Muggle Magic
Title: Muggle Magic
Author: francesca_blue
Rating and Warnings: probably PG; no particular warnings
Prompt: Snowman
Word count: 3,418
Summary: When Tonks meets a 'muggle' magician, little does she know how he will change her life. Christmas CoS.
Author's Notes: This didn't turn out at all like I'd hoped! There's supposed to be a whole lot more to this story that I didn't have time to write; hopefully I'll get around to finishing it sometime. Just to save confusion, I'd better say now that this is not AU. Please comment! Constructive criticism would be much appreciated.
Muggle Magic
It was a freezing cold evening near Christmas when Tonks trudged up the stairs to her flat, sore and annoyed after a particularly difficult day of training, to find her best friend, Donaghan Tremlett, sitting on the floor outside her door.
“Wotcher, Donnie,” she said in surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“I need you to be my wingwoman,” he replied, standing up and moving aside so that she could unlock the door.
“What?”
“There’s this girl I like, but she’s got loads of man-friends, who all fancy the pants off her. I need you to distract them so that I actually have a shot.”
Tonks rolled her eyes. “Yes, thank you, Donnie, I know what to do.” She waved her wand at the lights; it was a muggle flat, but the light switch had stopped working a long time ago. “It’s just that you don’t normally need help. Could it be you’re losing your touch?” She grinned wickedly.
Donnie looked appropriately offended. “Bite your tongue!” he said, flopping down onto the sofa, which groaned in protest. “Lauren’s just... a bit different to all the other girls I’ve been out with. I’d feel more comfortable if there was no one else there to distract her.”
“Different how?” Tonks asked, lighting the fire and settling down on the carpet in front of it.
“Well, for a start, she has a real job, and a brain -“
“What!” Tonks exclaimed in mock surprise. “Don’t tell me you’re actually starting to grow up, Donnie? I don’t believe it!”
Donnie picked up an abandoned shoe from the floor and threw it at her.
“So will you do it?”
Tonks frowned. “I should really be working... I’ve got a load of reports to write up, and Mad-Eye wants to test me first thing Monday morning -“
“Oh, come on, Tonks. When was the last time you took a break? We haven’t seen you in ages. It’s just one night. Please?”
Tonks chewed her lip for a moment and considered it. Finally she smiled and climbed to her feet. Donnie grinned.
“I knew I could count on you, Tonks. This is why you’re still my best friend, even if Herman’s trying to shunt you out.”
“You owe me,” Tonks said in resignation, crossing to her bedroom door.
“Oh, by the way,” Donnie said, stretching lazily and waving his wand at the wireless. “You should probably know that Lauren and her mates are muggles.”
“Muggles?” Tonks said in dismay. “How do you expect me to distract a bunch of muggles? I can’t even morph.” She scrunched up her nose and turned her hair party-going pink in demonstration.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure you’ve got loads of non-magical attributes that’ll keep them busy.” He grinned in amusement as the Weird Sisters’ latest song was announced. “I mean, if nothing else you can spill something on them.” He summoned one of Tonks’ guitars and began to play along. “Preferably on their crotch. That’ll definitely keep them busy.”
Tonks glared at him for a moment, then turned and pushed open her bedroom door. Slinging her rucksack into the corner, she opened the door of her wardrobe and glanced at her clothing options: t-shirts bearing magical band names; t-shirts with moving pictures on; t-shirts that changed colour. Sighing, she poked her head back into the living room.
“What on earth am I supposed to wear?”
***
“So where exactly are we going?” Tonks asked later, when they’d finally made it onto the snowy streets of London.
“Lauren said she was going straight from work to meet up with friends at a pub called Wetherspoons; I think after that we’re going for cocktails. Here.” Donnie changed direction suddenly and steered her through a large glass door into a crowded pub. Tonks brushed snow from her hair as he stood on his toes and peered over the heads of the mob. “Over here,” he said, grabbing her elbow and yanking her into the crowd.
The table he dragged her to was towards the back of the room, where it was thankfully a bit quieter. As they approached, a stunningly beautiful girl about their own age stood up, beaming.
“Donnie!” she exclaimed, flashing him a dazzling smile. This must be Lauren. She hugged him and introduced him to her friends at the table. “And this is..?” Her smile didn’t falter, but Tonks thought she detected a sudden coolness in her voice.
“Tonks,” she introduced herself, holding out her hand. Lauren shook it, scrutinising her in a not-very-subtle manner. Tonks smiled back neutrally.
