"You're worthy of my love."

Tonks' words echoed in Remus' mind as he gently closed the front door of 12 Grimmuald Place behind him. He crept past the curtains that hid Mrs. Black's portrait and down the stairs to the cavernous silence of the empty kitchen. A small smile crossed his lips when he saw a covered plate on the table and a note from Molly. Since he had moved into Grimmuald Place, she had dropped off, or had someone drop off, dinner for him each night.

"You're worthy of my love."

Not feeling very hungry, he decided to forego the meal for now and poured himself a glass of pumpkin juice. Remus lowered himself onto the bench and tried to ignore the overwhelming feelings of loneliness that washed over him. After so many years alone, he thought he should have been used to it. But all of that had been washed away by the short amount of time he had spent with Tonks.

"You're worthy of my love."

Remus was fully aware of how she felt about him. He saw it every time he looked at her. Even the previous year, before he had sorted out his feelings concerning the pretty, young auror, he knew. He would catch her studying him and she would smile flirtatiously. Remus convinced himself it was just a little crush, she was confused, especially after she was injured and Sirius had died.

After the incident at the Department of Mysteries, Tonks had gone from St. Mungo's to Grimmuald Place, at Dumbledore's insistence. She was still shaky and weak and the leader of the Order didn't want her to be alone. Remus shuddered at the memory of her being hit by the spell and sliding, seemingly lifeless, down the stone benches. Looking after her while she recovered had given him something to do to take his mind off of Sirius. They had bonded in their grief for a lost friend and had grown from friendly acquaintances to close friends.

It had been a week after the Department of Mysteries that she had awkwardly told him that she was falling in love with him. Remus knew he would never forget the quick fluttering followed by the jumble of happiness, fear, excitement, and sadness. He had spent his entire life convincing himself that no woman would ever love him, that he was destined to be alone. He had become comfortable in his loneliness, the rut he had carved for himself. The last thing in the world he wanted to do was to drag this beautiful young woman who was so full of life, who could barely walk three feet without tripping herself, down into his existence.

But damned if Tonks wasn't persistent. She wouldn't allow him to hide behind the excuses of their age difference or the fact that he didn't make enough to support them or even that he was too dangerous. For the first time since his days with the Marauders, someone cared enough to get close to him. She didn't care that he was being shunned because of his condition or that he had been forced to give up his own home because he couldn't afford the upkeep after he had left Hogwarts. She just wanted him. Old, dull, bookworm Remus. He had never been sure that he deserved James' and Sirius' friendship and he knew he wasn't worthy of her love.

He loved her madly. He loved her inquisitive nature, her quick wit, and her playfulness. He loved the way she eagerly read everything he wrote, but she wasn't shy about telling him about a passage she didn't like and she had proven to be a strict proofreader. He loved that they were able to talk through and handle their differences and arguments and how it always led to amazing make-up sex.

The sex was another topic altogether. Remus hadn't been a virgin when they had met, but he was very inexperienced. It had been a long time for him and it had been difficult for him to be able to open that part of himself up to her. But Tonks had been sweet and gentle in her coaxing. When he finally slept with her, the first time had been bumbling and clumsy, rather embarrassing for him. But she wasn't ready to give up and they had several more practice sessions, finding new and intimate ways to grow even closer.

Remus rubbed his hand over his face. He knew he was in love with her and he knew he wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of his life showing her how much. But he couldn't bring himself to say the words. What if she woke up one morning and realized that she regretted tying herself down to a werewolf? What if she wanted marriage and children? He loved her enough to want that with her, but he couldn't pretend he was normal when he wasn't. He couldn't father children with her, with anyone. No matter how he looked at it, he was an animal and that was never going to change. He couldn't support her. She deserved so much more.

For what must have been the millionth time since they started seeing each other, Remus considered the possibility of breaking it off with her. For her own good. Cut the ties now before they both got in too deep.

"Who am I trying to fool?" He asked the empty room. "We are both in way over our heads. I love her. I do. I love Nymphadora Tonks. I am an adult, not a tongue-tied teenager. Why can't I tell her that? Why can't I tell her what she wants to hear?"

Of course there was no answer and the deafening silence almost drove him back to Hogwarts so he could slip into bed with her and just hold her.

Shaking his head, trying to clear the confusion, Remus set the glass in the sink and retired upstairs to the room he was staying in. He had promised Moody and McGonagall that he would finish sorting some papers that had been found in Dumbledore's belongings. It was proving to be an easy task that took his mind off his troubles.

Remus had just taken a stack of parchment out of the drawer when a gentle tapping noise caught his attention. Glancing around the room, he saw the glowing eyes of a dark brown owl through the grimy window. He crossed the room and, with a groan, pushed up the sticking window. The owl held its leg out and hopped impatiently while Lupin untied the parchment.

