Tonks and Remus were getting ready to visit her parents for Sunday tea. Tonks looked at herself in the mirror, giddy that her morphing was back. She and Remus had visited her parents on Friday night for dinner to share the good news, and both her parents had been delighted for her. Although she knew her mother would never admit it, the pink hair really did suit Tonks most, and she was wearing her hair in soft pink waves for tea.

Remus was dressing himself too. She'd mentioned just the night before that she would accept his proposal, if he were to ask for her hand in marriage. It hadn't been the fact that Remus already had a ring for her; it had been the conversation with Kingsley. As much as she hated admitting it, Kingsley was right: there might come a point at which she would no longer be able to work for the Ministry, even with a desk job. If Voldemort took the Ministry, it would be all too easy for Bellatrix to find her. At that point, without the Ministry job to rely on…why not marry Remus? Why not marry him, when they were all being targeted? She had taken Remus' words to heart. Why spend their time away from one another, when they could be together? Why not make the statement she always wanted to make – her utter devotion to Remus, regardless of his lycanthropy?

Alfie's disdain of her relationship only cemented her decision further. Tonks didn't care what others thought of her, but she knew that Remus cared what others thought of her for choosing him. She didn't want others to see what she had with him as some perverted fetish or subversion. She wanted to be by his side in a way that made it clear she was with him for him, not because or in spite of his lycanthropy. Marrying him had never made more sense, and she had told Remus as much. As she looked at him carefully wearing nicer trousers and a newer shirt, she smiled. Come what may, this is what she had always wanted – Remus with her, always.

"Ready, Remus?" Tonks asked. He looked at her with soft, unbridled affection. It was a look she'd grown to love before; it was the way he looked at her, as if he was still convinced it was a dream.

"I'm ready," he said, smiling affectionately at her.

She took Remus by the hand and they walked down through the Hog's Head and out of Hogsmeade to Apparate to her parents' home. Remus was looking slightly nervous, but he walked with her to her parents' front door and knocked for them. Her father opened the door.

"Dora, Remus," he greeted in his jovial voice. "Come in, come in."

Tonks and Remus shuffled through the front door and took off their shoes, walking towards the parlor where Andromeda was waiting for them both with tea and biscuits.

"Nymphadora, I am delighted that your morphing has returned, but must you insist on such shades?" Andromeda scolded playfully.

"After the last year, I'll wear any and every ridiculous color I can come up with," she beamed. "What have we here?"

"All your favorites," Andromeda said. "Remus' request."

"Really?" Tonks looked up at Remus, who was wearing a sheepish expression.

"I thought you might like it," he said quietly.

The tea table was comically laden with all of Tonks' favorite teatime foods – scones, teacakes, mini tarts, and biscuits.

"You aren't trying to bribe me into anything, are you?" Tonks eyed her parents and Remus warily.

"No, Nymphadora, there's no plot to convince you of anything," Andromeda said impatiently. "Remus told us we were here for a small celebration."

"We are?" she looked at Remus suspiciously. "What are we celebrating?"

"Our engagement, if you'll still have me," Remus said softly. Tonks turned around and he was on one knee, holding a faded velvet box that was opened to her, showing a petite, sparkly ring inside.

Tonks looked down at the ring, up at Remus' hopeful, slightly anxious face, and then to her parents' own amused expressions.

"Really?" Tonks asked, feeling slightly foolish. Remus chuckled softly, smiling up at her.

"Really, Dora," he remarked softly. "Will you marry me?"

"Of course I will!" she cried, rushing into his arms, and kissing him deeply, until her father cleared his throat.

"Oh, sorry," Tonks said sheepishly.

"Would you like the ring?" Remus asked. Tonks nodded vigorously and watched, bleary eyed, as Remus placed the delicate band on her finger.

"Remus, it's beautiful," she squealed. "Where did you get it on such short notice?"

"It was my mother's, and my Grandmother Lupin's before that," Remus explained. "It's yours now."

Tonks looked down at the ring sparkling on her finger. It was delicate, and the stones were arranged in the shape of a flower, sparkling wonderfully in the light.

