Here is another chapter. I was only going to do one update today but i'm going to be fairly busy until the weekend and i really wanted to get this chapter up. Hope you enjoy.
By the time Christmas holidays came around Tonks was fed up with all the fantastic stories that had come out of her encounter with Liam. One second year Hufflepuff claimed she had taken on five Death Eater's single-handed. Another boy from Ravinclaw was sure he had seen Voldemort himself there.
"It's ridiculous." She complained to Remus. They were on the Hogwarts express on their way home for the holidays and already four people had walked by their compartment trying to catch a glance at her. "Its all been blown way out of proportion, if it had been a fully qualified Death eater I probably wouldn't be sitting here now."
"I really wish you wouldn't talk like that." Remus muttered to himself as he continued to read. Lily had lent him a muggle book and he found the story fascinating.
"Don't worry Tonks," Sirius supplied. He was stretched out languidly and was ignoring James's pokes to "budge up". "Give it a few more weeks and you'll go back to being that crazy pink haired girl that everyone wants to avoid."
"You're one to talk." She replied smiling slightly. "If anyone is crazy it's you."
"Well madness runs in the family. Just look at my mother and you're dear old aunty Bella."
Tonks shuddered involuntarily. "Don't bring her up please. Mum's terrified that she's going to show up any day and try and do us all in."
Sirius shrugged. "She's probably too busy licking Voldemort's boots to do any real damage."
"Why do you always have to use his name?" Peter whined from his seat beside Remus.
"Scared Wormatil?" Sirius smirked. "It's just a name."
"You shouldn't give him such a hard time." Lily admonished leaning around James so she could see Sirius. "Everyone's afraid now. He might come from a pure blood family but there's no telling what could happen next, or who it could happen to."
Everyone seemed somber after that. It was an ominous declaration and no one really knew what to say.
"On that happy note," James finally said trying to sound light, "Who wants to play exploding snap?"
By the time they had reached the station evening had fallen and it had begun to snow. At the barrier they all wished each other a Merry Christmas and Lily hugged everyone, even Sirius who winked at James over her shoulder.
Tonks had written her parents that Remus would bring her home and he had already shrunk their luggage down to pocket sized to make it easier to apparate.
"Have you ever apparated with someone who can't do it before?" she asked him as they watched their friends go through the barrier.
"No." he admitted, laughing at the startled look on her face. "But I think we'll be alright."
He opened his arms for her and she eyed him skepticly. "Well I suppose so. But if I splinch anything you're paying for my hospital bill."
She stepped forward and held on to him as he wrapped his arms around her. "Hold on tight." He breathed and then they were turning. Tonks felt an unpleasant sensation in her stomach and then they landed again with a pop like noise.
"Merlin!" she tried to step away from Remus but ended up loosing her balance.
"Are you ok?" he inquired as he grabbed her arm to steady her. Tonks nodded and looked around. They were in bushes of some kind and the area around them was pitch black. "We're in the park adjacent to your house." Remus explained. "Come on before we catch cold." He helped her out of the bushes and they set off up the block towards her house.
"Do you want to come in for a bit?" she asked after he had re-enlarged her trunk and they stood on the front step.
Remus shook his head. "I should get home." He stepped closer and bending down kissed her briefly. "Merry Christmas Dora."
She sighed and smiled brightly at him. "Merry Christmas Remus."
He smiled back and stepped off the steps. Glancing around to make sure no one was watching he turned on the spot. Just as he was disappearing an urge came over Tonks. But it was too late. Before she could voice it he was gone.
Feeling slightly out of sorts she opened the door and hauled her trunk inside slamming it behind her.
"Nymphadora?" her mother appeared in the hall hands on hips. "How many times have I told you not to slam the door."
Before Tonks could come up with a cheeky answer Andromeda rushed forward and grabbed her into a hug.
"I was so worried about you darling." She said almost tearfully. Tonks was surprised, her mother hardly ever cried. "I was sure no matter what they told me that that Death Eater had done something to you. When that Auror showed up at the door…"
"Moody came here?" Tonks asked struggling to breath with her face pressed against her mother's bosom.
