Tonks Disapparated from her mother's front lawn, arriving directly into the Hog's Head. Upon arriving, she heard another pop at her side, and brandished her wand only to find an elderly woman with a colorful outfit.
"Who're you?" Tonks demanded.
"Augusta Longbottom," the older woman replied. "I'm here to join my grandson, Neville."
"You're – the Longbottoms?" Tonks asked, mouth open.
"And just who are you?" Augusta asked sharply.
"An Auror," Aberforth interjected. "One of the best, like your own. Get in here."
Tonks stared at Augusta and Aberforth but followed Ab's command to go in through the portrait hole.
"Seal it once you're both through. I'm sending everyone else through the grounds," Ab grunted. "I'm off to fight myself."
Tonks nodded, and she joined the surprisingly energetic woman next to her through the passageway and into a bright, albeit almost empty space.
"GINNY!" Tonks shouted, upon seeing the youngest Weasley. "What are you doing here? Where are we?"
"The Room of Requirement," Ginny replied glumly. "I was told I couldn't fight, but I could stay here." Ginny scowled.
"You're not of age, Ginny," Tonks reminded.
"And you're supposed to be at home!" Ginny retorted.
Tonks' hair flashed red. "Remus needs me," she replied harshly.
Just then, the door to the Room of Requirement opened and none other than Harry Potter himself was walking into the space.
"Ah, Potter," Augusta said crisply, as if she had been waiting for him. "You can tell us what's going on."
"Is everyone okay?" said Ginny and Tonks together.
"'S far as we know," said Harry. "Aret here still people in the passage to the Hog's Head?"
"I was the last to come through," said Augusta. "I sealed it, I think it unwise to leave it open now Aberforth has left his pub. Have you seen my grandson?"
"He's fighting," said Harry.
"Naturally," said Mrs. Longbottom proudly. "Excuse me, I must go and assist him."
With surprising speed, the grandmother trotted off toward the stone steps.
Harry looked at Tonks, who felt the burning of the pendant ever more strongly at the base of her neck.
"I thought you were supposed to be with Teddy at your mother's?"
"I couldn't stand not knowing…Mum'll look after him – have you seen Remus?"
"He was planning to lead a group of fighters, mostly Hufflepuffs, into the grounds—"
That was all it took for Tonks. She sped off, not bothering to hear any more of Harry's conversation with Ginny. She had to find Remus. Her husband. Her mate.
She sped off, with Ginny at her heels. The damage to the castle was eye-watering. There were broken hunks of stone strewn throughout the corridors, the staircases, and the lawn. Tonks could see a giant or two in the grounds, swinging clubs around. Stone knights were barraging their way through crowds of Death Eaters.
Screams, flashes of lights, and jets of flame surrounded Tonks. She and Ginny paused at each window to send hexes and jinxes to those they could see approaching the castle, clearly clad in Death Eater robes.
Tonks ran into Aberforth again as he was praising Ginny for her especially good aim.
"Have you seen Remus?" she called after Aberforth.
"He was dueling Dolohov!" Aberforth shouted. "Haven't seen him since!"
"Tonks," said Ginny. "Tonks, I'm sure he's okay—"
Tonks didn't bother hearing what Ginny had to say. The pendant was burning into her skin, indicating that Remus was not, in fact, okay. He was hurting – likely dying – and Tonks had to find him before the pendant grew cold.
She ran down every staircase from the seventh floor corridor, waving her wand to knock anyone and anything out of her way. She was careful to avoid those fighting for the Light, but didn't hesitate to knock back enemies with a flick of her wand. She had one goal, and it was to find Remus.
Tonks ran out from the Great Hall, her senses assaulted by the sights in front of her. Bloodied, broken bodies were strewn on the bloodstained grass. Death Eaters, crumpled and likely dead, were slumped against trees, boulders, and the stone walls of the castle.
Tears sprung to Tonks' eyes as she saw young bodies intermingled with the Death Eaters' – lifeless, pale, and unseeing, still-young Hogwarts students were lying dead on the scorched grass.
