A Thrill of Hope
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rt_moreloveAuthor/Artist: author_by_night
Title: A Thrill of Hope
Rating & Warnings: PG-13
Word Count/Art Medium: 2,390
Prompt(s):
24. Remus Lupin: "You shouldn't have! Teddy needs you."
Nymphadora Tonks: "He'll sleep till dawn and snore like his father. It's you who needs me tonight."
(Deathly Hallows Part II Movie - a deleted scene.)
Summary: An assortment of drabbles revolving around the Battle at Hogwarts and the Christmas following the end of the war; in this alternate version, Remus and Tonks survive.
Notes: This is a sequel of sorts to It Opens, my story last year which really begged for a happier R/T ending.
Also, constructive criticism is more than welcome. I'm always looking to improve!
Kingsley, Remus, Charlie, Arthur and Dean Thomas were standing shoulder to shoulder on the grounds. Remus could hear people fighting behind him.
"If I perform poorly at this, will you still give me good marks?" Dean asked Remus.
"What?"
"I'm joking."
Remus laughed. "Thank you, Dean."
"Remus!" Arthur hollered, and Remus deflected a hex just in time.
Another voice called Remus's name, and Remus froze.
"Dora?"
Dora pushed through the crowd. "Damn right, Dora."
"I told you to-"
"-I couldn't."
"You shouldn't have. Teddy needs you!"
"He'll sleep till dawn and snore like his father," Dora said. "It's you who needs me tonight."
Kingsley was shaking his head. "Tonks, I'm with Remus this time. You just had a baby a few weeks ago... I'm worried about your strength..."
"Kingsley, you're my friend. if you die tonight, I'll live the rest of my life knowing I could've been here. Remus, if anything happens to you, that's what I'll have to tell our son. How could I possibly live with that?" Dora asked.
She was right, of course.
~*~
Tonks would never forget how close it was.
She shouldn't have seen it at all; it was a natural blink and glance in another direction, the way one does when they've been staring too long. And in that half of a second, Tonks caught Dolohov sneaking up on her husband from behind.
"Remus!" Tonks screamed.
They fought Dolohov together, circling around him. Bellatrix Lestrange was fighting with a young woman who looked around Fred and George's ages.
"Dean, help Marietta," Remus instructed. After a minute, the tall boy nodded and hurried in the girl's direction.
Dolohov raised his wand, and the same time as he shouted a spell, Remus and Tonks both rebounded it.
With a look of shock, Dolohov fell, writhing on the ground.
"Marietta!"
Exchanging an alarmed look, Remus and Tonks ran towards Dean and Marietta; Bellatrix had already run. Marietta was on the ground.
"Let me see," Remus said softly. He bent down and, paling, shook his head.
"We should take her to the hall," Remus said.
"I didn't block it on time," Dean said miserably.
Tonks put her arm around him. "Bellatrix has taken stronger witches and wizards than her. You tried."
They placed Marietta in the hallway with the others. Remus sighed heavily as he shut her eyes.
"No!" A girl cried. "No, please, tell me - Professor Lupin, tell me she's just hurt."
Remus shook his head. "I'm very sorry, Cho."
Another girl tried to hug Cho, but she pushed her away angrily.
"You don't even like her, Padma," Cho snapped. "So eff off."
Tonks looked at Remus helplessly.
"Remus? Tonks?"
Bill looked.... there was no word for it. His eyes were wide and his long hair was disheveled.
"I'm okay," Bill said.
Tonks felt a lump in her throat. "Liar. Who... who was it?"
"Fred."
~*~
"Harry Potter is dead. He was killed as he ran away, trying to save himself while you lay down your lives for him. We bring you his body as proof that your hero is gone. The battle is won. You have lost half of your fighters. My Death Eaters outnumber you, and the Boy Who Lived is finished. There must be no more war. Anyone who continues to resist, man, woman or child, will be slaughtered, as well every member of their family. Come out of the castle now, kneel before him, and you shall be spared. Your parents and children, your brothers and sisters will live and be forgiven, and you will join me in the new world we shall build together."
