(no subject)

[clumsy_auror]

*Tonks opens her eyes, vision still swimming, and assesses the situation.

Darkened room.

No windows.

One door.

--Bill Weasley leaning against the wall.


She tries to sit up, and a wave of nausea hits her.*

Oh, buggerfuck.

Comments

[thecoolone]

"Tonks." Bill rushes to her side. "Tonks, you're all right. You're all right. I've got you now. It's me, Bill. I followed you to Hogsmeade. I've got you."

He holds her until she can sit up straight again, speaking very quickly and very softly. "I've done this before with them. I've done it. So listen to me now: don't let them in. Don't let them into your thoughts. Find a place in your mind that's safe and dwell there. Don't let them touch you. Don't let them learn your greatest weakness or your greatest love."

At a sudden sound by the door he stops, snapping to attention, but it passes. "They're going to play games, they're going to use Unforgivable curses, they're going to do whatever it takes. If I could get past it last time, so can you. You're braver than I am, and stronger, and the only advantage I have is that I've done this before. You'll be fine. You'll be fine."

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.

[clumsy_auror]

Bill. Where-- shit.

*She takes a deep breath, willing herself not to throw up, and clenches his hand.*

Okay. We're okay. Are you hurt?

[thecoolone]

"No." He spits the word out quickly as the doorknob rattles, but again it stops. "See, they've begun playing already. The bigger question is this: are you hurt? Fleur told me, and when I saw you leaving I thought... I have no bloody idea what I thought other than if that was my sister, I'd want to keep an eye on her in her condition and so..."

He squeezes her hand. "And so here we are. Tell me you're all right?"

He has no wand. He can't scan her for injuries. Any self-defence will be pure... nerve.

[clumsy_auror]

*She tenses at the noise at the door, but nods.*

Feel like shit, to be perfectly frank. Stunner right in the fucking chest.

*Her free hand drifts down to her abdomen, almost involuntarily.*

Think the baby's okay. No sharp pains.

[thecoolone]

His hand follows hers, as if that could reassure him. He knows no sharp pains is a good thing and then, suddenly realising what he's done, he moves his hand away, running it through his hair instead. "They can't find out. Your baby... they can't find out."

That child will survive, if it's the last thing I make sure of on this plane of existence. It has to. It has to.

The baby's already become a symbol of their freedom to him, and Bill decides -- rashly, perhaps -- that so long as that baby is all right, Tonks will be all right. And so long as she's all right, he'll accept whatever else has to happen.

"Listen, my friend. I don't know where we are or how long we'll be here together. Have faith that I will not leave without you. I'll see to it that you get back home. Back to Bernard."

[clumsy_auror]

No. They won't find out. Occlumency -- I'm not the best, but I'm good enough.

*Tonks is shaking, ever so slightly, as the reality of their situation sinks in.*

Have to get home. We have to get home, they'll be waiting, I can't even imagine what-- Bernard--

*her voice breaks*

[thecoolone]

Or Fleur.

"Stand with me, Tonks. Stand up. Let's walk."

There's method behind this madness, and as they walk, Bill counts the paces. Six long strides on this wall, eight on the one across from the door, then six again, then three to the door and one stride on the other side of the door. "Memorise these footfalls, Tonks. If we know how many paces it is from any point in this room to any other, we stand a chance at being able to use that knowledge to our advantage."

It didn't help him last time, but at least it kept him occupied.

"I will not let you be here long, Tonks. I promise." Again, they make their way around the room confirming the number of steps, the distances. "Last time, no one saw them take me. This time we were in the middle of Hogsmeade. I'm certain people know. I'm certain it's reported, and I'm certain a plan is already being worked."

Whether or not he's as confident as he sounds is yet to be determined.

"They want information. Their method of extracting it isn't pleasant. You've got Occlumency; I've got my wits. Maybe that will be enough. If we can stall them long enough, they won't find out anything from either of us. And if they don't find what they're looking for, they'll grow bored."

He wants to have faith. He wants it in the worst way.

He doesn't want to be here.

