Connwaer Heap: funny you should mention that as I have something like that written up, it just needs some fleshing out. Moony was trying to court Dora yes, but her response was not what he expected.
VlightPhase: I might use that idea of Wolf-Tonks btw, also I haven't got anything for exploring the Metamorph mechanic yet, I shall have to do something about this...
Thursday, January 13th, 2000
Tonks walked into Hogwarts with a bounce to her step. She had just come back from St. Mungo's and had some very exciting news. Now, she was looking for her husband, who could be in either of three places that she knew of. He could be actually socialising in the staff room - She mentally shrugged that one off as 'unlikely'. The next place was in his office, which was probably the most likely. However, she hoped it was the third option, which was that he was teaching in his classroom.
She grinned. Any excuse to walk into his class and watch his steadfast control slip through his fingers. Having realised the extent of how she affected him two years ago, it had been a blessing for her, and a true horror for him. Tonks had asked Remus at one point whether it bothered him, and that perhaps she was overstepping by disrupting his classes. He'd laughed and said he'd never known his students to be quite so enthusiastic for his lessons, nor had he seen them so involved with discussions since she decided to randomly drop in. Apparently, the students found them 'cute', and it only endeared Professor Lupin to the students more. Some were mostly impressed he'd managed to marry someone so attractive. Tonks had snorted and declared they all needed their eyes tested; Remus' only respose was to kiss her on the nose.
Ascending a set of stairs, that had just settled to let her gain access to the second floor, she chuckled softly to herself wondering what this news would do to his student popularity.
Tonks had shifted two case packets in the space of three days to be able to get the day off so she could see a Healer in the morning. Kingsley had eyed her suspiciously when she handed over the two sealed folders, complete with all the assorted interviews, data, statements, and tracking evidence for each case. Complete with a label naming which trainee Aurors were to work as a team for each. Tonks had just beamed and said she had a date with St Mungo's. Having almost left his office she stuck her head back in and addressed Kinglsey; Don't tell Remus.
She reached the Defence room, raising a hand to knock, when the door opened inward and his current class exited the room, a few giving her a wave and a cheery greeting. Walking into the room she saw him rubbing out the notes of the past lesson from the blackboard.
"Well, hello, Mr. Lupin," Tonks said as she came to lean against his desk behind him.
"That's Professor to you, Mrs Lupin," he replied, raising an eyebrow as he turned to see her. He got that pleasantly disbelieving look on his face towards the end of his sentence. Even after all this time, he still couldn't believe she was his wife.
"You're such a dork," she huffed, leaning up to give him a peck on the cheek, before she drew away. At least, she tried to draw away but she found hands at the back of her head turning her round to face her husband for a full kiss.
"I thought you had work today? You never mentioned you had the day off," Remus asked, brushing his hands down her back to rest around her hips as he leaned back to view her.
"Well, what if I wanted it to be a surprise?" she answered coyly, "is it a nice surprise?"
"Very nice," he murmured, bending down to give her another kiss, longer than the last.
"Hmm," pleased she broke away slightly, "Well, then I have another surprise for you, and for Teddy too." Tonks took one of the hands resting against her hip and dragged it up to rest over her stomach. Drawing in a deep breath, she prepared herself for the oncoming reaction, "I really hope Teddy likes his new baby sibling."
"New ...?" Remus quickly looked down to wear his hand was now situated, back up to Tonks' face, and then snapped back down again. A small smile broke out on his face, "really?"
She nodded, blinking as the small smile evolved into a full blown grin. He looked back up to her.
"We're having another?"
"See, this is the reaction a wife usually looks for in her husband upon announcing a pregnancy." He smiled ruefully, placing his forehead against hers and nuzzling. She nuzzled back before speaking, "hey?"
"Hmm?" He responded, still slightly dazed.
"Reckon we could try for a whole litter?"
He started to laugh, grabbing her up in his arms and swinging her round. She held on for dear life grinning and laughing with him, immensely pleased at how far they had come. He eventually stopped spinning, and he wobbled slightly on his ungainly legs, but he was still smiling as he looked at her. Then his face fell. Tonks sighed internally, thinking this was going to be the same as last time after all.
"But Tonks," he grabbed her by the shoulders, looking extremely concerned, "you're going to have to take time off work again, how ever will you cope?"
He smirked at her as her mouth opened in shock. Darting away from her, he scrambled for the other side of his desk, while Tonks grabbed the nearest heavy book and brandished it at him as she gave chase, a manic gleam glowing from her predatory amber eyes.
"I'll give you 'coping'!"
- - - - - - -oOo-oOo-oOo- - - - - - -
Sunday, January 23rd, 2000
Molly wasn't quite sure what was wrong with Tonks, or at least what specifically was wrong with her, but at the moment she seemed to be channelling a kangaroo.
"Tonks, dear, please try and sit still, your jiggling the whole table," Molly despaired, watching as the jam jar steadily made it's way towards the edge of the table cloth. Ron made a grab for it before it teetered over the edge and onto the floor, while Hermione leaned subtly onto the table to keep it still.
