CHAPTER TWO: I miss you too Sirius.
Disclaimer: Not mine. Don't make money. Just appreciate it. Please don't
sue.
She didnt step back when he stood up, so they were but a mere three inches or so apart. Tonks inhaled, letting his unique scent wash over her senses, and smiled up at him. "Just one glass. Any more and you'll be holding me up." She teased softly, having no problem with poking fun at herself. "Eggnog makes me loopy, if that tells you anything. She wasn't blind, she'd seen how he'd braced himself, the problems he was having holding back emotion. The teasing look died away, her eyes becoming serious as she reach up and placed one hand softly on his jaw. Gently she stroked the skin under her thumb, and sighed softly. Words were on the tip of her tongue, but she knew it wasn't the right time to say them, so instead she stepped away, and ran her fingers through the shoulder-length blue mane. "Lets go get that wine." She said instead, smiling softly.
He smiled, when she made the comment about the wine. A real smile, a flash of teeth, and for a moment, his lit up with soft laughter. "eggnog? I'll have to remember that Tonks.." He hadn't realized how close that would put the two of them, and when she reached up and touched his jaw, he froze. Looking down at the woman not three inches from him. His eyes, unveiled where downright smokey. That was the only way to describe them. Staring down at her. When she rubbed it, he inhaled, not sharply, just slightly. It had been so long since someone had touched him, even in a handshake, that the power of this woman even wanting to touch him. Shook him. When she stepped away, he released the inhaled breath. He watched her play with the blue mane, not even knowing how his gaze followed her fingers. Especially a woman touching him. Especially a woman that he was attracted too. Damn. The traitorious thought again. He cracked a smile, a least tried to attempt one, when she mentioned the wine again. "let's " moving swiftly and stealthily around her, "Come, it's in the kitchen" he reached there before her of course, and took down wine glasses. The wine was cooled, of course, and he popped the wine stopper. He sniffed the bottle, checking the freshness. His eyes watching her as he did. Then he filled both glasses about 3/4's of a way full. Handing her one when she reached him. "Your wine Milady.." his tone smooth, but his eyes where back to normal...
She made it to the kitchen without even bumping into anything besides the kitchen door, which was really rather amazing knowing her. Tonks watched him curiously as he sniffed the bottle, wondering if wine spoiled like milk did. /I thought it was supposed to taste better as it got older?/ She thought to herself, and when Remus handed her the glass, she sniffed it curiously before looking back up to him. "Milady?....Milady Tonks..." She shook her head. "Just doesn't sound right." She said with a grin, before sitting her glass down and stepping up on of the high kitchen stools to sit down. Tentatively, she took a sip of the wine, expecting an almost medicinal taste, it defintely wasnt often that she had a drink, and smiled at the fruity taste. "Why'd you sniff it?" She finally had to ask. "I thought wine got better as it got older...or does it get all curdly like milk does?"
He smiled at her. Watching her seat herself on the stool, he slid up onto the counter near her, sitting on it. "Wine doesn't curdle, but if the bottle didn't seal right, then the wine can be bad, and make you ill. If it's bad, it has a vinigary smell." He smiled a bit. "Old habits die hard.." he said under his breath, pulling one denim clad knee up, a position few could manage, resting his bare foot against the counter, he looped his arms together, and sipped his own glass of wine. watching her as she tested it. It was a beautiful wine, fruity and cool, and soothing..sweet but not overpoweringly so, kind of like the woman before him, he mused. Finally he spoke. "So, anything new with the ministry?" his tone still low and deep.
Tonks took a gulp of her wine and then cradled the glass in her hands as she thought. "The Weasley boy...Percy? was almost fired. Apparently once the Ministry says something, you're expected to agree full-heartedly with it, and Weatherby..." She snorted at the memory. "had the gall to argue with the head idiot in charge himself. It almost cost him his job, except for the fact that its getting hard for Fudge to find people that will actually work for him anymore." Another long drink of her wine, she drank it like she did pumpkin juice, not really bothering to sip at it. "the Unspeakables have been in and out of the ministry at the weirdest hours here lately, and Fudge is talking about lowering Auror acceptance standards. Other than that, not much that I can think of."
