(no subject)
Yes! I Finally finished it! (About two to three weeks late but...oh well). This is the last chapter in the actual story "The Muggle Manner" with an epilouge to follow (hopefully).
In other fic news: Chapter 11 in "The Night Vigil" is comming along nicely. That should be finished with in the week. After chapter 11 there will only be three more chapters before the ending of that fic (finally).
Anyway, without further ado:
Title:The Muggle Manner
Chapter:The Cure
Raiting: PG-13 (To be safe)
Summary:With the help of Fred, George, and a certain potion Tonks plucks up the courage to deliver Remus' Christmas gift. But will Remus and Tonks get more than they bargined for?
Warnings: Sexual inuendo
It was strange to think that any Christmas Eve could be spent in a more miserable manner.
Several hours had passed and in that time Remus Lupin had been dragged into conversations on every morose subject imaginable ranging from Giant wars and alliances to stolen Muggle cookery.
He certainly appreciated the severity of their current situation as much as anyone did and more than some, but it was Christmas Eve for God sake! He had anticipated something at least a bit more festive.
To add to this extremely glum situation was the fact that he was the only one who seemed to be caught up in it. Everyone else, from his point of view, seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Early in the evening, much to the delight of everyone in the room, Fred and George had caught unsuspecting passersby and tried to force them under the mistletoe with unlikely candidates. (Though he had a sneaking suspicion that the victimization of their younger brother Ron and Hermione Granger was more than just lucky chance).
Even now, Sirius and Mundungus were busy singing a cheerfully annoying Christmas carol in between sips of firewhiskey (of which they had had far too much).
It seemed that only he had been pulled aside by mad-eye Moody to discuss their standing with the Werewolves surrounding the Dover area, and to advise Dedalus Diggle on whether or not the contents of a certain Muggle cook book he had come across could possibly contain a secret death eater code, (Dedalus always was one for wild conspiracy theories).
No one seemed to realize that he would much rather have had a drink (or several) with Sirius and Mundungus, or laughed along with the rest of the room at Fred and George’s antics.
In fact, if he was completely honest with himself, (and he rarely was), he would have to admit that he had imagined this evening going in quite a different direction. And if he continued in this vein of honesty, he would also have to concede that his “fantasy” Christmas Eve involved a woman whom, in reality, he had not received so much as a “Happy Christmas” from.
Not that he blamed her of course. It was obvious he had allowed his private affections for her to show through his public demeanor. Her careful avoidance of him was simply a tactful way of suggesting her disinterest. He would have expected nothing less.
She was lovely, young and successful; he was quite aware (sometimes painfully so), that he had nothing to offer her.
It was best this way, he knew that. That is why, when he heard the singing stop and the sound of various Order members flooing from the Kitchen or opening and closing the door, he continued to encase himself by the fire of his study.
He should, at the very least, have had the decency to bid goodnight to the other guests. Still, he was not the host of the evening. That honor went to Sirius, (who was, no doubt, simply raising his fifteenth firewhiskey bottle to Order members as they left. He could hear the familiar loud slur of “Have veeeeeery happychristmasnewyear” coming from the parlor, which Remus supposed would do as a farewell.)
Besides that, if Tonks felt so uncomfortable in his presence that she could not even wish him a standard seasons greeting, he certainly did not wish to add to the level of awkwardness.
Thus, he flopped into his chair by the fire in the den and waited for the steady stream of guests to leave, when it would be relatively safe to go upstairs to his bedroom.
The door silently closed in the parlor. That was probably the last of them. No doubt Tonks would be half way to her parent’s home by now-
“Wotcher Remus.”
As though not daring to believe his own ears, he spun quickly around in his chair to face the door way, where Tonks could indeed be found smiling at him and leaning against the door frame; what looked to be a large oval shaped package was clutched in her hand.
“Tonks! I thought you had gone home.”
She gave a very odd high pitched giggle as she sauntered towards him.
“I couldn’t very well leave without giving you your Christmas present, could I?”
His attention was again drawn to the strangely wrapped package; however, the gift was not the only thing out of place.
