Yay! Two updates in one week! I bet you weren't expecting that!
I don't own Harry Potter. I don't own House Hunters, either.
Tonks and Remus looked at each other warily when they stood with the agent in front of the house. It was, as Tonks had said, a bit rundown-though looking at the dwelling she thought that might have been an understatement. The house was in a clearing, surrounded by woods, as promised. The view of the house, however, was completely obscured by waist-high grasses. A tangle of ivy grew over the windows.
The agent seemed to sense their apprehension. "I know it doesn't look like much, but I'm sure you will find the inside quite charming," he assured them, "The outside fixes are merely cosmetic, I assure you." As he said this, he was pulling a particularly tenacious vine from the front door.
"I'm sure," Remus muttered.
The agent wasn't lying; the inside was charming, if a bit outdated. A good airing out and a fresh coat of paint would do it a world of good, but the floors were a sturdy wood that didn't need much work. The kitchen was small, but had a gas range and stove that would agree with magic well. It wouldn't be suited to a family of Weasley-like proportions, but would do well for their family of three. The rest of the house was in a similar state, dusty and faded, but workable. Remus excused himself to the toilet to perform a few diagnostic spells without the agent noticing, but Tonks had a good feeling about this place. When Remus gave her a small smile upon his return, she knew it was only a matter of time before it was theirs.
The paperwork didn't take long. The agent was shocked that they were going to pay the entire sum in cash without an inspection. His astonishment would not last for long, because soon they would cast the unplottablity spell, and no one would remember the little house in the woods or the unusual couple that bought it.
Preparing for the move set off a whirlwind of activity. Tonks had work and Remus was now spending the days at Grimmauld Place to look after the kids and be close by incase Jeremy or Lila needed him. In the evenings, the three of them moved room by room to sort through the closets and pack items away in boxes.
It was one such evening when there was a sharp knock on the apartment door. Tonks and Remus were skimming though a stack of papers, creating piles to burn, bin, and keep. Tonks rose from her seat on the floor, careful not to upset the piles, and crept to the door. Remus was not far behind her.
She was surprised to see the tall, statuesque woman behind the door. Her blood drained from her face. "Mum?" She gasped. She struggled to collect herself. "What food did my mum struggle to get me to eat as a child, but I enjoy as an adult?" Tonks asked cautiously.
"Brussels sprouts," Andromeda answered sharply, turning her scrutinizing gaze upon her daughter. "Nymphadora, it has been far too long since I heard so much as a word from you," she lightly scolded her daughter, brushing past her into the apartment. She was diverted from what Tonks was sure was to be an exemplary guilt trip when her eyes fell upon the room's other occupant. "Remus?" Andromeda gasped, as though doubting her own sight, "Remus Lupin? But I heard that the werewolves..." She trailed off looking between her daughter and her favorite cousin's childhood friend, trying to make a logical connection between the two. As if compelled by some force of Murphy's Law, Keira entered the room at that very moment, struggling with a large box filled with her things. When she caught sight of Andromeda, she dropped to box in shock. Keira and Andromeda stared at each other while the room froze into stunned silence. "Mistress?" Keira questioned Tonks, using their pre-determined protocol for strangers.
"Keira, Remus, this is my mother Andromeda Tonks. Please leave us a moment." Remus shot Tonks a doubtful look, but scooped Keira in his arms and carried her to her room.
Mother and daughter locked eyes in a staring match. "Please tell me that this is not what it looks like," Andromeda demanded.
"What does it look like, then?" She challenged.
"It looks very much like you are keeping two werewolves as slaves, one a child, no less!" Andromeda said shrilly.
"Then it is exactly what it looks like," Tonks deadpanned, fighting to maintain her impassive expression.
"What?" Andromeda gaped, "How could you?"
"I work for the Ministry, and if I want to advance I must support their policies. Those two will have good resale value after they are trained up a bit..."
A sharp smack echoed in the silence of the room. Both women seemed equally surprised at the warm, red handprint developing on Tonks' cheek where Andromeda had slapped her.
"Mum..." Tonks gasped.
"You are no daughter of mine," Andromeda murmured coldly, "I should have known the day you got that ebony wand. Your heart is Black, through and through."
She turned on her heel, storming to the door of the apartment. She only paused a moment at the door to glance at her daughter's carefully cold face. She started to say something, stopped, and started again. "You are dead to me," she snapped, slamming the door behind her.
Once she was gone, Tonks sat heavily on the floor, her head in her hands. It was not until she heard Remus calling to her that she realized that she was sobbing loudly. She sucked in deep breaths to try to get herself under control. Remus rubbed her arms and whispered soothing noises in her ear.
