Chapter Thirty-Seven – The Final Battle
As soon as the words left Severus' lips, everyone sprung into action. Tonks needed to grab some supplies from her room, and hoped that Severus would follow her. He seemed to read her mind and was actually upstairs before she was.
"You're fighting, right? Albus can't ask you stay back for this," Tonks said as she grabbed a belt that she had ready for this very day.
"I'd never forgive myself if I didn't fight today," Severus told her.
Tonks nodded and checked the vials that were attached to the belt. There were four. Two were Severus' voice changing potion: one with a hair from Professor Dumbledore, the second with Voldemort skin cells. She also carried with her a blood replenishing potion and a calming draught. She had seen far too many people go into shock in situations like these. The vials were all small and had an unbreakable charm on them.
She was about to put the belt on, when she dropped it on the bed and flung herself into Severus' arm.
"I love you so much," she said, choking back her tears. "Please be careful."
Severus held her tightly. "I love you, too, Dora. I can't even begin to tell you what you mean to me."
Tonks lifted her head and Severus kissed her hard on the lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck and let herself get swept away by the moment. This might be the last time you ever kiss him, a horrible voice in her head told her.
They broke apart suddenly, each realizing that time was of the essence. "I'll find you when it's over," Severus said roughly, kissing her hand. Then he turned quickly and left the room.
She kissed her fingers and held out her hand after him. "I will see you again," Tonks said with confidence. Then she put on her belt, and ran outside to apparate to the Riddle House.
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The moment she materialized, Tonks put a shield around herself so that she could get her bearings. She apparated too far from the House, so she apparated again, much closer this time.
Though it was already ten o'clock at night, it seemed usually bright outside. Tonks glanced up and saw that there was a full moon. "Almost a full moon," Tonks whispered to herself. Remus hadn't been locked away, so she knew it wasn't time for that yet.
Kingsley was standing by the drive, rapidly barking out directions. "Tonks, perimeter of the house!" he yelled. Tonks saluted him and ran up the drive, towards the house.
The Death Eaters seemed to have the house well secured. A brick wall separated the main yard from the fields. Several members of the Order were set there, trying to pick-off the Death Eaters that were blocking the door to the Mansion.
Tonks tried not to shudder when she saw the large field where she had gone to Death Eater meetings last year. Wizards seemed to be apparating everywhere. Tonks noticed that a great deal of Aurors had come to join the fight.
A weak stunning spell hit Tonks in the back, causing her to tumble over. Quickly, she stood up and cast a stunning spell right back, causing the Death Eater to slump to the ground. There were a number of Death Eaters in the large field. Tonks, along with several other wizards ran to the field.
"Cast Anti-disapparation jinxes after you stun 'em!" she heard Mad-Eye yell.
The wizards seemed to be gathering in a small circle. Tonks knew from experience that that was the worst thing that could happen. "Spread out!" she cried loudly, to anyone that could hear her. "Don't let them surround us!"
She started running back towards the house when a flash of green light could be seen. Tonks closed her eyes briefly, knowing someone had just lost their life. She tried to put it out of her mind, but then she saw a poof of green smoke go up into the sky, forming a large skull.
"Damnit," Tonks muttered under her breath, staring at the sky.
"Tonks, duck!" she heard someone scream. Without thinking, Tonks dropped to the ground and rolled out of the way. She looked up and saw Draco running towards her.
"What are you doing here?" Tonks yelled.
"Protecting Harry Potter," Draco said defiantly. "And having a bit of fun while I'm here."
"Be careful," Tonks ordered.
Draco raised his eyebrows up and down and stunned a Death Eater right in the chest. "I'm always careful," he said, running towards the back of the house.
Tonks knew she was a target just standing where she was, so she quickly ran towards the brick wall, practically colliding with Arthur Weasley. "Have you seen Harry?" Arthur asked frantically. "We need to protect him!"
"He's not in the field," Tonks asked quickly, casting a stunner at a Death Easter that had been aiming at Arthur.
"I've been around the house three times, Tonks. I haven't seen him," Arthur said worriedly.
"Maybe in the forest?" Tonks asked.
"Merlin's beard," Arthur whispered. "What if he got into the house?"
Tonks and Arthur shared a look and knew they had to get inside the house. "I just saw Draco Malfoy," Tonks said quickly. "He ran to the back. He knows this house."
"Let's get to the back," Arthur said. They ran along the brick wall, stunning Death Eaters along the way. They reached the back and saw that the back door had been blasted open.
