Waning Crescent Moon
Tonks awoke to the phone ringing. "Hello?"
"Hi, Tonks."
"Marcus?"
Click. "Hello?"
"Hi, Remus."
"Marcus?"
"I've got this one." Tonks said.
"Oh, okay." Click. Remus hung up.
"How do you know I don't want to talk with him?" Marcus asked.
"Do you?"
"No."
Tonks laughed. "What can I do for you?"
"You can go to a concert with me tomorrow - not as a date," he said quickly. "But I thought maybe it would help with your . . . Remus problem."
"What are you planning?" she asked skeptically.
"I want to make Remus so jealous that he realizes what he should have done the first time he met you."
"And what was that?"
"Sweep you off your feet onto a white horse and off into the sunset-" Marcus nearly gaged. Where did he come up with this shit?
"To live happily ever after and all that fairy tale nonsense?" she asked, smiling. "That's sweet, Marcus."
"You aren't really prepared to wait for him forever, are you?"
"Till the end of the world," she assured him.
Was there nothing he could do to change her mind? "Really?" he asked. "Because I'm sure I could find a white horse somewhere and me and you could-"
"Sorry, Marcus."
"Oh, well," he said. "I had to try. But seriously, you should go with me. It will be fun, and maybe Remus will go insane with jealousy in the process. I mean, he still thinks I fancy you, right? So, who knows? I'm curious as to how he'll react."
He honestly didn't think Remus would react at all. It was clear to Marcus that the man just didn't want to get into a relationship with Tonks. But she was still crazy about him. Maybe if Marcus could show her that Remus didn't care for her in that way . . .
"I'm not sure he'll react at all." Tonks told him. "There's that self-control of his."
"Oh, yeah. I forgot about that."Marcus was silent for a moment. "It can't hurt to try, right?"
"Marcus, I can't," she said. "I made a promise."
"That you wouldn't go out with me?"
"That I wouldn't mess with his head."
"Well, there's nothing stopping me from messing with it."
"Marcus-"
"He's got something special right in front of him and he's letting it slip right through his fingers without a second thought." He just really wanted to take her out!
"Marcus, you hardly even know me."
"I don't care," he said. What did he have to say to get her to agree to go? "You got this - I don't know - this aura about you. If he can't see it, I certainly can." Just one date. Was that too much to ask for?
"Marcus-"
"Come on, Tonks," he insisted. "I have two tickets and I don't have anyone else to ask. The snow's melting, so it's going to be a nice day. There'll be a lot of energy . . . it will be great. It's not a date, but make sure Remus knows you're going with me."
"Even if it does bothers him," said Tonks. "He won't show it-"
"That doesn't change the fact that I have two tickets."
She paused, finally catching on. "Are you doing this because you want to help me or because you want to go out with me?"
Marcus was silent for a moment. "Look," he sighed. "I'm attracted to you, I admit that, but . . . It's like you said before: You can't help how you don't feel. I just have to turn my sights elsewhere."
"Have you?"
No. "Well, I'm working on it."
Tonks shook her head. If he still fancied her . . . "Maybe this isn't such a good idea."
There was a long silence. "Well," Marcus said finally. He didn't sound too happy. "If you decide you want to go, give me a call." He hung up.
Tonks walked downstairs to find Remus making breakfast.
"What did Marcus want?" he asked.
"I wanted to do that," she said forlornly as she watched him.
He looked taken aback. "Did you? I'm sorry." He made no mention of the fact that she'd nearly caught herself on fire the last time she'd tried. She hated using the stove, but she was willing to try again. "I'm almost done now . . . you can give it a go next time."
She nodded, then said quietly. "Marcus asked me to go to a concert with him." She watched him carefully for a reaction, but he just loaded their plates with food.
"You should go," he said, taking her by surprise.
"Y-you think so?"
He nodded. "It's probably close to your kind of music and it might be fun."
She felt something akin to fury welling up inside her. It might be fun? That was all he had to say about it? He knew Marcus had feelings for her and he was tellling her to go? Did he care at all? She watched him for telltale signs but there was nothing; no hesitation, no change in his tone of voice, he wasn't even averting his eyes! Nothing! He cared, he had to! And if he didn't care, she was going to make him!
