Author's Notes: Wow! So many reviews! Thank you guys! It makes me feel special and that I'm doing something right. Just a quick note, the chapters may slow down in their coming as I try and match it up with my posting at FictionAlley where I've submitted Chapter One. Also, around the time it's posted at FictionAlley, I'll probably be changing my penname here from SamWitch to Circe. Not yet though, but I'm just giving you a heads up. And now... I'm giving you Chapter Three!
*****
She screamed as the manticores lunged at her. No, not at her! At the door! She knew that it had taken Lucius entirely by surprise when she heard a sickening thud and crunch when the manticores landed. There was vicious growling and the tearing of wood, then flesh. Tonks flinched in disgust and hurried down the stairs.
"Floo powder, Floo powder," she muttered to herself as she went to the fireplace and looked around for the familiar substance. Finally she spotted some in the biggest part of a Dutch stacking doll.
Throwing it in she stuck her head in the flames and cried out, "Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Auror Emergency Unit!"
She was so scared that she barely registered the spinning sensation she usually immensely disliked. But finally it stopped and she had a good view of fireplaces opposite, that were frighteningly full, something was happening.
"Dingus!" she screamed spotting a tall, middle-aged blond man with his back to her. He jumped, sending papers flying and turned.
"Tonks! What is it?" he asked.
"I have a problem at Dumbledore Place in Chester-"
"We all have problems right now Tonks, the massive breakout of prisoners from Azkaban has us very busy. We don't have time to deal with Aberforth's animal fetish," he groaned.
"You don't understand Dingus. I was just locked in a room, that held five fully grown manticores, by Lucius Malfoy!" she screamed. "I don't know where Aberforth is, Malfoy had disguised himself. I need backup now! Get as many DRCMC people here soon as possible!"
Dingus Muldew quickly scribbled all of the information Nymphadora Tonks had just screamed at him, ink flying everywhere.
"Okay, Tonks, watch your back, there may be back up Death Eaters around there. I'm sending people out right away!" Muldew said, running away with his wand held high.
Quickly as possible Tonks gracefully pulled her head out of the fire, pulled out her wand, spun around, and fell. Standing back up a little slower she brushed herself off and held her wand ready and alert. She mentally cursed herself when she realized she should have asked Dingus to contact Albus to inform him his brother had gone missing.
But, hey! Wasn't she an Auror? She could look for him!
Stealthily as possible she crept into the kitchen area, her eyes alert, body poised and ready to attack if needed. She couldn't make any identifiable noises as the eating of Lucius Malfoy upstairs was very noisy.
The kitchen had a door leading into a cellar, which she was about to enter when she heard several people enter through the front door.
"Tonks?" it was Kingsley.
"I'm in the kitchen... don't go upstairs," she yelled, cringing upon realizing she shouldn't have done that. She heard several other people enter the house... then about a dozen more.
"Blasted Anti-Apparation shields," Kingsley said, entering behind Tonks. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine, just a little shaken," she said, starting to open the cellar door.
"I've got your back," Kingsley said, turning back to official mode.
The cellar must have had a silencing charm upon it because once they entered all noise the rest of the house was making turned silent and was replaced with a shuffling squeaking noise.
"What is that?" Kingsley whispered.
"I think I might know," Tonks grimaced. "Lumos."
"Lumos."
"Oh. My. God."
"Sweet Circe, I didn't know he was this bad."
"I only saw three... this is just... sick."
"What was he doing?"
"Come on, King, let's go back upstairs and let the Controlers deal with it," Tonks said, gently pulling Kingsley with her by the elbow.
"I didn't even know a mongoose had those!"
***
"So, Lucius Malfoy wants you-"
"Wanted. No more Malfoy, remember?" Tonks grinned at Remus and took a sip of her coffee.
"Why would he want you dead?" he asked perplexed, staring into the depths of his tea.
"Why do any of the Death Eaters want us dead?" she put in the open. Remus nodded.
"Well, I'm glad you and the baby are all right," he said.
"Jeez, I owe this kid, saved my life it did," Tonks took another sip. Remus laughed.
"I believe it's going to have to owe you after it's born," he said, smiling widely at Tonks.
She gave a smile back, staring into his eyes. A light blush began to creep in her cheeks, his hazel eyes were making her feel all fluttery inside. Lupin set down his tea and leaned back in his chair, his gaze never moving. Tonks' own smile widened. He was so good looking. It didn't matter that his light brown hair had grey scattered freely in it. Nor did it matter his laugh lines never left. It all gave him character.
Suddenly, out of the blue, she remembered what Kingsley had told her at the office that morning. About Remus liking her.
"Remus?" she asked, tearing away her gaze to look at the floor.
"Yes?"
"Well... do you... did you- What I mean to say is are you-"
"NYMPHADORA TONKS!" the shrill voice of Molly Weasley interrupted Tonks, startling both her and Remus and causing a coffee mug to go flying across the room.
