A/N: Um...there is no A/N :) Thanks for the reviews. We're reaching the end of our journey guys...read away...


Tonks lay fully clothed on her bed, curled in a ball with one hand gently placed against her pregnant stomach. She watched the early morning sunlight enter through her window. Her pillow was damp against her face and she rolled over, ignoring the fact that it was day. She would try to sleep, it was morning but she would try. As soon as she closed her eyes she heard her door creak open slowly. Remus entered, without knocking or without asking, and closed the door behind him. He perched on the edge of her bed, seeing her eyes blinking and knowing that she was awake.

"Are you crying?" he asked quietly.

"All day and all night," she croaked a reply. "What do you want?"

"To apologise…but if you don't want to hear it then I'll take it down stairs and make you some tea with it instead."

"I don't want tea," she mumbled into her pillow.

"Then what do you want, Tonks?" No, not Tonks. Dora. His Dora. Her whole life she had begged for people to call her Tonks. But now, hearing it from Remus, she wanted nothing more than to be Dora.

"I want you to call me Dora again," she cried. "I want to stay here with you. I want this stupid war to be over. I want you to love me." She took a deep shuddery breath. "And I do want tea, but I don't want you to leave me. Please don't leave me." She broke down into uncontrollable sobs and Remus pulled her close to him, holding her tightly and shushing her as she cried.

"I'm sorry Remus, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean all of those things I said yesterday. I was just angry, and scared. I'm sorry," she sniffled into his chest. He stroked her hair gently.

"Shh, it's ok. I'm sorry too. Don't keep crying, Dora please. You'll make yourself ill." Tonks had to admit that she felt incredibly sick, having missed most of her meals the day before and spent almost 24 hours crying alone on her bed. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself.

"We really should talk," Remus found the courage to say. Tonks shuddered into his chest.

"I don't want to," came the muffled reply.

"Dora, we have to," he said, putting on his 'teacher' voice, which she had to admit she loved. She hid a smile in his chest before looking up at his eyes. He looked tired, and she felt guilty. Was it a full moon tonight? Her guilt doubled. Giving him a firm nod, she found her voice.

"Alright then, let's talk." He put a hand on her tummy, stroking it gently.

"Yesterday…when I told you I wanted you to go to Canada, I never meant to imply in any way that I wanted you out of my life. On the contrary, it's because I want you in my life for a very long time. Forever, in fact. Both of you." He took a deep breath. "You have no idea how hard it was for me to ask you to leave me. Of course I don't want you to go. That's just … silly." She laughed, hearing him use her word. "But sometimes we have to make sacrifices. If losing you, even just for a couple of months while all this trouble dies down, means that I get to spend the rest of my life with you then…that's what I'll have to live with." Tonks felt another tear fall from her eye. She wiped it away. "Why are you crying again? I don't want you to hate me Dora, please don't hate me."

"I don't hate you," she whispered. "I'm crying 'cause I know you're right. I want to be safe here but I know I'm not. I want to stay with you but I know I can't. And I also know that I'm going to be leaving you here on your own and that kills me more than anything." They sat in silence, listening to Tonks' sniffles. "It's not like it's forever," she tried to reason eventually. Remus nodded, though he didn't find comfort in her words. He stroked the side of her face gently and she kissed his hand.

"I'm scared," he admitted.

"I'm terrified," she told him. Silence once more. "I'm coming back, Remus."

"I know."

"And we're going to have this little girl–"

"Boy."

"–And it'll all turn out alright. You'll see." She offered him a smile and he returned it before kissing her on the forehead.

"Dora, I think I'm in love with you." His sudden announcement made Tonks hold her breath. She turned to him quickly and he gave a small smile of embarrassment.

"Well…you have a think about that and when I get back you can let me know, ok?" she whispered softly.

"Ok," he replied.


Harry and Hermione were sat in the kitchen, chatting quietly to each other when Tonks and Remus entered.

"Yay, no more fighting," Harry sang. Tonks laughed at him. "See Hermione, I told you they didn't need our help." Tonks and Remus look to Hermione, who went pink and mumbled something about there being tea in the pot, before burying her head in the Daily Prophet.

"Anything about Hogwarts in there?" Tonks asked as Remus handed her a cup of tea. Hermione shook her head.

"Not a word. They're obviously trying to keep a lid on things. Still, with all the students knowing what was happening, parents are going to find out soon enough." She lowered the paper with a sigh. Tonks turned to Harry.

"How you holding up, kid?" He knew she was referring to Sirius, and just gave a little shrug.

"Not good, not bad. You know," he replied casually. "But I'm a lot better now you two aren't at each other's throats. It was scary with you two fighting, I wasn't sure would win. Hermione, however, was betting on Tonks–"

"That's not true. He's lying. Shut up Harry!" she hit him on the arm and he laughed.

