Summary: Tonks and Remus at the Wolf Rock Lighthouse after the night of full moon.

NYMPH vs WOLF
The Scilly Man

Wolf Rock Lighthouse
4 years ago

The Wolf Rock Lighthouse was clearly the abode of a poor man. Stairs creaked, new cracks would appear as soon as old ones were patched, and the furniture was old and worn. The structure always needed work, but some of the magic necessary for permanent repairs was quite costly. The current owner did his best to keep his house together with his limited resources. Most of the money he gained from the odd teaching job was put right back into the house, but he felt he had no choice unless he were to become homeless.

The major problem with living in an enchanted lighthouse was that every single room was on a different level. The parlor was actually the top of seven habitable floors where the entry into the house actually appeared. Below that was the library, then the kitchen, three bedrooms with lavatories, and the cell. Each room except the cell had windows, but these were hidden from anyone viewing the lighthouse.

The lighthouse had its good points, though. The lantern at the top had a magical fire that automatically lit at dusk and dark, cloudy days. Around that was a platform that encircled the lighthouse. This landing was filled with planters containing all manner of vegetation that of late had run wild. One had to practically be on the platform before they were detectable due to an enchantment, however. The plants provided fruits and vegetables while the sea provided another source of protein. The fare was limited, but prevented the man from starving outright.

Still, one of the truly nice things about Wolf Rock was the pool that nature had carved at the base of the lighthouse. It was circular, about five meters in diameter, but it was the source of wonder for a curious boy who had no friends. A small tidal pool at one edge would fill so he could watch the crustaceans and fish trapped by the tide. But the pool itself was magically filled with water diverted from a warm spring. It made the desolate place a paradise for the unusual boy who dwelled there.

But now the curious boy was a grown man and Remus Lupin had suffered a very bad full moon. The cell at the deepest level of the lighthouse attested to the savage brutality of the night. It had taken him a full hour to crawl back up to his proper bedroom after dawn had broken his curse.

He slept some more, but then forced himself to stir when he heard an owl pecking at the window. A note from Alastor Moody read: Keep watch for intruder today and notify me. No danger to you.

Lupin just rubbed his face and used the directive as an excuse to get up for the day. He brewed some tea, grabbed his favorite tall stool, and began scanning the environ of Wolf Rock from the spyglass at his parlor window. He would prefer basking in the pool to soothe his aches, but he never uncovered his body in front of others. With Moody's warning about an intruder, it was safest to remain in the tower.

Lupin had just gotten settled on the stool when a rider on a broom buzzed across his window. He quickly put his eye to the spyglass to find the rider doing lazy loops down to the natural pool. The rider was short and had blonde hair, but that was about the limit he could detect. The robes flowed around the body, so Lupin assumed it was just a youth out hunting for a shell.

Indeed, the rider soon landed by the tidal pool and picked up a conch shell. A little victory dance ensued with hands waving and body shaking, so Lupin laughed at the antics of the spirited lad. He would not report anything to Moody other than the recovery of the shell.

But then the rider did a peculiar thing. The robe slipped off to reveal a female dressed in a t-shirt and cargo pants. Lupin felt his breath catch in his throat and told himself to quit watching. He knew how inviting the pool could be on a day like this.

"Be a good little girl and be on your way," murmured Lupin. .

But the trainers and socks flew off in the direction where she had laid her broom. Lupin thought for a moment she'd be content just to soak her feet, but no.

"Oh, no, don't you--" he began.

But she did. Off went the shirt and down came the cargo pants.

"Just close your eyes or look away," Lupin admonished himself, but his body refused to comply, although he did resist the temptation to magnify the image further. He had to maintain some semblance of discretion.

He noted with relief that the witch didn't resort to skinny dipping, but tapped her shoulder with her wand so that now she wore a bikini. She let herself settle into the pool, then leaned against the smooth rock. Although he couldn't see it, he could feel the smile of contentment on her face. He'd keep watch over her to make sure she was safe, he told himself.

"Water nymph," he murmured as he settled to keep watch. And through the years he almost managed to convince himself that indeed that was what he had witnessed that afternoon.

- - - - - - - - - -

Diagon Alley, Present Day

Nymphadora Tonks looked at the mountain of ice cream in front of her as she sat at a table at Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor in Diagon Alley. A scoop of every variation of chocolate was in her bowl, but it was just the thing she needed at mid-afternoon.

This morning she had found Wimples, her newly adopted were-rabbit, curled up and gently snoring in an old top hat that had been left by the last resident of her flat. It made her think of someone else recovering after the night of the full moon. Was Lupin all right? Did he need any help? And why the hell did she care when he clearly had been content to have her walk out the door last night? A blue mood had immediately overtaken her.