"Molly! Don't scare me like that!" Tonks complained, cleaning up the shards of porcelain. "And I liked that coffee cup."
"Well, then I'm glad I broke it!" Molly huffed, hands on hips. "You're pregnant and shouldn't be having any caffine at all!"
"No caffine?" Tonks looked aghast. "But... but..."
"No, buts! You almost got yourself killed today, but got out of that. Your baby might not be so lucky with caffine flowing through your blood," Molly pointed out, then hurried into the kitchen to start on dinner. Tonks and Lupin stared at the space where she had stood, mouths open in stunned confusion.
"Did you understand what she said?" Tonks finally asked.
"Not a word."
"NYMPHADORA TONKS!"
Tonks jumped again, tripping and falling back into a chair.
"For the love of all that is magic and sane in this world! What now?" Tonks screamed, thinking Molly wanted something else. But out of the corner of her eye she saw that the fire was in full flame and the head of Amelia Bones lay gently among the logs. "Oh... Mrs. Bones... um, hi."
"Yes, Miss Tonks, please come closer dear," the woman smiled. Tonks complied. "Now... it has been brought to my attention that you are pregnant."
"Yeah, I was going to talk to you about that today, but with all that happened, I, uh, well I obviously didn't have the time and didn't think you would have any either," Tonks admitted.
"Well, that's all very good and well, Miss Tonks, but the Department of MLE does not allow witches with child to continue working in field-"
"You're firing me?" Tonks exclaimed.
"No, no, you misunderstand me. We cannot risk the lives of future witches or wizards, nor the lives of the mother, so we require them to work out of the field. Basic office work, with continued pay. At five months you are required to stop work all together- still with pay-" she added noticing Tonks beginning to open her mouth again "-and you have another three months off after birth, in which you will come back to work. We have a Care Program here if you have no one else to care for the child at home. You will stay out of field work until you are done with breast-feeding or within a year and a half. Any questions?"
"Um... no... thanks, Mrs. Bones," Tonks stammered, caught off guard by all the sudden information.
"Your welcome, dear, congratulations," she gave one last smile then vanished from the flames.
"Well, that was... interesting," Tonks commented to Remus but still staring at the flames.
"NYMPHADORA TONKS!"
She jumped and spun around.
"Good Merlin, WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!" she bellowed, causing a hidden brassier clad mongoose to run scurrying out of the room. She narrowed her eyes when she spotted Remus clutching his sides laughing with tears streaming down his face in mirth.
"I'm- I'm sorry- Tonks. I- I couldn't hel- help it!" he said between large guffaws. "I just had to see what you would do!"
"I dislike you immensly," Tonks said, still glaring. Remus's laughs died down a bit, but he still giggled slightly.
"Aw... how much?" he asked innocently.
"Oh, about as much as where I could kill you and not cry," she said vaguely. Remus knew she was joking, but still stopped his laughter to comment seriously:
"Wow. That's immense."
***
"Yeah- Yeah, keep your knickers on!" Tonks yelled over the screaming Mrs. Black and the heavy gongs of the doorbell. Finally reaching the door, miraculously remaining on two feet the whole time, she jerked the door open only to come face to face with a sneering Severus Snape.
"Lovely outfit, Miss Tonks, is that what you're planning on wearing to the meeting this evening?" he glared, staring at Tonks' fuzzy pink dressing gown with large cotton bunnies bounding over it. It came complete with messy bed head and matching slippers.
"Of course I am Sev," she smiled sweetly. "Now, why is it that you feel the need to wake me up at the God awful hour of eight on this Saturday morning... by ringing the doorbell, nonetheless, something you know you're not supposed to do."
"Aren't you perky in the morning," he smirked. "I came to deliver the final portion of Lupin's Wolfsbane Potion."
"Oh! Cool! Thanks, well, I'll give it to him," she said reaching for the large sealed jar Snape was holding. Instead he held it out of her reach and walked in past her, heading straight down to the basement-dining area.
"I respect you Miss Tonks, but I do not have the faith that you will manage to keep this potion within the jar," he said coldly. Tonks simply nodded, it was true. "I do trust Lupin to deal with it though, he's been taking it long enough."
"Sev-"
"What did I tell you about calling me that?"
"Sorry," Tonks cringed. "Anyway, Severus, we're all extremely grateful about what you're doing for Remus. I know that is takes a lot of time and energy."
Snape just glared hard at her, never understanding her kindness towards him.
"You should have known Aberforth rarely leaves the Hog's Head," he changed the subject. Tonks sighed and took a seat across from Severus who had sat at the table.
"Well, I was just doing my job and believed it when he said he had a week off-"
"You trust people too much, that's going to get you killed."
"It hasn't yet," she gave him a pointed glare, he had to know about the Malfoy incident by now. He didn't even avert his gaze in guilt. His face remained flat and expressionless.
