Hi :)
I know. I still need to finish 'Becomes of', but I just couldn't help it.
Well, I dunno why I chose to post this when I wrote this only today, and I have a dozen other fics in process, but yeah :D
This one is…just really light reading and writing in that matter )
Still I hope you enjoy it, and reviews are love!
Remus sighed as he looked at the surroundings around himself.
This was beyond disastrous.
What had once been nothing more than plain, bright blue, red, yellow paint was sprayed all across the floor, and most of the paint was mushed together, forming a slightly blackish brown that wasn't pleasant at the slightest.
But that wasn't the major problem, Remus reminded himself as he looked around closely, squinting at corners and bending over to look under furniture. How in the name of god was he going to find five rodents that weren't any larger than his own pinky finger?
"Remus-" something, or rather, someone tugged at him.
"Yes, Mary?" he replied distractedly, still trying to get his arm under the bookshelf. "What's wrong?"
"I cut my finger." the little girl whined. "It hurts-"
Sighing Remus fumbled at the front pocket of his apron, and searched for a bandage, which he could not find.
That's probably because you have so much bandages on your hands already, he told himself bitterly. He was never gifted in cutting and pasting, after all.
"Mary, why don't you ask Lily for a bandage?" he asked kindly, as he tried to turn around and look at the girl. "I don't think I have any right now."
"But Lily's not here-" Mary whined again. "She's not here!" she suddenly shrieked, sending Remus to bump his forehead against the bookshelf.
"Oof!" he frowned and rubbed his forehead. Where the hell was Lily?
"Mary," he tried once more. "I'm trying to find Pinky right now."
"But Pinky's in her cage!"
"No she isn't." Remus said, finally managing to slip his arm under the bookshelf. "Davie accidentally opened the cage, and everyone is out."
Mary gasped. Finally the girl was understanding.
"Gone?" Mary repeated.
"Yes, gone." Remus replied patiently, thumping his hand around under the shelf. "Pinky, Donny, Pony, Ruby, and Ronny are all gone."
"Oh no!" Mary gasped like a typical six year old.
"Yes, oh no." Remus muttered, stretching his arms farther under the shelf to reach the corners.
"Remus!" another call.
"Yes, Lauren?" he called out, wincing as something sharp poked his index finger. Probably a nail from last week's art project.
"I found Ronny!" the other girl shouted. "And Joe found Pony!"
"That's great, Lauren!" Remus tried to smile, but the nail kept interfering.
"I'll show you!" Joe shouted in glee, and footsteps that indicated that he was running vibrated through Remus' chest that was pressed flat against the floor.
"Okay..Just be careful! You don't want to.." but he never got to finish what he was going to say as a shriek interfered.
"Joe?" Remus tried to look behind in surprise, but his arm got caught under the bookshelf and made an odd ankle. He winced.
"Joe crushed Pony!" Lauren continued to shriek. "Joe you idiot!"
"Lauren!" Remus managed to shout. "Joe are you all right?"
"...you stupid big fat pig! Pony's dead!" Lauren continued, and soon Remus heard Mary start to wail.
"Lauren!"
"She's not dead!" Joe shouted, near tears. "Look! She still stands!"
"That's disgusting!" Lauren shrieked once more.
And then it was just a jumble of tears and shouts and screams, and Remus wished he could just get his arm out to block his ears.
"I'm back!" there was a sudden voice from the door way.
"Tommy?" Remus asked, trying to turn around and failing once more. "Is that you? Where's Nymphadora?"
"Tonks?" Tommy asked, too brightly for the situation. "I dumped her in the pool!"
"What?!" this was getting out of hand.
"Ooh!" Tommy said joyfully, ignoring Remus' surprised shout. "Is that chocolate?"
"What?" Remus asked, desperate to see what Joe was talking about. "What chocolate?"
"On the floor!" Tommy giggled. "But it has red paint all over it..."
"That's not..." Remus yanked his arm out, and felt his arm burning.
"Argh!!" Tommy made a choking sound. "It tastes like poopl!"
