The Blind Date

Authors Notes: Thanks again go, as always, to my beta, Jenni. Also, thanks go to LunaMoon for pre-reading this and giving me some tips.

This is the first in the "Grimmauld Place" series, which deals with the (rather humorous) beginnings of Remus and Tonks' relationship, and which I will continue if I get enough positive feedback from this story. Anyways- enjoy!

*Tonks*

"Nymphadora?"

I look up from my goblet of elf-made wine to see Albus Dumbledore staring at me, his eyes twinkling merrily. I sigh.

If anyone else besides Dumbledore dared to call me Nymphadora after I had repeatedly stressed that I despised my first name, I'd have hexed them into next week.

But then again, it's Dumbledore.

And, deep down, I'm still a little afraid of Dumbledore.

So I bite my tongue and force a smile onto my face. "Yes?" I ask sweetly.

"I saw you from across the room," Dumbledore starts, "and I noticed that, even though everyone else seems to be having a lovely time, you seem to be over here brooding. By yourself." He smiles again. "Is everything all right?"

I sigh again and look around the kitchen of Grimmauld Place. It's the end of an Order meeting, and everyone's standing around talking merrily, goblets of wine in their hands, the atmosphere generally festive.

I, however, am feeling anything but festive. I actually wanted to ditch this meeting and not come at all, but my inner conscience persuaded me to come, for the good of the Order.

Stupid inner voice.

"Nymphadora?" Dumbledore prompts again, and I start.

Whoops. I'd forgotten he was there.

"Are you having trouble with someone in the Order?" Dumbledore asks softly, and I smile.

He really is a nice old man.

"No, no." I shake my head. "Everyone's been lovely."

"Then what is it?" he presses.

My eyes automatically slide to someone on the opposite side of the room. Someone with dark brown hair, and brown eyes, and a lovely smile, and...

Uh-oh. He's seen me looking.

He raises a hand in greeting. I wave back and smile weakly. I see Sirius lean over and whisper something to him and he says something back, frowning.

Probably denying he's aware of my existence.

"Ahh," says Dumbledore, following my gaze with a knowing look. "Maybe just one member of the Order?"

Damn that old wizard is perceptive sometimes.

"What?" I try to feign ignorance. "No, Remus has been lovely!"

"Really?" Dumbledore raises an eyebrow.

"Yes!" I'm turning red. I can feel it.

Damn you Dumbledore, you twisted old wizard.

I have to get over this Remus fixation! He's not even my type! I don't usually go for tall, brown-haired 37-year-olds with werewolf-ish tendencies. I'm not sure what's come over me, but I can't seem to stop thinking about him...and I'm slightly disturbed by my own behaviour. I'm an Auror, for Merlin's sake. I'm a professional.

"Nymphadora?" Dumbledore says softly, and I jump.

Why do I keep forgetting he's there?

Dumbledore's staring at me intently, and I suddenly remember he's an accomplished Occlumens. Oh, crap.

Must.

Close.

Mind.

"Are you feeling all right?" he says in concern as I try to concentrate on closing my mind so that he can't see that I'm thinking about Remus.

"What? Yes, I'm fine!" I say brightly, giving up my quest.

Hey, if he wants my thoughts that badly...

"I have a nephew," he continues gaily, turning his own goblet in his hands. "Well, a sort of adopted nephew, who is a very nice young man, and who happens to be visiting London in the next couple of days..."

"Oh, yes?" I say, feigning interest, whilst watching Remus out of the corner of my eye.

Great, I've become a stalker.

"Yes," Dumbledore continues. "I'm sure he'd love to meet you...shall I arrange a meeting?"

"Sure," I say distractedly, not really listening. Then Dumbledore's words click in my head.

Wait. Hold on a minute...

"What?" I turn my head back to Dumbledore and give him my full attention. Dumbledore, for his part, is beaming.

"Wonderful! I'll give him your Floo number!"

"Wha...hold on a second!" I open my mouth to try and undo the damage, but Dumbledore's too quick. He rises to his feet, his eyes twinkling.

"He'll be in touch within the next couple of days," Dumbledore says. "I think it's wonderful you're willing to show him around, Nymphadora. Thankyou."

