First of all thank you for the response. It has been amazing and never expected it.

Yes there is a lot of Lily refrences in this chapter but there is a reason why later.

Not all chapters will be the exact same events, told through each point of view, eventually it will differ, but for now it's important

Reviews would be most appreciated!

Enjoy.

Chapter 2

"So we have the Weasleys, including Bill, and Arthur has said another son Charlie will attempt to recruit people abroad. Diggle and Podmore are back, Snape– " Mad-Eye Moody was interrupted by a loud grunt from the opposite end of the table in the dark and cobweb infested kitchen of 12 Grimmauld Place.

"Snape," Sirius growled, "What good can Snivellus do? Bathe us all grease?" Sirius laughed, as he nudged Remus Lupin who was sitting to his left.

Lupin took a steadying breath out of Sirius's view; it was hard to slight Snape after all he had done for him at Hogwarts two years prior. Even more so now that Snape was making potions for him again. Dumbledore had ordered he do so. Sirius had his legs up on the table and was leaning back on his chair, a butterbeer in his hand, looking supremely at home in a house Lupin knew he hated.

It had only been a few days since the finish of the Hogwarts school term, and Lupin had been greeted by Sirius at the doorstep of his home with a huge story about Voldemort and Harry. Dumbledore had called them together only a day or so after that, those left from the original Order gathered in the Hogs Head, and Sirius had offered his house as new Headquarters. He also offered a place for Lupin to stay. It had all progressed in a matter of week, and now, they sat in the kitchen, trying to think of new members for a group that had lost far too many.

"Could we carry on?" Moody paused, glaring at Sirius "I have made contact with an old friend from the Auror department, Kingsley Shacklebolt. Incidentally he heads the task force entrusted with capturing you. He is, as always, behind Dumbledore."

Sirius laughed, and mumbled something about him possibly being incompetent, and Moody ignored him, which Lupin thought was wise.

We have Mundungus Fletcher and Dumbledore's request. There is also another old colleague of mine Nymphadora Tonks. She– "

"Andromeda's daughter?" Sirius interrupted once more, sitting up in his seat.

"Yes. You all remember Andromeda? Possibly some may remember her daughter, she was only very young. She studied under me in the Auror department just before I retired. I've been placed on good authority she is on board. "

Lupin scanned the room, sitting back in his seat trying to get comfortable. He'd never been into Grimmauld Place prior to moving in the day before. Sirius had never brought any of them back here during the summer while he still lived here; the only place they went was James's. It was eerie, dark, filled with cobwebs and there was constant creaking from the floorboards above, as if things were shuffling around. It was the most uncomfortable feeling he'd ever gotten from a house, and it was difficult to imagine that it had been a family home for so many centuries.

The group in front of him was just so small that it was hard not to miss who had gone. Aberforth wasn't coming back, Fenwick was dead, the Longbottom's were in St Mungo's, the McKinnon's were all murdered, the Prewett's too. Edgar Bones was missing and of course, James and Lily were gone. However long it had been, losing James and Lily was still something that weighed heavily on him. Finding out one of your best friends had been partly responsible had not helped either.

He missed Lily's green eyes; he missed James' grin, and the way they could both make him feel that much better when everything surrounding them was in peril. Lupin looked down the empty end of the big table they were sitting at. He would give anything to see James ruffle his hair absent-mindedly or Lily's all-forgiving smile. Why them, he thought, why is it always those who never deserve it? They were gone, everyone was. This tiny group of five was the new Order, however pathetic that sounded.

"Doge is more then willing to help and Hestia Jones, so I think that's all for the moment."

At that moment the whole kitchen was bathed in an emerald green light. Lupin stared around at the fire, and Saw Dumbledore stepping from it.

"Good evening all," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling happily.

He busied himself with questions about everyone's days and Moody repeated the list of people who had been roped in to join. Then he was approached with a new topic.

"Any word on Potter?" Moody asked tentatively.

"Ah, yes, Harry." Dumbledore said, his beard twitching.

Lupin saw Sirius remove his feet from the table and sit up straight. Sirius opened his mouth to speak, and everyone know what he would say as they had already argued about Harry at the first meeting. This time however, Dumbledore held up a hand to silence.

"Sirius, I have heard your views on the situation, and still my mind has not changed. I cannot bring Harry out of the care of his Aunt and Uncle just yet. But I will get him out eventually as I explained."

