Wotcher,

I couldn't shake this story idea. It's time I admit, Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks... I'm freaking obsessed. I need to write about them, I can't focus on my other stories. =P

I'm not sure where this story will go…maybe they'll still die (If I kill them, be warned, it'll be tissue worthy)…maybe they won't. Maybe I'll do alternate endings and continue the one where they live. This starts in Prisoner of Azkaban, assuming that Tonks is in the Order (and that the Order exists) before Sirius escapes (and proves innocence). It'll have a lot of RL/NT so if you don't like them together, you'll probably despise this story. If you like CW/NT, you won't like this story either. Friendship only for them here, cuz I hate 'em together.

This chapter is probably around the length it usually will be, but it'll never be less than 2,000 words (almost always more). I apologize for this chapter. It gets sort of serious fast.

P.S. I don't know whether or not Tonks believed Sirius innocent, but I would think so with how trusting she is. And I apologize for the Remus and Tonks fight/debate/thing. I didn't find Remus to be a love-at-first-sighter. I like those relationships that progress from friendship to something more. I imagine that that's the relationship they had, seeing as it took a while for Remus to, er, jump ship, so to speak. If that makes sense.

I don't own Harry Potter or anything of the sort, but I do own a boatload of ideas and a laptop. :)

'God bless the broken road that led me straight to you.'

Call Me Lupin

Tonks studied the piece of paper before Mad-Eye exploded it. He had told her that the Order of The Phoenix meeting was at Dumbledore's old home, when he was a teenager (Tonks tried to picture that and found it very funny).

"Come on," he growled and they apparated to Godric's Hollow.

"This meeting place sucks," Tonks stated. It seemed so obvious- too obvious. Of course, the Order meeting would be somewhere important to Dumbledore.

"It's obvious enough, that it's not going to be found."

"Because the Death Eaters really don't fine comb these things," Tonks said sarcastically.

"Well, Voldemort isn't exactly in the position to come looking for us."

"Death Eaters are," Tonks muttered.

"Aren't you supposed to be working on that?" Mad-Eye retorted.

"So are you," Tonks shot back.

"Well, until we find somewhere better, it'll work with cons-"

"-tant vigilance," Tonks joined in cheekily. Mad-Eye rolled his eyes and pushed the door open.

Immediately they were jumped on by two men.

Arthur Weasley turned to Tonks. "You are?"

Tonks grimaced. "Nym-Nymphadora," she had to spit out her first name. "Tonks, auror. I work for the Ministry of Magic."

"Who trained you?" Arthur asked.

"Alastor Moody," she said.

"What do you prefer to be called?" Arthur asked, almost teasingly, yet still serious.

"Tonks. Nymphadora is too proper a bloody name to fit me."

The other man turned to Arthur and gave a half-smile. "No need to badger her. She answered the questions, Arthur."

She looked at the man. He wore shabby, old robes and had light brown hair. Scars were visible anywhere unclothed, particularly his face. His eyes were a warm brown.

"Wotcher," Tonks grinned at him, with a wink, and he smiled back.

"Hello Nymphadora, I'm Remus Lupin."

"Hey Remus, I'm going to let you off the hook this once, but really, it's Tonks," she said lightly.

"Alright, Tonks," Arthur said, grinning. "Sorry about the questioning, standard procedure."

Next to her Mad-Eye nodded and she shrugged. "Constant vigilance, I 'spose."

Remus smiled. "Definitely Mad-Eye's auror."

Molly bustled into the room. "Albus is here!"

They all nodded, besides Tonks, who wasn't quite sure how to react. She followed cue and nodded. Remus smiled reassuringly.

"It's alright, just come, sit and listen," he said quietly.

She nodded. He started to walk into a room and Tonks tried to follow, but tripped. She braced herself for the impact, but none came. Remus had caught her quickly, eyes dancing in amusement. She regained her footing and brushed herself off.

"Thanks, "she sighed. "One thing you might like to know about me is that I'm dead clumsy."

"I see that," he chuckled. She gave a small laugh.

They went and sat down on the couch. The place was nice enough. It looked as though the room they were in was the living room.

It wasn't a bright or lively room. It wasn't extremely inviting, the walls a dull brown and everything dusty.

"We tried to offer our place, but Dumbledore had said no. He's set on not putting anyone who hasn't joined the Order in danger, namely the children, willing or not," Arthur explained.

"I have to side with him on that one, Arthur. They can't grow up in a place used for fighting Voldemort," Remus said. Arthur flinched at the name, but Tonks didn't. I bet they'll be using the name a lot. Besides, isn't like it's that big a deal, Tonks had reasoned with herself. "They've definitely been through enough," he added. What happened to the youngest Weasley, Ginny, was no secret.