Remus, finally being able to get up and turn around turned around to see Joe crying with a squashed red object, Lauren pointing a finger at Joe and shouting something incoherent, Mary just wailing like mad, Davie, the one who had caused the escape of the rodents, was curled up in one corner fast asleep and Tommy who had the mushed up paint all over his mouth and hands.
"Tommy!" Remus ran over. This was not good.
"I think I'm gonna throw up.." Tommy muttered before bending over and spraying vomit all over.
Great, Remus thought as he heard a frustrated scream and cry from the hallway. At least now I can check if Tommy didn't eat any more puzzles.
"Tommy Helcher!" a very pathetically wet and shivering Nyphadora screeched as she entered the room. "I am going to kill you!"
"Oh yeah?!" Tommy managed wiping his mouth. "You and what army?"
"Me and this army!" Nymphadora shouted, running over and punching Tommy exactly on the left eye.
"Nymphado..." Remus started, trying to pull Nymphadora off of Tommy who was now being beaten up in his own pool of vomit.
"It's Tonks!" Nymphadora turned and screamed at Remus. "Tonks! T-O-N-K-S! Tonks! My parent's last name! Don't call me by Nym-" as Tonks was distracted, shouting at Remus, Tommy managed to switch positions and was now pushing Tonks face first into the pool of vomit.
"Eww!" Lauren screamed. "Is that puke?"
"Argh!" Tonks roared, face still in the vomit. "What have you been eating?! Your own poop?!"
"Apple sauce, you dummy!" Tommy shouted.
"Remus, I'm ba- What in the name of god is going on?!"
And Remus did not have to turn around to see who it was who had just entered the room this time.
"Tough day, huh?" Lily asked, handing Remus an ice bag.
Remus nodded miserably.
"You'll get used to it." Lily tried brightly. "It's difficult on the first day."
"You mean to say I just get used to all this chaos?" Remus asked, putting the ice bag down on his arm that was raw red after getting caught under the bookshelf with too much force, and wincing.
"Well, sort of." Lily smiled and shrugged. "I mean, look on the bright side. You'll at least be prepared when you have your own kids, you know?"
"I don't think I'll ever have any kids, Lily." Remus sighed. "They scare me too much."
"But you can have them."
"Maybe." Remus nodded. "But I'd have to adopt them if I want one."
"Adoption's good." Lily reasoned.
"Yeah, it is." Remus agreed, and then decided to change the subject. "So, is everyone gone?"
"Nope." Lily replied joyfully. "Well, Tonks and Tommy are talking to Mrs. Harney right now. You know," she made quotation marks. "'The Talk' every child must have."
"I don't follow." Remus frowned. "It wouldn't involve a bird and a bee though, right?"
"They're too young for that!" Lily laughed after commenting in mock disgust. "But anyway, you're going to find a very tearful and guilty pair of children once Mrs. H is done with them. Always works." she winked.
"Do their parents know about what happened?" Remus asked, vaguely amused and wondering how he may react if finding out that his child had been fighting in a pool of vomit.
"Yup." Lily nodded. "They're gonna come soon, but I think I'm going to have to take Tommy to his house. His parents work, you know."
Remus nodded. "And I guess I'll have to stay behind and wait till Nymph-Tonks' parents come?"
"Well, yeah," Lily smiled apologetically. "because Mrs. H won't stay after."
"Fine." Remus sighed, but smiled nonetheless.
"Thing is, Tonks' parents won't be coming either." Lily added.
"Do I have to drive her?" Remus asked, horror struck. "You know, I can't drive and take care of a distressed child at the same time..."
"No, her uncle would be coming." Lily cut Remus off. "He's a old friend of James. James, my fiance, you know?"
"Yeah, I know." Remus nodded. After all, he had known Lily since highschool, and he was also introduced to James quite some time ago. "So I guess there won't be much trouble, huh?"
"Yup." Lily grinned. "He's a nice guy. Tonks' uncle, I mean. Won't be upset about Tonks and take it all out on you."
"Of course he won't." Remus nodded with a smile.
Just then, a wild sob broke out from Mrs. H's office.
"And there we go." Lily said, peering into her wrist watch. "Thirteen minutes and fifty one seconds. That's a record. They must be developing some sort of immune system."
