Author's Note: I might have shed a tear while writing their wedding because…well, I don't want to spoil it, and after all the crap that I've put Remadora through in this long fic of mine, they deserve a chapter of true happiness before they resume their quest in the Forbidden Forest to rescue that old pink hag that, in my mind, doesn't deserve to be rescued, but we'll see what happens to her. And there's still one more wedding chapter to go!
I made a manip of Tonks's wedding dress, which you can see here:
pixielight91/art/To-Wait-for-Him-856706352?ga_submit_new=10
I hope that you enjoy, my lovely readers!
CHAPTER EIGHTY-EIGHT
A single golden leaf pirouetted down an invisible spiral of breeze, spinning through the air as it let itself be carried down.
It shook slightly as if it could have been whisked away any second by the grip of icy wind, but it kept floating down the twirling course.
It blew past Tonks's face and landed lightly on the ground, the shiny, vibrant color standing out against the ambers and bronzes beneath it.
It was so delicate, the young witch wanted to reach down and pick it up and hold it close to her heart, smoothing out any creases, but something told Tonks that it belonged there, this corpse of what was once summer.
Tonks swallowed down hard past the lump in her throat as her eyes scanned the letter that Lupin had discreetly given to Molly to give to her to read in peace.
A letter to his bride.
Dora,
Today is the day that I take you, Nymphadora Tonks, to be my wife and my companion, forever. With you by my side, I will never be alone.
Though the world sees a strong independent woman, I've never known someone with such gentle grace and more pure heart.
When I've been lost in the dark, you're the only light in my life I need to bring me back, so on this day, I pledge the rest of my life to you. You've always believed in me, and I believe in you.
When you believe in someone, it's not just for a second, or a minute, or a day, a month, a year. It's forever, and an eternity with you by my side is not nearly long enough for me, but forever, in my mind, is a decent enough start…
Love,
Remus.
She coughed once to quell the lump forming in her throat and reached up a hand and flicked back her tears with a practiced flick of her finger and clutched onto her bouquet of purple wildflowers ready for their ceremony, trying and failing to ignore that her hands were tinged with sweat. She was nervous. Bloody nervous. Incredibly so.
Her heart ran with legs like a runner, and her thin eyebrows frowned in worry and impatience. She glanced at the bouquet clutched in her hands, thinking that the purple wildflowers carried an otherworldly trance, and she wondered if these were evil.
They had, after all, been picked here in the borders of the Forbidden Forest, though in a way, Tonks wondered if there was a kind of poetic justice to all of this now.
A forbidden bouquet, in the Forbidden Forest, this place that was off-limits, just as in some way, her pending marriage to Remus Lupin would be seen as forbidden, much like their romance, for what sane human witch would ever dare to marry a full werewolf?
I dare, she thought, grinding her teeth in nervous anticipation for what was ahead.
Tonks swallowed again as the purple flowers entwined between her fingers, holding fast in her hand, clutching onto the stem of her bouquet like it were a lifeline.
All the reasons not to get married right now, here in the Forest, when they still had a herd of angry centaurs after them, Umbridge to the rescue, and Merlin knew what else was lurking in this place, perhaps even watching Tonks and Remus now from the darkness of the shadows, came flooding into the tormented confines of Tonks's mind.
She could feel the soft panic that would grow or fade depending on what she decided to do next. It would fade if she backed away, but then she'd have to do this all over again another time when they were out of the Forest, and Lupin didn't want to wait.
It had been Norah, of all people who had come to her with Remus's plan, and Tonks, only wanting to make Rem happy, had agreed to his idea without any fighting or pushback.
Though now she was beginning to second-question his plan to marry right here.
Tonks's stomach churned, and she had turned down food all time but had accepted a small glass of water dripped with lime, the only comfort her heaving stomach tolerated.
She didn't want to chew on her nails or lips and ruin her manicure or her lip gloss, and so she found herself gnawing on the inside of her cheek like a nervous little mouse.
