You know when you have one of those happy days, where everything may not go right but it turns out great anyway? Yep, I had one of those days. Four lessons of Art! R.E. was fun and a right laugh due to the boys and my mate Tash. Then, an English lesson of reading and writing my story. We had a sub, whoop! Anyway enough rambling, this is chapter 25. I wasn't sure if I was gunna put it in, but I decided I would, cuz it fits with my plans. So on with chapter 25. P.s. I loved reviews, and would love more. Cheers :)

Edited: 15/05/11

Spitting Spaghetti

Easter had just passed. I never really celebrated Easter, it was just a week off at school (when I used to be at school), where you got chocolate eggs. Of course, I'd woken up that morning to find an owl tapping at my window with a small basket of eggs for me. From the Weasley's, Sirius, Remus and one from Mad-eye which I was most shocked about. I was touched that they'd send me this, and so felt a little bit guilty about not getting them any in return. Ginny had written to me once, telling me how things were going in her 'secret code'. I had to admit, she was rather good at it.

I had a meeting tonight, and then I would go on guard duty after wards till early in the morning, grab a few hours kip then go to work. I wasn't about to admit it, but all the late nights combined with the early mornings were starting to take the toll. As I sat at my desk, I could feel my eyes drooping. My stomach was cramping, and I kept flushing hot, then the temperature would drop and I'd be freezing. My head span, and I could barely concentrate. Deep down I knew I should be resting, and that I was probably ill, but I would not admit defeat. Stuff being ill, I was going to go around like normal.

"Oh, you don't look so good" said a voice from the doorway. I looked up and saw Matt standing there. He lent elegantly against the door frame, with a boyish smirk on his face.

"Thanks a lot" I snapped.

"You're welcome" he replied, cheerfully. I turned back to my work then froze, and looked back again.

"Matt!" I shouted, jumping up and hugging him. Then immediately wishing I hadn't. The room began to spin alarmingly fast.

"Woo, little girl" he said, putting his hand to my forehead. "You're burning up, what are you doing here?"

"I'm working. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in St. Mungos?" I asked.

"I got discharged last night actually. Besides, I have a meeting with Scrimgeour in half an hour, and that's why I am here. But you" he said, pointing his finger at me. "You shouldn't be here. You're obviously ill" he said. "Let me take you home, its better there than here". He sounded a little bitter, but I shook off his concern.

"Matt, I'm fine. Really" I lied, earnestly, hoping he'd leave me to suffer in silence. "Just go to your meeting". He shook his head, and pulled out his wand.

"Nope" he said, twiddling his wand between his thumb and index finger. "Did you know that you can actually apparate in the Auror department? Found out the other day. Come in pretty handy, I suspect" he said, vaguely. I knew exactly what he was about to do.

"You wouldn't" I glared. He grabbed my arm and span. Obviously, he would. I tried to tug away but I was weaker than I thought. As we landed outside my flat, I just wanted to punch his smug face. He opened the door and nudged me through it, onto the sofa.

"I woke up this morning; I was able to get myself to work. I'm not that ill, and I have reports to do" I argued, feeling the temperature in this flat drop. He shut the door and came over to me, shaking his head.

"Yes, and I bet you've been sitting in that office, feeling like shite, and not being able to do anything because your too ill to concentrate. Yes Tonks, you're ill, you need to be taken care of. And because I'm your friend, I'm going to help you" he stated.

"I can look after myself, Matt. I don't need help" I said. "I need to go back to work". I made to stand up but he nudged me down again.

"Tonks" he said, crouching by the sofa, in front of me. "You're not a robot. You can't always do things on your own, and you can't be ill, and then work more, making yourself worse. Sometimes you need looking after, and sometimes you're just going to have to accept help. Everyone gets ill" he said. I sighed.

"I know, but I'm so used to doing things on my own" I muttered, I felt my whole body sway. "Just go to your meeting".

"If I go to this meeting, I'm not leaving you on your own" he said, before walking into the kitchen. I found that I didn't even have the energy to ask what he was doing, I just felt myself relaxing into the cushions, and then laying down and curling up. He came back 5 minutes later with a quill in one hand and a glass of water in the other. He put the glass by my side, the quill on the coffee table.

"You need to drink plenty of fluids, I'll go to my meeting... soon" he smirked. He offered the water to me. I took it from him and took a sip, resisting the urge to dump it on his head. I knew he was being a good mate, but I wasn't well enough to appreciate it.

"What did you do?" I asked. His smirk was making me suspicious.

"You want me to go to the meeting, but I want you looked after. So, I used your owl to come up with a compromise" he said, simply. "Hope you don't mind me saying, but your owl is a bugger".

