A/N: Here it is! The last chapter! The end of Realization!
This has been one of my favourite chapters to write; I hope it's good and you enjoy! It's a little long, and much of it is from HBP, but hey. This is important.
Disclaimer: I do not own the story or the quotes that appear in HBP.
Remus had been called back by Dumbledore to come and defend Hogwarts while he and Harry went on an important mission. Remus never questioned what the mission was, despite is curiousness. He knew it wasn't his matters to delve into. But when he found his station, he found that it was annoyingly next to Tonks. He swore Dumbledore did it on purpose. He hated him for that.
"Hey," Tonks said softly, almost carefully, as she scooted a little close to Remus.
Remus didn't give even the smallest of nods to show that he had heard Tonks speak.
"Kind of creepy night, don't you think?" Tonks tried again.
Remus couldn't ignore Tonks anymore. As long as they just acted professionally, nothing should get out of hand.
"I think so. A little odd that Dumbledore left on such a night."
Tonks was overjoyed that Remus had finally spoken to her, although there was no missing the forced polite tone he was speaking to her. Some words were better than no words though, right?
"As you normally say, Dumbledore will have his reasons."
"So there normally is. I've never seen him make a mistake yet, nor do I expect him to."
Tonks hesitated. "I never imagined a war would be so scary, I'm always worried about losing my loved ones."
"That's a normal feeling," Remus replied automatically. "Our families are constantly in danger..."
"And friends," added Tonks.
Remus opened and shut his mouth a few times. He was about to answer when three students started racing towards them.
"Wha - What happened?" asked Remus urgently. Tonks had run up to the spot, looking equally concerned.
The three students happened to be Ron, Ginny, and Neville, and they were all quite out of breath. The three looked rather serious as well, and it hit Remus that something just was not right.
"Quick," Remus prompted.
Ginny took a breath.
"Harry told us to guard the Room of Requirement, and we were doing so, when Malfoy opened the door, and he was who...who we were waiting for. He was holding this shriveled hand and suddenly the halls went dark. No spell could penetrate it, so we think he's somewhere in the school, and has done something illegal!"
Remus' eyes widened and he was off in the blink of an eye, Tonks getting ready to follow.
"Be careful, there could be -"
"DEATH EATERS!" she heard Remus' voice echo around.
"Oh bloody hell," Tonks heard Ron mutter as she followed.
Remus was firing all the spells he could think of, watching the crowd of Death Eaters start to disperse.
"STUPEFY!"
Remus turned around to see Tonks, and many other teachers had joined the fight, along with a few Order members. He thought he saw Bill Weasley join as well. A Death Eater separated from the crowd and started to head towards the Astonomy tower.
"GIBBON!" Tonks yelled. "Get back here, you coward!"
Gibbon merely ran off, after sending a smirk in Tonk' direction.
The two continued to fight. Remus occasionally ducked under a killing curse.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
Remus stared as the flash from the wand rushed towards Tonks.
"Nymphadora!" yelled Remus, and Tonks ducked.
Tonks didn't have much time for many 'thank you's though, there was still a battle and the two had to hold their own ground.
However, Remus saw, out of the corner of his eye, Gibbon return down the staircase from the Astronomy tower. He didn't have long to brood on this matter, for he watched a killing curse fired in his direction. He stepped to his left, and watched as the killing curse struck Gibbon, who fell to the ground, dead.
Tonks grimaced at the sight as the two continued to duel.
Suddenly, Remus froze, staring straight at Bill. Tonks took it upon herself to fight on Remus' behalf, trying to defend him while he was in temporary shock.
"GREYBACK!" shouted Remus, rushing towards a young boy, around Tonks' age.
Greyback merely looked at Remus, gave a small sneer, and continued to attack the red haired boy.
"It's Bill!" Tonks announced, firing a few more curses at the dispersing Death Eaters.
Remus shot a stunning spell at Greyback, who took it as his cue to leave, and instead travelled up to the Astronomy tower.
