Another Chapter. I don't own anything.
The news that Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks were dating spread quickly through out their houses. Neither one was overly known, Remus was simply known as being that tall fellow who was always with James Potter and Sirius Black, and Tonks was known for her wild hair, but Peeves had come upon them while they were still lip locked in the sixth floor corridor and had proceeded to go around the school singing rude songs about "loopy Lupin" and his kissing prowess.
Neither Tonks nor Remus could find it in them to care although it did get rather annoying when Sirius ad James stood outside Remus's four-poster at odd hours and serenaded him with Peeves song.
They had been going out for a week, when the full moon dawned again. It was a Friday evening, exams were coming in a week, and Tonks again had detention, although this time Shannon Finnegan was there for company. They were in a green house with professor Sprout cleaning after that weeks lessons. As she bent to deposit some clippings in the compost heap a particularly vicious looking plant tried to grab Tonks.
"Enough of that you!" Professor sprout admonished briskly hitting the plant which let go of Tonks's arm and slunk back like a chastised puppy. "Keep your eyes sharp," Professor sprout warned both girls. "You don't…"
Whatever it was she was going to say was cut off by the sound of yelling on the grounds. As the voices got closer professor Sprout pulled out her wand and advanced to the door. "Stay here." She warned as she exited the green house.
As soon as she was gone Tonks dropped the mandrake leaves she was holding and followed her.
"What're you doing?" Shannon hissed. "She told us to stay here!"
Tonks glanced back. "You can if you want, but I'm going to see what's going on." She then exited the green house and stepped out onto the grounds, her wand palmed securely in her hand. In the dark it took her a moment to see where the commotion was coming from and where it was Professor Sprout had gone. Finally she spotted her and three other figures down by the whomping willow.
Fear gripped her. Was something wrong with Remus? She moved closer until she was close enough to hear what the raised voices were saying, but not close enough that she could be clearly seen in the dark.
"Mr. Snape I urge you to please calm down!" Professor McGonagall was saying sounding as if she was winded from running down from the castle. Tonks could just imagine the furious glare that would be on her face.
"Potter?" Professor Sprout was saying, "What is the meaning of this? What are you doing out here near this tree?"
Before James could answer Snape was exclaiming, "He tried to kill me! He and Black. They sent me out here, told me how to access this tree, knowing what I would find in the tunnel underneath it. Knowing that Lupin would be waiting to attack me!"
There was a silence then and the tension in the air was palpable. Finally James said, "Professor McGonagall? Maybe we should go see Professor Dumbledore."
"Yes Potter, I think that is just what we will do." She said sounding surprised he had suggested it. "I will fetch Mr. Black as well. Is Mr. Lupin quite closed in down there?" she asked almost gently considering the situation.
"Yes Professor. I closed the door."
They began moving and Tonks quickly backtracked to the green houses. She arrived back to find Shannon sullenly throwing stems into the compost pile. Quickly she picked up her leaves and began throwing the on to the pile as Professor Sprout reentered. "Bad business." She was muttering to herself. "You may leave girls. Mind you head straight back to the common room."
Tonks waited until she was sure Shannon would have reached the castle and then followed. She had no desire to walk back with her.
She couldn't believe James and Sirius would do something like that. What were they thinking?! It was Remus's worst fear almost realized. How could they do that to him? Behind her she could hear pained howls and it made her feel like crying. She knew that he was probably hurting himself now in rage over missing the prey that had walked in on him. His wolfish instincts would have kicked in and that was going to make it all the harder to convince him that it wasn't his fault.
First thing the next morning Tonks headed for the hospital wing where she knew Remus would be. When she arrived she found she wasn't his first visitor. James and Sirius were there, the later looking furious. Sirius looked pained and was talking quickly to Remus who was sitting up in the bed looking horrified. Behind them all lurked Peter looking nervous.
" I'm really sorry Remus." Sirius was saying. "I didn't think, I just …"
"No you didn't." Remus's voice sounded hollow. "You never do. Just go." He closed his eyes, as if to block the world out. Sirius hesitated seeming to want to say more but James shook his head slightly and gestured for peter and him to follow. As they passed Tonks James nodded, but Sirius wouldn't even meet her gaze. After they had gone she silently approached Remus's bed. He had his head in his hands and looked as if he was trying to hold himself together.
"Wotcher." She said softly.
Remus raised his head and their eyes locked. He looked exhausted as usual but there was also something else. It was a look that one gets when they feel as if they have been betrayed.
