Taijitu

Authors Notes: Chapter seven is here! Thanks go to my beta Mel, who graciously stepped in to fill my beta role, as well as Ellie. And, of course, who can forget Jenni - the lady who taught me all about English grammar! Thanks!

Tonks wouldn't talk to him the next morning. Or the next. Or even the next.

Andromeda assured him it was hormones. Ted said it would pass.

Lupin wasn't quite so sure.

As August wore on, he spent the next three weeks ferrying himself backwards and forwards between Tonks' parents house and Ottery Cottage, trying with ever-increasing desperation to get his wife to speak to him again.

In those weeks, he managed to clean up Ottery Cottage, restoring it to the sunny home it had been before it had been turned upside down by the Death Eaters, did some reconnaissance for the Order, and was even able to check on Harry's progress.

Calling in at the Burrow late in the third week of Tonks' silence, Lupin found Molly, Arthur, Fred and George sitting at the kitchen table, all four of them holding mugs of steaming tea.

"Remus," Arthur greeted Lupin as he came into the kitchen. "Cuppa?"

Lupin shook his head. "No, thank you. I'm just on my way home and I thought I'd come in and check if there was any news."

The four Weasleys exchanged glances, which Lupin ignored. They all knew that Lupin had visited Harry, and that Tonks was staying with her parents, but they were all too polite to ask what had happened.

"Well," said Arthur, putting down his mug, not asking whom Lupin was talking about. "Kingsley's been able to keep track of them. They're still at Grimmauld Place, but they leave for long periods to visit the Ministry."

"The Ministry?" Lupin repeated, surprised. Arthur nodded.

"It looks like they're doing surveillance."

Lupin was silent for a moment. Then he nodded. "All right. As long as they're safe. Well, I'd better be off. See you tomorrow."

Everyone gestured their goodbyes, and Lupin left the kitchen. He had almost reached the front door when he heard someone call him.

"Remus! Wait!"

Lupin turned back as Arthur hurried towards him.

"Arthur?" Lupin asked mildly.

Arthur examined him for a moment before speaking. "How's Tonks?"

"She's fine," Lupin said blandly. Arthur nodded.

"How far along is she?"

"The Healers say about eight weeks. Well, that was two weeks ago, so probably about ten weeks now."

Arthur was silent for a moment, and then he sighed. "This is ridiculous. You know what I want to ask you."

The kitchen had suddenly become very quiet. Lupin had the impression that three pairs of ears (well, two pairs and George's one) were listening intently.

"I'm not sure I do," said Lupin guardedly.

"About Harry and the others. You visited them a couple of weeks ago. You spoke to them."

Lupin sighed.

"Do you...do you know what they're planning to do?" Arthur continued quietly.

Lupin was quiet for a minute. "No," he said finally. "Harry wouldn't tell me."

Arthur studied him. "Are you sure you don't know?" he said bluntly.

"I'm sure, Arthur," said Lupin tiredly. "And even if I did know, you know I wouldn't tell you."

Arthur nodded again, obviously not pleased with Lupin's answer.

"Well," he said gruffly, turning away. "Give Tonks our best."

"I would if she'd speak to me," Lupin muttered.

"What was that?"

"Nothing." Lupin turned towards the door again. "Night, Arthur."

**********

"Evening, Remus."

Ted Tonks looked up from the evening paper as Lupin trudged into the kitchen, looking glum.

"Evening," Lupin replied. He spotted Andromeda at the sink. "Anything I can do to help?"

"No, thanks." Andromeda turned away from the sink for a moment and gave him a quick smile. "I'm almost done."

Lupin nodded and sat in one of the kitchen chairs. Ted put down the paper.

"Bad news?"

"Not really. Harry and the others are still safe, but they keep visiting the Ministry, Kingsley says to do surveillance. Why would they need to visit the Ministry to do surveillance?" he added, frowning.

