In the Present
A HariPo fanfic
by mew-tsubaki
Note: I haven't finished To the Future and already I'm starting its second companion story. AGH! However, J.K. Rowling's characters are in good hands by now, so I hope everyone enjoys this Rena story. But to reach the present, one must glance at the past, where our story begins… READ & REVIEW!!!
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The Ninth Wax
"Two galleons, please." "That'll be forty sickles, seven knuts." "Ten galleons, twenty sickles, three knuts." "Thirty galleons, sixty-one knuts."
It didn't seem to stop as Remus did his last-minute Christmas shopping. He knew that the amount would total most of his last two paychecks, but he also knew that it was due to his staying at Hogwarts all the time. Next time, I need to set aside a Saturday or two to get this done ahead of time.
When he returned home for lunch, Tonks met him at the door and took a few of the bags. He only let her take the light ones, though, as she had grown very much in the past four months. The couple went into the living room and placed everything on the floor after Remus moved the coffee table out of the way.
"So everyone's set?" Dora asked.
"Everyone," Remus replied. He shrugged out of his jacket and sat down on the couch, warming by the fire. "You should know, I had one hell of a time tracking down that kerchief for Andromeda."
"I know Mum will love it," Tonks retorted. "Besides, it's not my fault that she didn't express any interest in a specific gift until I went shopping with her last week. I take it you got the pocket watch for Dad?"
The were tapped on a gift-wrapped box. "With limited-edition collector's box."
His wife smiled. "You didn't have to go that far." She sat beside him and embraced him. "But thank you."
Remus stared into the fire. "Christmas is supposed to be a time of celebration. It's not supposed to go wrong."
"And I thank you for trying to make this the perfect one." She leaned her head against his, her hair turning a cheery, flowery pink. "Just think, next Christmas will be the most perfect Christmas ever. After all, there'll be one more to buy gifts for." She snuggled him, warming under the fire's light, too.
He touched one of her hands, but he didn't respond, neither did he give her a reassuring look. Yes, possibly next Christmas there would be a child running around their tree, but doubt gnawed at him. Though Remus was pulling himself back together –mainly thanks to Luna –he and Tonks were falling apart. No, they had already fallen apart. Worst of all, they had already fallen apart, and he had no idea if she would make it to the third trimester. He stared at the fire, not caring if the bright light hurt his eyes. This Christmas, I just want to make it through these things.
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"Ah, Remus, Tonks. Come in, come in!" Arthur greeted them on Christmas Eve.
As usual, the Burrow was done up lavishly with decorations. Paper chains covered the ceiling, the tree was weighed down with ornaments, and you could breath the glitter in the air. Tonks and Remus followed the Weasley father into the living room, where Molly pounced on them.
"Oh, my!!" she gasped when she moved to hug Tonks. "Tonks, dear, you've grown so much! How are you feeling?"
"Fine, actually," the Metamorphagus stated. "Where is everyone?"
"You're early-" came one voice.
"-but not that early," another finished.
With a POP!, Fred and George appeared behind their mother, who appropriately jumped. She turned around and hit both of them up side the head. "Fred, George, stop that this instant!!"
"Never gets old, does it, Fred?" George asked his twin.
"Not one bit," Fred replied.
"George Weasley!!" That bark belonged to Angelina Johnson, who came stampeding downstairs with Fred's fiancé, Verity. Angelina grabbed him by the ear. "I had been talking to you!!"
"Ouch, ouch, Ange," George whined.
Angelina and Verity turned to Remus and Tonks. "It's wonderful to see you, professor," Angelina said to Remus.
He gave a wan smile. "You're in perfect health, Miss Johnson," he commented, and she nodded while yanking on George's ear again.
"So you're four months along now?" Verity asked Tonks. "You look amazing, Tonks."
"Thank you," Dora beamed. "Um, if you don't mind, I need something to drink." She grabbed Remus and managed to pull them out of the cluster. The couple went and got some drinks and Tonks sat down by the fireplace. "This is always so pleasant," she commented.
"It is," Remus agreed.
"Oh!" Tonks winced.
"What is it?" Remus took her water from her and put their drinks down. "Does something hurt?"
She shook her head. "No, no… Here, give me your hand." Tonks took his hand anyway, and put it on her belly, under her ribcage. "Do you feel that? It's the baby kicking."
