A/N: I don't like this chapter :( I seem to have come to a writer's block with this story. I've got such a detailed plan but everything I keep writing comes out like poop.

I've noticed that I'm getting quite a few hits but not many reviews :( Thanks to those who have reviewed...and to those who haven't PLEASE do! I need encouragement at the mo. Constructive criticism is also welcome.

Tonks did not show her face for several days. Kingsley told those who questioned her whereabouts that she had taken time off from work due to illness. In all honesty, he had no idea where she was and it worried him. One more deeply concerned than most was Remus Lupin.

The old werewolf had taken up pacing around Grimmauld Place, checking in on Tonks' flat every hour, and being uncharacteristically surly to anyone who questioned his behaviour.

It was early evening, and an Order meeting had been called to discuss the future of Hogwarts School. Remus knew he had to push Tonks to the back of his mind, though her absence from the meeting deeply concerned him. Would she turn up to the meeting, or leave him hanging…falling deeper into unease?

Tonks was not the only Order member missing. Kingsley Shacklebolt was at the Ministry, as was Hestia Jones. And what with Dumbledore and Snape out of the Order (for very different reasons,) the group was looking rather thin on the ground, consisting mostly of the elder Weasley members. However, Harry Potter was once again present.

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, indicating that the meeting had started.

"From my conference with the school Governors today, I can confirm that Hogwarts will reopen in two weeks time."

A murmur rippled through the group, mostly that of relief, though a few people sported dubious expressions.

"Having had Lupin decline my request to teach again, Alastor Moody has stepped in," the witch informed them. Moody inclined his head to the witch. Remus lowered his eyes to the table in discomfort, but he stuck by his decision. Now was not the time to return to Hogwarts. The war needed him, Harry needed him…and Nymphadora would certainly need him.

"Mr Potter, I take it you will be returning?" The boy's Headmistress asked. All eyes fell on the teen, and he swallowed uncomfortably.

"Uh, actually, no."

Mrs Weasley gave a gasp of concern but Arthur put a hand on her arm to silence her.

"I'm sorry. Hogwarts has been my home for so many years now. I've learnt so much, not just in my lessons, but from simply being around such inspirational witches and wizards," Harry spieled, almost as if he had created a script in his mind long ago. "I'm so grateful to have been given the opportunity to become as strong as I can be. But now, after all that's happened – is about to happen – it just doesn't feel right… I'm sorry."

There was a thick silence around the table. McGonagall gave a brief nod and was the first to speak.

"Very well, Harry. I wish you all the best. If you ever change your mind, Hogwarts will always be welcome to you."

Harry gave an appreciative smile.

"Thank you, Professor," he mumbled.

Mrs Weasley had just begun her rant as to why she thought Harry was making a terrible mistake ("I assure you Minerva, my two will certainly be returning to school."), when the banging of the front door caused her to stop abruptly, much to Harry's relief. Many hands fell swiftly to their wands and then relaxed as Kingsley Shacklebolt made his way into the kitchen. He looked rather unsettled.

"Is Tonks here?" he asked, without any greeting. See that she wasn't, and without waiting for a response, he headed back for the stairs.

"We have to find her urgently."

"What is it?" Lupin asked in concern. Kingsley took a deep breath, and registered who was present. His eyes finally fell on Harry before he spoke.

"Narcissa and Draco Malfoy were found murdered at their mansion tonight."

A stunned whisper filled the room. Lupin and Harry however, remained silent, eager to hear more.

"How…Kingsley who did this?" McGonagall asked the Auror in distress.

"Bellatrix Lestrange," he replied bluntly. Lestrange was Narcissa's sister. This didn't seem to make any sense to Harry. The boy spoke up with a frown.

"She wouldn't have killed her own sister, would she?"

"If Lord Voldemort told her to, she would," Lupin replied, almost bitterly.

"There was evidence that…Snape was at the scene," Kingsley continued. Silence fell immediately at the traitor's name. Harry exclaimed his disagreement at this.