“That’s very considerate of you. But I’m sure you could have left it under the tree with the rest of the gifts.”
Her smile seemed too…light, feminine, almost…seductive. Remus swallowed hard at the thought. There was a glazed look in her eyes and she pouted openly as she walked closer and closer.
“But I wanted to watch you open it. I picked it out special, paid a pretty penny too.”
Here she gave another oddly placed giggle as she reached his chair and placed the gift much too gently in his lap, allowing her fingers to trail lightly over his thigh as she did so.
Something was wrong. The way she was behaving was…she was giddy and overtly graceful and distinctly (for lack of a better adjective) un-Tonksish.
There was one obvious explanation for this peculiar behavior.
“Tonks, how much have you had to drink?”
“N’much at all!”
Remus highly doubted this as she let out another more forceful giggle.
“I do feel a tad bit woozy though.”
That much was obvious. He saw her sway slightly as she leaned against his chair for support.
“Now, open your present Remus or I shall have to open it for you.”
This demand more closely resembled the Tonks he had come to know. And he might have put the whole idea of possible inebriation out of his head had she not sat on the arm of his chair and leaned her body slightly against his.
This was something she would never dream of doing in her right mind.
So, it was with a very hesitant hand that he ripped open the wrapping to reveal a large bag of what appeared to be:
“Chocolate flavored popcorn?”
“Popped in the Muggle manner. Jus’ like you used to eat it. Remember?”
He did remember. He was only surprised that she had.
“How did you…?”
“Found it at one of those novelty stands at the St. Mungo’s fair. Poor vendor wasn’t selling many, so I bought quite a few.”
He had told her of that tradition five months ago. It had been a small childhood memory. Pleasant yes, he could not help but smile as he held the bag in his hands. Though whether he smiled at the memory its self or the fact that she had taken the time to find such a personal gift, he could never be quite sure.
“d’you like it Remus?” She all but whispered. Suddenly she raked her hand through his hair and…he liked that very much indeed.
“I…yes. Very much. Thank you.”
She smiled at him in the manner that always managed to melt him from the inside out.
“Of course,” she said continuing her low, seductive, if slightly slurred tone. “I’ve got more at my flat if you ever wanted to…drop by.”
It took a moment to register the full meaning of her words, her breath on his neck (which was strangely devoid of the smell of alcohol), was doing very odd things to his mind.
“Thank you for the offer Tonks, but…”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Excuse me? I thought…”
“Say my first name instead.”
“Nymphadora? I…”
“I love when you say my name!”
There was certainly something amiss about that. Remus could not count the number of times Tonks had chastised him (sometimes forcefully), for using her first name when she had told him how much she despised it.
“It sounds so soft and pretty. ‘Makes me feel beautiful.”
She sighed and leaned in to nuzzle his shoulder.
“…Then again you always make me feel beautiful.”
Something was wrong. It was not like Tonks to be quite so sentimental. She was beginning to sound like the heroine from one of those paper back romances sold for a galleon a piece at Flourish and Blott’s; the kind that she condemned as being “over the top”, “soppy”, and “a complete waste of time and money”.
He heard another giggle which turned into a surprised gasp as she toppled against him nearly landing in his lap.
“Feeling very dizzy now,” she said as he took her arm in order to right her. When she was once again completely vertical, however, Remus found that his hand had been taken captive in her rather firm grip.
“Tonk-Nymphadora,” he amended quickly.
“Yes Remus?”
She settled a little further against him and began trailing the hand that was not latched to his own lightly along his torso.
“Is there…er…anything at all-is that perfume?” He asked as a very strong and sickeningly sweet scent hit his nose. He was sure she had never worn perfume before.
“Fred and George gave it to me. One of their new products.”
A red flag raised itself in Remus’ mind’s eye.
“What did Fred and George tell you about this new product?”
“ It’s called Eu’ de Romance: perfume and potion in one. ‘S supposed to bring out my more seductive qualities. But I’m not sure I did it quite right.”
“Why is that?”
