Author's Note:
Hey, sorry it took so long to update. I've been writing more chapters to this story and I'm on chapter 14 right now, I just wanted to wait till I get the definite plot and twists worked out, sorry. Anyways, thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy. Thanks for reading and reviewing.
Chapter 06 – Can't Fight the Moonlight
Before long, the September full moon had approached, and with it also meant the famous Full Moon Festival, a tradition in Hogsmeade Village and one of the events most Hogwarts students looked forward to the most. It was still a while before sun down but students were already gathered at one of the gates of Hogwarts, waiting for the time where their professor would allow them out of the school and head down to the village before the festival began.
Tonks was dressed in her casual, walking around the less crowded halls of Hogwarts and looking around for a particular someone. She wore a violet tee with the legend The Weird Sisters printed in yellow across her chest, a black overcoat over top. Her jeans were holey beyond belief and her hair had changed from pink to a violent shade of violet to match her shirt. She passed several students and teachers in the hallway but she still didn't find who she was looking for.
"If you're looking for Lexi, I think she's already at the gate with Marrick and Fred and George," Hermione told Tonks as she and Ron came up from behind her.
"No actually I'm looking for Professor Lupin," Tonks replied, giving up her search.
Hermione cooed while Ron just rolled his eyes at his friend. "Why Professor Lupin?"
"It's not what you think," Tonks laughed and shook her head. "He looked sick yesterday and I just wanted to make sure if he's alright. He told me he never went to the Full Moon Festival as a student here so I didn't want him to miss all the fun. After all, the teachers are heading down too, just look at McGonagall."
Hermione nodded. "That's true. Professor Lupin did look unwell yesterday."
"Wait Tonks, how come you knew Lupin never went to the festival?" Ron asked.
Tonks was about to respond when she saw that familiar grin on Hermione's face. She decided to just ignore the question less she drove some other crazy idea into the kid's mind. As she walked, Tonks thought that even if she did like Professor Lupin, there was nothing wrong with it. Technically he wasn't her teacher and they were both adults. Tonks shook her head, wondering why she was even thinking that way. She continued walking, joining the group of students gathered around the gates. She spotted Alexis first, her raven black hair an obvious sign and her patrician beauty from the Black family another give away. Then she saw Marrick, and finally the mischievous grinning faces of Fred and George Weasley. They were all dressed in their casuals, talking, laughing, and the boys looked like they all teamed up to tease Lexi.
"Hey Tonks, ready to go?" Lexi asked. "I'm going to stick with you. Men are prats."
"Hey, we're no prat," George defended immediately.
"Our brother Percy is a prat but we aren't," Fred added.
"And maybe Marrick is a bit of a prat," George smiled.
"Wow thanks guys, thanks so much," Marrick replied, smiling.
"We're all sticking together through the festival right?" Tonks asked.
"Hopefully," Lexi nodded as she linked a finger in her skinny jean pocket, her plaid teal flannel completing her usual style of a formal but casual look. "Oh and be wary, I think the twins are planning something," she whispered quickly to Tonks.
"Great. Then we all have to pay a visit to the Shrieking Shack," Ron smiled.
The students began heading out of the gates, all following behind Professor McGonagall. The crowd of rowdy, anxious kids were all full of energy, their excitement rubbing off on Tonks as she felt like a Hogwarts student all over again, excited to get down to Hogsmeade. And just have fun with no rules to break unlike Hogwarts.
"Do you think it's a good idea?" Hermione suddenly asked, walking close to Tonks. "I mean I heard rumors that the Shrieking Shack really is active during this festival. What if we…run into something we can't handle?"
Tonks grinned and patted Hermione's shoulder, reassuring her. "There's nothing to fear."
"When you're with my cousin, the only thing you have to fear is her falling on you."
"Hey, you're asking for a hex there," Tonks replied, swatting her cousin's arm.
As they neared Hogwarts, Tonks couldn't help but notice the civil friendship Alexis and Marrick both had going. They were chatting happily, and she didn't seem to be getting angry or frustrated with him. Fred and George were happily planning something, something Tonks was afraid to become a victim of. She also noticed Ron and Hermione throwing shy glances at each other, seeming like there was something more between the two than friendship, but they were too young and naïve to realize it just yet. Tonks could see it however, because she's technically a twenty-one year old auror and because of training under Mad-Eye, she could see most things.
