hey hey. this is one of the first fanfics I ever started writing. it got lost in the jungle of files that is my documents folder and I only just recently rediscovered it and after rereading DH (again) I had a yearning to continue on with it. I love Tonks & Remus so much, and i cried like a sad sack when they died. so, hehe, I decided to change that. *also, in later chapters, I have included an unlikely pairing that also happens to be one of my favourite 3 so ha^^* anyway, R&R and enjoy!
DISCLAIMER, BTW- j.k. rowling in a genius and owns all characters. I own nothing :'(

Chapter One- The Last Marauder

"Stupefy!" shouted Remus Lupin. The Death Eater he was dueling, Dolohov, was blasted back with a jet of red light.

Remus turned away from him just as a killing curse sped past his head. The werewolf could feel a slight wind, a burning breeze when the green light passed him. He shivered at how close it had come.

Bellatrix Lestrange still had her wand pointed at him when Remus spotted her. Anger filled his gut at the sight of Sirius's murderer. The witch sneered at him. "Well, well, well, there's the beastie my niece married. I hear you two have a little cub now. Tell me, has its fangs grown in yet?"

"Avada Kedavra," Remus growled menacingly, ready to end all the torment that woman had put him and Tonks through. Green light shot out of his wand towards her. She dodged it with one step, leading the spell onto one of her fellow Death Eaters.

"Oops," Bellatrix said with disdain. "Sorry Mulciber." Remus didn't dwell on the kill and continued moving towards her. He and Bellatrix circled around each other, never breaking eye contact. A silent conversation was going on between them.

I'll kill them all.

I wont let you.

Those blood-traitors the Weasleys…I'll be sure they don't leave here alive.

You wont survive if you touch them.

The Order of the Phoenix... consider it destroyed.

Shut up!

I only wish I could have the pleasure of killing Potter…

Never!

But I will treasure the deaths of dear Nymphadora and your child.

For once, Remus wished he there was a full moon so he could transform and rip her apart. Bellatrix sensed that her words, or thought as they were, were taking effect. She wasn't noted as one of the worlds greatest Legilimens for nothing. The woman smiled the ugliest smile Remus reckoned he ever saw. Then he saw her focus on something behind his shoulder. Remus turned to see what she had spotted. He saw a flash of bright purple as Tonks rushed through the crowd towards her husband.

"What do you think," She asked him, an evil glint in her eyes. "Should I use the Cruciatus curse first, or Imperius so I can make her hurt herself before I finish her off?"

That was it. Remus dropped his wand and gave a great wolf-like snarl. The last Marauder lunged at Bellatrix. But before she could utter the spell herself, a flash of green light shot over her shoulder and hit Remus square in the chest.

"Damn you, Dolohov! I wanted that one!" The mad witch screeched, turning to see the Death Eater who had stolen her thunder. Dolohov, seeing the anger in her eyes, pretended not to hear and scurried away to begin dueling with a wizard Bellatrix couldn't recognize.

"Well," She contemplated out loud, her eyes scanning the crowd. "At least that wretched Nymphadora will belong to me."