Chapter One: The first time they met
It was a bleak and quiet day at Grimmault Place when a loud crack was heard and a young woman fell from a nearby tree. Two passerby's quickly rushed to her aide as the woman stood up and dusted herself off. She had to be in her early 20's with unusually loud, bubble gum pink pixie cut hair, sporting black cargo pants, metallic purple combat boots and a black, skin tight tank top with The Weird Sisters written in a shimmering blue across her chest. The branch that was assumed to be the one she was sitting on hung precariously above her.
"Are you alright?" asked a young man – a jogger who was halfway done with his morning run – as he guided her away from the tree, just in case the branch detached itself completely from the trunk.
"Perfectly peachy!" the young woman said with a smile that lit up her whole face. Her eyes were a vibrant shade of green carefully outlined with a smoky black eyeliner. Her eyebrows were perfectly symmetrical and tidy, arching exactly two-thirds of the way over her eyes. Her cheeks were rosy with soft yet predominant cheek bones. It seemed like she managed to get away from not even a scratch. Her entire front and part of her left side was covered in dirt and leaves from where she fell, a bruise beginning to form on her left bicep.
"You sure? That was a pretty nasty fall," said an elderly woman, looking at the young lady with concern. "We can take you to a doctor if you need."
"Oh, no I'm alright. I'm pretty tough," said the bubbly woman as she continued to dust herself off. The two strangers shared a worried look between themselves before deciding to part with the odd yet personable young lady.
They gave each other a quick salutation and a wave as the jogger went off to finish run, the elderly woman continuing her way down the road in the opposite direction. The pink-haired woman stayed where she was as she continued to dust herself off.
"Way to go, Nymphadora," she said to herself, agitated that she caused a scene and the fact that she didn't properly prepare to get here in a less noticeable fashion. Yet she was proud of herself for covering her apparation.
She sighed as she picked out a twig from her hair and made her way across the street; right between 11 and 13 Grimmauld Place.
She had never been to the destination, but was told that her cousin, who she hadn't seen since he was sent to Azkaban, should be at the place when she arrived. She stopped at the point exactly halfway between 11 and 13 Grimmauld Place and watched as the buildings parted. Once they separate completely, a huge grin grows on her lips.
She runs across the stone path, excited to enter the house she had only heard of from her mother as her mother was shunned from the Black family – the owners of the house – because of her mother marrying a muggle. As she neared the steps, she stuck her tongue out and curled it up to touch her upper lip. She then took a running leap and propelled herself to the top step. Unfortunately for her, she misjudged the jump as her left foot slammed against the bottom step, catapulting her full force into the door. She awkwardly slams her right shoulder into the hard wood, yelping gently. She slid down the door only to regain her balance, her left hand clutching her shoulder tight and stood slowly.
"Man this is turning out to be a spectacular day," she murmurs flatly as she turns the knob and enters the house.
Sighing as she rolled her shoulder, she quietly shut the door behind her. Taking four strides into the house and paying more attention to her shoulder than to where she was going, she trips over the umbrella stand with a loud crash and stumbles into a figure that just so happened to walk out from a side room at that precise moment.
Thankfully for her, the figure managed to brace themselves and wrapped their arms around her, stopping her from falling in a heap on the floor.
"Always one to make a grand entrance aren't you, Tonks?" a husky voice asked her, highly amused at her uncoordination.
Tonks laughed as she stood, all too familiar with the voice that belonged to the body.
"You know me, Sirius," she said chipperly. "It isn't a proper entrance unless I immediately trip over something the moment I enter. I swear every inanimate object knows exactly where to be when I walk in."
Tonks glares jokingly at the umbrella stand before turning her gaze back to the man. She was immediately informed by the same man who summoned here of Sirius' escape two years prior and was in hiding until he was able to seek refuge in the black mansion.
She noted that Sirius seemed to aged tremendously from his time spent in Azkaban. His hair was much longer than she remembered as it hung down at his shoulders. It was scragglier and greyer as well, but it still held its light wave, curling in tiny ringlets at the ends. His face gained a few more wrinkles, primarily around his eyes and mouth. Some of them could have been laughed induced, others simply from ageing. But the only thing that didn't change was that playful and youthful gleam in Sirius' bright blue eyes.
"It's good to see you again, my dear cousin," Sirius whispered warmly as he pulls Tonks into a loving embrace.
Despite her recent injuries, all in which she hadn't healed yet, Tonks happily allows him to pull her into the hug. Her arms wrap around his waist and buries her face into his shoulder as she feels the surprisingly strong yet protective squeeze of her older cousin. After a moment of their hug, they pull away, both beaming at each other.