“Well, for one you’re supposed to be snoging me senseless right now and you’re not,” Tonks said unnecessarily. She looked rather brazenly befuddled by this fact
“’N for second…I’m feeling very…” giggle “…drunk . And I haven’t had more’n a sip all night. I think there might be something they’re not telling me.”
Remus would wager there were several things that the twins had failed to mention to her.
“And did the twins tell you what, exactly was in this perfume?”
Tonks paused for a moment wearing a perplexed expression.
“Starting to forget actually…I know they said it was part Felix Felicis, to create the right setting, a very concentrated and mild truth serum so I’m sincere, and part Carnal Vitralis to…” Here Tonks giggled again as her free hand wandered from his torso to squeeze his thigh. “increase desire”
Remus gulped and attempted to come to terms with the new information (as well as Tonks’ wandering and ulitimately intoxicating hands). He was no potions expert, but he knew enough to know that Felix Felicis, as well as truth serums if not used in the proper amounts could lead to catastrophic reprocutions.
Obviously he was now the sole witness to such reprecutions
“Remus?” Tonks lifted her hand to his cheek so that he was looking directly into her eyes. Though significantly glazed, he could not deny that the normal illumination was still present.
“D’you think it’s time we went to bed? Only, I’m feeling a good bit drowsy and I’d like to get the whole seduction business over with soon.”
Remus froze. Surely by using we she could not have meant…
“Let’s see, we could use the guest bedroom just down the corridor or, if you really want to, yours is just one flight up.”
Here she yawned widely and rubbed at her eyes which was completely adorable, and made her look, in his opinion, more seductive than she had all night.
“’Course, it’d have to be quick, which is really too bad. Still…what’d you think?”
What did he think? He thought that, while he had been fantasizing about receiving such an offer from Tonks for months, he would never be able to forgive himself if he actually followed through. Particularly when he knew that her brain had been addled by one of the twins test potions gone horribly wrong.
“I think,” he said as evenly as possible, “That you should get some rest.”
“But Remus…”
She whined and attempted a pout which was immediately hampered by yet another yawn and the slow droop of her eyes.
“You’re too tired to do anything more tonight.”
She looked up at him bewildered for a moment before seemingly admitting defeat.
“Can I stay here at least?”
“I don’t see why not.”
“In your room?”
Remus swallowed rather hard at this request.
“Nymphadora I…”
“’S the least you can do since you won’t let me have my way with you.”
The blush already coloring Remus’ cheeks grew deeper at this pronouncement, though he could, in a way see her logic. Though, it was also quite possible, that his libido had taken control of his senses.
“Nymphadora the guest room is just down the corridor. Wouldn’t it…”
“Oh, come on Remus. Please?”
Here she gave a very pronounced pout and her light dancing (slightly glazed) eyes starred up at him mimicking the expression of a lost puppy. How could he refuse her when she looked at him like that?
“I suppose…only for one night. I’ll help you up the stairs.”
She released his hand in order to slide her arm across his shoulders. He placed a hand on her waist all but carrying her weight and telling his senses not to become too excited by the feel of her body pressed against his.
“Remus?”
“Yes?”
“I’ll need someone to tuck me in.”
She laid her head against his shoulder and, in surprise; he nearly dropped her half way up the stair well.
After what seemed like an exceptionally long climb, Remus opened the door to his Grimmauld Place bedroom. Carefully he crossed the thresh hold to his bed, moved the coverlet (Not an easy task. Particularly when Tonks’ lips seemed to come in constant contact with his neck.) and placed Tonks on the mattress.
Her eyes had drooped considerably now and he could hear her mumble incoherently as he covered her with the sheet and blankets.
Snips of phrases such as “So sexy when you…” and “should do this more often…” made his face burn and he wondered vaguely how often a grown man could blush in one night.
He was going to give the twins a very stern talking to about this.
He tucked the sheet in and made to move from the bed when Tonks grabbed hold of his arm.
“Where you going?” She asked him in a voice which made him feel as though he was leaving the side of a helpless child about to be eaten by wild animals.
“Down stairs,” he replied. “I’ll sleep in the guest bedroom tonight.”
