Professor Dumbledore stood outside of The Burrow, taking in his surroundings. A faint smile touched his lips; he had always loved the house, it gave off a warm feeling of family life, even from the outside. The morning was fresh, in great contrast to the previous evening. Ever patient, Dumbledore refused to knock again. With a family as big as the Weasleys it was likely at least one person was in. He turned to his companions, smiling apologetically. The sound of the door being opened caused him to turn back around.

"Ah Molly, good morning. I was wondering if I could come in and have a chat with Harry." Molly Weasley smiled at Dumbledore fondly. She wore one of a variety of aprons and her red hair was up in a scarf. Noticing Dumbledore's two followers, she hesitated before opening the door wide for them.

"Of course."

Remus Lupin and Lady Thompson followed Dumbledore into the kitchen. Molly didn't give them a second glance as she shut the door behind them. The kitchen was small but cosy. A long wooden table stood in the centre of the room, taking up the majority of the space. The occupants of the room looked up at the new arrivals. Nymphadora Tonks lowered her mug from her lips to whisper something to Charlie Weasley. He simply shook his head and gave her a warning glance. Fred Weasley was also in the kitchen, eating his breakfast. A spoonful of cereal hovered precariously in front of his face as he watched the three people enter the kitchen.

"Fred, would you mind if we had a moment alone," Dumbledore asked him. Fred's spoon lowered back into his bowl with a chink and he pushed it to the centre of the table. He got up noisily, making no attempt to hide his annoyance, and trundled up the wooden steps. Dumbledore then turned back around to Molly, who was watching Remus and Lady carefully.

"Molly, would you please fetch Harry."

"I'll see if he's awake," she said curtly and followed her son up the stairs. Tonks took the opportunity to talk.

"What's she doing here?" she asked Dumbledore, but her eyes were fixed on Lady.

"Dora," Charlie said quietly in warning. Remus, who had been avoiding any glares by staring at the floor, had looked up on hearing this. Dora? He wasn't exactly sure what that implied but it gave him a little pang of jealousy and he didn't like it. He noticed a large blue bruise down the side of Tonks' face and looked away. Harry's approaching footsteps broke the silence. He swung off the wooden banister with one arm and stopped abruptly as he saw the situation in front of him.

"What's she doing here?" he asked, echoing Tonks' question. Dumbledore merely smiled at the boy.

"Sit down please, Harry." Harry did as he was told and Dumbledore joined him, as did Lupin and Lady. Silence fell once more, and glances were given across the table. It was an unbearable situation. Dumbledore spoke first.

"Would anyone care to explain what happened last night?" No one looked up, let alone replied. "Tonks?" Dumbledore said her name questioningly.

"What?" she asked, sharper than she had intended. Dumbledore just raised his eyebrows at her. She sneered at Lady. "Why don't you ask her?"

"I'm asking you." When Tonks refused to answer, the Headmaster let a sigh escape through his lips. "Tonks, were you aware that Lady was in the Grimmauld Place yesterday?" Tonks shook her head.

"No," she said quietly.

"And were you aware that Remus was also in the house?"

"No," she said, louder this time, her annoyance showing through.

"Were you even aware that it was a full moon last night?"

"No! Ok? I wasn't!" she cried exasperatedly. "Am I being blamed for this?"

"No one is being blamed for anything, Tonks." Dumbledore's voice remained calm and it frustrated her. She sat back in her seat and folded her arms across her chest. She felt like she was back at school, in yet another detention.

"Then I can only assume that it was a misunderstanding," Dumbledore said eventually. Tonks gave a sarcastic huff. "You don't agree, Tonks? Perhaps you'd like to share your theory." Tonks really didn't want that at all. She glanced over at Remus who looked half dead. She felt an enormous pang of guilt. It was quickly replaced with anger as she saw a smirk rise on Lady's bruised face.

"Yeah, I have a theory, but I don't think you'll like it."

"Tonks –" Harry began. She had clearly been talking to him during the night, for he looked concerned. She held a hand up, cutting him off.

"This is what I think happened, and jump in any time I'm going off-track, ok Lady?" she glared at the woman, who refused to break the stare. Tonks directed her entire accusation to the woman.

