Chapter 40

"Dora, we need to talk."

This was it. There was no way to avoid telling her anymore. If he did he'd only be leading her on in a relationship that couldn't possibly go anywhere. That wouldn't be right. So he'd just tell her and she'd lose all interest in him and that would be the end of it. Much kinder to both of them that way. He led her over to the sofa and sat down beside her.

"What is it, Remus?"

Remus sighed and looked away a moment before turning to her and saying "Dora, I've enjoyed every moment we've spent together."

Tonks smiled. "So have I."

Why did she have to make this so hard by being so nice? This would be much easier if she wasn't someone he cared about so much.

"But in all that time, I haven't been honest with you. There's something- there's something you don't know about me."

Taking one of his hands in hers, Tonks said "I know everything I need to know about you. I know that you're kind, gentle, and a good person. I know you can be very funny when you want to be." Now it was her turn to pause. "And it doesn't change anything, but I know you're a werewolf."

If anyone had walked into the room just then, they would probably have thought Remus had been hit by a stunning spell. He could only stare at her, shocked for the moment. How did she find out? Sirius and Harry wouldn't have told her, and he felt sure none of the other werewolves would. And did she really just say it didn't change anything? It took a few moments before he spoke again.

"How long have you known?"

"Since a couple weeks after you asked me to help teach. I got curious about just how many werewolves there are in Britain. Being an Auror I can look at the registry."

"And my name was on the list," Remus said sadly. "Why didn't you tell me you knew?"

"Because it was your secret. I figured you would tell me when you were ready."

Remus looked at her as if he'd never seen anything like her. He'd known what it was like to have friends and have a son, but he'd never dared to dream he could potentially know what it was like to have a different kind of love in his life.

"So all this time- I mean I knew you never treated any of the others differently- but it really never bothered you that I'm a monster once a month?"

Tonks suddenly looked as close to angry as Remus had ever seen her.

"Remus Lupin don't you ever call yourself a monster again! Not even when you're talking about what happens during the full moon. You're about as far from being a monster as it's possible to be."

Remus gave a sad smile and said "I know what I am, Dora."

Gently, Tonks answered "So do I, Remus. You're a person. You laugh, love, hope, hurt, need, fear- the same as anyone else." She placed her hand over his heart. "This heart is where you truly live, Remus." She pressed against it to emphasize her words. "This heart, here. That's who you truly are. And when the full moon is over for the month, you're still you."

Remus found himself smiling. She was absolutely incredible. How could he have ever feared she would reject him?

"You have such a gift, Dora. You have a way of seeing the best in others, even when they can't see it in themselves."

He leaned over almost without realizing it and kissed her, but pulled away almost as soon as his lips touched hers.

"I'm so sorry- I shouldn't have." From the look on his face anyone would have thought he was afraid he'd hurt her. Tonks, however, had a smile on her face even brighter than her hair.

"Don't be sorry, Remus. I'm not. And if you shouldn't have done that, then I shouldn't have done this." She kissed him back.

No, you shouldn't have done that, Dora. Remus thought. Because you're only making it worse. I'm falling in love with you and I shouldn't let myself do that.

But this time he didn't pull away.

Harry had to admit he was having a good time at the Ball, and had made a good choice asking Luna. They danced several dances, but she didn't push him to dance when he didn't want to, and they had fun discussing magical creatures. Harry had never heard of nargles or any of the other creatures Luna believed in. He had his doubts they existed since they weren't mentioned in any of the books in his dad's library, but he played along. That was when he noticed some of the other snickering and pointing.

"I think people expect you to have cooler friends," Luna said.

"Why? There's nothing wrong with you, Ron, Hermione, or Neville. You are cool." Luna smiled and thanked him, and they joined Ron, Neville and Ginny for some punch.

Speaking of Ron, Harry couldn't help noticing the glares Ron sent Hermione as she danced with Krum. Oh no. He recognized the warning signs of yet another fight between those two. He decided to stay out of it for as long as he could since he was really tired of always ending up in the middle between them, good friends though they were.

It turned out that although Ron and Hermione did have an argument over him being so jealous when he could have just asked her out himself, they made up by the next morning. Besides, they had worse problems. That foul reporter had done it again. First Sirius, then Harry, then Ron, now Hagrid. Malfoy of course was absolutely revolting talking about how Hagrid was sure to be fired. Harry wished he could do something to comfort his friend, but Hagrid never showed up to teach that day. So Harry, Ron, and Hermione took the first chance they had to go visit him, only to find Dumbledore already there.

