A/N: The italics in this Chapter are from Chapter 28: The Phoenix Lament. Well, the dialogue is. Lupin's point of view on the events, however, is my own invention. I do not own these characters; JK Rowling does. Also, the lyrics are actually translated from a Japanese song (the theme from FFX, Suteki Da Ne?)

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The wind, its halting words are a gentle illusion
The clouds, the broken future like a distant voice
The moon, a heart flowing in the clouded mirror
The stars, broken and swaying, like tears unable to be hidden
Isn't it beautiful
To walk together hand in hand
I do so want to go...

"Suteki Da Ne (Isn't it Beauitful)"-Rikki
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I lie in my bed back in Grimmauld place, desperately trying to rest. I even cover my face with my hands, a futile attempt at blocking out the thin sliver of moonlight that makes its way through my window. However, sleep eludes me as my mind replays the evening's events.

"Ron- Dumbledore's dead." The youngest Weasley speaks in a voice that's barely above a whisper.

"No!" I cry out, looking between Ginny and Harry, begging one of them to laugh and tell me that she is joking. Neither speaks. A sharp, white-hot lance of grief cuts through me and I am no longer able to stand. I stagger back and collapse into the chair next to Bill Weasley's bed. I cover my face with my hands. Dear God, it's all over. Dumbledore is…gone…

Tonks speaks and she sounds so far away…

"How did he die? How did it happen?"

Harry's voice sounds hollow. "Snape killed him."

Please, this is a dream. Snape is one of the Order- our spy. He couldn't have…

"I was there, I saw it. We arrived back on the Astronomy tower because that's where the Mark was."

This is a horrible dream. I must wake up, and soon.

"…Dumbledore was ill, he was weak, but…"

This isn't a dream…

"I think he realized it was a trap when we heard footsteps running up the stairs."

The palms of my hands are drenched with…tears?

"He immobilized me, I couldn't do anything, I was under the Invisibility Cloak-"

I'm crying for the first time since Lily and James died.

"-and then Malfoy came through the door and disarmed him-"

I do not cry. I didn't cry when Sirius died. I didn't even cry when I was bitten by Greyback. Because I knew there would be a future for me because Dumbledore ran Hogwarts and he…

"-more Death Eaters arrived-"

…He would never turn someone in need away…

"-and then Snape-"

…and he now he's gone because…

"-and Snape did it."

…Severus Snape…

"The Avada Kedavra."

…killed him.

Someone is crying, sobbing uncontrollably. Ginny's voice cuts through with a soft reprimand, "Shh! Listen!"

The room is silent for but a moment. And then we all hear what the girl had heard.

Fawkes' lament.

The bird's voice is like the musical incarnation of despair. And so we listen, the phoenix's song voicing our anguish in beautiful notes, the music sounding as unearthly, unbelievable as what had just come to past.

The door opens and I sit up, forcefully wiping my eyes. The room is dark, save for the pieces illuminated by the moon. The door, however, is cast in shadow. I hear soft footsteps as the intruder enters and a quiet voice whispers, "Did I wake you up?"

"Not at all, Tonks, I couldn't sleep."

"Neither could I," she seats herself on the foot of my bed. "I wanted to talk to you."

I want to talk to you too, Tonks, after what you said in the Hospital Wing.

"You see! She still wants to marry him, even though he's been bitten! She doesn't care!"

Though I still stand firmly behind what I said in there. I wish things were different, I truly do. I wish I was normal, so that I could be worthy of your love.

"It's different. Bill will not be a full werewolf. The cases are completely-"

However, perhaps you do have a point-

"But I don't care either, I don't care! I've told you a million times…"

Love doesn't rely on appearances. And it will gladly put the most cautious of people in danger.

"And I've told you a million times that I am too old for you, too poor…too dangerous…"

"R-Remus?" She whispers. "Are-are you ok?"

"Yes, I'll be fine," I move to sit myself on the end of my bed next to her. The old springs creak in protest as I reposition myself. Not wanting to meet her eyes, I look out the window at the moon. "Isn't it beautiful?"

"Hmm?" She glances at me, confused.

"The moon," I reply. "It's so…weird. The moon, the stars, are all so beautiful, despite all that's happened."

She nods. "I know what you mean. It feels like… like it should be raining."

"I have the feeling that tonight would still be beautiful, even if it was raining."

"Why?"

"Because we're so lucky to be alive after tonight. We- all of us- could have died tonight. But, instead, here we are," It seems so hard to explain what I'm feeling, what I'm thinking, that I just talk, knowing that she'll listen. I stand and begin to pace before continuing. "Dumbledore died tonight. He, a man whom we all thought would live forever, died. He was well on his way to being two hundred years old and he was brought down by a man he taught and trusted. His death reminds us just how mortal we are. We won't live forever. Many of us won't live to see Christmas. I'll be lucky to see my 37th birthday," Tonks is watching me, her expression rapt. "Tonight is beautiful because neither of us know how many 'tonights' we have left. A teacher and mentor to the last, Dumbledore's death has taught us the meaning of 'Carpe diem'- Seize the Day. And I guarantee that that lesson is what made you speak so frankly in the Hospital Wing earlier."

Her eyes widen, but I can tell by the look on her face she was expecting me to mention it at some point. She opens her mouth, but I cut across before she can speak, knowing that I need to verbalize my thoughts on the matter before I lose my nerve.

"I've been thinking about what you said. I still think I'm too old for you, too dangerous, however-"

"Dumbledore would have been happier than anybody to think that there was a little more love in the world."

"If you… if you want to try it, then I guess… I guess I'm ok with that."

There. I said it. I stop pacing and turn to face her, carefully gauging her reaction.

She stands slowly, clasping and unclasping her hands nervously. I can see her smiling in the moonlight as she looks up at me, that beautiful smile of hers alighting her face.

"R-really?"

I nod and she laughs. It is the most beautiful sound in the world. It sounds almost insanely joyous, a sharp contrast to Fawkes' song earlier. If the bird's music was pure sorrow at losing a loved one, Tonks' laugh is the epitome of happiness. She steps forward and I can see the silvery tears on her
face.

As she continues forward, she trips on the carpet and falls. I catch her easily and pull her into a tight hug. She returns the embrace, albeit a little clumsily and when I look down to kiss her forehead, I notice something.

Her hair is a shockingly vivid bubblegum pink.

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A/N: Wow, this chapter is much longer than the previous one, much longer than IK intended. I've decided to not only do four chapters, one from each characters' POV, but also a fifth, third person chapter that shows the funeral for each of them. As always, read and review! Next Chapter: Malfoy.