Author's Note:
I've finally started working again! I make pretzels for gas money now haha. I'm pretty sure I'll still have time to write though so my future updates won't be affected. But if it is, at least I now have an excuse. Anyways, I hope you like! Thank you so much for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and alerting.
Chapter 10 – Life Goes On, With and Without
Throughout her entire life, her preference and love for color had always made professional, monochrome offices seem deathly boring. It eluded Tonks how she ended up working in an office building. Yes, the auror department was simply a farm of cubicles in a large and elegant office building that was the Ministry of Magic.
Her twinkling dark green eyes wandered from folder to folder stacked full on Cornelius Fudge's shelves. She then turned back to the Minister who was still pacing around his room, doing the same thing he'd been doing for the past fifteen minutes. Tonks sighed and rolled her eyes as she turned to see her cousin Alexis, resting her chin on her hand, seemingly asleep.
Discreetly, Tonks nudged Alexis and she snapped awake, looking around, alarmed. When her raven-haired cousin realized that Fudge has yet given them an answer to their request, she drew a long sight much like Tonks had earlier and leaned back on the desk.
Yesterday, Tonks, Alexis, and Silvia had gone to dig up Bartemius Crouch Jr.'s grave in hopes of finding the motive to his return and whether the Crouch Jr. running around was an imposter or not. Before they could open the casket however, a black hooded figure came and stole it from them. That was the reason why Alexis and Tonks were there. They needed Fudge's instructions and decision on what to do.
"This is bloody ridiculous," Tonks sighed, speaking so quietly that only Alexis could hear. "How much longer is he going to take?"
"Do you have any idea who this black hooded figure may be, Alexis and Miss Tonks?" Fudge asked, glancing back at them as he continued pacing up a storm.
"No sir," Tonks replied as Alexis yawned. "We never saw his face however we did find wooden splinters that belonged to him."
Fudge scratched his chin, feigning a look of curiosity and thoughtfulness. "Interesting," said Fudge in a drawn out manner. "How important is this casket to your case?"
"What do you mean sir? We just need you to allow us to search for whoever stole it and take it back," said Tonks dryly.
"I'm afraid I can't allow that, Miss Tonks. I hope you'll understand. The auror department is already overworked as it is and we have no one else who could aid you in this case. We need you to find Crouch Jr.'s location as soon as possible."
"But sir," Tonks began. "We need the casket to…"
Alexis suddenly held a hand out and pulled her advancing cousin back, effectively silencing Tonks with her gentle tug. "Minister, if we can't recover the stolen casket because of low manpower, can Tonks, Silvia and I search the Riddle Mansion instead?"
It was evident that Fudge had suddenly tensed upon the mentioning of the Riddle Mansion. His pacing came to an abrupt stop and he turned back to look at Alexis with wide, truly curious eyes. For a moment Fudge was struck with silence.
"S-search the mansion?" Fudge asked in a low voice.
"Yes sir," Alexis replied.
"Why?"
Tonks huffed, fed up with her daft dumbo of a Minister. "Sir, Bartemius Crouch Jr. is closely related to Death Eaters and at the current moment, the biggest thing relating to You-Know-Who and Death Eaters is the Riddle Mansion. If we don't look there, where else should we look and how do you expect us to find him?" Tonks replied in a disrespectful tone.
Cornelius Fudge bit his lips and looked down, thinking hard.
"Minister, you're cutting off all of our leads. How will we find Crouch Jr. without any lead to follow?" Alexis reasoned, straining to keep her tone level and cordial, unlike Tonks.
"That mansion is filled with dark magic and more dangers," Fudge said quietly.
"We have two aurors and an Unspeakable on this mission," said Tonks, truly wanting to smack her Minister upside the head and hopefully knock some sense into him.
It took Fudge a while longer until he finally came to a decision. Fudge drew a brief sigh and looked up at the two girls, his eyes mainly targeting Alexis who he always thought had the ability to keep Nymphadora Tonks reigned in if need be. Cornelius Fudge spoke in a low tone, barely moving his lips as if to show that everything from then forward was just between them and Silvia and no one else.
"I will allow the mansion open for you and your access only, no one else," he said.
Tonks and Alexis nodded eagerly. Both were glad that at least Fudge was finally doing something. "Yes sir," said Tonks.
