A/N: I apologize for the lateness of this chapter. I am on vacation/traveling and my internet is spotty. I'll be posting once a week till after the 9th of July, when I'll be home and my internet access is back to normal. For faster updates, check my Tumblr page. It's 90% Remadora/fic related stuff and 10% nonsense. blog/celestemagnoliathewriter

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"This is where we had our first date!" Tonks said excitedly. "The gelato here is amazing!"

Remus nodded enthusiastically. He planned on asking her about marriage that evening, after they'd had some gelato. Tonks was already in a good mood, and she'd be especially happy after having something sweet. He needed all the luck on his side to convince Tonks to consider marrying him.

They ordered their gelato – his, a mess of chocolate, and hers, a colorful array of flavors – and they sat down in the nearby park. Remus brought a picnic blanket with him and spread it out under a shady tree, and the two sat side by side, with their legs splayed out.

"I'm surprised you didn't want to take Harry with us," said Tonks, after taking the first lick of her colorful mess. "Doesn't he like gelato?"

"He does, but he's been…moody?"

"A hormonal, cranky teenager, you mean." Tonks licked the back of her hand, where a trail of gelato had dripped down in the July heat. "I talked to Mum about it. I know he's not my kid but he's as good as, and I wanted to help."

If Remus hadn't been in a public place, he would've considered pouncing her in the park. Her never-ending generosity and care for Harry would never cease to amaze him.

"What did she say?"

"He's almost 14, so it could be normal puberty problems," Tonks said, chuckling. "She didn't know how to help with a teenage boy, as she only had me and two sisters, but Dad agrees that's part of it."

"What's the other part? Is it that we have to talk to the Dursleys next week?"

Tonks's brow flew up into her forehead. "I didn't know you had to do that, but that can't be helping. Why do you have to do that?"

Remus explained that because of the Blood Protection Charm that Lily inadvertently gave to Harry, the only other living person who shared her blood was Dudley Dursley, Harry's maternal cousin. Now that Voldemort was back in the country, despite his precise whereabouts being unknown, Dumbledore believed that Dudley was in danger of having his blood – or life – taken from him.

"Harry's not happy about it?"

"Not at all. Speaking of which, I keep forgetting to ask – can you come along, too? Harry wants all of us, Ron, and Ginny with him."

Tonks lifted an eyebrow at him. "Why so many of us?"

"Sirius and I reckon he wants to show Dudley he's got a better life now…maybe moral support as well. It was the only way we could get him to agree to seeing them again, so we're allowing it."

"I'll go. If he wants me there, I'll be there."

Remus smiled at her, his heart bursting with love for the witch who had taken Harry under her wing and opened her own heart to the unusual family.

"The Dursley visit can't be helping his mood," Tonks said, after a long pause. "But you know what Mum and Dad said? They thought that he's grieving the loss of your father." She reached out her hand and rested it on Remus's knee. "I don't know if he's had the chance to properly mourn. I know you've had your moments, but have you asked him how he's doing?"

Remus stared quizzically at her. He hadn't taken much time at all to discuss his father's death with Harry. The funeral had been at Hogwarts, and Harry returned to his friends. Remus had cried on Tonks, having held onto her for comfort, but he hadn't a clue if Harry had any moments to process his own grief.

"I haven't," Remus admitted guiltily. He knew he had been thinking too much about Harry's safety, the horcrux hunt, and the possible proposal to Tonks that he realized he'd been neglecting Harry's emotional well-being for weeks.

"It might be good to talk to him about it," she suggested softly. "Even if it's hard for both of you."

Remus grimaced. It was hard enough to think about his father without feeling as if he would fall apart, and he wanted to be strong for Harry.

"I'll talk to him about it," Remus promised. He swallowed the lump in his throat, and did his best to hide his frown. He had nothing but difficult conversations ahead between the Tonkses, Harry, and the Dursleys. "Thank you for talking to your parents – I'd have asked my Dad, but—"

"I know," Tonks patted his cheek and kissed his temple. Her soft lips against his skin sent flutters into his abdomen, even now, almost a year after they began dating. They had finished their gelato by now and Tonks looked out at the park. "Want to go for a walk?"