Darling,

I will never again be able to get a broom from a cupboard without feeling a bit tingly.

I love you.

Dora

Remus chuckled, "Only you could use the word tingly without it sounding silly. I love you too, Dora."

The following afternoon, Tonks was able to catch up with Ginny in the Gryffindor common room after the last period of the day. The young girl was curled up in a chair by the fire, watching the flames, with a book lying open on her lap.

"Wotcher Ginny."

"Oh, hi, what's up?"

"Do you have a few minutes?"

"Sure."

Tonks inclined her head toward the portrait hole, "Let's go for a walk."

Ginny marked the page in the book with a spare piece of parchment and setit on an end table. She didn't say anything as she walked past Tonks and through the portrait hole.

"How're you doing, Gin?"

"Since I last spoke to you three days ago? I'm great."

"How's Harry doing?"

Ginny tensed. "I haven't heard from him since the other day. He, uh, he seems to being doing all right."

"I have to tell you, Gin, that I slipped up, I was talking with Professor McGonagall and Remus and I let it slip that Harry wrote to you."

"Oh."

"I told them that it was personal and Remus pointed out that if there was anything the Order needed to know you would have told us."

"And you want to know if he said anything."

"I don't want to pry."

Giny shrugged. "It's okay. I would have told you. He couldn't really tell me anything in case Hedwig was intercepted. He…he just wanted to let me know that…that he was doing all right and that he didn't want me to worry."

"Easier said than done, huh?"

"Yeah."

"I seem to be slipping up a lot lately. I was talking about Sirius to my partner and he was convinced I was a dark wizard."

Ginny furrowed her brow in confusion, "But I thought he was cleared of all charges?"

"He was, officially, but you have to remember that for fifteen years everyone thought he had turned the Potters over to Voldemort and that he killed thirteen muggles and Pettigrew. It's still hard for people to believe in his innocence. And I guess I sounded a bit mad defending him to Dunne like I did. It's just so hard sometimes to know who you can and can't trust nowadays."

"I know what you mean. I can't talk to Harry and I can't talk to anyone about Harry and what I know about him and Ron and Hermione. I have to constantly worry about slipping up."

Tonks smiled sympathetically, "You can always talk to me and Remus if you like."

"Thanks."

"Have you made it to all your classes over the last couple of days?"

"Yeah."

"What about Quidditch?"

The young woman shrugged, "I dropped that this year. I just wasn't interested."

"But, Ginny, you love Quidditch."

"I know, but, well, everyone has kind of let it fall to the wayside. We have other things on our minds."

"No one's playing at all?"

"Yeah, there are teams, but they aren't very good. It looks like Hufflepuff is going to win the house cup this year."

"I guess it's their turn," Tonks said. "It has been a few years since they won."

"Yeah."

"Are you looking forward to the Christmas holiday?"

"I guess so. The whole family is supposed to be there, well, probably not Ron and definitely not Percy, but as far as I'm concerned, he's not part of the family any more."

"It'll do your mother good to have a full house."

"Yeah, she's always happiest when she's busy fussing over all of us."

Tonks glanced up at the late afternoon sky, watching it darken as streaks of red, orange, and pink lit the horizon. "I guess we should head back to the castle, it'll be dinner time soon."

"Yeah, I guess so."

"I meant what I said, Gin. If you ever need to talk or anything, you can come to me. I know you think you're alone right now, but you're not and right now, we need to lean on each other even more."

"Thanks, Tonks."

"Come on," she threaded her arm through the younger girl's. "I am starving. Seriously, I forgot how good the food was here. When this assignment is over, I think I'm going to come back for lunch every day."

"Don't let Hermione find out that you're taking advantage of the house elves."

"She means well."

"Yeah. Tonks?"

"What?"

"I think you should know that, uh…" Ginny trailed off, blushing.

"Know what?"

"Um, last night, Minnie Grandier was doing rounds, she's a fifth year Prefect from Ravenclaw, and she, uh, she said she saw you and Professor Lupin…"

"Oh no!" Tonks gasped, clasping her hand over her mouth. "What…what did she say she saw?"

"That the two of you stumbled out of a broom cupboard near the History of Magic classroom and you looked a little…disheveled." Ginny bit her lip to keep from laughing.

"Remus is going to kill me," Tonks groaned.

"Don't worry, she told me and I told her not to tell anyone."

"Thanks, Gin, if Remus found out that students were talking about us…"

"I think it was sweet."

Tonks grinned, "Yeah, it was."

"But you guys might want to be more careful on school grounds."

"Are you lecturing me?"

"I am a Prefect."

Tonks laughed, finding the fact that Ginny Weasley was lecturing her about sneaking off with her boyfriend rather funny. "Yes, Ma'am, we'll try and be more subtle."

