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.
