Disclaimer: see previous chapter.

The street was dark and deserted; most of the street lamps were either broken or burnt out. It was the kind of street that one would not want to find themselves on late at night, and that only those who where either very stupid or very brave would venture down alone.

At that moment Remus Lupin was sure he was the later. After all wasn't it smarter to be inside on a night like this?

The temperature seemed to have dropped to below freezing and large snow flakes were falling obscuring his vision and soaking his cloak.

Not for the first time did he curse the night as futile. "I should have just stayed home," he muttered to himself. "As soon as I found out Mundungus had backed out."

Through some subtle subterfuge the Order had fond out that a few death eaters were going to be meeting. Moody had worked out a schedule for them to keep watch in teams of two. The theory being that one person would apparate back to headquarters and the other would remain to keep watch.

Remus thought this was more up the alley of the Aurors but Moody had explained almost ranting, before Dumbledore had patiently cut him off, that the ministry was being particularly obstinate at the moment, and that getting Aurors who weren't in the Order involved would only cause a problem. He had then warned them all to be constantly vigilant and that was the end of that.

In theory the plan was sound, after all only two or three death eaters were supposed to be meeting, but it counted on the fact that both parties involved in the stake out would participate. Which wasn't what was happening that particular night. Mundungus had never shown up.

Probably off buying stolen brooms or something, Remus mused as he kept his gaze affixed on the end of the street. So far no one had shown up, but that didn't mean they wouldn't.

Suddenly there was a loud crack almost like a car backfiring. Remus palmed his wand securely. The crack had come from behind him. Slowly he moved further back into the shadow of the alley he was in and turned to face the other end. There was a muffled curse and just as he raised his wand to send a silent hex at whoever it was that had just apparated, a stunner was sent at him. Remus ducked, the spell scarcely skimmed over his head, and sent back a hex. In the dark he could see his opponent fly back but at the same time he was hit and sent into the wall of the alley.

Quickly regaining his feet he found his path blocked by who ever it was he was fighting. "Wand where I can see it." Hissed a voice out of the dark. He still couldn't see who it was but there was no mistaking that voice.

"Dora?"

Silence followed his exclamation, and then, "Remus?" suddenly the front of his robes were grabbed and he found a wand pointed in his face.

"What was the name of the teddy bear I had when I was five?"

"Bubbles." He replied trying not to laugh as she slowly lowered her wand and allowed him to straighten up. The situation wasn't really that funny, although later it would probably seem so, but the look of consternation on her face was. "Sirius told you that it was a stripper name and you tried to beat him up for insulting the poor thing."

He didn't bother to question her, there was no way any one could impersonate her. She had told him that it had been discovered when she was learning about poly juice in potions that it didn't work with her essence. No one could change into her.

"What are you doing here?" he whispered glancing back down the street. Still nothing.

"I stopped over at headquarters with Moody and Frank after training. We got your note, so I said that I'd come keep watch with you. It's not safe to be out here alone."

She placed a hand on his shoulder and peered down the street where he was looking. "I'm sorry about attacking you." She said sheepishly. "It was too dark and I thought you were a death eater."

Remus touched the hand on his shoulder briefly and gave it a squeeze. "No harm done." He whispered back. "I was about to hex you when you tried to stun me. Besides you were just doing what Moody is training you to."

When Tonks had reported for training four months ago it had been to find out that only one Auror was training her. This was unusual; Auror's were usually trained by more then one person, but it had been explained that she was the only new trainee and that the Auror who was to train her had asked to specifically. When she found out that it was Alastor Moody who was to train her for the next three years, Tonks had been both elated and confused. The witch who had informed her of this had told her that Moody didn't usually get involved with the new Aurors until at least their second year of training, but he had been adamant that he was the one that would have the training of her.

It was turning out to be an interesting experience to say the least.

"How long have you been here?" she asked. She could feel the wetness where the snow had accumulated on him.

"Three hours."

They waited for another three hours until both their feet felt like icicles and it was snowing so hard that nothing could be seen through the whiteness.

"I dddon't think anyone is coming." She chattered breathlessly.

Remus nodded. "We should probably report back. The information we received said it would either be tonight or tomorrow."

They were both about disapparate when a crack sounded. They exchanged a look and Tonks raised a brow in question. Remus shook his head and they both looked to where the noise had come from. A cloaked figure was headed toward the last house on the street, the one they had been watching all night.

The death eater looked around then quickly moved up the doorstep and a moment later was granted entrance.

"Go, now."

Tonks didn't wait to be told twice. She disapparated quickly leaving Remus to watch the house. There were only two people he knew, but more could be showing up. The more Order members that were brought back the better.