When Remus heard it, he didn't believe it.
Kingsley gathered the remaining resistance before they exited out of doors.
"We fight no matter what," he reminded them.
Everyone nodded, murmured, wiped their eyes, coughed. But Remus just stood still.
"Are you okay?" Dora whispered.
"I don't believe it." Remus couldn't explain why; something was simply telling him to keep his fears at bay.
"He could be bluffing," Ron pointed out from behind him. He didn't seem to believe himself, though.
"If he's not, I'll kill him," Ginny snarled.
"No," Bill said firmly. "Don't talk like that."
"I'll join you," Molly said at the same time.
Everyone stared at her in surprise; Molly had never looked more fierce.
"What? Alive or... whatever condition our Harry might be in, we're not letting the victory fall to them. We can't."
"We need to go out," Minerva said.
Dora held Remus's hand as they followed her. A gap grew, with no one daring to look at one another as they saw figures within only a short distance. Hagrid, someone tall, someone in that person's arms.
Then there was no doubting.
Remus had never understood why Sirius had laughed after Peter framed him, and had never wanted to ask. But now he did, or at least he thought he did, for that same maddened, anguished laughter had escaped him, only dying when Neville Longbottom stepped forward and proclaimed his loyalty to Dumbledore.
~*~
Tonks would never be able to recall much about the final stretches of the battle. She was too busy fighting for her life, for Remus's life, for the life of her friends and comrades, for Teddy's future.
When she saw Molly fighting Bellatrix, she'd feared the worst. It would be just perfect, wouldn't it? Bellatrix had robbed her of the Longbottoms, Sirius, that Cho girl of a dear friend; why not someone who, to Tonks, had become the overly doting aunt she'd never had?
Instead, Molly defeated her. It was how Sirius had gone, no less.
More fighting, more pushing. Remus fell, and for a horrible moment, Tonks thought she'd lost him. But he was okay; only injured - enough not to protest when Tonks led to where people were being mended.
"Remus!"
It was Deirdre , a friend of Tonks's; she was still in her Healer robes. Deirdre ran to Remus and helped him on a mat. "What happened?"
"Everything. Just keep him here, do what you can, and don't let him leave."
"I'll join you in a minute," Remus protested, but he winced when he tried to lift his leg.
"Maybe you should stay here too, Tonks," Deirdre said. "Or go home, Bill told me you were supposed to stay."
"Bill needed me to be here. As did Remus. If I hadn't been here, he wouldn't be here either. Anyway, they need all the fighters they have, and I'm more qualified than the twelve year olds currently being hexed by the Carrows. You know that."
Tonks kissed Remus and dashed off.
It was almost dawn; where were her mother and Lyall, Remus's father? Asleep? Or had they stayed up all night, anxiously waiting, listening to the few Potterwatch updates Lee had managed to give? What would become of them if they lost? Tonks wished now that she'd forced them to go to Romania. Even Teddy. It hurt, imagining Teddy being somewhere opposite of them, but what if they lost tonight? How could he live in a place like this? I
A large crowd had formed a circle. Tonks began to raise her wand, but Charlie stopped her.
"Harry's alive," he told her.
To Tonks's disbelief, he was. He stood in the middle of the circle, facing Voldemort and hurling insults at him.
"Should we help?" Tonks whispered.
"No. It's got to be him."
Voldemort fell.
It was over.
Over.
~*~
Remus met Harry the next day. Teddy was now in Harry's arms while Remus prepared tea leaves, the way he had once many years ago now. In the very same office.
Classes had been cancelled; but they still needed a Defense teacher. Minerva had given the post to Remus without a second thought, calling it a "necessity" that he take over. Although his leg still hurt and he was nursing a few scars, Remus was prepared. He'd known for a while that if the war ever ended, he would teach at Hogwarts again.
His first order of business? Meet with a former pupil.
"I've never held a baby before," Harry said nervously.
"You just defeated Voldemort, and a baby intimidates you?"
Harry didn't say anything, and Remus set down tea and chocolate.
"What are we doing about NEWTs?" Harry asked. "Hermione wanted to know. She's mad; we just won a war and yet her mind goes right to exams."
