Five days of owls being sent back to her with only her own letter in talon. Tonks had read them because the seals were broken, but she returned them unanswered. Truthfully this irritated Hermione, fueled her inner lectures every night telling herself she was a horrible friend who didn't know how to stop being so academic, this time it proved that there were moments where being eager to learn wasn't always the popular trait Hermione believed it to be.

Above all Hermione felt awful. Tonks had always been so confident in herself but on new reflection it was apparent that she was confident in the way she wanted to look. Underneath all those layers and disguises was something wonderful, but not recognised. Not even by herself.

Hermione can empathise with Tonks, recalling how her front teeth used to be quite glaringly beaverish. And it was hypocritical for Hermione to say she felt confident in how she looked because she herself had them magically changed. How could Hermione begin to tell Tonks that she should be proud in how she looked, when she herself never truly believed in hers?

This train of thought gave Hermione an idea. She'd wait til the Monday where the holidays start and they all congregate at the Burrow for the holidays. Tonks would be there at least one day, to not do so would raise questions and if Hermione knew Tonks the last thing the auror wanted as a cherry on the bitter cake was everyone else to start getting on her case.

Meanwhile Hermione had another day to write one more letter. Hermione did consider the fact that her badgering was only highlighting that Hermione knew the truth more and more. But Hermione was adamant that in a way it was good that someone knew; she had someone on her side for once that understood.

Her fifth letter read:

Tonks,I don't mean to pester you, this is the last letter I promise. It's more of a notice really. I will be at the Burrow this Christmas, my parents are spending the holidays with my aunts who I cannot stand, and they know it. It was an easy choice in the end.So I'm there the whole holiday, and I'm sure you will be as well, if only briefly. I'm more hoping than asking that I get a few minutes of your time, just to exchange gifts and talk. And I won't beat around the bush, I want us to talk about what happened in the forest.I've said this countless times in these letters, and I'm only going to say them in person as well until you start listening. I do not find you repulsive, and neither should anyone else. Your mark is just a blemish on a beautiful tapesty, and that might seem corny and false to you but without the mark nobody would ever tell you that you're not beautiful. And that's a problem for those simple-minded people to work out, you don't have to feel insulted because some arsehole couldn't look past one thing to see another.Anyway please don't shut me out forever, you must know that discovering your true you hasn't affected our friendship in the slightest. If anything it's made me care for you more.I hope to see you at some point in the next week or so. If not I will understand, I'll be disappointed too but I'll forgive you if you ignore me completely.All the bestHermioneHermione folded the letter up and sleeved it inside an envelope with practiced ease. She sealed it with a sigh and went to go find Harry.

It wasn't hard to find him as he was rarely a metre away from Ginny at all times, and she was always sneaking out her little alcove in the common room for a snog with him.

"Is that a Nimbus TwentyTwenty I see?" Hermione openly asked as she entered the room.

Ginny's mouth drew away from Harry's with lightning speed as she gazed longingly out the window. "Where?"

"Oh, sorry must've just been a Comet 360" Hermione answered. "Anyway now that excitement is over can I use Hedwig again Harry?"

Harry looked at Hermione sternly "have a heart Hermione, she's done four trips in five days. She's only an owl, she hasn't got an unlimited supply of energy. Who have you been messaging all these times anyway?"

"Tonks"

Harry sensed something slightly off and asked "Were you two okay the other day? Did anything bad happen?"

"Clearly not. I'm fine and Tonks is fine. Just more research for my potion assignment." Hermione lied. Hermione hadn't even used her Metamorphagus experiment in the end, the idea no longer felt right. Hermione would tell Harry the truth but Hermiome herself wasn't supposed to know. Down the line Hermione would do so, but for now it was need to know.

"Does Hedwig have to suffer so much for your academic conquests?" Harry asked, his tone only displaying good nature.

"She'll get double, no triple treat rewards for it" Hermione promised.

"I'll hold you to that if she doesn't. She's in the owlery."

Hermione thanked him and made her way there. She found her quickly and she swooped over expectantly "I'm sorry girl, last one I swear. Three walnuts when you return guaranteed."

