Melt

The money was all but dried up. Remus laid out on a park bench in the middle of London, taking a deep breath. He would have to apparate somewhere remote when the full moon was approaching. And maybe, just maybe, he could make the money stretch with food to pay for some potion and make transformation just a little easier. He looked through the Daily Prophet, crossing out repeat jobs under the classifieds and circling new ones. Snape had really done a number on his prospects. The problem with his condition leaking to parents was that those parents had friends, and friends of friends. There didn't need to be some exposé in the papers for it to be bandied about that Remus Lupin wasn't to be trusted.

He had done several weeks of working in a muggle shop. It wasn't great pay, but it seemed to be going well. Then, when he mentioned having to take a week off for the second time in two months, his manager sat him down.

"Look, Remus, you're a great worker," he said. "But we can't have someone who won't be reliable."

"It's just my dad, see," Remus said. "He's sick… and lives up in Scotland…"

"I'm sorry, but I can't give you more than two days," the manager said. "We're too small an operation."

"I understand," Remus said with a sigh.

Other werewolves would have just done memory charms on their muggle employers, if they were willing to work for muggles; one before they left, one when they came back. They would consistently manipulate in this way, making it possible to work for a while. They would do the same with landlords, making them forget they even had a property or make them think they had been paid. But Remus couldn't bring himself to any of those tricks. Besides the fact that he wouldn't let others pay the price of the lousy lot he had been handed, he had heard too many stories of the Department for the Improper Use of Magic catching wind of those tactics and arresting the perpetrators. It wasn't uncommon for the prosecution in their legal proceedings to paint them as luring innocent muggles into trusting them so that they would have a decent meal the coming full moon.

And so Remus was thinking through where he could go to get decently washed up after sleeping on a bench and before going into the Ministry the next day. There was an advertisement for a consulting position in the Auror Department. It emphasized: must have experience or extensive knowledge of werewolves, vampires, and giants. Well, at least he had one of three. And he wasn't terribly shabby with the others either. He wasn't exactly in a position to be picky. The Ministry might pay well enough for him to get a muggle flat outside of town for a few months. It was as likely as not that he would end up back on this bench whenever that stint was over, but it was another few months of productivity. And Remus would give anything to be productive at the moment.

He pulled a large coat tighter around him. It was still September and it was already getting to be chilly. He laid the paper over his face and closed his eyes, one arm bent and the hand resting beneath his head.

It hadn't been long enough to fall asleep properly when there was a growling from beneath him. Remus scrambled up, reaching for his wand, looking frantically around him as it stopped. His eyes were wide, but wouldn't adjust, blinded by the lamp post right ahead of him. He narrowed them instead, rubbing his forehead, wondering if he was just hearing things.

With a bark, a large black dog ran out from under the bench and turned to look at him. Remus leaned back, letting out a breath.

"Really?" he asked.

Sirius just barked at him again, tail hanging down as Remus looked around them, half worried Aurors would jump out at any moment. What was Sirius doing back in England? Let alone in a muggle park in the middle of the largest city, where there were likely Ministry members around nearly every corner. Remus didn't bother asking, though. He couldn't bring attention to Sirius. If anyone recognized him, it would raise odd questions at the very least.

Sirius barked again and turned to walk down the pavement, towards the street. Remus looked around once more before he began following, digging his hands into his pockets, one gripped on his wand. Sirius kept circling him, jumping up playfully to nip at his elbow.

"Keep a distance," Remus hissed. He wondered what it would look like: a man following a stray-looking dog this way. "Come on, you're just flaunting it."

Sirius nudged up against his knee before trotting ahead, keeping decent spacing as he turned various corners. Remus wasn't sure where they were going until he saw the street sign for Grimmauld Place, and it sunk in. None of them had ever been to the Black home with Sirius. They wouldn't have ever been welcomed, of course. The Potters were the ones they crashed with, if it was with anyone one of their homes in the summer, though there was once James had come to his house before fourth year.

