Tonks returned to number twelve the next morning around eight o'clock. She woke up in the sweltering hot of the day and got dress to meet Lupin, and Sirius. It really was one of the hottest days in her memory; she tried dressing in her normal jeans and a t-shirt, but found they were too uncomfortable. She knew she didn't look what you would call presentable, but she was comfortable as she could be in the heat. She was wearing shorts that were at level with her palm, and weird sisters t-shirt, with a wide neckline that draped over her shoulder, and a blue tank top that was far too small in the upper torso and stopped just above her hips leaving part of her stomach exposed. Her hair was golden and shoulder length, held back in a pony tail. She knocked on the door of headquarters, and was let in by Sirius.

"Nice to see you little cuz, and so much of you." He looked at her outfit with a disapproving fatherly look on his face. "Young lady, should you be wearing that around in broad daylight?"

"Oh please Sirius, you're not my father, and it's like England decided to float down to the equator." He had a glint of amusement in his eyes at her comment.

"Alright, well Kreacher and I have started on the bed room for Kingsley. You and Remus are working on the one for Sturgis." She made her way up the steps

"Okay, now don't too big of a party in Kingsley's room without me." She said sarcastically. She managed to climb the rest of the stairs with only stumbling once, and was quite proud of her grace the rest of the way.

She entered the room that Sirius indicated, only to find Remus Lupin on his hands and knees, with his back to her looking underneath the bed. For a second she stood enjoying the view, but soon cleared her throat to announce her entrance.

"And what, my dear professor, are you doing?" Remus was rubbing his head from hitting it on the side of the bed.

"Well you see my wa—" he stopped mid sentence taking in her appearance. The shorts that she was wearing emphasized her perfectly toned legs, and her wide neckline shirt fell over her shoulder revealing creamy soft skin and teased him at the top of her bosom. The hem of her tank top stopped above her hip teasing his eyes with a glance at her flat tanned stomach. Remus mentally cursed himself for ogling a Sirius' little, very young cousin. She was twelve years his junior, and he was contemplating whether her skin was actually as soft as it appeared.

"Remus? You alright there?" her voice snapped him out of his daze. He cleared his throat which had dried up in the moments of her entrance.

"Yes, sorry. As I was saying my wand was stolen by a gremlin, and he refuses to give it back." She raised an eyebrow,

"Do you mean to say that a two foot, uneducated gremlin managed to take the six foot, smart professor's wand." Remus looked at her with defiance.

"First of all I am six foot two and a quarter, and second of all their tricky little weasels."

"They're barely magical Remus." She said with amusement. She pulled out her wand and waved it. Out flew Remus' wand from under the bed with a gremlin holding on to the end with all his strength. Tonks promptly shook off the little nuisance and flung him out the window.

"Thank you Nymphadora." Remus waited for her to correct him, but it never came. After what he said last night he expected her to go off ranting and raving about what a horrid name it was. She just simply nodded in reply and asked

"Shall we get to work professor?"

They worked the rest of the morning with the same comfortable atmosphere that they had the day before. They had knocked off the room for Sturgis, and were partly done with the one across from Remus' room. When they first entered said room a black mass pulled them into the room and threw them to the ground. It circled them, never revealing its true form. It looked neither clear nor blurred, just there. Lupin lifted Tonks from the ground and stood her against the corner of the room. He turned so his back was to her and he was facing the dark creature. He stepped forward towards the black shapeless mass with his wand in hand. Suddenly the scene around them changed. They were now in the center of a town square. The lights were beginning to turn on in the small shops surrounding the square. People were trafficking through the square with children and babies. The night was obviously coming, and Lupin knew exactly what was happening, although Nymphadora seemed still confused. At the entrance to the square was a view of mountains and from behind those mountains rose the beautiful, but deadly image of the full moon. Tonks followed Lupin's gaze and saw the fear in his eye. There were children and innocent people around and his worst nightmare was coming to life. He was paralyzed with fear, but Tonks finally felt the connection being made in her mind. She jumped in front of Remus, and the scene vanished, and was replaced with a dark room with an ominous light being shed on a mirror. Tonks knew what she would see if she looked in that mirror, and didn't feel like going through this nightmare again. She raised her wand, aimed it at the mirror. The mirror shattered and the scene dissolved. Grimauld reappeared around them. The shapeless mass was now shaped into a full moon in front of Remus; he raised his wand chanted

"Riddikulus" the moon flew around the room as a balloon and the bogart vanished.

