Title: Take Me Out Tonight
Chapter: 1
Author: Pheo
Rating: T
Spoilers: Yes; this takes place during the fall of Order of the Phoenix
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: This isn't the companion piece I've spoken of; "Moony Over Moony" and "Adoring Nymphadora" will hopefully be multi-chaptered fics once they are through. This is just another Rent-related fic that's been milling about both in my head and on my laptop for months! My other Rent-related R/T story, "Light My Candle," was a parody—but this is just some fluff. :)
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What's the time?
Well, it's gotta be close to midnight
My body's talking to me—
It says, "Time for Danger…"
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Nymphadora Tonks glanced at the clock for the hundredth time. Eight minutes to go. Stifling a yawn, she shook herself awake, determined not to get any sleepier than she already was. In eight minutes—scratch that, seven minutes, forty-five seconds—she would have an entire twenty-four hours of freedom. And after four straight nights of surveillance for the Order of the Phoenix, following long shifts at the Ministry, Tonks was ready to play.
As it was a Friday night, she'd been invited to loads of gatherings, from pub-hopping with a few fellow aurors to some wild bash McCleoud something or other was throwing, but nobody expected her to show.
She never did.
Even if her entire schedule wasn't taken up with Auror and Order duties, she knew better than to be out playing like a girl fresh out of Hogwarts. Her skin prickled when she thought of the rest of the Wizarding kind, out gallivanting like he wasn't back. Of course, to them, he wasn't.
Constant vigilance aside, her body ached for normalcy for just one night—one night to dance like the greatest threat to mankind really was just a rumor—one night to let her hair as wild and bright as she chose it to be—one night to just live.
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It says, "I wanna commit a crime…
Wanna be the cause of a fight!
Wanna put on a tight skirt, and flirt
With a stranger…"
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After her shift, Tonks apparrated to her flat and quickly changed into a funky, sparkly sweater, some torn jeans, and a pair of trainers. After wrapping her rainbow woolen scarf around her neck, she was ready to go. But where?
She really didn't feel like wading through water cooler talk all night with her fellow Aurors. She didn't feel like a party, either—where someone was bound to bring in elf moss or something worse she'd be forced to confiscate. No, she needed to go somewhere with no obligations, and where she wouldn't be recognized.
That said, Tonks wasn't about to go out alone. She was thirsty for some fun—not suicidal. But who the hell would be willing to go with her? Her first thought was one of the Weasleys, but with the elder two on missions and that matriarchal mother of theirs, she knew better than to ask if the twins wanted to go out.
Sighing in frustration, she decided to simply go to Grimmauld Place and see if there was anyone there ready and willing.
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I've had a knack from way back
At breaking the rules once I learn the game
Get up! Life's too quick
I know someplace sick
Where this chick'll dance in the flames
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Poor Sirius. Just the look on his face when he saw her nearly made her want to forget her plans and stay home with her housebound cousin.
"Bloody hell, Tonks, you can nearly see though that sweater of yours," he finally grumbled, swigging back a long drink of firewhiskey.
Glancing down at her attire, she grinned at him. "Getting all protective on me, cuz? How sweet."
He rolled his already-bloodshot eyes at her. "Going somewhere special?"
She shimmied her shoulders casually. "Maaaaybe." She pretended to look at a chipped pink fingernail. "Remus around?"
He sputtered out his drink, finally giving her a smile. "You don't let up, do you? Ah, what did I expect, you being a Black and all."
She rolled her eyes and placed a hand on her hip. "Look, Sirius, I just want to have one night out. I'm sorry you can't come—you know I'd ask you in a heartbeat if I didn't think you'd be killed on sight—don't look at me like that!"
He sighed and took a long pull from the bottle. "He's upstairs."
She nearly skipped away. "Thanks, cuz!" She nearly felt guilty, but when his rakish, "Bring me back a redhead, will you?" followed her up the stairs, she brightened again.
Remus Lupin, she thought, tonight, you are going to take me out!