"Contact Alastor Moody to open it for you for he was the one who had sealed it in the first place." With Fudge's last word, he turned away from them and returned to his desk. It was a silent understanding to both girls that their business with Fudge was now done and together, they quickly but quietly headed for the door, quick to get out of Fudge's mundane office.
"Moody again," said Tonks, walking with her cousin down the long and elegant high-ceiling corridor lined with white marble walls. "Why does everything lately relate back to Moody?" she wondered, voicing her thoughts aloud.
"I don't know cuz, but at least we can have a look through that bloody mansion now," Alexis said, walking quickly as if they were in a hurry to get somewhere.
"We have to tell Silvia and find a date where we all could go along with Mad-Eye."
"To find Silv, I guess we're going home then," Alexis replied.
"Why is that?"
"My god Tonks, you're too preoccupied with Remus lately, you don't even pay attention to what's going on in your own house," Alexis teased gently. "Silv's over today to help Harry pack up and leave for King's Cross station in a few hours," she explained gesturing towards the light from outside the window they'd just passed by.
Tonks glanced outside, looking at the brilliant morning sun that was still rising from the dark horizon. She'd been so drowned in thoughts of Remus Lupin and her work, Tonks had completely lost track of time. It was then that she realized it was only morning—a night had gone by and a new day had dawned without her even realizing it.
"Good morning to Nymphadora," Alexis continued to tease.
"Oh stop it," said Tonks, pushing her cousin playfully. "I've just been rather busy."
"Well make no plans for today because you promised Harry you'd see him off to the Hogwarts Express. Silv's also over to help Sirius get ready for his first day of work so…"
"First day of work?" Tonks asked, utterly surprised. "When did this come up?"
"A while ago actually, even before we went to the Quidditch World Cup," Alexis replied. "My god Tonks, I know you're smitten by Remus and all but please keep in mind you still have a few cousins and other family members that would love some attention too."
Tonks chuckled and playfully pushed her cousin again. "Shut it," she laughed. "What will you be doing then? Don't you have work right now? Why are you walking with me?"
"I promised George I'd see him and the others off today, and I have something I need to give to the twins," Alexis answered.
"Since when did you become so caring?"
"Since I was bloody born," Alexis huffed, pretending to be irritated at her cousin.
The flat behind the burgundy red door on the fifth floor of Number 563 Long Street, London was usually quiet although pulsing with magical energy. However, on that bright and early summer morning, the flat bustled with so much noise that the muggle neighbors of the flat's residents had complained twice. Inside, a special morning ritual which happened once every year was taking place.
Sirius was inside the bathroom, calling out reminders to his godson, Harry Potter, the boy who lived, as Harry prepared to go off to King's Cross and Platform 9 ¾ that morning and board the Hogwarts Express. It was a particularly busy morning since not only was it Harry's return to the beloved Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, ironically it was also Sirius' first day at work. Both godfather and godson were nervous beyond their wits and even with Silvia White, Sirius' very close friend, there to help them out; they were still caught up in a frenzy.
"Harry, don't forget your broom!" Sirius called out from inside the bathroom, his booming voice only slightly muffled by the wooden door.
"I won't, I'm packing it right now!" Harry called back to his godfather while rounding the long grey sofa and placing his coveted broomstick, The Firebolt, beside his open and messy trunk that looked at lot more like the aftermath of a warzone than a school trunk.
"Harry, you almost forgot your schoolbooks," Silvia said in a gentle, almost motherly voice as she handed him a large set of hardcover textbooks.
"Thanks, Silvia," Harry smiled, having grown quite fond of the still young and darkly beautiful auror that he felt so comfortable around. "Say, will you come along with Sirius to visit me during Hogsmeade weekend?" Harry asked.
Silvia smiled genuinely. "I promise to make time," she replied.
"And get Lexi and Tonks to come too. I'm going to miss them," said Harry, looking around the comfortable and homely flat that had become his home over the short summer. He had family there—although they weren't related to him by blood, the care and affection they have for him was more than enough proof of family.
"Oh they'll surely come. Those two girls love shopping around in Hogsmeade more than anything," Silvia chuckled, knowing her friends too well.
"Silvia! Call a cab that will take us to King's Cross!" Sirius yelled again from inside the bathroom. "Bloody hell!" he suddenly cursed.
