Tonks didn't sleep. Judging by how Harry looked the next morning, he didn't either. Andromeda stayed home with Teddy this time. Tonks was glad. Andromeda was opiniated and while Tonks would have loved to have her mother's support, she also knew Andromeda was like Savage- she couldn't help but have a few misguided beliefs about werewolves and had spent the evening voicing her displeasure at the idea of marked mates and the animalistic tendencies of the 'less behaved werewolves'. Tonks had finally snapped at her mother, and the two women didn't speak the rest of the night.

They didn't speak before Harry and Tonks left either, and Tonks knew it would likely be a few days of coldness before they finally cleared the air. It was typical, when they'd argue when she was younger, to go through the same routine of polite coldness as they passed each other in the house. Now it was easier, with them not living together, to avoid each other completely. This morning, they had only seen each other so Andromeda could watch Teddy. Harry would be lucky to spend a few days with the Weasleys while Andromeda and Tonks were in the midst of the argument.

Usually her father was the one who smoothed things over. Andromeda and Tonks were quick to say harsh things and slow to forgive. Ted was always the voice of reason. Without him, Tonks wondered if their relationship would eventually crumble completely.

Something seemed different about Remus when he came in with Healer Davis, sitting on the opposite side of the courtroom just as they had the day before. He didn't seem as tense as he had when they all left the evening before. He said something to Healer Davis, who looked in her direction before replying. Healer Davis then made his way to Harry and Tonks. Tonks noticed Williamson and Savage were standing by the door, and she wondered if they were just there to escort Remus to Azkaban.

"We had progress last night." He said. "Remus had another meeting with the Wizengamot, I do not know the details of the initial discussion, but they got approved usage of a pensieve and we were able to access memories Remus was unaware he remembered."

"What does he remember now?" Tonks asked.

"On his own, he now remembers things that we believe could have happened as late as December or January, he doesn't know the dates of some memories. There are still gaps in his own recollection though, he can remember arguing with you about coming back from somewhere but he's still not sure where he went or why you threatened to leave to Romania." Healer Davis said to Tonks.

"That would have been when he tried to join Harry after I got pregnant." Tonks said.

"There is a chance he could remember the rest of that time later on." Healer Davis said. "A Healer who specializes in memory loss was able to find later memories for the Wizengamot to see. He still doesn't remember, but he was allowed to see them himself after the Wizengamot saw them."

"What about the argument that they can be altered?" Tonks asked.

"That's why I never understood why this wasn't an option before. Why we couldn't show Remus ours as well?" Harry asked. "You can tell if one is altered."

"Usually, you can tell, but sometimes not." Healer Davis said. "If someone is misremembering, it won't be so obvious. If they've done it on purpose, you can see the signs. Luckily, there were no signs that his had been altered on purpose."

"Fair argument for why Aurors can't use them, but to show someone what they missed..." Tonks said quietly. "So he doesn't actually remember but now he's seen his side?"

"Not everything, we did not realise the Memory Healer could actually pull those memories out." Healer Davis said. "There are still big gaps, obviously we didn't look for everything, but I am interested in possibly working with the Memory Healer to work out the rest of his memories for him since the Wizengamot was only focused on seeing certain events. We know what happened in the classroom now."

"You do?" Harry asked.

"The memory was really fuzzy, but we're not sure if it was an injury at the time that caused it or if it is from the amnesia." Healer Davis explained. "He didn't leave unwillingly, but it was clear he wasn't fully coherent either. I was able to observe to see if we could identify any spells that could be causing the blindness, but I didn't recognise the spell used right before he lost his sight. He did try to leave but that's when he got cursed, and now the Ministry has seen Petra. They know who they're looking for. The last memory Remus had before he's blinded is him arguing with Petra."

Tonks nodded. "Do you know if his vision is fixable yet, or something he'll have to learn to live with?"

"I still don't know." Healer Davis said. "The fact we've had some improvement makes me believe it may not be permanent, but I really don't know. I've consulted with other Healers and none of us can tell. Depending on how today goes, I have a few more ideas to try, but I can't do that if he's sent to Azkaban."

"Will they send him before he's healed?" Tonks asked.

"He is, already, technically healed." Healer Davis explained. "He is in no immediate danger from his current state. I do hope for the best, of course. I like Remus, he is somehow my easiest patient. I'd like to keep trying to fix his eyesight, but I don't exactly trust the Ministry to treat a werewolf fairly."

"That's my concern." Tonks said. "I'm not sure his work for the Order will be enough to overshadow the shite Appleson said. Were you able to tell which way the Wizengamot might go?"

Healer Davis shook his head. "I'm sorry, I couldn't tell."