Within two minutes Dora appeared closely followed by Moody.

"Only person there." She explained seeing his questioning look.

"How many are there Lupin?" Moody growled briskly.

"Two, three at the most. There was at least one in there and the other just showed up."

Moody was studying the house. "Right, we'll have to catch em unaware. Nymphadora you back up Lupin, he'll come in after me. Stun first, ask questions later, and if it looks like a chance of being killed, you both know what to do. We'll deal with the repercussions later."

He gazed at them both as if assessing if they were up to the task. Evidentially what he saw was satisfactory, because he simply nodded. "And remember," he hissed over his shoulder as they began to move swiftly down the street, "Constant vigilance!"

It happened very quickly then. It seemed to Tonks as if one moment they were on the dingy street and the next she was back to back with Remus dueling.

"Avada Kadava!"

The spell was shouted at the same time she cast to disarm. Reacting on pure instinct she jumped out of the way and landed on the floor a few feet away with a thud that reverberated through her whole body. The Death eater she had been dueling, whom she didn't recognize from the most wanted posters meaning he was unknown, fumbled after his wand which she had failed to catch in her haste to avoid the killing curse. With a triumphant snarl the man grabbed up his wand only to fall promptly back as she stunned him.

"Bloody idiot." She cursed regaining her feet. Obviously this man was an inexperienced death eater, probably only having just joined. Not that that's a bad thing she thought as she conjured ropes to bind him. Less chance of dying.

Remus and Moody were still dueling with their opponents; both were masked as if they hadn't wanted to give away their identities. Obviously the third man was not to be trusted.

She watched them, wondering if she should help or if she would just get in the way, but at the same time was mesmerized by how quickly they were moving. She had seen Moody duel before, a lot of the time it had been her on the receiving end, but never Remus. It was almost scary to see a man who was usually so calm, fighting so fiercely. Just by looking at them she could tell that the Death Eater he was dueling was about to do something drastic.

Before she could shout a warning, she saw Moody go down a gash cutting across his face. Not hesitating she threw a quick impedimenta at his opponent and engaged battle with him. There was no time to worry about Remus, or to warn him.

"Crucio!" time seemed to slow down then and she caught a brief glimpse of Remus falling to the ground, his body withering, although he did not scream. Momentarily distracted as she felt a stab of horror, Tonks was blown back into Moody who had finally regained himself enough to see. There were two simultaneous cracks and then the Death Eaters were gone.

Ignoring Moody as he cursed the air blue, Tonks stumbled over to Remus and fell to her knees beside him. His body was still shaking although not as much now that the Death Eater who cast the spell was gone.

"Remus?" she asked tentatively. Logically she knew he couldn't be dead, but still her heart was pounding.

For a moment she thought he had passed out from the pain until she felt his hand grasp her own. "I'm ok." He said in a strained voice. "Go see to Moody, I'll be alright in a moment."

Reluctantly she did as he said. Moody was wiping Blood out of his eyes and he glared at her when she approached him. "You let your self get distracted. Never let your guard down Nymphadora, how many times do I have to tell you before it gets through that thick skull of yours?"

"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me Nymphadora?" she asked pertly as she examined the gash. "We better go to St. Mungos , this is pretty deep. What do we do with him?" she nodded at the stunned Death Eater who had been left behind.

"We take him to a holding cell, deal with him in the morning. How's Lupin?"

"I'm fine." Remus had finally made it to his feet and he now stood behind them. "We should get out of here as soon as possible."

With a groan Moody pulled himself up and together he and Tonks hoisted the unconscious death eater. "Ministry first, then St. Mungos," he ordered. "Lets see what this filth can tell us."

It was 3 in the morning by the time Tonks and Remus made it through her door and to bed. She had convinced him to come to her place, wanting to be with him after what had happened.

"How are you feeling?" she asked softly as lay there. She was curled into him and could feel his every breath and heart beat.

Remus didn't answer at first and then, "honestly, tired. My body feels like it was dragged behind and trampled on by a herd of raging Hippogriffs. It's no worse then after the worse transformation I've gone through though. Marginally at best."

She shuddered and he wrapped his arms more tightly around her. It was horrible enough watching him go through that pain but to hear that it was close to what he went through every month was even worse somehow.

"I'll be alright Dora, It's better then being dead at least."

She closed her eyes and nestled her head against his chest. " I hope that Death Eater can give us some information that will make this whole night worth it. I think my toes may have frozen off."

This last statement received a chuckle, which was what she had been going for.

"Goodnight love." He kissed her forehead and she sighed.

"Night."