Dust to Dust

A Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks FanFiction

Prologue: The Meeting

1st July, 1995

The atmosphere was, for the first time since the tragic end to the Twi-Wizard Tournament a few days previously, relatively calm in 12 Grimmauld Place that Saturday morning. Plans were still being proposed, shared, and debated between Order members, but the frantic shouting and fear which had become common place over the last week had ebbed, as those involved settled quickly into their roles and adjusted themselves to the new challenges and dangers they were, and knew they would soon be, facing.

Remus Lupin stood to the side of the kitchen of Grimmauld Place, leaning against one of the old sideboards and cradling a mug of hot chocolate. Molly and Arthur Weasley were seated nearest to him, at one end of the long table which dominated the room, speaking in hushed tones, their heads bent close together. A few seats down Charlie Weasley was looking highly irritated as he pored over a sheet of parchment with Severus Snape, who was wearing, as usual, an expression of mild disdain. Remus' eyes narrowed by instinct as he looked at the man, and quickly moved on.

The door at the opposite end of the room opened, and Kingsley Shacklebolt entered, having just accompanied Dumbledore out of the property. He paused next to Sirius, who was kicked back with his feet on the table, his eyes shut, and startled him from his sleep with a none-too-gentle shove to the shoulder. Remus smirked as Sirius' eyes shot open in annoyance; Serves him right for all the FireWhiskey he got through last night. It was only a few days since his last transformation, and it had been a painful one: Remus could have done with a few more hours of sleep last night, but had been unfortunately interrupted on multiple occasions by his oldest living friend, who had an alarming tendency of wanting to curl up to sleep on the floor by his bed after a few too many.

Kingsley was heading around the table, presumably to speak with Remus, when the door opened again. The members' heads turned automatically, all alert as they weren't expecting any additions to their meeting that day. Mad-Eye Moody limped through the door, nodding at the assembled members, and was greeted by tight smiles from the Weasleys and Snape, who quickly went back to their plans, and didn't notice that the Auror wasn't, in fact, alone.

"Tonks?" It seemed that Sirius, even in his Fire Whiskey induced stupor, was the only one in the room to notice the young, pink-haired witch who had followed Mad-Eye in, other than Remus himself.

"Wotcher, Cuz," the young woman replied brightly, even as her eyes scanned the room, taking in Remus quickly as she assessed who was present, before settling again on Sirius. Remus didn't understand for a minute - how could this be Sirius' cousin? Unless…

"Meet Tonks," Mad-Eye said, confirming Remus' deduction, his gruff voice carrying effectively through the kitchen. "Auror…Newest member…" Moody had set his eye on the parchment lying between Snape and Charlie, and seemed content to leave his introduction at these three words, before maneuvering himself stiffly to peer over Charlie's shoulder, leaving Tonks standing by the door.

"I must say, Miss Tonks," Snape drawled, openly sneering at her, "I was rather surprised to hear that a Hufflepuff had even managed to qualify as an Auror, let alone that you'd volunteered your services…well, well. We can only hope that you've grown out of your more….clumsy years, can't we?" Tonks' cheeks flushed, and her eyes, Remus could've sworn, darkened unnaturally as she crossly regarded the man who was, Remus could only assume, her old Potions Master.

"Shut it, Snivellus," Sirius barked, gesturing to Tonks to sit by him, and her eyes lightened slightly, although her stance remained stiff as she moved towards him.

"Can I get you a cup of something, dear?" Molly chimed in, clearly trying to dispel the unfortunate silence that had descended upon the kitchen so soon after their newest member's arrival.

Remus watched with interest as Tonks smiled, and her face relaxed. "Some hot chocolate would be much appreciated, uh…?"

"Molly, dear, Molly Weasley," Mrs Weasley told her, smiling warmly as she bustled across the room and set about making Tonks' drink. She gestured to her husband and son and introduced them as such, and the young Auror raised her hand in greeting. It seemed she already knew Kingsley, and Remus felt it was time he stepped out from the shadows and introduced himself properly.

"I'm Remus Lupin," he said as he approached her, offering his hand. She took it with a friendly smile and he was impressed by the firmness of her handshake.

"Nymphadora Tonks…But just call me Tonks," she said, releasing his hand and gratefully accepting the mug that Molly had sent hovering over to her. "You're Sirius' friend?"

Remus nodded, and wondered if it would be rude to ask when Sirius had been reunited with his estranged second-cousin, and why he hadn't shared the story with him.

"Moony here is more than a friend to me, Tonks," Sirius told her, thumping Remus on the back as he spoke, and even before he saw Tonks' eyes widen, Remus felt that Sirius probably could have been slightly more careful with his wording.

