Hi all,
Sorry for the delay in getting this up. No, I haven't forgotten this story and I have every intention to finish it. I have it all planned out, I just have to find the time to get it all put in order. I'm having fun writing this story, it is my first Mature one, but I love the characters of Lupin and Tonks and I couldn't imagine writing a story about them that wasn't passionate.
I went to an advance screening of Goblet of Fire Monday night...awesome movie! (Although, it is a movie for the book fans, not the casual fan). It really jumpstarted my need to get this story done so I can write more.
Thank you so much for the incredible reviews, I really appreciate them. With work,the holidays and my stupid idea of making all my Christmas presents this year, my time is limited, but I will do my best to get the chapters up quickly!
Enjoy,
Failte
Tonks was not happy that Remus carried his suitcase with him when they arrived at Grimmuald Place. She thought they had settled this disagreement and she was determined to not return to her flat without him that night.
They apparated in front of the house and, without a word to him, she pulled open the door and stormed in, tripping over an upturned edge of the hallway carpet. Remus set his bag just inside the door and offered her his hand. She scowled at him and pushed herself up on her feet. Shrugging, he turned to pull the curtains shut over the yelling image of Mrs. Black.
"That sounds like a Tonks entrance."
Brushing herself off, she looked up and smiled at the Weasley twins as they walked in from the kitchen, "Wotcher, Fred, George."
"Hi Tonks, Remus. I hope you guys are hungry, Mum has been cooking like a madwoman," George said, a cookie in hand.
"We just ate, but I wouldn't mind a bit of dessert," she said following them.
Fred chuckled, "You'll be getting more than just a bit."
The kitchen was already filling up with Molly and Arthur Weasley there with Bill, Fleur, Charlie, and the twins. Kingsley sat at the table with Dedalus Diggle, Mad-Eye Moody, Hagrid and McGonagall, each with a slice of cake in front of them, talking.
"Oh, Tonks, Remus, I'm so glad to see you," Molly bustled over to greet them. "Is there anything I can get you? There is stew and potatoes and steak and kidney pie."
Tonks smiled weakly, Molly had lost more weight and appeared tired. "Thank you, Molly, but we've eaten."
"Dessert then? We have cookies, cake, pie, anything you want. Have a seat. Bill, get some tea, please."
Tonks sat beside Fleur and smiled at the beautiful young woman, "I heard you have some good news."
She grinned and laid a hand on her flat stomach, "Oui, Bill and I are expecting."
"When are you due?"
"De baby is due in July."
"That is so exciting, I'm so happy for you."
"Thank you, Tonks, ve are very excited. I just have to convince Bill dat just because I am pregnant doesn't mean I am helpless."
"I think I'm entitled to worry about you," Bill said, resting a hand on his wife's shoulder.
Fleur reached up and laid her hand over his, smiling up at him, "Oui, oui you are allowed to worry about me, but you don't have to suffocate me."
Molly set a generous slice of chocolate cake in front of Tonks, "He can't help it, dear, when I was pregnant with Bill, Arthur fussed over me terribly, wouldn't let me lift a finger around the house. But by the time Ginny came along, I was degnoming the garden the day before I gave birth."
The kitchen door swung open and a dark haired, pink cheeked witch bustled in. "Sorry I'm running a little late."
Minerva McGonagall stood to greet her, "We're glad you could make it Hestia, we're just waiting now for Sturgis."
Hestia Jones looked around, nodding a greeting to everyone, "Is Mundungus coming?"
"No one has seen or heard from him in over a week," Mad-Eye growled. "And I don't think Podmore is coming."
Kingsley nodded, "Unfortunately, I believe everyone who is going to show up tonight is here."
Minerva stood at the head of the table and waited until everyone had settled around the table before she spoke. "I believe," she began quietly. "That we should take a moment to remember those who cannot be with us tonight, Sirius, Emmeline, and Albus."
Everyone lowered their heads in unison to silently honor those who had fallen.
