DISCLAIMER: Anything you recognise is not mine.
A/N: My town is experiencing really crazy weather at the moment, it's actually flooding, which is quite bizarre because it hardly ever rains here. But anyways because it's raining a lot I haven't had much to do except write so that's the reason for the quick updates. However when the weather clears they'll probably be slower, don't you hate when real life gets in the way.
Also a big thanks to all the people who read the last chapter. I was quite suprised with response. Extra thanks goes to Flo M Nimo, Jokegirl, Uma-Thurman, Katyscarlett76, 2lazy2login, K.H, msmarvelfreak, brighter than tonks, ombrerose92 and CrystalClearElphaba444 for making my dreary weekend brighter with their reviews. Here's to ya!
CHAPTER 3 - Conversations of a Sirius Nature
"VILE HALF BLOOD SHAPE SHIFTING FREAKS...POLLUTING OUR ANCIENT NOBLE BLOOD LINE...BE GONE FROM THIS HOUSE..."
As I lay sprawled on the dirty floor in the halls of Number 12 Grimmauld Place I shook my head in quiet disbelief. I couldn't believe that I'd tripped over the stupid thing again, especially when I tried so hard to avoid it in the first place. Sometimes, I swear this house is out to get me.
The noise made when I crash dived into the ground was enough to coax Mrs Black into a fit of rage so I knew that it would inevitably bring out the occupants of the house. However I still cringed when I saw Sirius pretentiously swagger out into the hall and shoot an amused look my way when he saw me lying next to the evil troll leg umbrella stand. It was the third time he'd found me like this in the past week and I knew he wasn't going to let me live it down. At least Remus wasn't with him this time, they'd laughed for ages about it last time.
Sirius looked down at me after he'd finished closing the curtains over the hideous portrait of his mother, or maybe his mother was hideous and the portrait was normal. Either way, even the battle with her, which usually put him in a sulky mood, couldn't take the laughter from his eyes as he offered me his hand to help me up.
I accepted his help and I looked from my dark denim jeans, which were no worse for the wear, to my stinging hands as I slowly stood up but thankfully I couldn't see any blood.
"No serious injuries then?"
Sirius' inquiry halted my damage inspection and I slowly lifted my gaze towards him as a blush stole over my features. I couldn't see it but I'd bet it matched the colour of the pink hair I was sporting.
"Just a slightly bruised pride, but other than that I'm fine."
Sirius let out a breath of laughter as he looked at the upturned umbrella stand than back to me.
"You've really got a grudge against that thing, don't ya?"
"It's got a grudge against me."
I knew Sirius was only teasing but I answered him with a hint of anger in my voice.
"I swear it jumped out in front of me this time. There's probably a hex on it from your mother to keep the 'half-blood, shape-shifting freaks' out of her dreary house."
One of Sirius' eyebrows rose high on his forehead as he gave me an aristocratic look of disbelief, a look that had been perfected by the noble Black bloodline, and I was reminded of how much Sirius actually looked like his relatives in the portraits along the hall. That was until a mischievous look stole into his eyes and the corners of his mouth turned up as he struggled a smirk.
"Ah yes, the 'triptonksup' curse, I remember it well. Just one of the many ancient security spells protecting this noble fortress."
His tone was one of seriousness but I knew that he was just taking the piss out of my thin story. So I morphed an extra few inches taller, to make myself more imposing, before I shot him a filthy glare that would have made lesser men shrink away in silence. Instead he let out a bark of laughter at my defensiveness before turning and walking back down the hall, all mocking thankfully ceased.
"You're a bit early for the meeting cousin, but you're just in time to have a drink with me."
I knew that I was more than a little early for the meeting and it wasn't merely a mistake.
It had been a week since I'd accidentally heard their discussion in the kitchen, okay it wasn't an accident I deliberately eavesdropped on their private conversation, but I was more confused than ever. No matter how much I thought about it, I still couldn't come up with an answer as to who Remus' crush was.
I'd planned to come a little early to tonight's meeting in the hopes of interrogating my cousin on the matter. I'd been trying to get him alone all week so that I could suss it out of him but whenever I managed to corner Sirius, Remus would appear and we'd inevitably end up doing something else. Tonight seemed like the perfect opportunity, considering that Sirius was in a good mood and had already been drinking, but Plan A wouldn't succeed if Remus walked in on me trying to pry the answer from my cousin. So as I walked through the kitchen door I inquired as to Remus' whereabouts.
"Is it just us for a drink Sirius, or is Remus around too?"
