Chapter 17: Sirius Sighted

"AHHHH!"

Remus jumped awake, nearly falling out of his chair. He did not remember falling asleep, and he was ashamed that he did. The screams terrified him. It sounded as if someone was being tortured out of their mind. Tonks sprang awake, gasping for breath.

"Not you too," Remus groaned.

Tonks lowered her eyes. "Sorry. It's the attack again. I keep seeing it in my mind."

Remus wanted to laugh at Tonks for her annoyance at Cassiopeia's nightmares. Now she was having nightmares as well, just like her cousin. However, Remus did not want to be impolite.

"Now do you know how Cassie feels?" he asked out of compassion.

"I'll tell you when I can think straight again," Tonks replied, in a daze.

Just then, Cassiopeia woke up gasping as well. Remus felt very sorry for Cassiopeia and Sirius, even if he did not know the truth. Regardless of the truth, Remus felt it was wrong to separate people in love. He also did not like to see Cassiopeia carrying her child without the support of her husband. Tonks felt the same, no matter how much Cassiopeia drove her up the wall.

Reassured that Cassiopeia and Tonks were fine, Remus quitted the room.

"You have a nightmare, too?" Tonks asked in concern.

"Of course," Cassiopeia replied, rolling her eyes.

Cassiopeia frowned. These nightmares were not going away. No matter how hard she tried, Cassiopeia could not stop thinking about where Sirius was and if he was safe.

"Do you think this means something? What if Sirius is really hurt and that's why I keep having nightmares?" Cassiopeia asked, anxiously.

Tonks did not have any words of comfort. "I don't know, Aunt Cassie. Why do I keep dreaming about the attack...Owww!"

Cassiopeia shook her head. "I don't know."

Cassiopeia had been missing Sirius terribly since she arrived. She wished that he was with her, helping her with their unborn baby.

"I wish Sirius were here," Cassiopeia said sadly.

"I wish Jason were here," Tonks added.

"If Sirius were here, I could stop worrying," Cassiopeia said before she winced. "Ow! Daddy is fine, sweetheart."

"I don't feel well," Tonks said, shaking her head.

"Remus!" Cassiopeia shouted.

Tonks had not been feeling well at all. The cut and lack of rest was wearing her out.

"I feel really dizzy," Tonks said, dazed.

"Remus, get in here!" Cassiopeia shouted.

Remus raced into the room as fast as he could.

"Remus, Nymphie doesn't feel well. Help her," Cassiopeia said.

Remus looked over both women. Remus could not deny that both women did not look as well as they should.

"Tonks looks pale," he said, turning to Cassiopeia, "You look like you need more sleep."

"I don't care as long as my baby and Nymphie are fine," Cassiopeia said, her hand rubbing her belly.

"The baby should be fine," Remus reassured her. "Tonks needs to see Poppy."

Cassiopeia nodded. "Then don't waste time with me. Go, now."

Tonks was already shaking her head violently.

"It's going to be difficult taking Tonks to the hospital wing seeing as she refuses to go," Remus said.

"Just drag her to the hospital wing. Go," Cassiopeia groaned, lowering her head back to the pillow.

Remus then turned back to Tonks, who was still shaking her head. "I'm not going."

"You have to. Unlike Cassie, you can see a nurse. Please," Remus said.

"Nymphie, do it for your new cousin. Please?" Cassiopeia begged in her silkiest voice.

"No. I hate hospitals," Tonks said stubbornly.

"Fine," Cassiopeia grunted, turning to Remus. "Do you have a better idea?"

"Course I do," Remus replied brightly.

Remus waved his wand and instantly, Tonks fell asleep.

Remus shrugged. "She said she only goes to hospitals unconscious."

"Hurry, don't waste time here," Cassiopeia said urgently.

"I think you said that," Remus said.

"Just go!" Cassiopeia shouted.

With Tonks unconscious, Remus raced down to the hospital wing. As he did, Remus felt that Tonks's troubles were all his fault. He felt that it should have been him protecting Cassiopeia and her baby. He wished he'd never marked Tonks all those years ago. Remus laid Tonks on a bed. Just as Remus turned his back to leave, Tonks was awake and running for the door. Remus was taken aback by Tonks's stubbornness.

"Tonks, stay put!" Remus said firmly.

Tonks just shook her head. "No. I told you I hate hospitals!"

