A/N: At the end of the post!
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Chapter 6 The Long Night
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He was grateful when she had come out into the small kitchen dressed in normal clothes, well, normal for her any way. She was wearing the green robes that she had purchased the day before in Diagon Alley.
Could it have only been yesterday?
The robes were bright in the early morning light, but they suited her perfectly. He was quite glad that she was wearing them.
Not that he didn't like seeing her in his clothes……
But it was just ….easier…
"Wotcher Remus." She smiled brightly and she leaned against the counter beside him.
"Tea? Or would you prefer coffee?"
"Tea's fine."
He handed her a cup and poured himself one.
"You do realize that we need to talk about this, don't you?" She said quietly as she sipped her tea.
He sighed heavily and nodded. It was not something he was particularly looking forward to.
"What exactly did you want to address?"
It would be much quicker and simpler if they got to the specifics.
"Well,….I….."
He didn't get to hear what she was or wanted. At that moment a brown owl landed precariously on the window ledge and tapped its beak on the glass.
"Sorry…..Daily Prophet." He muttered and he went to the window to retrieve the paper.
"Anything important?" She asked from across the room.
He unfolded the paper and scanned the front page. Nothing new.
He shook his head and folded the paper again and placed it on the table and went back to her.
"What were you going to say?" He asked.
"I…I…" She started. In his opinion, she looked quite nervous.
"I just wanted to know if….if you're going to run away again….?"
"Again….?" When had he run away in the first place?
"I know you didn't just join the Werewolves for the sake of the Order Remus. I'm not stupid." She said and she put down her cup.
I never said you were, but I never gave you enough credit either…. I didn't think you knew….
"Nymphadora, I…."
"You are, aren't you? You're going to run away again and try to forget about everything that's happened so far."
"No, I'm not."
She blinked at him in disbelief.
"Pull the other one." She said.
"I'm not going to run away and I'm not going to forget."
He was looking directly at her, his eyes meeting hers.
Her eyebrow arched.
"Promise?"
He smiled.
"On my honor as a Marauder." He told her and he placed his hand over his heart.
Hmm…. That's pretty good. He wouldn't say that unless he meant it. Sirius used to talk about Marauder honor…. He said that that oath was the strongest thing they ever made…
I hope she realizes what that oath means…..
"Alright." She smiled after a long moment.
"But I would like for you to promise me something, Nymphadora." He said.
Uh oh. I knew the other shoe was going to drop!
She looked at him expectantly and waited for him to continue.
"I want you to promise that once you leave today, you won't come back here…."
"I won't promise you that! Not ever!" She interrupted.
"Let me finish before you refuse. Promise you won't come back here before dawn tomorrow. I don't want you to take any chances where I'm concerned. No more than you are already taking by even associating with me, anyway."
"After dawn?"
"Yes. By then I will have returned to my human state. I don't want to risk you coming here while I'm still…..not quite myself, as it were. Promise me this and I will be here tomorrow morning waiting for you." He said.
She didn't like the idea of staying away from him, not one bit. But he wanted to keep her safe. It would probably be a relief for him if he knew that she wouldn't be in any danger. And he would be waiting for her…..
"I promise, but one minute after dawn……"
He chuckled. " I know. You'll be here."
She didn't think it was funny and she scowled at him.
"You're lucky you're cute or I'd be angry that you were laughing at me."
Cute! Cute!
He stared at her in disbelief and she ignored his bewildered expression and sighed.
"Well, no sense in starting the day on an empty stomach. What do you want for breakfast? And before you start arguing, yes, you are going to eat! You need something in your stomach."
He was half temped to take a step back from her. Spending so much time around Molly was definitely having an affect on her.
"And you want to cook?"
Her eyes narrowed at him.
"You know I can cook."
"Yes, I do….it's just that…."
"That what? Are you afraid I'll blow up your kitchen or something?"
"No, of course not. It's just that….you're a guest. You shouldn't have to cook." He explained.
Her eyes rolled and she laughed.
"Always the gentleman…." She muttered.
"Nym…"
"Are we going to make breakfast or not? That Daily Prophet is starting to look tasty."
That did it.
"Alright, here, lets start with the toast….."
