Chapter 26: Werewolves
Meanwhile, Cassiopeia paced around the room. She had not heard word from Tonks or Remus for hours. Sirius entered and tried to comfort his wife.
"Cassie, you need to relax," he said.
"I haven't heard from Remus and Nymphie at all," Cassiopeia said nervously, chewing on her lip. "You know Nymphie is a werewolf killer. What if Greyback is out there? What if he hurts them or our son?"
"Tonks is a grown woman and an Auror," Sirius said calmly. "She told me herself that she has fought werewolves since she was thirteen. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be standing here. And Remus is no trouble as long as he takes his potion. They'll be safe."
"And what about S.J.? He's not an Auror, a Subduer, or a professor, Sirius. He's just a baby. You know and I know what Greyback does to children."
Sirius gently held Cassiopeia's shoulders and sat her down. "Remus and Tonks will protect him. Greyback will not touch S.J. I promise you that. Now please, you need to get some sleep."
"I'll sleep when I hear from Nymphie and Remus," Cassiopeia said.
"Cassie," Sirius said slowly. "Remember our agreement? If I take care of myself, you have to do the same."
Sirius winced.
"Are you in pain?" Cassiopeia asked.
"My shoulder's still giving me grief," Sirius replied, grimacing.
"If you let me patch up your shoulder, I'll go to sleep," Cassiopeia said earnestly.
Sirius smiled. "You have a deal."
Tonks and Remus looked all around. Both of them were fearful. They feared for each other's lives, particularly S.J.'s. Remus could not bear to let Tonks or S.J. suffer his condition, especially not at the hands of Fenrir Greyback. Tonks was afraid, but she did not show it. She crept up close to Remus, feeling safer close to him.
Tonks held a weeping Baby Remus close. "Shhh. It's alright, S.J. Don't cry."
S.J. calmed down after a moment and was quiet.
Tonks and Remus drew their wands. No one, especially not Greyback, was going to get through them. They would defend S.J. at whatever cost.
"Do you still feel it?" Remus asked.
"Yes. There's still a werewolf near," Tonks replied.
"Greyback is hunting us," Remus said.
Tonks shook her head. "No, it's not him. I would know if it was."
"Are you sure you're not wrong? You have to be sure. If you're not, we'll have Sirius and Cassie after us as well."
"I'm positive. I said I would know if it was."
Suddenly, the werewolf following Tonks and Remus appeared. Much to their surprise, it was not a wolf at all, but a man.
Remus held his wand high. "Tonks, get S.J. out of here."
Tonks turned around to leave, but she caught sight of the man and stopped.
"No, wait. He's a friend," Tonks said, as she approached the man. "Aaron, you have really got to stop scaring me like that. You know I could kill you if you're not careful."
"Hello, Tonks," Aaron greeted.
Aaron was tall, close to Remus's height. He had brown hair long enough to be pulled back, which it was. He had no visible scars, but Remus knew better that he must have some under his clothes. His clothes were a bit worn and dirty; Aaron wore a smile on his tired face, his fatigue showing in his jade eyes.
"Remus, this is Aaron, my friend. He's a werewolf, too," Tonks said, gesturing to Aaron.
"Pleased to meet you," Aaron said greeted, shaking Remus's hand.
Aaron then focused his attention on S.J and smirked. "Aren't you a little young to have kids, Tonks?"
Tonks blushed. "What? Oh well, Aaron you know as well as I do that…"
Tonks stopped short in front of Remus.
"Never mind," she said, shaking her head. "It's not my kid. I'm delivering the child to its mother. The only problem is it's dangerous in this area at night. Do you mind if we stay at your house?"
Aaron shook his head and smiled. "Not at all."
Aaron looked at S.J. "So, who's the little one?"
"Remus James Black," Tonks replied. "He's my cousin's kid."
"Hello, Remus," Aaron whispered, stroking S.J.'s plump cheek. "Did you say Black?"
"He's innocent, Aaron. Peter Pettigrew is alive," Tonks explained.
"Oh, that settles things. His name is Remus and so is his," Aaron said, pointing to Remus and S.J. "This will be confusing. How do we differentiate?"
"I call the little one S.J.," Tonks replied.
Aaron nodded. "That makes sense. I've seen Sirius Black on wanted posters. This little one is like a doppelganger."
"Isn't he?" Tonks said, smiling. "So, what's the word on the wolf front? How much has Greyback put on my head now?"
"Hundred-thousand galleons. I'd be careful traveling with the little one. You know Greyback likes his victims young," Aaron said in concern.
"I know. He really wants me dead for killing Victor, doesn't he?"
"He does."
Before Tonks or Aaron could say another word, S.J. started to cry again.
"What's the matter with the little one?" Aaron asked.
"He just cries a lot is all," Tonks said. "We better get inside before I'm discovered."
