Author's Notes: Thank you so much for all the review's. I never expected to get this many! It makes me so happy. And because I'm happy, I decided to post another chapter so you can be happy. But please don't stop reviewing just because you're happy. And sorry about the cliffhangers... but you'll just have to get used to them. *wink*
*****
"Breathe, Remus."
"Oh, yeah," Remus said followed by a large gasping breath. He continued staring at her... Tonks shifted uncomfortably.
"Aren't you going to say anything?"
"No."
Tonks laughed. "You just did."
"I meant that I'm not going to say anything... except for that. And that."
"Well, we need to talk about it," Tonks coerced.
"Yes... we do," Remus just stared straight ahead, his face slack and expressionless.
"Um... I don't know what we need to talk about," Tonks admitted, giving a guilty smile. Remus did not respond, only a slight automatic nod of the head. There was a longer moment of silence.
"Shall we go to dinner then?" Tonks finally said, clapping her hands together and standing up. Remus made no movement to leave. "Molly made Chinese... randomly." Still no sign of life. Tonks sighed and flopped down on to the couch again. "Don't be like this, please, Remus."
Pause.
"You're what?!" Remus finally burst out. Tonks jumped slightly at the sudden exclamation and glanced over her shoulder to see if he was talking to someone else.
"I'm pregnant," she said.
"Mine?"
"Yes," she nodded slowly.
"How?"
She gave him an "Are you serious?" look.
"What do you mean 'How'?"
"How did this happen, Nymphadora?"
"Don't call my Nymphadora," she responded automatically. "How did it happen? We had sex, Remus."
"Yes, I know, but... how did this happen?"
"Because you're a man and I'm a woman. I thought you were a professor once."
"I taught Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"But that means you... oh never mind," she sighed. "Look, I'm aware that I took you by surprise, but we need to start working out what we're going to do-"
"We're keeping the child," Remus responded as if this were the most logical thing to do.
"Yes, but... we?"
"Oh," he paused thoughtfully. "Well then, we'll need to get married."
"No."
"Why not?"
"I'm not marrying you out of wedlock, Remus."
"Why not?"
"Because..." she took a deep breath, fearing it would hurt him, it was hurting her. "Because I don't love you."
Remus jerked back as if he had been slapped.
"But then what about that night?" he asked.
"That was just passion... and confusion..." she said for lack of better words. They remained silent again, Tonks allowing Remus to think everything over.
"So, you don't... love me?" he finally asked, his eyes holding a broken emotion.
"I don't love you in the way a wife should love a husband, Remus. I love you like a friend," she put her hand over his.
"But what if I said that I loved you?"
"I would say that you couldn't."
"Why?"
"Because... you haven't expressed it... not too mention I don't think you actually know me well enough to love that way. I would say that you love me like a friend... and found me very attractive," she winked. Remus let a sad smile flit across his face for a moment.
"No lying there," he paused, gazing at her. "Is this your natural hair color?" He picked up a lock of her hair and let it fall back into place.
"Yeah," Tonks said sadly. "And you'll have to be seeing it a lot for the next nine months. I'm not allowed to use my powers while pregnant."
"Sorry," Remus said. "How did you know?"
"Know what?"
"That you were pregnant."
"I don't know..." Tonks said, thinking. "I just felt... different. That something wasn't right, you know? Something else was there so I had a Healer visit me and check me out and... he just confirmed what I thought."
"Oh, Tonks, I'm so sorry. You're too young to have such a burden-"
"Remus, shut up. It's over and done with now, there's nothing you can do to stop what's going to happen. We just need to worry about what's going to happen later, after the baby."
"Yeah. Who else knows?"
"Well, Dumbledore knows, and after tonight the rest of the Order, he wants me to tell them at dinner," she gave a dry laugh. "And, well I have to tell my boss because the loss of my powers are going to effect what I can do for work."
"How did Dumbledore know?"
"You're on the Black family tree now," Tonks told him, gesturing towards the tapestry on the wall. Remus got up and examined it carefully.
"You know, despite the seriousness of the situation... that is pretty cool," he laughed slightly. Tonks joined in, though the laughter was awkward and uncomfortable.
"I think we should go down to dinner now, I need to tell as many members now," Tonks said, getting up. She walked out of the room followed close behind by Remus.
***
Dinner was uncomfortable for both Tonks and Remus, nervous about when she was going to tell the others at the table, which included Dumbledore, Kingsley, Mundungus, Mad-Eye, all of the Weasley's, minus Charlie, and Harry and Hermione.
"Excuse me," Tonks finally said when Percy finally put down his utensils, "I have an announcement-"
"We have an announcement, to make," Remus corrected her and gave her a comforting smile. He was already taking the first step in telling her that they were in this together and for the long haul.
"Well, you see..." It was a lot easier to tell one person than fifteen people all at once. "Remus and I... are going to have a baby."
Silence. Pure silence. For once Mad-Eye's mad eye wasn't rolling around and looking at other things, it was actually stopped, dead on what it had been looking at before Tonks had made this startling announcement. Still no one said anything. Usually, when someone announces they are having a baby there are expressions of joy all around. Not for Tonks.