Remus hung behind, watching as Sirius walked towards number thirteen. He turned once on the stoop and barked, waiting for Remus to move again before entering the house. Remus took his time, double and triple checking that he hadn't been followed. There were conspiracy theories among the underground werewolves that the Ministry had a whole undercover department to keep tabs on them, watching for them to commit some offense or another.

He moved up the steps and opened the door. Sirius was already himself again, standing just inside on a landing a few steps up, holding onto some curtains.

"Quietly," Sirius whispered. He nodded his head down a hallway. "Kitchen's down that way."

Remus followed his instruction and lit his wand, the light casting eerie shadows on the mounted heads and musty carpets of the house. Remus stopped as he saw some vermin scurry by. Sirius was right behind him by the time they made it into the kitchen.

Sirius pulled out his own wand, flicking a fire to life in the hearth and examining the dusty remains of a once proud space. He took a heavy breath, then turned towards Remus with a smile.

"Good to see you," Sirius said.

Remus couldn't help but smile back, even through his worry. "You, too," he replied. "What are you doing here, though? You should be staying well out of this country. I thought Dumbledore—"

"There's strange things happening," Sirius said. He began shuffling around, pulling out old dishes, rummaging around and casting charms here and there. "Besides, Dumbledore has someone in the Ministry making the others chase their tails with me. So to speak. I came by to see how you were doing, but you weren't here."

"No, I wasn't," said Remus.

"Why not?"

Remus licked his lips and rubbed the back of his head. "I couldn't, you know, just crash here."

"Why not?" Sirius repeated.

"Look, I'm thankful, but it's just—"

"Don't be an idiot," Sirius cut him off. "Just stay here. After that pus-faced git outed you that way… I swear, I'll make sure he pays."

"It's not Snape's fault," Remus said.

Sirius scoffed, pulling out a bottle of scotch and sitting with two glasses. "You mean he wasn't the one that left slip—"

"It's not his fault what I am."

Sirius looked at him grimly, narrowing his eyes. "It's not your fault either, Moony."

Sirius poured them both a glass, pushing one over to Remus. It had been a long time since Remus had anyone worried about him. Well over a decade. There was something nice about it. And terrifying. He had gotten used to not just caring for himself, but protecting others from worrying about him.

"So, how's life in London been?" Sirius asked.

"You know, lots of job hunting. Every time I think I have something decent, it's pulled out from under me," Remus said with a half smile. "It's almost unfair what Dumbledore did, hiring me. I had a real job for a whole year. With an understanding supervisor. And money. Just enough to make it hurt now, thinking of it."

Sirius nodded.

"But what about you?" Remus said. "What strange things?"

"Rumors," Sirius said. "I stay near wizarding communities where I can, even when I'm not around here. And then Harry wrote and said he'd had a sort of dream. Wanted some advice."

Remus felt a stab of jealousy. Sirius was Harry's godfather, of course. Had he been cleared, he would have been able to actually care for him. Something Remus never would have been able to manage, even if anyone was insane enough to entrust a boy's life in the hands of a werewolf. But James had been his friend, too. Getting to know Harry was one of the best parts of his job at Hogwarts. Hadn't he been there all year? Helping him with the dementors? And getting him out of trouble with Snape? He hated the regret that lingered in wishing Harry had written to him about whatever advice he had been after.

"So you're delivering that in person?" Remus said, swallowing all of that back. Sirius had lived friendless as long as he had, after all.

"Sort of," Sirius said. He slumped back in his chair and Remus could almost see his old friend in the gesture. "I've been waiting for Dumbledore to get back to me. I think I'll find a place to hole up as Padfoot around Hogsmeade. I just feel like I should be nearby at the moment."

"James would have liked that," Remus said.

They both sat in silence, chewing on the comment for a while.

"I sent Kreacher to get us some decent food," Sirius said.

"Kreacher?"

