When the group arrived back at Grimmauld Place, Ron immediately attempted to avoid helping with dinner, but failed miserably. Hermione willingly offered to help, joining Ginny who was peeling potatoes grumpily. The fiery redhead had not appreciated being left behind on her own.

Mrs Weasley gave a sympathetic glance to Harry as he entered.

"Good trip?" she asked and Harry nodded noncommittally. Molly handed Harry and Lupin a glass of juice each.

"Why don't you too sit down for a bit? You look tired. Tea will be ready in half an hour…Ginevra take those potato skins out of your brother's ears immediately!"

Harry took that as a dismissal, and he and Lupin made their way lazily to the drawing room.

Once seated, the pair sat in a brief silence.

"Thank you for coming with us today," Harry spoke up.

"You're welcome. Any time, honestly. Thank you for inviting me."

Harry took a rather large sip of his juice, and nearly choked when Lupin spoke again.

"So…Horcruxes," the elder prompted.

Harry wiped at his mouth.

"Ah, I thought you might have forgotten about that," the boy mumbled from behind his glass. Lupin looked at him intently.

"Harry, if you don't want to tell me, that's fine–"

"No, it's not that. It's just…Dumbledore told me not to."

Lupin nodded but said nothing. Harry fidgeted with his cuffs, thinking of what harm it could do to tell his former teacher about the soul-pieces. The man was such an important figure in Harry's life, quite possibly the only one Harry truly trusted now Dumbledore had gone. He had always been there for Harry. He had always wanted to be.

Putting down his glass decisively, Harry looked up to Lupin.

"Ok, here goes."

The boy shared with him all he knew, from Slughorn's memory to Dumbledore's final mission before his murder. However, he left out two slight details; that Tonks also knew about Horcruxes, and that R.A.B was somehow connected. Harry wasn't sure why he left out these pieces of information, but something compelled him to do so.

"So the Horcrux that you and Dumbledore retrieved–"

"Was a fake, yeah."

"How do you know?"

"It was a different locket from that in the memory…someone had obviously switched them."

"But who?" Lupin mused, chewing his lip in thought. Before Harry could respond, Mrs Weasley's voiced carried up the stairs, indicating that dinner was ready.

"You know, Harry. If I can help you in any way–"

"I'll ask," Harry finished for the man. He knew Lupin was sincere, and was suddenly pleased that he'd shared the secret with the man. It felt as if half the burden had already been lifted.

The wizards made their way into the kitchen. Harry sat next to Ginny and offered her a slight smile. She returned it before turning to Hermione and carrying on their whispered discussion.

Half way through the meal, Mrs Weasley gave a huff.

"Where has that Nymphadora got to?"

"She said she wasn't hungry," Ginny told her mother. Harry looked up quickly.

"Tonks is back?" he asked eagerly, causing frowns of confusion from Molly, Ginny and Lupin.

"Yes, dear. She arrived back a bit before you four. Merlin knows where she's been. And she's in a foul mood I might add."

Harry rose hurriedly from his seat but Molly gave him a reprimanding glance.

"Finish your tea Harry. Tonks isn't going anywhere."

Harry sat down glumly.

He ate zealously, but knew he couldn't leave until everyone else had finished. Harry felt sick as he watched his friends finish their meal, chatting casually to each other. When Mrs Weasley offered him a slice of chocolate cake Harry had to pass for two reasons; he wanted to see Tonks, and he feared that it would resurface later in the evening.

"Remus, how about you?"

"Thank you Molly, but no." Harry heard the man say as the boy darted up the stairs. As he reached Tonks' room he took a deep breath, as nausea had overcome him. He knocked tentatively. There was no reply.

Harry gave a stubborn frown and tried another time. Again, there was no response. Harry went to try the doorknob, when voice behind him made him startle.

"She's not in there Harry." Lupin joined him on the landing.

"Then where?" Harry asked himself rather than Lupin. Immediately he knew. He darted down the hall and up another flight of steps. Coming to a halt at the attic door, Harry noticed that Lupin had followed him.

"You think she's in the attic?" Remus asked sceptically. Harry didn't answer, and the two of them crept up the dusty steps into the dim loft.

"Tonks?" Harry called out, and heard a clatter from the same corner he had found her in the previous time.

"Merlin, Harry! You almost gave me a heart attack!" she exclaimed, coming into the light.

"That's not me Tonks, that's all the McDonald's you eat," Harry told her sardonically. The witch narrowed her eyes mock-menacingly.

"Oh hello Remus," she said bluntly as if she had only just noticed the man standing there.

"Hello Nymphadora," he replied similarly, causing her to wrinkle her nose.

"Where have you been?" Harry asked her. He was trying to sound casual, but he was desperate to know. The Auror shrugged.

"About. You know."

Harry didn't. He gave her a suspicious glance and she returned it with a curt smile.

"Anyway, I'm kinda tired so I think I'll go to bed." Tonks passed them with her head down. Harry noticed that, once again,she held a pile of ancient books tightly to her chest.

"Goodnight gentlemen."

She left the wizards stood staring at each other in perplexity. Once Harry was convinced she had left, he crossed over to the old wooden dresser, where Tonks had been sneaking around. He pulled open several drawers, feeling the dust tickle his nostrils. They were all empty. Lupin took a step closer in interest.

"What are you looking for?" he asked the boy. Harry shook his head vaguely.

No, not him…Tonks.

He wished he had realised that, when he first caught her lurking around. She wasn't looking for a place to hide the books and parchment; she was taking it from the attic! Harry wished he had checked the other day, and mentally kicked himself for not doing so. It was so obvious, looking back.