Soot, ash, and the stench of burned flesh reached Tonks' nose. Where the burning flesh came from, Tonks didn't want to know. The metallic, coppery tang of blood intermingled with the burnt flesh, nauseating her.
Still, she had one goal: find Remus.
Screams and shouts rent the air. Flashes of light came from every direction – some green, some red, some purple – all carrying various hexes, jinxes, and curses from one wand to another. Tonks deflected everything that came her way. She had no interest in acting in the offensive. She was there to defend herself, and find Remus.
Tonks heard Remus' hoarse, stressed voice. "Kill me!" the anguish cut to Tonks' heart, and she ran in the direction of his strained sound. Whoever was torturing him was going to suffer, she vowed.
"No, don't kill him," Tonks groaned. "Whoever it is, have mercy." Tonks ran as fast as her legs could carry her in the sound of Remus' agonizing screams. She'd heard them too often from his transformations – this, at the hands of someone else, was unacceptable. Her mate was in pain, and whoever was causing it was going to regret the day they were born.
Tonks finally saw Dolohov sneering over her husband's battered, almost unrecognizable body. Remus was still screaming and howling in distress. The Cruciatus Curse.
"I'm begging you, end it now!" Remus' broken voice called through the air.
Tonks was nearly there. Dolohov was smirking, holding his wand high above Remus' body, as Remus writhed in agony.
"KILL ME!" Remus begged, crying in pain.
"I'm enjoying myself," Dolohov said lazily.
Remus was still screaming; Tonks' heart broke to see him bloodied and broken, thrashing on the bloodstained ground, at Dolohov's hands. Dolohov's sadistic smile at Remus' pain sent the last nerve of fury down her spine.
She met Dolohov's gaze and uttered the curse without thinking twice.
"Avada Kedavra," Tonks cast, with every ounce of hatred directed at the Death Eater.
Dolohov crumpled over, and Remus' screaming stopped instantly.
Tonks rushed to Remus' side and she gasped at seeing his body. Her pendant was still burning, which meant he was still alive, but he was pale and twitching, bleeding profusely from his many wounds.
"I've got you, Remus," Tonks said hurriedly. "I'm here to help. I'm going to help you, sweetheart. Stay with me, please, please stay with me." Flashes of light still shone all around them, and Tonks quickly disillusioned them both and cast the strongest shield charm she could so she could attend to heal him.
Remus was now unconscious and unresponsive. Tonks' heart fell as she began unpacking her first aid kit. She unpacked the Dittany first, and began liberally smearing it everywhere Remus had been cut. She wasn't sure if had been Dolohov's doing, but his face and neck were slashed beyond recognition.
Tonks emptied one bottle of Dittany. Remus was still pale. His breathing was still erratic, but he was breathing. Tonks then unpacked the single vial of Blood Replenishing Potion, and tipped it down Remus' throat. He coughed and sputtered as the liquid went down his throat, and Tonks massaged his chest to help the liquid down. Her hands were now bloodied, after having spread Dittany all over his battered frame.
Remus was still weak. Her pendant was no longer burning hot, but it was uncomfortably warm against her skin. The battle raged on around them. More bodies had fallen around them; Tonks had hardly noticed the thudding of warm, soft bodies against the bloodstained grass, or the thumping of crumpled frames against hunks of stone.
"You're going to be alright, Remus," Tonks said frantically. "You're going to come home. You're going to be with your family. Just stay with me, sweetheart, please."
Remus was still unconscious and unresponsive, but he was breathing. He was alive. Tonks felt torn between leaving his side and joining the battle. She hadn't given thought to what she would do once she found Remus, and now that he was barely healing on the battlefield, she couldn't find it in herself to leave him. What if someone else hurt him?
The battle stormed on. The scent of fire and burnt flesh hadn't left. The sights of bloodied, mangled, and pale bodies were still in Tonks' periphery. The screams – the anguished cries of torture, pain, and loss – continued breaking the night's silence.
