Chapter 42: Charlie

Tonks felt her insides freeze and butterflies littered her stomach. She felt her hand tighten around Remus' unwittingly and Remus gave her a sideways glance.

The burrow suddenly looked too packed and there seemed to be too many Weasleys. Tonks didn't know if it was because she and Remus intended to announce their engagement to the Weasleys or because Charlie Weasley was sitting at the table, talking with Molly, then proceeded to stare at Remus' and her interconnected hands as they entered.

"Tonks, Remus!" Molly embraced Tonks, crushing her ribs, and kissed her on both cheeks before hugging Remus in a similar manner, sparing him the kisses.

"Hello Molly," Tonks smiled, trying to avert Charlie's unwavering gaze on her. To her surprise, Charlie appeared right behind Molly.

"Hey Tonksie," Charlie smiled, looking painfully forced. Tonks thought her own smile looked forced as well. For old times' sake, they embraced. His arms were tougher than she remembered and his embrace was tighter. Tonks didn't remember if her arms rose to embrace him back. As she felt his cheek press against hers, Tonks realised she have and always will look at Charlie as the boy she knew from Hogwarts; the ginger who was her partner in crime of mischief at Hogwarts. Nothing more than that.

"Hi Char," Tonks whispered, revelling in the familiar scent that was so Charlie in her mind. Soon, the embrace became uncomfortably tight and stifling as she realised the height was wrong, the feel of his arms around her felt different, the gentle whispers and kisses she expected were not there; those which she could only find on Remus. She awkwardly shrugged out of his embrace, her heart racing.

"How are you?" Charlie gazed at her, one hand on her shoulder. She glanced at his bare arm as his jumper sleeve rode up his arm. There were more scars than she remembered and more burnt marks on his pale skin.

"I'm good," She smiled, searching and grasping Remus' calloused hand in hers, "and you?"

Charlie's gaze looked stubbornly fixed on her, "I'm sorry I didn't come back sooner, I came back as soon as I heard about Mad-Eye and Dumbledore…Tonksie, we'll make them pay for what they did…"

Tonks winced as if she was hit, at the mention of her mentor, "It's- I'm fine," Her jaw felt incredibly tensed, as did her back, as if she was expecting some blow to literally hit her.

She saw Charlie taking a step towards her but before she could take a step back away from him, she felt a gentle hand on her arm. Before she knew it, she felt familiar arms wrap around her. She heard his voice and felt his warm breath on her ear. He was at the right height so that she could press her face into his shoulder blade. Remus always felt comfortably warm for her.

"Oh Tonks," She heard Molly approach. Tonks hurriedly steeled herself and withdrew from Remus' embrace.

"Molly," Tonks turned to face the matriarch of the Weasley family, a genuine smile on her lips, "I'm fine, I just need…"

"Time," Remus offered and she nodded gratefully.

"Remus," Charlie inclined his head towards him.

Tonks glimpsed Remus nodding at Charlie, "Charlie," Remus offered a hand, "nice to see you,"

Charlie shook his hand, smiling that tight smile again, "Same to you," Charlie looked intent in that handshake and Remus seemed slightly awkward.

"Actually," Tonks interrupted, cringing a little as Charlie turned to her. She leaned into Remus' side purposefully, "we're here to tell you Molly, Remus and I are getting married,"

Charlie paled, looking sickly beside his mother who laughed, clapping her hands together in glee, "Oh, that is fantastic!" Molly shrieked, pulling Tonks in for another rib crushing hug. After which, she patted Remus on the shoulder in approval repeatedly.

"Congratulations," Charlie all but choked out before excusing himself to the back.

Molly seemed oblivious to her son's discomfort as she ushered Tonks and Remus into the sitting room, piling their laps with cakes and tea which Remus accepted graciously. She then excused herself to the kitchen to prepare more.