Sirius poured me a glass of firewhiskey as I sat down at the wooden table. I hated firewhiskey with a passion and had devoutly sworn never to drink it again when I discovered that it burnt worse coming back up, but I accepted it to appease him. Also I hoped that he might be more willing to answer my questions if he saw me as a drinking partner instead of just his little cousin.
"Nah, Moony's off on another mission for Dumbledore. Don't know if he'll be back in time for the meeting."
My heart dropped involuntarily at the knowledge that Remus might not attend the meeting. Watching Remus interact with the female Order members was going to be my plan B in case Sirius failed to open up. I could not go another week without knowing who his crush was, the suspense was killing me. That meant my only option was to interrogate Sirius. I took a gulp of firewhiskey, wincing slightly as it burned its way down my throat, and tried to figure out how to subtly approach the subject so that he wouldn't get suspicious of my snooping. I was just about to start my line of questioning when Sirius' voice broke the silence.
"So, have you figured it out yet?"
My brows furrowed as I tried to figure out exactly what he was talking about. Unless I'd drifted off, the last thing he'd told me was that Remus was on another mission. I took another sip of the vile tasting liquid. Surely he didn't want me to try and guess where he was, that'd just be daft. He must've taken pity on my dazed expression because he elaborated further.
"Have you figured out who Moony's crush is yet?"
I gave a startled shriek and the firewhiskey that had been in my mouth suddenly went down the wrong tube and I began to choke. I coughed and spluttered until the last of the liquid was dispelled from my airway however the burning sensation that spread to my lungs made it difficult to breathe. Whilst I was struggling to get my body under control, Sirius sat across from me, rocking on his chair, with an amused expression on his face.
When I'd finally caught my breath, and the burning in my throat and lungs wasn't quite so severe, I started to put up a protest of innocence. Unless he was a legilimens he had to be bluffing.
"Sirius I... I don't know... what you're talking about."
Sirius continued to lean back in his chair however he folded his arms across his chest and the amused look on his face changed into an incredulous one as he scrutinized me from across the table.
"On the contrary, I believe you know exactly what I'm talking about cousin. Even though you're sitting there acting completely innocent, I know you're guilty as sin."
Sirius face broke into a wide accusatory smile as he sat forward in his chair.
"Don't think I didn't see your violent pink locks hiding outside the kitchen door the other morning when me and Moony were talking."
A feeling of shame washed over me as I cast my eyes downwards to avoid my cousin's accusing stare. I couldn't believe that I'd been caught invading their privacy like that. A blush stole over my features for the second time that night as I thought of how Remus must have felt so betrayed knowing that I'd overheard his secret like that, considering he was such a private man. I forced myself to look up at Sirius again.
"You saw me?"
My voice sounded small even to my own ears and I wondered for a while if Sirius had heard me but when he barked out a short laugh I knew he had.
"Of course I saw you, you dirty little eavesdropper."
His words stung a little but they weren't spoken in anger. He mostly just seemed amused by the whole situation.
"But why didn't you say something?"
Why had Sirius continued on with the personal conversation if he knew it was being overheard? Unless of course he didn't want to embarrass Remus by pointing out the conversation was no longer private. But why then had he pressed on, asking for personal details if he knew I was listening?
"The only reason I didn't rat you out that morning was because I figured if you knew about Moony's crush, he might actually be forced to do something about it."
HUH. That made no sense what so ever. As I tried to work my mind around Sirius' warped logic I just got more and more confused.
"Why would me knowing who his crush is, force him to act on his feelings?"
Sirius's face looked quite blank for a while and I thought that perhaps he'd seen the flaw in his logic as well but it didn't last long. As soon as he got over the shock of my statement, his jaw dropped open a little and he stared at me with a disbelieving look on his face as he slowly shook his head.
"You haven't figured out who Remus fancies yet, have you?"
How on earth could he have expected me to figure it out? Remus was extremely guarded with his feelings and sure there were only a few witches in the order but they all seemed impossibly wrong for him.
"Well you both weren't exactly forthcoming with names during your little chat."
His eyes widened as he clapped his palm to his forehead in an overdramatic action of frustration.
"He's that damn obvious with his feelings that you shouldn't have needed the bloody well name. I can't believe you haven't noticed him watching her at meetings, acting like a fool all the time around her. You're supposed to be a bloody auror, you should have been the first to notice."
I knew that he didn't mean to cause offence with what he said, that he'd just used it to prove a point, but I couldn't help the fact that his words still stung a little. I hated when people brought my career into things like this. I was already self conscious enough as it was about people not thinking I was a suitable Auror, without my cousin bringing me down because I failed to notice Moony 'mooning' over some woman.
