Title: Just the way you are.
Author: LupinLovesTonks
Rated: T due to future situations
Disclaimer: HP & all others are trademarks of JK Rowling. No profit is made from the use of these trademarked entities. No animals were harmed in the typing of this fic. Void where prohibited, see store for complete rules and details. Any similarities to actual events are strictly a coincidence.

Chapter Six
Tonks frowned as she stepped off of the underground and looked around. In spite of having the over-whelming feeling the night before, she thought maybe at least Remus would there to prove her fears wrong. What was even stranger still was that Richard had not shown up that morning. And he was rather anal-retentive about his timing so that they left her flat at precisely five minutes and thirty seconds before seven.

She had made the underground just before it was pulling form the station. Remus hadn't been there, like he had said he would be. She didn't walk to the Ministry, she ran to the closest alley and apparated into the Auror Headquarters. The moment she arrived, Kingsley jumped in surprise.

"There you are!" he exclaimed, jumping up and running over to her. "Have you seen Richard at all today?"

Tonks blinked several times, trying to process what Kingsley was saying. "No, why?"

Kingsley looked around and pulled Tonks into the office. Closing the door. "I was attacked last night while on my watch. I'm not sure if one of the Death Eaters saw me and thought I was after them or if perhaps Richard knows more than he's letting on. But when I woke up, he was no where to be found."

Tonks felt her heart grow heavy. "About what time did this happen?"

"Around midnight. It was close to Grimmauld, I know that much. I went there after I was attacked."

She could feel the color drain from her face. Kingsley frowned deeply with concern. "That's around the time Remus and I left to go back to my place last night." She looked up at Kingsley. "Have you seen Remus? Was he there this morning?"

Kingsley was quiet. He seemed to wait to form the words right. "Sirius said he had went home with you. So, it was thought that maybe Remus had stayed there with you when he didn't go back to Grimmauld."

Of all the things Kingsley could have told her, informing her that Remus had not made it back to Grimmauld was the one thing that set her into a frenzy. What could she have done to prevent it from happening in the first place? She could have done loads of things.. She could have stayed at Grimmauld and just apparated back to her flat in the morning… She could have just let Remus stay at her flat… She could have just not gone to Grimmauld the night before.

She closed her eyes. No, she would not regret stepping foot into Grimmauld the night before. Her heart began to rapidly beat and her head began to swim. Tightness was beginning to form in her chest. Before she had even let it register what was happening, she was on a desk and several of the other Aurors were standing over her.

"Is she alright?" a gruff voice asked.

"She's coming back around Scrimgeour," Kingsley replied.

"What did she fall over this time?"

"She didn't fall over anything. It looked a bit like she went into a fit or sorts, sir," a feminine voice said. "Kingsley had the door open, one moment she was standing there. The next she was on the floor in convulsions."

"It's my guess you told her about Richard giving you the slip then?" Scrimgeour asked.

Tonks slowly sat up, rubbing her head. "That's not it, sir," she managed. "I think he may have made off with Remus. My flat wasn't too far from where Kingsley said he was attacked. Remus is a wizard."

Scrimgeour raised an eyebrow. "A wizard eh? And why were you with this fellow Tonks?"

Tonks slid off the desk and poked Scrimgeour in the chest. "Look. I have a personal life outside of this god-forsaken mission to catch that son of a bitch Richard. I think he may have my boyfriend because he walked me home last night around the same time Kingsley was attacked. But Remus is a goddamn werewolf and in case you didn't notice, the full moon is not too far off. And as far as I know, Richard does not know Remus is one."

Scrimgeour cast a look at the others in the room and they quickly exited until just Kingsley, Scrimgeour, and Tonks remained in the office. Scrimgeour nodded toward the door and it slammed shut. "Not to sound callous and uncaring about your preferences of partners, but why should I care if a mangy werewolf rips Richard to shreds?

Tonks felt her face warm. Not with embarrassment, but more of a rage of sorts. "You listen to me. Remus is not like the others. He makes himself bloody sick worrying that he will bite someone when he's turned. Even though it is Richard, Remus would not be able to live with himself if he killed him. So either you get me help tracking down Remus and Richard, or I will do it by myself."

Scrimgeour crossed his arms over his chest and pursed his lips. "I'll excuse you on a personal leave of absence while you look for them. We have bigger things to worry about than finding a murderous Muggle and a werewolf. But I do wish you luck in your search. However, if you are in trouble, just send up some sparks and you will have help immediately."

