Just another take on a Tonks is a werewolf story. And I can not deny, I love the idea of mates among werewolves and have seen it often in fics with these two.
It'll hopefully span from OoTP-DH.
Also, I'll be using scenes from the books.
Obviously, if you recognise it, I don't own it.
I did not realise it would be so difficult to write out OoTP, my GOD
Which will be very different from canon.
Second part of this chapter is FROM THE BOOK, altered a bit.
"Oh, Professor Lupin, hi!" Hermione greeted cheerfully from halfway up the stairs as they entered with her father.
"I'm not your teacher anymore, Hermione, you can call me Remus." Remus said, and then gestured to Tonks. "This is Nymphadora-"
"Call me Tonks." Tonks said quickly, and Hermione flashed her a friendly smile as her father spoke.
"Did you find it, then?" James asked. Hermione nodded, holding up a book.
"Crookshanks must have knocked it knocked it from the shelf." Hermione said. "I'll get my trunk, Prof- Remus."
Hermione disappeared back up the stairs as a woman walked into the front hallway. "You must be Remus." The woman said, holding out a hand. "I'm Kathleen."
Remus shook her hand then gestured to Tonks. "This is Tonks."
Kathleen shook Tonks' hand. "It's always lovely to meet more witches and wizards." Kathleen said. "As a parent, I think it's important we know who she'll be spending the rest of the summer with. You two will be around her a lot, right?"
"I'll be around daily, I live at the house she'll be staying at. Ron and the other Weasleys are there as well." Remus explained. "And Tonks is there very often."
Hermione appeared at the top of the stairs, and James went up immediately to take her trunk from her.
"How will you be traveling to the house?" Kathleen asked as James set the trunk down.
"We were thinking of brooms, but I'm personally not a fan of brooms." Remus explained. "We'll be Apparating. Have you Apparated before, Hermione?"
"Once, when Professor McGonagall escorted us to Diagon Alley before first year." Hermione said. "Mum, Dad, you remember that, right?''
"Oh, that was unpleasant." Kathleen said. "Is it the easiest way to travel?"
"Not the easiest, but the fastest." Tonks explained.
After a few more questions passing between the adults, Remus took Hermione's trunk and they made their way down the pathway.
"Are we going to the Burrow?" Hermione asked, as Remus placed the trunk down in the alley they had appeared in.
"No." Remus said. "Tonks, will you take the trunk?"
"I can take the cat too." Tonks said, shrinking the trunk and tucking it into her pocket. "If it'll let me."
"Crookshanks doesn't mind me, he won't mind you." Remus said.
Hermione looked confused for a moment, but handed over the basket that contained her cat. The cat hissed, which didn't surprise Tonks in the least, but remained calm otherwise- which did surprise Tonks, because the cat she had had throughout her years at Hogwarts became intensely violent towards her after she had been bitten, and they had sent the cat to live with her grandparents.
"Headquarters." Remus said to Tonks, who rolled her eyes.
"Where else would I go, Remus?" She asked. "I'm not going to take her cat to bloody France!" Remus smiled slightly, and she narrowed her eyes. "You're a jerk, Lupin."
"Am I?" Remus asked. "Perhaps when you know me better, you'll think differently."
"Just go, I'll meet you there." Tonks said, disappearing with a loud crack.
"There you two are, we began to wonder!" Molly said, rushing forward. She hugged Hermione while Tonks set down Crookshanks and restored Hermione's trunk. "The Order meeting is about to start, I'll show Hermione upstairs."
Hermione picked up Crookshanks and Molly picked up her trunk, leading her up the stairs.
"It'll be another ten minute meeting, I bet you." Tonks said, as she and Remus made their way downstairs to the kitchen. The kitchen was crowded, and Remus and Tonks took the last two empty chairs.
Dumbledore stood, and the mutterings from the various Order members stopped. "I do hope we may catch a break from holding such frequent meetings." Dumbledore began. "However, I learned some rather interesting news this afternoon, and I believe I know the best course of action. As many of you know, Rubeus Hagrid has gone to try to convince giants to join our side. I received news from him today that there are other creatures being asked to join Lord Voldemort. I already believe I know of a few who have done so, but I also believe we do have a chance to recruit for ourselves."