Remus laughed. "That's the Hermione I remember. If students want to take them, they can return here in July to do so, or take them at the Ministry. We may also allow them the option to come back next year."
He noticed Harry hadn't touched his tea. Or his chocolate. "How are you?"
"Fine," Harry said.
"No, you're not," Remus told him. "I understand. I've had that feeling twice."
"I should be happy. Voldemort's gone. I can live a normal life now, can't I? And yet..."
"And yet," Remus repeated knowingly.
Harry finally sipped from his teacup. "I saw them last night."
"Saw who?"
"My parents and Sirius."
Remus jolted, startled. "You mean when you were... unconscious?" He still wasn't clear on what had happened.
"No," Harry said, "that was when I saw Dumbledore. My parents and Sirius came out of the Resurrection Stone, to walk me to Voldemort."
Remus still wasn't sure he understood what Harry was talking about; but maybe it was best to just nod and listen. "What did they say?"
"That they were proud. Sirius said that death was quick. Typical of him, really," Harry added. "Everything was an adventure."
It was. Remus found himself smiling. He almost wished he could have seen them... but of course he didn't really wish that; the only reason Harry had was because of near-death.
Harry set down the tea. "My question is... what now?"
Remus recognized someone in Harry, but it wasn't either of his parents. It was a young man who wanted to be jubilant for victory, but had lost so many it hardly felt like one. Who was commended for his efforts to save, but could only think of those he had not.
"You have two options," Remus said quietly. "You can go away, becoming friendless, spurn efforts of others to grow close. Run when you let someone in too much. Tell yourself that the woman you love deserves someone less broken, less jaded, more fulfilled."
"That's bleak."
"Or," Remus continued, "you can learn from me, and do none of those things. Stay close to your friends, and make new ones. Join Dora, Teddy and I for dinner sometime, and bring Ginny with you. Ron and Hermione are also welcome."
Remus looked at the chocolate that remained untouched. "And have some of that. I haven't poisoned it, you know."
~*~
Tonks felt as though she'd woken up with it being Christmas.
The reality, of course, was that she'd known Christmas was coming. Her presents were wrapped, the tree decorated, and snow surrounded the Hogsmeade cottage she, Remus and Teddy were living in. It had been Minerva's, and Tonks hoped once they had enough money, they could buy it. Or a cottage like this, at any rate. It was all part of a promise she and Remus had made to each other after their last large argument over a year before.
Tomorrow was Christmas Day; Andromeda was hosting dinner, and Remus's father would be attending. Tonks was glad that the two had reconnected. Tonight, Christmas Eve, was for their friends. As Tonks understood it, Lyall would be working and Andromeda would be visiting with her mother, Druella Black. Tonks was less than eager to do either of those things, so instead she'd held a party.
The doorbell rang; holding Teddy in her arm, Tonks opened it.
"Why, I can't believe my eyes!" She gasped dramatically. "Remus, love, come at once! I do believe it's the Minister himself!"
"The Minister's a little cold for jokes, Tonks," Kingsley said, laughing.
Remus clapped his back. "Glad you could work us in, Minister. I'm just chuffed to see you."
Kingsley shook his head. "Will the teasing ever end?"
"You know we're thrilled for you," Remus said.
The others arrived in due time. Charlie and his former dormmate Adam, who were joking around loudly as though no time had passed between their days at Hogwarts and now. Harry and Ginny, huddled together in the cold. Deirdre, yawning from another late shift but insisting she was eager for a party. Hestia, Then Percy, who Kingsley's hand and called him "Minister" without any irony.
"Percy, for the last time, you can call me Kingsley," Kingsley told him.
"But you are my superior!"
"We're friends. I call you Percy."
"Not Weatherby?" Ginny quipped innocently. Percy gave her a look, but while there was a time it would have been out of annoyance, this time there was something almost... playful about it.
"Nevertheless, I prefer formalities in most situations," Percy said. Ginny looked at Tonks and rolled her eyes.
Teddy began to fuss, and Harry offered to take him for a while. Tonks was more than happy for a break.
