Chapter 17
The first days of June were misty, but growing warmer. Tonks felt more cheerful than she had in several months because, at the previous Order meeting, Dumbledore had said that Remus sent him a message, saying that he felt confident that he had done all he could, and that he was going to call him home soon.
One day she was patrolling the grounds and she ran into him. She didn't usually see him outside his office and Grimmauld Place; he looked out of context. "Wotcher, Dumbledore."
"Good afternoon, Miss Tonks. It's a comparatively lovely day today." She nodded. "You will be patrolling the grounds again tonight, correct?"
"Yeah. Should I expect anything out of the ordinary?"
His smile faltered slightly. "I don't suppose so, but you never can tell." It was a commonly cryptic message. His grin brightened again. "Well, I'd better be off." He nodded in farewell, and she watched him stride off.
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Later that night Tonks was patrolling the halls with Bill. She asked him, "So, how are the wedding plans coming?"
"Just fine. Honestly, I don't know the difference between ivory and eggshell table linens and asters and daisies, but Fleur's having a grand old time."
"That's great, but, personally, I think it sounds like such a bother, making all those minute decisions."
He grinned at her. "Well, will you have to be worrying about those sorts of decisions anytime soon?"
She blushed. "Er… I…I don't know." She shrugged for emphasis. She wanted to change the subject. "Um, do you think that we should patrol the grounds a little." He recognized her tactic, but he just nodded.
When they left the castle, they saw too unbelievable sights. First, Sirius was on the grounds, followed by Remus. Second, the Dark Mark was floating above the Astronomy Tower. None of them knew what to do, but, suddenly, Neville Longbottom ran out and told them that there were Death Eaters in the castle. Thankfully, he was too preoccupied to notice Sirius. The five of them ran back to the school.
Curses were flying everywhere. They were running back and forth, and it was difficult to tell who was who. She quickly got separated from Bill, Sirius, and Remus, but she didn't have time to be concerned because she was too busy fending off Killing Curses.
However, after about a half hour of fighting, she saw something that made her blood run cold. Remus was facing none other than Fenrir Greyback. Everyone was else in the room was keeping their distance and watching the pair warily. They were too close together for Tonks to get in a clear shot.
"Well, well, Lupin. I always thought there was something funny about you. It seemed odd that after all these years you would finally see sense." Tonks thanked Merlin that it wasn't the full moon, but Greyback looked like he could inflict enough damage with his sharp yellow teeth and his long dirty fingernails. "What can your precious friends offer you, surely nothing but poverty and prejudice?"
"They can give me far more than your kind ever could." Despite the direness of the situation, Tonks' heart thrilled that Remus had seen sense and was not classifying himself with Greyback's followers. "In fact, I pity you because I'm sure that you have never been graced with the love that I have been shown."
Greyback sneered. "No one loves you, Lupin." Tonks desperately wanted to shout that his statement was completely false, but she knew it was a horrible idea. "You're a werewolf. Besides, what good is love? Power is what makes the world go round."
"You're right. Power is the most important thing." Greyback actually seemed a little taken aback by his response. Tonks was confused, but she knew that he must have some greater point. "For soulless victimizers who can only feel worthy by controlling other people. However, I'll take love over power any day."
"Do you think you'll ever really have what normal people have, a wife, a family?" His voice was laced with scorn and incredulity.
"Yes. If I survive this war, then I think I will. That was always your greatest weakness, Greyback. You never had any faith in the goodness of people." Remus looked away from Greyback and saw Tonks; his face paled considerably. "You should go. Now." He was speaking to Greyback, but the message was clearly meant for her. She wasn't going to listen, but the look she briefly saw in his eyes was so pleading that she felt compelled to leave.
An hour later the battle was over. The Death Eaters who hadn't escaped were bound together and unconscious. Ministry officials were arriving to arrest them. Tonks was frantically searching for Sirius and Remus. When she did find Sirius, who was being interrogated by Dolores Umbridge, Remus was nowhere in sight. She sent her patronus off to Minerva to ask her to come and vouch for him.