"I'm hungry." Tonks muttered grumpily, wrapping herself closer to her coat. "And cold."
Remus sighed.
"I'm sure you are." he stood up to go to his desk. "Want an apple?" he asked, taking out an apple he got this morning as a welcome gift.
"You keep apples in your desk?" Tonks asked.
"Well, yes." Remus replied, feeling oddly embarrassed. "I just got it today, and well, apples are good to eat..?" his defence ended up more like a question.
"My uncle keeps bananas in his desk." Tonks said, ignoring Remus' dumfounded look and continuing proudly. "And it never rots!"
"That's..." Remus tried to think of an appropriate word, as he absently rubbed the red surface with his sleeve before handing it to Tonks. "...interesting."
"It's cool!" Tonks agreed, taking a big bite out of the apple. "My mum can't keep a fruit fresh even if she puts it in the refrigerator, but Uncle Sirius doesn't need that."
So Sirius was the name of the uncle who kept bananas in his desk. Strange name, Remus decided. Must be from Greek mythology.
"Does your uncle always come to take you home?" Remus asked as he watched Tonks take another bite. "Chew and swallow before you answer."
Tonks obeyed with a slight frown, and started to speak as soon as she swallowed.
"Yeah." she nodded. "Mum and dad are never able to come. My mums an opera singer, and my dad's in America for his company."
Okay, Remus frowned a bit. What an odd couple and an off family.
"Uncle Sirius doesn't have to perform during evenings, and lives near, so he takes me to school and brings me back home!" Tonks took another cheerful bite, and Remus started to wonder if he could eat an apple the same way Tonks did even after knowing that he had just bathed himself of what were the remains of apple sauce.
Remus wanted to ask what Tonks' uncle, Sirius' job was, but he decided it was inappropriate, and besides, if he was a friend of James' he would probably be the same sportsman of some sort.
"He's here!" Tonks suddenly stood up, shouting in glee.
Sure enough, Remus saw a sports car gliding towards the entrance of the building.
Tonks stood up, apple still in her hand, and ran out of the office, out to the building.
Remus hurriedly grabbed his coat to follow her out.
Remus was never much into cars, but at first glance, he could tell that this car in front of his very eyes was something that would cost more than he would ever earn for his entire life.
"Uncle Sirius!" Tonks ran down the steps of the building screaming all the way.
A tall and extremely handsome man with black hair appeared from the car. He was wearing a suit that was, as much as his car, probably very expensive.
He kneeled down as Tonks ran right into his arms.
"I heard what happened, Tonks." he said, standing up with her still in his arms. "I don't think Andromeda's going to be very pleased." he said in a serious, yet cheerful voice.
"Yeah, I know." Tonks said, holding onto the man's neck, and getting apple juice all over his shirt collar. Remus winced inwardly, but seeing as the man himself didn't seem to mind, Remus was positive that he just didn't care for clothes in general, loved his niece or just was so rich that he couldn't bother to be concerned of some shirt that would be a treasure to others.
Remus saw the man catch his eyes, and whisper something into Tonks' ear, which made her giggle.
Lowering Tonks back onto the ground, the man extended a hand to Remus with a dreadfully charming grin.
"Hi. I'm Sirius, Tonks' uncle."
"Hello." Remus took the hand, feeling oddly embarrassed. "I'm her new teacher."
"So, you're new, aren't you?" Sirius asked still grinning. "I thought so. Never seen you before."
"Yes, well. I am new." Remus tried to smile, but felt his whole face stiffer than usual.
"Well, I hope she hasn't caused you too much trouble." Sirius said, landing a hand on top of Tonks' head. "I heard she got into a fight, which would already be trouble itself, but still."
"It wasn't her fault." Remus replied honestly, and regretted taking sides. "I mean, it is wrong to fight, but still. She didn't start it." he was finding speaking suddenly a very difficult task as Sirius continued to look at him.
"Well, I heard she got 'the Talk'." Sirius said somewhat gravely, but still smiling nonetheless. Remus wondered if he was the only person who knew nothing about 'the Talk'. Obviously it was quite a notorious thing.
