Author's Note:
Ah I didn't really know what to do for one part of this chapter so I just winged it, I hope you don't mind. See, I want Harry to still find out that Sirius was his godfather before meeting the man, but I didn't want him to see Tonks, Remus, and Alexis. I hope it's written alright ^_^ Thank you for reading and please review! Thanks!
Chapter 12 – He, Harry Potter's Godfather
On the day of the full moon, Tonks found it harder than anything to focus. Even her morph had slipped several times throughout the day. During her Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Alexis who had gotten her tools back from Moody decided to stay in class with Tonks to remind her about her morph. She was concealed under the Ghost Necklace and relaxing on the bookshelves beside Tonks' desk rather than patrol the school since Marrick was already patrolling the grounds. Tonks yawned and rested her head on the desk, remembering that Remus had told her Snape would be covering his class and she wanted to vomit.
"Hey cuz, your hair's slipping to green," Alexis pointed out as she made herself comfortable and trying to taunt the grindylow but to no avail because it couldn't see her.
Tonks groaned but discreetly morphed her hair back to a brilliant pink.
"Bloody hell," Alexis suddenly spoke which caused Tonks to look up. "It's Snape."
Severus Snape glided into the room, his black cloak billowing behind him, his wand raised as he nonverbally shut all the windows and door. He pulled down the white screen with a flick of his wand and tapped the projector to turn it on. Then the man turned around and practically sneered at the entire class while saying, "Turn to page three hundred and ninety four."
Tonks glared at him as she began flipping through the pages, purposely turning only one page at a time and making as much noise with the process as possible.
"Excuse me sir but where is Professor Lupin?" Harry asked from behind her.
"It's not really your concern, is it Potter. But if I had to say, your professor finds himself incapable of teaching at the present time," Snape replied dryly in his low, sneering voice. "Turn to page three hundred and ninety four," he repeated again with a firmer voice.
Tonks grumbled as she somehow turned to the right page, realizing that they were learning about werewolves. She growled under her breath and rolled her eyes. Of course Snape would want to teach this lesson on a day where Remus was absent because of a full moon.
"Werewolves?" Ron questioned and began talking but Tonks blocked him out.
"But sir, we've just begun learning about redcaps and hinkypunks. We're not meant to start nocturnal beasts for weeks," Hermione spoke, surprising Tonks and Ron as well.
"When did she come in?" Ron asked Harry then Tonks. "Did you see her come in?"
Tonks turned and gave Alexis a questioning glare as her raven haired cousin held up a time turner and pointed to Hermione with three fingers raised, perhaps saying the young witch was taking three extra classes and couldn't fit it in a normal schedule.
"Quiet," Snape sneered.
"Now, who can tell me the difference between an animagus and a werewolf?"
"How bloody ironic," Tonks growled under her breath, thinking about Remus and Sirius.
"Please sir," Hermione spoke up. "An animagus is a wizard who elects to turn into an animal. A werewolf has no choice. With each full moon when he transforms he no longer remembers who he is. He'd kill his best friend if he crosses his path."
Tonks sighed and shook her head while Alexis nodded, "Very ironic indeed."
"That is the second time you've spoken out of turn Miss Granger," Snape sneered, causing Tonks to ball her hand up to a fist, feeling sorry for Hermione. "Are you incapable of restraining yourself or do you take pride in being and insufferable know-it-all?"
"Git," Tonks thought right when Ron whispered to Harry, "He's got a point you know."
"Five points from Gryffindor. As an antidote to your ignorance and on my desk by Monday morning," Snape continued. "Two rows of parchment on the werewolf with particular emphasis on recognizing it."
"That git," Alexis spoke from the bookshelves. "He's basically trying to show the world Remus' condition when placing emphasis on recognizing it. The books are so specific this year, anyone with half a brain could tell that Remus is a werewolf afterwards," she sighed.
The students began to groan while Harry spoke up. "Sir, it's Quidditch tomorrow."
"Stupid, greasy haired git," Tonks grumbled, unable to control herself.
She suddenly looked up to see Severus Snape looming right over her, his eyes looking down at her with obvious malice in them. She returned his glare and could've sworn she growled a little. "If you find this lesson to be a daunting task to sit through, you are welcome to leave Nymphadora. I'm sure Lupin won't mind if you knew a little less about werewolves," Snape spoke in his usual monotone voice.
"Don't. Call me. Nymphadora! Severus," Tonks snapped, standing up at her seat while her hair turned from bright pink to a vivid, fiery red, the color it turns when she gets angry. She'd been worried about Remus enough all day, wondering how bad his pre-moon and post-moon symptoms were and Snape was just outright annoying her.
"Tonks calm down," Hermione whispered.
