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Chapter One: Wolf and Wine *********************************************************
Remus settled back in the chair, it was nighttime, Grimwauld, he was the only one awake, somewhere around two in the morning, or at least he assumed he was the only one awake. He stood, he'd taken a bath only a bit before, and now he was relaxing, or trying too, as often as the moody man ever relaxed. His skin was darkly tan, muscular from transformations and workouts, people didn't really think of him as a working out kind of guy, but he'd learned fast that if he wanted to be able to run fast in werewolf form, then it meant keeping himself in shape in both forms. His hair was, well, probably not one would expect by now. Not long, as in ponytail long, but shaggy enough that the dark brown stuff hung in silky waves around his face. He would have been handsome at Harry's age most likely. He wore a pair of regular muggle jeans, torn at the knee's and frayed at the ankles. his feet though, arched, defined. He sighed, and walked over to the couch again, settling back in the cushions, staring down at the book he'd been reading. He picked it up. His hands, strong, slender, powerful, flipped it over. His eyes where what caught most people, when people met him, they thought his eyes where brown, like his hair, but if you looked at them closely, very closely, you could see a bubble of golden amber occasionally. Beautiful eyes, really. Long lashes. Yes, his chest was broad, not exactly covered in fur, as one might expect of a werwolf. As a human he was almost smooth. At least from hair. Numerous scars crossed his body. He probably had a good six or seven scars on his front, and at least as many on his back. Though none that looked overly serious. He smiled at what he'd recieved in the mail last week. Fingering the absolute sweetest thing he'd ever been given. It was one of those "looks like silver" necklaces. No real silver in it. But it gave the appearance of it, a simple chain necklace. He'd been writing to the young Miss Weasley, after she'd asked him about a certain spell via owl post. He enjoyed their corrospondence, but sitting there, shutting the book again. He realized, it wasn't enough. He missed Harry. He wanted the boy with him. He wanted something, anyhow. He shook his head. "When am I ever going to stop hoping for something that won't happen" he murmered under cleaned teeth.
It had been one of those days that when all is said and done, you really rather wished you'd just not gotten out of bed that morning, Tonks reflected as she apparated from outside the ministry to the nearest "safe- zone" apparation point near the Order's Headquarters. She'd tripped three times, fell flat on her face one, spilled juice down her front not once, not twice, but FOUR times, and accidently managed to give her partner, Kingsley Shacklebolt, a black-eye. "Thank Merlin for cleaning spells." She muttered, looking down at the front of her red robes. A swift glance around assured no one was looking, and she then concentrated on making number 12 appear. When it did, she sighed in relief, and bounded up the steps, only to catch her foot on the last step, and go sprawling down. "Oww!" whined, as she stood up, and inspected the two splinters imbedded in her palm. Still, she knew not to stand on the porch too long, and knocked with her injury-free hand upon the door.
For a moment he froze, then his nose flared. He sniffed the air. "Tonks" he murmered. And headed towards the door with a sigh. He padded over to it, as quiet as any wolf. Checked the little window hole in the middle of the door, and then started undoing the locks with the wand that had been sticking rather..noticebly, out of the back of his pocket. When the locks where done he undid the simple chain, and opened the door. His nostrils flared once more, taking in the scent of the woman, and he smiled. She was alone. That suited him. The woman was clumsey at best, but a dear soul to almost all who'd met her. He smiled slightly, and held the door open. Letting his gaze travel the woman. "Hello Tonks." He said, even before the door opened completley. "Come on in." He murmered. His mind already traveling off somewhere else. Damn. He had to stop thinking about it!. . . For a moment he froze, then his nostrils flared. He sniffed the air, then once more. He smiled slightly, the kind of smile one gives when they aren't really happy, but really are glad to see someone. He headed towards the door, his barefeet making hardly any sound. He checked the little window in the door, to make sure it was her. Then stepped back, pulling his wand out of his back pocket, and his voice quietly did the spells to undo the locks on the door. He undid the only physical lock, a small black chain. And opened the door. He opened it all the way, looking at the woman in front of him. "Hello Tonks, come on in" before turning away immediatly. He headed towards the chair once more. He was so quiet, nowdays, hardly talking to anyone since Sirius's death. Arching a single well molded eyebrow at the red robes, then smiled, turning away.
