The door to the room she would be staying in while she was at Grimmauld Place is slightly ajar. He opens the door, even more, to reveal a pantless pink-haired Tonks wearing a black baggy Weird Sisters shirt and headphones dancing to what he assumed was a rock song. Not wanting to scare her, he stands in the doorway smiling, crossing his arms and waiting for her to notice him.
Once she turns around, she scowls taking her headphones out of her ears. "What do you want, Lupin?"
He knew he deserved that sting that hit his heart as soon as he heard her call him by his surname. "I wanted to talk about what happened downstairs."
She scoffs but lets him continue, "And?"
Lupin closes the door motioning to her bed "can I sit?"
She shakes her head yes and sits in the middle of the bed while he sits on the side.
"Dora, I wanted to talk about this" he begins motioning with his finger between himself and her. "I am not one to talk about these things lightly, so I want to make it clear. I care for you, Dora. I do. I do not care for you just as a student, however. "
Tonks saw that he was struggling to get the words out but she could see it in his eyes. "I know, Rem. I just wish you would admit it and not keep lying to yourself and me about it."
Remus runs his hand through his hair at her words. "As you know I was bitten as a young child and my life completely changed. I have felt like I have no control over my life since then. I was always cautious and shy even when I was a boy. I never really got out of my shell, if you want to say it that way. I knew with my condition that anyone associated with me would be at risk, so I did not have many friends. My relationship with my father fell apart because he still blames himself for what happened to me. After my mother was killed, I stopped going home. I would always spend time at Sirius or James' house during the summers. I pretty much stopped forming anymore lasting relationships after my mother died." Remus paused trying to get control of his emotions again. "I am sorry this is hard for me."
Tonks put his hand in hers "I am here. It will all be okay."
Looking up into her eyes, he continues and a smile starts to form on his face "However, that all changed. When you came to me suggesting that I give you extra lessons. As we got to know each other with the 20 questions and you prying me."
Tonks smirks in shock "you were the one who made the first move, mister." Remus chuckled as she moves closer to him, "I know we will get push back. I know most people will not be okay, at first with this, Rem. However, I want to give this a try. A real try. "
Trying to figure out what he should do. Unsure if he should answer her or just kiss her senseless. Deciding on the later, he brushes her cheek with his finger, then moves in to kiss her delicately. Tonks locks lips with him trying her best not to melt in his arms.
The werewolf pulls away from her, uttering with their foreheads touching "If we do this, your career as an Auror will be put in jeopardy you know. I can guarantee your parents won't like it. "
"Sirius will come around, though," Tonks answers. "We can worry about that later." Remus nods in agreement. Tonks adds coyly "You know with you being only in the next bedroom over, it will be hard for me to keep my hands off you."
"Is that so?" Remus feigns curiosity and confusion as he grabs her by the hip. How does something so wrong feel so right?
"Rem, we do have to keep some ground rules though," Tonks mentions after their make-out session was over and both were out of breath.
"I agree," Remus answers, shifting to his side facing Dora on the bed. She also rolls over to stare up at the ceiling. "I think we should still keep this discreet. As you just graduated from Hogwarts. I am a professor at Hogwarts. I believe someone will put two and two together."
Tonks nods thinking about how the Beast division in the ministry would see that an Auror was in a relationship with a werewolf her first day on the job, adding "I agree."
"Second, if you want to, you may tell your friends about us but I would prefer what happens between us, stays between us," Tonks remarks smiling shyly.
"Is that shyness I see?" Remus asks giving her kiss on the nose. "I am not one to kiss and tell."
"Especially with Sirius being uncomfortable with this. I think it's best to keep it quiet and just between us." Tonks explains lying down on the bed, "We can add more if we want to."
All of a sudden, a strange owl comes flying into the window with the Daily Prophet in its beak. Remus gets up to go to the window to retrieve the Prophet and give the owl three sickles in the pocket tied to the owl's leg. The snowy owl hoots and flies back out the window. Climbing back onto the bed, where Tonks was laying and opening the paper.
"Any good news today," Tonks asks, propping her head up with her hand, looking at the man in front of her.
"Well, the front page has an article about the winner of the Witch Weekly Lottery, a Barnobous Bagnot." Smiling and chuckling "Say that ten times fast" Looking under the fold and reading a small article "Along with an article about the growing number of wizards and witches that have been admitted to St. Mungos." Remus begins his face etched with concern.
"May I see?" Tonks asks, holding out her hand "My father mentioned this before he left for his shift." Reading the article, she reads aloud "The growing number of individuals' have been admitted to St. Mungos is alarming. One of the Head Healers, who wished to not be named, has told the Prophet that the hospital has constructed an entirely new wing for these individuals' that have come to St. Mungo's for the strange markings on their skin. More will be reported as new information is determined."
"Remus, I have to write to my father," Tonks exclaims, getting up off the bed and grabbing a quill and parchment.
Dad,
Has mom written to you? Are there any similarities between the virus in the United States and these strange markings that people are being admitted to in Britain? While I was in school, I ran across something that might help you in determining what this could be. When can you meet up? I would like to discuss this in person.
Love,
Dora
"Where is Lupers?" Tonks asks frantically as Remus calls for the owl. Flying into the open window, Luperca sits on the perch of the window cell. "Lupers, send this Dad. You know who he is. He should be at St. Mungos." Putting the letter in the pocket tied to the owl's leg.
Remus looks at her with a quizzical expression as Tonks exits the room calling back to Remus "I want to talk to James and Sirius."