"Just remember, the customer will eventually leave," Astrid murmured as we passed. I was heading to the bar. She was leaving with a tray of drinks. The Danish girl who had trained me my first couple of nights was the only server who didn't treat me like a blonde bimbo—maybe because she was blonde too.

"Promise?" I whispered. We exchanged wry smiles. I'd done my best to continually project a friendly and sweet, not-too-bright image, but I'd slipped a few times. After the second time I'd accidentally spilled a drink on a customer, she'd told me I should think about being an actress, because I was a natural at it. I'd said thanks, and the subject was never brought up again. It was nice to have someone to chat with. Waiting tables was no easy job, even with a Quick-Notes Quill. Especially not in this kind of club where servers were treated as if they were on offer along with the drinks.

By the third night, I'd acquired several repeat customers. They were low-level Ministry types, mostly, who came in after work to drink and enjoy the view of attractive servers. I didn't toss my hair or give suggestive glances like I'd seen other women do to milk tips. My friendly smile did the trick every time. I think my looks and sunny demeanour contrasted favourably with the dark aura of the club.

That night was my tenth, and I was getting impatient. I hadn't seen a server hand a customer anything other than a drink, and Sapiro hadn't brought up the subject of making extra money, even though I'd heard plenty of rumours he had gambling debts to pay. If the investigation continued to stall, our superiors would pull us off the case.

Steve, the barman, commented on my expression as he filled my order, "You don't look so chipper tonight."

I allowed my frustration to show. "I had another…disagreement…with my boyfriend." Every night, I'd found ways to let it be known I wasn't happy with my living arrangements and wanted to be out on my own. I sighed. "I shouldn't have dumped that on you. I'm sorry."

"Don't be, we're all friends here."

I smiled, but inwardly I rolled my eyes. Yeah, right. Aside from Astrid, the other servers shunted me to the worst station, nicked tips off my tables if they thought they could get away with it, and talked about me behind my back. I'd had better friends among Evan's business associates!

I served the drink to a customer whose Adam's apple bobbed when he said, "Ah…well done…er…Lizet."

On my first night, Astrid told me customers who ask your name don't want to be your friend. They want to know who to complain about to management. I hadn't found that to be true. Name callers were friendly; they just had ulterior motives. Usually, they were players trying to chat me up, hoping for a free drink or something else on the house. This bloke appeared to be the lonely type, wanting human contact. He'd sat in my section every night.

I beamed. "Thank you!"

"You have dainty feet for being so tall."

The comment startled me. I hadn't morphed more than a tan to change my feet, because I didn't want to have to buy new shoes. High heels with the comfort and stability charms needed for this kind of work were expensive.

"Really?" I checked to see if the guy made eye contact. Another one of Astrid's sayings was customers who never make eye contact have rotter paa loftet—rats in the attic!

The wizard, a balding, average bloke in his thirties, looked me in the eye. He nodded. "Yes. I notice feet because I work with shoes." With a slight smile, he added, "I cast the Comfort Charms for your shoes, if I'm not mistaken."

"No!"

He named the boutique where I'd found them and held out a hand. "May I?"

No one was watching, so I slipped off a shoe. The customer took it and showed me tiny initials stamped on the sole. "That's me, William Lowman." He ran a fingertip inside the high heel. "You have a beautiful, high arch, Lizet."

I had a new saying for Astrid: customers who fondle your shoes have rotter paa loftet! I hid my unease. "Thank you for doing such a good job with the charms."

He gave me back my shoe. "My pleasure."

I drifted off to serve another customer. The relief I felt when Mr. Lowman rose from his seat became alarm when he walked to the bar. I watched Steve point toward the manager's office.

The barman told me after I put in another order, "If you want extra money, I think Sapiro's going to offer it to you."

I widened my eyes. "He's got another job for me?"

Steve said, "He's waving you over. Go talk to the boss. Astrid will cover your station."

I followed his gaze to where the manager was waiting. Adrenaline rushed through me. Were the reports of pandering about to be substantiated? I touched the crystal hanging from my necklace, activating the recording device.

