Disclaimer: Yeah, while in the process of not owning things and being rather depressed by it, I thought I'd delude myself for a while and muck around with JKR's characters. That's not a problem with anyone, is it? Excellent.

A/N: This is a plot that was kind of running around my head for a bit, and I'm sure something similar may have been done before, but this was actually my own idea, and as the plot develops I'm sure you'll see that for yourselves. So don't go suing or anything as yet! Anyway, if you've made it through all this junk, then you deserve a reward, so here's the first chapter of my little experiment. Reviews are always appreciated :)

"Ooft!"

"Oh, I'm sorry – are you all right?"

"Yeah, my fault …"

Nymphadora Tonks, the first-year Metamorphmagus, looked up from her spot on the floor to see who she had walked into. It almost seemed as though she were unperturbed by this; perhaps like it was not an irregular occurrence for her. Sadly, that was true. She was something of a klutz, and easily distracted to boot. She flushed red at the sight of fifth-year Remus Lupin looking down at her, smiling mildly. He offered her his hand.

"Unless you'd rather stay there?" he questioned a moment later, when she had neglected to take his proffered limb and merely stared dumbly at it for several seconds. She blushed an even deeper red and allowed him to help her up.

"Sorry …" she muttered, not meeting his eye.

"Quite my fault," Remus assured her cheerfully. Her head shot up and saw him smiling mildly at her, and she only vaguely registered when he knelt and lifted her books for her, handing them over with a smile.

"Thank you," Tonks managed. "It really wasn't your fault, you know – I'm a rotten klutz, me. Always tripping over something."

"Including fifth-years?"

"Fifth-years, teachers, inanimate objects, my own feet – I'm easy." Remus simply dusted off his robes.

"I'll be sure to warn the statues," he said quite seriously, and Tonks grinned.

"I'm Tonks," she said, smiling happily. She had always been rather frightened of the older students – here, finally, was one she could relate to. And the shiny Prefect badge on his chest suggested he might be a good one to know, considering how badly she tended to be bullied for being a 'shape-shifting freak.'

"Remus," he said, nodding slightly. "Interesting hair you have there." She cocked her head to one side, contemplating her sky blue curls thoughtfully.

"Are you making fun of me?" she asked uncertainly, and was rewarded with a boyish grin.

"Not in the slightest," he assured her. "It's unusual, but it suits you. Although it does seem to contrast your tie …"

"Very true!" Tonks hadn't considered this – here she was, a proud Hufflepuff, sporting Ravenclaw hair. Shocking. "What colour would you recommend, then?"

"How about red?" he joked, and she snickered, noting his own Gryffindor tie.

"Whatever my rescuer wishes," Tonks grinned, and she morphed her hair into a shade of scarlet red, so it tumbled down her shoulders. She glanced sideways at Remus, hoping to gauge his reaction, but he was smiling as unconcernedly as before.

"I'm presuming your real name is Nymphadora?" he asked with a slight smirk.

"Don't call me that!" she snapped angrily. She despised her given name. "It's Tonks. And how did you know, anyway?"

"Prefect," Remus said vaguely. "You hear things. Now, where were you going in such a hurry?" Before Tonks could answer, however, a sixth-year girl with long black hair, a turned-up nose and heavy eyes had swooped upon Tonks, cackling. She barely even seemed to register Remus' presence.

"Well, well, lookie here! If it isn't little Nymphadora!"

"Hi, Aunt Bella," Tonks murmured quietly. Her mother's much younger sister was a Slytherin, and a complicated one at that. Some days she would be so nice and kind, and others she was Tonks' worst nightmare – the biggest of all her bullies. Today was one of those days, and Bellatrix screeched in amusement.

"Hi, Aunt Bella!" she repeated in a mocking, high-pitched voice. "You little baby, Nymphadora! When are you going to get some backbone? You sound so frightened! Are you afraid, Nymphadora? Is Auntie Bella going to hurt you?"

"Not if she knows what's good for her." Remus spoke in a voice so low it was almost a growl, and when Tonks looked at him, she found him right in front of Bellatrix, and they were eyeing one another with mutual distaste. Bella, however, showed something other than hatred in her eyes – was it fear?

"Sod off, Lupin!" she spat. "This is between Nymphadora and me."

