Tonks woke early the next day in order to go for a run before leaving for Headquarters. Running was her way of burning off stress or, as was the case today, nervous energy. She tried telling herself that she was just having some pre-mission jitters. Although, if she were really honest with herself, she would admit that the mission today wasn't exactly dangerous or taxing. And if she were to continue being honest, she would admit that part of her nervous energy focused on spending part of her day with a certain handsome werewolf.
Her lack of honesty with herself continued as she showered and dressed for the day, pretending as though she wasn't concerned about her appearance. Luckily her clothes were easy to choose. Since she was going to be tailing Harry around a Muggle suburb, she decided to forgo her robes and chose jeans, a close-fitting concert tee, and trainers. She also determined that her usual bright hair color wouldn't help her blend in with the Muggles, so she morphed the color black and shortened it to a cropped style with fringe that swept across her forehead.
Once Tonks reached Headquarters, she took Sirius' advice and simply let herself in the front door, taking caution in case he'd yet to move the wretched troll leg. She made it past the obstacles in the entrance hall and headed down the stairs to the kitchen to look for Remus. She made it to the bottom step accident free. Just as she was internally congratulating herself on her stealthy entrance, the door opened and a tall masculine body crashed into her. Tonks lost her balance and grabbed the front of his robes as a pair of strong arms wrapped around her body before she could topple backwards. She looked up and saw Remus' face holding a slightly bemused expression.
"You certainly know how to make an entrance, Tonks," Remus said, now smiling at her. "If I let you go, do you suppose you can make it to the kitchen without further incident?"
"Wotcher, Remus," Tonks said, trying to keep her voice steadier than she felt. "You and I both know I can't make any promises. The kitchen's still a meter away—plenty of space for further incident." She smiled up at Remus as she unfurled her hands from the front of his robes and straightened upright. A feeling of disappointment fluttered through her when Remus pulled his arms away.
"Your timing was perfect, really. I was just coming up to see if you were here. And," Remus said with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I wanted to ensure you made through the entrance hall safely." Remus turned and opened the kitchen door for Tonks.
Sweet Merlin, Tonks thought, was he flirting with her? Attempting to push away the giddiness she was feeling after having his body pressed up against hers, Tonks entered the kitchen and saw Sirius at the table scowling into a mug of coffee.
"Not a morning person, are we?" Tonks asked in a cheerful voice.
"Not only is Sirius not a morning person, but he is in a foul temper because we get to see Harry," Remus said, refilling his own mug with coffee. "Coffee, Tonks?"
"Coffee would be lovely, if we've time," Tonks said, sitting down across from Sirius. "Cheer up, mate," she said. "It's not as if we get to go chat him up. He won't even know we're there."
"Yes, but you still get to leave this bloody house," Sirius said with a continued scowl. "Meanwhile I get to stay here like a good boy with nobody but my Hippogriff to keep me company."
"Do please stop your whining—wait, what? Hippogriff?" Tonks asked with a look of surprise.
"Albus told you the story was worth hearing," Remus said, sitting at the table with two mugs of coffee.
"Sirius' escape involves two teenagers and a Hippogriff?" Tonks asked, still looking quite astonished. "I really will have to hear this story sometime."
"Want to meet him?" Sirius asked, his expression relaxing.
"I don't reckon I do, thanks. Not sure I want to explain my injuries at work after I've been attacked by a Hippogriff because I tripped over my feet trying to bow properly."
Sirius managed a snort of laughter. "Good point."
"Anyway, stop whining and read your book while we're gone," Tonks said with a smile. "And, hopefully later you'll get word that you can be pen friends with my mum."
"I'll stop whining after I've been properly caffeinated," Sirius said taking a large gulp from his mug. "What's 'ZooTV'?" Sirius asked, waving a hand at Tonks' t-shirt.
"Concert tour for a Muggle band. Dad took me to their show a few years ago."
"You're a U2 fan?" Remus asked.
"They're probably my favorite of all the bands Dad's introduced me to," Tonks said, smiling at Remus. "How'd you become a U2 fan?"
"My mother was a Muggle and loved music. I've been listening to U2 since they were a pub band," Remus said, returning Tonks' smile. "Although, I've not been able to hear much of their latest stuff."
"We'll have to fix that sometime," Tonks said. She quickly realized she was grinning like a fool and had all but asked Remus on a date. "I mean, I thought about bringing music to cure Sirius' boredom anyway. I'll put make sure I bring their newest album."