"Bloody hell Tonks don't make a scene. You're going to get detention and we need as much time as possible to look for Pettigrew," Alexis groaned.
"No," Tonks snapped. "Severus Snape you are a dirty, immature, greasy haired git."
"Shit," Alexis sighed and face palmed her face while speaking along with Severus Snape, knowing what he was going to say to her next. "You've earned detention for the rest of the month," she spoke right when the man spoke in his low dry voice. Alexis shook her head.
Tonks opened her mouth, about to challenge him but hushed immediately when Alexis called, "Nymphadora Tonks!" Though Lexi may not act her age most of the time, she was still older than Tonks and had a level of respect to her.
Tonks cringed at the mentioning of her first name again but couldn't turn to yell at her cousin. She huffed and sat back down in her seat. "Great," she grumbled. Snape ignored her and turned around, continuing his lesson on werewolves and lycanthropy.
"Tonks you are so brave." Hermione whispered.
"She called Snape a dirty, immature, greasy haired git," Ron repeated, impressed.
"Mr. Weasley unless you wish for a month's detention I suggest you be quiet."
"Great, just great," Lexi chimed from beside Tonks. "Way to go my colorfully reckless cousin. Now you'll be serving detention when you could be looking for the traitor Pettigrew."
On the morning after the full moon, there were a lot of things she was supposed to do then. She was supposed to be patrolling the castle to catch Sirius Black. She was supposed to be at the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff Quidditch match to provide further protection to Harry Potter. But she ignored all the things she was supposed to do to meet a promise she made to a certain kind and gentle bookworm professor. The morning was awfully foggy and stormy as it was raining heavily with a raging thunderstorm outside. Tonks walked into the hospital wing, looking for Remus' bed as she smiled at the nice healer and morphed away her greenish tinge and sickly aura she'd used to fool Mad-Eye. He and her cousin Alexis saw through but luckily, the old codger still let her go, feeling generous that stormy morning.
"Madam Pomfrey, how's Remus?" Tonks asked, glancing at the partially closed curtains.
"He's fine, a bit beat up and bloody like normal," she replied. "Though heading back in the storm, he's got himself a slight fever." Tonks nodded and was about to pull the curtain aside to see Remus, until Madam Pomfrey held her back. "Oh and Miss Tonks, since you're an adult and an auror now, please just call me Poppy," she smiled at the young witch.
"Thank you Poppy," Tonks smiled. She pulled the curtains aside and sat carefully on the side of his bed. Remus' eyes were closed and his breathing was soft and hitched. He looked peaceful while some bandages were visible but they didn't look too bad. Tonks couldn't stop herself when she pushed back his fringe and softly said, "Wotcher Remus."
Upon hearing her gentle voice, Remus slowly opened his eyes. He couldn't help but smile at her despite his weariness. Her brilliant bubblegum pink hair was the first thing he saw. Then it was her clairvoyant green eyes, and her brilliant smile. Remus couldn't deny to himself that he could be delighted to see her smiling face every morning, every morning, day, and night. He tried to push himself up but Tonks made him lay back down.
"Good morning Nymphadora," Remus smiled though his voice came out hoarse.
"How was the last moon? You have a fever Remus. I reckon it must have been terrible."
"No, actually it was bearable." He gave her a wan smile.
"What'd you do all night?" she asked, innocently curious.
"I wallowed in depression," Remus joked and Tonks looked worried. He chuckled softly, knowing that she cares. "I'm only joking. Nymphadora thank you for coming to see me."
She smiled. "Call me Nymphadora and I'll shove a whole bottle of Skele-Gro down your throat Remus," she warned but her smile gave her away.
"My apologies Nymphadora," Remus smiled with no sign of remorse.
"You'll never give up on my name, will you?" she mock scowled at him.
"Never. It's an absolutely beautiful name," Remus smiled, all his pain and dizziness forgotten as he watched her roll her eyes, shake her head, but still smile at him.
"I'd hit you," she teased. "But you're already pretty beat up."
"Actually, you can hit me," he smiled. "I'm feeling rather well despite last night's moon. Did you know that I've never smiled and laughed this early after the moon before?"
"No, I didn't know that," she smiled a bit brighter, straightening out his hair. "But if it makes you happy, I'll visit you every morning right after the full moon to make you smile."
"I would be asking for too much. I am already forever grateful that you're my friend."
"Nonsense. I'll come to make sure you're alright every single month from now on."
"Thank you, Nymphadora," Remus thought as he smiled and slowly but unwillingly drifted off to sleep. He wanted to see her face a little bit longer. She was so close to him. So close that he could smell her exact scent, an alluring lavender chamomile with violet. He could smell butterbeer on her as well with his increased sense of smell right after the moon. She must've had butterbeer. Her scent lingered in his senses. She smelled like a comforting and warm mixture of lavender and new parchment and fresh ink from her work probably. Remus felt more comfortable and warmer than ever as she stroked his hair gently. His face was right beside her stomach as she sat close to him on the bed. Soon he was too tired and drifted off into sleep, carrying images and memories of her into his dreams.
