(A/N: I feel very ashamed of myself now. I forgot to mention my wonderful beta Luna Longbottom! I'm sorry, Luna! Without her you allwould be a bit confused. I tend to think that you can read my mind and that I don't need to explain some of the things that happen. That doesn't really work so Luna a) tells me to delete it, b) tells me to change it, or c) says "What the heck are you talking about?" or something like that anyway. Thanks so much for putting up with me, Luna!)
Tonks groaned and tried to move, but found it almost impossible due to the pain racing through her body. She could hear voices around her but couldn't make out what they were saying. Tonks forced her eyes open and found Molly Weasley and Remus staring anxiously into her face.
"Wotcher," she croaked out. Tonks' throat was very dry.
"Oh, Tonks! You're awake! We've been so worried!" Molly Weasley pulled her into a hug. Tonks drew in a sharp breath. "I'm so sorry! You must still be very sore!" Molly released her.
"Thanks, Molly," Tonks said, massaging her ribs and thankfully accepting the glass of water Remus handed her.
"What happened? Where am I?" asked Tonks.
"You're back in St. Mungo's. Your parents were here, but we convinced them to go home and get some rest," replied Remus.
"How long have I been in here?" Tonks asked.
"You've been here three and a half weeks." Remus answered.
"What? That long?"
"Yes, that's why we've been so worried," said Molly. "Remus, floo Andromeda and Ted, will you? They'll want to know that Tonks is awake and–"
"I'll tell the Order and the Auror office, as well." Remus walked out the door.
"Make sure to tell one of the Healers too," Molly called after him.
"What happened?" Tonks repeated. "The last thing I remember was one of the Death Eater's saying a strange spell and then I guess I blacked out."
"The Death Eaters were Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange, Antonin Dolohov, and Lucius Malfoy. They were all caught. Dolohov cast that last spell at you. It was the same thing he did to Hermione at the Department of Mysteries, but, as he could still speak this time and considering you were already injured anyway, it did you a lot more harm than it did Hermione. They've escaped from Azkaban already, for the second time since the dementors abandoned it." Molly was getting angrier with each word she spoke and Tonks had to calm her down.
They continued to talk until the door flew open with a scream. "Nymphadora!" Tonks' mother came flying across the room towards Tonks with Ted behind her but Molly caught her before Andromeda could hug her daughter as Molly had done earlier.
"Careful, dear. Tonks is very sore," she cautioned.
"Thanks, Molly. Hi, Mum. Hi, Dad." Tonks greeted them as they each gave her gentle hugs.
"Oh, Nymphadora, we've been so worried," Andromeda said, tears running down her face, clutching Tonks' hand in both of her own.
"We're so glad you're awake, sweetheart," said Ted softly.
Remus had slipped back into the room and was sitting with Molly in chairs farther back than Andromeda's and Ted's. Remus and Molly were conversing in low voices.
"You'll have to come and stay at home with us for a while when you get out of the hospital," Andromeda was saying. "It will be so nice to have you at home again!"
"No," Remus said quietly but clearly. Andromeda opened her mouth to speak but Remus cut her off. "It wouldn't be safe. Bellatrix has made it clear that she's after Nymphadora."
Tonks scowled at the use of her first name but then realized what Remus was saying. "No, Remus, anywhere but headquarters. Please. I haven't been back there since…since…" Tonks started crying and put her hands over her face.
"What's wrong, honey? What is it?" asked Andromeda worriedly. Tonks just shook her head.
"You'll find out soon enough," said Remus. "Please come with me. Everything will be explained to you there. Molly, please stay with Tonks until we return."
Molly nodded. Ted started to protest, but Molly said, "Go, it's very important. Don't worry. We'll take good care of her." Andromeda and Ted agreed reluctantly. They each gave Tonks a kiss goodbye before leaving the room with Remus.
"Tonks, you're leaving the hospital this afternoon. The healers want you to stay another few days at least but it isn't safe here. We're taking you to Grimmauld Place," Molly said quietly after they had gone. "Your parents are going to be told as little as possible. Dumbledore will personally tell them that you're at the headquarters of an Anti-You-Know-Who organization and that you'll be safe there. They'll trust him. They'll also be informed of the…circumstances…regarding Sirius."
"Okay," Tonks replied wearily, controlling her tears.
Just then Tonks' healer came in. "You have very demanding friends, Miss Tonks," she huffed indignantly. "They say you're leaving today whether I like it or not so I'll have to give you your check up now."
The healer poked and prodded Tonks until she was satisfied and handed her a bottle of potion. "You take a spoonful of this every day until it runs out. Is that clear?" She glared at Tonks until she replied.
"Yes, ma'am."
The healer nodded and left.
Molly gave her a hug. "Get some rest, dear. We'll see you later."
Molly left the room and Tonks drifted off to sleep.
"Nymphadora, honey, wake up. Come on, sweetheart, you need to get dressed."
Tonks groaned and slowly opened her eyes. Andromeda was standing over her and Molly was standing a little farther back holding jeans and a t-shirt.
"Kingsley and Mad-Eye are here," said Molly. "They'll be your guard. We made them wait outside the door with Remus and your father while you get dressed."
"I'm sorry I won't be able to be with you, Nymphadora," Andromeda apologized.
"Its okay, Mum. I'll be fine. I'll send you an owl every few days to tell you how I'm doing."
Molly and Andromeda helped Tonks get dressed and Molly called to the men in the hallway. "You can come in now!"
Kingsley and Mad-Eye greeted Tonks and then Remus spoke. "Tonks, we need to be leaving. We're using Muggle transportation. You're definitely not well enough to apparate or use floo powder." He turned to Molly. "Molly, you and I can help Tonks since Kingsley and Mad-Eye are better trained to deal with it if anything were to happen. Ted, Andromeda, it would probably be best if you left as soon as possible or you'll miss your flight."
"We're leaving the country for a while, the Muggle way in case Bellatrix comes after us, too," Ted explained when he saw Tonks' confused look.
Andromeda had tears in her eyes but she didn't let them fall. She and Ted said their goodbyes and left.
"Up you get, Tonks." Remus and Kingsley reached down and helped Tonks to her feet.
Tonks tried to stabilize herself but it was useless. After a few seconds she collapsed.
"Whoa, easy, lass," Mad-Eye growled as Remus and Kingsley caught her.
"Well, we'll just have to do this another way," said Remus and the next thing Tonks knew he was carrying her to the door.
"Really, Remus, you don't have to." Tonks was blushing. "I can try again –"
"Nonsense, you'll wear yourself out," he replied. "You're not very heavy."
The group proceeded to Grimmauld place without mishap, though they did get some strange looks, namely Tonks and Remus for understandable reasons. It wasn't every day you saw a man carrying a young woman with three other people surrounding them, all with serious expressions on their faces and their right hands making fists in their pockets. What the muggles didn't know was that those fists were clenched tightly around wands.
Tonks was greeted by the four youngest Weasley children and Hermione, who had come to Grimmauld Place after only a week with her parents in case the Death Eaters decided to target her because of her connection to Harry. Remus soon carried Tonks upstairs and put her into bed telling her to rest.
(A/N: I'm not entirely sure this copied the way I wanted so I apologize if anything's formatted oddly.Next chapter will be up early tomorrow afternoon as I want to finish posting before the 16th. Who's going to want to read fanfiction rightafter HBP comes out? I'm not. There are five chapters and I'm leaving for camp on Monday so one for Friday, one for Saturday, and one for Sunday. If you want me to write a sequel you'll have to review! I'll try to have responses to the reviews I've gotten on this story and my one-shots posted tomorrow or Saturday. PLEASE REVIEW!)