Thanks to Stars May Fall for the beta work.

Also thanks to leilalolalee, Guinastasia, remusdora, Guest, PablosGirl for reviewing!


Remus and Tonks apparated as close as possible to the forest clearing. And he hated every second of it. Every step he took was like a battle against gravity; all he wanted to do was to simply lie down and forget everything.

It hurt more than he cared to admit to feel the downright hatred emanating from her of all the people. He had lived nearly all his life as a werewolf and therefore glaring glances and malicious intents directed at him was nothing new. But the same from her was like a question mark against his very own existence. That stung like a knife to his gut.

He abruptly took hold of her elbow and pulled her to his side when he saw something she probably hadn't noticed yet.

"What?" She hissed, looking at him.

"Look there." He pointed at the ground that was covered in darkness.

"Wh-What's that?"

"It's a foothold trap..." He answered while she looked at the steel made trap. "Probably for wanderers like us, set up by them."

"But aren't those muggles contraptions?"

"They are. They must have seen the advantage in having them. They are very cunning muggle instruments."

"Death Eaters using a muggle trap is hypocrisy at its best." She muttered bitterly with a grimace.

"They may be charmed though. I am sure they are spelled to not tip off when any person with a dark mark stumbles upon them. They usually are." He finished quietly. He'd had enough experiences with Death Eaters and their tricks during his time in the Order to know that.

"Thanks." She said awkwardly while making a jerking gesture towards the trap.

He nodded back in acknowledgement. As he did, he suddenly noticed how close she was.

She still complemented his height and the way she smelled...

He jerked himself out of his thoughts and forced himself to speak. "It would be better if I lead the way from here and you follow. My vision... is better at night and it would be dangerous to light our wands."

She visibly hesitated.

"You can count on me. I promise."

At that statement she threw him a dirty glance and he realized he had said the wrong thing again.

"Lead." she said curtly, just one word in a sharp tone, reminiscent to their colleague Minevra McGonagall.

In response, he turned and started walking. Making sure to pay heed to his surroundings rather than the unsure touch of her hand on his elbow.

One slip up by him and before they could blink; they would be as good as dead.

She walked stealthily enough in situations like these, her clumsy nature rarely surfaced. As they walked, he had time to consider the past and how it was impacting them both now.

It had hurt him to realize that she had tried to change herself after their break-up (Could it be called a break up?). That she had tried to remove any traces that he might have left on her. When she had refused his offer of tea (And the way she had said 'I don't drink tea'), the reason for her short hair length had dawned on him among other things.

It wasn't just one of her impulsive hairstyles done for a day. She probably wore her hair that way all the time now; for the specific reason that he had loved her long hair (Not that there was any problem in having short hair).

He had once told her that she looked pixie-like with short hair, but that she managed to cultivate elegance and gracefulness when using a long hairstyle. She had laughed at him in amusement, not quite believing him. But it had been true.

She might have tried to change herself in the way she held herself outwardly, but he could still glimpse the old Dora in the way her eyes twinkled (Or glared in his case). The way she smiled was exactly the same...

He couldn't say he exactly regretted the decision he made in the past. Yes he did regret letting her go every second of his life, had repented the situation and circumstances they were in but he couldn't regret the reason behind his decision. He couldn't regret his intents as they were honest and had always revolved around her. Whatever he had done, had been for her own good.

His decision seemed to have paid off anyhow. She was better off now. The ring proved that.

When they finally reached the perimeter, they both swept the area with perfunctory spells.

"There are Hestia and Sturgis." He said pointing towards an empty spot under one of the trees.

"How can you tell?" she asked bemusedly. He felt a drowning relief at her tone. At least she wasn't angry now.

"We asked them to charm the leaves to fall under the tree they would be sitting. Around the time they were to be relieved so there would be no confusion."

"Clever." She murmured.

Using slow and careful methods, they both made their presence known to Hestia and Sturgis. When the two guards noticed their signal, they gave them the cloak, and bided them a goodnight before apparating away in relief.

