Summary: Kisses and cuts; Tonks grows up. A story with fluff and darkness.

Nymph vs Wolf
Wounded Hearts

Hogwarts

"At least some have been convinced, Remus. Frankly with the propaganda the Ministry is circulating through the Daily Prophet, I am not surprised at the outcome." Albus Dumbledore sat back with a soft sigh.

"Perhaps you should send someone else," suggested Remus Lupin as he sat across the desk. "I'm not much good to anybody."

"Remus, that's the waxing moon talking. You are a valuable member of the Order. You were instrumental in getting Harry to Order headquarters; I doubt he would have trusted anyone else who was available to go. Now he's safely back at Hogwarts as he should be," reminded Dumbledore. Then as he pushed a scroll to Lupin, he added, "And you offer a personal sacrifice for all lycanthropes."

Lupin looked at the scroll apprehensively. "They accepted my proposal?"

"The council approved it thinking that no one werewolf would volunteer to undergo all of the procedures." Dumbledore leaned forward, "I submitted your name and affidavit attesting to your volunteering and releasing the Ministry of any responsibility should something unfortunate happen."

Lupin exhaled slowly. "They had a five-year old boy on the list as well as a girl of ten! It will be worth it to save the little ones from the screening."

"State-sanctioned torture is more accurate," said Dumbledore. "I still think you should have let me try other avenues of persuasion."

"I just want it clearly demonstrated that silver won't poison werewolves," said Lupin. "When?"

"You're to report to the Ministry tomorrow night without Wolfsbane. You'll be taken to a cell, stripped, and chained to the wall before you even transform, your face encased in a chain-mail mask. Then the designated Auror will systematically administer the protocol."

"Ah, I see they haven't left out any dehumanizing steps," murmured Lupin.

"It doesn't end on the full moon, Remus. They know you'll be at your weakest on the following day. Umbridge insisted that, if you survive the night, the protocol should be repeated the next day."

Lupin rose from his chair. "Then I hope that Kingsley is as good a healer as he is a weapons master."

"Remus, I know you don't like to call on the arcane magic of Lyonesse, but this is one time when your lineage could protect you. Some of the wounds they intend to inflict are visceral."

"So even though the silver won't kill me, the blood loss itself will," concluded Lupin. He nodded his head; he had expected something like that. "Well, it's nice to know I've become enough a dissident for such consideration."

"Try to get some rest tonight, Remus."

"I will," he said and offered what he hoped was a reassuring smile to the Headmaster.

Lupin walked through the empty halls and remembered the youthful voices of his friends. He would tell Sirius about the silver screening, but no one else in the Order would know except Kingsley until it was over.

The halls echoed the darkness in his heart, but as he walked, he knew that what he needed was light. And for him, that meant a visit to Nymphadora Tonks.

- - - - - - - - - -

Tonks' Flat

"Wimples! Give it back!" cried Tonks as she scurried after the vorpal bunny. In frustration she took off one of her spiked heels and threw it at the furball. It flew through the open door of her bedroom and landed in the living room.

But the vorpal bunny ignored the command and effectively dodged the projectile. He picked up speed as he ran away from his mistress and into her living room.

Knock, knock.

"Bloody hell! Would you just go away!" called Tonks crossly toward her front door as she gave chase. "Wimples is on the rampage."

On the other side of the door, Lupin frowned. "I'm not afraid of a were-rab--"

A squeak stopped his words, then he heard Tonks call, "Wotcher, Remus! Come in, but shut the door quickly."

Lupin heard the muffled words and the sounds of paws scampering followed by a click, slap, click, slap as if a person were wearing one shoe. He opened the door cautiously and sure enough, the were-rabbit aimed directly for it, but his escape was prevented when the Professor scooped the lepine by the scruff of his neck.

Snerf, snerf, snerf. Wimples snarled in determination. He would not to share his trophy with anyone, but his nemesis seemed more interested in his mistress at the moment.

Tonks stood in front of them in a picture of femininity. Her hair was in a wave of pastel pink that emphasized her heart-shaped face. She wore a flattering, knee-length, lilac dress with spaghetti straps, although Lupin's attention was immediately drawn to her legs. Tonks wore one spiked heel while the other foot was bare. He saw its mate out of the corner of his eye lying on the floor. The squirming bunny then got his attention.

"What have we here?" asked Lupin when he registered that Wimples had thin, orange straps captured in his ears. As he tugged the straps loose, he soon identified the garment: a bra. He was quite pleased at his ability to blandly ask, "I assume this is yours?"

"I happen to like a bit of color," said Tonks in a huff, although she knew she was blushing.

"So does your pet," said Lupin as he released the bunny with a plop to the floor while extending the lingerie to its owner.

Tonks tried to make a quick grab for the garment, but to her chagrin, the elastic slipped out of her grasp and popped Lupin's hand. "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm just--"

"Snappish?"

"Clumsy," asserted Tonks as she snatched the garment and ignored her pet's minute leaps to get it. But the pun made her lips curve into a small smile. She held the bra behind her back and sighed, "All right, go ahead and laugh. Wimples got into my drawer of unmentionables and thought he'd discovered carrot paradise or some such."

"Ah, that explains the chase, but why the party dress?"

Tonks was silent for a moment as she looked down, nudged Wimples away with her bare toe, and hopped on one foot while she took off the other spiked heel. She finally admitted, "I was on a date."

Lupin quirked an eyebrow at this news, but Wimples flicked his ear as if confirming her statement. The Professor hadn't seen the young Auror in several days because he'd been sent out on a mission. All he could manage to say was, "I see."

"Look, Bill Weasley forced me to go on a double-date with him and Fleur when I lost a bet," began Tonks, but her hands fluttered in exasperation before she noticed she was waving her bra around. "Uh, just make yourself at home while I go put this away--and put a locking spell on my drawer..."

Tonks ambled to her bedroom muttering to herself, so Lupin followed Wimples to the sofa. As had become his habit when he was at her flat, he kicked off his shoes, shrugged out of his jacket and removed his tie before sitting in the middle of the sofa. Wimples climbed beside him and began a bath.

Lupin gazed blankly at the wall for a moment. So, Tonks had been on a date? It's what he wanted; he'd been feeling a tension between them building lately and it was best for her to consort with some young man who would fill her attention. A man who could hold her, kiss her, nibble on her carrots. Ugh! Wonderful. Even now his imagination was running rampant with images of Tonks.

