Author's Note:

And I know, I know, I've been dragging it out but ta-da! I hope you like it.

Reviews and Comments: To alix33: Thank you! To E-Dett: Thank you. I have always been a Hinny shipper and it says that this will be a Harry/Ginny story so I don't know what people are confused. I agree, I don't know why everyone blames Ginny and claims she is stupid for opening the chamber and writing in the diary. I love Ginny and this makes me sad. To Guest: Thank you! I love that Sirius gave Lily the stuffed stag that she gave to Harry too. You're right, it does have more meaning! Thank you!

Thank you very much for reading and please, please review!

Your reviews give me life! They give me inspiration! And they make me want to keep writing for more than just myself! Thank you!

CHAPTER EIGHTY:

The One Where Remus Gets His Shit Together

Sirius had just finished reading the letter from McGonagall aloud to Remus, Zee, Tonks, and Hugh Arnett, who were all over at Zee's for dinner. Zee had only just returned yesterday from her trip to Belfast, having been working non-stop on the case for almost four weeks. Sirius hadn't seen her since the Sunday after Harry's birthday and he had missed her terribly. The plan for this little dinner had been thrown together last minute as they were curled up in her small kitchen and banquette. Zee had insisted on cooking and had told him to invite Remus and Tonks over. She'd made pelmeni, incredible meat dumplings, with a creamy cucumber salad and dough knots made of garlic and rosemary.

Tonks had asked Sirius if she could invite her friend Hugh Arnett to the dinner and Sirius had told her to of course bring him along. Remus had not liked that at all and Sirius had found it amusing the way his friend kept glowering at the man sitting next to Tonks.

Sirius finished reading the letter and grinned around the small banquette. "I'm so proud of him. Flying a damn car to Hogwarts, he really is a Marauder!"

Remus frowned. "Sirius, he could have been killed!" he said in exasperation. "He crashed into the Whomping Willow for Merlin's sake!"

Sirius shrugged. "He's fine. Just a few minor bruises and besides, as if you aren't impressed he flew a damn car to school." When Remus' mouth twitched, he grinned. "Though I did ask him to try not to find trouble…"

Zee laughed. "Any other parent would be freaking out as their son stole a flying car and flew it into a tree, but not you. You're simply impressed. You baffle me."

"He's baffled me for years," Remus said in annoyance. "McGonagall must have been pissed."

Sirius grinned. "She was, but she was also impressed. I can tell. She didn't even take away house points, just gave him detention. Bloody brilliant child of mine."

Tonks laughed and grinned at Hugh. "Hugh, I forgot to mention that my cousin is completely mental."

Hugh chuckled at her, his blond hair falling into his eyes as he brushed it back. "That's all right, it sounds like his son is starting the school year off right."

"Thank you, Hugh!" Sirius said with a grin. "Though Dumbledore did write to me as well to tell me that if Harry broke any other serious school rules he would have to consider expelling him — which obviously isn't going to happen. Dumbledore won't expel Harry. Besides, he won't be caught at that level of trouble again."

Sirius then spent the next twenty minutes entertaining his friends with Harry's new adventures. When he explained how Lucius Malfoy had purchased all new brooms for the Slytherin Quidditch team, Tonks' eyes narrowed.

"That's bollocks! It shouldn't even be allowed! That's giving an entire house team an unfair advantage!"

Remus nodded, "Not that Harry needs it, he's an incredible flyer, but it's the principle of it."

Sirius had to agree and said as much, resulting in a heated argument about broom quality versus talent and how much the broom could help or hinder a player. Hugh was very outspoken on the subject and every time he responded, Remus would cut him off, making Sirius raise an eyebrow at him in question.

Remus glowered again, trying to mask his anger and feeling angrier at the fact that Sirius noticed. He had no right to be as angry as he was that Tonks had decided to bring a date tonight.

But he was.

He had continued to tell himself over and over that he had made the right choice about Tonks; that he wasn't the man for her. She deserved someone so much better, someone whole, and someone who didn't have a monster inside of them like he did.

Tonks had been different, he noticed. She hadn't made any advances towards him; made no effort at all towards him if he was honest — he found himself missing her friendship more than anything. But he was afraid to make a move in her direction, afraid that she would decide to cut him out of her life completely, something that he deserved anyway for the way that he had treated her, but he was too scared to see it actually happen.

