Don't Know You Anymore

There was a message on Nymphadora Tonks' answering machine when she got home.

Beeep!

Hey, you've reached Nymphie. I'm not here right now but please leave your name and number and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. Or try my cell at 812-6022. In any case, talk to ya soon!

Beeep!

Hey Tonks...Or I guess you go by Nymphadora now. You always hated that, why did you start using it again? I liked Tonks. Anyway... Just give me a call when you get in, I'm in town, my number is 812-3243 if you want... Just call me back okay? Bye.

Click

Remus' familiar voice filled her ears. She stopped what she was doing to listen. He was there? In London? But he lived in Edinburgh... There had to be a reason.

I would like to visit you for a while

Get away and out of this city

Maybe I shouldn't have called but someone had to be the first to break

We can go sit on your back porch

Relax

Talk about anything

It don't matter

I'll be courageous if you can pretend you've forgiven me

She almost picked up the phone and dialed, but she stopped herself. Nymphadora... What are you doing? A small voice in her head asked.

"Phoning Remus, of course," she answered aloud.

Remus Lupin stared at the address he had clenched in his fist. 11 St. Christopher's Place, he said to himself. Right there.

Nervously, he walked up to the door. Without knocking, he peered into the window. Silver-framed pictures of... Who?

Her and some guy, Sirius... James and Lily... Harry. And... he did a double take. Me?

Because I don't know you anymore

I don't recognize this place

The picture frames have changed and so has your name

We don't talk much anymore

We keep running from the pain

But what I wouldn't give to see your face again

The house didn't seem like it would belong to Tonks. But it doesn't belong to Tonks, he reminded himself. It belongs to... Nymphie.

It seemed everything changed. She had gone back to her first name and switched the picture frames. It seemed very foreign.

I know I let you down

Again and again

I know I never really treated you right

I've paid the price

I'm still paying for it every day

He thought about her before ringing the doorbell. Reflecting was the word. He thought of all the times he'd been sick and couldn't spend time with her. He thought of the times he was too busy. Now he had to pay for it, and it killed him to think that he may never get her back.

So maybe I shouldn't have called

Was it too soon to tell?

Oh what the hell

It doesn't really matter

How do you redefine something that never really had a name?

Has your opinion changed?

His hand was on the doorbell as he wondered if maybe he shouldn't have called. He wondered what to call their relationship (or non-relationship, depending on how you saw it). He wondered if she still thought the same thing she did before. Finally, he rang the doorbell, taking a deep breath and preparing himself.

"Just a second!" Nymphadora skidded across the smooth hardwood to answer the door. She looked around the side window and her heart stopped.

Remus? She thought, puzzled. What's Remus doing here?

She pulled the door open and they both opened their mouths to speak.

"Tonks, I..."

"Remus, I..."

"Tonks..."

"Remus..."

"I wanted to say..."

"I want--- Okay, what the hell." She laughed. "Why don't you come in?"

Remus nodded obligingly and stepped in the house.

Because I don't know you anymore

I don't recognize this place

The picture frames have changed and so has your name

We don't talk much anymore

We keep running from the pain

But what I wouldn't give to see your face again

"This place isn't really you, is it?" he asked as he sat on the soft leather sofa.

"Not really... But..."

"Why did you change the picture frames?"

"Because I wanted to pretend that I was grown up. I wanted to play adult."

"Oh... I understand," he said, though he didn't really.

"So..."

"Why did you change your name back?" he asked, taking her hand in his.

She seemed to melt at the touch. "Because... because I liked the way you said it and I was scared someone else would say it that way and I would fall in love with him and forget about you." She was crying by then.

"Tonks, sweetheart, don't cry, don't cry baby, please don't cry, it's going to be all right." He pulled her into his lap and held her, rocking her.

They sat in silence for a few moments before Tonks tried to speak, but Remus shushed her.

"It's going to be okay," he whispered. "I'm here, and I promise everything's going to be all right."