Of course, none of this really belongs to me. Im just curious as to how one might make life at Nr. 12 a little more bearable.
Wandering around at Nr. 12 Grimmauld Place in the middle of the night was somewhat intimidating, but not as intimidating as the all too vivid memories of his nightmares and the looming presence of Phineas Nigellus just behind the frame of his picture. Harry padded barefoot down the dark hallway. Going down to the kitchen would mean passing the portrait of Mrs. Black, thus waking the entire house and being smothered in Mrs. Weasley's well-meaning concern. It would have to be the drawing room. Ginny had pulled a blanket from the couch around her shoulders earlier, if that was still there...
Harry pressed down the handle of the drawing room door and was surprised to see mild, warm light flooding out of the widening crack as he pushed the door open. Just like last year, a tall Christmas tree blocked the hateful family tree from view. Now, in the yellow, flickering light from scattered candles, the room seemed almost homelike.
In one of the armchairs Tonks was curled up, tilting her head to one side, she had propped her chin up with a hand. Looking slightly drowsy, she considered her sleeping companion on the other side of the table. Lost to the world, Lupin had his feet up on the armrest of his couch. The latest edition of the Daily Prophet was inches away from fluttering to the floor, as sleep had loosened his grip on it. It rustled a little with each slow rise and fall of his chest.
As Harry entered, Tonks looked up sharply and made a movement to reach out and wake Lupin. The drowsiness was gone from her face in an instant and watchfulness replaced it, but Harry shrugged and gave a light shake of his head to stop her. That wouldn't be necessary, really. Nothing had happened. He'd just...
Tonks lifted her eyebrows questioningly in a manner Harry felt sure he'd seen somewhere before, but then it seemed she decided not to press the issue. "I'll make you some cocoa then," she said lightly, and slipped out of her chair with uncharacteristic grace.
Standing, she waved her wand and extinguished the large chandelier on the desk. A few scattered candles were left burning. The soft reflections of these remaining lights let the dregs in their glasses glow a deep amber. Ushering Harry out in the hallway, Tonks took care to close the door gently. "Though he'll sleep through anything, really," she muttered softly. With a hand on his back, she guided Harry down the stairs towards the kitchen.
Wandering around at Nr. 12 Grimmauld Place in the middle of the night was somewhat intimidating, but not as intimidating as the all too vivid memories of his nightmares and the looming presence of Phineas Nigellus just behind the frame of his picture. Harry padded barefoot down the dark hallway. Going down to the kitchen would mean passing the portrait of Mrs. Black, thus waking the entire house and being smothered in Mrs. Weasley's well-meaning concern. It would have to be the drawing room. Ginny had pulled a blanket from the couch around her shoulders earlier, if that was still there...
Harry pressed down the handle of the drawing room door and was surprised to see mild, warm light flooding out of the widening crack as he pushed the door open. Just like last year, a tall Christmas tree blocked the hateful family tree from view. Now, in the yellow, flickering light from scattered candles, the room seemed almost homelike.
In one of the armchairs Tonks was curled up, tilting her head to one side, she had propped her chin up with a hand. Looking slightly drowsy, she considered her sleeping companion on the other side of the table. Lost to the world, Lupin had his feet up on the armrest of his couch. The latest edition of the Daily Prophet was inches away from fluttering to the floor, as sleep had loosened his grip on it. It rustled a little with each slow rise and fall of his chest.
As Harry entered, Tonks looked up sharply and made a movement to reach out and wake Lupin. The drowsiness was gone from her face in an instant and watchfulness replaced it, but Harry shrugged and gave a light shake of his head to stop her. That wouldn't be necessary, really. Nothing had happened. He'd just...
Tonks lifted her eyebrows questioningly in a manner Harry felt sure he'd seen somewhere before, but then it seemed she decided not to press the issue. "I'll make you some cocoa then," she said lightly, and slipped out of her chair with uncharacteristic grace.
Standing, she waved her wand and extinguished the large chandelier on the desk. A few scattered candles were left burning. The soft reflections of these remaining lights let the dregs in their glasses glow a deep amber. Ushering Harry out in the hallway, Tonks took care to close the door gently. "Though he'll sleep through anything, really," she muttered softly. With a hand on his back, she guided Harry down the stairs towards the kitchen.