7. The Wedding
The morning of the wedding dawned bright and clear. Tonks woke up at six o'clock, yawning and stretching.
She looked out the window and saw the sun just coming over the horizon, making the dew on the grass sparkle.
Then she remembered what day it was.
She gasped and jumped out of bed. Nerves fluttered in her stomach and she grinned; she dressed hurriedly and went downstairs to the still empty kitchen and grabbed a goblet of Pumpkin Juice and went to sit on the front porch steps. She could hardly believe she was getting married today. If someone had told her six months ago that she would be here, she wouldn't have believed them. The sun was still relatively new in the sky and Tonks relished in the warm light it bathed the world in.
But she found that she couldn't really sit still for long; she walked back inside and to the kitchen, looking for something to do.
To her surprise, her mother was in the kitchen.
Her mum wasn't usually this much of an early riser, but she looked up when Tonks entered and smiled.
"Morning Nymphadora," Her mother greeted.
"Mom, please don't-"
"It's your last morning at home, my girl. Humor me." She said, turning away as she said it.
Tonks walked over to the counter where her mum was starting some eggs, "Mum, I won't be far away." She said gently.
Her mother dabbed at her eyes and hugged her.
"I know dear." She said. "I'll just miss you, that's all."
"I'll miss you too mum, but I won't be far, and I'll visit." Tonks promised.
"You're right." Her mum said, smiling at her and seeming to begin regaining her usual composure.
Tonks started to go upstairs and her mum called her back and handed her a plate of eggs.
"Thank you mum," She said, knowing better than to argue. But the butterflies in her stomach made her wonder if eating was really the best idea. She could still hardly believe this day was finally here.
She ate quickly and went up to get changed. Ginny, whom she had chosen as her bridesmaid, was getting there early so they could do each others hair.
Molly was to be her maid of honor; Molly had protested, saying it should be Ginny, but Ginny had stepped in, siding with Tonks, agreeing that it should be her mother because she'd been the one to encourage Tonks about Lupin even when it looked hopeless.
She put on her wedding dress and looked in the mirror.
She hardly recognized herself.
It was a simple dress. It dipped low in the front and the back, and was nearly strapless, with very thin straps over her shoulders; the off-white, silky material clung softly to her body and flowed seamlessly down past her ankles into a short train.
She had just started messing with her short pink hair trying to see what would work, when a knock sounded at her door.
"Come in." She called.
"Morning Tonks," Ginny greeted excitedly.
"Wotcher Ginny," Tonks got up from her chair to hug her, and Ginny exclaimed,
"Tonks, you look so beautiful! Lupin won't be able to keep his eyes off you." she grinned.
"Thank you, Ginny. That's the idea." She said, laughing.
She stepped back from Ginny and took in her appearance. She was wearing a light blue long dress that flowed around her ankles, and had little rhinestones set in about the fabric of the bottom, making it sparkle as it floated above the ground.
"Ginny you look absolutely wonderful!"
"I wish Harry was here - he wouldn't be able to keep his eyes off you either you know." Tonks said, winking.
Ginny's face fell ever so slightly and she spoke quickly, "Shall we start on your hair then?"
Tonks wondered exactly what had gone down between them...she debated for a moment on whether she should ask or not...
"Ginny, what happened with you and Harry?" Tonks asked carefully.
Ginny looked away, but Tonks still caught a glimpse of her sad face.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Tonks asked sympathetically. "I know it did me good to talk to your mum when Remus was being...stubborn." Tonks said, not allowing herself to think back to that time.
Ginny was quiet for a couple minutes, trying different things with Tonks's hair, but after a few moments her hands stilled and the whole story came forth.
"Harry...well, Harry has something he has to do. A job Dumbledore left for him. And apparently Ron and Hermione know what it is and are going with him. But they keep saying they can't tell anyone else. Well, Harry seems to think that this is going to be dangerous and that Voldemort might try to...to use me to get Harry to do -or not do- something and he doesn't want me in danger. So after Dumbledore's funeral, he told me all this, and said that we couldn't be together anymore." She stopped there, taking a deep breath, her eyes slightly wet.
She had never seen Ginny cry.
