It was 2 A.M. and Nymphadora Tonks was practically in hibernation on the stiff bed at 12 Grimmauld Place. It had been a long day of trivial housework and arguments between Sirius and Molly, so it wasn't surprising that Tonks passed out so easily.
She was far away, in a world no one but her could ever dream of, when there was a tapping at her window, startling her out of her peaceful dream. She rubbed at her face and sat up, staring at the window across the room as she let her eyes focus. When she was awake and could see well enough, Tonks slid her bare feet onto the shag carpet next to the bed and stood up. Making her way over to the window, she realized what had made the noise that had awoken her so suddenly, and she felt her blood rush to her cheeks. "Remus?!"
On the other side of the glass, Remus Lupin smiled, recognizing his name on her lips. He was seated on one of Sirius's old broomsticks, both hands gripping it tightly; he had never been a very good flyer nor was he too keen on levitating 20 feet in the air. But he wanted tonight to go exactly as planned, so he stuck it out. The things he did for romance.
Tonks made her way over to the window and attempted to open it manually, trying to keep her hands steady. Unfortunately, they weren't cooperating, so she pulled her wand out of her messy up-do and 'Alohomora'd the latch.
"Remus, what in bloody hell are you doing up here?" Tonks questioned, laughing at his antics.
He grinned. Oh, how she loved that smile. "I thought you might fancy a trip after the hard day you had!"
"A trip? To where?"
"Anywhere."
Tonks smiled and leaned out the second-story window, wanting to be closer to him. "So, what are you saying? You want me to jump out this window onto that thing and ride along with you into the great unknown?"
"I said, 'anywhere'," Remus challenged playfully. "I never said I didn't already have somewhere in mind."
Letting that thought process in her mind, Tonks turned back to the bedroom. She noticed the door into the hallway was unlocked, so she flicked her wand at it and rotated back around, facing him once more.
He looked at her with a hopeful spark in his eyes. "So?"
Dora glanced down at the hand he was offering her. She noticed it was trembling, probably with fear, considering he was no longer holding on with both hands. She grinned up at him, took his hand, and jumped off the sill and onto the back of the broom. It teetered with the sudden weight of another person, but quickly flattened out, calming Remus down.
He turned his head just enough so he could see the bubblegum-pink mop that was Dora's head and looked into her dark eyes.
"Tell me," she said, the smile in her voice apparent. "To where are you whisking me away?" The witch's question was met with a shout of "Hold on!" and wind rushing through her fluorescent hair. Remus laughed and relaxed at her squeal of delight, and leaned even more into the air, going faster than he ever had. Her happiness made him confident enough to overcome his fear, at least for the night.