A/N: Hi there! In the midst of working on this chapter, I thought of a one shot and had it written and posted. Do have a look and give me some feedback about it! It's titled 'I love you too'. You can find it on my profile (: Thanks! Enjoy!

Chapter 38: The Other Side

The wolf instantly leaped off her, spinning around. It bristled in anger and Tonks squinted into the darkness to see another wolf approaching. This one had yellow eyes and fur, a darker grey then Remus did. The new wolf snarled.

Then it hit Tonks. It was Greyback. Everything this wolf did, down to the way it sauntered threateningly, screamed Greyback. Only now did Tonks truly embrace the idea of how much the Alpha werewolf actually gave himself up to the werewolf in him.

Greyback barked at the wolf; almost as if to flaunt his authority.

The comparison scared Tonks. Greyback looked like a much more mature than the wolf was, one with plenty of experience; whilst the wolf looked almost like an adolescent wolf. And Greyback was so much larger that the wolf looked almost scrawny beside him. In person, Remus had his height so he didn't look too weak but as a wolf, that didn't give him much leverage. Greyback had strong meaty limbs that tensed and coiled, ready to spring, as the wolf snarled and snapped its jaws, in reply to Greyback's bark.

"Ginny," Tonks whispered but Ginny seemed to have noticed. Quietly, Tonks beckoned for her to stay. Carefully, Tonks crept her way over to Ginny.

By now, Greyback's yellowish eyes were trained on the younger wolf in front of him, glaring. His sharp teeth were bared and bloody. But the wolf didn't look like tamed either. It barked and planted its paws firmly on the ground.

Tonks cringed as her feet landed on a pile of dried leaves that crackled under her weight.

Greyback's eyes snapped to her and she froze.

Tonks could've missed it in a blink of an eye. Snarling, the wolf leaped in between them, its haunches rose in an offensive stance.

Greyback seemed angered by such a display of what he probably deemed as disloyalty and insolence. Without preamble, Greyback leaped, soaring through the air with precision and experience that Tonks didn't see in Remus. Tonks' heart stuttered and stopped just as Greyback was almost upon Remus, his sharp claws in his paws glittering in the night.

Remus kicked off from the ground swiftly and repositioned himself so Greyback landed nimbly on the ground. With a bark, Remus darted forward and sank his teeth into Greyback' haunches, tearing into the flesh viciously. Greyback' roar, of surprise and pain, was deafening. The wolf shook his head from side to side, sinking deeper into the bloodied flesh but Greyback twisted around, snapping his jaws at the wolf's tail.

Tonks cried out in alarm at that but the wolf saw that. It side stepped and released Greyback from its jaws; moving a safe distance away. The wolf's jaw was bloody with Greyback's blood.

Greyback circled it, growling. He was limping now, his haunches bloodied and the raw flesh and muscles exposed. The wolf eyed Greyback carefully. It knew its shortcomings as compared to Greyback and seemed to be handling this with caution.

Tonks took this moment to cover the remaining distance between Ginny and her, hugging Ginny firmly.

"You're so stupid," Tonks snapped but Ginny wasn't paying attention.

A yelp caught her attention and she looked to see the wolf's side now bloodied, claw marks marring its flesh, cutting through fur.

Tonks raised her wand, the curse on her lips. She could say it and Greyback would be dead. She could have the shot now, while he was gloating. But Tonks hesitated again. Could she really have another's blood on her hands? Didn't she already have enough to keep them bloody for a while now…?

"Stupefy!" Numerous cries cut through the silence of the forest. Red jets of light erupted from around them. Tonks grabbed Ginny and pulled her down, shielding her head with her hand. She glimpsed Greyback snarling before darting away into the nearby bushes as fast as his injured body could go.

The wolf yelped as one hit it on its side as it ducked the other.

"Kingsley!" Tonks cried in relief as she glimpsed the Auror amongst the others. She looked around to see the Order Members; not Aurors around. She heaved a sigh as she stood.

"Ginny!" Arthur stumbled over, pulling his daughter into a clumsy hug.

Tonks smiled momentarily before she looked up to see the wolf glaring at the Order Members who surround it, each having it at wand point. It was set to pounce; Tonks could see it in its stance.

"Stop it!" Tonks snapped, darting forward. She planted herself in the aim of Kingsley's wand and grabbed his wrist, "I said stop,"

"Tonks!" Hestia hissed, her eyes staring at the werewolf in front of them.

"I know, he is good," She turned to Hestia, willing them to understand.

"Doesn't look so," Sturgis snapped in a low tone. Tonks glanced at the wolf to see it glaring at Kingsley, seemingly seeing him as the 'Alpha' of this group; bloodied teeth bared. It let out a menacing snarl; apparently not appreciating being shot at.