"So why aren't you working today? With the Azkaban breakout they need all the Aurors they can get," he finally said after a moment.
"Because of what happened yesterday," Tonks covered up.
"No. Most Aurors would be right back out there. Why aren't you?" That's one reason Tonks was bothered by all the teachers in the Order... they could smell a lie a mile and a half away.
"Well, you might as well know now since Dumbledore plans on telling everyone who doesn't know at the meeting tonight," Tonks groaned. "I'm going to have a baby. It's department policy that pregnant Aurors do no field work."
If Snape was shocked, he did not openly express he was... he did blink, but that was probably because his eyes were drying.
"I never knew you were in a relationship, Miss Tonks," he commented drily.
"I wasn't."
"I never knew you were one to sleep around, then," he smirked.
"Funny, because I always knew you were an ass," she gave a sarcastic smile. "I think you can go now Severus. I am perfectly capable of showing Lupin to his Wolfsbane Potion without your assistance. And I believe that he is fully trained in drinking it himself."
Snape made no move to leave.
"Get out, Snape," Tonks stood narrowing her eyes. He still did not move, so Tonks pulled out her wand, which never left her side. At this Snape did get up, glaring at the girl wielding the wand pointed straight at the point between his eyes. She followed close behind has he opened the door and stepped out.
"I shall see you at the meeting this evening, Nymphadora," he said in his silky voice.
"ARGH!" she screamed slamming the door. Mrs. Black, who had miraculously silenced by herself earlier, began screaming again. Tonks put back up the wards with so much force she was forced to redo some of them when they bounced back off.
"Tonks?" a voice from behind her sounded. She spun around with a rare grace.
"Oh, Harry, hello," she said, her face flushed.
"A-are you all right?" he asked. He was so strange looking now. Handsome as ever, but in a mixture of age. His eyes reflected knowledge far beyond his years, his face was sixteen, but he spoke so softly and kindly, as if he were a shy six-year-old.
"Yeah, I'm fine, Harry. Just starting off the day to a nice slime bath," she rolled her eyes and roughly pulled the curtain over Mrs. Black ("My ancestors and I are spinning in our gra-").
"You don't have to lie to me, Tonks, I heard what he said," Harry confessed. Tonks made to yell, but thought better of it.
"Well, I'm sure I don't have to tell you that Snape is an annoying evil git, either," said Tonks, headed towards the kitchen. Harry followed.
"Are you making breakfast?" Harry asked. Tonks glanced over her shoulder casting a perplexed look at Harry.
"Yeah... I am. Well, I'm going to try," she admitted. "What will most likely happen is I'll start something, burn it, over cook it, blow it up, or dry it out and then Molly will come in, take over, and make it one of those delicious home cooked meals we all adore." Harry laughed.
"Can I help? I cook lots for the Dursley's," he said. He seemed strangely eager to help Tonks.
"Sure, Harry," she began pulling out pots and pans and a cauldron and spoons and flour and eggs...
"What are we making?" he asked. Tonks glanced up at him from within her newly made "Food Cookin' Castle."
"I don't know," she answered truthfully. Harry just laughed.
"Do you know how to scramble eggs?" he asked, crooking an eyebrow and helping Tonks put away the noodle strainer and pasta maker and other uneeded appliances.
"Harry, you are looking at the scrambling Queen!" Tonks boasted.
"Okay, so why don't you start scrambling some eggs and I'll fry up some bacon," Harry handed her a pan and eggs. Tonks smiled and eagerly began cracking the eggs and starting up the burner. Harry sighed as he watched her viciously move the eggs around, several parts falling into the flames with Tonks giving a little cackle of evilness followed by, "Die, you egg, die!"
Remus drifted awake to the smell of something burning along with the shouts of Mrs. Weasley mingled with familiar laughter and Mrs. Black's scream. Throwing on his dressing gown he held his wand ready.
"Quiet you contemptible yak!" he yelled at the portrait and silencing it. He skidded to a stop when he reached the doorway of the kitchen and saw a full fledged meal ready, Molly Weasley standing there stunned holding a smoking piece of toast, and Tonks smiling next to a laughing Harry.
"What's going on here?" he asked.
"Tonks... she... she..." Molly was too stunned to say anything.
"I made breakfast!" Tonks said proudly. "With help from Harry, of course."
"Why?" Remus asked.
"Well, I was up because Snape woke me up, your last batch of Wolfsbane stuff is on the table by the way, and after a conversation with Snape one typically gets in quite a mood and Harry happened to be around and I decided I wanted to make breakfast and since I'm not too good at that Harry offered to help which I accepted because I thought if I'm going to be a mum I should learn how to cook to provide food for you and the baby when Molly's not around to cook for us." She did not breathe once in that continuous run-on sentence.
"Wow, I'm very impressed Tonks!" Remus smiled, a playful joke on his lips.
