Summary: Tonks must survive three dates with other men so that she can get her first date with Remus.

Nymph vs Wolf

Dating Game

First Date

Nymphadora Tonks was sprawled on her bed lying on her stomach with her legs crossed behind her. She was grimacing at the parchment unrolled in front of her as she propped herself on her elbows. Wimples kept nudging the scroll with his nose, but she ignored his antics.

Tonks was too absorbed in considering her motives for writing the letter. She was still trying to figure out how to tell Remus Lupin about her date. Perhaps she shouldn't write to him at all? She could just wait until he completed his mission of helping Hagrid return to Hogwarts.

Tonks rolled over on her back and stared at her ceiling while Wimples began nibbling along the edges of the scroll. She thought about the Professor and their odd bargain. Lupin was likely to be disappointed by her news, but it was best he have an inkling of what he would find when he got home.

She knew better than to compromise Lupin's mission, but Barnabus, the Owl she would use for messages, was a crafty flier. Further, even if it were intercepted, her letter could only be read if the proper spell were chanted by the recipient. Tonks rolled over with determination, used her wand to suspend the parchment stiffly before her and began her letter.

- - - - - - - - - - -

The Continent

It had been a long and tiring day, but while Lupin walked away from the woods, he felt satisfied with his mission. They were finally making steady progress to get Hagrid--and his half-brother--out of the European Continent and back to Hogwarts. The pouring rain had made for dismal traveling today, so Lupin had decided to indulge in his success.

Tonight he would seek the comfort of a real bed after spending the past five communing with nature. Camping was for young men and giants, he thought. Although the funds for the mission were meager, ill health would not help Hagrid get back to Hogwarts. Lupin's talents were instrumental to concealing the giant as they made their way home.

Lupin walked into the village in the late afternoon, but just before he reached the inn, a small Lilford's owl swooped down to him and dropped a scroll. The Professor caught it deftly and felt that his heart seemed to stop beating; he had recognized the owl as Barnabus, the owl Tonks preferred. He forced a deep breath and proceeded with his plans to obtain a room.

The owl would be his guest for the night and Barnabus made a rather cheery companion as he nibbled on Lupin's offerings with gusto. The Professor finished his supper and was settling into bed for the night, but the scroll on the nightstand could not be ignored further.

Two weeks. He had only been gone two weeks and Tonks had been able to move on in that time. He had been foolish to entertain the idea that the young witch would really want to be with him. Had she not seen his maimed body? But the scars he carried from her knife would be a precious reminder of the Auror for the rest of his life. The scars would be all he'd have left of her.

He opened the scroll with a heavy heart, but determined to see for himself the sort of man that could make Tonks happy. He removed the ribbon to find that the note was addressed to the Professor from Bambi, Research Assistant, and smiled at the subterfuge. He also noticed several notches along the edges of the scroll and recognized the indentations of a certain set of incisors.

In spite of his apprehension, he forced himself to read.

Dear Professor,

I am writing to keep you updated on that research project we discussed before

your departure...

At this point the note rambled on rather generically about observations and measurements. Lupin chanted the spell that would reveal the real message to him and watched as the first sentences unrolled across the page. He read with interest.

Dear Remus,

You should be pleased to know that Bill provided another opportunity for a

double-date. This time it was a Gala honoring the International Association

of Quidditch. Imagine my surprise when Bill tells me that my escort for the

evening would be Otto Steinhauer.

Yes, THAT Otto Steinhauer, the very same Beater from the Heidelberg Harriers,

the current champions. The team described as fiercer than a dragon and twice

as clever. Apparently Bill met Otto on one of his curse-breaking adventures and

they formed a fast friendship. Anyway, be patient while I tell my story because

it does end with forthcoming nuptials.

Lupin quit reading, lifted his head and simply stared at the wall for several moments. Young, strong, intelligent. A man with a prosperous career, a man who was cursed with talent and good luck, not lycanthropy. Steinhauer was perfect for his Tonks. Perhaps she'd remember to invite him to the wedding? He sighed and forced his eyes back to the page.

Once again Fleur helped me prepare for the evening, although I counter-acted

her spell to spike my heels again. I did take her advice to do my hair in blonde

curls and to wear the dress Mum had bought me to attend the St. Mungo's

Charity Ball back when I was training to be a Healer. I never wore the dress

because the bloke stood me up when the girl he really wanted to take became

available. I've sketched the gown on the side, but I'm rambling.

Lupin took a moment to look at her quick sketch and his imagination had no trouble conjuring an image of how lovely Tonks must have looked in the red evening gown. What man wouldn't be enchanted with her? He rubbed at the sketch with his thumb thinking that he would never again be able to touch her. Still, he forced himself to get back to the letter.

Back to my date. Otto Steinhauer is every bit as handsome and charismatic in

real life as he is in Witch Weekly. His German accent is light and rather attractive,

but it makes it difficult to drop a pun and expect him to pick up on it. Hm, maybe

I should have taken that as a sign? But see, people kept asking for his autograph,

so of course I was thinking Otto-graph, and, well, I suspect I really did give the

image of a giggling blonde, come to think of it.

Here Lupin stopped again as he felt his heart racing. It would never do to saddle Tonks with a man who couldn't understand her puns. He felt himself frowning in annoyance at this Otto man, who now resembled a foot stool in his mind.

"Tonks, get out of my head," Lupin murmured. But of course, if he were to finish the letter, that would be impossible and Barnabus opened his eyes and hooted at him as if the idea was quite preposterous. So Lupin pushed aside the image of Wimples hopping on an ottoman and continued.

The Gala went well and Otto was quite entertaining with his Quidditch stories.

And in spite of all the feminine attention he was receiving, he was steadfast about

remaining with our little group. I was actually enjoying myself, so at the end of

the evening, Otto asks me if I'd like to take a ride on his broomstick.

Of course I said yes! I mean, who wouldn't want to swoop around on a professional

Quidditch broom? So we get to his room and I see the broomstick in the corner, so

I'm leaning over to touch it and, well...

Imagine my disappointment when I realized that wasn't the broom he was referring

to riding.

Imagine my fury when he tries to paw me and thinks I'm just playing when I say NO!

Now imagine where I shoved his broomstick.

I would advise that you place bets against the Heidelberg Harriers until their star

Beater recovers his ability to ride a broom.

Honestly, Remus, I tried. Please don't be disappointed. I'm just not a very good girl.

Bill later told me that he'd forgotten to mention that I was an Auror to Otto. I suppose

I was sending the wrong signals, what with the constant giggling, but that's in the past

now. The good news is the wedding! Apparently endangering his manhood made

Otto rethink his recent escapades and decide it was time to settle down.

