Lupin broke the threshold first as quietly as possible, Tonks close at his heels. She could feel the warmth of his back radiating onto her cold chest. He, on the other hand, couldn't help but notice the soft Vanilla scent that seemed to be coming from her violent, violet hair. He felt a pang of guilt that he had to be the one to retrieve her instead of her so beloved cousin. He had wondered why Sirius and Kingsley would have made it a point to send him so specifically to find her in the first place. Why would Sirius not ask someone she knew to go fetch her? He could barely begin to ponder the answer when a deafening crash erupted from directly behind him. Lupin jumped at the sound.

"MUD-BLOODS! FILTH! BLOOD TRAITORS!" the portrait began to scream

Tonks was mortified. She had tripped over a huge - something - and was sent crashing to the floor, taking with her a number of fragile, undoubtedly expensive glass objects. The noise had obviously upset someone as the shrill voice of a woman broke the dark silence of the hall.

"FUCK! OHMybloodyhelli'msosorry-" Tonks squealed apologetically from the ground as the angry voice wailed on.

"Its fine are you al-" Lupin started, the rest of his sentence drowned in the portrait's deafening shrieks.

"FILTH! TRAITOOOOOOOOOORSSSSS!"

"OH shut UP you bloody old hag!" roared a man's voice as he raced down the hallway. Tonks caught a glimpse of his matted, glossy black hair as he joined she and Lupin in the hall.

Lupin and Sirius began tugging violently at the curtains trying to silence the portrait of Mrs. Black, Tonks remaining guiltily rooted to the spot.

After finally managing to close the curtains, Remus turned to see a seemingly paralyzed and dumbfounded Nymphadora on the ground behind him.

"Are you alright?" he said observing the pieces of broken plate surrounding her at his feet. Tonks's gaze did not move. Lupin could have proposed and she would not have heard it... She continued to stare at what she suddenly realized was none other than her beloved cousin Sirius, tears filling up her dark and piercing eyes. Lupin was unsure of what would happen next.

Remus turned to glance at Sirius, watching the wide smile spreading slowly over his friend's hollowed face. His eyes were glossy, looking Nymphadora up and down as if in disbelief that so much time had passed. All was still, as if time had stopped to allow them this moment. Tonks couldn't believe it: her favorite cousin, whom she had not seen in over 14 years, was suddenly now only two feet away from her...

"Nymph...?" he began in a soft whisper.

An intense silence took the air. Before Lupin had a chance to look back at Tonks, she had already leapt up into Sirius's arms, tears streaming down her face. They embraced for what seemed like forever, both laughing and sobbing into each other. He whirled her around in a circle, putting her down to help wipe off her tears.

"Oh Sirius, I knew you couldn't be guilty! All these years!" she exclaimed jumping up and down in a girlish bounce, running her fingers through his matted hair as if to make sure he was real, and really there in front of her.

Remus watched the two of them, their loving stares bringing a smile to his own face. He had always wished to have a family like that. After years of hearing her cousin was a murderer, Tonks still at this moment was instantly forgiving him, looking at Sirius with such adoration in her eyes he felt like he was intruding on quite a private moment. Sirius caught notice of Lupin's presence finally, and pulled Remus to his other side, putting his arms around them both as they walked toward the kitchen.

"My Lord Dora, look how you've grown! You were just a short little thing the last time I saw you! And now look at you- you're so LEGGY! You're a fox Nymph!" barked Sirius with a laugh. Tonks blushed and rolled her eyes.

"Fourteen years and you still love me then, AND as usual, under the influence of fire whiskey no doubt - good to know nothing's changed then!" she added chuckling. Sirius barked a 'Ha' and scruffed her hair playfully.

Kingsley, Mad-Eye and the rest of the members of the Order looked over at them, from the next room over, beaming. She gave Kingsley a polite nod as they turned to face Dumbledore who was seated at the head of the kitchen's table. Tonks took a seat between Albus and Mad-Eye, her eyes following Remus who sat at the other end of the table, Sirius on one side, and a rather plump witch with short black hair on the other. Tonks tried to stay focused but she had not realized how thirsty she had been to see her cousin until she felt quenched from the sight of him. He was beautiful to look upon, and nothing made her gladder than to see his face not screaming from the papers, or behind cold bars.