"Care?" Sirius barked "You know , as well as I do, that they do the exact opposite of caring. What am I meant to do with a boy sending me letters begging for answers? He's terrified Dumbledore. You can't do this to him. He's 15!"

Lupin glanced at Sirius, he was correct, but the more bizarre thing was the hurt that shone from his eyes. Lupin had never seen Sirius care for someone so much.

"I'm aware how he must be feeling," Dumbledore said, and again had to hold up a hand to Sirius who was ready to bite back. "But I do not wish to divulge anything more to him than is completely necessary. I don't expect you to happily accept it, but you must respect my wishes."

Lupin could not understand any part of Dumbledore's new treatment of Harry, but he knew, given how much Albus cared for him, there was reason and logic behind his plan. Dumbledore folded his hands in front of him, closing the issue, and Sirius looked mutinous.

A week had passed, and the first meeting of the new Order was fast approaching. Lupin sat on the day of, with Molly and Arthur Weasley at the kitchen table, sharing a mug of tea, which had a funny taste, possibly from the old kettle.

"Not a homely sort of family were they," Molly said as she looked around at the stark stone walls

"Well when you're proud of having a son who's a Death Eater, I don't think you'll really mind much. Besides didn't you see all those heads on the wall? Is Sirius all right, Remus?" Arthur turned to face Lupin as he questioned him

Lupin nodded. The thought occurred to him that he hadn't really asked Sirius how he felt about being back home. He knew how much he hated it, because of how much he complained at school. Molly and Arthur had carried on talking in Lupin's mental absence and Molly decided to start on her way upstairs to look around. There was loud scream followed by an even louder scream and bellowing of words Lupin couldn't understand. His hand flew to his wand and the kitchen door burst open revealing a very shaken Molly.

"I saw a-a-a thing. I screamed and – and - I turned around and there was this grotesque picture where these curtains had been before and it started screaming at me," Molly croaked between breaths and sobs.

"Shut up you old hag!" was bellowed down the hall from a very agitated sounding Sirius.

Lupin stepped out the door and journeyed up the stairs. He reached the painting to find Sirius attempting to slam the curtains shut. Lupin raised his wand and cast silencio just as the woman behind the painting was screaming, "FilthinthehouseofBlack" but it didn't work. Lupin stepped forwards and began attempting to shut the curtains like Sirius, and together they managed to get it done. An ear ringing silence followed. Sirius motioned to a nearby door and Lupin followed. They entered the dining room, the location of the meeting, and Sirius instantly began to pace.

"The miserable old bitch. I knew she'd have something, but that painting is just beyond belief," Sirius yelled.

"If you don't mind me asking, what was that?" Lupin asked, turning a chair from the table and sitting on it.

"That, Moony, was my dear old mother," Sirius said as he slowed his walking and kicked a near-by chair. "It's her portrait and it reacts to loud noises I discovered. It's some curse."

"We'll just have to be quieter and perhaps Dumbledore or Moody will know how to be rid of it," Lupin said hopefully.

"You're the smart one," Sirius nearly spat at him, his anger still evident, but Lupin knew he was just a causality for, not a cause. "Any ideas?"

"None at all. I've never seen or heard of anything like it."

There was a long silence, broken only as Sirius gave a loud sigh.

"What I wouldn't give to just be out of this place," Sirius said, dropping to a seat. "When I left this place, I swore I'd never come back, and now look at me, I'm trapped in here. It's nearly worse than Azkaban."

Lupin watched on in fear. Sirius sounded defeated, and he had never heard him speak in such a tone. He sat there feeling helpless; there was nothing he could do to fix the situation, Sirius needed to be here, away from prying eyes. He made his way to the door scowling still, and Lupin stayed seated on the chair long after he'd gone, thinking, until a voice spoke behind him.

"My god, the boy can whine can't he?"

Lupin turned slowly to see a person disappearing into its frame leaving behind a blank stretch of canvas.

The night came quickly and soon enough the meeting was about to start, Lupin sat with Sirius, Molly and Arthur down in the kitchen again. No one was speaking, the Weasley's were obviously nervous and Sirius had withdrawn back into himself since his outburst. Slowly everyone had arrived and finally the only person they were waiting on was Moody and whomever he was bringing. Lupin kept polite conversation with some, and introduced himself to others, but the looming meeting was the elephant in the room for all.

Tired of the tense atmosphere, he made his way upstairs after he heard the loud click from the front door. As he walked into the entrance hall whoever was in the room made him do a double take. It wasn't her pale youthful skin, the differentchoice of outfit, reminiscent of teenager she saw in London, or even her bright pink hair, but the fact that she was flying through the air that made him have to double take.