She was quiet, happily watching as Remus drifted off into a peaceful slumber. It made her smile when she noticed that even in his sleep, Remus was smiling. She slipped into the hospital bed a bit lower as Tonks leaned in and place a gentle kiss on his temple when she was sure he was asleep. The kiss was ever so gentle and soft that he almost couldn't feel it, almost. Her eyes widened when Remus suddenly stirred in his sleep and in his movements wrapped an arm around her, his face closer to her waist. Tonks knew the logical idea was to gently remove his arm and leave while the illogical idea was to lean back on the headboard and savor the bliss. She thought about it and ended up leaning back on the headboard, stroking Remus' face gently. He was asleep anyways and Tonks was never quite logical.
Tonks had never felt such a strong feeling for anyone before. During the bliss of just watching him sleep, she couldn't help but smile to herself the whole time. She was so close to him and the feeling of absolute happiness consumed her. Looking at his face, she felt like she no longer cared about anything else but him.
"I think I may have fallen in love with you Remus," she spoke softly to the quiet air.
After a while, Tonks must've drifted off to sleep as well. She was suddenly woken up by loud voices and noises heading into the hospital wing. She opened her eyes, nearly blinded by the bright sun glistening through the windows. Tonks turned to see the healers gather around someone who looked like Harry Potter along with the Gryffindor Quidditch team, still in their game uniforms, and Ron, Hermione, Marrick, and Lexi all looking soaked from head to toe.
Tonks' eyes fell on her raven haired cousin and Lexi's eyes widened when Hermione was about to turn to Tonks' direction. Luckily, Lexi waved her hand once and used wandless magic to discreetly close the curtains and stop Hermione from seeing Tonks in Remus' arms on the same bed. That would've been a surprise to the brilliant young witch.
"Lexi did you just perform wandless magic?" Hermione asked. "That's really advanced stuff. Even most graduates aren't able to do that so well until later on. And who's in that bed?"
"Oh uh I just practice a lot," Lexi replied. "And my friend is sleeping there. He doesn't like noise," she spoke rather awkwardly, finding a proper excuse.
After a moment, Tonks noticed the curtains move and her heart stopped momentarily until she saw the smirking face of Alexis Black sneak in. Her smirk seemed to have an underlying message that said something like you-little-weasel "Shh," Lexi hushed as she snuck in and sat down at the end of the bed. "I can see you're enjoying yourself. I know you had something going on with Remus. Do us all a favor and close the curtains next time will you?" she whispered, careful so she wasn't heard.
"Hush you," Tonks replied just as quietly. "I just wanted to check on him after the full moon. Then Remus fell asleep and had his arm around me and I could just push him off."
"Yeah, I'll believe that," Lexi nodded, filled with sarcasm. "Come on Tonks, we all know that you would snog him senseless in a heartbeat the first chance you get," Lexi teased as Tonks slapped her arm and blushed. "Unless you already did?" Alexis grinned.
"No! Well, I kissed him on the cheek and temple…but it was just a friendly act."
"I'll say very friendly. I knew there was something going on. That's two kisses and I'll bet there will be a third, then a fourth, then…"
"Nip it Black," Tonks hissed and Lexi grinned at her. "Alexis Lydia Black, I am going to hex you into next week if you don't stop it."
"Oh fine," Lexi sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Why are you here anyways? Did something happen during the match?"
"Dementors. They got into the grounds and Harry got attacked by them during the match," Lexi spoke rather conversationally. "Dumbledore was furious and stormed off right after we saved Harry. Mad-Eye said there had to be at least ten dementors on the kid. Silvia and Kingsley were supposed to be watching them today. Reckon they'll get an earful from Mad-Eye," Lexi explained, careful to keep her voice low under the chatter all over the hospital wing.
"Well what are you doing here talking to me for? You're good with words and bending the rules, go help King and Silvia!" Tonks spoke, kicking her cousin at the foot of the bed.
"Can't. Mad-Eye ordered me and you to watch the kids. You and I are going to have to put on the Ghost Necklace and watch Harry all night. Mad-Eye's orders."
"Alright. Here, give me the necklace and I'll wait for you here. Oh and the Apollo necklace too, for Remus so we can speak to him in case we see Pettigrew."
"Excuses," Lexi teased and rolled her eyes as she handed Tonks both the necklaces from inside her still drenched pockets.
