The Greyback Legacy

A/N: If you have the time, please review and offer constructive criticism! I could use it :) Thank you and enjoy!


Chapter One

She had first noticed him, standing by the lake, the silver moon limning the facets of his face and the sandy tufts of hair. He wasn't handsome in the classical sense, in fact, few women could have found anything attractive in the disheveled blond man encased in robes of a deplorable state. But she wasn't like other women.

She found that she found something about his innate nature struck a chord within her own body, in a way she had never experienced. His thin face, etched by the lines of time, was unbearably beautiful to her. Those limpid brown eyes, full of weariness, spoke volumes with his loneliness.

All she wanted to do was hold him from that first moment, to erase the pain in his heart, and kiss those downturned lips. But it was not to be.

Tonks stared down despondently into the cup of warm tea, generously laced with milk and sugar.

"Oh my poor dear, don't worry. He will come around. Do cheer up, do!
You're looking positively wan!" Molly's eyes were full of sympathy and worry.

"I just don't think he will. Remus doesn't care for me- he said as much." Nymphadora Tonks brushed away the lifeless brown hair that kept falling into her face. Her eyes, currently a watery blue, looked cold. "I suppose I shouldn't mope around so, at any rate."
Her pale hands cupped the mug in front of her once more, and an involuntary half gasp half sob escaped her. She hated being this weak. A tear dropped into the tea and made a small plip, that Molly noticed.

"It's difficult, but I'm sure he-"

There was a loud rap at the door. "Who is it?" Molly stuttered, her voice frightened and hand gripping her wand tightly.

"It is I, Dumbledore, bringing Harry."

Trembling with relief, Molly opened the door swiftly and exclaimed, "Harry deaer! Gracious Albus, you gave me a fright, you said not to expect you before morning."

Dumbledore said something in response, then said, "Ah hello, Nymphadora!" Tonks looked around and forced a facsimile of a smile for the benefit of the two men in front of her.

"Hello Professor," she said somewhat hollowly. "Wotcher, Harry."

Harry greeted her back, his emerald eyes somewhat perplexed and concerned. Unable to bear the questioning gazes, she quickly said, "I should be going now. Thanks for the tea and sympathy, Molly."

Though Dumbledore said something about her not having to leave on his account, she stolidy answered, "I've got to be leaving anyhow. Night."

She left, to face the silent night, and Apparated to her lonely home.


*

It was when the moon was nearly full that Remus Lupin felt loneliest. He felt the wind tug at his gray streaked gilt hair, and though it should have been a welcome burst of cold, it merely added to the chill that was grasping his soul. He had never felt so alone. Now, Remus was fully aware that he was the last of the Marauders.

The boyish souls of Sirius and James still hung heavy on his memory. He remembered the laughter they had brought into his world, which had been a solitary one throughout his entire life. Loneliness had been Remus' destiny, after Greyback's bite. People had stayed far from him, frightened of his abnormality. Even his parents, though they loved him unconditionally, had a certain fear of the werewolf side of him. Remus knew this, and did not resent their terror. He himself was horrified at the changes that were wrought on him at the light of the pale moon.

But when he had gone to Hogwarts, Remus had found acceptance. For the first time, he had true friends who loved him despite his 'furry little problem' as James put it. They were not daunted by his werewolf side, and had become unregistered Animagus to be with him, even through the cold nights. From that point on, the night had lost much of its terror, with his best friends nestled at his side.

And to have lost them... flashes of James' egotistic brilliance, Sirius' unbelievably handsome face filled his mind. It was unbearable to have had and lost. No one knew how much it tore his chest apart at the fact that he couldn't have saved them both. The two people Remus had loved beyond all else. His brothers.

Remus was not normally a violent man. His nature was quiet, jovial, and patient. But deeply buried within all the layers of endurance was a small white ball of anger. Wormtail, Bellatrix Lestrange, Voldemort... they had managed to rip through all these with a single wave of their wands and penetrate this anger. It was the kind of anger that once touched, could not be bested. He would not rest, that is, he COULD not rest, until he tasted crimson revenge.

*

"Luminatis." The Japanese paper lanterns were lit, throwing a dim purple glow throughout the apartment. Tonks settled wearily on her lime green couch. How had she become this mental wreck, she wondered, covering her chilly body with the white cashmere throw on the sofa.