I will fight for us, Tonks decided. I'm fighting for you, for me, and for Teddy. Tonks cast more protective charms around Remus, doing her damndest to keep him as safe as possible while he remained in his unresponsive state. Her pendant was uncomfortably warm, but not burning hot. She would accept the warmth, as it meant he was still alive. His heart was still beating under that battered, broken chest.
Tonks stood, ready for attack.
"If it isn't my little niece," Bellatrix sneered. Tonks whipped around to see her aunt. Bellatrix's eyes gleamed with manic joy upon finding Tonks.
"Fuck you," Tonks spat, beginning to cast curse after curse in her aunt's direction.
"I heard you have a little brat of your own," Bellatrix mocked. "To think you couldn't have sunk lower than to mate with a beast!" Bellatrix sent spell after spell in Tonks' direction. Her recent baby weight was making her uneasy and slower on her feet, much to her chagrin.
Tonks dodged the curses as best she could, but Bellatrix was merciless.
"Crucio!" hissed Bellatrix, and Tonks screamed in agony.
Every nerve in Tonks' body was crying out in pain. A thousand white-hot knives were cutting into her flesh. Her body was on fire, being beaten senseless, being ripped apart limb from limb.
The pain stopped momentarily, and Tonks stood up, casting every shield charm she could think of to keep Bellatrix at bay. The task was proving harder than she anticipated. Every time Tonks thought she might have bested Bellatrix, her Death Eater aunt would come back with another Dark curse.
The edges of Tonks' clothes were becoming singed with the near-misses of curses she was receiving.
"You and your abomination will die together!" Bellatrix cackled. "Pity your mother isn't here to see this!"
"Avada Ked—"
"NO!" Tonks screamed, summoning a boulder in front of her.
The Killing Curse hit the boulder at full force, smashing it into bits before Tonks' eyes. Small shards of stone assaulted Tonks' face, and the stinging of the many cuts on her cheeks and forehead obscured her vision.
"Avada Kedavra!" Bellatrix cackled, and Tonks' heart jumped out of her chest, fearing she had been too late.
A different, soft thump landed at Tonks' feet. She looked down and saw – Alfie.
Tonks was flabbergasted, but stepped over Alfie's body to continue fighting against Bellatrix.
"I didn't realize my little niece had so many suitors," Bellatrix sneered. "A slag, are you? With your little beastie to play with?"
Tonks' fury only increased at Bellatrix's words and she cast more curses towards her aunt. She had yet to feel the same rage at her aunt that she had felt at Dolohov, but her fury was rising, dangerously close to murdering her aunt.
Before she was able to do anything more, Bellatrix fired another curse at her – one she was unfortunately familiar with.
Tonks fell over, clutching her side and gasping in agony.
"Unlike last time, no beastie to the rescue!" Bellatrix cackled. "Slow and painful, just what you deserve!"
Tonks was gasping for air. She had been hit with the same dark, paralyzing curse Bellatrix had given her nearly two years prior at the Department of Mysteries. That time, she had been unconscious for most of the curse's effects. Now, she was feeling the paralysis at her lungs and heart, making each breath painful.
"When you are cold and dead, I will deliver you myself to your mother," Bellatrix jeered, stomping her boot on Tonks' head.
Tonks' eyes burned from the pain of Bellatrix's boot against her skull, compounded only by the slow paralysis threatening to take over her body.
She lay there, in the fetal position, several meters from the disillusioned Remus, wondering if she would make it out alive this time.
…...
Tonks was floating. The night sky above was calm and quiet. She was floating somewhere, but she was unsure where. Soft, hushed voices reached her eardrums, but she couldn't figure out where she was.
Wherever she was, it was a pleasant place, or so she thought. Soft, soothing, hushed voices. A comfortable place to lay. Calm, quiet, twinkling sky. Wherever it was, Tonks looked forward to staying there.
She heard her name, first up close, and then from far away. Who was calling her name? Was it her mother? The voice wasn't familiar, but it was pleasant too.
Her thoughts were disjointed. Where was she? Why was she there? Who else was there with her?
She tried to vocalize a name, but nothing came out of her mouth. She found she was quite unable to say anything, and so she stayed silent.
