"Visit to Hogsmead," Cally gushed excitedly as she plopped down beside Tonks in the common room.

Tonks smiled at her friend's excitement but didn't quite feel it herself. She had been to Hogsmead many times with her mother as a child. Andromeda liked to shop away from the main stream of Diagon Alley if she could. While she liked the village well enough, it was her up coming date with Michael that had her dreading the excursion. Why didn't she just say she was planning on being sick that day? Right. Because you can't just plan to be sick, you idiot, she told herself. There's that plan shot.

"Tonks? What's the matter?" Cally asked finally noticing her friend wasn't sharing in her excitement.

Cally came from a family of 10, as such over the years she had developed strong observational skills. It came from watching to make sure no one stole her breakfast, among other things. She could tell when something was bothering her friend.

"It's that Michael Collagen isn't it? I told you not to go out with him."

"He's just so boring Cal. I mean all he talks about is the greatest Quidditch moves ever made by him, the greatest player Quidditch has ever seen!"

"Don't hold back love," Cally said smiling with amusement. "Tell me how you really feel."

"He doesn't even know how to laugh!" Tonks said not even noticing her friend had said anything. "His idea of a joke is that the Chudely Canons are in first place. He's obsessed with his looks; the other day he freaked out cause a snowflake was in his hair. And if I have to hear one more bloody question about changing different parts of my body, I'm going to punch him!"

"He asked you that?!"Cally asked outraged. "Dump his sorry arse! You're too young for a serious boyfriend any way."

"You know what?" Tonks said standing, looking determined, "I will. I'm going right now. He's probably out on the Quidditch pitch regaling his fans with 10 ways he saved Hufflepuff from loosing the last game."

Tonks was right. When she reached the Quidditch pitch Michael was talking to a gaggle of girls. He smiled widely when he saw her coming toward him, not even noticing that she did not return his greeting.

"Tonks, your just in time to hear about my-"

She didn't let him finish. "That's great Michael, but I need to talk to you. Away from your fan club."

"Well I'm really quite busy, can't you just say what ever it is now? Besides isn't that friend of yours waiting for you somewhere? You know that shabby one. What's his name, Lupin?

Tonks smirked. He really shouldn't have brought Remus into it. It had been one of the things that annoyed her the most about him. She wasn't allowed to have male friends but he could have a gaggle of girls following him and it was okay.

"If you really want me to. Look Michael, the thing of it is us going out just isn't going to work. You see you're an egotistical prat. And since you're so consumed with you, yourself and Quidditch, I just don't think there's room for me. Goodbye Michael." She started to walk away leaving him with his mouth hanging open.

When she was about six feet away she turned back and yelled so every one could hear. "And yes, foot odor is a problem! It is not normal if your feet smell like goat cheese!"

She then resumed walking feeling happier then she had in months.+++

"You said that? In front of all of those people? You are officially my hero!" Cally expunged. "What did his face look like? I wish I was there, that's something I want to fix in my memory."

"Well he provoked me. I didn't plan on insulting him in front of everyone, but honestly he had it coming."

They were sitting by the fire in the common room. They were the only people left; the rest had gone to bed over an hour ago.

"You're still going to Hogsmead though; Zander won't mind if you hang out with us." Zander was Cally's fifth year boyfriend. He was a bit strange, Tonks thought, and with her long black hair and black Irish looks Cally could have had anyone. Tonks had even seen Sirius eying her occasionally. But Zander seemed to make her happy, and really she supposed that was what mattered.

"No thanks. I have no desire to play third wheel. I'll just stay here and do homework or something." She glanced out the window at the full moon. "It's late. We should probably get to bed."

The next day Tonks said good-bye to Cally and made her way back to the Hufflepuff common room. As soon as she got back she decided that maybe it wasn't the best place to be. The common room was unusually packed for a Hogsmead day, but that didn't stop her from seeing Shannon Finnegan talking up Michael. Quickly, before either of them could spot her, Tonks ran for her dorm and grabbed her cloak and some mitts. Being outside in the cold was a far better alternative then listening to her ex- boyfriend and her archenemy flirt.

When she got outside, snow was falling; whirling in white spirals through the air. Tonks inhaled and sighed, throwing her head back and sticking out her tongue to catch the flakes. She and her father used to do this when she was a small child and it was a habit she could never seem to break.

"Your tongue will freeze if you stay like that," said a hoarse voice. She smiled and opened her eyes, straightening up.

"Maybe I want it to. I'm trying to make a toungcyical. Wotcher Remus."

