Chapter 31: Tonks's Tale and a Surprise

Tonks lay on the couch with Remus by her side. So much had happened in such a short time. Greyback attacked Cassiopeia and S.J. Then, the werewolf poisoned Tonks. Tonks's encounter with Greyback brought back some unpleasant memories. She felt guilty for taking out her frustration on Remus.

"Sorry if I hurt you in any way," Tonks said apologetically.

Remus shook his head. "No, you didn't. Are you alright?"

Tonks shrugged. "I feel okay, I guess. Except I really hate Greyback right now. I was trying to forget those kids. He made me relive it."

Tonks quivered as she spoke. The memories from all those years ago still haunted her. Remus comforted her.

"He's a monster," Remus said. "We all hate Greyback for what he tried to do to Cassie and S.J. I've never seen Sirius so vengeful before, not even with Severus."

"Well, the difference is that Severus is not a child-killing monster. I think even Sirius can understand that," Tonks said wisely.

"That's very true," Remus said in agreement.

Tonks shivered again. She could not shake those horrible memories. She felt that she would burst if she did not talk about it.

"Did I ever tell you what happened with those kids?" Tonks asked.

"No, you didn't," Remus replied.

Tonks sighed. "I was hunting. Wolves, I mean. I saw one of Greyback's followers. His generals. He was ordering some of the others around. It was a full moon. I didn't see the other wolves, just the leader. I ran to kill the leader, but the other one attacked me. I killed the biggest of them first then the middle one then the smallest."

Tonks shivered and turned pale as she continued. "When they reverted back, I saw their faces. Children. They were just children. The oldest was Hogwarts age, maybe twelve. The middle one was ten. The youngest was three years old. The look in that little boy's eyes. He was crying, he was scared. And with his last breath, he asked for his mum. He asked for his mum."

Tears rolled down Tonks face as she finished her tale. "I didn't mean to kill him. He didn't deserve that."

Remus was overwhelmed and filled with compassion. "Oh, Tonks. I'm so sorry."

"He shouldn't have died," Tonks said remorsefully. "That was only two years ago. It feels like forever. His name was Lucas."

"I'm sure neither of those children would want you to beat yourself up like this," Remus said compassionately. "I keep telling Sirius the same thing about James and Lily."

Tonks shrugged. "Yeah, well, seeing that threw me into depression. So much so I came within an inch of my death before my friend Arella found me."

Tonks showed Remus her arms, which were decorated in many faded scars.

"Arella?" Remus asked.

"Oh, a guitarist for my band," Tonks explained. You should come and see us play sometime."

"Yes," Remus agreed cheerfully. "Sirius wants to see you, too. Perhaps when his name is cleared, we'll come along."

"Well, if you are ever in London or Diagon Alley, stop in one of the clubs you might check the Metamorphing Wolves playing," Tonks said.

"I will. And I'll bring Sirius and Cassie along, too. We might have to find a babysitter for S.J," Remus said with a smile.

"That's true," Tonks said. "Oh, I forgot. Jason is probably worried sick about me."

Tonks stood up and dialed a number on her cell phone. "Hi Jason…Yeah, I'm sorry…Well yeah…Okay…Well…Yeah…I know…Okay…I love you too…Bye."

Tonks hung up her phone and turned back to Remus. "Sorry."

"Oh, it's perfectly alright," Remus said humbly. "If you don't mind, I'd like to check on Sirius, Cassie, and S.J. Cassie was quite a mess, I heard."

Tonks frowned. "Oh…okay."

"Come with me. Cassie is worried sick. You'll cheer her up. Besides, S.J. loves you," Remus said.

"Yeah, sure," Tonks agreed.

Remus and Tonks climbed the stairs to Sirius and Cassiopeia's bedroom. As they did, they heard baby cries.

"I think someone is awake," Remus said with a smile.

"Probably. He wakes up about every hour or so," Tonks said.

Remus and Tonks entered Sirius and Cassiopeia's bedroom. Cassiopeia was sitting upright in bed, comfortably wrapped in her blankets. Sirius was cradling a wailing Baby Remus in his arms and walking about the room, trying to quiet his son.

"I heard someone's awake," Remus laughed. "How's the little man, Sirius?"

"Fine, just woke up hungry. Dumbledore went to check to see if our hiding place is clear. Oh, hello, Nymphadora," Sirius said.

