Hi all :) Thought I'd post this to help people deal with the pre-pottermore excitement ;) A massive thank you to everyone who's reviewed and favourited, you are all very, very beautiful. This is part one of Remus' and Tonk's escapade into the dating world, I hope you enjoy :D xxx

Clandestine

Remus Lupin had once been hit with the Cruciatus curse. Just once. During the last war.

It was a rare and evil thing to have happened to a person, even then. And the distant memory was still enough to scare the life out of him. He had never, ever felt nor imagined pain like that and he prayed with every inch of his mind, body and soul, that he never would again.

It was very strange then, however, that for the briefest of moments, as he stood directly in front of a clearly furious Alastor Moody – Lupin thought he might just have preferred it.

Lupin's insides squirmed from the persistent glare of that magical eye and the excruciatingly awkward silence that accompanied it.

'Remus, you're a friend'

'Yes' He replied politely, albeit incredibly confused – what was this about? Why did he look so… angry?

'So you'll answer me honestly' He growled, shuffling back and leaning on his staff.

Lupin looked carefully at Mad-Eye, at the way he was standing and how he was glaring at him, and if he wasn't very much mistaken, Lupin could have sworn he spotted a couple of Auror interrogating techniques. '…Of course' He said sincerely.

'How long-' He scraped his wooden leg a little on the floor as he drew himself up to his full, impressive height. '-have you been sleeping with Nymphadora?'

Whatever he had expected, it hadn't been that. There was a very, very long pause. Lupin stared at him stupidly for a few moments before spluttering over his words and cursing himself for not acting calmer.

'What? What? – No. I mean we're not. What – What are you talking about?'

'Don't lie, Remus, I saw you'

Another silence. They could hear hear the muffled voices and laughter from the hallway. Moody was solemnly refusing to break his gaze, right into Remus' eyes.

Lupin's face blushed redder than the hair of any Weasley. 'You… saw…' He began, confused.

'I saw you kissing her, Idiot.'

There was no point in trying to hide it. The problem was that they weren't even going out, not really. Not yet. He looked at Moody as his insides squirmed uncomfortably. He was beginning to feel extremely guilty. He opened his mouth and shut it again without making a noise. Then he opened it once more and replied tensely 'And you don't approve?'

'Now I can't control what you do, or who you see…' His face when he paused at that moment suggested that he wished otherwise. 'But I can say, that if I get the impression that you – the slightest impression that you have upset, or hurt her in –'

'Alastor, I'm not going to-'

'Shut up. Let me finish.'

He shut his mouth quickly.

'Hurt her in any way… and I'll be using your kneecaps as paperweights.' Moody saw the growing look of anxiety in Remus' face and guessed what he was going to say before he finished saying it.

'Are you-'

'I'm not going to tell anyone else. I'm not sure how thrilled Sirius will be.' He added as Lupin's heart plummeted.

'You're very protective over Tonks' he was finding Mad-Eye the tiniest bit amusing, playing the role of some kind of overbearing Dad. 'You could be her father' He grinned.

Mad-Eye's feature's remained impassive. 'So could you.'

That stung but Lupin ignored the jibe at their age difference. It was something he had bullied himself about relentlessly. It was also something he was choosing to ignore. For the first time, Lupin's air became a little bit hostile. 'She can take care of herself you know, Moody.' The use of his second name made both his eye's fly to Lupin's 'She's a bloody good Auror'

'You'd be surprised'

Remus frowned, surprised about what? Moody shoved his wand back into his robe and grabbed his hipflask in replacement. 'But she is a bloody good Auror… a hell of a good Auror.' He corrected himself as he stepped back and pushed the door open. Remus waited for Mad-Eye to move out of the way, he didn't. Eventually Lupin shuffled uncomfortably around him and into the hall. He didn't need a magical eye to tell him that Moody was watching him the entire time.

He was standing outside his front door less than a minute later. Praying he was never put into a situation like that again, he let himself in.

He'd take the Cruciatus curse any day.

That next evening couldn't have come fast enough for Tonks. It was ten minutes until her date with Lupin and she was standing in front of her full length mirror, grinning from ear to ear.