"All right in there?" Silvia called, turning to Harry as they both wondered what in the world was taking Sirius Black so long in the bathroom.
"Silvia, will you keep me informed of anything relating to Voldemort at the Ministry?" Harry asked suddenly with slight hesitation in his voice.
"Harry dear, don't you think you're much too young to be worrying about all these problems? Voldemort is the Ministry of Magic's problem, not yours—"
"But what happened at the World Cup…I can't help but worry. I asked Lexi and Tonks to keep me informed but they both refused me as well, saying that I shouldn't be worrying about it. Please Silvia. This is just for my reassurance only."
Although she was an auror, Silvia was never a relentless person. Her chocolaty brown eyes were soft and sympathetic as she looked at Harry. Soon after, Silvia let out a small and quiet sigh. Her shoulders visibly slouched and she nodded, agreeing to his request.
"I will write you if there's any news," she promised. "But," she added, putting up a request of her own. "I will only do it if you keep your grades up and not—I repeat, not, get into any sort of mischief at school."
It almost seemed as if Silvia was a mother and she was lecturing her own child about behaving properly while at school and keeping himself out of mischief. She knew that like his father and godfather and most of the people he'd been around, Harry was prone to mischief. She only hoped that trouble wouldn't find him as much this year like it had in the past three.
Upon hearing her seemingly simple request, Harry nodded immediately and grinned. "Thanks Silvia," he replied.
She huffed and rolled her eyes. "Let's not talk about that anymore less Padfoot comes out screaming like the obsessively overprotective godfather that he is," she joked kindly. "Now, who else will be coming to see you children off?" she asked, referring to him and his friends.
"Just us and the Weasleys," Harry replied.
"That's still a rather large crowd," said Silvia. "Remus will be coming too, I heard."
"Why can't Remus stay as our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor?" Harry asked.
Silvia shrugged.
Before she could open her mouth and say any more words to Harry, the door to the bathroom suddenly opened in an extravagant surprise, causing a loud slam to echo through the flat. From inside the bathroom, Sirius Black strutted out with his chin held high and an odd but familiar little smirk upon his face.
It took Silvia a moment to see but she finally realized that there was something different about him. Another moment and she saw that Sirius had shaven and trimmed his moustache and beard. It was now a nicely trimmed moustache and goatee, small and subtle but successfully emphasizing his darkly handsome looks. She couldn't deny that Sirius Black was a handsome man. Silvia continued to look at him for a moment longer, taking in the sight of the man whom she once had been completely in love with.
Sirius was definitely a good looking bloke in her eyes. He was relatively tall, and there was a rebellious, mischievous aura to him that seemed to attract girls closer to him. A smile formed upon Silvia's lips, seeing that the lanky, defeated, and haunted ex-prisoner from months back had finally returned to his old, lively, and darkly handsome self.
"My god, Sirius," Silvia smiled.
"Blimey!" Harry laughed, still amazed that most of his godfather's facial hair had been willingly shaved off and not forcefully cleaned by Alexis or Tonks. "Where'd it all go?" he asked in a loud, surprised voice.
"Hey, don't you dare start with me, Potter," said Sirius with a joking tone. He then turned to Silvia and grinned. "How do I look?" he asked.
Silvia was caught speechless for a moment. "Brilliant," she finally said, however, it wasn't what she'd wanted to say at all.
Sirius' grin seemed to have fallen slightly but it was not obvious. He sighed. "Alright, it's almost time. We better go or we'll be late. Off we go," he smiled and gestured for Harry to close his messy trunk while he walked up to stand beside Silvia, their shoulders touching slightly. "You say Remus is coming?" Sirius asked her in a lower, less audible voice.
She nodded. "Tonks told me he was coming to see Harry and the other children off."
"Foolish Moony, he's just making things harder for himself," said Sirius, knowing that his long time best friend, almost brother, simply wanted to see the Hogwarts Express in all its scarlet glory once again.
When Tonks and Alexis arrived at King's Cross Station right after leaving the Ministry of Magic, they were overwhelmed by packs of muggles and witches and wizards alike. While the muggles were oblivious to the magical people surrounding them wearing their muggle-best attire and trying to blend in, witches and wizards were discreetly passing through the barrier onto Platform 9 ¾. Like it was every other year on September 1st, King's Cross Station and Platform 9 ¾ bustled with activity and people.