"No, not Snape. He wouldn't. He was a friend of Narcissa Malfoy. They performed an…um…Unbreakable Vow or something, to do with Malfoy…uh, Draco." Harry was rambling, trying to make sense of the situation. Professor McGonagall's keen eyes turned to her student.

"Are you sure Potter? This is a very serious allegation."

Harry nodded firmly.

"I'm sure. I heard Snape and Draco discussing it… I think they were talking about murdering Professor Dumbledore."

Molly Weasley gave a little hiccough. Bill and Arthur glanced at each other. McGonagall trembled slightly at Harry's words. Moody was the only one with the sense to speak up.

"Potter, no doubt we will need to discuss with you what you heard that night. But Kingsley's right, we need to find Tonks first."

"I'm here," came the feminine voice at the top of the stairs, causing many of them to startle. Moody went for his wand immediately.

"Oh come off it Mad-Eye. I'm sorry I made you land on your arse. I know how bizarrely fond you are of your own buttocks. Lower you wand…and someone explain to me why you all look as if you've been hit with a Stunning Charm."

The female Auror joined them in the kitchen. She offered Lupin a slight smile. The man wasn't sure whether to return it, or shake her silly for worrying him so.

"Well?"

"Perhaps you should sit down, Tonks," Kingsley suggested.

"I'm fine. Talk." Tonks crossed her arms firmly over her stomach.

"Your Aunt Narcissa and her son Draco were murdered tonight by Bellatrix Lestrange," Kingsley told her bluntly, knowing that the last thing the woman needed was for bad news to be cushioned by small talk.

"Oh," Tonks said quietly. Her hands went up to her throat and she lowered her head.

Tonks had liked her Aunt Cissy, in fact she was quite fond of her as a child. She had pitied the woman for her lack of confidence and strength. If she had been a little more like Tonks' own mother, Andromeda, Narcissa would have been a better woman for it. To put it simply, the woman was too dependent on her husband, and needed too much to be accepted by her Black family. In the end, it had led to her downfall. As for Draco…Tonks never knew him, she had seen him briefly during the battle at Hogwarts the month before. And of course she had heard about him. But what Tonks was reminded of most when thinking of Draco, was that his fate could have just as easily been her own. He was born into a dark family, with no escape. Tonks silently thanked her mother for making the right decision and following her heart. Andromeda had been ridiculed and cast out from her family…but her life had been better for it.

Tonks wiped gently at tears, she hadn't even realised she had shed.

"There's more, Tonks…" Kingsley spoke up after a moment. Tonks gave a shudder, and nodded to her colleague to continue.

"Having been called out to Malfoy Mansion, I thought it best to check up on your mother."

Tonks looked up quickly at this news. She wrung her hands desperately, hoping that Kingsley would quell her fears. Instead he looked away and mumbled quietly.

"I'm so sorry Tonks."

Kingsley's news stunned the room, though Arthur Weasley had the sense to grab the young witch as she swayed on her feet. Tonks' knees buckled underneath her, and Bill had to assist his father in order to keep her from hitting the floor.

"Ok, Sweetheart steady," Arthur murmured as they lowered the Auror into Bill's vacant chair.

Tonks threw her head into her arms and let out a heart-wrenching wail. No one dared speak. The Order sat in a numb silence, watching Tonks sob onto the table.

Harry looked away uncomfortably, noticing Lupin do the same. Harry thought that the man should comfort his close friend at least, but Lupin remained in his seat, staring at his joined hands. Bill was crouching by Tonks, stroking her long brown hair and shushing her. He looked up to his mother for some indication of what to do next. It seemed that everyone was at a loss.

Luckily, Tonks spoke up. She mumbled bitterly into her arms, and her words were lost on many of the Order. Kingsley heard however, and shook his head.

"No Tonks…it wasn't Bellatrix."

The sobbing stopped immediately, and Tonks lifted her pale, tear-streaked face to glare at the man in confusion.