"Too risky to go through there," Tonks said quietly.
Arthur motioned towards a window. "Through there. You go first, I'll cover you."
Tonks ran to the house as fast as she could. Then she waved to Arthur, letting him know it was safe for him to cross. He made it to the window quickly. Tonks was just about to lift her body up to climb into the window when Arthur tugged her shoulder and pointed up.
Her jaw dropped. Five dragons were starting to land on the large field adjacent to the house. "Merlin's beard," Arthur said quietly. Tonks had to cover her mouth to stop herself from screaming as one dragon opened its mouth, letting a ball of fire escape. It engulfed several wizards, wizards not wearing masks. Tonks didn't want to say anything, but she was almost positive one of the ones hit had red hair.
A look of determination settled on Arthur's face. "Let's get in," he said in a steely voice.
Tonks was still staring at the dragons. Hagrid had stepped in front of one and seemed to be talking to it. "Arthur, look!" Tonks said. Arthur turned to watch the scene. Hagrid and the dragon almost seemed to embrace each other. Then Hagrid started running away from the house and the field. The dragon followed Hagrid happily. The other dragons seemed confused, but then followed the leader of the pack.
"Now, Tonks," Arthur said.
Tonks nodded and lifted her body up and crawled through the window. She felt a beam of light go right past her and then hit a Death Eater in the room.
"Good shot, Arthur," Tonks grinned. She knelt down, waiting for Arthur to climb into the room. Then she glanced out the window and saw another Dark Mark slowly rising towards the sky. "Fuck," she whispered under her breath.
Tonks and Arthur quietly walked out of the room into the hallway. It led to a large foray, where several Death Eaters were dueling.
"There's Ginny," Tonks said, pointing her out to Arthur. Ginny was holding her own with a Death Eater. Arthur waved his wand and cast a stunning spell at the Death Eater. He crumpled to the floor instantly. Ginny looked at Arthur, surprise written on her face. Then she ran down another hallway.
"Ginny!" Arthur cried. "She'll lead us to Harry. I'm sure of it."
They ran, following Ginny. She went through a hallway, and then up a flight of stairs. "Ginny, wait!" Tonks yelled to the girl, but she wouldn't stop.
Tonks tripped at the last step and fell to her knees, knocking the wind from her. Arthur stopped, but Tonks shook her head. "Follow Ginny," she wheezed. "I'll catch up."
Arthur ran after Ginny and Tonks took a moment to gather herself back together. Just as she stood up, she heard someone scream "Crucio!" Tonks went stiff as a board and felt pain run through her body. Clutching her stomach, Tonks turned to face her attacker.
It was her aunt Bellatrix.
"Is this my little baby niece, all grown up?" Bellatrix said with a twisted smile. "How I hoped we would have a chance to see each other, my little niece. How is my dear sister, your mother?"
"Expelliamus!" Tonks cried, but Bellatrix blocked it easily.
"And here I thought you were an Auror," Bellatrix scoffed. "Surely you can disarm a Death Eater?"
Tonks lifted her wand again, but Bellatrix was faster. "Crucio!"
She fell to the ground, twitching. A minute later the pain subsided. "Looks like there's no one here to save the great Auror," Bellatrix mocked. "Too bad everyone is outside, not realizing the real fun is in here. Crucio!"
Tonks cried out in pain. She took her wand and started to say a spell, but Bellatrix hit her with the curse again. "You know what my favorite part is?" Bellatrix asked, sounding almost maternal. "Watching the life drain from their eyes. Knowing that when I'm done with you, you'll be little more than an empty shell."
"Expelliamus!" a voice cried. Bellatrix was unprepared and her wand went flying away from her.
"Who dares to take…" Bellatrix screamed, but then turned around. "Longbottom. Well, this should be fun. I'm unarmed now, boy. Do you have it in you to kill me?"
Neville Longbottom should in the doorway, looking furious. He didn't make a move though.
"Let me give you a reason. Then you'll realize how utterly pathetic you are when you still can't kill me," Bellatrix said with a smile. "I saw the blood trickling down your parent's throat, boy –"
"Stupefy!" Neville screamed. Bellatrix was knocked backwards forcefully. She fell over Tonks, who was lying at the edge of the stairs. Tonks watched as Bellatrix fell down the stairs, almost in slow motion. Finally she landed with a sickening crack at the bottom of the stairs. Her neck was at an impossible angle. There was no doubt in Tonks' mind that Bellatrix was dead.
