The Days in the Order
Snippets of small missions and events that could have happened between the fellow Order members between the end of POA and DH. Some light and sweet, other dark and bitter.
Short 1: Free Discounts
(Takes place after Prisoner of Azkaban)
Muggle Grocery Store- Outside of London
Ben Kingsley and Remus Lupin looked slightly out of place in the convience store. The former more than the latter. But the youngest Order member, Nymphadora Tonks or just 'Tonks'- with her purple-pink hair, flashy makeup, and punk rock attire- fit right in. They were on their way to watch over a suspected Death Eater's hideout, but the youngest one had a hankering for some snacks and wasn't afraid to walk in to a muggle establishment to remedy it. It was half past one in the morning.
Lupin had a bag of cookie digestives, while Kingsley monitored the strange muggle money that was given to him by Lupin. As the customer in front of them completed their purchase, Tonks unceremoniously plopped several bags of unhealthy salty snacks on counter.
"Will that be all?" asked an apathetic young man behind the counter before he glanced up and then again to take in the pretty but eccentric woman in front of him.
Tonks nodded her head, just wanting her snacks.
The boy scanned the items, as slowly as possible before asking her, "So what keeps you up this late at night?" part curiosity and partly to just hear the woman speak.
"That's not your business." Tonks said, not unkindly but bluntly. Kingsley held a chuckle in as he read the situation, Lupin's expression was unreadible.
"Yes, sorry." He responded quickly. "Would you like some sweets with your purchase? I see you have a lot of salty snacks."
"If I wanted that, I would have gotten it." Tonks said, again not unkindly but there was an edge to it, she was concentrating on NOT having her hair reflect her growing irritation.
"I'm sorry, I'm required to ask." He said, scanning the last chip bag.
"That'll be 7.49." the cashier echoed the number on the screen.
"Damn! I'm short." Tonks said, countin her change she was about to look back at Lupin and Kingsley when the young worker spoke up.
"Don't worry about, you know what- just pay what you can." He said, rather eagerly.
Tonks looked confused, "But that's not what it cost-"
"It's okay, consider it a free discount!" The boy said, completely smitten with her. "In exchange for your phone number."
Tonks was familiar with some muggle habits but a phone was not one of them, but at this point she could pick up on the boy's attempts and flashed him her signature smile- still holding in her changling abilities.
"That's adorable, how old are you?" the young woman asked.
Kingsley and Lupin now had to look down to hide the broad smiles on their faces. The poor boy's attempts were galiant, but in one question he was completely emmasculated.
"Well here you go then, See ya 'round luv." Tonks said and gave the boy a classic wink as she just left the amount she had on the counter.
Lupin and Kingsley chuckled as they finished their purchases. The boy's mood now quite sour.
Outside the night air was crisp and fresh as the London city buzzed about.
"Well, where is this place then?" Tonks asked as she opened some crisps.
"It's just north of the city, we'll be there for about 6 hours." Kingsley replied, "But I'll have to leave after 3, I have work to do at the ministry."
"Aye, So it'll be just you and me then." Tonks beamed at Lupin, who just gave a tight smile and gave a light nod of his head.
Unknown to Kingsley and Tonks, Lupin's heart skipped a beat. He was quite taken with the young witch, but tried to subdue these growing affections.
The three apparated to the location necessary, it was a small manor outside of Derbyshire.
"Well let's get this started." Kingsley said. as the three of them took shelter several miles away.
After an hour and half of silence, the youngest spoke up.
"So...exactly what are we to do if something does happen?" Tonks asked.
The two gentlemen thought for a minute.
"Well, I'll cast a stunning spell, Lupin will mediate and make sure the culprit is subdued, and you can relay the message to Moody or Sirius." said Kingsley.
"Wait. So I'm to do nothing." Tonks complained.
"Well we ARE more experienced." Kingsley reminded.
"Yeah, but how am I to be EXPERIENCED, if I don't do anything me self hands on?" Tonks made a point.
"Now's not the time for that." Kinglsey lectured. " You'll have your chance once you've been on the field a bit."
"You'll keep saying THAT, until I'm remind I've been on the field for 6 months." Tonks lipped. "Which I have."
"Just do what you feel is necessary, and we'll all back each other up." Lupin interjected.
"See! I like his way of thinking." Tonks remarked.
"Well I'll be leaving in less than 2 hours, so you can abide by THAT then." Kingsley Shacklebolt said as he prepared for the stake out.
After the said time had passed and nothing had occured, Kingsley bid farewell to the other two and apparated away.
"You'll have to keep me in check." Tonks said to Lupin. "Incase I fall asleep on ya." and she gave him her signature smile.
"I'll take over if you get tired." He offered in his usual gentlemen like manner. She gave him a smile.
"You're very serious." She observed. Lupin seemed taken aback a bit, but was not surprised by her comment.
"I've lived longer." he replied.
"That doesn't mean you have to be SO serious. Everyone deserves a chance to be alive." she said.
To Lupin this seemed both wise and folly. He'd lived through a lot of darkness, but she had a point that lightness was needed.
"You're young." he pointed out. and apart of him was slightly crest fallen.
"But not blind." she finished. "With a kindred spirit, you are never old."
"Tha't very wise of you." he complimented.
"I've had some sobering experiences, perhaps none nearly compared to yours." she added, "but my mother left a pure-blood family for a muggle born and I believe that society doesn't dictate what is acceptable, but the person themselves- the person is wise but people are idiots." She finished.
Lupin was impressed, it was rare that a woman of her age to be so knowledgeable. But like she said, experience dictate a person.
"That's very astute, you're far too young though to harbor such thoughts." he conjoled.
"Far too young?" she mimicked. "I'm not the sort of girl to deny responsibilty. That's the difference between being mature and immature."
Lupin chuckled before replying, "You're one of a kind, Ms. Tonks."
They both were quiet for a long moment as they returned their gaze to the manor at hand.
"I hope we get paired again." Tonks said after a beat.
Lupin couldn't hold back the large lump that was growing in his throat as he swallowed his nerves down.
End Scene.