Between the Lines

A/N: I am so sorry for the wait. Family stuff came up and I haven't had computer access…it's likely to be like that on and off for awhile. It'll affect the speed of the updates but not my will to continue the story, never fear. Thanks for reading!


Entering a tiny shop tucked away in one of the many corners of Hogsmade, Tonks made her way to the back of the store, looking half-heartedly at the glass bottles that lined the shelves filled with every type of potion imaginable. The inconspicuous disguise of an elderly lady with graying hair she sometime wore on Order business was the face she chose to present. Her eyes weren't entirely in focus; she was more attuned with her ears, listening intently to the conversation the shop owner was having with a client.

"Leopold, your usual order's in the back. I'll be right out with it." A tall witch with curly, dirty blonde hair was saying. Her amethyst robes brought out the color of her eyes and lent her an air of quiet splendor similar to the one which hovered in the entire shop. A crease between her eyebrows expressed her concentration as she began adding ingredients to the brewing potion in the cauldron before her.

The man she had called Leopold, who had close-cropped dark brown hair, and was dressed in a black traveling cloak and dark green robes, replied, "I'd like to add something to the usual order, Irena."

"Oh? And what might that be?"

"Veritaserum," came the terse reply.

The shopkeeper looked startled. Violet eyes narrowed slightly, though her suspicion was checked to a minimum. "What need have you for that at St. Mungo's?" The inquiry was innocent enough but deftly addressed her concerns.

Leopold sighed. "I don't know the details. I've hardly even seen the patient it's for, but apparently the child is in bad shape, and cannot recollect anything of what occurred."

"It's not really my place to question," Irena began, with a look on her face that stated she was going to ask anyway, "But why Veritaserum? Why not use a Leglimens? Or undo the memory charm, if that is the reason for the loss? Surely either way would work better for a memory problem. Veritaserum takes quite an effort to make, you know…"

"I understand. But the Healers who look after her have removed the memory charm efficiently enough, the patient simply won't talk. A few infeasible stories, but they don't explain the extent of the injuries." Leopold leaned closer and spoke in a hushed tone, as if only just realizing that there was another person in the shop.

Tonks had to strain to catch the last bit, but she managed it. The reason why she was listening was not immediately obvious to her; she wasn't one to eavesdrop, but the first sight of this man in the shop brought out something of her auror instinct. Though nothing about him screamed 'suspicious' to her. From what she could tell he was only a healer sent to pick up some potions for St. Mungo's. But Tonks couldn't shake the feeling that something significant was occurring. She couldn't bring herself to push aside the growing idea that there might be information of value hidden somewhere in the conversation.

"And, as you well know, Leglimens' skills have been in very high demand lately. There aren't any left at the hospital who aren't occupied with more pressing matters." The woman's lips were drawn in a thin, tight line. Leopold carried on as emphatically as he could in whispered tones, "I truly believe if we find out the cause of injury, the patient will heal much faster. As hard as it might be to face what has happened, denial is no way to move on and begin the healing process."

The shopkeeper was silent for a moment, absorbing what she had been told. Then, with a solemn face graced by a sad smile, Irena disappeared into the back room. When she re-emerged, she was holding a crate filled with many vials and bottles of medical potions, from Skele-grow, to pain potions, to a very small container filled with a clear, seemingly unremarkable liquid that nonetheless had very great power. Veritaserum. "My best wishes for the patients recoveries, as always. Forgive me, Leo, one can't be too careful these days."

Leopold nodded his thanks, dark eyes sparkling with warmth. "I understand." Making a gesture indicating the crate in his hands, "Thank you. 'Til next time, Irena." Then he was gone, the door creaking closed behind him.

Still appearing vaguely unsettled, Irena turned to Tonks and asked, "How may I help you?"

The gray hair shimmered for a moment, the melted into a bright bubble gum pink, and Tonks transformed to her favorite look. Irena's eyes widened, and she sputtered, "T-Tonks!" After adjusting to the mild shock, the shopkeeper made her way around the counter and asked, "How have you been?" before enveloping the other in a hug.

Irena Kendall and Nymphadora Tonks had been friends since their days at Hogwarts. Close as they had been, they hadn't seen each other recently due to everything that had been going on, from the war to their jobs, to everything inbetween. "Well enough. Busy with ministry work, though."

"Don't give me 'well enough', Tonks!" Irena chided, her curls bouncing. "Your face is absolutely shining."

Tonks couldn't stop the grin that spread over her features. "Really?" She shrugged. It wouldn't do to say too much about the Order, even to her trusted friend. And there was nothing else major going on in her life right now. Maybe what Irena saw was a remnant of the strong feeling Tonks had been experiencing lately that she was doing the right thing in joining the Order. Or the joy in knowing that others believed her cousin innocent, as she had all along.

Either way, it wasn't something that could be spoken of.

Irena rolled her eyes. "Fine. Don't tell me."

"What? There's nothing to tell!"

"You're sure you haven't…met somebody?" Irena suggested slyly.

Tonks' jaw dropped. "No!" she protested, a little too vehemently.

"Hmph," the blonde witch murmured disagreeably. "Have it your way."

"Irena, really!"

"Well, then what is it?"

Maybe it was all the stress she let go early this morning during the card game. Without noticing, Tonks smiled at the memory. She was so comfortable with Lupin. There was nothing that made her feel like she had change or hide behind her disguises when she was with him. It had been the easiest thing in the world, to let all her troubles evaporate as she attempted to teach him the game.

Irena took this reaction as evidence in her favor and gave a triumphant chuckle. "You know what, you don't even have to tell me. I'm just going to—" She possessed an artful mastery of pauses in speech. "—read between the lines."

