They apparated in a field near Ellie's family's home. It was more like a bungalow, mainly because she had a huge family and Remus always used to say that they lived in the middle of no where. All that surrounded them was fields but the view was beautiful nevertheless. There was also a stream in the walking distance which had been a huge witness of many romantic endeavors including that of Remus and Ellie and James and Lily.
"Here we are. Are you ready?" Remus asked lighting his wand. He had fulfilled his promise and had sneaked into her room to apparate her here. The way he had been so sneaky, made Ellie suspicious that he indeed had said nothing to Tonks. It was past sunset, the last rays of sun were vanishing giving way to darkness. Their only source of light was his wand. To many people it might have seemed creepy but to her it had never seemed more romantic.
"I think so. But then for you it might be a long time but for me it was only in the past month that I visited here." She said looking carefully in to his eyes. No matter how she had made him come, she didn't want him to feel edgy and burdened all the time with her. "Is that stream still here?" She asked abruptly.
Remus colored a bit. "Er... Yes, Where will it go?" He replied, not looking at her deliberately. Ellie almost hid a smile. Sure she had reminded him of the things they had done there...
"Who knows? A lot can happen in sixteen years. Anyways lets go." She moved ahead when his voice stopped him.
"Ellie, I got this for you."
She turned around to see him holding out a wand in front of him, one which wasn't his.
"Oh Merlin!" She gasped. "You got me a new one?" She said in awe taking the thin piece of wood in her hand and feeling the magic run through.
"I know you should have bought your wand by yourself, but I wasn't sure if it was safe for you. So I got it instead. It's almost same as your old one. Dragon heartstring."
"You remembered my wand's core?" She looked up, moving forward and peering in his eyes with affection.
"Just because I haven't seen you in sixteen years doesn't have to mean I forgot everything about you. I still know you fairly well."
"I am so glad to have you Remus." She whispered, blushing slightly. "Lumos." She lit up her wand.
"And I am glad to have you back. Lets move." He placed his hand on small of her back to urge her forward and the little movement fluttered Ellie's insides.
As they moved, she decided to confirm her suspicions. "Did you- did you tell Tonks about this visit?" She asked tentatively looking sideways to gauge his reaction.
He sighed. "No. I don't like it, but I think you are right. I don't want to worry her more. She's- she's a bit shaken after that potion incident. She doesn't shows but I know it. I thought for the time being, I shall conceal my visits with you from her. As I said, I don't like it, lying to her; I just left her a note saying that I had some Order work to do. But I don't intend on lying to her forever. When the time will be right, I will tell her myself." He said while looking ahead.
Oh, but right time would never come. You have lied to her and now to hide your one lie you'll have to tell more lies. Moreover this isn't the only outing you'll be having with me...
"I am sorry Remus..." she said sincerely. She didn't like putting him in this situation.
"Don't be. It's not your fault. You are important to me and Tonks knows this. I am sure she'll understand."
They reached the bungalow and Ellie gaped in sheer surprise. "This looks exactly the same. I was prepared for the change but looking at this it feels I am back to old times." She exclaimed.
He gave her a grim smile. "You might be a little surprised to see it from inside. Not because it had changed much but because its... empty and dark." He looked sympathetic. "And your home was-"
"Never empty... yeah... it was a bit like Burrow, just bigger but always a scene of chaos." She looked down, not sure anymore if she really wanted to the see the place from inside which held so many memories for her but not them with whom she had shared those memories.
"Hey..." She felt Remus encircle her shoulder and for a moment she let her head fall in the crook of his neck. "I am with you, don't worry. And Ellie, this is necessary. You can't run from this forever." He spoke in her hair, lightly rubbing her arm.
She nodded weakly, straightening herself. But before she could wipe her few tears that have leaked her eyes, she felt his thumbs brushing them away and placing a feather light kiss on her forehead.
"Someday Remus, you are going to tell me everything about my siblings. Where are they, what they are doing. And if you think its safe, I would like to see them."
He nodded. "Let's go in."
They ventured the house; as big it was it took a lot of time to see the whole place but she didn't want to miss any corner. A thick layer of just covered all the surfaces, indicating that the place hadn't been lived in for a long long time. It sent a deep pang through her heart. But still, Remus's present was comforting.
At last, they stood in the courtyard watching the waxing moon.
