Happy Christmas, everyone! Here's a lil' oneshot of our favourite metamorphmagus and her (soon-to-be) werewolf husband! Enjoy!

Despite the blowing snow, this year's Christmas Eve wasn't exactly how Tonks had imagined it to be. She had known, of course, that joining the Order of the Phoenix would have a massive influence on her life. Not that her life had been quiet before - life as an auror was never exactly quiet - but Tonks felt like she hadn't had a quiet day for months now.

Oh she had been naive to think that she'd actually be able to celebrate a nice, calm Christmas feast with the other Order members. Sirius had been planning a Christmas party for about two weeks now but today, one hour before her work at the Ministry had ended, a note from Dumbledore had arrived which had driven a coach and four thestrals through her pleasant anticipations. Much to her chagrin, he had appointed her to a night mission somewhere in Gloucester. Her job was to keep guard duty at an old estate that Snape had said to be suspicious of death eater activities. Mundungus Fletcher would've been the one to do the job but, oh wonder, he was nowhere to find.

"Probably doing some fowl business somewhere in a pub in London... illegally trading cauldrons or whatever," Tonks had muttered bitterly as she and Kingsley had left work this evening.

"D'you want me to accompany you on your guard duty?" the tall man had offered kindly.

But Tonks had declined. "No, don't worry. You go head to Sirius's party and pay company to good ol' Mad-Eye. Who's he gonna drink fire whisky with if not with you?", Tonks had joked. She knew, of course, that her mentor and her colleague were kind of best mates. Kingsley had only chuckled and accepted.

Tonks didn't exactly regret that she had not accepted Kingsley's offer, but nevertheless she wished to have some company. Standing in the shadows of a small forest was even more dull than it would've been usually. That was, obviously, because it was Christmas Eve tonight. Besides, it was freezing and Tonks had, as usual and despite Remus's constantly repeated exhortations, not taken along a warm winter coat.

Those blasted death eaters could at least have bothered with decorating their stupid estate with some fairy lights or tinsel, Tonks thought bitterly.

With every minute passing, Tonks's mood darkened. Why was it exactly her that was appointed to that mission? Why did she not get a partner? Well, this mission really did not require a second man or woman - but it was Christmas Eve, for Merlin's sake!

Tonks glanced at her watch. She'd already spent one and a half hours here, that made two and a half to go. Two long hours that she would spend out in the cold, on her own, being left to wrap her own arms around her shivering body. If only she was able to conjure those wonderful blue flames Remus always conjured when they spent a winter night out on patrol. But she wasn't, she had somehow never worked out this spell.

She huffed silently, some tiny clouds escaping her lips. Tonks wasn't usually a gruff person, that was more Mad-Eye's cup of tea. But wasn't a woman left alone out in the cold on Christmas Eve allowed to feel sorry for herself? Tonks certainly thought so...

"Enjoying yourself, mate?" Sirius called in a very sarcastic tone.

Remus looked up from his book. He had escaped the Christmas party and sought escape in the library of Grimmauldplace. It was quiet here, calm. Admittedly, he had hoped that no one would've noticed. He hadn't reckoned that Sirius, in the jolly mood he was tonight, wouldn't notice.

"Well, I..." Remus murmured, putting his book aside. He sighed. "I'm sorry, Sirius. But you know that parties aren't exactly my thing."

"Uh huh... unless there's a certain pink-haired, clumsy metamorphmagus around, am I right?"

Remus couldn't deny that. Tonks's company seemed to make the wildest party enjoyable. To be exact, he had chosen to read in the library and not upstairs in his room because she would walk past the door as soon as she arrived. And then, Remus would be able to get a glance at the beautiful dress she'd talked about for a solid week now, and her hair and her eyes and her smile... without anyone watching and without anyone but Tonks noticing him blushing.

"Where is she?" Remus asked. It was half past nine already and Kingsley had arrived more than an hour ago.

"Don't worry, you haven't missed your sweetheart, Moony," Sirius said teasingly, a mischievous sparkle glimmering in his grey eyes. "Dumbledore just arrived and he informed us that Tonks had to replace Mundungus for tonight's guard duty in Gloucester."

Remus stared. "But she wanted to join us tonight."

"I know but Dung the old bugger was nowhere to be found so Dumbledore decided Tonks should-"

Remus got up, suddenly feeling a little furious. "But why her?"

"Whoa whoa, easy mate. Don't yell at me," Sirius laughed. "Listen, given the fact that you don't like, for whatever reason, don't like my party anyways-"

"I'm sorry, Padfoot."

"-why don't you just get your ass out of here, apparate to that wicked estate in Gloucester and see the lady of your dreams? I think she'd be bloody delighted to see you."

The past two hours had as expected been boring as hell. Nothing had happened, nothing at all. Because of this, Tonks felt even more nervy when she heard the sound of apparition only a few feet away from where she was hiding.

Was there a death eater who waited for her to turn around and then attack her? Where there more? Was it someone else?

Tonks gripped her wand a little tighter and turned around so she faced the woods. No one was to be seen so she walked on a few steps.