"Actually," Remus said, his heart hammering in his chest, "we need to talk, and it's better if we're both sitting down."

Tonks's eyes grew wide as saucers and she clapped her hand over her mouth. "You're not breaking up with me, are you? Is that why you took me out for gelato? To make me happy before you—"

Remus scrambled, panicked, and put his hands up, shaking them violently. "No, no, not at all!"

Tonks punched him playfully on his shoulder. "You don't tell someone 'we need to talk' if it's not something horrible, you prat!"

"What?"

"'We need to talk' is universally known for what people say before they break up with each other." Tonks rolled her eyes dramatically and shook her head. "Everyone knows it means something awful."

"Oh…well, it's not that, I hope." Remus chuckled nervously as Tonks narrowed her eyes.

"What is it, then?"

Remus fiddled with his thumbs. He had planned the conversation to go very differently; his mishap had derailed him.

"Well?" Tonks said impatiently.

"I was wondering…if one day…or someday…you would want to be married?"

Tonks gaped at him, her jaw slack. Remus felt a creeping sensation in his body, a cold dread settling in that told him she had no interest in marriage – or, if she did, it wouldn't be with him.

"Are you asking if I want to be married," Tonks said slowly, "or if I want to be married to you? I want to make sure I'm understanding what you're saying."

"It's both of those things," replied Remus. "But I'm not, err, asking you to marry…not now, or ever…if you don't want." He forced a smile, trying his best not to look any dumber than he felt.

"Wow, umm," Tonks said, after blinking many times. "I was not expecting that."

Remus's face fell. He gripped the blanket and dropped his gaze down to the ground, hoping his total disappointment could be hidden from her.

"I don't mean that as a bad thing, Remus. I thought you didn't want anything to do with marriage. I'm surprised." Remus felt a flicker of hope in his chest as he gazed back up at her. She held one of his hands in her own, tracing the faint scars on his palm. "I'd like to be married…but I'd like something else too."

"Anything. You can have anything you want," Remus said instantly. "As long as I can give it to you, it's yours."

Tonks huffed in amusement. "Funnily enough, what I want isn't something you can just give me. It's about Harry…I'd like to adopt him if we're going to be married."

"You do? Really?"

"Of course I do. I don't know if he'll go for it—"

"I think he would."

"That's good, but can I tell you why?" Remus nodded and she continued. "I know it's probably nothing, but I'm worried about Sirius being the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. If something happens to him, I don't want the Ministry going after you for being Harry's only guardian left. If I'm one of his official guardians, too, the Ministry can't tell me what I can and can't do with him."

"Including who you live with," Remus said softly, and she nodded.

"If the Ministry wants Sirius to be the 'main guardian' and he happens to live with a werewolf and his cousin, they can't do anything. If something happens to Sirius and I become the main guardian, they can't tell me what to do."

"They can," Remus said bitterly. "We tried that with my dad. The only reason Sirius got away with breaking the custody stipulations we set up years ago was because of his wrongful imprisonment. The Ministry owed him a huge favor. Technically, Sirius could take Harry anywhere he likes without my permission. He's the real guardian, as far as the Ministry is concerned. My dad and I were a sort of package deal – if something happened to him, Harry would be left to me, and that wasn't acceptable."

"That's rubbish," Tonks said, with a conspiratorial gleam in her eyes, "but it gives me an idea. What if I adopt Harry independent of you? We get married when Harry's of age – no custody problems – but I adopt him as a single person? Then if something happens to Sirius, I'm still one of his legal guardians and the Ministry can go fuck itself."

"You would do that?"

"I can't believe I didn't think of it before, but it makes perfect sense, don't you think? I'll be his guardian and when he's of age and it doesn't matter anymore, we can get married…if that's what you want?"

Remus gawked at her, at a loss for words. He didn't care that she wanted to wait a few years to marry him – what mattered was that she did want to marry him and she had Harry's well-being in mind.

"Have I said something wrong?"

Remus captured her lips for a kiss, bringing his hand up to rest on her jawline. "I love you. Everything you said was perfect."