Tonks stood on her tiptoes and looked around, searching for a familiar face amongst the massive crowd. She drew a sigh and dropped down, leaning back on the brick wall that stood opposite the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Tonks then turned to her raven-haired cousin and shook her head, huffing once more.
"I don't see them anywhere," Tonks said.
"Great, I bet you Sirius is late. Hopefully we won't have to find an alternative to get Harry back to school this year."
"But I don't see the Weasleys anywhere either," said Tonks, watching as a small family of wizards passed through the barrier all at once.
"They've probably already passed through," Alexis said. "It's already ten-thirty you know. Molly and Arthur wouldn't want to come too late since they have four kids going."
"That's quite true," Tonks nodded. "But my god, what is taking Harry and Padfoot so long? I thought with Silvia with them, they'd move a little faster."
Alexis shrugged as she continued watching the muggles and magical folks pass to and from before her. With nothing else to do, Tonks followed her cousin and leaned back on the brick wall, watching. As she watched, she wondered where Remus was. He said that he'd definitely be there to see Harry and the kids off and gaze at the Hogwarts Express once more. Her eyes searched the crowd and she still did not find him. After a while, Tonks gave up her search and returned to simply watching the crowd.
She could never understand how her cousin could be content with watching the world pass her by. Tonks had always been an engaging person and being a spectator of life was never her thing, unlike her cousin Alexis. As she stood there and watched, Tonks couldn't help but complain and whine constantly inside her mind. Her complaints and growing irritation came to a sudden halt however when her twinkling green eyes suddenly spotted a small family heading towards the barrier.
The family was an odd family and Tonks could tell by simply looking at them. It wasn't a bad kind of odd as the family of three seemed loving and close to each other. The woman had her hand on her young son's shoulder, speaking words of comfort to him—perhaps it was his first year at Hogwarts. The husband was significantly older than her, but they were a loving couple nonetheless. The young boy with a childish grin looked like a perfect mixture between both his parents, reflecting them like a crystal clear mirror. The woman had a young and playful look upon her face while the husband appeared more passive and gentle. It was strange; looking at this family, the husband and wife especially, reminded Tonks of her relationship with Remus. She wondered if he and she would ever make it that far.
"Strange," Tonks mused aloud right after the family passed through the barrier together.
Alexis had noticed and like always, caught on quickly. "I wonder what Remus would think if he saw that," she said.
"He'd point out all the differences between us and them and bring up his lycanthropy," said Tonks casually, knowing Remus' worrying and selfless nature all too well. "But then I'd shoot all his doubts and worries down and reassure him that maybe someday we could be like that," Tonks grinned. Her eyes were fixated upon the barrier where the family had just disappeared through moments earlier.
"Speak of the devil," Alexis said suddenly. "Here comes your noble Marauder now."
Tonks looked up and instantly she found Remus' gentle smile amidst the crowd of people. He was walking towards them from down the station, easily weaving his way around groups of people as he went. His eyes greeted Alexis gently and they became fixated on Tonks. Looking at her, he seemed to have made her his goal.
It took Remus a moment but he finally made his way over to his pink-haired lover. Tonks suddenly felt the need to get closer to him and so she held his hands and made her way into his arms, sprinkling an infinitesimally small piece of her love onto him. She couldn't explain why, but she suddenly wanted to feel the warmth of being close to him.
"Hello Nymphadora," Remus smiled with a pleasantly surprised tone in his voice.
"Wotcher love," said Tonks, sighing, reveling in his scent.
"Is everything alright?" Remus asked, returning her loving embrace with a genuine one of his own. He didn't know why Tonks was suddenly so open with her feelings. Usually, she was more reserved and guarded, but he didn't mind it at all. Instead, Remus basked in the feeling of being loved especially by such a wonderful woman.
"Everything's fine," said Tonks, ignoring all the troubles weighing down her mind from hours ago. "Does a woman need an excuse to hold her lover?" she asked.
"No, not at all," Remus replied, smiling.
Remus suddenly chuckled for it was then that he'd noticed Alexis slowly ebbing her way away from the loving couple. She was teasing them—gagging at their romantic gestures. It seemed that to Alexis, Remus and Tonks were being so romantic it was sickening to watch.