"Thank you, Wimples, all I needed was another impure thought of Nymphadora Tonks running around my mind," said Lupin to the vorpal bunny who was cleaning his ears with care.

The bunny sat up to scratch his ear, then jumped into his top hat that was sitting on Lupin's left side. His work was done for the night.

Lupin leaned forward with elbows on his knees and let his head fall into his hands. Not only did he have to face the silver screening, he was tired, the full moon was imminent, and Tonks was jumping into the dating game. He should just go and leave her to her get on with her life.

"You don't look happy. It didn't go well?" she asked as she left her bedroom and sat beside him.

Lupin was about to make his excuses to leave when he felt her arm fall across his back. He told himself to resist temptation, but then she leaned her cheek against his shoulder as her hand moved in a slow, soothing circle. Although the water nymph was the source of his fantasies, it was Tonks' real presence in his life that he truly valued for it soothed his very soul.

He found his voice. "I had to defend Dumbledore's very sanity. The whole mission was a disaster, especially the dinner tonight. I convinced some, but not as many as I'd like. "

"Every little bit helps, Remus," murmured Tonks into his shoulder. He always smelled good and felt warm --and made her feel whole. This was no school girl crush she felt for the Professor; it reached far deeper into her soul.

He could feel her voice reverberating against his back and could catch the scent of her perfume. Lupin reached over to pat the hand she held in her lap, but she gently clasped his hand so he let the touch linger. He was testing the limits of his fantasy world where he could pretend that Tonks belonged to him as more than just a friend.

They stayed in that position silently for a few minutes as they drew comfort from the other's presence. Lupin let the foreboding events of tomorrow slip away for the moment. Once he could finally relax, he adjusted his position as he leaned back and rested his arm on the back of the sofa.

"So how did this date come about?" He hoped he didn't sound too eager for details. He wasn't sure he wanted to know.

Tonks moved into the crook of his arm with her back against his chest so she could lay her cheek against his arm. The words began tumbling out as she explained.

"Gringott's was having a fancy party, but Fleur and Bill couldn't officially go together because of a touchy situation with Fleur's intern status, so they needed decoy dates, and after I lost a bet to Bill about the quidditch match, he insisted I go because he'd already coerced one of his old mates who works for the Ministry to be Fleur's faux escort for the decoy double date."

"That's the oddest thing I've ever heard," said Lupin with a shake of his head. "What went wrong?"

"You should ask if anything went right," muttered Tonks as she turned around and tapped the back of her head against his arm. "Fleur insisted on coming over to help me dress; that's how I wound up in this purple thing--have I mentioned that I'm developing an aversion to the color? And where am I supposed to keep my wand? So I used a garter belt as a holster when Fleur wasn't looking."

And Tonks followed this comment with a deft tug to extract the wand and tossed it on the coffee table. Lupin couldn't prevent following her movements. The dress came to just above her knees and he had to take note of Tonks' very shapely legs. He had to force his eyes from repeatedly following their contours, in fact.

"It's a pretty dress although I see how it would be impractical for wand storage," he said after clearing his throat. Of its own volition, his hand fell to her bare shoulder.

"Mum bought it for me or I wouldn't have had it in my closet," explained Tonks as she absently picked at a spot on the fabric at her lap and snuggled further into the crook of his arm. In a small voice she added, "It had a pretty scarf that went with it, but I lost it after it strangled me."

"How did an inanimate object strangle you?" wondered Lupin aloud. He stopped his thumb from rubbing against the smooth skin of her shoulder when he noticed what he was doing.

"I tossed the edges over my shoulder just as my date closed the door behind me and, well, I think I turned as purple as my dress before he realized it wasn't his presence that was leaving me speechless."

"Then you're better off without it," asserted Lupin.

"I would have noticed the problem if I hadn't been so worried about not toppling over. Fleur spiked the heels of my sandals with one of her spells, so I was wobbling around as if I was tipsy all night. But the bloke kept leaning into me to steady me."

"He sounds like a gentleman," offered Lupin.

"More like a chauvinist," grumbled Tonks. "He never asked me what I wanted to eat or drink, he just handed me a plate or a glass, which I kept dumping over people before I could get rid of them--although Bill seemed to appreciate it when I spilled some wine on the front of Fleur's dress."

"Men are strange like that," admitted Lupin. He told himself not to feel pleased that Tonks had not found her Prince Charming. And to quit sneaking a peak down her dress!

"So after we make our excuses for leaving since Fleur was soaking wet, my date insists on seeing me home for my safety, completely ignoring the fact that I'm an Auror, mind you."

"I always walk you home," injected Lupin.

"But that's so different. We talk, we tease. He didn't even have a clue about the puns I was dropping all night long!" Tonks shook her head. "So we get here and before I know it, Wimples is on a tantrum and my date's jumping on the coffee table squealing like a little girl. I'm trying to calm Wimples; he's trying to blast him with a spell, and Wimples seems set on aggravating everyone. I managed to get Wimples into my bedroom and close the door before sending the chap on his way only to find that I left my drawer open from getting dressed earlier and Wimples fluffing up a nest, thinking he's found carrot paradise."

"I think the upcoming full moon is making him a little manic," offered Lupin.

"Yeah, and I'm better off without a humorless git, it's just--." Tonks face was downcast as she added, "I'm a failure when it comes to being a normal girl, Remus. Can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."

"No, no," said Lupin insistently. He put his hand under her chin so he could look into her eyes. "Don't ever think that, Nymphadora."

He looked into her bright eyes and wished he could say something more to convince her. His eyes fell to her lips and he wished this time that he could do something to show her how desirable she was.

He felt his head dropping toward her even as he noticed her face turning up to him.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Miss Tonks? Nymphadora? It's me, Matthew Blakesley."

The two jumped apart as if splashed with cold water. Tonks blinked. Was it her imagination? Had Lupin been about to kiss her?

"Nymphadora, really, I must speak with you." The voice was insistent through the door. "I really feel that for your own safety, you need to get rid of your, er, pet. I can have some men over from the Control of Magical..."

"Uh, I better see to this," said Tonks. Then as she saw Lupin making as if to stand, she ordered, "No, you stay right there."

She walked to the door and opened it with a false smile pasted on her face. "Wotcher, Matthew, and please just call me Tonks. Look, I'm sorry about Wimples, but what can I say? He's my furry little problem."

