Disclaimer: Anything that is recognisable as part of the Harry Potter franchise is not my own.
Remus had situated himself outside of the hall, where everyone had gathered amongst the destruction. He allowed himself to slide down the wall which he stood against until he sat on the floor with his hands between his knees, wand held limply between them. He wished to drown out the suffering, the mourning, the loss from within what was once the Great Hall. It couldn't be called 'Great' any longer however after the destruction that had obliterated it. Among the survivors lay rows and rows of the dead, still being carried in on makeshift stretchers. With every one that was carried past him, he searched for a familiar face.
The familiar squeak of boots against stone floor grew louder and louder as it came closer towards him, and he leant forwards in hope, eager. He stood in anticipation. Tonks hurtled into his arms, knocking him back a couple of strides, but he accepted her into his arms without hesitation. She leaned into him, hooking her arms around he neck while he wrapped his own tightly around her back.
"Dora," he whispered, desperate to hear her name escape his lips once more. Relief washed over him as he pressed his nose into the hair just above her forehead, gentle wisps of thinner and shorter hair tickling his skin. The harsh shade of bubblegum pink provided a stark contrast to the bleakness of the corridor, Hogwarts without it's former glory. He withdrew slightly, leaving inches between them. "Dora, what possessed you to...?"
"I could ask you the same question,". She attempted to joke, but her hands told him otherwise. Still gripping onto the collar of his robe in a tight grasp, they shook violently, tugging on the fabric. Her voice hitched as she spoke, and her gaze was distant.
Remus knew her better than to assume that she was injured. "Come on," he said, putting a hand on the small of her back to lead her away from the great hall. He had paid his respects to the fallen previously, although he knew he could provide little comfort to the Weasleys. Nothing could numb the pain that he knew they were feeling after Fred's death, and it was only fair to allow his family to mourn.
He led her through the main wooden doors for the castle, one now completely fallen and the other hanging by a hinge and precariously led his wife through the rubble, moving the largest pieces away with his wand. "We should come back tomorrow," he said, although he knew Tonks wasn't really listening, "help clear the wreckage and start rebuilding". She nodded, but kept her head down watching where she was stepping.
As they stood in at the bottom of the stairs, next to the lake in the area where the boats were kept, he firmly wrapped a hand around her forearm and apperated without words. In a matter of seconds, they had arrived in the forest that stood outside the cottage of Andromeda Tonks. He held onto her hand, winding through the thick aged trees. Tonks stumbled over a root, concealed by the shrubs covering the floor.
Instinctively, Remus' hand shot out to grab Tonks' shoulder to steady them, preventing her from completely falling. "Thanks," she said, slightly breathless.
They didn't have chance to knock on the door. Andromeda, who had been sitting in the window of the living room holding Teddy in one arm, a steaming mug in the other hand. As she saw the pair make their way up the garden path, she practically slammed her mug down on the window sill as the tea threatened to slosh over the edge. Andromeda ran to the door with Teddy still in her arms, her eyes brimming with tears as she enveloped her daughter in a one armed hug, full of relief. Remus started to relock the door with the complicated array of charms. It wasn't necessary now.
"Thank you," Andromeda whispered, as she turned to Remus. It was out of earshot of Tonks, who had now taken Teddy in her own arms, where he was gently stirring in his sleeping state. Only a small tuft of turquoise was visible from under the blanket knitted for them by Molly. Andromeda wrapped both arms around Remus, before whispering into his ear once more. "Thank you for bringing her back to me,".
Remus had been surprised at the reception he had received from Andromeda and the late Ted Tonks, expecting that they would be less than happy about their daughter marrying him, a werewolf among everything else. However, they had accepted him into their family much to his surprise.
Andromeda released him, moving towards the kitchen. "Now, you must be starving," She said, as motherly as ever. However, her eyes were glossy.
Tonks looked over at him, dark circles evident beneath her eyes. He nodded, slipping off his dusty travelling cloak and sitting on a chair by the door to pull off his boots. Tonks shook her head, and brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes as she did so. "I'm more tired than anything, I think I'll just go to bed for the night," She turned towards the stairs, before looking back over her shoulder. "Night mum," she said, with a small smile. However, it didn't hide the lack of colour in her face, or the sadness in her eyes.
"It's been a long night," Remus said, making an excuse for both of them. He looked over at the muggle clock, presumably Ted's, only to find that is was bordering on three o'clock in the morning. She must have been waiting for them.
Andromeda nodded, as she turned to take the kettle of the stove, pouring the remaining water down the sink. She busied herself, clearing the newly washed crockery away into the various organised cupboards. Remus started to make his way towards the stairs, until Andromeda spoke once more.
"Is he-is he gone?" She stumbled over her words, causing Remus to stop on midway up the stairs. He didn't need to question who she was talking about. It was the same person who had been the enemy of the wizarding world for what seemed like forever.
