Remus was out on the beach, shoes off walking in the surf, when the owl found him. It hooted from above and shading his eyes from the glare of the sun he recognized it as his owl Bethan. She landed on his shoulder and held out her leg, hooting softly.

"What have you got for me girl?" he asked as he untied the letter. Bethan hooted again and nudged his cheek with her head. "I don't have anything for you, I'm sorry. Go to the house and bug mum for some treats." Bethan took off then spreading her wings gracefully.

Remus opened the letter and saw Dora's writing.

Remus,

What were Sirius and james thinking? They actually spent the night in a muggle jail. I'm not going to lie love I'm slightly in awe. Of course it would be all Sirius fault, only he would start a bar brawl. I'm glad you decided not to go with them, although visiting you in the pokey would have been interesting. It would have made my summer. Anyway, My parents want you to come for dinner. A formal, introduction dinner. I pointed out that they already knew you, but my dad said not as my boyfriend, so that was the end of that. I think he wants to interigate you. Lay on the whole you be good to my daughter or I'll break your legs in you're sleep lecture. Don't worry though, I don't care what my parents think of you, their not the ones that have to snog you. I know you're trying not to laugh now, it's ok I have that effect on people.

Remus was indeed laughing at that point.

So put on you're best robes(I don't care if you show up in a pair of holey jeans and a band shirt, but mum's pickey) and be at mine for 7 tomorrow.

Missing you like crazy, can't wait until I can kiss you again.( I know your blushing now, you sensitive guy, you)

Dinner with Dora's parents. While he had met them briefly a few times, he had never actually had to have a conversation with them. What would he say? He knew Dora wouldn't have told her parents about his condition, at least not without asking him first, but he had a feeling he knew what kind of questions Ted Tonks would be asking him. Well, he thought, refolding the letter and pocketing it, this will certainly be an interesting night.

Tonks was standing in front of the mirror in her room, examining her hair. It was her natural brown and it made her feel dumpy. Why does mum always insist I have my hair a normal colour at home? She wondered disgustedly to herself. It's not like it's going to change anything , I'll just change it the first chance I get.

Andromeda Tonks while accepting of her daughter's genetic quirk hated when she wore her hair in any other colour then natural. She said if she had accept the loud punk music, the holey jeans and tight shirts then she was drawing the line when it came to pink hair.

It was a fight that Tonk had been having with her mother for as long as she could remember. Every time it would be brought up Andromeda would give her haughty look, a look that Tonks refered to as the Black look, and said, "When you no longer live under my roof, you may do what ever you wish with you're hair Nymphadora. But while you are here I would appreciate it if you would respect my wishes." She would then smile and add, "besides darling your hair is such a lovely brown. I don't know why you always cover it up."

Tonks twisted a shoulder lenghth strand around her finger, then let it flop back with a sigh. There was nothing she could do. Maybe though… she scrunchd up her face and concentrated on giving her hair a slight wave. When she opened her eyes she sighed again. "Well, it's slightly better."

"Nymphadora!" Andromeda called up the stairs."Remus has just arrived."

Tonks peeked at her apprearence one last time, made sure her magenta robe was in order and decended the stairs. Her Dad was just letting Remus into the house when she arrived at the looked good, she observed as Ted shook Remus's hand. Better then good. His robes were dark blue and just nice enough for a dinner but not too dressy.

"We're glad you could come Remus." Andromeda was saying.

"Thank you for having me." He replied politely. He was feeling nervous and hoped it didn't show. "My Mother sent this for you." He added handing Andromeda a covered plate. "I hope it's alright, I apparated here."

Andromeda took the cake garasiusly and smiled. "I'm sure it will be fine. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes." She exited to the kitchen leaving Tonks, Remus and Ted together.

Tonks caught Remus's eye and smiled, trying to put him at ease. She knew he was probably nervous. If there was one thing about Remus it was that he liked to be liked;probably a bi product of his condition she thought.

"Why don't we go in the living room." Ted suggested. Remus and Tonks followed him and settled on the love seat while Ted sat in his favourite chair. Andromeda hated that chair, it sqeecked awefully but Ted would not let her get rid of it.

"You're journey here went well?" Ted asked conversationally. "Dora said that you live out at the coast."

