Thank for you for the favs and follows so far! I'm excited to rework this story, and conclude it. I've got a massive chunk of the next installment already written and I'm excited to share it.
And I know this is probably very unimportant but for some reason, I always imagined Ewan McGregor as Remus. Especially when he has his lighter hair, like in Star Wars or The Impossible. A bit taller, though, as Ewan is 5'10 and Remus is canonically over 6ft. Remus also canonically has green eyes. Anyways this was all a very big unimportant ramble considering I don't really see any of the other characters as strongly resembling certain celebrities.
When I think back on these times
And the dreams we left behind
I'll be glad 'cause I was blessed to get to have you in my life
Tonks awoke with a jolt when the massive, ornate cuckoo clock above the fireplace began its usual noise at five in the morning.
She had been trying to find a way to silence it, but it appeared Alastor had also used it as an alarm clock and she didn't know what charms he had used to get it to go off so much louder at five than any other times, when the little wooden bird only emitted small chirps.
She had tried to remove the clock from the wall too, but perhaps he had not planned to ever move it, because it was stuck as firmly as Sirius' Mother's portrait.
Instead, she suffered an early morning wake up call every morning and put a Silencing Charm around Teddy's crib so he didn't. She had ensured that the charm was one sided, so that if he cried, she could hear it.
The clock went quiet after five obnoxiously loud squawks and she wondered if Alastor ever fell asleep after it went quiet. She wasn't sure how, considering her heart was racing whenever it startled her awake, and she could never get back to sleep.
Tonks stared at the ceiling for a while, enjoying the quiet before her day began. September had begun nearly a week before, bringing cooler temperature and changing leaves. It also brought Teddy's fifth month of life and marked four months since Remus' disappearance.
She thought of him often, she wondered if he was alive. Doubts were beginning to pick at her, thoughts nagging at her. Perhaps it would be like Alastor's death, when Bill saw Alastor die but no body had been found. Maybe someone had taken Remus' body. Maybe, despite her hope, he hadn't woken. Maybe it was only Fred, Colin and herself.
She had been clinging to hope because the charms at their cottage were still active but Kingsley had been the one to strengthen them after the attack when Teddy was born, so she knew it didn't mean much. Alastor's charms on Grimmauld and his own house had held after his death and perhaps Kingsley's extra charms were keeping Remus' in place.
Her biggest suspect had originally been Bellatrix. Bellatrix had vanished from the battle after Molly had tried to kill her, but no one could find her now. Bellatrix knew Tonks would likely come looking for her husband and it would be a good trap for Bellatrix to finish pruning her family tree.
However, Bellatrix likely wouldn't stay quiet about it. Tonks was surprised Bellatrix had been quiet this long, but the surviving Death Eaters would likely be trying to regroup to finish what their leader started.
She had thought about Greyback for a while, thinking he had done something in retaliation, but Greyback had been killed at the battle.
Her biggest worry was that she'd never know. She wasn't sure how she'd cope with not having the answers. She didn't know what she would, or could, tell Teddy when he inevitably asked.
Finally, she forced herself out of bed. Her mother had kept Teddy for the night and it had been awfully lonely. Roofie offered nearly every day to come over whenever she was lonely but she didn't want to bother him. She had lived alone before the war and until she had been stationed in Hogsmeade, so she could survive being alone now.
The first full moon after Teddy was born had been hard. She had cried all day, worried for Remus and worried for Teddy- she worried about where Remus was and if he was alive, worried that he was suffering. Nothing happened to Teddy when the moon rose and she had been so relieved but was immediately hit by a wave of grief because Remus had not been there long enough to know Teddy was not infected.
Sitting at the old oak dining table, she hated how quiet mornings were when her mother had Teddy. She used to like quiet mornings, before she had to think about work and before she had to think of the Order, when she could drink a cup of coffee that she hated the taste of and didn't have to think about wars or dark wizards or who might be next to die.
Now, she didn't really have to think of the war, but the memories were always nagging at her. There was always a voice in the back of her mind, picking away her, telling her of all the things she could have done differently.
The spells that could have saved her father, forgotten in the moment when she was panicking and screaming for someone to help.
The fact that maybe she should have stayed home from the battle, with how close she came to death, where would that have left Teddy?