"Here's what I think, and I've been thinking of nothing else all night, believe me. I think you sneaked into Grimmauld Place late yesterday afternoon, without us knowing. You knew Harry was going to be there and that he couldn't Apperate yet. Last night was your last chance; the last full moon before Harry took his Apperation Exam. You transformed in the house, without sedation, in the hope that you would kill Harry. And possibly me, I don't know," she added as an after thought. "That's my theory on what happened. But if you're looking for why's," she turned to Dumbledore, "then I have no idea." Lady hadn't reacted once throughout Tonks' speech. She leant forward on her elbows and stared at Tonks.

"That's a nice piece of fiction you've got there, Dora." Tonks was furious. She stood up, knocking her chair backward in the process and banged the wooden table causing Fred's discarded bowl to jump an inch or two in the air.

"How can you say that!" she screamed at her. Then she lowered her voice but not by much. "Harry, come here." Harry who had been listening intently but wanted to stay well out of the conversation, began to object.

"Er, Tonks I –"

"Come here, Harry." As he neared her, she grabbed his wrist and dragged him to Lady's side of the table. Up close, her facial injuries looked exceptionally painful but Tonks felt no guilt. She wrenched Harry's arm closer to Lady's face and rolled up his sleeve causing him to wince. Lady could see a deep wound on the boy's forearm. Blood had dried around the edge, but it was obviously recent.

"Did you do that?" Tonks demanded.

"Tonks…" Charlie was silenced by a glower.

"Did you! Do you even know? Well let me tell you, you did. You did this to him. You could have killed him!" she shouted at her. Lady simply looked from Harry's arm back to the young witch, her expression blank. "Do you even care?" Tonks asked cynically.

"No," the woman admitted and Tonks turned to Dumbledore.

"See!"

"You have no idea what's going on, Dora," Lady spoke up. "You couldn't possibly understand. Why would you? You've been accepted you're entire life."

"Don't go assuming things about me, Lady. You have no idea."

"I think you need to calm down," Dumbledore said to Tonks, causing her to take a few deep breaths.

"You've never liked me, Tonks. Not from the moment we first met," Lady pushed. Tonks clenched her jaw in anger but refused to say anything. "Well I'm not so keen on you either. Don't think I don't know what you are, girl. You're a Black aren't you!" Harry spoke before anyone else had the chance.

"What exactly is that supposed to mean?" he said angrily.

"Forget it, Harry. Come on, we're leaving." Tonks grabbed Harry's wrist again, like he was a wandering toddler in a large store, and headed for the stairs.

"You're so shallow. It bothers you because of what I am," Lady called after her. She spun to retaliate.

"What you are…is a lying bitch!" Tonks hissed.

"That's enough," Dumbledore said firmly, rising from his seat. "Tonks, sit back down please." Tonks did so, glowering as she went. She felt Remus' eyes on her but she didn't dare meet them. She was afraid what he might think of her. She was also afraid how she truly felt about him. Did she hate him too?

"I'd just like to say," Charlie spoke up, to their surprise. "I'd like to say that I agree with Tonks." Tonks looked as if she could have kissed Charlie. In fact, if it weren't for the dire situation she probably would have. Dumbledore simply nodded and moved away from the table. Remus and Lady followed suit.

"And you're ok, Harry?" Dumbledore asked as he reached the door. Harry nodded. "Good, good. Well we'd best be off then. Give my best to Molly." With that, they had gone.

Once they were back at Grimmauld Place, Tonks, Harry and Remus spent most of the day in their rooms avoiding each other. Harry had to admit to himself, as he worked on an essay for Snape, that it wasn't exactly the half term he had been expecting. Tonks had been irritable all day, even with him. Harry wished she would calm down; he was beginning to get a headache and could only imagine how an ailing Remus must be feeling. Tonks eventually did cheer up. She had opened a packet of pear drops and told herself that she wouldn't be satisfied until they were all gone. Sucking on a sweet and carrying a valued cup of tea (it had taken a while to make due to the state of the kitchen) she was making her way back upstairs to her room when she heard a moan from the drawing room. She poked her head round the door and saw Remus sprawled out on one of the long sofas, covered in an old blanket. He had spotted her too. Tonks knew she couldn't walk out now, as he would know she was avoiding him. She held her head high and made her way into the room.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I live here," he sat up, managinga reply. She gave a sharp sigh.

"Yes I know that. I mean here." She waved her arms above the sofa in gesture. "You should be in bed. You look like shit, Remus." Although he was not entirely pleased by her words, he gave her a smile anyway. "Here, I brought you some tea." A lie, but she guessed he needed it more than she did. She sat down next to him, and he looked surprised. She got out her bag of pear drops and popped one into her mouth. Remus swallowed and closed his eyes, smelling the fruity aroma and feeling his stomach churn.

