A/N: Alright, everyone we're nearing the end now. Only a few more chapters to go. This one is the -big- one, by the way. Though, I have to warn you, it's gonna be cheesier than a Hilary Duff film. Scary, I know. However, I hope you can see past that and maybe…possibly…enjoy it : ) Thanks for all the awesome reviews!

Chapter Fourteen: The Accused

"Hurry up," scowled Wormtail, grasping my wrist, and finally dragging me from the cold chambers I had been left alone in for the last two hours. I had counted every second.

"I can't go any faster," I slurred, my tongue feeling fuzzy and large. I needed water.

Wormtail's scowl deepened, and he roughly shoved my into a small doorway, effectively banging my elbows on the edges. I pursed my lips to keep from crying out. I needed to save my energy.

The room in which we entered was eerie, and seemingly deserted. There was a large circle in the middle of the room, with a slight vacancy about it. I strained my pounding mind, searching for answers. I knew I had seen this design before.

As we neared the aforementioned circle, Wormtail quickly drew his wand, keeping me firmly attached with his right hand. As though he had done this a million times before, he touched the tip of it to his Dark Mark, causing the world to suddenly lurch from around us. I fell from Wormtail's grasp, and watched in dazed shock as numerous members of the Death Eaters appeared around us, some wearing their masks and robes, some struggling to put them on just as they arrived.

"What's this about, Rat?" one of the masked members addressed Wormtail, his voice prodding at memories in my mind. Quite rapidly, I placed the voice. Goyle.

"I've captured an Auror, and a present member of the Order of the Phoenix," he declared, looking about three shades whiter now that everyone's eyes were on him. "On the Dark Lord's orders, of course," he added quickly, almost as an impulse.

Immediately, the accusing eyes that were just moments before glaring at Wormtail turned to me. I could easily identify most of the culprits. Lucius Malfoy, McNair, and both Crabbe and Goyle Senior. My stomach tightened as my gaze fell upon Bellatrix Lestrange, who smirked madly as her eyes met mine.

"Ooh! It must be my lucky day," Bellatrix cackled, her high-manic laugh piercing the dull silence. "If it isn't ickle Nymphadora!" Her eyes shimmered and fell to my wrist. "Has she been branded yet?" she shot at Wormtail, paying no attention to his squirming demeanor.

Wormtail shook his head, eyeing me oddly. I turned my head to the ground.

"Goodie!" she cried. "Won't the Dark Lord be pleased when I commit my own flesh and blood? He has told me numerous times how surprising it is that I've been the only faithful Black to Him." She stared at me until I looked up, immediately regretting it as her black eyes sparkled disturbingly into mine. Her tone softened, and she leaned closer to me. "And you will be faithful to Him, now won't you, Dora?"

Shutting my eyes tightly I nodded, letting Bellatrix enjoy another maddening laugh.

"Wonderful!" she exclaimed, clasping my wrist tightly. I winced. She turned it over, tracing a small circle in my forearm. "Now – shall we begin?"

A trait I was sure I would perfect, I nodded, quickly and emotionlessly.

Bellatrix could only laugh.

---

I had never before noticed how beautiful the night was. The stars twinkled down on you, the moon shadowed you in romantic light and the cool night air breezed softly by your shoulder. It left you calm, perfected. No matter what had happened previously, it made you feel as if everything would be all right. Beautiful.

It was funny that that was the only thing I wished I could have as I lay against the cold stone floor, trapped once more in another numerous cave-like room. I didn't want help, or my friends, or anything I probably should. I wanted the night. I wanted the feeling that I would be OK.

I tried to move to my side, only to be stopped be the recurring blinding pain in my wrist. I winced, and clutched it tightly, cursing under my breath. I removed my grasp, and stared down on it, watching the black serpent pulse angrily, its eyes shimmering dangerously up at me. I shut my eyes, and turned to the wall, my hands clasped in fists. I tried to imagine the night. The air, the scene, the light. I couldn't. I couldn't do it. I was useless.

Wormtail had said it was tonight. He would come and get me soon, he had said. I would be ready. I would have to be ready. There was no room for exceptions. My Mark burned, pain searing through my veins. My fists tightened, and I slammed them against the hard wall. They were bleeding…I was bleeding. Good. The blood trickled down my arms, cooling the boiling pain. Good. Good. I could do this. I could.