She looked at Remus in concern as he let her into the house, thinking over the change in his behaviour since Sirius' death in the department of mysteries. He was quiet to begin with, but here lately, it was almost like he was a ghost. Sirius' death had affected her too, but she knew it was only part of the way it had affected Remus, because it was one of his last remaining true friends. Not many could accept that he was a werewolf. Determination welled in her, and she glanced down at her injured hand, then crossed the area to his chair, and knelt down, offering her injured palm out to him. "I fell." She said in way of explanation. "Kiss it make it better?" A mischevious sparkle shone in her royal blue eyes. Tonks, the only known metamorphmagus that was still living, changed her eye and hair colour sometimes as much as ten times a day, just changing them whenever it suited her. She'd started out the morning with bright red hair and mint green eyes, and after going through what seemed to be the whole rainbow, settled on royal blue eyes and hair so dark blue it appeared black with a blue sheen to it. Her form was a no-nonsense one, enough curves to tell she was female, but not enough that she would have to put up with any smart remarks from her fellow male aurors.
He almost dropped the book in his hands when she settled on her knee's in front of him. He stared for a moment. Brown eyes bubbling with liquid gold. His look so intense for a moment. Then quietly he took her palm carefully in his hands. His hands, calloused and warm, enclosed around one of hers. He smiled slightly, he still had his wand in one hand, and leaned down like he was going to kiss her hand, and whispered the words to the spell he wanted. "Torenthas" he whispered. The thorns quickly removed themselves, and the skin healed. He'd had to learn the spell from when he was in werewolf form. Sometimes, he seemed to end up with them everywhere. He kissed her palm, the contact smooth, and then looked up, flashing her a quick, very slight smile. "All better.." Before letting her hand go his eyes, so expressive. Closed down, hiding the intensity of them. It was like seeing a storm coming, and then someone throwing a raincoat over one's eyes. He inhaled once more. Smelling her. He clenched his jaw. But said nothing else.
Her breath caught at the look in his eyes, and she bit her lower lip, heat rushing through her. She knew Remus had deeply rooted emotions, but at certain times, certain looks and touches took her breath away unexpectedly. Tonks forced herself to breathe normally as he cupped her hand and winced when the splinters removed themselves. Mentally she chided herself on being such a wimp, expecially when she had chosen to be an Auror of all things. She watched in regret as he hid his eyes from her, and reach out, placing her hand on his knee and squeezing lightly. "I'm...here." She said quietly, solemnly. "I cant say that I'm the smartest person, or the wisest, but I do care about you, Remus. I know lots people don't think too highly of me because I'm supposedly immature, but well..." She rose to her feet, almost losing her balance, and bent down to place an impulsive kiss to his forehead. "If I can offer nothing else, I can offer the comfort of quiet companionship."
He looked away. Torn between wanting to laugh softly, or kiss the woman. She made his breath catch. He'd known it for some time, this strange attraction he had for this woman, but he did nothing. Who would want a werewolf? The idea was perpostorus..he spoke quietly. His voice deep, strange in his own ears as she stood. "I don't think your immature Tonks, as for companionship..." he shrugged. He was alone. His pack gone. His chest tightened. His jaws locked in the effort to hold in all that emotion, he realized she hadn't moved away. And he spoke. "Tonks, I appreciate the companionship, at least.." he started to say, but he didn't finish the sentence looking away.He stood, forcing his tone to turn more cheerful. "Want to drink a glass of wine with me?" He didn't believe himself. He just asked the woman to drink with him. Part of him braced, as if expecting a refusal.