Remus nodded. "Yes sir. It can be a bit hard to find a place to apparate without being noticed, the viallage that I live outside of is starting to become more populated by muggles and they wander out by our place more often then the wizarding folk."

Ted nodded, looking a little less intimidating then he had when he answered the door and Tonks squeezed Remus's hand In reasuaence that it was going well.

"Dinner is ready," Andromeda said from the door way.

All four of them headed to the dineing room and settled around the table. Andromeda had prepared a roast, potatoes and carrots and it all looked they had all dished out their food Ted continued his questioning.

" You're in Seventh year now?"

Remus swallowed the piece of potato he had been eating and said, "Yes."

"What are you planning on doing after you are finished school?" Andromeda questioned forking more roast on to Ted's plate.

"Well i-"

"Remus wants to continue studying after he's done at Hogwarts." Tonks interjected. Remus smiled slightly at her and she smiled back, winking.

"Yes I would like to continue studying Defensces against the dark arts. I had planned on traveling a bit to other counries to observe their dark cratures, cappa's and the like, but I'v been offerd a tutoring job next year by one of the women who works with my father. Her youngest is to start at Hogwarts but she would rather keep her at home she says. At least for the time being, she may change her mind yet, Hogwarts is easily the safetest place to be right now."

They had now progeresssed to desert, a sumptius looking treacle tart. "Yes, people are panicking all over now." Ted said shaking his head. "Things are just going to get worse before they get better I'm afraid." He glanced at his wife and seeing that she looked pained at the topic of converstion asked, "Is teaching something you would enjoy?"

"I think I would. It would be hard, but the rewards far out way the negatives."

Ted nodded and the convertion progressd forward. At a couple of her parents questions Tonks interjected, sometimes in outrage, but Remus seemed more relaxed and talked easily. By the end of the night she felt as if it could not have gone better.

"I just can't believe he wants to endanger himself like that." Andromeda was saying. Now that the inqestion was out of the way the topic had got around to Sirius and his most recent antics. "It was bad enough he got himself arrested. A flying motor bike will just arise more trouble."

Remus laughed. "Yes well Sirius doesn't always think too clearly. I'm afraid by this time next Summer he will be riding around with abandon and offering us all wild rides."

"You will not be getting on any motor bikes, especially if Sirius is driving." Andromeda warned her daughter.

Tonks rolled her eyes. "Yes mum."

Ted smirked. "There was a time when you wouldn't have hesitated to get on a motor bike with a boy," he teased his wife. Andromeda glanced at him sharply, but it was obvious she was fighting a laugh.

The clock over the fire chimed and Remus glanced at it. "I should be going." He said almost regretfully.

"I'll see you out." Tonks said right away. She wanted a minute or two alone with her boyfriend.

Neither one of her parents protested perhaps sensing this.

"Thank you for dinner," Remus said. "It was delisious."

Andromeda smiled. "Thank you Remus. It was lovely having you."

Ted nodded, "Don't hesitate to come back anytime. I think Dora, particularly, would like that."

"Dad!" Tonks admonished as he pushed Remus into the hall. The sound of her parents laughter followed them as the door closed.

"Finally," Tonks sighed. Without hesitatin she reached up, standing on her toes slightly and pulled him down for a kiss. He wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss slightly making her press closer to him.

"Well," she gasped when the kiss had ended, "I think tonight went well don't you?"

Remus laughed. "Yes I'd say it did." He fingured a lock of her hair. "Pink clash to much with you're robes?" he teased.

Tonks scowled in mock injury."What, my natural hair isn't good enough for you? I see how it is." She changed her hair to pink quickly. "Is that better?"

"Dora, I wouldn't care if you decided to walk around with Polka dotted hair and a wart on you're nose. I like you're natural colour, though it does make you look like you're mother."

"Don't tell me you find my mother attractive." She asked in tones of horror.

Remus shook his head. "I really should go." He leaned down and kissed her again. "I promise you you're the only girl I have eyes for.' He breathed. "Good night Dora."

Then he was outside and with a pop had dissaperted off her front step.

It took a moment for Tonks to recover herself enough to rejoin her parents.

"Well Dora," Ted said when she reentered. "I think you may have found a keeper."

Funny, Tonks thought, that was just what I was thinking.