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.
*****Also, I edited something in CHAPTER SIX. If you notice it, cookies for you, considering it's relevant later ;)*****
And with this chapter, we return to Order of the Phoenix related topics!
I did not realise it would be so difficult to write out OoTP, my GOD
Which will be very different from canon.
Shoutout to my ladies, LesbianRavenclaw and Kem'Ajiana, because I'll be using them, as I've been used in Kem'Ajiana's stories(I believe two of them? and you should read her stories for sure because yas)
"You're Annalise?" Tonks asked. "I thought-"
"Yes, I'm aware of my sister's story and I'm aware that many believe I died at the age of five." Annalise said. "Unfortunately, a lot of her story is a lie." Annalise stood slowly, walking over to the tapestry. "I did fall ill, and our other sister did die, but I recovered. I was weak from the illness, and as a result, never attended school. I believe that most of her story was fabricated to make her seem sympathetic. Tatiana was a monster, and I do wish it becomes known one day."
"What about Edison?" Charlotte asked. "She was alright, right?"
"Edison and Deidre were sweet girls, very smart. I didn't get to spend much time with them, unfortunately. I was very isolated as a child."
"So, Tatiana... did she actually commit the murders?" Tonks asked.
"Oh, definitely not." Annalise said. "However, it's late. I can have my house elves run hot baths for you and fetch clean robes. They may not be very fashionable compared to what wizards might wear currently, but they'll be clean. I'll go summon my house elves outside of the sitting room, I don't want to wake the children until we have to move them to a more comfortable room."
"What are you looking forward to the most? What have you missed the most?" Charlotte asked casually, as they sat together on a bed in one of the guest rooms after they had all bathed and changed.
"That's a tough question." Cassie said, and Clare nodded. "I suppose, I've missed sweets a bit-"
Clare's eyes lit up. "Do you think Liam and Grace have ever had sweets? Oh, they should!"
"Oh, please, I can't wait for caffeine!" Charlotte said. "I'll be less of an arsehole-"
"Really?" Cassie asked.
"No." Charlotte said with a sly grin. "However, a cup of real cocoa, with marshmallows-"
"And biscuits!" Clare added.
"And sour sweets." Charlotte said.
"Walls." Cassie said. "A proper bed..."
"We're on a proper bed, Cass." Clare said. "I had almost forgotten how comfortable they are..."
"And how big! Oh, and hot baths whenever! Proper plumbing!" Cassie said. "Char, what about you? What do you miss the most?"
"Charlie." Charlotte said slowly. "Although, I suppose it doesn't matter. Knowing my luck, I'll meet my mate the moment we enter London and then Charlie won't matter."
"Doesn't mean you can't talk to Charlie." Tonks said.
"Talking isn't what I had in mind." Charlotte said, grinning. "Tonks, surely you have something you miss? Or someone?"
Tonks shrugged. "I haven't been gone as long-"
"It doesn't mean you can't miss things... or people..." Charlotte said. "Like your mother, maybe your father, or... your mate?"
Tonks shrugged again, her cheeks burning slightly. "I suppose I just missed being among wizards, honestly." Tonks said. "Actually, I do miss my mother, even though it's only been a few months... and Dad. They were upset when I told them I was leaving." She paused. "And I miss my wand."
"We'll get new ones, somehow." Cassie said. "I wonder if we should try to contact our families, Char. They deserve to know."
"I'll send a letter, but I can't put them in danger-" Charlotte began.
"You won't." Tonks said quickly. "When you're part of the Order, you'll have Wolfsbane. You won't hurt anyone."
"Does Wolfsbane actually work?" Clare asked, and Tonks nodded.
"Like, we don't have feel the pain?" Charlotte asked.
"Well, it's not completely painless, but you're in control and it lessens the worst of it." Tonks explained. "You might still injure yourself, you'll be tired and sore, but it's better than not having it."
The door opened and a house elf wearing a ratty tea towel entered slowly. "Mistress Annalise has asked to speak to Mistress Nymphadora about the Mistress Tatiana."
Tonks nodded, exchanging a shrug with the other three and following the house elf out of the room. They went downstairs, back into the sitting room, where another house elf was setting tea on the coffee table.
