A/N: Busted lyrics aren't mine. I'm not a fan, I just thought they would be funny to use! Sorry if I've confused any of you guys, when Tonks kissed Remus in the last chapter she was in fact still with Charlie. I should have made that clearer. It is mentioned in this chapter, and you'll get to see his reaction in the next. And I have to say now that I love Harry in this chapter! (Lupin's still my fave though, shhh)
A knock came at the door.
"Remus?" It was Harry. Remus lay on his bed with a pillow over his head. He groaned a response and Harry entered. He held a pint of water in his hand, though Remus could not see this.
"Um…are you ok?" the boy asked.
"Yes, I'm fine Harry, thank you," came the muffled response.
"Are you coming down for tea? I burnt the macaroni cheese so Tonks sent me out for pizza." Remus thought it was very irresponsible of Tonks to send Harry out for pizza by himself, then remembered that he had taken the boy along to confront one of the world's most powerful Death Eaters. He decided to keep quiet about it.
"I'm not hungry," he replied. He heard Harry's footsteps nearer the bed.
"Have I done something wrong? Are you mad at me?" Harry asked tentatively. He could barely hear Lupin's sigh from under the pillow.
"No Harry, it's not you."
"Tonks then?" A pause.
"It's not Tonks either. It's me."
"Oh ok." Harry decided to leave it at that. "Well, are you coming down or not? It's my last night here before I have to go back to school, it would be nice to spend some time with you," the boy admitted. Remus removed the pillow from his face and put it on his stomach.
"Yeah, ok." He didn't move. Harry felt like a parent trying to drag a child out of bed to go to school. He looked down at Remus expectantly. "Alright, alright I'm coming." Remus threw the pillow at Harry and he caught it with his free hand, managing not to spill the water. He gave a grin.
"Great!"
Harry led the way to the drawing room. He opened the door just as Tonks was pouring herself a rather large glass of white wine. She drained the bottle and looked up as her two friends entered. Harry gave a gasp.
"Tonks! NO!" He pelted across the room, spilling the water as he went and slipping on the wooden surface. She gave a squeal and grabbed her glass before he had chance to reach her. Remus gave a little smile from the doorway as he saw the boy chasing his teacher around the coffee table in the middle of the room.
"No! This here…" he held out the glass of water as he ran, "this is for you! Stop it!" he growled a laugh as she took a huge sip from her own glass while running, causing herself to choke. She stopped and he ran into her.
"Ok, ok fine! This was gonna be my last glass anyway. There's no more in the house after this piss-poor excuse for wine," she remarked and Harry rolled his eyes. She went for it again when he wasn't looking and he turned round to give her a slap on the back of her hand. He shoved the glass of water in front of her and grabbed the wine glass off her.
"She was drinking it out of a pint glass earlier," he told Remus "She such a classy lady!" When Tonks tried to snatch it back he stepped to the side and drank the contents rapidly. Tonks' eyes widened.
"Harry!"
"Oh my god, that's foul!" he choked with a gasp. Tonks smirked in amusement.
"Ha, I hope you're sick!"
They sat down on the sofa and Remus took the chair. He noticed that she wore a pair of rather small shorts, which showed off her long, smooth legs and a navy hoodie that was rather big for her. Remus recognised it to be Harry's. She looked at Remus and he gave a little smile but said nothing.
"I'm worn out now. That was unfair Harry, I'm not well. You're supposed to be looking after me!" He grinned in response and handed her the pizza box. She snatched it off him and opened it. "You know, I don't think I'm gonna be able to eat this. I think I'll be sick."
"Well Remus isn't eating and I can't eat it all by myself, so you're going to have to help." Tonks didn't need much persuading, as she picked up a slice and passed the box to Harry. They both brought their slices to their mouths then lowered them. Tonks picked off her tomatoes and put them on to Harry's slice. He took off his mushrooms and placed them on hers. She gave a little giggle.
"Tomatoes taste like –"
"Guts, I know Tonks," Harry finished for her. "And mushrooms taste like –"
"Slugs," she finished with a grin.
"Must we have this conversation every mealtime?" Remus asked from his chair, though he was smiling at the both of them. He had to admit that having Tonks and Harry in his life was the best thing that had happened to him in a long time; it was like having a family again.