"I knew it, knew we shouldn't have let her into the Order," Moody finally barked.
"What?" Tonks exclaimed.
"You, you're too young-"
"No, Mad-Eye you're not starting on this again-"
"I knew you couldn't handle this type of pressure. Now look what you've done to Lupin-"
"I think that's enough, Alastor," Remus finally stepped in. "It's as much my fault as it is hers."
"Still, we're in a war! It's no time for children!" Moody glared. Tonks was shocked, she always got along so well with Moody, mind you they bickered, but never cruel. And now he was determined to throw her out. And then she realized. It was because sex and love were weaknesses. Moody had liked her because she was strong, and now he knew she had weaknesses...
"...nothing we can do now," she heard Molly finish. She had missed a part of the conversation. She looked towards Molly to see her leaving her chair, moments later she was lifted out of her seat and held frighteningly close to Mrs. Weasley.
"Oh, Tonks, dear, I will help you all the way. You don't have to worry anymore, just be happy. A baby is such a wonderful gift!" She squeezed Tonks even closer to her bussom.
"Mawy," Tonks' muffled voice said. "I cahn't phreathe!"
Molly released her, "Sorry dear."
"There's still more," Remus spoke up, bringing back the original topic.
"You're having twins?" Fred smiled.
"No."
"Because if you were you could name them Fred and George," George gave an identical grin. Remus just rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to speak again but Hermione interrupted.
"I don't mean to be rude, Remus, but I never even knew you and Tonks were in a relationship," she said. The others at the table nodded, having thought the same thing. Tonks' gaze quickly fell to the floor, while Remus gave a large sigh.
"I'm... I'm afraid we weren't," Remus said, voice heavy with guilt.
Hermione's mouth made an "O" of surprise, which matched many of the other faces at the table. Even Fred and George looked shocked, not even allowing a "Whoop!" of support.
"So what do you plan on doing?" Molly asked tersely, her previous joy and support vanishing realizing that this baby wasn't even part of a loving relationship.
"We don't know quite yet, but I know I will be there for her and the child, I will not leave," Remus said strongly.
"But we plan on being there for each other and... well, whatever happens, happens, and we're prepared to face it together," Tonks said. "The first problem we're... well, I'm facing already is what I will be able to do for the Order now-"
"And the MLE," Kingsley added, staring at Tonks coldly.
"I will be telling Amelia tomorrow," Tonks explained sadly.
"A bit high up, isn't she?" Kinglsey raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't you be talking to-"
"For pregnancies and other accidents or holidays that require a long leave of absence you talk to Mrs. Bones," Tonks explained. "At least that's what Dawlish said when he was being treated for the Dragon Pox he contracted."
Kingsley nodded.
"Well, when I talked to the Healer today, he said that I shouldn't use my powers anymore," Tonks continued. "Especially in the first few months of pregnancy, because it may affect how the baby develops."
"And I highly agree," Molly voiced. "And you shouldn't be fighting at all either."
"The Healer said I could be fighting.. up... until..." Tonks trailed off at Dumbledores genteel glare. "Well, apparently it doesn't matter what the Healer says, Dumbledore has told me I am not to fight anymore once I reach the fifth month."
"And Amelia will most likely be saying the same thing," Dumbledore said. "But, Tonks will still be doing all she can to help. I'm actually quite grateful this happened after the Ministry joined our fight, if it had to happen at all."
There was more silence. Tonks was beginning to get sick of it. She itched to change her nose or hair just to mix things up.
"No," Remus said, obviously sensing what Tonks was thinking about doing.
"No what?" she asked innocently.
"No morphing."
"I hate you," she pouted into her seat.
"You're going to have to act like an adult now, Nymphadora," Moody said from across the table, having watched the exchange.
"I know, Mad-Eye," Tonks said sadly. The light conversation that had started died as everyone looked between Tonks and Moody.
"Molly," Dumbledore clapped happily, "could we have some of your wonderful fudge now?"
Shaken from one of those "happy, near grandma" reveries, Mrs. Weasley quickly bustled into the kitchen. It seemed that was the cue to allow people to talk again, though people only cast furitive looks at Tonks and Remus rather than speaking with them.
"I thought that went all right," Remus offered. Tonks snorted. "Don't worry... it's a bit of a shock for them, but they'll warm up to it, don't worry."
"I guess you're right," Tonks said. Remus glanced at Tonks's semi-empty plate.
"Did you eat enough? Are you not hungry? You need to eat," he suddenly hounded.
"Yeah, I'm just not hungry," Tonks said, taken aback.
"Well, remember, you're eating for two now," Remus said, gently patting her back. And having heard that Molly Weasley put two large pieces of fudge on Tonks's plate.
***
Tonks woke up early the next morning so she could quickly get ready for work and apparate out without being seen by anyone. Donning her navy work robes she hurried downstairs, prepared to grab a quick bit of toast and a glass of milk, but instead was accosted by a plate full of sausage, bacon, eggs, and toast with some rather large pancakes on the side.
