"I hate goodbyes," she said, a single tear glistening on her freckled cheek. Mousy brown hair framed Nymphandora Tonks' face, her lip quivered and she looked smaller and more timid than usual.
"Come on Dora, I know that you're a lot stronger than this. Whats wrong?" Remus Lupin, her husband, pulled her into a tight hug, burying his face in her shoulder. They stayed still for a moment, taking in the peace and silence that did not come often now that they were at war. Just for that moment, all felt right.
Tonks took a shaky breath and pulled out of the hug, grasping Remus' hands firmly.
"Nothing's wrong," she said, her eyes downcast. "It's just different this time, because now I have something to loose."
Remus lifted Tonks' chin with a gentle hand and looked into her eyes. They were brown now, just like they had been for a year. Tonks had been unable to change them since she fell in love, constantly living in the fear that Remus would not be there one day when she woke up. She tried to smile, but she was teeming with emotion, and the silence was broken by a sob that she quickly choked back.
Remus held Tonks' head against his chest and stroked her hair.
"I'll be back as soon as I can," he mumbled. "It'll be alright. I'm fighting for you. I'm fighting for what we can have after this is all over. A family. A proper home. Peace. Safety. One day," he murmured softly, "One day, we can have it all.
Tonks straightened herself up and Remus wiped the tears from her face.
"Don't worry, Teddy needs you right now." Remus kissed her cheek and picked up a shabby bag that held his belongings.
He walked down the hall and opened the squeaky door. With one last look at his wife, Remus Lupin walked out of the house that he would never see again.