Fitting under the invisibility cloak was the first strenuous and awkward step of the mission. Something they had not prepared for. The cloak was big enough to accommodate two people, but not without squashing them together into an uneasy position especially for two people that didn't want to be close.

He was tall; where as she hadn't exactly grown smaller in three years, her figure was if anything... fuller.

It was a cruel cruel joke that destiny was playing at their expense- that their first time truly alone had to be like this. A moment he had been both yearning and dreading; yearning because he still loved her, dreading because she was now… someone else's wife.

"Why couldn't they give us two cloaks?" She muttered angrily as she tried to fit under it comfortably. At the same time, she accidentally bumped his stomach with a sharp elbow.

"The Order only has two. The other is with those standing guard at the Ministry." He whispered, swallowing back his gasp of pain.

After a few more minutes of hustle, they were finally seating somewhat comfortably next to each other on the dusty and prickly ground hidden among sharp bushes. As she hugged her knee to her chest, her huffy mood was clearly visible on her face. Sitting this close once would have been very romantic for them, but now...

"Your foot is peeking out."

She irritatingly stuffed it closer though unintentionally she pushed him in such a way that now his foot was peeking out.

"Wait." He tried to placate her as she failed to adjust the damn cloak correctly around them. This was bothering her way too much. Was she more uncomfortable than she let on? If she was; she would hate the solution running through his head.

He hesitantly put one of his arms around her shoulder. The other wrapped itself slowly around her knee, dragging her little closer to the place where he sat. Once they were squished together, he adjusted the cloak in a way that it engulfed them completely without anymore mishaps.

However, he had drawn her too close while adjusting the cloak, because as he happened to glance at her; he found her starting at him, with the usual coldness that had shadowed her eyes since they met again strangely absent.

He suddenly became aware that he had left one of his hands on her shoulder. The other had shifted towards her calf.

He thought about removing them but she seemed to be holding her breath and her eyes had softened in almost the same way they had in past moments like this.

He could feel their breaths mingling.

He wanted so badly to lean forward...It was so tempting… It would feel right and natural he was sure.

But suddenly she looked away and he was brought back down to reality.

What had he been thinking?

He drew his hands back as if burnt even if they were still crushed together. He quickly forced himself to look at Dolohov's abandoned house while she too began her own watch.

He wanted to ask her so many things. How she was? What had she done during all these years? The most important thing that he was dying to ask was of course about…

But he was sure he wouldn't like the answer she would give in return.

"How-how have you been?" He whispered, risking a glance towards her.

They were still way too close to each other. His lips were mere centimeters away from her cheek.

She kept her eyes trained on the house.

"Fine." She said quietly, though her initial fire from the beginning of the night had died.

He again looked away. What to ask now? 'So you got married?' 'Who's your husband?' 'What flowers did you use in your wedding?' 'Did it really take that short time for you to get over me?'

"You must be pretty good, I take it?" she asked scornfully, turning to look him right in the eye.

No, I'm Miserable, lonely, despondent, and heartbroken...

"I try to be..." he said instead and trailed off, as she gave a bitter laugh.

It didn't suit her...

Bitterness was the farthest concept from her mind back when they had first met. When she had been sweet, young and yet wiser than her age- an eighteen year old Nymphadora Tonks.

As she continued to glare at him; He turned back to remembering their first meeting.

It was vivid as if it had happened just yesterday.


Summer, 1991

Remus sat on the lush green grass with kids surrounding him. There was a slow cool breeze blowing that put him at ease. After Hogwarts, this was probably his favorite place to be. He felt at home here. Because everyone knew him, and yet no one really knew who- what he was.

It was a muggle orphanage, ran by an old kind muggle lady, with children of almost every age up to seventeen. Remus had developed an aching hole in his heart which would never be filled when he had realized that he could never have children of his own. And as the saying goes 'One wants that what one can't have', he loved children. He was amused by their innocence. He enjoyed their smiles. And he tried to keep up with their never ending curiosity and questions.

His visits here had started with a simple event.

