretense was becoming more difficult.
"Imperius," one cloaked man from the crowd said.
"Come now," the ring leader said. "Show us who you really are," he said.
Charlie watched as Tonks fought against this, turning red in the struggle until her hair shortened and darkened to a deep shade of brunette. Her nose reformed itself, and her skin tanned. When the transformation had taken place, Tonks fell to the ground, breathing with difficulty as the man in the crowd lifted the curse.
"Hello, Nymphadora," the man said, walking towards her.
"It's Tonks," she said. "You should know that."
"Yes, I would," he said. "You did put my father into Azkaban, after all," he said. "Let him die there."
"He deserved it," Tonks shouted, her voice hoarse still. "You can join him," she spat.
"I don't think so," the young man said, the pulled back the hood on his cloak. "You've taken too many of my family and friends."
Charlie was surprised to recognize the boy, not by his own looks, but by the person he was talking about… his father. He wasn't any older than Ron, but a bit shorter, and bigger. He looked like a security man for a club, but with more fury and emotion than Charlie had ever seen from anyone so young.
Tonks laughed. "I'm surprised that you ended as the leader here, Crabbe. Shouldn't Malfoy have taken ranks?"
"Draco became a coward after Dumbledore got hold of him," he said. "No coward could continue the work of the Dark Lord."
"But lack of intelligence can?" Tonks snapped with a laugh.
"Crucio, " Crabbe shouted.
Tonks began to writhe on the floor. Charlie ran from his spot, throwing a curse at the man in the middle. Crabbe fell to the ground, his head growing, and Charlie started throwing curses and jinxes at the approaching Deatheaters.
It took the whole of five minutes before three of them could finally grab Charlie, taking his wand, and hold him back, three men on one. Charlie watched as Tonks gained control of her muscles; watched her eyes widen in fear that wasn't there before. He fought against those holding him while others set Crabbe straight.
Once this was done, Crabbe approached Charlie. "Ah, a Weasley joined us after all," he said. "Were you as stupid as Flint to believe your sister here?" he asked, pointing towards the man that had already incurred punishment. "Or is there another reason you've come," he said, looking over at Tonks.
Tonks's jaw tensed as her eyes began to tear. Crabbe looked back at Charlie with a malicious smile. "Tonks has herself a boyfriend then?" he stated with a tilt of his head. "Who would have thought anyone would find themselves in that unfortunate position?"
Charlie could feel his face becoming more red as his intensity to pull away increased. "Behave yourself, Weasley," Crabbe said, flicking his wand to cause ropes to bind Charlie. "You might get a treat, if you do," he said. "One last goodbye perhaps?"
"Leave her alone!" Charlie shouted out of desperation.
"Who said I was going to do anything to her?" Crabbe said.
Charlie saw Tonks try and rise, holding her side, but another one of the cloaked men took hold of her, throwing her to the ground once more. "Now," Crabbe said. "Where's your sister?"
Charlie couldn't find words enough to throw at the kid, so instead he spit into Crabbe's face.
"Manners, Weasley," Crabbe said with disgust, wiping away the spit. "Then again, I'm not sure a half-breed loverlike you would have been taught those. Never too late to teach an old dog new tricks though, is it?" he said with a nod.
Flint stepped out from the crowd. "Crucio," he said clearly.
Charlie felt surges of pain overtake his body and mind. Nothing was clear except the screams of protest from Tonks. "Stop it!" she shouted. "Don't!"
Charlie could hear the unforgivable thrown again as more pain consumed him.
Besides this, he could feel other spells being cast, each causing different feelings of exhaust and pain added to his consistantly wearing body.
It all stopped at once. "Where is she?" Crabbe demanded, looking red.
"Please, leave him alone," Tonks begged from the corner, still guarded by a couple of the cloaked figures.
Charlie breathed heavily, butsaid nothing about Ginny. "Hover," Crabbe said.
The figure closest to Tonks stepped forward.Crabbe simplynodded and the manheld his wand to Tonks's arm. A cut developed as Tonks grimaced in pain. "Don't!" Charlie said."Don't touch her," he said breathlessly.
"Then where isyour sister!" Crabbe demanded,giving the signal to letup.
"I don't know," Charlie lied."We weren't allowed to see Ginny."
Crabbe looked doubtful. "You know where--"
"No," Charlie said."Dumbledore wouldn't tell us anything."