"Yeah, he's become a bit vicious lately. Not to me, but to everything else" I said. "What kind of compromise?" I asked, feeling a sudden lurch in my stomach. There was a knock at the door. I looked at him fearfully.

"Relax Tonks, you'll like this compromise" he smirked and went to answer the door. I peered over the arm of the sofa, which my head was using as a pillow, and saw Matt letting in a tall man, with brown hair which was streaked with grey. A small owl was perched on his shoulder. I sank down and closed my eyes.

"Tonks, I know you're awake. And since you wouldn't let me take care of you, I had to call in a little re-enforcement. Remus has kindly accepted to look after you, so I can go to this meeting. I'll square it so you can have the day off" he said. "Thanks Remus. And be careful. She's being really stubborn" he said in a tone which suggested he was putting it lightly.

"No worries, Matt" I heard Remus say. "I'm glad I can help. And it's good to see you out of St. Mungos".

"Good to be out" he said. "Ok, have fun Tonks" he trilled in a girly, annoying voice.

"Piss off" I mumbled. Both men laughed, then the door shut and everything was silent. I sensed Remus coming to sit by me, but I closed my eyes tighter.

"I know you're awake" he whispered. I felt his hand brush over my hair, pulling the strands away from my face. "You shouldn't have been working, Dora" he whispered again. "Silly girl" I felt his hand on my cheek, and lent into it without really thinking about it. My stomach was driving me crazy; I felt a sudden jolt in my stomach. My eyes snapped open; Remus looked at me closely for a second before conjuring a bowl.

He held my hair back, and whispered sweet things to me, and didn't even seem discomforted by the fact that my head was in a bowl. Tears ran down my cheeks, I hated getting ill. I wasn't even really crying; it was just the reaction to what was happening to my body. I don't get ill often, but when I did, it hit me hard. One minute I'd be fine, the next, my face was in a bowl.

When I was finished he wiped my face and gave me water to rinse my mouth out with, and to soothe my burning throat. He muttered 'Evanasco' at the bowl, and then put it on the floor.

"You need lots to drink, no food! And sleep, so you're not going in tomorrow" he said, firmly.

"Can't I just have a potion?" I asked, meekly.

"No. The best thing for you right now, is sleep" he answered. I felt the room spin again. "Bedroom or couch?" I laid down on the couch in response, and closed my eyes.

"Fair enough" he said. I opened my eyes and saw him leaving the room. When he came back he was holding my quilt in one hand, and pillow in the other. He gently lifted my head up and slid the pillow under my head. Then he wrapped the quilt around me.

"Sleep tight" he whispered, as I shut my eyes again. The last thing I remembered before I fell asleep was Remus's hand gently stroking my cheek.

I woke up in the middle of the night feeling, I don't know quite how to describe it, but maybe confused? That might be a good word for it. I looked around me and couldn't understand. I knew who I was, right? Hang on, yeah I was Tonks. Did that matter? Where was I? I was sitting here. Where's here? Confusion ran through me, I hated it. It was scaring me, I didn't understand, everything was blurry. I was sitting in this room, but I felt trapped in my head. I wanted to scream, I needed to leave this nightmare.

I sat up on the couch and stood up, but I immediately tripped over something, and fell painfully onto something else. Or somebody. That somebody groaned sleepily.

"Even when you're ill, you're clumsy" a voice mumbled. I recognised that voice. It sounded like Remus's...

"Remus" I squealed, hugging him tightly, though kind of awkwardly. I was still lying on top of him; on the floor… this was awkward. He sat up, with me straddling him, whilst hugging him to death. Usually I would have felt a little embarrassed at the position I was in, but at the moment, I couldn't care less. His arms wrapped around me.

"You're not about to puke on me, are you?" he said, a little warily. I felt like chuckling, but found that I couldn't. "Tonks, what's wrong?" he said, anxiously. He was anxious? What, about me? I held him tighter, scared to let go. I was seriously confused. After about ten minutes things started to unscramble in my head, and I pulled back from Remus a little. He pulled me up and sat me on the sofa, before summoning a glass of water. I took a sip.

"Dora..." he said, I knew what the unspoken question was.

"I don't know. I felt really confused. It was like I was just here but not really. I didn't exactly know where here was. I don't know" I trailed off, lamely. I couldn't see much of him, until he turned on the lights. Which blinded me until he magical dimmed them.

"You felt confused, like as to what the time was, or where you were. Like you were here, but you weren't really, here? And I'm guessing that, maybe, you were confused as to who you were, but you knew at the same time?" he said, in a questioning manner. He put it better than I could.