He did indeed feel a dull thump, but he had a hard time grinning like she did. Obviously some things would be different about this pregnancy since Remus was a werewolf. But should the baby really be kicking at only four months?
His thoughts were interrupted as Molly and Arthur met the latest arrivals. Remus and Tonks looked up with the others to see the Weasley parents enter the living room with Neville and Luna. Remus calmed himself and managed to not jump up at the sight of the reporter. He and Tonks waited until the fervor quieted, and then the younger couple came up to them.
Neville's eyes widened until they were the size of saucers. "I didn't know you were pregnant! Congratulations!"
Luna cocked her head to one side. "Are you feeling all right? Aren't you worried that it will be a werewolf?"
The dreaded question, as asked by Luna. Neville definitely looked uncomfortable, and Tonks shifted on the couch. Remus felt his limbs turn to stone. As much as he loved her, he had been afraid of that question for so long, and he felt he should have been the one to ask his wife. Well, he thought, what's done is done, I s'pose.
"It would be wrong to say I'm not worried," Tonks slowly stated, carefully choosing her words. She smiled, though. "But I'm strong, and I'm ready for any fight my body enters."
"Courage is a good ally," Luna said. "I wish the best for you."
"As do I," Neville added.
Remus stood, excusing himself from the conversation. He left the living room, making it look like he was heading upstairs to the bathroom, but he instead ducked outside. The cool air chilled him, but he preferred it over the heat from discomfiting topics. Not only was the werewolf baby not something he liked to think about, but another thing crossed his mind:
He hadn't mentioned to Luna that Tonks was pregnant.
He supposed it was the one disadvantage from keeping their talks away from their personal lives. The wizard shook his head, though. After all, why should Luna care? But she did kiss me, he recalled. Remus closed his eyes and sighed. This confusion was beginning to give him a migraine.
Footsteps crunched in the snow beside him, and Luna blinked dreamily. "Happy Christmas, Remus."
The were smiled. "Happy Christmas, Luna."
"So much for seeing each other after the holidays," she remarked. She leaned next to him against the house. "But I don't mind."
"I agree. I don't think I need a break from you," he said as some snowflakes drifted towards them. He stilled. "Were you really curious about the baby being a werewolf?"
"Yes. I've heard that you can't be born one, because the mother can't ever make it through the labor." An odd beat of silence. "So this is the stress at home from which you refrained mentioning."
He nodded. "I worry. It wasn't even supposed to happen." He stopped, his eyes widening at his admission. He hadn't even told Sirius the real story behind things, and here he was, letting it slip to the girl he loved. Remus mentally slapped himself. "I mean…"
"Though the truth hurts, telling it might make you feel better," Luna gently prodded. "I'm here with an ability to listen."
Yes, but… Remus grimaced. Did he really need to bring this up right now? Well, here goes… "I've never been in love with her," he whispered, afraid his voice might somehow carry past the house and across two rooms. "She… She tricked me one night, withholding the usual Contraceptive Charm." He glanced at Luna, who seemed unfazed at what he had just said, even though he felt odd telling her so. "The following week, she told me she was pregnant, and I think she had a reason for lying to me about that night."
"Why?" the witch prompted.
"I think she knows I don't love her the same way she loves me." There. It was said. The words had finally left his mouth, his mind, and when he heard them for himself, he was sure of it. Tonks had to have known, otherwise this probably wouldn't have happened. "Anyway, now she's about four months along. I worry because I love her like a dear friend and I don't want to see her hurt. But, no, I'm not in love with her." He shivered, but not from the cold. Finally getting that out had relieved something in him, but… In a way, he was more uncomfortable than before.
"I understand why you look so strained now," Luna declared. "Well, that's only part of it, but it's a big part."
He nodded and looked at her. "Why aren't you shivering? It's freezing out here." He saw her hands looked rather white, with a possible bluish tinge. Without giving it much thought, he took her hand and held it close to him. "You're going to get frostbite."
"Frostbite is the least of my worries," Luna mumbled. She stared at the white expanse with him. "What do you wish for Christmas, Remus?"
Remus painfully, wistfully half-smiled. "I wish to be relieved of this hell. Not the simplest of wishes, but an earnest one."
