(AN: This is a long one! I set up a lot of future plot points here. This is probably one of the longest chapters I've included in this story, and it was certainly a favorite of mine. I've included page breaks because of how large of a chapter this is. As always if you're enjoying the story I recommend following and liking for future updates. As usual, I own nothing, everything belongs to JK asides from characters or ideas of my own creation.)
A few hours had passed before Remus found himself waking up in Tonks' bedroom. Dawn was breaking and the morning sunlight was beginning to fill Tonks' bedroom.
He wasn't sure if she had done this intentionally but she had managed to snuggle up to him while they were sleeping and her body was pressed up against him. He hoped that when she woke up she'd be willing to talk to him.
He spent several long moments just staring up at the ceiling in Tonks' bedroom.
Eventually, Remus noticed that Tonks had started to stir awake.
"Hey. Good morning." He whispered to her.
At this, her eyes popped open to look at him. Suddenly, she seemed wide awake.
She smiled a little.
"I'm happy to see you. I won't lie I was sorta worried you might've changed your mind overnight."
Remus shook his head. "I'm not going to change my mind."
"I'm sorry, but it might take me some time to believe that fully." Tonks said.
Remus nodded. "I understand." He replied softly.
For a little while they both just lay there quietly next to each other. Eventually, Tonks broke the silence.
"Yesterday feels like a dream. Like it didn't even happen."
"I wish it hadn't happened. " Remus said gravely.
"I'm sorry. I know you were close to Dumbledore." She said, as she hugged him.
"Yes. I'll certainly miss his honesty and counsel.
"He was one of the good ones." Remus said sadly.
"So are you." Tonks said.
Remus felt a little abashed at this comment, he wasn't exactly sure how to take it. Especially since his absence over the past year had obviously made her exceptionally miserable.
He tried his best to accept the compliment, though.
" oh, I'm not so sure I'm good enough to hold that position. But, thank you. I appreciate that." he said.
She smiled at him a little when he said this. And it was a genuine type of smile, one that he was happy to see on her beautiful face.
"Do you have to work today?" He asked her eventually, after a few minutes silence.
She shook her head. "I have Fridays,Saturdays and Sundays off right now." She explained.
"Why?" she mused, curiously.
Remus smiled at her.
" well." he started. "I was hoping we could talk more this morning. I know you asked for more time. And I want to give you that. But I'm not really sure where we stand either." he admitted.
Tonks nodded.
"You really want to be with me?." She asked. "Just clarifying" she added after a second.
Remus felt so odd being asked, it felt as if it was something he would ask her.
" I do." he said, honestly.
"And, what does that look like to you?" She asked, trying to get a picture of what he envisioned.
"Well, we would be in a relationship, but it would be more serious than before. As long as you are OK, with that" He explained, hopefully.
Tonks held her breath. She wanted this to be true. But him spending the night here wasn't good enough to convince her.
"So what would you consider more serious ? Would you be OK going out in the Wizarding world together, as a couple?"
"Yes, I would do that. As long as it was what you wanted." He told her.
"I want you to want it too though."
"I won't lie. There will probably be times when it makes me uncomfortable. I can't promise that that will never happen.
but not being with you is more uncomfortable. All I can ask is that you be patient with me. I'll try my best." He admitted. He felt so unburdened to admit this all out loud. He felt an internal fog lifting.
" okay" she said "I can live with that.
But, I have more questions though" she added.
She loved him. But she needed to be sure he was certain.
"You told me you loved me once before, and you still left. How do I know you're not gonna leave again? Really, how do I know?" She implored.
Remus wasn't sure how to answer this.
He couldn't exactly expect her to trust him right away.
"All I can ask for is time. give me some time to show you." He pleaded.
She looked at him for a few seconds before nodding.
She only had one more question. She had a feeling this would be the one that he protested against.
She took a deep breath before asking.
"would you be willing to live together?" She asked hesitantly.
Remus thought about it for a few seconds before answering.
"Yes, I'd like that." Remus told her.
"Really?" She asked, not sure if she believed what she was hearing.
Remus nodded. "Yes. As long as you are okay with everything that comes along with that."
"I know the rules." She explained. She knew living together could pose issues due to his lycanthropy. she didn't care.