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It was nice spending the day with her, especially since he would be alone that night. They finished making breakfast and ate while reading the Prophet.
She made several not so nice comments about the current administration at the Ministry and how they had their heads in places that the sun wouldn't shine.
That only reminded her that she should check in and see if the other Order members had heard any thing and possibly pop into the Auror offices and get an update there as well.
But she didn't want to leave… at least not yet anyway. She wanted to stay as long as she could.
"I'll be fine Nymphadora. Really, you should go and see what everyone else is up to." He had tried to persuade her.
"I will, but I want to stay with you a little longer. The office is still going to be full of people for half the night and some one is always at headquarters."
"Why will the office be so busy?" The Ministry usually wasn't open at all hours of the night…..
She sighed and shook her head.
"Scrimgeour has everyone working longer hours especially the Aurors. He had Mad-Eye, Kingsley and I pull a twenty-six hour shift last week. And then he had the brass to call us back into the office after only two hours off!" She told him and then she started laughing.
"What's so funny about that? I would have thought you would be angry…."
"Oh I am and I was. I told him that if he ever tried to do that again I'd hex his testicles off. And then I told him I was taking the day off and if he didn't like it he could sod off."
He had never heard her threaten a man's virility before, even when battling Death Eaters….. Scrimgeour had definitely landed on her bad side.
"He could fire you for talking out of turn like that."
She shrugged.
"He could, but he'd be hexing himself in the foot if he did that. The Ministry's under staffed as it is. The Aurors more so than any other office. That's why Mad-Eye's come out of retirement. Scrimgeour can't really afford to fire me. And the publicity would be bad for the Ministry. The Prophet would have a field day. 'Minister Fires Auror'. He'd never survive the backlash."
He smiled. She could be a handful at times, but she definitely knew how to hold her own.
"Well played." He said. She smiled. "Just remind me never to get on your bad side… I don't fancy the idea of having any part of my anatomy hexed off." He said with a laugh, but she knew he was being serious.
She laughed too.
"Mad-Eye actually liked that idea… I mean for Scrimgeour. Said it was just the sort of thing to keep the Minister in line. I don't think I've ever seen Scrimgeour give anyone the rest of the day off so quickly."
"I don't blame him. But what did Kingsley say?"
"Told Scrimgeour that he wouldn't lift a finger to stop me or Mad-Eye. Said he'd help us. Needless to say, King got the rest of the day off too."
"Scrimgeour makes more enemies than allies, doesn't he?"
She nodded. "He's a…..well, he's a pill. And that's putting it nicely."
He didn't doubt it. He had heard conversations while out and about and even among some Order members that Scrimgeour was quite hard to swallow and the descriptions went down hill from there. He may be able to boss people around better than Fudge, but that didn't make people like him any better.
"Harry's not too happy with him either… Apparently, Scrimgeour wanted Harry to publicly support what the Ministry is doing. After what happened during his fifth year…." He said.
"He didn't? He didn't really ask Harry, did he?" She asked.
"That's what Arthur said. Asked Harry on Christmas too." He told her.
Her eyes widened.
"That insufferable son of a …."
"Mind; there is a wolf present, Nymphadora."
Some might call him what she almost said.
"What a bloody bastard! I didn't think he was that …..oh, now I wish I had hexed him! And you are not an S.O.B."
"Well, I believe that Harry got his licks in. Arthur said that Scrimgeour looked quite sour when he left." He smiled.
"Even so… Scrimgeour is getting worse. He actually smacked Percy a few days ago. And Percy hadn't done anything wrong. And Scrimgeour just hauled off and hit him and he did it in front to Arthur, the Aurors and half the Wizengamot!"
His eyebrows arched.
"What happened then?" He asked her.
"Mad-Eye and I held Arthur back and Kingsley held Scrimgeour against a wall to keep him from hitting Percy again. And the Wizengamot…..I seriously think they are considering possible replacements."
"That would account for Arthur and Molly's foul moods the other day…." He commented.
They looked livid when Scrimgeour was mentioned at the meeting.
She nodded and sighed as she stood by the sitting room window.
It was going to be sunset soon.
He saw the look on her face. She didn't want to leave.