'I-look-bloody-amazing'

She wasn't wrong. She turned to her left, then to her right. She was wearing a dress of a deep, dark, inky blue and scattered all over it were tiny clear, glass breads which sparkled like stars against a night sky. She turned around completely and looked at her reflection over her shoulder. Her shadowy pink curls bounced around her shoulders and her eyes sparkled more than her dress. She picked up her cloak from her bed and holding it with one hand, looked around for something to calm her excited mind. Within a few moments, she was lying back on her pillow, reading a very battered copy of 'Quidditch though the Ages' her eyes, occasionally flickering up to look at the pretty girl in the mirror against the wall.

Remus stood at his kitchen counter, drumming his fingers on the side and trying to make sense of the thoughts that were running around in his mind. Why was he so nervous? His heart was beating fast. He felt as scared as he did on Order missions, he couldn't contain it. He thought of her; her hair, her eyes, her laugh. He was excited, yes, but he was bloody terrified. What was he supposed to do on a date? He began to cringe at imaginary and horrifically embarrassing situations when he felt something brush against his leg.

A deafening purr began to rumble near his feet. A reddish, golden-brown cat, with enormous green eyes, stared affectionately up at him. He smiled warmly at her. 'Hello, Meg' He picked her up and let her cling onto his shoulder as he made a cup of tea. 'You fancy giving me any tips on how to talk to girls?' The purring got louder. 'Helpful' Remus said, tickling her behind her ear. He was glad Sirius wasn't there to witness him.

Meg had been a gift from Sirius years and years ago. He had bought her home in a cardboard box, spellotaped shut with some last minute air holes stabbed into the top with a wand. Lupin had been unemployed, very poor, very bitter, and very dunk at the time. He remembered Sirius' face as he plonked the box down on his kitchen table and said: 'Some responsibility, Remus. Don't let her down' Remus had opened the box to find the smallest, most scared looking bundle of fluff he'd ever seen and he instantly fell in love with her. But ever since that moment, Remus had been subjected to endless spinster jokes from Sirius and James, something he always thought incredibly unfair as he hadn't asked for the thing. Meg had saved him though, no doubt about it. He couldn't drink much after that, not with a kitten wandering around and he also had to venture outside to buy her food and potions. She gave him something to do, a purpose. And it saved him. Just as Sirius knew it would.

He calmed his nerves with a cup of tea and Meg curled up on his lap. He stroked her gently. Then, spotting the time, he pushed her off him and she landed on the floor with an annoyed meow before skulking off. He made his way towards the door, heart beating slowly faster and faster before he disapparated.

He knocked on Tonk's flat door and waited. He heard her slightly hurried footsteps before it swung open. There stood Tonks, smiling shyly at him.

Wow.

Remus had to make a conscious effort to keep his mouth closed as his jaw threatened to drop completely. She looked beautiful. Her eyes, her hair, her dress, everything was perfect. He suddenly found himself feeling very much like a teenager again, except it was him, not Sirius, who had the gorgeous date. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her.

Suddenly aware that he hadn't talked in what seemed like an age, Lupin looked her in the eye and said, 'you look beautiful, Dora.' Both her face and hair went bright red for fleeting second.

'Thank you. You don't look too bad yourself'

She beckoned him in as he laughed. He had a look around as she found her cloak and keys. It was odd to think of the last time he was there, he smiled ever so slightly at the memory. They chatted for a few minutes before leaving. Tonk's used her still bandaged arm to open the door for Lupin. She winked at him, he winked back and they both laughed loudly as they left, slamming the door shut behind them.

After the bang of the door, there was quiet. The laughter and the chatter and the movement had gone from Tonk's flat, leaving it still and silent. But by no means empty.

'Where are you taking me then?' Tonks asked as they stepped out into the heaving streets of magical London.

Lupin didn't answer but grinned at her as they began to battle through the crowd of the markets. The slowly setting sun cast an orange glow on the many heads of the people around them. Tonks was finding it difficult to stay with Remus. It was then that she felt him slide his hand into hers, he interlocked their fingers and kept a warm, firm grip on her as they moved. The pink in her hair grew brighter than the pink in the sky.

Soon the streets had cleared, the sky had darkened, and they were making their way, side by side, down a brightly lit alley, hands still clasped together.