"I'd like you to live here, with me."
Remus nodded, and hugged her.
"I love you." She told him after a few seconds.
She wasn't sure how'd he respond.
"I love you too." He whispered back to her, as he held onto her.
He didn't want to let her go. He held her for several minutes before speaking.
But he had made a promise to Arthur too. He had other obligations that day,
"I have to go to Hogsmeade today. Or, technically Hogwarts. But I have to walk from the village."
Tonks have him a look, "You're going to see Bill?" She asked.
"Yes. I promised Arthur I'd be there today, Bill will have the first set of tests done today"
Tonks knew that to determine if someone had contracted lycanthropy they had to undergo a series of tests. But, she wasn't really sure what that entailed.
"W-will the tests be painful?" She asked.
"It depends. It's possible some could be painful." Remus explained. "But, most are just annoying."
Tonks looked kinda sad at this statement.
"You don't have to come. I had planned to go alone. I don't want you to be upset." He said sensitiveloy.
He knew she was still freaked out about what had happened to Bill.
"I'm alright." She said.
Remus nodded, but he wasn't sure he believed her. She was too brave.
"Could I come with you?" She asked unsure how'd he respond.
After a few seconds, he responded.
Remus nodded. "Yes. You can"
He stroked her hair softly as they lay next to each other.
"When should we leave?" Tonks asked.
"Arthur said he'd send me a message when he arrived. We can leave after that. As long as you're comfortable. Im worried seeing Bill in pain could be hard." Remus told her.
Deep down he wanted to shield her from all of this.
"I'll just accompany you. I won't go in to see Bill. He deserves privacy. I can wait outside."
Remus nodded. That was probably a good idea. He internal was happy for that.
He wasn't even sure how Bill would be or how he'd be feeling. It was possible he wouldn't want tons of visitors.
"Do you think we have some time before we have to go?" She asked Sweetly.
"Ah, we probably have some time." Remus said. Wondering where she was going with this line of questioning.
"Because." She said.
She put her warm hand on his chest.
"I've missed you." She continued, leaning over to kiss him.
He allowed her to, but was surprised by this.
He expected her to be angry with him still. Deep down he wasn't sure he deserved to have her after putting her through so much pain the last year.
Tonks moaned as they kissed, and started to move to slip herself on top of him.
"Are-are you sure?" Remus asked her.
"Mhmm." She murmured.
"But you're not allowed to just go along with this because we almost died. I want you to want me too." She told him.
He needed to make up his mind quickly.
"No, I want you too." He told her. And he kissed her back passionately.
Tonks went to remove her shirt and Remus helped her, lifting it over her head delicately.
But, a small little "pop" caught their attention.
In the corner of the room a small silvery translucent Weasel had appeared.
When it spoke, it spoke in the voice of Arthur Weasley.
"I've just arrived back to the school and the matron said Bill has been awake since well before dawn, this morning. She said they would begin testing soon. She wont let me in to see him, I haven't been told why."
Remus sighed and hopped up quickly upon hearing this.
He was secretly hoping that Bill would sleep the entire night. But if he'd been up since before dawn that wasn't the case. Which meant he'd been alone when he was told what had happened. He knew Arthur specifically had been concerned about that.
Tonks and him dressed in record time. and rushed out the door.
"Sorry." He said kissing her cheek as the walked out the door.
"Raincheck?" She asked.
Remus smiled and nodded, before putting his arm around her and disappearing in a blur.
The pair re-emerged into the streets of Hogsmeade. The sun had just started to shine over the mountains in the distance.
The quaint village was usually busy and bustling by 730am but not today.
The majority of the shops and store fronts were dark. And many had signs of mourning up as well.
It was gloomy as could be. For some reason, perhaps it was the dark scene in the village, or perhaps it was crisp the Mountain air that blew across the black lake. But for one reason or another Remus felt wide awake and overly alert.
"I used to love Hogsmeade. Seems so different now." Tonks said sadly, as she took Remus hand as they walked through the almost empty village.
"I actually had my first job in Hogsmeade. Right down there." He pointed down a side street.
"Don't worry this place is resilient. It'll bounce back." He promised.
Tonks smiled.
"You had your first job here? Where?"
