His hands began to shake. For one horrific moment, he thought he was transforming. But as he looked into the mirror, he saw no signs of his animal-self reflecting. He was almost disappointed. Surly, being a werewolf would have been a good excuse not to get married. But knowing his bride-to-be, she would had have him walk down the isle, collar and all, just to make sure he’d say his “I do’s”.

“Remus,” said Ron Weasley from behind him. The sound of his name startled him so that the knot on his tie completely unraveled. “Mom said for you to wear this.” The boy passed the small boutonnière.

“Thank you,” he smiled meekly as he began to pin the flower. “Have you heard from Harry?” Ron shook his head somberly. “Well, I suppose it’s for the best right now.” Ron shook the man’s hand then left him alone.

Lupin attempted to tie the knot on his tie, but it was no use. He let out a low sigh of defeat then –

CRACK!

He was in a room at the Shrieking Shack.

“If only you were here,” he mumbled to himself as he thought of his friends. Then he started to chuckle to himself, “If Sirius were here, he would have told me to run. James… James would have –“

“Told you to run too,” Tonks came out from the corner behind Lupin. She was half dressed and half made up. Lupin gave her an inquisitive look, to which she responded with a ‘don’t ask’ glare.

They both fell into each other’s arms laughing. Then Tonks cupped Lupin’s face with her soft manicured hands. She could see the worry etched into his face, so he stepped back in an effort to not burden her with his troubles.

“I thought we’ve been through this,” she told him.

“Dora, I just …” he started slightly exasperated as he tried to explain, “the war, Harry, and me with my ‘furry problem’! I mean…I don’t want you to be an outcast for my sake.”

Her eyebrow rose oddly, “In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been a rebel with my own cause since before I met you.” Lupin started to protest but Tonks continued, “And another thing, I’ve dated far worse sorts before I met you. A few of which I helped put in Azkaban.” The thought of his future wife being intimate with some criminal left Lupin speechless. “Furthermore, Harry will be fine. And we will be fine when this war is over or even if it never ends. Just tell me this…Do you love me?”

“Dora, it’s not that simple.”

“Yes it is,” she reaffirmed. She took his hands and looked him in the eye, “ I Nymphadora Tonks take you, Remus Lupin, to be my husband. And for richer or poorer, through sickness and in health, even through the new moon or no moon, I will love you. I will always love you, even until death. And then when that happens, I will run through the afterlife to reclaim you as my love.”

A humble smile rose on his face, “You will still love me, even in death.”

“My love, I will walk through hell just to love you again.”