Tonks felt something soft and soothing on her body now. Was it at her head? Her hands? Nothing made sense anymore, but she didn't seem to care. She was comfortable.
Sounds became clearer. There was…crying? No…sobbing. It was weeping. Bitter, anguished weeping. That wasn't a very pleasant sound.
There was moaning and groaning. Those sounds weren't very pleasant either.
Tonks' chest began to hurt. Whatever had she done? She hurt herself somehow.
Muffled, concerned voices buzzed at Tonks' ears. Why was it so loud?
Tonks lay on the surface, finding it was becoming less comfortable by the minute. Sounds became louder. Whatever had been touching her body before was now attacking it. Rough hands? Calloused hands.
Tonks tried to open her eyes, but herself unable to. She tried to move; that didn't work either.
A hoarse voice. A sweet, soothing voice. A high-pitched wail. Incessant weeping. Anguished sobs. Everything was becoming louder.
"Eyes," a voice said.
Tonks tried to open them again, but couldn't.
"Hear us?" another voice said.
Tonks tried to speak, and her lips failed her too.
"Try," the first voice said.
Tonks felt something extremely uncomfortable on her chest and uttered a groan.
"Oh, thank Merlin," Tonks heard someone sobbing.
Tonks made more unintelligible sounds as she felt more uncomfortable pressure at her chest.
Whoever was sobbing had not yet stopped, and Tonks felt moisture on her face. She tried smacking the moisture away but her arms were useless. Her eyes still hadn't opened.
Something brushed the moisture off her face, thankfully. Her eyes were struggling to open.
"Stay with me, Dora," she heard. Dora…that's what…oh! Remus! How could she have forgotten? She was trying to find Remus!
More moans escaped Tonks' mouth, though she had not meant to say anything.
"Sweetheart, stay with me," Remus cried. Tonks struggled to stay awake. Her whole body hurt now, and everything was decidedly unpleasant. She drifted off into unconsciousness.
…...
"Are you fucking kidding me? Expelliarmus?" Remus huffed. "Of all the fucking spells, he chose Expelliarmus?"
Tonks could hear Remus now, more clearly than before. There were new voices, new sounds, and a new sensation in her body. It was unpleasant and uncomfortable.
"It worked, didn't it?" a new voice replied. Tonks wasn't sure, but she thought it might have belonged to a Weasley.
"Mmrphm," Tonks moaned. Her eyelids felt heavy, and she was forcing them to open.
"DORA!" Remus cried.
"R-R-Re….mus," Tonks stammered. Her eyelids opened slightly to see Remus inches away from her face. His face was bloodied and scarred. There were new scratch marks on his face – how did they get there?
"W-where – am – I?" Tonks asked, struggling with each syllable.
"Hogwarts, sweetheart," Remus said hurriedly. "We – we did it, Dora. We won."
"That's – that's nice," Tonks said weakly. "Hurts."
"Of course, darling, I know," Remus said. "You and I both almost died tonight."
"Mmm," Tonks said, still feeling the effects of whatever had injured her.
"Take this," Remus said, pressing a bit of cold glass against her lips. Tonks resisted at first, but Remus insisted. A warm, almost sweet liquid tipped down her throat. Someone must have held her head up to tip the liquid into her mouth. Remus' calloused hands were massaging her chest to bring the liquid down more easily.
A new wailing reached Tonks' ears. It was loud, piercing wailing. Who is making that racket?
"NYMPHADORA! WHERE IS SHE?" Tonks groaned upon hearing her mother's screeching. The wailing…wailing? Teddy!
Tonks attempted to sit up, but her efforts were futile. She slumped back, but Remus was right behind her, keeping her somewhat upright against his chest.
Tonks' eyelids were becoming lighter, and she fluttered her eyelids open to see her mother rushing towards her, with a neon-orange haired thing wailing at her.
"Teddy?" Tonks asked, still bleary eyed.
"Teddy!" Remus shouted. He nearly got up that moment, until Tonks nearly fell back. He readjusted himself, reaching his arms around Tonks and up to Andromeda.
