Prompt Twenty-Six: Illumination
Title: Illumination
Author: gijane7702
Format & Word Count: Fic/1583 words
Rating: PG13
Prompt: #26: the stormy lighthouse pic
Warning(s): Battle Action, Swearing (one or two little words), Angst, Innuendo (at the very end)
Author's Note(s): This is rather emo for me, as I prefer flanst or just plain humour.
Many thanks to my shiny new friend (and beta)
shield_wolf =)
“It was a dark and stormy night…”
The opening line of that damned Muggle book kept running through Remus Lupin’s mind as he huddled up closer to the wall and deeper into his cloak trying to avoid getting wet from both the rain and the ocean’s breaker waves that were crashing up against the rocks. “Why can’t the Death Eaters have their meeting in a nice cosy warm spot like the Leaky Cauldron or the Three Broomsticks?” he muttered into Nymphadora Tonks’ ear. “I’m freezing!”
Jammed up beside him on the small gallery, she snorted with laughter and snuggled closer to him. “Warmer now?” she asked. “And you mean there…instead of at an abandoned, decaying lighthouse on the Isle of Skye, right?” She grimaced at him, then continued, “You know why, Remus. ‘Cause everyone’s in denial that Voldemort is back, hence no public reunions...yet. ”
Remus grumbled a response then pulled Tonks closer to him and placed a quick kiss on the top of her head. He smiled when she sighed happily in response. It was still early in their relationship, but she never complained when he showed affection, understanding that it was difficult for him. Tonks was extremely patient as he slowly adjusted to comprehending someone cared for him without wanting anything but him in return.
“Oh…what’s this?” Tonks whispered. “Looks like the meeting’s over.” They both leaned over the galley’s railing to watch the Death Eaters’ departures.
“I do believe that’s your dear Uncle Lucius, Nymphadora,” Remus murmured back, spotting Malfoy’s pale blonde hair hanging down his back outside his cloak in a ponytail.
“Fucking wanker,” Tonks swore crossly and Remus chuckled appreciatively. “No Aunt Cissy though, how interesting,” she continued. “But the Carrows, Avery, Crabbe, Goyle…” Tonks sucked in a breath, pausing in her inventory, as she recognised the last of the Death Eaters exiting the lighthouse, “Macnair, Rowle, iand Yaxley. They all work at the Ministry.”
Remus nodded his agreement. “Dumbledore’s going to want to know that Voldemort’s already infiltrated the Ministry. Let’s get out of here.”
“The Hog’s Head?” Tonks asked right before a piece of the wall above her head and the Lantern Room glass exploded and rained down upon them. “What the…?!”
“Get out of here now, Dora!” Remus yelled as he cast a Shield Charm to protect them. “They’ve seen us!” Yaxley, Rowle, both Carrows, and Avery were bearing down on their location, listening to Malfoy, who was shouting instructions, and shooting spells off up at them as they came. Remus swore loudly when Tonks didn’t Disapparate, but instead began to return fire. “Dora! Get out of here!”
“You first,” she screamed back, shooting off more spells and taking down Yaxley. “I’m the trained professional between the two of us.”
“I’m not leaving without you!” he shouted back, shooting down a volley of rapid-fire spells at the Death Eaters now trying to climb up to them.
“Expelliarmus!” Tonks’ yelled, disarming two more Death Eaters. She spun around and grabbed Remus’ hand and Side-Along Apparated them away from the lighthouse.
“Where are we?” he asked, looking around the room the minute they reappeared, trying to get his bearings.
“My flat,” Tonks told him. “First place I thought of.” She paused, and then asked in a concerned tone, “All right?”
Remus then realised he was violently shaking. “Yeah,” he told her through chattering teeth, “I think I’m all right. C-c-o-ld,” he shivered out.
Tonks frowned, turned around and pointed her wand at her fireplace, mumbling “Incendio.” A roaring fire burst to life in the empty grate. Turning back to Remus, she apologised by saying, “Sorry, I haven’t been home in a few days.” Tonks frowned at he continued to shiver. “Get out of that cloak and whatever clothing’s wet,” she ordered, marching up to him. “You’re going to catch a head cold if you don’t.”
He nodded, then, with trembling hands, began to unbutton his cloak, handing it to Tonks, who took it and placed it by the fireplace to dry. Next came Remus’ jumper, then he toed off his wet loafers, and peeled of his drenched socks. His hands then paused at the fly to his trousers and he looked questioningly at her.