"Don't worry Nymphadora. Everything will be fine." Everything might have been a little broad, but he knew what she was probably thinking about…… And everything always did turn out all right….
She smiled at him and gave him a sparkling smile before turning her face away so that he wouldn't see her frown.
He didn't need to see to know that she was frowning. He could tell by the fact that she was no longer looking at him and had turned away.
He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on her shoulder. She shivered before leaning against him and placing her hands over his.
I wasn't expecting him to do that…. How did he know I needed a hug? What am I thinking! I should be trying to make him feel better, not the other way around!
"Remus?"
"Hmm?" He murmured beside her ear.
Merlin! Just that little sound made her want to melt!
"Why are you comforting me? It should be the other way around…."
He half smiled at that and sighed. Why had he hugged her like that?
"I suppose it is because I have lived like this for so long Nymphadora. I am quite accustomed to the transformations, but you…… This is all very new for you…."
That, and I just couldn't stop myself from holding you in my arms because you just look too damn perfect……
"And it is not for you to comfort me. Though I am flattered that you feel the need, it really is unnecessary. Besides, you looked like you could use a hug." He whispered.
"I did. I just………" She sighed and shook her head.
"You what?" He asked.
"I just wish…it didn't have to end."
Oh…..
"It won't be for long, Nymphadora, you know that."
He was now wishing the same thing….
"Yes, but still…." She said and she leaned into his embrace a little more. "I'll miss it."
He smiled. That was more comforting than she could ever know.
"As will I." He replied quietly and kissed her hair.
The sun was beginning to sink into the horizon and the sky was growing a distinct shade of orange.
Her hands tightened over his larger ones and her body tensed in his arms. If he didn't know better he would have thought she was the one that was going to be transforming.
She was waiting. Would it be five minutes? Or maybe only a few seconds before he decided that it was time for her to leave. She would leave, she had promised him as much, but she hadn't promised to like it.
He closed his eyes and tried to commit the feel of holding her in his arms to memory. She was so soft and warm…. And her unique rose and coconut scent invaded his nostrils….
He didn't want to let her go….
He sighed heavily. He had to….
She bit her lip and pulled away from him and walked over to the door and picked up the previous day's shopping.
He was taken aback by her abrupt departure from his arms, but he decided, it was probably better that way…..
"Tell everyone I said hello…." He said and he smiled, but his heart wasn't in it.
"I will." She didn't even attempt to smile. But she did walk back to him.
"Nymphadora….?"
She shook her head and quickly leaned up and stole a kiss from him before he could say another word.
"Right then. I will be seeing you in the morning." She said, brooking no argument, not that he would have given her one.
He smiled. "You will." He agreed.
She gave him a curt sort of nod and without further ado disapparated right in front of him.
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It was a relief now that she was gone. Not that he had wanted her to leave, but…..at least he knew she wouldn't get hurt.
He took out his wand and warded the door and all of the windows. He didn't want himself trying to escape later. Then once the wards were in place he went about rearranging the furniture- or more precisely, removing the furniture.
In his transformed state he had a tendency to destroy any and all furniture he came in contact with. It wasn't as though the furniture he owned was anything special, because it wasn't, but he really didn't feel like finding replacements.
When he went into his room to retrieve blankets, which would serve as his only comfort that night, he noticed that a certain smell lingered in the air.
Roses and coconut.
He sighed and collected the blankets he needed and then made every piece of bedroom furniture disappear. Her scent was weaker now, but still present. That could be a problem later. But he would deal with it then.
After he put half of the blankets on the floor in his bedroom, he went back into the sitting room and placed the stack of remaining blankets on the floor and then went into the kitchen.
He couldn't eat before transforming. He had learned that the hard way while still at Hogwarts. True, it wouldn't kill him to eat, but it wouldn't help. A full stomach always made the transformation feel worse.
He made himself a cup of fennel tea and hoped that it would keep his stomach from twisting into knots a short time later.
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She apparated in the Ministry and quickly had her wand checked and headed up to the Auror Offices.
"Evening Tonks. Iridescent as ever." Grinned Kingsley when he saw her pass by his desk.
"Wotcher Kingsley. Anything happen while I was away?"
He grinned and shook his head.