With that, he's gone. I blink.

Wow. That happened fast.

"Crap," I mutter, getting to my feet. Did I just agree to go on a date with Dumbledore's nephew? What is he, a hundred and seven?

Still absorbed in my thoughts, I wander across the room. It's a moment before I remember the large hearthrug in the middle of the floor.

Oops. Too late.

My goblet flies out of my hands as I trip on a corner of the rug and go flying headfirst to the floor.

It wasn't enough that I just agreed to go on a date with a geriatric.

"Are you all right?"

Two strong hands suddenly grab me and haul me to my feet. It takes me a moment to realise that I'm nose-to-nose with Remus Lupin.

My heart stops. "Uhh..." I strangle out.

Well done, Tonks. Bravo, my mind mocks me.

"Shut up," I mutter. Remus looks incredibly surprised.

"What?"

"Ahh, nothing." I smile at him, shaking the hair out of my eyes. "Umm...thanks."

"No problem," he smiles back at me. I notice he still hasn't taken his arms from around my waist and I feel my face start to go red.

Hmm. This feels nice.

"Tonksie!" Sirius has suddenly appeared from nowhere, a bottle of wine in his hand. "Nice fall, luv!"

As I babble incoherently, he slings an arm around my shoulders. "I think you need another drink," he crows, dragging me away from Remus

Not now, Sirius!

As Sirius leads me away, I glance over my shoulder to see Remus looking confused and slightly disappointed. I don't have time to reflect on that, however, as Sirius suddenly shoves another goblet of wine into my hands.

"But..." I look down. "I already have a goblet, Sirius."

"Well, drink up, then!" He slaps me on the back so hard that half the wine spills out of the cup and onto the ornate rug. The crimson stain quickly spreads and I wince.

"Oops," I groan. "Sorry!"

"Never mind!" Sirius doesn't blink an eye. "Just priceless Black family heirlooms. Seriously, the more things you can damage while you're here, the better."

I laugh and take a swig of my wine.

Four goblet fulls of wine later, most of the Order has gone, and I am completely schnockered.

"Soooo," Sirius slurs, his arms still around my shoulders, sitting next to me. "What were you and Dumbledore talking about over there?"

"Oh." I roll my eyes. "He set me up on a blind date with a seven hundred year old."

"What?"

"Ok, so maybe he's not that old," I amend, taking another sip of my wine and hiccoughing.

"You're going on a blind daaaaaaate?" Sirius asks, his eyes wide. I nod.

"Looks like it. How pathetic is that?"

Sirius shrugs. "It could be worse. Take me, for instance - I haven't had a shag in fourteen years."

I blink. "That's...nice, Sirius."

"Yeah. I'm a sharing kinda guy." Sirius shrugs and reaches for the bottle of wine. Unfortunately, there's none left.

"Where the hell did all the bloody wine go?" he asks, peering into the bottle.

"You drank it all." My heart skips a beat as I recognise the voice.

Skips a beat? My mind is mocking me again. Are you going to swoon?

Grr. Minds are overrated.

"We drank it all?" Sirius repeats, staring up at Remus. "When?"

"Well, right after you drank the last bottle, and then there was the bottle before that, and..."

"Okay, okay!" Sirius stands up shakily. "I'll go get another bottle."

"Don't you think you've had enough?" Remus asks in amusement. Sirius just ignores him and totters away to try and find another bottle. Remus takes the vacated seat and peers at me. I flutter my eyelashes and he looks taken aback.

Did I just flutter my eyelashes?

"Are you all right?" he asks me worriedly.

"I think I've had too much to drink," I mutter. He smiles.

"At least you can admit it," he says in a conspirational tone, leaning towards me. "Sirius never can."

He smells really good. Would it be wrong to just reach over and snog him silly?

He hesitates, seeing the look in my eyes. Judging by the look in his, my little intrusion would be welcome.

"Is that right?" I ask, closing the distance between us clumsily.

"Yes. Yes, it is right. Really, really, right. Well, if something can be that right." Remus is now babbling.

I've never heard him babble before. It's kind of funny.

