Chapter Text
The sheets were tangled around Remus as he woke slowly, the thin sliver of light from the partially open bathroom door acting as the only source of light in the room. He rolled over, noticing her side of the bed was empty, the clock on her side reading 3:07 in the morning.
He didn't have to be up early, he only had to be up whenever the kids woke up, but he often found himself waking up when his wife was getting ready for work or when she was about to leave, even though she was always silent at doing so. Somehow, despite her clumsy nature, she still managed to be quiet when it counted.
It wasn't something Remus ever imagined, being the one who stayed home all day while his wife worked.
However, four years after the war, they had no choice. Full moons began to take more of a toll and it had come to the point where Remus couldn't recover well following moons at Hogwarts, leaving him unable to teach for longer and longer. Tonks was actually the one who sat Remus down and 'gently' persuaded him into finally retiring and being a stay at home father. She had presented him with an impressive amount of notes and maths proving they'd be fine to survive on her salary and the gold left to her by Alastor if they tightened their budget just a little more(this was, however, before they had Evan and before Tonks got the promotion to Deputy Head Auror). It took him a few weeks to get comfortable with the situation, and now he was comfortable enough with their arrangement. He even babysat for others if they needed it, and Tonks took three days off around the moon to be at home, but he was managing them better without having to worry about classes or students.
"Why on Earth are you already awake?" Remus asked as the bathroom door opened and she entered their room, dressed only in a bra and jeans, her hair long and dark and curly- just like her mother's and Bellatrix's, a surprise to Remus, who thought the mousey brown had been her unmorphed hair. She seemed surprised to be addressed and, out of pure instinct, crossed her arms over her chest. She relaxed a moment later.
"We're running trials and transports all day, first one starts at five, but I should be home by one." Tonks said, walking over to the bed and leaning over him. "You should go back to sleep."
Remus wrapped an arm around her, pulling her down on top of him. He pressed a kiss to her neck as she protested with a laugh, breathing in the light scent of her perfume. "I sleep better when you're here." He admitted, while gently toying with the clasp of her bra. "I had no idea you had to be up so early, or I wouldn't have kept you up last night-"
"You didn't keep me up, we were busy." She said, pressing a kiss to his collarbone. The bedroom light flicked on, flickering for a few seconds before turning off. Tonks sighed, crawling off her husband. "Someone's having a nightmare. Bring her in here, she'll sleep better."
Remus nodded, getting up and clicking on the lamp next to the bed, retrieving his pajama bottoms from the floor where Tonks had dropped them the night before. Their youngest, Evan Hope, had began to show accidental magic- but only at nights, and only if she had a nightmare. It usually resulted in the family having to replace lightbulbs more often than normal families did. Andromeda had pointed out how lucky they were- Tonks' first bouts of accidental magic had burned the kitchen down over the course of a few months.
Remus padded down the hall to Evan's room. She was awake now, her hair a dark yellow. "I wasn't gonna wake you." Evan said in a pouty tone when Remus turned the light on. Her silver eyes, just like Tonks', stared up at him with tears in them.
"It's alright, sweetheart, we were up." Remus said. "How about you come to our room?"
"Is Mummy going to work?" Evan asked as Remus scooped the four year old up.
"Yeah, for a few hours." Remus said. "And then we have to go to Aunt Molly's for dinner, remember? That'll be nice, right?"
She nodded against Remus' shoulder. "I don't like when Mummy's gone."
"She'll be back this afternoon, she's not going away this time."
"Promise?" Evan asked as they entered the bedroom, where Tonks was wearing a tshirt now and was sitting on the edge of the bed, lacing her boots up.
"Mhm." Remus responded, placing Evan on the bed. "Right, Mum? Coming home tonight?"
Tonks turned to Evan. "I'll be back in ten hours, love." Tonks said, taking Evan's hands. "Remember how many fingers that is?"
Evan looked down at her hands, carefully counting on her hands. "This many?" She asked, holding up ten fingers.
"That's right. It's not so many, right?"
Evan looked at her hands again. "Guess not." She decided. Evan crawled back to the top of the bed, snuggling under the covers. Tonks stood, walking around to her side and pressinga kiss to her forehead. Tonks ruffled her hair, which had shifted from dark yellow to a soft brown- Remus' soft brown, but Tonks' gentle curls.
