Summary: The company must abandon Plan A. Then Plan B falls apart. What was Plan C? The end of the adventure.
Loose ThreadsTapestry
Day 7
It was early morning, but the sudden roar of the wind blew open the shutter. Tonks squinted at the offending window and sighed. Remus needed his rest with the full moon coming tonight. She left the warm pallet she shared with him to quickly seal their quarters at the Roman garrison.
Tonks secured the shutters, but when she turned she confronted a small, dark furry mass scurrying across the floor.
"Eek! Shoo!"
"'Nuther minit," mumbled Remus as he scoot over on the pallet trying to find the missing warm body.
"Not you, the mouse," said Tonks as she quickly tiptoed back to him and plunged under the covers.
"Wee sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie," he murmured as he curled around Tonks.
"I thought I was a Welsh corgi?" Tonks turned on her back.
Remus settled against her as if she were a pillow. "Oh what a panic's in thy breastie."
"Is that supposed to be a compliment?" wondered Tonks aloud. She put her arms around him and said, "It's bitter cold and blowing snow out there."
"To thole the winter's sleety dribble, an cranreuch cauld."
"Wake up, Remus, or at least speak English," mumbled Tonks. "I don't think the plan will work in these conditions."
"The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley."
"Right. We'll discuss this when you're awake," said Tonks with a smile as his steady breathing resumed. Life with Remus Lupin certainly had its quirks.
She just held him for a time and drifted to sleep only to be woken by her rumbling stomach. Tonks extracted herself from Remus sufficiently to reach for her pack. She smiled when she found the last bar of Honeyduke's finest.
"Do you think it's a sin to eat chocolate for breakfast?" she asked, not expecting any answer.
Remus opened one eye and said sagely, "It's a sin not to share the chocolate you're having for breakfast."
Tonks had been about to pop another square into her mouth, but Remus now had both eyes opened with that sorrowful look that just melted her heart. As she dropped the piece into his mouth she said, "You have no scruples when it comes to procuring chocolate, Professor."
Remus smiled lightly at her and reached out to caress her hair. "You've got chocolate curls, did you know?"
Tonks' eyes rolled up as the curl sprang back to into place on her forehead. "Do you remember the bookstore? We need to go there again after we get home. Ahem, I can take us back tomorrow morning. I just need to give Flitwick the signal."
"Tomorrow? But tonight is seven days in the tapestry," sighed Remus. "I don't suppose the Heartstring Charm will work when I'm--transformed."
"Flitwick didn't say that exactly. He just thought we should be cautious," said Tonks. "I'll get us both out of here, Remus. I promise."
Remus just held her. Things were falling into place, but he still was uncertain of the price the tapestry would demand.
- - - - - - - - -
"Father is still out. Oriana says that he should sleep until noon," said Opis as he and Mallus met Remus and Tonks at the quarry. The excavation site was to be the environment for Mallus' fake death.
"Too bad I can't just smother him with a pillow," muttered Mallus where only Remus could hear him.
"Just stick to the plan, Mallus. Dacien is a good witness to assure you're freedom." Remus was relieved when Mallus shrugged, but could feel the tension in the man.
"So what's the plan?" asked Tonks. The wind was still blowing, but they stood in a protected alcove.
"Well, when the wind dies down, we bring Father to inspect the quarry. See that gap? Only one man can enter to work here, so the soldiers will be safe. Then Mallus will get reckless and blast a precarious ledge."
"We've taken great care to select the right fault in the rocks." Mallus pointed to the formation above them. "The ledge collapses, but take a step over that rock on the ground."
"Ah, a cistern," said Remus as walked over and peered into the dry well that had been dug out. It was hidden from view. "Is that rock shelf I see there?"
"It's a precaution in case the rock is falling in an unpredictable pattern. Mallus can wedge himself safely under there," said Opis with enthusiasm. It had been his idea.
"Can we go down?" asked Tonks.
"Go ahead," said Mallus.
Remus and Tonks apparated to the bottom of the cistern and inspected the rock shield. Tonks looked at the smooth edges of the cistern and called, "How do you escape? I suppose now you can disapparate."
"The wall to your left. Yes, right there with the lighter stone. I've thinned the wall on the other side. I intended to blast through it. I have a path on the other side that takes me back out."
Remus and Tonks returned to the Romans and followed them as they walked, or slid, down to a level that but them at the base of the cistern. Mallus tapped the wall and said, "If I'm hurt, Opis can use a sledgehammer to get me out."
"See? We've thought of everything." Opis was smiling at his well-drawn plan, but then they heard the howling wind. "Of course, in this weather, I'm worried about Father coming out to the quarry. Surely it will die down."
"I guess there's nothing to do now but wait until Senator Dacien wakes," observed Tonks.
