Chapter 27

When Remus received the notice that a battle would begin at Hogwarts he immediately grabbed his cloak, although it wasn't really necessary.

"Remus, wait! I'm coming!"

"No, no! Stay here, Nymphadora." The only thing that Remus feared worse than his own death in battle, or the defeat of the defenders, was the thought of Teddy's growing up parentless.

"I'm not going to let you go into battle without me, Remus. I may be a little out of practice, but I'm still an Auror."

He hardly ever raised his voice, but he didn't have time to argue. "You gave birth a month ago." Andromeda wisely chose to stay out of the fight.

"I've been practicing and getting back into shape." Remus was well of that and had discouraged it for this very reason.

"I'm not doubting your abilities, Dora, but Teddy needs you."

Her face crumpled, but she didn't give in. "I know that, Remus, but there's no hope for either of us if we lose. We'll be at the top of all the Death Eaters' lists. In times like these one fighter could mean the difference between victory and defeat. I entered this war to fight for some vague, undefined future and the greater good. Now the future has a shape; it's Teddy and you and me. I want to finish what I started. I need to fight for my family." Remus didn't know what to say to that. He couldn't fault her logic, and he knew that, if he were in her place, he would feel the same way, but he had to know that she was safe. He gazed at her imploringly.

Tonks was powerless against that look, the same that he had given her when he asked her not to go after him if he went missing. "Remus." She was horrified at the plaintive note in her tone, but she couldn't help it. "Remus. Come back to me."

"I'll do my best. I want nothing more than to live out the rest of my days with you and Teddy, but we need to win to have any hope of that." Then, he kissed her deeply and lingeringly, desperately. They both knew that it might be their last chance. He had already bid farewell to Teddy, and he thought that he had never done a more difficult thing. But this was worse. "I love you. I love you more than I ever thought I could love anyone."

"I love you, and love is a promise. You have to come back." At another time Tonks might have been amused that they were both being so dramatic and spouting sentiments straight out of a romance novel. But they might never see each other again, so she thought it was all right this once. He kissed her once more and closed the door behind him.

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Half an hour later Tonks was still pacing. She held Teddy in her arms and he seemed to fell her distress; he wouldn't settle. Finally, she made up her mind.

"Mum, take Teddy."

"Don't go, Nymphadora. Remus was right. Teddy needs you. I need you."

Tonks felt real agony, but she would not be swayed. "I have to do this, Mum. There's no other way for us all to be safe."

Andromeda recognized the stubborn determination that Tonks had inherited from both sides of her family. She didn't argue. She simply put Teddy in his cradle and embraced her daughter. "Be careful. I love you."

"I love you, Mum." She looked down at Teddy once more and practically ran out the door of the house before she could change her mind.

When she arrived at Hogwarts through the passage from the Hog's Head, she found Ginny and Augusta Longbottom in the Room of Requirement. She couldn't believe Ginny when she said how many fighters there were, all ready to defend the school to the death if necessary. And there were so many who were underage. She searched for a tall figure, but her husband was nowhere to be seen.

"Is everyone okay?" she and Ginny asked together when Harry appeared.

" 'S far as we know." Harry then looked directly at Tonks. "I thought you were supposed to be with Teddy at your mother's?"

She felt a little guilty at that moment, but there was no turning back. "I couldn't stand not knowing-" she replied. "She'll look after him- have you seen Remus?"

"He was planning to lead a group of fighters into the grounds-" Tonks wasted no time in speeding in that direction.

Awhile later Tonks stood with Ginny in an upstairs corridor, raining hexes down on the enemy fighters below. Suddenly, she saw Aberforth. "Have you seen Remus?" she called after him.

"He was dueling Dolohov, haven't seen him since." The name sent chills down her spine. He was one of the Death Eaters who had been in the Department of Mysteries two summers previously. Tonks ran after him.

Some minutes, which felt like hours, later she found him. He was still fighting with Dolohov. He was still matching every curse, but his energy was obviously flagging. She started shooting hexes at Dolohov's back. Remus saw her and he faltered enough to get hit with a Stinging Hex, but he immediately regained his composure and fired a Body Bind Curse at Dolohov that missed by inches.