"You don't have to tell me what happened." She told him sitting in the chair beside the bed after pulling it as close as it would go. "I had detention with Sprout, I heard the whole commotion that happened after."
He shook his head. "It was Sirius." He said without emotion. "He told Snape what to do, if James hadn't stopped him…" he shook his head.
She reached out and grasped his hand in hers. "But he did. What's going to happen now?"
"That is what I am here to discuss Ms. Tonks."
Both she and Remus looked behind her. Professor Dumbledore smiled at them both, his blue eyes twinkling. "Am I right in assuming that you know of Mr. Lupin's condition?"
Tonks nodded. She always felt like fidgeting when Dumbledore's gaze fell on her. "Yes sir. I figured it out about a year ago."
"I daresay I do not have to ask you not tell anyone. You seem to be doing a good job of that yourself. You are very lucky in your friends Remus . As to "
"Is Severus alright?" Remus interjected. Tonks squeezed his hand trying to reassure him.
"He will recover from his shock. I have instructed him not to tell anyone of what transpired last night. I have the greatest confidence that he shall comply with my wishes. I fear he shall nurse a deep resentment though. Many are not comfortable in owing another their lives."
"I don't have to leave then?" Remus sounded shocked, he had been sure that this was going to be the end of his time at Hogwarts.
"No. You do not. Unless you wish to of course?"
Remus shook his head. "No sir.'
Dumbledore beamed. "Very good. I shall leave you in Ms. Tonks's capable hands although I daresay Madam Pomfrey would like to have a look at you."
Indeed, Madame Pomfrey had been lurking a few feet away looking as if she would very much like to see to her patient.
Dumbledore left then, as quietly as he had come and Madame Pomfrey bustled forward. For once she didn't try to kick Tonks out while she checked over Remus's wounds and for that he was grateful. Having Dora there was giving him a comfort he desperately needed.
Remus stayed in the hospital wing for the rest of the weekend and then rejoined his classes on Monday. Tonks kept trying to get him to admit he was angry, she didn't think it was good for him to keep it locked up, but he refused to so mush as poke Sirius.
She kept waiting for the moment when he would blow up to come, but it didn't arrive until after the exam's.
The last exams of the year had just ended and everyone was taking advantage of the hot weather to spend a last few hours on the grounds. Tonks sat with Cally by the lake and James and Peter were near by. James was chatting up Lily and for once she was talking back without glaring or calling him big headed. Sirius had gone to pilfer Butter beer from the kitchen and Remus had disappeared up to Gryffindor tower.
"There you are!" James called loudly when he saw Sirius coming. "What took-what the hell happened to you Padfoot?!"
This exclamation caused everyone to look to where Sirius was. He was grinning widely, but his nose was bleeding and he looked like he would have a black eye.
"Was it Snivellus?" Peter asked when Sirius had reached them.
Sirius laughed and shook his head, causing blood to fly, as he handed out bottles of Butter beer. "It was Moony!" he said gleefully.
'Remus?" Lily asked shocked. He had never seemed the type to use violence.
Sirius nodded. "He's got himself a mean right hook let me tell you. Think he may have broken my nose."
Both James and Peter were laughing as if this was the funniest thing they had ever heard. Sirius was still grinning like a fool and Lily now had her wand out and was attempting fix his nose.
"Epesky."
"Thanks Lil's." Sirius touched his nose gingerly.
"Moony!"
Everyone turned again to see Remus ambling down from the castle. Tonks was surprised to see he was smiling. "Since when do you go around starting fights with people who are bigger then you?" she admonished teasingly when he reached them.
"Since they deserve it," he said placing an arm around her. "I didn't break your nose did I?" he asked Sirius.
"No worries, Lily fixed it. Where the hell did you learn to punch like that?"
Remus smirked. "You. Last time you were drunk you insisted on showing me the proper way to fight someone muggle style. Merlin knows where you learned it."
Sirius laughed. "I'm too good a teacher. I'm not even going to go get this fixed." He said pointing to his eye. "It hurts like hell but the girls will think it's damn sexy."
James was still laughing and this admission sent him off again.
Sirius looked at Remus again. "We good mate?"
Remus nodded. "We're good."
Cally stood and leaned into Tonks so she could whisper in her ear. "Your friends are crazy."
"I know." Tonks said happily, as all four of the marauders were now laughing. "They're completely mental."