Okay, so this piece is VERY influenced by the fabulous stories of an author named FernWithy. You can find him oder her at TheSugarQuill. I can only recommend her stories!

The only thing you have to know really, to follow my piece of whatever it is, is that Remus and Dora Tonks have known each other since she was five.

Disclaimer: Do I have to do this AGAIN? I was under the impression that I had my point perfectly clear in various other stories. Oh, an owl from Harry. It says that Umbridge was thrown into a cell in Azkaban! Well that's good news! I own Harry Potter!


Nightwatch

15-year old Nymphadora Tonks stood at the edge of the garden, leaning against a fence and looking across a wide field towards the edge of the forest. The sun was down for hours but it was a warm August night and Nymphadora told herself that the queasiness inside her came from the ice cream she was licking. Then – a shadow to her right! ... – just her cat. She drew a deep breath. The crowns of the trees, which were nothing more than a giant black mass swinging in the wind, had her fooled more times this evening than she cared to count. She seemed to see lots of dark creatures moving about everywhere, but at a closer look they turned out to be nothing more than whistling leaves or garden gnomes – her mother would give them hell if she knew they were in her garden – or, as in the most recent case, her cat. She purred, gliding around Dora's legs and then with a final "Meow" went back into the house through the open back door. Again there was a shift in the shadows and Dora's heart raced.

"Ooh, stop being dramatic!" she scolded herself aloud. There was nothing to be afraid of after all. It was only an old, spooky forest. It was far away, so that she could only just see it at the horizon. Her parents' house and garden were protected by security charms, nothing and noone they did not want to would be able to get through. Dora absently licked her ice cream. She looked up at the full, round, white moon, shining innocently from the black sky. Dora glared at it without consciously deciding to do so. A dog barked in the neighbourhood and Dora jumped.

"You going to come back in tonight?"

She turned and saw her dad standing in the doorway to their house. He frowned at her.

"Can't I stay? It's not late and the air's still warm..." she pleaded with him. "You know, other kids my age already smoke and drink. I only want to stay in the garden for a bit longer."

Her father smiled. "Can't argue with that, I guess." he said and went back in.

Dora turned back to watching the forest when she heard the back door open again. Her dad stepped out onto the grass and unfolded a garden chair. Then he went back in to fetch a second one, which he put down in the grass. He gestured for Dora to take a seat and sat down in the other. They stayed like that for a good while, Dora almost anxiously observing the forest and Ted staring dreamily up into the sky.

After a long silence Ted spoke. "I believe I know why you're here tonight." Dora finished her ice and leaned back into the chair. "If you want to–"

"How long have you known?"

Ted looked sideways at his daughter and sighed. "Since you were six." Silence again. "And before you throw yourself into a fit about how we could be so irresponsible and let a werewolf babysit a toddler–"

"I wasn't going to say this." Dora looked at Ted with an indignant face. "I know Remus is a kind, responsible man." After a bit of thinking. "And he taught me chess."

Ted smiled softly. "I just want to know, why you never told me? I mean, earlier?" she asked.

"Well, when you were still young, well, you were too young, we all agreed about that. And then you went to Hogwarts, were rarely home and then you were in your third year, and Remus wanted you to learn about werewolves first, because he wanted you to be unbiased as to their nature, cruelty and such. He's very serious about that. And then, well, your mum and I never felt ready to deal with you dealing with that..." in the end, Ted trailed off.

Dora watched her hands in her lap. She thought for a long time and finally reached a conclusion. Ted could see it in the way her face took on a determined look. "So, what made Remus tell me? I mean last weekend?"

Ted shrugged. "I guess he just wanted it over with. And us, too, mum and me. We'd put it off so long." He watched Dora for some time. "Does it bother you? Would you rather not see him anymore?"

"Of course not! I mean, it does bother me a great deal, because I did always wonder why he was poor and had cuts and bruises sometimes. And his old robes, they must've been patched for years! But I don't want him not to come anymore! He almost fled the room after he told me, as if he was afraid that I might curse him or whatnot. Does he think I want nothing to do with him anymore?" She looked at Ted, horrified.

"No, Dora, no. He just– look, he's been alone a lot since Sirius and he does not take anyone's friendship for granted. I might say he's deeply scared that you're afraid of him now. Or worse for him: repulsed."

Dora looked absolutely horrified. "How can he think that? I love him! He's the best friend I ever had! And he's always nice! Daddy, please, let's go to him right now! I can't stand him thinking I don't like him anymore!"

Ted laughed softly and took one of Dora's hands in his. "Dora, if we go to him right now he'd very likely try to eat us. And I know Remus would never forgive himself if he harmed you in any way. We can go and visit him tomorrow afternoon. Maybe it will do him some good to see you."

"Does he run around the woods right now?" Dora asked, looking towards the forest again, frowning.

"No, he locks himself up somewhere so that he won't accidentally hurt someone." Ted smiled reassuringly.

"Where does he lock himself up?"

"You can ask him yourself tomorrow. He likes to tell you things, doesn't he? It will cheer him up."

Dora fell silent. After a while she and Ted put the backs of their garden chairs into a lying position and both of them stared up at the moon, shining on brightly, as if it wasn't his fault at all.


Comments, please?