Very lightly, Lupin was pressing his lips against Tonks'. She wrapped her arms around his neck, increasing the pressure. He was holding her by the waist, but his grip softened, and his arms encircled her, pulling her closer, so she was pressed against him.

He drew his head back and she was looking up at him, still holding him. He almost looked as though he was in pain and the tired look was back.

"Don't look like that, Remus."

He hung his head, burying his face in her hair. She could feel his breath against the spot beneath her ear. She instinctively tightened her hold. "I came on this walk," he said softly, finding control again, "To tell you I'm no good for you." He leaned back, releasing her. She let her arms drop to her sides. "Being too poor and too old for you are the least of it."

"Remus, I don't care about that. I like you, I want to spend time with you. Maybe you'll hate me! It's too early to worry about that."

"No," he said. "It's the perfect time. Before we get too involved with each other, I must…"

Tonks laughed. "Remus Lupin, do you want to get married?"

He looked shocked. Tonks almost laughed again as all the color left his face.

"Because let me tell you something - I don't. At least, I don't want to get married to anyone yet. I hardly know you at all. I just think….I dunno, I think we'd get on well. Maybe we go out on a date and it turns out you pick your nose, or you don't like the Weird Sisters."

"Everyone likes the Weird Sisters," Remus mumbled, his mouth twitching.

She smiled. "Quite. I'm just saying, we might not be right for each other at all, but I'd rather give it a shot."

He sighed. "So you find nose picking much more disgusting than being a werewolf?"

"I very much doubt you were bitten through your own design. It's not your fault, Remus. It would be one thing if you believed werewolves should be more powerful than wizards, or some rubbish like that, but I know you don't."

"No, I don't. But it's not just that. I lead a….alternative kind of life, Nymphadora. You don't understand the danger I'd be putting you in, and not just once a month when I transform."

"Again, Remus, we're not getting married tomorrow. Let's just...see how it goes. You're busy, I'm busy, we won't be able to see each other often anyway. So let's just...hang out some time, when it's not on Order business and we could...just see what happens?" She felt her heart rising into her throat. She had never asked a man out before. She had had boyfriends, of course, but they had just been friends she snogged occasionally. She'd never actually asked one on a date. It felt impossibly grown-up.

He was staring into her eyes, his hands in fists at his sides. She could tell he was fighting some internal battle. Why did he find this so hard?

She took one of his hands in both of hers. "Just give it a chance. You might like it."

He smiled wryly. "That's what I'm afraid of."

"Well, you're just going to have to stop being afraid. Now kiss me again, that was quite good."

He let go of her hands and pulled her to him again, lowering his head and returning the gentle pressure of his lips against hers.

He knew what he was doing was wrong. Even as he felt her melt against him, he knew it was wrong. But he couldn't help himself. Just as he had given in when James and Sirius talked him into leaving the grounds as a werewolf, he was giving in now. Giving in to the all too human desire for friendship, except this time the desire was stronger. This time he wanted much, much more than friendship.

He shut his mind up for a few glorious, Tonks-filled moments. He slid his hands up her back, pulling her even closer against him. He felt her slide her hands down his neck so they were resting flat against his chest. He had never held a woman this way. His curse had prevented intimacy. He was too terrified of getting close, telling someone what he was and seeing them leave him. But Tonks knew, and she wasn't running. She was here in his arms, warm and soft and good.

She was the one to break off the kiss. He kept his eyes closed for a moment, savoring the last few guilt-free seconds before his conscience sprang back to life, silently berating him, building a nice head of steam for when he was alone and could really wallow in his misery. When he opened his eyes, she was smiling up at him, her eyes soft and her customary smile on her face. Had he ever been so young?

"Come on," he said, drawing back from her and holding out his arm. "I'll take you to your flat."

Tonks took his arm, holding tightly, and Remus Disapparated them to her flat.

"When will I see you again?" asked Tonks, still holding on to his arm.

"Well, we have another Order meeting before Harry's hearing."

She smiled. "I didn't mean at a meeting, Remus."

He smiled at her too. "I'm afraid that's as often as I can resurface."

"What, you've only been in London a few days! You can't stay until Harry's hearing?"

"And what would I tell them when I got back?"

Tonks frowned. "Tell them to stop being ridiculous and get out of hiding."

"Are they being ridiculous?" asked Remus, looking, not at her, but at her door. "They go somewhere they cannot harm other humans. They are allowed to embrace what they are and be with their fellows."

Tonks sighed. "They could do that in the open. It would take time, it would take a lot of time, but they just need to get one of their own in the Ministry."

Remus sighed, but that faint, tired smile was still there. "Maybe one day. Not in our lifetimes, but maybe one day. I'll see you at the meeting, Nymphadora." He was looking at her again, and the tenderness in his eyes made her heart ache.

"Not before?" she asked, not caring if she sounded desperate.

"Perhaps. If we don't, though, I want you to really think about this."

Tonks laughed and said, "If I promise to think about it, do you promise not to overthink it?"

He couldn't help but laugh. She was so full of life. He would steal that from her by being with her. He would steal that from her when all her family and friends turned their backs on her.

He leaned down, kissed her ever so gently, and then backed up, turning and disappearing with a loud crack.