This Charming Man


Tonks shivered. It was February and slightly warmer than January or December, but not by much.

She stood outside the Three Broomsticks, in the shadow near the door. Patrolling in winter was one of her least favorite pastimes. It was especially horrid when she had other things on her mind. Tonks had just been to see Dumbledore. Well, she had attempted. After she had seen the front cover of the evening edition Daily Prophet, she had been in a panic. On her next break, she had rushed up to Hogwarts to quash the awful feeling in her that said it might have been Remus who had been attacked by Greyback. It made her feel sick.

But her efforts had come up fruitless. Dumbledore had not been at the castle, and she was no closer to figuring out Remus' current condition. Come to think of it, she had not heard from him since December. 'Nearly a month and a half ago now,' she thought to herself as she wrapped her robe closer around her.

Tonks had not seen or heard anything of Remus since Christmas. And yes, it had bothered her. And yes, she knew that he was probably avoiding her. And yes, another part of her was terrified that he had been hurt or…killed.

Tonks shoved the thought to the back of her mind and tried to focus on her job. She turned around sharply when she felt someone tap her on the shoulder.

It was Dawlish. He leaned his head close to hers. "Shift's up. You look a bit anxious. Go on, take a break."

She smiled appreciatively at him and wordlessly moved towards the entrance to the pub. As she stepped inside, she sighed, relishing in the fact she could feel all her extremities now that they were thawing.

"Tonks!"

A young man with soft blonde hair and handsome features came bounding up to her. He peered at her for a minute. "You look freezing. Come here and sit down. I've got us a table near the fire," he said pleasantly, leading her closer to the roaring fire. He caught her robe and placed it on the back of her chair as she sat down. Tonks smiled.

"Thanks, Michael."

He shook his head. "No problem. Would you like something to drink? You look like you could use something hot."

"Um, how about hot chocolate?" she asked. Michael sped off towards the bar.

Tonks sighed again as she turned to watch the large fire. Michael returned a moment later with two large steaming mugs. He set one down in front of her before sitting down across from her.

"So, how was your shift? Cold, I take it?"

Tonks nodded. "Yeah, but at least I get to stand over here near the high street. You have to go off down by the Shrieking Shack. I bet it gets a bit lonely out there."

He shrugged. "Its all part of the job though isn't it? Anyway, I get to spend my break in here with you and hot chocolate, things could be worse." He smiled as he lifted his mug in appreciation.

Tonks laughed. "That's very true."

Michael watched her for a moment. When he spoke, his voice was quiet and calm. "And how are you otherwise? I mean, outside of work. You've just seemed a bit…off-color lately. Is everything all right?"

Tonks looked down into her mug. "Hey, there are marshmallows in here!" she said a little overenthusiastically.

"Well, I know how you like them," he said, casually, throwing his head back in a mock gesture of superiority. He wasn't going to pretend he hadn't noticed the sudden change in subject, but he felt it was not the appropriate time to say anything.

She raised an eyebrow. "Oh do you? And what else do you know about me?" she asked playfully, feeling for the first time in a long time…playful.

Michael shook his head, a silly grin on his face. "Oh no, a gentleman never tells his secrets," he said, suddenly looking very serious.

Tonks snorted. "Right. But really, I'm fine. No need to worry about me," she said, a small smile spreading.

"Well good. I never like to see a coworker unhappy. It's also not good for the complexion," he said, gesturing to his face.

She laughed softly. "And what about you? Should I be worried? But no, I suppose not. Don't you lead a spectacularly perfect life?" she asked, a glint in her eye.

"Ah!" Michael raised his finger. "Or so I thought. Actually, I just found out my girlfriend was sleeping with someone else. Not too important really, I guess. I mean, I still have my health."

"Michael! That's horrible! I'm so sorry-if I had known!"

He shook his head. "No matter, I refuse to let it ruin my perfect skin."

Tonks took another sip of her hot chocolate. "What happened? If you don't mind me asking."

Michael leaned back in his chair. "Well, she told me that living with an Auror was kind of like living with an invisible man. She said there was evidence of me around the house, but no me. So she turned to someone else for comfort. The postman actually. Bit cliché if you ask me, but then, no one did."

"She actually said that? Well 'good riddance' I say. You're probably better off without her."

"I know I am." He smiled. Tonks marveled at how he seemed to brush it off so casually.

"I'm sure your love life is a bit happier than mine, though, a pretty girl like you," he said, cocking his head and looking at her sideways.

Tonks set her mug down on the table. "Well now that you mention it, It's not as interesting as you might think."

Micheal looked shocked. "What! You mean to tell me there aren't men queuing out the door for you? What is this world coming to?" He stood up quickly and walked over to the man sitting closest to them. Micheal tapped him on the shoulder.

"Excuse me, sir. I hate to interrupt your…um…whatever that is," he said, glancing at the man's drink, "but I need to know that you think this woman is very attractive. Do you concur?"

As the man turned around, Tonks hid her red cheeks behind her hands and suppressed a girlish giggle. "Michael, stop it!"

The man looked at Tonks and smiled. "Very pretty. You're very lucky."

At that, Michael's face glowed red and he sat back in his chair, a little subdued. "Well, there you are. The man in the street says you're very pretty. Now, tell me exactly who is crazy enough to reject you."

Tonks looked at him a minute. "There is someone. Someone I thought I knew. He…well, I thought he had feelings for me as well. But I guess I was wrong. He was busy with…other things and I suppose I just sort of got shoved to the back burner and-"

"And you're not sure if he'll ever bring you back out to reheat?"

