Venus. Written for Remadora Microfics October day 2: cat. G.

Remus woke to the sight of amber eyes and the feeling of being suffocated. Venus, Tonks's elderly cat, swiped her paw across his face and dashed off with a snarl. He brushed his fingers across his cheek. At least she hadn't drawn blood today.

"Did she do it again?"

"Every bloody morning," Remus muttered, swinging his legs off the bed. "Your cat's a menace."

"She's not . . ." Tonks sighed. "She needs to get used to you."

Remus snorted softly and began getting dressed. The cat hated him from the moment they met—from the first time he deigned to share her mistress's attention.

"She's never been fond of men," Tonks explained, for at least the twentieth time. "She grew up in the Hufflepuff girls' dormitories and then I was rarely with a wizard. Only Dad could pet her. Just give her time and treats."

Remus rolled his eyes. He'd lived with Tonks and her mother for four months, and he'd yet to win over either cat or parent. At least Andromeda didn't slap him on a daily basis.

Venus started meowing (screaming, more like, in Remus's opinion) right on time. He smoothed his shirt down and followed the brown mass into the kitchen, where Andromeda was sitting with a cup of steaming coffee.

"Good morning," he greeted politely. "Is it all right if I give her tinned sardines?"

Andromeda nodded her agreement and Remus opened the tin, pleasantly surprised when Venus only nipped at his ankles, rather than biting his toes. Perhaps there was hope yet for the cantankerous cat.

"When it's possible," Andromeda said lightly, "Venus might enjoy fresh fish. She's fond of salmon."

Remus tried his best to ignore the little dig at their financial situation. As if it was his fault entirely that Ted was on the run, Tonks couldn't work, and they had limited access to fresh groceries.

It was then he felt the tell-tale sharpness of cat claws in his big toe. Venus yowled and ran off when Remus made eye contact with her. It was kinder than her typical, morning attempt to sink further into his flesh and give him a complimentary amputation.

Without a feline demanding his fealty, Remus fixed a cup of tea and sat down to enjoy it. Like the cat, Andromeda left him alone, as usual, to finish her breakfast elsewhere.

Sighing, he wondered if his mother-in-law could also be bribed with fish.