Then in the late morning, she and Kingsley Shacklebolt had tangled with five wizards who had been capturing merpeople to sell into slavery in foreign private pools. The perpetrators had been left with one broken nose, three black eyes, and one wizard twice her size with an inability to stand, all courtesy of the "little strawberry tart."

Still, the successful, if violent, arrest had not left her satisfied. Moreover, Rufus Scrimgeour had sent her out for her late lunch so she could, "Think about how to conduct yourself in the professional manner expected of Aurors rather than some wild-eyed valkyrie!"

Valkyrie. Tonks had to bite back a groan when Scrimgeour used the term. It had completely lacked the teasing quality that Lupin had used.

Lupin. This time she did groan aloud with only the mound of chocolate for sympathy. She was about to scoop out her first bite when she heard someone comment on the size of her sundae.

"Mon dieu, my stomach eez upset just to see so much crême glacée."

Tonks looked up to see Bill Weasley with a pretty blonde woman who had the French accent. She offered a crooked smile at the pair and said, "Wotcher, Bill."

"Tonks, how are you? Let me introduce you to Fleur Delacour," said Bill before turning to the young woman at his side. "Fleur, this is Tonks, an old classmate of mine."

The young woman dipped gracefully while Tonks waved her fingers. Perfect. All she needed was a reminder of everything she wasn't. Still, Tonks asked, "Are you here on holiday?"

"No, Fleur is working at Gringott's now," said Bill before Fleur could speak for herself, but the woman accepted this with a thankful smile to Bill.

"I hope you're getting settled into London," offered Tonks.

"Oh, I'm taking care to show her around, help her with her English," said Bill amiably. He nodded one last time before turning away. "Come on, Fleur, would you like a sundae like Tonks has?"

"Bill, eet iz not possible for one to eat so much! Eet would all go to my hips. I weel just have a bite of yours, no?"

As Fleur strategically walked ahead of Bill to the counter, Tonks noticed Bill's attention was on the aforementioned hips that were gently swaying. Men! Actually, why couldn't someone who wasn't a drunken sot ogle her that way? Someone like--

She needed to stop her brain before the thought went further, so she rebelliously took a large spoonful of ice cream and stuffed it in her mouth. Two seconds later she was cringing at the brain freeze. But she cringed some more when her eyes fell on Bill and Fleur engaging in their flirtation. How could Bill put up with Fleur feeding him? He was a robust fellow; why would he--

Tonks almost dropped her spoon when Fleur reached out to wipe away some ice cream that had melted in a streak down his chin. Then she licked it off of her finger without making the action appear at all vulgar. Okay, maybe she could learn something here? Tonks continued to covertly observe the pair while shoveling the mound of ice cream down her throat. For all of Fleur's delicate manners, she managed to spend an awful lot of time touching Bill.

Then her attention was caught by the throaty laugh of a woman who had just appeared at the counter. Emmeline Vance was there with a handsome young wizard about Tonks' own age. Yes, that would be Avery Lannister who had his arm rather possessively around her waist. When Emmeline caught sight of Tonks, she demurely extracted herself and walked over.

Tonks looked down with uncertainty. How could she tell Sirius? How could she keep this from him? She couldn't bear to break her cousin's heart, but how could she let him be used?

"Tonks, isn't it?" Emmeline's voice was calm and friendly.

Tonks looked up and nodded. Emmeline was the picture of composure and her languid grace made Tonks feel quite immature. She forced herself to look directly into her eyes and keep her mouth shut. It's what Lupin would do, she was certain.

Emmeline took the nod as an invitation to sit down. "Tonks, I just thought I should explain something to you before you got the wrong idea."

"Right," said Tonks agreeably. So was Avery her cousin or something? A gay friend?

"I don't like to confine myself to one lover and Sirius knows this. In fact, all those years ago, when I gave him my virginity--"

"Do I really need to know the details?" interrupted Tonks.

"The point is, Sirius is not only the one who taught me the joys of loving, but another important lesson. You should be in love for that moment you're with someone, but for some of us it will only be the moment's fantasy. When it's over, you move on, sometimes to return, but always with the freedom of knowing that it's best to love whom you please when you please."

"Is that a justification for being fickle?" asked Tonks as she cocked her head.

Emmeline simply laughed. "Oh, Tonks, don't tell me a modern girl like you is that naive? I'm not easy with my affections, but I certainly am not the exclusive property of one man. Why, in this day and age, we witches can celebrate our sexuality. We're not constrained to monogamous relationships; that's so old fashioned!"

Emmeline managed an elegant flip of her hair over her shoulders as she said this. Tonks added her own hollow laugh. "Funny, but I rather envy Molly Weasley her monogamous relationship over your freedom."

"Well, you're a little prude, aren't you? Are you sure you and Sirius are cousins? Because you sound more like Remus Lupin and his rather stolid view of life."