That she could have begged harder for Remus to stay home too, or delayed him long enough to ensure that they could have been together when the sun rose the next morning.
She hated to think of it, and now that she was all Teddy had left, she made sure to keep behind charms when not at the Ministry. On full moons, she returned to the cottage she had lived in before he was born, because it seemed safer to be in a secluded area in case Teddy did turn- which, she knew, would have already happened if he were infected. But she also secretly hoped that if Remus were alive, that's where he would go first.
He could pass those charms and there were potions and supplies there to help him with any injuries. So, she returned every full moon, just in case he escaped wherever he was when he transformed. She checked the cottage a few other days too, just in case he managed to show up, but he hadn't yet.
Her hope had faded slightly a month before, when his wand had been found at an old werewolf encampment the Aurors had raided. Three bodies had been found in a shallow grave and she had found herself relieved when none had been Remus. She was sorry for the families of the Muggles, but she hoped this meant Remus was alive and with a werewolf pack. She just wished she knew why.
Finally, she stood from the table and gathered her bag and jacket, Flooing to the Ministry.
Dawlish met her at her desk as she arrived. "Our department is fucked, have you noticed?" He asked before she said anything.
Tonks raised an eyebrow, stuffing her bag beneath her desk. "I am of the opinion that our entire world is. Good morning, by the way."
"It would be a shame to lose any more Aurors, so we need to talk." Dawlish said. He turned on his heel, gesturing for her to follow him. Tonks hurried to follow him into his office. "Sit." He said, gesturing to a chair.
She sat as he closed the door and as soon as he sat at his desk, he spoke again. "MACUSA is sending us Aurors. They are the only Ministry with any to spare and have actually had a few volunteer to willingly be assigned to us for a while. One would like to be permanent."
"Okay... so how will this lose us Aurors?" She asked.
"He transferred from here about six or seven years ago." Dawlish continued. "MacIver wants to come back permanently and MACUSA's Head Auror thinks I should offer him the deputy Head Auror job. He is apparently meant to be take on the role there in the next few years but since he has offered to come to help us, she thinks it's only fair he be offered the job here since I don't have a deputy yet."
"MacIver... as in Tristan MacIver?"
Dawlish nodded. "I know you two had your little fling but I need my Aurors to work as a team. I need to know it's in the past and the two of you can be professional despite it."
Professional. The word echoed in her ears.
Blonde hair was professional. At least, that's what Tristan told her. It was more professional than the pink she loved so much. He was just trying to help her be taken more seriously.
The idea that he'd return to the Ministry and become her superior again, terrified her. The dynamic would be more severe now. Trainee and Aurors barely interacted, but the deputy and Senior Aurors? They'd be working together much more often.
She had faced Death Eaters and battles and even a strange ridiculously temporary death, but the idea of facing Tristan MacIver again almost made her wish for those days back.
"Obviously, none of the Aurors know what happened. We don't need to know what happened. I just need my Aurors to work together because we can not lose any Aurors."
"He'll be active duty immediately, right?" She asked.
"Yes, most likely. All the formal training to be a deputy will have to be delayed. I'd need him on the task forces first and foremost."
Tonks nodded. "Then, just keep him away from me. I'm in training so he shouldn't really cross my path."
"I can't make promises, Tonks, it's not that easy to control which Aurors work with which."
"You are right, that none of you know what happened." Tonks said. "But I think it would be best if Tristan stayed out of my way."
"I'll do what I can. They're arriving tomorrow so you don't need to be here when they arrive." Dawlish said. "What are your trainees on now?"
"Arrest protocols."
Dawlish nodded. "I might need to push around some training, and get you lot out on some practical runs soon. We need more patrols in Knockturn, it's getting bad there again."
Tonks nodded. "I can start telling them about patrol protocols, then."
Dawlish nodded again. "Good, work on that today, you and your trainees take tomorrow off and then Tuesday I'll need to put you three on a patrol. I'll give you another Auror too, as an extra wand. Next week, I'll try to get you lot back into the rooms for Monday through Friday instead."
Tonks nodded. "Is that all, then?" She asked, standing.
