Disclaimer: Not mine (unfortunately).
Nymphadora Tonks turned the corner and stopped, absolutely stunned in the doorway of Remus' room. The room, which was normally spotless (a total 180° flip from her own room), was complete chaos. There were clothes and books scattered everywhere and standing in the middle of the mayhem was Remus John Lupin himself.
"Remus, what in Merlin's name are you doing?" she asked, stepping into the room.
He didn't even bother to turn and look at her as he responded in a monotone, "Packing."
"Packing? Why on earth are you doing that?"
Remus let out a long sigh before finally straightening and turning towards her, "Dumbledore has asked me to go on a mission. I've accepted and have to leave immediately."
Tonks took another step into the room, "What's he asked you to do? How long is it going to take? And do you have to go, can't someone else?"
"I'm not sure how long it will take, Dora and yes, it does have to be me who goes." Remus answered quietly.
She walked the rest of the way into the bedroom which placed her directly in front of him, "You're avoiding the question, Remus." Tonks said sternly, "What is Dumbledore having you do?"
Remus closed his eyes and a heavy silence grew in the air surrounding them. Why he felt he could not look her in the face while answering the question Tonks didn't know. They had all been sent on mission before; how bad could this one be? Sadly, Tonks would understand her boyfriend's reluctance very shortly.
He finally answered in a low, tired voice, "I'm going to infiltrate the werewolves."
"What!" she cried out, "No, you can't! They are feral, Remus! You can't go, you just can't!"
"I'm one of them too, Dora." He reminded her sadly.
"No you're not, Remus!" Tonks banged a fist against his chest, "You're nothing like them. You're good and kind and everything humanity strives to be. Those werewolves work for Voldemort. They hurt and murder innocent people. They want to; they like to. You. Are. Nothing. Like. Them."
Remus reached up and pulled her tightly curled fists off his chest and gently lowered them to her sides. He held them there for a second before turning back towards his case on the bed, "Regardless of your overly high opinion of me Dora, I have to go."
Tonks grabbed at his shoulder and forced Remus to turn back to face her. Remus kept his eyes down, focused on his scruffy shoes.
Despite Tonks determination to remain strong and tough, fear laced itself through her next words. Softly she asked him, "What about us?"
For a long moment everything was silent. Then Remus, who was still refused to look at the woman before him, spoke, "I'm not good for you Nymphadora. I am 13 years your senior and a werewolf. I could kill you easily without even meaning to. Besides, I can't hold down a job, how am I to support you? You're better off without me."
"No! Remus, you can't mean that!" Tonks cried, her voice breaking twice, "I love you."
"Give your love to someone who deserves it, Dora." Remus grabbed his suitcase off the bed and walked out of the room. At the door he paused and said quietly, "Goodbye Tonks."
As the final bit of Remus' robe disappeared around the corner, Tonks fell to her kness and let out a heart-wrenching sob. It was over between them. It was really and truly over, despite the fact she loved Remus with everything she had. Any other person may have still been hopeful that the relationship could be salvaged but Tonks knew better. She knew for one simple reason. Never, never, never, in all the time she had known Remus John Lupin had he ever called her Tonks.
There it is. Done at last.
I can't even remember how long I've had this sitting around for just waiting for editing. I think I deserve a round of applause for finally stopping procrastinating. Or a review would do.