Author's Note: Here it is folks, the real chapter 8. The next few should be along soon, now my uni work is all (but one) finished, and I thank you for your patience. I will finish this fic if it kills me, promise!

Mirror, Mirror: Chapter eight

Ties, Brooms and Bonbons

Tonks re-appeared in the twins' shop with a crack and was relieved to see all was well. The bustling street outside was normal, the occupants of the shop unharmed, it seemed her uncle had left without anyone else noticing him. She wondered if this had been deliberate, an attack on the moral of the Order, or perhaps the young Auror's presence had simply prevented him from wreaking the havoc he had intended to. Tonks looked around and quickly spotted the shaggy orange noggin of one of the twins.

"Tonks!" Shouted George, running to meet her by the fireplace.

"Where's Harry?" She asked, having failed to spot him in the flurry of customers.

"'s'okay Tonks, Fred took him to the cellar," George told her, holding out a bowl. "Bonbon?"

"Er, maybe later," she said feebly, walking off to grab Harry. She did like the twins; she'd trust them with her life, just not her dinner.

As Harry and Tonks stepped up to the Black residence, Hedwig appeared above them. She dropped a letter into Tonks' hands, then perched herself on Harry's arm. Tonks managed successfully to enter the house (though success was not without door frames, shoulders and the meeting thereof) and stopped dead in her tracks. As she and Harry stood in the hall, they were greeted by the familiar, if 50 decibels louder than normal, music of her favourite rock band; The Weird Sisters. Too perplexed to quickly shove the potentially incriminating letter into a pocket, she walked down the hall slowly, in search of the source of the music. It got gradually louder as she neared the living room door. She walked past it a little, and sure enough it faded. Tonks swung the door open, and found to her surprise a rather unusual sight.

Remus' old gramophone was cranked up as high as it would go, the sofa cushions were scattered all over the floor, and a rather inebriated Remus Lupin with his tie around his head, playing air guitar on Tonks' broom.

While Tonks first thought it to be hilarious, she maintained her role of joint head of household. She folded her arms, raised her eyebrows and threw him a disappointed look. She walked over to the gramophone, switched it off and removed her picture-disc vinyl from its turntable. She didn't remember this until later on, but this particular rare album was so dear to her heart that she kept it, not with the rest of her records, but in her knicker draw.

"You, sit. Harry, coffee, lots of coffee." The two men obeyed without hesitation. There was something about her tone that said she'd had just about enough messing around for one day.

"Remus Lupin, what are you doing?"

"Well, well you seemed to think sho, ssho much of them, I thought I'd see what the fuss was about," he said, playing sheepishly with his fingers and staring at the floor.

"You seem to like them," she said, relaxing her stance.

"They've grown on me," he replied.

"So have molluscs," Tonks said, rolling her eyes to the ceiling. Remus seemed to panic for a moment, then returned to his happy drunk self.

"Who's the letterrrr from? Shomeone special?" Remus asked, giggling like a teenager when approached by the opposite sex. Tonks remembered the letter Hedwig had dropped and examined the handwriting. It was R's latest reply. Was Remus just being drunk, or did he genuinely know something? Tonks figured he wouldn't remember if she gave him a quick interrogation anyway, so she went for it.

"Remus, do you know anythi.."

"Coffee!" Harry had appeared in the doorway clutching the biggest mug he could possibly carry. Tonks groaned, never mind, she thought. She had a funny feeling she'd get to the bottom of it even if she didn't want to. Harry put the mug on the table next to Remus, who promptly began snoring.

"Oh well, least he was in a better mood this time," she sighed. Tonks tilted her head and gazed at Remus for a moment. She had to admit he looked sweet when he slept, even when he had a tie on his head. She caught Harry staring at her, looking rather confused. A common sight in their presence.

"What?" She asked. "Haven't you got homework to do, Slytherins to maim?"

Harry shrugged and went upstairs. Tonks sat herself down next to the snoozing Remus and pulled out the parchment. She opened it carefully and read:

Ymp,

How formal one gets when putting quill to parchment! Where are your soft London tones and bizarre expressions? I have to say I am quite disappointed, but I would not be much of an admirer if I was put off by that.

It was indeed rude of me not to tell you a little about my humble self, but I was afraid you would have jumped to conclusions about my identity. You would probably have been correct of course, but I was not ready for things to be out in the open. I have no profession as such; I've dabbled in a number of occupations but have yet to find one that suits me. I am very keen on good literature, entertaining records and fine spirits. I am not really one for socialising due to my unfortunate circumstances, but I'm sure we would get along fine. In fact, I'd be rather distraught if we did not.

I'm afraid that is all I can give you for now, except of course, my undying love.

Yours,

R

P.S. Without wishing to sound like a stalker, we HAVE met, many times.