Fanfiction: Formidable; Fandom: HP, Pairing: Remus/Tonks
I read this fabulous Remus/Tonks story today, which really inspired me to see where I could lead them. Which means, since I wrote this, Harry wiggled his way in, and stayed.
Title: Formidable
Pairing: Remus/Tonks
Rating: PG
Summary: Tonks once had a boyfriend, who had a very formidable mother, who liked to give 'don't hurt my baby' speeches. With Remus, this 'mother' happens to be Harry Potter. Features interesting rock band names, angsty Harry, mentions of character death which are the reason for slightly angsty Harry, and nosy Remus.
Notes: No beta, as usual. My usual is on vacation. Also, Oh dear? She wrote Het. WITHOUT HINTING AT SLASH!
Tonks had only been in one relationship, one real and love-based relationship, before Remus.
Clutching her tea cup in a way that, for her, surely meant it would crack soon, Tonks allowed for a trip through Nostalgia Lane. It had been her final year, and the lucky victim had been a fellow Hufflepuff in her fellow year.
His name had been Robert Stevens; a dull, average name for someone not so average. He was a beater on the Quidditch team, who was more of a seeker build but still managed to be the best beater on any team that seventh year. He excelled in Herbology, making his mother, a worldwide known herbologist proud. His father was a clerk in the ministry, but Robby still made him proud by being Head Boy.
Tonks had only regarded him has an acquaintance she only recognized due to his almost blue-black hair that seemingly shined until fifth year. That was when they discovered their mutual love for modern wizarding music like the Weird Sisters mixed with classic Wizarding Rock, like Loup Garock (a sort of prediction for her second serious relationship).
Come to think of it, Robert was all the good that Remus was. Intelligent he was, with a warm smile that lit up his brown eyes and a love of reading classic muggle literature (the kinds that came in a special Classics publishing format and the kinds that had sort of withered into obscurity except for Literature Professors at Muggle Oxford). Robert was responsible, caring, and wicked witty, but lacked the one thing that made Tonks have the illusion of love for him, but fast, head over heals love for Lupin: security.
Sure, Tonks had dated him from November of their final year to the following September when she had begun Auror training. There was just something about him that didn’t make her feel comfortable and loved, like one of Remus’ worn argyle cardigans.
And so, they went their separate ways: Nymphadora onto the rigorous three year Auror program, and Robert onto a Herbology mastery. All the little details of their times slowly morphing, somewhat akin to her nose during those early times at Grimwauld Place, from picnic lunches near the Black Lake to defensive spells and tracking charms.
All except a few, actually. One of the memories of her time with Robert that would always stick with her was the meeting, and getting the fabulous ‘relationship’ talk, from his mother.
Mama Stevens was the epitome of a formidable woman. Her hair was curly and squished into a messy bun and her face and hands were caked with the memory of dirt and mud. She was a round, Mrs. Weasley type, but with a voice that was more Umbridge than Molly. Her wand was always sticking out of her pocket placed right on her stomach, like a baby kangaroo in its mum’s pouch.
She had demanded the immediate leave of Robby, sat Tonks down with a plop (!) on her sticky leather sofa (it was the middle of June), and stacked eyes so cold they would make Snape proud on her. Breathing deep, she opened her mouth and utter, in one breath:
“Robert is the most special of children; the kind that mothers need not ever worry about in the real would due to their fantastic decision to make choices. He chose you, and so forth I must admit a bit of respect for making Robby dear find love. If though, you choose to break up, and it is on nothing less than the most noble of terms, I shall be forced to use spells so intricate, the Aurors you are going to work for shall be stumped for a bit. Do you comprehend?”
Yes formidable indeed.
----
Remus’ mother was long deceased, and his father was off in some Eastern European country studying vampires. Ergo, Tonks had come to the belief that there would be no formidable figure lecturing her on the relationship between her and Remus. Her father Ted had taken care of the protective Daddy side of those talks.
So, she was just a bit surprised when Harry sat her down, offered her a cuppa, and told her that they really needed to discuss Remus. Although Harry was quite protective of his friends and those whom he regarded as family (and also a bit unusual), Tonks really hadn’t expect a full blown monologue on how she wouldn’t ever dare hurt Remus.
The first words out of his mouth were simple, sad, and made her realize why Harry of all people was doing this.
“Sirius always told me that Remus picked the best of friends. At first, you know, I was thinking that he was being a bit haughty and arrogant as usual, but he was actually referring to my parents. He said something like ‘that Remus Lupin chap, always knowing the people who he will be able to charm and dazzle with his fashionable matching sweaters and socks the most whilst they make him open up and feel comfortable’. Then he mentioned something about toast; I’m sure he was tipsy.”
