What a beautiful day! thought Nymphadora Tonks as she reveled in the festivities of the day. Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour had been married, and everyone was in the backyard of the Burrow, enjoying the break between the ceremony and the reception. The sun was shining bright above the happy crowd. Molly Weasley was running around, doing some last-minute checks on the food that was going to be served. The guests were clustered around, although there did seem to be an English side and a French side. Few were crossing the invisible line between the two families. Harry, Hermione, and Ron were together near the back gate. She wandered in their direction.
“Wotcher, Harry, Ron, and Hermione,” greeted Tonks. “Where’s Ginny?”
Looking a bit uncomfortable, Harry replied, “She went to help her mother in last minute preparations for the meal.”
“More likely she’s tired of trying to catch your eye, Harry,” teased Ron.
“Well, Ginny knows what I’m facing this year. I just don’t want to break her heart,” sighed Harry.
“Harry, you know she is fast becoming a young lady and she knows how to protect herself,” said Tonks to the miserable-looking young man. “It may surprise you to know that sometimes finding that happiness when you can is more important then living miserable and trying to protect those you care for most. I should know! Remus kept me at an arms length for a year, telling me that it was too dangerous to love him. It didn’t change the way I felt; in fact, it even put me in deep despair, but look at me now!”
“I did notice the difference in you last year. You seemed so hopeless; so lifeless. I wondered what had happened to make you so down, and then the Murderer mentioned the change in your Patronus. I didn’t know what was going on, but you seemed back to yourself at Dumbledore’s funeral,” said Harry.
“Let us just say that his death brought a bit of hope back into my life, even though I will still mourn his loss. I don’t know where life will lead, though this year is not going to be easy on any of us. I do have a bit more hope in my life. The power of love is an amazing thing,” said Tonks.
“Where is Remus, anyway? I thought he’d be here today,” asked Hermione.
“I’m not sure where he is right now. He’s continuing work for the Order. He’s supposed to be here today,” said Tonks as she looked around hoping to find Remus.
As she said that, a pair of arms surrounded her waist and turned her around to face the man of her heart.
“Remus!” exclaimed Tonks, as she pulled him towards her for a huge hug and kiss.
“Sorry I’m late, but I had to take care of a few things before coming today,” said Remus. “I believe the delay may have been well worth it,” he laughed, winking at Ron and Harry. “If you don’t mind, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, I have something to discuss with Ms. Tonks here.” Remus pulled Tonks out the back gate towards a bench that sat near a tree.
“Remus, I was beginning to worry!” exclaimed Tonks, as she embraced him again.
“Sorry to worry you, Love, but I had to come up with a good reason to leave the colony today,” said Remus, as he held her tight in his arms.
Tonks then stood back and studied Remus. He looked worn and tired. He had a few more scars and scratches on his hands and face, but he looked happier then she had ever seen him before.
“Had a rough full moon this month?” inquired Tonks.
“Yes. Can’t say I was happy to not be taking the Wolfsbane Potion, but to keep my cover I had to go without,” explained Remus.
“Well, this war will be over soon enough. Our side has got to win. We should go get back to the festivities. The band is going to be great! Can I talk you into a few dances, Remus?” asked Tonks.
“Of course, my dear, but before we go back to the reception, I had a question I wanted to ask you,” said Remus in a very serious voice.
“What is it, Remus? What’s wrong?” asked Tonks.
Suddenly Remus was kneeling at her feet and looking up into her startled dark brown eyes. He was so glad to see her hair pink again, the dullness out of her eyes, and the color back in her lovely cheeks. He pulled out a beat up box and grasped her hands.
“Nymphadora Tonks, I hope you know what you mean to me and how much I love you. I was wondering if you would do me the honor of becoming my wife?” asked Remus with the deepest sincerity in his voice.
The smell of lilacs and roses encircled them and Tonks swore to never forget this moment. Tears flooded her eyes as she stared at him in disbelief. Was this actually happening? Did she actually hear what she thought she had?
“W-w-what?” she stuttered, as she looked at him in awed disbelief.
“I asked if you would do this lowly werewolf the honor of becoming his wife. This year is going to be tough, but I thought that maybe it would be a bit easier if we did it together,” he explained, as he kept staring into her eyes, trying to read an answer.
Tonks sat there a minute longer with her mouth hanging open, and then she dropped down on the ground beside him and pulled him into a deep kiss as her arms encircled him. He almost dropped the box in his hands as he got caught up in the sincerity and honesty of the kiss.
After a few minutes Remus pulled back from her sweet lips. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
Tonks started to laugh but then got a serious look on her face and said, “There is just one thing though, that you must promise me, you must NEVER call yourself a lowly werewolf! You are the most wonderful, sincere, and deserving man that I have ever met! You may be a werewolf one night a month, but you are MY werewolf and no one will ever talk bad about you in my presence, including YOU.”
“Sweetest desire,
Locked in her embrace.
I can be content to love.
Never more to yearn,
For that moment in life
When all is o’er,”
Remus whispered to his love.
Tonks stared at him in awe for a moment before speaking again. “That’s beautiful Remus. I never knew you were a poet,” she told him.
“You have all of our lives to learn more about me, my sweet,” stated Remus, as he pulled her closer to his heart, where she belonged.
“Professor, Tonks, it’s about time for the meal to begin, we’re waiting on you!” said Harry, as he burst through the gate, stopping only when he saw the ring in Lupin’s hand. “Are you getting married, too?” gaped Harry at the two of them sitting on the ground.
“Yes, Harry. I do believe we are going to be married. Just when has yet to be determined. Would you do me the honor of being my best man?” asked Remus.
“P-p-professor, really? I would be honored!” said Harry. They talked amongst themselves with excitement for a few moments before Harry spoke again about the wedding that they were currently attending.
“We need to get back to the reception, you two!”
“We’ll be in right behind you, Harry,” said Remus. Then he turned to Tonks and opened the box. Inside was a diamond ring that was surrounded by sapphires. “This belonged to my mother and it was given to me when she died. It isn’t new, but I thought it would look beautiful on you.”
“It’s beautiful, Remus! I will proudly wear it!” cried Tonks, as Remus slid the ring on her left hand. They then kissed once more before standing, brushed off their robes, and walked hand-in-hand through the gate back to the reception of Bill and Fleur’s wedding, betrothed.
