Chapter: Happy Birthday

(AN: Hope you've been enjoying the story so far, thanks for all the follows and comments! I have about 40 more chapters currently outlined so expect at least that many more! This chapter we find out exactly why Sirius left home at 16)

Remus Lupin woke up on his 36th birthday to the shrill shrieks of Mrs Black, echoing throughout the house, from the downstairs hallway.

Remus emerged from his first floor bedroom to find Tonks picking herself up off the floor in the front hall, clearly having tripped.

"Wotcher." She greeted him, looking up at him.

"Hi, Dora."

"Happy Birthday!" She said happily, going over to hug him.

Remus smiled at her. "Thank you."

Together thy went downstairs into the kitchen. Sirius was reading at the kitchen table, and looked up when Tonks and Remus came in the room.

"Happy birthday, Moony!" Sirius bellowed, despite looking distracted.

Remus had noticed that Sirius had been more distant with everyone, and made a mental note to mention it to him.

Remus and Tonks Talked and ate breakfast together. Tonks had unsuccessfully tried to make Remus breakfast, and after she started a potholder on fire, Remus insisted on making breakfast instead.

"I can't believe you made breakfast, I had it under control." Tonks pouted.

Remus gave her a sympathetic half smile.

"Okay" he replied, amused with her.

After breakfast Remus and Tonks curled up on the sofa together, And Tonks had her legs laying across Remus lap while he read the daily paper.

"Oh!" Tonks exclaimed, sitting up slightly.

"I almost forgot!" She continued.

"Here, I got this for you." She said handing him his favorite Honeydukes Chocolate.

Remus smiled at her. "Thank you. You didn't need to but thank you. I'll certainly find use for it."

Tonks laughed. "Yeah I figured that you might like it."

Remus lead over and gave her a kiss on his cheek.

Tonks smiled, and grabbed his hand, pulling him towards her.

"Will you come upstairs with me?" She asked, smiling.

Remus looked at her for a few seconds, before nodding and following her up to his room.

Tonks giggled as she pulled him into his room, and he closed the door behind him.

~

Later on, Tonks and Remus were intertwined together under the covers on Remus's bed.

They were talking quietly, pressed against each other.

That was one of tonk's favorite things about Remus. After sex they had gotten into the habit of cuddling and talking with each other after.

After a few minutes of quiet, Tonks turned slightly and asked Remus a question.

"Do you think something is wrong with Sirius?" Tonks asked.

"He has seemed off lately" she continued.

Remus considered her question for several seconds before responding.

"I - I'll talk to him. see how he's holding up." He told her.

"Being here is very hard for him. I'm sure it is." He added.

She nodded, intertwining her fingers with his.

"Remus?" Tonks asked,

"Mhm, yeah."

"Wh-why did Sirius leave home to begin with?" Tonks asked cautiously.

Remus sighed. no one had ever asked him that question before. Certainly, he knew the answer. But wasn't sure he should say.

"Well his family wasn't exactly good to him." Remus said.

Tonks nodded. "Well, yeah." She said in an ironic tone. Implying she knew that perfectly well.

"You have to understand, Sirius' mother was, um, shall we say, drawn to the dark arts. And eventually Sirius was told that he needed to pick a side. Naturally, she wanted him to become a deatheater."

Tonks' eyes widened. "His mother gave him an ultimatum?" She asked horrified?

"Worse. He was given no choice."

Tonks looked confused. "No." She whispered.

Remus realized he was going to have to tell her the whole story.

"He was told that he could join up, and pledge his allegiance to the Dark Lord, or he could choose us and die."

Tonks covered her mouth in horror.

"His own mom?" Tonks questioned.

"Mmmm. He had just turned Sixteen a few months before, and three days into the summer holidays, Sirius went downstairs and discovered that his mother was in the kitchen with his cousin Bellatrix. At first he had only seen her, but after he fully went into the kitchen he realized, she wasn't alone."

Tonks looked shocked.

"Who-who was there?" She asked cautiously. As if she wasn't really sure she even wanted to know.

"Voldemort." Remus breathed.

"And, his right hand man and Grayback, of course." Remus continued.

"Jay Danes, was his second then, right?" Tonks asked.

Remus nodded. "I suspect Grayback was there for intimidation purposes."

"How did he get out?" Tonks asked, clearly unsure of how a 16 year old could of done so.

"James and I went and rescued him." Remus chuckled fondly at the memory.

"I remember he made up some excuse to go upstairs and used the two way mirror that he had with James to tell us what happened." He continued.

Tonks settled in for a nice Remus story, she had always admired his ability to captive her with a simple tale.

"We just went for it." Remus explained.

"James and I busted into the basement kitchen behind Sirius and all hell broke loose."

"We got Sirius out, but after that, he never went back."

Tonks stayed quiet for a few seconds, "wow, and he just never saw them again?" She asked.

"Uh, he saw his brother again but his mother died a few years later. He never saw her again, but I don't think he ever missed her." Remus explained.

Tonks just shook her head. It wasn't right that Sirius had to grow up so fast, and never had support from the people that were supposed .

"You all had to grow up way too fast" Tonks told him quietly.

"Perhaps we did. Seems like a lifetime ago sometimes."

"Do you feel older today?" Tonks mused.

"Haha." Remus chuckled at her. "Well, not particularly more than normal."

A few seconds passed before Tonks immediately regretted bringing up age.

Remus sighed, "you know, I'm not getting any younger."

"I mean, technically none of us are getting younger." Tonks joked.

Remus chuckled. "Your far too young to say such cliche things."

"I'm serious, though." He continued. "There might come a time when you want things that I could never give you Dora."

"Is this all because you turned 36?" Tonks asked concerned. She knew Remus had insecurities but she had hoped that they had passed most of those issues, but now she was worried that they had made less progress then she had thought.

Remus sighed again. It's- it's not just about the ago difference, I'll still always be a werewolf and that complicates things."

"I thought you understood that those things don't matter to me." She whispered.

" and, one day they might. Maybe one day you'll wake up and want a more normal life. With a husband and kids, and I can't give you any of those things." He told her.

Tonks stayed quiet for a few seconds.

"And, you think you can't do these things because your a werewolf?" Tonks asked.

"No, I won't do those things because of what I am, not because I couldn't." he said coldly.

Tonks understood now. These things…they were hard limits for him, boundaries he likely would never cross. If she wanted to be with him she would have to accept his rules.

"I understand." She said, and hugged him.

Remus seemed slightly surprised but hugged her back.

Together they eventually fell asleep, with thoughts of the future fleeting through their heads.