Chapter 39: Again

Weeks passed and Remus woke every night, covered in his own sweat. Then he would proceed to stay unnaturally still as Dora turned over in her sleep and snuggled closer to him. He held his breath till she stopped stirring; remaining asleep. After which, he lay in bed, quietly shaking from his nightmare.

He would always see Dora, in his dreams, dressed in her Auror robes but she was taller than him by quite a bit than what he was used to. When he looked down, he would see paws instead of shoes. Then he would take a customary sniff of his surroundings, it brought the bloodlust, so strong that it turned his vision red. All the time, she would just stand there, smiling at him; throwing looks at him as if they were sharing a private joke. He adored her so much. With that realization, he would watch as he leaped and cut her down in cold blood. She barely ran, she only stood there, smiling at him.

He could taste the coppery tang of her blood on his tongue and when he looked down, he would wake.

Everyday it was the same dream. As he pondered it, Remus would take occasionally glances at her to assure himself that she was here; safe and alive…in the arms of a monster, he would think.

Stop it! You promised Dora! He would reproach himself but his mind would still wander.

The lack of sleep and constant paranoia was beginning to take its toll. Remus didn't go to extend of snapping at Dora when she was particularly chatty; that wasn't him but he had inevitably pushed her away. He spoke less and listened more, hiding basic things about his life from her, even what he ate for lunch. His replies to her became vague.

She would notice but didn't probe, merely smile at him and slip her arm through his, giving him a kiss.

Remus was surprised how effective her non-probing method was compared to what she did previously; to continuously speak to him about the issue. Every smile she gave him assured him that this was truly alright; they were good together. Every kiss brought a pang of shame to his heart; how he could doubt what they had, as she reminded him that she loved him.

When that happens, Remus would find himself kissing her back, feeling the love he bore for her and pouring everything he had into it. It was so absolute, always so right…but at night, his fears came back and haunted him-

"Remus," Dora mumbled.

He was startled. She rarely, if not, never, woke in the middle of the night unless called. But a glance at her told him she was still sleeping, merely speaking in her sleep. Her fingers fisted his shirt and her leg shifted to drape over his, her body curled possessively around him.

Remus smiled and relaxed; in awe at the effects Dora had on him. He found himself tangling his legs with hers, his arms bringing her closer to him and giving her a firm kiss on the top of her head. He felt her nuzzle his neck and hummed, satisfied.

"Mum?" Dora called as she let herself into the house, "Dad?" The house was quiet but Tonks was used to it. Andromeda had zero tolerance for rowdiness in her house so Ted confined himself to his study when he wanted to be such.

"Nymphadora!" A fair haired man walked down the stairs, his face lighting up as he laid his eyes on his daughter. Tonks made a face at the name but went forward to embrace her father nonetheless, "about time you visited!" Ted hugged his daughter and whispered, "Your mother was that close to demanding to see you by visiting you at work,"

Tonks' eyes widened in horror but kept quiet; for good reason.

"I see that you have not forgotten your parents after all," Andromeda Black stood at the entranceway of the kitchen, arms crossed. At first glance, she seemed hostile but there was a soft look in her eyes.

"Mum," Tonks rolled her eyes and smiled, embracing her mother. When she pulled away, Tonks smiled at both of them before speaking, "Well…Mum, Dad, meet Remus Lupin," She gestured to the man standing awkwardly in the middle of the sitting room. He was wearing his best shirt and coat, losing the tie only when Dora yanked it off him, choking him. He even straightened them out with a spell.

He smiled, offering a hand, "Nice to meet you Mr Tonks, Mrs. Tonks," Remus approached Ted and they shook hands, nodding. Tonks was impressed with his performance; judging by how nervous he was, she thought he was about to keel over and vomit on the front porch. But now, he stood tall, an easy smile and a confident look in his mesmerizing blue eyes. They evidently differed from just after the full moon. They were brighter and if Remus were in an exceptionally good mood; which was often around her, they would emit a mischievous glint that was accompanied with a sexy smile. That effectively disarmed her all the time and no amount of constant vigilance could save her.

