A/N: Thanks again for the reviews :)

Tonks wandered down the dark hallway of Grimmauld Place. She heaved a sigh as she walked. The house always depressed her, even before Sirius had died. There was just something so dark about it. The weather wasn't making matters easier. It was a Saturday afternoon and the wind was howling loudly around the house, rain was drumming the windows heavily, threatening to break them. Tonks saw Harry's bedroom door ajar as she passed, light was spilling through the gap. She pushed the door open further to see Harry sat on his bed, book open and quill in hand. He looked up as she entered.

"Wotcher kid, you ok?" He nodded and looked back down to his work. "Is something bothering you?" Harry gave a shrug.

"Nah, just thinking about something Professor Dumbledore said to me at the end of last term." Neither can live while the other survives, Harry had a hard time getting that sentence out of his head.

"You want to talk about it?" she asked him, remaining in the doorway. Harry felt that he didn't and shook his head.

"No thanks."

"Ok, well if you ever want to chat, you know where I am." She turned to leave.

"Has Remus turned up?" he called after her, making her stop. Harry had been disappointed when he arrived at Grimmauld Place that morning to find Remus wasn't there. He saw Tonks shake her head.

"No, don't know where he's got to. He'll turn up, he always does. Maybe he's gone for a walk or something. It must get pretty boring and lonely here. Maybe we should get him a dog." Harry looked up at her sharply, wondering if she had realised the significance of her words. She smiled back at him and he guessed that she probably did.

"Well H, I'll leave you to it. Don't work too hard." She winked and closed the door behind her.

As she entered the kitchen she paused, seeing the top of a familiar red head.

"Don't you have a home to go to?" she joked as she descended the stairs. Charlie looked up at her.

"Hi, Professor Tonks," he teased. "Yes I do have a home, but Mum and Dad have gotten into another row about Percy. Sometimes it's just nice to escape." Tonks nodded in understanding. "You back for half-term?" he asked her.

"Yeah, probably wouldn't have but Harry has his Apperation exam at the end of the week so he's here too. He's upstairs doing his homework. Crazy if you ask me, but Hermione's a good influence on him."

"Yeah, but obviously not on Ron," Charlie pointed out. He poured himself some Firewhiskey and offered her some. She shook her head.

"No thanks, I try not to touch the stuff often. My dad had a problem with it once." Tonks very rarely shared that with anyone, but it just came out. Charlie seemed like such an easy person to talk to. The couple spoke long into the afternoon, discussing work and Order business. Harry didn't come down all day, and Tonks was disappointed to see that Remus hadn't turned up.

"Have you seen him recently?" she asked Charlie, who had shook his head.

Night began to fall, though it wasn't obvious in the windowless kitchen. Tonks looked at her watch.

"Guess I should be getting something ready for tea. You staying?" However, a crash from above them interrupted a reply.

"Harry," Tonks said immediately, grabbing her wand and heading for the stairs. Charlie followed her, wand also out.

"Harry, is that you?" Tonks called. There was no reply. "Hello?" she called again. Thunder rumbled overhead, sending a shiver down her spine. She glanced at Charlie who shrugged.

"Must have been nothing."

"Charlie, it can't have been nothing," Tonks persisted moving along the corridor.

As she reached the top of the second staircase, thunder could be heard again. This time Tonks frowned.

"Did you hear that?"

"It was thunder." Unsure, Tonks shook her head. "Well, what else could it be?" Tonks didn't have time to give him a suggestion for, at that moment, a shrill howl echoed around the house.

"Oh, Jesus!" Tonks whispered. What day was it? Charlie's eyes widened. "Come on, we gotta get out of here." As she turned she caught a glimpse of movement down the far end of the corridor. Two large amber eyes glared at them, and a row of bared teeth shone in the moonlight through the far window. Tonks gave a small gasp and turned to Charlie who was rooted to the spot. She pushed him.

"Move Charlie. Now!" The pair started back down the stairs just in time. A brown haired wolf leapt at them, moving faster than they ever could. Tonks wasted no time in looking at it further. Her legs were moving fast and she knew it was inevitable that she would trip. Surely enough, she did. She rolled onto the carpeted floor, cursing herself. She scrambled up and looked around for Charlie who has disappeared down a side-corridor. Whimpering as she heard the scratching of claws on the floor in the distance, she chose the right hallway. Tonks hoped that she would catch up with Charlie; she hated the house for being so big. She came to a halt at a dead-end. There was nothing but a tall, blackened window and an old wardrobe. Not wanting to be trapped there when the werewolf arrived, she spun around to find somewhere else to hide, and bumped into something solid. She screamed and a cold hand went over her mouth.

