sarahfeliciam

[sarahfeliciam]

The Ultimatum Ch 68

Chapter 68

Remus jolted awake to the sound of banging pans and the loud belting of ‘happy birthday’. 

When he opened his eyes, quickly and somewhat on edge, he was met with Emeline, Sirius and Tonks grinning and hollering something about birthday surprises. 

“Let’s go, doomsday!” Emeline pulled his arm from bed, practically dragging him out. 

He groaned in exhaustion and tugged her forcefully back, laughing when she fell onto the bed herself. 

“I’m not moving from right here!” He played, shoving a pillow over her head. 

“We’ll bring the party in here then, mate!” Sirius shouted. 

Emeline ripped the pillow off and chucked it at Sirius, shaking her head wildly. 

“No can do! We’ve slaved away to prepare - you’re getting up, now.” 

“How could I deny such a polite ask?” Remus replied cheekily, finally standing to follow them into the living room as Tonks grabbed his hand. 

“Close your eyes!” Emeline ordered before he stepped into the sitting area. 

“Not sure I should be guided by someone so clumsy.” He quipped, still holding onto Tonks’ hand. She shoved him playfully and Sirius snorted as the three of them moved to stand in front of their masterpiece, counting down together.

“Three…two…open!”

When Remus opened his eyes, he couldn’t even think of anything else in the regard of playful banter to respond. 

His mouth fell slightly open as he glanced around the sitting room and kitchen, both completely decked out in an explosion of balloons, streamers, confetti across the tables and, naturally, a large slab of cake on the dining table. 

There was a homemade birthday banner with little crescent moons and stars on either side hanging from the fireplace that was painted fairly haphazardly by, he assumed, Sirius. 

There was even a small pile of gifts, packaged neatly in parchment paper wrappings and twine, atop the coffee table.

Emeline watched him excitedly before moving forward to hug him.

“Happy birthday, dad.” 

He pulled her in tightly and shook his head.

“How did you lot pull this all off?” He asked in amazement, mouth still slightly open when Emeline pulled away.

“We were up until this morning!” She stated, matter of fact. “More than worth it.” She turned to Sirius and Tonks who were still watching Remus, too, with large smiles on their faces. 

“Thank you, all. This is too much.” He replied gratefully, walking over to run his fingertips along the banner. 

“Ofcourse it isn’t!” Tonks responded, resting a hand on his shoulder.

“It could never be too much.” Emeline added, grabbing up the gift on top of the pile. 

“Yeah, mate. We would’ve done the whole house up if we could’ve and that still wouldn’t have been enough.”

“I don’t know what to say.” He murmured, wrapping his arm around Tonks and taking the gift from Emeline with his free hand. 

“Don’t say anything! Just let us celebrate you; that’s all we’ve been waiting for.”

He smiled and nodded, his eyes misty as he took a seat on the couch. Tonks sat on the coffee table in front of him with Sirius as Emeline took the opening next to him and he tore into the paper of her gift carefully. 

“Emma,” he exhaled quickly, staring down at the book now in his hands. It was the final copy in a volume of books on defensive spells and dark magic apparitions similiar to what his father studied in his prime. He had the bulk of the set as a hand-me-down, but the latest and final volume he’d been avoiding due to cost and certainly not for lack of want. It was the only brand new volume he had. “How could you afford this?”

“I’m a working gal, now!” She beamed, shrugging her shoulders. 

“You shouldn’t-“

“- I should have! You eye this everytime we’re in Diagon Alley. I wanted you to have the finished shelf.”

“Thank you, darling. It’s perfect.” He responded, flipping through the pages absentmindedly. 

When he was done pouring over a brief rundown of the text and illustrations, he continued opening gifts from Sirius and Tonks, many of which involved chocolates in some form, and a new cardigan that Tonks insisted would look perfect with his skin tone. 

He had never worn such a rich blue before, but figured she knew what she was talking about.

When it came time for lunch to roll around, he stood to put on some tea and offered to make something, to which they all loudly disagreed. 

They insisted it was lunch out today, and everyone dressed quickly to head to their small town pub once more. 

•

It was a real change of pace to share a meal together out like they were. 

Not only due to financials, but also what a dim and dark world it felt they lived in everyday. 

Things had been looking up as of late, but Remus knew deep down the looming war was still just on the horizon, any day. It churned his stomach everytime he pictured his daughter involved in such a cruel and unjust fight. 

Remus lost everything he held dear last time and this time… he couldn’t fathom it. 

You alright? 

Her voice seeped into his mind softly and pulled him from his thoughts. He looked down at the last rib setting on his plate and then to his daughter with a smile.

I’m more than alright 

She smiled in satisfaction and went back to chatting with Tonks and Sirius animatedly - something about the next Weird Sisters concert, which apparently the twins had been trying to score tickets to for more than a month.

•

The rest of the afternoon passed uneventfully. 

Remus assured them that his happiest spot was right on the sofa, lounging with his family and new book. 

He was halfway through a riveting chapter on the most frightening appearances a Boggart had ever taken when a knock came to the door. 

He peaked up from his sentence to see Emeline already up and hurrying to answer it, and was surprised to realize that he’d let so much time past that the sun had already practically set. 

“Happy Birthday!” His ears began to ring on the tail skirts of the loud shouts that echoed into the room. Filing in were the Weasley’s, (save for Ron), Kingsley, Alastor and Poppy. 

“Merlin, you lot don’t quit, do you?” Remus chuckled, standing quickly and greeting everyone who’d stepped inside. Sirius shut the door and left everyone feeling painfully large in such a small space as Poppy embraced him tightly.

It was indeed joyful, despite their humble abode. 

Remus noticed then that they were all holding various dishes and bustling into the kitchen to set things down where they could.  

Before he could turn around, Sirius and Tonks were moving the sofa back a decent amount of paces to make room for everyone.

“We figured the biggest table we had was the floor.” Emeline grinned, sprawling out their largest blanket across the rickety wood.

Remus shook his head slowly, staring on at all the hustle and bustle and smelling the assortment of potluck dishes hit his nose. 

He felt completely enveloped in warmth as Molly began handing out plates and Emeline walked around trying to sort out drinks. 

Eventually, he felt a soft hand find his and he laced his fingers in between Tonks’ instinctively. 

“Happy Birthday, Remus.” She looked up at him expectantly and he kissed her in response without hesitation, causing the room to go silent.

“Well, we all assumed!” Alastor broke the tension gruffly.

“Some of us knew!” George quipped with a snicker before Emeline playfully elbowed him.

Tonks and Remus blushed lightly as everyone took their seats on the floor. 

A few more gifts had made their way to the coffee table that was now against the wall, and his cake was still setting on the kitchen table with candles ready to be lit after their meal. 

“Thirty six!” Emeline called out with a mouthful of steak. “Blimey, you’re nearly ancient, dad.” 

He laughed loudly, chucking a lone pillow at her as Tonks handed him another buttered biscuit. 

“She knows just how to get under your skin.” Tonks mused. “Never we mention that she’s about to be an adult, which is just as scary and old.” She stuck out her tongue playfully and Emeline groaned. 

“Bloody hell, don’t remind me.”

“Don’t remind me, either.” Remus replied gently. “I’m already not looking forward to the day that our lives are so separate again.”

Emeline looked up curiously, surprised at his emotion in front of so many people. George smiled slightly, glancing between them both to read between the lines. 

“I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.” She said quietly as Molly watched her with teary eyes. 

Remus simply nodded and glanced back down at his plate before taking a deep breath.

“Thank you all so much. I can’t explain what today has meant to me, truly.”

“It’s still not over!” Sirius yelled as the twins leapt to their feet. 

“If you all will follow us to the back yard,” George began. “I’m sure you won’t be disappointed!” Fred finished.

Moments later, they were all underneath the sky completely lit up by the most beautiful fireworks any of them had ever seen. 

Amidst the background noise of one final chorus of ‘happy birthday’, Emeline thanked the twins profusely before George bent down to kiss her lovingly. Remus glanced over just in time to see it and Tonks chuckled as his face changed slightly. 

“Hey, look here.” She pulled his face down to hers and kissed him quickly as he wrapped his arms around her.

“Thank you for being a part of this.” He mumbled against her hair - a rich blue that matched his new cardigan. 

“Hopefully the first of many, mm?” She asked quietly as more fireworks set off around them. 

“The first of many.” He agreed, tucking her hair behind her ear. 

Author’s Note: I hope everyone feels warm and fuzzy… I’d hold onto that if I were you. We’re about to catapult forward once more; we have a lot of gruesome work to do in HBP. Thanks for reading!

[sarahfeliciam]

The Ultimatum Ch 67

Chapter 67

It was a bright spring morning when Emeline rushed up the stairs from the cellar. 

A slight chill was still lingering in the air, but the flowers budding in the garden were a solid reminder of the season moving rapidly in on them. Emeline was regularly honing her floral arrangement skills, though still not better than George. 

She’d been working at the shop for four months now and her vibrancy was unmatched save for everyone but the twins. 

She was excitable and joyful most of the time again, which was a breath of fresh air against the dark canvas of looming war. She was even fairly energetic after the full moon, taking just a half a day’s rest before forcing herself up. 

She chalked this up to satisfying her boundless appetite and the pure excitement of not wanting to miss out on work or practical lessons. She was getting better and better in dueling and, with Severus’ help, she was about eighty - percent of the way to brewing the Wolfsbane for herself and Remus on her own. 

This particular morning was unlike the rest, though. This particular morning was the morning before her father’s birthday, and she’d yet to be able to celebrate him on this exciting day. Her mother always made a huge deal out of birthdays, and she’d saved up just enough money to finally do the same for Remus. 

“Goodmorning!” She said in a singsong voice, grinning as she nicked Sirius’ plate out of his hands for breakfast. 

“Morning, sweetheart.” Tonks shot back before stuffing her mouth full of pancakes. 

“Emeline,” Remus greeting was gentle but matter-of-fact. “You’ve waited until the very last day. What is your decision?”

“That doesn’t sound like ‘Goodmorning’, does it, Saffron?” She asked, offering her owl a bite of strawberry. 

Remus rolled his eyes and set a skillet full of bacon in front of them on the table.

“Emma, truly, this has to be one of the most frustrating things I’ve ever witnessed. Yes or no?”

“Maybe.” She shrugged happily.

“Alright, let’s try it this way,” he began, taking a seat between Tonks and Sirius and filling his own plate with a few chocolate pancakes and some of the bacon. “What’s the first thought that comes to your mind? Go.”

“First thought is: I have no clue.”

“Emma! Second thought?” He tried in desperation. 

She grinned mischievously. “Second thought: I wish I had a clue.”

“You’re in such bloody trouble.” Sirius chuckled, shaking his head and taking a large gulp of black coffee.

Emeline looked at him with disgust and rolled her own eyes.

“Dad, I haven’t a clue, really. I still don’t. There are pros and cons to each.”

“You know that technically for seven more months, I could make your choices, right?”

“Mm, intriguing. So tell me: yes or no?”

He stared at her blankly for a few moments as Tonks and Sirius snickered and finally shook his head. 

“Well, I … I have no clue.” He said deflated, and Emeline smiled in accomplishment.

“Ah, well in’it that rich?” 

“You really need to make up your mind, darling.” He responded, half exasperated but attempting to keep the peace. “Kingsley wanted an answer by today and Dumbledore wanted one-“

“-last week, I know!” She stood and slid her plate into the sink as she moved to quickly give hugs to Tonks and Sirius. “I’m in high demand, what can I say? But my shift starts in twenty minutes, so I’ll decide later.”

“Emm-“

“-I love you, dad!” She kissed his cheek and ran for the front door then as he sunk back into his seat. 

“Teenagers.” Tonks grinned. “Can’t live with em, eh?”

•

“Goodmorning, Georgie!” Emeline’s voice echoed through the shop as the jingle bells on the entry door rang out. Both twins appeared on opposite sides of the top staircase and grinned.

“Morning, Emeline!” They chorused, bounding down the steps. 

George kissed her quickly and took her bag. 

“I’ll set this in the back room, yeah? Already had some customers this morning. Should be a booming day!” He said expectantly, heading off to the break area.

Fred turned to her with a similiar smile, though she could still easily tell them apart. 

Her instinct, Remus insisted.

“Care to help me with the Pygmy Puffs? I need someone to corral them while I tidy up.” 

“Absolutely!” She grinned, following him to the front display. He unlocked the front of the cage quickly and three excited Pygmy Puffs rushed into Emeline’s eager arms. She giggled as Fred started sweeping up and pink hair flew everywhere.

“Today’s the day. What’ll it be?” 

“Oh, not you too, blimey! Did my dad put you up to this?”

Fred laughed loudly. “Merlin, no. I don’t take orders. Just curiosity killing the cat, is all.” He finished with a smirk.

Emeline shook her head as she kissed one of the energetic puffs.

“The truth is, I can’t figure out how to talk about it. And I can’t figure my dad out, either. On one hand he’s trying not to let the fear win out and be stoic and all that shit, but I think he’d prefer me close to home. On the other hand, he feels guilty encouraging me not to pursue a full education because even he has that… I’m just torn.”

“Right, I see his dilemma, but what do you want?”

“If I had to just answer directly; you know, lead with my heart and all that…” she glanced up as George headed down the stairs a second time, greeting customers and flashing her a loving smile. She looked down at the puffs then back at Fred who was eyeing her knowingly. “I do know what I want.” She finished in a whisper. 

•

She pulled a double shift that day, knowing that her, Tonks and Sirius could not begin decorating until Remus was fast asleep anyway. 

When she arrived home, the door flung open before she could even knock. 

“Kingsley?” She asked tiredly. “I mean.. minister.” She grinned as he shook her hand and motioned her inside, where the other three were already seated on the couch.

She slipped her bag off her shoulder and yawned as she glanced between the four of them.

“Lovely, an intervention.” 

“I prefer: encouragement.” Kingsley offered. “I just thought I’d pop in and say hello; see what you’re leaning towards.”

“Right, well, I actually have decided anyway.” She mumbled, kicking her shoes off and chancing a look at her father, who was smiling at her kindly. 

Tonks winked and Sirius rubbed his hands together excitedly.

Could they already know?

“I’ve decided not to return to Hogwarts.” 

There, it was done. 

Everyone knew and the weight could melt from her brain finally. 

She caught her breath and held it nervously as she awaited a response from any one of them. 

When the silence was practically too much for her to bear, Sirius laughed.

“I knew it! I told you lot!” He jumped up and pulled her in for a hug, but as she looked over his shoulder, the two she was more concerned about had still not uttered a word.

Kingsley offered her a gentle smile and a quick nod in response. 

“Well then, I suppose I should leave you all to it. Thank you for having me, Remus.” 

Her father stood to shake his hand silently and Kingsley was gone before any of them could say another word.

Eventually, Tonks came and rested a hand on Remus’ shoulder from behind, and he let out a long breath. 

Emeline eyed him for a while as he searched for the right words. 

The truth was, Remus was certain this was the conclusion Emeline would arrive at. 

However, to endorse it felt like poor parenting. 

He didn’t want her to give up, or choose this based on fear… so, could he really encourage it? 

His mind wandered to the last few years as her big blue eyes met his. He could never deny her this choice; she deserved some peace. 

They all did.

“I thought this would be your decision.” He spoke softly. 

“And?” She ventured, concern flashing across her face.

He smiled warmly and hugged her close. 

“And I think it’s the right one.” He whispered in her ear.

She pulled back with a large grin and he ruffled her hair slightly before Tonks moved in to hug her.

“You can still brush up on all of our practical skills with us, sweetheart. We’re happy so long as you are.” She slid her arm around Remus’ waist who rested his own across her shoulder in response and Sirius came upbehind Emeline, still beaming that he’d been correct, too. 

“What a bunch of oddities!” Sirius quipped. “Love this unconventional family we’ve got going here. Two werewolves, one of which is a drop out now, a metamorphagus, and an ex-convict. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

He disappeared into the kitchen after that as Emeline laughed.  