“Might as well if they’re wet,” she told him, but a faint blush blossomed on her already pink cheeks. “I’m stripping down once you’re done. I think I might have a pair of Dad’s old pyjama bottoms I nicked while in school around here somewhere. Meanwhile,” she ran down the corridor, leaving a trail of wet footprints as she went. At the last door, Tonks went in and came out practically immediately, carrying a duvet. “Wrap yourself up in this,” she said, handing him the duvet. “After I get changed, I’ll find those bottoms for you.”
She left again, to give him privacy, heading back towards the bedroom. Remus quickly dropped his wet trousers and wrapped himself in the duvet. He wandered over to the wireless and snapped it on, then placed all this wet clothing in front of the fireplace to dry.
“See if we can hear the end of the Harpies game,” Tonks said from behind him. “I was supposed to go tonight with a couple of girls from school-”
“But you stood watch with me instead?” Remus finished for her as he turned around. To prove his next sentence, she was dressed in her Harpies pyjamas. “But they’re your all-time favourite team…”
“I’m glad I was there,” Tonks told him quietly. “Snape said there were only going to be a few Death Eaters there. We were seriously outnumbered. Imagine if it was only just you…”
Her sentence ended in a soft, caring tone. Remus saw the anguish on her face and quickly crossed the room and pulled her into his embrace. “Ssshhh, its okay, Nymphadora. I’m fine. We’re fine.”
“I could have lost you tonight,” Tonks choked out, hugging him back fiercely.
Remus hugged her back just as fiercely. He had been thinking the exact same thing. “And I could have lost you. That’s why I told you to get out of there, Nymphadora.”
“Dora,” Tonks sniffled, squeezing him tighter. “You called me ‘Dora’ earlier. I liked it.”
He smiled into her hair, and then placed a kiss on her pink spikes. “Dora it is then, sweetheart. Let’s sit down and listen to the end of the game.” He steered them both over towards the couch.
They had only just sat down when Tonks jumped back up and asked, “Do you want anything? Tea? Coffee? Food?”
Remus gently pulled her back down. Snuggling back up against her, he said, “All I want is to just want to hold you right now, Dora. Nothing else.”
He placed another kiss on her head, silently wondering to himself why he was being so affectionate tonight. Tonks snuggled up against him, basking in his affections. And then the reason why hit him: he was in love with her.
Yes, they had been dating for a bit, but the only time that they had had together was at Order meetings or late nights with Sirius at Grimmauld Place. They had never truly been alone…until tonight.
Remus’ stomach clenched as he recalled how terrified he had been when the Death Eaters had started attacking them. He remembered the fear that had run through him when Dora hadn’t Disapparated, but had stayed and fought. He realised that his terror had stemmed from love.
He, Remus Lupin, loved Nymphadora Tonks.
He closed his eyes, gripping Tonks tighter to him, waiting for that tell-tale feeling that he was going to start retreating from her. Backing off so he didn’t ‘taint’ her. Leaving her alone so she didn’t have to associate with one of his kind.
It never came. Somehow Dora had sneaked around (or battered down) the protective walls surrounding his heart without Remus even noticing. The only others to have accomplished that were the Marauders.
He had never felt so…free.
Opening his eyes, Remus placed yet another kiss on Tonks’ head, then placed a finger under her chin and tipped her heart-shaped face up. Leaning down, he kissed her slowly at first, but as she began to respond, the kiss deepened and became more passionate.
When they finally broke apart, Tonks’ dark eyes were filled with unanswered questions. Remus knew she knew that something had changed, but she wasn’t sure what. To answer her, he simply told her, “I love you.” Her eyes widened in surprise and her pink lips fell open in shock. Remus almost laughed aloud but instead said, “Usually when someone tells you they love you, you’re supposed to say it back.”
He was taken aback when Tonks squealed and launched herself at him. He barely caught here before she caught his lips and kissed him with such abandon and enthusiasm it nearly took his breath away. When they broke apart again, she said breathlessly, “I love you too.”
Remus knew that his own grin was reflected in Tonks’. “Know what I just realised, Dora?” he asked.
“What?” she asked.
“We’re wizards. We could have used a Drying Charm.”
“Oh…Yeah…Well maybe I just wanted to get you down to your pants.” Her grin grew and he threw back his head and laughed. “Come on. I’m dry now. And I’m exhausted. Tomorrow we’ll talk to Dumbledore. It’s late now.” Tonks got up from the couch and began walking back towards her bedroom. Halfway down the corridor, she looked over her shoulder and asked, “Are you coming with?”
