Chapter Thirty-Six – Countdown
"You're giving the spell away with your elbow," Tonks told Luna Lovegood. Professor Binns- Morgan generally ran the D.A. now, but she was unavailable tonight. Harry asked if Tonks would help out, and she eagerly accepted.
"I always give that spell away with my elbow," Luna said serenely. Tonks smiled; Luna didn't seem that put out by the criticism.
"Stupid elbows," Tonks said giggling. She stood up from the table she had been sitting on. "You're thinking too hard. Don't think before you cast the spell. If it comes out automatically, you won't have time to worry about arm movement. It will be natural."
Luna nodded. Neville Longbottom was standing across from her. Without warning, Neville raised his wand. Luna turned and shouted, "Expelliamus!" Neville's wand went flying across the room.
"That's the ticket," Tonks said, patting Luna on the shoulder. She continued walking around the room, giving out advice and pointers. After two hours, the meeting was over. Tonks started to leave, but someone stopped her.
"Tonks?" Harry asked softly. Tonks turned around and saw that there was a small crowd waiting for her. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville and Luna were standing in a close group.
"What's up?" Tonks asked easily.
"I need to tell you something. And I don't want you getting upset with me," Harry said. Tonks waved her wand and two small sofas appeared. They all sat down. Tonks saw that Harry and Ginny sat next to each other, and she had her hand on his knee. She was glad to see that their relationship was finally out in the open.
"I've become sort of an expert at Occlumency," Harry started. Tonks knew that; Severus told her about his progress. "And I'm getting really good at Legilimency."
"Good for you," Tonks said. "Those are good skills for you to have." She was quite curious to know what he had to say.
"I've started putting visions in Voldemort's head," Harry said. He looked scared, like he knew she was about to yell at him.
"What kind of visions?" Tonks snapped.
Harry looked miserable. "On Saturday, I sent him a vision of me sitting in The Three Broomsticks, with only a few people around me," he said softly.
"Oh my god," Tonks whispered under her breath.
"I think that's why he attacked Hogsmeade, Tonks. He thought I was there unprotected," Harry said, sounding upset.
"Why didn't you tell anyone?" Tonks asked in disbelief. "You can't keep secrets like this Harry!"
"I know!" Harry said. "I didn't mean for this to happen. I just wanted to see if I could actually do it."
"Six people were killed," Tonks said, her words halting.
"He didn't mean it," Hermione said, her brown eyes filling with tears.
Tonks buried her head in her hands. "Harry. I understand that you just wanted to find out if it would work. But too many people are risking their lives for you every single day to take risks! You can't take them for granted."
"I'm sorry," Harry whispered.
"Harry, this isn't your fault. The attack on Hogsmeade was very well planned, very organized. It wouldn't have been if he thought he could capture you. He would have gone in and out," Tonks said with a sigh.
"So you don't think it's my fault?" Harry asked slowly.
"My guess is that it was just a coincidence," Tonks said wearily. "I know you're working with Professor Snape. If you want to plant a vision, please Harry, talk to Severus first."
"Couldn't he have warned you all that there was going to be an attack?" Harry asked, looking angry. "Isn't he the great spy?"
"Harry, Professor Snape was found out three weeks ago. We no longer have someone on the inside. Haven't you noticed the Aurors following him?" Tonks sighed.
"So the Death Eaters can do whatever they want, and we won't know?" Harry asked. "How could he be stupid and get caught?"
Tonks knew she should defend Severus, but Harry looked far too upset for her to want to get into an argument. And then she remembered Severus' remark, that Harry needed a place to focus his anger.
"No one thought he'd be able to remain a spy forever, Harry. It's amazing that he escaped, that he wasn't killed," Tonks said. Then she added, "I'm going to go speak to Professor Dumbledore now about what you've told me. Would you like to join me? Or should I go alone?"
She wasn't surprised that all six students chose to go with her.
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The next month passed more quickly than Tonks thought possible. Apparently, realizing a spy was out of the Death Eater's inner circle gave them a new found confidence. They were averaging two attacks a week, on both Wizard and Muggle targets.
Professor Dumbledore requested that Severus stay at Hogwarts during each battle. Possibly because of the isolation, Severus was becoming more and more surly after each attack.
Severus became enraged after the Death Eaters attacked the nursing home his mother stayed at before she was moved. Eight elderly wizards were killed during the attack. His mother was safe though, tucked away in a different home. That didn't make him feel any better though.
There was also the matter of the dragons. Everyone in the Order knew it was just a matter of time before Charlie Weasley told them what they all feared: that several dragons had been stolen. Tonks almost felt a sense of relief when Charlie announced that five dragons had been taken. It wasn't as many as they thought.
Both Tonks and Severus started spending more and more of their evenings at Headquarters. It was very good for Severus, who needed a change of scenery now and then. More importantly, the evenings were spent discussing strategic possibilities.
Severus was convinced that Harry was ready to do something rash. He was considered an authority because even though Harry hated him, Severus did look into his memories at least once a week. Tonks made it a priority to have dinner with Harry and his friends every few days, and she completely agreed with Severus. His gang was hiding something.
"You don't think he'd be stupid enough to go out and fight Voldemort without telling anyone, do you?" Bill Weasley asked one night. He was holding Fleur's hand and stroking it gently. Tonks felt a pang of jealously wash over her. She wished that she and Severus could be demonstrative like that.
