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!
I made wine from the lilac tree
Put my heart in its recipe
Makes me see what I want to see and be what I want to be...
Jeff Buckley, Grace
The Order of the Phoenix – Where much is said
Remus smiled when looking at the young witch sitting in front of him, who was smiling continuously, her fingertips pounding on the table, almost quivering with impatience. Dumbledore was right – she was funny. Her humour seemed to fit her unforeseeable cousin perfectly. They barely knew each other for 20 minutes, and yet they had already taken delight in throwing witticisms in each other's face. This promised to be entertaining…She seemed quite surprising too…she did surprise him, at least, when he had met her. He didn't expect her to look so young- in fact, she looked barely 18, though she was 22, according to Sirius. But in spite of her youth, she had produced a very favourable impression on him; a strange mix of weirdness and vivid intelligence. She was small and thin, with a smooth, heart-shaped face, enlightened by her vividly-coloured hair and her large dark eyes, sparkling mischievously. But in spite of this frail silhouette, there was smartness and self-confidence in her attitude. He frowned slightly, hoping that the job would not be too dangerous for such a young person…but after all, she was an Auror, and Charlie Weasley, for instance, was not older. He thought about himself, barely 18 when he had joined the Order during the first war. And now look at you, old prat, he thought bitterly. Running a hand through his hair, he sighed wearily. The full moon was in two weeks…
But then members started to come, inevitably pulling the bell and causing Mrs Black's portrait to yell dreadful insults that echoed in the whole house. He followed Sirius out of the room, trying not to smile while his friend headed to the corridor, growling insults like a grumpy dog.
One by one, people came in the kitchen, sitting around the large wooden table, talking enthusiastically, and Tonks observed them with equal enthusiasm. Many of them cast the young Auror a surprised glance, but some, like Emmeline Vance, a gifted witch she knew from the Ministry, smiled or nodded in a friendly way. A tall, strict-looking witch with a tight bun came towards her, rewarding Tonks with one of her rare smiles.
-Evening, Professor McGonagall, said Tonks, beaming.
- Hello, Miss Tonks, answered the witch. I must say I'm not surprised to see you there. It's good to see you again. I see you've finally found your way. Congratulations.
- Thanks, replied Tonks, her smile widening. She doubted the strict Transfiguration teacher had ever paid her such a compliment before. Most of the time, she had been busy reprimanding her for her lack of attention in class, her extravagant hair cuts, or her dreadful clumsiness (when she dropped her wand or knocked her neighbour with it).I mean I'm glad to see you too…you haven't changed!
- Neither have you, said the witch, her mouth twisting slightly while casting a furtive glance at the young girl's tomato-red hair.
Then she left to talk to Albus Dumbledore. With a flicker of disgust, she saw Severus Snape walk haughtily into the room, merely casting her a cold glance that she returned with equal ferventness and a sarcastic smile.
Finally, about thirty people sat around the table. Among them, Sirius, Lupin, Kingsley, Emmeline Vance, Snape, three Weasleys, the former Auror Mad-Eye Moody, several members of the Hogwart staff, Mundungus Fletcher, Dedalus Diggle, and many others she didn't know yet. There was a feeling of expectation emanating from the assembly. All the eyes were fixed on Dumbledore, who was sitting at the end of the table with a smile on his face. Tonks felt that in spite of the grave circumstances, her heart was pounding so fast with excitement that she thought everybody could hear it. Then the Headmaster opened his mouth, his deep voice echoing in the silent kitchen:
-Welcome to everyone for this new meeting. Before anything else, I would like to introduce this charming woman to those who don't know her yet, he said, gesturing to Tonks with a movement of his long hand.
The young witch waved a hand enthusiastically, trying hard not to laugh at the look of some people, who were staring blankly at her hair. This, added to the Headmaster's speech, reminded her irrepressibly of the Sorting Hat ceremony. Meeting Sirius's eyes, she saw them twinkle: no doubt he was finding this highly funny too.
-Please meet Nymphadora Tonks, continued Dumbledore.
-Call me Tonks, cutted the witch abruptly. She heard Sirius laugh in his bark-like way. Smiling, Dumbledore resumed his speech.
-Tonks, then, a young Auror that will, I have no doubt, be very helpful.
From the corner of her eyes, Tonks saw Snape smile contemptuously. But she quickly looked back at Dumbledore, who had now become grave.
-Fine, now that everything is settled… I declare the meeting open.
It was beyond all that she had expected. She felt so amazed that it sounded more like a dream than anything else. The Minister would have had a heart attack, had he known about the things accomplished by this underground organization. Nothing seemed to have been forgotten, from guarding the Department of Mysteries to sending messages to the giants. Everyone seemed to have a precise task, some highly dangerous, like Snape's (though she couldn't feel much empathy or concern towards him), others, like Mundungus's, who was to watch and, if necessary, protect Harry Potter, were less so, but all the members seemed very keen on doing anything to help. This atmosphere was highly enjoyable for someone surrounded by tedious officials keen on hiding all the suspect facts that could corroborate Voldemort's return.
