Chapter One

Tonks had been awake for about half an hour when Remus returned home. She grinned when he came through the door but he didn't smile back. He looked tired and worn out. "Morning Rem," she said, smiling once again.

"What are you doing here?" Remus asked, almost growling at her. She guessed the full moon still had some effect over him and thought nothing much of it.

"I've been here waiting," she replied, smiling a little again. "Are you okay?"

"Leave. Me. Alone!" Remus replied rather gruffly.

"Never say that, Remus," Tonks said, frowning now.

"Just go," Remus demanded, glaring at Tonks now.

"Fine," Tonks replied, glaring back at Remus. "Bye." And with that, she walked out of the kitchen, down the hallway and out onto the street. She had only wanted to make sure he was okay but he obviously didn't want her there. She sighed, deciding she should probably get to work before her boss told her off for being late again.

When Tonks arrived at work she found many of her colleagues looking rather upset about something. She frowned, wondering what was wrong but deciding to go up to her office and see if someone up there would explain it to her.
She headed for the lifts and went up to the floor where all the Auror offices were, only to find people looking even glummer there. She spotted someone she vaguely recognized and walked over to him, "Excuse me, Sir, but could I ask why everyone is so sad today?" she asked, trying not to sound too unknowledgeable. She could never have prepared herself for what was to come though.

"Kingsley Shacklebolt has gone missing," the man replied, "And it is thought that a werewolf attack on him is likely."

Tonks nodded, realizing instantly that she may well be a suspect in this in a way because her husband was a werewolf. The man had continued past her by this point and she frowned a little, turning in the other direction to return to the house. It had been a full moon the night before so Remus needed to know about it, even if he had told her to leave him alone.

She headed back down and onto the street once more, apparating straight back to their house and opening the door. "Remus?" she called, hoping to locate him fairly quickly as she needed to get back to work.

"Umm... I'm not here right now. Please leave a message?" came the reply from upstairs and Tonks smiled slightly, knowing that meant he was up there, even if he didn't want to talk to her. She headed upstairs and went into their room to find Remus sitting on the bed with his shirt off, his body covered in red marks which could only be cuts from the night before. "I told you to leave me alone," he scowled, glaring at her again.

"I know but it's important, Rem," she replied, trying to stay as calm as she could, "Kingsley was attacked last night… By a werewolf… And now he's missing."

"I know," Remus replied, scowling at her again. "I was there."

"…What?" Tonks asked, looking utterly bewildered. She had never thought her husband could be capable of such a thing. "Please tell me it's a lie."

"I didn't do it," Remus added, frowning once more. "I was just… there…"

"Why didn't you stop it all?" Tonks asked, sounding rather hysterical by this point. "We have to tell them. Tell the Ministry."

"Please don't tell anyone," Remus replied hurriedly, moving to grab Tonks so she couldn't leave. "I didn't want to be there. I didn't want it to happen."

"Remus, the Ministry has to know. One of their men could be dead or dying ad you're withholding information which could put you in jail! Where is he?"

"Please, don't do this. You have to understand," Remus replied frantically, again trying to grab hold of the front of Tonks' robes. "He's in the woods in Hogsmeade, about 10 feet from the path leading to the fence around the Shrieking Shack. But please Tonks don't tell anyone I told you!"

"I have to, Remus. Kingsley's life is in danger," she replied, backing away from Remus.

"NO!" Remus replied but Tonks had already left. "Shit," he said, grabbing his bloodstained shirt and pulling it back over his badly cut chest before following her. By the time he had reached the street, she was already gone though.