Chapter Sixteen – Giants on the Move

Slowly, everyone gathered for the meeting. The parlor was packed. Tonks noticed a few new faces. It looked like Percy Weasley was finally allowed to join. Tonks had heard that Percy wanted to join a while ago, but the timing didn't seem right.

Severus entered just before then meeting started. He gave her a look of deep concern. She tried to smile to let him know that she was doing fine.

Albus started the meeting when Bill and Fleur Weasley entered the room in dramatic fashion. "Zere's been an attack in France!" Fleur cried, clutching Bill's hand.

Every eye in the place was focused on the pair. "In the Champagne region," Fleur said, sounding tearful.

Bill cleared his throat. "We just spoke to Fleur's parents. The French Ministry of Magic is frantic. Seven people were killed, all muggles."

"Death Eaters?" Albus asked sharply.

Fleur shook her head. "Worse," she said. "Giants."

Professor Dumbledore sat down quickly. "They must be making their way to England. That would be the only reason they were there."

"I didn't actually think the Giants would join You-Know-Who," Tonks heard Molly whisper to Arthur.

Albus looked lost in thought. Finally he spoke. "I will have Hagrid and his contact in France go and check into the situation."

"But-" Fleur started.

"The French Ministry of Magic is very competent. I'm sure they will be able to handle the situation. If it gets out of hand, then we will intercede," Professor Dumbledore said firmly.

They discussed the disastrous prisoner transport. The fact that forty prisoners were missing was alarming. Tonks had checked the list thoroughly and knew that not all forty were Death Eaters. However, there was no doubt in her mind that they would eagerly join the people who had gotten them out of Azkaban.

"Remus?" Albus said softly.

Remus stood up and addressed the group. "I have gotten the support of some werewolves. I will bringing five to the next meeting."

"That's wonderful Remus," Tonks blurted out. Remus gave her a small smile.

"Thank you, Tonks," he told her.

"The Goblins are willing to have a meeting with me," Bill Weasley said. He gave the group a grin. "Only took me a year and a half."

"The more magical creatures we get on our side, the better," Albus said.

The meeting ended not much later. Molly had made dinner and invited everyone to have some. She saw Severus leave without saying a word to anyone. Tonks declined, and ran up to her bedroom.

A moment later, Tonks appeared in Severus' bedchamber. Odd, she knew Severus considered the bedchamber to be 'theirs' but it didn't quite feel like home to her. Not yet at least.

Severus was waiting by the fireplace to help her up when she fell like normal.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, stroking her light blue curls.

"Better. Madam Pomfrey fixed me right up," Tonks said, settling herself onto the couch.

Severus sat next to her and put his arm around her. She winced slightly, her ribs feeling just a tad sore. Then she remembered.

"I have to talk to Draco," she said, slapping her forehead for forgetting. "He asked me to find out if Narcissa escaped."

"Did she?" Severus asked.

Tonks nodded. "She wasn't captured or killed, so I guess she's out," Tonks admitted.

Severus took a quick look at the hourglass on the mantle of the fireplace. "It's past curfew," he told her. "I don't think it's the best idea for you to be sneaking into the Ravenclaw common room."

She sighed, and nestled herself carefully next to his body. "You're probably right," she sighed. Tonks let out a big yawn. "I'm so sleepy."

Severus then tried to stifle a yawn of his own. "Me too," he said, laying his head on hers.

"Is it really possible that twenty four hours ago I was flying with the convoy?" Tonks asked, not quite believing it. Every hour felt like a week.

"I'm not quite sure how I got through the day," Severus admitted. "It helped that Potter melted a cauldron. There's something wonderful about taking House points away from Gryffindor."

Tonks patted his knee and yawned. "You do like to take points, don't you?"

"I took more points than any other professor last year," he told her. Tonks could hear a hint of pride in his voice.

"I'm too tired to get up and get into bed," Tonks complained. Which was true. Now that her body was relaxing, it didn't seem to want to follow her commands. She doubted she could morph if her life depended on it.

Severus sat up, being careful not to jostle Tonks too much. He stood up and grabbed her hand. "Bed," he ordered.

"Aye, sir," Tonks yawned. She started giggling as Severus then yawned with her. "Made you yawn," she teased.

He raised an eyebrow at her and started to get dressed for bed.

Ten minutes later, they were both sound asleep, arms wrapped around each other.

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The next morning, Severus had to practically force Tonks out of bed. Her ribs were aching. But he reminded her that she needed to talk to Draco, and she reluctantly got up out of bed.