"Come in," Sapiro said as I drew near.

An old poem reverberated in my head while I walked into the office.

"Will you walk into my parlour?" said the spider to the fly.

"'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy."

Sapiro's office was luxurious and seedy at the same time. It suited him. He was sleaze with money.

"Have a seat," he said with an oily smile. Other lines from the poem came to mind.

"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;

Will you rest upon my little bed?" said the Spider to the Fly.

In front of the desk were two chairs. I said to the wizard occupying one of them, "Hullo, Mr. Lowman."

"Hello, Lizet."

Sapiro sat on the edge of the desk near me, leaning forward to say, "You're a very special girl, my dear."

I smiled modestly, even as more lines from the poem echoed in my head.

Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, "Dear friend, what can I do

To prove the warm affection I've always felt for you?"

He spoke about what a valued member of staff I was, and how he wanted to help me move out of a 'bad situation.' My gaze flickered between him and Mr. Lowman. "Is this about a side job? Do you need a foot model for shoes or something?"

Lowman tugged his collar, looking uncomfortable. Sapiro said, "In a matter of speaking…" He was as fake and predatory as the spider in the poem.

So he wove a subtle web in a little corner sly,

And set his table ready to dine upon the Fly.

I didn't know which was more disturbing—hearing Sapiro recount the details of Lowman's foot fetish, or the amount of Galleons the man would spend for the privilege of acting them out right there in the office.

My cheeks burned, and my stomach twisted, but the longer I listened, the more I felt compelled to agree. If I hadn't been protected by a Shield Charm, I might've thought it was a fine opportunity. Sapiro was using a Dark Persuasion charm to facilitate his pandering. The offence would triple his time in Azkaban.

"That's an awful lot of money, Mr. Lowman," I whispered.

"Call me William." He reached out and patted my hand. "You're worth it."

"Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing."

I bit my lip. "May I freshen up first?"

Sapiro smiled like an indulgent father. It was chillingly perverse. "Use my office lavatory while we take care of business."

I walked into the lav and turned on the water, reaching for the object strapped to my upper thigh. It was a magic mirror, small and square, used for communication. I looked down upon the reflective surface and said, "Jerry!"

His face appeared in the mirror. "Is it time?"

"The bastard used Dark Persuasion. It's time."

I put away the mirror and hurriedly washed. Back in the office, Sapiro was just leaving. "I'll tell the other girls to cover your shift for an hour."

If I had to endure more than a couple of minutes, I would scream. Silently, I chanted for Jerry to get his arse in gear.

Lowman saw me wiping my palms on my skirt. "Are you nervous?"

I wanted to hex him, but even if I didn't feel compelled to go along with this, there had to be lewd contact for charges to stick. I swallowed hard. "Yes."

"Don't be. I'll take care of you. Sit down." He knelt and lifted my foot. "I smell soap. You're thoughtful as well as beautiful."

If compulsion and duty hadn't overridden instinct, I would've done bodily harm with my pointed heel. Instead, I had to allow him to caress my foot until Jerry burst into the room. I immediately kicked the perv away from me. While my partner took the white-faced wizard into custody, I performed a Sanitizing Charm.

In the club, Crantz and Stern had just subdued Sapiro. I raised my eyebrows at the sight of overturned tables and chairs.

"He resisted arrest," said Stern, panting heavily. The hefty older wizard gazed at his equally out-of-shape partner for collaboration.

Crantz nodded vigorously. "We tried to stun him, but he zigged and zagged in an attempt to elude capture."

"I'll sue for property damage!" Sapiro saw me and said, "Don't speak to anyone but a solicitor. They've got no case!"

"Yes, we do." I told Jerry, "Wait here until the team arrives to search the offices and question witnesses. I'll drop off the evidence and start the report."

"Hey, we're the lead Aurors on this case," said Crantz.

Stern nodded. "So we'll take in the prisoners, while you drop off the evidence and Connelly stands guard."