[clumsy_auror]

*Tonks holds his hand tightly as they walk -- one two three what have I done four five six this is all my fault -- and tries to focus on his words, seeking out the logic he offers her.*

And if they get bored, we're fucked.

*Her voice is slightly more even.

But not by much.*

[thecoolone]

"No. If they get bored, we've bought ourselves time, love. Time. They think that's their greatest weapon but it's not; it's ours. Tell me..." Bill stops walking and places his hands on her shoulders. The room is dark and it's hard to see much, but he can see her face and read her eyes, and he sees the panic in them and the disbelief.

"...how much Arithmancy do you know?"

Six by eight by six by three by one. He reaches up but cannot touch the ceiling; it's too tall. By >2m. There is magic in numbers. There is magic in them that needs no wand to work. It's simply a question of deciphering the formula. Nature follows form.

[clumsy_auror]

*She draws in a deep breath, grounding herself, and watches as he reaches up.*

Not much, I'm afraid. Just the basics.

*a curious look*

What're you thinking, Bill?

[thecoolone]

Again, his voice is rapid and hushed. "Have you seen me working on maps of Egypt at the bar?"

He doesn't wait for the answer, they haven't the time. "They don't Apparate in groups, they use gridlines and vortices. They're portals: I've been working at deciphering their magic and locations and sending the information to Dumbledore. I'd just been finishing mapping them out for Egypt, but it's my suspicion that these vortices or portals or vortexes or whatever term you want to use are also centred in places where magic is very strong."

She's smart, she'll get this next part without even having to say it. But as he knows, time is short, so he continues.

"Like Hogsmeade. If Dumbledore follows on with what I've been sending him, and if in this confusion anyone takes the time to assess it, they might be able to find us. They might know where we've been taken... if there's a vortex in Hogsmeade and the magic was properly aligned at the time we were there."

It's a long shot and he knows it, but it's a far sight better than holding no hope at all.

[clumsy_auror]

*She nods slowly, absorbing all of this, and bites her thumbnail.*

--Is it something that comes and goes, with time? Or might it have been covered up by other spell signatures, from the battle?

[thecoolone]

"I only have theories at this point; I've not been able to test them... nor have I wanted to by myself. I believe that the gridlines connecting portals are there all the time, and are unnoticed until something sets them off: an excess of magic, perhaps, or planetary alignment, or a force of shift in the echoes of the cosmos or... the right amount of butterbeer poured at The Leaky Cauldron on a Tuesday afternoon when the air is 62% humid; I've no idea. But as I said, I've been passing along my findings to Albus and if anyone can figure out what sets the magic into action, he can... or he'll know who can. We have to trust in him and we have to have faith. I know I do, Tonks. Hold onto that. Hold onto that possibility."

Briefly, he hugs her. "We'll get you back to Bernard and Sunny. I promise you, we will."

[clumsy_auror]

*Tonks' face falls a little at the mention of Bernard and Sunny, but she nods and reaches out to hug him in return, when--

Her hand.

She holds it up to her face.*



They took it.

[thecoolone]

"Took what, Tonks?"

Then he realises: they took her ring.

His jaw tightens.

"And we'll get that back for you as well."

One more promise he fully intends to keep. "Tonks, love, listen to me. It's not you versus them. It's us together, a pair, a team. We're an army of two. We can beat them."

He needs to get back. Just as badly as she needs to get back to Bernard and Sunny, he needs to get back to Fleur.

[clumsy_auror]

*An unsteady nod, as Tonks brushes away a few tears that have slipped down her cheeks. Her voice is a choked whisper, but there's steel in her grey eyes.*

We will. I know.

Glad you're here, Bill.

[thecoolone]

He lets out a small, bitter laugh. "I'm glad we're here together. We need to be strong, you and I. We need to be strong for Bernard and Sunny and Fleur. It won't do to have anyone rescue us if we're broken."

Bill's about to say more but then there is a rather louder sound -- footsteps outside -- and the handle turns and the door opens.