Lupin immediately felt his heart go out to her, so he bent down and placed his hands on hers to pick her up. Her eyes flew open at his touch and he nearly let go. Her eyes had the same sparkling quality in them that Lily's had.

"Remus," Moody said roughly "This is Nymphadora Tonks, Andromeda's daughter, the other Auror I was telling you all about who…"

Lupin had barely even noticed they were on the floor, frozen as they held hands; he was captivated, he never thought he'd see that sparkle again. Being well versed in picking those up who had fallen, thank to James and Sirius' obsession with the trip jinx, Lupin smiled in the most comforting way he could, trying to make her feel better.

"What a very interesting entrance," he said before he could stop himself.

As he began to raise her to her feet, she managed to stumble again, this time hitting an extremely ugly umbrella stand. As she fell he held her hands tighter to keep her upright. A loud shrill scream filled the house causing her to flinch. Mrs. Black had begun again and all that one could hear was the deep swearing voice of Sirius. Sirius had obviously gone to take care of it. Just as the strangled sound of "Half Breed" came it stopped and Lupin felt his hand drop as she let go of them quickly.

"Falling over as you arrive. Great impression. From all I've heard, it wouldn't be you if you didn't though," Sirius said, smiling at Lupin and the rest of the group, which Lupin hadn't noticed until.

Remus continued to stare at this girl in front of him; her hair had gone from bright bubblegum-pink to a deep violet in a matter of seconds. She glanced up at him and their eyes met just as he felt a confused look spread over his face. He moved aside as Sirius approached her. It was from politeness, as Sirius had been going on about her since he had found out she was coming. Feeling as if he had a seen ghost, Lupin felt the need for some mead or Fire-Whiskey to calm his nerves. With one more glance back at the girl with coloured hair, he carried on downstairs to the kitchen. He heard everyone behind him laugh as he walked, and he pushed open the door to see Dumbledore standing next to the fireplace wiping ash off his robes.

"I take it from the sounds of merriment, everyone has arrived?"

"Yes Albus, they're all upstairs, Moody's just arrived with his protégée."

Lupin averted Dumbledore's gaze as they both heard more laughter from upstairs.

"Are you alright Remus?" Dumbledore asked patiently

"What do you mean?" Lupin replied cautiously.

"I just would not have expected you down here alone. Any moment involving a cheerful Sirius I assumed would be one you wouldn't desire to miss," he told Lupin, smiling.

Lupin could only nod as the others had walked in for the meeting.

The meeting had involved a lot of the administrative things, an explanation of what Voldemort was probably up to and a new task that had to plan. Dumbledore had carefully explained about the Prophecy, and now he was sure Voldemort's mind would be focused on getting it. They were to guard it. The girl, Nymphadora, took a seat next to Moody. However every time Lupin would look at her, she'd look away only to look back when she thought he wasn't looking. Lupin found the general behavior of her to be slightly odd, and though he could not be certain, he had every inkling that it involved his infliction.

After the meeting, he found that most people stayed behind, including this girl, who had an outburst regarding Sirius and his freedom. Lupin had not questioned it, her job had been to hunt him down, and suddenly he was right in front of her, everyone smiling and laughed. He had not meant to do so, but the story seemed to steer away from him being a werewolf, and he had done it, even if it caused a strange look from Sirius. He did not know why. Perhaps she already knew. Yet she just seemed to look at him in such a way, that he continued to want her to do so.

A few days later, Lupin returned for his next meeting, having been absent from the last as he'd had to journey to his parents house to transform. Snape, who had arrived to relay some information from Dumbledore during the meeting, and cornered him immediately.

"Remus," he said with his silky tone of displeasure. "I wanted to have a word with you about the wolfsbane."

Remus nodded towards two seats at the very edge of the table, as far away from people as possible. With all the commotion from the radio and Nymphadora grabbing Molly to make her dance with her, it was easy to stay unnoticed.

"When school begins again, I will not be able to brew the potion Dumbledore has requested I do," he paused, as if enjoying the fact he had a power of over Lupin. "So you're going to have to go back to whoever was helping you last year, considering you are unable to master it yourself."

Lupin ignored the insults, and sat for a few moments. Last year he had never taken the potion, so he'd been left to transform as painfully as ever. It was not a choice, he did not know anyone who could make the potion, and his attempts had been just passable but never good enough to keep him at bay.