"Brilliant," she said, sighing contently. "We'll need to talk to Harry to see if he's open to it…and my parents, too. They're already Harry's secondary guardians for Sirius, but they should know if I'm involved."

"Ah…about your parents. I know you don't need permission if I ask you to…" He cleared his throat, not wanting to press his luck further. "I'd like them to know what we're thinking."

"I don't need permission to do anything, but you're right. Mum and Dad will appreciate it if you talk to them." Tonks kissed his forehead and winked, adding, "I don't mind the idea of a long engagement, if you know what I mean."

Remus's heart raced with the possibility of having Nymphadora as his fiancé before Harry went back to school. She grinned at him, beautiful and radiant as ever, and he began making plans for the next conversation with her.

…..

Harry's bedroom door was closed and locked. Remus knocked on it three times to give Harry some time to get to the door. Sirius had walked in on Harry once already that summer, and after an incredibly awkward talk about puberty with the teenager, Remus, Sirius, and Harry decided that three loud knocks would suffice to give Harry time to make himself presentable, should he be otherwise preoccupied.

Harry came to the door sooner than Remus expected.

"Hi, Harry. Do you have a few minutes? There's something I wanted to talk to you about."

Harry glanced furtively at Remus, but opened the door more fully. The bedroom stunk of body odor, and Remus cast a charm on the space to get rid of it. With another flick of his wand, the bed made itself and Remus sat on the edge with Harry.

"I hope I wasn't interrupting anything."

"I was reading. Sirius gave me some of the books you got him while he was in Azkaban. They're not bad."

"Good." Remus rubbed his hands on his trousers, not knowing where to begin. He cleared his throat lightly and asked, "How have you been lately?"

"Fine."

"Is there anything that's been on your mind?"

"No." Harry averted his gaze and looked down at the floor.

"I think there is…and I think I know what it is, too." Harry didn't say anything, keeping his eyes glued to the floorboards. "I know you've been missing my father – your Grandad – and you're probably worried about Sirius teaching. The visit to your cousin next week can't be helping."

"Everyone's treating me like a baby!" Harry blurted. "I can't go anywhere! It's not like Voldemort's waiting for me at the Leaky Cauldron!"

"It's for your own—"

"How come you and Sirius get to go anywhere you want? Wormtail saw you and Voldemort knows you're after him!"

"It's different – we're adults—"

"It's like a bloody prison in here!" Harry shouted angrily. "I can't even go to the park!"

"Is that what you want to do? Go to the park?"

"I don't know. I don't care! I just want to go somewhere other than here."

"You've been able to see Ron and Ginny at the Burrow—"

"And they get to fly any day they want or go to the village – or see Luna—"

"You want to fly more?" Remus asked. "Is that what this is about?"

"I don't like being stuck in here. It reminds me a lot of…" Harry fell silent, and Remus finally understood. Harry missed Lyall, and flying was one of the ways he took his mind off of things. Harry wanted to spend more time outside in the open air.

"Why don't I ask Molly if it's all right if you can come over most days?" Remus suggested. "Would that help? You've only been to see them a few times."

"Yeah. I wish I could go other places though."

"We'll go to the Quidditch World Cup—"

"I want to go to normal places, like Diagon Alley or even see a film. I told Ron and Ginny about films and they want to see one."

Though Harry was far from a typical teenager, Remus felt a sudden surge of pity for him. He was expressing a very human desire to do normal things for his age, which included more freedom and time with his friends.

"I know it's not as enjoyable to be with us," Remus said carefully, "but if at least two of us are with you, I'll ask my coworkers what films are worth seeing and take you, Ron, and Ginny to see one or two. What do you think?"

"Take Mr. Weasley," Harry said at once. "He's dying to know what a film is."

"Is there anything else you want to do? I can't promise we'll do everything but we can try." Harry shook his head, and Remus added, "If you think of something…I really will try my best, Harry. I don't want you to be unhappy."

Harry shrugged and snatched a book from his nightstand. Remus was sure that there was more brewing under the surface, but he decided not to pursue the matter any further and instead reminded himself to look in the Muggle newspapers for recent film releases.

…..

