Hermione looked up from the news paper she was reading and look toward the door. Someone knocked again. Hermione, remembering Harry was to visit her today, jumped up immediately and thrust the door open. It had already been two weeks with no word or visitors. At the door, there was a small girl who looked no older than eight. She had long dark braids and wide, blue eyes. Her face brightened at the sight of Hermione and threw her arms around her waist.
"Hermione!" she cried. Hermione looked down at her puzzled.
"I'm sorry sweetie; I don't think I know you. Where's your mum?" Hermione said in an uncertain voice. How had she known Hermione's name? The little girl laughed and ran inside the house, closing the door behind her. "Hon," Hermione started, "I think I need to get you back to your mum. What's your name?" The child smile widely.
"Nymphadora."
"Tonks?!" Hermione coughed looking stunned. Tonks laughed harder and harder until there were tears coming from her eyes. She then stood still and blinked slowly, staring up at Hermione. At once she was the Tonks Hermione knew: Bright pink, bubblegum hair, clear, beautiful skin and large, bright eyes. She was different, though. There was a large, clear cut that was healing that ran across her right cheek; Tonks' clothes were ragged and torn in several places and stained with what seemed to be blood. Hermione ran forward and hugged her firmly.
"Oh, Tonks," Hermione whispered sympathetically.
"I couldn't heal it all with magic," Tonks said breezily, "but you know, I knew enough to heal most of it. I was way worse before." Hermione's eyes widened.
"Where have you been?! Remus and Harry- th-they haven't said anything…and they usually keep me up to date…"
"They don't know." Tonks said shortly, looking away. Hermione pulled her into the family room and they sat on a large, brick red couch. She gave Tonks a piercing look. Tonks sighed.
"I couldn't tell anyone…I had only just escaped…they would've found me again. I've been hiding in a warehouse twelve blocks from where the war took place."
"But we've got to tell them now," Hermione said. Tonks shook her head.
"No, because then they would all swarm around me, and it would bring about too much attention. They'll just find me again…and torture me again."
"How did you survive?" Hermione asked, shocked. Tonks shrugged.
"I escaped one night. One idiot tied me too loose, so I got out and went to the warehouse. After that, I just got around on my own. I could get water from a spell, and there were plenty of opportunities to find food. I was okay. But anyway, I came into some pretty close situations, like Draco Malfoy lurking around. He nearly saw me and then probably would've killed me. I was lucky." Neither Hermione nor Tonks said anything for a while.
"How's Remus?" Tonks asked in a quiet voice finally.
"He's good. Worried about you, but good. I mean, he's healthy, wasn't hurt too much in the war."
"And everyone else?" Hermione slowly and painfully told of Ginny's critical condition, how Ron and Mr. Weasley were still missing, how everyone searched without ceasing. Tonks said nothing, only stared out into space with a pained expression on her face. She finally turned to Hermione, with a small, timid smile.
"It's good to be out of it." Hermione let a small laugh escape; her first in weeks.
"Yes it is," Hermione confirmed, standing with Tonks. "Common, you look dead on your feet."