Tonk's death

Characters belong to Rowling and Neil Gaiman

Tonks had always said that her clumsiness would one day kill her.

'Mad-eye' Moody, who had supervised her auror training, however, always said that it was more likely that a bunch of crazed dark wizards with wands cracking of power and illegal killing curses would one day kill her if she didn't apply CONSTANT VIGILANCE.

He had turned out to be right, which annoyed her because it's always annoying when your teachers turn out to be right.

On the plus side, she had taught those bastards a few short and sharp lessons about moral, law obedience and not treating other people's boyfriends like they had.

On the minus side, she was dead.

Bugger that.

She looked around. The fighting was still going on all around her, but it was fading away, as if it wasn't of any importance anymore - which, of course - it wasn't. Her body was slumped to the ground, and the rest of the world was mostly gray and misty. A girl, dressed in a black, sleeveless dress, with wild, black hair and a little silver pendant around her neck, picked up her hat.

"Wotcher Tonks!" she said and smiled. "All right?"

"Yeah..." Tonks answered, and to her surprise she actually felt like everything WAS all right. "Yeah," she repeated. "I actually think it is."

"Spiffy!" the girl answered. She took Tonks by the arm and helped her to the feet. "I really love what you have done with your hair, by the way."

"Really?" Tonks said, flattered. Almost unconsciously, she raised a hand and twirled a strand of bubblegum pink between her fingers. "Took me ages to find the right colour, you know. Mum almost had hysterics when I looked for it."

"Everything worth having is worth working for," the girl noted. "Can I try the hat?" She put it on and twirled to let Tonks have a good look. Tonks nodded.

"Suits you like a glove," she said appreciatingly. The girl beamed.

"That's sweet!" she said and took Tonk's hand. "Ready to go?" Tonks hesitated a moment, looking thoughtfully at the ghostlike images of the fighting people. They seemed to be further away now.

"There isn't much of an alternative, is there?" Tonks asked idly. The girl shook her head.

"'fraid so," she said.

"Oh well," Tonks said as they started to walk. "Time to find out about that next exiting adventure, eh?"

"The best time there is," Death agreed.