I give all the credit for the characters to Jo. also HAPPY BIRHDAY! its the beautiful Ms Rowling's birthday today as well as Harry's so I sat down and wrote in there honnor.

Tonks was all set for her day off. She had her big pancake breakfast with bacon and pure maple syrup made in some place called Vermont. The ministry had forced her to take three days off from work for her ridiculous amount of overtime. She had three whole days off, she now truly believed that miracles could happen. She could do what ever she wanted for three days, she could shop or go out to the country to fly around a bit, or maybe even visit Sirius…she felt a lump in her throat as she remembered the events of last night, and all of those things that Kreacher said. She shook her head determined not to feel down on her first of four days off. Her pancakes could no longer be ignored so she turned on the weird sisters for entertainment and dug in.

She was still eating her pancakes when a knock came at the door. Dodging the clutter that inhabited her flat she went to the door to answer it.

"Who is it?" she asked with her hand on the handle.

"Remus Lupin." The voice rang through the door, she paused. What was Remus doing at her flat at 9:30 in the morning? She looked down at her clothing, or lack there of. She was in a tank top and short boxer-shorts and had no clue why she cared what he thought, but she did. Her hair was a short pixie cut of bubblegum pink still with traces of bed head.

"Prove it." She didn't want to seem like an amateur.

"I have the bruise from where you punched me last night if that will suffice." She could tell he was smiling through the door, and immediately swung it open.

"Wotcher Remus" Tonks saw his smile and felt one form on her face as well. He noticed her pajama choice and instantly decided to look at nothing but her face, although his eyes did flick downward for the briefest of seconds.

"Come on in"

"Oh, no I wouldn't want to intrude."

"Oh please come on in, I don't bite." He stepped inside her door.

"No that would be me who bites, being furry once a month an' all." She chuckled

"I guess that would be correct. Want some pancakes I made a whole batch." He couldn't help but smile at her, she was so cheerful.

"No thank you, they smell great though."

"Are you sure, I have syrup, jam, bacon the whole works." She picked up her plate and wafted it under his nose. She felt so comfortable with this man; she had only met him last night and felt little to no awkwardness between them. Was she always this outgoing with people or was it just him who made her realize it.

"No thank you Nymphadora."

"Tonks." She corrected him, but as she was putting her plate down she knocked over the syrup. She pushed back her blush while Lupin cleaned up the mess with his wand.

"So professor if your not here for my pancakes, and your not here for my charming personality, what brings you here?" he looked down at his feet.

"Well Sirius was concerned about you after you left last night, and w—he wanted to make sure you were okay, and told me he would perfectly understand if you had second thoughts about being in the order." There was a pause before she spoke, "Are you talking about what happened with Kreacher, because tha—" she was cut off by Remus

"He had no right to say those things to you. He says the same things to Sirius; we should take pity on him really—"

"Lupin! Its ok I've gotten that kind of stuff all my life because of my mom's family. And when I left didn't I say that I would see you Wednesday that kinda gives you a hint that I want to stay in the Order." His face felt hot.

She had said that she would see him on Wednesday, and if truth be told Sirius was the one saying that his cousin was strong and probably wasn't fazed by what Kreacher said, it was really Lupin who wanted to check up on the young auror. But now he was standing in her kitchen, she was fine and he was embarrassed.

"Well if you're sure your ok."

"I'm not gonna deny it stung a bit but I'm not going to have an emotional breakdown over it." He saw a flash of pain in her eyes, but it was replaced with her infectious smile. Her hair changed to bright orange spikes to emphasize her happy state. He decided to take his leave, being as his reason for coming here was fulfilled.

"Well I don't want to be a nuisance to you any longer Nymphadora."

"Tonks, and your not a nuisance."

"Never the less I must be going; Sirius and I have a busy day ahead of us."

"What are you guys up to today?" "We are cleaning headquarters, so when the Weasleys move in they can actually breathe the air."

"That's kind of an essential part of life, breathing and all. Do you guys need help?"

"Oh, no I think we can handle it. You just enjoy your days off."

She pouted "But I don't know what to do with myself. And they way you made it sound you men need some extra hands."

"No Miss Tonks you don't need to ruin your small vacation with two old geezers like Sirius and I."

"I'm helping Lupin and that's final, and the name is Tonks; no miss to it. And since I am so graciously helping you clean that hell hole, you my young sir are going to help me eat this mountain of delicious pancakes."

"I—" he tried to object but she raised her hand to silence him.

