The Rescue
Memories flashed through Tonks mind, but she remembered to hold her wand in front of herself. She did not see anyone present in the room. She glanced at the clock on the wall and realized that even with all the challenges of getting into the room, she was early to meet Susan. So that it was easier for her to keep her disguise, she moved towards the back corner to wait for Susan to come to the common room. As she crossed the common room she kicked at some crumpled papers that must have been a student's smudged up assignment that needed re-copied lying next to a table she passed. Where the papers had been lying she caught a glimpse of a faint gold sparkle...and she paused a minute and reached down to touch it.
The next thing Tonks knew, the world was flipping upside down. Confusion filled her mind as she found herself falling towards the ceiling. She slammed onto the roof and shook her head to clear it. I should have known better she berated herself. Every Auror knows about Reversal Dust. It was used by Death Eaters during He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's first reign of terror. It confused and bewildered the victims long enough to give Death Eaters a chance to capture them. Tonks just hoped that her preparations were enough to keep her hidden from Amycus Carrow, who had to be the one that left the dust hidden in the room. Quickly Tonks gripped her wand, while reaching into her trusty bag and sprinkling herself with a dab of pixie dust before thinking Reversus Totalus to turn the world right side up again while she floated down to the floor again. Then she quickly moved behind the far wall of fluffed up chairs.
Just when she was hid behind the first chair Amycus Carrow entered the room. "I have you now Longbottom! I know you are here somewhere!" Amycus yelled as she bustled around the room...searching for the boy who was not there. When she approached the chair that Tonks was hidden behind, Tonks reached out her leg and tripped the rampaging woman...who never knew what she stumbled over. Awakened by the ruckus that Amycus was making in the common room many of the residents of the Hufflepuff House came to inspect what the noise was all about, which only enraged Amycus more since she could not seem to find the intruder. Tonks stayed behind the chairs, even when she spotted Susan Bones enter from the girls’ dormitory.
"What seems to be the matter Professor Carrow," asked a young man who was wearing a prefect badge.
Brave young man. Hopefully he'll survive this year at Hogwarts. Tonks moved closer to Susan as Amycus started to scream about hidden intruders in the night and how she would find them. When Tonks was close enough she pulled out an invisibility cloak. She moved as close to Susan as she could before whispering, "Susan," the younger girl jumped slightly as the quiet voice at her ear. "Don't look this way; you probably can't see me as more than a mild disturbance in the air. Hopefully no one else sees me, either. Neville sent me to bring you to join the rest of the students who are in hiding. My name is Tonks and I need you to come with me. Just nod slightly if you understand and will come."
Amycus was still screaming as Tonks slowly guided Susan towards the common room front door. Just when they were about to reach the door, it flung open and Professor Sprout rushed into the room, "Professor Carrow, what in the world do you think you are doing? Disturbing the entire Hufflepuff House like this and waking all the students here?" the professor inquired of the enraged Amycus. As quickly as she could Tonks flung the invisibility cloak that was in the hand not guiding Susan over the girl and pulled her quickly out the door before it shut behind Professor Sprout.
Once in the hallway Tonks pulled the frightened girl gently back the hallway, past unconscious Malfoy who was still sprawled in the hallway. Susan flinched and almost rushed to the fool, but Tonks was able to keep a firm grasp on Susan's arm as she guided her to a secret passage Tonks had used frequently as a student at Hogwarts, one that Filch most likely was aware of, but with the commotion going on in the Hufflepuff House, Tonks was certain that they would run into no one, plus they were both invisible for the most part to anyone they came across. The stone musician that guarded the entrance looked normal enough, but a simple strum of his lute opened the passageway's door.
Mission Complete
Once safely in the passage, with the door closed firmly behind them Tonks finally turned to face Susan. "Sorry to pull you away like that," Tonks apologized to girl who was shaking in fear next to her. "I'm well aware that Draco Malfoy is lying unconscious in that hallway, but he was attempting to capture me for the Carrows. I only made his disguise a reality. The foolish boy would be excited to capture us both. I was sent to you by Neville Longbottom, to bring you to join the rest of the students who are in hiding here at the school. You did want to join them?" Tonks inquired of the startled girl.