"Alright, alright," Remus said in surrender, "Let's just get back. Cassie needs us."

"No, you need to get back to your office. It's a full moon," Tonks said.

"But I promised I'd help you look after her," Remus argued.

"I think she'll be fine," Tonks reassured him. "Besides, it's a full moon. You can't take care of her tonight."

Tonks winced. "OWWW! Why does this thing keep hurting?"

Remus turned white as he gazed at the x shaped mark. He regretted causing Tonks so much pain.

"It bleeds when the mate is near," Remus explained.

"Then my mate must be on the grounds," Tonks said wisely. "Maybe he can knock some sense into you."

"I'll leave the knocking to Sirius," Remus said.

"Remus, just…be careful, alright?" Tonks said.

"I will," Remus replied. "You take care of Cassie and the little one."

"Of course," Tonks said automatically.

"Alright. I have to go. Goodnight," Remus said.

"Goodnight," Tonks said.

With that, Remus turned away and headed for his office. Tonks hurried back to her office. The mark was still burning her. She knew her mate was on the grounds, but it was only a question of whom. Tonks entered her office to find Cassiopeia sitting up in her makeshift bed.

"Hi, Cassie," she greeted.

"Where's Remus?" Cassiopeia asked.

"He had to go to his office. It's a full moon after all," Tonks told her.

"Oh, of course," Cassiopeia said, as if her memory had been jogged. "Are you alright?"

"Fine," Tonks replied, "I don't know why that stupid cut is bleeding."

"I don't know," Cassiopeia said, dumbfounded.

"It stings, too," Tonks added.

"It must be a werewolf thing," Cassiopeia shrugged. "Ow!"

"But I'm not a werewolf, Aunt Cassie," Tonks said, baffled. "A werewolf gave me the mark, though."

"That's what I meant," Cassiopeia replied. "Oww!"

Suddenly, Remus burst into the room. "Sirius is on the grounds! I saw Peter Pettigrew on the grounds as well."

"Weren't you just going to your room?" Tonks asked.

"Yes, until I heard that," Remus replied.

Cassiopeia's eyes lit up. "Sirius!"

For the first time in weeks, Cassiopeia was not shouting her husband's name in her sleep. She was truly happy to know her husband was alive. That did not escape Tonks's notice. Whether she believed Sirius or not, she promised to protect his wife.

"Well, we have to go find him. Come on, Remus," Tonks said resolutely.

"I'm going with you," Cassiopeia said, waddling to her feet.

"NO!" Tonks and Remus exclaimed together.

Both of them were stunned as they looked at Cassiopeia. Remus and Tonks did not know why Cassiopeia decided to go with them. They did not know if Cassiopeia was being foolish, loving, or both. They decided that she was both mad and loving.

"No, Cassie, you stay here. It's too dangerous," Tonks said, "Besides, you are in no shape to fight."

"With that logic, you should stay here, too," Remus said smartly.

Tonks was incensed. "Excuse me, but I'm an Auror."

Cassiopeia was not done arguing. She had resolved to go after her husband. She needed to be with him.

"That's my husband out there. What am I supposed to do? Sit here?" she protested.

"Yes!" Remus and Tonks replied.

"Stay here," Tonks pleaded.

"No! My husband needs me!" Cassiopeia said stubbornly.

"He needs you safe," Tonks told her. "We'll find him. I promise."

Cassiopeia was not convinced. She was determined that she would not sit and wait while her husband was in danger.

"I'm not going to sit here," she said with determination. "No, I want Peter to feel my wrath for what he did to us. I am going. If you're so concerned, come with me."

Cassiopeia wobbled to the door, but Tonks blocked her path.

"Oh, no. You are not going anywhere," Tonks said firmly.

Suddenly, Remus lifted Cassiopeia off her feet. Cassiopeia was quick to struggle.

"Remus, what are you doing? Put me down! Put me down right now!" Cassiopeia shouted, punching Remus's back and kicking.

"This is for your own good, Cassie," Remus whispered.

He put Cassiopeia down on Tonk's bed. Quicker than lightning, he stepped out of the room. Remus waved his wand and locked the door.

"And don't try anything. You can't Apparate and spells won't work," Remus said through the door.

"Now you can't get out," Tonks said.

Cassiopeia was still not finished. No one was going to get between her and Sirius.

