Bandaging

Nymphadora Tonks was a clumsy girl.

Technically, she was Sirius Black's niece by blood, which meant Harry had to call her "sister."

But Sirius still didn't want her involved in this matter.

However, since Harry had already given his approval, Sirius had no objections.

Both of them nodded. Remus Lupin simply let out a deep sigh. He said nothing, burying his head in his food while Tonks cheered, waving her fork in excitement—she looked just like a farmer who had just taken down a Witcher with a pitchfork and was now gloating over it.

George and Fred exchanged glances.

Even Tonks could join?!

Did that mean they could too?

They were itching to speak, their mouths already opening—

But Harry looked up at them, his gaze serious and silent.

Alright…

They immediately understood and swallowed back the words they had been about to say.

After dinner, Lupin pulled Harry and Sirius into his bedroom without giving them a chance to refuse.

"Harry, why did you let her get involved?" The door wasn't even fully shut when Lupin grabbed Sirius by the shoulder and questioned Harry.

"You seem anxious," Harry said with a slight smile.

Lupin glared at him. "Anxious? No. She's just not suited for this."

"How is she not suited? She's an Auror—the most professional one in the entire Order of the Phoenix," Harry replied, guiding him to sit down.

"She's not here because of professionalism!" Lupin's voice lowered, barely restraining his frustration.

Harry sat down as well. "Then why is she here?"

He gave Lupin an encouraging look.

Lupin frowned, hesitating for a moment before answering, "She's impulsive, probably just curious, and reckless. She just wants to join in—like the Weasley twins."

"George and Fred didn't say anything," Harry pointed out.

Lupin scoffed. "Didn't say anything? I saw them about to speak, but they got scared silent by your stare."

"They're only in seventh year." Harry stretched lazily.

"Tonks is also just a girl," Lupin countered.

Harry remained expressionless. "A twenty-three-year-old girl?"

"Twenty-three isn't old?" Lupin asked righteously.

"She graduated six years ago," Harry refuted. "For perspective, my mother had already given birth to me two years after graduation. At most, Tonks is a young woman."

Lupin had no rebuttal. He lowered his head for a long moment before suddenly looking up. "You and Sirius barely know her."

Sirius cut him off. "No, we've known her for a long time."

"Tonks's mother is my cousin. If Andromeda hadn't been disowned for marrying a Muggle, she would have inherited everything from the Black family while I was in prison," Sirius explained.

Lupin froze.

"She's my sister," Harry added. "We can trust her."

Lupin gritted his teeth. "I hate you people who stick together just because of blood ties."

He fell silent. No matter how many reasons Sirius and Harry listed, he still showed obvious resistance.

"I know what you two are thinking," he sighed after a long pause. "You don't need to do this. There's no possibility between me and Tonks."

"You don't like her?" Sirius asked, his expression odd.

Lupin didn't answer.

Harry, mercilessly, exposed the truth. "It's too early to call it 'liking,' but there's definitely interest."

Lupin shifted uncomfortably.

Harry continued, "Uncle Remus, you're a normal man. In the past, you had us around, but these past few years, you've been alone. Then suddenly, right in front of you, appears a lively, cheerful, and clever young woman."

"She's also single," Sirius added, emphasizing the key detail.

Harry smiled slightly. "She's full of youth and energy—exactly what a lonely man in his thirties lacks. Maybe, just maybe, when you sleep at night, you dream about how nice it would be to have a wife like her."

Lupin gritted his teeth. "I've never thought that!"

"Haven't you?" Harry raised an eyebrow.

Lupin's gaze darted away. "Even if I had feelings for her, it's impossible."

"If you like her, why is it impossible?" Sirius asked, dissatisfied.

Lupin lifted his head, looking at both of them with sincerity. "If you two had daughters, would you be willing to marry them off to a werewolf?"

Sirius immediately nodded. "Of course, I wouldn't mind."

Lupin didn't even acknowledge his answer—it had come too fast, without any real consideration.

"If it were someone like you, I wouldn't mind," Harry answered seriously after some thought.

Lupin's expression grew complicated. He shook his head. "You two are family. Of course, you'd say that. But Tonks isn't. Why would she ever choose a scruffy—"

"You have money now. You can buy some new robes," Harry interrupted.

"—a filthy—"

"You can bathe more often."

"Harry!" Lupin slapped his knee. "I'm not talking about my appearance. I mean inside. I'm a werewolf. A filthy werewolf!"

"We're working on curing lycanthropy, aren't we?" Harry said calmly.