"Molly, what is this?" she said, staring at it.
"Like Remus said last night dear, you're eating for two. It's time to get some meat on those bones," Mrs. Weasley said, hustling Tonks into a chair and setting the overloaded plate in front of the girl.
"Molly, I'm really very grateful, but I can't eat all this-"
"Of course you can. Now, eat up," she smiled and waited patiently as Tonks took a wary bite of the sausage.
"Yum, Molly, now if you don't mind I really need to get to work now," Tonks said starting to get up. Molly shoved her back down in the chair.
"Nonsense, you barely touched it. Eat," she glared with her smile still plastered on, it fell, though, when Tonks just continued staring at her, not the plate. "Don't make me force feed you."
Tonks made to laugh, but stopped when she realized that Mrs. Weasley wasn't kidding. She quickly began shoveling food down her throat while casting frightened looks at the determined red-headed woman standing next to her with hands placed forcefully on her hips.
She was glad she woke early, because by the time she escaped Food-Demon Weasley, she would barely have time to apparate to the designated apparation point for the MLE and then get to the department itself.
"Morning Tonks," Kingsley Shacklebolt grinned as Tonks came flying through the door, sliding on the linoleum, and crashing into a garbage can.
"Wotcher, King," Tonks said, magicking up the trash. "Talking to me now?"
"I was talking to you, just not very friendly, like," Kingsley laughed. "I gave it a thought and I'm all right with it."
"You are?" Tonks asked, unsure.
"Yes, I am. And I can even say it couldn't have happened to two people who deserved it more. Something was bound to happen sooner than later," he threw out casually, walking along the lines of cubicles, back to his own.
"Wait, what?" Tonks yelled, running to catch up with him.
"Well, Lupin was bound to make his move sooner or later, just... a rather un-Lupin-like move he ended up making," he stopped in thought, causing Tonks to bump into him.
"What are you talking about, King?"
"Lupin is mad about you! I think he fell for you the minute he saw you trip in the door."
"Oh."
"Don't tell me you never noticed the way he looks at you!" Kingsley laughed.
"I don't really pay attention to the way people look at me," Tonks admonished.
"Well, if you did you would know that not only Lupin looks-"
"Stop! No! I don't want to know!" Tonks said throwing her arms into the air and walking quickly towards her cubicle, Kingsley laughing at her openly.
She had barely sat down at her desk when Francis Barnaby approached her and gave her a file.
"Tonks we need you to head out to Apparate up to Chester and take care of an incident involving Aberforth Dumbledore and... well, it gives it all in the file here, get there right away," he said, starting to walk away.
"Wait, Barnaby, can you tell Bones I'd like to meet with her?" she asked, opening the file.
"Yeah, sure, what's the reason?" he asked. Tonks flushed.
"I... I just need to talk to her about getting time off for medical reasons," she said.
"Are you okay, Tonks?" Barnaby asked, concerned.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I just am going to need some time off in a few months," she said. Barnaby stared at her suspiciously but nodded and turned away. Tonks sighed in relief that he asked no further questions and opened the file to reveal the latest problem involving Dumbledore's nutter of a brother...
The door to Aberforth's molding, delapidated, brown house was a bright vivid pink. Tonks continued knocking. She hated her job sometimes. She was always assigned to the eccentric old wizards and witches, Aberforth Dumbledore was one she was forced to visit regularly.
With a rusty squeak the door was pulled open slightly and the grumpy face of an old man appeared behind it.
"The Nymph!" he hissed excitedly, pulling the door open farther and then hustling her in.
"Hello, Aberforth, I came to review with-"
"Good good, would you like some tea?"
"No, that's all right, I'm quite busy," she said, in a very businesslike manner, glancing at her clipboard with the updated information she attached. She remembered that he was currently employed at the Hog's Head bar in Hogsmeade. "Aberforth, why aren't you at work?"
"Week off," he said, sitting at a table in the dining room and gesturing for Tonks to take the seat across from him.
"Then who's running the bar?"
"Dodgy Fellows," he smiled, a smile so similar to his brother's... just a little creepier.
"Who?" Tonks asked, alarmed.
"Mr. Fellows, quite a nice guy," he said again. Tonks relaxed.
"All right, then. Let's get straight to business... The ministry has found out about your mongoose ring," she said, her gaze determined and hard.
"Mongoose ring?" he said, feigning ignorance.
"There are pictures and reports, Mr. Dumbledore," Tonks said, pulling out said photographs and handing them to the mad wizard. He looked at them and laughed.
"So, I have been found out," he chuckled. Tonks just shook her head and paused, before she spoke again, to watch a brown mongoose bound by, wearing a deep red corsette.
"Now, you were in hot water for doing something similar to goats, Aberforth, and the Ministry isn't taking action because... we have bigger fish to fry, as I'm sure you know. But this has to stop. Charms such as these," she gestured to a white mongoose in a purple corsette that had jumped on to the table holding a thimble and observing the people staring back at him, "are illegal to perform on animals. Do you understand?"
