Authors note: I'm sorry this chapter is rather short, but I couldn't really make it any longer than it is. Short and sweet!
Chapter 3: Crush
I tap gently on the door to the study at Grimmauld Place and wait for a reply.
"Come in," comes a hoarse yet kind voice from inside. I enter the room, it is crammed with bookshelves that are crammed with books. There is a table and a large sofa in the middle of the room, on which Remus Lupin sat, his head buried inside a large leatherbound book.
"What on earth are you doing up here by yourself?" I ask, leaning on the door frame.
"I wanted to read." Came his simple and short reply. Well that is not good enough.
"Oh...what you reading?" God I can be so annoying... He seems to notice this too, peering at me over the book, eyebrows raised, lips twitching.
"A book." Fine, if that is how he is going to play, aggravating man.
"Yeah, well I can see that. What book?" I say, approaching the sofa.
Next thing I know I'm on the floor again. Didn't see that bloody rug. Remus is quick, discarding the book and jumping off the sofa. He rushes over and offers me his hand. I gladly accept and he pulls me up,
"Are you alright?" he asks, half concerned and half amused,
"I'm fine." Ow, my knees hurt, " I think I've bruised my knees but I'll be fine. Don't worry, I'm used to it remember!"
"I'll always worry." He says, my stomach makes an unexpected lurch at this. He is still holding my hand. He glances down at my knees, "At least they aren't bleeding," he observes.
"You remember that?" I can't believe he still remembers that, it was months ago.
"How could I forget? You are a very memorable woman Tonks." My stomach lurches again. His hand is still in mine. I try to reply, but my voice has disappeared. I simply look up at him, examine him. Perhaps he is just being polite, humouring me...
But no, his face looks completely serious. Man, what a face, prematurely lined yes, but so...handsome. His eyes bore into mine, obviously waiting for a reply. God, he has the most amazing eyes. They are so blue, like a deep ocean staring at me through strands of his light brown hair (peppered with a little grey, but that is just a sign of what this man puts up with). My eyes trail down slightly, taking in the details of his face, his nose, I like his nose and his lips. They are quite thin, but they have a natural enquisitive pout about them. Yes, his lips are very kissable.
I stop dead at this thought and my eyes grow wide. This is very new. Wanting to kiss Remus? My friend Remus? Where on earth has this come from? But my god he is gorgeous. Surely I must of noticed that before. No, I didn't. This is a surprise, I like surprises though.
I carry on with my inspection, completely oblivious to my surroundings. My word is he tall! Six foot three at least, maybe more. His clothes are shabby and hanging off his frame. I can't help but wonder what's beneath them, I've never seen him without a suit or a jumper on. I wonder what he looks like na-
"Tonks?" what? Oh he is saying my name,
"Uh, yeah?" I manage, still entranced by him. By Remus. He smiles at me, I have butterflies now,
"Is it natural for your hair to turn bright red when you're speechless?"
"What? Hair? Speechless, I wasn't speechless, I," I mumble, before finally registering what Remus has said. I take a lock of my hair and peer at it. Yes it is bright red. Oh no.
"Ummm yeah, didn't realise that had happened. I'm uh feeling kinda hungry. I'm gonna go see if Molly has finished dinner. O.K. uh see you later." I stumble over my words as clumsily as I walk.
"Oh, alright. See you in a while, Nymphadora."
I nod and turn abruptly, just about managing to keep my balance. I then head quickly out of the room and the awkward situation, without even telling Remus off for calling me by my first name.
No Remus, my hair does not turn bright red when I'm speechless. It turns bright red when I'm feeling, uh, oh dear. It would appear I have a little bit of a crush on my best friend.