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"I’m talking about your niece, Bellatrix. And yours, Lucius and Narcissa. She has just married the werewolf, Remus Lupin. You must be so proud."
— Announcement of the wedding that took place[src]

The wedding of Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks took place in July of 1997, during the height of the Second Wizarding War.

It was kept private as the Ministry of Magic had passed legislation that was not favourable to werewolves.[2] One result of this union came in the form of the couple's only child, Teddy Lupin.

Their marriage only lasted a year, before the couple was murdered in the Battle of Hogwarts.

History[]

Prelude[]

Nymphadora Tonks: "I don't care either, I don't care! I've told you a million times..."
Remus Lupin: "And I've told you a million times, that I am too old for you, too poor... too dangerous..."
— Lupin trying to discourage Tonks's affections for him[src]

Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks met when they both became members of the second Order of the Phoenix. At some point before the summer of 1996, Tonks fell deeply in love with Remus. Although he returned her feelings he refused to become involved with her. He claimed that he was too poor, too old, and too dangerous for her, despite her repeatedly telling him that his lycanthropy did not matter to her. Tonks became very depressed over this: her metamorphic abilities suffered, she looked ill, as well as her Patronus changed to resemble a wolf.

Funeral of Albus Dumbledore

Lupin and Tonks attended Dumbledore's funeral together

After the Battle of the Astronomy Tower on 30 June, 1997, Tonks and Remus witnessed Fleur Delacour declare her continuing love for fiancé Bill Weasley, in spite of his scarring at the hands of the vicious werewolf Fenrir Greyback. Tonks argued that their relationship was the same. Remus tried to discourage her, insisting that "the cases are totally different" by pointing out that Bill would not not become a full werewolf, though he would experience mild symptoms of lycanthropy. However, the two seemed to grow closer afterward, attending the funeral of Albus Dumbledore together.[3]

Wedding[]

Remus and Tonks married in July of 1997 and they informed Harry Potter of their newlywed status just prior to the Battle of the Seven Potters[2] in the north of Scotland, with witnesses taken from the local wizarding tavern. Remus continued to fear that the stigma attached to him would infect his wife and wished for no fanfare around their union.[1]

They had to keep their marriage quiet, as the Ministry of Magic had put anti-werewolf legislation into effect. They both expressed regret that Harry could not attend.[2]

Marriage[]

Nymphadora Tonks: "Harry, guess what?"
Harry Potter: "You got married?"
Nymphadora Tonks: "I'm sorry you couldn't be there, Harry, it was very quiet."
— Tonks telling Harry about her marriage to Remus Lupin[src]
Tonks with her wand at the ready DHF1

Tonks during her pregnancy, wearing what appears to be a maternity dress

Following their marriage, Remus swung constantly between elation that he was married to the woman of his dreams and terror of what he might have brought upon them both.[1]

Lord Voldemort also learned of the marriage, as well as used it to mock the Malfoys and Bellatrix Lestrange at a meeting in Malfoy Manor as Tonks’ mother Andromeda Tonks was the sister of Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy.[4]

Tonks told Harry of her and Remus’ marriage when they arrived at Private Drive prior to the Battle of the Seven Potters, showing him her wedding ring and apologising for him not being there.[2] The couple had to leave Harry's birthday party on 31 July when Minister for Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour arrived to discuss the contents of Dumbledore's will with Harry, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger.[5] Around this time, Tonks became pregnant.[6]

Harry noted that Remus seemed unhappy at both this party[5] and at the wedding of Bill and Fleur the following day[7]. This may have been because of several reasons: the anti-werewolf legislation, his suspicions that his in-laws disapproved of his marriage to Tonks[8], or because of Tonks' pregnancy.

Remus was extremely upset by the pregnancy. He believed that by marrying Tonks he had made her an outcast among society, because of his lycanthropy, as well as feared that he would pass on his affliction to their child. Remus briefly left his wife, as well as visited Harry, Ron, and Hermione in Grimmauld Place, where he told them that most of the guests had escaped after the wedding was attacked, as well as that Voldemort had taken over the Ministry. He requested to accompany Harry, Ron, and Hermione on their quest to find and destroy Voldemort's Horcruxes. Harry strongly disapproved, believing that "parents shouldn't leave their kids unless unless they’ve got to." He and Remus had a fierce row and Ron and Hermione admonished Harry for his rudeness. Harry felt slightly guilty, but hoped that it would be worth it if Remus returned to his pregnant wife, which he subsequently did.[1][8]

Remus Lupin & Nymphadora Tonks Deceased

Remus and Tonks's dead bodies lying in the Great Hall during the one-hour armistice

Remus and Tonks had a son in April of 1998 whom they named Teddy, after his maternal grandfather, Ted Tonks, who had been murdered by Snatchers. They named Harry Potter his godfather.[9] However, their happiness would be short-lived. On 2 May, Dumbledore's Army led a call to arms at Hogwarts and the Order of the Phoenix answered. Remus convinced Tonks to remain behind at her parents' home with their newborn son initially, but she found the thought of her husband rushing off to battle and possibly dying while she waited in safety unbearable. Leaving Teddy in the care of her mother Andromeda Tonks, Tonks rushed to join the Battle of Hogwarts.[10] Remus and Tonks were both murdered in battle, he by Antonin Dolohov and she by Bellatrix Lestrange, her own aunt.

Aftermath[]

Teddy was subsequently raised by his maternal grandmother, Andromeda Tonks, though he would also spend a great deal of time with the Potter and Weasley families growing up. When Harry spoke to Remus's spirit through the Resurrection Stone shortly before his final duel with Lord Voldemort, Remus expressed regret at not being able to know Teddy, but hoped that he would understand that his parents died fighting for a better world for their son to grow up in.[11]

Appearances[]

Behind the scenes[]

Unlike their book counterparts, the Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks of the films seem to already be a couple during Harry’s sixth year as in Half-Blood Prince film the pair travel together and Tonks calls Remus ‘sweetheart’. It’s not clear if the two are married but Harry doesn't seem to react to Tonks calling Remus ‘my husband’ in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.

Notes and references[]

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