He didn't know what he would do if she cut him out of her life completely, no matter how much he deserved it for the way that he had treated her. But just being near her spurred him on in ways he couldn't explain and he thought that not seeing her would destroy him.

Nymphadora Tonks had become a brave and beautiful woman as well as a talented Auror in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. He was proud of what she had become. Remus was so impressed with her and so enamoured by her. He wanted to rekindle that friendship; to give himself a reason to be near her. He wanted to make amends, to apologize for pushing her away, and to explain to her that he wanted to be friends.

Just friends.

But the sight of her flirting and laughing with the man sitting next to her made him incredibly angry. He left nail indentations in his palm deep enough to bleed and the wolf inside of him was beyond furious at the sight of that male near his mate, touching his mate.

What right did this prat have to be near her?

To touch her?

He wasn't good enough for her.

He wasn't good enough to breathe the same air as her, he thought bitterly. He laughed and talked along with the conversation, hiding his anger as best as he could as his short nails dug into his palms.

It had been a direct blow to his gut when she had kissed that stupid prat right there at the dinner table and he had literally felt the hairs on the backs of his arms rise up. He didn't have any right to be upset, he told himself.

She deserved to be happy. She didn't deserve to be with someone like him.

But the moment that Hugh got called away back to work on one of his cases and Tonks had left to head home herself, Remus had practically pounced on her. He barely said bye to Zee and Sirius before he followed her back to her flat in anger.

Tonks' look of complete surprise when he Apparated behind her hadn't been enough to stop him from sneering at her.

"How can you date someone so beneath you?" he sneered, his eyes flashing in anger. "He's not worth a second of your time!"

"He's an Auror, an A3 actually," Tonks said in surprise.

The anger on Remus' face surprised her. He had barely spoken to her in months and now he had just followed her back to her flat, anger radiating from him. It alarmed her and it shot a lick of lust through her system that shocked her.

"And he's really nice."

Remus sneered again as he stood in her living room. "Nice? Who the hell wants nice in a relationship?"

Tonks glared at him. "What the hell do you know about relationships, Remus?"

Remus' eyes flashed dangerously. "I know what's best for you, Nymphadora, and that prancing little prat is not worth a second of your time!"

"Oh?" Tonks said sweetly, "You know what's best for me? How cute. I run my own life, Remus Lupin, not you!"

He took a step towards her and he decided that he was rather pleased to see her take a step back. "Hugh is a git and you are to break up with him immediately! I demand it."

Tonks laughed, her eyes widening in shock. She couldn't believe that he had the audacity to stand there and try to dictate her life. This wasn't Remus. This was… some madman had clearly taken over him.

"Are you kidding me? I'm not going to break up with him just because you tell me to! What the hell is wrong with you?" she demanded, shoving him back a little. "You've barely even spoken to me, made any effort to even be my friend in the last few months — and now you follow me home to lecture me on who I've taken to my bed?"

Remus growled and grabbed her arm, his fingers bruising. "He better not be in your fucking bed, Nymphadora!"

Tonks' eyes gleamed in mischief now. "Oh? Why not? Would that make you angry, Remus?"

Remus dropped her arm, his fingers going to his hair. He was more than angry, he realized, he was aroused to the point of pain, and the thought of her in bed with anyone that wasn't him was enough to make him feel murderous. He had no right to her, he thought. He had to get out of here before he did something that he would regret.

"I… I need to go. I'm sorry — I'm out of line."

Tonks grabbed his arm, turning him towards her as her grey eyes flashed in anger. "Oh, you went way past the line the moment that you followed me home!"

"I'm sorry," he told her, sincerely, his golden eyes staring into hers. "I have no right to tell you who you can and cannot date, even if I think that he is completely unworthy of you. You deserve so much better, Nymphadora."

She smiled at that and she reached up to gently brush his hair out of his eyes. "You think that he's unworthy of me?"

"Well, I… I just think that you could do so much better. That kiss didn't even look like it had any passion in it. You deserve passion."

"Maybe you weren't looking close enough," she said.

Remus growled again. "I was looking pretty damn close."

Tonks grinned mischievously, suddenly realizing why he was so angry. "You're jealous," she breathed in surprise, a jolt of pleasure shooting through her. She, Nymphadora Tonks, had made Remus Lupin jealous. It was more than she ever could have hoped for.

"What?" he exclaimed.