Tonks felt her heart drop as she watched the head of the Auror Department turn on his heels and walk out. Kingsley put his hands on her shoulders.

"I'll talk to Dumbledore and see if there's anything The Order can do," he whispered. "We wouldn't leave you to do it alone, we're like a family, we're there for each other."

Tonks threw her arms around Kingsley's neck. For a moment, he didn't seem to know what to think. But, after a brief moment, he gently patted her back. She could see how it would have taken him by surprise; ordinarily she wasn't the type that would just hug people out of gratitude. But this was something important. And right now nothing was more important to her than finding Remus. Knowing that she would have the help of The Order comforted her soul in a manner that she couldn't explain.

She pulled away from Kingsley. "Thank you Kingsley. I'm going to go home and see if I can find anything, since I'm on a 'personal leave of absence' and all."

888

Tonks held the solitary cloth in her hand. It had Remus' initials on one small corner. It had been found next to an alley close to the building her flat was in, when she had arrived and started looking for some kind of clues. From the way it appeared, Remus had stopped for a moment and someone had come out of the alley and had attacked him.

The handkerchief had apparently fallen out of his hand or pocket when he was attacked. But oddly enough, there was no evidence that he had been dragged away, which would have been rather easy to tell within that grim-filled alley. All evidence pointed to Remus being transported by magical means. When Moody had looked it over, he had found traces of the spells cast, even though Tonks had no idea magic left behind anything after a spell.

"It will if it's done by a nitwit that doesn't know what their doing. It was done by a rather unskilled wizard," Moody had growled in reply. He pointed to a small burn mark on the side of the alley. "Not too good at aiming either, but evidently good at wordless magic. Hearing something like this would have made Remus turn, probably when the bastard got him."

But that discovery had been days ago. In just a few hours, Tonks would be out of time. Remus would be beyond her saving him from doing something he would regret. At least Scrimgeour would send an owl every day to see how she was coming along with her mission and to inform her that there was still no trace of Richard anywhere.

Tonks traced her fingers over Remus' initials in the thin cloth. Tears were stinging the corners of her eyes so she lightly dabbed her eyes with the cloth. She jumped when she heard a light knock at her door. Without any hesitation, she ran to the door and flung it open. Her breath caught in her throat.

"Richard," she exclaimed, shoving the cloth into her pocket.

Richard gave a slight sneer, as he looked her over. "You look a right wreck Nymphadora Tonks. I didn't mean to worry you this much with my disappearance." He wrinkled his nose in distaste as his eyes looked over her hair. "I know this is suddenly love but, I have a surprise for you and I wanted to make sure the moon was right for you to see it in all it's beauteous glory. What? No kiss for me after I've been gone for a week?"

Tonks blinked several times and finally found her breath. "It just, caught me by surprise," she replied honestly. She hugged him lightly and kissed his cheek.

"Come on, I want to get to your surprise before it gets too dark to see where I am going. The main event is once the moon is good and risen," Richard said quietly, taking her hands. "But first…" he pulled a blindfold from his pocket. "No peeking for you Nymphadora."

As he tied the blindfold over her eyes, Tonks tried to recall if she had ever told Richard what her real given name was. She remembered when she had met; telling him her name was "Dora". But, during all their time together, had she ever told him that her full given name was "Nymphadora". The way he was slowly saying the name, putting extra emphasis on it, made her wonder exactly how he knew her name.

She felt something cold wash over her, as if someone was pouring a cold slimy liquid over her head and it was trickling down her body. Richard kept his hand firmly in place on her elbow as he began to lead her away.

888

A time or two during their journey, Tonks had felt an old familiar feeling that she had once known when learning to apparate or taking a portkey. But such a thing done by a Muggle was a little far fetched. All that she knew was that when Richard removed the blindfold from her eyes she was standing in a vast open area of rolling hills.

"Now, here's the fun part," Richard said bitterly, handing her a small piece of paper with an address on it.

Tonks gasped in surprise as a large house materialized out of thin air, as she read over the address and wondered about what it meant. Richard lifted his hand over her head and Tonks felt the cold sensation wash over her again. She looked up at Richard's hand and felt her blood run cold.

"You're a wizard?" she asked weakly.

Richard snorted. "Oh yes love. I am. And it has been the torment of my father since I was a child. Thought he could squish the magic out of my like he did my mother, but no… I remember buying books for my first year, finding Diagon Alley… My mother died before my first day and my father refused to let me go. But I found ways to learn it all without him knowing. You know how I've always been such a thorough reader darling."

He yanked on her arm and pulled her toward the mansion.