Remus Apparated in front of the Tonks home after his shift at the bookstore. A low, sweeping sensation filled his stomach. His hands were both sweaty and dry simultaneously, as was the rest of his body. He knew it was nerves – it wasn't every day that he asked his girlfriend's parents if he could marry her. Not that she needed permission, as she was an adult, but he wanted her parents' blessing all the same.

He smoothed down the front of his trousers and made sure his shirt was tucked in; he'd polished his shoes early that morning and shaved his face again before coming. It wasn't much, he knew, but it was the best he could do.

Remus had little to recommend him but his unfailing love for Nymphadora Tonks. He hoped that Andromeda and Ted Tonks would be kind to him – if not, at the very least civil – and accept his request.

With one more glance at his shoes, he knocked on the door.

"Remus," Andromeda said lightly. "We've been expecting you."

Remus mumbled a thank you in reply and he was led to the living room, where Ted was already seated with his arms crossed over his chest. Nymphadora's father was usually jovial, but his body language, alongside Andromeda's stiff posture, only seemed to prove that Remus's idea was a terrible one.

"Don't look so nervous, Remus," Andromeda said, sounding almost amused. He didn't know if the glint in her eye was one of pity, or if she meant to look pleased before she and Ted broke Remus's heart irreparably.

"We think we know why you're here," Ted said, uncrossing his arms. "But why don't you tell us first?"

"I'dliketoaskforNymphadora'shand?"

"You spoke a little quickly – say that again?" Ted's tone was still neutral, and Remus took a deep breath to brace himself for the conversation he'd practiced many times in the last week.

"I'd like to ask you both if it's all right if I ask Nymphadora to marry me." The words no longer weighed on Remus's mind, but they seemed to have transferred their heaviness to the living room.

Ted and Andromeda met each other's gaze and turned back to Remus.

"This mightn't come as a shock," Andromeda began delicately, "but we have some concerns."

Remus gulped hard and squirmed in his seat. He'd practiced his responses to the expected issues: his financial situation wasn't perfect, but it was modest and steady. He was a dangerous monster once a month, but his regular supply of Wolfsbane Potion virtually eliminated his deadliness. He had a son to raise, but Tonks and Harry had a strong relationship, and he expected no resistance if they became a family. He knew he was a social pariah, but Tonks had already publicly joined herself to the Lupins when she offered to live with them during the Wizengamot custody hearings.

"Nymphadora doesn't want or need our permission to marry, but she doesn't always see the full picture when her heart is invested. Not unlike me – you'll know I had to run away from my family when I married Ted – but your situation is a little more complicated." Andromeda turned to Ted expectantly.

"Your health will always be a burden on you both," Ted said, though not unkindly. "The Wolfsbane Potion helps, but it doesn't solve everything. That's not your fault – we know your lycanthropy isn't your choosing."

"Nymphadora is aware of the risks, as are we," Andromeda said, gesturing between herself and Ted. "She has spoken to us already about your longer-term plans, including her guardianship of Harry. We're more than ready to welcome Harry into our family as a grandson, seeing as our daughter has made it clear she doesn't care to have children."

"I'm sorry," Remus mumbled, averting the Tonkses' stares, knowing that even if Dora did want children, he would never be able to provide them.

"It's not your fault," Andromeda said crisply. "The only matter that concerns us is with regard to Harry."

Remus snapped his head up. "Harry?"

"We haven't forgotten that you almost tried to abandon him a few years ago," Ted said matter-of-factly. "That's not something a father – or anyone who's made a lifelong commitment – should do."

"I won't ever leave her. She's my everything."

"We certainly hope you won't." Ted clasped his hands together and set them on his belly, keeping his eyes on Remus. "Dora tells us that if you marry, it will be in a few years' time?"

"She wants to wait until Harry's of age. She doesn't want the Ministry interfering with the arrangement we have, and we do want to move out of Grimmauld Place."

"You'd best arrange Nymphadora's guardianship quickly," Andromeda said. "That Umbridge woman has a vendetta against you and I don't put it past her to find a way to ruin your plans."

"I will. We'll get it done as soon as possible."

