Chapter 21
"Mum! Dad!" Tonks was about ready to kick down the door, but Remus restrained her.
"Nymphadora? Is that really you?" It was her father's voice, but it sounded far away somehow.
"Yes. But you should probably ask me a security question any way."
"When did you first start refusing to be called by your proper name, Nymphadora?" Her mother's question proved to Tonks that both her parents were at least alive and conscious.
"When I was six, but I'm sure I protested in the womb." Tonks was now face to face with her mother's relieved visage.
"Thank Merlin! Bellatrix told us that she was going to Bill Weasley's wedding to kill you once she left us."
Tonks shook her head. "They couldn't risk too many unexplained deaths." She and Remus entered to find Ted stretched out on the settee with a makeshift bandage wrapped around his head. She rushed to his side.
"Dad, are you gonna be alright?"
"Sure, Dora, your mother just gave me some pain potions if I seem a little out of it." She was relieved to know that was the reason for his vaguely dreamy expression, and not head trauma. "I'm glad to see that you're both alright."
In the mean time, Andromeda had made tea, and she laid it out on the table. Tonks raised an eyebrow, but her mother looked unfazed. "It is my experience that tea helps solve almost every problem."
"I quite agree, Andromeda," said Remus, adding some honey to his cup. She in turn actually smiled approvingly at her new son-in-law.
"So what did happen at the wedding? Is anyone hurt?" Andromeda's usual calm restraint was marred by her concern.
"A bunch of Death Eaters and Ministry employees burst into the tent. Fortunately, Kingsley was able to warn us about a minute before they arrived. Only Order members were left when they rounded us up for questioning. Everyone was just shaken, not injured. Lucius Malfoy was rough, but none of the Death Eaters used any Unforgivables. They're focusing on the Ministry and keeping the populace in the dark, at least for a few weeks." Tonks finished her quick summary breathlessly.
"What will you do now?"
Tonks glanced at Remus. "We don't know exactly. I think I'll go to work as usual on Monday, and then play it by ear." Remus and Andromeda both grimaced at her apparent nonchalance. "What? They said so themselves. They can't risk anything for a month at least. I'll be careful." They were not convinced, but remained silent. "The Order will have to go underground, or more underground than it already was." She turned to Remus. "Did you alert everybody?" He nodded.
Andromeda looked uncertain for a moment. "Do you think you two could stay with us for a while? I don't want to impose, but neither of us is in fighting form. My dear sister might show up at any time for round two."
Remus answered, "We can do that." He glanced at Tonks, who nodded.
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That night Remus and Tonks were sitting in her old bed. It was a little disconcerting for her, to be a married woman and still surrounded by the room of a sixteen-year-old.
"I want to try and find Sirius, Harry, Ron, and Hermione. They'll need news about the current state of affairs, and I'm sure they're worried about everybody," said Remus in one breath.
Tonks had expected him to say something like that, although she was not entirely pleased. "Where do you intend to look for them?"
"I was thinking that Grimmauld would be a good place to start." She nodded reluctantly, as she had been thinking the same. "I have a few other spots in mind, also. I don't think it would take me more than a couple of days to track them down. But I won't go if you think it's a bad idea."
Tonks hand went unconsciously to her abdomen. "No, you're right. They need information. When are you planning on leaving?"
He looked almost guilty. "Tonight." She had been expecting that, too. She battled within herself about whether to tell him her news, but she thought that he didn't need the extra pressure right then. And she thought herself a coward, afraid of his reaction.
Remus stood up and kissed her quickly before walking down the steps and out the door.
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On Monday morning, Tonks felt apprehensive entering the Ministry, but she was determined to hold her high and act like nothing was wrong. There was not much that seemed out of place, but there was an air of fear. She also saw some known Death Eaters walking around freely, even flaunting their authority over other employees. The biggest change was the Fountain of Magical Brethren in the Atrium; only the witch and wizard remained. She supposed it made sense, considering Voldemort's philosophy, but it sickened her nonetheless.
She grew increasingly nervous as she approached the Auror office. As soon as people saw her, they looked away. Warning signals went off in her when she got to her cubicle and it was empty.
She turned to find Barry Pruce leering at her. But it was a rather different look from the one she usually got from him. There were healthy portions of disgust and condescension mixed in his expression.
"Madame Senior Undersecretary Umbridge wants to see you. She wants to talk about your indiscretion." Tonks went white; there was only one thing that he could mean by that. The disgust was now prominent in scrunched face. "I can't believe I ever wanted you. I never would've given you a chance if I knew you be with a werewolf."
"Hem hem." Tonks was confronted with the Toady face of Dolores Umbridge before she could make any kind of retort to Pruce's comment.
"Miss Tonks, might I have a word?" Her sickly sweet voice hid her malice.
"Of course, Madame Senior Undersecretary," said Tonks, matching Umbridge's tone. The irony was lost on
As Umbridge settled behind her desk, she offered Tonks tea, which she wisely declined. "Now, Miss Tonks, I like to give people the benefit of the doubt." Tonks repressed a snort. "I'd like to believe that the nasty ugly rumors that I've been hearing about you are vicious lies, but I have to investigate, you understand." Her smile was the same as her voice.
"Of course, Madame Umbridge, you wouldn't want any deviants working for our fine government." Tonks' sarcasm still went right over her head.
"I'm glad you feel the same. So, when I ask if it's true that you recently married the werewolf Remus Lupin, you'll say 'no, absolutely not,' correct?"
"No, it's absolutely true that I married Remus Lupin, two weeks from Wednesday." She couldn't help but smile at the thought, despite the circumstances.