"I'm going to back to Brina. I left her to say goodbye to her sisters and father," said Mallus. He was clearly enjoying the ability to apparate.
"Remember to stick to the plan," said Opis. Mallus just waved his hand in dismissal and vanished.
Outside the wind continued to howl.
- - - - - - - - - -
Day 7
Midday
The weather remained uncooperative, so Tonks had charmed some corks into playing pieces for Wizards' chess. Although Remus had that peaky look signifying his imminent transformation, his mind was clearly very alert.
"Do you really want to do that?" asked Remus
Tonks looked up from their game.
"You're just trying to make me lose my confidence," said Tonks. She moved her piece and smirked at her adversary.
Remus was about to make his move when Mallus burst through the door grumbling, "That fool! He ruined our plans. Didn't he know what he unleashed?"
"Who has unleashed what?" asked Remus as Oriana followed Mallus while Opis carried a basket overflowing with food.
"Weather demons," said Oriana, who seemed to be fidgeting with a ribbon in her hand.
"Brina received an owl this morning," began Opis. "The wizard at the Roman garrison in Gaul has unleashed weather demons. He was stalling the wizard hunters that were after him."
"Imberphasms," whispered Tonks to Remus, who merely nodded. "So these weather demons are behind the vicious storm here today."
"Dacien won't come out in this to witness my so-called death now." Mallus hit the table with a fist in his frustration.
"He's not even coming out of his room for the midday meal," said Opis.
"So much for Plan A," muttered Tonks to Remus.
"Talk about not knowing your own strength!" huffed Mallus. "And did it help Severus? No. The fool not only ruined our plan, he was caught and killed."
"But the Celts in Gaul helped his wife and daughters escape--and the rain demons did keep the hunters from their trail," interjected Oriana. "This Severus sacrificed himself for his family."
"Severus?" asked Remus with a frown. He exchanged a look with Tonks, and then asked, "How is he connected to you?"
"Severus' wife, Iris, is a distant cousin of Brina's," said Oriana as she continued to fidget with the ribbon. "My sister intends that Iris and her daughters find safe refuge here."
"And that's precisely why I need to get my death over with so I can join my mule-headed wife. She's at her father's house waiting for word from Iris. We need to know where she'll arrive with her daughters. Brina insists on meeting them to make sure they're safe."
"Gentlemen, it appears that we need Plan B," said Tonks.
"How about I just vanish?" grumbled Mallus.
"No!" said Opis and Remus simultaneously. Opis continued, "The only way to avoid wizard hunters is through a convincing death. Plan B still has to mimic your death."
"So we need something deadly within the garrison tonight," said Remus as he rubbed his chin. He stopped and exchanged a look with Tonks.
Tonks shook her head vehemently as she read his thoughts. She sighed when she heard Remus speaking.
"What if Mallus is attacked by a--creature. We might be able to fake a beast."
Mallus looked skeptically at Tonks, "I don't think Dacien would believe I was vanquished by one of those blue pixies."
"I've got it!" cried Oriana in pleasure. She looked at the faces turned toward her and blushed. "I'm sorry, I don't have any ideas about Mallus. I, uh, had a dream last night where there was a strange ribbon, like this."
Remus and Tonks looked at how she put a twist into the ribbon and held its edges together into a Mobius strip. Remus cleared his throat and said, "It only has one side and only one edge."
"That's what I kept hearing in my dream. One side, one edge, end becomes a beginning." Oriana bit her lip when she saw Mallus' eye twitching and said, "How about I set out our lunch."
"The creature I was thinking about would be more like a man-sized wolf," said Remus as they returned to the topic at hand. "A werewolf."
Mallus felt the hackles on the back of his neck rise as he slowly turned to look directly at Remus. "You know of one in the area?"
"I'm confident that between Tonks and I that we can create a convincing beast," was all the Remus would admit. He turned to Opis and said, "Mallus could vanish during the attack, but we'd still need to account for the body. With a landslide it's hidden in the rubble."
"Can we use those potions that fake death, Lady Tonks?" asked Opis.
"We don't have anymore Exanimus and Vivificus potion left," sighed Tonks.
"Then we'll have to provide the bones from a carcass to suit Father. One bloody mess is the same as another to him," said Opis as Oriana finished laying out the food. "I'm sure I could find a butchered sheep for some evidence."
"And where should my imminent demise occur in this Plan B of yours?" asked Mallus.
"The attack should begin along the east wall at the stables and end up at the Armory. Mallus chases the werewolf into one of the alleys there. Hm, but that means the werewolf escapes--"
"But with a fatal wound," said Remus. "Just add lots of blood to the scene."
"And I can drag Father to witness the carnage since we won't leave the garrison. Well, I think we have our Plan B then," said Opis.