Remus smiled, but it didn't fully reach his eyes, which had an exhausted look to them. In fact, now that she looked at him fully she realized that he was pale and wane looking.

"Are you alright? You look like shit."

He laughed and the sound echoed in the cold air. "You are definitely related to Sirius. He said the same thing to me this morning. I'm fine. I've just been a little sick that's all."

Tonks frowned. "A little sick? You look like death warmed over. Why aren't you in the hospital wing?"

"I convinced Madam Pomfrey that what I needed was fresh air, not an easy feat to be sure. I was surprised to see you here. Why aren't you in Hogsmead?"

Tonks was not fooled, nor was she distracted from the original topic. She could tell he was in pain just by looking at him. But if he didn't want to talk about it then she wouldn't push. She knew he would tell her what was really going on when and if he was ready.

"Didn't feel like going. I broke up with Michael yesterday."

"I'm sorry," he said in sympathy, even though he wasn't. He had never liked Michael.

Tonks snorted. "Don't be. I'm not; he was a complete arse. If I had to hear one more time about 100 greatest plays by Michael Collagen then I think I would have done myself in."

"Well then, I'm not sorry in the least, it sounds like he got what he deserved. I heard that you had dumped him. I believe something about his feet smelling like goat cheese was mentioned." He reached into the pocket of his cloak and pulled out a bar of Hunydukes. "Chocolate?"

"What is with you and chocolate?" she asked accepting a piece. "And yeah, I may have let slip that he has an embarrassing foot fungi problem."

"Yes, his admires did seem a little more reluctant to get close to him this morning. Of course that didn't stop them from following a few feet behind."

Tonks shook her head and the snow that had been accumulating there fell off, showering her in a cloud of white. "It won't last."

They stood there for a moment in companionable silence, the snow blowing around them.

"Do you want to walk a bit? I don't feel like heading back in just yet." Tonks asked peering at him through the hair that had blown in her face.

Remus nodded and the two of them headed out toward the lake.

"He was a wanker anyway," Tonks said continuing their previous conversation. "Do you know, he actually asked me if I could change different parts of my body? Really suggestively too. I'm not even 14 yet. What did he think was going to happen."

"I'm not…" Remus started to say in a controlled voice, when a shout from behind him interrupted him.

"Remus!"

Both he and Tonks stopped and looked back. Coming toward them was a tall fair skinned, red haired girl and trailing just behind her, looking sullen was Severus Snape.

"Oh Merlin," Tonks muttered when she saw him. He never failed to make a snide remark when around her. She was sure it was because she was Sirius' cousin, therefor guilty by association.

"How are you?" the girl asked quietly so only Remus and Tonks were sure to here her, as Snape was still a few meters behind. Tonks couldn't help but feel there was more than just polite interest behind the question.

Remus smiled. "I'm fine, thank you Lily. Hello Severus."

Snape nodded, his lip curling. "Lupin."

"I love your hair," Lily said to Tonks, ignoring the snide tone in her friend's voice.

"Oh, thanks," Tonks said uncertainly. She was used to people being sarcastic when they referred to her appearance, but maybe Lily was being genuine.

Lily must have sensed this because she smiled and said, "I really do, it's very vibrant. Don't you think so Sev?"

Snape smirked. "Yes it's er… certainly colourful."

"We're on our way to Hogsmead, are you going?" Lily asked, again choosing to ignore her friend.

"No, I've decided to keep Remus company, he's been a bit under the weather."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Remus said, realizing for the first time that he hadn't introduced his two friends, but also trying to steer the conversation away from his condition. Lily had known since third year, but she didn't know that he hadn't told Dora yet. "Lily this is Nymphadora Tonks."

"Don't call me Nymphadora Remus!" Tonks hissed.

Remus tried not to grin. It got her every time. "Who prefers to go by her sur- name only. Dora this is Lily Evans.

"Oh! So you're the one James is always going on about. He's right, you are pretty," Tonks said without preamble.

"Thanks," Lily said, not sure if she should accept it as a complement. It had been Potter that said it first after all.

"We should go Lily," Snape said in his cold way.

"Sure. See you later Remus. Nice meeting you Tonks."

"You too!" Tonks called after them as they walked away. "Did you think I was rude?" she asked Remus as they resumed walking. "I was rude wasn't I? I didn't mean to be. I mean I just say these things, it's like I have a lack of filter between my brain and mouth. Instant word vomit."

"No Dora," Remus said patiently. "I don't think you were rude."

Tonks sighed and linked her arm through his. "Good, cause I liked her. Anyone who can put up with Severus Snape and live to tell the tale is good in my books."