1996 – Winter

It was coming up to Christmas and the house was all but empty. With the children still at school, Fred and George at their shop, and Mrs Weasley fussing over Arthur in the hospital, it left Remus and Tonks all alone. All alone with a bottle of firewhiskey.

"Wiggle those hips," she teased, as Remus failed to dance in time to the music emitting from the radio. He flushed, stopping dancing altogether. "No, don't stop," she encouraged. "It's really funny."

He rolled his eyes. "I don't see you dancing Tonks."

"That would be because I can't," she told him, reaching for the half empty bottle of firewhiskey. "I break things."

"C'mon." He held out a hand, and because she'd drunk too much, she found herself standing up and walking towards him. As they swayed, she giggled. "What?" he asked.

"You. Me. Us." She giggled again. "I mean, you used to help me with defence against the dark arts essays. You teased me about boys."

"So?" He didn't understand her point.

"Well, now you're drinking with me," she said with an easy grin. "And dancing with me."

"You're an adult now," he reminded her, his face still bearing the traces of his earlier blush, though whether it was due to heat or alcohol she wasn't sure. "I couldn't have gotten drunk with you when you were eleven, could I? I'm pretty sure it's against the law."

Their swaying had slowed to almost a standstill, and she wasn't sure if it was the alcohol or the fact that she was pretty much head over heels in love with him, but she kissed him. And it was sweet and gentle and over far too quickly.

"What're you doing?"

"I'm adult," she told him, "like you said."

"No, Tonks, we can't." He disentangled himself from her arms and backed away. "I'm so much older than you."

"So?" she asked, confusion flooding her brain. Had she read this situation all wrong? She'd thought he liked her too.

"Tonk, I used to tutor you," he protested, a note of disgust in his voice. "You were this little kid, and oh god." He was stumbling towards the door, bumping into furniture, avoiding looking at her. "We-This can't happen. Not ever."

"Remus," she implored, but he was gone, running by the sounds of it, out of the front door. She sat down and reached for the firewhiskey again.