Today I greet you under wierd circumstances.

Firstly I'm so tired I can barely keep my eyes open, but i'm powering through for you guys, even though i have to get up early. You better love me! haha

Secondly, this is the longest chapter ever! I should split it into two but i don't want too, so you guys can suffer muhahaha. Or, just read half and then read the other half later...

I'm sorry about the length but so much needed to happen to Tonks so we can get it to the next Lupin chapter and I wasn't willing to write 2 more chapters for the sake of it. Believe me you'll be thankful for this at the end of the next one...just trust me. Have I ever led you astray?

Again, reviews are very welcome. You guys never cease to amaze me and I mean it honestly.

Enjoy.


Chapter 27.

Nymphadora Tonks sat in a bedroom alone at Grimmauld Place. She hadn't wanted to tell Remus Lupin that since the moment she'd opened her eyes, her head had started throbbing in pain. He'd left her a few moments ago to get breakfast and she sat alone sitting up, staring at the wall across from her. The wallpaper was peeling off, and she hadn't quite noticed exactly how many cobwebs there were until just now. She hugged her knees a little closer to her chest and closed her eyes, hoping the pain would just go away if she asked it to. She was slowly realising exactly how serious her fall must have been, perhaps that was why Lupin had gotten so worried. There was a soft knock at the door.

"Yeah?" Tonks called out nervously, hoping it wasn't Sirius.

Lupin walked in with two plates of toast and two mugs of tea, the prophet hidden under his arm.

"Why did you knock to get into your own bedroom?" Tonks asked, laughing slightly.

Lupin ignored her insult.

"Sorry it took so long. Sirius snuck up on me in the kitchen." Lupin told her as he placed the plates and cups on the bedside table next to her.

He looked down at her smiling; she grimaced back, not wanting to worry him.

"What'd he say?" Tonks asked, mainly to divert his stare.

"Oh, not much," said Lupin. "I didn't know which you preferred so I have plain butter, marmalade and strawberry jam."

Tonks looked up at him and she accepted a cup of tea from him.

"Thanks," She said politely.

He took his own cup and walked around to his side of the bed, sitting down and unrolling the morning prophet. Tonks felt oddly grown up sitting next to a man in bed who was reading the paper. It felt like something parents did on Sunday mornings until their children came in and disturbed them, or at least that's what Tonks used to do. Lupin sipped at his tea and picked up a one of the plain buttered pieces of toast. Tonks smiled at his choice as he looked up at her.

"What?" He asked, just before he bit into it.

"I knew you were going to go for that one," she joked.

Lupin sighed at her, before returning to his paper. Tonks mulled over her choices while she drank her tea, surprised to learn Lupin had made it exactly how she liked it. She eventually picked the spread she liked best and ate that piece of toast.

"Strawberry jam, very predictable Tonks," Lupin remarked.

She glanced over to find him looking at her. He had a small smile on his lips. She rolled her eyes at him and then eyed off his paper.

"Oh sorry. Here have the other half." Lupin said, looking guilty and giving her half of the prophet.

Tonks started reading, and before she knew it, she was bored. She looked back at Lupin, who'd moved onto marmalade toast now. His concentration face was making her laugh, but she stifled it. She watched him chew his toast and a thought from the previous evening popped back into her head. Whilst her head had gone into overdrive after she'd yelled at him, her mind had said one thing; she loved him. As she watched him, she couldn't help but wonder if that was the case. She'd never really been in love before. The relationships at school never really felt like this. Everything about Lupin felt different to everything else she'd ever encountered. Perhaps because he was completely grown up in every sense of the word, or maybe because he was nothing like the people she was usually interested in. Something felt different, something felt stronger. She glanced up at him again; a big piece of marmalade had landed on his chin. She couldn't stop the laugh this time.

"What?" Lupin said, looking over at her confused.

Tonks smiled at him and reached across, wiping it off with her index finger.

"Thanks," he mumbled, before going back to reading.

She licked it off her finger and smiled as she discovered just how good it tasted. She saw movement to her left and a plate with half a piece of toast with marmalade on it came into her view. She looked at Lupin, who was still reading, but holding out the plate for her.

"It was written all over your little grin how much you liked that," Lupin told her, turning to her.

"But the marmalade one was yours," said Tonks.

"It's ours now," Lupin said as Tonks took the plate from him.

She smiled again and picked up the toast, chewing it slowly to savour the taste. It was with a whooping sensation in her stomach that a strange feeling came over her. She felt like she could do this forever. She could sit next to him in the morning while he sat reading the paper like a boring old man as they shared tea and toast. She shook her head. That mental image felt absurd, Tonks was not the housewife type, and she never would be.