It seemed so long ago that she had been happy, which was totally unlike Nymphadora Tonks. When had she last smiled freely, without having to remind herself to do it? When had she gone out with her girlfriends? She just didn't know. All she knew was that when she fell upon her pillow at night, and shut her eyes, even then, she had no rest from Remus.

The funny thing was Tonks hadn't been looking for love. Unlike most girls, she had never been the type to plan out their weddings and wonder whether eggshell or cream was a better hue for the invitations. At Hogwarts, Tonks had never traipsed around, moaning like a banshee after some blond twit on the Quidditch team. She'd laughed at her friends, and tossed her head. Love? Utterly preposterous. She would never fall under Eros' arrow.

But the best of girls, even the ones who wear their hear as short as a man's and watch Quidditch for the sake of Quidditch, are vulnerable to Cupid's power. None may escape it. Once in every person's life, they become dreamy eyed and have their knees turn to milk. No matter that all her life, she may have guarded her heart against it. No matter that sensibly, she knew it was a fool's game. Those who guard so fiercely are usually the easiest targets, for they always leave an opening at the softest spot. And that is what happened to Nymphadora Tonks.

She had been at Hogwarts, guarding the premises during third year to make sure no student had been wandering during those dangerous times. With her hair it's normal warm chestnut color, rippling and loose, she'd looked across the lake and seen Remus. Patched robes and all, he'd seemed so valiant. His shoulders had been in its customary stooped position, heavy with the past and the troubles to come.

For a moment, Tonks had merely stared. Her heart was thumping way too loud, as though it were a drum, wanting to catch the man's attention. It was almost painful. Then, as if he'd heard something, Remus had turned and seen her.

His eyes had revealed nothing, for indeed, he was too far for her to decipher the expression in them. But he'd called to her, "What are you doing out of the school grounds? It's dangerous, you know." The tone had been kind yet determined- as though to a student. "Go back in, I'll escort you."

He had walked over to her, black robes swishing, and she heated up as the man drew close to her. "I'm not a student," Tonks had explained, looking up at the tall sandy haired man. Her breath had caught, for his eyes were so very warm.

"Ah?" Remus had smiled awkwardly then. "I'm sorry, you just looked quite young.. I assumed. Forgive me."

"There's nothing to forgive." For the briefest moment, she had felt bitter that her normal frame looked so youthful, not at all womanly. She was so slender and pale that she could never pass for more than sixteen, though she was actually near twenty one.
Then, remembering her manners, Tonks had extended her right hand and said, "Tonks at your service." He clasped her hand. She still remembered the rough callused feel of his large one, the blue sparks that had run up her arm.

An amused look had entered his expression. "Just Tonks?"

Firmly, she'd replied, "Just Tonks."

"It makes me wonder exactly how terrible your given name must be that you disregard it altogether," Remus grinned good-naturedly. Tonks couldn't help smiling back.

"As bad as Nymphadora," she said, rolling her eyes. "If you ever call me that, I'll have to hex you, Mister...?"

"Remus Lupin. Otherwise called Moony. Should I be afraid of your spells, Miss
Nymphadora Tonks?" He looked devilishly handsome when the crinkles formed at the edges of his eyes and that dimple formed on the left side of his full mouth. She wondered what he'd do if she were to touch that dimple with her lips, feel the indentation at his chin with her tongue, and blushed. Thank Merlin for the dark!

"Well, I am an Auror so you might have to be on your toes half the time. Oh and that was quite cheeky of you to call me that after I explicitly warned you not to."


He started. "You're an Auror? But you don't look a day over eighteen..."

A bit miffed, she said, "Appearances aren't everything. I'm twenty."

Remus' eyes had grown a bit shuttered, making her feel rather sorry for being so short with him. "That is true. I apologize for assuming by superficial means."

"No, it's all right. I'm sorry for being short with you. I guess I am just tired of being thought a snot nosed little kid." Tonks had sighed, not noticing the strand of reddish brown hair caught on her lip.

To her surprise, he'd drawn closer, and his warm finger brushed her lips. She'd looked up at him, astonished, and had been unable to breathe for a full thirty seconds. They stood there, staring at each other, warmed by the close proximity of their bodies.

"I.. umm, just wanted to remove the hair from your mouth," Remus stuttered, his cheeks red. It was quite endearing. Tonks had mentally slapped herself. Why was she reacting so foolishly to this man? "I had better go in. Good night, Tonks."

"Good night... Remus."

Tonks dashed the memory away. What good was thinking about him? Yet she couldn't put him away in the corner. She was an idiot. A bleeding idiot.