Hello again...

sorry it has taken so long time for me to update, but I have been really busy with school and stuff.

Anyways, here's the new chapter, hope you like it.

All the characters you might recognize (Lupin, Tonks etc.) are property of J.K.Rowling and not mine. There are also my own characters (Lena Silverspoon, Oliver Prewett) and they naturally belong to me.

And again, PLEASE read and review!

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VII Ice Cream

Lupin stretched his arms and rose up. He had been doing some paper work for the Order and now it was time for eating. He went to the kitchen and took a slice of bread. There was nothing to put on it in the fridge, because Tonks and Lupin were both too lazy to go and by anything. Usually they just ordered some pizza or Chinese. It was two o'clock in the afternoon but Tonks was still sleeping – she had been on duty all night and she was obviously really tired.

Lupin thought about their situation. To be honest, it looked a bit odd – two of them living in the same household, both singles. He had never really thought Tonks as a woman; she had always been more like a little sister to him and he was sure Tonks was feeling the same about him. Tonks was bright and funny and he had always felt himself at ease with her. She was a bit too curious to his mind but it didn't matter too much. Though now she had become quite irritating – any time she had the chance she asked some awkward questions about his past. But after all, Lupin cared really much about Tonks. And he was sure Tonks would never let him down.

He still hadn't forgiven himself for what had happened to Lena. He thought it had been his fault, that he had betrayed her. But then Lena had started dating that pompous clown, Oliver Prewett and Lupin had started to feel anger towards her. He had thought back then that no one in their right mind would have wanted to date Oliver Prewett and he still thought so.

He had seen them together first at James and Lily's wedding and then at their funeral. They had looked such a perfect couple, Lena so beautiful and fair and Oliver good-looking and well-groomed – he had begun to think that he had deserved it. After all, he had bit her and made her go through a lot of suffering and pain. If Lena had chosen to be with that Prewett guy, he had no choice but to accept this.

Lupin couldn't understand why she had written to him if she was happy with his husband. Was it only to tease him? Maybe she only wanted to see how much influence she still had on him? Lupin heard footsteps on the door, raised his eyes and froze. In the doorway stood Lena with her flaming red hair loose and her green eyes twinkling. Lupin stared at her for a moment. Then Lena spoke.

"Wotcher, Remus," she said and winked. Lupin sighed. "Tonks, cut it out. That's not funny, I almost had a heart attack!" Tonks laughed and transformed back to her own body. "So, I take it she looked something like that. You should have seen your face, you looked like you had seen a chimaera standing in front of you!"

Lupin forced a little laugh. "Yeah, I guess so. But you looked quite much like her. Only she has this little tattoo on her forehead. A star. That's why we called her Star." Tonks looked awestruck. "A star? You're not kidding, are you?" Lupin shook his head and Tonks continued: "I'm sure I have seen her somewhere. Definitely. Do you happen to know where she lives or what she does for living nowadays?" Lupin shook his head again and Tonks frowned.

Lupin didn't put too much weight about Tonks saying she had seen Lena somewhere. Tonks always thought she knew everyone beforehand and usually she was wrong. This time, though, she looked a bit more convinced that she was right than normally. After a couple of minutes' hard thinking she shrugged and got up. "Well, I just got an idea. Why not we go to Diagon Alley and do some shopping? We both have night off tonight and as you can see, we have nothing to eat here. We also need some kitchen tools and I think even the smallest change of scenery would do fine for you. We could maybe have some ice cream too", she added in a sly way. Lupin shot a suspicious glance at her but decided to give it a try. And true, they really needed some food.

They Apparated to the Leaky Cauldron and entered the Diagon Alley. It had been raining in the morning but now there were no signs of the grey and dull weather left. Sun was shining brightly and weather was good. Tonks and Lupin went first for the kitchen tools: they bought some neon-green chopsticks and a funny cheese slicer with a head of a basilisk. After buying kitchen stuff Tonks insisted on going to have some ice cream and finally Lupin gave up and agreed to go with her.

Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlour was full of customers but they managed to find a small table on the back of the terrace. Lupin had never really liked ice cream but something in the way Tonks was demanding him to come had made him feel that maybe ice cream was not a bad idea at all. Tonks was viewing the café with curiosity and soon smile spread to her face. "Here she comes", she whispered.

Lupin had no idea what she meant by saying this but he glanced at the way she was looking. His heart seemed to stop beating and he felt he couldn't breathe. There she was, staring at him in all her beauty. She was looking really shocked and her green eyes were wide and hypnotizing. Her hair was as wild and violent red as ever and the star on her forehead shone brightly in the sunshine. Both of them were staring at each other and Lena dropped the sundae she was carrying. The time seemed to stop. Lupin closed his eyes. This was it. The moment he had been waiting for all of his life.

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