Disclaimer: I'm not J.K. I'm just a fellow HP fan who has nothing better to do with their time.

A/N: Hello, I'm back with yet another chapter. But first, I want to take some time to thank one reviewer whose comment really inspired me to write this chapter. To padfoots-smile, thank you so much for your comment. It really got me stoked and fired me up for this chapter. Thank you so much, you seriously have no idea how much you complimented me. And also, thanx to xmaraudergirlsx about giving me the heads up about the weird symbols that appeared. I have no clue as to how or why they appeared. I proof read all my chapters before I post so I seriously don't know how that happened. I'm sorry for that and if anyone else sees the strange symbols appear, just ignore them; I didn't put them there. Anyways, on to the chapter, which seeemd to write itself, I think I've finally gotten over my writer's block. Yay!

It was easy for Remus to avoid Tonks the next several weeks as she had work and he had little various missions for the Order. He only saw her at mealtimes and even then he avoided being alone with her; though she definitely tried to corner him. Remus had decided that the only way to avoid his overwhelming emotions for the witch was for him to try and stay away from her. Molly, unfortunately, noticed Remus' actions towards Tonks and she cornered him one evening after dinner once everyone was gone.

"I don't know why you're acting so strangely around her." Molly said as Remus helped her clear the empty plates from the table.

"I'm not acting strange Molly." Remus protested gently. He appreciated Molly's concern but he really didn't need it right now.

She scoffed. "Hippogriff feathers! I've seen the way you avoid her."

"Now that's not true Molly. I talk to her and we're still very good friends." Remus handed Molly the dirty plates while she muttered a spell for them to start washing themselves.

"You avoid being alone with her and you know it." She pierced him with an accusing stare.

Remus was at a loss for words. What could he say? That he secretly loved Tonks but he couldn't be with her because he was too old, poor and dangerous? Certainly not. He sighed.

Molly replaced her accusing stare with a sympathetic look. "Oh Remus, why won't you allow yourself the simple pleasure of love?" She asked.

Remus shook his head. "Molly, please don't." He begged. He really didn't feel like discussing this.

"No Remus, you need to hear this." Molly pressed on. "Now she really has feelings for you; possibly even loves you. And when you avoid her like this, it's not only hurting her but I know it's hurting you too. Now why don't you put your petty reasons aside and just go and be with her?"

Petty reasons? Remus felt that his reasons for not being with Tonks were far from petty. He was a werewolf for Merlin's sake! He was much too dangerous for Tonks, that and he was half her age! Why would Tonks even want to be with an old fool like him anyway? She probably just had a little crush on him, she would get over him in a little while and meet and fall in love with a young, good-looking wizard who could give her everything, even a moonlit stroll. Remus felt tears starting to come.

"Look Molly, I really appreciate your concern, I really do. But I just can't be with Tonks, as much as I want to, I just can't. And I'm sorry if I'm hurting her feelings a little but she'll get over me in time and she'll move on." He said gently, forcing his voice not to crack. "It's late, I'm going to bed. Good night Molly."

"You can't avoid her forever you know Remus." Molly said after him. "You're going to see her at Christmas after all and there will be other times where you're going to have to talk to her."

He slowly walked up the stairs and quietly entered his room and shut the door. He sighed heavily. Why? Why did this have to happen to him? Wasn't his life already complicated enough without being in love? He walked to his wardrobe and pulled on his pajamas. He hated to admit it, but Molly was right, he couldn't avoid Tonks forever. Maybe if he just talked to her, made her see why they couldn't be together and convince her she'd be better off without him. Yes, that was it, just talking to her. But as Remus lie down in his bed, the tears that had threatened to emerge in the kitchen came flooding his eyes.

He didn't want Tonks to be with anybody else. He wanted her to be with him, but they couldn't. Why? Why did he have to live this cursed life? He cried more heavily, not bothering to wipe the tears that were steadily making his way down his cheeks. What made it more torturous for him was that he now knew that Tonks had the same feelings for him as he did her. He sniffed and cried himself to sleep.