“Midnight snack time I suppose.” Tonks rolled her eyes.

“Not for me, I’m exhausted.” Emeline yawned. “Need anything before I head down?”

“No, pup, we’re fine. Get some rest.” He kissed the top of her head quickly and Tonks bid her goodnight as she turned to head down for the basement, which she had successfully made into quite the comfortable room for herself, donning decorations and all. 

Remus had worked alongside Tonks and Sirius to enchant an old barn in the back of the property for their transformations. It was wide open and they handled the moons together, now, which saved much injury in the long run. It was comfortable and safe, and with Wolfsbane on board, they recognized each other and spent many moons nuzzled up or seeing who could howl the loudest, which was naturally Emeline’s idea. 

Remus had never thought that transformations could have any joy in them, until they were alongside one another.

 The physical pain was still present, but the mental anguish was long gone, and he felt a freedom he had never had, in being with his pup, and one of his own kind. 

Thus, recovery was certainly more straightforward, and usually just involved rest, but since the moon had taken its toll for decades longer than it had on Emeline, he was still down a larger amount of time.

“Ready for bed?” Tonks pulled him from his train of thought, knowing full well she’d be heading down to get Emeline the second Remus was snoring to decorate.

“So ready.” He smiled, taking her hand. 

“Big day tomorrow.” She said excitedly, to which he rolled his eyes.

“You know I don’t like a fuss.” He mumbled, bending down to kiss her cheek.

“There won’t be; doesn’t mean we can’t still be excited.”

“Whatever you say, dear.”

From the kitchen, Sirius grinned. 

He was already brewing enough coffee for an army to get them through a night of birthday preparation. 

[sarahfeliciam]

The Ultimatum Ch 66

Chapter 66

When Tonks was released from the hospital the next morning, the joy did not last long.

The ministry officially released their statement and initiated a great Wizarding war. 

They’d finally accepted that Voldemort had returned and the air in Grimmauld Place and amongst the Order completely changed.

Tonks insisted on not wallowing around, which Remus admired, and jumped right into a meeting.

 Emeline and Sirius were sat at the far end of the table, where Sirius was nursing a slight hangover and Emeline was yawning widely. 

George came to sit next to her and offered her nothing more than a soothing smile. 

Her soul felt warm.

“Let’s not waste any time this morning. I have an announcement on top of all of this,” Kingsley began in a booming voice. “The minister has been removed from his post and they’ve appointed me Minister for Magic.”

Gasps and cheers echoed throughout the dining hall as Kingsley managed a respectful smile.

 He tried quickly to quiet everyone down before continuing.

“We’re facing a Great War, I’m afraid. We must all be ready; these last few months have only been a taste of what’s to come. We need strong duelers, sharp minds, and clear instinct. Please don’t let your skills slip to the waste side and buckle down on your traveling habits - we need to be aware of one another’s whereabouts. On another matter, Dolores Umbridge has been taken by centaurs in the Forbidden Forest. We’ve yet to locate her.”

Emeline’s mouth hung open and Remus caught the twinkle in Kingsley’s eye as he ended and took a seat once more. 

The rest of the meeting involved intense conversation about many facets of the looming war and what they could potentially expect. 

It made Emeline’s stomach church uncomfortably once more. 

It seemed as though the meeting drug on for hours when they were finally all dismissed for a very late lunch, which Molly had lovingly prepared.

Everyone stood to stretch and move about the house, flexing their muscles and minds as this new information weighed atop them so heavily. 

George stared down at Emeline as he stretched his own arms above his head. 

“Opening day, Monday, yeah?” He asked happily. Emeline’s attention snapped to him from the pit of darkness it was in and she grinned. 

“Going through with it on time, eh?”

“It’s now or never, love! You still feeling good about it?” The way his voice changed was easily noted by Emeline. She could tell he was roundabout asking how she felt, unsure of what to come out and say.

No one had mentioned Bellatrix explicitly to her, however a few members of the order clapped her on the back or commented on her following in her grandfather and father’s dueling footsteps. 

She couldn’t help but feel proud. 

“I feel great, George. I’m thrilled to start.” 

He seemed satisfied by that and kissed her cheek before running off after Fred.

Emeline gripped the back of the chair in front of her and she noticed Sirius was still sitting at the head of the table, now dozing off.

“Hey!” She snapped her fingers in front of him. “Did you hear any of the meeting?”

“Yes, yes I did. Nothing that hasn’t been said before.” He mumbled in annoyance. 

“Sirius, don’t wallow like this. You’re alright.” She tried to be encouraging once more and though his attitude wasn’t completely aloof, he was a bit grumpy from the hangover. 

She sighed and turned to leave, then, allowing him the space he needed. 

“Hungry, dearie?” Molly asked warmly. 

Emeline smiled and nodded. 

“Famished, actually. It smells delicious, Mrs. Weasley.”

“Thank you, Emeline. George is thrilled to have you working the shop with them. Those silly boys.. I know it will be a hit, but what a time to make yourself so vulnerable to the world!” Her voice was laced with worry and Emeline smiled weakly.

“They’ll be alright, you know? Don’t let yourself get too afraid. They’re strong and wonderful duelists themselves. Besides, they’ve chosen a quiet corner to open in. I think their clientele will be there for the joy alone.” 

“Thank you, dear. I try my best. It’s been difficult since..”

“I know.” Emeline whispered, pulling her in for a hug.

“Oh, heavens, no bother, Emeline!” She tutted her away and swiped at her tears. “Let’s get your plate fixed. You need your energy. You open Monday and then what, three days?”

“Yes, three days until the moon.” She said politely. “Forgot, honestly.” She chuckled as she held the plate that Molly was filling, who laughed also.

“That’s interesting; worlds different from your father. He is always on edge beforehand. Much worse after, mind. But beforehand everything seems… sharper.” 

“It is.” Emeline agreed, motioning for her to continue as she added a variety of vegetables, mash, pulled pork and savory cakes. “I notice all of that, too, but it isn’t necessarily bad. Dad makes a fuss about it, though…perhaps it’s how long he’s been at it. I don’t mind the heightened senses. But being completely famished is frustrating.” She smirked and rested her fork on top of her heavy plate.

“Well, go eat up and get some rest. It’ll do you well to have your strength for next week.”

•

When night had fallen, Severus arrived just in time before Emeline and Remus were set to leave with their Wolfsbane. 

“Still willing to give me a go at it?” Emeline asked quickly, to which Severus surveyed her and nodded curtly.

“In time, Miss Lupin. For now, let’s get our bearings about us with all of this new information. 

“Ofcourse.” She nodded, grabbing both vials as Remus donned his cloak. 

“Jacket, pup? I believe you’ll need it.” 

A small sparkle glinted in his eyes.

“Oh, I… well, the one I wore here was actually George’s. I’ll go ask-“

“-no matter,” Remus smiled, slipping off the cloak he had just put on and resting it over his daughter’s shoulders. “After you, darling.”

She stepped out the front door and gasped lightly, turning to him with a broad smile.

Snow was falling and gently blanketing the London street.

 The streetlights twinkled against the shimmering white dust and Emeline held her palm flat open to catch some of it. 

“Your mother loved the snow.” Remus said softly, losing himself in a thought Emeline felt she was intruding upon. “She always had me rush her outside for the first snowfall of the season. By now, I can just tell that it’s happening; an instinct she has imprinted on me I suppose.”

Emeline smiled and leaned her head against his arm, which he quickly moved to pull her against him. 

“I hope you’re not dwelling on what transpired in the department.” He whispered, staring up at the falling flakes, his hair and lashes becoming dusted and glittering. 

Emeline shook her head in resolve, taking a deep breath as she mashed the small pile of snow that was now in her hand.

“I would do it again if it meant saving my family.”

Remus let out a slow breath, watching the smoke of it hang in the air in front of him. 

“Your dueling was impressive. I won’t lie to you, I was concerned you were-“

“-rusty? I can hear your thoughts, remember?”

He laughed loudly and kissed her forehead, the cold snow hitting his lips first. 

“Yes. But you’ve proved me wrong. You’re very gifted in that regard. It will only strengthen as you hone it, especially with your instincts now.”

She beamed up at him, basking in this specific praise. 

Maybe not attending Hogwarts wouldn’t prove to be the greatest disadvantage of her life after all. 

“I like to think I have a thing or two to teach you yet, pup.” 

“Oh, I’m sure.” She laughed. “I have a few things up my sleeve, too.”

Remus cocked his head to the side before she moved swiftly and hit him square in the chest with a fluffy snowball, clutching the vials of Wolfsbane still tightly. 

He laughed loudly and shook his head.

“I can’t even retaliate! Those potions are an unfair advantage.” He replied, wiping off his cardigan, amused. 

“Oh, whine all you’d like.” She slung her free arm back around his waist as they walked further down the road. 

Tonks peered at them through a top window in Grimmauld Place and her heart felt warm and calm. 

She knew it already: this was her family.

“Let’s get home. Reckon some good rest will do us well, doomsday. Plus, I’ve got work Monday morning.”

“That you do, darling.”

With that, they were gone, and Tonks drew the curtain with a smile. 

Author’s Note: This concludes OOTP! I cannot believe it. 

We will be moving in to Half Blood Prince and a few filler chapters in between that. 

Again, a lot of the plot is going to deviate with the Hogwarts issue at hand. 

However, Dolores is gone and Kingsley is minister, so our dear Emeline is facing a decision. Thank you for reading, as always! 

[sarahfeliciam]

The Ultimatum Ch 65

Chapter 65

Tonks was fairly disappointed when she opened her eyes slowly and saw no one in her room. 

Keeping her breathing even, and forcing herself to stay alert despite how bloody tired she was, she glanced around until she was content that she was right: she was alone.

Ready to close her eyes once more and accept that no one had been rallied around her, she heard her door open. 

Her breath caught in her throat as Remus walked in as quietly as possible, a heavy blanket draped over his arm and a handful of flowers.

“You’re awake!” He beamed, setting everything down quickly and rushing to her side. He knelt by the bed and brought a hand to her forehead to stroke it lovingly. 

She reached for the front of his shirt and smiled tiredly.

“Thought I was alone.” She murmured, watching him adoringly. He moved to grab her hand now and kissed the back of it gingerly. 

“Merlin, no. We’ve been here for a few days now. But you were shivering so I went in search of another blanket and I got sidetracked by the flowers on the way.” He shrugged, a slight blush creeping onto his cheeks.

Her hair weakly shifted to a soft pink from dark brown. It was murky and slow, but an attempt no less. 

“Gave us quite the scare, you know.”

She shook her head and chuckled. “It’ll take a lot more than a hex to take me out. Been hit by that one before; bloody inconvenience.” 

Remus laughed and rested his lips once more against her hand.

“Remus?” Her eyes shifted to concern and he furrowed his own brows in response.

“Hmm?”

“Emeline, she… Bellatrix is-“

“-dead.” He nodded slowly. “We have yet to talk about it. I’m not sure it has sunk in. We’ve been so worried about you, it took precedence.”

She nodded and sucked in a slow breath. 

“It sticks with you.” She whispered. “Last thing the poor girl needed now: more thoughts crowding her brain.”

“Sticks with you? Have you killed anyone?”

“Hazard of the job.” Tonks replied sadly. “I’ve had a few. Rough time, even if they are the ones trying to kill you.”

Remus swallowed thickly and rested a hand on her thigh over the blanket. 

“She’ll be alright. I’m waiting for her to open up.”

“That’s for the best.” She said quietly, closing her eyes once more. “Can I have that blanket?” 

“Right! Ofcourse, love.” He stood quickly and grabbed the blanket, pulling his wand from his jacket to cast a warming charm. When he turned to her, he was taken aback to see her crying. 

“What’s wrong?” He asked gently, fanning the blanket over her. 

It sunk gently through the air until it rested to lay across her body, enveloping her in warmth.

“Love?” She questioned the pet name and Remus’ ears went red.

“Is that alright?” He ventured. 

She grinned widely and opened her arms to embrace him. 

“Yes, love. Ofcourse it is.”

•

Later that night, Emeline offered to head back to the Cottage with Sirius alone. 

He was already there and she didn’t want to impose on giving her father alone time with Tonks in recovery. 

They both begrudgingly agreed to this, assuring her that he could come home or she was welcome to stay, but she fancied some time to herself, too. 

It had been another monumental whirlwind of a week.

God, she was tired of it.

As she walked the corridor alone to head back to the front entry, knowing full well how to apparate on her own now, she shot a smile in the direction of her grandfather’s room. 

Opal was just leaving and put a finger up to her lips. 

“Sound asleep already.” She assured Emeline, who simply nodded politely as she continued on her way.

•

When Emeline arrived at the front door of the cottage, she ran forward and knocked quickly. 

It was eerie being outside alone and she felt off. 

Sirius opened the door without hesitation and she bolted inside, moving immediately to the small fire and resting at the hearth. 

“How’s everything?” Sirius asked absentmindedly, grabbing his mug of ale off the table and taking a seat next to her. 

Some of the ale sloshed onto her knee and she brushed it off quickly. 

He was fairly under the influence already, but Sirius held his own well. 

“Alright. Wanted to give the lovebirds some alone time and I needed my own time too, I reckon.”

It was then that Sirius glanced at her and she saw the terror dripping into his eyes. 

She hadn’t seen this madness in him since the first night they met, but somehow, she still felt peace.

He was not mad, in fact. 

He was afraid. 

“I almost died!” He choked out, dissolving into shaking in front of her. 

He trembled with anxiety as he inched closer to the fireplace. 

“I know, Padfoot, but you didn’t. You’re alright.” She reached out a hand to his back and he flinched momentarily, so she retreated.

“You killed her. For me.”

Emeline was silent a moment and she continued to stare at his back. 

“Yes. I killed her.” The words dripped off her tongue unnaturally. She felt the room spin slightly.

“My cousin.” 

“Your cousin.” She reiterated, unsure where this was going.

Deafening silence aside from the crackling of the fire pursued.

He reached out his hands to almost touch it and she yanked them back instinctively. 

He turned to her now, his face softened but still with a stare that was somewhere else.

“I killed your cousin.” She wasn’t sure if it was a statement or question.

He reiterated now, and her heart sunk. “Yes, she’s dead.”

“Because of me.” She whispered. “I didn’t know I coul -“

“-we are capable of anything for family, pup.” 

She bit her bottom lip nervously and found comfort in the pet name. 

“Capable of killing?” She asked thickly.

“Perhaps.” He nodded. “What if this happens again? Your father is in my place? Tonks? George?”

Emeline nodded, scared of herself as she stared into the embers of the fire.

“I’d do it again. I’d do it again without hesitation.”

“As you should.” He assured. “You didn’t kill someone, Emeline. You saved someone. Say it that way.”

“Alright.” She relented, the heaviness sinking her soul down. 

 •

Emeline was awarded some quality alone time that evening when Sirius passed out drunk on the hearth. 

For what it was worth, he seemed in decent spirits aside from shaken-up. 

At the very least, he was not angry that his nightmare of a cousin was dead, nor that Emeline had done it. 

For some reason, Emeline was drawn to the cellar and she headed down the cold steps carefully, pulling the jacket she’d stolen from George tighter around her. 

She opened the squeaking latch of her cell and moved to sink into her disaster of a bed. 

It clicked, then.

This was the only bedroom she had. 

As Tonks and Remus crept closer together, she knew she wouldn’t be able to push everyone off to the couch on the nights she just wanted to lie in a bed alone. She felt bad enough, already, truth be told. 

She let out a calming breath as she closed her eyes, feeling completely at home. 

She resolved to do some editing to the cellar tomorrow, perhaps cozying up her side and enchanting it so that it would not be utterly destroyed every full moon. 

She fell blissfully asleep on that thought, clutching her wand at her side. 

[sarahfeliciam]

The Ultimatum Ch 64

Chapter 64

“Lyall? Lyall Lupin, right?” Emeline asked cautiously as she stepped closer. 

The older man eyed her with an interested smile and the healer crinkled her eyebrows in confusion.