After a while, Tonks pulled apart and just then, they all spotted Sirius, Harry, and Silvia rushing towards them with a filled up trolley and exasperated looks upon their faces. Sensing the suddenly less private and intimate atmosphere, Remus and Tonks pulled away gradually to the point where they were just simply holding hands.
"Thank merlin you came," Alexis said to the three. "It was starting to get so awkward for me!" she stressed, stirring a laugh from Silvia who understood what she meant immediately with only one glance at Remus and Tonks. "Blimey, it's sickening to watch!"
"What is?" Sirius asked while drawing deep breaths after his run.
"Nothing," Tonks replied quickly, embarrassed.
"Glad you could make it Moony," Sirius said. "I thought you'd be locked up in your flat, too upset to leave," he teased, comfortably resorting to his dark humor with Remus.
"No, I needed more room to weep so I decided to come out here," Remus replied with an easy smile, having always been used to Sirius' teasing of him—they were like brothers after all.
"Remus, why can't you be our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor again?" Harry asked, not willing to let go of the matter like the rest of the adults had.
"I can't Harry, I'm sorry," Remus replied, trying to hide his sadness of not returning.
Harry sighed.
Seeing Remus' discreet denial of his sorrows, Tonks placed a hand on Harry's shoulder and quickly changed the topic of conversation. "What took you guys so long? We all got here before you!" she said.
"Sirius here, caused a scene with an old woman counting her change while getting into a cab right when we were heading here," Silvia explained.
"She should have already had her bloody coins counted before she got off the cab. Other people, like us, might be in a hurry and can't waste time waiting for her!" Sirius defended.
"Sirius, she was at least eighty," Harry told him. "Let it go."
Sirius huffed while Silvia and Harry shook their heads and sighed.
"Paddy, don't you start your first day of work at a café today?" Alexis asked suddenly.
"Yeah, why?" he replied, wondering where she was getting at.
Remus, who also had always been quick to catch onto things, knew exactly where Alexis was going. "Sirius, how will you fare working at a café if you can't even deal with something as little as that?" he asked and received a glare from his best friend. Remus chuckled, his laughter vibrating in Tonks' ear and successfully making her smile.
The small group continued on teasing Sirius and his first day of work as they made their way through the barrier together, stepping foot onto Platform 9 ¾, a place inscribed within all of their memories and never to be forgotten.
Instantly when they got onto the Platform, the Weasley family had greeted them, having lingered around the place of the barrier in hopes of seeing them. Tonks, whom had been holding hands with Remus, momentarily let go of him to give Bill and Charlie and goodbye hug just like Alexis was doing. Their two friends would soon be returning to their individual place of employment out of the country and with all honesty, none of them knew when they'd see each other again.
When Charlie weaved his arms around her waist to hug her, Tonks noticed that he'd lingered more than normal. She hugged him tighter, knowing that she'd miss him. After Bill and Charlie had gone off to help Ginny and Ron put their luggage onto the train, Tonks returned to Remus' side. She noticed that Silvia and Remus were deep in conversation with Arthur and Molly regarding the safety of the students at Hogwarts after what had happened at the World Cup and the alleged Death Eaters now resurfacing.
Once again, Tonks found herself becoming a spectator of life, a rare occasion for her. She stood next to Remus and watched the people passing her by, eventually taking interest upon her two cousins who were in close distance. She could hear them clearly, but Tonks didn't know if they were aware. She didn't bother to tell them however, and remained quiet as she overheard her cousins' various conversations.
Alexis was talking and laughing with Fred and George. The three of them were stressing over how little they will be able to communicate once the school year started. Tonks was slightly surprised. She didn't think Alexis and the twins communicated that often, but apparently they did, every night by owl and floo powder.
"We will owl you…" one twin said.
"…everyday, until you get tired of us."
"But then we still won't stop because it bothers you."
"And it's just amusing to us."
Tonks always marveled at how one twin could finish off the other's sentences, as if they were two but one and they could read each and every thought going through the mind of the others. The bond between twins was truly extraordinary.
Her wandering eyes couldn't help but notice Alexis slipping a small parcel to Fred and George, seeming hastily wrapped and suspicious in some way. Tonks wondered what it was, but knew that her cousin wouldn't give her a straight answer if she asked. She could only determine that since the parcel was wrapped by parchment that still had the Ministry of Magic watermark upon it, it was something Alexis took from her work. Oh sweet merlin, Tonks thought.
