We walked around 'til the moon got full like a plate - So Real - Jeff Buckley

The moon was appearing slowly as the sky turned from blue to a deep navy. There was still an orange glow where the sun was setting and the moon was looming above, full and bright white.

The gravel crunched under Tonks's heavy boots as she trudged up and down High Street in Hogsmeade. Laughter rang from inside the Three Broomsticks' inviting atmosphere. How Tonks wished she could join them all, have fun, be merry, talk and laugh. Instead, she was left to patrol the street outside. Guarding Hogwarts was definately high up on the list of un-fun things to do. The only person she'd had to question was Mundungus Fletcher and he wasn't even putting the school in danger; he was just selling stolen items from Grimmauld Place.

Tonks sighed miserably and wrapped her cloak around her tightly. She looked up at the moon. It was big and full. She thought of Remus - where was he, how was he doing, what was he doing? Tonks gazed at the moon praying that Remus was somewhere safe.

"Star gazing are we?"

Tonks spun around, he wand out. She lowered it, her face turning sour after she realised who it was.

"Shouldn't you be at the school, Snape?"

"I fancied a drink," Snape replied.

"Well," said Tonks trying to get rid of him, "The Hog's Head is just down there, or the Three Broomsticks just up here. Bye, now."

"Oh, but I needn't be gone so quickly," Snape said, "I'm sure you're dying for a little company. By the way you're gazing at the moon, I'd say you'd want someones company in particular." A smile curled in his lips. Tonks began to walk again. Snape followed. "You know, Nymphadora, it is nothing to be ashamed of."

"Snape, shut up."

"A little bit rude of you, Nymphadora. You seem to have misplaced your manners. I daresay a werewolf wouldn't have manners either."

"Shut up, Snape, or I'm really going to have to hex you until you do."

"He's weak - "

"Snape!" said Tonks loudly, whipping her wand out again.

Snape continued to smile maliciously. "Going to show me your Patronus again, are you?"

Tonks's eyes narrowed. "No," she muttered.

"So what happened to the ferret, Nymphadora?" asked Snape curiously.

"I don't know," Tonks said through gritted teeth.

"You don't know?" said Snape slowly. "Well I would say it seems to have changed into a familiar figure. Who is it, Nymphadora? Do you think he's thinking of you now?"

His eyes flickered up to the moon.

Tonks said nothing. She breathed heavily and slowly trying not to lose her temper.

"A little agitated are we?" said Snape.

Tonks's fists clenched.

"Ready to fight? I just hope you aren't as weak as him."

Tonks was tempted to punch him across his pale, sneering face. She held herself back thinking of the consequences.

"Tell me, Snape," she said through gritted teeth, "why do you find my Patronus so interesting?"

"Well, I'm not sure you realised but that ferret that usually comes out of your wand is now a great, big werewolf. Now tell me, isn't that just a little bit interesting?"

"What is it to you that it's now a werewolf? I fail to see how that would matter to you," snapped Tonks.

Snape laughed a little. "It seems to look like our dear friend Lupin, doesn't - ?"

"He's hardly your friend," Tonks muttered.

"No, he's yours isn't he? Although it seems to me that there's something alot more than just friendship going on between you two."

"I wasn't aware that that was any of your business."

"Oh, it's not. I'm just interested as to why someone such as yourself would ever want him."

"Just because you're a shallow git doesn't mean we all are," Tonks snapped.

"Manners, Nymphadora," said Snape, "I'm just saying you shouldn't go getting yourself into trouble. And a weak man like Lupin, he won't be able to help you if you do."

Tonks was furious but she spoke steadily. "He is stronger than you think, Snape," she said. "Now go. Stop distracting me from my work."

"I would say you were already distracted before I came," Snape said shrewdly, and he turned on his heel and strode up High Street.

"Git," muttered Tonks under her breath as she walked the other way.

She stared up at the big, silver moon.

Was Remus thinking of her?

'Probably not,' she thought.

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

Remus woke with a start,

He was in a forest, surrounded by trees, shrubs, he was lying on the forest floor. It took him a moment to realise why he was there.

Remus had been positioned outside a house on the outskirts of London, under the supervision of Hector. They were supposed to attack a certain man who Remus didn't know. He hadn't been able to bring himself to attack the innocent man, he would never be able to attack anyone, so he apparated somewhere just before sundown instead. He had run for a long time until he was sure he'd found an isolated place.

He would pay dearly for this, he thought.

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

Tonks,

I must write quick. It's the morning after, I backed out, no doubt I've landed myself in a spot of trouble.

Are you well? Please tell me you are well.

Love Remus,

P.S. I may not write back, not until Christmas. Can I see you then?

Tonks read the messy letter from Remus. His handwriting was wobbly and rushed as if he had been writing nervously. She replied to his letter carefully, not putting either of their names in it.

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

Define 'well'.

I don't know.

Remus gripped the scrap of parchment in his hands. He knew exactly who it was from, and he was so thankful she was an intelligent woman, not to putting either of their names in it.

Her words were miserable. She obviously wasn't well, or she was exactly as he had left her. And she didn't want to see him over Christmas. Remus knew she had said she didn't know but he knew well enough that it meant 'no'.

Was she angry at him?

Remus was confused more than Tonks had ever been.

Hi I'm afraid Chapter 11 will be a long wait. It's a very long chapter but it's going to be the best one yet, promise.