Chapter Thirty-Five – The Dragon Reserve

Tonks was woken by a sudden jostle in the bed.

"Severus?" Tonks asked lazily. She patted his side of the bed and felt the warmth where his body had just been.

There was no answer. Tonks stretched her arms over her head and waited for an answer. Severus was silent. Sighing, Tonks sat up and slowly got out of bed.

Severus was sitting on the couch, hunched over, as if he was an extreme amount of pain.

"Severus?" Tonks asked gently. She sat down next to him and started to put her arm around him. Severus shot up and walked across the room.

"Please don't touch me, Dora," Severus said roughly. Only then did she see that Severus was clutching his left arm.

"You're being summoned?" Tonks asked, confused.

He nodded, and grimaced. "Every day for a few hours," he said finally.

Tonks immediately felt awful. She knew from experience that if you ignore the Dark Mark, it gets more painful each passing minute, until it felt like your entire arm was on fire.

Severus sat back down and started rocking back and forth. "I tried sleeping through it," he whispered. "Not working. Why don't you go back to bed?"

"I don't mind waiting up," Tonks told him. Severus nodded and gave her hand a squeeze with his right arm. "Has this happened every night?"

"Yes," Severus said. "I just need to wait it out." He leaned back and Tonks wrapped her arms around him. Occasionally, he would have a burst of extreme pain, put Tonks would hold him until it would pass.

Finally, two hours later. The pain was gone. Together they headed back to bed. She looked at the clock, and saw he would only be able to get two hours of sleep before he needed to get up again.

That's when Tonks realized Severus might not work for Voldemort anymore, but he would never truly be free until Voldemort was destroyed.

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Tonks was sitting in her cubicle at the Ministry trying to catch up on some paperwork. She didn't notice the stares and the odd glances she had been given all afternoon.

There was a knock on her cube and she turned around quickly.

"Oh," Tonks said, not quite sure what she expected. "Hello Mad-Eye."

"Is it true you've been saying overnight in Snape's chambers?" he asked loudly. "That's what the Aurors who've been guarding him have been saying."

Tonks groaned. She had just known that that was going to come back and haunt her. Tonks and Severus had talked more, and had decided that secrecy was still important, even though he had been discovered. Now she was going to have to lie.

"It's no one's business," Tonks said haughtily.

"Talk to me in the hallway, Tonks," he said briskly.

She had half a mind to stay were she was. Mad-Eye had no business to boss her around like a child! But then he looked at her with his eye, and Tonks stood up. She trailed him out into the hallway like she was about to be punished.

Before Mad-Eye opened his mouth, his eye whirled around in all directions, making sure they couldn't be overheard.

"Have you lost your mind, girl?" Mad-Eye said accusingly. "He's twice your age and a Death Eater!"

"He's not a Death Eater, Mad-Eye. You heard about what happened," Tonks said angrily. There had been an emergency Order meeting while she had been in the Hospital Wing.

"It's not good for you to entangle yourself in an emotional relationship at this point of the war," Mad-Eye started.

Tonks took a breath, and started the series of lies she decided on. "Snape and I have just become good friends, that's all," Tonks started.

"Good friends that stay the night?" Mad-Eye asked.

Another lie. "I didn't stay the night. We set up the floo network so that I could leave, and then Snape disabled it again," Tonks said wearily.

"That's dangerous," Mad-Eye growled. "What if a Death Eater tried to floo in?"

"At the exact moment I flooed out?" Tonks asked, raising an eyebrow. "I very much doubt it."

"I still don't like it," Mad-Eye said.

"Oh, don't talk to me about emotional relationships, Mad-Eye," Tonks said exasperated. "I've heard the rumors about you and Tannika Wordsworth. What do you have to say about that?"

Mad-Eye suddenly became very interested in a corner of the hallway.

"That's what I thought," Tonks said. "Mad-Eye, we might not be here tomorrow. Let's just enjoy the life we can, eh?"

"I don't mean to lecture…" Mad-Eye said. Tonks grinned. She knew that would be the closest to an apology that she would get. But it was plenty.

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"What's going on?" Tonks whispered to Molly Weasley. An emergency Order meeting had been called. It seemed like they've been having far too many meetings like this lately.