Tonks smiled, lacing her fingers through his. Remus was gazing at their interlaced hands, "Dora, you didn't have to do that. I know how you feel, about me…and Charlie,"

Tonks cringed, "it sounds so bad when you put it like that," She turned to him, with that haughty look on her face which made Remus chuckle, "I'm getting married to you. And I want to make that clear,"

"Well, it was cruel, even by your standards," Remus shot her a withering look and Tonks was in disbelief that she could see sympathy for Charlie, in Remus' captivating eyes. They were an unbelievably light blue, focused on her and she was lost in them. He kissed the tip of her nose to snap her out of her reverie. She blinked as he laughed lightly.

Tonks mock scowled, "my standards?" She looked offended. Remus smirked, nodding knowingly.

"Your standards," He confirmed.

"I am not cruel in the least," She argued her stand firmly.

Remus raised a brow in doubt, "Really? I saw the dresses you have. And they look cruel to me,"

Tonks laughed, throwing her arms around his neck, thinking to herself, I love this man.

Molly walked into the kitchen to find Charlie looking outside the backyard, leaning against the frame of the screen door.

"Charlie?" She touched his shoulder. He jumped visibly, turning around too quickly.

"Mum…" Charlie averted her eyes.

"Charlie, I know you love her," Molly started bluntly but in the matter of relationships, she didn't know how else to broach this subject with her children. They all seemed intent on avoiding this conversation with her. Charlie drew back a little, wincing, "I can see it in the way you look at her, in the way you held her, the way you talk to her… as if it will be the last thing you do in this world-"

"Mum," The coldness in his tone stung but Molly knew, for the sake of her son and Remus and Tonks, she had to shake him out of it, "Stop it,"

It hurts Molly to see Charlie so torn, her boy, "Charlie, I wish more than anybody that Tonks loves you, look at you, touch you and talk to you like she does to Remus, like how I talk to your father," She willed her son to see the truth, "but she doesn't,"

"I know what you are trying to do," Charlie looked reproachfully at her, "As if I haven't tried that on myself a thousand times in Romania!" He hissed, "As if I didn't try to wake myself up from this, to stop loving her but I do, so much!"

Molly was quiet, not knowing what else to tell her son other than what was most cruel of all, "when you love somebody, you don't always have to have them for yourself my boy," She touched his hair.

Charlie choked on tears that never came and Molly's heart broke for it.

"If you can't stop loving her, then learn to love her from afar," Molly pulled her son into an embrace, wishing this wasn't happening to one of her sons, "but don't force her. Things have been difficult enough for her as it is,"

"I know," Charlie pulled back, wincing as he heard Tonks' laughter from the sitting room, "I understand. He makes her happy. As long as he does, I'll not do anything,"

As much as she was cruel to her son, Molly understood the recklessness that Charlie, a kind hearted boy could commit, and felt it was her duty to warn him otherwise; lest he tore away another of Tonks' happiness, that girl has had little as it is.

Tonks and Remus stayed in the Burrow at Molly's request. Arthur returned from work just as the kids started filing in for dinner. Molly repeated the announcement without preamble, to the house at large while everyone was bustling about and Tonks and Remus was suddenly met with many congratulations.

Ginny was elated but at the same time, Tonks detected a bit of disappointed from the youngest Weasley; whom had always hoped, Tonks knew, for Tonks to be her sister-in-law. Tonks smiled, giving Ginny a firm sideways hug.

Tonks, for the world, could not comprehend why Molly kept preventing her to leave when her second oldest son was obviously terribly upset. Instead, she even invited them for dinner. Tonks politely but firmly declined the offer, insisting they have to visit her parents and bring them the news.

Molly relented and gave Tonks a kiss and both of them a hug before allowing them to leave, chucking a huge piece of chocolate cake into Remus' arms just before they slipped out.

Tonks waved mildly at Charlie but he was staring out the window.

"Well, off to my parents' then?" Tonks heave a sigh, not looking forward to it. As much as she loved her dad, he didn't take her and Remus' relationship as well as she had hoped. Remus nodded, looking unfazed as they both disapparated.

The Tonks' household was generally quiet and peaceful. Tonks approached the front door, reaching for the handle when she caught Remus giving his attire a quick and subtle once over. She smiled, turning around to see him trying to straighten a blue jumper which Tonks picked out for him.