A door to my left slammed open, and I started, whimpering and clutching my knees.

"You!" The voice spoke to me. I recognized it easily; Lestrange. "Up, you filthy Half-blood!" Obviously he held no remorse for me. I sat still, ignoring him. Letting out a low growl of annoyance, he drew his wand, and quickly sent a mild curse at me. I cried out, hitting the floor hard with my chin slamming against the cool stone. "Up!" he commanded, and I scrambled to my feet, trying to block out the searing pain in my jaw and wrist. "Follow me, you dirty miscreant." He turned away from me, heading towards the door. Feeling slightly dizzy, I followed him, concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other.

Dread flooded my vision as I tried to focus in on Lestrange's billowing black robes, turning sudden corners and seemingly walking in wavy lines. This was really happening. This wasn't a dream. I was going to kill someone. Someone I loved. I stopped, my heart and head pounding simultaneously and painfully. Someone I loved…

Lestrange glared at me. "Move!" he bellowed. I stood, awed, and just stared at him. I couldn't do this. Lestrange's eyes sparked at he started towards me, hand raised. Hard and quick, he slapped me across the face. I winced, and fell back against the wall. I lifted a hand softly to my cheek, feeling the tender wounded area, and quickly brushing away one lone tear that had fallen. Lestrange turned, and begin to walk. I followed him, my cheek burning.

He came to a large door, with numerous locks securing it tightly from intruders. Why anyone would be in this cave in the first place was beyond me. He quickly drew his wand, and muttered numerous incantations. The locks quickly snapped open, and pushed the doors forward.

The room before us was much like the one in which I had been branded in, mere hours ago. There was a circle to the left of the middle of the room, filled with numerous Death Eaters. To the right, there was Lupin, now awake, tied to a chair and staring blankly up at the ceiling.

My eyes stung, and my chest pounded with hurt as I looked on to the numerous scars and cuts covering his body. They were all new. I had done this to him. His teeth were chattering, and his robes with ripped and torn in many places. He was freezing. He could be seriously sick. My wrist throbbed. And now…I was going to kill him.

My knees weakening from underneath me, I collapsed onto the hard ground, tears blurring my vision. "I can't do this," I wailed. "Don't make me do this!" They were coming closer. "I can't do this!" I screamed again, wrestling and clawing at them as they attempted to pull me to my feet. "You won't make me do this, I can't, I can't, I can't!" I screamed in despair, watching as they swarmed around me, drawing their wands. This was it…

But instead of a spell, I felt a slap sting my cheek once more. My vision cleared, and I saw the haunted face of Bellatrix Lestrange staring down at me. "You will do this, you silly girl! Do not underestimate me, I can make matters much, much worse than they already are," she hissed, her expression stained with insanity and hate. "I do believe you have a father, girl. And…a few friends, if I'm not mistaken?" I couldn't bear to look at her. I knew without seeing her face that she was dead serious.

When I remained silent, she slapped me once more. "Answer me, you good for nothing little bitch!"

"Yes!" I cried, exasperated. My head and wrist throbbed, temporally blurring my vision again. I swayed, but desperately caught my balance. "Yes…I do. I'll do it. I'll do it, OK." My voice wavered. This was the end.

"Good." The Death Eaters around me parted, save for Wormtail, who was desperately avoiding my gaze.

"Draw your wand," he whispered, his hand shaking slightly as he pointed his wand vaguely in my direction. I did as he said, tears threatening to fall once more. I could barely hold my wand in my hand, I was shaking so much. "Now get it over with." He turned away from me, but I continued to watch him.

"He was good to you," I muttered, not caring if he heard me or not. "He was your friend and you betrayed him. You betrayed them all. You don't deserve to hold that wand. You just don't deserve anything." Shakily, I stumbled to my feet, nearing the spot where Lupin sat. As I left Wormtail, in my delirious state, I thought I could almost hear him mumble, "I'm sorry."

Lupin's eyes were still on the ceiling, as if he hadn't heard any of what had just happened. I was sure he did. He heard everything. The lump in my throat grew consecutively larger as I neared him, gripping my wand tightly in my hand.

I noticed Lupin also had a wand in his hand. I drew in a shaky breath. Voldemort always seemed to insist on a fair duel. Though, being beaten to a pulp and tied to a chair with only a wand for protection that he was probably too tired to use was hardly 'fair'.

