Fairy Tale Part 2
Standard disclaimer applies; any element from Harry Potter belongs to J. K. Rowling.
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Tonks was taking no chances. The moment she heard the wolf's belly rumble she grabbed her big stick, dropped the basket, and promptly whacked the wolf on the nose. Just hard enough to discourage any ideas of roast kids for lunch.
"Ow!" The wolf recoiled immediately, paw protectively covering his snout.
"You can talk!"
"Of course he can talk, haven't you read any fairy tales? He is supposed to get you to tell him where you are going, then delay you so he can run ahead and eat some people."
"Thanks for that excellent summary, Fred."
Fred gave a small bow, "I live to please."
While they talked the wolf recovered and stood eyeing them warily. Tonks still had her stick raised in a ready position but since the wolf didn't seem inclined to attack at the moment she didn't strike again. In fact she thought she read horror and anguish in his eyes before he spoke.
"You should not be here!" The wolf suddenly snapped.
"Wh-?"
Before Tonks or Fred could respond the wolf batted the stick out of Tonks grip, seized her by the back of her clothes and carried her off the road.
Tonks struggled, hoping to get free.
"Don't even think about it," the wolf growled around her cloak.
She heard a yell just before Fred whacked the wolf in the side with her stick. The wolf immediately grunted in pain. "I won't let you eat Tonks!"
"I'm not going to eat anybody! Knock it off!"
"Let me go!"
"Not a chance," he growled back. He turned to address Fred, "go back and grab the basket of food, I will wait here for you."
Fred eyed the wolf mistrustfully. With an irritated sigh the wolf sat down and set Tonks down, although he did keep a hold on her clothes so she couldn't run away. Fred reluctantly turned back toward the road.
Tonks crossed her arms and pouted, "What do you want with me?"
"You should not be here!" The wolf snarled, "You were supposed to stay safe with Teddy!"
She blinked. She should have guessed. "Remus?" Guilt snapped at her conscious, along with a splatter of dread.
He let go of her clothes. As she turned around she was met by his harsh glare, made all the more intimidating coming from a wolf the size of a mountain troll.
"Why didn't you stay safe?" His voice was low and fierce.
Tonks found at that moment she could not speak to him. Her own guilt gnawed at all her reasoning and motives. In hindsight, knowing she would die, how could she have gone to battle? But she could not have stayed, and looking back she could not feel sorry about going to battle. She only regretted abandoning Teddy with her death. She settled for returning his gaze and watching the anger dance in his eyes.
They were in the same position when Fred returned with the basket. "Uh," he must have sensed the newly found tension, "what did you want this for?" He asked indicating the basket.
"Because I want to eat the bread when we get where we're going," Remus abruptly stood up, "follow me."
….
As Remus led the way to the clearing he could feel his teeth grinding together. He could feel his anger burning throughout, how could she? He had told her to stay behind. He swallowed; pain surrounded a hollow ache in his chest. He refocused on the flames of anger, keeping the ache away.
Finally they made it to the meadow. Remus laid down amongst the flowers and turned his attention to his companions. The late afternoon sun caught their clothes and hair, causing them to glow.
"There is color here," Dora laughed delightedly. She spun around in the flowers, before collapsing in the grass. She grabbed a lock of hair and turned it a bright shade of customary pink that clashed horribly with the red cloak. Her delight was almost infectious. Remus narrowed his eyes and growled.
"Not that I object to the change in scenery, but why did you bring us here?" Fred rocked back and forth on his heels, his cheerful face had returned once Dora told him who the wolf was.
"I didn't want you two to make it to the candy house farther down the road," Remus offered. He also hadn't been thinking the straightest with the sight of his wife causing turmoil inside him. Remus' stomach growled again, distracting him. "Do you still have that basket of bread?"
"If you eat all the bread, what exactly are Fred and I supposed to eat?"
"James said he would bring food," Remus knew he was being overly dismissive, but at the moment he didn't care.
Right on cue he heard James voice from behind him, "Who are your friends?"
Twisting around the wolf spotted the golden stag leave the shadows, two baskets presumably of food hanging off his antlers, and a familiar young green-eyed woman riding on his back.
"Whoa, can I ride on your back?" Fred greeted.
James eyed him as Lily slid off, "No."
Lily made her way over and hugged Remus around the neck, "good to see you again, Remus, though I do hope next time you aren't a wolf."
Remus, still in a bad mood, just snorted. Ignoring him Lily next turned to the youths Remus had found.
Cocking her head she ventured, "Tonks, right?"
"Yes, Lily," Dora smiled and Remus had to turn away.
Lily glanced his way and uttered a soft noise of understanding.
Getting up and turning his back on her, Remus helped James get the baskets off his antlers.
He still heard Lily address Fred, "You are obviously one of the Weasley boys…"
"Fred. Say, I was told if I give this apple to the golden stag that he would help me find my family; since you seem to know them could you help me too?"
"Oh, Fred…"
As Remus had taken the last basket from James and held the handle in his jaw, his friend walked around him to stand before Fred.
Remus softly placed the basket by the others as he listened.
"Fred," James spoke, "do you know who we are?"
The Weasley boy gave a blank look, "Lily and James?"