"Remus, this is so thoughtful," Tonks said. "A family heirloom. I've never had one of these before."

"Actually, you have," Remus said softly. "The pendant I used for the Blood Magic – that was my mother's."

"You gave that to me knowing it was your mother's?" Tonks asked in disbelief. "You never asked for it back."

"I gave it to your mother to wear, but now it's yours. They're the only heirlooms I have, and they belong to you now, Dora." Remus looked slightly anxious, apparently waiting for her to respond.

"They're beautiful, both of them," Tonks said. "Are we really getting married?" She looked up at Remus, feeling her own face hurting now from all the smiling.

"However and whenever you'd like, Dora," Remus said. "We can get married next week if that's what you'd like."

"Okay," Tonks said happily. "Next week it is, then!" Remus, Andromeda, and Ted all looked at Tonks with disbelief.

"Nymphadora, be serious," Andromeda admonished. "You cannot possibly plan a wedding in a week."

"We don't need anything fancy, do we, Remus?" she asked him. Remus was shocked and simply muttered nonsense syllables. She looked down at her moonstone pendant to see where they were with the moon's phases.

"He doesn't seem to disagree, and the full moon isn't for a few weeks yet, so next week it is!" Tonks said enthusiastically.

"What's the rush, Dora?" Ted asked, slightly confused. "You're not – you haven't…?"

"Merlin, no, no, not that," Tonks said hastily. "Right, Remus? Wouldn't we have felt something if that happened?"

"There would definitely be a change in our bond," Remus clarified, still looking dazed. "I don't think that's happened."

"Nymphadora, there is no reason to rush a wedding. Take your time to plan it," Andromeda said. "Even if you don't need a 'fancy' wedding, as you put it."

"Remus said we can get married next week if that's what I want to do," Tonks protested. "That's what I want!"

"Perhaps your mother is correct, Dora," Remus said quietly. "There's no need to rush, is there?"

"We could all die in a month," Tonks said impatiently. "I'm not dying without you as my husband."

Remus' cheeks and ears flushed pink. "I can't argue with that, can I?" he asked uncomfortably, looking from Tonks to her parents. "I'm not about to deny Dora whatever makes her happy at this point," he added guiltily.

"Is there no changing your mind, Dora?" asked Ted. "We can put together a small wedding for our daughter, can't we, 'Dromeda?"

"You don't have to pay for it," Remus said hastily. "We can make do with what we have."

"Nonsense, Remus," Ted said. "Dora's our only daughter. Though we never expected her to marry so young or so suddenly, we do have the means to help with a small wedding, don't we?"

"Dad, you really don't have to pay for anything," Tonks said forcefully.

"Nymphadora, your father wants to pay for your wedding," Andromeda interjected. "You are our only daughter. If a small, simple wedding is what you prefer, then we can arrange for it."

"What do you think, Dora?" Remus asked. "I'm happy with whatever you choose, of course."

"You don't have any ideas for a wedding, Remus?" Tonks asked suspiciously.

"I never thought I would get married, so no," Remus said awkwardly. "Having you as my wife—" Remus beamed giddily at the term "—is as far as I've planned. And the ring, of course. I haven't been to a wedding in…blimey, almost twenty years. Harry's parents' wedding, I think."

"Do you want to invite him? Harry Potter should be at our wedding," Dora said.

"As much as I'd like to, if anyone's in danger at the moment, it's Harry," Remus said ruefully. "I'm sure we'll see him soon, and we can tell him the good news then."

"Nymphadora, I've an idea," Andromeda said. "We can have a small, simple wedding in a week, and when the war is over, we can have a proper celebration with more of our family and friends."

"That's brilliant, mum!" Tonks said happily. "Let's do that!"

"Why not start with a small guest list for this wedding now, and when we have more time, we can invite Harry and whoever else you'd like," Ted said. "I'd like to meet the young lad sometime, anyway."

"I'm sure we can arrange for you to meet him sometime, Ted," Remus said. "He's as close to a son as I ever thought I'd have."

