The Beyond, It Tingles: #6 Divination

“Slip into the beyond,” Trelawney drifted among the tables, her voice mystically whispy.

“Who do you see?” Janelle tried not to look too eager. She was interested in Divination for one reason only… to predict her one true love. She watched Tonks peer into the crystal ball.

“Um…” Tonks only saw the inverted image of Janelle’s nose. “I see red hair… Quidditch… Charlie Weasley.” Janelle squealed and earned them a look.

“What do you see?” Tonks asked.

Janelle glanced at the ball. “Something big. Furry. Like a wolf?”

“Well.” Tonks bit her lip. “I am going to be an Auror.”

For Cassie who picked the number and is the only one reading these anyway

Dark Comedy: #45 Torch

“That’s my foot,” Tonks hissed, closing her eyes against the pain. The black inside her eyelids matched the black outside. It was very dark.

“Bloody…” Savage grunted as Tonks ground her foot on his and shoved him with her hip. He ran into Dawlish, who was still fumbling with his wand. Dawlish swore and fell to his knees, looking for his wand.

“Well, this comedy of errors has been very entertaining,” Tonks reached into her sack for the Muggle torch from her father last year. She clicked it on, and the world came clear. “Lads, sometimes, Muggles do it better.”

Again for Cass, and for LE who loves Charlie. Mmm Charlie.

Noteworthy: #11 History of Magic

“Seriously, Tonks… stop passing me notes,” Charlie Weasley hissed at his friend. Today she sported orange ringlets and looked like a psychotic Shirley Temple. “I’m trying to listen, and you know how Binns loses me.”

She wrinkled her nose and pushed the note at him again. “Seriously, Weasley, when did you start studying for History of Magic?”

He scowled at her and swatted her hand. “Since I discovered I was failing it.” His voice rose at the end and Binns paused.

“Winglebopp, no talking in class. Five from Gryffindor and visit me this evening for detention.” Charlie groaned; Tonks grinned.

I wrote this and immediately said,"Amen, sistah!" The title comes from my workplace... it's what we say on those long Monday mornings when the day just won't perk up. "Starbucks run?" "Yes... please!" Dedicated to Lee who makes me crave coffee and is now asleep.

Starbucks Run: #77 Cheerful

“Good morning,” Tonks danced into the office, coffee cup in hand. If her bright smile wasn’t a bit dazzling for early on a Monday morning, her hair most certainly was.

“How was your weekend?” She pulled herself onto Kingsley’s desk, spilling papers onto the floor. He scowled, but Tonks simply grinned at him. It was hard to be angry with that look on her pixie face.

“Merlin, Tonks… do you have to be so bloody cheerful? I’m not a morning person,” he grumbled.

“I’m not a morning person either.” She raised her mug and toasted him. “I’m a coffee person.”

Someone requested this number. Kirstie, I think. Yeah... took me long enough.

Grown Ups: #41 Thestrals

She looked like a little girl, curled in on herself, with her face pressed to her knees. The day was sparkling, but Tonks face was blank. She heard footfalls behind her but didn’t turn.

“You didn’t kill him,” Kingsley sat next to her and stared forward as well. “Don’t blame…”

“Still dead though,” she shivered. Her first death. She’d made it almost a year without seeing one. Tonks told herself that she needed to move on. She was an Auror.

A dark shape appeared over the forest. “What’s that?”

Kingsley watched the thestral silently. “Proof that you’ve grown up today.”

For Cassie, who requested this a looooooooooong time ago.

In Cups: #56 Fight

She found him at Grimmauld, nursing a firewhiskey and looking more worn than usual. “What do you want, Tonks?” she ignored his snarl, considering the alcohol and how long he’d been by himself.

“I figured you’d want company,” Tonks offered brightly. Perhaps too brightly considering the company.

“I don’t. We’ve talked about this,” he went back to his cups.

Tonks studied the fall of Remus’s hair. “Well, I want company.”

He growled low in his throat, not looking at her. “Honestly, Remus. I’m not asking for a ring, just a drink. Does everything have to be a fight with you?”

For Penny, who requested it via PM and is more than welcome to request again.

Moon Over Hogwarts: #5 Astronomy

The exam was ending, and Tonks wasn’t sure she’d get her chart finished in time. She had the sky mostly filled, but something about Betelgeuse stumped her. Andromeda was easy to find, as well as Sirius and Bellatrix, the brightest star in Orion. Tonks tapped her quill.

Regulus was found, and she added it carefully. Funny how personal Astonomy could be when you were the blood traitor’s daughter. Minutes to go, and Tonks stared up at the moon. It was her favorite part of the night sky, which was odd. No one in her family was named after the moon.

Another for Penny... I'm sorry, my dear. If you want a non-Remus centered drabble, you'll have to thump me. I can't help myself.

Teacher's Pet: #9 Defense Against the Dark Arts

“What was your favorite subject?” Ginny leaned against the table eagerly. Tonks considered the question over her Christmas pudding.

“I want to say Defense, but I had dreadful teachers. I suppose a good teacher would make all the difference.” She glanced at the flame-haired girl next to her. “What’s yours?”