Tonks laughed quietly at his strange analogie. "Yeah, I suppose you could put it that way. Anyway, at this rate, I'm thinking that's never going to happen. He's the type that operates under the rule 'When In Doubt, Throw It Out'. And if he does feel anything for me, it'd certainly be clouded by doubt."

Michael nodded. "Well give it some time. I'm sure that whoever he is, he'll realize the error of his ways. He'll see that remarkable girl that I see, sitting here. Surely, no one is that mental to keep thinking the way he is." He reached out to place a comforting hand on her arm.

Tonks looked up at him and smiled. "Thanks for listening to me." She looked away thoughtfully. "You know, the last time I saw him, I kissed him."

"That's a good way to reheat things up," he said, winking.

"It backfired. Perhaps all my kisses drive men away."

"I highly doubt that. And stop feeling sorry for yourself, its pathetic. Try it again, take some initiative. Perhaps that's what he's waiting for."

"I have the feeling what he's waiting for is hell to freeze over. And I was not feeling sorry for myself," she said as she tried to shoot him a glaring look.

"Sure, love. Whatever you say." He leaned back in his chair and took another sip of his hot chocolate.

Tonks watched him carefully. Michael had always been a good listener. She had known him since they were 12 at Hogwarts. He had stolen her bookbag. She had gotten so mad that she completely forgot about her wand as she slammed her fist into his jaw. They had been good friends ever since.

She had watched as he went from skinny boy to carefree teenager to this charming man sitting in front of her now. Tonks had never felt any romantic attraction between the two of them save once. But it was short lived after a certain awkward incident during Auror training. But as she watched him lean back and reach to grab the last marshmallow from the bottom of his mug, she couldn't help her craving for human contact.

Remus had broken her. For two months, she'd wandered around feeling isolated and lonely. She let work consume her in hopes that it would push away the empty feeling that followed her around like a shadow. Tonks hated him for that. In pushing her away, he had driven her to do the same and she hated it.

Michael was looking back at her curiously. She must have been staring.

"You all right?" he asked, setting his empty mug down.

Tonks smiled. "Perfect." She leaned her head forward and gently pressed her lips to his. He stiffened. She pulled back.

"I-I'm sorry," she stammered. "I didn't mean to, I mean, I did, but I didn't think about-Michael I'm really sorry." She put her head down on the table. She felt very confused. Kissing Michael was like revenge. Or a placeholder. Or both. He became both a substitute for Remus and a way for her to get back at him. And now she just felt awful.

"Tonks, it's all right. It happens. I love you. I do. You're one of my very best friends. But there's no way I can let you settle for anything less than what you truly want. It sounds corny, I know, but it's true." He placed an arm around her. She seemed to fit perfectly in she space under his protective arm and she felt truly safe for the first time in many months.

"See?" he whispered soothingly, "You were meant to fit right there. I couldn't have my wing man trying to shag me now, could I?"

Tonks giggled as she remembered when they'd both gone to see that muggle movie and agreed to be each others' wing man ever since. She snuggled closer to him. It felt so good to be held.

"By the way, anyone who turns down such kissable lips as yours really does have some sort of mental condition. You know, just…thought I'd put that out there." He could feel her smile.

Michael sighed as he checked his watch. "Well, as much as I hate to say this, we've got to go relieve those two for our next shift. You ready?"

Tonks sat up slightly and nodded. They stood up and she hugged him tightly. When she pulled away, she opened her mouth to speak but he shook his head.

"No words. Now remember, no self pity, its bad for the complexion."

Tonks laughed. "I thought worrying was bad for your complexion?"

"They both are," he said after a minute. "Come on, you've got Shack duty now."


Remus turned his collar up against the wind. He wondered to himself why February in Hogsmeade seemed colder than February near his flat. He had been back for almost two weeks.

As he found himself closer to the Three Broomsticks, his stomach tightened in anticipation. He had come to a realization. Again. But this time, he was determined to do the right thing.

Coming up on the window of the pub, he peered inside as his hand reached for the door. He stopped mid reach when he saw Tonks inside. He stopped when he saw her kissing someone else. All feeling seemed to leave him and if there hadn't been a wall right there, he might have fallen over.

He looked away. Had she given up on him? Was he too late now in telling her how he really felt? He seemed to have missed his chance and it left him numb. Numb to the cold, numb to her, numb to that man, numb to the other man now speaking to him.

"Oi, you there! What're you doing?"

Remus turned around and saw an angry looking man shining his wand in his face. He turned back to look inside. The man now had his arm around her. Jealousy seemed to shoot through Remus like an electric shock. "I was uh…just going in," he said.

"Well go on then, don't be dawdling around outside. Otherwise people like me'll think your up to something."

The man seemed to disappear into the shadows and Remus turned to walk down the street. Away from the Three Broomsticks, away from her, away from her charming man. He walked until he reached the Shrieking Shack. He felt awful as he climbed its front steps and as he heaved open the ancient door. He collapsed onto a dusty couch and watched the dust fly up around him.

'Its better this way,' he thought to himself, 'You said so yourself.'

A/N: Thanks for all the lovely reviews last time. And Rainydays: Who said the hospital scene's even going to happen? Hehe, just kidding…or am I? Hmmm. Anyways, I kinda like this chapter. I like that Tonks is actually interacting with someone other than Remus in this chapter. Ok, and if its not clear, Michael is the first name (well, that's my first name for him) of Savage, one of the other Aurors stationed in Hogsmeade. I also used the word "well" a lot in this chapter. Hmm, odd. I hope you enjoyed it! Cheers for reading! PS: yes, earlier Remus was being a bit of a prat, but that'll change soon and he'll be back to the Remus we and Tonks all know and love. I think…