An emergency Order meeting had been called but it didn't last long. Standing at the head of the table Dumbledore solemnly

addressed those gathered. "I have been informed of an attack planned to take place today at a Muggle nursery." Tonks moaned,

Moody grunted, and McGonagall blanched looking as if she might be sick.

Dumbledore continued, "We will leave immediately. The capture or injuring of a Death Eater is unimportant. First and foremost our goal is to insure the safety of the children. Any questions?" he paused a moment, when no one moved or spoke he said, "Let us proceed." Everyone followed him quickly out the door.

They intended to arrive before the Death Eaters and that was fortunate. As it turned out the Death Eaters arrived at the same time, almost an hour before expected. They threw open the door and stormed inside. Bellatrix in her excitement began slinging spells wildly in all directions busting out windows and setting the cloakroom on fire. The childminder screamed at the sight of the cloaked and masked figures. Older children yelled and ran in all directions while the younger ones sat and cried.

The members of the Order were just as fast, throwing spells at the Death Eaters trying to distract from the children and accidently on purpose missing Snape who had arrived masked on the other side. A fight was on now. Tonks swooped in the middle of the battle to grab a little boy who sat crying at Bellatix's feet. She noticed and yelled at her

"He was mine! I was saving him to play with!" She threw a spell that just missed. Weaving between low setting tables to reach her, Tonks deposited the child in the arms of the childminder and tried not to think of the torture her aunt had undoubtedly been planning for the boy.

With Sirius' help all the children had been rounded up and were now being taken out the back door to the playground. That was when the Aurors entered. Somehow the Ministry had found out about the planned attack and had of course shown up late.

They entered the battle. Dumbledore had two masked men pretty well beaten down. Tonks and Bellatrix were having it out ferociously. Snape still masked as most the Death Eaters were was staying in the thick of the fight his spells never reaching a mark. The Ministry sent Aurors, of course, never noticed this and seemed unconcerned what side he was fighting for. As long as he wore his mask they perceived him as the enemy.

Tonks glanced at Snape checking to see he was ok. The Ministry interfering had been an unforeseen risk for him. Just as she feared, a new addition to the Auror office whom she had only met a few days before was advancing on Snape from behind. He was rumored to be dangerous and unpredictable in his spell use. Why the Ministry had made him an Auror in the first place was beyond her.

"Stupefy," she called. The spell hit him about the same time Bellatrix's hit her.

"Sectumsempra!"

The Death Eaters where beginning to Dissapparate now. Dumbledore was closest to Tonks; he called a retreat and scooping her in his arms Dissapparated to Grimmauld place. The Order followed, including Snape.

Dumbledore laid her on the floor just inside the door. Even he seemed to be at a loss. Lupin fell by her side holding onto her.

"Let me to her!" Snape called. Lupin fought to stay with her. "What do you plan to do, lick her wounds?" Snape shouted as he shoved him hard and knelt beside her in what was becoming an alarmingly large pool of blood. Her breathing was shallow and though she never cried out it was apparent she was in a great deal of pain.

As Sirius lightly held his friend back Snape began a complicated spell in a low voice no one could quite hear. The blood stopped flowing and her flesh mended. Her eyelids fluttered open but it seemed hard for her to keep them that way. "She is fine. But she is weak and needs rest." Snape informed the concerned group crowding around her.

Lupin swooped in and lifted her into his arms to take her to bed. Snape turned away.

"Mrs. Weasley, in the cabinet where the first aid supplies are kept there is a potion that will aid her in replenishing her lost blood. Would you take it to her?" He asked.

"Oh, of course." Mrs. Weasley jumped and hurried from the room.

Snape just wanted to get away. Her injury was entirely his fault.

Bellatrix sat nursing her wounds and whimpering to herself. She had come out of the battle uninjured but hitting the nursery had been her plan and the Dark Lord had been very displeased with the outcome. Lucius had been in on the plan too and like her he bore the marks to prove it. She wasn't overly upset though, despite letting him down the Dark Lord had tortured her himself. She thought back to how gracefully he had held his wand as he aimed it at her and caused the most excruciating pain, and she smiled.

Lucius was furious, "I don't know what you're so happy about. We failed! And now somehow we need to prove ourselves to the Dark Lord."

Her smile fell and her eyes became blank. "So much blood." She mumbled. "There was so much blood."

Lucius was losing patience with her. "Do not tell me, you Bellatrix, of all people are developing a weak stomach."

She shook her head but did not answer.

"What is wrong with you?" Lucius snarled, grabbing her arm. Her eyes met his dreamily and she smiled again. "Her blood is what we need."