"This is boring. When does the shift end?" Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks had their backs pressed together and their wands drawn. Tonight was Tonks's first watch duty in the Department of Mysteries, so they were huddled under Mad-Eye's spare Invisibility Cloak. Tonks kept fidgeting and shifting and Remus had a suspicion that she was unaccustomed to keeping still for long periods of time.

"Don't worry, our shift only covers a few more minutes. You can doze off if you need, since you have work tomorrow. I can keep watch," Remus offered.

It struck Tonks how sweet Remus was to her. Over simply one week of acquaintance, they had become increasingly close.

"Nah, I have the weekend off. I guess I'll mostly be hanging around Grimmauld Place working through strategy sessions, odd house jobs, and trying to keep my lovely cousin from doing anything excessively impulsive or reckless."

Lupin gave a subdued laugh. "Yeah, you and Sirius are some of the most insane, spirited and mischievously hilarious people I've met. It must run in the Black family."

Tonks rolled her eyes, then realizing Remus couldn't see this gesture, threw her shoulder sharply into his back.

"Hey, it's a compliment! It appears that to be a Black you must be crafty, intelligent, intensely stubborn, and ridiculously good-looking. From what I've seen you all are."

Now Tonks was grateful that the dark masked the sudden rosiness in her face. Whether he realized it or not (Tonks truly hoped he did), Remus had just indirectly called her good-looking. Quickly she grasped a related topic to shove up as a barrier until she could untangle her feelings.

"When I got older and realized that I had an abundance of dark, evil relatives, sometimes my mum would tell me what it was like growing up as a sweet apple on a bitter tree. This was about the time that I realized I was disowned and disliked by the majority of my relatives and their supporters. My birth finished off any threads my mum still had tied to the Blacks. Everyone ostracized my mother for marrying my muggle-born father at the tender age of twenty, so of course they detest me."

Lupin smiled, then he too took note of the dark shroud, so he said with a smile on his lips and in his voice, "Well, good thing that you were born, or these night shifts would be depressingly dull." Tonks's heart experienced a familiar flutter while Lupin checked his watch. "Ok, watch is over. Ministry workers will be here in minutes, so we have to be careful leaving here undetected."

The pair stood up, and, still under the Cloak, made their way to the exit that brought them to the corridor. "Ladies first," breathed Remus, and he walked behind Tonks, guiding her gently with his hands lightly resting on her shoulder. A moment later he thought he heard somebody coming. Instinctively he grabbed Tonks around the waist to stop her. Tonks was suddenly aware of their close proximity, the heat of his body against hers.

Whatever Lupin had heard was gone now, and they made their way to the entrance hall undetected. The pair clasped hands to apparate back to Number 12. They arrived, Remus quietly closing the door so as not to wake anyone. Tonks involuntarily yawned. "So… tired… dash it all, I have to go all the way back to my flat for barely a few hours… we have an Order meeting bright and early before I have work…"

"If you want, you should stay in a guest room. It is practical," Lupin suggested.

"Are you sure that's okay?" Tonks questioned.

"Why not? There's a clean one on the third story. I'll show you to it."

Tonks followed Remus up the stairs with relief that she wouldn't have to face a dark flat at this hour. Remus gestured toward a tan door. "Would you like anything to eat or drink?"
With a smile Tonks replied, "I love the service at this place. Um, I don't want you to have to go get-"

Remus said, "I was about to go make some tea if you would like some."

"Sure! Thank you Remus!"

"I'll bring it up in a minute."

Tonks walked toward the room Remus had indicated. As she did, her foot caught on an uneven floorboard and she was sent sprawling on the ground. As quickly as she could manage Tonks scrambled to her feet. Why must I be so clumsy? Tonks wondered. She sighed and continued walking.