"Of course," he continued. "It didn't hurt making the right sort of friends that could do the things I couldn't. Portkeys for example, I had to get some assistance with that. And of course, finding this place. It was the home to my mother's parents. Apparently, the whole deal with secret keepers is that you have to get them to tell you where it is." Richard cracked an evil smile. "Oh but I got them to tell me where it was. It was just a fun game watching my mother's father squirm."

Tonks could feel her feet trying to keep up with her as Richard dragged her along. If she tripped he would just yank her back to her feet so hard that it hurt her arm. "And I guess you realize now that I am a witch then?"

"I suspected it all along, Nymphadora. The fun of it was getting it out of someone that knew, someone that would use the information in hopes that it would deter my game with them. Which brings me to my second surprise my dear. I will show you how I knew your real given name, that you're an Auror --whatever that is --, and exactly how to get you right where I want you."

Richard pulled her to a door away from the huge entry doors to the mansion. He pushed it open and Tonks could feel the hairs in her nose curl as she took in the unmistakable mixture of blood, moisture, and stale water. She couldn't explain it, but she somehow knew that the blood was fresh. Richard led her down the spiraling stairs until they reached the lower dungeons of the mansion.

She felt her heart heave forward when she could practically taste the blood in the air. She froze on spot. "What did you do to Remus?" The voice she had used was low and almost like a predatory growl, it was voice that seemed to come from and entirely different part of her soul. "That's his blood I smell."

Richard cracked a smile. "So that's his name then? I was wondering because any time he came around, after I got done beating all the information I wanted out of him, all he would do was laugh and tell me that I would see come the night of the full moon. Which is why I brought you here, evidently he wanted me to know that you and the full moon had some sort of significance. But he's quiet the character, your friend is. I think he may have multiple personalities."

"You have no idea," Tonks said, with a little half smile. If Remus had a reason for not wanting to let Richard know he was a werewolf, Tonks wasn't about to spoil the surprise. "Where is he?"

Richard snapped his fingers and torches lit up around the dark dungeon. Tonks felt her heart fall when she saw Remus, curled up in a corner. He was stripped down bare and his arms and legs were tied to iron rings on the wall. She saw his body heave slightly and Remus lifted his head slowly and turned to look at her.

"It is the east," Remus said, his tone low and like a growl. "And Juliet is the sun." Remus gave a soft laugh as he shifted himself around to sit down. The look in his eyes was one of insanity, a thirst for blood and retribution. Tonks knew, at the moment at least, the wolf was shoving the real Remus aside. Remus cringed as if in a lot of pain. He looked up at them again and his eyes filled with fear. "Tonks?" He looked over her shoulder at Richard. "I told you to leave her out of this."

Richard gave a crude half smile. "Now what fun would that be -- Remus, right my dear," he asked, looking down at her. "I figured you wanted her here since you kept on about something big happening on the night of the full moon."

"No I don't want her here! It's dangerous for her to be here," Remus shouted, attempting to lunge but falling face first into his small bed of straw when the ropes reached their full extension. When Remus looked up, the madness was back in his eyes. "I would never hurt her," Remus hissed.

"So, tell me Richard, exactly how much did your spell instructor emerge you into the wizarding community?" Tonks asked shakily. She hoped the wolf was telling the truth, but in case he wasn't, she was not going to hesitate much longer on removing herself from the dungeon.

"Enough that pitiful little things such as you and this man are simple victims for me," Richard drawled. "But I don't think I will kill you Nymphadora my dear. I think in our time together I have grown rather fond of you, so a few well-placed will-controlling spells should do the trick on you. Your friend here though, I am afraid I cannot risk keeping him around and luring you away from me."

Richard released her and walked over to Remus, his wand drawn. "Any last words, Remus?"

Remus muttered a few hissed words under his breath, he was panting heavily for breath, and trembling profusely. In spite of it all, he gave a raspy laugh. Richard gazed down at Remus with a raised eyebrow. "What's so funny?"

Tonks made a move to go back for the stairs, but Richard cast a spell in her direction and she felt her legs give out from beneath her. Of all spells he could have thrown at her, he had hit her with the infernal one that turned her legs into little more than flailing appendages.

Remus was still laughing, his voice progressively getting more growl-like and loud. Richard's face contorted into an expression of rage and he promptly kicked Remus in his side. Remus instantly stopped laughing and fell over, panting for breath. Richard delivered a few more kicks on Remus' sides.

