That wasn't quite the reaction she'd been hoping for.
Actually, downright opposite!
True she hadn't expected him to fall sobbing into her arms, or start jumping around for joy, but he could at least have had the decency to look happy!
Dora slurped up the last of her tea, just as her mother entered the room.
"Found him yet?" asked Dora. Her mother looked harassed and angry, her brown hair had become untwisted from its clip, no change there then.
"Heavens no!" she exclaimed "Remus seems to have apparated at some point!"
Dora shrugged, trying to look un-concerned, but inside her thoughts were twisting. Remus was emotionally unbalanced right now and the last thing she wanted was for him to run into some Death Eaters!
"Not quite the reaction you were guessing hey?"
"Nope!" Dora chuckled "Although the look on his face when I told him was hilarious!"
Her mother just gave her the Nymphadora-what-sort-of-hair-colour-is-that-look. Dora tried to hide a smile, -- good gracious I haven't seen that look for years!—and somehow ended up with an expression appropriate for a deathbed. Andromeda was muttering angrily under her breathe, shooting anxious looks at her daughter.
"Dora dear..."
Uh-oh! She actually called me Dora and not that god awful first name! This means she trying to appeal to my better nature...
"Perhaps it would be better if you came and lived with me and your dad for a bit." Andromeda was sat, wide-eyed and pleading.
Yup, just like I said!
"Mum, I will, but I'm going to wait for Remus to come home first." Dora chewed her bottom lip, allowing her mother to see just how worried she was. "He's emotionally unstable at the moment, he's worried about the Order, Me, Harry, I want to check he's alright about moving before we come home, is that alright?"
Andromeda had a far-away look on her face. Then she smiled.
"You know, however much you insist you are not like me in any way shape or form, you are defiantly more me than your father." Andromeda said softly. Then she patted Dora on the hand "Either way though sweetie, you will be moving in!"
Dora nodded. "I'll be there by the end of today, why don't you go home and get the bedroom un-cluttered... although knowing you, it's all in easily disposed of piles, just in case I decided to come home"
Andromeda had the good grace to look sheepish.
"You never know, if you go away, maybe Remus will come home?" She continued. Andromeda stood up and kissed Dora on the forehead, smoothing away the purple and pink locks.
"Be home by 10 or I'll send your dad round."
Dora nodded. Then Andromeda left the room, closing the front door behind her.
Silence.
"About time, I thought she'd never leave." A horse voice startled Dora, she spun around in time to see Remus appearing, ashen-faced beside the cupboard.
"Remus!" She jumped up and threw her arms around his neck. "I've been so Bloody Worried! Where have you been?"
"I didn't go far I promise," he said, quietly un-peeling Dora's arms from around his neck.
"Remus, please say something positive, I mean, you ran off without a word and I sent mum after you because she said I couldn't leave the sodding flat..." She babbled, barely pausing for breath.
"I'm sorry Dora, It was just the shock, I mean... I was just so surprised that I panicked and ran."
"What's there to be shocked about? I mean, it's a good thing isn't it?" Dora asked uncertainly. Remus looked just as uncertain.
"I don't know, what if..." he was cut short by a sharp slap to his bruised left arm "OW!"
"Don't you dare, this IS a good thing!" Dora glared at Remus. Remus paused.
"go and pack your things, I think you need to be with your mother and father, I'll floo you over, then I will go to Flourish and Blotts, ok?" Remus was in authorative, you-argue-I-curse you mode, so Dora agreed. Albeit a bit un willingly.
Pregnant. A baby. His baby! The baby of a werewolf.
Remus turned over and stared at the back of Dora's brown head. He felt ... guilty. For her, for the ... the... the baby. He had ruined her life. Just like that baby would grow up to be ashamed of its father, to have people avoid him.
For all he knew, the baby would be a werewolf too.
He had to get out.
Now.
He went to get out of bed but found a vice like grip on his wrist.
"Go back to sleep Remus" came the sleepy voice as she turned over to face him. "Stop worrying, everything will be fine." He just nodded, unable to speak, they would probably wake her parents up if they decided to argue now.
So he just settled back, hoping to get outside and clear his head once Dora was asleep, but she seemed to know what his idea was, and fell asleep again with her head on his chest.
He felt trapped, by his love, by his condition.
He couldn't hurt her again.
Could he?
The letter arrived that morning.
It was from the ministry he could see by the crest on the back.
It was also addressed to Dora.
He handed it to her as she slipped into her chair next to him, planting a quick kiss on her cheek.
He saw her open it and quickly scan through the contents.
Then stop, shake her head and turn back to the beginning.
It had come.
Remus handed her the letter. She opened it and began to read without really taking in any of the contents.
Then one word caught her eye, Forced to forfeit your post...
What?
She began reading again.
Recipient : Nymphadora Tonks
Office: Auror Headquaters.
Dear Miss Tonks,
It has been bought to the Ministry's attention that you have recently become married to the werewolf Remus John Lupin. Unless you break off from this marriage within the next 48 hours and contact the Magical Law Enforcement office, You will be forced to forfeit you post in the Auror department.
Fraternising with werewolves is now a punishable offence within the Ministry of Magic and the Minister himself has expressed disappointment that a young talented Auror has chosen to entwine her life with a Dark Creature. He has decided that unless you end the relationship, he will be forced to lose you from the Ministry, something he is reluctant to do with a woman of your talents.
The Ministry have recently classed Werewolves under the category Dark Creature even when in human form, therefore you will be categorized under this as well.
I am sorry to have to remove you from your post so suddenly, but under the new Werewolf Legislation law, this must be done.
Hoping you are well
Dolores Umbridge,
Senior Undersecretary to the Minister
"WHAT!"
Andromeda jumped, sending the cup of tea she was holding flying. Shooting exasperated look as she drew her wand to clean up the mess, Andromeda looked confused.
"What what?" She asked puzzeled.
Her mother had plenty of good qualities, but one which did not include quick responses or being able to deter from a situation what might be wrong.
"I've been fired!" Dora screeched.
"What!" Andromeda paused, the teacup she had been repairing clattered to the ground again "fired, but why?"
"Because of me, I expect." Remus said quietly. Dora threw the letter onto the table and began pacing quickly running her hand through her rapidly changing hair. She saw her mother pick up the letter and begin reading it.
"They want me to leave the man I love because once a sodding month he is a little bit dangerous!" Dora fumed.
"Think of what they'll say when they learn about the baby..." muttered Andromeda.
"But Dora, think of their logic..." Remus attempted, but Dora was too angry for reasoning and logic.
"But thats downright prejudice! And not fair! You have helped the Wizarding World survive plenty of times!-"
"Calm down Sweetheart, think of the baby..." Andromeda attempted.
"Calm down? Calm down! How on Earth can I calm down! The biased Minister has kicked me out of my job for falling in love! And I bet that Bitch Umbridge with her "half- breeds" are the reason! Ohh, she's had it in for me since she first saw me morph! And what about the Department of Mysteries? Have they forgotten that we were part of that? ARHHHHHH!" Dora stormed out of the room, just as Ted entered, holding the Daily Prophet.
"I heard shouting?" he asked mildly. Andromeda looked at him with a look Remus had seen on Dora's face plenty of times, before she hurried out after her daughter.
If looks could kill, well, maybe not kill but certainly maim worse than a full moon without wolfsbane, then Ted would be on the floor with huge gashes across his entire body....
Not a pleasant thought.