Author's Note: Okay well, as this is my first ever fanfiction confetti I'm kind of new to this so things will probably get better in future chapters. I decided to write this to try and ward off post DH depression... Don't worry, there are no spoilers here (not that anyone who hasn't finished the story yet wouldn't be able to figure out what had happened just by reading summaries...) Comments and (mildly) constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated :D

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Shocking I'm not J.K. Rowling and therefore don't own any of her lovely characters or settings.

Introductions

"Suggestions for new recruits?" Remus Lupin watched with interest as Dumbledore surveyed the silent room. No one moved. Lately, it seemed, no one knew of anyone willing to join the cause of the Order of The Phoenix. For the past five meetings there had been no nominations, and this did not bode well for the small group of people gathered at the table of number 12, Gimmauld Place.

"Well, if there are no ideas then - " the headmaster was cut off by the sound of a scraping chair. Remus turned to see Alastor Moody stand and clear his throat.

"Nymphadora Tonks." Moody's voice was gruff as he let a slip of paper fall to the table. Leaning over, Remus could see the name written in small, hasty handwriting. The cramped, looping letters seemed to represent something Lupin couldn't quite put his finger on. An ominous quiet fell over the room and for a moment, the assembled held their breath.

Kingsley Shacklebolt was the first to speak. "Are you referring to the Auror Tonks? The Metamorphmagus?" His slow, thoughtful words settled over the group, breaking the spell the silence had cast. The table erupted with voices.

"Do you mean the pink haired witch who comes to work in Weird Sisters t-shirts?" Arthur Weasley seemed slightly aghast.

"I've seen her, she's so young," another argued. "Practically a baby, hardly out of training."

"She morphs her nose into a pig snout behind the minister's back…"

"Seems awfully immature…unpredictable…."

"I heard she left a niffler in Dolores Umbridge's office…."

"Unsuitable," Snape sneered. "She's a walking neon sign that spells 'Disaster'…."

"Yes, yes," said Moody dismissively. "Don't let her appearances fool you, Nymphadora is a fine witch and an excellent Auror. I should know. I trained her myself before I retired."

"Your protégée?" Dumbledore supplied with a smile tugging at his lips.

"One and the same," Moody agreed. "Let's face it, we're falling on hard times. We need all the help we can get, and none of us is getting any younger. It's time we brought in some new blood." No one could deny this truth. "Dora…has spirit. She would bring life to the Order, I'm sure of it. She's got trouble with authority, that's true, but it's only because she disagrees with the Ministry. I think we should give her a shot, unless anyone has any better suggestions?" his intimidating blue glass eye roved about the room, challenging anyone to disagree. No one was that stupid.

"I went to school with her," Charlie Weasley offered. "She's very talented, and very kind. I think it's a good idea."

"My cousin!" Sirius spoke for the first time. "I knew the name was familiar. Her mother was my favorite cousin. Any daughter of hers must be a good choice. (Pink hair, you say?)" he added to Arthur. Remus studied his best friend for a moment. He hadn't seen him this excited in a long time.

"Well then," Dumbledore said, regaining control of the room, "let's put it to vote, shall we? All in favor of approaching Miss Nymphadora Tonks…." Remus raised his hand and saw more than a few others do the same. "And those opposed?" Distinctly fewer hands (including Snape's, he noted with some resentment) went up. "Well that's that," Dumbledore said with a smile. "Alastor, as it was your idea, would you like to be the one to speak with her?"

Moody nodded his assent. "When should I go, Albus?"

Dumbledore was thoughtful for a moment. "The sooner, the better, I should think," he replied. "Now, in fact, if it is convenient for you. If you hurry, you can present her tonight." The ex-Auror grunted in accordance, kicking aside his chair as he moved towards the door.

"I think it would be wise to take someone along with you," Dumbledore suggested mildly. "Just…in case." There was a murmured agreement amongst the crowd.

"Fine, fine, I'll take Lupin with me, if he's willing." Remus nodded, standing. Any excuse to escape the bickering group for a night. And besides, he'd be lying if he said he wasn't curious to meet this…unique young woman. If Moody respected her and Snape didn't, he had a feeling he'd like her.

