Cami cried all the way back to the station, quiet tears that made me feel awful, because there was nothing I could do or say to make her feel better. She had to leave, and Sirius had to stay.

Once we boarded the Express, I told Cami, "Why don't you try and take a nap?"

Her smile was watery. "There's nothing like a crying jag to make you sleepy."

I watched her curl up on the opposite bench and then turned to look at Remus. He smiled to see me stifle a yawn. "You look like you could use some sleep too."

"Mind if I use you as a pillow?" I said as I snuggled against his side, closing my eyes.

"Be my guest," he said, chuckling.

I heard the whisper-soft sound of pages turning and asked sleepily, "What'cha readin'?"

"A mouldy old historian named Titus Livius."

I snickered. "Read to me."

"Need help going to sleep? Very well."

The husky timbre of Remus's voice lulled me into a state between awake and asleep, where imagination and inclination formed a daydream.

It was the Ides of May. Once, she had been one of the women throwing Argei from the Sublician bridge into the Tiber. The doll-like figures, resembling bound men, substituted for living sacrifices and entreated the gods for rain. Now she merely watched along with the crowd.

"Do you miss it?" a beloved voice whispered in her ear.

She laughed softly. "I miss having the right-of-way in traffic, and front row seats at the games and theatres, but I don't miss the lonely nights…or being put on trial for sexual offence."

"What were the charges?" The man chuckled. "You spoke more wittily and freely than was seemly?"

"Don't forget I dressed too elegantly," she said with a wry smile, turning to her partner. They had met during one of the many dinner parties she attended in the course of her duties. "Fortunately for me, the most damning evidence was never brought to light."

"You never violated your oath."

"In my heart I did," she said. "Every time I saw you in public, or kissed you in private…and if slaves could give testimony, I would have been buried alive instead remanded and acquitted."

Her husband took her hand, a small gesture that meant everything to a woman who had spent so many years untouched. He said, "I'll leave that out of my history of Rome, if you don't mind."

"All that matters to me is our personal, romantic history," she said, rising on tiptoe to kiss him.

Nearby, two women drew in shocked breaths.

"I recognise her, she used to be a Vestal Virgin!" one told the other.

"Not any more," the second woman said laughingly.

Smiling into her love's eyes, the former priestess thought happily, Not any more!

The daydream inspired by history made me sigh and drift into a true slumber. I started to awake when I felt Remus's fingers stroke my face. Still groggy, I rubbed my cheek against the firm pillow and clasped it tighter.

"Nymphadora."

I frowned. I didn't like Remus's warning tone.

"Nymphadora."

I cracked open my eyes and stared. I was looking at a belt buckle! During my nap, I'd scooted down to use Remus's thigh as a pillow! My hand was…oh Merlin… I jerked away and toppled off the bench.

"Tonks?" Cami asked. Her voice was thick with sleep, "Why are you on the floor?"

"I fell."

"Oh." Her eyes closed again.

Remus stood. "I'll return when the Trolley Witch comes round. I need to stretch my legs."

I kept my eyes averted. "OK."

The moment the compartment door closed behind him, Cami sat up and demanded, "All right, what's been going on in here?"

I levered myself back onto the bench. "Nothing. I fell asleep, and got a little too comfortable, is all."

Cami started to smile. "Too comfortable? What's that mean?"

"Don't ask."

She laughed.

I smiled reluctantly and picked up Remus's discarded book. Ab Urbe Condita. I opened it and gasped. He'd translated from Latin to English while he read it to me. That was so sweet!

Cami asked with a knowing smirk, "Do you need to stretch your legs too?"

"Yeah," I said, opening the compartment door.

I found Remus standing at the back of the carriage, watching the countryside roll by.

The way he looked at me made my insides fluttery. I said the first thing that came to mind, "What's Ab Urbe Condita mean?"

His lips curved. "The literal translation is 'from the city, having been founded', but the works are referred to as the History of Rome."

"All that history is crammed into one book?"

Remus chuckled. "No, that text is excerpts only."

"Wish somebody could do that for History of Magic."

