ok im back guys hope you like this one your thoughts are much appreciated
Chapter 8: A Quickened heartbeat
It had been two weeks since Tonks had last spoken to Remus. If she was being honest, she had been avoiding him as much as possible. yeh right! For the first two days maybe, an inner mocking voice that sounded surprisingly like Sirius, snapped back at her, but you had to be all melodramatic and change your shifts, Emmeline Vance is so dull! Oh and while we're on the subject your cooking is crap!
She shook her head forcing out the voice once again, trying to focus on her dilemma; she had wanted to skive tonight's Order meeting, like she had with the last two. However Madeye had noticed her absence, and had sent her a rather nasty howler.
It was Tonks' first day off in what felt like years and she was taking full advantage. She had been out the night before, and drunkenly stumbled through the door at around 3am, it was now close to one in the afternoon, she was still fast asleep unaware of the eagle owl that had just flown in through her bedroom window. As if the scarlet letter registered the state of its recipient, it floated off the desk and hovered over Tonks' sleeping form before erupting.
"Nymphadora Tonks!" Madeye's voice boomed inches away from her face. Tonks screamed and threw herself away from the sound, falling out of bed, taking a discarded glass of water with her, drenching her bedside table and all its contents.
Unconcerned with the witch's state of panic, Madeye's voice continued to rant "what do you think you have been doing!? Where is your constant vigilance! You're an Auror for goodness sake! – start acting like one!" The letter was thrashing about so much she was sure it would rip. The witch was so stunned she didn't seem to notice the water that was now slowly dripping on her from the pool on her bedside table or the slight chill in the air as she sat on the floor in just her bra and knickers with last night's makeup still smudged across her face.
"Get up!" It thundered as if it could sense the lack of action. Tonks didn't need telling twice she leapt up, grabbing her now drenched belongings along with a t-shirt and jeans that was strewn over her desk chair, before heading for the bathroom as the howler continued to follow her "and get your behind down to headquarters! Before I have to-" the rest was drowned out as she slammed the door on it.
So as a result of earlier events, she had arrived early at headquarters, cracked out the red wine and was blasting music through her headphones in order to forget the whole stream of unfortunate events that had lately bestowed her life, her latest downfall, she was now hiding from not one, but both Madeye and Remus in the deserted library, at this she took another swig from her glass.
On reflection however, she decided that the library although quiet, was not the best place to go when avoiding a book addicted werewolf, as he wandered in tea in hand, just as Tonks was pouring her third glass of wine.
"oh Tonks" he began surprised, however with no acknowledgement, he stepped further in to the room taking a sip of tea "Ton-" he tried again only to be drowned out as the woman in question roughly snatched up the now mostly empty wine bottle, and began to sing "Don't you wanna stay here a little while?"
Supressing wince he noticed the iPod on the table, smirking he stepped closer.
Tonks continued "Don't you wanna hold each other tight?" Her eyes were closed and her face quite serious as she gripped the bottled close to her lips "Don't you wanna fall asleep with me tonig-" her eyes flung open as she registered she was no longer alone, her cheeks going a slightly lighter shade than her wine, when she laid eyes on her intruder.
"Remus!" she said startled as she dropped the bottle down on the table and ripped out her headphones, and if it was possible, her face turned even redder as the low muffle of her iPod could still be heard, she spun back around and jabbed the buttons of the device until it was quiet.
"hi" he replied awkwardly "I was just getting my book" his eyes flicked to the book resting on the chair opposite Tonks which was almost completely buried under her abandoned coat and bag.
Tonks made some sort of shrilled noise before leaping up and shoving her discarded belongings to the side and extracting the book "there you go" she said smiling a little, as she placed the book in his awaiting hands.
"Ermm, thanks." He said a little uncomfortably, as he headed for the door. His actions of their last meeting an all too clear and disturbing memory "Sorry to disturb-"
"Oh you're alright! She trilled a little too enthusiastically. Clearing her throat she tried to sound a little more normal "Did you wanna stay?" she asked her eyes flicking to the couch he normally spread out on.
He eyed the threadbare sofa Longley his patch work blanket still thrown over it before shaking his head and releasing a small sigh "no, I've disturbed you enough already" he replied sadly as he begun to exit the room
"But I want you to stay!" she blurted out desperately, her voice slurred with alcohol
Guilt washed over him as he gripped the door handle. He wanted to go to her, to hold her and drink in her zesty lime Shampoo. But the utter fear in her eyes from their last encounter held him back, keeping his hand firmly on the handled and kept his pace swift as he exited the room because he was a monster no matter what she or anyone else said, he had lost all control and his demons had taken full advantage.
Chest fallen she watched him go "fine" she snapped as the door slowly clicked shut. She grasped her bottle of wine and finished it in a few large gulps before tossing it in the nearby bin. The room was no longer the welcoming sanctuary she had pursued only a few hours ago, it was cold and dreary despite the cracking flames of the fire.
She checked her watch, only half an hour before the meeting began sighing she slumped back down in her chair and summoned something stronger than wine
Later that evening, all the order members trooped in to the kitchen for their weekly order meeting. "Is this seat taken?" Emmeline Vance asked the werewolf sweetly nodding towards the vacant chair beside him. Remus pulled his attention away from the quiet discussion he was having with Sirius to look at the brown haired, lanky woman "no I don't think so" he replied smiling before turning back to his friend.