The Full Moon Festival at Hogsmeade Village was just as she remembered it. Tonks' eyes lit up at the brilliant and colorful lights that danced around the roads. The shops were all set up with many colors, and the streets were filled with rides, games, shops, and sweets. She followed behind Fred and George Weasley, Ron and Hermione at their side while Tonks walked close by her cousin Alexis Black and co-worker Marrick Kingston. Tonks and Alexis grinned at each other, memories returning to them. They both hadn't been to the festival in years and it was a good feeling to be able to enjoy it again, even if they technically were on a mission.
After a while, the group began to split up, being pulled in various directions by the many attractions of the festival. Alexis had stayed with Marrick the longest but because of her curious nature she'd lost him after bouncing over to a stand that claimed to sell various prank potions with humorous effects. The raven haired girl stood there, looking around, searching for anything that could be of use to her maybe later on.
"A little lost are we?" one of the Weasley twin suddenly asked.
She turned around quickly and raised an eyebrow at the young prankster. "Not lost," she smiled. "Quelling my curiosity," she replied. Alexis wondered where his twin was, but her unasked question was answered when she spotted the other red head walking beside her violet haired cousin. Something clicked within her mind and she smirked, watchful of this twin.
"I'd like all of these," he spoke, handing a handful of nuts and sickles to the merchant as he grabbed an armful of colorful potion bottles.
"Those have humorous effects you know. Stocking up for a prank are we?"
"Maybe. Or maybe I planned on using them all on one prank," he smirked.
"George, telling an expert prankster that you're going to prank her isn't the brightest idea," Alexis spoke, shaking her head and casually walking beside him, her very own mischievous smirk playing across her face as she discreetly kept an eye on him.
George Weasley raised an eyebrow, still holding onto the armful of potion bottles. "Unless if you are an expert prankster as well," George smirked. "And what if I'm not George? What if I'm Fred? I am Fred, you've got it wrong."
"No you're George Weasley," Alexis smiled genuinely and nodded. She seemed so sure which surprised him. "Quite a sight. The Weasley Twin has split up for this prank. Fred is with Tonks I bet, and you're here to try and prank me."
He watched her for a moment, forgetting he had an armful of potion bottles in his hands. He was surprised. Usually, it was quite hard for people to be able to tell him apart from his twin Fred. Even their own mother gets confused sometimes. And usually, if George began claiming he was Fred, people began to believe him. But yet Lexi seemed so certain who he was, and she was right, he was George. He found it interesting how she knew. And by looking at her, he noticed that she had a very distinct beauty to her that under those sharp and defined features, under that exotic beauty, was a more subtle nature. Yes, George Weasley can be sensitive and sentimental too, he just chose not to show it and found Lexi quite similar to himself.
"How do you know I'm George?" he asked, continuing to test her. "And these potion bottles in my arms are like a ticking time bomb." George had been careful to pick up only the kind of potions where once it had direct contact with the skin, its effect would take place.
"Please," Lexi smirked. "I've been able to tell you apart from your twin ever since we met. I'm rather good at observations you know. And yes these potion bottles are a ticking time bomb, but you're the one carrying them so I don't have to worry."
George smiled at her once, impressed that she could tell him apart. Then he followed through with his plan, tripping Alexis up so that he could empty the contents of the bottles on her, having their humorous effects take place on her. He stuck a foot in front of her and she stumbled over it but quickly regained her balance. Quickly George took out his wand and with a quick wave opened all the bottles as they began pouring on her. He expected his brilliant plan to work. He and his brother Fred had been planning it for days, even sneaking out of Hogwarts to make sure that the merchant who sold those potion bottles would be there for the festival.
He grinned, expecting his plan to work. What George never expected was for time to suddenly slow down. He watched wide-eyed as Alexis suddenly had her wand out. She mumbled something and the potions froze in mid-air, not a drop touching her. Too distracted at the sight, George wasn't able to counter when Lexi suddenly flicked her wand again and the potions turned to face him. Then time moved again and all the colorful liquid of the potions poured on him.
"No fair!" George yelled, partially laughing at the failure of his own plan while drenched.
"Lesson number one," Lexi smirked as the potions took their effects. "Never, ever, prank someone older than you. Chances are they know counter spells you don't," she winked.
As Alexis walked ahead, George laughed while the potions began changing him. Some were turning his skin in various colors, one gave him a pig snout, and another was turning his hair from flaming red to a weird looking shade between green and blue. He tried to shake the potions off himself, hoping that the effects won't last too long.