She snapped out of it to realise that Remus was in the middle of telling Andromeda about himself; his age for starters.

Tonks glanced nervously at her mother, knowing if there were objections, her mother would be the likely party to disagree but Andromeda nodded and listened; her expression revealing nothing.

"Well," Andromeda clasped her hands together and looked at her daughter, expectantly.

Tonks glanced at Remus and drawing her courage from him, she stood tall and spoke, "he's the man I'm going to marry,"

Ted choked on nothing, Andromeda raised a slender brow (and Remus realised where Nymphadora got it from) and Remus could've staggered to the floor and died. That was the most tactless way he could think of to announce to parents that their daughter is dating a werewolf and to assure them that she would be safe.

Tonks chuckled, filled to the brim with happiness and oblivious to the negative responses. She took Remus' hand and smiled at her mother; almost challenging her to object.

"That's-" Andromeda looked as though she can't decide whether to smile or frown, "sudden-"

"Preposterous!" Ted said it, the exact same time his wife finished her sentence.

Tonks turned to her Dad, startled. Ted Tonks hardly ever yelled but he was now.

"I will not have you marry him! How long have you known him?" Ted Tonks' face turned beet red, with anger or frustration, Remus didn't know.

"Ted…" Andromeda sighed, "What your dad meant to say is…are you two sure about that? Marriage is-"

Remus glanced at Tonks and seeing that she wasn't going to correct the situation, he would have to step in; even if it risk upsetting her, "Mr Tonks, we aren't getting married yet. You might have misunderstood,"

A look of hurt crossed Tonks' features and Remus felt it in his own heart. He squeezed her hand, worried and Ted heaving a sigh of relief.

"So…" Ted eyed both of them, "what is this?"

"We're together!" Tonks glared at her father. Father and daughter locked eyes momentarily before Andromeda cleared her throat in a dignified manner but awkward. Obviously, Andromeda has never had the experience of being caught up in an argument between Tonks and her father.

"Let's all settle for dinner, shall we?" Andromeda proposed and Tonks nodded curtly, still staring at her father, "Ted dear, could you help me in the kitchen?" Andromeda asked purposefully and nudged her husband. Ted glanced at Remus with disapproval before slipping into the kitchen after his wife.

Remus sighed, turning to Tonks. She looked livid. Her hair was tomato red, her cheek flushed and her back rigid. If not for the tomato red hair, Tonks looked like a split image of Bellatrix but Remus held his tongue. He squeezed her hand instead and cupped her cheek; it was warmer than usual. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before turning to look into his eyes, "I'm sorry," She choked out, "that was…bad," She ended lamely.

He forced a smile, "Amongst us two, I think I should be the one apologising; ruining a perfect family gathering like that," He raised a brow in an attempt to lighten the mood and coax a smile from her but failed.

"With what? Your presence?" Tonks spat bitterly, "it wouldn't be much of a family gathering without you…" she looked down at the floor and rested her head on his shoulder. His heart warmed snugly as he took in her words.

Remus kissed her head, stroking her hair gently and watched from the corner of his eye as it turned back to faded pink. A smile slipped onto his lips; he loved her pink hair, her energy, her passion. He couldn't help himself when he kissed her head again.

Tonks giggled and he felt her press a kiss into his shoulder, "You spoil me," her voice muffled into his shoulder.

"I love you," He corrected in a whisper, pulling her in close for a firm hug. She parted her lips to reply but Andromeda stepped out of the kitchen, followed by a glowering Ted Tonks. Tonks didn't hide her disappointment as Remus loosened his hold on her and dropped his arms to his side altogether. She stubbornly kept her arms loosely around his neck, ignoring the furious sideways glances from Ted.

