Tonks was at the sink, doing dishes by hand, when she heard her son's instantly recognizable, clumsy stomps coming from behind her.

"What is it, Teddy?"

"Mum, can we get a dog?"

Tonks turned off the tap and turned around to look at him.

"Teddy, we have an owl, a very old cat, your Puffskein, and Hope's pygmy puff. We've got plenty of pets."

"But we don't have a dog," Teddy objected. "And Dad doesn't count."

"Your father is not a dog, Teddy," Tonks said crossly. "He's a werewolf, and the two could not be any more different."

"I know, which is why we should get a dog."

"We don't need a dog."

"Uncle Harry and Auntie Ginny have one."

"Then you can play with their dog when you go to visit." Tonks put her hands on her hips and frowned. "We aren't getting a dog, and that's final."

Teddy's hair grew red. He stomped outside, muttering angrily under his breath about how 'he never had any fun,' and took the Cleansweep out for a ride.

Tonks returned to the dishes and shook her head. Her mother insisted that while Teddy was Remus's miniature in looks, he was all Tonks in personality. If this was true, Tonks was beginning to understand why she'd been such a headache for her mother to raise. Teddy was sweet as could be most days, but when he couldn't get his way, he was stubborn and surly.

Hope, upon seeing that Teddy was out on a broom, hurried after him.

"The Kidsweep, Hope!" Tonks called after her. "You're too small for the—"

Hope didn't listen. Teddy had taken the Cleansweep and Hope grabbed the Comet, flying after her brother with ease. If Hope wasn't such a good natural flier, Tonks would've panicked, but it seemed that the five-year-old was built for the air. Teddy had broken many bones while airborne, while Hope took to the sky like a bird. From the kitchen window, Tonks could keep an eye on them.

When the dishes were done and the sun was starting to set, Tonks decided it was time to call them back inside. Their bedtime wasn't for an hour, but they'd both need to bathe, brush their teeth, and have plenty of time to argue with her about going to sleep.

"Teddy! Hope!" she shouted. "It's time for bed!"

When neither of her children responded, Tonks took out her wand and summoned them slowly. Hope came first, glowering, but Tonks grabbed the broomstick and let it fly back to its hook. She put charms on it to keep it there, and Hope marched into the house without another word.

Teddy came next, shouting that he didn't want to go, but his protests fell on deaf ears.

"I don't wanna," Teddy whined, once he was off his broom. "I wanna wait for dad!"

"Your dad won't be home for a while," Tonks replied impatiently, placing the broomstick back where it belonged and charming it stuck. "It's the first of September and he's got loads to do before he can come home."

"But I want to find out if Moira's a Gryffindor!"

"You'll find out soon enough, Teddy, let's go."

Tonks stared down at her son, with her hands on her hips, watching his turquoise hair turn yellow. He huffed indignantly and stomped back inside the house. Tonks closed the door to the garden, expecting the living room to be empty, when she noticed her daughter sitting by the fireplace, watching it intently. Teddy had plonked himself on the sofa with a plate of biscuits.

"Hope, love, you too—bedtime for you and Teddy."

"But mummy—"

"—no buts, off to bed with both of you!" When neither Teddy nor Hope moved, Tonks felt her temper rise; she'd have to bring Remus in. "If your father sees you're both awake when he comes home, he won't be happy. Get to bed, or we'll all have a problem."

Hope froze at the mention of her father. Teddy stormed off, his hair a fiery orange, and left the plate of biscuits scattered across the upholstery. Tonks led Hope upstairs to her bedroom, trying not to let her temper get the best of her.

Tonks hated resorting to the old, tired line of 'wait until your father gets home,' but it worked. She wasn't sure if it was due to Remus being a werewolf, and thus having his family as his 'pack' with him as their 'alpha,' or if the children genuinely thought him as more of a disciplinarian. It was irritating either way, but as it got the children up to their beds, she used the excuse anyway.

When they were both bathed and clean, Tonks watched both Teddy and Hope brush their teeth, each of them grumbling about it, and sent Teddy to his room first.

"You can read for a little while," Tonks said softly, tucking him into his bed. "I love you." She planted a kiss on his forehead, but he made a face, and she rolled her eyes, knowing he was cross over bedtime.

Hope was in her room, tangled in her pyjamas, so Tonks helped her get them on. She noticed a small pile of books next to Hope's bed; the five-year-old had been plotting to delay her bedtime.

