I hope its not too horrid

A silly smile was painted across Nymphadora's face when she woke up in headquarters with messy blue hair in her face. The cause of her happiness was her dream. The feeling of his lips on hers still lingered from the dream. His body pressed her against the wall at her back; no voyeurs were present at the entrance of the alley. Everything about it was so realistic about it; the heat, the smells. She sat straight up 'the smells, Oh Merlin, the dream was about Remus.' She had dreamt about her and Remus, there was no mistaking the fragrance of chocolate and old books. No, she couldn't be having that kind of dream about professor Remus Lupin! She paced at the foot of her bed. 'I just need some food in my body' she exited her room and headed to the kitchen. She just needed to get it off her mind. It didn't mean anything. She made it down the stairs with no mishaps, but when she entered the kitchen, all of her good grace left her body. She was looking at the back of that head. The sandy, grey speckled hair that had been taunting her, some how made her loose her footing. "Morning Toksie." Sirius greeted. She stood up with as much grace as she could muster. "Morning Sirius." She grumbled. Remus asked "Nymphadora are you ok?" 'At least someone is worried about me.' "I'm fine, thanks Remus." she flashed him a smile. "Want some breakfast Tonksie?" Sirius was holding out a plate for her, "Moony made it fresh this morning." She took the plate, "Good I'm starving. What did chef Lupin make for us this morning." With an astounding French accent he said, "'Ell today 'e 'ave French toast weez bacon and strawberriez." "Tres magnifique monsieur Lupin." Tonks loaded her plate with her breakfast. Sirius asked over his mountain of food, "So anything exciting happen last night?" Tonks nearly choked on her food, "Wh-what?!" she choked out. "I meant during your guard duty." "Oh," She pushed back her embarrassment, "nothing really happened." Sirius looked in-between Tonks and Moony. Tonks seemed very intent on her food now and Remus was redder than Gryffindor and burning a hole through the table with his stare.

"Okaaayy. Anyway, Moony are we all set for tonight?" Lupin didn't really want to talk about the full moon with Tonks at the table. It was just a reminder to her that she was consorting with a beast. But she didn't see it that way. "All the charms in the attic are up, and my wolfsbane is in my room." He answered. "Oh tonight is the fullmoon?" Tonks asked. Lupin nodded. How could she be so stupid and forget about tonight. 'He must be exhausted' she thought, 'well he does look very tired, and I bet duty last night didn't help at all.' Remus looked at her face expecting to see pity or horror, but all he saw was kindness, tenderness, and a little curiosity. He weakly smiled at her, which she returned with a bright genuine one. Remus finished with his food and stood up to go to his room. Tonks watched him leave through the door and continued to stare at the door after it closed. Sirius cleared his throat, "What'cha lookin' at Tonksie?" she blushed deep red, "Just the beautiful frame work of the door, look at all that detail." She gestured towards the door frame. Sirius let out a low chuckle. "Door frame my ass." Tonks decided to ignore the comment and head up the stair to her room to ready for work.

Tonks found fresh towels at the foot of her bed. Lupin must have put them there for her knowing her need for them. She smiled to her self 'Always the gentleman.' She mentally slapped herself, 'No, you don't have a thing for Lupin.' She shed her pajamas and wrapped the purple towel around her body. 'He wouldn't give you a second look Tonks anyway. He just thinks of you as an immature little girl.' She showered and dressed in her ministry robes for the day. She grabbed her wand and badge and left her room. Tonks stood in the hallway for a while staring at the door opposite of hers and thinking of the man behind it. She hadn't heard him and wondered if the exhaustion had got to him. She slowly opened the door to check. At first glance the room appeared empty, but at the desk was a sleeping Lupin. She smiled to her self. She walked over to him. She kneeled down beside him and lightly touched his arm. The poor man didn't get any sleep and had to endure a transformation tonight. "Remus." She barely whispered his name. He was sitting at the desk with his head resting on his arms. His hair was hanging in his face. She delicately brushed the locks away from his face. His deep breathing was calming and a sure sign that he was deeply asleep. He would strain his neck sleeping like that. She didn't really want to disturb him. He looked so peaceful and innocent when he was sleeping. She pulled out her wand and with a lazy flick she levitated him to his bed. She tucked him in like he did to her the night previous. Kneeling by his head she gazed at him in this vulnerable state of sleep. She couldn't explain it but in the short time that she had known this man she had grown very fond of him. She tenderly brushed the hair from his face again. The lines on his face disappeared in his sleep, making him look so much younger. He must have been dog-tired with all that's going on, he needed his rest. She caressed his hair and lightly pressed her lips to his forehead. She found it hard to tear herself away from the peaceful, sleeping Remus. 'Well maybe just a small fancy for him.' She admitted to herself. She smiled at him one last time before heading for the door off to work.