Just the thought of what she was about to do made her breathing come to her rapid and shallow. Tonks could feel her pulse pounding in her temples.
Back and forth she paced, the train of her wedding gown trailing behind her as she paced restlessly.
A crunching sound reached Tonks's eardrums and her foot was on the forest floor, surrounded by thousands of red and yellow and orange leaves fallen from the trees.
Tonks drew in a sharp breath of cool late October air before she realized that today was Halloween as she looked at the woodland path in front of her, every second left her chest heaving with nervous anticipation.
After tonight, she would be married.
Though she could not help but feel a tinge of melancholia that her parents would not be attending. Perhaps her dad might, but she knew for certain her mum wouldn't.
This isn't right, Tonks thought in obscurity. They should be here by my side, both of them supporting their only daughter on the biggest day of her life when she marries the man that she loves, and they aren't by my side. It's not right, it isn't right…
She could feel her face beginning to crumple and contort with grief, leaving her nose blushing with stifled, half-choked sobs, and she blinked back briny tears, not wanting to undo Norah and Mrs. Weasley's hard work on her makeup, though she thanked Merlin it was waterproof. Tonks had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach she'd need it.
Every inch of her body protested the fact her parents weren't here, but nothing save for a Time-Turner could twist back time and demand that her parents show up.
And as far she knew, no one in her life, not her friends, family, or fellow Order members, owned such a device, as they were tricky to maneuver, and disastrous to get wrong.
"Tonks." She blinked, startled, and looked up at Moody, who was waiting for her with an outstretched arm, looking thoroughly cross about something, but when wasn't he?
Tonks pondered and sighed. She concluded Mad-Eye had waited a while.
Tonks swallowed nervously down past the lump growing in her throat, exhaling slowly through her nose as her trembling hand reached out for Moody's arm.
The grizzled old Auror had swapped his usual brown trench coat for a set of maroon colored robes.
Moody took her arm politely and inserted her arm around his. His magical eye swiveled in all directions, though he forced it to linger on her wedding gown.
"Nice dress, Tonks," he grunted by way of response, sensing Tonks's growing nervousness.
Dora glanced down at her dress, a light pink blush speckling along her cheeks.
Considering Norah and Mrs. Weasley were responsible for conjuring it spur of the moment and very much a last-minute decision, she believed the two witches had outdone themselves.
Her ivory dress was strapless, the skirt a flowing A-line with a long train that had been magically enchanted by Mrs. Weasley, who was incredibly gifted at Charms, to repel away any dirt that she might happen to stumble across, ensuring her dress would remain in pristine condition for the entire duration of her and Remus's ceremony.
She repressed the urge to snort, though offered no verbal follow up, though she tried silently to thank her protégé as best she could with just her eyes.
It was, she knew, perhaps the closest thing to a compliment that the grizzled old Auror was going to give.
Norah and Molly had fussed over her to no end, cleaning the dress before she put it on with a quick Scourgify Charm, straightening it, while Norah fussed over her hair.
The two witches had argued over what color Tonks should leave her hair, though both Molly and Norah insisted that they liked the new look on Dora: shoulder-length, wavy, letting it cascade naturally, and Tonks left it loose, the slight humidity curling the ends, though she possessed her mother's naturally wavy and curly hair, she let out a tired sigh.
In the end, Tonks had decided to leave her hair loose, and had settled on a rich maroon burgundy color that flattered her pale skin, and was enough to give her features some warmth, rather than making her look washed out.
A light makeup and eyeshadow had been applied with a swift and expert hand by Norah, while Mrs. Weasley had woven tiny little white flowers into her hair.
At first, Tonks thought they were lily petals, but she couldn't quite be sure. As for her shoes, well, that was a different matter entirely.
