FIC: Good A-brewing (2/3)
Title: Good A-brewing (2/3)
Author: MrsTater
Rating: PG
Pairing/Featured Characters: Remus Lupin/Nymphadora Tonks; Sirius Black, Severus Snape
Summary: Thirteenth in the Transfigured Hearts series: Remus could only imagine how Tonks would react if she knew the potion he could afford was not, by any stretch, perfect.
Author's Notes: This story follows Valentine, Done Well in the Transfigured Hearts series, and is set in March of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Part Two
Remus made sure he maintained a mild expression as he kept the minutes for the Order meeting. His script was rather darker and less meticulous than usual from pushing his quill too hard and too quickly across the parchment, but that was the only indication that he was livid. In his peripheral he saw Sirius wearing his indignation for all the world to see. He slumped in his chair with arms crossed, jaw clenched , brow furrowed, eyes hard. But what right did he have to sulk? He was one who had blindsided his best mate - the one constant person in his months of confinement in the miserable house - with an unjust and untrue attack.
As Order members gave reports and Dumbledore made new assignments, Sirius' expression became increasingly darker and more brooding as he, once again, was passed over. Remus was sure Snape's most recent barb about unlimited leisure time heightened Sirius' feelings of uselessness and restlessness. And while it was, as Tonks said, unfair of Sirius to unleash those frustrations the way he had, Remus could not help but wonder if he could have done anything to make Sirius feel less abandoned.
He determined to deal with Sirius straight away after the meeting, but the instant they were adjourned, Sirius bolted upstairs and Remus was cornered by Mundungus Fletcher, who, ironically enough, thought he might be interested in Wolfsbane Potion imported by very questionable Dutch sources. Ordinarily Dung's aggressive and appalling sales pitch would have been amusing, and Remus would have committed the interview to memory to share with Tonks and Sirius later, but this time his only thought was to get away from the dodgy Order member. When he finally did, he still was not free to find Sirius; others had business to discuss with Remus, and nearly three-quarters of an hour passed before everyone left and he was able to escape the basement kitchen.
Just as he mounted the staircase on the main floor, he met Tonks descending, obviously from Sirius' room. Irritation welled up in him that Tonks had fought another of his battles, but then he noticed how heavily she leaned on the handrail, and the way her shoulders slumped; she was clearly worn out. While Remus appreciated that she would go to such effort on his behalf, he wished she would not.
Stopping on the riser just above him, she said, "Sirius says he's sorry."
"This is between Sirius and me." Remus moved to step around Tonks, but she pressed a light hand to his chest.
"I'm not one to put off making up with a friend," she said, "but Sirius needs more time to cool off, and you're tired and edgy. Not a good for sorting things out."
She was right, of course, but that did not make it any less frustrating. Slumping against the wall, Remus sighed heavily and raked his fingers through his hair. It was getting shaggy; Molly had been one of the people to approach him, after him to let her trim it.
"I'm all right," he said. "I should talk to him."
Tonks' forehead creased, and she briefly pressed her lips together in a tight line before saying, "Don't you take responsibility for Sirius. He was completely out of line. You don't have to pretend not to be upset."
The only time Remus had been angrier and more hurt by him was over the infamous full moon prank in which Sirius attempted to lure Snape to the Shrieking Shack. Remus had hit him, and after that a few days of silence passed between them. Two adults ought to be able to resolve their differences rather sooner than that, and without coming to blows, but perhaps they had not changed so very much since Hogwarts days. It certainly would be satisfying to hit Sirius now.
"I feel," he began hoarsely, unable to shake the question of whether he could have been prevented this, "like I am the ineffective prefect again. I've never known what to say when those two go at each other-"
Tonks' hands moved to cup his face. "Don't think about the past, Remus. Tonight you did all the right things. There was nothing you could've said to make that scene turn out any differently."
"If I had been in a better mood from the start, Sirius would have had no reason to think I was against him."
"I admit," Tonks said, hands sliding down to rest on his shoulders, "you're not Mister Sunshine today, but that's got nothing to do with Sirius."
"Thank you." Her unflagging support was suddenly overwhelming, in spite of his preference that she not intervene. "You didn't have to talk to him. Or Snape."