Ever.
Sadness for Ginny's sadness filled her; even though she thought she understood Harry's reasoning behind this decision, it didn't make it any easier - for either of them.
She knew that Harry didn't want to do it, but Tonks felt as though Ginny might be missing that bit of this.
"What did you say when he told you, Ginny?" She asked, wanting to know the whole story before she told Ginny what she suspected.
"I said I didn't care if it was dangerous." She said, her eyes fierce, "And I meant every word."
Tonks lay a hand on her shoulder, understanding Ginny's feelings exactly.
"What did Harry say?"
"He said he did care." She said, now having put up a mask of bravery to cover her expressions.
Tonks knew her suspicions were correct now. She turned to face Ginny, hoping that she could somehow help her see.
"Oh Ginny. Don't you see?" said Tonks, now as sad for Harry as she was for Ginny.
"Harry didn't want this; didn't want to let you go. I'll bet he hated every second of it.
Don't you see though that he wouldn't have done that if he didn't truly care about you?"
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked, looking a bit confused.
"Remember what happened with Sirius... That tore Harry to pieces. He holds himself responsible for that. I'd bet you that's what he was thinking of when he let you go. Because he cares about you so much, and wouldn't be able to stand it if something happened to you, too. I know Harry; Remus knows Harry and you can ask either of us and we'll tell you that Harry doesn't say things he doesn't mean, and he wouldn't just mess around. I know he cares about you. The fact that he tried to break up with you proves that." said Tonks, conviction in her words.
"Do you really think so?" Ginny asked, looking hopeful.
"I'd bet a sack of Galleons I don't have on it." Tonks said, "Remember, I had to put up with the same from Remus for a while. Except he wanted to protect me from himself - he obviously failed." She said, grinning.
"But Harry'll come around. Mark my words." Tonks said, hugging Ginny.
"Thank you Tonks." She said, her voice sounding thick as though she was crying a bit.
Tonks tactfully didn't remark on her tears, but simply started to brush her long, beautiful red hair. She pulled part of it into an elegant twist, with soft tendrils hanging around her face.
"There. You look so gorgeous you ought to be the one getting married." Tonks said, smiling. Ginny smiled in the mirror, her cheeks turning slightly pink. Tonks took a picture before Ginny could object; and planned to give it to Harry before he left on his mission.
"Don't tell Molly I said that." Tonks said quickly, chuckling.
Ginny grimaced, "I wouldn't do that to a friend." She said, laughing.
Tonks laughed with her, and Ginny tried some things with Tonks's shoulder-length pink hair. Tonks had decided to leave it pink for the wedding because it was Remus's favourite of her hair colors.
They ended up deciding on pulling a bit of the front back in two intricate braids, letting the rest fall in a shiny pink curtain, for Ginny had done some sort of magic to make it lie flat.
"Oh Tonks, you look lovely!" She said admiringly.
"Thank you, Ginny," She said warmly. "Especially for saving my hair." She added with a grin.
They headed downstairs together. Halfway down Tonks tripped and caught herself on the staircase. She laughed out loud.
"Ah, I knew there was a reason I didn't wear dresses."
Ginny was usually rather well balanced, but as Tonks spoke, she tripped also.
Ginny and Tonks reached the bottom in one piece, and laughed till their stomachs hurt.
Tonks's mum came rushing in around the corner, apparently wondering if something was wrong.
She stopped quickly when she saw Tonks, and when Tonks looked at her, she saw tears in her mum's eyes as she gazed upon her daughter.
"My girl." She wrapped Tonks in a hug, seeming incapable of saying anything else.
Ginny respectfully pretended to be admiring the decor.
After another tearful comment her mother bustled back into the kitchen, where Molly was helping her with the food.
Tonks and Ginny looked at each other and grinned. They made their way outside, where the yard had been transformed, with a small tent, and a banquet table already set up, waiting for food to be placed upon it. She caught a glimpse of Mad-Eye, looking extremely uncomfortable in dress robes, though she had told him he could dress like he always did.
Lupin had stayed over at the Weasley's the night before, and he and Arthur were arriving in a little while.