She stood back, and watched her friends gather by the tree. How did everything just a few months before feel so far, yet so close?
This wasn't the easiest Christmas, by no means. Tonks ached for her father, and she missed her friends. Even Bill; while he was alive, he was in France. Molly, Arthur and George hadn't wanted to be home, so Fleur's parents had invited them to stay in Lille for a week or two or however long they needed. And she knew that everyone felt a little lonelier.
Still, the war was over, and they were together. Music was playing, and soon they would be eating and drinking together. It wasn't perfect, it was a little jaded and forced in places, but it was more unity than they'd had in over a year. Tonks would take it.
A shiver ran down her spine. It was, she realized, a thrill of hope. Like in O Holy Night.
"Are you okay?" Remus asked.
Tonks leaned against him and smiled.
"Yeah," she said. "I am."
Title: A Thrill of Hope
Rating & Warnings: PG-13
Word Count/Art Medium: 2,390
Prompt(s):
24. Remus Lupin: "You shouldn't have! Teddy needs you."
Nymphadora Tonks: "He'll sleep till dawn and snore like his father. It's you who needs me tonight."
(Deathly Hallows Part II Movie - a deleted scene.)
Summary: An assortment of drabbles revolving around the Battle at Hogwarts and the Christmas following the end of the war; in this alternate version, Remus and Tonks survive.
Notes: This is a sequel of sorts to It Opens, my story last year which really begged for a happier R/T ending.
Also, constructive criticism is more than welcome. I'm always looking to improve!
Kingsley, Remus, Charlie, Arthur and Dean Thomas were standing shoulder to shoulder on the grounds. Remus could hear people fighting behind him.
"If I perform poorly at this, will you still give me good marks?" Dean asked Remus.
"What?"
"I'm joking."
Remus laughed. "Thank you, Dean."
"Remus!" Arthur hollered, and Remus deflected a hex just in time.
Another voice called Remus's name, and Remus froze.
"Dora?"
Dora pushed through the crowd. "Damn right, Dora."
"I told you to-"
"-I couldn't."
"You shouldn't have. Teddy needs you!"
"He'll sleep till dawn and snore like his father," Dora said. "It's you who needs me tonight."
Kingsley was shaking his head. "Tonks, I'm with Remus this time. You just had a baby a few weeks ago... I'm worried about your strength..."
"Kingsley, you're my friend. if you die tonight, I'll live the rest of my life knowing I could've been here. Remus, if anything happens to you, that's what I'll have to tell our son. How could I possibly live with that?" Dora asked.
She was right, of course.
~*~
Tonks would never forget how close it was.
She shouldn't have seen it at all; it was a natural blink and glance in another direction, the way one does when they've been staring too long. And in that half of a second, Tonks caught Dolohov sneaking up on her husband from behind.
"Remus!" Tonks screamed.
They fought Dolohov together, circling around him. Bellatrix Lestrange was fighting with a young woman who looked around Fred and George's ages.
"Dean, help Marietta," Remus instructed. After a minute, the tall boy nodded and hurried in the girl's direction.
Dolohov raised his wand, and the same time as he shouted a spell, Remus and Tonks both rebounded it.
With a look of shock, Dolohov fell, writhing on the ground.
"Marietta!"
Exchanging an alarmed look, Remus and Tonks ran towards Dean and Marietta; Bellatrix had already run. Marietta was on the ground.
"Let me see," Remus said softly. He bent down and, paling, shook his head.
"We should take her to the hall," Remus said.
"I didn't block it on time," Dean said miserably.
Tonks put her arm around him. "Bellatrix has taken stronger witches and wizards than her. You tried."
They placed Marietta in the hallway with the others. Remus sighed heavily as he shut her eyes.
"No!" A girl cried. "No, please, tell me - Professor Lupin, tell me she's just hurt."
Remus shook his head. "I'm very sorry, Cho."
Another girl tried to hug Cho, but she pushed her away angrily.
"You don't even like her, Padma," Cho snapped. "So eff off."
Tonks looked at Remus helplessly.
"Remus? Tonks?"