"The slimy little house elf of my dear ol' mum's," Sirius said. He circled the rim of his glass with a finger. "Still alive, apparently. I'll have to figure what to do with him. If I let him go, there's nothing to keep him from tramping off to my cousin Narcissa. Nothing to keep him from going to Andromeda either, but I somehow doubt he'll bother with my sensible family members, you know. I'll make sure to give him orders to do whatever you need while I'm gone."

Remus sat up straighter. "No, Sirius, that's generous, but—"

"You were going to sleep on a bloody park bench like some blimey tramp," Sirius said, raising his eyebrows. "I mean, I know this isn't some palace, but at least you would have a roof over your head."

Remus swallowed. "Yeah, alright," he said. "I guess… I could do that."

"If it really bothers you, a little upkeep might be nice in exchange," Sirius said. "I'll try and pop down here time to time. I'm a bit rusty on apparating, but once I see what's happening up near Hogwarts, I don't know that I'll be there all the time. You alright on funds?"

"Sure, I can get by."

Sirius gave a wry grin. "Liar."

"I'll be fine. I've got a couple prospects. You just worry about not getting caught, right?"

Sirius nodded. After finishing their drinks, Remus and Sirius moved upstairs, looking through the different rooms, assessing which were the least horrible after years of vacancy. Sirius's room was actually the best, apparently because of various charms he had placed to thwart his mother's making it easy to rid it of his stuff at the very least. Eventually, they found a guest room that only had a ghoul inside. Once rid of that, Remus laid out on the bed.

"A mattress," he sighed.

"Been a while?" Sirius asked. Remus opened one eye to shoot him a glare. "I suppose I'll just let you and the mattress enjoy one another's company, then. The kitchen will be stocked whenever you need some food."

Sirius closed the door.

Remus was sure he wouldn't stay, but for now it wasn't half bad to be in a real bed. Like a real person.

"What's wrong?" Hancock asked.

Tonks pulled herself out of her thoughts again, but it was too late. He'd noticed. "Nothing," she said, hoping he'd drop it. No such luck.

"That's the third time you've just zoned out on me," he said.

"Maybe you should try being more interesting."

Hancock narrowed his eyes at her. "Come on, tell me what's up?"

Tonks swallowed, then turned and grabbed the returned owl from her top drawer, holding it out to Hancock.

"Okay," he said, reading the letters addressing it to Alastor Moody. "So… you're worried about sending it?"

"Mab, how did you ever get through the academy," Tonks said. "No, it came back."

He gave her a blank stare.

"There's something wrong," Tonks said, spelling it out for him. "When have you ever heard of an owl not getting a letter to its addressed person? Intercepted, sure, but returned post?"

"You know they're having the Tri-Wizard Tournament this year, right?"

Several articles appeared at the start of term, but of course they had heard about this before. Even though the Aurors had little to none to do with the event, the news had spread like wildfire.

"I don't see what that has to do with this."

"They've probably upped security, Tonks. It probably just didn't get through whatever they did with that," said Hancock.

"Upped security to the point that letters don't get through?"

"Or Moody put blocks on correspondence."

Tonks scoffed.

"Look, I know you don't like to hear this, but just because he liked you in the academy doesn't mean he isn't Moody outside of that," Hancock said quietly.

"Meaning?"

"Meaning I could see him blocking letters to make sure his enemies couldn't send him something nasty."

"But this isn't some enemy," Tonks said. "It's me!"

"You really think he's gonna bother to filter?"

Tonks sat back, folding her arms.

"Tonks, don't get like that." Hancock leaned forward. "I'm not trying to make you feel worse. Moody was cool to hear war stories from, but he's not exactly the warm and fuzzy type, is he? Besides, don't you think you would have heard about it by now if something was wrong? It's not like he's living alone anymore. There's other professors and the headmaster. If he wasn't there, I think they'd take notice."

Hancock turned back to pin up a clipping from a muggle tabloid, talking about a sighting of Sirius Black, which was clearly a fuzzy picture of a woman in a dark wig. How that stuff passed by even the dumbest muggle, she would never know.