"Yours failed too eh Georgie?" Fred asked, walking up to George with his hands in his pockets and Tonks laughing her head off behind him. "I'd say yours backfired as well."
"Reckon I'm still better looking than you though. What was the flaw in your plan?"
"Tonks is a metamorphmagus. These kinds of potions don't work on her."
"I thought you boys figured this out," Tonks laughed, as Hermione and Ron joined them, all amused at the odd morph George had taken up as a result from the potion backfire.
"I thought you two said it would work," Ron spoke. "I had a bet with Harry you'd win against Tonks and Lexi in pranks. They're your specialty."
"Obviously we're the best in pranks," Lexi teased, leaning back and smirking.
"There you are, I've been looking for you everywhere," Marrick spoke as he rushed over to them, a grin crossing his face as he looked at George. By that time, George's pig snout had changed to that of large beak that looked like it belonged to a tropical bird while his hair turned to a bright shade of blue and parts of his pale skin began to sparkle from the potion. "What happened?" Marrick asked, holding back his laughter.
"Our plan to prank these two backfired," Fred spoke for his twin who was laughing.
"I told you these two are the best," Marrick laughed and went over to walk beside Lexi.
"This isn't over," George spoke with a confident tone. "We'll prove we're the best."
When the sun began to set, the group had wandered from the busy festive and colorful streets of Hogsmeade to the wired fence that separated the grounds of the village from the infamous Shrieking Shack. They all gathered around the fence, looking at the large, haunting house, debating what they should do next. The sun was setting over the horizon and at one angle the house looked even more terrifying than it ever was before. Tonks stared at it, standing close to Hermione, both were scared. Fred and George crossed their arms and smirked at one another, George's features finally back to normal. Tonks was looking at the shack curiously, wondering what exactly was inside it, her auror curiosity driving her.
"Someone should go in there," the twins spoke together.
"Not alone," Hermione added, watching the shack carefully.
"I'd say it'd make for a very good dare," Fred said, smirking.
"Alright," George smiled. "Lexi I dare you to go in there."
Alexis scoffed and shook her head. "In no way am I going in there. I happen to believe in the rumors and stories about the shack," she spoke, taking a step back.
"Wow, I never thought you'd back away from anything," Marrick smiled at her.
"I'm no daredevil Marrick, you should know, we've talked about this before," she spoke, rolling her eyes at him and then returned to shaking her head at Fred and George.
"Aw you're no fun," Fred commented. "Alright Tonks."
"No, god, please don't dare her," Lexi spoke but was too late as Fred spoke over her.
"Tonks, I dare you to go into the shack," Fred smirked.
Alexis slapped her forehead. "Unlike me, Tonks is a daredevil," she groaned.
Looking at the shack, Tonks had second guesses about it, but Ron suddenly spoke in. "We triple Fluffy dare you," Ron added. "And Fluffy is a Hagrid's three-headed dog, so that means nine heads Tonks. You can't refuse."
"Ronald," Hermione spoke warningly, shaking her head at him.
Tonks took in a deep breath and nodded her head firmly. "Alright I'll do it."
"For god's sake Tonks," Alexis groaned.
"Relax," she smiled. "I'm an auror," she whispered to her cousin and Marrick.
"She'll be fine," Marrick comforted the raven haired girl who was shaking her head. "She is a very good auror after all. Some auror missions are even scarier than this."
"Yeah but she's Tonks," Alexis sighed.
"Oh bloody hell, I'm not dead clumsy when the situation calls for it," Tonks replied as she began walking beyond the fence, towards the Shrieking Shack. The sun was setting in the horizon and the shadow that it was casting over the house suddenly made it look more appalling. Tonks decided that being an auror, she'd go into missions that were much worse than this in the future and that the Shrieking Shack was nothing to be afraid of. Besides, most of the terrifying stories about the shack were probably made up by students anyways to scare other students. It was probably just an abandoned old house that no one cared to clean up. And maybe the rumors about the screams that people heard from the shack were all bogus.
"She's really doing it," Hermione spoke, watching Tonks nervously as she came closer.
"Tonks never refuses a dare," Alexis explained. "She's so bloody reckless."
"If she actually goes in there, Tonks has my entire respect," Ron commented.
"Weren't there rumors about the shack being haunted?" Marrick asked.