Dinner was painfully awkward. Andromeda made steak for dinner and Remus dug in in a dignified manner that could rival Andromeda. Tonks wolfed down the steak, all the while glaring at her father. Remus mused that among the two of them, she looked more the werewolf. Ted glared at his daughter as well, occasionally sparing one or two glares for Remus. Andromeda ate her steak with intense concentration, looking up only when absolutely necessary.

"Would anyone like dessert?" Andromeda spoke up awkwardly as one by one, they finished their dinner and sat in front of their empty plates, unmoving as father and daughter still threw each other glares once in a while. Remus turned to Tonks, squeezing her hand under the table to coax her to give in but Ted caught that and glared at Remus, his nostrils flaring, "Ted?" Andromeda cleared her throat meaningfully, not taking being ignored very well.

"Yes, please," Ted Tonks replied his wife without a glance at her. Obviously Andromeda has never seen this side of Ted Tonks before, for she frowned and sighed before prodding him.

"Go and get my cake please," She said softly, "It's in the fridge,"

Ted glanced at his wife once and stood up to go. When he entered the kitchen, Andromeda leaned forward and pinched her daughter's cheek firmly but lovingly. Tonks pulled away, scowling.

"Wipe that scowl away, Nymphadora," Andromeda snapped but Tonks looked away and pouted.

"Dora," Remus squeezed her hand again. He was glad when she turned her hand around to hold his before looking up and smiling at her mum.

"Forgive your father," Andromeda forced a smile, "he's only very protective of you," she looked at Remus as she finished.

"I understand," Remus nodded and Andromeda smiled.

"Give him time," She urged both of them as Ted Tonks carried the cake to the table with plates.

"I would never think Mum would consent…" Tonks mumbled as she cuddled against Remus' side snugly.

Remus managed an indecipherable noise of acknowledgement.

"I thought she would be the first to object,"

Remus opened his eyes and stared at the faded plaster on the wall, "Your mother didn't exactly give us her blessing. But she has gotten over the many prejudices she faced when she married your father. I imagined it wouldn't be difficult for her to get over this one, not like how it would be for your father. Your mother understood, that's the least she could offer to this. But your father…"

"He didn't feel how it's like to love the wrong person who feels so right. Mum has always been right for him. In the eyes of mum's family though, he's the wrong man," Tonks picked a loose thread on his pajamas as she pondered, "He's a good man though,"

"That I don't deny, Dora. Never,"

Tonks mumbled her acknowledgement and shifted to kiss his collarbone gently, "I won't let my dad stop us," She looked up to look into his eyes but he was staring blankly into the fire crackling in the fireplace. Frowning, she cupped his cheek in her hand and turned him to face her, "did you hear me?" willing him to respond.

He averted her eyes and nodded mutely. She watched him expectantly for a reply. Wetting his lips, Remus spoke hoarsely, "the meeting's starting, and we better get down,"

She watched him stand and walk out, forcing a smile at her. Sighing, Tonks gathered her wand from the table by the couch and made her way down.

The members were still filing in, their mood sober and solemn. Tonks entered the kitchen to see Sirius sitting on one side of Remus and Arthur on the other. Sirius caught her eye and gestured if she wanted his seat. She glanced at Remus to find him staring blankly at the table and shook her head with a slight smile at Sirius. He frowned but said nothing.

Instead, Tonks sank into a seat beside Hestia. Just as she settled into her seat, McGonagall walked briskly into the kitchen, followed closely by Snape. He has had his lips pursed as usual and his face pale.

"Thank you for joining us today at the meeting," McGonagall started, her face pale as well, her voice uncharacteristically shaky, "As Dumbledore will be absent from the school compounds for the next few days, Dumbledore would like it if the Order would guard the school for these few days," She paused and everyone shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Normally, Mad-eye would have interrupted to highlight the places where they would be positioned, based on his experience with the Aurors. He would also be the one to set up the guard roster for everyone who volunteers.

Kingsley cleared his throat and spoke. Tonks looked down the whole while, staring at her fists in her lap. He was doing a good job planning it out while everyone added their ideas into it.