Her grin widened and she moved towards him and slid her hands in the back pocket of his jeans, holding him close to her. Merlin, she loved to grab his firm arse in her hands. It felt even better than she remembered. She was incredibly aroused and she knew that as angry as she wanted to stay at him, she wanted him too much to care right now.

"You're jealous."

"Tonks, let me go."

"Tonks, hmm? What happened to Nymphadora?" She squeezed his bum lightly and then she slid her hands out of his pockets. "I shouldn't, because Merlin knows you don't deserve it, but I'm going to give you one more chance, Remus."

"Chance?" he asked, moving backwards slowly and inching towards the front door. "I don't know what you're talking about. I have to go. I shouldn't have come here in the first place."

Tonks rolled her eyes. She wasn't letting him get away from her that easily. Not this time. He had followed her home. He had stormed into her flat in a jealous rage — and it thrilled her. He did want her and knowing it gave her a boost of confidence. She simply stared right into his beautiful golden whiskey coloured eyes and pulled her tee shirt over her head revealing a simple purple, strapped cotton bra and watched his eyes widen in disbelief.

"I'm going to my bedroom," she said as she shimmied out of her jean shorts revealing matching cotton bottoms. "I am going to lie down on my bed," she continued as she opened her bra and her small breasts escaped before his eyes.

Remus swallowed now, but his eyes were on her breasts, round like plump little apples. His eyes greedily washed over her, unable to tear his gaze away. She was even more beautiful than she had been in any fantasy. He shouldn't be watching her like this, he thought.

She shimmied out of her knickers and dropped them onto the floor. His gaze found the perfect little triangle, intrigued to see that it was the same dark purple as the bottom layer of her hair.

"One more chance, Rem," she said, gently fondling her breast as she watched him lick his lips, the gesture making her completely aroused.

She smirked at him and then she turned and walked into her bedroom.

Remus stood there, his hands in his pockets and his erection pulsing. His blood was humming and he could smell her arousal even from the other room. He needed to get out of here. He needed to walk out the front door and Disapparate and he needed to do it — now.

When he heard a soft moan, he closed his eyes. She was touching herself, he realized, and before he could talk himself out of it, before he could rationalize in his brain all of the reasons why he shouldn't, why she deserved better than him — he found himself standing in her bedroom doorway.

She was lying on her bed with her hand between her legs, one finger slowly circling her clit. Her eyes met his and she smiled in triumph.

"Are you going to help a girl out?" she asked, tartly.

Remus stood there only a moment before he moved across the room and knelt on the floor at the end of her bed, spreading her legs open wide as he bent his head to taste her..

She tasted even better than he had imagined, he thought. His tongue lapped at her in long greedy strokes, circling her clit and moving in and out of her in a delightful dance that had her grip tightening on his hair. She moaned his name and he hardened in his jeans, desperate to finish her, to please her and when he suckled her deep, he felt that delicious tightening inside of her before she released, and she screamed his name. He didn't move as she came, but stayed in place, his tongue working her harder and harder until he could feel her orgasm building again.

"Remus…" she groaned, her body arching off of the bed. "Rem, I want you… inside me…"

Remus ignored her. She tasted too good. He had been waiting years to feast on her like this and he had no plans of stopping anytime soon. He snuck a look up at her and watched in amazement as that brightly coloured hair shifted madly like a rainbow and when he looked back at her clit, that lovely purple triangle was shifting in colours as well and he smiled in satisfaction. She had beyond lost control and he found it such a turn on, that he reached down to rub himself through his jeans. Then he lowered his head and began to lick her all over again until she came a second time, crying his name like a mantra. Once she finally stopped trembling beneath his eager tongue, he pulled away to look up at her.

Her hair was back to its normal pink with purple undertones and her cheeks were flushed in pleasure. The flush extended down her neck and between her breasts and he trailed his fingertips up her stomach and between those breasts, his light teasing touch making her tremble beneath him.

"Remus…"

Tonks' grey eyes met his and she watched in amazement as he licked his lips as if he needed to taste more of her and then he bent his head to her stomach, crawling onto the bed as he kissed her ribs, her breasts, her shoulders, her neck. He rolled her over, kissing her back, down her spine in featherlight kisses that left her breathless and then his mouth was on her bum, nipping lightly until his head was between her legs again and she gasped when his tongue found her once more and he brought her wickedly to the edge.

She was gasping, desperate for him. Her body bucked and trembled as he teased her, not letting her fall off that edge just yet. She teetered on the edge of pleasure, her heart beating wildly in her chest.