“Well,” Lauren said, turning back to the table. “This is Chris, Rachel, Adam, Daniel, Remus and Brian. Are you hungry?” she asked Donnie as he sat down beside her. “We were just about to order.”
Tonks dragged a chair over from a nearby table and sat down between Donnie and a rather overweight man with a scraggly beard. “How does this work?” she hissed to her friend as he handed her a menu. Donnie just shrugged and turned to answer Lauren’s question.
Tonks rolled her eyes in exasperation and turned to the man on her other side.
“Wotcher,” she said cheerfully, and stuck out her hand. “I’m Tonks.”
He stared at her outstretched hand for a moment, then his eyes flicked to her hair. “Brian,” he said, and turned away without shaking her hand.
Tonks rolled her eyes again and turned back to her menu. It looked like it was going to be a long night.
Later, after the chaos that ensued when it came to ordering food - apparently they had to go up to the bar and order it - Tonks tried again to engage her neighbour in conversation.
“So what do you do?”
He stopped with his pint glass half way to his mouth and stared at her, blankly.
“Do?”
“Yeah. You know, for a living?”
“British Museum,” he said, before taking a long swig of Guinness. Tonks sighed; it was like trying to squeeze blood from a stone.
The man on Brian’s other side leaned forwards and answered her question instead.
“Brian and I work in the archives of the British Museum, like Lauren, and Adam over there,” he pointed with one long finger at a pale young man with neat hair and glasses, who was glaring at the laughing Donnie. “It’s more interesting than it sounds.”
“No, it sounds...interesting,” Tonks lied. “Please go on. What sort of things are in the British Museum?”
Brian set his empty pint glass down loudly.
“Why don’t we swap places?” he said, though Tonks wasn’t sure whether he was speaking to her or the other man, because he was staring into his empty glass. “That way you can talk all you want. I’m going for another drink.” And in a moment he was gone, leaving Tonks blinking at his abruptness.
“Don’t worry,” the other man said reassuringly. “He doesn’t get any more friendly the more you get to know him.”
“He must be such a pleasure to work with,” Tonks said, picking up her coat and sliding across into Brian’s empty seat. “What’s your name?”
“Remus,” the man said, offering his hand. “Remus Lupin.”
“I’m Tonks,” she said, shaking his hand enthusiastically.
“So what do you do? For a living, I mean.”
“I’m training to be a...” Tonks stalled. She vaguely remembered that muggles didn’t have aurors. But they must have some sort of law enforcement? “...a please-woman.” She wasn’t sure that was the right word, but Remus was nodding so she supposed it must be.
“And how’s that going?”
“Alright. I can’t really talk about it,” she said, though it was more that talking about it made her feel intensely uncomfortable; she was worried that she’d let something slip, and lying to this man seemed somehow wrong. “Tell me about the British Museum.”
To her surprise, Remus’ anecdotes were both interesting and amusing, and Tonks found that she was beginning to enjoy herself. There was something compelling about the way he told his stories that made her sit up and pay attention; she wondered if he’d ever considered a career as a teacher. Most gratifying, though, was the fact that their conversation flowed as easily as Brian’s Guinness, unlike the forced attempts at conversation she’d made earlier.
A plate-laden waitress finally arrived and as they gratefully relieved her of her burden Tonks saw the well-muscled man at the end of the table lean towards the bespectacled Adam, who was still scowling down the table at Lauren and Donnie, and heard him say, “Remus seems to be getting on well with that pink-haired girl, doesn’t he.”
Adam nodded. “He’s always drawn towards the weirdest things.”
Tonks smiled to herself, but felt a little guilty. After all, she was supposed to be distracting Lauren’s obviously smitten friends. Tipping a packet of salt onto her chips, she leaned forwards and addressed a question to the table.
“So, what’s your favourite football team?”
***
It was a much tighter group that left Wetherspoons an hour later: Brian, despite being about three sheets to the wind, had bonded with the muscly Daniel over their mutual love for West Ham; Tonks and Rachel had argued good-naturedly with Chris about the supposed manliness of football players; and Remus and Adam had eventually drawn them all into a debate about the value of the sport. As they set off in search of a decent cocktail bar, Tonks fell into step beside Remus, her new best friend - since Donnie hadn’t even acknowledged the effectiveness of her diversion.
“Is Tonks short for anything?” Remus asked, pushing his hands deep into the pockets of his rather threadbare coat.
“No, it’s just my surname.”
“So what’s your first name?”
“A closely guarded secret,” Tonks said with a smirk, walking on the road, which was clear of ice.
“My, what an unusual name,” Remus said mildly, and Tonks laughed. “Come on, you can tell me.”