Jerry waited until they left to ask, "Are you all right? When I came in, your eyes were huge…like they were about to pop out of your head."

"I don't want to talk about it."

He said in an undertone, "Lowman will plead guilty and get probation, we both know that. I don't need to go into…specifics…in my statement."

We avoided looking at each other. I said, "Thanks."

Before I reached the club Floo, Astrid approached. "When I said the customer would eventually leave, I didn't mean like this." She smiled. "You're a lot better Auror than you were a server."

I asked, "Did Sapiro ever approach you to…"

"No. He knew I wasn't the type. I know the girls who were, though."

"Will you give my partner their names?"

"Of course."

For what felt like the millionth time that day, I said, "Thanks."

.

At the Ministry, I rushed to file the evidence and report as soon as possible. All I wanted was to go home to Remus.

He was on the sofa reading a book when I stumbled into the lounge. I said, "I have to take a shower," and bolted for my room. In the bath, I scrubbed my feet until the skin was pink. It was an effort to force myself to stop.

After I disengaged the water charm, I pulled on a towelling robe and walked into the bedroom. Remus was sitting on the bed, waiting for me.

"What happened?"

I dropped to my knees beside the bed and wrapped my arms around his waist, burying my face against his chest. "We got Sapiro on Dark magic as well as pandering."

His fingers stroked my hair. "Would it help to talk about it?"

I whispered the story with several breaks and pauses to keep from doing something weak and girly like crying. I kept what Jerry had called specifics to a minimum, but I told Remus how the poem kept running through my mind, even now.

Unto an evil counsellor, close heart and ear and eye,

And take a lesson from this tale of the spider and the fly.

Remus lifted me up to sit on his lap, rubbing my back in slow, comforting circles. "You were put in a difficult situation. The mind finds ways to cope with trauma and stress. During full moons, I remember songs and passages from books."

"You do?"

He kissed my forehead. "And thou, Nymphidia, gentle Fay, which, meeting me upon the way, these secrets didst to me bewray, which now I am in telling."

"Shakespeare?" I asked when he stopped reciting.

Remus kissed my eyelids, the tip of my nose, my cheeks. "Drayton."

"Almost as good. Do you know any more?"

"Yes, it's one of my favourites now," he said tenderly. As he spoke, I closed my eyes and imagined the words on parchment:

My pretty, light, fantastic maid,
I here invoke thee to my aid,
That I may speak what thou hast said,
In numbers smoothly swelling.

"I love your voice," I said dreamily. My eyelids felt too heavy to lift. "If you tell stories at nap time, I bet you lull Samy and Aashi off to sleep."

Remus pressed his mouth softly to mine. "Let me lull you to sleep, Nymphadora."

I nodded, turning my head to kiss the warm, musky skin at his throat. Remus shifted until we were lying on the bed, his embrace as soothing to me as his voice.

But listen, and I shall you tell
A chance in Fairy that befell,
Which certainly may please some well
In love and arms delighting….

.

The next morning, I awoke to find myself alone in bed. I smelled coffee brewing and smiled until I realised that not only had I kicked off the covers in the middle of the night, I'd loosened the tie to my robe. I jerked upright and looked down. The skin exposed wasn't quite full frontal. I didn't know whether to laugh or hide my face and groan. Cheeks hot, I did both.

After scrambling out of bed, I dressed and hurried to the kitchen. Remus glanced up from reading the paper with twinkling eyes. "I've heard of Freudian slips. Is that a Freudian blouse?"

My face grew hot again, even as I smiled. "Yes." I was wearing a high-necked blouse with dozens of tiny buttons.

He stood and took the step needed to kiss me. Remus's brow creased when he pulled back and glanced at my throat. "Something's amiss. At the very top, there's a button without a buttonhole."

I gazed down. "I didn't fasten them right." I looked at the clock. "Crap! I'm running late, and now I'm going to spend my time redoing the stupid things instead of drinking coffee."