He had been roaming through the streets of Muggle London aimlessly when he had found a small child (no more than five) trying to cross the road in, at least that was what it seemed to him, the pursuit of a ball. He had been alone and his lack of safety had troubled Remus. He had without much thought asked the child to stay put. He had then bought the ball to him and had asked where he lived. He had been surprised to learn that the boy lived in a building right across from them.

When he had gone to drop him off, he had also learned that it was an orphanage. Remus had met the old lady running it for the first time then. She had expressed her immense gratitude for bringing 'James' back home. He surprisingly had ended up spending hours there, talking to the woman, Julia who told him all about the orphanage and the children.

The building looked ransacked and dingy. However, Julia's love for gardening had resulted in a rather lavish lawn with all the varieties of muggle flowers that she could grow. One couldn't help but feel serene at a place like this.

It was a safe haven.

Ever since that morning, he had started spending his Saturday and Sunday afternoons here. One of the plus points was nobody knew he was a werewolf and thus nobody could frown at him for spending time with children. He would often see, rich people dropping by in their cars, making donations and charities and it often saddened him that he couldn't help these kids in the same way. Even with that idea pricking his mind, the kids seemed to love him so he never really complained.

So here he was on this lovely day; leaning against the pillar while he watched them play hide and seek. Their laughter drifted to his ears even at this distance. It was wonderful.

"Excuse me?"

He lifted his head up to see a girl peering up at him with a curious expression upon her face. She had brown eyes and shoulder length black hair that fell around her heart shaped kind face. She wore simple muggle clothes; a green t-shirt and blue jeans.

"Yes?" He answered politely.

"Mind if I sit here?" She asked with a melodious voice while pointing to the ground next to him.

"Sure." He shifted, making a space for her. He couldn't help but wonder what a pretty girl like her would want to talk about to someone like him. She looked to be in her early twenties.

"My name is Tonks by the way." She extended her hand warmly, which he shook gently in return. Although she had a soft palm, her handshake was firm and strong.

"Call me Remus." She smiled and for the first time Remus looked straight into her face. She had lovely eyes and an even lovelier smile.

"You know I have seen you here so many times. I always watch you playing with the kids. You even help them with their studies. But never did I once see you giving them any kind of monetary help."

He felt heat crawling up his face in embarrassment and shame in response to her statement.

"Er..."

"Oh no no no..!" She exclaimed and he looked at her, startled by the reaction.

"I didn't mean it that way." She said with wide eyes as a look of comprehension dawned on her face. "I didn't mean to offend you, it came out all wrong." She looked really apologetic and in her haste, she even placed her hand on his shoulder absent mindedly. He felt his skin going warm beneath his shirt at her touch.

Before he could open his mouth, she spoke again."Please let me explain! What I meant was that I often see people coming here making charities or dropping hefty amounts of money in the donation box but they never really bother to actually look at the children. To actually see how are they living. As if their money alone makes everything just fine for them. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate their help, but even though these kids have each other to play with, they need adult company and guidance too. And Julia, God bless that woman, does enough but she is not able to give the time to all the children while the other matrons are too busy doing their jobs to truly pay attention to them."

She paused for a second before continuing. "You are one of the first I've seen who actually seems to care. I mean, I think you even know all of their names and what they like- colors, books, things like that. That was all I was meaning to ask. How come in this self indulgent and busy life you are able to find time for others? Find time to care even about their issues? So many people don't."

She finished breathlessly and he couldn't help but smile at her awkwardness. Surprisingly his humiliation at her initial question had vanished; he even calmed down a bit.

"You are awfully observant." He replied, looking at her through his fringe, avoiding the primary question.

This time she blushed faintly. "Well..."

"I... Well I am unemployed." He blurted out the words quickly.

It wasn't as if she expected something from him. He couldn't possible disappoint a muggle stranger so it was better to tell the truth. How could he disappoint someone who didn't even know him?

Because that was one thing he could do with stranger; he could be honest about the little things. "And I love children."

"Oh... I am sorry if I offended you in anyway..."

