A/N: In this chapter we wave goodbye to our good friend Charlie Weasley. But do not fret, he will return in later chapters. I feel such a bitch, it's not that I don't like Charlie, I just like Remus more :)

Remus arrived back at Grimmauld Place feeling light hearted at Harry's recent words. He shook his head slightly as the house appeared before him, and climbed the stone steps. He closed the door quietly, not wanting to wake Mrs Black's sleeping portrait. Remus headed for the kitchen and hesitated as he heard voices below. Something in their tones made him stop. It was Tonks and Charlie.

"How did you expect me to take it, Dora?" Remus heard the young man say, his tone harsh. There was a slight pause before Tonks answered in a voice so quiet that Remus could barely hear her.

"I don't know Chas, I'm sorry. I had to tell you though." Remus cringed and thought to move, but curiosity caused him to stay and listen.

"Well I wish youhadn't!" Charlie shouted.

"You don't mean that Charlie. What, would you rather I lied to you? Kept quiet?"

"I'd rather you didn't go around kissing other guys behind my back, Dora. That's what I really want." Remus heard Tonks give a sob and realised she was crying. He felt guilt fill him.

"Do you love him?" Charlie's abrupt question caused Remus' mouth to drop. Did he really want to hear her answer? Too late, for she answered quickly.

"No," a pause and then, "I…I don't know. I'm so sorry Charlie." Silence filled the kitchen and Remus was very aware of the fact that he was breathing loudly and hoped that they couldn't hear.

"You know what…fine Dora, forget it! Forget us! I don't have to put up with this, you know?"

"I know," she whimpered.

"And what hurts the most is that you could speak to him when something was bothering you. You went to him and not me. The kiss…that I could get over. You said it meant nothing –"

"It did mean nothing!"

" – But you've been acting so weird recently, and Kingsley said you've been ill but I wasn't allowed to see you. Then you started drinking… What's really going on Dora?" he demanded. Remus half expected Tonks to confess all to Charlie. Would he understand? Probably, he mused, he cares a lot about her.

"Charlie … I can't tell you. You wouldn't understand." Tonks' voice sounded small and frail, as if she was about to break.

"But you could tell Remus! Did he understand?" Tonks had no reply. Charlie gave a bitter laugh. "That's just great. Well, see you around Dora. I'm off to Romania. Thanks for making that decision so much easier for me!" Remus heard the scraping of a chair.

"No Charlie, please don't go. I love you."

"And I loved you too, Dora," Charlie's voice said quietly. Tonks gave another sob. Remus heard footsteps on the stairs and moved out of sight, not wanting to get involved in the conflict.

"I hope you're happy Dora. You and your werewolf."

Charlie left the house, slamming the door as he went. Mrs Black awoke with a wail.

Remus contemplated closing the curtains over the portrait, then contemplated going down to comfort Tonks. He decided to do neither, and climbed the stairs to his room leaving Mrs Black to shriek and a broken hearted witch to cry alone.


When Remus entered the kitchen that afternoon he found Tonks sat there alone and guessed she hadn't moved. Tonks was absentmindedly fingering an empty glass in front of her. She looked up as he entered, then lowered her head back down to the table, wiping her face quickly with a hand.

"You ok?" he asked timidly.

"No," she said shortly. Remus stayed by the stairs, not wanting to invade her misery.

"Go away," she mumbled to the table, but he did not move.

"Nymphadora –" The sound of her name angered her. She cut him short by throwing her empty glass at him. It missed, but shattered on the wall close by. He flinched but didn't react otherwise. This frustrated her more. Finding nothing else to throw on the table in front of her, she shouted out and banged both fists on the table. Her shoulders rose and fell with sobs. Remus crossed to her.

"Nymphadora –"

"Stop it!" she hissed. "Just piss off!" She hit the table again for the final time before throwing her head into her arms. Tonks thought Remus had left until she felt him sit beside her. He stroked her back and she gave a shuddered breath.

"I'm so sick of this Remus," she admitted. "I'm so sick of crying all the time! This isn't me. I hate it. I hate this war. I hate this fucking Order … and more than anything I hate myself! I've messed things up so bad." She fell silent again, expecting Remus to disagree.

"Yeah, you're right," he said and she sobbed a laugh.

"Mamma was right, I shouldn't be here. If I had left with her none of this would have happened. I thought I could cope but I can't. I shouldn't be here," she repeated. Remus looked at her intently but she refused to meet his gaze.

"Remus, I'm going to Canada."

"You can't go to Canada Tonks, that's absurd."

"Why is it? What have I got to stay for?"

"Your job, Harry … me." This made Tonks smile but she shook her head.

"Say I did stay, it's only a matter of time before Auror come sniffing around suspecting something. No, I should leave now before it's too late."