"Of course I did. It's what fellow Order members do."
The realisation that Tonks had not merely acted as an overprotective girlfriend was somewhat soothing to Remus' bruised ego. Tonks would have done the same for any colleague. Kindness and loyalty were her natural attributes.
"You're tense," she observed, fingers working small circles the base of his neck. "Let's go to the drawing room. I'll give you a back rub."
Instead of stepping aside for her to alight from the stairs, Remus took advantage of their matched height by catching her in a tight embrace and pressing his lips to the curve of her neck, just inside her collar.
"What would I do without you?" he murmured against her skin, kissing her again as goose bumps prickled up, making the fine, light hairs stand.
"Brood about Sirius and have sore shoulders, I reckon." Tonks said it lightly, but as he drew back from her he noted she looked quite pleased with herself, which in turn made Remus smile. "But you have got me," she said, nudging him to turn and step down, "so there's no point in thinking hypothetically."
Soon Remus wasn't thinking in any fashion, hypothetical or otherwise, apart from the sensations of Tonks' strong hands massaging his muscles. She knew all the places that got sorest. Was it because she'd got used to the way the moon worked over his body? Or did she know from experience which muscles and joints were most affected by change?
Her voice broke into his lackadaisical thoughts. "Why does Severus hate you?"
When Remus reacted by tensing his shoulders, Tonks kneaded harder and urged him to relax. He had a distinct feeling that it would be impossible to do so whilst discussing Snape. Hoping to put her off of the subject, he said flippantly. "I was under the impression Snape hated everyone."
"Not me," Tonks replied. "I've never thought he hated me. He's hateful to me, but that's not the same, is it?"
Her astuteness came as somewhat of a surprise, not because Remus did not regard Tonks as highly intelligent, but because he was not at all sure that at her age he would have drawn that distinction - especially not in light of the cutting remarks Snape had made about her personal life. Nor was he certain he did now, at least not in practice.
"Well," he said, "Severus actually hates Sirius and me."
"Why you, though?" She stopped massaging and leaned over his shoulder to regard his profile. "You're not hostile like Sirius. You don't respond to goading. Severus must have a reason behind cutting so deep. He doesn't bother with everyone."
It was clear that Tonks was not going to let this drop until she got a satisfactory answer, and she would know if he wasn't telling her the whole truth. As Remus considered this, he realised it might be good for her know what a deep-seated grudge Snape carried. The future likely would bring more such altercations as tonight, and Tonks would do well to grasp how fruitless it was to defend Remus to Snape. The only thing holding him back from relating the story was that it was not just about him.
Catching her hand, Remus pulled her gently so that she stood in front of his chair. "If I tell you," he said, "you've got to promise not to let it affect how you see Sirius."
"All right," said Tonks, drawing out the words and furrowing her brow.
"It happened a long time ago," Remus went on quickly, "and it is forgiven between us. Sirius honestly never considered how it would affect me if it worked."
Tonks dropped into a crouch and rested her hands on his knees. "If you'd rather not tell me-"
"No. I don't mind you knowing."
He almost regretted telling her when Tonks clutched the worn fabric of his trousers, horrified by Sirius' full moon prank. Part of Remus did appreciate that her vehemence was because he had been used, but if it made her resent Sirius nearly two decades after the fact, for something with which she was not even remotely connected…. She calmed quickly, though, resting her head on Remus' legs as he stroked her hair.
"I still don't understand why Severus hates you," said Tonks when he finished the story. "You weren't in on it. He can't have thought you wanted to…"
"…bite him," Remus finished for her, unable to meet her gaze. How could she stand to hear about the wolfish side of him? "Severus had no reason to think otherwise. I seldom stopped Sirius from bullying him, and I cast my share of insults."
As he spoke, his hands drifted down from her head to her back. Around her shoulder blades, her muscles balled into knots. This night had been a tense one for her, and it had been preceded by a physically demanding workday.
Leaning over her, he murmured, "Let me massage you."
Without hesitation, Tonks sat up and turned her back to him. Her head lolled forward as he rubbed and kneaded, and Remus was glad he had thought to do this. Tonks needed it, and he enjoyed doing it for her. The combination of her slender frame beneath his hands and her deep sighs and throaty moans drove their conversation out of his mind.