"Your godsons!" Tonks exclaimed. "We should invite them and their mum!"

"You have godsons?" Ted asked in surprise. "You never mentioned that, son."

"It's new," Remus explained. "Two of the boys I saved from the encampment were ones I saved in February. Their father died then, and Fenrir presented them to me as my own children. Of course, I had no intention of calling myself their father. When I visited them and their mother last month to check on their welfare, their mother named me their godfather. They're wonderful boys." He smiled softly, and Tonks' heart warmed to think of the two werewolf boys who were now his godsons.

"We ought to invite the Wakefields, yes," Remus agreed. "They're as close to I have as family now."

"Mad-Eye and Kingsley," Tonks said. "Mad-Eye can be my maid of honor," she snorted.

Ted and Remus chuckled, while Andromeda was exasperated.

"It's just a small wedding, mum," Tonks said. "It'll be the four of us, Mad-Eye, Kingsley, and the Wakefields. That's…nine of us total."

"Who will perform the binding?" Andromeda asked.

"I'll see who we can get from the Ministry," Tonks said. "Maybe Kingsley can do it."

"Where will you be married?" Ted asked. "You'll be hard-pressed to find anywhere halfway decent on such short notice."

"Aberforth," Tonks said abruptly. "The Hog's Head."

"The pub you've been living above for the last year?" Andromeda asked disdainfully. "With the goats?"

"Ab's hardly expected to have loads of company, with the students gone, and he's a surprisingly good cook," Tonks explained. "Whyever not? Remus?"

"I can honestly say I never imagined getting married at the Hog's Head, but if that's what you'd like, then I happily agree, Dora," Remus said. "Would you like to ask Aberforth today?"

Tonks beamed at him. "I'll need to wear something white, won't I?" she asked Andromeda.

"You're hardly the traditional bride, Nymphadora," Andromeda sighed. "But if you'd like, we may be able to alter my own wedding dress in time. It's simple, as your father and I had a small wedding, ourselves."

"I'll wear it," Tonks said enthusiastically. "My something borrowed and it can be my something old, as the Muggles say, yeah?"

"I'll wear the dress robes your parents got for my birthday last year," Remus said with a smile.

"You'll look so handsome, Remus," Tonks gushed. "What else do we need, mum? If everyone agrees, then we'll have food, a location, guests, clothing…we don't need anything else, do we?"

"You'll need to send out invitations," Andromeda said resolutely. "If you'd like, I can get those done myself. Flowers, perhaps?"

"The moors near my cottage produce lovely heather," Remus suggested. "If Dora doesn't mind heather, I can make small arrangements with it."

"That sounds lovely," Tonks said. "We'll have heather!"

"Anything else, mum?" Tonks asked. "As we don't have many guests, we can do a small dinner at the Hog's Head, and that'll be all, yeah?"

"Would you like a honeymoon?" Andromeda asked.

"Not until the war is over," Tonks decided. "If that's alright with you, Remus?"

"I agree," Remus said. "We should wait until it's safe for us to travel."

"Well then, we've a wedding to plan!" Tonks said enthusiastically. "Let's go talk to Ab!"

"If that's alright with you both?" Remus asked Andromeda and Ted.

"Dora's never been one to follow tradition," Ted chortled. "If this is the wedding she wants, we'll be happy to provide it for her."

"Thanks, dad," Tonks smiled, hugging him tightly. "I'm going to be married!" Tonks saw the corners of her mother's eyes water.

"Nymphadora, why don't you come upstairs first so I can alter the dress for you?" Andromeda asked. Tonks stood excitedly to follow her mother up the stairs. Once they were up in her parents' bedroom, Andromeda rummaged through her closet to produce the dress she'd been married in.

"Nymphadora, do you really want to be married in a week?" Andromeda asked, pulling out the desired garment.

"It's unusual, I know, but it feels right," Tonks replied. "The way things are going at the Ministry, I don't think I'll be working there much longer, anyway."

"What's happening at the Ministry?" Andromeda asked sharply.