“Defense for me, but I’ve had an amazing teacher,” Ginny nodded down the table at where Harry and Remus leaned in to discuss something with Sirius. “Brings the subject alive. Explains things thoroughly. Dead handsome too.”

Tonks took a bite of pudding. “I do envy you that,” she said quietly.

For Vondella

What a Dud(ley): #55 Egg On

“Tonks,” Kingsley’s voice was a warning, and she peeked out of her cubicle warily. “Next time you come with me on a mission, you can’t pull stuff like that. It just isn’t professional.”

“What stuff?” She tried not to squeak. Not professional? And here she thought no one had seen her.

“You know what. You were deliberately egging him on, and someone could have seen you.” He took in her expression. “Don’t get caught, okay?”

She grinned crookedly. “Yessir! I had no idea that Dursley boy would take the pig snout so badly. Can’t imagine why.” She had her theories.

It's been too long, but I'm trying to get back into things. For Vondella, who picks numbers.

First Impressions: #25 Sorting Hat

It was no surprise to Tonks that she fell climbing the steps towards that dreaded stool. McGonagall, the stern woman, looked surprised. Dumbledore, the man with the white beard, seemed to want to laugh. Everyone else tittered as she pulled herself onto the stool.

The hat slid all the way down to her chin once it was set on her head. “Hmmm,” a voice tickled her ear. “Quick mind, a desire to prove yourself, loyal to a fault.” The voice hummed along merrily, and Tonks only just kept herself from arguing with it. “No, you’re fierce. Another Black for GRYFFINDOR.”

For Kris, who requested the number years ago.

She's No Doolittle: #7 Care of Magical Creatures

“I am rubbish at this class,” Tonks hissed at Charlie, but his response was to grin. “I am! I overfed my flobberworm, fed hamburger to the bowtruckle, and almost had my arm chewed off by a niffler. It’s too dangerous for me!”

They turned to stare at the large creature pawing the ground. The hippogriff snorted and glared at the line of students.

“Gorgeous, right?” Charlie climbed up the fence, but it was Tonks who was called to approach first. She made it three steps before falling on her face. The hippogriff bowed in response. “See, Tonks? You’re a natural.”

Eep... must keep up!

You Say Tomato, I Say Deadly Venemous Creature #34 Parseltongue

Voldemort was an idiot to leave a snake as watchman. Harry made short work of the hissing creature, and it retreated immediately, curling itself around and around. Harry looked satisfied with himself, but Tonks simply shivered and followed closely behind the rest of the group. Maybe there were more lurking about.

“You’re a little creepy, you know that? Savior of the world, perhaps, but dead creepy.”

He shook his head, rubbing at his scar, a tiny smile curling at his lips.

“Yeah, and the pig nose thing isn’t frightening at all.”

“Pigs are cute,” she insisted.

“Maybe snakes are too.”

In the News: #99 Newspaper

“Ah-ha! I found it!” Tonks shook the newspaper at Remus from across the room before dancing across to him to plunk down in his lap. “I found it,” she repeated and smoothed the paper with pleasure.

“Found what, exactly?” Remus seemed mildly surprised to find a pink haired woman on his knee. “Job description for a werewolf? Requests for Aurors who bounce entirely too much?”

Tonks laughed gleefully and curled up with her head on his shoulder. She shook open the paper again and pointed at a small blurb at the bottom. “Don’t be silly, Remus. It’s our wedding announcement.”

Hair Today...: #81 Depression

Tonks pulled out a length of her hair and gave it the dirtiest look of all time. “Come on, you… stupid… hair!” With a look of utmost concentration, she screwed up her face and concentrated just on that strand. Nothing. Still mousy brown.

It was really quite a lovely color on a certain Order member that had once taught at Hogwarts and was now unemployed and ignoring her and generally just breaking her heart. And Merlin, she really needed to learn to breathe more even in her private thoughts.

She grabbed a hat and glared at her reflection. Stupid depression.

Blast from the Past: #43 Headmaster

There was something odd about sitting across from your old headmaster and dealing with him as an equal. It was no less true when said headmaster was the famous Albus Dumbledore. Tonks twitched in her seat, hoping the meeting would end soon. Staring at Dumbledore only brought back memories of being in his office to explain why she’d destroyed yet another treasure in the school.

She twitched again, and her cup broke as it struck the table.

“No worries, Nymphadora.” His look was all good humor. That was the worst part, really. He always seemed to find her so… funny.

The Brothers Weasley: #95 Snowball

A raucous scream echoed across the snow covered landscape, and Tonks threw herself to the ground. “Wuzzat?” She mumbled into the pile of snow pressed against her face, but she was quickly reassured that she was an idiot by the laughing above her.

“Those… are my brothers, Fred and George. Twins. Start at Hogwarts next year.” Charlie was laughing at her.

All of a sudden, his laughter had died and he had a face full of snow that had been magically lobbed over the hedge. “Charlie’s home,” twin voices chanted with more snowballs.

Tonks laughed. “I do like your brothers.”

Staring Contests: # 52 bore

The Potions Master glared and glowered at the pink-haired pixie before him. It was some sort of stand off, with his dark looks and her sunny smile at odds. A chance hallway encounter had led to this standoff.

