Disclaimer: I don't own "Something To Talk about" or Harry Potter.
Chapter Four: Maybe They're Seeing Something We Don't, Darling
While the children were mulling over the night's events upstairs, more serious conversations were occurring downstairs. Sirius had practically dragged Remus into the drawing room and Molly had politely coerced Tonks into helping with meal cleanup in the kitchen.
"Molly, that was a great-"
"Dear, let's skip the small-talk," the Weasley matriarch said as she charmed the dirty pots and pans to wash themselves. "You know why you're here."
Tonks silently thanked Alastor Moody for having such high acting expectations of his trainees as she moved around the table, busying her hands with stacking plates and bowls. "Actually, I'm not so sure. What's the matter?"
A roll of brown eyes and a snort were the only response as the dishware that Tonks had been clearing away levitated over to the sink, each piece landing with a soft clink. Silence reigned for a moment, then the Auror cleared her throat.
"I suppose… well, I assume you want to talk about… you want me to…"
Molly raised an eyebrow as a hint for her to continue. The young witch ran a hand through her signature cropped hair and rubbed the back of her neck before speaking.
"I guess you want me to apologize."
Molly's jaw slacked a little in shock, and she nearly guided the forks into the wall instead of the soapy water. "For what?"
"For setting a bad example in front of the children. I shouldn't be throwing food." Tonks flopped rather ungracefully in a chair.
The red-haired woman laughed and, all the spellwork having been laid for the kitchen to tidy up after itself, sat herself down as well. "That's not at all what I wanted to discuss. Close, though."
Tonks played idly with a patch on her jeans for a few moments. After deciding that she couldn't avoid it any longer, she sighed.
"Remus?"
"Spot on, Tonks. Are the two of you -"
"Yes."
"And you do know that he's -"
"Yes."
"And he's okay with -"
"Yes."
"So you're actually together?"
Tonks only nodded and smiled; Molly returned a smile and clapped her hands together once as she stood.
"Well, dear," she let a hand rest on Tonks' shoulder, "I'm overjoyed for the two of you. Although, you both were the last to see it coming. I suppose Kingsley's won the pool."
Molly left the kitchen, and a slow, genuine smile spread across Tonks' face. She jumped up, overturning the chair, and pumped the air with her left fist. Her foot hooked around one of the legs of the chair, and Tonks spiraled towards the floor.
"Oh bugger-"
Her exclamation was cut off, however, as two arms stopped her downward movement. Tonks found the breath lost from her lungs upon the impact, and her eyes snapped up to see Remus.
"-it." The last word was murmured, hardly a soft whisper.
The werewolf stood Tonks on her feet with a smirk and then set the offending chair upright.
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it." He pulled two butterbeers out of a cabinet and set them both on the table. Sliding into the chair previously occupied by Molly, he removed both of the caps, charmed them to be frosty cold, and took a sip of his. The pair sat in comfortable silence for a few moments before Remus cast a muffliato charm.
"So how was your interrogation?"
"I think we've pulled the cotton over Molly's eyes as well."
"She believes we're together? No clue that we're acting?"
"Not that she let on. Did you know they had bets on when we would get together?"
"Sirius told me just a few moments ago."
"I told you he'd want to talk to you!" Tonks grinned. "How'd that go?"
"Not as terribly as it could have gone."
The children flocked upstairs, Molly led Tonks to the kitchen, and Sirius was ready to pounce. He wrapped an arm around Remus' shoulders and jovially addressed the other man.
"Moony! My oldest, dearest, kindest, smartest -"
"What do you want, Padfoot?"
Sirius placed his left hand over his chest and pulled a pained expression as the pair reached the library and sat down in two armchairs.
"A blow straight to the heart, Remus! It hurts me to think that the first conclusion you arrive at is that I require something of you."
"At Hogwarts it was my brains, then it was my ability to run errands for you, now I can only assume that you've reached your senses and want my body as well."
"Oh, it's something to do with your body, alright," Sirius waggled his eyebrows as he mysteriously responded.
