Remus Lupin was a nervous wreck, as he stood in the backyard of The Burrow, with Nymphadora Tonks at his side. She had knocked down Molly's favorite jar (again) and Molly had told him to take her out for a walk before she broke something else.

"I really didn't mean to knock it down, I'm so sorry. I don't know WHY I'm so clumsy. Born this way, I suppose. Took me ages to pass the stealth test in my auror exam, really.."

She went on but Remus could hardly absorb a word of what she was saying.

"Just do it, Moony, come on." He heard James's familiar voice in his head and looked over to where Tonks was walking beside him. The moonlight reflected off her bubblegum pink hair, making them look silvery as her mouth rapidly formed one word after another.

"Hey, so I've been wanting to ask you something." He cut her off.

"Really? What? Look, if it has anything to do with the fact that I confessed to liking you and then you told me you're a monster and whatnot then I'm telling you, I don't regret it. I still love you and if you'd only –"

"No, listen." He was desperate to get out all the words he'd been holding in for so long, "You drive me crazy. I mean it. I've never met anyone as vibrant and talkative and clumsy as you. You're so young, I'm so much older and more boring and dull! I'm a monster, Nymphadora. I could hurt you really badly. I don't know how you stand me, but you do. And I love it. I love you. But I need you to understand that it's not right, there's hardly any chances of it working out and I - I can't risk it. I can't risk you.

"And you don't think it's worth the risk?"

"Nymphadora, I - I dont... I don't know." He gritted his teeth and balled his fists, involuntarily. This was even harder than his transformations. His breath caught as he felt the weight of her body against his. She was so, so excruciatingly close. Her lips curled into a sad smile. Suddenly, those lips were on his own. His arms were around her waist and he was kissing her back. The war, Harry, Voldemort, meant nothing to him in that moment. The world was in her lips and nothing was more important than the feel of her naked flesh beneath his-

"So" she had pulled back, "Still not worth it?"

He blinked and tried to clear his head, "Are you trying to seduce me into marrying you?" He said with a small smile.

"What if I am?"

"Well, in that case, you have me."

"What, no ring?" she said mockingly

"Oh, I - uh.. I'm sorr-"

She cut him off with a chuckle and kissed him lightly, "But you will get one, won't you?" she said as she pulled apart, an alarmed look on her face.

Warmth seemed to be spreading through his heart to the whole of his worn-out body. He placed both of his hands on either one of her cheeks, "I'll get you a hundred, if that's what you want."

The next day, when the seven potters and their respective companions were about to leave for Privet Drive, Remus formally proposed to Tonks with a silver ring embedded with kunzite stone, charmed to change colours to match her alternating appearances, which he felt was meant to go on her ring finger ever since the goblins had crafted it. Just as her hand was meant to be held in his, always.