A/N: Hope, as much as I was terrified by your last review, you're gonna have to wait another chapter to find out what happens to Remus, hee hee hee.
The second story is going well. In fact, if things continue as they have been doing, I may even have it finishedbefore I finish posting this fic. At the moment I'm also working on a comedy involving Sirius, Lupin and Tonks in the week before Harry arrives at Headquarters. (Summer before OotP.) Should be good, watch this space!
This chapter is dedicated to Snape. He's taken a bashing in some of my previous fics, like Lost and Found and especially Great Minds Think Alike! (Sniggers uncontrollably to herself.) So it's about time I did something nice with him for a change. Here's to you Snivvy!
Harry's breath burned in his chest but he refused to slow down. In the darkness he could barely make out his Potions Professor, donned in his usual black. Harry could hear the ragged breath of Tonks behind him as they made their way across the lawns of the castle. Her hand was clammy in his but he refused to let go. At that moment she halted abruptly, causing Harry's arm to jolt in pain. He stopped and spun around, as did Snape.
"This isn't right," Tonks panted. "We have to go back." She snatched her hand from Harry's grip and turned back the way they had come. Harry grabbed her arms forcefully but it was Snape who spoke.
"We do not have time for this, Tonks," he hissed urgently, his pale face barely lit by the light from his own wand. "They are after you, both of you. Don't be a fool."
"What, be a coward and run!" Tonks shrieked at him.
"What about your baby?" Snape pressed, knowing how to sway her. Tonks faltered.
"What about Remus?" she added quietly. A shout could be heard from the castle, making them all shudder.
"He can take care of himself." This came from Harry, who took his friend's hand once more and began to move her along. Snape took her other side.
"I can't live without him, Harry," Tonks whimpered as they walked. "If he…if anything happens to him I don't know what I'll do." Harry glanced across to Snape who gave his student look of warning; don't panic her. A shot of green sparks flew up into the air, lighting up the sky for a brief moment. Like fireworks, Harry thought or wished. Dark shadows could be seen far across the grounds. Snape noticed immediately and quickened the pace, trailing off slightly to the left. He hoped to follow the lake's edge to the forest, where the trees would hide them until they reached the Whomping Willow itself.
Harry felt himself jogging now, in an attempt to keep up with Snape. Tonks was straggling behind, crying softly to herself. Snape glanced over his shoulder at the woman.
"Come along, girl," he ordered and her pace accelerated. But of course, in typical Tonks fashion, her boot caught in a tangled root on the embankment. Her ankle twisted and she tumbled. It all happened so quickly that Tonks barely had time to give a slight yelp, before plummeting head first into the dank water.
Harry heard the splash rather than the squeal. His wand showed the ripples on the lake, lapping at the sides of the muddy bank. The boy froze, his brain taking a moment to figure out what had just happened.
"Oh," he said unnecessarily, and then, "Tonks! TONKS!" Snape spun around immediately, his dark robes flowing behind him as he retraced his steps back to the boy.
"Snape! Help her!" Harry jumped down the embankment, landing in the water, which came up to his waste. It was not as cold as he expected it to be but also not as warm as he would have liked. He began to wade, which was difficult as his sodden jeans weighed him down. He felt Snape's hands grasp his shoulders forcefully and pull him back so he almost toppled over.
"Out now Potter!" the Potions Master commanded. Harry did as he was told and watched helplessly as his teacher struggled to save his guardian. Snape's robes were a hindrance so he shrugged them off before reaching under the water to pull Tonks back up. Her hair had morphed back to its natural state, as had her eyes, which were closed. Her skin was pale from the chill of the water. Snape groaned as he heaved the woman's body back out of the water. Harry helped him from the shore. Once both professors were on land, Harry leaned over Tonks, his eyes wide with panic. Snape pushed him aside powerfully.
"Out of the way, Potter." Harry fell backwards, his wet hands sinking in the mud. Please be ok, please be ok he thought desperately to himself. Snape's hands push the woman's damp, unkempt hair gently from her colourless face and then moved above her raised abdomen, to her ribcage to check for breathing. A flicker of concern was evident on his face. Harry noticed and cried out unnecessarily.
"She's not breathing! Do something!"
Snape tilted her head back gently and opened her mouth slightly.
"Come on child," he muttered. "You don't want me to do this." He lowered his mouth onto hers and exhaled deeply. Rising back up he saw no improvement and went for a second attempt, and another, and another. Harry could feel hot tears stinging his eyes. He blinked them away.
"Come on," Snape growled. "Don't do this to me girl." He breathed for her again and this time her eyelids began to flicker. Snape moved just in time as Tonks began to cough up filthy lake water. She rolled over slightly and retched, vomiting onto the Potion Master's hand. Then man simply blinked down at her, shaking the liquid from off his hand testily. Tonks closed her eyes again and lay very still.
"She'll be fine," Snape assured Harry who looked concerned once more. Crouching slightly, he scooped his colleague up in his arms and jigged her until she was adjusted comfortably. He had to admit, for a pregnant woman, she was rather light.
"Ok, let's go."
Their pace had somewhat decelerated with Tonks in Snape's arms, but they eventually made it to the edge of the forest. Harry did not know which way to look. As nervous as he was of Death Eaters following them from behind, he would rather not be attacked by something from the Forbidden Forest. That would be just my luck, he thought miserably. His eyes fell instead on Tonks who lay silent and still in Snape's arms.
The trio eventually made their way to a clearing where the Whomping Willow stood, menacingly still. Snape put Tonks down gently on the soft ground. She gave a little groan. Snape stepped forward a couple of times until the branches sensed their presence and began to shudder. Where's Crookshanks when you need him? Harry pondered; he knows just how to handle this tree. As a branch swung at Snape he took a casual step back. Removing his wand he said clearly, 'Immobulus.' The tree froze, swaying ever so slightly.
"Handy," Harry commented lightly. Snape just stared at him and Harry looked to the floor.
"Hurry Potter, it won't last long…No, no I'll get her. You get in." Harry dashed off to the opening at the bottom of the sedated tree. Snape only just made it in time as the branches began to creak. He slid Tonks down the dirty slope first, and then followed her.
Once in the low-ceilinged underground tunnel, it was rather difficult to carry Tonks. Snape managed, though it took some time. Harry felt guilty for not helping, but knew he would be reprimanded if he tried, and thought better of it. Once in the Shrieking Shack, Harry felt safe, well…safer. He looked around the old building, thinking how long ago it had been since he last stood there. He was reminded of the first time he and Sirius laid eyes on each other. And Peter. Harry chose to ignore that thought and was then reminded of another. Snape. Harry cringed as he turned to his teacher, who stared back at the boy resentfully.
"Oh I remember," he sneered bitterly. Harry cowered slightly.
"Oh yeah, sorry 'bout that."
They made their way out of the front of the Shack. As Snape jolted down the hill, Tonks began to come around with a moan. Snape laid her down.
"Tonks…Tonks…Nymphadora can you hear me?"
"Yes," she mumbled weakly, attempting to sit up.
"You have to Disapperate now. Do you understand me? We must get to Grimmauld Place." The man helped her up and she wobbled, hanging on to him for support.
"I understand you," she croaked. Snape and Harry exchanged significant looks before the three of them disappeared into the night with a loud pop.