Remus merely lifted an eyebrow and stared at him steadily, waiting for elaboration.
"Gotten to second base recently?"
Remus inhaled too quickly and coughed harshly. He supposed he should have been prepared for absolutely anything, seeing as it was a conversation with Sirius.
"Excuse me?" He managed to splutter out.
"I asked you if you've gotten to second base recently."
"I can't say I have, but I don't see how it's your concern."
"Not my concern? Au contraire, mustn't I watch out for my family?"
"Your family?" Remus added an air of innocence to his voice.
"Well, I need to make sure that dear Nymphadora's needs are met properly and that she's with the utmost care, and that she's not -"
"Let's not have this conversation, shall we?" Remus knew that getting Sirius on board with the act was crucial, but that definitely didn't mean that it would be comfortable.
"Alright," Sirius conceded - too easily. "Just as long as you tell me details of how things are so far."
"Well, we have established our status as a… couple. And along with what you saw at dinner, that's it."
"That's all? You're not censoring out any steamy moments?"
"No, Sirius, I promise," Remus rolled my eyes and skimmed idly through a paperback that had been lying next to the armchair he was occupying.
"Well, then. This has been not as delightful as I was hoping," Sirius sighed and leaned back, propping his feet on the ottoman he waved over with a lazy flick of his wand.
"What? You wanted to hear about Dora and I having…" The amused flicker on Black's face didn't escape his oldest friend's attention, and Remus felt a blush creeping up his neck. "Erm… rounding the bases?"
"Merlin's balls, no! I'm not that much of a pervert!" The former professor noted with relief that Sirius was genuinely disgusted by the suggestion. "I just enjoy watching you squirm."
"And you think that sex does that to me?"
"Well, no. I like to imagine that you stop over thinking everything and let your instincts take control. But I do know that talking about sex makes you squirm. You flinched when you said it just now."
"Sex?" Remus sighed internally after realizing that he did flinch slightly, and made a mental note to fix this habit. "Whatever. Drop it, Padfoot. I like to think that I'm a gentleman, and I wouldn't discuss it with you even if Dora and I reach that stage in our relationship." He stood and made his way to the door.
"When you reach that stage. You guys are gonna get married one day, I know it." Sirius smugly commented from his chair.
Remus snorted and walked out of the door, heading for the kitchen.
"Wait, Moony," Sirius called, and Remus turned to face his friend. "So you two are together, for real?"
"Yes, we are," He was such an excellent liar, it would have been shameful had that talent not saved his skin countless times.
"Damn, King wins the bet."
Remus chuckled and shook his head before continuing to his destination.
"So Sirius thinks that we're together, too?" Tonks smiled widely. Remus nodded in response. "Excellent! Want to do something to celebrate?"
"I can't, sorry," Remus sighed and looked over at the grandfather clock. "I've got patrol tonight in that pub Dung thought he saw some Death Eaters in. I should be meeting Moody there soon."
"Oh, alright. Goodnight, Remus." She gave him a small smile, but he must have sensed her disappointment, because he offered a hand.
"Allow me to walk me to your room?"
"Sure, thanks," Her smile was wider this time, and Tonks took his hand. He wove his fingers through hers and led the way upstairs, and Tonks' insides leaped at the minor contact – just an act of PDA, she told herself. They reached her room on the second floor all too quickly, and she turned to face Remus.
"I've got tomorrow off… are we still on for, you know," Tonks jerked her head towards Harry and Ron's room where the children were congregated, whispering behind the closed door.
"Oh, oh, yes. Of course," He grinned. His cool blue eyes flicked in the direction of the now cracked door and hesitantly leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Goodnight, Dora. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye, Remus." The two exchanged knowing smirks as their audience tried to close the door as quietly as possible. Tonks entered her temporary bedroom and grimaced slightly at her appearance in the mirror hanging on the wall. "Phase Two tomorrow… time to get physical, physical."
The re-write is done! I hope to have some new content up this weekend or early next week. Unfortunately I lost my old outline, so we're shooting from the hip, here. All fun though.