The bench Remus was sitting in was in a perfect position for receiving the whole of the suns rays. This was an advantage when it came to warming his face and hands, cold from being inside the apothecary for a good length of time haggling over very rare ingredients, but it was a distinct disadvantage in the area of being able to see someone when the walked up to you. Before he could figure out exactly what was happening, a figure strode up to him, violently silhouetted in against the full light and exclaimed, "Remus! My goodness, it's been years!"
Remus recognized the voice immediately and stood, then finally able to see Tonks's face clearly. She wrapped her arms around him excitedly, and he found himself with a facefull of thick, aurburn hair.
"Tonks," he said when she pulled away, "It has been quite a long time. You look wonderful."
Tonks giggled lightly and motioned to her hair, "I just went auburn yesterday. I think it suits me, do you?"
"Yes, I think it goes quite well. I was just about to go into Flourish and Blotts. Would you like to join me?" he asked her.
"Sure, Remus. We have loads of catching up to do." The pair started off.
As Remus turned to say something to Tonks, he noticed a bright crimson scar running along the base of the back of her neck, "Tonks, what happened to your neck?" he asked, visibly worried.
Tonks looked at him sharply, then tripped over a display table outside one of the stores. She nearly toppled to the ground, but Remus managed to catch her and lift her gently back to her feet before any real damage could be done. Tonks sighed in frustration and charmed the display back into its original formation. They walked slowly on.
"Are you all right?" Remus asked hesitantly. He didn't want to wound her pride with questions.
"Oh, yes, I'm fine. I really haven't improved my coordination much since we last saw each other, I'm afraid," she shifted her gaze to the ground, "Remus, when I set off after the war to "see the world" as I put it, I was still a child who wasn't prepared for what I was attempting. I didn't get very far, needless to say. I wasn't careful, either."
"What do you mean you weren't careful?" Remus asked, stopping and turning Tonks to face him. Tonks looked at his face and saw the pronounced worry lines crisscrossing his wear-worn skin.
"I was so glad that the war was over, I forgot about... other dangers," she said slowly, "I decided to take a walk one night because it was one of the first warm nights of the summer, and... well, I got bitten."
Remus stared at her, shocked and unable to respond.
"I'm usually good about hiding the scars," she continued, "I mustn't have noticed this one."
Remus finally managed to speak, his tone caring and quiet, "We have a trip to make after we go to Flourish and Blotts."
"What?" Tonks asked, bewildered, "Where are we going?"
Remus sighed, knowing that going to Snape about making the potion for Tonks wouldn't be easy, "We're going to Hogwarts."