Enjoy!

The next day Remus composed a letter to Minerva asking about Winky, and they set to work moving into their new house.

The first step was to repaint. Tonks wanted Teddy's room to be colored turquoise and they spent most of the day painting that and the other rooms in the house. It took longer than they wanted it to because Tonks kept splashing her paint on Remus who would respond in turn.

"Dora, where do you want to use this yellow paint?" Remus called up the stairs.

"How about in the kitchen? I've always wanted a yellow kitchen."

He shrugged. "Okay. That's fine by me. Will you come down and help me paint?"

"Sure!" she came down the stairs and they started painting the walls.

"You know, we could be doing this magically…" Remus pointed out.

"I know, but I've always liked painting. My mother raised that point when me and Dad painted my room when I was four."

"Sounds like fun."

His wife gave a sigh and sat back. "It was. I remember I got paint all over almost everything, but he only laughed at it and proceeded to splatter some more paint everywhere. It escalated into a full on paint war, my mother hated it."

Remus nodded, and deliberately dipped his paintbrush into the can of paint and discreetly flicked it towards her.

She cried out as it hit her and grinned at her husband. "Oh, so you want to play it like that, do you?" She dipped her paintbrush into the can and streaked yellow all down the side of his arm.

"Immature."

She stuck her tongue out at him. "You're hardly the pinnacle of maturity either, dear."

He nodded. "True. I suppose I'm not. However, can we get this done so that we can start with the furniture?"

"Fine."

After a few hours they had finished the painting, broken by only a few interludes of paint wars. Their next task was to move all the furniture in. There was all the furniture from their old flat that they hadn't used when they moved in with Tonks' parents, and there was some more stuff from Andromeda that she had stored away in a vault.

When they were done, they found the house very liveable and felt extremely comfortable in it. The next night was the night they would move in, but first, Remus needed an update on the situation with Winky.

He got his answer after they had gone home and were eating dinner. A Hogwarts owl pecked at the kitchen window and when Remus let it in and offered it a piece of meat from the table, it left, leaving the letter addressed to him from the headmistress behind.

Good evening, Remus. The letter read.

Your suggestion is a good one as I figure you don't fancy burning your new house down within your first day of ownership.

"Hey!" Tonks protested. Remus smiled and gave her a peck on the cheek then continued reading.

I sympathise with your situation having never been a tremendous cook myself.

I paid a visit to the Kitchen to check up on the particular house elf of mention and found her coping well enough but not seeming truly happy. I brought up your situation to her and she brightened at the prospect of serving again.
You should be happy to know that she will start in your house as soon as you move in, you just have to call her. I have moved her out of Hogwarts service into your ownership.

Treat her well,

Yours,

Minerva McGonagall

Remus' smile broadened as he read the letter and told his wife. "Now I don't have to worry about having to get home by a certain time. Are you okay with this?"

"Yes, It'll be good to have an extra pair of hands to take care of the children anyway. Thanks for asking McGonagall about it. I'd feel guilty as if we just stole her."

"Me? Steal? Are you out of your mind? I'd never steal anything in my life!"

"You stole my heart."

Remus stared at her then burst out laughing. "That was the cheesiest thing I've ever heard you say!"

Tonks blushed a little bit and started laughing too. "That was pretty bad wasn't it."

Remus leaned over to give her a peck on the cheek. "I thought it was cute."

Andromeda watched all this with a smile on her face. "You two will be just fine."

"Thanks, Mum."

"You're welcome, Nymphadora. I never thought I'd ever say this but, marriage suits you well."

"What? Did you not think I would find a husband?"

Andromeda looked slightly uncomfortable. "I feared you'd be used. And then there was the matter of you settling down ever, which for a while was doubtful."

"I know, Mum. But it was just the matter of finding the right guy, and Remus is that guy. He respects my decisions and I honestly don't think that thought would ever enter his mind."

Remus smiled softly. "I wouldn't dream of it. Dora, you're perfect for me how you are, all your colors and quirks, and I wouldn't have you any other way."

She smiled. "You're too good for me, love."

"That's what I say about you."

"I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree."

"That we will."

They went to bed and at midnight, Tonks shook Remus awake. He groaned. "Hmm?" his half-asleep brain protested.

"I'm craving some ice cream and pickles right now."

He smiled slightly. "That doesn't sound too good…" his eyelids closed.

"Will you help me make some?"

He groaned, but got out of bed and helped his wife downstairs. He got out a tub of ice cream while she grabbed a jar of pickles. When she had made it they sat down at the bar and Remus leaned his head on his hands and tried not to fall asleep or be sick as he watched his wife eat the food that didn't look too good to him but she seemed to enjoy.

"Thanks, Remus."

"You're welcome…" he slurred.

"I'm sure this must not look too appetizing to you."

"Nope. Not at all. But I'm here for you, so if you need anything else, you can wake me up again, even if I'm not the best conversationalist."

I hope you liked! I'm going to be gone next week, so sorry, I'll miss that weeks update.

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~Doodledraw