Tonks entered the Great Hall and looked up and down the Ravenclaw table. Draco was sitting at the very end of the table, furthest from the Head Table. She was surprised to see a girl with long dirty blonde hair sitting across from him and talking happily. Draco would look up every so often and nod, or say something to her.

She tapped him on the shoulder. "Draco, a word?" she asked quietly.

Draco stood up quickly, and followed her out of the Great Hall. "Were you able to find anything out?" he asked worriedly.

Tonks nodded. "She wasn't killed, but she wasn't captured. So that means she's probably back with the Death Eaters," Tonks told him.

Draco's shoulders seemed to slump. "Thanks," he said softly.

Tonks put her hand on his shoulder. "Are you doing okay?" she said quietly.

Draco closed his eyes. "I hate it here," he told her. "My girlfriend dumped me, and only two people even bother to admit I exist. And one of them only does because his girlfriend makes him. I want to graduate and get out of here."

She was startled to see his eyes brim with tears. "Draco," she said. Without thinking, Tonks wrapped her arms around him and gave him a hug. His body seemed to stiffen at first, but then hugged her back fiercely.

"We'll get you through this," she told him.

Tonks heard him stifle a sob. Then he was all business, letting her go, and wiping his eyes. "I hope she's okay," he said finally.

"Draco, there's no doubt in my mind that she's fine," Tonks said, remembering the run-ins she had as Celeste with the woman last year. "If anything, Narcissa knows how to take care of herself."

That brought a small smile from Draco. "Mother was always able to hold her own with father," he said softly.

A silence settled between them. Tonks took the time to take a good look at her cousin. They didn't seem to resemble each other much. Draco had a long and lean face, like his father. Tonks took after her father, with her heart-shaped face and light blue eyes. Draco had the typical Black eyes, a steel gray. With a start she realized that he has the exact same eyes as her mother. And a lump came into her throat when she remembered that they were also Sirius' eyes.

She searched his face for a common thread between them. Then she found it. Their ears. Their ears were the exact same shape.

"Why have you been around so much?" Draco suddenly asked her.

Tonks slapped her forehead. "I didn't tell you, did I?" she asked. "I'm assigned here for work. I'm going to be here a lot."

Draco nodded, and seemed to think about something. "If you ever want to eat dinner with the students…"

Tonks knew what he was trying to ask. She decided to try to lighten the situation. "Why dinner? Why not breakfast or lunch?" she teased him.

"I have a bit of a pattern for those meals," Draco admitted. "But I always eat dinner alone."

"I'm sure I can find time to have dinner with you once in a while," Tonks smiled.

The bell rang. "My books are still in the Great Hall," Draco said as he walked away. "Thanks for finding out for me, Tonks."

"Anytime," Tonks yelled back.

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Later that day, Tonks walked slowly around the grounds. She had almost an hour to waste before she was going to meet with Professor Dumbledore.

She saw that the door to Hagrid's hut was open. Tonks walked up the steps and knocked on the door.

Fang started barking happily. Hagrid looked up. "Tonks!" he exclaimed. "Come on in!"

Tonks had never actually been in Hagrid's hut before. She smiled as she realized that all of the furniture was made to scale for Hagrid.

"Care for a cuppa?" he asked. Tonks noticed that he was packing clothes in a large travel case.

"I'd love one, thanks," Tonks said, jumping slightly to sit in one of the large chairs.

Hagrid moved slowly to one of the cupboards. "How d'you like it?" he asked.

"Two sugars please," Tonks answered.

She watched him fix to cups of tea, and bring a tray to the table. Tonks already small hands look positively miniscule holding the cup of tea.

"Rock cake?" Hagrid asked, holding a cake out.

"Thanks," Tonks said eagerly. She took a bite. Tonks was almost afraid that she broke her tooth, the cake was so hard. She gently put the cake back down, and took a large swallow of tea.

They talked easily, about Tonks' days at Hogwarts. She never gave Hagrid a hard time, like she had some of the other teachers.

"Are you going to France?" Tonks asked out of the blue. "Today?

Hagrid nodded. "Headed for Beauxbaton first. Then we'll find the giants. See if we can't reason some sense into them," Hagrid said. "I'm leaving at sundown."

"Good luck, they could be anywhere," Tonks said, letting her legs swing from underneath her.

"Well…we have a fair idea where they might be," Hagrid said. His eyes went wide. Tonks had the feeling that he said something he shouldn't have.

"How?" Tonks asked. "All we know is where they were. They could have traveled anywhere."

"Shouldn't have said that," Hagrid muttered under his breath.

Tonks suddenly had the distinct feeling that she wasn't the only one keeping secrets from the rest of the Order.