"Story please?"

"Two stories, and that's all," Tonks replied. "Pick two and then it'll be bedtime."

Hope thumbed through each book slowly, further delaying sleep, but at last she chose Owl Babies and Horrid Henry.

To her credit, Hope stayed awake through both stories, with no sign of sleepiness.

"One more please?"

"I said only two, remember?"

"Please, mummy?"

Hope's little forehead creased with concern, just like Remus's, and Tonks ran her fingers through her daughter's sandy brown curls, concerned.

"Bee in your bonnet?"

Hope looked away. Tonks felt her eyebrows knit together, seeing Hope's obvious distress.

"Is something wrong, Hope?"

"It's about daddy," Hope whispered. Tonks sat up straight, her eyes darting around the room.

"What about him?" Tonks asked slowly, her curiosity burning over what Hope might say.

"Mummy…is daddy going to die?"

Tonks shook her head slightly in confusion. "Sweetheart, everyone dies one day."

"But is daddy going to die soon?"

Tonks took Hope's tiny chin in her hand, looking her in the eyes. "What's this about? Your dad's perfectly well."

"I heard you and daddy talk…"

Hope proceeded to inform Tonks of the conversation she'd overheard a few weeks before, after Remus's visit to St. Mungo's, in which he expressed his concern over his lifespan and general health. Hope had been hiding outside, eavesdropping. She had spent the last few weeks worried that her father would be dying any day now, which was why she wanted to wait up for him to come home to ensure he was alive and well.

Tonks tried to keep a neutral expression as her daughter poured out her worries. When Remus was home from the Welcome Feast, she'd have to have a discussion with him regarding what they spoke of, as Hope made it clear she was terrified of losing him.

"Okay, Hope," Tonks told her tearful daughter, "first of all, your dad is older and you know he's a werewolf, but that doesn't mean he's going to die soon. He's going to live a long, happy life. He takes care of himself, mummy takes care of him, and he works hard to be healthy for you and Teddy. He's not going anywhere anytime soon."

Hope reached out for Tonks, seeking comfort, and Tonks held her tightly, whispering reassurances in her ear that Remus would be fine and live long enough to see Hope go to Hogwarts and grow up into adulthood.

Though it was getting late, Tonks suggested reading one more story before bedtime, and The Rainbow Fish was just long enough for Hope to finally become drowsy. By the last page, her puffy eyes were closing and Tonks kissed her goodnight.

She got up, turned off the lights, and checked in on Teddy, who had fallen asleep with James and the Giant Peach splayed out on his chest and the family cat, Ophelia, at the foot of his bed. Tonks put a bookmark where he'd last read, closed the book, and turned off the dim light in her son's room.

Tonks went downstairs to the kitchen to fix herself a cup of tea and think over Hope's concerns. A five-year-old shouldn't be burdened with worries like that, she thought, but it was Tonks and Remus's fault for speaking so openly about the topic. They tried to keep worrisome subjects away from their children, but they weren't perfect, and now Tonks wondered if Teddy had been harboring the same fears.

She thought back to her own childhood; at five to eight years old, the First Wizarding War was in full swing. Bellatrix, her aunt, would occasionally appear, terrifying Tonks and her parents. That fear of Dark witches and wizards stuck with Tonks long enough that she grew up and made a career out of it, by becoming an Auror right out of Hogwarts.

She supposed every child had their own fears growing up, but Tonks didn't want her children to fear for their father's life or inherit his deep-seated insecurities. It happened anyway, despite her best efforts.

Tonks was ready to brew a second cup of tea when the fire roared and turned green, indicating Remus's imminent arrival.

He stepped out of the Floo with a huge smile on his face and a few loose strands of silvery hair crossing his forehead. Tonks's heart warmed immediately upon seeing him; after over a decade of knowing him, he still made her weak at the knees.

"Are they asleep?" Remus asked softly, pointing upstairs.

Tonks nodded, took his hand, and brought him to the kitchen.

"Moira's a Hufflepuff!"

"Really?" Tonks broke into a grin. "I was sure—"

"—it took five minutes, and she told me the Hat was split between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, but she saw Annie and decided she wanted to be with the badgers."

"Denys and Wally? What did they say?"

"Denys didn't mind in the least," Remus replied, with a snort. "That's what he said when I caught him and Annie snogging—"

"—no way—"

"—and then gave them an embarrassing reminder about werewolf mating, before sending them off to bed." Remus was by the stove, pouring hot water into a mug. "At least Denys and Annie aren't in the same house, or we might have to worry."