"Crucio," Crabbe said without hesitation and Charlie found himself under the pain of an unforgivable again.
Through the renewing pain--somewhere in the distance--Charlie could hear shouts and curses, none of which seemed to touch him. In an instant he was free from curses and henchmen. He panted for breath on the ground, shaking as he lifted himself to his knees.
When he looked around again, there were nearly three times the people who had been in here before. Kingsley was dueling with one of the olderDeatheatersas a few others were being rounded up by a few Order members. Charlie noticed many of the culprits rapidly disapparating until one of the woman from the order pulled in a barrier, keeping some there still.
Charlie looked over to where Tonks was, lying on the ground, no movements coming from her except the slightrise and fall of her chest. He did the best he could to stand and walked across the room to her, landing on his knees, picking her weighted body up.
"Charlie?" she said, making an effort to open her eyes as they watered while looking up at him.
"I'm here," Charlie said, pain still pounding in his back and neck. "It's okay," he said.
"I'm sorry," Tonks strained out. "I'm so—"
"Don't be ridiculous," Charlie said, forcing on a grin as he spoke softly. The commotion in the background was starting to die down. "There's no reason for that."
"Does that mean," Tonks said, then swallowed back the rest of the sentence.
"You never needed to be forgiven," Charlie said, pulling her to him, knowing what she was going to say. "I should have listened."
"Yeah," Tonks said with a lopsided grin as she struggled with breath.
Charlie laughed lightly. "See? You're doing better already."
"Charlie," Tonks said, the smile fading. "Tell my mum and dad—"
"You're going to tell them yourself," Charlie interrupted, not wanting that sentence to be finished. "You can't leave me again," he added in a pleading tone. "Please don't go."
"I never wanted to," Tonks said.
"Then don't," Charlie said with command. "Stay here," he added.
"How's Ginny?" Tonks struggled to get out.
"She's okay," Charlie promised. "Worry about yourself a bit, for once."
Tonks closed her eyes and turned more into Charlie. Charlie leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Please don't leave me," he said, hugging her tight as her body became limp and her breath grew slow and deep.
"Charlie?" Lupin said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Why don't you take this?" he said, holding out a bar of chocolate.
"I don't need that!" Charlie snapped.
"Trust me," Lupin said, "it'll help."
Charlie took hold of the bar, barely noticing the glow about it, then felt a tug behind his navel. He held tight to Tonks as they took the portkey. Charlie wondered where it would be to this time, but felt no surprise as they ended up in the middle of a clean white room, several mediwizards and witches around. Two took to picking up Tonks as another said, "come with me."
"No," Charlie said. "Take care of Tonks."
The man didn't bother to ask who Tonks was. He merely helped Charlie to stand and lead him to a hospital bed. "They've got her. We're going to examine you, now why don't you relax?"
Charlie tried to fight against the man, wanting to see Tonks. His eyes wouldn't let him as they slowly closed against his will and a strange sensation fell over his body.
A/N: Leaving it there for now. One more chapter after this and it's done! Wow… that was harder to write than I thought it would be. Hopefully everyone likes this one, even with all the action. I know I'm not best at action sequences. With the whole Crabbe thing: the books really only talk about how stupid Goyle is. My guess is that Crabbe gets added into this, but I think it possible for him to find his own spot in the scheme of things. Besides… Draco is too overdone as the one taking vengeance.
I might explain the papers that Ginny got her information from, but I haven't decided if it's really that important with everything else. Much to consider… hmmmm.
Please Review!
Thanks:
Unlucky-Duck: I don't know... love/hate is always fun to write, but it has to work too... just like anything. I'm glad you were surprised by the whole Ginny being Tonks and vice versa thing...
Spazzy Magee: Lol what is normal? hehehe I'm really glad you like it. I hope you keep enjoying it. It's almost done.
Pedagogie: lol awwww thanks!
Auror Dora: Of course Charlie would save the day! Or at least save Tonks ;) I'm glad you like the story.
So Desperately Obvious: Yes... seriously... when it comes to Harry. I think everyone was at least somewhat relieved... probably too much to really consider poor Tonks's situation... except for Charlie... which is a good thing. I think Tonks is probably a very good auror, and smart with the polyjuince thing. I'm glad you're still enjoying this story :D