"Yes." Andromeda released her and pulled a handkerchief out of her skirt pocket. "Strange man. He inspected all the teacups before he would let me give him a cup of tea. He said that you took that Death Eater on and held him off for at least ten minutes before help arrived."
"Was it that long?" Tonks asked distractedly. Since Remus had left she had felt uneasy.
Andromeda shook her head. "I'm just so glad you're alive, I don't know what I would do if he had killed you."
They moved into the sitting room and Tonks sat on the edge of the couch and began fiddling with a lose thread in her jumper. Something was not right, she could feel it.
"Where's dad?" she asked abruptly.
"Still at work. He should be home soon; they had him on over time today."
Andromeda caught the worried look on her daughters face and glanced up at her hair. It was shifting colour between pink and brown. She had been so glad to see her that she hadn't noticed until now.
"What's the matter?" she asked kindly. This only happened when Nymphadora was really upset or worried.
Tonks looked at her mother as if she wasn't really seeing her. "I don't know mum. I think I'll just go lye down for a kip."
"I'll make you some tea."
Tonks dragged her trunk up to her room and collapsed on the bed pulling her jumper off and kicking her boots to the floor. She closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind. It didn't work. The uneasiness was still there. What was it though? It started after I said goodbye to Remus, she thought to her self. Remus…
Tonks sat up like a shot and shoved her feet back into her boots. She dashed out of her room and promptly fell down a couple of stairs in her haste before she could right herself.
"Dora?" Andromeda stood at the bottom of the stairs a cup of tea in hand. "Dora what's the matter?"
Tonks rushed past her mother to the fireplace. "It's Remus." She gasped as she grabbed the pot with the floo powder. "Something is wrong. Something's happened to him."
Andromeda carefully sat the tea down on a side table and approached her daughter.
"Did he send you an owl?"
Tonks shook her head as she dunked her hand into the pot. "No. I just know something has happened though. I can feel it!" she looked at her mother desperately.
Andromeda seemed to think for a moment, then she nodded slowly. "Alright but I'm coming with you."
Tonks wasted no time. She threw the powder into the fire and called "The hanged Weasel Pub!"
Remus had landed just up the lane from his house. As he looked ahead to it two things struck him. The first being that the house was completely dark. The second was the twisting green glowing mark hovering above it.
"Oh god." He gasped. Let them have escaped, he thought horrified as he palmed his wand and began to run toward the house. Please let them be alive. Yet even as he thought this his rational self knew what he would find in the house. His heart pounding wildly Remus slowly pushed open the door of the house he had been born in and lived for almost 18 years.
Tonks fell out of the fireplace and quickly regained her feet. Without waiting to see if Andromeda was behind her and ignoring the calls of the bar maid she pushed her way through the pub and out into the frigid night. All she wore were her jeans and t-shirt yet the cold had no effect on her so focused was she on reaching Remus.
"Nymphadora!" Andromeda had made it out of the pub. She at least had grabbed a cloak.
"Hurry up mum!" Tonks yelled back as she began to run through the village. Andromeda had no choice but to follow. She had never been to the Lupin's before and didn't know how to get there.
Tonks ran hard reaching the lane in seconds. From there the ground became icy and she slipped a few times but quickly righted herself not caring about all the bruises she would have.
When the Lupin's house came into view she stopped dead. Her breath came in gasps and her heart felt like it would beat it's way out of her chest at any moment. "No!" she cried staring in numb horror. "Please no."
"Nymphadora." Andromeda had finally caught up with her daughter. She too stopped abruptly. " Dora we need to get help." Her voice sounded hallow to Tonks and she barely heard her.
"I have to see." She said deadly. And she began to move toward the house. Again Andromeda followed her daughter, but Tonks turned and stopped her. "Go get help mum. The Death Eaters are long gone."
Andromeda hesitated but in the end nodded. "Be careful darling. Keep you're wand ready at all times." She warned before she turned on the spot and apparated to the ministry of magic.