—

Remus woke up from his rest around noon time. His pre-moon aches and pains had roused him from a most restful sleep. His bones were sore with anticipation of the transformation tonight. His senses were high with vigilance. His headache was a pure annoyance to him. He needed some tea or fresh air. He sat up in his bed letting the covers pile in a mess. When had he gone to his bed? He didn't remember doing that. A light smell of vanilla registered in his senses. It was mixed with a distinct scent that he had smelled before 'Tonks' he thought to him self, 'She must have put me to bed.' The initial embarrassment that he felt from her seeing him so weak was washed away by her kindness. He smiled at the idea of her caring for him, but stopped his joyful thinking. After he woke up from that dream of them in the alley the night before; he knew he couldn't deny it. He was attracted to Tonks. Well his feelings ran further than just physical attraction, but he didn't want to venture any deeper. He decided to stay away from Tonks and clear his mind, but she was staying over, and he couldn't resist being friendly towards her. Her spirit was just so infectious. And frankly his mind didn't want to be rid of her. The thoughts of her at the corner of his brain seeped and slithered into the front of his mind.

He went over his usual degrading convictions about himself; Old, dull, poor, werewolf. But her scent remained in his room filling him with pleasant feelings in his stomach. He shakily made it down to the kitchen. Remus always kept on a strong face. He didn't want what few people who accepted his curse to pity his pain. He was stronger than he looked, but the moon always drained him. Remus walked in on Sirius leaning back in his chair reading the Quibbler. Since the Prophet was demeaning Harry, Sirius had taken to reading the Quibbler to keep him calm and out of rages on the indignation. They also amused him immensely. Sirius didn't even look at Remus but just simply pushed a glass of water out with a vial of purple liquid next to it. Lupin's smile turned into a grimace. He was grateful for his friend to get a pepper-up potion for him, but the aches and nausea prevented him from smiling genuinely. Drinking the water and the potion Remus joined his friend at the table. Sirius spoke over his magazine, "The Weasleys are ready to move in tomorrow and they have their chores all assigned." Lupin's voice was forced and hoarse, but it was as close as it would get to normal, "It's nice of them to help." Sirius chuckled, "They're going to regret they offered. We cleared their rooms enough, but this house has more rooms and infestations, than slimy snakes in the Slytherin house." Lupin huffed with amusement. Sirius could always be counted on to keep his mind off of the transformation. Which Remus greatly appreciated. He knew exactly what to do on the day of, and the day after the moon. During school Sirius was always the one carrying Lupin's books and helping him cover up napping in class. The small things that people overlooked. Like things to help with the exhaustion as well as the actual transformation. It became a routine every full moon since James and Lily started to date. He remembered how close he and Sirius had become in their last years at Hogwarts. "I think what they're most looking forward to is your sparkling personality Padfoot." Sirius flashed him a rude hand gesture and stood to make some tea.

They drank their tea in a comfortable silence, while Sirius was reading his magazine Remus was left to his thoughts. He was staring off and out of focus when Sirius snapped him back, "You all right mate?" Remus shook his head clear before answering, "Never better." He needed to maintain his focus, "Any work to do today?" Lupin asked. Sirius formed a half smile on his face, "Not till the Weasley invasion. So today is our day to rest, or throw a party, which ever you prefer Moony." Lupin chuckled, and let out a huge yawn, "As eager as I am to throw a party Padfoot, I don't think your mother would appreciate it." Sirius huffed in amusement, "Oh yeah because, it's my deepest wish to be in her good graces." He said some what acidly. Remus knew it was traveling into dangerous conversation. "Well pissing her off would be fun, but I think I might just prepare for tonight." Sirius looked at his feet, "Sorry Moony." "There's nothing to be sorry about Padfoot." They look at each other in understanding and finished their tea in comfortable silence.

—

"I'm tellin' ya' officer the judge told me my restraints were at Gloucester." Tonks was twenty minutes away from seeing the end of her shift when one of her parolees' collar charms chimed that he had broken his parole. Now she was stuck listening to his lame excuse and writing up the report. "Look, Eric, we both know that's bull, and your just gonna have to deal with the fine." He sighed, "Ok, fine." He slumped in his chair with defeat. "Now that's your second offence against your parole, one more Eric, and you might get another sentence in Azkaban." She sighed, "I don't think you want that, but if you commit another offence it's up to the wizardmont, not me." He took the fine off of her desk and walked out of her office. She didn't want Eric to go back to prison; he was really making a turn around. He was caught on three counts of identity fraud, which landed him with two months in Azkaban. He hadn't made any trouble since then, but he violated the terms of his parole.