Norah had balked when Tonks almost insisted on going barefoot if she were forced to wear a pair of white heels, insisting she would trip over them before she could so much as take a single step forward, and when the blonde She-Wolf had been preoccupied with getting ready herself, grumbling under her breath about not being allowed to wear her black leather jacket for the ceremony, Tonks had switched back to her combat boots, though not before charming them to change their color to white and purple, something a little bit more festive and admittedly, much more comfortable, really.
The skirt of her dress was so long, the wolf wouldn't even know the difference. No one was going to bloody see her feet anyway, so why did it matter what shoes she wore? She blinked and forced her mind to focus on not tripping over herself right now.
It wasn't until Moody took a lumbering step forward thanks to his prosthetic leg that Tonks was pulled back to her gaping future. That she was really going to do this.
She was really marrying Remus Lupin in a mere matter of minutes. This was it.
Tonks couldn't tell if the rolling nerves churning her stomach as waves of nausea were due to her nerves at the prospect of marrying the man of her dreams, or if this was her pregnancy acting up again.
Either way Tonks didn't like it and swallowed down hard.
Moody merely grunted in response and shot Tonks a quizzical look out of the corner of his one good eye, and somehow, she swore, his hardened expression softened.
"I know I don't say this often enough, but…I am proud of you, for all that you've done. Your Remus Lupin is one lucky man, and I aim to make sure he knows that."
His gruff words escaped his burly chest as a low growl, and Tonks felt the corners of her mouth twitch upward in a small half-smile.
The curt, clipped tone of Moody was always the same, though for Mad-Eye to speak these words meant a great deal to her.
"It's me who's the lucky one, Mad-Eye," Tonks murmured lowly under her breath, clutching onto Moody's arm in a tight vice grip, her French-manicured nails digging into the fabric of his sleeve.
If Moody noticed, he offered no comment, for which Tonks was immensely grateful. She had to crane up at the Auror to look at him.
"Please don't drop me," she begged and bit down on her bottom lip in a slight pout, which had been coated in a light pink lip gloss along with a clear glaze to emphasize their fullness.
But Moody shook his head, the corner of his lips turning upward. She suspected he was trying to smile at her, though couldn't bring himself to manage it, and instead merely grunted, and his 'smile' if that's what this was, looked more like a scarred grimace.
"Never," he promised her solemnly, and Tonks offered a mute little nod, wanting to thank the man for all that he had done in her life, but was afraid if she opened her mouth, she would get sick, so she clamped her lips tightly shut and let out a tiny sigh.
The trail ahead of them to where her future husband was undoubtedly waiting for her was studded with lanterns, courtesy of someone in attendance to bear witness to their union, though Tonks didn't know who had performed this beautiful, simple feat of magic.
And as Moody and Tonks passed, it equaled the note of hope in her eyes, and in the gap of the forest clearing there appeared a small group of people, all eyes fixed on her.
The other witnesses come to see their union for themselves were but a blur in Tonks's peripherals, and when a man clad in black dress robes turned to look at her, her already rolling stomach churned out of anxiety, and her heart fluttered against its cage.
Her skin prickled and tingled with heat and her heart began to pound and beat so erratically in her chest that she thought it might fly out.
It felt like an invisible pillow was pressed against her lips, rendering her mute. Remus's voice, his face, his serious lips, and shoulder muscles were all that her brain dwelled in as she took sight of her solemn groom.
Tonks felt her mouth go dry as Lupin's eyes were fixed solely on her. Just her. As if the world had become devoid of other witches, and she was the only woman left on this Merlin's green earth. The dark black of his dress robes looked virtuous on Lupin.
His light brown eyes were glimmering with unshed moisture that she first believed were tears, though now, Tonks was not so sure, and Tonks swore she saw a light pink blush speckle along his cheeks, flushing them with color before he looked away.
"Who comes before Merlin on this night?" Professor Dumbledore's deep voice resounded and resonated through the Forbidden Forest's clearing, and Tonks swallowed.