"You've got great hands, Remus," she said, voice thick with pleasure. "D'you think Snape's jealous of you?"
Her abrupt return to the topic was disorienting, especially as Remus was disinclined to return to it. Grinning moronically at the implication of her first statement, he said, "Of my great hands?"
Tonks gave a snort of laughter, but then turned and looked at him. "Seriously."
Remus sighed as his hands slid away from her. "For all Severus is fascinated with the Dark Arts," he said, "he harbours a particular disdain for Dark Creatures. He seems to take considerable pleasure in my fate as such."
"Yet you held the post he's always wanted."
"Only for a year."
"That's longer than he'll hope to have it," Tonks argued. "And you've got friends, and you've got me."
Strange as it was to think of anyone envying his life, Tonks did have a point. He had always thought Snape's hatred of James had been rooted in jealousy about James' Quidditch skills, popularity, and at times, his success with Lily. But Tonks' last comment gave Remus a jolt. Did she mean jealous that he had a girlfriend at all, or jealous that his girlfriend was Tonks, specifically?
Thankfully, Tonks distracted him from that rather disturbing train of thought. Gently prising his knees apart, she slipped between his legs. Who wouldn't envy him this curvy female body pressed close, these small hands splayed firmly against his back, this cheek buried in his jumper?
"I just hate that you've got to put up with him," she said softly.
"I don't care about Snape's opinion of me."
Remus' voice was tight and sounded less convincing than he would have liked. The particular aspects of their relationship upon which Snape had commented had crossed Remus' mind before. Had they occurred to Tonks? Unfortunately, Snape's attitude was not unique in the Wizarding world, and was likely the prevalent one among the Ministry crowd with which Tonks operated. As Voldemort strengthened and gained more followers, suspicions would intensify. They needed to address these issues on their own before others forced them.
"He's so cruel," Tonks said.
"You were very calm when you responded to him," Remus tentatively broached the subject.
Tonks raised her head, revealing an ear-to-ear grin. "You probably expected me to fly into a mad rage and hex him. Aren't you proud of me?"
"I am." Remus leant in and kissed her lightly. "Very. But I've got to ask, did it bother you, what he said about me?"
Her bright eyes clouded. "I don't like to hear anyone talk about you that way - especially not people on our side." With a defiant toss of her head, she said, "I thought Severus was smart enough not to buy into Umbridge's ridiculous prejudices."
"His prejudices go back further than Umbridge's anti-werewolf legislation."
"I don't care what he thinks," she said firmly. "I didn't take any of it to heart."
Her loyalty was predictable and Remus could not help but smile. Yet he wondered if she really understood what he was hinting. He would have to be more direct. Drawing a deep breath, he asked, "Doesn't it give you pause about our relationship to know that people see us and think I'm taking advantage of you?"
"No one who matters thinks that." Mischief tinged Tonks' expression as she said, "You're so concerned that people not think you're using me that you won't even let me buy you a birthday present."
"This isn't about my birthday."
"It is, sort of." Impatience crept into her tone. "Just because you're a werewolf doesn't mean you don't deserve the things I'd give you if you weren't."
"You want to give me different things, though." Remus' thoughts turned to the whispered conversation he'd overheard between Tonks and Snape. "If you didn't ask Severus to make the potion, what-"
Tonks moved back defensively. "I didn't."
"I know." Remus reached for her. "What did you talk to him about?"
As Tonks stood and looked down on him, her eyes darkened to black. "D'you trust me, Remus?"
After a slight hesitation, he nodded.
"Right then," said Tonks. "I'm knackered, so I think I'll be getting back to mine."
Instantly chagrined and not about to let another person he cared about go to bed angry and hurt, Remus rose from his chair. "You don't have to go." He took her hands. "I've been a prat, I know, but-"
Pulling one hand free, Tonks pressed her fingertips to his lips. "I'm not leaving because you've been a prat. I've put up with worse from you."
Remus' chest constricted with a pang of guilt that she had.
Smiling slightly, Tonks said, "Believe it or not, I'm really tired, and I've still got a sodding mountain of paperwork."
He had forgotten. He kissed her fingers, then leaned his forehead against hers as his hands slid around her waist. "I'm sorry."
