Disclaimer: I'm not J.K.R and I don't own any of her characters and backgrounds… Wish I did though, I'm dying to know what happens in book seven!

Listen to me, I cannot see clearly, isn't that she coming to me nearly here?

Jeff Buckley, Lilac wine

First meeting – where fun begins

-Cosy, muttered Tonks, waiting for the door to be opened. Her companion chuckled. Then they heard footsteps, and the door opened to reveal the smiling face of Albus Dumbledore, tall and thin, his long dark- blue robes glittering with tiny silver stars, his grey beard and eyebrows as bushy as ever. He opened his arms widely, as if nothing could have pleased him more than seeing two Aurors on the threshold, and let them enter politely.

- Evening, Professor, beamed the young witch.

- How are you doing, Nymphadora? Asked Dumbledore, pressing her hand in his, his bright blue eyes glittering.

- Never been better, she smiled, euphoric. She'd always liked her Headmaster so much that she even could stand him calling her by her first name.

- Wonderful, he replied in a ringing voice, while Kingsley shook hands with two men standing behind the old wizard.

Her heart missed a beat when her eyes met those of the one who had long, jet black hair. He looked healthier: his hollow face was no more waxy, like on the rewards. His jetty hair was shorter, and his dark blue eyes were shining brightly. He looked younger and handsomer than she had imagined him, but she recognized him instantly: Sirius, Black. He was looking earnestly straight into her eyes, with a slightly unsure look.

-Sirius, meet your young cousin, Nymphadora Tonks.

- Wow, that is really, really weird, she said softly, but with a bright smile.

- Hello, he said, smiling too and shaking her hand warmly. When he smiled, his whole features seemed to enlighten, and she saw the good-looking man of her memories. Strange way to meet an old relative, isn't it? How are you, Nymphadora?

She laughed.

-Indeed, she replied cheerfully. Better later than ever! I remember you, anyway. And by the way, she added, screwing her nose, it's Tonks. And don't tell me my lunatic of a mother gave me an original name.

Sirius let out a brief laugh that sounded like a bark.

-You're so like Andromeda. Well, almost, he grinned, looking at her. Nice hair, actually.

She chuckled, waving her long mane of tomato-red hair.

-Thanks. I'm a Metamorphmagus…expect everything!

Dumbledore was still beaming. Turning to the other man who stood slightly behind, he said:

-And allow me to introduce Remus Lupin.

-Evening, he said, in a slightly hoarse voice, smiling at her. It's a pleasure to meet you at last.

When he shook her hands, she noticed the scars that were carved in his skin. He had long, nervous hands, like a pianist or something. Without knowing why, she felt slightly taken aback. He didn't look at all like she'd imagined after Kingsley's description. He was tall and thin, and he looked exhausted, but in an awkward way… his robes were shabby and patched in many places, his cheeks were hollowed and yet there was an air of grace about him that surprised her. She'd imagined a kind of tedious bookworm wearing glasses, and she found herself facing a totally different person. His light-brown hair, falling messily on his eyes, was already stripped with grey, but his face was still young, though prematurely lined. When their eyes met, she felt even more surprised. His eyes had the most peculiar colour she'd ever seen: at first, they seemed a common grey, but when looking more attentively, she could see golden glints in them. Their brilliance corroborated the idea of an intelligent man, and there was calmness in his warm smile that reminded her of Dumbledore.

-Well, said the Headmaster brightly, just as she thought about him, perhaps we could go back to the kitchen? We do have rather a lot of things to discuss before the meeting.

Without further discussions, they all followed him into the house.