Chapter 7: Encounter

Tonks frantically parried off a spell, rushing to duck as a jet of green light followed after.

She couldn't see Mad-Eye clearly within all the chaos. She hoped he was alright, just as she hoped Dedalus and Mundungus were, though the latter was more of attempting to escape than fighting.

"Stupefy!" Tonks shouted, effectively stunning a death eater in the back before he could catch Dedalus off guard with a killing curse.

They were not very badly outnumbered but the 5 death eaters weren't pushovers. Before Tonks know it, her body burned up with agony. Her knees buckled. She doubled over, her bones feeling like they were dug into with hot coal. Tonks was more than familiar with this.

The cruciatus curse.

To her dismay despite the pain, Tonks heard herself let loose a cry of agony as she collapsed to the ground after a struggle to remain standing.

Then it stopped all of a sudden, leaving her on the ground, grunting with the effort to get up. Tonks turned to see the body of a Death Eater at Mad-Eye's feet, his normal eye surveying her while his magical one kept in the fight, firing a spell at another Death eater behind her.

Her eyes widened, spotting a figure rise behind him. That definitely gave her the determination for her to get to her feet, "Expelliarmus!" Tonks cried, the first spell which came to her mind, as the Death Eater raised his wand.

The wand flew out of his hand, following a cry of shock. Tonks jerked forward, catching it before striking the unarmed death eater with a non-verbal curse. The body was thrown back and striking the concrete wall before falling limply to the ground.

She glanced around. Tonks realized Dedalus was on the floor and Mundungus was reduced to a corner by one death eater. Mad-Eye was facing two death eaters singlehandedly.

"Stupefy!" Tonks cried, almost striking the smaller Death Eater but her spell was parried away just in time. She fired another curse quickly, her curse meeting the death eater's in mid air. It exploded, blinding her for a moment. Then she heard a sharp, high pitched, and chilling cackling coming from the Death Eater she was facing.

Tonks shuddered. She had most definitely heard that before but the last time she did, it was during her Azkaban visit. Bellatrix Lestrange. Tonks was aware of her escape of course, her wanted poster was plastered all over the Auror Office.

Constant vigilance, a gruff voice echoed in her head and she sidestepped in time as a jet of green grazed pass her, exploding into the wall behind her.

Tonks fired another spell but hers always seemed weaker than her opponent's. And spells was coming her way so fast that she could only find time in between to a few weak ones.

This was similar to Mad-Eye's training but the spells fired at her were definitely not as deadly. She parried away another spell with a shield charm, firing her own. She was no match for her opponent, Tonks could only wish Mad-Eye would incapacitate his enemy and come to help her.

Then her attention was diverted. From the corner of her eye, she saw her old mentor sink to the ground, his opponent already out cold. No…She barely had time to glance back before she heard a neat slice of the wind behind her and her shoulder burned in agony.

Tonks didn't know if she'd cried out but she sank to the concrete, falling on her front. She heard the same loud chilling cackle but she was too busy groveling on the ground, struggling to get up despite the pain. It wasn't as bad as crucio but her shoulder felt like it had been amputated. She struggled, only glad that her crippled and injured hand was not her wand handling hand.

Tonks lifted her head, just time to see black smoke materialize in front of her eyes, beside the death eater she was dueling. Tonks's eyes were glued to the death eater's face now that she didn't have the mask on.

She'd seen that face…in her mother's family album. Bellatrix Lestrange, nee Black.

A pale figure materialize beside Bellatrix. Tonks didn't miss the gleam in her eyes as her aunt laid eyes on the pale person.

The pale person was bald, his nose barely formed but his eyes were red, narrowed and critical. His lips so thin that Tonks could barely see them. Serpentine features…

"My lord." Tonks watched as Bellatrix bent at the waist, bowing slightly to the figure before her. Voldemort.