"Try the cloak room on the seventh floor," Ginny said slyly. "It's not used anymore and it's quite private."

"I'll pretend you didn't just tell me that, but, uh, thanks for the tip." Tonks pulled open the door and stepped back to let Ginny through. "I won't ask how you knew, either."

Ginny opened her mouth to respond, but the sound of a muted explosion caused her to whip her head around.

Tonks whirled, her wand in hand, her eyes searching the grounds. "Oh no."

Ginny let out a small cry when she saw what Tonks was looking at. The large, smoky image of the Dark Mark appeared in the sky beyond the trees, hovering above Hogsmeade.

"Go!" Tonks shoved Ginny inside. "Go find McGonagall and make sure she knows what is going on. Stay inside the castle and don't do anything stupid!" Without another look back, Tonks ran toward the edge of the castle grounds, she had to get past the wards to apparate.

"Tonks! Don't!"

She turned and saw Dunne running towards her, his arms waving. "What?"

"Fitzgerald wants us to stay here and keep watch over the castle. There are aurors already posted in Hogsmeade."

"But Bellatrix could be there!" She cried exasperatedly as another muted explosion was heard.

"We're needed here, Tonks. Come on, we're supposed to be posted at the west side of the castle."

Her hand convulsively clutched her wand as she followed him around the side of the castle. She could see the other aurors spreading out over the grounds, joined by Hagrid, McGonagall, and Professors Sinestra, Vector, and Flitwick. They worked as a well-oiled machine, circling Hogwarts, all armed with their wands.

Tonks scanned the sky above her before shifting her gaze to the trees of the Forbidden Forest. Her heart raced with anticipation. She wanted this battle to happen, she wanted it all to be over. What were the Death Eaters doing in Hogsmeade any way? Was this a sign that they were running scared? They had nothing more to lose, so go somewhere where they knew there would be a bunch of aurors? Was this a sign that Voldemort was in trouble? Or worse, had he defeated Harry and they were celebrating by wrecking havoc in Hogsmeade?

After nearly thirty minutes of no more explosions, Minerva returned to the castle after having a few words with Fitzgerald and Hagrid. Ten minutes later, Fitzgerald called all the aurors to meet in front of the castle's main entrance.

"We haven't heard anything in a while," she said in her thick brogue. "You are not clear, I want to continue to patrol the grounds until we hear from the aurors in town. I am going to let the Professors and Hagrid go so they can patrol within the castle. Keep your eyes open and stay vigilant."

The six of them broke off into their teams of two and went their separate ways.

"I hate not knowing what is going on," Tonks grumbled as she and Dunne walked along the edge of the forest.

"We'll find out soon enough."

"What do you think this means?"

"That the Death Eaters are attacking Hogsmeade."

"I know that. I was wondering if this could mean that Voldemort is running scared or that…"

"That he has defeated Potter?" Dunne finished for her.

Tonks shuddered, "I certainly hope it isn't that. Harry's just a kid."

"Yeah, and the hopes of the entire world depends on that kid."

"He's a good kid, and he's smart. I have faith in Harry, Ron, and Hermione."

"I just can't believe that the Ministry didn't send aurors after them."

Tonks shook her head, "This is a fight only Harry can take on."

"Do you know more about what's going on with Potter than I do?"

She shrugged, "I know Harry, he and Remus are close."

Dunne opened his mouth as though he was about to say something, but apparently thought better of it.

"Paul! Tonks!"

They both turned to see Hagrid lumbering toward them. "Professor McGonagall sent me to come and getcha."

"Is everything all right?" Tonks asked.

"Meeting in McGonagall's office as soon as everyone gets there."

The two of them ran toward the castle as Hagrid went to find the others. Minerva was pacing her office when they arrived. Fitzgerald and her partner, David Larson, were already there, as well as Kingsley and another auror, Francine Hansford. Both Kingsley and Hansford looked a little worse for wear. Kingsley had a cut on his cheek and his robes were smoking, Hansford was cradling her left arm to her chest, a large bruise was forming on her chin, and a bit of her hair was singed.

"Good, good, you're here," Minerva said when the last two arrived. "Kingsley?"

He nodded and turned to the others in the room. "I know you all saw the Dark Mark. At twelve minutes before 18:00 hours this evening the Dark Mark appeared above Honeydukes in Hogsmeade."

Tonks gasped while Larson swore quietly under his breath.

"We had six aurors already in Hogsmeade," Kingsley continued. "A dozen more apparated to the scene where the body Ambrosius Flume and his wife were found. A fire had been set at Zonko's Joke Shop, but it appears everyone was able to get out safely. There were four Death Eaters spotted at the scene…"

"Bellatrix," Tonks whispered.