She smiled. "I'll call him back then." And headed for the phone.
Remus had no clue what the bloody hell was going on. Marcus and Tonks had left for the concert half an hour ago, but his mind kept going back to the way Marcus had put his arm around her . . . It had been possessive and Tonks hadn't said anything! It just didn't make sense!
Marcus must have told her how he felt, and she must have told him that she didn't like him in that way . . . but he'd just grabbed her and she'd tolerated it. Maybe this was her way of getting back at him. Maybe she wanted to see how he, Remus, would react if Marcus. . . but then that meant she'd broken her promise! No, she wouldn't do such a thing.
Maybe she'd felt sorry for Marcus and had gone out with him because of that. No, she hated pity. That wasn't right. Still, the way that Marcus had . . .
Maybe she'd moved on, found someone else to fantasize over. He'd wanted her to see other people and drop this obsession she had with him. Maybe she thought she'd give Marcus a try.
Would she really give up on me that easily? He realized how conceited that sounded and pushed the thought out his mind.
"Hello."
Remus turned to find a head floating in the fireplace. "Hello, Molly."
Molly looked up at him. She realized that she must have come at a bad time. He hadn't even noticed her until she'd announced her presence and now that he had acknowledged her, he took up pacing again. She wasn't sure he realized it, but he was twisting the morning newspaper in his hands. He must have been doing it for a while now because the paper looked like it was soft enough to use as a tissue.
Molly surveyed the room. "Where's Tonks?"
"Out," he said shortly, still pacing.
"You're not with her?"
"She's with Marcus."
He'd said the name as though she was supposed to know it. "Who's Marcus?"
Remus stopped, realizing he'd said something he probably shouldn't have. He looked down at the paper in his hands and jumped as though he didn't know how it had gotten there. "Marcus is my roommate," he explained slowly.
Molly was taken by surprise. "You have a roommate?"
Remus took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. This was not turning out to be his day.
"Maybe this isn't the best time," she said, sensing the tension. "I'll check back later."
She disappeared. Remus didn't care. He resumed pacing, twisting the paper madly in his hands and carrying on as though Molly had never appeared.
He didn't like this. Either Tonks had broken her promise or she had actually wanted to go out with Marcus. He should've asked her more questions about what was going on, but he hadn't thought it would be that big of a deal. Now he just didn't know what to think.
He'd wanted this, though. Hadn't he? He'd wanted her to go out with someone else. Oh, but Marcus was just the wrong person. Maybe she'd meet someone at the concert instead. Then again, everyone at the concert would probably be like Marcus, so that wouldn't help. None of them deserved her . . .
She had been unsure about going with Marcus. Yes, he realized that now. She had come downstairs to ask him if she should go, and he'd told her to. So, she knew that Marcus fancied her and she was uneasy about it. She had just gone for fun . . . but the way Marcus had grabbed her . . . why hadn't she said something? Had she felt sorry for - His thoughts just kept going in circles!
This is so bloody confusing!
Remus threw the paper down and looked at the clock. They had promised to be back by midnight, and he planned on being wide-awake for their arrival.
Tonks walked down the sidewalk, laughing and talking with Marcus as they made their way toward the front door of her house. She was glad she had gone. The concert had been a complete blast!
"Don't look now," said Marcus as he put an arm around her waist. "But Remus is watching out of the second floor window."
"Really?"
"Don't look!" He covered her eyes with his hand. "He'll notice."
Tonks laughed. "Marcus, quit." She pulled his hand down.
He took hold of her other hand and refused to let got until they reached the door.
"Marcus, I want to thank you." Tonks told him. "I had a lot of fun tonight and-"
"Let me kiss you." Marcus said suddenly.
Tonks shook her head. "What?"
"Think of how he'd react."
"If he can even see us at this angle," she pointed out. "Marcus, I don't think . . ." Tonight had been fun. Why couldn't they just leave it at that? She didn't like doing this to Remus. She hadn't liked the way Marcus had grabbed her before they had left either, but it wasn't like she could have said anything with Remus standing there. "I made a promise that I wouldn't-"
"Yeah, but if I kiss you, you're not doing anything."
"Yes, I am because I let you kiss me. That makes me your accomplice and that's just as bad as if I had-" She didn't get to finish her sentence because he pushed her up against the door and pressed his mouth against hers.
