THC

Hufflepuff

DADA Professor

Round 7, Year 8

Standard

Words: 1,223

Prompts: (Genre) Romance

(Action) Buying a dress

A/N This is another AU in which Remus is a Soldier, Tonks is a civilian, and there is no magic. Thank you so much to my wonderful teammates, without whom I wouldn't have had the motivation to write this.

Ginny Weasley knew how sad Tonks was that her boyfriend, Remus, wasn't able to be home for Christmas. He had tried to get leave from the Army, but he had been unable to. So, when Ginny drew Tonks for Secret Santa, she knew she had to try to find a way to get Remus home for the holiday.

The night they drew names, Ginny sent a text to Remus.

Text me when you get the chance. I'm Tonks's Secret Santa.

Remus had just gotten off his late-night guard shift when he saw Ginny's text. He returned to his room in the barracks before texting, Glad to know Tonks has a good person for Secret Santa. What can I help you with? Do you need gift ideas?

Ginny's response was almost instantaneous. Actually, I was hoping you would be her gift….

Remus frowned down at his phone. I don't get it.

Ginny sent a rolling eyes emoji. I want you to come home to see her for Christmas.

I am already coming home for Christmas, Remus texted.

What? Why didn't you tell Tonks? Ginny texted, and Remus could practically feel the anger radiating from the redhead.

I wanted to surprise her, Remus replied lamely.

And you didn't think to include me? I'm the queen of surprises! Plus, she's my best friend. I know exactly how to trick her, Ginny declared.

You're right. But I'm including you now. Remus's text was sheepish.

Because I accidentally stumbled upon your plan. Her phone was silent for a moment before Ginny demanded, Send me your information so that I can come up with a plan, asshole.

Remus laughed before doing what she asked of him.

Tonks and Ginny were hanging out at Ginny's house. They were supposed to be baking cookies, but they had instead opted to watch Hallmark Christmas movies under fluffy blankets while eating whatever junk food was available.

Suddenly, Ginny threw off her blankets and grabbed Tonks's hand, pulling her off the couch.

"What was that for?" Tonks asked as she tried to sit back down.

Ginny held onto her hand and started pulling her towards the door. "We are going to go buy dresses for the Christmas party tomorrow."

"Why? I don't even want to go."

Ginny fixed her friend with a glare. "You're going to that party, end of story."

"I'm not in the mood to go to Christmas parties. Not while Remus is deployed."

Ginny felt sorry for her friend, but she knew that she had to get her friend to that party – for the very reason she didn't want to go. The irony was not lost on her. To do that, she needed to help her friend find the perfect outfit to stun her boyfriend. "Come on. Finding a cute outfit and getting dressed up for a party will make you feel so much better."

Tonks was quiet.

"Do it for me, Tonks. I don't have a date either, so we can go together and party like we used to."

A smile spread across Tonks's face for the first time in a long while. "Okay. I'll come. But only if we find a cute outfit for you as well."

"Deal."

Remus boarded his flight early the next morning, which reminded him of how he had met Tonks. They had been on the same flight, and Tonks had thought it unfair that he had to sit in coach, so she had given him her first-class seat. After their flight had landed, she had treated them both to dinner at a restaurant.

Unfortunately for Remus, there was no one to give him a first-class seat that day — not that he minded. When he traveled with the military, he flew as though he were a piece of cargo most times. Flying in coach was much better than sitting on the canvas seats next to his sweaty and smelly brothers-in-arms.

The flight was going to be over eight and a half hours long, so Remus settled in as best he could into his seat.

Ginny and Tonks were getting ready for the party together at the former's house. Ginny was periodically checking her phone, making Tonks suspicious.

After catching Ginny looking at her phone for the fifth time in as many minutes, Tonks had had enough. "Who are you texting?"

"No one!" Ginny exclaimed too quickly, moving her phone out of her friend's view.

"Really? Because you seem to be having a pretty intense conversation." A thought came to her mind, and she scrunched her nose in disgust. "Please tell me you and Harry aren't se—"

Ginny gasped indignantly. "What? No! That's not who — I would never!"

Tonks gave her a look. "Sure. I know you two and how you go at it like bunnies."

Ginny's face turned a bright crimson, clashing horribly with her hair. "I— uh— moving on!"

Tonks burst out laughing, satisfied with the fact that she had completely embarrassed her best friend.

Ginny threw a pillow at her. "You're so mean!"

"I learned from the best, sweetcheeks."

Ginny glared at her. "You're lucky I love you. Anyway, are you ready to go to the party?"

Tonks stood up and turned in a slow circle to show Ginny her outfit, hair, and makeup. "I'd say so. What do you think?"

"I think you will put everyone at the party to shame. Now, let's get our party on!"

It felt like forever before Remus got off the plane. He ran to baggage claim, where he met up with Ron.

"Took you long enough," Ron grumbled by way of a greeting.

Remus smiled and shook his head. "Good to see you, too."

Ron rolled his eyes, but he smiled despite himself. "Come on. We need to get to the party ASAP. Ginny will literally kill me if we get there a second late."

"Then we'd better get a move on."

If the flight was long, the car ride took forever. Remus was bouncing his leg nervously, unable to quell his desire to hold the love of his life in his arms again.

When they finally got to the venue where the party was being held, Ron and Remus hid behind the curtain on the stage, waiting for the announcement that would soon come. Remus couldn't believe he was this close to Tonks and had to wait, but he didn't want to miss the expression on her face when she realized what was going on.

Tonks was twirling Ginny around the dancefloor, the two of them giggling like crazy.

A man on stage tapped the mic and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please?"

Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at the man.

"Thank you. We are here tonight to celebrate Christmas. However, we have a Secret Santa surprise in store for one of our employees. For the past eight months, one of our country's finest fighters has been deployed and they've finally made it back home. Will you all help me welcome to the stage Sergeant Remus Lupin!"

Ginny watched Tonks's face morph from confusion to surprise to pure delight as Remus stepped onto the stage. As soon as she came out of her shock, Tonks went running up onto the stage and warmly embraced her boyfriend for the first time in eight months.

Everyone around them clapped.