"Yes." Remus nodded.
"But I wasn't the one to cry!" Tonks butt in around a mouthful of apples. "It was that idiot Tommy who cried."
"Language, Tonks." Sirius warned. "Well, we better be off." he turned to Remus. "Thank you for taking care of her."
"It's my job." Remus said, finally managing a smile he feared he had lost.
"Still, I know she's a handful." Sirius opened the door of the back seat for Tonks, as she hopped in. "Could I give you a ride home?" he turned to ask to Remus once more.
"Oh no, no thank you." Remus replied, taking a step backwards.
"It's late." Sirius pressed. "It's okay, come on."
"No, it's really okay." Remus said, taking two involuntary steps backwards, waving his hands. "I actually have to wait for my co-worker to return."
Sirius seemed vaguely disappointed, but soon covered everything up with a shrug.
"You're talking about Lily, right?" Sirius asked, walking around the car to open the door to the driver's seat.
"Yes." Remus replied, remembering that Lily and Sirius knew one another.
"Well," Sirius said grinning once more. "I'm positive that James is going to come and pick her up, and then you'll be alone." he raised an eyebrow suggestively. "Still don't want a ride?"
"No thanks." Remus smiled, at least grateful for the offer. "I have the keys to the building, and I'll have to wait for her anyway."
Sirius sighed and shrugged one last time, before getting into the car.
"I'll see you later, then." he said, lowering the window of the assistant's seat, and looking up to Remus.
"Yes, I suppose." Remus replied. "See you tomorrow, Nymp- Tonks." he added, turning to look at the seat behind.
"Bye!" Tonks replied, and soon the car was gliding out of sight.
Remus let out a sigh before returning into the building.
"What's his name?" Sirius asked Tonks, as he peered through the rear mirror just to catch a last glimpse at the man with golden brown hair.
"Remus." Tonks replied, taking another bite on the apple that had now turned into a light shade of brown. "Why?"
Sirius shrugged.
Remus. He mouthed the name, and smiled. That was as much an unusual name as his. Remus- he tried again, and found that it was easier to get used to than he thought.
That man, his nephew's new teacher was just too much for Sirius and his reckless, impulsive self. He felt like this might be what 'love in first sight' was, as everyone called it. Although Sirius wasn't able to capture how Remus would move his arms, and where his laughter would start from, he did recognize that the man was very beautiful. He was very thin, and did look a bit tired(but then again, who wouldn't after chasing littles brats?), but he had a very delicate face and body that kept coming back to Sirius' mind. He would definitely want to meet him again, or maybe even more.
Remus- he mouthed once more, and did it over an over again.
"Uncle Sirius?" Tonks' bewildered voice broke his thoughts. "What are you saying?"
Realizing how strange mouthing something like a fish out of water would seem, Sirius shut his mouth and muttered the name only inside his mind. "Nothing."
"Oh." Silence fell. "You're weird."
"And so are you." Sirius replied jovially. "Everyone in our family is. No big surprise."
"Weird." Tonks pressed and snickered.
"Yeah." Sirius grinned. "So, did anything special other than the fight happen today?"
"I made the git Tommy get a nosebleed." Tonks replied proudly. "Or nosebleeds. He was bleeding from both nostrils."
"Good girl." Sirius laughed. He knew he shouldn't be encouraging his young niece, but he just couldn't help his nature. "But that's included in the fighting category."
"Oh." Tonks seemed to be thinking. "Nothing else then. What 'bout you?"
"Me?" Sirius asked, giving Tonks a wicked look by the rear mirror. "I don't know, Tonks, do you honestly want to hear about my day spent in an office, trying to defend my clients who are absolutely impossible to defend in any way possible, and then trying to buy the mercy from cold blooded judges as a last priority?"
"Argh no!" Tonks replied, squinting her eyes shut and clasping her small hands over her ears.
Sirius chuckled. "Thought so."
"You are weird." Tonks whispered in horror, trying to squeeze opened an eye, but closing it back in haste as Sirius laughed once more.
"I know."
Hope you enjoyed it!
As I said earlier, reviews are loved :D