"Not a thing." He said and he leaned back in his chair and put his feet up on his desk. "Been rather quiet."
"And what about our resident sweetheart?"
"You mean me?" Called a gruff voice from behind her.
"Not thins time Mad-Eye, sorry." She smiled.
"Damn! Thought I might get to give you the 'constant vigilance' speech again." He smiled as he stepped beside her.
"Sorry to disappoint." She smiled back. "But anyway, what's Scrimgeour been up to?"
Kingsley shrugged. Mad-Eye answered.
"Been hold up in his office, pacing and sending out pecks of owls all over the country. Damn politicians! Never know how to handle their own mess!" Muttered the aged Auror.
"Hasn't he come up here to boss us around yet?" She asked.
Both men laughed.
"Not since you promised to castrate him, no." Said Kingsley.
"As I recall, you both backed me up on that."
"No less than he deserves!" Muttered Mad-Eye.
"I'm not sure any man deserves that….." Kingsley said quietly.
"Would you prefer I just knee him?" She asked.
"Knee who Tonks?" Asked Arthur, coming over to talk to them.
"Scrimgeour." The other three responded.
Arthur's face paled. "I would pity him….. but after what he did to Perce…."
"How's Percy doing? I haven't seen him….." She asked.
"His face is still a bit sore, but his pride's wounded more than anything. I doubt he'll be so fond of working here after this…" Said Arthur.
"And how's Molly? She looked a bit…..ruffled at the last meeting." Said Kingsley.
"I think she'd help Tonks if she needed a second knee…." Answered Arthur.
"Can't really blame her, can yeh? Percy's her kid and she'll always be protective of him, no matter how old he is." Said Mad-Eye.
Arthur nodded. "I'm afraid Molly's got a bit of a blind spot where our children are concerned."
"Molly's got a blind spot where a lot of people are concerned." Smiled Kingsley.
Arthur laughed. "True."
"Has anyone heard anything….from anyone?" She asked.
"Not a peep." Said Kingsley.
"I guess I should check in then and see…." She said.
"I haven't seen Remus in a while… and tonight's the full moon." Said Arthur.
"He's at home." She offered.
"Molly's been worried about him lately and so have I for that matter. He's beginning to look rather sickly…." Said Arthur.
"You'd look sick too if you were a Werewolf, Weasley." Said Mad-Eye.
"I guess he won't be coming to Number twelve then." Said Kingsley.
She shook her head. "He's staying home."
"So you talked to him?" Asked Mad-Eye.
"I went to visit him. He's alright, just a bit….sad about tonight. But I'm going back to check on him in the morning." She said.
"You'd better be careful Tonks." Said Kingsley.
"Why?" She asked.
The three men exchange somewhat nervous glances.
"Well, he's…. sometimes he's still not quite…..himself in the morning after a full moon." Explained Arthur.
"The only people who could go near him were Sirius, and James, when he was still alive. If memory serves, Minerva was asked to check in on him once…. That didn't go so well." Said Mad-Eye.
"What happened?" She asked.
"Remus nearly turned her into a chew toy."
She gasped, and stared wide-eyed at him.
"Apparently, he doesn't like cats….." Shrugged Mad-Eye.
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It wouldn't be long now….
He could feel some of his muscles starting to tense up- a sign that the transformation would start soon.
He sighed and cast one more spell over his home- a silencing spell. No need to frighten the neighbors….
Once the spell was cast he put his wand in a drawer in the kitchen. It would be safest there.
Just one more thing left to do…..
He went into the sitting room and divested himself of his clothing. He had few garments as it was and there was no sense in letting another set of clothes be destroyed for no reason if he could help it.
Piling the clothes neatly in a corner, he glanced out a window and sighed. She was safe, probably at the Ministry, talking with friends. And when she tired of being at work, she would go to Grimmauld and maybe even visit Molly at the Burrow later if she didn't see her at Grimmauld…. There was no reason to worry about her tonight. There hadn't been anything horrible in the Prophet and the Order wasn't sending her on any missions. There was no reason to panic- and that was good reason to worry.
No news meant that the Death Eaters were being quiet and if they were being quiet they were planning something. And they never planned innocent tea parties.
