A/N: I have to admit, I was getting kinda bored of this story. I have so many ideas for it, but I'm rushing to get it finished in time for HBP and I'm spoiling it. But then I read through my reviews and it inspired me to continue. I just thought I'd let you all know how much I appreciate them, especially the recent one from Mucada. Thank you so much, you've given me determination to continue.

Disclaimer: Haven't done one for a while. Harry Potter and co are still not mine.

Sirius Black was humming under his breath. Forget that, it wasn't humming it was noise! He was sat in the grimy kitchen of Grimmauld Place, wishing he were outside in the light breeze of the summer evening. Instead he was stuck indoors, bored out of his wits and wondering why he'd even bothered to escape from Azkaban in the first place. Sure, his heart had been lifted immensely at the thought of his Godson, Harry Potter, arriving later in the week. He only wished he didn't feel so fed up. Sirius had taken it upon himself to annoy everyone and anyone who happened to drop by at Headquarters at any given time. Unfortunately, this evening it was his best friend Remus Lupin and his cousin Nymphadora Tonks. Remus, who had spent many years sharing a dorm with Sirius, knew how to ignore the man's pleas for attention. However Tonks, who had only just been reunited with her cousin a fortnight ago, was finding it extremely difficult.

"Sirius," she said through gritted teeth, "would you cut that out?"

"Cut what out?" her cousin said with a grin.

"The humming!"

"What humming?" Tonks gave a growl of annoyance and continued with the report she was writing. Sirius grabbed a spare piece of parchment and began to tear it into strips, noisily.

"For the love of Merlin! Pack it in!"

"I'm bored," Sirius whined. Remus glanced over at his friend, then lowered his eyes before his friend had chance to realise that he had gained his attention also. "Want to play a game?"

"Sirius," Tonks warned impatiently.

"Fine!" the man said, defeated. After a pause he began to roll up the strips of parchment and threw them at Tonks' vibrant spikes. She squealed and grabbed parchment for herself, throwing it at her cousin and missing, much to the man's amusement. Tonks rose from her seat and circled the table to get nearer to her target. Sirius laughed.

"Hey that's cheating!" He grabbed her wrists and she shrieked a laugh.

"Do you mind?" Remus asked into his book, clearly unimpressed.

"Sorry," the pair mumbled together, grinning. Then Tonks gave Sirius a sharp slap around the back of his head.

"Right that's it." He got up and chased her around the table.

"I'm sorry, ok? I'm sorry," she panted as he gained on her. Sirius tackled the young witch to the floor and she howled a laugh. He tickled her and she shrieked again.

"Stop it please, I'm going to wet myself!" Sirius thought that would be even more amusing and continued. "You don't scare me!" she challenged him and he grabbed her in a headlock. "Ok, you're terrifying! Let me go!"

"Never! I've killed once and I'll kill again."

"That's not funny Sirius," she managed to squeak as his grip tightened.

"She's right Sirius, that isn't funny," Remus chided. Sirius looked up at his friend and offered him an apologetic grin. "Now get off Nymphadora, would you? I don't think she can breathe." Sirius did as he was told, and loosened his grip. Tonks kicked him in the shin and he winced. She managed to over power him and sat on his stomach.

"Ha, I win!" Sirius tried to pull her off but she pinned him down.

"Is this legal?" he joked and she crinkled her nose. "Get off me."

"No."

"Get off me!"

"No!" At this Sirius turned his head and managed to bite one of her hands close by. She screamed and then spat at him.

"Euw that's disgusting!" he cried, wriggling to free his hands so he could wipe his face. "You play dirty, Nymphadora Tonks!"

"Well you bit me! I think you drew blood!"

"Not my first time," he said with a wink and she laughed. Remus was watching them from the other side of the kitchen. He gave a sad smile.

"You know what T-Bird? I'm enjoying this. In fact I'm enjoying this a little too much." She scrambled off him in disgust. Sirius barked a laugh. "I win! Every time!" Tonks scowled at him.

"Git!"

"Loser."

"Layabout."

"Freak." Tonks gave an indignant gasp.

"Criminal."

"Black!" Tonks' eyes widened as she gasped again.

"No way! You take that back." Sirius shook his head with a grin.

"Can't take the truth Dora?"

"I'm not a Black!" she insisted.

"If you say so…Black."