"Any particular reason for the head spasm?" Lupin asked, interrupting Tonks's thoughts as he idly turned the page of his paper.

"For someone who loves reading, you surely don't put a lot of effort into reading the prophet," Tonks noted.

"Forgive me for watching you," Lupin responded, with a smile not taking his eyes from the paper.

Tonks hated when he turned her insults into compliments. She huffed loudly and turned back to her boring part of the paper. These days it was filled with updates from Umbridge about Hogwarts, she was surprised Lupin was still bothering to read it. Tonks glanced around the room again as she finished her toast, the room seemed to have brightened now that she was with Lupin. She turned back to look at him but his watch caught her attention first.

"Oh Mother of Merlin!" Tonks cried, jumping out of bed.

She immediately felt dizzy from standing up to fast, but it seemed to be exasperated by her recent head knock. It took longer than normal for the head rush to disappear and she felt herself stumble around a little bit as it did. Lupin was out of the bed and beside her faster than anything she'd ever seen.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" He asked, looking concerned and worried again.

"Yeah, I'm fine, just a head rush. I'm late for work!" Tonks said, moving away from him, and pulling on her shoes and socks.

Lupin stepped away and Tonks noticed how quickly he did. Clearly their argument last night had had a lasting impression on him. He sat down on the bed and seemed to watch as Tonks threw things around in search of her wand. When it was finally discovered she turned back around and looked at Lupin, who greeted her with a warm smile. She rushed over to him, placing her hands on his chest, and kissed him softly on the lips.

"Thanks for breakfast and thank you so much for your present," Tonks said to him.

She leant back down and kissed him lightly once more and then ran to the door as she heard Lupin say goodbye to her. She bounded down the stairs four at a time and brushed past Sirius on the second landing.

"What'd Lupin do now?" He called out to her.

"Shut-up!" Tonks shouted at him playfully as she ran past.

She sprinted down the hallway, narrowly missing the troll's leg, and was out the door in seconds flat. She turned into a secluded alley and apparated right into the Ministry. She walked out of the Apparation room and straight to the lift. She was in there alone and repeatedly jammed the number two button, shouting obscenities at it. When the grilles finally opened, Tonks threw herself out of them. She passed Sherwood, a fellow Auror, and a dazed looking Dawlish having a whispered conversation in the hall, but ran straight for her desk, not caring about them.

"Smooth, Tonks. Very smooth," Kingsley muttered as he walked by after she'd sat down and pretended not to look flustered.


The day of work seemed endless. Scrimgeour had barked orders to them all about Dumbledore and his army. She'd hoped this wouldn't involve any more raids, as she wanted Christmas to be undisturbed. She had a picture in her mind of her, Lupin and Sirius spending Christmas together in Grimmauld Place; nothing was going to take that away from her. As it got dark outside, Tonks set off for her parents. She apparated right into the town centre and, pulling her cloak tighter around her, she trudged to her old house through half melted snow, with the icy winds whirling around her. She skidded on the ice a few times, but somehow managed to get to her parents unharmed. She knocked on the door. She could hear her mothers voice growing louder until finally the door opened.

"Happy Birthday dear!" She cried, pulling Tonks into a hug.

"Thanks Mum," Tonks mumbled into her shoulder.

Andromeda led the way inside and Tonks noticed her father was in his favourite chair by the crackling fire. His round face exploded with a smile as she walked in.

"Nymphadora!" He cried, jumping up and hugging her as well. "Happy birthday, love."

"Thanks Dad," she said when he let her go. "Thanks a bunch for that present you guys. I loved it! That Harpies game is going to be brilliant."

"No problem," Ted said as he sat back down and sipped on his mead.

Andromeda disappeared into the kitchen and Tonks could smell a roast cooking.

"So how's work?" Ted asked.

"It's alright. Bit boring at the moment though, we're just doing paperwork," Tonks told him, as she sat on the couch across from him.

"That'll change no doubt, when these lousy sods finally admit what's happening right under their noses. All this Dumbledore's Army nonsense. I'm positive Dumbledore has much better things to do with his time. They're all idiots and they run out government," Ted said, sounding very disenchanted.

"It'll be alright in the end I think. Eventually things have to come into the open and then they'll realise what they've been doing wrong," Tonks said, wondering what had gotten him so riled up about it. He wasn't that type of man.

"I suppose you're right. I hope so anyway. I don't know how long I can put up with that Fudge moron. I mean really–"

A loud voice from the kitchen interrupted Ted as he started on a rant.