Tonks gripped her wand tightly as she neared the door. Her palm felt sweaty and she felt like she was going to throw up.
The house was dark and the only source of light was the open door. As she slowly advanced inside she looked around her sharply. Everything was a mess .The furniture was turned over and there were scorch marks from spell fire on the walls. As she neared the kitchen she tripped over something large and solid. Bracing herself so she wouldn't fall she murmured, "Luminous." And glanced down at what had tripped her.
It was John Lupin, his wand still clutched in his hand. She took an involuntary step back and ran into the wall. He was dead. Not able to look at him any longer Tonks turned and headed for the stairs. Outside she could here the sound of people apparating and then raised voices. Ignoring them she continued up the stairs. At the top of the landing she glanced into Remus's room fearing what she would see. It was empty. She slowly advanced down the small hall to what she knew to be Remus's parent's room. The door was closed.
Stealing herself Tonks turned the knob and pushed it open casting her wand light over the room.
At first all she saw were two bodies. One on the bed, the other on the floor. She wouldn't let herself look at the one on the floor in fear of who it may be. Instead she looked at the body of Sarah Lupin. She too still clutched her wand.
"She must have taken him out before they killed her."
Tonks whipped around her wand raised a spell already on her lips. Then just as quickly she lowered her wand slightly. He was sitting in the far corner wand dangling from his fingers staring at the bed and the body there as if he didn't really see it.
"It's the only explanation as to how he's dead on the floor and she is as well."
Tonks moved toward him carefully. She could hear voices downstairs and her relief at finding him alive was palpable. If he had been killed…
"Remus."
He didn't look at her just continued to look at the bed.
"Remus?" she knelt beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder. He seemed calm and distant and didn't respond except to close his eyes. They stayed there for what felt like forever until Tonks heard footsteps on the stairs.
"Come on." She moved his arm until it was over her shoulders and stood pulling him up. He moved without a sound as they headed toward the door. In the hall they ran into Dawlish and Moody.
Tonks could feel their eyes following her as she supported Remus down the stairs and out of the house. When they had reached the gate she stopped and looked up at him. He was staring up at the sky and seemed to be holding on to her now not so much for bodily support but for moral.
"You're going to catch a cold." He said quietly still not looking at her.
"So I catch a cold." She shrugged. Why was he talking about catching colds when his parents had just been murdered?
"Here." He let go of her for a moment and pulled off the cloak he still wore draping it over her shoulders. He then wrapped his arm back around her as if it were her that needed the contact.
Andromeda approached them then but didn't say anything. What did you say to someone that had just lost two of the most important people in his life? She knew that no words she spoke would help make sense of why this happened.
Eventually a tall black man approached them. He was young, not that much older then Remus. When he spoke it was in a slow easy voice.
"Remus right?" he asked.
Remus nodded and Tonks looked at the man curiously. How did he know him?
"Kingsley Shacklebolt. I was ahead of you in Gryffindor."
Remus nodded again. "I remember you."
"I have to ask you a few questions."
Remus nodded again and Tonks began to think that's all he was capable of doing at the moment.
"Can't this wait?" Andromeda asked. "This young man has just had a terrible night."
"I'm sorry Mam, but I've got to ask. It won't take long." He paused and when no one else interjected asked, "when you arrived home the dark mark was already over the house?"
"Yes." Remus answered deadly.
"Did you see anyone when you entered the house?"
Remus shook his head. "Only my Parents and the body of that Death Eater."
Kingsley nodded. "His name is Thaddeus Knot. Moody just identified him; he's been on our most wanted list for years."
He paused again and then clapped Remus on the shoulder. "You should go. We're going to be here for a while. Is there anything that you want from the house?"
Again Remus shook his head.
"Come on." Tonks said gently as her mother opened the gate and waited for them to follow.
Remus followed slowly still holding onto her. As they walked she kept glancing at him. She couldn't help feeling that something inside of him had died along with his parents.