Chapter 29: Lecturing Moony

The next morning, Remus was startled awake when he felt something nudge his back. He heard a voice shout, "Bugger!" Remus instantly sat up to see Tonks in front of him.

"Oh my, I have got to stop doing that," Tonks said.

"Sirius did say you're clumsy," Remus laughed.

"She is dead clumsy," another voice jested.

Remus and Tonks turned to see Sirius coming down the stairs. S.J. was clinging to his hip and cooing.

"Oh, morning, Sirius," Tonks greeted. "Sorry, Remus. I really don't mean to do that."

"It's alright," Remus said.

Just then, Aaron entered the sitting room. "Good morning, Sirius. Good morning, S.J."

"Say good morning, Remus," Sirius whispered to S.J., kissing his head.

S.J. gurgled and waved a chubby arm.

Tonks shook her head. "Sirius, you know that is entirely too confusing. I'm never going to be able to tell which Remus you're talking to."

"I call my son Remus. He's Moony," Sirius replied, nodding to S.J. and Remus.

"Well, that's helpful," Remus commented.

"I guess it doesn't matter. I'm leaving anyway," Tonks reasoned, "Have to get back to my flat by nightfall. Aaron, would you mind accompanying me?"

"Sure," Aaron said helpfully. "Oh, Sirius, I want you to know I brought some things for S.J. I used the Floo Network this morning. I set up a crib for S.J. along with some nappies."

"Thank you, Aaron," Sirius said appreciatively. "I'm sorry. Cassie is too tired to wake. I'll tell her you left."

"Right. It's been a pleasure meeting you, Remus," Aaron said, shaking Remus's hand.

"Both of them," Tonks giggled.

"Say bye, Auntie Tonks," Sirius whispered to S.J.

Tonks waved as she and Aaron left the house. As they disappeared into the distance, Remus stood and watched, as if he was frozen. Remus was relieved Tonks was gone, yet he was sad as well. He could not deny how attached he was to the little girl who held his hand so tight many years ago.

Sirius smiled. "Sure you're not in love now?"

"What?" Remus asked, snapping out of his stupor.

"I saw that look. It's love," Sirius teased.

"Shut up," Remus groaned.

"Go to her."

"No."

"Remus, I know you. You love her. Go after her."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because I did something terrible to her."

Sirius folded his arms across his chest. "What did you do?"

Remus could see the accusing death-stare in Sirius's eyes. It was the same glare Cassiopeia gave him at Hogwarts when he told her the truth. He did not know who would be worse to tell the truth to. He knew instantly that he was in trouble. However, Remus could not lie to his best friend. "I attacked her as a wolf and took away her memory of me. She has no idea who I am to her. That mark on her right arm. I gave it to her."

"You idiot! How could you do that to my cousin?" Sirius demanded.

"I didn't mean to attack her," Remus said apologetically. "She followed me that night. Then, when she came to, I took away her memories of me. The wolf gave her that mark."

"You took away her memory! How could you?" Sirius gasped, shaking Remus by his jacket.

"It's what was best for her," Remus replied.

"Alright. Keep telling yourself that," Sirius said angrily. "Go after her."

"No. What's best for her is me out of her life," Remus declared.

"What about what she wants?" Sirius demanded. "She likes you. Don't you dare break my cousin's heart."

"She needs to know I'm doing this to protect her," Remus argued.

"Fine. Go tell her that, and see how she takes it," Sirius said indignantly.

"No, she'll understand," Remus replied.

"Sure she will," Sirius snorted.

Remus and Sirius's argument was interrupted by Cassiopeia coming down the stairs, rubbing her eyes. "You two are very loud."

"Tonks just left," Sirius informed her.

"With Aaron?" Cassiopeia asked.

"Yeah, he's taking her home," Sirius replied. "Aaron also brought us a crib and some nappies."

"Oh, I should thank him later," Cassiopeia said. "Our son needs his bottle now. I'll feed him."

"Okay. I have to finish lecturing my friend about how to treat my cousin," Sirius said, flashing Remus a dark look.

"You two go on. Come here, sweetheart," Cassiopeia said, taking S.J. in her arms.

As soon as Cassiopeia was out of the room, Sirius glared at Remus. "Now, where was I? Oh, yes. There is no way she would understand."

"She will one day," Remus said firmly.

Sirius shook his head in derision. "You are stupid. If my cousin falls for you, she will not let it go. She would rather die."

"She has to. I'm not right for her," Remus said solemnly.

"You keep telling yourself that," Sirius said crossly. "I wish I could see her band play. She told me how great they are. She's the lead singer."

"I don't doubt that," Remus replied.

Just then, Cassiopeia came down carrying S.J. "You know, it's very hard to feed a baby when you two are bickering."

"Well, he's the idiot who erased Tonks's memory," Sirius said.

"I know," Cassiopeia replied.

Sirius's eyes widened. "You knew?"

"He told me back at Hogwarts before Remus was born," Cassiopeia replied.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Sirius asked hotly.

"Because it was not my secret to tell," Cassiopeia replied. "And frankly, when we're running for our lives, there's not much time to chat."

