Chapter Five

DC: I don't own Harry Potter

Remus needed sleep. That's what he wanted to do anyway. This past month was a hard one for him, with Tonks and Anna then his house and all. But he knew after his quick shower, and a good dinner, he would go and face Tonks.

Anna-Christine slept soundly in the provided crib in his room for the moment. Mrs. Weasley said Hermione and Ginny would be in their room, so if she were to cry for any reason, the two of them would be up there.

Remus thanked Mrs. Weasley for everything, before stepping out in the night air. He prepared himself for the worst. Tonks was very attached to their home. She actually was the one who set it up. She turned weird on him when they got married, but that was okay for Remus.

Before he went, he wanted to see his house for himself. So he first apparated home.

Just like Harry and Ron said, his house was burned. Hardly anything was left, and even if he could try to dig things out it might be still hot. He decided to wait. It would have been best that way.

He took out his wand again and prepared to disapparate. He concentrated on St. Mungo's. After a moment, he popped away.

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A few minutes later he stood in front of Tonks's room door. He took a deep breath, and ran his hand through his graying hair.

He stepped in. Tonks was on her bed reading something. She looked up and smiled. "Hello! Where is Anna?"

"She's at the Burrow. Mrs. Weasley is watching her as she sleeps." Remus said, planting a quick kiss on the cheek. "How are you feeling?"

"The same. Not too much happened today. There just doing weird things with their wand." She looked up at Remus. He looked tired, and worried. "What happened? I know that face, something happened."

Remus took a deep breath. "Well it would seem that our house was burned to the ground."

That was the straightforward attempt. It was the best way to deal with things like this. Tonks wasn't patient with trying to guess what was on your mind. She wanted the truth, and she wanted it sooner not later.

"What?" She asked. "It was…burned?"

"I'm afraid so…" Remus said. "I went there before I came here."

He told Tonks about how he tried to floo, but the fireplace spat him back out. Tonks didn't know that could happen, and asked if he was okay. He was. He only hit his back just a little.

"Looks like we'll have to move…" Tonks said. She sounded really gloomy. "And after all that setting up…and the pictures…"

"There are things still salvageable." Remus said, trying to cheer her up any. "But I was afraid everything was still hot from the fire."

Tonks wiped at her eyes. "Oh, I've got some information too. The Healers found out that I can't have anymore children."

More bad news, but Tonks didn't seem to bothered by it. "I say at least we have one."

Remus smiled. It was looking on the bright side. Anna-Christine was their little miracle. They were lucky to have her.

"Yeah I guess."

Tonks smiled, and rubbed her eyes. Remus guessed the both of them had a long day. "I'm going to let you sleep. If you need anything at all, I'll be at the Burrow."

Tonks gave him a kiss, before he started to leave. "But what about everyone? I mean all these reporters."

"I'll deal with them." Remus said. "You still need to rest."

Before he left the building, he signed Anna-Christine's birth certificate. So now it was official. Anna-Christine was officially real.

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Remus got up early the next day. Partly because Anna was crying, and he wanted to get an early start. After feeding Anna, putting her in the little crib downstairs, and getting dressed, he planned out his day. He wanted to get everything sorted out before he started. On the table, when he finally did reach it, was a not from Mrs. Weasley. She went shopping early.

He was going to go get the Daily Prophet so he could see if it had anything about his house. That was the first thing he needed to do. Then he would have to go tell his story to someone. He wasn't sure who it was going to be. He was thinking the Quibbler, but he wasn't too sure.

Then he would have to go check on Tonks, and maybe see when she was allowed out. He hoped soon, because he didn't want to go look for a house by himself. That reminded him to go see if anything could be saved from the fire.

He sighed. Today was going to be either smooth, or very stressful. He also wanted to take Anna-Christine with him. He needed to find someone who would interview him and keep it to his words, not others.

Both Hermione and Ginny came down the steps. Ginny got some cereal, while Hermione sat down across from Remus.

"Good morning Remus…" Hermione said with a yawn.

"Morning." Remus replied.

Ginny poured out three bowls. Remus took his, and they quietly ate. As they did, an owl came to the window. Ginny opened it, and grabbed the Daily Prophet. She paid the bird, and it flew away.

"Here. I know you've wanted to read it. I'll let you see it first." She said passing it to Remus.

Remus thanked her, and opened it to the cover. There were two big pictures. One of Remus's house, and one picture of his house burned down. He sighed. This was front cover news.

Well the three of them learned that it was an angry wizard from the Prophet that had 'accidentally' lit his house with his wand. The reporter took all responsibility for his actions. There was no body home, of course they knew that, and they don't think anyone was hurt in the fire.

But his house was burned. Muggles had called the Fire Department (What Muggles call to put out fires was their explanation), and they put it out before it could spread out to other houses on the neighborhood.

"Well that's not good." Remus said, after reading the whole thing. "They shouldn't keep people who burn other people's houses down."

"Someone started it?" Hermione asked. "Who?"

"They won't give his name." Remus said. "But it says here that they, or the Ministry, will pay for the new house I get."

"Well at least you won't have to worry then." Ginny said with a smile. "You can pick any house you'd like."

Remus handed the paper back to Ginny. It grew quiet, as the three of them finished their breakfast. A few minutes later, Harry and Ron came down the steps. They too had some cereal, and read the paper.

"That's a good thing." Harry said. "At least they'll pay for your house."

"They should pay for everything else too. You probably lost loads of stuff in that fire." Ron added.

"They should, but I don't think they are going to." Remus said. "They're not going to go that far for me."

"So what are you doing today?" Ginny asked.

"I need to find someone I can trust to interview me. After all this I don't want my new house burning down too." He said with a smile.

"What about…" Hermione thought for a moment, then smiled. "I know Rita Skeeter wouldn't dare add things if I come along."

"Hermione when did you become the queen of blackmail?" Ron asked.

"Ever since she spied on me, and made that story up with Harry." Hermione said. "But really. If I can go with you, I can make her be quiet and to the point."

Remus liked that idea. "Well then. After that I need to see if there is anything I can save from my house."

"We could help you." Harry said. "We really don't have much else to do."

"Okay then. Do the four of you want to be my helpers for today?" Remus asked. They nodded. "Alright. Then we'll leave a note for your mum, and we'll get started. I suppose we should go see Rita Skeeter first."

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Megumi: Hello!

This wasn't exactly how I wanted to do it, but oh well. Hope you like it anyway, and I'm on chapter 7! Yay! Sorry for the long wait.

And to Nadia S. I'm sorry I can't seem to find your email...this message is only if you can actually get to this chapter.

And Remus calls Anna-Christine, Christine, while Tonks calls her Anna. I just call her Anna-Christine because I'm telling the story. So...yeah.

Well...

Love to all, Good and Evil!

Megumi