"Remus, there you a – oh. Look who it is." Three other boys had come up behind Bellatrix, and the two taller ones were eyeing her with some disgust. The smaller, rounder one, made a face, but cowered behind the others, as the three joined Remus facing Bella head on. Tonks felt an inexplicable need to hold her breath.

"Well, well," the bespectacled boy said, "Bellatrix. Bullying first-years now?"

"What's it to you?" she snapped, clearly infuriated, but too smart to take on all four boys at once, by herself.

"Bellatrix Black, you're a credit to your name," the handsome boy said sincerely, and Bella flushed and smiled.

"Why thank you, Sirius," she said in a sickly voice. His features darkened.

"That wasn't a compliment," Sirius retorted. Remus barked with laughter, and the little round boy sniggered, earning him a warning look from Bella that was enough to send him back into hiding behind the other three.

"Off you go then, Bellatrix," the boy with glasses said coolly. "Unless of course you want to duel?" By God, he sounded almost hopeful.

"Ugh, I wouldn't waste my time!" Bella turned and stalked away, and the three tall boys smirked after her.

"Just like a Slytherin," said Sirius scathingly.

"First sign of conflict, and off they run," Remus chimed in. Bella threw them all angry looks, before sending a final glare Tonks' way and departing.

"I was telling the truth, you know," Sirius said ruefully. "She really is a credit to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black."

"I know, Padfoot, it's rotten luck," Remus agreed.

"Quite." Sirius nodded, then turned and surveyed Tonks with some kind of mild interest, but the sort that was clearly verging on indifference.

"Uh, thank you …" she stammered nervously. Remus smiled at her.

"Thank you," he amended. "Any chance to humiliate Bellatrix is a joy. Besides, it was extremely entertaining. Did you see her face?"

"Couldn't wait to get away!" the little boy squeaked, and Remus rolled his eyes.

"Like you were so much help, Peter!" Sirius scoffed. "Incidentally, what was it you were squaring up to her for, Moony?"

"Fun?" Remus suggested pleasantly, and the others chuckled appreciatively. "No, she was giving younger students a hard time again – wait 'til I can prove it, I'll stick her in detention for the rest of the year."

"Ah, Remus, you really do seem to think detention has an impact on troublemakers!"

"No, actually, I just want to piss her off, James," Remus corrected him with a grin, and Tonks watched them all in awe as they exchanged in witty banter. She wasn't entirely sure if she had been dismissed or not. Fifth-years really were frightening.

"Remus, your protégée's still here," Sirius informed his friend a moment later. Remus shot Tonks a glance, then raised his eyebrows back at Sirius.

"She's more yours than mine," he retorted. "Apparently Aunt Bella is something of a frequent bully."

"Aunt Bella?" Sirius repeated. "Ugh! Run along, mini-Black."

"I'm not a Black!" Tonks spoke up for the first time, indignant. The others watched her, looking mildly amused. "I'm a Tonks!" Sirius' face split into a grin.

"Bloody hell!" he said, quite delightedly. "You're Andie's little girl?!"

"Nobody gets to call her Andie," Tonks informed him. "But yes. I'm Tonks."

"Ah, that's right – you're one in a long line of Blacks to despise their names," he said reminiscently. "Regulus hates his with a passion. Little twerp."

"And who are you?" she asked. The boys grinned even wider.

"I'm your big cousin!" he said, quite delightedly. Tonks scowled and made to walk away – she hated every one of her mother's family. But Sirius grabbed her arm quickly. "If you're writing to your mother soon, tell her Sirius said hello."

"Sirius … ohh! I remember! You're my mother's cousin – the one she likes?" she asked happily. Sirius merely nodded, looking her up and down.

"Love the hair," Peter said with a snicker. Tonks blushed furiously. She saw, with a slight jolt of surprise in her stomach, her 'cousin' raise his hand to wallop Peter for his words, but before Sirius could do so, Remus' wand was pointed casually between the little round boy's eyes. Peter's mouth opened and closed like a goldfish; Tonks gaped; Sirius and James looked amused; and Remus merely smiled, although there was a definitely dangerous gleam in his eye as he eyed his friend.