"And people say they hear terrifying screams from the shack," the twins spoke together.
"And legend has it that the shack is most active during this festival," Ron added.
"Oh Merlin hush up all of you," Alexis sighed, now truly worried about Tonks. The Shrieking Shack had also been around when they went to school and they were all too familiar with the many stories people told of the haunting shack. There was a reason why it was named the most haunted house in Britain. "God Tonks you reckless nut," Lexi breathed.
Approaching what she made out to be the front door of the Shrieking Shack, Tonks through a quick glance back to her small group of friends gathered just behind the fence, all watching her intently. She swallowed hard before pressing forward and walking into the shack. Tonks could've sworn she heard Ron's voice saying something in a surprised tone. Her heart was beating fast, feeling like it could burst right out of her chest. She took a step inside, and then another step, standing in the middle of what seemed to be the living room.
The shack was falling apart. Its walls were grey and the floorboards had holes in it. She could see through the ceiling onto another wall, and there were marks on the walls, as if they were claw marks. Tonks felt a lump in her throat. She forced it down, repeating over and over to herself inside her mind that she was an auror. The Shrieking Shack should be nothing to her. That was good practice for her future career, she thought. Tonks took another step inside, her heart fastening in pace. Like Mad-Eye had taught her, she continued to look around. There were minimal furnishings in the shack, but all the furniture had been ripped apart. It looked as if an animal had ravaged through here, tearing everything to shreds.
"It's ok to feel a little scared," Tonks thought, comforting herself.
Suddenly, Tonks heard what sounded like a click and she turned around. The house suddenly warded itself off, she knew, she could tell when a faint veil covered the window. She only saw it because she was close up. Panicking, Tonks ran for the door, stumbling a bit on her way there. She tried to open it but the door was locked. No, it wouldn't even budge. Tonks took out her wand and quickly sent a reducto at the door but it rebounded and Tonks had to duck to not get hit by her own curse. Then she realized that there had to be another witch or wizard inside the house because no house warded itself off on its own, even if it was rumored to be haunted. Tonks gripped her wand tightly, leaning on the door as she turned around and faced the inside of the house again, her heart dropping.
"There's nothing to be afraid of," she thought to herself as she took slow steps deeper into the house. If she couldn't get out through the front door, she wasn't going to wait around. She had to find an opening and get out of that shack. "It's probably just some mental witch or wizard wanting to play a prank during the festival. Or maybe a very daring student wanting to play a prank since they can't do this at Hogwarts," she continued thinking.
The shack was creaking with every step she took and luckily, Tonks' clumsiness knew that now was not the time to pay her a visit. She took careful steps deeper into the shack. Soon she found herself ascending the creaking wooden stairs of the graying shack, the only light coming from the light outside of the house.
Tonks arrived in a room that looked like a study or library of some sort. The first thing she noticed were all the old books lying around, collecting dust. She swallowed hard as she walked into the room, looking around. Her eyes lit up when she saw an open window that was facing the side of the horizon where the moon would be rising from that night. Quickly without looking anywhere else, Tonks rushed towards the window, trying to get out. It was as if an invisible force field had been placed around the entire house as she bounced back from the open window. Tonks landed on her bum but quickly scurried back to her feet, gripping her wand tighter. Somehow, she felt that whoever was in that house with her didn't plan on playing any pranks that night. The spell used on the house was strong.
She heard some sounds coming from another room and headed towards it. She hoped to find the witch or wizard responsible, catch whoever it was, and demand a way out of the creepy shack she was now trapped in. Tonks still walked slowly and cautiously. She was in the most haunted house in Britain, in the early evening, during a night where it was rumored that the shack was the most active. Perhaps recklessly accepting a dare from the Weasleys wasn't the smartest thing she'd ever done.
"Nymphadora?" a soft voice called her name.
Instinctively, Tonks snapped, "Don't call me Nymphadora!" But then she stopped. Someone had just called her Nymphadora. Tonks turned sharply in the direction of the voice.
Once inside the room, she paused. There she stood, with her wand pointed up at the man. And at the end of her wand was the ever kind and gentle face of Professor Remus Lupin, Hogwarts' Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher. He looked tired and worn, even more ill than he seemed yesterday. He wore only a shabby jumper and trousers, the most casual attire she'd ever seen him in ever since meeting him a month ago.
