Chapter 4: A Surprise

When Remus woke, the scent of pancakes caught his attention. He slid out of bed and headed for the kitchen, where he found Tonks making breakfast. "Good morning, Remus," she said cheerfully, tipping a pancake onto a plate for him. "The syrup's already on the table. There's whipped cream, too."

"Thanks," he said sleepily, taking the plate. "You didn't have to go to all this trouble for me."

"I don't often have guests," Tonks replied. "It's the least I can do." Remus poured syrup on his pancake as Tonks put a one on a second plate and joined him at the table. She drenched it with syrup before spraying whipped cream over it. Remus raised an eyebrow at her. "What?" she asked, cutting into it.

Remus laughed. "Don't you think that's a bit much?"

"There's nothing like a sugar rush to wake you up, if you ask me," Tonks explained, taking a bite. Remus shook his head and sighed.

They didn't speak much as they ate but Tonks tried to keep a light banter going which Remus responded to, though he often took a moment or two to speak. His mind was on Greyback and he worried that he might get caught. Once he finished his breakfast, he carried the plate to the sink, where he washed it. Tonks had finished hers too and he washed her plate as well. She was just about to put them away when there was a knock at the door.

"Dawlish! Damn. I forgot he was coming." She looked around frantically. "Remus, go hide somewhere for a minute. Don't you dare Disapparate on me."

"I wouldn't," he said. "It would make too much noise," he added under his breath. Tonks heard and she elbowed him in the stomach. "Sorry," Remus apologized. "Going to hide now."

"Good," Tonks said, sprinting for the door as Remus concealed himself in the pantry, adding a Disillusionment charm just in case. He heard a slight crash then the door opening.

"'Morning, Dawlish," Tonks said pleasantly, stifling a yawn.

"Good morning, Tonks," he replied pompously. "I'm sorry I came a bit later than planned but I was delayed slightly on my way here." He paused. Remus supposed it was to allow Tonks to ask what had delayed him. When she said nothing, he continued, "It's very kind of you to allow me to stop by on such short notice."

"It's nothing," Tonks said. There was a slight darkness to her tone that made Remus smirk. It was obviously something. He carefully left the pantry, trusting his charm to keep him hidden, so he could watch the exchange.

Dawlish apparently didn't notice it because he continued on in the same tone as before. "I suppose you have everything ready to show me?"

Tonks gulped and swayed slightly on the spot. "My report isn't completely finished, but if you would like to compare notes, they're over here on the coffee ta—Whoops!" She tripped over Remus's foot.

"Are you all right, Tonks?" Dawlish asked her.

"Yeah, just tripped, that's all. Having two left feet makes life a bit of a challenge sometimes." She sighed and when Dawlish bent over the coffee table to grab Tonks' report, she shot a furtive glare in Remus's dicrection.

He shrugged and mouthed the words, "I'm sorry," before realizing she couldn't see him anyway.

"What are you looking at, Tonks?" Dawlish asked, looking up from the papers he was holding.

"Nothing," Tonks said. "Just a little tired still." She forced a yawn.

"I see, I see," he replied. "Everything seems to be in order." He sifted through the papers again. "Keep up the good work."

"I will," Tonks replied dutifully. When Dawlish tucked the papers into his coat pocket, Tonks took the opportunity to pull a face in Remus's direction.

"Would you mind making a cup of tea for me, Tonks?" Dawlish asked her as she turned to face him again.

"No, not at all," Tonks lied. "Have a seat at the table." She motioned to the seat she had occupied during breakfast.

"Was someone here earlier?" Dawlish asked. "I see there are two glasses on the table."

"The second's my spare," Tonks said without hesitating. "I usually break the first. I was lucky this morning." Remus smiled. She might be clumsy but her mind was anything but.

"I see," Dawlish said. Lacking in intelligence as he was, he believed her. Tonks put a kettle on the stove and pulled up the chair next to Dawlish, setting a tea cup and bag on the table. "How have things been for you lately, Tonks?" he asked conversationally, tracing a knot on the table with his finger.

"Fine," Tonks said tersely.

"You haven't looked fine on duty lately. You seem ill and I haven't seen you morph for a while. Frankly, I'm worried about you."

"I told you, I'm fine." Tonks looked as though she wanted to strangle him, but Dawlish didn't notice. Instead, he decided to continue the conversation.

"I hear you were seeing someone who broke up with you a few months ago. Is that true?"

"So what if it is?" Tonks' voice was growing colder by the second. If Dawlish wasn't such a git, Remus would actually have felt bad for him. Being on the receiving end of Tonks' anger was not a pleasant situation.

"I just wondered if you were lonely, that's all. If you're not doing anything tonight, we could stop by the Three Broomsticks, maybe have some Butterbeer or Firewhisky."

"No, thank you."

"C'mon, Tonks, live a little. I can show you a good time, and believe me, you look like you could use one around now."

"I'm fine, thanks. I'd rather not."

"It's just one night, Tonks."

"Dawlish, I think we're finished here." She stood up, taking his empty cup and putting it in the sink.

"What's wrong?" He put an arm around her shoulder.

"Leave me alone or I'll hex you," Tonks snarled.

"Okay, okay, I get the hint. You think you're too good for me, don't you?"

"Uh…" Tonks hesitated on this one.

Remus saw what Dawlish was trying to do a second before Tonks did. He quickly removed the spell and grabbed Dawlish by the collar. "You keep your hands off her!"

"Who are you?" Dawlish asked, sounding nervous.

"A friend. Now leave Tonks alone. She's obviously not interested in you."

"All right, all right, I'll leave." Remus set Dawlish down and followed him, making sure he left. Once the door was shut, Remus returned to the kitchen where he found Tonks sitting with her head in her hands.

"Is he gone?" she asked.

Remus nodded, sitting down in the other chair and scooting it closer to hers. "Are you all right?"

"Just a little shocked, that's all. I shouldn't be, come to think of it. Dawlish has been trying to get me to go out with him for a while now. I was still with you when he asked me out the first time. I guess the git overheard me talking with Kingsley about you."

"Is there anything I can do?" Remus asked.

"I can think of a lot of things you could do. I doubt you'd do any of them."

"Eat this at least," he said, handing her a piece of chocolate. "And drink this." He filled a glass of water and set it on the table in front of her.

"Thanks." She gave him a weak smile and took a sip. "I'm really sorry about all that. I've been avoiding him for weeks. I should've known he'd try doing something like that. I can't believe we're both stationed at Hogwarts. It's almost like Kingsley wants me to test the unforgivable curses out.

Remus laughed. "Well, if he gives you any more trouble, tell Kingsley about it. Kingsley can get him to leave you alone, I'm sure." He stood up. "I have to leave now. I'm supposed to be back before noon."

"All right," Tonks said. "It's been nice seeing you again. And thanks for, you know, everything."

"You're welcome," Remus replied warmly. "And thank you for letting me stay here."

"You can stop by anytime, honestly. If I'm not here, just Apparate in and make yourself at home."

"I'll remember that." He gave her a quick hug and then turned to Disapparate.

"'Bye," Tonks said sadly.

Remus waved as he turned on the spot and disappeared.