"So, now we're all speaking to each other, I guess this summer isn't going to be so bad," Harry finished. Tonks and Remus looked at each other. Harry saw it immediately.

"What? Come on guys, I know that look. What's wrong?"

"Harry–" Remus began but Harry raised his hand in annoyance.

"Don't 'Harry' me, please. Just tell me." The boy stared at them expectantly. His guardians looked at each other and Hermione flicked between all three, not really knowing who would speak next.

"Ok guys…I'm leaving," Tonks announced. Both Harry and Hermione's mouths dropped.

"What?" they demanded in unison.

"I'm going to Canada to be with my parents." She let the news sink in.

"You can't go," Harry blurted out. "I won't let you."

"I really don't think it's your decision, Harry," Tonks said firmly.

"Is it yours?" he asked her bitterly, before turning to glare at Remus. Suddenly, yesterday's argument made perfect sense.

"Well…it wasn't my idea, no. But I know it's the right thing to do." Harry scoffed and looked to the floor. Hermione remained very still and said nothing. "Don't be like this, Harry."

"Don't go," he said bluntly.

"I have to," said Tonks, feeling herself getting annoyed.

"Then I have to be like this!"

An uncomfortable silence fell between them.

"What about me and Hermione, huh? We need you. And Remus too!" Remembering that the man was to blame, Harry turned to him. "And you…you're just letting her walk away. Have you completely gone mad?" Tonks saw Remus waver and gave a loud sigh.

"Listen, I won't be gone long. I'll be back before you go back to school. When the Weasleys come to stay you'll barely notice I've gone. I'll come back, you'll go to school then, on Hermione's birthday I'm gonna have this little girl and you'll be Uncle Harry and Aunty Minnie. Just like we planned. I just…I have to do this. Please don't make this harder for me." She looked between her two students; her two friends. Hermione rose from her seat and threw herself onto Tonks.

"Be careful, Tonks. I'll miss you," the girl sniffed into her shoulder.

"When are you going?" Harry asked gruffly.

"Tomorrow. I'm booking a cab to take you home then me to the airport." The boy nodded. Then moved to hug her.

"I'm sorry. I'm just going to miss you so much." He held her tightly.

"I know, I'll miss you too." She kissed him on the cheek then hugged him again. He then sat back down next to Hermione. The kitchen was suddenly quiet once more.

"Way to depress everyone, Tonks!" Harry joked and they laughed.

"Shut up, boy. Get me some toast, I'm starving." He did as he was told.


Tonks spent the whole day with Remus, Harry and Hermione, trying to make up for wasting the previous day alone in her room. They also managed to keep each other's minds off Sirius, to a certain extent at least. When early evening arrived, Remus rose from his chair in the drawing room. Harry, Hermione and Tonks all looked to him.

"Dora can I have a word please?" Before she could respond, Harry cut in.

"Oh don't start fighting again!" he protested. Remus shook his head.

"I just need to speak to her alone, that's all. Please, Dora." His eyes met hers. She began to leave her seat when Hermione rose.

"It's ok, we'll leave. Come on, Harry." She dragged her friend up by his arm. The boy looked rather put out but left the room in silence.

"What's up?" Tonks asked as she heard the door click. Remus sat back down, next to her this time.

"I have to go, Dora."

"But it's not even getting dark yet," she reasoned. He gave a weary sigh.

"I know, but it soon will be." He hated himself. He hated that he had to leave; it was his last chance to hold her in the night, to watch her as she slept, to whisper that he secretly loved her… and he had plans with a full moon.

"I'm scared–" he began, and then wished he hadn't. Seeing her look of confusion, Remus knew he had to continue. "I'm scared that you won't be here when I return in the morning." He looked away from her, slightly embarrassed by this pointless fear. Hearing her give a little laugh, he looked back up. How he loved that laugh.

"Remus, that's just silly!"

"Is it?" he asked, once again feeling foolish. She nodded, taking his hands.

"Yes. Of course I'm going to be here in the morning when you get back. And then we'll say goodbye. Unless this is goodbye now?" she raised her eyebrows questioningly.

"No, it's not," he mumbled. She leant forward and kissed him on the cheek.

"Go on, bugger off." He gave a laugh and they rose together from the couch. Crossing the room, he turned to her at the door.

"I'll see you in the morning then." It wasn't a question.

"See you in the morning," she waved, giving him a smile. He returned it before vacating the room. Tonks rolled her eyes jovially. Exhaling loudly, she gave a small smile.

"I love you, Remus Lupin," she whispered softly to herself.