"Remus?" Tonks questioned, raising an eyebrow. Sure she'd learned that Remus was a Marauder, but it didn't seem like him to actually journey to the Shrieking Shack to play a prank on daring students. But then Tonks looked back at the invisible barrier Remus had placed on the house and realized it was no prank. Remus meant business.
"Nymph…Tonks," he cleared his throat. "What are you doing here?" he asked, worried.
"I…I've been dared by the kids to come in here," she replied, lowering her wand.
"Don't lower your wand Tonks," Remus spoke quickly. "You'll need to keep your guard up against me," he added, sighing, seeming tired and very, very stressed out.
"What is going on?" Tonks questioned. She didn't raise her wand again because surely Remus couldn't harm her. She didn't know what he was doing there or what he was afraid of. "Remus why are you here? I've been looking everywhere for you today. And now you're here? Surely this isn't some odd joke. And why did you place such a strong charm on the house?"
"It was to keep others from coming in and to keep me from getting out," he breathed, his breath becoming heavy as the sun disappeared from the horizon. "You must have gotten in right before I set the wards."
"How do I get out?"
"I'm afraid you can't Tonks. I…I've set it so that it wouldn't undo itself until the sun rises tomorrow morning."
"What? So you basically locked yourself in here? Why would you do that?"
"Nymphadora…"
"Don't call me Nymphadora. It's Dora to you or Tonks, never Nymphadora."
He nodded weakly. "Ok Dora…" he began hesitantly. "I…" Remus was scared to tell her, mainly because he was afraid of what she'd do if he told her. He wasn't afraid of getting hexed by her, he was afraid of the usual reaction he'd get whenever he told people about his dangerous little secret. Usually he'd get slaps or screams, shrieks of terror even. Rarely would he get some sympathy, but he didn't want any of it from Tonks. He was content with their friendship before, but now he had to tell her. And he was afraid. "I…I'm a werewolf."
Silence…
"Tonks get out of the room," Remus ordered her in a stern, firmer voice than he ever used before. He saw the moon begin to rise from the corner of his eyes and he knew that the transformation was quickly approaching. Though he was on wolfsbane, he didn't want to risk hurting Tonks. And it surprised him when she didn't react at all to the awful truth he told her.
"What?" Tonks replied, confused.
He didn't expect Tonks to not believe him. "Nymphadora I'm a werewolf. Get out of this room," he spoke, his worry getting the better of his usually calm nature. "The moon…"
The moon's pull on him was too great. Remus couldn't finish his sentence as he suddenly doubled over in pain. Even though he'd taken the wolfsbane potion which allowed him to keep his mind, he still had to endure the painful transformation like any other werewolf. He bent over, his face cringing and twisted in pain. Like always, he'd try to fight the transformation, a futile battle. He'd fight it hard but to no avail. Remus groaned at first and then realized his voice was turning into somewhat of a growl, though not piercing loud but loud enough to sound painful.
Hopelessly confused, Tonks stared at Remus for a moment. When he doubled over in pain, she knew he wasn't joking about being a werewolf. She hadn't expected it however, because it was so sudden, and it probably wasn't a good idea to catch a werewolf on a full moon, no matter how gentle he was on the other twenty-nine days of the month. She was in shock and didn't know what she was doing or what she should do. Tonks watched, frozen as Remus began groaning, fighting the pain that was obviously too much for his frail body.
Without thinking, she suddenly rushed over to him, helping him up as his body cringed in pain from the transformation. She held onto him tight while calling his name as if trying to help him fight the transformation, fight the pull of the moon, but to no avail. It was a futile effort.
"Professor Lupin," she called. "Remus! Remus Lupin!" she called but he didn't answer. He couldn't. Her eyes widened as she suddenly hugged him tight in her arms, feeling her heart drop painfully having to witness all the pain that he was in. Her heart was pounding, threatening to burst as she watched him. His body then began to change. She could hear the sick crunching sound of the bones as it seemed as if his human body was breaking to fit that of the wolf's. His back elongated, his feet lengthened and his face shifted into that of a long snout. Hair grew from all over his body, light brown hair, the same shade as his hair. It looked like a painful transformation and Remus' hands rested on her shoulders for support. Tonks could feel them turn into claws and luckily Remus had pushed himself back and out of her hold before he could do anything to hurt her. His soft blue eyes turned to dark amber, the eyes of a wolf.