He nodded. "Lowering auror acceptance standards will just mean more bodies." he murmered. He brightened, deciding to mention something to Tonks. "You know, I know someone that well, to be honest, is beginning to excell at charms, especially the offensive and defensive ones." he spoke. "I told her she should go in for auror training when she graduates. " He smiled a bit. "Determined little thing, reminds me of someone else that I know." his eyes catching hers. He smiled, that flash of teeth smile. Then spoke seriously again. "Percy was almost fired huh. Well I expected that to be coming, that Weasley always bothered me." he spoke quite seriously. "However, his younger sibling, Ginny, shows a lot of potiental, I think. " As he spoke, he shifted a bit, so that his other foot was dangling off the counter, not realizing how sleek the position made him look. He sighed, looking down at the glass of wine, before sipping it again. Watching the woman all but inhale the alcohol in front of him. "That's not pumpkin juice, you know Tonks.." his voice amused.
Tonks giggled, thinking of the hours she'd spent amusing Ginny by changing the shape of her nose over dinner. "It would be nice to see another female in the field. Sometimes it gets a bit much, expecially when the men think that just because you're there, your available." She shuddered lightly, glad beyond belief that at least she didnt have to put up with it from Kingsley. "Would be nice to have a female to talk with when the men get too much." She raised her glass to take another long drink, and froze at his words, arching a brow. "Wha?" She said, and blinked, as she took in the smooth lines of his body and pose.
He smiled, then frowned, at the thought of someone trying to take advantage of the woman in front of him. "I can see how that would get annoying.." he said softly. He chuckled when she spoke. "Miss Weasley is most determined, and I can see her doing well if she follows through on it.." he flashed her another smile. "Sips Tonks, sips..not swallows..or I'll be putting you to bed tonight.." he realized what he said, ater he said it, and for a moment his eyes gleamed, something in their depths. Before they shuttered down again.
A slow smile curled Nymphadora's lips, and she carefully took a sip of her wine before looking at him and saying, "Mmm, too soon for that, but maybe one day?" Her lashes fell to cover her eyes, she wasn't exactly scar free emotionally herself, and she took another drink of her wine to cover her nervousness in the meantime.
He stared at her for a moment. His eyes turning almost bubbles of gold, looking at her. He thought. Oh god. I did not just hear that. I did not. She could not want a man like me. Something flickered in his eyes, something like pain. He stood from the counter. Dumping the rest of the wine in the sink. "Sure tonks...remember to bring a slab of raw meat with you.." then walking speedily away from the kitchen..he thought to himself. She's joking, at my expense. Either that or made the words out of teasing. Either way they hurt. He moved to the living room. Staring out the window. He'd give anything right now to hear Sirius's words. To hear him giving him hell, to even see the dark little sly smile the man wore. He closed his eyes. Resting his head against the cool glass. What did she think he was, a little pet? He exhaled, trying to calm his thoughts.
Her stomach clenched, and the urge to cry welled up in her as soon as she heard his remarks. She hadn't meant to hurt him. She had no problem with him being a werewolf, wasn't that obvious by now? It wasn't like he could help it! No more than she could help that she was a metamorphmagus. Tears misted her eyes, and she swallowed hard, then raised the glass of wine to her lips, determinedly draining it before reaching for the bottle of wine. She brought it to her lips and took a swig, and then when she realised what she was doing, became appalled. Slowly, carefully, she sat the bottle back down on the counter, and slid from the stool, her head swimming slightly as she walked into the living room. She paused just inside the room, her eyes on his back, and again she fought back the urge to sob, to say quietly. "You know, i've had three relation...relationships in the past, and in every single one of them, the only reason the men wanted me was because I had the ability to look like the girl of their dreams. No one has ever wanted me for me. I KNOW YOU MISS SIRIUS!" She suddenly yelled, the alcohol having a quicker affect on her because of her body's make up. "I MISS HIM TOO!! I know you're a werewolf and I DONT BLOODY CARE! How hard is that to understand? I like you for who you are when you're not being a bloody prat, Remus!" Tears traced down her flushed cheeks. "I'm sorry..." She said as the anger left her. "I thought I was reading the signals right. That you were as interested in me as I was in you..." She shook her head, and turned quickly, only to lose her balance and fall flat on her rear. "Can't even make a dramatic exit.." She mumbled to herself, swiping at the tears that continued to fall.