Remus caught her eye and smiled. This time, Tonks could see the nervousness surfacing in that smile. She went on her tipped toes and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek in assurance before opening the door.

They made their way into the sitting room and Remus and Tonks both were stunned to see Sirius, slouching on the couch, effectively occupying the whole couch.

Ted and Andromeda were in their respective arm chairs, laughing. Andromeda saw them first and stood, beaming, "Nymphadora!" Tonks made a face but embraced her mother, "Why didn't you tell us you were coming!"

"Why? So you can pull out the red carpet?" Andromeda frowned her disapproval at Tonks' sass but Sirius grinned.

"Nymphie!" Sirius opened his arms and Tonks smiled, embracing her cousin, mildly aware of her mother greeting Remus warmly.

"Sirius, why are you here?" Tonks grinned.

Sirius shrugged, "here to catch up with my cousin and Ted of course! What will they do without me!"

"Sirius, you're still a fugitive," Remus expressed his disapproval and Andromeda seconded that but Sirius scowled and rolled his eyes.

"What's life without a little danger?" Sirius huffed.

Tonks grinned, "exactly my point when I joined the Aurors!"

"We like living dangerously," Sirius smirked, that Black family aristocratic air radiating from him. On Tonks' face, the identical look was seen and both of them high fived, ignoring Remus' frown of worry and Andromeda sigh.

Ted cleared his throat and everyone turned to him. He stood from his armchair and walking purposefully towards Remus. Tonks watched closely, determined not to let her father ruin a perfectly good day. He paused in front of Remus and Tonks saw Andromeda take Ted's hand.

"Remus, son, how are you?" Ted offered a hand. Tonks sighed in relief. It was a tensed greeting but it was one nonetheless.

Remus gave an easy smile, that Tonks envy, and shook Ted's hand, "I'm good, Mr Tonks, how are you?"

"Ted, I insist," The fair haired man cracked a slight hint of a smile, "Good. I take it you're treating my daughter properly. She looks like she has fattened up since the last time I saw her!"

Tonks pouted as the sitting room burst into laughter, Sirius laughing the loudest.

"Well, I assume you both are having dinner here as well?" Andromeda smiled and upon their nods, "I'll make more portions then!" She slipped off into the kitchen.

"Sit, Remus," Ted smiled. Remus nodded, roughly shoving Sirius' legs off the couch and took his seat. Tonks grinned, collapsing into the space beside him.

"Hey!" Sirius protested, kicking Remus like a child. Remus turned and shot Sirius a warning glare, stopping his antics at once, "so grumpy and still like an old hag," Sirius muttered.

Ted laughed and turned to Remus, laughter quickly dissolving "What are your intentions with my daughter?"

Remus seemed to ponder it seriously for a moment, while Sirius and Tonks stifled their chuckles, before replying the question with utmost thought, "I know I have nothing to give her. I have no money and as a monster-" Tonks flinched, "I don't even have a good name to give her. But I know I would do anything to make her happy," Tonks opened her mouth to assure him but Ted held up his hand to silence his daughter.

"How would you do that?" Ted all but demanded. Tonks scowled at the tone that Ted had adopted at Remus.

Remus paused. His lips were pressed together and his hands curling into fists as he looked down at the carpet, at a lost for words. Tonks could feel the confidence he had, leave him. Sirius patted his shoulder, urging him on but Remus couldn't. He didn't have an answer for that. Tonks did.

"By existing," Tonks snapped, "Dad, why do you have to be such a hard arse on Remus all the time?" She stood despite Remus' efforts to keep her down, "He's important to me!"

With that, Tonks ran up the stairs, tears springing to her eyes. She angrily wiped them away as she burst into her old bedroom and threw herself onto her bed. Both of them were the more important men in her life so why should their meeting strike fear in her, instead of happiness.

Remus was trying but she couldn't understand why her father couldn't see past the werewolf to see what a sweet, kind and gentle man Remus was to her. One might think Tonks' parents have had more than enough experience with meeting their daughter's boyfriends but it was the opposite.

