The Cost of War

Harry gained his bearings after using the Portkey and saw that they were the first of the Order to arrive after the battle. They were in a room that had eight beds, four along each wall. Three of the beds were currently occupied with St. Mungo's Healers working with the patients in them. In the bed at the far end of the room Harry saw six Healers and knew that it must be Tonks. He immediately started to head for the bed. Dumbledore gently grabbed his shoulder.

"Wait a minute, Harry," Dumbledore said in a gentle, calm voice, "let them work uninterrupted for a minute. There are some issues we need to talk about first." Professor Dumbledore waited expecting Harry to shout, but Harry never did he just stood there. "First, these two other beds are being used by two other Order members, Daniel Lucan, and Tyler Cisani. You have never met them but they are very big supporters of you and the Order."

"How are they, Professor," Harry asked looking to their two beds, "will they live?"

"Yes," Albus said quietly, "they have minor injuries but I asked that they were put in this room due to the sensitivity of our little group. All of you please sit."

The three that were the first in battle all sat down in large overstuffed chairs that Dumbledore had conjured with his wand. Harry looked at Ron whose cheek finally stopped bleeding, then to Remus who looked more depressed than he had seen him since Sirius died. Remus sensing Harry's gaze turned and gave him a reassuring smile while patting him on the back.

"Gentlemen," Albus began again while taking a seat in a fourth chair, "war is unfortunate. In every war there are casualties. This one is no different, both sides suffered casualties today. Three Death Eaters lost their lives in battle today, they were men that up until today I had heard very little about. As for the Order, we have lost Zeke Jones and Brandon Combs."

Harry sat there and thought of the two names and realized that he had heard them before. During the conclusion of Order meetings when the kids would try to listen for any information afterwards they would sometimes hear names. Those two names were heard on more than one occasion. Harry started to turn cold as he thought of more deaths that were cause because of the Prophecy.

"Excuse me," a young Healers voice brought Harry's thoughts back to the present, "Headmaster we have done all we can. You may all see her now."

"Thank you," Albus said as the group rose out of their chairs. They walked over to Tonks' bed and looked down at her. Her eyes were closed and the skin around them was black and swollen. Harry saw that the Healers had removed Remus's splints and had done spell work to heal her bones. The bruises all over her body were a deep purple and black and looked extremely painful. Harry heard Ron start to sob beside him and the tears began to form in Harry's eyes.

"I'm sorry ,Tonks," Harry said through teary eyes, "if I had been quicker or had just given up you would be ok."

"Harry, this isn't your fault," Albus told him while putting a hand on his shoulder, "you did all you could."

"But, Professor, they wanted ME," Harry said more loudly than he had meant, "I could have just given myself up and then no one would have been hurt!"

"Harry," Remus began, "had you given yourself up they would have killed you, and probably killed many people in Diagon Alley. Your magic today saved many, many lives."

Harry nodded his head and looked back at Tonks, keeping his anger inside. He gently took Tonks' hand and sat next to her on the bed. Harry saw that Tonks' mouth was curled in a gentle smile and he felt her squeeze his hand.

Harry jumped up and looked to Professor Dumbledore, "Professor she squeezed my hand!"

Professor Dumbledore stepped closer to the side of Tonks' bed and leaned in towards her face. An odd look came onto Professor Dumbledore's face while he looked at Tonks.

"Harry she is trying to tell you something," Dumbledore said softly, "here I'll show you." Dumbledore looked into Harry's mind and said a spell. "Duo Mens Mentis Unus." Harry could feel it as Professor Dumbledore and his mind seemed to join together. Harry looked around and saw himself standing at the edge of the bed looking back into Professor Dumbledore's eyes.

"Professor," Harry said tentatively, "what happened?"

"We are sharing my mind, Harry," Dumbledore's voice came from seemingly nowhere, "now, lets go see Tonks." Professor Dumbledore turned and faced Tonks and spoke another incantation. There was a flash of light and suddenly Harry, Dumbledore, and Tonks were in a different room. The room was a deep blue color that had two windows on one wall. There were three chairs in the center of the room in a circle. There was a rug in the center of all the chairs that had a large Phoenix printed on it. Harry walked over to a window and looked out, he was looking out onto Tonks.

"Professor are we still,"

"In my mind," Dumbledore interrupted Harry, "yes we are. Those windows are actually my eyes. Now come sit so we can talk." All three of them moved to the chairs and sat down.

"Tonks," Harry spoke first, "I am so sorry that this happened to you. It is all my fault, I should have moved quicker, or given myself up."

"Harry," Tonks said sweetly, "You mustn't blame yourself. This isn't your fault, they attacked us. I am proud of how you handled that battle, we all are.

"But," Harry tried to speak but was interrupted by Dumbledore.

"Harry, our time here is limited, let Tonks speak." Harry gave him a slight nod.

"Harry, more than anything I want to tell you something Sirius had told me before the Department of Mysteries. He was so proud of you, you were doing great in school despite Umbridge. You were growing stronger in your capabilities and were helping others to learn as well. We were at Grimmauld Place, in Buckbeak's room when he started talking about the coming war." She paused to wipe a tear out of her eye, "He told me that he sensed that a battle was coming, and that he was going to be a part of it no matter what. He seemed to know that you were going to be there and he wasn't going to let you fight it without him. But more importantly than that, he told me to tell you that he loved you with all his heart and that he considered you more as a son than a Godson. He told me to tell you to go to his room and find a golden box and open it, it is yours now. He wouldn't tell me what was in it, but said that it would help you in the future. Harry, thanks."

Harry now had tears running down his cheeks, it wasn't his fault Sirius was dead, Sirius was going to fight anyways. "For what Tonks?" Harry asked puzzled.

"For fighting so well today," she replied, "and giving me the time to tell you what Sirius had told me to. Goodbye Harry, Albus." As her final word trailed off she faded from view.

"Back you go Harry," Dumbledore said as he waved. The room seemed to spin and when it stopped Harry could see Dumbledore looking back at him. Harry looked to Tonks who had a serene look on her face, he watched as her chest rose with one last breath. When her chest fell for the last time the group of men bowed their heads and said farewell to another fallen comrade.