"So there would be 3-4 people patrolling the school at a time," Kingsley concluded, "may I have some volunteers so that I can get out the roster for this week," A few hands shot up, including Remus and Sirius. Kingsley wrote all the names down, shooting Sirius a look before skipping him altogether to write down Bill's name onto his parchment. After a short while of deliberation, Tonks, too, raised her hand.

"Nymphadora," McGonagall spoke and Tonks winced at her name, "would not be available for guard duty, Kingsley, could you please scratch her name off the list,"

"Why not?" Tonks protested.

"Snape will have a word with you later," She said in that tone which indicated firmly that there is to be no more further argument about this issue till later. Tonks rolled her eyes, looking away. She knew clearly what it would be about the moment it was Snape who had to deliver the news.

Tonks swallowed, following Snape. Snape was his usual dull and stiff self; McGonagall was uncharacteristically pale as Tonks followed Snape out into the corridor.

"Where has Dumbledore gone?" Tonks spoke, trying to swallow the lump in her throat.

Snape looked Tonks dead in the eye, unfeeling as usual, "the Dark Lord has sent Draco to kill the headmaster,"

"What?!" Tonks' eyes widened as she hissed.

"You are to help him," Snape continued as if Tonks hasn't interrupted, "The Dark Lord himself commands it,"

Tonks froze. The last encounter she had with Voldemort was when he invaded her mind with the Imperius curse, commanding her to kill Mad-Eye. She successfully broke free of the curse and that was the last she heard of him. Her blood ran cold as she remembered that night. So full of pain and yet warmth for her. She has never seen her mentor so human for her, as he had been so that night. He comforted her, worried for her and fussed over her even.

"Isn't he going to kill me?" Tonks muttered.

"The Dark Lord was infuriated with your failure. But he is even more so at Greyback's 'betrayal', of acting without the Dark Lord's orders," Snape's eyes were cold and black but Tonks knew it was the result of years of being a spy for both sides, it took its toll.

"Greyback wasn't acting on Voldemort's orders?" Tonks frowned. She had thought Greyback was Voldemort's fallback in case she failed. Then she recalled what Greyback had said, I want you to fight for us. She had apparently misunderstood him. Tonks had thought he meant 'us' as the death eaters but now she understood, it meant the werewolves, "Greyback wanted a rebellion?" Tonks wondered aloud.

Snape pursed his lips and Tonks thought he wasn't going to entertain her blind conclusion but he replied, "No. The Dark Lord gave Greyback more benefits than he has ever had. You could be his trump card,"

"That does not make any sense, I'm useless," Tonks scoffed.

"Whatever the case of this matter, the Dark Lord's orders are clear. He knows of your capture and your escape and expects no less of you, than to follow his orders," Snape snapped impatiently.

Tonks scowled at being ordered around, "I am not going to kill Dumbledore!" She spat.

"You are to assist Draco, not kill the Headmaster,"

"What difference does that make?" Tonks glared at Snape's pale and unfeeling eyes, "well…at least we have to warn the others-"

"That'll kill us all. The Dark Lord is not a fool. You are to assist Draco. That is your order. Headmaster said you are to obey the Dark Lord, whether you choose to or not, it is your decision and none of my concern. We set off on the night after tomorrow from Lestranges' mansion," Snape sneered before turning around and walking silently out the door. Tonks stared after him, her fists shaking.

She has finally got out of the hellhole, only to go back, apparently. Unless, she doesn't-

"Hey," A gentle voice touched her arm. She closed her eyes, relishing his touch. His hand rubbed her arm warm before turning her around to look at him. His beautiful blue eyes were filled with concern and Tonks looked into them, still feeling lightheaded as he gazed at her, "are you alright?"