"Nymphadora Tonks, daughter of Edward and Andromeda Tonks," the practiced reply came forth from Mad-Eye Moody, whose grip tightened on Tonks's arm. "Comes before all of us to be wed. A woman grown in both body and mind, true and noble. She comes to beg the blessings of Merlin and our family and friends gathered here today."
Tonks let out a tiny sigh as she looked towards Lupin, who did not hear Moody.
Remus watched unblinkingly and with great astonishment brewing in his light brown eyes, as Tonks gingerly removed her arm from Moody's and handed off her bouquet to Norah, and as she stepped forward to intertwine her arm with Remus's, glanced down, afraid.
Oh, Merlin's Beard, don't let me trip, she begged silently, and she didn't even have to look to her left to know that Ollie, Merlin Bless him, was reading her mind.
You won't, T, he reassured her, his tenor-like voice soft and reassuring to her. Besides, even if you were to trip, you know that Remus or I would catch you, Tonks.
"Who gives her?" Professor Dumbledore's voice asked again as the presiding officiant of their marriage ceremony, his gaze flitting from Remus and then to Moody.
Lupin felt his heart pick up speed at an alarming pace and suddenly, his hands felt clammy. He felt, now for the twelfth time, unsure of himself and glanced down at his black dress robes, feeling certain that he and Sirius had probably missed a spot, after all.
Mad-Eye Moody standing on Tonks's right made a noncommittal noise that sounded like a grunt, though after a particularly stern look from Dumbledore, he relented.
"Alastor Moody, standing in the place of her father, Edward Tonks," he said gruffly, the note of disapproval at both of Tonks's parents missing their only daughter's ceremony laced throughout his voice, the harsh, clipped tone of Moody's voice causing Tonks's skin to prickle and bile corrupted in her throat that she was forced to swallow.
They should be here with me, she thought, grinding her teeth, and Ollie must have sensed Tonks's rapidly growing anger at the immense hurt of her parents' betrayal, for the blue-eyed, dark-haired wizard shot her a dazzlingly white smile and met her gaze.
But they are, T. Your family IS here with you. We all love you, T, can't you see that. It shouldn't matter that your parents aren't here. They've made it plain how they feel about Remus from what you've told me. Is this—are we not enough for you, Tonks? He pressed, and something within Ollie Brennan's tone gave the young witch pause.
Tonks blinked owlishly and lifted her chin to meet Ollie's gaze, before turning her head slowly, trying not to attract any more attention to herself than was necessary to the small crowd that had gathered. Sirius, Newt, Mr., and Mrs. Weasley, Ollie, Dumbledore, and Minerva McGonagall, and Moody and Norah were all gathered here.
He was right. This…this was her true family, and they were all that mattered.
Tonks blinked and turned back around to face Moody, silently trying to thank Ollie with her eyes for making her see the light as she blinked back salty liquid, trying not to let her tears spill over and render her a crying, blubbering mess on her wedding day.
The look Ollie currently shot her was a sympathetic smile that was full of understanding.
Without Ollie having to speak a word to her, her best friend said all that he needed, just with his eyes.
He said that she did not need to thank him and that Tonks never would, not on her life.
She nodded and Tonks bit her bottom lip as she shot a quizzical glance at Mad-Eye Moody out of the corner of her eye. His expression was gruff and stern.
Unreadable, for several long, excruciating moments, appearing to look right through Remus, who stood before the pair of them to receive his bride from Alastor.
For an uncomfortable moment, it looked as though Moody was not going to move.
He stood rigid, leaning on his walking stick for comfort, and he made no move to relinquish his grip on Tonks's arm.
Mad-Eye stood as unstirred and unmoved as a statue, continuing to ensure his maimed face remained impassive, unreadable, and almost cold.
Tonks, from the corner of her eye, cast her mentor a worried look and made an odd little strangled noise at the back of her throat, shifting every so slightly out of nervousness.
"Moody, you can let go of my arm now," she whispered, her voice soft and barely audible, that if Moody hadn't already been hanging onto her every word, he would not have heard her. "It's going to be fine. Rem's going to take good care of me, Moody."
