"Don't you dare play the misunderstood little werewolf, Remus Lupin, I won't let you do it! I might not be able to grasp the pain that you go through with every full moon, but there are things you'll find I do understand that might just surprise you. You should try me!"

The exhausted werewolf shook his head and headed for the door but when he reached out and turned the handle she shoved it closed forcefully, barring his way.

"Tonks, I get that you want to help me" he told her in exasperation," but there really is nothing you can do or say right now. I'm sorry. And no offense but you don't know, how could you? I would never want you to have to understand any of this, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy."

He turned away, unable to look at her, facing the window instead that looked down upon a sleepy street. It was strange watching mothers pushing carriages and old men sitting on park benches, as though the world were that simple of a place. He wished that Tonks would leave him alone. The others managed it, and yet for some reason Dora was always there, underfoot, pressing him but it wouldn't be long before she too would give up, and he wasn't sure whether he would miss the constant intrusion or not.

"You come from a family that loved you more than anything, but who could never really understand or handle your difference, and like the rest of the world they found it hard to trust you because of it so they just didn't know what to do with you."

He jumped at the proximity of her voice, and turned to find her leaning against the wall behind him. He didn't know what to say.

"You keep everyone at arms length so that when you lose them, which you inevitably will, you can pretend that it doesn't change anything, because you'll never be equipped to handle that kind of pain."

She paused, observing him with violet eyes. He forced his expression to remain neutral as he watched her verbalize his life.

"You don't tell people what you are because you know that no matter how nice they are about it it's pretty freakin obvious to you that they'll never see you as a person again, that you'll always just be a freak to them, and honestly you would prefer it if they were openly hostile so that you wouldn't have to wonder if you're just being paranoid."

She broke off uncertainly, continuing to eye him.

"What else?" he said, his voice shaky.

Tonks nodded firmly and pushed away from the wall.

"While other kids dreamed of being special, all you wanted was to be as normal as they were, to blend in, because you've always felt alone no matter how many friends you've had and because you've never known anyone who is like you. Even when you do your best to hide it it seems that other people always know that there is something different about you and so you have never really fit in anywhere except maybe here, because people are afraid of anything that is different or that they can't understand."

She shrugged uncomfortably, looking past him out the window where rain had begun to fall.

"You've lived your whole life trying to make up for who you are, but you got lucky Remus, because no matter how briefly, James and Sirius and Peter challenged those beliefs for you, and now I'm lucky, because you've challenged them for me."

She offered him a small smile. "I'm sorry" she said, "I know I'm being a pain in the ass. I'll leave now." She turned to go, surprising him, and he had to reach out and grab her arm to stop her. She stared up at him, violet eyes full of surprise, then glanced down at the hand that held her arm. He quickly released her, but reached up a hand and brushed a piece of lime hair from her face.

Tonks smiled, taking a step towards him, and he refused the instinct to move away, instead closing his eyes as she rose onto her toes and kissed him, and alone was the last thing he felt as he slid his arms around her waist, feeling her warmth as their bodies pressed together, her hands knotting in his hair.