Chapter 44: Preparations

"Remus!"

He marked his page before putting the book aside. Knowing what it was all about, Remus had the decency to go to his wife looking sheepish. She was standing in the kitchen, dangerous territory for her but she wanted a cookie. She was always starving after she returned from work. Remus peered into the kitchen tentatively as she turned.

Dora was wearing her hair red; which meant she was really angry. He gulped, looking behind her to see his stash of chocolate exposed.

"What is this?" She demanded.

Remus shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant rather than guilty, "Chocolate…" She raised a brow and he continued, "From honeydukes…." His voice trailed off.

She placed her hands on her hips and it brought his attention to the skin tight tank top she changed into from her Auror uniform on a hot summer evening. It took him a moment to realise she's speaking, "Why did you buy so many?" She was frowning, "I know you like chocolate but this is absolutely ridiculous…where will I put the coffee and tea now?"

He glanced up and she was right. His stash of chocolate hogged up the whole overhead cupboard but it didn't felt like much when he was purchasing them.

"I bought some of your favourite," Remus offered weakly and Dora looked, evidently surprised when she noticed, "you still like the coffee ones right? The ones with the peanuts in it…" He bit his lips, feeling nervous for his chocolate, knowing Dora was more than capable of blasting them into oblivion.

He saw the edge of her lips twitch with a hint of a smile and her grey eyes softened and Remus felt himself let out a breath of relief.

"The last time I had those…" Dora paused, "it was at least 2 years ago, Remus," She allowed a small smile as she took his face in her hands, "and not some, you bought the shelf down,"

Remus chuckled, "No I didn't," he assured, "and the coffee and tea fits perfectly in the drawer,"

"Can you not live without chocolate?" Dora smirked.

"I can't live without you,"

Dora frowned, "Where did you learn that?" Remus smiled guiltily, knowing nothing escapes her. She chewed her lip as she thought, "it sounds like….Sirius Black," Her beautiful grey eyes were watching him intensely, making him squirm. After their wedding, Remus dropped in to check on Sirius and it ended up being an afternoon of plotting how to convince Tonks that having excess chocolate in the house would not hurt. Sirius insisted that being romantic and sweet always worked in having the woman agree to anything.

He sighed, nodding before looking at her imploringly, "Dora, it's just chocolate… please don't throw them out?"

"Don't look at me like that, you know I can't say no to that," She snapped and Remus grinned, "and what makes you think I'll throw them out," She frowned.

He shrugged, chuckling, "my mum used to throw them out. I ate so much of that I got sick," At her raised brow, he ducked his head and grabbed one off the shelf, tearing off the wrapper, "here," He offered her one and she ate.

"It's good," She commented with a smile.

"So…" Remus watched her and glanced at his chocolate.

"So, I'm cool with it. As long as you don't sleep with them and you don't eat so much you get sick," Dora rolled her eyes. Remus laughed in triumph, kissing her deeply on her lips, pulling away to see her in absolute shock, "Wow," She laughed, "you do love chocolate more than you love me!"

He grinned, "you're catching up fast, Dora,"

Remus smiled at her as they both put on their coat before heading out the door to apparate. Before they did, Tonks touched his shoulder and he turned to her with a questioning look on his face.

She smiled at him, "when we get back from the meeting, I have some good news to tell you,"

Remus frowned, puzzled before nodding.

Grimmauld Place looked the same. The streets were quiet despite it being summer and they both knew it was due to the destruction that Voldemort paved, even in the muggle world.

"Come on," He muttered, placing an assuring hand on the small of her back as they kept their heads low and walked up to the door of Grimmauld. Tonks turned the handle and they slipped in. Remus took her hand comfortably now, almost a habit. He didn't see her smile at him, squeezing his hand, as he was listening and watching. Grimmauld place was always quiet for the portrait of Walburga Black but they could hear noises from the kitchen.

She stifled a cry of surprise as she tripped over the umbrella stand, held steady by Remus who smiled back at her.

"Hi Moony, hello cuz!" Sirius waved exuberantly, winking at her and she knew what he was still on about; their marriage.

She rolled her eyes, "Wotcher, prick,"

Sirius winced, "touché cousin. Is Moony not giving you a good time in marriage?"

"Shut up," Dora snapped, a small smile on her lips as she rounded the table and hugged her cousin heartily.

"Remus, Tonks! We have cake here, help yourselves!" Molly walked around the table, hugging them both.

"Thank you, Molly," Remus replied, seating himself beside Tonks.

After a moment later, members of the Order gathered around the table. There were Dedalus Diggle, Snape, Kingsley, Hagrid, Mundungus, Fred, George, Bill, Fleur, Arthur and Molly. Tonks was surprised to see Ron and Hermione there as well and waved to them.

