Disclaimer: These aren't my puppets, I just snuck in to play.

Tonks sat watching the floor. She sighed, going over the list in her mind again.

"Charley: bit far away in Romania
Bill: Taking Fleur
Sirius: Still on the run from pretty much everyone
Moody: Shoot me now
Kingsley: Taking Amanda or whatever her name is
Snape: shudder side note- George is a git for even suggesting it.
Fred and/or George: too young, still in school and Molly would have my head
Dumbledore: not too popular with the Ministry crowd at the moment
Arthur: taking Molly
Dad: OVER MY DEAD BODY."

Tonks gave another heavy sigh as she realized that only left one other male out of all the ones either suggested to her or basically, let's face it, the ones she knew.

"Hi Tonks. Have you decided yet?" Ginny walked into the room as Tonks threw her head into the pillow of the couch and screamed.

"I'll take that as a no then."

Tonks looked up at her and scowled. Ginny looked at her matter-of-factly.

"Come on, how many times have you gone over that bloody list in your head? You know what you have to do. Why can't you just ask him?"

Tonks made another face.

"Even if I do ask him, I know he'll say no. And then our friendship will have way too many awkward silences in it because we'll be so uncomfortable around each other. If I ask him, it'll just ruin everything!" she wailed. She realized she might be being a bit overdramatic, but at a time of desperation such as this, it was necessary.

Ginny shrugged. "I think you're blowing it slightly out of proportion, Tonks. I doubt he'd be less than a gentleman about it, even if he does say no. Which he won't!" she added as Tonks threw her a dark glance.

As Tonks flopped back into the cushions of the sofa, Sirius swept into the room. He flounced down into the seat next to Tonks. She squeaked in surprise, hitting him with her pillow when she saw who it was.
"Dammit Sirius! Don't scare me like that!"

Sirius lay his head in her lap.

"Dear Tonks, I only scare you merely to provide me with what little satisfaction I can glean from it. After all, you wouldn't have your favorite cousin in the entire world dying of boredom, would you?" he gave her his best pleading puppy eyes look. She rolled her own eyes.

"It would be reason enough for me." she said sweetly. Ginny put a hand over her mouth to cover her laughter. Sirius looked from her to Tonks and raised an eyebrow.

"Fine, but you shouldn't go around insulting the only man who can get you a date for the big AUROR BALL." he said, putting a lot of emphasis on the last two words.

Tonks frowned. "And what makes you think you're the only one who can get me a date?"

Sirius smirked. "Ah, because I know exactly who you want to ask."

"Oh do you?" Tonks asked coolly. She hoped her voice didn't sound too nervous as Sirius continued to grin maniacally.

Sirius leaned back into the plush cushions of the couch. "Perhaps…" he trailed off before looking intently at Tonks, "Just ask him. Knowing you, you'll be kicking yourself for the rest of your life if you don't." He stood up and nodded.

"Ladies." And he swept out of the room.

Tonks rolled her eyes as she watched him go. She turned to Ginny.

"How can someone be so annoying and so endearing at the same time?" Ginny nodded knowingly.

"You're preaching to the choir on that one, Tonks. My brothers are the epitome." Tonks laughed. They both looked up as they heard Molly's voice from the kitchen, letting them know that dinner was on the table.

They entered the large kitchen where the giant dining table was sitting in the center. The fireplace was roaring with a fresh fire and everyone was strolling into the kitchen leisurely. Tonks almost felt as if there wasn't an impending battle to be fought. She sat across from Ginny who was sitting next to Hermione. Ginny threw Tonks a significant glance as they sat. Tonks raised an eyebrow and Ginny discreetly turned her head so Tonks could see what she was looking at.

Tonks sighed, knowing exactly what she'd find at the end of the inclining of Ginny's head, but she obliged anyway. Her stomach gave a bit of a flutter as she watched him.

He had his nose in a book as he absent mindedly traced the rim of his glass, his long delicate looking fingers running over the smooth surface effortlessly. His hair had become a bit longer over the past month seeing as he hadn't had time in all the excitement of Voldemort's return to get it cut. It was presently falling in front of his face, creating a curtain of sandy brown hair over his bent head.

He looked up as Sirius sat down next to him. He gave Sirius a warm smile. It was genuine, affectionate, obvious that the two were inseparable friends. This worried Tonks. He had never really smiled at anyone else like that. Perhaps there was more to the smile than she so innocently assumed.

Putting the absurd idea out of her mind, she reassured herself that Sirius would have said something if anything was going on between them. He wasn't one to have inhibitions or keep secrets for very long.

She watched them carefully all throughout dinner as Ginny and Hermione happily requested facial changes for her to make. Sirius and Remus turned to watch. At one point, while Remus was preoccupied with picking the perfect role from the basket, Sirius winked at Tonks and gave her the thumbs up.

Well, perhaps she would ask him. After dinner.

"After all, the worst he can do is say No." She thought as she happily slurped down the rest of her soup.

A/N: Next Chapter will be up soon. (I hope, that is if I survive the rest of my finals...)