"Not quite." He said and she sat. "There have been more werewolf attacks and Savage heard from an informant that this is the work of Greyback's pack, that someone has taken over for him. Now, the Order is very much an enemy of Greyback and enemies of Greyback do not fare well usually. I think you need to find somewhere secure to go on full moons. I've talked to Kingsley already and Harry, their houses are-"
"I have somewhere secure."
"Secure enough against werewolves?"
"Most werewolves, I'd imagine." Tonks said. "The charms were changed after Teddy was born, the only werewolf who would be able to cross them would be Remus. Kingsley assured us and I trust Kingsley."
"But they got through the charms before-"
"We may have made a mistake only having one set of charms in place." Tonks said. "Now there are two sets, so I believe we'll be alright, John."
"You should let an Auror into the charms, in case you need help." Dawlish said. "If something happens, you need to have an opening for one of us to get through."
"Roofie's coming over for a while tonight, he said. I've got to let him in, so that's one Auror, but I don't want to open it to too many. Too many openings for others doesn't feel secure. Besides, I don't think that everyone knows that's where I go."
"Is Roofie the only who knows?"
"Now you as well."
Dawlish nodded. "Alright, go to training."
She nodded and stood. "Can I ask, have you found where the pack might be? If it's Greyback's pack, maybe they know about Remus."
"We're still trying, Savage and Williamson are out on a stakeout. We may lose the case, though. The Wizengamot is reinstating the Werewolf Capture Unit and their officers. They will likely take over." Dawlish said. "And the Ministry needs it, as controversial as the office has been. It would be less on our plates."
"But not all werewolves need to be hunted and captured, that office has never done good." Tonks said. "Werewolves need support-"
"And Kingsley is working on that, too." Dawlish said. "The Werewolf Service Office will be back as well, with stricter guidelines and more resources to help werewolves. There are werewolves who need to be locked away, Tonks, and the Aurors can't do it alone. The Capture Unit may be a necessary evil."
She nodded after a moment. "If you hear anything-"
"I will let you know."
"Thank you." She said, leaving his office. She approached her cubicle again, where Harry and Neville were waiting, deep in a discussion about Quidditch at Hogwarts.
"Is the pitch ready, then?" Tonks asked.
"Should be by October, so the teams are getting ready. Gin says most of what will be fixed around the school is already done." Harry said. "She's Gryffindor's captain this year!"
Harry sounded immensely proud of his girlfriend, though he looked like he hadn't slept in days. Tonks had noticed he looked like he was getting less sleep as time went on, but Harry always shied away from such topics of conversation. She imagined Molly Weasley was nagging him about his sleep enough and he didn't need more questioning from elsewhere. She knew he was getting tired of people checking on him, because Molly told her that he had moved out of the Burrow and seemed to be isolating himself a little bit more. Tonks knew Molly worried, but after everything Harry had been through, he had rightfully earned himself some peace and quiet if that was what he needed.
"So Gryffindor will win the cup this year, then."
"They're not doing the Quidditch cup this year." Neville said. "Professor McGonagall said the games won't be as competitive, she wants the school to be less about House separation this year."
"I don't think you can make Quidditch non-competitive." Tonks said, pulling a book from her desk. "We tried to run practices against Ravenclaw in a non-competitive manner so both Houses could get some decent practice... it still turned competitive, but we had just lost the cup the year before so that could be why..."
"Were you ever captain?" Harry asked. "I didn't know you played."
"I was a beater until my sixth year, then I stopped, because I decided to focus more on my studies so I could get into the Auror academy but never a captain, no." Tonks said. "How are you two feeling about the arrest protocols? Dawlish wants us to move on so we can come back to them later if you need."
"What does he want us on now?" Neville asked.
"Patrols, he wants me to take you out for a patrol on Tuesday so we'll have to go over protocols today. We don't have enough Aurors and using the same ones on patrols is a bad idea." Tonks said. "There's not a lot of different protocols but there are rules we have to follow when we're out on patrols."
She opened the book she was holding. "There's a list in here, but a lot of it seems outdated and half of this is not what I was told." She said. "Obviously, we have to look like Aurors unless otherwise directed, but Dawlish has not said anything so we're going to assume we will be wearing our robes. And when wearing our uniform, what are the main rules?"