Remus then saw Draco Malfoy step over Bill and rush up too, followed by Snape. Remus breathed a sigh of relief, if Snape was going up, then he'd fight off the Death Eaters.
Remus ran up to Bill's body, while Tonks cast a shield charm around them.
"He's been injured," Remus whispered, looking a mixture of both shocked and disgusted. "These are cursed, he has to get them treated now."
"What?" asked Tonks.
"You heard me," Remus said, his heart beating quickly with adrenaline. "Come with me and cast a shield charm, and let's hurry to the Hospital Wing. We don't need an extra causality. The staff can hold their own."
Tonks was about to follow when she paused. "My Merlin, NEVILLE!"
Remus lay Bill down and rushed to the Longbottom child.
"Ib fine," Neville muttered, coughing a bit. "Lemme ub..."
"One second, Neville," Remus said, pointing his wand at the injured student.
"DUCK!" Tonks suddenly yelled, pouncing upon the two boys next to her. "Blimey, you cowards!" She proceeded to lure the Death Eaters away from Neville, Bill, and Remus.
"Finite Incantatem," Remus said.
"Thank you," Neville said. "Would've done myself, but my hands..."
"It's okay, you have to get to the Hospital Wing," Remus said. "Along with Bi - PROTEGO!"
He blocked the hex that was coming his way, send by Antonin Dolohov.
Remus stood up and started firing every hex he could think of at the Death Eater, who was laughing as he blocked them, sending the killing curse every few times.
In the midst of all this, Tonks caught sight of the brown haired Carrow twins rushing up to the Astronomy Tower. What was going on up there? She caught eyes with Remus, who was just as confused and concerned.
A few Death Eaters followed, running up a flight of stairs. Before anyone could stop him, Neville stood up and started racing towards the staircase, Remus and Tonks protesting feebly. Neville hit some sort of barrier and flew back, as if he had just been in an explosion.
"Neville!" Tonks shrieked, as she went to go help him.
"I'm fine," he muttered. "Just a little shocked. Stairs got a barrier."
"So we've noticed," Tonks mumbled, and Remus couldn't help but smile.
Remus, after sending a couple of hexes towards the opposition, carefully walked over to the invisible barrier.
"REDUCTO!"
Snape ran towards the staircase.
"Can't do much, Severus. The stairs are blocked. REDUCTO!"
Snape continued towards the hexed staircase, and despite Remus' warning, Snape went through the barrier.
"Holy Merlin," said Tonks in awe, but she didn't have much time for anything else, for she was forced to cast a couple more defensive jinxes.
Remus, on the other hand, was pretty worried about Snape, and ran towards the barrier. Unfortunately, he was thrown back. Tonks cast a cushioning and shield charm around Remus, who sent back a grateful grin.
"As long as Snape is there, the Death Eaters are taken care of," said Tonks. "We have got to get Neville and Bill to the Hospital Wing."
Unfortunately, before they could get much of this taken care of, a rather burly Death Eater seemed to have lost aim, resulting in his curse being fired towards the ceiling.
Tonks screamed and cast a protective charm over her and the other students within her proximity, while Remus took care of himself and Bill.
"The barrier must be broken," Remus declared, and everyone who was able to move rushed towards the staircase.
Remus had entered through the entrance hexing as many Death Eaters as he could.
"Remus!" Tonks called, but suddenly caught sight of Snape pulling on Malfoy. She moved off to the side courteously before resuming firing the curses.
Snape had shouted something incoherent, that was missed by the Order members as they were busy attacking the opposing side.
"They're all leaving!" Remus exclaimed as the last of the Death Eaters escaped their clutches.
"Where to?" asked Tonks, looking greatly concerned.
"I have no idea, but let's get Bill and Neville out of here, now."
"I can walk," Neville announced, trembling as he stood up.
"Dora, go support Neville, I'll take Bill," Remus ordered, in all the chaos forgetting to call Tonks 'Tonks'.
Tonks noticed the change and blushed slightly, before giving a small nod.