He watched her from across the street, her dark blue hair tied up in a bun, a fringe almost covering her lime green eyes. Nymphadora Tonks stood out. Of course she did, she always had done, but it wasn't the vibrant colours or the unique clothes she chose. It was her very being. He had noticed it from the first day he had met her, that hot summer day in Hogsmeade when she was only seven years old. Seeing her there, her girly grin and bright eyes, he still could not deny it; she was a Black at heart. And now, all these years later, her looks may have changed but she was still the same; strong and capable.

He followed her down the streets, watching her lick her lips as the wind picked up. She carried with her a small, empty cardboard box, which hung lazily out of one hand by her side. She stopped as she reached the building. Her old home. Looking either side of her she retrieved her keys from her pocket and unlocked the door. Climbing the many flights of stairs she eventually arrived at her flat. It had been unlived in for some time now. Tonks had been clearing out her things over the past week, feeling saddened at the thought of never living there again. The apartment door swung open to reveal emptiness. Tonks walked in, smiling at the familiar creaks of certain floorboards. She crossed to the kitchen and placed the empty box down, laying her thin jacket beside it. There were very few things left in the apartment, most of which were photo frames and the odd trinket or two. Tonks decided to head to the bedroom, though without a bed in it any longer, she supposed it was just a room. Having taken one final glance around her old room she noticed only one thing remained; a photo of Sirius and herself, taken when she was rather young one summer's day. Tonks wondered how she had managed to leave the item last. She left the bedroom, smiling at the photo then shaking it flimsily in one hand. A creak made her glance up. The front door was ajar. Positive that she had not left it open, a jolt of fear crept into the pit of her stomach. She felt her pockets and realised her wand wasn't on her. Where is it? My jacket, damn. Moody would be having a fit! She crossed quickly to the kitchen and was half way to her destination when a voice made her stop dead in her tracks.

"Hello, Dora." Tonks spun around to see a squat, balding man. He was dressed scruffily and his skin was grey and sallow, suggesting he had seen better days. She knew he had, for she recognised him immediately.

"What do you want, Peter?" she asked quickly. Peter Pettigrew stepped forward from the open door.

"What? No pleasantries? It's been a long time Nymphadora. Seventeen years if I'm not mistaken?"

"What do you want?" Tonks asked again, trying hard to stop her voice quivering with fear. She took another step towards the kitchen work surface. Perhaps if she moved quickly enough she could grab her wand and stun him.

"Just to talk, that's all." To talk; the same thing Tonks had told her aunt moments before she killed her. The witch swallowed.

"I'm supposed to believe that am I? Get out of here, Pettigrew," she snapped bitterly. He raised his wand stopping her as she began another step closer to her jacket.

"Come here." Tonks hesitated. Pettigrew asked again and Tonks knew to obey, walking slowly towards the man. She trembled with a fear that she resented. She wasn't afraid for herself, she was afraid for her baby. Does he know? she thought as she reached him.

"How did you know I was here?" she demanded.

"I know a lot about you Nymphadora," How much? "I've been watching you for some time now. Padfoot's memorial, I was there. That cold barn on Oakdene Farm, North Egerton, I was there." Tonks' insides squirmed uncomfortably. "The yard in Grimmauld Place, I was there too Dora." Tonks hadn't thought her stomach could have plunged any lower until he said this. She winced internally. He knows where Headquarters is! "Oh yes, I know your little hide-out. It's securely clamped down though, but that doesn't stop me trying." Tonks gave a little whimper.

"Peter listen…"

"No Dora, you'll be doing the listening. I've come to you with a message…from the Dark Lord himself." Tonks couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her mouth hung open in disbelief. Peter continued. "He's heard all about you. How you murdered Bellatrix Lestrange." Tonks gave a quiet gasp. "Yes I was rather surprised myself, you were always such a sweet girl. But I suppose it's in your blood isn't it. Black blood will out." Pettigrew raised his wand under Tonks' chin. Her eyes filled with tears she desperately hoped wouldn't fall.

"Please Peter –"

"I could kill you where you stand. But where's the fun in that? You've taken the life of our Lord's right hand Servant. It's only fair that he takes yours." Tonks let out a little sob. "And that's why he's sent me. We are going to do a deal, Dora. Bellatrix's life for yours. Come and join us."

"What?"

"Nymphadora…" It angered her that he called her that; only Remus was allowed to call her Nymphadora. "You're on the wrong side of this war, the losing side." It wasn't the first time Tonks had heard these words, she remembered her Aunt Narcissa saying a similar thing to her the previous year. All Tonks could do was shake her head. "Fine, I can drag you kicking and screaming. Or would you prefer the control of the Imperius Curse? Either way, you owe us." Tonks took a step back.

