The Greyback Legacy

Chapter Three

The papers were fanned out across the splintery table. Remus had read and reread the plans that Dumbledore had outlined for him. It was simple enough. As soon as possible, Tonks was to leave, under the guise that she was on holiday. Luckily, she had quite a few sick days and vacation days added up, so the Ministry shouldn't protest overmuch.

Wearily, the werewolf sank onto the ratty couch. The rest of the plans were going to be rather more difficult. The Barri wolf clan (to be fair ANY wolf clan) was not known for their friendliness towards humans. Too many Umbridges existed to create a morsel of geniality between the two races. But the Barris were especially fierce. They refused to coexist with humans, and lived in a very remote area. Any who dared to get in the way of a Barri werewolf was subject to turning or more frequently, death.

But Dumbledore was right in one aspect. If they had the Barris on the Order's side, the battle would be far more evened out. And there was this one hope. For all this time, the Barris had not joined the Dark Side, as had many other werewolf clans and magical creatures. They stood apart, regal and haughty, unafraid of Voldemort's power. This meant that they could possibly relent and decide to aid the Order of the Phoenix.

In Remus' mind, the absolute hardest thing to do was to spend all that time with the person he'd been trying to avoid. It wasn't even just his guilt, though there was plenty of that. He should never have touched her, even accounting for the alcohol clouding his brain. If Remus were honest, he knew that it had been just an excuse. He had always wanted her. The scent of her, from the very first time that they'd met, had driven his olfactory senses wild. Like the most delectable flower, yet so wholesome and strong, a part of him had been drawn to Nymphadora.

Even her name, though the woman it belonged to despised it, endeared itself to Remus. It was so unusual and quirky, yet beautiful. Just like her. And that was why he was so afraid. He could so easily fall under her spell again, that natural delightful charm of hers. Her drawn white face flashed across Lupin's mind and made his heart feel like a wrung dishtowel. It was because of him.

Tonks might not know it yet, Lupin thought, his features hardening determinedly, but he was no good for her. He never was, never would be, good for her. And he had known it from the first, just as he had known that he would always lament that it was so.

*

"Well, Holly, it looks like I'm off. I don't know when- no, if, I'll see you again," Tonks said, embarassed as her eyes misted over. Holly drew her into a bone crushing hug.

"Don't you ever speak like that," the other girl whispered fiercely. "You will be back. I know it." Tonks saw that Holly's blue eyes were also wet.

"You better not cry," Tonks warned. "I'll hex the balls off you."

"Good, who needs them anyway?" The two laughed, but the sound was watery.

"Oh Holly, I'll miss you," she sighed, embracing her best friend once more. "Don't forget me."

"As if," Holly sniffed. "I almost forgot.." the blonde rifled her hand into the stylish black leather bag slung over her shoulder. "Here." She handed over a light package to Tonks, smiling radiantly at her. "It'll come in useful, I promise."

Tonks unwrapped it, and found a bright turquoise traveling bag. Her mouth dropped open. It was a jewel of a find. The bag would hold anything and be almost weightless, even if you stuck in thirty of Hagrid's Blast Ended Skrewts. "Holly! This is amazing ... I can't believe you got me this. Thanks so much."

"I can't let my best friend go traipsing off without one of those," Holly grinned. "I've also put in things like a few bottles of water and food parcels just in case, and other things you might need."

"You've done so much already... I can't thank you enough."

"Just write to me when you can. Tell me how things are going." Holly hugged her one last time, and then they both Apparated.

*

Fenrir Greyback caressed the length of the woman's slim white back with a leisurely stroke of his long wet tongue. "You're delicious," he spoke langurously, eyelids heavy.

"Mm, so are you," the dark haired woman purred, rubbing her sleek head against the thickly masculine body with the feline grace of a cat. Her soft lips trailed a sensual path down the golden hairs of his pubis, eliciting harsh groans from Greyback.

"Have you heard from Rathbone?" he gasped, as the woman's hot lips folded over his pulsing manhood.

"Yes," she said, cock still in mouth, creating vibrations all over his body. The werewolf leaned back, enjoying the sensation of his prick being sucked off by a first class mouth, eyes screwed shut with ecstasy. Then, Fenrir drew her from his dick, and nearly moaned at the sight of her dark glistening eyes, showing her desire for him. Business first though. Then he'd ream her dripping pussy like it had never been fucked before.

"Well?" he said as coolly as a werewolf who has been partially blown off can sound.