Remus smiled as he watched them. He had the perfect family, and always felt extremely lucky to have them. Both of their kids were starting to resemble Remus a great deal, Remus had even found pictures of his young self to show Tonks(not that it was hard, this cottage had belonged to his parents so his childhood pictures had been within arm's reach their entire marriage), but Evan still had Tonks' pale eyes.
"I'll see you all later, alright?" Tonks said, before straightening up and turning to give Remus a quick peck. "Get some more sleep, you two, I'll be back before you know it."
Remus and Evan did get more sleep after she left, but only a couple of hours, before Teddy came in and woke them. The three of them spent most of the morning running a few errands before returning home for lunch.
As they were sitting down and eating lunch, a letter swooped through the fireplace, and Remus recognised the Auror department's emblem immediately.
He opened the letter, figuring it was just some mundane thing. Maybe Tonks remembered something he needed to pick up. Maybe she was going to work late.
Remus had received letters from the Auror department before. Sometimes, it was simply his wife saying she'd be late. A few times, it was because a mission had gone wrong and she was injured.
It was always minor. Tiny things that he had grown to expect from her job. Spells that landed her in St Mungo's for a twenty four hour observatory period, minor injuries that left her unable to work for a few days to a few weeks.
This, however, was unexpected. He had never gotten a letter from the Head Auror that had given no information, other than to ask him to come to the department as quickly as possible.
Upon arriving at the Auror department, he noticed the family members of a few other Aurors were there.
Ginny was there, wearing her Quidditch robes. Augusta Longbottom was there, and a few other family members belonging to Aurors he had met in passing.
He exchanged a look with Andromeda, who he had contacted as soon as he got the letter. The kids were with Molly, they didn't need to be involved yet, Remus figured.
An Auror, who Remus recognised as Georgio Brennen, escorted everyone into a large conference room, and it was clear no one knew what was happening. The click of the door shutting behind Brennen as he left seemed to make everyone a little nervous.
"I didn't even know Neville was working today, he told me he was taking Hannah to dinner later." Augusta was saying to another woman. That other woman was Savage's new wife, Remus was sure. They had briefly met at a Christmas party.
"Remus, do you know anything?" Ginny asked, approaching them. "Harry didn't mention any missions today..."
Remus shook his head. "I'm sorry, I don't." Remus said. "Dora didn't say anything. I thought they were running trials today."
Ginny frowned, clearly worried. They were saved from any more conversation by the door opening, and Head Auror John Dawlish entered.
"I know you're all wondering why we contacted you, and I'm going to give you what little information we have." Dawlish said, once everyone was quiet. "Earlier today, seven of my Aurors transported five Death Eater enthusiasts to Azkaban prison. From what I understand, there has been a mutiny, orchestrated by one of the Aurors in the group. The only information I have is that my Aurors are currently unarmed in Azkaban with Death Eaters. The last communication I have is from Auror Lupin, who alerted me through our communication tokens that the only wands at Azkaban are currently in the hands of Death Eaters. Since Auror Lupin's communication, our lockdown enchantments have sealed the prison off. We are unable to contact any Auror or get to the island and unfortunately, I've been unable to get any response from any of the tokens in the hour since Auror Lupin's. I'm afraid it will take some time to get through the lockdown enchantments."
Remus felt like the floor had dropped from beneath him.
"We are more than willing to allow you to stay here in the department while we wait for updates and work to breach the island. All seven of the rotating Apparition points have been disabled, which is concerning. Only myself and my Deputy know those points, and for them to be to be disabled this early tells me-"
"Are you implying my daughter did this?" Andromeda asked loudly. "Of all people-"
"I am not implying anything, Mrs Tonks. There are a number of ways those locations would have been revealed and disabled but most other ways would raise an alarm. It is a possibility that Auror Lupin simply disabled them earlier than scheduled."
Somehow, Remus wished Dawlish had been accusing Tonks- the other possibilities seemed worse, in a way.
The door opened and another Draco entered. "Head Auror Dawlish, Thomas managed to send a Patronus. They must have gotten a wand." Draco said, handing a piece of parchment to Dawlish.
Dawlish read it, looking at Draco. "Two? He said two are down?"
Draco nodded tensely. "Yes, he did, sir. Didn't say who."
Harry Potter had been an Auror, officially, since December of 2001. He had been trained by Tonks, despite her being 'out of commission' due to Teddy's birth. She had trained him while waiting for the Auror department (then run by Proudfoot), to agree to reinstate her.
The fact they let her train Harry and treated it as official training had to be a good sign, and she was reinstated when Harry finished his training.
