"You realise you're being en arse, don't you?"

"Excuse me?" Tonks' answer was too fast, too ready. She had been dreading somebody would notice, and maybe even confront her and she had not been mistaken when supposing Sirius might be the first one. However, she was not going to give up that easily. Pretending to continue reading the report on the table in front of her she tried to sound nonchalant. "What are you talking about?"

From Sirius' side of the table came a loud thud. Tonks raised her head; he hadput his mug on the table violently and now he was glaring at her.

"I'm talking about you, being a complete arse with Remus. I want to know why."

There was not a trace of her funny, impatient cousin in the calm anger irradiating from Sirius. From across the table, he was looking daggers at her. Tonks had never thought it possible, after getting to know him, but now she was scared.

"I am not being an arse; I'm just… keeping my distance," she replied.

"And why would you do such a thing, seeing that you two were getting along very well?"

"That's none of your business," she murmured, trying to hide a hint of insecurity in her voice.

"It is my bloody business if somebody is being a prat to a very nice person for no reason, especially since that person happens to be my friend. And more so if he is noticing it and being affected by your stupid behaviour!"

Sirius crossed his arms and kept glaring at Tonks. She was at a loss of what to say.

Didn't he know? He surely doesn't, otherwise he would understand… or maybe not…

"Let's just say," she said slowly, "I don't think he's such a nice person."

"Oh really?" Sirius asked arching an eyebrow, sarcasm filling every word. "And why does the Auror think so?"

Maybe he didn't know. Maybe Remus hadn't told him, and then…

If Sirius was not aware of Remus' lycanthropy, she was not going to be the one filling in the blanks. Remus Lupin was indeed a Dark Creature but she was not going to reveal what he… it… really was.

"I have my reasons."

"I have my reasons." Sirius replied mocking her, anger still edged in his expression.

Tonks decided to ignore him and continued reading her report, even though it was now impossible for her to understand any of it. She could sense Sirius' glare still on her and it was making her feel extremely uncomfortable. She was certain she would not be able to take it any longer, so she started considering taking the report home and finishing it there. There was no point on staying in Grimmauld with such an angry Sirius.

Suddenly he spoke again.

"I do hope this has nothing to do with that full moon problem of his."

Tonks raised her head so quickly her bones cracked. Sirius was looking at her fixedly, with an intensity that went beyond anger.

"What are you…? How did you…? Do you know…?" she managed to whisper.

"Of course I know! I've shared a dorm with the bloke for seven years, haven't I?"

Now it was her turn to get angry. All this time, all those Order meetings, all that information being passed in front of the Dark Creature, and Sirius knowing the whole time what he was, what they were risking, the dangers they could all face every time they let Remus Lupin among them.

"You've known all along," Tonks' voice was very steady now, low and full of fury. "You've known what he is, the risk he poses to us, to every member of the Order, to the missions…"

"Shut your face! He's no threat to anybody but to himself once a month!" Sirius rose from the chair and Tonks did the same; knocking hers over in the process and making it collide loudly with the stone floor.

"He's a bloody werewolf, for Merlin's sake!" she said, clutching he wand at the ready, trying to decide if she should draw it or not.

"I know he is!"

"And you kept that quiet? You've known all along that he is a threat, a menace, a… a… a Dark Creature and you haven't told us a thing?"

"Why would I, if that would mean hearing this kind of crap from narrow-minded idiots like yourself!"

"Don't you call me a… don't call me that!" Tonks anger was now beyond words, she was almost stuttering.

"Oh! Would you prefer arrogant prejudiced elitist?" Sirius was not yelling anymore; it was difficult to decide what kind of emotion was ringing in his words now.

Both remained silent for a while.

She had trusted him, both of them, she had been tricked to believe the cousin from her childhood was back, she had being convinced to trust another man, someone who seemed to be kind, witty and gentle, and who was in fact…

"Did you really think, even for an instant, that you were the only one knowing he's a werewolf?" Sirius continued with contempt in his voice.

"What do you mean?"

"Think about it. Merlin! And I thought you Aurors were supposed to be smart. Here is a tip off for you, girl. Everybody knows. We have all known about his lycanthropy all along!"

Sirius resumed his sit with a deep sigh and Tonks loosed the grip on her wand, she was flabbergasted. And yet, it all made sense: Kingsley was in charge of Sirius' case, it would be the least he could do to make some research on his acquaintances, especially considering that Remus had been there the night Sirius escaped; and Moody… well, it would be no surprise at all if he knew; and, of course Dumbledore… Right now it was not only the matter of her relationship with Remus, but also the fact that, from a bunch of people, she was actually the one that had been missing a very important piece of information all along.

Moody, you'd be proud of me. So much for 'constant vigilance'.

After a moment, she approached the report she was working on and start rolling the pieces of parchment. She was going home.

"I thought you were different," her cousin finally said.

Tonks looked at him confused; he didn't look angry anymore, just… sad, and disappointed.

"There is nothing prejudiced concerning what I think about Lupin," Tonks whispered unconvincingly, looking at the parchment again.

"Really? Then, what do you know about him that makes you behave like this?"

"I know he's a werewolf."

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

Tonks dropped the parchment on the table and sat in front of Sirius sighing with annoyance. Even though she really wanted to go home, she realised now he would not leave her alone until he got some answers, and she did not doubt he would go to any length to get them.

"How long have you been in Azkaban?" she asked rhetorically, as if she were peaking to a particularly dumb kid, "what's the matter with all of you? Werewolves are Dark Creatures, they are dangerous, they can't be trusted, they…" the image of a small boy came to her mind. A small boy, covered with blood emanating from several wounds. A boy that was now dead. "They hurt, and kill, and contaminate innocent children. They are foul creatures, Sirius." Her voice was now positively quivering.

"And why, if they are as bad as you say and if you were convinced nobody else knew, didn't you report the Order that Remus is a werewolf when you found out?"

There was a moment of silence.

"I…"

Tonks looked at Sirius for a long moment. Certainly, she had not reported him.

Why though?