"Why don't the rest of you start eating. Remus, I'd like a word with you," said Tonks. She went to the corner to await her colleague.
Remus approached the witch whose foot was tapping in agitation. He put his hands behind his back and waited for her to begin.
"Mallus Lupinus is a wolf hunter. What happens if he loses sight that this beast who is attacking tonight is a ruse? Better yet, what if he realizes he's dealing with the real thing?" asked Tonks in a harsh whisper.
"I'll just have to trust that Mallus can keep a cool head," said Remus.
"You'll have the whole garrison after you. You know that!" Tonks had raised her voice on that last sentence, but then softened it as she added, "I might not be able to protect you."
"Tonks, Oriana's dream just confirmed that this tapestry is a Mobius strip. I'm not certain we've paid the price for the ride yet."
"I suppose we'll only know once we're both out," said Tonks.
There was no sense in arguing with him. The mention of the name Severus made her understand how this whole escapade could affect more than just the Lupin line of wizards. How many futures would be disrupted if they failed?
"Let's go eat, then. You'll need your strength."
"Tonks, it might be a good idea for you to apparate to Brina and help her get here after lunch," said Remus. "Just leave the Wolfsbane with me."
Tonks' eyes narrowed. "I'd suspect you of trying to get rid of me, Professor, except that I was thinking the same thing myself. "
"Good. At least we agree about something," said Remus.
"I'll leave the potion, but I intend to be back with Brina before nightfall."
- - - - - - - - - -
"I win again," said Dacien with a bored expression as he yawned. He stood up from the lantrunculia he was playing against Opis and said, "Life must be very dull here."
"It has its moments," replied Opis. He had just dosed his father again with the sleeping draught, just enough to encourage an afternoon nap according to Oriana.
"I need a diversion. Where are you keeping Oriana? Did you give her to Mallus yet?" asked Dacien as he turned to regard his son.
Opis kept his eyes on the board, but clenched his fist under the table where his father couldn't see. Once Mallus disappeared, Opis intended to follow his path just a few months later. But to his father he said, "The woman is at her time of the month, Father. I found out when I wanted to take her last night."
"Pity," mumbled Dacien. "Perhaps Mallus could do some tricks for us?"
"I wouldn't bother asking him," Opis looked up at his father, "He's in a reckless mood today plus he's drinking, so I wouldn't test him."
"I'll be in my room, then," grumbled Dacien with another yawn.
Opis merely nodded. He knew well where Mallus had gotten his model for conceit and ill temper.
- - - - - - - - -
Mallus and Opis had left to see to the Senator and attend to their duties until tonight, so Remus had spent the afternoon writing down his observations of Roman Briton after Tonks left. His task was currently to make sure no one, such as Senator Dacien, disturbed Oriana.
Oriana had been good company this afternoon, eagerly answering Remus' questions about daily life and the way magic was harnessed. As his questions died away, she began humming a lovely melody while her hands were busy. She was diligently carving a small piece of white driftwood into a Mobius strip.
"That's a nice song," said Remus, "and you have a talent for working with wood."
Oriana smiled. "I make my own spoons."
"I've noticed you use the spoon as a wand at times," said Remus. "That's rather clever."
Oriana blushed. "Brina's the clever one. I'm--I just always wanted a home, a husband, children. I guess I'm not very interesting."
"Opis finds you enchanting," offered Remus as he sat beside her. "And I think you've shown a lot of resourcefulness in the present situation. Not many people stand up to Mallus-or Brina-- like you do."
Oriana's eyes were twinkling brightly and her smile showed someone who had found an inner harmony he could envy. It was the same feeling he had when facing Albus Dumbledore.
"I think that as long as Opis is standing by me, I could face anything or anyone."
"I know what you mean," he replied as he inspected her sculpture again. "What are those bumps you've carved into the wood?"
"Don't you recognize them? They're the moonstones you wear. I can stain the rest of the wood darker so the shapes stand out," said Oriana enthusiastically. "In my dream, the ribbon I was on was as large as a path in a forest. It's funny how in dreams you can watch yourself moving, don't you think? I followed the two moonstones as they would glide along in front of me."
Remus swallowed as he made the connection. One amulet was around his neck, but he had failed to return the one Tonks wore. He put a hand in his pocket and felt the familiar smooth stone. The moonstones had been very useful tools for him and Tonks. It would be difficult to part with them, but was this what he had to sacrifice? Were the moonstones the price for getting out of the Mobius strip?
"If you'll excuse me, I need to talk to Mallus. I'll send Opis in to you," said Remus as he left.
Oriana tilted her head and shrugged. She knew she wasn't a very interesting woman. It was nice of Remus to listen to her prattling.
