A/N: Ok, I know it's been a while, but I really had to sit back and get this story back in control. I lost focus for a while there and what was supposed to be a 10 chapter story is looking now like 18 or 19. *sigh* Those added plot bunnies that wrestled their way in sure took up some space. But, I've got the plot under control again with some concentration and we're back on track. This chapter's pretty much around to find out just what Tonks and Remus have up their sleeves. The next chapter should take care of the Skeeter business. After that, it should be smooth sailing on to Matrimonial-ville. (Or as smooth as it can get for Harry and Hermione)
Since there was a request at FF.net for more movie quotes, I've hidden 2 in this chapter as well. More gold stars to those who find them!
Thanks again to those who review! You make it so much easier to write!!
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Ok, so here it is, the big announcement day. Every time he comes to the library, Harry gives me looks that seem to say, "Why are you so curious?" And to be honest, I have no idea. I guess the thought of more weddings just makes mine jump out and scream, "I'm getting closer!!!!!"
But maybe it's not even that. Maybe it's that they're moving or that they got a dog. Maybe it's just that simple.
And maybe I'm jumpy because we're about to write an article that will ruin someone's life. A terrible person, but a person nonetheless.
I just want to know what's going on!
This day is just going to crawl by.
Harry's best Defense students are back. They ask for more books. This time, the list is much less funny and so I grant them access to the restricted section with no stifled laughs.
Here comes Harry again.
"Have you calmed down at all?" he asks.
"Not really. I'm just very nervous about this article and it's making everything else intensified."
"That's understandable. It's a big deal."
"It's a huge deal!"
"I know. But since it's already 4:00, I'm going to go have the meeting I scheduled here with my students, and then we'll get out of here. I already spoke with Patty and she will definitely close up since it looks like you've got a lot on your mind."
"Well, she's right. Ok, let me get some things together. By that time, you should be done with your super students."
"Sounds perfect."
And with that, Harry walks back to the smiling faces of his students. He loves what he does. I'm glad he decided to do this instead of Quidditch or Auror training. I, of course, would have supported any decision he made, but this is a lot less dangerous, so I worry a lot less. And his students love him. It's a great honor for young witches and wizards to say, "Harry Potter taught me that charm!"
As I watch them, I can see that Harry was destined to do this. He's a natural at teaching, especially Defense Against the Dark Arts. It's pretty much all he's ever known. Well, that and flying. But, next year, they're going to have House advisors for the Quidditch teams and Harry instantly volunteered to be Gryffindor's. I can just see it now.
But as quickly as the meeting begins, it's over and Harry is walking back to me. Each of his students gives a farewell to Harry and I and then leaves.
"Ok, Madame Granger, ready to go?" Harry asks.
"I believe I am, Professor Potter."
We hurry out and floo to Remus and Tonk's flat. They welcome us as we finish spinning and I glance at Tonks. She's got her poker face on and is expressing no emotions about the great announcement.
"So Harry, how goes the teaching?" Remus asks.
"It's great. Chris Morris, one of my best students, is using your book as research for his final paper."
"Ah, I always hoped that book would help. I'm so glad to see it's working!"
"And Hermione, how's the library running these days?" asks Tonks.
"Really well! I love being surrounded by all those books. It's a dream come true."
"And this way, she can be surrounded by all the books she wants so our floors aren't threatening to cave under the weight of all the ones she would own otherwise," Harry wisecracks.
I scowl at him, but he knows I don't mean it. "Hey, I could still buy those books, you know!"
"We'd have to magically support the floor!"
I stick my tongue out at him and turn to Tonks. "Do you need any help, Tonks?
Some female company would be nice for a change."
"Yeah, Hermione, you can help me get the salad ready," she replies and we leave for the kitchen.
"Ok, so spill what's the big dinner for?" I ask excitedly.
She leans over to me. "Can you keep a secret?"
"Yeah."
"So can I," Tonks giggles.
"Not fair!" I protest.
"Don't worry, right after dinner, you'll find out what the big surprise is."
I pout a bit, but I know it won't work on Tonks. So, we get the salads together and I head back to the library to get the guys. This time, I hear three voices which means that Sirius has arrived. This ought to be an adventure.
"Gentlemen, dinner is waiting," I call from the hallway.
"Thanks, Mione!" Harry replies.
"Thanks, Mione!" Remus and Sirius reply in a singsong fashion.
