Together, Tonks and Ron flew fast as they could back to the Burrow.
The first thing Tonks saw when she landed hard into the Earth was Remus staring back at her.
"Remus." She gasped, rushing over to embrace him. She hadn't allowed herself to truly feel the terror that had been surging through her veins during the last hour. Now, she shook in his arms, relief flooding over her.
He was alive. She could breathe.
Remus was just as relieved. When he had gotten to the Burrow and she wasn't there, he died a little inside.
He could barely hold himself and her up.
Tonks turned and realized she hadn't kept her promise yet, when she saw Ron and Hermione embracing.
It was like a lightbulb had gone off in her head. That was who he had wanted to impress so badly.
"Ron was brilliant. Completely amazing. He shot a spell that hit one of the Death Eaters straight to the head. He saved us both." She explained.
"R-really? You did?" She heard Hermione ask as her attention turned to Remus.
Ron smiled, agreeing with the story.
"But, what happened? What kept you?" Remus asked eventually, wanting the whole story and sounding slightly panicked.
Tonks sighed.
"It was Bellatrix. She wants to kill me, just as badly as she wants to kill Harry. She tried very hard to kill me, Remus.
Remus swallowed hard.
"I wish I could have paid her back in kind, but we definitely injured Rodolphous though. That's something at least." Tonks shrugged it off as a small win.
Remus tried his best to stifle a shudder and was relieved when she went to change the subject.
"What happened with all of you?" She asked the others standing vigil, waiting for the rest of the Order to come back.
One by one they shared their stories with each other.
Tonks gasped when she heard about George's ear.
Eventually, there was nothing else to say. They stood and waited in silence.
After a while longer, Kingsley broke the silence by announcing that he had to retire back to his post on Downing St. The Prime Minister and his staff would begin to search for him soon.
The longer it took the harder it became to breathe again. Tonks found herself holding her breath. Where were the final four she wondered silently.
After what seemed like an eternity Molly and Arthur had joined them in the yard after Kingsleys departure.
There was an outcry as a huge winged Thestral landed in the yard in front of them.
Bill and Fleur slid down off their mount quickly, apparently unharmed.
Molly and Arthur rushed forward quickly to embrace their son.
Remus' blood ran cold at the look on Bill and Fleur's faces. Both looked frazzled and Fleur had clearly visible tear stains on her cheeks.
Something had gone wrong. They were about to get bad news. Remus's stomach turned.,
He had gotten bad news too many times in his life, to not notice what was about to happen.
He tightened his grip on Tonks hand slightly as Bill turned to his father, looking him directly in the eye before speaking the words Remus dreaded.
"Mad Eye's dead." Bill said, in a contrite and restrained voice.
Tonks must have been surprised because Remus heard her gasp.
In reality it felt like she'd been hit by a bus.
She released Remus' hand out of shock, bringing her hand up to her mouth.
Remus looked at her and saw the disbelief and pain and confusion in her eyes.
He put his arm around her and hugged her.
Tonks didn't say anything but let Remus embrace her. She shuddered as she heard Bill recap what had happened to her mentor, and she felt hot tears sting her eyes when Bill described his death in detail.
As they slowly and sadly made their way back inside the Burrow, they lamented over the loss as they went.
The twins looked startled by the looks on their faces as they streamed into the sitting room.
But, Tonks was so preoccupied she barely heard their responses to the news. She was playing a conversation she had once had with Mad Eye three years before, on the day he had retired from the Auror office.
'I'm sorry what did you just say? She asked him trying to make sure she had heard him correctly.
You heard me kid. I've decided to retire.
"Oh, is this about what happened the other day in the elevator with Scrimgour?" Tonks couldn't believe what she was hearing, she was certain this couldn't be true.
In the entire two years she'd worked with him she'd never taken him as a joking man, though.
Mad Eye nodded grimly.
Tonks scoffed.
"Are they forcing you out?" She questioned quietly, looking over at his closed office door.
"Look. It's not just one thing kid. I'm old. And, I'm tired." He explained. "I'm choosing to walk away"
"What will happen to the department then? Who will run it?" She asked, desperately trying to get him to stay.
"You'll be all right, Kingsley is going to take over my position. He's a good bloke. He'll take care of all of you."
"So, what you think it's a just retirement then? Even though they are forcing your hand?" She whispered.
Mad Eye smirked slightly and looked at her, before replying.
"Consider it, a practical retirement"
Tonks cocked her head slightly, chuckling.
She sighed heavily, knowing his mind was made up.
"Well, I guess you're not gonna die in battle after all then? She chuckled, trying to amuse him.
Mad Eye laughed wholeheartedly. "Oh no, I probably still will. Just because I'm leaving this dump doesn't mean I'm about to stop fighting against all the evils out there. I just get to do it by my own rules now." He said pouring them both a glass of his best amber liquor.