"Voldemort's going to take over," Tonks said quietly. "It won't be safe for me to work there, even if I wasn't going to be married to Remus."

"What will you do for work? You can't get married without at least one of you having a source of income!"

"Luckily I saved loads of gold from the last year by living at the Hog's Head, and Remus owns his cottage, so we won't need much."

"What if the war goes on for longer than a few years, Nymphadora? What will you do?"

"We'll figure it out, mum. We could find Muggle work, if we needed to."

"Nymphadora. You are far too talented for that."

"It'll just be until the war is over. We have to win mum, we just have to."

"And if we don't?"

"Remus, dad, and I are as good as dead," Tonks said grimly. "You might be too."

"We'll find a way to avoid that, Nymphadora," Andromeda said sadly. "But, no matter for now. Try this on for me." Andromeda unveiled the wedding dress and Tonks eagerly tried it on. "I never thought I'd live to see the day my daughter willingly and enthusiastically put on a lace dress," Andromeda laughed softly.

Tonks looked at herself in the mirror, sighing softly with happiness.

"I think I like it as it is, mum," Tonks remarked. "Surprisingly." The dress was tea-length, with long, lacy sleeves. It was typical of the time – A-line, but its simplicity spoke to Tonks and drew her in.

"That is surprising, Nymphadora," Andromeda noted, with the corners of her eyes now wet. "Will you wear you wear your hair like this?"

"I dunno. I'll ask Remus what he likes."

"I thought you said he never asks you to morph for him?"

"He doesn't, but I think this pink is his favorite, even if he'd never say it."

"You'll need new shoes…heels, perhaps?" Andromeda suggested.

"Absolutely not," Tonks said forcefully. "My boots are fine!"

"Your boots are hideous, darling," Andromeda said airily. "We'll find something else for your wedding day." Andromeda pinched and pulled lightly at the fabric, using her wand to make the small alterations as necessary.

"Perfect," Andromeda finally said. "You look beautiful, Nymphadora."

"I feel beautiful in this," Tonks said, running her fingers over the vintage lace. "Do you think Remus will like it?"

"That man is going to faint when he sees you. He loves you, even if he's terrible at showing it."

"He's not that bad, mum."

"Running away from you for a year? Allowing you to suffer for that time? I hardly call that an exemplary show of love."

"He came back though, and he said he's here to stay."

"You're not using this marriage to trap him, are you?" Andromeda asked sternly.

"Sweet Circe, no, mum," Tonks said hotly. "If anything, I'm sure Remus thinks he's trapping me with this marriage."

"Have you talked any further of children?" Andromeda asked delicately.

"No, and I don't think we'll have any, mum," Tonks said somewhat apologetically. "Remus has his godsons now, and I met them last week. They're charming. You'll love them."

"They're werewolves also?"

"That isn't a problem, is it?"

"No, darling, of course not. I feel terribly for them, being so young."

"I think that's why their mum asked Remus to be their godfather, since Remus was bitten when he was just a little boy. It also helps that the boys can do magic now without triggering the Trace or the Statute of Secrecy at their home," Tonks added. "Their mum's a Muggle, and Remus showed the older boy – Wally – how to cast Expelliarmus, Lumos, and Nox. The lad's only seven and he disarmed me on the first try!"

"Why did Remus teach them those spells? Seven is far too young to learn to use a wand."

"Their mum's a Muggle. If anyone comes after them, they don't stand a chance! He put up loads of enchantments on their house too."

"Very kind of him," Andromeda noted.

"It's why I love him," Tonks said softly. "But now you know why I'm marrying him. I love him and I want to spend the rest of my life with him."

"If we all survive this war, your father and I will have a proper celebration for you," Andromeda promised. "You deserve it."

"I don't care, mum," Tonks said. "Having some of my school friends might be nice for me, and Harry and some of his previous students too. They all had the biggest smiles when they saw us holding hands at Dumbledore's funerals. I think Remus would like them to be there."

"Why don't you go downstairs and join your fiancé? I'm sure that by now your father has given him the talking-to he's always imagined for the man who would someday marry his daughter."