"Welcome, welcome, everyone again" addressed Dumbledore positively beaming. "I call at this hour for our meeting to begin. As you can see we have many new faces..."

As Dumbledore began to speak, Tonks stole a glance at Lupin and was surprised to see him staring right back at her intently. Every line seemed to make him more interesting, the small scars that crossed his thin pointed nose making his imperfections all the more lovely to look at. He was really quite pretty, she thought. A small smile spread across his face as their eyes met, and she could feel her face flush. 'Could he possibly be checking me out?" she asked herself hopefully. She returned her dreamy gaze to Dumbledore, startled at the fact that everyone was now looking at her expectantly.

"What?" she asked bewildered. Moody smacked himself in the forehead and rolled his magical eye with a groan. Tonks blushed as Dumbledore graced her with a knowing smile.

"Yep – Definitely related to Sirius" Mad-Eye grumbled. The table chuckled.

"We were asking you, Mademoiselle, if you would like to introduce yourself to the table" Dumbledore said kindly.

Now Tonks knew she was turning pink. She looked back again at Lupin who was now staring at the table as if suddenly extremely interested with a speck of dust upon it. Sirius shook his head with an evil grin at her while she fumbled nervously to stand.

"R-right. Sorry then mate-I mean Dumbledore-uh oh Lord what do we even call you! Um, Wotcher! - My uh... my name is Tonks! Well... I go by Tonks anyway, and I'm a junior Auror at the Ministry of Magic, been working there for some time now... And, well... that's about it, heh" she added scratching the back of her neck and sitting back in her seat.

"Oh, and I'm a metamorphmagus" she added popping up quickly once more, Remus shifting in his chair. She quickly shifted her hair to a bright gold and then back again to violet. The others at the table nodded approvingly and impressed. She hadn't noticed, but every time she wasn't looking at him, Remus was stealing a rather lengthy glance at her.

She was an absolute mess, no doubting that, but she was so intriguing he couldn't help but smile to himself. She was in fact young, but there was also something grown up about her, something mature. After Alastor Moody, Arthur Weasley, Sturgis Podmore, Bill Weasley, and Hestia Jones- the plump witch with short dark hair, re-introduced themselves, it was then Remus Lupin's turn. He looked over the table, slightly concerned that the young woman with the heart shaped face had not spoken a word or looked at anybody since she introduced herself.

"I, as most of you well know me by now, am Remus J. Lupin. I served as a teacher at Hogwarts for one term two years ago and am now slowly wasting away in the confines of my home as an unemployed disaster" he said with a smile as the rest of the table chuckled. Sirius always loved how Remus was able to laugh at himself. Tonks continued to stare at the floor.

Sirius stretched, both hands behind his head as he balanced himself on the back two legs of his chair. He was looking at the ceiling as though severely bored. He couldn't place his finger on why, but he could feel that something was coming... Mad-Eye kept shifting his glances between his protégée and her cousin, thinking along the same lines.

The door burst open just as Remus was finishing up his introduction. The table glanced over at the door frame, and Dumbledore nodded silently for the man who entered to silently take his seat. He had curtains of thick, greasy black hair that hung lank around his sallow face. He wore robes of all black, matched only by his shifting black eyes. Tonks felt a bit uneasy as he grasped the seat at the far end of the table, noticing Sirius's expression changing from one of complete apathy to intense hatred. He stared at the ground as not to look at the man who entered. Oh No she thought.

"Nice of you to join us" Sirius spat. The greasy man smirked.

The room stayed silent.

After the rest of the members of the order introduced themselves to one another, Dumbledore continued on with what was expected from them, and who would be helping in what ways. As he spoke, Remus decided it was once again safe to look at the Junior Auror sitting at the end of the table. He couldn't help but feel sympathetic, taking in her sad little pout. She was staring absent-mindedly in her lap as though wishing the floor would swallow her into the ground, chewing softly on her bottom lip in thought. Her soft hair covered her watery eyes and most of her face, but he could tell she was still severely embarrassed by being caught not listening to Dumbledore. She fiddled with her hands.