The two men left the kitchen and the arguments behind them, making their way through the hall and out into the welcoming night. "Over here," Moody grumbled, motioning towards the clump of trees that were used as an apparition point. "You'd better side-along," he added when they arrived, holding out his arm. "We're going to her flat, in London." He looked around suspiciously. "Constant vigilance, Lupin," he said gruffly. And with that, they disappeared into the dark.

"I've never met a Metamorphmagus before," Remus mentioned as they approached a small apartment building from the side.

"I wouldn't say it like that to her if you have any sense of self-preservation," Moody laughed. "I don't think she'd appreciate it. Although I don't think she's ever met a werewolf either," he pointed out. Lupin's thoughts did a double take. He hadn't meant it as a bad thing, but when the ex-Auror put it that way, it seemed like he and this mystery witch had something in common. Well, sort of. Except that being a Metamorphmagus was special, and well, being a werewolf was…well… Remus was shaken from his thoughts as a shock went tingling up and down his spine.

"Damn it all, Nymphadora," Moody cursed. "I'm too old for this. It's a search spell," he added to Lupin. "Anyone with unfriendly intentions would get something much worse than just a shock…I have to hand it to her though, that is some nice spell work, not that I'd ever tell her that…" he continued muttering to himself as the pair climbed a set of wooden stairs. At the top, Moody put his hand out to keep Lupin from the landing. "Wait. If I know Dora she'll have some other tricks in store as well…." He pulled out his wand and whispered some anti-curses under his breath. "Good," he grunted in approval. "Come on, then."

Moody pounded his fist against the door. "Nymphadora, I'd like a word," he called. Nothing. "Dora! Open up!" his pounding became more insistent. Crash. Remus cringed at the distinct sound of breaking china, followed by a long string of curses in a woman's voice. "Coming!" she shouted, "Hold on to your buttocks, I'm coming already! Argh!" There was a loud thump, as though someone had fallen over. Moody rolled his eyes.

"Who's there?" The young woman seemed to have finally made it to the door.

"It's me, Nymphadora, Alastor Moody, and a friend." There was silence.

"What's my middle name?" she said at last. Moody groaned.

"Cassandra, after your grandmother," he said, sounding distinctly annoyed. "Now open up!" There was a pause.

"You know, I think that might be common knowledge, what's something only Moody would know?" she sounded rather weary, Lupin thought, like she was less happy about the conversation than Moody was.

"You wanted to be a healer until you were sixteen," he said after thinking for a moment. "When your sister was killed by a runaway death eater trying to bring back the old ways. That's when you decided to become an Auror." The door swung open, revealing a young witch in a sweatshirt and shorts with mousy brown hair sticking up in every direction. She had heavy, sleep-filled eyes and dark circles that seemed to prove she could do with a solid eight hours. Moody looked a little taken aback by this.

"I'm sorry, were you asleep?" he asked. She wrinkled her eyebrows in question at the look on his face, and then with a spark of realization, she closed her eyes and shook her head a little as though clearing her thoughts. As she did so, her wild brown hair flattened and fell nicely about her shoulders, changing to a light purple color as it went. When her eyes opened again, they were light and alert, although there were still circles beneath them.

"Yes, I was, but that's alright," she said cheerfully. "What are you doing here? I've missed you!" She threw her arms around the intimidating figure of the ex-Auror, apparently unconcerned. Moody's glass eye swiveled in all directions, shocked at the gesture.

"Uh, fine, right, I have to speak to you, uh, if you can," he stammered shaking her off. "It's important." Remus was unable to stop his laughter – he'd never seen Moody look so flustered.

"Oh, wotcher," she said, looking around Moody at Lupin. "Who's this?"

"This is Remus Lupin, my associate. Here for extra protection. He's a werewolf," he added conversationally, "but don't worry, he's more bark than bite and dead useful."

Nice to meet you," Remus said sheepishly, trying to sound apologetic for Moody's less than tactful humor.

"Introductions later," said Moody gruffly, ushering the woman back inside. "Remus, wait here, we'll only be a moment. Alert us if there's any trouble." The two of them disappeared inside the apartment, the expression of blatant curiosity lingering on the young woman's heart-shaped face.

The night might have seemed quiet to an ordinary person, Remus thought to himself as he waited on the landing. Although he didn't like to talk about it, his furry little problem actually had its advantages sometimes, especially close to the full moon, as it was that night. His eyes could see uncannily in the dark, better than if he'd been wearing night-goggles. He could smell steak cooking on a grill two miles away. If the situation called for it, he knew his reflexes would seem almost…inhuman. Probably why Moody asked me to come, he thought. And of course, he couldn't help his heightened sense of hearing either. Which is how he came to hear every word spoken on the other side of the door.

