Molly Weasley was a person with many qualities. She was an extraordinary good cook, an experienced mother of seven children (well, nine because Harry did count for her and Arthur could be rather childish too) and furthermore, she was a gifted witch. In sum, Molly Weasley was a typical woman - an allround talent with some flaws, such as being snappy at times, but who cared? She didn't. Another thing Molly didn't really care about was other people's privacy - at least Arthur said so. Molly disagreed. Admittedly, yes, she tended to keep an eye on people around her.
Her current victims: Mister Remus John Lupin and Miss Nymphadora Vulpecula Tonks, or the Lupins as she once accidentally called them. In defence of Molly: those two were almost inseparable. If you saw one, you knew the other couldn't be far.
If Remus was reading a book in the library of Number 12, Grimmauldplace, Tonks would join him and read too. Everyone knew she wasn't the person to sit, be still and read. She did it anyways, presumably just to be with Remus. Whenever Tonks came home after a long day, she would nap on the sofa in the parlor. Remus usually sat down next to her, let her rest her head on his upper leg and ran his fingers through her hair as soon as she had fallen asleep. If Remus wasn't home when Tonks intended to nap, the young auror was not in a fun mood anymore. She could be really grumpy (her former mentor, Mad-Eye, probably endorsed this on her). But as soon as Remus entered the house, she was all happy again. Remus was too, of course. Tonks commonly welcomed him with a hug. She stormed right into the hug most of the time, almost threw him to the ground, when she hadn't seen him in two days or more.
Molly knew all this. She liked watching those two. She was not the only one tho. She knew Sirius had an eye on them too. He was the first one to know. Sirius knew before everyone else did. Now, the entire order knew, even the kids, Molly assumed - so basically everyone who was in the house these times - everyone but Remus and Tonks.
But time would bring the together, she trusted in that. Until it would, Molly would keep an eye on them.
The best time to watch their relationship take action was breakfast time. For the last days, it was even better. Christmas holidays had begun, the kids and Harry were at Grimmauldplace. Arthur was still at St Mungo's hospital, but fortunately he was feeling better and would be out soon.
Every morning, Molly was the first one to enter the kitchen. 6:40 am. She prepared breakfast until Remus came downstairs. 6:55 am. Ten minutes left. Remus spent those ten minutes to set the table. Molly and Remus had gelled in the last few days. She'd always liked him, of course. But it was quite helpful to rely on his helping hand with the breakfast preparations. After setting the table, Remus went over to the kitchenette and put on the kettle. Molly made coffee in this time. She sometimes glanced at her companion. Speaking of a man, Remus definitely had tact in what he was doing. Molly even admired the way his hands worked calmly, steadily and accurately. It was weird to say, but everything he did with his hands - was it putting on the kettle, flicking his wand to clean up, or stroking Tonks's hair when she napped - seemed to be so easy and somehow light for him. He wasn't like the other man. Maybe that's what Tonks liked so much about him. Remus was reserved, but kind; intelligent, but yet witty; calm, but passionate when it came to people he loved; shy, but courageous. Most of all, Remus was caring. He cared about everyone here. But most of all, he cared about Tonks.
The clock struck 7:00 am. Remus looked up and went over to the table. He sat down and checked the Daily Prophet for news. Whenever he saw something important, he frowned and informed Molly about it. Molly wasn't sure if this act of hiding behind the newspaper was real interest in what happened in the world or just distraction. Distraction from the getting nervous before Tonks came downstairs. Remus was certainly nervous around Tonks sometimes. It was cute tho, Molly thought. Like a young boy who had fallen in love for the very first time. Well, she was sure he was in love for the very first time indeed.
7:05 am. Showtime!
Tonks set foot into the kitchen, Remus looked up in an unobtrusive way - at least he thought so. Molly knew he had been waiting for this moment all morning.
Understandable tho. It was a daily surprise for everyone to see what Tonks looked like. Today she had chosen an appearance Molly presumed Remus loved. It was close to her actual appearance. Athletic body, pale skin, heart-shaped face and big, darkblue sparkling eyes (a violet shimmer in them today). Only her hair was different. It was shoulder-lenghted, slightly curled and bubblegum pink - her favorite colour.
