Wotcher, everyone! My dad got me into the habit of saying that before I ever heard of Tonks, but it makes me feel closer to her, haha! Anyway, ever seen the image of David Thewlis leaning back against a doorframe? Gorgeous. Keep that in mind and enjoy.

Chapter One: Tonks

Bored. Here she was, sitting at the long kitchen table at Grimmauld Place. Files littered the table in front of her. Did they contain exciting details of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Name's latest sinister bid to amass more followers? Nope. Did they contain Lucius Malfoy's newest deal with Borgin and Burkes' concerning some dangerous dark artefact? Negative. Had they found trace of Wormtail, Avery or Mulciber? Ha. She was stuck here writing a useless report about some little git who had convinced his superior to stick her hand into a perfectly innocent-looking urn, claiming he had lost something in there and that his hand was too big to fit. Her hand had emerged nail less and covered in boils seeping ugly yellow pus. The afflicted woman had connections at the Ministry, and so here sat Tonks, newest member to the auror elite, writing a report that should never have reached her department.

Still, she was expecting to meet another member of the Order here. Sirius was upstairs sulking with Buckbeak after another row with Molly, so she sat here awaiting the new arrival.

To be honest, she was excited. She had heard Mundungus let it slip that he was a werewolf. It was so unusual that he should be fighting against the Deatheaters that she found herself a little impatient to meet him. She had had an encounter with a rather maniacal werewolf in her short career, and he had been in human form. And completely bonkers. Off the wall. Had tried to bite his way through solid bronze at the ministry.

She was halfway through her report when she heard someone politely clear his or her throat behind her.

Tall, very tall. He stood leaning against the doorframe looking very relaxed. His head was bent back slightly as he looked at her, a small smile tweaked his lips. She could see from here that his eyes were blue, his hair brown with flecks of grey. But he looked young. His face was clean-shaven other than a small tame moustache. A few scars ran along the edge of his nose and cheek, but they did not detract from his appearance. Indeed, they suited him. Blimey.

"Hello. My name is Remus Lupin, and you must be Nymphadora Tonks." He had a gentle voice, with a slightly unusual accent. It spoke of kindness, and Tonks was a little taken aback. His shirt collar was open at the neck, and she could see a scar that slashed across his throat. She had expected him to sound hoarse, guttural. A little animal-like. He had the voice of a complete gentleman.

Knocking her chair over in her haste to stand up, she hurried forward to shake his hand. She tripped just as she reached him and he stepped forward to catch her. Grasping her gently by the shoulders, he helped her steady herself.

"Bloody clumsy git," came out muffled through gritted teeth. "Not you, me," she amended as he quirked an eyebrow at her. Straightening up, she stuck out her hand, which he shook firmly. His hands were warm. "Anyway, call me Tonks."

"Tonks?" He was looking at her with an amused expression. "Does everyone go by their last name? I'm not calling Sirius Black. Will Snuffles suffice?"

"I'm the only one who goes by their surname because- Hang on, Snuffles?" her voice spoke of laughter barely contained.

"I assume you know he is an animagus?" Nod. "Well, that's his pet name," he smiled as she burst out laughing.

"Seriously, Snuffles? He could gave been called anything! What's wrong with Rex, or King? Too macho?"

"Oh, you'll have to ask him that," his grin was positively mischievous.

"Come on. I swear I won't tease him," he raised that eyebrow again, "too much."

"I can't tell you."

"Why not? Sworn to secrecy?"

"Hardly. I'm saving it. Sirius wouldn't want you to know…."

"I see," she chuckled. "Everyone in the order was going on about how nice you are!"

"I am nice."

" Uh-huh. I noticed how your expression was completely blank as you said that." He just smiled. "How did you sneak in so quietly? I didn't hear a thing."

"I suppose I'm just the silent type."

"Right," To be honest, Tonks hadn't a clue what to make of him. "So, uh, you wanna sit down? Tea? Sirius said you had a long way to travel to get here." Come to think of it, he looked tired. And thin. Really thin. His face was pale, not naturally, but through hardship. His untidy hair, while making him look positively sexy - bad Tonks, don't think that- was obviously unkempt, and his shirt and trousers were shabby and darned in numerous places. My God, had she only just noticed? What ever happened to constant vigilance?! Her only excuse was that she had been caught up in admiring him. It just occurred to her that she had never seen anyone so fit. Following on the heels of that thought was the realisation that he was talking to her.

"Tonks?"

"What? Sorry. Must have zoned out for a second. You were saying?"

"That you should sit down and continue with what you were doing and I'll make the tea."

"Right, thanks," sitting down at her place again; she looked down at her file and then back at him. His body oozed grace as he moved about the kitchen, opening cupboards and searching for tea bags. Instead of pulling out his wand to make the kettle boil, he instead waved a hand over it, and it promptly began billowing steam. She put her head down as he turned around and put a cup in front of her. "Cheers," she took a grateful mouthful of tea.

Remus took a seat across from her. Tonks looked up to find him staring at her with a bemused expression.

"Something on my face?" It was making her nervous.

"Hm? No…. This is awfully rude of me, but are you in your natural form?"

"What? Oh! Yeah. Well, apart from the hair colour" which was currently vividest pink. "Why d'you ask?"

"You're beautiful," her eyebrows disappeared into her hair, and blushing, he hastened to continue "I did an essay on metamorphmagi in my third year, and all the sources I read said that metamorphmagi in their natural appearance are decidedly dull, blend in to the wall types. I was simply a bit shocked."

"You want beautiful you should see my mum. Everyone's plain next to her. I'm always told I don't look like her." Her heart-shaped face, strong yet feminine build were indeed very different to her mother's. All they had in common were their beautiful dark eyes.

"I prefer a different kind of beauty to the norm."

Apparently hearing himself for the first time, he looked down into the depths of his cup and said no more.

Tonks, on the other hand, sat digesting exactly what he had just said. She felt a little light-headed.

They sat in silence for a few minutes until footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs in a hurry. Both of the kitchen's occupants sat straight-backed and alert as they drew closer.

Sirius came bounding into the room, took one look at Remus and let out a great bark of a laugh. Remus got up and clasped Sirius' forearm in salute. They stood grinning at each other until Tonks deigned to intervene.

"Wotcher, Snuffles."

"Hi Ton-" he glanced at Remus, who looked completely innocent. "Remus."

"Hm," he sat down again.

"Remus."

"Yes, Sirius?" The kitchen door opened and shut.

"Remus, you son of a -!"

"Now, now Sirius. There is a lady present."

"Lady?!" Sirius spluttered, "Tonks is no bloody lady!"

"Oi!" Her voice sounded annoyed, but she was enjoying this.

"I'm referring to that lady," and he pointed at a point just below Sirius' shoulder. Sirius spun around.

"Oh, hello Molly." Molly just clucked her tongue.