Disclaimer: Don't own Remus () or Tonks or anything to do with Harry Potter but I can jolly well borrow them.
Note: this fic is set in ootp so Sirius is still alive and Tonks and Remus haven't realised they are destined. So this is my little idea on how Tonks came to see what was right in front of her face. Enjoy and please review.
Nice 'n' Easy
The night sky was dark and empty, the stars veiled by the lights of the city of London. Tonight Artemis, Greek goddess of the hunt and sister to Apollo god of the sun, remade the most precious object of the nighttime. The moon.
In the small garden of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place a man sat sipping a glass of red wine and reading a leather bound. The light of the lanterns that surrounded him glinted of the premature grey scatterings in his hair. The years had not been kind to him and although his face was unlined, he looked tired and haggard. Even his clothes were patched. Yet his eyes were bright as he scanned the words on the page. Closer to the door sat an old grammar phone spewing out old-fashioned music. The music faded away until it ended and the man flicked a long, smooth piece of wood – his wand – at it and the music started up again but this time a completely different tune.
Lets take it nice and easy"Wotcher Remus," chirruped a woman's voice.
Remus Lupin raised his tawny head from the pages as a young woman slid into the seat opposite. Tonight her hair was deep blue, falling in loose curls to her waist and wearing a dress of different blues that appeared to move as she did. Unusual but ravishing, Remus admitted to himself.
"Nymphadora," he greeted, enjoying the wince at her first name. However, for once, she did not complain about the use of her given name. Instead she continued to pour wine into a freshly summoned glass.
Its gonna be so easy"Bit old fashioned, innit?" she said, conversationally. "But then what would I expect." She grinned mischievously over her glass, cheeky dimples appearing in the heart shaped face.
Remus could not help but smile back. This woman was something else. Cheerful, playful, enchanting.
For us to fall in love"How was your date with… Jack was it?" He asked, brows furrowed as he recalled the name.
"No Jack was last week. I went to a nice Italian restaurant with Jake." She emphasised the man's name. Remus swirled his wine thoughtfully.
"I hope you don't mind me asking but why with the sudden influx of dates?"
Relax, girl, what's your hurry?
"Nothing wrong with playing the field," Tonks bit back, chin rising defiantly. The glow from the lanterns twinkled in her amethyst eyes.
"Absolutely," Remus reassured, watching her carefully. "It just seems like your getting a lot of field." The young witch snorted with laughter and Remus' insides gave a jump. He liked making her laugh. "Nymphadora, you're what? 25?"
"23," Tonks corrected proudly, tipping her glass towards him. God, Remus thought, thirteen years my junior. Remus hurriedly suppressed his thoughts and continued.
"23, exactly. You're an attractive young woman," her face broke into a huge grin at the word 'attractive'. "With your whole life ahead of you. What's your hurry?"
Sit back and don't you worryNymphadora Tonks leaned closer across the table, her perfume, light and exhilarating, drifted over on the cool night breeze.
"In case it escaped your notice," she whispered so that Remus too had to lean forward. Her face inches from his, her breath tickling his nose. "We are in the middle of a bloody war. 'My whole life ahead of me' may be a few years, few months, a few days even. We," she gestured with her hand. "Could be dead tomorrow and I for one do not want to miss a moment of life."
We're gonna fall in love, in love
Her words were completely true and it hurt Remus more than he thought that the woman opposite could, at any moment, disappear.
"So what exactly do you think you'll miss?" He asked.
Tonks let out a sigh as she leaned back again, arms gesturing around. Remus found he missed the closeness.
"Everything. Anything. The amount of times the Weird Sisters reach number one, the gigs I want to go to, will Ron and Hermione ever stop fighting." Remus smiled. "I suppose I want to see what love is like as well." Her eyes locked onto his, challenging but there was something else as well.
We're on the road to romance
That's safe to say
It was Remus' turn to sigh.
"So you're trying to find 'the one' before its too late?"
"Maybe."
Remus couldn't help but laugh, no giggle. Immediately a look of pure indignation crossed her face, patches of colour blooming on her pale skinned cheeks.
"What's so wrong with that?" she seethed. "I haven't been around as long as you so I haven't had the opportunity. What's so wrong with wanting to experience love?" She demanded, eyes blazing.
But lets make all those stops along the way
"Nymphadora, there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting that. The thing is that love often pops up when you least expect it, that's my experience at least." Tonks raised an eyebrow. "But we won't go into that just now," Remus finished hurriedly.