Ted shrugged. "They've proven they can take care of themselves."

Lupin nodded, still looking troubled. "The Ministry is so dangerous these days. Half the people working there are under the Imperius curse and the other half are Death Eaters or sympathisers. I'd hate for anyone to catch Harry there."

Ted took in Lupin's worried appearance. "Is there anything else?"

Lupin sighed. "I have to go down to Surrey in the next couple of days to check on some Order members there. No one's heard from them for a couple of days, and we're starting to think they've been..."

Lupin trailed off. Ted looked grim and shared a dark look with his wife, who joined them at the table.

Lupin shook his head as if trying to clear it. "How's Tonks?" he asked.

Ted and Andromeda exchanged another significant look.

"She's...all right," Andromeda said hesitantly.

"So that means she still won't see me?"

"Uh..." Ted scratched the back of his neck, something Lupin noticed he did when he was nervous.

Lupin just sighed. "All right," he said in a defeated voice. "Can I go up and try anyway?"

Ted nodded and Lupin rose from his chair. Exiting the kitchen he turned left and walked up the stairs until he reached Tonks' bedroom door.

He knocked softly. "Dora?" he called, "it's me, Remus."

Silence.

"Dora?" Lupin tried again. He heard the springs squeak on her bed, but then the room was quiet once more.

"Dora...look, you have to talk to me sometime," Lupin tried. Nothing.

"Fine," he sighed, leaning his head against the door. "I...I won't be able to come again for awhile. I've got to go to Surrey tomorrow for the Order, and I'll probably be gone for a few days. I'll come see you when I get back. Hopefully by then you'll at least see me."

No response.

"Ok, I'm going to go home now." Lupin felt foolish talking to a door, but he had no choice. "Um...I love you?" he said tentatively. He heard a sniff come from behind the wood panelling.

"Dora?"

Nothing.

He made a sound somewhere between a sigh and a groan, and leant his head against the door again, which made a soft thumping noise. His hand itched to twist the doorknob just to see if would open, but he didn't think he'd better.

"All right," he said again. "Goodnight, Dora. See you in a couple of days."

As he headed back down the stairs, he thought he heard the door open and turned quickly, only to see Andromeda heading up the stairs towards him.

"Nothing?" she asked. Lupin shook his head.

"Nothing. I'll try again when I get back."

"All right." Andromeda's eyes turned serious. "Remus, be careful."

Lupin nodded and made his way down the stairs. He said a quick goodbye to Ted and then stepped out of the house into the cool night. Reaching the front gate he turned on the spot and disappeared, reappearing in front of Ottery Cottage.

Sighing, he opened the gate and trudged up the front path. Opening the front door, he surveyed the darkened house gloomily.

It just wasn't the same when Tonks wasn't here. The house had a cold, empty feeling he wasn't used to.

He walked slowly up the stairs, stripping off his robes as he went, not even bothering to turn on any lights. Pulling on a pair of pyjamas, he fell into bed, still wide-awake and thinking of his wife.

**********

Tonks lay on her bed staring at the door long after his footsteps receded.

She felt slightly guilty about the way she was treating him. She supposed she really ought to just open the door and speak to him like a rational, reasonable adult, if even for their baby's sake.

But every time she thought that, her anger welled up inside her again.

Why should I? she thought savagely. He was the one who left.

She sighed and rubbed her tired eyes. For what seemed like the millionth time her mind ran through the battle at the Burrow, through their horrific argument at Ottery Cottage, through the days of worry and the sleepless nights. Until finally he came home.

Bastard.

"Dora?" Tonks jumped for a moment, thinking Lupin had returned. It took her a moment to realise the voice calling for her was very different to the deep tones of her husband.

The door opened a crack and her mother peered around the doorjamb. "Are you awake?"

"I'm awake," Tonks said with a sigh. She sat up and watched as her mother entered carrying a tray loaded with food. Tonks made a face.