"Well I'm sorry. I must have skipped a few classes because I don't remember them ever teaching us about observing 'crush actions' during training."
Sirius laughed at my dry remark and I smiled a little at the thought of something so ludicrous being taught to serious Auror cadets. Since Sirius was in a good mood again, I decided to push my luck a little further.
"You know, you could always tell me who Remus fancies and this whole thing would be over with."
Sirius stopped laughing and his face all of a sudden became serious.
"Look Tonks, it's not my place to say anything. Remus told me something in confidence and he's my best mate, I couldn't betray him like that."
I almost believed Sirius's heartfelt words until the truth dawned on me. I leaned against the table and slowly shook my head as I corrected him.
"You forced the confession from Remus whilst you knew that I was listening at the door."
"Either way," he said dismissively as he waved his hand, "I still can't tell you the name. All I can tell you is that if he shows up to the meeting tonight watch him. Trust me you'll be able to tell who she is straight away. His face will light up when he first see's her and during the meeting he'll keep glancing at her when he thinks no-one will notice. And when she gives her report she'll have his undivided attention. He's completely obvious."
Before I had the chance to further question Sirius, the kitchen door opened and Hestia Jones and Emmeline Vance joined us at the kitchen table. Soon most of the order would be here and the meeting would start. There went my chance of getting more details from Sirius, but he seemed sure that I'd figure it out for myself during the meeting.
As I lay awake in my room at Grimmauld Place later that night I couldn't help but feel disappointed and completely useless. Sirius' early comment about my lack of Auror skills kept replaying in my mind and the scary part was that I was actually starting to believe it. He'd given me clear instructions on what to look for and I still hadn't spotted a damn thing out of the ordinary. He told me it would be completely obvious who Remus fancied, but I was still no closer to finding the answer to the question I'd been pondering all week.
I sat up in bed and let out a huff of annoyance. I never let anybody question my Auror skills, I'd worked too hard during training for that, yet I was questioning myself. I knew I was a good Auror all I had to do was re-examine the facts and surely I would come up with an answer.
Alright Sirius had said that his face would light up when he first greeted her. Remus had walked in just before the meeting started and everybody had already arrived so he greeted everybody at the same time. He was still wearing his threadbare travelling cloak and he looked a little dishevelled but I remember thinking that he looked scrummy with his five o'clock shadow and unkempt hair. He caught me staring at him, but he didn't mention it, he simply smiled at me and said hello.
Sirius kept looking at me from across the kitchen with a smile on his face as if he thought I must have figured it out already but I hadn't. Remus didn't seem overly enthusiastic as he greeted anybody in the order. He was polite of course, it was in his nature to be courteous, but he didn't seem excited to see anybody in particular.
The meeting itself was a complete sham and I missed out on most of the important bits because I'd been too busy watching Remus to see if he was shooting furtive glances at his crush when he thought no-one was looking. Sirius had specifically said that this was another obvious thing that he did so I sat across from him in the hopes that I'd have the best chance of seeing it but I didn't see him stare at another woman once. He did, however, catch me staring at him several times. He must have either felt my stare or saw me looking at him out of the corner of his eye because his gaze fell upon me quite a few times and I had to quickly look away, hoping that he didn't catch me.
Remus listened attentively as Minerva delivered her report but whilst he was looking in her general direction, he wasn't watching her in particular. When Hestia and Emmeline gave their reports he only shot glances at them occasionally, acting as though he was only mildly interested in what they were saying. It sounds like he was being rude but they hardly spoke of anything important and yet they dragged on for a long time. Even I had trouble staying focused and Sirius looked as though he fell asleep at some point. The only report that Remus really listened to was mine. Whenever I glanced at him whilst I was giving my report, I'd see him watching me with a slight smile and a look of interest in his eyes.
Hold on...
No, it couldn't be...
I was just seeing what I wanted...
There was no way...
Well maybe there was...
But it didn't make sense...
Remus couldn't fancy...
But it all fit so well...
He did give me his undivided attention when I gave my report.
And he did greet me with a warm smile when he saw me.
And he did look at me during the meeting. At the time I thought it was just because I was looking at him but maybe he thought no-one was watching.
OH MY GOD, REMUS LUPIN HAS A CRUSH... ON ME!
Ok that's the end of the third chapter and Tonks has finally figured it out (katyscarlett76 did you really think it wouldn't be her). I know that there hasn't really been any Remus/Tonks interaction yet but please hang in there, I promise that it's on it's way.
It will make my rainy day sunny if you review (ok that was bad) but please review anyway.