“Why? This’s your bed. Sleep with me.”
This request, unlike (several previous to it) was made with such genuine innocence that Remus found it oddly difficult to refuse. He stood several moments attempting to form a reply.
“Well, if you won’t sleep with me,” She broke the silence impatiently, “the least I deserve is a good night kiss.”
His eyes grew large and his stomach performed a strange summersalt he was certain he had not felt since his Hogwarts days.
“Tonks really, I-“
Even in the darkened room he could see her face fall.
“You don’ want to…?”
Now, he could not let her think that.
“No Tonks…it’s not that, it’s just…”
“Then whats’ a matter?”
She rubbed her eyes with her hands again and starred back at him wearing a highly innocent forlorn gaze.
“Kiss wouldn’t kill you would it?”
Judging by the way this night had gone it very well might. Still, her odd semblance of logic seemed to find its way into his once more. She really had been through a difficult night, all for the sake of his Christmas gift. And, after all, what was the harm in one kiss.
And so, with large portions of his mind protesting profusely, he walked back to the side of the bed, leaned over the mattress and kissed her.
He had intended it to be a simple light peck; only a very brief meeting of the lips. His libido however, seemed to have other plans. He seemed to have no control as his mouth opened to hers and she readily welcomed him.
It was as if he had fallen into one of his fantasies, as if they had been miraculously transported to another world where possibilities were endless for all the things he would not allow in their current reality.
Later, he would not remember who pulled away first, his mind seemed quite content to focus on her bright (albeit potion induced) smile as the kiss finally came to an end.
It was Tonks who spoke first, slurring her words worse than ever:
“Remus? Think I love you…n’fact…sure I love you.” He felt his body go rigid for one moment before she yawned again.
“Too tired to think more t’night though…g’night.”
In a moment she had turned over, and the tell tale snores of a pre-hangover slumber overtook her.
Still, there was something undeniably pleasant about watching her like this. She looked comfortable, safe…lovely. And while it may not have been the exotic, paper book romance, climax either of them had imagined, Remus could not deny that it was something.
Perhaps his talk with the twins would not be quite so stern after all.
In other fic news: Chapter 11 in "The Night Vigil" is comming along nicely. That should be finished with in the week. After chapter 11 there will only be three more chapters before the ending of that fic (finally).
Anyway, without further ado:
Title:The Muggle Manner
Chapter:The Cure
Raiting: PG-13 (To be safe)
Summary:With the help of Fred, George, and a certain potion Tonks plucks up the courage to deliver Remus' Christmas gift. But will Remus and Tonks get more than they bargined for?
Warnings: Sexual inuendo
It was strange to think that any Christmas Eve could be spent in a more miserable manner.
Several hours had passed and in that time Remus Lupin had been dragged into conversations on every morose subject imaginable ranging from Giant wars and alliances to stolen Muggle cookery.
He certainly appreciated the severity of their current situation as much as anyone did and more than some, but it was Christmas Eve for God sake! He had anticipated something at least a bit more festive.
To add to this extremely glum situation was the fact that he was the only one who seemed to be caught up in it. Everyone else, from his point of view, seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Early in the evening, much to the delight of everyone in the room, Fred and George had caught unsuspecting passersby and tried to force them under the mistletoe with unlikely candidates. (Though he had a sneaking suspicion that the victimization of their younger brother Ron and Hermione Granger was more than just lucky chance).
Even now, Sirius and Mundungus were busy singing a cheerfully annoying Christmas carol in between sips of firewhiskey (of which they had had far too much).
It seemed that only he had been pulled aside by mad-eye Moody to discuss their standing with the Werewolves surrounding the Dover area, and to advise Dedalus Diggle on whether or not the contents of a certain Muggle cook book he had come across could possibly contain a secret death eater code, (Dedalus always was one for wild conspiracy theories).
No one seemed to realize that he would much rather have had a drink (or several) with Sirius and Mundungus, or laughed along with the rest of the room at Fred and George’s antics.