Late into the night, Tonks sat and talked quietly to Remus at his bedside while watching over a sleeping Harry Potter. Alexis was lying under the blankets of another bed right beside Tonks, asleep as well. Being under the Ghost necklace and having given Remus the Apollo necklace, Tonks could laugh freely without worrying about waking anyone up. Remus had a bright smile on his face, making him look years younger as he leaned back on the head board.
"I'm sorry you had to use a time turner to look for Peter tonight," Remus spoke softly.
"It's alright. Other than being your friend, Sirius is mine and Lexi's cousin too."
"Either way, you must be really tired. You should lie down and rest up too."
"I'll rest when Lexi wakes up. We need someone watching Harry or else Mad-Eye will have our buttocks," Tonks laughed.
"Your buttocks?" Remus asked, laughing softly.
Tonks smiled and rolled her eyes. "When I put my wand in my back pocket earlier, he yelled at me, saying I could lose a buttock," she scoffed. "That old codger's so crazy."
"I'm sure he only wants to make sure his favorite student has both her buttocks intact," Remus teased her playfully.
"Oh I'm sure," she scoffed with sarcasm. "Oh by the way, Lexi and I have noticed that Pettigrew is often in the dungeon these days. Around Snape's office. What's he doing there?"
"Who knows, but I'm guessing we'll have to bother Severus more often now."
"Oh no worries. I've got detention with Snape up until the new year for calling him a couple names during class. Lexi said she'll come with me and look around while I'm there."
Remus opened his mouth, about to ask Tonks what she did that earned herself a month's worth of detention then suddenly Harry stirred awake and Remus and Tonks hushed immediately. They turned to look at the boy as he slowly woke up, searching for his glasses. Once he had his glasses on, he took a sharp, surprised breath when he suddenly saw Remus lying in the hospital bed beside him, looking rather ill and injured.
"Well I guess I'd gasp too if my Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was in the hospital bed beside me," Tonks teased and Remus had to force himself not to chuckle.
"Professor Lupin…what are you doing here?" Harry asked.
"Ah, I seem to have had a minor accident with the Whomping Willow," he replied easily.
Harry nodded and pushed himself up onto his headboard.
"And I'm sorry to hear about your broomstick Harry," he spoke, remembering hearing from Tonks' grapevine that Harry's beloved Nimbus 2000 had been destroyed by the same tree.
"It's fine," Harry replied in a low voice. He was quiet for a moment but suddenly spoke up. "Professor, why do the dementors affect me so, I mean, more than anyone else?"
Tonks was quiet, watching the boy sympathetically. He's so young and he'd been through so much. She listened carefully as Remus spoke to Harry softly. Remus was always so kind and gentle. With him there was an underlying feeling of comfort. He made others feel comfortable around him, and that was one of the many things Tonks loved about the man.
"Listen," Remus spoke to Harry. "Dementors are amongst the foulest creatures to walk this Earth. They feed on every good feeling, every happy memory, until a person is left with absolutely nothing but his worst experiences." Remus paused momentarily, thinking about Sirius and how unfair and hard it must have been for his friend to have to deal with them for twelve years. He glanced back at Tonks for a moment.
Luckily Tonks was concealed under the Ghost necklace and was practically invisible to Harry. Her hair had turned flaming red and she never felt a stronger desire to simply find Ron's pet rat and squeeze that dirty coward to death, no further questions asked.
"You are not weak Harry," Remus continued again. "The dementors affect you most of all because there are true horrors in your past, horrors you classmates can scarcely imagine." As he spoke, he thought about his own horrors of his past, and Sirius' horrors, and Tonks', and Alexis', the latter three having to deal with the horrors of the infamous Black family, and Remus with his lycanthropy. "You have nothing to be ashamed of," he added, thinking about how burdened Harry must feel, being the boy-who-lived.
"I'm scared professor."
"Well I'd consider you a fool if you weren't."
"I need to know how to fight them," Harry spoke. "You could teach me. You made that dementors on the train go away."
"It was only one that night," Remus reminded him.
"But you made it go away," Harry spoke innocently.
"He needs to learn now to defend himself Remus," Tonks sighed, trying to be of help to the boy. "There would be no harm in teaching him a defensive spell."
"I don't pretend to be an expert Harry," he sighed. "But as the dementors seem to have developed a particular interest in you, perhaps I should teach you," he smiled, glancing discreetly at Tonks who grinned back at him from where she sat beside his bed.
In early December, everyone had changed their wardrobe from fall to winter. The white snow was covering the ground like a soft white blanket. The cold snow came up to ankles and made the beautiful winter scenery of Hogwarts castle truly a breathtaking sight. Tonks glanced out the snowy window frames as she headed to Remus' office. She was about to knock on his door when it suddenly opened, surprising her.
"Tonks, hey," Harry smiled, walking out with a piece of chocolate. "What's up?"
