Lover's Flu

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

Chapter 5

Sickness is a belief, to be annihilated by the divine Mind. Eddy

Putting on a clean pair of woolen brown trousers and a clean but fraying white oxford shirt, Remus, buckled his belt and reached for a wooly gray jumper, announcing, "Ready."

Tonks turned around and tisked, "No, I'm afraid this won't do." Hand on hip, "Not if we're going out in public. How about-"… Lifting her wand she tapped, the sweater and it slowly melded from gray to a very bright pink.

"No, absolutely not!" Remus's face conveyed the expression of a man being eaten by a giant snake. "Turn it back, now!"

Tonks laughed, "I'm just teasing you, Remus." Then flicking her wand again, the pink receded to a dark, rich hunter green. "To match your eyes," she informed him.

Brow knotted, "My eyes are blue."

"Blue with flecks of emerald green," Tonks replied with authority; her voice then turning distant, "Kind of like a winter sea at storm."

Remus just looked at her with bewilderment. When had Nymphadora Tonks taken time to look that closely into his eyes? Finally, breaking the silence by changing the subject, (avoidance was always a good tactic in these awkward situations), "Guess it's time to face Molly."

The tension in the room broke as they began walking from the room, "You know there will be assumptions, Remus."

"There's always assumptions where I'm concerned," his tone somewhat bitter.

A small hand rubbed his conjoined arm, "Not with me." Tonks said softly, then placed her cheek against his shoulder.

She looked and sounded so believable. With a sad heart, he just didn't know if he was still able to believe.

The swinging door to the kitchen was shut.

"Follow my lead, alright?" Remus asked hesitantly.

"Yes, fearless one," Tonks smirked.

Remus sighed, and continued, "Stay back, until I bring your in."

"Remus this is Molly we're dealing with not a Malfoy."

Taking her small shoulder in his freehand, "I know Tonks, and since I have to use the word 'lover' in reference to our situation—this could be worse."

Giggling softly, black eyes laughing, "Let's get this over with."

Remus entered the kitchen, his left hand behind him, Tonks on the other side of the door.

"Oh good morning, Remus! Come on in and help yourself to a plate. The sausages will be done any minute."

Remus didn't move a muscle, "Molly, there's some thing I need to tell you."

The plump, red head witch spied the younger wizard suspiciously. "Alright," she replied slowly, mothering instinct warned in her voice.

"Tonks spent the night here last night in my bed."

Molly gasped.

"But it's not what you think," his voice was cautious. "Come on in, Nymphadora."

Tonks entered furiously blushing, but remained quiet.

"You see, we're stuck together," Remus raised their conjoined hands, "Betoriallis virus."

Molly pinched your brows, "You mean, this is an illness, not a cure."

"Molly, it can feel like a curse to be stuck to Remus," Tonks replied, not looking at her male counterpart, "but we assure you it was accidental. We went to St. Mungo's and were diagnosed."

At that moment Arthur Weasley entered through the garden door, "My goodness, did you say Betoriallis virus?"

"Yes!" Molly covered her mouth, "Oh dear, is it permanent?"

Lupin leaned against the counter, trying to act casual, "The mediwizard said we should detach by tomorrow."

"Betoriallis virus..." Arthur said again as if he couldn't place that. "I think that was going around when I was Hogwarts." He stroked his chin. "Yes, Betoriallis virus," eyes brightening, "Lover's Flu!"

"Lover's flu?!" Molly asked in awe, turning back to attached couple, "but I thought you could only get that if…if…"

Tonks and Remus mutually stiffened as the accusation was as good as made. Then, as if realization and sympathy struck the older couple, Arthur chimed in, "Well, that's really none of our business now, Molly."

Molly quickly turned back to her sizzling sausages, her voice oddly cheery, "None of our business."

"Here, you two have a set and let me get the tea this morning, Lupin."

They quietly slipped into the kitchen table. What was there to say when your friends were assuming the worst about your character?

Tonks didn't really care if the whole Order thought that she and Lupin had caught the virus from shagging silly, but the distraught look on Remus's face made her feel sorry for him. After all, he was always doing things right. For a werewolf without money and or job, character was everything.

"Molly," Tonks began very steadily, "I think you and Arthur are misjudging how the Remus and I contracted the virus."

"Oh," Molly kept her back to the pair.

Remus gave her a warning shot, but she continued anyway. "I felt horrible after work yesterday and came here thinking you'd be here to mother me."

Molly turned around instantly, "Poor dear, we forgot to tell you we were running late."

