Chapter 57: Terrible Attack

Trigger warning: Mentions of rape and assault

Tonks walked into Aaron's house after assuring could cover for her to leave. As soon as she entered the house a long line of curses came out of her mouth, all of them aimed at one Severus Snape. Aaron sat with his brother Anthony on the couch. Neither man bothered to stop her expletive tirade. As soon as she was done yelling Aaron got up and walked over to her.

"Everything alright, Nymphie?" Aaron asked approaching the metamorphmagus with caution.

"Perfectly fine! I just want to kill someone for calling me weak is all. Hello Anthony, how are things at St. Mungo's" Tonks said turning to her friend while still acknowledging the other man in the room.

"Very well all things considered. I am actually here out of concern for you. Aaron was telling me you haven't been in the best of straights recently" Anthony said smiling at Tonks. Anthony and Aaron looked a great deal alike. No one would guess Anthony was the older of the two with Aaron having premature grey hair due to being a werewolf.

"I'm just fine. My life is just a wreck is all, but what else is new." Tonks said, sitting down in the only chair in the room.

"Sorry to hear that. Actually, I had a few questions for you. I'm sorry to say but it has to do with what happened to you when you were 18." Anthony said. Tonks grew uncomfortable at the mere mention of it. When she was 18, she had fallen pregnant by her then boyfriend Jason. The two had not been dating very long and were scared to be parents. However a week after she had found out, she landed in St Mungo's for intense pain. After a few hours she was told she had suffered a miscarriage. The experience had turned Tonks off from ever wanting to have children.

"What about it?" Tonks said shifting in her seat.

"Well when you were pregnant back then, It was by Jason correct? And you were marked as a werewolf mate during the attack when you were 11."

"Yes"

"Interesting. I think that might have just proved my theory then. I can tell the others at work.

"Tell the others about what?" Tonks was now intently staring at Anthony in confusion. Aaron spoke before his brother could.

"Anthony has a case ay work that he thinks is similar to yours." Aaron said now walking over to sit next to his brother

"What happened to be was a freak accident. Probably a sign I am not meant to have children" Tonks said

"Not according to my theory. I have a patient who was marked as a werewolf mate. The wolf disappeared years ago. She is no dating someone, not a werewolf, and she fell pregnant. Unfortunately, she lost the baby soon after she found out, very much in the same way you did. There is another patient but that case is a little different." Anthony said

"What happened to the other patient." Tonks asked a little worried.

"Well…. She was raped by on of Greyback's men. Her mate is still in the picture and was beyond angry when he found out. However just like the other she suffered a miscarriage as well. However her was a little more violent."

"What are you trying to say Anthony?"

"I'm saying, given all the evidence, that werewolf mates cannot conceive with anyone but their mates. Otherwise, the body will reject the pregnancy completely. In the case of it being with another werewolf in a bit more of taxing and violent way"

"Wait, how would that even be possible."

"My running theory is that marking someone as one's mate is a kind of infection not unlike that cause lycanthropy itself. Mates are infected with some sort of strain of the lycanthropy infection. It doesn't turn them into werewolves just makes it impossible to have children with anyone but their mates. This may be due to genetics in the infection. However, most of it is just a running theory" After Anthony finished speaking Tonks looed at him in disbelief

"That... can't be…you…. You have to be wrong. That shouldn't even…" Tonks stammered, unable to form words.

"Tonks it's just a theory. No matter what my brother says. None of this has been proven at all." Aaron said, jumping in after he saw his friends panicked looks

"What if it is true Aaron. That means Remus Lupin has made yet another decision about my life that I know say it." Tonks got up from her seat looking agitated.

"Nymphie, please calm down. We don't know if it's true or not." Aaron said, getting up and walking over to her.

"If it's true…. Then- "Tonks seemed to be shaking. Aron pulled his friend into hug to keep her from freaking out. Tonks seemed to come out of her trance shortly after that.

"Hey, don't worry. True or not I can promise you, everything will be alright."

"Are you sure" Tonks voice was muffled by having her face buried in Aaron's shirt

"Positive. Now how about the three of us go form fish and chips. That usually cheers you up."

"Okay." The three then grabbed their coats and went to the usual spot for Tonks's number one comfort food

Winter had come and Tonks' mood had not improved in the days since. Ever since she had taken guard duty at Hogwarts, Snape had given her grief about her new Patronus. Tonks did not know what upset her more, Snape's jabs or the fact that her new Patronus was the form of a creature who did not reciprocate her affections. Being at Grimmauld Place around a fiery Cassiopeia did not make things any better. She had decided to stay with Cassie during the holidays since she knew Remus would probably be at the Weasley's. The next week, Tonks came down for breakfast and Cassiopeia was breast-feeding little Andromeda.