At the age of 23, Tonks had never brought a single boy home as a boyfriend apart from Remus. Of course she has had her share of suitors but Charlie kept her strictly off limits to other guys at Hogwarts, dropping by once or twice at the Tonks' household in the name of a family friend.

After which, she spent most of her time at Auror training and between endless lectures and training from Mad-Eye, she was too tired to party even on a Friday night. Mad-Eye was the closest of a male friend who came by her house and thinking of him anymore than a godfather in her family was ridiculous. Besides, Mad-Eye's paranoia with whatever he put in his mouth made meals awkward more than enjoyable.

Of course that's not to say Tonks didn't have a date once in a while with cute guys but none of them made it to a position important enough in her heart for her to introduce them to her parents.

Her first sweet guy to bring home and her dad just had to ruin it every time! She cried her frustration into the sheets, muffling the sound.

A knock on the door made her jump, influenced by her Auror instincts, she whipped out her wand.

"Come in," She said stiffly and Ted Tonks entered, his eyebrows raised as he found himself on the wrong end of an Auror's wand.

"Relax baby, it's just your ol' dad," He chuckled, raising his hands in surrender. Tonks almost smiled but, upon remembering his hostile attitude towards Remus, she stowed her wand away but turned away from her father, "you're not still angry at me, are you baby?"

Tonks huffed in frustration, spinning around so quickly it made her lose her balance slightly. Crossing her arms, she demanded, "why are you so intent on giving Remus a hard time? You know he takes these things very seriously and it's so important to him, and me!"

Ted smiled, "I know. And I'm pleased with him,"

That caught Tonks off guard. She thought her father hated Remus, "but he couldn't answer your question and you looked-"

"The point of those questions aren't for Remus to answer them, baby. Well, they are. But I want to know, what all this means for him and judging from the way he thought them through when you and Sirius were giggling as if it were all a joke, I know he takes all this and you very seriously and I'm happy you found a mature man to fill in that place in your life," Ted rambled and Tonks was stumped that Ted actually thought so far for her.

"Daddy…"

"I just want you to be happy, Dora. And I'm so happy Remus looked dedicated to give you that. I am sorry about how I behaved the first time you brought him home. But to be fair, bringing a werewolf home for the first time and telling us you're dating him won't really make any father happy," Ted wringed his hands, "Your mother gave me plenty of grief for my behaviour already and she's right. You're an Auror. If anyone can handle a rampant werewolf, it'll be you-"

"Not that Remus would let that happen, Dad!" Tonks interrupted hurriedly.

Ted laughed, his entire frame shaking from such a boisterous laugh, "no, he wouldn't but knowing my daughter, she'll trip headfirst into that kind of trouble,"

Tonks feigned a pout before running into her father's arms, feeling small again.

"Ted, Nymphadora! Dinner's ready!" Andromeda yelled from downstairs. Tonks rolled her eyes and gagged and Ted chuckled.

"Why were you there, Sirius?" Tonks narrowed her eyes in suspicion as they wore their coats, getting ready to leave. Andromeda and Ted have both bustled off to pack some cookies and leftover broth for them to bring back.

Sirius laughed, "why of course for you and Remus! Cousin, you're really slow," even Remus cracked a chuckle and Tonks frowned, offended that was left out of a ploy, "As I'm practically Remus' brother, from another mother, pardon the cliche, of course I have to help him and play wingman by setting the mood with his in-laws!"

Tonks' frown deepened, "you were in on this?" She demanded at her fiance.

"No," Remus replied.

Tonks raised an eyebrow and Remus sighed, "liar," She smirked.

"Moony, buddy, you still haven't learnt how to lie?" Sirius scoffed in disbelief.

Tonks punched Sirius in the arm, "he's an honest and good man, stop corrupting him!"

Sirius rolled his eyes and smirked, "you obviously haven't slept with him," He chortled. Both Tonks and Remus blushed, a sure sign of the truth in that, "Siriusly mate?" Sirius mocked a bow in respect, whistling, "what a gentleman, Moony. Or….does Nymphie not fly your broom because she's missing a few important parts that get you going. Y'know, you could just tell her, she could sprout them for-"

"Shut it Sirius!" Tonks snapped, morphing away her blush, "you sick pervert!"