"We have to also be wearing a more Muggle appropriate outfit underneath in case we need to go into a Muggle area?" Harry offered.
"Or just Muggle clothes, if we're patrolling among Muggles."
Tonks nodded. "We'll be in Knockturn Alley, so full Auror robes, if you two get your robes by then. Long hair, tied back, but you two don't have long enough hair for that, so that's more for me. And it's usually why Aurors keep their hair short or back at all times, we get told to anyway." She said. "Footwear?"
"Ministry approved boots." Neville said and she nodded again.
"And your wand has to be holstered on your wrist." Tonks said. "We can't patrol while carrying our wands, or it makes the public feel like there's something to worry about. If we look relaxed, they are relaxed. We are allowed to wander into shops to talk to shopkeepers and check on how they're doing, it's a good way to secure a trusting relationship and ensure that they know we're around if needed. In Knockturn Alley, obviously this a bit different. It's not like Diagon Alley, where everyone is doing everything legally. There are some bad practices in Knockturn, so we try to just make our presence known but we don't want people to think we're specifically watching them. Some shopkeepers are great, they're not doing anything strange, they're just curating to a different demographic but some are a little more questionable."
"Do we just go from shop to shop and make sure everything's alright?" Harry asked.
"Sort of." Tonks said. "Usually, we'll check on every shop and then just be nearby if we're needed. Last time I patrolled, we checked in with each shop every hour or so. Now that the war is over, we may not need to be so frequent, but we'll still need to be present. During the war, there were up to six of us wandering different neighbourhoods but I imagine we'll go back to the old way soon, where there's only a couple of us in case of an event. That's why it's important to have the Aurors rotating out, if it's the same Aurors over and over, the public notices us less and feels less safe. At least, that's what Scrimgeour always used to say."
"How common is that when there are less Death Eaters?" Neville asked. "I know there's always going to be some idiot casting dark magic and leading the Aurors on a chase, but the Death Eaters were always the biggest threat, right?"
Tonks shrugged. "I didn't actually start working officially until after the Quidditch Cup attacks, so I really don't know what the difference is going to be." She said. "But having you two wandering Knockturn, it may be still be a bit dangerous. We may want to make our presence a little more scarce, since we don't know how everyone will respond to you two. Some already don't trust Aurors but if any were Voldemort supporters, it may not be great to have you two wandering amongst them. We will have an extra wand, though, it won't just be us three. This actually might be a good time to start discussing Concealment and Disguise... how are you two at human Transfiguration?"
"Not very good." Harry said.
"I managed a little but they didn't exactly continue the lessons last year." Neville said.
"Maybe we'll work on some this afternoon, then." Tonks said. "You'll need to have at least one technique for disguises when your exams come along, and most Aurors do transfiguration because it lasts longer than Polyjuice. I'm not terrible at it, I know the basics, but I obviously had my own method for my exams. I should practice it myself anyway, because it doesn't seem my morphing wants to return, so maybe that's what we'll do this afternoon. I don't know if it'll conceal your scar, though, Harry. Have you ever tried it?"
Harry shook his head. "I don't know what spells I'd even use. Cursed scars can't be hidden, can they?"
She shrugged again. "We can test it later, there are spells to conceal scars but I don't know about cursed ones. Obviously, you can't always disguise yourself for patrols or missions so there's always going to be a chance of getting into trouble if the dark wizard knows you personally, but there are ways to communicate with other Aurors if need be. For instance, if we need to call for more Aurors because something happens on patrol, we can send memos back to the Ministry without needing to have the supplies on us. Sending memos is a lot easier with wands, but sometimes if you don't have a wand, you need a way to still communicate. We'll work on wandless magic too at some point, just for that. Nonverbal, too. That one's important."
"And we're meant to learn all of this nonverbal, wandless magic in less time than most Aurors?" Neville asked with a tone of doubt.
"No, just enough to get through the program. Lots of Aurors spend the first few years of their careers working on the skill. I'm still rubbish at wandless, so it's a shame you lot are training with me. Usually they don't make Aurors train others until they've been an Auror for at least ten years... I've only done a few patrols myself so I'm still new at this, but if it's anything like when I was in Hogsmeade, we'll do a lot of nothing that day."
