Intimate Confessions

Gijane

Disclaimer, Rating, Summary: See Chapter One

Chapter Notes: The Good 'Ship L/T sets sail! Anchors away! If you are squeamish when it comes to very naughty smut, do not read this chapter! Lupin performs his 'miracle' on Tonks ('Her hair miraculously returned to its vividest pink'- HBP American edition, pg 641). Since we are (mostly) consenting adults, we know what said 'miracle' is. All text in italics is directly from the book, pgs 621-624) (duh). Yes, I wrote Fleur's French accent in (it is canon!) Even I was surprised as I wrote by who said the words that spurred Lupin into action. Now just take out the parts that apply to Lupin/Tonks and add their problems. You'll see the parallel.

Chapter Twelve- Confrontation and Renewal

Lupin sat, unfeeling, in a chair beside Bill Weasley's bed. Glancing at the now savaged young man, he hoped with all his might that there would be little or no contamination. That Bill would go on to live a normal healthy life, something that he could never have.

With Albus Dumbledore's death, the final link to his past had been severed. Everyone he loved was dead- James, Lily, Sirius; Peter was as good as dead. Now Dumbledore. He could feel himself withdrawing, shutting off the rest of the world. He could hardly believe that he had broken down earlier. It had probably scared Harry and the other children to see their former professor collapse.

Tonks watched Lupin as she sat across from him. She knew that he was withdrawing and that he was pulling away from her. She needed to do something, to talk to him, but now was not the time.

Both their heads jerked up as the doors to the Hospital Wing. In came Molly and Arthur, followed by a distraught Fleur. McGonagall greeted them but Molly pushed right by her and ran to her son. Lupin and Tonks both jumped up out of the bedside chairs so that the Weasleys could sit by their son.

Molly brushed a kiss on Bill's forehead while Arthur asked McGonagall, "You said Greyback attacked him? But he hadn't transformed? So what does that mean? What will happen to Bill?"

"We don't know yet," said Professor McGonagall, looking helplessly at Lupin.

"There will probably be some contamination, Arthur," said Lupin. "It's an odd case, possibly unique…We don't know what his behaviour might be like when he awakens…"

They both watched as Molly took some nasty-smelling ointment from Poppy and began to apply it to Bill's wounds herself. Molly asked what had happened to Dumbledore.

Tonks saw Ginny move slightly out of the corner of her eye. She was not watching her brother but rather Fleur, who was just standing over Bill, a frozen expression on her face.

Molly began to cry. "Of course it doesn't matter how he looks…It's not r-really important…but he was a very handsome little b-boy…always very handsome…and he was g-going to be married!"

"And what do you mean by zat?" said Fleur suddenly and loudly. "What do you mean, ' 'e was going to be married?"

Molly looked startled. "Well- only that-"

"You theenk Bill will not wish to marry me anymore?" demanded Fleur. "You theenk, because of these bites, he will not love me?"

"No, that's not what I-"

"Because he will! It will take more zan a werewolf to stop Bill loving me!" Fleur drew herself up to her full height and tossed her hair over her shoulder.

"Well, yes, I'm sure, but I thought perhaps- given how- how he-"

"You thought I would not weesh to marry him? Or per'aps, you hoped? What do I care how he looks? I am good-looking enough for the both of us, I theenk! All these scars show zat my husband is brave! And I shall do zat!" Fleur snatched the ointment from Molly's hand. Fleur shoved Molly aside. She fell into Arthur. Fleur began to apply the ointment to Bill's wounds.

No one said a word as they waited for Molly to explode. Lupin caught the strange expression that was written on Tonks' face as she stared at Fleur. What could possibly be going through her mind?

Molly offered Fleur the use of her great aunt's goblin-made tiara for the wedding. Fleur stiffly accepted. Suddenly, the two women were hysterically crying and hugging. Everyone else in the room was startled. Except Tonks.

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

"It's different," said Lupin, barely moving his lips and looking suddenly tense. "Bill will not be a full werewolf. The cases are completely-"

"But I don't care either, I don't care!" said Tonks, seizing the front of Lupin's robes and shaking them. "I've told you a million times…"

"And I've told you a million times," said Lupin, refusing to meet her eyes, staring at the floor, "that I am too old for you, too poor…too dangerous…"

"I've said it all along you're taking a ridiculous line on this, Remus." Molly told him.

"I am not being ridiculous," said Lupin steadily. "Tonks deserves somebody young and whole."

"But she wants you. And after all, Remus, young and whole men do not necessarily remain so." Arthur told him, gesturing to Bill between them.