"Wotcher Harry," she smiled. "Oh and I just have a message for Remus, err I mean Professor Lupin from Professor McGonagall," she answered.
"Alright, see you at dinner Tonks," he smiled brightly and left.
She walked into Remus' tidy and organized office saying, "Wotcher Remus."
"Hello Nymphadora. I didn't expect to see you this early tonight."
"Oh I was about to go to dinner when McGonagall asked me to send you a message. She said there will be a meeting at the Three Broomsticks on the next Hogsmeade trip and she wants you there as well."
"Ah yes, and I suspect it will be about Sirius no doubt."
Tonks nodded. "And what was Harry doing here? Don't tell me you gave him detention."
"Of course not," Remus smiled. "I was teaching him the Patronus Charm."
She smiled and sat down on the corner of his desk. "And how did he do?"
"Very well actually," he smiled, sitting beside her as he broke off a large piece of chocolate and shared it with her. "In fact, he's done so well he managed to conjure up a shield form. Harry is so like James," Remus sighed.
"It must be hard for him. He never even knew his parents."
"Yes, but once things are resolved, he'll have Sirius. Did you know that James and Lily made Sirius Harry's godfather?" Remus smiled as she ate the chocolate and shook her head, seeming amused that her once bumbling and silly cousin Sirius Black was indeed, Harry Potter's godfather. "Well Sirius is still his godfather up until now. Lily at first objected to the idea because it was Sirius we're talking about and you remember how he used to be I'm guessing," Remus laughed as she nodded too many times. "But they still went with him anyways."
"He, Harry Potter's godfather?" Tonks laughed as Remus nodded again.
Snow was falling softly from the sky, thickening the already heavy blanket of white soft ice on the ground. The scenery was white like a winter wonderland and the small town of Hogsmeade looked like that out of a winter fairy tale. Mirthful laughter could be heard as children ran down the streets, grinning broadly. Snowballs flew innocently through the air and even adults were laughing as they ducked out of the way. Winter came early that year and somehow, looking up at the sky, it wasn't as frosty as last year's winter.
In the blinding white horizon, her dark brown almost black eyes could see the lonely house that was the Shrieking Shack. Several days ago Alexis had told Sirius to seek shelter in there during the winter. From where she stood, she could see the fire burning inside the run down house. She sighed. Her cousin was safe for another day.
"That sigh is a little too wistful to be from Alexis Black," Marrick's deep voice came from behind her as she turned to meet his charming grin and dusty emerald eyes. His nose was turning red from the cold. He was bundled in a heavy leather jacket, a black and white scarf.
She laughed. "And it's not like Marrick Kingston to sneak up on people like that." She breathed a visible breath while pulling her black winter robes tighter around herself.
"You wear so little. If you catch a cold Moody will flip," he smiled, giving her his scarf.
"Oh I'm sure Mad-Eye won't be the only one to flip," she teased.
"The Shrieking Shack, I feel there's something dangerous in there."
"I'm sure there's nothing dangerous in there. Otherwise, Tonks wouldn't have been able to come back unscathed," she breathed softly, wondering if Sirius was cold or lonely.
"Alright," he nodded. "So what have you been up to?"
"I haven't been up to anything," she grinned, snuggling with his scarf around her neck.
"Really? Sneaking around the castle at night, tinkering with all the tools," he began. "You're the only Unspeakable clever enough to mess with all the tools and not get caught."
"I'm surprised Marrick, that you haven't told anyone once you realized that."
He shrugged. "I don't know if it's the Confidant Charm you placed on me or something else, but I trust you enough to not foil your plans. I know you and Tonks are up to something. I just hope that whatever it is, you don't get ruined for it. I know you. There's a reason to why you do everything. And this reason, I hope it's a very good one."
Gazing at him, she couldn't help but smile and she didn't know why. "You know me pretty well. Thanks for trusting me. I do have a reason, a very, very good one."
"Just be careful. I do not wish to visit you in Azkaban."
"Got it. Don't worry. I'm smart enough not to get caught." She smiled as she began walking away slowly. "We better get going to the meeting at the Three Broomsticks."
He suddenly held her back, turning her around to face him. "For god's sake, bundle up," he smiled, tightening his scarf on her neck that had gotten loose.
When Marrick looked up, he was caught in her entrancing, glossy eyes as she smiled. He felt his own smile appear and moved closer to her, acting on impulse and emotions. She didn't resist as he moved closer, his lips an inch away from her full red ones. Together and in peaceful silence, they closed the tiny distance between them. He kissed her shyly at first but his confidence grew and grew. He'd known her for so long, more than a decade. And for more than a decade, he'd secretly wanted to place a kiss upon her lips. After so long, he finally could.
