MISSING MOMENT

Tonks stared pensively out the window. It had been over a day, and other than a rather short letter from Bill, she hadn't heard anything about Percy, the curse, or anything. She shook her head, unable to believe that Moody had betrayed them... betrayed them all... but betrayed the Weasleys most of all.

"They sacrificed so much for us to win," she told Remus indignantly.

"They did," Remus quietly agreed.

"And—"

But the cheerful sound of the doorbell interrupted her. Remus stood and stretched. "I'll get it," he said, and headed off downstairs.

Tonks could not imagine losing Teddy. She could not imagine allowing anyone to use Teddy, as Percy had been used. What Moody had done was so objectively horrible that it amazed her. At odd moments, it even took her breath away. She supposed it was because she was a mother now that she could feel such sharp empathy for Molly Weasley. For all the Weasleys, who had almost lost each other. And poor Ginny!

So lost in thought was she that she did not notice it had been quite some time since Remus went to answer the door...

"GET HELP!" Bill shouted.

Tonks was up and on her feet and running down the stairs, wand in hand, before she knew it. "GET HELP!" he shouted again, coming into view.

What the f—

Tonks was about to question why Bill was here, when he came into view, dragging a maimed Charlie. Her hand flew to her mouth, and her wand erupted with sparks. "What's happened?!" she screamed running toward them.

Charlie Weasley had to be terribly maimed under all that blood. How could one body produce that much? Tonks knelt down next to him. "What happened?" she said flatly.

"Oh God, they came out of nowhere," Bill said in a strangled tone.

Tonks thought she heard her husband chuckle, but she shoved that aside. Impossible.

"Who?" she asked sharply. "Where is everyone else?"

Charlie made a little moan.

"They... they..."

Bill did not finish his sentence.

Tonks's throat constricted. Oh God, the Weasleys could not stand any more tragedies. Tears threatened, and she angrily forced them away.

A moan issued from the other room.

"Oh God, they followed us!"

Remus definitely laughed this time. Tonks sat back on her heels in shock. Remus was laughing, and was that... dragon's blood on Charlie?

"Toooooooonkssssss," something moaned.

Tonks narrowed her eyes.

Then widened them.

"Oh my God," she breathed.

Fred came stumbling into the room. His skin had a greenish tone, and he looked dead... dead as can be... George followed him, mouth open in a moan. They shuffled toward her.

Tonks did not move, but covered her head with her arms... warding off the dead twins...

They stumbled closer. They were nearly upon her. Tears were streaming down her face.

She swung out her leg and tripped them. The twins went down with oomphs of surprise, and abandoned their pretense when Tonks stood over them. She was laughing and crying all at once.

"YOU PRATS!" she shouted, before she launched herself at them, hugging and smacking both at once. She had a thousand questions, and they all tumbled out of her at once. Once she'd calmed, she stood and pointed a shaking finger at Bill and Charlie, who was dripping dragon's blood all over her house. "How could you?"

Bill shrugged, and grinned. "How could we deny them anything? Admit it, it was a good prank."

"I will admit no such thing," Tonks grumbled. Now that her nerves were settling, however, she could begrudgingly admit it was a fairly good prank. "Have you gone to visit Kingsley yet?" Tonks asked despite herself.

Remus laughed, the blighter.

Author's Note:

Hope you don't mind if I come back to this story every once in a while and add a moment here and there.

I've started uploading Harry Potter and the Shadowed Patronus and am enjoying it immensely. Things took a turn for the creepy, and it is ridiculously fun. Let me know in the comments and reviews what you think.

Also, I've taken it upon myself to start building the largest private collection of H/G erotic art. Please let me know if you'd like to contribute! I pay!