Hi everybody. I am very happy somebody is reading my story. I hope you are enjoying it :)
"Good morning."
"'Morning," yawned Tonks, grabbing a slice of buttered toasted bread from the plate on the table.
"Did you sleep well?" asked Ted, taking a jar of jam from the fridge.
"Mmmm," hummed Tonks, biting the toast. "Is this today's copy?"
"It has just arrived," replied Ted, glancing at the copy of the Prophet on the counter. "What time did you come back, yesterday?"
"Hum...I'm not sure," mumbled the girl, absent-mindedly skimming through the newspaper.
"It was almost one o'clock." Remus appeared at the door. "I hope we didn't wake you." He moved a chair closer to Tonks, sat down, and passed an arm around her shoulders, leaning forward to glance at the newspaper.
"We didn't hear anything," replied Ted, turning on the coffee machine. A half-smile played on his lips at the sight of them sitting close, Remus' hand slowly running through Tonks' pink hair. Lupin had thanked him for not chasing him away, but he had no idea how grateful Ted was to him for having made Tonks' hair turn pink again. It was like watching his daughter come back to life after months of shadow.
"Do you prefer coffee or tea?" he offered gently.
"Tea, please." said Remus, "Did they publish it?"
"No," exhaled Tonks, snapping the newspaper shut "Not a single word about it."
"About what?" asked Ted, curious putting two cups on the table and sitting in front of them.
"There's been an arrest yesterday evening," said Tonks quickly, before turning to Remus. "It's strange. Considering people's discontent, I thought he would immediately use this news to show that the Ministry is doing its job."
"Perhaps it is not a bad idea to keep it secret for now," Remus rubbed his chin thoughtfully. His voice was measured, but there was a trace of unease beneath it. "After what happened at Hogwarts, the Ministry would be flooded with parents..."
"Who are you talking about?"Ted frowned.
"Fenrir Greyback..."
"The werewolf?" asked Andromeda, entering and sitting next to Ted. "Isn't he the one who bit Bill?"
Tonks' gaze flickered to Remus. His face was calm, but his fingers tensed briefly against the table. "Yes," she nodded.
"Well, at least Molly and Arthur know the monster who did that to their son will end up in Azkaban," said Ted, his tone edged with sympathy.
"A poor consolation," replied Andromeda, reaching for a slice of toasted bread and spreading jam on it. "Especially when it could have been avoided."
Tonks's brow furrowed. She hesitated, the toast halfway to her mouth. But before she could ask, her father spoke.
"That bill was unfair. It's good that it was not approved," said Ted, firmly.
Tonks' gaze shifted from her mother to her father, then back again. "What bill are you talking about?"
"It happened around 60 years ago." Ted took a long sip of coffee. "But I remember they were still talking about it when I was a child." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Someone suggested the Ministry should cast a tracking spell on every known werewolf to keep track of their movements. So that if one of them decided to live in the neighbourhood, the Ministry would have alerted you."
A mix of incredulity and indignation flickered across Tonks' face. "That's..."
"Discrimination," Remus finished for her, straightening his back.
"But if they had approved it," Andromeda said, smiling coldly at Remus, her voice cool but pointed. "perhaps you wouldn't have been bitten."
A chill swept the room. Remus' jaw tightened for just a moment. "Maybe that's exactly why I've been bitten," he replied, his voice quieter than hers but no less resolute. "Werewolves have always been discriminated against, but that bill only increased their grudge towards everyone else."
"Thankfully, the majority voted against it." Ted's eyes lingered on Remus, his voice carrying a note of empathy.
"But things didn't change much," said Remus with a bitter smile. His hands flexed briefly before relaxing."The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures keeps a record of every known werewolf; as if we were all monsters."
Andromeda's gaze swept over the scars on his face, her silence heavy with judgment. Lupin stiffened slightly, his muscles tense.
The news of Greyback's arrest had kept him awake almost all night, Mundungus' words were still echoing in his ears and the full moon night approaching was starting to wear out his nerves. He lacked the strength and the patience to play that game with her. "People often forget we are the victims. We didn't choose to be bitten. And before you ask it," he went on, fixing Andromeda with a steady, unwavering stare, "yes, my name is in that register."
The chair scraped harshly against the floor as Remus stood up. He hesitated, as though reconsidering his next words, before finally turning to Tonks. "I'm going to see how Bill feels today," He said, his voice softening. "I'll wait there for you, love," he added with a reassuring smile before leaning and giving her a long, deep kiss that made her sigh and clutch the sleeve of his jumper.