"Dinner!"

The pair of them stood up and Ted smiled at his daughter as they stomped towards the kitchen. They piled their plates with food and walked into the dining room. Tonks grinned at the room. There were balloons tied to the chairs and a big happy birthday sign attached to one of the walls.

"Aw, you guys! You didn't have to do all this just for me," Tonks gushed as she put her plate down.

"Nonsense dear! We were happy too," Andromeda dismissed.

They began eating and after the mundane conversations about gardens and neighbours, Andromeda asked something else.

"So, how's the Order?"

"Brilliant! I mean, so far it's all a bit slow, but it'll pick up. The people in it are really good. Did you ever meet the Weasleys?" Tonks asked, looking at both her parents.

"I've heard of them of course. Is it the parents of those ones you were friendly with at Hogwarts?" Ted asked

"Yeah. Bill and Charlie's parents," Tonks told him.

"I had a bit to do with Arthur Weasley. He seemed like a nice chap," said Ted, spearing a piece of roast beef on his fork.

"I've never met his wife though, what's she like?" Andromeda enquired.

"Her names Molly, she's brilliant. She's a Prewett, Kingsley said. So you'd have known her brothers," Tonks told her.

"Gideon and Fabian?" Andromeda asked and Tonks nodded. "Oh Merlin, the Weasley family didn't need anymore red hair in there."

Ted and Andromeda laughed warmly and Tonks smiled at them both.

"How's Sirius?" Andromeda asked, her voice changing slightly.

"Uh, well, he's doing all right I guess. It's hard to tell sometimes. He seems to have fun when everyone is around but I don't know much about when we aren't, you know?" Tonks mumbled.

"I never believed it was possible for him to have done what they say he did. He brought James around here before and you'd swear they were brothers. It never made sense," Andromeda explained.

"It did seem a bit of a stretch. Makes sense that the Peter one was involved. Did we ever meet him?" Ted asked Andromeda.

"No. Sirius always said he was with his own family. Sirius was at James's those summers," Andromeda told them. "I wish he could come here for our Christmas party, but I suppose bringing in a wanted murderer wouldn't be the best way to greet your family this year, Ted."

Tonks's heart sank. She'd forgotten about her parents Christmas Eve party. They held it every year and it was usually something she looked forward to. But this year, she was looking forward to Christmas with one other person.

"I don't suppose Remus could make it could he? I always got on well with him, it'd be lovely to see him again," Andromeda asked, breaking Tonks from her thoughts.

She felt her scalp tingle. Her mother could not read minds, could she?

"What? You're not still unhappy with him are you?" Andromeda asked sounding exasperated.

"The quiet bloke? How on earth could you get shirty with him? He never spoke enough to cause any problems," Ted added, looking at Tonks.

"No, no, we're fine. I'll ask him." Tonks told her parents.

Tonks spent the night in her old bedroom. The next morning she went off to work after a huge breakfast made by her mother. She sat at her desk all day ignoring her work and getting lost in her thoughts. The more she thought about it the better the idea seemed, Remus could come to the Christmas party and then they could go back to Grimmauld Place to be with Sirius. Tonks felt her scalp tingle at the thought of a whole evening with just Lupin. She spent that night on guard duty thinking about exactly how it would go and planning how to ask him. All in all, it seemed like a perfect evening would go ahead. She was starting to feel like an excitable schoolgirl again, but this time she didn't care. When she returned home her presents had been stacked neatly on the table by the fire with a note on top.

Thought you might want these.
Hope work went well,
Remus.


The next Order meeting came and went without much cause for stress. Lupin looked very tired and shabby, which obviously meant a transformation had taken place between now and when they'd last seen each other. Tonks smiled at him during the meeting, to which he grimaced back, she mouthed 'stay' and he nodded in response. Tonks spoke to Molly until almost everyone had disappeared and when Molly did as well, Lupin strode over towards her.

"Yes?" He asked.

"Thanks for the lovely greeting. The, 'hello Tonks I've missed you ever so much,'" Tonks said, smiling at him

"Hello Tonks, I've missed you ever so much. Now, any particular reason you asked me to stay?" Lupin asked.

"Well, you see, my parents have this thing every Christmas Eve and my mum asked me to invite you. So, yeah," said Tonks, feeling slightly embarrassed.

"You mother asked me did she?" Lupin asked, sarcasm dripping from his words.

"Yes you git, my mum. I didn't want you there at all, it's all for her," Tonks joked back. "She did actually ask you though, I forgot about it until she did."

"Why doesn't that surprise me? As much as I would love to Tonks, I'm afraid I won't be here over Christmas," Lupin told her.

