Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor do I own any related materials.
Deviated World
Chapter XXXVI
"I don't care what you say Sirius! I BLOODY HATE MEN!"
"Oh, dear," said Molly Weasley.
"Am I missing something?" asked her husband, Arthur.
"Tonks has been dating a young man for some time now. Really it is about time that he proposed—maybe that's the problem!" said Molly causing both Remus and James to make faces. Fred and George took note of this.
"What's wrong with him?" asked George.
"Has the bloke got hinkypunks for ears or something?" asked Fred.
Both Remus and James opened their mouths, but were interrupted. "Worse! He has beetledung for brains and grindylow mucus for a heart! Not to mention he looks like he could be Snape and Filch's lovechild," said Sirius, reentering the room without Tonks. At this point everyone was making a disgusted face. "Now," continued Sirius, "everyone, please refrain from asking Tonks questions when she gets back from the kitchen. She will talk about it if she feels like it." The Weasleys, James and Harry nodded and continued their festivities. "He really should have gone with the apricot," whispered Sirius as he reclaimed his seat next to Remus.
Remus snorted, causing himself to spill tea on his lap. "Damn! How is she? What happened?"
"Charice told Tonks about accepting a position on the DCC—that's—"
"I've heard about it," said Remus.
"Yes. Well, he apparently started another one of his tirades against werewolves, which, of course set Tonks off. Investigating him has been wearing on her for sometime and especially after cleaning up after your 'mess,' she has been extra protective of the werewolf community. They had a fight and he was apparently very condescending and insulting. He threw her friendship with you, her world view, her Auror skills—everything in her face—including an engagement ring."
"He proposed?" asked Remus, his face going pale.
"I am not really sure if he did or he was going to, but changed his mind. Tonks wasn't really clear on that. Anyway, the whole thing ended up with Tonks chucking an apple pie at his head and yelling 'Fucking apricot' and apparating here. I am sure Andromeda probably cursed Charice out of the house after that," finished Sirius.
"She's…" started Remus.
"No, Remus. Don't talk to her right now. She is probably bloody confused about her feelings on you already and it sounded like Charice really tore down at her self-esteem. I think she had more feelings towards him than she was letting on…"
"She loved—"
"No, Remus. She cared," said Sirius rolling his eyes.
Remus thought about it. Of course she would care…their relationship had probably started off good. And though they clashed on their views, Tonks probably knew Charice too well after over a year of pretending to be in a committed relationship with him. Remus cringed, knowing that that relationship contained a closeness that he may never be able to have with Tonks again and knowing that while Tonks had continued to date Charice for her mission, that they had had that closeness none-the-less. Of course she cared.
"When did you get so insightful?" asked Remus.
"About the time you became so thickheaded," shot back Sirius, with a grin.
Remus saw Tonks slip into the room not too long later. Her magenta hair was no longer frazzled looking and though her eyes were still red, her tears had dried, though Remus could tell that she was clinging to her cup of cocoa for dear life. Tonks sat next to Hermione and started talking to her. Remus watched for a moment longer, getting the feeling that Tonks was advertently avoiding his gaze. Sirius had said that Charice had thrown their friendship in her face. Remus knew that Tonks was apprehensive of their friendship after everything he had done. He wondered how she felt now. The thought sounded selfish, he realized. This was not about him; this was about her.
Remus wanted to give Tonks a reassuring look—he wanted to do something, but between her avoidance and Sirius's warning he found himself unable to do anything. Frustrated he withdrew to the kitchen to leave behind the joyous festivities. He was confused, frustrated and everything in between. He loved Tonks, that was what he knew. Tonks from his world, Tonks from this world…it made little difference except that his Tonks was dead while he lived. But he had thought in the back of his head that it would make all the difference, that this Tonks would never have those same feelings, feelings that in his world it took him so long to truly believe in. Then she had kissed him as he went on his mission to the werewolf communities. That had both restored hope as well as that mistrust, though this time the mistrust was completely with himself.
Remus sighed leaning over his cup of tea as he sat at the rough kitchen table. Was he betraying the woman he loved? Well, either of the woman I love, Remus corrected. He didn't know what he wanted to do. His original plan had been to stay away, but he knew that he did not truly wanted to. He was afraid after Tonks had kissed him that he wouldn't be able to keep her away. And now, after all he had done, he was afraid that she would never come back…
"Is this a private party, or can I join you?"
Remus looked up startled. Tonks stood by the doorway, looking a little more cheerful than when he had departed. "I suppose you can," said Remus cautiously.
"Sirius was starting to worry. You have been in here by yourself for almost an hour," said Tonks, grabbing a butterbeer and seating herself across from Remus.
"I hadn't realized. I suppose I am just tired," answered Remus, not entirely truthfully.
"It has been quite a day," said Tonks, her eyes drifting out the window, her hands fidgeting with something. The object in her hands caught the light, glittering and Remus felt a sinking in his stomach.
"I—"
A knocking sound traveled into the kitchen from the entryway of the house. Remus stood up, always wary of surprise visitors. He heard footsteps and the creak of a door opening. Then the murmur of a voice.
"I do not think she wants to see you," came James best diplomatic tone. "You'd best be leaving."
