Chapter Three

"Dance with me?"

My wife grabbed hold of my hand and pulled me out of the chair I had been sitting in virtually all evening.

The sun was sinking fast behind the canopy in the Burrow's garden as the band began a soft, instrumental arrangement of 'Cauldron full of Hot Strong Love,'. I found, to my surprise, that the music was rather nice without the screeching soprano Celestina Warbeck usually provided.

As Dora led me onto the dance floor I could not help but smile watching the blonde curls she'd sported for the day bounce adorably behind her.

"Now there's the smile I've been looking for," She said, placing one of her hands around my waist and her other hand in mine.

"You always manage to bring it out," I told her.

She laid her head against my shoulder and gave me the same radiant smile I had seen on our wedding day. The memory clenched in my chest as the band continued to play.

How could she smile at me that way after everything that had happened? Her parent's disapproval, a secret wedding, the loss of her job and now a baby on the way.

I knew that any other woman would have run for the hills long ago. It seems that nothing can deter my Dora and I have never known whether to be comforted or dismayed by this fact.

As the song progressed, my hand moved further along Dora's waist. I could smell the stinging exotic scent of her perfume. She always smelled of citrus and spice and herbs that I'm not sure I could name.

It was the first time I had held her so closely since she told me about the baby. I did not trust myself with her. But tonight…tonight was different. On this day so filled with love and joy and hope it seemed that all would be forgiven.

I caressed her small hand with the tips of my fingers, felt the curve of her back and took in her ivory skin, flushed pink from the excitement of the day.

She was so beautiful.

This was my last coherent thought before everything came crashing down around us.

The song had nearly finished when a silvery lynx bounded gracefully into the center of the dance floor:

'The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming."

Silence. Everything was completely still for what seemed like hours, then several things happened at once.

A scream from the back of the garden, a cacophony of panicked voices, many loud cracks of disapperation and, finally, about a dozen figures robed and masked appearing from every direction.

Dora and I cast the shield charm together; I could hear other order members repeating the spell on all sides of the garden.

It would not stop them we knew. We only hoped to buy Harry and the others enough time.

Soon, the Death Eaters had broken through every charm no matter how strong. They surrounded us and went about forcibly disarming each order member they found.

Dora, wisely, stored her wand in the pocket of her robe before they reached us. I did the same.

They corralled us into the center of the courtyard. By this time only the Weasleys (Ron notably absent), Fleur's parents, a handful of guests, Dora and I remained.

"Line up by the fountain," The order came from the front of the ring they had created around the proscenium of the garden. The wedding guests scurried to obey.

A tall, muscular looking man soon stepped out of the circle and unmasked himself as he walked towards us.

Tonks tugged at the sleeve of my robe.

"Runcorn," she whispered. I could do nothing but nod though I felt something fierce, almost like fire rise from the pit of my stomach all the way up through my chest. So this was the lecherous bastard who attempted to blackmail and then rape my wife.

For the first time since I had been face to face with Wormtail I felt a desperate desire to kill.

I knew that to act on such a desire now would mean death for all of us. So, I simply pressed Dora closer to me and prayed for five minutes alone with the man.

We stood side by side in a single file line next to the fountain.

Runcorn called over the confused whispers still present within the crowd:

"We've received intelligence that the fugitive Harry Potter is likely to use this place of residence as a safe haven,"

He turned to two men, still masked, and nodded to them. They moved from the circle to the Burrows back door, opened it with a simple alohamora and entered the home.

"We have been issued an official permit to search this home as well as to interrogate all witnesses present about any information regarding Harry Potter or his companions," He made his way to the front of the line.

"You will be taken into the building one at a time to be questioned,"

And so they were. Each guest was taken by Runcorn and at least one other death eater into the Burrow. Each one came out approximately one hour later. Some had bruises and cuts, some appeared unharmed, most were weak and shaken.

When Runcorn reached us, he went to Dora first. The look in his eyes was unmistakable.

I pushed closer to her so that I nearly blocked her body with mine. I may not have been able to provide much for her as a husband, and I knew that I had done her more harm than good.

But I also knew that this was one duty I could fulfill.

