Lily looked up at one of her best friends in surprise. Marlene looked at her sternly, with a raised eyebrow.

"You're still dating him?" she asked, a tone of resentment in her voice.
"He's not such a bad person, Mar." she answered calmly.
"Huh, funny, Lils. He's always telling you that you can't go out with us."

Lily didn't have an answer to that. Marlene casually flipped a lock of wavy blond hair over her shoulder, her eyes cold and not like the Marlene she knew and loved. She set a cup down on Lily's counter. A cup of hot chocolate. Lily took it gingerly.

"Lils, you have to start seeing new people." she said simply, "Haven't you noticed how other guys look at you?"
"I'm not attractive, Mar."
"Well they'd treat you better than how he does." her best friend sighed loudly, "Since I clearly can't change your mind, there's a cute guy at that coffee shop. Can you be like my wing-girl or something?"

Lily laughed out loud. Marlene was in love with a guy from the coffee shop? It seemed like the beginning of a joke. She was too busy caring for everyone else that she barely noticed how she looked or felt. Lily told it strange, but loved her for it.

"Mar, you're serious?"
"Yeah, of course."
"Okay, I'll help. So what exactly do you want to do?"
"Just get him to come to the Halloween party Mary's throwing."

Lily snickered while Marlene shoved her lightly. She smiled at the thought of getting to go to the coffee shop again. The sweet scent that filled the air. The warm and welcoming environment. And the sweet smiles of the boys who worked there.

"Can his friends come too?" she asked teasingly, slyly looking at her friend.
"If you get him to go. Tonks and Charlie can join us if they'd like."

Lily grinned. Marlene had taken a quick liking to Tonks and Charlie, two of her best employees. They weren't much younger than them, and seemed much older than they were. At times, they were childish, but wonderful people nonetheless.

She wanted to head back to the coffee shop and pick up a drink of some sort. She flicked a lock of red hair over her shoulder, wiggling her eyebrows at Marlene.

"So who's the lucky guy?" she asked.
Marlene blushed a pink color, looking down bashfully, "James Potter."

~oOo~

Remus and Peter were decorating the shop for Halloween. It was just the two of them, since James and Sirius were enjoying a fancy dinner with James' parents. Peter was balancing on a ladder, hanging cobwebs and such while Remus was putting pumpkins on the windowsills and on the counter.

Remus happily watched as Tonks had stopped by this coffee shop every other day and weekends. It was his joy to see her come to the coffee shop and order. She'd often stop and chat. She seemed to enjoy their drinks over the ones closer to her college. Today was a Saturday, and Halloween would be in a little more than a week. She walked into the coffee shop, the bell tinkling like it always did. A small smile crept onto Remus' face.

He breathed in the sweet smell of coffee and chocolate. She approached the counter waiting to make her usual order. He also watched as Tonks found herself stumbling over her undone laces and tripping. He swiftly moved and caught her before she hit the ground.

She smiled up at him, looking but amazed and thankful, and Remus couldn't help but grin in return. He picked her up so she could stand.

"Thanks." she said simply, "Sorry, I'm pretty clumsy."
"No problem." he answered, a smile creeping on his face.
She gestured to all the boxes littering the room, "What's all this?"
"Halloween's in a week, Peter and I have to decorate."
"Want me to help?" she asked eagerly, clapping her hands in excitement.
Remus was about to protest, saying that she didn't have to help them since she wasn't getting paid for it, but then Peter's voice interrupted him, "Yes, please!"

Peter stood on the ladder, looking sacred and afraid. Tonks moved over to steady the ladder. He grinned in thanks and continued to put up the cobweb. Remus had given in and handed her a medium sized spider to pass to Peter. The spider was actually pretty cute, in his opinion. It was sparkly black with big adorable goggly eyes. He watched as she handed it to Peter.

Tonks sent Remus a sassy smirk, as if telling him that they absolutely needed her help in decorating. He rolled his eyes. But couldn't help but admire her. The tips of her hair were violet color, sort of giving off a Halloween theme, but not really. She was such an interesting person to him, and he found her impressive, as she was taking on two courses, a job, and managed to be friendly to everyone she met.

They'd finished decorating much quicker than they had expected. The coffee shop seemed more adorable than scary, but Remus liked it that way. Pumpkins sat on the tables near the windows and on their counter, happy eyes and smiles carved into the orange gourds. The pumpkins had small fake candles inside, making them glow like real jack-o-lanterns. Cobwebs now hung in the corners of then ceiling, each with adorable spiders the size of his hand. They'd also set a few witches' hats on them and the pumpkins. Remus smiled as he wiped down the counter.

He glanced at Tonks, who still admired the shop around then. Then she turned to Remus and grinned at him. She made her way to the counter and asked if she could buy a drink. Remus didn't refuse and enjoyed the company of the young woman.

"Can I get a hot chocolate, please?" she asked, fluttering her eyes jokingly. Remus snorted.
"Of course, your name—" Remus smacked himself on the forehead with a sharpie, "Ah sorry, Tonks. Old habits die hard."
She laughed her wonderfully beautiful laugh, "You know what, I'll be someone else for a change. Pick a name any name, any name."
"Okay, but what kind of name?" he laughed.
She thought for a moment then spoke, "How about a Disney Princess?"

Remus thought with the sharpie in his hand. What Disney Princess could he pick? His favorite movie was Beauty and the Beast, and she sort of looked like Belle. Dark brown hair, warm brown eyes that became hazel in the light, and the ability to be both strange and endearing, but beautiful nonetheless. He smiled, scribbled down the name, and made the hot chocolate.

Tonks grinned and moved to take out her money, but Remus had stopped her, "My treat. You helped us decorate."
"But—Fine." she answered, a sly smile on her face.

She glanced at the name he'd written, nearly spilling the drink as she snorted and left, waving to him with the faintest hint of a giggle on her lips.

Hey everyone! Happy Thanksgiving and happy Thursday for those who don't celebrate thanksgiving!

This is, if I'm really being honest, one of my favorite chapters. Ah the plot thickens, will Lily help Marlene? Does Lily really love Snape? Does Remus have a little crush on Tonks? And so, I keep writing.

Question of the day:
Favorite thanksgiving food?
I do love mashed potatoes along with corn. But it really depends on the kind of mashed potatoes. I'm weird that way.

Anyway, thanks to everyone who is voting and commenting on this story! Love you all,
Abby