"Where the heck is he?" She asked, pacing around the room like a caged wolf.(done)
Remus walked into the room, his face alight with happiness. He saw her impatient scowl and he laughed and scooped her up into his arms, placing a sweet kiss on her lips. "I'm so happy to see you up and walking around," he said, not letting her out of his arms. It was as if he was trying to make up for the time he couldn't hold her and kiss her, he just wanted to be close to her. "I hope you are hungry, Molly has made a meal fit for ten werewolves," he teased.
Tonks laughed, "Wonderful. Because I feel like I could eat the whole thing," She said, laughing. "I think I like this idea, being able to eat all I want and not gaining a pound, having a fur coat once a month, and staying fit without even trying too hard. Sounds like heaven to me," She said, kissing him passionately. Just then they heard someone clearing their throat behind them.
"Remember, you need to take it easy for the next week or so. This means all physical activities are limited," With that, the healer turned around and walked back out of the room.
Tonks looked at Remus and laughed, "Gee, can they read minds too?"
"Sometimes I wonder," Remus joined her in her laughter. He loved the way she could make any situation positive, she was a fighter. "We better hurry up to The Burrow, everyone can't wait to see you..." he paused for a moment and then looked her over. "Are you in any condition to apparate, or shall we take the floo?" He didn't want her to do more than she felt she was able to do, anything could push her back over that line of recovery.
"Let's take the floo," She said, smiling at him, "Normally it upsets my stomach but I rather doubt that will be the case now," She said, kissing him once again. She had noticed that all her senses had been heightened since she had been bitten, and it was something that she was enjoying to the fullest extent.
Remus pulled her close and gave her a slow and thorough kiss, he knew what she was feeling, because it was the way he always felt with her. Especially since she was a new wolf she needed to touch and be close to him. It was a wolfish instinct, the smell and feel of the pack. He knew she didn't understand that yet, but he would help her through it.
They took the lift down to the main level of the hospital and used one of the fireplaces there. "I'm going to go first all right?" he asked. He could see that she was beginning to get suspicious but he didn't want to tell her what was going on. Instead he tossed some floo powder into the grate, stepped inside and said loudly, "The Burrow"
Remus spun through the grate and landed on the cobblestone floor of the Weasley's fireplace. Arthur was there to help him up and the men grinned at each other. "Everyone get ready, she should be here any second!" Arthur called out. Remus took his place beside Bill and Fleur Weasley and waited for Tonks to arrive.
Tonks threw some floo powder into the fireplace, stepped inside, and shouted, "The Burrow!" When she had finished spinning through the grate and landed on the other side, she heard "SURPRISE!"
Looking around, she saw everyone gathered there, all their friends, and saw Remus standing there grinning at her, "Oh you! You had this planned all along didn't you?"
Molly went over and gave Tonks a hug and a kiss, "It's good to have you back again, Tonks."
"It really wasn't my idea," Remus admitted. "Molly wanted to do something special for you and I just helped plan it out."
Molly shook her head and made a tsking noise, "Don't let him fool you Nymphadora, he wanted you to come over and see everyone who cares about you. He has planned this from the day he went and visited you at the hospital the first time."
"Mum did take over just a bit," Ron called out and Hermione swatted him on the arm. He rubbed it tenderly. "What? It's true..." he mumbled.
Remus extracted Tonks from Molly's arms and intertwined his fingers with hers. "Let's do a bit of mingling before dinner," he suggested. (
Tonks and Remus walked around, greeting their friends and thanking them for coming. She was touched by the outpouring of support that was shown and was glad to see that there hadn't been many casualties on their side of the war. Going over to Arthur, she gave him a kiss on the cheek, "I hear that congratulations are in order, Minister Weasley," Tonks said, smiling at him.
"Now how did you know that?" He said, looking at Ginny who was whistling and trying to disappear, "Ginny! You spoiled the surprise!" He said, laughing at the look of horror on her face. "I'm just kidding. But seriously, I do have something I want to talk to you two about later when things calm down."
Remus nodded at Arthur, "Whatever it is that you want done Minister, we would be happy to do."
Arthur grinned broadly at the couple and shook Remus's hand again. "I knew you would accept, and let me tell you, you will both be grateful you did. It's going to be an exciting opportunity," he winked and left them to go and speak to his wife.
Remus and Tonks moved around the room until they found Professor McGonagall speaking with Professor Dumbledore about the up-coming graduation. "This group of students is one of the best we have ever had, I will be sorry to see them go," Dumbledore said with a proud and yet sad smile.
Tonks' eyes opened wide as she saw Albus Dumbledore standing before her and she found herself unable to speak. When she had regained the use of her voice, she smiled at him, "Professor Dumbledore! I am so glad to see you!"
"I am glad to see you also, Tonks. I know that you are also quite surprised," He said, his blue eyes twinkling merrily. "I had asked Remus not to tell you that I was alive so that I might surprise you myself at your party. No doubt you are wondering how I came to be here, hmm?"
"Well...yes. I mean, everyone thought you had died."
Dumbledore smiled at her, "That was the plan. Everything was set up. I had Harry watch me 'die' so that he would stand on his own two feet to face Voldemort. I knew that he had it in him. The spell that Professor Snape hit me with was not the killing curse, but rather a very strong disarming spell. Fawkes caught me, I transfigured something to look like my deceased body on the ground and I flew off. I did it also to give Voldemort a false sense of security. The portrait I had made months before."
