A/N: I know that the last chapter was tough. We all know that Remus is being stupid. As Olivia said, he's too honorable for his own good. Oh, well. It makes for good drama, right?

Thanks for reading and reviewing, everyone! Your reviews always make me smile!

I don't own the Potter universe.

All the Reasons Why Not

Tonks sank back down on the couch, sobbing hysterically. She wrapped her arms around herself and rocked back and forth as the sobs tore from her throat, trying to let all the hurt and anger drain from her. She knew that it was impossible – how could she force her broken heart to stop feeling all the pain of losing Remus? She didn't even try to bring her crying to an end. Why bother? After all that had happened, she couldn't think of any reason to ever smile again.

She had calmed down to the point of crying with an occasional sob when she heard a knock on the door. Her head snapped up.

"Remus?" she whispered. He's realized his mistake – he's come back to me!

That thought propelled her off the couch. She practically ran to the door. Completely certain that it was Remus, she didn't even ask for the identity of her visitor before throwing the door open.

She had never been disappointed to see Molly Weasley before.

"Tonks!" Molly exclaimed, the bright smile sliding off her face as she looked at Tonks's swollen, splotchy face and red-rimmed, blood-shot eyes. "My goodness, dear! What's wrong?"

Tonks began to cry once again, and stepped aside so that Molly could enter. The older woman immediately put her arms around Tonks, pulling her into a tight embrace. Tonks clung to her, sobbing in complete anguish. Molly ran her hand over Tonks's hair in a comforting gesture, surprised to observe that it was a mousy shade of brown that she didn't remember ever seeing the young woman wear before.

Molly didn't release Tonks until she had stopped crying. When she did, she looked at her with gentle, motherly eyes.

"Can you tell me what's wrong?"

Tonks sighed, and tried to laugh. "It's silly, I suppose."

"I can't believe that you would be so upset over something silly," Molly said gently.

Tonks sighed. "Remus was just here."

Molly nodded, her expression rather confused.

"He – he said that we can't see one another anymore."

Molly frowned. "You told me that you and Remus weren't seeing one another."

"No, we weren't, not like that, but – Oh, Molly, it's so confused and such a mess …"

She looked dangerously close to crying again. Molly grabbed her arm.

"Come with me."

"Where are we going?"

"You're coming to the Burrow."

"Oh, Molly, I can't impose …"

"You aren't," she said. "A change of scenery will do you good."

"I don't know …"

"I do," Molly said firmly. "Come on, we're going."

Remus made his way back to the Leaky Cauldron. He went straight to his room, where he found Olivia waiting for him.

"You've done it?" she asked.

He nodded.

"How did it go?"

Remus smiled sadly. "I just ripped out her heart. How do you think it went?"

"And your heart?" she almost whispered.

He smiled sadly again, and sat down on the bed without replying. Olivia sat down next to him, taking his hand, lacing her fingers though his.

"Do you want to talk?"

"No," he sighed.

She nodded, but did not release his hand. "All right."

After a moment, Remus leaned toward her, dropping his head on her shoulder. She put her arm around him, reassuring him that she was there for him. Neither of them spoke. They didn't need to. At a time like this, words were almost irrelevant.

Within moments, Molly and Tonks arrived in the Burrow. For once, it did not seem to be overflowing with people and motion. Even if she couldn't see them, Tonks was sure that the house was teeming with people. She wiped at her face, trying to remove all traces of her tears before she faced the Weasley clan.

"Here we are," Molly smiled as they looked up at the house.

"Who's home?" Tonks asked.

"Right now? I think just Bill, Fleur, Ginny, Ron and Hermione."

"Hermione's here?"

"Yes," Molly smiled. "She's such a sweet girl – it's always so nice to have her here for the summer."

As they walked into the house, Bill and Fleur came out of it. Bill's eyes widened as he looked at Tonks.

"Hi, Tonks," he said.

"Hi, Bill," she said with an attempt at a smile.

"Are you all right?" he asked, his eyes and voice betraying his concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Tonks and I are going to have some tea," Molly said. "Where are you two going?"

"We're meeting some friends for drinks," Bill replied. "We shouldn't be too late."

"Are the others inside?"

"Yeah. They all went to bed already."

Molly nodded. "All right, dear. I'll see you later. Be careful."

"We will," he promised.

Bill kissed his mother's cheek, then took Fleur's hand, leading her out of the house. Tonks's eyes filled with tears again as she watched them leave together.

"Tea," Molly said firmly. She took Tonks's arm, and led her to the kitchen. "Sit down, dear."

Tonks obediently sat down at the table. She looked down, watching as her fingers traced nonsensical patterns over the tablecloth.

