REQUEST: SiRiUsLyInLuV718 wanted a chapter where Hermione and Sirius help Remus get Tonks

Episode 54

Matchmaking

Summary: In which Hermione and Sirius help Remus and Tonks get together

"Come on, Sirius! He's your friend!" Hermione exclaimed, pulling on her husband's arm. Sirius pouted and resisted his wife's pull as best he could. Hermione must not have realized her own strength; even with his feet planted firmly, Sirius was being steadily pulled towards the door.

"But she's my cousin!" he countered, exaggerating his pout as though that would make Hermione change her mind. Unfortunately, this was one time Hermione wasn't falling for the pout.

"Right, and who better for her than Remus?" she asked. Sirius turned his nose in the air, but he couldn't deny Hermione was right.

Of all his cousins, Tonks was the one he was closest too. Being immediately ostracized because of her half-blood nature, Sirius sympathised with her and took her under his metaphorical wing. Actually, he felt more like her older brother at times than her cousin, and that included the overprotective feeling when she began to look at boys as more than fellow Quidditch fans.

Now, Nymphadora expressed interest in Remus, and though Sirius hated it, that interest was returned. That she knew of his werewolf nature and didn't care only made her that much greater in Moony's eyes, but he was too shy to ask her out, and Tonks was too afraid of rejection. In other words, any possible relationship between the two was going nowhere fast.

Personally, Sirius had no problem with that, but Hermione seemed determined to get the two together. Something about them being perfect for each other, or some such rot like that, and Sirius was, as her husband and Tonks' cousin, forced to help out. This, he did have a problem with.

"She's too young for Remus!" he protested. "He's like an old man compared to her!"

"He's three years older than her," Hermione deadpanned. "Honestly Sirius, don't you want Tonks to be happy?"

And there it was. The guilt card. Sirius should have known Hermione wouldn't be afraid to play dirty, and using Tonks happiness was as low as it got. He sighed and hung his head, already knowing he had lost this fight.

"I thought so," Hermione said smugly. She smiled and kissed her sulking husband's cheek, already planning how she would get Tonks and Remus together.

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"Star, love, was this really necessary?" Padfoot asked in a series of barks. Moonstar glared at him as the two canines hid in the bushes, watching Tonks stargaze.

Hermione's brilliant idea had been to ask Tonks to meet them, and then to ask Remus to bring a picnic along with him to the same spot. Neither knew the other would be there, but Hermione would call when the found out, bailing out with the excuse that Sirius was sick after eating something rotten. It would be believable since Sirius ate everything without checking it first, something he had been very indignant about, claiming he was a growing man – never mind he had reached his full height about three years ago – and needed the nutrition.

Currently, Remus, still confused as to why his friends wanted to have a picnic at night in the Muggle world, was on his way but had yet to show up. To keep an eye on things, the dog Marauders had changed into their animal forms and were watching everything from the bushes.

"Quiet!" Moonstar snapped in a hushed bark, if there was such a thing. "She'll hear us!"

"Good, then we can call this whole thing off!" Padfoot looked smug, or as smug as his doggy form would allow him to look, at the thought.

Much as he loved his friend, and as much as he loved his cousin, he just didn't want the two together. He admitted they would be good for each other, both deserving a good significant other, but did it have to be his cousin and his friend? There was just something...wrong with the whole idea!

"Here he comes!" Moonstar barked happily. Then, inwardly cursing herself for her runaway emotions, she ducked when Tonks looked in their direction. Damn it, for once in her life, Hermione wasn't happy about being a bigger dog like Sirius, rather than something small like a poodle. At least then, hiding would be much easier.

Sure enough, Remus was walking towards Tonks, blanket and basket in hand. He stopped next to the metamorphmagus, smiling when she jumped slightly at his presence.

"Tonks," he said, "did Hermione and Sirius also ask you to come?"

"Yeah," she said. Then, noticing the items he was holding, she tilted her head in confusion. "Planning to have a picnic, Moony?"

The werewolf blushed. "Hermione told me to bring this," he said, shrugging. "Don't ask me why. My guess is it's Sirius' idea. Merlin knows he'll eat anything he can get his hands on."

"Hey!" Padfoot growled. "I'm a growin' dog, you bastard! Wait...Why is Tonks nodding?" He looked to the side, and nearly fell over when he saw Moonstar also nodding in agreement. "Why are you nodding for that matter?"

"Because," Moonstar yipped, "it's true. Now, shush!"

"Anyway, I guess we should wait for them." Tonks blushed at the thought of spending time alone with Remus. "We could go ahead and set up the blanket!"

She stood, eager to help him lay it out when he put down the basket. Unfortunately, being Nymphadora Tonks, she tripped over a rock and landed face-first in the dirt. Or, she would have had Remus not caught her at the last minute, dropping the blanket in the process. Her blush deepened at both the close proximity and the fact that she had just embarrassed herself in front of her crush of Merlin knows how many years.

"Easy girl." Remus chuckled. "I don't think Sirius would forgive me if I let you scar that pretty face."

Tonks' blush darkened even more, if that were possible, and Remus also blushed when he realized what he had just said. Behind the bushes, Moonstar's tail was wagging as she thought of what a sweet gesture catching Tonks and wondered why Sirius couldn't be as courteous to her. Rather, he let her fall and then laughed at her. She shot a glare at her husband, but he was too busy gaping.

Briefly, after watching his mouth open and close several times, Moonstar thought Padfoot was doing a great imitation of a fish. Especially considering he was a dog, literally and figuratively.

