It is happening again. Sirius is at the bottom of the stone steps…with Harry. I call out to him, tell him to leave, to take Harry and run as fast as he can. He doesn't hear me, he never does. Curses fly overhead, summoned by members of both sides. And here I am, on these cold stone steps, knowing before I turn who is behind me. Bellatrix smiles as I turn, and mouths words that I can't hear. My heart is pounding fast, the blood echoing in my ears. I turn my back to my aunt, to watch Sirius again. He is looking up at me in concern, no doubt seeing his little cousin, his T-Bird, fighting a losing battle with Lestrange. But I'm not. I stand still. Months of this harrowing, recurring dream have taught me that, no matter what I do, it always ends the same. I have to witness him die again and again, and there is nothing I can do about it. I shiver and gasp. My stomach jolts with the sensation of falling, but I am not. I did, but I don't any more. As always I pray for unconsciousness to take me but it doesn't. I turn to run up the steps I should have fallen down, but I can't move upwards. I can only go down, to the dais, to the veil where I will watch him fall. Bellatrix passes me, almost floating down the steps in a Dementor-like way. She pauses where my body should be, and looks down with a sense of grim satisfaction. But I do not lie there; I am stood by her side. Like her shadow. My aunt lets out a cackle, such a cliché I know, and looks towards Sirius. His face is set and he strides towards Bella as she heads for the dais. Once I tried to grab her hand and lead her away from the veil. I have tried to snatch her wand. I have screamed warnings in Sirius' ear. But every time it ends the same, with his death. Every time she kills him…until now.
Bellatrix turns to me and her dark eyes meet mine. Can she see me? This has never happened before. Silence rings around the stone room, and I notice that there are no Order members present, no Death Eaters posing threats. Just me, Bella, Sirius… and Harry. The boy sits on the bottom step, throwing and catching the prophecy casually, as if it were a Snitch. He seems so much like his father. He looks up at the scene with mild interest on his face.

"It's ok," he says and I hear him. I frown and he nods with a grin. I look back to Sirius and Bellatrix; they stand apart facing each other like in a showdown.

"Sirius don't do this, please," I'm sobbing now, I don't understand what's going on. This has never happened before. Harry is laughing at me, his green eyes twinkling as he throws the prophecy up in the air again.

"He has to Tonks, don't you understand? Let him get on with it." I shout out Sirius' name and am surprised when he hears. He looks at me, and smiles.

"It's ok," he echoes Harry's words. I shake my head and shudder a breath as fresh tears fall.

"She's going to kill you," I shout, shaking with distress. Sirius laughs, joined by Harry and finally Bellatrix. It's as if they are sharing a joke I seem to have missed. My cousin shakes his head.

"She's not, Tonks." His eyes suddenly become full of sadness. I look down at my trembling hands to find them holding my wand.

"Do it, Dora," Bellatrix whispers from beside me. Before I can object, a jet of light shoots from my wand, hitting Sirius square in the chest and knocking him backwards into the veil. I scream and drop my wand. It shatters like glass. Bellatrix disappears from my side, leaving me alone with Harry. I fall to my knees on the dais and sob. Why is this happening? It's never been like this before. I hear footsteps and look up to see Harry crossing over to me.

"I didn't think you had it in you, Dora." His mouth is moving but it is my aunt's voice. "Perhaps you are a Black after all." Harry's voice this time. He looks shocked, as if he didn't believe I would do it… kill Sirius.

"Harry… I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to," I cry. He looks at me with such sadness. I want to die.

"Neither did I," he whispers. Then, throwing the prophecy at me he shouts, "AVADA KEDAVRA!"


"Harry!" Tonks was woken from her sleep abruptly. She fought in the dark with her bed sheets, feeling the nip of the air as she stood from her bed. Something was wrong. She grabbed a pair of jeans and a t-shirt that was lying by her bed and threw them on quickly. As she went for the door, she heard a knock. Tonks wrenched open the door to find a sluggish Harry. He too was fully dressed.

