Ah yes another chapter. I'd have updated sooner but I was hopelessly holding out for reviews. Plus my internet was capped and wouldn't load anything. Thanks to Kaladelia Undomiel for the review by the way. Still getting a lot of hits on Marry Me Stupid but well they can't all be winners so I'll settle for a few things here and there. Seriously though do try, I even love the one worded ones; they hype me up all the same. Whoa, anyway on we go, Penny


Chapter Two: Patrol

I stood in the front yard with mum meditating. It was something we had done together every Saturday morning since I was thirteen and even when I'd moved out I was up at seven on Saturday's strengthening my chi or whatever. I didn't really believe in it, it just helped relax me and was also an easy way to stay in shape.

We'd usually go for a run afterward and have some nice mother daughter bonding then I'd come home and enjoy the rest of my day off by catching up on work. I live a sad life.

I'd settled back at home nicely… enjoying the ease I felt here and though I did miss the sex I got regularly for having a boyfriend everything else I had learned to live without. It'd only been about a few weeks so I was pretty sure I was doing ok. My parents had told me they'd noticed an improvement and liked that I would now leave my room to occasionally have a conversation with them.

At the moment my hair was its natural long mousy brown as I found it a lot easier to find my centre when I wasn't trying to keep my hair pink. It didn't take a lot of concentration, my morphing, so it didn't change when I meditated but it just made me feel clearer.

As we began our run mum asked me about my work, I asked her about her work. She owns a little flower shop just nearby which catered for every major event our town had. Mum asked if I'd been seeing anyone and I tripped. She could instantly see through me so I confessed that no, I wasn't, but I was interested.

"I think it's cute" mum informed me as we continued to run. I said nothing. We got home and I headed off to have a shower. I always wore a silver chain around my neck and only took it off when I absolutely had to. As it'd been a gift from my dad's mother, one of my few relatives I actually liked I tried to keep it in the best condition I could by not getting it wet.

I quickly shed my clothes and then hopped in the shower enjoying the warmth as it moved through my body. I stood at my natural 5'5 and let the water just trail down my brown hair.

I inspected the scar on my arm from when I'd fallen into a lake and sliced it open on a rock. The scar on my stomach from almost having my appendix removed. I say almost because a doctor came in and informed everyone it was merely an infection, halfway through my surgery hence the almost.

I had a few other scars from my many trips and falls, once through a glass window that explained the ones all over my legs. I usually kept them all hidden with my morphing but sometimes I just liked to know they were still there, that there was this part of me that kept me me.

I stepped out and wrapped a towel around myself studying my reflection in the mirror. I'd forgotten that I had a bent nose from breaking it one to many times. I had also forgotten that I was so pale.

My parents didn't like me wandering around as anything I pleased for fear that a stranger might walk in and they'd think it was me. Odd but it could happen, plus I think they liked seeing a bit of themselves in me.

Even when I was walking around as a petite brunette I added a little colour to myself and kept myself a little rounder – I was starting to look skeletal so I should probably let up on the diet a bit.

As I stared at myself I realised looked ill and the bags under my eyes weren't helping. I frowned in concentration and suddenly retained my usual appearance, taller, rounder short pink hair and a lot less pale. I dried my hair quickly then got changed and headed into the kitchen.

"Sweetie you know the rules" mum said I stared at her open mouthed. I thought they would drop that rule after I moved out.

"But mum" I whined.

"While you're under my roof you'll walk around like the pretty brunette I made"

"You let me do it for the past few weeks!" I defended

"Yes but you'd been dumped, you needed to feel pretty, now your better you've got no excuses"

"But you know it's me" I replied.

"I do, nobody gives such good sass but I don't enforce these rules to punish you" she said then glanced around and leant a little closer to me so she could speak softer, "Look something is brewing out there I can feel it"

I gave her a serious look and she put down the dish she'd been cleaning. "There have been things… in the paper – I know you don't read it" she muttered

"I do so read it… I just like to read the comics first and sometimes I don't have time for the rest" I said crossing my arms over my chest.

"They've been saying some things" mum said stepping closer and lowering her voice even more.

"What kind of things?" I asked seriously.

"About Dumbledore… about that poor Potter boy, most of us would have given an arm and a leg in gratitude all those years ago but now…"

"Mum… don't worry about it… what is it you like to say? Everything happens for a reason, there's a reason for all this too"

"I just want you to be careful is all" mum sighed. I smiled at her

"I will be. And on that note I'm going out for a bit" I said and watched mum's face falter

"I thought you were trying to get Saturday's off" she said

"Mum it's not work but it is important"

"A boy?"

