"Who threatened to kill Julia? The blackmailers?" I grabbed Tom's shirt, ready to shake the answer out of him.

"No, the blackmail is recent. The threats happened months ago."

"Why didn't you report them?" Remus asked, gently prying my fingers from their clench on fabric.

"I couldn't…they weren't…Merlin, I need that beer." Tom returned to the lounge and the beer he drained in short order. He sat on a chair and waited for us to take a seat on the sofa, exhaling sharply. "It's…"

"Your family?" Remus asked, when Tom's voice trailed away as if he couldn't force the words out.

The calm, understanding tone worked on my friend like Veritaserum. "My father and grandfather announced before Christmas that my career was a blot upon the family escutcheon and they were taking steps to mitigate the damage."

"That's insane," I said. "Your mother loves Julia and you've been with the Auror Office for years. They've always looked the other way before. Why is it a big deal now?"

"My mother's opinion no longer matters. Death Eaters are making the rounds, gathering funds and warning that You-Know-Who will soon return and demand an account of his supporters' actions while he was away. They fear punishment for allowing me to choose my own path."

Remus asked, "How did they threaten Julia?"

Tom raked a hand through his hair, making white-blond strands stand on end. "It was implied. Believe me, Slytherin are brilliant when it comes to intimidation. I can't just quit. The fact remains that I worked against the cause. My father and grandfather stand accused of losing control of the family and feel required to prove they regained it." He looked away and swallowed hard. "I was told that if I resist their plans they would eradicate every reason for opposition."

I picked up Remus's beer. He nodded his permission, smiling faintly when I took a long swallow before pointing the bottle at Tom. "So you get betrothed to Maris and all is forgiven?"

"Not quite. I'm expected to give up my position too."

I drank the rest of the beer before throwing the bottle against the fireplace. It made a satisfying crash. I stood and yelled, "Tell them to disown you, blast you from the family tapestry for all you care! My mother and cousin did and never regretted it. They're happy, and you deserve to be happy too!"

Tom surged to his feet and chucked his bottle into the fireplace. "It's not that simple!"

Remus rose to stand between us. "Shall I go get plates to smash, or would bottles of Butterbeer be preferable?" He smiled faintly. "You'd have to drink the Butterbeer first, but cooling down is exactly what you two need."

I felt my lips twitch at his professor tone, but refused to be distracted, asking, "Why isn't it that simple?"

Tom said gruffly, "Julia wasn't the only one they threatened."

My jaw dropped. Stars and stones…his mother? No.

"Yes," my friend said bitterly, reading my expression. "My parents have never been like yours. They're the typical arranged marriage, tolerating each other for appearances' sake. My father would have my mother committed to a private sanatorium without a qualm." He shook his head. "She'd die. Mother lives for society. I can't let that happen."

I looked at Remus. A corner of his mouth turned up in a reassuring gesture. I sighed in relief while he put a comforting hand on Tom's shoulder and said, "You don't have to handle this alone. We'll do everything we can to help."

Tom's face scrunched up, and I felt mine do the same. I was glad he didn't get teary-eyed, because I would've embarrassed him by crying in sympathy. He nodded. "Thanks."

I asked, "How have you been putting off the betrothal?"

He smiled a little. "I've unravelled every contract they've woven."

I looked at Remus. "Is that like the Greek story you told me, with the wife who holds off suitors until her cheating husband gets his sorry arse home from the war?"

His eyes gleamed with humour. "Yes, Penelope, wife of Odysseus, told her suitors she had to weave a shroud for her father-in-law, but every night she unravelled what she'd woven during the day."

I gazed steadily at Tom. "You haven't been spending the night with Julia…more of that unravelling?"

"The more I stay home, the less my family views her as an obstacle in need of eradication."

I closed my eyes and shook my head. "Protecting her from the truth by breaking her heart."

"Nymphadora."

I held up a finger to Remus, keeping my eyes on Tom. "No, he needs to hear it." I kept my tone level. "Do you remember the way I looked last November when I did to Remus what you're doing now, lying and trying solve problems on my own? You'll look and feel twice as bad if you don't go straight to Julia and confess everything that's been going on. Trust her to understand and be your secret keeper, if that's what it takes to keep everyone safe."

"I've kept this from her for so long."

I understood Tom's reluctance. I had been there, felt that, but I'd walked in Julia's shoes, too, and said firmly, "She'd rather be mad at you for being protective and stupid than feel her stomach knot up every time you leave, wondering if you're going to someone else, scared to death you won't come back."

"Merlin, I've been blind." Tom rubbed a hand across his face. "How will she ever forgive me?"

