Chapter 14: The News.
Remus Lupin felt an eerie coldness coursing through him.
"Dora..." he whispered looking up from the parchments he was working on.
"Merlin...Dora!" He said panicking and running out of his office.
Within minutes, he was outside Tonks' office.
"Oh...Irene," He addressed her friend unable to find her. "Where's Dora?"
"Oh hi Remus. She left...about half an hour ago. Her duty is finished." Irene said gathering up her belongings.
"Left where?" Remus asked urgently.
"She said she was going home...Is something wrong...Remus!" She said.
Before Irene could receive an answer, Remus was running down the hall to his own office.
"Lupin Residence!" He said into the fireplace.
"Dora...DORA!! Bloody Hell!! DORA!!!" He shouted through the fireplace.
"Master...Is everything all right?" Dobby said coming hurriedly into the living room.
"Dobby, Where's Dora?" Remus asked.
"Miss is not back." Dobby answered.
"What?!! Are you sure?" Remus asked.
"Yes Master, what is wrong?" Dobby inquired.
"Thanks Dobby," Remus said and within a split second disappeared from the fireplace.
Remus was about to go and search for her when he felt Tonks again...this time very scared...
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Nymphadora Lupin stirred, opening her eyes to a very blurred surrounding. She tried for sometime to remember where she was, before her eyes adjusted to the setting sun visible from the windows, and the white sheets and drapes surrounding her, and everything came crashing back down. She sat up on her bed gasping.
"Oh, you're back dear. Good," Poppy said coming towards her with a cup in her hand, "Here drink this, it'll make you feel better."
"Poppy...about that..." Tonks started but was interrupted by Poppy.
"Drink it up first...good. Now, yes Tonks, you are pregnant. It's a special...say sign of metamorphagi...that they lose their morphing power if they are with child...and for further confirmation, I even performed the tests on you, and they all say the same thing...you're pregnant dear." Poppy explained. "Tonks...dear are you not happy?" She added seeing the downcast expression on Tonks face.
"Oh no Poppy, its nothing like that...it's just that...Remus and I..." Tonks started.
"You're afraid of what Remus would say?" The older woman inquired.
Tonks nodded. "What if...Poppy what if...he doesn't want children...and we've been married for such a short time...and...there's so much going on...what if..." Tonks said on the verge of tears.
"Tonks...calm down dear, he'll love it. As far as I know, I think he'll love to have children. Don't worry dear."
"But Poppy, we haven't even discussed children" Tonks said in tears.
"Tonks...oh dear..." Poppy said hugging her. "Don't cry he'll love the news."
They sat like that in silence for sometime with Tonks crying on Poppy's shoulder and Poppy comforting her.
"Poppy..." Tonks said after a long time, "How long?"
"When did you stop morphing?"
"This morning."
"Then I'd say last night." Poppy said with a smile. Tonks blushed.
Suddenly the door to the infirmary burst open.
"POPPY!" A voice called out urgently...a voice both the women recognised as Remus Lupin's.
Tonks paled.
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Remus felt Tonks again and this time she was very scared. He was about to alert his team for a possible abduction, when he suddenly remembered that Tonks was supposed to meet Poppy today. He left the ministry immediately, apparating to Hogsmeade.
Remus made his way through Hosmeade, hoping Tonks was with Poppy. During his journey to Hogwarts, he felt Tonks being immensely scared. He desperately wished she was fine.
He barged through the Hogwarts doors, running through the halls and burst through the door to the infirmary.
"POPPY!" He shouted.
A while later poppy appeared, "Remus would you kindly..."
"Poppy..." Remus said urgently, "Is Dora here?"
"Yes and Remus keep..."
"Where?" He asked looking around.
Poppy led him to Tonks' bed where, as soon a seeing her, he hugged her tightly.
"Remus I...can't...breathe." Tonks managed through his death grip.
"Remus!" Poppy said pulling him off her, "Don't kill her...now, I have some patients to attend to. Excuse me." With that, she was off.
"Dora... I was so worried, what happened?" Remus asked.
"Remus...how did...?"
"The necklace...I felt cold."
"I fainted." Tonks managed through a weak smile.
"WHAT?"
"Mr Lupin!" Poppy scolded.
"Sorry Poppy. What? Why?"
"Lets go home Remus, I want to go home." Tonks said avoiding his eyes.
"But Dora..."
"Remus please," Tonks said as she got off the bed.
