Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor am I warry of water.

Chapter 25: Testifying

Adjusting to all the sudden changes was quite difficult. Tonks wasn't able to go back to work, even after she was released from St. Mungo's. Instead she was required to testify against all the Death Eaters that were captured. Not too surprisingly, Snape, Draco and Wormtail were yet to be found. This nagged at the back of Tonks' mind.

She was horribly out of everything. She had found out that she had been at Spinner's End for well over a month, that everyone had thought her dead. She was quick to point out that she wasn't dead, despite the fact that everyone was tiptoeing around her, acting as if she was fragile, that she was practically on her deathbed. Needless to say this pissed Tonks off.

What was worse was that no one could explain anything to Tonks. She wanted to know what potions Snape had given her, she wanted to know who killed Bellatrix, she wanted to know how the hell she was still alive. She needed answers or she would soon be driven mad and no one seemed to understand that. "It's all over now, there is no need to worry about it," they told her. By the third time it was all Tonks could do to stop herself from hauling off and punching him.

Tonks sat in room off of old court room number eleven. The whole of Wizemgot was there for the trial of Lucius Malfoy. Tonks, of course, was required to testify. While she was glad that Lucius would finally answer for all he had done, she really didn't want to be there. Perhaps it was because of the previous ten testimonies she had had to give, or perhaps if was because of the daunting fact that she still had twice as many left.

She sighed; this would be a long case, Lucius being one of Voldemort's top followers. While Tonks hadn't disagreed with such deliberation before, after the other trials, she didn't see why they couldn't just chuck him in Azkaban and have it through with; it was not like there was any possibility that he was innocent.

Then again, for Sirius's sake, she had to understand that giving a trial was important. Tonks sighed again.

"Tonks, are you alright?"

"I'm bloody fine, Remus," said Tonks with frustration. Remus Lupin, whom she formerly was infatuated with, was one of those who was treating her in a most infuriating way.

"The last two months must have been extremely difficult for you, I know, but it will soon be over," said Remus soothingly, patting her on the back.

"I'm going to get some tea," grumbled Tonks.

"I'll come with you."

"No, you'll stay right there! I can get it myself," growled Tonks. She stormed off, cursing the world for bringing such an infuriatingly pleasant person like Remus Lupin into her life.

Tonks returned with ten minutes to spare. She wouldn't even look at Remus. He, unfortunately, took this as reason to open his mouth.

"Tonks, it'll will be alright. Don't be nervous," he said, just to be ignored. "I'll be there and Lucius will be in chains; he won't be ale to get to you."

Tonks looked at Remus appalled. He was really thick. "I am not stupid, Remus."

"Of course, you're not. I never said so, but it is natural to be nervous before these things. I know you'll do fine."

"Yeah, seeing that this is my eleventh testimony." Tonks rolled her eyes.

"I'm the one being stupid, aren't I?" said Remus. Tonks nodded. "I'm sorry. I suppose I have just been really worried about you. I mean, we all thought you were dead! When you were captured, I just…I just had trouble handling it. What I mean to say is, I really care about you."

Tonks sighed. Too damn nice, she thought before facing him. "Remus, I care about you too, despite the fact that you are one of the more irritating men I have ever met. Now, will you just shut up for a while?"

"Sure," said Remus with a small grin.

The testimony went alright. Tonks didn't care a bit that she was receiving death glares from Lucius. She just went up, told the truth and sat back down. The trial however seemed to go on forever. By the time they had decided on 'guilty,' the day was gone. Sentencing would commence the following day.

"You did well," said Remus afterward.

"Its all in the wrist," said Tonks offhandedly.

"Tonks have a question," stated Remus with no sense of sureness.

"Shoot."

"Do you still have feelings towards me?"

Tonks looked up at Remus; she answered carefully. "Remus, I cannot say I do. You mean a lot to me, but I think I have realized that we are better off friends. Before you say anything—this has nothing to do with your claims that you're 'to old, poor and dangerous.' About that, I couldn't care less."

"An old man always realizes his mistakes too late," said Remus with a sad smile.