They sat and drank their coffee for a few more minutes before Tonks and Remus had to leave for Privet Drive. Tonks watched Remus as they drank, taking in his appearance. He had forgone the tie for a simple button down shirt and trousers, topped by his robes. She could tell that although his clothes were very neat and clean, they were fairly shabby and worn; especially his robes, which looked threadbare in places and held a number of patches. Tonks smiled to herself as she let her thoughts wander to what was under his patched robes…lean body, strong arms… . She was broken away from her thoughts by Remus reminding her they should get going. They left the kitchen and made their way through the house, Remus with his hand on the small of her back the entire way. Whether it was a gentlemanly gesture or a way to ensure the portrait didn't wake up on account of one of her accidents, Tonks didn't much care.
Once they were in the alley, Tonks placed her hand on Remus' arm to prepare for Side-Along Apparition since she had never been to the Dursleys' home. They landed at the back of a Muggle corner shop Remus said was a short walk from their destination. They both cast a Disillusionment Charm before setting out.
"Why did Dumbledore want both of us here today?" Tonks asked as they crossed a street and walked down a sidewalk. "Surely it doesn't take two Order members to tail one teenage boy."
"I believe he wants you to keep watch on Harry, and I'm meant to listen for anything funny from his aunt and uncle," Remus said. "I think he's worried that they are telling Harry to be away from the house, and Dumbledore would much prefer Harry to stay close."
"Well, don't they sound like a lovely couple," Tonks replied dryly.
"Oh that's nothing compared to the way they've treated him his whole life. He's been underfed and neglected since he came here as an infant. Slept on a mattress in a broom cupboard until they realized Dumbledore was watching them. Here we are." Remus gestured to the house in front of them labeled number four. "There's a spot on the side of the house where we can sit near the kitchen sink window and listen—the window is usually open."
"Look at all these identical, perfectly trimmed gardens. Makes me want to charm all the flower pots to change colors or something. Theirs is the worst," Tonks said, pointing to the Dursleys' lawn as they walked around the side of the house. "It's so green. Isn't there a Muggle ban on watering your lawn this summer?"
"I'm sure if there is, they aren't following it," Remus said lowering his voice. "Here, let's sit—oof!"
"I'm sorry, Professor, is this seat taken?" Tonks asked in a whisper, attempting to stifle her laughter as she realized she had sat squarely on Remus' lap.
"As much as I would love to have a beautiful witch on my lap, I believe it would distract me from the task at hand," Remus said with laughter in his voice.
Tonks was glad she was Disillusioned and he couldn't see the pink blush she could feel creeping across her cheeks. She hadn't missed the fact that he'd called her a beautiful witch. She felt Remus' hands around her waist as he shifted her off his lap and onto the ground next to him.
"Boy!" The mood was interrupted as the uncle's voice carried a shout through the open window. "Stay out of our way today, and don't let me catch you listening in while the telly's on. I don't know what you're playing at, but there's no need for a teenager to sit and listen to the news."
Tonks heard Harry grunt something in response and heard the back door slam.
"I'll be off then," she whispered to Remus. "I'll try to find a vacant spot to sit when I return, unless your lap is up for grabs."
Hearing Remus chuckle, Tonks smiled to herself as she made her way around the house to follow Harry. She was glad to hear that he had laughed at her shameless flirting and decided that she wanted even more to get to know him better. She left the pleasant thoughts of Remus' lap behind as she began tailing Harry as he walked down Privet Drive toward the Muggle corner shop.
Four hours later, she made her way back to the side garden where she'd left Remus. "Wotcher, Professor. Why don't you wave your hand or something so I don't try and steal your seat again?" She saw a shimmer where Remus waved his hand under the Disillusionment Charm and sat down next to him.
"Where's Harry?" Remus asked. "I didn't see him go through the kitchen."
"He's in the back garden, lying in a flower bed. Trying to stay out of his uncle's way, I reckon."
"Lying in a flower bed?"
"There's a flower bed under the sitting room window. They've switched on the telly to the weekend news," Tonks said as she stretched back on the cool grass. "Who's coming to relieve us?"
"Dedalus will be here in an hour so we can report back to Dumbledore."