He nodded.
"Now, I'm going to need you to sign this saying that if the mongoose ring is not shut down within a week you will be held within the Department of Magical Law Enforcement stronghold for the duration of six months," she said, sliding a form and a predipped quill towards him. He took the quill and made a couple of unconcerned scribbles and slid it back to her, suddenly staring at Tonks strongly.
"Thank you Aberforth, hopefully I won't be seeing you again on such terms," Tonks got up, stumbling slightly as a grey mongoose clad in black garters complete with belt scurried around her feet.
"Won't you have tea with me?" he glowered slightly. Tonks softened.
"I would love to Aberforth, but, I must go-"
"I have something to show you," he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the stairs. His way of carrying a conversation confused her so that she was ten seconds behind before realizing she was following him.
"Aberforth, I need to go back to work now," she said breathlessly as he stopped suddenly in front of a room and began unlocking it. "What are you showing me?"
"This," he said happily flinging the door open. Tonks flinched as bright white light flooded out of the room. Her eyes quickly adjusted though and went wide in stunned shock.
The room was full of unicorns. And it wasn't a room, it looked more like a large, grassy field full of flowers and a few large trees. The horned horses lazed about in the sunshine that had been placed in the sky that was in place of the ceiling, or they grazed, or frolicked. Happily content, and most likely unaware they were living in a very charmed room in the house of a very odd wizard.
"Aberforth..." Tonks started warily, "did your brother do this room charm for you?"
"Yes."
"So he knows about the... the unicorns?" she stuttered.
"Yes," he said and pushed her gently from behind. "Go in... play with them."
"Aberforth, I really need to get back to work-"
"The unicorns need you Nymph," he said, pushing her a bit harder.
"No, my job needs me Ab-"
"They need Nymphs! They like Nymphs!" he said, shoving her in.
"I'm not a Nymph, Aberforth!" she screamed. He slammed the door and she heard the lock click. She began hammering her fist against the door. "Aberforth! You let me out! Capturing an Auror is against the law! The sentence is a year in Azkaban-"
"I've been there and done that," a new and completely different voice said. Tonks jerked back suddenly as if the door had bit her.
"Malfoy," she hissed. "How did you get out? When did you get out?!"
"I don't think that's the greatest of your worries, my niece," he purred on the other side. "Turn around."
Full of fear and nervous anticipation, Tonks slowly turned around. She screamed.
The room was no longer a glorious meadow, but instead large, grey, dead flat land. And the unicorns were gone. Instead five glaring manticores stood in their place.
"I do so hate devouring females," one of the manticores spoke, his hair and body a beautiful chesnut color, and his eyes a cold harsh blue.
"I agree," his blond fellow spoke, his scorpion tale twitching in excitement.
"Even so... we have been kept hungry for so long," the first one said again, one padded paw took a step closer to Tonks who was shivering in pure horror and had sunk to the floor.
"Please, please, don't..." she sobbed, tears falling freely down her cheeks.
One of the manticores, the farthest from her, began to sing softly. Tonks shuddered.
"So they do sing before eating their prey," she heard Lucius comment lightly from behind the door.
"Aren't you even going to fight us?" a third manticore asked her, bounding forward and leaning inches away from her face. Tonks shook her head. Two of the manticores were singing now.
"Please... please..." was all she could manage out. The manticore closest to her pulled back his tail suddenly, poised to strike, and he began to croon with the two others.
"Wait," the chestnut manticore said suddenly. He approached Tonks slowly, sniffing. "She is with child." He sniffed again. "She is rare."
The singing trailed off as the others joined the chestnut and began sniffing. Tonks glanced at them all warily, knowing that one wrong move could have them killing her in an instant.
"Change for us, Morpher," the blond one said harshly. They all stepped back, prepared to strike, but prepared to watch her change.
"I-I can't," Tonks said. "I could hurt the baby."
"But if you don't, we will hurt the baby," the chestnut said. "You could either change and risk it, or not change and have it."
Tonks gave a deep breath and decided.
"All right... what would you like?" she asked, resigned. The head manticore, the chestnut, smirked.
"Make your hair resemble mine," he commanded. Tonks scrunched up her face, the image of her hair looking like his stuck in her head. A twinge was felt in her scalp and she knew it was done. Cautiously opening her eyes she looked up at them. Their tails were down, but she wasn't quite out of the woods yet. Suddenly an idea came to her.
"You do not eat those carrying children?" she asked. The chestnut narrowed his eyes at her, but nodded. "Well- well... I know a way you can eat without hurting me." He continued staring, allowing her to continue. "Outside the door... there is a man larger than me. He is not with child... and he has imprisoned you. You could attack him, rather than me."
They shifted, contemplating the suggestion. Then, without warning, they lunged at her.
*****
Ending Notes: Aw, aren't I just a stinker? Heh. You'll get the next chapter sooner if you review! *wink* Also, thank you to those who reviewed in Chapter 1 ~ Spikey the Neon Blowfish, Emmy-Chan, Lour, jordy-n-peyts mama, Rea, eye-candy 56, Alexis-Lee, maggie black and alex. You guys are wonderful!
