Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor can I berry sotter.
Chapter 22: Ministry Mayhem
Her breath almost caught in her throat as she walked forward. It would have, but the potion took that as an act of sabotage and would not allow it. She couldn't meet anyone's staring eyes, for if she did, all would be revealed. She stared dead ahead, face like stone, waiting for the Scrimegour to come dashing from his office.
He did. Wild haired and wide-eyed he approached her with loss of words. Time slowed down. Tonks was painfully aware of everything that was surrounding her. She felt the protection wards go down, even though she was the only one who noticed. Her last seconds ticked away, Macnair and Alecto were almost in. Her death would come swiftly after that. All she had was seconds.
Suddenly, there was a different feeling to the air. More were coming. Tonks felt it. This was not just a small, yet important, mission; this was to be an ambush. Voldemort did not trust Snape after all. Tonks had to do something; potion be damned. Tonks fought with all the might she had. Alecto and Macnair appeared behind the Minister, who was only feet away. Tonks stopped mid-step and tackled Scrimegour as two streaks of green light shot at them. They barely missed Tonks', leaving her back singed.
Screams issued. It had all happened so fast. Harry Potter, after being missing for months had shown up at the Ministry of Magic only to be attacked by Death Eaters. Tonks turned her head sharply to where Alecto and Macnair had been. Their cold dead eyes stared up at her from the floor. Avada Kedavra. Tonks turned her head towards the now revealed Snape and Draco. They stood, faces masked, wands drawn. Tonks thought that they had to be upset, for there was a lot to be upset about. Snape's potion had not worked as it was supposed to, he and Draco had both missed their marks and Voldemort had left them out of his plans.
Before Tonks had much time to wonder, the attack started. Tens of Death Eaters appeared. More screams issued as Tonks grabbed at Alecto's wand. In a movement more fluid than she could normally manage, Tonks whipped herself up off Scrimegour, ready to fight to whatever end.
Confusion radiated off the walls, from both Ministry workers and Death Eaters alike, but that did not stop spells from streaking the air. Tonks dodged a hex as she sent a stunner towards a tall Death Eater who was about to kill Allen Morris of the Magical Transportation Office. She turned violently, taking on all Death Eaters within range.
Hex after hex she fought on, but not without bearing wounds. She only just missed many of the curses that shot at her, leaving scorching marks and lacerations upon her skin. She did not have time to curse the Ministry's incompetence. She would have thought that after last time (in which she was captured) they would have had better wards and security. A bitter note struck her and she laughed right out loud as she duel with whom she thought to be Glifton.
"Now, love, I know you can do better!" he taunted as he sidestepped her hex.
"I didn't think it would be fair to, seeing that Voldemort sent only his most incompetent servants," retorted Tonks. This was more than just a jibe, Tonks was fairly sure that none of the top Death Eaters were there, excluding Snape who was there for reasons of trust.
"Love, that wasn't nice. You should by all means be dead," said Glifton ducking under her next spell and sending one right back. " I can't say I'm disappointed though."
"Protego!" said Tonks, casting her shield and casting a stunner along with a bat-bogey hex for good measure.
Glifton was down before she could retort. Tonks turned to find another Death Eater. She had not realized it, but she could tell that there were more Death Eaters about than there had been. Reinforcements had come. Oh, happy day.
Tonks struck them down as quickly as she could. The incompetent ones were fairly easy, but Tonks dreaded coming to arms against Lucius or Bellatrix.
Aurors flooded in, taking stand, removing the dead and injured. Tonks saw Kingsley give her a look of surprise out of the corner of her eye as he shot a spell at an oncoming figure. Tonks turned to fight with yet another. Down they went one by one.
Tonks was not able to tell whether or not Snape and Draco were still there. She didn't know which way she preferred it: to have them get away, or to have them there, fighting for the Dark Lord. She finally decided that she wanted them there. She also was not sure she would want to have to duel Snape. While revenge would be sweet, she knew he was very powerful, that he could probably bring her down with a flick of his wrist. Tonks then berated herself for being so pessimistic.
He knew something was not right.
Tonks turned to see Voldemort glide into the room with further reinforcements. Someone had notified him of the problem, that she was not dead. Damn, she thought. That was just what she needed, the bloody Dark Lord in the Ministry; it was bad enough with just the Death Eaters.
Panic spread through the Atrium. Some witches and wizards ran, while others stood steadily, ready to take on this evil foe. Tonks steadied herself as well. She knew if more help did not come, they would all be dead.
Tonks felt something then. It was a sense of respect radiating from the very people she fought along side. No, not everyone had it, but Tonks realized that many, although they did not agree with Voldemort, respected him, his lust for power, his persistence and his dominance. Tonks was pissed off. With those thoughts, even those who fought for the good, the 'light,' side fed Voldemort. Their fear and respect made him stronger. Tonks would have none of that.
She stood out from her peers and looked Voldemort defiantly in the eye.
"I told you that the bell will toll for you," he said calmly, but with unspoken malice and irritation. "I do not go back on my word."
"Mr. Riddle," said Tonks mockingly. "You need to deflate your damn ego for a while and realize that your words are nothing more than the prattling of a little boy who takes out his anger on others because he lost his toy broomstick."
If his red slit eyes could look anymore wrathful, they would have at that moment. People gasped at Tonks' reckless boldness.
"Crucio."
Tonks barely avoided the curse as Voldemort shot it at her. "That's right, kill the messenger. You know, anger displacement is common in baboons. Each wants to act as if they are the toughest bully on the playground, so they pick on those weaker than themselves."
"Avada Kedavra!"
This curse hit the wall above Tonks' head, creating scorch marks on the wall. Tonks new that she would be dead soon, but that did not stop her from carrying on. "I guess we all know who the baboon is in here…"
There was a snicker with Tonks' lingering statement. This broke everything. Tonks had succeeded in breaking her peer's awe and respect for Voldemort. Although that did not make him any less dangerous, it did weaken his hold, his power. Tonks grinned and commenced duel with the Dark Lord as all forces of chaos raged around them.
If Tonks had really thought harder about what she was doing, she would have berated herself for her stupidity. She was disposable now; Voldemort had no reason to keep her alive and every reason to kill her. And then she had given him even more of a reason to kill her. Smart, very smart, to infuriate the Dark Lord and then start a duel with him.
Tonks then realized something else. She still had the appearance of Harry Potter. No wonder Kingsley was surprised. Harry Potter wasn't supposed to be here. Now all the members of the Order thought that this was it, the time of either Voldemort's demise or the end of all this is good and wholesome. Tonks cursed herself for not changing back. If she wanted to live, though, she could not change since she risked her concentration, which she dearly needed.
Thus, Tonks continued dueling with Voldemort as Harry Potter. She continued to jeer at him, making wise cracks, which slipped easily off her tongue.
"Oh, come on, you can do better than that!"
"Sectumsempra!"
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A/N: As always, thank you to everyone for reading with an extra special thank you to everyone who reviewed. As for the next chapter, I will try to have it up next week, but if not, it will be a few months. I apologise for the oncoming delay, but there is little I can do.
Thank you,
---Perplexity
PS:
Red-Devil15: Thank you for the review; it gave me an idea. Also, yes, suger is really good.
fahzzyquill: Eh, I think fate can be very mean, but even if not everyone is completely oblvious, who would point anything out?
WAYAMY27NARF: And you thought Chapter 21 was a cruel cliffie? I am sorry about that, but that is the way I prefer to write. Insert evil cackle here
