Just You
“Remus!”
At the sound of her voice his head shot up, banging against the bookshelf he had been searching through all morning. Remus rubbed the back of his head swearing quietly as the sounds of that damned portrait drifted into the room. He walked slowly to the door cracking it open, finding a very tousled Tonks wrestling with a pair if doxy eaten curtains.
“Shut up! Shut up, woman. Bloody hell, now I understand where mum gets her lungs from.”
Remus leaned against the doorframe, his lips twitching with amusement as he watched her struggle.
“You could help me,” she said pulling one side closed only to have it fly open again as she started on the other, the hem of her already short shirt riding up several inches.
Remus smiled, giving up in what was in his opinion a very nice view, as he walked over reaching around her and pulling them shut.
Tonks bent over, hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. “Where - where have…you been… all morning?” she asked breathlessly.
“In the library.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wasn’t aware I had to inform you when entering a new room. Should I send an owl before going down to breakfast tomorrow?” he teased.
“It’s your birthday, you git.”
His face fell, becoming suddenly engrossed with the hem of his jumper. “Oh. Erm, yes… it is, I suppose. I told him not to mention it…” he mumbled quietly.
Tonks reached over hitting him on the head.
“Ow,” Remus said, rubbing his head.
“Of course he mentioned it,” she sighed. “Well I think he only mentioned it because he’s glad you are his age again. At least now maybe he’ll stop talking about respecting elders… but really that’s not the point. He can be a bit self-centered at times, can’t he? The other night he was telling me this story, it couldn’t possibly have been true, about him and these two girls -“
“Tonks, I don’t mean to interrupt what I’m sure was a lovely rant about Sirius and his giant ego, but did you have a point?” he asked, as he moved closer to her.
“My point…umm what was my point…” Her eyes met his and she found it very difficult to think of anything else. “What was I saying?” she whispered.
“No idea,” he said softly, pushing a piece of dark purple hair behind her ear and leaning in.
“No. It was important. Stop trying to distract me.” She bit her lip in concentration, her hair changing to blue and then pink as she thought. “I-I… Sirius is a git…Sirius happy about…” she murmured, “Oh! That’s right. Today is your birthday. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Nothing to fuss over. There are much more important things to be worrying about, and I don’t fancy being reminded another year has passed.” He turned retreating in the direction of the library.
“Wait,” Tonks reached out grabbing his sweater, stopping him in the doorway. “Stop saying things like that, and you didn’t answer my question. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Remus sighed heavily. “I suppose I’m not used to having people who care. I’ve been on my own for a while.”
“Remus, I care. You know that,” she stepped closer wrapping her arms around his waist.
“You shouldn’t. I don’t deserve it,” he mumbled, resting his chin on her head.
“ You deserve to be happy. What can I get you for your birthday? Chocolate? I can make a quick trip to Hogsmeade.”
“No, just you,” he whispered, kissing the top of her head and pulling her closer.