Clearing her throat and blinking away the moistness in her eyes, Minerva raised her head, "And now we must move on to other business. We have been struck a terrible blow, not only by the loss of our friends, but also by the betrayal of Severus Snape."
A few low, angry murmurs could be heard around the table.
"Kingsley is in charge of the search for him and has promised to keep us all updated. Kingsley?"
The tall black auror slowly nodded his head. "I've followed up on a few sightings, but so far we have not been able to track him down. But be assured, I will not rest until I have him in my hands. We've been interrogating the Death Eaters that have been brought in, but none of them are speaking."
Minerva nodded her head once, sharply. "School has been on at Hogwarts for nearly three months now with no incident. Aurors have been keeping watch both at the school and in Hogsmeade." She sighed deeply. "Unfortunately, less than half our students returned. Horace Slughorn has combined teaching potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts, which hasn't been too difficult since the class sizes are now rather small. There have been no Death Eater sightings since earlier this year, I believe that since neither Albus nor Harry Potter are there, they are no longer interested in the school. Speaking of Harry, have you heard from them lately?"
Molly nodded excitedly and pulled a piece of parchment from the pocket of her apron. The edges were curled and the paper worn. Considering the fact that it had arrived just that morning, Tonks figured Molly had been reading it, rereading it, and toying with it all day.
Carefully unfolding it, Molly read in a shaky voice, "Dear Mum, I know it's been about a week since you heard from me. Hermione's been nagging me to write, but we've been busy. Don't worry, we're all fine. I can't really go into much detail. I just wanted to let you and Dad know that we're fine and the hunt is going well, a little longer than we thought it would, but we're getting close and hope to be home soon. Harry and Hermione say hello. See you soon, Love, Ron."
With great care, she folded it back up and slipped it back into her apron's pocket. Arthur took her hand and gently squeezed.
Minerva smiled weakly at Molly, "Thank you for sharing. And since that arrived today we know they are still doing well, I just wish we knew more about where they were and what they were doing."
Mad-Eye shook his head, "They can't tell us, if the letter were to fall into the wrong hands, that would be the end of them."
The next hour they shared the rumors that had been circulating about Death Eaters as well as all the sightings and captures that had taken place. Speculation over where Harry might be was followed by discussion of how the muggle world was being directly influenced.
Arthur cleared his throat, "Remus, what have you learned from the werewolves?"
"Nothing," Remus sighed tiredly. "Even those who will talk to me have nothing nice to say. They still think the wizarding world is only getting what they deserve and they think I'm a traitor for siding with you all."
"A bounty has been put on his head," Mad-Eye added. "I've been hearing how Greyback has put a price on him and I don't think it's safe for Remus to continue this assignment."
"Oh, I agree," Minerva said. "We can't allow you to put yourself into such danger. We greatly appreciate all your work and sacrifice, Remus, but there is so much more you can be doing to help us than trying to convince the werewolves to join us."
Lupin nodded.
"And I would like to talk to you about that later," she continued. "Does anyone else have anything to discuss?"
From there the meeting became more casual as they sat around the table and talked about anything that came to mind, from where Voldemort might be to advice for Fleur on handling morning sickness. Molly began straightening up, Tonks and Fleur rose to help her. Hestia and Dedalus bade the others good night as they left followed soon after by Kingsley and then Hagrid and Professor McGonagall. The twins showed Mad-Eye some of the new inventory they were planning to sell in their store. Bill and Remus sat with their heads close
"How is Ginny doing?" Tonks asked, helping Molly put away the leftover food.
Molly shook her head, "She's so quiet. I know she's worried about Harry, but she doesn't want to talk about it. She's doing well at school, even made Prefect this year, but she just doesn't seem too interested. I just don't know what to say or do."
"Maybe I'll send her an owl."
"Oh, would you, Tonks? Maybe she'll talk to you."
"I'd be happy to," Tonks smiled. She flicked her wrist, intending to send a clean bowl to the cupboard by the hutch, accidentally sending it flying towards Remus' head.
