The hair on Nymphadora Lupin neé Tonks's head had remained a resolute grey for over a week. Charged with the not un-daunting task of organising a sham shot-gun marriage, the metamophagus had lost her usual cheery disposition, and could be found most days ensconced in a pit of despair at the kitchen table in Grimmauld Place.

'Six aurors, do you think six aurors will be enough?' Hermione heard Tonks question Mundungus Fletcher as she walked towards the kitchen - home from her final shift at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.

'Yeah,' Mundungus grunted acrid smoke billowing from the clay pipe which hung from the side of his mouth, clearly not listening.

'And Moly for the bouquet, what do you think?'

'Yeah, yeah...,' Scrutinising the silverware that lay polished on the table, Mundungus suddenly perked up.' Ere Tonk's you reckon this is goblin embossed silver?' He picked up a knife and held it to the evening light which shone through the the kitchen window, examining it closely.

Hermione watched from the open kitchen door with interest as Tonks's hair, seemingly of it's on volition, transformed rapidly from subdued, sleek grey to an angry, static red.

Her voice dangerously low and calm, Tonks gripped the table edge so hard her knuckles whitened. 'I don't know if it's goblin embossed, but if you're thinking of selling it down Knockturn Alley you'll have to wrench it out of your back first Fletcher.'

Startled, Mundungus hastily returned the knife to it's place on the table and stood up quickly, straightening his raggy coat.

'I don't know what's got your wand in a knot Nymp-a-dora,' he muttered, with exaggerated affront, 'But what ever it is you can handle it on yer own.' With the air of a highly aggrieved man, Mundungus nodded piously to Hermione and made his way out.

'Sorry about that Hermione,' Tonks sighed, hair once again grey as Hermione lightly replaced Mundungus in the chair opposite the other young witch. 'It's just the stress of organising the security, the guest list...the flowers – it's all too much and it's just so..sad.'

'Sad?' Hermione asked, confused at the choice of adjective.

'Yeah sad – look;' Tonks picked up her wand, moved her arm in a circular motion whilst chanting "Orchidious" and a bouquet of Moly flowers were transfigured from the end of her wand.

'It's Moly,' she said to Hermione, who recognised it from Herbology.

'It's used to ward off Dark enchantments,' Tonks continued; 'I thought that it would be a good luck symbol, the stems are black to represent Sirius and the flowers are white to represent you.'

'That's so sweet Tonks,' Hermione was touched.

'But it's all bullshit,' came Tonks's flat reply. 'It's bullshit that you have to make do with a crappy marriage you don't want – and no thoughtful bouquet is going to make that better.'

Hermione bit her lip – inclined to agree she could find no words to argue against Tonks's maudlin assessment of her current situation - "bullshit" summed it up perfectly.

' I just wish you, of all people, could have found love; you deserve it Hermione you're so...good.' Tonks smiled and Hermione squirmed.

'It's not just me you have to feel sorry for,' she countered, 'It's crap for Sirius too. He deserves love – love like you and Remus have – too. He's so...' Hermione searched for the word and settled on '...Noble.'

'Noble is it Granger? I'll have to get that in writing,' Sirius stood leaning against the door frame of the kitchen, desperately trying to hide the triumphant smile that was threatening to light up his handsome face.

'It's rude to eavesdrop,' Tonks threw her cousin a scolding look, and Sirius held up his hands – one of which held an empty bucket, in a sign of peace.

'I wasn't eavesdropping, I was simply making my way back to the kitchen after feeding Buckbeak, and heard the sound of my name.' He threw his muscular frame into the chair beside Hermione, and crossing his legs gave Tonks a pious look.

'Ok, alright, you're exonerated of all charges,' Tonks muttered with an exasperated roll of her (grey) eyes. Indicating to the sheaves of parchment which littered the oak wood table, she lay down the quill she held and gave a defeated shrug; 'That's it, it's organised – your wedding. I can do no more, I'm just one witch.'

Hermione picked up the page headed guest list, and noted one glaring absence 'Why's Harry not on here?' she questioned.

'Scrimgeour's orders,' Tonks looked apologetic; 'Instead of Harry you get Proudfoot, Savage and Dawlish. It's too high risk,' Tonks explained gently seeing Hermione's glum expression. 'The Ministry will know exactly where and when it's being held – and we don't know who they'll share that information with.

Hermione nodded, unsure why she was so upset – she wasn't even inviting her own parents as it seemed so pointless, one more person off the list wouldn't matter. Sensing her sadness, Sirius reached over and squeezed her hand with his, receiving a grateful look in return and they both sat in appreciative silence as Tonks ran through the itinerary and security detailing of their wedding, which would take place in the garden of The Burrow, much like Fleur and Bill's wedding.

'I know it's a bit much to ask Molly and Arthur to host another wedding, but it's the safest Order location that isn't protected by a Fidelius Charm, so I didn't die when I told The Officiator where to meet you...' Tonks gave a sarcastic cackle, before running them through the schedule of Aurors who would be keeping watch from when Hermione would arrive the next day.

'Wouldn't it be safer to arrive together?' Sirius was perplexed.

'It's bad luck to see the bride the night before the wedding,' Tonks patronisingly rational explained, and neither Hermione nor Sirius sought to correct her.

'And now to the fun bit – the honeymoon!'

Hermione could only think that perhaps it was the stress of organising the whole event that had Tonks so illogically excited about a honeymoon which would involve reluctant coitus on the newlywed's part. Reluctant coitus that they had yet to discuss – so awkward was the subject between them.

'Fleur and Bill have volunteered Shell Cottage for the night,' Tonk trilled, 'And because Bill's the secret keeper there's no need for an auror watch – so you'll be alone together by the sea.' Sighing dreamily, and presumably recalling her own honeymoon with Lupin, Tonks failed to notice the awkward silence which had fallen between Hermione and Sirius.

Uncrossing and crossing his legs again, Sirius cast Hermione a searching glance, and found his fiancée turned a shade of magenta whilst staring resolutely at the floor.

'It won't be that bad,' he whispered as Hermione's eyes rose to meet his. In fact if he had his way Sirius was going to ensure that "bad" would be the last word Hermione would use to describe their wedding night.