Then nodding politely to Ted "Mr. Tonks," he said, leaving the room without giving Andromeda another glance.
"Why?" Ted muttered, watching Tonks hurrying after Remus. He ran a hand through his hair, his expression weary." Why did you have to say it?" he asked again, glaring at his wife.
"What?" Andromeda arched an eyebrow, setting her coffee cup down with a deliberate clink. "What did I do this time?" she asked innocently, pretending not to understand the reason for his reproachful tone. "If anything, it was him." She gestured dismissively toward the door. "Leaving without even saying goodbye to me," she continued, her tone rising indignantly. "Kissing our daughter like that right in front of..."
"Enough!" exclaimed Ted, slamming his open hand on the table. His tone, usually gentle, was sharp with frustration. "I'm tired, Andromeda. I'm tired of watching you mistreat him. He has made mistakes. That's true. But who hasn't?" He paused, his voice softened but didn't lose its edge. "How long are you going to hold it against him?"
Before Andromeda could reply, Tonks stormed back into the kitchen. "Why?"
"'Cause I refuse to sit here and pretend that everything is fine when it isn't."Andromeda's voice was low, but her words carried a sharp edge.
Ted's eyes narrowed. "And what exactly isn't fine?"
Tonks stepped forward."You know what's not fine, mum? The way you treat Remus. Like he's less than human. Like he doesn't deserve to be part of this family."
Andromeda's lips pressed into a thin line, but she said nothing.
"You know..." Tonks continued, her voice trembling with anger and sadness, " There has been a time when I would have done everything to be like you." She paused, taking a deep breath before going on. "I've been proud of being your daughter. The daughter of Andromeda Black, who challenged one of the most influential families in the magical world for what she believed in. But now..." she took a step ahead, her eyes narrowed in disgust. "I don't even understand what Dad saw in you. You're no more than your crazy sister…" her mother's slap made Tonks bite her tongue.
"Don't you dare say that again, Nymphadora!" Andromeda hissed, her voice trembling as her furious eyes locked onto her daughter's defiant gaze. "Don't you!"
The Atrium of the Ministry had always been full of people coming and going, but Tonks had never seen the place so packed.
"Excuse me," she said, trying to make her way through the crowd that, for the first time, wasn't paying attention to her uniform.
"Tonks!" Kingsley called, waving his hand.
"Excuse me," the girl repeated, jostling a group of young witches and wizards out of her way. "What's happening?" she panted, stopping at his side.
"Scrimgeour is going to talk to the press, again. But…"
"Now I understand," Tonks muttered, nodding to herself. "I thought it was strange that the Prophet had not published anything about the arrest of G…"
"Shhh!" Kingsley silenced her, glancing around worried someone had heard. "Nobody has to know that yet."
Tonks frowned "What are you talking about?"
Kingsley looked around cautiously, put his hand on her elbow, and led her away from the crowd. "Scrimgeour wants to question him personally before letting people know we got him." Seeing Tonks not getting the point of keeping the arrest secret, Kingsley went on: "He offered information in exchange for protection."
Her muscles tensed her lips a single thin line, flames of anger burning in her eyes. "What?" she exclaimed, making a couple of heads turn towards them. "Scrimgeour would never bargain with a murderer," she whispered.
"He has not decided what to do yet," Kingsley replied, sharing her disgust. "But you have to be ready. You have to do whatever he tells you to do, or you'll lose your cover."
"I can't," she shook her head, wondering how Kingsley could look so cold and indifferent.
"You can do it," Kingsley replied fiercely as if trying to convince himself to. Holding her elbow tighter, he went on "We have done it until now. Whatever is going to happen, we'll continue doing it."
The long rectangular room was crowded. A warm, bright light radiated from ten floating glowing orbs. Scrimgeour was sitting on an uncomfortable wooden chair at one end of the room. He was listening to Amelia Bones, nodding every now and then, his lips pressed into a small line, but his eyes were fixed on the witches and wizards seated in the first row, The Press. The tawny hair framing his oval-shaped face and the alertness of his eyes were making the Minister look like a lion ready to defend his territory.
Tonks looked again at the clock on the wall, grumbling, asking herself what Scrimgeour was waiting for. She couldn't stop thinking about what Kingsley had told her. She couldn't stop thinking about Greyback, who was in the same building she was in, in a room a couple of floors below that. Kingsley and Savage guarding him. Then something happened that caught her attention. She noticed a small smirk playing across the Minister's lips. "Who is that man?"
"Who are you talking about?" asked Dawlish, hiding a yawn behind his hand.
