Disclaimer: Yes, I am still me, and no, I still don't own anything except the whipped cream. Well, half of it, anyway [Belle, we need more, incidentally. Oh, and I'm pretty sure the plot's mine, too ...

A/N: What? Chapter one was random? Never! Okay, a tad bit - I warn you, the whole fic is not planned at all, I make it up as I type. It's the only way I ever seem to get any writing done!! Thanks TruthFreedomBeautyLove for reviewing And thanks also to those of you who added it to your Story Alert lists - it makes me smile to know you guys enjoy this :D This chapter, also random, but you'll be happy to know, it includes some actual Remus/Tonks interaction. Which should partly make up for the lack of it in the first one. Wow I do ramble - well, if you read, then THANK YOU:D

Reviews: Yes I still like them. Doesn't everyone?

Now, on with the story!!

-----------------------------------------------------------

"Tonks? Tonks!" A girl's high-pitched voice pierced the fog that had descended over Tonks' mind. She hadn't the faintest clue what had happened, but she was exhausted. She couldn't even seem to open her eyes. She was trapped in her own body, or so it seemed.

"Dora." She knew that voice, although she hadn't heard it for a long time. And he knew nobody got to call her by her first name, even if it was shortened.

"'S Tonks," she murmured softly, and she heard a giggle and a more hearty laugh.

"Come on, then, TONKS," the familiar voice said meaningfully. She could just picture the smirk on his face and the twinkle in his eye as he helped her sit up straight. "Up you get."

"You're a git," she muttered, blinking furiously to get her surroundings into focus.

"Most assuredly so, but I have chocolate." Damn Remus and his infernal obsession with chocolate. Not that she didn't love chocolate – but he knew she did. Damn, he knew her weakness. Still, the promise of something sweet enticed her to open her eyes fully, and the train carriage came into focus. They were moving again.

"What kind?" she asked, stretching and glancing around. Harry also appeared to have woken up, and was munching happily on a large slab of the stuff. And all three teens were staring at her, apparently at a loss for words.

"Honeydukes' finest, of course," Remus smiled, handing her a chunk. "It's not poisoned or anything, don't worry. And no bulbadox powder, either."

"Let me rephrase – you're STILL a git!" Tonks retorted, grabbing the chocolate – the smell was already getting to her. "And if there is bulbadox on it, I swear, Remus, I'll hex you into next week and think nothing of it. And don't think I'm kidding, either – Kingsley taught me some good ones last year."

"I'm worried." The Professor got to his feet, a smile curling the edges of his mouth. "And incidentally … your natural hair colour really does suit you. I never understood your problem with it, personally."

"What?!?!" Tonks grabbed a fistful of hair and looked at it – brown. Oh, Merlin. When she'd passed out, she'd morphed back into her natural form. Now what was she going to do? No wonder the three teens were staring at her like some sort of freak – they wouldn't have the slightest idea what a Metamorphmagus was.

"Bugger …" was all she said aloud. She buried her face in her hands, and Remus smiled ever so slightly. She shot him her best imitation of the trademark Black family scowl, and was secretly thrilled to see a boyish grin flash across his face.

"Now, I'm just curious," he began mildly, but she could tell by the glint in his eye that he was enjoying every second, "but why on earth were you impersonating a third year? I mean, not that I'm not flattered you tracked me down, but really, Dora …"

"Oh, get over yourself, Moony!" Tonks sat bolt upright and flung the remainder of the chocolate at him. "God, you really are a GIT! How'd you know it was me before I morphed, anyway? You a Legilimens now?"

"How many thirteen-year-olds not only sound like you, but know me as 'Moony'?"

"True. But I'm quite obviously not thirteen."

"I had noticed. But in your determination to make your disguise believable and look nothing like yourself, you succeeded in doing a fine impersonation of your dear cousin. Sorry, second cousin, is it? I do lose track of your relatives – your family is rather large."

"Second cousin. And … do you really think I looked like him?" Tonks felt a blush creep across her face. She hadn't even considered the possibility when morphing, that she might resemble Sirius, or anyone else in her family.

"Not in facial features – you managed to look somewhat more delicate than he ever achieved, despite Severus' numerous attempts to transfigure him," Remus grinned, and Tonks giggled. God, was he flirting with her? "But the shape of your jaw, the stubborn set of it, certainly … and the eyes. Your eyes were just like his. Are, just like his."

