Disclaimer: Nothing is mine, I'm not that smart, or rich. :P
They left the hospital in a group, leaving only Fleur and Bill's parents by his bedside, and in dribs and drabs they wandered off, until it was only Remus and Tonks. The air was full of awkward silence, and Tonks deliberately looked away from him. He couldn't help but be pained by her mousy brown hair, and dark eyes with darker rings beneath them; he had caused this, and that knowledge was like a dagger to his heart. She went to leave, hair hanging over her face, and without thinking he reached out, wrapping his fingers around her wrist.
"I love you; you know I do" he said, frustrated, and she turned around, her eyes angry and accusing.
"Then why can't this" she said, gesturing between them, "ever happen? You're being so ridiculous!"
"That is why! How could I ever deserve you? I am old, and you are young; I am dangerous and you are wonderful; you have prospects and I have none! I have nothing to give you! Nothing! I am a werewolf! I want to love you more than anything, anything, but I can't risk ruining you!"
"Look at me!" She whispered, gesturing from her head to her toes, "I'm already ruined. You can fix me."
"Nobody would understand! They would think I was forcing you!" He said, running his hand through his hair, his voice desperate.
"And we would know the truth; that I love you! I love all of you! I don't care that you are poor, or older than me." She touched his cheek, and he covered his hand with his own for a second, before carefully taking it off his face. "I don't care you're a werewolf! I know the man behind that; the brave, beautiful, kind man, who I would willingly risk everything for!"
"If I ever hurt you, or my being with you damaged you in anyway, I could never forgive myself." He whispered, looking straight at her, his head tilted slightly.
"You won't"
And suddenly, he closed the space between them, wrapping his arms around her waist, and placing his lips carefully against hers. She moulded against him, and he tightened his arms around her, protecting her.