"The man at the door." the girl answered, pointing to a tall man carrying a big leather bag.
The other Auror looked at the man "I have no idea."
"Doesn't he remind you of someone?." she said in a low voice, putting her elbows on the table, her chin on her hands, her gaze fixed on that man.
"I've never seen him before." Dawlish cut her shortly. Then, folding his arms, he sank back into his seat, clearly showing no interest in the topic.
"Scrimgeour would not leave his chair to talk to a simple employee."
"Well..." Dawlish cast a bored gaze at the man and snorted, asking himself why she was so obsessed with that stranger. "…maybe they are friends, and you saw that man, whoever he is, entering Scrimgeour's office."
"Yes...it could be," Tonks admitted, unconvinced, gazing at the two men. It was obvious that Scrimgeour was interested in the contents of the leather bag, but the other man seemed nervous, hesitating before handing him the bag. "I ..." There was something in that man, something in the way he was moving, in the way he had bent his head while listening to Scrimgeour, that was familiar to her. But she couldn't remember where she had seen him."I suppose you're right," she murmured.
The fresh air of the morning hit his face as he apparated into the clearing. Remus took a deep breath, trying to steady his racing pulse. He knew he shouldn't have left like that; he shouldn't have reacted to her provocation. But Andromeda had crossed the line. She didn't know what it meant to be judged for something he hadn't chosen to happen. She had no idea what it had meant for his family to be on that list.
He clenched his fists and closed his eyes, forcing himself to take another deep breath and shake those thoughts away. He needed to see a friendly face.
When George opened the door yawning, Remus realised how early in the morning it was. "I'm sorry," he said a bit embarrassed "I didn't..."
"Hi, Remus," said Molly from the kitchen, hearing his voice. "Come inside."
The smell of coffee, scrambled eggs, and sausages tickled his nose, reminding him he had only had a sip of tea, but the fight with Andromeda had made his stomach churn.
"Everything ok?" asked Arthur feeling something was troubling him.
Remus nodded sitting in the empty chair between Fred and Charlie "I didn't sleep well."
"Have you not been thinking about what happened yesterday, have you?" asked Arthur "You know it.."
"I know." Remus cut him short sighing.
"Are you not thinking about leaving Tonks to join the werew..." started Molly, her tone holding a kind of threat.
Remus couldn't help smiling thinking Tonks was very lucky to have the Weasleys as friends "No. I've no intention of leaving her." he assured " Actually" he continued feeling the need to share that news with someone who cared about him, his smile widened "I've asked her to marry me."
"Did she say yes?" asked George, biting a sausage.
"Of course, she said yes" replied Charlie shaking his head in disbelief at his brother's silly question. "It took you quite a lot to surrender, didn't it?" he teased him in a friendly way.
Remus smiled back at him "She's the most stubborn person I've ever met."
"She's almost as stubborn as you are." smirked Chalie standing "I'm going to bring Bill breakfast."
"Congratulation." said Arthur, sincerely happy for him "Finally, some good news."
"Thanks." Remus smiled again, the knot in the pit of his stomach starting to lose.
"Then why did you look so gloomy..." started George
"It's Andromeda, isn't it?" Molly cut him short
Remus nodded "She's not happy about me having come back."
Arthur frowned puzzled. Andromeda was one of the kindest people he had ever met."Andromeda? Are you sure about it?"
Remus nodded, smiling sadly "Positive."
"Well," said Molly, sitting next to Arthur, "after the way you left..."
"I know," Remus cut her short, a bit annoyed everyone seemed to have the right to remind him of it. "Don't you think I feel guilty every time Tonks' hair turns dark? But I can't change what I did."
"The most important thing is that you are back now," said Arthur, glancing at Molly. Remus was a man, not one of their sons Molly could lecture. "And that you are sure of your choices."
"Tonks is the only thing I'm sure about, right now," replied Remus leaning back in the chair.
"Andromeda will like you, don't worry." Arthur assured him "Give her some time to know you"
"It's understandable." said Molly "After all she and Ted went through."
Remus frowned, puzzled "What are you..." the shouts of Bill cut him mid-sentence.
As if the house had just caught fire they all jumped on their feet.
"What happened?" panted Arthur, running upstairs.
"I..." muttered Charlie, staring at the tray on the floor. "I have no idea."
"Bill," called Molly, turning the door handle, in vain. "Let me in."
"What did you do?" asked Arthur, watching his wife knocking at the door. "What did you say to him?"