He gave a short bark of laughter. My answering grin faded when Remus asked, "Is that what you came out here to talk about?"

I shook my head. "No…I…I mean, yes, it was sweet of you to translate the history for me, and…" He was giving me a Professor Lupin look. It made me feel squirmy in several ways. I blurted, "I didn't mean to…you know."

The gleam in Remus's eyes was anything but innocent while he asked, "What?"

My shoulders rose and fell awkwardly. "You know…grope."

Remus's lips quirked upward. "You didn't."

"I didn't?"

"No. It was close, but no grope."

I blushed in reaction to his slow smile. I said, "Oh, well, that's good."

"Is it?"

My face heated even more. I decided to dish out what I was taking, stepping close to brush against Remus as I said, "Yes, because I like to know exactly what I'm doing...and enjoy it."

I would've snogged his lips off, right there, if the Trolley Witch hadn't rattled into the corridor. I glared in response to the narrow-eyed look she threw our way.

"Shall we return to our compartment, dear?" asked Remus.

His ultra-proper tone brought a smile to my face. "Yeah, baby," I cooed, before sashaying off.

Cami glanced up when we entered. "Trolley Witch coming?"

I said, "Uh huh, are you ready for tea?"

"I suppose," she said, pausing before adding, "If Sirius hadn't accepted the stasis sack of food, though, I wouldn't be able to eat a bite." Her lips trembled. "You can't imagine what a relief it is to know he won't be hungry."

I glanced at Remus. If he lost his job and wouldn't let me cook for him. . . . My stomach twisted. I could imagine, and I hoped I never had to experience the pain for real.

.

The Blue Moon was dark when I returned home. I walked up the stairs, wishing Remus was behind me while admitting it was better he wasn't. I was in a mixed-up mood. I didn't trust myself not to jump him and then say, "I can't."

I approached Uncle Morty's door, deliberating whether to knock. It wasn't late, but if he and Lisa were spending quality time, as it were, I didn't want to interrupt.

The door opened abruptly. "About time you came back!" Morty wrapped his fingers around my wrist and tugged me into his flat. "Owls have been delivering messages for you all weekend!"

He was barefoot, wearing a black robe. I called toward the bedroom, "Hi, Lisa!"

Morty ran a hand over his salt-and-pepper hair. "What makes you think—"

"Hi, Tonks! I'll be right out."

"No! You stay right where you are!" Morty ordered. "She's tired and just dropped in to pick up her post before she goes home!" He steered me over to a side table and handed me a packet and a couple envelopes on top of a folder. I was then hustled toward the front door. "Did you have a good holiday? Yeah? Good, tell me about it tomorrow."

I lingered in the doorway. "Did you redecorate? Didn't there used to be only black furniture?"

"I might've. Goodnight."

I yelled, "Bye, Lisa!"

"Goodbye!" she yelled back.

I gave Morty a peck on the cheek. "So glad to be missed. Bye."

He said, "I missed you. I had a client offering triple pay, and you weren't here to take the case."

I rolled my eyes. "Touching, but why didn't you have Lisa do it?"

Morty snorted. "Think I didn't try? It was you or nobody, Mr. Lowman said."

"Lowman?" I repeated hollowly.

He gently pushed me out into the corridor. "Yeah, William Lowman, his information is in the folder," Morty said, winking. He said goodnight once again, this time from behind the closed door.

By rote, I released the wards on my flat and dumped my gear on the rug. I walked to the sofa and sat down, staring at the post in my lap. I put the envelopes and packet aside, opening the folder with a feeling of dread.

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

I scanned Morty's initial interview with the prospective client. Mr. Lowman had visited the office Friday afternoon, insisting he had an enquiry of a personal nature that he could trust no one but Agent Tonks to handle. He'd heard of me through a mutual acquaintance in the Auror Offices.

I threw the folder down. How in the hell had Lowman tracked me to the Blue Moon, and what did the sick bastard want?

After a trip to the kitchen for coffee and chocolate, I returned to the sofa and the post. The first letter was from Julia, dated Saturday. Her stationary was posh yet feminine. I traced an embossed flower with a fingertip and began to read.