"Ok," Remus said a disheartened.
"Thanks Poppy." Tonks said hugging Poppy.
"No problem Tonks. Just tell him dear, you won't know how he feels if you don't. Take the chance dear, good luck."
Remus watched the exchange from far and knew something was amiss. The couple left Hogwarts after bidding farewell to Poppy and apparated back home. Tonks left for bed without dinner leaving Remus confused and curious. Remus could feel Tonks' fear and worry...he knew she was hiding something...something he should know, and the fact that she didn't tell him frustrated him...a lot...
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"Dora," Remus said entering the bedroom. "Dora, I know you're not sleeping, I need to talk to you." Remus finished standing by her side.
Tonks, who knew this was coming, and also knew that she couldn't fool him with the sleeping act, got up.
"Now Dora," Remus said kneeling in front of her, "What's wrong?"
"N-Nothing Remus,"
"Is it? Dora, why did you faint? Why were you scared? I know you're hiding something Dora...something I need to know...better tell me."
"Remus...I don't...I..."
"Just tell the truth,"
Tonks looked up at him, into his hazel, emanating love and worry for her. She drew in a deep breath, and looking into his eyes, told him about her discovery.
"I am pregnant." She said.
"WHAT?!!" His high pitch scared her, maybe he doesn't want children.
"What? What did you say?" He asked.
"Remus...I-I know ...we haven't discussed...and I don't know if...you want...but I want and I am ...keeping this..." She babbled.
"That wasn't my question Dora. What did you say?" He said.
She looked up to his face that was emotionless now.
"I am pregnant." She said closing her eyes and expecting the worse.
However, what she got was completely unexpected...at least for her. She felt Remus' arms around her and felt herself being risen from the bed into the air. She felt Remus twirling her around, she heard his laugh and felt his happiness. Somehow, she knew if she looked down upon her necklace right now, it would radiate his happiness. Finally, she opened her eyes when she was set down.
"I didn't hurt you, did I?" Remus asked cautiously worried as if she would break.
"No...So you're happy?" She asked cautiously a small smile playing over her lips.
"No," He said with a serious expression, causing her smile to fade, "I am ecstatic."
Tonks breathed a sigh of relief, as Remus hugged her tightly, but safe enough not to hurt her.
"You thought I didn't want any children didn't you? That's what you were afraid of, right?" He said still holding her.
Tonks blushed, "I thought...maybe..."
"I have always wanted children of my own...always but had lost hope because I thought...no one would—"
"I would always had, Remus. I love you." Tonks interrupted him snuggling into him.
"How long?"
"Since last night, I would say one day."
Remus broke apart to look in her eye, "You found out so soon?"
"Metamorphagi Traits," She answered smiling.
"Let's go down to eat, you need to eat a lot now." He said leading her to the dining hall.
"But Remus I—"
"No buts, come on now."
And so Nymphadora Lupin was led into the dining hall by her husband, rather carried there, relieved that the news went very well, but unaware that a foe had heard them too.
"So our moment has finally come, he'll love it." A mysterious female voice said before leaving the Lupin Residence for the Malfoy Manor.
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Life for Nymphadora Lupin, to say it was wonderful was an understatement. She was sure she was the happiest woman alive. Ever since Remus found out about his possible fatherhood, three months ago, he had as good as commanded Tonks to stay in bed at all time...but knowing Tonks as she is, she put up a fight eventually getting successful in putting it in Remus', in her words, impenetrable mind, that she was perfectly fine in the early months and can do whatever she likes. But Remus hadn't given up either. He would still watch her like a hawk, as if she would break any moment, and deep inside, she loved all his affection. So here she was in the kitchen on Sunday, preparing breakfast for her dear husband who had slept in, something very unlike him, but was about to join her in a few minutes.
She took her tea, and sat down by the table shuffling through the day's mail. Daily Prophet, junk mail, junk mail, letter from a friend, a peculiar letter to her...
'Whoa! A peculiar letter for me...that's odd,' she thought scrutinising the letter.
She had seen that letter before, black envelope...but...
She turned over the envelope and what she saw caused her to drop the cup she was holding.
The Dark Mark.
"Dora...are you ok?" Remus worried voice brought her back to earth. "Are you hurt, Merlin Dora, you should be more careful nowadays." He said leading her away from the danger zone as Winky cleaned it up.
"Are you alright Dora? You look pale." Remus said.