"Nothing," Charlie shrugged his shoulders, still shocked. "I'd just entered when..." The sound of something being thrown on the floor made him jump and turn toward the door again.
A sorrowful expression appeared on Lupin's face, but it quickly shifted to one of concern. That was exactly the reaction he had expected from Bill, but he didn't have the heart to tell that to his friends. Nevertheless, the change in Bill's mood had been too abrupt. "Did you say anything to him? Something unusual?"
Charlie shook his head again.
Remus frowned thoughtfully. "Is it always you who brings him breakfast?"
"No," replied Arthur, not understanding the reason behind the questions. "It is usually Fleur who has breakfast with him, but..."
"But…?" urged Remus.
"She went to the Gringotts very early this morning. Bill was still sleeping when she left..."
An expression of understanding appeared on his face "Don't worry," Remus said, smiling sympathetically and placing a reassuring hand on Molly's arm. "I'll talk to him."
The moment Remus entered the room, he stopped short. Books, crumpled parchments, shattered picture frames, clothes, and old toys had been thrown on the floor in an outburst of rage. For a moment, gazing at the young man sitting on the floor, he had the awkward, unsettling feeling of being staring at a reflection of his younger self.
He straightened, shaking the thought away.
With his hair falling over his face and his hands limp over his knees, Bill hadn't even noticed someone had forced the lock and entered.
The curtains were drawn, but, even in the half-light, Remus recognized a miniature Fleur waving her hand from a torn photograph on the floor.
"It was a beautiful picture," he said softly, sitting on the floor and picking up the torn photograph.
Bill didn't lift his head. His whisper was barely audible"Go away."
"Bill, listen I..."
Bill's head shot up, his eyes blazing with raw anger. "Out!" he snapped. "Out of my room!"
Remus sighed patiently. "I know you're afraid of what will happen to you. It's natural to be afraid, but trust me..."
"Trust you?" Bill's voice dripped with venom, his disgust barely veiled. "Do you want to help me?" he continued with a bitter laugh. "Then leave. And tell them I don't want to see anyone." He turned toward the door. "I know you're there. I know you can hear me. I don't want to see you. Leave me alone!"
" And you" he panted furiously, turning back to Remus, "go out of here or I'll..."
"Will you chase me away?" Remus asked quietly. "Come on, do it. Throw me out of your room." His voice was calm but firm, his gaze steady as he held Bill's anger without flinching.
"Go away, Remus." Bill spat angrily "Go away or..."
"Are you going to force me to leave?" Remus asked "Your wand is right there near that book." he said nodding in the direction of the book "Pick it up. I won't stop you."
Bill clenched his fists tighter, his knuckles turning white. "Just... go away," he muttered through gritted teeth, his voice trembling with suppressed rage.
"No." replied Remus "I'm not leaving until you've talked with me."
"We have nothing to talk about, "Bill growled.
Remus' voice softened. "Your scars," he said, his tone steady but gentle. His eyes carefully noted the effect his words were having on Bill. "We can talk about those if you want."
Bill's shoulders trembled, and he lowered his head. For a moment he seemed only the shadow of himself.
"I know ..." Remus began.
"You know nothing!" Bill snarled, slamming his clenched fist against his leg. The sound echoed in the room. In one swift motion, he stood, pacing like a caged animal.
Remus raised one eyebrow, his eyes noticing the grimace on Bill's face as he stood. "I know you think the people you love will leave you alone. That they'll be afraid and ashamed of you." he said, his gaze following Bill's restless movements "I know you believe Fleur..."
The sound of her name seemed to cut through him. His pacing stopped abruptly, his chest heaving with uneven breaths. She had left without even saying a word. At that thought, something seemed to break inside him and he felt angrier than before. "Where is your family, Remus?" Bill asked, his tone deliberately cruel. "Even your best friends thought you were a traitor, just because you're a werewolf."
"You're not a werewolf…"
"You don't know that!" Bill cut him short, turning his back on him and walking to the window. His hands gripped the windowsill tightly as he leaned forward, staring at nothing.
Tiredly, he leaned on the windowsill. "I heard what you said yesterday. I've seen how my parents, Fleur, and my brothers look at me. I've heard them whispering to each other. Do you think I'm deaf?" His voice cracked "They are waiting, and asking themselves what will happen, how they will handle this problem. I am a problem."
Remus stood up slowly. "I know how you feel. But it isn't..." he began again.