"Emmeline, I'm not condemning your preferences; they just aren't mine And I'll consider myself in good company with Remus Lupin."

Emmeline added with a shudder, "The only thing you'll get in his company is a boring lecture on defense against the Dark Arts. Remus could never be anything but a shadow of a man compared to Sirius. In fact, you might attend to your cousin's needs next time. It would open your eyes."

Tonks was blushing furiously now. She well understood that liaisons with close cousins were accepted in the Wizarding world, but this suggestion was too much. "I'll leave that service to you, Emmeline. I'm sure Sirius only has brotherly feelings towards me."

Emmeline laughed again, "Then find yourself a man who isn't your cousin who can show you the ropes, Tonks. You don't know what you're missing. Why, you can become any man's fantasy! What a wasted talent."

"I don't want to be any man's fantasy and my life, dull as it is, is quite fine by me, Emmeline," muttered Tonks. She had long decided against using sex as a bandage for loneliness, but this discussion was verging on painful. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to finish my ice cream before it melts."

Emmeline sat quietly for a moment. Her next words were spoken quite sincerely. "Look, Tonks, I'm sorry if I said something to upset you, but I don't apologize for my lifestyle. And I do care about Sirius or I wouldn't have spent all that time with him the other night just to get him properly aroused. The Sirius I knew would have had me pinned against the wall as soon as I stepped through the door."

Tonks closed her eyes for a moment. Why were some women so free with details? "Thank you for taking care of Sirius, Emmeline. Obviously you two have an understanding and that's fine, but I don't intend to tell him about seeing you here today. "

Emmeline patted Tonks' shoulder gently. "Don't waste your youth, Tonks. I've seen what that's done to Remus over the years. You don't want to end up like him."

Tonks looked out the window as Emmeline made her graceful exit. Was it just four days ago that Tonks had flattened the Professor in the stairway? And boring was certainly not the first adjective that came to mind when she thought of Remus Lupin. She knew that Emmeline Vance had been a year behind the Marauders at Hogwarts, so how could Emmeline have known Lupin for all these years and still know so little about him? Or perhaps Tonks was the one with the distorted view of the man? Or perhaps Tonks was the one who had been allowed to see the real Remus Lupin?

- - - - - - - - - - - -

She was still pondering this when she was walking home in the early evening. Perhaps Emmeline's advice about getting on with her personal life was a good one. Tonks didn't have to sacrifice her standards to jump into the dating game. She could be selective--that is if she could even attract the interest of an acceptable man. So as she passed the bookstore where Lupin had sought refuge, she followed her impulse to go inside. She skimmed the titles and actually purchased a book.

She had just stepped out of the bookstore and walked two paces when the loud pop of an apparation jarred her senses. Luckily at this time of day Muggle London was abuzz with traffic, so no one paid attention to another vehicle backfiring.

"Tonks, the Order needs you," said Alastor Moody as he pulled her aside.

"An attack?" asked Tonks.

"Where?" Moody jumped back and looked around, peering suspiciously at a middle-aged woman who snarled back at him.

"Mad-eye, I meant has there been an attack on someone? " asked Tonks as she pulled him out of the thoroughfare. Then an alarm went off in her mind. "It's not Lupin, is it?"

"Yes, it is Lupin in fact," confirmed Moody. "He's in urgent need of rescue."

"Well, let's go. I swear, the man can't watch his back without me. Where was he attacked?"

"Lupin wasn't attacked."

"But I thought you said he needed rescuing?"

"Aye, he does, but not from an attack. He'll be staying at Grimmauld Place and needs to get some of his things over. Best done under cover of the night, what with broom transport, but he'll have to make two trips in order to bring his vitrola with him. He can't leave it at the lighthouse."

Tonks rubbed her forehead. "Wait. You're asking me to give up a night's sleep just so that Professor R.J. Lupin can bring his toys with him to London?"

"In truth, Lupin first asked for you, but then said he didn't want to bother you anymore. It's not like him to ramble like that, really. Then Bill Weasley volunteered to go since he was near the floo at headquarters and heard us talking, but he has guard duty tonight. So I said I'd track you down since you're the one Lupin really wants, but if you'd rather pull guard duty, then Bill will go and, of course, I can't go seeing as how I'll be leaving with the shipment of creatures in the morning--"

"Remus asked for me?" Tonks was finally able to get the words out. Moody's first admission had left her dumbstruck.

"Are you deaf, girl? I said so, didn't I?" Moody's eye was twirling suspiciously in her direction. "So, is it guard duty or hauling duty?"

Tonks opened her mouth, but couldn't get the words out. Lupin had asked for her. "Uh, ah, ooh, duh, ahem."

"Funny, that's what Lupin said after he asked for you. Is this some private code you've developed?" Moody seemed to be inspecting Tonks now with suspicion now.

"Yes!"

"Well why do the two of you need a code?"