She smelled like the sweet scent of perfume roses and her soft lips tasted like a mix of butterbeer and firewhiskey. As he kissed her he could smell parchment and metal from her work. And despite it being winter, he could feel the sweet scent of a faint autumn breeze on her. She was the first to pull away but she did so slowly, hesitantly almost.
"That was a longing kiss," she spoke. Alexis had kissed many guys and she soon could sense their feelings through the kiss. His was a longing, yearning kiss that felt like it should have happened between them years ago.
He blushed like a flustered school boy. "I've uh…wanted to do that since second year."
Again, she couldn't help but smile. "Why were we mortal enemies throughout school?"
"You kept bending and breaking the rules. I didn't want you to get in trouble. And I guess over the years we kind of just kept bickering."
"But you kept opposing me and ruining my brilliant plans."
"Because I only worry about you."
They gave each other silent smiles for a moment. After the silence, Alexis smirked as she linked her arms into his. "Come on, we'll be late to the meeting. I don't know about you but I don't feel like being nagged at by Mad-Eye. And I don't want constant vigilance screamed in my face." They laughed together as they treaded back through the thick snow.
Usually she loved winter because winter meant nights by the warm, blazing fire with sentimental thoughts, snowball fights, and the mirthful holiday season. But there was one thing Nymphadora Tonks hated about the season as well, and that was the ice. Tonks flailed her arms like mad trying to catch herself as she slipped on ice and was falling face first to the snowy ground. Luckily, a strong arm wrapped around her waist and held her close, keeping her from falling. The arm pulled her up and she was looking into the gentle and warm blue eyes of Remus Lupin's kind and comforting face. His lopsided grin was wolfish but warm.
"Be careful Nymphadora," he chuckled.
"Can my Christmas present be that you not call me by that dreadful name?" she teased.
"I'm afraid not," Remus smiled.
In the early December snow that year, Remus would never have imagined to be able to roam around the streets with a beautiful young witch with brilliant pink hair. She was his friend. Just friends, that's what they were, because he was afraid to burden her. She deserved better. No matter, on that day he smiled, unrestrained, with his close friend, Nymphadora.
"Oh bugger," Tonks spoke, trying to untangle her large necklace from his shabby winter robes and scarf. Tonks was shivering in her own robes in many shades of violet. She was careful to pull her troublesome necklace out of his patched scarf as Remus laughed softly, his hands pulling her robes tighter around her body.
"Let me help," he smiled, taking her gloved hands as he carefully untangled the necklace.
"Thank you Remus. Bloody necklace," Tonks sighed as she turned around. She suddenly saw a large snowball coming her way. Unlike her auror self, she let out a small scream while instinctively turning back to Remus, burying her head into his warm chest.
Tonks froze for a moment when she realized the only thing separating her face from his warm but heavily scarred chest was his shabby but ironed jumper under his cardigan and patched threadbare winter robes. Being so close to him, Tonks could smell the sweet scent of chocolate. She could smell a musky scent from all the books he read as well as a faint trace of spring water despite it being winter. Being drowned in his scent, she could clearly remember that he smelled like chocolate mixed with old parchment and dried ink. There was something warm and comforting about that scent, his scent.
As she reluctantly pulled away from being so close to him, Remus felt a longing within him to pull her back and hold her so they could both feel a little bit warmer. But Remus held himself back because after all they were only friends and will forever be only friends. He laughed while watching Tonks turn back to the person who threw that snowball, her cousin, Alexis Black. The young woman had her arm on Marrick's shoulder, laughing loudly at Tonks.
"Lexi I really hate you!" Tonks yelled while her hair was a shade between pink and red.
"Hey, I was only looking out for you. What if the kids saw?" Alexis laughed and Remus felt himself blush. She was a lot like her cousin Sirius Black, more than she realized.
"Another word Alexis Lydia Black and I'll hex you into next week!"
"Oh I'm so scared Nymphadora," Lexi laughed, running into Madam Rosmerta as she ran away from Tonks. "Sorry Rosmerta," she laughed like a schoolgirl.
"My, my Alexis, how come your cousin is always trying to hex you?" the woman laughed, remembering the two girls from their days at Hogwarts. Tonks and Lexi grinned at her as Remus and Marrick gathered at the door of the Three Broomsticks. "Oh Remus! I haven't seen you in forever!" she greeted gleefully. "And Marrick too, charming as ever. Now Tonks, Alexis, do you have any gossip with you? I've been dying for some news."
"Unspeakable here, doesn't anyone remember?" Lexi teased.
"Oh but that's never stopped you before. Are you waiting for someone Rosmerta?"
"Cornelius Fudge himself," the woman replied. "And Minerva. Kingsley and Silvia are already inside. You better go in. Ah, here they come."