Savage and Williamson approached the cubicle at that moment, both wearing disheveled Muggle clothes. "I'm sorry to interrupt training, but you're needed in interrogation, Tonks." Williamson said. "The trainees can go home for the day."
"But we just started,-"
"It's about Greyback's pack, you'll want to be involved." Savage said.
Tonks nodded, standing. "Right, well, then I'll see you two Tuesday-"
"Is it about Remus?" Harry asked.
"We don't know yet." Williamson said.
"I'll let you know, Harry, if it is." Tonks said. Harry seemed disappointed, but nodded. Tonks left with Savage and Williamson, following them to the interrogation rooms. She hadn't even see them return, but supposed whatever happened must not have raised any alarms in the department.
"We brought in two werewolves for questioning and they won't tell us their identities." Savage explained. "We were wondering if you'd know them."
"I've never met any other member of Greyback's pack except for Remus and Greyback himself." Tonks said.
"They've mentioned you by name." Williamson said as they stopped by a door. "They only want to talk to you. It's the only reason they came in with us but if you're not comfortable with it-"
"I can talk to them, it's alright." Tonks said, reaching for the door. Savage put his hand on the door in front of her.
"We'll be right out here if anything happens." He said and she nodded. He stepped back and she entered the room, where the two men were sitting at the table. One was leaning back, balancing his chair on the back two legs. It struck her as very Sirius-like.
When the door shut behind her, he leaned forward and the chair made a thunk sound as the front two feet hit the floor. "Lupin, aye?" He asked, looking her up and down.
She nodded. He gestured at the chair across from the table, but Tonks remained standing. She didn't want him to think he had any control over their meeting. "And you are?" She asked.
"Berns, this is Turner." He said, gesturing the man beside him. Both looked very typical in appearance of the men she knew Greyback kept in his company. Their clothes were in rough shape, torn and dirty. Both men had dark hair and beards, scars covering any visible flesh and Berns, in particular, had a nasty scar across his left eye. The scarred eye was milky in colour compared to his other dark eye and she knew it likely lacked vision as well.
"What are your full names?"
"Not important." Turner said, crossing his arms. "We know your husband."
"You're members of Greyback's pack, it's likely that you would know of my husband, as he was a former member." Tonks said. "This is not news. Why are you here?"
"Former member, yes, that is what everyone has been told." Berns said and she narrowed her eyes. "Once a pack member, always a pack member. He could dress up like you lot and act human but it's all a load of shite, he had no place in your society and if any of you knew half of what he's done with us-"
"Are you here about Remus? Do you know something?" She asked loudly.
"We're here because our new alpha has requested a meeting with you. She seems quite insistent that it has to be immediately." Berns said.
"And why would I want to meet with her?"
Berns reached into his pocket, tossing something metallic onto the table. The object slid a few inches and Tonks' heart dropped when she recognised Remus' ring. "She believes you'll have questions for her." Berns said.
"Where did you get that?"
"We know the Ministry already found our last gift, the wand. She wants a deal made." Turner said, leaning forward, his elbows on the table. "Our pack safe from the hands of the Ministry."
Tonks crossed her arms. "And what do we get? More murders to investigate? More innocent people attacked?"
"The Ministry will no longer follow us and interrogate us. We get freedom to be a pack, to live how we want, without their interference." Berns said, ignoring her. "It's time werewolves were given a space in society, or is the Order of the Phoenix only fighting for witches and wizards?"
"We are working on creating a safe place for werewolves within society but the murders and attacks make it very difficult to convince the public that the support is warranted." Tonks said. "Why does the alpha want to meet? What will convince us to accept these terms?"
"She wants to meet with you, and you alone, tonight before the sun sets." Turner said. "We will give you a location but you must show up alone. If you don't, the deal is off and you will not get the answers you've been seeking." Turner used a single finger to push Remus' ring towards her. "Do you accept?"
Tonks stared at Remus' ring, her heart racing. She knew they couldn't trust werewolves yet, especially not one who was clearly continuing Greyback's reign of terror, but this could be it. She could finally learn what had happened to Remus.
"Is he alive?" She asked, looking up at them. "Is Remus alive right now?"
"We have been instructed not to give you that answer." Berns said. "The alpha would like to give you the answer."