"Sweet Merlin I wish, stupid boy won't notice – uh… it's not work but I have to go"

"Oh, ok…" mum said then stopped, "how long?"

"Most of the day"

"Ok uh well how about this… you come back at seven and we'll have dinner?" mum said.

"Ok, seven" I said

"Great. TED!" she screamed and I immediately left knowing exactly where her thoughts had gone.

There were really only two things I could really do for the Order. They were both patrols, one was of the lowest level of the Ministry and keep on the lookout for suspicious people down there. Not that our presence down there was suspicious.

The other was Potter Patrol which meant sitting outside Harry Potter's aunt and uncle's house and following the kid if he ever left.

I had not yet had a Potter Patrol and the Ministry patrols usually only happened at night when it was basically deserted.

So I really had nothing to do today but had decided to be nice to my parents and give them some alone time. I headed out to the street and glanced around slightly before I Apparated.

I headed up the steps to Grimmauld Place and walked inside. Sad that I have no where else to go isn't it?

I quietly slipped down to the basement kitchen and was pulled into a bone crushing hug by Sirius Black.

"Tonks!" he cried joyfully before lowering his voice to whisper in my ear, "do not leave me here please"

He let me go, an arm still around my shoulders and turned me to face the room. Molly and Arthur Weasley were sitting at the table and they both smiled up at me. They were members of the Order and I couldn't say I'd seen them outside a meeting. Except now. I looked along the table and saw more red heads, four more red heads. Naturally they were the Weasley kids.

Obviously to make things more convenient then leaving their kids at home while they attended meetings the Weasley's decided to move the whole lot of them in. Black had seemed immensely thrilled with the prospect of having people around to talk t Well at least that's what I thought till I received that greeting. I don't think Molly and Black got along that well… they usually argued whenever Potters name was brought up at a meeting.

"Look everyone its Tonks" Black said and I shot him a look.

"Hi" the Weasley's all chorused.

"That's outstanding" I muttered.

"You're going to stay for dinner right?" Black asked

"Actually-"

"Don't think you heard me" he said and I sighed

"Fine" I said and he hugged me again petting my hair softly.

"Is he always like this?" the only girl whispered to one of her brothers.

"Yeah actually" was the reply.

"Ron" a brunette girl said exasperatedly.

"Introductions?" I asked Black. I was quite familiar with the Weasley's having gone to school with the eldest two Bill and Charlie, I actually dated Charlie for a little while but had never had the pleasure of getting to know the younger members of the huge clan.

"Oh of course, you know Molly and Arthur, these are four of their seven kids, Fred, George, Ron and Ginny. The brunette is Ron's friend Hermione Granger" Black said pointing each of them out to me.

"You must be thrilled about having some people in the house for a change" I said with a mischievous little grin. Black forced a smile

"So thrilled" he said through gritted teeth. I smirked at his misery

"Oh Tonks your to thin dear" Molly said in an overly motherly tone. Black gave me a look over her shoulder and I smiled

"You should see me when I'm not morphing" I said and she raised her eyebrows, "people think I'm a cancer patient. So what's for tea?"

"Oh just soup, mum didn't want to use any pots and pans that aren't hers" the red haired girl said. She reached her hand across the table

"Ginny" she said as I shook it.

"Wotcher, Tonks" I said and she smiled.

"I love your hair" she said

"Thank you, yours is nice to" I said and then frowned and turned mine to a shoulder length red that matched hers.

"Wow… that is so cool" she said and everyone else at the table seemed equally impressed.

"Metamorphmagus" I said

"Oh my God!" the brown hair girl – Hermione said sounding fascinated. Most people were and I gave her a small smile.

"If you even mention a book you read the rest of your night will not be pleasant" Ginny said narrowing her eyes.

"Hermione working you to hard Gin?" Ron asked his sister with a grin.

"She's only been with us two days and already my homework is nearly finished. It's atrocious" Ginny whined I gasped appropriately along with Black and her older twin brothers Fred and George who I couldn't even begin to try tell apart.

"Yes how dare you do your homework on time?" Molly muttered dryly. Ginny rolled her eyes at her mother.

"So Tonks what do you do?" one of the twins asked me and Molly smiled at the responsibility and niceness of the question. I can read mothers like a book.