"Well, well, isn't this a cosy sight. One of the Ministry's finest and one who slipped through the cracks before. Are you enjoying our hospitality so far, Miss Tonks? Mr Weasley?"

It's impossible to tell if the person behind the mask is male or female, old or young. But whoever it is draws out a wand and holds it forward. "Now who's first?"

It's a game, Tonks. Remember, it's just a bloody endless horrible game.

[clumsy_auror]

*Tonks' eyes harden still further and she pales with rage. She opens her mouth to snap a retort but stops herself short.

Not the time, Nymphadora. This is not the fucking time to be baiting Death Eaters.

It's not just you anymore.

So instead, she takes Bill's hand again, her back straight, and looks at the Death Eater with a steady gaze.

She says nothing.*

[thecoolone]

Bill squeezes her hand briefly.

He swallows hard.

Touch her and die.

He moves forward, a steely smile on his face. "Hullo, I'm Bill. What did you have in mind?"

[clumsy_auror]

A short laugh, as the Death Eater moves around Bill, keeping Tonks in his line of sight.

"Well, let's think. You're the hostages. We're the captors. Only a few reasons why you wouldn't be dead yet, eh?"

Tonks lifts her chin slightly. "We're not telling you anything."

[thecoolone]

Bill follows, staying between the Death Eater and Tonks. I will not let you be hurt, Tonks. I will not let them hurt the baby. "Hostages? What an outdated notion. Certainly you're not using us as bargaining chips."

He sets his hands on his hips, all raw bravado, and laughs; it echoes round the empty room. "What a coward you are. Hiding behind a mask like a child looking through his parents' collection of forbidden magazines."

If he angers the Death Eater enough, he'll take the focus away from Tonks. And so he reaches forward. "Too frightened to take off the mask? Afraid you're someone we might know?"

[clumsy_auror]

Quick as lightening, there's a shower of sparks and an angry red burn on Bill's hand. Tonks flinches.

"Fuck off, Weasley," the Death Eater snarls, more annoyed than unnerved, still. "You're more trouble than you're worth, I'd say, but then again it's not up to me, what happens to you, now is it?"

[thecoolone]

"Why the fuck not?" Bill doesn't touch his hand where it's burnt and he doesn't flinch. He moves forward until he's barely an inch away from the mask. "You have to take orders, like some bloody underling? That's pathetic. That's so fucking pathetic. I wouldn't stand for it for a moment."

If he can hold the Death Eater here and if Tonks can get nearer without attracting attention and the Death Eater doesn't give him a healthy dose of the Cruciatus Curse immediately -- which he won't because he's an underling -- they stand a fairly good chance at disarming this lone Death Eater.

It's a lot of ifs. But any chance is better than none, and any action is better than sitting back and waiting to be tortured.

Or killed.

[clumsy_auror]

Tonks knows exactly what Bill's doing, though she doesn't especially know that it's going to work.

She edges closer. Closer.

[thecoolone]

He sees her out of the corner of his eye: Bill reaches forward and grabs the Death Eater by the mask, forcing it -- him? yes, him -- to focus right here, right now, right where Bill wants him to. His voice is low and steely. "Look, you son of a bitch, if you're going to do something, go ahead and do it now. I'm not interested in being played with. Go ahead, do your worst. Do it. I'm ready. What's the worst you can do, kill me? That makes me useless and it makes you a traitor to your master. So go ahead: I know what happens next. Just try. Just try."

If Tonks can just get close enough, she'll have the end of the Death Eater's wand because the Death Eater is being careless. He's letting himself be manipulated. He's letting himself be distracted.

"What are you waiting for?"

[clumsy_auror]

Closer... closer... thank Merlin there's nothing to trip on (not that you need it says the fond Bernard-voice in her head)...

...And then she reaches up, snake-strike (Crowley oh God) fast and forces the wand out of the Death Eater's grasp, whirling him around and slamming him into the wall, face-first.

Tonks pins him securely, and looks back at Bill as the Death Eater cries out in surprise and struggles to get free.

What the fuck do we do now?