"Come on," Aaron beckoned.
With a wailing S.J. in tow, Tonks and Remus followed Aaron into his small house.
Remus was exhausted after his long trip. "Aaron, may I rest on your couch?"
"Sure. You must be exhausted," Aaron said attentively.
Remus turned to Tonks. "Do you need help with S.J.?"
Tonks shook her head. "No. You go lay down. I'll be fine."
With a nod, Remus ambled over to the couch and sat down. Within seconds, he was asleep.
Aaron turned to Tonks. "Are you sure you don't want me to watch S.J. for you?"
"No, I can handle him. Thanks, Aaron," Tonks said gratefully.
"Well, at least let me conjure a warm bottle for him," Aaron said.
"Thanks, Aaron," Tonks said.
Aaron pointed his wand at a small table and with a pop! a baby bottle appeared, just as it did when Snape conjured it.
"I'm going to keep watch outside," Aaron said.
"Alright," Tonks replied.
Tonks sat down on a rocking chair where she fed S.J. Once S.J. finished his bottle, Tonks rocked him back and forth, rubbing his back and singing "Fireflies" to him. Within minutes, S.J. was quiet. For good measure, Tonks changed his diaper before putting him down to sleep next to Remus.
"'Night, S.J.," Tonks whispered, kissing S.J.'s head.
With S.J. asleep, Tonks felt it necessary to contact Sirius. She crawled to the fireplace and sprinkled some Floo powder. Instantly, Sirius's head appeared in the fire.
"Hey, Sirius," Tonks greeted.
"Nymphie, is something wrong?" Sirius asked.
"We had to stop for the night. We're at my friend's house. He just informed me I have a hundred-thousand galleon bounty on my head."
Sirius furrowed his eyebrows. "For what?"
"Killing Greyback's men. The most important, his second in command, Victor Ludwig."
Sirius's eyes widened and he frowned. "Seriously, Tonks?! Fenrir Greyback?"
"Yea, I know. The infamous werewolf who turns children into werewolves. He turned Aaron into a werewolf at seven years old."
"Exactly. You be very careful with our son. If Greyback bites him, Cassie and I will go after him and then you."
"He won't. We're inside right now. We'll be there tomorrow."
"Good. Cassie is going mad. How's my son?"
Sirius's eyes peered around the room, searching for his baby boy.
"He's been fed, had his diaper changed, and is sleeping," Tonks replied. "Remus fell asleep as well. Aaron is outside watching for trouble."
"Good. Ow!"
"Are you alright?"
"Fine. My shoulder is bothering me. Cassie stitched me up."
"Oh. Well, I have to go. I'm going to check on Aaron and then hit the hay."
"Hurry. Cassie is sleeping, but she's still nagging me about Little Remus. You be careful with our son."
"Right. See you tomorrow then."
The flames died down, and Sirius's head disappeared. Tonks hurried outside to the porch where Aaron kept watch.
"All quiet," she said.
Just as she spoke, Tonks heard S.J. cry again.
"Except that," Aaron said, nodding to the sound of S.J.'s cries.
"Yeah, Remus will take care of him," Tonks reassured him. "So, Greyback has put a very hefty bounty on my head."
"He has. You be careful with that baby," Aaron replied out of concern.
"He won't be with us after tomorrow. Aaron, that mark started bleeding again. The one from when I was eleven. I don't know what to do to stop it."
"You have to find your mate. It only bleeds when the mate is near."
"What happens if I don't find him?"
"Well, the cut just continues to be a problem."
"Meaning it will continue to hurt. That's going to be annoying."
"It will. Let's check on Remus and S.J."
Tonks shook her head. "You go. I want some fresh air."
"Alright," Aaron said.
Aaron went inside where he found Remus sitting on the couch with S.J. in his arms.
"How's the little one, Remus? We heard the poor kid screaming."
"He's fine. He needs attention," Remus whispered, gazing at the cooing S.J. "Where's Tonks?"
"Said she wanted some fresh air," Aaron replied. "So, the little one is Cassiopeia Black's son?"
"Yeah, he is."
Suddenly, Remus remembered that Tonks was alone. "Wait. She's outside, alone, in a heavily werewolf populated area, with a bounty on her head."
Aaron's eyes widened. "I should've warned her about that. You go. I'll take S.J."
"Okay," Remus said, handing the baby to Aaron.
Remus hurried to the porch, but he did not find Tonks there. Instead, he saw Tonks running toward him from a distance.
"REMUS!" she screamed.
Remus noticed someone gaining on Tonks. That someone was none other than Fenrir Greyback.
"Tonks, get behind me!" Remus shouted.
Without question, Tonks stood behind Remus. Greyback approached them with a smile, bearing his sharp teeth.