"Oh, you're awake –" Harry seemed surprised at this, considering it was very early in the morning.

"What's wrong? Are you ok?" Tonks demanded urgently. The boy nodded.

"I am but… it's Hermione." Tonks face fell.

"Oh no," she whispered as she saw the expression on the boys face.

"She's asking for you."

Harry and Tonks made their way back to Gryffindor Tower. The corridors were cold and deserted. As they climbed through the portrait hole, small sobs could be heard. Tonks saw Hermione sat in an armchair being held by Ginny. Ron stood close by in his maroon pyjamas, his face pale and set. Professor McGonagall was there too, in her tartan dressing gown. She gave Tonks a sombre look as she neared. Harry left Tonks' side and joined Hermione. He crouched by her chair, rubbing her hand gently. Tonks swallowed hard as McGonagall began to talk.

"Muggle law enforcement were called to the Granger's house earlier in the night. Auror were also sent." The elder woman took a deep breath. "An Unforgivable Curse," she said simply. Tonks raised a hand to her mouth and gave a slight gasp. "A Death Mark hung over their house," McGonagall's voice wavered as she spoke.

"How could this have happened?" Tonks asked to herself mainly. The other woman shook her head. Hermione gave a wail from the corner causing both women to turn about. Tonks moved to be with her.

"Minnie, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Ginny moved as Tonks went to embrace the young girl. She rocked slightly in her teacher's arms.

"This is my fault, this is all my fault," Harry whispered from behind Tonks. "I'm sorry Hermione." His voice cracked. Ginny sniffed from in the corner and brought a hand up to her eyes. Hermione shook her head and whimpered again.

"What am I going to do? This is so unfair!" she choked. Tonks stroked the girl's bushy hair from out of her face.

"Listen to me Hermione, ok? I'm going to look after you. You're going to be ok." She whispered.

"It's so unfair!" Hermione cried again. "I don't have anyone else…why is this happening? What did I do wrong!" she screamed. Ginny began to sob and Ron put his arm around her to comfort her.

"You've not done anything wrong Hermione," Professor McGonagall spoke up.

"None of us have," Tonks added, casting a glance towards Harry. The group fell silent, save for the crackling of the dying fire and Hermione's whimpers.

"I don't have anyone else. I don't have anywhere to go," she breathed.

"You can stay at Grimmauld Place," Tonks spoke up quickly. McGonagall did not seem to think this a good idea. She pouted disapprovingly but Tonks ignored her. "Remus will look after you. I'll take you there myself. You're not alone Minnie, you have us." Hermione stifled a sob and nodded.

Tonks rose from her crouch and moved to McGonagall again.

"The sooner she gets out of here the better. The students will be waking up soon. I'll take her on the Knight Bus."

"Then what? Tonks I'm not so sure this a good idea."

"What else can we do? Send her home to an empty house with the Death Mark still hanging above it no doubt!" Tonks hissed. "No, Remus will look after her. Until she's had time to think at least." Tonks was firm, and Professor McGonagall could do nothing but agree.

"Ginny-bean, will youfetch Hermione's trunk for her." Ginny looked up to Tonks and nodded immediately. She hurried off upstairs.

"I'll come with you," Harry spoke up. Tonks began to speak but the Deputy Head cut her off.

"That won't be necessary Potter. I think it's best if you stay in the school grounds where it's safe."

"But –"

"It's ok Harry, I'll look after her." Tonks gave the boy a smile of reassurance. He nodded in resignation. Crookshanks appeared down the dormitory steps and seemed oblivious to the scene in front of him. He gave a purr and jumped into Hermione's lap causing her to sob again and cling him tightly to her chest as she wept.

"Do you want to bring Crookshanks along or leave him here? Minnie?… Hermione?" The girl seemed not to hear. She continued to rock back and forth, chewing her lip and creasing her face up in pain.