Chapter One: Wolf and Wine *********************************************************
Remus settled back in the chair, it was nighttime, Grimwauld, he was the only one awake, somewhere around two in the morning, or at least he assumed he was the only one awake. He stood, he'd taken a bath only a bit before, and now he was relaxing, or trying too, as often as the moody man ever relaxed. His skin was darkly tan, muscular from transformations and workouts, people didn't really think of him as a working out kind of guy, but he'd learned fast that if he wanted to be able to run fast in werewolf form, then it meant keeping himself in shape in both forms. His hair was, well, probably not one would expect by now. Not long, as in ponytail long, but shaggy enough that the dark brown stuff hung in silky waves around his face. He would have been handsome at Harry's age most likely. He wore a pair of regular muggle jeans, torn at the knee's and frayed at the ankles. his feet though, arched, defined. He sighed, and walked over to the couch again, settling back in the cushions, staring down at the book he'd been reading. He picked it up. His hands, strong, slender, powerful, flipped it over. His eyes where what caught most people, when people met him, they thought his eyes where brown, like his hair, but if you looked at them closely, very closely, you could see a bubble of golden amber occasionally. Beautiful eyes, really. Long lashes. Yes, his chest was broad, not exactly covered in fur, as one might expect of a werwolf. As a human he was almost smooth. At least from hair. Numerous scars crossed his body. He probably had a good six or seven scars on his front, and at least as many on his back. Though none that looked overly serious. He smiled at what he'd recieved in the mail last week. Fingering the absolute sweetest thing he'd ever been given. It was one of those "looks like silver" necklaces. No real silver in it. But it gave the appearance of it, a simple chain necklace. He'd been writing to the young Miss Weasley, after she'd asked him about a certain spell via owl post. He enjoyed their corrospondence, but sitting there, shutting the book again. He realized, it wasn't enough. He missed Harry. He wanted the boy with him. He wanted something, anyhow. He shook his head. "When am I ever going to stop hoping for something that won't happen" he murmered under cleaned teeth.
It had been one of those days that when all is said and done, you really rather wished you'd just not gotten out of bed that morning, Tonks reflected as she apparated from outside the ministry to the nearest "safe- zone" apparation point near the Order's Headquarters. She'd tripped three times, fell flat on her face one, spilled juice down her front not once, not twice, but FOUR times, and accidently managed to give her partner, Kingsley Shacklebolt, a black-eye. "Thank Merlin for cleaning spells." She muttered, looking down at the front of her red robes. A swift glance around assured no one was looking, and she then concentrated on making number 12 appear. When it did, she sighed in relief, and bounded up the steps, only to catch her foot on the last step, and go sprawling down. "Oww!" whined, as she stood up, and inspected the two splinters imbedded in her palm. Still, she knew not to stand on the porch too long, and knocked with her injury-free hand upon the door.
For a moment he froze, then his nose flared. He sniffed the air. "Tonks" he murmered. And headed towards the door with a sigh. He padded over to it, as quiet as any wolf. Checked the little window hole in the middle of the door, and then started undoing the locks with the wand that had been sticking rather..noticebly, out of the back of his pocket. When the locks where done he undid the simple chain, and opened the door. His nostrils flared once more, taking in the scent of the woman, and he smiled. She was alone. That suited him. The woman was clumsey at best, but a dear soul to almost all who'd met her. He smiled slightly, and held the door open. Letting his gaze travel the woman. "Hello Tonks." He said, even before the door opened completley. "Come on in." He murmered. His mind already traveling off somewhere else. Damn. He had to stop thinking about it!. . . For a moment he froze, then his nostrils flared. He sniffed the air, then once more. He smiled slightly, the kind of smile one gives when they aren't really happy, but really are glad to see someone. He headed towards the door, his barefeet making hardly any sound. He checked the little window in the door, to make sure it was her. Then stepped back, pulling his wand out of his back pocket, and his voice quietly did the spells to undo the locks on the door. He undid the only physical lock, a small black chain. And opened the door. He opened it all the way, looking at the woman in front of him. "Hello Tonks, come on in" before turning away immediatly. He headed towards the chair once more. He was so quiet, nowdays, hardly talking to anyone since Sirius's death. Arching a single well molded eyebrow at the red robes, then smiled, turning away.