"I hope Remus isn't traumatized," Tonks joked. "I don't need another reason for him to think I'm better off without him."

"Better off without who, Dora?" Remus asked, upon seeing Tonks and her mother back in the parlor.

"No one," Tonks said hastily. "Ready to ask Ab if we can get married at his pub?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," Remus smiled. "Let's go. Andromeda, Ted, thank you for the privilege of being able to marry your daughter. I will never be able to thank you both enough for her."

"Our pleasure, son," Ted smiled cheerfully. "We'll see you both soon, then, won't we?"

"For our wedding!" Tonks exclaimed joyfully. "Love you both, and see you soon!"

With that, Tonks and Remus left her parents' home, ready to begin the next chapter of their lives.

….

"You look beautiful, Dora," Ted said. They were standing together in what used to be Tonks' room at the Hog's Head. In the last week, she'd moved what she had to Remus' cottage in preparation to live there after they were married. The room was cleaner than it had ever been, and now Tonks was standing with her father in the room, ready to be married to Remus.

"Thanks, dad," Tonks replied. "Have you seen Remus?"

"I saw him on my way up. He's looking nervous, but happy, I think. You're sure this is what you want, Dora? Like this?"

"I'm ready, dad. It's always been Remus for me, and I wouldn't have it any other way, if Remus is who'll be waiting for me. Is everyone else here?"

"Everyone is ready for you now, sweetheart. Whenever you're ready, we can go downstairs."

"I'm ready," Tonks said with a smile. She looked down at the sparkly engagement ring Remus had given her, having belonged to his mother and grandmother – her something old. Her mother had gotten her a new set of white boots – her something new. She was wearing her mother's wedding dress – her something borrowed. Finally, her mother had woven blue ribbon into the heather crown of flowers sitting atop her long, bubblegum pink waves – her something blue.

Tonks and her father descended the wooden, rickety steps of the Hog's Head, which had been closed for the afternoon so Remus and Tonks could celebrate their wedding.

Tonks looked up to see the small gathering for her wedding: Lottie, Denys, and Wally were all seated on Remus' side, while Mad-Eye and Kingsley sat on her side, where her parents would be sitting as well. Remus and Aberforth stood at the end of the tiny aisle the chairs created. Remus looked unbearably handsome in his navy dress robes. He'd cut his hair for the occasion, and while it was liberally streaked with grey, his wide smile upon seeing Tonks brightened his face, making him appear more youthful than his 37 years suggested.

Ted led Tonks towards Remus and Aberforth; when they arrived to meet Remus, he beamed brightly at Tonks, taking Ted's hand and shaking it, before taking Tonks' hands in his own.

Remus nodded at Aberforth, who began speaking:

"We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two faithful souls," Aberforth said gruffly. "You've memorized the vows?"

Tonks and Remus nodded. "Tonks," Ab gestured to Remus, indicating for her to begin. Although Tonks and Remus had discussed writing their own vows, they decided the standard ones would do for their simple wedding; if they were lucky enough to survive the war and have a larger celebration, they would write more elaborate vows to one another.

Tonks began, "I, Nymphadora Andromeda, take you, Remus John, to be my husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, to join my life and my magic to, all the days of my life."

"Remus?" Ab gestured to him. Remus' eyes were watering, but Tonks smiled at him in encouragement. His voice broke slightly as he began his vows.

"I, Remus John, take you, Nymphadora Andromeda, to be my wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, to join my life and my magic to, all the days of my life."

"Join your hands together," Aberforth said in his gruff voice.

Tonks took Remus' hands in her own. His honey-brown eyes were glistening with unshed tears, as were Tonks' own eyes.

"Now that you have declared your intentions before family and friends, do you both solemnly swear to uphold your vows so long as you both shall live?"

Remus' lips curled at the words 'solemnly swear,' as did Tonks'. They grinned mischievously at each other as they said, in unison, "I do."

"Then I now declare you bonded for life!" Aberforth announced, whipping his wand over the pair of them, with silver stars showering over them and encircling them together.