Tonks felt her stomach drop through the floor.

"What? Why?" Tonks asked.

"Dumbledore has me on a mission tracking Malfoy abroad," Lupin explained.

"Oh right, yeah, of course, Order stuff's important," Tonks mumbled and looked downwards.

"I'm sorry Tonks," said Lupin, grabbing her hand in his as they stood facing each other. "If it were up to me, I'd love to join you."

"Yeah, course," Tonks said, still looking down at the floor.

Lupin's head suddenly appeared in her line of vision; he'd obviously bent down in front of her. He was smiling at her apologetically.

"Tonks, I'm serious. Tell you what, I'll get you a fantastic Christmas gift, all right?" Lupin told her.

Tonks grimaced at him and he continued to stare at her, watching her for a sign of acceptance. She felt stupid for believing things could go perfectly for the two of them.

"Okay, but it better be a bloody great present!" Tonks said, finally smiling at him.

"Considering we're actually alone, surprisingly, and I have to leave in the next few days," Lupin paused and leaned forwards, kissing her on the lips. "Merry Christmas."

Tonks felt her scalp tingle and then she launched at him. He nearly fell from her force but he wrapped his arms around her and they kissed again, a lot more roughly than before. After what could have been days, they finally separated.

"Merry Christmas to you as well," Tonks told him, as he straightened out his clothes. "You better come back in one piece from this mission, or I'm going to kill you."

"That made no sense whatsoever, but I'll try my hardest," Lupin promised as he closed the door behind them.

Tonks felt no need to stay for dinner as she had a pile of work waiting for her at home. She kissed him very quickly again and hugged him, gripping onto him tighter than before.

"Be safe," she told him.

Then she left without looking back, knowing she'd never let him leave if she did.


The next two weeks were probably the dullest of the year. Work was still as boring as ever; even Kingsley's normal little visits to her cubicle didn't help. She had the odd guard duty, which was completely uninteresting. There had only been one Order meeting since Lupin's departure, which Tonks had heard was going smoothly. Sirius was as withdrawn and quiet as ever. She was missing talking to Lupin. It seemed to be so insignificant at the time, but now that he was gone she realised how much she truly missed speaking with him about anything. She didn't really have to worry about him being safe, as she knew he would be. Tonks went to bed one night a week or so before Christmas, very late. She'd spent all night at the Auror office catching up on paperwork and was very thankful her time off work for the holiday season started the next day.


Tonks awoke very suddenly that morning, as if something had woken her. She lay still for a moment wondering what had happened, when a loud banging echoed through her house. She jumped up and yanked on some jeans and a jumper before moving out into her living room She looked up at the clock, it was four in the morning, what on earth was going on? The door banged again.

"Nymphadora," growled a familiar voice.

"Moody?" Tonks asked sceptically

"Yes" he said impatiently.

Tonks immediately unbolted her door to find Moody on the other side looking dishevelled but alert. His face slowly grew angry as Tonks indicated for him to come him.

"How many times have I told you? Constant Vigilance!" Moody bellowed at her.

"Save it Moody. What are you doing here?" Tonks asked, feeling worried.

"How do you know I'm not a spy here to get information about the Order from you?" Moody growled at her.

"Because only you would turn up so early with something obviously important to tell me, yet still yell at me for my lack of security. What is going on?" Tonks asked again, panic bubbled at the thought of Lupin, was he okay?

"Arthur's been attacked on duty," Moody growled.

"What! How? Where?" Tonks asked, feeling shock and terror run through her body.

"He's still alive. It was close. But Voldemort's got a serpent doing his bidding now. It ran into Arthur who tired to put up a fight but it attacked him," Moody growled.

"He's sending a snake to look for the Prophecy?" Tonks asked, feeling confused

"Looks like it," Moody growled.

"How do we know all this?" Tonks asked.

"Potter saw it a few hours ago, Dumbledore said something about a funny dream or a vision. Seems a bit strange but Dumbledore told me to alert you as we'll be taking the Weasleys to St Mungo's to visit him in a few hours," Moody informed her.

"How did he have a vision? I thought he was a parstle mouth not a Seer?"

"It doesn't matter. The main concern is safety," Moody stated.

"I just don't understand. The snake attacked Arthur in front of the door to the Department, right? So how did it get in?" Tonks asked, still confused.

"We don't know, but Dumbledore will no doubt speak to the boy and he'll unravel it himself. We have to begin planning," Moody growled.

"How are we getting them out of Hogwarts before term ends?" Tonks asked.