"No. You don't know how I feel!" Bill shout. His breathing was ragged as he struggled to keep himself together. "I was about to marry the girl I love. I had the job I dreamed of, I had a life…" His eye caught his reflection in the wardrobe mirror. And for a moment he froze, staring at the pale-faced young man staring back at him. His mouth twisted into a grimace of pain, rage, and fear." And I lost everything!" he cried, seizing a book and hurling it at the mirror.
Downstairs, Tonks had never felt so uncomfortable in their presence. She looked at the clock on the mantelpiece. It was almost six in the afternoon. Remus had been in that room with Bill since that morning.
The tension in the room was suffocating. Charlie, Molly, Arthur and the twins were sitting, their faces pale, their breaths shallow, waiting for news they didn't want to hear.
The sound of breaking glass startled them all.
Molly jumped to her feet, her gaze darting towards the ceiling. She almost ran out of the room, but then, before reaching the door, she stopped. For the first time, she didn't know how to comfort one of her sons. Her thoughts scattered, and her heart sank. She started walking around the room, muttering nonsense, caught between rage and misery. She stopped only when she heard Lupin talking with Fleur, who had been waiting outside Bill's room.
The springs of the sofa creaked as Charlie and Arthur stood up.
"Remus..." Arthur called anxiously as the man entered the room.
Remus put a reassuring hand on his shoulder "He's going to be fine."
"But..." Molly's gaze flickered to the ceiling again.
"He is starting to realise that things will be different from now on."Remus said, his voice tired "And he is afraid." he paused briefly taking a deep breath "He has to understand that whatever happens, he won't be alone."
"We have never left him alone, and I…" Charlie replied, feeling blamed for something he hadn't done. His voice was sharp with defensiveness.
"No, that's not what I'm saying," Remus replied gently, raising a hand to calm him, understanding his words had been misinterpreted. "He doesn't want to be taken care of. Bill needs to believe that nothing will change between you and him."
"But…"Charlie tried to cut him short.
"You think that pretending not to see his scars will help him forget about them," Remus said with a tired sigh. "That is a big mistake." he went on calmly, though a gloomy and grave expression had settled on his face. "His scars will never fade, and if you look away when Bill is with you, he'll start to think you are ashamed of him."
Molly's lip trembled, but she didn't interrupt.
"He needs to know that if he wants, he can talk to you about that night."
"I know that he..."
Ignoring Charlie, Remus continued "He needs to know that you're not afraid of what might happen, that you have no fear of what people will think."
"Bill would never…" Charlie began again
"Forget about the Bill you knew!" Remus snapped, his voice harsh, almost hostile."He is not himself right now! He'll never be the same man again!"
The silence that followed was heavy. Charlie shifted uncomfortably, his expression uncertain. Remus closed his eyes briefly. Charlie's constant interruptions had got on his nerves, but after 33 years, he should have been able to control his reactions, he thought cursing himself for losing his temper.
"I'm sorry, I know you are worried for Bill." he murmured guiltily " I'll do everything I can to help him."
Tonks, who had been watching out the window, feeling as if she had intruded on something extremely personal, came closer to him and took his hand. "Remus…" she called softly.
Interlacing their fingers, he passed his arm around her, pulling her close and making her rest her back against his chest. Holding her tight against him, his mind focused on the steady rhythm of her breathing while trying to slow down his own, he looked at Arthur "Do you still have my trunk?"
"It's in the garage."
"Charlie," Remus said gently, his earlier sharpness replaced by an apologetic tone. "Would you mind bringing it here?"
"Sure," Charlie nodded before leaving the room.
Feeling his heart thundering in his chest, his hands slightly shaking, Tonks turned in his arm "Love, what happened?" she asked, her voice dropping to a whisper "Do you think he is a..."
"No," Remus said quickly, shaking his head. "I'm fairly sure he's not a werewolf."
"Then why are you so..."
"I'll tell you later," he cut her off, pressing a quick kiss to her lips as Charlie entered the room again, carrying a battered trunk, and set it on the floor.
"What are you looking for?" he asked as Remus knelt and began rummaging through the trunk.
"This." Remus pulled out a small metal box and stood.
"What's in it?" Tonks asked, following him to the table.
"Some potions Severus brewed for me," Remus explained, his voice calm but thoughtful as he examined the vials of coloured liquid.
"Snape?" Charlie said, his disdain unmistakable.
"He's a skilled potioneer," Remus replied curtly, raising his eyebrows as though answering unspoken questions. After a few seconds, he took a vial of glittering orange liquid and tilted it towards the light. "This one will ease Bill's headache and let him get some rest," he said, nodding to himself. Then noticing the worried look on Molly and Arthur's faces, he assured them"It's not Wolfsbane potion."
