Chapter 2
Chapter 2
"REMUS" he heard him shout. He did not have the strength to sit up, but he managed to open his eyes again.
He couldn't recognise whose voice was calling him, but he felt it coming closer.
"Professor Lupin?"
Harry. He was alive. Then he felt a hand rest on his shoulder.
"It's over Professor."
Despite the pain, Remus offered him a smile. Harry kept calling him 'Professor' even though he hadn't been Professor for several years. He wasn't going to lie, he really liked being called that by James and Lily's son. It reminded him of the great year they had spent together with Sirius.
"Can you stand up?" the young adult asked.
Slowly, Remus straightened up to find himself sitting on the rubble-strewn floor.
"Tonks... Nymphadora, where is she?"
"Lean on me to get up Professor." Harry said without answering his question.
But Lupin did not move. He ran a hand over his face.
"Nymphadora... I need to know, Harry."
Harry crouched down in front of his friend and teacher and looked up at him sadly.
"I... I don't know. I haven't seen her and I haven't heard anything. I'm sorry."
Suddenly Remus gathered his last remaining strength to stand up. His head spun a little and this time he put a hand on Harry's shoulder. He sat up and looked around. Everything was dust and destruction. Wizards were wandering around looking for survivors, others were running to help the injured as quickly as possible. Remus felt as if he had gone back 20 years. But today, it wasn't his friends he wanted to find, but his wife, the mother of his son. She couldn't be dead. The thought alone made him nauseous. They had fought together, he had seen how strong and determined she was. Then he had turned around and she had disappeared from his sight. She had to be somewhere in the castle grounds, she couldn't have disappeared. If she had, he didn't know how he would recover, how he would explain it to Andromeda, to his son Teddy.
He took a deep breath and started walking. He had to find her.
"Professor! Remus! You can't leave like that, come and heal your wounds first!"
Lupin didn't bother to turn around, he didn't have the strength. Tonks was the only one who mattered at that moment. His wounds were nothing compared to his heart, which was in increasing danger of collapsing.
Harry watched his former teacher walk across the stone-strewn courtyard. He knew there was no point in insisting. He knew how much the werewolf loved the metamorphmagus and that nothing and no one could stop him from going after her. He admired them very much, their love was strong as was the love between his own parents. He hoped with all his heart that Lupin would find Tonks, he deserved it after all he had been through. When the professor disappeared behind a corner of the castle, Harry turned back to join his friends.
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Nymphadora Tonks was running down the stairs of one of the towers with an energy she didn't think she had any more. She was exhausted, but her heart kept her going. She had to find him. She had lost sight of Remus during the battle and now that it was over she had not stopped looking for him. She would ask anyone she passed if they had seen him. When she entered the great hall, she held her breath. She was afraid to see him lying on the floor, lifeless. He had no right to abandon her. Not again. Not after she had fought for him. Sure, she'd won that battle in the end, she'd even gotten more than she'd ever imagined. But even though the last few months had been filled with intense happiness, she didn't want that happiness to end today. They still had so much to live together, to share. She wanted him to see his son grow up, to teach him everything he knew, to show him the wizarding world through his eyes, to pass on his passion for reading, his gentleness, his courage. She did not want Teddy to grow up without his father.
She realised she had stood frozen at the entrance to the Great Hall only when Minerva came up to her and put a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"He's not here, Nymphadora."
She swallowed a sob before thanking Professor McGonagall and turning back. She found herself in the courtyard and her heart sank at the destructive sight. Nothing looked like the Hogwarts she had known. Most of the walls had collapsed, dust was rising from the ground, even the strong bridge was damaged in places. She walked slowly, scanning her surroundings. She was afraid of what she might find. She wandered outside without seeing him. It couldn't be, he had to be somewhere, he couldn't have disappeared completely. She began to walk more and more slowly towards the bridge. Her heart seemed to begin to crack.
"Tonks..."
She turned to her left with a cry of surprise and brought her hands to her mouth. There he was, leaning against a still standing stone column, one hand on his bleeding leg. He must have been regaining his strength. She wanted to take a step towards him but emotions took over and she began to cry. Shock, fear, joy, fatigue, all came at once.
Remus came over and gently took her in his arms. He held her tightly to make sure she was alive. She continued to cry her eyes out, her shoulders and legs were shaking and they finally gave way. Without warning, Tonks fell to the ground, on her knees, still entwined in Remus' arms, and he followed her as she fell so that he wouldn't have to let her go. He placed a kiss on her hair and began to caress her back. Gradually she calmed down, her body relaxed and her tears stopped flowing.
"I was so scared," she mumbled.
"Me too. But I'm here, my love."
She pulled herself out of Remus's arms to look into his. He was tired and she could tell he was suffering from several injuries. She placed a hand on his cheek and he closed his eyes at her touch. Gently, she rested her forehead against his.
"Take me home, Remus. she whispered. I want to heal your wounds and hold Teddy.
Without another word, Remus took her by the hands and they disappeared.