“No I can’t. If I told you, I’d have to kill you.”
Remus grimaced. “Is it that bad?”
Tonks nodded.
“As bad as Remus?”
“Much, much worse.”
“Well, now you’ve just made me curious. I have to know.”
Tonks smiled, and mimed sealing her lips.
“I tell you what,” Remus said. “If I show you something amazing, will you tell me?”
“No.” Remus’ face fell. Tonks laughed. “Show me anyway.”
Remus smiled slightly. “When we’re inside.”
It was Lauren who led them to a small, dark and very loud nightclub not far away. Brian made a beeline for the bar, while Donnie and Lauren went straight to the dancefloor. Tonks and Remus slid into seats at a low table, and he immediately leaned in and asked over the noise:
“Do you have a necklace I can borrow?”
Tonks supposed he was just being polite, as it was difficult to miss the eight or so necklaces that hung around her neck. Removing the longest one over her head, she dropped it into his palm and leant forwards eagerly.
“Hold your hand in front of you, pointing up,” Remus instructed. “...No, the other way.” He turned her hand so her palm was towards her and looped her necklace over her finger.
She wasn’t sure what happened next: his hands moved very quickly and the necklace seemed to pass straight through her finger to dangle loosely in his hand. Tonks sat up very straight, suddenly sober.
“What..?”
“And that is how I’ve won so many necklaces,” Remus said, moving as if to pocket her necklace, before handing it back to her with a grin. Tonks stared at him, dumbfounded. She couldn’t believe anyone would so smugly break the Statute of Secrecy; surely he knew the penalties?
“Would you like me to show you again?”
Tonks nodded, and this time she watched him very closely. But he didn’t use a wand, and he seemed far too relaxed to be using wandless magic, which took great concentration. He must be a greater wizard than Mad-Eye; possibly even greater than Dumbledore, though that was hard to believe. Why would he waste his time showing tricks to supposed muggles?
Remus was smirking as he dropped her necklace back over her head. Then he frowned. “What’s this doing here?” he said, and from behind her ear he pulled...her ring. “You know they’re supposed to go on your fingers, right?”
“How did you do that?” Tonks demanded, snatching the ring back and sliding it back onto her finger.
He tapped his nose. “A magician never reveals his secrets.”
And suddenly everything fell into place. Of course! Muggles had their own magic; they used sleight of hand and other tricks instead of wands. Tonks laughed sheepishly, and Remus, not realising how close he’d come to being arrested for breaking a foreign law, laughed with her.
Suddenly the smile slid from his face.
“I was wondering,” he said, then stopped. It was hard to tell in the dim light, but Tonks thought he was blushing.
“What?”
“That man you came with... Are you just friends or are you -“
Tonks cut him off before he could something dreadful.
“We’re just friends.”
Remus smiled. “Oh,” he said. “Good. Because if it was something more, then you’d probably be a little upset at that.” He pointed over her shoulder.
Tonks turned around; Donnie and Lauren were swaying on the dancefloor, with their arms tightly around each other and their lips locked in a passionate kiss. Tonks turned back to Remus with a grin, and winked broadly at him.
For some reason, Remus threw back his head and roared with laughter.
***
Snow was falling softly and the streets were empty, save for the last drunks staggering past on their way home. Tonks stood still, listening to the slurred, unfamiliar muggle Christmas carols drifting through the air. She let out a long sigh; her breath steamed in the cold air.
There was a creak of metal behind her. She looked over her shoulder at Remus, sitting on a child’s swing being blown gently back and forth by the breeze. He was gazing up at the moon, a strange expression on his face.
“What’s up?” she asked, wading over to him through the snow.
“Hm? I was just thinking.”
Tonks looked up at the faintly glowing clouds. “Thinking about what?”
He shook himself. “Nothing, really. How’s the snowman coming?”
She turned back to the two separate balls of snow sitting by the slide. “I haven’t quite sorted out the ‘man’ part yet.” Bending over the smaller of the two balls, she wrapped her arms around it and strained to pick it up, staggering slightly as she did so. Beneath her arms she heard a faint crunch and felt the snow crumble slightly. Letting go, she leant her hands on her knees, panting. Behind her, she heard Remus laughing.
“What?” she said, peering at him from between her legs.
“Nothing,” he said, rising from his seat on the swing and sauntering towards her. Tonks stood up straight, suddenly realising that she’d been waving her bum at him.
“May I?” he asked, indicating the smaller snowball that was intended to be the head. She nodded, and watched in amazement as he picked it up with ease and set it in its place.
“You cheated,” she said indignantly.