"Now," Molly said, sitting down and placing a mug of tea in front of each of them, "tell me what happened."

"I was so stupid, Molly," Tonks sighed. "Remus – well, I should start at the beginning, shouldn't I?"

"If you'd like."

"The beginning." Tonks sighed and ran her hands over her face. "I guess this all started when I met Remus at my first Order meeting. I was immediately attracted to him." She smiled sadly. "It seems silly – I mean, he's so much older than me, and I didn't know anything about him. I had never even met him before that. But in that first moment, there was something … I don't know. It was beyond the fact that I found him physically attractive. There's something in his eyes … I could just tell he was special. After we became friends, I found out that he really is one of the nicest men I've ever known. Even that, though, doesn't say enough to describe him."

"Remus is a wonderful person," Molly agreed.

Tonks nodded. "Well, at first I thought it was just me having a crush on my cousin's friend. Remus was always wonderful to me, and he became my friend, too, but he never suggested that he wanted anything other than that. Sirius always told me that I should pursue him, and, from what I've heard, he told Remus the same thing, but nothing came of it."

Molly smiled slightly. "You know, dear, the first time I attended an Order meeting, I asked Sirius if there was something between you and Remus."

"Really?"

Molly nodded. "Watching you two talk … I always noticed sparks."

Tonks flushed, then sighed again. "Well, after Sirius died, Remus finally admitted that he had feelings for me. Of course, I told him that I felt the same way. But, he said that we couldn't be together. He said that there's too many issues between us – and that he's not good enough for me."

Molly shook her head sadly. "Remus never thinks he's good enough. I don't understand why he always feels that way."

"Well, I let it go, and we went back to being friends. It wasn't easy for me – Kingsley thinks it's why I've been having so many problems morphing."

Molly raised her eyebrows. "Do you agree?"

Tonks laughed hollowly, picking up a strand of her mousy hair. "Yeah, I'd have to say that I agree."

"Your hair is like that because of Remus? What do you mean? What happened?"

"He helped me move yesterday," Tonks said. "After we had finished setting everything up in my new flat, we had dinner and some wine. We got a bit tipsy …" She flushed a deep shade of red. "Well, one thing led to another, and we ended up snogging."

Molly smiled and touched her hand. "Don't be embarrassed to tell me, dear. I'm not here to judge you."

Tonks smiled her thanks, but could not make her face any less red. "Remus stopped us before we could go very far," she said. "He said that we couldn't, and that he had to leave."

"He left you alone?"

"Yes. Really, I wasn't that upset about it. I know that he's working through a lot of issues about starting a relationship. He told me that he hasn't dated anyone since his wife died."

Molly shook her head. "That was such a tragedy. It always is when one dies so young."

"Did you know her?"

"No, but to hear Sirius and Remus talk about her, she was clearly one of the best women to ever live." She smiled sadly. "I know their opinions are rather rose-colored, but I also know that she must have been someone very special to win Remus's heart."

Tears filled Tonks's eyes again. "I don't understand why I can't win it."

"I think you have," Molly said quietly. "Tell me what happened today."

"I went to work, like usual. I actually had a really good day. I've pretty much got the layout of the castle and grounds down. I just need to decide how to work out the Auror surveillance, and I think I'll be ready for the start of the school year." She paused and bit her lip. "Then, right after I got home, Remus came over. I was so excited to see him, Molly. I thought that maybe he'd want to pick up where we left off yesterday."

"But he didn't."

"No," she said sadly. "He started by apologizing for what happened yesterday. Then, he said that we couldn't ever be together. He's told me that before, and I've … well, not accepted it, but I'm okay with it for now. But then he said that we can't be friends anymore."

"What?" Molly gasped.

Tonks nodded. "He said that it's too hard to try to be friends, and we were going to be separated anyway, with me at Hogwarts and him headed to the werewolf colony."

"That's ridiculous!" Molly exploded. "No, Tonks, we'll find a way to convince him that he's wrong."

Tonks began to feel the first small glimmers of hope since her fateful conversation with Remus. "You think that he's wrong?"

"I know that he is," Molly said firmly. "I'll have Arthur talk to him. We'll make him see reason." She looked thoughtful. "Actually, he's coming for dinner on Sunday. Why don't you come, too?"

"Oh, no, Molly, I couldn't," Tonks said. "I can't let him think that I'm stalking him."

"Don't be silly," Molly said. "You're a friend of the family just like he is. You have as much right to be here as he does."

"No, it would be too awkward," Tonks protested.

Molly sighed. "I'll talk to him," she promised. "And I'll have Arthur talk to him. We can't leave this as it is."

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Molly stood to open it, admitting Professor Dumbledore and Harry. Unable to consider dealing with any questions the two of them might have, Tonks made a quick, hopefully graceful exit. Molly again invited her to dinner, and she again declined.

