Reunion

~ Disclaimer: I own nothing but what springs from my imagination. Remus Lupin, Severus Snape, Hogwarts, and the rest of the Potterverse are the property and the children of JK Rowling. ~

Reunion
Chapter 7: A Subtle Kick in the Butt

Tonks left the Great Hall with Oliver Wood, making sure that Remus watched the pair depart. She grabbed his hand as they passed by the staff table. Much to her chagrin, Remus didn’t seem to notice. Tonks was growing impatient with this game. She knew she could make the werewolf love her. She knew it. But in the meantime, there was Oliver, younger, eager, good looking…what better way to make Remus realize what he was missing than for him to catch her in the act with another man. Tonks wondered if she was becoming desperate, but decided that in the long run, it didn’t matter. Oliver was a means to an end, and that end was Remus Lupin. She had it set up perfectly. A roll in the hay with Oliver, which Remus would walk in on. He’d become jealous and sweep her off her feet. It worked in Muggle movies…

“So, Oliver,” she said, batting her eyes at him, “what would you like to do this afternoon?”

“I don’t know, I thought I’d do some flying.”

Tonks rolled her eyes, “That’s boring.”

“You have a better idea?”

“Oh, I certainly do,” she said, drawing a finger down Oliver’s chest, “I thought we could get better acquainted.”

“Well, there’s that, I suppose,” said Oliver, his voice somewhat flat.

“You are very attractive, Oliver, and I can’t think of a better way to spend the afternoon than alone witch och other.”

“Thanks but no thanks, Tonks.”

“Excuse me?”

“I prefer not being used, thank you very much.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Clearly you think you can use me to make Professor Lupin jealous. It’s not going to happen.”

“What makes you say that? Did Hermione talk to you?”

“Hermione?” he asked, a confused look flitting across his handsome face, “What has she to do with this? I can see the looks you give Professor Lupin. You figure you can make him jealous with me. Well, Tonks, I won’t be used like that. It’s simply not my style. I think you need to get a grip and figure out what the issues are with you. Maybe talk to someone…”

“Talk to who?”

“A friend?”

“I don’t think I have any of those anymore. Certainly not here.”

“Then find one, because I think you need someone to talk to. This…obsession…with Lupin can’t be healthy. Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a Quidditch game tonight and I need some flight time.”

Oliver turned and headed to the Quidditch pitch, leaving Tonks standing there alone, or so she thought.

“Using someone innocent like Oliver Wood to make Remus jealous? Not exactly mature, is it now?” said a silky cool voice from behind Tonks.

Tonks turned around and found herself looking into a pair of vivid blue eyes belonging to Professor Ariah Morrigan.

“What business is it of yours?” asked Tonks.

“None, other than the fact that Remus is my friend.”

“Well, he’s more than a friend to me.”

“Maybe so, but don’t you think you could show a little self respect?”

“And you’re an expert on that? If I remember correctly, you shack up with a Death Eater,” Tonks spat out.

“Yes, I am with a man who was a Death Eater. He isn’t anymore. Hasn’t been in quite some time. Your point is?” said Ariah, her voice remaining cool, “actually, I don’t care what your point is. I’m concerned about Remus and the game you’re playing. It’s childish. It’s unfair. I’m sorry you thought that what you had with Remus was more than what it was, but is that any reason to play games?”

“I love him.”

“Then let him go.”

“I can’t.”

“You won’t,” stated Ariah, “there’s a difference.”

“You don’t know anything about me.”

“Do you know anything about you?” countered Ariah, “You seem like a nice enough girl, but every time I’ve seen you, you’ve looked different. Hell, you’ve even acted different. I think you need to find out who you are.”

“I’m a metamorphmagus. I’m supposed to change my appearance…”

“Or hide behind it. Look, I’m only saying anything at all because Remus is my friend and it ars ars you’re playing a game with him and I don’t like it.”

“You want Remus, don’t you?” asked Tonks, glaring at the goddess.

“Me?” scoffed Ariah, “Hardly. I’m very happy with Severus. Deliriously ha in in fact. No, I don’t want Remus. But you seem to. So, let me give you one piece of advice. If you want to find happiness with someone, you need to find happiness with yourself. I know what I’m talking about. I spent a long time looking for happiness with one particular man, and all I had to do was reach out for him. I didn’t. For well over 20 years I pined for him. It wasn’t until I could deal with it like an adult and discover who I was, to define myself as an individual instead of as part of the Morrigan, that I ended up doing anything about it. In the meantime, he made some horrendous decisions, as did I, and he almost died countless times. But we both survived, and now we have each other, as flawed as we are separately and as a couple. I love him dearly and I know he loves me. You want any chance with Remus? Find out who you are first.”

“You’re a goddess. You’re perfect. The paragon of perfection,” stated Tonks bitterly.

“You have got to be kidding. I am so far from perfect. I make mistakes daily. Just because I’m a goddess doesn’t mean I’m infallible. Please. The gods are merely bundles of neurotic imperfection.”

Tonks thought for a moment. She screwed up her face and transformed from the tall blonde into a rather petite woman with medium length light brown hair and earnest gray eyes. She wasn’t beautiful, but she was pretty in an average way. Her eyes filled with tears as she looked at Ariah.

“This is what I am. It’s nothing special. How can I expect to attract Remus with this face?” she asked.

“If it’s who you are, if it’s meant to be, it should be enough,” said Ariah.

“What if it isn’t?”

“Then it isn’t,” stated Ariah as she turned to walk away.

“Ariah?”

“What?”

“That’s it? You’re just going to leave?”

“You’re not my problem or my concern. Deal with it on your own.” Ariah walked away leaving Tonks standing there alone.

Tonks looked after the departing goddess. She realized that Ariah was correct. Even though she didn’t like her, Tonks had to respect what Ariah said. She didn’t love herself. coulcould Remus love her? Tonks had work to do, and she couldn’t figure out who she was while surrounded byt sht she was comfortable and familiar with. Like Remus, she had to get away, take a journey, find herself. She thought of going to America. The thought appealed to her. Far away from comfort, far away from Remus. Perhaps following his lead would do her a world of good. She thought about America. And with a smile, she thought about New York City. There was a wizarding community there as well as an amazing assortment of Muggles. She had heard a great deal about it and decided that was where she needed to be. She would take a leave of absence from the Ministry and leave as soon as possible. She slowly walked to the Hogwarts gates and apparated away from the school.

“Do you think it worked?” asked Remus, stepping out of the shadows.

“I hope so,” answered Ariah, “everyone needs a good kick in the head every now and again. Just glad I’m the one who got to do it. Just wish it could have been a literal kick in the head.”

“You really don’t like her, do you?”

“I don’t really know her, but she annoyed me. Not very sporting of me, I know.”

“Hey, you’ve got some human in you.”

Ariah looked slyly at Remus, “not right now I don’t, but I think I’ll head back to the dungeons and get some human in me…”

Remus laughed, “you are so bad.”

“But so good at it. See you at Quidditch tonight?”

“Absolutely. I’m reffing.”

“See you later.”

“Have fun.”

“You have no idea…” Ariah smiled as she headed back to the castle.

Remus looked out at the road outside the gates and sighed. Tonks had work to do. He just wondereat sat she would be like when she returned.