He ducked out of the way just in time and looked at her as the bowl smashed against the wall behind him.
"Trouble in paradise?" Bill teased as Remus pointed his wand at the bowl, repairing it and sending it back to the cupboard.
"It was an accident," Tonks replied. "Are you okay?"
Remus nodded, "I'm fine, but I think you should let Molly and Fleur finish putting everything away."
She stuck her tongue out at him.
"Remus, I received your owl earlier," Molly said. "I prepared the room you stayed in last time for you."
"Thank you, Molly, I appreciate that but it wasn't necessary."
"No bother, I had a little free time."
Mad-Eye nodded his approval, "This is a good place for you to hide out in for a while."
Tonk clenched her teeth and didn't seem to notice that her eye color darkened to black.
"That's what I thought," Lupin murmured, stealing a glance at Tonks.
Bill stood when he saw Fleur try to hide a yawn behind her hand. "It's getting late, I think it's time to head on home."
Molly looked around, apparently pleased with what she saw. "Yes, dear, I think your right, your father has to be in early tomorrow morning."
"We have to get to the store and prepare for the holiday sales," George said excitedly. "We have some great ideas with Christmas crackers."
"And Petit Fours that cause the victim, uh, I mean customer, to grow a thick, white beard," Fred added.
Mrs. Weasley shook her head, "I don't want to hear about it boys."
Remus and Tonks followed the others as they went to the front door where they quietly exchanged farewells, hoping to avoid disturbing Mrs. Black's portrait. Tonks stepped out onto the front stoop and watched as they all apparated.
It was cold as she wrapped her arms around her body, quietly wondering why she didn't have a jacket or cloak. Tonks tilted her head back and stared up at the clear sky, wondering what she should do next. She knew she should just go home and go to bed. Work was still coming in the morning and standing here waiting for Remus to explain why it was better for him to stay here than with her was not something she wanted to hear.
"Tonks."
For a moment, she considered ignoring him, but thought better of it. The last thing in the world she wanted from him was a lecture on how she was being immature. "I, uh, I guess I'm going to head back to my flat."
"Don't go like this," he said, his voice low and tired.
She turned to face him, "Like what?"
"You're upset."
"Yeah."
He held his hand out, "Come inside, Dora."
"You told me you wouldn't leave me," she whined.
"I'm not leaving you."
"You're staying here."
"It isn't permanent. Just for a little while, until the talk of finding me dies down."
Feeling a little guilty about her selfish behavior, Tonks took the hand he still held out to her, "Did you give Mad-Eye the mugwort?"
"Yeah, he seemed grateful."
"What was it for?"
"I didn't ask, I wasn't too sure I wanted to know."
She smiled as he pulled her toward the door, "It's probably better not to know."
"Stay with me tonight," he whispered, hugging her tightly.
Unable to deny him, Tonks tilted her head back and smiled at him, "Maybe."
"I'll be all alone in the big empty house."
"You choose to stay here."
"I'm only thinking of your safety."
"I can take care of myself."
He lowered his forehead to hers, "I know you can."
"You'll still cook for me, right?"
"You're thinking about food right now?"
"Well, without you at my place, I'll probably waste away."
"How did you survive before I cooked for you?"
"I mooched off my parents."
Remus chuckled. "When do you have to be in to work?"
"9:00."
"Stay the night with me."
"I still don't like that you're staying here."
"It isn't forever."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Early the next morning, Tonks slipped from Remus' bed and apparated to her flat. After a quick shower and a clean change of clothes, she arrived at the Ministry to find it bustling with activity.
She pushed her way past a group of junior aurors talking quietly together and with a flick of her wrist, she undid the locking charm on her desk.
"Oh, it's green today, huh?"
Tonks looked over her shoulder to see Dunne approaching her, "Hi Paul. Yeah, I thought I would try something different."
"I like the length, but I'm not sure of the color."
"I'll keep that in mind. What is going on around here?"