Since she and Severus were spending a lot of time at Headquarters, they generally did end up talking a lot. Word got out that they had actually become friends. Luckily no one suspected there was more to it than that.
Severus leaned back on the couch and put his hands behind his head. "I actually do. Potter is frustrated. As the deaths are mounting, he's beginning to blame himself, because only he has the power to get rid of the Dar…Voldemort," Severus told them.
"Surprise tactic," Tonks muttered.
Severus raised an eyebrow. "Care to share that with the rest of us, Tonks?" he asked. Tonks gave him a grin. Tonks was having her own fun with having to pretend with Severus. She tended to goad him more. And he was normally even more sarcastic back. She didn't like him calling her 'Tonks,' though. The name sounded wrong coming from his lips.
"Voldemort's conceited enough to think that Harry would never go looking him. I think Harry's just trying to end this on his own terms," Tonks said. "But the question is, is Harry ready?"
"Like the World Cup," Bill said softly.
"Which one?" Tonks asked. She saw Severus roll his eyes.
"Last one. Krum caught the snitch, but lost the game. He ended it on his own terms," Bill said.
"Fascinating as the quidditch comparison is, I believe we should discuss the real possibility-" Severus started but Fleur of all people cut him off.
"Harry loves quidditch. I know he respect Viktor," Fleur said.
"You don't think he'd let himself be killed to destroy Voldemort?" Tonks asked, her eyes wide. "How else would you interrupt catching the snitch but losing the game? Harry catches Voldemort, but loses his life."
"Do we even know what Harry has to do to vanquish Voldemort for good?" Remus Lupin asked quietly, speaking up for the first time.
Severus stroked his chin. "I can't be sure, of course, but I believe Potter thinks he knows what to do," he said slowly.
"We all know Harry can be rash," Bill said. "But do you really think Harry would just throw his life away?"
The next night, the entire Order gathered at Headquarters and started discussing the real possibility that Harry would go after Voldemort on his own. The most logical place to assume Harry would go was the Tom Riddle Mansion, which Voldemort still used as a makeshift base.
Severus gave everyone an idea where the Manor was. That way, people could apparate on their own, without needing a portkey. Mad-Eye said very loudly that he thought this was foolish, that the Aurors should take the Mansion by surprise.
But everyone else seemed to agree that this was the best course of action. Sooner or later, the Final Battle, as it was called already, would have to be fought. And it would be Harry's decision when it happened.
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A week later, Tonks and Severus were sleeping when they heard a knock on the door. Tonks stood up, put on Severus' dressing gown and went to the door. Professor McGonagall stood there, looking furious.
"There's been an attack at St. Mungos," she said angrily.
"Time to get up, Severus," Tonks said wearily. "Is it happening now?"
Professor McGonagall shook her head. "It's over. It looks like they knew exactly who they were going after. They were in and out," she said, her face softening.
Severus came to the door. "Severus," Professor McGonagall said, "Frank and Alice Longbottom have been killed."
Tonks never knew the Longbottoms, but stories of their bravery were still talked of in the Order. She glanced over at Severus, he looked awful. Tonks couldn't be sure, but she thought he was blinking back tears.
"Does Neville know?" Severus asked weakly.
"Albus is talking to him now. Then he has to go tell Irene. He's not looking forward to that," Professor McGonagall said. "They're at peace now, Severus."
Two days later, a memorial service was held for the two former Aurors. Tonks couldn't help but cry when she watched their son say good-bye at their caskets.
The service was held at Fornesco's Funeral Home. An announcement had been made to the Ministry of Magic, and so many people came to pay their respects that the room had to be doubled in size using magic. Tonks stood with some of the younger Aurors, ones that never worked with Frank and Alice. The service was held on a Saturday, and a number of Hogwarts students came to support Neville.
Apparently, Severus had worked with Frank and Alice years ago, and was very upset over their deaths. Even more so because he had asked Albus if he could go to the service, and Albus turned him down.
Even though the Longbottoms were killed in cold blood, the Ministry decided to treat their deaths as if they had died in battle. When an Auror is killed in battle, there is a great deal of ceremony that happens. Madam Bones officiated the service. More than half the people in the room were Aurors, some long retired, some worked with the Longbottoms for years, and some, like Tonks, only heard the stories.
Every Auror was decked out in their official dress robe. Personally, Tonks hated the robe. It was a very stiff fabric, in navy blue, with a wide black leather belt that sat on her hips. A hood covered half of her forehead, but never the eyes. Aurors never hid their eyes from their brothers in arms.
After the burial, the members of the Order went to Headquarters and had a service of their own for Frank and Alice. Tonks had decided to get very, very drunk, but stopped when she saw the anguished look on Severus' face. Later that night, they clung on to each other tightly. Neither one willing to let go of the other.
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The Order knew that Harry and Neville had become good friends over the past year. Once Alice and Frank Longbottom were laid to rest, everyone knew it was just a matter of time before Harry set out to put an end to Voldemort.
One night in early April, Severus was at Hogwarts to have his weekly Occlumency session with Harry. Tonks decided to use that time to catch up on news at Headquarters. She sat in the study, having a spirited debate with Fred and George Weasley. They made her laugh harder than she laughed in months.
But then a person appeared in the fireplace. Tonks, just like the rest of the people in the study, jumped up and took out her wand. Tonks stomach dropped when she saw that it was Severus.
Severus stood up and looked at everyone. His voice shook slightly as he spoke. "Potter's taken his gang to the Riddle House."