In fact, if he was completely honest with himself, (and he rarely was), he would have to admit that he had imagined this evening going in quite a different direction. And if he continued in this vein of honesty, he would also have to concede that his “fantasy” Christmas Eve involved a woman whom, in reality, he had not received so much as a “Happy Christmas” from.
Not that he blamed her of course. It was obvious he had allowed his private affections for her to show through his public demeanor. Her careful avoidance of him was simply a tactful way of suggesting her disinterest. He would have expected nothing less.
She was lovely, young and successful; he was quite aware (sometimes painfully so), that he had nothing to offer her.
It was best this way, he knew that. That is why, when he heard the singing stop and the sound of various Order members flooing from the Kitchen or opening and closing the door, he continued to encase himself by the fire of his study.
He should, at the very least, have had the decency to bid goodnight to the other guests. Still, he was not the host of the evening. That honor went to Sirius, (who was, no doubt, simply raising his fifteenth firewhiskey bottle to Order members as they left. He could hear the familiar loud slur of “Have veeeeeery happychristmasnewyear” coming from the parlor, which Remus supposed would do as a farewell.)
Besides that, if Tonks felt so uncomfortable in his presence that she could not even wish him a standard seasons greeting, he certainly did not wish to add to the level of awkwardness.
Thus, he flopped into his chair by the fire in the den and waited for the steady stream of guests to leave, when it would be relatively safe to go upstairs to his bedroom.
The door silently closed in the parlor. That was probably the last of them. No doubt Tonks would be half way to her parent’s home by now-
“Wotcher Remus.”
As though not daring to believe his own ears, he spun quickly around in his chair to face the door way, where Tonks could indeed be found smiling at him and leaning against the door frame; what looked to be a large oval shaped package was clutched in her hand.
“Tonks! I thought you had gone home.”
She gave a very odd high pitched giggle as she sauntered towards him.
“I couldn’t very well leave without giving you your Christmas present, could I?”
His attention was again drawn to the strangely wrapped package; however, the gift was not the only thing out of place.
“That’s very considerate of you. But I’m sure you could have left it under the tree with the rest of the gifts.”
Her smile seemed too…light, feminine, almost…seductive. Remus swallowed hard at the thought. There was a glazed look in her eyes and she pouted openly as she walked closer and closer.
“But I wanted to watch you open it. I picked it out special, paid a pretty penny too.”
Here she gave another oddly placed giggle as she reached his chair and placed the gift much too gently in his lap, allowing her fingers to trail lightly over his thigh as she did so.
Something was wrong. The way she was behaving was…she was giddy and overtly graceful and distinctly (for lack of a better adjective) un-Tonksish.
There was one obvious explanation for this peculiar behavior.
“Tonks, how much have you had to drink?”
“N’much at all!”
Remus highly doubted this as she let out another more forceful giggle.
“I do feel a tad bit woozy though.”
That much was obvious. He saw her sway slightly as she leaned against his chair for support.
“Now, open your present Remus or I shall have to open it for you.”
This demand more closely resembled the Tonks he had come to know. And he might have put the whole idea of possible inebriation out of his head had she not sat on the arm of his chair and leaned her body slightly against his.
This was something she would never dream of doing in her right mind.
So, it was with a very hesitant hand that he ripped open the wrapping to reveal a large bag of what appeared to be:
“Chocolate flavored popcorn?”
“Popped in the Muggle manner. Jus’ like you used to eat it. Remember?”
He did remember. He was only surprised that she had.
“How did you…?”
“Found it at one of those novelty stands at the St. Mungo’s fair. Poor vendor wasn’t selling many, so I bought quite a few.”
He had told her of that tradition five months ago. It had been a small childhood memory. Pleasant yes, he could not help but smile as he held the bag in his hands. Though whether he smiled at the memory its self or the fact that she had taken the time to find such a personal gift, he could never be quite sure.
“d’you like it Remus?” She all but whispered. Suddenly she raked her hand through his hair and…he liked that very much indeed.
“I…yes. Very much. Thank you.”
She smiled at him in the manner that always managed to melt him from the inside out.