I looked at Remus and smiled. "Love keeps no record of wrongs."

"Gods, I hope not," said Tom. He hugged me and shook Remus's hand before taking a step toward the fireplace, stopping at the sight of broken glass.

I waved my wand to vanish the mess. "We'll go see my source today, and tomorrow we'll decide what to do next."

"Who's the source?" asked Tom.

"Mundungus Fletcher, but don't tell Evan. I don't trust him."

"Evan?" Remus's question held a growl.

Tom picked up a handful of Floo powder. "Thanks for everything, you two. Jul and I will bring over breakfast in the morning if she lets me live."

I smirked. "If she kills you, it's only so she can do mouth-to-mouth to bring you back."

Tom grinned and tossed the powder. When he'd gone, Remus repeated, "Evan?"

I shifted uncomfortably. "Tom didn't tell you Cecilia went to Evan for help and discovered he's being blackmailed about his connections to You-Know-Who as well?"

"No."

I made a face. "Well, he is, and so is Maris, the witch the Fentons are trying to push on Tom. That's what the meeting was for, to discuss solutions to their mutual problem."

"You aren't working with Rosier."

Remus had made a statement, but I treated it like a question. "No, of course I'm not. He thinks Cecilia was at the meeting. My name never came up. I'm working with Tom, who will share findings as he sees fit." I watched the tightness in Remus's jaw relax and said, "I don't care about Tom's mum losing her place in society or those companies losing their assets. I only care about Tom losing Julia. I can't stand by and let that happen!"

He brushed the back of his fingers down the side of my face. "I'm not asking you to."

I moved close and rested my head on his shoulder, not wanting to meet his gaze as I admitted, "I would have suggested Tom use the blackmail to coerce his father into backing off, if Mrs. Fenton's health wasn't so fragile." When Remus didn't comment, I whispered, "Is that bad of me?"

"Are you worried about it?"

I closed my eyes and nodded. "Dad called it a 'Black streak'. He said when it came to protecting the ones we loved; Mum and I could be as cunning and ruthless as our ancestors."

Remus's fingers stroked my hair and slid down to rub circles on my back. "Would you behead a house-elf?"

My eyes popped open. "No."

"Use an Unforgivable Curse?"

I looked up. "Of course not!"

He smiled slightly. "Enjoy causing pain?"

I answered honestly, "Not enjoy, but if someone hurt you, I'd pay them back with a great deal of satisfaction."

Remus pressed a soft kiss to my brow. "Then you might possibly match up on cunning, but you'd be disowned for your lack of ruthlessness."

His droll tone made me smile. "I can't be disowned. I was never officially a Black."

He kissed my cheek. "Don't worry, I won't tell Sirius and Andromeda you envy their scorch marks on the Family Tapestry."

I gave a snort of laughter. Remus chuckled. I said, "Thank you," and reached up to kiss his lips. I meant the words for more than his support and cheering me up. It was for understanding me and loving me the way I loved him, the dark with the light. He had dark places in his soul, too, emotions and impulses he kept strict control over, because a werewolf couldn't afford to freely express anger…or desire.

My heart slammed hard in my chest as the kiss deepened. Most of the time, my dreams of Remus were achingly sweet and pure, but some only started that way. Thoughts of dreams where all-consuming hunger took over body and mind caused me to press closer, my hands clutching his shoulders.

"Nymphadora."

Remus growled my name, warning that I was pushing his restraint. My lips stilled. He kissed me softly once more before pulling back. I said, "Sorry, I, erm, got carried away."

The corners of his mouth lifted. "I have no complaints, but we need to focus on the matter at hand." My gaze dropped to the fingers that felt so good on my skin. His voice became low and amused, "I'm referring to Mundungus Fletcher. Do you have a plan?"

I assumed a professional demeanour. "Tell him as little as possible, give him only the tasks we can't handle and go from there."

"So there is no plan?"

His slow grin brought a smile to my face as I answered, "We'll make it up as we go along. It's worked for us so far."

Remus opened the door for me, murmuring, "Indeed it has."

We Apparated to a side street off Knockturn Alley, where the buildings appeared in imminent danger of collapse. Contrary to appearances, spells kept the structures up to Wizarding building code standards. So although Mundungus's front door looked about to fall off its hinges, it made solid thuds when pounded.

"Open up!"

Remus's eyebrows rose to hear the sound of numerous locks being released before the wards were lifted and the door creaked open. "Magic isn't enough safeguard?" he asked, when Mundungus mumbled a bleary greeting and motioned for us to enter the abode that smelled like a brewery.