"Oh, look. It's a winter elf," she stated, pointing in front of him.
He looked at her, and she had her eyes closed. "I take it I can only see it with my eyes closed?"
Her mysterious smile answered his inquiry. "Of course."
The werewolf closed his eyes. Darkness was all he saw, north, south, east, and west. After a second, he felt something in front of him. "Luna, I think I see-" He couldn't finish that sentence, for a gentle weight pressed against his lips. It was a very familiar feeling, one he knew he had felt a few days ago. It was light at first, then demanded a little more from him. His heart rate flew off the scales as the kiss lasted, until eventually it ended. He kept his eyes closed a little longer before opening them. He turned and watched her open her eyes beside him.
"Did you see it?" she asked, completely calm.
"I think winter elves are very mischievous," he said, heading back inside.
"Why's that?" she asked.
He didn't answer, because he knew she was playing with him, but he did shoot her a teasing smile. Then he returned to the revels inside.
Outside, Luna waited a few beats before heading back in herself. Maybe I am a tad too mischievous, she thought as she slowly walked back to the front door. But it's getting hard to resist him…and resist telling him.
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By the time Luna rejoined Neville and the others, Remus had already plopped himself back down beside Tonks in front of the fireplace. Remus passed Tonks her water, and she steadily sipped at it.
"You were gone a while," Tonks said to him in undertones.
"I had a stomachache, but it went away," he lied. He looked at his wife out of the corner of his eye, watching her pink dull a bit. "Has anyone else arrived?"
She shook her head. "Not-" Her words were cut off by Molly and Arthur again, though the parents weren't as loud as they had been before. But they were still welcoming.
Remus stood just as Molly walked in with Severus Snape. "Severus," Remus said.
Snape suddenly looked very unsure of himself –or like he had a bad taste in his mouth. He frowned at the werewolf. "Lupin."
Nothing much could be done about the abrupt lack of merriment at Snape's arrival. Tonks was surprised, as were Neville, Luna, Angelina, and Verity, though Tonks, Luna, and Verity didn't seem to mind as much as the other two. The twins, of course, bristled at the sight of their old Potions master. However, Molly merely slapped on her cheery smile. "Now, now, children. Play nice."
That broke the ice. Fred and George snickered, and the rest of the party-goers lightened up, but Snape sneered and disappeared into the shadows after grabbing a drink.
Neville stepped towards Remus. "That's unexpected," the Herbology professor stated.
Remus nodded. "It's a nice gesture on their part, and I share their sentiments about him since he's another hero of the war, just like the rest of us here. But… I'm surprised he actually came."
"Especially since not everyone here is happy with his decision," Neville muttered, motioning towards Angelina, Fred, and George. "I'm sort of uncomfortable myself."
"Well, we can't all get along. If the world were perfect, it'd be too perfect and bound to be thrown into chaos again."
"Yeah…" Neville went over to Luna, and the two of them grabbed some treacle tarts to snack on.
Remus leaned against the couch in which Tonks was sitting. "What are your thoughts?"
"I don't mind as much as them," Dora answered. "I mean, Dumbledore did have a plan. I just wish we could have known about it so we could have been prepared for the grief that should have been short-lived. But I don't really blame Severus."
"Well, his loyalties had always been obscure," the D.A.D.A. teacher affirmed. "But Dumbledore trusted him then and trusts him now, even after the war. Dumbledore is a very mysterious man, but he is smart, too. I agree; I don't really blame Severus, either."
Tonks stood and stretched. "Is there chocolate cake out? Or any chocolate at all? I'm dying for some."
Remus took out a bar from his sweater pocket. "As always, I'm well-stocked," he joked, breaking off a bit and passing it to her. There was more noise, and Remus watched Harry enter the room with Hermione. "Ah, our Boy-Who-Lived is here with his fiancé. Oh, Merlin, they bumped into Snape."
"That's right!" Tonks finished off the chocolate and licked her fingers clean. "What do you think we should give them for a wedding present? I mean, we've got to start thinking about it early on, so we don't buy the same thing as everyone else."
"I don't know," Remus groused. "A magical blender?"
"Remus, that's horrible!"