"Nympha--"

"Tonks." A masculine voice echoed the insistent feminine one.

Blakesley looked over Tonks' shoulder at her guest, who merely inclined his head in acknowledgment. "Oh, hello. Professor Lupin? Is that you?"

"You know each other?" asked Tonks.

Blakesley entered the room further. "Professor Lupin was my teacher when I was a wee lad. Why we haven't seen each other in over twenty years. I didn't think you'd still be alive."

"I tutored you during the summer when you were fifteen," reminded Lupin, "and it's been eleven years."

However, as he said this, Lupin's elbow managed to overturn the top hat at his side that contained the vorpal bunny. Although he didn't jump out, the hat served as a megaphone to amplify the were-rabbit's rather vicious snarl. Wimples eyes looked red and menacing within the dark depths of the hat.

Snarl, snarl, snarl.

Blakesley backed away and Tonks used the opportunity to push him to the door. "I think the upcoming full moon is having its effect on Wimples, so don't worry. He only attacks witless vegetables."

At this point Wimples' head emerged from the top hat with ears flared back, feral eyes blazing and his incisors fully extended.

"On second thought, perhaps you do have reason to worry. Tell you what, if you ever figure that one out, let me know. Good night, good bye, have a good life."

As the door closed with a click, Lupin was patting the bunny's head and scratching behind his ears. He commiserated by saying, "I know the feeling."

Satisfied with the situation, Wimples retreated back into his top hat, so Lupin set it on the floor to the side of the sofa so he wouldn't upset it further.

Tonks walked back to him with a smile. "And I thought I was the clumsy one."

"Gangly limbs, the bane of my life," replied Lupin with a shrug. "I remember Matthew quite well and you're right, he is a witless git."

Tonks laughed brightly and sat by Lupin again. She had really missed this feeling of contentment; she had missed him.

"I should give Matthew credit for at least being a passable kisser, I guess."

Lupin felt his heart do the oddest flip. "He kissed you? You've just met the man and you let him kiss you?"

"It wasn't as if I expected it! Anyway, that's when Wimples began his tantrum."

From the top hat on the floor, the long white ears protruded from the hat and wiggled in satisfaction.

"Well obviously Wimples was going to protect your virtue," defended Lupin. He didn't understand why he sounded so cross. "That's his duty."

Tonks argued immediately, "My virtue was never in danger! And it wasn't as if I could have dodged it. I mean he--he--did this."

Tonks decided to prove her point. One hand went around the back of Lupin's head while the other pressed lightly against his cheek. She drew on all the courage she could muster and completed the act, praying that she wouldn't bump his nose or land on nothing but mustache or bite his lip.

Of course she managed to do all three. Wimples' ears were now drooping over the rim of the top hat in defeat while Tonks pulled back blushing almost beet red. She covered her face with her hands. "I am so hopeless."

Lupin blinked off the pain, but it wasn't as uncomfortable as her distress. He felt an urgent need to make her feel better, so the emotional part of his brain took over. He said gently, "No, you're not hopeless, Nymphadora. I'm the one who's the novice."

"What?" her hands fell away from her face as she looked at him in confusion.

Lupin gently cupped her face with his hands, tilted at the appropriate angle and leaned forward. He had done this so often in his dreams that his actions were precise. He knew this was dangerous, but he intended just to brush her lips with his own. But when he felt the reality of her warm texture, his mouth pursued this avenue of sensation seeking as his rational brain evaporated completely.

Tonks felt his firm lips against hers and was expecting the same physical experience that other men's kisses had left in her. But this kiss was so much more! Her whole body suddenly felt warmer and responded by pressing into him. Her head was spinning as if she could drown in the sensation, but she couldn't get enough of the feeling. She used her mouth to taste him and he automatically followed her movement.

Lupin ignored the distress signals in the back of his mind in lieu of this one moment of pleasure. He gave no thought to being interrupted by the vorpal bunny. In fact, the ears retracted fulling into the top hat as Wimples settled for a nap.

But the voice of caution soon made itself heard, so they pulled away from each other as the kiss left them breathless.

Lupin looked away from her and said a bit shakily. "I hope I've proved my point."

Tonks touched her lips and blurted. "I didn't expect it to feel so, so--wicked!."

Lupin shook his head. "I didn't expect any of this."

He was moving away from her in his agitation until he felt her hand on his arm. "Remus, what's wrong with this? I thought, I mean, I know I'm not a Fleur, but--"

Lupin clasped his hands in front of himself and shook his head. "I'm too old for this."

Tonks frowned. He was older, not old, and his sense of humor made him seem younger than someone like Blakesley. She tentatively said, "Remus, I've seen enough of the boy in you to know you haven't lost him yet."

Tonks put her hands around the back of his neck and threaded her fingers through his hair. He sat completely still for a moment. She was afraid he wouldn't respond, but this time her kiss was on target. Although he hesitated, the kiss was warmly met. The sweet temptation she offered could not be denied.

But Lupin was determined not to lose himself this time, so he pulled away from her. She had seen him without the facade of the Professor far too often, but he had plenty of deficits to pursue. "I'm too poor, Nymphadora. I don't even have a job except for the work with the Order."

Tonks put her cheek against his and whispered in his ear, "My heart isn't for sale, Remus, but I'd give it to you freely."

His own heart soared at her words and there was no protest from him as again she found his lips. And this time his body followed the urge to press her back into the sofa, to taste her lips, her skin, to touch her the way he'd been longing to.

She felt the pressure of his body on hers and wondered fleetingly why she ever thought he was too tall. What did it matter when he was kissing her? Or when his hands were caressing her? She had never felt so happy to be a woman.

He felt the soft, warm and responsive body as his hands glided over her. Water nymph or valkyrie, she was everything he wanted. And this might be his last chance to experience the act he had denied himself over the years. It would be a simple matter to make her his woman, but with that thought came the reality.

If he didn't survive the Ministry's experiment, then he would have just used Tonks for his own pleasure. And if he survived, he couldn't condemn her to a life with his curse. Lupin halted all movement and just let himself breathe in her scent as he buried his face into her hair. He needed to walk away.

"No, we can't do this. There's too much danger," declared Lupin as he forced his body away from hers. He sat up and raked a hand through his hair while he searched for his shoes. He had to get out of here.

Tonks just lay on the sofa watching him in confusion. "Danger? Remus, what exactly do you think I do for a living? I'm an Auror, for Merlin's sake."