Remus's hands stilled my impatient fingers. "I fixed your coffee already. Take a drink and then I'll take care of your buttons."

My mouth went dry. I licked my lips. "OK, if you really want to."

He handed me a cup. "I want to."

Remus started at the bottom and worked up. The brush of his fingers on my skin almost had me sloshing coffee. I took a gulp and set the cup down. He was incredibly dexterous and sexy. The instant he finished putting my buttons to right, I wrapped my arms around his neck, planting a kiss on his smiling mouth.

The flap of wings broke us apart. An owl hopped inside when I opened the window. While Remus gave it a treat, I opened the small packet it had delivered. "It's about time. I had to give that shop owner hell before he put a trace on our missing photographs." I read the note attached. "That entire day's post was misdirected at the Owl Office." I handed him a set. "I wonder if this means Julia got her pictures back too."

"There's a good chance," Remus said with a smile.

We each looked through a series of pictures of the park and a ferret emerging from a rubbish bin and dragging a packet to the street. I shoved my set back into the envelope. "Nothing. We're back to square one."

"Perhaps a clue will be found upon further examination," Remus said. "I'll take these with me, if you'd like, and look at them more closely when Samy and Aashi have their quiet time."

"Thanks. I'll give this lot to Tom," I replied. I kissed him goodbye and headed for the fireplace, hoping Julia had better luck with her photographs.

She didn't.

"I don't know why they didn't come out," Julia said when I dropped by her cubicle.

Tom shook his head in frustration. "Goblins are supposed to be top-notch craftsmen, yet your spy camera malfunctioned. I think you should take it back." He turned to me. "Should I send the pictures to Evan?"

I shrugged. "I don't mind. Let him be useful for a change."

"What if he wants to meet and discuss the photos?" Julia asked.

I grinned. "Tell him Remus and I went away for the weekend."

Tom laughed. Julia smiled diabolically. "It will be my pleasure."

.

On the train, I studied Remus's face as he looked out the window, lost in thought. Was he worried about Sirius? Did he think of past trips with his friends on the Express? I wanted to kiss his pensive expression away.

"If we didn't have any gear, we could use the Floo Network, but with our packs the train is the best way," Cami told us.

"I didn't realise it made runs to Hogwarts other than to take children back and forth. I never thought about everything the village and castle require." I paused and then asked, "House Elves can't provide it all, can they?"

"No, but I'm sure they'd try if Dumbledore allowed them to," said Remus. His fingers squeezed mine as he shifted to look at me. "Have you ever been camping?"

"In a tent? Once. I was five, it rained, Dad tracked mud inside, and I woke in the middle of the night because my parents' bed made squeaky noises." I grinned. "Mum declared, as Merlin was her witness, she'd never go camping again."

Remus chuckled. Cami said with a smile, "My tent isn't posh. It only has three rooms and a bath. There aren't any beds, just a couple of mattresses that fill with air and sleeping bags." Her expression became sombre. "It needed to fit in a cave."

It was obvious Sirius's current home distressed her. Remus said, "A cave is a fine place to live compared to Azkaban."

Cami nodded solemnly. "Yes, it is." She took a book out of her carryall and said, "Don't mind me if you want to stretch your legs. I'm going to catch up on my reading."

I shot to my feet. "I could never sit still on the train. I was always roaming the carriages."

Remus rose and slid the door open. "I enjoyed that aspect of being a Prefect."

I waited until we were alone in the corridor to ask, "Did you ever use your position to sneak a snog in an empty compartment?"

He shook his head, looking amused. "No." He asked, "What about you?"

I shook my head. "I always envied Tom and Julia for doing it, though. Seemed like fun."

Remus found an empty compartment and stepped inside. "Would you care to sneak a snog, my dear?"

What a wolfish smile he had. I happily stepped off the path, into his arms.

By the end of the journey, we'd snogged in every empty compartment and cupboard. It was the most enjoyable trip of my life. Cami laughed when I finally returned. "You look red-lipped and rosy cheeked. I wonder why?"