Albus stood by the fireplace, looking upset. "We're just waiting for someone," he said to the crowd that had gathered in the parlor of Headquarters.

Tonks looked across the room and smiled at Severus, who was standing in the corner with his arms crossed. He and Albus had come up with a plan for allowing him to leave Hogwarts and come to Headquarters. They made an untraceable direct Floo network connection. It was quite brilliant actually.

It also solved Tonks and Severus' problem of being seen by his guards. The connection was set up in Tonks' old room at Headquarters. They could go back and forth at will. And since it was a direct connection, they didn't have to worry about someone grabbing them in the middle of traveling.

Everyone in the room jumped to their feet as someone appeared from the fireplace.

"Charlie!" Molly Weasley cried out. "Have you been hurt?"

The red-head shook his head. "We'll say hello later, Mum. I have some disturbing news."

Tonks looked right at Charlie and waited for him to talk. "In the last two days, the Dark Mark has appeared next to the Dragon Reserve three times. I've talked to a few of my buddies, who've I tried to recruit for the Order. We all think the same thing. You-know-who is trying to steal some dragons."

There was a collective gasp from the room. Tonks closed her eyes. She never liked dragons. When she was small, she and her parents went to Romania on an educational vacation. Tonks held a baby dragon in her arms, and then suffered pretty bad burns when the baby dragon burped. She hadn't cared for them since.

"It would be almost impossible to transport the dragons, wouldn't it?" Kingsley asked.

Charlie shook his head. "It's easier than you'd think. We brought four dragons to Hogwarts for the Tri-Wizard Tournament without any trouble at all," Charlie informed them. "There are special cages, which you then disillusion. Quite simple, actually."

"Great," Tonks muttered under her breath. She looked at Molly, whose eyes had filled with tears. Tonks patted Molly's shoulder, and was rewarded with a small smile.

"The Reserve doesn't have the money to hire extra security," Charlie went on. "I've tried explaining to them how important it is to protect the dragons. But they're so far removed from the threat that they just don't get it."

"I wish we could spare some people," Albus said. "But we're dealing with enough as it is. Keep watch, Mister Weasley, and we'll have to hope that they don't have the means to steal the dragons."

"That's what I came to say," Charlie said simply.

"I have dinner in the kitchen, if anyone wants some," Molly said. She then stood up and rushed over to Charlie. A wave of sympathy washed over Tonks. She couldn't imagine having five sons in the Order, with Ron and Ginny practically honorary members. Molly was an amazing woman.

Tonks made her way over to Severus. "Stay for dinner," she said softly.

Severus shook his head. "I'm not wanted here," he said matter-of-factly.

"I want you here," Tonks said. "Eat Molly's bloody dinner. She works hard, making dinner for everyone. The least you can do is eat it."

"Fine," Severus said, with a hint of surprise in his voice. "I'll stay for dinner."

They walked towards the staircase to the kitchen. Tonks noticed the glances between members. Severus never stayed for dinner. However, Severus went downstairs while Tonks ran upstairs to get her parents, who had already moved into Headquarters.

Tonks and Severus sat on opposite ends of the table. To his credit, Severus did start a conversation with Emmeline Vance. Tonks was sitting between Remus and Bill Weasley. Next to Bill was Charlie. Molly had her arm wrapped tightly around his shoulder.

"Anyone have exciting plans for Valentine's Day?" Tonks asked, trying to get everyone's mind off of misery around them. Valentine's Day was just two days away. She and Severus didn't really have any plans, since he couldn't go anywhere.

"If it's anything like last year, we'll all be cleaning up Death Eater attacks," Remus said glumly.

"Bloody hell, I forgot about that," Tonks said, shaking her head. She looked down the table at her parents, who had been listening to her conversation. Tonks' mum blinked back tears, and her dad stroked her hair. Tonks' parents had been attacked in their home last Valentine's Day.

"I wonder if they'll try something else this time." Bill asked.

"Who knows?" Tonks asked. She promptly changed the conversation to something more pleasant.

A bottle of wine was opened, and the evening passed quite enjoyably. At least for her. She wasn't quite sure about Severus. But then the night was ruined quite quickly.

"There's been an attack!" Kingsley shouted from upstairs.

