Lover's Flu

All these characters and their world belong to J.K.R.

Chapter 2

I've just learned about his illness. Let's hope it's nothing trivial. Byron

"Come, let's have a cup of tea." It was the first thing Lupin had said since leaving St. Mungo's and their mutually awkward consultation on Lover's Flu. With a slight tug, Tonks obligingly followed him into the kitchen and around as he warmed a kettle.

"Here, I'll hold the cups." As he poured out the steaming tea with his free, right hand, Tonks held the cups in place with her left.

"Thank you," Remus offered softly.

"Cooperation. I figure we'll have to do a lot of this over the next few days." Sipping the steaming tea, she instantly felt comforted.

Remus looked at the young woman with the bright pink hair and heart shaped face. Fate could be worse, he smiled slightly, "I suppose we'll put new meaning in the phrase, lend helping hand."

Tonks choked on her tea with laughter, eyes bright, "Oh Remus, that was an awful joke!"

The wall was coming down, he replied sincerely, "It made you smile."

"I suppose." She blushed and looked away, "So where's that beef stew?"

They both sat down to a steaming bowl of potato and steak stew and Tonks began a clumsy attempt to feed herself with her left hand which lead to a lot of slurping.

"Are you trying to inhale your stew?" Remus asked, a bit irritated and then added, "Not to be course Tonks, but please remember, whatever goes must come out."

"Dooley noted." She hadn't thought about that, perhaps she should slow down. Then taking out her wand, she charmed her spoon to feed her.

Remus watched in wonder as Tonks morphed her pink spiky hair shoulder length black and continued to eat feed herself with a charmed spoon while simultaneously humming a popular Weird Sister's tune.

Tonks suddenly realized that she was being watched, "What?"

"You never cease to amaze me," Remus replied, stilled by the effect of her now Sirius- like black hair.

She smiled broadly, "You mean the spoon? Well, I was always brilliant at charms."

Lupin looked back to his stew, "I meant your hair. I've always found your ability to change your appearance at will… fascinating. "

"Really? Fascinating?" She laughed, "I suppose it is, but I've been able to do it for so long, that it seems so normal. Of course, I have to make a conscious effort to remember that it's not, otherwise well, you know, some people find it offensive."

"Bugger, some people." Remus answered quickly.

Tonks heart grew light at his words, "That's exactly how I feel."

After a light dinner, the pair ended up back in the parlor. Remus with a book of essays on goblins and Nymphadora, still feeling rather unwell, decided she might just lay down and rest. Of course, this all sounded much easier than it actually was.

"If I lay down, then my head will be in your lap." Tonks pointed out abruptly.

Remus put down his book on the arm of the sofa. "Can't you lay the opposite way?"

"We won't reach," she raised their hands in demonstration.

"Remus, I'm so exhausted from all this coughing and sneezing. Please just take off your shoes and lay your legs out here. Then I'll be able to lie out straight besides you, head in lap of course."

Tonks thought Remus looked a bit distraught at her suggestion.

"Just pretend I'm Crookshanks, except of course, I don't purr or leave hairballs."

"Alright," Lupin agreed hesitantly, and magically unlacing his scuffed oxfords, lounged out his long legs across the sofa. Tonks, pulled up besides him, and placing a patched throw pillow of her groin, laid down and rested her head on the pillow.

Naturally, Tonks brought both her hands to chest as she curled up in a semi fetal position. This action, in turn brought Lupin's joined left hand curling around Tonk's body, somewhat pulling her against his chest.

The effect her warm womanly body had on him was certainly not cat-like. Thank goodness the throw pillow had been added for her comfort, because although he could somewhat control his thoughts regarding her legs tangled against his, he could not very well control his male reaction. He should be telling her this wasn't going to work out, but instead his selfish side urged him to pull her closer and in the midst of his guilt, he found a deep pleasure in holding her so tightly. For an instant he thought her body was warm and sweet and comforting, almost like chocolate.

His breathing hitched as he felt her womanly curves stretch and adjust to his rigid male angles. "Is this okay?" Tonks asked, voice breathy as she realized this position was more intimate than she intended.

"Of course," Remus answered politely and she could hear him again shifting the pages in his book.

Tonks closed her eyes and snuggled her body a deeper into the sofa, secretly enjoying the feel of his long, lean muscular male body pressed against her small frame. Perhaps the mediwizard was wrong. Perhaps it wasn't the recipient that needed to feel sexual attraction, but instead the host. And she was certainly feeling it!

Already her heart was beating a bit faster, her nether regions warming. She wanted nothing more than to roll atop of Remus's calm exterior and snog him silly. Down, Tonks, she reminded herself. He's just your friend, he doesn't see you that way and it would be wrong of you to manipulate this situation and take advantage of his friendship. Squeezing her eyes tight, she tried to shut down her desire and to shut out her heart.

Author's note:

Thanks for the support, I'll soldier on then.