Within a few minutes, before her stood a fully grown werewolf with dark amber eyes and light brown fur. The wolf looked lanky and malnourished but still had a human side as he was standing on his hind legs, his long back hunched over. Tonks wondered why he didn't attack but then she suddenly remembered the wolfsbane potion she'd found in Remus' classroom a while ago. It wasn't for his class demonstration, it was for him.
"How did I miss this?" Tonks questioned herself as she began to connect all the dots, piecing two and two together. "The shabby clothes, the many jobs, he tenses whenever we mention werewolves. He's never been to the Full Moon Festival because obviously he couldn't in this state. He has wolfsbane potion in his office. And his nickname is Moony for god's sake!"
Looking at the werewolf Remus Lupin in the eye, Tonks fell silent. She saw in his amber eyes the pain and the fear. He wasn't a scary, menacing wolf like so many had made werewolves out to be. No, Remus Lupin was hurt, broken, and afraid. She could see it all through his eyes. She didn't know whether standing there was a smart thing, but all that day Tonks hadn't been making the best decisions so one more terrible decision probably wouldn't hurt. Besides, he wasn't attacking her. Of course, he had wolfsbane potion and through auror training, she knew that when a werewolf was on wolfsbane potion it still got to keep its mind. So behind the fangs, claws, and fur, was still Remus Lupin.
Tonks took a small step forward. "Remus?" she asked softly.
The wolf pulled back from her, trailing over to a boarded up window where images of the full moon could be seen. Suddenly, Remus howled. She expected that, he was a wolf after all. His howl was long and sorrowful, with an underlying message that if he sounded in his human form, he'd be crying. Tonks didn't cringe or back away at his howl. Instead she took another step forward. Remus howled again and then slowly stopped. He turned to look at her, eyes weary but cautious. Tonks took the chance to take another step, a bigger step closer to him. She reached out her hand slowly, her wand in her other hand, pointed away from him.
"Remus, are you ok?" she asked. She didn't know why she asked but she did.
He was quiet. He looked at her through soft, tired eyes. Tonks suddenly smiled which caused him to react in surprise. Tonks' smile widened at the sudden, very human-like expression on his face. She could just imagine his eyebrow rising up in surprise if he was in his human form. She placed a soft hand on his fur at the side of his head, petting him. She petted him softly and he backed away at first, but she didn't push. Instead she just waited. Slowly, Tonks began to pet him again. She could feel his intense warmth under all that fur.
She laughed a little, feeling that though it seemed like a terrible time to make a joke, she needed a joke to get her to relax at that moment. "It's early in the evening and I'm standing here petting a completely harmless werewolf that was also a D.A.D.A. teacher, ironic," she smiled.
Remus' eyes rose again and she chuckled a little by the human expression on his face.
"We're friends right? As long as you're not trying to eat me, I'm staying here," she smiled and then pulled back from him casually, pacing the room a little awkwardly. She wondered what you do when you're pretty much trapped in a shack with a werewolf. Tonks swung her arm back and forth, looking around the shack, taking note that the terrible and haunting condition of the shack must have been Remus' doing if he'd been a werewolf long enough. "I guess I'm trapped here until morning," she sighed.
Tonks watched as Remus trotted over to the far corner of the room, as far away from her as possible and laid down on his belly, resting his head on his front legs or claws. He looked completely tamed, almost like a large pet wolf as she would call it. His eyes were on her, watching her, but Tonks knew he was just worried because after all, she was stuck in the company of a werewolf until morning.
She sighed and dropped down to her knees, using her wand to charm a piece of shredded curtain into a large, fluffy blanket. "Do you want one?" she asked him, holding up the blanket.
Remus didn't respond but somehow, the look in his eyes told her he'd appreciate one.
Tonks charmed him a warm blanket as well and walked over to place it over him.
After a little tossing and turning, Tonks found a comfortable position lying on her belly with her head propped up on her hands very close to Remus. She had nothing else to do since she was trapped in there. Tonks watched Remus as Remus watched her. Then she laughed at herself for a moment and Remus' eyes suddenly quirked up as if wondering why she was laughing.
Tonks decided to answer him even though he didn't ask. It wasn't like there was anything else to do. "If you're wondering why I'm laughing, I'm laughing at myself because I'm in the room with a harmless werewolf, yawning and growing bored. Isn't that weird?" she smiled.