"I'm an Auror"

"Wicked," he and his twin said together, "Can you possibly try and get us some Basilisk venom?"

"Basilisk venom? I'm pretty sure that's illegal guys" I said

"Oh of course" they said and I raised an eyebrow.

"I have to go" Ginny said and quickly left. Molly smacked the twins over the head and they both sighed.

"Go apologise" Molly ordered.

"Mum" they both began but she hit them again. I glanced around curiously

"Ginny got possessed by a diary and went crazy and tried to kill everyone at Hogwarts with a basilisk" Ron explained and Molly hit him too. I stared in shock

"She didn't though" he corrected immediately

"Yes, she just petrified a lot of people myself included" Hermione said with a smile.

"It all worked out in the end, Harry saved the day you know" Ron said and Hermione nodded.

"Holy crap" I said "the only thing I had to worry about at Hogwarts was…" I stopped for a moment "my classes"

"Yeah those kids have had the most exciting Hogwarts experience" Black said and I glanced at him.

"Yeah, we had a man eating plant" Ron said

"Philosophers stone" Hermione added

"Three headed dog" Ron continued

"You-Know-Who on the back of Quirrell's head"

"A giant snake"

"The polyjuice potion" Hermione said and Ron nodded emphatically in agreement.

"Escaped convict" Ron said and glanced at Black who shrugged as if he had no clue what Ron was talking about.

"A werewolf" Hermione said

"The Triwizard Tournament" Ron went on

"That Moody imposter" Hermione said

"Yule Ball" Ron said and Hermione laughed.

"Wow you kids are terribly unlucky" I said and they nodded.

"And also very foolish" Molly said giving her son a dark look. Ron just shrugged and accepted the bowl of soup she gave him. After Molly was done serving everyone Ginny walked back in and sat down beginning to eat. Her two older brothers walked in limping slightly and I had to resist the urge to laugh knowing exactly how Ginny had gotten her revenge.

The conversation stayed mostly on the Weasley's, I was curious about what Bill and Charlie were doing at the moment. What the next kid – Percy I think his name was – was doing with himself, that became very awkward and so I moved on to Fred and George who were about to start their NEWT year. Ron and Hermione were nearly about to start their OWLs and Ginny was about to kill herself if the conversation got any more boring. Her mother scolded her for being rude before sending the kids off upstairs. I liked Ginny a lot, a girl out of six boys she certainly knew how to handle her brothers and her mother too it seemed.

"They seem like a great bunch Molly" I said honestly

"Yes" Black added and I shot him a look. He gave me a lazy grin in response.

"Well we'll be upstairs" Arthur said

"The dishes…" Molly said

"Will still be there tomorrow" Arthur said

"I got it Molly and I'll be extra careful not to break a single one" I said and she nodded slowly letting her husband pull her away.

"Can we smash them all?" Black asked hopefully.

"They're your dishes" I said standing up and beginning to collect the bowls from the soup.

"Exactly. Now you'll have an excuse"

"An excuse?" I asked, "For what?"

"Well to tell Remus that all you've got for breakfast is yoghurt and you smashed all the bowls so he'll have to eat it off your stomach" Black replied and I dropped the bowls I was holding. I managed to catch four but the others all fell and smashed at my feet.

"So mature" I said giving him a look and he just smiled.

"You like him" he said

"What makes you say that?" I asked taking the bowls I hadn't broken over to the sink.

"Nothing… oh hey Remus" Black said and I dropped another bowl and it shattered in the sink. I turned and saw only Black's smirking face.

"I do that normally" I insisted he just raised his eyebrows at me. "I just feel a little embarrassed about asking him out is all" I fixed the bowls I'd broken with magic and scooped them up.

"So you're going to avoid him?" Black asked as I began to wash the bowls in the sink.

"It's been working so far. We kind of work together now and I don't want him to have to feel awkward about something I blurted out randomly after getting dumped and being forced to move back in with my parents" I said my voice sounding a little high pitched at the end. I stopped and took a calming breath before I continued; "Besides like any of it matters… I don't think Lupin wants to talk to me anyway, he may not know this but he prefers this arrangement" I said

"That makes no sense" Black said and I shrugged.

"Makes sense to me" I said turning back to the dishes and he came over to help.

"You're fucked up" he said

"You're more so" I replied and he rested his head on my shoulder.

"Yeah" he said and then stepped out of my personal space.