It was at that moment when a soft spoken voice floated down from the staircase from behind Sirius.
"Is everything okay? I heard a crash."
Sirius turned to face the source of the voice as Tonks takes a half step to her right. Her eyes gazed up the stairs to yet another figure silhouetted against the high windows where the sun now shown through.
It's definitely a male, Tonks thought as she studied the unknown person's frame. Definitely a male.
"Everything's fine, Moony. Just my cousin making her grand entrance," Sirius said with a grin. Moony.
Moony. Where the hell did I hear that name before? Tonks thought frantically as the figure descended from the second floor of the house.
Tonks' eyesight adjusted as the man, who she assumed was Moony, stepped into the softened light. He was an older gentleman. Quite possibly around Sirius' age.
As he slowly made his way to the duo, Tonks was able to study him better.
His hands were placed in his pockets, thumbs resting outside of his pants on the worn fabric. He was a thin man. Not the fit kind, but more of a rugged kind – the type that had gone through a lot of strain throughout the years.
His hair was a shaggy, sandy brown color, but had a single streak of grey. His bangs were brushed to the right side of his head, long enough to just cover his eyebrow but short enough to not obstruct his vision. The back of his hair hung just below his ears and was much tidier than her cousins.
The way he held himself gave her the impression that he was tired. Not from the lack of sleep, but as if already worn from his experiences.
As he stopped, Tonks glanced up at his face. His facial features were just as worn as his body as light circles could be seen under his intense blue eyes. Her favorite color of eyes.
He had very minimal facial hair, as his neatly kept mustache extruded from his upper lip. But what was most peculiar about this man were three scars that went from just above his right eyebrow and diagonally down to the end of his mustache.
Curious on how he got them, but not wanting to be rude, Tonks bit her tongue.
"Moony," Sirius said with a grin as he motions to the young Tonks behind him. "This is my cousin Nymphadora To—"
Sirius wasn't able to finish his sentence as Tonks' fist rocketed from her side, connecting with his left shoulder with enough force to cause the man to hiss in pain as he lurches forward.
"Don't call me Nymphadora!" Tonks growled at him through gritted teeth.
The moment between hearing Sirius say her name to the second her fist connected with his shoulder, her hair changed from her vibrant pink to a bright red, a light smoke emitting from it.
Moony's face went from surprise to confusion to a mixture of both as his hands shot out to help stable Sirius, his eyes glued on the girl, the features on her heart shaped face now harsh.
Sirius pulled himself up and cleared his throat as if nothing happened.
"Tonks. Who prefers to be addressed by her surname," Sirius stated, giving her a stern look.
Tonks gently bit her lip as she ruffled her hair back to its once bubblegum pink, seeing Moony's gaze on her.
"And Tonks, this is my good friend Moony," Sirius proudly said.
"Better known as Remus Lupin," Remus said as he extended his calloused hand to Tonks. "But you can call me Remus," he said with a warm smile, his eyes still gazing at her curiously.
"Wotcher," Tonks stated with a grin as her small hand slips into Remus', giving him a firm shake.
She enjoyed the worn, firm and surprisingly warm cocoon his hand made around hers. It felt like it was made just for her. She quickly dismissed the thought as they removed their hands from one another's grip. She could still see the curious gaze in Remus' face and lightly bit her lip again. She knew he saw the rapid change of color in her hair along with the smoke. Honestly, how could he miss it? She mentally cursed herself for letting her anger get the best of her. Thankfully, Sirius broke the tension between them.
"Let's get some food, shall we? I haven't seen you at all today Remus. Must be famished," he grins as he lightly nudges Remus.
Remus gently pulls at the worn, tweed jacket he wore, elbow patches tightening gently as a faint blush rose to his cheeks.
"You know me, Sirius. Always holed myself up and never ate much except when I absolutely had to. Especially during exams," Remus said, a hit of embarrassment in his voice.
"That's why I remember you!" Tonks suddenly exclaimed, causing both men to jump slightly. "Sirius used to tell me stories growing up about your adventures," she said with a nod.
Remus' lips pulled into a half smile at her excitement, finding it refreshing and, dare he think it, adorable.
"All good stories, I hope," Remus said warily.
Tonks nodded. "Yup. He told me about the pranks you'd pull and the adventures you took. It all sounded exciting."
Sirius chuckled and gave Remus a knowing look as if saying he only told his excitable young cousin the positives of their youth, which allowed Remus to relax.
With that, Tonks' stomach let out a soft growl causing her to lightly jab her cousin in the elbow. "So what about that food you were talking about."