Quickly, Tonks, Remus, Alexis, and Marrick made their way into the Three Broomsticks and the room they were to have their meeting. Kingsley and Silvia were in the middle of an animated conversation as they turned to them and smiled. Tonks noticed the absence of her paranoid mentor. Usually he would always be the first to come.
"Where's Mad-Eye?" she asked, sitting down with Remus and Marrick by the fire.
"Alastor said he'll be meeting with Dumbledore," Kingsley answered in his deep, reassuring voice. "It's just us, Fudge, and Minerva I'm guessing."
The door opened and in walked Madam Rosmerta, Fudge, and McGonagall, talking quickly like gossiping school girls. The door closed behind them and Alexis immediately came up to Rosmerta with a bottle of firewhiskey she found on the shelves. "For me? Please? Free of charge?" she grinned childishly, her love for alcohol showing through.
"You may have it if you all tell me what this is all about," Rosmerta replied. "Why is Sirius Black in Hogsmeade and what does Harry Potter have anything to do with it?"
Tonks noticed the door suddenly open but saw no one walking in. She nudged Remus and Alexis who seemed to be the only ones who noticed as well. "Who do you think it is?"
"Someone who either can disillusion themselves pretty well or has an invisibility cloak, and also wants to hear this story about Sirius's imprisonment," Alexis whispered back.
"James had an invisibility cloak he no doubt left for Harry," Remus whispered.
"Do you think it's him? How'd he get out of the castle?"
"Invisibility cloak Tonks. Merlin you're so thick sometimes," Alexis sighed.
"Well perform a memory charm on him Lexi. He can't know we're here or our cover would be blown," Tonks whispered, nudging her cousin.
"Yeah, about that. See I never was quite good at memory charms."
"I am," Remus replied. "But I'm afraid I'm not permitted to perform a full one on him without proper authorizations. I can only make him think that we aren't here, but whatever memory he hears from the others, he'll remember."
"Well do it. At least our cover won't be blown and let's hope no one says our names."
Tonks and Lexi watched as Remus snuck out his wand and hid it behind Tonks' back, carefully placing a non-verbal memory charm on the invisible person eavesdropping in their conversation. He had a good feeling it was Harry, and Remus wondered just how much the boy would find out with all these people here. Meanwhile, Alexis and Tonks turned back to the conversation as Rosmerta continued badgering Fudge with questions.
"He's not going to tell her everything." Alexis whispered.
"Years ago, when Harry Potter's parents realized they were marked for death, they went into hiding. Few knew where they were. One who did was Sirius Black," Fudge spoke. Remus tucked his wand away and tensed, knowing the story was all a lie but he must keep himself calm. They all saw and believed what Peter wanted them to, and until they could prove Sirius innocent, Remus had to feign innocence. Tonks rolled her eyes. He was Fudge after all and there was a reason why she and Alexis consider him a joke of a Minister.
"I stand corrected," Alexis sighed and Kingsley shot her and amused glance.
"Sirius Black? Wasn't he friends with James and Lily Potter?" Rosmerta asked.
"Yes, and he told You-Know-Who their location," McGonagall added.
It was like a story telling session. Tonks continued to roll her eyes and forced herself to be quiet much like Remus and Alexis were doing. "I thought we were having a meeting," Tonks whispered to Lexi but Kingsley heard as well and the black wizard shrugged his broad shoulders.
"Not only did Black lead You-Know-Who to the Potters that night but he also killed one of their friends, Peter Pettigrew, little lump of a boy," Fudge spoke.
Tonks noticed a muscle in Remus' jaw jump at the mentioning and could only pat his hand in a comforting gesture while waiting quietly for the real meeting to start.
"Now, you are all probably wondering why we are here," McGonagall finally spoke.
"Yes Minerva," Kingsley replied for them all.
"As you know, Sirius Black destroyed Peter Pettigrew leaving only a finger behind. A finger," Fudge spoke and Tonks had to bite her lips to hold back the feeling of injustice.
"Yes, and?" Silvia asked, growing annoyed.
"It proves that Sirius Black is highly dangerous being capable of doing such," Fudge continued. "We want the team of aurors at Hogwarts to make protecting Harry Potter their top priority and we will have to wait until spring to launch the entire auror department into this investigation. Then we will be able to catch Black."
"But why Minister?" Kingsley asked. "We're doing fine protecting the boy and looking for Black as it is right now."
"Yes but I want Harry Potter's safety to be above all because when the boy was born, James and Lily Potter made Sirius Black Harry Potter's godfather and until this day, he still is. We have reasons to believe that Harry Potter may be in more danger than ever."
"Please, we can each be more dangerous than Sirius," Alexis scoffed quietly.
"Black, Harry Potter's godfather?" Marrick asked in bemused disbelief.
