One of my favourite chapters! I don't own it….
NB: This chapter is heavily influenced by the lovely gnbrules' "Timeline".

The way Remus and Tonks realised the depth of their feelings.

Christmas was fast approaching. Remus had taken to spending most of his time at 12 Grimmauld Place to keep Sirius company, when he wasn't doing things for Dumbledore. After all, it's not like he really had anywhere else to go, apart from his father's place. Or so he said. So he told himself. But there was another reason that he was reluctant to admit, even to himself...

Tonks had found herself spending more and more time at 12 Grimmauld Place in the weeks leading up to Christmas. It was shelter from the idiocy of the Ministry (getting stupider every day) and provided her with people other than her parents to whinge to. The Order were a friendly, sympathetic bunch. Some, however, were more so than others...

"Wotcher, Remus." Tonks greeted cheerily.
Remus smiled. "Afternoon, Tonks." he replied.
Was it wrong of him, to enjoy her company so much? She was a funny, outspoken woman. They were friends, after all. Even if his heart did race unnaturally fast around her.
Was it so bad, to invent excuses to see him? He was a kind-hearted, quiet man. They were friends, weren't they? Even if she sometimes wondered if she was developing a crush on him.

There were two weeks until Christmas, now. Remus entered the kitchen of 12 Grimmauld Place and tossed the paper at Sirius. "There you go." he said, "Though why you'd want to read it when it's full of
rubbish..."
Sirius snorted. "I get it for the crossword."
Remus smirked. "Really? I seem to remember someone who 'just wanted the crossword' then escaped from Azkaban."
Sirius sniggered. "Shove off, you."
Both friends laughed. Then Sirius said thoughtfully, "Where's Nymphdora? She likes these sorts of things, doesn't she?" he shot a sly look at Remus, who flushed.
"How should I know?" he said, too quickly. Sirius never seemed to have the patience for crosswords, so Remus and Tonks always ended up finishing them. Had Sirius noticed how much he enjoyed that?

"I'll get her." Remus offered quickly. Drat that mutt, he thought, as Sirius laughed. Although he was curious to see where she was.

Remus climbed the stairs and went in search of Tonks. She wasn't in the drawing room. He didn't blame her; it was a dreary place. After checking a few more rooms he discovered she was in the library, curled up on the couch in front of the fire. At the sound of the door opening, she turned to look at him and flashed a smile. She attempted to sit up, but somehow managed to tumble off the couch and onto the floor.

Remus froze. He replayed the tumble in his mind, as her face flushed red and she dusted herself off, still smiling, though rather ruefully. "Oh – Remus. Mum and Dad ought to have just named me 'Klutz' and have done with it." she said, dusting herself off.
Remus' face burned suddenly, for some reason, though he smiled as well. That was so typically Dora. So clumsy; and then trying to cover it up with humour...quite endearing actually.

Wait, what? Since when did he call her Dora? Remus found himself staring at her, as she talked and smiled at him. She quickly changed her hair from blonde to pink but kept the curls.

A feeling rose within Remus; something he hadn't felt in a long time — and possibly never quite like this. But...it couldn't be...

Tonks walked towards him. "Wotcher." she said cheerfully, getting his attention. Remus jumped slightly. "Sickle for your thoughts?" she asked.
"Hi. Sirius wants our help with the crossword again." He said, though his mouth was suddenly dry. The two walked downstairs together. Remus was surprised Dora — Tonks — couldn't hear the thumping of his heart.

They went down to the kitchen. Sirius grinned. "Finally! You two took your time!" he smirked.
Tonks rolled her eyes. "Well, obviously. He had to look for me and I...fell. Again."
Sirius waved a hand. "Yeah, yeah. Come on! Do you wanna do the crossword or not?"
They sat down and began. But Remus found himself watching Dora — Tonks — more than the crossword. The way the light hit her pink curls, making them gleam; the way her dark eyes sparkled as they focused so intently; the way her kissable pale lips pursed as she thought of the answer...

Remus stiffened, then shivered. Oh darn it! He was smitten, there was no point denying it. He had fallen in love with Nymphadora Tonks (who, in his mind, it seemed he now affectionately called Dora).

"Oi Moony, are you even paying attention?" Sirius demanded. Remus jumped. "I — sorry, just caught in my thoughts..." he said.
Tonks laughed, "That's the second time today! You're normally better at concentrating than this."
Sirius smirked. "We could do with your genius, Wordster."
Remus raised an eyebrow. Tonks said, "Please Remus? This mutt's no help."
Remus sighed. "All right then." he smiled. "He never is. But, what about clue thirteen..."
Sirius leant back and watched his two friends guess the words, noticing how they jumped if their hands touched — Remus in particular.
Sirius smiled. They never guessed he let them answer all the clues on purpose. It was working. By the looks of things...one down, one to go.

#

Christmas, with its highs and lows, came and went. The day before the kids were due back at school, Sirius challenged Tonks to a chess match. "What's the prize?" she asked, expecting Butterbeer or
Honeydukes chocolate, but wary. This was coming from the guy who'd tried to force her and her, um, friend to kiss under the mistletoe a week ago.

Sirius looked over her shoulder to someone behind her. "A match with Moony, of course."
Both Tonks and Remus jumped. Tonks raised her eyebrows. A chess match with her... (oh, all right) crush? Well...
Remus bit his lip and blushed. "I don't know if that's a good idea..." he began.
Tonks' smile widened. "Why? Scared I'd beat you?"
Remus fidgeted. "N-no. Just... Oh, all right. But you'll have to beat Padfoot first."
"Oh please," Tonks said cheekily, "Everyone knows Sirius is rubbish at chess."

She was right. Sirius was defeated in less than ten minutes. But Tonks was suddenly nervous. Ten minutes had been enough to draw attention to what was happening in the library. They now had an audience. Relax, she told herself, You're just playing Remus!
Somehow, that just made the butterflies worse.
"Ready, Nymphadora?" Sirius asked.
Tonks squared her shoulders and smiled at Remus. "Definitely. It's Tonks!"
After all, it was just chess.

Remus was a tough opponent. It seemed every move she made was countered. But she did the same to him, taking as many pieces as she lost. There would be no quick fix. This would be a long match.

It lasted over an hour. Spectators drifted in and out, but the two paid no heed. They were too focused on the tight, strategic game. Then, finally, Tonks got an edge. She pushed it and Remus' defence slipped. "Checkmate." she said, meeting his blue eyes with a grin.
Remus' eyes widened. "I suppose I was right to be worried." He remarked dryly, glancing down at the board before looking into her eyes again. Tonks' butterflies suddenly came back tenfold. Remus smiled slowly. "Good game Nymphadora." he said quietly.
Tonks was very glad she was sitting down. Her knees suddenly felt as though they couldn't support her, and wouldn't for some time. "Th-thanks Remus." she stammered, forgetting to scold him about her name. What was the point, anyway? It wasn't a crush she was feeling...
She loved him.

Sirius watched the room empty. Merlin. He hadn't expected the plan to work that well...
He smirked. But he was glad it had.

Ooh, Sirius, cheeky! But they've only admitted it to themselves. Getting them to admit it to each other will be a whole other battle.

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