"Thank you, Rummy." Annalise said, and the house elf next to Tonks bowed. "If you would, I'd like you and Milly to take tea and sandwiches to the other ladies."
Both house elves bowed this time. "Yes, Mistress." They chorused, and walked from the room quickly. Annalise gestured to the couch beside her armchair and Tonks sat quietly.
Annalise poured a cup of tea, handing the cup to Tonks. "I just wanted to talk to you about Tatiana, away from the others."
"We stayed with Annalise for three days." Tonks said. "After that, she helped us find the nearest town, and a couple of Greyback's pack members found us. We managed to escape- I have no idea how- and that's where the bruises are from-"
"How did you get to London?" Remus asked.
"We found a wizarding pub, Flooed to the Leaky Cauldron, and walked." Tonks explained.
"You walked from the Leaky Cauldron?" Remus asked, looking surprised.
"Yes? It was only about an hour-"
"And how did you get them inside?" Remus asked.
"Well, I don't know, I just showed them?" Tonks said.
"Tonks..." Remus said slowly.
"Okay, fine! I had a copy of the address in my sock! Dumbledore gave it to me before he left me near the pack."
"Where is it now?" Remus asked.
She shrugged. "I'm saving it."
"For what, exactly?" Remus asked.
She shrugged again.
"Nymphadora, where is it?" Remus asked firmly. "If it gets misplaced-"
"It won't!" She argued. "I have it safe."
"Is it in your pocket?" Remus asked, but she didn't respond.
That was exactly where the parchment was, and she wasn't going to admit it. She knew he was right, and it should be burned again, but part of her just wanted to be stubborn for the sake of being stubborn.
After a few seconds of stubborn silence, she realised he had called her by her first name. "Since when do you call me Nymphadora?" She demanded.
"I always try, it doesn't usually take this long for you to notice." He said. "I could keep you calling you Nymphadora until you tell me where the parchment is."
"I won't tell."
"Nymphadora, it's a safety measure." Remus said, a smile tugging at his lips.
"I'm warning you..." She began, and could see the ends of her hair slowly turning red.
"You know, I prefer pink to red, Nymphadora." Remus said, and she glared.
"I will hit you-"
"You'd hit your mate, Nymphadora?" Remus asked, and she moved quickly, grabbing a pillow and swinging it at him. She hit his chest, and he grabbed her arm before she could withdraw the pillow. "That's not fair, Nymphadora, you didn't warn me."
"I did, technically." Tonks argued. "Can you let go of my hand?"
Remus shook his head. "No, Nymphadora, I think I'll hold onto it."
She tried to pull her hand away, but he tightened his grip. "Remus, I swear to Merlin, let go of my hand."
"Or what?"
She was quiet for a moment. "Or I'll-"
"Give me the parchment, love, I'll let go of your hand." Remus said. "Just so no one else can find the house."
Tonks huffed. She went to stand, and he released her hand. She pulled the piece of parchment out of the pocket of her shorts. "I told you, I had it safe." She said.
"And I told you, Nymphadora, it was in your pocket." Remus said, holding out his hand. She was quiet for a moment.
"What do I get?" She asked.
"I'll stop calling you Nymphadora." Remus said, but she shook her head.
"No, no, I've been gone three months, Remus. I need something better. I could just hide this again." Tonks said.
Remus stood, dropping the pillow onto the bed. "I'm taller than you, Nymphadora, I could just take it."
"Oh?" She asked, holding the parchment behind her back. "Is that so?"
He stepped closer, but she stepped back. "You took me on a date." She said. "You've been flirting-"
"I have not been flirting!" Remus argued.
"A kiss." She said. "Since you cowered from kissing me after the date."
"I did not."
"Did too." She said, smiling slyly. "You leaned towards me, you were definitely going to try, and then turned away at the last second!"
"I did not." Remus repeated. "I wasn't trying to kiss you-"
"Liar." She accused lightly.
Remus sighed, crossing his arms. "One kiss, mate." He said, and she grinned as he dropped his arms and stepped towards her again.