They stood in silence from shock for a few minutes before Lupin cleared his throat and stated, "That was some bogart." He looked at where it had vanished moments before.

"I didn't know they could be that big. I mean it changed the whole room to become our fears, not just shift into a symbol." Tonks was still trying to compose herself. She couldn't count the amount of times she had woken up in a cold sweat because of that nightmare. She was taking deep breaths and leaning against the slimy bedpost to steady her.

"Are you okay Nymphadora?" she was snapped out of her daze by that name and those eyes that held concern for her, oh Merlin she was looking into his eyes again.

"Who? Me? I'm fine let's get working." He didn't want to push the matter and he knew that she was strong, so they fell back into their work.

"So why are you so precise with your height?" it was a random question but she was curious, and to tell the truth she wanted something else to think about besides the mirrior. He looked at her quizzically.

"What?"

"Well you said your six foot two and a quarter. Why?" he chuckled a bit.

"Oh well I had a bet going with Sirius that I'm the tallest one in the order. So I measured myself so I could compare with everyone. The closest one to me is Kingsley. So I won four sickles for being six foot two and a quarter." She laughed.

"So if I need any help reaching high places?"

"You just say, hey I know a really tall bloke who could help me." She laughed heartily and felt the comfortable mood settle back in.

Now it was lunch time and their stomachs couldn't be ignored any longer. Lupin was still concerned about Tonks after their little episode with the bogart, but he didn't want her to get mad and rant at him about how she wasn't a weak little woman. He knew she was strong, but anyone would be shaken up when faced with their worst fear, which he was still trying to figure out what hers was. Certainly it wasn't her own reflection; she was so beauti—pretty. When they entered the kitchen they were met by a wonderful mix of aromas and the woman behind it all, Molly Weasley.

"Hello dears."

"Wotcher Molly, what you cooking, it smells like heaven." Molly smiled at the comment graciously.

"Thank you Tonks, I'm just making some lunch for all of you. I am so grateful that you're cleaning the house for us and thought you might like something substantial to eat." She continued on with her cooking.

"That's very kind of you Molly, would you like some help?" Lupin asked. Tonks inwardly smiled at his gentle mentality.

"Oh no Remus this is my thanks to you." Remus stepped forward and started helping Molly with her task anyway.

"Now Molly you are always the one cooking and caring for all of us, please I insist." Molly beamed at Lupin.

"That's very nice of you Remus thank you." Tonks set the table to make use of her self, but they were still cooking when she was finish.

"I'm sorry I can't be of more use to you two. I'll probably break something, and I have minimal cooking skills." Tonks felt awkward at her confession.

"That's quite alright." Molly responded. Lupin took hold of her wrist and pulled her toward the stove where he was adding ingredients to a big pot.

"Come on its not that hard I'll show you." Tonks was taken a back by his actions but let her self be lead to the pot. At his order she would add a spice and stir for a given amount of time.

Tonks was pleased with the end result of their soup. She had only got distracted by Lupin once or twice, but it wasn't anything major. He was leaning over her, and his body was close to hers … who wouldn't be distracted? Sirius and kreacher came down soon after lunch was set. Kreacher slinked of to his cupboard, which didn't get protest from Sirius. They all sat and had comfortable conversation. Remus kept glancing sideways at Tonks. She had only joined a couple of days ago and she was already making jokes with Sirius and finding a connection with Molly. She was practically one of the family. She was young, witty, tough and just brilliant all around. Her mere presence lifted the spirit of the room. He stopped him self from thinking any further into Tonks. He had been thinking about her a lot the past couple of days, and he had convinced him self that it was purely because she was a new member to the order, and he was curious about her. Yep it was just human curiosity.