They sat in the shade on the side of the house, Tonks getting up every so often to make sure Harry was still in his hiding spot, until Dedalus arrived and it was time to return to Grimmauld Place. After arriving back to Headquarters and lifting their Disillusionment Charms, they made their way through the entry hall toward the kitchen. Tonks was thrilled to notice Remus' hand on her lower back once again as they walked. Upon entering the kitchen, they found Sirius sitting at the table reading the romance novel Tonks brought him the day before.
"Enjoying your book?" Tonks asked with a smile.
"I am, actually. It's rather good." Sirius looked up at Tonks with an impish grin. "Although I'm sure you know that, seeing that it's your book and there are some pages that are particularly worn compared to others."
"I'm a perpetually single woman, much to my mum's dismay," Tonks said. "I'm sorry to say that if I want romance, I've got to get it from a book."
Sirius answered with a noncommittal grunt. "How's Harry?"
"Fine. Nothing much to report," Remus said, as he and Tonks sat at the table. Tonks got the feeling that he was trying his best to sound casual for Sirius' sake. "Nothing too out of the ordinary from Vernon and Petunia, although they do seem to be encouraging him to stay clear of the house." Remus turned his attention to Tonks. "What was he up to when you were following him?"
"He wandered mostly, just walked the streets," Tonks answered carefully. "He did search some rubbish bins for newspapers and sat at the play park for a bit reading."
"He's all right, Sirius," Remus said quietly. "We'll give our report to Dumbledore and he'll decide if anything needs done." This earned another grunt from Sirius, who turned his attention back to his book. Tonks tried to think of something reassuring to say, but her thoughts were interrupted by Remus.
"Your hair is much less colorful today, Tonks. How in the world do you decide what you're going to do with it every day?" Remus asked with his shy smile on his face, brushing his shaggy hair across his forehead.
"Well, today I didn't want to call attention to myself so I kept it black. But, usually I just go based on my mood—sometimes it's outrageously bright, sometimes it's tamer. And I usually keep it short while I'm working."
"Someone prefers the pink," Sirius said casually without looking up from his reading.
"Really?" Tonks scrunched her nose in concentration and morphed her hair pink. "Like this?" Remus' shy smile at Tonks changed to a look of annoyance at Sirius.
"I didn't say that exactly. I simply said I preferred the pink to the purple," Remus said, looking a little harassed.
Tonks couldn't help but feel a little thrill run through her. "I don't mind if you prefer the pink, it's my favorite too."
Remus was saved from further embarrassment by Dumbledore walking through the kitchen door. "Finding ourselves entertained once again, I see?" he asked, looking at the three of them.
"Indeed, Albus. May I compliment your timing?" Remus asked, rising from the table.
"Oh lighten up, Moony. It's ok to like the pretty lady's pink hair," Sirius said with a smirk.
"I find the pink to be my favorite as well," Dumbledore said, the familiar twinkle present in his eyes. "Remus, do come back in order to give me your full report, along with Nymphadora's, before we depart."
Tonks and Remus gave Dumbledore their report for the day's mission. Dumbledore didn't seem altogether pleased, but refrained from saying much. Once their discussion was done, Tonks and Dumbledore left for her parents' house. Much to Tonks' amusement, they left Remus sitting at the kitchen table still looking slightly irritated at Sirius.
Tonks had been dreading the visit to her parents' house, if only because she wasn't looking forward to her mum's reaction to the news that she'd joined a secret organization whose sole purpose was to defeat You-Know-Who. Andromeda actually took the news rather better than Tonks expected. She supposed that after becoming an Auror, there wasn't much that surprised her mother. Exasperated, perhaps, but not surprised. Tonks also wondered if the good reaction had anything to do with Andromeda being thrilled that she had been right about Sirius all along. After Dumbledore had left, her mother questioned her endlessly about her cousin; "How is he?", "Does he need anything?", "How does he look?" Finally, late into the evening Tonks was able to escape her mother's questioning and return to her flat for bed.
The next few days were a flurry of activity for Tonks. Between her Auror duties, guard shifts, and preparing for the next Order meeting she barely felt like she had time to take a breath. She decided to leave work and head to Headquarters early after she'd received an owl from Molly Weasley insisting she come to dinner before the meeting. Apparently the Weasley invasion had begun.
She walked carefully through the door of Grimmauld Place, hoping to make this entrance as incident free as the last time. Of course if she ran headlong into Remus again, she certainly wouldn't complain. She'd just made it past the stairway leading to the upper floors when she heard two sharp cracks of Apparition behind her. In an instant, Tonks had drawn her wand and whirled around to see a pair of redheads smirking at her.