"It's Remus," She muttered, looking at Kingsley now. Her colleague's eyes searched her face.

"Not anymore, Tonks." Kingsley replied. Her shoulders sank as she closed her eyes in defeat. Her hand reached for her wand but Kingsley saw that. He shoved her to the floor. Loosing her balance, Tonks fell forward, hard.

She heard a bark from the wolf before it leaped. A jet of white light erupted from Kingsley' wand.

A yelp and everything was quiet.

"What have you done?" Tonks cried accusingly as she staggered to her feet to see the wolf lying limply amongst the dried leaves, just a small distance from Kingsley. She ignored the hisses of warning from the rest of the Order as she crumpled to her knees by the unmoving wolf. She ran her fingers through his thick fur coat, feeling the warmth comfortingly, "he'd never hurt us!" she glared at Kingsley through angry tears.

Kingsley stood over her, meeting her glare with a soft gaze, willing her to understand, "Tonks, you're blinded by the love-"

"It's true," Ginny's voice declared, just a tad shaky, "I saw it,"

Kingsley seemed to be speechless for a moment before he knelt beside her, "he'd never hurt you," He corrected.

"What is this?" Sirius demanded as he stomped down the stairs to see Kingsley and Arthur heaving a large furry werewolf through the door. The sight of his baby cousin staring grudgingly at Kingsley with her almond shaped eyes red and swollen didn't quell his anxiety.

"Don't just stand there," Kingsley grunted, sparing Sirius nothing more than a glance as they brought the werewolf into the kitchen. Sirius frowned but lent a hand. He heaved up some weight of the werewolf's mid-drift as Kingsley maneuvered through the door, "Tonks said you have a basement for him?"

"Yeah, Remus-" Sirius nodded before he froze and looked down at the werewolf, "Remus?" His eyes widened.

Arthur shrugged and panted, "Well, you didn't think we'll be bringing Greyback here, did you?" He paused to catch his breath as they heaved the wolf onto the table.

The wolf looked so large in the small kitchen, it was almost comical.

Tonks sniffled and shouldered her way roughly past Kingsley. Sirius watched with disbelief as she stroked the wolf's snout tenderly, pressing a kiss on its jaw line.

Sirius glanced at Arthur and Kingsley to see them watching him expectantly, "you guys go on. I can handle it from here," He patted Kingsley's broad shoulder. Upon both of their doubtful looks, Sirius rolled his eyes, "Padfoot, remember?"

Kingsley eyed him evenly before his gaze shifted to Tonks meaningfully. Sirius nodded curtly before both he and Arthur disappear into the corridor, closing the door quietly behind her.

Sirius watched as Tonks fondled with the wolf's ear with her fingers before running her hand through its thick fur along its side, "Hey Cuz," Sirius approached, placing a hand on her back.

"Hey," Tonks replied thickly, barely sparing Sirius a glance from her focus on the wolf.

"What happened?" Sirius took her other hand in his, "you can tell me, you know that," He smiled as she looked at him.

"We were looking for Ginny," She choked out, "we lost track of the time and we were trapped. Remus…he…" Tonks broke off, looking painfully at the wolf; as if recalling something horrible.

"How did he get this?" Sirius pointed to the clotted, but still raw, wounds of claws in its side.

"Greyback," Tonks replied bitterly, "They fought. Then Kingsley shot him," She ended with a look of murder in her eyes. It frightened Sirius to glimpse it in her. She was just a young woman; but that look was one that Bellatrix Lestrange constantly bore to her enemies. Stop it! Sirius snapped inwardly, she's your baby cousin!

"Let's get him better than," Sirius blinked out of his reverie, whipping out his wand.

"I can't. I've tried…" Her voice sounded very small, her knuckles turning white as she gripped her wand firmer.

Sirius assured her with a smile before he waved his wand over the wolf's wound. It didn't look any different. The three cuts still marred its side and a slight burn on its chest.

"That's all we can do for now Nymphie," Sirius smiled as Tonks made a face at that nickname, "let's get him down into the basement." Without waiting for an affirmative, Sirius grabbed the wolf's forepaws and heaved, "A little help?" He grunted and Tonks smirked before taking wolf's hind legs.

Together, they finally got the huge werewolf safely tucked away on the threadbare mattress on the bed.

"Hey, you better get going now," Sirius patted her shoulder.

"Sirius," Tonks stood from her position by the bed, "it…he didn't attack me," She waited for the words to sink in; "he had me right where he could but he didn't. He just looked at me,"

He's probably evaluating the best ways to have his meal…Sirius thought but refrained his mouth from firing off, "Cuz, Remus is not in control. He doesn't have Wolfsbane and Merlin knows he'd rather die than have me, pay for it for him,"

"I know that," Tonks snapped, sick of the doubt, "he knows me. I can see it,"

"In what? His eyes?" Sirius muffled his snort, not wanting to provoke her, "Whoever it is, that's not Remus,"

"We'll see," Tonks shot back haughtily. And before Sirius could stop her, she flicked her wand in the wolf's direction. Instantly, the animal stirred.