"Breathe, Remus."
"Oh, yeah," Remus said followed by a large gasping breath. He continued staring at her... Tonks shifted uncomfortably.
"Aren't you going to say anything?"
"No."
Tonks laughed. "You just did."
"I meant that I'm not going to say anything... except for that. And that."
"Well, we need to talk about it," Tonks coerced.
"Yes... we do," Remus just stared straight ahead, his face slack and expressionless.
"Um... I don't know what we need to talk about," Tonks admitted, giving a guilty smile. Remus did not respond, only a slight automatic nod of the head. There was a longer moment of silence.
"Shall we go to dinner then?" Tonks finally said, clapping her hands together and standing up. Remus made no movement to leave. "Molly made Chinese... randomly." Still no sign of life. Tonks sighed and flopped down on to the couch again. "Don't be like this, please, Remus."
Pause.
"You're what?!" Remus finally burst out. Tonks jumped slightly at the sudden exclamation and glanced over her shoulder to see if he was talking to someone else.
"I'm pregnant," she said.
"Mine?"
"Yes," she nodded slowly.
"How?"
She gave him an "Are you serious?" look.
"What do you mean 'How'?"
"How did this happen, Nymphadora?"
"Don't call my Nymphadora," she responded automatically. "How did it happen? We had sex, Remus."
"Yes, I know, but... how did this happen?"
"Because you're a man and I'm a woman. I thought you were a professor once."
"I taught Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"But that means you... oh never mind," she sighed. "Look, I'm aware that I took you by surprise, but we need to start working out what we're going to do-"
"We're keeping the child," Remus responded as if this were the most logical thing to do.
"Yes, but... we?"
"Oh," he paused thoughtfully. "Well then, we'll need to get married."
"No."
"Why not?"
"I'm not marrying you out of wedlock, Remus."
"Why not?"
"Because..." she took a deep breath, fearing it would hurt him, it was hurting her. "Because I don't love you."
Remus jerked back as if he had been slapped.
"But then what about that night?" he asked.
"That was just passion... and confusion..." she said for lack of better words. They remained silent again, Tonks allowing Remus to think everything over.
"So, you don't... love me?" he finally asked, his eyes holding a broken emotion.
"I don't love you in the way a wife should love a husband, Remus. I love you like a friend," she put her hand over his.
"But what if I said that I loved you?"
"I would say that you couldn't."
"Why?"
"Because... you haven't expressed it... not too mention I don't think you actually know me well enough to love that way. I would say that you love me like a friend... and found me very attractive," she winked. Remus let a sad smile flit across his face for a moment.
"No lying there," he paused, gazing at her. "Is this your natural hair color?" He picked up a lock of her hair and let it fall back into place.
"Yeah," Tonks said sadly. "And you'll have to be seeing it a lot for the next nine months. I'm not allowed to use my powers while pregnant."
"Sorry," Remus said. "How did you know?"
"Know what?"
"That you were pregnant."
"I don't know..." Tonks said, thinking. "I just felt... different. That something wasn't right, you know? Something else was there so I had a Healer visit me and check me out and... he just confirmed what I thought."
"Oh, Tonks, I'm so sorry. You're too young to have such a burden-"
"Remus, shut up. It's over and done with now, there's nothing you can do to stop what's going to happen. We just need to worry about what's going to happen later, after the baby."
"Yeah. Who else knows?"
"Well, Dumbledore knows, and after tonight the rest of the Order, he wants me to tell them at dinner," she gave a dry laugh. "And, well I have to tell my boss because the loss of my powers are going to effect what I can do for work."
"How did Dumbledore know?"
"You're on the Black family tree now," Tonks told him, gesturing towards the tapestry on the wall. Remus got up and examined it carefully.
"You know, despite the seriousness of the situation... that is pretty cool," he laughed slightly. Tonks joined in, though the laughter was awkward and uncomfortable.
"I think we should go down to dinner now, I need to tell as many members now," Tonks said, getting up. She walked out of the room followed close behind by Remus.
Dinner was uncomfortable for both Tonks and Remus, nervous about when she was going to tell the others at the table, which included Dumbledore, Kingsley, Mundungus, Mad-Eye, all of the Weasley's, minus Charlie, and Harry and Hermione.
"Excuse me," Tonks finally said when Percy finally put down his utensils, "I have an announcement-"
"We have an announcement, to make," Remus corrected her and gave her a comforting smile. He was already taking the first step in telling her that they were in this together and for the long haul.
"Well, you see..." It was a lot easier to tell one person than fifteen people all at once. "Remus and I... are going to have a baby."
Silence. Pure silence. For once Mad-Eye's mad eye wasn't rolling around and looking at other things, it was actually stopped, dead on what it had been looking at before Tonks had made this startling announcement. Still no one said anything. Usually, when someone announces they are having a baby there are expressions of joy all around. Not for Tonks.