"Well, it's not there anymore, but did you ever go to the magic neep? It had plants and potions type ingredients. It wasn't much, but it kept me out busy enough" he ex.
"No, but I heard of it.." Tonks told him.
"It was closed after the owner was killed by death eaters, right?"
"Mhm" he murmured. He remember that day. he could still vividly recall arriving to work early in the morning while the rest of the village still slept, to find the shop with the mark of the Death Eaters still floating over the top of it.
Remus had been interrogated for hours by the ministry after this happened. They were convinced he had caused the attack. If it hadn't been for Dumbledore, he likely would've gone to prison.
"it's actually a tea shop now I believe." Remus explained, trying to leave the past where it was.
Tonks nodded, she liked to hear about Remus' life. He always had struggled to find gainful employment he found fulfilling, for all of his adult life. But, he made the best of it.
It would be easy to pass Remus off as a cynic. But, he wasn't really.
The pair continued their walk through the streets of Hogsmeade.
As they walked though, Remus was slightly worried, perhaps no one was out for a reason. Hogsmeade had always remained safe with Dumbledore so close by. But now, Remus wasn't too sure. Perhaps
Death eaters were around.
Tonks clearly felt this ominous presence too.
"Are we safe here?"
She asked. Deep down she knew that none of them were safe anywhere anymore but she couldn't help but ask. she wanted the reassurance.
"Hhmm." He murmured uncertainly.
"I'm not sure, perhaps we should take shelter." He said, pointing towards the three broomsticks, and guiding her inside.
"Are Molly and Fleur staying in town? Perhaps I should check in on them?" She asked.
"They should be staying here" he explained, gesturing towards the inn as they made their way inside.
And he ended up being right when they walked in they found the pub, mostly empty besides from a few obvious frequent fliers over at the bar.
But, in a solitary corner, Molly and Fleur sat quietly.
They didn't appear to be fairing all that well.
"Perhaps I should just stay here with them?" Tonks questions.
Remus agreed, silently, while approaching them.
Remus quickly greeted them all and set off to the castle on his own.
Leaving Tonks alone with Fleur and Molly.
Molly was sitting at a small round table holding a large cup of tea in both her hands.
Fleur was sitting by herself a foot or so away, in a window seat.
"Can I get either of you anything" Tonks asked.
"Oh no dear. Thank you for asking." Molly replied.
"Thank you for sitting with us. I'm pretty nervous." Molly admitted.
Tonks nodded. "I know. Me too." She tried to comfort her by taking her hand.
"It'll be okay. Bills in great hands." Tonks tried to reassure her.
Molly nodded. "Oh yes, madame pomfrey is very capable."
Tonks nodded.
The pair stayed quiet for awhile before speaking again.
"So you and Remus?" Molly asked eventually. She was desperate for a distraction of any kind.
Tonks smiled a little at this. Molly had been a supporter of the relationship right from the start.
"Well, sometimes tragedy brings people together, I guess." Tonks explained.
"I hope it does for them too." Molly added, eyeing fleur.
Fleur was quiet and hadn't spoken much. Perhaps Molly worried that this was a bad sign.
"I can check in with her see how she's doing." tonks explained.
Molly nodded.she was about to speak but was interrupted.
Because, just then the barmaid came over to them. "you want anything love?" she asked in a Scottish accent.
"Oh, I'll just have what she's having. Please.." Tonks explained, pointing at Mollys tea.
The barmaid nodded and quickly made her way back to the bar.
"It would be sweet of you to check in on Fleur." Molly mentioned once the barmaid retreated.
Tonks nodded, her chair Squeaked is it moved across the floor and she made to stand.
She found Fleur over in the corner sitting by herself looking out the window.
"Hey. How are you?" Tonks asked when she sat down next to fleur
"Oh, I'm all right" Fleur said in a French accent.
"I'm just worried. they're doing all of these fancy tests, and everything." She explained.
"I know, I'm sure it's intimidating but hopefully everything goes well and he's able to go home soon." Tonk's suggested, hoping it would come to young women's nerves.
"Oh, I sure hope so." Fleur said.
She still looked so nervous.
"You know if you have any questions about anything, I'm no expert, but I might be able to answer some." Tonks Explained.