She didnt step back when he stood up, so they were but a mere three inches or so apart. Tonks inhaled, letting his unique scent wash over her senses, and smiled up at him. "Just one glass. Any more and you'll be holding me up." She teased softly, having no problem with poking fun at herself. "Eggnog makes me loopy, if that tells you anything. She wasn't blind, she'd seen how he'd braced himself, the problems he was having holding back emotion. The teasing look died away, her eyes becoming serious as she reach up and placed one hand softly on his jaw. Gently she stroked the skin under her thumb, and sighed softly. Words were on the tip of her tongue, but she knew it wasn't the right time to say them, so instead she stepped away, and ran her fingers through the shoulder-length blue mane. "Lets go get that wine." She said instead, smiling softly.
He smiled, when she made the comment about the wine. A real smile, a flash of teeth, and for a moment, his lit up with soft laughter. "eggnog? I'll have to remember that Tonks.." He hadn't realized how close that would put the two of them, and when she reached up and touched his jaw, he froze. Looking down at the woman not three inches from him. His eyes, unveiled where downright smokey. That was the only way to describe them. Staring down at her. When she rubbed it, he inhaled, not sharply, just slightly. It had been so long since someone had touched him, even in a handshake, that the power of this woman even wanting to touch him. Shook him. When she stepped away, he released the inhaled breath. He watched her play with the blue mane, not even knowing how his gaze followed her fingers. Especially a woman touching him. Especially a woman that he was attracted too. Damn. The traitorious thought again. He cracked a smile, a least tried to attempt one, when she mentioned the wine again. "let's " moving swiftly and stealthily around her, "Come, it's in the kitchen" he reached there before her of course, and took down wine glasses. The wine was cooled, of course, and he popped the wine stopper. He sniffed the bottle, checking the freshness. His eyes watching her as he did. Then he filled both glasses about 3/4's of a way full. Handing her one when she reached him. "Your wine Milady.." his tone smooth, but his eyes where back to normal...
She made it to the kitchen without even bumping into anything besides the kitchen door, which was really rather amazing knowing her. Tonks watched him curiously as he sniffed the bottle, wondering if wine spoiled like milk did. /I thought it was supposed to taste better as it got older?/ She thought to herself, and when Remus handed her the glass, she sniffed it curiously before looking back up to him. "Milady?....Milady Tonks..." She shook her head. "Just doesn't sound right." She said with a grin, before sitting her glass down and stepping up on of the high kitchen stools to sit down. Tentatively, she took a sip of the wine, expecting an almost medicinal taste, it defintely wasnt often that she had a drink, and smiled at the fruity taste. "Why'd you sniff it?" She finally had to ask. "I thought wine got better as it got older...or does it get all curdly like milk does?"
He smiled at her. Watching her seat herself on the stool, he slid up onto the counter near her, sitting on it. "Wine doesn't curdle, but if the bottle didn't seal right, then the wine can be bad, and make you ill. If it's bad, it has a vinigary smell." He smiled a bit. "Old habits die hard.." he said under his breath, pulling one denim clad knee up, a position few could manage, resting his bare foot against the counter, he looped his arms together, and sipped his own glass of wine. watching her as she tested it. It was a beautiful wine, fruity and cool, and soothing..sweet but not overpoweringly so, kind of like the woman before him, he mused. Finally he spoke. "So, anything new with the ministry?" his tone still low and deep.
Tonks took a gulp of her wine and then cradled the glass in her hands as she thought. "The Weasley boy...Percy? was almost fired. Apparently once the Ministry says something, you're expected to agree full-heartedly with it, and Weatherby..." She snorted at the memory. "had the gall to argue with the head idiot in charge himself. It almost cost him his job, except for the fact that its getting hard for Fudge to find people that will actually work for him anymore." Another long drink of her wine, she drank it like she did pumpkin juice, not really bothering to sip at it. "the Unspeakables have been in and out of the ministry at the weirdest hours here lately, and Fudge is talking about lowering Auror acceptance standards. Other than that, not much that I can think of."