Remus' eyes softened and shifted down again after she told him so, as if she had answered his question. Suddenly, an ethereal image of a patronus floated through the door from downstairs. Remus was sure that no one else was in the house, but he had forgotten to close the shack off from patronus forms as well. He recognized it to be a patronus message that the Order of the Phoenix he was once in used to use to communicate. He remembered that Tonks was after all Mad-Eye Moody's mentee and he must have taught it to her. And he connected the dots that no doubt Tonks had taught her cousin that spell as well.
"Tonks are you alright? What the world happened? What's going on?" the patronus form asked in Alexis' familiar airy voice but lacking its playful edge. Remus could see clearly that the patronus was in the form of a bird, perhaps a swallow by the shape of its tail and body.
Tonks sent a patronus back to her cousin quickly. Remus knew she probably had no trouble with it at all, being taught by Mad-Eye Moody. The man really did teach everything to his mentee. Remus noted that Tonks' patronus was a ferret and he was curious to know why. But he couldn't ask her, not in his current form and so he kept quiet.
For a while, Remus continued to watch her and she continued to watch him. Tonks quickly grew bored of the silence and began talking, speaking about the most random things. She talked about the weather, about the festival, about how it felt being back at Hogwarts. She even told him about her day, how Fred had tried to prank her, at least she thinks it was Fred Weasley. She's still kind of fuzzy on which twin was which and they kept trying to confuse her. Tonks continued talking to him and Remus would respond with the simplest of gestures that Tonks grew to understand. It was mostly through the look in his eyes and the soft noises he'd make from the back of his throat that got his message through to her, somehow.
"…and so by some random conversation, the Weasley Twins are trying to prank Lexi and I and we're supposed to try to prank them back. This happened a week ago and I thought they'd forget. They'd been planning it all for tonight but their little prank failed because George tripped up and ended up getting the potions on himself instead of Lexi and Fred forgot that I'm a metamorphmagus and it won't work on me because I already could change myself."
Lying there, Remus continued listening to her talk. It was a lot better than what he usually did on a full moon, which was lie alone somewhere and wallow in his depression about all the faults of his life that he didn't have the heart to complain about to tell anyone else about. Somehow, listening to Tonks talk made his full moon a lot better. Often times she'd tell him something really funny and he'd be laughing. He wished she could see it by his gestures that she was doing good in amusing him.
"…so thankfully since coming to Hogwarts for this mission, Lexi have broken free of her suicidal dating ways and I think she's finally settled on one guy. I think she has her eye on Marrick, you remember him right? They used to hate each other but after getting to know him, he isn't that bad of a bloke. Though I don't know how they're going to work out because Lexi is clever and she loves to break rules or do anything you tell her not to do, though not recklessly like me, and Marrick is a by-the-book person. If they're together they probably will fight a lot."
The night grew longer and usually Remus would be asleep by now, but he was kept awake listening intently to Tonks' many stories. She'd yawn a few times, but she didn't look like she'd be sleeping soon. Maybe it was just hard to fall asleep in the Shrieking Shack.
"…Lexi and I would talk about Sirius sometimes. I know you don't like him but our opinions of him will never change unless we see firsthand that he's actually gone mad and is out to kill. We never truly believed Sirius betrayed your friend James Potter. To be honest, I always thought it'd be that Peter guy. He seemed like such a pushover that he'd probably sell them out if you tell him you'll let him live. At least that's what Sirius always told us. He talks about his friends a lot when he babysat us. Sometimes it's annoying when it's Moony this or Prongs that, but often it'd be pretty fun too, hearing all the wild things you guys did," Tonks continued on, seeming like she had an endless collection of stories and things to say.
They stood at the fence as the sun set and the moon rose slowly above the horizon. Alexis was worried, wondering why Tonks didn't come out. She'd gotten into the house already and technically had already completed her dare. She gripped the wired fence tightly, her knuckles turning white as Alexis Black began worrying for her cousin, her worry present on her face.
"Relax," Marrick spoke to her, comforting her. "She'll be ok. She's an auror."
"You lovers comforting each other?" George Weasley suddenly teased them. "I knew Marrick had a thing for smart Ravenclaw girls," he spoke and managed to bring a small smile to Alexis' face, slightly distracting her from worrying about Tonks.
"Why is she in there so long?" Hermione suddenly asked, bringing Lexi's smile down again. "She could have gone out by now."
"Unless something got her," Ron spoke nervously.