We stood in silence for a while, I washed and he dried and we each seemed pretty lost in our own thoughts. I was once more wallowing in my self pity and feeling crappy for it. Some people have real problems other then trying to find a boyfriend and having to live with their parents.

"Sirius?"

We both turned to see Remus Lupin standing at the foot of the stairs with a frown on his face.

"Are you voluntarily doing house work?" Lupin asked

"Wait, so this isn't how you have sex?" Black replied and Lupin gave him a stern look.

"Can you ever not be an idiot?" I asked Black

"I tried it once and didn't much care for it" he said and I rolled my eyes, "you go and get laid Tonks I'll try and patch things up with Remy here. Baby you know you're my world"

Lupin sighed and I slipped past him, "your problem now" I said and he merely shook his head.

I headed out to a bar and was only disappointed. It all turned out rather crap and my conquest, Travis left me at the bar with nothing but an 'I'll call you' so I went home feeling awful.

I walked into my darkened hall and heard a thump from further down.

"Child in the house" I called alerting my parents to my presence.

"I didn't make dinner" mum cried

"That's fine it's nearly one I ate somewhere else. Just letting you know I'm home so… you know… shut up" I said

"All right" mum said and I heard muffled laughter. I shook my head and headed off to my room to do a bit of work before I went to bed.


"So…" Tracy asked me.

"So…" I repeated in that same bored tone she was using.

"I'm bored"

"I'm boreder"

"I don't think you're using that right" she said and I just sighed.

"Come on how long does it take for a Deatheater to go to his barn house?" I asked rhetorically.

"Tonks you said you didn't have plans" Derek informed me.

"I don't" I said bitterly.

"Aren't we going out tonight? I thought you wanted to get laid because that bloke rejected you" Tracy said I frowned and realised she was referring to Lupin, damn that man.

"Does everyone know?" I asked glaring at Derek who was the only one in this group who had been present at the moment of rejection.

"It was funny" he said, "the way you slipped over and then stood up all casual and then screamed at the poor bloke and he just goes no… hilarious stuff"

"Funny because it was so familiar?" Jasmine Cassidy asked him,

"Ah yes I'm sure Derek has been rejected a few dozen times but unless one of those times it was by Avery then shut the hell up!" Scrimgeour snapped.

"I think one time-"

"Shut the hell up!" Scrimgeour said and we all fell silent.

It was rare to have the boss come along on a mission with us so this one would probably turn out to be a serious allegation. Someone had anonymously tipped that there would be a meeting of the Deatheaters at one of Avery's places. Avery was a well known Deatheater and although the ministry didn't believe Voldemort had returned to power they did believe his followers were still running about causing trouble. So here we were on a Tuesday evening crouched behind some shrubs staring at the immobile barn house belonging to the Avery's. One car had driven past in the four hours we'd been waiting here so we were all understandably bored. I doubted anything would happen but Scrimgeour thought something would and anything the boss thought was important you had to look into.

"You and Kingsley aren't going out are you?" Tracy asked suddenly.

"McCollum!" Scrimgeour began

"Don't you at least want to know?" Derek asked him and then everyone turned to look at me. I gave Scrimgeour my best 'this isn't very professional' look but he just raised his thick eyebrows.

"Why are you always whispering together? And he hands you little notes and things?" Tracy persisted.

"We've… dabbled a bit…" I muttered knowing that everyone thinking Kingsley and I being an item was a lot better then everyone finding out about the Order.

"Is it true what they say about black guys?" Tracy asked and everyone seemed to tune in even more. I realised then that all the males around us were pasty white guys.

"Yes" I said eagerly and the men all frowned as they imagined what women did say about black men. In all honesty I had no idea I found them no different from white guys.

We all settled into silence trying to stay focused on the task at hand and not fantasizing about black men.

"Well this seems to be a giant waste of time" Scrimgeour said finally.

"So can we go?" I asked hopefully.

"No, if I have to miss my anniversary then you all get to suffer as well" Scrimgeour muttered

"It's your anniversary?" Jasmine asked.

"Yes… she's probably still sitting at the restaurant"

"You forgot to tell your wife you weren't coming to dinner?" Derek asked

"Of course not, she's at home where she should be" Scrimgeour replied and we all raised our eyebrows.

"You're cheating on your wife?" Tracy asked

"I didn't say that"

"But-" she began

"Shh! I think someone's coming" Scrimgeour said and we all watched. It was just a stray dog who barked merrily before beginning to chase his tail.