"I-" Tonks wanted to blurt everything out but hesitated, remembering Snape's words. The potions masters might be cold but he is clever and Tonks knows it'll do her good and everyone some good if she listened to him, "I have another mission…"

Remus' eyes turn cold, like sapphire and it scares Tonks, "Like what?" he grasped her shoulders firmly but gently, "after that, I'm not sure I can bear to let you out of my sight for more than a second," Tonks had a pained expression as she recalled her recent experiences. Remus sighed, pulling her into his embrace where she felt protected, safe and warm.

"Remus," She whimpered, burying her face into his shoulder as he squeezed her tighter in his embrace.

"What?" Remus frowned in disapproval, "Why?" He looked to be struggling to contain his anger as he spoke through gritted teeth.

"I need a word with him about the upcoming mission," she touched his arm,

Remus twisted around to look at her from the couch, "I don't want you near him. He's not good,"

"I know, but I need a word with him," Tonks sighed, looking away from his pleading eyes and at the lapels of her trench coat, "I'll be back, very soon." Remus looked unconvinced. It is after all the first time she would be leaving his side since the incident with Moody. Tonks felt the fear creeping back in at the thought of leaving Remus, not knowing when she'll see him again but she knew she had to leave.

When she had popped into the library, dressed, all in black, Remus had raised a brow at her attire. The lack of color looked ridiculous on her and she didn't manage to pluck up her courage to tell him she had to leave his side before tonight. He dropped his book by his side on the couch and straightened up as she strode across the room and into his lap. Telling him she had to leave for the night, and to go to Snape nonetheless, was painful for them both. Remus' jaw clenched and his arms which are snaked around her waist tightened almost possessively.

Despite the comfort, Tonks stood from his lap to leave only to have him pleading at her with his eyes and his words, of which he is so adept with.

When Remus didn't reply to her evident insistence to leave and averted eye contact with her, she leaned over the couch and kissed him gently. He reciprocated, slow at first, then his arms found their way around her waist and she was back into his lap, her fingers tangled in his hair. When Tonks was running out of air, she made to draw back but Remus held her in, refusing to let her leave.

Just as she was beginning to entertain the thought that Remus would rather suffocate her with his sweet kiss than let her go, Remus drew back reluctantly, his breathing quickened but quiet.

Tonks examined his expression. Remus loved her but he was never the overly protective type. She had merely told him she was dropping by at Spinners End and he needn't follow. To draw such a violent objection from him, Tonks was both touched and puzzled. It's like he knew what she was going to tonight.

When he locked eyes with her, Tonks stopped speculating, mesmerized.

"It's getting late, if you're going to go, you better go," his voice was strangely strangled. Tonks forced a smile at him through her puzzlement, touched his cheek one last time and plant a kiss where her hand had been a moment ago, and she stood and left without a backward glance.

The night was a cold night, chilly. She tugged her coat around herself tighter as she made her way across the streets, to the apparition point. Glancing back at Grimmauld Place, Tonks slipped into the alley and apparated away before she could dash back into Grimmauld Place and into Remus' arms.

The Lestranges mansion looked charming in a very 'Black' fashion. Tonks morphed her hair black while she strode up the lane, ignoring the fear she felt at the thought of facing the Dark Lord again after she had so openly defied him.

There was a crowd at the porch. Some of them had already donned their masks. When Tonks heard a cackle, she rolled her eyes. The small crowd parted and Tonks could see her Aunt sauntering down the steps to join the others.

"Nymphie is back," She sneered but Tonks turned away, refusing to humor her Aunt this time. She realised Snape was nowhere to be found and Draco too. In the crowd, there were Gibbons, Alecto and Amycus Carrow, Yaxley, Thorfinn Rowle and Greyback. The werewolf was sneering at her; Tonks kept her poker face and drew her wand.

With an unseen signal, all the Death eaters but Greyback, Tonks and Bellatrix put on the death eater mask and half apparated into the night sky in a smoke of black. Tonks rolled her eyes, knowing her Aunt, leading this attack apparently, did so intentionally.