"He's been wailing for hours," Andromeda said impatiently. "Your son needed you."
Tonks looked up at her mother, still at a loss for words. Andromeda shoved the wailing mass into Tonks' arms.
Tonks looked down at her son, her Teddy, disoriented.
"What am I doing?" Tonks asked blankly.
Andromeda pulled out a bottle filled with some liquid, and handed it to Tonks. The younger witch was still confused, and so Remus reached his arms around Tonks to begin feeding the wailing mass.
Minutes passed, and the wailing stopped. The neon-orange haired infant changed to a pale yellow haired infant, and settled comfortably in Tonks' arms.
"I'm so confused," Tonks said, looking up at her mother, then back at her son, and holding her husband's hand. "I know who he is, but something is wrong."
"You need to rest and heal, Dora," Remus said firmly. "You were nearly paralyzed by the time you were discovered. I'll tell you about it when you're healed."
"Mmm," Tonks murmured. She looked down at her son, and held him close, kissing his forehead. "I like him," Tonks mumbled.
"When can she go home?" Andromeda asked.
"We'll try the Floo," Remus replied. "I'm going to have to give her Dreamless Sleep."
"No," Tonks muttered half-heartedly. "I need to fight."
"The battle is over, Dora," Remus reminded her. "I'll tell you about it when you're better. I promise."
Andromeda bent down to take Teddy.
"No," Tonks said more forcefully. "My baby."
"It's just your mum, Dora," Remus said gently. "She's going to help us go home, okay?"
"I want to hold my baby," Tonks insisted. Her brain was still foggy, but she was insistent about this. She wasn't letting her son out of her sight again.
"Alright, Dora," Remus said tiredly. "You'll hold our baby. Can I give you something that will help you hold him?"
"Mmph."
"I'll take that as a yes, then." Remus brought another glass vial to Tonks' lips, and tipped her head back slightly to allow the liquid to go down her throat. It was vaguely familiar, and Tonks' eyelids grew heavy again. Before she knew it, she saw no more.
…...
Tonks woke to find a tuft of brightly colored hair in her eyes. Fine, brilliant emerald hairs were moving against her forehead. Her eyes drifted upwards but she only saw her own natural mousy brown staring back at her; the emerald must have belonged to someone else. Teddy.
"Hi, baby," Tonks whispered groggily. Teddy was sleeping too, his soft breathing interrupted only by light snores. Tonks looked up, bleary-eyed, and found another tuft of hair looking back at her. This tuft was sandy brown and peppered with grey. Remus.
"You're awake." Tonks looked up again to find her mother staring back at her. Andromeda had dark circles under her eyes; her normally plaited hair was looking wild. Almost like…Bellatrix. Tonks gasped, backing away from her mother.
"It's your mother, Andromeda," the Bellatrix lookalike said gently.
Tonks stared back at Andromeda, still wary of the lookalike.
"Let me show you," Andromeda said gently. The Bellatrix lookalike picked up her wand and cast "Expecto patronum!"
A white swan emerged from the tip of Andromeda's wand and bounded throughout the space. Tonks stared at it, openmouthed. She had never seen her mother's Patronus before, but she knew that the only Death Eater who could conjure a Patronus was Snape.
What if Snape had taught Bellatrix?
Tonks still looked up at the lookalike, fearful. Andromeda's gaze softened slightly, and she began to speak slowly and kindly.
"You are my daughter, Nymphadora Andromeda Lupin. You are married to Remus John Lupin. You gave birth one month ago today, the seventh of April, to my first grandchild, Edward Remus Lupin, who we affectionally call Teddy, after his grandfather. You and your son are Metamorphmagi. Your father, Edward Tonks, died in March. Remus went to the Burrow and came back with his body. Your husband is a werewolf. The last full moon he transformed and stayed the night in this room with you and your newborn son. I was terrified for you all, but Remus kept Teddy calm and quiet. You wear a Blood Magic pendant around your neck connected to Remus' magic and life, and you saved his life five days ago at the Battle of Hogwarts. I have a Blood Magic bracelet tied to your magic and life, and it was only through this that your life was saved. You are home now. My daughter, you are alive, healing, and home."
