A/N: At the end.
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Chapter 14- Conversations
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Why did it have to be so damned cold out?
And why did she have to leave his nice warm embrace?
It had been wonderful, just lying in his arms; snuggling into his chest and watching the sun come up.
Now she was trudging through the snow to get to her apartment.
She sighed heavily, her breath steaming, as she looked up at the apartment building.
It was probably not the best idea to go home, but the fact of the matter was that all of her things were in that apartment and if nothing else, she needed her clothes.
He hadn't been thrilled at the idea of letting her go out alone, not simply because of the weather, but also because they both knew that Sicarius could be planning something foul.
But in the end, she had convinced him.
Threatening to wear all of his clothes had helped her argument…..
When she reached her door she stopped dead in her tracks.
It was ajar.
Her hand slipped into her robes and fisted around her wand.
Better to be prepared than sorry…
Shit…..
Someone had definitely ransacked the apartment.
The lamp was in pieces on the floor, the sofa was shredded…..
The wooden chair was broken and strewn about the room.
A gust of frigid wind hit her and she looked up.
The windows were open and a few stray flakes of snow were fluttering in.
No sooner had she stepped over the threshold then she heard the door slam shut.
Spinning around, her wand raised she came face to face with him.
"Exspelliarmis!"
Her wand flew from her hand into his waiting grip.
"Sicarius." She said with a glare.
"Nothing gives you the right to speak my name, Werebitch!" He seethed.
And then his hand flew out and struck her across her face.
Her head jerked to one side from the impact and her eyes watered from the force of the hit. She damn near fell over from it.
"Why is it always the face? Why do men always hit women across the face?!"
"Easy target."
She looked up at him, disgusted.
"Nothing gives you the right to break into my home and trash it or to hit me." She shot back.
He began to laugh.
She truly began to question his sanity.
"You're a monster. You don't have any rights."
"I've never killed anyone. You're the monster."
His eyes narrowed.
He stepped closer to her and she stood her ground as he circled around her.
"It's really a shame. A top Auror, at the beginning of her career….."
He looked her up and down and smirked wickedly.
"And such a beautiful one….. What a waste."
"Are you through gawking at me?" She huffed.
"You wish for me to draw our time together to a close so soon?"
"I'm not going to play your games."
He smiled.
"I'm used to a game of cat and mouse. You are the first to refuse to play."
Now her eyes narrowed.
"If you're going to kill me, I see no reason to give you the satisfaction."
"You're very perceptive. But no one in this country, save one person, knows about my past. How did you learn of it?"
"Does it matter?"
"Not really, but indulge me. It must be from that mate of yours, but where would he have heard?"
"Sorry, I'm not at liberty to say."
"Pity. I would have enjoyed finding and killing them. I suppose I'll just have to settle for you and then tract down that mate of yours."
She snorted with derision.
"You won't find him."
"Oh, you don't think so?"
"I'm the only living person that knows where he is and I won't tell you. And only one other was privy to his whereabouts-and dead men tell no tales."
"I'll find him eventually. There are only so many werewolves in the country."
"Business or pleasure?"
"Excuse me?"
"Are you here because Scrimgeour sent you or are you here because you have a vendetta to fill?"
He ground his teeth and glared at her.
"My vendetta is none of your concern, Werebitch!"
She shook her head.
"I pity the woman that marries you."
His eyes flashed and a dagger was at her throat in an instant.
Where the hell was he hiding that?!
"Do not speak of things which you know nothing about!" He warned.
And then it made sense.
"She was a werewolf wasn't she?" She whispered.
"I said shut your filthy mouth!" He screamed, pressing the dagger into the flesh of her neck, drawing blood.
"I could never kill someone that I loved. You truly are a monster."
"Damn you!"
He began to draw the blade back to strike and she took the opportunity.
She lunged at him and managed to knock him off balance.
Her wand went flying and she managed to get to it before he recovered.
"Bastard!" She spat before she disapparated with a deafening pop.
--
She apparated in Diagon Alley and went straight to the post shop.
She really needed to see him-now!
Once her owl flew off she made her way to the Leaky Cauldron.
She could really use a drink right about now…..
"'ello Miss Tonks. Can eh get yeh anythin' today?" Asked Tom.
She looked up at him and nodded.
"A fire whiskey….but make it a double." She told him.
He noticed her bruised and reddened cheek.
Must be havin' a hard day…….
She went over to a table to wait for her drink.
Hopefully she wouldn't have to wait long for him to show up.