"S'okay."
Tonks tilted her head upward, and her lips were soft and languid on his, gently coaxing away his agitation. However, Remus knew that as soon she was gone and he was left alone in the gloomy old house with a friend from whom temporarily estranged, his brooding mood would return. He kissed her more insistently. Tonks made a surprised sound against his mouth, which turned into a pleased sigh as she responded.
Too soon, she pulled back, neck and cheeks flushed. "Keep that up," she said breathlessly, "and I'll never leave."
"I don't want you to." Remus dipped his head and hovered just above her mouth, arms tightening around her. "I've got duty tomorrow, and you have the next. I don't like days I don't get to see you."
"We'll be together on your birthday."
"That's three days from now."
She turned her head as he bent to kiss her again. "I'd love to stay, really I would, but I don't think Scrimgeour will accept snogging as an excuse for not handing in my paperwork."
"Perhaps if you told him your werewolf ate it?"
Tonks laughed, then dragged her fingers through his hair, lightly scratching his scalp, as she leaned in for one more quick kiss. "That's the mood I want you to have on your birthday, all right? I know it's moon week-"
"I'll try," he said. "But please don't go to a great deal of trouble. No gifts."
"Thanks for reminding me," said Tonks dryly, sliding out of his arms and moving to the door. "I'd forgot, even though I just mentioned it."
"Sarcastically," said Remus as he followed her downstairs to the kitchen, where she had left her belongings. "I'm sorry, it's just-"
"I think you've forgot the elaborate surprise candlelight dinner you arranged for me. You can't expect me not to return the favour."
The assertive manner in which she slung her bag over her shoulder made Remus refrain from arguing with her again.
"Night, Remus. Take care."
He caught her hand. "I'll walk you out."
Immediately Tonks softened, and she stretched up to peck his cheek. "That's what I like about you, Remus. Even when you're a grump, you're still a gentleman."
"And being a gentleman covers a multitude of sins?"
"Absolutely."
When she had Disapparated and Remus trudged back inside twelve Grimmauld Place to brood, he was glad to at least have that one thing going for him.
Read Part Three
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Author: MrsTater
Rating: PG
Pairing/Featured Characters: Remus Lupin/Nymphadora Tonks; Sirius Black, Severus Snape
Summary: Thirteenth in the Transfigured Hearts series: Remus could only imagine how Tonks would react if she knew the potion he could afford was not, by any stretch, perfect.
Author's Notes: This story follows Valentine, Done Well in the Transfigured Hearts series, and is set in March of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Part Two
Remus made sure he maintained a mild expression as he kept the minutes for the Order meeting. His script was rather darker and less meticulous than usual from pushing his quill too hard and too quickly across the parchment, but that was the only indication that he was livid. In his peripheral he saw Sirius wearing his indignation for all the world to see. He slumped in his chair with arms crossed, jaw clenched , brow furrowed, eyes hard. But what right did he have to sulk? He was one who had blindsided his best mate - the one constant person in his months of confinement in the miserable house - with an unjust and untrue attack.
As Order members gave reports and Dumbledore made new assignments, Sirius' expression became increasingly darker and more brooding as he, once again, was passed over. Remus was sure Snape's most recent barb about unlimited leisure time heightened Sirius' feelings of uselessness and restlessness. And while it was, as Tonks said, unfair of Sirius to unleash those frustrations the way he had, Remus could not help but wonder if he could have done anything to make Sirius feel less abandoned.
He determined to deal with Sirius straight away after the meeting, but the instant they were adjourned, Sirius bolted upstairs and Remus was cornered by Mundungus Fletcher, who, ironically enough, thought he might be interested in Wolfsbane Potion imported by very questionable Dutch sources. Ordinarily Dung's aggressive and appalling sales pitch would have been amusing, and Remus would have committed the interview to memory to share with Tonks and Sirius later, but this time his only thought was to get away from the dodgy Order member. When he finally did, he still was not free to find Sirius; others had business to discuss with Remus, and nearly three-quarters of an hour passed before everyone left and he was able to escape the basement kitchen.