Bill looked.... there was no word for it. His eyes were wide and his long hair was disheveled.
"I'm okay," Bill said.
Tonks felt a lump in her throat. "Liar. Who... who was it?"
"Fred."
~*~
"Harry Potter is dead. He was killed as he ran away, trying to save himself while you lay down your lives for him. We bring you his body as proof that your hero is gone. The battle is won. You have lost half of your fighters. My Death Eaters outnumber you, and the Boy Who Lived is finished. There must be no more war. Anyone who continues to resist, man, woman or child, will be slaughtered, as well every member of their family. Come out of the castle now, kneel before him, and you shall be spared. Your parents and children, your brothers and sisters will live and be forgiven, and you will join me in the new world we shall build together."
When Remus heard it, he didn't believe it.
Kingsley gathered the remaining resistance before they exited out of doors.
"We fight no matter what," he reminded them.
Everyone nodded, murmured, wiped their eyes, coughed. But Remus just stood still.
"Are you okay?" Dora whispered.
"I don't believe it." Remus couldn't explain why; something was simply telling him to keep his fears at bay.
"He could be bluffing," Ron pointed out from behind him. He didn't seem to believe himself, though.
"If he's not, I'll kill him," Ginny snarled.
"No," Bill said firmly. "Don't talk like that."
"I'll join you," Molly said at the same time.
Everyone stared at her in surprise; Molly had never looked more fierce.
"What? Alive or... whatever condition our Harry might be in, we're not letting the victory fall to them. We can't."
"We need to go out," Minerva said.
Dora held Remus's hand as they followed her. A gap grew, with no one daring to look at one another as they saw figures within only a short distance. Hagrid, someone tall, someone in that person's arms.
Then there was no doubting.
Remus had never understood why Sirius had laughed after Peter framed him, and had never wanted to ask. But now he did, or at least he thought he did, for that same maddened, anguished laughter had escaped him, only dying when Neville Longbottom stepped forward and proclaimed his loyalty to Dumbledore.
~*~
Tonks would never be able to recall much about the final stretches of the battle. She was too busy fighting for her life, for Remus's life, for the life of her friends and comrades, for Teddy's future.
When she saw Molly fighting Bellatrix, she'd feared the worst. It would be just perfect, wouldn't it? Bellatrix had robbed her of the Longbottoms, Sirius, that Cho girl of a dear friend; why not someone who, to Tonks, had become the overly doting aunt she'd never had?
Instead, Molly defeated her. It was how Sirius had gone, no less.
More fighting, more pushing. Remus fell, and for a horrible moment, Tonks thought she'd lost him. But he was okay; only injured - enough not to protest when Tonks led to where people were being mended.
"Remus!"
It was Deirdre , a friend of Tonks's; she was still in her Healer robes. Deirdre ran to Remus and helped him on a mat. "What happened?"
"Everything. Just keep him here, do what you can, and don't let him leave."
"I'll join you in a minute," Remus protested, but he winced when he tried to lift his leg.
"Maybe you should stay here too, Tonks," Deirdre said. "Or go home, Bill told me you were supposed to stay."
"Bill needed me to be here. As did Remus. If I hadn't been here, he wouldn't be here either. Anyway, they need all the fighters they have, and I'm more qualified than the twelve year olds currently being hexed by the Carrows. You know that."
Tonks kissed Remus and dashed off.
It was almost dawn; where were her mother and Lyall, Remus's father? Asleep? Or had they stayed up all night, anxiously waiting, listening to the few Potterwatch updates Lee had managed to give? What would become of them if they lost? Tonks wished now that she'd forced them to go to Romania. Even Teddy. It hurt, imagining Teddy being somewhere opposite of them, but what if they lost tonight? How could he live in a place like this? I
A large crowd had formed a circle. Tonks began to raise her wand, but Charlie stopped her.
"Harry's alive," he told her.
To Tonks's disbelief, he was. He stood in the middle of the circle, facing Voldemort and hurling insults at him.
"Should we help?" Tonks whispered.
"No. It's got to be him."
Voldemort fell.
It was over.
