Thank You's: Credits to:
Tarvika – Thank you for your review. Enjoy this chapter.
Snape13 – I know. Snape/Tonks rocks, doesn't it? Enjoy!
Remus'Fiance – It does. Meh. Down with Remus/Tonks! We should start a... rebellion!
Annitra - Hands over cookies Enjoy! Well done for finding the Severus sneezes! Hope you enjoy this chapter.
Severus arrived back at The Order much sooner than anyone thought he would. He looked remarkably more tense than usual and barely spoke to Tonks; merely told her the Dark Lord was prepared to meet her.
After saying goodbye to a worried Remus, she and Severus stood side by side in the hallway. "Hold my arm."
"Excuse me?" Tonks asked in surprise.
"Hold my arm – the left one, Nymphadora! I can't tell you where the meeting is, so we're using side-by-side Apparition."
"Oh, right." Tonks rolled her eyes at herself and rested a hand upon his lower arm. She felt the familiar sinking feeling and slowly opened her eyes to a large, cave-like building. "He lives here?" she questioned in surprise, having expected to open her eyes to a house of luxury.
"It's more comfortable than you'd believe." Tonks didn't really see how it could be as she walked on cold, stone floors, careful not to slip on the damp surface.
It wasn't until they walked into a spacious room at the end of the cave that Tonks understood the meaning of 'comfort'. The walls were all wooden-panels and the floor a deep burgundy carpet. The chairs made for one person could easily hold two. A large fire, set deep into a wall, roared peacefully in yellows, oranges and reds.
Tonks turned to face Severus, who was staring straight ahead. He bowed his head slightly. "My Lord," he murmured. Tonks turned the same way as Severus and the sight before her caused Tonks to lower her head, but not with respect.
"Rise, Severus. Miss. Tonks." He chuckled slightly. "I apologise you must see me like this. I was quite handsome in my younger days."
"I have no doubt of that My Lord," Tonks managed to splutter, doing her best to close her mind to him. Let him see me telling Severus how I want to serve him... she thought to herself.
"Quite the charmer, isn't she? I believe you are a relative of Lucius Malfoy?"
"Narcissa and Bellatrix," Tonks corrected. "Lucius through marriage."
"Ah, certainly, certainly. Your father was a Muggle?"
"My mother was, and is, a disgrace to my family. I would be so much happier being bought up in a Pureblood..." Voldemort raised his hand to cut her off.
"It is not our fault who are parents are. Both Severus and myself live in shame of our Half Blood status." Tonks glanced at Severus in surprise. "And yet," Voldemort continued. "It builds who we are. Do not be ashamed, for, without your past, you would not be here. Your parents have moulded you – and I can see you have been moulded well. Come, allow me to introduce you to the loyal witches and wizards who have responded to their calling honourably."
Glancing nervously at Severus, Tonks followed Voldemort to where the seats were and where the laughing, talking and clinking of glasses came from.
"Nymphadora..." Narcissa Malfoy was first to her feet. She gracefully walked across the floor and towards her niece. She placed her hands on Tonks' chin, forcing her to look at her. "Lucius will be so pleased to hear you have seen true power at last. He is away on a mission at the moment... oh, Nymphadora, I always knew you'd end up better than your mother."
Tonks tried to smile, but was sure it looked more of a grimace. Narcissa, however, seemed satisfied, and poured herself a glass of wine, before sitting down. Voldemort introduced Bellatrix, who did not see as happy to see Tonks as her sister was. Crabbe was introduced, and finally, Rabastan Lestrange.
He stood up and took Tonks' hand in his and raised it to his lips. "Charmed, Miss. Tonks." He smiled at her. "It is always a pleasure to meet people who have seen the true side. In time, you will see you did the right thing. Come, sit with me. I shall pour you a glass of wine, I am sure we have a lot to discuss."
"In time, Rabastan," Voldemort cut in slowly. "For now, I must talk to Miss. Tonks. Alone," he finished, glancing at Severus. Tonks smiled at the old Hogwarts professor, and followed Voldemort.
"My Lord..."
"Miss. Tonks. I will expect you to go with Rabastan tonight. He shall show you how it is done. It takes months to master a simple killing curse, but I feel it is always better to see it in action first. Be assured, I will know your every move." Tonks nodded.
"I understand."
"I was sure you would. You are a tremendous asset to us Miss. Tonks."
"Thank you." Voldemort nodded.
