Look, I know this chapter may not add much to the actual story, but I wanted to write it. Tonks needed someone else to open up to and who else but Mad-Eye? I liked the idea, okay? It might be a HUGE mistake. but I also wanted to write about her Christmas shopping!
Anyway, don't tell me I should make more happen because it will in the next chapter. This was just me messing around a bit, but I felt it should go up anyway.
Oh and, no, I don't own any of the characters or names. Surprised?
The days began to get shorter and colder. In the Auror office, things were getting a little mad. Tonks was helping to prepare the Christmas office party without much enthusiasm. She was not sure whether she wanted to go or not. She had been distant lately with her co-workers, and knew how Kingsley had felt. She thought maybe others were under the impression she was leading a double life and sometimes she felt that way herself.
The first day of snow was one of huge celebration. After the sweltering summer and humid autumn, the freezing temperatures were welcomed with open arms. Tonks, now working under Dawlish, filing reports she had received from the Obliterators. Even after a year and a half, the Quidditch World Cup was causing problems, not to mention countless problems in between. It was boring work, but allowed her mid to be free for other thoughts. How she was going to spend Christmas, maybe in Grimmauld Place, with Sirius and Remus...
She went to do her Christmas shopping. If there was anything Tonks loved, it was buying presents. She got them for everybody, feeling her money was put to good use. She bought Sirius a Fanged Geranium, at once wanting to show him the outside world and buy him something interesting. For Kingsley, she got a hat. He liked hats, and this one was perfect for him, sky blue with little golden suns embroidered round the rim. He would love it. Just for Dawlish, she bought a Muggle filing cabinet. She bought Moody a new Foe-Glass, his had a huge crack in it. She was sending Molly a house charm to keep away Doxys. She had seen a model of a Firebolt, and couldn't resist buying it for Harry. For Ron she purchased a photo album of the Chudley Cannons, knowing they were his favourites. To the twins she would send a giant box of Dr. Filibuster's fireworks, knowing they would enjoy tampering with them. She bought Hermione a slim little volume of "Potions and Spells Every Girl Should Know," which was perfect for her, halfway between something intellectual and sound advice. To Ginny she was sending a pair of bright purple stiletto heels. Ginny, being the youngest and only girl in the Weasley family had probably never owned something so new, bright and feminine. Tonks felt sorry for her, but at the same time wished she was a Weasley. She often liked to act as Ginny's older sister, and this present showed that. For Arthur she had gone into Muggle London and bought a CD player and a collection of discs for it. She knew he would be delighted by it.
That left the usual Honeydukes hamper for her mother, and Remus.
What to buy him? It was a difficult question. His clothes were as second hand as Ginny's, he was as interested with Defence Against the Dark Arts as Moody. He was as intellectual as Hermione. He was as cut off from the world as Sirius. But what to buy him?
She stopped over a set of soft green winter robes, as warm as you could wish for. She hesitated in front of a book of little known defensive spells. She paused at a tiny little globe of the world, made so that if you touched an area of it, a more detailed map of that place popped up.
But it was in Hylett's Miscellany of Magical Goods that she found the perfect present. Squished in between Eeylop's Owl Emporium and Florean's Ice Cream Parlour, the dusty little shop was easily overlooked. It was a small, shabby affair that looked far older than any of it's neighbours. Inside was a mis-matched collection of everything from Self Novel Writing Quills to Magic Mirrors that brushed your hair for you. Tonks often came in here, finding oddities like her singing kettle and an odd little charm that kept rooms dark and quiet at night, great for her little flat on a busy road.
Here it was that she found the Keepsake Chest. A tiny box, carved of oak, exquisite in every respect, decorated with ornate leaves and branches. It was a perfect cube and the joins of the wood could not be seen. The description told her that it kept all things inside it preserved, in pristine condition, and that it could only be opened with the hand of the owner. Inside there was as mush space as the owner desired.
