Chapter 261 - Love

"SIRIUS! Come down!"

As the screaming sound came again, Chris and Sirius both sprinted downstairs. Sirius jumped off the last two steps and entered the drawing-room. Chris entered after him.

Remus Lupin, a gaunt and grim-looking wizard with grey and brown hair was lying on the sofa, unconscious. His clothes were more ragged and patched and red with his blood.

Beside him was a crying Tonks, who was a young witch with a pale, heart-shaped face with different shades of hair according to her mood. Right now, her hair was mousy brown similar to her red puffy eyes and sad, ill-looking face.

Aurelia Cromwell was a witch same age as Sirius and Remus, but her oval face, soft brown eyes, pouty lips and golden hair (which was currently pinned on the back of her head) made her look as beautiful as a young Veela. But right now, she was looking anxious and Chris realized she was the one screaming.

"What happened?" 

Within seconds Sirius was crouched down beside the unconscious body of Remus and was checking his wounds.

"I was out with Dumbledore," said Aurelia rummaging through a drawer in a cupboard. "We had a meeting with the Minister, but before I could get to the meeting a saw Remus' Patronus."

"Was he conscious when you found him?" asked Sirius.

"Yes, he told me what happened," replied Aurelia. "He was following those Malgino's people as planned but he doubts someone alerted them and they attacked. He just got away in time and sent me — here!" She pulled out a potion vial from the drawer and quickly gave it to Sirius as he started muttering a few incantation pointing his wand at Remus' wounds.

"Oh God! This is all my fault!" Tonks sobbed while pouring the potion in Remus's mouth. "I shouldn't have — oh God! I can't lose another person."

Aurelia clasped Tonks' trembling hands.

"He is going to be okay," she said so firmly that Tonks visibly relaxed a little bit.

Chris quickly reached Tonks' side and rubbed her back comfortingly as Sirius finished his incantation and Remus' eyes jerked open.

"You okay, Moony?" Sirius asked.

Remus took in the situation going around him then slowly relaxed and closed his eyes again, nodding.

Sirius and Aurelia sighed, Tonks continued to sob but looked a little less hysterical and Chris let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

This wasn't the first time in the last two weeks Chris had seen this. Many Order members had come to the Grimmauld Place after a few dangerous encounters with the Death Eaters and Malgino's men, some slightly injured, some extremely injured. Those things made Chris realized the crucial situation they were currently in and every injured person makes her more determined than before to face Malgino.

After putting Remus to bed and calming Tonks down, Aurelia and Sirius sat down in the kitchen while Chris and Kreacher made dinner.

"Kreacher can do that alone, Chris," said Sirius.

"No that's fine," said Chris. "I want to cook."

"You have to talk to Dumbledore," said Aurelia getting Sirius' focus back to her. "We can't keep going on like this. Remus is being reckless, purposefully."

"You think so?" asked Sirius surprised.

"Yes," sighed Aurelia. "And Tonks definitely can't work like this, no matter what she says."

Sirius nodded.

"I will talk to Remus."

"Kreacher, serve the soup, please," said Chris to Kreacher.

Kreacher took the soup bowls and did something between a shrug and nod then walked to the table.

"I still can't believe he answers to your orders," said Sirius looking at Kreacher with wonder.

"It's not his fault that he was taught to hate the Muggle-borns," said Chris placing the bread and mashed potatoes on the table.

"Oh — I forgot to mention," said Aurelia looking at Chris. "Dumbledore is bringing Harry tomorrow."

"Seriously?" Sirius grinned broadly. "I will also go with Dumbledore —"

"You can't," interrupted Aurelia. "Dumbledore said, he has some work before he drops Harry off and he will need Harry on that work."

"What kind of work?" asked Chris curiously.

"You will know tomorrow," said Aurelia hastily.

"But Auri —" Sirius narrowed his eyes but Aurelia quickly got up.

"I will give some dinner to Tonks. I don't think she will come down to eat."

She walked out with a tray full of food.

"Do you think she didn't want to talk in front of me?" asked Chris. "It can be some serious work of Dumbledore and maybe I don't —"

"If Harry is joining Dumbledore then I don't think it's anything you shouldn't know," said Sirius thoughtfully.

"Remus is going to be okay, right?" Chris said biting a piece of bread.

"Yes, hardly three days," replied Sirius. "He will be good."

"Good."

"Well, what are you going to do after dinner? Going to hide inside those old books again?"

"Yeah," Chris laughed. "Your family library has some great book collection."

"I am glad at least someone found something interesting to do in this house," said Sirius then his face suddenly become unreadable. "My brother Regulus was very fond of that library too. He used to spend most of his day there. He knew a lot about the magical world. He was very curious about everything."

Chris wanted to ask if Sirius misses his brother, but knowing he will deny it, Chris let go of the topic and started eating silently. After a moment Aurelia came back and she started talking about the things going on in the Ministry.

At half-past one, Chris set down a very very advanced and complex potion book, which she had taken from the Black Library; and decided to get some sleep. After knowing the legend Chris was doing a lot of book reading which reminded her very much that she was becoming a Hermione.

Chris stretched on the big bed and was about to pull the covers over her head when her stomach growled. The early dinner had made her hungry again. Groaning, Chris got up and went down to the kitchen. She made some scrambled eggs, grabbed some bread and sat down on the table. Kreacher poked his head out, saw Chris then retreated back. Chris started to devour the food. After a few minutes, Tonks entered and looked very surprised to see Chris. Chris noticed her eyes were red and puffy because of all that crying.

"Hey!" Chris smiled at her. "You hungry too?"

"What? Oh — no," said Tonks setting down the almost untouched food tray.

"You didn't eat," frowned Chris. "You can't keep doing that Tonks. I am sure — Remus will come around, eventually."

"I don't know," said Tonks. "He is really stubborn."

"So do you," said Chris.

Tonks smiled weakly and sat down.

"Wait, I will warm your soup up then you can eat it," said Chris.

"It's fine Chris, you don't —"

But Chris had already snapped her fingers and a small fireball covered the soup bowl in Tonks' tray.

"Thanks," Tonks gave a small smile. "But you really shouldn't —"

"Just eat it, Tonks," said Chris smiling. "You are an Auror and the youngest member of Order of the Phoenix. We can't have you weak and starved and all that."

Tonks looked like she was about to protest but then with a sigh, she started sipping the hot soup. Chris was about to resume eating when she heard a clicking noise upstairs. She looked up and saw Tonks looking at her, she had heard it too. And judging by the expression of her face, she was thinking the same as Chris. Some other Order member could be injured or followed by some Death Eaters.

"I hope no one else is hurt," muttered Chris as they ran upstairs to the door.

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To be continued. . .