"The locks are b'spelled too," said our host. He pushed a stack of papers off a chair and sat down heavily. "Kettle's on. Make yer Uncle Dungie a cuppa, Tonksie."

"Don't call me Tonksie again and I will." On a side table pushed against the back wall of the pack rat hole Dung called home, a teakettle whistled. I used a Cleaning Charm on a chipped mug and made the tea, adding a generous splash of whatever was kept in the flask next to the sugar tin.

Grubby hands cradled the mug. "Yer an angel o' mercy."

"You're filthy. What have you been up to, robbing graves?"

Baggy eyes gave me a mournful look. "D'you really think I would stoop so low?"

I glanced at Remus. He had a yes I do expression on his face. Mundungus shrugged. "A bloke had a map he was sure would lead to treasure. It was in a graveyard, but we didn't disturb the dead." He took a drink and muttered bitterly, "They was disturbin' us, sayin' there weren't any treasure, and tellin' us how to dig proper, as if I haven't dug enough holes to reach China by now."

"Was there any treasure?" Remus asked.

Straggly, ginger-coloured hair shook. "Nothin'…bloody know-all ghosts." Mundungus turned his doleful gaze on me. "I s'ppose yer here to make a poor man work for free."

"No, I'm here on behalf of a client who will pay."

Dung shot to his feet, draining his mug and setting it aside to rub his hands together. "Why didn't yeh say so, then? Time is money, so give me the particulars and I'll be on m'way!"

I picked a dried leaf out of his hair and shook it. "Don't you think you should clean up first?"

He scowled. "My Deodorant Spell lasts a week between showers!"

I shuddered and said, "Fine, be a troll for all I care."

Remus stepped between us. "Mr. Fletcher, we need you to gather information, find out if there are any rumours of blackmail schemes."

Mundungus nodded. "If it's m'client, they better pay me first. I don't work for free, exceptin' when I'm forced…er…payin' back a debt."

I handed over a small sack of Galleons. "Here, Uncle Dungie, for your time and expenses in the pubs. I'm sure you'll put it to good use."

"Yer a good girl, Tonksie…what's the wand for…No!" cried Mundungus, hit with an extra strength Scourgify.

I patted his clean, but sopping wet shoulder and said, "That's for calling me Tonksie. If I don't get an owl by midnight, I'm going to come back and do some spring cleaning."

A soap bubble formed and popped as Dung opened his mouth to say, "You'll have it."

.

Outside, Remus asked, "Would you really come back and clean?"

"I'd come back and make a mess with water, but I doubt much cleaning would take place. I've never been good with householdy spells." Laughingly, I confessed, "I was surprised at how well the Scourgify went. I only expected a soapy mouth."

His grin made the narrow, bleak street seem the perfect place to stroll. Hand-in-hand, we walked toward Diagon Alley, our wands deterring any would-be robbers from plying their trade. When the Owl Post Office came into sight, I halted.

"Do you want to send an owl?" asked Remus.

"How fast could a message be delivered?"

He said, "Scops owls are small but fast, if you want to make a local delivery within a half hour. Why?"

That wasn't fast enough. I shook my head. "I think we should go see Emmeline. All that talk of You-Know-Who's imminent return is something she should know about, and her contacts might've heard blackmail rumours too."

"Comparing the information from Underground sources to Mundungus's is a good idea."

"Mum would frown at my rudeness if I just showed up on Mrs. Vance's doorstep," I said, "but I'm not in the mood for shopping, and I don't want to Apparate and then have to wait in the bushes until the owl delivers our note, either."

"We could find a way to pass the time."

Put that way… I tugged Remus's hand, hurrying to reach the owl office.

Fifteen minutes later, I was sitting behind a tall bush, trying not to pout. Remus had acquired a quill and piece of parchment while I'd sent off the message. Now, instead of letting me pin him to the ground for a snog, he was composing a list, saying as he wrote, "Questions that remain to be answered: who is blackmailing Tom and the others, why have they targeted these people, is it part of a larger scheme and how can they be stopped without endangering the innocent?"

"Add Tom's family to the list. How do we stop them?"

He scratched the words onto the parchment and then circled the question. "Could they be related in any way?"

I knew he meant the blackmail and the betrothal, but I was feeling snarky. "To Tom? Gee, I hope so."

Remus looked up and then carefully folded the parchment and placed it into a pocket along with the quill. I tried not to fidget. His steady gaze made me feel like a naughty schoolgirl giving her professor a hard time. I was trying to decide whether to smile apologetically or stare defiantly when he said, "You are a strong-willed woman."