The Weasleys breathed an unintentional sigh of relief but then, looking at the coloured fluid, they thought it wouldn't have mattered "Bill will never drink it." said Arthur.
"It's flavourless," Remus assured him, handing over the vial. "Pour seven drops of it in Bill's cup and have Charlie take it to him."
"Why me?"Charlie asked, frowning.
"Because your brother trusts you." He said watching Charlie looking hesitantly at the vial "Bring him a glass of butterbeer and a steak. Have dinner with him in his room."
As if suddenly shaken from her thoughts, Fleur spoke, remembering everyone she was in the room "I'll have dinner with Bill."
"No," replied Remus, his tone firmer than he intended.
"Why?" the girl asked frowning, folding her arms. "Why should it be C…"
"Because he loves you," Remus said, his voice softening as his gaze flicked briefly to Tonks." He will never forgive himself for letting you see him in this condition." He took a deep breath and stepped closer to Fleur, a grave expression settling on his face as he added gently, "You have to stay away from him for a while."
"But..." murmured Fleur shaking her head her gaze moving from Charlie to Molly to Arthur back to Remus again "I don't want to. I..."
"I know it is not easy. I know I'm asking you more than I should. " Seeing the tears shining in the corner of her eyes, Remus took her hands gently in his "You have to trust me."
"No." she shook her head "I don't want to leave him." she protested, her voice breaking slightly.
"I understand," Remus whispered, his voice lowering as he led her a couple of steps away from the others. "But I know what's in his mind right now." His gaze flickered to Tonks again before returning to Fleur. " He's afraid to tell you he feels sick. He's afraid you'll think he is not enough for you. That he won't be able to take care of you."
"I..."
"He won't believe you." Remus sighed, his words heavy with conviction. He leaned in slightly, his voice lowering so only she could hear him. "He was about to marry you. And now he feels weak and tired. Even standing or walking is starting to cause him pain. Seeing you taking care of him would only make it harder for him to accept any help. Don't do that to him. Don't make him feel humiliated."
Fleur opened her mouth as if wanting to say something but then she lowered her gaze, her shoulders slumping. Finally, she nodded.
A small, grateful smile played on his lips as he released her hands. "I'll come tomorrow morning to check on him," he said turning to Arthur and Molly again.
"Why don't you stay..." Molly started, her worry clear in her tone.
"No." Remus refused her offer gently but firmly. "There's no need for us to stay here. Bill will sleep all night. There is nothing I can do now."
Arthur nodded, even if having him staying there would have reassured him "I'll call you at the Tonks if we need..."
"We are not going back to the Tonks," Remus interrupted, his tone sharpening as if to leave no room for argument.
Tonks frowned, curious "Where are we going?"
"I'll show you," Remus said taking her hand.
A loud crack broke the silence. Somewhere in the distance a cat mewed. The scent of the woods was replaced by the salty smell of the sea.
"You can open your eyes," Remus whispered to the girl, who had buried her face in his chest, her fingers gripping his jumper tightly.
"I hate side-along apparitions," Tonks grumbled, slowly straightening her back as though trying to shake off that feeling. She hated the sensation of being dragged by her hair, squeezed into a narrow tunnel, and sucked into a vortex of colour without knowing the destination. She listened. There was no traffic sound, just the faint sound of waves slowly crashing on the sand. "Where are we?"
"Caswell Bay Beach," Remus said, taking a deep breath. "We're in Wales." He took her hand. "I'm home."
"Home…" Tonks echoed, shocked. She didn't know he was Welsh. There were so many things she didn't know about him, she realised.
"My parents used to rent one of those houses every summer when I was a child." Remus nodded toward the row of houses in the distance. "From the garden, I used to watch the other children swim and play on the beach until the sun was low on the horizon. Only then, when everyone had gone back home, would my parents and I come here."
Tonks studied him as he spoke, his eyes distant, lost in memory. She watched him undo the knot keeping his cloak close and taking it off. He laid it on the sand and sat on it.
Many times, she'd asked him about his past. Every time, he had found a way to elude her questions.
"It sounds lonely," she said softly, sitting at his side.
"It was," Remus admitted. A flicker of sadness crossed his face, but he forced a small smile. "But it was also peaceful. No one stared, no one whispered. " He closed his eyes for a moment, the fresh, salty breeze filling his lungs. "I still remember how unexpectedly warm the water was and how cold the wind felt on my skin." His voice softened. "I remember my mother wrapping me in a towel so tight I could barely move." He passed his arm around her shoulders pulling her to lean against him. "I used to wait all the year long for that month. It didn't matter if I couldn't play with the other children. The compromise was worth it. Nobody stared at me... at my scars." he paused "I was happy here."