"Tonks! Shh it's me. It's me," Charlie whispered. He kept his hand over her mouth and they listened. Another howl rang in their ears, this one more blood-curdling than the last. Tonks' heart was beating very fast and she could see Charlie's chest rising and falling heavily in the semi-darkness. He abandoned any ideas of an escape route and grabbed Tonks' wrist forcefully. He wrenched open the old wardrobe door and pushed her in, before joining her. Luckily, the wardrobe was empty, though it smelt of Doxys and mould. Tonks had to admit that she couldn't remember ever using the corridor, or knew that the wardrobe was even there, but she was glad it was. She was very aware of how close Charlie was to her, but didn't allow herself to enjoy the situation. His breath tickled in her ears and she suppressed a little shudder.

"Guess we found Remus," he breathed raggedly.

"This isn't funny Charlie." She was worried, not for herself but for Harry. She only hoped that he had remained in his room with the door firmly shut. "We have to get out of here and get to Harry. Can you Apperate from in here?" She felt him shake his head. "No me neither. Ok, when it sounds like the coast is clear we'll get out of here and Apperate up to Harry's room. Then there's just the small matter of getting Harry down to the kitchen and Flooing him somewhere."

"We can take him to the Burrow," Charlie suggested. They stood uncomfortably in the wardrobe for another moment or two. Tonks' legs were beginning to cramp, and she kept feeling Charlie's hand brush past the lower of her back though she didn't mention it.

"I think it's safe to leave," she whispered and pushed the door open slowly. It creaked and she gave a little wince. Once in the hallway, they gave each other significant looks and Apperated upstairs.

Harry had heard the howls. He had jumped to his feet and grabbed his wand before remembering the new rule he had set for himself; I will not be so reckless, I will not play the hero. He had then bolted his door shut and sat on his bed, wondering what the hell was going on downstairs. Harry had been twiddling his wand absently in between his fingers, when Tonks and Charlie had arrived in his room. He jumped and dropped his wand. Tonks went to speak but he cut in.

"I know, I know…constant vigilance! What's going on?" he added, seeing the worried looks on their faces.

"We're leaving, Harry. Grab a jacket. Have you got your wand?" He picked it up off the floor and nodded.

"Is Remus –"

"Harry, we don't have time to discuss this. We'll talk when you're safe ok?" Harry nodded again and got up off his bed. Charlie reluctantly opened the door and went first. Harry was pushed out next and then followed by Tonks who was gripping her wand so tightly that her knuckles were white. Every so often a floorboard would creak causing Tonks to glance around warily. They reached the corridor with the drawing room on, without so much as a growl to be heard. That was perhaps as scary, as they had no idea where the werewolf could be.

"It's very quiet," Harry voiced his concern, "I hope Buckbeak's ok." Tonks turned to him incredulously.

"I've got an idea. Let's use the fire in the drawing room." Charlie led the way and they were just at the door when the clicking of claws on wood made all three of them spin around. There, behind them, stood the werewolf. It raised itself on its hind legs and bared its teeth viciously. Then, before any of them could blink, it lashed out with a front paw, knocking the three of them to their feet. Harry's arm had been scratched and was already bleeding heavily. Charlie and Tonks got up immediately and dragged Harry backwards into the drawing room. Charlie tried to push the door shut, but the werewolf's muzzle came through the gap. It snarled as Charlie added pressure to the door, but refused to move. Tonks kicked out at the werewolf hard, causing it to coil back in pain. Charlie slammed the door quickly and locked it with a spell.

"Did it bite you?" Tonks asked Harry immediately. He shook his head.

"No, I don't think so."

"You'd better be sure!" she pressed.

"I am. It didn't, no."

They stood there staring at each other, listening to the growls growing in frustration, as the door would not budge.

"He's gonna hate me for that in the morning," Tonks sighed lightly.

"He?" Harry asked, frowning. "Wait a minute, you don't think that's Remus do you?" Tonks and Charlie exchanged glances. "Because Lupin's wolf is grey. That one is brown." The room was very still, save for the constant scratching on the door. Tonks wondered when Harry had ever seen Lupin in his wolf form but decided that now was not the time to ask.