"I told you, I'm not hungry."

"You have to eat something." Andromeda approached her.

"The thought of food just makes me feel sick," Tonks argued.

"I know, I went through the same thing when I had you. I managed to discover one food I could eat during my first trimester that didn't make me run for the bathroom."

"What is it?" Tonks asked curiously as her mother set the tray down on the bed.

Her mother held up a bowl. "Melon and berries."

Tonks wrinkled her nose. "Really?"

"It's the citric acid," her mother explained. "It calms the stomach. Try it."

Tonks picked up a slice of watermelon unenthusiastically and took a tiny bite, chewing it slowly. For a moment she swallowed. Then she looked immensely surprised.

"Hey! I can eat this!"

Andromeda smiled as her daughter picked up another slice and devoured it hungrily.

"So, did you talk to Remus?"

Tonks' smile vanished and she put the fruit down, her appetite for the meal suddenly dissipating.

"No," she said flatly.

"I didn't think so," her mother said mildly. "Just how long are you planning to shut him out?"

"I'm not shutting him out." Tonks looked irritated.

"Oh." Andromeda looked at her daughter. "So am I to believe that all wives keep a doors distance between themselves and their husbands?"

Tonks sat up straight. "He left me!" she said bitterly, picking up the tray and putting it on the bedside table with a loud clunk. "Just whose side are you on, anyway?"

Andromeda surveyed her daughter with a mixture of sympathy and irritation. "I'm on her side," she said, putting a hand on Tonks' stomach.

Tonks smiled in spite of herself. "Dad thinks it's going to be a boy."

"Your father can think whatever he likes. I know it's going to be girl."

Tonks smiled again, but this time it looked more like a grimace.

"He left me," she said again, quietly.

"I know." Andromeda patted her daughter's back sympathetically. "And Remus knows that, too. Do you have any idea how guilty he feels?"

"He should," Tonks said sullenly.

"You can't stay mad at him forever."

"Wanna bet?"

"You wouldn't be this mad if you didn't still love him."

"Who said anything about not loving him?"

"Well, all your behaviour would suggest you consider your marriage to him over."

Tonks looked troubled by this. She picked up another slice of melon and chewed it slowly.

"You know he's going to Surrey tomorrow?"

Tonks looked up quickly. "I heard," she said quietly.

"It might be dangerous."

"Remus is a great wizard. He'll be fine." But she didn't sound too convinced.

"Even so, greater wizards have fallen."

"Why are you doing this?" Tonks suddenly demanded, facing her mother with angry eyes.

Andromeda looked saddened. "I'd just hate for your last memory of your husband to be silence."

"What are you talking about?" Tonks challenged. "You don't even like Remus!"

"I never said that!"

"Oh, I suppose that's why you didn't come to our wedding?" said Tonks scathingly, and Andromeda flushed.

"Remus and I have spoken about it," she said quietly. Tonks looked surprised.

"You have?"

"Yes." Andromeda looked angry. "You'd know that if you bothered to speak to him. I might not have agreed with what you and Remus did when you got married, but nevertheless he's my son-in-law now, and you're carrying his child." Andromeda stood and started towards the door. "Maybe you should think about that."

"I have been thinking about that!" Tonks shouted as the door closed. "That's all I've been thinking about, dammit!"

She flopped back on the bed, her head whirling.

Maybe she should go see Remus before he left tomorrow.

Bastard.

**********

Night was falling as Lupin and Kingsley apparated into the middle of the lane. Both of them looked wary, their wands drawn.

"It feels strange being back here," Kingsley muttered as they started to make their way down the almost deserted street. Lupin nodded in agreement but kept silent, his head swivelling constantly.

Reaching their destination, Kingsley turned to Lupin and nodded. Lupin nodded back and walked up the unkempt garden path and entered the deserted house without knocking, Kingsley following in his wake.