"Dear, dear, Wormtail," he said, sounding thoughtful. "I do hope you weren't attempting to insult our young friend who just provided us the opportunity to humiliate Bellatrix Black, something you've never seemed to find the courage to do yourself?"

"I – I, uh – that is, I …" the boy's voice was a squeak, and Sirius clapped Remus on the shoulder, grinning appreciatively.

"Right you are, Moony," he said delightedly. "So, Tonks, do tell. How is your mother?"

"She's fine," Tonks shrugged. "She keeps trying to convince me to come home, though … Bit annoying, really. She's worried about me."

"What?" Sirius' eyes narrowed dangerously, and James and Remus looked equally suspicious. Peter noticed this and immediately tried to copy their looks. "Why would Andie try and pull her only daughter from Hogwarts? Surely she wants you to learn?"

"She was going to send me to Beauxbatons next term."

"Beauxbatons?" James spluttered, looking deeply offended. "Well, Padfoot! It would appear your dear cousin is more than just a blood-traitor!"

"Quite!" Sirius looked disgruntled. "Now why, pray tell, would Andromeda Tonks want to send Nymphadora to that hellhole so far from home, when she could keep her here under the watchful eyes of Albus Dumbledore and the Marauders four?"

"Don't call me Nymphadora!"

"The Marauders four?" Remus repeated, eyes wide. "Merlin, Padfoot, do try harder."

"Well, all right," he grinned. "I was on the spot! Come on then, Tonks, enlighten us."

"Oh, she's worried about me all year because I keep getting really badly bullied, and I haven't made any friends here at all, and she wanted me to start over." Tonks shrugged slightly as she said this – she was getting used to being an outcast. The Marauders, however, looked flabbergasted.

"Stubborn mare!" Sirius hissed. "Andie could have written to me about this! And I bet that little prat Regulus has been holed up with Bellatrix about it, too …"

"Boys!" All of a sudden, McGonnagall was on the scene. The four boys arranged their features automatically into looks of total innocence, and Tonks fought the urge to giggle aloud. McGonnagall shot her a concerned look – she was all too aware of the problems the Metamorphmagus had had this year. "Is everything all right, Miss Tonks?"

"Yes, Professor," Tonks said quickly. She was rather afraid of the Deputy Headmistress.

"You boys haven't been causing trouble, have you?" The evil eye she gave the four fifth-years would have made Tonks cower, but none of them batted an eyelid – well, save for Peter. He let out a small whimper and turned and hurried in the opposite direction.

"Us, Professor?" Sirius asked innocently.

"Never!" James sounded indignant.

"Where has Mr Pettigrew taken himself off to, then?"

"Library."

"Had to return a book."

"Forgot to bring it with him."

"In a rush to get it from the dormitory." Tonks couldn't help but marvel – James and Sirius really were quite the double act. Remus stood in perfect silence, until McGonnagall addressed him directly, a slight frown on her face.

"Is this the case, Mr Lupin?" she asked dangerously. Remus raised his eyebrows mildly.

"Of course it is, Professor," he said, so sincerely that even Tonks believed him. "We were just heading down to the Great Hall for some lunch."

"Indeed." She looked a little more at ease. "Well, of course, I know you – being a school prefect – would never lie to a member of staff about any mischief-making, would you, Mr Lupin?"

"Absolutely not."

"Miss Tonks."

"Yes, Professor?"

"These three – well, four – boys, weren't giving you trouble, were they?"

"Oh, no, Professor! Not at all!"

"Very well … off you go, then." Sirius clapped Tonks on the shoulder.

"Come on, Nymphy," he said, grinning, as the four of them hurried away from McGonnagall's piercing gaze. The second they rounded the corner, Tonks shrugged him off angrily.

"My name is Tonks," she snapped. "Honestly, Nymphadora is bad enough, but Nymphy?"

"Suits you," James said with a grin, and he and Sirius snickered. Remus rolled his eyes.

"I'm off," he said, raising a hand. "Got to go send an owl then got a prefect's meeting – I'll see you in Potions."

"See you, Moony."

"Bye Prongs, Padfoot … nice meeting you, Dora." And he was gone. Tonks spluttered indignantly after him. Dora? She rolled her eyes. She had thought he was the nice one – he was as cheeky as the rest. Remus Lupin, I'll tame you yet.