"Right. Can't have us deprive you of food. I know how irritable you get," Sirius teased. Tonks just laughed and playfully rolled her eyes as she walked down the hallway to the dining room which separated the kitchen from the rest of the house.
The two men followed the chipper and somewhat hyperactive woman down the hall, through the dining room and past the swinging door to the kitchen, watching Tonks walk cautiously before them.
When they entered the kitchen, Tonks rummaged through the cupboards until she finds the tea kettle and pulls out her wand.
"Aguamenti!" she exclaimed as she points her wand to the kettle, filling it with water. When it was full, she casts the incendio charm in the fireplace, watching the flams lap up the charred walks and places the kettle on the bar.
"Are you going to cook for us as well or would you like for me to send in Kreacher to make us lunch?" Sirius asked as both he and Remus leaned against the island.
"Tonks laughed as she turned to face the two, balancing her weight on one leg, placing a hand on her hip.
"You know how awful I am when it comes to me cooking on an empty stomach. Besides, I want to be able to chat with the two of you."
"Kreacher it is then," Sirius said with a grin and a snap of his fingers.
The house elf appeared next to Sirius with a crack, muttering vilely under his breath for a few seconds as he looks agitatedly at Sirius.
"You summoned Kreacher?"
"Yes I did. Can you prove yourself useful and prepare our guests some lunch?" Sirius asked as he looks distastefully at the elf, watching him bow low.
"Yes, Master Black," Kreacher spoke, muttering again under his breath.
"And bring tea out when the water's ready, can you?" Sirius asked as he pushed himself off the island, Remus following pursuit.
Kreacher nodded as the trio walked out of the kitchen and sat at the table in the dining room.
Sirius sat at the head of the table and places his hands on the table top, folding them gently. Remus sat at his right, folding his arms on the table as he gently leans forward. Tonks, on the other hand, sat on Sirius' left and intricately folded herself to fit perfectly on the chair, hugging her knee gently.
"So what brings you here, Tonks?" Remus asked inquisitively to the still perky woman sitting across from him.
"Dumbledore told me to come here. Said that he's doing a revival of some sort," Tonks explained. "He didn't get into too much detail other than he needed a fresh perspective to things."
Remus nodded as she spoke. "Intriguing. He's certainly full of mysteries, that man. But perhaps he'll go into more detain once everyone, assuming there's more, is gathered."
"So I'm taking it that you two are part of this, then?" Tonks asked as she gazed between Sirius and Remus.
Sirius nods. "Sure are. And I'm surprised you're here so early," he says to Tonks. "How'd you manage to get here out of work at this hour?"
"It was a surprisingly slow day. And I had finished the majority of my work the day before," she says as she shrugged. "Nearly didn't make it here without muggles knowing I wasn't normal."
She did air quotes around normal with a light shrug.
"What happened?" Remus asked curiously.
"Apparated here because I didn't plan ahead. Managed to hit a tree branch to cover the sound of me arriving. Got a bruise in the process," she said, gesturing to a now deep purple and blue bruise growing on her left bicep, looking like an oddly shaped circle the size of a tennis ball.
"Least you were able to think on your toes. Or in your case in the air," Sirius joked.
Tonks rolled her eyes and laughed.
Remus, still wanting to get to know her, smiled politely as he admired their relationship.
"What is it you do?" Remus asked once the two finished their moment.
"I'm an auror," Tonks states simply. "One of the best according to my mentor."
"Who might that be?"
"Alastor Moody," Tonks said with a proud grin. Remus' eyes widen gently and nods with a deepened respect for her.
"And currently one of the youngest in the department at 22 years old," Sirius boasts as he looks at Remus.
"T-twenty two?" Remus manages to sputter out. No wonder she looks so young, Remus thought.
Tonks nods, the smile never leaving her dainty, light pink lips.
Just as Sirius opened his mouth to say something in retort, Kreacher pushes himself through the doors, carrying a silver tray with three bowls of hot stew, a plate of rolls, and utensils. Behind him floated the tea kettle Tonks put on earlier along with three tea cups, three glasses and a pitcher of ice water.
The house elf shuffled over to Sirius and slides the tray in front of him, muttering and glaring between the three of them. With the snap of his fingers, the glasses, pitcher, cups and kettle move to rest on front of the three, a tea bag already placed in the tea cups.
Remus and Tonks gave Kreacher a polite thank you as Sirius ignores the elf completely as they grab their bowls, pour their water and began to eat. The only sound that could be heard were the slurps from their spoons and glasses accompanied with the clang of their spoons against the bowls.
=End of Chapter One=