"Wow, Mad-Eye really passed on that whole 'constant vigilance' thing, didn't he, George."
"Reckon he did, Fred."
"You're lucky I didn't follow on of Mad-Eye's other favorite tips," Tonks said with a smile.
"Which is?" The twins asked in unison.
"Hex first, ask questions later," Tonks replied, placing her wand back inside her robes. "I should have known to watch out for you two. How's your brother?"
"Busy mooning over dragons," Fred said.
"If I were him, I'd be mooning over you," said George with a wink.
"You boys haven't changed," Tonks said, shaking her head. "Come along, before we wake up Mrs. Black."
Tonks lead the way down the steps into the kitchen where Molly was preparing what looked like a feast for an army. She happily noted that Remus was sitting at the kitchen table talking with Sirius and Arthur.
"Wotcher, boys," Tonks greeted the three men sitting at the table. "Arthur, I found these two blokes lurking in the hall." She gestured behind her to Fred and George. "I seem to remember that they belong to you."
"Indeed they do. They're not bothering you, I hope?"
"Not bothering, no. Just nearly got themselves hexed on my way in," Tonks said, smiling at Arthur.
Molly turned from the dinner she was preparing. "What have you boys been up to?" she asked the twins, narrowing her eyes at them.
"We haven't been up to anything, Mum," George said with a smirk. "Just seeing this lovely lady down to the kitchen."
"Well, now that your task is done, it's time you helped with dinner," Molly said, turning back to the cooker. The twins pulled out their wands and pointed them to the cupboard. Without even needing to turn back around, she apparently knew the twins were already up to something. "And put your wands away. Just because you're of age doesn't mean you need to do magic for every little thing."
Tonks smiled, thinking about how she'd always liked Molly. She was truly a force to be reckoned with. Maybe we should just set Molly on You-Know-Who, Tonks thought. He'd be apologizing for not wiping his feet and swearing allegiance to The Order in no time.
"Molly, what can I do to help?" Tonks asked.
"The times you helped during your visits to the Burrow you nearly set the kitchen on fire, dear," Molly said with a smile. "You've had a long day at work, I'm sure. Sit and relax."
"I promise I won't attempt to cook anything, I'll just bring things round to the table." Tonks walked over to the cupboards and began looking through the drawers for cutlery. "And I won't even use magic since Merlin knows I'm no good with householdy spells."
"Here, Tonks, I'll help," Sirius said, rising from the table and walking to the cupboard. Lowering his voice, he asked, "Is there a reason your hair is pink again today?"
"What? No," Tonks said a bit too quickly. "I said it was my favorite color too."
Sirius gave Tonks an amused look. "I've got eyes, you know."
"Bugger off," Tonks hissed at him. "You're getting too many ideas from that book I gave you." Tonks turned toward the table—Sirius chuckling behind her—with a handful of cutlery and a jug of pumpkin juice from the counter. She found Remus' eyes watching her as she walked towards the table. Great. If Sirius has noticed her interest in Remus, Merlin knows what Remus is thinking.
She set the cutlery and juice jug on the table. Reaching for the knives and forks, she knocked over the jug, sending pumpkin juice running over the table directly onto Remus' lap. Remus jumped up from his chair, knocking it backwards, the front of his trousers completely soaked.
"Shit! Oh, bugger, bugger! Remus, I'm sorry!" Tonks rushed over to where Remus had jumped up, pulling her wand, and began a Charm to dry the front of his trousers. Tonks could hear the twins sniggering behind her, likely due to her colorful language.
"No offense, Tonks, as much as I appreciate the attention, I think I'll dry my trousers myself," Remus said, grabbing her wrist and smiling down at her. "In fact, I think I'll just go change." Tonks sighed to herself as Remus left the kitchen. Using her wand, she siphoned the remainder of the pumpkin juice off the table before it ran to the floor. The rest of the occupants of the kitchen got back to work preparing dinner while Tonks set the table—this time without any incidents. Remus returned from upstairs and they all sat for dinner, Sirius sitting next to her grinning like a schoolboy with a secret. Tonks shot him an exasperated look and heaved a sigh. She hoped Sirius could keep his mouth shut, or this was likely to feel like the longest evening of her life while she attempted to keep him from embarrassing her.
A/N: To the lovely reader who wanted more romance, I hope this was at least a good start for you:). As always, thank you Kerichi!
Feel free to leave a review!