She bit the inside wall of her cheek and looked toward her groom, noticing that Lupin too, was beginning to look rather unnerved and unsure of himself as the seconds ticked by an in excruciating silence.
Tonks could have sworn she heard Professor Dumbledore heave a tired, exasperated sigh, though the ancient wizard's face was calm.
Whether or not her words had an effect on the grizzled old Auror, or bounced off him good as hard rain, Tonks couldn't quite tell, though she was beginning to grow agitated.
Until the frown softened, fading from Moody's scarred face and something akin to the tiniest of grins twitched at the corner of his lips, though Alastor did not smile.
"I'm entrusting Tonks to you, Remus," growled Mad-Eye Moody in a low voice, barely moving his lips and looking suddenly tense, and there was a hint of steel in the Auror's voice that told both Remus and Tonks that the about-to-be newlyweds should listen, and listen well. "She is and always shall be, my daughter, I don't give a damn what Ted and Meda Tonks say," he growled, glancing sideways at Tonks and shooting the young witch a furtive little wink with his one good eye, while his magical eye swiveled wildly though he forced it to remain fixed on Lupin, who was looking uncomfortable.
"Moody," Tonks murmured under her breath through gritted teeth, gently tugging at the man's robe sleeve. "This—this isn't necessary, Moody. Let me go, Alastor."
He shot her a look that suggested he didn't want to, but Moody sighed and something within the grizzled veteran seemed to shift and give way as he turned back to Remus.
"If I find her life married to you to be an unhappy one for Tonks, don't think that I won't take her back, Lupin," Moody growled in a tone that sounded more like a harsh bark, though he glanced to the side and shot Tonks a furtive wink with his one good eye.
Lupin furrowed his brows in a light frown, wavering on the spot for a moment, as if in indecision, and then a muscle in his jaw twitched and he steeled himself, rising to his full height of 6'3 so that he effectively towered over the grizzled old Auror and his bride.
Determination and resolve were evident upon his lined but handsome features, and he seemed to have only eyes for Tonks, though when he spoke to Moody, he forced himself to tear his gaze away from his bride in her simple but elegant ivory wedding dress.
"I'll do everything within my power to ensure Tonks has a happy and fulfilling life with me, Alastor. I can promise you that and I give my word here and right now that I'll treat her well…"
Moody pursed his lips into a thin line, giving Remus a scrutinizing look in his set of slightly worn black dress robes, then at last, he relented and offered Lupin a curt nod.
He seemed satisfied enough with the werewolf's answer and his determined countenance to do whatever it took to satisfy the need to know that Tonks would be happy married to Remus. "So be it then. Take her, before I change my mind, Remus."
Moody grunted and with a somewhat reluctant manner and great reverence, Mad-Eye relinquished his grip on the young witch's arm and passed Tonks to Remus.
He took several steps backward, leaning heavily on his walking stick for support, before moving to join Professors Snape and McGonagall, both of whom had astoundingly different expressions on their faces. Snape was looking thoroughly bored and highly disinterested.
Whereas McGonagall, her eyes behind her silver spectacles were brimming with unshed tears and she was smiling happily at the notion of two of her former best and brightest students coming together in the holy bonds of matrimony on Hogwarts grounds.
Tonks stifled a tiny giggle that threatened to escape as she caught a bright flash of vibrant green near Remus's shoulder, and she blinked, realizing Ptelea was perched on top of her groom's shoulder, though he squeaked happily at the sight of his owner, and without even waiting for Lupin to hold out his palm so the tiny little Bowtruckle could be transferred safely from him to Tonks, Ptelea let out a tiny chirp of content and hopped from Remus's shoulder and onto Tonks's head, which earned a light collective chuckle amongst the small congregation of witnesses that had gathered here to bear witnesses.
She let out a tiny sigh as Ptelea burrowed under her lock of burgundy hair, his usual hiding place, though she felt the familiar lock shift as he poked his head out, no doubt wanting to see for himself what was going on.