My hand was curled around the wand still hidden inside my robe. One wrong move on his part and…

"I think I'll take these two together," Runcorn told his companions.

"Slewyn, you take the Werewolf into the house. I'll follow with the girl,"

A large death eater tugged my arm and I followed him; glancing back over my shoulder, even as we neared the Burrow's entrance.

"Hand over your wand Werewolf," Slewyn spat once we were inside.

I hesitated only once before taking my wand out of the pocket of my robe and giving it over.

Slewyn led me into the Kitchen which they were apparently using as a base of operations.

He shoved me roughly down into a chair. A moment later I saw Dora and Runcorn enter the room. She pushed past him immediately and moved to sit in the chair next to mine.

He grabbed her arm and held her back.

"Your wand, Miss Tonks," Runcorn demanded. Tonks tossed her head back and looked at him defiantly before reaching into her robes and placing her wand forcefully in his outstretched hand.

"And it's Mrs. Lupin if you don't mind," she told Runcorn with a dignified air plopping herself down in the seat.

He ran his hand along the back of her seat, eyeing her all the while as though he were a predator, toying with his food before making the kill.

"Now," Runcorn said with a jeering sort of smile.

"Nymphadora, you and the Werewolf are members of the Order of the Phoenix are you not?"

I looked to Tonks, she looked to me. It was an unspoken yet near sacred rule that we never announced our allegiance to the Order in public. Even with those who we know would be sympathetic to our cause.

"Come now. No need to be coy," He took a plain manilla envelope from the pocket of his robe and rifled through it.

" All dark creatures are tagged when registered. Apparently Lupin, being the good citizen he is, registered himself with the ministry as soon as he was eligible to do so."

I felt heat race up my neck and cover my face. Even in my attempts to do right…

"We've been able to monitor his activity whenever we felt the need to."

"You can't prove anything,"

I felt a quick sting whip across my face. Slewyn had dragged the sharp edge of his wand across my cheek.

"He wasn't talking to you ibeast/i," he said.

Runcorn chuckled, apparently highly amused.

"My, my Nymphadora. Not particularly civilized is he? Perhaps you should have spent more time training him."

"And what exactly do you consider civilized, Runcorn?" Tonks asked heatedly rising from her chair. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Slewyn step forward.

"Dora…" I pleaded attempting to lead her back down to her seat. She waved me off with an impatient hand and continued.

"Should he grab a girl, shove her down onto a desk and try to rape her? Is that what icivilized/i men do?"

I saw Slewyn extend his wand at this.

"Dora, please. Sit-"

"I will not isit/i, Remus! I'm sick and tired of being shoved around by these-"

i"Crucio"/i

Tonks doubled over screaming in pain and clutching her stomach, desperately trying to protect the small weak life which grew there; not yet three weeks old.

"Stop!" I yelled. To my surprise it did.

Dora slumped weakly down into her chair breathing heavily. I looked to Slewyn who still brandished his wand, and Runcorn who, with a hand signal had given the order to end the torture.

I inched over to Dora, wrapped my arms around her and pressed her tightly against my chest. I could feel her body still trembling beneath me.

"Lupin," Runcorn addressed me for the first time. His voice was cold and sounded exceptionally deadly. I turned from Dora to look at him. He had drawn his own wand and pointed it directly at me.

"Unless you want that episode repeated, you will move away from her," He told me. There was a flash of something in Runcorn's eyes which made me want to hold Dora more tightly to me. He changed the direction of his wand and moved it towards her, nearly connecting with her chest. He gave me a look which I dared not disobey.

Slowly, hesitantly, I removed my arms from around Nymphadora's middle and sidled back into my seat. Slewyn remained at the doorway watching the scene with an almost anticipatory edge.

Runcorn moved to Dora's side, took her hands and hoisted her to her feet, speaking soothingly to her all the while.

"There, there now Nymphadora," He began to move his hands up and down her arms in a gentle caress, "I know that you're intelligent. Intelligent enough to know that that will not happen again if you give me the answers I am looking for."

The look on his face was anything but soothing as his arms gripped hers evermore tightly.