"They're my real eyes," Tonks confessed shyly. "And … thank you. Now, how about you – Mr-I-Know-Everything – help me find a way to explain to Kingsley and Scrimgeour that I blew my cover two hours in?"

"Ah, that explains it!" Remus stood up quite abruptly, heading for the door. "I wondered if Scrimgeour was behind it – you're an Auror now, then?"

"Yeah, only just qualified recently," she said, a hint of pride in her voice. She loved being able to tell people that she, clumsy-as-a-giant Nymphadora Tonks – although she generally missed out the Nymphadora – had made it as an Auror. It was the one thing she could really hold her head up and be proud of in life.

"I'm impressed, Dora," he said, a smile still playing on his lips. "But you still haven't eaten your chocolate. It helps, really. Now, I'm afraid I'm going to leave you to think of something to tell Kingsley and Scrimgeour yourself – I need to have a little word with the driver, if you'll excuse me. I don't expect I shall be long."

"It's Tonks!" she called after him, and she was sure she heard a chuckle as the carriage door banged shut behind him. She laughed to herself and took a large bite of chocolate – sure enough, she felt warmth spreading through her body. It really did help. Brilliant. Not only was he a git, he was an all-knowing git. Just perfect.

"So who exactly are you?" Hermione asked pointedly, bringing Tonks sharply back to reality. What was she even doing? Wandering off into Remus-dreamland – bad, bad Tonks! He was a suspected accomplice, for Merlin's sake! This was wrong – very, very wrong.

"Uh, I'm Tonks, like I said," she said slowly. "I mean, I'm kind of older than you thought I was, I know … the truth is, I'm an Auror. The Ministry of Magic sent me undercover here to … well, to protect you, Harry." The boy in question merely raised his eyebrows. "What with Sirius Black on the loose, they figured you – and the other students – could use the extra protection. And I was the only one really equipped for the job."

"You can spare me," Harry said dryly. "I already know Black's after me. Because he reckons if he kills me, he'll bring Voldemort back or something. I know all this already."

"I knew you were a sharp kid, but nobody told me you were a mind-reader," Tonks grinned. "Might have bloody warned me."

"Mr Weasley told me," Harry confessed. "But – you won't say anything, will you? He might get in trouble for letting it slip … and I'm glad he did, so what's the harm? At least now I know the truth … you won't tell, right?"

"Arthur Weasley?" Tonks asked, basically ignoring most of what Harry said. "From the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts department? Oh – is he your dad?!"

"Uh, yeah …" Ron seemed a little startled. Not that Tonks could blame him. Her over-enthusiasm must seem rather worrying.

"Oh, wow!" she grinned. "I went to school with your brothers! Charlie was in my year – he still off chasing dragons in Romania?"

"Yeah …" Poor kid. He was clearly not ready for a pink-haired punk Auror to be talking about his equally wacky older brother. But then with a shock, Tonks remembered – her hair was still brown! Horribly, disgusting, boring, mousy brown. She let out a little squeal of dismay, and scrunched up her face. A moment later, the teens' gasps of shock let her know her morphing had worked, and she opened her mouth and grinned.

"How did you do that?" Harry asked, looking stunned and impressed. Ron was staring at her rather like she was a goldfish; and Hermione's eyes were roughly the size of dinner plates.

"Oh my gosh!" she gasped breathily. "Are you a Metamorphmagus?!"

What in the name of Merlin? How did this thirteen-year-old witch know what a Metamorphmagus was, never mind recognise the manner of morphing? Tonks raised an eyebrow at the girl, who smiled but continued to look amazed. She grinned back, deciding Hermione was just interested. Most people thought she was a freak, so this was a refreshing change for her.

"Yeah, I am," she said. "That's why I was the only one who could take this assignment. But on the bright side, at least you'll get a few laughs out of me!"

"How's that, then?" Ron asked, looking thoroughly amused by this point.

"Oh, I'm dead clumsy, me," Tonks laughed. "Honestly – it really isn't all that funny, but people always laugh. I'm forever falling over stuff – and if there's nothing around to fall over I tend to trip over my own feet. It's dead embarrassing."

"It's rather entertaining," said an amused-voice, and Tonks did her best to scowl.

"Shut up, Moony," she growled, and he laughed. "It's really not as funny as you all made it out to be, you know – you and your bloody bullying mates!"

"Excuse me?" Remus pretended to be affronted as he took his seat. "I don't think we were ever 'bullies,' as such. Or at least, I wasn't. I concede, perhaps your cousin was a source of torment, but I assure you, it was more because you were his cousin than for any other reason." Tonks just rolled her eyes.