Tom brought her the drink and she stared at it for a good fifteen minutes before the door to the London street opened and a man walked through.
She looked up and he spotted her, coming over immediately.
"Something from the bar, Ted?" Called Tom.
"Ogden's, double."
Tom nodded.
"You're owl had me worried….."
He sat down and for the first time got a good look at her face.
His eyes widened.
"Nymph, are you alright?"
She raised her hand to brush her hair into her face to hide her cheek and her hand trembled.
"I…I'm fine, daddy."
"Don't even try it, Nymph. Tell me who did this to you."
"I….."
Tom came over to the table and placed Ted's drink in front of him.
Ted turned to Tom.
"How long has she been here?"
"About twenty minutes."
"And her drink?"
"Hasn't touched it. Double Ogden's."
Ted looked back at her.
She normally drank Butter beer. On a special occasion she might drink a glass of wine or maybe a brandy……but Ogden's….
"Thanks Tom." He said.
"Yer welcome." Said Tom, heading back to the bar to serve a new customer.
"Nymph….."
She reached out to take her glass and her hand shook as she took hold of it.
"Don't daddy…."
He reached out and placed his hand over hers.
She looked up at him.
"Drink it." He told her.
She needed something to steady her.
Ogden's would definitely take the edge off….
She nodded and lifted the glass to her mouth and gulped down half a mouth full of the amber liquor.
It burned all the way down her throat and into her stomach and her body shivered at the odd sensation.
"Probably should have taken a smaller sip, kiddo." Said Ted, tasting his own drink.
"Probably." She croaked, rubbing her throat.
When her hand moved away he noticed a fine red line.
She realized in an instant what his eyes were so focused on.
"Daddy…."
"Tell me what happened Nymphadora." He said bluntly.
She sighed inwardly.
He never called her by her full name unless she was in trouble or something was really important.
"I…I went to St. Mungo's yesterday because of the new Auror requirements that Scrimgeour has put in place and…."
"And?"
"And because of the results of my examination I was fired."
"Fired?! How could you be fired?"
"The Healer that saw me sent my examination results to Scrimgeour. And then Scrimgeour sent me a letter stating that my Auror status had been terminated."
"But why? You haven't been hit by an Unforgivable, have you?"
"No."
"Then….. Are you pregnant?"
"No daddy."
Why was that always one of the first questions?
"Then why…?"
"I've been infected with Werewolf venom."
"Werewolf venom…. So you're….?"
She nodded.
"Was it Rem….?"
He sounded somewhere between mournful and vengeful.
"Shhh!" She hissed through her teeth, cutting him off.
He looked at her oddly and she sighed.
"Don't say his name." She told him.
Odd… Why couldn't he say it?
Oh well. She'll explain in time.
"But was it him?"
"Yes, but he didn't attack me."
"Then….."
She looked up at him and his eyes met hers.
Ah…..
He nodded and sipped his drink.
No need to dwell on her personal life.
It really isn't any of my business….
"And you were fired for that?"
Time for a change in topic….
"Scrimgeour doesn't want a 'Werebitch' running around the Ministry."
His eyes widened.
"He called you that?!"
"Yeah." She nodded, biting her lip to hold back her tears.
"So that's why you owled me?"
She shook her head.
"Today I was going back to my apartment and the Healer that examined me yesterday was there…."
She looked down at her drink before she continued.
"He was waiting for me….I got away, but I can't go back there…."
"Does Re…" He caught himself and cleared his throat before continuing. "Does he know?" He asked.
"About what?"
"All of this."
"He knows I've been infected and he knows the background of the Healer, but he doesn't know that I was attacked today. I….He didn't want me to go back to my apartment yesterday because of the snow and he wanted to go with me this morning just in case but I told him I would be fine….I just….I didn't want to worry him…. I didn't want the Healer to find him."
So much for holding back the tears.
Two fat tears were falling from her eyes.
"Alright... You'll come home with me and….."
"But I don't want you and mum to be in danger."
He looked at her evenly.
"I pity the poor bastard that crosses my path or your mother's, especially if they are trying to hurt you." He whispered.
"Dad, this guy is worse than a Death Eater. He killed the woman he loved…."
"You're forgetting I grew up in the Muggle world, honey."
It was true.
He'd heard of that sort of thing in the past.
"What…what about….him?"
"Once I get you home I'll go and see him and tell him what's happened. And then I'll bring him home with me. Ann's been meaning to have him over for ages, anyway." He smiled.