"I will not leave until I talk to her," said the first voice, that of Charice.
"Tough luck," said a third voice, Sirius.
Tonks gave Remus a grim smile. "I better go out there before there is trouble."
"Are you sure you are up for it? James and Sirius can take care of it for now—" protested Remus. "I could—"
"No, no. I—"
"I understand," said Remus. Tonks gave Remus a small smile.
"Thank you," she said, walking out of the kitchen. Remus followed tentatively, wanting to be there for her, but knowing that it was best to stay out of the way.
"Now look here," said Sirius heatedly as Tonks approached. Remus noted that Harry, Hermione and the Weasleys were all watching none-too-subtly from the living room. "We—she wants you gone. You have made enough trouble, you bloody—"
"Sirius," warned Tonks, putting her hand on his shoulder, drawing him back from the doorway. "Charice, why are you here? You made things perfectly clear."
"I was just angry. My offer still stands, it is just that your naivety—"
"My naivety? You're joshing me, right?" asked Tonks.
"Look the point is that my offer still stands! I will overlook—" Charice faltered, thinking better of his choice of words. "Look, as Udi Faye once proclaimed 'a Hornstack keeps the mouse despite the louse—'"
"That was a terrible song with insipid lyrics" interjected Tonks.
"I can provide for you. Consider what I am offering. I am moving up in the Ministry. I have all the connections. They, with Umbridge as a guide, are moving towards a better world. Once she overcomes the obstacles, I will be at the top with you beside me…"
"This is sickening," said James, walking back to the kitchen.
"Your condition can be overlooked, even your unorthodox views…"
"My condition and 'unorthodox views' can be overlooked?" seethed Tonks. "I see. You will marry me despite of everything I am for my own good. I supposed you think I should be grateful then?"
"Well—"
"You will help me overcome my problems, won't you? You will take my 'naivety,' as you call it, and help me see people how you see them. You will take my love and turn it into spite and malice—"
"Don't you see? Your tolerance for such creatures is unfounded, dangerous even!" Charice then spotted Remus. "Even your friend here would probably kill you in a second if he had the chance. He isn't just a suspected dark wizard, Tonks! He is a bloody werewolf! A murdering one at that!"
"I am well aware what Remus is and what he isn't," said Tonks. Remus noticed that her hand was shaking and gripping her wand so tightly he was sure he'd break it. It vaguely registered with Remus that Charice seemed to know him a little too well.
"Don't you see it? He is a werewolf."
"I know and I don't care, neither does anyone in this house. It is not about bloody tolerance. There is nothing to tolerate. Remus is a good man, that is all there is to it."
"So you would turn you back on me for him?" asked Charice dangerously.
Tonks didn't answer. Remus found that he couldn't breathe for a moment. After a silence Remus heard Tonks answer. "Yes," she said, extending her hand with a small glittering ring towards Charice.
Charice face heated and rage flashed in his eyes. "You! This is your fault!" he shouted. It took Remus a moment to realize that Charice was addressing him.
"And it has nothing to do with you and your prejudices I suppose?" asked Remus calmly.
Charice lunged at Remus, not drawing his wand, but drawing back his fists. Remus didn't move and one blow landed before Tonks and Sirius were able to hold Charice back.
"Outside!" shouted Tonks to Charice, pulling him by the ear out the door.
There were more shouts, but Remus could not quite hear them. He touched his face and felt a tender spot under his eye where Charice had hit him. No real damage had been done, but he was sure to have a nice bruise. By this time the whole Weasley family, Harry and Hermione were standing in the entry way too. It just registered to Remus that Molly was fussing over him while Harry, Ron, Fred and Arthur were talking loudly and angrily with Sirius and James. George, Remus noticed, rummaged around in his pockets and pulled out a flesh-colored string. He took the string and shoved one end under the door.
"George!" scolded Molly.
"Hey let me hear!" said Fred.
"Fred!"
George took his wand and tapped the other end of the string. Suddenly voices were magnified within the entryway.
"I am not—"
"You are. And maybe you have every cause to be. But a cause is not the same as reason. I know what you helped do to Remus—an innocent man. I didn't want to believe it…"
"He's dangerous! He had to be stopped."
"You are more dangerous than he'll ever be."
"But, I love you."
"Love? Not once have you talked about love."
"Well I am now."
"Yes, when it is to your advantage!"
"Don't you feel—"
"No, I don't."
"You don't?"
"I wanted to. But you are too blinded by malice. I could never love you for that. And because of that you could never truly love me."
"George! That's enough!" said Molly, yanking the extendable ear from him. There was a protest from the others. "Let them be!"
Remus stayed in the entryway with Sirius, while the others returned to the living room. A few minutes later Tonks opened the door. She looked exhausted, but relieved in a way as a few tears slipped down her cheeks.
"Do you want to..." asked Sirius, gesturing to the kitchen.
Tonks shook her head and rejoined the Weasleys, James, Harry and Hermione in the living room. Everyone was silent as she sat next to Molly, who patted her hand comfortingly.
"I definitely see the Snape and Filch's lovechild thing," said Fred, finally speaking up.
"Fred!"
A/N: As always thank you for reading and reviewing.