He knew that quiet days lead to stormy nights….. Now he was hoping that tonight wouldn't be one of those nights.
Truth be told, he had always been protective where she was concerned. Probably because she was more like a little sister to Sirius than a cousin and wanted to pal around with the Marauders at every opportunity. But now….. it wasn't so much 'Older Brother Being Overprotective' syndrome with which he was afflicted. He had been afflicted with that for years… No, now it was different, stronger……
He shook his head.
No, there was no way… He couldn't possibly….
But he did and he knew it.
And just as the realization was dawning on him, the first ray of moonlight slipped through the drapes and hit him.
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Thankfully, no orders came into the office while she was there. For some reason the Death Eaters were being uncharacteristically quiet. Not a good thing………..but at least she didn't have to deal with them tonight on top of her worries.
She chatted a little while longer with her peers and then left to check on things at HQ. She probably would have ended up tripping over her own two feet if she would have stayed at the office. It seemed that whenever her mind was occupied with too many thoughts at once, she became more prone to accidents. Better to avoid that situation if she could.
Apparating into number twelve seemed like a good idea -at first.
The loud pop that announced her arrival also roused Mrs. Black.
Tonks scrambled down the hall as fast as she could, her hands over her ears.
"Traitor! Mudblood! Filth! How dare you desecrate my ancestral home, you vile muggle loving backstabber!"
She shook her head as she entered the kitchen.
"Mrs. Black having a snit again?" Asked Ginny.
"A big one." Muttered Tonks.
"And all because of you." Sneered Snape.
"Don't start with me, Professor Prick! I've already got half a mind to curse you into the middle of the next millennium."
Snape's eyebrow arched. "You, curse me?" There was a definite note of amusement in his tone.
"Sod off you git! I'm not in the mood."
"Tonks! Language!" Scolded Molly.
Ginny was staring wide-eyed. She'd never seen anyone mouth off to Snape…. And he hadn't hexed Tonks into oblivion for it either!
"It's not like Ginny hasn't heard it before or never thought it, Molly!" Snapped Tonks.
"And just what have I done to warrant such….language?" Asked Snape.
Hmm……..he should have hexed me by now…. Especially for that professor prick comment……
"I'll give you a hint: full moon. You're supposed to be smart. Figure it out!" She barked at him.
His other eyebrow came up in surprise and then a smirk settled over his features.
"Full moon? Ah yes…. Lupin will be transforming tonight. But I fail to see what that has to do with me, Miss Tonks. I'm not the one who bit him." Smiled Snape.
"You know perfectly well what that has to do with you, you vindictive bastard!
"Ginny, out. Now!" Ordered Molly and she ushered the teen out of the kitchen and neither returned.
Snape stood up from his chair and closed some of the space between himself and Tonks.
"I would watch my tongue if I were you. Another outburst like that and you just may lose it." He warned, his eyes blazing with hatred for her.
"Fuck off."
In the blink of an eye, his hand was around her throat and he had her pressed against the closest wall.
"Care to repeat that Miss Tonks?" He seethed.
"Fuck you!" She yelled.
His grip on her throat tightened and he glared at her.
"There is a revel tonight. I'm sure fifty or so Death Eaters could find use for a female Auror. And one with your talents…" He smiled maniacally at her.
She wriggled and tried to get his hand away from her throat, but his hold only tightened.
"What would Lupin say if he found out that you had been whoring yourself out to Death Eaters?" He threatened.
"Tell me, Severus, do you want children?" She choked out.
"What!" What the hell did that have to do with anything?
"Do you want to have children?" She repeated.
"That's none of your business!" He barked at her.
"Not that any woman would let you slither on top of her, but I think it is my business." She shot back.
"You insolent little…" He started.
She brought her knee up and hit him between the legs as hard as she could.
A strangled sound issued from his mouth and he released her throat and staggered backward, holding himself.
"You see, I don't think you'll be having children any time soon." She told him as she rubbed her throat.
"Bitch!" He snarled.
"Only on my good days. That's a gift from me to you. And just in case you get any foul ideas….." She said and she pulled out her wand and cast a nasty little spell that had him writhing on the floor in pain.