"Are you sure?"
"You're my daughter, Nymphadora, and no matter how old you get I will always protect my little girl. And besides, you're mum loves company."
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"Damn it! She was right where I wanted her and….."
How could I have let her escape?
You got emotional.
"She had no right to talk about….."
But she wasn't wrong was she? You know why you hate her and it isn't just because she is a werewolf. She looks like…
"Shut up!!!!!!!"
Sorry, the voice in your head doesn't do that.
"Grrrr….."
He fisted his hair in frustration and aggravation.
"Why did she have to look like Vi?"
You know she isn't Vi.
"Why did Vi have to be…….?"
………
"Answer me, damn it!"
You know, it's a sign of insanity when you answer yourself.
"Shit."
--
"I'm back Ann and I brought a visitor." Called Ted.
A woman with rich brown hair hurried to greet them at the entryway.
"Hi mum."
"Nymph! I saw your letter…" She said quickly, before pulling Nymphadora into a tight hug. "I was so worried." She told her and when she pulled back from the embrace she gasped.
"What happened?! Your cheek is…"
"It's nothing one of your little potions can't cure, dear." Ted said.
Ann looked up at him.
"Did you go after the person that did this to her?!"
"Mum, he'd have been long gone by the time dad would have gotten there…."
"So there's a madman on the loose!?"
"He's been on the loose." Muttered Nymphadora.
"Calm down, Ann. Nymph is alright and she's here now." He said and he turned back to the door.
"And where the dickens do you think you're running off to?!" Ann questioned.
"We're short one guest. I'm just going to retrieve him." Smiled Ted and he walked out the door before Ann could argue.
"And what the hell does that mean?" She asked Nymphadora, placing her hands on her hips as she turned to her offspring.
"Dad's going to tell Remus what happened and bring him back here." She explained.
Ann's eyebrow arched.
"And why would he do that?"
"Because Remus didn't want me to go to my apartment after what went on yesterday at St. Mungo's. He thought something like this might happen." She told her.
"So then, you spent the night with Remus?" Ann asked.
Nymphadora sighed heavily.
"You're not going to give me some song and dance about spending the night with a guy if I'm not married to him, are you?" She asked.
"No, I'm not. You're a big girl. And besides, Remus is a good man." Smiled Ann.
Relief washed over Nymphadora's face instantly.
"But I would like to know what happened at St. Mungo's yesterday."
Of course…..
"You might want to sit down then…." Nymphadora suggested.
"Why do I suddenly have the feeling that I'm not going to like this one bit?" Said Ann.
"Trust me, you won't." Nymphadora told her.
Ann sighed and nodded.
"Alright, you can explain but lets do something about that bruise, dear." Ann said in her mothering tone as she turned to head into the kitchen.
Nymphadora shook her head and smiled.
Mothers never change…..
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There was a knock on the door….
Odd…..Nym doesn't usually knock……
He opened the door and standing in the frame was….
"Ted?"
"Hello Remus. May I come in?"
Remus stepped aside and waited for Ted to enter before closing the door and turning to face him.
"Wh…?" Remus began to ask with a look of confusion on his face.
"Why am I here?" Ted offered.
Remus nodded.
Ted sighed and ran his hand over his face.
"Nymph sent me a letter this morning….."
The color drained from Remus' face immediately.
"What happened?"
Ted looked at him consideringly.
"She had me meet her at The Leaky Cauldron… Her face was bruised."
Remus looked away and shook his head.
"She said it was a healer….."
"The one who saw her yesterday at St. Mungo's, yes. He….he has a hatred for werewolves. And that's putting it mildly."
"Nymph said as much." Ted told him.
"Where is she now?" He asked.
"She's with Ann."
Remus sighed with relief.
At least she isn't…..
"And they're waiting for us to get back."
Remus looked up at him.
"There are a few things that we all need to discuss."
Remus groaned internally.
Yeah………I knew that was coming eventually…….
I was just hoping the circumstances would be different…..
He nodded and grabbed his cloak.
"Better not keep them waiting then."
Ted laughed and nodded.
"It's never wise to keep a woman waiting…..especially if she's waiting with her mother or her daughter."
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A/N: It's back!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And it's been a long wait. I'm very sorry about that. But I'll be posting more chapters very soon, now that I'm off from school for a while and can write again (sorry, but school took priority, though I wish that it didn't). I hope you liked this one. And I have plenty of surprises coming, don't worry.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!