I made to get up from my seat. Runcorn turned his wand on me, the soft manner he used with Dora gone entirely:

"Sit, Werewolf," he demanded. I hesitated, looking to Dora.

"Don't worry Remus," Dora said pulling away from Runcorn a hard look on her face, "Sit down, I can handle this."

I wanted to object. I wanted the chance to protect my wife...my unborn child. I wanted to prove myself to them. Still, without a wand, there was nothing to be done. I moved to the table and sat on the chairs edge; ready to attack at a moment's notice.

Runcorn turned his attention back to Tonks.

"We know that you have had contact with Potter," he told her. "Witnesses saw him enter your parents home on the twenty fifth of July. Is he still there?"

Dora glared at him before turning her head away, refusing to speak.

"Nymphadora," Runcorn said reaching his hand out to touch her chin, "you know that your silence will do you no good. Officials from the Ministry are questioning your parents at their home as we speak."

I saw a flicker of fear pass over my wife's face. I could not blame her. In these times, who knew what "questioning" would consist of.

"It would save them a lot of trouble if you confessed now."

"Harry isn't there," Tonks told him, her voice trembling slightly, "you don't have to question my parents. They don't know anything."

"The interrogation has already begun, my dear."

Runcorn did not look at all sorry at this piece of news. Indeed his eyes lit up at the prospect, and he eyed Tonks with a new and dangerous fervor.

I could feel my skin beginning to crawl and itch with the need to act. I stayed in my seat, weighing every possible option; I had to get us out of this somehow.

"I could put an end to it of course. But I won't. Not unless I iknow/i I can trust you,"

He caressed her cheek fully and moved his hand to stroke her hair.

"Get away from her," I said unable to hold myself back any longer. I stood up from my chair. I was going to stop this and damn the consequences when...

"Tergum,"

I was shoved back down into my seat, as if by an invisible hand. When I attempted to get up again, I could not.

I heard Slewyn guffa from the doorway as I struggled.

Runcorn turned to him as if just remembering his presence.

"Slewyn," he said without moving "Close the door and stand outside it. Make sure that no one comes in."

"Aw, come on Runcorn," Slewyn whined.

"Would you like me to tell the minister that you were not cooperative in the investigation, Slewyn?"

Runcorn asked calmly I turned in the direction of the door and saw Slewyn begin to tremble.

"No sir," he answered quietly.

"Good," Runcorn smiled gently at him. "Then you will wait outside."

"Right sir," opened the door and shuffled out but closed it rather forcefully.

"There," Runcorn said to Tonks as though speaking to a small child. "That's better isn't it? No more…distractions."

Tonks moved her arm quickly and reached inside Runcorn's robe. I caught a glimpse of the wand she had almost stolen before there was another cry of:

"Crucio,"

I felt pain sear through my body although the hex Runcorn had placed on me before kept me firmly rooted to the chair.

"Stop it!" Tonks cried.

The pain ceased leaving a dull ache in its place.

"I told you once before miss Tonks," Runcorn said coldly, "I hold a great deal of power, it was very foolish of you to humiliate me as you did."

"I've got a right to defend myself," Tonks said, her usual defiance still present, though I could sense a tremor of fear in her voice.

"I think you'll find that due to your recent marriage," Runcorn looked to me with an expression that bordered strangely on disgust and triumph. "…you have very few rights left; if any at all."

She opened her mouth to respond but closed it once again quickly. I could tell that she had no answer for this and it filled me with shame. I knew that this would happen; I knew that by marrying her I had as good as infected her with my curse.

It seemed that she was at last beginning to realize what that meant. It was coming to haunt her in the form of Runcorn's wandering hands and scowling mouth.

"However, I am a reasonable man Nymphadora. I will give you one last opportunity to redeem yourself."

One hand moved to her waist, shoving her hips against the wall. She struggled; kicked, writhed, it was no good. His firm hold on her was too strong.

I twisted fruitlessly against the invisible bonds holding me. I had performed an accio spell non-verbally before. Perhaps I could…

"You have two options," Runcorn was telling Tonks, smiling amused as she continued to kick and struggle.

'accio wand,' I tried to repeat the mantra over and over again in my mind hoping…but my wand was outside the room with Slewyn, too far for a successful summons. And Runcorn's words began spinning in my head, mocking me, I listened with baited breath.