“Who are you, dear? I’ve never seen another visitor aside from-“

“-my dad? His son?” The healer nodded and her mouth opened in understanding.

“Ahh, yes. I thought I heard once something about a grandchild. I thought Lyall had mistaken that bit of information.” She smiled warmly and Emeline’s heart pounded in her chest. 

“No, he was very much correct.” She nodded, their gaze on one another unwavering as she zoned out.

Lyall was a shorter man, now, but she could tell that without his slight bend forward, he would have been just as tall as his son.

 His face was careworn but his eyes still sparkled with kindness; the kind of sparkle that she was sure was oftentimes mischievous in his day, like Remus. 

He had a great deal of wrinkles: worry lines, laugh lines and generally aging skin. His hair was pure white and he was a slender man concealed under an oversized, comfortable cardigan. 

It looked simply as though Emeline was viewing her father decades into the future. 

However, something was stumping her that she couldn’t place. 

Though so alike, there was one drastic difference.

“Emeline?” She spun on her heel at her father’s voice. She couldn’t place his tone. 

When she faced him, her lips pulled into a comforted smile. 

That was it.

No scars.

“My dear boy!” Lyall rushed forward as the healer tried to hold onto him, but he couldn’t contain his excitement at seeing Remus. 

Her father looked dumbfounded for a moment, as did she, not having known that Lyall was lucid in this moment. 

Her face softened as she watched them embrace one another tightly, Remus’ face melting into joy as he held his father. 

“Dad,” Remus pulled back and held his shoulders lovingly. “I see you’ve met your granddaughter.”

Lyall’s eyes widened and tears sprung forward in them as he turned back to Emeline. 

“Oh, I knew it! Sweet girl.” Before she knew it, Emeline was being pulled in for a similiar hug. 

Remus chuckled as the thought flashed across her mind: how the hell was he so strong? 

When he pulled away, he surveyed her intently and she remained silent, unsure of what to say and feeling fairly uncomfortable at the idea of being assessed. 

When he seemed content, he nodded softly and reached out a hand to squeeze her shoulder. He brushed his thumb along the top of her deep scar and nodded once more, this time to Remus. 

He knows?

Remus nodded very slightly to Emeline, but his smile did not fade.

“I can take him back to his room, Opal. Thank you.”

The healer smiled kindly in response.

“Absolutely, Mr. Lupin. I’ll see you in the morning, Lyall.”

Remus and Emeline each took one of Lyall’s arms and he linked his with theirs quickly, his smile never fading. 

As they walked the long hall, Emeline felt a peace deep in her soul that was undeniable.

Tonks?

She’s going to be just fine

Remus glanced over and physically saw the relief wash over Emeline, who couldn’t stop the joyful tears streaming down her cheeks.

She’ll be here for a few days. She’s still unconscious, but they say rest is good for this curse. 

Emeline nodded silently and their quiet communication was broken completely when Lyall turned his head to her.

“Born or bitten?” He asked boldly, chuckling as Emeline’s eyes widened. 

She thought he’d known she was not born a wolf, but she didn’t stay hung on the comment long. 

“I, uh… well, neither.”

Lyall looked confused for a moment, sure he knew what he was talking about, before his eyes softened into understanding. 

Now, he turned to his son.

“Blood magic?” He whispered the question. 

Remus nodded curtly.

“Merlin, I’d fancy hearing all about it!” He replied cheerfully as they stepped into his room. 

“Perhaps another visit, dad. It’s a long story and it’s well past midnight.” 

“Oh, nonsense! I don’t have my wits about me often - tell me a good bedtime story, won’t you?” 

He looked to Emeline once he was lying in bed and she grinned. 

“Well, if you insist,” she answered, taking the seat by his bed. Remus stood warily at the foot of the bed before Lyall motioned for him to sit down. “If you get too frightened you better tell me to quit.” She warned jokingly, which awarded her a jovial laugh from her grandfather.

They spent many hours rehashing the last two years to Lyall, who listened enthusiastically the entire time without so much as a yawn. 

Emeline could tell he was on the edge of his seat and desperately wished he’d been right in the thick of everything. 

When their story finally concluded, Lyall quirked an eyebrow.

“What is it?” She asked kindly, reaching for his hand out of habit for her own father. 

To her relief, he took it immediately.

“It just occurred to me to ask why you lot are traipsing around the hospital so late.”

Emeline laughed. “Ah, we may have left something minor out of the details.” She shot her father her own mischievous smile. 

“Emeline Mara.” Remus warned, rubbing his temples. 

Lyall gave him a playful kick in the leg.

“Go on, dear!”

“Well, dad’s girlfriend is in.”

Lyall’s face broadened into a smile that Emeline couldn’t believe. She could hardly see his eyes with how wide his grin was.

“About bloody time, Remus! Who is the lucky gal?” Emeline laughed and turned to her father who was holding his hands together nervously. 

Lyall’s voice was comforting; he sounded almost like Remus but he was gruffer and a bit more Scottish. His inflection made her chuckle most times when he spoke.

“She’s an auror!” Emeline took over, seeing that her father was not going to reply.

“Well, I’ll be damned. Good for you, son. I’m sure she’s a gem.” Lyall offered Emeline a wink and Remus groaned before finally mustering a soft smile.

“Thanks, dad. She’s lovely and she’s going to be just fine.”

Finally, Lyall yawned. 

“I’m happy to hear it, son.”

He slid his hand out of Emeline’s and reached for Remus, who grabbed it eagerly. 

“Get some rest, dad.”

“Only if you both promise to come back soon?” It was the first time Emeline heard vulnerability in his voice. 

“Ofcourse we will.” She answered quickly.

“Wonderful. And maybe next time you can call me granddad, mm?”

“If that’s what you want.” She said quietly, standing with her father.

Remus bent down to place a kiss on his forehead and Emeline grabbed his hand as they left, both looking at one another with misty eyes.

[sarahfeliciam]

The Ultimatum Ch 63

Chapter 63

“What’s going on?” Emeline’s sleepy voice echoed in the long hallway as she stumbled into the side wall. 

A family portrait they’d missed taking down shouted something to her about being a wild beast before Remus silenced it as he rushed forward, grabbing her shoulders.

“Harry and the rest of Dumbledore’s Army are in a great deal of danger, Emeline. We are going.”

She jolted her eyes the rest of the way open and shook her head as she peered around to Tonks who was running up behind Remus, followed by Kingsley and Alastor. 

It was them, we, not Emeline and Remus, we. 

“Let’s go!” Moody shouted gruffly, apparating on the spot. 

Kingsley followed him alongside a few other members. 

Tonks took Remus’ hand quickly and gave Emeline a sad glance.

“Pup, we have to go. You’re safe here. I love you.” 

She couldn’t believe her eyes when they both disappeared. 

She looked up and down the hall, her anxiety spiking as she moved to rush into the kitchen. 

Sirius bounded into the hall then, running into her. Molly was bringing up the rear with widening eyes. 

“Don’t you dare think about it, Sirius!” She shouted shrilly. “You heard them!” 

“Voldemort has enticed Harry because of me! There is no bloody way I’m not going.” He turned on his heel and Emeline didn’t need to hear or say anything further. 

She gave Molly an apologetic glance before grabbing Sirius arm in the nick of time, and next thing she knew, they fell forward onto the London pavement with a thud. 

Her chest was heaving and her head spinning as her stomach lurched into her throat. 

“Bloody hell, Emeline!” Sirius shouted angrily, grabbing her up and taking her hand to run toward the phone booths. “You’ve done it now,” he yelled as they jogged. “Your father is going to mount my head for this one!”

•

When they arrived at the door to the Department of Mysteries, Emeline could hear the hurried whispers of the other members and Lucius and Harry bickering about something regarding the prophecy. 

She glanced at Sirius who quickly raised his wand over them. 

Nothing looked different to Emeline, however to the outside world they couldn’t be seen. 

They stepped forward quietly to the door and slipped inside unknown to anyone else, much like the rest of the Order had.

Once inside and walking down halls of hundreds of thousands of glistening broken orbs, Emeline couldn’t help but let her mouth fall open in amazement as she followed close behind Sirius. 

Finally, they came to a second door, and he wasted no time shoving her inside, following after her to fall in, too.

This feeling was even worse than the apparating and Emeline felt like she could be sick at any moment. 

Sirius grabbed her wrist in assurance as he listened intently to the rest of Lucius’ conversation with Harry, watching the other students under the grips of Death Eaters. One, he noticed immediately, was his raging monster of a cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange.

Emeline clutched her stomach as she watched the scene before her.

Unseen in a corner, Remus’ stomach churned and his face fell in despair.

Tell me you’re not! 

I’m sorry

Their communication was sharp and he could tell her answer was weak in tone. 

She had no explanation for coming besides crippling fear, which was the worst reason to get yourself into a situation such as the one unfolding before them. 

His heart dropped into his belly as he thought of his little girl who could hardly hold her own anymore in dueling amongst many different facets and foes. 

She was too rusty. 

He had to get her out.

Before either of them could protest the other, Sirius unveiled the two of them and stepped toward Lucius unexpectedly.

“Get away from my godson!” With a swift hook to the face, he knocked Lucius down and the prophecy shattered to the floor as he grabbed Harry. 

In similar fashion, Remus grabbed her as the rest of the Order appeared and they both drew their wands as the Death Eaters twisted up into clouds of black smoke in the air and whirred around them.

Remus was pulling her by the shirt now, urging her to follow him toward Tonks. Bent over and out of breath, she clutched her wand as she slowly fell into hyperventilation, struggling to keep up with the sick feeling in her stomach.

“Dad, I’m going to be sick. I can’t-“

“Emma! There’s no time.” 

Hot tears stung at her eyes as she ran with him, curses flying and things shattering all around them. Loud pops and bright bursts were ringing through the air as she followed him, keeping eyes fixated on his coat and not much else. 

If she was with him, she knew she was safe. 

When she did finally avert her vision, she saw Sirius dueling Bellatrix near a watery looking structure. 

It was curious to her, moving water suspended in thin air inside the arch. 

She tugged at her dad’s sleeve, but he stopped dead and shouted something she’d never heard before, entering into a duel with another Death Eater Emeline couldn’t place. 

She realized then why it was so sudden: he was aiding Tonks who was currently fending off three. 

She backed up slowly as she watched her father, who was simply expert at the craft. 

Her mouth hung slightly open again as she desperately tried to steady her breathing, wand gripped tightly in her sweaty palm. 

One Death Eater was down now. 

Two to go.

Stay close.

But his words came too late. 

Emeline turned then to see Sirius was celebrating with Harry; congratulating him on a hex he had thrown and calling him James by mistake.

He didn’t see Bellatrix towering above him on another jutted stone, wand at the ready.

Something snapped inside of Emeline as she poised her wand quicker and threw the first curse at Bellatrix she could think of. 

Remus turned at the sound of his daughter’s scream.

She couldn’t have.

His mouth hung open as did Tonks’; they both thought they’d finished the last of their duel. 

Sirius’ face was white as he realized what had happened and Harry grabbed his arm tightly as the rest of Dumbledore’s Army crowded in.

Dolohov was not down, unbeknownst to the group, and as they all stood staring ahead at Bellatrix crumpled on the ground, he shot a curse hurling toward Tonks’ back, another dark spell Emeline had never heard out loud. 

“Tonks!” She screamed as instinct kicked in. 

She could have been the one hit by the curse herself the way she felt it in her soul and knew it was Tonks. 

Remus fell to her side and pulled her against his chest, screaming for Sirius. Tonks was already completely unconscious and the Order flooded in around them as Emeline grabbed her hand and Dolohov disappeared.

The fear in her father’s eyes terrified her and she felt an unfamiliar feeling from him deep in her spirit. 

In the chaos, she nearly forgot that she had just killed a woman. 

•

Emeline was slowly losing her mind as she waited on the opposite side of St. Mungos this time. 

The waiting room was cold and eerily quiet. 

They were the only family there this evening and she felt painfully alone.

 Despite Sirius snoozing at her feet as a faux emotional support pet, she was left to her own devices. 

It was then she unraveled all of the thoughts fighting for first place in her brain.

Was Tonks going to survive? 

Sirius almost just died.

How had she just killed someone?

Everyone almost just died.

Would her father ever recover if Tonks died? Would she? 

She could have just died.

She let out a shallow breath and hung her head, covering her ears with shaking hands as she tried to stop the voices in her mind. 

She felt Sirius nudge her knee and let out a soft whine, but she couldn’t take it any longer. She stood hurriedly and opened the waiting room doors, ready to demand Tonks’ room number, when something else caught her eye entirely. 

Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes narrowed.

It couldn’t be.

But the smell… his smell, was unmistakable.

She picked up a brisk walk down the corridor so as not to lose sight of the man, who was being aided in walking by a young healer who appeared kind and chatty. 

They rounded the corner before her and she picked up pace, her heart thumping and completely forgetting she’d just left Sirius in the dust. 

When she approached, the old man stopped and turned slowly to face her. 

The healer didn’t waiver in her smile, but rested a hand on his back. 

She spoke softly, but it was loud and clear for Emeline.

“Lyall, stay focused. It’s time to get you back to your room, dear.”

[sarahfeliciam]

The Ultimatum Ch 62

Chapter 62

The weeks to follow passed fairly uneventfully, save for Emeline’s second full moon, which went considerably smoother than the first.

 It took a few days recovery, but her side wound was now healed and her collarbone’s gash was scarring over. 

However, both her and Remus’ fingers were quite torn up again, and they knew they’d need to figure out something to aid in not trying to claw their way to each other during the transformation. 

Sirius was growing antsy as the letters flooded in more frequently in regard to Harry’s connection to Voldemort and it had Emeline concerned, too. There were more guard missions, high emotion and hurried whispers than she cared to admit. 

On a positive note, Remus was always happy to let her lay her head at the Burrow on guard nights, seeing as Tonks typically went with him now. Sirius tagged along to the Burrow occasionally, but the other nights he had many far-off thoughts written across his wrinkled forehead. 

He’d prefer to stay home.

In their spare time, Remus had taken to brushing up Emeline’s defensive skills and felt bloody awful everytime a simple spell knocked her on her feet. 

He was never attempting to actually hurt her, but she was struggling with her defense in the element of surprise. A straight-forward duel was fairly easy for her, but someone coming from the sidelines? 

It worried Remus. 

When she’d had enough, they poured over old textbooks Remus had lying around and tried their hand at other practical skills. 

She’d even begun picking Severus’ brain at Grimmauld Place on brewing Wolfsbane potion. By some stroke of luck, he seemed keen to show her when things settled a bit. 

This particular week, Sirius opted to follow the Order to Headquarters, (having stayed far away from his family home of late, he felt somewhat guilty), and Emeline had a bit more quiet with George than normal when the Order headed to Grimmauld Place. 

She found herself immersed in his and Fred’s handwritten spreadsheets and floor plans this evening. Listening to them drone on and on flooded out her worry for Remus and Tonks being on yet another guard duty. 

It was quarter after two in the morning when Molly arrived in the fireplace, brushing soot off her dress and immediately resting her hands on her hips. 

“You three should be asleep, you know.” She said sternly, though her face was soft and her tone dripping with exhaustion. 

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Weasley.”

“Sorry, mum!” The twins chorused in. 

They were extremely cautious of their mother as of late. 

Not only was an Arthur-sized wound still open, but they’d already left Hogwarts for good. She’d dealt with enough of their hare-brained schemes for now. 

“No matter, children. Fred, could you help me lock up the perimeter, please?”

“Ofcourse!” He leapt to his feet and shot George a wink. 

In turn, George grabbed Emeline’s hand and set the paper he was holding (with a list of new candy ideas nearly lining the entire parchment), down. 

“Fancy heading to bed?” He asked softly. Her stomach flipped and she nodded silently, following him up the flights of stairs to his bedroom.

Emeline was surprised when she realized the twins did not share a bedroom anymore. 

Seeing as they did practically everything together, and they always regarded the Burrow as ‘not much’, Emeline simply assumed one room made sense. 