"Auror Tonks! You will arrest this man."
"No, I won't. He's innocent. Minerva McGonagall will arrive soon and tell you the same thing." The smug look of triumph fell from her face.
"If you don't arrest him this instant, you'll be sacked and I'll find someone else to do it. Auror Shacklebolt!"
Kingsley was breathing heavily, clearly wounded, as he came up. "I won't arrest him either. Tonks is right."
Umbridge's face flared and she looked on the verge of letting loose a stream of profanity, but McGonagall arrived. "Dolores, this man is innocent." She handed her an envelope. "I have a letter from Dumbledore vouching for him. He's been helping in the fight against Voldemort for two years." Speaking of Dumbledore, Tonks wondered where he was.
Just then Rufus Scrimgeour arrived and took the parchment from Dolores. His brow furrowed as he read. "Well, come on then. We have more important things to do. Shacklebolt, Tonks, come with me. We have a lot of questions to ask." Tonks still needed to find Remus, but she couldn't disobey a direct from the Minister of Magic.
However, Sirius shouted as she left, "He's alright. He was headed toward the Hospital Wing." Relief washed over her as she interrogated suspect after suspect.
After another hour, they had gotten all the information that they could that night. Tonks ran to the Hospital Wing. When she saw Remus standing there, she flung her arms around his neck, and he embraced her tightly. She noticed that there were tears in his eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"Dumbledore is…is…dead." She couldn't believe his words. Dumbledore couldn't be dead; he was Dumbledore. "Sn-Snape killed him."
"But Dumbledore was always so sure about him. He even gave him the bloody Defense Against the Dark Arts post." Remus didn't have an answer for her; he simply held her closer. Then, she saw Bill. "What happened?"
"Greyback attacked him. Fortunately, it wasn't the full moon tonight. He won't be a full werewolf." Tonks watched as Fleur and Molly, who were having a row. She was proud of Fleur when she said that her feelings had not changed and that she would stay by Bill's side. Molly looked very surprised, but she obviously had a newfound respect for the young woman.
"It seems like he'll be alright, though." She smiled tentatively at Remus.
He grinned back. "I think he will be."
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Many things happened in the few days following Dumbledore's death. Sirius was cleared of all charges and was again a free man. The work on fixing Hogwarts began. Harry, Ron, and Hermione decided that they would not complete their seventh year. People's swirling emotions threatened to overwhelm them.
The funeral was, of course, well attended. There were old students and colleagues, Ministry officials, and countless admirers. One of the mourners, who was experiencing some of the fiercest grief, was Remus Lupin. Tonks held his hand as he held back tears for the man who had trusted him enough to send him to school and give him a job when no one else would. Then, after the funeral, she gave him some time alone as he stood quietly by the white tomb.
Later that day Tonks, Remus, and Sirius wandered around the grounds and sat by the lake. In spite of the sad circumstances, Sirius was obviously enjoying his new freedom. Wanting to draw the conversation from depressing subjects, Tonks asked, "So, Sirius, what are you going to do now?"
He looked uncharacteristically thoughtful. "I'm certainly moving out of Grimmauld. I offered to go with Harry on his quest for Dumbledore, and he said he'd think about it. Who knows, maybe they'd let me start Auror training." Tonks almost laughed at the absurdity of the idea, but she decided it was best not to.
"What are you going to do with Grimmauld?" Remus asked.
Sirius shrugged. "Maybe we could still use it for Order headquarters."
"That would be good." Sirius looked as if he wanted to add something, but Remus' sharp glance stopped him. "I have to admit that there are quite a few wonderful memories in that house." He smiled at Tonks.
They continued talking about happier times until they left for the dinner they were having at the Burrow.
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Several days later Tonks walked into the kitchen of Grimmauld Place to find Remus whispering something to Sirius. He promptly stopped when he saw Tonks. "You didn't set off the portrait." He looked oddly nervous.
She shook her head. "Nope. Probably the first time. So, what are you gents doing?"