Umbridge's face fell. "Ah, well, that cannot be tolerated. Now, if you agree to divorce him immediately, I can take you back into the Auror force on probationary status."
Tonks was done pretending. "I will do no such thing! I happen to love him, more than you could ever possibly comprehend."
Apparently, Umbridge was done pretending, too. "You married a monster! You stupid girl, a werewolf would rip you limb from limb as soon as look at you."
"I'm not going to argue with you. You and people like you have made Remus' life miserable, and you don't even know him! He can't even get a job. You lot have made him feel less than human almost his whole life. And, you know what, he would probably forgive you if you asked."
"Ha! I'm sorry to say, but you are a fool, Miss Tonks. He's obviously using you. And you'll be crying to come back to the Ministry when he tires of you. But it will be too late."
Tonks knew that she had no hope of convincing Umbridge of anything. "We'll just have to see, won't we?" Her attempt at a dignified exit was foiled by her stumbling over the chair as she stood, but she strode away proudly after that incident.
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Meanwhile, Remus had to shake the Death Eater that followed him after he left the Tonks' house before heading to Number 12 Grimmauld Place. It took him a few days, but he finally arrived.
"Don't move!" Harry and Sirius said in unison after Remus got through Moody's booby trap. The two of them and Ron and Hermione raised their wands at his indistinct figure that was covered in dust.
"Hold your fire, it's me, Remus!"
"Show yourself!" Sirius called back.
Remus moved forward into the lamplight, hands still held high in a gesture of surrender. "I am Remus John Lupin, werewolf, sometimes known as Moony, one of the four creators of the Marauder's Map, married to Nymphadora, usually known as Tonks, and I taught you how to produce a Patronus, Harry, which takes the form of a stag."
The foursome looked relieved. "Good to see you, mate," said Sirius, clapping him on the back.
"Are you lot alright?"
"We're fine," answered Harry. They sat around the kitchen table with a few butterbeers. "Mr. Weasley sent a message that everyone at the wedding was unhurt, but what happened."
"We were all questioned by some Death Eaters and Ministry officials, who are essentially the same at this point. They also broke into all the Order-connected houses. Bellatrix Lestrange tortured Dora's parents with the Cruciatus Curse, but they're both fine, shaken but uninjured." Sirius let out a sigh of relief. "What happened after you left?"
Hermione replied, "Well, we apparated onto Tottenham Court Road, but two Death Eaters followed us immediately." Remus was shocked; he knew of no way to track someone's apparition. "We don't know how they found us so quickly. We managed to escape, and then we came here."
To his surprise, Kreacher was not lurking around, muttering about the halfblood filth dishonoring his mistress' house. Sirius apparently understood his glancing around. "Much as I was reluctant to believe it, we've found that Kreacher can be quite helpful. We tried Hermione's strategy of showing him a little kindness, and he's become much more hospitable."
"That's good to know. Now, the real reason I came was to show you this." He took out the newspaper that bore the headline "Wanted For Questioning About the Death of Albus Dumbledore." Underneath were pictures of Harry and Sirius.
"What?!" shouted Sirius indignantly. "This is crazy! People can't actually believe that Harry had anything to with Dumbledore's murder. They know it was all Snape, that-"
"Has the Prophet ever been known for its fair and accurate reporting, Padfoot?" Remus' rhetorical question cut off Sirius' string of expletives. "There's something else you should know. The Ministry is now moving against Muggle-borns."
"How?" asked Hermione shakily.
"Attendance at Hogwarts is now mandatory."
Ron looked puzzled. "I don't understand how is that moving against Muggle-borns?"
Remus sighed. "Every student has to prove his or her Blood Status before enrolling, proving to the Ministry that he or she is of Wizard descent."
"That's horrible!" exclaimed Harry.
"They can't do that!" Sirius looked as angry as the night that they almost captured Peter.
"I'm afraid it's already happening. There's not much the Muggle-borns can do besides keeping their heads down. But the Order is doing everything we can to fight the injustices. So, to that end, is there anything we can do for you, Harry? I understand that you can't explain about the mission that Dumbledore gave you, but we can still try to help."
"Well, we had Sirius look up some information for us, and we have a few ideas on leads. Thanks, though." Remus had to admit to himself that he felt a little left out and unneeded, but he was glad that they were apparently making progress.
"Alright. I'm afraid that it will be difficult, and possibly dangerous, to contact us once you set out. We have no idea how much we'll be watched in the ensuing months." They all nodded resolutely.
They discussed the resistance before Remus pulled Sirius aside. "I know I don't have to tell you how important this mission is, but I just want to say that I'm glad you're going with them. No matter how mature they are or how much they've faced, they're barely of age. They need guidance."
Sirius looked grim. "I know. I also know that I'm not the best one to give that to them, but I'll try."
"I know you will. It's James' son. But I think you're wrong; you are the right person to go with them."
"Thanks, but you're just saying that because you don't want to be the one to accompany a bunch of moody teenagers on Merlin-forsaken quest." Sirius' quip broke up their uncharacteristically sentimental exchange.
"Well, it's time for me to get back to Dora."
"Say hello to her and Andromeda and Ted for me."
Remus nodded. "I bid you all farewell and the best of luck on your mission. Always remember Dumbledore's wisdom; remember to put your faith in each other and trust in the rightness of our cause." With that he disapparated from the very top step.
A/N: I know I left out some of the conversation from when Remus visited Grimmauld, but I think it makes more sense for Voldemort to have moved more slowly. I think he would have been most concerned about securing the Ministry and avoiding open rebellion. The Muggle-born Register could have come awhile later.