Disclaimer: They aren't my puppets, I just snuck in to play.

Chapter 3

"Dora? Why are you sitting on the stairs?" Tonks looked up at the sound of Sirius' voice.

"Because. This seems to be the only place in the house that other people aren't occupying at the moment." She said, sounding annoyed that he had interrupted her broodfest.

"Oh, I see." Sirius sat down next to her on the step, looking at his fingernails. When he didn't say anything right away, she looked at him.

"So," she started slowly, "What did Remus say?"

Sirius grinned at her. "He's excited about going with you."

"Did he say anything about…" Tonks blushed again as she trailed off.

"What kiss?" Sirius asked innocently.

"Fine," she said, standing up, "I'm not going to worry about it anymore." As she started down the stairs, she slipped and fell down three steps. She glared back up at Sirius as he started laughing.

"Maybe you shouldn't wear heels to this event Dora, its hard enough for you to walk in them, how are you expecting to dance in them?" Tonks' head shot up.

"Dance?" she asked loudly. She scrambled back up unceremoniously to the step next to Sirius. "What do you mean by dance?"

Sirius looked at her seriously (haha no pun intended). "Come on Tonks, it's a 'ball'. What did you expect to be doing there? Sitting all evening?"

"Well, I don't know. It just-oh no! Sirius! You have to help me! I can't dance."

Sirius sat there thinking for a minute. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. "I have an idea little Tonksie that will make you the happiest girl in the world and forever indebted to me. Come here." he gestured for her to lean closer, so that anyone who might be listening would not hear them.

Tonks rolled her eyes. "Right Sirius, there will be none of your half baked ideas this time. I'm not going to go out there looking like an idiot."

Sirius grinned cheekily, "Well, you might anyway." Tonks slapped his arm.

"Just tell me you great git."

"All right, I'll tell you. But only because I want to see you happy." She rolled her eyes but leaned in close to him and he whispered in her ear.

When he was done, she had a grin identical to his across her face. "Do you think it will work?" she asked eagerly.

"I'd bet anything on it. Now, Tonksie, I'll introduce you to another aspect of the 'ball'. What are you going to wear?"

Tonks made a face. "I haven't thought about it."

Sirius nodded wisely, "My advice, go now and find something you like before some other girl snatches up the dress you want. Take Ginny and Hermione with you, they need a break from cleaning this dump. Besides, who knows the next time you'll have a free day what with the Order and Auror work. Wait here a moment."

Before she could protest he had disappeared. She sat on the step looking down again. Ginny and Hermione, having heard their names, emerged from their room just as Sirius came running back. He held a bag full of something, which he tossed to Tonks. It made a loud clanking sound.

Tonks shook her head, "No Sirius, I can't take this. Its too much-"

"Nonsense Tonksie. It's the least I can do for you and Moony to have fun." Tonks opened her mouth to say something, "Just think of it as funds that are enabling me to live vicariously through your escapades, dear Dora. Now the three of you get out of here before Molly comes looking for someone to deDoxy the study. Have fun ladies!" He added as the three girls giggled their way down the steps and quietly out the front door.

"Ah, breathe that free-of-dust air!" Ginny said happily as Tonks held out her wand. In a second, a loud bang was heard and the Knight Bus came careening down the street.

"So, where are we going?" Hermione asked as they clambered aboard.

Tonks pulled a few coins out of the bag that Sirius had handed her and dropped them into Stan, Stan the Ticket Man's outstretched hand.

They made their way to the top level of the bus. As they sat down, the girls noticed the mile wide grin that played across Tonk's face.

"We are going into Diagon Alley to find me something to wear," she said triumphantly.

Ginny squealed. "Does that mean you asked him?" she asked excitedly.

Tonks nodded. "And he said…" Ginny prompted.

Tonks smiled again. "He said yes!" By this time, Hermione had caught on to what they were talking about. All three of them squealed this time.

"Oi! What's going on up there? This is a vee-ickle of public transportation; not a pajama party!" Stan hollered up the stairs. The girls quieted down but nothing could hide their wide smiles as their excitement of going shopping for the perfect dress continued to mount.

When they arrived in Diagon Alley, Hermione turned to Tonks.

"So, are you supposed to wear dress robes or are you buying a Muggle dress? Does the Ministry have any dress code for this thing?"

Tonks shook her head. "In the past, I know its always been traditional dress robes. But I was talking to Kingsley a few days ago and he told me that they were trying to branch out more this year, so I can wear either. Personally," she added, "I'm going to wear a dress because I always had to wear those silly robes for fancy occasions when I was little."

Ginny furrowed her brow. "But Tonks, where are we going to find a shop in an area full of wizards that sells Muggle clothes?"

Tonks smiled at them. She grabbed both their hands and started dragging them down the alley towards Gringotts Bank.

"I never knew this was here!" Hermione exclaimed as they passed through the large glass doors and into "Miss Mabel's Magical Muggle Marketplace."

"That's probably because its not in 'Hogwarts: A History'," Ginny said matter of factly, teasing her in a joking way.

They finally had to stop and ask one of the shopkeepers where the dresses were and they were herded to the back of the store.

Ginny's and Hermione's eyes grew to the size of saucers as they took in all the gorgeous dresses that took up the entire back half of the store. A large three sided mirror stood along the back wall where even more dresses were hanging.

"I've always wanted an excuse to come here!" Tonks said as she clasped her hands together excitedly. "Now I have one. And a very good excuse at that."