"They're already out. Dumbledore sent them to Grimmauld Place immediately. Now, tomorrow, we'll travel by Underground I think–"

Moody and Tonks spent the next hour or so planning how to go about taking them to St Mungo's. Tonks got as much information from Moody as possible about Arthur. The story frightened her. It could easily have been her in that position, as she had Guard Duty the next night.


Tonks and Moody walked from her flat to Grimmauld Place later that morning. She gave Ginny a quick hug when they arrived and thanked her for the card for her birthday. Molly, Moody, Ginny, Harry, Ron, Fred, George and herself all made their way across London towards St Mungo's. Tonks was happy she was to be guarding Harry, as she'd been hoping to question him.

"There isn't any Seer blood in your family is there?" She asked, sitting next to him on the tube.

"No," Harry said, sounding a little bit insulted.

"No, no, I suppose it's not really a prophecy you're doing is it?" Tonks told him, "I mean you're not seeing the future you're seeing the present…it's odd, isn't it? Useful though…"

After getting off the train and walking for a while, they stopped in front of Purge & Dowse.

"Right," Tonks called out, "everyone ready?"

Tonks knew this place very well. She leaned up against the glass and looked directly at the ugliest mannequin.

"Wotcher, we're here to see Arthur Weasley." She told it, fogging up the glass with her warm breath.

The dummy nodded and beckoned for her, like usual. Tonks grabbed Ginny and Molly and they walked through the glass together. Tonks felt the usual walking through water feeling but it didn't bother her as much as it used to. She turned to see Ginny with a worried expression on her face.

"Weird sensation isn't it?" Tonks asked her with a grin.

"Yeah," Ginny agreed.

They followed Molly to the enquiries desk and Tonks turned back to see Moody bringing everyone else in. They were all staring around in wonder, Harry more than anyone. Tonks looked at the queue ahead of her, there was a wizard performing an on the spot jump as he spoke to the disgruntled receptionist, there was a small elderly wizard who didn't look ill at all, a woman holding onto a young girl by her ankles as she flapped around her head with newly sprouted wings and then there was them. Molly spoke to the receptionist as Tonks pointed out the girl with wings to Ginny, who stifled a laugh. Molly led the way along the ward and Tonks recognised some of the Healers as they smiled or waved. They finally reached Arthur's ward and Tonks hung back for a moment.

"We'll wait outside, Molly," Tonks said, "Arthur won't want too many visitors at once…it ought to be just family first."

Molly nodded and smiled weakly as Moody growled in approval of Tonks's idea. She watched as the Weasley's all filed in except Harry, who hung back with her and Mad-Eye. Molly pushed him into the doorway.

"Don't be silly Harry, Arthur wants to thank you," Tonks heard her say to him.

Tonks smiled and then turned to Mad Eye, whose eye was spinning around very quickly.

"Can't you slow it down? It's making me feel queasy," said Tonks.

"There are a lot of people here. I'm searching for Bode," Moody growled at her.

"What do you want with that miserable old sod?" Tonks asked.

"I just do. After what happened to him, Dumbledore has kept Kingsley on the lookout," Moody told her, his eye stopping for a moment.

"What happened to him?"

"You should know. He's the one that Malfoy supposedly imperised to get the prophecy," Moody growled at Tonks, his magical eye turning back to her.

"What! When was this? No one told me," Tonks said.

"A month or so ago. He cracked though which s part of their protection; Dumbledore believes this was one of Malfoys feeble attempts to steal it himself. Voldemort–" Tonks noticed the portraits on the wall across from the twitched involuntarily, "–obviously didn't know only the two of them could touch it." Moody finished

"That's horrible," was all Tonks could say.

The Weasley's eventually filed out and Molly beckoned Tonks and Moody in. Tonks walked into the small ward, which was quite gloomy compared to the rest of the Hospital. Arthur smiled brightly at the pair and Molly sat beside him, looking worried and very tired.

"How are you feeling?" Tonks asked instantly, standing at the end of his bed.

"I'm okay now. It was a bit worrying at the time. I don't remember much, I was doing a paper for work and then I must have dozed off. Next thing I know there was this great snake rearing up at me," Arthur explained.

Molly winced slightly at his story.

"What's Dumbledore done? Bill said something about searching the Department." Arthur asked, looking between Tonks and Moody.

"He sent out a search by Kingsley, who was luckily still in the Ministry." Moody started to say, but stopped as his eye rolled back into his head.

Tonks rolled her eyes and continued for him with the information Moody had told her that morning.

"Kingsley and Dawlish searched the whole area but couldn't find the snake anywhere. It seems to have vanished after it attacked you, Arthur…but You-Know-Who can't have expected a snake to get in, can he?"