"You haven't heard?"
"If I had heard, I wouldn't be asking. What is it, Paul?"
"A huge bring down last night," Dunne said excitedly. "Rookwood and Nott have been captured."
"Really?"
"Yeah, it happened real late, more like early this morning. We have reason to believe they had something, or everything to do with Florian Fortescue's disappearance."
"They haven't found his body yet, right?" Tonks asked.
"No, not yet."
"As long as there is no body, there is still hope that he's alive."
"I wouldn't get my hopes up, Tonks."
"Let's see," she tapped her bottom lip with her fingertip. "With Nott and Rookwood brought in, that brings the number of known, living Death Eaters arrested to eleven. Their numbers are dwindling."
"If we could just get Snape, Dolohov and the Lestranges, the others are too weak to act on their own and would be easier to get."
"Bellatrix is mine," Tonks growled.
"You'll have to get in line for that honor."
"Tonks! Dunne!" Robards' voice cut across the room to them. "Front and center!"
"Yes sir?" Tonks asked, quickly jogging over to him.
"There have been rumors of someone matching Dolohov's description seen in the Hogsmeade area. We are sending a group of aurors over there to check it out. I want the two of you, along with Larson, Fitzgerald, Hawthorne, and Stewart to head over to Hogwarts and secure the perimeter. There are four aurors already there, you will be there to work with them. Be prepared to stay there for at least a week, go home, pack a few necessities and be back here in thirty minutes."
They both nodded and Robards moved on to find Fitzgerald.
"Well, I guess I'll see you back here in half an hour," Dunne said.
Tonks nodded.
"Hey, Tonks?"
"What?"
"Are you, uh, are you going to tell Lupin where you're going?"
"Yes, I don't want him to worry."
"Maybe…maybe you shouldn't."
"Why?"
"For safety reasons."
Tonks narrowed her eyes and took a step closer to him, "You don't know Remus, I trust him with my life, I trust him more than I trust most of the people in this room. If you can't learn to keep your uninformed opinions to yourself, I will have to find another partner."
"I'm just looking out for you."
"I don't need you to," she snapped, whirling around and leaving the office.
Tonks angrily stuffed clothing into a knapsack, grumbling under her breath.
"Who the hell does he think he is? He doesn't even know Remus, everyone who does, knows that he is an amazing man, he would never hurt me. He is the kindest, gentlest man I've ever known. Stupid Dunne." Turning quickly, she tripped and fell on her hands and knees, catching herself before she cracked her head on the corner of her dresser.
Tonks sat on the floor and took three deep breaths. She had to rein in her anger and frustration. Suddenly, painfully, she was swamped with the need to talk to Sirius. She missed his smile and easy manner. More than anything, she wanted to sit down and talk to him, ask him what he would do. She knew what he would do. The second Sirius found out Dunne was bad-mouthing his best mate, he would march into the Ministry and beat the snot out of him.
"Damn Voldemort," she muttered, rubbing at her sore knee. "This is all his fault. Everyone is skeptical of each other, you don't know who you can trust or where you can go or what is going to happen."
With a sigh, she pushed herself to her feet and turned to her dresser. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, the long, tousled hair and pushed it out of her eyes. Knowing it would only get in the way, she stared at her reflection and watched as her hair shortened and lightened until it was back to short, pink spikes.
"I don't know why you keep going back to pink," the mirror sighed. "I like your brown hair."
"But it's dull," Tonks argued.
"It is not, you're such a lovely girl with a handsome boyfriend."
"Thank you, oh dammit, it's late, why didn't you tell me it was so late!"
"I'm a mirror, not a clock, dear."
With a scowl, Tonks whirled around and grabbed her knapsack off her bed, "I'll have to send Remus an owl from Hogwarts."
"Good luck, dear!" Her mirror called after her.
"Thanks!"
Professor McGonagall greeted the six aurors at the front door of Hogwarts. She showed them to two empty dorm rooms where they would be staying, one for the three male aurors and one for the three females.
