T is for Tonks

Chapter 2 - Tired and Clumsy don't mix

After the meeting Molly had served up a delicious stew and dumplings with a sponge cake for dessert. Tonks didn't think she had ever felt so full as she sat back in her chair feeling satisfied. She had been quiet over dinner and chose not to interject during the meeting either, for fear of being wrong. Even after all these years, she was still afraid of being rejected from the group, her differences making her stand out from the rest.

Molly stood up, and with flick of her wand the leftover plates and cutlery began to stack themselves against the sink. "Tonks dear, would you mind giving me a hand?" Molly asked, tearing Tonks from her daydream and causing her to jerk to attention. Muttering in agreement, she dragged her feet to stand besides the other woman at the sink, grabbing a towel on the way. "You're very quiet. A far cry from the Tonks I remember darting around the garden with my Charlie. Is everything okay?" Molly asked out of earshot of the others.

Picking up a plate Tonks forced a sleepy smile. "I'm good thanks Molly. Just tired." She replied hoping that her answer would stop Molly from prying any further. She reminded her of her mother; someone who always pried and who never knew when to stop. Then she'd go and blab to the neighbours like it was nobody's business.

Molly gave Tonks a knowing look but didn't take the conversation any further. "I have a mother's instinct." She chided. "I always know when someone's hiding something. I suppose it's part of having 6 boys." She laughed. Tonks forced something that sounded like a laugh, hoping it would allow her to be excused and go to bed. It had been a long day and she had been assigned the night shift the following day, to guard the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry. She hated the night shift.

As Tonks's attention wavered, the bowl she was holding slipped out of her hand and collided with the floor, scattering pieces of broken porcelain as far as the table. Scrambling to the floor to pick up her mess whilst apologies were uncontrollably spewing from her mouth, Tonks felt her cheeks go red. Making it worse, Remus had rushed over to help her and Molly was gushing about how it was "okay, dear". Clumsily she scooped a piece of broken dish into her hand, feeling it slice her palm and watched as an alarming amount of blood began to poor out of the sizable gash.

Tonks really wished she could just disappear, but Remus was ushering her back to the table, with her wrist in his hand and her injured palm facing upwards. Sirius had appeared out of nowhere with a dish cloth that was being pressed to her hand by Remus. Tonks could feel everyone's eyes on her and felt her heart sink. Nothing would ever go right for her. She was an embarrassment and a liability.

The chatter in the room had once again resurfaced and Molly had cleaned up the mess with a swift wave of her wand. "Hey, don't worry yourself about it." Remus said quietly. Tonks realized that her hand was in his lap and she blushed harder. He took the towel off her hand and inspected the wound. Removing his wand from his inner pocket, he pointed it towards her hand and muttered a few words, closing the cut and leaving just a pink line in its place. "There we go. Good as new."

Their private moment had not gone unnoticed by Sirius who looked curiously at the pair. "Aren't we glad Dear Old Remus is here to save the day? Shame about mummy's best china." He looked at Tonks in a way that made her suspicious. "Maybe we should keep you around more. I've been looking for a way to destroy this lot for ages." Remus rolled his eyes.

"Ignore Sirius. He doesn't get out much." He laughed.

"Is he always this insufferable?" Tonks teased.

"Ever since he got out of prison and was hailed the first person to break out of Azkaban, his ego has been through the roof."

Sirius looked mildly annoyed. "If you two are done flirting, I'm going to show Dora here to her room." Tonks growled at him, but got up and followed him up the stairs.

Her room was dark and musky, but Tonks really didn't expect anything else. There was a large king size bed in the middle of the room, with a magnificent oak headboard engraved with a pattern of entangled vines. The wooden floor was cold and hard, and the window was covered with enough grime that she could probably draw on it. Tonks's trunk and her bag were on the floor in the corner. She was suddenly glad that Mad-eye had insisted on sending her things ahead.

"It's not much." Sirius shrugged, using his sleeve to clean the window but clearly making no indent on the thick layer of dirt. He gave up.

Tonks sat on the springy bed and was bemused when she saw a layer of dust ejected into the air. "Not exactly a nurturing place for a childhood then?"

He smiled sympathetically. "No. Not the best safe house either." Sirius replied. He sighed and cracked his knuckles. "I'll get out of here. One day." He smiled. "If you need anything. Love advice, severed elf head, polyjuice potion. Just ask me." With that, he exited.

Laying back on the bed, Tonks realized that she didn't have it that bad. She hadn't been to Azkaban for a crime she didn't commit. There wasn't a 100,000 galleon reward on her head. She didn't have to be locked in the house. Making a conscious promise to stop feeling sorry herself, Tonks thought of Remus. He seemed kind and gentle, but also shy. Maybe her suspicions were true. Slipping into an uneasy sleep, she couldn't help but think about her family, regressing into the same state as Sirius had done, during their period in their safe house.