It had all been a game to him from the very moment she'd told him that she fancied Remus. He had pretended to be interested, trying to pick up on anything he could use to turn the tide in his favor. He'd never wanted anything as bad as he'd wanted her. He'd said things he normally never would have said to anyone - mushy, girly stuff. He'd made so much stuff up, had said such bullshit, had pretended to want to help her. It hadn't gotten him anywhere. Those tickets and this kiss were his last hope.
He'd wanted this for a long time, but it wasn't how he'd imagined it would be. She didn't react at all. Maybe it was shock, but she just stood there and let him have his way. All this time he'd thought that he could turn her attentions from Remus and onto him. Yet, he realized that his efforts had been for nothing. He felt something wash over him. He didn't know where it had come from, perhaps he'd known it all along, but the truth of it was undeniable now. Tonks felt nothing toward him. He'd been wrong. He knew now, without a single doubt, that he could never make her love him instead.
Remus watched Marcus and Tonks as they came down the sidewalk, talking and laughing. Marcus put his hand over her eyes and she laughed, pulling his hand down. After a moment he couldn't see them.
He considered opening the window and sticking his head out, but then they were sure to see him. He grabbed a chair and placed it in front of the window. He then climbed on top of the seat. He had a good view of them holding hands for a few moments, but once they reached the door they were out of range.
It wasn't the most brilliant idea but he climbed onto the headrest of the chair. It nearly toppled over for a moment, but he managed to keep everything under control. By peering out of the far top corner of the window he could just make them out on the front step.
And then Marcus kissed her . . . open mouthed, tongue and all.
That was all he needed to lose his balance.
Tonks slapped Marcus across the face so hard he stumbled back two feet and off the step.
Marcus was dazed. He'd been a real prat. "T-Tonks, I-"
"Don't you dare touch me again!" She was disgusted with him and with herself. She'd agreed to go along with this even though she had known he had feelings for her. It was her fault every bit as much as his.
"Tonks, I'm sorry." Marcus told her. "I didn't realize . . . I had thought-"
But she walked into the house and slammed the door behind her.
"Brilliant, Tonks," she muttered to herself. "Just bloody brilliant!" She had been afraid that something like this would happen, but she'd gone anyway. Marcus had told her that it hadn't had anything to do with his feelings for her, but she'd been suspicious. Remus had suggested that she go with Marcus, but it had ultimately been her choice. She'd used both of them and that wasn't right. She'd used Marcus to get to Remus, and she'd used Remus as well by going back on her promise. She shouldn't have done either of those things. Oh, she'd really mucked things up! She never should've agreed to go.
"How was the concert?"
Tonks looked up to see Remus standing on the stairs and rubbing the back of his head. He'd hit it pretty hard when he'd fallen off the chair, but she didn't need to know that. He put his hand down.
Tonks stared at him for a moment. Had he really been watching or had that been something Marcus had told her so he could kiss her? It didn't matter. She wasn't playing head games anymore. "It was fun," she admitted. "Right up until Marcus decided he fancied a snogging session."
He didn't look surprised. "I told you he liked you."
"Yeah, well I told him I liked you so apparently he didn't get the message. Hopefully I hit him hard enough for it to sink in."
Remus smiled. She didn't know if he was happy to hear it or if he just found it funny.
She was still stuck on him, she hadn't gone because she'd wanted to be with Marcus . . . and the thought pleased him more than it should have. "I hope so too."
Tonks awoke to a tapping at her window. "Errol?"
She opened the window and Errol fell with an almighty plop to the floor. She picked the poor bird up and untied the letter attached to his leg. She then lay him on the bed and he chirped in gratitude. She unrolled the parchment. It was from Molly.
Tonks,
I popped in to check on how you were doing earlier today, but you weren't in. Remus said you'd gone out with someone by the name of Marcus. Did you know Marcus was Remus's roommate? You went out with him so you must know, but I was surprised Remus had never said anything. He was in a foul mood so I didn't ask any questions. I'm a little confused, dear. Is there something going on you haven't told me about?
Hope everything's okay,
Molly
Tonks's breath caught in her throat. So Remus did care after all! Well, at least, he cared enough to be bothered about her going with Marcus. That was something at least.