Tonks needed to think. She'd consider the possibility that she'll be dead soon but she also thought of the possibility of her calling someone else for help. Maybe if she could send a patronus-

Her thoughts were interrupted as Voldemort spoke, "Ah, Old Alastor Moody, fallen at last." His high hoarse voice made Tonks sick but as Voldemort took a step towards Moody's body, Tonks shot to her feet quickly, not feeling her injured shoulder.

"No!" She cried out instinctually, regretting it instantly as both of them turned to her.

Tonks set her eyes on Bellatrix, glaring. She looked back at Tonks with a bloodlust so potent Tonks could feel it radiating off her.

"Crucio,"

Tonks fell to the floor again, Why couldn't they just get it over with?

Her body curled up with the pain like an insect. The pain dug right into her bones, threatening to tear out her entrails. Tonks threw her head back in pain, her eyes seeing Voldemort standing over Mad-Eye, a contemplative look in his eyes as he completely disregard her presence.

She was an auror, she was accustomed to the curse but never had she really tasted what it felt like. It didn't matter, Tonks realised, her eyes watering from the effort to stop screaming. Everyone is dead, Mad-Eye is dead, there's no one-

Then as Voldemort raised his wand upon her mentor's body, it occurred to her, he's not dead! But he's going to be, not if she stopped it.

"Stop-" Tonks felt the adrenaline shove aside the pain as she got up from the concrete but the searing pain hardly allowed her to straighten her knee. She fell into a crumpled undignified heap again.

"Bellatrix,"

Tonks barely acknowledged the sickly gentle voice as the pain stopped, leaving her body shuddering from the effect.

"Who do we have here?"

She remained curled up on the floor, her wand clutched in her hand. Only now, when the pain left her slowly, Tonks felt fear. But what the heck…Tonks summoned her strength and tilted her head to glare up at them.

Tonks heard Bellatrix laugh, a shrill and annoying sound, "Nymphadora, is it?" She stepped forward but with some unseen gesture, she stopped in her tracks as Voldemort himself approached and loomed over her.

"Your niece?" His calculating eyes looked her full in the face.

"She's no aunt of mine," Tonks hissed through gritted teeth but before she know it, her body was lifted with a flick of Bellatrix's wand and thrown ruthlessly into the concrete wall. Tonks sank to the floor again, no longer feeling the strength in her limbs. She was tired, her limbs felt hurt and broken.

"You're no better than that blood traitor mother you have! How dare you speak to-" Bellatrix Lestrange seethed but was silence as Voldemort raised his wand hand.

"Your bravery, Nymphadora, and loyalty is impressive," Voldemort approached her, his wand slightly lowered, "Even facing death…" He stopped in front of her, raising his thin and cold fingers to touch her cheek. She hissed, flinching away, "Such a waste…" He raised his wand and Tonks turned to face him full in the face; no, she decided, I would not die groveling…

Everything seemed to have slowed. For one, she knew she was going to die and maybe even looked forward to it, but deep down, she hoped someone would come to their rescue. Saving her would be too late, but maybe, for her old mentor, for Dedalus if he wasn't already dead, and maybe for Mundungus but Tonks couldn't see him...She took comfort that she at least bought them some time.

"Such a loyal friend and apprentice," He practically cooed at her, sickening her to the extend that she'd have retched if she wasn't so weak. Tonks glared back, realizing he was using legilimency on her, "I'll make it quick." His wand was now ready, just a simple command from his master and-

"Tom,"

Tonks watched as Lord Voldemort turned. In a distance, she saw Dumbledore in thick black robes. Flanking him, she blearily saw various member of the order. Tonks wanted to raise her wand against Voldemort, whose back was to her but her hand wouldn't budge. At least her wand was still in her hand, she'd not let it go, just like how she was trained not to…

Tonks woke to the sound of sobbing by her bed. She found the strength to open her eyes. Her body was numb and she couldn't feel anything, neck down at least. Her head was throbbing.

"You'd think this is a funeral or something," Tonks croaked, looking at her mum, whose puffy red eyes were still leaking tears.

