A little inspired by Dido's song Thank You.
"Oh, Jesus Christ!" Tonks yelled.
She had just tripped over the revolting troll leg umbrella stand for the umpteenth time that week. Usually Tonks would simply roll her eyes and pick it up, but this time she had reached the end of her tether. She was currently trampling through a horrible week, and would it really be too much to ask to not have to be so clumsy in the process? The irony of the situation was that an umbrella had been just what she needed fifteen minutes ago, walking through London in the rain, and it was as if the world were mocking her. According to Moody, they had to walk in to the square now, so that the inhabiting Muggles wouldn't grow suspicious. Now Tonks was drenched to the bone.
A little tearfully, she slammed the stand back in to an upright position. Right on cue, the curtains that concealed Mrs Black's portrait ripped open, and her screams tore through the air.
"Shut up!" Tonks shrieked as she closed the curtains.
"Er, are you all right?" A timid voice asked.
Tonks whirled around, a snappy retort on the tip of her tongue. Then she stopped. Remus was stood in front of her, his amber eyes a little anxious looking. Tonks sniffed.
"I'm fine," She muttered.
"No you're not," Remus said kindly, he paused, "It's just us here. Well, Sirius is sulking upstairs somewhere but... I'll put the kettle on, shall I?" He offered.
"Yes, please," Tonks nodded. Then she burst in to tears.
"What is it?" Remus cried in alarm.
"It's just been a- a bad week," Tonks explained through her sobs.
"Come on," Remus ushered, taking her by the elbow and leading her to the kitchen.
Tonks sat down at the table and dabbed her eyes on her sleeve as Remus bustled around making tea. She watched him. Remus was lovely, she decided. He was always so good natured and warm. For a while Tonks had nursed a small soft spot for him in her heart, but then she realised it was just a silly, pointless crush. He was a much older man, what would he want with her? So she had moved on. But now... God, had he always been that gorgeous?
Tonks shook her wet, bubble gum pink hair like a dog, trying to distract herself from the thoughts currently running through her mind. Rain drops flecked the wooden table as she did so, spraying Remus in the process as he walked over with a tray of tea.
"Sorry," Tonks muttered.
"It's quite all right," Remus smiled. He set down the tea.
"Thanks," Tonks sighed, reaching for a mug, "This is really nice of you. I'm sorry for the shouting and the crying and the- the rain."
"We all have our bad days," Remus reasoned, "Here." He flicked his wand and Tonks felt the damp leave her clothes. She was suddenly filled with warmth.
"Bloody Moody and his regulations," Tonks mumbled in to her tea.
They both sat in silence for a while, broken each second by the ticking of a clock. Tonks sipped on her tea. Bad cups of tea were one of her pet hates, but Remus had made hers perfectly. She hadn't even told him how she liked it, but somehow Remus had got it right. He took a bar of chocolate from his pocket and started breaking it in to pieces.
"Remus," Tonks said, "Do you think I'm... a little scatty?"
"What?" Remus laughed.
"The others, they think I'm a bit all over the place. I mean, I know I'm clumsy and sometimes a little too chirpy, but I can do my job. I think they see me as a bit of a novelty though, you know, comic relief. I try to be serious but it gets boring," Tonks sighed.
"I think you are fine, just the way you are," Remus said firmly.
Tonks felt her face brighten in to a smile. He hadn't said perfect, or amazing, or anything like that at all. But he thought that she was fine, just the way she was, and that was the best compliment Tonks had had all week.