Tonks smiled sympathetically, "That left Remus to be my nurse mate. We were going along peachy, me on the sofa coughing up my lungs, and Remus feeding me with hot lemon tea. Then, I reached out my hand for his to offer my thanks and pop; we were stuck."

Arthur began to set out the mismatched breakfast china, voice sincerely concerned, "But I thought lover's flu could only be contracted by… lovers."

Tonks was never surprised at Arthur's scientific mind, always questioning, regardless of the embarrassment it might cause. "Lover's in the old-fashion use of the word. The mediwizard said that the virus senses attraction, no physical contact needs be made." Then smiling, "Other than holding hands."

Molly and Arthur were as intrigued as Lupin. Except that Lupin was very afraid of where this tale was going.

"Anyway, I guess there's no hiding this from you now that we're stuck together and of course, now that Remus knows." Tonks smiled at Lupin and he smiled back with complete puzzlement. "For the past year, I've had this little crush on Remus."

Remus's eyes widened.

"Apparently, the virus sensed that and well, instant superglue! On the plus side, the cough and runny nose went away." Tonks added, trying to sound positive.

Remus quickly contribute in his sincere York lilt, "On the plus side, the virus gave me a very nice surprise that I might otherwise have let slipped by unrequited."

At this point, they were staring deeply into one another's eyes; lost in a world of illusions and possibilities. Could it be that the harsh world was slipping away and the weightlessness of love was slipping in?

"Well, congratulations Remus." Arthur laughed, revealing his relief in learning that Lupin and Tonks hadn't been involved in some tawdry affair, "Seems that we shouldn't feel so sorry for you two after all."

"Oh dear," Molly squeezed Tonks to her chest, a bit teary, "That's such a sweet story! You and Remus, I'd always hoped, but never dreamed it would actually happen."

"Thank you for your support, except we still have one major problem," Tonks continued, "The meeting tonight. We don't want the Order members jumping to the wrong conclusions."

"You mean, you don't want everyone thinking that you and Lupin had a quick bang and you got your just desserts?" It was the voice of Bill Weasely, he flashed a handsome grin, "Yes, I've heard it all; been listening from the door. And for goodness sakes, Tonks, this is Remus Lupin we're talking about; not Don Juan."

"Thank you for your vote of confidence, Bill. I think what Nymphadora was getting at, is that we don't want to spend the entire meeting being the center of gossip or being prodded by every witch and wizard with questions of… of a personal nature." Remus inclined his head towards Tonks, "It's one thing to share your personal antic dotes with friends, very different with an entire room full of people."

Arthur quickly picked up on Lupin's meaning, "Of course, you want your relationship to remain a private matter, that's to be respected."

Bill pulled up a chair, a made hard study of Lupin and Tonks, "No offense Remus, but I think there will always be speculation and discussion where a werewolf is concerned."

"Bill!" Molly chided.

"No," Remus held up his hand, "He's being honest, Molly."

"But, I have an idea." Bill said, stroking his chin, exactly like his father, "It's very simple, and perhaps not the best resolution, but certainly better than the two of you hiding in the broom closet."

Lupin looked at Tonks for approval, "Well?"

She sighed, "Go ahead, Bill; enlighten us."

"Well, that was an excellent story, Tonks." Remus said, voice low as the pair privately entered the parlor after hearing Bill's plan and eating a load of sausages.

Is that what he thinks my feelings are? A story? Tonks felt incredulous and then anger relented to regret, as she thought about the embarrassment she'd caused him summer. Swallowing her true feelings, she replied with a dry, "Thank you."

See, you're just a friend to her Lupin. Whatever happened in the bath was a tease; that's her way, a friendly flirtation. The lines to Molly and Arthur, just an invention to spare yourself embarrassment. Remus pushed away his inner monologue and mused aloud, "So how should we spend our remaining private hours?"

"I'd like to go home and put on some fresh clothes before the paparazzi arrive." She was doing her best to muster a happy voice, but at the same time wanted to shout out, Remus I love you. Pausing, she rubbed her forehead, Dear Merlin, maybe the virus has gone to my brain!

He paused, blue green eyes dappled by winter sunlight through a cloudy window. Has he ever been more beautiful? A fallen angel, a dove with a damaged wing… Tonks winced as Remus continued with her charade, "Should we take your limousine or mine?"

Tonks sighed, hating her cowardice. This was going to be a very long 24 hours.

Author's Note:

Thank you for all the reviews. Chelles and Queriusole, your reviews and insights are especially cherished. To answer the R rating delima—please don't expect anything to raunchy from this story. Sometimes the most innocent intimacies are the most erotic.