'Where are you taking me?' Tonks repeated after a little light conversation.

'A Bar' He answered simply, a small smile on his face 'I made sure it wasn't one of the two that you're banned from…'

Tonks froze. She would kill Sirius. She would kill him. Kill him. Kill…

'…Do you want to tell me why you're banned from two-'

'A story for another time' Tonks cut in smoothly, a bashful smile playing with the corners of her lips. She would Kill him!

Lupin chuckled. 'I'll look forward to it'

Sirius Black was a dead man.

Lupin stopped outside an old fashioned looking pub. Warm, golden light shone through the windows and filtered out through the cracks in the wooden walls. She could hear laughter, singing, shouting, and the chinking and tinkling of rapidly emptying goblets. Music seeped through the wall and shook the floor ever so slightly. Through the open door flew not only light, but the smell of rustic, home cooked food, as well as ale, butterbeer and firewhiskey. Inside Tonks could hear a violin being played very quickly and very well. She heard guitars, drums and an accordion. She could also hear banging and clapping to the merry beat, as well as the scraping of chairs, littered with plenty of cheers and laughter.

Tonks felt something pulling at her heart as she took in everything about the building in front of her. It was one of the Clandestines.

The Clandestine Pubs started during the last war. When Voldemort was at large and the streets at night were dark and quiet, families were hidden, terrified in their houses and the dark mark rose high in the sky. During this time, behind the boarded windows of inconspicuous looking buildings, all over Britain, there was light.

A group of either very brave or very stupid people had joined together in making secret pubs all over London and filled them with music and dancing and laughter and hope when the world needed it the most. Tonks had always longed to go in one, but had never, ever been allowed. If you were found in one of the Clandestines, you were killed there and then, drink still in your hand. Tonks looked at the building now. The boards had been taken off the windows, the door was wide open, a huge gold paint sign swung in the breeze as the music filled the whole street with sound.

Lupin interrupted her thoughts. 'Come on then' He smiled, his eyes sparkling. 'Let's go dancing.' They walked together into the light and the warmth.

Slasior Zain's heart was beating so quickly in his chest, he was convinced that the other Death Eaters sat around the long black table would be able to hear it. He kept his face as stony as possible. There was a slow, chilling and utterly terrifying laugh. Lord Voldemort leant ever so slightly back, his eyes ablaze with evil.

'Dumbledore's not going to know what hit him. Guess he's losing his touch'

Zain's stomach churned as he heard a few scattered, idiotic laughs.

'Mark the day.' His chilling voice ordered. 'The Order of the Phoenix falls. Tonight.'

Zain used all his strength to control his body. He wanted to be sick, he wanted to sweat, he wanted to shout, to get up and run. But he didn't, he had to act like a Death Eater. He had to convince the darkest wizards in the world that he was working for them. He didn't move at all. He didn't like anyone in the Order of the Phoenix, but he didn't want them dead.

Voldemort had been keeping that certain plan up his sleeve until tonight, a siege on the Order of The Phoenix. He was going to gather up his scummiest Death Eaters and have the Order Members murdered in one night. Being caught off guard and on their own, they wouldn't have a chance and Voldemort knew almost every member of the Order. Zain's brain began to whir furiously.

Molly and Arthur Weasley were fine; they were staying at Grimmauld place for a little longer. Black… he was safe. Fletcher was scrounging a meal off Molly Weasley tonight, he seemed to remember. Kingsley would be in the Ministry. Dumbledore… they wouldn't bloody dare. He tried to think but his brain was becoming too busy, too panicked.

Zain dared a glance at Snape, who was staring blankly directly in front of him, and wondered what was going on behind his glare and if he actually cared at all.

'Completely unsuspecting and completely outnumbered … Such a sad end, for such a sad attempt at resisting me.' He stood up, contented and walked eerily around the room. 'Tell me Bella, when it is done'

'Of course, My Lord'

For an absolute fraction of a second Snape's eyes met his. Avery, Dolohov, Greyback and McNair began to leave. They needed to warn the Order and they were running out of time. Fast.

Whoever wasn't tucked away, safe at number twelve, was now in a huge amount of danger.