"Quick Scrimgeour its Avery in disguise get him" Derek said

"You're on paperwork for a week" Scrimgeour snapped and Derek sighed.

We all settled back into silence and I sat changing my hair to a different array of colours in boredom entertaining a few of my co-workers. I let my thoughts drift while my springy green curls fluttered gently in the wind. I stared out across the road not really seeing whatever I happened to be looking at. My thoughts immediately headed to my lonely love life. It's what we girls always brood about at some point or another and hearing about Scrimgeour's anniversary just reminded me that The Jerk and my anniversary was next week. I shouldn't be thinking about him any more.

Though the first time I went out hadn't been good, thank you Travis, I went out again on Sunday. I hit some clubs, came to work very hung over on Monday and did my walk of shame. It had been a success so I'd had my rebound sex. On reflection maybe that wasn't what would get rid of him in my mind.

Time and time again I'd run off into some other mans bed to help me move on but I had no other method. What was I supposed to do after being dumped? Crash into another mistake again? No… one night stand… it worked it just hadn't worked for me yet.

I have such flawed logic.

I had thought I was ok but if I was thinking about our anniversary I was obviously having more trouble letting go then I thought. But he was a jerk I should just move on right? No… I had to think about it.

"All right I guess you can all go" Scrimgeour sighed and we all quickly ran off before he could change his mind.

"Hey Tonks…" Tracy said, "Still want to get smashed?" she asked.

"Can't previous plans" I said. Order plans actually. I'd swapped with Kingsley so tonight I would once again be sitting in Little Whinging watching Potters house. My life seemed to consist of only that and work lately. I didn't really mind though the boost of confidence a night out would have offered would have been nice.

"Oh come on!" Tracy begged.

"Take Derek… he's a right party when he's smashed" I said and Derek grinned at Tracy.

"Fine, any of you other guys want to come too so we can all rub it in Tonks' face tomorrow?" Tracy asked

"When you all turn up hung over and I'm bright and chipper?" I asked

"You're never bright and chipper" Tracy said.

"Goodbye Tracy" I said pointedly and she rolled her eyes.

I Apparated to Privet Drive and glanced around. It was my first Potter Patrol and because it was night I probably wouldn't get to see the kid. Potter was obviously inside the house as all… good teens should be at night time…

I sighed and headed down the road to Mrs Figg's house. She was a member of the Order but as a Squib there was little she could do magic wise. Squib's were people of magical heritage but had no magic themselves. It was convenient because she lived close to Potter; probably Dumbledore's doing, and also didn't mind Order members sitting in her yard. I opened her mailbox to pull out the invisibility cloak that we used. During the day I could sit as an innocent teen but at night it looked a little suspicious for someone to just sit in front of a house for several hours.

There was a loud bang and I glanced over to see who had Apparated. I raised my eyebrows at Remus Lupin who smiled in recognition and walked over to stand beside me.

"Wotcher Lupin" I said casually.

"I didn't realise someone else would be here" he said and I glanced at him. I'd seen him briefly and things during Order meetings so I knew he was not supposed to look that pale. He looked rather ill, a little sallow so I frowned at him.

"I swapped with Kingsley" I muttered in explanation.

"So did I" Lupin said and I sighed. I knew Kingsley would some how use my asking Lupin out to make me suffer.

"Are you ok?" I asked

"Yes" he said looking mildly surprised by the question.

"Sorry, I just meant you look ill that's all" I said

"I always look ill" he said

"No you always look pale. Now, you look ill"

"I'll be fine but thank you for your concern"

"All right. Well you seem to have it covered so I'm going to go…" I stopped and frowned at him "uh… if we're both here, do you think the ministry needs someone?"

"No, no Arthur's there" he replied quietly. I nodded looking him up and down… he really wasn't looking so good. I wondered if I should stay just to make sure he didn't pass out or anything.

"All right well… then I'll go" I said slowly.

"If you don't have anything to do you can stay" he said.

"Is it sad that I don't?" I asked him

"For someone as young as you yes for me not so much" he said and I looked at him.

"Did you just make fun of me?" I asked.

"Well considering who you are it wasn't that much of an achievement" he muttered and I could only stare in shock.

"And what does that mean?" I asked

"You're a clumsy twenty-something year old woman with pink hair related to some of the weirdest people I've ever met and have a tendency to ask out random bartenders. So it's really not that hard to make fun of you" he said and I scoffed.

"Whatever" I said casually and glanced around, "Should we be hiding or something?" I asked.

"Oh invisibility cloak" he said and I held it up.