"Hmm. Alright. Well I was kind of wondering about a few things." Fleur explained
"What about" tonks asked.
Wasn't like she was an expert on werewolves or anything of the sort, but she may be able to answer general questions.
Fleur made sure to check to make sure Molly wasn't in earshot before asking.
"I's it different? B-Being with a werewolf, opposed to being with a normal person?" Fleur asked.
'Oh' tonks thought. She felt badly for her. She wasn't exactly sure the young woman had any comparison either.
She knew exactly what she had meant by the question.
Tonks put her hand on her shoulder. "No. It's not. It's the same."
Fleur sighed.
"C-can you Ah, have a baby if your husband is a werewolf?" She asked hesitantly.
Tonks knew that typically werewolves could procreate and did.
"Well, there's no rule against it. Werewolves can have children if they want to." Tonks explained kindly.
"But." She said, putting her hand on Fleur's shoulder. "Bill probably won't be a werewolf. Try to hold on to that, before worrying about all the other stuff," she explained.
Fleur nodded. "Thank you."
Just then a young paper boy ran through the doors of the pub.
"Hot off the presses!" He yelled.
"Ministry speaks out after tragedy at Hogwarts." He called out the headline of the paper in his hand.
Tonks ran over to him.
"How much?"
"Seven sickles, ma'am."
Tonks dug I'm her robes.
"Here." She said, holding out some coins.
She had barely made it back to the table where Molly and Fleur were now waiting, and She'd just briefly scanned the front page when she saw words that made her heart stop.
"Shit." She said.
Up at the castle Remus had just rounded a corner to find Arthur sitting outside the hospital wing doors on the edge of the slow trickling fountain.
He stood up when he saw him.
"Arthur, what's been going on?" Remus asked.
Arthur threw his hands up in an exasperated way.
"She won't let me in." He explained pointing towards the doors.
"They are going to start the tests soon. She said they'd let us in after." Arthur explained.
"I'm sorry this is all happening it's not right."Remus told him.
"Thank you Remus. Your kind."
Remus nodded. The pair of them stood in silence for several moments before Arthur spoke.
"Have you heard?" Arthur asked.
Remus looked at him quizzically.
Arthur sighed heavily.
"I was at the ministry all night. I tried to fight them on it. Told them it wasn't right. It-it'll come out in the paper today." Arthur started to explain.
"The ministry is capitalizing on what happened to Bill. The way they are spinning it is that the son of a ministry employee was attacked by a werewolf. And-And. " Arthur tried to get it out.
"And, their using what happened to stricken regulations even more?" Remus asked.
Arthur nodded sadly.
"I tried to fight them on it. I did," Arthur implored.
Remus nodded understanding.
"Arthur-Arthur." He said, putting up his hands.
"I expected it in some ways. It'll-well, it'll be alright." Remus said.
"The ministry has been dying to increase regulations on werewolves for months now. This was just the perfect excuse unfortunately."
Arthur looked tortured.
"And now, you. And if he." He stuttered. Pointing in the direction of his son, he gasped.
"What happens when he's a werewolf and their making life harder for innocent people like you and my son." Arthur's voice broke.
"Arthur. Don't go there yet. Wait for the tests to be done." Remus begged.
Arthur nodded.
"I'm still angry. What their doing isn't helping the good people out there. And the bad ones ignore all the laws anyway." Arthur flailed his hands.
Remus understood. "Trust me I know. This was less to help people and more to do with fear. The ministry doesn't know how to stop men like Grayback. So they impose rules on anyone even remotely like him. Their afraid."
"What are the new regulations?" Remus asked patiently.
Arthur shook his head in disbelief.
"They are imposing a curfew. Werewolves aren't allowed out after 9pm or before 6am.
And, Werewolves must identify themselves when interacting with any government entity in a formal capacity whether asked to or not.
They also said something about how Werewolves cannot transform outside a dwelling or private enclosure. They can't transform in public or outdoor spaces. and they have a whole list of places that were and weren't acceptable for transforming."
Remus sighed. It would be difficult to deal with, but he'd have to manage. It was Bill he was worried about. Right now was a bad time to become a werewolf.
"It'll be alright. Like I said In some ways I expected this."
Arthur clapped Remus on the arm, nodding.