"Yeah, something like that" I mumbled, taking another sip of water.

"You were disoriented" he said, I raised an eyebrow at him. "It means exactly what I just said. Though it can also mean you've lost your sense of direction, like when you come out of a subway, you don't know where to go. You're confused. When I'm ill, I go to sleep, and when I wake up I tend to feel disoriented. And lots of people do, though they don't actually know what's it's called. They just think there feeling weird" he said. Now I knew why he liked teaching. He sounded like one of my professors, although he was a very hot professor. I couldn't help thinking that if he'd been my professor; I would have mooned over him so bad.

"So, what does that mean with me?" I asked, trying to distract myself from listening to my thoughts, and failing.

"It means you're still ill, you're not quite better yet" he said, simply. He then pulled me to his chest, and my poorly heart soared. "Sleep Dora. I'll wake you up in a few hours and you can drink something other than water. Maybe"

"Yay" I said, unenthusiastically. "Won't you get ill by being here, with me? You know a sick person?"

"I'm very resistant to what you have. I'll be fine" he muttered. I snuggled close to him, too tired to argue. Sleep took over me quickly.

When I woke up, however long it was later; it wasn't of my own choice. Although, Remus hadn't woken me up intentionally like he said he would. The first thing I heard to wake me up was a smashing sound. I tried not to groan out loud as I listened to everything happening around me.

"I didn't mean to do that" said a female's voice, which I couldn't be bothered to recognise.

"Of course you didn't, love" said a male's voice. Hang on? Love? My eyes snapped open, intending to find out who the hell was in my flat, without me knowing.

"Be quiet you two, you'll wake..." Remus walked in from the hall, his eyes locked on mine. "...Dora".

I sat up clumsily, and rubbed my eyes. I felt better today, not great, but better. I guess sleep really did help. Remus came over and sat beside me, and as Matt and Layla walked into the living room, he brushed some hair out of my face and his fingertips lingered for a few seconds on my cheek.

"Chill Remus, she's..." Matt said, before really looking and seeing I was actually awake. "Oh, ok. Maybe's she's not spark out". I unwillingly pulled my gaze away from Remus's eyes, and looked at Matt and Layla, who were standing beside each other, grinning widely like happy morning people. Damn, happy morning people!

"Morning Tonks" said Layla, lightly.

"What did you break?" was my only response.

"A mug, because Matt was all 'grrr' and I was like 'ahh', and then the mug was like 'smash' and then Remus was like 'shh', and then you woke up" she rambled, flapping her hands energetically.

"It's ok Layla, I've broken everything in this flat at least twice, so don't worry" I assured her, before getting back to the main issue on my mind. Apart from how sexy Remus looked this morning. Oh no, I did NOT just think that! "Why are you two here?"

"Wanted to check that you were better this morning" Matt stated. "Are you feeling better this morning?" asked Matt.

"Much thanks" I mumbled. Remus put a glass in my hand; I looked at it and then back at him, wondering where the hell it came from. I swear he hadn't been holding it a second ago.

"Drink it, it'll help" said Remus. "I have to go see, Snuffles, in a bit. Will you be ok?" he asked, as I took a sip of the revolting drink. Obviously it was meant to help me. Anything that was supposed to help you, tasted horrible.

"Of course she will. We'll take her out, so she can get some fresh air. And she should be ok soon, especially after drinking that" said Layla, nodding towards the glass in my hand.

"Yeah Remus, I'll be fine" I said, before turning to Layla. "What am I drinking?"

"Oh, it's an old family remedy. Settle you in no time" she assured. I gulped the last of it down, wishing very much that I hadn't. I shuddered as the vile drink slipped down my throat, but after a few seconds, I felt much better.

"I so needed this yesterday" I said, suddenly more appreciative of the 'icky mixture' that I'd drunk.

"Yeah, well Matt didn't tell me you were ill until this morning. But I always have a few bottles lying around so we brought you this this morning" she said, visibly happy that I liked her 'icky mixture'. "Oh, and as Remus is doing, whatever he's doing today, me and Matt are taking you out for some fresh air and lunch, like I said earlier".

"Isn't that genuinely called skiving?" I asked.

"Yep" Matt said. "But you're overdue for a day off, Tonks. You work your butt off. And technically, you're still recovering".

"Ok then. Matt can you go get me some juice from the kitchen? Layla you can help him" I commanded. Matt gave a mock salute and walked into the kitchen followed by Layla. I watched them leave before turning to Remus who was sitting next to me.