The meeting lasted 2 hours, after which Tonks was delighted to be given her first assignment (a guard at the Ministry in two days). Then the meeting was declared closed, and people started to stand up, conversing cheerfully, straightening their cloaks around their shoulders to depart. Many had already vanished into thin air, yawning, eager to go to bed. Molly Weasley, standing near the sink, was busy conjuring food and elf-made wine for the people who wanted to have something to eat there.
Suddenly, the young Auror noticed a group of three people standing in a corner, a bit apart, apparently absorbed in a serious conversation. To her amazement, she recognized Snape, with the two persons he was less likely to have a casual chat with: Sirius and Lupin. Curiosity overwhelmed her; with all the silence she could manage, Tonks moved discreetly and miraculously, without breaking anything, she was able to come near enough to hear their discussion.
-I did a whole cauldron for the next fortnight, Lupin, said Snape coldly, disgust written on every line of his sallow face.
-Thanks, Severus, answered Lupin, smiling.
-And you'd better drink some tonight, continued Snape, his face revulsed with dislike and spitefulness. He seemed to take pleasure in elaborating on the subject. On the table near them, a small cauldron was fuming, a rather unpleasant smell emanating from it. Suddenly he was interrupted by Sirius, who had watched silently, frowning, his arms folded
-You know, Snivellus, you don't have to make such efforts. You like it, don't you? It's worth making the Potion just for this nasty game.
-Sirius, interrupted Lupin in a warning tone.
Snape's lips curved into a wicked smile, his eyes twinkling malevolently.
-You're right, Lupin…besides, you don't need a dog to protect you, do you? You're quite able to defend yourself. Beware you don't bite your puppy one night…
And he vanished with a sneer. Sirius was almost purple with rage, but Lupin looked merely weary, though anger had flashed for the first time in his grey eyes at Snape's last words. Suddenly both men turned their heads to look around them, and their eyes fell directly on her.
Shit, she thought. So much for discretion, Tonksie…pathetic. You couldn't look away for once? With a flicker of panick, she saw Lupin's eyes widen with shock. He looked startled for a second, but managed to straighten himself very fast. In truth, he felt panicked…he was sure she'd heard everything, and he didn't even have to use Occlumency to know that. He could read the questioning look in her darks eyes. Now look at you, he thought angrily. You'd better tell her straight from the beginning…but there was no point evading the subject any longer. He opened his mouth to speak, but she anticipated.
-Hey, she said, looking a bit guilty, but mostly concerned. I'm sorry I listened…is there something wrong?
He looked extremely ill-at-ease. He ran a hand through his greying hair, sighing.
-Well, to a certain extent, you might say so…
- Come on, Remus, you're such a bad liar, she interrupted, and he was amazed to see her smile. Behind him, he heard Sirius chuckle slightly, and felt slightly annoyed. There was nothing funny, really. Again, he opened his mouth, but again, she cut him off.
-Please, she said, sounding both caring and impatient. There's no need to look so grave. You're a werewolf, uh?
Both men stared at her blankly, open-mouthed, apparently speechless with amazement. She couldn't help but giggle.
-Well, after all, I am an Auror, she said, in a falsely dignified tone. An this Wolfsbane – she gestured to the potion- smells so awful that you'd never forget it once you've been unfortunate enough to smell it. How can you drink it, I mean, it smells like rotten eggs, doesn't it?
He looked at her silently for a moment, both amazed and incredibly grateful.
-Yeah, he said finally, smiling weakly. And it tastes like it too.
She chuckled.
-Too bad sugar makes it ineffective, uh? She looked in his eyes more seriously for a moment. See? You're a werewolf, so what? Who cares? You could have told me. I don't bite, you know.
Sirius bust out laughing, and she saw the first real smile she'd seen on Lupin face since their first encounter a few hours ago. The effect was striking: his whole face seemed to illuminate, and the golden glint in his eyes was much more visible. He looked younger and definitely quite handsome. She thought that she wouldn't mind making him laugh more often.
-You know, he said, still smiling warmly, you're the first woman who doesn't actually gasp when she is told of my …
-Furry little problem, interrupted Sirius.
Both of them burst out laughing. He had a nice laugh too, harmonious and spontaneous.
She grinned.
-I'm unique, she replied mischievously, arms opened in a triumphant gesture, and accidentally knocking Sirius hard in the chest.
-Thank God, he whispered, massaging his chest.
Both Lupin and Tonks chuckled.
-I'd better go, she said, straightening her cloak. Good luck for drinking this, Remus…I'll see you guys later.
And she vanished with one last wink in a swirl of robes.
-Clever girl, that Tonks, smiled Sirius.
-Indeed, whispered Remus, relief overwhelming him. For some reason, the Wolfsbane seemed to taste a bit better that evening.