"And I'm a werewolf; I'm cursed and I have no intention of dragging you into this with me."

"But I don't care--"

"Well, I do," insisted Lupin as he grabbed his jacket and walked quickly to the door. "And since I am older, I need to protect you."

"I don't need your protection," protested Tonks as she stood up and clenched her fists at her side. How had this become such a disaster?

Lupin stopped at the door but kept his back to her. He couldn't afford to look into her eyes as he said scathingly, "No, what you need to do is grow up, Nymphadora, and learn the difference between lust and love."

Tonks stood there in shock as the door closed.

- - - - - - - - -

Tonks went through the motions of going to bed, but the numbness still had not dissipated. She looked in the mirror and saw that her hair was its natural color, the same brown that was Remus Lupin's. She touched the strands lightly.

"Remus, what are you doing to me?"

She scrunched her face and recovered her pink locks, but her heart still felt numb.

At number twelve, Lupin was staring at the ceiling above his bed. He felt like a villain for deliberately hurting Tonks and this was reinforced as he watched the writing above him lose its luminescence. Tonks Territory was dimming before his eyes.

- - - - - - - - - -

Grimmauld Place

"That smells good. Gonna share, mate?" asked Sirius Black as he ambled into the kitchen. The smell of bacon frying had driven him out of bed to seek the source. He hadn't smelled breakfast cooking since Molly left to return to the Burrow.

"Help yourself," said Lupin who had anticipated his friend's appetite this morning. He dangled an earing shaped in a filegree E and said, "I see you had a visitor while I was on mission."

"Where did you find that?" asked Sirius as he crunched on a strip of bacon and accepted the bauble.

"It was under the sideboard," replied Lupin as he gazed at the kitchen table. "Tell me the tabletop is still unsullied by human backsides?"

"It is! Emmeline came over two nights ago and we--"

"Spare me the details," injected Lupin as he held a hand up.

"We talked."

Lupin looked up suspiciously at Sirius. "Talked? Then why was the earring?"

"Well, maybe we did more than talk, but other than the earring, it was all in the bedroom."

"A minor miracle," murmured Lupin as he sipped his tea.

"Indeed. Do you know that Emmeline and I never just sat and talked to each other before? She brought the album of her personal gallery, in fact. I never knew she had painted so many portraits of me."

Lupin propped his chin on his hand and cautiously said, "Emmeline is quite talented, but I've only ever seen her public works."

"All of her paintings were--I never saw myself the way she painted them," explained Sirius as he shook his head in wonder. "You're in some of them, too, with James and Peter as well. She has a whole series she titled the Marauders of when we were at Hogwarts."

The two men fell silent as the ghosts of their past flittered through their minds. Sirius smiled, "I told her about some of our full moon adventures. She was inspired to try to paint something, although she'll have no idea what you look like as a werewolf."

Lupin's posture stiffened. Emmeline was privy to more information about Lupin than Sirius realized. It was time to make his confession.

"I'd rather she use artistic license in that regard, but Emmeline sketched the Werewolf during the last full moon."

Sirius leaned forward with a frown. "You don't like for people to see your wolf."

"Circumstances prevented that. We needed anatomical drawings and Emmeline's talent extends to being able to extract those from a superficial sketch."

Sirius now leaned forward in earnest. "Why?"

"Because we needed the precision if I'm to survive the silver screening tonight..."

The Professor then informed his best mate about the events to take place at the Ministry of Magic on this night. Lupin's voice held a calm detachment as he described the protocol. Sirius tapped his fingers on the table top for a moment, then gave an emphatic response to the news.

Swat.

"Moony, you self-sacrificing git!" admonished Sirius as he swiped at the side of Lupin's head.

"Ow! What was that for? I'm helping the only way I know how, Padfoot. I thought you'd understand."

"I understand you quite well," assured Sirius. "You never thought you deserved to survive. First it was your parents--"

"They were too young to die."

"Then it was the Prewett brothers."

"The only thing that kept me alive in that fight was my bloodline not--"

"And then James and Lily."

"And Peter and you," accused Lupin. "People leave me, Sirius."

"Well, I came back, didn't I? And what about the people in the Order now who care about you?"

Lupin sat back uncomfortably as the imprint of Tonks flooded his mind. He just quietly murmured, "I'm expendable nonetheless."

"Dammit, you are valuable to the Order, to me, to Tonks!" Sirius pounded the kitchen table.

"Leave her out of this," said Lupin. He shook his head and added, "I've hurt her enough as it is."

Swat. Sirius gave another slap to the side of Lupin's head.

"Ow! Why did you do that?"

"You said you hurt my little cousin," explained Sirius. Actually, he was enjoying being on the other end of the dope slaps.

"Well, it wasn't like I took advantage of her. In fact, I didn't do anything." Lupin squirmed as Sirius quirked an eyebrow. "I kissed her, all right? I wasn't about to let anything happen after that."

Swat.

"Ow!"

"And that's for not doing anything, you git! It's clear as the nose on your face that she fancies you," said Sirius.

Lupin closed his eyes and asserted, "It's a passing fancy, then. I won't use Tonks as a release for my sexual frustrations."

"Moony, if anyone deserves a, ahem, release, it's you, mate." Sirius shook his head and wondered if he could do any damage control for his friend. Lupin was obviously running scared; he'd seen James Potter do the same thing with Lily Evans. "So, let me get this straight. You lust after Tonks."

Lupin's head merely nodded.

"And you don't see her as a friend whatsoever. All the time you've spent with her is to check out her feminine charms?"

"No," Lupin immediately protested. "Next to you, she's my best friend."

Sirius nodded sagely. "So you're in lust with you're closest female friend."

"Right," said Lupin, a bit pleased that Sirius could see his view of the situation.

"Moony, you're mental, plain and simple." It was obvious to Sirius that the man couldn't admit that he'd fallen in love with his little cousin.

Lupin rubbed his forehead. "Look, I don't need another argument. If I've miscalculated my odds regarding the silver screening, it's all a moot point anyway."

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Ministry of Magic

Tonks entered the Auror office at eight o'clock in the evening to personally deliver the scroll containing her report of the days events. She had been dispatched on a team that had dealt with smugglers, but the chase had lasted all day. Still, her busy schedule meant she had little time to brood about Lupin's rejection of her the night before. Now as she went to her cubicle, the raw emotion came flooding back, but before she could let it overtake her, reality intruded.

