(no subject)
Title: The Perfect Gift
Author: killerforhire
Ratings/Warnings: PG 13. The language gets a little dirty.
Prompts: Christmas shopping
Word Count: 3055
Summary: I was always bad at these. OOTP. Lupin refuses a Christmas present from Tonks because he's ~*~sCaReD~*~. Part one of two? Possibly?
Author’s Note: http://www.youswear.com/index.asp?language=Russian , http://www.youswear.com/index.asp?language=Hungarian, http://home.unilang.org/wiki3/index.php/Hungarian_swear_words
"You know, I think she'd be in Agent Provacateur."
"What kind of store is that?"
"A lingerie store. Perhaps Lucius Malfoy is having trouble getting it up."
"Tonks..."
"What?"
"I don't want to see that image in my head."
Weeks of shadowing, owl-intercepting, and eavesdropping had led Alastor Moody to the conclusion that Narcissa Malfoy was going to take a trip down to Soho on a fine December afternoon. He couldn't necessarily go down and follow her himself. What if she took a trip to the loo and never came out? A man with one eye and one leg just doesn't waltz into a women's toilet and not get noticed.
Molly Weasley couldn't take the trip down to Soho. She insisted that she had to stay at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place to keep the place tidy. "What with a hippogriff, Sirius Black and that wretched house elf who knows what might happen if I'm not here!"
Emmeline Vance couldn't go to Soho. She was only a successful private investigator in the wizarding world. "I would if I already had an assignment in London, but I'm in Sheffield for the time being, Moody."
Hestia Jones refused the trip down to Soho. "With those punks and bums? Not in a million years!"
Punks and bums?
It didn't take much convincing to get Nymphadora Tonks to agree to spend her day off in Soho. "I probably would've gone down there anyway. I've been itching for a new pair of pants."
But it took a while for Remus Lupin to swallow his pride. "You want me to wear my most threadbare jacket? That's like asking me to count the number of hairs on my head. It's impossible. They're all threadbare. Which one would you prefer?"
Tonks and Lupin wandered on the sidewalks looking for the platinum-blonde haired witch. Tonks had shoulder length pink hair, a tight black sweater, skinny jeans and a pair of flats on. She fit in right with the punks. Lupin had graying hair that looked like it needed a snip or two, a rather flimsy tweed jacket, rather flimsy khaki pants and rather flimsy work shoes on. He fit in right with the bums.
"You think she listens to music?"
"I don't think these record stores carry Celestina Warbleck."
"Never underestimate music elitists. The more obscure the better. I wouldn't be surprised if I could find a couple of copies of The Weird Sisters' early singles."
"Then bygod, let's go to Berwick Street."
There was quite a crowd taking up the street lining up for fruits and vegetables. Mostly little old ladies trying to buy a few tomatoes and the occasional well-to-do businessman buying a banana for a snack. Tonks and Lupin walked around the crowd, looking for one of the record stores on the street.
Just as Tonks had spotted one, Lupin had spotted Narcissa Malfoy walking briskly down Broad Street.
"She's not interested in buying a greatest hits collection, Nymphadora."
Tonks and Lupin waited until Narcissa became a tiny speck in their eyesight to start following her. There wouldn't be any particularly pleasing results if she discovered her estranged niece and son's former teacher right behind her. Narcissa made a right onto Carnaby Street causing Tonks and Lupin to speed up a little so they wouldn't lose her.
"Maybe Narcissa Malfoy is just incredibly fashion forward. I mean, why else would she be on Carnaby Street instead of Diagon Alley. Probably tired of all those robes. Or perhaps so desperate to be the envy of everyone during those Christmas parties she's been driven to muggle clothes."
"Then why is she walking into a men's store?"
"Well, shit."
Punks nor bums usually enter high-end men's clothing stores without being noticed.
"She was supposed to go somewhere seedy! Dark alleys with infected heroin needles in the sewers! Why is she in a clothing store!"
Tonks let out a groan of exasperation and leaned against a lightpost.
"Wait until she walks out?"
"And what if she never walks out, Nymphadora?"
"Go back and tell Moody the mission was a bust?"
"I'd much rather wait for her to get out."