Otto proposed to his long suffering childhood sweetheart, Gretchen Bauer. She sent

me a thank you note for dealing the blow to his manhood and even invited me to the

wedding! Although maybe she's just using my presence there as a threat to make sure

Otto gets to the altar. Hm, I'm game!

So that's my story. Um, I know you can't really write back, but I do worry about you.

I hope all is well.

Yours,

Tonks

PS The little notches on the edges are Wimples way of saying hello, I think.

Lupin sat back against the headboard of the bed and absently rolled the scroll. His heart felt light and although he wanted Tonks to find a suitable man, he told himself that she still had two more dates to go. It was good that she was being selective. That was why he was smiling as he snuggled into the bedcovers and fell asleep, even as the memory of Tonks holding him brought him comfort.

But with sleep also came an odd dream.

He was walking in a garden that was familiar from a childhood memory. It was at the City Park in New Orleans, he realized, but he had been six years old when he had visited. Still, everything seemed out of proportion, but soon he realized that he was the one who had shrunk. Suddenly a noise alerted him to the presence of another behind him. He pulled out his wand as he turned, but realized that instead he carried the scroll that contained Tonks' letter. But the next surprise was the new intruder.

There before him sat Wimples, a Lupin-sized vorpal bunny. But the were-rabbit did not snarl at Lupin, he merely twitched his nose and began speaking with a Romanian accent that vaguely reminded Lupin of Andrei Codrescu, a Muggle poet he had once heard.

"There you are, Wretched Wolf. So, you've read the letter? It is an odd courtship ritual to send your doe out to look for other bucks. And if you are so willing to share your mate, then why can't you share your apples? I insist that you make the Pink One release the fruits to me instead of sitting there glumly nibbling on the apple without tasting it. What a waste."

With those words of chastisement, Wimples hopped off.

Lupin sat up in his bed and blinked his eyes. It was almost dawn and he had to rendezvous with Hagrid, but the dream had left him with a strong craving for apples. He jotted off a quick note to Tonks, however, and sent Barnabus on his way.

Dear Bambi,

This is just a quick note to encourage your efforts on the project. I have confidence

in your ability to succeed. I am glad that you suffered no ill effects during your first

test. Hopefully things will go smoothly next time. Don't fret over me. I am making

some progress, but it goes slowly.

Best regards,

The Professor

PS. Don't let the little faker get at my apples.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Second Date

Nymphadora Tonks collapsed on her floor and moaned. Wimples hopped to her cautiously and nudged her forehead with his nose.

"Wimples," she began harshly, but the vorpal bunny scurried away rather than face the consequences. Tonks just closed her eyes and sighed. But soon, she heard the patter of furry feet, then felt the edge of a rolled parchment tapping her shoulder.

Tonks rolled over to find that Wimples had brought a parchment and quill to her. He looked up at her now with wide eyes, drooping ears, and a slight quiver. The pink-haired witch smiled warmly at her pet and stroked his soft fur.

"Right, then, I suppose I should write to Remus." She began her letter as Wimples settled against her as she sat up to write the letter.

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

The Continent

Another two weeks had passed and Lupin was still on the road with Hagrid and his brother. On this night, a night before the full moon, the Professor and the Gatekeeper had found an abandoned warehouse in an isolated area. It would provide shelter for the men and the giant, although Lupin decided to sleep on the platform at the top of the stairs. The window would allow him surveillance of the area while he took the first watch.

As he looked out onto the waxing moon, he saw an owl, Barnabus in fact, heading for him. His heart literally jumped at the thought that Tonks had sent another missive--until he considered the implications. Still, any message from the young witch would be worth reading. He could rejoice in her happiness if she had found the 'right' man, he told himself.

He caught the scroll deftly, used his wand for a light, and called the spell so that he could read the real letter this time with Barnabus perched on his shoulder.

Dear Remus,

I hope this letter finds you somewhere safe and warm. I do worry about you with the

full moon coming up. Do you have a secure place for the night? Do you have enough

Wolfsbane? Do you ever get any apples? Or chocolate? Since I can't send you anything

of the sort, accept my imaginary gift.

Lupin followed the arrows to the quick sketches of a chocolate frog that she had set to leaping in place and a bright, red apple on the edge of the parchment.. Tonks had added a gleaming luster to the fruit--and apparently Wimples had taken a bite out of the scroll judging from the nibbled edge. He smiled at her thoughtfulness, but that was his Tonks. She was a very giving and caring person; surely some young man would see this? His eyes went back to the letter.

I suppose you've already guessed that I was on another date? Yes, this time Bill

and Fleur represented Gringott's at a Tea party honoring the Best Smiles of Witch

Weekly, so again they needed decoy dates. I saw Otto Steinhauer with his fiancé; they

make a very lovely couple. I assured Gretchen that I'd be at the wedding. She looked

pleased and Otto looked pale.

The only honoree who couldn't be present at the Tea was Gilderoy Lockhart.

I actually met him once when I was in Healer training. Had to get rid of a

hangnail, but you'd think I was ripping out his liver or something from the

way he carried on.

Um, back to my date. I think Fleur takes a special pleasure in torturing me

in preparing for these outings. She brought over a dress with a corsetted midriff

that she insisted I wear. She kept telling me it emphasized my waist and flattered

by hips, but I just wanted to know how to breathe in these things. At least the French

braid was pretty (and she let me keep my hair pink!). I've tried to draw it--and yes,

I did feel like I was having the breath squeezed out of me.

Once again Tonks had drawn an image of herself with a waspish waist and, indeed, her expression did look rather pinched. But she had also drawn the back view of the French braid, so the Professor could imagine how pretty she had looked. And he could imagine how the chignon would lay against her exposed neck and how his lips would feel pressing against her--

"Lupin, she's not for you, now read!" he admonished himself. Then he had to apologize to Barnabus for his outburst as the little owl fluttered off his shoulder, only to settle again when placated.

Now to the particulars. My date for the afternoon was Feldmus Droll. You'll

probably recognize the name from his humorous articles in Witch Weekly. Not

only that, but WW has also recognized him twice for most charming smile. He's

almost as tall as you are and was very attentive throughout the party.

Lupin lifted his eyes from the letter and looked out into the cold night. Of course, the perfect man for Tonks had to have a sense of humor. Droll was young, had a promising career, and instead of being dangerous, was blessed with an ability to make people smile. Tonks would have a wonderful life with the man. He felt himself blinking but took a deep breath to get the details.

Droll certainly lives up to his name. In fact, his jests are unstoppable. Honestly.

There's no way to get the man to shut it! You know, I think even my Dad would

muffle him. And I thought I was bad about reading puns into things.

Listen to this one. What do you call a starving parrot? A polynomial. Now imagine

having to explain to Fleur why it was supposed to be funny. She kept asking what

parrots had to do with Arithmancy. Then I had to mention that it was a featherbrained

joke which made Feldmus go into all sorts of fowl jokes that were pretty, uh, foul.