Tonks was vaguely conscious of her white half apparition form in a sea of black, ignoring the spats and sneers she got from the death eaters whom she flew beside. They arrived at Diagon alley much too quickly and Tonks frowned, curious as to why they came here. Her throat gone dry as she glimpsed Greyback looking about lecherously, spotting a lone woman walking down the deserted lane. He hissed but Bellatrix was not about to slow down for Greyback to indulge. They slipped into knockturn alley and walked straight into Borgin and Burkes.

Borgin nodded at Bellatrix and paled considerably as he took in the number of death eaters striding into his shop. Tonks lowered her face and slipped pass him unnoticed. She has been here before as an Auror, doing their routine checks for sightings of Dark wizards and Borgin would no doubt recognize her after how she had made a fool out of him on a particularly boring day at paper work followed by being assigned to doing such a beginner's work.

They stopped in front of a cabinet. Tonks watched as Bellatrix stepped into the cabinet and vanished, followed by the others one by one, Tonks being the last after a backward glance at Borgin. His eyes widened momentarily but Tonks felt herself being sucked into the cabinet. It was a short while before everything stabilized. She blinked, slightly disorientated and struggling to keep her balance and walk ahead, right behind Greyback.

She realised she was walking out of the cabinet and at the entrance, was her cousin, Draco Malfoy. His young face was paled and he looked scared out of his wits. His eyes widened as he saw her. Tonks ignored him, watching Bellatrix frolic about the room in sheer delight as if she had already killed Dumbledore. Draco wasted no time, slipping pass all the Death Eaters and looking out the door of what Tonks realised, was the room of requirement. She had had her shares of shenanigans in this place.

"Well?" Bellatrix demanded impatiently.

"There are some people keeping guard in the corridor," Draco muttered, terrified when Bellatrix shoved him aside, drawing her wand. When Tonks glimpsed that it was Ron, Ginny and Neville, she knew she had to speak up.

"There are Order Members patrolling the castle. Attacking the kids will raise the alarm and we'll be stuck in a duel all the way up to the headmaster's office," Tonks said coldly, "I doubt that is the quick and clean work the Dark Lord wants."

Bellatrix shot her a dirty look, charging forward and shoving her face into Tonks' face while Tonks stood her ground against her Aunt's rage, "You have no rights to speak of the Dark Lord," She hissed venomously.

Tonks stared at her blankly.

Behind Bellatrix, Draco dug into his pocket and pulled out two dark black pearls which Tonks recognized; Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder, she had seen Fred and George fiddling with it at the table in Grimmauld Place.

Draco opened the door by a crack and tossed it into the corridor. Tonks heard Ron cry out in shock before the whole corridor was engulfed in darkness. Draco ran out of the room while the corridor is engulfed in darkness and the death eaters followed. Tonks went last, shooting worried glances back into the darkness. However, when she heard the kids running off the alert the Order members on patrol, she managed a smile of relief before dashing off after the death eaters.

Tonks thought they were making their way to the headmaster's office but they were going the wrong way. Whatever it is, Tonks drew her wand and walked briskly down the corridor with the others, Bellatrix taking the lead. Greyback was just a step after her.

They turned the corner of the upper floors and Tonks heard a shout from the opposite end of the corridor just before Bellatrix flicked her way, sending a curse sailing towards the other end of the corridor, ending with a loud explosion.

Tonks held her breath as she too took part in the battle. At the opposite end of the corridor, she saw Bill and Remus. Her breath caught in her throat and she was momentarily stunned at the prospect of being up against Remus.

"Gibbon, the Dark Mark!" One of the death eaters barked at Gibbon who was standing closest to the side. Instantly, Gibbon leaned out an open window and shot a green jet into the dark sky. It lit up, forming the Dark Mark, the skull eerily similar to the Dark Lord's own bald and white head. Tonks glanced at it, scowling before parrying a stray spell away.

It was chaos.

Bellatrix was shooting spells at Remus relentlessly but Remus was holding his own at the moment, being heavily outnumbered. Bill was up against Yaxley and the Carrows at the same time, barely holding on. Tonks rolled her eyes at Rowle who had turned into a trigger happy dunderhead, casting Killing curse in every direction all over the place. She rolled her eyes as a killing curse was shot straight towards her. She leaned to her side and the killing curse brushed past her ear.