Tonks immediately felt the strength of the bond between the two of them, as they had promised to share their life and magic together.

Remus kissed Tonks gently and softly as the stars showered over their heads. She looked up into his eyes, lit with passion and love, and grinned at him, utterly delighted she was finally his.

…

"Dora, welcome home," Remus said joyfully as he scooped her into his arms and carried her bridal-style through the front door of the cottage.

"Thank you, husband," Tonks said giddily, watching Remus' own face bursting with happiness upon being called her husband.

They had lived in the cottage together for a few days. While it was small and weather-worn, Tonks had brought her own personality to the drab space, and it was now awash with colors and life. It also included a large double bed for them to share, now that they were married.

"Did you enjoy our wedding, love?" Remus asked.

"It was perfect," Tonks replied. "Just the most important people there, you looking handsome, and me in boots and a dress. I wouldn't have had it any other way."

"Thank you for becoming my wife," Remus said, his eyes filled with awe.

"I forgot to ask you, Remus. Would you like me to take your name?" Tonks asked. "I admit I hadn't given it any thought."

"Up to you, love," Remus said. "You've accomplished quite a bit as a Tonks, but if you'd like to be a Lupin, you're welcome to do so. It doesn't change how I feel about you at all."

"I'll think on it, yeah? Maybe you can call me Mrs. Lupin sometime and I'll see how I feel about it."

"Whatever you'd like, Dora," Remus said. "It's your name, after all."

"What I'd like is to take my husband to our bed," Tonks announced cheekily. "Will you join me?"

"Whatever you'd like, Mrs. Lupin," Remus said huskily, leading Tonks to feel a shiver down her spine.

She stood on her toes and kissed Remus, placing her hands in his shorter hair. She had, by now, morphed her hair into a lavender pixie to match the heather flowers she'd worn in her hair for the wedding. Remus brought his hands to her waist, drawing them around to undo the buttons on the back of her wedding dress.

"I'm afraid I don't want to go too fast," Remus murmured. "I don't want to ruin your dress."

"You're a wizard, aren't you?" Tonks said teasingly. Remus rolled his eyes, but turned Tonks around to undo the buttons by hand, taking his time to press kisses to Tonks' neck as he undid the buttons and gently take the dress off her frame.

"You're wearing too many clothes," Tonks said with an impish smile. She tugged at his robes and removed his clothes more carelessly than he had taken hers off, until they stood in front of each other, half-naked.

"Come to bed, Remus," Tonks commanded. Remus lifted Tonks up so that she wrapped her legs around his hips, and he began kissing her lips and face, while walking her towards the bed and gently placing her down on the covers.

It wasn't long before they were both crying out each other's names in pleasure, finally celebrating the consummation of their union.

….

"Auror Tonks, are you paying attention?" Tonks looked up to see Robards looking sternly at her.

"I'm sorry, sir," she apologized guiltily. "I was thinking about one of the cases we mentioned earlier and got lost in my thoughts," she lied.

"Now that we have your full attention, Auror Tonks—"

"—don't you mean Auror Lupin—" Alfie interrupted bitterly, as several pairs of eyes looked around to Tonks.

"Tonks, is there something you'd like to share?" Robards drawled. "Auror Wallace appears to believe it's important enough to interrupt me."

"I got married over the weekend, sir," Tonks said quietly. "Small family wedding, no need to make a case out of it."

Small gasps and smiles were seen around the room, but no one appeared to feel the need to follow up on the groom, so the meeting progressed as it should have.

"As I was saying, then, Auror Lupin," Robards lectured, "you'll be on desk duty for now while we reassign cases. Senior Undersecretary Dolores Umbridge has a new project for our department. You'll be reporting to her for the time being."

Tonks felt her heart sink. Of all the people she would have to report to, Umbridge was, quite possibly, the worst among them. It didn't help that Umbridge was directly responsible for most of the anti-werewolf legislation that held Remus back from proper employment, and Tonks had just married a werewolf.