Argh!

At one point I was beginning to feel faint from how tight the dress was. I swayed a

bit before I could cast a quick unbinding spell, but managed to bump into Fleur who,

to Bill's delight, tripped and sprained her ankle. I say to his delight because he got

all macho and carried her off in his arms. The fool could have let me heal her, but no.

Men! Of course, Fleur wasn't protesting nor did she appear to be in much pain.

I could breathe a little easier, so Feldmus escorts me back to my flat and, before you

get the wrong idea, he was a perfect gentleman. In fact, he seemed to be sobering up

a bit (wonder if he has mood swings?) when he was saying good-bye. So, I invited

him in for a cup of tea.

Lupin felt his heart lurching, but he told himself that this was exactly what he had been hoping for. Tonks had finally found a suitable man. Granted, he wasn't perfect, but with time, Droll would learn how to deal with Tonks' serious side. He went back to the letter.

All would have been fine except for the top hat being in the middle of my entry hall.

So there I am, walking into my flat when I see Wimples poking his ears out of the top

hat. I got out my wand to immobilize him (you remember how he was with

what's-his-name? the witless vegetable?), but this time Wimples just poked his head

out and twitched his nose.

I was so pleased by Wimples' mature behavior! But then it happened. Feldmus reached

out to pet Wimples and cooed, "What have we here? Ickle Wabbit FuFu? Or Little

Bunny Foo Foo?"

I heard a snarl and then saw a streak of white fur. I didn't know Wimples could leap

so high! The next thing I know Feldmus is running around like a chicken with arms

flapping, wearing Wimples like some bizarre toupee and screaming, "Geroff me!

Geroff me!"

Were-rabbits obviously have an aversion to being called Little Bunny FooFoos.

It was just too funny but I could only clutch at my sides because I could barely even

breathe with that damn corset in my dress. It hurt to laugh. Luckily Wimples was

satisfied to just sortof bop Feldmus' head with his back leg. Made a rather hollow

sound, like a drum. I finally get a bead on Wimples, but he leaps off into my bedroom

when he finally noticed I left my certain drawer open again.

Feldmus didn't even bother saying good-bye, he just ran out the door. I felt compelled

to call, "Hare today, goon tomorrow!" I don't think Feldmus appreciated my comment.

So you can see that I am trying, right? Right. I hope you appreciate the torture I'm

putting myself through on your account! Just imagine my relief when I was finally able

to take off the corset!

Lupin shook his head as a vivid image crept into his mind as he read her words. He bit back the smile and sighed, then finished the letter.

Thanks for letting me know you're all right. You can't imagine how much it meant

to me to read even a short note from you. And after Wimples' last escapade, I'm

definitely not giving him any apples. Other than the one I drew on the letter that he

managed to nibble.

Yours,

Tonks

Lupin let the scroll roll up and pet Barnabus absently before the little owl hopped off to attack the leftovers of Lupin's meal. In the meantime, the Professor looked up to the starry night as the wind whistled through the trees. He felt himself smiling in spite of the cold as the warmth that suffused his heart seemed to spread over his body while he kept watch. When his time as sentinel was over and he was wrapped in his bedroll, his mind easily found sleep. Again, he had a visitor.

Lupin was walking in the City Park again, but this time he knew what to expect. Or he thought he did. As he turned a corner, he saw a a meadow before him with Wimples busy at work. The vorpal bunny was pouncing on field mice and bopped them on the head before letting them stumble away. Lupin said nothing, but waited patiently for Wimples to speak.

"There you are, Wretched Wolf." Here Wimples stopped to bop another field mouse. "This should be you. I know you are keeping the Pink One from giving me apples. You are an ungrateful schmuck."

Lupin woke up and rubbed his eyes. He was not surprised at the dream, but he decided to write a quick note to Tonks before he felt more tired. The full moon would be tonight and he didn't want her to worry. He wouldn't tell her about the new scars on his arms or how close McNair had gotten to finding Hagrid. Nor would he mention the delay in their return was due in great part to dodging a party of Death Eaters who were out 'hunting.' Again, his note was brief.

Dear Bambi,

Thank you for the update on the project. Be patient, these things take time and it looks

like it will be a while before we can consult on the results. I am well prepared to handle

the night, so don't worry. And I've decided that perhaps Wimples does deserve an apple

--but just one--to ease his time tonight.

Best Regards,

The Professor

Lupin watched Barnabus fly away with a wistful smile.

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

Third Date

Tonks was quite excited as she spread out the parchment before her to begin her letter. She took a big bite from the apple first, but as she held it away from her, Wimples made a calculating leap and nabbed it cleanly with his mouth. He was about to hop away when he found himself suspended in air, his ears almost twirling around him like a helicopter.

"Not so fast," said Tonks as she admonished her pet. "You should have asked first."

Wimples gave her his best innocent gaze, considering the apple jammed in his mouth. He blinked his eyes and drooped his ears for added effect.

"I suppose you did have to put up with being called a jack rabbit," murmured Tonks, "but that's no excuse for bad manners."

The vorpal bunny managed to nod his head, so Tonks released him. He landed with a soft plop and sat by her to nibble on the apple as she wrote her letter.

- - - - - - - - - - -

The Continent

Remus Lupin breathed in the air and felt relief. He could smell the sea and it was a comforting odor. Soon they would be home. It had been a quiet two weeks since the full moon so they had managed to make good progress. His spirits were already light when Barnabus found him, but as he held the scroll in his hand, he felt a sense of foreboding. He had been hoping to make it home before Tonks found a third date, but that was not to be. As soon as he had made arrangements for transporting Hagrid and his brother, he went to his cabin on the boat and opened the letter while Barnabus nibbled on his meal.

Dear Remus,

You won't believe the golden opportunity that came my way. Yes, it was another

double-date with Bill and Fleur when they represented Gringott's at the CISSI Ball

(Cauldron International Standards & Stamps, Incorporated. Why they throw a ball

is beyond me, but it's one of the social events of the fall).

This time Fleur's instrument of torture was neither spiked heels nor a corsetted dress.

No, this time she quite outdid herself by insisting we had to wear these ball gowns with

layers of poofy skirts. Honestly, the diameter of my skirt (and yes, I did measure it) was

one meter! They had these hoops that were, well, let's just say I knew I was going to be

doing a lot of standing. Wimples kept sneaking under the outer skirt to nest in the material

in sort of a sling, so I kept having to toss him out. This is what it looked like.

Lupin followed the arrow to find the figure of Tonks looking like the handle on a bell. Beside it she had written the word ding-a-ling. He smiled at this and continued reading.