Hedwig hooted gleefully and Hermione attached her letter to the white owls outstretched leg. Then she watched Hedwig dive over the side of the tower and gracefully flap and glide into the distance.

Hermione sighed, hoping she got through to the auror this time.

Hermione yawned as she entered the kitchen to the smell of Molly's cooking. "Smells wonderful Mrs Weasley."

"Why thank you dear, good morning. Sit, I'll bring some breakfast over." Molly replied, busy with the sausages.

Hermione took her usual seat, third at the breakfast table in the morning was a feat she found she achieved quite often in this house. "Good morning Mr Weasley".

"Hermione, have a good night's sleep?" He kindly asked in greeting.

"Lovely as usual. Are we expecting anyone today?" Hermione had asked that question on cue every day that she'd been here, only one person she wanted to hear about.

"We believe Charlie will be back for a few days until Christmas night, he'll be here in roughly an hour. Luna is expected to arrive in the afternoon. And...I believe that's it." Arthur answered.

Hermione replied with acceptance but a twinge of sadness tugged at her. Until Molly piped up. "No dear, you're forgetting Tonks in the evening. She has something for you remember."

"Oh, my soapbox. Now I'll really find out why muggles love the smell of ylang-ylang" Arthur exclaimed happily.

Hermione completely discarded the soap, and her next breath. She asked "did she say when-" cough "-she'll get here?"

"Around eight I believe. She won't be stopping too long" Arthur answered.

"She's more than welcome to, I'm not serving dinner until eighty thirty and I always make more than enough" Molly said with a slight pout.

"I'm sure she'll consider it Molly. Who can really turn down your food?" Arthur complimented.

Hermione zoned out of the conversation at this point, she barely greeted the others by the time they came searching for breakfast and by the end of breakfast she felt more hungry than she was when she sat down.

Hermione didn't stop thinking about Tonks expected appearance all day, leaving her isolated in her and Ginny's room. The younger rehead came in search of her three times to check on her, once from Harry. Each one with growing concern, Hermione had even dismissed lunch under the excuse of having an upset stomach.

It wasn't until six that Hermione finally appeared downstairs. Molly was first to meet her "Hermione dear, are you feeling better?"

"A little bit Mrs Weasley, I just...came down for some water." Hermione appeased falsely.

"I'll get it for you, why don't you sit with the others for a while?"

Hermione didn't want to argue so she entered the living room and sat down. Ron greeted her with "so you're out of hibernation then."

He received a whack from Ginny, resulting in a pained "bloody hell"

Harry asked genuinely concerned "Hermione are you really okay?"

"I'm fine, can people stop asking?" she grumpily replied.

Luna, Hermione hadn't even noticed was there, spoke up from her upside-down Quibbler "Are you interested in ylang-ylang soap too Hermione?"

Hermione frowned and said "No."

"Oh, then don't worry Tonks will be here soon."

Hermione glared at Luna for a moment in irritation, why did she have to be so...stupidly intuitive?

"Not your potions assignment again Hermione" Ron said.

"Luna doesn't know what she's talking about. I'm fine. Now can I please not be the centre of all your attentions please?" Hermione complained, and the others were wise to move the topic off of her.

The next two hours consisted of Hermione ignoring any further conversation and looking at her watch as it agonisingly slowly ticked round. She was half-hoping to hear the sound of apparation in the garden, and half-dreading it.

Then...she heard it.

Hermione's eyes rocketed to the door and waited for the knock. The others had heard and were patiently waiting whilst Molly went to the door. The mother Weasley opened the door and there was..."Remus, we weren't expecting you?"

"Last minute change Molly, Tonks had a little something to deal with at home so she sent me. Here are the soaps Arthur wanted." The former DADA professor handed the box to her and she invited him in.

Hearing and witnessing it all Hermione got to her feet and belted from the room and up the stairs. She greeted him briskly with "hi Lupin, not feeling well can't talk".