"I'll look after him," Ginny called from the stairs, struggling with the trunk. Ron went to help her.

"Hermione, go upstairs and get dressed now." The girl shook her head.

"I can't," she whispered.

"Yes you can, come on now. I'm taking you to Grimmauld Place where you'll be safe. Hurry now before it gets light." Eventually, the girl made it out of her chair and up the stairs.

Hermione was wrapped in a scarf and thick coat before being lead to the Entrance Hall. Professor McGonagall had arranged for a carriage and Thestral to take Hermione and Tonks to the school gates. Tonks felt as if she were smuggling the girl away, as she helped her into the carriage and closed the door. There was a bitter nip in the air, and the coach rocked with the rhythm of the hooves and the gust of winds. Tonks swallowed back a sudden nauseous feeling, which was not just brought on by the motion of the carriage. She placed a hand on her stomach, conjuring thoughts that she was half-scared to even imagine. She had admitted it now, to Hermione and to herself. There was no use denying it anymore; she was going to have a child. Tonks stared out of the window as the castle shrank in the distance. She felt Hermione's weight against her right arm. The girl's shoulders were slouched over and she kept incredibly quiet, with her cold hands in her lap.

Tonks gazed out of the window as they moved. She suddenly began to think about her dream. It felt ages ago, when in truth it had only been a couple of hours. Tonks gave a slight shudder. What had it meant? Nothing, she told herself firmly. Her life was incredibly complicated at the moment; she was bound to be tense even as she slept. Yeah maybe, she thought in doubt, hoping it wasn't anything more. Either way, no more cheese for you before bedtime.

The coach slowed to a halt and Tonks jump out to help Hermione down and then used her wand to elevate the girl's trunk. When she was done she stuck her wand hand out and in an instant at bright purple, triple-decker bus appeared with a bang. Stan Shunpike greeted Tonks with a wary glance, having remembered about the woman's short temper. Tonks stated destination, handed over fare and escorted Hermione to a secluded seat. Again they didn't speak, and again Tonks felt a wave of sickness engulf her. The Knight Bus had never been known for it's smooth rides, but it seemed that being in the early stages of pregnancy greatly increased the discomfort of the journey. The Knight Bus eventually stopped in Grimmauld Place. Tonks struggled with the trunk. Stan went to help her and she gave a growl.

"I've got it, thank you!" She threw the trunk onto the pavement with a bang then went back for Hermione who was leaning precariously against a metal pole. She took the girl by the crook of her arm, calling a hurried thank you over her shoulder at Stan and Ernie. The bus disappeared with a bang. Tonks thought of struggling with the trunk the whole way up the stone steps then thought against it. She lowered Hermione on to the curb beside the trunk. Hermione rested on it shakily. Tonks skipped quickly up the steps, tripping as she went. She rapped on the door, hoping someone was in and that they would answer soon. The bitter wind was picking up. Tonks risked a glance over her shoulder at Hermione, who sat motionless at the bottom of the steps. Just then, something caught her eye. A shadow moved between the two houses opposite in the square. Tonks squinted. Was she imagining it? The noise of the door creaking open broke her gaze. Remus stood the other side of the door. He looked rather surprised to see his friend stood before him.

"Oh, good morning Nympha–"

"Remus I need a favour," she cut in quickly. She turned and descended the steps leaving Remus confused. He then spotted Hermione on the floor. Tonks glanced across the street.

"Hermione…did you see a person over there?"

"What?" Hermione's tone was distant. Tonks shook her head dismissively.

"Get up Hermione," Tonks said briskly, not wanting to hang around. The woman grabbed the trunk and began to drag it up the steps single-handedly until Remus went to help her.

"What's going on?" he whispered anxiously, his gaze on the girl who remained sat on the footpath.

"Not here," Tonks whispered back, shaking her head. Once they had managed to get both the trunk and Hermione inside the house, Remus shut the door causing the hallway to fall into semi-darkness. Hermione began to whimper.