"The first, and by far the kindest option is this," he struggled to maintain a firm hold of Tonks while keeping my hex in place, "you could leave your lover and take me instead. All would be restored to you: your job, your home and your reputation without delay."

"You're mad if you think I'd even consider that!" Tonks spat back at him. Runcorn's face clouded over.

"Your second option," he said through clenched teeth, "is far less kind. If you refuse my first offer, I will take you right here with your husband looking on. After that, you will watch while I slowly and painfully dispose of your little pet," his grin was twisted and vulgar, more wolfish than any werewolf's I had ever known.

"Either way," I heard him whisper, "I will have you. There is no escape from that."

Tonks stared at him apparently dumbfounded. I looked on uncertain of what to hope for in terms of an answer.

The least selfish part of me prayed for her to take the first. It would be so much easier for her to simply forget me and continue on with her life. But, the thought of Runcorn having her caused a fierce jealous fire to spread throughout my entire being, just as it had when I had first laid eyes on the man.

If she went with him, he would control her completely, who knew what he would make her do. I shuddered involuntarily at the thought. It was quite possible that, in Runcorn, I had found someone who deserved Dora even less than I did.

Within seconds, Dora was speaking again. Her usual brash manner still surprisingly yet unmistakably present.

"If you think I'd give anything to you willingly, you've got another thing coming," she told Runcorn quietly.

"It appears, Miss Tonks, as though you do not have much choice in the matter."

With that he shoved her against the wall and, in one movement, lifted her skirt to her waist. She writhed and kicked so hard that Runcorn was forced to use both hands to subdue her. I felt the hex lift as he moved the hand which held his wand to Dora's waist.

What happened next flies by my memory in a haze.

I do not remember leaving my chair, I do not remember lunging at Runcorn. All I remember was the jealous monster residing in my chest finally being released. I recall, vaguely, throwing myself on Runcorn, wrestling him to the ground, beating him with all the strength I had in me; biting at his hands, his arms, his legs any part of him I could reach.

The next voice I heard was Dora's

"Petrificus Totalus"

Runcorn became completely still beneath me and I knew that Dora had placed him in the body bind. He must have dropped his wand at her feet when I attacked.

I stopped my assault and slowly took stock of the damage I had done.

Now, as I stand over Runcorn's body, I can feel his blood pooled in my mouth; his arms and neck have been scratched and bitten beyond repair. I remember Bill, what Greyback did to him, and suddenly I feel as though I might be sick.

"Remus," her voice is soft and hesitant as she calls my name. I feel her hand on my arm. I flinch and turn away, unable to face her.

I hear Dora's footsteps as she draws near to Runcorn. I do not turn to see her reaction. I could not bear to see the disgust in her eyes.

She roots about inside his robes and when she comes back to me it is with her own wand in hand.

She moves in front of me, I register the shock on her face when she sees the blood. I watch her purse her lips together, point her wand to my face and say softly:

"Evanesco"

I feel a good deal of the blood disappear from the area around my mouth.

"That's got most of it," she says in a resigned manner. Then, she grabs my hand and tries to lead me to the door. I look back at Runcorn once more and find that I can not move.

"Remus, come on!" She begs. " My parents, we have to hurry if we're going to-Remus?"

"I acted like…" I allow my voice to trail off barely aware that I have said the words a loud.

"...Like a protective husband," She finishes for me, grabbing my hand and tugging me toward the door.

I follow slowly, unable to control my own feet. The thought of what I've done swirls in my mind. The shame of the act begins to fill me irrevocably.

I did not disarm him or hex him or even kill him as any other wizard might have done. I lunged at him, attacked him like a…

"Stupefy"

At Dora's words I hear Slewyn fall unconscious to the ground by the door. Dora bends down and hands me back my wand.

I take it automatically. I follow her out of the eastern gate where the sun had set so many hours earlier, feeling as though happily ever after is still a very long way off.

End Note: I'm considering continuing this, once I've finished with my other fic obligations (Namely Night Vigil) and would very much like your feed back. As always reviews and con-crit are very, very, very welcome.