He sighed just as Sirius walked up to them. His eyes nearly bugged out of his head at the sight of Tonks. "Bloody-! It's been three months, but you've grown, haven't you?"
Neither of them corrected him about the months. Tonks' hair returned to its Madam Puddifoot's pink, and she wrapped her arms around her bulging stomach. "If you ask me, I think we should be expecting twins," she said rather hopefully.
Remus paled at those words. They didn't know how one baby would turn out; she was thinking of two! He had to interject, "Look, we don't know that for sure-"
"He's just scared that they'll both end up like me," Tonks told Sirius. "I don't know why that should bother you," she said to Remus. "After all, you love me lots. I'm sure you can spare the twins a bit of that."
"It's not twins!!" Remus tried to assure himself. He really wanted to change the subject before his anxiety swallowed him.
"What's this about twins?" George asked from Remus' left.
"There's nothing wrong with twins," Fred commented from the werewolf's right.
The twins slung an arm around each other. "Just look how adorable us turned out!!" they said in unison.
A smile quirked Sirius' lips. "Look on the bright side, Mooney: They could spend way too much time with their Uncles Fred and George."
Remus felt all color drain from his face, and the others laughed at his expense. It's not funny at all, the werewolf thought. Am I the only one not laughing? He eyes found Luna on their own, and she sent him a sympathetic smile. Of course she's not laughing. She's the only one who knows the truth about this.
Sirius broke away from them when he saw Harry and Hermione –arguing? –with Snape. Padfoot said something himself to the black bat, and then Snape wandered around until Molly appeared with a camera in hand, raising quite a ruckus.
"Just one picture!!" Molly teased. "Come on, Severus! You, Remus, Sirius-! It'll be just like old days!!"
"Are you daft, woman?" Snape stated. "Why would I want to be in a picture with those two bumbling Marauders?"
Remus smiled, suppressing his laughter. "How about we make it a teacher photo? Neville and Charlie can be in it, too," he suggested.
"We're not all that bad, Snivellus," Sirius commented, coming back. "I'll try not to bite," he added with a wolfish grin.
"You stay the bloody hell away from me, you mutt," Snape warned. The Potions teacher kept backing up, but Remus nodded to Sirius and the two of them caught the bat.
"That reminds me," Molly thought aloud. "Where is Charlie?"
"He'll be here," Arthur told his wife. "We can always take another picture later."
"I don't think I'm too keen on pictures," Neville piped up, looking slightly uncomfortable. "Maybe you should just take another with the four of you when Charlie gets here."
"They say that strange creatures live in the flashbulb of cameras," Luna quipped, appearing beside him.
Remus again fought down a laugh. That was so Luna of her, even the way her eyes burned a stronger, more piercing blue at the prospects of a story. His grin grew, though, with her at his side. "Yes, yes, Luna, dear, that may be the case," he said as he walked her out of the picture while Sirius held onto Snape; he thought it interesting that she didn't mind the small endearment slipped in there ever so discreetly. "But maybe you can enlighten us later with that theory."
Neville neared Luna, but she casually shied away from him and halted Remus a moment longer. "Or maybe you would prefer the theory about the winter elves?" she asked him in a low voice.
The werewolf blinked, the heat rising in his cheeks. "Maybe," he managed without stuttering. He returned for the photo, watching Sirius's eyes dart around him. Remus felt eyes on his back as he, Sirius, and Snape posed for the camera, and the brunette wizard had an idea of whose eyes they were. But he did not look back at Tonks.
"Say-" Molly began.
"-'Dungbombs!'" the twins interrupted.
Remus and Sirius smiled at the joke, but Snape sneered as the flash blinded them, and the picture popped into the room. Sirius caught it, and Remus looked over his best mate's shoulder. It had come out fairly well. In fact, he shot Luna a flirtatious look before stating, "I'm rather photogenic, aren't I?" Her smile betrayed the chuckle in her, and her shoulders shook slightly as she quietly giggled.
"Bloody 'ell!" Sirius exclaimed. "I look like I haven't got a neck! I'm chucking this shirt…"
"…Why am I in this picture?" came Snape's complaint.
"We thought you'd be the next James, obviously, dear Snivellus," Sirius provoked.
"Look you little-" Snape glowered at Sirius, and he looked ready for a fight.