Sirius' eyes widened in horror as he watch the large wolf growled and stirred; with his baby cousin in the room. Instantly, Sirius grabbed Tonks around her arm firmly, all but dragged her to the door.

She struggled, shrugging off his hold but Sirius was adamant. The wolf's amber eyes were almost luminous in the dark, save for the light flooding in from the crack in the door to the kitchen.

Sirius froze as the werewolf lifted its great head from the mattress to survey its surroundings. Tonks watched the wolf, gauging its every move. When she glanced at Sirius next, she only found a large black shaggy dog by her side that was half the size of the wolf.

The wolf eyed her before it turned to the dog.

Sniffing the air suspiciously, it rose, favouring its side; looking to be holding in a whimper. It left the mattress gingerly, watching the dog with a measured expression.

"Remus," Tonks spoke, startling the dog.

The wolf's ear perked and it turned to Tonks, sniffing at her subtly; making its way over. Instantly, the dog growled but that attempt at menace was overwhelmed when the wolf snarled in annoyance at the dog. Tonks could barely hold in a grin as the wolf's expression resembled Remus'; particularly when Sirius had felt the need to demonstrate his impeccable timing.

The dog was not fazed, he made to charge; intending to tackle the wolf but Tonks panicked. She took two hurried steps forward and closed the distance between her and the wolf before the dog could make his move. Her hand touched the top of the wolf's head between its ear and it flinched at the unfamiliarity of it all but it didn't snap at her, merely watched her like a hawk; it was unnerving.

"See?" Tonks threw over her shoulder to see the dog watching with an ear flattened in confusion. She laughed and the wolf twitched, startled at the noise, "don't change back though, he might not recognise your person. You can leave now, you're being the third wheel," she pointed out but the dog snorted and planted its haunches firmly on the floor, stating its point.

Tonks laughed, shrugging.

The wolf was watching her as she babbled nonsense. It didn't understand but her touch was lulling it to sleep. She nudged it gently back to where it left and it complied; sitting and placing its head on its folded paws. Her touch never left for long. The wolf's ears could hear the blood pulsing in her veins, its nose could smell her blood underneath her intoxicating scent and it could feel the warmth of her flesh. But its hunger was already quelled by that scent.

Anyway, something told him, she wouldn't taste as good as she smelt.

The pain in his limbs was blinding. He couldn't stop the groan which escaped his lips.

He heard a bark and the warmth by his side left him.

His limbs cracked with a sickening snap and reformed. His facial bones twisted and burned. His spine snapped resoundingly and reattached themselves. He was sure it was only a few seconds but it felt like forever. By the time it was done, he was left sprawled naked, panting and trying to bear the pain that surged through his body as he tried to move.

"Remus?"

The voice made him perk up. Against his better judgement, Remus felt his head lift from, what he just realised, the mattress. Tonks was standing just a distance from him. Her grey eyes were wide with concern. Her black hair hung limp from her head, her robes were torn in some places and was filthy. At her side, a black dog had its teeth on the sleeve of her robe firmly; seemingly pulling her back.

"Dora?" His voice was painfully hoarse. Instantly, she ran out of the basement, tearing her sleeve in the process on Sirius' teeth but she didn't seem to notice. The black dog watched her go, with Remus and soon, Sirius was the one sitting on the floor. Remus' heart sank. She just watched him transform… He felt a surge of hatred for Sirius-

The door was pushed open as Tonks descended the steps to the basement. She stumbled on the cold stone floor, spilling some of the water she held in a mug.

She sat down on the edge of the mattress, pressing the mug to his chapped lips. Remus watched her closely as he drank hungrily. She was holding the mug for him as he still hadn't found the strength in him to move his arms. Smiling, she reached out and Remus almost melted against her tender touch. His cheek felt numb, probably from the pain of transforming; but now it felt flushed.

"Slowly," She muttered as Remus gulped down the last mouthful of water. Dapping away the last of the water from his chin with her sleeve, Tonks gently pressed his head back on the mattress. Suddenly conscious, Remus reached blindly for the non-existence sheets to pull over himself. Sirius smirked as he loomed over them and threw a thick duvet on Remus' exposed lower half. Remus muttered to himself, blushing furiously as he tugged it over himself properly.

Tonks chuckled, nuzzling her face against the side of his, "such a prude," She murmured with her lips against his cheeks, "you have nothing to be ashamed of, Remus," She pressed a firm kiss to his cheek and Remus thought he could've floated right out of his body.