I flopped down onto the bench beside her. "One day you can do the same with Sirius."

"I hope so." Cami looked toward the door. "Where's Remus?"

I tried not to smirk. "He needed a bit of fresh air."

"Needed to cool down, I'll bet," she said with a grin.

I laughed. I had turned a bit grab-arse at the end, but Remus had such a fine arse I couldn't help it.

When we disembarked, I waved madly at the giant man walking toward us. "Hagrid!"

His smile was a flash of white in the depths of a bushy, dark beard. "Look at you, lil' Nymphadora Tonks, all grown up."

The few passengers in earshot smiled to hear his booming voice. Hagrid said to Remus and Cami, "Tonks had so many detentions, I called her my apprentice groundskeeper." He looked at our packs curiously. "Yer campin'?" His chuckle was a deep rumble. "I though' yeh were allergic ter nature!" He held out his hand to Remus and shook the smaller man's carefully. "Good ter see yeh, professor." He inclined his head toward Cami. "Is this pretty lady yer partner?"

Remus took my hand. "No, my partner is this pretty lady. Cami is a friend who kindly invited us to go camping."

Hagrid's eyes widened. After a moment, he said gruffly, "Ah. Er…enjoy the trip. The weather's the mildes' 's been all year, but ye'll have ter bundle up at nigh'." He cleared his throat. "I've a cart ter load. Pleasure seein' yeh Tonks, Lupin, nice meetin' yeh, miss."

I watched him walk away. "He could've least told me my taste in men has vastly improved."

Cami patted my arm. "He was embarrassed over the mistake. I'm sure Hagrid thought it." She said teasingly, "The stars know the rest of your friends do."

I pretended to scowl. "Just for that, I'm going to walk extra slowly all the way to the cave."

"Then I'll leave you behind," she said, hoisting her pack and marching briskly.

Remus and I smiled at each other and followed.

Snuffles waited for us at a stile, his front paws resting on the topmost bar. He held a blue wildflower in his mouth. Cami reached over to give him a kiss and pat. "A Scottish Bluebell, how lovely," she said on a sigh.

Tail wagging, my cousin woofed at us in greeting and dropped to the ground. He waited for Cami to reach his side before trotting away.

"He does look shaggier," I whispered to Remus.

"Thinner, as well," he replied.

Inside the cave illuminated with one of Hagrid's massive lanterns, Sirius transformed. He spent several moments kissing Cami, then turned and shook Remus's hand. He engulfed me in a hug that lifted me off the floor. "Gods, it's good to see you!"

His sharp cheekbones made me long to feed him. "I wish I could say the same."

Sirius glanced down at his tattered grey robes. "Ragged, aren't they? I didn't want Harry to think I'd stolen the ones Cami gave me, and since I mostly wear fur these days, who cares about my clothes?"

I touched the ends of his long hair. "I care about the rest of you."

He winked. "Cami takes care of my grooming in both forms whenever she visits." Sirius picked up a rucksack and opened it eagerly. "Tell me you brought loads of food."

Remus smiled. "We brought loads of food…and digestive potions as well."

Sirius clutched his stomach dramatically. "Bless you, Moony, old man. I'm so hungry I could eat a hippogriff, no offence to my feathered friend." He found a green apple and took a bite. "How's Buckbeak, by the way?"

"Missing you."

Cami said, "Why don't you men set out the food while we put up the tent?"

Sirius had a chicken leg in one hand and an apple in the other. He grinned, using the leg to add a flourish to his bow. "As you wish, my love." He told Remus, "That flat rock over there makes a decent table."

"How do you always end up supervising?" Remus asked dryly, carrying the rucksack.

"I'm from the Ancient and Noble House of Black. I can't sully my hands with menial labour," Sirius said loftily. He held up the apple and barked with laughter. I laughed too. There was dirt beneath his nails.

Cami dropped the pack with the tent and rushed over, using her wand to clean Sirius's hands thoroughly. "You've been patrolling too much," she scolded.