"You're too tall" I told him and he raised an eyebrow. I waved my hand at him and stared up pointedly. He nodded in realisation and sat down on the ground. I sat beside him and put the cloak over us. I stared at Potter's house knowing his room was at the back so that if he snuck out we wouldn't even see him.

"So what was it like going to school in the twenties?" I asked Lupin. He looked at me as if he wasn't sure he'd heard the question right.

"How old do you think I am?" he asked incredulously.

"I was poking fun…" I said but he kept looking at me so he expected an answer. "Uh… honestly… I'd have to guess forty-five?" I said and he raised his eyebrows, "Forty?" I offered

"No…" he said slowly and I grinned sheepishly

"Sorry… but because I'm only twenty-something everyone even remotely older seems ancient for instance my parents were definitely friends with Merlin"

"He was a good man" Lupin said and I sniggered.

We lapsed into silence and I stared up at the sky wondering if I was bored enough to try counting the stars yet. If I were on my own I'd be there already and apparently even with someone to have a conversation with I was turning back to a regular night pastime of mine. Good thing Lupin had said no to that date then I'd probably have dumped him for being boring. I sighed and stretched my neck before stifling a yawn and staring at a cat across the street. It darted under a car and glanced around with luminous green eyes.

"I just wanted to ask you something" Lupin said suddenly and I jumped a little almost forgetting he was there. I glanced at him and grinned

"I'm not telling you my first name" I said and he smiled shaking his head.

"No, though admittedly I am curious… why don't you tell anyone?"

"Heaps of people know, though everyone in the Order has been threatened under penalty of death if they even mention it, even if I'm not there" I said

"Well can I guess?"

"Sure but you won't get it" I said with a knowing smile.

"If I do can I have a prize?" he asked and I laughed at how random that was.

"Ok… if you guess it we can have one date" I said

"Doesn't really work when I already said no does it?" he asked playfully and I scoffed in disbelief.

"You're so mean" I said and he gave me a small smile.

"My prize?" he asked and I raised an eyebrow

"You can have a kiss"

"Ah because I said no to the date the kiss is obviously a much better alternative" he said wryly

"Take it or leave it" I said.

"Fine… it's not Jane or anything is it?"

"Nope, quite uncommon…"

"Uncommon…" he said slowly and I nodded.

"Annaliese?" he guessed

"What kind of a name is that?"

"I dated a girl name Annaliese" he said

"Oh back in the twenties? No my name is much weirder"

"Weirder? Like what Louise-Sophia Mae?"

"What? No… but it is kind of like two words meshed together"

"Like… Elanora? Or Annabel?"

"Not nearly as pretty"

"Well I'm obviously not going to get it" he said with a sigh

"Oh wow you really want that kiss" I said and he smiled

"Not particularly but I have this annoying habit of liking to see you miserable"

"Just me or women in general?"

"Just you" I shot him a look and he just smiled back casually, "You wanted to ask me something before we got sidetracked with your cruel mission to see me suffer?"

"Yes I was actually just wondering why you asked me out?" he asked

"Oh the suffering is endless"

"You don't have to answer it"

"But you'll find another way to make me suffer if I don't"

"Oh most definitely"

"Well…" I began suddenly feeling really awkward "I um… you peaked my interest"

"Peaked your interest?" he repeated

"Yeah. I don't usually see guys for more then one night because they're not interesting. If I do stay with them it never progresses toward anything. My last boyfriend, we moved in together but we were still basically strangers. I was trying something different with you" I said with a shrug.

"Different? Why?"

"Because you're old" I said

"That's three times in under ten minutes you've made a jab at my age keep going down this road and I will be forced to take action" he said and I gave him a look

"I didn't mean it badly. I just thought that a relationship with you wouldn't be mindless sex"

"So what are you going to do now I've said no?" he asked raising an eyebrow.

"Why are you so mean to me?" I whined and he smiled.

"Because you make it far too easy" he said and I just shook my head.

"Why did you say no?" I asked

"You didn't… peak my interest" he said and I pouted making him smile. I turned back to look up at the sky staring at the half moon and the stars dotted around it.

"Moons pretty" I said absently.

"I'm a werewolf" he blurted out and I looked at him. He was staring at me, his eyes wide with shock as it dawned on him that he'd said that aloud. That was random. I started to laugh

"Yeah and I'm a Lithuanian Princess" I said with a snort.

"No really" he said and I stopped laughing immediately.