Tonks sat down with a sour look on her face. "Cassie, do you really have to have your tits out at the table?"

"Why thank you for noticing, Nymphadora, but I don't have my boobs out for you to oogle, I'm feeding my daughter," Cassiopeia replied.

"Tits!"

Cassiopeia and Tonks turned to find S.J. giggling proudly as he stood on the doorway of the kitchen.

"Happy now? Now you got my toddler saying it!" Cassiopeia said indignantly. "Thank you, very much, Nymphadora."

"Don't call me Nymphadora!" Tonks cried, annoyed as Cassiopeia rushed to tend to her giggling son.

"Mummy, what are tits?" S.J. asked. innocently. "I want some. What are they?"

Tonks could not help but giggle as she heard the little boy ask this. He is definitely Sirius' son, she thought.

"Remus James, we do not say that word," Cassiopeia said sternly. "It means a part of the body that only girls have. You'll learn more when you're older."

"But why does Auntie Tonks say it?" S.J. asked.

"Because Auntie Tonks likes to be naughty," Cassiopeia explained, shooting Tonks a dark look. "Now go on and play. Mummy will be in soon."

"Yes, Mummy," S.J. said.

Cassiopeia sat back at the table and faced a smirking Tonks. "Happy now? I just had to talk to my son about breasts."

"Better now than never," Tonks said.

"He's a toddler!" Cassiopeia shot back. "What are you on about lately? I can't feed my daughter, you're all moody. It's not just that hairy git. It's more than that. What is it?"

"I'm not in the mood," Tonks said.

"Too bad. Spill it," Cassiopeia replied.

Tonks knew she was at a loss. Cassiopeia was not going to stop hounding her until she came clean. "Snape has been on my case about my new Patronus."

"Of course, he is," Cassiopeia said wisely. "Go on."

"When I went to get Harry from the train, he was waiting for me instead of Hagrid," Tonks explained. "He said my new Patronus looks 'weak'"

"You know what else is weak, and that's why he's never reproduced," Cassiopeia sniped.

Tonks mouth dropped straight open. "You and Sirius really deserve each other."

"You know, if he gives you any grief, you could remind him that your cousin is an ex-con who doesn't mind going back to prison," Cassiopeia said in jest.

"I will not," Tonks said. "You are mad and I have got to get to duty at Hogsmeade."

"Just trying to give you some helpful advice," Cassiopeia chimed in.

"I won't need it," Tonks said.

Tonks Disapparated and found her head covered in sleet as she stood in the tiny, crowded town of Hogsmeade. No sooner had she arrived she saw a squat, bald man sprinting away as Harry chased after him.

"Come back here, you foul git!" Harry shouted.

The man Disapparated before Harry could chase him further much to Harry's fury.

"Come back here! Mandungus! He nicked Sirius stuff!" Harry cried.

"There's no point, Harry," Tonks said grimly.

"He stole some of Sirius' things! Nicked em!" Harry protested.

"He's all the way to London by now," Tonks replied. "Come on, to the Three Broomsticks."

Tonks led Harry to the Three Broomsticks tavern.

"What are you doing here, Tonks? Are you stationed here?" Harry asked.

"I was assigned here, yeah," Tonks replied.

"How has Cassie been?" Harry asked.

"She's been feisty. Did she tell you she got in a fight with Mrs. Malfoy?" Tonks asked.

"She did what?" Harry asked, exasperated.

"Ah, she didn't tell you. That'll be an interesting conversation," Tonks replied.

Tonks dropped Harry off at the Three Broomsticks. "I'll see you, Harry. Gotta get back on duty.

"See you, Tonks," Harry said.

Christmas had come and Tonks decided to spend it alone. Not wanting her cousin to be alone, Cassiopeia and her children spent Christmas at Sirius' home given to him by his Uncle Alphard. Cassiopeia had decorated the house herself and there were angels flying about the house and Santa flying about on a broomstick. During this time, Cassiopeia had been writing to Harry about Draco Malfoy and Harry had just written her back.

Dear Cassie,

I know Malfoy attacked Katie Bell but I can't prove it yet. And now I think Snape is helping him. I heard him after the party offering to give Malfoy help, but I didn't hear with what. I know they're in on something.

-Harry

Cassiopeia wrote her letter to Harry:

Harry,

Be careful what you are accusing Malfoy of. He may be a little git to you, but being a git does not make a Death Eater. As for Snape, I cannot say. The man was a former Death Eater, so he could be in on something, but I do not want to jump to conclusions based on prejudices. Keep me informed of anything else Malfoy and Snape may be up to.

-Cassie

Cassiopeia tucked the letter into the talons of her owl and sent it on its way.

"Mummy! Mummy, presents!" S.J. cried happily.

