Jo owns it all!

AN: This takes place before they became 'Luponks' and in the early days of OotP

Tonks had extended her work route to include a stop at the Department of Mysteries, to see if security had been increased, or if certain 'persons of interest' had begun showing up more frequently at the entrance. She spotted Lucius Malfoy at the entrance again, like she had did every single day for the past week and a half. He looked up at the footsteps and was, in no doubt, not surprised to see her there.

"Ah, Auror Tonks, we've seemed to gotten into the habit of meeting here, may I ask why you always walk by?"

"Ah, I just think the door is beautiful."

Lucius laughed incredulously, "You think the door is...beautiful?"

She nodded, Tonks had planned her responses word for word, she'd known he would ask her eventually. "I beautiful in a mysterious way. So dark, different from the rest of the departments, it makes you wonder what is behind it. Did you hear that the Ministry thinks someone may be attempting to steal something in it? It makes you wonder, what is back there that someone who doesn't work in the department, wants so badly."

Tonks took the Floo Network home that night. She wasn't in the mood to apparate, she just wanted to go home and read a book in her pajamas, it had been a long day. After escaping Lucius, she'd found herself with mounds of paperwork from her last Ministry-based mission. She had tomorrow off, but from work, not from the Order, Tonks was hoping for a good night sleep in between her two jobs. She ducked into the Floo and found herself at her flat. Looking around with wide eyes she noticed the wreckage, it had been completely trashed. The couch tipped over, books ripped out of shelves, some destroyed, dishes had been broken, her things strewn over the entire apartment, nothing left untouched. In the center of her wall someone had burned in, Stay out of our business Nymphadora Tonks. She turned on the spot, shaking, and found herself on the steps of 12 Grimmauld Place. Too upset to say the password, she knocked.

"Dammit Sirius! Open up!" She knocked harder and kicked the door until it opened and she found herself faced with Remus Lupin.

"W-where's Sirius?"

"Sleeping off Firewhiskey, Tonks are you-"

She stepped into the hallway, looking around for a moment before she threw herself into Remus' arms and sobbed. He seemed shocked at first but relaxed, wrapping his arms around her and whispering soothing things in her ear as she sobbed. When she had calmed down, he led her into the sitting room and sat her down, letting her take her time before she explained what happened. Tonks took a deep breath and recounted her encounter with Lucius, then what she saw when she had arrived at her flat. He nodded as she told her story, but his face paled when she told him what her flat had looked like. Remus got up and paced, "If you had been in your flat..."

"Remus, I wasn't and that's what is important. Its as if they didn't want me to be home, like they aren't strong enough to do their wor-"

"Of course they're strong enough!" Remus bent down to her level, "Nymphadora, I don't think you understand how powerful these people are, they've killed and tortured to insanity to get something they want." His eyes were crazed, but they softened when he saw the anxiety in her face, "I need to speak to Dumbledore. Tonks, take my room, and stay the night. I'll be back by morning." He threw some powder into the fireplace, and with a burst of green flame, he was gone.

"Remus! I didn't expect to see you tonight," Dumbledore said as he stood up from behind his desk to greet the werewolf.

"I'm sorry not to send notice, Albus, but I had to talk to you about something."

"Go on."

"Tonks' flat was broken into tonight."

"Oh dear, I was afraid of that, she's putting herself in a dangerous position, snooping around the Ministry. She's vital to the Order, and we cannot lose her. What do you suggest Remus?"

"I..I uh, well I was thinking she needs a guard or at least someone watching her, maybe she could..." "

Maybe she could what, Remus?" Dumbledore asked, a twinkle in his eyes.

"Maybe she could move into Grimmauld Place..."

"Excellent idea, Remus, are you also offering her your room?"

"I..I don't know what you're implying, Albus."

"You're willing to do anything to protect her, Remus, you would even go so far as to give up your life if she could live in its place."

"Well, I'd do that for anyone in the Order-"

"You and I both know that your feelings for Nymphadora run deeper than that, Remus. No matter how much you deny it to yourself, the thought of her being more than a friend has crossed your mind before, hasn't it?"

He didn't respond for a long time, staring into the fire, "Even if I do find her...attractive, we can never be together. It wouldn't work, she's so young...full of light. I can't corrupt her with my life full of pain. Her parents were only a year out of Hogwarts in my first year, how can I even consider her a partner for me?"

"During times like these, love can come from unexpected places, don't push her away, Remus. It will only hurt both of you."

"You can't be implying that she may have feelings for me, too." Dumbledore shrugged, "Just remember not to let the prejudices get to you, Remus. Sometimes it takes someone else to help us realize how much we are truly worth. Its that one in a million that changes your life for the better."

He nodded, overwhelmed, "I'll let Tonks know that she has a new home."

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