The chances of Narcissa Malfoy leaving the store were slim. They were convinced she would apparate while in a fitting room or leave through a back entrance, but they'd do anything to delay being scrutinized under Alastor Moody's mad eye.
Tonks and Lupin kept a slow pace window shopping on Carnaby Street. It was the beginning of December so there were many Christmas shoppers crowding the fashionable street. Tonks would stop in front of a few displays but Lupin was much too embarrassed to be in such a neighborhood that he just stared at his feet.
"Look at this dress! Must cost a fortune, though. Would look good with red hair, wouldn't it?"
Lupin looked up from his rather flimsy work shoes to see an emerald green evening gown.
She would look gorgeous with this dress and red hair.
"Yes, yes, it would."
Something to the left caught Lupin's eye. A black trenchcoat hung on a male mannequin on the left side of the display. It was snappy and looked like the type of coat that could withstand many a cold winter. Lupin wanted it but knew it was probably worth more than twice his life savings.
Nothing wrong with my own trenchco-
"She's leaving the store!" Tonks whispered into his ear.
Lupin saw Narcissa Malfoy's reflection in the window. She was continuing her path down Carnaby Street with a look of satisfaction on her face. Lupin and Tonks backed away from the store and slowly followed her. Narcissa Malfoy was walking faster this time making it quite a challenge for them when she turned right around a corner.
Tonks sprinted after her but stopped when she made her way round.
"She's gone!"
Lupin caught up to her and spun around to see if there was anybody else. The street was virtually empty except for them.
------------------------------
Alastor Moody wasn't very pleased with the results of their mission.
"You just let her walk away in broad daylight?!"
"This is Carnaby Street not Knockturn Alley! You can't just whip out your wand whenever you feel like. You've got to be sensible about these things."
"You? Talk about being sensible? YOU LET NARCISSA MALFOY WALK AWAY FREE IN MUGGLE LONDON."
Tonks leaned back on to the decrepit old couch, rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Alastor, I don't think you quite understand our circumstances. There were probably hundreds of muggles and two of us. Had we used magic on Narcissa Malfoy this would've caused a panic and quite a struggle to alter each and every person's memory. It just would've been a disaster."
"You know what's a disaster, Lupin? NARCISSA MALFOY GETTING AWAY WITH WHATEVER SHE DID."
"I'll see you two later."
Tonks got up from the couch and attempted to leave Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, but the umbrella stand got in her way.
"Ow!"
-----------------------
"So what're you getting Moony for Christmas?"
"Scuse me, but who's Moony?"
Tonks laid down her hand.
"Dammit, Tonks! I'm not playing poker with you anymore!"
Sirius Black threw five galleons across the table to a chipper blonde-haired Tonks. He stood up from the table and began to peruse the cupboards for a drink.
"You better use those five galleons to buy Remus a present."
"Ah, so Remus John Lupin is the Moony you're always talking about when you're drunk."
Sirius Black stopped his search and spun around to face Tonks.
"Scuse me?"
Tonks laughed at his face of confusion.
"Like I'd ever forget the stories about the times you claimed you boys stalked Hogsmeade terrorizing any fine looking witch that passed by."
"You mean Sirius stalked Hogsmeade terrorizing any fine looking witch that passed by."
Lupin was leaning in the doorway to the kitchen. His hair looked ruffled and his jacket was damp. Lupin's shoes squeaked as he walked into the kitchen and plopped into the seat next to Tonks.
"You're an excellent weatherman, Moony."
"Sod off, Black."
Tonks pushed her seat back from the table and stood up.
"Well, since I have already done my duty--"
"Apparently your duty is to steal my money--"
"I shall now leave--"
"You're not welcome here--"
"See you guys later--"
"Have a good night, Nymphadora."
Tonks shot Lupin a half-hearted death glare.
"Good night, Remus John."
---------------------------
Tonks was tapping her quill rapidly on the desk as she waited for the clock to strike five. She thought being an auror would be full of danger and adventure but every now and then even she was caught up in the typical nine-to-five.
Hell yeah, paperwork!
Tonks looked to her right. Dawlish was doodling on his memo pad. Tonks looked to her left. Shacklebolt was playing darts in his cubicle.
