Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and JK Rowling is a friggen genius and we all know it.
A/N: Entertaining myself as I wait yet again. SIX DAYS.
"So this is going to be headquarters is it? Charming, really. No wonder you never wanted us to visit back when we were kids." Lupin commented to his friend and fellow marauder, Sirius.
"Ah brings back memories." Sirius said sarcastically, studying his old house with a glare. "Of all the places I never wanted to return to. Oh well, what's done is done, I suppose."
Lupin gripped his shoulder sympathetically. "Where's the rest of the gang, anyway?"
"You mean the ones that are still alive?" Sirius said grimly. They shared a silence, both aware of to whom their minds were wandering.
"Well…" Lupin continued after the long pause. "Dumbledore said a few new people are going to be joining us… so… I think we're supposed to meet them today."
The sound of the door opening alerted them, and one could practically see Sirius's ears perking up at the thought of company after so long. He rushed to open the door, and Lupin lagged behind, taking his time. He wondered how many new faces he would meet, only to bury them as Voldemort and his followers shot them dead, one by one, just like last time. A dark feeling swept through him, and he had the distinct feeling he would not be in the brightest of moods for the rest of the day.
As he reached he could already hear Moody's gruff voice sending out a greeting and as he stepped forward to answer it, uneven and heavy footsteps were heard coming up the stairs. There was a small shriek, and a thud and Lupin felt something crash into his shins, toppling him over backwards.
He blinked as he watched a witch with bubblegum pink hair in spikes upon her head groan in pain from where she lay, sprawled over his legs. She got up and Lupin's bewildered expression met with an apologetic one looking up at him from a heart-shaped face. "S-Sorry!" She cried hastily, before leaping off of him. "Somehow I always end up giving a horrible first impression. I tripped on the last stair."
She offered him a hand and helped him up. "It's no problem." Lupin smiled as he entered a standing position. "I'm Remus Lupin, by the way."
"Wotcher, Lupin." She grinned. "I'm Nymphadora Tonks, a distant relative of Sirius here." She gestured towards Sirius, who nodded acknowledgement. She turned her eyes back on Lupin with a serious expression on her face. "And don't ever call me Nymphadora, or that may just end in a nasty duel. We wouldn't want mutiny in our ranks." She said with a wink.
Lupin couldn't help but smile in return. "Deal, but you call me Remus, okay?"
"Deal." She nodded as the two of them headed back towards the dining hall, apparently not having noticed the others who had gathered by the stairwell.
Sirius grinned wolfishly. "How would you handle it if you thought your favorite niece and one of your best mates looked good together?" He asked nobody in particular.
"I'd say it's a good idea to give them an encouraging nudge."
Sirius turned around, searching for the source of the voice. Dumbledore loomed over him, a knowing smile curving over his lips as he watched the two go.
"Sir!" Sirius jumped and stepped away a bit, surprised. "I didn't realize you had arrived!"
He cast Sirius a wise look. "I'd keep an eye on those two if I were you." With that Dumbledore swept past him, leaving Sirius stunned in his wake.
A smirk crawled impishly onto is face a moment later. "Oh, I will."
And just like that she had tripped into his life. Although they had no clue in the beginning, it seemed everyone else knew where this was going.