Hi: I love this chapter. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. It's sweet as beans!
I dare to dream that she might even care for me - Heaven's Light - Tom Hulce, from Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Remus was standing in Honeydukes. The largest kind of box you could get of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans was sitting as innocently as a box could sit at eye level on the shelf he was facing. Remus felt like he was having a staring competition with the box of Beans. It could either completely ruin everything or it could patch things up a bit.
Remus read the slogan on the box:
A risk with every mouthful!
"Yeah, they got that right," he muttered under his breath.
Remus drew in his breath, snatched up the box, paid for it ('I really ought to stop spending my money on sweets,' he thought to himself), and left the store to find the post office. He tied a huge pink ribbon around the box and wrote a note on a piece of parchment and attached it to the box. Remus gave it to the wizard out the front of the post office, told him which owl he wanted to deliver, where he wanted it to go to, and in a few moments he was watching a large, tawny owl fly out into the cloudless sky with the massive box tied to its claws.
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Remus was set to leave that afternoon. It was a bright sunny day. This, however, did not reflect how he felt. If a big, black cloud swarmed overhead and thunder began to boom and crash, that would reflect him perfectly.
He was scared. He didn't want to live with the werewolves, he hated them. He knew what they did to children, to families, to him. What if he were forced to take part in their huntings? Remus shuddered. That thought had played at his mind repeatedly since Dumbledore had told him to be a spy. He tried not to think of it too much but how could he when there was every possibility of destroying an innocent child's life? And what about Greyback? How was Remus to gain trust from him?
More importantly, how would Remus he able to live with him? He was a monster. Greayback had ruined his life.
Remus shoved a jumper into his bag and sipped it up. He trudged down the stiars gloomily and into the kitchen to make himself his last good cup of tea for a fair while.
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There was a tapping sound coming from the lounge room.
Tonks looked up from a roll of parchment she had been filling out for work.
The tapping continued.
Tonks got up from her seat in the kitchen and walked into the lounge room, curious.
A large, tawny owl was pecking at her window, something pink was tied to its leg. She ruched over to let the owl inside and took the item off the bird's leg. The owl took off out the window straight away.
In her hand Tonks held a massive box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans wrapped up in a huge, bright pink ribbon. There was a note attached. Tonks unfolded it.
Dearest Tonks,
Now, how did I know these would be your favourite?
They are surprising and fun. They are colourful and intriguing, and while they may look all sweet and innocent, there is so much more to them than their outer shell.
I know these were your favourite because they remind me of you.
You are surprising and fun. You are colourful and intriguing, and there is much, much more to you than what people see. You may look all sweet and innocent, and yes, you are, but I also know a different side of Tonks. The one who is serious, caring and considerate and who wants the best for everybody.
I think you deserve the best and I can't give that to you, but I can give you think: a simple box of beans which I hope will make you happy because somehow I don't think that I ever could.
I am leaving this afternoon. I may not be able to write to you much but please, if you can, write to me. I want to know that you are safe and you are doing well (and I'll try my absolute best to write back).
Please stay safe.
Love Remus
Tonks read and reread the letter. She sat in her armchair. There was something tugging hard at her heart as she went over Remus's words. There was so much there in such a short letter. There was love, there was sadness and there was a thin, invisible glaze of regret. Tonks just stared at the letter, soaking in every word. He thought she was surprising, fun, colourful and intriguing. He saw more of her, the seriousness. Remus knew her, he knew her well. She looked at the words 'Love Remus'. Tonks's heart was flipping crazily. She read them a dozen times before refolding the letter. She would put it somewhere special where she put everything special. Tonks wouldn't open the box of Beans though. She had left the ribbon around the box as she carried it to her room and sat it on her bedside table for safe keeping.