I really ought to get myself a dartboard.
Tonks spotted Scrimgeour making one final sweep of the office.
Shit, look busy.
"Dawlish, do you have the file for Kirkland Dare?"
"Who's Kirkland Dare?"
Scrimgeour walked pass giving Tonks, Dawlish and Shacklebolt a nod.
"Nevermind who Kirkland Dare is."
Tonks was out the door the moment the clock struck five and in Soho the moment the clock struck five o' one. She was about to embark on last-last-minute Christmas shopping.
I LOVE December twenty-third.
She picked up a whole slew of gifts for the Order including a battery-powered alarm clock for Arthur, a dictionary of curse words in foreign languages for Fred and George and a dartboard for herself. Most ideas for gifts came easily to her.
It's all in their personality.
Except for one person's gift.
She had exchanged Black's five galleons into Britsh currency but still had no idea how to spend it. She didn't want to buy him a bunch of books only to potentially pass off the idea that she has rubbish taste in literature. She didn't to buy him a bunch of records only to have them potentially collect dust or be played once as to not hurt her feelings. And she certainly didn't want to buy him anything that would hurt his pride.
Male egos.
She was close to deciding that she should just hand him the money and let him spend it himself rather than buy a horribly wrong gift. But then she made a right onto Carnaby Street.
She stopped in front of a window display, then went inside the store. She had enough to buy two things. One for herself, one for Lupin.
--------------------------------
"Where's Nymphadora?"
Remus Lupin was scanning the kitchen of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place on the night of Christmas Eve looking for a certain (usually) pink-haired witch in vain. He saw Ginny, he saw Hermione, he saw Harry and he saw Ron. He saw Sirius Black passing on some gentlemenly knowledge to Fred, George and Mundungus. He saw Kingsley, Molly, Emmeline and Hestia talking politics over wine. But he didn't see Nymphadora Tonks laughing heartily.
His question went unheard, so he went over to the gentlemen discussing merrymaking at an old ex-girlfriend's place.
"Ugh!"
Maybe that sound of pain wasn't as audible as I make it out to be. The only two who heard Nymphadora Tonks hurt herself were Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. Canine ears come in handy.
"Moony, would you like to let Tonks in?"
"How do you know Tonks is outside?"
Fred/George/One of the Weasley twins stuffed their face with a chocolate frog after they gave Sirius Black a perplexed look.
"I'm just talented."
Sirius shot Remus a glare and Remus immediately obeyed.
Don't cross a Black in their own household.
Remus walked down the hallway over to the door. He was nervous. He hadn't gotten her anything and despite wanting to see her, he didn't want to disappoint her.
"What was your favourite book when you were eight years old?"
"Anything about Sherlock Holmes. How old were you when you first got drunk and what did you do afterwards?"
"I was fifteen and I vomited on James Potter's bed afterwards."
Remus Lupin opened the door and found Nymphadora Tonks scrambling to pick up packages from the doorstep. He was going to help her until he realized what she was wearing.
She's wearing the dress.
Nymphadora Tonks' red hair slapped Lupin in the face as she stood up and walked into the hallway.
"Oh, sorry!"
"No, no, it's okay. How's your Christmas Eve been?"
"Fine. Mum and Dad gave me a couple of presents. Saw some old friends. Typical holiday. You?"
"I like your hair."
"Thank you!"
Tonks apparently didn't seem fazed by Lupin's compliment instead of a quip on how his holiday was going. She walked down the hall, occassionally dropping a few packages, but managed to escape being tripped by the umbrella stand. Lupin heard Ginny's squeal as Tonks entered the living room and followed after her.
Everybody loved the presents they received from Tonks.
"Fred, what are you saying?"
"I'm just learning Japanese, mum! No harm in becoming bilingual!"
"Well, I suppose."
Lupin became a bit worried as the presents began to run out. Had she gotten one for him? Hell, she had even gotten one for Mundungus. Why wouldn't she have gotten one for him.
She had one package left in her arms. A good sized package, might I add. Box-like. But she didn't hand it to Lupin. In fact, she didn't hand it over to anybody. She strode over to the kitchen without saying a word.