The two rushed to the Hospital Wing as quickly as they could whilst carrying two rather heavy men. They noticed a few more of the students who were fighting follow, perhaps because they figured it was a lost battle. Ginny looked quite shaken up, her eyes were wide and she was breathing heavily. She seemed to be rather thankful, but no one questioned her.
"It'll all be okay," Tonks continued to mutter. "It'll all be okay."
"Oh my Merlin! Lay him down, lay him down!" were the first words that Remus heard upon entering the Hospital Wing.
"He was bitten by Greyback, although he was in human form," Remus announced, while Tonks helped Neville onto a bed.
"Oh my," Pomfrey said softly. "I can try my best...he won't look the same anymore, not after being bitten by a werewolf. He's lucky Greyback was in human form at the time."
The room fell silent, except for the faint occasional cooing of Madam Pomfrey.
"Thank you," said Tonks softly, it was almost missed. "I would have been dead if it wasn't for your help."
Remus hesitated. "You're welcome. It's always helpful, having an ally when your duelling."
Tonks couldn't help but feel the rush of guilt from Sirius' death return. But she knew she had to stay strong. She had to persevere Remus. She would not give up.
McGonagall entered the Hospital Wing before Tonks could say much more to Remus.
"Sweet Merlin," she exclaimed, looking highly relieved to see her students. "Okay, I want to gather all the students here, now."
"I'll help," Ginny said determinedly, getting up. "We have to get Harry, and Hermione. Ron, you stay with Bill."
Tonks and Remus gave Ginny an approving nod, both mildly impressed by her ability to take charge in a situation.
"Filius is injured," said McGonagall, but I believe I some others are taking care of him...I know Horace is, anyway."
All the occupants acknowledged this fact. McGonagall and Ginny left the room, which then fell into another uncomfortable silence.
"I could have lost you tonight, Dora," Remus whispered, not thinking.
Ron, for once, had a bit of tact and did not make any immature comments on what Remus had said.
Tonks gave a light smile, feeling her stomach fluttering with butterflies. "And I, you. It's the times, Remus. With the war, we have to live every day like it's our last, with no regrets."
Remus ran his hand over his pocket, shutting his eyes.
"I've been a real arse, haven't I? I'm sorry. We can still be friends."
"I suppose. Colleagues, at least, in any way," said Tonks, hoping Remus was contradict.
Unfortunately, there was no time for Remus to respond even with just the nod of his head.
The door of the Hospital Wing creaked open, and Tonks and Remus rushed forward, holding their wands at the ready. Ron stood protectively in front of Bill.
"It's just us," Ginny said, her eyes dead. "Ginny, Hermione, and Harry..."
"Are you all right, Harry?" Remus asked, looking quite worried. He didn't like the dead, solemn look upon the faces of the people who had entered.
"I'm fine," replied Harry, trying to look behind Ron. "How's Bill?"
Remus and Tonks exchanged glances, and moved to the side. Ron moved over closer to Hermione. Harry's face had contorted to one of extreme worry as he seemed to be watching the nurse apply an ointment.
Tonks sat next to Remus on the foot of the bed as they watched Harry inquire whether or not Bill would be okay.
Remus continued to look down at his shoes, not wanting to catch eyes with Tonks. It did something to his heart, and he didn't want to make a foolhardy decision under the influence of his emotions. He jerked his head up when he felt Harry's eyes on him.
"No, I don't think Bill will be a true werewolf," said Remus, once again placing his duty over his own life. "But that doesn't mean that there won't be some contamination. Those are cursed wounds, and are unlikely to ever fully heal, and - and Bill might have some wolfish characteristics from now on."
Ron, however, looked up quite hopefully.
"Dumbledore might have something that'd work, though. Where is he? Bill fought those maniacs on Dumbledore's orders, Dumbledore owes him, he can't leave him in this state-"
Remus and Tonks exchanged grins. How had they not thought of Dumbledore? Although Remus had a small ounce of doubt, Dumbledore would at least have the power to improve the situation for Bill. But Ginny had said something that had destroyed any last bit of hope that they had for Bill.
"Ron - Dumbledore's dead."