Tonks sighed, putting the unopened letter back into her drawer. Hancock was right, but it still didn't sit right with her. There was something nagging her about Moody since she saw him that morning before he left, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

But Hancock was here and waiting for her to help. There were other things to get onto and worrisome people to deal with she could actually name. Tonks strove to focus, leaning forward and concentrating on the latest reports concerning Sirius Black. Once they had exhausted those, they made a list of things to update Shacklebolt on when he was done with whatever meeting he was in completed.

Tonks turned back to her own space, working on other reports, sifting through a dozen or so inquiries into a house that was showing possible haunted qualities. It could be something more nasty, of course, which was why it ended up in her desk instead of with the Ghoul Removal team. Then there was paperwork to finish up on the arrest of Howard Tuglebury. She wasn't looking forward to that trial one bit.

They were just past mid-morning when Shacklebolt came into their area, a man at his shoulder. Tonks expected him to say this was another person here to give them a tip on something or another. Another Sirius Black sighting, perhaps.

"Tonks, Hancock, I wanted you to meet Remus Lupin," Shacklebolt said.

Tonks turned, taking him in. He was a bit older, though strange scars across his face accentuated this where she couldn't safely say just how much. He had shaggy, dusty blond hair and he was wearing worn out robes, giving him the appearance as someone who hadn't been out shopping in several years. His smile was soft, apprehensive, and just a little tight. He reached out taking Tonk's hand.

"Wotcher," she said with a nod, returning his grip.

Remus turned to Hancock, who held back his hand a moment, looked at Shacklebolt, then finally offered it.

"Remus will be working with Dawlish on the werewolf and vampire groups that have appeared to be organizing in the north," Shacklebolt said.

"New Auror then?" Tonks asked.

"Not quite," Remus said, that paper thin smile faltering. "Just consulting until I'm no longer needed."

"If you have anything that seems pertinent, he will be the go to on it," Shacklebolt said, clamping a hand on Remus's shoulder. "Just keep it in mind."

"Got it," Tonks said.

Shacklebolt turned as Remus gave one more nod and followed Shacklebolt for the rest of the rounds.

"Why would they bring someone like that in?" Hancock asked in a hiss.

Tonks tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

"My dad told me 'bout him," Hancock said. "Worked at Hogwarts last year. Quit before they could give him the boot, but practically one in the same."

"So?"

"So, didn't you hear about that?" Hancock asked.

"Get on with it," Tonks said with a sigh.

"He's a werewolf," Hancock said, leaning towards her.

Tonks looked back to where Shacklebolt had taken Remus, but they were long gone by now. Probably a few cubicles down, making more introductions. "Really?" Tonks said. "That's rather interesting, don't you think?"

"Interesting?" Hancock said, his upper lip lifted. Disturbed. "They have us working with him, and you think it's interesting?"

"Well if he was working at Hogwarts he couldn't be all that dangerous," Tonks said with a shrug.

"Why do you think he was going to get the sack?"

Tonks scoffed. "I think you listen to too many rumors."

"I got the information straight from my dad. That guy's not good news."

Tonks rolled her eyes, turning back to her caseload. "My mum always told me not to decide on people based on what everyone else is saying."

"That might be well and good for everyone else," Hancock said. "But I would never trust a werewolf."

Tonks bit the inside of her cheeks. It wasn't going to matter what she said. She wasn't surprised by the sentiment, exactly. Hancock was pretty straight forward with what he thought, but then Remus's uncertain smile came to her mind. Remus must know some people felt this way. She looked around, hearing Shacklebolt making another introduction for Remus somewhere near their cubicle. She hoped he hadn't heard Hancock.

October seemed to fly by. Tonks and Hancock were getting more involved in each other's cases beyond Black as false claims of seeing him subsided week by week. It was strange to Tonks that Shacklebolt seemed bent on them spending all their time on tips far away, where more local claims were either left alone or he took them on.

"He probably just doesn't want two new Aurors tackling anything this big on their own," Hancock countered when she posed the issue to him.