"What was that?" asked Tonks distractedly.

"Nothing, nothing at all. How about I take you to get a drink?"

"Alright, but I am in no mood to go anywhere reputable."

"Hogshead it is."

"I'm buying."

"I hate to break this to you, but that would defeat the point of me taking you to get a drink."

"I don't care. I am buying," said Tonks to end the matter.

Hogshead with busy that night with the usual, which meant unusual, crowd. While Remus grabbed a table, Tonks went and ordered drinks. She felt awkward. Before she felt fine in most situations, but now she felt out of place everywhere.

For a while it was rather uneventful. There were some goblins in one corner playing cards and some hooded figures whispering in the other corner. It was a typical night at Hogshead. At least it was until Remus had to open his big fat mouth.

"Tonks, I know this will be hard for you, but please, will you tell me what happened to you? Minerva would tell me much and said that you refused to tell anyone any details. It is not healthy for you to keep it all bottled inside. It will drive you mad."

"Piss off, Remus," said Tonks, turning her attention to the warlock whom was entering the pub.

"Tonks, please?"

"You are not going to leave me alone about this, are you?"

"No."

"Well, I'll either have to leave, or tell enough to appease you. As I am not finished with my drink, I will tell you a short version, if and only if you promise to leave me alone about it."

"Alright, I won't bother you again tonight about it."

"Fine. Here it is. It was knocked out in captured in the Ministry attack. I was taken to Spinner's End, residence of Mr. Severus Snape and temporary living space of Draco Malfoy and Peter Pettigrew. I was there for a while, Voldemort decided to use me. I was taken to his headquarters to be mocked, tortured and hexed into doing his will. I was sent into the Ministry as Harry Potter so that Severus could kill me so that the world would lose hope. The rest is history," said Tonks, not bother to pause to let Remus take anything in.

"Wait, wait. You were held captive by Snape?"

"Yes."

"And Peter?"

"Well, you can't really count him on doing much except polluting the world with his body odor," said Tonks dismissively.

"And you were tortured?" said Remus quietly.

"Yes, evil wizards seem to have a knack for that."

"The Cruciatius?" he asked.

"Some, yes," answered Tonks dismissively once again.

"Worse?"

"Yes."

"What?" he croaked.

"Somnium dulcism."

Remus shuddered and quickly embraced Tonks with strong arms. Tonks frowned and pried Remus off of her.

"How could you survive that? It is a fate worse than death. It hasn't been used in hundreds of years! Goodness, who would even be able to brew it."

"Severus Snape?" offered Tonks.

"I'll kill him the bastard!" said Remus, a little loudly.

"Look, Remus, there is no need for you to get worked up over this. I got over that part. Yes, it was bad. No, I will never forget it, but I am not weak, I can get passed it."

"But—"

"No more, you agreed."

Remus struggled with himself before saying, "Fine, no more tonight."

"Thank you."

The evening went on better from there, but little did Tonks and Remus know, there was someone in the shadows that had heard their conversation, that watched them with sharp, narrowed eyes. He made up his mind that he had to act tonight or he would go mad. He had already made the mistake of letting it go before.

Silently he slipped out of the shadows and out the door. Finally, a plan formulated in his mind. Perhaps it was not a good plan, but it would do.

He lay in wait.

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A/N: And as fast as lightning I update. Okay, prehaps it wasn't that fast, but I would say that I did pretty well. I have two more chapters and an epilogue left to post, but they need extreme editing. Thank you to everyone for reading with an extra special thank you to everyone for reviewing.

---Perplexity

PS:

About the man in St. Mungo's: I apologize for the confusion. I will leave you all to figure it out yourselves, but I will say he was disguised.

Corsets and Guns: I am you like my story and the mortal slave part is intriguing, but as for steamy Snape/Tonks romance, I point-blank refuse. Sorry to disappoint, but I just can't write streamy romance. I also apologize for driving you bananas, sort of.

Niko's Lover: Consider my day brightened.

cmtaylor531: All, or at least some, will be revealed in the end, my friend.