The train whistle blew and Tonks looked up to see hot, smoky steam rise from the front of the scarlet red train. She turned back to see Fred and George rushing to give Alexis a hug before boarding the train. One of the twins—Tonks could not tell whom—had held onto Alexis longer than normal, his hands linger around her waist to keep her close. Finally the twins boarded the train and were soon followed by Harry Potter who just barely made it before the train began moving. Sirius was walking up casually beside the moving train, smiling and waving to his godson that waved back at them all.
"There it goes," Remus sighed, looking wistfully at the gleaming scarlet steam engine.
They all watched as the whistle on the train blew louder and the wheels began turning. The sound of the railroad track sliding against the metal wheels could be heard, moving at a rapidly increasing pace out of the Platform. The gleaming scarlet steam engine that was the Hogwarts Express picked up speed and moved further away from the watching adults. Soon, the train reached its full speed and disappeared into the horizon with the brilliant golden sun shining brightly upon it, wrapping it in warmth like a velvet blanket.
"We'll see it again," said Tonks in a gentle voice, trying to comfort him.
"That train held so many memories, it feels strange watching it go," said Remus.
"Sweetheart, you don't have to deny it," Tonks began softly and slowly. "You're sad seeing it go. It's alright to admit it you know. I'm sad seeing it go too…"
"I admit, it's strange watching it go and knowing that I'll never again be able to ride it."
She didn't know what she could say to comfort him. Tonks bit her lips and turned to face him while sliding her arms around his waist and holding him close as he returned her embrace with one of his own carrying equal affection. Upon her head, she could feel Remus place a gentle kiss and Tonks smiled into his chest. She was desperately searching for some way to make him feel better, cheer him up, like any normal girlfriend would be able to do with ease. But yet, each idea she had, Tonks would always come up short.
"Moony, Tonksie, we'll be leaving now," Sirius said, getting their attention. "You two can stay a little longer," he added. "I just have to leave to start work and Silv is taking me."
"Alright, see you later Sirius," Tonks grinned while Remus smiled gently at his friend.
As Sirius and Silvia began weaving through the large crowd to head back through the barrier onto King's Cross Station, Molly and Arthur had bade their goodbyes as well and invited Tonks and the others over to dinner whenever they can make time. Tonks smiled as she watched them go, sad that such a wonderful summer had come to an end. With the Barty Crouch Jr. Investigation assigned to her and the thought of Voldemort and Death Eaters fresh in her mind, Tonks could predict that the next few months will be worse than hell.
"Dora, you better return to work. Lexi is waiting," said Remus softly.
Tonks turned to look towards her cousin who seemed to be having trouble making her way through a very large, thick, and crowded family who were piling through the barrier one by one. Twinkling dark emerald eyes then turned back to meet Remus' clairvoyant sapphire blue ones. Looking into them, Tonks suddenly felt a stir in her stomach, making her want to be with him rather than return to work in a boring office floor.
"I want to stay with you," she said softly.
"Your supervisors will not like that," said Remus, not wanting her to give up anything more, including work, because of him.
"Remus," Tonks began, whole-heartedly choosing Remus over her beloved job.
"Pardon me," Alexis' voice suddenly sounded. Remus and Tonks both turned to face her, wondering why she sounded formal all of a sudden. She cleared her throat subtly and began to speak. "If I may intrude…Remus, you should just spend time with Tonks seeing that we have absolutely nothing to do for our case until we contact Moody on a later date. So even if Tonks returned to the Ministry, she'd have nothing to do. Why not just let her spend time with you and snog or do whatever hopelessly romantic couples do."
Tonks rolled her eyes. "Not you too," she said, fearing that Alexis would tease them like Sirius and Silvia always did.
Her cousin simply grinned and gracefully slid through the barrier, leaving Remus and Tonks standing alone on a now less crowded but not abandoned Platform 9 ¾. Shyly, Remus turned back to Tonks. He seemed to have debated about whether to continue disagreeing with her about spending time together or not. Remus relented eventually and instead of insisting she should get back to her work, he asked her something she hadn't expected.
"Dora, will you go on a date with me?" he asked shyly in a voice that was nearly inaudible while he nervously bit his lips and out of habit rubbed the back of his neck.