"How the transformations have been Remus these years?" She asked quietly, standing by his side.
He smiled wanly. "They say it gets better with time but I am afraid so are not the cases with my transformation. But anyways I am coping."
"You remember I was learning to be an animagus...?" She asked. She had been learning from Sirius and James the art of animagi, thinking that if she were to spend her life with Remus, it was not only a precautionary step but a necessary one too. Remus had been wonderfully surprised to learn that she was trying for his sake. But obviously things didn't work out that way...
"And I would be eternally grateful for your efforts Ellie." He finally looked at her, smiling. "You have been among that very rare group of people who were ready to do anything for me."
Very rare group... Ellie was tempted to ask if Tonks was in that group too. But then she thought it was quite obvious. But then she almost bit her tongue to avoid asking as to who ranked better between Ellie and Tonks in that group. It would seem childish to me him but she wanted to know if Tonks took same pains that once she had taken for Remus's happiness.
"Remus... Is Tonks an animagus?" She safely framed the question. "I mean did she learn for you...?"
"No." He vehemently shook his head. "And I'd rather prefer it that way. I wouldn't want to put her in danger when it comes to my wolf. Merlin knows how hard I have tried to protect her."
Conflicting feelings rose in Ellie's heart. She felt sad that somewhere he was indicating that he hadn't cared for Ellie at that level, as he never tried to protect her from his wolfish counterpart but Tonks was given this privilege. But somewhere she felt smug that Remus had enough faith in her that he never tried to protect her in the first place.
"But it would help you Remus. You people are about to get married, how will you-?"
"We'll manage." He cut her off defensively. "I don't want her to get involved in all this. It is hard enough in these war days... besides she's learning to brew wolfsbane potion, even though I specifically told her not to." He looked away clenching his jaws.
"Wolfsbane potion?" She asked in confusion.
"It's a recent invention. It helps in transformation, helps us keep our human mind."
"That's fantastic Remus isn't it?" She asked, genuinely happy for him. It was his worst fear that one day he'd hurt somebody on a full moon.
He sighed and looked tired... and simply resigned. "The potion ingredients are very hard to get by... Dora tries but..." He seemed to be talking to himself. He looked so lost she couldn't help but place her palm on her cheek.
"Everything will be alright Remus." She caressed his face a little.
"You always used to say that." Remus chuckled and she was glad she could bring a real smile on his face.
"You know what you did say that you remember everything about me. So I'll just assume you remember my favorite ice cream too. Let's just pop in my favorite muggle ice cream shop." She said excitedly almost jumping with joy.
He opened his mouth and she knew he was about to make excuses. And she knew why. After all he had lied to Tonks and had came here with her, leaving her waiting for him and Ellie knew he was slowly getting anxious to get back to Tonks as they had already spent hours exploring the house. Visiting the ice cream shop would take an hour or two more. And that was what she wanted. She wanted him to spend as much as time he could with her, that he initially planned to spend with Tonks. So she beat him too it.
"Please Remus Please... please." She gave him the best pleading expression she could muster.
"Ah alright!" He sighed, defeated and looked at his watch to confirm the time. Ellie smiled internally. Tonks will just have to wait more.
But then again Ellie wasn't the guilty one here. It was Remus's decision after all...
They had a blazing time in muggle London, trying all sorts of ice creams and all sorts of odd combination of scoops. Remus laughed and joked but would check time after every few minutes. Though he was clearly enjoying, he wanted to go back too.
She thought of ask him to spend more time with her but decided not to push it beyond her luck. She would take each step slowly and calmly.
Later he safely apparated her to her room directly at the Burrow, where she bid him goodnight and thanked him for such a wonderful evening. She finished her goodnight with a kiss on his cheek.
But when she heard voices from below the kitchen, she slowly sneaked past the landing to hear clearly.
"...poor girl waited for you, for hours. Really Remus, you shouldn't keep a girl waiting." She heard Molly's admonishing voice.
"Something urgent came up Molly... I am just going to her place, we had plans for this evening." He sounded guilty.
"Yes well she looked disappointed and a little angry too maybe. I think some grovelling is in order."
He sighed. "I know...I'll leave immediately. I hope she would be at her place. Goodnight Molly."
"Goodnight."