"Nonowe'renotusingcodeImeantI'llgohelpLupin." The words tumbled out of Tonks in a rush.

"You're doing it again. That's exactly how Lupin sounded when he said he didn't want to bother you. Strange." Moody thrust his head forward so his magic eye could get a closer look.

"Alastor Moody," said Tonks very slowly. "I. Will. Go. Help. Lupin."

"Well why didn't you say that in the first place!"

Tonks took a deep breath. "I assume Remus is still at the Wolf Rock Lighthouse and not at Land's End?"

"Yes, but remember, the Muggles think it's just off the coast at Land's End. "

"I know, I'll apparate to Land's End, then bear to the illusion lighthouse, fly right through the decoy, and I'll be at the real Wolf Rock on the Eastern Isles of Scilly. You made me find it when I was your apprentice, remember?"

"Yes, Lupin was my spotter that day, but I doubt he got a good look at you then."

Tonks suddenly blushed. "You had a spotter? I thought I was just supposed to find the magic seashell as evidence of being there?"

"Additional verification is always a must, Tonks," asserted Moody. "What are you standing around for? Go on."

"Right," said Tonks as she quickened her pace to her flat. Lupin couldn't have seen anything other than her broom buzzing overhead even if he was at the lighthouse all those years ago. There were no windows, so he had to be looking from the platform. The witch sighed in relief at the thought and soon arrived at her flat.

She needed to feed Wimples, get her broom and harness, change her clothes. What did the fashionable witch wear to an enchanted lighthouse? Since when had she been a fashionable witch?

"And it's not like this is a date," said Tonks to Wimples as she tossed him a leafy radish. So why had she taken a shower? And why did she change into a light blue shirt, an aqua color that her mother once said suited her, with flowing sleeves?

Wimples sniffed at the radish, then at the sleeve of her shirt, and flashed his ears.

"Right, Remus just thinks I'm some work horse," said Tonks glumly. "And I don't even want him to like me like that, so that's fine. Just fine."

She stood up and tapped her broom on the floor impatiently. "Well, this work horse can wear whatever she wants, Professor, so, so, Merlin! If he says one word about the way I'm dressed, I'll turn his precious vitrola into a cauldron of pea soup!"

Meanwhile across town, Moody was walking down the street after telling Bill Weasley he still had guard duty at the Ministry. Although his next task was to owl Lupin about his imminent visitor, Moody got distracted when he found a Muggle beeper on the street. The contraption kept making the odd noise and sending numbers. In fact, the peculiar instrument occupied the Auror's attention until the morning.

The Professor had no idea what was flying his way this night.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Wolf Rock Lighthouse

Remus Lupin had been very slow today as he recovered from the full moon at Wolf Rock. In fact he lay in his bed until midday with the familiar creaks of the old lighthouse lulling him into a sense of safety.

While Lupin didn't have much to pack in the way of clothing, selecting the set of books he would need and various artifacts he held that the Order might find useful was time consuming. He also realized that he would need the help of another rider on broom to transport his effects.

As his own house wasn't on the floo network, he had to travel to the bakery in St. Martin's to contact Alastor Moody about sending help. The Auror had listened with approval to the list, but then urged Lupin to bring his old vitrola with him. Moody had insisted, "Can't let you travel without it!"

Lupin groaned out loud as he remembered his conversation with Moody. Why had he let Tonks name slip out like that? "Because she's been on your mind all day, you blubbering git!"

Lupin leaned back against the high-backed armchair and just stared out of his window for a moment. He didn't have to close his eyes to see her face in front of him. Or to hear her laughter or smell the light perfume she wore. Or to feel her hand against his cheek. Or to remember her soft skin under the palm of his hand.

"Remus Lupin, you have become an old lecher."

Lupin tried to clear his mind and picked up his cup of tea to enjoy a moment of peace before venturing into the night. It had been a cloudy day with a lot of rain, so darkness came early. Moody had not owled or sent a Patronus to confirm recruiting someone to help him, so the Professor was resigned to making two trips to London tonight. He just wanted one valkyrie-free moment before the long ride ahead.

His thoughts turned to a memory of a water nymph he had once spied at the natural pool at the base of Wolf Rock. It had been several years ago and her image had not been clear, but now he was replacing the nymph with the image of his valkyrie.

"Lupin, you're not supposed to be thinking about her," he groaned, but his attention was soon drawn away from his fantasy.

Thunk. Splat. "Eek!" Bbbrrrnng.

Lupin sat up and looked at the stairs that lead up to the landing. He recognized that eek. The tell-tale sound of a rim oscillating as the large planter overturned and settled to capture the intruder let him know exactly what had happened.

When he opened the door, his sight confirmed his suspicions when he spotted the overturned planter. Why hadn't Moody told him she was coming?