Remus rose from beside her. He headed for the stairs and turned to look back at her. She thought he was angry, but on seeing his eyes she realised he was sad and troubled.

"If that's what you want Nymphadora, I can't stop you. Just promise me you'll sleep on it first." She gave him a reluctant nod.

"Ok, I'll sleep on it."

He nodded in return and climbed the stairs.

"Remus," she called after him and he stopped. "Thanks."

"For what?"

"For understanding." Remus wasn't sure that he did understand but he offered her a smile and left the room.


That evening Kingsley Shacklebolt arrived looking for Tonks. He seemed agitated and she knew what he wanted to talk about; Bellatrix Lestrange.

"You're in serious trouble," he announced as he entered the drawing room.

"I know."

"No, I don't think you do. They are talking in the office. So far it's just rumours and gossip but it won't be long until the truth comes out what happened with Lestrange." He noticed Tonks was trembling slightly but continued nonetheless. "Mad-Eye suspects, of course. In fact he probably knows but he has sense to keep quiet. I Obliviated the wizard that found the knife with you're fingerprints on, I only hope that's enough to keep you out of Azkaban."

"I don't care anymore, Kingsley. I really don't care! Let them know the truth, let them put me in Azkaban. I deserve it." Kingsley stood staring in disbelief. Tonks took a few deep breaths to rid herself of the fear that had crept into the pit of her stomach.

"You don't mean that, Tonks. I know you don't," Kingsley insisted in his deep voice.

"What if they find out about your involvement? What if they fire you?" she asked quietly. He shook his head.

"They won't. I know how to watch my back and yours at the same time, Merlin knows I've been doing it a while." He gave her a smile and she was filled with such a sense of gratitude that she pulled him into an embrace.

"Thank you Kingsley, I mean it. Thank you so much."

"What are friends for?" he muttered into the top of her dark hair.

"Yeah," she whispered, thinking at that moment of Remus and Harry, and wondering how she had even considered leaving them behind.

Kingsley had left Grimmauld Place, leaving Tonks to mull things over in her mind. Of course she didn't want to go to Azkaban, or even Canada for that matter, she was just desperate to stop this downward spiral that had taken over her life. As she left the drawing room, her mind still miles away, she bumped into someone who brought her back to reality. It was Remus. He had been reading a book as he walked.

"Oh, sorry. Wasn't paying attention."

"Me neither," she admitted. They stepped to the same side of the corridor and laughed nervously, then both moved to the other side and laughed again. Remus managed to shuffle past Tonks. He turned to her.

"You look happier," he noted and she nodded.

"Yeah, just been thinking some things through."

"Good." They stood in uncomfortable silence. "Well, thanks for the dance. Maybe next time I could lead," he joked.

"Sure." She offered him a smile and licked her lips nervously. A moment later she felt Remus' upon them and wondered how on earth it had happened. Had she just kissed him again? Had he kissed her? He put both arms around her waist, dropping his book with a thud on the floor. Tonks snaked her arms behind his neck, and pulled him in to close the gap between their bodies. Just wait for Snape to burst in, Tonks thought then told herself to shut up and focus on what she was doing. Snape never did burst in however, and they kissed for what felt like forever until Remus pulled away first. They stood staring at each other, breathing heavily. Tonks' cheeks flushed pink as her eyes met him. She looked to the floor.

"We should stop doing that," she heard him say and he carried on down the corridor. Tonks noticed he had left his book and turned around to call him, but Remus had already disappeared around the corner. She picked it up from the floor with a sigh, and took it back to her room with her, smiling as she went.


It was late at night and Remus was sat in bed wishing he had his book and wishing he could get a certain sentence out of his mind. You pretty much wanna bang Tonks against a wall! Remus sighed in annoyance, as the boy's words would not leave his head. Shut up Harry! Of course he did not want to 'bang Tonks against a wall' as Harry had so charmingly put it. She was his friend, a very close friend. In fact he even thought of her as his best friend, though a part of him was not yet ready to announce this. Sirius was still his best friend as far as he was concerned. Remus rolled over, giving a sigh of resignation and decided he would try to sleep.

You pretty much wanna bang Tonks against a wall!
Shut up!

A knock came at his door. He sat up and frowned. Doubting very much that it was Buckbeak, he guessed who it was before she even spoke.

"Remus?"

"Nymphadora, what's wrong?" He climbed out of bed and went over to the door. There she stood, dressed in Harry's hoodie and those ridiculously small shorts. Remus tried not to stare at her legs and instead looked up to her face. She seemed to be surveying him also. He wore a pair of black slacks and a faded grey t-shirt, which stretched over his chest. Tonks' eyes snapped up to his as she realised she was staring.