"Are they here?" Tonks asked.

"Heavens, no," Molly said, sitting down next to Tonks.

"Hello, Molly," Tonks said with a grin.

Molly wrapped her in a hug. Molly and her mother-like tendencies, Tonks thought, but nonetheless had smiled. "Hello, Nymphadora."

"Molly," Tonks frowned, smile fading.

"Dear, it's a lovely name, why don't you use it?"

"Too lovely," Tonks had muttered, looking down. "Doesn't suit me."

"Why not?" Remus had asked curiously.

"It's too formal, stuffy, like my mother, not me," she said truthfully.

"Tonks, Andromeda is a wonderful woman," Molly chastised.

"Yes, she is. I love her to death, but I'm not her. We have differences. She has manners and…properness. I…don't."

"Don't berate yourself," Remus said kindly. "Dora it is."

"Dora?"

"It's less proper," Remus said innocently.

"I'll call you Remmy for the rest of my life, so help me I will," Tonks warned. "Tonks."

"Tonks it is."

Tonks looked around. There were several women, and more men. Kingsley was there, along with Emmeline Vance. Vance didn't like Metamorphmagi; Tonks knew that from a few run-ins during their school years and a lot of rumors. Firm believer in all that 'not your true colors' and 'it's childish' stuff that usually was associated with people like her, Dumbledore was sitting there, waiting for the moment to begin, Eventually, everything died down.

"Hello everyone," Dumbledore began. "As you may have noticed, Nymphadora Tonks has joined the Order. Nymphadora?" he motioned for her to stand and she obliged.

"Thank you, Professor, but really, it's Tonks," she said politely. Probably not a great idea to snap at him.

"Alright then, Tonks. And Professor sounds much too old for me, so if you prefer to go by surnames you may call me Dumbledore," Dumbledore said, amusement twinkling in his eyes merrily.

Remus snorted, along with a few others. Tonks blushed but nonetheless gave a laugh.

"Next order of business, guard duty. Tonks, would you like to take this week to get the hang of it?"

"Of course, uh, Dumbledore," She'd never called him that to his face before…it was…weird. Funny on my tongue. "But what are we guarding?"

"Well, right now…Harry."

"Why, is he alright?"

"Yes, he's fine-"

Remus frowned. Dumbledore looked at him apologetically.

"You know you can't help him, Remus. It's not permitted; you know my reasons, this is better for him."

Remus looked away, almost moodily but not quite. More regretful. "Yes, sir."

Dumbledore nodded and directed his attention back to Tonks. "He's safe. We'd like to keep it that way, so we take turns guarding him. Perhaps Remus will help you?"

"Yes, sir, I will," Remus said, looking back. There was still pain in his eyes over whatever happened with Harry, but he half-smiled at Tonks.

She decided to show off and hopefully cheer Remus up. She screwed up her face in concentration and turned her hair a bright blue. Remus jumped, as did a few other Order members. Tonks grinned cheekily.

"Tonks is a Metamorphmagus," Dumbledore explained with a happy twinkle. Tonks winked.

"Yep," she confirmed, while turning it back to pink.

"Childish tricks," Emmeline muttered under her breath next to her. Tonks heard her and snorted.

"Childish gossip," Tonks muttered mockingly in a stage whisper, so Emmeline would hear. They looked at each other. Emmeline rolled her eyes and Tonks shrugged.

Later, Tonks and Remus had sat on Privet Drive.

"So, why do you want to take Harry away from here?" Tonks asked, to make conversation.

"I've seen how they treat him. He's locked in a cupboard and barely fed. I was friends with his father and I'd like to take him away from this place," Remus explained quietly, choking up on the mention of James, and looking bitterly at the house. Tonks laid a comforting hand on his arm.

"Why doesn't Dumbledore let you take him?"

"He thinks that when Lily d-died for him she gave him a sort of protection. He had to live with a relative," he said, but it looked like he was hiding something.

"And these bats are all they found?"

He cracked a smile, but then it faded. "Most of Lily's family was killed in the war."

"Merlin…I don't think I'd be able deal with that."

"It's hard," Remus stated, pain flashing in his eyes.

"Oh," Tonks said, a blush rising to her cheeks. "I'm sorry I brought it up."

"Don't be. Alright, Dora, how'd you find out about the Order?"

"I found out from Arthur," she said, then glared." And it's Tonks. T-O-N-K-S."

"Oh, okay Miss. T-O-N-K-S," he teased.

She gave a laugh but then pouted. "Jerk."

Remus smiled. "I try."

She glared at his smile. He stuck his tongue out jokingly, and then relented. "Alright, Dora, I'm sorry."

"Apparently not. Still on Dora, are we Remmy?" she teased.