"Tonks! Good, you're back. Listen, take a quick dinner break then get back here. I need you for a special assignment," said Kingsley Schacklebolt as he beckoned her. "It's internal to the Ministry."

"Internal?" asked Tonks as she rose and followed him out. She soon realized they were heading to the Disarmed and Detained section. "King, why are we going to D& D? I don't do these types of interrogations."

Shacklebolt pulled her into the weapons room and secured the door before speaking. He pulled out a set of silver knives and then produced a scroll out of his pocket. "Read that protocol."

Tonks scanned the weapons on the table and opened the scroll. She was soon frowning. Her eyes then opened wide and Shacklebolt could see her mouth moving as she read the details of the procedure to be performed on an undisclosed victim.

"This is torture!" she declared as she looked at Kingsley. "I refuse to be a party to this."

"Tonks, we need our best healer if the victim is to survive and that means you. You had two years of Healer training before you moved into the Aurors."

Tonks squirmed at this. "I was forced to resign from the Healers when I failed my orals."

"You didn't fail the practical exams, Tonks. I know, I've seen your records. These wounds tonight need be healed quickly."

Tonks inhaled a sharp breath. "These are wounds I'm supposed to inflict, not just heal, King. Why don't they have an attending Healer?"

"Because it's a special test case. Look, I was going to do it, but that's before I saw the full list," insisted the Auror. "It's a screening procedure on a werewolf to test for silver poisoning, Tonks."

"Werewolf?" asked Tonks as the hackles rose on the back of her neck.

"It was going to happen to a list of them, but one volunteered for all--"

"Bloody hell, what was Remus thinking?" asked Tonks in agitation. "And don't you dare deny that's who it is."

Shacklebolt shook his head, then Tonks let her rage get the better of her. "Why didn't the git tell me last night? Oh, Merlin, what a mess! Does he really think I'm some immature brat?"

"The information is classified, Tonks, and Remus didn't want you dragged into this, but I'm left with no other option. There are visceral cuts on this list; there's no way I could properly heal them but you can. Here, this is Lupin's werewolf. Emmeline Vance made the anatomical sketches during last full moon."

Tonks looked at the diagrams of the Wolf: muscle, viscera, skeleton. She tried to eliminate a shudder evoked by such cold analysis of Lupin's curse. He transformed into a wolf who was three meters tall. She couldn't imagine the pain he underwent as his spinal cord and joints accommodated the lupine skeletal structure. The internal organs grew and shifted within their cavities as well. The muscle lengthened and increased in mass in order to move the lupine frame.

"He's been planning this all along, then," muttered Tonks. She had missed him at the last full moon. Now she knew what he had been doing.

"It was just a precaution. He didn't know the Ministry would accept his proposal at the time, but you know Remus. He likes to be prepared."

Tonks nodded and looked at the protocol. Not only were there lacerations to the skin, but also wounds to the abdomen and thorax. The only thing spared was the cranium. She closed her eyes and suddenly laughed bitterly. "You know, last night I was dreaming of inflicting pain on Remus. I really hate it when my dreams come true."

Shacklebolt didn't pursue the odd comment, rather, he focused on the mission at hand. "You'll do it?"

"I don't have much choice, do I?"

"Meet me back here at ten o'clock. I'm sending Nymphadora Tonks out on mission for a few days so you'll have an alibi for tomorrow and the next few days."

- - - - - - - - - -

Tonks walked home and tried to think about securing Wimples in his cage for the were-rabbit's transformation tonight. But Lupin's voice kept echoing in her mind.

"What you need to do is grow up..."

Grow up, bury your feelings, do your duty. "And pray I don't kill the man I love."

The words slipped out, but Tonks knew the truth of them as soon as they were spoken. Lupin had rejected her, had set to deliberately hurt her, knowing what he faced tonight.

She felt Wimples nuzzling against her hand through the bars. The were-rabbit was the only witness to her tears. But she soon shook them off and pulled out the sketches of the Werewolf.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Ministry of Magic
D&D

"You'll be hooded so that Remus won't know who you are. You can match my height and he won't be any the wiser." Shacklebolt's deep voice had a calming effect on the younger Auror.

Tonks closed her eyes and when she stood, she matched her colleague's height. Her face broadened around the eyes and as she reached out to touch his hand, her skin color flooded with melanin until it matched.

"I'll need to copy your voice," said Tonks as she lifted her wand and commanded, "Phonemic profundo."

Shacklebolt began reciting the forty-four English phonemes and each appeared to fall from his mouth to be captured in her wand at his throat. Tonks pointed to her throat and spoke in his deep, resonating voice, "I have the elements I need to be your substitute."

"Good, this is perfect," said Shacklebolt as he inspected her.

"No, this is completely wrong," argued Tonks, but she accepted the robes that he offered to conceal her body. Still, she expected that somehow underneath it all, Lupin would know it was her.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Ministry of Magic
D&D Cell 45

Rufus Scrimgeour stood with Dolores Umbridge on his right as they watched Remus Lupin being escorted down the corridor to the cell. On Scrimgour's left stood the hooded Auror who would be in charge of administering the protocol.

The lycanthrope walked forward with a placid face. He had come to them not in his meanest estate, but dressed in the Roman cassock that signified his training and status in the Collegium Magus. Even with the scars across his face, he projected the very essence of a Scholar. Scrimgeour could hear Umbridge hissing under her breath.

"The nerve of the man! He's wearing his Scholar's robes." Umbridge's distaste for the werewolf couldn't be more apparent. She had expected Lupin to show up in his usual attire which, while always professional, was quite shabby with wear.

"He's not stupid, Madam, and I'm sure he deliberately wore the robes to remind us he's not a mindless creature," said Scrimgeour. Indeed, the Auror could once again see that Remus Lupin had his father's spirit and inherent nobility. There would be no command to strip the man; Lupin would offer his sacrifice of his own accord.

Tonks was glad the hood covered her so well as she blinked away the tears that threatened. Lupin had never looked so handsome for the long garment accentuated his languid stride. Although pale, his features expressed a sense of dignity that would not allow the man at its core to be violated. She wished she could express to him how proud she was of this defiant gesture, but she merely stood immobile.

"Professor Remus Lupin, you remand yourself into the custody of the Ministry of your own free will?" asked Scrimgeour.

"I'm here to serve and I accept my duty," replied Lupin. His gaze fell to the chains on the wall and said, "But I'll need some help getting into those shackles."