They had hardly been outside for two minutes when Molly came hurrying out the door.
"There you are! Tonks dear, you must stay in the house - don't want to ruin the surprise." She reprimanded gently.
She took a breath, and looked at them properly for the first time.
"Dear Tonks, my Ginny, you both look so beautiful." she said with a watery smile, giving them each a hug.
"I'll let you know when it's time." she said, rushing back to the kitchen, leaving them sitting in Tonks's bedroom.
Tonks sighed, "I always knew I'd hate this part of getting married. Not doing anything, just being told to sit and wait."
"Yeah, I guess Aurors don't exactly have that sit-and-wait mentality do they?" Ginny said dryly.
"Not at all." Tonks agreed.
Tonks noticed that Ginny had looked much happier since Tonks had explained Harry's likely logic for breaking it off with her.
"Tell me about how you and Harry got together!" Tonks exclaimed suddenly, for she hadn't heard this story.
Ginny smiled, and told her the story, Harry getting detentions through the last Quidditch match of the year, because of that idiot Cormac McLaggen. And them winning despite all this, and the victory, and the kiss...
Tonks smiled and laughed through almost the whole thing.
Love, is the best part of this world. It makes this crazy place worth living in. She thought to herself.
Ginny was almost to Dumbledore's funeral when Molly poked her head in. "They're ready for you." She said smiling.
They walked downstairs, and suddenly Tonks noticed her heart was pounding.
Molly sent Ginny out the front door of the house first, carrying a basket of flowers.
"Molly, you look stunning." She said.
"Thank you Tonks. I'm so glad we're here - you are so beautiful my dear, I can't tell you how happy I am for you and Remus." She squeezed her hand, and then walked out the door.
Molly reached the front, where a minister and Lupin waited in the dappled summer shade of an ancient oak tree. Now it was Tonks's turn, and all of a sudden, fighting a couple Death Eaters seemed less scary than what she was about to do.
The butterflies that had been fluttering in her stomach all morning seemed to be in chaos now.
Her father came up beside her; taking her arm, and smiled at her.
"My girl, you look..." He trailed off and rested a hand on her shoulder, seeming to understand her expression.
"Dad, why do I feel so...nervous? I know that Remus is the only man I'll ever love, but, I still feel..." She didn't want to say any of this aloud, but she had to ask.
"The day I married your mother, I was a nervous wreck." He said gently.
"That was the best decision I've ever made; it was the beginning of the happiest days of my life. Giving you away today... that's going to be the hardest thing I've ever done." He stopped there and cleared his throat. She gave him a hug.
"I love you dad. I promise I won't be far." She said, getting a bit damp-eyed herself.
"I love you too, darling - don't be a stranger." He said.
She smiled and was about to step out the door when her father opened his mouth to speak again.
She stopped and waited, and after a moment he spoke again.
"Dora, I want you to know that...I'm okay with Remus. I like him, I think he's a good man - of course I'll worry, but the most important thing is that you two love each other. I'm just glad to see you happy." He said.
"Thank you dad." She said, touched more than he knew that he had accepted Remus as part of their family.
"You ready?" He asked.
She took a deep breath, and nodded.
He led her out the front door and into the sunlit yard. It was transformed; in the trees someone had artfully woven white streamers in and around the branches. Her father led her down the short aisle. Sighs issued from the friends and family she as walked between them.
Butterflies danced crazy in her stomach as she walked. She looked around for Lupin, wondering if he was as nervous as she was.
At last she saw him.
He was standing to the side with Arthur; Molly and Ginny were standing by where Tonks would be standing in a few moments. But Tonks barely noticed anything else after seeing Lupin. Her breath caught when she saw the man she loved; the man she would spend the rest of her life with. Suddenly, all the butterflies seemed to quiet; peace filled her, knowing that Lupin would always be by her side. His eyes widened when he saw her, and she blushed.
She actually blushed.
All of a sudden she almost felt like laughing. She was being ridiculous.
Her nerves quieted as she reached him and looked up into his warm blue eyes. Amazement was in his eyes, and that tender, loving expression that had become so dear to her.
Her father placed her hand in Lupin's, and she laced her fingers with his. When they turned to face the minister and Tonks saw who was standing before them she gasped.