"That's fine Severus. Thank you anyway," he uttered, watching Nymphadora being twirled around by Sirius, who had taken up dancing with her when Molly could not.

Her laugh rang in his ears; it was the sound of youth he had sorely missed since Hogwarts. That unmistakable laugh, her laugh, that was so infectious it made him smile, even if the thought of future transformations without Wolfsbane were trying to invade his happy feeling.

By the next meeting Dumbledore was becoming more serious. So far they had been told of a prophecy they had to guard, and Lupin suspected Dumbledore was not saying nearly as much as he knew. His first guard duty was nearing; sneaking into the Ministry at night seemed far more intimidating this close to the event. He listened as Moody and Dumbledore took turns telling the group Death Eater information. Sirius decided instead of listening to loudly question the loyalty of Snape, as he did whether the man was here to defend himself or not.

As the meeting continued Moody, who was across from him, starting distracting him. His magical eye was spinning back into his head every few minutes. It wasn't until Lupin looked over and saw Nymphadora raising her wand and the cup on the fireplace drift above Moody's head, that he understood, and smiled briefly, reminded prank with the Great Hall candles Sirius and James had once masterminded.

The next meeting, Lupin found himself at one of the heads of the table. He was listening to Arthur about some interesting conversation he'd over heard in relation to the Department of Mysteries, when Tonks caught his eye. He saw her hands move below the table to her wand and his eyes snapped towards her, as no doubt she was going to pester Moody again. He had no real reason to watch her. Truthfully he worried what she may think of him, given how often to she caught him looking her over. But despite all of his logical thoughts, he seemed to always find himself watching her, like she was something to be studied. She reminded him of his friends at school. She was not jaded or broken, she was just as happy to be herself, something Lupin admired about her.

He watched her raise her wand slightly, and then, her eyes flicked to him. Suddenly her hair went from a pale purple to bright green in a second. Later in the meeting, when he saw her hands move again, and they met eyes as they had, it went from green to pink. She stopped glancing at him when he'd look up but her hair continued to change as if she were. Lupin was amazed albeit confused, he looked around and everyone's eyes were now on her, but it was Dumbledore who spoke.

"My apologies Nymphadora, I'm aware this speech is a little long winded."

"Huh?" Tonks said, looking at little stunned as Dumbledore began to chuckle.

"Tonks dear, you're hair has been changing colours every five seconds." Molly said with a soft smile.

"Oh, sorry, it does that when I'm…" Tonks paused and Lupin noticed her glance towards his end of table, "… when I'm tired."

With one final look towards her, Remus watched her sit up and then her hair was bright blue again. She caught his eye and Lupin felt himself smile at her, she glanced up at her hair, and Lupin raised an eyebrow at her, to which she smiled at.

"I come to another important duty for us. As many of you are aware, Harry lives in the Muggle world, well away from Ministry protection charms. We have Arabella Figg there, a squib who I have known for quite sometime, " Dumbledore added to the confused members. "After some deliberation, I think perhaps we begin a constant watch of him."

"Spying on him?" Sirius said, hi mouth agape.

"Spying denotes a bad air, I feel protective surveillance would be a better term," Dumbledore said.

"That sounds like a wonderful plan Albus," Molly said, looking extremely pleased.

"This is going to backfire," Sirius said darkly.

"My aim Sirius is to give Harry the most peaceful summer after what will soon become the most trying year so far," Dumbledore said tryingly.

"So no one had bothered to tell him about the whole Ministry thinking he's a liar then?" Sirius snapped, looking at everyone.

Nobody said a word.

"Sirius this is my decision. I know you care the boy, and as much as you may say otherwise, I do as well, but as you are not a parent – "

"I'm as good as," Sirius said, getting more heated.

Lupin's eyes shot to him. He would never speak to Dumbledore that way, and he tried all he could to, without words, tell Sirius to be quiet.

"Sirius, I applaud you sentiments, and I am glad he has more people in the world who care for him. This is not a decision you can make. Arabella has offered her house as a base to work from, and I merely wish to use this to be sure Harry is safe. As we do not the extent of Voldemort's plans, I want to make sure if he mind travel toward Surrey, we are prepared."

Dumbledore finished speaking and looked around. Sirius stared moodily at the table, muttering under his breath. Lupin found the plan to be a refreshing, and relieved part of his worry about Harry, however he saw a floor.