"Oh really Professor," Tonks teased, soothed, and the twinkle of mischief back in her eyes. Back to herself.
The problem now of course is
Remus swallowed a mouthful of wine, trying not to choke.
"So you think," the blue haired nymph before him continued. "That I should slow down and I'll find what I want right in front of my face."
To simply hold your horses
"Exactly."
"But how do I know that it's the real McCoy. Y'know, not some silly crush from spending too much time with someone because I'll be damned before I fall in love Kingsley." She shivered and pulled a face as though she had sucked a lemon.
Remus shrugged, his skin tingling. It wasn't that cold.
To rush would be a crime
"There should be a sign," Tonks continued as though she had never seen the rise and fall of his shoulders. "Something obvious. Like being struck by lightning." She imitated a lighting bolt with her hand, slamming her palm on the table. It was then that Remus began to wonder how much she had had to drink.
'Cause nice and easy does it everytime
Oh well, he was enjoying the conversation.
"No, I disagree," he said interrupting Tonks as she described other 'sign' all of which were incredibly obvious and involved some sort of pain. "A real sign should be something seemingly natural but on closer inspection amazing. When two people come together who are meant to be, destined if you will, then there should be a sign to say that this is fate. Something obscure, that you'd never see unless you are looking."
"Like what?" she asked, cocking her head to one side. Adorable, Remus realised.
We're on the road to romance
That's safe to say
"I don't know," he sat back, pulling his eyes away from her to gaze into the gloom. " Something beautiful, magical, which defiantly shouldn't hurt. A shooting star is a little too obvious. A spark where there's no fire perhaps, a sudden breeze, a day blooming flower opening in the depths night."
His eyes slid back to Tonks, expecting to find her in fits of laughter. Instead she was looking rather misty eyed.
But lets make all of those stops along the way
"That's actually quite sweet," she whispered and Remus felt his face grow hot. "You're quite the poet, Remus. How did you think of them?"
Again Remus shrugged.
"Maybe you're my muse," he laughed and Nymphadora gave him a lopsided grin that, in the lantern light, looked simply stunning.
The problem now of course is
The pair sat there for a few moments, enjoying the night and the wine. Nymphadora's fingers absently toyed with the glass and Remus was surprised she didn't send it flying.
"So what are you doing next week?" Remus asked, breaking the silence.
"I'm going out with Jake," she answered. "Don't worry I'm not going to completely ignore you. I'm not sure it's even a date. We're going to my mum and dad's for their annual get together. All their boring friends are going to be there." She eyed the book on the table. "I'm only taking Jake to avoid a speech about my inability to find a man. So you see, not a date, more like a social gathering."
To simply hold our horse
Her hand suddenly shot out and seized his wrist in a surprisingly strong grip, knocking over the wine bottle which was, thankfully, empty. Her hand was smooth compared to his calloused one, her fingernails were manicured but not long as they wrapped around his forearm. She leaned closer, blue waves falling in her face. He could smell her shampoo, herbal but sweet, and felt the heat radiating from her pale skin, almost white contrasting against his well-tanned face.
Cursing under her breath she read the time from his watch.
She drew back, taking with her her hand but her scent lingered. Something stirred in Remus, something that hinted at disappointment.
To rush, it would be a crime
Draining her glass Nymphadora Tonks rose from her seat.
"I have a double shift tomorrow," Remus frowned as she explained. The Ministry worked their Aurors too hard. "But this was nice," Tonks continued. "Next time I'll bring the wine."
Remus' heart lifted. A next time.
'Cause nice and easy does it
"Goodnight Remus," Nymphadora said, walking to the back door.
"Goodnight Nymphadora," he called.
The metamorphmagi shook her head at the use of her first name but she wasn't upset. Coming from Remus, her name sounded almost bearable. She passed the flowerbeds without glancing, thinking instead about how soft her bed would be. As the door clicked close behind her, she didn't notice the single day blooming rose, its petals a deep, blood red open in the depths of the night.
Nice and easy does it
Nice and easy does it everytime.
So what do you think? The song is Nice and Easy by Frank Sinatra, I know old but sometimes old(er) is good. Take Remus for example.
If you like this one perhaps you may want to read my other Tonks/Remus fic Echoes which is much more tragic but in a healthy sort of way.
Thankyou for reading my babble.
Please review. The button is right there.