She quickly wrote back, telling Molly about Marcus and how guilty she felt about using both him and Remus. PS, she wrote, you really should think about getting another owl, Molly. I'm not sure how long Errol's going to last.
"Well, what do you think?" she asked the owl once she had finished. "You up for another journey?"
Errol rolled over and managed to get himself back on his feet. He looked like he wanted nothing more than to lay down and never get back up, but he took the letter that Tonks held out in his beak and flew off.
"Why," asked Remus the next morning. "Do you get the Daily Prophet and the muggle paper?"
"I like to know what's going on with both sides," she told him.
"I've never known anyone to cook eggs in the microwave before," he said, sounding amused. She had been determined to cook breakfast this morning, but after a while she'd given up on the stove.
"I figured out how to do it a long time ago."
"Your concert made the first page in the muggle paper."
"Really?"
She didn't sound like she cared, which pleased him. He started reading the article and his eyes widened. "There was a fire . . . Nymphadora," he said slowly. "This isn't good."
"What?" She walked over to read the paper.
The fire seemed to have been caused by electrical problems. The concert had been inside an arena and the exit doors had refused to open. By the time anyone outside had noticed anything was wrong and the fire department had been able to break the doors down, the flames had engulfed countless people on the first level. Countless others on the upper floors had suffocated from the smoke. Many others had been hospitalized.
"Marcus and I left early," she said in awe. "It must have started some time after we'd gone."
A man who had managed to come out of the disaster unharmed had lent his camera to the reporter to develop photos of the fire that he had taken. Remus scanned a picture of people running from the blaze while Tonks continued to read the article. Then Remus saw something that shouldn't have been there. He did a double take and spat out his tea all over the paper.
"Remus, what-?"
He jumped up from his chair and grabbed a paper towel. He then began dabbing at the picture, trying not to ruin it any more that he already had.
"Remus, what is it?" Tonks walked over to him. "What-?" She gasped because once he'd pulled his hand away she saw it too. "But how . . ?"
It was a wonder Remus had noticed. There, amongst the people running, was the head and face of a man she recognized, barely visible in the background. It was Severus Snape and he didn't look at all worried or frightened like everyone else.
"I don't . . ." Neither of them could say anything, just stare.
The phone rang. Both of them jumped. Remus got to it first.
"It's Marcus. He says to turn on the TV."
Tonks went into the living room. She never used the telly. The only reason she had one was because of her dad, and she just hadn't gotten around to throwing it out yet. She wasn't sure if she even had cable still, but apparently she did because the news came on. Snape's face came on the screen.
" . . . The public is warned that Snape is armed and very dangerous. A special hot line has been set up, and any sighting of him should be reported immediately . . ."
Remus placed a hand on Tonks's shoulder. "I'll be right back."
"'Kay," she said dully. She seemed hypnotized by the television.
"I never would have noticed," Marcus was saying once Remus had gotten back on the phone with him. "If I hadn't had the paper right in front of me . . . What's going on? I don't understand," he continued. "It seems crazy but . . . is that the guy who murdered Tonks-?"
"Marcus, I'll call you back." Remus hung up the phone. Then he remembered that Marcus had the number and he unplugged it. The phone started ringing upstairs as soon he reentered the living room.
Tonks was sitting transfixed in front of the TV, but Snape's face was no longer there. "I've never understood it," she said. "How they can just go from one story to the next." She turned it off.
"Are you alright?"
She shook her head. "I don't understand it." She ran a hand through her hair. "Is he following me?"
Remus wished he had the answer. "I don't see how he could've known."
Tonks felt as though her every move was being watched. It terrified her. "All those people . . . if we hadn't left early . . . I-I'm going to take a bath."
Remus was sure he had heard wrong. "What?"
"I-I can't think like this," she told him. "I need to relax a bit." She started for the stairs.
"What about your eggs?" He wanted to talk with her for a moment so they could sort this out and he didn't like the idea of having her out of his sight right now. But she seemed to have other plans.
"I'll eat them cold," she said with a wave of her hand. Why the hell was he asking her about breakfast? Her head hurt. A long soak in the tub would calm her down.