October and November passed without much incident, Remus had successfully avoided talking with Tonks one on one, though he still chatted with her at dinner, when Sirius and everybody else was there. She didn't seem too sad or depressed that Remus was avoiding her, she still seemed her bubbly, cheery self; pink hair still in tact. But something happened near Christmas that drove his tortured relationship with Tonks completely out of his mind for the first time. Arthur had been attacked. He had been on guard duty and had dozed off when a long, slithery snake had attacked him. Its venom infected Arthur's bloodstream pretty badly, but he was discovered in time; all thanks to Harry.

Remus heard that Harry had awoken from a violent nightmare at Hogwarts, the night of the attack. He claimed to have witnessed it firsthand. After Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore had gathered up the Weasley children and Harry, they safely transported them to Grimmauld Place where they sat and waited for any news of Arthur. Remus had been at The Burrow when Molly had received the terrible news.

"WHAT! Oh my goodness! Arthur! Where is he? How is he? Will he live, will he be all right?" She asked tearfully when Dumbledore had delivered the news.

"Yes, he will be fine Molly, try not to worry. They are taking care of him at St. Mungo's right now as we speak, they expect he will live but the venom of the snake is very strange but they are taking care of it." He reassured her.

Remus put a comforting arm around Molly and she cried violently into his shoulder.

"You'll be able to see him in a few hours." Dumbledore went on. "I'm so sorry Molly but it was all thanks to Harry that we found him in time."

Molly immediately jerked her head up out of Remus' shoulder. "What?" She asked.

"Harry has had one of his…visions." Dumbledore explained gravely.

"What? I don't understand-" Molly said confused, tears still steadily flowing from her puffy eyes.

"What do you mean?" Remus inquired. Harry having visions couldn't be a good sign.

"He awoke tonight, looking awful. He claimed to have seen the attack on Arthur. I talked to him and we immediately found Arthur and took him to St. Mungo's." Dumbledore went on.

"Oh, God bless that boy." Molly said, crying more profusely once more. "I don't know what this family would do without him."

"It's alright now Molly, everything is going to be okay." Remus said comfortingly.

"Remus is right. Everything will be fine; you will be able to see Arthur now. Remus, will you go inform Tonks and Moody and tell them to escort the children to St. Mungo's with Molly in the morning? I have sent Sirius to stay with the them at Headquarters." Dumbledore said.

"Of course." Remus said, he didn't even think of talking to Tonks one on one, he was too preoccupied with this shocking news.

"Good. Molly, if you'll come with me, I'll go with you to St. Mungo's then I'll have to get back to Hogwarts, I'm sure Dolores Umbridge has already discovered that the children are missing." Dumbledore said. "Remus, here is Tonks' address, apparate there immediately. She'll know where to find Moody." Dumbledore handed Remus a piece of paper.

"Of course Headmaster." Remus took the paper and read it then pocketed it.

"Molly, shall we?" Dumbledore offered his arm to her.

"Of-Of course." Molly choked, grabbing Dumbledore's offered hand.

The two apparated, leaving Remus alone in the Weasley house hold. He concentrated on Tonks' address and soon he appeared in a darkened living room. It was complete with black couch and matching armchair and a big, wooden coffee table in front of the couch. It had lots of various, wild-looking objects on it. There was a tall lamp in the corner and shelves along the walls. He must have apparated right into her living room; he had meant to appear right outside her door. Only then, when he had appeared in the room, did his mind come wandering back to his situation with Tonks. He suddenly had about a million butterflies swarming around in his stomach and his throat had gone unusually dry.

He gulped and crept down the hall and knocked softly on the first door he met on the right, assuming it was her bedroom. He knocked a little more loudly when no answer issued from the door. He turned the doorknob and cracked the door open slightly. He poked his head into the dark bedroom. Despite the darkness, he could make out several large posters of the band, The Weird Sisters, covering the walls. There were a couple of other posters of what Remus assumed were Muggle bands with names such as Green Day, Simple Plan, The Ramones, The Beatles and Rancid. The room was a bit messy, magazines; newspapers and loads of files and papers littered the ground and dresser. Clothes were askew and hanging off the bed, desk and chair.