"Oh Nymphadora!" Andromeda stood instantly, leaning over her daughter. Tonks would've shuddered, now completely comprehending the real similarity of her mother to Bellatrix, if she had the strength. Tonks realized she was in a private ward, the kind which bore the patient in it to death by having one patient to one ward. She was certain Andromeda had insisted on it.

"I'm fine mum," Tonks strained her dry throat. She wondered if her mum knew about what exactly happened to her. Just exactly, how much does Dumbledore let her mum know? Tonks knew she for a fact didn't tell her parents about the Order.

"How do you feel?" Andromeda turned to the table to pour her a glass of water, flustered.

"Nothing," Tonks replied simply, "neck down at least."

"Yes, yes, that'll be the numbing spell. It'll be fading soon…" Andromeda gave her a straw so Tonks just sipped from it. Her mum casted worried glances across her body as Tonks drank.

"That bad?" Tonks cringed. Andromeda smiled fondly at her daughter, brushing her hair back with her hand, "Where's dad?"

"He just left for work. He'll come to see you later."

"Mum, you need not stay by my bed all the time," Tonks sighed, feeling her torso start to ache.

"You're right though, the queue to see you outside is getting longer," Andromeda smiled, "you have quite a number of nice friends."

"Yeah, sure…" Tonks glanced to the closed door; certain those would be Order members. She might not even have none some of them personally.

"Well, I better be going then. I'll come back to see you tomorrow," Tonks watched as her mum picked up her bag.

"Bye mum…"

Tonks glanced around the room, the ache in the torso increasing to become a throb.

"Nymphadora," Professor Dumbledore stepped into the room, the twinkle in his eyes quite obvious even behind the half-moon spectacles.

"Professor, what happened?" Tonks asked anxiously, attempting to get up but regretting it instantly as her whole body burnt. She fell back into the bed, writhing until the pain fade.

"That is not advisable." Dumbledore said with a small smile, "Just stay in bed,"

"Yeah…that'll be nice," Tonks gasped, "but what happened?"

"It appears Voldemort happen to have some matters to attend to at that time," Dumbledore replied, taking a seat.

"Lucky me…" Tonks muttered then stopped herself before she jumped up again, "How's Mad-Eye? And Dedalus? And Dung?"

Dumbledore chuckled, "Let's start with Mundungus shall we?" Tonks waited for him to continue, "He managed to apparate away to inform the order,"

"Wow," Tonks said, thinking it was probably due to his cowardice but decided against voicing it out, "I owe him then…how's Mad-Eye…"

"He and Dedalus is both in the neighboring wards, probably bustling with the hoards of visitors by now," Dumbledore said calmly, reaching for the snack at her bedside table, "You don't mind if I take some of these?" Tonks hastily jerked her head a little as a 'no'. She watched as her old headmaster indulge in the snack before continuing, "two death eaters were apprehended, while 3 of them escape, including Bellatrix Lestrange."

Tonks shuddered.

"Two death eaters, among whom are Jensen Dane and Desmond Cliffe,"

"Dane?" Tonks gaped, mentally wondering just which death eater was he.

"They are being interrogated in the Auror Office as we speak, preferably. Scrimgeour did have some suspicion when Kingsley brought them in,"

"Is that really…" Tonks started, not able to bring herself to continue.

"Yes," Dumbledore nodded slowly, "you must have great courage to stand up to that."

Tonks didn't reply, feeling the fear –she blamed it as a post-meeting-with-voldemort effect—making her chest throb more.

"Well, Thanks for saving me," Tonks said eventually, unable to find anything else suitable to say.

Dumbledore smiled, chuckling, "Get well soon," He reached out and patted her gently on her arm. The headmaster soon left, leaving Tonks to her thoughts and her wounds.

She had no idea what happened to her body but it hurts. Sighing, Tonks glanced at the tip of her bed, knowing there'll be a clipboard with the records which she really wanted to read. Tonks began looking for her wand, careful not to jostle herself too much.

