Oh, wow. Tonks didn't think that it was possible for the Burrow to hold more people. And it wasn't. Between the wedding and Fleur's parents being here and Harry's birthday there really wasn't enough room in the kitchen for all of them.

Not that it mattered, being such a nice night, so they ended up celebrating Harry's birthday outside, all of them sitting along long benches.

Fred and George bewitched a number of purple lanterns all emblazoned with a large number 17, to hang in mid-air over the guests.

Tonks loved the shade and promptly changed the colour of her hair to match.

"Lovely," Remus complimented her as she ran her hands through it.

"Thought I'd match the decor," she said with a grin.

"Very festive."

He was smiling at her but his smile didn't quite ring true. She frowned. Something was wrong.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

She was the one who should be asking that.

"I'm fine," she said truthfully.

And she was. Fine, that is. Not bad, not good. Yesterday had been a not so good day. Mad-Eye's death hitting her hard but she was determined to enjoy today. He wouldn't want her moping over him. Too bad your emotions didn't work at the flick of the switch like that but she was doing better.

And today would be fun. Seventeenth birthdays always were. She perked up at that thought and put a smile on her face. Just in time too because the cake arrived.

"Out of the way, out of the way!" sang Mrs. Weasley, coming through the gate with what appeared to be a giant, beach-ball-sized Snitch floating in front of her.

Honestly, Molly's baking abilities still amazed her. Nothing would be as good as the dragon cake she made for Charlie at his going away party in sixth year. Now that had been a work of art. But this one was pretty cool too. Tonks was pretty sure that it had half a mind to fly it look that realistic despite being oversized.

And, being intimately familiar with Molly's backing, it was sure to taste even better than it looked. Which was no mean feat but Molly always managed it. Tonks lipped her lips.

"Looks amazing, doesn't it?" She said.

"Hmm," Remus made a noise of agreement.

When the cake had finally landed in the middle of the table, Harry said, "That looks amazing, Mrs. Weasley."

"Oh, it's nothing, dear," she said fondly. Over her shoulder, Ron gave Harry the thumbs-up and mouthed, Good one.

Tonks wondered what that was about. Had the boys managed to upset her or something? That was the last thing they needed to do before Bill and Fleur's wedding.

But Molly looked happy, thankfully. Tonks felt very happy too when she was given a slice of cake. Yum, chocolate.

"Delicious," Remus said absentmindedly as he shovelled a formula into his mouth.

Something she still didn't understand despite knowing him for three years. Who on earth ate cake with a fork? Her husband, apparently. She, on the other hand, did the normal thing and shoved it in her face with her hands. Much more satisfying.

Though, speaking of satisfying, Remus didn't look too happy or even satisfied at his portion of the cake. And it was chocolate!

He was definitely thinking about something. Or rather, overthinking something. Which meant there was no prising it out of him until he was ready or she forced the matter. Neither of which was going to happen at Harry's party so Tonks decided to push it to the back of her mind.

"Happy birthday, Harry," she said, hugging him tightly.

He was still so skinny, just like when she had met him two years ago but there was some muscle on him now. That felt like that was an inappropriate thought or something. Right, new train of thought please.

She looked back at Remus and frowned. He didn't exactly look happy despite being at his best friend's son's seventeenth birthday. He should be happy. Beaming even. But no, instead he looked displeased. Which was worse than the weird moments of silence she had been getting from him the past few days. Something she had attributed to him mourning Moody or something to do with the War but now she wasn't so sure.

Tonks let herself be distracted by all the conversations flowing around her. She kept her ears cooked for anything juice and embarrassing. Those types of stories always came out on seventeenth birthdays. She still hadn't quite forgiven her mother for the stories she had recounted at hers, after all. It was tradition!

"Seventeen, eh!" said Hagrid as he accepted a bucket-sized glass of wine from Fred. "Six years ter the day since we met, Harry, d'yeh remember it?"

"Vaguely," said Harry, grinning up at him. "Didn't you smash down the front door, give Dudley a pig's tail, and tell me I was a wizard?"

Tonks' eyebrows rose. Now that sounded like a story.

"I forge' the details," Hagrid chortled. "All righ', Ron, Hermione?"

"We're fine," said Hermione. "How are you?"

This was fun. It was nothing fancy or anything but they were all together and everyone was happy. Harry in particular which was good because he was the birthday boy.

"How are you doing, Fleur?" Tonks greeted her blonde friend. "Looking forward to-?" but Fleur held up her hand to interrupt her.

"No wedding talk on 'arry's birthday," she said.

Tonks shrugged. Fair enough. Fleur grinned at her.

"How is married life treating you?"

She instinctively looked over to Remus who was standing slightly apart from everyone.

"Good," she said. "It's really good."

"I can't wait," Fleur said honestly.

They all saw it at the same time: a streak of light that came flying across the yard and onto the table, where it resolved itself into a bright silver weasel, which stood on its hind legs and spoke with Mr. Weasley's voice.

"Minister of Magic coming with me."

The Patronus dissolved into thin air, leaving Fleur's family peering in astonishment at the place where it had vanished.

"We shouldn't be here," said Remus at once. "Harry, I'm sorry. I'll explain some other time-"

He seized Tonks's wrist and pulled her away.

"Remus!" she hissed but he shook his head sharply.

"Not now, Dora," he told her without stopping.

Which meant he was all but dragging her. Well, she wasn't having that and she pulled her arm free. She still kept up womb him because she could recognise the urgency in his voice and step but that didn't mean that je got to drag her around.

"You're going to explain this to me," she told him as the fence approached.

Why had it felt like it was so far away from the tables?

"I will," he promised. "Not here."

If Tonks didn't know any better, she would have thought that he was angry. But he wasn't. He was scared. Which was worse because not much frightened Remus Lupin. Something tightened in her stomach.

They reached the fence, climbed over it, and vanished from sight with a crack. Her apparition was louder than usual thanks to a lack of explanation.

They landed at their front door and Remus breathed a sigh of relief. Oh, it was okay for some, if you knew what was going on. She put her hands on her hips.

"You better explain yourself, Remus John Lupin!"