AN: It took me a little longer than I would have hoped to think out how this chapter would happen. So tell me how you think I went with this and enjoy.

Chapter 12:

A Small Charm and a Bag of Peas

"Remus, come on, she doesn't care about any of your hang ups."

"Look if this the way this conversation is going, then I'm not having it." Remus shot.

"So leave all pissed off again. It's not going to change the fact that Tonks likes-"

"Why do you have to be so annoying?"

Remus and Sirius were sitting in the master bedroom of Number 12, feeding Buckbeak left over's from last nights dinner.

"It's like this, Moony, I have no life. You have a chance at having a life and I'm trying to live mine through you, but you just don't want to live."

"I don't want to stuff up Tonks life just so that I can have one."

Sirius let a grunt of frustration, "This conversation just goes round in circles."

"You're the one that keeps on wanting to have it."

"True. I keep hoping that you'll change your view. The fact is that you can't avoid her forever. There is a meeting soon."

"I know. I was hoping I would have figured it all out by then." Remus fiddled with one of Buckbeak's loose feathers as he talked, brushing it against his fingertips.

"Yeah like that's going to happen."

"Well, I've still got some time."

Sirius look at his friend, and for a moment he changed into serious Sirius, "Hey, Moony, just promise me that you'll talk to her. Keeping up the silent avoiding, that will really hurt her. Girls are better if you just tell then no, rather than nothing."

Remus stopped playing with the feather for a while, "You do realise that you gave me advice on how to let her down?"

"Yeah and it was for her benefit, not yours."

Tonks sat at her desk, in her cubical. The windows let in bright streams of sunlight, yet she was sure that it was actually raining outside. At least that is the way she felt. She had not see or heard from Remus since they kissed a few nights ago. Even worse was the feeling that he was avoiding her. He hadn't been there the times that she had dropped by at number 12 for dinner, her owl to his house had gone unanswered, and then last night they had both been there to congratulations to Harry for getting off at his hearing, and Remus had sat at the other end of the table ignoring her all night. She didn't understand; he had been the one to kiss her.

"Tonks," Tonks turned around to see one of the senior Aurors looking at her, a scroll in hand, "It seems your desk work is getting a bit slim, so I've been asked to let you in on our case. We believe that we are tracking down a person or small group, manufacturing the illicit potion "Blue Ring". You'll be working mainly from this office on the paperwork involved. Read up and report to me when you're done."

He passed Tonks the thick scroll in his hand.

"Yes sir." Tonks said.

Tonks shook her head. Blue Ring potion was a favourite torture potion of the Death Eaters in the last war. Yet more evidence that the Dark Lord was in fact back and the Ministry was still too scared to admit it. It made Tonks so mad that people who were smart enough to rise to the positions that they held, couldn't see the stupidity in denying the Dark Lords return.

Tonks took a deep breath and kept her mouth shut. Last time she had question her superiors on this very point, she had been punished with nearly two months deskwork. She wasn't going to try her luck when she only just got a case to work on. Pushing her dark thoughts of Remus' silence out of her mind, she unrolled the scroll and concentrated on her work.

"…certain that the Dark Lord will have something planned for the trip to Hogwarts. It most likely it will be at Kings Cross station or on the way. The Dark Lord has been asking me many questions about the security on platform 9 ¾. It's unlike that he would try anything himself anywhere there will be wizards, but it would be my recommendation to have our own security on the train, under cover of course. In addition, it would be advisable to have as much security on the walk to Kings Cross, as we can.

"That is all for my report. I will add, that I know for sure that there are more and more poisons and illicit potions being passed out into circulation, so be careful what you touch, drink, eat, etcetera." Snape sat down at his place to the right of Dumbledore.

Dumbledore was the next person to rise from his chair. "Thank you Severus. Arthur will be taking names for those able to help with security on the trip to Kings Cross and the train ride to Hogsmeade.

"On a lighter note, many of you have already heard that Harry had all charges against him dropped at his hearing the other day. There were a few initial obstacles that the Ministry tried, but as unfair as it was, we were able get this small win.

"With nothing else, meeting over."

Tonks stood up straight away, making a beeline for Snape. After reading up on her new case, she had concluded that the Death Eaters were behind the Blue Ring making. However, before she made it to Snape, a hand grasped at her arm. Stunned, she spun around to find out the owner of the arm, only to see the briefest view of Remus before tumbling to the ground.

"I really don't think you should ever spin." Remus offered his hand to Tonks.

Tonks shook her head as she took Remus hand up. "So you're talking to me now."

Remus rubbed his hand over his mouth. "Yeah. I've been rude. But we need to talk."

Tonks looked around the room, she saw that Snape was almost at the door and it wouldn't be long before she missed her chance to talk to him. "We do, but I can't right now. You stay and have dinner, come by my apartment after." With that said, she dashed across the room to Snape.