"Oh…right, I didn't realise you were…Not that it's a problem!" she said, stumbling over her words, "I just thought that…erm. Never mind." Her pale cheeks once again flushing, she turned away from the two Marauders and looked helplessly over to Mad-Eye, who met her gaze with one of amusement, before ignoring her silent plea for help and turning back to Charlie.

It took Sirius a moment to register what had just happened, before, with a bark-like laugh, (which, from his wince, clearly hurt his head), he placed his hands on his cousin's shoulders and turned her back around to face Remus, who couldn't hide his amusement from his smile or the twinkle in his eyes.

"I think what your cousin meant to say, Tonks," he told her, trying not to laugh at her mortified expression, "Was that we go way back. We met as First Years."

"Ah," she breathed, laughing nervously. "Got it."

"Don't worry," Remus smirked: "I'd be surprised, too - Padfoot has developed quite the bachelor's reputation, has he not?"

"And on that note, I take my leave," Sirius cut in, feebly massaging his evidently throbbing temples as he left the room, but failing to hide the note of pride in his tone. He threw a wink at Remus from behind Tonks' back.

"So," Remus chuckled, pulling out the chair next to Tonks' and sitting down beside her, "You know Mad-Eye?"

Her eyes flickered across to the grizzled Auror, and Remus saw in them true admiration. "He spent three years training me," she said softly, so as not to be overheard, before turning back to Remus. "I think he's brilliant."

"When did you qualify?" he asked, hoping it wasn't a too obvious manner of finding out how old she was.

"Last year." A quick bit of arithmetic told Remus that she could be all of twenty-two, if that. Next to his thirty-five, he suddenly felt rather old.

"Congratulations," he said, and she smiled. "What made you want to join the Order?" Her mouth opened and she looked vaguely worried by his question. "Sorry - that sounded awfully like I'm interviewing you. Believe me, I have neither the authority nor the inclination to question new members." He finished with a smile that struck her as almost shy. "I was just curious."

"I wanted to help," she said simply, and shrugged. "I believe Dumbledore - I don't think I could ever doubt that man - and I can't see why Harry Potter would lie…I decided to see if I couldn't use my position for good." She cringed, and a light pink flush rose in her cheeks. "That sounds arrogant of me, doesn't it? I just meant…"

"I know what you meant, and it sounds the way it is - honourable. And brave." She couldn't hide a blush at this, and looked away from Remus, although he didn't miss the way the corners of her mouth lifted, or the way the corners of her eyes crinkled as she looked down into her lap. Stop it, Old Man, he told himself firmly. Don't look at her like that.

"What about you?" she asked, sipping her hot chocolate. "Your name sounds familiar to me…"

"Ah yes…" Remus said, taking a long sip of his drink. It was, of course, inevitable that this question would come up, but so soon into the conversation seemed a pity. He was sure to scare away a woman as young and beautiful as the one sitting next to him. As soon as this thought crossed his mind, he resented it - it was never wise, he had found, to dwell on his more romantic feelings. Even if she wasn't utterly disgusted by his condition, she would certainly want nothing more than anything platonic with a werewolf, or with any man of his age or position.

"I taught Defense Against the Dark Arts for a year at Hogwarts, a couple of years ago…It, erm…Well, I resigned at the end of the year." He stopped there, hoping that maybe she might not care enough to ask why. He realized his mistake quickly as he saw recognition flit across her face; she clearly remembered the headlines and talk his condition's discovery had generated.

"I remember that now," she said, and Remus couldn't quite allow himself to accept the gentle note to her tone. She didn't sound disgusted, or afraid, or even judgemental. She sounded accepting and, largely, as if it didn't really make all that much difference to her perception of him. She must be a good actress, Remus told himself. "Do you miss teaching?"

This question surprised Remus further. In place of scorn, he had half been expecting pity, which was worse in many ways. But Tonks sounded genuinely interested.

"I miss being at Hogwarts," he replied honestly. "And I miss some of the students - and a few of my colleagues…" He shot a dark look across the room at Snape, before looking away with a small shake of his head, which Tonks registered with amusement, before continuing. "It feels good to be able to help the Order, though. And that would be more difficult if I was still teaching."

Tonks nodded, and set her mug down on the stained table. She took a breath and was clearly about to say something, but was interrupted by Mad-Eye, who slammed his hand down on the table and easily got everyone's attention. Tonks shot a smile at Remus, before turning in her seat to face the Auror, and talk turned to darker matters. Remus, however, found that his eyes wandered more often than they should have, to the shock of pink hair in front of him. He silently berated himself.

This is me praying that this was the very first page, not where the story line ends. My thoughts will echo your name, until I see you again. These are the words I held back, as I was leaving too soon, I was enchanted to meet you ~ 'Enchanted', Taylor Swift