"Can I ask you a strange question?" Tonks ask from her place in the corner armchair of her fiance's office. She had stationed herself upside down, her legs draped over the back of the large chair, head hanging down, letting her hair fall all over the place in a bright pink fan. She'd charmed her sketchbook to float likewise upside down before her, and she was adding some details to a commissioned idea for a tattoo appointment she had coming up in a couple days.
"Better than anyone I know, honestly." Remus replied, amused, not looking up from the work on his desk. "Which is saying something, considering I teach first year Ravenclaws." He reminded her.
"I don't want you to get all upset or offended, though." She said, pushing the levitating book away so she could see him across the room. He glanced up at her, brows furrowed in slight concern.
"Well, that is slightly disheartening." He said, leaning back in his chair. "Could you turn over so this can be a serious conversation?"
"I suppose." Tonks shrugged, and she pushed her legs back suddenly, causing her to backflip and land feet first on the floor. She then turned in place, sat down in the chair and crossed her legs daintily. "Better?"
"Er- Sure. Lets go with that..." Remus rolled his eyes at her antics, but he smiled. How he loved his odd little witch.
"I'm scared to ask." Tonks confessed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Because once I say it, there isn't a taking it back, and it could potentially be a huge problem."
Remus felt his heart turn heavy, each pump a chore. He was worried that after the last two months of engagement, which had been arguably the happiest of his life, she may be having second thoughts. He cleared his throat and tilted his head to the side, waiting. He watched the bubblegum haired witch as she nervously twisted a strand of hair around her finger.
"I don't want a wedding. Or at least, I don't think I do." She confessed in one breath. She looked him over, trying to read his reaction.
"What do you mean?" Remus ask, his face growing pale.
"I was hoping we could... elope? Unless you wanted the whole 'tux and white gown' ceremony... I will if you want it." She attempted to clarify.
Remus sighed with heavy relief, and smiled. "I thought for a moment..."
"I didn't want to get married?" Tonks laughed. "Afraid you can't have take-backsies on this, Lupin. You're stuck with me." She waved her left hand backward at him so that the diamond on her hand flashed.
"So you want to elope?" He smiled. "Sounds fantastic... But can I ask why?"
"I just-" She sighed, and rose from her seat to come over and curl into his lap, laying her head on his shoulder. "Hermione and Lily keep taking me to these boutiques and bakeries and bringing me books, and then Franki is always talking about a 'hen party' and she's got this jealous streak where she is afraid that I will grow away from her because of Lily and Hermione and all three of them have ask me about bridesmaids and I just..." She nuzzled herself in closer to his neck and snorted. "I don't wanna."
"Perfectly good reasons. Honestly- are we big party people?" He laughed. Tonks shook her head.
"No, no we are not." She agreed. "I was afraid that you would want the big party, and I didn't want to upset you..."
"Never." He kissed the top of her head. "Want to go now?"
"Now?" She sat up, looking him over to see if he was joking with her. Remus nodded.
"Why not? I'm done for the day, and I can tell you aren't busy. Let's go get married." He smiled, and she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. She kissed him heavily and moved to straddle his lap, and before he knew it he had her shirt unbuttoned. He stopped, pulled back and said, "Darling, we can do this later. Become my wife."
Tonks face flushed, and she giggled like a young girl. "Of course, sorry." She buttoned her shirt and took his hand. She stood and finished straightening out her clothes.
"You know- We'll need witnesses. Two, at least." Remus remarked.
"You have anyone in mind? Anyone who can keep a secret?" Tonks ask, looking her lover over as he thought.
"Yes, actually. Follow me."
Three Hogwarts Professors, a bouquet of flowers from the school grounds and a stop by Dumbledore's office later, Nymphadora Tonks, stood at the front of a Wizengamot peace keeper's desk. Her shaking hand being held by Remus steady one, Minerva McGonagall and Pomona Sprout looking on with bright, proud smiles. The man doing the binding, a short, old wizard, moved slowly, and Tonks could hardly take her eyes off the magic as it flowed like honey from the tip of his wand, entwining their hands and growing up their arms like brilliant, white-blue vines. Remus, however, only watched her. Her face, how her eyes grew in wonder, and he couldn't help the small laugh as the she jumped when the elder wizard spoke.
"Blood and bone, flesh and form- These we know may come to pass. Soul and spirit, magic and mind, forever these to unite and bind. One to another, two as one, what love has joined let never be undone." He said, as the glowing vines overtook their arms and crept down, forming balls of light over their hearts.
"Remus John Lupin, do thou take this witch as thine wife, in this life and forever more?" He ask, looking up at Remus, who grinned but had tears welling up in his eyes.
"I really, really do." He said, his thumb stroking her knuckles.
"Nymphadora Atria Tonks, do thou take this wizard as thine husband, in this life and forever more?" He ask in turn. Tonks let out a sniffled sound and smiled, then nodded.
"Oh absolutely." She said, and wiped a tear from her cheek with her free hand.
"By the power invested in me by the United Kingdom Ministry for Magic, it is my divine pleasure to announce you Wizard and Wife. Mr. Lupin, you may now kiss your bride."
Needing no further prompting, he pulled her in and captured her mouth in a gentle but passionate kiss, and Tonks' hair flashed into deep, romantic purple curls. She smiled against his lips and he spun and then dipped her before kissing her again. Behind them, there were delighted squeals and applause from Remus' coworkers.