Over.
~*~
Remus met Harry the next day. Teddy was now in Harry's arms while Remus prepared tea leaves, the way he had once many years ago now. In the very same office.
Classes had been cancelled; but they still needed a Defense teacher. Minerva had given the post to Remus without a second thought, calling it a "necessity" that he take over. Although his leg still hurt and he was nursing a few scars, Remus was prepared. He'd known for a while that if the war ever ended, he would teach at Hogwarts again.
His first order of business? Meet with a former pupil.
"I've never held a baby before," Harry said nervously.
"You just defeated Voldemort, and a baby intimidates you?"
Harry didn't say anything, and Remus set down tea and chocolate.
"What are we doing about NEWTs?" Harry asked. "Hermione wanted to know. She's mad; we just won a war and yet her mind goes right to exams."
Remus laughed. "That's the Hermione I remember. If students want to take them, they can return here in July to do so, or take them at the Ministry. We may also allow them the option to come back next year."
He noticed Harry hadn't touched his tea. Or his chocolate. "How are you?"
"Fine," Harry said.
"No, you're not," Remus told him. "I understand. I've had that feeling twice."
"I should be happy. Voldemort's gone. I can live a normal life now, can't I? And yet..."
"And yet," Remus repeated knowingly.
Harry finally sipped from his teacup. "I saw them last night."
"Saw who?"
"My parents and Sirius."
Remus jolted, startled. "You mean when you were... unconscious?" He still wasn't clear on what had happened.
"No," Harry said, "that was when I saw Dumbledore. My parents and Sirius came out of the Resurrection Stone, to walk me to Voldemort."
Remus still wasn't sure he understood what Harry was talking about; but maybe it was best to just nod and listen. "What did they say?"
"That they were proud. Sirius said that death was quick. Typical of him, really," Harry added. "Everything was an adventure."
It was. Remus found himself smiling. He almost wished he could have seen them... but of course he didn't really wish that; the only reason Harry had was because of near-death.
Harry set down the tea. "My question is... what now?"
Remus recognized someone in Harry, but it wasn't either of his parents. It was a young man who wanted to be jubilant for victory, but had lost so many it hardly felt like one. Who was commended for his efforts to save, but could only think of those he had not.
"You have two options," Remus said quietly. "You can go away, becoming friendless, spurn efforts of others to grow close. Run when you let someone in too much. Tell yourself that the woman you love deserves someone less broken, less jaded, more fulfilled."
"That's bleak."
"Or," Remus continued, "you can learn from me, and do none of those things. Stay close to your friends, and make new ones. Join Dora, Teddy and I for dinner sometime, and bring Ginny with you. Ron and Hermione are also welcome."
Remus looked at the chocolate that remained untouched. "And have some of that. I haven't poisoned it, you know."
~*~
Tonks felt as though she'd woken up with it being Christmas.
The reality, of course, was that she'd known Christmas was coming. Her presents were wrapped, the tree decorated, and snow surrounded the Hogsmeade cottage she, Remus and Teddy were living in. It had been Minerva's, and Tonks hoped once they had enough money, they could buy it. Or a cottage like this, at any rate. It was all part of a promise she and Remus had made to each other after their last large argument over a year before.
Tomorrow was Christmas Day; Andromeda was hosting dinner, and Remus's father would be attending. Tonks was glad that the two had reconnected. Tonight, Christmas Eve, was for their friends. As Tonks understood it, Lyall would be working and Andromeda would be visiting with her mother, Druella Black. Tonks was less than eager to do either of those things, so instead she'd held a party.
The doorbell rang; holding Teddy in her arm, Tonks opened it.
"Why, I can't believe my eyes!" She gasped dramatically. "Remus, love, come at once! I do believe it's the Minister himself!"
"The Minister's a little cold for jokes, Tonks," Kingsley said, laughing.
Remus clapped his back. "Glad you could work us in, Minister. I'm just chuffed to see you."
Kingsley shook his head. "Will the teasing ever end?"
"You know we're thrilled for you," Remus said.