“How so?”
“You must have cast a spell on it.” Tonks almost bit her tongue. Muggle magicians couldn’t cast spells!
“How dare you! I assure you I used only my natural abilities.” Tonks looked sceptically at his scrawny arms. He caught her glance, and looked mock offended. “I’ll have you know I’m stronger than I look.”
“I should hope so,” Tonks retorted. She looked at her rather squat, featureless snowman and nearly reached for her wand. “I wish I’d thought to bring something for his eyes and nose and mouth.”
“Well...” Remus said, reaching into his pocket, but then he stopped. “No. You’ll just accuse me of cheating again.”
“No I won’t,” Tonks said eagerly. “Do you have something? Please?”
“Well, alright,” Remus said, smiling mysteriously as he reached into his pocket and drew out several large pieces of coal and, amazingly, a large carrot.
Tonks gasped. “You magicians are useful to have around,” she said with a grin, helping arrange the snowman’s face. She finished by looping her scarf around its neck. “Thank you!” She turned and hugged him exuberantly, bumping his chin with her head as she did so. His arms squeezed her around the middle gently before letting her go.
“Sorry,” Tonks muttered, suddenly feeling strangely embarrassed.
“You shouldn’t be sorry. I’m the one who should be sorry.”
“What for?”
“For this,” Remus said, before dumping a handful of snow down her now exposed neck. Tonks squealed, trying to shake it out, without much success; she felt cold water trickle it’s freezing pathway down her back. Scooping snow into her hands, she ran after him, and was surprised when she actually caught him; she suspected he let her. They stood, gasping for breath in the freezing cold air, laughing.
“I’m all cold now,” Tonks said reproachfully when she’d got her breath back.
“Well, you’re the one who gave your scarf to the snowman,” he said, but he took off his scarf and wrapped it carefully around her neck. “Better?”
She nodded. “Yes. Thank you.”
“Your hands must be freezing too,” he said, stripping off his gloves and handing them to her.
“You don’t have to give me all your clothes,” Tonks said. He sniggered, and she groaned, blushing.
“You wear them like this,” Remus told her when she made no move to put on his gloves. Taking one of her hands, he slid the glove onto it. It was very large and very warm. Tonks watched his eyes, intent on what they were doing, as he helped her put the other glove on, and marvelled at how comfortable they were with each other. It was as if they’d known one another for years.
“Thank you,” she said again. Her breath plumed before her, and she giggled.
“Like a dragon,” she said, blowing in Remus’ face.
He smiled. “I think dragons might seem a little more ferocious.”
“I can be ferocious,” Tonks said, though she probably didn’t seem so as she stumbled over nothing.
“Where do you live?”Remus asked her.
“Why do you want to know?” Tonks replied, playfully.
“So that I can take you home. A gentleman always escorts a lady home.”
“Do they?” Tonks sniggered. “I don’t think that Donnie intended to be a gentleman when he offered to take Lauren home.” She poked his shoulder. “And if you think I’m a lady you’re seriously mistaken.
“Of course you’re a lady,” Remus said, raising his fingers to his lips and whistling piercingly. Tonks covered her ears with her hands.
“Ow!”
“Sorry.” With a splash, a muggle car stopped on the road beside them. Remus opened the door and held it for her. “Madam.”
Tonks got in and looked around with interest. She’d never been in a car before; she’d thought it would be bigger inside. Remus slid into the seat beside her.
“So where do you live?”
It seemed a surprisingly short journey, but she supposed that it was their conversation that made the time pass so quickly. Tonks had to admit that she was disappointed when the car stopped just outside her building.
“This ought to cover it,” Remus said when it came to paying the driver, pulling some muggle money from behind Tonks’ ear. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Tonks said with aplomb, and he grinned.
“So,” Remus said, as the man in the car drove off.
“So,” Tonks said, suddenly feeling very awkward. She wondered briefly if she should invite him in, but she wasn’t sure how he’d take that. “Thank you for a wonderful evening,” she said sincerely.
He smiled warmly. “No, thank you. It was more enjoyable than I could ever have imagined.”
She smiled, and hugged him tightly before she could lose her nerve. His arms around her made her very warm, and she felt much colder as they pulled apart. He kissed her cheek and stepped away.
“Well. Goodbye.”
“Bye,” she said softly, and turned to open the main door. As she fumbled with her keys, she noticed that she was still wearing his gloves, and his scarf.
“Oh!” she said, turning back, but stopped. He was already gone, the only evidence that he’d ever been there were his footprints in the snow.
Tonks smiled. “Well,” she said to herself. “Now I’ll have to see him again.”