"No wonder you're a professor," she muttered, and the others laughed.

When the train ground to a halt, Tonks had to struggle to keep up with the three teens on the platform; and she lost Remus in the crowd. She tried to convince herself she wasn't disappointed … but then, why was she so thrilled when he found her again?

"Forget something?" he muttered in her ear, causing her to jump about a mile in the air.

"Merlin, Remus! Don't DO that!" she gasped, turning to face him, and finding him holding out her cloak. She flushed. "Oh … thank you," she said shyly, enlarging it and slipping it over her shoulders. It was chillier than she had expected.

"Not a problem," he said, smiling warmly. "Now, I do believe you've been abandoned."

"What?" Tonks turned to see one of the carriages pulling away with Harry, Ron, Hermione, and a red-haired girl who looked a lot like Ron, in the back of it. She narrowed her eyes after them, but none of them seemed to notice her.

"Bugger," she muttered, and a loud laugh caused her to jump again. She had almost forgotten he was there. What was wrong with her, anyway, cursing in front of a professor, whom she just happened to find somewhat attractive? Wait – Remus, attractive? She shouldn't be thinking those things. She must be more tired than she realised.

"Well, while the carriage rides may be comfortable," Remus joked – causing Tonks to make a face – "personally, I much prefer to Apparate from here to the gates. Can I help you with your trunk at all, Dora?"

"My. Name. Is. Tonks." She spoke very slowly and clearly, with her eyes closed in an attempt to remain calm. He just laughed merrily – she didn't remember him ever laughing this much. He had always been the serious one, she thought.

"Old habits die hard," he said apologetically, but the smirk on his face told her quite clearly that he wasn't remotely sorry. "So do you think you can manage to Apparate?"

"I'm an Auror, Remus, I'm not a bloody child!" she snapped. She felt guilty the moment the words had left her lips – why was she behaving so childishly, then?

"I only meant, because you suffered a shock on the train," he said softly, and her heart melted. What a gentleman – probably about the only one left in the world, come to that! After her outburst, she expected him to walk away and leave her to stew, but he did nothing of the sort. He simply reached out and prised her fingers from around the handle of her trunk, pulling it closer to him instead. She glanced up at him unsurely, and he smiled faintly as he offered her his arm.

"May I?" he said gallantly, and Tonks found herself giggling again. She NEVER giggled! She took his arm shyly, feeling a pink tings threaten to creep over her cheeks.

"Thank you, Remus," she said, smiling, and she was sure she caught a flash of a grin on his face before he Apparated them both up to the castle gates.

Because of the protective enchantments surrounding the castle, Tonks found herself sharing a moonlit stroll through the Hogwarts grounds with her childhood crush. This was a moment she had dreamed about as a child, and she was ashamed to admit, it gave her butterflies in her stomach when he insisted on taking her trunk for her. Fair enough, he levitated it up the hill in front of him, but had it been her, she would have dragged it and looked like a damn fool. And he was sweet to offer.

"I'd forgotten how beautiful this place was …" Tonks didn't even realise she had spoken aloud until she felt Remus' gaze upon her. She turned and met his eyes, and they shared a smile – a smile that showed he understood her.

"Quite," he agreed quietly. As he glanced over the grounds towards Hogsmeade, she thought she saw a flicker of anger cross his face, but then decided she must have imagined it, as it was gone as quickly as it had come. "Yes, I did miss coming here," Remus admitted shamelessly. "Those were the best days of my life."

"What, not when you were old enough to go out drinking and on the pull?" she teased him, and as soon as she'd said it, she gave herself a mental slap to the back of the head. But Remus merely laughed.

"I was never one for going 'on the pull,'" he informed her, but he was smiling. "That was always Sirius' territory, I'm afraid. James, to a certain extent – but then again, by the time we left school, he and Lily were as good as already married …" He smiled reminiscently. "And we were barely out of school when the war began, of course," he finished quietly. Once again, Tonks could have smacked herself in the head.

"I'm sorry, Remus," she said softly. And she meant it, too. "I can't imagine what it must have been like for you. Losing Lily and James the way you did – Peter dying; Sirius being arrested; all in one night … and … Sirius told me, you'd lost your parents not long before, too." Was this overstepping the mark? "It must have been hell for you."