If the war changed anyone drastically, it was Harry. He matured in face and mind, became less petty and more introspective. He went from screaming and spewing hate at Snape over the littlest things to crying when he survived, but not Snape.
Although, this matured air came from some dark and difficult times. Watching your first friend, the mighty Hagrid, tortured and murdered slowly and violently by the Queen of Torture herself (Aunt Bella) in front of you would change almost anyone. And make someone who was already a hundred percent protective over an allegation against a friend even more so.
“Tonks, you are such a lovely person, and such a dear friend of mine, that I know, just know that you are perfect for Moony. You brighten his day even after a full moon, you bring him chocolate to nibble on right after taking Hermione’s Wolfsbane, and you add a certain spice to his life that can, erm, certainly be heard from a few rooms away when one cannot sleep (Tonks blushed the same light red as her hair and freckles). It isn’t you I am worried about at all. It’s him. He’s weak and greying and daft and stubborn. He will toss and turn if you say you love him, he will push and pull until you admit he has a plethora of faults, and dear goodness he will whinge and state he doesn’t need a babysitter.
“But Tonksies, he sometimes needs a caretaker. Currently, I am the de facto one doing that job. But, I shall valiantly pass this magical torch of responsibility and having to put up with stories of muggle jazz singers over cups of coffee at 3 am to you. I’m sure you will do it fabulously, with interesting hair styles and trips down the stairs.”
Harry finished his coffee as if he was downing a shot of firewhiskey, stood up, and smiled as if he knew he was 100% correct down to the final speck of fuzz on Tonks’ neon green muggle visibility vest. Which he was.
Tonks, stood up whilst processing this, and promptly fell down. Locking eyes with Harry, they both burst into uncontrollable giggles which attracted the attention of said Remus John ‘Moony’ Lupin.
“If I hadn’t been listening around the corner bend, I would have sworn you two where making nefarious plans to disrupt my controlled and centred balance of mind and ‘wicked’ plots to read all evening. But I do thank you both for taking my, how was it that Mr. Fred put it, utter prat-atude in the face of true love so seriously.”
And so, arm around Remus’ middle, and smile alit on all three of their faces, the small family currently inhabiting Grimwauld Place broke apart: Tonks with Remus, now secure in her mind she would rather be no other place even if the drapes were without holes, and Harry sitting down on a sofa, turning on one of Remus’ jazz records and picking up a well worn copy of Persuasion.
Now they were a formidable force to be reckoned with.
Title: Formidable
Pairing: Remus/Tonks
Rating: PG
Summary: Tonks once had a boyfriend, who had a very formidable mother, who liked to give 'don't hurt my baby' speeches. With Remus, this 'mother' happens to be Harry Potter. Features interesting rock band names, angsty Harry, mentions of character death which are the reason for slightly angsty Harry, and nosy Remus.
Notes: No beta, as usual. My usual is on vacation. Also, Oh dear? She wrote Het. WITHOUT HINTING AT SLASH!
Tonks had only been in one relationship, one real and love-based relationship, before Remus.
Clutching her tea cup in a way that, for her, surely meant it would crack soon, Tonks allowed for a trip through Nostalgia Lane. It had been her final year, and the lucky victim had been a fellow Hufflepuff in her fellow year.
His name had been Robert Stevens; a dull, average name for someone not so average. He was a beater on the Quidditch team, who was more of a seeker build but still managed to be the best beater on any team that seventh year. He excelled in Herbology, making his mother, a worldwide known herbologist proud. His father was a clerk in the ministry, but Robby still made him proud by being Head Boy.
Tonks had only regarded him has an acquaintance she only recognized due to his almost blue-black hair that seemingly shined until fifth year. That was when they discovered their mutual love for modern wizarding music like the Weird Sisters mixed with classic Wizarding Rock, like Loup Garock (a sort of prediction for her second serious relationship).
Come to think of it, Robert was all the good that Remus was. Intelligent he was, with a warm smile that lit up his brown eyes and a love of reading classic muggle literature (the kinds that came in a special Classics publishing format and the kinds that had sort of withered into obscurity except for Literature Professors at Muggle Oxford). Robert was responsible, caring, and wicked witty, but lacked the one thing that made Tonks have the illusion of love for him, but fast, head over heals love for Lupin: security.
Sure, Tonks had dated him from November of their final year to the following September when she had begun Auror training. There was just something about him that didn’t make her feel comfortable and loved, like one of Remus’ worn argyle cardigans.
And so, they went their separate ways: Nymphadora onto the rigorous three year Auror program, and Robert onto a Herbology mastery. All the little details of their times slowly morphing, somewhat akin to her nose during those early times at Grimwauld Place, from picnic lunches near the Black Lake to defensive spells and tracking charms.
