"I have gathered you all here to talk to you about the actions we shall take against Lord Voldemort." Dumbledore paused and looked over the faces of the small crowd gathered at Number 12 Grimmauld Place, "Some years ago a secret defense was formed known as the Order of Phoenix, this order fought against Lord Voldemort and his followers when they were at large nearly 15 years ago. The Order, along with its services, has not been needed for those past 15 years but dark times have come upon us again and I am afraid Voldemort has returned to power gaining strength and bidding his time." There was a break in the silence as everyone in the room squirmed uncomfortably at this name, "A few weeks ago Harry Potter witnessed his return after being transported by an illegal portkey from the Tri-Wizard Tournament. The ministry refuses to believe Voldemort has returned taking no heed to my many warnings and pleads. That is why I have gathered you all here today. We can't not do everything in our power to ensure the safety of those we love, too much has been lost already," Dumbledore paused and glanced around the room at every individual face taking in the worry lines next to the set jaws of determination.

The people placed before him all had such strong characters with hearts filled with love. Love is the main tool Dumbledore knew that would help them win the war it was the only thing they have that Voldemort's side does not possess. Love, friendship and selflessness set them apart. Everyone was willing to lay down their life for the person beside them (except for the two people sitting on either side of Mundungus perhaps) but where unwilling to sit by and watch others lay their lives down. The whole lot of them have experienced both pain and suffering but it never got the best of them they all remained cheerful and full of life which is exactly what the Order needs to grow and succeed.

"Many where lost in the former Order but I believe with the weapons we have among us accompanied by the wisdom to believe in Harry and the belief that Voldemort is at large, we can come out the victors. I assure you that even though there will be risks we will be much more prepared and organized. I have talked with you all individually and everyone has agreed that some form of action is needed." Dumbledore watched amused as everyone muttered to one another their agreements and ideas on how to defeat the darkest wizard of the age. "This will be our head quarters where we will have weekly meetings to devise plans and missions and to go over strategies and to combine forces to come up with ways to prevent Voldemort from retrieving what he desires. We have many spies watching and listening for us both inside the ministry and out. In public we must conduct ourselves appropriately. Our secrecy is our most valuable weapon at this point in time we do not want either the ministry or the Death Eaters to grow suspicious. For our first meeting I have just one mission and that is to insure the safety of Harry Potter. Mundungus, Moody, Tonks, Lupin, and Shaklebolt will be his main guardians, you will alternate every night and soon I will send more of you to fetch Harry from his aunt and uncle's house. I want you to follow him and report to me on every movement that occurs on Private Drive. Harry is the precious key to defeating Voldemort but that does not mean he has to be the sacrificial lamb. We will make sure no harm comes upon him. I also have Ms. Figg, who is a Squib that resides a few houses' down from the Dursley's, watching over him. That is all for tonight's meeting. If you would like to stay for dinner Molly has cooked up a wonderful meal for us all in the kitchen."

With that everyone got up at the same time and rushed to exit the room. Everyone, it seemed, had an empty stomach, or perhaps it was the factor of Molly being behind the cooking, and did not take long for the kitchen to fill up with chatter of the new Order and the clang of silverware scrapping food off of plates. About a dozen people stayed for dinner including the whole Weasley family who happened to be staying at headquarters. Their job was to clean up the layers of filth that acted as a blanket to the entire house.

"Sirius!?!" A young woman with bubblegum pink hair cried out and ran over to where Sirius Black had just walk through the kitchen door talking animatedly with his best friend from school, Remus Lupin.

"Wotcher, Nymphadora!" Sirius exclaimed as he pulled the women in a big bear hug and lifted her into the air spinning her around with excitement.

She immediately gained an extra 200 pounds, which is not too hard for most women, to make Sirius drop her. Sirius cried out in pain as his back cracked and he dropped her like a hot potato and just as soon as the pounds appeared they disappeared as Tonks pulled away from him in her normal form with a very cross look on her face, "You of all people should know I hate being called that… that… that preposterous name!" She crossed her arms, "I hope you fractured a vertebra. I will have you back in Azkaban in a blink of an eye if you call me that again!"

Sirius shuddered as he felt a cold sensation run down his spine at the thought of spending another second in that hell hole, "I was innocent, you know that right?" He questioned quietly.

Tonks' stern look melted into a warm smile and a twinge of guilt crossed her face for being the one to bring back those cold feelings to his mind she just hates her name, "Of course I knew you were innocent!" It was never easy staying mad at her beloved cousin, "I knew how much James meant to you. All those endless letters you sent from Hogwarts about him. You could never have betrayed him and Lily, or anyone for that matter. You're a good man, Sirius Black, and the best damn cousin a girl could ever hope for." Tonks ended with a bright smile and went back into Sirius' arms.

After they embraced Sirius felt very much relieved but despite the tender moment Sirius, being a Marauder, could not help but make a crack at Tonks, "Thanks Nymphie, and my have you have grown quite LARGE since the last time I saw you. I felt like I was lifting Buckbeck for Merlin's sake."

Tonks got red in the face and the hair at both the remark and the nickname and when she went to take a swing at Sirius she missed Sirius' face completely, being the clumsy person she was, and watched in slow motion as her fist accidentally rammed into someone else's jaw. Her fist was an unstoppable force broken by this poor innocent by stander's face. It was then that she realized for the first time the man standing next to Sirius.