"I knew it, knew we shouldn't have let her into the Order," Moody finally barked.
"What?" Tonks exclaimed.
"You, you're too young-"
"No, Mad-Eye you're not starting on this again-"
"I knew you couldn't handle this type of pressure. Now look what you've done to Lupin-"
"I think that's enough, Alastor," Remus finally stepped in. "It's as much my fault as it is hers."
"Still, we're in a war! It's no time for children!" Moody glared. Tonks was shocked, she always got along so well with Moody, mind you they bickered, but never cruel. And now he was determined to throw her out. And then she realized. It was because sex and love were weaknesses. Moody had liked her because she was strong, and now he knew she had weaknesses...
"...nothing we can do now," she heard Molly finish. She had missed a part of the conversation. She looked towards Molly to see her leaving her chair, moments later she was lifted out of her seat and held frighteningly close to Mrs. Weasley.
"Oh, Tonks, dear, I will help you all the way. You don't have to worry anymore, just be happy. A baby is such a wonderful gift!" She squeezed Tonks even closer to her bussom.
"Mawy," Tonks' muffled voice said. "I cahn't phreathe!"
Molly released her, "Sorry dear."
"There's still more," Remus spoke up, bringing back the original topic.
"You're having twins?" Fred smiled.
"No."
"Because if you were you could name them Fred and George," George gave an identical grin. Remus just rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to speak again but Hermione interrupted.
"I don't mean to be rude, Remus, but I never even knew you and Tonks were in a relationship," she said. The others at the table nodded, having thought the same thing. Tonks' gaze quickly fell to the floor, while Remus gave a large sigh.
"I'm... I'm afraid we weren't," Remus said, voice heavy with guilt.
Hermione's mouth made an "O" of surprise, which matched many of the other faces at the table. Even Fred and George looked shocked, not even allowing a "Whoop!" of support.
"So what do you plan on doing?" Molly asked tersely, her previous joy and support vanishing realizing that this baby wasn't even part of a loving relationship.
"We don't know quite yet, but I know I will be there for her and the child, I will not leave," Remus said strongly.
"But we plan on being there for each other and... well, whatever happens, happens, and we're prepared to face it together," Tonks said. "The first problem we're... well, I'm facing already is what I will be able to do for the Order now-"
"And the MLE," Kingsley added, staring at Tonks coldly.
"I will be telling Amelia tomorrow," Tonks explained sadly.
"A bit high up, isn't she?" Kinglsey raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't you be talking to-"
"For pregnancies and other accidents or holidays that require a long leave of absence you talk to Mrs. Bones," Tonks explained. "At least that's what Dawlish said when he was being treated for the Dragon Pox he contracted."
Kingsley nodded.
"Well, when I talked to the Healer today, he said that I shouldn't use my powers anymore," Tonks continued. "Especially in the first few months of pregnancy, because it may affect how the baby develops."
"And I highly agree," Molly voiced. "And you shouldn't be fighting at all either."
"The Healer said I could be fighting.. up... until..." Tonks trailed off at Dumbledores genteel glare. "Well, apparently it doesn't matter what the Healer says, Dumbledore has told me I am not to fight anymore once I reach the fifth month."
"And Amelia will most likely be saying the same thing," Dumbledore said. "But, Tonks will still be doing all she can to help. I'm actually quite grateful this happened after the Ministry joined our fight, if it had to happen at all."
There was more silence. Tonks was beginning to get sick of it. She itched to change her nose or hair just to mix things up.
"No," Remus said, obviously sensing what Tonks was thinking about doing.
"No what?" she asked innocently.
"No morphing."
"I hate you," she pouted into her seat.
"You're going to have to act like an adult now, Nymphadora," Moody said from across the table, having watched the exchange.
"I know, Mad-Eye," Tonks said sadly. The light conversation that had started died as everyone looked between Tonks and Moody.
"Molly," Dumbledore clapped happily, "could we have some of your wonderful fudge now?"
Shaken from one of those "happy, near grandma" reveries, Mrs. Weasley quickly bustled into the kitchen. It seemed that was the cue to allow people to talk again, though people only cast furitive looks at Tonks and Remus rather than speaking with them.
"I thought that went all right," Remus offered. Tonks snorted. "Don't worry... it's a bit of a shock for them, but they'll warm up to it, don't worry."
"I guess you're right," Tonks said. Remus glanced at Tonks's semi-empty plate.
"Did you eat enough? Are you not hungry? You need to eat," he suddenly hounded.
"Yeah, I'm just not hungry," Tonks said, taken aback.
"Well, remember, you're eating for two now," Remus said, gently patting her back. And having heard that Molly Weasley put two large pieces of fudge on Tonks's plate.
Tonks woke up early the next morning so she could quickly get ready for work and apparate out without being seen by anyone. Donning her navy work robes she hurried downstairs, prepared to grab a quick bit of toast and a glass of milk, but instead was accosted by a plate full of sausage, bacon, eggs, and toast with some rather large pancakes on the side.
"Molly, what is this?" she said, staring at it.
