Tonks stood at the food table staring longingly at her former tutor. She wasn't sure why or when it started but she had grown an attraction to Mad-eye and tonight she was going to seduce him. She was nervous.
Tonks was wearing a tight-fittedknee-length emerald-green dress with a lowv-line and emerald-greenhigh heeled shoes with diamonds etched onto the straps. She felt pretty confident she would at least catch his eye.
"You look nervous." A voice said from right next to her. She turned. It was Dumbledore. He picked up a bite-size sausage roll.
She quickly turned away from Mad-eye and eyed the food in front of her. None of which looked appealing. "Not really."
"Just go talk to him." Dumbledore said and Tonks' heart stopped. "I'm sure he can help with whatever is bothering you."
She let out a breath. So he didn't know why she was staring, thank Merlin.
She hesitated and decided just going over now would be less painful than talking to Dumbledore about Mad-eye. She was sure she'd lose her nerve.
Mad-eye spotted her almost immediately but didn't smile or look particularly happy. Tonks wasn't bothered since she knew he rarely smiled.
"Hello, Tonks." He said once she was right next to him. He was looking out at the crowd. Ever vigilant, she thought. His hands were behind his back and he looked miserable.
"Hi, Alastor." She said sweetly, coming to stand in front of him. She smiled when he looked down at her. When he didn't even glance at her cleavage she almost lost hope but she knew this wasn't going to be easy. "A kilt? I like it. Looks good on you."
She stared at the deep red colour of it for longer than necessary.
She could feel his eyes on her and when she looked up she saw he had an eyebrow raised. He hesitated. "Thank you, Tonks." He looked away again.
Tonks laughed, trying to ease the tension. "This is a party. Are you going to stand here all night?" She took a small step closer toward him while he was still looking over her head. After a second he looked down at her and she could have sworn his mechanical
eye glanced toward her cleavage. Her heart fluttered briefly. This is too easy, she thought.
"Someone needs to be vigilant." He said, looking away again. Tonks sighed despite herself. Mad-eye looked down and frowned at her. "Something wrong?"
Tonks hesitated, not sure what to say. "It would be nice to see you have fun. You rarely do these days." He kept staring at her so she kept talking. "You are very good at your job, surely you can stay vigilant while drinking some punch and having a conversation.
You look rather mechanical and...intimidating."
"Intimidating?" He asked and then hesitated. She could see the cogs turning in his head. "I guess...one drink wouldn't hurt." When Tonks smiled widely he quickly added, "non-alcoholic of course." But Tonks kept smiling.
"Of course." She almost grabbed his hand to pull him to the drinks table but she stopped herself in time. Unfortunately, Mad-eye saw her hand twitch toward his. He was still frowning but he followed when Tonks ushered him to the table.
She poured him a drink of pink juice and handed it to him. He took it but didn't drink straight away. Instead he stared at it for several seconds and sniffed it a few times. When he did drink he only took a tiny sip and then a bigger sip.
"Grapefruit. Lovely." He said and looked at Tonks. "Aren't you going to pour yourself one?"
She turned around hoping she wasn't blushing but her hair fluttered into her face while she poured a drink and she saw it was more red than pink, showing her desire. Luckily no one knew what it meant.
She turned to her old tutor and smiled and drank. Suddenly she felt awkward and uncoordinated. Just then a slow song played and her spirits lifted. "Want to dance?"
"I don't dance, Tonks. You know that." But his gaze flirted to the couples walking to the dance floor.
"Please, Moody." She didn't like begging but she hoped her puppy-eyes act would evoke a reaction from him. He looked at her but didn't move. "I want to dance."
"Ask someone else." He started to sound impatient so Tonks gave up, knowing irritating him won't get her anywhere.
A few seconds past when Mad-eye spoke up. "One dance. But that's it." He said, sounding reluctant. They didn't have long until the song was over. They put down their cups andwalked through the crowds and tables and reached the floor. Mad-eye hesitated,
probably realising he now had to dance.
Tonks decided to help him out. She stood up close to him without touching, took one of his hands and placed it on her waist. He blinked and his frown loosened the knot between his eyes. Tonks, now feeling more confident, took his other hand in hers and
placed her other hand on his shoulder. Slowly, they turned together butit was far from graceful. Tonks smiled, looking at Mad-eye.
"Relax your body." She said softly. He relaxed only a little and their movements continued to be stiff and slow. Their song ended but another slow song followed so they didn't let go.
"I told you one dance." Mad-eye said.
"Call that a dance?" Tonks smirked. "We only had half a song, if that. Just relax. Let me lead." She looked up at him through her eyelashes and moved in closer, pretending to use the proximity as a way to improve their dance.
Their turns became swifter, slowly, but not very much. Mad-eye relaxed only a little, watching his feet and Tonks' smiling face.
"That's it." She said, smiling sweetly. Only then did she realise their bodies were touching, gonot quite pressing together and her breath caught in her throat. All too soon, however, the song finished so they parted and Tonks heart sank.
"Thank you." She said and, while she was still so close and feeling bolder than before, she leaned up and placed a quick kiss on his cheek. She felt her face flush but that was nothing compared to Mad-eyes expression. He looked angry and confused all
at once. She froze right there in the middle of the dance floor just as he walked away. A few seconds later she followed suit.
Tonks found Mad-eye at the drinks table sipping from a clear plastic cup. It was full so she assumed he got a fresh cup.
"I'm sorry." She blurred out in a rush. "It was inappropriate and...I." She stopped. She wasn't sorry. Not at all. And she was
pretty certain her ever-vigilant ex-tutor knew just what she was up to by now. "I'm not sorry. I just...wanted to spend some time with you." She said.
"I guessed that." He said. "You've been acting strange for the last few months. Did you think I hadn't caught on?" He sipped his cup and avoided her eyes.
Tonks sighed and waited but he said no more. "Caught on to what?" She said, hoping he'll say exactly what he's thinking.
"That you want me for something." He replied.
Oh, Merlin. He thought she was using him for some reason. She almost laughed.
"I don't have ulterior motives. Not like you think, Alastor." She stepped so close to him their bodies were touching. She motioned for him to lean down so she could whisper in his ear. "I want you."
Mad-eye leaned back with a frown in his face. "What do you mean?"
Tonks placed a hand on his chest, slowly tucking it under his jacket. "What do you think I mean?" She slid her hand upward to land on his neck. She pressed herself closer and hmmed softly.
"Nymphadora." He warned, his voice low.
"Don't call me that." She growled through her teeth.
"Stop it." He said, though he made no attempt to move.
Her hand stayed by his neck while her other rested on his lapel. "Do you like my dress, Moody?" She looked up into his eyes, knowing her cleavage was on show for him.
"It's very nice." His voice sounded slightly hoarse. Very soon she'll have him around her little finger.
"It's not too low-cut, is it?" She pulled back slightly and glanced down at her breasts. She couldn't tell whether he had looked but his heart beat slightly faster against her hand.
"No." he said. His voice hadn't changed all that much but she could tell she was having a huge effect on him. She smiled sweetly.
"What would you say if I said I wore it for you?" She murmured, moving her hand further around his neck. His eyes never left hers.
"For me?"
I nodded. "For you, Alastor."
"I...don't know." He stammered.
Gotcha, she thought.
