I am really really sorry it has taken so long to get a new chapter up. I've got a week off school right now so I've had time to write but it will be difficult once I'm back again but I'll try hard to make some time during the week to sit down and write! Hope you all enjoy!
"So we've narrowed it down to ten guests then," Lupin asked.
It was a few days later and the two were sitting planning out their guest list.
"Well I don't see any point in inviting family that I've only met once in my entire life," Tonks said reasonably. "I prefer it being this way anyway don't you?"
"Yes I just hope the Weasely's don't mind that it's just Molly and Arthur invited," Lupin said with a slightly guilty tone.
"Well look at it this way," Tonks replied. "If we invite all of them then we would have to invite Hermione so then it would not be fair on Harry being the only one not being allowed to come."
"That's the smartest thing I have ever heard coming out if your mouth Nymphadora," Lupin smiled.
Tonks laughed before picking up the scroll of parchment with the list of people they were planning on inviting, "My mum and dad, your mum, Arthur and Molly, Mad-eye, Kingsley, my muggle uncle George and cousin Lucy and your great Auntie Geraldine," she read out.
"Yes… my great Aunt Geraldine," Lupin sighed. "Blind as a bat, deaf as a doorknob but mother insisted that we invite her."
"I'm sure she'll turn out to be the life and soul of the party!" Tonks grinned. "So should we send off the invitations?" she asked.
Lying on the kitchen table beside the scattered pieces of parchment and the odd quill lay a pile of golden envelopes. Unlike normal envelopes however they seemed to glow brightly.
The soon to be married couple split the pile in two and each began writing the names of the guests on the envelopes.
"Can we test one?" Tonks asked excitedly, her neon green hair bobbing around.
"Oh very well," Lupin agreed.
He reached over and picked up the envelope addresses to Mad-Eye and unsealed it.
The envelope soared out of his hands and hovered in mid air. Silver sparkles emitted from it and twisted and twirled elegantly around the room. Next came the beautiful sounds of a flute playing before it died away to be replaced with a sweet singing voice which sang:
In the spirit of the magic that brought them together Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks invite you to join them at their wedding in the middle of Loch Ness in Scotland on Friday night at Sunset. Please meet before then at the home of Andromeda and Ted Tonks to be transported to the location.
A ribbon like silver glow weaved in and out writing the words as they were sang until the voice died out leaving the words hanging in mid air until Lupin vanished them with his wands.
"Everyone's going to love them!" Tonks squealed.
At that moment a patronus burst through the kitchen door – a tiger, which skidded to a halt in front of Lupin.
"It's me," Moody's voice sounded ghostly coming through the patronus. "I'm outside, let me in."
Lupin glanced worryingly at Tonks before jumping up from the table and running outside to undo the protection so as to let Mad-Eye in.
A few minutes later he returned with a harassed looking Moody.
"Your mother still around?" he asked Lupin suspiciously.
"No, Tonks's parents generously offered her the spare room at their house so we could get on with the wedding plans alone," Lupin replied.
"Good," Moody said abruptly. "You know that fellow, Irish bloke that worked in the Obliviator Headquarters."
"One of our spies in the ministry?" Tonks interrupted.
Moody gave a curt nod. "He's dead. Got caught listening in on two death eaters, we're not sure which two exactly. Could be that You Know has more eyes and ears on the inside than we realize."
"What about the rest of our spies?" Lupin asked anxiously.
"They're shaken up of course but they've all agreed to continue."
"Well at least that's one thing," Lupin said.
Mad-Eye nodded before heading towards the door once more.
"I've got to be off," he said gruffly.
"Well don't forget your invitation," Tonks called to him, hurrying round the table to hand him one of the golden envelopes. "Which reminds me," she added.
With a wave of her wand the remaining invitations had vanished.
Moody gave her an incredulous look. "Getting married in the middle of a war," he muttered disapprovingly although he slipped the envelope in his jacket pocket all the same.
"Do you think he is right?" Lupin asked anxiously once Mad-Eye had left. "Is it wrong for us to celebrate with everything going on right now. Sirius, Dumbledore and so many other people gave their lives to try and stop Voldemort and what do we do? We have a wedding."
"You're not having second thoughts are you?" Tonks demanded.
"Well…" Lupin said uneasily. "Not really, I just feel confused right now. It's not exactly great timing is it…"
"You are aren't you!" Tonks snapped.
Lupin's guilty face gave him away.
Without another word Tonks jumped up and marched out the room, her hair turning dangerously red.
"Tonk's no wait!" Lupin jumped up and ran after her.
He caught her arm and tried to pull her arm but she shot a stinging hex at him and he quickly let go. Tonks threw open the front door. Reaching the street she turned and disapparated.
Hours later Tonks walked down the lane towards the burrow. The sky had darkened and it had been raining for the past twenty minutes.
She rapped gently on the door and waited impatiently for someone to answer.
"Who is it?" a voice called cheerfully from inside.
"It's Tonks," Tonks replied.
The door was thrown open and Fred Weasely stood grinning at her.
"This is a nice surprise," he said as he led her into the kitchen where a lone candle was burning. "Everyone else is away to bed, it's my turn to wait up for dad coming back from his shift at Privet Drive."
Tonks nodded. "So is your mother in?" she asked.
"Yeah I'll just go get her, she wont be asleep anyway. She likes to stay awake until she knows that dad is back safely."
Fred disappeared out of the kitchen and five minutes later Molly Weasely entered the kitchen wrapped in a dressing gown.
"Tonks dear whatever is the matter? You're soaking wet" she said in concern.
Tonks sat down tentatively at the table and broke down in tears.
"He doesn't want to get married!" she wailed.
"Oh goodness," Molly said in alarm.
She took a seat at the table beside Tonks and put a comforting arm around the sobbing girl, who was unable to say anymore.
They remained in silence for twenty minutes with only the sound of Tonk's crying and the occasional owl hooting outside.
"So did he really say he didn't want to get married?" Mrs Weasely asked gently, placing a mug of steaming tea down in front of Tonks.
"Well he didn't say it in so many words but he was definitely having doubts," Tonks replied miserably.
"Well having doubts doesn't mean the wedding is off all together," Molly told her wisely. "You just need to give him some more time that's all."
Tonks shook her head, "You didn't see his face," she said quietly.
Mrs Weasely took a sip of tea before speaking again.
"So when did all of this happen?" she asked.
"This afternoon. Right after Mad Eye told us about the death of…"
"Kikans? Yes Kingsley was here earlier and told us all about it. What a dreadful loss," Molly said sadly.
Tonks nodded in agreement. "So about five minutes later I took off and spent the rest of the day wandering around the muggle streets. I would have gone home to mum and dad but Remus's mother is staying there right now so it would have felt akward."
"Of course," Molly said understandingly. "How about I make you up a bed on the couch for tonight? Bill is staying in Percy's room while Fleur is in his or I would have offered you that."
"I shouldn't have come here," Tonks said awkwardly. "I forgot all about Bill and Fleur's wedding, look I'll go," she made as if to stand up but Mrs Weasely laid a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't be silly dear. Let me just get those blankets."