Sirius guffawed, ducking her fist.

All three of them fell silent when Ted and Andromeda came back into sight, handing them the food before bidding them a goodnight.

Sirius morphed into that shaggy black dog. Tonks fastened a collar around his neck too eagerly and yanked him out the door, ignoring his whine. The streets were dark and chilly. Remus pulled Tonks' coat more securely around her before they began their walk into the alley.

Sirius lopped ahead eagerly, his tongue hanging out of his mouth, panting.

"Stupid dog," Tonks poked her tongue out at him and yelped as Sirius stood on his hind legs, licking her face. Remus laughed, dragging Sirius off her forcefully. Sirius whined and whined all the way to the alley but neither Tonks nor Remus paid him any mind.

Sirius morphed back the moment they stepped into Grimmauld place, tearing off the collar and tossing it at Remus. Sirius opened his mouth to speak but Tonks stopped him with a firm hand on his shoulder.

Gesturing towards the kitchen, they all noticed that it was lit and there were sounds of glass clinking from it.

Tonks drew her wand and walked ahead quietly. She side stepped the troll leg umbrella stand and nudged the door open with her wand.

At the kitchen table sat one Charlie Weasley, in the midst of downing a glass of Firewhiskey. Tonks grimaced as Charlie finished the whole glass.

He turned, eyes bleary and face flushed from the alcohol no doubt. Sirius whooped and conjured a glass to join Charlie but Charlie was oblivious. He was staring at Tonks, his lips pressed together. His hair was tousled, traces of having his hand running through them in frustration evident.

"Tonksie…" His eyes were pleading and Tonks swallowed, inclining her head in silent question, "I was waiting for you," He finished lamely.

"I…don't stay here anymore," She replied, her throat was unnaturally dry. For a moment, it was just the two of them in the room and Tonks was thrown back to the time during her Auror training. It was when she would return to her flat and be surprised by a very depressed Charlie Weasley in the middle of her dark flat, drinking. He had tried dating on Tonks' prompt in Romania and got dumped. At that time, Tonks rushed forward, offering him comfort and drinking the night away with him.

Charlie barked a laugh, so loud in the quiet kitchen that Tonks jumped, "so this," He gestured between him and Tonks, "is not the only thing which have changed,"

Tonks winced.

"Can we have a talk?" Charlie croaked. Tonks nodded stiffly and turned to head up the stairs. She pressed a kiss to Remus' cheek as she passed. Behind her, Charlie left his empty glass on the table and followed her, not sparing Remus a single glance.

Tonks passed the toilet on the way up and decided to take the room beside the toilet, in case Charlie vomited on the floor, as he did at her flat the last time, because the toilet was too far.

She found it to be one of the empty guest rooms which no one had slept it, from Tonks' knowledge.

"Charlie-" She spun around to feel herself being swept into his thick sinewy arms and his lips pressed to hers clumsily. In the past, it would have been a pleasant surprise and she would have moaned as he nipped her bottom lip, fiercely passionate. Charlie's arms were locked around her and Tonks leaned away as best as she could but they were still lip locked.

Frustrated, she accidentally released magic which was bubbling on the surface. Charlie was knocked back and in his drunken stupor, tripped and fell to the floor with a loud thump.

He looked stunned for a moment before he laughed bitterly, "You love that,"

"I loved that!" Tonks snarled, wiping her lips with the back of her hand, "I'm a married woman, Charlie!"

Charlie winced, "Not yet, you aren't, not Mrs Lupin," He protested, "just…engaged," Charlie finished in a mutter.

"I love Remus, not you," Tonks frowned, "please sober up Charlie," She dug into her pocket and expanded her pouch to its normal size. Mad-Eye had insisted that as an Auror, she should have certain things on hand at all time, like some dittany, polyjuice potion, Blood replenishing potion, Antidote to common poison. Tonks replaced polyjuice potion with a sobering potion. Mad-Eye didn't approve but relented when he found her dead drunk one evening.