Regardless, there were two. 

George opened the door to his richly maroon bedroom, strewn with all types of joke spell-books, gag gifts, quidditch moving posters and replica models of their ideas for the shop. 

She took note of the bouquet of wild flowers, dried out and tied together lying on his end table. He also had her shirt thrown haphazardly on the bed and she noticed two things then: one, that she wasn’t sure how he got said shirt and two: his blush as he grabbed it and handed it to her.

“Must’ve left this one night.”

She was sure she did not.

“You have it. Seems as though it keeps you company.” She replied smoothly, throwing herself down on his bed. 

It was such a comfortable mess of blankets, both plush and sewn, an old jacket of his which smelled gloriously of his cologne and the most worse-for-wear stuffed teddy that Emeline had ever seen.

He moved to sit in the corner, his bed butted up against the wall, and motioned for her to cuddle over with him. 

She climbed into his lap and laid against his chest, listening to the rapid beating of his heart. 

“Are you sure you want to work at the shop?” He asked softly, stroking her hair with his free hand. 

The other was wrapped loosely around her waist.

“Absolutely!” She yawned. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“Two more weeks.” He reminded.

“I know, Georgie. Two more weeks.” She murmured, wrapping her arms around his neck as she turned to face him. 

Though cradling her, he leaned down to kiss her gently and smiled when he pulled away.

“It’s all of our dreams come true. I wish he was here to see it.” 

She rested a hand on his chest as he looked past her thoughtfully, eyes fixated on the model of the shop.

“He’s still right here.” She tapped his chest. “I’ve never stopped missing my mum. It hurts when they don’t see things the way they used to, but they do see them. I know he’d be proud.”

He looked back at her now, his eyes misty, and pat her thigh to get her to slide out of his lap. 

“Why don’t I get you some of my sleep clothes?” 

She nodded, recognizing just how painful tight jeans were to lie in someone’s lap in.

“Thank you. I love you.”

He stood, moving to his closet before turning to her with another large smile. There was a single tear down his cheek now, which he wiped at hurriedly.

“I love you too, E.”

[sarahfeliciam]

The Ultimatum Ch 61

Chapter 61

Remus couldn’t find the strength to go immediately home to the cottage.

 Deflated and, frankly, pissed: he decided to make a stop to the pub that Sirius and Emeline had wandered to. 

He put in an order for their cheapest ale and shed his jacket as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

Though Emeline was ninety percent expecting this, he simply couldn’t muster the words to tell her that she truly couldn’t (or perhaps, shouldn’t) be returning to Hogwarts. 

Sure, there were other schools, but Hogwarts was home. 

He could just see it now: Emeline attempting Beauxbatons with Calliope finding out she was just as detestable as her father now. 

He groaned in mental anguish as the waitress dropped a full mug in front of him.

“Can I get you something else?” She asked curiously.

“No, no. My apologies.” He handed off the cash for his drink and sipped it eagerly, still turning all the words he could come up with in his brain before settling on the best ones.

The bold face, no bush-beating, truth. 

•

“Welcome back, daddio!” Sirius grinned, clapping him on the back and taking his coat. 

Emeline bounded in the room when she heard Sirius and her face fell slightly. 

It had nothing to do with Remus’ face and everything to do with the smell. 

He ended on two drinks; two lightweight, quick drinks. 

And she could’ve smelled him from miles away.

“That bad, huh?” She smiled sadly, moving to hug him.

“I’m sorry, Emma.” He kissed the top of her head and sighed as they headed for the couch, all three of them sitting one right after the other and falling into a comfortable silence before Remus spoke again. 

“Hogwarts just isn’t safe with that… bird heading it. She seemed like she was getting my point, and truth be told, she did offer for you to finish term. However, she’s shown me some unsettling paperwork.”

Emeline quirked an eyebrow at him, her curiosity piqued.

“Well, go on.”

“Anti-werewolf legislation. If the ministry signs off on this, it will make it damn near impossible for werewolves to hold down jobs. Merlin, it’s been practically impossible already for me! And forget school prejudice- with that hag in charge, you don’t stand a chance. She said so herself that you may not even be welcomed back next term.”

Emeline snorted. “Welcome is an exaggeration in any stretch with her. I figured as much. This isn’t your fault.” She stared up at him kindly, but all he could do was shake his head.

“I want to keep telling you that you can do whatever you dream of doing, darling. And I will. But you’re going to have to break your back to do it, and for that hostility, I could never be sorry enough.”

Emeline wasn’t sure what to respond and leaned her head into his shoulder. 

“Why don’t we pop on some lunch and see if we can one up your dad in Gobstones, finally?” Sirius asked excitedly, cutting the tension with as much joy as he could manage.

Emeline swallowed and nodded with a convincing smile.

Any old observer would’ve thought she was fine; they may have even thought that she didn’t care about school to begin with. 

But Remus knew better. 

Rather, he felt better: the aching pit deep in his stomach.

The pit of not belonging. 

•

When evening rolled around that night, there was a knock on the front door and Emeline ran to open it, knowing full well it was -

“Tonks! I didn’t think you were going to show up!”

She laughed and pulled Emeline in for a hug.  

“I had to come see how that meeting went, now didn’t I? What have we? A Hufflepuff still, or shall we order some blue dresses?”

Emeline snickered and slammed the door behind her as they walked into the kitchen, past Sirius who was having, what was so far, a two hour long siesta. 

“Technically I’d be allowed to finish term. Off the cuff, dad doesn’t trust the old bi…bird.” She turned her head to pour some coffee with an eye roll. “Dad’s still on a language ban. I’d like to call her many other colorful things, none of which have to do with pink.”

Tonks laughed as she took the coffee offered to her. It had slowly become tradition for her and Emeline to waste the night away chatting when she didn’t have work the next day, so the coffee was appreciated despite it being evening. 

“Anyway, get this: they’re enlisting new legislation.” 

Tonks waited expectantly and Emeline grinned.

“A complete werewolf ban, practically! Jobs are going to be all but nonexistent and school is going to be hard to achieve with the open prejudice and accessible registry paperwork.”

 Tonks’ eyes widened, then narrowed in amusement. 

“Merlin, that sounds terrifying… why are you smiling?”

Emeline shrugged mischievously. 

“Well, doesn’t bother me. I have a job, as of…” she peaked at her watch, an old tattered one of Remus’ he insisted she wear amidst her habitual tardiness. “Thirty minutes ago.” She finished cheerfully, humming that tune they always hummed as she handed Tonks a chocolate croissant. 

“Back up, I’ve obviously missed something here.” She answered back, buttering her pastry.

“You haven’t. I haven’t announced it yet. Sirius is asleep and dad is,” she quirked an eyebrow as she glanced around. “Well, you know, I actually don’t know where he wandered off to. I was immersed in my owl alerting me of this new prospect!” She took a seat next to Tonks who laughed once more and motioned for her to continue. 

“Well, go on. Don’t make me beg it out of you, Merlin’s sake!”

“George has asked me to work at the joke shop with them! They’re opening the storefront in two months.” 

Tonks’ mouth dropped open.

“No way, that’s bloody brilliant!”

“In’it?” She grinned, drizzling honey atop her own chocolate croissant. Tonks turned up her nose at that and Emeline chuckled.

“Take it up with dad, he taught me this. I thought it was gross at first, too. Anyway, I’m thrilled!”

“Thrilled about what?” 

“Yes, Emeline, what?” Tonks reiterated as she stood to greet Remus with a kiss on the cheek. 

“I, well…” she wrung her hands nervously, much like how he did when he was on edge. “I…”

He laughed slightly, his brows furrowed and confused as he rested a hand on her shoulder. 

“Emma, what is it?” He searched her eyes, imploring her to continue as he chuckled again. “Am I that scar-“

“- George has asked me to work with them at the joke shop and I’ve agreed.” She glanced down at her shoes, her hands behind her back as she awaited his response. 

For some reason, she pictured him not taking well to this news. There were many reasons for this thought, but she had no time to ruminate on them as he squeezed her shoulder once more.

When she looked up, her had his other hand around Tonks’ waist and they were both looking down at her, positively beaming.

“Darling, that’s wonderful!”

“I know it’s dumb, I just - wait, what?” 

Tonks smiled and glanced up at Remus whose face was so sweetly proud. 

“I’m happy for you; I hope this can help with that spark of yours. It’s been missing for some time.” He finished softly, moving his hand to rest on her cheek. “I’d just like to believe this doesn’t stop you trying to become a healer. You will be so good, Emeline.”

She shook her head gently, moving his hand from her face. 

“Theres a big difference between dreams and reality, you know? It might not be my first choice, but at least I’m alive.”

Remus didn’t have a chance to respond before Emeline turned to head for the living room. Tonks remained silent next to him as they watched her browse the bookshelf, selecting a novel quickly and heading to the bedroom. She shut the door softly behind her and Remus turned to Tonks, completely lost.

“She’ll be alright,” she encouraged quickly. “She’s a teenager and she’s sensitive about all of this. I’m sure she’ll come to her senses. But, what about you?” Tonks ran her hands along Remus’ arms and stared up at him with adoration, patiently awaiting his response.

He looked down at her for a long time, emotion flashing across his face. He was tender and thoughtful; typically patient, and his eyes were kind. 

She could tell he couldn’t find the words, but his softness around her said it all.

“You know I don’t care about these bloody legislators, don’t you?” 

He nodded wordlessly, moving his hands to her waist. 

“And you know I still want to be with you even if your only job is keeping my cousin in line, don’t you?”

He smiled in response and pulled her closer.

“And you do know that we’re all going to be just fine, don’t you?”

“I hope so.” He replied strongly, his tone almost begging. 

“I know so.” She whispered, moving on tip toe to kiss him. 

Author’s Note: A bit more filler to come and then to the Department of Mysteries 🥹🖤 As always, thank you for reading! 

[sarahfeliciam]

The Ultimatum Ch 60

Chapter 60

Remus was staring at the many cloaks and jackets lain across the bed nervously, muttering repairo to quite a few of them, sewing together various tears and loose threads. 

He shook his head in annoyance as he held up one of the suit jackets in front of the mirror, before swapping it for the one in his opposite hand and considering them both carefully. 

“Won’t matter what you look like,” Emeline quipped, standing in the doorframe and watching her father, carefully. He glanced back at her through the mirror as she stuffed her face further with another bite of biscuit. “She’s got it out for us anyway.”

“Perhaps,” he shrugged, choosing the darker brown jacket. “But this is about us, not her. I only have one chance at this, whether she’s pre-decided or not.” He sighed.

Emeline crossed her arms and looked off thoughtfully for a moment.

“And what if she has?” She finally asked.

“We will cross that bridge when we arrive at it.” He replied quickly, sliding on the jacket and moving to his shoe rack. There were three worn down pair. 

“Well, what are you thinking? I mean it’s very likely she wont allo-“

“-Emeline, enough.” He groaned as he sat on the rocking chair to slip his shoes on. 

She threw her hands up in surrender and rolled her eyes. “Forgive me. I thought it was my future on the line.” She turned to leave but he called after her quickly. 

“No, wait.” Running a shaky hand through his hair, he looked up at her desperately. “I’m sorry, Emma. A lot is riding on this; I just want to fix it for you. And I am afraid that I cannot. I pray that is not the case.” 

She shrugged. “Well, if you can’t, we should have a second option. A fail safe.” She came to sit beside him and rested a hand on his shoulder. “I don’t blame you, and I won’t blame you if this goes south. Just don’t give her reason to send you off or something. She’s a nasty bi-“

“-Emma.” He warned sternly, resting his hands on his knees.

“Bird.” She finished smoothly. “A nasty little bird.”

“Mmm.” He laughed. “Naturally, I’m completely convinced.” 

•

“Come in!” Dolores called after Remus’ soft knock. 

Her voice was a sweet venom that he couldn’t describe, but could certainly smell. 

It took every morsel of self-control that he had not to make a facial expression when he walked into her office: a room thrown up in pink and kittens. 

“Goodmorning, Headmistress. Thank you for making the time for a meeting.” He extended his hand to her, which she declined with a curt nod and faux chuckle. 

She motioned for him to take a seat and he did so quickly as she followed opposite him, her desk with various knick-knacks and photos of the minister separating them.

“It’s no trouble, Mr. Lupin. I’m sure you have questions regarding your daughter’s termination.” Another chuckle as she lifted her tea cup. “Care for a spot?”

“No, thank you. You are correct in that I have questions; my biggest question is certainly, why?”

She took a calm breath and smiled sweetly at him.

“I thought that much I had made clear: we do not have the accommodations for someone like Emeline.”

His knuckles were white as he gripped the chair. 

“Someone like?” He inquired, his voice low. 

Umbridge sighed and twisted a pink quill between her fingers. 

Was that the quill that had harmed his daughter? 

Was it in this room? 

His heart began to race.

“I mean no ill-intent. To be quite honest, I’m not familiar in fraternizing with…” she trailed off and tried to hide her discomfort. 

Remus would have been offended when others could barely meet his gaze, however this gave him satisfaction. 

The nasty bird certainly deserved to be uncomfortable.

“Werewolves?” He finished politely. 

She nodded tensely and offered yet another fake smile.

“We simply cannot accommodate a werewolf and there’s no way around it considering I have these.” She held up Emeline’s registration papers before slapping them down quickly. 

Remus winced at how loud it was.

“That’s interesting to me, Headmistress, considering Hogwarts has never discriminated before.”

The buzzword rubbed her the wrong way and she fidgeted in her seat uncomfortably.

“No, Mr. Lupin, there is no prejudice here-“

“-who said anything about prejudice?” He smiled, leaning back. “Why ever would there be prejudice?”

She looked at him incredulously; there was no way he was really gaining an upper hand here. 

“I specifically feel it is discrimination, considering that Willow,” he pointed out the window, then to himself. “Was planted for me. It was planted for me to transform safely in the Shrieking Shack, awarding security for both myself and the entire school, so that I could receive the education I deserved. My daughter deserves the same accommodation, considering she was viciously attacked and this condition saved her life.” 

He stared at her unwaveringly as he awaited a response. 

She tossed this over in her mind many times before opening her mouth once more.

“I appreciate your passion for your daughter, it’s heartwarming, really. But I’ve no aid for her-“

“-Madam Pomfrey always aided me just fine. She’s offered the same for Emeline.”

Umbridge swallowed thickly and glanced around with nerves. 

“I haven’t spoken to h-“

Remus furrowed his eyebrows.

“-Haven’t spoken to her? To the head healer on the grounds? Before you sent a letter saying you’ve no accommodations for my child? Doesn’t that sound like some red tape is missing, to you?”

She was at a loss now, and Remus stood, straightening his suit. 

“I’d hate to bring this to the ministry, Headmistress. But knowing there are appropriate accommodations, and those willing to assist in upholding them, for my daughter, I’ll have no choice. She’s entitled to a school education at the very least.”

Umbridge stood also, and held out a stack of paperwork to Remus. 

He grabbed it off her quickly and began reading through, his eyes widening as she smiled. 

“Miss Lupin may finish term if she’d like, however these legislations are going to prove difficult for her to hold down work, or even attend Hogwarts next term. I’m terribly sorry, but I’ve no say. It is the minister’s final decision. I’d choose wisely, Mr. Lupin.”

A final sickening laugh echoed through her room as he gripped his fists together. 

“Thank you for your time.” He choked out angrily. 

“Happy to help.” She smiled. 

[sarahfeliciam]

The Ultimatum Ch 59

Chapter 59

A few more days time was just enough for Emeline to feel up for the trip to the Burrow to attend Arthur’s funeral alongside her father, Tonks and Sirius. 

Before they were to use the floo to arrive in time for the service, Emeline took Sirius to the front garden with her for steadying as she put together two bouquets of wild flowers. She wasn’t as good at this task as George and she felt her floral choice looked rather lame and lackluster, but she was pleased all the same with her sentiment. 

“We’re going to be late!” Remus called from the front door, pie he had promised in hand.