"From what I've gathered, Fenrir Greyback and his pack of werewolves have already joined Lord Voldemort's ranks." Dumbledore continued after a moment. "I don't believe they'll ever be considered proper Death Eaters- because werewolves are considered as low as Muggles in their eyes. However, we have two werewolves in our number, and it would never hurt to try to gain more. There is a pack in Northern Scotland, the alpha asked a favour of me many years ago, and I do believe we will be able to gain allies from him and his pack. I ask, however, that Nymphadora go alone."
"Me?" Tonks asked.
"I'll go instead." Remus said quickly. "You can't send an unknown female werewolf into a pack, that never ends well-"
Dumbledore held up a hand. "I would never put someone in danger purposely, Remus." He said. "However, it is well known that you were once a member of Greyback's pack, and other packs are unlikely to accept you. Nymphadora, however, has never been in a pack before-"
"Exactly." Remus said. "She's never been marked by a pack,-"
"I'm sorry, but why would I have to join the pack?" Tonks asked. "Why not just go and talk to them?"
"You would have to gain the alpha's trust first, you may not actually meet the alpha for months." Remus said. "Unless you have a plan for her to gain the favour of the alpha immediately, Albus?"
"Actually, I do believe there is a way to do just that." Dumbledore said. "Metamorphmagi are rare. Metamorphmagi who are werewolves are even rarer."
"You want me to gain rank using my abilities?" Tonks asked.
"I believe it may help."
"But being a Metamorphmagus, it has no impact on being a werewolf-"
"Not many people realise that." Dumbledore explained calmly. "Remus, do you recall the myth of Tatiana?"
"She was a shapeshifter who could control when she transformed, she didn't need the moon." Remus said. "You think Tonks can gain rank because of that old myth?"
"It is believed, if you recall, that she was a witch and a Metamorphmagus." Dumbledore said. "Muggles don't mention the legend very much anymore, but I hear it is still popular among werewolves."
"It's popular because controlling transformations is what most of them want." Remus said. "Not because we believe it's true."
Tonks realised she was actually surprised that Remus seemed to want to argue to keep her away from packs. After all, they had barely just met, why would he even care where she was, especially when they had both admitted neither were interested in a relationship?
"If you think they'll join the Order, I don't see why I wouldn't be safe." Tonks said.
"You won't have Wolfsbane." Remus said. "True packs won't allow it to be used."
"I'm sure I'll survive."
"I believe it'll be best for you to spend a full moon among the Order without Wolfsbane, so that you know how it'll feel once you're among the pack." Dumbledore said, and Tonks nodded. "Now that we've settled that..."
"I don't like it." Remus said to her quietly.
"Well, you're not my boss." She spat back.
"...because of this, I believe we should begin routine watches on Harry." Dumbledore was saying. "While we have some of you at the Ministry, the rest can split up into guard duty to keep an eye on Harry. Alastor, I trust you can create a schedule for that?"
"Do you have any idea what a pack is like?" Remus demanded, when they were alone in the sitting room a few minutes after the meeting ended.
"If Dumbledore thinks they'll join the Order, how bad can they be?"
"Very bad." Remus said. "If a werewolf joins a pack, it's likely that they've given up as witches or wizards. They've stopped being human, they're simply the wolf now."
"I'm sure I can survive."
"You won't have Wolfsbane."
"I'll be fine."
"Have you ever transformed without it?"
"Well, no, but-"
"This is a terrible idea, there must be other ways to recruit members." Remus said.
"I'm sure there is, but this is to recruit werewolves. And you can't do it, so..."
"I still don't like it." Remus said.
"Too bad." Tonks said. "You said you didn't want a relationship despite us being life mates, so you can't sit there and act like a concerned-"
"I am concerned!" Remus said. "You've never gone without Wolfsbane, you've never been in a pack-"
"How about this, Lupin, when we're in a committed relationship... you still have no say over what I do."
"I'm not trying to control you, Nymphadora-"
"Don't call me that!" She snapped, her hair shifting to red. "Remus, just because you're my mate doesn't mean you have any right to tell me what I should or shouldn't do."
"That's not what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to protect-"
"Don't." Tonks said. "I joined the Order, I have to do dangerous things sometimes, right?"
"This is-"
The door opened and Moody entered, holding a roll of parchment. "Mundungus is watching tonight, Arabella Figg is watching Dung. You two are watching tomorrow."