She liked the claw-footed tub in the upstairs bathroom. The only problem was that the room itself was too small. There was a single window placed up high to provide light and privacy. She opened it for some air and turned on the water tap.
She slid into the tub once the water was ready, glad that she could relax this way again. She closed her eyes and tried to pretend that she was anywhere but here and that she didn't have a murderous mad man after her. After a few minutes it worked and she felt peaceful like she was floating. She closed her eyes and lost all track of time.
After what had seemed like hours, she heard a strange click behind her but thought nothing of it.
Go under, said a voice in her head.
Yes, that would be nice. Just to go under the water for a moment. She slid down in the tub, eyes still closed, submerging herself. It felt very refreshing, the water warming her from head to toe.
Inhale.
She'd forgotten she was underwater in a bath tub, forgotten that she was in danger. In her mind, she was somewhere peaceful and calm and safe, somewhere where nothing could ever harm her. She wanted the cool air of that place to fill her lungs and relax her even more. She took a breath . . .
Water rushed in through her nostrils, dark and oppressive. Her eyes snapped open and she gasped, fighting for air but all she got was more water. She thought she could see the shimmering surface above her and she flailed her arms, reaching for the rim of the tub so she could pull herself back up. But she didn't know which way was up anymore. She needed air. Her lungs were screaming. Her vision was darkening. She panicked. Even more water rushed into her lungs, suffocating her, killing her.
There were a few more moments of struggle. She never gave up fighting . . . but she never breached the surface either.
Remus sat on the couch thinking. What was going on? How had Severus known she'd be at the concert? How had he missed that she'd left early? Thank god that she'd left early. All those people he'd killed just to get to her . . .
Who were Severus's contacts? How was he getting information on her? Who would've known where she'd be other than himself and Marcus? Had his face appeared on the news because of the fire or some other reason? Remus didn't have any answers. The phone finally stopped ringing.
Remus turned the TV back on. He was hoping the story might come back around. He flipped between news stations, studying the scrolls at the bottom of the telly. Frustrated, he turned the TV off and grabbed the newspaper. He reread the article but it didn't say anything he wanted to know. He read it over twice more to make sure. He grabbed the Daily Prophet and searched its pages thoroughly, cover to cover. There wasn't anything, not one bloody thing.
He threw the paper down and sat on the sofa. What was going on? He glanced at the clock. Tonks had been in the tub for at least forty-five minutes. If her intent was to soak, then she'd be in there for a long while. He thought of going to check on her, but she probably didn't want to be bothered.
He turned the television on again. There had to be something. He thought of contacting Kingsley. He'd probably know what was going on. Remus decided he'd wait until Tonks came back downstairs. This was all just a great shock for the both of them. They needed some time to think for a moment, and he really should talk with her before he did anything.
The news turned to the weather, which was the last thing he wanted to hear about so he turned it off. He glanced at the clock again, then over at the stairs. Something was pulling at him, a soft voice in his head telling him that he should go check on her. But there wasn't any reason to worry. He was just shaken up from this whole thing with Snape. Tonks was fine. He really should let her have more time to herself.
But the feeling kept pulling at him, the voice a little louder in his head. Remus looked at the clock again. He'd wait ten more minutes and then he'd check on her. He was sure she was fine. Why wouldn't she be? He turned the television back on, looking for something other than the news.
Something kept tugging at him, causing him to glance up the stairs and at the clock for the third time. He found himself mesmerized by the second hand. Tic, tic, tic. It was almost like it was speaking to him. You're running out of time. He turned away from the clock and became transfixed with the stairs.
But Tonks was fine. She might be a little stressed out right now, but she was fine. What was there to be worried about?
He turned off the TV. The voice kept talking to him, growing louder and louder with each passing second. He stood from his seat. She was fine . . . Wasn't she?
MOVE!
Remus scrambled forward, propelled by an overwhelming feeling of anxiety that he could not explain the origin of. He flew up the stairs, taking them three at a time. He reached the door, spared nothing on manners and turned the knob.
The door was locked.
His stomach sank in an immediate feeling of dread. He hammered on the door.
"Nymphadora? Nymphadora, open up!" he called. Why didn't he get a response? "Nymphadora, can you hear me?"
He pulled out his wand. "Alohomora!" The spell didn't work.