He noticed the letter in clutched tightly in her hands, and tried to free it from her grasp, as he figured Tonks' condition might have something to do with the letter.
"No Remus...its nothing...just a letter for me." This got Remus even more suspicious.
"So it won't hurt if I look at it." He stated
"But its private...you wouldn't want me looking into your private stuff not would you?" Tonks answered in a shaky voice.
"I won't mind you looking into it...just a peek Dora..." He said coming towards her and within the blink of an eye, he had the letter in his hands.
The letter appeared peculiar to him, all in black with Tonks' name and address on it. He turned it over and froze...the Dark Mark. He looked up to see Tonks' shaking slightly and felt her fear. He ripped open the letter to a black parchment with a foul smell. On it was written:
Hope you didn't forget us Nymphadora, we are still here to catch you.
BE WARNED!!!
As soon as Remus finished reading the letter, it burst into green flames, and turned to ashes.
"Dora?"
"Remus...this...I..."
"You had these letters before?" He asked in a stern voice.
Tonks nodded.
"When and why didn't you tell me?"
"I told you about the illegal..."
"That was connected to these letters...you hid such information from me..."
"But Remus...I thought it was just a joke...you said so..." She could see Remus getting angry.
"It wasn't A JOKE Nymphadora!! You don't know what's going on. You should've told me all this long ago." Saying that he stormed out of the house leaving Tonks shocked and afraid.
She looked down at her necklace and enclosed it in her hand...she knew what the colour meant, a grey, very dark grey, he was angry, mad at her, but extremely worried...
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Remus returned home very late that night and found Tonks asleep. He changed into his pyjamas, and unable to stand up anymore, lied down on the bed, thinking the day through. He wished that Tonks would not have been the one. He wished somehow he would replace her with the danger and that she would be safe until this mystery was solved, and within moments, he was dead to the world...
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A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long. I was having exams, so I was very busy. Although I am having a break for a week, my exams start again next week. Please wish me luck.
I borrowed the not morphing bit from Nymphie Lupin's All Quiet. I like that idea and I hope she doesn't mind (.
Thank you for your reviews. Review to tell me if you want more. Honestly, people, if you want me to write, then REVIEW!
Cya. Take care.
Remus Lupin felt an eerie coldness coursing through him.
"Dora..." he whispered looking up from the parchments he was working on.
"Merlin...Dora!" He said panicking and running out of his office.
Within minutes, he was outside Tonks' office.
"Oh...Irene," He addressed her friend unable to find her. "Where's Dora?"
"Oh hi Remus. She left...about half an hour ago. Her duty is finished." Irene said gathering up her belongings.
"Left where?" Remus asked urgently.
"She said she was going home...Is something wrong...Remus!" She said.
Before Irene could receive an answer, Remus was running down the hall to his own office.
"Lupin Residence!" He said into the fireplace.
"Dora...DORA!! Bloody Hell!! DORA!!!" He shouted through the fireplace.
"Master...Is everything all right?" Dobby said coming hurriedly into the living room.
"Dobby, Where's Dora?" Remus asked.
"Miss is not back." Dobby answered.
"What?!! Are you sure?" Remus asked.
"Yes Master, what is wrong?" Dobby inquired.
"Thanks Dobby," Remus said and within a split second disappeared from the fireplace.
Remus was about to go and search for her when he felt Tonks again...this time very scared...
********** XXXXX **********
Nymphadora Lupin stirred, opening her eyes to a very blurred surrounding. She tried for sometime to remember where she was, before her eyes adjusted to the setting sun visible from the windows, and the white sheets and drapes surrounding her, and everything came crashing back down. She sat up on her bed gasping.
"Oh, you're back dear. Good," Poppy said coming towards her with a cup in her hand, "Here drink this, it'll make you feel better."
"Poppy...about that..." Tonks started but was interrupted by Poppy.
"Drink it up first...good. Now, yes Tonks, you are pregnant. It's a special...say sign of metamorphagi...that they lose their morphing power if they are with child...and for further confirmation, I even performed the tests on you, and they all say the same thing...you're pregnant dear." Poppy explained. "Tonks...dear are you not happy?" She added seeing the downcast expression on Tonks face.
"Oh no Poppy, its nothing like that...it's just that...Remus and I..." Tonks started.
"You're afraid of what Remus would say?" The older woman inquired.
Tonks nodded. "What if...Poppy what if...he doesn't want children...and we've been married for such a short time...and...there's so much going on...what if..." Tonks said on the verge of tears.
