A Year in the Underground

by Tabari Avaren

Disclaimer: Much as I love Harry Potter, I do not own it in any way, shape, or form. That distinct honor goes to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros, and anybody else I've forgotten.

Author's Notes: This is my most ambitous project so far. I've loved Remus/Tonks for time out of mind, after reading the incomperable FernWithy and also excellent authors of the ship like Pandora Culpa and Jess Pallas (plug! plug!). This is something a bit different than whatmy idols have attempted, though I certainly credit their influence.

Planned and plotted, this will be a near novel-length fic that, I hope, will successfuly combine Drama and Romance, not to mention a little horror and suspense along the way. Installations may be slow, as I'm a full-time student, but the plot bunny that inspired this fic was so strong, combining themes I've grappled with for years, that I think I'll succeed. I hope to see all of you to the end.

Any reviews are always welcome. Deflate my ego as needed - I'm especially worried about Americanisms, anachronisms, and errors in London geography.

Chapter One: Murder at Midnight

"Remus!"

Remus Lupin woke with a start as his fire flared green, and a young woman with a pale, heart-shaped face leapt out of the fireplace. Scrambling out of his cot, clutching his sheet around him as a makeshift bathrobe, he stared, bleary-eyed, at his visitor. "Nymphadora! What is it?"

Remus's unexpected guest had clearly been crying, given her puffy eyes and dirty face, but her voice was level during her official Order debriefing.

"Remus, I'm here to report a casualty," she began, leaning on Remus Lupin's bureau as she spoke, while he hastily scrambled into his usual battered robes. "Emmeline Vance has been found dead in her home. The dark mark was spotted at 0200 today by three muggles, since obliviated. First to report were Order aurors Tonks and Shacklebolt, followed by Dawlish, Forsythe, and Macomb. Method of execution appears to be Avada Kedavra; no sign of torture or struggle. Vance was found within her own bedroom. Probable apparition-disapparition killing. Minister of Magic has already been informed, as have Dumbledore, the Weasleys, and the Hogwarts contingent. I'm here to bring you to an emergency Order meeting, which will begin… began five seconds ago."

By now, Remus was fully dressed, and he had his wand out, pointed straight at the young auror's heart.

"Oh, good, Remus!" she said, a happy smile suffusing her tired face. "You've finally remembered."

"Yes, yes, security question: what form does my patronus take?"

"It's a dog," Tonks whispered, her voice sad again. "It's Sirius, as a dog."

Remus rubbed his eyes, and nodded.

"Alright, then," Tonks said with a sigh. "Your turn. What does mine turn into?"

Remus smiled at this. "A chameleon. Has been for as long as I've known you."

"Alright, then," Tonks said with a sigh. "Off to the Order Meeting we go."

"Where's it being held tonight?" Remus asked. "And do you know when we'll be back at permanent headquarters?"

"No idea," Tonks said. "Anyway, it's at Snape's house, tonight. That man has more security than anyone, 'cept maybe Dumbledore…"

With a pop, she vanished into the night, and Remus followed after.

Sixteen exhausted, grief-stricken Order members all squeezed into Severus Snape's tiny sitting room. Some of them, notably Flitwick and Elphias Doge, had been very close to Emmeline Vance; others, like Lupin and Tonks, had known the woman only through the Order or work at the Ministry. Dumbledore had pride of place in the ratty armchair, while everyone else piled onto the threadbare sofa which magically expanded to fit eight, or just stood. Remus graciously allowed for Professor McGonagall to take his place, which she accepted with a disapproving sniff, as if she thought him much to fragile to be standing on his own two feet. It was weeks since the moon, however, and he felt steady enough with a cup of tea in his hand, provided by, of course, Molly Weasley.

When all had assembled, Dumbledore began.

"You should all have been briefed about this night's tragedy," he said, his voice somber. "And you should all realize what a terrible breach of security this is. A sad irony: we spend a year trying to persuade the world that Voldemort is back, and when everyone knows, we are rewarded for our efforts with violence and executions. Madame Emmeline Vance is a heroine for what she did for her cause, and how she died for it."

With a sigh, fingering his wand slowly, Dumbledore said, "I've brought you here tonight to discuss further Order security. We have implemented heightened security, true, but we are all vulnerable in our own homes, and if we continue to die, one by one, there shall be none of us left for the eventual battle, if and when it comes. We need to discuss our options. If anyone has suggestions, I should like to hear them."