"Oh! Sorry," Tonks clamped a hand down onto her right leg, which had been bouncing uncontrollably for the past ten minutes.
"You look like you're about to jump right out of your chair, honestly dear what's wrong?" The Weasley matriarch leaned forward to pat the remaining hand that Tonks still had on the table. "Is it Remus you're worried about? I'm sure he'll be here soon, you said this was one of the better Full Moons this time."
Said full moon had been just two days ago, but Tonks was anxious for him to finally reach the Burrow. His latest transformation had gone well, and he was up and about already, meeting with Harry at home. Harry was currently 'helping' Fred and George with their product design, and Remus had become a sort of consultant. He and Tonks had agreed to deliver the news of the new pregnancy together at Molly's monthly Sunday dinner, but naturally, Tonks was getting impatient.
"Sorry, we're a little late, got a bit sidetracked," came Harry's voice from the front door. Following him Tonks spied Remus and both of the Weasley twins, sporting their bright purple dragon hide jackets.
"Not a problem, dear, still got a few more minutes to roast fully. Everybody get comfortable!" Molly fussed, making sure everyone had taken a spot at the elongated table. "Percy couldn't escape the Ministry this time, so he sends his apologies, Charlie, again, is still in Romania." She rolled her eyes good-naturedly, "and Bill is still in France with Fleur, but he's the one who sent the roast so he is forgiven."
She turned back round to continue orchestrating the various boiling pans and maintain a close eye on the meat.
"Is that all we had to do to be forgiven for our misdemeanours?" asked Fred, mock incredulous.
"We've been missing a trick our whole lives," George sighed sadly, and they both placed a hand to their hearts.
"Boys, please," Arthur admonished lightly, and Ginny shoved a bread roll into her mouth to stop her laughter escaping. "Now, I think Tonks has something to tell us, if her energetic state is anything to go by."
Tonks turned to grin up at Remus who had taken a seat next to her, after accepting a cup of tea from Arthur. He nodded, still a little fatigued from the moon, but otherwise happy. Tonks threw her arms into the air in victory and without really thinking about what she was going to say, she said the first thing that came to mind.
"We're having another puppy!"
Cue Remus choking on his tea, with Harry and Ron's jaws dropping. The Twins both sported confused stares, while Hermione looked as if she had just had an epiphany, and Ginny was hurriedly reaching for another bread roll.
"I didn't even know you already had a puppy," George said, bemused.
Ginny was now red in the face as she fought with herself to keep quiet, while Hermione patted her on the back consolingly. Harry was looking from Ginny to Tonks, wondering which situation he should address first, as Tonks went pale and her face froze in slight panic.
Finally dislodging the tea from his windpipe, Remus spoke up to clear the confusion, "a kid, she means we're having another kid."
Amid the clamour of congratulations and surprise from the table, Remus distinctly heard Fred say; "I didn't know you had a goat either." This was shortly followed by a resounding smacking noise as Molly clapped him around the head.
- - - - - - -oOo-oOo-oOo- - - - - - -
Wednesday, March 29th, 2000
Harry walked in to Professor Lupin's office, holding a bag of Fizzing Whizbees. According to Andromeda, Harry should be thankful that's all Tonks had asked for from this latest Cravings Shopping List. He rattled the bag to announce his arrival.
"Ooooh! I hear sugary goodness!" came a voice from the back of a sofa Harry knew hadn't been in front of the fire before.
Tonks sat up into view, and twisted her upper body in a peculiar fashion as she reached for the bag Harry was holding out.
"I got some of all the flavours they were doing, there was even a new promotion flavour they were dishing out... might not wanna try that one though, if it's new. Don't want you getting sick, Professor Lupin might actually kill me."
"Oh please," Tonks said, shoving a handful of the sweets in her mouth whilst gripping the back of the sofa to prevent her from taking off, "he wouldn't actually kill you, hunt you down and maim you, sure. But can you imagine the amount of backlash he'd have to go through if he killed the 'World's Saviour'?"
"Cheers, Tonks," he snorted, as he walked round to sit next to her only to find his planned seat was occupied.
Remus was half lying on the sofa, half smushed into Tonks. His face was pressed against Tonks slightly swollen stomach, arms wrapped loosely around her hips. He looked rather happy with his position, if the sleepy, contented smile was anything to go by.
Harry beamed at them, "I honestly cannot tell you how happy I am for you two... wait, does this mean I get to be Godfather twice!"
Tonk's laugh was muffled by a mouth full of multicolour fizz. She swallowed before answering.
"I think Teddy might be enough for you if I'm honest, are you sure you can handle two metamorph werewolf hybrid marauder sprogs?"
Harry looked around the office, absently noticing a distinct lack of Teddy.
"Do you know who I am?"