"Both of us?" Tonks asked, and Moody gave her a look.
"Yes, so you two should resolve that argument before you go and watch the Potter boy. Muggle clothes, you don't want to be noticeable." Moody said, turning and leaving the room before she could say anything else.
"Do you even own Muggle clothes?" Tonks asked Remus, who looked like he was very tempted to roll his eyes at her.
"Yes, I do."
"Clothes that don't make you look like Indiana Jones when he's teaching his class?"
"Who?"
"Indiana Jones." Tonks said, but Remus shook his head slowly. "It's a damn movie, Remus! You're telling me you have never heard of Indiana Jones?"
"I'm telling you I've never heard of Indiana Jones."
"I kind of thought that's where you got your fashion sense from." Tonks said.
"Are you done insulting my clothes?" Remus asked.
"Are you going to dress like Indiana Jones tomorrow?"
Remus sighed loudly. "I'll borrow clothes from Sirius."
The next day, she didn't see Remus until shortly before they were supposed to leave to watch Harry. He left the house for most of the day, saying he had some things of Sirius' that he'd go and get from his old cottage.
Sirius was happy to get some of his own clothes back, even if they didn't fit exactly as they had before and were a little outdated from being in storage for nearly fifteen years.
However... the tee shirt and jeans looked a lot better than Tonks really expected. He had scars on his arms, and she wondered how many more scars he had. It made her feel guilty, for some reason, knowing he had gone through years of moons without Wolfsbane, while she had never gone a single one.
She had to let Remus Side-Along her to the neighbourhood Harry lived in, because he admitted he had been there a few times over the years "just to see".
"Which house is it?" Tonks asked as they walked down the street.
"The one we just passed is Arabella Figg's." Remus said, and pointed to a house across the street and a few houses down. "That one is where Harry lives."
"Did you see him often?" Tonks asked.
"I'd come by, walk down the street just to see if I could see him. I only saw him once." Remus said. "He looked healthy, but I never liked the Dursleys anyway."
"Do you think he's at home?" Tonks asked.
"No, he's probably not." Remus said. "Arabella said there was an altercation yesterday, right?"
"Right, something about Dung."
"Right, so I don't think he'd be home." Remus said. "There's a park nearby, we can see if he's there. If not, just keep an eye on the house."
Tonks nodded, and they continued walking. "Remus, don't you think he might recognise you?"
"Probably not." Remus said. "I don't generally wear jeans, Nymphadora-"
"Don't call me that."
Remus laughed quietly. "Tonks, then."
"Thank you."
"Anyway, I don't think Harry will even give us a second look if we happen to be near him." Remus said. They walked into the park, Remus taking her arm and leading her to a bench in the shadow of some trees. "He's there." Remus explained, pointing to a set of swings.
They sat, and Tonks looked over at Harry, scrawny with messy black hair, sitting on the swing, staring at the ground beneath his feet. A group of teen boys, loud and boisterous passed down the path behind the bench Tonks and Remus were sitting.
Remus ducked his head as Harry looked up, and Tonks turned away so she wasn't caught staring at the boy. A moment later, the boys were gone and Harry had stood, stretching. They watched him walk slowly to the locked gate they had entered through, and realised he was following the teen boys.
"One must be his cousin." Tonks said. They stood after a moment, following him from a distance. If they were caught like Dung had been the day before, he'd probably be upset again.
Harry paused beneath a lilac tree, watching as the group of boys began to chat again.
''… squealed like a pig, didn't he?'' One was saying.
''Nice right hook, Big D." Another said, laughing.
''Same time tomorrow?'' 'Big D' asked.
"Dudley." Remus whispered to Tonks, who nodded.
''Round at my place, my parents will be out." The third one said.
"See you then." Dudley said, as the others turned to leave.
''Bye, Dud!''
''See ya, Big D!''
Harry waited another moment, finally following Dudley as soon as the others were out of sight. He caught up to Dudley, who was humming tunelessly. Tonks and Remus maintained their distance, but Tonks realised he looked a little tense.
''Hey, Big D!'' Harry called, and Dudley turned.
"Oh, it's you." Dudley grunted.
"How long have you been 'Big D', then?"
''Shut it." Dudley snarled, turning away.