Inside the house was dark and dank, as if the house had been unlived in for a few months, which, Lupin reflected, it most probably had been. Making their way through the kitchen, Lupin got the distinct impression that before it had been abandoned, this house had been kept almost fanatically clean. Rounding the corner, Lupin and Kingsley passed a little cupboard and made their way up the stairs.

At the top of the landing doors stood open, as if whomever had been here couldn't be bothered to close them. A broken cup stood just outside one of the doors, looking as though it had been trodden on. A quick assessment of each room and the bathroom yielded nothing.

"No one's been here." Kingsley finally lowered his wand and leaned against a wall. Lupin couldn't help noticing that there was a moustache of sweat above Kingsley's lip and nodded, aware that his own heart was beating rather fast. He lowered his own wand.

"It doesn't look like the Death Eaters even checked here when they were looking for Harry."

"Why should they? Why would Harry come back to Privet Drive?"

Lupin had to agree with that assessment. Harry had spent most of his life trying to get away from number four: Lupin was pretty certain Harry would rather eat his own foot than return to this house.

"Still..." Lupin looked around. "Something isn't right here."

"No," Kingsley agreed. "Where's Figgy?"

Lupin shrugged. Arabella Figg and another recent member of the Order had been asked to stay in Privet Drive and keep an eye on number four, in case Harry or the Death Eaters returned. Up until seventy-two hours ago, they had both been reporting regularly. But a sudden silence in communication had the Order worried. Arabella Figg, although a Squib, was a dedicated and loyal member of the Order, and would never abandon her post.

Lupin shrugged. "Should we check out her house?"

Kingsley looked troubled. "I don't know."

Lupin checked his watch. "It's getting late. We've already looked in a dozen places where she could be, I don't really want to go searching in the dark. Maybe we should call it a night?"

Kingsley nodded. "All right."

They both turned on the spot and disappeared.

The house was silent for a few moments after they were gone. But suddenly a pair of bright eyes could be seen through the darkness, growing brighter and brighter as they approached the spot where the two men had been a moment before. It was with an excited his that a man emerged from the shadows. A gaunt grin lit up his face.

"They have come."

**********

Knock, knock, knock.

"Hello?"

Tonks was sure why she was knocking at the door to her own house. She could only put it down to the fact that she felt extremely uncomfortable by the whole situation.

It had taken her three days just to come this far.

She had debated with herself, her mother, and her father before her mother had practically shoved her out of the house and onto the street. The last words she had said were an extremely harangued, "for god's sake Nymphadora! Just go talk to the man!"

"Remus?" Tonks called again, pushing open the front door.

There was no answer.

Tonks walked into the living room and frowned. It was dark and empty compared to the warm morning outside. The house had the unmistakeable air of being shut up and unused.

That was strange. Remus had said he would only be gone a couple of days. He should have been back by now...

"Remus?" she called again, just to be sure. There was no answer, and her frown deepened. She quickly made her way upstairs and looked in all the rooms, but her husband was nowhere to be seen.

Something was wrong.

She made her way back downstairs slowly. Maybe the mission had taken longer than expected?

Her mother's words from a few days ago echoed in her head. Greater wizards have fallen, she had said.

"That's it," she said aloud to the empty house. She walked quickly outside, turned on the spot, and was gone.

**********

"Arabella?"

Lupin and Kingsley looked around the house. It was very messy, cluttered and smelled strongly of cats.

"It doesn't look like she's here, either," said Kingsley to Lupin, lowering his wand.

"No." Lupin shook his head. "Someone's here, I can tell."

"How do you know?"

Lupin smiled. "Call it a wolfish sense."

"How long until the full moon, again?"

"Don't worry, full moon is four days away. I'm not going to bite you."

"Speaking of bites, how is Tonks?"

"Ha ha." Lupin didn't crack a smile.

"So I take it she's still not speaking to you?"

"Nope." Lupin surveyed the living room with apprehension. "Lumos."