"I'm sorry, Mad-Eye, work has been god-awful lately, I didn't mean to give you such a hard time," Remus could hear Nymphadora saying.

"Hard time? Are you joking? It was damn sensible of you. It's not like I haven't been impersonated before," he pointed out. "Anyway, work is that bad, eh?" Remus smiled as the woman gave a long, drawn out, overdramatic groan.

"Moody, you don't know the half of it," she said. "They've got us running all over the place on wild goose chases, it's just ridiculous. I mean, if I were doing something useful it wouldn't be so bad, but right now the job's just pointless. I'm at the end of my rope, to be honest." There was a pause, filled only by the sound of someone making tea.

"So you believe Dumbledore and the Potter boy?" Moody's gruff voice could be heard at last.

"Of course!" she cried, sounding clearly offended. "What other explanation is there? The ministry is bloody blind. Ad besides, the day Dumbledore is wrong about anything is the day I willingly let people call me Nymphadora." Suddenly there came the sound of crockery falling to the floor. "Oh no! Not again!" And breaking into a million pieces, he thought.

"Reparo," Moody said. "Forget about it," he added. "So…you're disappointed in the Ministry. What are you going to do about it?" Nymphadora audibly sighed.

"I don't know, Mad-Eye, I wish there was something I could do. But if I'm too obvious about my feelings at work, I'll lose my job. And shallow though it sounds, I really do have to pay the bills somehow. But if I didn't I'd quit in protest. I became an auror to help, to fight for a brighter future. But I may as well be sitting around on my arse for the amount of good I'm doing." Remus listened as Moody shuffled closer to the woman, probably to put his hand on her shoulder.

"What if there was a way you could help, without losing your job?" he asked her.

"What…what do you mean?" She sounded hopeful.

"Nymphadora - " "Tonks," she interjected. He snorted. "Whatever. Have you ever heard of The Order of the Phoenix?" There was silence, and Remus imagined her bright eyes widening in shock.

"You mean…you mean…the secret organization that fought Voldemort in the first war? Weren't you in it before?"

"Before, yes. And still. Dumbledore has got the old gang back together. And we're looking for new members." The excitement was positively palpable. Remus could almost feel the young witch smiling.

"And you…you thought I…" she drifted off, obviously unable to finish the sentence.

"I thought you might be a good witch for the job, yes," he concluded. "What do you say?" There was more crashing pottery as the woman stood and overturned her coffee table.

"Sign me up!" she cried. "Yes, I want to help! Of course! I'm honored," she finished, her sincerity clear.

"Fine, fine, good. Hurry up and get ready then, if we're quick we can initiate you tonight. And oh, reparo," he said again. "Go on then, I'll be outside." Remus subconsciously moved away from the door at the sound of approaching footsteps. Moody appeared in the doorway.

"Well?" he asked, even though he already knew.

"She's coming," he said, probably knowing that Lupin had heard the whole thing. They stood waiting for a few moments, until the purple-haired witch came crashing through the door, closing it behind her.

"Come on then, let's go," she said with a huge smile on her face, wearing considerably more appropriate clothes than she'd had on the last time he'd seen her. Even still, he wasn't sure that combat boots, faded jeans, and the bright orange t-shirt (which clashed magnificently with her hair) did the trick either. Fortunately, she pulled on a black robe over these, which seemed to make her look slightly more mature.

"Lupin will go on ahead with you," Moody grumbled, fishing for something in his pockets. "I have to stop somewhere on the way. Constant - "

"Vigilance, we know, Mad-Eye," she rolled her eyes. "Honestly…" she muttered to herself.

"Listen, you should know better than most, Nym - "

"Tonks!" she insisted. "You know how much I hate my name but you insist on using it," she said, sounding put-off.

"Don't act like a baby, Dora," he retorted. Remus almost laughed – to the casual observer, one might think the two were arguing, but he could distinctly hear the tenderness to Moody's normally gruff tones. Lupin hadn't thought the ex-Auror could've had a soft spot for anyone, but clearly this colorful witch was an exception.