Behind her, Gibbon barely had the time to scream before the killing curse hit him full in the face. He sank to the floor as Rowle scowled at her.

"Are we fighting them or each other?" Tonks demanded, annoyed.

"Whose side are you on?" Rowle countered, shooting a purposeful glance at Remus.

Tonks pinched her lips together; about to make the most painful decision when Bellatrix shrieked and pointed to the staircase of the astronomy tower, what she was shrieking about was unable to the heard over the racket.

Bellatrix made to dash up the steps and Tonks followed. She glimpsed Yaxley also running up the steps behind her.

As she ascended, she glanced back at Remus who was dueling the Carrows with Bill now. Behind Bill, she saw Greyback, poised to leap. She leaned over the side of the spiraling staircase to scream a warning but it was too late. Greyback pounced onto Bill and took him down. Remus reacted immediately and Tonks did what she could.

"Impedimenta," she muttered and didn't wait to watch the spell sail down to hit one of the Carrows on the top of his head but heard a scream.

They scaled the steps and there was Dumbledore, standing all alone at the edge of the Astronomy tower. He looked pale and ghastly in the moonlight, like a ghost. Draco Malfoy had his wand trained onto the Headmaster, his wand hand trembling. Dumbledore's own wand was nowhere to be seen.

"Do it Draco!" Bellatrix hissed in her nephew's ear. Draco trembled more violently. Tonks stood her ground, a million thoughts running through her mind. She could attempt to defend Dumbledore but if she fail, it'll mean both their lives but if she had succeeded, then what-

"Nymphadora," Dumbledore spoke and Tonks looked up, her back stiffening. His brows furrowed and on the outside it would look like he was sighing his disappointment for her betrayal but to Tonks, he was showing disapproval for the array of ideas that presented themselves in her head. She blanched in disgust at the thought of watching Dumbledore die without doing anything.

"Draco!" Bellatrix placed a hand on his shoulder to egg him on.

Stop it! The words were on the edge of his tongue but Snape came. He stood beside Draco, his wand raised. For a moment, hope blossomed in Tonks' chest at his arrival but it sank just as quickly as it rose when she realised Snape's wand was trained on Dumbledore. No… Snape would not betray the Order, ever.

"Severus," Dumbledore's voice was croaky, befitting of his weariness, as he spoke in a pleading voice that Tonks had never heard before, "Please…"

Snape would find a way out of this; he's done this a million times. Tonks comforted herself to stop herself from jumping into action. She had no idea what to do. Is this a ploy between Snape and Dumbledore to escape this? Has Snape turned against us? If so what should I-

"Avada Kedavra,"

The two words turned Tonks' heart to stone, "No!" She breathed as she watched the jet of green from Snape's wand bury itself into Dumbledore's chest and strike him backwards into the dark sky. Tonks bolted forward, making a move to grab a hold onto Dumbledore even though deep down she knew he's dead. The killing curse is quick and merciful like that, no pain, no time to plead or scream once casted.

All the same, she lunged out to grab him with all her might, throwing herself out the edge of the astronomy tower.

A/N: Hello! I truly apologise for the late update on this one, and a bad update to top it up. It has been a busy year for me truly and my exams will be starting from tomorrow onwards and go on for a month or so. I kinda rushed this up, hopefully no one hates me yet?

Anyway, by the time my exams are over and my plot bunnies come back to me, it would probably be around end November but no promises even then as I'm really having a huge block on how to continue this story! So a more probable update would be around mid-December of end December! Hopefully in time for Christmas!

Thanks for reading !Your reviews to the last chapter is really amazing and I'm so glad you all loved it! Thank you! please drop me a review about this chapter, it would mean the world to me, with all the exam stress piled up and all, it'll be good to hear your opinions about this chapter!