"What does it matter," Charlie said after a while. "Let's just get you out of here." They crossed to the fireplace. Tonks put her hand into the Floo Powder pot and brought it out immediately.

"Oh, you have got to be kidding me!" she cried in exasperation. The pot was empty. "Damn it! Now what are we going to do?" The door creaked threateningly under pressure. Tonks looked pale with fear and her grip tightened on Harry's shoulder causing him to wince.

"Ok, here's the plan," said Charlie suddenly. "We open the door and stun him… it…whatever, just long enough for me to run in the opposite direction from the kitchen to distract it. Then you two can sneak past it down to the kitchen and Floo to the Burrow and I'll Apperate once I think you're there." Tonks had to admit it was a very risky plan but it was the only one they had.

"Ok, but be careful Charlie." She raised her wand as they went to the door. She took a deep breath. "Run when I say Harry, ok? Don't try anything," she muttered. He nodded and stood behind her as Charlie went for the handle. He wrenched the door open.

"Stupefy!" she yelled and the werewolf was knocked back, it whimpered slightly and shook it's head, dazed.

"Now, Harry! Go!" Harry didn't need telling twice. He leapt over the shuddering wolf, followed by Tonks who turned briefly to Charlie and yelled, "Be careful!" before darting after Harry. Confused, the wolf chased Charlie who was last to leave the room.

Tonks and Harryreached the kitchen stairs. Tonks was shaking, Harry noticed. He started down the stairs but stopped, and put his arm out. Tonks bumped into him.

"Harry," she hissed, "What are you waiting for?" But Harry didn't answer; his eyes were fixed on a shape in the corner of the kitchen. A grey wolf appeared from the shadows and Tonks took a step back up the steps. She didn't know what to do. Now there were two of them! She quickly thought of yet another plan; back up the stairs and out of the front door. Tonks was just about to suggest this when Harry continued to walk down the stairs.

"What are you doing?" she cried as quietly as possible. She followed him, trying to grab him back and catchingthe newly made wound on his arm. The werewolf could clearly smell the blood as it took a step closer.

"Oh no you don't!" Tonks said, putting herself in front of Harry.

"It's ok, Tonks." She thought he sounded more reassured than he should be. Tonks kept eyeing up the distance to the hearth across the room and hoped that there was some Floo Powder to be found close by. At that moment the grey wolf let out a howl; it was not as bloodthirsty as the previous wolf's but terrifying none-the-less. It was then echoed by a howl upstairs. Harry turned to Tonks, his eyes wide.

"Oh shit!" he exclaimed. The brown wolf stood at the top of the stone steps. It spotted the grey wolf and charged at it ferociously. Tonks gave out a scream and pulled Harry out of the way. They both landed with a thud on the cold stone floor. Tonks had hit her head and she felt hot blood trickle down the side of her face. She gave a groan as Harry tried to pull her onto the kitchen table. The wolves' jaws collided viciously. All the while they fought, the brown-haired wolf kept glancing at Harry, who suddenly realised what they were fighting about. Him, his blood, his flesh. He no longer wanted to stick around. Climbing over the other side of the table, he reached for the Floo-Powder Pot and was glad to feel its contents between his fingers. He looked over at Tonks, who was staring transfixed at the two wolves.

"Tonks come on let's get out of here!" But Tonks didn't move.

"No, Harry. If he kills her he'll never forgive himself." She jumped off the table and grabbed a frying pan from above the stove. Then she turned to the mass of fur and teeth, and raised the pan above her head. Get the right werewolf, she reminded herself as she lowered it down with all the strength she could muster. Metal hit skull with an almighty thud that shook Tonks to her core. The female wolf yelped in pain and pounced on Tonks, knocking her over. Harry yelled out and went for his wand. He looked up just in time to see the Lupin-wolf knock the female off of Tonks and snap at her throat. The wolf went for Tonks again, but the Lupin-wolf stood in front of the human, his teeth bared, protecting her.

"Let's go now, Tonks!" Harry called again, and this time she listened. Harry grabbed a handful of green powder and yelled "The Burrow!" He disappeared in a puff of green smoke. Tonks took one last look at the grey wolf and followed Harry into the fire, leaving the two wolves to fight into the night.