T is for Tonks

Chapter 5 - Wisps Of Affection

"If anyone should have to break the rank, then you're on your own. We will not turn back. There will be a cleanup crew on standby who will sort out any of that business." Mad-eye said sourly, his eye seemed to be zipping round more than usual. Those who had been chosen to escort Harry Potter from his childhood home stood around in the kitchen, dressed in heavy warm clothes, with brooms in their hands. 

Tonks was excited,  she felt l jittery like she was overdosing on caffeine. They looked like a scene from one of those muggle superhero movies, she observed. "Should any one of you get killed, you have my greatest sympathies." Finished Mad-eye, taking a swig from his hip flask.

Remus bent down to Tonks' ear. "Is he always like this?"

Feeling his breath against her cheek, Tonks was suddenly aware that they were standing so close that their shoulders touched. Her heart rate increased. "No, that was one of his more light- hearted speeches." She replied causing him to chuckle.

They all began to file up the kitchen steps into the hallway above, either completely unaware or choosing to ignore the crowd of ginger haired children that had gathered on the banister above. Sirius came out of the drawing room and squeezed past Kingsley in order to stand next to Tonks and Remus, who were at the back of the hall. "Well Mooney, old friend, can I trust you to look after my little cousin?"

Sheepishly Remus replied. "Tonks is fully capable of looking after herself." Laughing, Sirius pulled the man into a hug

He turned to Tonks. "Can I trust you to look after Remus?"

"Of course, i'll hold his hand every step of the way." She grinned. Sirius pulled her into a firm hug, but this time she didn't blush.

"Nymphadora!" Moody barked. Tonks rolled her eyes and ran after the group, with Remus at her side.

____

The mission had gone relatively well. It had been a long journey for Tonks, who wasn't used to spending copious amounts of time on her broom. It didn't help that Mad-Eye had tried to take them all through Greenland on the way back. The biting fresh air made her face ache and chilled her to her bones. But it allowed Tonks to clear her mind. All she had thought about over the past week was Remus. When he was gone she missed him and longed for his contact. When he was around Tonks felt her heart speed up and struggled to contain her childish giggles.

Maybe she did fancy the pants off of him. It wasn't relevant to the task at hand. 

Tonks watched Remus fondly greet Harry, and she wondered what would have happened if Remus had been her Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. He definitely would have been able to hold her attention, but Tonks still wouldn't have behaved herself. The thought pleased her immensely when she thought of pranking Professor Lupin. Not that she thought Remus was specifically "down with the kids." But he was definitely less drab than the other Hogwarts Professors.

Moody barked orders that they should begin their descent and Tonks obliged. Smiling, she imagined what her mother and father would think of Remus. When she imagined taking a man or a woman home (because Merlin knows what her sexuality was up to these days), she always imagined someone with Remus's personality. Charming and polite. Someone who knew how to use all of her mother's fancy cutlery and who liked foods like olives and anchovies and mushrooms. But they would never look anything like Remus, but more like the neatly kept and dignified Ravenclaw students who always intimidated Tonks when she was at Hogwarts. She supposed that Remus was older than all the people she had ever day dreamed or fantasized about, but she didn't think that would matter. She also didn't really care that his clothes were shabby or about any of the scars he had on his face.

Smoothly, she landed onto a street, around the corner from Grimmauld place. The others following behind her. Tonks allowed herself to drop back from the rest of the group, falling into step with Kingsley. "You have a brilliant smile on your face, Tonks." He said in his deep voice.