Sirius nodded. "Exactly. You need to have faith in Harry—he's capable."

Lupin shrank into himself. "Regardless of my issues, let's be realistic. Tonks wouldn't like me."

Harry said nothing.

Sirius glanced between them, puzzled.

Was it… his imagination?

Lupin stammered, "I—I mean, I think Tonks probably likes Sirius. She's always playing around with him, always clinging to him."

Sirius frowned.

So it wasn't his imagination?

"That's different," Harry shook his head. "My godfather is a big kid. Everyone likes playing with him."

"Tonks too. She just enjoys playing with Sirius because no one else invites her."

Lupin's face twisted. "Harry, you just said she's a grown woman."

"That doesn't contradict anything," Harry said, turning to Sirius. "Godfather is also a grown man, but look at him—carefree and irresponsible."

Sirius puffed out his chest proudly, not feeling insulted at all.

Lupin remained silent.

"We don't know what Tonks really thinks," Harry continued. "Maybe she sees it the way I do. Maybe she sees it the way you do. But no matter what, Uncle Remus, just give yourself a chance."

"If she is interested in you…"

"Remember one of the methods I told you about?"

Lupin murmured, "Pure, unconditional love can turn a beast into a man."

Harry nodded.

"If nothing else works, this is worth a try," he said softly. "You might not only cure lycanthropy but also gain someone who loves you. Isn't that worth it?"

Lupin hesitated, his hands clenching into fists.

"And there's no backing out. Sirius and I have already agreed," Harry said, standing up and firming his tone.

Lupin reluctantly relented. "Fine."

Sirius and Harry exchanged a look, then both clicked their tongues in disdain.

—

The next evening, the four of them sat in the living room chatting.

Lupin was restless.

As the last sliver of sunlight was swallowed by the night, Harry waved his wand, clearing the long table and leaving only a small round one.

Lupin took a deep breath and moved to the edge of the room.

Tonks watched, entranced.

Moonlight poured in, breaking the barrier between man and beast. Lupin's clothes tore, thick fur sprouted, and his head shifted into that of a wolf.

He turned, his sharp gaze flickering—but inevitably lingering around Tonks.

"What do you think, Tonks?" Harry asked, stepping closer.

Tonks' voice was unreadable. "So this is a werewolf?"

"Hideous, isn't it?" Lupin muttered.

Tonks shook her head. "No, actually… kinda cute."

Lupin was speechless.

Harry reached out and ruffled Lupin's rough fur. "Ugh. Gray and scruffy. It'd be better if it were silver."

"Black," Sirius corrected. "Black would look best."

Tonks giggled. "Why not pink?"

Both men hesitated.

"…A pink werewolf?" Harry's face twitched.

Sirius grimaced. "That… feels wrong."

"Let's try it!" Tonks lifted her wand and cast a spell toward Lupin.

Nothing happened.

She blinked.

"Werewolves have strong magic resistance," Lupin explained.

Tonks blinked in surprise.

"Werewolves have strong resistance to magic," Lupin explained. "When dealing with dark magical creatures like me, wizards typically rely on Shield Charms, Summoning Charms, or Transfiguration spells."

"You should—"

"Yes, yes, I know, Professor Lupin," Tonks interrupted, rolling her eyes. "I learned that back at Hogwarts."

"So, if magic won't work, what do we do now?"

She really wanted to see a pink werewolf.

"When Uncle Remus turns back into a human, you can use a pink charm on him," Harry reminded her.

Tonks' eyes sparkled.

"Harry, you shouldn't encourage—" Lupin started.

But Harry had already drawn Gryffindor's sword.

"What are you doing?" Lupin's voice turned into a startled growl. "Harry?"

"I thought of a potential remedy," Harry said, gripping the sword. "Maybe you should try eating your own flesh?"

During his time at Kaer Morhen, Geralt had told him about an encounter with a werewolf named Morkvarg. In the end, Morkvarg had been freed from his curse when Geralt forced him to eat his own flesh.

"…Eating my own flesh?" Lupin was confused.

Harry nodded. "Yeah, worth a try. You're not afraid of pain, are you?"

Lupin clenched his jaw but nodded.

Tonks, suddenly concerned, frantically rummaged through her pockets. "Wait, let me get some dittany first—"

Harry waved his wand, sending several bottles of potion, bandages, and dittany flying from his pocket into Tonks' hands. "Tonks, you handle the bandaging."

"No problem!" Tonks responded enthusiastically.

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Powerstones?

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