Don't Call Me Nymphadora [Harry Potter Fanfiction]

Staircases and Teardrops

NYMPHADORA

She wanted nothing more than to curse Sirius into oblivion. Merli knew he deserved it. She could hardly believe he would do that. Then again, it is Sirius, so should she really expect anything different? She suddenly felt tears well up in her eyes, and bit her lip to hold them back. Then realizing she wasn't going to be seen, she let them fall.

Not a minute later, Tonks hears the sound of feet gently coming from above her, getting closer. Which, of course, belong tto none other than Remus John Lupin. Just her luck. She hurriedly turns away, trying in vain to hide her tears from him. But when he gives a start of surprise,she knows he did. Bugger.

"Nym-Tonks, are you okay?" He seemed to wince at his own words, thinking they were very inadequate, seeing as she's crying in a ball on an abandoned staircase, but she was nonetheless flattered by his concern. 

"H-hi, Remus. Thanks for earlier, you know for catching me..." She trailed off, ridiculously thankful for the darkness to hide her blush.

"You're welcome. I couldn't very well let you fall, now could I? What kind of person would I be then?" He says this with a slight smile on his face, and she feels the sudden insatiable need to answer him.

"Even if you didn't, Remus, I would still think you are a great person, you are kind, caring, gentle, quiet, everything I'm not." The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them, and she peered over at his reaction in the shadows. Was... that a blush?

REMUS

She turned her head away from him hastily, but not before he saw the tears running down her cheeks. It took all his willpower not to reach over and just wipe them away, cradling her in his arms.....wait, what?

Where were these thoughts coming from, again? Why did this beautiful woman make him so bloody confused? Before her, his life was painstakingly familiar and boring, just the way he liked it. Wake up. Read, eat breakfast. Help with cleaning Grimmauld Place, or keeping the stir-crazy Sirius company. Take a walk. Eat lunch. Read a bit more and do some of the Order research. Eat supper, and go to bed. Now with her, he was so conflicted. Never before had he had this stupid sensation. That there was more to life than just the basic living necessities. Maybe, just maybe, he needed love. Immediately, Remus shook his head. He might want love, but that doesn't mean he's going to get it.

Focus. He needs to be comforting Tonks, not musing about his sad lack of love life. Wow, even with tears streaming down her heart-shaped face, she is far too gorgeous. Shaking his head, he sits down next to her, the floor giving a slight creak.

"Nymph, you are a great person and whatever is bothering you is completely not your fault. Calm down, please, I can't stand to see you in tears..." he trails off, voice cracking at the end, and despite his attempt to hide it, his emotions were revealed to her. Go figure, the one person who is the cause of most of his feelings is the only one he can't hide them from.

She looks up at him, her sapphire eyes glistening, with a smile on her tear-stained face. "Thanks, Remus. I really appreciate that. And to be entirely honest, I'm not even sure why exactly I was crying in the first place."

He beams at her, happy he could make her smile, then realizes he must look like a bloody idiot and stops his Chesire-cat grin in a futile attempt to seem nonchalant.

Suddenly Tonks jerks up, and pulls him with her. On impulse she gives him a hug. He tenses at first, and then it is all Remus can do not to melt into her embrace. As suddenly as she hugged him, she lets go, and spinning on her heel, giving him one last smile, she struts out of the room.

Bloody women and their emotions.