Author's Note: Anything you recognize still doesn't belong to me.
"So?"
Sirius was studying her over breakfast in a way that reminded Tonks far too much of her mother.
"So what?"
She heard James snort and then let out an indignant cry when Sirius levitated his plate of eggs out of his grasp.
"So who's the bloke you're shagging that's got dear Dromeda's knickers in a knot?"
Tonks, not yet old enough to do magic away from school, settled for flicking half a boiled egg at Sirius' face.
"I'm afraid he's entirely a figment of my mother's imagination, dear cousin."
Sirius eyed her intensely for a moment before apparently deciding she was telling the truth.
"Well that's disappointing."
James and Peter tittered with laughter as Sirius went back to his toast, looking slightly dejected.
"Honestly Sirius, the lot of you are far too interested in my sex life."
Sirius just rolled his eyes, but Tonks heard either James or Peter splutter to her left – her bet was on Peter.
"Frankly Tonks, I'd rather hear about your non-existent sex life than Sirius'"
She chuckled at James, who was now on the receiving end of Sirius' best glare.
"Why thank you James, I'm flattered."
James tipped an invisible cap to her before going back to his breakfast.
The morning of their return to Hogwarts brought chaos into the Potter household. Tonks, who had packed her own trunk at her parents', hadn't needed to do much more than fold a few shirts and separate clean clothes from dirty ones. Peter had also packed quite quickly, only having arrived a day before Tonks. James and Sirius were another story entirely.
It was for that reason that Tonks found herself alone in the sitting room with Peter, both focused awkwardly on their tea in the absence of conversation.
Tonks had never really spent much time with Peter, and certainly not alone, given that they were in different houses and had very little in common aside from James, Sirius, and Remus.
"So," Peter started, obviously uncomfortable "get anything good for Christmas this year?"
Tonks shrugged.
"A broom cleaning kit and a bunch of stuffy dresses. You?"
"A quill set and a few books. And my brother's horrid old dress robes."
Unable to stop herself, Tonks let out a snort. Surprisingly, this seemed to break the tension, and Peter let out a genuine laugh.
"I might have actually preferred the dresses."
Again, Tonks snorted.
"I'm open to trades Peter, I think you'd look quite charming in tulle."
After that, conversation with Peter became far easier. Tonks was surprised to find that, while they really didn't have much in common, Peter was funny and easy to talk to. When James and Sirius finally came trampling down the stairs, being chased by Euphemia no less, Peter and Tonks had settled into a comfortable conversation about goblin rebellions, to the great surprise of everyone.
"Alright, alright everyone, we really must be on our way now if you don't all want to miss the train!"
Euphemia, normally the height of composure, looked distinctly harried as she herded all four teenagers towards the fireplace.
One by one they stepped through the floo and exited into a small wizarding café near King's Cross, Euphemia tipping the floo attendant and ushering the group quickly towards platform 9 ¾, where she spirited them through the barrier with the same efficiency.
Once on the platform, Tonks craned her head to look around the crowd, hoping to find Remus, but was firmly shunted to the nearest open train door with James, Sirius, and Peter instead.
"Merlin James," she heard Peter say, "your mum's stronger than she looks."
James and Sirius both laughed as they all trudged into the nearest open compartment, hauling their stuff up onto the luggage racks and collapsing into their seats.