"Good afternoon ladies, can I help you?" asked a tall, slender witch. She had a tape measure draped around her neck and her fingernails were long and painted aquamarine.

Ginny beamed. "We need a dress!" she said brightly. The saleswitch smiled.

"For the Auror Ball I presume? I'm guessing the dress is for you then." she said, gesturing to Tonks. Tonks nodded.

"Did you have something in mind?" the witch asked.

"Well, I don't want anything fluffy or poofy. Its too hard to manage and I would look too ridiculous." Hermione's face fell as her eyes traveled to the racks of dresses with large poofing skirts.

"Are you sure you don't want to look at just-"

"No Hermione." Tonks said firmly but nicely. Hermione nodded her head in resignation.

"It sounds as though you know what you're looking for. If you have any questions, come find me." The saleswitch walked away as the three girls started looking at the seemingly endless racks of dresses.

"Tonks, how about this one?"

"Ginny, that's the same dress in a different color. And I still don't like it." A blue dress came sailing back over the door of the fitting room. Ginny caught it and placed it in a growing pile of discarded dresses. Hermione was slumped in a chair with three more dresses lying in her lap. She stood up and yawned as Ginny sat down. Hermione handed Tonks a dress through the fitting room door.

There was a bit of a crash and a loud swear from Tonks, followed by more crashing. She came out of the fitting room. Her hair was a bit more disheveled now and her face was flushed.

"Well?" she asked as she spun around. This dress was a pale pink. Hermione put two thumbs up as Ginny put two thumbs down.

"Its not your color, Tonks." Ginny said, standing up again to inspect it closer.

"Oh, but pink can be anyone's color, Gin. Try it with brown hair, Tonks. I'm sure it'll look better than with blue hair. I'm sure Professor Lupin would like it." she added as she played the trump card with Tonks.

Ginny's mind raced as she saw Tonks' eyes light up with the thought of Professor Lupin liking that pink monstrosity.

"But Tonks, you don't like pink clothing much do you? And Professor Lupin wouldn't want you wearing anything you aren't going to be comfortable in, right?" This seemed to work as Tonks looked thoughtfully in the mirror.

Hermione huffed. "Ginny, if you keep contradicting every dress I give her to try on, we'll be here all day."

"No offense, Mione. I love you lots, but your taste in dresses leaves something to be desired." Ginny said, picking up another dress and appraising its value.

"And what exactly do you know about Muggle dresses, Ginny?"

"Not much, but I know more about boys than you do."

"Oh really. I'll have you know that Viktor Krum too-"

"I think I've found it!"

Ginny and Hermione turned to look back towards the dressing room. Tonks was standing in front of the mirror, twirling like a two year old and gazing affectionately at the reflection looking back at her.

"Tonks! Its beautiful!" Ginny breathed as they both rushed up to look at the dress.

It was black. The material seemed to flow around her and follow her movements exactly, as if it was an extension of her. Layers of sheer material covered the black satin shell and the scoop of the neckline accentuated what little chest Tonks had. The thin straps were tied in the back and criss crossed down her back a few times. The hem of the dress rose a few inches above her ankles and some of the sheer material hung down in intentionally uneven layers.

"Hermione?" Tonks asked. She wanted the approval of both girls. Hermione looked at it for a few more seconds.

"Well, its not pink. Or blue." Ginny rolled her eyes at her friend. "But I really like it." she finished. Tonks clapped her hands and turned back to the mirror.

"Do you think Remus will like it?"

"I think whoever he is, he would be a fool not to like it." said the saleswitch who had reappeared at the magic words, 'I think I've found it.'

As they passed the racks of everyday wear, Ginny sighed wistfully. "Sometimes I wish I had more money. Normally it doesn't bother me at all, I'm perfectly happy. But its hard when all you get are hand me downs from six older brothers."

Tonks looked at her sympathetically. Tonks had always thought it was hard for Ginny being the only girl in a family full of boys. She'd never thought about it from the point of view of Ginny's closet, however. Now that she thought about it, in the time that she had known Ginny (which hadn't been very long) she had always been wearing an old Quidditch jersey or t shirt or a boy's shirt over a tank top. Tonks had never really given it a second thought, she just assumed that Ginny was more of a tomboy like her. Her jeans were always faded and she had overheard her complaining to Hermione that the waistline on many pairs of pants she owned were too high for her tastes. She also noticed that Ginny never asked for any new clothes from her parents and often looked embarassed when Hermione or anyone broached the subject.

Tonks peered into the bag that Sirius had given her. Her eyes grew wide. She hadn't realized there was so much inside. It would be enough to cover the cost of four dresses and then some. Tonks stopped walking.

"How would you like a few new outfits, Ginny?" she asked. Ginny blushed.

"Oh, I'm sorry Tonks. I wasn't trying to get anything out of you. I was just noticing the clothes and-"

"No arguing Ginny. I'm buying you some new clothes. Also courteous of my dear cousin. Now come along." she grabbed Ginny's hand and led her to the girl's department. Hermione followed, smiling widely. If there was anyone who deserved a shopping spree, it was Ginny.

A/N: Ok, this one ends in a bit of an odd place, but it was becoming kind of long and I had to go finish something for my mom. So yeah. Anyhoo…thanks to those who have reviewed. I don't have time to say something to everyone but…Aah, please don't throw scones! Cheers for reading!