- - - - - - - - - - -
Remus found Mallus and Opis pouring over some plans sketched out on a clay tablet. Although Mallus was abandoning the garrison, the two officers wanted to make sure that Opis could accomplish the remaining roadwork without the help of a wizard.
"Opis, I think it's safe to check on Oriana now," said Remus.
Opis nodded and said to Mallus as he left, "I'll take your advice about that truss."
Once Opis closed the door, Mallus said to Remus, "Just last week he would have argued with me for hours about that. Now, just mention Oriana and Opis scurries away like a puppy after a bone."
Remus smiled, "And you wouldn't know anything about that?"
"Women," said Mallus with a shake of his head. "They have powerful magic, Remus, even your Tonks."
"I'm not sure I'll repeat that to her," said Remus as he reached into his pocket. He pulled out the moonstone and said, "This has been in our family since the first Roman wizard came to Briton."
"That can't be true. I never saw them before you and Tonks came," said Mallus as he rubbed his thumb across the smooth stone.
Remus took off the one around his neck and also gave it to Mallus. "They are for father and son to wear on the hunt. They're also--they can help you see the shadow of a werewolf in a man who has been bitten. We call them Wolfshadow amulets."
Mallus placed the moonstones around his neck and looked at Remus. The Roman didn't register that the man was standing carefully in the shadows so that his own would not be distinguishable.
"Why was Tonks wearing one?"
"Let's just say she's my hunting partner. They've been very useful to us."
Mallus shook his head and said, "You don't know that I won't acquire these on my own."
"They belong with the Wolf Hunter. They are the token that designates venificus primo. Trust me, Mallus, and take them. Consider them a gift for your son."
Mallus wanted to argue the point, but Remus shook his head. "Fine, I'll take the amulets and make sure my son gets them."
"And use them on the hunt," said Remus.
"You have my word," said Mallus. Remus turned to leave, but Mallus said, "You know, I have some advice for you."
"Oh?" said Remus without turning around.
"Yes. You should jump Tonks until you're brainless and give her lots of babies so she'll be too busy to change her hair color." Mallus smiled at the image. "And you can tell her I said that."
"I'll take your advice under consideration, Mallus." Remus turned to look at his forefather one last time. "Goodbye."
- - - - - - - - - - - -
The Tapestry
Dusk
"Here it is," said Brina as she caught the scroll dropped by the owl. She unfurled it while Tonks kept watch.
They had been preparing everything a mother might need for tending to two small daughters in the past hours. The wind and snow had dissipated, but with the sky darkening, Tonks was only interested in getting back to the Roman garrison to protect Remus.
"Have they landed safely?" asked Tonks.
"The sea was rough, but they made it. One of the little girls is sick, though. I need to get to her quickly," said Brina as she cast her spell to shrink the hut and its belongings.
"Not without Mallus, Brina."
"I don't need a man--"
"Oh, will you shut it!" said Tonks.
Tonks flicked her wand and the witch was trapped inside a net. "Oriana had the right idea about you. Now, we are going to the garrison. I will leave you in a safe place to wait for Mallus. You will not leave until he comes to you, understand?"
"Tonks, there is a child out there--"
"You have a child in there," said Tonks as she pointed to Brina's belly, "and he should be your first concern."
Brina took a deep breath. "Take off the net, Tonks. I won't leave without Mallus."
Tonks removed the net, then clasped her hand on Brina's shoulder. "Let's go find our troublesome men."
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Roman Garrison"Good, you're here!" said Opis in relief when Tonks apparated with Brina. "Oriana's waiting for you inside. I have to go meet Mallus and Father for dinner now."
Brina stepped into the safe room as Tonks asked, "Is Remus at the stables?"
"Yes, so everything for Plan B is in place--wait, where are you going?" asked Opis as Tonks pulled the cloak around her and opened the door.
"I can keep an eye on Remus from the rooftops. Your troops won't know the werewolf is under control; he could be seriously injured."
"But that's not part of Plan B," began Opis.
"Sorry, but it's always been my plan."
Tonks closed the door and levitated to the rooftop to await the vicious entrance of the wolf. The full moon was gleaming behind her as she took her position.
- - - - - - - - - -
At the stables Remus carefully removed his clothing and set his wand aside knowing that Tonks would be there soon to collect them. The woman wasn't about to stay in the safe room while Plan B was unfolding. The storm was over and the night promised to be bright and quiet. If it weren't for the full moon, he would appreciate its beauty.
"Here's to Plan B," he said whimsically as he opened the bottle that contained the Wolfsbane potion. He stared at it for a moment, for it truly was a vile concoction that Snape made. But not as vile as being a werewolf out of control, he thought.