She grinned, "you'll be wishing you hadn't said that! Honestly, though we haven't really thought about it, haven't even considered names yet. I've mostly been busy trying to get this guy to last being more than two feet away from me for more than 5 minutes." She looked down at her snoozing husband, "in case you can't tell, it's not going well."
They both looked at the Professor.
"Just a thought, but isn't Teddy going to get, you know, upset when he hears stories about how his Dad took the news of his arrival compared to this one," Harry pointed at Tonks abdomen to emphasise the point.
"Oh, I don't think so, considering Remus was just as bad when I was pregnant with Teddy."
"But ... he left?" Harry tried to phrase it delicately, but it was difficult.
"Oh Harry, how long did you think he was gone?" Harry responded by staring at her, Tonks laughed, "he was barely gone a weekend. He had a bit of a breakdown, and panicked. Granted, I was still pissed when he finally turned back up on my doorstep, begging for my forgiveness and calling himself an idiot that he ever left in the first place. I think the fact that it was literally raining on him may have helped with that a little. He did look very sorry for himself."
Tonks was rewarded with a soft poke in her side by Remus, who was clearly not as asleep as they had first thought. She patted him on the head. He growled and cinched his arms tighter around her waist, before burying his face into her side and breathing deeply.
"... Sorry, Professor," Harry mumbled.
Remus raised his head surprised, "you don't have anything to be sorry about Harry. Honestly, if it hadn't have been for the, err," he looked away guiltily, "conversation we had, I'd never have realised how stupid I was being. If Teddy had been a werewolf surely me being there would have helped rather than hindered, I don't know what I was thinking."
"Hmm," Tonks hummed, catching a strand of his hair and twirling it around her fingers, "we weren't sure either, I personally think it was your version of a mid-life crisis, but I love you anyway."
Remus blushed and ducked his head back into her side.
Harry decided he was going to stick around, he didn't have anything to do today, and watching Tonks make Remus fluster was always entertaining. He settled himself down onto the Gryffindor coloured rug with the eternal fire warming his back.
"So, you haven't got any naming ideas?"
"Is that a hint to name our second offspring after you?" came the muffled response of Remus.
"Good god no," Harry said, "I just want to know which names are taken. By the way, I claim James and Sirius."
"Now, hold up," Remus raised himself up again, pointing an accusing finger at Harry, "How come I don't get to claim one of those?"
"Because I called it first."
"Since when does that make any difference?"
"Since just now."
Remus squinted at him before huffing and disappearing into Tonks side once more.
"And, may I ask, what prompted this spontaneous claiming of namesakes?" Tonks inquired, stroking Remus' head absentmindedly.
Harry shifted, "You know, just in case I ever want kids, I want to make sure they don't have the same names as someone else they may know."
Tonks looked at him shrewdly, "this of course has nothing to do with you finally planning to settle down with Gin-"
"Shush! Don't spoil it," Harry waved his arms around, turning such a spectacular shade of red, even Remus had surfaced to watch.
Tonks grinned with manic glee, a mania that was beginning to alarm her husband, but she carried on.
"Ooohh, so what you're saying is that you've already got names planned and you don't want us taking them before you can," she looked very pleased with herself.
"Dora, he's got enough to deal with on his own at the moment," Remus said, finally deciding to sit up for this conversation. "Plus, he's still young."
"Yes! Thank you, Professor, I knew I could count on you for some sense!" Harry exclaimed throwing his arms up into the air.
Remus thought this was rather ironic given the topic of conversation not five minutes ago, but turned to look at his wife who was also looking at him, trying to look concerned, and failing.
"Harry, what-" Remus breached but Harry threw himself back into the conversation.
"Everyone from my own classmates, various Ministry people, reporters, Slughorn of all people, and even the Weasleys keep asking me when I'm gonna pop the question to Ginny! I'm just glad she has no idea about it."
"I wouldn't be so sure of that," Remus muttered, thinking of the youngest and very sneaky Weasley. The one he is very sure is in cahoots with his wife, not that he should be surprised. "Harry, just tell them it's none of their business, or even better," he leaned forward, "play them at their own game. Tell Ginny, get her involved, and play it off as if you already have asked and you two eloped."
"Remus!" Tonks shoved him playfully in the shoulder.
"What, you mean like you two?" Harry asked innocently, causing Remus and Tonks to look a little sheepish, but then Harry started. "Wait! No, that's genius, this way I don't have to hide it from Ginny but we can have a laugh with it so it won't be awkward, yes!"
He sprang to his feet, and raced for the door. Opening it he struck one leg out then leaned back to address the surprised faces of Tonks and Remus.
"You guys are the best! If you need anymore sweets, Tonks, just give me a shout I'll be happy to get them for you!"
Then he was off through the door closing it quickly behind him. They listened to his rapidly retreating footfalls until their was nothing but the fire crackling.
"We are awesome role models," Tonks proclaimed, stretching her arms and sinking back into the sofa cushions, pulling her husband down with her.
I could not resist... Their second offspring has already been planned but place your bets on what the sex of the baby is.
The Sequel to this chapter is 'The Second One'