Harry looked into the prematurely lined face, framed in thick but graying hair,

And wished that he could return a different answer.

“I can’t, Remus, I’m sorry. If Dumbledore didn’t tell you I don’t think I can.”

“I thought you’d say that,” said Lupin, looking disappointed. “But I might still be

Of some use to you. You know what I am and what I can do. I could come with you to

provide protection. There would be no need to tell me exactly what you were up to.”

Harry hesitated. It was a very tempting offer, though how they would be able to

Keep their mission secret from Lupin if he were with them all the time he could not

Imagine.

Hermione, however, looked puzzled.

“But what about Tonks?” she asked.

“What about her?” said Lupin.

“Well,” said Hermione, frowning, “you’re married! How does she feel about you

going away with us?”

“Tonks will be perfectly safe,” said Lupin, “She’ll be at her parents’ house.”

There was something strange in Lupin’s tone, it was almost cold. There was also

something odd in the idea of Tonks remaining hidden at her parents’ house; she was, after

All, a member of the Order and, as far as Harry knew, was likely to want to be in the thick

Of the action.

“Remus,” said Hermione tentatively, “is everything all right . . . you know . . .

between you and – ”

“Everything is fine, thank you,” said Lupin pointedly.

Hermione turned pink. There was another pause, an awkward and embarrassed

One, and then Lupin said, with an air of forcing himself to admit something unpleasant,

“Tonks is going to have a baby.”

“Oh, how wonderful!” squealed Hermione.

“Excellent!” said Ron enthusiastically.

“Congratulations,” said Harry.

Lupin gave an artificial smile that was more like a grimace, then said, “So . . . do

you accept my offer? Will three become four? I cannot believe that Dumbledore would

Have disapproved, he appointed me your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, after all.

And I must tell you that I believe we are facing magic many of us have never

encountered or imagined.”

Ron and Hermione both looked at Harry.

“Just – just to be clear,” he said. “You want to leave Tonks at her parents’ house

and come away with us?”

“She’ll be perfectly safe there, they’ll look after her,” said Lupin. He spoke with a

finality bordering on indifference: “Harry, I’m sure James would have wanted me to stick

with you.”

“Well,” said Harry slowly, “I’m not. I’m pretty sure my father would have wanted

to know why you aren’t sticking with your own kid, actually.”

Lupin’s face drained of color. The temperature in the kitchen might have dropped

Ten degrees. Ron stared around the room as though he had been bidden to memorize it,

while Hermione’s eyes swiveled backward and forward from Harry to Lupin.

“You don’t understand,” said Lupin at last.

“Explain, then,” said Harry.

Lupin swallowed.

“I – I made a grave mistake in marrying Tonks. I did it against my better

judgment and have regretted it very much every since.”

“I see,” said Harry, “so you’re just going to dump her and the kid and run off with

us?”

Lupin sprang to his feet: His chair toppled over backward, and he glared at them

So fiercely that Harry saw, for the first time ever, she shadow of the wolf upon his human

Face.

“Don’t you understand what I’ve done to my wife and my unborn child? I should

never have married her, I’ve made her an outcast!”

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 622