Hermione didn't head to her room though, she went straight for Ron's. Inside she stormed over to Harry's bed and searched through his belongings until she withdrew the invisibility cloak. After cleaning up her mess she left again and went to her shared room, locking it closed.

As far as Hermione was concerned if Tonks wasn't going to come to her, then she would go to Tonks.

She quickly composed a note and laid it on her pillow, not expecting Ginny to come up until long after dinner by which time Hermione would hopefully be gone. She unlocked the door simultaneously whilst covering herself up with the cloak.

Then to keep the illusion she was still in the room she locked the door on the way out.

Hermione headed down to the kitchen completely hidden and positioned herself so that she could follow Remus on his way out. Unfortunately for Hermione, he took up Molly's offer of dinner. So going through the torture of waiting to see Tonks, was accompanied by the torture of seeing people eat to their hearts content whilst Hermione starved. 'Sacrifice' she told herself.

Ginny was asked once to go check on Hermione and considering there was no outcry when Ginny got back meant that her ploy had worked. Thankfully it wasn't roo long before Lupin had finished and graciously left the table to gather his coat. Hermione followed him closely enough to stay within touch of him but not too close that she'd bump into him if he turned unexpectedly.

Whilst he said his farewells Hermione waited, and when Molly opened the door Hermione timed her exit perfectly. Molly waved goodbye to Lupin as he walked with Hermione practically on his heels, then Molly shut the door.

Hermione considered clutching onto Lupin when he exited the wards, but the chance of splinching either her or Remus was very risky. So she had no option but to reveal herself to him.

"Lupin wait"

He was startled and twisted round to see Hermione whipping off the cloak. "Merlin's beard Hermione, you gave me a fright".

Coming from an auror and former DADA professor Hermione took that as a compliment. "I need to see Tonks".

She knew Lupin was living with her, they even dated briefly but Lupin had commitment issues, like being in love with his Marauder friend Sirius.

"Unfortunately Tonks isn't available for company right now" He replied.

"This is important Lupin" Hermione looked around to see if she was being watched before adding "I know about her true form".

Lupin's face got a little stony "I know you do. Like I said, she doesn't want to talk."

"Please, just five minutes."

Lupin observed Hermione for a while, internally debating in his head. "Does anyone know you are gone?"

"No"

"Good, we best be quick before they do."

And as quickly as that they were gone in a pop.

Tonks sat before the mirror, palming at her cheek. Her hand rubbed the edges of her dark bruise-like feature, touching the pointed edge knifing up to her eye. Then she dragged her finger along the mark to the rounded blunt edge tickling her jawline. The shape of it comparing to an irregular fat crescent moon.

She irritatedly stopped touching her face and began brushing her hair. She trailed from her scalp to her shoulder blades the yellow and white strands. As she corrected the slight knots and kinks in her hair, she read one of Hermione's letters over.

'...no human is perfect, and your imperfection is the only thing stopping you from being so...'

'...if people just got to know you they'll certainly see the beauty...'

'...people's definition of beauty is subjective, one persons repulsion is another person's envy...'

"Give me a break" Tonks scoffed, flinging the parchment across her dresser.

She rubbed her temples and started morphing back into her preferred Tonks. The birthmark stayed and Tonks groaned out a glamour charm to hide it.

Just as she did she heard footsteps on the steps out front and listened to the door opening. "Did Arthur get his soap alright?"

"Erm...yes, he did." Lupin tamely responded.

"That man is such a goof with Muggles." Tonks said good-naturedly.

Lupin hung up his coat and started saying "Tonks, we have-"

"-to get milk, I know. I was just about to get some" she finished, reaching for her purse.

"No, Nym we have..." but it was too late because Tonks had already turned around and spotted the brunette standing shyly at the front door.

"Erm...hi" she greets Tonks awkwardly.

"Like I said, we need milk...I'll just go-"

"Nym."

"Why did you bring her here Remus?!" Tonks blew up at him suddenly.

"She practically followed me here. Besides she deserves an explanation at least for why you've been ignoring her letters" He answered innocently.