The couple glanced at each other. Remus sat down next to Dora.
"Potter." Lily said softly, "I'm Lily and this is James Potter."
Fred's eyes widened. The boy began looking around wildly, "This is a really, really weird dream."
Remus cringed. Denial was painful to watch.
"Fred-," Dora began before Remus stomach rumbled loudly.
Lily sighed, "Never mind, for now let us eat."
James smirked, an odd look for a stag, "Yes, before Moony decides to eat us all."
Growling softly, Remus stuck his nose in a basket and grabbed a loaf of bread before moving away from the others to lie down and gnaw on it in peace. He was not in the mood for jokes. He hated being a wolf, and James knew it. Add Dora getting herself killed to the whole equation, he was not enjoying the afterlife.
Dora nudged him in the leg, distracting him from his thoughts. Looking down he saw her offering strips of dried meat she must have gotten from one of the baskets. "This might suit your tastes better. I'll share with you if you share with me."
Her hesitant smile made his heart tighten. His anger fled leaving him exposed and vulnerable to the gaping hole. He dropped the uneaten bread and pressed his head into her arm. "Why, Dora?" His voice cracked.
Remus felt her put down the meat, and then wrap her own arms around his jaw, hugging his head to her. She had turned her head so that her cheek rested on his forehead and he felt her tears drip down. He started to whimper and pant, his own emotions threatening to swallow him whole.
He had no idea how long they stayed together, trying to flush their wounds with their tears. Eventually, Dora pulled away, wiping her nose and red rimmed eyes. Grimacing, she reached up and tried to rub the tear tracks in his fur dry, "Sorry…"
"Don't be," he croaked softly. He swallowed hard. He gazed at her limp hair and red eyes. "Maybe… maybe we can find a way to send you back."
Dora, who had picked up a piece of bread, looked up at him with an expression so fierce Remus drew back slightly, "Don't you dare think I'm leaving you, Lupin. I…" she swallowed heavily, "I couldn't bear to stay behind, it was as much my fight as yours, and I had to find you." She swallowed again, steeling herself, "I saw your body, just lying on the ground. And I…" she trailed off, unable to continue.
Remus nuzzled her cheek. Dora leaned into him and closed her eyes. Remus' stomach rumbled, protesting being ignored. Dora chuckled as she pulled back, "Come on, eat already and appease that stomach of yours."
He looked toward the dried meat. "Together, then," Dora glanced at him curiously, "we'll find a way to go back together."
Dora leaned forward to rest against him, and stroked his neck with her free hand.
…...
Long after they had finished eating, Tonks heard footfalls cautiously approach. She turned her head, unwilling to really leave Remus' soft fur where she had nestled into his side. The golden stag that was James Potter approached, the look in his eye speaking of reluctance to disturb them. Behind him Lily and Fred had the leftovers packed away back into the baskets.
"Hey, um…," Prongs began awkwardly, "the sun will set soon and I need to take Lily back…"
"Why do you need to take Lily back?" Tonks asked, "Or better yet, why couldn't we go with her, since I presume she has a house or something since she provided us with food."
"Because Lily told her parents she would return. And we don't know how they would react to a giant wolf and stag visiting." James added, "I'll help Fred find some of his family… I wouldn't be surprised if the Prewett brothers are around here somewhere." He seemed reluctant to continue, "Also, Tonks, you should probably visit your Grandmother."
"Alright, I can admit I am a little curious." Tonks really hoped it was her Granny Tonks she would find. "Have any of you seen a small cottage in the woods?"
Remus cleared his throat, "Only the gingerbread house."
Tonks frowned, that wasn't a good sign. Shrugging she brushed herself off and got to her feet, "I shall go to the creepy sugar house and find my Grandmother before nightfall."
The stag cocked his head, "that is how the story usually goes."
"I'll go with you," Remus quickly added, concern in his eyes.
Tonks smiled apologetically. "Somehow I don't think showing up with a wolf in tow would make the best impression."
"Fine," her husband huffed, "I'll wait outside."
James cocked his head again, "There is no reason you have to go alone…"
Fred almost skipped right up to Tonks, "Well, long lost Sis, what are we waiting for? Let's go visit this candy house."
"James and I will follow and wait outside," Remus growled, "signal us if anything suspicious happens."
…
A lot sooner than Tonks would have thought she found herself outside the candy house, Fred at her side, James and Remus hiding in the woods out back, and Lily currently giving away their positions by fiercely whispering her argument about how she should be with Fred and Tonks.
Tonks had also wondered if the candy house contained her Grandmother or if a different house existed down the road. When she voiced this James assured her that in his exploration on the area the only other residence besides the sugar house was where Lily found herself living with her parents who turned out to be a woodcutter and his wife.
The hushed argument ended with Lily being unceremoniously pushed into the bushes. Tonks waited a few more moments to make sure the other three were hidden and quiet before turning to Fred and raising an eyebrow. "Ready Freddy?"
Fred grinned and hooked his elbow around hers, "To Grandmother's house we go."
Tonks rolled her eyes as she pulled her companion up to the door. Taking a breath to steel herself she raised her hand and knocked.
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Expect the next update in two weeks.
