Minor RLTN, an idea that I had that wouldn't leave me alone. Major AU – James is Harry's cousin, The Marauders (minus Peter), Tonks and Lily are all friends and in their seventh yearn with Harry and his friends in their third year. Pretend that the Triwizard Tournament happened last year and Harry still competed and everything still happened that happened during that year. I know it's farfetched, but just go along with it.

Not So Bad

Fake snow fell silently in the air above Remus as he glanced around the Great Hall, which was barely recognizable. The usual four long tables were removed and replaced with a large, wooden dance floor, stage, and dozens of smaller tables scattered around. He stood next to Sirius and James as they took in their surroundings as well. It was the annual Hogwarts Snow Ball, and the three were in their fifth year of Hogwarts. Groups of giggling girls passed them on either side as they moved into the Great Hall and waited for the dance to begin. It seemed that everyone but them had dates, and they stuck out in the throng of couples. Awkward didn't begin to describe it.

"Well guys. This should be great," Sirius said as he entered the great hall to find a table. Remus went to follow him, but the two stopped when James stayed rooted in his spot.

"Prongs, come on. Before all the good seats get taken and we have to sit with Marissa Barnes and her beehive hair," Sirius said impatiently.

James was gazing up the staircase where two girls were slowly walking down. His eyes were glued on Lily Evans, their fellow fifth year Gryffindor. She was wearing a crème, flowing dress with thin straps. Her dark red hair was twisted up into an elegant knot on her head. Remus thought she looked pretty, but he wasn't going to go there; James had his eye on Lily Evans practically since they had arrived at Hogwarts. They had an ongoing love/hate relationship the past few years; mostly hate, but James was determined.

Remus figured James would be here a while, so he turned to enter the Great Hall when someone caught his eye. He looked at Lily's companion to see who she was and his breath hitched momentarily. Lily had been walking down the stairs with Nymphadora Tonks, another fifth year Gryffindor and Lily's best friend. Remus knew Nymphadora, or Tonks as she liked to be called, but not that well. He knew she was Sirius' younger cousin and her and Lily were best friends their whole life and usually did everything together. Tonks was slightly shorter than Lily and seemed to be walking down the staircase in her high heels very carefully, concentrating on every step. She was wearing a satin sapphire blue dress that went to her knees and had straps that crossed in the back. Her dark hair was in wavy curls with some hair pinned back to show her face better. Remus, along with everyone in Gryffindor Tower, had always thought she was pretty, but not much more. He wasn't one to judge, but she definitely had a streak of something wild and untamed in her, and Remus was intimidated by that, as much as he hated to admit it. Maybe it was the Black in her, or just from being around Sirius too long. Anyway, Remus had always thought she was pretty, but tonight he was definitely noticing her. This strange feeling arose in Remus, like he didn't want her to go into the Great Hall. He didn't want a bunch of cocky, undeserving guys to lay their eyes on her.

The two girls got to the bottom of the stairs and Remus was pulled back to reality as James said to Lily, "Hey Evans; nice dress." Lily just narrowed her eyes and glared at him, shaking her head as she continued into the Great Hall. Tonks paused momentarily, as if expecting Lily to stop and then shook her head slightly and moved to follow her friend into the Great Hall. As she passed Remus, she turned her intense green eyes to him and for a moment everything slowed down a bit. As cliché as it was, it was like they were seeing each other for the first time. Tonks opened her mouth as if to say something, but just smiled elegantly at Remus instead. He followed her retreating back with his eyes and was pulled back to reality a second time by James hitting him slightly on the arm.

"You okay man? Come on, let's go," James said as he went toward the doors to the Great Hall.

"Yeah, okay," Remus said absent mindedly and followed James.

Sirius, James, and Remus sat at their table, sipping on drinks as they watched the greater part of the Hogwarts population dance to another monotonous pop song. Remus was sure he had heard this song before, possibly being blasted from the girls' dorm, but he didn't know what it was or who it was 

by. He spotted Lily and Tonks dancing with a large group of people right in the middle of everyone, clearly enjoying themselves. Tonks' hair had fallen out of place a long time ago and her loose curls were now bouncing on her shoulders and back, catching a ray of light every once and a while. The two girls were clearly having a good time, and were laughing and chatting with each other and the people around them.

"Are you checking out my cousin Moony?" Sirius said, causing Remus to nearly jump out of his skin.

