So sorry for the long wait for this update! I had not realized how much time had past with life getting busy all of a sudden! Hopefully I will update my other fics soon, but it doesn't look like real-life things are going to slow down any time soon. Thank you to everyone who has stuck with this story after an unannounced two month hiatus! This chapter is dedicated to Rose Remus Dora and other guest reviewers, whose persistent reviews got me back on track and thinking about this story.
I don't own Harry Potter. Somethings never change.
Well, I hope you all enjoy this one! On with the story!
Tonks was jolted awake by Rumus' jerking body and Keira's howls. Sirius nudged her away with his snout, and she carefully extracted herself from the pileup they had fallen asleep in. She ran to the window to follow the moon's descent below the horizon. She scrambled unsteadily to the top of an old trunk and managed to get a glimpse of the moon disappearing from view. She jumped down and ran back to Remus and Keira. She didn't know what to do, so she licked their faces while they made the transition. Slowly, their human shapes began to take form. Keira was whimpering quietly and Remus was panting. Tonks shifted back into a human and took the little girl into her arms to check her over.
Remus looked over to her groggily. "Are... You... Completely... Mental?" he gasped between short, heavy breaths.
"A little, but you knew that already," she said calmly, cradling Keira more securely against her shoulder so she could lean over to give Remus a kiss on the forehead.
"This isn't a joking matter!" Remus cried, "Stop laughing, Sirius, I haven't even started with you yet. I know you had a part in this."
Sirius silenced his previous soft chuckles.
Tonks frowned and held Remus' hand tightly. "Don't be upset. I am fine. Just... Can we please discuss the later?" She nodded meaningfully to Kiera, who was still crying softly with her head on Tonks' shoulder, "Shh, sweetheart, it is okay now. Where does it hurt?"
"It hurts all over," she whimpered.
"I know. We are going home and Moony and I will fix you up."
"Okay," he nodded, "But we will talk. For now, let's just go home."
Sirius helped Remus off the floor, and Tonks continued to carry Keira. Tonks side-along apparated them all to their flat, including Sirius who was now snuffles.
Carrying them up the stairs was the difficult part. Remus insisted he could walk on his own, but he was still unsteady and in need of help. Tonks was not even going to try seeing if Keira could walk. As Sirius was forced to be on four paws, he was not much help. They went at it slow. Remus kept a firm hold of the fur at the scruff of Snuffles' neck and placed a hand on Tonks' shoulder. Keira remained balanced on Tonks' hip. By the time they made it to the second floor, Tonks was cursing her younger self for not springing for a flat with a lift. Oh, well. They would not be here much longer, with any luck. At least no one saw them.
Together the three of them settled Keira into bed and made her comfortable. Luckily she was not hurt, just sore and scared. The wolfsbane had done its job, but she was still a scared little girl that had just turned into a wolf and back. Snuffles crawled next to her and rested his big, fuzzy head on her knee.
"Dora, can you turn into a dog again and come up here too? Your fur looked soft."
Tonks smiled. "Of course! If I can do it again, that is!"
Remus gave a huff of disapproval, but Tonks just nudged him with her shoulder playfully. She sat on the edge of the bed and concentrated on being a wolf again. To her surprise, it was even easier than before. She carefully stretched herself alongside Keira's slim body and liked her face.
Keira giggled and gave a little squeal. Tonks attempted to smile at her, but the best she could tail that just resulted in her tongue lolling out and her fluffy tail wagging. Keira rubbed her behind her ear. To Tonks' surprise, he hind leg began to start thumping the duvet of its own accord. Even Remus had to laugh at that.
Once she had Dora and Snuffles arranged to her liking, Keira turned to Remus. "Will you tell a story, Moony?" she asked sweetly.
He smiled at the three pairs of puppy dog eyes looking pleadingly up at him. Of the three, the actual canines weren't nearly as convincing in his opinion. Keira had puppy dog eyes down to a science. If she and Tonks teamed up on him when she was using her morphing-Merlin help him! "I certainly will," he said, trying to find himself a place to sit on the crowded bed. He found a place on the very, very edge and began his story. He knew Keira was tired, so he kept it short. He was right and soon she was asleep.