"I shouldn't be here, I want to go home," she whispered again and again.

"Minnie go up to your room, ok? Are you thirsty? I'll bring you a cup of tea, sound good?" The girl didn't respond but continued to whisper under her breath. "Hermione…?" The girl gave a small squeak and moved towards her trunk. "No no, leave that. I'll get it. You just get upstairs. Get back in bed."

"I couldn't sleep," Hermione muttered as she headed up the stairs. Tonks gave a weary sigh and headed down the kitchen steps, followed by Remus. She was surprised to see Moody sat at the table. He looked up as Remus spoke.

"Are you going to explain what's going on?" Tonks ran her hands over her face, very aware of the fact that she had been up since 4am, and that she wore the clothes she had thrown on haphazardly. To top it all, she still felt sick. That's hormones for you, she thought to herself then panicked as if afraid that Remus had read her mind. Why is he staring? Does he know? Oh right…

"Hermione's parents were murdered last night," she announced. The two men were stunned to silence. Tonks gave a growl and sat down beside Moody, her head in her hands. "How did we let this happen? Muggle killings, what's next… wait don't answer that, I'd rather not know."

"How's Hermione doing?" Moody asked in concern. Tonks gave a shrug.

"Not so good. I don't think it's sunk in yet. She doesn't know what to do with herself, I mean you can't ever prepare yourself for something like that can you, especially at her age. I've told her she can stay here as long as she wants, I hope that's ok." She looked up at Remus with her tired eyes. He nodded without hesitation. A shuffle came from above them. They looked up to see Hermione stood at the door. Although she was no longer crying, her face held so much pain and anguish that it was almost unbearable to witness. She began to descend the stairs.

"Minnie go back upstairs sweetheart."

"Why? So you can talk about me some more?" the girl mumbled. She shuffled towards the kettle but Tonks beat her to it.

"Come on, Hermione. Go up to your room."

"It's not my room," Hermione said heatedly. "This isn't my home and you aren't …" She stopped and took a deep breath, realising she was shaking. "I'm sorry," the girl said quietly. She took a seat next to Remus and put her head in her arms. The Order members exchanged glances across the room. Tonks put the kettle on, sat the other side of Hermione and began to stroke the girl's hair comfortingly.

"I have an essay in today," Hermione sniffled to the table. Tonks wanted to smile, it was just so Hermione. "For Professor Snape, he'll be angry with me."

"I'm sure he'll understand," Remus spoke up.

"No he won't!" Hermione exclaimed, rubbing her eyes with the back of a hand. "Where's Harry?" she said suddenly causing them all to frown.

"At school, Hermione."

"Well he shouldn't be," she began to sob again. "I need to talk to him. He knows, he understands what it's like! I need to talk to him." She rose from her seat but didn't move. No one spoke.

"I'm not making any sense, am I?"

"No,"

"I'll go lie down now, I think."

"Ok. I'll come up and check on you later, bring you some tea."

"Thank you." And with that Hermione left the kitchen. Tonks gave her friends a worried look.

"She's pretty messed up. I don't know what to do. I told her I'd look after her but I have no idea what to say."

"You just need to be there for her," Moody told Tonks.

"I want to be, I really do, but I have to go back to work. I know she'll be looked after here. And I've owled Molly, she should be coming over later." Tonks took a deep breath, feeling sick once more.

"You should go for a lie down too, you know." Mad-Eye suggested. "You're looking a bit peaky yourself." Tonks cringed. Peaky or pregnant?

"Yeah, I think I will do that." She rose from her seat too quickly and only just made it upstairs before she was sick in the nearest toilet. Just what I need! Maybe I can use that bloody umbrella stand as a sick-bucket… I worry about myself sometimes!

A/N: Abrupt ending I know but I'm trying to figure out where to go from here. I know what I want to happen but not how to get there. I will ponder for a while and get back to you guys in a while.