"You will want to work out a schedule," McGonagall explained. "I requested the presence of more aurors at the school because of the Dolohov sightings. You're relieving the four aurors who have moved into Hogsmeade. I didn't want to take the chance of him getting near the castle. I was hoping you could work it out so that two of you are patrolling the castle at all times."
Bridget Fitzgerald nodded, as the oldest auror there, she took over command of the group. "That shouldn't be a problem, Professor, we'll get on that now."
After the headmistress left, Fitzgerald made a quick schedule, splitting the day up into shifts. They would all be staying in the castle and there were three set meeting times a day when they would all get together.
Tonks and Dunne were going to start their first shift that evening. With the free time, Tonks made her way up to the school's owlry.
She quickly scrawled a note to Remus, explaining to him that she was on duty at Hogwarts and she would see him again as soon as she could. Looking over her shoulder to make sure she was alone, Tonks pressed a kiss to the parchment just below her signature, leaving a lip print. She rolled up the paper and found a brown barn owl.
"Take this to Remus Lupin, please."
The owl blinked and held its leg out to her.
Tonks leaned against the windowsill and watched the owl until it became nothing more than a tiny dot against the late autumn sky. She lowered her gaze to the grounds far beneath her. Students moved through the courtyard on their way to classes. It broke her heart a little to see so few when there should have been so many. She remembered back on her days at Hogwarts, the fun she had, the trouble she had gotten into. Her imagination wandered to what it might have been like with Remus, Sirius, James, and Lily had been there. In her mind, she didn't think of Peter Pettigrew as being one of their friends, he was too evil a manto have ever been a misguided boy.
A breeze swept through the narrow window and washed over Tonks, breaking her from her daydreams. Her eyes did one more perusal of the courtyard and fell upon a lone figure sitting beneath a tree, her head down and ginger colored hair dancing with the light wind.
"Ginny," Tonks whispered.
She hurried down the steps and through the nearly empty halls of the castle, nodding to Professor Sinistra as she passed her and waving to Nearly Headless Nick. When she stepped out into the crisp November air, Tonks saw Ginny huddled against the trunk of a bare tree, her head down and a slip of parchment clutched in her hands. "Wotcher Ginny!"
The young woman looked up, surprised to see Tonks crossing the courtyard to her. Ginny jumped to her feet and shoved the parchment into the pocket of her robe. "Tonks? Uh, hi, what, uh, what are you doing here?"
"Had some free time, thought I would stop by see how you're doing."
"Really?"
Tonks shrugged, she didn't agree with Molly's way of keeping the kids in the dark about everything. "There have been sightings in Hogsmeade and they sent a few of us to help secure the castle, make sure nothing happened here."
"Oh."
Tonks studied the pretty young girl standing in front of her and saw herself. Months ago, when she had thought Remus would never love her, Tonks had worn the same pale expression of despair. Ginny stood before her, her hair hanging long and limp around her pale face. Her eyes were dull and unseeing. She was hurt. The deep pain that came from love, loss, worry, and fear, not for herself, but for someone she loved.
"Ginny?"
"Yes?"
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Ginny looked down at her hands, twisting them together in front of her. "I, uh, I haven't heard from him in nearly a month."
"Oh, but he's okay. Ron wrote to your Mum and told her they were all okay."
"I know. It's just…"
"You'd feel better hearing it from him."
"Yeah. I mean, when he left, I told him he didn't have to worry about writing to me, he has enough on his mind and all, but…"
"You just wish he would take that moment to send word."
Ginny blushed, "Am I selfish for thinking that? I mean he's out there saving the entire world and here I am wondering why he hasn't written to me."
Tonks laid a gentle hand on her arm, "That's not selfish at all. You're only human Gin, and you love him. I know how you feel."
"Thanks," Ginny whispered, tears shining in her eyes. "Don't get me wrong, I'm worried about Ron and Hermione too."