"Remus..." I said, pointing a finger into his chest, and sliding it down. "Tell me exactly what's going on between those two" I demanded.

"You're feeling better then?"

"Don't avoid the question".

"I take that as a yes".

"Take it any way you want, but you will tell me what I want to know. I have ideas, I need the evidence" I said.

"It's not my place, Dora" he said. I moved really close to him, so my face was inches from his.

"There together aren't they?" I asked.

"My lips are sealed, Dora. Just be patient" he said. I groaned and slapped his chest playfully. And then I did it again. Before I had time to register what was happening, he'd pounced and pinned me to the sofa. I was shocked, but not displeased.

"Now Dora, you need to learn patience. There taking a long while getting that juice, and you probably know why, but I am not spilling anything. So, you have to promise not to harass me for answers. Deal?" he asked. I nodded slowly, not being able to find my voice just yet.

"Good. Now, would you like me to get off?" he chuckled.

"No". The word escaped my lips before I could stop it. I guess I found my voice. He was looking down at me, confusion written all over his face. I propped myself up a little. "I mean, I'm ok. You're not hurting or anything..." I trailed off, only just realising how my propping up wasn't a good idea. He was so close, his eyes drawing me in. From my position now, I could just lean in a little more, and my lips would brush his...

"I can see why you wanted us out of the room" came Matt's voice. Remus jumped away from me like he'd been zapped, and stood around the other side of the coffee table. I sat up quickly, feeling a bit annoyed. Firstly, I was annoyed with Matt, because now I would never know if I would have had the guts to lean in that small distance. And two, I was slightly hurt by how Remus had reacted. And a little disappointed. Matt was standing holding juice, while Layla stood behind him, silently giggling like a maniac.

"Well, I best be off. See you later, Dora" Remus said, looking at me with a look that clearly said 'let's forget what just happened'. I sent him a look back that silently agreed. He exited the flat rather hastily. I felt really guilty, it suddenly dawned on me that I must have embarrassed him really bad.

"You're in way over your head now, Tonks" giggled Layla.

"You have no idea" I grumbled.

The day spent with Matt and Layla had been pleasant. Now that I was well again, I could enjoy the sunshine and the warmth of it, which was quite warm. Summer was coming, I could tell, and I was very happy about it too.

Matt and Layla had told me they had some news for me, and that they would tell me over dinner tonight. Like I didn't already know. Or suspect. Luckily, they hadn't asked me anything about Remus, but it was only a matter of time.

We sat at a corner booth, in a small restaurant in Diagon Alley called 'The Cosy Cauldron'. Cosy was right, though it was borderline claustrophobic. We ordered quickly, chatting about random things, but soon the conversation turned to me. As in, the next topic of conversations is drumroll, TONKS!

"He's so into you, it's really obvious. I don't get why you don't just ask him out?" asked Layla, mildly. Ok, let's correct that. As in, the next topic of conversation is drumroll, HOW MUCH TONKS LOVES REMUS!

"Coming from the girl who spent ages crushing on her best friend, and it finally took something bad to happen for you to tell him" I said, simply. It was my retaliation, and a way to avoid answering that question. I knew Matt and Layla were going out now, it was so obvious. They didn't even try to hide it. They didn't even act surprised that I knew. I was happy for them, but now I knew Layla would be determined to get me and Remus together. Not going to happen.

"I learnt from my mistakes, and you should learn from them too" she said, simply. Matt slipped his arm around her shoulders. Look at that, a happy couple. Pass me a bucket; I think I'm going to barf. But I wanted that to be me and Remus. And suddenly, I felt compelled to tell them everything.

"I want to learn from the too. I really do. I know what were like around each other, I'm not stupid; I know there's something there. I've tried not to think about it because I didn't want to get my hopes up, but it's there. I'm not imagining it, am I? I don't think I am" I said, hurriedly.

"Usually your instincts are right, so I'd say believe them. Not many people follow their instincts and that becomes their downfall" said Layla, actually sounding quite smart.

"Yeah. I've seen you two together at the dinner, and you looked so loved up. And I'm a guy saying that, so it must have been clear" joked Matt.

"I wasn't very nice to him, I just felt a bit uncomfortable. But I know he's a great guy. The way he looks at you, you can tell he likes you. And remember, were your mates. We spot things that you don't" said Layla.

"Yeah, like earlier when we interrupted you two. It looked like you were about to rip each other's clothes off" Matt laughed. Slap. Layla hit him upside the head. I giggled. Were they right? I mean, they can spot things I can't. And Remus did spend a lot of time with me, and he really cared about me. He looked after me last night.