"I reckon he sent it as a lookout," growled Moody, "cause he's not had any luck so far, has he? No, I reckon he's trying to get a clearer picture of what he's facing and if Arthur hadn't been there, the beast would've had a lot more time to look around. So Potter says he saw it all happen?"

"Yes," Molly said, looking far more uneasy and anxious than Tonks had seen her today. "You know, Dumbledore seems almost to have been waiting for Harry to see something like this."

"Yeah, well, there's something funny about that Potter kid, we all know that," Moody grunted.

"Dumbledore seemed worried about Harry when I spoke to him this morning," Molly whispered.

"Course he's worried," growled Moody. "The boy's seeing things from inside You-Know-Who's snake. Obviously Potter doesn't realise what that means, but if You-Know-Who's possessing him, and Dumbledore knew, then it would make sense as to why he kept him in the dark, wouldn't it?"

"Hang on Mad-Eye, no one's said anything like that just yet. You're right, it seems a bit strange that Harry saw something like that, but Dumbledore always speaks of a connection between the two of them," Arthur said shaking his head.

"The poor boy must be feeling horrible. Sirius informed me Harry's already gone to him all worried about it," Molly told them.

"If Dumbledore had an inkling about something like that he would have let us know. Dumbledore may have expected this but it still came as a surprise. I highly doubt he's being possessed, he couldn't have gotten Harry from Hogwarts and back in time," Tonks reasoned.

"Still, we will definitely need to watch the boy," Moody growled.

On the way back to Grimmauld Place, Tonks saw Harry looked very ill. She sat next to him, as she'd been told too, and couldn't help but notice how pale he'd gone or how clammy his skin had become. Molly tried asking him questions, but he deflected them and stared out the window. Tonks also noticed the other kids kept throwing frightened glances his way. When Tonks and Moody returned them to Grimmauld Place, Molly set to work on making dinner. Tonks sat down with Sirius and the rest of the Weasley's.

"Where's Harry?" Sirius asked immediately.

"Sleeping," Ron grunted, looking as pale as Harry had.

"He didn't seem very well on the train ride, so I sent him to bed," Molly added.

For a moment Sirius looked worried, but when he glanced at Tonks he smiled again.

"I think this place might need a bit of a festive spirit now that I have company for the season," Sirius said, leaning back in his chair.

"What about Professor Lupin? I thought he'd be here," Ginny asked.

Sirius smiled across at Tonks before speaking. Ginny glanced at Tonks as well, but she looked confused.

"He's away at the moment," Sirius told Ginny.

"You know, you can say Order business and it still won't give anything away," said Ginny darkly.

Sirius merely laughed at her.


When dinner was over and the children had long since disappeared, Molly turned to Sirius.

"Any news while we were away?"

"Dumbledore spoke to me through the fire, he said to watch Harry, but he should be fine. He's dealt with Umbridge and so far the Ministry is denying anything happened, so Arthur can't be prosecuted," said Sirius.

Molly sighed in relief and then sipped her steaming mug of tea. Sirius leant back on his chair, resting his hands on the top of his head before flashing a grin towards Tonks.

"He's bringing back the members abroad as well. Lupin should be back for Christmas now. Dumbledore wants more members close-by." Sirius said, in deliberate casual voice.

Tonks suppressed a very large grin that was attempting to break on her face. She finished her tea and then left the house, apparating back to her own. Her face broke into a very big smile.


Tonks stayed at home for the next few days, receiving owls almost daily from members of the Order keeping her updated on Arthur or plans for the first meeting of the New Year. She pent two days walking around Diagon Alley searching for presents for everyone, including her parents. When she finally bought them, she gave Harry, Hermione's and the Weasley's to Sirius to give them out on Christmas Day. She popped in to Grimmauld Place occasionally for dinner, mainly in the hope the Lupin would be there, but he wasn't. She was beginning to wonder if Sirius was lying. Sirius was by far the happiest Tonks had ever seen him. He was singing carols and putting up decorations, even he and Molly were getting on well. She spent all of Christmas Eve day at her parents house, helping them get ready for the party. As the sun set, she flooed home to get ready herself.


Tonks showered and put on the dress her mother had chosen for her. It wasn't really to her taste, low cut at the back and resting just above the knee, but she didn't mind it too much, as it was bright red. A knock echoed through her flat. Instantly the panic bubbled over in her stomach. Ever since Moody had come to her door it felt like she had been keeping panic at bay. She kept waiting for someone to come to her and inform her that something had gone wrong and Lupin was gravely injured as well. She stared at her front door for a moment and felt her scalp tingle, no doubt from anxiety. Slowly she walked towards the door, her hands starting to sweat. She gripped her hand on the doorknob and froze again, before deciding there was nothing she could do if bad news arrived on her doorstep. She opened the door and nearly fell over from shock.

