Bizarre Love Triangle

Part 4: Fact Finding

Charlie found Tonks and Lupin just as Ginny predicted he would: seated together on opposite sides at the kitchen table, serenely enjoying a cup of tea.

Actually, Lupin was serenely enjoying his cup of tea, his eyes scanning the rather large book open in front of him. Tonks, on the other hand, sat staring absently at the wall behind her companion's head, humming what Charlie could only assume was supposed to be the newest Weird Sisters tune while tapping both her fingernails and teaspoon in a less than syncopated counter-rhythm.

After their conversation the previous evening, Charlie and Ginny decided that it was their humanitarian responsibility to clue Tonks and Lupin in to what Ginny had so accidentally discovered. However, before assembling a detailed plan of attack, Charlie insisted that Ginny let him go on this little fact-finding mission. He could read Tonks like a book. And he had a pretty good idea how to go about snuffing out Remus' feelings for Tonks.

If Ginny's theory rang true, he would be able to see it.

The house was unusually quiet for 10 pm on a Wednesday night, as the rest of the residents had called it an early night and headed up to bed. At least, they had all put up the pretense of going to bed. Charlie wasn't positive, but he had a strong suspicion that Ginny and Hermione had snuck over to the boy's room for a debriefing from Fred and George as to the highlights of that afternoon's Order meeting.

He entertained the amusing image of Ron's reaction to Hermione in her nightclothes for a few moments before remembering with horror that Harry and Ginny would also be together in similar states of undress. Despite Ginny's adamant protests as to her strictly platonic relationship with the young Mr. Potter, Charlie vowed to have a few important words with the boy in the morning.

Bringing his thoughts back to the task at hand, Charlie took a quick glance down at his attire. His was confident that his rumpled t-shirt and most fetching pair of dragon boxer shorts would serve his objectives perfectly.

"Let the games begin," he thought as he crossed the threshold into the kitchen and took a seat right next to Tonks.

"Looky, Remus!" exclaimed Tonks with an amused grin. "Chuckles has come to play with us!"

"Do you really want to go there, Nymphy?" asked Charlie, raising a combative eyebrow. "Ow!" he exclaimed, as a warm spoon bounced off his forehead.

He missed the victorious smile that Tonks adopted upon the spoon's impact because he was carefully studying the countenance of the man seated across from them.

Tonks' attraction to Remus made immediate sense to Charlie. He knew her better than anyone, with the possible exception of her mum. Nymphadora Tonks had always been drawn to what is commonly referred to as the "strong silent" type. Charlie liked to call them the "dull and boring" type, but that usually resulted in something being thrown at his head.

Someone who only knew the superficial Tonks that she showed the world might find this a bit odd. But, for all her flashiness and bravado, Tonks was a simple girl at heart. She craved romance. She craved comfort. She craved security.

Unfortunately for Tonks, she had unusually bad judgment when it came to the men she dated. All too often, she tended to mistake repressed for strong and brooding for silent. The result was usually much more tumult than tranquility in her relationships.

It was also easy for Charlie to understand how any man would be attracted to his best friend. Even with the bizarre hairstyles (today it was yellow and purple plaits), Tonks was one hot witch. And with the undeniably intriguing possibilities of her unique magical talent, which had incidentally fueled much of Charlie's pubescent imagination, she was every Wizard's fantasy.

But, from what Ginny had said, Lupin wasn't the kind of guy to be driven by his more base instincts. Now it was up to Charlie to make sure that the older Wizard's intentions towards his best friend truly were honorable.

"So," Charlie began amiably, "what are you two up to?"

"Page 53," answered Remus dryly, lifting his eyes from his book for only a fraction of a second.

But, for Charlie's purposes, it was sufficiently long for Remus to take in the younger man's current apparel, or decided lack thereof, and his proximity to Tonks.

"Ignore him, Charlie. He thinks he's clever. Always trying to engage me in a battle of wits," commented Tonks with a roll of her eyes, but not before Charlie caught sight of the poorly suppressed smile on her face.