"I am so glad I got pictures of that!" Professor Sprout gushed, holding her camera triumphantly.
"Congratulations to both of you!" Professor McGonagall added. "Thank you for choosing us to come witness."
"Thank you for being so flexible on such short notice." Remus said, pulling his new wife into his side.
"Well now, there was just no way I'd turn now an invitation like this." McGonagall said with a small smile. "But we should be getting back to the school."
"Too right!" Sprout added.
"Remus, dear, I will be covering your class for this coming week- You two need the time." The Deputy Headmistress commanded, and Remus gave a small bow.
"Yes ma'am, thank you!" He said, as they waved them goodbye. Tonks still clung to his arm as though he may disappear if she loosened her grip. "Well, my darling wife, what would you like to do now?"
"Can we go change my name?" She suggested. "Its right down the hall!"
"Its very close to the Auror offices, but if you want to risk that today, nothing would make me happier than to give you my last name."
"Oh." Tonks frowned. "I wasn't taking Lupin, I was just going to change 'Nymphadora'." she said, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Uh-" Remus looked a bit offended, and Tonks burst out laughing so hard that her purple locks lightened three shades. Remus rolled his eyes and smiled.
"Seriously. I was just going to shorten it to 'Dora Tonks Lupin'. I think it would be easier." She said, taking his hand again as they made their way down the halls.
"If that is what you want to do, my darling, by all means." He gestured, pulling open the door to the office.
Paperwork took no time at all, and once a new ID was created for her, they were once again off into the main halls of the Ministry- they had decided to go on and pick Remus a wedding band, as he'd already bought her one to go with her engagement ring. The couple had all but made it out of the building unnoticed until a voice sounded from behind them- and they both froze in place. A hand clamped down on each of their shoulders.
"I've been trying to catch you two for the past five minutes, at least." Sirius said, a bit out of breath. "Hey!"
"Wotcher, cousin. It's loud, we didn't hear you." Dora tried to explain.
"Moony did- he had to have. Nothing gets past his ears... You two were sneaking off!" He teased. "Where are you headed?"
"Lunch!" Remus answered quickly. "Late lunch, just had some business I needed to take care of and now we're off to a bite."
"Oh! You know James and I haven't eaten yet either- Want to meet up? I was just on my way to him now..." Sirius said, nodding toward the door.
"We really were just grabbing something quick, mate. Other errands to run." Tonks voiced, tugging on her new husband's arm.
Sirius looked the bother over, an eyebrow raised suspiciously.
"Right, be that way then." Sirius teased again with a grin, "I see how it is."
"Glad you got the picture." Dora stuck her tongue out. Sirius waved and ran on ahead, and Remus let out a huge breath.
"So- before we got married- did you happen to make a plan on how to break it to all our friends and family that we eloped? Because I have got to tell you, it is going to break some hearts." Remus reminded her. "Especially Lily and James."
Dora wrinkled her nose at this thought. "I understand Lily, she has like a room full of wedding planning magazines, but James?"
"It was his turn to be best man." Remus explained. They had made it to a small deli and Remus stepped ahead to hold the door for her, and they took a seat in a corner booth.
"Turn?" She questioned.
"Well, there are three of us. So- James got married first, and Sirius was his best man. Then when Sirius got married, I was his. Now it should have been his turn to be mine. We have the same line up for who is Godfather of who's children. Keeps things from being too confusing." He looked her over, as she nodded along.
"Soooo..." she drew out. "Let's have a wedding."
"What?!" Remus yelped. "We lit- Nympha- WHAT?"
"Lots of people elope and then have a ceremony for their family and friends. Or better yet- Lets have a reception without the wedding!" She snapped and pointed, proud of that idea. "A lot of couples do that, too."
"That is actually not a terrible idea." Remus nodded. "I agree. Let's do that."
Remus absentmindedly flipped over the menu, knowing full well he would get his usual, when he felt Dora's eyes on him and he looked back up. "Let's hear it, darling." He said, laying the menu aside.
"Each other's children." She repeated. Remus looked around and nodded.
"Yeah?"
"I thought you didn't want children." She said quickly.
"I- Ah, well..." He said, and immediately took the welcome distraction of the waiter coming to take their order to gather a few moments to think. When the young man walked away, Dora was still waiting.
"Well?" She pressed.
"I never even thought I would have you when we made the deal, Dora. It was a long time ago, okay. But no, I don't really feel great about possibly cursing a child with my... issues." He took a long pull from the glass of water he'd been brought. "You said it didn't bother you."
"I just didn't know if something had changed, that's all." She defended. "It would be a huge change..."
"It was just a- ah- Misstep in conversation. I'm sorry." Remus said sadly. "Let's not focus on that. We just got married for Merlin's sake."
Dora looked into his eyes and did not miss the sadness hidden within, but she smiled.
"You're right! Let's eat so we can go get you a ring- I need these other bitches to know they have to back up!" She joked, making Remus face light up, and together they laughed. Dora made a mental note to come back to this conversation at a later date, wondering if his resolve about having a family was breaking down.
Was this shamelessly self-indulgent and fluffy? Absolutely.
Was this mostly about Tonks and Remus and not very much about the plot. Also yes.
But I hope you enjoyed it either way. Please review!
Thanks for reading!