As she walked out to Disapparate, only one thought ran through her mind. Arthur will be able to get through to him. He had to. He was her only hope.

"Do you feel better now?" Olivia asked as Remus lifted his head from her shoulder.

"A bit," he admitted. "Thanks, Liv. You're the best."

"That's not exactly what I meant," she said.

"What did you mean?"

"I meant to ask if you feel better now that you've given Tonks her walking papers."

"That's a bit harsh," Remus said mildly. "I can't have given her her walking papers, considering we weren't actually dating."

"Remus, you were all but dating," Olivia said. "I think all that you lacked as the formality of calling each other 'boyfriend' and 'girlfriend.' You spent half of last night making out with her!"

Remus smiled sadly. "I never wanted us to get to that point."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes."

She sighed. "Then, I ask you again: Do you feel better now?"

Remus looked at her for a long moment, his eyes reflecting his inner turmoil. "I feel like I ripped my heart out with hers," he said quietly.

"Then why did you do it?" Olivia exclaimed. "Why didn't you just run with it? You could have had a wonderful relationship! Remus, the two of you could have gotten married, had twelve children and lived a long, fun-filled life together! Why did you throw it all away?"

"Because, Liv, I'm not good enough for her," he said brokenly. "She deserves more than me. She deserves someone young, someone whole, someone with as bright a future ahead of him as she has ahead of her."

"Don't you get it?" Olivia asked. "She thinks that you're that person."

"For now," Remus agreed. "But, in a few years, she'll realize the truth, and where will that leave me?"

"Remus, I swear, sometimes you are completely impossible to reason with," Olivia exclaimed. "Why can't you stop worrying about the 'what if' for five minutes? Then, you'd have time to see that you need to live in the present, and to seize opportunities when they jump up and down in front of you!"

"Liv, girls like her don't want to date werewolves like me."

Olivia drew a deep breath, and pulled out the big guns. "Laura loved you," she said gently. "She loved you enough to marry you. Enough to want to have your baby. If she was willing to love you like that, why are you so sure that Tonks can't?"

Remus looked away. When he looked back, she could read the heartbreak in his eyes. "That was completely different."

"How, exactly?"

"Laura and I were both so young," he sighed. "We were idealistic. We refused to believe that anything could go wrong. But, it did, Liv. Life crashed in around us and took Laura from me."

"That doesn't have anything to do with you – neither as a person nor as a werewolf."

"It's proof that I don't deserve to be loved like that," Remus said, his eyes filling with tears. "Girls – women – deserve more than me."

Olivia grabbed his hand again, squeezing it tightly. "You're wrong, Remus," she said softly. "You deserve the best of everything. You were married to Laura, and I didn't know anyone better for you than her. And now, Tonks wants to be with you. I know that I don't know her that well, but, Remus, she seems like a great person to me. She seems exactly the type of woman that you deserve – and you seem the type of man that she deserves."

He shook his head. "She deserves more than me."

Olivia sighed, knowing that she wasn't going to get any more sense out of him. She settled for staying with him, lending all the emotional support she could.

"You're up late," Arthur said to Molly as she returned to the kitchen after settling Harry in Fred and George's room. "Did Dumbledore and Harry wake you?"

"No, I was up with Tonks," Molly sighed. "The poor girl is a wreck."

Arthur frowned. "She seemed a bit off the last time she was here. Bill said that she was having trouble changing her appearance."

"Yes, she is," Molly sighed. "Arthur – she and Remus are having problems."

Arthur choked on his onion soup. "I didn't know that she and Remus were dating."

"They aren't," Molly said. She sighed again. "I have to admit, it's a strange situation."

"Can I have the abridged version?"

"They both are falling for one another," Molly explained. "Unfortunately, Remus doesn't seem to think that he's good enough for her, and told her they have to end their friendship so as not to tempt themselves into more."

Arthur shook his head. "Strange line of thinking."

"I told her … Arthur, do you think you could talk to him?"

His eyes widened. "What exactly are you hoping for me to say?"

"I don't know, to be honest. I just thought that if you talked to him, as a married man, maybe you could make him see reason."

"He was a married man, Molly."

"Then he'll be able to relate to you," she snapped. "Please, Arthur, Tonks and Remus are perfect for one another! They just need a little nudge."

Arthur shook his head. "I don't know, Molly. I don't like the idea of meddling in other people's romantic lives."

"It's not meddling," she said persuasively. "It's just helping. Don't you remember what Gideon did for us all those years ago?"

Arthur smiled. "He said that we had to help another couple to pay him back."

"Exactly. I think we've found the couple we need to help."

