Remus’ abrupt leave from Hogwarts had left him resigned to the fact his chances of finding long term employment were dismal at best. Circumstances to accommodate for his lycanthropy were hard to come by, after all. Even when the technicalities of it weren’t such an issue, the misconceptions and prejudices of his colleagues provided more than suitable compensation. It was for that reason, among others, that the opportunity to join forces with an old friend and comrade came as such a pleasant albeit exceptionally unexpected surprise.
Alastor Moody - still as apt as always in retaining the attention of those around him. Throughout the events of their first meeting, Remus’ gaze strayed from the apparent leader of their rag-tag defense group only once. It settled, unfortunately, on a colourful young woman to the left of Molly Weasley. She was young, he noted, far younger than any of the other Order members present. It was just as his brow had furrowed into a curious frown that she turned and caught his eye, prompting a small and apologetic smile by means of response.
"Tonks, you’ll patrol with Lupin tonight." He turned back to Moody on hearing his name, following his rolling eye to the bright-haired girl just in time to catch the beginnings of her approach.
"Remus Lupin." He smiled, taking the hand as it was offered to him and briefly recalling the details of a conversation had some twelve years prior. "You’re Ted Tonks’ daughter, aren’t you?"
She grinned. Up close, she realised, his blue, blue eyes were impossible to ignore, even surrounded by the eyebags of a man who'd worked through the night. His clothes were shabby; that much she ascertained with a quick once-over. Remus was only a few steps up from the men who she'd seen sleeping on the streets, but again, the hidden strength shone through. She looked at his fingers, some tinged a slight purple. Either bruises or the more likely option, ink. A scholar, maybe, or an academic. She'd never met him before.
The urge to be mature came upon her. She wanted him to take her seriously, and it was difficult for her not to darken her hair. She'd chosen lime green in honour of her mentor, Moody, who'd been a Slytherin back at Hogwarts. Tonks wanted to explain herself, but it would be childish, like she was making excuses. Instead, she brightened it up by a shade, owning up to it.
"Yes, that's my Da," she said, still smiling. "He mentioned me by my first name, I expect, but please call me Tonks." She made a face. "My mother must have been feeling particularly cruel on the day I was born."
"How did you know my father?" She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. Few knew of Ted Tonks, especially since he'd left his job at the Ministry quite a while back. He'd chosen to work in the Muggle world in a bookshop, where he knew no one would visit. "I thought the Noble House of Black had done an excellent job erasing our family from the annals of Wizarding history."