"Was he alive when he disappeared?"
Berns said nothing. She hoped one of their faces would betray the answer, but they didn't. She spoke again. "Where do I meet the alpha?"
Roofie met her at the coordinates she had given him, following her through the boundaries. "So this is where you spent most of the year?" Roofie asked and she nodded.
"It was Remus' Dad's." She said. "We were fixing it up slowly. Since it's so secluded, we thought we'd be able to hide here for a long time."
"Did you ever figure out how they got through?"
She shook her head. "I imagine we messed something up, maybe we said his name and never realised or someone told them." She said. "Let me put Teddy down and I'll be right back."
She took Teddy upstairs, changing him into his pajamas. His hair was currently a bright turquoise, which she figured meant he was content. He was always in a good mood when she picked him up from her Mum's.
She rocked him until he started to doze off, placing him in the crib Remus had built a few weeks before he was born. She had been glad to return to the cottage and discover it hadn't been ransacked, that the charms Kingsley placed had kept everyone out after the attack.
As she returned downstairs, Roofie had already opened the wine he had brought and set the pizza box on the table.
"Alright, I'm sorry, he's in bed now. Hopefully, he'll sleep through the night, he tends to be more tired on full moons. Thanks for picking up dinner, I haven't been to the shops. I just get stuff from Mum's house."
"We'll get to that part of adulthood soon, when our Mums are tired of us getting food from them." Roofie said as she grabbed plates. "So, MacIver is coming back. Are you okay with that?"
She shrugged. "I kind of have to be, I guess. I asked Dawlish to just keep us separate, so maybe I won't even see him much." She said, as he opened the box. "What I'm not okay with is that you still get them to take the cheese off your pizza. Why do you ruin things?"
"Cheese ruins it. I told them to leave cheese on half for you, you baby." Roofie said defensively. "But MacIver, he should be outed. Guys like him shouldn't be trusted. Can't trust someone like him to keep people safe if they then go home and hit their girlfriends."
"That would be counterproductive, I think. Dawlish says the department is so screwed, we can't lose anyone else." She said. "If he gets outed, what happens? I appear weak, afraid of some bloke, and he either stays to make my life miserable or leaves us another Auror short."
"I doubt they'd think badly of you, you just helped fight a bloody war, hardly weak. But John doesn't know why Mad-Eye had a problem with MacIver. Everyone respected Mad-Eye enough not to question it and maybe if they knew-"
"Roofie, it's fine, really." She said firmly. "So what's been on your mind? I'm sorry I haven't been a great listener but I'll try my best to make it up to you-"
"It's fine, things have been hectic lately. I just need to know I'm not insane for this, but I've been thinking about trying to find my Dad." Roofie said, taking a long drink of his wine.
"Really?"
He nodded. "When the Ministry started looking into Muggleborns, I realised how much it sucks that I don't know. I need to know if he was a Muggle or not. And maybe why he left." He said. "Or maybe I want him to see that I turned out pretty good despite him."
Tonks nodded, swallowing her bite of pizza before speaking again. "But what will you tell him if he is a Muggle? You can't tell him you're an Auror."
Roofie shrugged. "I'll think of something. I just need to know I'm not crazy for doing this."
"I don't think so." She said. "You deserve to know who he is and if he tells you why he left..." She said slowly. "What's your plan after meeting him?"
"I don't imagine we'll have holidays together or any such shite, but some closure might be nice. Find out what he's been doing since. Maybe I have siblings." Roofie said, but then he smiled at her. "Blood siblings, I mean. I have you, obviously you're my sister in all but blood, but if I have blood relatives I don't know about... I'd like to know them. You, Mum and Andy are great, trust me, but I'd just like to know if I have more siblings."
Tonks nodded. "I'm sure they'd love to know you, too."
"If they even know about me." Roofie said. "If I meet him and no one in his family knows about me... I could disrupt so many people's lives."
"I mean, you'd have grandparents on that side, surely they knew about you and your Mum. I mean, to hide a son and wife for five years... can't be possible, right? Surely, your Dad has a few family members who knew about you, and they might be curious about you."
"If he agrees to meet with me, would you come with me?" Roofie asked. "I'm not sure I have the courage to go alone."