"This is…not the moment to discuss it," said Lupin, avoiding everybody's eyes as he looked around distractedly. "Dumbledore is dead…"

He watched as he saw the defeat finally appeared in Tonks' dark eyes. She detached herself from his robes and moved a way away from him, head hung. He barely heard McGonagall's words.

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

Everyone turned as the Hospital Wing doors opened again. This time, they admitted Hagrid. He explained that he had moved Professor Dumbledore's body, Professor Sprout had gotten all the students back to bed, Professor Flitwick was taking it easy (after his run in with Snape), and that Professor Slughorn had informed the Ministry. McGonagall then took Harry to her new office to meet with the Heads of House.

Lupin sat back down and reflected on what had just happened. Tonks had challenged him in front of everybody and he had broken her heart. He glanced over to where she sat staring out the window, head still bowed.

She gave everyone a start as she jumped down from the window still. "Hagrid said that the Ministry's been informed? Then I had better go report to Dawlish. He'll be in a snit if the Minister arrives and he has no idea what's going on." Not looking anyone in the eye, she ran out of the Hospital Wing.

Lupin could feel everyone's eyes on him now. He was thinking hard on McGonagall and Arthur's words. Tonks did love him unconditionally. And he loved her. Ron interrupted his thoughts.

"You should go after her, Professor. Love is the most important thing in this world. It doesn't care that there is a war going on. It doesn't care that you are a werewolf, that you're poor, or that you're older than she is. Go after her and beg her to take you back before she does find someone whole and young. She loves you and you love her, that's all she cares about." Ron looked over at Hermione and Ginny, both wearing surprised expressions on their faces. "What?"

Everyone was startled again as Lupin leapt from his seat and left the Hospital Wing without excusing himself.

"Well that was certainly out of character." Molly said, breaking the silence. Everyone laughed. "And where did that come from, Ron Weasley? I am very impressed."

Ron blushed as everyone laughed again. Hermione was laughing, but casting him odd glances as well.

Maybe two good things could come of his words.

Lupin burst out of Hogwarts Castle and down the grounds. He nodded curtly to the party from the Ministry as he passed them. Reaching the gates, he nodded to Proudfoot and Savage who were on guard duty.

"She's in her room." Proudfoot told him.

"Thank you." Lupin said, moving down the road towards the village. He moved quickly down the high street to the Three Broomsticks.

Arriving at the pub, he was annoyed to find it locked up for the night. Going around the back, he located Tonks' window. All the lights were out.

Swearing, he picked up a handful of pebbles and began to toss them gently at her window. He was at it for a few minutes before a candle flared in her room.

Tonks opened the window and looked down. "Remus?" She asked incredulously.

"Come out here." He hissed.

"Why? What could you possibly have to say to me…?"

She had begun to turn from the window when he yelled up, "I love you."

She froze. "I beg your pardon?"

"I love you, Nymphadora."

Tonks was astonished. "'I heard you the first time. I can't go through this again, Remus. I'm sorry but I give up..."

"Please, love. Just talk to me for a moment."

She was intrigued by the pet name. "I'll be right down."

Lupin paced impatiently as he waited for her. He heard the front door open. Then she began to recast the protective wards. Finally, she came around the back.

"Rosmerta has been taken to St Mungos for observation. Poor woman, she was in shock when the Imperius…"

Tonks gasped as Lupin grabbed her arm. She felt the pressure of an Apparition. They were suddenly no longer in Hogsmeade. She looked around to figure out where they were. Realization dawned. They were at Lupin Manor.

"…Curse was lifted." Tonks finished her sentence. "So, what do you need to tell…?" She was cut off by Lupin's searing kiss. She really wanted to resist, but could not.

As he broke the kiss for air, she whispered, "Please, Remus, not again. I can't. Not again."

"I love you." He whispered hoarsely in her ear. "I want to marry you and have babies, lots of babies. I'm so sorry, love, so sorry."

Tonks's dark chocolate eyes locked with his amber ones. "Remus?"

"I love you. Please, say you still love me." He looked terrified at the possibly that she didn't love him anymore.

"Promise." She asked him.

He understood. "I promise."

Looking in his eyes one last time, she said, "I love you, Remus."

"Thank God." He groaned, and then captured her lips again.

Picking her up, she wrapped her legs around his waist. He started in the direction of the house, still kissing her. She giggled as he walked them into the bird feeder by the back door.

"Sorry." He muttered. Managing to open the kitchen door, he stumbled over his house elf.