"It's going well," she answered, her smooth hand still lying at the base of his stomach. "They are coming. And so will you, as soon as you desist of this tiresome subject." She pouted prettily, and Fenrir threw her upon the refreshingly cool ice blue sheets. An excited squeal escaped the hot lips, to be silenced by Fenrir's bruising ones.

*

He could pick her out of a crowd, even with that mousy hair and less showy clothing. Actually, it was quite disturbing how easily Remus could read her, at times. Dressed in a rose colored sweater and her dishwater brown hair loose around her shoulders, Tonks looked ill.

Remus went towards her and nodded curtly. "Hello, Nymphadora."

Tonks turned to him, green eyes first alight with hope, then dimming slowly at his cold demeanor. "Ah, hello."

"Have you read the papers Dumbledore gave us?" he moved on brutally, ignoring the mute pleading that came unbidden into Tonks' face.

"Partly... I'm sorry, I was rather busy."

"This should have been the pivotal thing on your mind. You were supposed to have it as familiar to you as the back of your hand!" Remus muttered irritably, walking quickly. He was being unreasonable, he knew, but perhaps if he offended her enough, Tonks would refuse to go on this venture with him. Then, perhaps, he might be able to keep his sanity. It was practically the only thing he owned anymore.

The woman hurried to match his long legged stride. "I told you I was sorry, Remus! I won't be treated like that by any man, not even-" she stopped herself, eyes burning. Steadying herself, Tonks glared at Remus. "Even if you can't look at me without being disgusted, you could be respectful at least. You never treated me, or anyone else, like this before. I can't help it if I wasn't... pleasing that night." Her voice was broken.

Did she believe that he hated her because of her sexual performance? Could she possibly think that he found her less than divine? Lupin bit his lip. The real question, of course, was- How could Tonks have known otherwise? She'd been a virgin, and had no idea what was to be expected of her. And he'd avoided her as though she was a victim of whooping poo. Of course Tonks would have immediately thought the problem was her.

"Look, Nymphadora. It has nothing to do with you."

"You are lying, Remus Lupin. I know you." Green eyes met brown, honest and clear.

"You know nothing save for what you want to know," Remus said harshly.

Tears welled up and a few drops fell onto her heart shaped face, nearly undoing him. Despite himself, Remus' fingers swept away the drops gently, lingering at her petal-soft cheek. Then, he withdrew his arm and closed his fist, feeling the moisture of Nymphadora's tears staining his skin as though it were the blood of a thousand children.

"We-we had better be off."

Shaking herself mentally, Tonks said, "Where to?" in a forced cheery manner. He hadn't denied that he had found her repulsive that night. If anything, Remus was honest and kind to a fault. He wouldn't tell her outright. He'd hated her. Trying not to cry, she listened to the directions that Dumbledore had given the two.


*

At least Alaska was beautiful. Tonks was amazed at the snow capped mountains, jewellike in color and massive. Icy cerulean lakes covered the landscape, as well as lush green trees and hills- it all fairly took her breath away. It was a trifle cold though, and she was glad for her thick fur coat and woolen sweater. The wind whipped straight through her jeans, however. Stolidly, she followed Remus' breakneck pace, not willing to make him have even a thought that she was weak.

She couldn't be like this anymore. It wasn't her. It actually made her sick to think how she'd wilted for a man who didn't and never would care for her in the same way. One night of lovemaking wasn't enough to guarantee love. That had been a childish belief. But when he'd thrust into her body, she'd felt so... well, right. It had been as though gravity had finally entered her life, and settled into place all the things that had been topsy turvy till then. A delusion, apparently, borne of coupling.

So Tonks would put this so-called love into the farthest corner of her mind. From time to time, when it was the darkest of nights and the shadows would not fall away, she might creep into that corner and indulge in the slightest of touches. But never again would she let her heart free as she had. She would not wait in the bloody rain for a kiss that would never come- the dream kiss she'd harbored for some reason, of breathtaking gentleness and love.

From now on, the Order would be the sole thing on her mind. And heart.

*


A/N: It's amazing how stimulating a single review can be! I'm sorry for any readers interested in this story, I've been pretty down spirited, as well as absorbed with the final Harry Potter book. It was amazing, wasn't it? Alot of people disagree though... I mean, I suppose some parts could have been better, but really on the whole J.K Rowling deserves a hearty round of applause for her masterpiece. The fact that there's so much controversy about it proves its worthiness. Anyhow, thank you so much for reading :) and feel free to bolster my ego anytime.