"No. No way! This is insane Peter! I'll never join you! Bella… Voldemort hated her. She was in exile," Tonks rambled, trying to make sense of the situation before her. Pettigrew's eyes had widened angrily as Tonks had used his Master's name.

"You're as stupid as she was if you believe that!" he spat at her. "Lestrange was consumed by her own guilt and failure. The Dark Lord did not send her to exile, she sent herself."

"And I'm supposed to believe that, am I?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because he loved her!" Peter's words rang around the empty apartment. Tonks felt sick and she thought she was going to faint. She squeezed her eyes shut to quell the dizziness. "Needless to say he's not your biggest fan," Pettigrew concluded. Silence fell between them.

"So what now?" Tonks asked quietly. "Are you going to kill me? I'd rather die than join you and your heartless Death Eaters! Go on, do it Peter! I know you're capable. Make your precious Lord happy and finish me off!" she cried.

"No, you are to come with me." Tonks shook her head.

"Nuh huh, no way." Peter straightened his back almost indignantly, before slumping his shoulders over in what appeared to be defeat.

"Fine, have it your way…for now. But we'll have you on our side Dora, one way or another. We'll come for you in Hogwarts if we have to. Do you really want that? Could you really stand the deaths of your students on your conscience? The death of your beloved Harry Potter?"

"You're bluffing!" Tonks blurted out desperately. "Hogwarts has immense security. There's no way you'd be able to breach it." She prayed that her words were true. Peter only raised his greying eyebrows in mild amusement.

"Well, if you're willing to take that risk Dora." She braced as he began to move, only to be relieved as he headed for the door. "Think it over, but not for too long. Either way, we'll come for you." He reached the door and turned to her casually. "Give my regards to Remus won't you." As he closed the door behind him, Tonks fell to her knees and sobbed.


Tonks dragged her feet as she entered Grimmauld Place. She was still shaken up and flinched at every noise around her. She carried the half-full cardboard box easily, though her arms felt like lead. Tonks was glad the box was light; Remus chided her whenever she carried heavy things. She cringed thinking of Remus. What was she going to tell him? Did she have to tell him at all? No, she decided, he doesn't need this. Tonks entered the kitchen with mock confidence. Remus looked up at her as she entered and gave her a smile, which faded as he saw something he must have read in her eyes. She cursed, wishing Remus couldn't always read her like a book.

"Wotcher," Tonks said as chirpily as she could, and place the box on the table. She headed for the sink and got herself a glass of water, which she drank quickly. Her hand shook as she lowered the empty glass to the side.

"Are you ok, Dora?" Remus voiced his concern. She turned to him and smiled quickly.

"Of course I am, just tired that's all. Don't worry." Her voice wavered as her eyes met him. Guilt filled her but she stood her ground.

"You sure? You're looking a bit pale."

"I'm fine!" she insisted quickly.

"Ok," Remus said quietly and let it drop. He glanced in the box beside him, seeing the photo of Tonks and Sirius. It was dog-eared at the edges, as if Tonks had been handling it too much.

"Get everything?"

"Yes, that's the last," Tonks told him, running a hand across her forehead as she saw the picture. When Remus continued to look at the photo, Tonks grew so uncomfortable that she snatched it off him and threw back in the box. If Remus was shocked he didn't show it.

"Hermione's feeling better," he mumbled to the table. Tonks' annoyance faded.

"Oh, that's good."

"Yes, she says she's ready to go back to school at the weekend."

"We'll see." Silence fell between them. It made Tonks want to scream.

"Remus, I'm sorry," she said and meant it.

"I know," he replied quietly but didn't look at her.

"I'm a hormonal wreck, you know?" She gave a nervous laugh. He looked up at her and smiled.

"I know you are. Why don't you go upstairs and have a lie down." Tonks shook her head.

"No, I'm ok. I'll stay here with you. You'll look after me, won't you?" Remus nodded, not really understanding why she'd asked. Tonks took a seat beside him and rested her head against his shoulder. She closed her eyes and took a shuddering breath. Remus kissed her on the top of her head and silence fell once more.

"Remus…?"

"Yes."

"Nothing, it doesn't matter." Tonks lied. He doesn't need to know, she told herself. Then why did she have an awful feeling at the pit of her stomach? No, he would be better off not knowing and she would protect him from the truth. She only wished she knew who would protect her.