Tonks' eyes began to water and she began crying, now finally believing the lookalike was indeed her mother.
"Mum," Tonks cried, reaching out to her mother. "I'm so sorry I left."
"We can discuss that later," Andromeda said gently. "I have some potions for you."
Tonks felt nauseous but gingerly sat up as Andromeda tipped several vials down her throat.
"What is all this?" Tonks asked, after finishing the last vial. The effects of the potions were taking place.
"Strengthening Solution, Wit-Sharpening Potion, Pepper-Up Potion, Anti-Paralysis Potion, and a Restoration Potion."
"What the fuck happened to me?" Tonks asked, still feeling weak.
"We almost died," Remus said hoarsely, now stirring from Teddy's other side.
"I have potions for you as well, Remus," Andromeda said briskly. She handed Remus another set of vials. Remus was already stronger than Tonks and took each vial himself.
"Tell me what happened," Tonks said, now feeling more determined. "Please."
"We won," Remus said, still strained, but smiling. "Dora, we won."
Tonks whooped softly in the bed, startling Teddy. The baby began fussing, but Remus took Teddy into his arms, and began rocking him. Teddy's hair changed from its brilliant emerald to a soft periwinkle.
"Please, tell me," Tonks repeated. "I want to know. I-I think I killed someone."
"You did," Remus said gently. "So did I."
"You're both alive," Andromeda said. "The ones you killed were threatening your lives."
"Tell me already," Tonks said, forcefully. "Wh-Who's alive?" It had yet to sink in that if she and Remus had almost died, others had certainly lost their lives. Images of slain bodies littering the Hogwarts grounds suddenly came to mind.
Andromeda sighed, but sat down at the end of the bed and looked up at Remus expectantly.
"Several students lost their lives," Remus said somberly. "A few professors as well. A few on our side."
"Who?" Tonks demanded.
"Of the professors, Sinistra, Vector, Babbling, and Snape," Remus said slowly.
"Snape doesn't count—"
"There was a lot more to Snape than met the eye," Remus said carefully. "He was on our side. Harry will tell us more when he's ready, but he assured us that Snape never defected from the Light."
"Huh."
"Right, so…that's the professors. I don't know if you knew any of the students, but we lost several from each of the Houses."
"What about the Order?" Tonks whispered.
"Fred Weasley," Remus said quietly. "We lost some Aurors too, who had come to defend the castle."
"Al—"
"Alfie Wallace sacrificed his life for yours, Dora," Remus said solemnly. "We don't know how or why, but he threw himself in front of a Killing Curse for you."
"I never forgave him," Tonks said, her chin quivering.
"It's alright, sweetheart," Remus said soothingly. "He wasn't the only Auror who died. Proudfoot and Savage died too, along with some of the Hogsmeade shop owners."
"Harry?" Tonks asked tentatively.
"He, Hermione, and Ron are all alive," Remus smiled. "They did it. Harry killed Voldemort himself."
"Did you hear that, Teddy?" Tonks said excitedly. "Your godfather is the hero of the Wizarding world."
"We all owe Harry our lives," Remus said somberly. "He's keeping to himself right now, at the Burrow. He promised to stop by next week to see us. He met Teddy briefly when your mother came to get us."
"Say more, please," Tonks begged. "Tell me everything you know."
"Right," Remus said tersely. "I left first. I was at the Room of Requirement and Harry was looking for something belonging to Ravenclaw. He promised he'd tell us what it meant when he comes by to see us. I've no idea, even now."
"Arthur, Kingsley, and I each took a group of students out to the ground to fight. I had the pleasure of being with Hufflepuffs," Remus smiled. "They were thrilled to learn I'd married a Hufflepuff, myself. Three of them – Hannah, Susan, and Ernie – saved my life first."
"We will get them each a lifetime supply of chocolate," Tonks interrupted.