Author: francesca_blue
Rating and Warnings: probably PG; no particular warnings
Prompt: Snowman
Word count: 3,418
Summary: When Tonks meets a 'muggle' magician, little does she know how he will change her life. Christmas CoS.
Author's Notes: This didn't turn out at all like I'd hoped! There's supposed to be a whole lot more to this story that I didn't have time to write; hopefully I'll get around to finishing it sometime. Just to save confusion, I'd better say now that this is not AU. Please comment! Constructive criticism would be much appreciated.
Muggle Magic
It was a freezing cold evening near Christmas when Tonks trudged up the stairs to her flat, sore and annoyed after a particularly difficult day of training, to find her best friend, Donaghan Tremlett, sitting on the floor outside her door.
“Wotcher, Donnie,” she said in surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“I need you to be my wingwoman,” he replied, standing up and moving aside so that she could unlock the door.
“What?”
“There’s this girl I like, but she’s got loads of man-friends, who all fancy the pants off her. I need you to distract them so that I actually have a shot.”
Tonks rolled her eyes. “Yes, thank you, Donnie, I know what to do.” She waved her wand at the lights; it was a muggle flat, but the light switch had stopped working a long time ago. “It’s just that you don’t normally need help. Could it be you’re losing your touch?” She grinned wickedly.
Donnie looked appropriately offended. “Bite your tongue!” he said, flopping down onto the sofa, which groaned in protest. “Lauren’s just... a bit different to all the other girls I’ve been out with. I’d feel more comfortable if there was no one else there to distract her.”
“Different how?” Tonks asked, lighting the fire and settling down on the carpet in front of it.
“Well, for a start, she has a real job, and a brain -“
“What!” Tonks exclaimed in mock surprise. “Don’t tell me you’re actually starting to grow up, Donnie? I don’t believe it!”
Donnie picked up an abandoned shoe from the floor and threw it at her.
“So will you do it?”
Tonks frowned. “I should really be working... I’ve got a load of reports to write up, and Mad-Eye wants to test me first thing Monday morning -“
“Oh, come on, Tonks. When was the last time you took a break? We haven’t seen you in ages. It’s just one night. Please?”
Tonks chewed her lip for a moment and considered it. Finally she smiled and climbed to her feet. Donnie grinned.
“I knew I could count on you, Tonks. This is why you’re still my best friend, even if Herman’s trying to shunt you out.”
“You owe me,” Tonks said in resignation, crossing to her bedroom door.
“Oh, by the way,” Donnie said, stretching lazily and waving his wand at the wireless. “You should probably know that Lauren and her mates are muggles.”
“Muggles?” Tonks said in dismay. “How do you expect me to distract a bunch of muggles? I can’t even morph.” She scrunched up her nose and turned her hair party-going pink in demonstration.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure you’ve got loads of non-magical attributes that’ll keep them busy.” He grinned in amusement as the Weird Sisters’ latest song was announced. “I mean, if nothing else you can spill something on them.” He summoned one of Tonks’ guitars and began to play along. “Preferably on their crotch. That’ll definitely keep them busy.”
Tonks glared at him for a moment, then turned and pushed open her bedroom door. Slinging her rucksack into the corner, she opened the door of her wardrobe and glanced at her clothing options: t-shirts bearing magical band names; t-shirts with moving pictures on; t-shirts that changed colour. Sighing, she poked her head back into the living room.
“What on earth am I supposed to wear?”
***
“So where exactly are we going?” Tonks asked later, when they’d finally made it onto the snowy streets of London.
“Lauren said she was going straight from work to meet up with friends at a pub called Wetherspoons; I think after that we’re going for cocktails. Here.” Donnie changed direction suddenly and steered her through a large glass door into a crowded pub. Tonks brushed snow from her hair as he stood on his toes and peered over the heads of the mob. “Over here,” he said, grabbing her elbow and yanking her into the crowd.
The table he dragged her to was towards the back of the room, where it was thankfully a bit quieter. As they approached, a stunningly beautiful girl about their own age stood up, beaming.
“Donnie!” she exclaimed, flashing him a dazzling smile. This must be Lauren. She hugged him and introduced him to her friends at the table. “And this is..?” Her smile didn’t falter, but Tonks thought she detected a sudden coolness in her voice.
“Tonks,” she introduced herself, holding out her hand. Lauren shook it, scrutinising her in a not-very-subtle manner. Tonks smiled back neutrally.
“Well,” Lauren said, turning back to the table. “This is Chris, Rachel, Adam, Daniel, Remus and Brian. Are you hungry?” she asked Donnie as he sat down beside her. “We were just about to order.”