Now, that was why I didn't want to go in there. Remus is normally such a sweet guy, but if you put him with Sirius or Harry (or God forbid both of them), then the Marauder rears his ugly head. And now that Harry is old enough to add into the mischief without anyone feeling guilty, Prongs seems to be back in the gang.
I make my way back to the kitchen and help Tonks carry things to the dining room.
Once the guys finally get to the table, we sit down and eat the delicious meal prepared for us.
"Tonks, this is actually quite good!" Sirius remarks.
"You sound so surprised!" Tonks replies, slightly indignant at the remark.
"Well, I mean you're usually so klutzy-"
"Sirius Black! I can handle myself when I concentrate!"
"Ok, ok, geez. Hit a nerve or something?"
Tonks glares at him and then turns to Harry and I. "So, how are the wedding plans going?"
"Not too bad. I know there's things we're forgetting, but we're managing pretty well," I answer.
"Any ideas on what to do with that woman?"
We know exactly whom she's talking about.
"We've got a plan going. We're going to expose her big secret in The Quibbler," Harry replies.
"Can you believe it? Someone becoming an unregistered animagi!" Sirius laughs.
"I know, what's the world coming to?" Remus says.
We all laugh at bit and finish dinner quickly.
"Ok, well, let's head to the library and face the firing squad," Tonks says as she leans over to Remus.
"That's fair. Let's go."
Tonks mutters a few spells and the table is clean.
We follow Remus into the library and sit down.
Tonks joins him on the couch and we all lean forward to encourage the story.
"Ok, well, we called you all here to let you all in on a very important part of our lives," Lupin begins.
"Aaaaaaand?" Sirius asks.
"We got married!" Tonks blurts.
I scream enthusiastically and run to hug Tonks, Harry stands to shake Remus' hand and Sirius remains in his chair, mouth literally hanging open.
"Padfoot, say something," Remus begs.
Sirius just stares. Finally, he gathers his composure and looks directly into Remus' eyes. "Do you love her, Moony?" he asks.
"Of course I do! Do you remember what you told Prongs when he was going to marry Lily?"
"'No one can tell you you're in love, you just know it, through and through, balls to bones,'" Sirius replies.
"That's it. Very eloquent, by the way," Remus says. "And I know it. I love this crazy woman."
"Well, of course she's crazy! She's a Black! And a Tonks and now a Lupin. Merlin, a Lupin!" Sirius sighs.
"There's worse things to be, Sirius," Tonks offers.
"So, Tonks. What do we call you now? Since Nymphadora is strictly forbidden and now you're a Lupin ... or did you hyphenate? Should we call you 'Tonks-Lupin?'" Harry jokes.
"Tonks will do just fine. My last name may have changed, but my distain for my first name has not. And since other's already call Remus 'Lupin,' then I'll just stay Tonks."
"Fair enough," Harry replies.
"Hermione, would you help me with the coffee, please?" Tonks says as she begins to walk out, singing Duran Duran's "Hungry Like the Wolf" as she left.
I wasn't sure how to react to that, so I left it alone.
"Ok, so dish! And let me see the ring!" I shout as soon as we hit the kitchen.
"You're the first person I really got to show it to. We cast charms to keep them invisible until we told you guys."
She sticks out her left hand and I am amazed at Remus' taste. "Beautiful!" I exclaim at the simple solitaire ring and the gold band below it.
"My wolf has good taste for these things."
I practically choke as I try not to laugh at the nickname she gave him. Remus would flip if he knew she was divulging that information.
"So he does. Now, tell me everything!"
"Ok, well," she begins as she fixes the coffee. "Two weeks ago was our anniversary, but if you recall, there was a set back two weeks ago."
I thought about it and it occurred to me, the full moon was then.
"Oh, the moon! Well, that must have put a damper on things," I say.
"Well, yes and no. To make up for it, Remus took me to such a beautiful restaurant last week. You know, that new one, the Golden Wand? Well, of course it was delicious and right after dessert, Remus got down on one knee in front of all those people and asked me to marry him! And I screamed yes and the entire restaurant applauded us."
"Ok, but why the eloping?"
"I'll wait for Remus to tell you when we go back. Can you grab the sugar?" she asks as she carries the tray with the mugs out (and she's still singing "Hungry Like the Wolf").
As we walk into the library, we find that the guys are arm wrestling. Well, Remus and Sirius are. Harry explains that he gets winner.
"Ok, maybe we should finish our story first, eh Remus?" Tonks says.