"Uh, nothing…Come on, it's filthy up here. Let's go downstairs."

After returning to the main building, Harry quickly excused himself from Lupin's presence, and retired to bed to mull over his trip to Godric's Hollow, Tonks' strange behaviour and the unknown identity of R.A.B. Were they some how linked? Harry fell asleep with the thought, a frown crinkling his forehead.

Tonks lay on her back, on her hard bed. She held in her fingers, a ring. It caught the light as she twirled it carefully, studying it with great intent. Her 'mission', as she had called it, had been exhausting; emotionally more than physically. The Auror wanted nothing more than to sleep, but her mind buzzed. She also knew she had more important things to do that night…so sleep was out of the question. Perhaps a little nap won't hurt, she decided. Putting the ring under her bed (along with the stash of parchment and notebooks), Tonks rolled onto her side and closed her eyes.

A sudden knock came at her door, causing them to snap open again.

"Can I come in?" came a muffled query, causing Tonks to sit up.

"No, I'm naked."

The door opened anyway, and Remus Lupin stood in the jamb.

"An obvious bluff," he said casually. Tonks smiled at him. He began to cross the room when an abrupt question caused him to stop.

"What do you want?"

Remus crossed his arms across his chest defiantly, in an attempt to hide the hurt that had suddenly crept into his stomach and settled there like lead.

"Well a goodbye would have been nice." He struggled to keep the bitterness from his tone. Tonks studied him closely. She crossed her legs under herself.

"Don't tell me you missed me, Remus." She gave a hollow laugh. "Well, I'm sorry if you're upset by it but, as you constantly remind me, we are in the middle of a war! I had to leave on a mission at short notice and now I'm back. No harm done."

"Who authorised it? The Ministry or the Order? I've spoken to Kingsley. He doesn't seem to have a clue where you've been. No one does."

"I authorised it," Tonks sneered indignantly. "I'm not a child Remus, stop treating me like one!" she snapped. Remus blinked at her, his face blank but his heart giving a jolt of anguish.

"I was worried about you," he told her quietly.

Tonks gave a small sigh and held out her hand, indicating for him to take it.

After hesitation he did, and sat beside her on the bed.

"I'm sorry, Remus. I'm just tired." Her words were truthful, and he knew it. Tonks was forced to remember the days, months even, sitting and thinking about the man, surrounded by malevolent werewolves, unable to contact anyone about his well-being. It had broken her heart. She feared for him more than herself; because she loved him more than she ever thought possible. Tonks gave a weak smile. It was flattering that he had cared. She pulled him into an embrace and breathed him in deeply. Merlin, she had missed him!

"Where have you been?" he asked into her shoulder. Tonks winced slightly in discomfort.

"I can't tell you, Remus. Please don't ask. Trust me, ok? Like I trust you. I trust you with my life. Can you do that for me?"

Remus gave a weak nod.

"I'll try."

Tonks squeezed him before letting him go. She planted a gentle kiss on his forehead.

"Now get outta here. This grumpy hag needs her beauty sleep."

Remus crossed to the door.

"Goodnight Nymphadora. Sweet dreams." He closed the door behind him and Tonks flinched, squeezing her eyes tight shut and letting a pent-up tear fall onto her pillow.

She was betraying his trust, and she hated herself for it. But Tonks knew it had to be done. She only hoped that, in the end, he would forgive her.

Remus made his way wearily down the kitchen stairs. Molly had already cleared away the dishes, and Remus felt guilty for not offering to help. Kingsley Shacklebolt sat by the woman, eating a plate of food, which she had made up for him. He nodded at Lupin in greeting.

"How's Tonks? Has she cheered up at all?" Molly asked. Remus gave a shrug as he plonked himself down in the vacant seat next to her.

"She's ok," he lied. Molly Weasley was not an easily fooled woman. Remus knew this. He gave a frustrated sigh as Molly continued to stare at him expectantly.

"I don't know, Molly. Was it too much to ask for, having the old Tonks back? I thought she was happier, even with Dumbledore being taken from us. She certainly looks a lot healthier. But all of a sudden she's become withdrawn again. She is keeping secrets from me, from us all! To be honest…I'm not sure if I trust her," the man admitted regretfully. Molly frowned in concern. Kingsley remained subdued.

"She's going through a rough time Remus. We all are," Molly reminded him. "We need to support her, not judge and suspect her. This is war, Remus. People change. Not always for the better, but she's still our Tonks."

Remus nodded at these words, knowing they were true.

"I thought I could cope with this. I mean, we're hardly in a relationship. I'm not really sure what you might call it. That's what makes it so difficult. I'm trying so hard to understand her, but it's not easy when she's constantly changing…and I don't mean her hair," he added with a shadow of a smile. The kitchen fell silent as the three Order members mused on Lupin's words.

"You know, the children have noticed," he commented softly. Molly nodded.

"Of course they have. There's not a lot that'd get past that bunch. Sharp as knives. Don't worry Remus," Molly reassured him, patting his arm affectionately. "Give her time. We'll all be there for us, if she needs us."

"I'll keep an eye out for her at work," Kingsley added. Remus nodded to him in gratitude.

He knew Tonks wasn't a child. She was perfectly capable of looking after herself. But everybody fell sometimes. Remus only hoped that he would be there to catch her…before she did something he knew she'd regret.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews :)

I don't like this chapter. I dunno why. Review and let me know what you think. Next chapter is already written and will be up soon. It's better than this poop!

I've just planned this whole fic in scary detail! I never meant for it to be as long as it's now going to be. I hope you guys are enjoying it so far.