"Like Remus said last night dear, you're eating for two. It's time to get some meat on those bones," Mrs. Weasley said, hustling Tonks into a chair and setting the overloaded plate in front of the girl.
"Molly, I'm really very grateful, but I can't eat all this-"
"Of course you can. Now, eat up," she smiled and waited patiently as Tonks took a wary bite of the sausage.
"Yum, Molly, now if you don't mind I really need to get to work now," Tonks said starting to get up. Molly shoved her back down in the chair.
"Nonsense, you barely touched it. Eat," she glared with her smile still plastered on, it fell, though, when Tonks just continued staring at her, not the plate. "Don't make me force feed you."
Tonks made to laugh, but stopped when she realized that Mrs. Weasley wasn't kidding. She quickly began shoveling food down her throat while casting frightened looks at the determined red-headed woman standing next to her with hands placed forcefully on her hips.
She was glad she woke early, because by the time she escaped Food-Demon Weasley, she would barely have time to apparate to the designated apparation point for the MLE and then get to the department itself.
"Morning Tonks," Kingsley Shacklebolt grinned as Tonks came flying through the door, sliding on the linoleum, and crashing into a garbage can.
"Wotcher, King," Tonks said, magicking up the trash. "Talking to me now?"
"I was talking to you, just not very friendly, like," Kingsley laughed. "I gave it a thought and I'm all right with it."
"You are?" Tonks asked, unsure.
"Yes, I am. And I can even say it couldn't have happened to two people who deserved it more. Something was bound to happen sooner than later," he threw out casually, walking along the lines of cubicles, back to his own.
"Wait, what?" Tonks yelled, running to catch up with him.
"Well, Lupin was bound to make his move sooner or later, just... a rather un-Lupin-like move he ended up making," he stopped in thought, causing Tonks to bump into him.
"What are you talking about, King?"
"Lupin is mad about you! I think he fell for you the minute he saw you trip in the door."
"Oh."
"Don't tell me you never noticed the way he looks at you!" Kingsley laughed.
"I don't really pay attention to the way people look at me," Tonks admonished.
"Well, if you did you would know that not only Lupin looks-"
"Stop! No! I don't want to know!" Tonks said throwing her arms into the air and walking quickly towards her cubicle, Kingsley laughing at her openly.
She had barely sat down at her desk when Francis Barnaby approached her and gave her a file.
"Tonks we need you to head out to Apparate up to Chester and take care of an incident involving Aberforth Dumbledore and... well, it gives it all in the file here, get there right away," he said, starting to walk away.
"Wait, Barnaby, can you tell Bones I'd like to meet with her?" she asked, opening the file.
"Yeah, sure, what's the reason?" he asked. Tonks flushed.
"I... I just need to talk to her about getting time off for medical reasons," she said.
"Are you okay, Tonks?" Barnaby asked, concerned.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I just am going to need some time off in a few months," she said. Barnaby stared at her suspiciously but nodded and turned away. Tonks sighed in relief that he asked no further questions and opened the file to reveal the latest problem involving Dumbledore's nutter of a brother...
The door to Aberforth's molding, delapidated, brown house was a bright vivid pink. Tonks continued knocking. She hated her job sometimes. She was always assigned to the eccentric old wizards and witches, Aberforth Dumbledore was one she was forced to visit regularly.
With a rusty squeak the door was pulled open slightly and the grumpy face of an old man appeared behind it.
"The Nymph!" he hissed excitedly, pulling the door open farther and then hustling her in.
"Hello, Aberforth, I came to review with-"
"Good good, would you like some tea?"
"No, that's all right, I'm quite busy," she said, in a very businesslike manner, glancing at her clipboard with the updated information she attached. She remembered that he was currently employed at the Hog's Head bar in Hogsmeade. "Aberforth, why aren't you at work?"
"Week off," he said, sitting at a table in the dining room and gesturing for Tonks to take the seat across from him.
"Then who's running the bar?"
"Dodgy Fellows," he smiled, a smile so similar to his brother's... just a little creepier.
"Who?" Tonks asked, alarmed.
"Mr. Fellows, quite a nice guy," he said again. Tonks relaxed.
"All right, then. Let's get straight to business... The ministry has found out about your mongoose ring," she said, her gaze determined and hard.
"Mongoose ring?" he said, feigning ignorance.
"There are pictures and reports, Mr. Dumbledore," Tonks said, pulling out said photographs and handing them to the mad wizard. He looked at them and laughed.
"So, I have been found out," he chuckled. Tonks just shook her head and paused, before she spoke again, to watch a brown mongoose bound by, wearing a deep red corsette.
"Now, you were in hot water for doing something similar to goats, Aberforth, and the Ministry isn't taking action because... we have bigger fish to fry, as I'm sure you know. But this has to stop. Charms such as these," she gestured to a white mongoose in a purple corsette that had jumped on to the table holding a thimble and observing the people staring back at him, "are illegal to perform on animals. Do you understand?"
He nodded.
