Ted closed the door and approached. Gideon shimmered into visibility beside them.
Ted scooped up his daughter, speaking softly to her. "Dora, these are our friends. They're here to help us tonight. But you need to be a brave girl, alright? If you hear any strange noises, go with Mummy to the basement right away."
Tonks' expression turned serious. She nodded, her hair shifting to a deep brown. "I'll protect Mummy," she said in a small but resolute voice. Andromeda stepped forward, gently kissing her daughter's forehead.
"Alright," Moody growled, clearing his throat. "We need to set up defenses immediately. Gideon, take Ted to check the back door and windows. Frank, you're with me to cast perimeter wards."
"What about us?" Lily asked, unable to hold back, her wand gripped tightly in her hand.
"You guard Andromeda and Nymphadora," Moody said. "You're the backup, just in case. This is your first real fight."
Lily bit her lip and nodded. Severus, meanwhile, silently scanned the room, noting objects that could be used to their advantage.
The Order of the Phoenix sprang into action. Moody and Frank cloaked themselves in invisibility again, moving silently around the house's perimeter, casting protective and alarm spells with practiced precision.
Inside, Tonks watched the adults bustle about, her hair cycling through colors. Severus noticed the shifts, a quiet marvel amid the tension.
"When do you think they'll come?" Lily whispered.
"Any moment now, don't you think?" Severus replied softly. "But don't worry. With Moody and the others here, we just need to do our part."
When Moody and Frank reappeared, Gideon and Ted had finished securing the rear of the house.
Time crawled by, the atmosphere growing heavier with each passing second.
The adults took turns standing watch, while the others tried to act normal to keep young Tonks calm. Ted attempted to distract his daughter with a storybook, but even he struggled to focus. Andromeda prepared a simple dinner, but hardly anyone touched it.
Not long after night fell, Moody stiffened suddenly. "They're here," he rasped, his eyes fixed on the front door. "Three of them, approaching from the east."
Everyone snapped into position. Severus and Lily moved to the basement entrance, flanking it on either side.
Andromeda scooped up Tonks, forcing a calm demeanor as she hurried toward the basement. Tonks' hair had turned a dull gray in her arms.
"We'll hold things here," Severus said, pulling open the basement's trapdoor and speaking gently to the girl. "Be brave, like your dad."
Tonks nodded, though her lips trembled slightly.
Moments after the trapdoor closed, a piercing cackle shattered the night.
"Come out, Mudbloods and blood-traitors!" a woman's voice shrieked, wild and cruel. "And my dear sister, Andromeda, come meet your big sister!"
"Bellatrix," Severus muttered, swiftly waving his wand to summon several chairs around him. "She's here. What, does she fancy herself the Black family's executioner now?"
The next instant, the front door and its screen exploded in a deafening blast, splintering into fragments as three dark figures stormed in, their wands spitting deadly green light.
Severus flicked his wand, hurling the chairs into the air and transfiguring them into a shield to block the Killing Curses aimed at him and Lily.
The fight erupted in a flash. Spell-light streaked through the air, illuminating resolute faces and masked ones beneath hoods.
"Hand over the Mudblood and the little half-breed!" Bellatrix Lestrange bellowed from the doorway, her eyes glinting with mania.
Moody struck from the side, a red jet of light aimed at Bellatrix, but she dodged with unnerving agility, retaliating with a Cruciatus Curse. Moody barely evaded, his wooden leg scraping harshly against the floor.
Lily spotted another Death Eater trying to flank them and fired a Blasting Curse, leaving a scorched mark on the wall. Severus seized the moment as the Death Eater dodged, hitting him with a Stunning Spell. The man crumpled like a marionette with cut strings.
"Well, well, Sev," Bellatrix sneered, a green jet shooting from her wand. "You tricked your big sister so badly last time!"
Severus ducked just in time, retaliating with a silent Sectumsempra that grazed her cheek, leaving a shallow cut.
"Snape!" Bellatrix shrieked, not from pain but from fury.
In the chaos, Moody and Frank managed to stun another Death Eater. Bellatrix, seeing the tide turn, screamed wildly, brandishing her wand as she backed toward the door.
"Bella," Severus called mockingly after her, "leaving so soon? Won't you stay and play with old friends?"
With a hysterical laugh, Bellatrix abandoned her two companions and vanished into the night.
Moody stopped Ted from opening the basement, cautiously stepping outside with Frank to ensure the area was secure before returning.
"It's safe," Moody called, pulling open the trapdoor. "We've driven them off."
Andromeda emerged from the basement, wand raised, shielding Tonks behind her. Seeing everyone intact, she let out a long breath. "What about Bellatrix?"
"Fled," Moody said, pointing his wand at his arm. "Episkey." A bleeding gash on his arm closed. "But we got her two lackeys. Frank's contacting the Auror Office now."
Tonks wriggled free from her mother's arms and turned to the Order members, her hair shifting to a bright gold. "Thank you for beating the bad guys!"
Ted stepped over, fondly ruffling his daughter's hair as it transitioned from gold to pink.
While they spoke, Severus silently summoned the wands of the two stunned Death Eaters. Holding them together, one in each hand, he snapped them with a sharp crack.
Everyone turned to look at him.
"Just testing their durability," Severus said nonchalantly. "An accident."
"Right. Aurors don't do that sort of thing, but with you, I'm used to it. At least you didn't go further this time," Moody said, tapping his cane on the damaged floor. "We need to clean up and repair the house. The Ministry will be here soon."
He turned to Severus and Lily. "You two, as I understand, have passed your Apparition tests. You've had enough for one night. Head back to where we came from—Dumbledore's waiting."
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