"Why didn't she get you anything, Lupin?"
Lupin turned his head to see Mundungus fiddling with his present. Tonks had gotten him charmed dice. She knew he liked to play Craps with boys at the pub.
"No idea."
"Get me some whiskey from the kitchen, Moony."
Sirius was teaching the Weasley twins how to correctly pronounce words in Hungarian (Since when did he know Hungarian?) when he gave Lupin the order. Lupin shot Sirius a glare and went to the kitchen.
"Repeat after me. Lupin is my kurva."
-----------------
Tonks was stirring marshmallows into two cups of hot cocoa when Lupin walked in.
"Smells delicious."
Tonks turned around to smile at him.
"Glad you think so. Thought you could use some hot cocoa." She handed Lupin one of the steaming mugs and went over to the table. She pushed the package on the surface of the table toward him. "Open it."
So she had gotten him a present after all.
Lupin laughed nervously and began tearing the wrapping off. There was a white box underneath the snowflake-decorated gift paper. He took the top off. It was the coat from the store on Carnaby Street.
"I can't accept this."
Tonks choked on the cocoa she was just beginning to drink. Some dribbled out of her mouth and onto her dress as she recovered. She gave Lupin a confused look while she coughed.
"Scuse me?"
"It's a very nice gesture. Thank you, honestly. You shouldn't have. I didn't get you anything--"
"It's alright if you didn't get me anything."
"It's- It's much too nice. I'm not deserving of it--"
"It's Christmas, Remus! Nobody gets what they really deserve. Mundungus ought to have got a lump of coal instead of those dice. But he's hilarious and I like when he's got really nice stuff to sell."
Remus took a gulp from his mug of cocoa and smiled.
"I'll just take this, thanks."
Remus walked out of the kitchen, leaving Tonks alone at the kitchen table.
---------------------
"Where's my whiskey?"
---------------------
Remus walked back in and found Tonks pouring the rest of the contents of her mug down the sink. He tried to ignore her presence as he searched through the cupboards looking for Sirius' requests.
"It's in the second cupboard to your right, by the way."
Remus looked to Tonks' back facing him. He opened the second cupboard to his right and found the bottle.
"Mind reader?"
"I've played poker with him enough times."
"Explains it."
Remus stood in the kitchen, clutching the bottle thinking of what to say. He knew he had hurt her feelings for no apparent reason at all. He set the bottle on the counter.
"Look, I'll make it up to you. I'll get you something really good. Name it, I'll buy it for you."
Tonks turned around and leaned against the sink.
My, she really does look beautiful in that dress.
"You don't need to make it up to me. It's okay. I'll take the coat back first thing on the twenty sixth."
"Don't take it back."
"What do you want me to do with it, then?"
"I don't know what I'm talking about. I like your dress, by the way. It looks great on you. I'm going to go out. I'll see you later."
Lupin picked up the whiskey from the counter and left the kitchen.
-------------------------
Tonks eventually left the kitchen, except with brown hair instead of the red she had entered Grimmauld Place with. She played exploding snaps with Ginny and Hermione, taught Fred and George how to say a few words in Russian, humored Mundungus with a game of craps, and debated with Kingsley on how to correctly interrogate a criminal. The night went by fast and soon the only people left were Remus, Sirius and Tonks all sitting on opposite sides of the room.
"All that's left are the Three Musketeers."
"I don't think Alexandre Dumas would approve of us comparing ourselves to his characters."
"Shut up, Moony."
"Be quiet, Black."
"Any got any eggnog?"
"Only got whiskey, Tonks."
"Good enough."
"Well, I'm off to bed. You have a good time, you two."
Sirius Black left Nymphadora Tonks and Remus Lupin alone in the living room. Tonks was avoiding Lupin's eyes as she took a swig from the bottle. Lupin got up and walked across the room to sit next to her.
"I will make it up to you."
Remus Lupin kissed her right as she took the bottle out of her mouth. Her breath tasted of alcohol and cocoa. Tonks pulled him in for a deeper kiss just before Lupin pulled away.
"You don't have to make it up to me anymore."
"Woah, Tonks and Moony are going to go baszni?"