"Why did you tell her that?" Remus questioned gently.
"The less she knows, the safer it is for all of us," Tonks insisted through her tears.
"But she's your mother... How could she think so little of you?"
"She has always been afraid of the Black family madness cropping up in herself or me. When Sirius was arrested... It was devastating for us both, as I'm sure it was for you. Mum sort if lost hope that any of us could be good. She began to fear that we were all just ticking time bombs, liable to descend into homicidal fury with no warning. Dad was eventually able to calm her down, but the fear was still there. She mentioned my wand. Ebony is said to have a great potential for dark magic, and is an indicator of a dark wizard or witch. She was inconsolable for days after this wand chose me."
Remus teared up at the thought of eleven-year-old Dora, so excited to receive her wand, only to be confused and hurt by her mother's rejection and fear. "But ebony is also well matched to those with great talent for transfiguration. The natural match for a Metamorphmagus," he said soothingly.
"Yes, well, it was a scare to her, in light of where she comes from," Tonks sniffed, "What she saw today was a shock to say the least. Her worst nightmare, probably. If I could do this to you, who I've known since I was a child, she probably thinks my callousness knows no bounds. I confirmed her fears, left no room for doubt. I don't blame her; I really don't."
"I wish I could say I didn't," Remus replied, wondering if Dora, too, lived in fear of herself.
Keira began crying, too, and threw her arms around Tonks. "I'm sorry," she sniffled, "I didn't know that was your mum. I didn't mean to!"
Tonks opened her arms wide for Keira to climb into her lap. "Nonsense," she shushed her, "You did exactly what you should have done. You did exactly what we told you to do if someone you don't know walks in."
"If I did the right thing, why did it make everyone sad?" Keira cried.
Tonks rocked back and forth with her, trying to calm her. "I know, baby. It doesn't seem fair," she murmured, her face buried in the little girl's hair, "Sometimes doing the right thing doesn't feel good."
Once they had all stopped crying, Remus suggested that they call it tonight. "We can finish this tomorrow," he said, gesturing to the abandoned stack of papers.
Tonks nodded, and rose with Keira still in her arms. "Why don't you head to bed, sweetheart, and I will join you in a bit?" she asked, nodding to the sniffling Keira. Remus nodded in agreement, and gave them both a kiss on the cheek.
Tonks tucked Keira into bed, and settled down next to her. "How about a story?"
Keira nodded. "Cinderella, please."
"Then Cinderella it is," Tonks said with a smile, thumbing through the book of muggle fairy tales. Keira's eyes were dropping soon. The unexpected visit had tired her out, just as it had Tonks. She did not leave until Keira's eyelids were fluttering in sleep and her breathing was deep and even. Quietly, she padded into her bedroom, but Remus was still awake and held up the duvet for her to climb under. She crawled flush against his side with her head on his chest. He didn't say anything, but his face showed his stress. "I'm sorry that I didn't let you stay when my Mum came in," she offered.
"It's okay," Remus said, "But that is not what upsets me. I think that you should tell your Mum the truth. You were always close to your parents. I cannot stand being what comes between you."
"You are not to blame! Even if I did not have you in my life, I would still be in the Order. I would still know Sirius' whereabouts. I would still, in all likelihood, be protecting at least one werewolf. With or without you, I cannot risk my parents being caught up in all this. With you," she whispered, entwining their fingers, "I at least do not have to do this alone."
"I am sure that your parents would prefer to know, no matter the risk."
"I will not take away your choice in this," Tonks murmured, "If you think it is right to tell them, I will not by any means forbid you to. I want us both to be comfortable with what we decide. We can keep talking about it."
"I won't tell them if you don't want to, not because of the spell—your wording was masterful there—but because they are your parents."
"Thank you, love," she sighed, giving him a peck on the lips and curling against his side. The steady rise and fall of Remus' chest beneath her was soothing. She thought about what Remus said, and his points were sensible, as was his way.
"Remus," she said softly, not sure if he was asleep. He grunted in response.
"If something happens to me…"
"Dora," he interrupted.
"I'm serious, Remus. If something happens to me, I think I would like you to tell Mum and Dad the truth. I know it will be too late to reconcile then, but at least they won't have to live thinking I had gone dark. Would you do that for me?"
"Of course I would," Remus sighed, "But I hope I won't have to. I hope you will tell your parents, whenever you feel it is safe."
"I love you," She whispered, "I don't regret anything, especially not us."
"Love you, too." He breathed against her neck. She lay awake long after in silence, feeling his breath as he fell into sleep.
I'm a bit nervous about this chapter, guys. Please let me know what you think in a review!