Chapter Three: Anxiety

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters

Tonks entered the crowded Hog's Head, meeting a surprised Aberforth. "I thought Remus said you were at home, minding Teddy."

"Never mind that, what's happening here?" As Aberforth explained, Tonks's eyes searched the room. "What's that?" she asked, pointing to the picture of Ariana, which gave way to the tunnel in the Room of Requirement.

"That's your entrance to Hogwarts. Now go, quick, before the fighting's all over!"

She climbed through the tunnel, arriving in the room, which was empty except for Ginny. Aberforth emerged from the tunnel a few seconds later, walking past Tonks and Ginny and climbing the staircase leading to the rest of the castle, brandishing his wand.

A few minutes after Aberforth had left, an elderly woman wearing a moth-eaten hat emerged from the tunnel, muttering to herself. "Better seal the entrance, Aberforth wouldn't want any o' those Death Eater bandits coming in this way, would he?" She stepped inside and the tunnel sealed itself neatly. A few seconds later, Harry, Ron and Hermione appeared at the top of the stairs. "Ah Potter," cried Augusta Longbottom, "You can tell us what's going on."

"Is everyone okay?" Tonks and Ginny asked in unison.

"'S far as we know." answered Harry. I wonder if he's seen Lupin, Tonks thought. He has to be alright.

Augusta Longbottom left hurriedly to join his son and Harry turned to Tonks. "I thought you were supposed to be with Teddy at your mother's?"

"I couldn't stand not knowing – she'll look after him – have you seen Remus?" she said hurriedly.

"He was planning to lead a group of fighters into the grounds-"

That was all she needed to hear. She sped off up the staircase and took a passage to the grounds.

**

Bellatrix Lestrange was looking directly at him. "Yes, here in the castle," Yaxley was saying, "But I heard his wife's still at her mother's house, looking after the baby."

"We'll be visiting there next," Bellatrix said, "After we've disposed of her husband."

"Stupefy!" Lupin yelled. The spell missed Bellatrix's foot by inches. At once, three wands turned on Lupin, three voices yelling, "Avada kedavra!"

"Protego!" yelled Neville, and the three green streaks of light bounced off the shield.

"Good one, boy," Lupin whispered, "Now get out of here!"
"You two get the boys, I'll take the werewolf!" shouted Bellatrix. "Crucio!"

The spell flew past Lupin's ear, as he raised his wand to counter attack, "Impedimenta!" Bellatrix flew off her feet.

"You'll pay for that! Avada kedavra!" Lupin dodged the spell and raised his wand again. A voice came from behind him, "Expelliarmus!" Bellatrix's wand flew out of her hand, and she hissed angrily. "Run, Remus!" shouted Aberforth. "Petrificus Totalus!" Macnair's body became stiff and he fell over backwards.

"Levicorpus!" shouted Lupin, pointing his wand at Yaxley, whose feet fell from beneath him and became fixed to the ceiling. That was always Padfoot's favourite.

He followed Aberforth down a staircase and through a series of long corridors. There were shouts up ahead, and Lupin knew they were nearing the Room of Requirement once again. The walls were blackened, as if a horrendous fire had swept through, and the burnt corpse of a Death Eater lay in his path. All of a sudden, there was a loud explosion. The floor rocked beneath them and dust fell from the ceiling. A heart-wrenching scream came from around the corner. Percy Weasley, his arms around the lifeless body of his brother, Fred…

Harry emerged from the rubble, a cut on his cheek bleeding copiously. A cry came from the other end of the passageway; the Death Eater, Dolohov, pointed his wand at Harry and shouted, "Stupefy!"

Other curses rang out and flashes of light bounced through the room. Lupin stepped through the rubble and faced Dolohov, his wand hand itching. Behind him, a small ginger-haired girl appeared. "Ginny!" Lupin cried, dodging a curse from Dolohov. "Ginny, look out!" Another three Death Eaters had appeared behind her.

"Diffindo!" she cried, and there was a flash of blood and a Death Eater screamed.

"Lupin, Tonks is upstairs, she's looking for you! Stupefy!" A Death Eater keeled over in mid-curse, landing at Ginny's feet.

Lupin's stomach lurched, "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure!"

"Are you sure it was her and not an imposter?!"
"Yes!"

Lupin was losing his head, he needed to concentrate, but, Dora, she has to be alright, I couldn't bear it if something happened to her…