She finished off his report as accidental, and locked up her desk. As usual her day was completely unexciting. She tracked down some suspicious artifacts, which turned out to be just some teenagers cursing some objects. She followed a dead end lead to knockturn alley about some illegal apothecary dealing, and filed some stray reports. But she was also getting distracted through out the day, thinking about Remus so fragile in his bed this morning. Why was he invading her thoughts so much? She had planned to go home and just spend the night relaxing and maybe turning on the quidditch game. But a note on her desk caught her eye. It was a letter from her mother complaining on how she doesn't see her enough. She did miss her parents and their cooking; she saw no harm in paying them a visit and eating her mother's home cooked meals.

She knocked on her parent's and heard a scuffle inside. "Were you expecting anyone Ted?" "No Andie". The door flew open with a wand pointing strain at Nymphadora's face. "Good to see you too mum." A smile broke out on Andromeda's face, "Nymphadora I didn't know you were coming over." She lowered the wand and guided her into the house after a quick hug. Tonks was shown to the living room where her father sat waiting for her. At the sight of her his face brightened, "Hey stranger, do I know you from some where?" she chuckled, "oh stop your complaining daddy, and give me a hug." He wrapped his big arms around her small frame, and she felt the comfort that only her father's embrace could bring. She really had missed her parents, and felt horrible for not visiting them. Sure her mother at sometimes was over bearing and really nosy. And she was sly and clever like a Slytherin but she loved her. Her father on the other hand was the ideal man, in her opinion. He wore his heart on his sleeve and was friendly to anyone, and everyone. But he had no issue with putting up a fight if need be.

They all settled down on the couches. "So Nym, why the sudden visit?" Andromeda asked, "Oh I just missed you guys is all and I know I haven't stopped by that often lately." Andromeda raised an eyebrow skeptically, "Ok, and maybe I came to mooch some food off of you guys." Andromeda smiled, "That sounds more likely." She stood and headed for the kitchen. "So Dora, what's going on with you hun?" Ted asked. She smiled. She wanted to tell him everything. About the order and all the dangers that were out there. She wanted to confide in him and her mother about Sirius' innocence and safety. But she couldn't, "Not much Dad, just work. Ever since the Triwizard Tournament last year we've been crammed with work." This wasn't a complete lie, but she was never good at fibbing to her dad. He raised an eyebrow in skepticism, and it was clear that he knew that wasn't the whole story. Her mother reentered the room with a tray of food and tea. Desperate for a change in subject Tonks blurted out, "So why did mum nearly blow my head off when I knocked?" Andromeda chuckled, "I wasn't going to blow your head off. You just can't be too careful, with all the rumors flying around." Tonks raised an eyebrow, "Are you talking about the rumors of how Diggory died." Ted sighed, "It was horrible when we heard about it. That poor boy and I can't imagine what his father is going through." They shared a moment of sad silence, "But are you guys saying that you believe what Dumbledore is saying?" Her parents shared a look, "Well we are hoping that he's wrong, but he's a brilliant man. Also the signs of his return have been there for a while now." Ted said. Andromeda shook her head solemnly.

They chatted for a while about old friends, current events and other useless small talk. They constantly nagged Tonks about her absence and lack of visits. Andromeda only mentioned her senseless hair color once. But then it was time for Andromeda to nose her way into Tonks' love life. "So, darling, how's the man hunt going?" it lacked subtlety, but was usual for Andromeda. Tonks' mind flickered for a second to Remus. "It's not going at all mum. I've been far too busy at work." "Andie leave the girl alone. She has plenty of time to look." Andromeda rolled her eyes "Anyway, Nymphadora, I heard that Charlie was back in town." "Mum we've already been over this like twenty times; I like Charlie and care about him, but not in that way." Her mother sighed, "Well what about his older brother, Bill? I saw him at Gringotts. He's a handsome man." Tonks hid her mirth.

They finished with their dinner and questioning, so it was time for Tonks to take her leave. "Oh Nymphadora, do you have to leave?" Tonks heaved a sigh, "Mum, could you please not call me Nymphadora. And yes I have to get ready for work tomorrow." "Alright," her father said, "but don't be a stranger Dora." She gave a quick hug and kiss good bye to her folks, and disapperated. She reappeared a couple blocks away from her flat in a side alley. She started walking and remembered last night when Lupin walked her home. She admitted to herself that she possibly fancied Remus Lupin, but she didn't have the time to over analyze it. She never really was worried about how deep her feelings were for men or where a relationship was going, but this was different. She didn't even have an inking that these feelings would come, and that's what scared her, the fact that it was unpredictable. She couldn't just instantly dismiss this.