So the witches all looked like topsy-turvy flowers while the wizards all looked like

penguins. But my date for the night didn't fit the mold. No, my date was dressed in

cowboy boots, a Stetson hat, and wore this huge silver belt buckle.

So you must be asking yourself, "Where did Bill find this bloke?"

Actually, Bill didn't have to find me a date this time. I did it all on my own. (That was

the sound of my tongue sticking out at you. Didn't think I would do it, did you?)

Actually, Mum owled me when Shane Paladin showed up at her flower shop. He's a

scholar from America who's on sabbatical from the Jackalopes School of Magery and

Mysticism at Roswell, New Mexico, I think. He remembered that Andromeda Tonks had

a daughter who was a metamorphmagus, but since my parents kept my name out of the

announcement, he didn't know who to look up. And I know you won't believe me, but

he's a metamorphmagus!

Lupin had never been so stunned. Another metamorphmagus? What could be more perfect for Tonks? The man certainly was not poor, he was obviously young and--and a perfect fit for Tonks. His mind searched for the wizard's name and remembered a rather brilliant paper on convincing Muggles that magic was actually alien technology. It was well written and conveyed a lot of personality. His heart filled with dismay, but he put his eyes back on the parchment.

I must admit that I found Shane to be quite intriguing when I spoke with him at the

shop, so I invited him to be my date for the ball the next night. There was something

about him that made me feel comfortable from the start. I suppose I thought he was

a lot like you, being tall and lanky with brown hair, I mean. He's very intelligent

(I bet the two of you would talk for hours!) and had a keen but quiet sense of humor.

His Texas accent made his comments at the ball seem rather sardonic. And bless his

heart, he didn't want to dance, either, "what with all the ladies looking like they were

wearing tumbleweeds."

Anyway, it was quite an entertaining evening. Bill and Fleur were enjoying the excuse

we provided so they could dance together. I kept thinking that I should have pestered

you to teach me to dance on all those nights when we were at my flat.

Here Lupin simply couldn't go on. He regretted a lot of things and now not having taught Tonks to dance would be among them. His arms literally ached to hold her, but it didn't match the pain brought by the thought of finally losing Tonks. And when she left London, Tonks would be permanently out of his life. He closed his eyes for a moment, then continued reading.

Shane's observations on our foibles had me in stitches as we watched the people,

especially his description of the Malfoys as "a pair of bleached-out polecats." I

have no idea what it meant until Shane explained that a polecat is a skunk, a catlike

creature with scent glands used for defense.

We were all enjoying ourselves and had no reason to leave early. It was about two

in the morning when we finally left and Shane was walking me home. The moon was

bright and although it was cold, the night was quite beautiful. We were walking

through the park when he stopped, doffed his hat, and took my hand. Then to my

surprise, he asked me to marry him.

Yes, he proposed to me, clearly and articulately, although his voice seemed a bit

hoarse and had assumed a British accent. And I looked at him, really looked at him,

and realized why he had seemed so familiar.

Shane must have used a heartlock spell on me when we met to find out what sort of

man I'd fall for. He'd been reading me all night long, looking for an image and slowly

fitting himself into that mold. It wasn't by chance that he had brown hair and stood just

under two meters tall. By the time I found my voice to respond, a younger version of you,

without scars, was standing in front of me.

Lupin felt the shock of her words wash through him and felt a rage brewing in him. The shape-shifting wizard could offer Tonks everything she wanted--including Remus Lupin! And one who was young and whole!

Lupin felt as if he had been stripped of his identity by the action, but if that's what Tonks wanted, then hadn't he pushed her into this? He hoped they were both well away from London by the time he got back. He couldn't bear the sight of them together, not like that. He managed to recover his breathing so that he could finish reading the letter.

So I stood there looking at a man who had stolen your face, would steal your very

voice, but could not capture your soul. How dare he use his talent like this! I felt so

violated by his actions, by the way he had wormed his way into my memory of you to

get what he wanted. But he couldn't have realized that your scars are precious to me;

that I wouldn't trade your life experience for a fresh young face. My answer was clear

and concise. "No."

When I made to walk away, I realized how much of a loon he was. He grabbed my

hands and insisted that we were meant to be together, that it was our destiny to start a

new race of metamorphmages. For Merlin's sake, the last thing I want to do is play Eve

to his Adam! I was trying to shake him off and thinking it was all a bad dream, especially

when I heard the snarl coming from my skirts.

Remember all those skirts I mentioned? Well, apparently, I hadn't gotten rid of Wimples

like I thought I had. He'd been riding in one of the outer hoops as a sling all night long.

Wimples tripped me when he leaped out and that managed to bring both Shane and me

down on top of his Stetson hat. I felt something poking me and realized that Shane had

slipped his wand down his sleeve and was hiding it behind his hat.

In the meantime Shane was mumbling something about a vicious jack rabbit, but Wimples

was not amused and latched onto one of the cowboy boots. Shane managed to slip out of

it and run away. By this time I have my wand out and froze Wimples. I grabbed Shane's

wand, grabbed his crumpled hat and the shredded boot shouting, "Come back, Shane."

But Shane just kept running, so I let Wimples finish shredding the boot, tucked the wand

into my skirt and tossed the hat into the rubbish bin. As I was taking Wimples home, I

kept connecting the dots and coming to a wild conclusion. I checked Shane's wand with

priori incantatum. That confirmed the heartlock spell, but as I went further back, I found

he'd cast an immobilization spell. So I went to the Auror offices and researched Shane's

previous activities during his sabbatical. It was soon clear that he had been in Korea

around the time Ayame Sato had disappeared from Japan. She's a twelve year old

metamorphmagus who's been missing from Osaka for the past month. It would have been

easy for Shane to slip off from Korea to nab her in Japan.

I caught up with Shane within the hour, returned what was left of his boot, and arrested

him for kidnapping. Kingsley was with me and we also had Mad-eye for back up. I found

Ayame Sato in his room. He hadn't touched her, thankfully, and now she's safe with her

family. And I've gained a pen pal! Now I'll have to get Dad to teach me Japanese.

Well, I suppose that was quite a story, so I'll sum it up: YOU OWE ME A DATE!

I intend to collect as soon as you get back--and I hope that's soon. Being with Shane

last night made me realize how much I've missed you. I hope you have a safe journey.

Yours,

Tonks

PS. I think you owe Wimples an apology for thinking he's just a pampered pet--and an apple.

Lupin put down the scroll and noticed that his hand was shaking. Tonks had been lucky that Shane had not been so psychotic that he had attacked her in a more lethal manner. He wiped a hand across his face and then began laughing, which sent Barnabus sqawking in surprise. One he settled the owl down, he quickly pulled out a parchment and jotted a note to Tonks.