A thin shaft of light emanated from the tip of Lupin's wand. He moved in a circle, shining the light around the room. He suddenly stopped and his sharp intake of breath made Kingsley raise his wand again.

"There!"

Kingsley's eyes followed Lupin's hand and he groaned. On the wall in front of them was something dark. The metallic tang hit his nostrils at the same time as his brain registered what he was seeing:

Blood.

"Still think someone's not here?" Lupin muttered to Kingsley, keeping his wand raised high in front of him.

"I stand corrected." Kingsley glanced around. "We need to find out where the Order members are. Now."

"I don't think - " Lupin began, but was suddenly interrupted as a huge crash overhead made them both jump.

"What..." Kingsley looked wildly upwards, but Lupin's eyes were drawn to the cracks that had suddenly appeared on the walls of the living room. Plaster flakes were starting to drift down onto his shoulders...

"Move!" he suddenly yelled at Kingsley, shoving him bodily out of the way.

And then his view of the world was obscured as the ceiling crashed down around them.

**********

Molly looked surprised as Tonks strode into the kitchen.

"Tonks, dear," said Molly. "I didn't hear you come in..."

"Yeah, sorry I didn't knock," said Tonks, not looking remotely sorry. "Is Arthur here?"

"No, he's at work." Molly began to look worried. "Why? Is something wrong?"

Tonks shrugged. "Remus told me he'd be away for a couple of days."

Molly looked up from the washing she was folding. "He isn't back yet?"

Tonks shook her head and Molly's frown deepened. "They were supposed to be back yesterday."

"They?"

"Yes, Remus and Kingsley."

Tonks' stomach knotted. "They were supposed to be back yesterday? Have you heard from them since they left?"

Molly looked surprised. "No. I thought they were going to contact you."

Tonks swore under her breath. "All Remus told me was that he was going to Surrey. Do you know how big an area Surrey is?"

Molly hesitated. Tonks placed her hands on her hips.

"Molly, where did they go?"

"They..." Molly looked hesitant. "Tonks, if they didn't tell you, I'm not sure I should..."

"I'm still a member of the Order!" Tonks said angrily. "And I want to know where my husband is!"

"I'm sure we're both overreacting..." Molly started. Tonks tried to take deep breaths.

"I...I'm sure you're right," she said with difficulty. "But...I just have this feeling..." She looked up. "Please, Molly. Find Arthur. I need to speak with him."

Molly nodded and hurried to the fire, grabbing a handful of emerald-green powder. She threw them into the fire.

"Arthur!" she called. "Arthur, I need to speak to you!"

The women waited a moment, and Molly turned back to Tonks.

"His office. He said he'd be there all day."

Tonks just nodded mutely, and Molly turned to the fire.

Just as Tonks had given up hope that Arthur was in his office, a figure appeared in the fire, swirling and twisting. With a final thump, Arthur Weasley suddenly stepped out of the fire, brushing soot from his robes.

"What is it?" he said urgently, taking in the two women at once. "What's happened?"

"It's Remus and Kingsley," said Tonks before Molly could speak. "We think something's happened to them."

Arthur looked at Tonks. "They're not back yet?" he guessed. Tonks shook her head.

"All right." Arthur moved towards the table. "Here, let's see if we can contact them."

**********

All Lupin could see was white.

A rasping noise close to him made him raise his head. Kingsley was just to the side of him, coughing madly, as flecks of white plaster floated down around them.

"Are you all right?" he asked the other man, jumping to his feet and trying to locate his wand. Kingsley nodded, his black hair turned white from the plaster dust, and got to his feet, examining the section of floor where the ceiling had crashed.

"What's happened?"

Lupin shrugged. "It looks as if someone tried to crush us under the ceiling."

"But why?"

Lupin shrugged again. "And where are Arabella and Cole?" he mused softly.

Kingsley looked around. "We need to get out of here, the whole building might be about to collapse."

