The Long Fight of Nymphadora Tonks

Epilogue: It's Over

It's over. Voldemort is gone, defeated at last, and for good. He can't come back. Not this time. No more fighting. No more war. We've won. Despite the losses, the sorrow, the pain ... now we will have peace. But what is peace? What do we do with it? What do I do with it? I've never known peace ...

"Remus?"

Her voice, soft and tentative, broke into his thoughts. The warm pressure of her hand on his arm, clasping it tightly as though looking for something to hold onto, to keep her steady in the sea of turmoil, the aftermath that smoked around them, recalled him to the present. Remus kept his eyes carefully averted from the bodies around him and looked down into the face of the woman he loved. It was scratched and dirty, but to him Nymphadora Tonks was always beautiful, whatever the state of her face or clothing, whatever the colour of her hair and eyes, or the shape of her nose. For a moment they just stood there, motionless, looking into each other's eyes, both pairs filled with more sorrow than relief. Then, just as he opened his arms to her, Nymphadora wrapped hers around his waist and pressed herself against him.

It's over, but what happens now? The war has claimed so many lives, the lives of so many friends, so many people I loved. Sometimes I think it has claimed my life as well. All my life has been one big fight, all my life I have fought in this war. It has been my only purpose. Now that it's over, what do I do?

As if in answer, Nymphadora gave a little sob against his chest. He smoothed her pink hair, kissed the top of her head.

"I'm sorry," she said, her voice a little choked. "I just ... feel so strange. I know it's all over now, and we should all be celebrating, but I don't feel like I can be happy just yet."

"I know," he replied gently, and as always the warmth and kindness of his quiet, slightly hoarse voice soothed her, like balm on a sore wound.

Oh, do stop blubbing, Tonks. It's over. Time to let go and move on. This is what you've been waiting for. It's the moment. About time you told him ...

"Well, we did it," she said, pulling herself together a little and standing back a little so that she could look at him. "We won."

"Yes. We won."

He did not sound particularly happy about it. She went on,

"So what happens now? I mean, I know we've got a hell of a mess to clear up and ... friends to say goodbye to. But when it's over, when all that's done ... Have you thought about what we'll do then?"

"What would you like to do?" he asked her slowly.

Oh, Remus. Don't you know we're long past the days when you could avoid answering me by not replying? You're telling me everything that you aren't saying, simply by not saying it - everything that you think and feel and doubt. There's not a shred of doubt in my mind.

"I would like," she said, a hint of the impish glint returning to her dark eyes, "to marry you."

Didn't see that one coming, did you, Remus? It's good to know I can still catch you off guard once in a while.

"Nymphadora ...," he began, searching for words.

"You asked me to marry you, remember? A year ago, you said 'Will you marry me?' and I said 'yes'."

"Not really," he reminded her, as a faint smile began to tug at the corners of his mouth. "As I remember it, you laughed."

"Because I was happy. Because I am happy," she added with a little extra emphasis. "So, unless you've changed your mind ..."

"I haven't. I never will, Nymphadora. You know that."

Oh yes, I know. You love me, and you don't love lightly. You're loyal to a fault. Love is for life or not at all. Darling Remus, why do you have to keep doubting that my feelings for you are just as strong, and loyal and neverending?

"You're scared that I might, aren't you?" she guessed aloud. "Remus, stop imagining such nonsense. I'm not going anywhere. I won't grow tired of you, however long we're together. And I want it to be always. I'm yours, and I want to prove it, I want you know that we belong and stop worrying that one day you'll wake up and find me gone."

"I wouldn't blame you."

She saw both the love and the fear in his eyes as he said it, and smiled.

"Never," she promised. "You're never going to get rid of me. I ... yes?"

They were interrupted by an apologetic Minerva McGonagall. Like both of them, the Hogwarts headmistress bore evidence of the recent battle. Her hair was dishevelled, there were cuts on her face and she was holding one arm at an awkward angle.

"Minerva."

Letting go of Nymphadora, Remus turned to the older woman with concern.

"You don't look well, we'd better get you some help ..."

"I'm all right, thank you, Remus," she assured him, but could see that that was not entirely true, that her arm was causing her pain.

"No, you're not," he insisted. "Please, Minerva, let me help you ..."

To his surprise, she smiled.

"As soon as I get back to Hogwarts, I'll go and see Poppy Pomfrey, I promise. This is nothing she can't mend. But as a matter of fact, I do want your help - in a manner of speaking."

"Anything ..."

"Don't be too hasty, Remus," she warned him.

"What is it you want him to do?" asked the young woman by his side.

The professor looked straight at Remus.

"Come back."

"I ... beg your pardon?" he responded, confused.

"Come back to Hogwarts. We're short-staffed, as you know, and I assume you will be looking for a job, now that this war is over?"

"Yes, but ..."