"Why did you bring me here?" she asked her tone a mix of curiosity and quiet understanding.
"Because..." Remus hesitated, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The vulnerability in his voice was almost imperceptible but undeniable as he continued, "This is where I come when I need to think. When I need to convince myself I'm not what people see." he straightened his back and turned towards her "Today when I entered Bill's room, it was like looking at myself."
"Remus..."
"He's so afraid, so angry." Remus continued, his hands slightly shaking "He can't stop thinking about what he has heard about werewolves. He can't stop blaming himself for having been not fast enough or strong enough to defeat Greyback. If only I could have assured him he is not gonna turn."
"Love," she cut him off gently, brushing the hair away from his eyes, wishing she could brush away his anguish just as easily. "You heard Madame Pomfrey. Nobody can know for sure until the full moon."
"It's affecting him. He feels it stronger than I do," Remus said, his eyes drifting toward the pale moon faintly visible in the late afternoon sky. "The headaches, the mood swings, the tiredness..."
"The potion you gave him..."
"It's something to ease the pain." He assured her "I couldn't have given him Wofsbane even if I had wanted to. I don't have it anymore and I'm not able to brew it." He took a deep breath. "Dora," he continued in a grave tone, "what I said to Fleur..."
"I know." Tonks cut him short, gently. "Sirius told me."
"This time it will be different." a sad light shone in Remus' eyes "I haven't drunk the Wolfsbane potion."
"Don't worry." She tried to calm him down, seeing the anxiety in his eyes. "We'll find a place nearby where you can turn into…"
"It's not that," he said, his voice trembling as though every word carried the weight of his fears. "I'll hurt you." His eyes dropped to his hand, his fingertips slowly brushing against her cheek, following the profile of her face as though memorizing it. "And I can't avoid it. I can't control myself. Not when the full moon is close, not when I haven't taken the potion. I'm afraid of what I'll say."
Tonks opened her mouth to speak, but the tormented look in his eyes made the words die on her tongue. She'd always seen him hold himself together despite the weight he carried. Seeing him stripped of his defences made her heart ache.
"Remus," she began softly, reaching out to take his hand, but he gently pulled away, shaking his head.
"Whatever I say or do..." His voice cracked, and he closed his eyes briefly as if to steady himself. When he opened them, his gaze locked on hers, steady and full of unspoken pleading. "Stay with me. Even if I push you away. Even if I fight you. Stay with me as long as you can."
For a moment, she was too stunned to speak. Then, her surprise softened into a quiet smile.
"I've wasted so much time, Dora. So much time trying to convince myself that..." Before he could finish, she silenced him with a kiss, leaning forward and cupping his face in her hands.
"I love you, Remus." she whispered, her forehead resting against his, her fingers running through his greying hair."And nothing you do or say will ever make me leave." her fingers clenched his hair "Nothing."She repeated, her eyes burning with fierce determination as they met his.
He didn't speak. Instead, his arms slid around her as he pulled her closer kissing her again. She could feel the rapid beat of his heart against her chest, the tension in his muscles slowly fading away as his hands were caressing her back, grabbing her jacket. The pressure of her body against his chasing away all the thoughts and fears that had started crowding his mind.
Resting her head against his shoulder, she exhaled softly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. Then, pulling back slightly, she looked up at him with a playful glint in her eye. "Take your shoes off."
Remus blinked, puzzled. "My shoes?"
"Yes." replied Tonks taking her boots off "Come on, Remus." she untied the knot keeping her cloak closed and took it and her jacket off. "Don't make me do it alone."
"Dora…" Remus raised an eyebrow, a half-smile playing on his lips as he understood. "You're not serious, are you?"
Tonks grinned mischievously, rolling up her trousers as she stood. "Oh, I'm absolutely serious."
"It's going to be cold," he warned her, shaking his head.
"How can you be sure of it?" she challenged. "But if you're too old for..."
Her teasing words were cut off by her hearty laugh as Remus, suddenly and without a word, kicked his shoes off, stood up, and ran into the water, dragging her with him.
The impact with the cold water, as she slipped and fell with a splash, nearly knocked the breath from her lungs. "It's freezing!" Tonks shouted, laughing despite herself.