Just as he mounted the staircase on the main floor, he met Tonks descending, obviously from Sirius' room. Irritation welled up in him that Tonks had fought another of his battles, but then he noticed how heavily she leaned on the handrail, and the way her shoulders slumped; she was clearly worn out. While Remus appreciated that she would go to such effort on his behalf, he wished she would not.
Stopping on the riser just above him, she said, "Sirius says he's sorry."
"This is between Sirius and me." Remus moved to step around Tonks, but she pressed a light hand to his chest.
"I'm not one to put off making up with a friend," she said, "but Sirius needs more time to cool off, and you're tired and edgy. Not a good for sorting things out."
She was right, of course, but that did not make it any less frustrating. Slumping against the wall, Remus sighed heavily and raked his fingers through his hair. It was getting shaggy; Molly had been one of the people to approach him, after him to let her trim it.
"I'm all right," he said. "I should talk to him."
Tonks' forehead creased, and she briefly pressed her lips together in a tight line before saying, "Don't you take responsibility for Sirius. He was completely out of line. You don't have to pretend not to be upset."
The only time Remus had been angrier and more hurt by him was over the infamous full moon prank in which Sirius attempted to lure Snape to the Shrieking Shack. Remus had hit him, and after that a few days of silence passed between them. Two adults ought to be able to resolve their differences rather sooner than that, and without coming to blows, but perhaps they had not changed so very much since Hogwarts days. It certainly would be satisfying to hit Sirius now.
"I feel," he began hoarsely, unable to shake the question of whether he could have been prevented this, "like I am the ineffective prefect again. I've never known what to say when those two go at each other-"
Tonks' hands moved to cup his face. "Don't think about the past, Remus. Tonight you did all the right things. There was nothing you could've said to make that scene turn out any differently."
"If I had been in a better mood from the start, Sirius would have had no reason to think I was against him."
"I admit," Tonks said, hands sliding down to rest on his shoulders, "you're not Mister Sunshine today, but that's got nothing to do with Sirius."
"Thank you." Her unflagging support was suddenly overwhelming, in spite of his preference that she not intervene. "You didn't have to talk to him. Or Snape."
"Of course I did. It's what fellow Order members do."
The realisation that Tonks had not merely acted as an overprotective girlfriend was somewhat soothing to Remus' bruised ego. Tonks would have done the same for any colleague. Kindness and loyalty were her natural attributes.
"You're tense," she observed, fingers working small circles the base of his neck. "Let's go to the drawing room. I'll give you a back rub."
Instead of stepping aside for her to alight from the stairs, Remus took advantage of their matched height by catching her in a tight embrace and pressing his lips to the curve of her neck, just inside her collar.
"What would I do without you?" he murmured against her skin, kissing her again as goose bumps prickled up, making the fine, light hairs stand.
"Brood about Sirius and have sore shoulders, I reckon." Tonks said it lightly, but as he drew back from her he noted she looked quite pleased with herself, which in turn made Remus smile. "But you have got me," she said, nudging him to turn and step down, "so there's no point in thinking hypothetically."
Soon Remus wasn't thinking in any fashion, hypothetical or otherwise, apart from the sensations of Tonks' strong hands massaging his muscles. She knew all the places that got sorest. Was it because she'd got used to the way the moon worked over his body? Or did she know from experience which muscles and joints were most affected by change?
Her voice broke into his lackadaisical thoughts. "Why does Severus hate you?"
When Remus reacted by tensing his shoulders, Tonks kneaded harder and urged him to relax. He had a distinct feeling that it would be impossible to do so whilst discussing Snape. Hoping to put her off of the subject, he said flippantly. "I was under the impression Snape hated everyone."
"Not me," Tonks replied. "I've never thought he hated me. He's hateful to me, but that's not the same, is it?"
Her astuteness came as somewhat of a surprise, not because Remus did not regard Tonks as highly intelligent, but because he was not at all sure that at her age he would have drawn that distinction - especially not in light of the cutting remarks Snape had made about her personal life. Nor was he certain he did now, at least not in practice.
"Well," he said, "Severus actually hates Sirius and me."
"Why you, though?" She stopped massaging and leaned over his shoulder to regard his profile. "You're not hostile like Sirius. You don't respond to goading. Severus must have a reason behind cutting so deep. He doesn't bother with everyone."