"Ptew. Yuck." The voice was muffled by a rather large piece of crockery.

"Nymphadora," Lupin calmly began, but then followed with a completely dim-witted question, "are you in there?"

"Of course I'm in here, you Scilly man! And if you don't get this overgrown crock pot off of me, I'm going to fill it with your favorite vegetable!"

"Hold your peas," said Lupin rather urgently. The pot immediately righted to reveal a Tonks-sized glob of mud sitting on his landing.

"And to think I actually volunteered to help you," grumbled Tonks, although all Lupin could see was her mouth. "And don't call me Nymphadora."

"I'm truly sorry, Tonks, but Moody never confirmed that anyone was coming or I would have deactivated the alarm."

Tonks wiped the sludge off of her eyes and opened them. "I must look like a bloody raccoon."

"More like a Japanese tanuki," said Lupin mildly as he offered a hand to the woman. Perfect. How could she not hate him now?

"Fine, then, but would you explain to me why I'm standing here looking like a freshly plucked mandrake?" Tonks was now standing with her hands on her hips as she demanded an answer. Little dollops of mud were dripping off of her long sleeves as they trailed off at her elbows. Plop. Plop.

Lupin lightly tapped her shoulder with his wand and all the mud scurried back into the large planter. "It's a ward an ancestor devised against intruders, but for future reference, you just have to say 'Kas yw genev losow' when you land."

"Cause I've gone and lost a sow?"

"No, it's Kas yw genev losow," repeated Lupin as he traced the words in the air with his wand.

"Oh, it's Cornish," said Tonks as she recognized the language. "My Dad taught me a few phrases as a child. Wait. Doesn't that mean 'I hate vegetables.' "

"There isn't a good translation for peas," admitted Lupin.

"I'm beginning to think you have a very strong aversion to those legumes," said Tonks.

"Look, let me appease you--No. I did not just say that," said Lupin with a slap to his forehead.

"See? At least I can blame my Dad."

"And I can blame the corrupting influence of his daughter," said Lupin in his defense. Then he looked at her disheveled appearance and wet clothing. He really had no idea how to entertain a young lady at the lighthouse--or anywhere else, for that matter, but he knew she must feel uncomfortable. "What's important is that you're here and, well, do you want to get out of those clothes?"

Tonks blushed and Lupin immediately followed with, "I meant you look wet and miserable. Look, just let me show you where you can freshen up before I say something that'll make you slap me again."

"Fair enough," agreed Tonks as she summoned her broom from the floor.

"Er, right then, follow me," said Lupin. He was hesitant to follow through on his offer. He had intended to wait for his help with his cargo on the landing to the lighthouse. Now Tonks would see the decrepit state of the house. She'd probably think it a perfect match for its owner, though.

Lupin's courteous nature got the better of him, although he took her broom and set it against the parlor wall in silence. This continued as he lead her down one set of creaking stairs. Then another and another and another and--

"How many ruddy stairs are there in this house?" moaned Tonks.

"Too many," agreed Lupin readily.

"Can't we apparate?"

"It's charmed against apparation, so there's no getting round the stairs unless you're small enough to slide down the banisters. We do have a dumb waiter for passing items through the levels, though. Sometimes it even works, but it's easier just to levitate cargo up the stairs."

"What are these rooms we're passing?" asked Tonks in great curiosity.

"Parlor, library, kitchen. Then two bedrooms, but the facilities don't work. You can use this room," said Lupin as they left the hall and opened a door.

The room was plainly furnished, but had a wall of books and an odd assortment of maps covering any open space on the walls. "The loo's through the door there. I'll have tea for us in the parlor where the crates are ready for loading."

- - - - - - - - - -

The door closed firmly and Tonks almost tossed herself on the bed. What a wonderful entrance! "Wotcher, Remus, remember me? The mud puppy?"

So much for trying to appear competent and feminine. She quickly finished her ministrations and hopped up the steps with her shirt back in its pristine form. Then, just as she got to the top step to enter the parlor, she stumbled and landed at the Professor's feet.

Tonks gave up. She rolled over onto her back and pillowed her head with her arms only to find Lupin peering down at her in concern. She murmured, "You really are too bloody tall."

"And I think you're getting too comfortable. Come on, up you go. We've a long ride ahead," said Lupin as he pulled her to her feet.

But as he she rose, their gaze met and Lupin hesitated just a moment before realizing there was no reason to continue touching her. He abruptly moved away before she vented her displeasure at him. "Tea?"

"Yeah, make mine plain, thanks," said Tonks when she could find her voice. She sat in the other armchair by the coffee table and fidgeted for a moment until she finally decided to say something, anything, to deal with the awkward silence.

"I'm glad I was able to find Wolf Rock again. I was worried I wasn't heading at the Muggle lighthouse with sufficient speed."

"Again?" asked Lupin, then he suddenly looked uncomfortable. "You've actually come here before?"