Dear Bambi,

I was surprised by the final outcome of your tests and relieved to find that you averted

danger toward yourself and helped the other subject. I hope I will be seeing you soon,

but in the meantime, give the furball an apple for me. He deserves it. We can discuss

the terms of our next project when I see you.

Best Wishes,

The Professor

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

Grimmauld Place

Sirius Black couldn't believe the question posed by his best friend. "Say again, Moony?"

"What can I do to ruin my date with Tonks?"

Sirius blinked a few times as he considered this. Lupin had returned two days ago and within five minutes of his appearance at number twelve, the Professor had been assaulted by a flying Auror as she leapt off the kitchen steps and threw herself into Lupin's arms.

The werewolf had stood still for a few seconds, but in the next moment Sirius couldn't couldn't tell who was squeezing whom tighter. Then Lupin was spinning Tonks around and he heard the sound of their laughter filling the room. Sirius didn't need to see the light in their eyes to know that no one else existed for them in those few moments before Lupin remembered his presence.

And now his best mate wanted to deliberately ruin a date with his little cousin?

Swat.

After giving Lupin a dope slap, Sirius said, "You're a bloody loon, Moony. Why do you want to muck up a date with Tonks? I thought you had this all settled?"

"I expected some bloke to come along and sweep her off her feet while I was gone," explained Lupin as he rubbed his head gingerly. "Since that didn't happen, I have to keep my end of the bargain, but make sure it's the most miserable date of her life. She has to understand that it's best that we keep our relationship platonic, not romantic."

"That should be simple enough, Moony. Just look her straight in the eye and tell Tonks that you could never love her." Sirius waited patiently for his friend's response, but continued to be greeted by silence. "Well?"

"I can't," sighed Lupin. "I won't tell Tonks that I love her, but I can't tell her that I don't."

"And people think I've lost my mind," muttered Sirius as he shook his head. "And you want to sabotage this date because you think she deserves a better man?"

"Tonks deserves every good thing in life and that excludes an unemployed, old lycanthrope like me," said Lupin plaintively.

Sirius was quiet for a long moment. He took a deep breath and made a promise to help his friend. "Right then, give me the details and I'll advise. Where are you going on this date?"

"The lighthouse," said Lupin with a nod. "She wants to ride the skiff across to the lighthouse, have dinner, and spend the night stargazing."

"Moony, you can't take Tonks back to Wolf Rock! I hate to say it mate, but that edifice is likely to tumble down on both of you. It sounds like a perfect disaster already."

"I set a reinforcing spell on it recently," said Lupin defensively. "But you're right. Why, the creaking and groaning of the structure should put her off. Even with our milder winters on the islands, it's difficult to keep the place warm."

Sirius nodded. "You have a perfectly horrible setting, now what do you have planned for the meal?"

"Just a light supper with soup and bread," responded Lupin."Tonks is developing an aversion to peas."

"Moony, you hate peas," reminded Sirius.

"I know, but I thought I'd just sort of slip them into hers," said Lupin, already with a guilty look on his face.

"All you have to do is make that lobster bisque of yours. I believe Tonks is allergic to shellfish. Don't fret, it was nothing dangerous. Made Andromeda break out in hives, but they would go away in a day."

"That sounds uncomfortable," murmured Lupin with a concerned look. "Right, then. I have a cold, creaking house and a supper that will make her sick, but the evening has to start off poorly. Ah, I know what! I'll deliberately leave off the canopy on the skiff. She'll be soaking wet from the cold ocean spray."

Sirius returned Lupin's grin as he agreed, "That's a marvelous touch. Start the night off by getting her cold, wet, and miserable. Perfect!"

"Good. Tonks will want to cut the evening short before we even get to the stargazing bit." Lupin rubbed his hands in satisfaction.

"Doesn't the lamp at the lighthouse prevent seeing stars?" asked Sirius.

"No, the magical lens of the spyglass extends beyond the lamp. I can even penetrate cloudy days with a quick spell." There was a sense of pride in Lupin's voice regarding his ancestral artifact.

Sirius smiled and suggested, "Then make her stay for a spot of stargazing, Moony, but do it as a scholarly exercise. In fact, do something like update your charts or what have you."

"Right, she'll probably knock me senseless with the spyglass, but it'll be worth it to ruin the date. Excellent," said Lupin. He turned to his friend and said sincerely, "Thanks for your help, Sirius."

Sirius could only offer a stately bow, but after Lupin left, he murmured, "You're welcome, Tonks."

- - - - - - - - - - -

Tonks' Flat

Nymphadora Tonks waited calmly for the knock on the door. She had waited almost five days since Lupin's return for this date. Their interactions thus far had been very platonic, although they had spoken with each other at least once every day, but tonight would be her prize date.

Knowing that Lupin didn't have the means to dress up for her, she had dressed practically in blue jeans, boots, t-shirt and a warm, pink sweater. But she had also followed Fleur's advice and bought a nice camisole set. The French woman had insisted that nice lingerie helped women feel pretty, regardless of whether the date was ever intended to see them.

She knew the time had arrived when Wimples began practically bouncing off the walls. Within seconds there was a knock, but the vorpal bunny beat her to the door and emitted his typical greeting to the Professor.

Snerf, snerf, snerf.

Lupin bade a quick hello to Tonks then bent over to growl at the irritating furball, which only made Wimples leap higher and with greater abandon until the lepine literally bounced his head against the table in the entry.

"Are you sure you want to leave him alone tonight?" asked Lupin placidly as the were-rabbit shook his head and got his bearings again.

Tonks was laughing softly, "Oh, no, Wimples has already taken care of three of my four dates. You'll have to look for an ally elsewhere if you intend to muck this one up."

Lupin looked at her sharply and wondered if Sirius had alerted her to his plans, but Tonks just patted his arm and said, "I'm kidding. Wimples will be fine; I've left him an apple to find if he'd put his mind to it."

At this proclamation the were-rabbit gave one last snarl to Lupin and bounded off with his nose twitching as he tried to track the apple. Tonks turned to Lupin with her bright smile.

"Ready, Professor?" asked Tonks as she slipped on her cloak.

"Absolutely," assured Lupin. He truly regretted what he was about to do to the woman, but it was for her own good.

- - - - - - - - -

Wolf Rock

They first apparated to Land's End and stood on the beach with the wind whipping their cloaks around their bodies. Tonks looked up to see some clouds outlined in silver by the moonlight. She clutched Lupin's arm as he summoned the skiff with a series of whistles.

As Lupin helped her take a seat, she commented, "I almost didn't see it, it's so sleek and black."

"It camouflages to meet the conditions. In the day it almost feels like you're sitting on the water itself," explained Lupin. He had made sure Tonks sat at optimal exposure to the spray and intended to go at maximum speed. He bit his lip in regret, but then asked, "Ready?"