Tonks dragged a chair over from a nearby table and sat down between Donnie and a rather overweight man with a scraggly beard. “How does this work?” she hissed to her friend as he handed her a menu. Donnie just shrugged and turned to answer Lauren’s question.
Tonks rolled her eyes in exasperation and turned to the man on her other side.
“Wotcher,” she said cheerfully, and stuck out her hand. “I’m Tonks.”
He stared at her outstretched hand for a moment, then his eyes flicked to her hair. “Brian,” he said, and turned away without shaking her hand.
Tonks rolled her eyes again and turned back to her menu. It looked like it was going to be a long night.
Later, after the chaos that ensued when it came to ordering food - apparently they had to go up to the bar and order it - Tonks tried again to engage her neighbour in conversation.
“So what do you do?”
He stopped with his pint glass half way to his mouth and stared at her, blankly.
“Do?”
“Yeah. You know, for a living?”
“British Museum,” he said, before taking a long swig of Guinness. Tonks sighed; it was like trying to squeeze blood from a stone.
The man on Brian’s other side leaned forwards and answered her question instead.
“Brian and I work in the archives of the British Museum, like Lauren, and Adam over there,” he pointed with one long finger at a pale young man with neat hair and glasses, who was glaring at the laughing Donnie. “It’s more interesting than it sounds.”
“No, it sounds...interesting,” Tonks lied. “Please go on. What sort of things are in the British Museum?”
Brian set his empty pint glass down loudly.
“Why don’t we swap places?” he said, though Tonks wasn’t sure whether he was speaking to her or the other man, because he was staring into his empty glass. “That way you can talk all you want. I’m going for another drink.” And in a moment he was gone, leaving Tonks blinking at his abruptness.
“Don’t worry,” the other man said reassuringly. “He doesn’t get any more friendly the more you get to know him.”
“He must be such a pleasure to work with,” Tonks said, picking up her coat and sliding across into Brian’s empty seat. “What’s your name?”
“Remus,” the man said, offering his hand. “Remus Lupin.”
“I’m Tonks,” she said, shaking his hand enthusiastically.
“So what do you do? For a living, I mean.”
“I’m training to be a...” Tonks stalled. She vaguely remembered that muggles didn’t have aurors. But they must have some sort of law enforcement? “...a please-woman.” She wasn’t sure that was the right word, but Remus was nodding so she supposed it must be.
“And how’s that going?”
“Alright. I can’t really talk about it,” she said, though it was more that talking about it made her feel intensely uncomfortable; she was worried that she’d let something slip, and lying to this man seemed somehow wrong. “Tell me about the British Museum.”
To her surprise, Remus’ anecdotes were both interesting and amusing, and Tonks found that she was beginning to enjoy herself. There was something compelling about the way he told his stories that made her sit up and pay attention; she wondered if he’d ever considered a career as a teacher. Most gratifying, though, was the fact that their conversation flowed as easily as Brian’s Guinness, unlike the forced attempts at conversation she’d made earlier.
A plate-laden waitress finally arrived and as they gratefully relieved her of her burden Tonks saw the well-muscled man at the end of the table lean towards the bespectacled Adam, who was still scowling down the table at Lauren and Donnie, and heard him say, “Remus seems to be getting on well with that pink-haired girl, doesn’t he.”
Adam nodded. “He’s always drawn towards the weirdest things.”
Tonks smiled to herself, but felt a little guilty. After all, she was supposed to be distracting Lauren’s obviously smitten friends. Tipping a packet of salt onto her chips, she leaned forwards and addressed a question to the table.
“So, what’s your favourite football team?”
***
It was a much tighter group that left Wetherspoons an hour later: Brian, despite being about three sheets to the wind, had bonded with the muscly Daniel over their mutual love for West Ham; Tonks and Rachel had argued good-naturedly with Chris about the supposed manliness of football players; and Remus and Adam had eventually drawn them all into a debate about the value of the sport. As they set off in search of a decent cocktail bar, Tonks fell into step beside Remus, her new best friend - since Donnie hadn’t even acknowledged the effectiveness of her diversion.
“Is Tonks short for anything?” Remus asked, pushing his hands deep into the pockets of his rather threadbare coat.
“No, it’s just my surname.”
“So what’s your first name?”
“A closely guarded secret,” Tonks said with a smirk, walking on the road, which was clear of ice.
“My, what an unusual name,” Remus said mildly, and Tonks laughed. “Come on, you can tell me.”
“No I can’t. If I told you, I’d have to kill you.”