Sirius sighed. "You're right. You're absolutely right."

Cassiopeia smiled. "I know I am, darling."

"I love it when you're confident," Sirius said with a smile, pulling Cassiopeia and S.J. close.

"Well, if you three are going to get cozy, then I'll just be going, then," Remus said.

"Don't you dare, mister," Sirius said quickly. "I am not finished with you yet. Cassie, can you take S.J. upstairs?"

"Aww, can't I teach him a lesson, too?" Cassiopeia whined. "Nymphie's my cousin, too."

"I think you already taught me well weeks ago and that was enough," Remus said.

"Shut up, Moony," Sirius said snappily. "Cassie, if I am correct, I believe you lectured Moony already. It's my turn. Go take S.J. upstairs."

"If you insist," Cassiopeia said with a half-smile.

Cassiopeia turned away and carried S.J. upstairs.

Once Cassiopeia was out of sight, Sirius glared daggers at Remus. "Make yourself as comfortable as possible. You and I are going to be here a while."

Sirius did not jest when he told Remus they would, "be here for a while." Sirius pestered Remus well into the night hours. He would not stop interrogating him about what was good for Tonks and what she wanted. No matter how much Remus protested, Sirius would only tear down his arguments. Remus was nearly driven mad by the constant interrogation. Sirius, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying himself.

"Hey, Moony, remember when you danced with my cousin at my wedding?" Sirius asked.

"Sirius, I have already told you. She was seven years old, and I was only being friendly," Remus argued.

"So, you're being friendly like you are now?"

"Precisely."

"Funny, because you look at her the same way I look at Cassie."

Remus grew red in the face. "Oh, will you just drop it?! Tonks deserves better than me, and I cannot be with her even if I wanted to."

"So you admit that you want to be with her," Sirius countered.

"Shut up, Sirius," Remus groaned. "I am tired of being interrogated all day."

"Well, you should have thought of that before you messed with my cousin's memories," Sirius said haughtily. "You mess with my family, you mess with me."

"Your point is well-seen," Remus said. "At least you're more lenient than Cassie. I was more afraid of her than you, especially when she was pregnant."

"Well, now you know not to mess with the Black family," Sirius said smartly.

Meanwhile, Cassiopeia was upstairs feeding S.J. before bed. S.J. was fussier than usual. Even after Cassiopeia fed him and changed his diaper, he was still whining.

"Oh, what's the matter, sweetheart?" Cassiopeia whispered.

Cassiopeia tried to comfort S.J. by holding him on her right shoulder and walking around the room. Alas, no matter what Cassiopeia did, S.J. would not stop crying.

"You know what, why don't we get daddy?" she asked.

Suddenly, as Cassiopeia left the room, she felt a chilly breeze. Cassiopeia noticed the window was open. Cassiopeia hurried to close it. As soon as she closed the window, she heard a noise. It was a low, gravelly noise, like a dog.

"Sirius?" Cassiopeia asked fearfully.

Suddenly, a werewolf burst from the shadows with a great howl! The great beast was drooling and growling. He lunged and reached out at S.J. with his claws.

"NO!" Cassiopeia shouted at the top of her voice. "I won't let you hurt my baby!"

Cassiopeia grabbed her wand and held a screaming S.J. close. "You will not touch him, you filthy dog!"

Greyback growled and clawed at her. He snapped his sharp jaws, reaching for S.J. Cassiopeia aimed her wand, and cast a Conjunctivitis Curse at the werewolf. The werewolf bellowed in pain. With the creature distracted, Cassiopeia raced with S.J. to the next bedroom and locked the door. Cassiopeia set S.J. down in his crib. S.J. was terrified and crying terribly.

"It's alright, sweetheart," Cassiopeia soothed. "Mummy's here. I won't let the monster get you."

In a split second, Greyback had broken down the door.

"You're not biting my baby!" Cassiopeia shouted. "Stupefy!"

The werewolf staggered a moment, but alas, the spell did not stop him. Snarling, he kept going, heading straight for S.J.'s crib.

Cassiopeia was quick to jump in front of her son. "Get away from him, you filthy animal!"

Cassiopeia sent a flash of red light from her wand, knocking the werewolf backwards. This only angered the animal more. The werewolf roared and headed straight for Cassiopeia and S.J.

"SIRIUS!" Cassiopeia screamed.

Before Cassiopeia could react, the werewolf snatched her by the throat and sent her flying across the room. Cassiopeia's head crashed into the wall. Cassiopeia barely registered the pain, or the blood streaming down her head.

"No…S.J," Cassiopeia said weakly.

Darkness took Cassiopeia as the werewolf prepared to strike.

Remus and Sirius were still squabbling with each other when they heard a commotion upstairs.

"SIRIUS!" Cassiopeia cried out.

"What?" Sirius asked.

There was no answer. Remus and Sirius simply heard a crash! and S.J. screaming.

"What was that?" Remus asked. "Did you hear that crash?"

"I heard it," Sirius said warily.

"Sirius, S.J. is screaming. That is not how he normally cries. Something's wrong," Remus said wisely. "I have a bad feeling. I think it's Greyback."