"Ronald!" Hermione snapped her eyes turning to Alexis whose face had paled.
From the shack, there suddenly was a long, mournful howl. It sounded like it came from a wolf as it echoed through the empty night. Alexis' body tensed immediately and she gripped the wire fence so hard she could've broken off a piece of the wire. Under the moonlight, everyone around could see her dark eyes shoot up in worry and her bloody drained from her face.
"Oh bloody hell," Alexis breathed as she was about to run in there to the shack.
Marrick suddenly held her back as Fred and George came over to them, Ron and Hermione too, all looking worried. "No wait, you can't go in there."
"My cousin's in there!" Alexis shrieked, fighting off Marrick's hold.
That was the first time they all heard Alexis' voice rise. Usually she was laid back and carefree, always smiling and purposely pushing people's button for her own amusement. She rarely ever looked nervous or anxious. And she rarely raised her voice. Though Marrick was an auror, he wasn't able to hold her back without hurting her, pinning her to the ground. Alexis broke free of his hold and darted towards the shack, her fear being second to her worrying.
"Alexis!" Marrick called as he chased after her, trying to grab her.
"Lexi!" one of the twins' voices called and then soon followed by Ron and Hermione.
The run to the shack was a lot quicker than a walk and soon they all had arrived at what appeared to be the front door of the Shrieking Shack. The group of six stood back at the front door of the shack. Marrick took a hold of Alexis' arm a little too roughly but she shook him off just as rough as she fearlessly came up to the door and tried to open it. Much to their surprise, there seemed to be an invisible veil on the door. Alexis banged on it, the carefree and reserved girl replaced with a worried and distressed one.
"What the bloody hell is going on?" she asked, kicking the door.
"The whole house is warded off," Marrick informed her.
"But Tonks wouldn't do that," Lexi replied quickly.
"Tonks doesn't even know these kinds of charms. We're only in our third year," Hermione spoke, turning to Lexi and Marrick. "And even sixth years wouldn't be capable of warding off an entire house."
"Is there any way we can contact her and make sure she's alright?" George asked.
Lexi was quiet for a moment, slowly returning to her witty, thoughtful self. She stroked her cheekbone in that familiar way they all grew to recognize, showing that she was thinking. "I know a way," she suddenly announced after a short moment. "I tricked Moody to teach me this after I found out he taught Tonks it," she announced, seeming more towards Marrick.
They all watched as Alexis took out her wand and waved it in a small circle as she summoned up an ethereal animal. It looked like a bird of some sort. "A swallow," George spoke, the first to recognize the form the animal took. It was white and ghostly, floating through the door of the house and hopefully up to Tonks.
"That looks a lot like a spell Professor Lupin once used," Hermione pointed out.
"And who's Moody?" Ron questioned.
Alexis tucked her wand back into her back pocket as she shrugged to him, her face still pale and worried. It appears they were waiting now as the group stood there, staring up at the shack. Fred and George were close together, feeling odd from being so close to the Shrieking Shack. Hermione gasped once when she realized she was a mere five feet away from the Shrieking Shack and took Ron's hand in fear. He looked at her nervously.
After a short moment of waiting, another ethereal figure bounced down towards them. They all recognized that it wasn't Alexis' swallow however. It was a ferret by its long body shape and figure. It was the same ethereal image just like Lexi's swallow, and it must have been the reply that Alexis and Marrick had been waiting for.
The animal emitted a message in Tonks' familiar voice as if it had recorded her saying that to them. "Lexi I'm fine. It's hard to explain but I'm perfectly safe here. Don't worry. It's late, get back to the school. I'll meet you there in the morning at the Great Hall."
"What was that?" the twins asked together.
"Just a spell I learned," Alexis replied quickly, turning to Marrick as if questioning him if she should trust Tonks' words. She then turned to face George, then Fred, Ron, and Hermione. She let out a breath and sighed. "Do you guys feel like camping here for the rest of the night?"
Ron looked up at the shack and accidentally let out a soft whimper and shook his head.
"What about Tonks?" Hermione asked, worried.
Alexis turned back to the shack and sighed. "I trust she'll be alright," she replied softly.
Marrick suddenly took her hand and squeezed it slightly, reassuring her. Alexis didn't shake him off that time and proceeded to walk away from the shack, the four students following quickly behind them. The walk back was longer than the run had been and they were all silent.