Remus grimaced. “Is it that bad?”
Tonks nodded.
“As bad as Remus?”
“Much, much worse.”
“Well, now you’ve just made me curious. I have to know.”
Tonks smiled, and mimed sealing her lips.
“I tell you what,” Remus said. “If I show you something amazing, will you tell me?”
“No.” Remus’ face fell. Tonks laughed. “Show me anyway.”
Remus smiled slightly. “When we’re inside.”
It was Lauren who led them to a small, dark and very loud nightclub not far away. Brian made a beeline for the bar, while Donnie and Lauren went straight to the dancefloor. Tonks and Remus slid into seats at a low table, and he immediately leaned in and asked over the noise:
“Do you have a necklace I can borrow?”
Tonks supposed he was just being polite, as it was difficult to miss the eight or so necklaces that hung around her neck. Removing the longest one over her head, she dropped it into his palm and leant forwards eagerly.
“Hold your hand in front of you, pointing up,” Remus instructed. “...No, the other way.” He turned her hand so her palm was towards her and looped her necklace over her finger.
She wasn’t sure what happened next: his hands moved very quickly and the necklace seemed to pass straight through her finger to dangle loosely in his hand. Tonks sat up very straight, suddenly sober.
“What..?”
“And that is how I’ve won so many necklaces,” Remus said, moving as if to pocket her necklace, before handing it back to her with a grin. Tonks stared at him, dumbfounded. She couldn’t believe anyone would so smugly break the Statute of Secrecy; surely he knew the penalties?
“Would you like me to show you again?”
Tonks nodded, and this time she watched him very closely. But he didn’t use a wand, and he seemed far too relaxed to be using wandless magic, which took great concentration. He must be a greater wizard than Mad-Eye; possibly even greater than Dumbledore, though that was hard to believe. Why would he waste his time showing tricks to supposed muggles?
Remus was smirking as he dropped her necklace back over her head. Then he frowned. “What’s this doing here?” he said, and from behind her ear he pulled...her ring. “You know they’re supposed to go on your fingers, right?”
“How did you do that?” Tonks demanded, snatching the ring back and sliding it back onto her finger.
He tapped his nose. “A magician never reveals his secrets.”
And suddenly everything fell into place. Of course! Muggles had their own magic; they used sleight of hand and other tricks instead of wands. Tonks laughed sheepishly, and Remus, not realising how close he’d come to being arrested for breaking a foreign law, laughed with her.
Suddenly the smile slid from his face.
“I was wondering,” he said, then stopped. It was hard to tell in the dim light, but Tonks thought he was blushing.
“What?”
“That man you came with... Are you just friends or are you -“
Tonks cut him off before he could something dreadful.
“We’re just friends.”
Remus smiled. “Oh,” he said. “Good. Because if it was something more, then you’d probably be a little upset at that.” He pointed over her shoulder.
Tonks turned around; Donnie and Lauren were swaying on the dancefloor, with their arms tightly around each other and their lips locked in a passionate kiss. Tonks turned back to Remus with a grin, and winked broadly at him.
For some reason, Remus threw back his head and roared with laughter.
***
Snow was falling softly and the streets were empty, save for the last drunks staggering past on their way home. Tonks stood still, listening to the slurred, unfamiliar muggle Christmas carols drifting through the air. She let out a long sigh; her breath steamed in the cold air.
There was a creak of metal behind her. She looked over her shoulder at Remus, sitting on a child’s swing being blown gently back and forth by the breeze. He was gazing up at the moon, a strange expression on his face.
“What’s up?” she asked, wading over to him through the snow.
“Hm? I was just thinking.”
Tonks looked up at the faintly glowing clouds. “Thinking about what?”
He shook himself. “Nothing, really. How’s the snowman coming?”
She turned back to the two separate balls of snow sitting by the slide. “I haven’t quite sorted out the ‘man’ part yet.” Bending over the smaller of the two balls, she wrapped her arms around it and strained to pick it up, staggering slightly as she did so. Beneath her arms she heard a faint crunch and felt the snow crumble slightly. Letting go, she leant her hands on her knees, panting. Behind her, she heard Remus laughing.
“What?” she said, peering at him from between her legs.
“Nothing,” he said, rising from his seat on the swing and sauntering towards her. Tonks stood up straight, suddenly realising that she’d been waving her bum at him.
“May I?” he asked, indicating the smaller snowball that was intended to be the head. She nodded, and watched in amazement as he picked it up with ease and set it in its place.
“You cheated,” she said indignantly.
“How so?”
