Reconciliation - for true_marauder

[auror_aura]

Tonks felt, if anything, worse than ever after the scene she made in the Hospital Wing. For one thing, it had been completely the wrong place and time for her to start arguing with Remus again. Dumbledore was dead, everyone was mourning, and who knew what was going to happen next? But also, Tonks knew Remus would be even angrier with her for airing

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[true_marauder]

Remus had spent most of the night wandering the halls and rooms of the castle, staying away from the hospital wing and Dumbledore - now Minerva's - office. He'd walked past the painting of the fat lady more then once, and each time she'd invited him inside the common room that had once been his home. Each time he had refused, trusting that Harry was safe inside, not believing that there was anything he could say to the grieving boy. He hadn't entered the tower when he'd taught here either

[auror_aura]

She knew this was a bad idea. The moment she saw him, all she wanted to do was take him in her arms and hold him close, and help him get some rest. But she couldn't, because he wouldn't let her. Because he would tell her that the thing that felt more right to her than anything ever had before... was wrong.

Just seeing him like that, and knowing what she knew, she almost couldn't speak for a moment.

"I... Remus. I don't mean to bother you. I just wanted to apologize. May I come in?"

[true_marauder]

He stood aside and opened the door wider, silently answering her request. Emotions flooded through him, too many to identify. Concern for the dark circles under her eyes that told him she hadn't slept much more then he had. Relief that she was still alive after last night. Discomfort. Embarrassment. Sadness. An anger that he hated feeling but couldn't deny. And overlying everything else the love that had never faded.

"It was a long, hard night last night. I think we can just forget some of the things that were said."

[auror_aura]

Tonks nodded faintly. "I just... I have to apologize. I meant every word I said, but it wasn't the time or the place to say it. I embarrassed you and made a fool of myself at a completely inappropriate moment, in front of a bunch of people who don't have any business knowing our personal affairs, and I just... I'm sorry. I hope you can forgive me. I don't -"

She was going to continue but she choked a little and turned her face away, because he'd seen her crying enough over the past few months and he didn't need to keep feeling sorry for her.

"I don't want you to think less of me. I feel like I've been letting everyone down lately. I thought I was better than this."