Tonks again turned red but from embarrassment rather than anger as the man stroked his tender chin with a grimace on his face. This man looked exhausted and beat up, in general not in the sense of being on the receiving end of Tonks' upper cut (however that event did not help), but she could tell he was very handsome and when Nymphadora looked into his eyes she felt herself freeze. Time seemed to have stopped along with her heart as she appraised him and all of his glory. His eyes reminded her of a moon green pool that had yet to be discovered, in the middle of a tranquil forest. She immediately longed to swim in the pool and get lost in the forest. This forest would protect her and keep her safe. Her eyes travel down and back up to his eyes again when she declared that he was gorgeous! At that thought Tonks grew even redder and awoke from her trance to smile shyly at him as Sirius cleared his throat.

"Er...um... Nymphadora this is Remus Lupin. Moony, I'd like you to meet my dear second cousin, Nymphadora Tonks."

Sirius snickered as Remus smiled and shook her hand rather reluctantly incase she decided to swing again at the sound of her name but he did not want to be rude (always the gentleman), "Pleased to meet you Ms. Nymphadora Tonks."

"Call me Tonks please. I hate my first name." (As if he had not noticed) Tonks blushed slightly, "Pleased to meet you as well. I am so very sorry about your chin I am THE clumsiest person you'll ever meet. Would it help if I got you some ice?"

Remus shook his head and held his hands up, "No blood no foul. I am fine. Trust me I have had way worse. In fact I cannot feel my jaw at all; it went numb a moment ago which is an improvement to the pain." He flexed his jaw at that moment and put on a fixed smiled, "Nice upper cut by the way!"

Tonks sighed with relief and smiled again, "Thank you and I am so very sorry I guess my fist just got overly excited to meet you after all the stories Sirius has told me about you when we were growing up."

"Sirius told you stories, did he?" Remus raised his eyebrow at Sirius in suspicion.

"A little here and there," Sirius explained rather quickly, "So how's being an Aurora working out for you? I saw your name in the Daily Prophet, a few months ago, congrats on graduating from the academy and receiving a full time job. That is a fine accomplishment at your age." He remarked changing the subject.

"Oh yeah, thanks. I've been busy doing things here and there but mostly they have me doing paper work. They reckon I'm too clumsy to go on any big mission however they do use me to morph once in a while. That does come handy in the undercover missions." She elaborated.

"Morph?!" Lupin stared at her in amazement, "You're a metamorphmagus?!"

Tonks giggled and replied, "Yep. My specialties are noses and hair. I could put on a show for you if you'd like."

"Tonks!" Interrupted a man named Kingsley as he motioned her over to him.

"Hold that thought. I better go, Kingsley's higher up the food chain then me so I have to obey orders. It was nice meeting you, Remus!" Tonks flashed him her brightest smile and headed over to where Kingsley was standing leaving Remus staring after her and Sirius shaking his head with amusement. Sirius looked over at him and saw the goofy grin on Remus' face and snickered.

Through out dinner Tonks couldn't stop thinking about Remus. How did she not notice this man before? When she heard him laugh at the end of the table she felt butterflies rise up in her stomach. She found herself looking over at him and looking in his eyes. There was something that made her feel drawn to him when she looked in them. His grey eyes swam with compassion, kindness, mystery, and a rare kind of gentleness. She felt compelled to learn more about him: his past, his present, and his hopes for the future. Would there be any way she could be a part of this future? Tonks' thoughts drifted to a white house in the country where two kids where playing on toy broomsticks in the front yard as Tonks watched over them. Remus was positioned behind her with his arms around her waist. He was smiling and leaning into kiss her neck.

Just then someone came up from behind her and tapped her shoulder which scared her so much she jumped out of her chair and knocked the table completely over. Several people shouted out as they were pushed away from the table and the crash of plates, cups and silverware seemed to never stop. Tonks closed her eyes for a moment trying to prepare herself for the disaster she had caused this time but when she opened them they were met with those grey eyes that she was thinking about only moments ago.

"Are you alright?" Remus asked trying not to laugh as Sirius rolled on the floor laughing behind him.

Tonks looked around at the kitchen and saw food all over the floor and walls. Everyone was mumbling as they waved their wands at their clothes to clean the spaghetti sauce off themselves. Tonks then looked down at her own robes and saw her favorite blue robe covered in everything on the table from the red wine to her bread crumbs.

"Here let me help you." Remus said as he pointed his wand at her and said, "Scourgify." and with that she was food and liquid free.

"Thanks," Tonks muttered to him as he walked away then began apologizing to everyone. "I'm so sorry but someone startled me and... I'm so sorry." She finished embarrassed as she waved her wand to return the room back to normal.

'Great two catastrophes right in front of the guy of my dreams, who I might add I just met. And who is prefect and who probably thinks I am incompetent and idiotic.' Tonks thought as she mumbled to herself.

Sirius was still laughing at her when she suddenly rounded on him, "It was you!" She exclaimed accusingly, "You scared me half to death."… 'And you made me look like a fool in front of the Order which includes Remus AND you took away any chance of me having a future with Remus!' She added in her head gloomily.

Sirius wiped his watering eyes and said, "I'm a Marauder and when I see an opportunity I take it. You were definitely oblivious to everything that was going on," Sirius smirked and dropped his voice so only Tonks could hear him, "I saw you looking at Remus."

Tonks face went a deep shade of scarlet at this, "No, I wasn't." She muttered.

Sirius gave her a look that told her he knew she was lying, "I'm sure you weren't. And besides I wasn't asking." He started walking away when his mischievous mind began working again, "By the way, he's not with anyone... at the moment." He winked and went to the other end of the table by Remus.

'The nerve of him,' Tonks fumed to herself, 'But, hey, Remus doesn't have a girlfriend. I wonder why?' She smiled wickedly, 'This could be interesting...'