"What's going on?"
"Did Tonks blow up the kitchen?"
"Tonks blew up the kitchen? Hey! Everyone! Tonks blew up the kitchen."
Several more red-heads had run into the kitchen, obviously woken the same way Remus had been woken.
"I did not blow up the kitchen!"
"No, she made us all breakfast."
"I helped."
"Well that was nice."
"The eggs are kind of runny."
"You will eat them."
"Half the toast is burnt."
"Please, children, be grateful Tonks made breakfast-"
"-and left us all in one piece..."
Breakfast was a happy, if not noisy, event. Everyone talking about their tentative plans for the day... most of which consisted of being secluded inside. Molly wanted to do some food shopping, while Fred and George were off to work since Saturday was often a very busy day. Arthur, Bill and Percy were headed to the Ministry, Percy to give continued assistance to the Minister, and the others to offer their services as Order members to the Aurors. The remaining children were off to do... what not. While Tonks was going to help Lupin settle into the attic for the upcoming three nights.
"Thank you very much for breakfast, Tonks," Hermione said after the last dish had been cleared away and the final person had left.
"Oh, you're very welcome, Hermione," Tonks smiled.
"And, I'd like you to know that I will be ready and willing to help you with anything at all involving the baby," she continued.
"Well, that's very kind of you Hermione, but, you're going to be very busy with school and all that. You're a smart witch and shouldn't trouble yourself over my problems."
"But, a baby is a gift-"
"I know it is Hermione. And while I'm very grateful you want to help... I'd rather you be there and be my friend," Tonks said. Hermione blushed.
"I'm glad that you think of me as a friend," she admitted. They exchanged friendly grins and then Hermione turned off to go and make sure Ron, Harry, and Ginny hadn't done anything stupid to Buckbeak, who, along with all of Grimmauld Place, had fallen into Tonks' care.
"Now, Remus, the attic," she said turning to Lupin. She stopped though when she noticed him smirking at her. "What?"
"You are going to make a wonderful mother," he said. Tonks blushed.
"Yes, but you'll be a better father," she said.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because you're a professor and have been around children. You... you're older. You're more responsible. You aren't clumsy. You aren't going to get yourself killed. You'll know what to do..." she went off, her voice becoming suddenly strained with tears. Why was she getting so emotional? Lupin seemed to be wondering the same thing.
"Nymphadora, are you all right? What's wrong?" he asked, worried, pulling out a chair and pushing her into it.
"I don't know!" she wailed, leaning into him as he wrapped his arms around her. "I just... I try and cook, I'm going to have a baby! I'm so young! Snape is so mean! The eggs are so stupid! I feel so bad for Harry! And I don't know why I'm CRYING!"
The last part came in a very long wail, causing Mrs. Black to start screaming again.
"AND I HATE THAT PORTRAIT!" Remus had to practically restrain Tonks in the chair to keep her from leaping out of it and attacking the portrait with a conveniently placed sledgehammer.
"Shhh, shhh," he soothed, rubbing her back gently. "The hormones the baby's making are finally kicking in. It's perfectly normal. Don't worry, Nymphadora. Everything is all right."
She hiccuped a few times before pulling away and looking at Remus. He had to hold back his laughter at her absolutely doleful and pathetic tear streaked face. She just looked so adorable... and vulnerable. His heart ached to just take her to her room and lay with her while the world around them drifted away. He didn't deserve something so fragile and delicate... he didn't deserve her. But then he remembered... he didn't have her.
"Remus?" Tonks asked in a whisper.
"Yes, Nymphadora- er, Tonks," he corrected upon seeing her glare.
"Do you want to start setting up the attic? It will probably take near all day," she said.
"Yes, let's start that," he said helping her up.
"Did you take your Wolfsbane Potion?" she asked, right when she reached the steps..
"Yes, dear," he mimicked in a nasally annoyed tone.
"Hey! I had to deal with Sev the Slime to get that stuff for you," she exaggerated.
"He was here?" Remus asked concerned, following her up the flights of stairs.
"Yes, he was, and I took care of him just fine," she waved Remus off. They finally reached the top most floor and the end of the hall, where a long cord dangled from the ceiling. Tonks was forced to hop slightly to grab the end, but managed it and pulled it down to have a ladder type of stairs come down... along with a limp, cold body.
*****
Ending Notes: Heh... once again, a cliffhanger. I will only post more if I get enough reviews. Don't you hate it? Also, just in case you skipped the initial author notes you should go back and read those so you won't be caught off guard by my penname change and when my updates come slower.
Thank You's: Lour, Spikey the Neon Blowfish (your Lucius wish came true, didn't it?), snakewise, ChinoYaEejit, Alexis-Lee (I hope most of your questions were answered. Also, Lucius Malfoy was using Polyjuice Potion, if Abus Dumbledore can't see past Polyjuice, I highly doubt Tonks can), Emmy-Chan, Katie Bell, Chaser, and jordy-n-peyts mama (well, Remus hasn't lost anyone yet, and I agree that he's lost enough as it is. I'm not making any promises though).