"Tonks...calm down dear, he'll love it. As far as I know, I think he'll love to have children. Don't worry dear."
"But Poppy, we haven't even discussed children" Tonks said in tears.
"Tonks...oh dear..." Poppy said hugging her. "Don't cry he'll love the news."
They sat like that in silence for sometime with Tonks crying on Poppy's shoulder and Poppy comforting her.
"Poppy..." Tonks said after a long time, "How long?"
"When did you stop morphing?"
"This morning."
"Then I'd say last night." Poppy said with a smile. Tonks blushed.
Suddenly the door to the infirmary burst open.
"POPPY!" A voice called out urgently...a voice both the women recognised as Remus Lupin's.
Tonks paled.
********** XXXXX **********
Remus felt Tonks again and this time she was very scared. He was about to alert his team for a possible abduction, when he suddenly remembered that Tonks was supposed to meet Poppy today. He left the ministry immediately, apparating to Hogsmeade.
Remus made his way through Hosmeade, hoping Tonks was with Poppy. During his journey to Hogwarts, he felt Tonks being immensely scared. He desperately wished she was fine.
He barged through the Hogwarts doors, running through the halls and burst through the door to the infirmary.
"POPPY!" He shouted.
A while later poppy appeared, "Remus would you kindly..."
"Poppy..." Remus said urgently, "Is Dora here?"
"Yes and Remus keep..."
"Where?" He asked looking around.
Poppy led him to Tonks' bed where, as soon a seeing her, he hugged her tightly.
"Remus I...can't...breathe." Tonks managed through his death grip.
"Remus!" Poppy said pulling him off her, "Don't kill her...now, I have some patients to attend to. Excuse me." With that, she was off.
"Dora... I was so worried, what happened?" Remus asked.
"Remus...how did...?"
"The necklace...I felt cold."
"I fainted." Tonks managed through a weak smile.
"WHAT?"
"Mr Lupin!" Poppy scolded.
"Sorry Poppy. What? Why?"
"Lets go home Remus, I want to go home." Tonks said avoiding his eyes.
"But Dora..."
"Remus please," Tonks said as she got off the bed.
"Ok," Remus said a disheartened.
"Thanks Poppy." Tonks said hugging Poppy.
"No problem Tonks. Just tell him dear, you won't know how he feels if you don't. Take the chance dear, good luck."
Remus watched the exchange from far and knew something was amiss. The couple left Hogwarts after bidding farewell to Poppy and apparated back home. Tonks left for bed without dinner leaving Remus confused and curious. Remus could feel Tonks' fear and worry...he knew she was hiding something...something he should know, and the fact that she didn't tell him frustrated him...a lot...
********** XXXXX **********
"Dora," Remus said entering the bedroom. "Dora, I know you're not sleeping, I need to talk to you." Remus finished standing by her side.
Tonks, who knew this was coming, and also knew that she couldn't fool him with the sleeping act, got up.
"Now Dora," Remus said kneeling in front of her, "What's wrong?"
"N-Nothing Remus,"
"Is it? Dora, why did you faint? Why were you scared? I know you're hiding something Dora...something I need to know...better tell me."
"Remus...I don't...I..."
"Just tell the truth,"
Tonks looked up at him, into his hazel, emanating love and worry for her. She drew in a deep breath, and looking into his eyes, told him about her discovery.
"I am pregnant." She said.
"WHAT?!!" His high pitch scared her, maybe he doesn't want children.
"What? What did you say?" He asked.
"Remus...I-I know ...we haven't discussed...and I don't know if...you want...but I want and I am ...keeping this..." She babbled.
"That wasn't my question Dora. What did you say?" He said.
She looked up to his face that was emotionless now.
"I am pregnant." She said closing her eyes and expecting the worse.
However, what she got was completely unexpected...at least for her. She felt Remus' arms around her and felt herself being risen from the bed into the air. She felt Remus twirling her around, she heard his laugh and felt his happiness. Somehow, she knew if she looked down upon her necklace right now, it would radiate his happiness. Finally, she opened her eyes when she was set down.
"I didn't hurt you, did I?" Remus asked cautiously worried as if she would break.
"No...So you're happy?" She asked cautiously a small smile playing over her lips.
"No," He said with a serious expression, causing her smile to fade, "I am ecstatic."
Tonks breathed a sigh of relief, as Remus hugged her tightly, but safe enough not to hurt her.
