Tonks sighed and lifted the wine glass to her lips once more. One last mouthful she promised herself. She had never really enjoyed wine, but as it was all her mother had; she made the decision that it wouldn't matter what alcoholic drink she had, as long as she could well and truly drown her sorrows in it.
Andromeda watched her daughter from the doorway to the lounge. Tonks had arrived only a few hours before; sat on the couch and demanded alcohol. She said she didn't give a fuck what it was, as long as it was strong. She was now on her eighth glass…
Tonks could feel her mothers gaze on her. She wasn't stupid; her mother was worried about her. But she wasn't about to pour her heart out to her mother. She never told anyone anything at all. She'd feel better soon enough, she always did.
Sirius glanced up at the clock, it was chiming. Midnight… he thought blearily reaching for another bottle of fire whisky. Tonks had left in the afternoon to visit her mum; she wanted to get out of the house. She'd be back soon; Tonks couldn't stand being with her mother when she was in a mood like she was when she left. He knew both women well enough to know that Andromeda would be silently watching her daughter, waiting for the confession which would never happen.
Right on half past twelve Tonks fell (literally) through the fireplace onto the floor.
"Mmmph" she said; rubbing her butt as she stood up.
"You okay?" Sirius asked. His eyes watching her, but slightly unfocused; maybe he'd had too many drinks, but it seriously looked like Tonks had brown hair.
He could see a blurry pale person with long dark brown hair cascading down her back, stumbling towards the lounge door.
"Uh Tonks… What happened to your hair?" Tonks stopped moving and reached a shaking hand to her hair.
"Oh fuck it." She swore. And closed her eyes scrunching up her face like she was concentrating; usually after a few seconds she would have bright pink hair, or a turned up little nose; at least something in her appearance would change.
But all that changed was that her cheeks became slightly pinker, and her eyes were flashing dangerously. She was mad… Sirius got out of the room as fast as he could. Nothing, nothing was worth being stuck in a room with an angry Tonks.Tonks had stumbled through the fireplace vaguely aware that Sirius was still up drinking. Probably not quite as drunk as her… but definitely drunk, she was not in the mood to talk, for once.
She made her way to the door. She wanted to get up to her room at Grimmauld Place as fast as she could, hoping like hell she wouldn't meet a certain werewolf on her way. But when Sirius had pointed out she was back to her natural state she was quick to try and change back to Tonks.
She hadn't been in her natural state since she was eight years old, and had finally managed to control her Metamorphmagising ability. She felt that her original, long brown hair and grey/blue eyes, pale smooth skin - matched the name Nymphadora.
She had changed her appearance to a more Tonks look… bright coloured hair, dark eyes and she left mostly everything else about herself the same.
She slowly began going up the staircase. Putting all her weight into the handrail; she really did not want to fall.
"Nymphadora…?" Remus asked his eyes widening. He was making his way down stairs when he heard a thump, thinking that Sirius had, had more than enough fire whisky; he was going to make him go to sleep. But it seemed as though Sirius wasn't the only one drinking a lot tonight… he couldn't believe his eyes.
That very morning he had woken to the normal Tonks bright pink hair, sparkling dark brown eyes and a mischievous grin on her face. In front of him now, was a dark haired Tonks, with grey/blue eyes and a depressed frown on her face.
She was wobbling, and clutching a half empty fire whisky bottle. (That she had grabbed off the floor on her way up, one couldn't hurt) she was slightly bigger in the bust, and hips. Not overweight, but not as small as she was normally… she was even ever-so-slightly taller now.
Remus grabbed her around the waist, as she wobbled dangerously, nearly falling down the stairs. He led her down the hallway to her bedroom and sat her on the bed. She slumped onto the bed grabbing his arm so he almost fell with her. She was giggling in a slightly scary way. And he noticed she was trying to get up again.
"Nymphadora you should just sleep…" he said quietly but firmly.
Tonks glared at Remus angrily. She was going to sleep. But not because he'd told her to! She knew she was thinking immaturely. The fire whisky bottle fell off the bed with a bang and rolled across the room hitting the open wardrobe door. Both of them watched until it stopped moving. Then Remus turned back to her.
She struggled to her feet. "I was g-getting my pajamas, you prick." She stuttered her eyes moving rapidly around the room. Where had she left them?
She snatched up some boxers and her favourite Weird Sisters T shirt. Remus was staring at her open mouthed. She was too tired to tell him to leave the room. She stripped to her bra and underwear and put on the boxers and t shirt. Remus turned away from her bright red.
It was then as she looked across the room, she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror and she realized she was in her natural state still. Oh Merlin! Now what would he think of her?
Remus turned back around to face her when he was sure she was finished dressing. She was seriously drunk, and would probably regret her actions tomorrow. He wondered who she'd been out drinking with; she hadn't stayed and gotten drunk with Sirius. He could smell muggle wine and fire whisky on her breath.
She was standing frozen on the spot looking at herself in a full length mirror across the room. Her eyes were wide and scared. "I-I ha-ha I look f-funny" She said stuttering, and looking utterly mortified. She wasn't finding this funny at all.
She was sobering up fast now that Remus had seen her like she really is. Had she just gotten dressed in front of him? He was probably really embarrassed. Her head was still swimming. She felt sudden tears well up in her eyes.
Everything was getting too much for her, first Darryl at work, then her mother pressuring her. "What's wrong Nymphadora? I think you've had enough to drink…" Her mother had said. And took the wine bottle from her hands
Remus felt conflicting emotions. One was to jump her; she looked so cute standing in her little pink boxers and a rumpled white T-shirt. The Second was to hug her, she needed comforting right now. The third, well the third was to bloody well run!
He listened to the second emotion, and he put his arms around her in a friendly hug. She clung to him, like her life depended on it. He gently led her back to the bed. He would let her sleep, and find out what was wrong in the morning.
He tucked her into bed like a child, her wide eyes frightened, a few tears leaking from the corners which she kept swiping at.
"What must you think of me now? Oh Merlin" she said so softly, that he could hardly hear her. He pushed her long hair off her face and gently touched her cheek.
"I think you should sleep"
She sighed heavily. "Not-a-child" she said slowly. Then rolled onto her side, her back facing him "Please, stay here…" she said in such a vulnerable, innocent voice that, that is exactly what he did.
"Good night Nymphadora" he muttered after conjuring a comfy chair to rest in until she woke.