"I must do what I can."

Cami lifted his hand to her cheek. "I know."

She walked back over to me and whispered, "See how it is? He turns those eyes on me and I melt."

I sighed. "I won't melt, but I don't know if he'll listen to me either."

After dinner, I meant to have a talk with Sirius, but the breeze was chilly, and I didn't want to leave Remus's side. He was toasty warm.

"Would you like to take a walk?" Cami asked, rising to her feet.

I snorted. "No, thank you. I walked plenty trudging up this hill."

"Want to stay and snog by the fire, eh?" Sirius teased.

"Yes, and the sooner you leave, the happier I'll be," I retorted.

Cami giggled as Sirius gave a mock salute and carried her off.

I turned to see Remus watching me intently. He said, "I want to make you happy."

I pressed my mouth to his. "You do," I said, gasping when he slid his tongue between my lips. My lids drifted closed as he kissed me in ways that made every nerve-ending tingle. I clutched Remus's shoulders and then pushed them until he was on his back. The night was growing cold, but I was on fire, wanting to sink into the heat of his skin and mouth. I shifted restlessly, trying to align my body with his. A throat cleared, causing me to freeze.

"Well, you certainly look…happy," Sirius said laughingly.

I almost hexed him. Instead, I rolled to my feet and asked, "Which room is ours?"

"The left," Cami said.

I stalked into the magically expanded tent, showering and getting ready for bed as quickly as possible. At the back of the tent, two bedrooms shared a common wall. I peeked into the right side and saw they shared something else: décor. Each had a large air mattress and sleeping bag meant for two.

When Remus eventually lay beside me, I shifted to face him.

"Sirius has always had impeccable timing," he whispered with a tiny smile.

Before I could do more than return his smile, I heard voices through the tent wall.

"I shouldn't laugh, but I can't help it. The contrast between the way he used to be, so proper…and this…gods, it's hilarious." Remus made a face, hearing Sirius's snickers.

Cami's voice had a smile in it. "I think they're sweet."

"I think they're frustrated."

"Sirius!"

He chortled. "It's true! I've never seen Friar Moony lust after a woman like this. If she wasn't my little cousin, I'd laugh my head off. As it is…"

Cami asked the question I was thinking. "What?"

Sirius's tone was rueful. "I still laugh, but it's a bit disturbing, seeing Tonks kiss my mate the way you kiss me."

"What's wrong with that? I…"

"When you're naked."

Riveted by the look on Remus's face, I barely heard the sounds of the other couple kissing.

Low laughter drifted across the space. "Just like that."

"Sirius," Cami said urgently. "You engaged the privacy wards, didn't you?"

After a second's hesitation, Sirius said, "Of course. You don't hear Tonks shouting for me to shut the hell up, do you?" He chuckled. "I'll do it again, just to…"

The instant the tent enveloped in silence, Remus brushed his lips across mine. I responded eagerly, opening my mouth and arms. He rolled me onto my back, pressing me into the mattress as we kissed hungrily. All I could think was don't stop, don't stop.

I realised I'd spoken aloud when Remus's body tensed. I opened my eyes to see him searching my face with a gaze that burned.

Softly, he asked, "Nymphadora?"

.

.

A/N:Special thanks go to Freja Lercke-Falkenborg for being a Danish girl who doesn't have rats in the attic :D , and kindly answered my question about the Danish equivalent of barmy. Thanks also to reviewers who made me smile with their reviews!...…...… 40/16 alix33 amattsonperdue cupcakeswirl die Loreleyx8 Dipper Elspeth Bates Embellished Fauzia FNP Freja Lercke-Falkenborg GraceRichie ishandtwofourths Kates Master katieweasley Kileaiya ladyofthebookworms Lizet M Machiavelli Jr MagicalMischiefMakersInc MamaLisa MollyCoddles mon-ami-runa NaginiFay Nessime petitieloupegarou Polaris101 RahNee Sivaroobini Lupin-Black Slipknot-3113 Sophia Loren and sunny9847