Lupin nodded his assent, but before they could take two steps towards the exit, a familiar voice cried out.

"Remus! Kingsley!"

"Arabella!" said Lupin as Arabella Figg rushed towards them through the dust.

"Yes, yes, it's me!" she clutched Kingsley's arm. "Thank God you're here, I was starting to get so worried..."

"What's happened here?" Kingsley asked.

"Death Eaters, they attacked Cole and I...Cole was able to collapse the ceiling on them, but they're still back there...and Cole..."

Without another word, she rushed back into the ruined living room. Lupin and Kingsley exchanged glances, Kingsley picking up his wand from the floor, before following Arabella Figg deeper into the house.

**********

Arthur Weasley shook his head. "I can't contact them," he said, his frown becoming more pronounced.

"Where did they go?" Tonks demanded.

"They went to Surrey, back to Privet Drive."

"Privet Drive?" Tonks repeated, confused.

"Yes, Arabella Figg and Cole Jones were stationed in Magnolia Crescent to keep an eye on the house, lookout for Death Eaters."

"Cole Jones?" Tonks enquired. "Is that..."

"Hestia's brother? Yes," Molly clarified. "Anyway, they were stationed there to look out for Death Eaters, or even Harry in case he returned. But three days ago they stopped reporting. Remus and Kingsley went to check it out."

"Have you heard from them at all since they left?"

"No. Have you?"

"No, Remus and I are...were...arguing," Tonks sighed, running a hand over her face.

Arthur was silent for a moment. Then he nodded. "All right, we're going to have to..."

But there was a sudden knock on the door, and the three of them jumped. Bill came rushing into the kitchen, his face flushed, eyes bright.

"Dad...Tonks..." he puffed out.

"What is it?" Arthur asked, concerned.

"They've just...I've just come from St. Mungo's," Bill leaned on the table, trying to catch his breath. "Arabella Figg and Cole Jones have turned up there. Both of them are critically injured."

Tonks felt her heart slip into her stomach. "What?" she whispered.

"Apparently they were being held by two Death Eaters. They were interrogated for the whereabouts of Harry, and when they couldn't tell them the Death Eaters waited, knowing someone would come along who knew where Harry was and who would know how to get into Grimmauld Place. They were able to escape when Cole got a hold of one of the Death Eater's wands and blew out the second floor. But..."

"Remus and Kingsley," Molly breathed.

Bill nodded. "The Death Eaters have Polyjuice potion. Remus and Kingsley probably don't even know they're in danger..."

**********

"Figgy, are you sure you know where you're going?" Kingsley asked as the old woman led them further and further into the house.

"Yes, yes," said Arabella impatiently. "Of course I do, it's my house isn't it?"

Lupin suddenly stopped short. "Are you sure you feel all right, Arabella?"

"What?" Arabella turned. "Yes, of course I do. Why do you ask?"

"You just...don't seem like yourself," said Lupin evenly. Arabella blushed and Lupin frowned. "Where are we going?"

"I told you- to the Death Eaters and Cole- he's trapped up here."

Lupin exchanged a look with Kingsley, who shrugged. They continued forwards, until they finally came to the end of the house. Arabella paused at the entrance to the door.

"In there." She pointed and Lupin and Kingsley entered.

There was no one in there.

"Figgy, what..." Kingsley turned back to the old woman, but she was no longer there. Instead, stood a large and ugly wizard. Remus recognised him instantly: Dolohov.

"Expelliarmus!"

Kingsley's wand shot out of his hand. Dolohov turned his wand on Lupin, but Lupin dived to the side, narrowly avoiding being hit with a spell that cracked the plaster behind him.

"Protego!"

As Dolohov moved forwards, he was knocked a few feet away as he came in contact with the protective shield Lupin had just erected. Lupin had no time to curse the stupidness at falling into such a trap as another Death Eater, the one that had been disguised as Arabella Figg, suddenly rounded the corner, back to his normal appearance, and raised his wand.