"You're serious" I said and he nodded. "Wow… so do you know where Betelgeuse is? I did astronomy for years and all I can find is Sirius and Bellatrix"

"Did you hear what I said?" he asked

"Yeah… I may be clumsy but I'm not deaf" I said, "so the stars… did you do Astronomy?"

"I'm a werewolf" he said slowly and carefully like he hadn't believed me when I said I was paying attention to him.

"I'm a Metamorphmagus, wanna start a club?" I replied.

"What?" he asked staring at me. "You're not frightened?"

"Oh sorry I should have sharpened my pitchfork? Gathered the angry mob? I'll meet you at your place in an hour we'll have a good old fashion hanging? Burn you at the stake? You can bring the kindling I have no idea where to find that stuff-"

"Tonks" he said grabbing my face and affectively silencing me, "please, stop"

"Sorry… just trying to show you how little I cared" I said

"You really don't?"

"No. I never knew you when you weren't a werewolf so you're not all that different to me, just the same old Remus Lupin I asked out in a bar who cruelly and abruptly said no without even giving an excuse"

"You just had to throw the old thing in didn't you?" he asked and I smiled coyly.

"Oh looks like Potter is a naughty boy" I said and Lupin frowned. I pointed and we watched someone climbing down the side of the house.

"I think that's his cousin"

"We don't follow him right?"

"I don't think he has Harry stowed away in his backpack" Lupin muttered.

"I didn't expect him to. Potter is the most boring fifteen-year-old I've ever come across. I mean… from what I've heard he just walks…"

"He's fourteen for a few more weeks…" Lupin said quietly and I glanced at him. He was obviously thinking of Potter's parents, they'd been friends in school so I gave him a few moments.

Potter's cousin had snuck off down the street and I frowned, "they don't really look a like, Potter and his cousin. My dad and his cousin are nearly identical…"

"Well both boys take after their fathers…" Lupin said before adding, "Thankfully"

"That bad are they?" I asked nodding to the house. I'd heard stories of them starving poor Potter, putting bars on his window and that his bedroom was only a recent gift because he outgrew the cupboard under the stairs.

"Ah well I've only ever met the Dursley's once… incidentally it was at their wedding. Lily brought me as her date because apparently James would 'undoubtedly set fire to the whole place, scare my parents to death and break eight different Magic-Secrecy laws all in an attempt to either impress my family or in some misguided attempt to get revenge on my sister'" Lupin said and I laughed softly. "So I met them and Lily introduced herself to Vernon as a witch and then introduced me as a werewolf and Petunia fainted. For some odd reason I've not been invited round for tea even after Lily died her sister made no attempt"

"Strange" I said and he nodded.

"Very" he said. We settled into silence once more and I began watching two birds trying to kill one another for a nice spot near the top of a telephone pole. It was nearing dawn and the sky had gone that nice darkness it did just before the sun began to rise.

"So do you know anything about stars?" I asked staring at the dark sky.

"What is it with you and the sky?" Lupin asked and I smiled.

"Well it's the only place I can't go isn't it? I could travel round the world but I'm never getting up there" I said and glanced at him. He was watching me curiously then looked up to the sky.

"Why would you want to? Half those stars are probably dead" he said

"My, my loneliness has made you cynical"

"Who says I'm lonely?"

"You turned me down and you're not wearing a wedding ring"

"Maybe I don't think you're pretty"

"I am gorgeous and I can look like anyone you want… who says no to that twice? A very weird lonely man that's who" I said.

"I don't like to date women" he said

"Because of the werewolf thing?" I asked quietly.

"Yes" Lupin said not caring to elaborate… he didn't seem to be someone who would without proper prompting.

So there was a reason he'd said no. It wasn't pointless rejection. I mean it was a really stupid reason to say no but it was something.

"Fair enough… well I have to go to work-"

"You have to work today?" he interrupted "But you worked late yesterday"

"Yes and I'll probably do so again tomorrow and the day after, are you seeing the pattern?" I asked and he smiled

"You'll be exhausted"

"Well I'm only doing paper work Scrimgeour knows not to send me into the field with sleep deprivation, I'm clumsier then usual"

"If that's at all possible" he said and I scoffed.

"Gotta go" I said and gave him a small smile before slipping out from under the invisibility cloak and walking off down the street. I Apparated to work and sat down at my desk. There were already a dozen folders on my desk. I drowsily made my way through the folders and most of my paperwork.