TBC…with smut (?)
Author: gijane7702
Format & Word Count: Fic/1583 words
Rating: PG13
Prompt: #26: the stormy lighthouse pic
Warning(s): Battle Action, Swearing (one or two little words), Angst, Innuendo (at the very end)
Author's Note(s): This is rather emo for me, as I prefer flanst or just plain humour.
Many thanks to my shiny new friend (and beta)
shield_wolf =)
“It was a dark and stormy night…”
The opening line of that damned Muggle book kept running through Remus Lupin’s mind as he huddled up closer to the wall and deeper into his cloak trying to avoid getting wet from both the rain and the ocean’s breaker waves that were crashing up against the rocks. “Why can’t the Death Eaters have their meeting in a nice cosy warm spot like the Leaky Cauldron or the Three Broomsticks?” he muttered into Nymphadora Tonks’ ear. “I’m freezing!”
Jammed up beside him on the small gallery, she snorted with laughter and snuggled closer to him. “Warmer now?” she asked. “And you mean there…instead of at an abandoned, decaying lighthouse on the Isle of Skye, right?” She grimaced at him, then continued, “You know why, Remus. ‘Cause everyone’s in denial that Voldemort is back, hence no public reunions...yet. ”
Remus grumbled a response then pulled Tonks closer to him and placed a quick kiss on the top of her head. He smiled when she sighed happily in response. It was still early in their relationship, but she never complained when he showed affection, understanding that it was difficult for him. Tonks was extremely patient as he slowly adjusted to comprehending someone cared for him without wanting anything but him in return.
“Oh…what’s this?” Tonks whispered. “Looks like the meeting’s over.” They both leaned over the galley’s railing to watch the Death Eaters’ departures.
“I do believe that’s your dear Uncle Lucius, Nymphadora,” Remus murmured back, spotting Malfoy’s pale blonde hair hanging down his back outside his cloak in a ponytail.
“Fucking wanker,” Tonks swore crossly and Remus chuckled appreciatively. “No Aunt Cissy though, how interesting,” she continued. “But the Carrows, Avery, Crabbe, Goyle…” Tonks sucked in a breath, pausing in her inventory, as she recognised the last of the Death Eaters exiting the lighthouse, “Macnair, Rowle, iand Yaxley. They all work at the Ministry.”
Remus nodded his agreement. “Dumbledore’s going to want to know that Voldemort’s already infiltrated the Ministry. Let’s get out of here.”
“The Hog’s Head?” Tonks asked right before a piece of the wall above her head and the Lantern Room glass exploded and rained down upon them. “What the…?!”
“Get out of here now, Dora!” Remus yelled as he cast a Shield Charm to protect them. “They’ve seen us!” Yaxley, Rowle, both Carrows, and Avery were bearing down on their location, listening to Malfoy, who was shouting instructions, and shooting spells off up at them as they came. Remus swore loudly when Tonks didn’t Disapparate, but instead began to return fire. “Dora! Get out of here!”
“You first,” she screamed back, shooting off more spells and taking down Yaxley. “I’m the trained professional between the two of us.”
“I’m not leaving without you!” he shouted back, shooting down a volley of rapid-fire spells at the Death Eaters now trying to climb up to them.
“Expelliarmus!” Tonks’ yelled, disarming two more Death Eaters. She spun around and grabbed Remus’ hand and Side-Along Apparated them away from the lighthouse.
“Where are we?” he asked, looking around the room the minute they reappeared, trying to get his bearings.
“My flat,” Tonks told him. “First place I thought of.” She paused, and then asked in a concerned tone, “All right?”
Remus then realised he was violently shaking. “Yeah,” he told her through chattering teeth, “I think I’m all right. C-c-o-ld,” he shivered out.
Tonks frowned, turned around and pointed her wand at her fireplace, mumbling “Incendio.” A roaring fire burst to life in the empty grate. Turning back to Remus, she apologised by saying, “Sorry, I haven’t been home in a few days.” Tonks frowned at he continued to shiver. “Get out of that cloak and whatever clothing’s wet,” she ordered, marching up to him. “You’re going to catch a head cold if you don’t.”
He nodded, then, with trembling hands, began to unbutton his cloak, handing it to Tonks, who took it and placed it by the fireplace to dry. Next came Remus’ jumper, then he toed off his wet loafers, and peeled of his drenched socks. His hands then paused at the fly to his trousers and he looked questioningly at her.