"You're cruel," he said, laughing and shoved Tonks playfully.

Just then, a Patronus formed in front of them, and they went quiet.

It was a weasel.

"Arthur's Patronus," Remus stated.

"Weasel," Tonks confirmed.

Remus raised an eyebrow.

"Azkaban visit," Tonks explained briefly.

"Hold on, Ron- Hello, Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks. I just thought I'd let you know, Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban. That's all," the Patronus said quickly. Then it vanished.

A smile tugged at Tonks' lips. Remus, however, was seething in anger.

Tonks turned to him. "What are you mad about? Sirius is free!"

"That's not such a good thing, Tonks," Remus said grimly. "He's a murderer."

"You believe he did it," Tonks stated.

"I don't want to believe it. But all the facts are against him. He betrayed them to Voldemort. Muggles saw him. They saw him do it. All they had left of Peter was a finger."

"Seems kind of funny that a finger would survive an explosion like that, huh? Unless that was all Pettigrew wanted to be found of him."

"Don't say that about Peter."

"Just giving Sirius the trial he never got. Looking at it from all sides. Then again, not like anyone wanted him to be innocent."

"I did."

"Mm, you might of at first. But now, you seem to have written him off. The Ministry said he was guilty, the end. You can't believe everything the Ministry says."

"Most do."

"Most do, you're right. But you can't tell me you agree with the Ministry on everything? I see why you did this though. All the evidence was against him, to the naked eye at least. And that lie was oh-so-easy to believe. A Black went bad. Who would have ever guessed?" Tonks said sarcastically.

"You have to admit- he has the heritage."

"Yes he does. You want to know something?"

"Sure."

"I have the heritage too. Am I bad? "

"No- of course not- it's just-"

"You can't judge someone on something that they can't control, Remus."

Remus felt a surge of respect for the eccentric young auror.

"I really, really would love to believe that you're right."

"I am right. And, I got moody there, sorry. I get defensive when people talk about Sirius like that."

"I don't think you're right, Dora. At least I can be sure Harry stays safe while at Hogwarts."

"How?"

"I'm the new DADA teacher."

"Be careful."

"Why?"

"That job is cursed, I swear. I've never seen a teacher hold it for more than a year," Tonks warned, deciding to leave the earlier conversation alone.

"Neither have I, Nonetheless, the job is a blessing."

"Mm, Iit sounds fun to work at Hogwarts. Causing mischief, wrecking havoc, enlisting Peeves' help…" Tonks teased lightly.

Remus smiled wryly. "Exactly why I accepted it. I'll try to use the newfound privilege well by you."

Tonks looked at him carefully. "You're lying."

Remus raised his eyebrows, masking his surprise. "No, I'm teasing."

"Yes, but you're hiding something."

"Everyone hides."

"I take it you won't tell me what you find worthy of hiding?"

"You're a bright girl, you'll figure it out. I assure you, it's worthy of hiding."

"Hmph. Will you tell me if I get it right?"

"I doubt I'd have a choice, you'd see right through it," Remus said quietly.

"Fine. Er, you were bitten by a radioactive spider and in the dark of night dress up oddly and attack the sides of buildings," Tonks guessed from a muggle story she heard.

Remus gave a bark of laughter. "No."

"I think you're lying, Mister Spiderman," Tonks teased.

"And I think you might not be as speculative as I thought, Miss Nymphadora."

It was then Tonks' turn to shove him.

About ten minutes later Tonks looked to Remus and saw the scars on his face, remembered Mad-Eye's warning he'd given her not long ago, about an Order member being a werewolf.

"Are you friends with the werewolf?" Tonks blurted out. Remus went rigid for a second but then relented slightly.

"No, I don't really like the werewolf much."

"Oh. So you know who he is?"

"Yes, yes I do," Remus smiled wryly.

"Will you tell me?"

"I'll leave that to him, I think."

"Why don't you like him?"

"It's not that I don't like him, persay. More like I don't like the monster he becomes each month. How did you know there was a werewolf in the Order?"

"Mad-Eye."

"Ah, that makes sense, to warn you."

"Wasn't really a warning, more like advice."

"What do you mean?"

"He said that there was a werewolf in the Order –that part might've been a warning, I 'spose- but not to judge him right off the bat, let him –quote- annoy you first, and then decide he's a git –unquote- and that if –quote- my nosy arse gets into places it shouldn't –unquote- not to shut him out. Don't know why he bothered. Wasn't planning on judging or shutting anyone out anyways."

"You aren't?" Remus asked. "Tonks, he's dangerous."

"Like I said, Remus, you can't judge people on what they can't control," Tonks said seriously.

There was a pause before Remus spoke, "Well, Tonks, I'm sure he appreciates that."