"Teenagers, eh?"

"We'll have our hands full when Teddy and Hope are their age."

Remus brought his steaming cup of tea to the table, sighing contently.

"Any trouble with getting the kids to sleep?"

"I had to pull out the old 'wait till your father gets home,'" Tonks replied, shaking her head. "Now that you mention it, though…Hope had some trouble falling asleep."

The smile disappeared from Remus's face. "What happened?"

Tonks informed him of Hope's worries for his health and life, and how distraught she'd been for weeks, thinking he was going to die prematurely.

Remus rubbed his eyes with his palms, breathing heavily.

"I feel awful."

"I told her you're not going anywhere," said Tonks, taking his hand. "You should talk to her too. I know she loves me, because I'm her mum, but she just idolizes you."

Remus looked up in the direction of Hope's bedroom, his forehead creasing with the worry lines he'd passed onto their daughter.

"Finish your tea and we'll go up to bed. You can figure out what to tell her tomorrow."

Remus took another gulp of his tea, set his mug down, and ran a finger around its rim.

"Has Teddy said anything about this?"

"No, and you know he can't keep a secret. He wears all his emotions on his head."

Remus's elbow was on the table. He sat his chin in his palm, covering his mouth.

"She's only five, Remus. She'll forget all about this and go back to unicorns and dragons."

Remus gave her a weak smile. Tonks knew he was worried about Hope's anxieties, but until she was awake and he could speak to her, the only thing they could do was rest.

…

Tonks's 34th birthday arrived on a Sunday. It also happened to be November's full moon, which meant she and Remus were apart. Instead of spending the night curled around each other, she had a miserable five-year-old, bored eight-year-old, and a massive headache.

"Hope, are you sure you don't need anything else?" asked Tonks, shoulders sagging when she saw her daughter shivering in front of the fireplace.

"I'm okay, mummy."

"You're sure?"

"I'm good."

Tonks pursed her lips and returned to the kitchen in her mother's house, where Andromeda was settling in with tea and biscuits. Teddy was upstairs, where the Muggle telly played an American children's show about a talking sponge. Tonks didn't understand it, but Teddy adored it, and Hope was too miserable at the full moon to pay attention to anything but her chills.

"Mum, do you have pumpkin juice?"

"Same place as always, Nymphadora."

Tonks opened the charmed cupboard and pulled out a pitcher of pumpkin juice. She searched the larder next, for a Fever Reducing Tonic, and grabbed a cup for Hope.

Andromeda raised a brow over her cup of tea, but said nothing as Tonks put a child-sized dose of the tonic in the pumpkin juice.

"She took the All-Purpose Ailment Potion and the Strengthening Solution earlier," Tonks explained, mixing the liquids together, "but she needs sleep and keeps telling me she's fine. She's shivering and chattering her teeth. I'll have her drink this and hopefully she'll fall asleep."

"Pumpkin juice won't mask the taste."

Tonks sighed irritably, her own headache growing with the rising moon. "Do you have a better solution?"

"Sit down and I'll fix you both a hot chocolate. It worked wonders when you were her age and hated the taste of potions."

"Thanks, mum…Hope is so bloody stubborn. I'd say she takes after me, but I think she's all Remus."

"She takes after both of you," said Andromeda, as she pulled out the ingredients from the cupboard and set a pot on the stove. "In this matter, she is like her father."

"I know she's miserable and she's pretending she isn't," Tonks said, scrunching her eyes as a wave of pain crossed her head. "She doesn't want my help."

"A family trait, I think." Andromeda smiled thinly and whisked together the cocoa powder, sugar, and milk. "She doesn't want you to worry. She thinks she's stronger than she looks."

"Is that what she's thinking?"

"She's also worried about her father."

Tonks slumped in her seat. "He's talked to her about his health a few times recently…I think he's meant it to be encouraging, but she's scared he'll hurt himself and won't come home."

"Hope is worried for you, too." Andromeda poured the chocolatey, velvety liquid into two mugs, followed by the dose of the Fever Reducing Tonic. She topped each with marshmallows, something Ted used to do, and brought one to Tonks.

"Why's she worried about me?"

"She knows the full moon affects you, as do I," Andromeda said, kissing the top of Tonks's head. "She's a worrier, like her father."