He opened it and poured the contents into his mouth, then immediately spat it out. The bottle fell from his hand and as he looked at the full moon emerging from behind the dark clouds, he screamed.
- - - - - - - - -
"What was that?" asked Dacien as a howl filled the night. His heart began racing, especially when Mallus turned to him with a look of pure hatred.
The Centurion rose and said, "I know what that is! So, did you think to kill me like you did the rest of my family, Dacien?"
Mallus had gripped the Senator by the throat and was squeezing. Opis, knowing how tenuous Mallus' control would be at this moment, pulled at his arm. "Mallus, Father didn't bring any beast with him. All of his servants are accounted for, just look behind you."
Mallus glanced at Opis for a moment, then said, "He could have hidden--"
"Then go out and destroy the wolf, Mallus. The whole garrison is in danger. Do your job! Or are you so anxious to have the wizard hunters after you?"
Mallus released Dacien's neck, but pulled the Senator out of his chair. "You're coming on this hunt. And if I find out that you're responsible, I'll feed you to the wolf myself."
"Fine. Let's see if you're able to kill the creature while it's still the wolf instead of an old, decrepit man who wants to die," taunted Dacien.
The wolf hunt began.
- - - - - - - - - - -
Tonks felt the shiver go through her body when she heard the howl. Did Remus have to be so convincing? She levitated gracefully across the rooftop to get to Remus' hiding place in the garrison. Although he couldn't talk, he would understand her speech.
She approached the area and saw the werewolf only fleetingly as it loped away. She hissed, "Remus!"
The creature stopped, but only to emit another howl. One of the dogs in the garrison appeared around a corner, and Tonks watched the werewolf swipe it out if the way. The dog's yelp of pain echoed in the night.
"Remus?" Tonks felt her stomach turn as she considered the possibility.
She apparated to the stables and soon verified her suspicions. His clothing was there, and she quickly tossed the Roman cassock into her backpack and tucked his wand into her cloak. But the disturbing evidence was the potion bottle that held the Wolfsbane potion.
The dark bottle provided a sharp contrast against the snow. It wasn't like Remus to litter like this. She cautiously picked it up and felt the weight of fluid still in it. "Why didn't you drink it all down, Remus?"
She poured out a drop and had to catch her breath. Wine! There was nothing but wine in the potion bottle. As she shook her head, she caught sight of a horse that lay dead in the stables, mauled by deadly claws. But the werewolf lusted after human blood, so he would abandon the horse for better prey.
"Oh, Remus. You're not in control tonight; the wolf is."
Tonks apparated to the rooftop to scan for activity. The werewolf was ripping through the garrison, but luckily the soldiers were in buildings. She could see Mallus gathering his hunters, though.
"Breathe, Tonks, breathe." She made herself stand still for a moment and think. "Your first obligation is to protect--" She blinked her eyes as she thought of her oath as an Auror. "To protect the civilians."
The werewolf and the hunters would soon converge. "To hell with the plan, I've got protect them and help Remus."
Think, Tonks. Homorphus charm? No, I need to be closer to cast it. What will a werewolf-- "That's it!"
Years of practice at modulating her voice when she couldn't steal it from others was put to good use that night. She remembered Leandra Skinner's howl when she had called the werewolf that was Remus on her first adventure at Holyhead. She held the memory distinctly in her mind, then howled.
- - - - - - - - -
Mallus looked at Opis sharply as the distant howl filled the night. They could now see the werewolf coming toward them, but he, too, had stopped.
"There's two of them!" yelled Dacien as he pulled two soldiers to shield him.
They saw the werewolf lope off to follow the howl after answering the call.
"Which is the fake one?" muttered Mallus to Opis. "It could kill Remus!"
"I think--to hell with Plan B. Time to improvise."
Mallus turned quickly and said, "Get the horses. We're on a wolf hunt."
- - - - - - - - - - -
Tonks kept apparating to short distances in front of Remus to emit a howl. She led the werewolf to the quarry with the intent that she could safely trap him in the cistern until she could cast the homorphus charm. She had tried getting close to him once on the route here, but the beast had almost swiped away her wand.
Tonks scanned the area and clenched her hands in frustration when she saw the approaching horsemen. "Does he have to be so damn good at hunting?"
Mallus, Opis and Dacien were on fast horses, obviously fueled by the Roman wizard's magic. They had left the other riders far behind as they followed the werewolf to the quarry. When Tonks turned back to her path, she stopped when she caught a shadow flitting in the area.
"You paranoid git, now you've gone mental," muttered Tonks as she turned to try to catch the figure from the corner of her eye. Nothing.
"Now get a grip. We need to lead Remus to a place where the werewolf can be contained."