She screamed as the manticores lunged at her. No, not at her! At the door! She knew that it had taken Lucius entirely by surprise when she heard a sickening thud and crunch when the manticores landed. There was vicious growling and the tearing of wood, then flesh. Tonks flinched in disgust and hurried down the stairs.
"Floo powder, Floo powder," she muttered to herself as she went to the fireplace and looked around for the familiar substance. Finally she spotted some in the biggest part of a Dutch stacking doll.
Throwing it in she stuck her head in the flames and cried out, "Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Auror Emergency Unit!"
She was so scared that she barely registered the spinning sensation she usually immensely disliked. But finally it stopped and she had a good view of fireplaces opposite, that were frighteningly full, something was happening.
"Dingus!" she screamed spotting a tall, middle-aged blond man with his back to her. He jumped, sending papers flying and turned.
"Tonks! What is it?" he asked.
"I have a problem at Dumbledore Place in Chester-"
"We all have problems right now Tonks, the massive breakout of prisoners from Azkaban has us very busy. We don't have time to deal with Aberforth's animal fetish," he groaned.
"You don't understand Dingus. I was just locked in a room, that held five fully grown manticores, by Lucius Malfoy!" she screamed. "I don't know where Aberforth is, Malfoy had disguised himself. I need backup now! Get as many DRCMC people here soon as possible!"
Dingus Muldew quickly scribbled all of the information Nymphadora Tonks had just screamed at him, ink flying everywhere.
"Okay, Tonks, watch your back, there may be back up Death Eaters around there. I'm sending people out right away!" Muldew said, running away with his wand held high.
Quickly as possible Tonks gracefully pulled her head out of the fire, pulled out her wand, spun around, and fell. Standing back up a little slower she brushed herself off and held her wand ready and alert. She mentally cursed herself when she realized she should have asked Dingus to contact Albus to inform him his brother had gone missing.
But, hey! Wasn't she an Auror? She could look for him!
Stealthily as possible she crept into the kitchen area, her eyes alert, body poised and ready to attack if needed. She couldn't make any identifiable noises as the eating of Lucius Malfoy upstairs was very noisy.
The kitchen had a door leading into a cellar, which she was about to enter when she heard several people enter through the front door.
"Tonks?" it was Kingsley.
"I'm in the kitchen... don't go upstairs," she yelled, cringing upon realizing she shouldn't have done that. She heard several other people enter the house... then about a dozen more.
"Blasted Anti-Apparation shields," Kingsley said, entering behind Tonks. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine, just a little shaken," she said, starting to open the cellar door.
"I've got your back," Kingsley said, turning back to official mode.
The cellar must have had a silencing charm upon it because once they entered all noise the rest of the house was making turned silent and was replaced with a shuffling squeaking noise.
"What is that?" Kingsley whispered.
"I think I might know," Tonks grimaced. "Lumos."
"Lumos."
"Oh. My. God."
"Sweet Circe, I didn't know he was this bad."
"I only saw three... this is just... sick."
"What was he doing?"
"Come on, King, let's go back upstairs and let the Controlers deal with it," Tonks said, gently pulling Kingsley with her by the elbow.
"I didn't even know a mongoose had those!"
"So, Lucius Malfoy wants you-"
"Wanted. No more Malfoy, remember?" Tonks grinned at Remus and took a sip of her coffee.
"Why would he want you dead?" he asked perplexed, staring into the depths of his tea.
"Why do any of the Death Eaters want us dead?" she put in the open. Remus nodded.
"Well, I'm glad you and the baby are all right," he said.
"Jeez, I owe this kid, saved my life it did," Tonks took another sip. Remus laughed.
"I believe it's going to have to owe you after it's born," he said, smiling widely at Tonks.
She gave a smile back, staring into his eyes. A light blush began to creep in her cheeks, his hazel eyes were making her feel all fluttery inside. Lupin set down his tea and leaned back in his chair, his gaze never moving. Tonks' own smile widened. He was so good looking. It didn't matter that his light brown hair had grey scattered freely in it. Nor did it matter his laugh lines never left. It all gave him character.
Suddenly, out of the blue, she remembered what Kingsley had told her at the office that morning. About Remus liking her.
"Remus?" she asked, tearing away her gaze to look at the floor.
"Yes?"
"Well... do you... did you- What I mean to say is are you-"
"NYMPHADORA TONKS!" the shrill voice of Molly Weasley interrupted Tonks, startling both her and Remus and causing a coffee mug to go flying across the room.
"Molly! Don't scare me like that!" Tonks complained, cleaning up the shards of porcelain. "And I liked that coffee cup."