"For his sake, I hope it isn't," Sirius said. "Wands out."

Sirius and Remus drew their wands and raced up the stairs. When they got to the bedroom, the found the door knocked off its hinges. There was furniture knocked askew. S.J. was not in his crib. There was a sign of a struggle, but Greyback was nowhere in sight.

Tonks stood at the door and shouted. "And don't ever come back here, you cowardly dog!"

Tonks turned to Sirius and Remus. "Sorry. We saw him coming. More Death Eaters are coming as well. You should get to a safer place."

"How did he get in here?" Remus asked.

"I don't know," Tonks replied. "He must've been hiding, I suppose."

Sirius looked down to see a pale Cassiopeia sprawled on the carpeted floor. Her blood stained the white carpet red, like a wine stain.

"Cassie," Sirius gasped. "Tonks, is she-"

"She's fine. He didn't get either of them," Tonks interrupted calmly.

"Then why is her head bleeding?" Sirius asked.

"He slammed her against the wall," Tonks replied.

As Tonks spoke, her right arm shook uncontrollably and blood dripped on the floor.

Sirius took notice of the blood on Tonks's arm. "We need to get both of you patched up. Send a message to Dumbledore. He'll know what to do. Help me put Cassie in bed."

"I already sent one to Dumbledore. He'll be here soon," Tonks said.

Tonks was shivering now. She could barely keep her teeth from chattering.

Aaron entered the room carrying S.J. "He's as far away as possible."

"Get me a compress for Cassie and some bandages," Sirius told him.

"Right," Aaron replied.

Aaron handed S.J. to Remus and hurried to the kitchen. Tonks was still shivering and blood was dripping from her arm.

"Tonks, are you alright?" Sirius asked.

Tonks did not respond. It was as if she was frozen.

Sirius was enraged as he looked at the wounded Cassiopeia. "That maniac tried to bite my son and kill my wife."

At that moment, Aaron reentered the room with some bandages, a bowl of water, and a rag. He took S.J. back and looked at Tonks and back at Sirius.

"Sirius, I think we have a problem," he said grimly.

"She's not-" Sirius gasped.

"Cassie's fine," Aaron reassured him. "I think Tonks is hurt more than she is letting on."

Tonks was still frozen in place. She was shivering beyond her control.

"Tonks, go get patched up," Sirius said. "Aaron, give me my son. He must be scared."

"He's quite calm now," Aaron said.

Sirius took S.J. in the crook of one arm.

"Someone get Cassiopeia on the bed," he said.

Remus gently picked up Cassiopeia and carried her into the bedroom. As soon as Remus set her down on the bed, Sirius covered Cassiopeia in blankets. Remus stood behind Sirius, anxiously watching Cassiopeia and Tonks.

"Aaron, where's that compress and bandages?" Sirius asked.

"Got them right here," Aaron replied. "I'm going to take S.J. to his bedroom."

After Aaron took S.J., Sirius immediately tended to Cassiopeia. He wrung out a rag from the bowl and placed it on Cassiopeia's head for a moment. After few minutes, Sirius took the compress away and wound the white, linen bandages around Cassiopeia's head.

As he did, Cassiopeia stirred and opened her eyes. "Sirius."

"Welcome back," Remus whispered.

"Remus, go take care of Tonks," Sirius whispered.

Remus nodded and ushered a quivering Tonks downstairs.

Cassiopeia's face was white, and she shook with fear. "Sirius, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Greyback attacked us."

Sirius was quick to comfort Cassiopeia. "S.J. is fine, Cassie. Tonks and Aaron came back."

Cassiopeia could not stop shaking as she spoke. "I tried to stop Greyback. He tried to strangle me, and I hit my head. I'm so sorry."

Sirius took Cassiopeia's hand. "Well then, you should be glad Tonks and Aaron didn't get far. They came back and chased Greyback away. Remus and Aaron looked over S.J. He's fine. No marks at all."

"I'm sorry I didn't save him. Remus, my baby!" Cassiopeia cried.

Cassiopeia tried to stand, but her legs were like jelly. She only fell back down again.

Sirius supported her and put her back in bed. "No, Cassie. You stay here. S.J. is fine. Aaron has him now. Greyback is gone. Don't worry."

"I feel dizzy. My head hurts," Cassiopeia wearily.

"Well, you did hit your head after all," Sirius said.

Suddenly, from downstairs, Sirius and Cassiopeia heard a scream from Tonks.

Then, Sirius heard Remus shout, "SIRIUS, GET IN HERE! I NEED HELP!"

Sirius turned to Cassiopeia. He knew he had to help Tonks, but he could not leave Cassiopeia.

Cassiopeia simply nodded. "Go. Tonks needs you."

With a grim nod, Sirius kissed Cassiopeia's hand. "I'll be right back."

Sirius then headed downstairs. A wave of fear swept over him. He saw his wife and son terrorized by Greyback. He could not bear to see what Tonks was going through.

A/N: Uh-Oh! First Cassie, now Tonks! What's next? I wanted to thank you all for your lovely reviews. Over 60 reviews! Thank you so much. And most especially, thank you to my friend Roza Anne. :D