He slammed his shoulder against the door. "Nymphadora!" He couldn't remember a time when he'd been this terrified. Something was wrong, horribly, horribly wrong and he knew her life hung in the balance. Again he rammed the door and again and again and again until he felt it starting to give way.
Finally, the door broke free. He barged into the room and slipped on the water that had spilled onto the floor. He raised his eyes to the tub and in that moment he felt as though the wind had been knocked out of him. All sense of time ceased and his whole world came crashing down around him. The room splintered, cracked, shattered, and then fell away into nothingness. He was floating in darkness with nothing but the view of the tub and the body lying in the water inside it. He felt helpless, trapped, lost - a million things at once. No, no, this isn't happening. Not again. Not like before. It can't. I won't let it. This was exactly like when he had watched Sirius fall through the . . . but, no. This time was different. This time he wasn't powerless to stop what was happening. This time he could do something about it.
He took a hurried step forward and everything rushed back into place. He reached into the water - it wasn't nearly as warm as it should have been - and pulled Tonks's body out. He lay her down on the floor and began fighting to revive her.
It was the longest three minutes of his life. He spent the first thirty seconds telling himself that she would come back. She hadn't been in the water that long. It was all going to be okay. Then he worried about how much time he'd wasted downstairs. How long had she been under the water?
"Come on, Nymphadora."
Then he thought about everything he had ever wanted to say to her, and how he'd never get that chance now. She couldn't be gone, not yet. If he could have five minutes, that would be enough. Just five minutes, five minutes to tell her the truth, to confess. He wouldn't hold anything back. If he could just have that, just those five minutes . . . was it too much to ask?
"Stay with me."
His vision grew misty. He was going to lose her too. He was going to lose her right along with Lily and James and Sirius. So much had been taken from him. Why did she have to go too? It wasn't fair. Why did he have to lose so much? Why was it that he always lost the people he loved most? Why did he have to go back to that place of death and pain over and over again?
She was gone. He knew it. She'd been gone before he'd even reached the door. The only reason he kept working on her was because a small desperate part of him refused to believe that he'd lost a person whom he'd loved yet again. Even though his body moved without him, in his mind he knew that he'd lost her for good.
She coughed up water.
Relief washed over him like a waterfall of ice water. He turned her onto her side where she coughed and gasped for air. He wanted to take her into his arms and hold her forever, but he gave her the room she needed. She pushed herself up from the floor. He would've put a hand on her shoulder to keep her lying down but he didn't trust himself to touch her.
Tonks sat up and immediately brought a hand to her head, wondering if she'd gotten up too fast. Her vision blurred for a moment and she swayed. She felt Remus's hand grab her arm, steadying her. Her vision cleared and . . . was he just wet or were those tears on his face?
He cupped her cheek in his hand. "Are you okay?" He couldn't believe it. She was alive. She was breathing. She was looking at him. She wasn't lying on the floor, cold and lifeless. She was here with him, and he could see the woman he cared for behind her eyes. It was as though the terrible ordeal had never come to pass, and yet the evidence was right in front of him.
"Yes," she gasped, captivated by the look in his eyes. She couldn't begin to explain the emotions she saw swimming there. "I'm fine."
Oh, to hear words come out of her mouth when he'd thought she'd never even open her eyes again! He couldn't restrain himself any longer.
Remus gently pulled her to him as though he were afraid she might break, but he held her tightly as though afraid that she'd vanish if he let go. Tonks felt him press a kiss into the side of her head. "God, I thought I'd lost you."
"I'm right here," she said softly, more to herself than to him. She'd thought she'd seen the end as well and she couldn't believe she was alive and breathing right now. "How did you know?"
He pulled back and shook his head. "I don't know." He tucked a strand of her wet hair behind her ear. It was as though he had to touch her to make sure she was real. "I just had this feeling . . . I can't explain it . . . and I came running. The door was locked," he added, his hand now resting on her shoulder.
She shook her head. "That wasn't me . . . It was Snape. I heard his voice in my head. Only I didn't recognize . . . the Imperius Curse . . ." she let her head drop to his shoulder. "I'm so stupid."
"Don't beat yourself up." She'd nearly died. Any lecture on stupidity could wait.