Remus chuckled, still slightly grimacing from his own injuries.
"You're hurt," Tonks whispered.
"I almost died, too," Remus said quietly. "When we got to the grounds, it was weaker, newer Death Eaters coming at us first. They were easy to fend off. Some of them I killed without thinking about what I was doing. I was knocking them back without bothering to care what happened. I…feel guilty about that."
"You did what you had to, Remus," Andromeda interjected. "The Hufflepuffs I spoke to said that if you hadn't been deflecting the Death Eaters, even more of them would have been injured or killed."
Remus looked down at Teddy, appearing deep in thought. He exhaled forcefully, and pressed a kiss to Teddy's forehead.
"I thought about those students, and how much their parents would've wanted them alive and home," Remus admitted. "I thought of Teddy, and how badly it would hurt to lose him. I…lost some control there."
"You did what any parent would have done," Andromeda said curtly. "You are very likely the reason some of those students made it home alive at all, Remus. Don't feel ashamed of what you did."
"Mum's right, Remus," Tonks said. "You saved their lives."
"It'll take some getting used to," Remus said cryptically. "But, I'll go on. Fenrir showed up after several more Death Eaters. He snapped my wand in half."
"You don't have a wand anymore?"
Remus shook his head. "I'll have to get a new one when Ollivander is back in his shop. I should've kept the wands from the Death Eaters I disarmed, but I was angry and snapped each one I took, before I set fire to them. I didn't want any of them hurting the students any more than they already did."
"Such a Gryffindor," Andromeda said under her breath.
Tonks rolled her eyes and gestured for Remus to continue.
"Fenrir began attacking me. I'll spare the gory details, but suffice it to say that we bloodied each other up."
"I remember that," Tonks said suddenly. "You were soaked in blood."
"Fenrir attacked me and nearly ripped my throat out," Remus said hoarsely. "I strangled him to death. I snapped his neck with my bare hands."
"Wow," Tonks breathed.
"I tell you I killed a man with my bare hands and you say 'wow'?" Remus asked incredulously. "Why aren't you terrified of me?"
"I'm assuming you had a good reason to kill Fenrir," Tonks shrugged.
"He threatened you and Teddy," Remus said softly. "I won't repeat what he said, but it was enough to make me murderous and follow through with it. I can't say I regret killing him, as guilty as I feel about it sometimes."
"He was threatening you and us," Tonks said firmly. "I know you wouldn't have done anything unless it was necessary."
"Right…well, I had just finished off Fenrir when Dolohov came by. He tortured me – the Cruciatus Curse."
"That's when I found you," Tonks recollected. "I found you writhing in pain."
"I was begging him to make the pain go away and just kill me," Remus said ruefully. "The pain did stop. I thought I had died. The last thing I remembered was a flash of green light."
"I killed him," Tonks sighed. "I had that same murderous impulse from seeing Dolohov torture you. I hated him so much, Remus. It took almost no effort to cast the Killing Curse. I've never done that before…"
"The mating bond," Andromeda said quietly. "You were each threatened, and each of you responded in kind."
"Is that really it?" Tonks asked, looking up at Remus.
"It must be," Remus admitted. "I killed Fenrir for threatening you and Teddy, and you killed Dolohov for torturing me."
"Bellatrix came after that," Tonks said. "But…I healed you first."
"You did," Remus said. "Hannah and Susan saw you healing me. I don't remember any of that. I was unconscious at that point."
"Then Bellatrix came," Tonks said softly. "We dueled and she cursed me with something."
"A curse similar to what you received at the Department of Mysteries two years ago," Andromeda said angrily. "My sister cursed you so that your body would shut down slowly and painfully by paralyzing every muscle in your body, including your heart and lungs."
"No wonder I hurt so much," Tonks said.
"I was unresponsive, and you were paralyzed," Remus said. "Voldemort called a temporary truce halfway through the battle and told the others to collect the dead. You and I were put on stretchers and counted among the dead, Dora."
"But…we didn't die?"
"Your mother saved us."
Tonks looked at her mother, staring up in disbelief. "How?"