She shimmied through the narrow opening that would force individual entry. In the middle of the trail was the cistern Mallus had built to fake his death. Tonks apparated to one of the ledges above the cistern, being careful to avoid the one that would easily collapse. Again, she howled.
Tonks drew out her wand to be ready to cast the homorphus charm once the werewolf was in the cistern. Her attention was completely on the success of luring the werewolf into the trap. She never felt the blow to her neck. She never heard her wand snap in two.
- - - - - - - - -
Mallus reined his horse as he saw the werewolf disappear into the labyrinth at the quarry. He whispered to Opis, "They're using the original plan somehow. Remus must be leading a real werewolf away from us. I have to help him. He's no match for such a creature."
"Save Remus, we'll figure out another way to fake your death," whispered Opis.
"Wait here," said Mallus as he dismounted.
The hunter entered the narrow gap with his sword drawn. He walked forward as another howl burst forth. His heart quickened as he remembered the slaughter of his family. Was Remus now gone, too? He pulled out the Wolfshadow amulets so they were no longer hidden by his tunic and moved forward. The stones were gleaming.
The beast he faced was nine foot tall when he met it, but that didn't register. He only saw the white fangs glinting in the moonlight as it turned to look at him. The werewolf was still for a moment, then he lunged to his left. Mallus heard the snapping of wood and was puzzled, but as the werewolf stepped back, he fell into the cistern.
Mallus acted on reflex as he blasted the fault line of the outcropping of rocks. They rained down on the falling werewolf, but then the Roman saw a man scrambling to get out of the labyrinth.
"Remus?" he called in some relief.
He reached for the man to find him holding the broken shaft of a spear. The man couldn't talk, but the hatred in his eyes was unmasked. It was clear to Mallus that the Celtic warrior sought revenge for the death of his uncle, the wizard Druce.
"Madoc!" Mallus looked at his victim and smiled menacingly. "Didn't I promise to rip your heart out?"
- - - - - - - - -
Tonks woke up and got to her knees. Remus? She blinked and tried to get her bearings. What the bloody hell happened? She found her broken wand and groaned, but when she looked at the situation below her, she shuddered at the sight and quickly looked up. This offered no comfort, though, because the collapsible ledge was gone!
"Remus?" She couldn't bear to look down at the cistern, but forced herself to survey the site. She bit back a sob when she saw the rubble filling the cistern. She ducked quickly when she saw Opis and Dacien appear, but their attention was drawn to the carnage as well.
Opis just stood there in shock while Dacien turned to empty his stomach. The carcass that was left of the man made it impossible to identify. Opis pulled off his cloak and covered the shredded body. It was a tribute to his self-control that he was able to speak.
"Well, Father, I think we'll have to change our family crest. The Lupinus wizards are all dead now."
Opis dragged the Senator out and ordered the men to claim the body. Tonks felt numb, but she had an obligation. Even if she hadn't saved Mallus, she could see that Brina and her son would be safe. She pulled out the wand that had belonged to Remus and used it to disapparate.
- - - - - - - - -
"Mallus!" Tonks' sudden appearance in the safe room made the couple draw apart.
"Isn't it wonderful, Tonks! They're free now," said Oriana with a bright smile.
"But, the body--"
"Madoc was in the quarry. He came at me after I killed the werewolf," said Mallus with his usual arrogance. "I thought it was a good improvisation."
"Yes, yes it was," said Tonks, still feeling numb. He didn't know, Mallus didn't know he had killed Remus. Then she noticed the moonstones around his neck shining brightly. She swallowed and said, "Remus gave you the moonstones?"
"He insisted I take them as a gift for our son," replied Mallus. "Where is he? Remus, I mean. He got away, didn't he?"
Tonks had to blink. The Wolfshadow amulets were still gleaming. Was it because Mallus and his son were near? Or was the werewolf--still alive?
"Remus is--Remus is--he's gone--back," said Tonks. She swallowed as her mind swam with possibilities. "Oriana, you should find Opis and let him know Mallus is safe."
"All right," said Oriana, but she frowned at how Tonks was acting. You'd think the plan had failed from her grim expression.
"I--I need to go now," said Tonks, but she hesitated. "Mallus, Brina, take care of your son."
"Of course. By the way, tell Remus that our son will carry his name," said Mallus with a concerned look.
Tonks kept herself from crumpling. "He'd like that."
She disapparated with a loud crack.
- - - - - - - -
Tonks knelt outside the thin wall at the cistern. She had to see for herself whether Remus was dead or alive. A single tear fell from her eyes. Remus obviously had not wanted Mallus to know he was a werewolf. Could that information have saved his life?
"I'll take you home, Remus," whispered Tonks forlornly. The Heartstring Charm might fail to bring the werewolf home, especially one that was a corpse. She would have to keep vigil tonight so she could take him back in the morning. This was not how she had expected this adventure to end.
