Chapter 7: September Time Sadness

August flew by in a flash that year. The Weasleys and Harry has taken over Grimmauld Place. Sirius was overjoyed to have the house full, and even happier to have his godson with him. The Order was keeping everyone extremely busy, especially after the dementor attack on Harry and his cousin.

But, somehow it felt like September 1st had came early that.

Sirius has been dreading sending Harry back to Hogwarts, and to everyone else it was obvious Sirius was extremely worried about his godson.

Around 9am, Remus found himself alone in the kitchen of 12 Grimmauld Place.

he sighed. Realizing that Sirius had done exactly what he had been asked not to do. He went to the train station. Remus was sure that he had gone in his Animagi form but still didn't feel better about the fact that he left when he wasn't supposed to. To make matters worse, Remus was suppose to have been there that morning to make sure this exact thing did not happen. He had gotten caught up doing a favor for Mundungus and had arrived back at Grimmauld Place later than he had expected.

As Remus sat in quiet contemplation, he heard a crash from above. Followed by the shrill shrieks of Walburga.

Just then, Someone had run down the steps to the kitchen. It was tonks, it appeared that she had attempted to dress like a muggle to drop Harey off at the station. but, she looked extremely flustered.

"Please.Tell.Me.Sirius.is.Here?" She asked sharply.

'What!?' He thought.

"Wait, I thought that Sirius went with you guys?" Remus answered her, now extremely concerned.

"He just showed up at the station out of no where, he talked with Harry, and then he was just gone Remus!"

She was practically screaming. Clearly frustrated at the enigma that was Sirius Black.

Remus knew how she felt.

"Look, let's check every room here first. Then if we still can't find him we'll have to tell Dumbledore if he isn't t back by this afternoon." Remus explained, trying not to sound too panicked.

Tonks agreed.

Remus searched each room of the house, cursing Sirius as he went.

Tonks was pissed, angry red hair pissed. mad eye would rip her a new one if she couldn't find Sirius soon. he had been livid that Sirius had shown up at all. Tonks had to talk him, promising him that she would handle the situation. 'Well, now here you are... really 'handling' it. ' She thought bitterly to herself.

She grumbled to herself as she checked the forth empty bathroom.

Remus dashed up to the top floor, to check the last of the bedrooms.

And. There he was, standing in what had once been his younger brothers bedroom.

He had been there the whole time...

"Padfoot!!"

"What?" Sirius asked, coldly.

"No one knew where you went Sirius! And you were supposed to stay here!"

Remus was extremely frustrated with his friend Sirius had never easily followed the rules before but this was war.

"So. I don't care. I don't have to tell you guys everything I do." Sirius said.

"Sirius look, I understand you're worried about Harry-" Sirius cut him off.

"I'm not worried. I don't worry about Harry, why would I worry about him!? ." Sirius snapped.

Sirius stayed quiet for several more seconds before continuing on his tirade.

"how many times has he almost died at that school Remus, how many times?!!" Sirius yelled, practically irate.

It was true. Remus couldn't argue with him.

"We have to trust Dumbledore right now." Remus said, trying to defuse his friend.

Sirius didn't say anything.

"Why don't you come downstairs, you shouldn't be up here all alone. Tonks is here, she's worried, Sirius." Remus added, hoping Sirius would come with him.

"I'll come down in a little while." Sirius said bitterly.

Remus nodded. Leaving his friend to collect himself.

Turning to leave, Remus saw Tonks waiting down the hall...she had clearly heard them.

Remus motioned for her to follow him, eventually reaching the sitting room on the second floor landing.

"Is he going to be okay?" Tonks asked Remus.

"He'll be okay, I think he just needs some time." Remus said.

"OKAY." She said, sounding worried.

"Come here, play chess with me." Remus invited her over to sit with him.

Tonks went over to sit across from him.

"Okay, I'll play." She said, smiling.

As they played Tonks talked to him.

"Was Sirius always like this?" Tonks asked quietly.

"Sirius has always taken things to the extreme I'd say."

Sirius was the person who would do things just because he could. Remus also knew that Sirius also had a tendency to be overly emotional, even more so after Azkaban.

This constantly concerned Remus.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried." He added.

Tonks looked sad. She reached out and touched his hand.

Remus froze, he wasn't sure how to even respond to this. But as quickly as she had reached out to him, her hand was gone.

Tonks smiled.

~

"Oh no! You're not allowed to do that! Your not allowed to let me win!" Tonks exclaimed, pointing out his move.

Remus smiled at her. "Okay, I'll play fair."

"You let Sirius win too, I see you." She argued with him playfully.

"Yes, but that's because he's a man on the run, gotta let him get his wins in somehow." Remus responded, chuckling.

"Mhmm. Sure." Tonks teased, taking her next move. Wondering to herself why Remus would let her win, surly she didn't need the ego boost.

"Check." Remus said.

Tonks looked scandalized.

Within a few more moves, Remus had won.

"Well, I didn't let you win." Remus said, leaning back grinning at her.

"Okay, well I need you to teach me how to be better then, because I clearly suck." Tonks said, walking over to sit next to Remus on the loveseat.

Remus readily agreed.

Internally, he cursed himself, knowing he had become quite smitten with her.

that was how Sirius found them a little while later, practically entangled on the small sofa.

Remus was giving her strategic advice on chess, which she looked enthralled over. Sirius raised his brows, they were both clearly quite taken with each other, even if they didn't realize it.

"Hey." Sirius greeted them.

They turned to face him.

"Well, look who it is." Tonks shouted at him. "Do me a favor, don't disappear when mad eye asks me to watch you!" Tonks scolded him.

"Sorry cousin. Weird day, I suppose."

"It's alright." Tonks said.

Sirius went over to sit across from them, where Tonks had been sitting before.

The three sat talking for a little while longer before Tonks got up to go home.

"I'll see you guys in a few day!" She called behind her as she left.

"Well, you two looked awfully cozy with each other." Sirius said, with a grin.

"I enjoy her company."

"You enjoy her company?" Sirius asked incredulously.

"That's all you got?" Sirius added.

"Look, I'm not getting my hopes up for something that will never happen." Remus said.

"Your always so negative. I'm sorry but she very clearly likes you back Remus."

"Why do you say that?" Remus asked.

"Because, she is here curled up on the sofa with you, and it's happened before! That's why she likes you." Sirius exclaimed.

Remus didn't say anything but a part of him kinda hoped that it was true, even if nothing could come of it.

~

Tonks laid on her couch, curled up with her small orange cat. she stroked his orange fur thinking about the day she had, had. She wore royal blue shorts with a long sleeved white shirt. she stared at her painted toes, thinking about the days events.

She had tried so hard to convince herself that she was not developing feelings for Remus, but she was loosing her resolve. "He's your cousin's best friend, you cannot like him.' She told herself.

Tonks groaned loudly, clapping her hands over her face.

She couldn't lie to herself, she definitely had a crush on him, but this just made her feel silly. She was sure he probably just saw her as a friend, but sometimes he would do or say something that made her question herself...was it possible that he felt the same way.