"Lupin sit down and eat some food." he would have disobeyed her if it wasn't for the fact that she scared him. She scared him in a way that begged to be challenged, and what kind of a Marauder would he be if he shied away from a challenge.

They finished their breakfast and apperated to headquarters. Failing to notice the umbrella stand again Tonks woke Mrs. Black from her slumber

"TAINTING THE NAME OF MY FORFATHERS!" Sirius came barreling down the stairs.

"Oh would you just SHUT UP!" Sirius closed the curtains, silencing his mother. He turned to greet Lupin, but spotted his favorite little cousin, and engulfed her in a bear hug before any hellos were said.

"Tonksie!"

"Sirius I need air."

"No you don't." he gave her a squeeze and let go.

"Have you come to help us prepare the house for the Weasley Invasion?" she smiled brightly

"Is that what your calling it? I would have thought it would be rampage of the redheads." He chuckled

"I like that I'm going to use it." He sighed, "Well we'd better get down to it. Moony and I have already managed to clear four bedrooms, three bathrooms, the Kitchen and the hallways." They were walking up the stairs past all of the elves heads to the very top.

"Padfoot, what are the next rooms on the list?"

"Well," he had a very unpleasant look on his face "it would be faster if we split up. Kreacher only listens to me and we've already started in on Molly's room. Moony, you and young Nymphadora here can work on the bedroom across the hall."

"My name is Tonks." She said as Remus nodded and led her into the room.

"Poor, Sirius." Tonks felt a pang of empathy for her cousin. She saw the same empathy in Lupin's down cast eyes,

"Well we'll be seeing him at dinner, and maybe we could help him with Molly's room if we finish quickly." Tonks took a look around the room they were in, taking in the horrific sight for the first time.

Between the floor boards an orangey green mold was seeping through nearly covering the whole floor, and to Tonks' horror it seemed like it was breathing. On the walls, a thick purple vine with vibrating thorns the color of dried blood grew entangling itself and the beds which also had the floor mold creeping up the bedposts. On the ceiling was a huge blob of fur, every few feet an exceptionally big lump would wiggle as if ready to burst. Tonks looked at Remus with determination in her eyes.

"Let's get a move on." She tired to walk with dignity towards the mold, but lost her footing and saw the moldy floor flying up to meet her. She closed her eyes and waited for the hard floor to hit her, but the impact never came. She opened her eyes to see the floor less then a foot away from her face; she questioned for a second why she wasn't continuing on her way to meet it when she realized the strong arms holding her up. She craned her neck to see Lupin on one knee with his arms wrapped around Tonks' waist to prevent her from hitting the ground. His face was mere inches from hers; his golden brown hair was tickling her face. She found herself looking deeply into his calming eyes. His warm breath puffed on her face while she held hers, she noticed this but for some reason could let out her breath.

"Are you alright Nymphadora?" all she could manage was a nod. He lifted her up to her feet and released his hold on her. She regained the use of her lungs and her vocal cords.

"Thanks Lupin, and its just Tonks." A mischievous glint appeared in his eyes, those beautiful eyes.

"I know." was all he said. His expression returned to a business like one.

"Now I don't know what is possibly hiding in this purpura vitis, but we need to be couscous. We'll start with the floor and move from there."

"Well it looks like we have ourselves here a bad case of vivus figunt. It roots in the floorboards, so we'll have to freeze it and pull up the floor." Remus looked at her obviously impressed.

"Well then, let's get to it."

They successfully froze all of the exposed mold, and with no fall, trips or stumbles from Tonks. Lupin on the other hand had a few close calls though. Nymphadora was wearing a pair of very tight jeans, and a shirt that was too big for her. Being as the mold was on the floor they were forced to bend over, and every time he looked up he would either see the tight jeans in his face or the top of Tonks' head leading straight down the over sized shirt, with an exposing neckline. He didn't mean to stare, and he felt like an old lecher, but Merlin it was distracting, and at one point he stood still for so long that the vivus figunt began growing up his leg. It was time to lift up the floor and freeze what's underneath. "solvot." Tonks pointed at the boards and cast the spell. She then went on to put her wand away and pull up the board by hand. The wood however was not compliant.

"Uhh Tonks?"

"One second Remus I've almost got it."

"Oh I don't doubt that you do, it's just wouldn't it be easier if we just levitated the boards?"