"When do you plan on asking her to marry you?" asked Ted. "Do you have a ring? If not—"

"I have two rings. They were my mother's," Remus said, producing the faded velvet box from his robes. The box held a modest engagement ring and a matching wedding ring. Nymphadora once said she thought they were nice and he hoped she hadn't changed her mind. "I don't know when I'll ask her, but I'll wait until the new guardianship is settled."

"She'll like this," Andromeda said, admiring the glittery rings. "She never much cared for the ring Evan gave her."

"I know I don't need to say this, but I'll say it anyway, in case you need the reminder," Ted interjected, meeting Remus's eyes again. "My daughter can take care of herself. She's my pride and joy and I want her to be happy. As long as you make her happy and do everything in your power to give her the life she wants, we'll get along just fine."

Remus breathed a sigh of relief; now that he'd spoken with her parents, he was one step closer to proposing. He didn't stay much longer at the Tonkses', not wanting to overstay his welcome, and returned to Grimmauld Place.

Tonks came home just minutes after he did, grinning from ear to ear and holding a rolled parchment in her hand.

"Remus, look!" Tonks shoved the parchment in his hands. The parchment bore a Ministry of Magic emblem at the top and a Wizengamot seal at the bottom. In the middle was a proposition to make Nymphadora Tonks the second legal guardian of Harry James Potter.

"Second?" asked Remus, raising a brow at her.

"Long story short, even though we know you're his primary guardian, the Ministry lists Sirius as his primary, wants me to be the secondary, and you, the tertiary. Wankers, the lot of them, but they didn't want to put a human after a werewolf for custody." She rolled her eyes and blew pink hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear when it wouldn't get out of her eyes. "If Harry's all right with it and you and Sirius sign here, we won't have to do much else. It turns out that adding a third guardian isn't as hard as establishing one."

"It would've been easier if I hadn't been a werewolf," Remus said, signing the parchment. "Or if Sirius hadn't been wrongly imprisoned, but that's not the point."

"You don't mind me being listed as the secondary guardian?"

"Not at all. You'll become his primary one if something happens to Sirius, and as you've said before, it means you can do whatever you like."

"Like you," she winked, and he stammered, feeling suddenly flushed and hot.

Sirius came downstairs, having come home from his shift at the mechanic shop.

"Sirius! Come here!" Tonks called. She showed him the parchment, explained the guardianship, and though Sirius grumbled about the order, he too signed the document. All that remained was showing it to Harry and getting his approval. Though they could've done it all without him, Remus felt he deserved transparency.

"We should get Harry here," Tonks said, clapping her hands excitedly. "I want to tell him!"

Kreacher was summoned to get Harry, and minutes later, an irritated teenager came stomping down the stairs.

"What's going on?" Harry asked warily. Remus felt a jolt of guilt – Harry had been summoned to the kitchen more than once that summer for an unpleasant conversation, but this time would be different.

"Come here, Harry," Tonks said, grinning. "I've got news for you."

"News?"

"Good news. I'm having a kid!"

Harry's eyes flew open and he stared blankly between her and Remus, who wanted to sink into the floor with embarrassment. "You're having a baby…with Remus?"

"Not quite a baby," Tonks said, winking at Remus. He put his hands over his eyes as Sirius burst into his bark-like laughter.

"It's a werewolf?!" Harry's jaw fell open, gaping at Tonks's midsection. "How?"

"Nope, it's you!" Tonks slammed the parchment down on the kitchen table and beckoned Harry to come over. "These are guardianship papers! If you're all right with it…I'll be one of your guardians just like Remus and Sirius."

Harry did a double-take, darting his eyes rapidly from Tonks, to Remus, and Sirius. "You will? I'll have three of you?"

"Only if you want," Remus croaked, still reeling from the profound embarrassment he'd just been subjected to. "You can say no."

"Do I need to sign?" Harry said instantly. He found the quill Sirius had used and signed his name underneath both Sirius's and Remus's. "Is that all?"

Tonks beamed and hugged him tightly. Remus felt his eyes watering at the sight of her, in all her pink-haired joy, embracing Harry. Sirius coughed into the crook of his arm, looking every bit emotional as Remus felt.

His heart had never been so full.