Part II: In which they are up to no good.

"So I'm confused," Tonks stated as she stood on a chair to nail and string fishing line onto the ceiling, "Why can't we use magic for this?"

Sirius had declared this plan a marauder masterpiece. Simple yet ambitious.

Remus shook his head, "Marauder rule number three: know your target. If it were anyone other than the Weasley twins, straight magic would probably work, but in this case I think we need to put some pop in the potion. Literally. Besides, it won't be completely devoid of magic, but we have to work around it at a few points. They'll be too vigilant to fall for solely magic pranks."

"How do you know?" Tonks asked.

"Because fifteen years ago, Sirius and I never would have fallen for half the things we have this week. Those who create mischief must always be prepared to be on the receiving end. That's Marauder rule number five," he chuckled.

"Bunch of paranoid blokes you must have been back then. I'm surprised you don't get along with Mad Eye better. Constant vigilance!" she said the last two words in such a spot on impression of her mentor's voice that Remus did a double take. Tonks shrugged as she tied off the fishing line, "Precise vocal control. Part of the whole shape-shifty thing."

"Impressive," he nodded.

"Pass me the hammer."

Remus handed it to her.

"Can you do me?" his eyes bugged out of his head as the words left his mouth. Tonks' almost dropped the hammer in her hand. "That is - I mean...are there other voices you can...others that you can copy?"

Tonks morphed away the blush as she felt the heat creep up her neck. She shrugged again, trying to be nonchalant, but a chain of images had gone off in her head. At the forefront was the mental picture she'd snapped of him in his pyjama bottoms earlier.

"It's easy. I have pretty good pitch." She needed to move the conversation somewhere safe again. Lighthearted had been working for them so far. She quirked an eyebrow. "You and Sirius keep mentioning Marauder rules. Isn't that sort of self defeating. Rules for breaking the rules? Exactly how many did you blokes come up with while you were at school?"

There was a playful glint in the professor's eye and she was once again forced to stuff away a feeling rising in her. She was swooning. Forget Warbeck, Fifi LaFolle could make us better use of what Tonks had in mind.

She didn't bother to brush the thought away this time. Too often people, who managed to see past the werewolf, couldn't see past the boring teacher. She knew better. He was whip smart, a great story teller, had a wonderful sense of humor, and was a damn good wand to have at your back in a fight. He was charming and fun Gryffindor through and through. Indeed, try to deny it as he might, Mister Moony was still very much alive in him. Sod it all! Why shouldn't she fancy him?

She was very pleased with the conclusion she had just drawn, and she was thus ill prepared when Remus leaned over to answer her question.

"I'd tell you," he whispered conspiratorially, his voice was low and playful. She felt the heat rise in her neck. Then he leaned back to loudly proclaim, "But then I'd have to feed you to the giant squid. Marauder rule number six!"

She snorted with laughter, and went to turn toward him. She moved too soon, however, bumping into him and slipping off of the chair. Right into his arms.

Their noses touched very briefly and their eyes met. They just stood there starring for a few seconds, before Remus pulled back abruptly, a red hue taking over his ears. Tonks didn't know if she was fast enough to get rid of her own blush this time.

He cleared his throat and she saw him stand a little straighter. "You ok?" he asked.

Tonks tried to get a hold of herself. "Never better. Helps to have a spotter."

"Here we go. Yanked 'em right off the tree," Sirius interrupted, entering with a large tub of pine needles.

It was then that she realized that Remus still had his hands on her waist. They pulled even farther away from each other. Remus put a hand to the back of his neck in a half-hearted attempt to look casual. Why did she always manage to find new ways to embarrass herself in front of him?

Sirius looked between her and Remus appraisingly. Remus had busied himself replacing the chair by the table, but his ears were still scarlet. Black's face lit up with realization and he let out a pleasant bark of laughter. He nodded his head toward Lupin's back and wiggled his eyebrows at Tonks. She did the mature thing and stuck her tongue out at him. For the reaction that pulled from Sirius, she might as well have drawn little hearts around Remus with her wand. Sirius bounced up and down slightly, like a little boy waiting outside Honeydukes, and his gave her a broad toothy grin. She didn't like the look in his eye.

"I think we're almost ready," Remus said as he checked his watch. He seemed careful not to make eye contact with the other two.

"The pie should be almost done," Sirius said. He'd settled, but was still looking at Tonks with nothing but pure amusement. She tried to get close enough to kick him. A slight ping from the area of the stove confirmed his statement.

Saved by the bell.

Remus slipped to the other side of the room to take it out of the oven. He placed it on the kitchen table and they all gathered around to admire their handiwork. Tonks leaned in and sniffed it, glad for the distraction.

"You were right, the Rhubarb just hides the smell of the powder," she confirmed. She moved to the rubbish bin sitting on the table and carefully levitated it into the corner, careful not to slosh out any of the contents in it.

"A recipe Lily perfected actually. Prongs and I never new what hit us," Sirius said. He flicked at the fishing line checking to make sure it was taught. He fastened it to the lid of the bin Tonks set down.

"It was her first solo prank if I'm not mistaken. You and James were belching loudly through most of that second order meeting," Remus chuckled. "I think he proposed to her the next day."

"It was two days later," Sirius corrected, "Remember, we spent the next day plying him with fire whiskey and helping him build up the courage to do it."

Remus nodded, a little sadly this time. "As if she would have ever said no," he managed a half smile. He was clearly struggling to allow the happiness of the memories to outweigh how much he missed his friends.

Sirius too seemed to be descending into his previously morose state. Tonks panicked knowing that she had mere moments to pull them out of it before it was too late.

"You two should draft a letter to Zonko's. They could advertise that on the packaging," she said. She spread her hands in an action to indicate a marquee. "Belch Powder: Responsible for the conception of the savior of the wizarding world!"

To her relief, they both laughed.

"Somehow, I don't think Harry would appreciate that," Remus said.

"Especially since we haven't actually told him that story yet," Sirius grinned. "We'll save that one until he's back at school. Send him a letter. He'll need a good laugh once he's back with that cow Umbridge."

"Indeed," Remus agreed. He glanced at Tonks and nodded appreciatively. The look told her he'd understood what she'd just done. She winked back, and to her astonishment she saw that his ears had pinked again.

Could it be possible that her feelings weren't actually one sided? She played back the day and a few of their other recent encounters. Maybe she had mistaken his discomfort around her. Just as he was doing now, he always brushed away their awkward moments, but now she was thinking maybe it wasn't for her sake.

"Everyone will be back soon. Let's finish up," Sirius rubbed his hands together looking pleasantly dastardly. He began to put a disillusionment charm on the bucket holding the pine needles and put it in its place.

Remus studied their set up for a few moments. "You know Padfoot, as it stands now this is a lovely prank. It is not however a true marauding."

Sirius looked to have caught on, "You want to?"

Remus nodded.

Sirius' grin ran into his ears now. "You diabolical old werewolf. I knew you were in there somewhere Mr. Moony."

"Guilty."

"Hello," Tonks interrupted their banter waving her hands at them, "Care to translate for someone who doesn't speak Marauder?"

"It's all to do with who gets blamed for the mischief," Remus explained, "When the plan was hatched it was a prank, but if it so happened that our victims were also blamed for the trouble as well..."

"It was a marauding," Sirius concluded. "I take it you have a plan Moony?"

"Yes, what exactly did you have in mind?" Tonks underlined.

"That my dear Nymphadora is where you come in."

His gaze met hers and she completely forgot to remind him of her surname.