Tonks was taken aback. Dumbledore couldn't be dead, it wasn't possible. She looked to Remus for some reassurance, but he seemed to be in worse condition.
Remus couldn't believe it and stood up.
"No!" he yelled, looking to Harry for support. Dumbledore couldn't be head. He was his mentor, the only man who had given him his first chance at life. The reason he had a childhood, the reason he had had friends in the first place. He was the reason Remus was fighting in this war using magic, and not on the side of Voldemort. Dumbledore could not be snatched away from him so cruelly.
Much to Remus' disappointment, Harry did not say anything. The feelings were too much, he couldn't hold his emotions in anymore. He flopped down in the chair next to Bill's bed and covered his face in his hands.
Tonks pitied Remus more than ever. She bit her lip as she stared at Remus, before turning to Harry.
"How did he die?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "How did this happen?"
Harry went on to tell the story of what had happened up in the Astronomy Tower. The room had fallen silent, and Remus uncovered his face, taking deep breaths.
He glanced at Tonks, who had a wry smile plastered on her face.
"Molly and Arthur are coming," McGonagall announced as she walked in the room. She then asked Harry what had happened to Dumbledore, and he repeated the facts.
Much to Remus and Tonks' dismay, Harry's story showed no change or any hint he was lying. It was true. The greatest wizard of all time had been defeated by his own kindness. It gave Remus a reason to hate Snape, and he continued to accuse him. James had seen this right in the beginning, he knew not to trust Snape. If only Dumbledore had listened to his former student's intuition, if only Remus had payed attention to his friend's admonition.
The group continued to mope, blaming themselves and Snape for all that had happened that night. Ginny and Ron gave a summary of what they had done, Remus and Tonks interjecting when they needed to. Hermione explained what her and Luna had been up to when they were guarding.
Tonks wanted to punch Snape more than ever. Snape had hurt her with his painful words before, but now he had done the unforgivable. He had killed - killed - Dumbledore, and he had hurt someone who had been nothing but kind to him. Snape deserved to die, in her humble opinion.
"He shouted 'It's over'," said Harry, finishing the story. "He had done what he'd meant to do."
Snape had bloody planned this from the very beginning! Remus could not believe it. He started to wish that he had bitten Snape the day Sirius had forced him down the Whomping Willow. Then none of this would have happened. It was all Remus' fault.
Tonks sent a comforting glance in Remus' direction, but he paid her no attention. It seemed as if she was going back to square one now that another death had come and affected Remus in such a way. It made her frustrated. They were living in a war, this was to be expected!"
Suddenly, the doors of the Hospital Wing burst open, Molly and Arthur running in, and a terrified Fleur Delacour behind them.
"Molly - Arthur - I am so sorry!" McGonagall exclaimed, jumping up to greet the family.
Tonks and Remus jumped up and moved over to the corner, as to not get in the way.
"Bill," Molly whispered, shoving past McGonagall. "Oh, Bill!"
Remus couldn't help but feel terrible for Molly. He knew how hard it must have been on his parents when he had been bitten. He reassured the Weasleys all he could. After all, Bill had been bitten by a werewolf in human form, the outcome would have been quite different - and much more tragic - had Bill been bitten on the full moon.
Tonks grimaced as Molly brought up the past tense of marriage. She knew Fleur well enough from Ginny to know that her temper was quite a bit off. But she was curious to see what would happen.
Remus remained stoic, not sure if he liked where this was going.
"And what do you mean by zat? What do you mean, ' 'e was going to be married'?"
"Well - only that -"
Remus didn't blame Molly for thinking like that. Most people would call off the marriage with a half human once they gained their senses. Although, Bill definitely was still going to be human, his job wouldn't be affected, at least.
"You theenk Bill will not wish to marry me anymore?" demanded Fleur hotly. "You theenk, because of those bites, he will not love me?"
Molly was looking highly uncomfortable. Had the situation not been so tense, Tonks was sure she would have burst out into laughter.
"No, that's not what I-"
"Because 'e will! It would take more zan a werewolf to stop Bill from loving me!"