"Don't bother, really. I get what you meant to say. I knew a friend once, who always wanted to say one thing and would actually speak something entirely different. He could never get his tongue to say the right things." He thought of his late friend Peter with an inner sigh.

She nodded and softened her posture. As she did, she leaned against the pillar too. They were now shoulder to shoulder.

"You know about me. But I've never really seen you here before." He stated questionably. He was strangely comfortable with having her close to him. Usually he would be shifting away by now.

His question was because he had been coming here for a long time, and by the looks of things she had been too. But he had never seen her and that was a horrible mistake on his part.

"Because you are always too busy with the kids to notice anyone else." She replied well naturedly.

"How come you find time for this place in a self-indulgent and busy life?" He asked, repeating her earlier question.

She smiled sadly with a flicker of sorrow in her eyes. Sadness didn't suit her, he immediately decided.

"It's a long story... I found this girl, abandoned by her parents... I couldn't keep her with me as my schedule does not allow it. So I brought her here in hopes she could find a family someday. I come here every Sunday to see her. She's sick, so she's mostly inside in her room. That's the reason you've never seen me before this."

He felt anger at people who were graced with children and yet decided to throw that blessing away. Whereas, unfortunate and cursed people like him, craved for such blessings and couldn't have them. He also felt gratitude that people like her were present in this world to help correct that problem.

"Uncle Remus!" James' shout pulled him out of his reverie.

The boy was strangely enough a look alike of his name sake and whenever he looked at him, he was reminded of both Harry and James with a pang. The boy pointed towards the boundary and Remus instantly understood. He had managed to throw his ball off of the boundary, again. How a boy of his age managed it, Remus had no idea. Sometimes he wondered if James might be magical.

"I'll just go and get his ball back." He mumbled hurriedly to the girl.

He was reluctant to get up but also wanted to finish the task soon so that he can talk to her some more. He was anxious that she might leave in his absence. Therefore he wasted no time in running to get it and handed it off to James in record time.

He didn't know why but he felt relaxed with her and he didn't want her to leave so soon after they had met each other.

When he returned, she was still there though she was watching him closely. He found himself shifting a bit self consciously because of that. He wasn't exactly in his best looking clothes.

As he sat next to her, she blurted out."You are a wizard."

He started and looked at her in astonishment.

"How-"

"Your wand was sticking out of your pocket." She managed to say smugly. Though as the words left her mouth, her eyes grew wide and she covered her mouth with her hands in embarrassment. She shook her head vigorously.

"I didn't- Merlin why doesn't the earth just open up and swallow me!"

He couldn't help but laugh at her predicament. "And here I thought my wand was secure in my pocket."

She hit him playfully on his arm; as if they have been friends since forever, though she was still red faced.

"So, you are a witch?"

"Yeah... Who would have thought that two magical people would meet in such a muggle place."

"Reckon any of the kids are magical?"

"I wonder sometimes... But then we won't truly know unless Dumbledore comes to find them when they turn eleven."

They lapsed into a comfortable silence, though for some reason, Remus found himself smiling a little bit more. It had been a long time since anyone besides the people at the orphanage had willingly sought out his company.

"Can I ask you something?" She said suddenly and he wondered what bizarre question would escape her mouth this time.

"Fire away." He replied even if he generally wasn't comfortable with sharing information about himself.

"Are you a shape-shifter?" She questioned with a peculiar look in her eyes.

This time, her question caught him off guard. There was no way she could have guessed that randomly.

He wasn't that obvious -he hoped.

"What do you mean?" He tried to compose himself while seeming casual.

"I can feel it... I can sense it in you." She said with the same amount of curiosity that he often encountered among the children of the orphanage.

"What do you mean you can feel it?"

"I am a shape-shifter too..." She grinned.

They both stared at each other for few seconds. Both trying to figure out who was exactly in front of them.

'There is no chance in hell she's a werewolf. She seems healthy enough. So she must be an animagus.' He was thinking about that to himself when suddenly his eyes flicked absentmindedly over her hair and he was awestricken.