"Mr. Lupin, don't you think it a bit cruel to battle someone so obviously ill-armed?" asked Charlie with a rakish smile, eliciting a definite chuckle from his addressee. The chuckle quickly dissipated, however, when Charlie threw an arm around Tonks' shoulders.

"Ow!" Charlie said again, as a second teaspoon, this time plucked from Remus' cup, made contact with his forehead. "Your aim has improved quite a bit since school, Dory," commented Charlie, removing his arm from her to rub his forehead.

Again, he was rewarded with a reaction from Remus, who was unable to hide his amusement at Tonks' assault and Charlie's subsequent withdrawal of contact from the young Auror.

"Is she this violent with you?" Charlie asked addressing Remus.

"Only when I win an argument," answered Remus, his eyes intently focused on his book.

"Oh, I see," said Tonks, affecting an injured tone, "You're going to team up on me now. That's nice."

"I suspect you will survive," answered Remus wryly.

Charlie noticed the quick look that passed between the two and knew with complete certainty that his little sister's instincts were correct on both fronts.

"For your sake, Tonks, I will retire for the night. You know, even up the odds a bit," said Remus as he closed his book and stood to leave.

"You don't have to go," blurted Tonks, bringing about a blush that did not escape Charlie's detection.

"It is past an old man's bedtime, Nymphadora," replied Remus. "And, besides, I should give you two time to catch up."

Charlie could not miss the distinct hint of resentment in Lupin's voice with this last comment. He could tell that his presence had ruffled the other man's feathers, despite the unwaveringly calm demeanor he presented. Jealousy. This was exactly the reaction he was looking for.

"Good night, then," said Tonks disappointedly.

"Good night," answered Remus quietly as he headed for the door.

After he was sure that Lupin was at least a couple stories away, Charlie turned a knowing look to Tonks, waited for her to take a large sip of tea, and asked, "So what is going on with you and the werewolf, Dory?"

This produced the desired effect of Tonks' jettisoning her tea clear across the table to about the spot where Lupin had sat moments before.

"What are you prattling on about, Chuckles?" asked Tonks in the most casual tone she could muster, which, given the circumstances, was not convincing in the least.

"Have you snogged him yet?" Charlie continued, disregarding Tonks' attempt to feign ignorance.

"Where in the world did that come from?" countered Tonks defensively. "Can't two adults drink a cup of tea in the same room without arousing UNFOUNDED suspicions?"

"Don't protest so much, Dory. You'll give the game away," commented Charlie with a grin. "Anyway, how come Lupin gets to call you Nymphadora without getting a spoon to the head?" he continued, earning himself a hint of a blush from his companion.

"Did one of those dragons crack you one or are you being purposefully daft?" asked Tonks, pointedly ignoring the perfectly reasonable question posed to her.

"Just tell me the truth. Do you like him?" Charlie asked sincerely.

"Of course I like Remus. He is a very nice person," answered Tonks stiffly. "He and I have become good friends, that's it," she added, a bit too insistently.

"Now who's being daft?" challenged Charlie. "You can't lie to me, Dory. You never could. It's like that time in third year when you ate all my pumpkin flavored sugarquills and tried to say that Peeves stole them."

"I still maintain my innocence of that charge," answered Tonks haughtily.

"Bill saw you eating them! And your tongue was orange for a week," reminded Charlie.

"I don't have to sit and listen to these slanderous accusations!" said Tonks, rising from her chair as if to leave.

"He likes you too, Dory," Charlie said earnestly, gently grabbing Tonks' arm to arrest her flight.

"Really?" replied Tonks excitedly before she was able to censor herself.

"Yes," Charlie answered simply, allowing her to search his eyes for any hint of teasing.

"You only just met him, Charlie. You couldn't possibly know what he thinks," said Tonks quietly, dropping her gaze to her lap.

"Tonks," Charlie started, but he was interrupted before he could continue.

"I'm tired. I have to work tomorrow," Tonks said in a rush and before he could stop her, she ran from the room.

"Well," Charlie thought, "it's a start."