"What? No," he said quickly.

"What do you mean 'No'? You couldn't keep your eyes off her back at the Entrance Hall," James said as he looked at a certain redhead in the crowd.

Remus shot him a glare and then looked back at Sirius, gauging his reaction. When none came, Remus went back to picking at a brownie he had on his plate.

After a few minutes of silence, Sirius startled Remus again by saying, "Hmm. You and little Tonksie. That would be interesting."

Remus looked between him and James questioningly. "Yeah, that would be quite the couple," James said, agreeing with Sirius.

"Woah, who said anything about being a couple? I just think she looks nice tonight, that's all," Remus said, getting a bit flustered.

Sirius and James looked at each other, doubt written on their faces. "Please Moony, we know what's been going on in that abnormally smart head of yours."

At this point, Remus was just confused. He hadn't been thinking about Tonks that way at all before tonight. Honestly, he wondered if they put these ideas in his head just to torment him. Or for their own entertainment. Either one, really.

Just then, the song changed to a slower one and students either started pairing up with their significant others, or making a dash to the refreshment table to avoid some seriously awkward moments. Tonks mouthed to Lily that she was going to get some fresh air and squeezed between swaying bodies and headed toward the door.

"Well, Moony, now's your chance," Sirius said nodding toward the door Tonks just exited. "As for me, I see a certain someone in need of a dance." Remus watched as Sirius walked toward a fourth year Hufflepuff he had his eyes on the past few weeks.

"Really though Remus, just go for it," James said as he got up and walked toward Lily who had yet to find someone to dance with.

"What the hell," Remus muttered to himself as he got up and walked toward the door that lead out of the Great Hall. He walked into the Entrance Hall, looking for Tonks, and spotted a lone figure through one of the side doorways that lead to the courtyard. Remus gulped as he walked slowly toward her.

It was surprisingly warm out for this time of year and the cool air felt good after being in the stuffy Great Hall for so long.

"Need some company?" Remus said quietly to Tonks.

She gasped and turned around, started for a moment. "Sorry, I didn't hear you coming," she said and smiled at him.

"Sorry for startling you," Remus said, smiling at her. She turned back to the courtyard, gazing into the night sky that was filled with stars. Remus could barely make out the dark lake on the school grounds as he leaned against the low stone wall she was leaning on. "So why aren't you back in there, dancing with someone?"

She smiled and continued to look out at the courtyard and school grounds beyond. "They're all nice, but…Well that's pretty much it. Nice," she said, laughing a bit.



"Really? Guys always seem to be all over you, I mean, how could they not," Remus' heart almost stopped as he realized what he said. He didn't know what was up with him tonight; he usually didn't go up to beautifully intimidating girls and start saying things like this to their face.

Tonks laughed again, filling Remus' ears with its tinkling sound. "Well, look at you, Mr. Charmer. I bet you say that to all the girls," she added with a smile on her face.

Remus gave a short laugh and looked back into the darkness, "Yeah, because I have so many girls just dying to be with me."

"You don't? Well, that's news to me" she said in the same humorous tone.

"Yeah well, people can surprise you," Remus said.

Tonks smiled at him and looked out over the grounds again. The two stood in silence for a moment, breathing in the fresh air and cool night, leaning gently against the wall. Remus was starting to get a little cold and was contemplating going back inside when Tonks spoke, breaking the silence.

"You're really quiet," she told him.

Remus gave a confused chuckle and said, "Okay…You can go back inside if you want, I don't mind."

"Oh, God, no I didn't mean it like that," she apologized. "I just meant that you're different. Different than Sirius and James and stuff. They're so..."

"Conniving?" he finished for her.

"Exactly. Conniving. And I always thought you were just like them, but more…mute."

A few instances where Remus had in fact been just like them stood out in his mind, but he chose not to bring them up right now. Instead he just looked at her and offered a small smile. She smiled back and silence enveloped them again. After a moment Tonks stood up off the stone wall and faced Remus.

"You know, you're not that bad," she said, placing her hand on his shoulder for a moment. She then smiled before heading back to the doorway leading to the Great Hall, where the low beats of music could be heard coming from.

Remus stared, shocked, out over the dark grounds again. Maybe she was right. Maybe he wasn't so bad after all.

Disclaimer

Anything that is recognizable from any of the Harry Potter books is property of J.K. Rowling and I make no profit from it.