I know you're off camping with Remus, but I thought you should know as soon as possible that I took my camera back to the shop, and the goblins swear nothing's wrong with it. The photographs should have developed. That they didn't can only mean one thing. Sabotage.

First Lowman, now sabotage; I was tempted not to open the next letter. I could tell it was from Evan, just from the handwriting on fine parchment. Resignedly, I broke the wax seal. He'd written the time and date in the top right corner. This owl was sent only a few hours ago.

Come to my office at noon tomorrow, and I'll share the plan I've devised to free Thomas from his unwanted engagement. Yes, there's something in it for me. I advise you come alone. Fenton and Lupin, with their high moral standards, might not approve.

Was Evan implying I lacked high moral standards? I might bend the rules and stretch a few scruples when forced to choose between ethics and those I loved, but that didn't mean… My lips turned down. Who was I kidding? I tried to stick to my principles, but my black streak kept leading me off the straight and narrow.

I threw the letter into the fireplace and hurled a fireball at it. The paper incinerated with a satisfying whoosh.

In the packet were two letters. The first was from my mother, dated early that morning.

Rita just dropped by with a message she wanted you to receive as soon as possible. She was quite agitated, and made several disparaging remarks about technophobes. To calm her, I volunteered to deliver her letter today, assuring her you would call tomorrow morning. Please do so. I wish to avoid another such visit as, unlike your father, I did not find it amusing.

I laughed shortly. I'd thought bad news came in threes, but this made four. I tore open Rita's note, wondering what new disaster was in store. I headed to the kitchen for more emergency chocolate when I found out.

I need that bloke you wanted to set me up with to escort me to a police banquet tomorrow night. I wasn't going to go until Paul told his mates I wouldn't show because I'm still hung up on him. Bastard. Now I haveto go. So tell Remus and what's-his-name to wear a suit and I'll get the tickets. Caterers usually grill steak decently, so I'll order that for all of us. Get to a phone and call me before work tomorrow, please.

I put away the chocolate because it wasn't upping my serotonin levels enough, and the bitter taste in my mouth ruined the taste. I walked back into the lounge and prepared to conjure a communication fire.

"Wotcher, Tonks!" Jerry said, his smiling face appearing green in the magical flames.

I snapped, "Don't say that."

"What?"

"Wotcher. That's me, not you."

"O-kay… Hello, Tonks," he said, in the placating tone people take with the mentally unstable. "How are you? How was camping?"

"Don't ask, good-bad-good, and I've got two questions for you."

His eyebrows rose. "All right."

I bit the inside of my cheek to stop from snapping at him again. I said, "Are you free to go to a banquet with Rita, me and Remus tomorrow night?"

"Uh…yes," he said, asking, "What should I wear?"

"A suit." When he nodded, I took a deep breath and said, "Lowman came by the Blue Moon looking for me. How did he track me down, Jerry?"

Freckles stood out against the pale face staring at me. "I…I have no idea, honest, unless—"

"Unless what?"

"Unless Crantz or Stern told him."

I rocked back on my heels. "No. They're gobshites, but they're Aurors. They wouldn't do that. If word got out . . . ."

"You did hex them."

I shook my head. "I still don't believe it."

"We have to ask," Jerry said.

"We?"

He nodded. "Tomorrow, first thing?"

"Fine." A thought struck. I said, "Think your mum will bake muffins tomorrow?"

Jerry grinned. "She will if I ask."

.

I was still smiling when I re-lit the fire and called, "Remus." When he appeared, I noted that his hair looked good forest green. "Hi. Rita wants us to attend a banquet tomorrow night…us and Jerry…can you go?"

"Yes, of course," he said.

"You'll have to wear a suit."

"I have one that's not too noticeably shabby."

"That's nice," I said absently, trying to decide what to tell him about Lowman…and Evan.

Remus's brow creased. "Is something wrong?"

"No," I said, "I'm just tired. I should go to bed."

"Goodnight, love."