"Well, yes, I'm sure," Molly said, exchanging a hopeless glance at Remus, who gave an amused smile. "But I thought perhaps - given how - how he-"
"You thought I would not weesh to marry him? Or per'aps, you hoped?" Tonks could see Ginny looking down guiltily. "What do I care how he looks? I am good-looking enough for the both of us, I theenk! All these scars show zat my husband is brave!" she suddenly grabbed the ointment from Molly. "And I shall do zat!"
Tonks started to stare at the scene, filled with a burning jealousy. Fleur was going to get the boy of her dreams, at this rate, despite what the family thought of her. She narrowed her eyes when Molly suggested the goblin-made tiara. When she couldn't take it anymore, she turned to Remus, who was red in the face. He seemed to know what was coming, and tried to look anywhere but at her. Tonks could feel herself being filled with courage like she never felt before.
"You see!" Tonks exclaimed, pointing at Fleur whilst glaring at Remus as if all this was his fault. "She still wants to marry him, even though he's been bitten! She doesn't care!"
Remus could feel all the eyes on him. He wanted to slap Tonks for declaring her seriousness for love from Remus in such a public way, but he couldn't bring himself to.
"It's different," Remus muttered, keeping his body tense and choosing his words carefully as he spoke in a rational manner. "Bill will not be a full werewolf. The cases are completely-"
"But I don't care either, I don't care!" Tonks said, grabbing the front of Remus' robes and shaking them to help prove her point. "I've told you a million times that I love you more than ever!"
Remus sighed, looking anywhere but at Tonks.
"And I've told you a million times that I am too old for you...too poor...too dangerous..."
Tonks did not look very pleased with this reply, and sent a desperate glance towards the others in the room.
Molly appeared to have caught this look, and gave a sad smile as she faced Remus.
"I've said all along that you're taking a ridiculous line on this, Remus."
Remus looked up at the ceiling helplessly. Molly was of no help. He was already in a tough position, trying to battle his emotions for Tonks' safety, and no one was defending his line of view.
"I am not being ridiculous," Remus retorted, keeping his voice even as he gestured to the furious girl next to him. "Tonks deserves someone young and whole."
Molly's face held a small smile as she began to rub Bill's forehead subconsciously. Her smile seemed to suggest that Remus was fighting a losing battle, and that definitely was not something Remus wanted to hear.
Arthur's facial expression mirrored that of his wife, much to Remus' infuriation.
"But she wants you. And, after all, Remus, young and whole men don't necessarily remain so."
Tonks couldn't help but feel a bit hopeful.
Remus, on the other hand, looked quite frustrated. He ran a hand through his hair without thinking.
"This...this is not the moment to discuss it...Dumbledore is dead..."
Remus tried to avoid everyone's gaze, but found himself sending a hopeless glance in McGonagall's direction, who seemed to have a knowing look upon her face.
She shrugged.
"Dumbledore would have been happier than anybody to think that there was a little more love in the world," said McGonagall curtly, in such a way that signified that the conversation was over.
Remus stared incredulously at McGonagall, internally cursing her. Everyone was right. He was being stupid, and he knew it. Even Sirius had known it, for Merlin's sake!
When Hagrid walked into the room, blubbering about Dumbledore, Remus took the opportunity to motion to Tonks, who was looking rather triumphant at the moment, to come out of the room with him.
Tonks' smile faded and was suddenly replaced with the realization of what she had just done. She mentally prepared an apology in her head. She must've embarrassed Remus so much...
Remus stopped a little while away from the Hospital Wing and simply looked at Tonks directly into her dark eyes, that were still sparkling despite the night's events.
For the first time, Tonks broke the eye contact and stared down at the floor, seeming rather guilty.
"I'm really sorry, Remus," she suddenly blurted out, on the verge of rambling. "I wasn't thinking! I was so stuck in the moment, I can't control my emotions in the way you do! I was just so jealous of Fleur, she got the man she loved despite what the Weasleys thought, and I really wished that I could have that same-"
Remus cut Tonks off by letting his lips brush over Tonks' gently.