It was awkward for a moment as silence hung in the air. Kingsley cleared his throat and stood, "Thank you for coming. If a few of you weren't inform, we're here to discuss how we're going to escort Harry from Privet Drive as the protection his aunt placed on him will be gone by the time he turns 17 in 2 weeks time. Maybe if any of you have any ideas…please offer them," He finished. Tonks smiled as she caught his eye, nodding.

"Floo? Portkey? Apparition?" Diggle spoke up.

Remus shook his head, "The ministry have close tabs on that, don't they?" Both Tonks and Kingsley nodded, "they can't know we're shifting Harry. For all we know, Voldemort-" Many people winced around the table, "have already infiltrated the ministry," his voice tightened as he finished, squeezing Tonks' hand under the table.

"Remus is right," Arthur seconded.

"We can fly him," Tonks offered, "the last time we did that and it went well. Harry flew well,"

There were nods all around and Sirius grinned at her.

"When will we be shifting him?" Sirius asked, "On his birthday?"

Kingsley shook his head, "it would have to be quicker than that; they would expect us to shift him on his birthday," They agreed that they will be shifting Harry on the 27th and went on to be stumped as to how they would ensure it was safer.

Considering the same escort they had, everyone agreed it wasn't foolproof if they were really attacked.

Mundungus raised his hand, "maybe we could have more than 1 Harry, like clones of him to throw death eaters off his trail if it comes to that,"

The others were stumped that Mundungus was participating momentarily. They pondered it nonetheless before nods were seen around the table.

"Polyjuice potion should do the trick," Bill offered, "and every 'Harry' should travel with someone, for safety and realism of course,"

"We volunteer to be 'Harry's," Fred and George said and Kingsley glanced to Molly's pale face before nodding.

"7 Harrys should be just enough," Kingsley said, "Anyone else volunteers?"

"Us," Hermione raised her hand, gesturing at Ron as well and Kingsley nodded.

"I will do tiz for 'arry," Fleur spoke and Bill smiled sideways at her.

The kitchen fell into silence again as no one else volunteered.

Kingsley cleared his throat, "Tonks? Your morph actually makes you an ideal candidate to be a 'Harry',"

She blinked, "King, I'll be much more useful as a protector-"

"I agree with Kingsley," Remus muttered and she turned to him, aghast. Then she realised what they were on about and Remus spoke, confirming her suspicions, "Dora, they'll recognise you…"

"I can take care of myself and whoever I'm protecting," She insisted, "Dung can't possibly be a protector," Tonks countered, jerking her chin to the corner where Mundungus was slumped over. Kingsley sighed, kicking his chair and the man in question jerked awake.

"What?" He sniffed, blinking.

Kingsley turned back to Tonks, nodding after a glance as Remus, "Okay, Dung will be our last 'Harry' and the protectors will be…?"

A few hands were raised and Kingsley read them off, "myself, Arthur, Bill, Remus, Tonks-" Remus frowned, "Hagrid and…Sirius…"

Molly was the first to protest.

"We're all going to hell if this goes badly, Molly. What makes you think I should sit this out and bury you all," There were hisses and winces around the table at Sirius' crude and morbid words but that effectively silenced the lot of protests he had.

"Okay, so we have six and of course we'll have to escort Harry's relatives. Dedalus?" Kingsley turned to the man who nodded.

"Sure thing Kingsley, I'll set up a safehouse for them and escort them there before our mission goes underway,"

They next discussed the destination and agreed that it shouldn't be the same destination for it would be too conspicuous and defeat the purpose of having diversions. They decided to use portkeys to arrive at the burrow from their given destination to regroup. It took them another hour to come up with 7 safe houses with Tonks offering her parents' house, fulfilling Andromeda's wish to be more involved since their daughter was already 'wand deep in it'.

The meeting ended on a solemn note to meet up the evening of 27th at Grimmauld before many of the members flooded out of the kitchen.

Tonks noticed Remus' rigid posture and his eyes stubbornly set to look forward and instantly knew he was mad at her. Tentatively, she slipped a hand into his and he took her hand but his hold lack that relaxed and soft touch.

"Tonksie, how's married life?" Sirius began conversationally behind her.

She gazed at Remus for a couple of seconds before sighing and turning to Sirius, "Good. Remus is an excellent husband,"

Sirius rolled his eyes, "Excellent?" He snorted, "only if excellent had the same meaning as lecherous. Or unless you're talking about his bed skills which I know nothing of, other than that he snores, but I did hear he is pretty good,"

Remus shook his head at Sirius, closing his eyes momentarily while Tonks smirked, turning away.

At the end of the table, Molly clucked her tongue as she caught wind of their conversation, glancing to see her kids otherwise occupied and looked relief.