"Sorry." He muttered again.

Katrina watched in delighted surprise as her Master backed out the kitchen door and up the stairs, meanwhile kissing Miss all the way.

Lupin kicked open the door to his bedroom. He tossed Tonks on the bed; he then struggled out of his jumper and undershirt.

Tonks, giggling at his impatience, kneeled on the bed. "What do you plan to do with me now?"

Finally getting the undershirt off, he looked at her. Smiling, he ripped her t-shirt in half. "I plan to have my wicked werewolf way with you."

Tonks laughed. "Honestly, darling, that's the second shirt you've ripped of mine. Can't you learn to remove them properly?"

"No." He told her, and then captured her lips again. He groaned as she grabbed his belt and began to unbuckle. "Are you sure?" He managed to ask.

"You've started the mating cycle and now you ask me that?" She pulled his trousers down. "It's too late to stop." Hands quickly removed her jeans and shoes where thrown off.

Lupin looked down at her on his bed. All she was wearing were her green lace knickers and bra. She smiled seductively up at him, and then offered her hand.

He joined her in bed. Smoothing down her brown hair, he kissed her again. Scenting her, he moaned as she asked, "Are you going to mark me?"

Pulling back, he asked, "Do you want me too? Especially after tonight?"

"Abso-bloody-lutly." She said. "They are two totally different situations. Mark me yours, darling."

He growled in pleasure. Licking her neck, he removed her bra and knickers at the same time, pausing only to help her as she fumbled trying to remove his boxers.

Both naked as the day they were born, Tonks stuttered, "Remus, I've never…it's that…I'm a…"

Lupin smiled at her. "Luckily, I travelled a bit between Voldemort's first defeat and my teaching tenure. I had a few ladies willing to show a stranger a thing or two."

"Darling, how naughty of you! But lucky for me." She groaned as he began to scent her again.

"Mine." He growled, his personality taking on more wolfish characteristics. "All mine."

"Yes, darling, all yours. Take me."

Lupin's growl deepened as he positioned himself. Slowly entering her, he moaned at how tight she was. Reaching her barrier, he stopped; surprised it was still in tact given how active she was.

Tonks moaned in protest. Locking her legs around his waist, she pulled him foreword, through her barrier. She gasped in surprise and quick tears filled her eyes. "Are you okay, love?" He asked, feeling her adjust. "Relax."

She unclenched her muscles and relaxed. "Better." She said.

He moved slightly. Encouraged by her moan, he moved a bit more. He picked up the pace as she moaned louder. "I knew you would be loud." He whispered in her ear. "I'm never going to be able take you anywhere. Not that I'm complaining. "

Giggling, she clenched her muscles. They both gasped from the sensations that rocked them. As he picked up the pace once more, Tonks moaned louder. "Sorry." She whispered.

He didn't answer. He was absorbed in the scent of her. He buried his face in the base of her throat and inhaled deeply. He could feel his wolfish characteristics surfacing again.

Tonks, meanwhile, was exploring his body with her hands and mouth. She traced old scars and marvelled at how toned his body was. "More." She moaned louder as he picked up the pace again.

He knew what she was asking for. Absorbed as he was with his inner wolf, he still asked her again, "Are you sure?"

"Are you my mate or not?"

"My mate." He growled, licking her neck. "I'm yours."

"Are we getting married and having babies?" She asked.

"Oh God, yes. I love you so much."

"Then mark me as yours so the whole world knows I love you as well."

Lupin withdrew form her body. Smiling as she growled a protest, he flipped her over and repositioned himself. She surged back onto him. He gave a shout of surprise.

"Very naughty, Nymphadora."

"Nymph-like, in fact." She moaned as he plunged into her.

"I always told you that you were properly named." He licked her left shoulder, knowing her right was her wand arm, in preparation for her mark.

This stimulated her. She growled in pleasure as he moved within her. "Now." She told him.

Lupin bend foreword, still pumping into her, and bit her shoulder.

She cried out, part in pain, but mostly in pleasure as orgasm took her.

He looked down at where he had marked her. Seeing it, what it symbolized, caused him to come as well. He yelled as he emptied himself into her.

Tonks collapsed onto the bed, taking him with her. After catching his breath, he rolled off her, pulling her with him into a spooned position.

Everything that had happened that night and just what had happened settled on them both at the same time. Their bodies demanded sleep.

"I love you, Dora." He whispered to her.

"Love you too." She murmured.

They fell asleep in each other's arms, both deeply content.

TBC