As the members of the table were dismissed, everyone began to get up, bid their adieus and leave. The man that had so upset Sirius (and who Tonks recognized as Severus Snape) was gone in a flash; Kingsley and Arthur both wished Tonks a safe weekend, as more and more members began to filter out of the room. Sirius made his way over to Bill Weasley and started a game of Wizard's chess in the front room by the stairs. Tonks messily began to collect her things when she noticed Remus Lupin was staring at her while bidding an absent-minded farewell to Sturgis and Hestia. She was caught like a deer in headlights as he made his way over to her, a small smile on his face. Every nerve in her body seemed to be standing on end.

"Are you alright? You seem a bit flustered…" he asked helping her pick up the rest of her things.

"Oh, I'm fine thank you" she said offering him her hand.

"I suppose now I can more formally introduce myself. I'm Nymphadora Tonks, as you know... I work as a Junior Auror to the Ministry of Magic, basically Mad-Eye's protégée. And let me tell you – they don't call him Moody for nothing!" she said winking.

"Remus J. Lupin, but I must insist you call me Remus, Miss Tonks" he replied placing a rolled up piece of parchment in the hand she offered him, bowing his head slightly.

"Only if you drop the 'Miss'" she added back with a flustered grin.

Their eyes locked onto each other's as Sirius made his way over to the pair of them, a wide smile on his face.

"Tonks! Now that we've discovered I'm not a mass murderer, I insist you stay the night and drink up with us! We do after all have a good thirteen years or so to make up" he added, swinging his arms around her. "You too Remus, I insist".

It was Remus who spoke first.

"I'm sorry old friend, but I am getting quite tired, and I think it'd be best if I left the fun times for you and your able young cousin. Besides I wouldn't want to impose-"

"Sirius, do you have to be so crass about things?" she said with a laugh. "Besides, Remus, You wouldn't be imposing, not at all!" She didn't know what made her say it, but found Remus and Sirius both looking at her wide eyed, and fell back a step in shock.

"Please stay...Or, er, What I mean to say is, the company would be lovely- plus I owe you one for coming to find me" she added pointedly, trying to cover up for her unexplained over-eagerness. She had hoped it sounded believable, but the wild look in Sirius' eyes and wicked grin made her not think so. Lupin looked to the ground, a small smile on his face.

"Again, Thank you, but you owing me seems less likely than the opposite considering I landed on your head" he replied softly.

"-So, Remus, All the more reason to stay! Come on Moony, I believe you owe the lady at least one glass of wine before you bail" argued Sirius.

"Moony?" she asked in surprised.

Remus looked up at her confused.

"So that's where I know your name from! You're Moony of the infamous Marauders I heard stories about as a child! I must say your stories were by far the most interesting, Mischievous with a touch of brains, too, unlike James and Sirius here, haha!" she added once again with her usual girlish bounce. Remus flushed. She realized far too late that she had said too much- Sirius's face went into marauder mode, and she was terrified he would say something cheeky. She tried to give him a warning expression, but it was too late.

"Yeah, infamous Moony, do stay! Or who will spare this poor damsel of the thirteen years of torment she's had coming to her!" he said with mock eagerness. She flushed. Bill and Mad-Eye came toward them with four wineglasses in hand.

"Come on, Mate! We've got to celebrate Sirius finding a family member he can stand! One glass Remus, it won't kill you! Don't be the half-breed to ruin the fun!" boasted Bill joyfully.

"No, no thank you, I-"

"Half breed?" interjected Tonks amused. She assumed this was some sort of joke between the three of them but Lupin's body language implied otherwise. He looked a bit as though Bill had dumped a bath tub sized bucket of ice water on him.

Remus looked mortified. Sirius gave Bill an accusatory glance, as Bill shrugged his shoulders in that 'I didn't mean to!' sort of way. Remus kept his gaze to the floor, the small smile barely masking the horror in his eyes.

Mad-Eye clocked bill in the back of the head and rolled his magical eye. "Well, that's my cue to leave…" he grumbled before stumbling off toward the door.

Sirius responded.

"Yes. You know how I'm an animagus and all that? Well, Remus here, is a werewolf." he said softly. Remus looked at his shoes, his face now painted with a defeated expression, turning pink.

"NO!" shouted Tonks as she covered her mouth with both hands. "But you're so- so NOT a... a were..."

A sad smile appeared on Remus' face. The sparkle in his eyes had flickered out, and she wished desperately she had kept her big mouth shut.

