Chapter 6

There was another thud and a squeal of laughter from upstairs. Lily Potter sighed as she glanced up at the ceiling, "I think we should round the kids up, it's quarter past ten."

"I'll get the nets," said Sirius whist standing up.

"I'll get the cages ready," said James whilst joining Sirius.

Lily rolled her eyes, "You are not putting our son in a cage," she said.

Remus put his book down, "I'll help," he said. "You might need it." Something smashed up stairs and James winced.

"Did somebody give them caffeine or something?" Sirius asked, an exasperated look on his face.

***[:]***

The kids had in fact probably had an overdose of sugar. Fred and George had decided to share their secret stash of chocolate frogs and bertie botts beans, being the brilliant people that they were. However, this had only ensured in chaos.

At first a giant pillow fight had broken out. And then it had changed to standing at each end of the corridor wrapped in a duvet and then charging at each other. Finally it had ended in a massive duvet and pillow pile on…with Ginny at the bottom and Teddy sat on the top.

The adults made their way all the way up stairs to find the tangle of bodies and pillows with Teddy sat cross-legged on top, a big smile on his face, with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Well, that's something you don't see every day." Sirius commented. "Are you feeding your child steroids or something?" He asked Remus.

"Of course I'm not," he said. "C'mon Ted, it's your bed time and I think the others would appreciate being able to walk again."

"I'm alright," said Harry, his head partially visible under a pillow. "I'm quite comfortable actually."

"I'm not!" Ginny squealed from under the pile. Teddy shuffled off the pile.

"C'mon you lot," said Lily, "before you suffocate poor Ginny." The rest of the kids regrettably got off the pile, Ginny being the last to emerge.

Once the adults had finally gotten the kids to calm down and get them to head towards bed it was Eleven.

"Where's Ted," Remus asked as the kids disappeared into their various rooms.

Ginny glanced up and down the corridor, "Hasn't he gone to bed?" She questioned.

Remus shook his head, "he's not in his room." He'd been too busy rounding up the twins who thought it would be fun to lock themselves in a cupboard rather than go to bed. Whoever said the older ones were more responsible weren't telling the truth. And whoever thought it would be a good idea to give them wands seriously needed to rethink on what they'd done.

Remus walked along the corridor. If Teddy was hiding or something, he was going to be in trouble. However once he reached the end of the corridor he found his son, curled up fast asleep on the mound of duvet's that had been used in the pile on. Remus shook his head slightly as he picked up his son and carried him back to his room.

***[:]***

Dobby was at that point a very conflicted house elf. He couldn't under any circumstances disobey his master. But he wanted so much to help Tonks out and he had said 'help Tonks.' So it seemed only plausible that he should be standing outside number 12 Grimmauld place, his big wary eyes glancing up and down the street. He reached up for the door handle and quietly knocked.

***[:]***

Everyone was making their way back downstairs after putting the very reluctant kids to bed. "That was easy," said Sirius, a grin on his face.

Remus glanced at him, "Easy for you maybe, you weren't attempting to get the twins out of a closet…"

There was then a knock on the door. It was only quiet but everyone heard the distinct sound. "Who could that be?" James asked.

"No idea," replied Sirius.

Lily went to go and answer it. "Lil's wait," said James. He stepped past her, removing his wand from his pocket, and went to answer the door.

Sirius also removed his wand, shortly followed by Remus. The likelihood that whoever was standing outside was a threat was slim. But most people sent an owl ahead if they were coming and it was eleven at night. Ever since the Master took control, most people didn't go out so late at night.

James opened the door slowly only to come face to face with an elf.

He was only small, only just coming above James' knee. He had large tennis ball eyes and large bat like ears to match. The only piece of clothing he wore looked like a dirty dishcloth that had been tied loosely across his shoulder.

The four adults merely stared down at the elf, not sure what to make of him, or how he got here. "H-h-hello," the elf squeaked.

"Hello," James replied, his wand raised slightly, not sure whether to trust him or not.

"Hang on," Sirius said, "You're Narcissa's elf!" At this exclamation everyone directed their wands at the wary elf.

"Please," said Dobby, "Dobby doesn't mean any harm, Dobby has come for a friend…"

"How did you get here?" Sirius asked peering over James' shoulder. "This house is hidden, only those who know the address can get in."

"Dobby was told it so that he could find Remus Lupin." Everyone turned to Remus who was standing at the back listening in to the conversation.

He frowned slightly, "Why do you need to find me?"

"Dobby is here to find Remus Lupin to tell him where Nymphadora Tonks is." The elf squeaked whilst glancing up the street once more.

"What?" Remus said, staring down at the small elf.

"This has to be a trap Rem," said Sirius his wand still held at eye level with Dobby.

Dobby started to twist his hands into the rag that he wore over and over in a nervous state. "Dobby understands your concern, he understands that you think that this could be a trap. But Dobby is here for his friend Tonks…" He reached into a small pocket that had been sown into his rag and pulled out a small object. He held it up to Remus, "She said that if you didn't believe her I was to give you this and ask if you've gotten rid of that horrible troll umbrella stand." Lily took the small object and handed it to Remus. It was a ring. He stared down at the small circle; it was Dora's wedding ring.

Remus didn't know what to say. All he could do was stare at the small item of jewelry in his hand. Lily interrupted his thoughts, "Remus, it could still be a trap…"

"But it could not," he muttered. He looked down at the elf. "Where is she then?" He asked.

Dobby continued to still nervously twist his hands into his clothing, "She's…" he then started to smack his head against the wall next to the door.

Lily moved her hand up to her mouth, "don't," she said whilst watching the elf continuously smack his head against the wall.

"I can't," squeaked Dobby, "My Master…" He thumped his head against the wall particularly hard this time.

"Please stop doing that," said Lily and the Elf finally stopped.

"What if we guess?" said James, realizing that the elf was really struggling to reveal Tonks' whereabouts. "All you have to do is nod if we get it right." Dobby nodded in agreement, his ears flapping.

"Alright," said Sirius, "she's going to be with Death Eaters, isn't she?" Dobby nodded.

"Is she with the Malfoy's?" Remus asked. Again Dobby nodded. "Where do they keep her?" Remus asked.

"In…" Dobby smacked his head against the wall again. "The grounds…" Another smack to the head. "In a…" Thud. "…Shed."

Remus frowned, "in a shed," he repeated and Dobby nodded once more. "Is she alright," Remus asked.

Again Dobby nodded. "Dobby would advise you to be quick though, Tonks isn't safe at the moment…" The elf then glanced up the street like earlier, "Dobby must go now that he has told you. Master must not realize that Dobby is gone."

"Wait," said Sirius, "you know where our headquarters are, what if you tell Malfoy."

"Dobby has promised not to," squeaked the Elf, "by helping Tonks, Dobby must not reveal the hideout of the Order. Dobby promised not to betray any of Malfoy's family, and Sirius Black is part of that family. Dobby dislikes his Master very much anyway." He then stepped of the curb and disappeared with a short crack.

Remus looked down at the wedding ring in his hand once more. He finally knew where she was.

I know this chapter is a bit short but i'll have the next instalment up in a couple of days :D Please review :D