Getting the Band Back Together, 5/?
Title: Getting the Band Back Together
Rating: PG-13
Fandom: Harry Potter
Universe: Seven Characters (Part 2)
Characters/Pairing: Tonks, Sirius, Snape, Luna, Narcissa, Dobby, Bob the Dementor, others
Genre: Humor/Adventure
Summary: Thanks to a string of unlucky events, Tonks finds herself the latest infiltrator into Lord Voldemort's regime. Will she be able to help the Order in their quest to defeat the Dark Lord, or is the young Auror out of her depth?
Chapter Four
Snape had volunteered to escort Tonks to London, citing the reason that there was an Order of the Phoenix meeting anyway. To prevent any recognition, Tonks had morphed into a sullen-looking woman with black hair. If it had been in any other situation, she would have made a comment about being sullen because she was with Snape. It wasn’t really appropriate for that time, though. It wasn’t until they had apparated into a London back alley that Snape made the comment Tonks had been waiting for.
‘What the devil do you think you’re doing?’ he seethed. Any camaraderie that had been attained during their previous adventures had been all but lost.
‘I’d be dead if I hadn’t done anything,’ she muttered. Soft though he answer was, it echoed in the confined space.
Snape sneered, but otherwise did not reply. It was clear someone’s plans had been messed up, though whether they were in line with the Order’s was another story. ‘St. Mungo’s is just around the corner.’
‘I know where we are, Severus.’
With a wave of his wand, Snape gave her a quick “just escaped from madman” look, complete with blood stains and torn robes.
‘A few bodily injuries wouldn’t go amiss,’ she suggested, deciding that she would morph back at the last possible moment. ‘It’s not like they’d let me escape without a fight.’ She couldn’t help but feel that Snape enjoyed inflicting voluntary injuries. The fresh cuts stung, but they would at least give evidence to her false version of events.
Snape watched as she went into St. Mungo’s from the secret entrance in the shop window. She ignored the curious stares of passersby like an expert. Satisfied that her consequences were no longer in his hands, he apparated to Grimmauld Place.
Technically speaking, there had been no meeting scheduled for that night. However, with recent events, he felt that, chances were, people might like to know what was going on. Unsurprisingly, he was right. Those that had heard of the new development were sitting at the kitchen table, discussing matters in harsh, low tones. They stood to attention almost immediately at Snape’s arrival.
‘You have news?’ Snape thought it would have been Dumbledore or Sirius asking the question, but interestingly enough, it was Remus.
‘Yes.’ He sat down in the closest empty seat and relayed his tale. Simultaneously, Remus and Sirius spoke the same curse word, earning them a reprimanding look from Molly.
Calm as always, Dumbledore looked upon them with a twinkle in his eye. ‘Kingsley?’
‘If I get to the office now, I might make it in time to be “informed.”’ He left almost immediately upon a nod from Dumbledore. Things were moving more quickly than anyone had expected.
‘He still thinks I’m soulless?’ Sirius asked, leaning forward.
‘What the Dark Lord thinks is beyond all our knowledge.’ There was a tone in his voice that most people decided to ignore, judging it best to stay out of the long-standing Black/Snape feud.
‘He says he thinks I’m still soulless?’ Sirius tried again, this time with teeth firmly gritted. He wasn’t going to start up a fight. Not now.
‘Yes.’
Sirius let out the breath he didn’t realise he’d been holding. It meant he’d have to stay in hiding a little while longer, but it also meant that Tonks wouldn’t be killed. At least, not just yet.
‘You don’t think it’s a little strange that he accepted her so quickly, though?’ asked Sirius.
‘For some time, the Dark Lord has been interested in finding a metamorphmagus, particularly after his Ministry spies became less and less reliable. To find one already entrenched in the Ministry is something he has decided is too good not pursue, even if it turns out she is not loyal. After all, he can always gain the relevant information from torture.’
Several people shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
‘Can’t say we didn’t see this coming,’ spoke Mad-Eye Moody, taking a generous swig from his hip flask. ‘Question now, though, is what do we do about it? Oh, and also, Mrs Malfoy is waiting outside the door. I think she’s interested in helping.’ He raised his flask to the table, smiling as the bright blue eye spun in its socket.