"Oh, right." She morphed back her blush, and felt that one spot on her neck turn hot. When she turned around she saw Remus looking quizzically at her neck. Had he seen her blush? Tonks had learned very young how to morph away evidence of her embarrassment, except for one spot about 2 inches below her left ear, on her neck. Her friend Caelyn was the one to point it out to her, and Tonks had seen later in the mirror that it was true. She walked past Remus to the door, and he followed. They looked in on the room, Lupin levitated the floorboards while Tonks froze the remaining mold. She then proceeded to place a permanent freezing charm on the origin of the vivus figunt. Lupin replaced the floor.

"The infestation should be gone by tomorrow. The cold will kill it in a matter of hours." Remus stated.

The rest of the room was cleaned in no time at all. They had only needed to set fire to the infestation on the ceiling, and prune the purpura vitis. Granted there was a gnome nest and some kind of venomous beetle thing, but those were taken care of with little worry. They refurbished the beds, and rid the room of cobwebs and spiders being as this was going to be Ron's room. An unexpected challenge came when it was time to clear the bureau; there was a particularly menacing ipsum. These creatures are cousins with ghouls and gnomes except they have a shorter temper and result to vicious pranks for pay back. Tonks opened the drawer obviously disturbing the creatures sleep. Tonks looked away for the briefest of seconds to inform Lupin that the ipsum was harmless and would be easy to remove, but she however never finished her sentence because the ipsum pushed her to the ground and was now running in circles around her with a high pitched laugh. Remus pulled out his wand to immobilize the creature.

"No, Remus its fine I've got it." She could fall on her own without anyone's help, and she didn't need a two foot shriveled potato to help her. She was running around the room trying to catch the damned thing without the use of her wand, tripping multiple times as Lupin stood in the doorway amused.

They had finally cleaned the room to their satisfaction and made downstairs for some greatly needed dinner having skipped lunch.

"Well that was the biggest bedroom and now we only have eight more bedrooms to do." Remus proclaimed on their way down the stairs.

"Molly said she will have her crew do the living spaces. And Sturgis was for some reason very eager to do the bathrooms for us, and with that the house should be mostly clean by the time the Weasleys invade." Tonks counted on her fingers,

"But wait Molly only has seven kids, and only four still living with her, two of which are twins and I suppose are rooming together. So why does she need all thirteen bedrooms?"

"Well her family, including Hermione and Harry only need four rooms, but Sirius is also living here and I am staying with him so he doesn't go off his rocker. Also a lot of the order members told us to make up a room for them incase they needed to stay after a meeting, or in Fletchers case a place to stash cauldrons." Tonks laughed lightly as they entered the kitchen.

Sirius was drinking some tea when they push the door open.

"Wotcher Sirius. How did you and Kreacher make out?" Sirius turned around and made a gagging motion.

"Tonks what would posses you to think that I would snog that worthless pathetic excuse for a living organism?" Remus let out a bark of laughter which Tonks joined in.

"Padfoot you haven't had the opportunity to snog any living organism for 14 years, you might be getting desperate." Tonks and Lupin burst into fits of laughter while Sirius just glared at Lupin

"Well if I remember correctly Moony it took you nearly 16 years to snog anyth—" Remus leaped from his spot and covered Sirius' mouth

"What was that Sirius?" Tonks asked recovering from her laughter Sirius was mumbling through Remus' hand

"Nothing" replied Lupin "Nothing at all, how 'bout some tea, and I'll make us some sandwiches for a light dinner." Lupin let go of Sirius, who was licking Remus' hand so he would remove it. Lupin wiped his hand on Sirius' shoulder, and walked to make tea and sandwiches. Sirius looked confused from Lupin's back to Tonks' pleasant expression. He sat down at the table with Tonks while Moony made dinner.

"Are you sure you don't want any help Lupin?" Tonks asked.

"No, Just sit and relax Nymphadora."

"Its Tonks" she muttered under her breath, Remus waved his hand signifying her heard her correct him. Sirius was still terribly confused by their behavior. They had only met last night, but they made conversation like they were good friends.

"So how did you guys do Sirius?" "Well I hate to admit it but Kreacher can be productive if I yell at him enough. We managed to finish off Molly and Arthurs room, and started in on their master bath."

"That's great," Remus said as he sat down with the tea on a tray, "that only leaves seven bedrooms left which we could easily knock off before the Weasley clan shows up." Remus took a sip of tea.

"So Tonksie will you be joining us tomorrow?" Sirius asked with a hint of plea in his eyes, Remus spoke

"You don't have to if you don't want to Tonks. You should enjoy your days off, from what Mad-eye says you don't have many of them." She put her hand on her chest in mock offence.

"If you don't want me to help Lupin you can just say so." This earned her a chuckle from Lupin.