Richard had drawn his leg back for another kick when it happened. Remus looked up sharply, his eyes were glowing like to gold coins. His long fangs were bared as he snapped and growled. Richard paled and dropped his wand as he staggered back a few paces. Remus lunged for Richard, once again reaching the full extent that the rope allowed. Only this time the rings that were connected to wall displaced themselves slightly.

Tonks tried to use her arms to pull herself across the stone floor. "Remus!" She reached her hand toward Richard's wand. She focused with all her might and the wand flew to her hands. Richard was backed up into a corner, looking at Remus wide-eyed as he went through his transformation. Tonks had never seen him transform before and was transfixed, holding Richard's wand limply in her hand.

It was a fierce process. Eventually Remus had yanked the rings in the wall free, and ripped the ropes from his wrists and ankles. "Whatever you do Richard, don't run!" Tonks had finally found her voice when Remus collapsed after his transformation was through. She quickly muttered the spell to release her legs from Richard's jinx.

Unfortunately, he hadn't listened to her warning and he was slowly getting to his feet, his eyes darting around for the exit. "Richard, I'm telling you… Don't move. In this form he's practically immortal so it would be a big mistake to run from him."

"Wh-wha-what is that!" Richard yelled.

"It's a werewolf, dumbass," Tonks snarled. She didn't have time to wonder where the hell that hiss-like voice had come from. "Now don't move!"

Richard was still edging closer toward the stairwell. The wolf growled deeply as it slowly raised its head, its eyes were locked on Richard. Richard panicked and began to run for the stairs.

Tonks shouted out, "I said don't move!" and Richard froze, mid-run and fell to the floor. Tonks slowly moved to her feet in almost the same timing as Remus pulled himself onto his four feet. "Remus Lupin," she said calmly. The wolf's gaze flickered to her for a fleeting moment then went back to Richard's stiff form. "You don't want to do this Remus."

She slowly edged herself toward Richard as Remus slowly walked forward. His long fangs were dripping gleaming saliva as he growled deeply. Finally Tonks was the only thing between Remus and Richard. "Remus Lupin," she repeated. "He's mine to deal with. As a wolf you may not care, but I know part of you still cares whether or not you bite someone. Let me deal with Richard Remus."

The wolf gazed up at her. It slowly stalked around her, Tonks turned as he passed. Her body was trembling as she watched the wolf lean in over Richard. She could see the fear in Richard's eyes as the wolf reared back his head and opened his massive jaws. Please don't do it Remus, she thought.

The wolf lunged toward Richard, snapping his jaws shut right at Richard's face. The creature then raised its massive head and howled deeply before it raced up the stairs. In spite of it, Tonks smiled slightly and looked down at Richard's stiff form. His eyes had rolled back in his head, as if he had fainted. She looked up the stairs.

The wolf had listened to her pleas. But why?

888

Tonks let Richard come a rest on the ground. "Oppsy," she smirked when he landed just a little too hard. She had released him from her jinx before binding him with anti-apparation ropes and floating him out of the bounds of the mansion. Considering he was once again fully conscious made the ordeal much more fun.

To put it mildly, Richard looked furious. She stared down at him. "It's not much fun to be the one susceptible to undependable beatings is it? Speaking of which --" She sharply kicked Richard numerous times without care of where her foot connected with him. Then she quickly modified his memory so he would think he had injured himself while trying to escape from Remus and sent pink sparks flying up into the air.

At that point, she resisted the urge to hit him with a few torturing curses. It was a good thing she had because almost instantly, Scrimgeour and several other Aurors apparated to her location. Scrimgeour looked down at Richard then at Tonks. He gazed out across the wide span of land. Somewhere in the distance, Tonks could see the wolf running along the tree line. The wolf howled and raced into the forest. Scrimgeour looked back down at Richard.

"Was he bitten?" he asked gruffly.

"No," Tonks replied. "Not that Remus didn't want to rip him to shreds. But I begged him not to do it and so he went about his business."

Scrimgeour looked at her sharply. "He didn't attempt to attack you?" Tonks shook her head. "And you asked him not to bite this man and he just… ran off?" Tonks nodded.

"That's the jest of it anyways," Tonks replied. She gave a small half-smile as she recalled what exactly the wolf had done before retreating up the stairwell. "Let's get this guy back to headquarters. He can't apparate, but he admitted that some wizard had taught him some of the basic things."

"Did you get a name?" Kingsley asked, appearing over Scrimgeour's shoulder.

"He didn't say," Tonks sighed. Her eyes went back to the tree line. In good time, Remus would hopefully return to Grimmauld. She fully planned on being there when he did.