Sirius gagged and understandingly, removed himself from the basement.

They barely acknowledged him. Instead, Tonks drew her wand and sat up. She pressed it to the deep gouges of Greyback's claws on his side and began to clean the wound. Remus glanced at it and settled back to stare at Tonks, once in a while wincing.

"What happened, Dora?" Remus asked through gritted teeth as Tonks muttered a healing spell; which had little to no effect at all, "I remember passing out and…"

His voice trailed off and it took Tonks a moment to tear her attention from his wound to notice it.

"We were in the forest…and you…and Ginny," His eyes widened. They were the blue which Tonks loved. The flecks in them seemed dull, with fatigue, and perhaps, shock. Blood ran from his face, leaving his lips pale. To Tonks' horror, he grimaced and sat up altogether. His grimy and bloodied hands cupped Tonks' face tenderly, "are you alright? Ginny?" He beseeched, worry lining his face.

"I'm fine Remus. Ginny is too. She wasn't even close to you…" Tonks sighed, exasperated, "lie back down!" She snapped.

"No…you-" Remus glanced at her, giving her body a once over before he paused at her thigh. His body tensed and froze. She looked down to see some blood but it mustn't have been serious as she vaguely remembered running to the kitchen just moments ago.

"Remus…" Tonks rolled her eyes as she took his hands in hers, "you saved me. Both Ginny and I, that night. From Greyback,"

Remus was unmoving, his hand slipped out of hers and the tips of his fingers brushed her thigh, "What is this?" Remus' voice startled her. It was uncharacteristically cold, devoid of any emotion but when he looked up, she could see the torture in his eyes. He pried away her robe to reveal her wounded thigh. It wasn't bleeding. The three wound marks on her thigh have scabbed over and looked nothing more than abrasions, "did I-"

"Remus," She cut him off, cupping his cheeks and forcing herself on him, straddling him over his duvet, "you weren't intending to hurt me. You were curious and tensed. This is an accident,"

Remus snorted, "curious,"

"Listen to me!" She snapped, "Do you really think a feral werewolf would cause such a minor wound when running down its prey?" Tonks' heart stuttered painfully when Remus winced at her choice of words. He remained silent, seemingly pondering over her words, "Are you going to back out? Leave me? So what will it be?" Tonks braced herself for what the next words out of his mouth would be.

"I-" Remus frowned, pausing before he tilted his head to look at her, "I can't think with you sitting like this,"

Tonks almost laughed in relief but she stilled it and instead, stubbornly stayed where she was, "good, it isn't very good when you start thinking anyway," Remus, on his part, failed to make any effort to remove her but he didn't smile.

He swallowed, "I know I promised you I'd try; to be the man you know I am. To accept the other side of me and yet, not let it get in my way of what I do with my life," Remus' voice was thick with emotions and Tonks held her breath as he spoke again after a long pause, "I'm trying,"

Tonks smiled, "I know. You'd normally be running for the hills by now," He didn't smile and instead, glanced worriedly at her thigh. Tonks huffed, pressing a firm kiss to his forehead, "If I didn't know better, I'd ask you what you were looking at, Mr Lupin," She raised an eyebrow and grinned as Remus, as if on cue, blushed and averted his eyes, "y'know, if you want, you could treat it…"

Just a glance at her signature Black smirk was enough to disarm Remus of whatever defenses he had against her, "are you sure you're alright?" He kissed her deeply, breathing her in, "if I hurt you anywhere else, I wouldn't want you to hide it for me…" He shot her a meaningful look.

Tonks put on her best solemn expression, "I swear, nothing else but this,"

Remus studied her, as if trying to get through to a particularly difficult student. He finally relented to believe her and gently shoved her off of straddling his hips, "I told you I can't think like this," he muttered grudgingly. Tonks grinned as she fell back on the mattress beside him, lying on her back.

"And you can think with me like this?" She smirked and Remus looked at her; her black hair fanned out around her head on the mattress, her eyes wide with deceiving innocence, her legs over his, her lips slightly agape as she breathed… Remus sighed and closed his eyes in defeat.

"You'll be the death of me," He whispered before, seemingly unable to stop his urge to taste her lips, twisting around to kiss her but instead, he halted and winced, even groaning as he strained his wound in his side and his chest.

A/N: I hoped you enjoy that. This chapter is more of fluff? I guess you can put it like that (apart from the werewolf fight). I thought you all needed that from all the angst in the previous chapters.

Huge thanks to the reviewers of last chapter: Guest, HammersNStrings, tt crews, Professor Pang, Sarah1996 and Lupinesence.

Honestly, reviews make me ridiculously happy!

Please do leave a review for this chapter as well!

Just short but shameless advertisements again, please do check out my one-shot 'I love you too'. It's also RL/NT! (: