It was a wonderful morning in mid August. London was blooming incredible this year. The flowers and blossoms had never been that beautiful. It wasn't only Remus who found the whole scenery of St. James park looked magnificent. Tonks danced around him, pure joy sparkled in her blue eyes. She picked up two pink flowers that matched her dusty pink hair perfectly. She pinned one of them in her hair that was shoulder length and slightly curled today. Then she walked over to Remus and put the second flower in the front pocket of his jacket.
She looked at him for a moment, then jumped and squeaked joyfully.
"Remus, look!"
Tonks pointed at a tiny stall. The owner, an average blonde-haired man with a broad smile on his face, appeared to be selling all kinds of sweets one could imagine.
"Be a gentleman, Remus, and buy me some candy" Tonks begged.
Remus grinned and shook his head. "We should be back at Grimmauldplace, Tonks. We've got a meeting and Dumbledore –"
"Then we'll bring Dumbledore some sherbet lemons! Oh, come on! We've still got quarter an hour. We'll be back in time."
Remus couldn't resist her charming smile. In addition, he loved spending time with Tonks, especially when he could make her smile. "Fine, what do you want?"
"Cotton candy!"
"That's not very healthy –"
"Oh, shut up, Professor" Tonks exclaimed, teasingly.
"Blue or pink?"
"Is that even a question?"
"Pink, then" Remus concluded.
Two minutes later Tonks got her cotton candy and was even more joyful than before. They sat down on a bench and watched the ducks swimming in the river. A soft breeze played with Tonks' hair. She was annoyed by it, Remus found it marvelous. He didn't tell her, of course.
As soon as Tonks had finished her cotton candy she leaned back, closed her eyes and let the sun shine on her pretty face. Remus glanced at her. He couldn't help but smile. It was such a pleasure to be her best friend.
Tonks was about to drift away when Remus checked his watch. "Bugger!" he exclaimed and got up quickly.
Tonks looked at him in confusion. "Did I jus' hear Professor Lupin swearin'? Whatz'e mattr?" she yawned.
"It's five pm! The meeting's just begun!"
"O-oh shit!" Tonks swore and got up as well. "Let's apparate then!"
"No, not here. The muggles could see us" Remus hissed. He gripped Tonks hand. "C'mon!"
They ran through the park and Tonks couldn't help laughing as Remus almost crashed into a tree.
"Not funny, Miss Tonks" Remus said over his shoulder.
"Sorry! It's just – you got there – got'ere some – leaves" she replied breathlessly, trying to suppress her laughter.
Remus tried to shake the leaves off his hair in his run. It must've looked rather ridiculous since Tonks bursted into laughter.
Remus pulled her behind a huge tree in the corner of the park and squeezed her hand to get her attention.
"Here's safe. One... Two... Bloody hell, Tonks, stop laughing! ... Three!"
Everything around them blurred, they were pulled into a whirl of lights and colors and a few seconds later they were back at Number 12, Grimmauldplace.
Remus was about to hurry towards the door of the parlor where the meeting was, but Tonks fiercely gripped his wrist.
"You can't go in like this" she chuckled and pulled the remaining leaves out of his brown hair. "Now you look acceptable. In we go!"
Remus grinned and followed her. Tonks pushed open the door.
"Sorry, sir" Tonks said in Dumbledore's direction.
"Don't worry, Nymphadora. We haven't started yet" the old man said. His light blue eyes sparkled playfully. "Wonderful weather today. I hope you two enjoyed your day off."
"We certainly did, Albus, thank you" Remus said. "Sorry again for bursting in like that."
"As I said, we haven't started yet. I was a bit late myself. Today's meeting won't be that long anyway" Dumbledore said, offering a small smile.
Remus sat down next to Sirius who grinned at him. Tonks sat down next to Remus and stroked a few strands of pink hair off her forehead.
"I am sorry for stealing your time on this very sunny afternoon today" Dumbledore said. "But we'll be done in a few minutes, I promise. The reason I wanted you to come here is a rather spontaneous mission. Now, who of you would be interested in going on a weekend mission to Paris?"