"Nu vse, tebe pizda."
Author: killerforhire
Ratings/Warnings: PG 13. The language gets a little dirty.
Prompts: Christmas shopping
Word Count: 3055
Summary: I was always bad at these. OOTP. Lupin refuses a Christmas present from Tonks because he's ~*~sCaReD~*~. Part one of two? Possibly?
Author’s Note: http://www.youswear.com/index.asp?language=Russian , http://www.youswear.com/index.asp?language=Hungarian, http://home.unilang.org/wiki3/index.php/Hungarian_swear_words
"You know, I think she'd be in Agent Provacateur."
"What kind of store is that?"
"A lingerie store. Perhaps Lucius Malfoy is having trouble getting it up."
"Tonks..."
"What?"
"I don't want to see that image in my head."
Weeks of shadowing, owl-intercepting, and eavesdropping had led Alastor Moody to the conclusion that Narcissa Malfoy was going to take a trip down to Soho on a fine December afternoon. He couldn't necessarily go down and follow her himself. What if she took a trip to the loo and never came out? A man with one eye and one leg just doesn't waltz into a women's toilet and not get noticed.
Molly Weasley couldn't take the trip down to Soho. She insisted that she had to stay at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place to keep the place tidy. "What with a hippogriff, Sirius Black and that wretched house elf who knows what might happen if I'm not here!"
Emmeline Vance couldn't go to Soho. She was only a successful private investigator in the wizarding world. "I would if I already had an assignment in London, but I'm in Sheffield for the time being, Moody."
Hestia Jones refused the trip down to Soho. "With those punks and bums? Not in a million years!"
Punks and bums?
It didn't take much convincing to get Nymphadora Tonks to agree to spend her day off in Soho. "I probably would've gone down there anyway. I've been itching for a new pair of pants."
But it took a while for Remus Lupin to swallow his pride. "You want me to wear my most threadbare jacket? That's like asking me to count the number of hairs on my head. It's impossible. They're all threadbare. Which one would you prefer?"
Tonks and Lupin wandered on the sidewalks looking for the platinum-blonde haired witch. Tonks had shoulder length pink hair, a tight black sweater, skinny jeans and a pair of flats on. She fit in right with the punks. Lupin had graying hair that looked like it needed a snip or two, a rather flimsy tweed jacket, rather flimsy khaki pants and rather flimsy work shoes on. He fit in right with the bums.
"You think she listens to music?"
"I don't think these record stores carry Celestina Warbleck."
"Never underestimate music elitists. The more obscure the better. I wouldn't be surprised if I could find a couple of copies of The Weird Sisters' early singles."
"Then bygod, let's go to Berwick Street."
There was quite a crowd taking up the street lining up for fruits and vegetables. Mostly little old ladies trying to buy a few tomatoes and the occasional well-to-do businessman buying a banana for a snack. Tonks and Lupin walked around the crowd, looking for one of the record stores on the street.
Just as Tonks had spotted one, Lupin had spotted Narcissa Malfoy walking briskly down Broad Street.
"She's not interested in buying a greatest hits collection, Nymphadora."
Tonks and Lupin waited until Narcissa became a tiny speck in their eyesight to start following her. There wouldn't be any particularly pleasing results if she discovered her estranged niece and son's former teacher right behind her. Narcissa made a right onto Carnaby Street causing Tonks and Lupin to speed up a little so they wouldn't lose her.
"Maybe Narcissa Malfoy is just incredibly fashion forward. I mean, why else would she be on Carnaby Street instead of Diagon Alley. Probably tired of all those robes. Or perhaps so desperate to be the envy of everyone during those Christmas parties she's been driven to muggle clothes."
"Then why is she walking into a men's store?"
"Well, shit."
Punks nor bums usually enter high-end men's clothing stores without being noticed.
"She was supposed to go somewhere seedy! Dark alleys with infected heroin needles in the sewers! Why is she in a clothing store!"
Tonks let out a groan of exasperation and leaned against a lightpost.
"Wait until she walks out?"
"And what if she never walks out, Nymphadora?"
"Go back and tell Moody the mission was a bust?"
"I'd much rather wait for her to get out."