Sirius, meanwhile, couldn't believe it. Was Remus...flirting!? With his cousin no less! He growled, but stopped from charging at the two when his wife growled lowly in warning.

Traitor, he thought briefly, shooting a glare in her direction. His blue-grey eyes widened when he saw a darker glare in her brown orbs, accusing him of something, but what he didn't know. He had a feeling it had to do with Remus catching Tonks though. Maybe next time Hermione trips, he should catch her...Nah.

"S-so, um..." Tonks stuttered, righting herself. "The blanket!"

"Right!" Remus was grateful for the change of topic, and quickly went about setting out the blanket. He placed the basket in between himself and the purple-haired girl. At least, her hair was purple today. "Now we just have to wait."

The bushes rustled, but it went unnoticed by the two on the blanket. In hiding, Padfoot watched as Moonstar regrew her legs and arms, her snout shrinking until she was once again completely human.

Hermione took out her phone and began dialing Tonks' number. The purple-haired witch jumped when her phone rang, as she had been enjoying the silence with Remus. She checked the ID before answering the cell phone.

"Wotcher, 'Mione!" she greeted the woman she considered her best friend happily. "Are you guys on your way?"

"Sorry," Hermione replied, "we can't make it."

"What? Why not?" Tonks asked.

"Your cousin," Hermione said simply with a snort. "Sirius ate something rotten, you know how he eats everything, and now he's sick. Idiot's acting like he's gonna die, such a drama queen."

Padfoot growled and waited for Tonks to defend him. Surely, his beloved cousin would correct Hermione on her unfair description of him.

"Yeah," Tonks agreed. "He always does make such a fuss. He is alright though, right?"

"Fine," Hermione muttered, getting the irate tone perfectly. "Nothing a couple of pills won't cure."

"Alright, I'll tell Remus. We'll just pack up the picnic--"

"No!" Hermione shouted. Clamping a hand over her mouth when Remus looked around bewilderedly. "I mean no, no, that's fine! In fact, why don't you two enjoy the picnic yourselves? I know you want too."

Her sly tone brought another blush to Tonks' face, but the younger woman didn't deny her accusation. She really wouldn't mind a little alone time with Remus. Judging by Remus' blush, he had heard Hermione as well. He didn't comment though, for which Tonks was extremely grateful.

"Anyway, I've got to go," Hermione said, snapping Tonks out of her daze. "Sirius is complaining again."

"Right! Later then."

"Later."

Both hung up, and Hermione immediately changed back into her doggy form. Padfoot glared at her, but she ignored it and instead focused on the two now opening the picnic basket.

Damn, Padfoot thought as his stomach growled, that smells good.

Hermione rolled her eyes, hearing the sound, and scoffed – assuming dogs could scoff – at the expected reaction. Honestly, for someone so unpredictable, her husband could be amazing...well, predictable at times!

"This is good!" Tonks commented, biting into the chicken leg she had chosen. Remus smiled and took a bite of his chocolate cake.

"Thanks," he mumbled modestly.

Tonks frowned and looked at her hands, still holding the chicken. Now was the perfect time to tell him, the perfect time to come clean about her feelings. She looked at the man next to her, blushing when she saw him also looking at her.

Come on, Moonstar urged mentally, say it! Say it!

I really, really want something to eat right now! Padfoot moaned inside his mind, temporarily forgetting that his cousin and Remus were on what could very well be considered a date right now.

"Tonks, there's something I've been meaning to tell you," Remus said.

"I have a confession to make," Tonks said at the same time. They stared at each other, blinking a few times, before Remus smiled.

"You go first."

Tonks nodded. "Right...Well...I've always liked you," Tonks admitted, blushing. She looked at her twiddling thumbs, hoping she didn't sound too pathetic to the older man. Remus sighed in relief and wrapped an arm over her shoulders.

"I've always liked you too," Remus replied. Tonks looked at him in surprise, and Remus leaned in to lightly touch his lips to hers. Tonks gasped softly but had enough sense to deepen the kiss, wrapping her arms around the werewolf's neck.

"I'll kill him!" Padfoot barked loudly, trying to run in and attack his so-called friend. Sadly, Moonstar had bitten down on his tail and was keeping him from running out that way.

"Did you hear something?" Tonks asked Remus, pulling away from the kiss. He frowned and nodded; the two began looking left and right for what had made the sudden barking noise.

"Padfoot, you idiot!" Moonstar barked.

"What?" Padfoot replied in a series of yips and barks. "They were snogging!"

"Never mind that," Hermione growled. "Run for it!"

The two dogs took off running, hoping neither witch nor wizard saw their escape. Unfortunately, they were spotted.

Watching the two dogs run away, Remus wrapped an arm around the metamorphmagus. "We'll have to get them something special for this," he said with a slight smile.

"Yeah," Tonks agreed, also smiling. "Maybe a nice, big doggy bone for Christmas."

END

A/N's:

I hope this chapter came out okay. As much as I hate to admit it, I didn't give it my all. I utterly despise the pairing of Remus/Tonks (I love both characters, I just don't like the pairing) and only use it when necessary, but it was a request, and who am I to keep my readers from what they want? It did come out okay, right?

Also, I hate to ask this, but could everyone please hold off their requests. If you have something that's just dieing to get out, go ahead and post your request and I'll write it down. I'm working on requests up to episode 64 right now, though, and I don't want to get too behind. I know you're all patiently waiting, and I thank you for that! I will inform you when I'm ready for more requests; again, thank you very much!