Tonks smiled brightly. Her eyes pinned on Remus and she did a wonderful thing as Molly thought. She lifted her chin a bit, her smile growing broader, as if to say: Well?
Molly glanced at Remus - it was delicate to see his facial expression, really!
Remus's eyes widened in amazement. The corners of his mouth twitched into a lopsided smile that reached his hazel brown eyes. It was his way to show her that she was gorgeous and the only girl for him - he would never dare to tell her, of course.
But still. It was a thing of a second, but Remus and Tonks communicated in an incredibly lovely and intimate way.
"Wotcher, Remus."
Tonks always greeted Remus first.
"Good morning, Nymphadora."
Remus was the only one to call her that. She hated her name, but Molly assumed that she liked the tender way Remus pronounced it. That's why she let him do that.
Tonks smiled at him, her eyes sparkling. Then, finally, she looked at Molly and offered her a kind smile.
"Hi there, Molly."
Molly smiled at her, told her to sit down and have some breakfast. Tonks always took the seat next to Remus. When she sat down, they made eye contact and both smiled. Tonks usually asked Remus if there was anything interesting in the newspaper. Then a conversation started. If there was nothing worth mentioning, Remus asked her if she'd slept well. After that, they talked about god and the world - upcoming missions, tasks of the day, ... Sometimes, they didn't even notice other people entering the kitchen because they were so focused on their conversation.
Sirius walked in and sat down next to Remus. Remus only looked up for a moment, greeted him and turned to Tonks again, who only greeted her cousin with a smile. While they went on talking, Molly and Sirius often exchanged knowing glances.
Shortly after Sirius, the kids came downstairs. They were Molly's center of attention then, but she still kept half an eye on the couple-to-be. They chatted; mostly Tonks talked and Remus listened to her, responding with nods and genuine smiles. They always kept eye contact, unless Remus's eyes wandered a few inches down to her lips. He usually peered at them every time Tonks involved the word 'love' into what she said. Her lips curled a bit while saying this word. It was enchanting to see. Molly sometimes saw a longing expression when Remus glanced at Tonks's lips. No surprise, what man wouldn't want to kiss such a precious girl?
Of course, Tonks was more than just a pretty girl for Remus. He marveled at her for being kind, clumsy, funny, smart and, only Merlin knew, what else.
Today, Tonks did a thing she started doing about one week ago. It was winter and now even Tonks drank tea on regular basis. One day, she had just gripped Remus's mug and drank out of it. Remus was stunned, of course. The way he lost control over his facial expression for a moment had been absolutely hilarious.
It had become a habit of Tonks to share her cup with Remus since then. Well, actually Remus shared his cup with Tonks - somewhat involuntarily. She had her own cup, but she still preferred his. Remus didn't mind, naturally. A grin crept on his face everytime she took his mug.
Maybe he was so very happy about Tonks doing this because he was a werewolf? Remus was an outcast in the wizarding world. He saw himself as a monster. Tonks, however, didn't care. For Tonks it was just an act. For Remus it meant more. There was a beautiful girl he fancied that drank out of a werewolf's mug instead of her own. A ridiculously tiny gesture, but yet so meaningful.
7:28 am. Tonks bit her lower lip and looked apologetically at Remus. It was time for her to go to the ministry. She rose from her chair.
This led to the last sweet act of a casual winter morning at Grimmauldplace.
"I'm afraid, I have to go. Can't keep Kingsley waiting. See ya!"
A 'public' farewell. Remus would get his own later.
"I'll see you to the door, Tonks. We can't let you trip over the troll leg and wake up Mrs Black, can we?"
Remus got to his feet as well. He nodded in Tonks's direction. The young auror smiled and headed towards the door. Remus followed her.
Molly had once watched them from the kitchen door. She knew what would happen.
Remus sometimes put his hand on her lower back to steady her ... just in case. He accompanied her to the door. Once got there, she would whisper a goodbye and stand on her tiptoes to give him a cheek kiss. Remus would flush and whisper a hoarse goodbye in return. Then she would leave. Remus would stand there for a few seconds, just staring. Then he would return to the kitchen unobtrusively, but with the ghost of a slight smile still on his lips.
Molly grinned to herself, already looking forward to the next 7:05 morning business.