"I told you so," Remus replied, grinning and holding out his hand to her. The water didn't reach his knees, but it was enough to leave him shivering. "But you insisted…" He stopped mid-sentence as he noticed the mischievous light in her eyes. "No! Don't you dare..."
The splash of the wave against his back drowned out the rest of his sentence. "Nymphadora!" he gasped, trembling, as he struggled to his feet.
"Don't call me Nymphadora, Remus!" Tonks replied, laughing as she sent another splash his way.
"It's your name," he said, brushing wet hair out of his eyes, his grin wide and teasing. "And I really like the sound of it, Nym..."
"That's it!" she exclaimed playfully cutting him off and pushing him backward into the water.
When he resurfaced, sputtering and laughing, his hand shot out, grabbing her wrist and pulling her down with him.
"Remus!" exclaimed Tonks in a tone of mock outrage. Her laugh betrayed her as she weakly tried to wriggle her wrist free, allowing him to pull her closer.
Water dripped from her hair, running down her cheeks. Her smile lit up her face, and in that moment, all the fear, sadness, and frustration that had gripped Remus' chest seemed to vanish.
"Marry me," he murmured, forgetting about the full moon or the cold water. "Tomorrow."
Tonks smiled, leaning in to kiss him but before their lips touched she drew back her head "No," she said with a cheeky grin, pushing him underwater with a playful shove. "Not until you stop calling me like that!"
Remus' laugh followed her as she walked out of the water toward the spot where her jacket was.
Her clothes were almost dry when he reached her. "Mad-eye is gonna kill you if I get a cold," she said shivering as he hugged her from behind, his freezing cold lips pressing on the side of her neck.
"He already hates me anyway," replied Remus before letting her go a bit reluctant and taking his wand from his cloak. "What did he use to say about me?" he asked, steam rising from his trousers while he was drying them with a flick of his wand.
"That you are the worst distraction ever." she teased, her lips curling into a smirk. "He didn't work so much to make me one of the best Auror of the Ministry only to let you ruin everything." she pointed her wand at his chest helping him get dry "And, of course, that you're gonna lose one of your buttocks if you don't stop keeping your wand in the back pocket of your trousers."
An amused grimace crossed Remus' face. "Has that happened to someone?"
"Mad-eye himself, I think." replied Tonks smiling, running her fingers through her hair while drying it "I've never checked it, but if you want you can always ask him."
"I prefer knowing nothing about Mad-eye's buttocks, thank you very much," replied Remus with a mock disgusted grimace. He shook the sand off her cloak before draping it over her shoulders again. Pulling her close, his arms slid around her waist."Thank you."
"For what?" asked Tonks wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
"For being you," replied Remus resting his forehead against hers. He couldn't understand how it was possible but when she was in his arms, even his darkest fears seemed to belong to someone else.
For a moment, neither spoke. Then, almost reading his thoughts, Tonks smiled. "Tomorrow?" she whispered.
"Tomorrow." nodded Remus brushing the tip of his nose against hers. He leaned in to kiss her, but the loud growl of Tonks' stomach made him draw back laughing.
Despite everything Tonks' cheeks reddened "Sorry. " she muttered smiling embarrassedly.
"It's okay," Remus said, amused at the sight of her flushed cheeks. "I'm hungry too." He admitted, picking up his cloak and her jacket from the ground. "There's a pub not far from the beach."
It was a nice little village, Tonks thought, looking around, letting Remus guide her through it. Rows of two-floor houses were lining the street. A good smell of food was spreading through the air. Her stomach growled again.
"Don't worry," Remus giggled, turning left. "We shouldn't be far from... what?" He asked, perplexed, as Tonks suddenly stopped.
"That man..." Tonks muttered thoughtfully, her brow furrowed as she squinted across the street.
"What about him?" asked Remus, confused as he followed her gaze.
"I've seen him before," Tonks murmured. Her eyes narrowed as she studied the man. "At the Ministry, this morning. He was talking to Scrimgeour." Letting go of Remus' hand, she crossed the street.
"Excuse me," she called, stepping into the man's small garden.
"Yes?" said the man, putting down the empty bin he was holding."Can I help...?" His voice faltered as he turned. His expression hardened when he saw her uniform. His jaw tightened. "How can I help you?" he asked, more brusquely than he had meant to, unable to keep a mistrustful tone from his voice.
"I'm sorry but..." Tonks said with a polite smile, trying to put him at ease, knowing that seeing an Auror in his garden could have frightened him. "I couldn't help noticing...weren't you at the…"
Before she could finish, Remus' voice interrupted her.
"Dad?" he said, his tone a mixture of disbelief and surprise.