"I'll do anything I can to help. It sounds like they are starting some of the tests" Remus explained.
He could hear noises coming from behind the door.
He and Arthur sat back down. He could tell Arthur was practically holding his breath for the next few minutes.
Suddenly, from behind the hospital doors, came a sound of horrific pain. Bill was screaming in agony.
Arthur attempted to run over to the doors to the hospital wing when this happened.
But he fell to his knees in a heap on the floor before making it all the way there.
Remus put his hand on Arthur's shoulder as another horrific scream filled the hall.
"Their killing him." Arthur cried out, barely able to speak.
Remus closed his eyes. He desperately wanted the screaming to stop. this was awful.
Eventually after several minutes the screaming came to and end.
Remus helped Arthur get off the floor and back into a seat.
"I'm sorry. You all should have been warned that the testing could be painful. I'm sorry, this wasn't handled well. I'll speak with the matron about it." Remus said.
Arthur just nodded, completely desolate.
After a few minutes. Madame Pomfrey emerged from behind the closed hospital doors.
Remus and Arthur both immediately stood when they saw her.
After she told them that they could go see Bill now Arthur pushed past her in a rush to go see his son. Remus noticed when he entered the hospital wing vet bills bed still had curtains around it, and he decided to give him his and his father, some privacy, and use this chance to speak with a matron.
" just putting it out there."
he tried to say it in a nice way.
"But, If someone is getting painful tests done, their family should not have to hear the effects of those tests while waiting hopelessly outside in the hallway, nor should a person receiving the tests have to hear their family crying for them from behind the hospital doors. There's no dignity in that."
Remus told her.
She looked embarrassed at this comment.
"I'm sorry. I should've considered that before. That's on me. It won't happen again." she told him very seriously.
Remus nodded.
"How did the tests go?" Remus asked her quietly, so Arthur and Bill couldn't hear him.
The matron gave him a bit of a concerning look, that completely set his teeth on edge.
" some of the tests were within normal range." She started saying.
Remus couldn't help but think that this sounded like positive news, why was she being so morose? He wondered.
But she continued. "The tests that were the most important ones he failed."
"Which ones?" Remus ask quickly
The matron sighed. "Well, his body temperature has significantly increased over the past 12 hours. I've been keeping track. It was 97 before, but now his basal body temperature is over 100."
Remus felt a pit in his stomach at these words.
" I'm sure you are aware that if it stays around the 100 mark that could be OK. Could be a normal typical response to infection. But, were it to continue to increase that could be an indication of lycanthropy."
Remus vividly remembered, waking up in the middle of the night in drenching night sweats for large portions of his childhood
for many years,he'd had a permanent sweat stain around the collar of all of his t shirts. Werewolves had a very high body temperatures usually around 103.
" also' she continued. "His pupillary response test wasn't exactly average. And the nerves in his face have clearly been affected. this injury runs deep." She said gravely.
Remus sighed. " what percentage did they give for the likelihood of lycanthropy?" Remus asked.
" they said about 40 to 50%." She said..
Remus just nodded. He knew that that wasn't very good news, but he also knew that that was in a definite diagnosis either. He'd been given a 92% chance of developing lycanthropy. And he had. At least Bill had a shot.
"I haven't told them yet. He doesn't need to know until he's going home." She explained.
Remus nodded in agreement.
" thank you." he said before retreating. he gave Arthur and Bill some alone time together so that they could talk. He briefly spoke to them before he left, hoping to give him some encouragement..
"Just focus on recovery right now. That's the most important thing. I'll be around if either of you need anything. Even if it's just to ask questions."
Both Bill and Arthur thanked him.
"Thank you. They say I can leave later tonight. So I'm looking forward to going home." Bill said quietly.
Remus said his goodbyes and left after that. Making his way back to Hogsmeade. It was a beautiful July day.
Back in the three broomsticks Tonks, Molly and Fleur were still sitting looking at the paper.
"How, how can they do this?" Fleur cried.
Molly was just as upset.
"They have to look like they are doing something." Tonks said sadly.
But, she was terrified. She was almost certain Remus would change his mind about them now that these new rules were being implemented.
As the next hour or so passed, Tonks progressively felt sicker.