"Who could participate in this watch Albus? Most are extremely busy on our own, or unable to partake in such activity," Lupin said, his eyes sweeping over Sirius.

"I was hoping Mundungus, you could help?" Dumbledore said, casting a smile at the sleeping Mundungus to his left.

Hestia, very unceremoniously elbowed Mundungus, who woke with a start.

"Huh? What? I agree with Sirius," he grunted.

"Sirius will be delighted," Dumbledore said, and even Sirius smiled.

"Alastor, perhaps you could take Mundungus to Surrey and instruct him yourself," Dumbledore suggested, and Moody growled his agreement.

After the meeting Lupin excused himself, hoping to discuss his guard duty with Dumbledore, but found the man was gone as he arrived on the landing. When he returned to the kitchen, the smell of onion soup and fire whiskey filling his nostrils. He noticed Sirius, Tonks and Kingsley together, talking and laughing. As he walked to join the group his hands loosely by his side, he felt some familiar soft skin touch his own. He'd brushed her hand with his. As he looked up, about to apologise, he saw her hair go bright red.

"Ah red. A far better choice," Lupin said to her, a smile on his face.

He had never had a member of the Order he had felt uncomfortable with, but Tonks was fast becoming that. It was not in a negative way, she just made him feel rather strange in a way he could not explain. He had resolved that it was perhaps because he knew very little about her, and decided talking to her could fix that. Yet, she did not return his compliment, she opened her mouth to talk, but then closed it, nervously glancing away. Lupin creased her brow at her, tilting his head, trying to understand her.

"Much better than the foul green you've been sporting," Sirius added with a scowl, still obviously angry about his argument with Dumbledore. "Too much green around here for my liking."

When Sirius started on with another story, Lupin smiled remembering the first time he'd felt that skin on his. The first time he'd seen eyes like that in a long time. Sirius was getting further into his story, and Lupin chanced a glance at Tonks, finding her absent-mindedly glancing about the room.

"He can tend to get carried away with his stories," Lupin murmured to her through the side of his mouth, hoping to re-ignite a conversation.

"Yes, I've noticed," Tonks muttered, looking over at him once before looking away again.

Lupin gave a quiet sigh, creasing his brow. He had attempted humour, and flattery, but neither had worked. So, he was going to use something he knew they could definitely have a conversation about, The Order

"If you don't mind me asking, how did you come across those papers on those two Aurors?" Lupin asked turning to her.

"Well, Kingsley told me Moody was keen to inspect these two guys and I just so happened to be morphed into a Dawlish look-a-like. Totally by accident of course, and I made a wrong turn into the Records Department and they let me through. Strange coincidence huh?" Tonks said, turning to look at him, grinning like Sirius did upon causing mischief.

That's illegal you know?" Lupin said quickly, looking to her.

He had not meant it to sound so stern, but he was shocked to learn of the use of her morphing power, and shocked to discover that side of her.

"I guess, for a good cause, that's the trouble I get into," Tonks replied, sounding defensive.

Lupin looked away. He had not meant to scold her. He gave a small smile as he thought of something, but it drifted off his face as he put it into action.

"You mean aside from the falling over?" Lupin added casually.

Tonks snapped her head towards, looking serious for a moment, worrying Lupin for a fraction of a second that he'd over stepped the mark, but then her face split into a wide grin. He joined the other conversation, between Sirius, who was once more telling Hogwarts stories.

"I have to be off," Lupin interrupted during another one of the Marauder stories. "Dumbledore said to be there before ten."

He said his goodbyes to the group surrounding him and when he reached Tonks he didn't know what to do and meekly outstretched his hand. She grasped it and Lupin saw her hair flush a deeper red.

"Red again? Well now you're just showing off, Dora!" Sirius barked.

"Nice to chat to you Nymphadora. Excellent work with those papers," Lupin said softly to her, he edged closer to her. "Though perhaps we should investigate a new nickname for you. Trouble perhaps?"

Guard duty was nothing interesting. He stood outside the door to the Department for a long time, and toured inside the shelves upon shelves of the Hall of Prophecies every hour or so. She had seemed so keen to shake hands, to touch him, so much so that it seemed outrageous that a witch who behaved like that would know what his deepest darkest secret was. He felt slightly embarrassed by what he had said to her, but he couldn't seem to help himself. Perhaps she would find the humor. Or hopefully she would. Maybe she could like him enough that if, or when, she found out his terrible secret she might not recoil, that was if she did not already know.

To be continued