Lupin watched as the hooded Auror came to stand by his side and felt relief when he heard Kingsley Shacklebolt's voice. "I don't believe the protocol requires the entire company to be present until after transformation. Unless there's something you want to see, Madam Umbridge?"

The arch comment drew a gasp from the woman, but the smirk on Scrimgeour's face made it evident that he found it amusing. He turned politely and asked, "Madam?"

"We'll be back at midnight to begin the protocol," huffed Umbridge as she walked out haughtily. Scrimgeour followed her, but not before offering an approving nod to the Auror.

Once the corridor was empty, Tonks closed the door to the cell and closed the blinds on the viewing window in it. She then gestured for Lupin to proceed with disrobing. She wasn't surprised when he turned his back to her to begin unbuttoning the cassock. The whisper of the cloth was the only sound in the cell.

"I'm ready." His voice was still calm, although there was a sense of resignation in it.

She knew he didn't like his body revealed, so as she walked to where he stood against the wall, she kept her gaze averted. She lifted the shackles to his wrists, but to buy time, inspected them closely. Under the hood she frowned before saying. "Wait. They forgot to put an extension spell. These will dislocate your shoulders once you begin to transform."

She put a gentle hand on Lupin's shoulder to move him out of the way then called the proper spell for the chains. She moved forward to inspect them again and nodded in satisfaction.

"I'm glad you thought to check for it," said Lupin sincerely as he placed his body against the wall.

"You'll suffer enough from the protocol." The shackles clicked into place.

"I'm sorry to put you through this."

Lupin felt the hand lightly slap the side of his face. He looked into the dark eyes, but rather than sense a masculine presence, there was something definitely feminine and familiar.

As the mask of chain mail was placed around his face just before the light of the full moon hit the cell, Lupin caught the scent as the Auror lifted the mask. As the transformation took him, he had one last coherent thought. Tonks was at his side.

She watched without emotion as the changes took place. She could see that even after all these years, he still fought the Wolf. But as the last shudder racked his body, amber eyes peered at her with a hungry gaze. The Wolf would be a magnificent specimen for torture.

- - - - - - - - - -

The Wolf understood pain and the desire to inflict it. He lunged at the wizard and witch when they entered and managed to appear threatening even with the muzzle on his snout. The chains snapped to full extension. He howled in frustration until he felt his shoulder being stroked.

The Wolf turned with a low growl to the closer target with his amber eyes flaming, but the Hooded one emitted a low whimper that would be undetectable by human ears. The Wolf was silent until it smelled the blood from the cut. He tried to raise his limb to lick it, but the chains prevented movement, so again he howled his frustration.

But the hand moved over the wound to seal it, leaving only a scar, again emitting a low comforting whimper. This pattern continued for the next five hours.

"That completes the protocol," said Tonks with Shacklebolt's deep voice. Her back was turned to Scrimgeour and Umbridge.

She still held the blade in her hand that she had used for the incisions. It took a measure of control not to inflict the same pain on them as she had on the Wolf who now hung exhausted before her. She had managed to calm the Wolf sufficiently so that her mark was true and resulted in limited damage, but the creature struggled before and after each wound. No, not a creature; this was Remus Lupin.

"Madam, we've seen no evidence of toxic effects from the silver blades," said Scrimgeour. "We've only added to his scars."

"Nonsense, the werewolf form is a superhuman creature. We need to test him when he's at his weakest," insisted Umbridge. "I'm exhausted, too, Scrimgeour, but we have a duty to attend to."

Scrimgeour turned to the hooded Auror and said, "Get him out of the shackles and place him on the table once he transforms."

Umbridge immediately protested, "That's a waste of time. We can--"

"Treat him like a human being," said Scrimgeour. "Or as much as the protocol allows. See to it. We'll be back at eight."

As the two walked out, Tonks felt a gleam of satisfaction when the Wolf growled low in his throat and sent the witch scurrying out the door faster.

Tonks closed the door to the cell and secured its window as she waited for the transformation. When it was over, Lupin's body hung limply as he fell into unconsciousness. She blinked back the tears as she saw the newest scars on his body; she couldn't afford to lose control now. He needed her to stand by his side, even as she inflicted the pain.

She called the table forward so it would catch him then placed her arm around his shoulders as she called the release of the shackles. For a moment she let the deep voice slide into her own. "It's all right, Remus, I'm with you. I'll take care of you."

Tonks laid him carefully on the table and covered his body against the cold room. With a sigh she let her disguise fall away, then she pulled up a stool and removed the hood to reveal the pink hair she preferred. She put her wand at Lupin's heart and lay across his chest as she sang in a gentle voice. For a moment, she let her eyes shut and drift into slumber as some of her energy flowed into his body. That was all she could offer him now.

- - - - - - - - - -

The stinging pain in various parts of his body woke him up, but his eyes fluttered open in silence. Strange. He also felt a weight on his chest and as he peered down, verified the reality of it. Odd. Pink hair? It would have to be, "Nymphadora?"

His voice was weak, but Tonks sat up with a jerk. She put her hand on his forehead and said, "Sshh, don't talk, and don't you dare go all modest on me now."

Lupin blinked as he realized he was only covered by a sheet. He closed his eyes and groaned. Perfect. Well, at least Tonks understood why he was dangerous. And there was no way the sight of his mangled body would work to sustain her crush on him.

He released a long breath and just shook his head. "Kingsley?"

"He was afraid he couldn't heal you as well as I could--and he was right," said Tonks as she sat up. "But I can't do this next protocol without you knowing that--that I'm the one responsible, that I'm the one hurting you like this."

Tonks looked away, but Lupin reached up to touch her cheek His voice was as hoarse as it had ever been as he said, "So sorry."

"Dammit, Remus! You're not the one who needs to be apologizing or comforting me," said Tonks, but she brought her hands up to cup his.

"When again?"

Tonks checked her watch and sighed. "One hour. I better get back to being Kingsley."

She made the change quickly, donned the hood, then got up to bring Lupin a glass of water. As she propped him up to drink it, she said, "I'd offer you more, but it's best we wait until this next step is over. I just wish there were a way to convince them--"

"Heart puncture," murmured Lupin when he finished swallowing.

Tonks looked at him in alarm as she brought the cup away from him. "You're mental."

"Sirius said," here Lupin paused to catch his breath, "same thing."