"Sirius taught me that one, I'm just sorry he never got to see me use it, especially on you. Well, good night Professor." She said and she left the kitchen and went to find Molly and Ginny.
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Pain coursed through his veins and shot up his spine. All of his muscles tensed, locking him in a standing position, unable to move. Fur began to burst out of his skin, covering him in a thick coat of dark brown and silver. His nails became long and sharp deadly claws as his ears were replaced by the ears of a wolf. As if his spine were elongating, a long tail grew out of his body. His face was screwed up in a grimace of pain. The entire process was painful, but the most painful were his organs rearranging to suit his new body form and his face reconfiguration.
A snout jutted out from between his cheeks, his teeth became fangs, his nose became cold and black and his eyes remained unchanged. His eyes never changed from their golden amber color. They were the only part of his body that did not hurt.
A savage snarl ripped from his throat as the transformation finished and he fell to the floor in the form of a very large timber wolf. He was now a true werewolf.
His breathing was rapid as he became accustomed to his body's changes. He laid there on the floor for an age. There really was no way of telling how long. But he knew it was a long time. The rays of moonlight moved considerably and even though they still hit him, the moon was in a much higher position in the sky.
Transformations always took a lot out of him, but this one was….worse than usual, to put it mildly. He had never been so exhausted. But then again, he normally wasn't in such a state before a transformation either.
He had known this one would be difficult; there was no doubt of that. She drove him crazy when he was in his human form, his Weren form should be no different. There had been girls in the past that he had liked and they had made transformations interesting, but he had never longed for them, not the way he longed for her. With the others, he had simply wanted to kiss them. But not with her, she was different. He LOVED her and even if he couldn't truly admit it in his human form, his Weren form was all too aware of that fact.
And then he caught the faint trace of her scent in the air of the room and he began to shake.
There was good reason to rid his home of anything that could possibly have her scent on it. In his Weren form he was more susceptible to females. And if there was a specific female around, one for which he held feelings of any kind, be they good or bad, he would try to seek out the woman. If his feelings for the woman were bad, he would seek to attack her and spill her blood. And if his feelings toward her were positive….
He was fighting it. He didn't want to let it happen. He didn't allow it when he was human and he wouldn't allow it when he was a werewolf! Unfortunately, the wolf instincts were overpowering him. Even though he was trying to, he couldn't stop. He went into his bedroom, where her scent was strongest. His nostrils flared and his eyes rolled back in his head. It was overwhelming his senses.
Fighting became quite painful. The truth was that no matter how much he didn't want it to happen…. It would happen. He knew that much was true; it had already started. The images in his head weren't helping things. He pulled the blankets from their neat stack and managed to spread them out on the floor and then he rolled on them, and effectively rolled himself up in them, albeit somewhat messily, in an attempt to control what was going to happen.
When he closed his eyes….. he could see her and he was with her in his Weren form. He had her cornered… He leapt… She was under him…
The moon was hanging high in the sky and was clearly visible through his bedroom window. His whole body shook on the floor in the blankets, but not from being cold…..
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"Tonks, what happened? Was Snape screaming?" Asked Molly.
"I just did to him what I threatened to do to Scrimgeour and before you go off, he deserved it. He tried to choke me." Said Tonks.
"You-you just….?" Asked Ginny and she made a snipping motion with two fingers. "His…?" She said.
Tonks nodded. "Like I said, he had it coming." Explained Tonks.
"But Tonks…." Began Molly.
"No buts Molly. I'm glad I did it. Someone had to put him in his place. The only thing I'm sorry about is that Sirius wasn't here to see it. He would have thoroughly enjoyed it after Snape was such a git to him." Said Tonks.
"You shouldn't have done that Tonks. Severus is a vital member of the Order. We need him. It isn't good to anger him." Said Molly.
Tonks scowled and shook her head.
"And what would you have done if he had threatened to take you or Ginny to tonight's revel? And then threatened to tell Arthur that you or Ginny were a whore of the Death Eaters? And believe me when I tell you Molly, he meant every word! Every bloody word!" Said Tonks.
Molly and Ginny's eyes widened.
"He didn't….!" Said Molly in disbelief.
"He did." Said Tonks.