The chances of Narcissa Malfoy leaving the store were slim. They were convinced she would apparate while in a fitting room or leave through a back entrance, but they'd do anything to delay being scrutinized under Alastor Moody's mad eye.
Tonks and Lupin kept a slow pace window shopping on Carnaby Street. It was the beginning of December so there were many Christmas shoppers crowding the fashionable street. Tonks would stop in front of a few displays but Lupin was much too embarrassed to be in such a neighborhood that he just stared at his feet.
"Look at this dress! Must cost a fortune, though. Would look good with red hair, wouldn't it?"
Lupin looked up from his rather flimsy work shoes to see an emerald green evening gown.
She would look gorgeous with this dress and red hair.
"Yes, yes, it would."
Something to the left caught Lupin's eye. A black trenchcoat hung on a male mannequin on the left side of the display. It was snappy and looked like the type of coat that could withstand many a cold winter. Lupin wanted it but knew it was probably worth more than twice his life savings.
Nothing wrong with my own trenchco-
"She's leaving the store!" Tonks whispered into his ear.
Lupin saw Narcissa Malfoy's reflection in the window. She was continuing her path down Carnaby Street with a look of satisfaction on her face. Lupin and Tonks backed away from the store and slowly followed her. Narcissa Malfoy was walking faster this time making it quite a challenge for them when she turned right around a corner.
Tonks sprinted after her but stopped when she made her way round.
"She's gone!"
Lupin caught up to her and spun around to see if there was anybody else. The street was virtually empty except for them.
------------------------------
Alastor Moody wasn't very pleased with the results of their mission.
"You just let her walk away in broad daylight?!"
"This is Carnaby Street not Knockturn Alley! You can't just whip out your wand whenever you feel like. You've got to be sensible about these things."
"You? Talk about being sensible? YOU LET NARCISSA MALFOY WALK AWAY FREE IN MUGGLE LONDON."
Tonks leaned back on to the decrepit old couch, rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Alastor, I don't think you quite understand our circumstances. There were probably hundreds of muggles and two of us. Had we used magic on Narcissa Malfoy this would've caused a panic and quite a struggle to alter each and every person's memory. It just would've been a disaster."
"You know what's a disaster, Lupin? NARCISSA MALFOY GETTING AWAY WITH WHATEVER SHE DID."
"I'll see you two later."
Tonks got up from the couch and attempted to leave Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, but the umbrella stand got in her way.
"Ow!"
-----------------------
"So what're you getting Moony for Christmas?"
"Scuse me, but who's Moony?"
Tonks laid down her hand.
"Dammit, Tonks! I'm not playing poker with you anymore!"
Sirius Black threw five galleons across the table to a chipper blonde-haired Tonks. He stood up from the table and began to peruse the cupboards for a drink.
"You better use those five galleons to buy Remus a present."
"Ah, so Remus John Lupin is the Moony you're always talking about when you're drunk."
Sirius Black stopped his search and spun around to face Tonks.
"Scuse me?"
Tonks laughed at his face of confusion.
"Like I'd ever forget the stories about the times you claimed you boys stalked Hogsmeade terrorizing any fine looking witch that passed by."
"You mean Sirius stalked Hogsmeade terrorizing any fine looking witch that passed by."
Lupin was leaning in the doorway to the kitchen. His hair looked ruffled and his jacket was damp. Lupin's shoes squeaked as he walked into the kitchen and plopped into the seat next to Tonks.
"You're an excellent weatherman, Moony."
"Sod off, Black."
Tonks pushed her seat back from the table and stood up.
"Well, since I have already done my duty--"
"Apparently your duty is to steal my money--"
"I shall now leave--"
"You're not welcome here--"
"See you guys later--"
"Have a good night, Nymphadora."
Tonks shot Lupin a half-hearted death glare.
"Good night, Remus John."
---------------------------
Tonks was tapping her quill rapidly on the desk as she waited for the clock to strike five. She thought being an auror would be full of danger and adventure but every now and then even she was caught up in the typical nine-to-five.
Hell yeah, paperwork!
Tonks looked to her right. Dawlish was doodling on his memo pad. Tonks looked to her left. Shacklebolt was playing darts in his cubicle.