It was clear that Tonks was not going to let this drop until she got a satisfactory answer, and she would know if he wasn't telling her the whole truth. As Remus considered this, he realised it might be good for her know what a deep-seated grudge Snape carried. The future likely would bring more such altercations as tonight, and Tonks would do well to grasp how fruitless it was to defend Remus to Snape. The only thing holding him back from relating the story was that it was not just about him.
Catching her hand, Remus pulled her gently so that she stood in front of his chair. "If I tell you," he said, "you've got to promise not to let it affect how you see Sirius."
"All right," said Tonks, drawing out the words and furrowing her brow.
"It happened a long time ago," Remus went on quickly, "and it is forgiven between us. Sirius honestly never considered how it would affect me if it worked."
Tonks dropped into a crouch and rested her hands on his knees. "If you'd rather not tell me-"
"No. I don't mind you knowing."
He almost regretted telling her when Tonks clutched the worn fabric of his trousers, horrified by Sirius' full moon prank. Part of Remus did appreciate that her vehemence was because he had been used, but if it made her resent Sirius nearly two decades after the fact, for something with which she was not even remotely connected…. She calmed quickly, though, resting her head on Remus' legs as he stroked her hair.
"I still don't understand why Severus hates you," said Tonks when he finished the story. "You weren't in on it. He can't have thought you wanted to…"
"…bite him," Remus finished for her, unable to meet her gaze. How could she stand to hear about the wolfish side of him? "Severus had no reason to think otherwise. I seldom stopped Sirius from bullying him, and I cast my share of insults."
As he spoke, his hands drifted down from her head to her back. Around her shoulder blades, her muscles balled into knots. This night had been a tense one for her, and it had been preceded by a physically demanding workday.
Leaning over her, he murmured, "Let me massage you."
Without hesitation, Tonks sat up and turned her back to him. Her head lolled forward as he rubbed and kneaded, and Remus was glad he had thought to do this. Tonks needed it, and he enjoyed doing it for her. The combination of her slender frame beneath his hands and her deep sighs and throaty moans drove their conversation out of his mind.
"You've got great hands, Remus," she said, voice thick with pleasure. "D'you think Snape's jealous of you?"
Her abrupt return to the topic was disorienting, especially as Remus was disinclined to return to it. Grinning moronically at the implication of her first statement, he said, "Of my great hands?"
Tonks gave a snort of laughter, but then turned and looked at him. "Seriously."
Remus sighed as his hands slid away from her. "For all Severus is fascinated with the Dark Arts," he said, "he harbours a particular disdain for Dark Creatures. He seems to take considerable pleasure in my fate as such."
"Yet you held the post he's always wanted."
"Only for a year."
"That's longer than he'll hope to have it," Tonks argued. "And you've got friends, and you've got me."
Strange as it was to think of anyone envying his life, Tonks did have a point. He had always thought Snape's hatred of James had been rooted in jealousy about James' Quidditch skills, popularity, and at times, his success with Lily. But Tonks' last comment gave Remus a jolt. Did she mean jealous that he had a girlfriend at all, or jealous that his girlfriend was Tonks, specifically?
Thankfully, Tonks distracted him from that rather disturbing train of thought. Gently prising his knees apart, she slipped between his legs. Who wouldn't envy him this curvy female body pressed close, these small hands splayed firmly against his back, this cheek buried in his jumper?
"I just hate that you've got to put up with him," she said softly.
"I don't care about Snape's opinion of me."
Remus' voice was tight and sounded less convincing than he would have liked. The particular aspects of their relationship upon which Snape had commented had crossed Remus' mind before. Had they occurred to Tonks? Unfortunately, Snape's attitude was not unique in the Wizarding world, and was likely the prevalent one among the Ministry crowd with which Tonks operated. As Voldemort strengthened and gained more followers, suspicions would intensify. They needed to address these issues on their own before others forced them.
"He's so cruel," Tonks said.
"You were very calm when you responded to him," Remus tentatively broached the subject.
Tonks raised her head, revealing an ear-to-ear grin. "You probably expected me to fly into a mad rage and hex him. Aren't you proud of me?"