"But he's supposed to be on our side…. Ho could he….!" Asked Ginny.
"He may be helping the Order, but make no mistake, him being a bastard isn't an act. It runs straight through his black little core." Said Tonks disdainfully.
Molly's face hardened.
"When I go back into that kitchen he better be gone or so help me…. I'll hex off the rest of his endowments!" She growled.
Tonks and Ginny both looked at her, Ginny in shock and Tonks in gratitude.
"Mum! You can't do that!" Said Ginny. "What would dad say?"
"He'd say that it was no less than Severus deserved for such a threat. And if Severus said it, he meant it Ginny. That man has never made an idle threat." Explained Molly.
Molly then turned to Tonks.
"I'm sorry dear, I had no idea…. And with tonight being a full moon… You must be quite worried about Remus." Said Molly.
Tonks nodded and sighed.
"I left his place at sunset. He promised me that he would be alright until morning by himself, but….." Said Tonks.
"But you love him." Smiled Molly.
Tonks looked up and gave a lopsided smile.
"Do you really?" Ginny asked. Tonks and Remus just seemed like such an odd pair to be together.
"Ginny!" Scolded Molly.
"No, it's alright Molly." Said Tonks and she turned to Ginny. "I do, always have. Ever since I was a little girl. Kind of silly really, but that's the truth." She told the younger girl.
"It's not silly Tonks. It's just…well, you and Remus… You don't seem like you'd get along like that…." Said Ginny.
"Ginny Weasley!" Said Molly. "That's uncalled for and very rude!" Said her mother.
Tonks shrugged and laughed.
"I know… We're polar opposites." She said and she ran her hand threw her hair before continuing. "He's so proper and organized and I'm…. well neither of those things. He's muted and subtle and I'm loud and hard to ignore…. He's black and white and I'm more of a rainbow… But…. I guess it's that whole opposites attract thing." Said Tonks and the other two women smiled.
"You've got it bad." Said the other two women in unison.
"Tell me something I don't know." Laughed Tonks.
"He's got it just as bad." Said Molly.
Tonks looked at her puzzled.
"What do you mean?" Tonks asked.
"He's smitten with you, dear. He doesn't show it well, but he is. The way his face flushes when you two share a look or the way he looks at you at meetings when he knows you aren't looking…. And he cares, dear. He's talked with Arthur, but don't tell Remus or Arthur that I told you. He isn't quite sure what to do. He's worried about you, mostly, he's worried that he will hurt you." Said Molly.
"That's stupid. I've told him…." Began Tonks.
"Stupid, it may be, but Remus was concerned. Arthur is by no means an expert, but he did speak to Remus. I think Arthur convinced him to trust your judgment." Smiled Molly.
"Merlin, I hope so." Said Tonks.
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He was writhing in the blankets from the visions in his head.
… He was pistoning into her… She screamed…
His eyes snapped open just as he came, howling at the moon.
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A/N: Thanks for all of the reviews on this story so far. I'm glad that it's so well liked by the people who review it and I appreciate it. I'm sorry it took a little longer to get this one out. But I have made up for that, a little and since everyone is asking for "more more more" that's what you're getting. This is the longest post so far for this series (so please don't complain about the length, one way or the other). I tried to go into as much detail as I thought was safe at quite a few points (you'll know 'em when ya see 'em). Alright, now for the fun part of my notes! Other characters FINALLY make an appearance!(this was requested a while ago….) Yay! Yes, this one stars everyone's favorite females of the Weasely clan, Molly and Ginny. Kingsley, Mad-Eye, and Arthur make and appearance as well. Scrimgeour is mentioned, as well as Minerva, and Percy. Mrs. Black is in here too and so is everyone's favorite bat from the dungeons- Snape! A short note about Snape- I don't actually hate him (you may get that impression once you have read this). I just felt like venting some rage and he was the target. Plus I know that some view him as evil and would like to see him get hit with some serious Karma. The "Professor Prick" comment is one that I found myself using to describe my last English professor- I thought it would do nicely in here. Oh! And the fennel tea that Remus drinks- that's not made up! It really is a natural remedy for upset stomachs (a little family secret of mine-great granmother was a witch, seriously. shhhh!).