Fly Me to the Moon

It was undeniably fortunate that Sirius was nowhere to be seen in the Headquarters. The last thing Remus Lupin needed was his best friend's comments on him going out with a young, good looking Metamorphmagus auror, for whom he tried to convince himself he had feelings which stopped at 'friendly', despite the fact that he felt his stomach empty whenever he heard her dropping the umbrella stand on the hallway, a sign that she had just entered the Headquarters.

He was particularly nervous, especially because the date was not arranged by him or by that woman, something which, deep inside, made him sigh in relief that he didn't have to ask her himself, but, at the same time, completely reassured him about her entirely friendly feelings towards him.

He once again thanked for his luck, for the strange fact that he seemed to be alone in the huge ancient house. He was almost prepared to hear the umbrella stand, in order to know she had arrived, but he still felt his heart racing when he did. He took a last glimpse of himself in the dirty huge silver mirror, only to disapprove for another time of his old, graying striped suit and worn burgundy tie. He thought that his reflection in the mirror shot him an amused look, but then she saw her standing in the living room.

"Um, wotcher Remus!" she half smiled.

It was true that he was unprepared for what he saw, a view which would satisfy any other man, but surprise -astonish- him, as he was waiting for a young witch in spiky pink hair, leather skirt and combat boots. He was not ready to see the same pale face with the lavender eyes, but surrounded with dark brown locks and the same body wearing a perfectly fitted night blue lace dress in a retro line.

He gulped, and managed to speak, but immediately regretted it as his voice sounded stupid to his own ears. "Hello, Tonks. Beautiful dress."

She groaned. "Dreadful, isn't it? It isn't even my mother's. It's grandma Tonks' from the 50s. And I'll probably kill myself in those heels."

Lupin couldn't help but think that grandma Tonks used to have nice proportions. And heels. He had not noticed that. His eyes lowered to her legs, but he realized it was not a very wise idea, so he focused on a spot of indifference, as the portrait of Sirius' grandfather, but then realized he probably looked quite silly, so he turned to face her.

"Anyway, I hope I won't be a really insufferable person to go out with tonight."

"I promise you won't be more insufferable than I might be boring."

She threw her head back and laughed. "Merlin, you cannot become boring, Moony!"

"You could have gone with Bill. I'm quite old..."

"Nonsense! We have spent all those evenings with Sirius, and I must reassure you, it was big fun! Besides, Bill is engageé with that French girl." She thought a little. "Why didn't Kingsley send Bill with the French girl to dine out tonight? She must certainly be more of a lady than I am. I will probably mess everything up."

Remus smiled and was ready to tell her that she did look quite good as a lady, but then the thought made him feel curious. Indeed, it would be more sensible to send a young couple to spy on the Malfoys than an old notorious werewolf and a well-known to the ministry, clumsy auror.

THREE DAYS AGO:

Arthur Weasley placed his mug with the butterbeer on the table and wiped his lips with a handkerchief.

"I hope it was not a hard full moon, Remus?"

"It was... the usual. Glad it is over though."

"We all are. Molly thinks you are in serious need of a good meal."

"I am terribly thankful to her for all the huge meals I have whenever you are at the Headquarters."

"Well, get ready to have a nice meal.... Somewhere outside the Headquarters."

"I'd love to visit you at the Burrow, if I am not a burden of course."

"I don't mean the Burrow, though we'd really appreciate your company whenever you are free. No. Sirius sent me to ask you to do something for the Order."

"Sirius?"

"Kingsley told him yesterday, actually, he was the only person he found at the Headquarters to inform."

"Yes, what do I have to do?"

"You must go at a restaurant, where we know there is a reservation for Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, and try to notice any peculiar movements or conversations. It is important to spy on them outside the ministry, and we have little chance to do that."

"But how..."

"Nobody else can go, Remus. The Malfoys know me and my wife, there aren't any other people whom we can present as a couple. He doesn't know your face. He won't recognize that you are his son's former professor."

"Arthur, you are mistaken. I am not a couple. I am an individual, at the moment at least." Remus had started to think that butterbeer after all could affect people, as Arthur was probably now seeing two Remuses.

"You will go with Tonks, of course. She can change her appearance. Molly has already talked to her."