"Now, I'm going to need you to sign this saying that if the mongoose ring is not shut down within a week you will be held within the Department of Magical Law Enforcement stronghold for the duration of six months," she said, sliding a form and a predipped quill towards him. He took the quill and made a couple of unconcerned scribbles and slid it back to her, suddenly staring at Tonks strongly.
"Thank you Aberforth, hopefully I won't be seeing you again on such terms," Tonks got up, stumbling slightly as a grey mongoose clad in black garters complete with belt scurried around her feet.
"Won't you have tea with me?" he glowered slightly. Tonks softened.
"I would love to Aberforth, but, I must go-"
"I have something to show you," he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the stairs. His way of carrying a conversation confused her so that she was ten seconds behind before realizing she was following him.
"Aberforth, I need to go back to work now," she said breathlessly as he stopped suddenly in front of a room and began unlocking it. "What are you showing me?"
"This," he said happily flinging the door open. Tonks flinched as bright white light flooded out of the room. Her eyes quickly adjusted though and went wide in stunned shock.
The room was full of unicorns. And it wasn't a room, it looked more like a large, grassy field full of flowers and a few large trees. The horned horses lazed about in the sunshine that had been placed in the sky that was in place of the ceiling, or they grazed, or frolicked. Happily content, and most likely unaware they were living in a very charmed room in the house of a very odd wizard.
"Aberforth..." Tonks started warily, "did your brother do this room charm for you?"
"Yes."
"So he knows about the... the unicorns?" she stuttered.
"Yes," he said and pushed her gently from behind. "Go in... play with them."
"Aberforth, I really need to get back to work-"
"The unicorns need you Nymph," he said, pushing her a bit harder.
"No, my job needs me Ab-"
"They need Nymphs! They like Nymphs!" he said, shoving her in.
"I'm not a Nymph, Aberforth!" she screamed. He slammed the door and she heard the lock click. She began hammering her fist against the door. "Aberforth! You let me out! Capturing an Auror is against the law! The sentence is a year in Azkaban-"
"I've been there and done that," a new and completely different voice said. Tonks jerked back suddenly as if the door had bit her.
"Malfoy," she hissed. "How did you get out? When did you get out?!"
"I don't think that's the greatest of your worries, my niece," he purred on the other side. "Turn around."
Full of fear and nervous anticipation, Tonks slowly turned around. She screamed.
The room was no longer a glorious meadow, but instead large, grey, dead flat land. And the unicorns were gone. Instead five glaring manticores stood in their place.
"I do so hate devouring females," one of the manticores spoke, his hair and body a beautiful chesnut color, and his eyes a cold harsh blue.
"I agree," his blond fellow spoke, his scorpion tale twitching in excitement.
"Even so... we have been kept hungry for so long," the first one said again, one padded paw took a step closer to Tonks who was shivering in pure horror and had sunk to the floor.
"Please, please, don't..." she sobbed, tears falling freely down her cheeks.
One of the manticores, the farthest from her, began to sing softly. Tonks shuddered.
"So they do sing before eating their prey," she heard Lucius comment lightly from behind the door.
"Aren't you even going to fight us?" a third manticore asked her, bounding forward and leaning inches away from her face. Tonks shook her head. Two of the manticores were singing now.
"Please... please..." was all she could manage out. The manticore closest to her pulled back his tail suddenly, poised to strike, and he began to croon with the two others.
"Wait," the chestnut manticore said suddenly. He approached Tonks slowly, sniffing. "She is with child." He sniffed again. "She is rare."
The singing trailed off as the others joined the chestnut and began sniffing. Tonks glanced at them all warily, knowing that one wrong move could have them killing her in an instant.
"Change for us, Morpher," the blond one said harshly. They all stepped back, prepared to strike, but prepared to watch her change.
"I-I can't," Tonks said. "I could hurt the baby."
"But if you don't, we will hurt the baby," the chestnut said. "You could either change and risk it, or not change and have it."
Tonks gave a deep breath and decided.
"All right... what would you like?" she asked, resigned. The head manticore, the chestnut, smirked.
"Make your hair resemble mine," he commanded. Tonks scrunched up her face, the image of her hair looking like his stuck in her head. A twinge was felt in her scalp and she knew it was done. Cautiously opening her eyes she looked up at them. Their tails were down, but she wasn't quite out of the woods yet. Suddenly an idea came to her.
"You do not eat those carrying children?" she asked. The chestnut narrowed his eyes at her, but nodded. "Well- well... I know a way you can eat without hurting me." He continued staring, allowing her to continue. "Outside the door... there is a man larger than me. He is not with child... and he has imprisoned you. You could attack him, rather than me."
They shifted, contemplating the suggestion. Then, without warning, they lunged at her.
Ending Notes: Aw, aren't I just a stinker? Heh. You'll get the next chapter sooner if you review! *wink* Also, thank you to those who reviewed in Chapter 1 ~ Spikey the Neon Blowfish, Emmy-Chan, Lour, jordy-n-peyts mama, Rea, eye-candy 56, Alexis-Lee, maggie black and alex. You guys are wonderful!