Emeline and Sirius set off for the front door again and within moments they’d all lined up at the fireplace and then appeared one by one in the living room of the Burrow. 

No one was in the sitting area, but it was tidy and cozy with blankets over armchairs and a candle lit on the coffee table next to a rather handsome photo of a younger Arthur. 

Emeline stared at it for quite some time, noticing many of his children’s features stemming from this dashing early snapshot. 

It was not enchanted to move, just a simple, muggle - in - appearance photo. With his love for muggles, she liked to believe they’d opted not to enchant the photo on purpose. 

Finally, she was broken from her reverie by Molly bustling into the sitting area. She was surprised by two things: to see her in black, as she’d never seen Molly in anything but beige and fall coloration, and that she offered them a smile. 

Though forlorn and tear-stained, she still welcomed them warmly. 

It actually made Emeline’s stomach turn. 

“Molly.” Tonks addressed her lovingly, pulling her into a tight hug first. 

She pat her back as she squeezed her, offering her condolences once more. 

Next, Remus stepped forward as Sirius transformed into himself from Padfoot and followed behind him. They both embraced her in a protective, joint effort and she kissed both of their cheeks, taking extra time to grab Remus and remind him not to dwell today. 

Lastly, Emeline stared at her blankly. 

She was wholly unsure of what to say. 

She had good memories with Arthur for the most part, but nothing substantial in the regard of one-on-one, aside from their time at the Quidditch World Cup. 

Molly, on the other hand, had tried the last few years to fill the motherly void in Emeline’s heart. She was broken for her and utterly horrified that Arthur died because of a change in shift due to Emeline’s own attack.

She still felt guilty that the gratefulness for Remus not being the one dead, won out, as well.

On that note, Molly moved to pull her into a tight hug and she winced in pain. 

It was only then Molly noticed the deep gash across her collarbone and gasped lightly. 

George entered the room at the same time and they stared at one another silently. 

His face was downcast and pale, much like her own. He was wearing an old black suit with a deep maroon tie, Fred trailed behind him in a similiar ensemble, his face only slightly brighter than his twin’s. 

George’s eyes absorbed Emeline’s features, taking note of her pallor and long, chesnut hair falling in perfect ringlets down her back and shoulders. 

She’d chosen a simple black dress and an older cardigan pull-over that was her mother’s. Her wound was visibly wrapping to the front of her collarbone, which was unavoidable for the most part. 

He sucked in a startled breath when he noticed the gash and his face sunk.

“Bloody hell, E, I’m so sorry, it completely slipped my-“

“- these are for you both.” Emeline cut off quickly, holding out the bouquets. 

She handed one to Molly and one to George and did not breathe another word. 

George kept his distance, taking mental note of her attempt to keep him from discussing the moon and unsure of how to approach her when they’d spent so much time apart.

They felt painfully more mature than the teens who parted ways at Hogwarts that day in preparation for the moon that Greyback attacked on. 

Their lives had both been shattered in different scenarios, but shattered no less. 

For the first time, an uncomfortable nausea rose in Emeline’s stomach. 

Were they too far beyond repair? 

“Molly, we’re ready to begin.” Dumbledore interrupted politely.

“Right,” her resolve cracked slightly and an older Weasley that Emeline had not yet met came behind her to take her arm. 

He was interesting to her, with his own mess of scars and burns, and a large dragon’s tooth hanging from one ear. His suit was dragon scaled in an eccentric metallic color. 

Though having never met before, Emeline knew it was Charlie. 

“Let’s go, children.” 

They all followed Molly to the backyard which she had set beautifully. 

There were little fairy lights lining the pathway to Arthur’s shed, which Emeline was sure looked breathtaking at night. As she followed them down the gravel path to the few chairs that were gathered around the rundown garden, George came beside her and confidently took her hand. She looked up at him, questioning, however he was still fixated straight ahead where a large hole was dug and a simple casket with wildflowers atop it was hovering.

Emeline looked nervously to Remus; she had not expected this and felt anxiety mounting inside of her for some reason.

They’re burying him here!

If Remus was surprised by his daughter’s communication, you’d never have guessed. 

He didn’t flinch as he walked hand in hand with Tonks, Sirius following closely behind them. 

It’s customary in their family for the Patriarch 

I feel sick

Breathe. The dead cannot hurt you, darling 

These words resonated with Emeline somehow and gave her a strong sense of peace in her stomach. 

Did her guilt somehow make her afraid of Arthur? 

Worried of what he’d think? 

It was silly.

As they all took their seats, she zoned out as Dumbledore’s voice droned on for all of the Weasley’s (save for Percy), and the Order to hear. 

She noticed Harry and Hermione sitting close to Ron and Ginny and made a mental note to make contact with them later. 

She fidgeted in her seat a great deal of times, the cold weather hitting her open skin and causing a sudden surge of cringed pain. 

It was a beautiful service from the few words she could distinguish out of her haze, and every member of the family stood to say a special something for Arthur. 

It was particularly heartbreaking to hear Molly suffer through a six page piece she’d prepared, and the others were not much better. 

When it was George’s turn, he looked to his twin and they both stood in unison, stepping in front of the mess of lawn chairs.

“Hiya,” Fred began, bouncing on the balls of his feet as George stood sullenly next to him. “We weren’t sure what exactly to say today, but then we reckoned that dad would be the same. He was quirky and whimsical in all the best ways; A lot like us.”

He nudged George as though it was his turn to cut in what they’d rehearsed and George looked up and glanced around the yard, swallowing thickly before his eyes fell on Emeline. 

His countenance changed slightly and he took in a deep breath to begin.

“Right. He was always encouraging of our wild hearts and played in to our crazy dreams…Which is why we’ve decided to leave Hogwarts and open our joke shop early, in his honor.”

The crowd was silent. 

Painfully silent.

Eventually, they heard a loud, nearly insane laugh. 

Molly

All eyes turned to the Weasley matriarch, whose smile was wide and laugh was infectious, and everyone joined in, dissolving into tears and laughter.

•

When evening fell and many had filtered out of the Burrow, the golden trio and Emeline’s family were all that remained minus Kingsley Shacklebolt. 

Having been close to Arthur at the ministry and on recent duties, he felt it his job to aid Molly in any ways he could and was happy to hang around picking up after the service. 

Emeline was standing next to Tonks, leaning heavily against the wall nearest them as Remus chatted with Bill Weasley and Sirius. 

Eventually, she felt the familiar entwining of fingers and glanced up to see George.

“Come with me.” He whispered. 

They left Tonks quickly, who simply offered Emeline a loving nudge on the shoulder and a wink. 

George wrapped an arm around her waist as they headed outside, noticing how unsteady she was on her feet. 

“Theres a spot down by the lake I’d like to show you. It’s… private.” He said nervously. 

She noted how clammy his arm was. 

When they’d finally made their way past the clearing and into some foliage surrounding the lake, George unrolled a blanket with just a wave of his wand. 

He helped Emeline to sit comfortably with him and she leaned against him eagerly, hopeful that this would solidify her hope: that they could recover.

She looked up at the starry sky, so peaceful with the moon barely apparent. 

“E, we’ve had so many challenges lately. It doesn’t feel like us anymore.” He whispered.

She turned to look up at him, anxiety clawing at her stomach. 

She nodded curtly.

“I hate it. I’ve been in a right slump and it isn’t your fault. I just…” his voice broke and he shook his head slightly with a sniff. “I could’ve never imagined this would happen to us. My dad was the only one who really believed Fred and I could succeed in our shop. It was so sudden. I’ve been trying to be glue for everyone, but Charlie and Bill mostly took over with mum and.. I’m rambling.” He looked at her sadly, his face fallen further. “And you. I’ve been so wrapped up in something I can’t change that I’ve left the girl I love in the dark in the middle of one of the hardest moments of her life.”

Emeline couldn’t believe the sight before her when George dissolved into tears. 

He shook from crying as he threw his wand to the ground and Emeline pulled him close to her, rubbing his back. 

“George.” Her voice was soothing and gentle. His head in his hands, he did nothing to respond. “You’re right to respond to this however you need to. I have missed you, but I don’t hold it against you. I was afraid, maybe, you didn’t want this anymore.”

He looked up, then, his face completely void of color now as he grabbed her hands and looked at her intently. “Merlin, no. Never. I told you I loved you, E and I mean it. I love you, whether we are the only people in the world left or not. This has changed none of my feelings for you.”

“And what about me?” She motioned to the gash on her shoulder, unable to find the right words for what to call herself. “Has your mind changed because of-“

In response, he leaned down and placed a tender kiss against her collarbone. 

She was suddenly freezing and, surprisingly, it had nothing to do with the forty degrees they were currently nestled in. 

“George.” She started, closing her eyes as he shook his head and moved to kiss her neck softly. 

“Nothing has changed.” He replied thickly, moving one hand under her hair and running his fingers along her head. 

She rested one hand on his thigh and the other she snaked through his hair, too. 

It was cut shorter now, and she found it incredibly attractive.

They quickly became tangled in this mess of snogging and touching, breathless and tempted to take it further, alone under the stars. 

It took every bit of strength George had to pull back, holding her at arms length as they watched one another, chests heaving and George’s first few buttons undone. 

“Not here. Not like this, Emeline. I love you. I want the best for you.” He swept a curl out of her face and leaned in to kiss her forehead lovingly. 

Her eyes closed once more as she nodded.

“I love you, too.”

The coo of owls and the wind rustling through the brush lulled them peacefully as they silently sat there for a while longer. 

Eventually, her aching muscles beckoned her and Emeline laid back on the blanket, watching the stars awestruck as they joined hands, George lying right by her side.

“So tell me more about this shop,” Emeline smiled. “I want to hear everything.”

“Only if I get to hear all about your new alter ego.”

“Deal.” She whispered.

They spent many more hours like that, talking under the stars about the future and the past; giving their souls and hearts some much needed rest. 

They didn’t move until they were beckoned inside by Bill, who promised that if they came in now, he would not be telling anyone’s mother or father that they were in such a state of indecency. 

George rolled his eyes, muttering something about three buttons and one dress sleeve, to which Emeline blushed, knowing damn well that would be enough for her father’s exasperation. 

As they trailed back to the Burrow, Bill smiled warmly down at her.

“I really like your dad, Emeline. I’d met him before, as a child. He told me all about what’s happened.. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” She smiled, hiding her grimace. The walk was long and she was tiring of doing it for the second time. 

“Georgie, you should be carrying your girl. Poor dove.” He joked sarcastically. 

Emeline snickered as George rolled his eyes. 

Nevertheless, he scooped her up before she could protest and she squealed in surprise.

“Still think you can beat me in a race?” George asked thoughtfully. 

“I know I can.” Bill declared. 

With that, they took off running, and the exhilaration took Emeline’s breath away as they raced back to the Burrow, all the while her arms were wrapped around George’s neck for dear life. 

She was so lively and happy with laughter when they burst through the front door, that Remus’ was slightly taken aback at the sight of his playful, relaxed girl. 

He was so thrilled to see this side of her again, in fact, that he couldn’t even muster the fatherly instinct to inquire about those three little buttons and one, off-shoulder dress sleeve. 

Author’s Note: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. There are so many layers to losing Arthur for all of the Weasley’s, and those points will come up, but if I focus too long on it, we’ll go so far off track. We have a meeting with Umbridge to attend and getting ready to wrap up Order of the Phoenix as we approach the Department of Mysteries. We’re slowly but surely gearing up to Half Blood Prince. I’m so excited and grateful for all of the support! ❤️

Extra note: you all may be confused by Dumbledore not being approached for Emeline’s admittance, or him being around at all considering Umbridge has already ‘fired’ him. It wasn’t the time or place, and I did need to leave the story open for this upcoming meeting. 🥰

[sarahfeliciam]

The Ultimatum Ch 58

Chapter 58

When Remus met Sirius in the kitchen, the smell of thick melting chocolate overtook his senses and soothed his body from the inside out. Sirius was stirring at the cauldron while it bubbled away and bouncing between two feet. Whether this was a nervous habit, or an involuntary dance, Remus was not sure. He cleared his throat quietly to announce his presence and Sirius jumped slightly before turning to him with a smile.

“Just about done, Moony.”

“No rush.” He yawned, stretching his limbs and pulling a chair out from the table. The old wood scraped against the already nicked floor; there were a great many rustic cuts and scrapes across the whole thing. 

Remus had always thought it looked poor, but one day Emeline said it looked loved and the cottage felt like home fairly quickly to her. 

Remus quite liked the floor now. 

Before he knew it, Sirius was resting a steaming mug in front of him and handing him a spoon. He set a tray of biscuits in front of them and took a seat next to Remus nervously.

They were silent for a moment while Remus stirred the mixture, licking off the spoon while it cooled. 

Finally, Sirius spoke.

“Remus, I am so sorry for allowing that on my watch. It was irresponsible and I would never want to hurt you or Emeline. It’s just felt so much like-“

“-Like when we were children?” Remus interjected, looking at his friend expectantly.

Sirius thought for a moment and then fell into a slow nod.

“Well… yes. Yes, it has.”

Remus smiled and stared off thoughtfully as he continued stirring his liquid chocolate.

“I see life differently through her eyes. Yet, somehow it still feels like myself just doing it all over again. It’s remarkable.”

“It is. It’s a gift to see things fresh. I knew how you felt then, though… how we all felt watching you suffer. I thought there was no harm in a drink or two, and then we just talked… and talked, and lost track.” He looked at Remus with no better words to add. 

Guilt flashed across his eyes.

“What were you two on about?” Remus asked curiously and Sirius seemed to calm. 

“A great deal of things. We didn’t want to speak of the transformation in public… so it was a bit more lighthearted.”

“Care to clarify?” Remus nudged, sipping from his mug now. 

Sirius relented straight away, wanting to be loyal to his friend after what he’d done. He tossed aside Emeline’s ‘swear you won’t tell anyone’ immediately.

“To be quite honest, most of the conversation was about you, mate.”

“Me?” Remus seemed taken aback, unsure what could be the topic of discussion to keep them gone for hours when it centered around him, not to mention how the hell it could be lighthearted.

“Yeah, you. You and a certain witch.”

Remus blushed immediately as the pieces fit together. 

“Oh, don’t go mush on me.” Sirius rolled his eyes. “It’s a thing, great! That’s exactly the subject material. Emeline really likes Tonks. She really likes you with Tonks.”

Remus quirked an eyebrow. “Continue.”

“She misses Florence.” Sirius picked at a splinter of wood in the table, peeling it back and revealing lighter wood. “She keeps thinking about what her mum would’ve said about all of this; Wonders what it would’ve been like to see you both.. happy. In a way, Tonks fills that space. She doesn’t have to wonder as much.” He shrugged awkwardly and Remus nodded.

“I see. She doesn’t talk to me about her mother much anymore. At first I thought she was being selfless, encouraging Tonks and I.”

“In a way. I mean, no one wants to watch their old man snogging.” He snickered. “But, this is healing for her, too. There are just ways a mum has that are different, ya know?” 

Remus was lost in another whimsical memory, smiling thoughtfully as he nodded. 

Oh, he knew. 

Hope was the model mother and never allowed Remus to wallow in self-pity, or feel cold (both physically or emotionally). Her warmth was a special warmth, just like his father’s. 

They were different and extraordinary in two completely separate ways. He ached that Emeline had been cursed to never experience both at the same time.

His heart sunk momentarily at that thought and Sirius inquired quickly.

“I just don’t want her to get her hopes up. Tonks may not be interested in this… lifestyle. She deserves security and peace, neither of which we have much of.”

“I don’t think anyone could pretend the way she’s been acting, mate. Lest you forget: she’s my cousin! I know her, and she isn’t superficial. Mark my words, she’ll be around so long as you let her.” 

“We’ll see.” Remus nodded with a faux smile.

•

“We should give that wound on your thigh a check, yeah?”

Emeline nodded and Tonks slid a footstool under her legs from where she sat on the rocker. 