"I'm afraid so… Anyway I really must be going, but thank you again. Goodnight Bill, Sirius..." his eyes couldn't meet hers "Nymphadora..."

He began walking to the door, patched up briefcase in hand. She extended her hand and caught hold of his arm before he walked out.

"Oh please don't go, I didn't mean anything by it, honest!" she pleaded earnestly. His body felt as though an electric shock had gone through it the moment she touched him. "It's just that- well you aren't what I expected a lycanthrope to be like! It's just me; I was stupid- I didn't mean to offend you...please... stay?"

"It's quite alright, I assure you" he said kindly, the sad smile still plastered on his face like a well rehearsed grin. He looked up at her, and their eyes met again for one long moment. Hers were glossy with sincere apology. Her long black lashes seemed as though they were drawn from ink, her heart shaped face as pale and as beautiful... and as unfair to him, in his mind, as the moon. The only reason staring into her was easier, was because while her face carried the beauty and mystery of the moon, he did find kindness there. She was full of warmth and understanding. He couldn't explain it, but he wanted to drop his briefcase and stay there, looking into those captivating eyes forever. Sweet Girl...he thought. It was for that reason that he did what he did next.

"Goodnight, Tonks" he added quietly, warmly, eyes still locked on that intriguing face. With that, he left her touch and closed the door behind him.

It was quiet for a moment as she stared into the void where his eyes used to be. She felt so awful staring into that beautiful mix of gold and blue, knowing that the sadness swimming in them was her fault, and only when Sirius put his arm around her shoulders, shaking her lightly, did she break her gaze.

"I- I didn't mean anything by it Sirius, you know that-"

"He'll be alright, relax. As for you though... I think you could use a drink" he added with a small smile.


Remus took off his loafers as he sat, thinking hard, on the corner of his rickety bed. Why had Bill blurted out that he was a werewolf?! 'What am I saying?" he asked himself. "Of course she'd need to know I was a werewolf- what kind of person would I be to hide that from someone. And why do I care..."

He walked over to the broken mirror on the other side of the room and began unbuttoning his shirt. He could see in the fractures of the broken glass his scarred, beaten chest, and sighed heavily. He finished removing his clothing and walked over to the small cupboard in the corner. He then pulled out a ratty old brown sweater so that his bruised back was reflected in the mirror's image. He pulled it tiredly over his torso- he refused to sleep with no shirt on as he found it embarrassing for even himself to look at his body in the mirror first thing every morning.

He couldn't keep his mind off the young witch, her soulful eyes boring into him. He couldn't stop thinking about her dangerous curves, her soft hair, and her vanilla scent. He tossed and turned for hours, the sweat of his back clinging to his sheets. He ran his fingers angrily though his hair as he heaved a long, frustrated sigh. He felt sick and hot and horrible at the thought of her, and could not for the life of him think how these feelings could be awakened in him by someone as young and whole as Nymphadora. One of the harshest facts about being a lycanthrope was their multiplied capacity to feel. Everything was more intense, his rage more furious, his ability to pick up his scent, the savagery of how what attracted him made him feel...

It's just because she was kind... because it is getting close to a full moon and the animal instinct is taking over, nothing more...

Nymphadora.

His heart stung at the thought of the word. The pain in his chest was matched only by the frustration he felt elsewhere. He was disgusted with himself, growling in anger and shoving his face into the fold of his pillow. He usually acted strangely a few days before the full moon, but this night, this was harsher. He had known many pretty witches in the past, but none of them made him feel like he were about to endure a stroke. The sweat from his forehead was stinging his eyes and he forced himself of lie flat on his stomach as to avoid further humiliation. He whimpered in pain, wanting to howl and scream and scratch and break and tear and bite at his own itching skin and flesh... He wanted to release himself, but had trained himself not to give in to such pathetic yearning - that part of him was the animal taking over, not the controlled man he'd trained himself to be. He tried to relax but to no avail. He tried desperately not to think. No transformation could be worse than this, he thought to himself. More time had passed, Remus still writhing with discomfort. His mind wanted to sleep but his body was violently awake. He felt sick... After a few more hours of frustrated tossing and infuriated turning, Remus J. Lupin finally passed out, a certain someone fading in and out of his disturbing dreams ...whether she was welcome there or not.