He nodded. "Lowering auror acceptance standards will just mean more bodies." he murmered. He brightened, deciding to mention something to Tonks. "You know, I know someone that well, to be honest, is beginning to excell at charms, especially the offensive and defensive ones." he spoke. "I told her she should go in for auror training when she graduates. " He smiled a bit. "Determined little thing, reminds me of someone else that I know." his eyes catching hers. He smiled, that flash of teeth smile. Then spoke seriously again. "Percy was almost fired huh. Well I expected that to be coming, that Weasley always bothered me." he spoke quite seriously. "However, his younger sibling, Ginny, shows a lot of potiental, I think. " As he spoke, he shifted a bit, so that his other foot was dangling off the counter, not realizing how sleek the position made him look. He sighed, looking down at the glass of wine, before sipping it again. Watching the woman all but inhale the alcohol in front of him. "That's not pumpkin juice, you know Tonks.." his voice amused.
Tonks giggled, thinking of the hours she'd spent amusing Ginny by changing the shape of her nose over dinner. "It would be nice to see another female in the field. Sometimes it gets a bit much, expecially when the men think that just because you're there, your available." She shuddered lightly, glad beyond belief that at least she didnt have to put up with it from Kingsley. "Would be nice to have a female to talk with when the men get too much." She raised her glass to take another long drink, and froze at his words, arching a brow. "Wha?" She said, and blinked, as she took in the smooth lines of his body and pose.
He smiled, then frowned, at the thought of someone trying to take advantage of the woman in front of him. "I can see how that would get annoying.." he said softly. He chuckled when she spoke. "Miss Weasley is most determined, and I can see her doing well if she follows through on it.." he flashed her another smile. "Sips Tonks, sips..not swallows..or I'll be putting you to bed tonight.." he realized what he said, ater he said it, and for a moment his eyes gleamed, something in their depths. Before they shuttered down again.
A slow smile curled Nymphadora's lips, and she carefully took a sip of her wine before looking at him and saying, "Mmm, too soon for that, but maybe one day?" Her lashes fell to cover her eyes, she wasn't exactly scar free emotionally herself, and she took another drink of her wine to cover her nervousness in the meantime.
He stared at her for a moment. His eyes turning almost bubbles of gold, looking at her. He thought. Oh god. I did not just hear that. I did not. She could not want a man like me. Something flickered in his eyes, something like pain. He stood from the counter. Dumping the rest of the wine in the sink. "Sure tonks...remember to bring a slab of raw meat with you.." then walking speedily away from the kitchen..he thought to himself. She's joking, at my expense. Either that or made the words out of teasing. Either way they hurt. He moved to the living room. Staring out the window. He'd give anything right now to hear Sirius's words. To hear him giving him hell, to even see the dark little sly smile the man wore. He closed his eyes. Resting his head against the cool glass. What did she think he was, a little pet? He exhaled, trying to calm his thoughts.
Her stomach clenched, and the urge to cry welled up in her as soon as she heard his remarks. She hadn't meant to hurt him. She had no problem with him being a werewolf, wasn't that obvious by now? It wasn't like he could help it! No more than she could help that she was a metamorphmagus. Tears misted her eyes, and she swallowed hard, then raised the glass of wine to her lips, determinedly draining it before reaching for the bottle of wine. She brought it to her lips and took a swig, and then when she realised what she was doing, became appalled. Slowly, carefully, she sat the bottle back down on the counter, and slid from the stool, her head swimming slightly as she walked into the living room. She paused just inside the room, her eyes on his back, and again she fought back the urge to sob, to say quietly. "You know, i've had three relation...relationships in the past, and in every single one of them, the only reason the men wanted me was because I had the ability to look like the girl of their dreams. No one has ever wanted me for me. I KNOW YOU MISS SIRIUS!" She suddenly yelled, the alcohol having a quicker affect on her because of her body's make up. "I MISS HIM TOO!! I know you're a werewolf and I DONT BLOODY CARE! How hard is that to understand? I like you for who you are when you're not being a bloody prat, Remus!" Tears traced down her flushed cheeks. "I'm sorry..." She said as the anger left her. "I thought I was reading the signals right. That you were as interested in me as I was in you..." She shook her head, and turned quickly, only to lose her balance and fall flat on her rear. "Can't even make a dramatic exit.." She mumbled to herself, swiping at the tears that continued to fall.