"Yes!" they said together and laughed again. They carried on eating in silence. Tonks gave up after her second slice, saying that she would rather not see it again later in the evening, to which Harry had replied, "Thanks for that Tonks, that's gross!"
Remus was reading in his chair, Tonks was humming absently to herself and Harry was chewing thoughtfully on his pizza. Tonks spoke up after a while.
"I'm bored Harry, sing me a song." He swallowed a mouthful and gave her a quizzical look. "Oh come on! You must know one song. Sing for me."
"No," he laughed. "Tonks you're as drunk as a skunk! Shut up. In fact, go to bed." She gave a hurtful look and began to sniff from her end of the sofa.
"Fine! Um…Jeremiah was a bullfrog –"
"No! Anything but that," Remus protested. Tonks gave a giggle. Harry huffed.
"Fine!" he sulked indignantly. "Oh I know… Her voice is echoed in my mind, I count the day till she is mine…" he began to sing. Tonks let out a howl of laughter and kicked him from the other end of the sofa.
"What song is that?" Remus asked.
"What I Go To School For," Harry replied with a grin. Tonks was wiping her tears on her sleeve.
"Carry on," she squeaked.
"Um… I can't tell my friends coz they will laugh, I love a member of the staff. And I fight my way to front of class to get the best view of her ass." Remus gave a laugh.
"I drop a pencil on the floor, and she bends down and shows me more! That's what I go to school for…"
"Stop it, I'll wet myself!" Tonks squealed. Harry stopped with a grin.
"I'm sorry, was that inappropriate?" Harry said mock-innocently. Tonks stuck her tongue out at him and he laughed. He grabbed at another piece of pizza and began to eat it before Tonks could ask him to sing again.
"I love you Harry," Tonks said quietly. He looked across at her in shock and she gave him a timid smile.
"No one's ever said that to me before," he admitted, that he could remember anyway. He assumed that his parents had loved him, and Sirius too though he had never actually said it.
"Well I'm saying it now." Tonks stared into her glass. Harry smiled and went back to his food.
"Can I just say," he mumbled through a mouthful. They both looked at him and he pointed at his mouth, chewing fast and then swallowing quickly. "I'll say it now. You guys are the best. You've made me feel like I actually have a family for the first time in my life. And sure you won't replace my mum and dad, or Sirius, but I'm really grateful that you have taken me in. And I hate it when you two fight, and have these 'moments' between the two of you," Tonks looked at Remus and met his eye. They both looked back at Harry as he continued. "So pleased don't fight… and no going off and getting yourselves killed either," he added and took another bite of pizza. "So…what's going on between you too?"
"Nothing," they said together and Harry laughed.
"Ok, if you say so."
As the evening drew to a close, Harry gave a yawn.
"Right I'm off to bed. Don't feel you have to get up in the morning to see me off Tonks, stay in bed ok? I'll see you in a week. Get better." He moved to the other end of the sofa and kissed her on the forehead. "Night Remus." He disappeared through the door leaving Tonks and Remus alone.
"Anyway, I should be heading off too," Remus said, standing to leave.
"Wait." He stopped in his tracks and turned to Tonks. "Remus, what happened earlier, could we just forget it? We've been avoiding each other ever since and it's so silly. I never meant for that to happen."
"I know," he replied, moving over to sit in Harry's vacant seat. "Me neither, I'm sorry." They sat in silence for a moment. Tonks gave a nervous giggle.
"Kinda hate Snape though, don't you?"
"Yeah," he laughed. "Then again, maybe we should thank him." They looked at each other.
"Nah," they said together and laughed.
"Right, I really should be getting to bed now. Got to catch the Knight bus tomorrow, not exactly my favourite mode of transport," he admitted and she gave a knowing nod. "Well, night then Nymphadora." He went to kiss her on the forehead like Harry had done, but thought better of it. She gave a giggle as he offered his hand, which she shook.
"Get going, you silly man. Sweet dreams."
The next morning, Harry entered the kitchen to find that Tonks and Remus were pretty much back to normal; well as normal as Tonks and Remus could get.
"Morning," he called from the stairs. "I thought I told you to stay in bed."
"Was already up, thought I might as well say goodbye," the witch said with a shrug. "Unless you don't want to see me of course." She stuck her bottom lip out at him and he laughed.
"You know I do," he said, ruffling her natural dark hair as he passed.