"Remus, please…" she begged.

She had never experienced this magnitude of pleasure in her life and knowing it was from him only seemed to make it feel that much bigger; that much more intense.

Remus licked his lips again, grinning when she tugged his shirt off, her hands roaming over his chest and he undid his jeans, desperately tugging them down along with his boxers.

Her eyes immediately dropped to his impressive erection. She reached out to touch him, her hands cupping him gently, massaging him before she stroked him.

He closed his eyes, covering her hand with his. "No."

Tonks' grey eyes met his whiskey ones. "I want you."

He kissed her forehead and then lay down next to her, putting his hands behind his head. "Come sit on me, Nymphadora."

She eagerly straddled him. His hands came out to sit on her hips and he nodded at her as she slowly and torturously lowered herself onto him, her head falling back in pleasure.

"Ah," she said, her hands sitting on his flat stomach. "Oh… Merlin, yes! You're so… I've never been so…filled."

Remus couldn't help the smug look from his crossing his face. "That's because you've never been with me, Nymphadora."

He slipped a fingertip inside of her in a come hither motion, brushing her clit. She whimpered.

"Keep going, take me in. All of me."

Tonks pushed down, arching her hips, taking all of him inside of her. A gasp escaped her at the feeling of all of him, but after a moment or two of adjustment, she began to ride him.

"Faster," she cried, sighing when his mouth moved to take her breast.

Remus did as she asked and she could feel it building, feel it coming and she cried his name as he finally brought her over the edge for the second time and felt him come with her, hips rocking tightly as she held him in place.

She collapsed against him, resting her face over his heart and sighing happily. She laid there wrapped around him for the longest time, neither of them moving, Remus' hand gently gliding along her naked back.

It was almost twenty minutes later before she found the energy to speak.

"If you tell me that this was a mistake, Remus Lupin, I'm going to Avada Kedavra you right now."

He chuckled, his fingers gently stroking her hair. "The only mistake, Nymphadora, was not doing this years ago." He placed a kiss on her brow. "You're amazing."

Tonks smiled up at him, resting her chin on her arms. "What you did earlier, with your tongue… that was…" she blushed and bit her bottom lip. "I liked it. I really liked it. I mean… did you…?"

Remus' raised his eyebrow in surprise. "I thought that you weren't a virgin?"

She rolled her eyes. "I wasn't, but no one's ever… I mean…" she blushed again. "It made me feel… special," she said, averting her gaze.

Remus took her chin in his hands and kissed her deeply. "You are special. And men should be lining up to taste you. You're so beautiful and so incredible. I don't deserve you."

Tonks kissed him softly. "I choose who deserves me, Remus Lupin, and I chose you a long time ago, you stubborn arse."

He flipped her beneath him, planting small kisses on her neck, over her collarbone as he sucked on her breasts. His mouth moved over her stomach, kissing her thighs and when he spread her legs again, kissing her there, and his tongue slipped between her folds, she gasped.

"Gawd," she cried out, so aroused already.

Remus smiled against her and enjoyed his feast.

When she finished writhing beneath him, he kissed his way back up her body. "I'm glad that Hugh never tasted you like that."

Tonks laughed. "Hugh's never really anything with me. We've been on like three dates, Remus, and only shared a few intense snogs."

Remus nodded, sucking on her earlobe. "Good, then he can live."

She laughed as he pinned her beneath him again, straddling her. "You're being a bit mad. I've had sex before, you know."

He growled and his mouth clamped around her nipple, twisting it with his tongue and she cried out.

"I first — oh! I-I first had sex in sixth year — to… to… oh my Godric," she cried as he plunged into her again.

Remus' eyes were dark with need. "If you tell me the name of anyone who touched you, I will kill them."

Tonks grinned up at him, wrapping her legs around his waist and taking him deeper. "There… there were only two…"

He grabbed her wrists, pinning her arms over her head with his hand. "Now there is only me," he growled, moving faster and harder as she cried out in pleasure. "Only me."

"Yes, only you! Only you!"

She locked her feet at her ankles, holding on any way she could. When he let go of her wrists, she immediately locked her hands on his firm bum, squeezing and scratching, her fingers dipping into him teasingly as they both went over the edge.

Remus' breath was heavy in her ear as he collapsed next to her, his legs twined with hers. "Rest for a minute," he said, kissing her softly. "I'm going to take you again."

