âthis was fun and terrible.â (lycanthropyprofessor)
@lycanthropyprofessor
Parenting, Tonks had long learned, was actually that exact statement. Fun. And terrible. Sometimes both at the same time. Like now. She had agreed to meet her husband in Hogsmeade after they spoke via Floo. Remus had to deny Harry the trip to Hogsmeade, which Harry didnât understand. Neither Remus nor Tonks could fully explain it to him either; the matter was too close to their own hearts. Too heartbreaking to fully explain.
Sirius Black had broken out of Azkaban. He had broken out and the Prophet said that he was gunning for Harry. Well, it was implied that he was. Heâs at Hogwarts, the paper quoted her former cousin saying. Heâs at Hogwarts. Harry was at Hogwarts. When Harry was younger, before Hogwarts, Tonks would have been merely very concerned and slightly scared. Now, with two years of her son (she dared anyone to correct her on that) being a bloody magnet for trouble (just like both of his fathers), she was highly concerned and very scared.
She reached over the table, catching Remusâ hand in hers and gave a squeeze. âI can let out a room here for a bit? We can let Harry visit with his friends and I can still keep an eye on him. Forââ She trailed off, looking at their hands with a quiet sigh.
âNo because thatâll only make us more vulnerable to him. I know the ministry is on top of this, Minister Fudge has already been in contact with me, but already there are reports of Sirius being spotted near here. I donât think we can afford the chance.â He brushed his thumb over her knuckles. âThatâs not to say Harry wonât figure out a way on his own. Heâs very resourceful, almost obnoxiously so.â
He hated having to drag Tonks away from work to come and remind him that he was doing the right thing. âAny news on your end. I know theyâve been trying to keep you out of the hunt for him but you must know something.â
âI blame both you and James for thatâŠresourcefulness.â Yup. Neither Lily nor she had anything to do with that one. Though perhaps she would take credit, or blame, for the tenacity that the boy had. She smiled crookedly, fretting on her lower lip with the next question.
âNo, and it bothers me. I asked Moody to let me on the case, but he just gruffed about being too close and shooed me away. Heâs making me ride a desk until this is over.â Benched over the whole thing of it. It was particularly frustrating. She frowned then, glancing around. âI trust them, Remus. But I donât know. Iâm scared.â It had been so long since she had genuinely been scared. She had been scared when Harry opened up about Voldemort and Tom Riddle. But this..this was different. Sirius..was different.
âHow are you doing with all this?â
âI have a million other headaches to worry about ontop of this. Severus isnât making my job much easier. Did you know that Frank and Aliceâs son is afraid of him? That his biggest fear, Severus Snape. How awful of a person must you be to end up the person a child has nightmares of?â He took a sip of his drink with a bit of cheeky glint in his eyes.
âSo naturally, when faced with his boggart, I had Neville turn it Snivellous wearing Augusta Longbottomâs clothes. Had the whole classroom roaring in laughter.â
When just herself and not under cover, or trying to pull a joke, Tonksâ face was incredibly easy to read. And even at the mention of Severus Snape, she was already pulling a face of what could only be distaste. She had never forgiven him for calling Lily a mudblood. But it shifted to sympathy at the mention of Alice and Frankâs son. âThatâs terrible!â
Even more terrible was what Remus suggested, but that was the kind of terrible that she enjoyed. Tonks laughed openly and shook her head at the idea. âItâs funnier knowing full well how Mrs. Longbottom dresses.â
Smiling, she lifted her eyebrows. âSo. Hating the teaching gig, are we?â
âItâs wonderful, really. Itâs the first time Iâve ever felt like Iâm truly doing something worthwhile, and all the students just want to learn. Honestly, the bright and eager faces of all the first years is my favorite, makes me a bit nostalgic if Iâm honest. Harryâs grown up far too fast.â
Remus honestly felt happier than he had in years, being a teacher suited him just as much as being a loving partner and incredible father suited him. It was his nature.
âShame that itâll only last a year.â
Genuinely happy for him, the whole knowledge that this was something Remus really wanted being the biggest consolation in not having him home, she smiled lovingly as he waxed poetic about the childrenâs faces and being a professor.
She did, however, tsk at the notion that it would only be this year. âCanât sack you. The last professors were total shit and didnât get sacked.â Shit did happen to them, but neither of them were actually fired.

