Tonks was practically bouncing on her seat. She took a firm hold with her hands and called over her shoulder, "Go!"

The skiff sped off over the water, at times even jumping over the waves. Lupin heard her first shriek as the cold ocean spray hit with force, but he hardened his heart against creating the canopy that would keep her dry. For his part, only his ankles were getting wet. Tonks, on the other hand, was getting soaked even through her cloak.

The skiff adjusted its trajectory for the swiftest way to Wolf Rock. Lupin didn't want to prolong Tonks' exposure to the cold, so it took only moments and a few more waves of cold water before the skiff began its ascent up the side of the lighthouse. Here Tonks shrieked again as she felt as if her stomach was left several meters behind her body.

Suddenly, the skiff stopped and they were on the landing deck of Wolf Rock. Lupin was about to help her out, but the drenched woman leapt out before he could touch her. Tonks' shout did not surprise Lupin, but her little victory jig did.

"Woohoo! That was the ride of my life. Woooo!"

Lupin could only stare at the exuberant witch who, though soaking wet, was waving her hands around and had the biggest smile on her face. She rushed up to him after she caught her breath and said simply, "Thank you, Remus. Can we do it again?"

Lupin didn't know whether he should be disappointed or relieved. Didn't the plan call for her to be miserable and upset with him at this point? "Um, let's be patient. You'll get another ride when we head back. You must be soaked at this point."

Tonks shivered suddenly and said, "You're right. Guess you'll have to figure out a way to keep me warm, Professor. Well, let's go inside, I need to get out of these wet clothes."

Tonks skipped ahead of him to the door as her words sunk in. Get out of these wet clothes? Lupin stifled a groan. Why hadn't he thought of that consequence? Why hadn't Sirius thought of it? He sighed and opened the door as Tonks stood bouncing on the balls of her feet and shivering, but giving him a big smile.

But the assault on the prize date had only begun.

- - - - - -

"Here, I'll just stoke the fire," said Lupin as he entered and put their drenched cloaks on the hooks by the doorway and added a drying spell to help them along. He took his time to get the flames blazing brightly and when he turned he found that Tonks had found a suitable ensemble to replace her wet clothes.

"This is comfy," she said as she rubbed her hands across the sleeves of the chashmere cardigan she had found on the hook. She had tossed her boots off and shed her blue jeans and pink sweater, but Lupin's cardigan fell to just above her knees. Her long rainbow colored stockings were a bright contrast to the gray cardigan, but she had managed to dry them. She cocked her head when she saw his expression of disbelief and said, "Uh, you don't mind, do you? I thought it acceptable payback for getting drenched on the way in."

"Er, right, sorry about that," murmured Lupin. She looked adorable standing there and he fought the impulse to go to her. "Here, why don't you get warm by the fire? I need to bring supper up for us from the kitchen."

Tonks just shrugged as Lupin left and put her clothes to dry near the fire rather than use a spell on them. The creaking structure sounded menacing, but then she noticed a wireless on the bureau and turned it on to find Celestina Warbleck crooning her tunes. The songs were familiar to the young Auror from her mum's obsession with them.

Satisfied, she then plopped herself in front of the fire. She looked around and found a soft blanket just the right size for sharing and made herself comfortable. So far, the night was perfect!

- - - - - -

Lupin poured the lobster bisque into the bowls on the tray that already held the bread. His heart filled with regret again as he imagined the hives that would soon erupt on Tonks' face. His conscience forced him to also take up the best white wine he had in his stores, courtesy of his pirate forefathers. It would ease her misery until he got her home.

He entered his parlor with the laden tray levitating before him to find a sight he had only ever dreamed about. The fire in the background left Tonks' pink hair with a halo as she hummed softly to the tune from the wireless. She sat with relaxed ease with the blanket covering her shoulders, although her stockinged leg was in clear view. He almost stumbled when she turned and smiled at him.

"Mm, it smells delicious, Remus. I'm famished," said Tonks as he set the tray before them.

"Then by all means, help yourself," assured Lupin.

He took his own bowl slowly and sipped while Tonks downed spoonful after spoonful. "Um, you might want to slow down there."

Tonks giggled. "I guess I'm not being very ladylike, but this is delicious. What is it?"

"Lobster bisque, my mum's special recipe," said Lupin. He expected her to start gagging at any moment, but instead, Tonks just took another spoonful before biting off a chunk of bread.

"Mmm, perfect. I never got shellfish at home. Gives Mum hives," she explained with a nod, "but I love it."

She took her goblet of wine and raised it in expectation. Lupin could only reflect her movements as he took his own cup and touched it to hers. He took a rather large gulp as he considered that again, things were not according to plan. He had to rely on a boring astronomy lesson now.

But once they finished their supper and set the dishes on the tray, Tonks scoot over closer to Lupin. "That was a very good meal, Remus. Thank you for going to the trouble. It was very considerate of you."

Her words were so sincere and offered rather shyly. As Lupin turned to look at her, his eyes fell to her lips. They would taste of wine, he knew, but that was the last thing he should do, especially with the love songs crooning in the background. He adjusted his position so that they could just sit quietly against each other while he recovered his equilibrium. He had to ruin this date.

"Do you want something sweet?" whispered Tonks.

Lupin swallowed the lump in his throat. He was having enough trouble controlling his urge to kiss her. Did she have to tempt him outright?

Tonks took his silence as acquiesance, so she hopped up and fished out something from her cloak pocket where it hung on the hook.

"Here," she said as she settled back in front of the fire, but brought the blanket around them both. "I couldn't send them to you on mission, so I thought I'd bring one to you here. I had three, but I lost one to Wimples. I didn't know were-rabbits ate chocolate."

In her hand were two packages of chocolate frogs. Lupin laughed in delight and said, "I insist you keep one."

"Thank you, sir," chirped Tonks, but was soon scrambling on the floor trying to catch her frog. She grumbled, "I thought they only had one leap! Wimples got his in one."

"I heard they changed the formula," explained Lupin as he finally nabbed his frog that had decided to light on Tonks' back as she crawled along.

"Eek," she said as she felt his hands hovering over her.

Lupin sheepishly pointed to the frog in his hand before popping it in his mouth. Then he saw a predatory gleam on Tonks' face.

"Gotcha!"

Her frog had leaped onto Lupin's shoulder, so her arms soon followed, but the momentum sent them tumbling over.

She popped the chocolate frog into her mouth but felt reluctant to move off of Lupin. But then her eyes fell on on his arm where the sleeve had pulled back in the tussle to chase the frogs.

Tonks sat back and shoved the sleeve up further. "Remus, this is a new scar."

Lupin tugged the sleeve down and sat up. "I've got lots of scars."