"What?" she whispered, wanting so much to shout but not finding the energy to do so.

"She…Tonks, your mother killed herself."

Tonks was out of her seat in a shot, and headed on shaky legs to her colleague.

"What?" she hissed angrily. "Why would you say something like that Kingsley?" Tonks was shouting now. Her fists made contact with his chest as she pounded him in frustration. The tall man winced slightly, but his face remained solemn.

"Because it's true, Tonks," he told her quietly. Tonks shouted at him, and hit him with such force that he stumbled this time. Lupin decided now was the time to intervene. He stood up behind the grieving witch and took her by the elbows. It was lucky he did so, as Tonks' legs gave in once more. Lupin lowered her gently to the ground and held her tightly as she sobbed onto his chest.

The meeting dissolved quietly around them, as members thought it best not to intrude on Tonks' grief.

Remus wasn't sure how long they had been sat on the cold hard floor, but his limbs were beginning to ache, and pins and needles had crept into his left leg. He manoeuvred Tonks so that her weight fell on his other side, allowing the man to wiggle the toes on his left foot.

Remus looked up to see that he and Tonks were alone in the kitchen, except for Kingsley, who had remained and held a scrap of parchment tentatively in his hands. The Auror cleared his throat.

"She left a note," he said simply, handing it to Lupin and excusing himself with a regretful nod.

Tonks opened her eyes with difficulty, as her tears meshed her long eyelashes together. She prised her head from Remus' chest and took the parchment from him forcefully. Her deep, dark eyes scanned it briefly, before letting it drop to the floor. Tonks hiccoughed a sob and Remus held her tighter with one arm, while reaching for the note with the other. The words were simple, the note brief:

I will not give you the satisfaction.

Remus swallowed hard and kissed Tonks gently on the head as she gave a raw moan.

Suddenly, the witch scrambled up from the floor, causing Remus to startle slightly.

"I can't stay here," she slurred. "I shouldn't be here. I have to go."

Her blood-shot eyes were having trouble focusing, and Remus knew that it was a bad idea for Tonks to leave the safety of Headquarters in the state she was in.

"You can't go, Nymphadora," he told her lamely. "Stay here with me."

Tonks was already pulling on her jacket.

"No," she snapped at him forcefully. "No, I don't want your pity."

"You don't have it!" he spat back and Tonks froze in shock. "This is war, Nymphadora. People die." His harsh words echoed in the basement kitchen. Tonks gave a shuddered breath.

"Not like this," she responded with a whisper, making his words sound unnecessarily loud. "I…I have to go Remus." Tonks' hand delved into her jacket pocket and retrieved a ring. She pushed it forcefully onto her index finger and rubbed it with the thumb of her other hand, muttering inaudibly. Having realised that Remus was still staring at her, she brought her eyes up to meet his.

"The last of the Blacks," she gave a bitter laugh. "I didn't ask for this. I didn't deserve it either…But I know what I have to do, Remus. It has to be done. 'Toujour Pur' right? Always Pure!" Tonks spat in disgust. "I wouldn't expect you to understand what that means. Hell, I don't myself! But I know someone who does…and he's who I need to be with right now Remus, not you."

Tonks headed quickly up the stairs.

"I'm sorry," she choked, and turned to leave the Black manor house, tears of anger and distress running down her heart-shaped face.

Remus watched her go for a brief moment. He was slightly startled as to what had just happened. Realising that he had let Tonks leave, unprotected and unstable, with Bellatrix Lestrange still on the loose, Remus climbed the stairs quickly.

Moody and Kingsley stood in the entrance hall, looking deeply concerned and talking in hushed voiced. Lupin crossed over to them.

"Tonks has gone. I don't know where, but she may be in danger. I need your help," he pleaded.

The two Auror regarded the man and then nodded.

"And you have it," Moody told him simply.

A/N: Review:D Next chapter we find out what Tonksie is up to... (hopefully, lol)