A/N: This chapter skips to April because there is so much time that I want to include in my story.

Chapter 8

February and March passed in unusual cold and blustery weather. The whole Order was still busy guarding the Department of Mysteries, and there was a growing sense of tension about the coming war. Sirius was depressed and moody over his continued inability to help or act. However, Tonks and Remus' spirits were considerably lighter than those of most as they grew closer and their relationship continued to blossom.

One evening in April Sirius, Remus, and Tonks were just finishing dinner in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place. Suddenly, Dumbledore and Fawkes appeared in a flash of fire. They all jumped and whipped out their wands, alarmed.

Remus spoke first. "Dumbledore, is something wrong? And what do you see when you look in the Mirror of Erised?" The phoenix made it near impossible for Dumbledore to be an imposter, but it never hurt to check.

Dumbledore grinned and his eyes twinkled. "A pair of warm fluffy socks. And I have been ousted as headmaster. Harry started a group to teach interested students defensive magic and called it Dumbledore's Army. Fudge is convinced that I've been plotting against him all year and was going to send me to Azkaban." He explained conversationally, as if discussing the weather. They all looked at him open-mouthed. "I can't stay. I have much work to do, but you should alert the rest of the Order. Minerva will call a meeting within the next few days. Don't worry about me; I have ways of keeping informed." He still smiled benignly.

Tonks asked, "What will happen to Hogwarts?"

"It will survive just fine without me. Dolores Umbridge is the new headmistress, but I have no doubt that the teachers will watch out for the students." He smiled around at their still horrified faces. "Well, I really must be going. Good luck and farewell." He left in flame.

Remus, Sirius, and Tonks just looked at each other. "I can't believe they just kicked Dumbledore out. Hogwarts without Dumbledore is like fish and chips without the fish!" Sirius exclaimed.

Remus said confidently, "And I'm sure Dumbledore will return in no time. The Ministry can't chase him away for long."

Tonks nodded. "You have a point Remus. I mean, he's Dumbledore." They talked for a while longer about the Order and Harry. Then, Tonks said, "Well, guys, I have to go. I have an early day tomorrow." She leaned over and kissed Remus on the cheek and waved to them before she went to the front door and left.

Remus was still smiling after her. "As cliché as this must sound, I think I must be the luckiest man alive." He expected Sirius to smirk at him, but, instead, he was smiling wistfully.

"You two remind me of Lily and James."

"Really?" Remus had never thought of that.

Sirius nodded. "Yeah. When you're together, just talking or relaxing, you're so content. You like the only thing you'd ever need is just each other." Sirius was still smiling, but then he frowned. "I'm sorry."

Remus was confused at his sudden change of tone. "Sorry for what?"

"I'm sorry we cut you out." Sirius continued when he saw that Remus still looked uncertain about his meaning. "I'm sorry that James and Lily and I believed you were the traitor. We never should have believed Wor- we never should have believed him. We should have known that you were too loyal and brave to sell us out. You should have been able to spend more time with Harry. You-"

Remus cut him off. "That's all in the past. I eventually believed him too when he was continually insinuating that you were the traitor. No one in the Order wanted to believe that one of us would join Voldemort. Besides, James and Lily had Harry to protect; it was prudent of them to shut out someone whom they thought would harm him. Besides, I got to spend some time with Harry. I remember his first Christmas, soon before all the accusations started, when we were all together and happy in Godric's Hollow. I think it was one of the best days of my life."

They both reminisced and were lost in their own thoughts for a time. Remus asked, "So, you don't feel guilty anymore?"

"I think I'll always feel a little guilty, but we all made mistakes. Regrets won't change the past."

" You're right. We have to think about the present, protecting Harry and fighting Voldemort so that he tears apart as few families as possible." They both felt as if they could move on now.

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A few weeks passed. There were constant Order meetings because no one knew quite what to do, seeing as Dumbledore was not in contact. Everyone was worried about Harry because Snape reported that his Occlumency was not going well. Remus had to go away for a week on another mission. Work at the Ministry for Tonks was growing increasingly hectic.

One day in May Tonks and Remus had some rare free time. She decided that he should see some Muggle movies. Ted, a Muggle-born, had always loved them, and his daughter did, too. Remus seemed skeptical, but he acquiesced because they didn't have much time to spend together. They went to the rental store and picked out three of Tonks' perennial favorites: Ever After, Stranger than Fiction, and Last Holiday.

Remus enjoyed these movies more than he thought he would. He especially liked Tonks' running commentary about she thought of various parts and characters. Their position on the couch was also very comfortable. He had his arm around her, and Tonks was curled up against his side with her arms wrapped around his middle. They fell asleep as the last movie ended and did not wake up until morning.

Tonks awoke first and looked at Remus, gently pushing a lock of hair back from his face. She felt very lucky just to be with him. Over the months her feelings for him had deepened to a point where she couldn't imagine a life without him.

Remus began to stir slowly. "Wotcher, Remus."

"Good morning, Nymphadora."

"Want some breakfast?"

"Sure. I'll do the toast." She was just about to make it, but he stopped her.

"Remus, are you implying that I can't make toast?"

He took the bread from her and kissed her quickly on the lips. "I'm not implying it. I'm saying that you can't make toast." Tonks glared at him in mock outrage. "Your eggs come out alright, though," Remus added. She rolled her eyes, but she was fighting a smile.

They ate in companionable silence. Then, they took showers. When they were both done and dressed, Tonks was drying her hair with a Muggle hairdryer. This idiosyncrasy always amused Remus because she could just use a drying charm; however, she claimed her hair looked better when she dried it the Muggle way. It was such a simple moment, but, as he watched her, Remus realized that he couldn't imagine not seeing it again.

As she was coming out of the bathroom, he told her, "I love you, Nymphadora."

Tonks seemed like she was caught a little off guard. "I love you, too, Remus." They had both known this for a few months, but something between them changed irrevocably when the voiced the emotion aloud for the first time. They smiled a little sheepishly at each other, and then slowly drew together to kiss passionately and lingeringly.

They never wanted to leave Tonks' flat and the warmth of each other's company, but they knew there was only danger and toil ahead of them. They could not shirk their responsibilities. They had to stay strong and fight the darkness if they were to have any hope of a future for themselves and the entire Wizarding world.