"Yes, yes he is,". The last piece of tension seemed to disappear from her body, she smiled at him, and he smiled back.
He continued up the stairs, pushing open the door to Tonks' childhood room, where a stream of light shone from underneath the door. He cautiously opened the door, opening it just enough to let himself in. He locked the door behind him. Remus could tell that it had not changed much since her years at Hogwarts. Hufflepuff flags, and posters featuring several bands adorned the walls, and an old battered trunk with the school emblem was being used as a bedside table, next to an unmade bed. The only new addition was a crib underneath the window.
Tonks had changed into a jumper of Remus', leaving her clothes in a trail over the floor. She sat on the end of the bed, one hand resting on the edge of Teddy's crib and the other covering her mouth. As he cautiously moved closer to her, trying not to make a sound on the worn down floorboards. As he got closer, he saw a silent tear roll down one cheek. She only cried in the confides of her bedroom, never where prying eyes could see her.
He sat on the bed next to her, feeling the springs inside of the mattress. "Come here," he said, bringing her closer towards him as she leant into his chest. She shook in his arms, holding onto him once more.
"My god, Remus," she said, shivering although it was far from cold. "Why?".
"I don't know, Dora," He said simply, at a loss of words for what they had witnessed.
"It's not fair," she said stubbornly, almost spitting it as she did so. Her line of work was a dangerous one, but Tonks didn't think she would ever see how the death of innocent people could be justified.
Remus didn't reply, only lowering his head. He took himself back to the scene in the Great Hall, especially the Weasleys. Such desperation, but such little hope. "I'm going back tomorrow," he said, causing Tonks to look up at him, her brows furrowed. "It's the least I can do,". Remus' eyes rested on Teddy in the crib. He thought of the students, practically children, in the school.
"I'm coming with you,".
Remus nodded. He wasn't going to try and convince her not to. It was evident that she was able to defend herself. He'd always known that, from the day he laid eyes on her.
There was silence between the two of them, as they both watched their son as he lay in his crib. He had slept through the night for the last two weeks since his birth, a heavy sleeper like both of his parents. However, every now and again he would stir in his sleep. He would never wake, but a chubby pink fist would loosen, and then tighten again. He would wiggle his toes, as if being tickled.
Tonks had moved away from him slightly. "Bellatrix?" she looked up at him, questioning him. She knew, but Remus could tell she was purely searching for reassurance.
"Yes," he nodded, pulling back the covers on the bed allowing them both to get in. She shuffled up towards the headboard and pulled the blanket up to her knees. "Molly got her," he said, a slight smile washing across his face as he remembered the moment. It would be an understatement to say that he was simply glad to see the end of his wife's aunt, who had been a constant threat to both her and Harry.
"That's good," she mumbled, her tired eyes following Remus as he stood to lock the door, and close the curtains blocking out the slight peak of the sun that was starting to sneak over the horizon. The room was put into darkness, only faint outlines of the furniture being visible.
Although they had fallen asleep almost immediately, neither of them were capable of remaining in that state for long.
Remus woke early, sunlight flooding into the room. He looked up to see the curtains had been drawn back, and Tonks stood over the crib with Teddy in her arms. She was already dressed in fresh clothes and robes, her want protruding from her pocket. She hadn't seen him though, and still didn't as he sat up and pushed the covers away. He brought himself to his feet, trying not to make a sound.
Tonks didn't notice that he had woken until she felt his arms wrapping loosely around her waist, and his hot breath on her neck. She turned to greet him.
"Morning," he said. Remus planted a kiss on her cheek, his slight stubble providing a familiar scratch against her skin.
He reached one hand down towards his son, and traced a finger over Teddy's own exposed hand. Teddy wrapped his own tiny finger around his fathers, baby soft skin against his own calloused and scarred hands. Teddy looked back up at him. Remus couldn't help but notice that they were still the baby blue that he was born with, as if he hadn't quite worked out how to change them. He had indeed taken full advantage regarding his hair, which was a deep maroon colour at this point.
"I've already fed him. And before you say a word, I'm still coming with you," She said, focused on Teddy as she lowered him back down into the crib.
"Trust me, I wouldn't even consider it," he said, breaking away and picking up a simple combination of trousers and a button down shirt.
He looked up at Tonks as he did the last couple of buttons on his shirt, leaving one loose at the top. She still stood by the crib, although Teddy was seemingly quite happy as he squinted in the sunlight. He seemed to be very laid back compared to other babies, although he couldn't quite say that he had any vast amount of experience with infants.
"I would suspect that we will be able to apperate directly into the castle," he said, as Tonks picked up her travelling cloak that had been slung lazily over the back of a chair. "I wouldn't want to risk it though," he added.
Tonks nodded in agreement. "Wouldn't want something to go wrong," she said. Tonks had experienced the consequences of several apparations that had not worked out as planned, and was sure that she did not want to be on the receiving end of one.