Molly Weasley raised her hand timidly, but spoke without being called on. "Albus, forgive me for my ignorance – but why couldn't we all use the Fidelius Charm, like you did for the Order headquarters? I mean – well – my family, our clock… we've all been at mortal peril for weeks now…"

If some looked confused by Mrs. Weasley's last statement, Dumbledore understood it. "Molly," he said, not without sympathy, "The Fidelius Charm is immensely complex – I'm hardly the expert that Filius is, but the complications, and if it goes wrong…"

Professor Flitwick, from where he sat on the sofa, piped up, "The Fidelius Charm does provide protection, but at a terrible risk – if the Secret Keeper dies before ending the charm, the site of his secret disappears also. Those for whom the secret is kept will still know of it, but no-one new can learn of it, and neither can a new Secret Keeper be created. It is a grave risk for the Order, but of course only one wizard in the world is truly a match for Professor Dumbledore."

If Dumbledore was annoyed by this praise, he did not show it. With a sigh, he said, "Yes. It is a risk worth taking, that I am a Secret Keeper for 12 Grimmauld Place, but imagine the consequences of widespread use of Fidelius! We'd all like it not to happen, but there are sure to be more casualties, and it would be chaotic for homes to disappear permanently to the outside world if the Secret Keepers should die."

Molly Weasley sagged where she stood, and her husband caught her, holding his wife against his chest. "Well," she said. "It was worth hoping, I suppose."

"In that same vein, Dumbledore," Elphias Doge suggested, "What about making our homes Unplottable? I mean, Headquarters was even before it became headquarters, and it was a private residence."

"Same problem as Fidelius," Moody growled. "It's all very well for the Death Eaters not to see you, but Unplottable is damn near permanent, and it's more than a nuisance for all but the most important places. Not that Order homes aren't important, but think of the consequences…"

"Wha' about creatures?" Hagrid said. "I mean, maybe not Gringotts' style, we can' all have dragons, but why not somethin' else? I know a chappie who'd be more 'n' willing to sell us a couple Cerberus, like as I got Fluffy."

The evening devolved into a long and complex argument about the ramifications of magical creatures among other security provisions. Finally, it was concluded that all homes should have anti-apparition wards at least one hundred feet in perimeter, with alarms set to go off should anyone try to apparate within that zone, or if an unidentified person should step within that radius. Molly Weasley looked crestfallen at the amount of work that would require: the Burrow, so irregular and always busy, would be immensely difficult to ward.

By now, it was vaguely morning outside, although the perpetual gloom of Spinner's End made it hard to distinguish from the night. Professor Flitwick had dozed off to sleep on the sofa, Arabella Figg was supported only by her large and sturdy umbrella, and even Tonks couldn't keep herself from yawning periodically.

"Well, I think it's time to adjourn," Dumbledore said, standing, the armchair groaning under him. "I wish you all farewell and good luck. Don't hesitate to owl myself or Alastor should you need help with the wards. Remus, Nymphadora, could you stay behind? I'd like a word with the both of you." He exited into other parts of the house, his violet cloak swirling dramatically about him.

While everyone else streamed out into the open air to find a safe apparition point, Remus collapsed onto the sofa with a heavy sigh, and Tonks staggered to find a seat as well. Snape, who had been hovering batlike in a corner throughout the meeting, swooped into the center of the tiny room.

"How nice to see you again, Lupin," he said with something near a hiss. "Do make yourself at home."

"Severus," Remus acknowledged. "If you'd rather I stayed elsewhere while waiting for Dumbledore…"

"Oh no, do make yourself comfortable. I'm used to all matter of filth gathering in my abode, one more halfbreed won't make a difference."

Remus ignored the barb, but Tonks bristled. The werewolf tried to signal her he didn't care, but she wouldn't be hushed by his tacit hints.

"Severus, I don't know why he lets you, but I don't think you should get away with that!" she exclaimed. Her hair had changed to bright red, presumably without her noticing it, and in her anger, she grew taller and taller as she stood.

Snape leered at her, entirely unimpressed. "Sit down, Miss Tonks!" he barked, and, still close to her schoolgirl days, she complied before she could help herself. She flushed.

"Touching though it is to see your attachment to your canine friend – your family seems to have had an affinity for such riffraff – I'm afraid I can't stay with you lovebirds. I have more pressing matters at hand, like delaying Wormtail's return. He lives here, you know."

Remus started again, half-rising, but then sat.