She’d wanted to get up to stretch a bit once the fever broke, so they chose the rocking chair in the corner, but Emeline immediately regretted it. She was cold again now and everything was aching.

 The light in her eyes was dim and Tonks assured her it would not take long.

She pulled at the loose pajama pants she was wearing and surveyed the wound thoughtfully. 

“Your dad is quite good at stitching, you know. He says Madame Pomfrey taught him. Perhaps you’ll have a knack for it too, which is excellent for a healer! This looks good. Salve?”

Emeline nodded softly, offering her a smile. “It doesn’t sound like I’ll have the chance now.” She responded, wincing slightly at the salve grazing the sore wound.

“Don’t ever tell yourself you can’t do something, Emeline. You can do anything you set yourself to do. You’d make a wonderful healer and you owe it to yourself to try.”

“I’ve no schooling now, Tonks. I can’t just waltz into St. Mungos with no OWLs or NEWTs.”

Tonks screwed the lid back over the salve and rested her hands on Emeline’s knees as she looked up at her. 

Her hair was a light lavender now. 

It felt calm.

“Emma, stop making excuses. There are other schools, you know. Besides, Hogwarts isn’t even off the table. Your father is meeting with Umbridge and I’m sure he’ll have a fair argument.” She stood and reached out a hand to help Emeline. Bracing her back with her other free hand, they slowly made their way to the bed. “You know, everyone told me I’d never be an auror.”

Emeline snorted. “I can’t picture you not being an auror.”

“Oh, really?” She asked pointedly. “Think of it: too lighthearted, too clumsy, too late to everything, too happy, too fun-loving. No one thought I had the edge.” Her hair shifted  to a harsh and fiery red. “But I do have edge. Nevermind that no one else saw it.” 

“Huh. You just fit the role perfectly to me.”

Tonks grinned. “I made myself fit it. And you will too, somehow.”

“Thank you, Tonks.”

“Anytime, sweetheart.”

When the bathroom door opened, the steam of a long bath escaping and Remus walking out in fresh sleep clothes and wet hair, Tonks’ heart flipped in her chest. 

“Dad, is there any more of that liquid chocolate left?” Emeline asked obliviously. 

“Yes, pup, Tonks and I can grab you some.” He responded smoothly, motioning for Tonks to follow him into the kitchen. She obliged immediately and flashed Emeline a smile as her hair turned back to that beautiful, shining lavender. 

Sirius darted past them, claiming the shower as Emeline laughed loudly and started banter with him as their voices faded behind Remus and Tonks.

When they entered the kitchen together, Tonks grabbed his hand and spun him around, moving in to kiss him quickly. 

He stumbled back for a second before steadying himself against her and gripping her shoulders tightly.

Unsure of how much time they spent together in that embrace, when they pulled away they were both short of breath and smiling at one another nervously. 

“I didn’t get to tell you earlier,” he started, his eyes searching hers as she watched him intently. “You’re beautiful.”

Her hair stayed lavender, but her cheeks raged pink and she looked down momentarily before meeting his gaze again.

“What are we doing here, Remus?” She whispered. 

“I wanted to ask you the same thing.” He replied nervously, pulling a piece of her shining hair to twist between his fingers before tucking it behind her ear.

“Are we..” she trailed off, unable to bring herself to put them on the line. 

What if he wasn’t interested in anything serious? 

What if she misread this entire thing and it was completely shallow?

No, she assured herself. 

That wasn’t Remus.  

She watched him unwavering as he finished for her.

“A couple?” 

She nodded carefully and he saw her eyes swimming with uncertainty. 

“Well, yes.”

“Well, what do you think?”

“Well, how do you feel?” 

They chuckled with one another and Remus shook his head.

“On three.. we answer together, so it’s genuine.”

Tonks nodded with a smile and he counted in something just above a whisper.

On three, they said it unanimously, foreheads pressed together: “yes.” 

•

Author’s Note: this is concluding our cozy cottage for now. We have a funeral to attend for Arthur next chapter and lots of Emeline x George. Thank you all for reading! I hope the next few chapters are enjoyable despite their emotion. 🖤

[sarahfeliciam]

The Ultimatum Ch 57

Chapter 57

Remus’ bedroom was essentially one giant lounge pad for the day. 

Despite begging for there not to be a fuss, Sirius and Tonks took it upon themselves to gather every blanket and pillow from every inch of the cottage and stockpile them alongside some fresh bread and plenty of chocolate into the room. 

Remus watched, weary but amused, as Emeline lay against him, both of them now in much cozier pajamas and her fast asleep.  

She was snoring quietly against his chest, the Sleeping Draught having worked wonders after a nightmare roused her awake. Remus relented immediately to giving her the potion. 

Though he didn’t want her sedated all of the time, he did want anything that could ease her pain during this first recovery. 

He felt it was the least he could do. 

He rubbed her shoulder absentmindedly as Sirius tossed him a chocolate bar and Tonks bounded back in the room, in her own pajamas and the jar of pain salve in her hand.

Remus groaned when he saw it and she shook her head as she approached him.

“Ah ah ah, no whining. You need to take care of yourself to take care of her. This is supposed to be an hourly thing, it’ll heal much faster.” 

He sighed heavily and relented, turning his face to reveal the long gash against his neck. 

Tonks applied the salve gingerly with her fingers, and Remus found himself unsure if the chills running down his spine were from her touch or the cool salve tingling at his wound. 

Either way, he gave her a sheepish smile as he met her eyes when she was finished.

“Thank you.” He whispered, leaning back against a fluffy set of pillows that she had ensured were ‘just right’ about an hour ago.

“Do you reckon she needs anything else right now?” Tonks asked quietly, looking down at Emeline with large, teary eyes.

“I think she’s alright; the draught should keep for a few hours. It may be a good time to get some sleep.” He couldn’t help the yawn that escaped his lips and apologized for being rude.

It did not matter; Tonks was already dimming the room with a wave of her wand, glancing up happily at Remus’ enchantment of storm clouds against a deep blue sky. 

“You sure you don’t need anything else, Moony?” Sirius asked, still somewhat uncertain of how to tread around his bestfriend after their disagreement. 

“Yes. Thank you both.” He mumbled, his head already resting against Emeline’s with closed eyes.

Satisfied with their work, Tonks and Sirius drew the curtain and the room was so cozied and dark, you’d have no clue it was only one in the afternoon. They each took one of the blanket piles on the ground and settled in for a nap themselves.

It was their little secret that they hadn’t been able to sleep all night prior, worried about what was happening in the cellar.

•

It wasn’t until nearing six o’ clock in the evening that Emeline startled awake. 

In an exhausted haze, with the drool in the corner of your lip that only comes with heavy sleep, she rubbed her eyes and winced at the pain in her arms. It was then the recollection of all that had taken place came flooding back to her and she groaned, throwing her head back aggressively, completely exasperated this had not been another nightmare. 

“What’s wrong?” Remus asked quickly as he awoke to her slamming against him.

Emeline turned to him and apologized quickly, having been unaware she’d thrown herself back into her father’s chest.

“Have you been here all day?” She asked quietly, trying to lean forward but failing miserably with a lack of strength. 

He kept his arm tight around her shoulder as she relented to leave her head on his chest, and he offered her a tired smile.

“Haven’t left,” he muttered. “We have company on the floor, too.”

Emeline peered around the room and though it was dark, she was able to make out the mess of blankets and Tonks and Sirius sound asleep. 

She let out a relaxed sigh. 

“How do you feel?” She asked, peering up at him. 

“Oh, same old. You’re due for more salve. How’s your side?”

“It’s busted, right?” She asked quickly. “It hurts but it feels like the pain has numbed itself. Perhaps I’m too tired to care.” 

Remus chuckled and nodded, amused, with a smile highlighting the crinkled corners of his eyes. “That sounds about right.” He sighed and reached over to the end table. “Yes, it re-opened. You lost a lot of blood last night.” His tone shifted slightly and she looked up at him expectantly. 

Eventually, he did continue.

“I could go the rest of my life without seeing you like this again.” His whisper was barely audible and Emeline took a deep breath once she heard him. 

“I could go my whole life without feeling like this again.”

Her lighthearted joke did not work, and instead Remus shook his head slowly.

“Emeline, I would give anything to take this away from yo-“

“-I know that.” She pulled the quilt higher up around her shoulders and he felt her shiver as she squeezed her eyes shut.

She felt the back of his hand against her forehead and kicked her feet in discomfort.

“Fevers are normal the first few times; I had them.” He assured quickly, moving to get her lying flat and under more blankets as he slid his arm from under her to open the salve. 

He cast a warming charm over her blankets quickly and she settled in immediately, the heat becoming the most blissful thing she’d ever felt on her aching muscles. 

“May I?” He asked quietly, motioning to her shoulder wound. 

She nodded slowly and he pulled down the side of her shirt gingerly, rubbing the salve over the deep gash against her collarbone. 

She whimpered quietly in pain, biting her lip as tears stung at her eyes, still closed. 

“I’m sorry, Emeline. I’m so sorry.”

Remus heard the rustling of blankets on the ground and a moment later, Sirius was standing next to the bed. 

“Everything alright, mate?” 

Remus nodded with a sad smile, and stood slowly. His limbs protested immediately and he sucked in a painful breath as Sirius steadied him. 

“The salve stings at first; sorry to wake you.” He managed through gritted teeth. 

Sirius opened his mouth to respond, but Emeline beat him to it. 

“Dad?” Her eyes cracked open again and he looked down at her lovingly despite the burning through his body.

“Yes, Emma?”

“Are you leaving?”

Her voice was so broken; she didn’t sound sixteen. He didn’t want to leave her, but he desperately needed to stretch his aching muscles and cater to his own torn flesh. 

A warm bath was everything he wanted at the moment. 

“I don’t have to, darling.” He replied instead.

“S’alright,” she said quietly. “I don’t want you to be unwell, either. But could you wake Tonks?” Her voice cracked slightly and he nodded quickly, feeling something sweet in his soul at the thought of having a female partner in crime in that moment. Not to mention, his daughter loving her so much.

“Ofcourse I can, darling.”

“Remus, how about I make a cauldron of liquid chocolate? I can make it a bit… stronger if you’d like, and we could talk?”

“That sounds lovely, Padfoot. I’ll see you down there.”

Sirius grinned and disappeared quickly as Remus moved to wake Tonks. He instantly realized that kneeling down was going to be more difficult than he anticipated, but with every bit of self control he had to avoid crying out in pain, he did so. 

He rested a hand on her shoulder and felt that same electricity he had before. She stirred immediately under his touch, opening her eyes slowly before a large grin took over her face. 

“Remus, you alright? What time is it?”

“It’s evening. I’m alright, but I’d like to run a bath after talking to Sirius. Emma wanted to know if you could be awake with her. I’m sorry to bother you, I won’t be long at al-“

“-don’t apologize! I’m happy to see you taking care of yourself.” She was moving to stand immediately and whilst biting the inside of his cheek, he did the same. 

They steadied one another quickly; she had one hand on his waist and he was gripping her shoulders gently as they looked at one another in the dark. 

Somehow, she was just as beautiful as when he surveyed her in full light. 

The scars across his face were illuminated by the flickering candlelight and her hair darkened slightly as she looked at them. She reached up and ran a finger long a particularly long one and sucked in a slow breath. 

“You’re very handsome, you know that?” 

Her voice was low, but Emeline’s heightened hearing was not to be overlooked. Remus blushed lightly, unable to be seen in the dimness. 

Before he could speak, Emeline chuckled hoarsely and broke the silence.

“I may vomit and it has nothing to do with the moon.”

“For such a matchmaker you seem to enjoy running interference.” Remus quipped gently, still staring at Tonks, whose eyes were now a dazzling emerald green. 

“Let’s not embarrass her further.” Tonks offered, kissing him on the cheek from tip toe before sliding into bed next to Emeline. 

Her embrace felt warm and motherly instantaneously, and Emeline sunk into her arms like a young child.

“I won’t be long.” Remus whispered, headed for the door.

“Take your time.” Tonks smiled back, looking back to the peaceful teen huddled against her. 

She knew it, then. 

Despite the circumstances and what they would always mean for Remus and Emeline, there was no place in the world Tonks would rather be. 

[sarahfeliciam]

The Ultimatum Ch 56

Chapter 56

Author’s Note: I’m sorry for the graphics of this scene and the emotion. Also, the song I’ve had on loop that reminds me of this story is Are You With Me by nilu. I wanted to finally share that in case anyone is interested in a vibes playlist. Well, one song anyway. Also, if anyone is on the side of TikTok with the “Tommy help me” scene from the Last of Us… PHEWWW. Same emotion. Enjoy! 

When Remus opened his eyes at dawn, his heart began pounding before he could take the split second to remember what had occurred last night. 

“Emeline.” He was breathless as he forced himself up off the mattress, his lungs winded further as the blood rushed through his body and dizziness set in. 

He grabbed the wall to steady himself and lifted the silencing charm, yelling for Sirius quickly after throwing on his own sleep pants. 

Sirius was at the latch in seconds, and shared a knowing look with Remus after surveying his bare chest before calling for Tonks. 

She shook her attention from the scene before her, blushing deeply as she swallowed to even her breathing. 

“Tonks, I brought clothes down for Emeline 

 last night, they should be on the mattress. Can you please just.. check in before I do? Quickly.”

Tonks was already at the latch to Emeline’s side and walked in as quietly as possible.

Emeline was lying on the cold stone, blood dripping from the wound that had reopened at her side and a thick gash across her shoulder. She did have a sheet around her waist that it appeared she used all of her strength to pull from the bed, and it was stained with blood also. 

Tonks knelt beside her and pulled the sheet higher to cover her bare chest, watching her even breathing.

“Sweetheart, it’s all over. Let’s get you looked at, hmm?” She shook her to gently rouse her and Emeline squinted her eyes slightly before they rolled back again. 

Pale from exhaustion and blood loss, she could hardly keep them open let alone speak. Tonks knew how taxing this entire ordeal had been and opted not to try and disturb her further. 

Instead, she lovingly walked her through what she was doing. 

“I’m just going to pull this shirt on, alright? Your dad wants to be here and sent me to run interference on the embarrassing bits, eh?” She gently pulled the shirt over Emeline and smiled lightly as she wiped her hair from her eyes. 

She had dark circles underneath them and her cheeks were tear stained.

“Tonks?” Remus called thickly, still holding onto Sirius.

“Almost! She’s doing alright.”

He let out a breath he’d been holding since he awoke and tears rolled down his own cheeks, the salt stinging the fresh wounds on his them.

“Pants might be the hard part, but we can manage, Emma. Try to stay with me here.” She whispered, pulling the sheet back and gasping lightly at the puncture wound in her thigh. 

“What is it!” Remus hissed, pain shooting through his body when he jumped forward.

“Some injuries,” Tonks called back, wiping at the spot. The blood flow was quite slow and she imagined it would stop with a stitching spell. “They look to be holding their own. Most of the bleeding has stopped.”

“Please.” He begged. She finished dressing her in seconds.

“All clear!”

Remus clamored to the floor beside her before Tonks could form another thought. 

She backed up against Sirius’ feet as Remus pulled Emeline into his lap, his tears clouding his vision completely now. 

“Emeline, you did it. It’s all alright.” The gentle rocking he fell into was involuntary as he ran the back of his fingers over her cheek. 

She tried desperately to open her eyes, but murmured something incoherent instead. 

When he had pulled her to his lap, it was easy to see just how much blood she’d lost now, and the old wound was dripping down the side of his pants from where the skin was broken open once more.

“Sirius, I -“

“-gauze. Got it.” He bounded upstairs without another word as Remus held his hand to the wound for the time being, resting his head against hers without moving. 

“It’s over, my girl. You’ve done it. I’m so proud of you.” His tears were falling from his cheeks onto hers now. 

She tried again to open her eyes, her vision still swimming, and met his slowly.

Hurts

“I know, darling. I know. We’re right here.” He glanced up at Tonks who then knelt beside him, stroking the back of Emeline’s head softly. 