"Well, should we get going then?" Remus finally interrupted the pair. They stopped mid-sentence – they'd obviously forgotten he was even there.

"Right you are, Lupin," Moody agreed. "Tonks, don't worry, you're in good hands. Meet you there." He turned on the spot and disappeared into the night.

The Metamorphmagus and the werewolf stood in awkward silence for a moment. "I'm Remus Lupin," he reminded her, offering his arm.

"I'd prefer if you just call me Tonks," she said, taking it.

"Alright then," he agreed. "Shall we be off?" She nodded, and Remus had to admit he admired her courage. Most people were at least a little put off by the werewolf thing, but she seemed to have forgotten about it completely. He was suddenly overwhelmed by her presence for half a heartbeat, and then they too were gone, leaving the quiet city street completely deserted.

Lupin and Tonks stood outside Number 12, Grimmauld Place as Tonks watched the building force itself between Numbers 11 and 13 with no small amount of awe. Her arm was still clasped tightly around Remus's, he noticed with some amusement – she was clearly nervous.

"Ready?" he asked kindly.

"As I'll ever be…" she replied with forced brightness.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine. I'm sure you'll do wonderfully," he reassured her, although he didn't really think it helped. "Oh, and I should probably warn you about your cousin," he added as the thought struck him.

"My cousin?" she asked.

"Sirius Black," he clarified. "It's a long story – I'm sure he'd love to regale you with it sometime – but he's actually innocent. Framed, as a matter of fact. This is his house, and you'll get to see him inside." From the corner of his eye, Remus noted the shock and joy as her features curled into a smile.

"That's fantastic!" she cried. "I mean, not that he was framed and spent, what, a dozen years in Azkaban?" she added, "but that he's innocent. That's really, really great. Mum always knew he could never have done all that stuff – she's been convinced for years they had it wrong, oh I can't believe it! I mean, yes I can, but obviously it's very surprising, and wonderful, I'm really glad…." She drifted off, lost in thought. What a chatterbox, Lupin thought. Sweet though, I suppose, he amended. He'd have to reserve judgment for the young woman until later.

"We should probably go inside," he said, motioning to the door.

"Oh right! Right…" And with that they passed into the menacing house. At Lupin's sign, Tonks followed suit and crept through the dusty front hall. Or well, started creeping, one should say, since she hadn't even taken three steps when she tripped over the umbrella stand. Though he didn't know it at the time, one day in the near future Remus would come to realize that this, along with the ensuing screams from Mrs. Black's portrait and Tonks's profuse apologies, would become something of an arrival ritual.

In the kitchen again at last, Lupin watched with mild interest as each member of the Order was introduced to the bubbling witch in turn. All thoughts of nervousness forgotten apparently, her enthusiasm was positively infectious. After the introductions were complete (finishing with none other than Sirius Black, who had caused Tonks's smile to widen to almost an impossible length), she said a small piece about herself and how she was overjoyed to join the Order's cause. No one could doubt her sincerity.

So it was with that, at the close of the meeting, Dumbledore pulled out a large, old roll of parchment and a dark red quill. At the top of the parchment Lupin could see (though his memory served just as well) the mission statement and oath each new member of the Order read upon initiation. Below this were all the signatures of the original Order, including his own and Sirius's…and James's and Lily's…. And below that was a line, underneath which was a small amendment to the contract, stating the renewed efforts of the group, along with the signatures of all the current members, many of which were duplicates of the names above. It was here that Tonks signed her own, full name (though she despised it) and officially joined The Order of the Phoenix.

Remus studied her signature for a moment before Dumbledore rolled the parchment away and called the meeting adjourned. There was something about the way the letters seemed to move and change while remaining completely stationary that intrigued him. Long after everyone had left (he hadn't even noticed Moody's return, though he shook his hand and said good-bye all the same), Lupin found himself still wondering about the cheerful young witch. Even when Sirius finally dragged himself up to bed, Remus sat alone in the kitchen for a while, trying to figure out what it was about her….

Eventually he gave up, unable to decide anything at all. With a shrug and an internal sigh at himself, he climbed the stairs to his room where his comfortable bed waited with the rest he would surely need to prepare for the full moon so close at hand. I shouldn't bother myself with it, he thought, she's just the newest member of the Order, nothing too exciting, or important.

Although this thought did not seem to do her justice.