"Um, right, yes dear," Remus stammers and in his moment of weakness, Sirius slams his arm down. "Bloody hell, Padfoot! That hurt!"
"Oh, werewolves heal easily! And that's what you get for letting a woman distract you! Even if she is my cousin."
"So, anyway!" Tonks screams.
"Right. You may be wondering why we didn't really have a wedding. Well, there were a few reasons. First, we didn't want to get in the way of the great Granger-Potter wedding. Now, Harry, Hermione, before either of you say anything, you are planning a beautiful wedding and we just didn't want to burden anyone with anymore wedding plans. But secondly, and perhaps the most important, is the fact that we wanted to keep it a secret. We really didn't want it all over the news that 'Werewolf marries Metamorphmagus!' We don't need publicity like that," Lupin explains. "And we didn't want any of you to get dragged into the mess."
"We could have had a quiet ceremony at the tomb!" Sirius counters. "The Tomb" is his nickname for Grimmauld Place.
"And with a glowing recommendation like that, why wouldn't we!" Tonks argues. "Sirius, why would I want to have my wedding in the home of that awful woman?"
"Well, it's much nicer there now! I only call it that out of habit! And, besides, there are other places we could have had it. Nymphy, you're the only relative I have left! I would have liked to have seen you get married."
"Ok, since I am the only relative you have left, I won't kill you for calling me that. And besides, Sirius, it's not like we can't have a celebration now that we've actually gotten married."
"Well, that's true. And I can throw one hell of a party ..."
I can just see the gears turning in Sirius' head.
"Just give me a date and a time and we'll have a real event!" Sirius exclaims.
"Well, maybe we'll wait until after Hermione and Harry's wedding," Remus suggests.
"Why so long?" Harry asks.
"Harry, as much as you and Hermione think that your wedding day isn't a huge deal, to the rest of the wizarding world, it is. It's a sign of hope. If the man who defeated Voldemort is living happily, then surely the rest of the world can as well," Remus tells.
"I just wish the world wouldn't place their lives in my hands so much," Harry says and droops his head.
"Don't take offense, Harry!" Tonks shrieks. "People just love you that much!"
"I suppose so. But, tonight is about you guys! A toast!" Harry shouts as he lifts his mug. "To the new Mr. and Mrs. Remus and Tonks Lupin!"
Everyone laughs and raises their mugs as well.
"Cheers!"
"So, Padfoot, this now makes you the last Marauder to not take the plunge," Remus notes.
"Hey! Harry's not married!" Sirius defends.
"Yet," I emphatically remark.
"Yes, well, when I find the right woman to become Mrs. S.P. Snuffles, then I'll know. However, I have yet to meet such a special lady. It's very difficult to date when for 15 years, you were thought to be a convicted killer."
I think about what Sirius said. He makes a very good point. How on earth would he be able to find a date when most of the world still has it in their heads that he killed a baker's dozen worth of people?
"Well, guys, it's getting late and I've got a class with the Slytherins first thing in the morning. Gotta be on my toes for those snakes," Harry says.
"Harry!" I reprimand. "You're a professor now!"
"What? It's their mascot! That's a safe term!"
Everyone laughs at poor Harry and we stand to leave.
After I hug Tonks good-bye, Sirius walks up to Remus and shakes his hand.
"Moony, old friend, I want you to know that I give my full blessing to your marriage. Welcome to the family, this crazy, bigoted, narrow-minded family. My mother would completely lose it if she knew there was a werewolf in the family! I wish she were alive to see this!"
Sirius gives that maniacal laugh that those who don't know him fear, bids us all goodnight and Apparates out.
Harry and I each congratulate Tonks and Remus and Apparate home as well.
"See! I told you there was marriage involved," I tell Harry as we get ready for bed.
"Well, that's partially true. You said that they were engaged, not already married."
"Close enough."
I pause. He notices.
"Hermione, stop worrying."
"How do you even know what I was thinking?"
"Because I know you. You're worried about receiving Luna's draft tomorrow of the Skeeter scandal article."
"Fine, maybe I am. But aren't you? Aren't we releasing a dragon?"
"I don't see it that way, Mione. I see it as us getting rid of someone who has plagued us and countless others for too long. She's broken the law how many times!"
"You're right."
"And maybe she'll give up her informant at Hogwarts."
I nod. Hopefully that's true. I'm dying to know who it is.
Suddenly a face pops into my head. I think I know who it is! But I'm going to keep it to myself until I know for sure.