Author's Note: Well, we've finally reached the last chapter, so I want to take a little time to thank all the readers. Also, with no particular order (other than an alphabetical one, lol), to my reviewers I write this:

adrienne06052 Your selection of words made me curious and, to this day, I'm still thriving to grasp the nature of your review. Thanks for keeping me interested, and thanks if it was a flame: it'd be my first one. Cheers!

Emilee You read my first chapter and egged me on, lol. Thanks for your support and kind words: they meant a lot to me, as you can see!

JetGriffins89 Our author-reviewer platonic-love is fine by me! (As long as you keep reviewing of course, lol!) Keep working hard and keep in touch!

Lil pink pixie We all start somewhere, and you've had a good start. Keep working and improving, and remember: flames will always be used for bonfires!

ProperT You've reviewed (and hopefully read, lol) each and every chapter, giving me support over and over again, even when my story wasn't like the ones you usually read. Thanks for your reliability and for giving the first chapter a chance!

Steven Kodaly Always on the good side, your reviews were always very specific and stylish (are you sure you aren't a beta? Lol!) I hope to see you around!

Well, with that said, let's move on: read and enjoy!

Disclaimer: Own Harry Potter, I do not. Starwars, however, another story is…

A dog, a nymph and a werewolf.

How a new phase began…

Tonks had been gazing so intently at the same corner of Bill's bed that everything around it seemed to fade to gray. Her attention was such that the spot had probably been engraved in her mind so that she could see it even if she closed her eyes, but she had not blinked for the last hour as she thought of what had happened. It was too much to take in, so she finally settled with going through her day all over again…

"– SO EITHER YOU KEEP YOUR WORD OR I'M HAVING ONE WITH REMUS!" – Cesia's voice finished yelling before a ringing silence fell and the Howler's red envelope burst into flames.

That, of course, got Tonks attention, so after weeks of putting it off, Tonks finally found herself walking up to Hogwarts and past the gargoyle, into the Headmaster's office. Albus Dumbledore smiled kindly at her as she told him everything from her condition to her resignation, before he pulled a Firenze.

"I'm going out tonight." – He had stated. She had blinked.

She now understood why, for the first time ever, Dumbledore had warned them about his departure: he must have sensed something would happen.

"I believe Bill remembers the Castle's layout from his last visit." – Dumbledore had said, ignoring her surprise. – "And Remus must still have it fresh in his mind."

She got the hint quite quickly.

"Am I to contact them?"

"Yes. I've informed Minerva, so you needn't worry about telling the others…" – He paused for a moment, as he stood up and took his long, black traveling cloak. – "What I usually do to protect this place in my absence won't be enough tonight, so I ask you to patrol the halls until it is through…"

He stood at the window to look out at the grounds, tinged red by the sunset, which Tonks took as her dismissal…

Dumbledore's usual ambiguity made it difficult for Tonks to comprehend what he had meant with "until it is through". Had he known beforehand what Snape would do? Or had he been referring to that night, his last absence indeed?

"Tonks?" – Molly, with her face still tear-stained, asked her awkwardly. – "You've been standing there for almost an hour and – I know I probably shouldn't insist but – but maybe you'd like to rest? Madam Pomfrey's been offering you a room upstairs for a while now, but you don't seem to have heard her…"

"I didn't, I'm so sorry –" – Tonks replied hastily, feeling guilty.

"Don't worry, dear: I know you must be tired." – Madam Pomfrey said as she led her away.

Remus had been avoiding her all night, making her want to shake him – which she finally did – and making her frown at herself. After all, why did she always have to act out? September, January, June and July and now June again, had all seen her explosions, and she felt embarrassed and depressed. As everyone started dispersing, Tonks kept her eyes on Bill's blanket, wondering why it was always she who got upset while everyone else faced everything in a calm manner…

Her annoyance intensified as she heard Remus saying farewell to the children, explaining to them that they might be seeing more of him if Hogwarts closed. Why was he concerned about assuring them of his presence, when they probably didn't even care about him as she did? But then her mind reminded her that Dumbledore was dead and that there were bigger problems than hers…

The flames rose and fell with a soft crackle, as Tonks stared at the fireplace from her sitting position on the bed. The room was comfortable and some sleep would be welcome, but her mind was too awake for her to lie down. She pulled her hair carelessly and then placed her head in her hands, letting silent grief wash over her. The logs creaked again but she ignored them: Dumbledore – inconceivably – was dead…

Tonks could have stayed like that forever, letting herself waste away, had she not felt something that made her jerk away: Remus had touched a lock of her hair.