The following years saw the Auror department changing hands three times. Robards retired in 2000, so Proudfoot moved up and became Head of Magical Law Enforcement. Williamson then ascended to the role of Head Auror, only to retire from the Ministry completely a year later.
This had landed John Dawlish in the role of Head Auror. Proudfoot retired as well, in 2003, and a new Head of Magical Law Enforcement was elected from a different department altogether- Hermione, who had been working her way up quickly. As soon as she was Head of the MLE, she began to change certain procedures in the Auror department. The communication coins from DA were brought back, replacing the old method of communication, which had relied on Aurors knowing how to use Transfiguration to send memos to the Ministry with no physical supplies in front of them.
As soon as Dawlish landed the job, talk turned to who would replace him, and Dawlish made his intentions clear- Tonks would be his Deputy, and take over once Dawlish stepped down, because of her role in the Order and the work she put in to help reform the Auror department. That just left the question of who would be in line under Tonks, and many believed she would favour the oldest and most experienced Aurors.
A few claimed she'd pick someone she was close to, regardless of whether or not they were qualified for the role.
It became clear that she would keep her choice silent until she took over for Dawlish, which didn't seem like it would be any time soon.
Although she was Deputy, she still worked as Harry's partner. Work hours were long, so they often spent long stretches of time together. Harry was very used to her at this point. He trusted her.
That was why he never really minded when they had to transport prisoners to Azkaban. The dementors were gone, and she was always with him. As Deputy, she had control over the Apparition points on the island, which made it feel safer.
They always went to work together as Harry and Ginny's flat was a quick Apparition away from the cottage, where he could use their Floo. As partners, their shifts were always the same unless one was on leave for one reason or the other.
He entered the dark kitchen carefully and quietly, not wanting to wake the kids. It seemed Tonks was trying to avoid the same, as she crept into the kitchen a moment later. "You know, you're the only person on this planet who is allowed to prowl around my kitchen in the dark." Tonks commented.
"Sirius doesn't get the honour?"
"Absolutely not, because I know he'd be up to no good if he were doing so." Tonks whispered.
"Everyone still asleep?"
"Should be soon, Evan woke up but she's in our bed now." Tonks said. She picked up a pile of files from the table. "Here, take these."
Harry immediately obeyed, accepting the armful of files from her as she picked up a few more. She picked up the jar of Floo Powder, offering it to him before vanishing through the flames. Harry followed to find her waiting, as she always did.
"So, what's going on?" Tonks asked as they walked through the quiet atrium.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked, frowning.
"I mean, you've been distracted the last couple of days. Something's up." She said. "If you're distracted or if something is wrong, you can go home. I'll fill your spot on the transport."
Harry shook his head. "I'm fine, it'll be fine."
"I don't believe you." She said as they entered a lift. "From your tone, you also don't believe it."
Harry shrugged as the lift lurched upwards. He wondered if he'd ever get used to the feeling of how the lifts moved.
"Harry..."
"I just hate that we're still finding people who support the Death Eaters."
"Well, if we weren't, we'd be out of jobs." Tonks said. "Are you sure you'll be fine? I can ask Draco."
"No, no, I'm sure. Draco doesn't do Azkaban transports." Harry said. Draco had qualified as an Auror in 2005, after a slightly longer training period. Draco had handled the skepticism behind his career choice with a surprising amount of grace and had gone through all of the extra steps laid out by Dawlish to ensure he was doing it for the right reason(which had included an entire extra year of training and tests). After a year or so, Harry and Draco had begun to regard each other with a cool respect. They'd likely never be overly friendly but they could at least acknowledge each other without venom. Draco and Tonks' relationship was equally lukewarm, but they saw each other a little more because their mothers had slowly rekindled a sisterly relationship after Lucius was arrested.
It would be unfair to ask Draco to run an Azkaban transport. The prisoners would likely taunt him or he might see his own father, and Harry wouldn't put him in that position.
"No, it's fine." Harry said. "It'll be fine, a quick in and out before lunch."
Tonks gave him a nod. "If you're sure, then."
"I am."
Besides, Harry really did feel better after finally talking it out with someone. The trials were all fast, and the Aurors were running the first transport by nine. Seven of them were transporting five Death Eater enthusiasts to the prison, after all were found guilty following a very fast trial. Death Eater enthusiasts were always an issue for the Ministry now that almost every known Death Eater had been arrested or killed since the end of the war and while the enthusiasts didn't cause as much damage as the actual Death Eaters had, they were still enough of a nuisance to take up a lot of the Auror department's time.