"I don't know."

"You're just seeing conspiracies where there aren't any," Hancock said certainly. "Just like someone else we both know."

These little accusations had grown to be said with teasing shoves of the elbow rather than annoyed exasperation. Tonks rolled her eyes at him, though it did bring to mind a second owl that went and came back. She started to think of who else she could contact at Hogwarts just to see, but shook herself from the temptation. As much as Tonks hated to admit it, Hancock was right. Moody probably didn't imagine anyone would want to write him and did some sort of enchantment to keep the owls from finding him. Tonks hadn't told him she would keep in touch, after all.

"You coming to the Leaky Cauldron?" Hancock asked one evening as they put all of their files away. "Meyers and Dawlish said they were going. I can wait for you."

"Yeah, I'll be there, but don't worry about waiting," Tonks said. "I need to stop into Bower's jewelry and pick up something for my mum's birthday first."

"I can go with—"

"Oh, please, I can manage," Tonks waved Hancock off. "Seriously, I'll be right behind you."

"Alright," Hancock said.

He turned and left as Tonks tried to tidy up a bit more. The murmurs of the office dissipated and she finally made her way towards the lift. She was nearly to the door when she noticed a lone figure hunched over their desk in the last cubicle.

"Wotcher, Remus," Tonks said. "Burning the midnight oil?"

"Just catching up from last week," he said, not looking up from a chart spread out across the table top.

"A bunch of us are headed to the pub. Robards is a right laugh when he gets a few in him," said Tonks.

"Oh, I don't know if I should" Remus said. He had that same tentative smile from their first greeting. "There's all this to get done."

Tonks leaned against the cubicle wall and just raised an eyebrow. "You suspect goblins gonna come mess your stuff about if you don't do it now?"

Remus turned towards her, confused. She just smiled at him until he eased up. "Really, no one wants—"

"I do," Tonks said. "Come on. I know you're planning on moving on from us and everything, but you might as well get to know everyone."

Remus turned back to the chart with a deep, heavy breath. He was already shaking his head, though he hadn't turned the invitation down just yet.

"Is it because you're a werewolf?" Tonks asked. Remus turned back to her, shock and uncertainty registering on his face. "You are, right? That's the rumor going around."

"Yes," he said, brows knit.

"Then why do you look so shocked?"

"No one ever just… says it," Remus said. "Not like that."

"Like what?"

"Like it doesn't matter."

Tonks swallowed, uncomfortable as his eyes were searching hers. They were so friendly, so gentle. Tonks couldn't imagine how anyone could get a half decent look at this bloke and not be willing to at least see what he was like. Werewolf or not.

"Well, it's not the full moon," she said. "And unless you were planning to visit my gran and cook her up for dinner, I think we're good. Yeah? Come on, then. Come get a drink with us. If you get real worked up, I'll let you take a chunk out of Hancock. He could use a little humbling."

Remus was biting the inside of his cheek, appearing to be pushing back a smile, as he turned and packed everything up. He grabbed a shabby looking cloak and they started to walk towards the lift with one another.

"Wasn't your hair blue this morning?" Remus asked.

"Oh, yeah," Tonks said. "I was feeling more purplish this afternoon."

"Charm?"

"No," Tonks replied. She closed her eyes tightly, her mouth tweaking to the side as she concentrated, imagining what she wanted to alter as she lengthened her hair, making it the same neon blue color as the morning. She opened her eyes and looked at Remus. He was grinning.

"Metamorphmagus?" Remus asked.

"Exactly. See? I know a thing or two about transforming as well," she told him.

He actually laughed at this, shaking his head at her bad joke. They made it up to the main level of the Ministry and Remus had to stop off to sign out officially.

"Is that because you're a contractor?" Tonks asked.

"It's because I'm… because of what I am," Remus said. "They weren't going to hire me at first. Scrimgeour wasn't so sure about me. Dawlish is in charge of the werewolf investigations and he thought I might be some double agent."

