6Tonks waited patiently in the dark of the house. The only light coming in was the full moon shining on half of her body. Staying up late at night wasn't something Tonks normally did, but tonight was no other night. Tonight was a full moon. Tonks felt guilty for having to push Remus out of the house during his transformation. Of course, HE had wanted her to, but SHE hadn't wanted to, yet as soon as the transformation started she had panicked and gotten him out. The sun was starting to rise. Tonks was beginning to worry. Usually, Remus would be back by now, but he wasn't. What if he ran into another, larger animal? What if he had slipped and drowned somewhere? Then he would be…he would be…Tonks shuddered. She didn't want to think of what COULD happen to him. Reassuring herself that nothing would happen, she slowly fell asleep.
Walking back home, Remus slowly transformed back. His neck felt wet. His head was dripping with something. He ran his hand back behind his head. He felt the liquid dripping into his hand. Looking at it closely, he realized, through this mists of dawn, what the liquid was. It was blood. Swearing silently, Remus started to feel his head throb. Great. He thought. Tonks is going to be terribly worried about me. I really don't want her to be. This is a dangerous marriage enough. Remus sighed and squinted to see that the house was in view. Oh, boy. He thought. Stepping onto the porch, he walked a little farther, and opened the door as quietly as he could. Looking around, expecting to see Tonks come up to greet him, he found her sleeping quietly in an armchair. She was sitting there with her arms wrapped around her legs, and her knees up at her chest. She slept peacefully. Remus quickly wrote an explanatory note and taped it on the door. He apparated-as much as he didn't want to-to St. Mungo's. There was a loud CRACK and he was gone.
Suddenly, Tonks woke up. She had heard a crack. Looking around, Tonks found the note on the door. It read:
Dear,
It appears I have acquired a large gash in the back of my head during my "travels". I will be fine.
I love you
Remus
P.S.: I am at St. Mungo's if you wish to see me.
Tonks crumpled the note looking around nervously.
"I knew this would happen, I KNEW this would happen!" Tonks muttered to herself.
She got into a better outfit, had a quick cup of tea, and apparated to St. Mungo's, arriving in the waiting room.
"I'm here to see Remus Lupin." Said Tonks politely.
"Oh." Replied the witch at the desk, "Ok, um, I should let you know that his injury, it…it doesn't look good…" There was a long silence. Tonks looked devastated.
"Third ward, room four." Said the witch quietly.
Tonks walked as fast as she could to the right ward and room. She opened the door. Remus was lying limply on the bed. The sound of his heart beat was slowly beeping. VERY slowly. This made Tonks' stomach turn upside-down. She sat by his bed-side a long time. Finally, the Healer in charge came in and gave the report.
"He's lost a lot of blood." Explained the Healer, "The pieces of fractured skull could have damaged his brain."
Tonks felt her face grow pale.
"I have to check on the patient over there," He pointed to the patient at the far end of the room, "I'll be right back."
Tonks buried her face in her hands. She thought she was going to cry, but there was still hope inside that Remus would be okay.
Suddenly, the heart rate sounded as one single, non-stop beep.
"No. No! NO!" Shouted Tonks, "SOMEBODY HELP HIM! SOMEONE HELP MY HUSBAND! PLEASE!"
Healers started running to help Remus. They crowded around him, blocking Tonks' view.
"Ma'am, we need you to leave, I'm not sure there is anything we can do." Said one healer.
Tonks looked horrorstruck. She looked as though she had been hit with the killing curse. She apparated home. Immediately she started to cry. How could this happen? It couldn't. But…it DID! She thought.