"Oh, nothing." Remus' tone was smooth and even, but he could not hide the slight color that rose to his cheeks. "Er, Nymphadora, would you mind going up to the library for a few minutes?" She was puzzled by his request, but she acquiesced.
Remus came up about ten minutes later. Tonks didn't think she had seen him so anxious since he told her that he was going to live with Greyback's pack. "Hello."
"Wotcher."
"I thought we might read aloud for a while."
"Sure. What did you have in mind?" He pulled out his old copy of Jane Eyre, which was worn because of Tonks' constant thumbing through it the previous year. "I thought we might read a part near the end." He sat in the arm chair, and Tonks sat in his lap, her legs dangling over the arm.
He began reading. At first his voice wobbled, but it soon grew more confident. " 'I am no better than the old lightning-struck chestnut-tree in Thornfield orchard,' he remarked ere long. 'And what right would that ruin have to bid a budding woodbine cover its decay with freshness?'"
Tonks did not like the tone of the opening passage but she continued, " 'You are no ruin, sir- no lightning-struck tree: you are green and vigorous. Plants will grow about your roots, whether you ask them or not, because they take delight in your bountiful shadow; and as they grow they will lean towards you, and wind round you, because your strength offers them so safe a prop.'" That was much better.
Remus smiled. " 'You speak of friends, Jane?' he asked."
" 'Yes, of friends,' I answered rather hesitatingly: for I knew I meant more than friends, but could not tell what other word to employ. He helped me."
Remus paused and took a deep breath. " 'Ah! Jane. But I want a wife.'"
Tonks' breath hitched. " 'Do you, sir?'"
" 'Yes: it is news to you?'"
" 'Of course: you said nothing about it before.'" Tonks really couldn't tell if he was doing what he thought he was doing.
" 'Is it unwelcome news?'" He looked at her in a way that she could not read. There was a look of mingled hope and dread in his eyes.
" 'That depends on circumstances, sir- on your choice.'"
" 'Which you shall make for me, Nymphadora. I will abide by your decision.'" Remus set the book down on the coffee table and drew a box from his pocket. "Will you marry me, even though I'm obviously not even creative enough to come up with my own proposal, relying on a 150 year old Muggle book?"
"For your information, I thought your proposal was quite lovely. And my answer is yes." Tonks thought that she had never seen quite so much joy written across Remus' features as she did in that instant. She kissed him soundly and wrapped her arms firmly around his neck.
"I can't express how happy you've made me, Nymphadora. Although I think you may have a problem on your hands." She arched an eyebrow at him. "What will people call you once we're married?"
"I worked this problem out ages ago. I'll be Tonks Nymphadora Lupin. No troubles."
"Well, I'm glad that you had such foresight." He really was pleased that she had thought of a name change before he proposed.
Tonks smiled and looked admiringly at her ring. "This is really beautiful, Remus. It's perfect."
"I thought so. I've had it since Christmas." She raised her head quickly, eyes wide with surprise. "I gave it to Sirius to hide. I guess he never let on?"
"No, absolutely not." She shook her head emphatically. She paused, thinking. "Now the only question is when do we want to get married?"
Remus smiled sheepishly. "I was sort of thinking soon. I mean…I know our lives our precarious, especially now that Dumbledore is…gone, but if we die, I want us to be united."
"I think that sounds lovely. It'll have to be small, but I never wanted a big fancy ceremony anyway." Tonks was positively beaming.
"We'll have to tell your parents." He grimaced slightly.
She rubbed his arm. "It'll be all right. Besides, we know that at least Sirius and Molly Weasley will be thrilled." Remus nodded, smiling again.
"That's right, and, as long as I have you, I'll be perfectly content."
"I hope you'll be a lot better than content."
He smirked. "Maybe." He leant forward and kissed her again. They would face many challenges ahead, but, at that moment, they were indeed perfectly content.
A/N: While I cannot, in good conscience, offer a proposal from Remus, all reviewers will get to read aloud with him from any book they choose : ).