Tonks frowned and craned her neck to peek into the living room. Hope, all bundled up, shook in front of the fireplace.

"I'll bring this to her. You stay here, darling."

Andromeda took the other mug to the living room and knelt next to Hope, offering her the drink. To Tonks's relief, Hope took it. Andromeda stayed with her while she drank it, murmuring assurances into her ear that Remus was safe and would be home in the morning.

Hope stopped shivering and Tonks overheard her telling Andromeda her hot chocolate was like magic. Tonks chuckled into her own hot chocolate, wondering how many times her mother had convinced her to take a potion through the same means.

Andromeda returned with an empty mug and set it in the sink. Tonks saw Hope lay down and burrow into the blanket nest she'd created.

"She should be asleep soon," Andromeda said, coming to join Tonks at the table. "Now why don't you tell me what's kept you so preoccupied tonight?"

"You don't already know?" Tonks said drily, knowing her mother's skills as a natural Legilimens left almost nothing to the imagination.

"I try not to pry, if I can help it. Besides, with your daughter having so much on her mind, her thoughts have been louder."

"Fair." Tonks took another sip of her hot chocolate and aahed contently. "Kingsley wants to promote me and Harry. He wants me as the new assistant head of the DMLE and Harry to take my place as Head Auror."

"That's quite a jump."

"I know. Harry would be a good Head Auror. He's great with trainees and he's got some of the best stats in the office."

Tonks felt her headache waning and suspected her mother had placed a dose of some potion into her hot chocolate. When Andromeda's lip curled knowingly, Tonks only rolled her eyes.

"And you?"

"Well," Tonks said, thinking hard, "I like my job. Being the assistant head of the DMLE would be more work. More pay too, which is always helpful, but we don't need more than we have. We don't spend much at all."

"You can refuse the position, Nymphadora."

"I know, but Harry's ready for the next step and I am too. I don't know if being the assistant head of the DMLE is my next step, but I know Head Auror is Harry's."

Andromeda grew quiet. "Have you considered stepping down?"

"Going back to Senior Auror?" Tonks asked incredulously. "Not unless I'm older and I've got nothing else to contribute, or my personal life is too much for me to do any more at work."

"And what is it that you want to contribute?" Andromeda asked, leaving the matter of Tonks's personal life aside.

Tonks threw her hands up in frustration. "I dunno! Hermione mentioned this witches' initiative the other day…something about getting more witches into the Ministry, ones with kids and families. Maybe I'll do something with that, but I don't want to give up law enforcement. I love what I do. I'll go back to being a Senior Auror when I'm older and don't want to do all the extra work anymore."

"Have you spoken to Remus about this?"

"A little. He's not much help," Tonks replied, with a huff. "He wants me to do whatever makes me happy and keeps me safest."

"And has Kingsley given you a timeline?"

"By the end of next year, 2007. It's a long time away, so I've got plenty of time to think about it, but…"

Tonks's voice trailed off as she thought of what she really wanted for her immediate future: she wanted one more child. She was happy to see Harry take over the Head Auror position, thus giving her an excuse to step back as a Senior Auror and have more time for a new baby. When the new baby was old enough, she'd see if Harry was ready to move onto another role or see what Hermione had up her sleeve.

Andromeda's brows went up into her forehead, seemingly after seeing what Tonks was thinking.

"I understood that you were done having children."

"I don't want to talk about it," Tonks said curtly.

She knew Remus wanted another child but was being stubborn and stupid about it. She didn't want her mother sticking her nose where it didn't belong, and though she was sure Andromeda could see what she was thinking, she didn't want to say it aloud.

"Very well, Nymphadora," Andromeda said crisply. "It's getting late. Teddy's been looking at that telly for too long."

"I'll get him."

Tonks went upstairs to her old room, where the telly was kept. There, she saw Teddy asleep on her old bed, with deep blue hair and his limbs askew. The yellow sponge was still on the screen, and Tonks turned it off to give Teddy some quiet. She draped a blanket over him and kissed him, went downstairs to check on Hope before she turned in for the night as well.

She fell asleep hoping that by her 35th birthday, she'd know what her next career move would be.

…

Diagon Alley at Christmastime was one of Tonks's favorite places to be. With the roofs covered in snow, fairies and lights strung up around the windows, and colorful baubles inside the storefronts, it was like discovering what magic could do.

Teddy was at her side, looking up at the picturesque shopping district with wonder.