"Pardon me, but weren't your hair a shade darker a moment ago?" He asked. Without meaning to, he picked up a strand that had been stuck to her cheek between his fingers for a closer look. As soon as he realized what he was doing, he removed his hands as if they had been burnt. She hadn't seemed to mind though.

"Are you a metamorphmagus?" He asked as she smiled sweetly back.

"You are the first one to guess correctly on the first try. I didn't even realize that my hair had changed. That's why I picked such a normal color for a muggle place. It's easier to keep tabs on it. So, what shape-shifter are you?" She asked conversationally.

"What did you mean by you could feel it?" He asked again, buying time. It wouldn't be long now before she would figure it out.

"We, metamorphmagi, are really rare and we can sense shape shifting genes among other people. I have experienced it a few times before, like when I met Professor McGonagall. Are you an animagus too?"

He shook his head, looking for a way to both to escape her questions and her presence.

"A metamorphmagus?" He shook his head again. There weren't many options left now and he was really getting uncomfortable now.

"A boggart?" she asked cheekily and he couldn't help but chuckle even as he upgraded to a state of panic.

"If I am a boggart, then I am your worst fear."

"Nah..." She trailed off. "I am not afraid of werewolves." She said casually and he couldn't help but look right into her eyes.

"I- Look, I am not even here near full moons-" He could hear hysteria creeping into his voice.

She wasn't supposed to know, no one was supposed to know as new traveled fast within the wizarding world. He'd had a hard enough time as it was trying to keep his condition a secret.

"-I don't visit three days before full moons or three days after, so I am not a danger to these kids, please-"

"Relax." She said softly placing her hand over his. "You are overreacting. I understand that you aren't a danger. I know. And there's no reason for you to not to visit them three days after or even before the full moon. You are safe even then with the right precautions."

He calmed under her touch and at her words. And for a moment he had difficulty understanding the levity of his situation. He was a werewolf and she didn't seem to mind. She was telling him that he was safe, was touching him even. He briefly wondered if this was some kind of trap but then dismissed it as his own paranoia. She didn't seem to be the distrusting type.

"You really don't mind that someone like me is in the same company as the kids and you?"

"Why would I? Do I seem illiterate to you? I am not that naive." She asked incredulously as if her reaction was the same as everyone else's in the wizarding world when they found out what he was.

He could have kissed her then and there.

And that thought brought him back to reality. Where had that came from? He finally decided it was an after effect of a beautiful witch favoring his condition. After all it wasn't a daily occurrence.

In fact, her accepting him without battling an eyelash was entirely new.

He realized that she was not yet tainted with society's prejudice and enmity towards werewolves. She was not naive but she definitely had an innocent sense of morality- Of right and wrong. Which was often found among the youth about to start their life and the ones who were not yet corrupted with society's rotten notions and bitterness. They had been that way too when they had first joined the Order.

He chatted with her for a while and for some strange reason he felt she enjoyed his company.

It was by far the weirdest experience of his life.

He had barely known her for a few minutes, and not only had he told her his deepest and darkest secret, but she seemed to endure his condition and him with a perfect ease.

She would never know but that singularly had earned respect for her in his heart forever.

She told him that she had just graduated from Hogwarts and was waiting for her NEWTs results. If she got the required marks; she would be appearing for the Auror entrance exam next month. He had been shocked to learn that she was barely eighteen.

For some reason, he felt a sinking feeling in his stomach on learning her age, along with a nagging inner voice that harassed his thoughts, exclaiming that she way too young; she was still a teenager even if she was of age.

Why it bothered him so much was something he couldn't get a hold on.

They both ended up staying late at the Orphanage than they both ever had in the past.

When it was finally time to part, he saw a sad reluctance in her eyes as well. It was as if she didn't want to go back to the life she had come from. The same held true for him.

That day he went back to his home with a satisfaction that he had made the first new friend in almost in a decade. Even if that friend was too young.

He couldn't wait for Sunday to come in the hopes of seeing her again.