"Remus, that's not even in the protocol," admonished Tonks as she lay him back.

"Extreme measures, extreme situations," replied Lupin with each word coming out as a sigh. He closed his eyes knowing he didn't have the energy to explain.

"A heart puncture would ensure the silver contamination would be flushed through your body as the blood was pumped. Yes, I understand your reasons, but it's risky."

He just murmured as he clutched her hand, "Lyonesse lives."

"Lyonesse lives?" echoed Tonks. Then she understood. His bloodline was of Lyonesse, the Old Kingdom that had fallen into the sea. "It's not just a legend? Your bloodline carries an enhanced ability to heal?"

"Yes."

Still, she shook her head, but then Lupin grabbed her hand and managed to whisper, "Trust each other, have faith."

It was ironic that such a clumsy woman was charged with this duty, but her movements had always been sure when it came to healing. She just prayed that remained true.

"Do you have to be awake to focus on the healing?" asked Tonks. "I wanted to keep you asleep for the next part."

"Sleep," agreed Lupin as he took a deep breath. He focused on his mantra as he felt the sleeping spell take him. Lyonesse lives.

- - - - - - - - - -

Srimgeour and Umbridge entered the cell again only to find Lupin's still form on the table.

"He's still unconscious?" asked Srimgeour even as he bent over Lupin.

The hooded Auror merely nodded.

"We can give him a pepper-up potion--" began Umbridge.

"Why?" asked Scrimgeour dryly.

"Why? So Lupin will be awake, of course."

"There's no need for him to be awake for these procedures. His body is exhausted from the screening last night as well as the transformation. We can finish this quickly now."

Tonks held her breath while Umbridge cleared her throat several times. There was no reason for Lupin to be awake unless one wanted to hear the man scream in pain.

"Fine, then, let's proceed. Repeat the protocol exactly." Umbridge stood primly with her hands folded in front of her.

The hooded Auror bowed to wizard and witch before beginning the task. She made the first two cutaneous cuts. Again, there was no sign of poisoning, although the wounds would clearly leave more scars. But just as the third cut was going to be made, Shacklebolt's deep voice filled the cell.

"Madam, what would it take to convince you that silver will not poison werewolves?" The hooded figure picked up a stilleto and looked directly at Umbridge. "A stab to a vital organ, perhaps?"

Umbridge looked up brightly and her toadlike smile filled her face. "What an excellent suggestion."

Scrimgeour immediately began a protest, but Tonks ignored him and continued in seeming eagerness. "What will it be, Madam? His liver? His lungs? What about his heart?"

And with those words, she made a quick puncture. The loud gasps filled the room at the unexpected maneuver. But the wound healed quickly as the hand moved over to seal the puncture. "Directly into his left ventricle, the blood should be pumping through his body now."

Tonks held her breath and swore she could hear each beat of Lupin's heart. Lyonesse lives, Lyonesse lives... She kept chanting the phrase to herself as a prayer that his bloodline would hold true. But she had made a decision to end this and if it came to it, she'd rather kill him quickly than slowly.

They watched as Lupin's breathing remained steady, his pale skin remaining without any evidence of poisoning.

"How long do you want me to monitor him?" asked Tonks after several minutes had passed.

Scrimgeour turned to Umbridge as he spoke. "The screening has ended. I find no evidence of silver being able to poison a werewolf."

Umbridge scanned the body on the table one last time in hopes of finding some sign, but finally admitted, "I concur."

Scrimgeour turned to the hooded Auror. "Release Professor Lupin when he wakes. See that he has an escort to his home."

"His research assistant is supposed to come for him when he's released," replied the Auror.

Scrimgeour nodded and practically pushed Umbridge out of the cell. Tonks closed the door and sank to the floor in relief.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Tonks' Flat

Lupin heard the murmur of voices, a familiar bark and a snarl? He vaguely remembered dressing and waiting for "Bambi" to retrieve him. Bambi was, of course, Tonks in her curly haired nitwit guise, but he had no energy to protest.

He was lying in a bed with his eyes closed and as he turned his head, he felt a wet tongue lick his nose. "Go way, Snuffles, need sleep."

Assuming he was in his room at Grimmauld Place, he turned away from the black dog only to feel his nose again being touched, but this time by another wet nose. His eyes fluttered opened to find a white furball twitching his whiskers and perking his ears.

It was a strain to speak, but his hoarse voice came out saying, "Why is Wimples in my room?"

"You're at my place," called the feminine voice. Tonks had just entered her bedroom carrying a mug. "Here, Molly sent some broth with Mad-Eye--"

"Mad-eye's here too?" Lupin closed his eyes. "Can't a man have some peace after being used as a pincushion?"

"It's good to see your humor is intact," said Sirius as he transformed from the black dog to the human. He stood at the the head of the bed to let Tonks through with the broth.

"Moody just delivered the broth and confirmation that the results of the silver screening were entered into record," explained Tonks. She was back in her pink hair and even wore her pajamas with the racing brooms on them. "The experiment was unsuccessful for the Ministry, but quite a triumph for lycanthropes."

"And wouldn't have been possible without your help," added Lupin. His Wolf would have been too agitated to hold still for anyone but Tonks, he was now certain. Her healing powers were an added bonus and had ensured his surviving the night. "You're a fine healer, Tonks."

"That's my little cousin," said Sirius as he grabbed Tonks and rubbed her hair. "I didn't realize you'd had any training."

"Stop, you're sloshing the broth," complained Tonks with a blush. She explained when he released her. "I passed my HIPPOs but failed the oral exam for my HENS during second year of Healer training. I helped my mum in her flower shop until I got my confidence back and tried for Auror training."

"Healing is a skill that will never leave you, Tonks," assured Sirius as he helped prop Lupin on the pillows.

"You. You shouldn't be here," said Lupin as he managed to point a finger at Sirius.

Sirius put a hand over his heart and said, "I feel duly chastised, but I had to see for myself you were all right. It was easiest for Tonks to bring you to her flat, Moony. One can't apparate directly into Order headquarters."

Lupin couldn't even acknowledge this with a nod before Tonks had the mug to his lips and was tipping it back so he could drink. He didn't realize how thirsty he was until the liquid hit the back of his throat.

"So drink up and get well. Dumbledore intends to send you out to help Hagrid get back to Hogwarts with a special, er, package once you recover." Sirius spoke as he walked to the bedroom door. The night would provide good cover for him to return to Grimmauld Place.