She pressed her cheek against the stone. It felt as cold as her heart. Then she heard a stone falling against the wall and jerked back. Movement? Could Remus still be alive in the rubble? Had Remus been protected by the shield of rock? And if he was alive, how much air would he have left? She couldn't use the homorphus charm until she knew the transformation back to human form wouldn't kill him. Could she take the risk of using the Heartstring on a werewolf?
And with this thought, she chanted, "Signum aureus."
A spray of golden light sprang from the wand and soon she could feel the tug at her heart. She was going home. Then she thought not of the werewolf, but of the Venificus primo, Remus Lupin. But that wasn't what drew her to him. It was the compassion of his very human heart that made him who he was. She felt another pull at her breast and closed her eyes.
Then she suddenly aimed the wand at the wall before her, "Reducto!"
The thin wall of rock fell away and as Tonks saw the long-limbed body, she simply said, "Come home with me, Remus."
- - - - - - - - -
Knockturn Alley
The Shop
"You've got her, Alastor. Steady, it's up to Tonks now to bring Remus through."
"I know that, Filius. Now quit jawing and focus on the Heartstring charm," replied Moody.
Flitwick waved his wand again and a third voice said, "She's got him."
Tonks suddenly emerged like a skein of yarn pulled from the tapestry and taking the form of a human. As her body became defined, there remained a magical string that was as thick as a rope extruding from her chest.
She heard a familiar caustic voice in the room saying, "The heartstring will drain her; she needs to diminish it or the beast will tear her apart."
"No, she's trying to bring a the creature through; it has to be strong."
The three men who were there all had their wands at the ready.
"He's not a beast, he's Remus!" protested Tonks as she gained sense of her body. She tugged on the magic ligature and pulled with all her will. The form emerging from the tapestry was clear now and the werewolf was indeed alive.
Tonks watched in horror and relief as the threads landed on the floor and the body took form. He rose shakily to all four legs. She used Lupin's wand and called, "Homorphum lupinus!"
The wolf convulsed as the rapid transformation struck his body. Tonks quickly dropped the wand and scrambled to Remus who now lay exhausted on the floor. She shrugged out of her backpack and used her cloak to cover him.
"Remus?" Tonks touched his face gently. Would he be able to talk? The last werewolf who was victim to the homorphus charm had been left with the mind of the wolf in a human body.
"Is Mallus--" he whispered.
"Safe. Plan B failed, but it all worked out," said Tonks as she quickly inspected his body. She winced when she saw his leg.
"Can we save the debriefing for the morning? Lupin needs this potion--although I'd rather see him chained for the night." Severus Snape stepped forward and handed a potion bottle.
"Wolfsbane? Is it safe?" asked Tonks as she opened it for Remus who immediately drank it.
"It wasn't the homorphus charm that backfired with the Skinner woman. Other potions were in her system."
Remus sighed heavily and Tonks closed her eyes in relief. She looked at Moody and Flitwick. "How did you know?"
"Thanks to Flit, we were able to observe everything closely. It was that damn Cornish pixie. She emptied out the Wolfsbane potion when you weren't looking and filled it with wine," said Moody. "We had Snape make up a batch for tonight just as a contingency. Best to plan for the worst case scenario."
Tonks turned around and saw a looking glass that was at least a meter wide in front of the tapestry. She heard Remus saying, "That's a penetralis lens."
Tonks quirked an eyebrow at her two elders. "You were even looking at what was going on inside the rooms?"
Moody just cleared his throat while Flitwick chuckled. The Auror pointed at the charms professor and said, "It was his idea."
"Perverts," muttered Snape darkly. Then he looked at Remus and said, "We should still shackle you tonight."
"No, I'll take care of Remus," said Tonks as she put her arm protectively around him.
"Tonks, you should wait to make sure the Wolfsbane is working," cautioned Moody.
"Look!" Remus was pointing at the tapestry. It began to unravel before their eyes, but instead of the threads falling to the floor, they rose in the air like a wisp of smoke and disappeared.
Tonks clasped his hand tightly as they watched the last thread fade. Then she felt the shudder racking through his body as the homorphus spell wore off, so she reached for the wand she had dropped. She looked at the men around her and said, "Thank you, gentlemen, all of you, but I'm taking Remus home."
She put her arms around the shaking Remus and was gone.
- - - - - - - - - -
Tonks looked at the wolf who lay on the floor of her bedroom. "You hurt your leg, didn't you? Same old injury, too."
The wolf merely blinked, then his tongue snaked out to lick her hand once before retreating. The amber eyes of the wolf had a wary look, as if he had violated her with his touch.
Tonks smiled gently as she leaned forward and rubbed the side of his snout, "I think I will get you that t-shirt that says Hairy Snout, Human Heart."