“You think you’re scary, right?” Tonks nearly bounced on the balls of her feet, delighted for the chance to taunt ever-cranky Snape.

He simply continued with his death stare, and Tonks was certain that a lesser soul would have certainly wet themselves.

“Well, you aren’t much for conversation, this is true,” her smile grew. “All this glaring… you’re kind of a bore.”

Protection: #16 Dragonhide gloves

Tonks opened and shut every drawer in the Hufflepuff common room before racing back up the stairs to her room. She threw herself head first into her trunk to rummage around. “Ugh,” kept emanating from inside the depths of the trunk.

“You’re going flying?” Her roommate and fellow Hufflepuff Janet piped up.

“Yeah.”

“You’re looking for your gear?”

“Yeah,” she answered again.

“Protective gear?”

“YEAH,” Tonks backed out of the trunk and glared.

“Like… helmet? Knee pads? Full body cushion?”

“You’re hilarious,” Tonks said dryly. “Found them!” She grabbed something from under her bed, her tone exultant.

“What?”

“Dragonhide gloves.”

Walking the Line: #66 Pace

“Sit down, darling,” Andromeda Black Tonks called from the couch. She didn’t glance up from the dainty white booties she was working at. Tonks was sure she would have impaled herself on a knitting needle long ago, but Andromeda continued on without incident.

“I can’t get up again,” Tonks complained, sliding her hand over her rounded belly. She was slowly wearing a path across the carpet. Door to window and back, day after day. Each footstep was marked time in an eternity without him. Each footstep was another moment since he’d left them, Tonks and their baby. So she paced.

Goodnight, Moony (Junior): #59 Ignore

”He’s crying again,” Tonks peeked around the doorframe and eyed the room cautiously. A gurgle had her zipping back around the corner and into Remus’s arms. “I think he saw me.”

“You’re not hard to spot with that hair,” he laughed and attempted to propel her back to the sitting room. “He’s fine.”

“He’s not fine,” she fought Remus as Teddy started to scream. “Let me go pick him up.”

“You have years to pick him up. Let’s just… ignore him,” Remus pulled her close and gave her neck a little attention. Yes… she could ignore Teddy. For a moment.

The End:#74 X-tinguish

There was no white light. That was the first thought that went through Tonks’ head.

It was noisy, though, and Tonks thought it would be quieter. There was the sound of battle and the high-pitched cackle of Bellatrix. There was the low grunt of Remus behind her as he fought. That sound she liked. It made it easier to slip away knowing he was still fighting for Teddy and the others.

There wasn’t even life flashing before her eyes, and she would have liked that. There was just green and then black. And that was the extinguishing of a life.

Play It Again, Dad: #85 Snappish

“That’s STUPID,” the blond girl with the flashing eyes snapped. “Why were they so STUPID?”

“It isn’t stupid,” her pink-haired sister insisted. “It’s a good story. If you keep interrupting him, he won’t finish.”

“Finish,” the first demanded.

Their father smiled at the girls. “Addy, Dory… listen. Where were we? Right, so Grandpa Remus came back again, just before it was time for me to be born.”

“Stupid,” Adelaide muttered.

“Romantic,” Nymphadora insisted. “Tell us again about the time Grandpa Remus told Grandma that he wanted to marry her.”

“You’ve heard this story so often,” Teddy laughed before beginning again.

A Nighttime Visit: #58 Hoot

Hoot.

Tonks sat up straight in her bed and stared at the clock. Was that an owl? Did she hear at owl? She strained her ears in the silence. When nothing happened, she fell back against the blanket with a heavy sigh. No owl. Her eyes drifted closed.

Hoot.

With a curse, Tonks threw herself out of bed and fell over the blanket that was piled on the floor. There WAS an owl. She stumbled around in the dark.

Hoot.

The scrabbling at the window helped her find it, and she threw it open. Finally. She’d been waiting for weeks.

At First Sight: #57 Gape

“Who is THAT?” Tonks leaned forward out of her cubicle and fell right into the aisle. “In Kingsley’s cubicle. Who is that?”

“Where?” Savage glanced out briefly before giving Tonks a scornful look. “Put your tongue in your mouth, kid. He’s old enough to be your father.”

“My extremely good looking and distinguished father,” Tonks scrambled back into her area, hoping no one had seen her gaping at the man with Kingsley.

Savage snorted at her and threw a balled-up warrant at her head. “Remus Lupin. Used to teach at Hogwarts, but turns out he’s a werewolf.”

“Brilliant,” Tonks whispered.

Walk This Way: #62 Lope

“How do you do that?” Tonks grinned at Remus as he entered the room with a cup of tea for her.

“Do what?” He handed over the cup with a sweet smile. “Brew tea? It’s easy, love. You put the leaves in the hot water…”

“Not brew tea,” she shook her head emphatically and spilled the tea. “Walk like that.”

“Put one foot in front of the other, love. Haven’t you ever seen me walk before?” He mopped up her spilled tea with a towel.

“You’re so graceful,” she explained, laughing at his stricken expression. “You lope like… a wolf.”