Tonks's hair turned a violent shade of red. "Uncle Sirius, don't call me Nymphadora!"

"Sirius, don't call her that," Cassiopeia scolded. "Let me feed our boy."

"Right. Do you want me to get a bottle, Aunt Cassie?" Tonks asked helpfully.

"Thank you, Nymphie," Cassiopeia said appreciatively.

Tonks left the room for the kitchen.

Cassiopeia stretched out her arms. "Give him here, darling."

"Okay," Sirius replied. "Here you go, little man. Mummy's going to feed you."

Sirius laid his son in Cassiopeia's awaiting arms.

"Are you hungry, sweetheart?" Cassiopeia whispered.

S.J. replied with a whimper.

"I'll say that was a 'yes,'" Sirius jested.

"Don't worry, sweetheart. Aunt Nymphie is making you a bottle," Cassiopeia whispered to her son.

S.J. let out an impatient cry.

Sirius could not help but laugh. "My, I think someone's hungry," he chuckled. "I don't blame you. If I were hungry, I'd be cranky, too."

Sirius and Cassiopeia were distracted when they heard a thud! from downstairs and Tonks yelling.

"I'm okay!" Tonks shouted.

"You better be!" Cassiopeia shouted back.

"Wahhh!" S.J. cried.

"Be patient, sweetheart. Your bottle is coming," Cassiopeia whispered.

Remus laughed at Tonks's clumsiness. "Well, she is a handful."

"You don't say, Moony," Sirius said.

"Nymphie, the bottle. Hurry! Remus is getting very impatient," Cassiopeia shouted.

"Don't say that unless you want me to fall on the ground again," Tonks groaned.

"Sorry, but he's very fussy. He's like his father," Cassiopeia said.

"Or his Aunt Tonks," Tonks said.

"Nope. Remus is all his father. Well, except his brains. He gets his wits from me," Cassiopeia laughed.

Tonks finally entered the room with S.J's bottle and a drink for herself. "Of course."

Cassiopeia immediately fed her son. Finally, Baby Remus was quiet. As soon as Baby Remus finished his bottle, Cassiopeia let him burp.

"I think someone is happy now," Sirius laughed.

Tonks then heard her cell phone ring. "Oh, that's probably Jason."

"Don't be too long. Sirius and I have something to tell you," Cassiopeia said.

"It's a bit of a surprise," Sirius added.

Tonks clicked her phone. "Hello...oh...Wotcher, Arella...Sorry...Yes I know...Okay...I will...why are you using Jason's phone?...oh...Well, charge it then...Okay...Yea...That's fine...Alright...Tell Jason I love him...Bye."

Tonks clicked off her phone. "Sorry. That was Arella. She and the band need me."

"Tonks, Moony, we have something to tell you," Sirius said. "Nymphie, we are very grateful that you took care of Remus. And Moony, you are our best friend, so it was only natural."

"Don't think anything of it, Uncle Sirius," Tonks said humbly.

Cassiopeia smiled. "We want you to be Remus's godparents."

Tonks nearly spat out her drink and coughed. "Excuse me…are you…insane?"

"Yes, but that's beside the point," Sirius laughed.

"Why me?" Tonks asked. "I'm not a good influence. I'm not a good influence at all."

"You're my cousin," Sirius replied.

"You're the best friend I have," Cassiopeia said earnestly. "You took care of Remus and me. I owe you. You're the perfect godmother."

"Besides, Remus loves you," Sirius laughed.

Tonks's eyes widened. "Wait, what?"

Sirius shook his head. "Not him, you goose. The baby."

"Oh, right. You scared me," Tonks sighed. "Look, I would be a bad influence on him, for obvious reasons."

"Sirius is a bad influence on me, but I don't care," Cassiopeia laughed. "Remus loves you and you love him. That's all I care about."

"Sirius, can I talk to you in the hallway?" Tonks asked.

"Certainly," Sirius replied.

Tonks and Sirius stepped out into the hallway. Tonks did not know how Remus felt, but she was overwhelmed. There was no way that she could be S.J's godmother. Tonks did not deny that she loved Baby Remus. To her, that was why she could not be his godmother. Tonks knew she had to make Sirius and Cassiopeia understand that she was not as perfect as they thought.