Ch 32

A/N: Another short chapter, but I am working on the next one. I will have it up within the next week. I was originally going to put the two together, but it just felt like I should stop here. I think you'll understand why. I would also like to thank Slenderpanda597 for once again coming to my rescue as my beta. I don't think this chapter would have been posted if it weren't for her.

...

The only sound in the small room was the even tone of Victoria's voice reading from the open Transfiguration Today on her lap. She was sitting next to Minerva's bed with her feet propped up on the end of it. She'd spent every moment of the last few days silently keeping vigil in this exact position, determined not to leave until she knew that Minerva was going to be alright.

It was just that morning, as Victoria had drifted off to sleep after staying up most of the night, watching Minerva for any signs of life, that Minerva had finally opened her eyes for the first time in over a week. The older woman was still too weak to speak, but she made her point vividly clear with occasional smiles, huffs, and eye-rolls.

Victoria stopped her reading suddenly as she heard a gentle knock on the door. Looking over to see Tonks peek her head in, her aquamarine hair standing out brightly against the boring cream colored walls. Tonks gave a cheerful smile as she saw Minerva awake, "Wotcher Minerva, how are you feeling?"

Minerva gave her a dark look in response and tried to whisper, but could only manage a few odd sounds. Looking to Victoria for clarification she answered, "The healers say it's going to take a while for her voice to come back. The stunners did a lot of collateral damage. We didn't know until she woke up what exactly would be wrong. It seems mainly her chest where the stunners hit, her legs, and her voice."

"She'll get better right?" Tonks asked worriedly, looking furtively at Minerva.

Victoria nodded, "They say she'll be fine, it'll just take a while," she said with a smile. Then turning fixed Minerva with a serious glare, "But she's going to be patient and listen to the healer's advice right."

Minerva gave an indignant huff, rolling her eyes, but gave a curt nod.

Tonks laughed lightly, "Well I'm sorry Professor but I've gotta take your guest here for a while. It's time for another meeting."

Minerva's eyes grew wide as she realized she'd forgotten completely about the meeting. Victoria caught her look and smiled, "Don't worry. I'll be back tonight to tell you about everything. It's not like I've got anywhere else to go."

Minerva gave her a quizzical look, but Victoria shrugged. Turning to give her a hug, she stopped herself just before leaning in, "Oh, I'm sorry. I don't want to make it worse."

Minerva rolled her eyes again and opened her arms. Smiling Victoria leaned in and gave her a very gentle hug. Minerva grimaced in spite of herself, but smiled, happy in the knowledge that Victoria felt comfortable with her. Pulling back Victoria said, "I'll tell you everything later. Get some rest."

Minerva sighed as they left, not wanting to admit she was as tired as she really was.

…

Apparating into the drawing room of Grimauld Place a few seconds later, Victoria was surprised to see only Sirius in the room. Tonks smiled at her cousin, "Wotcher Sirius."

"Tonks," he smiled back catching her in a bear hug. "How's my little cousin?"

"I'm surviving," she answered pulling back from him. "Hogwarts isn't nearly as fun without Vicky though."

"I'd imagine not. She always keeps things interesting," he smirked in her direction, watching as she took a seat on the couch across from him.

Tonks laughed and shook her head. "I'm going to get something to drink," she said taking a few steps towards the door, "Want anything?"

Victoria shook her head and Sirius asked for a Firewhiskey.

As Tonks disappeared through the door Victoria turned her attention to Sirius, "So, where'd you leave Hestia? I thought you two were attached at the mouth."

"Is that jealousy I hear?" he smirked.

"Don't flatter yourself Sirius," she rolled her eyes, "After walking in on the two of you three times in a week I was just surprised to see you without her. Decided to come up for air did you?"

"Yeah, my lips were getting chapped," he joked lightly flopping down in a chair across from her. "What are you worried about anyway? You said you didn't want me."

"And I still don't," she answered leaning back into the couch. "I'm just worried about her."

"What are you on about?"

"Sirius," her tone becoming serious, "I'm afraid she feels a lot more for you than you do for her."

He rolled his eyes, "You're barking."

"No I'm not," she looked at him seriously, "I recognize that look. I was once young and stupid too."

"I resent that remark."

"You resemble that remark," she retorted acerbically.

"She may be young, but she knows we're just having some fun."

"I don't think she does," Victoria said sincerely. Sighing she decided to go for a different approach, "If she was a cartoon character she would have hearts for eyes."

"Vicky…"

"I know you don't believe me Sirius, but I mean it. She's fallen for you. You may not think she has, but it's already done. You need to talk to her before it's too late."

"Too late for what?"

"You know very well too late for what," she snapped, sounding much more like Minerva than she'd intended.

A sly smile crept onto his face, "I'm afraid it's too late for that my friend."

Putting her head in her hands she groaned, "Sirius you didn't."

"She certainly didn't seem too upset at the time."

"I wouldn't expect her to. It's later, when she wakes up from this little dream world she's in that life is going to bite her in the butt."

"When did you become such a pessimist?" He asked, eyeing her curiously.