"I know, they know. You have nothing to feel guilty about, all you're doing is upsetting yourself more."
"I can't help it," she hiccupped, wiping a tear away.
Tonks pulled her close and hugged her tightly. Ginny accepted her comfort gladly and cried softly against her shoulder.
After a few moments, Ginny pulled herself together and stepped back, smiling sheepishly. "Sorry about that."
"There's nothing to be sorry about. Looks like you needed a good cry."
"Yeah, I think I did. I, uh, I didn't realize how empty Hogwarts would seem without Harry, Ron, and Hermione. It just…it doesn't seem the same."
"Speaking of which, why aren't you in class right now?" Tonks asked, raising her eyebrow.
"I don't have one this period?"
"Ginny."
"I needed a break. Its potions and Slughorn likes me so much, he doesn't get angry if I skive off class."
"Do you do this often?"
"No."
"Ginny, you're a Prefect. Don't get me wrong, I've skived off a few classes in my day, but now is not the time to do that. You need your classes and lessons and sitting out here, in the cold, worrying about Harry isn't going to make things any better."
"I know."
"Your mother is worrying about you."
"She shouldn't, she has enough to worry about. Did you hear that Phlegm, uh, Fleur is pregnant?"
"Yes, that's very exciting."
Ginny shrugged.
"You're not excited about becoming an aunt?"
"Is this really the best time to be bringing a baby into the world?"
"Your brothers were all born during the first wizarding war," Tonks pointed out.
"You had to find a hole in my logic, didn't you?"
"Yup."
Ginny looked up at the castle and sighed, "I guess I should head in before Divination starts."
"Yeah, you don't want to upset Firenze."
"He's very nice, actually."
"I'm sure he is."
"Have…have you guys heard anything about…about you-know-who?" Ginny asked as they walked back to the castle.
Tonks shook her head, "Not of him, specifically, but his followers have been causing more trouble. We've caught eleven known Death Eaters. They aren't talking, but it's nice to have them behind bars. We haven't been getting any details from Ron's letters, but he has to be careful in case the owl in intercepted."
"Yeah, I know. It's just that…this not knowing is driving me crazy."
"It's driving us all a little crazy."
Ginny stopped at the door into the castle and turned to face Tonks, "I know. Sometimes I fell like I'm all alone."
"But you aren't. Ginny, if you ever need to talk, you can contact me. I'm always here for you if you need me."
"Thanks, Tonks, maybe…" She trailed off, something distracting her.
Tonks looked over her shoulder, her eyes widening at the sight of a snowy white owl soaring toward them.
"Hedwig," Ginny gasped, watching as she flew down. The owl landed on her shoulder and held out its leg. "Hi, girl," Ginny said shakily, untying the parchment. Her fingers trembled as she unrolled the small slip of paper.
"Gin?"
Blinking back tears that gathered in her eyes, the young witch shook her head, "It's personal."
"He's okay?"
"Yeah, he's okay. Um, I have to go."
Tonks nodded.
Without another word, Ginny pulled open the door and hurried within. Hedwig fluttered around Tonks for a moment, seemingly confused.
"There's food and water up in the owlry," Tonks said. "I'm sure she'll want to send a response, she just needs time."
Hedwig clicked her beak in response and took off toward the tower housing the other owls.
Tonks checked her watch again and decided to settle in to the dorm room she was assigned to before going in search of her partner. This will be kind of fun, she thought. Kinda like being back in school. I just wish Remus was here so I had an excuse to sneak into his dorm at night.
Sitting on the pillow of the bed where her knapsack sat was a small, grey owl. Tonks tilted her head and studied the owl, not recognizing him. "Hello?"
The bird hopped forward, holding its leg out to her. She untied the parchment and read the short note:
Dora,
Thank you for letting me know where you are. Watch your back and take care of yourself, I'll be eagerly awaiting your return.
Yours,
Remus
She smiled and folded up the slip of paper, laying it on the bedside table. She was eagerly awaiting her return too.