Tonks stood up then, almost recovered from the Cruciatus Curse. Neville's eyes were wide, staring at the body. Tonks grabbed his hand and ran down the hallway. "Where's everyone else?" Tonks asked quickly.
"They went ahead. I said I'd stay behind to wait for you," Neville told her.
Tonks looked and saw Arthur, looking furious. She walked to Arthur and heard a loud cracking noise. Neville had disappeared. "They're gone!" Arthur said. "I've no idea where they've gone."
Tonks sighed. "Damnit, Harry," Tonks muttered under her breath. Just then, a stream of light barely missed her. Death Eaters were running down the hallway towards them.
"Apparate outside," Arthur ordered. Tonks closed her eyes and pictured the brick wall. When she opened her eyes, she saw Kingsley in front of her. He was holding a hand over his eye.
Tonks looked around quickly. The fighting had moved more towards the house, as opposed to the field. But something seemed wrong. Then she realized it. The Death Eaters had taken off their masks. There was no way to tell who was friend or foe.
"My god," Tonks whispered. She knew she could tell; she knew the members of the Order, as well as most of the Aurors, and from the looks of it, the Enforcers that had come to help the fighting. But the Aurors would have no idea who to try to fight.
Someone nearby started a duel with Tonks. She cursed loudly as the Death Eater cast an anti-disapparation jinx on her; that she was unable to block in time. She wouldn't be able to say the counter jinx until the duel was over. The duel lasted almost twenty minutes. The Death Eater was relentless. Tonks finally ended it by casting a wheezing curse, followed by a stunner.
Tonks started to turn around, but was hit immediately with a severing charm to her face. Blood started gushing from her cheek. Tonks cast a stunner at the caster, making him crumple to the ground. She put pressure on her cheek, realizing how lucky she was the caster missed his intended target: her throat.
For a wild moment, Tonks wanted to look around for Severus. But she dismissed the idea, knowing she couldn't let herself become distracted. She needed to concentrate on what was in front of her.
The dueling was slowing, wizards beginning to tire from the battle. Tonks located a Death Eater and cast a stunner. But a weak spell hit her in the back at the same time. Tonks fell and knocked her head against the brick wall. For a moment, Tonks thought she was going to pass out. Her vision blurred. Tonks knew she wouldn't be able to stand for a few minutes.
"Tutamenia Plura" Tonks said determinedly. A shield surrounded her, allowing her to catch her breath. A few curses hit the shield, but Tonks was able to hold on. Five minutes later, she was ready to join the battle again.
But then the strangest thing happened. Screams could be heard all around the house, as well as inside. Tonks watched in fascination; only Death Eaters were screaming. Tonks' jaw dropped. They were all clutching their left forearms.
"Stun the screamers!" a voice cried out. A flurry of Order Members and Aurors ran, trying to get as many as possible. Tonks kept an eye out for Severus; surely he was in pain as well.
After two minutes, the Death Eaters all slumped to the ground, unconscious.
"Are they all dead?" someone whispered. Tonks felt her heart jump into her throat as she dropped to the side of an unconscious Death Eater. She breathed a sigh of relief; she could fell a pulse. Curious, Tonks lifted the sleeve of the Death Eater.
The Dark Mark was gone.
The Aurors went to work immediately. Someone conjured up a transport for the Death Eaters. Others were gathering as many as possible. Tonks walked quickly around the house, looking for Severus. She went around twice, and there was no sign of him.
Tonks went into the house. Arthur was standing by a doorway, holding onto the handle tightly. His eyes glistened with tears. "They're down there. I saw them go down there. I couldn't follow them, they charmed the door. I can't go down there, Tonks. I can't," Arthur stammered.
She patted Arthur's arm. She couldn't imagine what was going on in Arthur's mind. How many Weasleys fought tonight? "I'll go," she whispered.
Arthur nodded, and tried to open the door. It wouldn't budge. Together, she and Arthur tried various charms to open the door. After a good fifteen minutes, Arthur finally was able to get it open. "That's Hermione's work, I'm sure of it," he said with a small smile.
Tonks squeezed his hand and walked down a step. There was no sound coming from the basement. Slowly, she walked all the way down the stairs. She couldn't quite believe the scene in front of her.
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were huddled together in a corner. They were all staring at something. Tonks went to look, and her breath caught in her throat.
Lying side by side were the bodies of Lord Voldemort and Professor Dumbledore.