Everyone stood up and formed a line to get upstairs as quickly as possible. Tonks gave her parents a smile as they continued up to the second floor.

"What's happened?"

"It's happening now," Kingsley said quickly. "Hogsmeade. Tonks. Mad-Eye. Emmeline, we're needed now. Everyone else is more than welcome to help out."

Tonks felt someone squeeze her hand. She looked up and saw that Severus was next to her. Tonks bit her lip. "Are you going to fight?" she asked worriedly.

"Not this time," Severus said softly. "Hopefully you can all have it under control."

"Good," Tonks said, her heart able to beat again. It was too soon after Severus had been discovered. The emotions on the Death Eaters side would be too strong. She just knew that he would be killed the moment he apparated to Hogsmeade.

"I'll see you later tonight," Severus whispered. Tonks nodded, and ran outside with other Order members to apparate to Hogsmeade.

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Hours later, Tonks walked back to Hogwarts with an assortment of characters. She was tired, and weary and ready to lay down a have a good cry for a while.

The Three Broomsticks had been burned down to the ground. At least three people had gone down with it. Madam Rosmerta had been amazing. She kept going back into the fire to save her patrons. She was in St. Mungos by now, with some serious burns, talking about rebuilding already.

A member of the Order had been killed. Dedalus Diggle was killed right in front of Tonks, unceremoniously, using a cutting charm to the throat. Some of his blood had sprayed into her t-shirt.

Tonks walked slowly, as she was holding onto the arm of Minerva McGonagall. The transfiguration professor had been hit with two separate body bind curses. Professor Flitwick was walking on their outside. He was crying softly. Apparently, he and Dedalus had been related. She hadn't quite heard how.

Hagrid was walking slower than she ever saw him. She supposed he wanted to stay with the group, and not walk too far ahead. Fang was right at his side, limping, holding up his wounded leg and not putting any pressure on it.

Albus was still in Hogsmeade, talking to Madam Bones and Arthur.

"I wonder why I thought Hogsmeade would be safe," Professor McGonagall said out loud. "He never attacked it during the first war."

"They probably want to get closer to Hogwarts," Tonks said softly.

"They will, too. I heard a few people say they're going to move," Professor McGonagall said briskly. "If no one's left, Death Eaters could take over the town."

Tonks didn't want to think about that possibility. After twenty minutes, the group finally made it to Hogwarts. Tonks walked Professor McGonagall to the Hospital Wing. Severus was there, waiting for them.

"Is that your blood?" he asked worriedly. Tonks shook her head.

She started to walk out of the Hospital Wing when Professor McGonagall stopped her. She looked around, and saw that Madam Pomfrey was in her office. "Could you go to breakfast as Albus tomorrow, Tonks? I know he's going to be worn out after tonight."

Tonks thought it over. She still hadn't done a full body morph, just small changes like the sky blue curls she had right now. "I'll try," Tonks said finally. Professor McGonagall nodded.

Severus left with Tonks. He seemed to understand her need for silence right then. When they were away from the main corridor, he took her hand. Tonks held on to his tightly. When they were in their room, Tonks took off her t-shirt and threw it into the fire. She did the same thing with her pants.

"Those were your favorite pants," Severus said, rubbing her shoulders.

"Not anymore," Tonks grimaced, choking back tears. She watched as her clothes slowly turned into ash. "Those pants have seen too much death."

She heard Severus turn down the bed while she went to change into some pyjamas. Severus was sitting on the bed, still fully clothes, looking more troubled then she had seen him in a long time.

"Severus?" she asked softly.

"I can't believe I'm about to say this…but I wish Sirius was alive," he said softly.

Tonks raised her eyebrows quickly. "What do you mean?" she asked, sitting down next to him.

Severus turned away from her. "I need to apologize to him. When he was shut up in Headquarters, all I did was make fun of him and throw it back in his face. I never understood how hard it must have been. But tonight…watching you all leave to fight, and then having to stay behind…I didn't like that."

She took his hand and brought it gently to her lips. "I know it's hard, Severus. I haven't gone out as myself since Nata was kidnapped."

"At least you can go outside. You can leave the castle," Severus said wearily.

"And you will be able to again when this is over," Tonks said, leaning her head on his shoulder.

"Someday."