"All right, Teddy," said Tonks. "You've got to stay with me the whole time. No wandering off. That was our deal, remember? We're here to get Christmas presents for your dad, Hope, and the million Weasleys we know."

"It's not a million, mum. It's…it's…" Teddy began counting off the Weasleys on his fingers, stopping and restarting when he forgot someone.

"I've got a list. C'mon, we'll start with Quidditch supplies and go to the bookshop next."

Teddy's hair turned grey as he kept counting, intent on finishing his task. Tonks led him to Quality Quidditch Supplies, a store she hadn't visited in years. Since the infamous, failed shopping day when Teddy was a five-year-old, the Lupins spent most of their money at Muggle shops. Remus and Hope were shopping somewhere in London for some of their Christmas presents, and Tonks decided it was time to visit magical stores in person, as she'd been placing all her orders via owl post for years.

Teddy forgot about the Weasleys when he saw the newest broom model, the Nimbus 2020. It was sleek, with a shiny redwood handle and bronze lettering.

"Mum! Mum! Look at it!"

"I think that's what my coworker Flan got for her girlfriend," said Tonks, eyeing the handsome broom with interest. "You remember Flan, don't you?"

Teddy nodded and morphed his hair to match Flan's short, black bob. On Teddy, it looked like the Muggle hairstyles of the past decade, the ones called bowl cuts.

Amused by the look on her son, she led him into Quality Quidditch Supplies to get some gifts. Teddy did as instructed and stayed by her side as she browsed the aisles. Tonks knew he was itching to explore the shop for himself, but she'd made it clear before they arrived that he couldn't step one toe out of line, even if other children did. She hated having to be so strict with him, especially as he hadn't done anything to earn it, but she knew that there were still people out there who would blame any poor behavior on Teddy's part as a sign that werewolves were bad parents.

Werewolves were protected and cared for better than they ever had in wizarding history, but the insults, snide remarks, and fearful behavior remained. Remus enjoyed further protection, as Tonks's husband and friend of the Minister, but other werewolves were still regarded with suspicion.

Younger ones, like Denys and Wally, were generally accepted at school, but Remus and Tonks worried for them as they grew older. Denys had his heart set on becoming a Healer, and he had the marks to prove it, but St. Mungo's was hesitant to accept a lycanthropic trainee. Annie, the other seventh year werewolf, wanted to write for The Daily Prophet. She, too, was under scrutiny while the editors decided to hire her.

After the Quidditch shop, Tonks and Teddy went to Flourish & Blotts. They left with considerably lighter pockets; Tonks let Teddy choose all the children's books for the many Weasley grandchildren and his friends. As a reward for his good behavior, Tonks got him a few extra books he'd eyed, and planned to wrap them for him to open on Christmas Day.

Madam Malkin's came next. Remus and Tonks had Lottie send them the boys' measurements. Figuring they could each use a set of good dress robes, Tonks had Teddy help her choose colors and fabrics for Denys and Wally. Teddy chose a deep crimson for Denys and a rich, royal blue for Wally to match their house colors.

When they rounded the corner to go to their last destination, the toy shop, Teddy froze.

"Teddy?" asked Tonks, her brow knit together in concern. Her son's hair had morphed to an anxious, silvery grey.

"Mum, we shouldn't go there."

"To the toy shop?"

Teddy nodded. "They don't like people like us there."

"People like…" Tonks schooled her expression. "What are you trying to say?"

"They didn't like me when I was little…or dad."

Tonks bent down to look into his eyes, which were round with fear. He hadn't reacted poorly to the Quidditch shop; in fact, in the over three years since the failed shopping trip, he hadn't once mentioned the incident. She and Remus thought it was long-forgotten to him, a mere memory only for the adults to reflect on.

"The toy store should be different now, Teddy," Tonks said gently. "They won't treat us badly."

"I don't want to go there."

Tonks felt her heart break a little; any eight-year-old would've demanded to go to the toy shop, but her son was afraid.

"Do you want to try coming with me?"

Teddy shook his head and took a step back.

"Where do you think we should get the toys for some of the babies, like Al and Rosie?"

"Hamleys," Teddy said, a smile playing on his lips. "They're nice."

Tonks wanted to take Teddy to the magical toy shop, to show him things were better, but she didn't want his fear to turn into accidental magic. She decided their day in Diagon Alley could come to an end, and once they left out of the Leaky Cauldron, they set out for the Muggle toy seller.