A/N: illustrations are being posted! Link located in my livejournal. You can get there from my profile, or email me for a link. Thanks to the very talented Mechaban for seeing what's in my head.
Please look! You won't be disappointed.
Don't know why, but these lyrics always make me thing of Remus.
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life
Frou Frou Holding out for a hero
Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns these wonderful characters, I've just borrowed them for a bit of fun.
Dialogue at the end straight from HBP. Again I borrowed it. No harm meant.
The Burrow looked warm and welcoming, aglow with yellow light, when Tonks apparated down the lane from it. She trudged along the lane, her heart heavy. Why? Why was he being such a fool? Such a wonderful, chivalrous fool.
She needed advice.
So once again, she'd talk to Molly.
Within minutes, she was seated at the kitchen table, a steaming mug of tea in front of her, Molly sitting across from her.
"So what's happened, dear?" Molly asked gently.
Tonks responded by doing the only thing she could. She burst into tears. She covered her face with her hands and sobbed. "I hate him, Molly, I absolutely hate that man."
Molly clucked, handing her a tea towel to wipe her eyes with. "No, you don't. What happened?"
Tonks hiccupped. "I went to check in with Remus. I went and found him in an alley, in a muggle village. I told him that Dumbledore sent me."
"In an alley?" Molly gasped, "Was he alright?"
Tonks frowned. "Well, he did look as if he'd been in a fight..." She said slowly. She bit her lip. "I assumed he was alright."
Then she shook her head. "He was fine. That's not the point."
Molly nodded. "Go on."
"He scolded me." Tonks said with disgust. "Like I was a child." She twisted the towel around her finger. "But then he started to say if anything happened to me..."
"See? He does care." Pointed out the older witch.
"I kissed him, Molly. Finally. Just stepped up and laid one on him." She sniffled.
"Oh, that's brilliant, Tonks!" Molly beamed.
Tonks sobbed. "No. It's not! He didn't even kiss me back!"
Molly reached out and patted her hand. "Darling. He's doing what he thinks is best. You can't fault him for that, even though it's misguided."
"Misguided." The younger witch snorted through her tears. "Right."
"He's trying to protect you." She held up her hand when Tonks started to speak. "We all think he's taking a ridiculous position on this, but it is kind of sweet."
"That only makes it worse Molly."
"He is being a bit thickheaded, but he'll come around eventually, you'll see." Molly said.
"Maybe I should just give in. Leave him be." Tonks whispered.
Molly shook her head. "You know you can't. You can't just turn off what you feel. I've always thought it would take a strong woman to care for Remus. I'm sure you're that woman."
She opened her mouth to say more, but a knock at the door had her leaping to her feet, her hand pressed to her chest. "Goodness! Who could that be at this hour?"
She went to the door, calling. "Who's there? Declare yourself."
"It is I, Dumbledore, bringing Harry."
Molly glanced at Tonks and opened the door. While she was talking to Dumbledore, Tonks wiped her eyes and drank down the rest of her tea.
"Ah, hello, Nymphadora!"
"Hello, Professor. Wotcher Harry."
She stood up and pulled her cloak around her. "I'd better be off. Thanks for the tea and sympathy, Molly."
She waved off the entreaties to stay and hurried outside, not meeting Dumbledore's eyes. She was afraid that he would see, see what was in her heart and not approve.
A few paces from the door, she turned and disapparated.