I really ought to get myself a dartboard.
Tonks spotted Scrimgeour making one final sweep of the office.
Shit, look busy.
"Dawlish, do you have the file for Kirkland Dare?"
"Who's Kirkland Dare?"
Scrimgeour walked pass giving Tonks, Dawlish and Shacklebolt a nod.
"Nevermind who Kirkland Dare is."
Tonks was out the door the moment the clock struck five and in Soho the moment the clock struck five o' one. She was about to embark on last-last-minute Christmas shopping.
I LOVE December twenty-third.
She picked up a whole slew of gifts for the Order including a battery-powered alarm clock for Arthur, a dictionary of curse words in foreign languages for Fred and George and a dartboard for herself. Most ideas for gifts came easily to her.
It's all in their personality.
Except for one person's gift.
She had exchanged Black's five galleons into Britsh currency but still had no idea how to spend it. She didn't want to buy him a bunch of books only to potentially pass off the idea that she has rubbish taste in literature. She didn't to buy him a bunch of records only to have them potentially collect dust or be played once as to not hurt her feelings. And she certainly didn't want to buy him anything that would hurt his pride.
Male egos.
She was close to deciding that she should just hand him the money and let him spend it himself rather than buy a horribly wrong gift. But then she made a right onto Carnaby Street.
She stopped in front of a window display, then went inside the store. She had enough to buy two things. One for herself, one for Lupin.
--------------------------------
"Where's Nymphadora?"
Remus Lupin was scanning the kitchen of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place on the night of Christmas Eve looking for a certain (usually) pink-haired witch in vain. He saw Ginny, he saw Hermione, he saw Harry and he saw Ron. He saw Sirius Black passing on some gentlemenly knowledge to Fred, George and Mundungus. He saw Kingsley, Molly, Emmeline and Hestia talking politics over wine. But he didn't see Nymphadora Tonks laughing heartily.
His question went unheard, so he went over to the gentlemen discussing merrymaking at an old ex-girlfriend's place.
"Ugh!"
Maybe that sound of pain wasn't as audible as I make it out to be. The only two who heard Nymphadora Tonks hurt herself were Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. Canine ears come in handy.
"Moony, would you like to let Tonks in?"
"How do you know Tonks is outside?"
Fred/George/One of the Weasley twins stuffed their face with a chocolate frog after they gave Sirius Black a perplexed look.
"I'm just talented."
Sirius shot Remus a glare and Remus immediately obeyed.
Don't cross a Black in their own household.
Remus walked down the hallway over to the door. He was nervous. He hadn't gotten her anything and despite wanting to see her, he didn't want to disappoint her.
"What was your favourite book when you were eight years old?"
"Anything about Sherlock Holmes. How old were you when you first got drunk and what did you do afterwards?"
"I was fifteen and I vomited on James Potter's bed afterwards."
Remus Lupin opened the door and found Nymphadora Tonks scrambling to pick up packages from the doorstep. He was going to help her until he realized what she was wearing.
She's wearing the dress.
Nymphadora Tonks' red hair slapped Lupin in the face as she stood up and walked into the hallway.
"Oh, sorry!"
"No, no, it's okay. How's your Christmas Eve been?"
"Fine. Mum and Dad gave me a couple of presents. Saw some old friends. Typical holiday. You?"
"I like your hair."
"Thank you!"
Tonks apparently didn't seem fazed by Lupin's compliment instead of a quip on how his holiday was going. She walked down the hall, occassionally dropping a few packages, but managed to escape being tripped by the umbrella stand. Lupin heard Ginny's squeal as Tonks entered the living room and followed after her.
Everybody loved the presents they received from Tonks.
"Fred, what are you saying?"
"I'm just learning Japanese, mum! No harm in becoming bilingual!"
"Well, I suppose."
Lupin became a bit worried as the presents began to run out. Had she gotten one for him? Hell, she had even gotten one for Mundungus. Why wouldn't she have gotten one for him.
She had one package left in her arms. A good sized package, might I add. Box-like. But she didn't hand it to Lupin. In fact, she didn't hand it over to anybody. She strode over to the kitchen without saying a word.