Tonks thought of how Remus missed his friends, how precious his memories were to him. Without a second thought, she purchased it and had it wrapped up in soft blue tissue paper. Her Christmas shopping was complete. She was not going for dinner that night in Grimmauld Place, she was on night duty for the Aurors. She sat in the office playing with a little felt ball. It was quiet. There were a few of her colleagues drifting about, but it was peaceful. There was snow swirling in the enchanted windows, just like it was outside. Tonks had walked in rather than apparating, watching the Muggle Londoners enjoying the snow. There were little children running up and down the streets, troubled teenagers throwing snowballs at cars, lovesick couples walking gloved hand in gloved hand. Tonks had smiled at them (at one point she walked into a lampost, why did they put those infernal things everywhere?) and her mind had drifted away, to a werewolf with mousy hair and smiling eyes...The same face came back to her now...as beautiful and wonderful as before...
"Tonks? Tonks? Nymphadora!" Her eyes snapped open and she raised her wand.
"Don't call me that." she said sleepily.
"Don't fall asleep on the job!" said Kingsley.
"Oh, did I? Sorry Kingsley... Is my shift over?"
"It was over three hours ago."
"Wow, I must have been really tired..."
"Look, that doesn't matter now!" He lowered his voice. "Arthur was attacked on duty last night."
"What? When? Is he okay?"
"They think he'll be fine. 'Course if it wasn't for You-Know Who being inside Harry's head at the time he might not have made it..."
"What?" she said shocked.
"Mad-Eye will fill you in. Can you take the guard to the hospital?"
"Yeah, of course, but-"
"No time now. Go on!"
Grudgingly she stood up and disapparated on the spot leaving Kingsley looking exasperated.
She arrived in Grimmauld Place and sure enough there was Mad-Eye waiting to fill her in. She was shocked by the news, but glad because she would not have pack up the parcels and get owls for them for the Weasleys. Or Harry for that matter. What was so extraordinary was that he had seen it all.
She tried to discuss it with him but he did not seem interested. So instead on the Underground she sat with Moody, leaving Harry with Ron and Ginny. Mad-Eye was scrutinizing her.
"So..." he said. "How're you doing?"
"Me, fine. Why do you ask?"
He shook his head in an oddly light hearted and joking way. "No reason. Where you spending Christmas? Your parents?"
"Well, no I was thinking here in London actually. I might go to Grimmauld Place."
He smiled. "Of course you might."
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked.
"Well, Remus might be there, mightn't he?"
Unfortunately her cheeks this morning were pale. She mumbled something along the of "Well, yes I suppose so," averting her eyes as the cheeks reddened.
Mad-Eye gave a laugh. "Old Alastor Moody doesn't need this eye to see you've got a thing for him." he said tapping the bowler hat which concealed his magical eye. Tonks bit her lip.
"That obvious am I?"
"Not to him, I don't believe. You're just young. I see this a lot."
With his visible, natural eye he winked. She looked at him sternly from under her eyebrows. Moody looked taken back.
"Don't worry, I shan't say a word!"
"What's got you in such a happy mood anyway?" He shrugged. "I spent last Christmas locked in a trunk. Am I not allowed a little spirit?"
"I suppose so." she said quietly.
"Oh no, don't get all angry with me, or I'll go back to my usual self."
"No Alastor, you are positively charming when you're not paranoid."
"That is the nicest compliment my character has received in a long time."
"Glad to have made your day." she said, surprised at this new joking Moody. She hoped he would stay around.
But once they got off the Underground, the old Moody was back, looking over his shoulder as he went.
People change, she thought, when they think they are safe.
They got into the hospital safely. Arthur was sitting up in bed already happily chatting away. The family went in first. Tonks mind was buzzing about what Moody had said. Were her feelings for Remus so obvious?
She tried to push the thought out of her head and looked around her instead. She suddenly realised how much her life had changed in these last months. Her friends had changed. She no longer spoke to Imelda Stebbins who had been her friend since Hogwarts. She was seeing Molly and Arthur more often then she was seeing Charlie. Where had she pictured herself now a few short years ago.
Not here, she thought. Not sitting in a hospital with Mad-Eye Moody of all people, waiting to visit none other than Arthur Weasley. Not guarding Harry Potter. Not here.
Not in her wildest dreams would she have imagined all of this. That was what made her decision in the end. As soon as they were back at headquarters, she sought Remus and asked him to spend Christmas with her. What had made him say yes was a mystery to her.