'Bloody hell! Remus!' The man from behind the bar called and waved enthusiastically as they entered. Lupin waved back.

'Do you come here a lot by any chance?' Tonks asked playfully, Lupin smiled back at her.

'I used to'

They shuffled around the dancing in the middle of the room to the bar. Tonks ordered for them as Remus caught up with the bartender, a skinny man whose name was Stephen. Tonks got the impression that they were once very good friends. As the man named Stephan passed her the drinks he said, loud enough that only she could hear, 'Look after him for me, won't you?'

She nodded, confused, before she was whisked away by Remus to a small round, roughly built wooden table. They sat down.

This was it. Their 'date' had officially begun. He grinned at her as he picked up his glass and held it up. Tonks clinked hers against it and they both drank deeply. He then stood up abruptly, grabbed her hand, and pulled her up too.

'What are you… oh no – no!'

He laughed at her. 'Let's go!'

He dragged her backwards into the midst of the dancing and placed both his hands firmly on her waist. He was different, more relaxed, happier, funnier and confident and she loved it. The music started again and Tonks laughed hysterically as he spun her round and they danced quickly to the music, around the room.

Soon the room was full of movement and cheering. The light from the flaming torches around the room lit up his laugh as he spun her round. He was leading, moving her quickly to the beat and her steps seemed to melt into his. Remus watched her. He watched the dimple on her left cheek when she laughed, he watched her hair flush from colour to colour, he watched her dress sparking brilliantly as it flew around and he watched her eyes, studying his.

The violin was playing impossibly fast as happy people were dancing all around and in-between them. Occasionally they were split up and found themselves dancing with somebody else. She caught his eye as he was suddenly skipping round the room with a very old (and very drunk) man with a flyaway beard and she laughed hysterically a sudden affection swelling inside her chest. He reached out and grabbed her hand and pulled her to him, lifted her into the air for a moment and then brought her down, his arms tightly around her waist, her body pressed against his. She grinned at him as he spun her round and then the music stopped. Applause and cheers erupted from the people around them and yelling had already begun for another song.

They stayed perfectly still. Frozen, in the heart of the busy room. Her face was now level with his. She was breathless as she stared at him, gradually her smile faded as her heart began to accelerate. He looked into her eyes, her lips, her eyes. One of the dancing people around them bumped into them, but they didn't notice. Suddenly they were incredibly close, she could feel his warm breath on her face, and he could count the flecks in her eyes. Colours and sounds and movement flashed and danced around them.

He moved forwards and very slowly brushed his lips against hers. The corners of her mouth jerked up into a smile as she kissed them once. His thumb brushed against her back sending a shiver up her spine, and she kissed him again. Warmth spread from the tips of her toes which were skimming the floor right up to the ends of her golden hair. She felt her mouth prickle with electricity as he kissed her properly; she sunk into him, the pounding of her heart ringing loud in her ears. He was holding her as if she was the most precious thing on earth.

Something caught her eye and she gasped. They suddenly broke apart. She stumbled a little and he grabbed her elbow and steadied her.

'Are you okay?' He asked, his brow furrowed

Her eyes had widened in surprise. There was a silver, ethereal looking cheetah behind Lupin, skulking towards them. It was a patronus. Remus spun around, saw it and opened his mouth in surprise. He turned back urgently.

'The Order. We can't let it speak, not in here.'

Tonks and Lupin fought their way to the door and flew out into the now empty alleyway, the cold night air harsh on their flushed faces. The Cheetah spoke, Zain's voice erupting from its mouth but in an urgent whisper.

'Tonks, we didn't know. Don't go to Grimmauld place. Don't Apparate. And don't fight. Hide. Just hide. It's your best hope, do it now. You haven't much time. '

The messaged ended abruptly. The alleyway became even quieter as well as suddenly terrifying.

Remus grabbed her arm and she clung onto him as they both stumbled backwards, searching desperately for somewhere, anywhere to hide.

Sorry for the little cliffy there, hopefully I won't be too slow getting the next chapter up ;) I just want to say (as usual) Big thank you's and hugs for my glorious Beta ThisLoveHasNoCeiling, without whom this chapter would be illegible. Please let me know what you think, reviews always make me smile :)

xxx