All except a few, actually. One of the memories of her time with Robert that would always stick with her was the meeting, and getting the fabulous ‘relationship’ talk, from his mother.
Mama Stevens was the epitome of a formidable woman. Her hair was curly and squished into a messy bun and her face and hands were caked with the memory of dirt and mud. She was a round, Mrs. Weasley type, but with a voice that was more Umbridge than Molly. Her wand was always sticking out of her pocket placed right on her stomach, like a baby kangaroo in its mum’s pouch.
She had demanded the immediate leave of Robby, sat Tonks down with a plop (!) on her sticky leather sofa (it was the middle of June), and stacked eyes so cold they would make Snape proud on her. Breathing deep, she opened her mouth and utter, in one breath:
“Robert is the most special of children; the kind that mothers need not ever worry about in the real would due to their fantastic decision to make choices. He chose you, and so forth I must admit a bit of respect for making Robby dear find love. If though, you choose to break up, and it is on nothing less than the most noble of terms, I shall be forced to use spells so intricate, the Aurors you are going to work for shall be stumped for a bit. Do you comprehend?”
Yes formidable indeed.
----
Remus’ mother was long deceased, and his father was off in some Eastern European country studying vampires. Ergo, Tonks had come to the belief that there would be no formidable figure lecturing her on the relationship between her and Remus. Her father Ted had taken care of the protective Daddy side of those talks.
So, she was just a bit surprised when Harry sat her down, offered her a cuppa, and told her that they really needed to discuss Remus. Although Harry was quite protective of his friends and those whom he regarded as family (and also a bit unusual), Tonks really hadn’t expect a full blown monologue on how she wouldn’t ever dare hurt Remus.
The first words out of his mouth were simple, sad, and made her realize why Harry of all people was doing this.
“Sirius always told me that Remus picked the best of friends. At first, you know, I was thinking that he was being a bit haughty and arrogant as usual, but he was actually referring to my parents. He said something like ‘that Remus Lupin chap, always knowing the people who he will be able to charm and dazzle with his fashionable matching sweaters and socks the most whilst they make him open up and feel comfortable’. Then he mentioned something about toast; I’m sure he was tipsy.”
If the war changed anyone drastically, it was Harry. He matured in face and mind, became less petty and more introspective. He went from screaming and spewing hate at Snape over the littlest things to crying when he survived, but not Snape.
Although, this matured air came from some dark and difficult times. Watching your first friend, the mighty Hagrid, tortured and murdered slowly and violently by the Queen of Torture herself (Aunt Bella) in front of you would change almost anyone. And make someone who was already a hundred percent protective over an allegation against a friend even more so.
“Tonks, you are such a lovely person, and such a dear friend of mine, that I know, just know that you are perfect for Moony. You brighten his day even after a full moon, you bring him chocolate to nibble on right after taking Hermione’s Wolfsbane, and you add a certain spice to his life that can, erm, certainly be heard from a few rooms away when one cannot sleep (Tonks blushed the same light red as her hair and freckles). It isn’t you I am worried about at all. It’s him. He’s weak and greying and daft and stubborn. He will toss and turn if you say you love him, he will push and pull until you admit he has a plethora of faults, and dear goodness he will whinge and state he doesn’t need a babysitter.
“But Tonksies, he sometimes needs a caretaker. Currently, I am the de facto one doing that job. But, I shall valiantly pass this magical torch of responsibility and having to put up with stories of muggle jazz singers over cups of coffee at 3 am to you. I’m sure you will do it fabulously, with interesting hair styles and trips down the stairs.”
Harry finished his coffee as if he was downing a shot of firewhiskey, stood up, and smiled as if he knew he was 100% correct down to the final speck of fuzz on Tonks’ neon green muggle visibility vest. Which he was.
Tonks, stood up whilst processing this, and promptly fell down. Locking eyes with Harry, they both burst into uncontrollable giggles which attracted the attention of said Remus John ‘Moony’ Lupin.
“If I hadn’t been listening around the corner bend, I would have sworn you two where making nefarious plans to disrupt my controlled and centred balance of mind and ‘wicked’ plots to read all evening. But I do thank you both for taking my, how was it that Mr. Fred put it, utter prat-atude in the face of true love so seriously.”
And so, arm around Remus’ middle, and smile alit on all three of their faces, the small family currently inhabiting Grimwauld Place broke apart: Tonks with Remus, now secure in her mind she would rather be no other place even if the drapes were without holes, and Harry sitting down on a sofa, turning on one of Remus’ jazz records and picking up a well worn copy of Persuasion.
Now they were a formidable force to be reckoned with.