"And I happen to be familiar with every one of them. This one is new," insisted Tonks. She tugged the cardigan around her legs as she brought her knees up. Her voice was gentle when she asked, "What happened?"

Lupin shrugged, but knew he should offer an explanation. "McNair was tracking Hagrid. We met, had a lively exchange, and McNair no longer could track Hagrid."

Tonks took a deep breath. "I wish you had told me."

"Like the details you provided about your arrest of Shane Paladin?" countered Lupin.

The Auror looked sharply at him, but then she rolled her eyes. "Kingsley should really learn when to keep his mouth shut."

"He said you were rather brilliant in your duel with Paladin. He had a second wand, I take it?"

Tonks nodded, "He kept it in his room and used Ayame as a hostage."

"Typical cowboy," muttered Lupin and was pleased when he heard Tonks laugh.

"You ever been to America?" asked Tonks.

"Just to New Orleans," said Lupin as he gazed into the fire. "After I got bitten, my parents tried everything they could to help me. They heard about a witch in New Orleans who had experience with the loup garou. It was the summer when I was six when they bundled me up and took me to see her. The woman was a fraud, just a squib who had managed to fool the local Muggles. But at the end of the disappointing day, we were at the City Park in New Orleans as the sun was going down. I remember sitting on my mum's lap and Father wrapping his arms around us both. That's when I saw them. The fireflies."

"Like your patronus?" asked Tonks.

Lupin nodded. "I've seen the occasional glow worms here, but in New Orleans, the grass had just been mowed and it was like watching fairies dancing, skimming across the grass. My dad caught one for me and I held it and thought, there was something more fragile than I was."

Tonks put her arm around his shoulders and just leaned against him. They watched the flames dancing, but she knew in his mind he was seeing the fireflies again, although she hoped he was feeling the comfort of someone who loved him.

"I believe you wanted to do some stargazing?" he finally ventured.

"That would be fine," said Tonks agreeably. She was really hoping to get a kiss out of him tonight; that really would make it perfect, but she wanted to show the Professor that she could follow his lead, let him take the relationship at his own pace.

"Let me put these away and I'll set up the spyglass with the appropriate charms."

- - - - - - -

Lupin returned to the parlor to find Tonks already perched on the stool with one eye against the spyglass. She had left the blanket by the fire, so her neatly trim thigh was contrasted against the black legs of the stool. Her foot was tapping to the tune on the wireless, so Lupin stood mesmerized for a moment by her antics. But he shook off the spell and walked forward with his tome in hand.

"I thought we'd put our time to good use and update the star charts. My family has been keeping records for generations." He opened the book and set a spell to levitate it before them. He said a bit apologetically, "It's not the most exciting task."

"Oh, wonderful. I feel like I'm contributing in return for your hospitality. I'd always sneak up to the Astronomy Tower when I was at Hogwarts. So, what's first?" asked Tonks as she flipped through the record book.

Lupin smiled and began his lecture on the various constellations and their histories. They took turns checking the standard positions of the constellations. The telescope wasn't limited to its physical view of the stars, but could roam the skies around the globe with its magic lens.

The Professor lost count of time as they made their recordings. He was pleased to see Tonks yawning at one point, but rather than become disgruntled, she merely pulled him closer to her saying, "You don't want me to lose my balance on this stool, do you?"

The gentleman in Lupin couldn't refuse, so he let her lean back against him as he brought his arms around her to steady her. The cashmere cardigan felt very soft, but he was determined to be stern.

"Now let's see if you can find a more challenging constellation."

"Let me see. I'll do--Lupus. Should be between Centauri and Hydra on the West with Scorpa and Norma to the East," she murmured.

Lupin frowned at her knowledge, but figured that since the constellation lay within the Milky Way, it would be very difficult for Tonks to find. "It could take you some ti--"

"There it is!" Tonks looked into the eyepiece, then jotted her notes in the log.

"Are you sure?" asked Lupin a bit incredulously. She had found it faster than he could, so he moved in close to take a look. "Right, there it is. Nymphadora, I think you have a gift for this."

"What do I get as a reward?" asked Tonks brightly.

Lupin merely quirked an eyebrow in response. They were practically cheek to cheek and he could smell her light perfume. She turned to him and he didn't protest as she kissed his lips lightly.

She made sure it was just a quick peck, not realizing how it tantalized him and left him hungry for more. "I think I'll do another one."

"You're getting a bit cocky, aren't you?" asked Lupin.

"If I find the next constellation within ten seconds, do I get another kiss?" she taunted.

Lupin was trying to figure out how Tonks had gotten the upper hand again. He should refuse the challenge, but then, what was the likelihood of her finding the next constellation?

"Right, then how about finding this one?" Lupin pointed to the book and was pleased to see a frown appear on Tonks' face.

She set her eye immediately to the eyepiece as Lupin set a countdown of ten wafting in front of them. The constellation was circumpolar to the Southern Hemisphere, so Tonks would have to invoke a spell to get the telescope to detect it at all.

Just as the time was turning to ten, Tonks squealed, "I found it!"

Lupin immediately pushed her aside and peered through the scope. Indeed, there was the rhomboid shape that Johann Bayer had labeled the Chameleon.

He moved back to find Tonks smiling at him and saying, "Pay up."

Lupin sighed in defeat and gave in to the desire he'd had all night to kiss her. It was some time before they broke apart and Lupin admitted, "This was supposed to be the worst date you've ever had."

"Really?" asked Tonks then saw Lupin's confirming nod. But rather than get upset, she just tapped his nose playfully and said, "Remus, didn't my letters teach you anything? It's not what we do or where we are. It's that I'm with you that make this perfect."

"But it can never be more than friendship, Nymphadora. I can't give you what you deserve," said Lupin.

Tonks just sighed. "Remus, I went through a lot just to get this one date from you. I endured a giggolo, a joker, and a lunatic who wanted a brood mare. Don't you think I should be given some time to convince you that we can have something more than just friendship?"

Lupin looked at her bright eyes and shook his head. "It isn't that simple."

"Then just tell me that you can't love me. Tell me that and I'll understand," said Tonks. She regretted her words, though. What if all Lupin felt for her was physical attraction? What if she was just reading the wrong message from him? She kept her eyes on him and touched his chin to bring his gaze back to her when he tried to look away.

"I can't," began Lupin.

"You can't what?" asked Tonks. She was determined that he say the words that would seal her heart against him.

He swallowed and tried again, "I can't-- no, I can't say it."

He moved away from her with a sigh, but Tonks felt her heart welling with hope. "Until you do, then I'll live on the hope that you can love me if you'd only let yourself."

Lupin took a deep breath. He was tired of fighting his feelings. Since he had returned, each day had been a struggle to not take Tonks in his arms and just hold her. He felt her put her arms around him and lean into his back.

