Tonight You're On My Mind
A/N: This is my take on the Remus/Tonks relationship starting from the end of GoF and the start of OotP.
Prologue
Kingsley Shacklebolt changed my life. When he called me into his office that day I had no idea that what he would say would have such an effect on every aspect of my life.
"Tonks! Can I have a word?" he had called.
" 'Course." I'd replied whilst mentally rifling through any potential misdemeanours I might have committed recently.
I walked into his office, only tripping on the doorframe, and took the seat he motioned to. There was a moment of silence where Kingsley regarded me intensely before apparently being satisfied by whatever he saw in my steady gaze.
"I overheard your discussion with Arthur Weasley today."
I winced. I knew Arthur from when Charlie and I had been at school together and I happened to know that he was a sympathetic ear to bend about the Ministry and their recent change in attitude towards Dumbledore. Ever since the Triwizard Tournament, there had been rumours in the Ministry about Dumbledore's competence and his involvement with Harry Potter and You-Know-Who's return. Personally I was inclined to believe Dumbledore and Potter, what could they possibly have to gain by lying? However, the Ministry as a whole was not of this opinion. I thought I'd been discreet in voicing my opinions, evidently not.
Kingsley continued, his features not giving away anything. "I understand you have some doubts about the way the Ministry is handling the events of the Triwizard Tournament?"
I composed myself. It wasn't as if they could charge me with heresy. "I just don't think Dumbledore's claims should be ignored. I understand that there's not enough information to declare You-know-Who's return to the public, but the claims can't be unsubstantiated. Surely it would be better to investigate and be prepared than to be caught by surprise."
Kingsley regarded me impassively for a second before a smile broke out across his face. "I always knew you had promise Tonks."
Now I was confused. "Sorry?"
"Arthur's been telling me about your doubts and we've all discussed it and decided that we'd like to offer you a chance to do something about it."
Things weren't getting any clearer. "We?"
Kingsley smiled again. "Have you ever heard of the Order of the Phoenix Tonks?"
xXx
The last time I had spoken to Dumbledore had been in my final year at Hogwarts when I had been sent to him for turning Horatio Heng's fingers into flobberworms after he'd groped me in Potions. Now he was inducting me into the Order of the Phoenix, which included, among others, my falsely imprisoned cousin, who I'd believed to be somewhere in Eastern Europe until yesterday. Surreal didn't quite seem to cover it.
The meeting ended and most members seemed disinclined to linger. I didn't really know what to do. Fortunately I didn't have long to ponder my possible courses of action as I found my pink, spiky hair being vigorously ruffled. I turned round in surprise, only to find Sirius Black grinning at me like a loon.
"Well cousin, I'm glad to see the Ministry hasn't drained all the colour out of you yet."
I scoffed. "As if!" We stood there smiling tentatively for a few seconds, before I decided sod it and threw myself at Sirius, capturing him in a tight hug. "I'm really glad you're not a crazed murderer."
He let out a bark of laughter and hugged me back. "Me too, love. Me too."
"At least someone's glad. I was living a nice, peaceful life until you appeared again." This was delivered with a sufficient amount of teasing that I knew whoever was speaking wasn't serious.
Sirius let out another laugh and released me. "I think you mean incredibly dull and boring Moony. Nymphadora Tonks, let me introduce my oldest friend Remus Lupin."
I turned towards the man who had spoken. He was tall and slim with greying brown hair. He had a handsome, distinguished look to his face despite the scars that marked it. He, like Sirius, looked as if he had lived through more in his 30 odd years than others did in a lifetime. But his golden eyes were sparkling and his smile was warm. He extended his hand to me. "Nymphadora. It's a pleasure to meet you."
I shook his hand and smiled back at him, deciding to ignore the heat that rippled through me at the touch of his skin. "Just Tonks, please."
"I didn't think you looked like much of a Nymphadora." Sirius observed, taking in my frayed jeans that were only just on the right side of decency and cropped purple weird Sisters t-shirt.
"Thankfully not, much to mum's annoyance. I think she's still hoping I'll grow into it."
"Merlin forbid. I think I much prefer you this way. Well just Tonks, I insist you stay for dinner. I want to hear all about the debauched antics of your youth." Sirius was guiding me back to the kitchen table.
I turned to him with the most innocent look I could manage, which consisted of morphing my hair into a fluffy cloud of platinum curls and my eyes into big blue china doll jobs. "What possibly gave you the impression that I ever got into trouble?" I asked, batting my eyelashes for good measure.
Sirius leaned in close, "I can spot the potential for trouble-making a mile away. It's a gift."
"It's true." Remus added, "and I believe Dumbledore mentioned something about a boy named Horatio Heng and flubberworms."
xXx
Time and again over dinner, Remus found his eyes being drawn back to Tonks. She was chatting animatedly with Sirius and they were both in continual fits of laughter as they entertained each other with stories. She was so alive and vibrant it almost hurt to look at her. He couldn't ever remember feeling like that. Something stirred within him when he looked at her. Something he refused to acknowledge as anything other than intrigue. It was as if her presence in this miserable old house had breathed new life into the place and along with it a sense of hope. She turned her smile on him and asked a question; he replied and she laughed. And in that moment Remus knew that knowing Nymphadora Tonks would change his life.
Please Review!