“You must have cast a spell on it.” Tonks almost bit her tongue. Muggle magicians couldn’t cast spells!
“How dare you! I assure you I used only my natural abilities.” Tonks looked sceptically at his scrawny arms. He caught her glance, and looked mock offended. “I’ll have you know I’m stronger than I look.”
“I should hope so,” Tonks retorted. She looked at her rather squat, featureless snowman and nearly reached for her wand. “I wish I’d thought to bring something for his eyes and nose and mouth.”
“Well...” Remus said, reaching into his pocket, but then he stopped. “No. You’ll just accuse me of cheating again.”
“No I won’t,” Tonks said eagerly. “Do you have something? Please?”
“Well, alright,” Remus said, smiling mysteriously as he reached into his pocket and drew out several large pieces of coal and, amazingly, a large carrot.
Tonks gasped. “You magicians are useful to have around,” she said with a grin, helping arrange the snowman’s face. She finished by looping her scarf around its neck. “Thank you!” She turned and hugged him exuberantly, bumping his chin with her head as she did so. His arms squeezed her around the middle gently before letting her go.
“Sorry,” Tonks muttered, suddenly feeling strangely embarrassed.
“You shouldn’t be sorry. I’m the one who should be sorry.”
“What for?”
“For this,” Remus said, before dumping a handful of snow down her now exposed neck. Tonks squealed, trying to shake it out, without much success; she felt cold water trickle it’s freezing pathway down her back. Scooping snow into her hands, she ran after him, and was surprised when she actually caught him; she suspected he let her. They stood, gasping for breath in the freezing cold air, laughing.
“I’m all cold now,” Tonks said reproachfully when she’d got her breath back.
“Well, you’re the one who gave your scarf to the snowman,” he said, but he took off his scarf and wrapped it carefully around her neck. “Better?”
She nodded. “Yes. Thank you.”
“Your hands must be freezing too,” he said, stripping off his gloves and handing them to her.
“You don’t have to give me all your clothes,” Tonks said. He sniggered, and she groaned, blushing.
“You wear them like this,” Remus told her when she made no move to put on his gloves. Taking one of her hands, he slid the glove onto it. It was very large and very warm. Tonks watched his eyes, intent on what they were doing, as he helped her put the other glove on, and marvelled at how comfortable they were with each other. It was as if they’d known one another for years.
“Thank you,” she said again. Her breath plumed before her, and she giggled.
“Like a dragon,” she said, blowing in Remus’ face.
He smiled. “I think dragons might seem a little more ferocious.”
“I can be ferocious,” Tonks said, though she probably didn’t seem so as she stumbled over nothing.
“Where do you live?”Remus asked her.
“Why do you want to know?” Tonks replied, playfully.
“So that I can take you home. A gentleman always escorts a lady home.”
“Do they?” Tonks sniggered. “I don’t think that Donnie intended to be a gentleman when he offered to take Lauren home.” She poked his shoulder. “And if you think I’m a lady you’re seriously mistaken.
“Of course you’re a lady,” Remus said, raising his fingers to his lips and whistling piercingly. Tonks covered her ears with her hands.
“Ow!”
“Sorry.” With a splash, a muggle car stopped on the road beside them. Remus opened the door and held it for her. “Madam.”
Tonks got in and looked around with interest. She’d never been in a car before; she’d thought it would be bigger inside. Remus slid into the seat beside her.
“So where do you live?”
It seemed a surprisingly short journey, but she supposed that it was their conversation that made the time pass so quickly. Tonks had to admit that she was disappointed when the car stopped just outside her building.
“This ought to cover it,” Remus said when it came to paying the driver, pulling some muggle money from behind Tonks’ ear. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Tonks said with aplomb, and he grinned.
“So,” Remus said, as the man in the car drove off.
“So,” Tonks said, suddenly feeling very awkward. She wondered briefly if she should invite him in, but she wasn’t sure how he’d take that. “Thank you for a wonderful evening,” she said sincerely.
He smiled warmly. “No, thank you. It was more enjoyable than I could ever have imagined.”
She smiled, and hugged him tightly before she could lose her nerve. His arms around her made her very warm, and she felt much colder as they pulled apart. He kissed her cheek and stepped away.
“Well. Goodbye.”
“Bye,” she said softly, and turned to open the main door. As she fumbled with her keys, she noticed that she was still wearing his gloves, and his scarf.
“Oh!” she said, turning back, but stopped. He was already gone, the only evidence that he’d ever been there were his footprints in the snow.
Tonks smiled. “Well,” she said to herself. “Now I’ll have to see him again.”