"I don't pretend it was easy," he said slowly. "But I think I rather went into denial about it for a while. Pathetic, I know, but … losing so much, so quickly … one never is prepared for it. And by the time I had accepted it, I think so much time had passed, that my grieving process had gone on during my period of denial without my ever realising it. Not to sound like a martyr, or any such like thing, but I just … went through the motions. It's all something of a blur, to be perfectly honest. Many full moons came and went, is all I can tell you for definite about that time of my life."

Tonks glanced up at him, a tad lost now. She had heard the expression 'many moons' before – it was an old-fashioned Muggle saying: Native American, she believed. But why refer to full moons? And why would Remus remember that of all things?

"Oh, bollocks!!" She clapped a hand over her mouth, and in her shock, she tripped – as she had told the kids earlier she was inclined to do – over her own feet. Her hands shot out instinctively, braced to protect her from the ground, but a strong pair of arms grabbed her around the waist, and a moment later she was restored to her original position. Except now, she was mere inches away from Remus, and his arms were still around her. She looked up into his eyes, extremely conscious of the fact that he hadn't let go of her yet.

"Good reflexes," Tonks said softly. He smiled down at her for an awkward moment, and then he cleared his throat quite suddenly, and let go of her, seeming uncomfortable.

"Comes with the territory," he replied quietly. She closed her eyes and mentally cursed herself – why hadn't she remembered sooner?! "Incidentally," he said, a tad louder, "what was it you screamed out about? You shouted before you tripped … over nothing."

"Over my FEET!" she retorted, and was relieved to see him grinning. "And it's really not that funny, anyway …"

"It rather is."

"Oh, shut up," she laughed. "No, I just, I … well, um … Merlin, this is embarrassing … I shouted out because, it only just hit me, why you referred to periods of time as a number of full moons," she finished in what she hoped was a sensitive tone. His face paled ever so slightly, and he glanced up at the waning moon.

"You didn't know?" he asked, avoiding her gaze.

"I did," she confessed. "I … well, to be honest, I'd forgotten." She felt sick to her stomach even saying it – this was a major part of his life, and it must sound like it was nothing to her. And she did care about him, suffering. She felt sorry for him, although she'd never admit as much. She knew he wouldn't appreciate her pity.

"You forgot?" He turned to look at her, and there was no anger in his gaze. He seemed surprised, and … she guessed, he seemed almost hopeful, too. She nodded silently, and a small smile graced his face. "Thank you, Dora," he said, almost inaudibly. "The wider wizarding community judges me by the fact that I'm a werewolf. They see that as all I am – a wolf first and a man second. You somehow managed to forget the wolf. That doesn't happen a lot … I appreciate it."

Tonks didn't know what to say to that. She joined him in watching the moon for a few moments – it might have been full a week ago, but no more. He looked good, considering … but as time dragged on, and the silence between them became a little uncomfortable, she felt the need to say something. Anything.

"It's Tonks," she muttered, and he let out a great rumbling laugh. He then looked her straight in the eyes, and much to her relief, his own were twinkling again.

"I still don't know why you hate your name," he grinned. "Dora."

"Moony!" she moaned aloud, half-laughing. "Stop it! You know I don't like that – it was all just yet another way for Sirius to get under my skin!"

"And while we're on that subject – don't call me Moony," Remus said, grinning. "It rather makes me look like a fool in front of my students."

"And what would you do if I kept calling you Moony?" she teased him. Merlin, she had to stop this! She was flirting with him without even meaning to do it! He'd probably think she was a stupid girl with a crush – or worse, just flat-out reject her.

"Call you Nymphadora." A smirk was playing around the edges of his mouth. Was he actually flirting back?

"You wouldn't."

"Try me."

"Okay, okay, umm … so, can I call you Remus, then?"

"Absolutely … Dora."

"What if I call you Professor Lupin? Or Professor, or just Lupin, or Sir?" Tonks guessed wildly, trying to conceal her grin.

"I might call you Tonks."

"Excellent … Lupin."

"We're nearly a the castle, Dora."

"I thought you said you would call me Tonks?!?!"

"I said I might."

"So what happened?"

"I decided not to … Dora."

"Remus?"

"Yes?"

"You're a git."

---------------------------------------------------

A/N: I do apologise - it may be slightly out of character, I don't know, because I don't know how the characters think. If I did, I'd be JKR ... -sigh- If only. But it was just some random banter that popped into my head, and I thought you might enjoy it. Did you? Or didn't you? Let me know:D

Thanks,

Alli xoxo