"Yes, my darling, presents for my brilliant boy and my lovely girl!" Cassiopeia said happily.

Tonks sat and sipped Firewhiskey as S.J. happily ripped open his presents. Just then, Cassiopeia heard a noise from outside.

"S.J., you and your sister are going to Aunt Molly's. Tell Aunt Molly Mummy will be there soon," Cassiopeia told her son. "You hold onto your sister and be a good boy."

"Yes, mummy," S.J. replied.

Cassiopeia Apparated her children away and returned to where she heard the noise.

"Nymphie, Nymphie!" Cassiopeia cried. "There's someone here!"

"Where are the kids?" Tonks asked.

"I sent them to Molly," Cassiopeia replied. "There's someone outside. Wands out."

Tonks and Cassiopeia drew wands and stepped outside. Checking the corners, they found nothing. Suddenly from a black trail came Bellatrix and the werewolf Greyback. Bellatrix cracked a toothy grin as she ran into the forest. Cassiopeia and Tonks pursued her as Bellatrix laughed like a mad thing. As they ran deeper into the forest, Tonks and Cassiopeia kept their guard. Suddenly, Tonks was hit by a jinx and before Cassiopeia could react, she too, was hit by a jinx knocking her out cold.

Tonks woke to the feeling of someone moving her clothes. She heard what sounded like ripping and felt a strong blast of cold hit her skin. The intense feeling woke her up. She opened her eyes to see Greyback hovering over top of her. He was pulling at and shredding her clothes off her body. She could see Cassie near her, with Bellatrix walking around with a knife and cackling.

"I told you it would be easier with a knife" Bellatrix said pacing as if she was bored

"And where would be the fun it that. You don't understand true terror. I want to make it that Remus will never want to touch her again." Greyback growled before turning back to Tonks. Tonks tried to move and struggle to get free but to no avail "Where are you trying to go little pup. Remus isn't here to protect you this time."

"Get off of me!" Tonks yelled as she tried to reach for her wand. She could see it close by but couldn't reach it. Bellatrix came over and stomped on her niece's wrist. Tonks could feel the snap of her wrist breaking and she screamed out in pain. There was nothing she could do. She saw Bellatrix go over to Cassie who was still out.

"Wakey wakey," cooed Bellatrix. "We don't want Auntie Cassie to miss this."

Cassiopeia found herself lying on the cold ground and her hands and feet were bound. Bellatrix pulled her into a sitting position. Tonks lay shivering on the ground and Greyback was on top of her, his nails carefully shredding her clothes.

Cassiopeia's blood boiled. "You son of a b****! Don't you touch her!"

Another wad of cloth wrapped around Cassiopeia's mouth, muffling her curses as Bellatrix held a knife at her throat. "Ah ah ah! I wouldn't want you to join dear Sirius too soon. I want to enjoy this."

Cassiopeia lunged in fury as Greyback tore at Tonks' clothes as she screamed. Tonks was doing her best to put up a fight but she appeared to be just too weak to fight him off. Greyback was on top of her and something made Tonks call out in fear. Cassie sat watching in horror as Greyback had his way with her all the while Tonks was screaming. Tonks at one point went limp as if she had just given up. Cassie tried to call out for her to fight but the cloth in her mouth prevented any sound from getting out. One he was finished with her Greyback got up and left Tonks barely awake and shivering. Bellatrix turned her attention to Cassie, pulling Cassie up the hair to meet her face as she removed the gag.

"When I'm done with you, Auntie Bellatrix will come for the kiddies," Bellatrix whispered as she made a cut on Cassiopeia's face and licked away the blood. "Nothing like girl on girl."

Cassiopeia spat at her but her binds prevented any escape. "B****!"

Bellatrix laughed like a mad thing as she made several cuts to Cassiopeia's stomach, wrists, and arms. Cassiopeia cried out as Bellatrix's knife cut deeper into her skin before Bellatrix started cutting through her clothes. Before long Bellatrix had chopped through Cassiopeia's shirt and she grinned. "Sirius was a lucky man. Would be a shame to ruin such a pretty figure for him."

"I'm still better looking than you, b****," Cassiopeia spat.

Bellatrix cackled as she made a long, slow cut on Cassiopeia's chest, as she shrieked. Bellatrix giggled like a child as she made more cuts under Cassiopeia's breasts.

"Not so pretty now," Bellatrix whispered.

Bellatrix raised her knife and brought it down on Cassiopeia's shoulder. Cassiopeia's eyes bulged as Bellatrix raised the knife again, this time bringing the knife down in her stomach. Before she could continue, Cassiopeia could only make out the figure of a wolf before everything went black. Tonks tried to see through hazy vision who was in front of her. Everything was getting blurry for her but she was able to just make out the figure in front of her. She called out to him weakly

"Remus"