Remus looked at the bed and saw a large lump in the middle of all the black bedding, it was moving steadily up and down. He gulped again and noticed how hard it was to swallow. He cracked the door open more and walked inside Tonks' room. He walked over to the bed and poked the moving lump.

"Tonks." He whispered, poking her.

Nothing. She must be a heavy sleeper.

"Tonks." He said a bit more loudly, still prodding the sleeping witch.

"Tonks, get up." He shook the lump gently.

She mumbled from under the covers and moved.

"Tonks, it's me, Remus." He said.

Tonks' head immediately protruded from the covers, Remus could tell she still had her bubblegum pink hair. She blinked several times. "R-Remus?" She asked.

"Yea, it's me. You've got to get up, there's been an attack." Remus informed her.

She immediately sat up and jumped out of bed. She was wearing a black tank top with low-cut gray pajama bottoms.

"What! Who? What happened? What's going on?" She asked, all of a sudden alert.

Remus was a bit surprised by Tonks' reaction. He thought for sure she would be asking questions about why he had been avoiding being with her alone.

"It's Arthur Weasley. He's been attacked while on guard duty by a snake. He's at St. Mungo's right now, they are treating him. Dumbledore wants you and Moody to escort Harry and the Weasley children to St. Mungo's tomorrow morning with Molly." Remus informed her, feeling slightly guilty that he thought Tonks looked absolutely cute in her pajamas.

"What? How did they know?" Tonks inquired.

"Harry. He had a…a sort of vision about the attack and he told Dumbledore." Remus said.

Tonks looked stunned. "Wow." She muttered.

Remus nodded. "I know. I've got to go take over for Arthur now but I'll see you later."

Tonks' eyes widened. "What! You're going on guard duty? Where Arthur was attacked?" She looked fearful.

"Yes, I've got to, someone has got to guard the prophecies." Remus replied, a little shocked at Tonks' reaction.

"But-But what if-if you get attacked next?" She sounded positively terrified.

Remus felt a great surge of affection for Tonks. He smiled. "I'll be all right"

"You don't know that! I don't want anything to happen to you." She spoke the last sentence softly, her eyes looking down at her pajama bottoms.

Remus wanted nothing more than to grab her and hold her forever, but he couldn't. "I promise, I'll be all right." He said.

She looked back up into his eyes and before Remus knew what was happening, she had wrapped him in a tight hug, grabbing him around the waist. Remus was startled for a moment. What should he do? Should he hug her back? Or would that give her the wrong impression? He couldn't just stand there. He argued with his thoughts before returning the hug with as much grip as Tonks was showing. He inhaled her sweet scent and was close to confessing his love for her when the crescent moon shown through the curtains of her window.

"Don't go." She said softly.

"I have to, don't worry, I'll be all right. I've had to deal with much worse things other than snakes." He said, hoping he was easing her mind.

She chuckled very lightly and raised her head, which had been resting on his shoulder. "Please be careful." She said.

"I promise." He said.

She unwrapped her arms and stepped back.

"Night." He said.

"Night." She said back.

Remus took one last look at Tonks in her pajamas before apparating straight to the Ministry of Magic to take over Arthur's guard duty.

A couple of days later, on Christmas morning, Remus, along with Moody, Molly and Mundungus escorted the children to St. Mungo's to visit Arthur, Bill had even managed to come along too. Mundungus had 'borrowed' a car to take them to the hospital entrance, as the underground was closed. When they arrived, Arthur was looking sheepishly at his turkey dinner, which the hospital had provided.

"Everything all right Arthur?" Molly asked after everyone had greeted Arthur and given their presents to him.