It was nearly two in the afternoon before the Wizengamot and Kingsley entered, just as everyone had started to get restless. Appleson was not with them. "This trial is now in session." Kingsley said. Everyone had fallen silent when they finally entered. "Madam Marchbanks?"

Marchbanks stood. "Thank you, Minister." She said. "The Wizengamot has come to a decision. Yesterday's trial was poorly handled. We were told, and we believed, that the trial was urgent. It appeared to us that Mr Appleson was not entirely prepared and had no real evidence to present to us. It was a rather disgraceful display by the Werewolf Capture Unit. After our own small investigation, thanks to Mr Lupin's cooperation, we have decided to dismiss all charges."

Tonks released a breath she didn't realise she was holding.

"In fact, it is the opinion of the Wizengamot that Mr Lupin's actions in the Order of the Phoenix- the ones we were able to see through his memories- were often selfless and commendable. The was nothing that indicated that he was, or is, any danger to society at all." Marchbanks continued. "We have also decided that a new taskforce will be formed, with specially chosen officers from various departments, to head up the new Werewolf Support Services office. This will replace the Werewolf Capture Unit, and they will work to improve the conditions for werewolves in our society. They will launch an immediate investigation and manhunt for Petra Goldstein. The Werewolf Capture Unit will be disbanded, effective immediately as the actions of this department do not reflect the new Ministry's ideals. The new taskforce will investigate all recent werewolf arrests and will decide if they were justified or not. Mr Lupin will be released back to the custody of St Mungo's, until they deem him fit enough to be released. Minister Kingsley?"

Kingsley cleared his throat. "The Ministry will be providing a statement to the Daily Prophet about the department changes. Due to this, I ask that everyone in this room keep that information to themselves until the statement can be made. I guess that is all. Healer Davis, I will get back to you on if we can offer a pensieve for your usage."

Kingsley followed the Wizengamot out and Tonks again made her way to Remus, hoping for a second alone before everyone else wanted to talk to him.

"Back to St Mungo's, right?" She asked as she approached.

Healer Davis nodded. "At least for a few more days and then I'm confident that our attempts to fix his eyesight don't mean he has to live at St Mungo's anymore. I don't want to keep him at the hospital longer than necessary. I'll be back in a few minutes, Remus."

"So, what happens now, Remus?" She asked when Healer Davis walked away. She noticed everyone was staying back, though she knew Harry was likely itching at the opportunity to come and talk to Remus again.

"I will likely go back to my father's, I'm familiar with the house, I should be alright there."

Tonks sighed, sitting next to him. "I was hoping you would come stay with me and Teddy, actually." She said. "I know Petra is still a risk, but you deserve to be in Teddy's life, and I would feel a lot better if you weren't left alone."

"I have a feeling I won't be." Remus said. "I'll find a job, I'll help you with Teddy. Madam Marchbanks thinks I should work with Dempster to gain sympathy from the public to support the new department. She worries there will be backlash when it's announced, but she thinks I may be able to convince people."

"I could have told you that, you're an Order member, you have a voice now." Tonks said. "But about Teddy-"

"I know it was because of Petra, Dora." Remus said. "But she's still out there."

"I know." Tonks said. She took his hand. "You should be there for Teddy, as his father, not just as a passing presence in his life. All I've wanted since the war ended is to have you back. Even when we were gone with training, I couldn't stop thinking about you. I think your theory about distance is wrong. I don't think us being together has anything to do with your lycanthropy, Order or not, werewolf or not... I don't think it ever mattered. I love you so much, even though I don't know if it's safe to do so."

"I could have told you that years ago."

"You kind of did." She said. "I still don't care."

"But it's not just us." Remus said. "For Teddy's safety, perhaps it's better that we-"

"You need to meet him." She interrupted. "I don't care if you think we need to stay divorced but you're going to meet him and you're going to see him on his first Christmas and we're going to figure out how to move forward."

"I don't want to stay divorced." Remus said quietly. "I only signed them because, at the time, I believed it was what you wanted."

"Then, I think we should have a talk at some point. Figure out where to go from here."

"Come to the hospital tomorrow, we can talk."

"I'll bring Teddy. It's time for you to meet him."

Remus was quiet for a moment and then he nodded. "I'd like that."

Andromeda was sitting at the table when she got home, staring at a cup of tea. She seemed distracted, straightening up when Tonks entered. "Teddy is napping." She said. "Dora, we need to talk. Where's Harry?"

"He's gone to spend a couple days with the Weasleys." She said. "I thought I mentioned that."

"No, you must have forgotten."

Tonks sat, drumming her fingers on the table. "They dropped everything." She finally said. "Remus is back at St Mungo's, but Healer Davis said he should be alright to leave in the next few days, in time for Christmas. I would like to find a way to help him, I'm not sure how he'll be able to live alone. I want to convince him to come here, stay with me while I'm here. And then we'll figure something out for when I leave."