"Please don't eat them in front of me," he mumbled. She gave him an apologetic look.

"Sorry." She put the bag away.

"Do you hate me, Nymphadora?" he asked suddenly. Tonks didn't know what to say. She frowned and gave a dismissive laugh.

"No silly," Remus didn't think he had ever been called silly in his life. "Of course not."

"It's just, after last night –"

"It would be really great if we could forget last night," she admitted. Remus wanted nothing more, but he knew it would be a long time before he forgot. He still thought of the first time he had endangered Harry's life.

"What if I'd hurt him, Tonks? Or you. What if I'd killed you both?"

"But you didn't."

"I could have, Nymphadora, and you know it." Tonks must have seen the pain in his eyes, for she leant forward and kissed him on the cheek.

"What was that for?" She gave a shrug.

"TONKS!" Harry's voice called from upstairs. She turned towards the door but didn't get up.

"WHAT?" she yelled back. Remus winced. His head was already pounding enough.

"WHERE'S MY TRANSFIGURATION BOOK?" Tonks decided to get up this time.

"Where did you leave it?" she asked from the door. There was a pause. "Try the study, if it's not in there then I don't know where it is." She walked back to her seat. Remus was smiling at her. "What?"

"You really care about him, don't you?"

"Of course. Who doesn't?" Remus gave a sigh and looked at his hands.

"Nymphadora, I can't do this. I can't look after him," he admitted to her. "He doesn't need me, we barely see each other as it is. And you're doing a great job with him. Maybe it's best if I'm not in his life at all."

"Remus, you're being silly again." She took his hands and put them in her lap. "He needs you more than anyone, more than me. How do you think he'd take it if you just upped and left? It would break his heart."

"You really think so?"

"I know so. Plus, I kinda like having you around," she smiled at him. "You're an incredible man, Remus and I really wish you would see that. You have no idea how much you mean to me, and to Harry. Just remember that we…"

"TONKS!"

"WHAT?" she yelled in annoyance. This time Remus gave a little laugh.

"WHERE'S MY WAND?"

"KITCHEN?"

"NO!" Tonks got up again, and huffed to the door.

"Harry, is it in you're pocket?" Remus heard the boy give a little laugh. "There you go!" She moved towards the sofa again, laughing and shaking her head.

"Seriously, he'll start calling me Mum soon if I'm not careful." Remus smiled. He seemed to hesitate over something.

"Do you… do you want to have children?"

"Why? You offering?" Remus' blush was more obvious on his very pale face. "Relax Remus. Haven't given it much thought to be honest. Dunno. Would be nice I suppose. We'll see." Silence fell between them and Tonks gave a nervous laugh to break it.

"Well, I'd better go sort the kitchen out, it's a state."

"I'll do it, Nymphadora." She shook her head firmly.

"No way. I want you to go to bed now, and stay there."

"Tonks." Harry's voice came again, this time from the doorway. "Oh, hi Remus." The grin he offered the man made Remus' heart lighten immensely. "Was gonna do something for tea, what do you reckon? Macaroni Cheese?"

Tonks heard rather than saw Remus retch. It was followed by the splatter of liquid onto the floor and a groan. Tonks closed her eyes, feeling slightly nauseous herself from the smell, and ran a hand over her forehead wearily.

"Harry, go to the kitchen. I'll meet you down there." She opened her eyes to see Remus wiping his mouth on the back of his hand.

"Like I said, Lupin, you're an incredible man."

"I am so sorry," he mumbled. She gave a laugh and pointed her wand on the floor and cleaned it in an instant, though the smell remained.

"No probs, what are friends for? Bed. Now!" she ordered and she helped the man off the sofa and up the stairs.

"I could get used to this," he joked.

"Well, don't," she retorted. "Sleep well." She closed the door behind her.

As she made her way up to bed that evening, she opened the door before her own on the corridor to find Remus fast asleep. She smiled to herself and leant over him as if he were a child. Kissing him gently on the forehead she whispered "You silly man," before getting into bed and thinking about the werewolf next door.

A/N: In a few chapters time, this story is gonna take a dramatic turn. The chapters are already written and I'm so excited that I'm almost peeing myself. In fact, you'll have yo excuse me ...