"The Defence Against the Dark Arts position is vacant again. I know we haven't been able to keep a teacher in that position for more than a year in the past, but I'm confident that that will change now that You-know... Lord Voldemort can no longer meddle with it. Albus told me once that he believed that the jinx would be lifted once Voldemort was vanquished. I think he hoped that you would return when that time came."

"Minerva," Remus began slowly, "I left for a reason. I was a danger to the students and my colleagues then, and I still am."

"Rubbish," she said sharply. "Horace Slughorn is at least as good a Potions master as Severus Snape was, and can easily provide you with what you need. What I need is someone to fill that vacancy - and to stand in for me whenever I am unable to perform my duties as headmistress," she added almost as an afterthought.

Tonks gave a small gasp. "You mean you want Remus to be deputy headmaster?"

"Yes," McGonagall said briskly. "To tell you the truth, the past year has been a strain for me. Following in the footsteps of so great a headmaster as Albus Dumbledore has been far from easy. I thought that I could manage, somehow, on my own, but now I see that acting as headmistress without support, as Transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor house is ... well, frankly, it's been too much," she admitted a little grudgingly. "I have decided to let Hagrid head Gryffindor next term, but that still leaves me without a deputy headmaster ..."

The two women looked at Remus expectantly. He frowned thoughtfully, glanced at the eager face beneath the pink hair, then at his former teacher.

"It's a kind offer, Minerva," he began, "but ..."

"You're not going to refuse?!" Nymphadora cried, outraged.

"My dear ..."

"This is what you've always wanted, Remus! You've told me yourself you've never been happier than when you were at Hogwarts! You always wanted to be a teacher! You're not going to turn down a dream come true!"

"I wouldn't," he said quietly, "if I had only myself to consider."

It was entirely the wrong thing to say. She flared,

"You're not turning it down on my account! No, no, don't go all self-sacrificing on me. You wanted a job, a steady income, you wanted to teach, I'm not letting you give it all up for me, I don't need that."

"You said you wanted us to be married," Remus pointed out, feeling a little awkward discussing these things in front of Minerva McGonagall.

"I do, I do," the young woman went on heatedly, "but I want it to be perfect for both of us! I want you to be able to do what you've always dreamed about, there's no need to invent obstacles where there aren't any, we'll get a house in Hogsmeade, I can easily commute from there, or ..."

Minerva McGonagall cleared her throat, causing Tonks to fall silent and Remus to swallow whatever he had been about to say.

"I may have the solution," the older woman offered. "As I was saying, I intend to relinquish some of my duties. Including my role as Transfiguration teacher ..."

She looked at Tonks meaningfully, but it took a while for the message to sink in. Then the younger woman's eyes widened.

"You mean ... me? Me, a teacher?"

McGonagall nodded. There was a pause. Eventually Remus said,

"It's kind of you, Minerva, but I suspect Nymphadora is far too enthusiastic an auror to ..."

"I'll do it," Nymphadora said, startling him into silence. "I know I won't be very good at it, being the clumsy oaf that I am, but I'll give it a try and try not to break too much."

With a smile, the headmistress said, "It is just as effective to teach the students to transfigure iron goblets as it is to use delicate glassware."

Tonks grinned. Remus stared at her, incredulous. Then his incredulity gave way to a hint of annoyance.

"You didn't want me to sacrifice the chance of being a teacher for your sake," he said. "And now you expect me to accept the fact that you're sacrificing your career as an auror for me? I don't think that's ..."

"I'm sure it's better that way," she interrupted him. "The Ministry won't be needing half as many aurors in future, and I know you'd only worry about me if I stayed on, now that ... well, I mean ... all things considered ..."

He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again, his face taking on a puzzled expression.

"All things considered?" he repeated. "What do you mean?"

Looking from one to the other of them, McGonagall decided to withdraw, sure that she had her answers from both of them. Remus repeated quietly,

"What do you mean, Nymphadora?"

She drew closer to him, her eyes looking into his. "I want us to get married, Remus, so we can be a proper family. You, me ..." - she took his hand and placed it gently on her belly - "... and the little one."

For a minute that felt like a lifetime, he stared at her. Then, with his eyes glistening suspiciously and his hands trembling, he drew her into a sudden, strong embrace.

I've never known peace, but I will. We will. My wife and I ... and our child.

"You said I had never been happier than when I was at Hogwarts," he whispered against her cheek.

"That's what you told me."

"It's not true any more. I've never been happier than I am now."

And he kissed her, thinking a silent apology.

Forgive me, my friends. I suppose it must appear rather disrespectful to be standing here with the bodies of fallen allies around us, kissing tenderly, in this moment feeling only happiness. But I hope that you, who know the battles we've fought to bring us this far, and the tears we've shed, will look down on us kindly and understand. Many lives have been claimed, but ours were spared. For us, it isn't over. After all, as it turns out, my life is just beginning ...

DEFINITELY THE END