It was a clear summer day when Tonks arrived at Grimmauld Place. Remus had sent her a letter to arrive at 4pm facing the space between houses 11 and 13. All this business was a little strange to her. She wondered where he was taking her. She looked at her watch. 3:55. Where was he?

"Hello Nymphadora"

She jumped at the sound of her name. She hadn't expected Remus to sneak up on her like that. Her old mentor Moody would be appalled at her lack of "constant vigilance".

"It's Tonks, Remus. How many times do I have to tell you?"

"Of course Dora. Now, just a few minutes longer and we will be all set to go."

"Go? Go where? Where's Sirius?"

"I'll tell you once we're where we can't be overheard."

"Remus, Nymphadora. I trust you are ready?."

Tonks turned to see Professor Dumbledore standing on the sidewallk beside them.

"Now, Remus, you're sure of this. She's trustworty."

"Yes sir. Totally. I'd trust her with my life."

"Nymphadora Tonks. You will find the headquarters of the Order of the Pheonix at 12 Grimmauld Place."

Tonks suddenly saw in front of her, a new house grow in between 11 and 13. 12 Grimmauld Place. Why did that sound so familiar?

Then she looked at the ornate crest that adorned the door. Toujours Pur. That was the crest of the House of Black.

Remus opened the door, leading her into the hallway. She suddenly found herself on the floor.

"Bloody hell. What is this damned...?"

"Ah, so I see you've made the aquaintance of my mother's favorite umbrella stand. Welcome to your ancestral home, Nymphadora, the Noble House of Black."

Tonks looked up to see Remus' gentle face. He stretched out her and and pulled her up, placing his ther hand on her shoulder to steady her. She looked up at his eyes, taking in their deep chocolate color and depth. She was at lost for words, puzzled as to why her mouth wouldn't form the words 'thank you'... However, she never got th echance to try, because Walburga Black decided then to screech.

"FILTH. BLOOD TRAITOR OFFSPRING OF THE UNGRATEFUL DISGRACE AND THE MUDBLOOD. DISGRACE TO MY FATHERS AND..."

"WILL YOU SHUT UP MOTHER. YOU ARE DEAD AND NO ONE CARES WHAT YOU THINK OF THEM!"

Tonks stood still for a moment, still uneasy from her previous moment with Remus. Why had she had such difficulty forming such a simple phrase. And why could she moments later, still not formulate the proper words?

"Er, thank you, Remus."

"No problem Dora."

Her heart skipped a beat. Why had it taken to doing that whenever he called her that. She hated that nickname, it made her sound childish and immature. Yet when he said it..."

Sirius cleared his throat, giving his best friend a knowing look. He looked down and she followed his gaze. He was still holding her hand. He quickly let go of her and stepped back until he was about three feet away. She sighed and turned to face Sirius.

"And that must be your wonderful mother Sirius. Mum used to tell me stories about her. Said she was an, er, interesting woman."

"Interesting? She was bloody crazy! Always 'Purity' this and 'House of Black' that. Bonkers she was."

"This house is, er... lovely. I guess. It must be full of memories."

"Memories, yes lovely memories. In fact, I want to show you something."

Sirius led her down the hall into the drawing room where she saw a beautiful tapestry. It portrayed a detailed family tree of the Blacks, leading back for at least 8 generations.

"This, is the Black Family tree, giving a history of every member of our family. It shows all of our relatives, dear Nymphadora. As you know, most wizarding families are interrelated. There's a lot of inbreeding to 'keep the blood pure'. Our family is a prime example. There is hardly anyone who we are not related to. But this, this part is my favorite."

Tonks followed Sirius eyes to a scorched spot on the wall, just under Walburga's own name, next to Regulus Black.

"That's where I was on the tree. Dear old mother blasted me off after I walked out. But the beauty of this tapestry is that its magic. So when someone marries into or is born into the Black family, the tree automatically adds them. Regardless of if they're disowned or a 'blood traitor' the tree adds them anyway. So if you look just over here, you will see another familiar name."

Tonks looked and saw a scorch between Bellatrix Black Lestrange and Narcissa Black Malfoy. She could just make out the name. Andromeda Black Tonks.

"Yes, I remember the day your mother walked out. She was my hero for it, you know. Told the family she didn't care the Ted was a muggleborn and then stormed out the front door. Her father went bonkers of course. He, my father and Rodolphus, dear Bella's lovely husband, searched for her for a week. It took my mother hours to blast her off the wall. But then, two weeks after she left and we had given up on finding her, there was an addition to the tree. It showed your mother's marriage to Ted. Funniest damn thing, my mother's face when she realized a muggleborn was on our tree. I don't know who threw the bigger fit my mother or Bella. But I thought it was hysterical. The only thing that was funnier was when a few years later, you appeared on the tree. My mother did her best to remove you, as you can see."

Tonks looked and saw her own name, underneath her parents, scorched by Walburga Black's wand. She wondered... Did that mean that when she was married, her own husband would appear on the tree? Her eyes darted towards Remus who made eye contact. She blushed and immediately turned her eyes to the wall. Why did he suddenly come to mind when she thought of husbands?

"Pretty cool huh?"

She looked up to see that Sirius had retreated from the room to greet more people who were arriving. She was left alone with Remus, who was still looking at her. Why is it that she felt as if she were drowing in his chocolate eyes.

"Well, we better head down to the kitchen. Everyone should be assembling soon."

Her eyes followed him as he walked out of the room. She didn't understand the way she subconsciously reacted whenever he walked in the room. And she could only pray he didn't either.