When A Heart Breaks, It Don't Break Even.

StoryGirl.

Use Somebody.

Despite his arguments, Dumbledore had given him the job, the old man smiling merrily at him, so confident and sure that he would turn and attack a student, that Remus Lupin would be a good teacher, be able to actually gain some respect in a class of students that would no doubt know about werewolves and already had prejudice against them.

So, he had arrived at Hogwarts, battered trunk and all, and had taught, shakily at first, his confidence slowly grown with his happiness. The only bright side to the job was that he was able to watch over Harry. Harry, who looked so much like James, but with Lily's eyes, the green eyes he remembered firing up with anger, or scanning a book, the green orbs twinkling joyously.

But he didn't need anyone, so that was why he left at the end of the year. He didn't need Dumbledore protection form the harsh world. Remus Lupin would jump head-first into the world, and if they didn't like him or accept him, that was their fault.

And then he met Tonks. And she changed everything.

The Fear.

He wasn't able to give her much for their wedding; a simple band of silver was slid on her shaking hand, where it would forever stay. She didn't mind though, said she wasn't a material girl, and accepted whatever little he could give her with joy, smiling with all the joy in the world.

And then they had Teddy, the little plump boy that resembled what they were fighting for. He had longed for a child, but then, staring down at his son, had felt sick. What if he had passed his disease, his torture onto his son, naught but a week old? What if his son was to become a monster too?

But Tonks soothed him, smiling happily down at their son.

But he still ran, ran from the taunts that still haunted him, from the memories of what he had had to endure in his adult-hood.

And before his life slipped away, he stared down at her hand.

And the glitter of the silver ring gleamed up at him.

And then, nothing.

Rehab.

He was like a drug she had become addicted to, like the only reason she was living. Tonks hadn't felt like this ever, and her past relationship hardly compared to this one. Remus was educated, smart, witty and handsome, and even though he was thirteen years older than her, she felt at home with him. Her parents didn't approved, hated the fact that their daughter was dating a man that had been a friend of Sirius's.

Still, their romance had continued, and he had still continued to addict her, hook her one his pampering kiss, his soft and gentle caress, and the way that he murmured her name, a jumble of syllables, in a way that only he could.

Remus Lupin was her addiction.

And she wasn't ashamed of that fact, and she wouldn't go to rehab.

Burn.

The flame flickered brightly in the fire, dancing against the wood that had been placed there. Moodily, she stared into the flames, head resting on her hand, wand loose in her lap.

What had she done to deserve this?

Tonks had never done anything wrong- well there had been that one time, but Professor Flitwick had really minded, the goo had come off, after scrubbing- nothing worth deserving this. Why was she in love with him? Merlin, he wasn't even much to look at, but he had brains. But he was old, old enough to have known her Mum when she was at school! If that didn't freak her out, nothing would.

But still, despite her protests, the flame that burnt inside her heart for Remus Lupin had grown, and burnt brighter.

Shake It.

Smiling happily, she laughed giddily as he swung her around the kitchen, a strong arm on her waist. Sirius watched over in the corner, a half-drunk bottle of Firewhiskey cradled in his hand. Remus smiled down at her, a surprisingly soft hand on her cheek as they danced, Tonks's feet on his, her arms clenched tightly around his waist, eyes sealed closed.

She whimpered as he swung her around, arms never leaving his body, eyes half-open. Sirius laughed, swigging from the bottle. Tonks peered up at him, biting her lip in such a way that he swore he felt butterflies in his stomach, arms clenched around his.

"It'll be alright," he whispered softly, her eyes snapping open at the sound. She smiled up at him nervously, before releasing her snake-like hold.

Those words, carelessly said in the warmth of the kitchen that night, were the last thing Remus Lupin ever said to his wife.

Written for the Shuffle Challenge at HPFFC.