"We'll apparate into Hogsmeade, it isn't a long walk from there," Remus said as he held the door open for her, and followed her down the stairs.
"You're not leaving so soon, are you?" Andromeda turned around from the kitchen counter where she had been stirring a pot of porridge. She couldn't have slept for long that night, but she seemed to have regained a certain sparkle in her dark eyes. Her hair, a mousy brown much like her daughter's natural colour, was neatly pinned up on the back of her neck.
"Half of Hogwarts was destroyed last night, they need all the help they can get," Tonks said, perching on the table as she watched Remus fasten his own cloak by the door. "If you wouldn't mind just checking in on Teddy while we are gone, he should be fine-"
Andromeda nodded, leaning against the counter behind her. "Of course," she smiled, having gravitated towards her grandson since his birth. Remus suspected that she found a release, or even a distraction, in Teddy after the death of her husband, as she had done in the later stages of Tonks' pregnancy. "Do stay safe, the both of you," she said, turning each of them in turn.
"Shouldn't be too long," Tonks said, hopping down from the table onto her feet, as she unlocked the door. "I know a lot of people will want to help today,".
Remus followed her out of the door, nodding at Andromeda as a farewell
As the two of them stopped just outside the gate to the garden, Remus turned briefly to see Andromeda watching them fondly from the open kitchen window of the Tonks' cottage.
The pair arrived in Hogsmeade without delay. Although it hadn't displayed the same signs of damage of the castle itself, there was still some minor damage. Only a window smashed, or the odd sign of a shop that had come to be detached from the wall, but still signs of the past war.
He felt Tonks weave her arm thorough his own, linking them, as she almost pulled him along throughout the village. She tucked herself closer into his side, but Remus didn't question why. He knew what she would say, blaming the perpetual state of cold that constantly rested over the village even in the height of summer.
"This is my favourite part," she said, as they entered the more residential area of the village. It was a lot more quiet than the commercial area simply by default, but the long grass covered in dew at the edges of the path, and the climbing plants travelling up the walls of the houses, gave a sleepy feel to the area. "Isn't is beautiful?"
"Very," Remus agreed, following his wife's gaze as she looked up at the houses, beams and all.
"Teddy would love it," she said decidedly. Both of them knew they couldn't stay with Tonks' mother forever. Space was tight enough with just the three of them, but it was inevitable that when Teddy started to grow there would be a severe lack of space.
It didn't take them long to arrive at Hogwarts, walking up the path that wound around the back of the castle, past the Quidditch pitches.
As they entered the castle, the pair were immediately immersed into the hive of activity. Groups of people, made up of the older students, teachers and the surviving member of the Order, worked to reconstruct what they could of the castle. Pathways had been cleared around the castle, making it much easier to navigate the school.
As Remus entered the main hall once again, he heard a familiar voice behind him.
"Remus, a word?" he turned to see Professor McGonagall.
"Of course," he muttered, slightly startled but curiosity driving him forwards. He followed her through a short passage, which ultimately led to the office that she had inherited from Dumbledore, still guarded by the same, although slightly worse for wear, gargoyle. On entrance, he noted that it was remarkably free from damage.
McGonagall took the seat behind the desk, gesturing for Remus to take the one directly opposite her. He did so without question, folding his hands neatly in his lap. He felt scarily like a student once more.
"I'm sure you may have an idea of what I wish to ask you," she said, wrongly. Remus didn't have a clue in the slightest. McGonagall sighed tiredly. "We now have a severe lack of teaching staff. It is all well repairing the school, but if we have no staff..."
Remus remained silent, processing what she had said. He didn't respond, waiting for her to continue.
"In particular, I need to find someone suitable to fill the position of the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor-"
"Minerva, you know I can't..." Remus interrupted, trailing off as he did so. He avoided looking at McGonagall, instead looking up at the portraits, his eyes finally resting on the most recent one of the late Dumbledore. He could swear he had seen the apparently sleeping man's eyes flicker.
McGonagall seemed to be ignoring the obvious, at least from Remus' point of view. "You are more than qualified to take the position, and the most appropriate choice out of any of the possible contenders,"
"That is not the reason," he said, shaking his head as he looked at his hand, covered in scars that trailed up his arm, and covered his torso. "I'm sorry, but I truly can't take this position. It's too dangerous, too much of a risk,". McGonagall noted the exasperation in his voice.
She nodded, also looking down at her own hands. Remus interpreted this as a dismissal, and in turn stood and pushed his chair back underneath the desk. As he turned to walk away, he heard McGonagall speak once again, as a rushed afterthought. "Do remember, the position will remain open for as long as possible, if you do experience a change of heart."
A/N: The beginning of this has been in my drafts for a fair few months now, but I finally decided to finish it up. Please tell me what you think!