A/N: Thanks for the reviews. This chapter wasn't meant to be funny, but it turned out that way a little. As for Moody's character, I picture him to be similar to Gimli (LOTR) in that he's a very valuable and capable member of a team, but a tad daft/comical. So here you go...
The three wizards Apperated into a busy Muggle street with an inconspicuous pop. It was because of all the bustling bodies that they were unseen. It had begun to rain, and many Muggles had erected umbrellas, causing the men to dodge as they made their way down the slippery path. Mad-Eye Moody brought up the rear, his wooden leg clunking obviously under his sodden cloak.
"Do you think you could take that termite-infested stub off?" Kingsley Shacklebolt asked through his teeth in annoyance. Moody's reply was lost in the crowd, though Lupin distinctly heard the comment.
"I have a fair idea where to put it, Sonny!"
Lupin halted his companions with a raised palm.
"She's been here, I know it. I can smell her."
"A little weird, but I'll let it pass," Kingsley commented with a shrug. Lupin ignored the Auror, and scanned the streets for the witch. His eyes were drawn to the neon lights across the street: Carlo's Café. Open 24/7.
Moody's magical eye spotted her immediately.
"There she is," he pointed with a knarled hand. The front wall of the Muggle café was made out of glass, leaving its patrons on view to those who passed by. Sure enough, Tonks sat in a window booth, her dark head in her hands. She appeared to be alone.
Lupin gave a firm nod and the three men set off across the road, dodging puddles and cars as they went.
Once they reached the safety of the curb, the men shuffled over to the nearest wall of the café, leaving them in the entrance of an alleyway not unlike the one Kingsley had seen Tonks visit previously. The wizards hunched over as they spied on their friend. With their capes hanging heavily around them, they resembled a comical cow in a Muggle pantomime; with Moody once again bringing up the rear.
"Get your backside out of my face Shacklebolt," Mad-Eye growled, pushing the younger Auror aside to peer over Lupin's shoulder. All three men were thoroughly drenched by now, and not exactly enjoying each other's company.
"Wait a minute…" Moody mumbled into Lupin's ear. Kingsley jostled them to see for himself, as a tall pale man joined their friend at her table. He was dressed in black, and his dark hair stuck to his neck from the rain.
"That's the man from the alley. The one Tonks has been meeting with in secret," Kingsley informed his two comrades.
Sure enough, Tonks rose on seeing him and threw herself into his arms. Moody felt Lupin stiffen beside him on seeing the man kiss the young Auror on the head.
This mysterious stranger held Tonks for a moment longer, before taking a seat opposite her as she settled herself back down. The man kept hold of her petite hands as she spoke. Her expression portrayed that of grief and confusion, and Tonks constantly wiped at her face. She was clearly distressed, but her friends could not hear what she was saying through the window. The streets were simply too loud, even though there was a slight gap in the air-vent above their table.
Lupin gave a growl of frustration, and pounded a fist against the damp wall in anger.
"If only we could hear what they're saying!" he hissed in exasperation. Suddenly his jaw dropped, as if he had been hit physically with an idea.
"That's it!" he whispered to himself, and Disapperated suddenly, leaving Kingsley and Mad-Eye to blink at each other in confusion. Lupin returned moments later, holding what seemed to be pieces of taupe coloured string.
"Are those–?"
"Extendable Ears, yeah," Remus mumbled dismissively, shoving one end roughly into his right ear. He offered a pair to the two Aurors, who took them dubiously.
"Those Weasley twins are menaces to our society," Moody commented, though he placed a rubbery end into his own ear.
"They're geniuses, Mad-Eye," Remus corrected, grinning like a true Marauder. "And don't you forget it!"
Lupin Accio-ed the receiving end of the Ears to the open air-vent. Loud voiced suddenly pierced their eardrums, sending the men stumbling for a second.
"I don't know what to do anymore. What am I fighting for now?" Tonks voiced filled Lupin's head.
"What were you fighting for before?" came an unfamiliar voice. "Nothing's changed Dora."
"I'm alone!" Tonks insisted with a croak. She gave a loud sniff and the eavesdropping men winced.
"You're not alone," her companion replied lightly. "What about the Order?"
Tonks gave a bitter laugh at this.
"The Order? There is no Order! We…" she paused and lowered her voice. "The Order has, and will always be Dumbledore. Now he's gone, we're just a group of lost souls waiting to be taken ourselves. None of us expect to make it through this war…none of us will," she added in a hushed whisper.
"Interesting words there," the man mused.
"It's how I feel," Tonks replied thickly.
There was a sound of rustling paper, and the unknown man passed Tonks a napkin from the dispenser sat on the table between them.
"Blow your nose," they heard him say. She complied. A silence sat heavily between them.
"Can you stay with me tonight?" Tonks mumbled into her soggy napkin. The man looked up and smiled at her sadly. He rose from his seat and then slid into her side of the booth. He folded her into an embrace and she wept onto his shoulder.
