THE ONLY THING

Here's the chapter I promised! Hope you like it, and don't forget to Review at the end, Please!

I do not own Harry Potter or anything else you recognize.

I glanced over to the corner of the room to see Severus locked in conversation with Dumbledore. My eyes narrowed. He would know what was wrong. It had been years. Tonks should have come back by now, and she should remember everything. Snape made the potion. Perhaps he would know what went wrong and made this happen.

I pulled Sirius by the arm. "C'mon," I urged. Sirius fought against my grasp, but to no avail. "Excuse me, Professor," I interrupted when we reached the group. "I was wondering if Sirius and I could borrow Professor Snape for a moment," I said as politely as I could while trying to restrain my exasperation.

"Of course," Dumbledore replied with a cheery smile. Snape rolled his eyes and looked to Dumbledore in protest, "Go on, Severus," Dumbledore urged. "You mustn't keep your friends waiting."

I led Sirius and Snape into the library, pulling the doors closed once everyone was inside. I whipped around on Snape practically before the lock clicked.

"What's this all about?" Snape whined. "This better not be about the toad in my tea this morning."

Sirius snickered, but I shot him a warning glance, causing him to immediately resume a serious stance. "No, Snivelly, this is not about your toady tea," Sirius mocked.

I rolled my eyes. "It's Tonks," I began.

"What about her?" Snape asked lethargically.

"She's back," Sirius continued.

"So?" Snape asked, starting to raise his voice in frustration.

"She doesn't remember," I interjected.

"Doesn't remember what?" Snape practically shouted.

I took a deep breath to calm myself before explaining. "She came to the meeting today," I paused, and Snape nodded.

"We went to talk to her afterwards," Sirius picked up where I had left off.

"But she didn't remember me or anything else that happened in 1981 for that matter," I finished. "Not unless you count me babysitting her."

Snape sniggered. Sirius and I each glared at him warningly. He sighed. "What year did you say she was getting back to?"

I thought back to all those years ago. When did she say she was going? I concentrated on the memory. "1997 or somewhere around there, I think," I replied.

Snape nodded sarcastically. "Tell me, boys," he started, pacing around the room and circling us like a vulture, "what year is it now?"

"1995," Sirius answered as though it was the plainest thing in the world.

"Well, there's your answer," Snape stated bluntly. When he was met with puzzled expressions from both Sirius and me, he sighed. "She's not back yet," he elaborated. "She went back in time in 1997. That means that she hasn't gone to the past yet, which means that she can't be back."

"But she went back to 1981," I argued. "Doesn't that mean that she was already there if it's already happened."

"No," Snape countered. "At that time, 1981 was Tonks' present. Her 1997 was 1981. Therefore, her future lies in the past."

I glanced to my side to see Sirius with his face screwed up in concentration as he made back and forth motions with his hands, obviously trying to visualize Tonks' passage through time.

"So when will she get back?" I urged.

"1997, I assume," Snape answered with a roll of his eyes. "That is if she hasn't messed up time too much."

"What do you mean 'if she hasn't messed it up too much'?" I returned.

"By going back in time, Tonks could have changed more than we could possibly predict," Snape explained.

"But she was so careful not to change anything," Sirius argued.

"Then it might not matter. I'm only saying that you two should prepare yourselves for what may, or may not, come," Snape warned in a softer tone.

I stared at the floor, the prospect of Tonks never seeing me as more than her big cousin's friend became too much to handle. How could everything that had happened in that time, all those months we'd spent together, have meant nothing now? I felt as if everything I knew was disintegrating before my eyes, and I was powerless to stop it. All I could do was watch it fall to pieces on the floor.

I didn't notice Snape push past us and out of the library. Sirius tried to comfort me, but all I could think of was the possibility that Tonks would never know what had happened in 1981 and 1982. She may never remember how I felt about her, may never see me as more than an acquaintance or pleasant company.

I sat in one of the large armchairs, feeling the sudden urge to sit. If I didn't, I was absolutely positive my legs would turn to jelly. Sirius sat on the sofa across from me and gazed at me with worried eyes.

"What are we going to do?" he questioned.

"The only thing we can do," I responded without really looking at him, "wait, and hope she remembers."

I realize that this story is starting to look like its going to take a dark turn, but don't worry. I think that this one will be happier than the prequel (if that's any consolation to those of you who read it), so rest assured that happy parts are coming!

I hope you liked this chapter. Send me a Review with your thoughts :)