"Looking for something?"

Tonks jerked, startled, "Charlie," She forced a smile. After all the activities about the fight with Death Eaters and their leader, she'd forgotten about the thing she had going with Charlie.

"Mediwitch said you wouldn't be so perky after the spell completely wore off." Charlie grinned, leaning over to kiss her on her cheek before sitting down to occupy the vacant chair.

"What's wrong with me?" Tonks asked.

"Huh…Let's see," Charlie stood and picked up the clipboard, reading from it, "Several grazes on palms, cheek and knees. 3 broken ribs, Gash on shoulder, sprained ankle. Traces of Cruciatus Curse. Cut on back of head." He summed it up, wincing, "Wow, ouch." Charlie looked up.

Tonks forced a smile, pretty sure it came out as a grimace, "Now that you mentioned it all, it's starting to hurt."

"Should I call the mediwitch?" Charlie asked, sitting back down on the chair.

"No, I could use a few minutes of consciousness." Tonks replied, "How long have I been out?"

"About a day. Mad-Eye and Dedalus are long awake and Dedalus would be discharged in about a day." Charlie reached out, taking her hand in his.

"Charlie, I'm fine, really." Tonks forced a smile, "if you're busy…"

Charlie looked up from examining her hand, "Do you want me to leave?"

"No…" Tonks grimaced as her head throbbed, "I mean if you're busy, you don't have to stay here specially for me."

"I think it's quite reasonable if I stayed by the woman I love when she's hurt." Charlie smiled and Tonks tried to return likewise, "but you're right…Dumbledore called for a meeting, just now. So, I'll have to be going. He's arranged for someone to stay by you till you're discharged."

"And what is that for?" Tonks demanded, frustrated.

"Well…let's just say we don't leave victims from the order vulnerable after their face off with you-know-who." Charlie grinned. He leaned over to kiss her on the cheek again, "I'd better be going. Mum wanted to see you but the Dumbledore said the meeting was urgent so, she told me to tell you, she'll come later."

"Tell her thanks." Tonks smiled, already missing Molly's cooking, dreading the food they served at …

"Sure, I'll see you." Charlie turned and left, closing the door quietly after him.

Tonks sighed, wondering if she should take the offer about calling the Mediwitch, her wounds are starting to ache quite badly. She couldn't take deep breaths without hurting with the potions working on mending her rib-bone. There was a quiet knock at the door.

"Come in," Tonks frowned in puzzlement. Since when do people visiting a ward knock? None of those who visited her so far did so…

Remus Lupin opened the door and stepped in, shooting a small smile at her. Tonks tried not to look annoyed or in disbelief as she closed her eyes, not being in a mood or the state for Lupin to make her dizzy and nervous, with his eyes-magic, or angry for that matter.

"Why are you here?" Tonks blurted instead.

"I'm on first watch," Lupin approached her bed and stood at the tip of it.

"And the meeting?"

"I'll not be available for any mission for a while, I'll be away…" His voice trailed off and his eyes flickered to the window.

"Why?"

He flashed her a ghost of a smile.

"Oh," Tonks mumbled in realization, "When's the full moon?"

"In 3 days." Lupin replied simply, digging his hands into his pocket.

Tonks took a good look at him. Good, he can't do that eye thing from this distance…she sighed in relief, feeling her shoulder starting to give her trouble. Remus looked worn out. His lips seemed to be set in a small frown and his face had a weary cast over it.

"Don't Mad-eye or Dedalus need protection?" Tonks asked, "you-know-who wanted to kill him."

Remus Lupin smiled, "He's not defenseless. Mad-Eye almost hexed the last mediwitch who came to wake him to eat his meds. He apparently got hold of his wand, practically sleeping with it."

Tonks smiled in amusement.

"And…he told me to give you yours." Tonks watched as Lupin walked to her bedside, pulling open the drawer and in it, sat her wand. He placed it by her pillow.

"Thanks, sit."