"Yes, sir," Tonks agreed reluctantly. The rest of the meeting took place with new mission assignments. To Tonks' pleasure, Alfie was reassigned to scut work and low-level criminal activity, meaning she would be free from him for the next few weeks. Once the meeting was over, Tonks stood from her seat and made her way to Umbridge's office to find her next task.

She knocked on the door once, and a brief "hem, hem" was heard before Umbridge called "You may enter," in her falsely sweet voice. As soon as Tonks entered the too-pink, frilly office, she morphed her own hair away from pink to a glossy black bob to contrast from the room's decoration.

"Hello, Madam Undersecretary Umbridge," Tonks said dully. "I've been assigned to a new case?"

"Ah, yes, Auror Tonks – or, is it Auror Lupin now, if the rumors are true?" Umbridge said, in a twisted smirk.

"I haven't changed my name officially, but I did get married over the weekend, if that's what you're referring to," Tonks said flatly. "I prefer to go by Tonks, anyway."

"I prefer to call my employees by their proper names. As you're a married woman now, you're Auror Lupin to me," Umbridge explained with a too-sweet simper.

"That's fine, then," Tonks relented. "How can I help you?"

"We at the Ministry are attempting to understand the way magic is spread among the Wizarding population. We are most interested in the way magic falls into the hands of Muggles. We require you to begin looking through the records of all witches and wizards in Britain, with particular emphasis with those of Muggle parentage," Umbridge said sweetly. "All those whose blood status is not half-blood or greater should come to my attention for…further study."

Tonks was aghast at what Umbridge was asking of her. "To be clear, Madam Undersecretary," Tonks began slowly, "you'd like for me to create a list of all those who are Muggle-born in Britain?"

"If you wouldn't mind, Auror Lupin," Umbridge smiled, in her toad-like manner.

"What happens to the information, once I have given it to you?" Tonks asked Umbridge suspiciously.

"There will be no need for you to know this, Auror Lupin," Umbridge replied with a sneer. "You simply need provide the list. Two weeks should be enough time, no?"

"Two weeks to compile a list of all the Muggle-borns in Britain?" Tonks asked incredulously. "That's not nearly enough time."

"Your work ethic is unbecoming, Auror Lupin," Umbridge admonished, still smiling sweetly at her. "Perhaps it is your husband's influence."

"Excuse me?" Tonks asked, now enraged. "Do you mean to suggest that my husband is at fault for my inability to gather hundreds, if not thousands, of names in just two weeks?"

"You, of all people, Auror Lupin, should know that werewolves aren't to be trusted," Umbridge sneered. "Their work ethic is notoriously lacking, due to their impaired moral reasoning."

Tonks grew hot with anger and felt her hair morphing, likely to an angry tomato red. "With all due respect, Madam Undersecretary, I don't believe that's true," Tonks said, forcing her voice to stay even.

"Ah, perhaps yours is bright enough to have captured you, you poor thing," Umbridge simpered. "Your 'marriage' can be easily annulled, once you've come to your senses."

Tonks was digging her nails into her palms hard enough that she felt the skin break. Her eyes were already beginning to water with angry tears. Tonks sucked in a deep breath and willed herself to calm down.

"I will get the work done in the time requested," Tonks gritted through her teeth.

"That's the attitude I was looking from you, Auror Lupin," Umbridge jeered. "Perhaps more time with me as your mentor and less time with your 'husband' will improve your work ethic." Tonks held her fists at her sides, working vigorously to prevent herself from punching Umbridge in the face repeatedly.

"It's my pleasure," Tonks hissed, turning around swiftly and removing herself from the hag's office. Tonks felt the tears come now in earnest, and she hurried to the loo to spend a few minutes alone. Overwhelmed and angry, she spent the next several minutes crying to herself over the injustices her husband faced every day. She vowed she would make the world a better place for Remus.

The Order has to win this war, she thought to herself. We have to win – for Remus, for us, for the Muggle-borns, for all of us. We have to win. With her heart and mind set on the goal, Tonks went back to her office space, bracing herself for two weeks of mind-numbing research. She looked at the clock, and whimpered. Only seven hours to go before I see Remus again.