The others arrived in due time. Charlie and his former dormmate Adam, who were joking around loudly as though no time had passed between their days at Hogwarts and now. Harry and Ginny, huddled together in the cold. Deirdre, yawning from another late shift but insisting she was eager for a party. Hestia, Then Percy, who Kingsley's hand and called him "Minister" without any irony.
"Percy, for the last time, you can call me Kingsley," Kingsley told him.
"But you are my superior!"
"We're friends. I call you Percy."
"Not Weatherby?" Ginny quipped innocently. Percy gave her a look, but while there was a time it would have been out of annoyance, this time there was something almost... playful about it.
"Nevertheless, I prefer formalities in most situations," Percy said. Ginny looked at Tonks and rolled her eyes.
Teddy began to fuss, and Harry offered to take him for a while. Tonks was more than happy for a break.
She stood back, and watched her friends gather by the tree. How did everything just a few months before feel so far, yet so close?
This wasn't the easiest Christmas, by no means. Tonks ached for her father, and she missed her friends. Even Bill; while he was alive, he was in France. Molly, Arthur and George hadn't wanted to be home, so Fleur's parents had invited them to stay in Lille for a week or two or however long they needed. And she knew that everyone felt a little lonelier.
Still, the war was over, and they were together. Music was playing, and soon they would be eating and drinking together. It wasn't perfect, it was a little jaded and forced in places, but it was more unity than they'd had in over a year. Tonks would take it.
A shiver ran down her spine. It was, she realized, a thrill of hope. Like in O Holy Night.
"Are you okay?" Remus asked.
Tonks leaned against him and smiled.
"Yeah," she said. "I am."
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no subject
Date: 2016-12-23 02:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-12-23 02:30 am (UTC)I enjoyed writing the PoA callbacks - I still think PoA was one of the best books in the series, and not just because of Remus. ;)
no subject
Date: 2016-12-23 06:18 pm (UTC)I enjoyed how easily each section flowed together and how much love and understanding there was between the characters; Tonks and Remus, Remus and Harry, and Tonks and Harry. Be that last one shown by how quickly she gave Teddy up to him.
I also adored the flashback to POA with the chocolate and how Minerva was like of course Remus needs to come back to teach after the war.
All in all, I chowed down your story like a chocolate bar, and am now looking at the empty Hershey wrapper, sad there is no more. I cannot wait for the next one that you come up with.
no subject
Date: 2016-12-24 08:24 pm (UTC)I chuckled at "You just defeated Voldemort, and a baby intimidates you?" :)
Great job!
no subject
Date: 2016-12-27 10:18 pm (UTC)I like the way you've used small changes to make such big differences, and the story gets stronger as it unfolds. The scene with Harry is a real stand out, with echoes of the past, the humour they've always shared, and Remus recognizing himself in Harry and the similar choices facing them both. I loved Harry saying "That's bleak", lol, and the line about the chocolate.
It seems most appropriate that our first story is a lovely one, where they get to live (as they should have done!), and there's so much promise for the future. Yay. :D
no subject
Date: 2017-01-17 01:18 am (UTC)(Sorry, I thought I'd thanked you before. That week was crazy.)
no subject
Date: 2017-01-17 01:02 am (UTC)I especially liked the post-war sections – Remus looking at Harry and seeing himself, but also seeing the opportunity for Harry to *not* go the lonely, painful, self-blaming route that Remus did, that's perfect.
And that was a delightful little PoA callback with the not-poisoned chocolate. ;-)
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Date: 2017-01-17 01:20 am (UTC)I think Harry had a bit of Remus in him, and I think both of them were very jaded from their respective battles. (Really, I feel having been in two wars caused Remus's issues as much as anything else. Fans always seem to forget that before he lost James, Peter and Sirius he lost half the Order.)
I love PoA, so the callbacks were fun.
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Date: 2017-01-19 08:36 am (UTC)As many others have commented, the scene with Remus and Harry was especially lovely, as was the ending with Remus and Tonks celebrating with friends. It felt very real that despite the joy there were still some shadows, because how could there not be? So good to see them all together even so, it was such a heart-warming scene.
Great job!