"You see, Hagrid?," Dumbledore said as he let the group in. "I told you people still want to know you. And I refuse to accept your resignation. I have to be getting back to the castle now, but I urge you to listen to what the children have to say."

"Of course we still want to know you!" Harry exclaimed as Dumbledore left. "Why wouldn't we, just because you're half giant? As far as I'm concerned you fit right in with the rest of us. I mean my dad's a werewolf, and my godfather is a former convict who turned out to be one of the few good people in his family. But that doesn't change how much I love them. I'm a parselmouth."

"I'm the muggle born know- it- all," Hermione put in.

"We're all misfits in someway to someone aren't we?" Ron offered.

Harry wasn't sure he'd have used that choice of words, but said firmly "But if we're all misfits, we're misfits together."

Hagrid managed a weak smile at that.

"Tha's true. We still got each other."

"And who cares what the rest of them think?" Harry said, smiling now that Hagrid had finally cheered up. "If they don't like us as we are, that's their tough luck."

Hagrid grinned at that.

" Sounds like something' me ol' man told me. 'Never be ashamed,' my ol' dad used ter say, 'there's some who'll hold it against you, but they're not worth botherin' with.' An' he was right."

After that they had a pleasant visit. Harry just hoped Skeeter wouldn't start in on anyone else. Hermione had joined Harry in telling her off when they'd gone to Hogsmead earlier that day, and Ron seemed sure Hermione would be her next target. Hermione, however, had been unconcerned.

Before they left, Hgrid told Harry he hoped he would win. Harry was glad of the support, but felt bad about lying and saying he'd figured the egg out already. It was time to seriously get to work on it.

"I still can't make any sense out of it," Harry complained.

"Let's hear it again one more time," Sirius said, even though his ears were still ringing from the last time.

"I'm sure I've heard that sound before," Remus added. "I can't think of where at the moment, but I know I have."

So Harry sat the mirror down and opened the egg. E left it open only a moment, since that was all their ears could stand. Apparently that was enough for Remus though. He had a look of understanding on his face, and to Harry's amazement one of slight relief.

"Now I'm sure I know what that is! And it won't be as bad as getting past that dragon."

"Why? What is it?" Harry asked excitedly Remus tried to answer, but Harry couldn't hear him. Remus' relieved expression had turned to frustration.

"I think that magical contract you're in won't let me tell you. All I can do is give you clues."

"What? Why? Hagrid showed me the dragons and I was able to tell Cedric."

"You could tell Cedric because he's technically your opponent," Remus explained. "The magical contract was created without guessing opponents would help each other. And did Hagrid ever actually say you had to get past the dragons?"

"No," Harry said, remembering. "He just showed them to me and I guessed what they were for. He knew I would, but he didn't tell me directly. So you really can't tell me?"

"We wish we could, Harry," Sirius said sadly. He had been able to hear Remus say "mermaids" even though Harry couldn't. "But Remus is right. It's not as dangerous as the dragon. There will be one obstacle to overcome, but I don't think the rest will be as bad."

"I can tell you this much," Remus said, taking the mirror back. "The ones making that sound keep one of the creatures I taught you about last year as a pet. You may run into some of those creatures, but I know you know how to handle them. And I would take the advice you said Cedric gave you about taking a bath with the egg. If my guess is right, it will sound completely different if you're under water with it."

So that night, using the invisibility cloak and the Marauder's Map, Harry snuck into the prefects' bathroom. For a few moments he stared at the pool sized tub, jeweled faucets, and other luxuries the room offered. Then he got in.

"It will sound different underwater?" he asked himself. Well, what could it hurt? He submerged the egg and stuck his head under with it.

The difference was incredible. Instead of screaming there was a song about having an hour to find something he'd miss. The only other clue was that whoever would take it couldn't sing above the ground. And his dad had sais they kept one of the creatures they'd studied in Defense last year as pets. They'd covered boggarts, kelpies, redcaps, hinkypunks, grindelows-. Wait! Grindelows! Mermaids kept grindelows as pets. There must be mermaids in the lake. Looking at the mermaid picture on the bathroom wall, Harry understood why Cedric had told him to use this bathroom. Looking at the mermaid would have given him the idea too. But how in Merlin's name was he supposed to breath underwater for an hour?

While he headed back to the common room, another mystery came up. Harry was checking the Marauder's Map when he saw Barty Crouch's name on it. In Hogsmead he'd heard Crouch hadn't shown up for work in a long time, supposedly sick. So what was he doing in Snape's office?