"Professor Snape?"

Snape turned around to face Tonks. He was a tall man and he had a way of making anyone feel very short. Tonks had been petrified of him when he was her teacher and she realised, standing right in front of him, that she still was. His lips curled at the sight of her.

"Yes, Nymphadora?"

"I go by Tonks actually… but that's fine you call me what you like sir."

"Get on with it, girl."

"Right, you see I've been put on a case, at work, tracking down the makers of the Blue Ring potion. It's been found in circulation lately. I was wondering if it's coming straight from the Death Eaters or if they have an outside supplier?"

Snape's lip un curled. "Who's leading this case?"

"Err… that big guy…err… Haman."

"Haman. That's not good; I've had a lot to do with him over the years. Death Eaters are making the Blue Ring. I've been able to tamper with some of the batches, made them less effective, but not all of them. Diricawl feathers are a key ingredient, stop them from getting the feathers and you will hold up production, as well as perhaps catching a few Death Eaters."

"Thank you, sir." Tonks called out to Snape's already retreating back.

It hadn't taken Tonks long to leave Number 12. Remus had watched her disappear through the door, his heart heavy. He hated how he had been avoiding her, but he could see no other way of saving her from him. Standing at the door of Tonks apartment, he didn't know what he would say to her to let her down gently. With not even the words to start with, Remus knocked on the door.

A crash came from inside the apartment before the door opened. "Hello." A short girl, with bright red streaks through her jet black hair, stood in the doorway. Behind her, Tonks sat on one of the only two chairs holding a bag of frozen peas to her head.

"Tonks hit her 'ead on the cupboard door when you knocked. You're the friend then that she's waiting for. I'll be leaving." The girl turned around to Tonks, "Now keep that bag there for a few more minutes, otherwise you'll have a right bump. Laters."

Remus stepped inside the apartment as the girl shut the door behind her. His heart was beating fast, and his mouth was dry. He had no idea what he was going to say to Tonks. Why had he come here to her apartment where they would be so alone? He looked over to Tonks for an explanation on who the girl was. That was as good a starting point as any.

"That's Kim. She lives in the building. She's a muggle. Nevertheless, you didn't come to meet her, so what was it? An apology, an explanation, a what? It better be good."

Remus looked at Tonks; she looked seriously annoyed, even with the ridiculous bag of peas pressed to head. "I ki- … well you see… the other night when we-we kissed."

"Yeah I remember, it was when you where talking to me."

"Yeah I was. I shouldn't have behaved like that, which was very wrong, I am sincerely sorry for that. But I can't let myself kiss you again. I can't put myself into a position were I might be tempted to. Do you understand?" Remus sat down on the other chair, his eyes watching Tonks'.

Tonks head hurt, but her insides, her heart, her soul, whatever it was that made you love, hurt more. Remus had just given her the most straightforward, sincere apology, she had ever heard and now he never wanted to be alone with her again. "But that can't be it? We really had something."

"I'm not the type of person that can be allowed to have something."

"Allowed?" Tonks was starting to see that Sirius was right about Remus' reasoning, "You think that just because you're a werewolf, you're not allowed to have a life in all the time it's not the night of a full moon? Remus I don't care about that."

"Tonks you don't know what it's like. Besides I'm far too old for you."

"Remus, I'm falling for you."

Remus had to look away to stop himself from lunging forward a kissing Tonks again. Her apartment was just as messy as it had been the first time he had been there. Dishes piled in the sink, dirty clothes in a heap on the floor, a smell of mould came from the bathroom that was the size of a cupboard. His eyes drifted back to Tonks, and her stupid bag of peas. "Why do you have that bag of peas on your head?"

Slightly depressed at Remus' first words after her declaration of love, Tonks answered anyway, "Kim told you I hit my head when I stood up into the cupboard door to answer your knock." Remus still looked confused. "She's a muggle. My Grandma Tonks used to do this too. It's like putting a chill charm on a bump or bruise. It's a bit hard to put a chill charm on your own head, so I went with the flow."

Remus lent over and put his hand over the hand Tonks was holding the bag with. Slowly he pulled Tonks hand and the bag away from the large red welt on Tonks forehead. He let go of Tonks hand and moved it back to her face, pushing her hair back. With his free hand, Remus pulled his wand out and cast the simple chill charm on the injury.

With more restraint than he thought that he had, Remus pulled away from Tonks. He stood and walked to the door. He turned around to say goodbye, Tonks was looking down at the bag of half frozen peas in her hands. "I'll see you at Number 12 sometime." Tonks barely nodded her head in recognition.

AN: Now that you have read the chapter, how about reviewing and letting me know what you think.