The conversations varied from Order business to school days. Molly was caught up reminiscing on her days with Arthur. She retold about the trouble that Charlie and Tonks used to cause in school as well. Charlie had been Tonks' good friend and was her partner in crime as well. Lupin and Sirius applauded her on some of her pranks. She had got up to put her dish away, but ended up tripping on the leg of her chair.

"Thanks Molly. That was fan—ahh!" She hit the ground with a crash of her plate.
Lupin was the first to make it to her on the ground where she fell. "Are you
ok?" there was worry in his voice as he wiped away some soup that splattered on
her. Sirius was laughing in his chair and Molly was looking over the table with
worry as well.

"I'm sorry. I'm such a klutz. It's a curse. I'll clean this up."

"Nymphadora!" Tonks flinched slightly at the name. She looked in his eyes.

"You haven't answered me. Are you ok?" she felt her neck get warm as she pushed back the blush.

"Ya, I'm fine. Thanks Remus." Lupin smiled lightly at her, and cleaned the mess with a wave of his wand.

"Well we better get going on those rooms we only have to pump out the second half of the room we're working on before you go home tonight. And then we can finish up tomorrow." Molly stood up.

"I'll clean up here and help Sirius with his job."

"Great now I won't have to listen to Kreachers mumblings." He got on his knees and looked up at Molly.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you Molly. He was driving me up the wall. And its infested." This earned a chuckle from everyone, even a smile from Molly.

Tonks and Lupin returned to their half finished room with filled stomachs and raised spirits. They finished the floors, walls and ceiling, and were now moving on to the bed, closet and bathroom. Tonks held her wand at the ready as she opened the closet door. After their run in with the bogart she was being extra vigilant. Nothing seemed to jump out at her immediately so she lowered her wand.

"Seems clear Remus." She said over her shoulder to Remus who was checking under the bed. Just then two long hairy tentacles wrapped around Tonks' legs. She looked down on the sight with a yelp. She tried to release her self from the grip but was unsuccessful. Lupin resurfaced from under the bed to see Tonks' legs and hands bound buy long hairy tentacles coming from the darkness of the closet. He rushed over to her aid.

"Stupefy" Remus shot into the closet. The tentacles fell limp but still gripped Tonks. Lupin pulled them off of her. Tonks stood up and shivered

"Guhhh that was gross." Lupin looked at her with amusement. Tonks suddenly became aware of the fact that her shirt was missing, she was just in her tank top now, which was probably lower cut than she should have it, and torn in multiple places, revealing peeks of her lacy green bra. "Ummm, Remus where did my shirt go?" he looked at the floor with a blush rising to his face.

"Well the tentacle things had a strong grip on you, and it kind of ripped off when I un-tangled them from you." She chuckled in spite of her self.

"Well I usually wait until a guy takes me on a date to strip for him." Remus turned a deeper red and suddenly found the floorboard the most interesting thing in the world to look at.

'Where the hell did that come from?' Tonks thought to her self. She really couldn't just have a normal conversation with this man.

Lupin felt the heat rise to his cheeks at her comment. He tried not to think of it but his imagination got the best of him. He imagined a forgotten candlelight dinner on a table, and a various items of clothing leading away from the table; bright colored shorts and shirt. He forced the scene to dissipate in his mind. He saw that Tonks was becoming awkward, and uncomfortable just like he felt. He felt his inner Marauder surface and a wolfish smile creep across his face. "Well if a date is all it takes…" he left his comment unfinished. She looked at him in shock.

'Wait, What!?' she thought.

"We should get back to work if we intend to finish before long." He spoke before she could determine what her reaction should be to his suggestive comment.

"Umm… sure," She responded still unsure if she heard him correctly.