She rounded the corner. 'Remus Lupin.' She thought. The man was a complex subject. He was kind, gentle, humorous, and handsome to say the least. He was brave and chivalrous, like a good Gryffindor. Sure he was older than her but there's still a lot of child left in him. She concluded that it was a simple crush on a nice man that would become nothing more than friendship. But right then she passed the alley that they dashed down last night for cover. She remembered his warm body inches from hers, his breath caressing her skin, the feel of his hair locked in her fist and his fringe tickling her cheek. She remembered the dream she had last night of them molded together. The smell of his skin over powering her senses and his hands roaming her body. His sweet taste and delicious mouth. She looked up at the sky and saw the sun sinking slowly to the west. Tonight was the full moon. The moon would be rising in less than an hour. She needed to get to get to headquarters before then. She needed him to know that he wasn't alone. She needed to be near him tonight. He was given far less than what he deserves and he needs people to be there for him, whether he admits it or not.

She practically sprinted the rest of the way home. She grabbed a clean set of cloths for tomorrow, and flooed straight to headquarters. Tonks found Sirius in the kitchen sitting at the table. "Hey Tonksie, what are you doing here?" "Oh, umm, I thought I would camp out here. My upstairs neighbors are doing some renovation, and since their muggles, it's really hard to get some shut eye with all the noise." She was proud of the lie considering it was on the spot. "Uh—ok Tonksie." "Great thanks." She dumped her cloths into her room across from Remus' and headed toward the attic. She stopped at the door, with her nerves tingling. She stared at the door trying to think of a way to explain her self to him. The moon was going to rise in fifteen minutes, she couldn't waste her time. With her hands feeling like pincushions she wrapped her fist and knocked on the door. She heard a moan from behind the door, which she took as an answer to come in. The attic was cleared of boxes and extra furniture. On the ground there were piles of pillows and blankets for padding. Sitting on the padding was Remus. He was drinking a goblet of what looked like his wolfsbane potion. His bare back was to her with the glisten of sweat. She took another second to compose her shelf and walked to the makeshift bed. "I'm tellin' ya Sirius I think Snape dips his shoes in this or something." Lupin proclaimed. Tonks couldn't help herself so she chuckled. Lupin whipped his head around. "Oh god, Tonks." He said in shock, "I—uh—I'm sorry for my appearance." He grabbed for a shirt to cover his torso, "Oh no Remus its fine. I should be the one saying sorry. I just—uh came here—to tell you…" she flushed red and stared at the floorboards. He looked at her questionably. What was she here for? "that I reported our issue with the death eaters on the way home last night, and that you don't have to worry about it." she finished lamely. "Oh, well thanks Tonks, I appreciate that." He gave her a smile, "But you might want to leave headquarters now, full moon is tonight." She sighed, "Remus," she was now facing him and within a foot of him. "Remus- I-" she paused. The butterflies were fluttering in her stomach. He looked confused and slightly worried. "What is it Tonks?" he asked kindly. She took a deep breath and bucked up to just say it. "The real reason I came hear was because I was worried about you. I care about you, and your wellbeing, because you're my friend, and I couldn't stand the fact of you alone tonight." Lupin's heart was bursting with warmth and Tonks' face was burning with embarrassment. When he saw her walking in the room so shyly he felt fear course through his veins. He was going to be a hairy beast soon, what in gods name was she doing there? But she just wanted to tell him she cared. He felt as if he was back at Hogwarts being accepted by his friends for what he was and receiving friendship regardless of his condition. She cared. He didn't expect her to come or even take worry of him, but she came, and she cared. "Thank you Nymphadora, that means a lot to me." He said sincerely. She closed the gap between them and wrapped her arms around his neck. He hesitantly returned her embrace and felt the warmth spread through him.

They released their hug with seven minutes to go. Remus started to tense more visibly now, and clenched his fist. "You should probably go now." She nodded slightly, and turned to leave. She saw Sirius at the door looking a bit confused. Lupin's voice halted her at the door. "Oh and Tonks," she turned to look straight into his eyes. In them she saw pain and suffering that he didn't deserve to have inflicted on him, "Thank you." She smiled hoping that it was reassuring, and not showing the turmoil she was being put through watching him face this anguish. She looked at Sirius as she was leaving and in an attempt to regain her light spirited demeanor she whispered to him, "Now you old dogs have fun." Sirius huffed in amusement before he shut the door and set up the charms. She just barely made it to her room when the moon rose. The screams were silenced with a charm, but the thrashing, and thudding wasn't even muffled. As she heard the struggle of his transformation, she felt the sting in the back of her eyes. He deserved better. He was so kind, gentle and caring. The thrashing seemed to stop after a minute, which meant that he was fully transformed. She only heard the playful padding of paws the rest of the night.

A/N: hope you liked it i wrote this during a lecture from my Geo-Civ teacher i just needed to get something up. i promise i'll update as soon as i get beck from a trip i'm taking it will be about a week and a half, please review to let me know if you want me to continue :D