"But, Molly, that was different. We already knew what we wanted."

"So do they," she said firmly. "Remus just needs to understand that it's right."

"All right," Arthur sighed. "I'll see if I can find him tomorrow."

"I can't believe we did that," Remus said shakily. "How could we have agreed to take the first flat we looked at?"

"Because it was the nicest flat either of us have ever seen, and because the price was extremely reasonable," Olivia said. "Here, Remus, drink something. You look like you need it to stay on your feet."

Remus smiled at her from across the table they had chosen in the middle of the Three Broomsticks, and took a sip of his butterbeer. "I'm fine, Liv. I think I'm just still in shock."

She giggled. "Remus, the place is great. The price is great. The location is great. Stop worrying and just be happy! We came here to celebrate, not to panic!"

"You're right, you're right," Remus said, taking another drink. "Everything is fine."

"Remus! Olivia!"

They both looked up to see Arthur Weasley approaching them. He gave them a bright smile as he stopped in front of their table.

"Hi, Arthur," they said together. They looked at one another and laughed.

"May I join you?"

"Of course."

Arthur sat down at the table, and leaned in, motioning for them to do the same. "I have news from Dumbledore."

Remus and Olivia looked at one another, then back at Arthur, their eyes urging him to continue.

"It would appear that Harry's inheritance is in order," he said.

"You mean, the house …?" Remus asked in shock.

"Exactly," Arthur replied. "And he is more than willing for it to continue its most recent use."

"Wow," Remus said. "Andromeda was so sure …"

Olivia smiled a bittersweet smile. "I don't know why we're surprised. Sirius was a very powerful wizard. We always knew that."

"True," Remus said. He smiled. "Harry's staying with you, right, Arthur?"

"Yes. You'll see him tomorrow when you come for dinner."

"Excellent."

Arthur smiled a bit uncomfortably. Olivia, who had built a career around observing others, noticed that the tips of his ears were turning red.

"Are you all right, Arthur?"

"Fine, fine," he smiled. "I just … Remus, could I have a word with you?"

"I'll go get us another round," Olivia said at once, jumping up from the table. "I wanted to have a chance to catch up with Madam Rosmerta, anyway."

Remus turned to Arthur as Olivia walked away. "Yes?"

Arthur cleared his throat. "Remus, Molly told me what happened between you and Tonks."

Remus flushed. "I didn't realize that the news would travel so quickly."

"Good news always does," Arthur said dryly. "I have to admit, it was a surprise."

"Which part?" Remus asked. "That someone like her would be interested in someone like me?"

"That you had turned her away," Arthur said honestly.

Remus's eyes widened.

"Remus, she truly cares about you," Arthur said. "Her heart is broken because of what happened, and, from what I can see, you don't exactly seem yourself, either."

Remus sighed. "It's been difficult for both of us, I'm sure."

"Then why let it continue?" Arthur asked. "Why not go find her and apologize? Believe me, she'd be more than willing to forgive you. I know she'd love to give a relationship with you another try."

"She deserves someone better," Remus said flatly. "Arthur, you know what I am. How can I ask her to throw her life away on … well, on someone like me?"

Arthur leaned back in his chair, surveying Remus for a moment. "Do you know what I think about that, Remus?"

"That I am good enough for her? Don't even bother. Liv's said it enough times for the entire world."

"I wasn't going to say that, because I didn't even think I should honor the idea that you aren't good enough for her with a reply," Arthur said.

"Oh," was Remus's inarticulate reply.

"I was going to say that she's going to give you her life either way," Arthur said. "If you leave things as they are now, she's going to spend the rest of her life miserable, wishing that she could be with you. If you talk it out and let a relationship grow, she's going to spend her life making you happy, the same way you would spend your life making her happy."

Remus stared at him, unsure of how to reply.

"That's just the way I see it, Remus," Arthur said, standing to his feet. "You need to make a decision. Would you rather she spend her life pining for you, or living with you?" He smiled a bit sadly. "It's been nice talking with you. If you need anything – anything at all – you know where to find me."

"Right," Remus mumbled.

"I'll see you tomorrow for dinner." With one last smile, Arthur disappeared into the crowded bar.

Olivia was back at the table with two bottles of butterbeer within seconds.

"What did he want?" she asked.

"To talk about me and Tonks," Remus said. He shook his head. "He was wrong. I know it."

"What did he say?"

"That she's going to spend the rest of her life being miserable if she can't have me."

Olivia bit her lip. "Remus, don't you think –"

"No," Remus said firmly. "Don't even say it. The subject is closed."

Olivia nodded. "All right. It's your life."

"Exactly. I know that I've made the right decision."

Why, then, did he feel more miserable than he ever had before?