"What do you fancy for breakfast?" Remus asked from behind his Daily Prophet. He looked up to find the boy helping himself to last night's cold pizza. "Harry that's disgusting." The boy gave an impish smile. "What would Molly say if she saw you now?"
"Good job she's not then, isn't it." Tonks said to Remus with a grin. He shook his head and went back to his paper.
When Harry was dressed and ready to go, he hauled his things down the many flights of stairs in the house to the entrance hall where he saw Tonks and Remus waiting for him.
"Yeah, thanks for helping guys," he mumbled as he reached the final few steps. Tonks grinned and enveloped him in a hug.
"Oh I'm going to miss you so much."
"I'll see you in a week!" Harry reasoned.
"But still! Look after yourself. If Snape's a git tell him to F off. No wait don't," she added as she saw Remus give her a disapproving look. "What? We hate him remember?" Remus smiled at her, blushing slightly. Harry looked between them, frowning in confusion. Tonks tried to do Harry's coat up but he batted her away.
"Tonks, I'm not a kid!"
"It's cold out, Harry. Wrap up warm." She handed him a scarf.
"Yes mother," he teased and kissed her on the cheek. "See you in a week."
"Be careful," she said as they opened the door. Remus turned to her. "Look after him," she added and he nodded.
"You know I will, Nymphadora. I'll see you when I get back."
She waved to them from the doorstep, and then turned to close the door as the house disappeared from out of sight.
Once on the street, Harry did up his coat. Tonks had been right it was freezing out! He looked over at Remus who was surveying the street intently.
"So, are we getting the Knight Bus?"
"Yes, but not from here. We should walk a block or two first. Just to be safe." The pair set off at a steady pace, down the snowy streets. Harry felt Remus stiffen as people would walk past. The boy was uncomfortable with the silence but knew that Remus wouldn't relax until they got on the triple-decker bus, so he kept quiet and put his hands in his pockets, wishing he had brought gloves. After they had walked for about ten minutes they reached a deserted cul-de-sac, which was so similar to Grimmauld Place that Harry thought they had gone around in a circle until he gave it a closer inspection. Remus stopped abruptly.
"Ok, Harry. This is far enough." Harry was relieved to hear this, as his toes were now numb from his soaked shoes. Remus stuck out his wand arm and the large purple bus appeared instantly.
"Welcome to the –"
"Thank you, Stan." Remus cut him off. "Come on Harry." The boy obeyed and stepped onto the bus. After a brief conversation with Stan (who liked to think he and Harry were very close friends) Remus led the boy to a squashy sofa near the back of the almost-empty second tier as the bus carried on its journey. Once sat down, Harry undid his coat and watched as the bus jumped from city to countryside within seconds.
"It's going to be quiet without you around," Remus was saying. "I don't know when I'll get to see you again."
"I'll write," Harry told the man. "And you have Tonks, for this week at least. I hate leaving you behind. Sirius did this too, made me feel guilty. I think he wanted me to drop out of school and sit around with him all day." Harry paused wondering that if he had, would Sirius still be alive? Remus gave a light laugh.
"I'm not trying to make you feel guilty, Harry. Unlike Sirius, I do realise that school is important." He gave a sad sigh. "I miss him."
"Me too." Harry said quietly. They travelled on. The ride was bumpy and Harry began to wish he hadn't eaten that pizza for breakfast.
"Tonks is looking better," he said, starting up a conversation. "When she's not drunk I mean."
"Yes she is," Remus nodded in agreement. "But I don't think it's truly hit her yet. I still worry about her. She puts on a brave face but who knows what's going on in that head of hers."
"Well, at least she has Charlie," Harry said absently to the window.
"Yes, at least she has Charlie," Remus muttered an echo. Harry turned to look at him and Remus was worried what the boy had heard in voice.
"Do you think she'll go to Azkaban? If she gets found out I mean."
"I hope it won't come to that Harry."
"We can't let that happen," Harry said firmly. "I don't think she'd cope."
"No, I don't suppose she would," Remus agreed quietly.
They sat in silence again, listening to the noise of the bus and its passengers. Stan Shunpike's voice could be heard from the lower level at every stop they made. Remus wondered absently if the lad ever got bored of saying his spiel. He had noticed that Stan still read off a card and thought that he really should have learnt it by now.
