Prologue - My Delight
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I closed my eyes and felt the wind whip through my thick black hair, letting the dog inside of me take over. I raised my nose to the sky, inhaling the familiar scent deeply. Shaking my head furiously, I took another deep breath, my nostrils flaring as my enhanced sense of smell drank up a scent I'd been dying to smell again for almost two years. A scent I thought I'd never experience again. In a breathy whisper not unlike my memories of him, I let his name escape my lips,
"Remus..."
"Padfoot..." His voice rumbled through the air, then rumbled through me, sending a chill through my veins. My eyelids fluttered open and my vision cleared. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I ignored them impatiently. Frowning, I stared at him carefully, my jaw set. This was the most realistic dream I'd had since I had lost this man and I wasn't sure what to do next.
My best friend was standing in front of me, a lopsided grin on his face, looking at me as though I'd lost my marbles. He spoke again, his voice soft and deep, "I've missed you, Padfoot..."
I knew full well that as soon as I gave in and touched him, he'd disappear. Every night was the same dream, turned nightmare. But, I didn't care. I needed to feel him in my arms again, even if just for that fleeting moment. I reached out and closed the space between us, throwing my arms around him. I buried my face in his neck, inhaling that never-forgotten scent deep in my lungs as quickly as I could before it all dissolved away.
Remus chuckled softly in my ear and slipped his arms around my waist, returning the embrace. I tensed suddenly, my mind going into a panic. Why wasn't he disappearing? Leaning away from the other man, I held him at arm's length, looking at him incredulously. "How are you..? What are you..?" My mind grasped futilely at questions.
His grin faltered for just a moment, and I saw a deep sadness in his eyes. Tilting his head to the side, he looked at me carefully. Without words, I knew instantly what had happened. A sudden unease washed over me, and I felt a painful tightening in my chest.
"Well, well, well..." a soft female voice said from behind me, startling me and interrupting the moment I'd wished could go on forever. "Look what the dog dragged in..." Recognizing her voice, I turned around slowly, willing her to disappear so I could enjoy my long-awaited alone time with Moony. I'd waited countless nights for this moment, and she was ruining it.
Behind me, she stood, arms crossed over her chest and a smug look on her face. I forced a smile, suppressing the growl forming in my throat. "Tonks..."
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A/N –I know it's short, but it sets up the story. Comments are loved. Chapter one will be up soon.