As I came within ten feet of Lupin, I stopped. It would be too painful any closer. Any closer and I would see every agonizing second of his pain…

Tearing up once more, I stared down at the ground, letting a few tears fall before straightening up. I had to do this. I had to do it.

"Hurry up!" screamed one of the Death Eaters, shooting a curse at my back. I faltered, but straightened up quickly, drawing my wand out in front of me. Two or three Death Eaters cheered, and Bellatrix giddily exclaimed, "How proud the Dark Lord would be to see such a satisfying way to destroy true love." She laughed madly at her comment, and felt a chill run down my spine. I was actually doing this…I was actually doing this…

Panic sweeping through my body, I glanced behind me, looking desperately for an escape route. I needed to get out. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't…

Soundlessly, Lupin's eyes fell from the ceiling, landing firmly on mine. They held a ghost-like haunted quality but they were still his. Dammit, they were still his. A shiver ran down my spine, and another tear fell. His deep eyes were calculating me, as though he held an understanding about me that even I failed to see. I shook, and began to lower my wand. I wouldn't do this. But as my arm fell, Lupin shook his head. He dropped his own wand, and I winced as it clattered to a stop. His eyes were pleading with me now. Pleading with me to do it. I let out a shaky sigh. No, no, no. Why was he making me do this? Why were they making me do this?

I tore my eyes from his, only to catch sight of his lips. He was mouthing, slowly but surely, "Please."

Shutting my eyes tightly, I raised my wand. I pushed all thoughts out of my mind, but I couldn't stop my hand from shaking.

"Do it!" screamed a Death Eater from behind me, shooting another curse my way. I fell forward; a thin green stream of light exiting my wand. As I hit the floor on my knees, I refused to open my eyes, my hand still clasped tightly to the wand. Minutes seem to pound by, my whole body aching and screaming.

Finally, with all the last of my strength, I opened my eyes, feeling the tears that had been building up stream down my cheeks. But as my vision focused, I saw not the limp body of Lupin, but the very much alive one, with his hands held out in front of him, quietly handling the spell before him.

With a gasp, I realized my wand was still producing a spell as well. Our two lines of green connected in mid-air, creating a thick line of red.

"What is this!" screamed Bellatrix from behind me, sounding insanely angry. "What the fucking hell is this? Why isn't he dead? What the hell is this!"

Panting, I searched my mind for an answer. I couldn't think of one. I had never seen anything like this before in my life. I must have gone insane, and this is my delusion.

"Is it Priori Incantatem? Are their wands brothers?" somebody called out.

"No, no, no," replied Wormtail, sounding almost annoyed. "I-I've seen that before…it's…different."

"Oh, shut up, Wormtail, what do you know!" screamed the voice of Bellatrix, now in hysterics. "There must be some…explanation…for this…" I heard her footsteps near us, and I tried to look back, all the while concentrating on keeping my wand steady, as it seemed to be shaking violently in my hand. She stepped towards the ray connecting us, and drew her wand, attempting to break it. "Stu –" before she could even finish, an invisible force threw her back. Now raging, she ran at it again.

"Stop!" cried Wormtail from the crowd. Bellatrix turned to him, seething. "Don't!"

"Why not, rat?" she screamed, glaring at him. "What, am I to believe this is the power of true love bonding them?" she sneered, throwing her raven black hair back behind her shoulder.

The crowd went exceedingly silent. I felt myself pale. This was too insane for any delusion.

"Oh, come on!" she shrieked. She pointed her wand at the connection, but this time was thrown back before she even opened her mouth, hard, onto the far wall. The Death Eaters stared in wonder and astonishment as a trickle of blood fell from Bellatrix's forehead. She was unconscious.

"What do we do?" one of them questioned, his voice unsure. Just as he spoke the words, the connection became much harder to control, and I gripped my wand even more tightly. From the look of concentration of Lupin's face, I could see it was the same on his side.

"Oh, move aside," I could see the figure of Lucius Malfoy making his way through the crowd. "This is ridiculous, I –"

But he was cut off by the sudden spark of light from the center of the thick red bond. Vaguely, images started to appear. As I tried to make it out, my wand began shaking out of control. I winced out and knelt down, hugging my wand tightly to prevent me from losing grip. Lupin was struggling to keep the connection in his hands, as well. He looked like he was in another place.