"Hi," said a hoarse voice Tonks had nearly forgotten was so beautiful to hear.

"Hi," Tonks said breathlessly, knowing her mouth was agape.

Lupin leaned forwards and kissed her on the cheek

"You look – ah – beautiful. How, I mean, where did you get that dress? " He stuttered awkwardly, his eyes raking her.

"My mum gave it to me," she answered, a smile the size of Australia filling her face.

"May I come in?" Lupin asked.

Tonks nodded, feeling her delight double when he walked inside. He stopped just near the fire.

"I hope I remembered the night correctly but going off how wonderfully you're dressed, I did," Lupin explained.

"I don't understand," Tonks stated.

"Your parents Christmas party, Tonks," Lupin said condescendingly.

"You git, I know that. But why are you here? I thought you couldn't make it. Sirius said you'd be back later," Tonks explained.

"Dumbledore informed me I needed to return–"

"I know – oh forget it," Tonks interuppted.

She ran over to him and wrapped her arms around his middle and he laughed before doing the same. She noticed that he had a box in his hand.

"What's that?" She asked as they pulled back.

"A present for your mother. You never turn up to a Christmas party empty handed Tonks, it's rude," he explained, smiling at her.

Tonks glared at him and then moved off into the bedroom to get her shoes. It wasn't until she got in there she actually realised how real the situation was. He was back and they were going to have the evening Tonks had long since planned and then forgotten with sadness. When she returned Lupin was still standing where she'd left him. He smiled at her again.

"Heels? That's new. I think it's the first time I've seen you without those silly converse things on your feet."

Tonks ignored his comment.

"I think we should get moving," she said, indicating towards the fire.

"After you, of course," Lupin said, smiling at her.

He was unusually cheery and Tonks didn't know why he was, but she liked it nonetheless even if it was a little bit unnerving. Tonks stepped into the fire and said her parent's address out loud. The world spun around her and then she stepped out of the fire in her parent's bedroom. She looked around, confused as to why she ended up at this fireplace and not downstairs, but then remembered her father's family were here. Displays of magic did not bother them, but her parents found it better to keep it at a minimum with them. With a flash of green, Lupin stepped out of the fire, wiping ash off himself. Tonks watched him as he looked around the room, taking it in. She could hear the noise coming from downstairs and by the sounds of it; the party was in full swing.

"Shall we join them?" Lupin asked, sounding slightly awkward when Tonks just stared at him.

"I still don't get it. Why are you here? Why are you so chirpy?" Tonks asked.

Lupin took a few steps towards her and glanced at the closed door.

"First of all, you asked me to come this evening if I'm not mistaken, and secondly, do I need a reason to be chirpy all of a sudden? Lupin asked, the grin on his face still contradicting his usual nature.

"For normal people, no. For you, yes," Tonks said.

Lupin merely laughed and looked down at her.

"I'm happy to be in your company. Is that a good enough reason?" He asked sarcastically.

"Maybe," Tonks said, looking at him through suspicious eyes.

Tonks heard footsteps getting louder and the door burst open. Andromeda clocked the two of them of standing in the room close together, but before she could pass judgement, Lupin stepped towards her.

"Hi, Andromeda, it's lovely to see you again. Thank you for inviting me," Lupin said, sounding slightly more like his old self again.

"Hi Remus," Andromeda said, sounding very surprised, "Nymphadora, I thought you said he wasn't coming."

"He wasn't," Tonks grunted and Lupin smiled at her.

"Change of plans," Lupin explained politely.

"Well, come downstairs you two," Andromeda said, eyeing them off again.

Tonks walked out first while Lupin and her mother spoke all the way down the stairs. There was the usual level of loud chattering in the living room. Tonks's family stood, each with glasses filled with their respective drink choices, gathered around talking merrily. There was a collective cheer as she walked in. Tonks turned to look at Lupin and was relieved to find he looked nervous and self-conscious. That was the Lupin she remembered. One of her father's cousins was the first to come over. He was a very round man with a bristly little toothbrush moustache.

"Nymphadora," he boomed, grabbing her and giving her a very wet sloppy kiss on the cheek.

"Hi Frank, Merry Christmas," Tonks said sounding slightly strained.

"Whose this chap," he asked, looking at Lupin who stood at Tonks's shoulder.