She opened the stopper to the sobering potion and knelt beside Charlie but he shoved her away forcibly and Tonks stumbled back, struggling to not spill the potion.

"No," Charlie shook his head, his lengthy ginger hair flying around his face wildly, "I don't want to be sober, Tonksie," He pleaded, "I can still remember what hurts… Why is that? You said I wouldn't be able to,"

Tonks hated seeing Charlie like this. This moping ginger mess was not the boy she loved as a girl. As much as she didn't want to admit, it hurts her to see him like this. She stoppered the potion and sent it into her bag. Instead, she resolved to get Charlie to his feet first.

He was heavily leaning on her and his lips can't seem to keep off hers and he won't stop talking, "Tonksie, did you know the first time I saw you," He started, "you were so beautiful,"

Tonks scrunched up her face at that memory, "I've just blown up something in potions and was trying to get cleaned up in the hallway…"

"Yes," Charlie nodded, laughing and for a moment, Tonks thought he was sober, "you were covered in some green slimy mess… it was all over your hair and face and hands. Your hair was red though and your skin," He touched her cheek with his fingers, "you blushed when you caught me staring,"

Tonks remembered it well. A burly boy for their age was staring at her. She never wanted to squirm away more than she did at that moment for she imagined she must be a mess. Embarassingly, Tonks also remembered thinking what a good looking boy he was too, with his freckles and red hair and brown warm eyes.

Charlie held her face in his hands, "Tonksie, we could've been together and you knew it. I would've given dragons up for you if you have asked me to, damn it!"

Tonks froze; she did not know that and didn't have to, not when she was getting married to Remus.

"I would've given up anything for you! I just needed an excuse…" Charlie gazed at her and Tonks saw something in his eyes that made her shy away from his touch only half heartedly.

"I would never ask you to give up your dream for me," Tonks muttered.

"Then why do you start now?" He challenged. leaning in, "my dreams were always you, Tonksie," Charlie pressed his lips to hers and this time, Tonks was frozen, stunned. He kissed her slowly. She could taste the bitter burn of the firewhiskey. She could feel the sweet hot passion he had for her. Tonks just didn't know if she felt the same for him as he backed her onto the bed. She sat, stunned as Charlie gently nudged her to lay down. Tonks was mildly aware of Charlie unbuttoning her blouse with the agility a drunken man shouldn't have.

"Charlie," Her voice was thick as she placed a hand on his to stop him, "I love Remus,"

Charlie scoffed, "I can hear the uncertainty in your voice…"

"No!" She shoved him off from above her, "I do love him,"

Charlie sat on the bed beside her with a hurt look on his face, "You wanted me,"

Tonks was speechless. If she was to deny, why didn't she stop him from the start?

"We can never be together, Charlie," She said through clenched teeth as she buttoned up her blouse.

"Why not?" His voice was indignant. She didn't reply him but made to stand from the bed. His hand reached out and grabbed hers. Tonks looked at him and wished she hadn't. His eyes were watery pools of warm chocolate brown, his lips hung slightly ajar as he looked up at her, "don't leave me,"

"Char…don't, please," She gritted her teeth and yanked her hand away roughly and strutted for the door purposefully.

"Tell me this at least!" Charlie's voice was shaky and Tonks could imagine tears already paving a way down his freckled cheek but she couldn't bear to look. She paused, "do you love me?"

She felt her own eyes stinging, "I will always love you, Charlie. You're my best friend," Tonks heard her voice crack and she covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a sob from escaping her lips as she slipped out the door.

Tonks walked down the corridor hurriedly and broke into a run. She descended the stairs noisily, tripping over the last step at the bottom and fell right into Remus' arms.

He saw her tears. Leaning over, he kissed them away, painfully gentle. She sobbed and he held her quietly. There were no questions asked as he slipped his hand into hers, guiding her out the door.

Remus felt an ache in his chest as he walked with Tonks out of Grimmauld. She loved Charlie Weasley and he knew it, he saw it; their exchange, through the door left ajar.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this one! Thank you to the reviewers of the previous chapter, I love reading them! Please do drop me a review for this one! Thanks!