I got home late that night and sat watching my parents just be nice and enjoy each others presence. I tugged on a bit of my brown hair while I watched them slightly envious, I was so never going to find that in my life. We ate dinner together and when my parents weren't gazing adoringly at one another and making me lose my appetite they were questioning my whereabouts. I had been gone for over a day.

"Were you with a boy?" mum asked hopefully. She liked having me home but she also wanted grandkids.

"No… work… we watched a barn for Deatheater activity and after several hours all we could conclude is that dogs like to chase their tails" I said and my parents both gave me an odd look. I didn't answer and went back to my dinner while my parents resumed being happy.

I stood up and left the room deciding yelling at my parents for liking one another was not a rational thing to do.

"I'll be on the piano" I said and they both gave me sympathetic smiles.

I headed into the garage, flipping on the lights and sitting down at the piano. I'd never been a real girly girl and in an attempt to make me more lady-like my Muggle Nan had insisted on teaching me piano and to sing. I luckily had talents for both as she would hit me every time I missed a note imagine if I hadn't been given a nice singing voice I probably still wouldn't be able to sit down. I had played in public a few times a lot more in recent years when I was trying to get extra cash so I'd sing in bars and clubs.

The piano provided me the distraction I needed. No booze, no sex… just music. I don't know why I hadn't though of this in the first place. I started playing one of the sappy little love songs I'd written to my first boyfriend and then began to sing when I'd got my fingers used to playing again. The Jerk hadn't liked the fact I played piano so we hadn't had one – not that it would have been very convenient in the flat anyway - but now, playing felt like a relief.

"Nice"

I jumped and turned slightly before narrowing my eyes at Kingsley.

"Wotcher" I said quietly turning back to the piano.

"Didn't know you played" he said

"If I thought it was somehow relevant to the Order I'd have told you" I said and he laughed, "so what brings you to my house at ten in the evening? And how did you find out where I live?"

"Magic" he replied.

"Did you at least knock or something? I feel very violated right now"

"Your mother let me in, nice lady" he said and I began to play an idle random tune. He came and sat beside me.

"So… anything important that couldn't wait till we saw each other at work tomorrow?" I asked

"Yes. Order stuff. Potter was attacked earlier this evening"

"Attacked?" I asked sceptically. Harry Potter? Attacked in the quaint little Muggle town where he spent the summers? Impossible, "By what?"

"Dementors" Kingsley replied. Ok that was stretching it. I gave him a look and he stared at me assuring me he was serious.

"Dementors? The creatures that suck out your soul and never, ever leave Azkaban prison except when ordered to by the Minister himself?" I asked sceptically.

"Yeah" Kinsley said. I stared at him unsure of what to say. I couldn't believe it, that poor kid is supposed to be safe with his aunt and uncle. That's why he stays with them even though they're awfully rude and mean to him.

"Whoa… well… is he ok?" I asked

"Yeah, he fought them off with a patronus" Kingsley said.

"He can produce a patronus?" I asked and Kingsley nodded. "Great upstaged by a fifteen year old. Wait… underage magic. Did he get expelled?"

"Well Dumbledore has managed to get them to postpone doing anything till a hearing on August twelfth" Kingsley said.

"Wasn't someone supposed to be watching him?" I asked

"Mundungus Fletcher" Kingsley said. I shook my head; I only knew him by reputation and a couple of times when he got marched into the department for questioning. He was shifty but knew a lot about back alley things making him an asset to the Order except, obviously, when he skives on his duty.

"Damn" I muttered and Kingsley nodded.

"So what… happens now?"

"We're going to get Potter sometime soon and bring him to Headquarters"

"Sounds good"

"There's a meeting tomorrow night to discuss plans and things"

"Sure, sure"

"Hey… I didn't know you were a brunette" he said.

"Oh… yeah, it's my parent's stupid rule" I sighed and he grinned.

"You're very pretty"

"Aren't you dating some girl named Erica?" I asked putting my hands on my hips and giving him a good glare.

"But you have had your heart broken I thought I'd be nice and give you a compliment"

"Oh… well… thank you" I said

"You're welcome"

"I'll see you tomorrow"

"Yeah…" he said and then disappeared. I sighed; if I dated Kingsley my life would be so much simpler…

I headed back up stairs and my parents both grinned at me.

"So… how's it going?" mum asked eagerly. If I did date Kingsley I could move out too…


Don't know what to say, I love it, I hate it and that's all I got. Reviews welcome, Penny