Usually transports were easy. In and out of the prison in half an hour, even on days Tonks or Dawlish had to remove and create new Apparition points.
It was honestly the easiest part of the job and probably the safest.
Harry never imagined he'd be locked in a cell on the abandoned side of the prison, one of the Ministry's Aurors helping Death Eaters.
Penham had worked for the Ministry nearly as long as Tonks had, and no one ever suspected he'd turn on them.
But, he did.
As soon as they arrived with the prisoners, Penham had gone to put one of the new prisoners in a cell while Tonks disabled the Apparition points, only for Penham to unlock every cell on that row. It had been a fight of fourteen against five(six when Tonks rushed into the fray), and the Death Eaters had managed to get wands(likely smuggled in by Penham). Once they had gotten loose and outnumbered the Aurors, it continued to go downhill. Penham had unlocked the cells for almost every known Death Eater and despite their best attempts at subduing the Death Eaters, they were overtaken.
At some point during the struggle, Laurel, who had been an Auror for a few decades now, had been killed. Harry looked around the cell they were in now. Neville and Dean were part of the transport as well, which placed four Order and Dumbledore's Army members in the direct path of Death Eaters. Laurel and Savage had also joined them and while not Order members or part of Dumbledore's Army, had made their feelings on Death Eaters quite clear. Now Laurel was dead, and there were only five Aurors against however many Death Eaters were now loose. Harry had counted at least twenty so far.
The remaining Aurors had all been together until a moment before, when Tonks had been taken from the cell by Penham.
It was difficult, they were trying to plan some kind of escape but with Penham and the others so close, it simply wasn't possible without being overheard.
Penham looked down at the communication coins in his hand. "Dawlish wants a progress report. Lupin, tell him everything is fine." He walked forward, holding her coin out.
"They're going to know either way." Tonks said. "When we don't return-"
"By then, you lot will be dead and we'll be gone. Give them the all clear."
"And where are you going to go? I've disabled the Apparition points, without Dawlish or myself activating more, no one is going anywhere."
"Give Dawlish the all clear."
"And if I don't? You said it yourself, you're going to kill us, so why would I make it easier on you?"
"I imagine Greyback has a few ideas on what we can do if you continue to refuse." Penham said. Greyback's deep chuckle sent shivers down Harry's spine.
"I might have something." Greyback said, stepping closer and tugging at the collar on Tonks' robes.
"Get off of me." She snarled, slapping his hands away.
"Oh, don't be so unkind, my hands might find themselves in more delicate areas soon enough."
"Give me the coin." Tonks demanded, turning to Penham.
Tonks took the coin, and he handed her wand back to her. Aware of the other wands pointed at her and Greyback's presence, she looked like she was being careful.
Penham was standing next to her, peering down at the coin. Penham narrowed his eyes, and Harry wondered what Tonks had written. "You take that last part out." He growled.
"Certainly." She said, tapping the coin with her wand. The coin glowed for a moment before the glow vanished, alerting them it had been sent. "Whoops."
His fist moved quickly and connected with her face, sending her stumbling back. The coin slipped through her fingers but she raised her wand just as Penham grabbed at her arm. They wrestled over the wand, getting closer and closer to the crumbled gap in the wall that had been left by the last big breakout. Penham brought his knee up, catching Tonks in the stomach and finally wrestling her wand from her grip as she retched violently.
Penham tossed her wand aside and grabbed her by her hair, pushing her towards the crumbled wall. She reached up, trying to free her hair from his fists.
He pulled her into a standing position, facing her towards the others, holding her hair tightly, blood pouring from her nose. "As much as I would have enjoyed Auror Lupin being defiled and humiliated by the lot of you, we don't have the time. It's a shame for you most of all, Greyback. Maybe you can get your proper revenge against Lupin, they've got a daughter now. That should be fun for you."
"You say it as if I wasn't planning that already." Greyback said, walking forward, standing extremely close to Tonks again. "I was going to go for both the bitch and the kids. Make sure Lupin knew I was back. Bet you would have liked it, too. I always figured a bitch like you would have liked it rough." Greyback ran a finger over Tonks' cheek, and Harry could see the disgust in her eyes. She spit at him, blood splattering across his face. Greyback laughed and stepped back before speaking again. "Well, at least there's still your daughter. I like them younger and fresh, anyway."
Harry saw Tonks' eyes widen momentarily before Penham shoved her.