"Yeah, when I was an apprentice, I had to retrieve a magic conch from the base of Wolf Rock. Mad-eye never told me he had a spotter, though. I thought the lighthouse was uninhabited. You don't see the plants on the landing until you're on top of them."

Lupin cleared his throat. He now understood why Tonks had seemed so familiar to him at the Randy Boar. But was his water nymph really his valkyrie? The words slipped out of him without thinking. "You were wearing your hair blonde."

"You saw me that closely?" Tonks asked, and followed Lupin's gaze as it went to a spyglass at the window. Window! She started blushing, then she got annoyed. "You, you should have made your presence known instead of, of spying--Oh, Merlin!"

"Moody didn't specify he was testing an apprentice. He just said to tell him if I saw any intruder," said Lupin.

"So you only saw me find the magic seashell?" asked Tonks in relief.

Lupin was silent. He could confirm her question and that would be the end of it, but it would also be a lie. Oh, how he wished he were Sirius at the moment. However, his silence alone was damning.

"You saw me, didn't you? And you just let me frolic in a private pool?"

"I couldn't very well go down and introduce myself to you," said Lupin in exasperation. "I don't fancy being hexed into the Old Kingdom."

The words then began tumbling out of Tonks as she leaned over the table to face Lupin. "Look, I never would have gone swimming in the pool if I'd known someone was at the lighthouse! You should have, I don't know, sent an owl--"

"I don't have one."

"Sent a Patronus?" suggested Tonks a bit louder.

"You wouldn't have understood," replied Lupin as he, too, leaned forward.

"Tossed a rock at me?"

"Most folks don't take kindly to projectiles."

"Screamed at me from your window?" Tonks was practically screaming now in example.

"My voice won't carry against the sea." Lupin's hoarse voice belied his words.

Their noses were practically touching in their confrontation. Tonks began, "Well, you, I, I-- I--thanks for not telling Mad-eye about, about my lapse in judgment."

Tonks sat down and turned her back to Lupin. Wonderful to know she had been embarrassing herself in front of this man for years. At least she had the modesty to transform her bra and nickers into a bikini on that afternoon.

"What exactly could I have told him?" asked Lupin as he also sat back in his chair. "Alastor, I spotted the target and then spent the next hour playing voyeur?"

He huffed in disgust of himself. He really was an old lecher, wasn't he? He was certain Tonks wouldn't want to have anything to do with him now.

In the meantime Tonks realized that she had been ogled by a man who was not a drunken sot. A very intelligent, non-lecherous sort of man, in fact. She peered at Lupin over her shoulder and said defensively, "It was not an hour."

"Right, it was eighty-six minutes that I spied on a water nymph sunbathing," said Lupin glumly. Might as well admit it all. He sat there quietly looking down at the table waiting for Tonks to hex him for watching her all those years ago. And in truth, he couldn't blame her. Or if she was feeling merciful, she'd just walk out his door.

Two words registered through her distress. Water nymph? That made her sound appealing and desirable and feminine. She couldn't bring herself to look at him. She also couldn't believe she was asking, "So, did you like what you saw?"

Her question caught him by surprise, but he interpreted it as sarcasm. He chuckled softly and asked, "Isn't that a damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don't question? Of course I liked what I saw. Now, if you're going to hex me, Nymphadora, just do it."

She kept her back turned toward him because she suddenly realized she had a stupid grin on her face. Tonks adjusted it into a smirk as she turned to face Lupin. "Oh, no, Professor, I'll get my payback, but it'll come when you least expect it."

Lupin narrowed his eyes suspiciously, although he was relieved she hadn't abandoned him. "Somehow I don't think that's a kindness."

"It's a necessity," said Tonks as she fell into her professional Auror mode. She had a mission here and needed time to savor the new bit of information about Lupin before she acted on it. "We've got to get you settled in Order headquarters tonight."

"It was good of you to come," said Lupin sincerely as he released a sigh. At least they could regain their professional relationship. "I apologize for the way things have turned out tonight."

Tonks smiled gently at him this time. "Remus, I don't regret coming to help you. In fact, this is just what I should have expected in a rather bad day. Scrimgeour chewed me out for using more force than necessary on a nasty bunch of kidnappers. Wound up at Fortescue's this afternoon attacking a giant sundae."

"Surely that brightened your spirits," said Lupin as he took a sip of his tea.

"Yeh, until I ran across Emmeline Vance," murmured Tonks as she rested her chin on a hand. "I saw her with some bloke and she felt compelled to explain her lifestyle to me."

"Ah," said Lupin as if he well understood.

"Don't tell me you have firsthand knowledge of her sexual freedom?" asked Tonks with a bit of alarm rising in her.