"I had a bad dream," she said quietly. Remus felt like her father, and then tried very hard to get that idea out of his head.

"Nymphadora, it's only 11:30. Are you telling me that in that time you've already fallen asleep and had a bad dream?" She nodded quickly in confirmation. He gave a sigh and ran a hand over his tired eyes.

"Can I sleep in with you?" she asked timidly.

You pretty much wanna bang Tonks against a wall!
Stop it!

"I don't think that's such a good idea, do you?" The girl's face fell.

"No, I guess you're right. I'll go sleep on the settee then. Sorry if I woke you." She turned to leave and he gave another sigh. Turning to him she noticed him push the door open further.

"Yay!" she cheered quietly, not wanting to brag about her victory, and ducked under his arm to enter the room.

Once inside she sat on the end of his bed. He shut the door and turned to her, wondering what Harry would be saying if he knew they were sharing a room for the night.

"Hey, I brought your book back," Tonks was saying. She removed it from the front pocket on the hoodie and handed it over to him.

"Oh, thank you. Well, you go to sleep," he indicated to the bed in which she was sat on. "I'll be in the chair if you need me."

She gave a little giggle at his discomfort.

"Oh don't be silly Remus! Have you never shared a bed with a friend before?" Not a friend like you! "Come on I don't bite. Sorry, wrong choice of words." She grinned up at him. Remus gave in and sat at the other end of the bed. She shuffled up to him and he swallowed. Tonks rested her head against his shoulder and he braced himself. Her pink hair tickled his chin.

"So… you're morphing again now?" he asked by way of conversation. He felt her nod but she didn't speak. "Well, that's good. I mean… not good, you looked fine as you were. Well better than fine really, but I know how you can be with the whole morphing thing," he rambled. Tonks gave a giggle and looked up at him with her electric blue eyes.

"What's the matter with you tonight?"

You pretty much wanna bang Tonks against a wall!

"Nothing, I'm fine…. I am fine! Go to sleep Nymphadora."

She grabbed the top of his blanket and pulled it up to her chin. They were silent for a while and Remus thought she was asleep. Her chest rose and fell steadily against his.

"Remus?" she asked quietly. He put down his book.

"Yes Nymphadora?"

"Why do you call me Nymphadora?" Was this her question? Or had she just thought it up on the spot? Either way he shrugged.

"It's your name."

"My name is Tonks."

"Well I don't like Tonks."

"I don't like Nymphadora!" Remus gave a laugh.

"I like it," he said simply and they fell silent again. Remus felt her shift uncomfortably by his side. He looked down from his book to find her staring at him.

"What?" he sighed.

"Just thinking."

"Well don't it's dangerous, especially from you …What were you thinking?"

"That you're a good kisser." Her confession made him falter. He could feel his face getting hot.

"Oh, thanks." Oh, thanks? Oh, thanks! You idiot! She smiled at him and snuggled up closer to him. He put down his book and lay there, hoping he was dreaming and that he would wake up alone as he always did. But you hate waking up alone, he told himself, be grateful that you get to sleep beside this beautiful woman even if it is one night. Shut up brain, you're as bad as Harry! Well, maybe Harry's right. He shook his head at his own thought.

"Dora," he said suddenly without meaning to. If it reminded her of Charlie she didn't mention it.

"Hmm?"

"Do you love me?"

"What?" His sudden question made her sit up, pushing up from his chest with her hands.

"I… I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked. It's just when Charlie asked you earlier you said you didn't know." He saw her mouth drop open in the dim light.

"You heard that!" Remus suddenly wished he hadn't said anything. Tonks scrambled up and sat with her legs sprawled in the middle of the bed. "Oh God, I'm so sorry Remus." He was staring at her now, her naked legs taking up most of the room. He had the sudden urge to reach out and see if they were as smooth and soft as they looked, and was horrified to realise that he actually had! Tonks shuddered a breath causing Remus to remove his trembling hand.

"I'm sorry –" he began to whisper. Tonks cut him off by cupping his face with both hands and kissing him slowly and deeply. She leaned towards him and Remus felt himself lying backwards as she pressed her body against him. He could feel his heart beating faster and knew hers would be doing the same. Tonks moved her hands from Remus' face and ran them down his chest to his abdomen. He gave a little gasp and she smiled. She pulled away from him slightly, so that her lips brushed against his as she whispered.

"Do you want this?" She felt him nod and breathed a sigh before pressing her lips against his again firmly. He gave a groan and moved his hands up underneath her top to caress her bare back underneath.

"Remus?"

"Yes," he breathed.

"Do you want me to answer your question now?" She didn't wait for a reply.

A/N: I did write more to this little 'love scene' we have going on, but it made me giggle uncomfortably when I read it so I took it out and left any sexual happenings as 'implied'. Cheers :)