"Didn't know that, did you, Lupin?" Snape asked, his lip curling. "Not that you'd be man enough to do anything about it."

He swept out, leaving Lupin pale and Tonks shaking with rage. "How dare he! How DARE he!"

"It's alright, Nymphadora, don't worry. Severus has enough troubles of his own; I don't mind if he vents on me. Heaven knows, I deserve much of it."

"He did the same to Sirius all last year, and look what happened! Don't you go taking any of it to heart either, you hear me! Oh, I'll be having a word with Dumbledore about this."

She was so incensed her fingernails – grown into wolfish claws – quite ripped through the horsehair cover of the sofa. With a curse, she mended the damage cursorily, and fell to drumming her fingers, waiting for Dumbledore.

"Nympha-" Remus began, but Tonks's furious glare at her given name halted him. "Tonks," Remus said, "I'm not going to die like Sirius. A few nasty words with a bitter man won't drive me mad, not if everything else hasn't." He lay his head back on the sofa with an exhausted groan. "I hope Albus hurries up," he said, with a touch of impatience unusual for the man.

"I'm here, Remus," Professor Dumbledore said, sticking his white-haired head out from the grubby kitchen. "No – Tonks, you can stay, too," he said, for the young auror had risen to excuse herself. "You're likely to become involved, too."

"What's this about?" Tonks asked, straightening, her face coming alive with interest again.

"I have a mission for Remus, if he'll take it, although I must stress that it's absolutely imperative." Albus sat down in the armchair again, crossing his legs, a pair of emerald green dragonhide boots poking out from underneath. With a sigh, he began. "Remus, we have intelligence that Fenrir Greyback has returned from Siberia."

"What?" Remus said, starting. "When – have there been any attacks?"

"Ah, excuse me, but who's Greyback?" Tonks asked, butting in.

With a mild look of reproof, Dumbledore said, "He's a werewolf, but more than that, he's notorious – he worked with the enemy during the first war, too. He is responsible for many savage attacks, during the full moon or out of it, and he has a penchant for attacking small children – as Remus can testify."

"Oh Merlin," Tonks said, putting a hand to her mouth. Her nails were still clawlike, perhaps in sympathy.

"Quite. Severus has testified that Greyback is back – he's been seen at Death Eater summonses."

"I thought – he worked freelance the last war – so…"

"He has taken the mark," Dumbledore said. "As soon as rumors of Voldemort's return were confirmed, he rushed back to England, and Voldemort is in need of followers to swell his ranks. Greyback was compelled to do something by a power greater than he, which has not made him happy. In any case – yes, Remus, there has been an attack. A little girl, Sarah Pepper. She is – she is not expected to survive."

Remus had his head in his hands, but he looked up long enough to say, "What can I do?"

"We need a spy," Dumbledore said bluntly. "As Severus works, so must you. It will be the same sort of task, too – information is more important than persuasion, at this point. I need you to enter the underground, through the few communities left in Britain. I need you to get as close to Greyback as you possibly can."

Remus was drawn, his narrow face a shade to match the streaks of grey in his hair, but he nodded. "I'll do it, Albus. When do I begin?"

"You begin," the Headmaster said, "as soon as Auror Tonks here can arrange for a little accident on your files with the Werewolf Registry. Remus needs to be completely under the ministry's radar – he needs to be immune from the normal pressures of the Department for the Control of Magical Creatures, at least as much as is possible. You have connections with Amos Diggory, correct?"

"That's right," Tonks said. "I was in charge of poor Cedric's case during that sham of an investigation. The Aurory didn't even bother to investigate whether Crouch jr. could have done it – just took it face value from the Minister! Well, it was go along to get along, those days…" Her face was a mask of disgust.

"Well, pay Mr. Diggory a visit, and see if he can be persuaded to look the other way if Remus misses his regular checkins and registry dates, that sort of thing."

"Gotcha," the young auror said. "He'd be willing enough to do me a favor, although this might be tough to wrangle – the man really hates dark creatures. He has a vampire stake and other … trophies in his office." She winced. "Dedicated to his job, Amos is."

"Remus, I'll be contacting you after the next full moon," Dumbledore said, rising. "Tonks here will be your Order contact – I'll have something discreet set up for you – but you'll have to rely on yourself as much as possible. An integrated man such as yourself will attract enough attention as it is."

Remus nodded, standing also. Walking quickly, he held the door for the Headmaster, who swept out into the dismal morning, his cloak billowing out around him.