"Molly," Remus spoke abruptly, rising from his chair, "We'll be making a move,"

"We are?" Tonks turned to him, frowning but mirrored him nonetheless.

"Won't you having dinner before leaving?" Molly asked with a frown. Remus smiled and shook his head kindly before excusing himself and Tonks from Grimmauld Place. Sirius pursed his lips as he silently watched them leave.

Tonks offered him a small wave before disappearing out the door.

As they exited Grimmauld place, Remus stopped.

"Remus?" She touched his arm and was surprised as he pulled her into a firm hug. Without warning, he disapparated, bringing her along. It took all her self control not to struggle or even twitch as she would splinch.

As they materialize on the outskirts of their house, she scowled, pushing him away, "what the hell was that?" Tonks instantly regretted sounding harsher than she intended. She felt humiliated and angry with him for bringing her on side-long apparition without asking her. Remus didn't reply, studying her face with guarded blue eyes, "Remus!"

He spoke calmly, "why are you so very much against being protected?" Hurt flinted across his eyes and Tonks paused.

She set her jaw, brows knitted and no doubt, her hair was shoulder length and red, "I don't need protection, I'm an Auror, Remus. For Merlin's sake-" For the second time that day, Remus grabbed her around her shoulders and pulled her in for a hug, his arms had an iron grip around her. For the first time, Tonks fought his embrace, trying to squirm away but he was stronger than she was physically.

"I know you're an Auror," His voice was soft but firm, his teeth clenched, "Dora, you are so precious to me. Why can't you understand and let me protect you, give me a peace of mind that I can protect my wife and that my wife is safe! That's all I want! I don't want to lose you!" He sounded absolutely torn, "I just wish I could apparate you away from everything, from this war, from danger,"

She had never heard him talk to her, agitated, like that. She stopped squirming away, the side of her head pressed up against his chest, her smaller frame wrapped up snugly in his arms.

"You don't know what 'dangerous' is," He muttered, calming as she did. Tonks glanced out the corner of her eye to see her hair fading from red to pink. His embrace was comfortable, safe, warm and nice… she felt like she could stay there forever, "and I know worry too well,"

She picked at the lapels of his brown coat, "You won't lose me,"

He tightened his embrace on her, "I just feel like…you're slipping away no matter how tightly I hold onto you. Like this war is going to take you away from me forever,"

Tonks lifted her head off his chest to look him in the eye, "Just don't let me go,"

Remus chuckled bitterly, "I have a problem with that. Whoever I try to hold onto, I lose grasp on them,"

Planting a chaste kiss on his lips, she pressed her face into his neck, "not me,"

Tonks turned over in her sleep, bumping into her husband lightly. She woke, being trained to be a light sleeper. Opening her eyes, she could see some light filtering through the curtains and from that, see the face of her husband. He slept on his stomach again and half his face was buried in his pillow. He snored lightly, barely stirring as she bumped into him.

Smiling, she reached to brush aside his fringe which was growing longer and needed cutting. Suddenly, a wave of nausea hit her and Tonks shot out of bed, running to the toilet. She dropped to her knees by the toilet bowl, throwing up her dinner magnificently. It lasted a while but eventually came to a stop. She rinsed out the bile from her mouth, cringing at the aftertaste.

She glanced into the toilet bowl, frowning as she glimpsed the mess before flushing the toilet. Swallowing, she pressed a hand to her belly. She realised that she was shaking. Tonks had mildly suspected it when she was late but it was never confirmed. She wanted to tell Remus her suspicion last night but forgot all about it, amidst their slight disagreement. Signing up for the mission had been negligence on her part as she never thought it would be true and the thought of her becoming a mother was ridiculous but not so much now as she felt her belly.

Tonks realised her belly was slightly swollen, curving outwards as she felt it, she gulped.

"Dora?" Remus lumbered sleepily into the toilet, "did you vomit? I thought I heard something…" His eyes were half closed, his hair was in a magnificent mess. He was lacking a shirt and only wore his pyjamas pants. Tonks dropped her hand immediately, not knowing what made her do so, and smiled at him.

"I did," She replied, shrugging, "it's no big deal, I think the chicken last night made me a bit sick,"

Remus knitted his brows, touching her forehead, "no fever, how do you feel?"

Tonks took his hand from her forehead in between both of hers, "Absolutely fine," He scrutinized her for a moment before he succumbed to sleep, turning to head back to bed. Tonks looked down at her belly, "we will be fine, won't we?" She whispered.

A/N: I have put up a companion piece for this story, 'worth' that explores more of Mad-Eye's past! Do check it out and leave me a review! I'll post the second and last part to that piece shortly after this!

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Special thanks to my reviewers for the last chapter; pleione-x, Guest, remusdora, JKStorm501, Lupinesence! Thank you so much you guys!

Do leave me a review for this one! : )