It wasn't until she went outside and felt a twinge in her arm from the breeze that she realized she and Remus had completely forgotten to attend to it that morning. Now, it was almost noon. It had been far too long since it had been cleaned.
She stayed outside breathing in the warm crisp air. It was so clarifying and renewing.
She sighed when she saw Remus coming around the distance corner.
He looked so stressed. She was sure she looked worse though. He looked concerned as he approached her.
"Your arm." He said as he embraced her. "I'm sorry I forgot."
"I forgot too. Until I started to feel like shit." She explained.
"Yeah, your a bit green." He said.
"You saw the paper?" She asked. Knowing by the look on his face he had.
"I heard about it." Remus said while he hugged her.
"C'mon. We should go say goodbye before we go." He said. "We can talk more when we get home."
Tonks agreed. And after saying their goodbyes to Molly and Fleur, they set back off for home.
Soon, they were both back at their flat.
"Come sit with me. I want to check on your arm." He told her.
She curled up on the sofa with him, allowing him to help her.
"I'm sorry we forgot earlier. It's been a crazy day." Remus said.
Tonks just snuggled in closer And Remus laid his cheek on top of her head.
"I'm sorry about the ministry." She said sadly. "I hope we're still okay?" She asked.
"Of course we are. I'm not exactly taking this personally. But it will only further complicate things unfortunately. And I'm sorry about that too." Remus told her.
"Oh I know. I promise, after the war we're going to fight the ministry on this stuff" tonks said.
Remus kissed her on the head.
"I'm serious." She said.
"thank you. You're so so sweet. I hope that's true. But, that's a fight for another day. In the meantime I'll have to follow the rules to the best of my ability." Remus explained.
"if I can do anything to make it easier please tell me, okay?" She clarified.
Remus nodded.
"now, let's see that arm." He said.
Remus had just about finished putting some green star salve on Tonks' injured arm. He was just putting the finishing touches on her bandages when she started to doze off.
"Here" he said
"that should be good for now. I'll check it again tomorrow."
"thank you" she said, leaning into him.
"You should probably rest. Try to sleep for an hour or so. You still look green." He told her.
She was exhausted and agreed.
"I wanna show you something first, though" she said walking into her bedroom.
He heard her rummaging around for something, he had no idea what, but when she returned, she had a about the Highland Lochs in her arms.
There was an itty-bitty piece of old looking parchment sticking out of the top.
Remus wondered what it could be.
"I want you to know that I was serious really about trying to change things one day. Not just for you, but for all of the werewolves who suffer because of the bad ones. Sirius told me not to show you this, and that you would think we were just fussing over you, but we wrote this together awhile back. You should look at it when you want to." She gestured toward the paper inside the book.
"Well, I'm assuming that it doesn't have anything to do with the Highland Lochs?" Remus asked, in a good natured type of way.
"ha." She laughed. "no it doesn't. That was just a handy book to keep it in." She said..
"I'll look at it." he told her in a sweet way. "Go rest."
Later, when Tonks woke up, it looked like it was almost dusk outside from the colors that she could see streaming in through her bedroom windows.
Next to her, Remus had the book about the Highland Lochs splayed out on his chest. He looked as though he had fallen asleep reading it. The paper had been put on the dressing table next to him. Along with today's paper.
Tonks reached out her hand to take the book from him, but woke him up in the process.
"hey." She said.
"hi." He greeted her.
"you read the prophet?" Tonks asked.
"I did. I also read the changes you and Sirius want to make. They are good. I don't disagree with the changes." He chuckled.
"but, you don't think they are realistic?" She questioned
"well, not today. But hopefully someday." Remus said hopefully.
Tonks nodded and hugged him.
"I know your worried something will freak me out, and I'll leave again. I understand why you I'm so mad and I'm so mad feel that way." He told her.
"but, how do I know that won't happen. Things could get worse with the ministry before they get better." She explained.
he sighed. he didn't want to leave ever. He loved her beyond comprehension.
"I'm not going to leave. I want to show you that's true." He told her, stroking her arm. We
"but, how?" Tonks asked.
He wasn't sure if a wave of insanity or clarity had hit him in that moment. But, he decided to take a leap of faith and acted on pure impulse.
He grazed her sweet face with his scarred hand.
"Marry me." He said.