Ellie heard Molly cleaning last of dishes and footsteps of Remus leaving the main door. She silently crept back to her room.
Well, she hoped that this time when Remus went back to Tonks, Ellie would remain somewhere in his mind, which was quite inevitable seeing as he spent last few hours with her. She wanted him to compare both the women, even if sub consciously, because that was the only way, he would realize the difference between them, and the only way probably that would relight his old flame. She hoped that Tonks would throw a tantrum tonight, compelling Remus unintentionally to remember Ellie as to how she used to handle such situations, back then.
That's all she could do: Hope.
The Weasley clan plus Hermione, Tonks, Remus and Ellie were cluttered around the dining table for the breakfast.
Though she had seen Remus and Tonks entering together, holding hands even, but she could sense some tension between them. It wasn't obvious, but it was there.
Finally when everyone were seating themselves, she strategically placed herself in such a way that Remus had to sit beside her. And indeed he did at the end.
"Good morning Remus." She gave him a dazzling smile, half wanting to win him over once again with the smile he once had loved and half wanting Tonks to see them getting friendly.
"Good morning Ellie." He smiled back.
"Oh! Blackberry muffins." Ellie eyed the small plate Tonks had just placed on the table before seating herself across them. For once, it felt nice- having Remus next to her and Tonks across them, all alone.
Just as she picked up one of the muffins(there were only three) Tonks spoke curtly:
"Uh... those are for Remus. I make for him whenever I get time."
Ellie placed the muffin back and looked quizzically at Remus when Molly said:
"Oh yes, I taught her to bake these and she learned fairly quickly and well even seeing how clumsy she is." Molly spoke like a proud mother affectionately patting her shoulder.
Remus gave Tonks an encouraging smile, which she barely returned.
"But Remus-" Ellie started, making Remus to look at her. His eyes were silently pleading to not to say what she was about to say, but she said anyway. "You hate Blackberries."
Tonks cleared her throat. "Actually it's quite the opposite."
"No, really. Ask him. For all my life I have known him, he had never disliked anything more than Blackberry."
"Good going Ellie." She thought she heard Remus mutter under his breath just before he opened his mouth to speak. "I er I have developed a taste for these. And Tonks has mastered them making just for me." He replied smoothly, but Tonks was having none of this.
"Do you really hate Blackberries? Why didn't you tell me this earlier when I made them for you for the first time? Or second or fourth?" She looked fairly angry. But Ellie thought, what was angering her more was that Ellie was the one to disclose such a private trait of Remus that only those closest to him should know.
The whole table had gone quiet and they watched with bated breath.
"Dora." He started gently. "How could I have said no to something you had made with such love? When you barely like cooking in the first place."
Tonks in return just glared at him, trying her best not to look hurt and to control the color in her cheeks.
"Tonks, he adores carrot cake; I am sure Molly can teach you to make those too." Ellie said innocently enough, with an encouraging smile.
"Yes dear it's not the big deal, it's fairly easy-" Molly started to console when Tonks interrupted.
"I am sorry everyone. I just looked at the time; and I am pretty late, I have to report at the Ministry. Molly sorry but i'll have something from the canteen. See you everyone." She spoke in a rush, not making eye contact with anybody, gathering her things and getting up from her chair.
Just as Remus was about to get up, Ellie bumped her knees to his. "Let her cool down first." She whispered to Remus, succeeding at making him stay while Tonks left in a hurry.
"I am so so sorry Remus..." She groaned out an apology. This hadn't been something she had planned obviously but she was glad nevertheless that she got an opportunity to express again that she knew him better. That said, she wasn't exactly proud that she had hurt Tonks. But then someone has to get hurt.
"Let's get back to our breakfast." Arthur asked everyone cordially.
As they went back to their foods, Remus looked at Ellie and said:
"You always used to get me in trouble Ellie." He shook his head in exasperation.
"I am sorry..." She tried again.
"It's okay. I'll just have to think of something to win her." He said going back to his own food. "Again..." He muttered the last word under his breath.
Ellie ate all the three blackberry muffins.
Thanks for reviews everyone, I am loving all your reactions! In this fic Ellie isn't exactly a bad person, but she tends to get blind when it comes to Remus, which compels her to do things, she wouldn't generally do.
So, I have a fair idea where this is going, but do you?
will update soon!