"Your grandparents and Uncle are coming for Christmas, it would mean a lot to them if you were able to join." Andromeda said, and then she sighed. "I imagine you two will get back together?"

"Harry will be here for Christmas too, maybe everyone can come over here." Tonks said, ignoring the question. "I know Nana and Papa won't be against Harry joining too, will they?"

"Not at all." Andromeda said. "What about work?"

"I'll have to go back in a couple of weeks, but I want Remus to have time with Teddy. I don't know what to do."

Andromeda was quiet for a moment. "If it helps, Teddy can stay with me while you're gone. Remus will get a chance to be with Teddy that way, I will make sure they have visits."

"I don't know how long I'll be gone again, I don't want to be away from Teddy that long. And Remus shouldn't have to have visits, he should be raising Teddy with me, Mum. He'll just need some help." She said. "I just don't see the point in leaving. I know it's to protect Harry and Neville to give them a chance to train without constant danger but they are going to be Aurors. Constant danger is going to be part of their lives. And I hate being away from home."

"What I said last night does come from a place of concern." Andromeda said after a moment.

"Mum..."

"Dora, I've spent years trying to ensure you grew up safe and had every opportunity in life." She said. "Your marriage to Remus, your involvement in the Order... it was terrifying for me. Yet, I got to see you become a wonderful woman and mother, that's all I've ever wanted. I'm just afraid for you."

"I can handle myself."

"I know, your father used to remind me of that all the time." Andromeda said. "I can't help but worry, though. You've made choices that I would find a bit questionable-"

"Thank you?"

"-but I know that they are your choices." Andromeda said. She paused, taking a deep breath. "I've always been worried you'd make some kind of radical decision and end up in a bad place in life."

Tonks narrowed her eyes. "I appreciate the confidence."

"Dora, when you first became an Auror, I was proud. I still am." Andromeda said. "But then you joined the Order and I was terrified. I didn't want you getting that close to Death Eaters."

"I don't think it would have mattered if I was an Order member or not."

Andromeda shook her head. "No, and I knew it was only a matter of time before the Death Eaters tried to recruit you."

"When they came for me, I was with Remus, you know." Tonks said. "We were listening for information on a Death Eater meeting, somehow I missed that we were being followed and not doing the following. I felt so stupid, that I somehow didn't notice we were being tailed."

They had been out in the rain for hours. They had to let themselves get soaked simply because they were in a Muggle area and didn't want it to look weird if their clothes stayed dry while the Muggles around them got soaked by the sudden downpour.

Remus had cheated and suggested charms under their jackets, at least, and she had agreed. It didn't stop the chill, though.

She had only met him a few weeks before, when she had blurted out his condition instead of her name- something that still made her embarrassed, but he had laughed it off- and yet she still couldn't understand why people would find this man so terrifying to the point he had left a job at Hogwarts. They had been on patrols together twice now and he had been nothing but polite. She just didn't see the danger.

Suddenly, he grabbed her arm and pulled her into an alley, pushing her into a doorway. "Stay quiet." He whispered and she felt her breath hitch at the sudden closeness. He was tense, likely because he was just as uncomfortable, and she had never seen him actually get less than a foot from someone other than Sirius, but she had noticed he didn't seem totally comfortable when her cousin clapped him on the shoulder or elbowed him.

"What are you doing?" She demanded quietly.

"We were being followed." He said. "Two of them."

"I didn't hear-"

"They're getting closer, they're going to Apparate to try to cut us off." Remus said and she frowned. "It's two days to full moon, my hearing is more sensitive than yours. They've mentioned you by name, which means they somehow know you're you even with your disguise."

Tonks looked down at herself. She had kept her natural height, something she didn't do for work, but had changed nearly everything else about herself. She must have missed something though, because Remus had greeted her by name the moment he saw her. Somehow he knew and somehow the Death Eaters knew, but she couldn't figure out what had tipped them off.

"It's not your disguise." Remus said quietly, reading the look on her face. "It's... flawless, it's just that they somehow know there's only four women in the Order and none match this description, it's a safe guess. And there would be no other reason for a woman to be seen with me. They know we're tracking them."

"You could be on a date."

Remus let out a quiet laugh, but stopped himself. "Nymphadora-"

"Tonks."

"Sorry, Tonks, they've got friends now and they're trying to decide the best way to catch us off guard."

"How far away are they? Can't be far?"

"Not far, no." Remus said. "I can't hear a mile away if you're trying to figure that out."

"I mean- I was curious." She admitted sheepishly.

