A surprising Meet
Chapter 5
Remus didn’t have to wait for the next meeting before seeing Tonks again. She was walking through Diagon alley, with another Auror though not Kingsley he noted. It was someone he didn’t recognise. They appeared to be a deep discussion before he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. He saw the wizard point his wand at the Aurors and utter “expelliarmus”. Before he could react, he saw Tonks draw her wand, a shield appeared in front of them and the spell bounced harmlessly off it.
“Stop!” She commanded giving him a few seconds to comply, pointing her wand at him “Stupify”
The wizard fell to the ground. Tonk’s partner looked at her.
“Quick draw” He complimented
“Let's check him out. Secure the area. I’ll see what our friend wants” Tonks said, directing her partner to the scene.
He nodded and started to secure the area, while Tonks approached the apprehended wizard
“Who are you? What were you thinking?” She asked lifting the spell to allow him to speak
“I wasn’t doing nothing wrong!” he exclaimed
“Shooting a spell at two Aurors, unprovoked, is a serious offence.” She continued
“I thought you were going to arrest me, OK. I was just getting a potion.” He spoke, sounding distressed.
“What potion?” Tonks demanded
“Wolfsbane” He explained eye dropping to the floor
“That still doesn’t explain why you fired at us?” She repeated
“I was told…that if an Auror see’s you buying Wolfsbane, they can arrest you, force you to register and they’ll do other unspeakable things to Werewolves. I panicked. I didn’t use any unforgivable curses” He begged “I was scared!”
“Who told you that?” Tonks said “By Law, We have no power to stop you buying the potion. If you stole it, then we would have a problem and we would have to do something.”
“Another Werewolf told me that, I don’t know who. I’ve got the money in my bag.”
Tonks knelt down and withdrew a large sack of coins
“How much is here?” She asked
“50 Galleons, it’s half now to secure it, then half when you collect” He said quietly
“100 galleons? I hadn’t realised the potions were that expensive. What’s your name?” Tonks asked, though she shouldn't be surprised. Wolfsbane was incredibly hard to brew.
“Wesley Benghook” The man answered
“Right Wesley, unfortunately because you attacked Auror’s unprovoked, I am required to take you in, however I can explain your circumstances. Whoever told you we’d arrest you, wasn’t looking out for you. I think they were out to scare you and get you in trouble with us or get you to hurt one of us.”
The man stood with Tonks' help and she placed a pair of handcuffs on him.
“Sorry, standard procedure.” Tonks apologised. She did feel a little bad. He seemed young and genuinely scared.
“Besides you are trying your best not to hurt anyone which is another reason we wouldn’t arrest you. We would if you were running around on a full moon intending to maim and kill people”
“I’m sorry” He said walking with Tonks.
As they were leaving, a blur rushed past Tonks, nearly slamming her into the floor. She went down, taking Wesley with her and placing a shield over him, her body responding to the threat before her mind. Unfortunately her partner wasn't so lucky and was knocked flying, landing unconscious. Tonks was on her feet in seconds, wand drawn pointing at the wizard.
“STOP!” She commanded “I'm an Auror. Put your wand away!”
His answer was to throw a spell at her, and Lupin saw her face change, a voiceless shield appeared around her before she was firing a spell at him which he dodged and returned fire. Lupin saw Tonks trying to keep an eye on everything, her unconscious partner, her prisoner and the assailant. She was holding her own, until he saw another spell come flying from behind Tonks, who somehow managed to duck it, by sheer luck Lupin thought. She re positioned so she wasn't directly in the middle, but Lupin could see her at a disadvantage. He threw a spell at one of the assailants, drawing their attention though he couldn't see where it was coming from. He dodged a spell thrown at him, but it was enough time for Tonks to fire a spell and knock the original wizard unconscious. She didn't seem surprised that help had arrived. Tonks moved towards the prisoner and her colleague, firing up a shield while Lupin attempted to draw out the attacker, who suddenly stopped firing and he heard the familiar pop of apparation.
“Bugger” Said Tonks “Hey, can you check on Wesley” she said before turning to her colleague. Wesley was lying down, but appeared unharmed. Tonks went over to her fallen colleague
“Ryder? Ryder?!” She said before pointing her wand at him uttering a spell under her breath, sighed in relief before turning to Lupin.
“Just knocked out, he'll come round shortly. Wesley you OK?
“Yes” He said sitting up
She cast a patronus asking for some support.
“Thanks, for finally deciding to help. What took you so long?” She asked still scanning the scene, not trusting anyone else to keep them safe. Lupin couldn't really blame her.
“You knew I was there?” He said looking at her with puzzlement.
“I was aware of you when I arrested Wesley.” She said with a smile “Remember who my mentor was? Constant Vigilance!”.
Lupin nodded remembering one of Moody's favourite lines and the one he would continue to use. To be fair most of the order could recite it in their sleep.
“You were dealing with it fine, then the odds changed and I don't know how you missed that spell behind you” Lupin said with wonderment
“You feel a vibration in the air before a spell hits, focus on that and you can take a pretty good guess where a spell is coming from. Moody blind folded me once for training, not as fun as it sounds and shot random spells that he expected me to dodge. After being hit a few times, I realised what was happening. Back up is coming. Did you see anything distinguishable about the other? He was on a dark cloak and mask, though not like a death eater mask but I didn’t see much else”
“He was very quick and quiet, normally I can hear things when people are further away but no. I couldn't tell you anything else. I’d say someone experienced though”
“I hoped it was just me, no worries.” Tonks answered “No doubt I did something wrong”
“Maybe you can ask his fallen colleague?” Lupin said, pointing to the man's unconscious form.
“I know the type, he won’t talk” Tonks said “As I'm the arresting Auror I won't be able to question him first.” She sighed “At least I can try to help Wesley, Maybe he has an idea as to who it could have been.”
She stood next to Wesley as a pop was heard.
Two other Aurors showed up and Tonks explained the situation. They did go to question Lupin, but Tonks said he had helped her and they took a statement and backed off much to Remus’s relief as he wasn’t a fan of the ministry or Aurors, though he respected what they did.
“Thanks for waiting, you didn't have to” She said with a smile as she turned to look at him
“No problem,” Lupin answered.
Lupin left and Tonks completed her work, further intrigued by Lupin. The mysterious Werewolf and scholar. She hadn't realised that Lupin was rather more intrigued by her than he previously been. He decided he'd speak to her at the meeting and find out more about this unique, young witch who had captured his attention.