Lupin actually laughed at that thought. "No, other than her escapades with Sirius that is. I still can't believe the kitchen table." Lupin shook his head and then added, "I have seen her in the clutches of various men, but I always make a point of discussing defense against Dark Creatures that use regurgitation as their attack when I find myself in conversation with her. So I never got to hear about her other conquests."

Tonks laughed brightly at the image that Lupin had managed to convey to Emmeline over the years. No wonder she the other woman had found so boring. It was what Lupin intended.

"Emmeline does have unique ideas," said Tonks. "She even suggested that I--how did she put it? Attend to my cousin's needs next time."

Lupin felt his heart contract at the mere thought of such a thing. Was Tonks interested in her cousin? But if this is what Tonks wanted, who was he to discourage her? Why shouldn't he be an advocate for his best mate? Because plainly and simply, Tonks belonged more to him than she did to Sirius.

The thought shocked him. Although his mind understood that Tonks could never truly be his woman, his heart compelled him to say, "I think Sirius sees you like a little sister. "

He watched Tonks closely for signs of heartbreak, but she just smiled and nodded enthusiastically. "That's what I said."

Lupin didn't realize he was holding his breath until he found he could exhale. He thought of some way to change the subject and said, "I'm glad the mud didn't ruin your shirt. The aqua suits you."

"I thought about changing the color to pea soup green," she teased, "but I'm beginning to find the shade aversive. Thanks to you, Professor." She raised her teacup in salute.

"I see that as my personal mission in life," agreed Lupin with a nod.

Tonks was about to take a sip, but sputtered and starting laughing. It was one of those infectious laughs where one joins in without understanding what is so funny.

"What?" asked Lupin when he finally caught his breath.

Tonks regained her composure. "You don't believe in whirled peas?"

"Tell me this is payback for watching you sunbathing?" groaned Lupin as he put his head into his hands.

"Nope, it's for the mud bath you graciously provided at my arrival," said Tonks with a grin. But when he looked up, she reminded him as she held up a finger to halt whatever hex he was preparing, "I blame my dad, who in fact supports both world peace and whirled peas."

"I don't think he realizes what he unleashed upon the wizarding world."

"Don't tell me you don't have any peculiar relatives," said Tonks as she glanced at the portraits in the parlor.

There was a distinct pattern to their clothing, even the ones who were clearly pirates. Tonks considered Lupin's reference to being hexed into the Old Kingdom and asked, "Remus, are you descended from refugees of Lyonesse? The kingdom created by Tristram and Iseult?"

"That's the rumor, but from the bastard branch," admitted Lupin.

"So no wealth or prestige like the Blacks?" asked Tonks.

"Right, Trevilion, their son, rode the white horse out of the waves and onto Perranuthnoe when Lyonesse was lost to the sea on November 11, 1099. But Tristram had a bastard son, also named Tristram, who clung onto dear life at Wolf Rock. He had the help of a sea witch named Diuset, quite the hag apparently, but he became her lover as part of the bargain for saving his life and left her with a son."

Tonks frowned. "He didn't marry her?"

"No, but then, my line is full of bastards both in the literal and metaphorical sense. Tristram left Diuset after his year was up and promptly got himself eaten by the Cornish giant, Wrath of Portreath."

"So your progenitor's bones are lying in Ralph's Cupboard?" Tonks referred to the cave now named after the legendary giant.

"Frankly, I bless the hag that created my line; I think that's where we got our intellect. Rather than honor Tristram the Dimwit, Diuset gave the name of Lupin to her son and so it has been passed on ever since. This lighthouse has only existed since 1791, though."

"It may not be a noble heritage, but I must admit, this Diuset sounds quite colorful. She was probably better off without Tristram the Dimwit."

"Personally, I find the pirates in the family more interesting than the fops." Lupin rose and nodded to a portrait of a man in classic pirate gear. "This is Jack the Sea Wolf."

Tonks stood up to inspect the features. The pirate clearly winked at her after giving her an appraising look. The scoundrel then called to Lupin, "There's a nice wench! Well, come on, then. Let's see you steer your keel into her harbor."

Tonks stood there with her mouth hanging open, but Lupin just pushed her gently away from view as he said, "Sorry, Jack, no one's testing these waters. Go back to your mermaids."

And indeed in the background, two mermaids were sitting on a rock blowing kisses to the pirate. "Ye've got no heart..."

Tonks was laughing at the antics of the pirate as she sat back down. "He must make for entertaining company."

"Jack is rather annoying, but you're right, one can never be alone with him around," agreed Lupin. They both took another sip of tea as they found themselves relaxing with each other.

Tonks glanced out the window and saw the waning moon. As it was still quite full, she asked Lupin, "Did you have a good night last night? I mean, I'm sure a transformation can never be good. Even changing my hair color sends prickles down my spine, but, I..."