"That really is quite a story Dumbledore," Remus said, even though he had heard it a few days earlier. He would never forget the way he felt when he heard the old wizard had died, it was as if part of his life was gone forever. He reached out to shake his hand. "Well, it is wonderful to see you alive and well sir."
"Minerva and I will see you at the graduation this weekend then?" Albus inquired.
"We wouldn't miss it Headmaster, not when the children are the ones being congratulated on their efforts and successes in the war and in school," Remus said proudly as he watched Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny laugh together in a corner of the room.
"That's excellent then. We will look forward to seeing you then," Dumbledore said with a rather large grin.
The rest of the party was spent eating and talking, catching up on old times. At long last, the party guests had dwindled down some and it was only Harry, Hermione, the Weasleys and the two of them. Arthur beckoned to the two of them and lead them into the office he had made in the newly refurbished house. Closing the door, he gestured for the two of them to sit down in front of his desk, "I'm sure the two of you are wondering what I wanted to speak with you about."
"Yes, we are sir," Tonks said, smiling at him. "You know that we are willing to help you in any way we can." She said, taking Remus' hand and squeezing it gently.
Arthur looked very seriously at both of them before smiling gently. "In the new Ministry I have created a new office for part-human liaisons. Remus, I would like you and Tonks to head the Werewolf affairs office, you can create sub-divisions if you like, but make sure to run them by me first."
Remus sat shock still as he looked at Arthur's smiling face. "Werewolf affairs? Has it finally happened?" Remus felt a real spark of hope for the future of werewolves for the first time in his life. "There is so much to be done Arthur..." he paused and looked into Tonks' happy face, "may I request something?"
"What is it Remus, whatever it is just ask," Arthur said still smiling.
"Could we arrange to have Tonks work at St. Mungo's in a few months? She brought it to my attention that the werewolf victims need someone who has been through what they have, and after she has experienced it, I think she would be a good candidate," Remus said with pride in his voice.
Tonks smiled at Remus, silently thanking him for bringing it up. "I remember how alone I felt when I was first bit. They have people in there that talk to you and know about it, but it's not like having someone who knows what you are going through. Remus really saved my life when he came to visit."
Arthur smiled at the young couple, "I agree, that is an excellent idea. I will arrange it with St. Mungo's and when another person comes in who has been affected you will be contacted personally"
"Thank you so much, Arthur, I mean Minister," She said, laughing.
"Arthur, please. We've known each other way too long to be so formal."
"We owe you quite a bit Arthur, this is an amazing opportunity you have offered us," Remus said gratefully and wrapped an arm around Tonks to hold her close.
"I couldn't think of anyone else who deserves it more," Arthur winked at them and then looked at his watch. "Molly is planning desert in a few minutes and she'll have my head if I keep you two in here much longer."
The three of them walked out of the room, all grinning broadly at everyone. Ginny rushed up and hugged Remus and Tonks again. "I'm so excited for the both of you!"
"Thank you, Ginny. And thank you all for coming. You have really made me feel special," She said, smiling at them with tears in her eyes. They had dessert, which turned out to be a huge cake and then it was time for them to go, sine she was getting very tired. She gave each of them a hug and promised to see them all at the graduation. Turning to Remus, she smiled and kissed him, then realized she had no idea where they were going. "You lead the way, Remus," She said, a big grin on her face.
Remus blushed a furious shade of red. "Would you mind very much going back to 12 Grimmauld Place? Harry is letting me stay there for now, until we have time to find a house of our own." He was terrified that she wouldn't want to stay with him in the house that had been her cousin's, but he needed her with him and so he had to ask. "It is clean though, the house has finally been completely decontaminated."
"Of course not, Remus. I have no problem going back there at all. At least Kreacher isn't there anymore," She said, shuddering, "Let's try apparating, now that I have had a proper meal I think I have the strength to do it." She closed her eyes and pictured 12 Grimmauld in her head very clearly. With a pop, she disappeared. Landing in the living room, she waited for Remus to join her. She looked around and couldn't believe the difference in the house. It looked totally new.
Remus popped into the house beside her. "So, what do you think? I asked Dumbledore if he would mind lending his staff of house elves to finish up the cleaning. They are very efficient and I promised the Headmaster that I would pay them for their services. Only Dobby took the money," he sighed.
Gemmika: Without a moments notice he pulled Tonks into his arms and began to kiss her throat softly. "We have this whole house to ourselves, nothing to occupy out time, whatever shall we do?" he teased.
"I think they did a marvelous job, and Hermione would be proud of you for offering to pay them. Even though I don't think she cares much about S.P.E.W anymore. " She gasped as he grabbed her and kissed her throat, sending tingles up her spine, "Hmm, I don't know." She said, running her hands through his hair as he kissed her softly. She became acutely aware of the new senses that were invading her body and was shocked to hear a soft growling sound coming from her throat as his kiss deepened, "Whoa, did I just do that?" She whispered, her eyes widened in surprise, "Or was that you?"
He pulled away from her a bit with a resigned expression on his face. "Love... I think we need to talk."