Suddenly, two hands touched her body: one got ahold of her arm, the other covered her mouth, making her yelp sound muffled.

Tonks was about to carry out a secret defense move Mad-Eye had taught her when a soft, familiar voice spoke to her ear.

"It's me."

Tonks turned around and met the brown, golden-speckled eyes of Remus Lupin. She sighed in relief. "You made me jump all right."

Remus smiled at her apologetically. "I'm sorry, I didn't meant to scare you."

"It's all right. What're you doing here? Why aren't you celebrating with the others?" Tonks asked curiously.

"Parties aren't exactly my thing, you know. I thought you might want some company?" He offered her another smile, which seemed a little tense and nervous this time. As though he feared she might decline and bid him to leave. "I brought chocolate," he added goofily.

Tonks laughed throatily and snatched the chocolate bar from his hand. "Ta. You shall leave now."

Remus stared at her for a second, looking very much taken aback indeed. But then he grinned. "Anything happened the last few hours?"

"Nah, nothing." Tonks broke two chunks off the chocolate, handed one to Remus and stuffed the other into her own mouth.

Remus watched her in amusement. "Hungry, are we?"

"And how! Haven't had a bite of anything since lunchtime."

"I should've brought some decent food then, sorry," Remus muttered.

Tonks shook her head. "Don't apologize! Chocolate is absolutely fine, thank you. You're my saviour, I guess. So tell me... how's Sirius party?"

"Well, half of the guests are drunk already. Molly and Arthur are dancing, Mad-Eye and Kingsley share a bottle of fire whisky... oh and Sirius tried to snog Emmeline several times already. That's when I left," Remus recounted. He shot her a smile and his gaze went back to the estate in front of them. When Tonks asked him if he didn't regret leaving, he said, "I only regret not seeing you in your marvelous dress. And not having the chance to dance with you."

Tonks couldn't help but blush. "You'll see the dress on New Year's Eve, I promise. And you'll get your dance."

"Really?"

"Really."

It was a content expression that snuck onto Remus's scarred face, making the corners of his mouth twitch into an adorable, lopsided smile. "I like your hair today," he said shyly.

Tonks took a shoulder length, slightly curled, bubblegum pink strand of hair between her fingers and twisted it. "Thank you."

They spent a few minutes in silence, watching the snow fall down on the ground. The snowflakes seemed to be engulfed in a merry dance, twisting and turning gently. A few got caught in Tonks's hair. Remus must've noticed it too since he shot her a side glance every now and then and smiled softly. Tonks wrapped her arms around her body and rubbed her upper arms with her cold hands. Now that they had stopped talking, she was reminded of how cold it was.

"Are you cold?" Remus asked, a worried frown appearing on his handsome face.

"A bit," Tonks admitted.

"D'you want my coat?" he offered.

Tonks glanced at him. He was wearing a brown, thick winter coat and a light brown wooly jumper as well as fingerless gloves and a scarf. Remus really didn't look like he was freezing. But Tonks shook her head. "No, I'm fine. Don't bother."

"Take my scarf, then."

Tonks watched him take off his scarf and carefully wrap it around her neck. The fabric was soft and warm... and smelled like Remus. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

They stood in silence once more, watching the slow waltz of the floating snowflakes. Tonks was still freezing but she tried hard to stay out and hide her shivers. However, Remus noticed.

"Nymphadora?"

"Uh huh?"

"You're shivering."

"Yeah."

He held her arms open for her. "Come here."

Without hesitating, Tonks walker up to him and snuggled up against his chest. The cozy fabric of his sweater brushed her face as she buried her face in the crook of his neck. Tonks slipped her fingers under his sweater, feeling his warm skin through the shirt he was wearing underneath his jumper.

Remus hissed softly. She looked up at him and whispered, "Is this okay?"

"Of course," he said, smiling shyly.

Tonks moved her fingers a few inches upwards. A pleasant warmth spread through her fingers, making her fingertips feel electrified but in a good way. She took in Remus's scent - herbs, tea and chocolate - as he wrapped his arms around her waist. His embrace made her body feel warm.

After a while, she felt Remus's breath right next to her ear. His lips brushed her skin as he whispered, "Merry Christmas, Nymphadora."

Tonks drew back and looked straight into his eyes, his wonderful, wonderful eyes. "Merry Christmas to you too, Remus," she said, her voice barley audible.

And then, he bent down and kissed her. Their lips met, first only brushing, then colliding tenderly. Tonks locked her hands in his hair, pulling him down to her a little further. Remus's hands cupped her cheeks gently. His lips felt pleasantly warm against hers, and the warmth of his kiss seemed to spread through her entire body. They broke apart far too soon for her liking. But still - his kiss left her feeling warm and giddy.

Tonks smiled like a fool, eventually grinning. "This was by far the best Christmas gift I've ever received."

Remus ran a shaky hand through his hair and laughed softly. "So you liked it?"

"Liked it? Bloody loved it!"

All she saw was Remus's delighted adorable little grin before he pulled her into another hug, making her feel warm all over again. One thing Tonks was sure of: no chimney fire could ever compete with the warmth Remus made her feel.