The Guardian

Karen- OOPS! For some reason, one I can't really explain, I got it into my head that Bill got injured at the end of book five, not as he had in book six. Thanks for the heads up and I am so very sorry I got that wrong.

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Training


“Wotcher, Harry!” Tonks greeted him at the door, stepping aside to let the younger wizard into the house.


“Hey, Tonks,” he murmured, walking into the small cottage that once upon a time she used to share with Lupin. “Uh…”


Her smile softened as she whispered, “I know why you’re here.” Taking a deep breath she motioned over to the small table that was in the kitchen. “Have a seat. Would you like something to drink or eat while I’m at it?”


“Water is fine,” he told her. “Uh, Snape sent me over here without any clue what to ask you.”


“He has his hands full at the moment,” Tonks said casually. “I was a part of Hermione’s training team. She was able to do it all thanks in large part to something that’s highly illegal…”


“A time turner,” he murmured.


She looked at him sharply. “How did you know?”


“Lucky guess,” he replied, trying not to blush.


This only made the woman across from him laugh. “I don’t know about that, but it doesn’t matter. Not anymore.” She went over to the cupboard and pulled out two glasses. “She would attend classes that were highly focused in the dark arts curses and hexes, potions, and defense against the dark arts. When she wasn’t in the classroom or lab, she was being physically trained in defense and magical fighting.” Tonks paused as she was pouring the water. “Gods, there were some days that she worked twenty hours straight. She didn’t even get weekends off. Moody’s doing I’m sure. ‘Evil doesn’t take a holiday!’ he would say.”


“How long did the training last?” he inquired.


“The first two weeks were the most intensive.” Her eyes welled up. “Professor Dumbledore tried to work with her the most during this time.” He stood up, taking the glasses from her and guided her over to the chairs, helping her to sit down. “He was getting weaker by the day and then the poison…” She looked at him. “You know what happened better than anyone.”


Harry thought back to the liquid that the professor drank in order to get one of the first huxcruxes. Harry nodded jerkily. “The poison. I remember. I tried…”


“He knew what he was about to die. The headmaster didn’t want you hurt. He saw it as for the best.”


The wizard took a deep breath and tried as he might to calm himself. “How long did she trained for?”


“Approximately three months, but the time she took training in real time thanks to the time turner was roughly half a year.” She took his hand. “Harry, you know you wouldn’t have been able to do what you were supposed to if it hadn’t of been for her, don’t you?”


“She killed Remus!”


Tonks’ face fell as she whispered, “I know. But I also know something else too.” The tears that had been threatening to spill before then finally did. Her lips were quivering as she said, “He’d gone feral.”


Puzzled he asked, “What does that mean?”


“It means he wasn’t himself anymore,” Tonks said hoarsely. “He didn’t remember who he was or care for that matter.” She cleared her throat and went on. “He-he was a part of the pack, a fully integrated member of his werewolf pack. Do you know what that means?” She leaned forward, her eyes going hard. “That he would do anything his pack leader told him to do. Anything at all.”


“But…”


“No buts, Harry!” she snapped. “He covered well those few times that he had to do so, but not all the time and certainly never around me.” Tonks shuttered. “I know in my heart that Hermione did what she had to do in order to protect the others around her. I know I did.”


“Tonks, what are you talking about?”


Her eyes closed, her body sagging against the chair back as she said, “He’s the one that beat me, Harry.”


“Remus? Are you sure?”


“Of course I’m sure!” she yelled. “He went into a rage because his dinner wasn’t on the table. I wasn’t being a proper mate to him he said. I needed to learn my place he said!” She jumped up from her seat, her arms going around herself as she paced. “I was the one to gouge his eye out. I did it to save my own life.” She stopped and looked at him. “He would have killed me. I could see it in his face.” She sobbed. “I have never been more scared in my life. If Shacklebolt didn’t show up when he did, he would have done more than shred my skin.”


***


Harry walked numbly towards the school. Why hadn’t he been told all of this before? Wasn’t he permitted to know what was going around him for his own safety? Obviously not, he thought angrily. But that was Dumbledore to a tee. He tried to take a deep breath through his teeth in order to calm himself, but this failed.


“My, my, my,” Hermione purred as she walked over to him. “Look what the cat brought in.” She went over to him, sniffling his clothes. “You’ve been to see Tonks. That makes sense.” She lifted his face, making him look her in the eyes. “Harry, why couldn’t you have listened to me? Or did you never believe in me at all?”


“Hermione!” Came from behind them, panicked voices filling the air.


Harry stood there staring into her hypnotic eyes, unable to look away.


“I came out here for some peace and hopefully a meal.” She stepped back from him. “The Forbidden Forrest may not look it, but there is a feast in there.” Hermione smiled weakly. “Harry?”


“What?”


“Run!” she screamed as she fought the need, even as her eyes went red and her fangs grew. “Run now!”

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