"If you need me, I'll be there." Tonks promised. "You know that, we always have each other's backs."
Roofie nodded, looking around the kitchen for a moment. "So, are you moving back here permanently or keeping Mad-Eye's?"
"I don't know yet, why?"
"There's a flat for rent near Mad-Eye's, I thought it'd be fun if we lived close again. Mum doesn't want me to move out again, but I liked having my own place."
"I might stay in Dartford, there are a few neighbours with kids and I think once Teddy is old enough, maybe he could make friends. Actually, there's a family three doors down who have a daughter a few months younger than Teddy. We might plan something when the two are a bit older, so they can play." She said. "Where is the flat?"
"Just a few blocks over. I would say it'd be a shorter trip to come and see Teddy but it takes the same amount of time to Apparate from Mum's or the flat."
"Same amount of time to Apparate here too." She said, and he nodded. "You could always come and stay with me for a while if you want, too. Then you don't have to Apparate to see Teddy."
"We did always say we'd live together after Hogwarts." Roofie said. "It's an idea, for sure. I haven't decided yet. I'm used to being with Mum again. I liked having my own place but I like having her company too."
"Well, it's not like you'd never see her again." Tonks said. "Like you said, takes the same amount of time to Apparate anywhere. Unless you're getting a car?"
"Undecided, but living in Muggle London, I might." Roofie said.
Tonks nodded. "Mum's giving me Dad's car, I just haven't taken it yet. Neighbours might find it weird if they think I walk everywhere, considering it's a few blocks to any shops. I suppose I should start doing my own errands. I'm thinking I might live a mostly Muggle existence outside of work, actually."
"Isn't that hard to do when you're living a house buried in charms?"
"I'm working on removing them. Alastor only had them inside, which I guess makes sense. Couldn't hide the house from everyone, so he protected the rooms instead." She said. "I did have to remove an enchantment on the garden though, I don't know why he made it so nothing could grow."
"So no one could plant a poisonous or carnivorous plant?" Roofie offered.
"Oh. That makes a lot of sense. Well, there's going to be flowers now. Molly's going to help me, she's bringing some cuttings from her garden. I want Teddy to have the same kind of childhood I had. The house with the garden, a friendly neighbourhood, the whole thing. He's going to be a part of such a tiny year in Hogwarts, just like Harry... we had so many more students in our time."
"I don't think class size matters. Do you ever see anyone we went to Hogwarts with?"
"In passing, but there were fifteen other Hufflepuffs with us and how ever many the other houses had. I haven't really had time to keep in touch with anyone, just you and Charlie."
"I saw Clark two weeks ago, he's working in the apothecary in Diagon Alley."
"I don't even remember a Clark."
"If you saw him, you would." Roofie said, glancing at his watch. "Ah, shit, it's..."
Tonks glanced at her watch too. "Right, I should go before it's too late." Tonks said, standing. "You'll be okay with Teddy for the night?"
"I'd rather go with you." Roofie said.
"It's fine, I'll be back before too long." She said.
"It just seems suspicious, that she'd want to meet you right before the moon's going to be rising."
"I know, but this could be it, Roofie. I could get Remus back. Even if it's just..."
Even if it's just for his funeral.
That was the thought she had refused to think about all day, but now that the time was nearing, she couldn't help it. She hadn't told Harry yet, she had briefly told Dawlish who had argued with her for five minutes about why she was being stupid to agree to the meeting when she couldn't offer them immunity from the Ministry. She knew she couldn't, and she suspected the alpha knew as well.
There was some other reason to meet, she was sure.
"Don't think like that, you've believed he's been alive this long. There's a reason you've been believing that." Roofie said. "I'll be right here, come right back."
She nodded. Her heart was racing as she left the cottage, unsure of what would be waiting for her when she arrived at the spot Berns and Turner had told her.
It was quiet when she Apparated into the clearing, and she felt the anxiety building as she waited.
She watched the trees for movement, praying that she hadn't just made a huge mistake in going along with this. She didn't care for this mysterious alpha. She just wanted to see Remus step out of the trees, alive.
A strong mix of emotions rushed over her when he did.
In my heart, there'll always be a place for you for all my life
I'll keep a part of you with me
And everywhere I am, there you'll be