"Ye--yes!" softly stuttered the girl who stood next to her. "The horrible things that keep occurring here, I know that Aunt Amelia would have wanted me to join them. We need to fight back against the Death Eaters as best we can. The best place for me is with the other students who are taking a stand here at Hogwarts!" the girl stated with a firm determination that grew as she spoke.
"Ok, be quiet now. We are not to safety yet. It should not take me long to lead you to the Room of Requirement where the other students are hiding. Take my hand and keep that cloak in place so that we can stay concealed to roaming eyes," Tonks instructed softly as she took the girl's hand and guided her down the passageway.
When they were almost to the passage's exit, Tonks quickly pulled the terrified girl back against the wall. The end had opened and in rushed the newest Headmaster, Severus Snape who paused but a moment upon entering the passageway. He then briskly rushed past where the young women were pressed against the wall. Tonks could have sworn that he looked directly at her a moment before passing her, and knew that he brushed against the bag that was dangling on her shoulder. He never paused though and continued quickly down the passage.
Once Snape had disappeared, Tonks squeezed Susan's hand and pulled her to the end of the passage. She cautiously inched the door open and once she was certain the hallway was empty she quickly led Susan the rest of the way to the Room of Requirement.
"Susan! Tonks! You both made it here safely," Neville exclaimed when the two entered the room and Susan threw off the invisibility cloak. Tonks also stopped the disillusionment charm. Tonks noted that upon their entrance a Hufflepuff banner joined the Gryffindor banner hanging on the wall. Susan rushed over to Neville and gave her friend a hug.
"Thank you for sending Tonks to get me Neville! What a relief it is to be here with all the other students fighting back against the Death Eaters," Susan said to her friend.
Neville turned to face Tonks. "Thank you so much for your help. I don't know how we would have safely gotten Susan here tonight without your help."
Tonks shook the young man's hand and then reached into her bag. On top there was a piece of parchment that she did not recognize. Startled she unfolded it and read the scribbled markings upon it.
Life has thrown me a few curve balls. I am sorry for what I was forced to do, but I remain true to the cause.
Tonks gasped as she realized that Severus must have put the parchment into her bag when he rushed past her. Tears rolled down her cheek as she thought about Dumbledore's death again. So many senseless deaths have been caused by that man. How much innocence has been lost because of him? I wondered why Severus betrayed Dumbledore, but maybe they both saw something the rest of us could not. I'll have to ask him about this when all is over.
"What is wrong Tonks?" Neville inquired.
"Nothing, it's nothing. I need to be getting back to little Teddy. He is probably missing his mother," Tonks stated.
"Sure, get back home to your son. We will be fine here. Hopefully Harry will return soon and we'll be able to end this terrible war. We are ready to fight," Neville replied.
"Here are a few things that may help you keep other students safe. Keep the invisibility cloak. It may help you with another rescue. In this bag are a few defensive potions. It looks like you have the resources to look up each of them. Good luck Neville. I also hope that this war is over soon. Then we can say goodbye to fear," Tonks said as she handed Neville her bag. Giving Neville and Susan a hug she exited the way she entered Hogwarts, through the portrait that led to Aberforth's tavern.
The tavern was empty when Tonks entered. Tonks quickly apparated home. At home she found her mother asleep on the couch, little Teddy asleep in her arms. When she took the infant in her arms she hummed a lullaby to keep him asleep. She moved towards his room. Just before she turned to put him to bed, a pair of arms wrapped around her waist and Remus embraced his wife and child. "What are you still doing up, my love? I thought I'd find you asleep," Remus inquired of his wife.
"I was out assisting the cause tonight, but I'm too tired to explain more tonight. Just come with me to put our son to bed, then wrap me in your loving arms and let us dream the rest of the night about the rest of our lives together," Tonks said as she kissed her husband and led him upstairs to their room.