A/N: Alright, I sat down, after a bit of reading and relaxation and tried to write this bit. It's been sitting on my desktop for about two days now, as it's not my best work and I knew that It was all that would be written for now. Soo… I bequeath it to all of you, hoping this will get me back on the writing track.
A big thank you to Dance8428, wandless and Kerichi. You guys rock my socks. :D
Paper Moon
Chapter Seven- Intervention
The final comfort is small, but not cold: The heart is the only broken instrument that works.
T.E. Kalem
Ginny was pushing through the crowd toward Tonks, but for some reason what had looked like the simple gathering of people had turned into a massive crowd, keeping her from reaching her friend in time.
She pushed past a tall red headed man, when he suddenly grabbed her arm,
"Fred, What are you doing?" Ginny tried to pull free when his twin grabbed her other arm. "George! Let go!"
"Sorry Gin." Fred said dragging her back.
"We're on orders." George winked.
"Can't have you-"
"Meddling, you know."
Ginny was mystified to note that while it had been hard for her to get through the crowd, it took the Twins no time at all to bring her back where she had started. Both let go, but blocked her from going throughthem.Fred winked at his younger sister.
"Me not Meddle?" Ginny said, giving such a good impression of their mother scowling it was a shock that the Twins didn't melt under her stare. "What about you two? I have to stop Tonks before-"
Fred shook his head.
"Don't worry about, Tonks."
"She'll be fine." George said, with a grin.
Ginny's mouth dropped open, "You have no idea what's going on!"
'No Idea!' said Fred, closing his eyes with a grimace, as though Ginny had mortally offended him. 'No Ginny-"
"You have no idea." George finished and pointed in the direction Tonks had just taken off into. Ginny, looking over the heads of the other party guests to see Lupin running off in her direction.
"Well, I believe our duty here is done." George said tugging on his robes to straighten them.
"It's been nice talking to you, Gin." Fred tipped an imaginary hat.
"Now go be a good girl and go snog Harry or something."
With that Ginny watched, slightly amused her two favorite brothers disappear into the crowd. She shook her head,
"I ought to bat-bogeythe both of them."
II.
Tonks, sniffing and upset, pushed her way through the crowds, and out into the front yard. Ruffling her short hair, she looked behind her to see Remus coming up behind her.
"Go away." She said tersely walking away.
"Nymph-" He started.
"Don't you dare call me that…" She spat angrily, turning back around. Lupin looked taken aback. He wet his lips, nodded and swallowed.
"Ok… Tonks." He forced out. "I-..."
Tonks let out a bitter laugh shaking her head, and began walking away again. Suddenly Remus had grabbed her elbow. She looked shocked and attempted to pull away.
"Let go."
"No."
"What? Do you want to talk? Apologize?" Tonks tore her elbow out of his grasp and nearly growled, "I tried to talk to you seven years ago, and you left me standing in the middle of that room with nothing. You wanna apologize? You wanna talk, Remus? Go find somebody who cares."
With that, she walked further, and disappeared.
Lupin stared at the spot where she disappeared for a long moment then sighed, rubbing his aching jaw. Merlin, that woman had a hand...and a temper togo with it.He looked back toward the party, and narrowed his eyes. He had a bone to pick with Ginny Weasley.
III.
Robert sighed, pouring over test numbers for the fifth time, his broad form hunched over his desk. His light flickered as he turned his paper over and restarted his calculations.
A tiny, thin woman, with simple blonde curls and a oval face, slowly made her way down the steps, dressed in a nightgown and robe. She approached Roberts and gently took his hand away from the paper.
"Come to bed, Laurie. You're exhausted…"
"No Mara..." Robert shook her off, staring at his paper, "I have to finish this."
Mara Roberts stood there, tears forming in her eyes at his coldness toward her. Roberts looked up and sighed. Setting down his quill he cuppedher face with both hands. She placed her tiny hands over his,
"Mara, You don't understand. I'm so close! This can change our lives… and Lupin's. If I figure this out-"
Mara's blue eyes grew cold. "I married you for what you are now."
"I know, beloved. I just-" He cursed under his breath, "Lupin he needs thi-" Roberts stopped and sighed, dropping his hands from her warm face. "I can't come to bed just yet."
Mara leaned in and kissed her husband's cheek. "Are you going to be so tired you mess up those numbers?"
"Mara…" Roberts nearly growled.
Mara's smile lit up the room, "I love you, Lauren Roberts. Please don't stay up too late." She kissed his cheek again.
"Woman, you're distracting me." Roberts low voice rumbled, as Mara left.
"Goodnight sweetie!" Mara called from the stairs.
Roberts just grumbled, and wrote down a few more numbers.
By Merlin's beard, This is why he didn't work at home…