Just as Emmeline was about to pull out the chair Tonks hand clamped on the back of the chair "I'm sitting here" her voice so slurred it was little more than a mumble "sorry" she added quickly as she became aware just how hard she was latching on to the chair in order to keep herself upright.
The woman glared at her before she spun round and marched away muttering "drunken, insolent, little…" Tonks ignored her as she flopped in to the chair "wotcha guys!" she beamed at the pair
"Hey Tonks, upholding the family name I see" Sirius snickered
Tonks glared at him and opened her mouth to retaliate when Remus cut her off "shush, it's about to start! And next time Tonks please drink after the meeting, you stink of vodka" he hissed without taking his eyes off Alastor as he began the meeting. "There seems to be increased activity up north and Manchester…"
Tonks couldn't care less "yeh well, whose fault is that?" she snapped back at him but he didn't seem to hear her, she scowled at him and returned to barely listening to the meeting.
Remus was ashamed to say he took very little in at the meeting, and now resorted to absently-minded nodding and agreeable mumbles as his full attention was focused on the soft slender hands in front of him. where they always that close? Had anyone else noticed their hands were mer millimeters away from each other, a small twitch of a finger and they would be touching. He did a quick scan of the room, there seemed to be only two types of people around him, ones that sat bolt upright drinking in every word or franticly scribbling, and those like the man sat beside him who was interested in anything but the meeting, with his eyes slowly fluttering close before snapping open as Alastor raised his voice for atmospheric effect.
No. he concluded no one had any interest in the proximity of their hands expect for himself and possibly Tonks but he wasn't even sure of that. He should be glad, she shouldn't get involved with him anyway, but it still stung all the same. He slid his hand away under the table. But to his surprize, she had noticed his gaze and after a slight hesitating she slowly entwined their hands under the table
Remus could have kicked himself as his heartbeat raced, an uncontrolled smile twitched on his lips and his thumb began to stroke her soft skin. When he did regain control of his limbs how could he stop without hurting her, he had already done enough of that lately. "Do you want a cup of tea" he asked quickly as he began to rise, she shook her head unable to hide her disappointment. Bloody idiot! A small voice in his head snapped at him.
When he returned the meeting was almost over one last order of business we've just been informed that there will be a death eater recruitment rally will take place in the next few days.
"Nymphadora, Kingsley, I want you two as Aurors to take charge of the situation, whilst the rest will be your back up, if you need it…" Moody continued to discuss arrangements and thankfully Tonks was distracted while Remus hands stayed wrapped around his tea. And before he knew It, all was agreed and the meeting was adjourned.
Sirius gave a start as the scraping chairs ripped him from his sleep and muttered something about feeding Buckbeak as Alastor barked at Tonks "a word"
Remus took this opportunity to quickly wash his cup and dash out the door. But to his disappointment there was a pile of dirty plates and dishes in the sink. He could have just left his cup precariously on top and such an idea did cross his mind, however, he soon found himself deep in hot soapy water scrubbing plates clean.
Her voice made him jump as he emptied the now murky water "you didn't have to do all that you know"
"I'm not scared of a little washing up" he replied smiling as he dried his hands and turned to face the pink haired witch
After what fell like an eternity of silence, he abruptly broke the quiet "I'm sorry" he said feebly, dragging a tired hand through his hair "it was close to the full moon and I'd used those stupid spells! He continued desperately, "I used to be able to control it- but Alastor's right, I'm not 25 anymore." He let out a tired sigh "you deserve better-"
"Don't start with that!" She snapped as she closed the distance between them and grasped the front of his robes "I don't want anyone else" she whispered she could smell his aftershave she gave a small smile it was the one she had bought him. He had to grip the sink behind him to stop himself wrapping his arms around her.
"Tonks don't" he pleaded without looking at her "we can't, it's not safe, I won't risk it" he finish as he finally gave in and gazed in to her eyes willing her to understand
She totally disregarded everything he had just said to her, and closed the gap between them. The kiss slow at first and slightly uncertain, but he pulled her closer, she wrapped her arm around his neck and a hand snaked up in to his hair, deepening the kiss. They broke off for air and he continued to plant kisses down her neck, smiling against her skin as she let out a small moan. And before he could stop himself he had her in his arms and deposited her on the edge of the sink with a clatter of pots and a shriek of gleeful laughter as she wrapped her legs around him, pulled out his shirt to touch his skin and continued the kiss.
Just as her heart was hammering against her chest, he ripped himself away. And in surprize she had to grip the sink tapes to stop herself falling backwards in to the basin, to her horror he was backing away apologies tumbling out of his mouth as he tried to right his dishevelled appearance.
She could have thrown a plate at him as she caught him say "you should get to bed, you need your rest for that mission" as he exited the room
Still perched on the sink she shouted after him "I don't want to sleep! I want you to kiss me" but she could not wipe the smile from her face or keep the thrilled excitement out of her voice.
ok hope you liked it please give us your thoughts xx