"I let my guard down," she told him. "I knew I was in danger and I let my guard down because I wanted to pretend everything was alright. I did everything I was trained not to do - I could've thrown him off!" she broke away from him angrily. "I was perfectly capable of throwing that curse off and I couldn't because I-" she stopped herself. It was no use now. But next time - and there would be a next time - she'd be ready for him.
She pulled back from Remus, crossed her arms over her chest, and nodded in the direction of the sink. "Could you get me that towel?"
It hadn't even registered before, but he suddenly realized that she was naked. He swallowed and forced his eyes over to where her towel sat. "Sure."
He reached the towel but before handing it back to her he stopped at the window. It was wide open and there was a tree outside as tall as the house. An image crossed his mind of Severus climbing it and looking inside the window to perform the curse. Maybe it was a little far-fetched . . .
"Remus." Tonks called behind him.
"Yes?" he asked, still peering out the window.
"I'm naked," she told him.
Yes, he knew that . . . a little too well.
"I'm wet."
He knew that too.
"And I'm cold."
That snapped him out of it. "Oh." He turned to her, keeping his eyes locked with hers. "Sorry. Here." He knelt before her and put the towel around her. Then he helped her up from the floor.
After repeatedly assuring him that she was okay, Tonks left to change into some clothes. Remus waved his wand in a wide sweeping motion and the water vanished. He felt a blaze of anger toward Severus. He wanted the man dead. It wasn't about revenge; it was about stopping him from hurting Tonks more than he already had.
Remus went to his room to change into some dry clothing (what he currently had on was soaked) and then knocked on Tonks's bedroom door.
"I'll be out in a minute," she told him from the other side. "Meet you downstairs."
He hadn't liked the idea of having her out of his sight before she'd gone to take a bath and he sure as hell didn't like it any better now. "I'll just wait out here."
"Remus, I'm not going anywhere."
She'd just been going to the bathroom and look at what had happened. "I'll wait right here."
There was a silence like she was considering arguing with him. "Fine, it's not like it matters anyway."
BANG!
"What the-?"
Remus leaned over the railing and got a view of a group of wizards bursting through the front door, their wands drawn. They caught sight of him and charged for the stairs. Remus had a feeling this was all just a big misunderstanding. He automatically put his hands up as they reached the landing. There were four of them and they all dove forward to restrain him.
"What the bloody hell-?" Tonks came out of her room without any pants, startled by the commotion. A light pink patch of underwear could be seen whenever she turned sideways because of the cut of her shirt. "What are you doing? Unhand him!"
They took one look at Tonks and let Remus go. He moved to her side. "What in the name of-?"
There was a startled cry from behind them and Remus and Tonks turned to find Kingsley Shacklebolt. He had a hand over his mouth but the expression on his face couldn't have been clearer: Ops.
Still confused, Remus chanced a glance at Tonks. She was livid.
Kingsley lowered his hand and braced himself for the explosion. "W-we had a Green Alert. I-I-" A Green Alert was the code name for whenever an Unforgivable Curse was performed.
Tonks rounded him. "How many times have I told you? HOW MANY TIMES!"
Kingsley held up his hands as Remus had done earlier. "I-"
"How many times have I told you that the alert system is too damn slow? HOW MANY!"
"There's n-nothing I can do-"
"I nearly died!" she shouted as she got in his face. "No thanks to our stupid alert system! And no thanks to the dingbats over here who nearly arrested the man who did manage to save my life! Don't tell me there's nothing you can do, Kingsley! I'm an extremely pissed off, scared crazy, newly revived, half naked woman - Don't tell me to calm down, Remus!"
Remus, who had put a hand on Tonks's shoulder, backed off. This wasn't his fight.
"And just WHEN," Tonks shrieked. "Were you going to tell me about posting Snape's FACE all over the bloody damn television?"
This seemed like a question she actually wanted him to answer, but he was stunned. "I-I didn't know you had a television," he said lamely.
"THAT'S NOT THE BLOODY POINT!"
"You're right! You're right!" He put his hands up higher like he was trying to shield himself from a hevy blow. "It's not. I just didn't see the point in worrying you. I was going to tell you tonight." Please don't hex me. He knew Tonks to have a few good curses up her sleeve. "There was a fire and I thought since he was attacking muggles they had to be warned-"
"I know about the bloody fire! I was there!"