The next time that he saw her, he felt as if he had known her all his life and he got the chance to admire her beauty in the sunlight. They both felt as if they could be just themselves in the presence of the other.

Without any pretence and without any expectations.

They walked side by side admiring Julia's garden that surrounded them.

"That woman is a genius. This type of garden would be difficult to achieve even with a wand and she's a muggle."

They stopped before a bed of pink colored carnations.

"I would pluck this one for you, if I wasn't scared of Julia murdering me." He spoke in a bout of excitement without thinking. It was just his second day of knowing her after all.

He hoped she wouldn't take offence and looked at her apprehensively. She was still smiling.

"Have you never plucked flowers for a girlfriend from a forbidden place, Remus?" She spoke cheekily and his heart skipped a beat upon hearing his name upon her lips.

"Never really had many girlfriends."

He didn't know why he did it, but he plucked a carnation anyway, while looking into her eyes. It was as if he was making some kind of statement. As if he wanted to prove something to her.

What, even he himself didn't know.

Something strange was happening to him, something which his mind couldn't grasp.

She took it hesitantly though her eyes were intense. Maybe it was happening to her too?

"Every flower has a meaning." she said brushing her finger over the flower.

"This one means 'fascination', and 'distinction'."

This time when they reached the gate, she was looking at him in expectation and he decided he couldn't wait a whole another week to meet her.

He was lonely man with no friends and he really enjoyed her company, so he drew up his courage and asked. "There's this small muggle coffee shop, would you-"

"Yes, I am hungry anyways. Want to grab a sandwich too?" She replied before he could even finish his sentence.

That was the beginning of their friendship.

Ever since then, it became an unwritten rule after their visits. They would both take time off and visit the Orphanage on any day of week that they could. And after spending some time with children, they would always visit the coffee shop. They would grab coffee, sandwiches, or sometimes ice cream. Once the food was purchased, they would eat in a park near the shop.

He could have swore that time spend with her passed faster than it usually did. They never discussed meeting the next day; they just met. Soon it wasn't just Sundays.

Somehow she found some time out of her Auror studies to visit on Saturdays and even Fridays.

As the weeks passed by their days of meeting only increased. As well as the time they spent talking.


"What are you smiling at?" She inquired; he hadn't realized he had a soft smile on his face.

"Thinking about the first time we met." He said looking at her, as if they were three years back in time. Sitting in that park under the tree on their favorite bench. As if situation wasn't adverse, as if she wasn't married...

The thought squeezed his stomach uncomfortably.

"Me too." She whispered and looked away.

He had a nagging sensation that he had seen moisture in her eyes. He felt the uncontrollable urge to comfort her.

"Did you meet someone?" He asked finally.

He could no longer contain himself. He knew her answer would hurt him, but that wouldn't stop him now. He needed to know.

"I beg your pardon?"

"You got married didn't you?"

For a moment he thought he saw amusement flash through her eyes, as if the notion was absurd but swiftly, that expression washed away, replaced by a livid one.

"How dare you!" she hissed at him. The muscle at her temple jumped as it always did whenever she was beyond angry.

He was sure she would have growled if they weren't supposed to maintain a whispered silence.

"How dare you suggest, I would ever be able to love- trust even, anybody, after you- you left me in the dead of the night without even bothering to leave a damn note!"

He winced internally. He completely ignored the implication of her statement however, which meant that she was not married. He also forced himself to ignore the bubble of joy that rose in him; knowing it still didn't change anything. But he couldn't deny that he felt as if tons of boulders have been lifted from his chest. He couldn't deny he was beyond relieved.

"Look, about what I did. I know it may have hurt you-"

"May!" She snorted, looking disgusted.

"Definitely hurt you but my intention never was... my goal has always been to see you happy. For you to be accomplished."

"I really don't know what your definitions for me being happy and accomplished are Lupin. Do I look them?"

He winced. "I-I cannot make you understand the reasons for my decisions, and I know it's too late for that. I know it won't change anything. What was lost is lost. But I wanted to try to explain."