"Fine, fine." He reassured his wife. "You-er-haven't seen Healer Smethwyck, have you?"

"No." Molly said suspiciously. "Why?"

"Nothing, nothing." Arthur said airily, starting to unwrap his gifts. "Well, everyone have a good day? What did you all get for Christmas? Oh Harry this is absolutely wonderful!" Arthur exclaimed as he unwrapped Harry's gift of fuse wire and screwdrivers; Molly didn't look entirely satisfied.

Remus thought Arthur was hiding something from his wife. He had changed the subject so quickly. Molly, obviously, had thought something was up too.

"Arthur." She snapped. "You've had your bandages changed. Why have you had your bandages changed a day early, Arthur? They told me they wouldn't need doing until tomorrow." She said as Arthur's bandages showed as he leaned over to shake Harry's hand.

"What?" Arthur asked, looking rather scared and pulling the bed covers higher up on his chest. "No, no – it's nothing – it's – I –" He seemed to deflate under his wife's piercing stare. "Well – now don't get upset, Molly, but Augustus Pye had an idea…He's the Trainee Healer, you know, lovely young chap and very interest in…um…complementary medicine…I mean, some of these old Muggle remedies…well, they're called stitches Molly, and they work very well on – on Muggle wounds – "

Molly let out an ominous noise. Remus immediately strolled over to the patient that he learned had been bitten by a werewolf, knowing that Molly was about to blow her top. Apparently, everyone else noticed this as Bill muttered something about getting himself a cup of tea and the twins leapt up to accompany him, grinning.

"Hi there." Remus greeted the newly born werewolf.

Remus attempted to block out Molly's ever-rising voice: "Do you mean to tell me that you have been messing with Muggle remedies?"

"Not messing about, Molly, dear." Arthur said imploringly. "It was just – just something Pye and I thought we'd try – only, most unfortunately – well, with these particular kinds of wounds – it doesn't seem to work as well as we'd hoped – "

"Meaning?"

"Well…well, I don't know whether you know what – what stitches are?"

"It sounds as though you've been trying to sew your skin back together." Molly said, with a snort of mirthless laughter, "but even you, Arthur, wouldn't be that stupid – "

At this Harry announced that he too needed a cup of tea, Hermione, Ron and Ginny following him. It was impossible for Remus to talk to the fellow werewolf, who was watching Molly and Arthur with much apprehension.

"Well, that is – that is the general idea." Arthur stammered. Remus knew what was coming.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, THAT'S THE GENERAL IDEA?" Molly shrieked.

"Now, Molly, dear, don't get upset-" Arthur pleaded.

Remus winced as Molly's piercing shouts echoed through the hospital room. After she had finished ranting, Arthur's face looking as red as his hair and he was looking down.

"So…you're a werewolf, huh? Me too." Remus said conversationally to the patient.

The werewolf tore his gaze away from Arthur and Molly to stare at Remus. "Yea?" He asked.

Remus nodded. "Yes and it's not as bad as you might think." Remus reassured him.

"Really?"

"Really. In fact, with the Wolfsbane Potion, you can live an almost normal life." Remus said, trying to sound cheerful.

The werewolf's eyes lit up. "Really? What will that potion do, stop the transformation?" He looked positively excited.

"Not exactly. It allows you to keep your mind when you transform." Remus said, hoping that this news wouldn't dampen the patient's spirits.

"Well…I guess it's better than nothing." The patient shrugged.

Remus smiled and talked to the werewolf. By the time he left, Remus felt good about making another person inflicted with the same condition, as he did, feel a little bit better.

A/N: So, what did you think? I hope you all enjoyed it, 'cause it was loads of fun to write. I would have gone into further detail with Remus' chat with the werewolf patient, but the chapter was already getting pretty long. Well, please please review! I can't belive I broke 100 reivews, not that I was aiming for any number, I'm just so pleased and honored that my story was worthy of so many great reviews by all you awesome people who take a little time out of your day to voice your opnions and thoughts. Thank you all!