Disclaimer: Once upon a time, there was a British lady by the name of JK Rowling who made a lot of money on some books and isn't me and I don't own her books. The End.


It hit me suddenly in the middle of an Order meeting. The thought, I suppose, had been slowly growing for weeks, but it wasn't until I glanced down at the pad I was supposed to be taking notes on and saw his name doodled absently in the center did I realize that I had a huge crush on Remus Lupin.

That particular meeting was about the giants. Dumbledore was hopeful—he had sent many phenomenal gifts with Hagrid and Madame Maxime. Others were more skeptical, but having a sum total of zero experience with giants, I zoned out, leaving my subconscious mind to doodle. I stared at the result.

I hadn't had a serious relationship in years. There were a few I had considered, but really I hadn't had a steady guy since…Hogwarts. Weird. There had been that crush on Kingsley earlier, and bumbling Dawlish had asked me out…I blushed at the memory. That date had been an utter failure.

So Remus, huh? I pondered on the mysteries of my heart. He was certainly attractive…intelligent…funny…creative…

I absently noted people pushing their chairs back and collecting papers. I continued gazing at his name. It was a terribly nice name.

"Coming, Tonks?" I glanced up—it was him. I hurriedly hid the pad away.

"Yeah…"

I stayed for dinner for the first time that night and quickly joined the extensive list of worshippers of Molly's food. Molly, on the other hand, was obviously attempting to set me up with Bill. It wasn't clear to me what she had against Fleur—the girl was clearly intelligent and adored her fiancé. The female Weasley's obviously disliked her.

Veela's charms had never seemed particularly impressive to me. Granted, I couldn't make myself quite that enchanting, but unlike the average girl, I never agonized over my looks since I could change them fairly easily.

In any case, Molly maneuvered me to be next to Bill. I maneuvered me to be across from Remus. The conversation, naturally, was varied and interesting. Over the course of the meal, we discussed mummies, weird death customs all over the world, the Stonehenge, ancient wizardry, witch-hunting, Halloween and pumpkins, to name just a few.

"The only way to eat pumpkin pie is with several inches of whipped cream on top," I declared.

"I've never really liked pumpkin pie," Remus admitted, "but several inches of whipped cream sounds fabulous."

"Clearly you've never had my mum's pumpkin pie," Bill remarked.

"Bill, if Molly had cooked it, even brussels sprouts would be delicious," I said.

"I love brussels sprouts!" Bill exclaimed.

Remus and I stared in disbelief at him.

"You're kidding, right?" Remus asked.

Bill shook his head. "I really do, Mum makes great ones, all buttery and yummy."

"Case in point," I told Remus.

"You win," he grinned.


After that, I started staying around more and more. I hadn't had a close circle of friends since I had graduated Hogwarts, but the Order became my entire social life as well as being the most important organization in magical Britain, including the Ministry. Every day, I fell more and more for the dark brown of Remus Lupin's eyes, the way that one loose lock of hair curled on his forehead, his laugh, his smile…

I liked pretty much everyone. Not Snape, though, the slimy git. Somehow I always had the feeling that when I said something, he was only listening to humor me, and whatever I said was basically worthless. And it's not my fault I'm clumsy! It's not really necessary for him to look at me so disdainfully every time I trip…but the rest of the people are great! True, it's weird having Professor—I mean, Minerva—as a colleague. But she was always my favorite teacher.

Fred and George were also a real kick, in spite of their mother's constant yelling at them. Even after the most depressing meetings (we really didn't have enough support) the twins could always be counted on for a laugh. I really connected with Ginny. She's a great girl, bright and brave and at least as outspoken as I am. Hermione, also, was always good for a nice conversation.

As the summer dragged on, Remus and I talked more and more. Often it was about something entirely unimportant, like our favorite fairy tales (I've always loved The Fountain of Fair Fortune, he likes The Fabulous Adventures of the Wizard, the Horse and the Frog) or whether the rain has a purpose in life, as well as a cappella music, which we both love.

One day in August, in the middle of a meeting on different ways to convince people that Voldemort had indeed returned, an urgent owl from Arthur Weasley flew in, informing us that Harry James Potter was summoned to a hearing for the illegal use of underage magic. Dumbledore left hurriedly, presumably to sort things out at the Ministry. The room was instantly in an uproar.

"Is he okay?" Molly, Sirius, and Remus asked more or less together.

"Why would 'e do something like zat?!?" Fleur exclaimed.

"Where was his guard?" several people were asking.

"He must have had a reason, my godson wouldn't do that just for the heck of it! Something must have attacked him!" Sirius shouted over the din at the blonde witch.

"You might have done something like that 'just for the heck of it' too," Snape observed drily.

"Mundungus was his guard," Remus said worriedly.

Molly's lips tightened.

Silence fell as another owl flew in and deposited another letter in the center of the table. Molly reached for it and said through clenched teeth, "That awful man left Harry alone to pick up an order of cauldron bottoms and the dear boy was attacked by dementors. Harry's okay…but he preformed underage magic to ward them off and is being called in for a hearing."

Needless to say, the room was once again in uproar. Sirius quickly wrote a letter to the kid. The meeting collapsed into discussion of the idiocy of the Ministry, Dung, and teenage boys. Molly, still looking quite fierce, served some food around.

Dumbledore returned an hour later.

"The time has come to remove Mr. Potter from his current location," he announced, unintentionally echoing the general consensus that had been reached in his absence.

"Here, here," Sirius muttered, Molly and Remus nodding in agreement.

"The Floo network is being watched, and Harry has not yet learned how to Apparate. That leaves us with limited options," continued Dumbledore.

"Portkey?" someone suggested dubiously.

"No," Kingsley said in that deep voice of his. "The Ministry is waiting for a chance to jump on Albus. An unauthorized Portkey would be the perfect excuse."

"Brooms," Remus said. "Harry's an excellent flyer."

"Indeed," Dumbldore nodded. "Quite what I was thinking myself. Now, we need a guard for him."

At least half the room volunteered.

"Sirius, you know you can't," Dumbledore said softly, ignoring Snape's snort. "Let me see…Remus, certainly, we'll need someone Harry trusts…Nymphadora, you too…"

"Tonks," I muttered. Remus grinned at me.

"Kingsley, Hestia, Dedalus, Elphias, Emmeline and let's see…ah, Sturgis…and I think we'll have Mad-Eye too, even if he isn't here…yes, that seems quite appropriate. Nymphadora, I leave it to you to get Harry's relations out of the house while you are present as they are less than fond of wizards. If you'll excuse me, I have a date to keep with Mundungus Fletcher." He left.

Between Dumbledore and Molly, I was certainly glad that I was not the miscreant.


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