Lupin slumped down in the chair, a small soft sigh escaping him.

"Do I really look so bad?" Tonks asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, looks like you got ran over by the Hogwarts Express, but that's not why I…" Lupin paused.

"Yes? Go on." Tonks probed.

"When the moon approaches, I can feel it. My body sets itself for transformation." Lupin explained cautiously, fold forming between his brows as he picked carefully through his words. Tonks was sure he left out information for her.

"Does it hurt?" She asked him in a small voice. Lupin seemed to notice that, smiling a little as he replied.

"Most of the time."

"I'm sorry," Tonks muttered. Life isn't fair sometimes…what gives me the right to transform without even a tinge of hurt and for it to hurt Lupin everytime he does so without a choice whatsoever.

"Don't be," Lupin smiled as he looked out the window.

"Lupin-"

"You just can't bring yourself to call me by my first name, can you, Nymphadora?"

"Well, you can't bring yourself to call me by my last, can you?" Tonks countered.

Lupin broke into an amused laugh, "You're unbelievable." He chuckled, running his hand through his light brown hair. Tonks set her face into a pout, not caring if it made her childish. When he was done being amused, he looked her dead in the eye, "I think your first name is beautiful, so I use it."

Tonks blinked, blushed, looking away. She normally had an instant counter attack to that already prepared but Lupin made it sound like he meant it, "I don't think it is. So it's still Tonks."

Lupin sighed, rubbing his face, "You won't give in, would you?"

She didn't reply him, fixing him the stare –which she'd found out got her what she want except with her mum and Mad-Eye, who has the scariest stare

"Tonks, it is," He said with resignation in his voice.

"Then you're Remus now," she grinned, successfully breaking his weary face into a smile. They smiled together for a while before Remus's face went back to that serious expression; his eyes never leaving hers as he looked at her earnestly. Tonks barely got the time to groan before his eyes captured her full attention. Today, they were different. From the pale blue that they normally were, they were now a little greenish; probably the lighting. There was also a dark cast over them, delivering their owner's weariness quite obviously. The lights were still dancing around on them, making it seems like there were silvery flecks in them.

Feeling slightly dizzy, Tonks looked away, blushing.

"Maybe I should call the mediwitch…" Remus stood and raised his arm above her head to reach for the button.

"No," Tonks turned and said in time, "M'okay." She assured.

"If you say so…" He looked at her cautiously, sinking back down into his seat.

"I don't wanna sleep…" She murmured, looking at him. Tonks wondered idly if she snored.

"Alright," Remus told her, "I won't call the mediwitch."

"How long does your shift last?" Tonks asked.

"You're full of questions aren't you?"

"That's what Mad-Eye said."

"I'll be here till tomorrow morning."

"What about the visiting hours?"

"Dumbledore already told them. And this is a private ward so not much harm is done."

"Okay. Were you there? With Dumbledore when he came to the street?"

"Yes."

Tonks huffed as he spoke no more, seemingly distracted with something he's thinking about.

"Sorry," Remus said, his tone soft, "I'm not much fun, aren't I?"

"Elaboration helps." Tonks pointed out.

Remus chuckled, "Alright…yes, I was there." He said deliberately

"And?" Tonks probed.

"and, what I saw was horrible." His voice reduced to a soft murmur.

"Yeah, you-know-who isn't really a charmer." Tonks grinned, feeling her head ache with the stretch in facial muscles.

"What happened?"

"Not much," Tonks admitted, "He tried to kill Mad-Eye."

"That's reasonable," Remus thought aloud, "Considering the number of his most loyal death eaters still in Azkaban because of him."

"Bellatrix recognized me," Tonks said with a shudder.

This seemed to draw his attention, his body leaning towards the conversation just a little, "Sirius would want a bite out of her." He said with a slight smile.

"I'd bet." Tonks rolled her eyes.

"He's worried about you. He couldn't stop bouncing when he heard the news the last time I saw him before setting off to the hospital,"

"Tell me him I'm fine." Tonks urged.