"Kingsley?" She asked in disbelief.
The friends and family sitting behind them laughed. Apparently she'd been the only one who hadn't known.
She looked over at Lupin; he was grinning.
"Surprise," He said.
She smiled hugely - Kingsley was smiling too, and Tonks thought that she could have hugged him.
"Remus thought I would be a better choice since we don't want all the Death Eaters at the Ministry to know everything what we are up to." Kingsley explained.
Tonks nodded, "Well, minister, are you going to use that 'power vested in you by whoever' or what?" She asked with a grin.
Kingsley laughed, but as she turned to face Lupin so the ceremony could begin, she saw that, though his mouth was quirked up at the corners, he looked as though he felt exactly the same way.
She couldn't believe this was finally happening.
Hagrid, wearing his rather horrible fuzzy brown suit, in his giant seat in the back, was crying, a huge hankie wiping at his eyes.
Kingsley began with a lovely speech, and it seemed to go so quickly till the end.
And then the words rang out clear and slow:
"Do you, Remus Lupin, take Nymphadora Tonks to be your wife to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love, comfort, honor, and keep her for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to her so long as you both shall live?"
His eyes were soft, and when he spoke, the words came like a quiet promise. "I do."
Her heart beat faster as Kingsley now spoke to her.
"And do you, Nymphadora Tonks, take Remus Lupin to be your husband to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love, comfort, honor, and keep him for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to him so long as you both shall live?"
She looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said.
"I do." Two words alone had never held so much meaning.
Kingsley hardly got out the words:
"I now pronounce you bonded for life. You may kiss the bride." Before Lupin pulled her into his arms, kissing her, his lips exultant and yet so gentle. Tonks barely noticed the applause and whistles.
He was hers, she was his, and they would never have to be parted again. Her deep, unmeasurable joy overflowed into their kiss.
When they pulled back, they stared for a moment into each others happy, tear-filled eyes.
The sound of more clapping broke out around them. Tonks had barely turned around when Molly embraced her, her eyes wet, and her mother came rushing up, crying, to hug them both. Her father hugged them both, bidding them to take good care of one another. When Slughorn approached (whom they'd both felt glad to invite, seeing as he'd been so kind to them over the past two years, and had been making the Wolfsbane potion for Lupin.) Tonks hugged him, and they both thanked him repeatedly; he was as genial as ever, with a large smile on his face and as kind as always.
She stood with Lupin, accepting their dear family and friends' congratulations and well wishes. The summer sunshine couldn't have been any more beautiful, and as she stood there, her hand held tight in Lupin's, she felt she had never been happier in all her life than right at this moment.
Mad-Eye was the last to approach; he was pulling at the neck of his dress robes.
"Remus, congratulations." He said, shaking his hand.
When he turned to Tonks, he paused, looking uncomfortable, but more emotional than Tonks had ever seen him.
"Congratulations. I'm...happy for both of you, and I'm...really glad to see you so happy Dora. I'm proud of you." He said gruffly.
There were tears in her eyes; for Mad-Eye that was as good as him saying 'I love you'.
He went to pat her on the shoulder but she threw her arms around him. "Thank you Mad-Eye." She whispered tearfully. He hugged her back awkwardly.
The reception was wonderful. They talked and laughed with the Weasley's and Mad-Eye, and Kingsley, McGonagall, Slughorn, Bill, Fleur, Hagrid, and Tonks's parents.
Lupin kept catching her eye, all through dinner and dessert.
"What?" She finally asked in a quiet voice, curious.
"You are absolutely breathtaking." He said softly.
To Tonks's surprise, her eyes dampened a bit and she had to suppress the sudden urge to kiss him again.
"You too." She whispered, his eyes drew hers like a magnet, and for a moment the sounds of their loved ones conversations faded.
The expression in his eyes made her warm all over and she blushed.
I'm really setting myself a record with that today. She thought, amused at her own expense, but too happy to really care.
When the afternoon sun was getting lower in the sky, Molly stood up.