“Might as well if they’re wet,” she told him, but a faint blush blossomed on her already pink cheeks. “I’m stripping down once you’re done. I think I might have a pair of Dad’s old pyjama bottoms I nicked while in school around here somewhere. Meanwhile,” she ran down the corridor, leaving a trail of wet footprints as she went. At the last door, Tonks went in and came out practically immediately, carrying a duvet. “Wrap yourself up in this,” she said, handing him the duvet. “After I get changed, I’ll find those bottoms for you.”
She left again, to give him privacy, heading back towards the bedroom. Remus quickly dropped his wet trousers and wrapped himself in the duvet. He wandered over to the wireless and snapped it on, then placed all this wet clothing in front of the fireplace to dry.
“See if we can hear the end of the Harpies game,” Tonks said from behind him. “I was supposed to go tonight with a couple of girls from school-”
“But you stood watch with me instead?” Remus finished for her as he turned around. To prove his next sentence, she was dressed in her Harpies pyjamas. “But they’re your all-time favourite team…”
“I’m glad I was there,” Tonks told him quietly. “Snape said there were only going to be a few Death Eaters there. We were seriously outnumbered. Imagine if it was only just you…”
Her sentence ended in a soft, caring tone. Remus saw the anguish on her face and quickly crossed the room and pulled her into his embrace. “Ssshhh, its okay, Nymphadora. I’m fine. We’re fine.”
“I could have lost you tonight,” Tonks choked out, hugging him back fiercely.
Remus hugged her back just as fiercely. He had been thinking the exact same thing. “And I could have lost you. That’s why I told you to get out of there, Nymphadora.”
“Dora,” Tonks sniffled, squeezing him tighter. “You called me ‘Dora’ earlier. I liked it.”
He smiled into her hair, and then placed a kiss on her pink spikes. “Dora it is then, sweetheart. Let’s sit down and listen to the end of the game.” He steered them both over towards the couch.
They had only just sat down when Tonks jumped back up and asked, “Do you want anything? Tea? Coffee? Food?”
Remus gently pulled her back down. Snuggling back up against her, he said, “All I want is to just want to hold you right now, Dora. Nothing else.”
He placed another kiss on her head, silently wondering to himself why he was being so affectionate tonight. Tonks snuggled up against him, basking in his affections. And then the reason why hit him: he was in love with her.
Yes, they had been dating for a bit, but the only time that they had had together was at Order meetings or late nights with Sirius at Grimmauld Place. They had never truly been alone…until tonight.
Remus’ stomach clenched as he recalled how terrified he had been when the Death Eaters had started attacking them. He remembered the fear that had run through him when Dora hadn’t Disapparated, but had stayed and fought. He realised that his terror had stemmed from love.
He, Remus Lupin, loved Nymphadora Tonks.
He closed his eyes, gripping Tonks tighter to him, waiting for that tell-tale feeling that he was going to start retreating from her. Backing off so he didn’t ‘taint’ her. Leaving her alone so she didn’t have to associate with one of his kind.
It never came. Somehow Dora had sneaked around (or battered down) the protective walls surrounding his heart without Remus even noticing. The only others to have accomplished that were the Marauders.
He had never felt so…free.
Opening his eyes, Remus placed yet another kiss on Tonks’ head, then placed a finger under her chin and tipped her heart-shaped face up. Leaning down, he kissed her slowly at first, but as she began to respond, the kiss deepened and became more passionate.
When they finally broke apart, Tonks’ dark eyes were filled with unanswered questions. Remus knew she knew that something had changed, but she wasn’t sure what. To answer her, he simply told her, “I love you.” Her eyes widened in surprise and her pink lips fell open in shock. Remus almost laughed aloud but instead said, “Usually when someone tells you they love you, you’re supposed to say it back.”
He was taken aback when Tonks squealed and launched herself at him. He barely caught here before she caught his lips and kissed him with such abandon and enthusiasm it nearly took his breath away. When they broke apart again, she said breathlessly, “I love you too.”
Remus knew that his own grin was reflected in Tonks’. “Know what I just realised, Dora?” he asked.
“What?” she asked.
“We’re wizards. We could have used a Drying Charm.”
“Oh…Yeah…Well maybe I just wanted to get you down to your pants.” Her grin grew and he threw back his head and laughed. “Come on. I’m dry now. And I’m exhausted. Tomorrow we’ll talk to Dumbledore. It’s late now.” Tonks got up from the couch and began walking back towards her bedroom. Halfway down the corridor, she looked over her shoulder and asked, “Are you coming with?”
TBC…with smut (?)