Tonks' voice dropped off, but then she controlled her embarrassment and said, "I was watching Wimples transform without being able to control it, and, er, I was just worried about how it was with you."

Lupin was touched by her concern. People would often ask him about full moon motivated by morbid curiosity. Tonks managed to convey a sincere regard for his well being. "The Wolfsbane doesn't dampen the pain, but it does calm the cravings."

"It lets you keep your human mind, but do you still think like Remus Lupin?"

"The thoughts are more images and emotions than words. If I relax, then sometimes I sleep and actually dream, though."

"Really? Wolf dreams or human dreams?"

"A little of both, although last night was quite peculiar," admitted Lupin. He saw her quirk her eyebrow in question and continued. "I dreamt that I was a werewolf, but in miniature, like the creatures we found in the tower room."

"Incorporating daily events into dreams. Very human, I'd say."

"But I kept shrinking until I was about half a meter tall," said Lupin.

Tonks giggled at the image. "Like some doll?"

"I was quite relieved when I quit shrinking, but then you came around--"

"Me? I was in your dream?" asked Tonks.

"Well, yes, but I'll explain the connection. You see, you came around and decided to adopt me as a pet."

"Ah." Tonks nodded, it make perfect sense.

"But then you kept calling me Wimples, which irritated me no end, but every time I snarled at you, you'd just feed me another vegetable."

"Don't tell me. Peas?"

"Thankfully, no, or it would have been a real nightmare. No, I had to give up protesting when I suddenly looked at myself and realized I was indeed a were-rabbit."

Tonks was laughing outright now. "Oh, you poor thing."

"Precisely. You can't imagine my chagrin when I found all I had was a bit of fluff instead of a nice, long tuft."

"Oh, what a shocking--" began Tonks.

"--tale," echoed Lupin as they both voiced the pun.

"My Dad's gonna love you," said Tonks with a laugh. She looked away quickly, though. It would be rather easy to love him, wouldn't it? The thought was disturbing, so she took a deep breath and added, "I think we best get going. I want to make sure you're settled into Grimmauld Place tonight. Aren't the Weasley's moving in tomorrow?"

"Actually, Moody said they were waiting another two days so that Hermione Granger, one of Harry Potter's friends, could join them. She'll be sharing a room with Ginny Weasley," explained Lupin. "But that means I have a few days to get settled myself."

"Good, well, we better load up."

"It's this trunk of clothes, those two crates with books and what not and--"

"The vitrola. Mad-eye said you wouldn't travel without it."

"Mad-eye was the one who insisted I bring it. He really fancies Swing," said Lupin as he rubbed his nose.

"Swing? As in dance music?"

"It's a sight to behold, believe you me," confirmed Lupin with a slight smile.

"By all means, we must bring this instrument of mayhem, then," said Tonks as they levitated the cargo up the stairs to the landing.

They worked in silence to balance their cargo on their broom harnesses. Then with the waning moon to light their path, they made their journey back to London.

A few Muggles who were stargazing might have seen the odd shapes in the night sky. But the brooms would soon speed away, especially when Tonks decided to challenge Lupin to a race. Of course, the heavy cargo and the age of their brooms made it more like two turtles racing, but that didn't diminish the thrill of the night ride.

- - - - - - - - -

When Tonks finally got to her bed in the early morning hours, she fell fast asleep with a smile on her face. So what if she wasn't the picture of femininity? She was girl enough for Lupin to notice and that was a fine place to start. Now the question was, how far did she want this to go?

And Lupin? He was just happy not to have been hexed into the Old Kingdom. Or been transformed into a were-rabbit. Or forced to eat pea soup. Above all, he was glad that Nymphadora Tonks was not just a memory as he again fell asleep in Tonks Territory.

End of Chapter

Minor edits.

Author Notes:
The puns should diminish after this story as the characters start being able to really talk to each other. This should give you some background for both Lupin and Tonks, but at least we now see Tonks getting some information that will give her confidence with Lupin. Again, people tend to portray Tonks as a hip young witch and in my first variation of this story, she was very comfortable in being a woman. However, her reactions in HBP made me think of her as open-minded, but still old-fashioned in a lot of respects. And the tomboy nature would certainly fall in with this.

Wolf Rock is a real lighthouse, but not officially part of the Isles of Scilly, so I made the Muggle version a decoy for the one in the wizarding world.

The legend of Lyonesse is based on real legend including the survival of Trevilion (Trevelyn). But the story about the bastard Tristram and the hag Diuset is completely made up.

The Cornish phrase should translate correctly, although the language has been pretty much lost over time from what I could tell.

The revelations about Emmeline don't mean that you should write her off as a night's passing fancy for Sirius. Perhaps she'll trip over her own emotions before the year is out.

Thanks for reading. I know this chapter had little action, but the point now is to get the two characters to talk to each other and make discoveries. So, thanks for the support.