The smile upon Tonks' lips danced into a full blossomed grin as she met his gentle blue eyes with her twinkling emerald ones. His cheeks were beat red and she couldn't help but find herself entranced by him. They both were caught in a spell made by the other.
"I'd love to," she replied and stood on her tiptoes to briefly place a kiss upon his lips.
Night came quickly and before they knew it, the silver moon was up and hanging in the night sky accompanied by a bed of twinkling stars. Remus and Tonks had been wandering around London together, hand in hand as they crossed street after street and visited one place after another. At first, Remus had felt guilty for pulling her away from her work but after lots of reassuring and convincing from Tonks, he finally relaxed. They were laughing and smiling as they talked and joked around. The bright lights of the city turned on after sunset, illuminating their smiles in vivid, glowing colors.
"Remus, you're a tea lover, how could you never have tea here before?" Tonks asked.
He chuckled as he held her hand with his right and carried several light paper shopping bags with his left hand. At that moment in time, Tonks and Remus no longer felt like a witch and a wizard or a metamorphmagus and a werewolf. They were simply a couple, wandering the streets, shopping and smiling under the city lights. At that moment in time, they were normal.
"I don't go to muggle London often," Remus replied, smiling still.
"You've missed out on so much," Tonks sighed. "My dad's a muggle-born and so he'd take us here all the time. Even my mum had grown rather fond of this shopping district," she smiled, looking around into the windows of the many stores.
"Your mother is very open," said Remus gently. "My parents, ever since I was infected with lycanthropy, never took me here again. I've only been to muggle London a few times in my lifetime," he said, looking up at the elegant architectures that surrounded them and was amazed at the sight of the city life.
"Remus, we will come here again, all the time," Tonks said, not wanting to dwell too long on the troubles of Remus' past that he'd confessed to her. She did not want him hurting any more than he already did. "And my mother…I guess she's very open."
"Why do you seem doubtful? Andromeda is very kind."
"I just never really understand how she and her sisters turned out so differently though."
Their flowing conversation reached a more melancholy state. Remus was quiet for a moment, wondering if Tonks was willing to tread any further on the topic of her family.
"I mean honestly, Narcissa is an ice queen while Bellatrix is the queen of insanity. I wonder how my mum turned out this way sometimes."
"Andromeda's relationship with the rest of her family…is not very simple, is it?" Remus asked gently, thinking about Tonks' mother whom she looked so much like, thinking about Sirius, and thinking about Alexis.
"Not simple at all," Tonks replied. "It worries me sometimes, because certain situations would come up and I'd feel like she'd never entirely let go of the past." Tonks was now talking her heart to him, voicing her thoughts and her worries. To Remus, it seemed like their relationship had reached a whole new level of closeness.
"It's difficult for someone to entirely let go of their past, love. Their past was there for a reason," said Remus in a voice as soft as velvet.
"Her past, blimey it frustrates me. Remus, I don't think I know my mother at all."
"Dora, I think you know her very well. But if you feel that you still don't know her well, have you tried talking to her and questioning her about this past left behind?" Remus asked. It was always the same situation with Sirius and Alexis. Their past was put behind them but they never truly turned from it. Remus had noticed that the same thing seemed to happen to him and Silvia as well, being unable to turn from a past forsaken.
"I tried talking to her, but she's like Lexi and Sirius. Whenever you tread on sensitive ground, they retreat and back away. Remus, I feel like they don't trust me," she confessed.
"They'd trust you with their lives," he reassured her. "Sirius said so himself and I'm sure your mother would as well. Lexi, although she doesn't say it, trusts you more than anything. Dora, it's not always what is spoken but what is shown," he soothed her uneasy heart.
It was truly a change for him—that date. They walked the street hand in hand like a normal couple, discussing the happenings and worries of every day and family life. They were no different from any others on the street, magical or non-magical. Tonks had also confided many of her thoughts into him and for once, the table has turned. Remus was now the one comforting her and it made him feel glad that he could finally do something for her in their relationship. He wished for nights spent like such more often.
Tonks sighed and stretched her arms. "Let's not talk about it anymore," she said.
"Love, just remember, you are in no way left out of anything," he assured her with a gentle, loving voice that eased her heart like satin.
It was a while after but Tonks finally smiled. She remained quiet for a little longer, walking with him in comfortable silence. Eventually, the feeling of worry disappeared and her vibrant energy resurfaced. She took his hands and danced around the street, peering into store windows while they walked and danced.