"to a practical retirement." Mad Eye said, holding his glass up to her.
Tonks nodded, and did the same.
"Just promise me, you'll still come visit. Otherwise, I might die of boredom." Mad Eye warned.
She held up her glass to him. " Deal."'
In the present, someone was handing Tonks a drink that had an uncanny resemblance to the one Mad Eye and she had shared just a few years before.
She took it, swirling the contents around in the glass.
"To Mad Eye Moody." Everyone raised their glasses.
"Mad Eye" they crooned in unison.
She sipped her whiskey slowly and listened while the others talked. She dabbed at her tears with the old handkerchief she had in her pocket. She cried even harder when she remembered it had once been Mad Eyes.
Tonks considered that perhaps Mad Eye would have considered this to be a practical death. Perhaps death was the ultimate retirement for an auror. It was a grim prospect, but it was a thought Tonks couldn't shake.
"So, mundungus disappeared." She heard Remus say. After downing his drink in one go.
She turned to listen to the rest of them speaking. Tonks sighed as they all contemplated the events of night and the betrayal.
At one point she even interjected, explaining her thoughts.
"Voldemort acted just like Mad Eye expected him to." Tonks asserted, wiping at her face with her old handkerchief.
"He said Voldemort would expect Harry to be with the most skilled aurors. He was right. He went for Mad Eye first and once Dung disapperated he went straight for Kingsley next." She explained.
Mad Eye always had the measure of others so well. He could size any one up, and tell you exactly what the persons next steps would be. It was something Tonks had always admired about him.
Tonks thumbed her glass and finished the remaining Amber liquid.
Her thoughts kept straying back to Mad Eye.
But, suddenly she realized that Remus was on his feet.
"W-where are you going?"
"Mad Eye. We have to go find him. Before the Death Eaters." He explained.
Tonks hugged him hard before he left and Remus held her back, kissing her on the top of her head.
She watched as he and Bill made their way out of the door, back out into the night.
Several hours later Remus and Bill sat on an old rickety bench illuminated by the light of a nearby lamp post.
"We're not going to find him, are we?" Bill asked, looking over at Remus.
"I-I don't think so." Remus said bitterly.
Bill sighed heavily.
"What do we say, when we go back?" Bill asked.
"The truth. It's all we can say." Remus said, diplomatically.
Bill nodded. Knowing he was right, they would just have to be honest.
Together they somberly walked back into the kitchen at the Burrow.
Molly, Arthur and Tonks were sitting waiting at the kitchen table with empty whiskey glasses and were startled when they both came walking through the door.
Fleur had fallen asleep on the sofa, and was startled awake.
It was Arthur who stood up, and addressed them.
He turned his head to the side a little, "any luck?" He asked them, hope draining from his face as he did.
The rest of the room turned to look at them.
Bill shook his head grimly.
"No. We didn't find him." Remus told them the truth. It was all they could offer them.
Tonks covered her face and audibly choked up. Sobbing. "No. No."
Remus rushed over to her, kneeling in front of her as if in prayer.
He held her close to him, cradling her.
"We needed to find him." She cried into his neck, clinging to him.
He rubbed her back. "I know. I know. I'm so so sorry. We tried. We did everything we could."
"We did." Bill said, sniffling. Fleur wiped at his face.
"Of course you did, William." Fleur told him, rubbing his arm.
"It's not your fault. Either of you." Arthur said.
"Mad Eye would've understood. It's an Occupational hazard of being in The Order." Arthur said, sadly.
Tonks wiped her face, and nodded.
"It's true. He wouldn't have been mad. He knew the risks." Tonks said, sniffling.
And, it was true. She was certain at that moment that wherever Mad Eye was, he was proud of them all. The plan had ultimately worked in their favor.
By the time they had left, Molly had attempted to placate Tonks by offering her tea and all manner of snacks and alcohol. But, Tonks refused it all. She just wanted to go home.
The next morning Tonks sat on the edge of the tub in the bathroom of their flat wiping tears off her face.
This was where Remus found her a few minutes later.
Remus went to sit next to her, wrapping his arms around her. Tonks sniffled a bit but was composed.
"I'm so sorry." Remus whispered to her, holding her against his chest.
"It's just - it's Mad Eye." Tonk's voice broke when she said his name.
"I know. I know." Remus said. Mad Eye Moody had been an incredible force of a man. He wasn't often someone Remus had considered at risk for an untimely demise.
After a little Tonks spoke.
"He knew I cared, right" she asked.
Remus nodded, appeasing her. It was true, he had known. He had cared for her too.
Tonks clung to Remus as if he was her life source in that moment.
"Why don't you come lay down, I'll make you something to eat." Remus offered.
Tonks agreed, following Remus back into their bedroom.
That was mostly where they spent the next few days. Together at home at least they were safe and able to tune out the hell of the outside world for a little while.
But, only for a while.