"You thought I didn't want any children didn't you? That's what you were afraid of, right?" He said still holding her.
Tonks blushed, "I thought...maybe..."
"I have always wanted children of my own...always but had lost hope because I thought...no one would—"
"I would always had, Remus. I love you." Tonks interrupted him snuggling into him.
"How long?"
"Since last night, I would say one day."
Remus broke apart to look in her eye, "You found out so soon?"
"Metamorphagi Traits," She answered smiling.
"Let's go down to eat, you need to eat a lot now." He said leading her to the dining hall.
"But Remus I—"
"No buts, come on now."
And so Nymphadora Lupin was led into the dining hall by her husband, rather carried there, relieved that the news went very well, but unaware that a foe had heard them too.
"So our moment has finally come, he'll love it." A mysterious female voice said before leaving the Lupin Residence for the Malfoy Manor.
********** XXXXX **********
Life for Nymphadora Lupin, to say it was wonderful was an understatement. She was sure she was the happiest woman alive. Ever since Remus found out about his possible fatherhood, three months ago, he had as good as commanded Tonks to stay in bed at all time...but knowing Tonks as she is, she put up a fight eventually getting successful in putting it in Remus', in her words, impenetrable mind, that she was perfectly fine in the early months and can do whatever she likes. But Remus hadn't given up either. He would still watch her like a hawk, as if she would break any moment, and deep inside, she loved all his affection. So here she was in the kitchen on Sunday, preparing breakfast for her dear husband who had slept in, something very unlike him, but was about to join her in a few minutes.
She took her tea, and sat down by the table shuffling through the day's mail. Daily Prophet, junk mail, junk mail, letter from a friend, a peculiar letter to her...
'Whoa! A peculiar letter for me...that's odd,' she thought scrutinising the letter.
She had seen that letter before, black envelope...but...
She turned over the envelope and what she saw caused her to drop the cup she was holding.
The Dark Mark.
"Dora...are you ok?" Remus worried voice brought her back to earth. "Are you hurt, Merlin Dora, you should be more careful nowadays." He said leading her away from the danger zone as Winky cleaned it up.
"Are you alright Dora? You look pale." Remus said.
He noticed the letter in clutched tightly in her hands, and tried to free it from her grasp, as he figured Tonks' condition might have something to do with the letter.
"No Remus...its nothing...just a letter for me." This got Remus even more suspicious.
"So it won't hurt if I look at it." He stated
"But its private...you wouldn't want me looking into your private stuff not would you?" Tonks answered in a shaky voice.
"I won't mind you looking into it...just a peek Dora..." He said coming towards her and within the blink of an eye, he had the letter in his hands.
The letter appeared peculiar to him, all in black with Tonks' name and address on it. He turned it over and froze...the Dark Mark. He looked up to see Tonks' shaking slightly and felt her fear. He ripped open the letter to a black parchment with a foul smell. On it was written:
Hope you didn't forget us Nymphadora, we are still here to catch you.
BE WARNED!!!
As soon as Remus finished reading the letter, it burst into green flames, and turned to ashes.
"Dora?"
"Remus...this...I..."
"You had these letters before?" He asked in a stern voice.
Tonks nodded.
"When and why didn't you tell me?"
"I told you about the illegal..."
"That was connected to these letters...you hid such information from me..."
"But Remus...I thought it was just a joke...you said so..." She could see Remus getting angry.
"It wasn't A JOKE Nymphadora!! You don't know what's going on. You should've told me all this long ago." Saying that he stormed out of the house leaving Tonks shocked and afraid.
She looked down at her necklace and enclosed it in her hand...she knew what the colour meant, a grey, very dark grey, he was angry, mad at her, but extremely worried...
********** XXXXX **********
Remus returned home very late that night and found Tonks asleep. He changed into his pyjamas, and unable to stand up anymore, lied down on the bed, thinking the day through. He wished that Tonks would not have been the one. He wished somehow he would replace her with the danger and that she would be safe until this mystery was solved, and within moments, he was dead to the world...
********** XXXXX **********
A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long. I was having exams, so I was very busy. Although I am having a break for a week, my exams start again next week. Please wish me luck.
I borrowed the not morphing bit from Nymphie Lupin's All Quiet. I like that idea and I hope she doesn't mind (.
Thank you for your reviews. Review to tell me if you want more. Honestly, people, if you want me to write, then REVIEW!
Cya. Take care.