It made Lupin sick to watch. This man, who ever he was, had no right to hold her while she grieved. That should be his job, right? Lupin was torn. Tonks was by no means his. He wouldn't even admit to her that he loved her, when he so desperately did. But seeing her here, in the arms of another man, aroused such a jealousy in Remus that he hadn't even thought possible.
Lupin hadn't even noticed he had begun to move, until Moody put a forceful hand on his shoulder.
"Wait," he growled, pushing Remus with such strength that he almost fell to the sodden ground.
"I don't know what to say to make things better," the man told Tonks. She replied inaudibly into his chest causing him to give a little chuckle. "Well, I can be here for you. It's about time, don't you reckon?"
His tone suddenly became serious, and the three wizards outside in the rain listened in intently.
"We will put an end to all of this Dora. I will go after Bellatrix, I promise you. I will avenge Cissy, and young Draco, and your mother. I promise you this. They will all be avenged."
There was a shuddered breath from Tonks.
"And Sirius?" she asked timidly.
Lupin's jaw dropped slightly. He eagerly awaited the response. The man simply nodded.
"I know you loved him Dora."
"When I lost him…a part of me died too. I don't think I'll ever get that back again," Tonks admitted. It broke Lupin's heart to hear it.
"He loved you too. You have to let go of your guilt. It belongs with Bellatrix…She will get what's coming to her, I swear. You are not alone, Dora. You will always have me."
At these words Tonks broke down once more. The man took her gently in his arms again, ignoring the glances from the customers around him. He kissed Tonks on the cheek and stroked her hair lightly.
Lupin had heard and seen enough. He rose to his full height.
"Can I go pound him now?" he asked Moody viciously. Mad-Eye simply nodded.
"Be my guest."
The wizards left the dark alley and crossed the front of the café. They entered with a bang, as Moody's wooden stump slipped on the wet tiled floor. Kingsley refrained from rolling his eyes.
"Constant vigilance Mad-Eye," he mumbled coolly, ignoring the man's request for a hand up.
Tonks and her companion broke apart, and turned to see the haggard old Auror flat on his backside.
"On your ass again Moody," Tonks whispered to herself before rising quickly as Kingsley and Remus strode over to her.
"Friends of yours?" the man asked in amusement.
"What are you guys doing here?"
"What are you doing here?" Remus spat back. Tonks cringed, realising how it must look. She ran a hand over her face wearily.
"Never mind," Remus added before she had time to speak. "Come on, we're leaving." He grabbed Tonks' wrist firmly, causing her to cry out in pain.
"You're hurting me," she hissed but Remus ignored her. The mysterious man moved towards her, but Kingsley stepped in between them, his arms crossed menacingly over his broad chest. He looked down at the stranger in contempt.
"This your bodyguard?" the man mocked to Remus. Lupin blinked at him in disgust.
"I don't need one, I assure you," he replied in a low tone. Tonks bit her lip nervously.
"Remus please let me go, you're hurting me," she pleaded once more, and this time her friend obeyed. Tonks fell back into her seat and rubbed at her sore wrist.
"Remus?" the man echoed. "Remus Lupin? I thought you were dead."
"I'm not," Lupin replied simply, not feeling at all comfortable with the fact that the man knew his name. Who was this man? Up close he seemed vaguely familiar. Remus couldn't put a name to the face.
"You never mentioned you knew him, Dora," the man turned to Tonks.
"Stop calling her that!" Remus spat angrily. "Her…her name is Tonks, ok?"
A small smile crept onto Tonks face.
"Remus…" Her tone held such affection that the stranger glanced between the two of them, not entirely sure of what he was seeing. "That's the sweetest thing you've ever said about me."
The group fell uncomfortably silent. Tonks was very aware of the café owner Carlo, or as she presumed Carl (he looked more likely to be from Clapham that anywhere in Italy), staring at the group warily.
"Perhaps I should explain," Tonks sighed in defeat.
"That'd be a start, lass," Mad-Eye grumbled as he pushed his way through the riled men and slumped himself into the seat beside Tonks. He retrieved his hipflask from his cloak and took a long swag, much to Carlo's annoyance.
Tonks bit her lip and nodded in resignation.
"Ok, but not here. Headquarters would be safer."
"This man isn't taking a step inside Headquarters until we know who he is," Kingsley said in his deep, cool voice. "And what side of this war he's fighting for," he added with a threatening glare at the unfamiliar person. The stranger threw both his hands into the air in defeat.
"You want to know who I am? Fine…I'll tell you, but I doubt you'll believe me, even if you heard it from our Dora here…sorry, Tonks," he stressed to Lupin, who narrowed his eyes in a glower. The man puffed up his chest dramatically.
"My name…is Regulus Black…and I'm on the losing side of this war. That is to say…yours."
A/N: REVIEW! ( Please :) )