"Remus. Haven't seen you in a while," he said silkily.
Greyback sniffed the air, intoxicated by the scent. "I smell young blood. And I could've sworn I heard a baby cry. A treat."
Remus drew his wand. "Stay away from the child and the girl."
"If you give the brat to me, I might forget I found you," Greyback said.
Remus shook his head defiantly. "No deal. Both of them stay with me."
"Well, I guess I'll just have to bite the brat anyway."
"Tonks, go inside and take S.J. away as far as you can!" Remus shouted behind him. "Aaron, get out here!"
Tonks hurried and grabbed a screaming S.J. from Aaron. Once he handed S.J. to Tonks, Aaron flew past her to help Remus. While Aaron and Remus battled Greyback, Tonks snuck out a back door and ran the rest of the way to Sirius's house. As she ran, Tonks could not help but feel guilty about leaving Remus. Despite her guilt, Tonks knew she had to protect S.J. A wave of relief swept over her when she saw Sirius's house before her. With all her speed, Tonks ran for the house. S.J. was still crying as Tonks approached the house.
Tonks pounded on the door. "Sirius, open the door!"
Sirius opened the door and his eyes widened. "Tonks, Remus!"
"S.J.'s fine," Tonks said, trying to catch her breath. "Remus, though, he…"
"Tonks, what happened? Why is Remus screaming like this?" Sirius asked.
"He…I was…"
"No."
"He's…fine…I…got him…out…before…"
"Greyback found you, didn't he?"
Tonks nodded. "I got S.J. out…but Remus is still back there."
Sirius could see that Tonks was terrified. "It's alright. S.J.'s safe, and Remus will come back. That's all that matters now. It's alright, Nymphie."
Cassiopeia raced to the door. "Remus!"
"Sirius, Remus is still back there. He defended me. He doesn't even know me, and he defended me," Tonks said fearfully.
"Nymphie, give me my baby," Cassiopeia said anxiously, holding out her bony arms.
Tonks laid S.J. into Cassiopeia's waiting arms before failing into Sirius's arms.
Cassiopeia embraced her son, kissing his head. "Remus! I'll never let you go again, sweetheart."
Cassiopeia noticed Tonks sobbing in Sirius's arms. "Nymphie, what happened?"
"Remus, he's still back there. What if he gets killed?" Tonks asked worriedly.
"Killed? Nymphie, what's going on?" Cassiopeia asked, confused.
"I shouldn't have left him there," Tonks wept.
"Left him where? What's going on?" Cassiopeia asked.
"Greyback found them while they were staying at her friend's house. Remus told her to take S.J. and run," Sirius explained.
"Greyback?!" Cassiopeia gasped, holding S.J. protectively. "Did he hurt our son?"
Sirius shook his head. "No, he's fine. Tonks got him out before Greyback could hurt him."
"Oh, my God. He'll hunt him, Sirius. He's going to hunt our baby," Cassiopeia said, quivering.
"No. He's only after me for killing Ludwig," Tonks said through her tears.
"But he wants to bite a child. He'll hunt him, Sirius! He's going to bite Remus!" Cassiopeia said worriedly.
"Cassie, he won't bite Remus as long as I'm here," Sirius reassured her.
Tonks was crying harder, as Cassiopeia noticed.
"Nymphie, are you alright?" Cassiopeia asked.
Tonks was crying so hard that she could not speak.
Sirius was quick to comfort her. "I know. Nymphie, it's alright. Remus is safe now."
Tonks shook her head and sniffed. "No, he's not. He's still out there fighting Greyback."
"I was talking about my son. Sorry," Sirius said. "But Moony will make it. Greyback is a coward."
"He could die out there. I don't want to lose him. I can't lose him," Tonks sobbed.
Sirius sighed. He had only just gotten his baby boy back. He did not want to leave his son and wife behind. However, he could not abandon his friend to death. "I'll go."
"Sirius, no!" Cassiopeia protested.
"Cassie, take care of Tonks and S.J," Sirius said.
"No! Sirius, wait!" Cassiopeia begged.
Holding S.J. in the crook of her arm, Cassiopeia grabbed Sirius's arm with her free hand. "I only just got our son back. I won't lose you."
Sirius kissed Cassiopeia's lips. "I'll come back."
Sirius stroked S.J.'s cheek and kissed his head. Before Cassiopeia could say another word, Sirius raced out the door.
"Sirius, come back!" Cassiopeia cried.
A/N: In case you were wondering, Aaron is a character from my friend Roza Anne's story, Beauty and the Man Behind the Beast. He's Tonks's friend, a werewolf, and a part of her band. If you haven't read her story, I highly recommend it as our stories are linked. Over 50 reviews, thank you! My lovely reviewers, you know who you are! Thank you so much, Roza Anne for being my 50th review! All of you are the best!