Disclaimer: These aren't my puppets, I just snuck in to play!
Chapter 7Tonks was happy. Very happy. So happy that she decided to skip down the stairs to breakfast the next morning.
This resulted in a slightly less happy Tonks limping into the kitchen. But she still smiled brightly and took a seat at the table. The only two other occupants of the kitchen looked up.
"Morning Dora." Sirius was (for once) deeply immersed in a pile of Order documents as he muttered hello. Molly turned around.
"'Lo Molly, Sirius. Isn't it a lovely morning?" she said, still beaming, as she pulled her knees up to her chest. Sirius looked up and scowled.
Molly motioned Tonks aside. "Sirius is feeling a bit sore I think. You know, over the whole ball. I think he wants to get out of the house for a bit. I don't blame him, but we can't afford to let him-"
"You two better stop whispering over there or I'll think you're talking about me." Sirius warned, not looking up from the table. Tonks and Molly turned around to look at him guiltily.
Tonks wandered back over to her seat. She sat down and eyed Sirius warily. "Sirius?"
"Yes?"
"Want to go for a walk?"
He looked up at her with a disgusted look. "If you're suggesting I would trade what little dignity I have left to go be walked around as a dog, I'll throttle you."
Tonks threw her hands up in defense. "Ok, I'm sorry. It was just a thought."
Sirius' expression softened. "I'm sorry, Dora. Its just that I hate being cooped up in here day in and day out. And then what makes it even worse is that everyone is going to the ball tonight and, I get jealous, to be perfectly honest." He went back to looking at his papers as they heard footsteps.
"Mum! Why are we up so early?" Ginny came trudging into the kitchen, followed closely by three of her older brothers.
Molly turned from her place at the stove. "Because I want to make sure that everything is in tip top order before we leave for the ball tonight and so you all have to get an early start." Ron grunted as he slumped over in his chair and Fred and George seemed to be asleep again already as they used one another for a pillow.
Ginny sat next to Tonks. "Morning Tonks, are you excited?"
Sirius spoke up, "No Ginny, she's absolutely disgusted and wishes she weren't going." Apparently his sour mood had returned.
Ginny raised an eyebrow at him. "What's got your knickers in a twist? And is it something that requires you being an toerag to me?" Everyone in the room turned to stare at Ginny. It was not something anyone would have said to Sirius while he was in one of his moods. Especially Ginny.
Molly's eyes widened. "Ginny!" But she couldn't think of anything else to say.
All eyes traveled tensely back and forth between Ginny and Sirius as he looked at her. Her eyebrow was still raised, almost as if it were a challenge. Sirius started to laugh and everyone let out a breath they didn't realize they were holding.
"No girl's ever spoken to me like that since…since Lily, I suppose." He sort of trailed off as he said her name. He was remembering a time and a place that had long since melted away and he knew it.
"What girl?" Remus had entered the kitchen and sat down in the empty seat next to Sirius. He smiled at Tonks and she blushed as she rested her head on her knees, which were pulled up to her chest again.
Sirius motioned to Ginny and Remus laughed. "Ah yes, Miss Weasley. Well I commend you, Ginny. Whatever you said obviously has him speechless which is not a feat many can accomplish."
At that point, Molly had placed breakfast on the table and everyone was tucking in, including Hermione, who had finally been rousted by the voices downstairs. Tonks kept sneaking glances at Remus who was talking to Sirius about something quietly. She watched him run his hand through his hair which then fell neatly back into place. She sighed. Tonight was going to be perfect.
Everyone in the kitchen looked up as they heard the sound of someone apparating in the hall. Tonks was up before any of them, her wand poised at the door.
Dumbledore entered the kitchen. He looked very grave. His mouth was set in a thin line very reminiscent of McGonagall. Everyone suddenly realized how old he really was.
He moved to an empty seat at the table and sat down. Remus moved towards him.
"Dumbledore? What is it? What's happened?"
Dumbledore looked up at him. "Last night, Harry was attacked by dementors."
A hushed panic fell over the room. Hermione bit her lip, she looked like she was close to tears. Ron sat down, putting his head in his hands. Ginny went over and placed her arms around him, hugging him to comfort the both of them.
Tonks was the first to speak as Hermione hid her head in her shoulder. "Is he all right?"
Dumbledore stood up and started to pace the room slowly. "He's not physically hurt, no. But the Ministry has already set a trial date for him-"
Hermione's head shot up. "What? Professor Dumbledore, they can't do that! There has to be something-"
"Please Miss Granger. We will do all we can for Harry at his trial, but first we must ensure his safety," Dumbledore turned to Remus. "I've alerted a few people who've had regular guard duty to be part of the group to get Harry, and Remus, I want you to lead them."
Remus looked confused. "Sir?"
"You are one of the few people young Mr. Potter trusts. If he sees you there, it will put him all the more at ease. Ms. Tonks, Mr. Moody has requested you be part of the mission as well."
Tonks nodded. "Of course Dumbldore, whenever you need us." Remus nodded in agreement.
He went onto explain exactly what happened. How Mundungus had left his post, how Mrs. Figg had tried to help. How Dudley was almost kissed.