"The Blood Magic bracelet," Andromeda said. "It began burning. I couldn't leave Teddy, so I sent a Patronus to Remus to check on you."
"Molly saw the Patronus arriving at my body," Remus said quietly. "She was grieving the loss of Fred, right next to us."
"I said in the Patronus that my bracelet was burning and that you were dying," Andromeda said, her eyes welling up with tears. "To save you before you died."
"Everyone thought we were dead, Dora," Remus said. "We were with the dead. Neither of us was responsive. We were pale and stiff. You, from paralysis, and me, from blood loss. When your mother's Patronus arrived, Molly and Poppy checked for pulses. They found our pulses, Dora. We were both just barely alive."
"Bloody hell, we – we could've died if mum hadn't sent that Patronus," Tonks whispered.
"If I'd never had that Blood Magic bracelet, I would've never known to have someone check on you, Nymphadora," Andromeda said, wiping away the tears from your eyes. "This bracelet saved your lives. Both of you."
"Molly attended to me first," Remus said. "Poppy noticed your paralysis straightaway and they worked together to tip every potion down our throats and revive us. I woke up first, as the truce ended. I tried to get back into battle but Poppy used a Sticking Charm to keep me on the stretcher."
"Thank Merlin for Poppy Pomfrey for preventing you from being a noble Gryffindor prat," Tonks muttered.
"I knew we had won when the Great Hall erupted into deafening cheers," Remus said, finally smiling. "I don't know how, but Harry killed Voldemort with an Expelliarmus." Remus snorted.
"Expelliarmus?" Tonks asked incredulously. "What the fuck was Harry thinking?"
"Language, Nymphadora," Andromeda said impatiently.
"Mum, I'm alive, let me fucking swear as much as I want," Tonks said angrily.
"Yes, well," Remus cleared his throat. "You woke up briefly and were confused."
"Mum handed me Teddy and I didn't want to let him go," Tonks said.
"Molly sent a Patronus as soon as it was safe for your mum to come get us," Remus replied. "You were delirious, Dora. The paralysis had gotten far enough to get to your brain. Poppy had St. Mungo's send us everything you'd had before when your aunt cursed you two years ago. It worked."
"What – what happened to her?" Tonks asked, afraid to learn the answer.
"Your aunt?" Remus asked. He looked up at Andromeda, who nodded.
"Molly killed her," Remus said. "Bellatrix threatened Ginny, and Molly killed Bellatrix."
"Don't mess with a mother," Tonks muttered under her breath, looking lovingly at Teddy. "Can I have him back?"
Remus chuckled and placed Teddy in Tonks' arms. She held her son, tracing her finger on his chubby cheek.
"Now that I'm a mum, I understand," Tonks said softly. "Bellatrix threatened him, too…Mum, I know she was your sister, but I'm so glad she's gone."
"I grieved the loss of my sister many years ago, Nymphadora," Andromeda said, sighing. "She hadn't been a sister to me in over twenty five years. As much as I grieved her loss then, I confess I only feel relief knowing she can't hurt you or our family anymore."
"She's gone," Tonks said in disbelief. "I…we're free, Remus. We're fucking free!"
"We are, love," Remus smiled. "We both need healing. Shacklebolt wants you back as an Auror, but he's forbidden you from coming back to work until July. Healers' orders."
"For the first time, I think I'm alright with not working for a few months," Tonks said softly, looking down at Teddy's face. "I'm not leaving this kid till we're all ready."
"There will be a meeting next week at Hogwarts, if you'd like to go," Remus said.
"Fuck yeah I want to go," Tonks vowed. "I'm taking Teddy."
"I think Molly would like that," Andromeda said. "She's grieving, and I think she'd like a baby around for a little while."
"We'll go," Tonks said, with a smile. "We're finally free, Remus."
"We're free," Remus grinned. "We're alive and free."
Tonks exhaled forcefully, releasing the tension from her body. Teddy's hair shifted to his favorite shade, a bright turquoise.
"We're home, Teddy," she whispered. "Mummy and daddy are home now."