Suddenly, Tonks heard an unmistakable high cackle. "If it isn't my wittle niece defending her freak werewolf mate." She turned just in time to dodge a Killing Curse from Bellatrix Lestrange. "I'm not playing games with you tonight. You've escaped me too many times, and the family tree is still in need of pruning."

"You need a new angle, Auntie Bella." She shot a Stunner at her, but it only grazed her Aunt's leg. "My family, my real family is what gives me strength to keep fighting." She dodged several more Killing Curses, but she was really was unprepared for a battle of this magnitude.

She realized too late that Bellatrix was herding toward her husband. Suddenly, she and Remus were back to back and Bellatrix and Dolohov were circling them. She didn't know how they would get out of the trap, and her only regret was that she hadn't had more time with her husband and son.

However, Bellatrix had begun shrieking madly with perverted glee, and Dolohov was practically licking his lips in anticipation of the killing to come. They hadn't disarmed Remus and Tonks. In silent accord, they shot Stunners that missed on purpose. But they distracted Bellatrix and Dolohov enough for them to break the circle.

Remus and Tonks ran. At last reinforcements were coming. Bellatrix let out a scream of rage; she would not let her prey escape that easily. Dolohov still looked confused. Just when they thought they were safe across friendly lines, they each felt a spell hit home.

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Some time later Tonks awoke. She thought she must be dead, but she didn't think her body would be in so much pain if she were awaking in the afterlife. She tentatively opened her eyes. She saw light from above, but she slowly realized she was looking at the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall. Remus, whom she saw next to her, seemed to be going through the same process of recognition.

"We're alive." His voice was hoarser than usual. She smiled at him, still bewildered at the fact herself, and gazed around.

Tonks also realized that the roaring she heard was not buzzing in her ears. It was celebration. She saw more bodies in the hall, not all of them those of defenders. She didn't know how they had remained unconscious through the sort of battle that would produce these casualties, but the fight was obviously over. And they had won.

They sat up, embracing each other gingerly. Someone pointed at them from across the room. Soon they were surrounded by a collection of redheads, a bushy haired brunette, and two men with black hair. All exclaimed that they had thought they were dead, but unbelievably it was not so. Instead of Killing Curses, which everyone thought had hit them, it was only Stunning Spells. Apparently, Bellatrix had wanted to play with her prey when she had the chance. But she would never victimize anyone again.

Everyone apprised Remus and Tonks of the situation, and the battle that had ensued while they were unconscious. But they were ready to go home, to share the news with Andromeda, and to see their son.

They apparated on the lawn and ran to the front door, despite their exhaustion. "Mum, open up! We're home. We've won!"

Tonks heard her mother gasp. "Identify yourselves. How do I know you're not imposters playing a sick game?"

They answered her questions, and she sobbed as she opened the door. There was a flurry of arms as they tried to embrace each other all at once. Tonks ran upstairs to get Teddy, and, when she returned, her mother asked, "We've really won? Is everybody all right?"

Remus and Tonks sobered. "We have won. Voldemort will never rise again, but not everybody is okay. Fred Weasley is dead. Colin Creevey, a Gryffindor sixth year, has also paid the ultimate price for his bravery. Vincent Crabbe was killed while fighting for the other side." He sighed. "Your sister, Bellatrix, has also died. Molly Weasley killed her, and I can't say that I regret her passing at all."

"Nor can I. She stopped being my sister a long time ago."

Tonks chimed in. "Severus Snape was also killed." Andromeda hissed. "Apparently, he never stopped being on our side. Dumbledore asked him to kill him, so he could die quickly. I don't understand everything, but that's what Harry said." She handed Teddy over to Remus.

They glanced at each other decided not to tell Andromeda that they almost numbered among the casualties.

Remus rocked Teddy gently in his arms. "And now we can begin the next chapter in our lives."

A/N: I hope the dialogue at the beginning wasn't too over the top, but Remus was facing death. I also hope their manner of survival makes sense. I'm sorry if some of you were worried that Remus and Tonks wouldn't make it, but that was the whole reason I began this story. Some of the dialogue is taken directly from Chapter 31 of DH.

In return for a review, I offer a chance to fight alongside Remus and Tonks (and unexpectedly survive) in a fearsome battle.