Tonks caught Lupin staring at Ptelea with an incredulous look on his face, as though he were unsure whether or not to laugh, and she shot him a mischievous wink, biting down on her lip to keep from giggling.
Remus shot her a soft smile, and the second that his light brown eyes met hers and she could see how much love brimmed within, Tonks wasn't so sure she'd be able to stop herself from shedding a tear or two.
Her future husband looked as though she were the only one in the Forbidden Forest's clearing and nothing else mattered but her.
Professor Dumbledore coughed once to clear his throat. "And who takes her?"
Lupin's gaze flitted from the Hogwarts Headmaster to his bride. "I, Remus John Lupin, take this woman as my wife, Headmaster," he murmured, looking at Tonks.
He sensed her pounding heart and took one look at Tonks's ashen face, for he gripped her arm tightly and turned with her towards Professor Dumbledore and spoke.
"You're perfect," Remus whispered, his voice low enough so that only she could hear him.
Unfortunately, he must not have spoken softly enough. Either that, or Norah's wolfish hearing was just too much, for the young blonde's pointed ears perked up, and both Lupin and Tonks swiveled their heads to turn in the direction of Norah's voice.
"Get on with it, Headmaster!" Norah barked in a teasing tone from her spot where she stood sandwiched in between Professor Snape and Ollie, both of whom threw her an admonishing stare that would have had the power to wilt a fully-bloomed rose. "Merlin's Beard, but if you go any bloody slower, we'll all be ashes by the time you finish officiating, and let's be honest, the only reason I came here was for a bloody drink," she growled wolfishly, folding her arms across her chest and glancing down at her short black cocktail dress, crinkling her nose in disgust and pulling a face, and she did not seem to notice Ollie was unable to pull his gaze away from her rather low-cut dress, though Snape noticed.
"Finally, someone with a head of sense on their shoulders," Professor Snape remarked in his usual droll baritone, though Tonks swore she saw his mouth twitch.
Professor Dumbledore still withheld his smile, though it was strained and did not meet his blue eyes. "Excuse me, I am trying to conduct a wedding at this point in time. Please…be quiet, the both of you, or I shall have you removed from this Forest before either one of you can blink. May I continue, please?" he requested, peering at Lupin and Tonks over the rim of his half-moon spectacles. "If you are quite finished, Miss Jameson…."
Both Tonks and Lupin nodded light pink blushes speckling along their cheeks.
"Sorry," Norah mumbled half-heartedly in a tone that suggested she did not really mean it as she folded her arms across her chest, the corners of her mouth turning up in a wryly little smirk.
Professor Dumbledore shot the pair a slightly admonishing look of suspicion, though he clasped his hands in front of him and continued. "Don't be sorry, Miss Jameson. Be quiet."
He huffed in frustration and continued, turning back to the bride and groom, and shooting both of them apologetic glances.
"We all have gathered here today to join Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks in the bonds of holy matrimony."
His gaze flitted to Tonks, and he smiled at the young maroon-haired witch, his brilliant blue eyes twinkling playfully behind his spectacles as he looked at the proud Auror in her wedding dress, and his former Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor in his black dress robes, and Tonks momentarily found herself unable to tear her gaze away.
She'd always been drawn to Albus Dumbledore's sky-blue eyes. His were an electrifying blue. The blue that, even in the darkest of times, would show you the way home.
And in this moment, surrounded by her friends and family, though they may not be her blood kin, Tonks knew she had found her home. Home was wherever you could find it, and for her, her home was right here, surrounded by her family and their friends.
And of course, her future husband. Professor Dumbledore smiled at the pair of them and turned to address Remus directly.
"Finally, Remus. It's about time, you know," he laughed, breathing an audible little sigh of relief and chuckling at the look of incredulous disbelief on Lupin's face.
He clutched his wand tightly in his hands before bringing his arms to rest in front of his middle.
