Shifting
Lea of Mirkwood
Rating: G
Ship: Remus/Tonks
A/N: One shot. Originally a drabble that I added an intro to. I might expand. Tell me if I should!
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"I've been thinking about this a lot, and what I really want to say is, I like you."
The silence hung in the air at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, between the two members of the Order. No one moved, no one breathed, and Tonks tried not to trip over anything during this extremely awkward moment.
"Nymphadora-" began Lupin, but Tonks held up one hand in front of his face, stopping him from going on.
"Tonks, Remus, Tonks," she said curtly, looking away carefully.
"Tonks," amended Lupin, and stabbed his fingers through his greying hair. "I don't think it's wise of you to..."
"Oh, give me a break, Remus, all I told you was that I liked you!" Tonks sighed heavily and shifted her weight, looking around nervously as if expecting someone to pop out and catch her in a potentially embarrassing situation. Tonks was never easily embarrassed, but this scenario would have her as red as a Gryffindor banner if she were caught. Especially by Sirius, for instance, who liked to make fun of her already for being so clumsy. Lupin narrowed his soft grey eyes, and out of the corner of Tonks' vision she could see the tiny crows-feet crinkling at his frown.
"Tonks..." groaned Lupin, keeping his voice low. "I could have been your teacher while you were in school."
"But you're not!" pointed out Tonks with a quick shrug of her shoulders. "You're not my teacher, and I'm an adult-"
"That's not my point," said Lupin wearily. "My point is, Tonks, that I'm old enough to be your teacher-"
"Oh, age, is it?" retorted Tonks stubbornly. She set her jaw and screwed up her face determinedly. Lupin watched with growing horror as the pink hair at her temples started to turn grey. The ash color started at her scalp and extended until the bubblegum pink turned to the color of smoke. When she relaxed her facial muscles the lines where her skin crinkled remained etched into her skin.
"There!" said Tonks, determined for Lupin to see her point. "Now will you look at me like something...not your possible student?"
"I know you're not my possible student!" said Lupin, placing his hand on either side of Tonks' face, cradling her jaw like it was china. With his thumbs he stroked her cheeks, as if he were trying to smooth the wrinkles away. Miraculously, they did, Tonks' skin becoming as smooth as it had always been. As she blinked deliberately, her hair slowly became pink again, the grey fading away like it had never been.
"You're Tonks," said Lupin stupidly, feeling like he had swallowed his tongue. Tonks made a face, twisting her mouth into a wry smirk.
"Oh, please, Remus, I know you can do better than that," reproached Tonks, trying to ignore the fact that Lupin was wearing Muggle clothing, some sort of thick Irish fisherman's sweater, ivory and with thick cord patterns. Tonks tried to detach herself from the fact that it smelled like him, and looked soft and lush. He smelled warm and friendly, but the slight scent of wolf on him gave him an edge, a warning aroma. As if to suddenly prove that he could do better, Lupin ducked his head down and lightly touched his lips to hers.
It took her breath away.
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Tell me what you think.