Suddenly, a quiet voice broke through the silence. It seemed to belong to the vague images floating above us.

"I know you may not feel the same way…but I feel I must confess. I…I love you."

I gasped. Merlin. That was my voice. This was my conversation. It was the day…the day I told Lupin I loved him. My skin prickled at the odd realization. I had never known this was even possible.

"Nymphadora…"

It was Lupin's voice now. I bit my lip, suddenly not wanting to relive this event, especially not with half a dozen Death Eaters watching.

"If you don't feel the same just say." My voice was cracking with emotion. I sighed deeply.

"It's not that, but…"

"Then let's try…try being together. You never know…"

"I do know, I'm sorry Nymphadora. I can't."

The shadowy figures dissolved, and then reappeared, in slightly different positions.

"I'm sorry…for everything…I love you. I do. And…if you still want to…I believe we could perhaps…give this a shot."

I drew in a shaky breath. I could see now I was going to be forced to relive every particularly emotional moment between Lupin and I.

"Remus," my voice cut through the awkward silence. "You have been an idiot. You have made my life hell, and caused my to experience a low that I never knew I could achieve." I could remember how scared I had been when I said those words. But how happy I was at the chance of finally getting to say them.

"Nymphadora, I cannot –"

"Remus, please, just let me finish. You've put me through that, and yet I still love you. That tells me one thing. You're the one I'm meant to be with. You're It. But…in order for this to work…you have to want this as much as I do. And, if you don't…I suppose…I suppose I can understand…"

"Nymphadora?"

"It's really OK…I know that –"

"Nymphadora?"

"Yes?"

"Stop talking."

"What?"

The two silhouettes above us moved closer, and you could just make out the fact that they were kissing. As they image faded once more, I tried to ignore the small shiver that ran down my spine. That had been our first kiss.

A new image appeared, but this time with only one figure present in it. I could tell from the size it was not me.

There was a small noise suddenly produced, a knock. The figure quickly moved aside and opened a door, letting another figure in.

"What are you doing here?" The first figure commanded. It was Lupin's voice.

"We need to chat, Lupin." I did not recognize the voice, but I could tell from the tone that it was not a friendly man. "Have you done what I requested?"

"Not yet…I am working towards it, but…what you have asked is exceedingly difficult, sir…"

The second figure snarled. "Exceedingly difficult? It is a woman, Lupin. All I am asking is for you to dispose of her. Simple and easy."

"Sir, I just…you don't know of the situation…"

"Oh, do you 'love' her, Lupin?" cooed the second figure in a mock baby voice. But his tone quickly lowered, dangerous and rough, as he leaned into Lupin. "Dump the girl, or I'll kill you both."

The second figure straightened up and left the room quickly, leaving Lupin slumped down, hands covering his face.

A new image quickly appeared, and I could feel dread rush through my veins. I did not want to see another one. Please, please not another one.

My heart broke just as Lupin's voice broke through the silence, "It's over, Tonks."

But as soon as the memory started, it ended, as the actual Lupin thrust away from the bond, bellowing, "Now!"

Confused, I looked around. In the corner, I was shocked to see all of the Order charging at the circle of Death Eaters, wands shooting spells as quickly as possible. I looked back over at Lupin, who was still tied to the chair, but was quickly trying to untie himself.

Rushing over, I rapidly undid the ties myself, handing his wand back to me. He jumped to his feet, brushing himself off.

As he straightened up, I couldn't help but feel tears pound at the back of my eyes. "I'm sorry," I croaked, my voice shaky.

He lifted his head, staring my right in the eye. He was still, his expression nonchalant. "Not right now, Nymphadora."

I nodded quickly, and we both charged on to the crowd of desperately fighting Death Eaters, finally willing and ready to fight to the death.

---

A/N: Uh…yes, well, that's that. First note: Obviously the "true love bond" is NOT canon in any way shape or form, I build that out of my own cheese, and from JKR's brilliant Priori Incantatem.

Second note: How Bellatrix branded Tonks is also not canon. It is assumed that Voldemort gives the Dark Mark to his followers, so sorry if that is AU.

Third note: The second "unfriendly" voice that Tonks doesn't recognize is Fenrir Greybacks.

Thank you for reading, pleeeeease review. Come on. You know you want to. Just press that little button down there. It's that easy. Special mention in next chapter to first reviewer!