"So, what's going on with you and Tonks?" Harry's question made Lupin turn his head sharply to the boy.
"Nothing, why?" he said rather quickly.
"Oh come off it, Remus! You hardly said a word to each other last night. And I'm supposed to believe you weren't fighting?" He looked over at the man beside him, who had hung his head and was staring intently at a hole in his over coat.
"Unless…no way!"
"Harry –"
"Oh my god!" Harry squealed in a very Hermione-like way. "What happened between you two?"
"Harry –"
"Did you kiss her?"
"No … well … yes. But she kissed me first." Harry gave a gasp of excitement, a grin spread across his face. Remus, on the other hand, did not look as happy and told Harry to shush as his laugh gained the attention of an old witch sitting a few seats in front of them. She turned back around and fell asleep.
"This is great… well… not for Charlie," he added, "But for you, definitely. Way to go!"
"Harry!" Remus finally got the boy's attention. "Listen, nothing is going on between Nymphadora and myself. I'm sorry to disappoint you," he said as he saw the boy's grin fade. "But we are friends and will remain friends. So I'd appreciate it if you didn't go spreading this around."
"You're right, I'm sorry… so what was it like?" Remus gave a groan. "Was she drunk? I bet she was! Did you take advantage of her? Tut tut Remus, that's not like you." Remus had to laugh. The boy reminded him so much of Sirius, it was uncanny. "What happened after? Come on, you have to tell me! Did you stop the kiss? Did she?"
"We were interrupted by Snape if you must know."
"Snape!" Harry howled a laugh. "This gets better and better!"
"I'm glad my life amuses you so much, Harry."
"Guess you weren't too pleased with him last night! I wonder what would have happened if he hadn't walked it. Git."
"Harry!" Remus chided, but a part of him had been thinking the very same thing the night before. Harry chuckled to himself for a great deal of the journey. Remus was wondering how much longer it was going to take. He couldn't cope with any more questions, especially from Harry!
"You guys are so stupid," Harry said to himself, still grinning. "I mean, come on, you would be perfect for each other. Stop shaking you're head Remus, you know it's true."
"We're friends Harry."
"Phht, friends!"
"Yes Harry, friends. And we don't always get on then. Believe me, this is for the best." But Harry shook his head, still unconvinced.
"Nah, you see I think you're wrong there … I mean take my relationship with Hermione."
"You're relationship with Hermione?"
"Yes. We are friends. She's smart, and funny sometimes, and kinda pretty I guess, I dunno I don't really think of her like that. I love her to bits but sometimes I just wanna knock her head against a brick wall! But with you and Tonks … well she's smart-ish, definitely funny, and she's a stunner, you can't deny that! And you love her too. But whereas I'm there banging Hermione's head against a wall … you pretty much wanna bang Tonks against a wall!"
"Harry!" Remus was rather surprised that Harry would come out with something like that, to him of all people.
"Whatever, Remus. You know it's true!" Harry said casually with a smirk.
When the bus reached Hogsmeade, Remus was more than relieved. As much as he knew he was going to miss Harry, he was rather uncomfortable with Harry's relationship advice, and the way he kept glancing at him with a huge grin evident. As the bus disappeared with a bang, Harry turned to look at Hogwarts in the distance.
"You want me to walk you to the door?" Remus asked as they dragged the boy's trunk to the school gates. Harry shook his head.
"Nah, I'll be alright once I get in the grounds." They stopped at the gates and regarded each other for a long moment before stepping forward and embracing each other tightly. Harry couldn't remember ever doing it before, and wondered how he's gone so long without doing it. He bet Remus hugged Tonks all the time, and grinned at the thought.
"Stop grinning Harry," Remus said over Harry's shoulder. He gave a laugh.
"How'd you know I'm grinning?" They pulled apart.
"Because you're an idiot."
"Thanks Remus, you too."
"Look after yourself. And keep your mouth shut."
"Yeah, you too." The boy winked as he dragged his trunk through the school gates.
"Very funny," Remus called after him.
He watched Harry walked up the long school drive until he knew he was going to be ok. Then he looked over his shoulder, feeling someone's presences. He frowned, as he saw no one there. Looking back and finding that he could no longer see Harry, he Apperated back home to Grimmauld Place wishing he could shake Harry's grin from his mind and hoping that it wasn't contagious.