"Let's get to it then."

They finished the room by dinner time, and were very pleased with its out come. Tonks couldn't help but ponder Remus' earlier remark. Did he mean that he intended to take her on a date? She shook her self and told her self that she was being silly. Remus and her would be a ridiculous couple, he was so intelligent, responsible and professor-y. Ok granted the professor thing was insanely sexy, and he was sexy in general, and his eyes were so soulful and gorgeous. Sure she wondered how his hair would feel if she ran her fingers through it while she snogged his apparently soft lips. She shook her self again. When had she noticed how soft Lupin's lips looked? Maybe during one of those charming smiles he didn't know he could produce. She knew that she was thinking about Lupin in a bit more depth than appropriate, but it's not like she's going to pursue her thoughts. She promptly forced herself to avert her mind's wanderings to any other subject than Remus, and walked down to dinner.

Molly and Sirius were already down in the kitchen with a wondrous meal prepared. But Molly's usually cheery composure seemed to be more forced than anything.

"Hello dears." She said with only half of the loving smile they were normally greeted with.

"Wotcher Molly. Dinner smells blissful." Tonks said cheerfully, trying to return Molly to her cheery state.

"Thank you dear. It will only be a moment." Her voiced sounded croaky and watery. Her face was red and slightly puffy, as if she had been crying. Remus felt a pang of concern for the woman, she was so strong and anything that was able to make her cry must have been very dire.

"Is everything okay Molly?" asked Lupin. She wiped her nose on her sleeve and averted her kind sad gaze from any one or thing in the room. Sirius looked up from Molly's face which he had been staring at intently, and mouthed,

'Percy'. Tonks and Lupin nodded in understanding.

"Has something happened with Percy?" she let a few silent tears fall down her face at the mention of her son. Tonks wrapped her arms around Molly for comfort. She leaned into Tonks, finding it reassuring that there was someone to lean on. They all sat down at the table with dinner in front of them as they listened to Molly.

"I went to his apartment a f-few days ago, too try and t-talk to him an—and see him." She paused and stifled a sob, "He opened the door and just glared at me. I told him w-we miss him and that we can work through our differences, but he just said I have no business bothering him, and shut the door in my face." More tears were leaking from her eyes. Tonks felt for the woman, and had a sudden hatred towards her prat of a son. Who could even think of being so rude and inconsiderate towards this loving woman, especially someone who she raised? Tonks put a reassuring hand on Molly's arm as she continued.

"And just as Sirius and I were cleaning the room I received an owl from him. I thought it was going to say something along the lines of how he wanted to talk over dinner or something, but it was far from it. He wrote to me telling me that he took my visit as a cry for help to save me from the dangers that I'm in by associating with Dumbledore. He said that he always thought Arthur would force me into a secluded life." there was now rage mixed in with the sadness of her voice.

"how could he say such horrible things about his own father?" more tears fell from her eyes. "I couldn't stand the accusations, so I burned the letter, and threw the ashes out the window. I just can't handle the thought of him saying those things after we raised him." She didn't break down, but kept her strong demeanor.

"Don't worry Molly he'll come around." Sirius assured her. She sniffled before responding.

"Thank you, I know I'm just being silly." She whipped her tears.

"Not at all Molly."

"Thank you dears, just do me a favor and don't tell Arthur. He was fuming at Percy and wouldn't be happy with me if he found out that I've talked to Percy."

"Sure Molly, we won't tell him." She gave a weak smile and stood from the table. She began to busy herself in the kitchen.

"I have a right good smacking for that boy. She's his mother for Merlin's sake. Doesn't he have any gratitude for her?" Tonks said vehemently. Sirius just looked sadly in Molly's direction as Lupin said.

"We just need to believe that he will come around to his senses and apologize to his mother."