Tonks hand slid down to touch him, surprised to find him already stirring and hardening. "You couldn't possibly…" she exclaimed, stroking him in delightful glee.

Remus' eyes glistened in amusement. It was a side effect of being a wolf. He had a fast metabolism and stamina was never a problem. He'd never put it to the test, but he'd once had sex eight times in one day and still could have gone for more. His lips brushed hers as she stroked him.

"I most certainly can. You're not going to be able to move tomorrow when I'm through with you."

Tonks stared at him as his tongue flattened against her nipple and she thought that she was perfectly okay with that considering she'd know why. Then his mouth was doing the most delicious things to her nipple and she held his head in place. Yes, she was definitely good with this.

~ ASC ~

When Remus woke up that Sunday morning, Tonks was curled around him, her head resting on his stomach, her legs twined with his, and he was fully erect he realized. He turned his head to catch the clock, surprised to see that it was after ten in the morning. Then again, it wasn't as if they'd gotten much sleep. The last time he remembered seeing the time it had been after four.

He'd spent the night, he realized, eyes widening in surprise. He'd never spent the night with a woman before.

Remus attempted to slowly manoeuvre himself from her grasp, his breath catching when she turned, her head sliding lower down his stomach until he could feel her breathing against his cock. Shit, he thought.

He attempted to move again, carefully untangling their legs, but her hand gripped him tightly and he hissed.

"Someone is awake early," she teased, her eyes twinkling up at him.

Her hair was tousled in a delicious 'I just got shagged do' and her grey eyes were smiling in happiness at him. It was more than he ever could have hoped for and then her hand began to move deliciously and he groaned, gasping her name as he came a little bit later.

Tonks sat up and stretched, smiling at him. "I'm going to clean up and then I'll make you breakfast. How does an omelette sound?"

Remus only nodded, smiling as he watched her hurry out of the room. He couldn't remember ever feeling so satisfied in his entire life. He used his wand to clean himself quickly before he tugged on his clothes and made his way into her kitchen. He found his way around easily enough, putting on the kettle.

He'd just poured them each a cup of tea when she came into the kitchen, her hair wet and wearing a Weird Sisters tee shirt that barely covered the curve of her arse. She stood on her toes and kissed him softly, grinning widely.

"Omelettes are about one of the only things that I can make. I take after Dad in the kitchen, I'm afraid," she said with a smile, gesturing for him to sit. "Which means that I'm practically hopeless."

Remus did so, watching her move around the kitchen, smiling as he did. He knew that he should feel guilty for taking her, but he didn't. He felt wonderful and carefree and for the first time in longer than he could even remember, he felt complete and satisfied, like maybe he wasn't actually a monster.

"Nymphadora, what you said last night," he began, smiling when she flushed in response. "Has no one really gone down on you before me?"

She bit her lip, turning to smile at him. "Does that bother you?"

Remus shook his head, standing up and caging her against the counter. "No, it just baffles me. I don't understand how any man could look at you and not want to do nothing but give you pleasure," he said, nipping at her lips. "To taste you —" he nipped at her neck. "— to worship you."

Tonks flushed, sliding her hands into the back pockets of his jeans and holding on. "I told you, there were only two before you and…" she blushed a bit as she spoke. "I've only had an orgasm twice before last night and I've never had one like… it was amazing."

"You led me to believe that you were much more experienced, Nymphadora," he said, kissing her neck.

She smiled at him. "I wanted you in my bed, I would have told you anything to get you there and now that I know what it's like… I should have just jumped you."

Remus reached behind her and shut off the stove, removing the frying pan to another burner before he lifted her onto the counter. He kissed her deeply and then he knelt down and her breath hitched.

"Remus, you don't have to…"

He only smiled up at her as slid the tee shirt up her thighs and buried his head between them. "Shh, you're delicious and Merlin," he murmured as his finger pressed into her purple curls. He was delighted to already find her so wet. "You're so wet and so…" He slid his tongue along her folds and smiled. "Perfect."

He kissed her there before he inhaled the smell of her arousal, making his blood hum. The wolf in him was telling him to take her. To bite her and to claim her as his. But he only buried his nose in her dark purple curls and ignored the wolf, simply pleasing himself. He wrapped his lips around her clit, sucking on it, stroking it with his tongue in slow torture that had her panting above him.

He would worry about the wolf wanting to claim his mate later. Right now, he just wanted to enjoy her.

And as she fell apart in his mouth, he did.