DISCLAIMER: Don't own it blah blah blah J.K.Rowling blah blah blah don't sue me blah blah etc.

Author's Note

Chapter four is now up, woop! I'm not that pleased with it, it's more plotty than character based, which I hate but it's gotta be done if this is gonna go anywhere, so, enjoy, r&r!

Analia's Broom: Thank you so much, my first review, hooray!

there goes my gun: I'm glad you liked the ending, I was going to carry on with it but that just seemed like the obvious place to end the chapter

BlackHorntailJunior: Thanks! I do try to get inside their heads a bit more.

Rider-of-Rohan23: Thank you! I know what you mean about the hair, I'm not sure about it myself. It might change. This didn't start as RL/NT and I'm not sure if it will be strictly that, but it does seem to be going that way doesn't it, hehe. Off to check out your fics : )

RottenTunafish: interesting name and thank you! I always imagined her being sort of insecure about herself but she's the type of person who laughs to hide the tears ye know?

trevor-bruttenholm: thanks alot! Well I guess it's a small fic in a big pond XD Oh he is adorable isn't he? Even when he's an alcoholic.

A big thankyou to everyone else who reviewed, your comments are greatly appreciated and make me feel warm inside!

Mirror, Mirror

Chapter Four: Dreams and Letters

That night (or rather, that morning) Tonks dreamt. She dreamt of a man. She wasn't sure who he was, but she knew him well. He held her near, protected her from harm, he looked after her. She felt his large presence, this was a man of character. He felt a little older than her too. He whispered in her ear.

"You're safe now Ymp"

Tonks smiled as the ceiling came into view. A part of her wanted to snuggle deep into the warm duvet and dream more, to discover the man's identity, to see his face. Though the mystery was part of his charm, she mused. The part of her that knew she should really get up kicked in. She sighed happily and threw on her dressing gown over her little blue cotton nightie. She was still grinning when she reached the kitchen.

"Am I the only one behaving normally today?" Asked Harry rolling his eyes at the adults.

Tonks scanned the room. Harry sat at the table munching on some toast, reading the latest edition of the Quibbler. Hedwig stood on the table next to him with her nose buried in a pile of treats, she looked up, seemed to shudder, then returned to them again. There was a fresh pot of tea on the table, along with a small pile of letters. Remus stood hunched over the porcelain sink, he was sipping from a glass filled with a think blue-green liquid.

"Good night Remus?" Tonks enquired, pouring herself a mug of tea from the pot. He was silent. "Remember any of it?"

He turned and joined them at the table, gulping down the last of the foul potion. His hangover was beginning to clear, whoever invented that stuff was a genius, he thought.

"I had a wonderful evening, thank you. I just wish I'd been a little more sober," he remarked, glancing to the stack of empty liquor bottles on the worktop.

"Oh you and me both" Tonks retorted, "I'll make sure you're fully functional next time." She giggled.

"Next time?" Remus puzzled.

"Oh yes..." As Tonks and Remus continued to speak, the colour drained from Harry's face. He swallowed hard.

"Oh dear Merlin!" He cried, stopping Remus mid-sentence. "You're not...at it, are you?" He sounded absolutely horrified.

"No!" They jumped in together, probably a little too soon to dispel Harry's suspicion.

"Of course not Harry," Tonks said, looking at Remus looking back at her.

"That's ridiculous Harry," Remus chimed in, looking at Tonks looking back at him.

Tonks paused. She wasn't looking at him any more, she was scowling. "Why is it ridiculous? What's wrong with me?" She teased, doing her best to sound genuinely hurt. It seemed to have taken Remus by surprise.

"W-well nothing," he stammered, not really sure what to say. He was still mildly hung over.

"You're not such a great catch yourself, ye know," She said, standing up and walking behind him. She picked up a wet tea towel and flicked it at him as they both burst out laughing. This went on for about five minutes. By the time the pair of them had calmed down, Tonks was lying on the kitchen counter, Remus had fallen on the floor, and Harry, Harry just looked confused.

Remus picked himself up off the floor, clutching his aching abdomen and dragged himself back onto his chair. He thought he ought to clarify things, given Harry's bewildered expression.

"Harry, Tonks and I are not, as you say, 'at it', and we.."

"Weren't 'at it' last night" Tonks piped in, sliding off the counter and back to the table.

"And though Tonks is a wonderful woman"

"And Remus 'ere's a marvellous chap"

"We are good friends, no more"

"No less" Tonks finished. Harry seemed satisfied with that, though he wondered what really did happen last night. He shoved some more toast into his mouth and passed the post round. It was uncanny how owls knew where they were, even though they weren't officially living there. Tonks suspected there still might be a few bits back at her flat, some owls were definitely not as clever as others.

Today, Tonks had three letters. One was actually addressed to Remus as well as herself, she wondered why Harry had given it to her, it definitely looked like Dumbledore's, Order business presumably. She put it back on the table between herself and Remus, in case he was done first. She wouldn't normally put such an important owl to one side, but she had just recognised the handwriting of the second letter.

"'Bout bloody time!" She thought aloud, as she opened the letter from her favourite colleague.

"Dearest Nymphadora,

What on Earth is that s'posed to mean? Could be code, she thought.

How are things? Hope you are coping looking after the two of them. Hope you're getting your head around things, I certainly am. I'm glad you are, guess I am too.

Work is dull, they have me chasing after some magical creatures that escaped from a university since we closed the Black file, lots of paperwork. I knew it! So glad I took time off. I think some you-know-whats might have let them out as a diversion, but I'll talk about that more when I see you. Hmmm.

I am sorry I haven't replied to any of your letters 'til now, I've been very busy, and, well, I didn't know what to say. I have missed you,

Oh? She thought

we all miss you at the ministry.

Oh. She felt a little disheartened

The office really isn't as bright without you.

That's sweet, but it won't get you off the 'dearest' remark, she thought.

Well, I guess that's all for now, don't feel you need to reply any time soon.

Not gonna happen

I'll see you soon,

Kingsley"

Tonks was definitely on a high today and Kingsley's letter only increased it. Tonks was in such a good mood that she was almost bouncing in her seat, which her two companions thought highly amusing. Grinning, she turned to the third envelope. The writing was definitely familiar but she couldn't quite place it. As she tried to remember where she had seen it before, the writing did a strange thing. Her eyes widened as some of the letters disappeared. For a few seconds, Nymphadora Tonks became ymp.