Tonks stayed for a couple hours after that to continue with a bit of cleaning and to watch out for Molly. But soon Molly left for her home and Tonks found herself back in the kitchen with Remus and Sirius. She was talking lightly with them when midnight chimed. She told herself that the only reason that she was reluctant to leave was that she enjoyed catching up with the only descent, distant relative, and not the fact that she was able to talk to a certain werewolf, or that she was sitting next to said werewolf.

"Well I should be off. I'll see you blokes in the morning." Tonks left the kitchen and Lupin could have sworn he heard a tumble before the door made its distinctive click, securing the charms on the house. A faint smile crept on his face as the thought of the clumsy witch fumbling over her own feet yet again. Sirius brought his vague stare into the distance to Lupin's face and changed it to a smug smirk that Lupin only knew too well.

"What?"

"Oh nothing. Nothing at all." Sirius' expression widened. "Say, Moony?"

"Yes Padfoot?"

"Do you think Tonks will make it home ok?"

"Of course she will. She's a talented Auror." Remus was confused as to why Sirius was worrying, he said himself that Tonks was an auror and didn't need to be babied, and why was he smiling his 'I know something smile'?

"Well you know its dark and these times are dangerous for a young witch."

"I'm sure she'll be fine padfoot." But despite his words Remus felt himself become worried about the young witch. He mentally smacked himself, she was a strong talented auror.

"I was just thinking about poor vulnerable Tonks walking the streets of London to her empty flat, where she lives alone I might add." Lupin turned to look at the door, as if to decide to run out it and make sure she was ok.

"Really?" there was no doubt about the worry in his question now. Sirius was stifling the laugh in his voice now.

"Oh yeah. No one lives with her. She's left to fend for her self. Maybe someone should warm her bed on those cold nights." Lupin spun around at this.

"And since I can't leave this house…" he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at his friend.

"What in Merlin's name are you talking about Padfoot?"

"Oh come on Moony even you aren't that clueless." Lupin looked at his, friend with perplexity. What was he saying? Sirius shook his head in exasperation, and began to talk slowly and with hand gestures so that Lupin might get the right idea.

"You—should—be—the—one—to—warm—Tonks'—bed."

"Well I can perform a good heating charm, but I'm sure Tonks can produce one just as sufficient." Sirius covered his face with his hands from exasperation. Lupin wasn't stupid in any sense of the word. In-fact he was quite brilliant, and Sirius knew this even though Lupin was modest about his intelligence. But when it came to this sort of thing he was just…oblivious.

"I meant you should heat it up with body heat." Finally things were clicking in Lupin's brain.

"Oh, eww, Sirius she's your cousin."

"If pureblood families can intermarry than I can point out that my cousin is attractive. And that she couldn't tear her eyes away from you. And also you haven't denied that you want to warm her bed." Remus shook his head at this.

"Now you're just spewing nonsense. She was looking at both of us, not just me. And plus there's nothing to look at, unless graying hair and violent scars are now seen as irresistible." Remus stood up to put his dirty tea cup in the sink.

"You're still not denying it." Sirius sang. Remus just rolled his eyes at his friend as the walked up the steps. Sirius couldn't even try to count the amount of times he had had this conversation with his dear friend over the years. He didn't have the energy or the drive right now to try and convince him otherwise. So he settled for saying.

"Good night you hopeless git" Remus entered his room with simply saying.

"Good night padfoot."

Remus readied for bed while thinking of Sirius' words. Tonks was very attractive. He shook his head. He couldn't think of her like that. For one thing she was twelve years younger than him and was far too wonderful to even give him a second look. He couldn't let his hopes get any higher than hoping for her friendship. He put Tonks out of his mind as he slid beneath the covers, but she found her way back in. He started to think about the work that was to be done tomorrow, what hair color would come waltzing through the door tomorrow? If Sirius would crack from working with kreacher and how many times he would catch the pink (or whatever color she wanted) torpedo in his arms on her way to the ground? Just the important things.

A/N: I may not own any of the characters, but i do own a pretty sexy carebears night shirt ;) please review and stay with me for the next chapter which will be up hopefully soon. Hope you liked it