Getting up from the couch she shook her head, sighing she said solemnly, "When my first boyfriend raped me repeatedly and blamed me for having his child."

"Vicky… I didn't…"

"Save it," she cut him off quietly, "Just talk to her ok?"

Sirius nodded, giving her a sympathetic look.

A moment later Remus walked into the room with Tonks close on his heels. He looked over Sirius and Victoria quickly, noticing the tension in the air. Victoria stood with her back to Sirius, her breathing slightly faster than normal and her arms crossed, while Sirius sat with his head in his hands. Sharing a look with Tonks he said quietly, "I'm afraid we walked in at an inopportune moment Dora."

Tonks nodded, "I'd say."

Remus put a hand on the small of her back, intending to lead her back away from the room, "We'll come back later."

Tonks tried to ignore the shiver that ran along her spine with the slight touch.

"We're done," Victoria turned around sighing and flopping back onto the couch still not looking in Sirius' direction, "it's fine."

Tonks and Remus shared a skeptical look once more. Shrugging Tonks took a seat next to Sirius and handed him the firewhisky he'd asked for. Thanking her, he downed it in one gulp and resumed his previous position. Uneasily taking a seat next to Victoria on the couch, Remus continued to look between the two, wondering what had happened.

A few minutes later they were mercifully relieved from their awkward silence by Moody and Kingsley apparating into the room.

"Evening all," Kingsley's deep voice permeated the room, relieving some of the tension.

"Wotcher Kingsley," Tonks said brightly. "How're things at work?"

Kingsley shook his head, "Complicated," he answered dropping into another chair.

"That bad huh?" she asked worriedly.

"Worse," he answered tiredly.

"Is this everyone?" Remus asked after another moment looking around the room.

"Just waiting on Dumbledore," Moody growled, leaning heavily on his walking stick.

The group remained silent for a few minutes, no one really knowing how to release the tension that still hung in the air. Suddenly a bolt of silvery light appeared in the middle of the room. They were each on their feet as the light manifested itself into a doe, the cool, deep voice of Severus suddenly breaking through the silence; "The boy has had another vision. He thinks Black is in danger. He went into the forest with Umbridge and has yet to return. I am going to search for him. Send someone to the Department of Mysteries immediately, if I miss him that is where he will be headed. Black should remain behind, someone must inform Dumbledore."

"To hell with that," Sirius said stalking off in search of Kreacher.

Taking his wand out Kingsley sent back word to Severus telling him they were on their way.

Tonks and Remus' gazes connected across the room, both sets of eyes held a worried look. Throwing caution to the wind she ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck and capturing his lips with her own. A moment later she pulled back, and a fire in her eye that hadn't been there before seemed to spurn her on. She smiled up at him, "I figured if there was a chance one of us was going to die tonight I might as well get one in."

A menacing smirk covered Moody's scarred face, "Once again into the fray my friends."

Victoria nodded, a determined look settling over her features, "It's time."

Tonks nodded, disapparating with the others only seconds behind her.

…

A moment later they found themselves in the Atrium of the Ministry. Sprinting their way down the halls, Tonks in the lead, they didn't even notice their surroundings. Continuing to run full-out they found themselves in the rotating room. Luckily Kingsley had much experience in this area and expertly opened a door that lead into the exact room they were looking for.

As the doors flew open, they didn't even have time to assess the situation, before Tonks already had her wand out, aiming a Stunning Spell at Malfoy. Victoria and Kingsley took out two other masked Death Eaters before their presence was noticed. Before long the room was in utter chaos. Spells were raining down in all directions. Sirius was in the middle of the room fighting a duel so fast you could barely see their wands, while Kingsley was battling two more. Moody was locked in a particularly nasty battle with Dolohov, both were already bleeding heavily. Tonks had managed to make her way up the stone steps and was now fighting it out with Bellatrix, dodging and ducking in a strange sort of dance. Remus had managed to take down yet another masked Death Eater and was well on his way with another.

By this time Malfoy's Stunning Spell had worn off and shaking his head he looked up to find Victoria making her way toward him, casting another spell in his direction. He blocked it easily, a smirk crossing his face as he smoothed out his hair. "So they send a girl to do a man's work," he laughed as he sent out another spell.

Blocking his and sending out another she growled back, "You have no idea who you're dealing with."

He dodged it again, "Indeed I do, Miss Knight." Catching her off guard momentarily he caught her with a spell, slicing through the shoulder of her robes and causing a deep gash. She recoiled, but quickly made up for it sending out yet another his way. He dodged it laughing, "Your reputation precedes you. It's a shame to say, they gave you more credit than you're worth."

Anger soared through her veins as she sent spells in quick succession, this time managing to catch him with one and knocking him off his feet. Before she had a chance to disarm him he was up again. "Is that the best you can do?" He asked lazily, running a hand over his hair. "I would have thought Auror training would have taught you more." She shot another quick line of spells; however he was a second faster, catching her with a Stunning Spell. Standing over her he smirked, "Such a shame. You might have made a decent witch." Then all went black as another spell hit her square in the chest.