"Remus Lupin," Tonks told him. "Remus this is Frank."

The pair shook hands.

"Evening Sir," Remus said politely.

"Is this your boyfriend, Nymphadora," He asked, examining Lupin.

An awkward moment set upon Tonks. She hadn't even decided this herself, what on earth was she supposed to say to a cousin she didn't really like that much.

"Uh, well, it's um – er – he's a colleague," Tonks stuttered.

"Oh wonderful," he said.

Soon after he had moved off to annoy someone else, Lupin, who was still standing behind her, leaned over her shoulder and spoke into her ear quietly.

"So I'm merely a colleague am I?"

Tonks didn't turn around but looked across at his face

"What did you want me to say?"

"I don't know," he said, smiling. "I suppose colleague is reasonable. Friend may have been better or even–"

He deliberately stopped speaking and Tonks rolled her eyes.

"I'm getting a drink. Enjoy my family Remus," she said, walking off into the crowd, leaving Lupin standing there smiling at her.

Each relative took their time coming up to her and saying hello and commenting on her bright green hair. She managed to get herself a glass of what she thought was mead but turned out to be Muggle red wine, which wasn't half bad. Eventually, after an hour or so of family greetings, Tonks found her way over to her father.

"Hi Dad. Merry Christmas," she said to him as he kissed her on the cheek.

"Big turn out this year," he commented taking them all in. "So that's the Remus chap, correct?"

"Yeah, that's him."

"Looks a little different. Older I suppose," Ted said.

Tonks winked over at Lupin who looked very worried as he stood next to Great Aunt Barbra. She watched as he excused himself and made his way over.

"Good Evening Mr. Tonks," He said shaking Ted's hand as he joined them.

"Please Remus, it's Ted. You seem to be enjoying Barbra's company," Ted said grinning at him.

"Uh, yes, she's a…lovely woman," Lupin mumbled.

"You had better not be speaking about me," Andromeda said loudly as she joined the small group.

"No mum, Aunt Barbra. Did she bring anyone a gift this year?"

"What do you think?" Ted asked raising his eyebrows.

"On that note. Here," Lupin said, giving Andromeda the small package he'd been holding all night. "It's a gift from Sirius and I."

"Oh Remus, you didn't have too!" Andromeda cooed, taking it from him.

Ted was called away before Andromeda could finish unwrapping it. What she pulled out was a photo frame that inside had a few people smiling and waving out of it.

"I remember this day. I can't believe he still had this. I thought it would have been thrown out or lost," Andromeda exclaimed, staring at it smiling.

"I had forgotten about it until Sirius brought it out and showed me," Lupin explained, smiling knowingly at Tonks.

"What is it?" Tonks asked.

Andromeda gave her the frame and then turned to keep talking to Lupin. Tonks stared at the people. She instantly recognised her parents and then spotted a very young, perhaps only three or four year old version of herself, her long violet hair standing out like a sore thumb. With a smile she recognised the man holding her was Sirius. He was grinning much like he had been the last few days. He looked so much fuller and brighter than she'd ever seen him. With a gasp she realised who the other man was. He stood half behind Sirius with an awkward smile and shabby robes. It was Lupin.

"You knew me as a kid?" Tonks asked, interrupting Andromeda and Lupin.

"Well I know you now, so yes," Lupin joked.

Tonks bumped into him lightly with her shoulder.

"Yes, I knew you. Well I don't exactly remember, Sirius told me about that day when he found it," Lupin explained.

"I remember Sirius, I don't remember you. Clearly you're very forgettable Remus," Tonks said, grinning at him.

"Oh thank-you," He quipped.

"Were you still just as much of a git then as you are now?" Tonks asked playfully.

"Again, thank-you," Lupin said, smiling at her. "Your insults truly are heart warming."

"I learned from the best obviously," said Tonks, indicating the picture.

"If by that you happen to mean Sirius, I must say you have been poorly misinformed. He is as good with wit as he was in transfiguration," Lupin joked again, making Tonks really wonder what had gotten into him.

"I suppose you were top of the class?" Tonks asked.

"Yes, as a matter of fact I was," Lupin said proudly.

"Funny, I would have thought your best would have been Care of magical Creatures, considering you are one," Tonks told him, grinning.

Lupin laughed.

"So, we have not only insulted my intelligence but now–"

Lupin continued on but neither had actually noticed that Andromeda was still there, eyeing the pair of them with great interest. Her eyebrows were raised as her eyes crossed between the pair. She had a small smile on her face as if she knew what the rest of that night would entail for the pair, long before they ever would.

To be continued…