He did feel the urge to defend himself. Yes he had left her. That action had been the most difficult thing he had ever done in his life to date. To walk away from the only person he ever loved and the one who ever loved him, willingly, was like taking a bullet in his chest.

It had been the most selfish and yet selfless thing he had ever done. But it hurt him even more. It cut him deeper to know that she thought that it hadn't hurt him equally as much when he had left her.

His thoughts were too complicated. And as much as he wanted to simply hold her and kiss her like a there was no tomorrow, what he had said still held true. It would change nothing. He still was a werewolf, unworthy and unclean.

"Don't tell me what was lost is lost! You have no idea about what I lost." She whispered, her fierceness leaving her and sadness taking over.

He didn't say anything in response. He merely took a deep breath and tried to calm his racing nerves by taking in her scent as they were still mere centimeters apart.

"I think it would be prudent, if we don't work together after this. It is supposedly dangerous to the secrecy of Order and definitely for our mutual sanity." She said after few minutes.

He felt a panic flash in his heart. The kind of panic he knew he would feel if he were in a public place and was to suddenly start transforming. As if everything was slipping from his hand, and he could do nothing; it was a feeling of pure helplessness.

He had lived three years without even seeing her face; he had never expected to see her again. But now that she was back in his life, even if not in the way he truly desired, the thought of losing her gripped his chest in a fit of fear.

But you can't lose what you don't have.

"Listen, Dora."

In a rush of frenzy he grabbed her hand; her left hand. He felt electricity course through his body at the skin to skin touch. Her fingers were ice cold. He felt her bare ring finger and the evidence that there was no ring residing there and felt more relief along with confusion. As he looked into her eyes, he could see that she seemed taken aback by his gesture.

"I am sorry. I know, it's not enough, it never will be and I also know it won't change anything but please all I can ask for is your forgiveness. I cannot bear this hatred you have for me. Please forgive me." He pleaded, even as he realized how pathetic he sounded, he couldn't find it in himself to particularly care.

She slowly slipped his hand away from hers.

"Please, do me a favor. Don't call me Dora and don't touch me again." Her voice wobbled as she spoke

It wasn't a warning. It was a request, as if it was beyond her comprehension what she would do, what would happen to her if he were to do either thing again. There was no spite in her words.

Just as he opened his mouth to speak, his sensitive ears picked up a rustle in bushes. By the looks of it, so did she, as they both slipped into attentive modes, wands firmly in their hands.

They looked forward and saw a hooded figure approaching the building. Remus slipped a hand into his pocket and took out the binoculars Mad-Eye had given him yesterday.

"It's Goyle." He barely whispered into her ear. She nodded in acknowledgment. They watched to see if there was any sign that the Death Eater had heard them, but Goyle being the dumb person that he was, walked through the door without a backward glance.

"They are gathering together after all." She whispered back after a few seconds of absolute silence.

After that excitement, they sat in utter silence for the next hour. Waiting for Kingsley to relieve them. Waiting for something to change. An air of awkwardness had engulfed them once more.

He had lost his control in his desperation. He didn't know what he had been trying to achieve by his pleading for forgiveness. But he knew whatever he had hoped for had not happened.

After an hour and a half, they found themselves near the apparition point as Kingsley waved goodbye at them.

"I will bring my report to you before the meeting tomorrow." She said briskly and professionally.

Before he could even blink or open his mouth, she had disapparated.

He stared into the empty space for a moment. After collecting his bearings he disapparated too. Back to his wretched friends' wretched house, back to his even more wretched life.


A/N:

How do you feel about this chapter? How do you feel about their first meeting? There's one thing I wanted to establish about Tonks, that she is eighteen and young and sometimes behaves like that. I mean she's not immature. She's sweet, interactive, and talkative, a bit daring but when it comes to few things, she's an eighteen year old at heart: shy and hesitant. Whereas Remus is thirty one when they meet, who is weary and broken and a bit distrusting of the world in general, the kind who doesn't think that something good can happen to them. So I wanted to highlight this difference, though I will explore this in later chapters as well, just thought to make a point here.

Do review/favorite/follow!