"Why didn't she get you anything, Lupin?"
Lupin turned his head to see Mundungus fiddling with his present. Tonks had gotten him charmed dice. She knew he liked to play Craps with boys at the pub.
"No idea."
"Get me some whiskey from the kitchen, Moony."
Sirius was teaching the Weasley twins how to correctly pronounce words in Hungarian (Since when did he know Hungarian?) when he gave Lupin the order. Lupin shot Sirius a glare and went to the kitchen.
"Repeat after me. Lupin is my kurva."
-----------------
Tonks was stirring marshmallows into two cups of hot cocoa when Lupin walked in.
"Smells delicious."
Tonks turned around to smile at him.
"Glad you think so. Thought you could use some hot cocoa." She handed Lupin one of the steaming mugs and went over to the table. She pushed the package on the surface of the table toward him. "Open it."
So she had gotten him a present after all.
Lupin laughed nervously and began tearing the wrapping off. There was a white box underneath the snowflake-decorated gift paper. He took the top off. It was the coat from the store on Carnaby Street.
"I can't accept this."
Tonks choked on the cocoa she was just beginning to drink. Some dribbled out of her mouth and onto her dress as she recovered. She gave Lupin a confused look while she coughed.
"Scuse me?"
"It's a very nice gesture. Thank you, honestly. You shouldn't have. I didn't get you anything--"
"It's alright if you didn't get me anything."
"It's- It's much too nice. I'm not deserving of it--"
"It's Christmas, Remus! Nobody gets what they really deserve. Mundungus ought to have got a lump of coal instead of those dice. But he's hilarious and I like when he's got really nice stuff to sell."
Remus took a gulp from his mug of cocoa and smiled.
"I'll just take this, thanks."
Remus walked out of the kitchen, leaving Tonks alone at the kitchen table.
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"Where's my whiskey?"
---------------------
Remus walked back in and found Tonks pouring the rest of the contents of her mug down the sink. He tried to ignore her presence as he searched through the cupboards looking for Sirius' requests.
"It's in the second cupboard to your right, by the way."
Remus looked to Tonks' back facing him. He opened the second cupboard to his right and found the bottle.
"Mind reader?"
"I've played poker with him enough times."
"Explains it."
Remus stood in the kitchen, clutching the bottle thinking of what to say. He knew he had hurt her feelings for no apparent reason at all. He set the bottle on the counter.
"Look, I'll make it up to you. I'll get you something really good. Name it, I'll buy it for you."
Tonks turned around and leaned against the sink.
My, she really does look beautiful in that dress.
"You don't need to make it up to me. It's okay. I'll take the coat back first thing on the twenty sixth."
"Don't take it back."
"What do you want me to do with it, then?"
"I don't know what I'm talking about. I like your dress, by the way. It looks great on you. I'm going to go out. I'll see you later."
Lupin picked up the whiskey from the counter and left the kitchen.
-------------------------
Tonks eventually left the kitchen, except with brown hair instead of the red she had entered Grimmauld Place with. She played exploding snaps with Ginny and Hermione, taught Fred and George how to say a few words in Russian, humored Mundungus with a game of craps, and debated with Kingsley on how to correctly interrogate a criminal. The night went by fast and soon the only people left were Remus, Sirius and Tonks all sitting on opposite sides of the room.
"All that's left are the Three Musketeers."
"I don't think Alexandre Dumas would approve of us comparing ourselves to his characters."
"Shut up, Moony."
"Be quiet, Black."
"Any got any eggnog?"
"Only got whiskey, Tonks."
"Good enough."
"Well, I'm off to bed. You have a good time, you two."
Sirius Black left Nymphadora Tonks and Remus Lupin alone in the living room. Tonks was avoiding Lupin's eyes as she took a swig from the bottle. Lupin got up and walked across the room to sit next to her.
"I will make it up to you."
Remus Lupin kissed her right as she took the bottle out of her mouth. Her breath tasted of alcohol and cocoa. Tonks pulled him in for a deeper kiss just before Lupin pulled away.
"You don't have to make it up to me anymore."
"Woah, Tonks and Moony are going to go baszni?"
"Nu vse, tebe pizda."