“You’re so brave, Emma. You’ve done beautifully. We’ve got you, okay?”

She closed her eyes once more and fell into sleep as the three of them set to work repairing her wounds. 

“Did you find the salve?” Remus whispered, still holding onto the bleeding at her side. “Which other spots, Tonks?” She pulled down her shirt slightly to reveal the thick rip on her shoulder blade. He’d be surprised if her claws hadn’t grazed bone last night. 

Remus felt nauseated.

“Anywhere else?” He choked out. 

“There’s a puncture in her thigh. It is pretty deep, but it’s not bleeding as much.”

He glanced down at her hands and then to his own. Both of their fingertips were all busted open and bloodied. 

He hadn’t noticed his own pain until now and let out a deep breath before hesucked it back in slowly, attempting to regulate his own nervous system. 

The night played out before him again: how they’d spent the time clawing at the stone to get to one another; the broken nails and skin he was staring at now. 

He looked over slowly to the wall, also covered in blood.

“I’m going to be sick.” He told Sirius quickly, who promptly handed over a bucket from the side of the room.

Tonks turned away for privacy but kept a hand on the top of his back to soothe him.

“You should be bandaged and have some of these salves, too, Remus.” She said softly as he set the bucket down. He leaned back heavily, the pain and heaviness of Emeline’s limpness weighing on his fragility in the moment. 

Sirius knelt behind him to help Tonks give him a barrier to rest against. 

“I can manage. I want to stay with her until she’s awake. The first moon is so difficult.” He muttered sadly, fixing his eyes on her once more. She looked so ill to him. He knew that the wear and tear of the moon had done the same to him over the years. 

Throughout the last few months, she’d begun losing weight, first from stress, then the attack and now the infection itself. 

His shirt was already oversized but hung incredibly loosely around her. She seemed to drown in it. Though not emaciated, he couldn’t place his finger on just how haggard the moon left its victims. 

He knew he was right: she would never be the same.

Thanks to him, she had an entire lifetime to wallow in this fear and physical anguish. He could hardly stand the guilt as he looked down on her. 

He deserved to neglect his comfort for the time being. 

His little moon needed him.

“Hand me the necklace hanging on the wall over there, Sirius?”

The star’s glimmer caught his eye and he took it down to hand to Remus immediately.

Remus gently placed it around his daughter’s neck again and clasped it shut gingerly with his fingers, bloodied but dry. 

“I don’t want to ask for more, but could you both help us upstairs?” He said meekly, his embarrassment positively destroying him. 

He had to suck up his pride to get her comfortable upstairs and he knew he couldn’t manage this himself. 

His little girl needed him; she needed them.

“Ofcourse.” Tonks replied lovingly. 

Sirius reached out to him and Remus swallowed slow.

He didn’t want to hand her off, but his heavy breathing and trembling body convinced him. 

Sirius lifted her up strongly into his own arms as Tonks helped Remus to stand, and slowly they all made their way upstairs, leaving what looked like nothing less than a massacre behind them.

[sarahfeliciam]

The Ultimatum Ch 55

Chapter 55

The day of the moon dragged on for quite some time, which surprised Emeline. 

They’d spent the day occupying themselves as best they could with games of Gobstones and plenty of variations of chocolate items, insisted upon by Remus. 

It certainly lifted the mood, and in turn, ended up being quite some time before Emeline began to feel an uncomfortable uncertainty in the pit of her stomach. 

She glanced over at Remus who was already looking at her lovingly. She watched him take a silent, deep breath and hold it before releasing it with a small nod, encouraging her to do the same. 

I don’t feel right 

He felt the frantic spirit running wild in her soul. 

She felt like she needed to claw her way out of her own skin and as she glanced at the clock, her hands felt shaky and her stomach weak. 

Before she knew it, she felt her father rest a hand on her shoulder and extend his other hand to help her stand from her spot on the living room floor. Tonks and Sirius looked at them sadly but tried to offer encouraging smiles, failing quite dismally. 

There was something painfully eerie about the two of them enduring this together.

Sirius felt his throat tighten as emotion waved over him. He’d watched Remus suffer for many years now. 

Seeing him prepare his little girl for it was something entirely different. 

He felt somewhat ill himself. 

Remus was only fixated on his daughter, ignoring the pitying glances and his own emotion lurking about, he smiled warmly as he pulled her to stand fully. 

“Why don’t we grab a few things to bring down with us and get situated, hmm?”

She looked to Tonks for a moment, her hair a dirty blonde now. 

It matched the lightest flecks in her father’s hair. 

Tonks smiled at her and nodded and Emeline sighed. 

“Alright.” She relented, following Remus to his bedroom. She reached to scratch at her arm as they walked.

“Try to keep your composure beforehand, darling. It will do you a world of good to be able to keep your wit about you for as long as possible.”

She nodded quickly, glancing around the room. Her eyes felt sharper, her head felt loose and swirling. Her stomach flipped.

“Emma, look at me.”

Her eyes rested on his but she was elsewhere completely. He sighed. 

As a few more moments passed, he left Emeline to her own devices: all of her senses heightened and begging to be listened to. 

Her brain felt fuzzy and like she couldn’t focus on one specific thing, yet sensory overload was flooding through her. 

Finally, Remus stood in front of her once more, the quilt she loved and an oversized tshirt of his with her favorite pajama bottoms hung over his arm. 

“Come on, pup.” 

She followed behind him without another word, Tonks and Sirius trailing behind them when they walked by to get to the cellar.

The dynamic of what was happening was practically more than Remus could handle. 

In the regard of Tonks, he felt… embarrassed? He had to remind himself many times already that he’d cast a silencing charm on the cellar and that his Wolfsbane was coursing through him. He hoped it was enough to avoid a ghastly display of self-inflicted wounds in the morning.

As for Emeline, he had tried to suppress all of the emotions vying for his attention until this very moment. It exploded altogether in his mind, dragging his heart to such darkness at the thought of his daughter preparing to feel this agonizing pain. 

She would never be the same again.

He suddenly wanted to run off, somewhere he could hide from the fear and despair of it all; somewhere he could vomit, better yet. 

“Dad?” His daughter’s quiet inquiry gained his attention. His heart broke at her tone. 

Oh, how he missed her bold voice and quick-witted banter. She was more like him everyday- it was a bittersweet shift. 

All eyes were on him as he moved to set the armful of items on Emeline’s mattress on her side of the cellar. 

“Okay,” he exhaled slow, choosing his words carefully. “I think, maybe,” he glanced around the room, wringing his hands together and closing his eyes. 

Get it together he willed himself.

“Emma, I’ll lock your side once you’re comfortable. Sirius, you lock mine. Tonks,” he turned to her despondently. He should have never allowed her to stay. “I’m sorry.” 

His words even surprised him, but it is all that fell from his tongue. 

“Remus.” She shook her head sadly, rushing forward and wrapping her arms around his neck.  

He pulled back slightly and couldn’t hold his own desires any longer. His lips crashed against hers and Emeline’s jaw dropped to the floor as she stumbled to sit back on her mattress. She looked past the display of affection, to Sirius standing behind them, and he fake gagged.

For the first time that day, Emeline let out a soft chuckle, which pulled the lovers apart.

Both blushing profusely, they fumbled over their words as the air in the cellar changed.

Emeline gripped the edge of the mattress as a throbbing in her head mounted so strong that she was beginning to be unable to see straight. 

Remus was much better at keeping the very start of the transformation at bay, thanks to years of practice and an adequate week of Wolfsbane. 

He stumbled slightly to get to her door and bent down with a grimace to kiss the top of her head before latching her lock and bolting for his space. Sirius slammed the cellar behind him and flipped the latch quickly. 

“Please go.” Remus groaned, falling backwards into the wall as the moon rose menacingly to its apex position. 

Tonks and Sirius obeyed quickly after giving each door a tug to ensure its security and shut the basement door itself behind them as they re-entered the living room. 

Tears were swimming in Tonks’ eyes and Sirius pulled her close silently, as they prayed the evening pass quickly and uneventfully behind closed doors.

•

Pup?

It was easier for Remus to keep his thoughts flowing than attempt to speak. 

He found comfort in knowing they could communicate this way so easily through the night and hoped that would be peaceful for Emeline, too.

He garnered no response for awhile, enduring the shrieking and groaning coming from his daughter’s space in the cellar. His eyes were filled with tears as his own body transformed. 

As he felt the ripping of muscle and flesh; felt the snapping of bones, and his body igniting with burning pain, the emotion of his heart was nearly the most miserable.

His little girl felt the same way, inches apart from him. He threw himself against the wall between them, clawing at the stone as he sensed his child.

Emeline felt like she couldn’t breathe. 

Her lungs were burning and she felt outside of herself, somehow.

Trapped. Need to get out 

Her crying was low, pained growls. She was terrified of the change she had endured; terrified as she paced the four small walls, throwing herself onto the other side of the stone as Remus had. 

Breathe.

A low howl escaped her lips in her attempt to continue to cry. Fresh claws ripped at her side that had still never fully healed and she whined in pain, digging into flesh in a variety of places as she tried to break free. 

She felt torn between two worlds.

Make it stop. Her usual voice rang loud and clear in Remus’ head.

They spent the rest of the night this way: him trying desperately to claw his way to her as she cried out, begging her father to make it end. 

[sarahfeliciam]

The Ultimatum Ch 54

Chapter 54

The next morning, Tonks and Remus had already been awake bright early to save the endless stream of questions that would have arisen from Sirius and Emeline had they been found together. 

When Sirius entered the kitchen, simple bowls of oatmeal and toast thrown together, he took in a deep breath.

“Listen, Remus-“

“-no, Sirius. I’ve thought about this all night and I need to know what was going through your mind when you allowed an underage girl to come home completely drunk.”

“I wouldn’t use the word drunk per-say.” He tried cheekily. Remus simply glared. “I’m sorry,” he started again, deflated. “She’s having such a hard time, she wanted one drink and we just lost track of everything.”

“Sirius! She isn’t allowed one drink either! She’s sixteen.”

“Which is practically seventeen.” He quipped back, his stoic joking covering the fact that he felt awful and was scared of his mate’s repercussions.

“You’re on dangerously thin ice,” Remus warned, handing Tonks a mug of coffee. “Don’t ever allow anything like this under your nose again. Actually, scratch that, you aren’t allowed alone with Emeline again until further notice.”

“Moony,” his eyes shifted and the pain was written all over them. “I’m sorry, really. She’s got a transformation this week for the first time and a family dear to all of us’ funeral. She’s not okay.” 

“I think I could tell if my own daughter is alright or not, Sirius! I don’t need your input!” 

“I’m only trying to help!”

“You’re helping nothing!” Remus yelled, causing Tonks to flinch slightly in surprise. 

“What the hell is everyone shouting about?” Emeline asked grumpily, stumbling slightly into the kitchen. Tonks grabbed her arm and gave her a nervous glance, wishing desperately she wasn’t getting herself in the middle of this.

“Emeline, watch your language, please!”

“Don’t tell me what to do! What kind of a curse word is hell? It’s nothing!”

“Don’t argue this with me, Emma!”

“I’ve said it a million times before!”

“Well, you’re done saying it! And you’re done drinking! What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Excuse you! Now who’s using language!”

“I’m an adult! Mind you, adults can use whatever language they like and drink unlike you!”

“It was one drink!”

“Now you’re lying!”

“She isn’t lying; she’s a lightweight!” Sirius chimed in.

“Don’t you dare stick your nose in this with your lie, too! You still smell of alcohol, Emeline and he can’t protect you. He should’ve known better, too! You were completely hammered last night.”

“That’s debatable.”

“Certainly not!” Remus huffed.

“Shut up!” Tonks screeched, her chest heaving as all three of them turned her way. “Merlin, two of you have a reason to behave this way before tomorrow, one of you should bloody know better and I’m just trying to get through you lot unscathed. This is bonkers! Everyone get in a separate room.”

“That isn’t necess-“

“-now, Remus!” 

•

Tonks spent that morning visiting Remus in his room, Sirius in the basement and Emeline in the living room individually before she could peacefully work out everyone’s woes and get them on a somewhat even playing field. By the time she’d heard every angle of this story, she was exhausted and dishing out Wolfsbane potion to Doom and Gloom, her new pet name expansion on Emeline’s little doomsday quip. 

Hungover and attempting to drink the potion for the first time, Emeline promptly ran to the bathroom to vomit and Remus followed behind her after taking his, the Wolfsbane already seeping into his body and calming him somewhat. When he pushed the door open, it already sitting slightly ajar, she was trembling with tears streaming down her face and leaning heavily against the wall. 

Remus sunk down on the floor next to her without a word and rested his arms against his knees. She slowly looked up at him, smiling lightly at the sight of his mismatched pajama pants and shirt, and tousled hair. 

“I’m so sorry.” She whispered, unable to say anything else before fresh tears stung at her eyes. 

“Why did you do it?” He asked quietly, reaching for a towel on the counter and handing it off for her to wipe her face. 

She dabbed at her eyes and shook her head. “I dunno. I just feel so out of control.” She looked up at him nervously, worried to admit anything negative she was feeling, but knowing she couldn’t get it past him. 

If anyone understood, Tonks and Sirius were right: it was Remus. 

He looked down at her, his eyes sparkling with kindness unlike the earlier display in the kitchen. She knew it was her father sitting in front of her with no influence of the wolf, and she was able to mirror that with ease, feeling the internal battle melt off her for the first time in weeks.

“I still get that.” He spoke softly. “It’s normal for us. That’s why we’ve been having these conversations about control, yeah? I’ve given you yet another example this morning of how not to respond. However, I feel I had some allowance to respond rashly to my little girl walking in completely intoxicated for the first time.” 

She couldn’t bring herself to laugh at his lighthearted end comment. She stared at him hesitantly, opening her mouth a few times before opting not to ask what was on her mind.

“What is it, pup?” He inquired, still studying her. His hair fell slightly in front of his eyes and she followed the line of a thick scar from his cheek to where his forehead was exposed with her own stare. 

She swallowed a hard lump in her throat.

How painful is it? 

She couldn’t verbalize it, but he felt her question with ease and he wasn’t surprised she’d ask it. 

“Do you want the truth?” He asked gently. 

“You always tell me not to lie.” She shrugged, her long curls falling past her shoulders and her icy blue eyes waiting patiently for his response. 

“It’s quite… harsh,” he said slowly, struggling to find the right verbiage so as to prepare her without terrifying her. “You’ve witnessed it a few times now, I know you have some idea.” He finished, floundering with his comments slightly. He could feel her panic rising slightly and did not want to feed into it further.

“Yes, but what does it feel like when it first… starts?”

He knew she was a young woman now, but as he looked down at her eyes, filled with desperation and concerned wonder, she looked worlds younger which only made it harder for him to maintain his gaze while feeding her this information. 

“Tell me the truth.” She whispered, snapping his attention back.

“It feels.. like my body is on fire. Like, ripping. My bones just feel sort of br-“

“-I’m sorry, ripping?”

Remus’ face paled as he acknowledged his rambling. He ran a hand through his hair and rested it on her shoulder after.

“Emeline, all you need to know is I’ve done this practically my entire life. I’m okay and you will be too. I will make sure of it.” 

She nodded silently and leaned her head onto his shoulder. 

“You shouldn’t be near me. I’ve only had Wolfsbane once and-“

“-you can’t hurt me.” He chuckled. “We’re far past that, pup.”

She shook her head and looked down at the tile floor, feeling the cool stony-texture with her palm.

“I just don’t know what to expect. I… well, I think I’d like to be alone.”

“I’ve already separated the cellar.” He responded quickly. “Nothing to be worried about.”

“Okay.” She whispered, still staring at the ground.

“It’s going to be alright, Emma.” He nudged her shoulder with his own and smiled. “Tonks has asked to stay. I’m not sure I want her to be around for-“

“-yes, please. Can she really?” Emeline’s eyes glistened with joy at this news and Remus visibly softened further. 