I preferred the term decisive myself.

"You're used to having your way."

Well, maybe, a little.

He moved toward me. "I find that a very attractive quality."

I could feel my eyes widening hopefully. "You do?"

Remus pounced. One moment I had leaned forward expecting a kiss, and the next I was flat on my back pinned to the ground. He wasn't putting his full weight on me. I could've escaped his light hold, but I didn't want to. I was mesmerised by the intensity of his expression. Strands of Remus's hair brushed my face as he said huskily, "I do, but you can't always have what you want, exactly when you want it, Nymphadora."

His mouth grazed my left cheek. I said dazedly, "I can't?"

Remus's lips transferred to my right cheekbone. "No, sometimes you have to wait." His mouth brushed my ear. "And sometimes, I want to have my way."

The sexy growl in his voice made it hard to concentrate. The sensation of his lips tracing my ear further impaired cognitive skills. I whispered, "You want to have your way with me?"

His body tensed before shaking with silent laughter. Remus levered himself off me and said, "I intended to make a point about patience, and our present location not being the appropriate venue for a snog." His smile was rueful. "Somehow, that conversational goal became lost."

"Tonks and Remus, please stop skulking in my shrubbery and come inside at once!"

The owl had found its way to Mrs. Vance's window. Remus stood and pulled me to my feet, brushing grass out of my hair and calling, "We'll be right there, Emmeline."

I flicked a leaf off his shirt and made to walk toward the house, eyes averted. Remus caught my arm. "What's wrong? Are you embarrassed…?"

"No, and I don't think there's an inappropriate venue for a snog, either," I said challengingly.

He smiled. "I know. That's another one of your attractive qualities."

Mollified, I took his hand and pulled him into motion. "You have loads of attractive qualities, too, but since it isn't appropriate to list them all right now, you'll just have to wait."

Remus chuckled. "You said that with such relish, I may have to reconsider my opinion of your ruthless streak."

.

Emmeline was waiting for us on the front step. I grinned at her and received an affectionate smile in return. Hugging the stately woman who had become a friend, I said, "I apologise for the short notice."

"Nonsense, I enjoy having company for lunch."

My eyes went to Remus. He said, "We only came to talk."

"You can talk over lunch, unless you've eaten?"

My stomach rumbled audibly. I said, "A tiny dish of risotto."

"That's not enough to keep a bird alive," Emmeline said with a dismissive wave of her hand. She entered the house and plainly expected us to follow, so we did, passing through the elegant, comfortable rooms to reach a table on the back terrace.

I stared at the vast plate of antipasti displayed with ham and what smelled like bread straight from a brick oven. "How…?"

"Not everyone disregards the power of Divination, my dear."

"Our visit was in the cards or something?" I smiled my thanks as Remus pulled out my chair after seating Emmeline.

The older woman winked. "No, my horoscope in the Quibbler. I never pay heed to them, usually, but today, 'your hospitality will delight unexpected guests' struck a chord, and I decided to prepare lunch just in case."

I firmly believed I controlled my fate, not the stars, but I kept that opinion unspoken since it got me a lunch that no doubt tasted as good as it looked. I picked up my serviette and tucked right in. After we'd satisfied hunger, and Remus had given Emmeline a general summary of our enquiry without revealing particulars, she looked at me. "This was in the cards, I'm afraid."

"Which card?" asked Remus.

Emmeline said, "Before I say, I would first like to remind you that while the unethical or incompetent use the images on Tarot cards as literal representations, they were only intended to act as allegories."

"Which card?" I demanded.

"The Death Card."

A/N: I have fun with chapter titles, and this one was no different. It came down to choosing one of two similar titles. 'The Torrents of Spring' or 'Spring Torrents', between Hemingway's parody of a writing style or Turgenev's bleak story of an Emo Russian torn between 'good' and 'bad' women. Not much competition, really. :D The people whose reviews would have been shockingly missed if they had not been so kind as to give them last week were...40/16 aamattsonperdue AAMLrox alix33 anon (ladyofthebookworms?) Bardlover cupcakeswirl eleen Elspeth Bates Embellished Fauzia FNP Freja Lercke-Falkenborg GraceRichie ishandtwofourths Kates Master2 katieweasley ladyofthebookworms Machiavelli Jr MagicalMischiefMakersInc Master Keto MollyCoddles NazgulGirl Nessime NalaravatheRed Polaris101 RahNee Russet022 Sivaroobini Lupin-Black Slipknot-3113 sunny9847 and Verity Weasley