Molly sighed and watched the door long after Aurthur pushed it shut. She silently willed it to reopen and reveal that Tonks had not yet truly departed. Time stretched impossibly and still Tonks did not return.
"I must say that I agree with Tonks, drugging an auror is a rather risky business," Remus advised at last. "Doubly so when the auror in question is Tonks."
With a flourish of her napkin, Molly rose and crossed to the door. "Someone needs to interfere before she does herself irreparable harm."
"Tonks will be fine," Remus insisted again, his tone gentle but his eyes pleading.
"How can you be so sure of that? You weren't here for tea."
Remus wiped a few lingering crumbs from his fingertips and settled back into his chair. "You often have Tonks to tea, Molly. Is it your conversation that's disturbed you so much? What could Tonks have said to have you so worried for her?"
Molly cast a longing glance to the door again before catching Aurthur's eyes and then turning to face Remus fully. "This is more than a simple slump. She's come up with a plan to place you both on a more even footing."
"There's no cure for being a werewolf."
"No," she agreed. "But there is a cure for not being one."
Remus froze. "What do you mean?"
She did not want to think about the possibilities but found her thoughts lingering there. "They're her words. You wouldn't deny her is she were a werewolf."
"She couldn't possibly..."
"Couldn't she?"
Aurthur spoke up at last. "I had no idea she was harboring such thoughts."
"Neither did I until she voiced them. None of us did. But this afternoon she sat right here, at this table, talking about how if she were a werewolf too Remus would have no reason to turn her away." She would not break eye contact with Remus as she spoke. "She's far worse off than any one of us supposed and I worry about the consequences of her thoughts and actions. She knows you would never agree to bite her and Greyback..."
"He would kill her as soon as turn her."
Molly shuddered at the flat tone in Remus' answer. "Yes. I am worried about her."
Arthur rose from his seat. "And rightly so, Molly. I think I'll pay a visit to Kingsley. Perhaps he'll be able to keep an eye on her for us when she's at the ministry."
"I'll..." Remus choked on his words. "I'll go to her. Surely I can talk sense into her. She's muddle-headed now is all but that doesn't mean she won't act out of line from self-perceived desperation. She can't be allowed..." His words trailed off to nothing as he gathered his cloak and followed Aurthur out the door.
Molly remained at the table, watching the men disapperate. Hopefully thy would not be too loate. Hopefully Tonks could still be saved.
/to be continued.../