"Sorry about Matt, he doesn't pick up on social cues" Layla said, with a smirk.

"You mean he's rude?" I asked.

"Exactly"

"Will you two not talk about me like I'm invisible, please?" he asked, grumpily.

"Who said that?" I asked, looking everywhere except Matt. Layla laughed loudly, and Matt glared at me. I morphed my eyes dangerously narrow. He started back a little, making Layla laugh more as I turned my eyes back. The food arrived at our table, and the server quickly walked off. I stuck my fork into my spag boll, and started twisting it around my fork. I shoved a load in my mouth and chewed happily.

"Tell him Tonks" Layla said, quietly.

"Maybe" I mumbled after I swallowed my spaghetti.

"But-" she said, but I cut across her.

"I gave you maybe. I need to think this through for myself. Can we just, talk about something else?" I asked. Layla looked a bit put out but Matt patted her on the shoulder, and she took a bite of her lasagne and said no more.

"Yes" Matt said, chewing on pizza. The girls were eating healthy, and he was stuffing his face. "I have some news for you".

"What kind of news?" I asked.

"I'm being transferred" he said, I spat out my spaghetti.

"What!"

"The American Ministry are in need of a new Auror. My family came from America, and I wanted to get back to my roots, so to speak. I haven't been there since I was a baby. It was an excellent opportunity" he reeled off, nervously. It seemed he was looking for my approval.

"So, you're leaving, for America? Is this what the meeting with Scrimgeour was about?" I asked, suddenly making connections.

"Yes, it was" he said. I took a sip of my butter beer. "Layla's coming too". I spat out my butter beer, spraying it all over Matt. He wiped his face with a napkin.

"Ok, I repeat...What?" I asked, choking slightly. I was happy for them if they were happy but still, it was a shock.

"Sorry Tonks, but I really want to do this. Will you support me?" asked Matt. I swallowed some more spaghetti.

"Of course I'll support you; both of you, but, it's come as a bit of a shock. Of all the things I'd prepared myself to expect..."

"That wasn't one of them" Layla finished my sentence off for me.

"Exactly. But congratulations you guys! I am happy for you, but I'm going to miss your company around the Ministry, you guys!" I said. Layla got off her chair and came round the table to give me a hug. I would miss them both. "But we'll stay in touch right?"

"Of course" said Matt, as Layla came and sat down beside him. It was a lot to take in, but the evening went on happily after that shock announcement. Though later on that evening they'd told me that they were leaving the first week of May. That was really soon. But also, I found I didn't mind to bad, the main thought in my head was whether to tell Remus how I felt. If even Matt could see something more than friendship between us, then it had to be there? Then again, Matt isn't very observant. But Layla said so too, and I really feel there's something more between me and Remus. I knew I loved him, but could he possibly love me?

No, don't be absurd Tonks, he could never love you. You're too immature, and you're not smart and when you're not morphing, you're not pretty either. Why would he go for someone like you? No stop thinking negatively. Oh, but the negatives were there!

Throughout the meal these thoughts went around in my head, and by the end I was happy to get out onto the cobbled street, in the night air. I walked beside Layla and Matt down the street, not really paying attention to where I was going, lost in thought. If I had been looking at where I was going, I would have seen the two men standing staring up at a building, each holding a broom. As it was, I didn't see them, and therefore, I walked right into them.

"Oh god, I'm sorry" I apologised. Matt was laughing as he and Layla stopped just a bit ahead of me and the two men.

"Tonks, you're too clumsy" Matt called.

"Hey, it's my secret weapon" I called back. "Sorry" I said again to the men.

"That's ok Nymphadora" said one of them.

"No harm done" said the other.

"Lumos" they both said together. Two 17 year old guys, with ginger hair were illuminated in front of me.

"Fred, George!" I cried, hugging them both. "You two go home, I'll be fine" I called to Matt and Layla, who both waved and left. "What are you two doing here? Shouldn't you be in school?"

"We busted out. Further education's not for us" said Fred.

"And we brought this place; we're starting our own business. We've been planning for a while, but this is really it" said George.

"It is indeed George. Wonder what the folks will say?" said Fred.

"Whatever they say, they can't stop us now" grinned Fred. "This place is our future".

"And what is this place?" I asked.

"Number ninety-three, Diagon Alley" Fred said.

"Or what it'll now be known as" said George.

"Weasley's Wizard Wheezes"

Please review, and let me know what you think. Can I persuade you to review by offering you the chance to dine with a Harry Potter Character of your choice? LOL. Oh, and cyber cookies. *offers plate* my cyber cookies are legend! XD :P ;) Gurugirl bids you farewell.