"She can bog off for all I care"

"Tell her that yourself, she's standing right there" he replied before heading down the hall "I'll be in my room, try not to annoy the neighbours will you?"

Then he was gone leaving the two girls alone. Hermione was about to speak but Tonks stopped her "Don't. Not a word. What the hell is this huh? Found my little secret and now you're my stalker."

"I'm confused, do you want me to answer that or do you still want me to shut up?" Hermione retaliated.

"Don't get smart with me. This is my flat and I don't want you in here."

"It's yours AND Lupin's flat, I'm HIS guest."

"Oh just...go away"

"I will!" Hermione exclaimed. "But not until you hear me out."

Tonks laughed dryly "more pretentious 'you're beautiful in your own way' talk. Well go on, what version of 'you're beautiful' am I receiving today."

"Why are you attacking me? I'm trying to help you" Hermione sincerely returned.

"I don't want your help! Things are perfectly fine the way they are, or were until you came along and drank a Polyjuice potion with my hair in it!" Tonks grilled her.

"You agreed! And you kept your insecurities from me! Don't blame me for your own choices!" Hermione fumed back.

"The point of a secret you don't want people to know is to not tell them!" Tonks argued. The two were feet from each other as they warred with words.

"And not allow people to drink a Polyjuice potion that reveals what your trying to keep secret!" Hermione countered.

"I didn't know it would work for one thing. And secondly you didn't tell me you were going to drink it until after I provided my hair."

"You allowed me to. You had a chance to stop me, all you had to do is say you were uncomfortable with what might happen and insist that I don't test it. But either way someone would've needed to test that potion, wouldn't you rather it have been someone who isn't going to judge you, nor change how she sees you" Hermione informed her softly.

Tonks looked at her and coldly said "but you have"

"Not in a negative way"

"It doesn't matter" Tonks forcefully replied. "I want people to see me as this Tonks, not as..."

"This Tonks is no different to the other Tonks" Hermione stated.

"It is because this is the Tonks I want to be."

Hermione regarded her sadly "Perhaps you're right. But answer me this, did you choose this Tonks because you wanted this version, or did you choose it becomes you didn't want your true one?"

Tonks levelled Hermione with a withered look. "I chose who I felt was truly me"

"That Tonks is absolute horse dung. The answer was in your eyes when you looked at me a week ago. The answer was in the horrible comments being sent my way whilst looking like the real you. The answer was in the avoidance of my letters and hiding away in your flat because you didn't want us to be having this argument".

Tonks turned around and crossed her arms "I think it's about time you left".

Hermione relented "okay, I'll go. But before I do I wanted you to have this."

Hermione walked behind Tonks, reached around and dumped a photo onto the coffee table. It was a photo of a second year Hermione smiling goofily at the camera, large front teeth and all. "I used to hate those teeth as much as you hate your mark. Before I was Mudblood and Bookworm, I was Gnasher and Beaver. Horrible boys told me that they'll be a loss of tongues if anyone tried to kiss me. Even at Hogwarts I was criticised on it, there was my blood status and bookishness that stopped it being as prevalent. But it wasn't those comments that hurt me, it was my criticisms of it that did the most damage."

Tonks looked at the photo and Hermione knew she was being received. "In fourth year, I had the opportunity to change them. Harry and Draco got into a duel and my 'gnashers' grew even more. Densaugeo. Pomfrey had to shrink them back and I allowed her to reduce them to the average size tooth. That was in the year that my appearance meant most to me, and I wanted to look the best I possibly could've. Looking back on it now, I wish I hadn't done that. Because in the end it wasn't my teeth that won people over, it was who those teeth belong to that I got recognition for. So who you are really can shine brightly for the right people."

Tonks stayed silent so Hermione made her exit. "Anyway, I'm sorry for barging in like this. Have a happy christmas Tonks."

Hermione left her standing over the table and quietly closed the door behind her. Missing the sniffle of evident tears.

An;

FYI Sirius never escaped Azkaban guys, not through preference but because it accompanies a little of Lupins side plot.

Another chapter soon