"Well, then I'm glad I broke it!" Molly huffed, hands on hips. "You're pregnant and shouldn't be having any caffine at all!"
"No caffine?" Tonks looked aghast. "But... but..."
"No, buts! You almost got yourself killed today, but got out of that. Your baby might not be so lucky with caffine flowing through your blood," Molly pointed out, then hurried into the kitchen to start on dinner. Tonks and Lupin stared at the space where she had stood, mouths open in stunned confusion.
"Did you understand what she said?" Tonks finally asked.
"Not a word."
"NYMPHADORA TONKS!"
Tonks jumped again, tripping and falling back into a chair.
"For the love of all that is magic and sane in this world! What now?" Tonks screamed, thinking Molly wanted something else. But out of the corner of her eye she saw that the fire was in full flame and the head of Amelia Bones lay gently among the logs. "Oh... Mrs. Bones... um, hi."
"Yes, Miss Tonks, please come closer dear," the woman smiled. Tonks complied. "Now... it has been brought to my attention that you are pregnant."
"Yeah, I was going to talk to you about that today, but with all that happened, I, uh, well I obviously didn't have the time and didn't think you would have any either," Tonks admitted.
"Well, that's all very good and well, Miss Tonks, but the Department of MLE does not allow witches with child to continue working in field-"
"You're firing me?" Tonks exclaimed.
"No, no, you misunderstand me. We cannot risk the lives of future witches or wizards, nor the lives of the mother, so we require them to work out of the field. Basic office work, with continued pay. At five months you are required to stop work all together- still with pay-" she added noticing Tonks beginning to open her mouth again "-and you have another three months off after birth, in which you will come back to work. We have a Care Program here if you have no one else to care for the child at home. You will stay out of field work until you are done with breast-feeding or within a year and a half. Any questions?"
"Um... no... thanks, Mrs. Bones," Tonks stammered, caught off guard by all the sudden information.
"Your welcome, dear, congratulations," she gave one last smile then vanished from the flames.
"Well, that was... interesting," Tonks commented to Remus but still staring at the flames.
"NYMPHADORA TONKS!"
She jumped and spun around.
"Good Merlin, WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!" she bellowed, causing a hidden brassier clad mongoose to run scurrying out of the room. She narrowed her eyes when she spotted Remus clutching his sides laughing with tears streaming down his face in mirth.
"I'm- I'm sorry- Tonks. I- I couldn't hel- help it!" he said between large guffaws. "I just had to see what you would do!"
"I dislike you immensly," Tonks said, still glaring. Remus's laughs died down a bit, but he still giggled slightly.
"Aw... how much?" he asked innocently.
"Oh, about as much as where I could kill you and not cry," she said vaguely. Remus knew she was joking, but still stopped his laughter to comment seriously:
"Wow. That's immense."
"Yeah- Yeah, keep your knickers on!" Tonks yelled over the screaming Mrs. Black and the heavy gongs of the doorbell. Finally reaching the door, miraculously remaining on two feet the whole time, she jerked the door open only to come face to face with a sneering Severus Snape.
"Lovely outfit, Miss Tonks, is that what you're planning on wearing to the meeting this evening?" he glared, staring at Tonks' fuzzy pink dressing gown with large cotton bunnies bounding over it. It came complete with messy bed head and matching slippers.
"Of course I am Sev," she smiled sweetly. "Now, why is it that you feel the need to wake me up at the God awful hour of eight on this Saturday morning... by ringing the doorbell, nonetheless, something you know you're not supposed to do."
"Aren't you perky in the morning," he smirked. "I came to deliver the final portion of Lupin's Wolfsbane Potion."
"Oh! Cool! Thanks, well, I'll give it to him," she said reaching for the large sealed jar Snape was holding. Instead he held it out of her reach and walked in past her, heading straight down to the basement-dining area.
"I respect you Miss Tonks, but I do not have the faith that you will manage to keep this potion within the jar," he said coldly. Tonks simply nodded, it was true. "I do trust Lupin to deal with it though, he's been taking it long enough."
"Sev-"
"What did I tell you about calling me that?"
"Sorry," Tonks cringed. "Anyway, Severus, we're all extremely grateful about what you're doing for Remus. I know that is takes a lot of time and energy."
Snape just glared hard at her, never understanding her kindness towards him.
"You should have known Aberforth rarely leaves the Hog's Head," he changed the subject. Tonks sighed and took a seat across from Severus who had sat at the table.
"Well, I was just doing my job and believed it when he said he had a week off-"
"You trust people too much, that's going to get you killed."
"It hasn't yet," she gave him a pointed glare, he had to know about the Malfoy incident by now. He didn't even avert his gaze in guilt. His face remained flat and expressionless.
"So why aren't you working today? With the Azkaban breakout they need all the Aurors they can get," he finally said after a moment.
"Because of what happened yesterday," Tonks covered up.
