NOTE: First sub, so don't hate-- Writing isn't exactly my forte. Everything belongs to the fabulous mind, heart, and imagination of the phenominal J.K.Rowling, otherwise the Harry Potter books would not be very good ;
CHAPTER 1
"Moonlight"
Remus walked toward the grimy, distant window of Number 12 Grimmauld Place to see the first signs of winter upon the grounds. The air was cool and dry, the sky growing blacker every minute, and the silence of the outside world was only broken by the sound of Molly's soft humming coming from the kitchen. He tapped his fingers against the window sill, an extreme exhaustion marking his youthful face. He was begining to realize that almost a year had gone since the passing away of Sirius Black. He remembered how christmas was last year, with Sirius loudly singing his jovial holiday tunes with lyrics that spoke of hypogriffs and of holly. He remembered the joy he saw in his poor friend's face when he realized his only family, Harry Potter, was coming to stay and spend the weeks off from school with him. A faint, sad smile came across Lupin's face as he remembered the euphoric glee of the holidays the year previous to this one. What drove him mad, was that there was no more a hypogriff on the third floor, no more a broken man singing tunes of happieness, and good fortune... Had he really gone? The empty silence that filled the outside world seemed to fill the gaunt room in which Remus was standing. There was a soft swooshing noise behind him as a familiar heart-shaped face entered the gloomy and dark room. Remus' heart began to beat faster. "Ey" the kind, almost boyish voice said, "Whatcha doin alone in 'ere for?". Remus looked up from the window, his eyes gleaming. "Somehow I don't think me cousin would much like it if he knew his best friend was sitting around and moping when he should be happy and laughing with the rest of us mongrels" the girl said with a half-hearted smile. "Ah- and I suppose that means you hadn't wandered in here to do the same thing?" said Lupin back. Her face flushed. "Actually no... I came to find you. It was getting dark outside, and I'd noticed you hadn't been around much all day. I was also curious if you took you potion considering tomorrow is the full moon.." her voice trailed off. "I've already told you Nymphadora not worry about my whereabouts during these times" he interjected kindly. "You've got plenty of other things and other people to be thinking of right now, and I don't think it's a very good idea for you to spend your time looking for a poor old fool like me". She looked up, and her eyes met his. "And I've told you a million times not to call me Nymphadora, for heaven's sake. And besides, who are you to tell me who and what to care about. As if you didn't know you weren't always on my mind.." she replied, a sadness creeping into her tainted smile. "Nympha-" "Don't" she interrupted. Lupin stayed silent, looking at the floor. "Tonks" he continued, his eyes not meeting hers, "This is not the time, nor the place to be discussing things like this." He walked over, wrapping his arms around her fridgid shoulders. "We all have one commitment, and that is to the order. All other commitments taking away from such a resposibility would be foolish and-""human?" she retorted. Remus sighed. There was an akward silence. Though her intentions were to strike a nerve, Lupin only pulled away far enough to sadly smile at her, almost nose to nose. She was quite beautiful in the gloomy winter moonlight. Her pale face carried an odd glow, and a sparkle shone from her big, brown eyes. Her hair, which today was subdued to a mousy brown with her bangs painted fuschia pink, seemed to be the only thing that brought life to the room. Her smooth skin felt like silk against Lupin's weathered hand. "The whole hearted commitment which I truly dying to give you is just-" "Oh drop it" She replied pitifully. "Molly's got the dinner on the table, and she's asked us to go to the ministry tonight and see about that door". She tried to pull away, but did not fight as he hugged her tightly, his sweet cologne engulfing her like an ocean. He kissed her lightly on the forehead, and she returned the favor on his neck. She pulled back, smiling slightly. "Shall we go then?" she whispered clearing her throat. He smiled sadly at her, looking down shoving his weak hands into his ratty old pockets. She shook her hands briefly through his toussled hair, and gave him another wink. He followed her out of the dark room, unable to supress the burning in his stomach and widening grin as he followed her into the kitchen. 'As much as I miss Sirius' he though wistfully 'I can't help but thanks God that I did not lose Tonks'...