"I can't impose on Tonks," murmured Lupin before Tonks tilted his head back for another long sip.

"Yes, you can. Everything is on one level here; you'd be stressing the wounds walking up and down at number twelve. And don't give me that look. I'll be a good boy and stay at the grim old place."

Snuffles immediately appeared, emitted a bark that made Wimples jump, and trotted away. Tonks followed him to open the front door, but was soon back. In the meantime, Wimples settled on Lupin's feet and closed his eyes.

As Tonks entered the bedroom again, Lupin let his gaze travel down her form. Although she wasn't in a fancy party dress with her hair in feminine waves, she was a beautiful sight to his eyes.

She moved to lie beside him on top of the bedcovers as he snuggled into their warmth. She wrapped an arm around him and said, "Get some more rest, Remus. I'll be here."

His eyes closed again as he found comfort in the warm body against his back.

- - - - - - - - -

Tonks woke up to find Lupin nuzzling her ear. The morning light was filling the room, so she turned her face to his to wake him, but found his eyes were open and staring at her.

His hand touched her chin and leaned forward to kiss her softly. She moaned in pleasure and he moaned in pain.

Pulling back with a wince, he said, "This isn't a dream, is it?"

Tonks sighed in disappointment. "No, it's all real. Where does it hurt?"

She sat up and began unbuttoning his shirt, but his hand landed on hers as he said, "Don't."

"Remus, it's a bit too late for modesty. I've seen you; I gave you all those new scars."

"But I hurt you a lot worse."

Tonks tried to fight the tears. She had been quite proud of the professional way she had handled everything that had been demanded of her. Yet here in her own room, there were no cues for the emotional barriers.

He held her and stroked her hair gently. As he touched her he realized why Sirius had called him mental. He wasn't in lust with a female friend. He was in love with Nymphadora Tonks. He closed his eyes wishing things could be different.

"I'm sorry, Nymphadora."

Tonks blew her nose loudly as she recovered. Perfect. Red eyes, runny nose, just what any man dreams of. "Quit apologizing."

She swatted at his shoulder, then moaned, "Oh, no, now I'm hurting you again."

"Tonks, don't fret, it's all right." Lupin wrapped his arms around her and just rocked her for a moment. The movement offered no pain this time, just warmth. "What am I going to do with you?"

"Well, I have a few ideas," offered Tonks, "but you seem to think you're all wrong for me."

"And I am, Tonks," he insisted, although his arms tightened around her.

"Prove it then," she said as she pulled back to look into his eyes. "Go out with me and prove it."

Lupin blinked at this idea. "We can't go out."

"Then you can't prove that you're the wrong man for me, can you?" Tonks sat up in bed as she gained momentum for her argument.

"I--I," Lupin was at a loss for a moment, but then had a brilliant counterpoint. "I can't even afford to take you to dinner."

"You promised to let me ride the skiff that takes you to Wolf Rock. I assumed you'd cook dinner, too," reminded Tonks as she referred to his lighthouse. "That works for me."

Lupin looked up at the ceiling. She had a point; it wouldn't cost him anything but time to take her--What was he thinking? "A date should be romantic. How--"

"Hm, stargazing in an enchanted lighthouse. I think I've read a poem about that," said Tonks. "It's more romantic than being bought a piece of meat to eat as a token of affection."

Lupin had to smile at her logic, but he had to make her see that she had a world of opportunity out there for her. "All right, I'll keep my promise and take you to Wolf Rock, but you have to do something for me first."

"What?" asked Tonks suspiciously. She couldn't believe he'd surrender so easily.

"The lighthouse will have to wait until I get back with Hagrid."

"I can be patient," asserted Tonks.

"That's not the bargain. I'll take you to Wolf Rock when I get back, but you have to promise me you'll have a comparison."

"A comparison?"

"Three dates with a suitable young man, Tonks. I'm sure Bill has other friends he could introduce to you," said Lupin. He felt his heart lurching as he set his conditions. Surely while he was gone, Tonks would find a man who would capture her heart.

Tonks took a deep breath. Now was not the time for tantrums, it was time for compromise. If her feelings for Lupin were a passing fancy, then they were both better off for finding out. Somehow she knew what the outcome would be, though. "Three dates, but not necessarily with the same man."

"But how can--"

Tonks shrugged, "I've never been on a second date, Remus."

"All right, three dates."

They shook hands on the bargain, each confident that their outcome would be favored. But then Tonks said, "But for now, I'm off duty today and need to catch up on my sleep."

Lupin didn't protest when she again snuggled against him. He just stored the feeling in his heart.

End of Chapter

Minor edits.

Author Notes:
Kissage! See, I am merely a slave to your demands. It was time to insert this episode and it was tricky to write. I didn't feel right about splitting up the story because it left too many things hanging, so I waited until I had the full arc completed. Also, I tried to give just enough hints of what Lupin had to endure without getting too graphic. I hope I succeeded in leaving you with a smile at the end of a grim story.

Umbridge, the witch we love to hate. Scrimgeour has his good points, although he is a Ministry man.

Tonks had to mature a bit more, although I never saw her as this immature brat often painted by others. Here she had to deal with the consequences of being an Auror, maintaining loyalty to the Order, and stepping up to a task that she would rather pass by.

Lupin also had to open his eyes. He had relegated Tonks to a fantasy and tried to keep the real Tonks, his friend, too separated from the water nymph. Now he has to deal with the real woman.

According to various sites, English has 44 phonemes. I just liked the image. Profundo is not canon. There is no reference to a D&D section at the Ministry of Magic, but the connotation with Dungeons and Dragons is obvious.

Tonks' healing abilities. In HBP, she fixes Harry's nose with proficiency. While I see this as part of Auror training, I used that as the point for expanding her healing abilities. I have no idea what HENs and HIPPOs stand for (they aren't canon), but I'm sure I'll work that out if I ever need to.

Emmeline Vance as an artist is not canon, but she told me quite clearly that she indeed paints, sketches and even does a bit of sculpting. This is my way of thanking the artists who post HP fanart for I've seen some wonderful series for Marauders and Lupin/Tonks. Also it gave me a chance to show you that Sirius and Emmeline are trying a different tactic in their relationship and why such a witch is valuable to the Order.

Thanks for reading and reviews. Hope to update within the next 10 days. Thanks for waiting patiently and for enduring a long story. I hope you found it worth your time.