The wolf managed to roll his eyes at her comments and then made as if to settle on the floor.
"Oh, no, you don't. The monster-sized bed will be more comfortable. Come on."
The wolf was clearly favoring his leg, but laid in the middle of the bed, put his head on his paws and closed his eyes.
Tonks didn't bother changing. Instead she pressed her back against the furry body and softly said, "Well, at least it's a change from sleeping with my Tweed bear. Good-night, Remus. It's good to be home."
- - - - - - - - - -
Day 8
Tonks' Flat
"So you were able to recognize Mallus because of the Wolfshadow amulets he wore?" asked Tonks as she sat by Remus for breakfast at her flat.
"It was the same effect as having Prongs and Padfoot with me during full moon at Hogwarts," said Remus softly. "For a moment, I could think like a man. I saw Madoc aiming his spear at Mallus and lunged. I forgot about the cistern until I felt myself falling. The last thing I remember was thinking that I needed to roll under the shelf and then it went black."
"Mallus never knew you were a werewolf," said Tonks to reassure him. "He thinks you're the one who lured the 'real' werewolf away."
The weary man smiled at the woman. How much of his personal history was part of an infinite loop? His musings were interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Nymphadora, it's Albus Dumbledore. I'd like a word with Remus if you please."
Tonks and Lupin looked up from their breakfast in some relief. Although she called it porridge, Tonks wasn't quite sure what the concoction was inside their bowls.
"Come in, Headmaster," said Tonks as she flicked Remus' wand to open the door. "We were just having breakfast."
"Ah, then that explains why Alastor insisted I bring this," said Dumbledore as he held out a bag filled with food.
"Well bless his little, peeping-Tom heart," she said in gratitude.
"Is there a problem at the Order?" asked Remus as he tried to rise. Tonks immediately put down the food and clasped his hand firmly in a silent message to stay put.
"Don't get up on my account, Remus," said Dumbledore immediately. "No, nothing directly involving the Order. In fact, I came to give you this."
Out of his pocket he drew a familiar wood carving. He put it into Remus' free hand and said, "I want you to have it."
Tonks and Remus looked at the sculpture of a Mobius strip. The track was stained a dark brown, but gliding along it were two ovals that had been left in the original bleached wood. They looked like the moonstones of the Wolfshadow amulets.
"Where did you get this?" asked Remus.
Dumbledore just smiled at the man. "It's been a family heirloom with a remarkable preservation charm on it. Did you know that in some families, it is the lineage of the mothers that carries the strongest magic?"
Remus looked puzzled. "Oriana and Opis were your ancestors?"
"Yes, in fact, Opis left many scrolls that have served as a basis for the development of some of our standard incantations. One of their daughters married the son of a Roman wizard."
"Remus," said Tonks.
"What?" asked Remus.
"Not you, the son. Brina and Mallus named their firstborn son Remus," said Tonks.
"Yes, Remus married Ailspeth who passed the carving to her daughter who passed it on to her own daughter, and so forth," replied Dumbledore as he watched Tonks and Remus exchange looks of wonder. "I think you should realize that there was more at stake in that tapestry than just your own family."
Remus was quiet for a moment. "You don't think it was a mistake? My living through the events in the tapestry?"
Dumbledore smiled, then moved forward to touched their intertwined hands. "Let's just say that everyone is where they ought to be."
The Headmaster then turned to leave the couple, but added one last thought. "And everyone is who they ought to be." With a quick wave of his hand he said, "Goodbye."
The End
Okay, now you know why so much time passed between chapters. I had 20 pages on my count. I assure you, this is the longest story I intend to write. Next one is fluff regarding events around Harry & Co return to Hogwarts.
Kudos to anyone who recognized the poem by Robert Burns in the beginning. To a Mouse has long been a favorite of mine and, well, it fit.
The names of the potions are made up. A penetralis lens is not canon, but I thought Flitwick would be able to come up with it. Heheh, for what uses, I leave to your imagination. Latrunculia is a Roman version of chess. The Imberphasms I used in a previous story and had mentioned they were unleashed by Roman wizards, so I used them for a bit of internal consistency.
Madoc was the Celt at the Phoenix who was a pain. If you remember, Mallus left him unable to speak. Druce, the Celtic wizard, first appeared as the wizard directing the wolf pack when Remus was facing the unicorn. All of that action took place off screen, so to speak.
Are Tonks and Remus 'married' in your eyes? They didn't have the knot, but I think that after this adventure, anytime the handfast occurs, it will have a deeper meaning for them. So, yes, the connotation was intentional, although they wouldn't call each other spouse.
Thanks for joining the ride. I hope the journey was a plausible and pleasant experience.