“Of course,” she said continuing her low, seductive, if slightly slurred tone. “I’ve got more at my flat if you ever wanted to…drop by.”
It took a moment to register the full meaning of her words, her breath on his neck (which was strangely devoid of the smell of alcohol), was doing very odd things to his mind.
“Thank you for the offer Tonks, but…”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Excuse me? I thought…”
“Say my first name instead.”
“Nymphadora? I…”
“I love when you say my name!”
There was certainly something amiss about that. Remus could not count the number of times Tonks had chastised him (sometimes forcefully), for using her first name when she had told him how much she despised it.
“It sounds so soft and pretty. ‘Makes me feel beautiful.”
She sighed and leaned in to nuzzle his shoulder.
“…Then again you always make me feel beautiful.”
Something was wrong. It was not like Tonks to be quite so sentimental. She was beginning to sound like the heroine from one of those paper back romances sold for a galleon a piece at Flourish and Blott’s; the kind that she condemned as being “over the top”, “soppy”, and “a complete waste of time and money”.
He heard another giggle which turned into a surprised gasp as she toppled against him nearly landing in his lap.
“Feeling very dizzy now,” she said as he took her arm in order to right her. When she was once again completely vertical, however, Remus found that his hand had been taken captive in her rather firm grip.
“Tonk-Nymphadora,” he amended quickly.
“Yes Remus?”
She settled a little further against him and began trailing the hand that was not latched to his own lightly along his torso.
“Is there…er…anything at all-is that perfume?” He asked as a very strong and sickeningly sweet scent hit his nose. He was sure she had never worn perfume before.
“Fred and George gave it to me. One of their new products.”
A red flag raised itself in Remus’ mind’s eye.
“What did Fred and George tell you about this new product?”
“ It’s called Eu’ de Romance: perfume and potion in one. ‘S supposed to bring out my more seductive qualities. But I’m not sure I did it quite right.”
“Why is that?”
“Well, for one you’re supposed to be snoging me senseless right now and you’re not,” Tonks said unnecessarily. She looked rather brazenly befuddled by this fact
“’N for second…I’m feeling very…” giggle “…drunk . And I haven’t had more’n a sip all night. I think there might be something they’re not telling me.”
Remus would wager there were several things that the twins had failed to mention to her.
“And did the twins tell you what, exactly was in this perfume?”
Tonks paused for a moment wearing a perplexed expression.
“Starting to forget actually…I know they said it was part Felix Felicis, to create the right setting, a very concentrated and mild truth serum so I’m sincere, and part Carnal Vitralis to…” Here Tonks giggled again as her free hand wandered from his torso to squeeze his thigh. “increase desire”
Remus gulped and attempted to come to terms with the new information (as well as Tonks’ wandering and ulitimately intoxicating hands). He was no potions expert, but he knew enough to know that Felix Felicis, as well as truth serums if not used in the proper amounts could lead to catastrophic reprocutions.
Obviously he was now the sole witness to such reprecutions
“Remus?” Tonks lifted her hand to his cheek so that he was looking directly into her eyes. Though significantly glazed, he could not deny that the normal illumination was still present.
“D’you think it’s time we went to bed? Only, I’m feeling a good bit drowsy and I’d like to get the whole seduction business over with soon.”
Remus froze. Surely by using we she could not have meant…
“Let’s see, we could use the guest bedroom just down the corridor or, if you really want to, yours is just one flight up.”
Here she yawned widely and rubbed at her eyes which was completely adorable, and made her look, in his opinion, more seductive than she had all night.
“’Course, it’d have to be quick, which is really too bad. Still…what’d you think?”
What did he think? He thought that, while he had been fantasizing about receiving such an offer from Tonks for months, he would never be able to forgive himself if he actually followed through. Particularly when he knew that her brain had been addled by one of the twins test potions gone horribly wrong.
“I think,” he said as evenly as possible, “That you should get some rest.”
“But Remus…”
She whined and attempted a pout which was immediately hampered by yet another yawn and the slow droop of her eyes.
“You’re too tired to do anything more tonight.”