"I am." Remus leant in and kissed her lightly. "Very. But I've got to ask, did it bother you, what he said about me?"
Her bright eyes clouded. "I don't like to hear anyone talk about you that way - especially not people on our side." With a defiant toss of her head, she said, "I thought Severus was smart enough not to buy into Umbridge's ridiculous prejudices."
"His prejudices go back further than Umbridge's anti-werewolf legislation."
"I don't care what he thinks," she said firmly. "I didn't take any of it to heart."
Her loyalty was predictable and Remus could not help but smile. Yet he wondered if she really understood what he was hinting. He would have to be more direct. Drawing a deep breath, he asked, "Doesn't it give you pause about our relationship to know that people see us and think I'm taking advantage of you?"
"No one who matters thinks that." Mischief tinged Tonks' expression as she said, "You're so concerned that people not think you're using me that you won't even let me buy you a birthday present."
"This isn't about my birthday."
"It is, sort of." Impatience crept into her tone. "Just because you're a werewolf doesn't mean you don't deserve the things I'd give you if you weren't."
"You want to give me different things, though." Remus' thoughts turned to the whispered conversation he'd overheard between Tonks and Snape. "If you didn't ask Severus to make the potion, what-"
Tonks moved back defensively. "I didn't."
"I know." Remus reached for her. "What did you talk to him about?"
As Tonks stood and looked down on him, her eyes darkened to black. "D'you trust me, Remus?"
After a slight hesitation, he nodded.
"Right then," said Tonks. "I'm knackered, so I think I'll be getting back to mine."
Instantly chagrined and not about to let another person he cared about go to bed angry and hurt, Remus rose from his chair. "You don't have to go." He took her hands. "I've been a prat, I know, but-"
Pulling one hand free, Tonks pressed her fingertips to his lips. "I'm not leaving because you've been a prat. I've put up with worse from you."
Remus' chest constricted with a pang of guilt that she had.
Smiling slightly, Tonks said, "Believe it or not, I'm really tired, and I've still got a sodding mountain of paperwork."
He had forgotten. He kissed her fingers, then leaned his forehead against hers as his hands slid around her waist. "I'm sorry."
"S'okay."
Tonks tilted her head upward, and her lips were soft and languid on his, gently coaxing away his agitation. However, Remus knew that as soon she was gone and he was left alone in the gloomy old house with a friend from whom temporarily estranged, his brooding mood would return. He kissed her more insistently. Tonks made a surprised sound against his mouth, which turned into a pleased sigh as she responded.
Too soon, she pulled back, neck and cheeks flushed. "Keep that up," she said breathlessly, "and I'll never leave."
"I don't want you to." Remus dipped his head and hovered just above her mouth, arms tightening around her. "I've got duty tomorrow, and you have the next. I don't like days I don't get to see you."
"We'll be together on your birthday."
"That's three days from now."
She turned her head as he bent to kiss her again. "I'd love to stay, really I would, but I don't think Scrimgeour will accept snogging as an excuse for not handing in my paperwork."
"Perhaps if you told him your werewolf ate it?"
Tonks laughed, then dragged her fingers through his hair, lightly scratching his scalp, as she leaned in for one more quick kiss. "That's the mood I want you to have on your birthday, all right? I know it's moon week-"
"I'll try," he said. "But please don't go to a great deal of trouble. No gifts."
"Thanks for reminding me," said Tonks dryly, sliding out of his arms and moving to the door. "I'd forgot, even though I just mentioned it."
"Sarcastically," said Remus as he followed her downstairs to the kitchen, where she had left her belongings. "I'm sorry, it's just-"
"I think you've forgot the elaborate surprise candlelight dinner you arranged for me. You can't expect me not to return the favour."
The assertive manner in which she slung her bag over her shoulder made Remus refrain from arguing with her again.
"Night, Remus. Take care."
He caught her hand. "I'll walk you out."
Immediately Tonks softened, and she stretched up to peck his cheek. "That's what I like about you, Remus. Even when you're a grump, you're still a gentleman."
"And being a gentleman covers a multitude of sins?"
"Absolutely."
When she had Disapparated and Remus trudged back inside twelve Grimmauld Place to brood, he was glad to at least have that one thing going for him.
Read Part Three
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