Her eyes widened in shock, but he didn't explain his sudden arrival or his actions. Instead, he dejectedly sat down on the bed next to her.

"I knew your Patronus had changed…" – Remus said after a short while. – "But no one told me other things had as well…"

"What good would that have done?" – She answered. – "Would you have come back to me?"

The pain in his eyes deepened and she looked away.

"It's been a long year, Remus."

"So I see…" – He replied quietly. – "Did you – When I –"

"Yes."

The harshness of her response made her slap her forehead mentally, so when he shifted slightly next to her she tried to say she was sorry. Yet, once she turned to face him, she was unable to: less than a breath away, he suddenly closed the gap between their lips.

Too surprised to react, Tonks felt his cold hands splayed on her stomach, pushing her down on the mattress, and she obliged. He laid himself on top of her deftly, his mouth never leaving hers as they lay down and he repositioned himself. She closed her watering eyes and fought back a sob: she didn't want this.

It had been okay with Sirius, of course, because they eased their pain this way, but she didn't want to go through the same thing with Remus. This wasn't about comforting him; it was about him loving her. She half-expected him to start undressing her, to lay his weight fully on her, to spread her legs apart, but he didn't seem to be in a rush anyway. Her tears finally managed to escape her eyelids, and so did his.

Tonks eyes flung open: Remus was also crying.

His tears tickled her cheeks as he kissed her softly, steadily, tenderly, and the low-intensity of it seemed to continue forever. His tongue explored her mouth unhurriedly and Tonks was unsure of how she should feel. However, after a while under his ministrations, she threw all cautions to the wind, closed her eyes and decided to give in to anything he wanted of her. After all, like Sirius, she knew he too was broken…

Remus didn't smell like Firewhisky, so she knew that this was the very first time he had caressed her without her asking to and without the influence of alcohol. If he thought this was everything she was good for – But Tonks decided that if he did, she'd please him: his closeness was more important to her than her own feelings.

He lay carefully down next to her, pulling her into a spooning position. Tonks could feel pressure forming in her body and her breathing sped up, even though he hadn't done anything else. His mouth found the crook of her neck and his arms pulled her so close to him that she could feel every button and every stitch of his clothes. She moaned quietly and let him do as he wished, but either time-dissociation played a trick on her again, or it was over quite soon and he was still as prudish as ever.

"Remus?"

He hugged her lightly and his lips grazed the nape of her neck softly, as he let her hair dry the last of his tears. Tonks frowned and tried again.

"Remus… Are you awake?"

"Uh-Hmm…"

"Right…"

She waited for him to say something – anything – but he seemed to be content with enjoying the moment and regaining his breath. After a few minutes, she interrupted the silence once more.

"Remus… I'm sorry, but… What was that all about?"

"I am an idiot." – He replied serenely.

Tonks' frown deepened.

"You just snogged me senseless because you realized that you're an idiot?"

Her statement by no means should have generated his chuckle, she thought crossly as he laughed.

"No, Tonks. I meant that I have been an idiot long enough. Everyone was right, but I was too headstrong to notice that I was hurting you."

"So you kissed me because you wanted to take my aches away?" – She asked, freeing herself from his grip and turning to face him.

"Wrong again, Tonks." – He answered, looking into her eyes affectionately. – "I did it because I love you."

He sealed her speechless lips with his, yet this time the renewal of the building pressure in her wasn't the only thing she felt: something cold trickled down her body from the top of her head to her clothed toes. Elated, Tonks let out a peal of laughter and they continued their explorations earnestly, letting their journey extend beyond their faces and trivial barriers (like clothing) long after dawn. And when Remus finally lay himself next to Tonks on the bed, both their bodies still glistening and throbbing in delight, they laughed once more: no wonder Dumbledore wanted more love in the world!

They talked and cuddled afterwards until they were too tired to do so and prepared to fall asleep, but as she was drifting off, Remus suddenly tugged her bangs. Without opening her eyes, Tonks smiled, knowing that why he had done so: her hair was bubble-gum-pink again…

Author's Note: Finally, it is over, as my take on the Sirius-Tonks-Remus issue ends here. Thanks again to all of you who've read "A dog, a nymph and a werewolf." diligently. I hope to see you around in other stories, or to check yours if you have any here. Until then, I ask you for the last time in this fic (as the true FF .net author that I am): please flame or review! Cheers!