"You're kidding," Tonks said, a lip lifted in disgust. The assumptions people made were terrible.

"No. Shacklebolt got involved," Remus said as they stepped out onto the street, walking against a strong wind. "He talked about how I had a good reference from Dumbledore and spoke to my record. Other than all the job changes, of course. And he pointed out that having someone with an in like me would be something they couldn't get from anyone else. Signing in and out was just a concession to getting the job."

"That's unbelievable," Tonks said.

"Believe me, it could be worse," Remus said. "What about you? Where are you from?"

"My parents live just outside Bath, but I haven't exactly been there a lot. Less than my mum would like at least. Lived in London since being accepted to the academy. You live around here?"

Remus took a moment before answering. "Sort of," he said. "I'm staying with a friend at the mo. If I stay with the Ministry long enough, I'll try getting my own place."

They chatted back and forth all the way to Diagon Alley. He came with her to the jeweler's where she double checked that the bracelet was as ordered, then led the way to the Leaky Cauldron. They had walked side-by-side the entire way, but Tonks noticed Remus hanging back a little as they approached he pub. She reached out, hooking her hand around his elbow and forcing him level with her.

"There might be some of them not happy to see me," Remus warned.

"They can eat bollocks, then," Tonks said. "Come on."

He relented as they entered. Several of the Aurors sat around a large table, most with mugs and drinks in hand already. Some of them cheered and raised a glass at Tonks's appearance. Hancock ushered her next to him, where he had saved her a chair, and Tonks pulled over another one to squeeze between her and Williamson and ordered a drink for her and Remus.

Everyone around the table chatted and bantered back and forth. It was Halloween, which the Prophet had announced was the date of the choosing of champions for the Triwizard Tournament. They wouldn't see the results until morning, of course. Meyers had heard through the grapevine that one task was being worked with the mermaids that lived at the Hogwarts lake, but they all bounced around ideas of what else they might be required to do.

"You have a kid there, don't you Lambert?" Tonks asked.

"Two," she replied. "But they aren't old enough, thank god."

"I wished they had had one when I was there," Hancock said.

"Wanted to test your mettle?" Tonks asked him with a raised eyebrow.

"I could have managed," Hancock said. "I mean, only one's selected, so it's not likely I would have gotten the chance anyway."

"We should do it," Tonks said, slapping a hand down on the table. "We should start an interoffice contest. Whatever the champions do, we all compete and see who would have done the best."

"You were in Gryffindor, weren't you?" Shacklebolt asked with a laugh.

"Watch your mouth," Tonks said, pointing threateningly at him. "Hufflepuff. And damn proud of it."

Everyone laughed, throwing in which house they had been in, jabs and jaunts being thrown back and forth in the process.

"What about you, Lupin?" Williamson finally asked, grasping his shoulder. "Staying awful quiet, aren't you?"

He had a half smile on, but continued to lean back in his chair, ever the quiet observer. Tonks looked at him, smirking with one eyebrow raised at him.

"Gryffindor," Remus said. A cheer rose from the other Gryffindors at the table as others, including Tonks, jeered and booed. Remus smiled wide.

"With Sirius Black," Hancock said. The laughter was dying away and Remus looked right, passed Tonks. She leaned back in her chair, looking at Hancock, too. He didn't have the joking demeanor as the rest of them. "Am I wrong about that? You were friends with him, weren't you?"

Remus cleared his throat. "Yes, that's right."

"What house were you in, Hancock?" Dawlish asked, but Hancock ignored it.

"Does he keep in touch?" Hancock asked. Everyone was silent by now. "I mean werewolves do seem to be the kind of company he would keep, doesn't it?"

Tonks narrowed her eyes at Hancock.

"Orion," Williamson said in a low voice. "I don't think now—"

"It's alright," Remus said. "It's getting late."

He pulled out a small coin purse, laying a few on the table as he stood.

"Come on, you don't need to go," Tonks said.

"Oh, I think I've more than worn out my welcome," Remus said. He wouldn't look at her. "Enjoy your Halloween, all."