He nodded, "The Lestranges were there, but they escaped. However, Antonin Dolohov was apprehended and taken to Azkaban for questioning. All is clear for now, but we are keeping twelve aurors in Hogsmeade for the foreseeable future. I also received word from Robards that the six of you will be staying here for a bit longer, he will be in touch with you all shortly."

"Is there any other news?" Fitzgerald asked.

"They found the body of Florian Fortescue, his death is be attributed to Death Eaters. A building just outside Portsmouth collapsed, fifteen muggles were killed and dozens of others injured, it is believed to have been the work of Death Eaters. And it appears Fenrir Greyback bit another child when he was in full wolf form."

Fitzgerald raised her eyebrows in surprise, "Another child?"

"Yes, we can positively attribute another child being bitten by Greyback almost thirty years ago. There have been a handful of adult bitings that we believe he did, but we can't be positive. Most werewolves don't cooperate to testing."

Tonks ignored the pointed look Dunne was shooting her. "Any word from Harry Potter?"

Kingsley shook his head, "No, not for several days. Minerva and I have spoken and I will be acting as intermediary between Hogwarts and the Ministry. If there is any information you need I'll make sure you're told and vice versa. Any other questions?" He waited a beat and nodded. "Then you're all dismissed. Stay vigilant and be prepared. Tonks, I would like to speak with you."

They waited for the other five aurors to leave and for Hansford to limp off to the infirmary before McGonagall sealed the door.

"Does Remus know?" Tonks asked quietly. "About the child?"

Kingsley nodded, "He's going to contact the girl's parents."

"It was a little girl?"

"Yes. Hannah St. John, six years old."

Tonks' eyes narrowed and white hot fury bubbled up inside her. "Damn him."

"We'll find him," he vowed. "I wanted to remind you, Tonks, that you are our eyes and ears on the floor of the castle. Minerva told me that Ginny Weasley received a letter from Harry."

"Yes, I spoke with her today. She said that it just told her that he was alive and doing well. Like Ron's letters, he isn't saying much for fear of the owl being intercepted."

"There has been talk at the ministry, with Greyback out and killing more and the collapse of the building, the Death Eaters are becoming more visual, even though their numbers are dwindling. None of those we've caught are talking and we're planning on administering Veritaserum. But there's more, Tonks. The girl who was bit?"

"Hannah St. John?"

"Yes." Kingsley exchanged a look with Minerva. "We believe she was chosen for a specific reason. She's a metamorphmagus. We think Greyback used her to send a message."

Tonks closed her eyes and sighed. "I really hate that man! He should've just come after me and not an innocent child!"

"He's just that sadistic and cowardly. Why should he take on an auror when he can easily attack a helpless child? I just wanted you to know so you can be on your guard."

"Yes, sir."

"Once word of the attack in Hogsmead reaches parents, I'm sure more children will be pulled from Hogwarts," Minerva said sadly.

"Maybe…maybe it's for the best," Tonks said hesitantly.

The headmistress' shoulders slumped, "I never thought I would believe it, but I think you might be right."

Tonks returned to the room she shared with Fitzgerald and Stewart. Rebecca Stewart was sitting at one of the desks writing furiously on a piece of parchment.

"You've had an owl," she muttered to Tonks.

"Yeah, thanks." Tonks realized she was expecting one as soon as the Dark Mark had appeared over Hogsmeade. This time it was a larger barn owl sitting regally at the foot of her bed.

Dora,

I heard about the attack in Hogsmeade and what Greyback did. Be careful. I instructed this owl to stay with you until you respond to this letter, I just need to know you're all right. I have a job to do, but as soon as I can, I'll stop by and see you.

Take care.

Love,

Remus

Tonks stuffed the letter in the pocket of her robes and sat at the other desk. Finding a piece of parchment and a quill she scrawled out a quick note.

Remus,

Don't worry about me, I'm fine, just be careful and take care of yourself. Don't push yourself too hard. I won't expect you until after the moon.

Love you,

Dora

The full moon was going to be rising in another week and a half and it worried her that he was working so hard and was going to be getting very weak very soon. She knew he would push himself too hard to help the Order and that just wasn't healthy for him.

"Here, take this back to Remus," she instructed the owl as she tied the parchment to its leg.

"You okay, Tonks?"

She looked over at Stewart. "What?"

"You look a little pale."

"Oh, yeah, I'm fine. My stomach is jumping a bit."

Stewart nodded, "That's understandable, what with all that's been going on. I'm writing my mother now to tell her about the Flumes, she went to Hogwarts with them. She'll be devestated."

"We all are. They were such kind people. I can't tell you how many trips to Honeydukes I went on when I was a student here. I think I'll go down to the kitchens and get some tea."

"That sounds good. I have to send this letter and then I'll meet you down there."