"They've been tailing us for a few streets now." Remus said. He turned away from her a moment, his hand clenching his wand tightly. "They're likely a street away from us now, I can only tell because there are relatively no Muggles here and I can hear them more clearly."

"It's kind of like a super power." She whispered.

He turned to stare at her. "Yes, for three days out of the month, I can hear Molly and Sirius arguing in the kitchen while I'm in my bed. It's quite the super power."

"You can avoid getting in the middle that way."

A small smile crept onto Remus' face, but then dropped as he backed up and pressed her against the door, his arm in front of her. "They're coming."

"Why are you shielding me? I'm an Auror-"

"They're here for you, Tonks. Auror or not, I'm not leaving you unguarded."

There were four distinct pops. "You may as well come out, we know you're here." Thorfinn Rowle called. They were further into the alley than Remus and Tonks were, which did give them an escape route, but Tonks knew it would likely end with curses to their backs. "We just want to talk to the Auror."

Remus looked at her and she nodded at the unspoken question. He dropped his arm, looking a little disappointed that she hadn't wanted to stay hidden with him, and they stepped out of the doorway. The street behind them had been getting quieter through the afternoon and was now nearly deserted. It would reduce Muggle casualties, she figured.

"Impressive. Nearly unrecognizable." Rowle said, eyeing her. "The Dark Lord has an offer for the Metamorphmagus."

"No." Tonks said. "I don't care what it is, the answer is no."

"People don't say no to the Dark Lord." Rowle said, tightening his grip on his wand.

"Actually, I've heard they do that a lot." Tonks said. Remus had shifted so he was a step in front of her, clenching his wand tightly, his other hand in front of her.

"She's not going with you." Remus said.

"The Dark Lord does not take refusals very kindly, dog."

"That sounds like his problem, not mine." Tonks said, aiming her wand at Rowle. Remus stepped back so his hand was lightly brushing the front of her robes. He flexed his fingers and she could almost hear his plan, so she grabbed his hand and he Disapparated just as the spells flew at them.

As soon they reappeared outside of Grimmauld Place, he turned to her and dropped her hand. "Are you alright?" He asked. She nodded.

"We could have taken them." Tonks said.

"I don't doubt that you're brilliant in a duel, but there were four of them." He said. "If, by chance, they overpowered us, I hate to imagine what You Know Who would do if you refused to his face."

Tonks looked up at him. "Thank you."

"Alastor ripped me to shreds, he said he had lost better trainees to the Death Eaters." Tonks said. "He said I should have noticed them, but Remus insisted that they were moving nearly silently and I wouldn't have until they were right on top of us."

"I know I have been harsh to Remus for no reason, many times." Andromeda said. "I admit that I am misguided."

"You just learned about werewolves from the wrong people." Tonks said. "If you gave Remus a chance- a real chance- you'll be surprised."

"He may be a good man." Andromeda said. "He's hurt you, though, and I worry that this will be a continuous cycle. It's not what I wanted for you. I appreciate that he tried to shield you from Death Eaters over and over, but I'm still worried he's no good for you."

"Mum."

"I want you to have a stable, happy life and I worry you will not get that with Remus." Andromeda said. "I was so afraid for you, you know that? For a brief time, I was worried you may join them, I never imagined you'd do something so foolish like marry a werewolf you barely knew-"

"What?" Tonks asked. "You actually thought I'd join them?"

"Briefly." Andromeda said. "I know it was ridiculous, but fear is a powerful motivator and... it's complicated, when most of your family has supported Dark Arts."

"Because they were raised to do so!" Tonks said. "But you and Sirius, you left! I wasn't even raised in the same environment you were, I became an Auror and you believed I would deflect?"

Andromeda stared at her hands on the table for a moment. "When Bellatrix escaped, I knew she'd come after you." She said. "I was so afraid she would hurt you."

"Well, she did."

Andromeda nodded. "I hid you, as a child, because I wanted you safe. I still do, but I can't hide you." She said. "And now you have Teddy-"

"Which means Remus will be in my life."

"I don't believe it's a good idea to let him back into your life so quickly, Dora. I think you need time, I think you need to-"

"You know, you're a hypocrite." Tonks said. "Your parents hated Dad, they said he was inferior because he was a Muggleborn-"

"Your father was not dangerous."

"Neither is Remus!" Tonks cried. "You're just blinded by misinformation! Have you ever noticed that any books about werewolves are never written by actual werewolves? Just so called experts who make shit up!"

"Nymphadora,-"

"I'm going to have Remus in my life, whether we're together or not. If you can not accept that and be supportive or be a decent person to the father of your grandchild, then I think you need to give us space."

Andromeda looked taken aback. "I am concerned about you-"

"I'm an adult, it's my choice." Tonks said, standing. "You should go home. I'll let you know about Christmas."