"Two things," She said, smiling, "First, I want to say thank you to our dear friends Tonks and Remus for letting us share this happy day with them. Congratulations you two! Secondly, I think it is time for Mr. and Mrs. Lupin to be off."
Tonks smiled when she heard herself called Mrs. Lupin; this day had been so wonderful it was better than a dream.
Tonks already had her things that she wanted sent to Lupin's earlier that day. Lupin had wanted to take her on a honeymoon, but what with the war, it wasn't practical; so they were going home. Which, to Tonks, sounded more wonderful than any other place.
Everyone hugged them one last time, wishing them congratulations, and Tonks and Lupin thanked everyone profusely.
As she gazed around at the happy faces of the people she loved most in the world, it all felt so surreal.
She was married. To Remus Lupin.
She looked at Lupin, and her smile only got bigger when she the expression in his eyes.
He looked so happy.
After waving goodbye one last time, Tonks and Lupin Disapparated to the surprisingly silent yard in front of Lupin's house...and her house now too.
They walked to the door, and she was about to walk in when Lupin stopped her by putting a hand on her shoulder. He looked at her, his eyes sparkling and she smiled; she was completely shocked when he bent and picked her up.
"Remus what-"
He interrupted her by pressing his lips to hers gently for just a moment.
When he pulled away, she was silent, staring into his eyes, love for him filling every fiber of her being.
He carried her inside, and set her down carefully on her feet.
"Welcome home, Mrs. Lupin." He said, his eyes twinkling with that happy look she loved so much.
She felt something like tears well up in her, and she couldn't think of a single way to say how much those words meant to her.
Instead she hugged him, his arms wound around her, and he held her tightly for a moment before pulling back to look into her eyes.
He slowly reached up and loosed her hair, letting it fall around her shoulders. He ran a hand through it and she closed her eyes. She reached up and traced gently down his face, following the track of his scars, and tracing all the way down and across his lips. She couldn't believe he was finally hers.
When she looked into his eyes again, the look froze her; she couldn't breathe.
Desire and longing shone in them. His soft lips caressed her forehead, her cheeks, and her chin, teasing her with their slow speed. A gasp escaped her, lips trembling.
He cupped her face in his hands.
Her heart was beating crazily when she opened her eyes to look into his; the love she saw there made tears come to her eyes.
Then finally he was kissing her. His lips were gentle and loving at first, but what started as gentle slowly began a sweet crescendo into loving passion.
Now his lips were near to desperate on hers and she couldn't breathe. She offered to deepen the kiss and a low sound rose in his throat as he obliged. He pulled her tighter to him and backed her up slowly till her back hit the wall, then he slowly moved closer to her than his gentlemanly respect had ever allowed him to before.
But now they were married, and truly belonged only to each other, and no matter what happened, nothing could change that. It was a heady feeling, the joy that was filling each of them as they drew closer together, their kisses joyful and happy, while at the same time ardent with appetency.
She'd no idea how much time they had passed just kissing each other, but she was content with the slow, sweet pace. She could spend forever in his arms.
When Remus pressed the full length of his still clothed body against her, she moaned again, her knees weak, her body molding onto his without conscious thought. He groaned softly in reply, and her already speedy heart ratcheted up a bit as he deepened the kiss further. His hands released her face and trailed slowly down her to her waist.
It was wonderful to know she didn't have to leave, that he was hers and always would be. At last, they were how they'd always been meant to be.
A happiness like she had never known unfolded within her, and she knew that she really was home.
Well there you have it:) Umm, I don't write honeymoon-ish sorts of things. This last bit was even a bit much for me...but I hope y'all liked it anyhow:D It occurred to me when I was writing this that Tonks and Ginny's guy problems are rather similar, so thus the heart-to-heart. What do y'all think? Was Ginny too...not Ginny? Also, it's been ages since I've been to wedding (I was seven the last time, actually) though I'd really like to go to one again, I love them!:D Also, I've no idea how to describe clothing! hahaha:p :) And Kinglsey being the Minister...idk where that idea came from, but I left it, because it was fun:D As for Slughorn, well we'll be seeing more of him in the next chapter - I rather like that fellow, he makes me laugh! haha:D I hope y'all liked it, and may God bless you! 3