Under the luminescent lights, Remus chased after Tonks, both wearing smiles upon their faces as they weaved through the mild crowds of the bustling street. After a short chase, he finally caught up to her and held her around her waist. Caught up in the moment, the smiling couple exchanged feathers of kisses trailing from their lips to their cheeks and necks. Tonks laughed and Remus grinned. For once in his life, he'd forgotten about all his abnormality and basked in the feeling his lover gave him.
To others on the street, Remus and Tonks was an odd couple. The man was much too old for the women, but they still couldn't deny that there was love between these two—and it was a love they all yearned for in their lifetime. To Remus and Tonks, the feeling of seeing the other smile was simply like being on top of the world.
As the night grew darker, Remus and Tonks decided it was time to head home. Just when they were about to turn back, they suddenly passed by a café several blocks away from Long Street where Tonks lived. Looking into the café, Remus and Tonks immediately spotted Sirius Black who was lounging quite comfortably in a large chair behind the wooden counter. They smiled and looked at each other, exchanging curious looks. Wondering how Sirius was doing in a place packed tight with muggles, Remus and Tonks went inside to visit him.
The smiling couple went inside and Sirius was not surprised to see them. He took them to their seats and rolled his piercing grey eyes when they gave him their complicated orders. Sirius had known that they would try to mess with him, claiming that Silvia, Alexis, and even Kingsley Shacklebolt had already visited him that day with irritating orders.
Sirius quickly returned to work after serving them, seeming like he was diligent and hard working. Remus and Tonks had both been perceived to think that for a while, until they spotted the portly muggle man with a thick moustache and beady eyes who was his manager. Instantly, the witch and wizard realized that Sirius' manager was hopelessly confounded.
"Padfoot," Tonks called, waving her cousin over.
Sirius ran a hand through his thick but mildly short black hair as he walked over to them. "What do you two lovebirds want now?" he asked.
"Sirius, did you really confound your manager?" Remus asked.
He turned back to glance at the old man who was grinning to himself, rocking his head back and forth as if high and dazed by fantasy. Sirius then looked back at them and nodded too many times. "I don't see what's wrong with it."
"Padfoot! You've already confounded your manager on the first day of work!"
"Hey, I'm working hard," Sirius defended himself. "And besides…a confounded manager is a fun manager," he added indignantly with a large, Sirius-like grin upon his face.
Tonks rolled her eyes and shook her head while Remus sighed.
"How come Kingsley's the only one who thought it was funny?" Sirius asked.
"Because he doesn't have to put up with you day in and day out," Tonks replied dryly.
"Bloody hell," Sirius huffed. "You two, Lexi, and Silv fear that I might burn this place down or something."
"Can't say we haven't thought of that," said Remus, smirking.
"Brutal Moony, brutal," Sirius replied. "You know Nymphie, I was going to be cruel back to you, but Silvia would maim me if I didn't tell you. She came to visit me around three and said she'd gotten a meeting with Mad-Eye scheduled in three days," Sirius said in a monotone voice. "There, I told you."
"A meeting with Mad-Eye?" Remus asked, his grin slowly returning to a simple smile.
"I'm guessing it's to open up the Riddle Mansion," Tonks added, trying not to let the worries of work interfere with her time spent with Remus. "I'll worry about it when it comes."
"Whatever you say cuz," Sirius shrugged and strutted off again, tending to a strangely patient customer who sat on the other side of the room with black hair, almond shaped eyes, and a white mechanical machinery of the muggles opened which Tonks had heard her father call a personal computer laptop.
"You'll be searching the Riddle Mansion in three days," said Remus, trying hard to prevent the bad memories that in one way or another linked itself to the Wizarding War and the Riddle House—Death Eater Headquarters.
"I guess so," Tonks replied.
Responses:
RemusTonksFan: Thank you! and I know, I feel so bad for Remus too! The werewolf prejudice in the Wizarding world is not fair! :( Oh well, hopefully things get better for poor Remus soon...
TheMoonIsLowTonight-funkyfish: Thank you so much! And I'm trying to add more Remus and Tonks moment into the story because I love them too...to the point where I am writing stories about them haha, but I'm trying to think of more moments, I just don't want to repeat any or that'd be odd.