"W-what?"
"I just happened to get lucky and left the concert early! And I wake up this morning to his face in the paper and on the telly!"
Again, Kingsley was stunned. "You get the muggle paper?"
"KINGSLEY!"
"Alright! Okay! Bloody hell, but you need to tell me these things! If I'd had any idea you were involved or that you had any way of knowing, I would've told you straight away." He hadn't known. He just happened to notice Snape's face in the paper. The only reason he'd had the paper was because ministry officials were supposed to read it to see if anything was amiss, but he didn't know Tonks got the paper at home too. Maybe he should have expected it since her father had been a muggleborn. But how was he supposed to know she'd been there? And he hadn't known she had a TV or he would've warned her (again, her father being a muggleborn may have been a good sign). He'd had no idea she'd been involved in any of this.
"Well, I was involved!" she shouted, her voice growing hoarse. "Snape tried to kill me at the concert and he just tried to do it again Merlin only knows how long ago! So, thanks for the notice and thank you for intruding at the most inappropriate time! I'd appreciate it if you were the hell out of my house - I assume you can find the door as you just barged through it - by the time I've found something to cover my arse! Excuse me!"
With that she turned, marched into her room and slammed the door behind her.
Kingsley let out a low whistle, finally lowering his hands.
Remus was silent. She'd nearly died. If he hadn't been here . . . Snape would try again, Remus was sure of it. They'd gotten lucky, but he wasn't sure how much longer it would last. If only she had better protection. If only . . .
"She is okay, right?" Kingsley asked.
"Just a little shook up, I think." Remus told him.
"What exactly hap-?"
"One moment," he said. "Don't go anywhere."
Remus knocked on the door to Tonks's room. "Nymphadora, I-"
"Just come in, Remus." She still sounded ticked.
He entered the room. As he closed the door behind him, he received an amazing view of her pulling her trousers up to cover her pink clad rear. The material closed around her waist, hugging her hips. He had never thought anyone could make getting dressed seem sensual, but she'd just done it.
Remus shook his head. What was wrong with him? She turned to face him, looking unfazed like she'd just done something completely normal. He couldn't remember what he'd wanted to say.
"It isn't Kingsley's fault that the system's so slow." Tonks said, sounding calmer. "But every time I tell him it sucks, he defends it." She imitated Kingsley's voice. "It's the best we can do. Honestly . . ." she shook her head. "But complaining about it isn't going to help, and there's nothing we can do about it for now . . . I'm still pissed he didn't say anything about Snape!"
Remus suddenly remembered. "You should let them stay." He gestured to the door.
She looked ready to laugh. "Them? As protection? Remus, the four who grabbed you are as dumb as rocks or worse and one of them, Balaquer - the big blonde guy - he's not only stupid but prejudiced as well. Other than Kingsley - and I'm having my doubts about him right now - these are the last people you'd want-"
"This isn't about me."
She rolled her eyes. "Okay, I'm sorry. These are the last people I'd want as a guard."
"You nearly died tonight." Remus told her. "You either go to your head of department-"
"Colin," she told him.
"Right," he said. "You either go to Colin and tell him you want protection or I'm taking you to Headquarters - kicking and screaming if I have to."
She stared at him for a moment. "You're serious, aren't you?"
He'd never been more serious about anything in his life. This had gone far enough. Snape's last attempt had been too close. She was going to accept protection or he was going to force it on her.
"I don't want to go into hiding," she told him. "Before, I was in denial, but now . . . I don't want to sit around and wait. I want to be ready when he comes for me. I want to get this over with so I can move on."
"Then you've got to let the dingbats stay here," he said, using her word. "Or at least until you can get replacements."
She touched her wet hair, and it seemed to remind her of just how close she'd came. She looked up at him and nodded. "Okay."
The phone rang.
Extremely irritated, Remus walked over to it and pulled it out of the wall. "We can plug these back in once everything's sorted out." Sometimes muggle devises could be a damn nuisance.
He left the room with Tonks close behind. She stopped to have a rational talk with Kingsley while Remus went into his room and unplugged the last phone in the house. Try to get through that, Marcus.