"Oh not at all Miss Tonks." Remus stood up to get the sandwiches. He returned and joined Sirius and Tonks' conversation about their memories of Hogwarts. Tonks was particularly interested in the Marauder adventures. Tonks had pulled some pretty impressive pranks and parties in her day, but nothing compared with the tomfoolery the marauders managed. A mischievous glint sparkled in Remus' eyes when he re-told his younger days.

"I didn't think of you as the prankster type Remus." Sirius let out a bark of laughter.

"Moony here may have been a prefect, but he wasn't any angel, he just never got caught. He had some bloody brilliant plans. Some of our better pranks were his concoction. I'll never forget the 'bell the cat' prank" Tonks looked in horror,

"You don't mean to say that you belled Mrs. Norris? I wanted to give her a good kick for sneaking around, but I never thought of sticking a bell on her." Sirius gave a low malicious laugh.

"Oh I thought it would be good to get that evil feline, but that's not the cat Moony was talking about." Tonks gasped,

"You didn't… Minerva?" she looked to Remus who was smiling boyishly as Sirius went into hysterics.

"We got her during a cat nap and when she turned back she kept turning around trying to figure out what the jingling noise was." Sirius told Tonks through a fit of laughter.

"You evil man." Tonks chuckled, "So Remus Lupin isn't as innocent as everyone thinks he is." Remus ran a hand through his hair.

"Well I did hang around the two biggest pains in the asses at Hogwarts; there was no chance of me being completely naive." Tonks was amused to see this side of the gentle, mild Remus Lupin.

They talked until they all passed a yawn around the table.

"Well gentlemen I will see you tomorrow."

"Mmm, 'night Tonksie." Sirius' head was resting on the table from exhaustion.

"Goodnight Ms. Tonks." Remus stood up and was trying to move Sirius from the table despite his protest.

"Come on Padfoot you'll get a bad neck from sleeping down here." "Mmmmnnnn ." Tonks was watching with amusement. Lupin cared for everyone and treated them like a father figure almost, but he treated Sirius like a younger brother,

"Fine then I'll have to bring you up myself." Sirius grumbled something about too weak but it wasn't audible. Lupin pulled out the chair, grabbed Sirius around the waist and hoisted him up over his shoulder, as if Sirius was nothing but a rag doll.

"Let me walk you to the door Nymphadora." She noticed that it seemed effortless to Remus to carry his friend. He was so strong, but even with his best friend over his shoulder he couldn't help but be a gentleman.

"Thanks Remus, but for the last time it's Tonks." Remus looked down at her quizzically as the walked to the door,

"Why?" he asked.

"Why what?" she responded.

"Why don't you like Nymphadora?"

"Why? Because it's ridiculously long and I got the mickey torn out of me at school 'cuz of it, that's why." She felt a touch of anger in her voice.

"Well I think it fits you, it's unique, colorful, and quite beautiful." Tonks felt the blush rise to her face, but didn't have the energy to push it back. She mentally slapped her self 'its not like he said you were a goddess or something, he just likes your name. Don't over react.' They reached the door which Remus pulled open for Tonks with his free hand. Always the gentleman she thought to herself. She smiled at Sirius over Remus' shoulder.

"Goodnight Sirius." And she kissed his forehead. He mumbled something in response.

"Goodnight Remus." He had put his free hand out to shake, but she ignored it. Standing on her tip-toes, Tonks brushed her lips lightly against Lupin's jaw, being the only thing she could reach. He was so tall. She pulled away and stepped out into the night.

"See you tomorrow Lupin." Remus was still dazed from her light kiss below his cheek.

"Yeah see ya." was all he could manage to reply.

Tonks shut the door behind her. Remus remained standing there for a bit just staring at the place where moments ago a young auror stood. Reluctantly he turned to move up the stairs, to dispose of Sirius. Once back in his own room Remus brought his hand up to his chin lightly, as if he touched it with to much force that warm tingly feeling that was there. He shook is head and laugh breathily. Your being stupid Remus he thought to himself, she was just being friendly. He took a shower and dressed for bed, but the tingly feeling remained where she kissed him. His thoughts kept wondering to the work that they had gotten done today, which lead only to the person he had been with all day. She was young and full of life, Lupin admired that in her. Most people when the join the order become very somber morbid of their eminent death, as they should. But Tonks didn't let it get to her. Remus fell asleep with a comforting thought of bubblegum pink.

A/N: hope it wasn't too dreadful. reviewers get to clean house with Remus.