"Too long have you been alone, Mr. Lupin? I was starting to think you would never find a life partner, and then Miss Tonks joins the Order and surprised all of us, I must say. I must confess, however, that I am surprised that it took you so long to get to this point, Mr. Lupin."
"For the love of Merlin Almighty!" bellowed Norah irritably. "Where's the butterbeer and Fire Whiskey when I need some? Merlin, you go any slower, Albus, we'll all be dead by the time you actually get around to marrying these two, no offense, Headmaster. Do we at least get a break to eat? Marry those two already!" Norah shouted.
Her quip earned her a harsh glower from Ollie, who had finally lost his patience with her. "Norah! Enough! Be quiet!" Ollie roared, clenching his hands into fists. "He's trying to conduct a wedding and he's going to keep going slow if you continue to interrupt," he snapped, narrowing his eyes until they were mere slits as he glared at her.
Tonks let out a tiny laugh and turned away, immediately faking a cover to disguise it. "I—I'm sorry, Albus," she managed weakly, brushing away a single tear. "There's a um, a—a tickle in my throat. My apologies."
"Albus, carry on with it, if you please," McGonagall called out cordially, although there was no mistaking the look of annoyance on her face.
Dumbledore chuckled kindly and turned his attention to Tonks and Remus. "Let's. It is my great honor to officiate this wonderful evening so very long in the making. If you would like to begin your vows," he replied gratefully, clasping his hands together and waiting for Lupin to go first.
As Lupin spoke, she knew he was speaking only to her, and that no one else mattered but her. Remus took a deep breath and held her hands in his, not wanting to let her go.
"When I met you, I wasn't just unloved and unloving. I was…I was a monster, Tonks. Love had only brought me pain and transformed my heart hard and not capable of love. Or so I thought. But then you, you brought light and hope into my life, something I thought I'd never have again, not in my lifetime. How you can see the man behind the monster, behind my lycanthropy, I'll never know. I'd already lost my entire world. How can you hang onto something so incomprehensible? How can you keep pouring love into an abyss? But then there you were. There was something in your eyes that was so beautiful to me, so safe and warm. In just one look, I was 'home.' I reached out and made the connection, and like Merlin himself had arranged it, you fell for me just as hard. That first day we talked, just the two of us, I still recall our conversation on top of the roof, when I told you about the first time I kept watch over the Order and how my own owl frightened me in an attempt to ease your anxieties over keeping watch that night, and the feeling you left me with. You didn't know it, but that day, you saved me. We came inseparable. You and I, Tonks, we're soul mates. I love you with all my heart, though I may not be much for you at all. Until the world ends, and even after that. I will always love you. To me, this means I would defend you with my life even if the odds were insurmountable. It means I will comfort you in the difficult and painful times. It means I will rejoice with you when times are good. It means I will never betray you. I will never give up on you—on us. It means finding my fire, when you, my loved one, are threatened. Love says I forgive you when you make a mistake. Love says though life may test me, I am yours into eternity and I will never abandon you or hurt you. It means I will never put you in any danger, no matter how noble the cause may be."
Tonks choked back her tears and swallowed hard. She took a deep breath and willed her nerves to calm down.
Get it together. Don't cry. You can do this.
"Remus, you are my sky and clouds... Falling in love with you was not planned. But our stars aligned, and a great force pulled us together. I will never forget the way your face rested on my hands, the night we told each other we loved each other for the first time. In your embrace, I have a sense that I finally belong somewhere, that I was loved. I will be patient with you. I will never grow angry with you. I will respect you, and I will listen to you. I will never forsake you. I understand that you're not perfect, and I still want to be there for you as your wife, your support system. You are so important to me. As your wife, I will provide for you. I will protect you. I will never give up on us and will always be there for you. I love you."
Dumbledore smiled, though what his next words were to the couple, it was missed.
Remus grinned as they exchanged rings. He smiled and lowered his face to hers and their lips met, their first kiss as husband and wife.
