The Proposal
Chapter One: Anger
Tonks ran through the castle, tears clouding her vision. She nearly tumbled down the final staircase before arriving at the front doors.
She had to get away from here, away from him. Remus had rejected her for the millionth time. She was used to fighting the pain and grief, but this time it threatened to overwhelm her.
She knew she was being reckless, but she couldn't summon the strength to care. Blindly running across the grounds, she tripped over a stone and fell just as she reached the gates. She landed hard on her knees. Tears began to stream down her cheeks. Her strength gone, she remained there and wept bitterly for the mess her life had become.
Tonks struggled to stem the flow of her tears so that she might Apparate safely, but it was no use. Her shuddery breath became a gasp when familiar arms wrapped around her and attempted to gently pull her against his chest. Tonks angrily tore herself away and tried to stand. But her sore knees buckled, sending her back towards the ground.
Remus reached out and caught her.
"Let me go, damn it!" Tonks croaked as she once again wrenched away from his arms. "I don't need your help or your pity!"
"Nymphadora, please-"
"You've lost the right to call me anything other than Tonks, Lupin," she cut across him. "And I don't want to hear anything you have to say. Leave me alone."
Tonks stumbled through the gates and Apparated to the small park down the street from her parents' home. As a child and a teen, Tonks had spent many an hour there on the swings. She would soar as high and as fast as she could while sorting out her troubles.
She walked over to the nearest swing and sat on the worn seat. The links of steel chain rattled as she pushed off with her feet. Tonks swung back and forth, determined not to stop until she felt some measure of calm and peace again.