"I've been in quite the dilemma myself," Remus said softly. "Never had such a tough time dealing with my emotions..."
"You don't need to worry. I'll be right by your side when you need me." Tonks could practically see her heart pounding out of her chest. She suspected Remus didn't really have that problem, he was a lot more mature.
"Are you really thinking of marriage, Nymphadora?" Remus asked.
Tonks beamed, not bothering to correct Remus' use of her full name; she had missed it. "...Maybe?"
Remus let his hand brush over his pocket one more time.
"I really love you, you know," Remus said. "And...I feel like I've always known it. I love Nymphadora Tonks."
Tonks wrapped her arms around Remus' neck.
"I love you, so much. I love Remus Lupin," she added, smiling as her hair started to turn pink again.
Remus pulled back, grinning at the sight of Tonks' genuine grin. He took a deep breath and pulled a small box out of his pocket, while Tonks was playing around with her nose. He got down on his knee.
Tonks blinked a few times after reverting her nose back to normal, and found Remus kneeling on the ground.
"Oh. My. Merlin," she said, staring at Remus.
"I want you to know how much I love you, and I don't know how else to say it without presenting you with this. Only this ring has-"
"Oh Merlin, Merlin, Merlin. Don't tell me you've been carrying that thing around everywhere? Since when?"
"-some more value to it than you seem to think. It is the only way I can-"
"Oh Merlin. Oh Merlin. It's happening. Oh Merlin, help me."
"...The only way I can express it is by telling you that I want to spend the rest of my-"
"Oh Merlin, Merlin, Merlin. Oh My Merlin. Sweet Merlin."
Remus groaned. "Are you done with calling for Merlin yet? I'm trying to propose to you!"
"I'm sorry, Remus," Tonks said genuinely. "Oh Merlin...sorry."
Remus took a deep breath and continued.
"I want to spend the rest of my life with you, I want you to have my babies, and I...what?"
Tonks shook her head, trying to stifle her laughter, and zipped her mouth with an imaginary zipper.
Remus rolled his eyes, but continued to grin. "I realized the only way to have that is to ask this question. Nymphadora Tonks, will you marry me?"
"Oh Me - Remus! Yes!"
Tonks flung herself into Remus' arms, allowing him to put the ring onto her, and let their lips meet together into one passionate kiss.
A/N: It's done! I finished a multi-chaptered fic! What did you all think of the ending? Was it fulfilling enough?
I decided against the epilogue, because I realized I would rather end it on a happy note rather than sad. The other would have been Teddy reflecting on the battle, and commenting on how the world changed since then. Don't feel like writing that XD because I loved this chapter and am rather proud of the way it turned out, and I wanted to end on this note.
I would like to thank all the reviewers who reviewed and followed this story over the course of the time it was written:
Lady Elizabeth of New York: I really loved hearing from you, as I absolutely admire you as a writer. The Family He Deserved has always been one of my favourites, so a compliment from you means a whole lot.
GabbiGrl: You've reviewed practically every chapter of this story, and I want to let you know how much it means to me (I know, I'm such a poof). Thank you so much for all your reviews.
zzz4730: I loved hearing from you, and you've reviewed every single chapter of this story, which I couldn't be more grateful for. You've always been so supportive of my writing, and I really appreciated it. Hearing such compliments from a magnificent writer truly means a lot.
Hermione Is My Role Model: Thank you for all your reviews and sticking by this story no matter what. You are a brilliant writer (well on your way to becoming an authour), and I'm so glad you've enjoyed this story.
Theamazingsara: I really loved hearing from you. Thank you for your review.
remusdora: Thank you so much for your review! It means a lot to me, and I'm glad you enjoyed it.
MelodyPond77: Always a pleasure to hear from you, Melody! I'm so glad you reviewed, it makes me so happy, and you're comments are always so supportive. Thanks you so much.
XD And that's everyone. Now I'm done being all sappy! I do hope I continue to hear from you all some more in the future.