"Goodnight," I said, breaking the connection. In a daze, I went to take a shower. I stood beneath the spray, my mind reeling from what I'd done. I'd lied to Remus. Was I trying to protect him…or myself?

I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror as I started to dry off. I looked like I felt: miserable. I dragged on the first clothes I pulled out of a drawer and ran out of the room.

I stubbed my bare toe on an uneven tile and fell onto the floor of Remus's lounge. He was instantly at my side, lifting me into his arms. "Nymphadora!"

"Something's wrong," I said.

"I know." He carried me over to a reading chair where he sat with me curled on his lap. Remus said quietly, "Tell me."

I told him about Lowman tracking me down, and then I told him the specifics I'd left out before. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you what he said and did to me," I whispered. "I'm so sorry." I shook with the effort not to burst into tears.

"It's all right, I understand," he said, tightening his arms around me. "In hospital, I said I didn't remember the attack, but I did."

"You were trying to protect your mother?"

"Yes." Remus's mouth tilted at the corners. "Later, she said she knew I was lying, and decided to wait until I was ready to tell her."

"When were you ready?"

"The first night I slept alone and woke screaming from a nightmare."

I asked, "Were you waiting for me to be ready?"

An odd, shrill noise sounded. Remus pressed a button on his watch. The noise stopped. He explained almost sheepishly, "My watch is Muggle. That was the timer. If you hadn't come to me, I would've gone to you."

I'd meant to tell him about Evan's note, but it seemed more important to kiss Remus and show how much I appreciated and loved him. Words were not enough. My fingers sifted through his hair, holding his head at just the right angle for our lips to align. Soft kisses weren't enough either. I turned to straddle his lap. My knees pressed against his hips, the leather of his belt digging into my skin.

Remus trailed his lips down my throat, murmuring, "Biting each other's mouths."

Was he quoting again? Gods it was sexy. I took his face in my hands. "That's what I want," I said, kissing him in a way that was raw and sensual. Remus' hands slid down my back. I moaned when his fingers slid beneath my shorts to cup bare flesh.

He froze and then pulled his hands and lips away. "I thought you were wearing knickers," he said.

I climbed off his lap and glanced down at my purple boxers. "These are knickers." I tried to read his face. It was tense and shuttered. I got the weird urge to cross my arms over my chest. I put my hands on my hips instead, flaunting that I was wearing a white tank and no bra. Remus's silence made me feel defensive. I asked, "What's the matter? Are you upset because you grabbed my ass? I didn't mind!"

Remus stood and told me firmly, "I mind. That kind of touching leads somewhere you're not ready to go." He saw me open my mouth to protest and said, "I expect you to respect my decision."

I could tell he was determined to have his way. Maybe it was a reaction to all the emotion of the day, but it stung my pride…and my temper. "Fine," I said, "but there's one more thing I didn't tell you about. Evan sent a message. He wants to meet me at his office to discuss Tom." I took a step forward and said, "I'm going, and I expect you to respect my decision."

.

.

A/N: Thanks to everyone who read Waiting for Spring! Besides having fun with Remus quoting Lucretius again, I had fun with the title of this week's chap. I came across a book that made me smile, called Caterpillar Spring, Butterfly Summer. Tonks is definitely behaving like a hungry little caterpillar right now- a witchy one too! lol. The daydream of the Vestal Virgin accused and acquitted was based on the case of Postumia. (Her 'Vestal' name, I sincerely hope.) I don't know if she did her time and married a secret lover, because back then, like today, reporters were more interested in scandal :D. The readers whose reviews I was more than interested to read last week were...… 40/16 alix33 amattsonperdue Bardlover cupcakeswirl die Loreley Dolphindreamer eleen Embellished Fauzia FemmeDraconis FNP Freja Lercke-Falkenborg GraceRichie hellothereuR ishandtwofourths Jessica Lupin katieweasley Kileaiya ladyofthebookworms LaneTechFreshie Lizet M Machiavelli Jr Miss Wolvan Gal MollyCoddles Moonlight Nessime RahNee siriuslycoco Sivaroobini Lupin-Black Slipknot-3113 Sophia Loren and sunny9847