Chapter Fifteen: The Importance of Being Forward
A/N: Sorry I've taken over a week to update! I know this isn't very long, but the next chapter is seriously huge.Thanks for the reviews!
"Well –er – goodnight, then," said Remus awkwardly, as they reached the door to her flat.
It was the night after Dumbledore's funeral and, after seeing off Harry to his awful relatives once more, Remus had offered to walk her home. She had, of course, accepted right away, and they had walked home in almost unbearable silence, unsure what next to do.
He turned; ready to leave, when Tonks put a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Remus, stay. We've been acting like bloody strangers almost all day. We've barely said one word to each other." She quickly unlocked her door, and stood aside, gesturing for him to enter. "Werewolves first," she said dryly.
Remus rolled his eyes, but entered at once.
He took one look around at her mess of flat, and glanced back at Tonks, eyebrow raised.
"Nice place you've got here," he chuckled.
"Shut it," she said through gritted teeth. "I don't have much time to do house work. I have a fairly demanding schedule, you know."
"Like?"
"Like being an Auror," she listed. "Being a member of the Order…"
"I'm a member of the Order."
"So?"
"So it doesn't take up that much time."
"Well, how do you know I don't have a lively social life?"
"Because you told me," he replied, a small smile playing at his lips.
"Damn, I forgot it's you." Tonks rolled her eyes, and flopped down on the couch, throwing off her heels without another thought.
"Tea?" inquired Remus, already heading toward the kitchen.
Tonks shot a dirty look his way. "Hey, this is my house, you know."
"Sugar with that?"
Tonks stuck her tongue out at him, receiving a devious smile in the process.
Remus came back a few moments later, carrying two steamy hot cups of tea.
Tonks inspected her tea carefully, before taking a quick sip. To her amazement, it was exactly as she liked it.
"How did you know?" she asked, her eyes wide.
Remus smiled smugly. "I know a lot of things."
He sat silently down on the couch, cup in hand, eyes slightly glazed over, as if he was deep in thought.
Tonks sighed happily, and rested her head on his shoulder, stroking his arm gently.
Remus' eyes swept over her, and they were packed with such emotion, as Tonks had never seen before. Then, without warning, he leaned forward and kissed her.
Tonks let out a low moan, and rapped her hands slowly around the back his head, caressing his neck lovingly. There kissed increased in urgency almost immediately, and again a feeling of electricity filled Tonks' body. Every time Remus kissed her, it felt like the first time.
Remus slowly coaxed her body into a laying position on the sofa. She sighed, fell back, almost overwhelmed. Suddenly, Remus broke away. Immediately dread filled her body. Hopefully history wasn't repeating itself.
"I should be going," Remus said quietly.
Tonks looked at him furiously, "Remus, what is wrong with you? I thought we got over all this."
Remus looked over, almost longingly, at the door. "No, Nymphadora, it's not that. I just better be going. See you."
Tonks opened her mouth to say more, but he was already out the door. She started towards it, angry and confused, but promptly tripped on the doormat.
"Ouch." She straightened up quickly, swung open the door and peered out, but he was already gone.
"Damn it!" she shouted, turned around, and slammed the door so hard it almost fell off the hinges.
She went over to the couch and collapsed upon it, banging her head softly on the armrest.
Why did you have to fall in love with him? She asked herself angrily. He's such an idiot sometimes; he doesn't even realize how wonderful he is…
Tonks jumped off the couch and walked over to the kitchen, her hair growing redder as she went.
She slammed open the freezer and grabbed a large bucket of strawberry ice cream, her favourite. She went to the counter, got out her huge jar of pecans and threw them mercilessly on her ice cream. Tonks grabbed a spoon, and trudged back over to the couch, flicking on the TV as she did so.
She sunk back into the couch, and surfed the channels until she found an unbelievably cheesy chic flick. Perfect.
Tonks watched, bored to tears, for about an hour, before a loud knock at the door flung her back into reality.
"Julianne…it's true; I love you!" Cried the, quite frankly, ugly man-boy in the movie, who had mistakenly fallen in love with a woman twice his age.
"You're too young for me, Michael!" Screamed the woman, almost collapsing in tears.
"Oh, shut up," said Tonks bitterly, and clicked the 'off ' button furiously before slumping over and getting the door.
To her surprise, it was Charlie. They never talked, barely even acknowledged each other's existence, actually.
She looked at him questionably, and, when she received no reply but a blank stare, opened the door just so he could slip in.
"So – er – Charlie, what are you doing – "
"Tonks, I need some advice," he said, cutting her off.
Tonks raised an eyebrow. She looked at him carefully, and carefully, and saw that his normally peachy complexion was abnormally pale, easily challenging Remus'. Charlie was pacing quickly, and fidgeting with his hands so much Tonks' began to grow a little nervous.
"About?" she said quietly, still observing him.
"Love," he said quickly, not even stopping to think
Tonks furrowed her brow. Charlie, world–class hottie and Quidditch maniac, need help with love?
"Er – love? No offense, Charlie, but I don't think I'm the person you should be talking to…" she trailed off, and bit her lip uncertainly.
"No, I need you. And don't say you're not an expert –" Tonks stifled a laugh when she heard him use the term 'expert' " – because we all saw how you never gave up on Remus, ever when there was almost no hope. And it worked, right? So you must be doing something right."
Well, thanks, she thought as she heard that. Still…he's right. At least I'm doing something right.
Or was, she thought bitterly.
"Still, Charlie, I really…just…you're situation is probably a lot different than mine…"
"Tonks…" Charlie walked up to her, and put his hands firmly on her shoulder, as if he was about to shake her, "I need your help. Please…will you just hear me out?"
Tonks was shocked. He was really serious about this. She looked him right in the eye, and said, in the most understanding voice she could pull off, "Yeah, of course I will."
Charlie closed his eyes, and abruptly stopped his pacing. He turned slowly to her and opened his eyes. They had a pleading, helpless look to them, and, for once in her life, Tonks could she desperation and fright written in his face. Charlie took a careful step towards her, and then drew back, fidgeting horribly with his hands again. He took a deep, rattling breath and then said what he had obviously been building towards the whole evening,
"I'm in love with Fleur."
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A/N: Hehe, trouble in paradise? Thanks for the reviews!
slightly so: Thanks! And there's still more to come, lol. Thanks for the review!
Windedspirit: Thanks, and I think a lot of people call it that, lol. I wonder why. Is 'chapter' just to long, lol? Thanks for the review!
bella1305pickles: Lol, thanks for the review!
deadgirlythings: Thanks, yeah I like doing scenes from other people's POV. Lol, but there's no more scenes to do! Thanks for the review!
BexyLou: Yeah, well, I got some kind of interesting ideas, lol. Thanks for the review!
PiaMcKinnon: Yeah...lol, I love the cute romance stuff -sigh-. Thanks for the review!
bookworm federation unlimited : Yeah, lol it will probably take a very long time to get it all posted on the other site. This is so much quicker! Hehe, yeah the thing with Hermione looking at the Slytherin WILL come up again in a few chapters. It was orginally an idea for a different story, but I'm really into thsi story right now so I decided to add it in. It might seems a little cheesy though:( . Thanks for the review!
smash: I know, I wish Dumbledore was still alive too...why do all the best characters have to die? I hope Lupin isn't next to go! Ah! And it seems to only be the guys...Cedric, Sirius, Dumbledore...Thanks for the review!
FieryPhoenix21: Thanks, lol! I'm glad you like my story. Thanks for the review!
LaC: Hehe, Hermione WAS looking over at a Slytherin for a good reason. Which will be found out in a few chapters. Thanks for the review!