"REMUS JOHN LUPIN, YOU ARE NOT LEAVING ME IN HERE! OPEN THE DOOR! OPEN THIS DOOR!" Cassiopeia bellowed, banging on the door with all her might.

"It's no good, Cassie," Remus said, nonchalantly.

Cassiopeia was still as stubborn and determined as ever. She would not give up on getting to her husband at all.

"And what if the little one decides to come out? Do you want to explain to Sirius how you left his wife locked up, in labor?" Cassiopeia demanded.

"I'm sure you'll be fine," Tonks said. "He'll be madder if I let you out and exposed you to danger."

"How can you say that after those two close calls?" Cassiopeia argued. "I need Sirius now, and I don't want to argue. I have to go."

"No arguing, just me and Remus leaving," Tonks countered.

"With me," Cassiopeia added.

"Nope, we're leaving without you," Tonks said firmly.

Cassiopeia was getting fed up. "Nymphadora, I am going with you. There's no danger. Pettigrew is a weakling. I am going."

Tonks refused to budge no matter how much Cassiopeia argued with her.

"I'm not opening the door," Tonks said, her hair turning red. "And don't call me that."

"I need Sirius, and he needs me. Let me out and I won't call you Nymphadora," Cassiopeia begged.

"No. Sirius gave me strict orders to protect you, and I'm doing it the only way I see fit," Tonks said resolutely.

"There is no danger. Besides, you were never much for rules, anyway," Cassiopeia said. "Just let me go, or I'll tell Sirius you locked me up."

"I'm sure he will agree with me," Tonks said confidently.

"He's my husband. I don't think so," Cassiopeia said.

"He just wants you safe," Tonks said firmly.

"Not like this," Cassiopeia protested. "Please, Nymphie, let me go, and you can nag me later. I need my husband now."

"I'll bring him back to you. I promise," Tonks said earnestly.

"No, where Sirius goes, I go. You're not going to win against me. I have to go, and that's final," Cassiopeia said, her tone like iron.

Merlin's beard, she's so bloody stubborn! Remus thought to himself.

"You're staying and that's final!" Remus said loudly.

"Go on, leave then. If I'm alone and in labor, you'll explain it later," Cassiopeia said coldly.

"We'll be back," Tonks said.

"Goodbye, Cassie," Remus said.

Remus and Tonks turned away from the door and headed for the grounds. Tonks was very impressed with how Remus reacted to Cassiopeia's stubbornness.

"I'm liking you more and more by the minute. You're very clever," Tonks said, beaming. "I'm surprised you could pick her up, though."

"She's very light, excepting the little one," Remus replied.

Tonks then smiled the brightest Remus had seen. He had not seen her smile like that since she was eleven years old. Remus did not realize it, but his face had gone as red as Tonk's hair.

"What's the matter? Why is your face red?" Tonks wanted to know.

"Nothing. Just like seeing you smile, that's all," Remus said.

"Well, if you did know me when I was younger, did I smile a lot? Cause I hardly smile now," Tonks said curiously.

"You did," Remus replied. "Don't worry. You'll be happy when the baby comes."

"I guess," Tonks shrugged. "So where was Sirius seen?"

"Going into the Whomping Willow," Remus replied.

"To the Shrieking Shack," Tonks said wisely. "You go ahead. I'm going to find someone else to help."

"Alright. What about Cassie?" Remus asked.

"She'll be fine," Tonks said reassured him.

Remus went on ahead to the Whomping Willow and waved his wand. "Immobulous!"

The Whomping Willow, which began to sway dangerously as Lupin drew near it, stopped, as if it had been frozen. Without a second thought, Lupin ducked under the roots to the Shrieking Shack.

Meanwhile, Tonks was back in the castle looking for help. What Tonks did not know was that she was making a grave mistake. She also could not have predicted what was going to happen next.

A/N: Dun dun dun! So who is this help Tonks is going to get? And what is going to happen next? Find out in Chapter 18! Thank you so much for the reviews. Please keep them coming :D Thank you to my loyal readers (you know who you are) You make this story fun for me. By the way, if you have not, check out my friend Roza Anne's story, Beauty and the Man Behind the Beast(it's connected to my story.) Thank you!

P.S. Jason is Tonks's boyfriend from her band. You'll find that out later in Roza Anne's story.