He mulled it over for a moment, finally arriving at the conclusion that this would finally make the decision for them: could they really be a couple, or was this wishful thinking? Not many could get past his condition… could Tonks, really? 

“Okay.” He relented with a deep sigh. “But she’s nowhere near the cellar during the moon. Sound fair?” 

“Totally fair.” Emeline nodded, throwing her arms around his neck. 

“I love you, darling.” He squeezed her tightly and she kissed his cheek as she pulled away.

“I love you too, dad.”

[sarahfeliciam]

The Ultimatum Ch 53

author’s note: mention of underage drinking

Chapter 53

By mid afternoon, Sirius was dying for a walk since the weather was crisp and cool and inching toward Halloween. They were just a few weeks away and he was becoming stir crazy. Emeline assured him that she could make the walk if they took it slow and Remus encouraged that it could help the aching building in her limbs if she promised to pace herself. 

As they shut the door, leaving Remus and Tonks behind, nervous butterflies erupted in the pit of his stomach once again. He lingered at the front door for a moment, unsure of what words to begin with when he turned to Tonks. 

Fortunately, he didn’t have to think for long.

“I think that went rather well.” Tonks said softly. “She seems to be getting around a bit better.”

“Yes,” he took a deep breath as they both moved to take a seat on the couch. A soft groan escape his lips as he stretched his legs. “I’m relieved it went well: Emeline really enjoys being around you. And she’s on the mend; unfortunately that won’t last long after the moon.” He rubbed a hand down his face and sighed heavily as Tonks rested a hand on his leg. 

His body tensed with nervousness once more and he smiled slightly at her to soothe his anxiety. 

“How are you going to do that? The both of you, I mean?” She asked quietly, watching him intently.

“I’ve conjured a wall in the cellar ; it’s split in two now. I was going to get it set a bit more comfortable today and see how she feels about it.” He pulled at a string on his sleeve and Tonks chuckled.

“She’s just like you.” She whispered. “It’s the sweetest thing. And you often don’t even notice it.” He glanced at her as he let go of the string, his cheeks flushing lightly and a smile forming.

“I suppose she is. I’m worried about her first transformation. She’s much older than I was; I feel that starting young did give me an advantage in how to manage. She doesn’t expect it to be as taxing as it is, I fear.”

“I’m sure your support will be invaluable to her. Besides, this is her journey, of course it will be different from yours. That doesn’t mean it can never be positive. You’ve been hard on yourself, Remus.”

She watched him closely, never wanting to overstep. 

When he rested his hand on hers, she relaxed.

“Thank you. You have a knack for knowing just what to say, you know?”

She shook her head, her hair turning an even brighter pink if that was possible. 

“I’ve never been told that; a bloody mess most of the time my family says. I can hardly stand straight and my words aren’t always… eloquent. But thank you; I’m always happy to help. Especially you and Emeline.”

He quieted for a moment, words swirling around his brain but none coming to the forefront as the ‘right’ ones. 

Finally, by some act of magic, he gathered enough courage to lean closer to her and, before he could back out, she closed the gap and brushed her lips against his.

•

“I reckon it’ll hurt, I already know that much.” Emeline scoffed as they sat together on the dirt road.

They’d only walked about one mile so far. 

They were at the end of a winding road that led to their little cottage. It was very quaint, back country, and you couldn’t see the cottage through the thicket of trees. At the end of the road, there was a small worn down gate that you wouldn’t notice if you were not purposely searching for it. 

There was a small berry bush on either side of them, a half broken stone bench with overgrown greenery around it, and the rest was an expanse of dirt and land until an old farmhouse another great deal of miles away. 

There was some sun peeking out at present, which helped warm them, though the weather was cold enough for their long clothing to remain necessary. 

“I’m not trying to tell you things you already know. I just think you should start preparing yourself. I heard Moony has your own dose of Wolfsbane for you tonight, which is bloody nasty so I’ve established.”

“Gee, you’re really the bearer of excellent news today, aren’t you?” She threw a large rock that kicked up a cloud of dust when it hit the ground. 

“Emeline, this is heavy shit, you know? I thought you’d feel comfortable getting it off your chest if there was anything bothering you about it, that’s all.” He replied defensively, tossing his own smaller rock into the dirt. 

She sighed, Remus’ words lingering in her mind. 

She needed to control her temper. 

Regardless of whether he said it or not, she didn’t feel like herself. 

She hated that.

“I’m sorry. I am. This is just a lot to grasp and I don’t have questions. Truly, I don’t, because right now I’m just not sure what to even ask. I know nothing about this other than what I’ve seen and heard from dad. Which has been-“

“-mostly negative.”

“Ninety-nine percent negative, yes.”

“You’re going to be alright, kiddo.” Sirius glanced over at her to find her already staring at him.

They were both criss-cross on the ground, listening to the breezy rustle of tree limbs and allowing the silence to permeate their beings. 

When they felt worlds calmer, Emeline grinned. 

“Want to do something fun?”

•

The pub was considerably more crowded than Emeline expected for a Sunday afternoon, but Sirius was positively beaming and walked in like he owned the place despite moments before telling her how irresponsible this was and that her father may never speak to him again if they even made it home alive. 

As they chose a secluded booth they’d spotted in the corner, Emeline chuckled to herself and grabbed a menu off the table. 

“What’s the best?”

“You don’t have a favorite?” He quirked an eyebrow.

Emeline shrugged. “I’ve never had a drink; thought it was a good time to try.”

“Merlin’s beard,” he muttered under his breath. “Your father really is going to murder me.”

“Sirius, you of all people! I’m practically of age!”

“You just turned sixteen.” He said plainly.

“On my birthday I became a werewolf and days later my boyfriend’s father died. I think it’s fair to add a few months expedited to this year’s age.”

“I suppose those are valid points.” He shrugged and stroked his beard thoughtfully. “You may as well start with Fireball.”

“Excellent.” She grinned, motioning to Sirius to order when the server made her rounds. 

•

Sirius and Emeline did not return to the cottage until that evening, just after Remus and Tonks had cleaned up supper and were pouring mugs of tea. 

Truth be told, Remus felt like a poor excuse for a father when they slunk through the door, having lost track of time completely during his afternoon with Tonks. He twisted up his nose in disgust as Emeline stumbled through the door, his heightened smell enough to sense the alcohol from miles away.

“God, Sirius! You wreak. What are you thinking out with her like th-“

Remus’ eyes widened as Emeline giggled uncontrollably, hanging off Sirius’ arm with ten times worse coordination than even Tonks.

“Not me mate.” Sirius offered a weak smile, slinking back from Remus’ glare.

“What the hell is this! She’s completely sloshed!” Sirius could almost feel the heat of Remus’ anger and let go quickly when he’d wrapped Emeline’s arm around his own neck.

“Dad!” She threw her head back, still laughing. “S’myfault. I made him let me so don’t give him shit.” She grabbed the front of his cardigan as she stumbled forward and nearly pulled him down with her. 

Remus let out an aggressive exhale and gritted his teeth as he shot Sirius a dangerously angry glare.

“You are positively dead.”

Tonks moved to help Remus all but carry Emeline to his room while Sirius sulked into the basement once more. As Emeline laughed and mumbled more and more incoherently about her life, Tonks stifled a chuckle.

“Tonks! Think this is funny, do you?” Remus whispered in frustration.

“Not particularly, but the situation and your lives as a whole is not anywhere near as lighthearted as this, so I’ll take it! A bit plastered versus transforming for the first time in two nights? This is easy stuff.”

Remus’ frustration began to melt away at Tonks’ words and he sighed quietly as they laid Emeline across his bed.

“Dad, this room is so swirly. I love it!”

He pinched the bridge of his nose and pulled his quilt over her, which she snuggled into happily, fluttering her eyes closed though still giggling. 

“Once again, you’ve a way with words.”

Tonks smiled and crossed her arms, looking at Emeline lovingly before chuckling once more.

“She needed to forget some of this, Remus; take a breather. And no, I don’t condone underage activities like this. But weren’t you her age once? A werewolf, no less?”

He nodded sadly and sunk down to the floor as he rested his head against the footboard. 

Tonks sat next to him, a bit brisker than he was, and rested her head on his shoulder.

“I think it’s all going to work out. Somehow.”

“Mmm.” He mused. “I’m sure. Somehow.”

“For now, perhaps a hangover remedy?”

He laughed and shook his head. “Yet another problem: no Wolfsbane tonight now. She’ll get one dose tomorrow. She’s going to be a right mess come transformation time.” He closed his eyes and tried to shake his worry off.

“Oh, Remus,” she murmured, grabbing his forearm snuggly, her head still tilted against him. “Rest tonight. Promise me you’ll try?” 

He peaked at her from a tired squint and nodded. “I’ll do my best, but I’ve got a job this evening.” He motioned to the bed, reaching above his head, and Tonks snorted as Emeline began humming her and her father’s song painfully off tune. 

 “Camping out on the floor, then?”

“My body protests but my heart says yes.” He smiled, closing his eyes once more. 

“You know,” she began. “I haven’t a thing to do until Wednesday.”

When Remus fully opened his eyes now, Tonks was staring at him nervously. He swallowed thickly and nodded, something slightly shifting in his demeanor. 

She knew it was the moon.

“Tonight.” He offered, a nod to convince himself. “Just tonight.”

With no further words, she waved her wand and prepped two twin mattresses next to one another, a mess of comfortable blankets and pillows included. 

Somehow, the three of them slept fairly well. 

Even when Emeline rolled off the bed and landed between them with a playful whine of pain, smacking Remus in the face and kicking Tonks in the shin before drifting back to sleep completely sprawled out, forcing them to sleep back to back in Remus’ bed.

This can’t be my life, was his last thought before sleep beckoned him once more.

[sarahfeliciam]

The Ultimatum Ch 52

Chapter 52

Emeline’s first full moon was two days out. She had not even transformed yet and now fully understood the playful nickname she’d given her father. Before all in good fun, now she felt somewhat guilty for ever having made it a joke. It had been gnawing at her all morning, nearly as much as the burning hunger in her stomach no matter what she ate. 

Her mood was finally alleviated when she walked into the kitchen, looking fairly more ill than she normally would, and Remus had a brief flash of being taken aback before falling into a warm smile. 

“Goodmorning, tiny doomsday.”

She laughed out loud and took a seat at the table, where the letter she’d thrown on his floor was resting.

“Did you read that?” She inquired as he set a plate in front of her. She lost no time tearing into her food and he chuckled as he took a seat next to her and started on his own plate.

“I did,” he nodded slowly. “They’ve been kind in scheduling: it isn’t until next week. That’s a long time to put off a service when it’s all said and done.”

Emeline fidgeted in her seat uncomfortably and Remus shook his head.

“We’re going, pup. I know you don’t want to, but we are. They deserve every ounce of our support. I’ve been owling Molly; I’ve told her we’ll bring a pie.”

“A pie?” Emeline scoffed. “What are we celebrating?” She stabbed her sausage with fervor.

“His life, darling. Didn’t you even read the letter?” 

“In part.”

“In part?” Remus reiterated. “Don’t you want to be there for George?”

Her blood ran cold at the name and Remus caught it immediately. 

“Grief affects everyone differently, you know that right? He isn’t angry with you, I’m sure.”

“It’s not that.” She started, shoving the rest of her scrambled eggs onto her fork. When they fell off, she could have simply burned the cottage to the ground in anger and gripped her fist tightly. “I don’t know what to say.” Her words came through gritted teeth and Remus leaned back in his seat for a moment thoughtfully. 

He was not even halfway through his plate when Emeline looked up at him sheepishly, asking if there was any more.

“There’s plenty in the pan. Don’t touch the plate on the side.”

Emeline stood immediately as her father continued.

“You don’t need to know the right words. Just tell him you’re there for him. It’s the best any of us can do.”

A knock came to the door as he moved to take another bite and he set his fork down, food and all, straight away.

“I’ve got it!” He called out. 

To who? He wasn’t sure. 

His daughter was moving about the pace of a slug now and Sirius was sound asleep in his securely non-mature basement. 

The door swung open and he was met with Tonks in a relaxed pair of jeans, long sleeve plum pullover and her hair pulled back in a ponytail which he’d never seen before. She was positively glowing and her hair was her classic bubblegum pink with a few curls hanging in the front.

“Goodmorning,” he smiled, motioning for her to step inside. “You look… lovely.” His words were awkward and unsure. They made her melt.

“Thank you!” She chirped back, a blush coloring her cheeks. 

“Tonks!” Emeline shrieked, setting her plate down and moving as quickly as possible to hug her. “I love your hair up!” 

She chuckled and thanked her, glancing up at Remus who was positively beaming at the interaction and change in his daughter. He decided not to bring up the memorial for the rest of breakfast, certain that at some point in the next week, Tonks would aid him in convincing Emeline.  

“Anything else on this Hogwarts business?” Tonks asked as Remus set down a plate for her. She looked up at him and smiled. “Thank you, it smells delightful. Certainly a better cook than me.”

Remus grinned and shook his head as he sat back down and glanced at his daughter, who was halfway through her second plate  now. 

“Well, yes. I’ve requested a meeting with the Headmistress.” He replied calmly, straightening out his back as he speared a piece of potato onto his fork.

Emeline spit her pumpkin juice straight out of her mouth and stared at him horrified.

“You what!” 

“Oh, Merlin.” Tonks muttered, finding herself in an odd cycle of deja vu. 

“I’ve asked to meet with Umbridg-“

“-oh I get that! But why!”

Remus continued eating slowly, remaining even and gentle. He had expected a poor response. 

“Because I’m your father,” he settled on, his voice loving but firm. “It’s my job to try and sort these things out for you and it deserves at least an attempt.” 

“While you’re at it, why don’t you ask her how I get rid of this!” She bared her fist with the ‘half-breed’ engraving and Remus’ stomach churned slightly at the sight of it. 

“I’m well aware who I’m meeting with, Emeline. I despise this woman, but I will not show her yet another tainted view of werewolves. If we can’t have civilized conversation no one will give us the time of day. Do you understand what you’re promoting when you fail to control your temper?”

“I have a feeling you’ll be eating those words.” Her response was finally more playfully sarcastic than biting. He figured it was a step in the right direction and relented with a shrug. 

“Perhaps I will. But it won’t be for lack of trying first.” He ended cheerfully, offering Tonks a smile. She was simply wide-eyed and absorbing it all.

She had no time to respond before the second wind of banter started as Sirius burst into the room.

“Ah! Fancied a sleepover, cousin? I s’pose last night went well! Glad I took a step out.”

“Sirius, you tosser. Am I your niece or your cousin, can you ever decide!” She was diverting his attention well, now, but not Emeline’s. 

Her eyes fixated on Remus and he felt completely exposed at her stare.

“What happened last night?” She asked, not enjoying feeling lost in the conversation.

All three of them stared at her blankly.

“Well! The whole lot of you are mute now? Convenient.”

Sirius scratched at his chin, knowing this boundary was one not to cross. He had no place to fill Emeline in, and by the looks of Remus’ face, he’d already said too much.

“Tonks?” Emeline tried, though she simply looked to Remus for guidance on steering the conversation and when he did not respond, she opened her mouth to speak but said nothing and slumped back.

“Wow. Excellent. So it’s just a guessing game now. I’ve all but pushed you two into eachother’s arms and I have to find out from Sirius that whatever the hell happened last night happened!”

“We just sorted out that you were right.” Tonks finally answered happily, offering Emeline a reassuring smile.

She quirked an eyebrow at Tonks and crossed her arms as she looked between her and her father.

“I don’t believe you.”

“Remus, help me out here.” She turned to him, concerned now that she’d simply had the most convincing dream of her life. 

Remus’ eyes glistened with Marauder spirit yet again as he stared at his daughter, while reaching for Tonks’ hand. She slid it into his quickly and he offered Emeline a pointed look.

“You were right.” He reiterated plainly. 

Emeline’s jaw dropped to the floor and Sirius clapped her on the back. 

“There is good news to be had, little pup!” He chimed in loudly. “When there’s two left out, there’s no third wheel. Lucky us.”