''Cool name.'' Harry said, falling into step beside his cousin. ''But you'll always be 'Ickle Diddykins' to me.''
''I said, SHUT IT!'' Dudley snapped, his hands curling into fists.
"Is he trying to start a fight?" Tonks asked, but Remus didn't answer, and she noticed his hand was in his pocket, no doubt gripping his wand.
"Don't the boys know that's what your mum calls you?''
''Shut your face.''
''You don't tell her to shut her face. What about 'Popkin' and 'Dinky Diddydums', can I use them then?'' Harry asked.
''So who've you been beating up tonight?'' Harry asked, his grin fading. ''Another ten-year-old? I know you did Mark Evans two nights ago -''
''He was asking for it.'' Dudley snarled.
''Oh yeah?''
"He cheeked me.''
''Yeah? Did he say you look like a pig that's been taught to walk on its hind legs? 'Cause that's not cheek, Dud, that's true." Harry said, and Tonks was stunned that Harry seemed so at ease picking at someone nearly twice his size.
"Think you're a big man carrying that thing, don't you?' Dudley said after a few seconds of tense silence.
"What thing?'' Harry asked, his voice sounding falsely innocent.
''That - that thing you are hiding.''
''Not as stupid as you look, are you, Dud? But I suppose, if you were, you wouldn't be able to walk and talk at the same time." Harry said, and then he pulled his wand, nonchalantly. Tonks was shocked- wasn't that breaking the rules? Not only would the Ministry be upset if he cast magic while underage, but in front of a Muggle as well...
''You're not allowed.'' Dudley said at once. ''I know you're not. You'd get expelled from that freak school you go to.''
''How do you know they haven't changed the rules, Big D?''
"They haven't." Dudley said, but his voice sounded unsure, and they heard Harry laugh. ''You haven't got the guts to take me on without that thing, have you?''
"Whereas you just need four mates behind you before you can beat up a ten year old. You know that boxing title you keep banging on about? How old was your opponent? Seven? Eight?''
"He was sixteen, for your information, and he was out cold for twenty minutes after I'd finished with him and he was twice as heavy as you. You just wait till I tell Dad you had that thing out-"
''Running to Daddy now, are you? Is his ickle boxing champ frightened of nasty Harry's wand?''
''Not this brave at night, are you?'' Dudley sneered.
"This is night, Diddykins. That's what we call it when it goes all dark like this."
''I mean when you're in bed!'' Dudley snapped, stopping. Harry paused too, turning to face his cousin. Tonks and Remus stopped as well, staying in the shadows.
''What do you mean, I'm not brave when I'm in bed?'' Harry asked, sounding completely nonplussed. ''What am I supposed to be frightened of, pillows or something?"
''I heard you last night.'' Dudley said breathlessly. "Talking in your sleep. Moaning.''
''What do you mean?'" Harry asked, sounding almost a little concerned as Dudley laughed loudly.
''Don't kill Cedric! Don't kill Cedric!" Dudley cried, in a mocking tone. "Who's Cedric - your boyfriend?''
''I - you're lying,' said Harry automatically, and Tonks felt Remus tense up even more beside her as she gripped her wand automatically.
"Dad! Help me, Dad! He's going to kill me, Dad! Boo hoo!"
''Shut up. Shut up, Dudley, I'm warning you!''
''Come and help me, Dad! Mum, come and help me! He's killed Cedric! Dad, help me! He's going to - Don't you point that thing at me!" Dudley yelled, and both Remus and Tonks realised Harry had Dudley against the wall, his wand pointed at Dudley's chest.
"Should we...?" Tonks asked quietly, but Remus shook his head.
''Don't ever talk about that again. Do you understand me?'' Harry snarled, jabbing his wand tip against Dudley's chest.
''Point that thing somewhere else!'' Dudley cried, his voice shaking slightly.
"I said, do you understand me?''
''Point it somewhere else!'' Dudley yelled.
"Do you understand me?" Harry yelled.
"Point that thing-"
Dudley's voice broke off as something strange happened to the night. It seemed to grow cold quickly, a feeling of dread washing down and over the alleyway. Everything seemed silent, as if the entire world had frozen.
"Dementors." Remus whispered, and she turned away from the startled teen boys, to see two dementors gliding down the alley towards Harry and his cousin.