Tonks could see a slender figure silhouetted in the moonlight that streamed through the kitchen window. She couldn't help but be struck by the irony of the tableau. Fleur turned toward them and her eyes met Tonks' across the hallway.
"You're asleep," Tonks whispered almost imperceptibly to Remus. She slipped quietly out from under the duvet and padded into the kitchen, where Fleur was putting a kettle on to boil. Tonks put a silencing charm on the doorway and stoked the fire a bit. She waited for Fleur to speak first; after years of having her own mother prod and poke until the problem came out, she knew that her best move would be to let Fleur take her time. Some things needed to be pondered a bit before being shared. Fleur continued to fidget with the kettle until she finally had two steaming cups in her hands and joined Tonks by the fire.
"I am sorry zat I woke you, Nymphadora," Fleur finally said. "Despite being up for nearly two days, I cannot seem to sleep. I am frightened. What will happen to Bill la nuit de pleine lune?" She looked pleadingly at Tonks, clearly seeking reassurance from the only person who could, and would, give her some straightforward advice.
"Well, as for what will happen, we won't know until a couple of nights from now. Remus is hopeful that Bill won't undergo the full transformation, though it's not a certainty. No one really knows what happens to someone bitten by an untransformed werewolf. It's such an unusual situation. . ."
"I keep zinking of once, when I saw a loup-garou at a distance as a child. I was so terrified! It was énorme, wiz eyes like a cat. It had been captured by ze Aurors in my village and zey were stunning it. I imagine zat zey killed ze creature but Maman took me home so zat I would not see." Her eyes were filled with sadness, obviously imagining her fiancé suffering the same sort of fate.
"Even though Remus transforms at the full moon, Fleur, he takes a special potion every month called Wolfsbane. Tue-loup in French, I think, though it doesn't kill in small doses. As long as he takes it before the full moon, he keeps his mind and no longer has the urge to kill. It isn't a cure, but it gives him the ability to lead a fairly normal life."
" 'Ave you ever seen Rémus as a wolf, Nymphadora?"
"Well, each of us in the order would take turns watching over him at the full moon just in case something happened. Sirius would usually transform and stay with him while someone else would ward and guard the door. The potion is a fairly recent discovery, you see, and it's very complicated to brew. If there were some kind of mishap. . . well, Remus is such a vital part of the Order. . . "
"And a very special part of your life, I can see," Fleur finished. Tonks nodded. "Will you be zere wiz me, wiz us when it 'appens? I am so afraid to face him alone. I know it is my Bill, but what if he transforms? I do not know 'ow I will react."
"We'll be together, Fleur, I promise. I'll be right by you. They won't give him any Wolfsbane this time, to see what the full effects of his bite are, so you'll have to promise me that you won't be discouraged if Bill reacts badly. Remus will have his potion, so he'll be safe."
"I am so glad you are 'ere, Nymphadora!" Fleur cried. She suddenly looked up at the doorway and Tonks followed her gaze. Remus was standing there, waiting for them to finish. Tonks lifted the silencing charm and invited Remus in. He joined them by the dying fire and summoned a cup of tea for himself. "I take it we're all having a little trouble sleeping tonight?" he asked. "Every month I have a dream, Fleur, that the full moon comes and, miraculously, I don't transform. It can be very discouraging when I awaken and realize that it was a dream. The Wolfsbane is as close to that as I will probably ever come. But having someone with me helps. I don't like anyone to watch as I change, but afterward, it's a great comfort to have friends by my side. Everyone is different, though. Bill will let you know what he needs. Just be there for him and don't let him give up."
"I will never allow zat! Bill is brave and strong. And I will be braver and stronger if 'e needs me to be."
"He and I are very lucky men, it seems." Remus smiled softly and took Tonks' hand. "Can I give you a little something to help you sleep, Fleur?"
"No, I zink zat I will be able to now. Talking always 'elps, does it not? Je te remercie, Nymphadora. Tu me donne de l'espérance. C'est ce qu'il faut en ces jours attristés." She squeezed Nymphadora's other hand before turning to Remus. "And Rémus, I zank you as well. Will you talk to Bill tomorrow, to reassure 'im?"
"We will all sit down for a bit tomorrow, to discuss what might happen and make arrangements. Go upstairs and get some sleep, Fleur. He's probably wondering where you are right now."
Fleur bid them both goodnight and slipped back upstairs. Remus and Tonks wearily dragged themselves back to the sofa and collapsed with exhaustion for the second night in a row.