Tonks' eyes shot towards the door and she saw it open and slam shut again. She turned to see Lexi and Remus, realizing what might have just happened. "I wonder how he'll take it. He doesn't know the truth. Should we tell him?" she whispered.
"We've still got no solid evidence," Alexis replied. "Now when is this bloody so called meeting going to end? I've had it about up to here with Fudge."
After an hour long discussion on why their top priority was now to protect Harry Potter, and how when spring came, the entire auror department would be scheduled to capture Sirius, the so called meeting was finally done. Of all people, Tonks knew that once spring came, Sirius was basically a dead man, with the entire department of aurors looking for him. She was getting worried and luckily the meeting was over as it became a daunting task to sit through it and feign innocence in the whole ordeal. Tonks was sitting alone with Remus and Alexis at a quiet corner in the Three Broomsticks where they won't be intruded upon.
"What do we do about Harry? He thinks Padfoot was the traitor," Tonks spoke.
"We could just straight out tell him can't we? Tell him that Padfoot isn't the traitor that Peter Pettigrew was and those people only saw and believed what he wanted them to. Then we can make Ron find that dirty little rat and we can squish him to death or turn him back into a human and prove Sirius' innocence," Alexis suggested.
"Harry won't believe it," Remus shook his head, understanding the boy. "He won't believe us until we do catch Peter. And wouldn't it be bad if you two suddenly tell him you knew all about this after we've charmed his memory so that he thinks you weren't there at all? Harry would feel betrayed and it would be even harder for him to believe us," Remus sighed.
"Too bad we're not allowed to use full memory charms on him without getting arrested."
"You should've become an Obliviator Tonks," Alexis sighed.
"Nip it Black," Tonks mock scowled at her cousin. "Now what do you suggest we do?"
"I think that we should just focus on catching Peter right now. Padfoot will be safe at the Shrieking Shack for the moment, at least until spring when they send the whole auror taskforce on him," Remus sighed, looking at them with worry in his eyes.
"So we have till spring," Alexis pointed out. "Remus, you usually transform in the Shrieking Shack right?" she asked and Remus nodded. "That means Albus Dumbledore must have left that part open in his large confinement barrier. If Pettigrew wants to get out of the castle, he'll have to make his way to the shack and get out through there. It would only be a matter of time before he remembers about the shack and reaches it."
"But the Whomping Willow will stop him right?"
"He's a rat Tonks," Lexi pointed out. "He's quite small."
"Padfoot is at the shack right now," Remus spoke. "He'll be able to keep an eye on the path in case Peter tries to escape through there. But right now he's still hanging around in the dungeon according to you two girls, so we have until he realizes he could still get out through the shack to catch him, and we have until spring comes."
"We could always extend the barrier ourselves from Hogwarts ground out to the shack."
"But in case Mad-Eye finds Padfoot, he won't be able to escape," Tonks spoke. "Besides, how are we going to hold up a barrier for that long? It will drain out all our energy."
"Padfoot could keep an eye on the exit for now," Remus told them. "For now, while Peter is still inside the castle, we should use that chance to catch him."
Tonks noticed that Alexis had a look on her face that said she was deep in thought. Her raven haired cousin was stroking the side of her cheekbone as she thought deeply about something, resembling Sirius and the rest of the Black family more than she cared to admit. She turned away from Alexis for a moment and spoke with Remus.
"What about Harry? Though the memory charm made him think we weren't there, he still knows that Sirius is his godfather. What if he asks questions?"
"The best thing to do I guess, is to feign innocence for now," Remus sighed. "Until we are caught red handed, we're supposed to still believe Padfoot is a homicidal murderer.
"You think feigning innocence will work?" Tonks asked, glancing at Lexi who was still lost in her own thoughts.
"It will have to do for now," Remus replied. "We could worry about nothing else but catching Peter before spring comes. We will have time to explain everything to Harry later."
Tonks nodded. "What's on your mind Lexi? You're making that face again."
"Am I the only one who finds it weird that Pettigrew is hanging around in the dungeon, when in school, he too hated Snape's guts? Why would he hang around some place where one of his enemies would be found?"
"Maybe he thinks that because it's Snape, we won't look there as often," Tonks mused.
"It doesn't seem that simple," Lexi spoke, staring at her empty wine glass.
Remus leaned back, his mind running through the many hiding places Peter could use and wondered the same as Alexis why he would pick the dungeon. Like the rest of the Marauders, he never really liked Snape, so why was he hanging around the potions master's lair? Remus sighed and rested his elbows on the table, watching as Tonks rubbed her face roughly with her hands.
"I'm seriously considering the idea of placing muggle mouse traps all over Hogwarts," Tonks groaned, needing a way to catch Pettigrew that won't fail.
"Especially those sticky kinds," Remus managed to smile as he continued to think.