[thecoolone]

You're the Auror. I'm just a bloody curse-breaker. Think, Bill, Think.

Bill does the only thing he can, the only thing within his power: he reaches back and punches the Death Eater hard, right in the jaw.

The Death Eater crumbles to the ground like a broken cookie.

"The door." Bill's eyes are wide, and now his left hand does cover his right: the injury, magical in nature, has never stopped burning. In fact, he's never felt a burn quite like this one and were he not running on pure adrenaline he'd probably drop to his own knees and howl in agony.

[clumsy_auror]

Tonks immediately turns and points the wand at the door. It's not hers, and therefore a little slow to respond, but the door closes.

She turns to Bill, shaking slightly. "Fuck, c'mere." Gingerly, she takes his hand in hers and touches the wand tip to the burn, muttering a healing spell.

[thecoolone]

"Don't worry about me: bind that thing." He nods to the Death Eater on the floor but privately is incredibly grateful for the spell Tonks does on his hand.

Time, time, time: we've just bought ourselves time. If only the time it takes for anyone else to bother to come investigate.

Then a thought hits, and though it's not particularly cheery, it's important. "Tonks... we might not be the only captives. Who else was there, in Hogsmeade -- do you know?"

If there are others, they might be able to join them.

From here on in, he knows, it's pure guts that will lead them. He's never been a soldier before, but he knows there's nothing more potent than trial by fire.

He's a warrior now, like it or not.

[clumsy_auror]

Tonks binds the Death Eater securely with ropes from the wand -- did we just seal our doom? -- and thinks.

"Others from the Ministry. Aurors and MLES officials. But most everyone was up at the match. There were only a handful of us in the village."

She sighs heavily. "Dunno about the villagers, though. Your guess is as good as mine."

[thecoolone]

Bill nods: this is all new territory for him. Last time he was alone and any actions he took couldn't hurt anybody else.

Now there's Tonks to consider.

"What do you suppose is on the other side of the door?" What he wouldn't give just now for a pair of his brothers' extendable ears.

"Do you think we dare? I'm not good at sitting and waiting." Still, he kneels and frisks the Death Eater quickly in vain hopes that he might have Tonks's ring on him as bait.

No such luck. Standing again, he moves to the door and puts his ear to it, listening fervently. He hears nothing.

[clumsy_auror]

"If they're smart? There'll be guards at either end of the corridor. Probably more than one. If they're really smart, there's someone else waiting outside the door. If they're geniuses, they're listening to us right now with a communicator spell."

Tonks smooths her hand over the wall, testing it.

"Well, let's look at it this way -- what happens to us if we stay in here, with him?"

[thecoolone]

"This isn't where I was held last time, Tonks: I've no idea what happens. We can do that, but I'm not good at waiting. We can use him as a shield. We can take the time to see who he is. We can put shielding charms on the door to protect ourselves." He glances from her to the Death Eater on the floor, still out cold.

"Look, love, I don't know what will happen. I'm a curse-breaker, and I only have experience with this type of thing by unhappy coincidence. You're the auror: what does your training tell you?"

[clumsy_auror]

She crosses her arms and looks up at him, her expression frank.

"If they find us here, with him, it's not going to be pretty. If we get out..."

Tonks bites her lip.

"Okay, we've got one wand, and I'm pretty good with hand-to-hand, and you're bloody strong, so."

Taking a deep breath, she spreads her arms wide.

"What d'you think? Wanna give it a go?"

[thecoolone]

It's like breaking into a tomb with all its unknowns: who or what will be guarding it? Animate or inanimate? Spells, glamours, or beasts with fangs? Where are the traps? What are the odds? And where is the backup?

He considers all of this, and then he meets Tonks squarely, studying her eyes.

And he smiles.

"Yes. You take the wand."

I'll take my chances.

"Together?" He reaches his hand to the doorknob.

[clumsy_auror]

Tonks lightly tosses the wand from one hand to the other and back.

She looks ready, and steadily more determined.

"You're on, mate."

With one final grin at each other, Bill opens the door, and the two of them disappear into the hallway.