Then Dumbledore smiled. "I knew we could count on you. Be ready to get Harry tonight. You'll need to devise a plan to get the Dursleys away from the house. Somehow I doubt they would appreciate a whole pack of wizards stomping through their house so soon after their son was attacked by dementors. The others will be over in a little while." He started walking towards the door.
Sirius turned to Remus. "I'm going too."
Dumbledore looked at him with sad eyes. "Sirius, I know that you want to be there for Harry, but we can't risk exposing you. Its too dangerous. As soon as they take him from the house, he is coming straight here. You will see him then." He locked eyes with Sirius. "You cannot afford to do anything rash, Mr. Black. As you know, it can lead to dire consequences."
With another crack, Dumbledore was gone.
Remus felt another, completely different wave of panic hit him. 'Oh god, the ball is tonight.' He looked at Tonks but as he did, she ran out of the room.
The kitchen was silent. Hermoine sat down next to Ron and they both stared tensely at the table top. George was now the one consoling Ginny, who was standing expressionless and looking at the door that Tonks had just fled from. Sirius stood with his forehead against the wall, his eyes squeezed shut and his fist clenched as if he was holding something back.
No one seemed to notice the Auror run from the room except for Remus. He left the kitchen in search of her. She was in the front room.
As he entered the room, he noticed she was scribbling furiously on a piece of paper.
"Tonks, uh what are you doing?" He hadn't expected her to be doing much of anything, crying perhaps, or throwing things. But not writing what looked like a letter.
"I'm writing a letter to the Dursleys." She answered. Her voice cracked a little.
He knelt down beside her. "Why?"
"So they won't be there tonight when we go to get Harry." She said matter-of-factly, her eyes never lifting from the paper to look at him. He did notice the slight bitterness on the word tonight. He would have done anything to take the bitterness out.
"Tonks, look at me." Nothing. "Tonks." As he repeated her name, he pulled her chin up with his thumb and forefinger.
She shivered at the touch of his fingertips. She was trying so hard not to break down. Immersing herself in responsibility and work was the only thing keeping her up.
"Its ok, Tonks. I know how much this meant to you. I'm so sorry." He tried to put his arms around her but she stood up.
She shifted uncomfortably at the door. "I have to go mail this letter to the Dursleys. Uh-"
"I know you're angry, Dora." Remus steeled himself for what he knew was sure to come.
Tonks laughed derisively. "Angry? Of course I'm bloody angry. I'm angry with everyone that ruined our night. I'm angry at Voldemort cuz he's after the entire world. I'm angry with Mundungus for leaving. I'm angry with Dudley for being stupid enough to almost get kissed. I'm angry with the dementors cuz they're stupid," she faltered slightly, her voice coming back down from a yell. All coherent thought seemed to be seeping out of her. "And I'm angry with being part of the Order. Because-because." She sank back down onto the sofa.
A few tears started to fall but she wiped them away roughly. Remus pulled her hand away and wiped one of the remaining tears from her cheek. This only resulted in more tears and in the next second he was holding her tightly as she cried her eyes out.
They stayed that way til her tears were all gone. She sat up stiffly and ran a hand through her hair. Remus smiled a consoling smile and she smiled weakly back. She held up the envelope. "I'd better go mail this now."
"I'll go with you." Remus said, standing up and starting to follow her out.
She turned back and took his hand. "That'd be nice."
As they went out the front door, Remus started talking again, "You know, its no good being upset now. I mean, its not like I wouldn't go with you to next year's ball." He shoved her playfully, then pulling her back close to him.
Tonks looked up at him with a resigned sadness. "Remus, look around you. We're going to save a 15 year old kid from wild dementors. The two of us got together as a result of being part of a secret order to fight evil. There may not be a next year." She looked down at the ground. "I wanted to go so badly. And I wanted to go with you." She said the last part in barely a whisper.
Remus kissed the top of her head. "Now Tonks, what kind of talk is that for an Auror? You sound like Mad Eye."
Tonks laughed slightly. She looked Remus in the eye, "You're right, I suppose. Yes, there is always next year. But next year, you have to promise to go with me. Yes?"
In response, he pulled her closer to him and put his arm around her protectively. He leaned down, "I promise, your highness."
They barely seemed to notice that they'd mailed off the letter and that they were walking back towards Grimmauld Place until they reached the front door again. Remus glanced at his watch. "They're probably in there already, come on." He pulled open the door and walked inside quickly.
Tonks sighed. "Fighting wizard-y evil is never over." She shook her head and followed him inside.
A/N: THIS IS NOT THE LAST ONE! Just so you all know that. I thought perhaps I could fit it all in one chapter, but I cannot. Anyhoo, now that THAT has been cleared up, I want to apologize for the later than usual update (at least it feels that way). I started work last week and then I was on vacation for the weekend. (I know, how dare I even think of such a thing when I have a story to be writing! Hehe). Well, hope you liked this chapter. Sorry bout the turn of events but, that's how it goes! Haha! The next one will be up soon I hope. Cheers for reading!