The last thing Remus needed was a fight between these two, so he stepped in between them. "Calm down, Severus. Sirius was only joking. Right, Sirius?"
Padfoot gave Mooney a wolfish grin, as well. "Absolutely, 'Mum'!"
The werewolf narrowed his eyes at his friend. "Watch it or I'll strangle you myself," he threatened through gritted teeth.
Snape walked away, muttering to himself, "Note to self: Strangle Dumbledore at beginning of new term for hiring these two nitwits."
Remus moved away, too, and found Luna talking with the twins and their fiancés. He came up behind the reporter.
"Most of the time we're nursing them back to health," Angelina griped, and Verity nodded beside her.
"We don't really have anyone to test on but each other," George stated.
"And it's not like we're going to kill ourselves," Fred added.
"What's the latest ailment you've given yourselves?" Remus asked.
"Divulging Danger-pods," they said in unison.
"Instead of divulging secrets," George began.
"Anyone who speaks your secrets will divulge the contents of their stomach," Fred finished.
"They're quite charming," the twins said together.
"Charming, eh…?" Remus looked down at Luna.
"Pardon us," Verity said. "We need to go congratulate Harry and Hermione. Angelina, get George." With that, the two women dragged their loves by the ears to visit Harry and Hermione, leaving Remus alone with Luna.
"Very charming," Luna stated. She was standing very close to him, and he wished she would lean her head on his shoulder, like she had before. Remus looked up and locked eyes with Sirius. Those gray eyes were questioning, probably accusatory. He definitely had a whiff off what was going on, but all Remus did was lower his eyes to Luna. So, the secret was partially out. Sirius looked like he was ready to march over and berate Remus, but the rest of the party showed up then: Charlie and his girlfriend, Laurel Windmere. Remus was glad for the distraction.
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Dinner was fulfilling and tasty, and the party soon came to a close. When it was time to leave, Molly and Arthur stood at the door with Charlie and Laurel, thanking everyone for coming. Snape left first, making haste to escape the others. Neville accepted a bear hug from Molly, and Tonks got the same and followed Neville outside. Luna left next, Remus close behind.
Outside, Luna parted with him. "I hope you manage to have a happy Christmas, Remus."
"It's happy now, Luna." He resisted kissing her, hugging her, or even squeezing her hand in goodbye; it was hard, but he gave her a small smile. "Happy Christmas, love."
Okay, that was kind of a slip-up, kind of on purpose. But Luna didn't mind at all. In fact, her cheeks gained a very rosy glow, and her smile hit him straight in the heart. "Happy Christmas, Remus."
He watched her catch up to Neville and Tonks, who were far up ahead. And then his arm was pinched. He winced in pain and glared at Sirius, who had just come up behind him. "Most likely, it's not what you're thinking," Remus said.
Sirius twitched in irritation. "And just what is it that I'm thinking?!" he hissed in a low voice so just Mooney heard him. "What was with you and Luna?! What the hell are you thinking, Lupin?!!"
Remus didn't immediately answer him; this proved that Sirius knew something was up. "Look," the werewolf sighed, "I'll talk to you when we get back to the castle. I don't have anything else to say, Sirius."
"Like bloody hell you don't-!!" Padfoot gripped Remus's shoulder in an obvious sign that he was going to turn the werewolf around and punch him, but his last sentence had not been that quiet. The others both ahead and behind them stopped and mulled around, wondering what the commotion was. Sirius looked around, not receptive to all that attention. He released Remus and stomped ahead, fuming.
Suddenly, Remus's mood darkened, hampered by Sirius's anger. Justified anger, he noted, since Sirius was Tonks' cousin. The brunette wizard caught up with his wife, whose hair had returned to a mousy brown. Remus didn't say anything, and the night was quiet even when they got home.
As he drew the blanket up over his shoulders, he thought again of his Christmas wish. Holidays aren't supposed to go wrong, Remus reminded himself. So why do I feel like I screwed everything up?
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Well, to those of you reading this is kind of a gift for you: sixteen pages of tsubaki goodness, dressed up in romance and tied off with angst. *sigh* I loved this chappie, and the next few will definitely be amazing. Dear audience, you have my word on that.
Let's continue to watch things crumble then, shall we? And REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-mew-tsubaki