She looked at Remus in concern as he let her into the house, thinking over the change in his behaviour since Sirius' death in the department of mysteries. He was quiet to begin with, but here lately, it was almost like he was a ghost. Sirius' death had affected her too, but she knew it was only part of the way it had affected Remus, because it was one of his last remaining true friends. Not many could accept that he was a werewolf. Determination welled in her, and she glanced down at her injured hand, then crossed the area to his chair, and knelt down, offering her injured palm out to him. "I fell." She said in way of explanation. "Kiss it make it better?" A mischevious sparkle shone in her royal blue eyes. Tonks, the only known metamorphmagus that was still living, changed her eye and hair colour sometimes as much as ten times a day, just changing them whenever it suited her. She'd started out the morning with bright red hair and mint green eyes, and after going through what seemed to be the whole rainbow, settled on royal blue eyes and hair so dark blue it appeared black with a blue sheen to it. Her form was a no-nonsense one, enough curves to tell she was female, but not enough that she would have to put up with any smart remarks from her fellow male aurors.
He almost dropped the book in his hands when she settled on her knee's in front of him. He stared for a moment. Brown eyes bubbling with liquid gold. His look so intense for a moment. Then quietly he took her palm carefully in his hands. His hands, calloused and warm, enclosed around one of hers. He smiled slightly, he still had his wand in one hand, and leaned down like he was going to kiss her hand, and whispered the words to the spell he wanted. "Torenthas" he whispered. The thorns quickly removed themselves, and the skin healed. He'd had to learn the spell from when he was in werewolf form. Sometimes, he seemed to end up with them everywhere. He kissed her palm, the contact smooth, and then looked up, flashing her a quick, very slight smile. "All better.." Before letting her hand go his eyes, so expressive. Closed down, hiding the intensity of them. It was like seeing a storm coming, and then someone throwing a raincoat over one's eyes. He inhaled once more. Smelling her. He clenched his jaw. But said nothing else.
Her breath caught at the look in his eyes, and she bit her lower lip, heat rushing through her. She knew Remus had deeply rooted emotions, but at certain times, certain looks and touches took her breath away unexpectedly. Tonks forced herself to breathe normally as he cupped her hand and winced when the splinters removed themselves. Mentally she chided herself on being such a wimp, expecially when she had chosen to be an Auror of all things. She watched in regret as he hid his eyes from her, and reach out, placing her hand on his knee and squeezing lightly. "I'm...here." She said quietly, solemnly. "I cant say that I'm the smartest person, or the wisest, but I do care about you, Remus. I know lots people don't think too highly of me because I'm supposedly immature, but well..." She rose to her feet, almost losing her balance, and bent down to place an impulsive kiss to his forehead. "If I can offer nothing else, I can offer the comfort of quiet companionship."
He looked away. Torn between wanting to laugh softly, or kiss the woman. She made his breath catch. He'd known it for some time, this strange attraction he had for this woman, but he did nothing. Who would want a werewolf? The idea was perpostorus..he spoke quietly. His voice deep, strange in his own ears as she stood. "I don't think your immature Tonks, as for companionship..." he shrugged. He was alone. His pack gone. His chest tightened. His jaws locked in the effort to hold in all that emotion, he realized she hadn't moved away. And he spoke. "Tonks, I appreciate the companionship, at least.." he started to say, but he didn't finish the sentence looking away.He stood, forcing his tone to turn more cheerful. "Want to drink a glass of wine with me?" He didn't believe himself. He just asked the woman to drink with him. Part of him braced, as if expecting a refusal.