Everyone sat in silence for a moment. Tonks shot Hancock another glare, but he was avoiding her eye much how Remus had a moment before. She stood, grabbing her cloak and rushed towards the front door of the pub.

"Remus!" she shouted as she pushed it open. She squeezed through, running after his silhouette. Rain was pattering down on them, fog surrounding thick and heavy. Tonks covered her head uselessly with one hand. Remus turned and waited. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," he said and she wondered how someone could remain so calm after what Hancock had said. "Thank you for inviting me. Really, it was… it was nice."

"Well, let's go get something to eat," Tonks said. "Or we can find a muggle pub."

"You've been more than accommodating," Remus replied. He smiled, then looked up and stopped. When he looked back, he licked his lips, unable to meet her eye again. "Thanks again."

He turned and walked away. Tonks took a deep breath, wishing she knew what to say. She could understand why he wouldn't bother sticking around after a comment like that: completely unfounded and beyond rude. She stood, watching as his figure disappeared.

"Tonks?"

She turned. Hancock was right behind her. Tonks folded her arms across her middle.

"I'm going home," she said. "I need to go pay."

"I took care of it," Hancock said, reaching out to catch her by the elbow. "Can I walk you home?"

"No," Tonks said, yanking her arm away from Hancock and walking down the street. Hancock stayed right on her heels. "That was damn out of line."

"My uncle was a couple years behind him and his friends," Hancock said. "Him and Sirius Black ran in the same crowd."

"I don't see how it matters," Tonks snapped, turning the corner. It wasn't even the right way to her flat. She just wanted to ditch Hancock. "You were being an ass and you know it!"

"I just… I couldn't stand watching him with you tonight!" Hancock said.

Tonks turned abruptly and he skidded to a halt right in front of her. "With me?"

"He kept looking at you," Hancock replied.

"Kind of hard not to do when we were sitting right next to each other," she said.

"It's not just that," Hancock said. He licked his lips. "Tonks, I don't want to see you get mixed up with someone like him."

"Mixed up?" Tonks said, laughing derisively. "I just invited him out to a work gathering! Something any of you should have done, by the way. What do you think is happening?"

"He fancies you!" Hancock shouted. It was so unexpected that Tonks couldn't even find words to reply, the gentle plucking of water hitting the ground growing louder. "Tonks, he obviously fancies you."

"I've had a whole of three conversations with him," Tonks said, shaking herself from the surprise of his outburst. The whole idea of it was ridiculous. "And honestly, why do you care if he did? So what if—"

Hancock grabbed her face in his hands, his lips pressed against hers. Tonks had never been the type to fall apart at the seams around men. She had only been kissed once. Bradley Davis—her crush since her third year at Hogwarts—kissed her one night in the astronomy tower when they were sixteen. By the next day his girlfriend had gotten back together with him and Bradley was begging Tonks not to tell anyone about it. It had been a mistake, he said. Tonks wasn't the type of girl who the blokes wanted.

Tonks never knew kissing could be like this. Hancock's fingers from his right hand dug into her long, blue hair as his left snaked around her middle, tugging her into him. Her own were on his chest, uncertain of what to do. Her lips followed his as she closed her eyes. He pulled her closer, Tonks on her toes to accommodate. And she melted. The chill of the October night sky could have been a sunny June afternoon. She seemed impervious to the rain. Hancock turned, moving her back against the brick wall, continuing to consume her. When he broke away, he kept his face close to hers. It took Tonks a moment to open her eyes, catching her breath.

"If you're going to be with someone from work," he started, then licked his lips. "I was hoping it would be me."

They looked at each other for another couple moments before Hancock let go, turning and walking off before Tonks could pull herself back together again. She watched him walk away, pressing her lips together and wondering whether or not she had just imagined that. But her skin still tingled from where he had held her. Her lips still burned with the feeling of his.

Tonks stood in the pouring rain for several more minutes before moving to a better place to apparate, taking her thoughts home to parse through there.