"No. Most Aurors would be right back out there. Why aren't you?" That's one reason Tonks was bothered by all the teachers in the Order... they could smell a lie a mile and a half away.
"Well, you might as well know now since Dumbledore plans on telling everyone who doesn't know at the meeting tonight," Tonks groaned. "I'm going to have a baby. It's department policy that pregnant Aurors do no field work."
If Snape was shocked, he did not openly express he was... he did blink, but that was probably because his eyes were drying.
"I never knew you were in a relationship, Miss Tonks," he commented drily.
"I wasn't."
"I never knew you were one to sleep around, then," he smirked.
"Funny, because I always knew you were an ass," she gave a sarcastic smile. "I think you can go now Severus. I am perfectly capable of showing Lupin to his Wolfsbane Potion without your assistance. And I believe that he is fully trained in drinking it himself."
Snape made no move to leave.
"Get out, Snape," Tonks stood narrowing her eyes. He still did not move, so Tonks pulled out her wand, which never left her side. At this Snape did get up, glaring at the girl wielding the wand pointed straight at the point between his eyes. She followed close behind has he opened the door and stepped out.
"I shall see you at the meeting this evening, Nymphadora," he said in his silky voice.
"ARGH!" she screamed slamming the door. Mrs. Black, who had miraculously silenced by herself earlier, began screaming again. Tonks put back up the wards with so much force she was forced to redo some of them when they bounced back off.
"Tonks?" a voice from behind her sounded. She spun around with a rare grace.
"Oh, Harry, hello," she said, her face flushed.
"A-are you all right?" he asked. He was so strange looking now. Handsome as ever, but in a mixture of age. His eyes reflected knowledge far beyond his years, his face was sixteen, but he spoke so softly and kindly, as if he were a shy six-year-old.
"Yeah, I'm fine, Harry. Just starting off the day to a nice slime bath," she rolled her eyes and roughly pulled the curtain over Mrs. Black ("My ancestors and I are spinning in our gra-").
"You don't have to lie to me, Tonks, I heard what he said," Harry confessed. Tonks made to yell, but thought better of it.
"Well, I'm sure I don't have to tell you that Snape is an annoying evil git, either," said Tonks, headed towards the kitchen. Harry followed.
"Are you making breakfast?" Harry asked. Tonks glanced over her shoulder casting a perplexed look at Harry.
"Yeah... I am. Well, I'm going to try," she admitted. "What will most likely happen is I'll start something, burn it, over cook it, blow it up, or dry it out and then Molly will come in, take over, and make it one of those delicious home cooked meals we all adore." Harry laughed.
"Can I help? I cook lots for the Dursley's," he said. He seemed strangely eager to help Tonks.
"Sure, Harry," she began pulling out pots and pans and a cauldron and spoons and flour and eggs...
"What are we making?" he asked. Tonks glanced up at him from within her newly made "Food Cookin' Castle."
"I don't know," she answered truthfully. Harry just laughed.
"Do you know how to scramble eggs?" he asked, crooking an eyebrow and helping Tonks put away the noodle strainer and pasta maker and other uneeded appliances.
"Harry, you are looking at the scrambling Queen!" Tonks boasted.
"Okay, so why don't you start scrambling some eggs and I'll fry up some bacon," Harry handed her a pan and eggs. Tonks smiled and eagerly began cracking the eggs and starting up the burner. Harry sighed as he watched her viciously move the eggs around, several parts falling into the flames with Tonks giving a little cackle of evilness followed by, "Die, you egg, die!"
Remus drifted awake to the smell of something burning along with the shouts of Mrs. Weasley mingled with familiar laughter and Mrs. Black's scream. Throwing on his dressing gown he held his wand ready.
"Quiet you contemptible yak!" he yelled at the portrait and silencing it. He skidded to a stop when he reached the doorway of the kitchen and saw a full fledged meal ready, Molly Weasley standing there stunned holding a smoking piece of toast, and Tonks smiling next to a laughing Harry.
"What's going on here?" he asked.
"Tonks... she... she..." Molly was too stunned to say anything.
"I made breakfast!" Tonks said proudly. "With help from Harry, of course."
"Why?" Remus asked.
"Well, I was up because Snape woke me up, your last batch of Wolfsbane stuff is on the table by the way, and after a conversation with Snape one typically gets in quite a mood and Harry happened to be around and I decided I wanted to make breakfast and since I'm not too good at that Harry offered to help which I accepted because I thought if I'm going to be a mum I should learn how to cook to provide food for you and the baby when Molly's not around to cook for us." She did not breathe once in that continuous run-on sentence.
"Wow, I'm very impressed Tonks!" Remus smiled, a playful joke on his lips.
"What's going on?"
"Did Tonks blow up the kitchen?"
"Tonks blew up the kitchen? Hey! Everyone! Tonks blew up the kitchen."