"Three dates, Remus, just give me three dates to prove to you that we could make this work. If you're right, then I'll find out for myself why it's so wrong to be with you."

"But if you're not convinced and I still think it's a bad idea?"

Tonks was silent for a moment. He could be a very stubborn man, she knew, but at this point all she could hope for was more time. "I'm not going to make myself a nuisance to you, Remus. We have a war to fight."

Lupin turned around and held her gently, laying his cheek against the top of her head. It would hurt to let her go, but then, it was more likely she would see her folly if he just gave her more time. Even Sirius had turned his back on the lycanthrope all those years ago, choosing to entrust Peter rather than Remus to be the secret keeper for the Potters. Surely Tonks would lose her faith in him, too?

"Three dates then," he agreed.

Tonks gripped him tightly, but her mind was running on the possibilities. "All right, then we need to agree on what constitutes a date."

Lupin looked puzzled. "But I thought tonight was--"

"My other dates were in public, so our three dates have to be in public, too," said Tonks.

Lupin looked as if she'd lost her mind. "You don't want to be seen in public with me."

"Then our first public date should convince me of that, shouldn't it?"

Lupin couldn't find fault with her logic. The first time she heard the murmured insults, the first time she saw how people avoided even shaking his hand--these would be convincing signs.

"All right, three dates in public."

As they shook hands, a flash of lightning appeared as the wind blew in the storms that had threatened earlier. The clap of thunder seemed to echo for a moment to seal their latest bargain.

"I'm afraid we should wait out the storm before I get you home," said Lupin as he looked out the window.

"We can wait until morning," said Tonks as she began leading him toward the stairs. "I can sleep here if you don't mind."

"Wait. I didn't prepare a guest room."

"I know," said Tonks brightly as she pulled him down the next flight of stairs.

"There's a blanket in the parlor."

"Uhuh, it was nice and warm, but you can't expect me to sleep on the sofa after all you tried to do to ruin my evening, can you?"

"Oh, so this is payback, is it?"

Tonks turned with a grin, "When isn't it payback?"

"Fine, kick me out of my own bed. I'll just bring up a pillow and sleep on the floor."

"Nope, you're not going anywhere without me."

"But we can't sleep in the same bed; it's not proper."

"Remus, you spent two nights with me at my flat on the same bed."

"But that was different; I was recovering."

"Well, I'm recovering from the cold ocean spray. Feel me shiver?"

Tonks stopped abruptly and Lupin ran into her. Indeed, he could feel the shiver running up her spine as his hands moved up her arms and stopped at her shoulders.

"Do you really think this is a good idea?"

"Do you really think I'm so easy that I'd let you take certain liberties on a first date?"

Lupin stopped as he realized they were at his bedroom door. Actually, he had thought that it would be easy to make Tonks his woman, although he never considered that meant she was easy with her affections.

"I think there's a number of liberties you'd let me take," replied Lupin as he backed her against the door, not noticing her hand on the doorknob. He was about to lean in to kiss her when she turned the doorknob and they both fell in.

Eek! Oof!

Lupin had managed to break her fall, but now he had to contend with a giggling bundle of Tonks laying on top of him. He held her for a moment and asked, "What am I going to do with you?"

"You're going to take certain liberties but not cross the line because we're both not made like that," said Tonks as she propped up to look at him. "I'm the one who's likely to muck this up, Remus. Remember my sign: Mortal Peril? Just give me enough rope and I'll hang myself."

Or catch a werewolf, thought Lupin. But perhaps it was for the best that Tonks discover for herself the reasons they had no future beyond their friendship. He put his hand through her pink, spiky hair and smiled. It felt good not to fight the strong emotions that drew him to this woman.

"Let's get some sleep, then. We'll have to get up early to get you back in time for work," grumbled Lupin.

Tonks felt no guilt at the imposition, but merely settled into his arms, saying a prayer for any moment she could steal with him. Lupin accepted her warm body and for once his arms weren't aching at all. Of course the Marauder in him was determined to find out just what liberties he would be allowed, but for now, he was content to set aside his fears and hold her closely. At least in his dreams he was able to tell her that he loved her.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Grimmauld Place

It was early morning and the heir of the Noble House of Black still slumbered. He had fallen asleep with an easy conscience last night. He had no regrets in letting Lupin believe that the only consequence of getting a woman wet and cold was misery rather than removing the clothing of necessity.

Sirius also knew Tonks wasn't allergic to shellfish from the gusto with which she had eaten Molly's crabcakes while Lupin had been away on mission. Sirius did remember that the lobster bisque was one of Lupin's special dishes, so he knew his little cousin would enjoy it.

And if there was a subject that all Blacks shared with enthusiasm, it was astronomy. Sirius, Regulus, Andromeda. The names weren't there by chance and he had recently had a long conversation with Tonks about the very topic.

Yes, the setting was an old lighthouse, the home of a poor man, but for Tonks, what mattered would be being at the home of Remus Lupin. She'd find the shelter and warmth she needed in the man.

So it came as no surprise when in the early morning Sirius registered the creak that indicated his door was opening. Still, he was too groggy to defend himself from the pillow that swatted him.

"Thanks for the help, Padfoot. Now I have three dates with Tonks before she'll let it drop."

As Lupin walked away, he could here the barking laughter smothered by the pillow on the face of his best mate. Obviously in the game of love, blood wins out.

End Chapter 11

Author Notes:

Minor edits, mostly to add Barnabus. And then another to see if the new formatting was preserved.

My apologies for the longer wait, but my schedule prevented my progress. I also wanted to complete the dates rather than just post the Tonks' letters. I hope Lupin's vascillating emotions make sense; I think that's something we all see in his character. Tonks is finding a bit more confidence now, and Wimples is not an Animagus, in case any of you are wondering. He's just a very special bunny.

The Heidelberg Harriers are canon, but Otto Steinhauer is not. The heartlock spell is not canon, but I created it as a way to see into someone's heart. Metamorphmages are rare, so I split them up over three continents.

Andrei Codrescu is a real poet, from New Orleans, in fact. That set my mind for using City Park for the dreams with Wimples and for Lupin's memory, but I had promised to explain why a Britsh wizard would have an American firefly for a Patronus.

Yes, I had a lot of fun with Little Bunny Fufu and Shane, the cowboy. The reference to Roswell, New Mexico was deliberate as was the article that Lupin remembered Shane writing. And a Jackalope is a long standing joke out west (jack rabbit with antlers).

The constellations of Lupus and the Chameleon are real, just do a search on any star chart. I believe I got Celestina Warbleck's name right, but I'm anxious to post.

Thanks for reading and being patient. I hope you found it worth the wait. Merry Christmas and Season's Greetings to all.