Contemplation
Disclaimer: I neither own nor profit from J.K.Rowling's Harry Potter series. All characters belong to her.
Author's Note: These are just short vignettes displaying interactions between Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks during OotP, written because I had an idea. Well, several, actually. My tribute to the genius of salt-rose, whose tiny glimpses into said characters' lives were absolutely amazing. And to LRES readers, I will have another chapter up soon, I promise.
Sirius has his bedroom window open, and he's blowing smoke from a cigarette into the evening air. Surprising how old habits come back so quickly, Remus thinks, as he heads down the hall. Kingsley had taken pity on him, after noticing the way Sirius's eyes would follow the wizards hands whenever he pulled a pack from his pocket. The smoke has bitter tang to it, dueling with the musty smell of the house that no amount of cleaning or scrubbing will banish. Sirius motions to Remus as he passes by, and stubs out the cigarette on the windowsill, leaving ash on the pale wood. He leaves his windows open nearly all the time.
Sirius studies him for a minute, before folding his arms and asking, "You gonna' tell her you fancy her?"
"What?" comes out before he can think about it, and Sirius shakes his head.
"I wouldn't. Best to let that one alone, mate."
"I don't fancy Tonks, Sirius."
"Yeah…you keep saying that. Chant it like a bloody mantra."