She looked up at him bewildered for a moment before seemingly admitting defeat.
“Can I stay here at least?”
“I don’t see why not.”
“In your room?”
Remus swallowed rather hard at this request.
“Nymphadora I…”
“’S the least you can do since you won’t let me have my way with you.”
The blush already coloring Remus’ cheeks grew deeper at this pronouncement, though he could, in a way see her logic. Though, it was also quite possible, that his libido had taken control of his senses.
“Nymphadora the guest room is just down the corridor. Wouldn’t it…”
“Oh, come on Remus. Please?”
Here she gave a very pronounced pout and her light dancing (slightly glazed) eyes starred up at him mimicking the expression of a lost puppy. How could he refuse her when she looked at him like that?
“I suppose…only for one night. I’ll help you up the stairs.”
She released his hand in order to slide her arm across his shoulders. He placed a hand on her waist all but carrying her weight and telling his senses not to become too excited by the feel of her body pressed against his.
“Remus?”
“Yes?”
“I’ll need someone to tuck me in.”
She laid her head against his shoulder and, in surprise; he nearly dropped her half way up the stair well.
After what seemed like an exceptionally long climb, Remus opened the door to his Grimmauld Place bedroom. Carefully he crossed the thresh hold to his bed, moved the coverlet (Not an easy task. Particularly when Tonks’ lips seemed to come in constant contact with his neck.) and placed Tonks on the mattress.
Her eyes had drooped considerably now and he could hear her mumble incoherently as he covered her with the sheet and blankets.
Snips of phrases such as “So sexy when you…” and “should do this more often…” made his face burn and he wondered vaguely how often a grown man could blush in one night.
He was going to give the twins a very stern talking to about this.
He tucked the sheet in and made to move from the bed when Tonks grabbed hold of his arm.
“Where you going?” She asked him in a voice which made him feel as though he was leaving the side of a helpless child about to be eaten by wild animals.
“Down stairs,” he replied. “I’ll sleep in the guest bedroom tonight.”
“Why? This’s your bed. Sleep with me.”
This request, unlike (several previous to it) was made with such genuine innocence that Remus found it oddly difficult to refuse. He stood several moments attempting to form a reply.
“Well, if you won’t sleep with me,” She broke the silence impatiently, “the least I deserve is a good night kiss.”
His eyes grew large and his stomach performed a strange summersalt he was certain he had not felt since his Hogwarts days.
“Tonks really, I-“
Even in the darkened room he could see her face fall.
“You don’ want to…?”
Now, he could not let her think that.
“No Tonks…it’s not that, it’s just…”
“Then whats’ a matter?”
She rubbed her eyes with her hands again and starred back at him wearing a highly innocent forlorn gaze.
“Kiss wouldn’t kill you would it?”
Judging by the way this night had gone it very well might. Still, her odd semblance of logic seemed to find its way into his once more. She really had been through a difficult night, all for the sake of his Christmas gift. And, after all, what was the harm in one kiss.
And so, with large portions of his mind protesting profusely, he walked back to the side of the bed, leaned over the mattress and kissed her.
He had intended it to be a simple light peck; only a very brief meeting of the lips. His libido however, seemed to have other plans. He seemed to have no control as his mouth opened to hers and she readily welcomed him.
It was as if he had fallen into one of his fantasies, as if they had been miraculously transported to another world where possibilities were endless for all the things he would not allow in their current reality.
Later, he would not remember who pulled away first, his mind seemed quite content to focus on her bright (albeit potion induced) smile as the kiss finally came to an end.
It was Tonks who spoke first, slurring her words worse than ever:
“Remus? Think I love you…n’fact…sure I love you.” He felt his body go rigid for one moment before she yawned again.
“Too tired to think more t’night though…g’night.”
In a moment she had turned over, and the tell tale snores of a pre-hangover slumber overtook her.
Still, there was something undeniably pleasant about watching her like this. She looked comfortable, safe…lovely. And while it may not have been the exotic, paper book romance, climax either of them had imagined, Remus could not deny that it was something.
Perhaps his talk with the twins would not be quite so stern after all.