Prompt: Tonks convinces Remus to let her see him in his transformed state after taking his Wolfsbane Potion, so she can prove he is good and safe, even if he thinks he's a monster. Set early DH, very fluffy!
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July's full moon arrived eight days into their marriage. Remus had taken Wolfsbane Potion for the last seven days, and Tonks insisted on seeing him in his werewolf form. Now that they shared his lonely cottage on the Yorkshire moors, she wanted to prove that he was good and safe with her, even when he thought he was a monster.
Tonks waited patiently at the door, hearing the muffled sounds of his anguished cries from his transformation. She wiped a tear from her eyes, wishing there was a way for her to take his pain away. Instead, the best she could do was keep him company and love him as best she knew.
The cries died down; they were replaced with the faint sound of labored breathing and heavy claws hitting the floorboards.
Tonks lifted the Muffling Charm on the door and knocked twice. Remus padded to the door and scratched at it.
"I'm going to slip the letters underneath the door now," Tonks said loudly. "You'll need to spell your name for me, okay?"
There was no response, but the first letter emerged. Slowly, "R" "E" "M" "U" "S" appeared in the correct order, and Tonks lifted the multiple Locking Charms placed on the door. The door swung open, and she saw Remus in his transformed, werewolf state for the first time.
"Wotcher, Remus," said Tonks shyly, seeing her new husband emerge from their bedroom.
Remus's snout was pointed downward. His tail was tucked between his shaky legs. His muzzle was greying, but the rest of his coarse, thick fur matched the sandy brown hair he had as a human.
"Can I pet you?" Remus lifted his head. His uncertain golden eyes met hers, and she brought her hand down to his head. He recoiled at her touch, but leaned into her hand.
"You like this, huh?" He exhaled heavily, and she crouched down to meet his downcast eyes.
"Come with me, love. We'll go to the living room." Tonks walked to the shabby, cozy couch and gestured for Remus to jump up on it. He put his front paws on the couch, attempting to get himself up on it, but struggled to get his body on it.
"Maybe we'll figure this out another time," said Tonks, stifling a chuckle at his awkwardness, and added, "I'll bring some pillows down for you." She walked to the bedroom, removed all the pillows from their bed, and brought them to the floor of the living room.
"What do you think?" She smacked her palm against her forehead and said, "I don't know why I keep asking you things. How about you lay down and I pet you?"
Remus shifted on his paws, bringing his furry belly down to the floor, and rested his head on a pillow.
"You're so damn cute, you know that?"
Remus actually snorted at her, and she giggled, finally getting a reaction out of him. She sat down next to him and began scratching behind his ears. One of his hind legs came up to involuntarily scratch himself, and she howled with laughter.
"You're just a big dog!" Remus huffed at her. She could have sworn he tried rolling his eyes, but with another snort, he lay his snout back on the pillow.
"Why don't you turn to your side so I can give you some belly rubs?"
Tonks didn't think it was possible for werewolves to give such cheeky side-eye, but Remus managed it easily.
"C'mon, just lay on your side. It'll be like a back rub." Remus gave her the side-eye again but maneuvered himself to lay on his side, exposing his belly to her. She rubbed him enthusiastically, and the soft groans he made were uncannily like the ones he made when she rubbed his back. She beamed, running her hands on him until they grew tired.
She laughed when he lifted his head off the pillow, looking disappointed that the belly rubs had been taken away.
"My hands are tired. Let me rest and maybe I'll give you some more if you're a good boy." Remus snorted again, and she covered her laugh, finding his attitude as a werewolf too charming for his own good. She suddenly recalled the present she'd gotten for him, which sat on the kitchen table and asked, "Are you hungry, by the way? Should I get a water bowl and a…meat bowl?"
Remus growled, and Tonks put her hands up, as if to surrender. "Okay, okay! No bowls for you! How about a little sleep?"
He snuggled into the pillow with his snout, and Tonks grinned. She cast a Cushioning Charm on the floor, grabbed a blanket from the couch, and pulled it over them.
"I'm going to cuddle up with you now. Just stay where you are." She inched closer to him, and put a hand on his head, stroking the coarse fur gently.
"I love you so much," she murmured sleepily. "I love you, even if you're furry. You're good and you're safe with me." She kissed the top of his head, feeling his hot breath against her chest as she reached up, and nestled herself into his side.
Hours later, Tonks felt him shaking next to her. His limbs trembled and he howled as his body began contorting grotesquely.
Tonks backed away, watching in horror as the joints snapped and cracked. The wolf's howl turned into a bloodcurdling scream; the man within begged for release from the lycanthropic curse.
She wiped away the tears that had formed in her eyes, knowing there was nothing she could do for her husband. His yowls became closer to human whimpers, and Tonks looked on as he continued trembling, nude and drenched in sweat.
"Remus, love?" Tonks said, trying to keep her voice even. "Can I come help you?"
He groaned, turning over, and she came to his side.
"Why are you crying?" he rasped. His eyes grew wide and he wheezed, gasping for air. "I didn't - I hurt you?"
"You didn't hurt me."
"I scared you."
"No, you didn't. I'm crying because I hate that you have to suffer through this, but it doesn't make me scared of you. You're still good and safe, and I love you."
"Did you spend all night with me?"
"Of course I did. I scratched the top of your head, gave you some belly rubs, and you fell right asleep. You seemed to like the belly rubs, if I'm not mistaken," she said, smiling wryly at him.
He covered his face with his hands, groaning, and she joined him on the floor again, resting on her side to face him.
"How about next time I give you more belly rubs and we try playing fetch?"
"This isn't a game, Dora."
"I know," she said tiredly, "but just think. Last night I slept next to a fully transformed werewolf, cuddled with him, scratched his face, and kissed the top of his head. I doubt there's anyone alive who could say that."
"Because anyone else who gets that close to a werewolf dies."
"Unless they're on Wolfsbane Potion. You're not dangerous to me if you've had your potion."
"We can't afford it forever."
"I have enough ingredients to last us a year. Now let me help you get up so you can get dressed and eat."
Remus winced as Tonks helped him stand. She already had clothes ready for him and as soon as he was dressed, she led him to the kitchen table.
She chuckled nervously when she saw what she'd forgotten to put away.
"Dog bowls? Really?"
"I thought if you got hungry or thirsty last night it would be easier for you?"
"You got them engraved," Remus said flatly, holding them up against the light.
"I thought you might like Moony better than Remus?"
"I honestly don't know whether to be offended or grateful. Not every wife gets her werewolf husband a set of custom bowls."
"Grateful? You should be grateful," Tonks said vehemently.
"My friends would've loved this." Remus traced his nickname on the bowls and set them down. "I think I'll choose to be grateful for them…and for you."
Tonks kissed him and began preparing a simple breakfast. She smiled to herself when Remus offered that at the next full moon, he would drink water out of one of the bowls, even if it made him feel ridiculous.
She couldn't help but hum happily to herself as she fixed the remainder of their breakfast, as Remus's willingness to plan for the full moon with her meant that at last, he planned to stay by her side for good.
It was all she ever wanted.