"What is that supposed to—" Tonks never finished her sentence. A tawny owl flew through an open window and neatly deposited a letter into her hand. The owl was not familiar, and she stared at the letter for a moment before reading it.

Tonks,

I looked into the girl's situation, the squib that you inquired after. There has been nothing in her records that could indicate mistreatment. I say 'has been' because I am afraid it has changed very recently. The girl is currently hospitalized and near death, though she appears to be recovering. Thus far, no evidence points this unfortunate occurence in the direction of your concern, namely, the girl's father. However, you may have been the last person to see her before this ordeal. Perhaps if you went to go talk to her, you could help both her and yourself. I'm sorry I couldn't do more.

Stelian Gregorwicz

"I have to go. I'm so sorry, Irena, I'll drop by again soon. Actually, before I leave…I was going to ask…the reason I came…"

"Aside from coming to visit me," Irena interjected.

Tonks smiled in spite of herself. "I was going to ask you about the wolfsbane potion."

Irena's eyes flew wide. "Not for me," she added quickly. "I haven't neglected to tell you that much! I was just curious."

"I'm not buying it this time either. Sit down and tell me what's going on, from the beginning."

With an impatient glance toward the door, the pink-haired witch gave a resigned sigh and nodded. She owed her friend that much. Besides, even if her conscious mind refused to acknowledge it, Tonks had come because she needed to talk, and knew she would find a sympathetic ear in Irena.


Lupin's features were lined with weariness. The semblance of calm detachment became increasingly harder to uphold with every passing hour. Every little thing was driving him mad. The persistent tick, tick, ticking of the clock, the brightness of the lights, the smell of human flesh nearby, it all pressed against his senses unbearably in their acute awareness.

The clenched jaw must have given him away. "Relax, Remus," Sirius advised.

"I wish I could." There was silence for a moment. "You shouldn't be here. There's no sense in risking it."

Sirius stood, his dark hair falling in his eyes. "Where am I supposed to go, Moony? In case you've forgotten, I'm under strict orders not to set foot outside this house."

Lupin closed his eyes briefly to keep calm and force down the ferocity of emotion the wolf was bringing to the surface. Sirius wasn't done. "I know you take upon yourself even more of a burden than you have to every full moon with this whole guilt trap you build for yourself, but I've been here for you since we were kids, and I'm not about to let you push me away, even if I could leave. " The dark haired man grinned. "So I'm afraid you're stuck with me."

The doorbell rang. The two exchanged a puzzled glance. The night of the last full moon, no one came to Grimmauld Place. During the day, they came only if it was unavoidable. Some for Lupin's sake, others out of fear or contempt, but it had been the first such occasion since Grimmauld Place became the established headquarters of the Order, and Lupin expected it was a pattern that would continue to occur.

But Bill must have forgotten, because he came in a few seconds later, tiptoeing to avoid awakening the portrait into a fit of screaming. "Fred and George here yet?"

"No…" Sirius replied slowly. Though he had yet to meet the twins, he knew of them. He had not, however, known they were coming.

Bill shrugged. "They were supposed to come by soon." The fang earing flashed in the light and caught Lupin's attention, drawing a wry smile.

"How soon is soon?" The amber-eyed wizard inquired without his usual mildness. There was the faintest trace of irritability in his voice, though it was quickly masked.

"Not sure, that's why I stopped by." Realization dawned on the younger man of why exactly no one else was there. His eyes flickered uneasily to Lupin, but he tried to continue in the same laid-back manner he had started. "But they'll be here within a few days at the latest, and soon after, Ron and Hermione as well."

The awkward moment was broken by the sound of someone apparating in to the room. Lupin gripped the edge of the table, his knuckles turning white. Now he couldn't hurt them, no, but soon. They should leave, for their safety.

He looked up to see that Tonks had joined them. Bill was eyeing her appreciatively. Lupin couldn't suppress the horrible feelings that seized him at that sight. He couldn't even put a name to most of them, he just knew that she deserved better, deserved to be seen for the wonderful person she was.

Bill can't look at her like that. He has no right! The wolf snarled inside him. She's mine…

No! Lupin cried frantically, silently. He was cringing at the wolf's possessive tone. Not you either…

Unaware of the silent battle raging, Tonks spoke rapidly and urgently, "Remus, there must have been something we overlooked in that house, or else…well I'd rather not think that, but… Aurore's at St. Mungo's!"

All the color drained from Lupin's face and he let out a hoarse cough. Tentatively touching the back of his head, he said in mild shock, so low that no one else could hear him, "The mirror."

Several anxious and confused faces were awaiting a more audible answer.


A/N: Sorry if it seems rushed. And hopefully that isn't too evil of a cliffhanger. :grin: Today was my birthday and I had to write this in spare bits of time, but I wanted to get you guys an update. But hopefully the next chapter I'll be able to spend more time on, and it will feature lots of Lupin. :D The eclipse is coming…

Reviewer Responses:

Alli-Baby: Thanks! I hope you enjoyed this one, though I don't think it was as good as the last.

Snail-sama: Thank you for the encouragement!

Duck Goddess: They're closer now, but remember this is only early OotP! I'm hoping to keep this story going for the approximate two years up to HBP…:clamps hand over mouth to keep from saying too much: Aww, thanks, though I think "perfect" is too strong a word for my writing.

PhoenixLament611: Thanks for the feedback…I'm glad to know you like both my own crazy subplot and the Lupin/Tonks. I was unsure if I would be able to balance that right.

Alicamj: Yay! It's fun. Thanks for reviewing!