"Crucio!"

Lupin ducked again: this time the spell brushed the top of his head and shot upwards through the skylight, showering them all in particles of glass.

"Kingsley, try to get your wand back!" Lupin yelled as Dolohov neared him.

"We only need one!" Lupin heard Dolohov shout to the other Death Eater. "Kill one if you have to!"

The other Death Eater nodded and raised his wand, pointing it at Lupin. "Avada..."

Kingsley lunged forward and rammed him with his shoulder: the two of them crashed to the floor where they rolled around, struggling. Dolohov rushed towards them, his wand raised.

"Reducto!" Lupin yelled. The second skylight smashed and the large, sharp particles of glass fell towards Macnair, who ducked. There was a yell from the floor and Kingsley struggled to his feet, his wand in his hand, one lip bloody.

"Sectumsempra!" Dolohov howled. Kingsley ducked and the spell glanced off Lupin's side. He felt the sharp pain and crumpled to the ground with a grunt.

Macnair ran towards him and Lupin struggled to his knees. "Stupefy!" he yelled desperately. The spell connected and Macnair fell to the floor, stunned.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Kingsley duelling fiercely with Dolohov. He raised his wand.

"Petrificus Totalis!"

The spell missed and hit the wall, making another long scorch mark.

"Incendio!" he heard Kingsley yell. Dolohov yelled as the hem of his robes caught fire and he began to stamp on them, trying to put them out. Kingsley raised his wand again to finish off the duel, but Lupin suddenly saw movement out of the corner of his eye.

"Watch out!" he roared. Kingsley turned just in time to duck a deadly spell thrown at him from a newly revived Macnair.

"Stupefy!" Kingsley hurled at Macnair, who had to duck. Kingsley quickly rounded on Lupin.

"Remus, come on! We have to get out of this room!"

Lupin nodded, and tried to stand, but failed, clutching the wall weakly.

What's wrong, are you hurt?" Kingsley asked. He didn't wait for an answer, however, and instead seized Lupin's shabby robes and dragged him across the room, keeping his head low. They emerged into the hallway and Lupin slid to the floor, his back against the wall, his wand still out.

"I can cover you from here," he said. Kingsley nodded as the Death Eaters hurtled out of the small room and they came face-to-face. All four of them hurled of hexes at once, and it was suddenly hard to tell whose spell was whose.

"Crucio!"

"Impedimenta!"

"Avada Kedavra!"

"Stupefy!"

Spells were rebounding off the walls. He heard Kingsley grunt watched him fall to the floor. Lupin prayed he was still alive and began firing off a series of hexes, trying to keep Dolohov and Macnair at bay.

"Stupefy!" Lupin aimed a spell at Dolohov, but he blocked it, and went to make a slashing motion with his wand.

"Protego!"

Dolohov stumbled as his own spell rebounded on him, sending him to the floor howling in pain. Macnair inched forwards.

"Crucio!"

Lupin screamed as the spell hit. This pain was even worse than transforming. His insides were molten rocks, burning, burning...his head was going to be split in two...

The pain suddenly stopped and Lupin looked up, panting, to see Macnair standing over him.

"Where's Harry Potter?"

"What?" Lupin gasped out, still disoriented.

"I said- where is Harry Potter? Where is he hiding? How do we get into that house?"

Lupin managed a laugh, just because he knew it would incense Macnair. "You really think I'm going to tell you?"

"You will!" Macnair sneered. "In time." He raised his wand once more. "Crucio!"

Lupin screamed again, drawing his legs up to his chest as his body twitched with excruciating pain. It went on and on and on, points of fire and ice all over his body, sweat breaking out on his forehead, his lungs hoarse from screaming...

He was dimly aware of thinking of Dora. Of her face...her beautiful face...and their baby...why had he left her? He was going to die here, never see her, or their child, again...