The moment both had dreamed of for so long, now real. When he kissed her, the world fell away despite their new family erupting into cheers. His hand rested below her ear, his thumb caressing her cheek.
She ran her fingers down his spine, pulling him closer until there was no space left between them and she could feel the beating of his heart against her chest.
Such bliss. They broke apart and were immediately enveloped in hugs and congratulations by their family.
Lupin leaned in to whisper into Tonks's ear. "You owe me a dance, Dora, we're long overdue, I don't think I've ever danced with you before until now," he teased, holding out his hand, waiting for her to take it. "I never got to dance with you," he joked. "Shall we?" he asked. "Tradition dictates that I dance with my wife on our wedding day, after all. Come, love. You owe me a dance, sweetheart. I did save your life, multiple times, love. It's the least you can do."
Tonks looked surprised and blinked owlishly at her husband, but only for a moment and broke into a wide grin.
"Well…I thought you'd never ask me, Rem. What took you so long? I've been waiting to dance with you, and you make me wait until our wedding day, love?" she grinned, accepting his hand, and loving how her skirts flowed as he twirled her once before pulling her close, closing off the gap of space between them.
She smiled as he rested his forehead against hers, not even noticing that Dumbledore had somehow managed to cause a few violins and other string instruments to materialize out of thin air and start playing themselves.
"Now he's just showing off," she teased, keeping her voice low enough so that only Remus heard, breathing an audible sigh of relief as the small crowd began to disperse.
Some, including Snape, of all people (albeit reluctantly), offered their congratulations, but the two barely paid the onlookers any mind. They had eyes only for each other.
Tonks hung back after their dance, her hand interlocked with Lupin's, content to just watch the people who they considered their friends—family—mingle and chat.
She craned her neck up to look at him, and after a moment, ever the intuitive man that he was, Lupin could sense that his wife was looking affectionately up at him, and he turned.
His grip on her hand tightened as he pulled her even closer.
"What is it, love?" he asked, his blue eyes sparkling with a newfound tenderness she'd not seen in him before, as he reached up and pressed her knuckles to his lips for a gentle kiss. "You're looking…troubled…"
"Hmm?" Her brows knitted together in confusion, and then she blushed, realizing he had caught her staring at him. "O-oh, no, I was just…you came into my life when I needed you the most."
He couldn't help but smile and roll his eyes a little bit at that as he closed off the gap of space between the two of them, resting his forehead against hers, enjoying the warmth that his new wife gave off, basking in it. "So, did you. It works both ways."
She smiled, flashing him a brilliant white smile. "Love you, Rem." He returned her smile and he kissed her, and the world fell away. It was slow and soft, comforting in ways that words would never be.
His hand rested below her ear, his thumb caressing her cheek as their breaths mingled.
She ran her fingers down his spine, pulling him closer until there was no space left between them and she could feel the beating of his heart against her chest.
Tonks loved that Lupin was so much taller than she was, that she had to reach up and let her arms hang softly about his neck, resting on his strong shoulders.
She saw the tilt of his head as he drew her in for another kiss and her own tilted upward.
After that was a heady bliss, feeling his emotions in his tender kiss that was so full of love.
There was something unique in all the world about their kiss, and it was that the two of them loved one another right down to their cores—their souls, that sacred bridge between their two minds and bodies.
Some called a love like theirs bewitched, magic, but Tonks preferred to call it by its natural name: true love. For there was an emptiness in the freedom of being alone and liberty in being caught in that divine spell.
And so, as she looked into Lupin's brown eyes and when she saw there the feelings of her own heart, they truly became one.
And if that wasn't magic, Tonks didn't know what was. As she looked at him and captured his lips for another gentle kiss, the young Auror knew that her new husband was her own miracle, and she could not have been happier. She had not expected that she would fall in love, ever.
And now that she had what she had always wanted, a loving husband, well…
Tonks wanted nothing else out of life, for she already had it.
