Pardon Me, But Have We Met Before?

Summary:

There are no strangers in the world, only friends waiting to meet. What if our favourite werewolf and auror had met a long time back, but were unaware of it? What if they continued to meet each other over their lives, without being aware of who the other person is and how their lives will become entwined? This story is a series of encounters between RL and NT, culminating in their first real introduction.

Author's Notes: Being a huge fan of the Tonks-Remus ship, I was dissatisfied with the number of stories about their first meeting. It's usually when Remus tries to recruit for the order or at an Order of the Phoenix meeting. Not to mention Tonks tripping over the Troll's leg umbrella and falling into Remus's arms. While I have nothing to complain about these stories, they are so repetitive. I just wanted to do it differently - Remus trips over. He is fourteen, Tonks is one. And they are not falling in love. Not yet.

This fic is dedicated to all authors of the RLNT ship, especially Kerichi, Queriusole, Mrs.Tater, Gilpin, the few I have had the privilege to meet online. I have been threatening Kerichi with a romance fic for a long time. Hope she doesn't skewer me!

Chapter 1: Angel of Joy

August 1974

Remus Lupin was in a morose frame of mind. He was going on to his fourth year at Hogwarts. The first werewolf to be educated there. He couldn't ask for more but still some aspects of his school life disturbed him.

He owned he had a wonderful set of friends, who accepted him completely - lycanthropy and all. They were even planning to become animagi to help him with his monthly transformations. He was the top of class and most of the teachers' blue-eyed boy. Certainly not Horace Slughorn's, that pre-judiced git. And a few others who always looked at him with revulsion. He had long accepted that he would not be winning popularity contests, given his condition. I should leave that to James, he thought, or Sirius if the voting public consists of only the female gender.

He was entering a strong adolescent phase and knew his limitations in the dating field, but had learned to accept them with a resolute mind. Still, when an excess of teenage and werewolf hormones raged for recognition, he felt unhappy to not acknowledge their presence. Years of squashing down on his instincts helped him tide over potential outbursts. After all, he thought, I have been offered a place at Hogwarts which is unheard of for a werewolf. He did have to make some sacrifices on the way. He didn't mind too much but wished that he could lead an ordinary life like his friends.

Things were unhappy on his home front too. His parents were trying to lobby for Werewolf rights despite stiff opposition from all quarters. They spent their time, energy and money on it, that most necessities became a luxury. Like these new robes, that he had stepped into Madam Malkin's to buy. Adolescence and werewolf hormones ensured that Remus grew at a rapid pace and he had to get new robes for the coming school year. He thought it was a luxury, but his mother insisted otherwise. She had always insisted that Remus have impeccable manners and be dressed properly at all times.

He was very grateful to his mother for that. She made him believe that he was not a monster and gave him the confidence to face the world on its terms. Thanks to her training, he always had a refined air about him. He knew that the money for the robes could be used for some much needed potions for his father, but his mother had insisted that his appearance was more important. Thus here he was in Madam Malkin's, standing on a stool while outfitters whirled around taking measurements and draping lengths of cloth over him.

When he was lost in contemplation, he felt a tug at the hem of his robes. He lost balance on the stool and fell to the floor, though werewolf reflexes ensured that he landed on all fours. He looked up from the floor into limpid brown eyes and a toothsome smile. He had been floored by a toddler!

'Goo?' queried the little being and reached out a chubby hand and pulled Remus's nose. Remus was flustered. He had a way of dealing with the young of animals, but had never had an opportunity to deal with babies, owing to his family's isolation. After having been rejected by even his cousins, he was taken aback that this baby could reach out for him happily.

He caught the baby's hand and swung it to and fro. Then, he tickled the baby and the baby laughed. A sound of unadulterated, pure joy. Laughter that came straight from the heart without any pre-meditated thoughts influencing it. Possible only from children, from the very young.

Remus was enraptured by that sound. It had the ability to seep into the sad recesses of his heart that he thought would never feel sunshine. It reached out to the lost innocence of his childhood, sacrificed at the altar of a werewolf bite. It dispelled the silent areas of despair in him by filling it with a sound so joyful.

He gazed at the adorable infant who was now drooling over his robes.

'Dorie!' called a voice and a flustered looking middle-aged witch came into view. Seeing the fallen stool and robes she knew that the baby had been involved in the fracas.

'I am sorry, my boy! Did the baby disturb you? She wandered away from me.' The witch rambled on breathlessly. 'I am looking after her for a friend, but she is a handful. Come, Dorie! Your mother is waiting.' She made to pick the baby up.

The baby in the meanwhile had caught Remus's collar and was refusing to let go. Remus gently disentangled himself and smiled at the baby.

'I am sorry, my dear,' said the witch. Remus demurred that it was not a bother and rose up. With a hurried thanks, the witch picked up the baby and turned to go.

The baby looked up to see Remus. 'Unnk?' she said and gave a toothsome grin. Remus smiled at her and waved goodbye. The baby waved back and kept waving till the witch turned a corner.

Remus was staring at the spot he had last seen the baby. He had entered the shop feeling unhappy, but suddenly everything seemed brighter and cheerful. He smiled to himself. Things may not be as dreary as it seems, he thought. He felt that his family will rally around somehow and looked forward to the coming school year. All because of limpid brown eyes, a toothsome smile and the sound of unadulterated joy.

'Angel of Joy!' whispered a voice in his ear.

Author's Notes: I just discovered a slight discrepancy in the timeline. My previous notes showed Remus entering Hogwarts in 1971. Thus the story was based on it. But today, I noticed that the timeline has been altered. With your permission, let me take liberties with the timeline. Please bear with me!