"And now, go, speak to Rabastan. He has been a lonely man for much too long." Cringing slightly at that comment, Tonks walked towards Rabastan who had already poured her a drink.
"Sit with me, Miss. Tonks. I believe the two of us have a mission tonight?" Tonks nodded as she sat down, and watched, as Severus spoke to Lucius Malfoy, who had just arrived.
"Yeah, we do," she agreed.
"Wonderful, wonderful. I look forward to it immensely. In the meantime, tell me. What is it you do for The Ministry?"
"I'm an Auror," Tonks admitted. He smiled slightly.
"Ah, superb!" he laughed. "And the new Minister... what is he like?"
"A pain in the arse," Tonks admitted. Rabastan smiled again, amused at her bluntness.
"Yes, it so often happens that way."
-- -- -- --
The Muggle Street was empty, and the lampposts hung high over the roads. Rabastan looked up, and pulled out his wand. "Good, it is a dark night. Well then, Miss. Tonks. Please, pick a house."
Tonks swallowed hard. She had complete control over who died tonight, and did not like it at all. She wasn't meant to play God; she shouldn't be allowed to make this decision. She looked around, hoping her unwillingness did not show.
She chose one where all of the lights were off, hoping that maybe they would be killed in their sleep and feel no pain. "Right," Rabastan agreed. He looked over at his brother, Rodolphus and nodded. Rodolphus rolled his eyes.
"Look, I have no need to be here. I shall leave you two now." Rabastan looked surprised.
"Are you sure?"
"Most positive." Rodolphus soon Dispparated, leaving Tonks and Rabastan alone.
"Very well then," Rabastan said after a few moments, walking towards the door to the house Tonks had pointed to. He unlocked the door swiftly and took a step into it. Tonks slowly followed him, shaking in the cold night. She looked around uncertainly.
"It's a nice house," she whispered.
"Yes," Rabastan agreed, making no effort to keep the noise down. "Well, then. Let's be going upstairs." Tonks anxiously followed him, and watched as he pulled his wand out. "Pick a room," he told her. "Any room."
One door was already open, showing a clean, tidy bathroom. Tonks looked between the two other rooms and slowly chose one furthest away from the stairs. Rabastan nodded, and slowly opened the door.
"Avada Kedavra!" Tonks was sure she saw somebody on the bed move in surprise before the flash of green light took over the room. Tonks swallowed back tears, and glanced at Rabastan who was grinning like a man possessed.
So, this was it then, Tonks realised. It was all about the killing, the want for destruction.
-- -- -- --
Rabastan took her back to his house, and poured her a glass of wine. She sat in the soft, leather chairs, watching as he lit a fire. "It is cold tonight," he stated. "Can I get you anything else? Food, drink?"
"No, thank you," Tonks replied coolly, though she was still shaking with a mixture of cold, fear and shock. How could a single person just kill like that? She hoped she would never be forced into repeating the actions she had watched earlier.
She had watched people die as though it was some sort of hobby. A sick, disturbing hobby, but as though it was hobby all the same.
Rabastan handed her a glass of wine, and she drank it slowly. She couldn't help but feel there was something odd about it, but said nothing as Rabastan took a seat beside her. "So, how was it?" he asked.
"It was..." Tonks swallowed. Horrible, I hated it, and I hate you and everything you stand for. "Amazing." Sick, disturbing, the worst thing I've ever had to see. "I just felt so..." Shocked, dead, lost. "It's hard to explain. I guess I..." I just hated every moment. "Enjoyed it, almost."
"You felt like you had power?" Tonks nodded. A power I never want to have to have again.
"Yeah, I suppose that's how you'd describe it." Rabastan smiled.
"You enjoyed it. I am glad. Our Lord will be most satisfied. This was all a test, but I'm sure you've realised that by now?" Tonks nodded slowly. "Good. More wine?" Tonks did not have time to answer as he had already leant forward and was pouring more liquid into her glass.
"It's nice," she told him, indicating to the bottle.
"Yes, yes it is. An Italian import." He took the glass out of her hand and laid it down on the table.
"What?" she asked curiously. He pressed his hand against her cheek.
"You're incredible," he whispered, before leaning over and pressing his lips hard against hers. Tonks tried fight him, but suddenly felt as though the power had been drained from her arms. The only thing she had control over was the thoughts in her head, as realisation crossed her mind.
He'd put something in her drink and she no longer had any control over anything he did to her. She was powerless, weak, and he owned her tonight.
Her final thoughts before her mind was suddenly drained, was of Severus, and how she wished she'd listened to him.