"Nooo!"

The pain suddenly ceased as someone hurled themselves at Macnair. Lupin lay quite still for a moment, shuddering, before looking up.

No, it couldn't be. He must have died. It was only because he'd been thinking of her and his brain, as its synapses flickered to nothing, presented him with one last picture of her...

No.

Tonks was engaging in a deadly battle with Macnair, her wand flashing as she sent spell after spell at him. Lupin saw Macnair fall with and then turned to watch as Arthur battled Dolohov, who was braced against the wall, obviously injured, but determined not to let the Order members get away.

"No!" Dolohov looked furious. "No, it was not supposed to happen this way!"

Suddenly and without warning he grabbed the motionless form of Macnair and turned on the spot.

"Stop!" cried Tonks, stepping forwards. But it was too late. Dolohov and Macnair Disapparated with a crack, and then there was silence.

It was all over.

Someone suddenly bent down next to him. It took him a moment to realise it was Bill Weasley.

"He's alive!" he called over his shoulder. He heard the rushing of footsteps and a new face suddenly appeared.

"Remus!" It was Tonks, and she was sobbing. "Oh, Remus, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry for everything, thank God you're alive...Thank God..."

"Dora..." he croaked, reaching a hand up to touch her face. "You're here?"

"I'm here," she clarified as Bill helped him into a sitting position.

Lupin was still shaking, but was starting to feel better. He glanced over his shoulder. "Kingsley?"

"He's all right," said Arthur, who was bending next to him. "He's been stunned, but it's nothing we can't handle."

"I thought he'd been hit with a killing curse..." Lupin muttered as Bill examined his wounds. Then he looked up at his wife. "What are you doing here?"

"What?" Tonks looked surprised.

"You shouldn't be here. You're not...in the right condition."

"I tried to convince her not to come," said Arthur, who had revived Kingsley and was now helping him to his feet. "But she wouldn't listen."

Tonks just rolled her eyes at them. Just watching that familiar gesture made Lupin's chest tighten.

"You're hurt, Remus," said Bill, peering at the long gash in the side of his robes. Lupin looked down to find his robes covered in blood. Bill pulled out his wand. "We'll have to stop the bleeding before we move you. Here," he began to murmur a soft incantation and Lupin looked up to find Kingsley grinning at him.

"All right, Remus?" he asked, his arm around Arthur's shoulders.

"Yeah. You?"

"Mostly I just feel stupid we fell into such a dumb trap."

Lupin nodded, and looked at Tonks again, who shook her head.

"I think we need to talk," she said in a whisper, her eyes bright with tears. Lupin nodded and a small smile appeared on his face.

"I'm sorry. For everything."

"Me too," she said.

"Funny how a deadly battle will make you feel that way," said Bill dryly as he put his wand away. "I've managed to stop the bleeding. Mum should be able to heal the rest, I don't think we should risk a trip to St. Mungo's."

Arthur nodded. "I agree."

Lupin put an arm around Bill's shoulders and slowly stood, wincing slightly.

"How are Arabella and Cole?" he enquired as they headed for the front door of the wrecked house.

"They're okay, they're at St. Mungo's, healing up. Figgy'll take a little longer, she's getting on, but Cole should be discharged in a few days. We were lucky."

All five of them were silent at Bill's last statement. When they got to the front yard, Bill began to turn, but Lupin put out his hand.

"Wait."

Bill paused, watching him. Lupin took his arm from around Bill's shoulder and turned to Tonks, holding out his head. She grabbed it immediately. Bill rolled his eyes.

"Now are you ready?"

Tonks nodded at Lupin and he smiled.

"All right. Ready," he added as Arthur, Bill and Kingsley exchanged amused looks.

And, with a hearty crack, they all disappeared.

Authors Notes: Well, what did you think? Loved it? Hated it? Thought it could use some work? PLEASE let me know! ALL feedback is appreciated!