Several more red-heads had run into the kitchen, obviously woken the same way Remus had been woken.
"I did not blow up the kitchen!"
"No, she made us all breakfast."
"I helped."
"Well that was nice."
"The eggs are kind of runny."
"You will eat them."
"Half the toast is burnt."
"Please, children, be grateful Tonks made breakfast-"
"-and left us all in one piece..."
Breakfast was a happy, if not noisy, event. Everyone talking about their tentative plans for the day... most of which consisted of being secluded inside. Molly wanted to do some food shopping, while Fred and George were off to work since Saturday was often a very busy day. Arthur, Bill and Percy were headed to the Ministry, Percy to give continued assistance to the Minister, and the others to offer their services as Order members to the Aurors. The remaining children were off to do... what not. While Tonks was going to help Lupin settle into the attic for the upcoming three nights.
"Thank you very much for breakfast, Tonks," Hermione said after the last dish had been cleared away and the final person had left.
"Oh, you're very welcome, Hermione," Tonks smiled.
"And, I'd like you to know that I will be ready and willing to help you with anything at all involving the baby," she continued.
"Well, that's very kind of you Hermione, but, you're going to be very busy with school and all that. You're a smart witch and shouldn't trouble yourself over my problems."
"But, a baby is a gift-"
"I know it is Hermione. And while I'm very grateful you want to help... I'd rather you be there and be my friend," Tonks said. Hermione blushed.
"I'm glad that you think of me as a friend," she admitted. They exchanged friendly grins and then Hermione turned off to go and make sure Ron, Harry, and Ginny hadn't done anything stupid to Buckbeak, who, along with all of Grimmauld Place, had fallen into Tonks' care.
"Now, Remus, the attic," she said turning to Lupin. She stopped though when she noticed him smirking at her. "What?"
"You are going to make a wonderful mother," he said. Tonks blushed.
"Yes, but you'll be a better father," she said.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because you're a professor and have been around children. You... you're older. You're more responsible. You aren't clumsy. You aren't going to get yourself killed. You'll know what to do..." she went off, her voice becoming suddenly strained with tears. Why was she getting so emotional? Lupin seemed to be wondering the same thing.
"Nymphadora, are you all right? What's wrong?" he asked, worried, pulling out a chair and pushing her into it.
"I don't know!" she wailed, leaning into him as he wrapped his arms around her. "I just... I try and cook, I'm going to have a baby! I'm so young! Snape is so mean! The eggs are so stupid! I feel so bad for Harry! And I don't know why I'm CRYING!"
The last part came in a very long wail, causing Mrs. Black to start screaming again.
"AND I HATE THAT PORTRAIT!" Remus had to practically restrain Tonks in the chair to keep her from leaping out of it and attacking the portrait with a conveniently placed sledgehammer.
"Shhh, shhh," he soothed, rubbing her back gently. "The hormones the baby's making are finally kicking in. It's perfectly normal. Don't worry, Nymphadora. Everything is all right."
She hiccuped a few times before pulling away and looking at Remus. He had to hold back his laughter at her absolutely doleful and pathetic tear streaked face. She just looked so adorable... and vulnerable. His heart ached to just take her to her room and lay with her while the world around them drifted away. He didn't deserve something so fragile and delicate... he didn't deserve her. But then he remembered... he didn't have her.
"Remus?" Tonks asked in a whisper.
"Yes, Nymphadora- er, Tonks," he corrected upon seeing her glare.
"Do you want to start setting up the attic? It will probably take near all day," she said.
"Yes, let's start that," he said helping her up.
"Did you take your Wolfsbane Potion?" she asked, right when she reached the steps..
"Yes, dear," he mimicked in a nasally annoyed tone.
"Hey! I had to deal with Sev the Slime to get that stuff for you," she exaggerated.
"He was here?" Remus asked concerned, following her up the flights of stairs.
"Yes, he was, and I took care of him just fine," she waved Remus off. They finally reached the top most floor and the end of the hall, where a long cord dangled from the ceiling. Tonks was forced to hop slightly to grab the end, but managed it and pulled it down to have a ladder type of stairs come down... along with a limp, cold body.
Ending Notes: Heh... once again, a cliffhanger. I will only post more if I get enough reviews. Don't you hate it? Also, just in case you skipped the initial author notes you should go back and read those so you won't be caught off guard by my penname change and when my updates come slower.
Thank You's: Lour, Spikey the Neon Blowfish (your Lucius wish came true, didn't it?), snakewise, ChinoYaEejit, Alexis-Lee (I hope most of your questions were answered. Also, Lucius Malfoy was using Polyjuice Potion, if Abus Dumbledore can't see past Polyjuice, I highly doubt Tonks can), Emmy-Chan, Katie Bell, Chaser, and jordy-n-peyts mama (well, Remus hasn't lost anyone yet, and I agree that he's lost enough as it is. I'm not making any promises though).