Tonks carefully extracted herself from the little girl's arms. Remus needed her attention now. Snuffles stayed behind to watch over Keira. Tonks shifted back into human form and led him be the hand to their bedroom. "You look like you are about to fall over, Sweetheart," she said, "You go change and lie down and I will be back in a tick with tea and potions."
"I'm fine Dora, why don't you come to bed as well? You don't look much better."
"Two cups of tea then. I won't be a moment."
Remus began to undress and put on his pajamas. Tonks quickly took inventory of any exposed skin she saw. He would try to hide injuries if she just asked. As best she could tell, he walked away from this one without so much as a scratch. She ran to make the tea and fetch the potions before he could catch her at her spying.
Tonks carefully made her way into the bedroom with a cup of tea in each hand and a potion bottle tucked into her pocket. She sat everything on the nightstand next to Remus before she could drop it.
He took a sip and sighed. "Thank you, Dora. It is lovely."
"It really is difficult to mess up tea, dear, but you are welcome anyway." She took off her clothes to change into pajamas. She felt his eyes on her while she dressed.
"Are you enjoying the view Mr. Lupin?" she asked cheekily.
She looked up to see that he looked thoughtful rather than amused. She hated when that happened.
"Since it does not appear that I hurt you last night, I suppose you could say so."
She huffed and flopped into bed next to him. "I knew you wouldn't hurt me. I was a wolf, not a human last night."
"I could not change you or kill you. There is a difference. I could have still hurt you in less severe ways."
"A few bumps and scratches? I do worse to myself on a daily basis. I really don't understand what your problem is."
"My problem, Dora, is that you did this behind my back. You put yourself at risk again for me and this time I couldn't even try to stop you. I know that is why you didn't tell me your plan."
"I should have known. You always overreact when it is something to do with me. I am not a fragile little flower, Remus, nor am I too immature to make my own decisions. I am a grown woman and a capable witch, and it is high time you noticed."
"I do know that. It is not you that I have doubts about. It is me."
"You shouldn't. Last night was less dangerous than the times you transformed with Sirius when you had no wolfsbane."
"But there was some danger."
"You need to see that for me, the danger involved in a day at the office makes turning into a wolf and playing with a werewolf and a pup look about as safe as a tea party. It is all relative. I didn't tell you because you always put yourself last and I wanted to surprise you with this. I can see now that my plan backfired."
Remus softly laid his hand on her cheek to turn her towards him. "I'm sorry. I may not show it, but I am grateful that you would become in animagus for me. I just worry about you; I can't help it. I don't want you to burden yourself for me."
"I promise it is not a burden. I know you wouldn't believe me if I lied and said it is easy, so I won't. I will truthfully say it is worth ever instant and I couldn't be happier."
"Neither could I. Just, would you please tell me next time you do something like this? In return, I promise to be reasonable."
Tonks smiled. "Deal. Does this mean I can keep spending the full moon with you and Keira?"
"I suppose I can't stop you. Just please realize when you are too tired and it becomes too much. You are lucky the day after fell on your off day this time."
"A sleepless night here and there never hurt anyone."
"It does if you are distracted while on a mission."
"I promise I will not do more than I am able. You just need to trust me to know my own limits." She kissed him softly on the tip of his nose.
"I trust you always and in everything. I am sorry that I am over protective sometimes. I will try to be better about it." He assured her.
"And I appreciate the effort."
Remus yawned deeply. "Well, I am tired and your tea hit the spot nicely. I don't suppose you are ready to turn in for the night?"
"You mean the morning? But yes, I could do with a nap."
"Yes, I suppose it is. Sweet dreams, Dora."
"You, too, Remus," she answered, but he had already fallen asleep. Tonks smiled and curled into his side and settled in to sleep.
Thanks for reading! Please review to let me know you are still hanging in there (and enjoying it... or not).
