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Summary this chapter: A look to the living, sleeping arrangements, and sneakiness.

Faint

Tonks had been moved up to Remus' couch after she had fainted. Remus hadn't looked too well himself, so Sirius had taken him to his room. That had left James and Lily to talk uninterrupted.

"How long will the spell last?" James asked, "I don't want it wearing off before she wakes up.

Lily looked to where Tonks was now sleeping. "I think we had twenty-four hours until the spell completely fades and she vanishes. That should be enough time to talk, I think"

James sighed, "I hope so. I hadn't really thought about Harry's intentions before Remus brought this up," he paused, "Still, though, I have a feeling that everything will turn out fine"

Lily smiled at him, "I do too. Let's just both just stay positive and our thoughts may become reality"

Their attention was suddenly drawn to the couch by a soft moan. Lily rushed over while James stayed back in case he needed to grab something.

He watched as Tonks opened her eyes and blinked slowly. She tried to sit up but was unable to on her own. Lily helped support her until she was sitting upright on the couch.

"Ouch," she groaned, holding her head, "It feels like I just woke up from a big night out." she paused and took a moment to look round. She was startled when she saw who was standing in the room. "James? Lily!"

Lily smiled softly, "Yes, that's us. How do you feel"

Tonks grinned, "I think I already answered this question, but I could come up with another metaphor if you'd like me to."

Lily chuckled a little, "No, that would be fine. I take it you're feeling better than you were earlier?"

"Yes, much better..." she trailed off, trying to recall what had happened earlier. Her eyes widened as the events rushed back to her in full force, "Remus!"

-- -- --

Sirius sat next to the bed watching Remus sleep. It had almost been an hour since the spell had been successful. He hadn't been surprised when Tonks had fainted away at the sight of her husband. It had taken a little while to carry her up the stairs and situate her on the couch. After they had done that Lily had mentioned Remus looked a little pale and had ordered Sirius to take him to his room, where he had promptly collapsed.

Sitting there in silence Sirius was worried for his friend. It had seemed to him that Remus had almost wanted it not to work. The look on his face when he had seen his ghostly wife had confirmed Sirius' suspicions. Now he just wondered why. His friend had been genuinely concerned for Harry, but hadn't seemed to want to do all things necessary to find the answers.

Remus shifted in his sleep, startling Sirius, and looked like he was going to wake up. Sirius planted a smirk and prepared a snarky response to the question he knew that Remus was about to ask.

"What happened?" Remus asked the predictable question and looked around unsuspectingly.

"Well," Sirius replied, smirk firmly in place, "The spell worked and we acquired one hair-color changing ghost, who promptly passed out. We then had to carry said ghost upstairs and settle her on the couch. Lily then ordered me to take you, who was looking a little pale, to your room, where you fainted like the man you are."

"Oh." Remus said faintly.

"Well, you asked." Sirius replied, chuckling faintly. "Anyway, if you're feeling up to it, I think our ghost just woke up."

"Tonks?" Remus exclaimed and practically jumped out of bed. For a moment he staggered and almost fell, but caught his balance in time.

Sirius shook his head as he followed his friend out the door at a more sedate pace. As he got closer to the living room he could hear the sounds of arguing, but could only make out the words once he got closer.

"-have stayed home!" Remus was saying while Tonks sat there with a stubborn expression on her face and in her body language.

"I'm a big girl, I can do what I want." she said fiercely.

Sirius held back a snort and looked away to see James standing to the side trying not to laugh. It sounded more like a daughter wining to her father than a husband berating his wife.

"Fine, I guess you didn't need me to block that curse for you as you obviously planned on dying anyway!" Silence reigned after Remus' angry outburst. He immediately looked shocked at what he had said and covered his mouth with his hand. "I- That was uncalled for. I'm sorry." Remus said quietly.

"Yes, it was." Tonks said stiffly.

Sirius cleared his throat uncomfortably, "So, what's been going on since the last time I, uh, saw you?" he said, trying to start a not so difficult conversation.

The tense atmosphere became less tangible as Tonks talked about the last couple years. When she began to talk about her and Remus's relationship things got a little hairy, but in the end it all worked out. She said she had died by being struck from behind with a binding curse and having a wall fall on her. The rest of the group winced. That had to have hurt. She also said that the reason she wanted to become a ghost was so that she could see Teddy sometimes. When she admitted this tears formed in her eyes and Remus awkwardly patted her on the back.

"It's going to work out just fine." Lily said soothingly.

James had went into the kitchen to make tea emerged with five cups. He received thanks as he handed them out.

"What do you remember about after you died?" asked Sirius suddenly a few minutes later.

This initially startled the other unghostly members of the room, but then they began to see the validity of the question. How did a ghost form? They knew that they didn't just immediately form after death, so what happened between the time of death and appearance of the persons ghost.

"Well," Tonks began, thinking, "I remember dying, then ending up floating in a really white room for a really long time. Suddenly it felt like I had activated a portkey and was being pulled forward through a dark tunnel. I must have passed out because the next thing I knew Nick was waking me up and telling me the duties I would have at the castle."

There was silence for a moment. "You mean it was all over by the time you got there?" Remus asked.

"Yup, and the castle was a right mess, though I guess they had moved all the bodies by then." Tonks replied thoughtfully.

"Wait! What about Harry?" James exclaimed.

"Oh, I was just talking to him when you pulled me away. It was the first time I had seen him since I died." Tonks replied, thinking. "It was weird though, he seemed a little different than normal. He was actually talking to that nasty little Malfoy boy."

Remus and Sirius exchanged glances. Harry talking to Draco? Something was most definitely off. James meanwhile looked like he had eaten something sour.

"Malfoy? As in Lucius Malfoy and his lot? He had a son about two months older than Harry, right?" he asked, and when he received a confirmatory nod he burst out, "Why is he talking to him?"

"Why can't you be more open minded?" Lily retorted.

As James sulked Tonks asked, "I know you're his parents and everything, but why were you wondering? Also, why do you seem more anxious now that you know he's still alive and all that?"

"Oh, it's nothing! I'm fine," Lily said quickly then looked at the clock, "Oh, look at the time! Tonks dear, would you like to come and stay the night with us? Remus and Sirius could come over and we could talk more tomorrow."

Tonks looked at Remus and was about to say that they were married and didn't need separate rooms but paused when she saw he was avoiding her eyes. "Yes, I'd be glad to, thank you for the offer." she gave Remus a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Goodnight, I'll see you tomorrow. Is ten o'clock all right for you guys?"

"Yes, that's fine. Goodnight." Remus said as James, Lily, and Tonks left.

"It's going to be one long day tomorrow," Sirius said wearily.

Remus sighed, "Yes, it is."

-- -- --

End chapter 6