"I'm sure the rest already told him that." Remus assured, leaning back again as the topic of Sirius dissipated.

"So what's the order-" Her sentence was cut short as she yawned, grimacing as she shifted.

"That'll be enough talk for now, you're tired."

"No I'm not."

"Yes, your eyelids are drooping."

"That's 'cause my head aches."

"Because you're tired."

"No."

"Yes."

"Remus!"

"Nymphadora…this is childish and pointless."

"Don't call me Nymphadora!" She shot up, shrieking. It didn't last. Soon, she was doubling over with pain, gritting her teeth together to prevent herself from crying out. Her eyes watered and she felt a pair of arms around her, guiding her slowly back to lie down, "Don't call me that!" She growled in between her pain as Remus leaned over, tucking her back under the blanket. He ignored her, grabbing her wrist as she flailed against him like a child, "Promise me!"

"This is ridiculous."

"No!" She cried pointlessly, throwing her tantrum.

"Fine! I promise! Just lie still!"

Tonks instantly stilled, shocked and then angry. She'd never heard Remus Lupin raise his voice at anyone…

"Does your shoulder hurt? How's your rib?"

"Fine," Tonks told him curtly, turning her head to face away from him.

"Tonks,"

"…"

She heard him sigh, "Tonks, I didn't mean to yell at you-"

"You did." Tonks grunted, intent on ignoring him.

"I sincerely apologise for that." She heard his velvet voice said calmly, "The moon, it makes me irritable and…"

"a prat." Tonks finished for him, turning to face him. He was pinching the bridge of his nose.

"If you say so." Remus dropped his hand and smiled wanly at her. Tonks fell silent, feeling her body ache with stress and fatigue.

"Does it hurt?"

"A little," Tonks admitted.

Then the door opened. Mad-Eye was holding his walking stick, clad in his hospital gown and his cloak (which Tonks knew was concealing his wand for him) and his magical eye in its socket. He limped grudgingly over to her bedside, leaning heavily on his walking stick.

"Mad-eye," Remus stood, freeing the chair.

"Wotcher…" Tonks muttered warily. Mad-Eye coming in after my childish episode could not be good, "What're you doing here…"

"Did you really expect me to sleep with you screeching your voice out." Mad-Eye grunted, sitting down at the tip of her bed.

"It's my fault." Remus spoke up.

Mad-Eye turned back to look her dead in the face, "How're you?"

"Still breathing," Tonks grinned, "And so are you."

Mad-Eye grunted, "Reckon it was important for them to gather," He turned to Remus.

"Dumbledore said they must have some important business there," Tonks spoke up.

"Well, they're discussing it at the meeting so we'll just have to wait to know tomorrow." Remus replied.

Tonks muttered unintelligently, thinking of how bored she'll be here. Then Mad-Eye and Remus engaged in a serious conversation about duties while Tonks bore herself to death by wringing the tip of the blanket around her unhurt finger.

"Lass, get some rest, expect you to be up and about by tomorrow." Mad-Eye said.

"Yeah yeah…" Tonks muttered, "and I'll be getting some real rest knowing my mentor might come over in the middle of the night screaming constant vigilance…"

"Insolent girl." Mad-Eye muttered under his breath, glaring at her. Remus stood by, holding in his laugh at this exchange; the effort formed folds between his brows.

"I love you too," Tonks looked up and smiled, a little too brightly. Mad-Eye grunted in response, leaving the room. Remus chuckled, his arms folded across his chest.

"Give Moody a break, Tonks," Remus said, amused as he sink back into the chair.

"I will when he will," Tonks said, feeling her eyelids starting to droop against her will.

"Sweet dreams," She heard him said to her in a gentle teasing tone.

To be continued…

Divinia Serit: I completely agree. I was wondering if I made Charlie a little too desperate... :) Thanks for the review!

Hope06: Glad you liked Lupin in the last Chapter! Thanks so much!

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