"You wouldn't believe the number of times I've had to sober Sirius up," he continues. I nod, closing the final distance between us while Remus's voice trails off.

My heart pounds as our lips get closer, and closer, and closer...

CRASH!
We jump apart and our heads turn to the sound.

"Sirius," Remus says immediately. We get up (with me being decidedly wobbly on my feet) and hurry towards the stairs.

Sirius is passed out in Kreacher's cupboard, snoring loudly, the empty wine bottle still clutched in his hands. Kreacher stands over him, a disgusted look on his face.

I start to giggle hysterically as I take in Sirius's appearance. Remus glances over at me and laughs as well.

"Well," I say, hiccoughing slightly. "I think I'd better be off."

"Wait." Remus holds out a hand and I freeze. "Maybe you should stay here. You're...well..."

I know he wants to say drunk, and I should be insulted, but he's right. I'm hammered.

"No," I protest anyway. "I'm fine!"

I disprove this point by tripping up the stairs and bursting into hysterical laughter again.

Remus grabs me under the armpits and hauls me to my feet again as I continue to giggle, and leads me up the stairs.

"At least let me walk you home, then, " he offers. "The fresh air might sober you up."

"All right!" I say cheerily as we make our way up the stairs.

Then I remember Sirius's mother and come to a halt. I feel Remus bump against me and turn to him, my finger on my lips.

"Tonks?" he enquires.

"You have to...shh!" I put my finger to my lips again. "Sirius's mum. She doesn't like so much with the noise."

Remus smiles. "I didn't make any noise."

I smile. He's so smart.

"Right! Right! Then I should..." I put my finger to my lips and he smiles again.

"That's right, Tonks."

"Okay," I whisper, starting to tiptoe up the stairs. However, in my drunken state, there are twice as many stairs as there should be, and I hear Remus snort behind me.

"Let me help you," he offers. He suddenly slings me over one shoulder and proceeds to carry me up the stairs. At this I start giggling again, and Remus has to shush me.

We manage to make it past the portrait and out onto the front lawn.

At which point I promptly take off my shoes and run down the street, giggling hysterically.

"Tonks!" Remus calls to me and then and then I hear him thundering along behind me. I suddenly feel two hands around my waist and I stop suddenly. Looking over my shoulder I see Remus holding tight, panting slightly.

"Hey!" I say brightly.

He looks at me with a slightly lopsided smile. "You're worse than Sirius."

"I'm insulted!" I pout.

Remus just smiles. "Which way to your house?"

Good question.

"Umm..." I scratch my head. "That way?" I guess, pointing.

"That's the Thames, Tonks," Remus says with a straight face.

"Oh!"

"You don't remember, do you?" Remus laughs. "Never mind, I think I remember."

We start walking and I shiver. "I'm cold," I complain.

"Here." Remus immediately stops and removes his coat, draping it over me. It's so threadbare that it doesn't really make much of a difference, but I smile at his generosity anyway.

We continue walking, with me sobering up as we go. By the time we reach my flat ten minutes later, I'm feeling much more stable.

"This is it," I say as we walk up to my gate. Remus smiles again.

"You remember."

"Yeah," I say sheepishly. I open my gate and Remus trails me up the path to my door.

I frown suddenly. "Where the bloody hell are my keys," I mutter, fishing in my coat.

Wait. This is Remus's coat.

Damn, I must have left my keys in my coat at Grimmauld Place...

I'm starting to panic when Remus holds up a set of clinking, shiny keys. "Looking for these?"

"Yes!" I cry triumphantly. I take them from him, smiling. "You think of everything, don't you?"

He just grins and I turn away from him, putting the key in the lock and opening the front door. Then I turn back to him.

"Well." I'm suddenly all shy. "Thanks for walking me back, Remus. I think the fresh air did me good."

"Don't mention it," he says, smiling again.

There's an awkward pause.

"Well," I say, gesturing to my door. "I'd better go in."

"All right," he says. "And I'd better get going. Go and check on Sirius, you know."

"All right," I say, feeling slightly disappointed for some reason. "Goodnight, then."

"Goodnight."

I don't move. Either does he.

"Ahem." I clear my throat. "I'll see you at the meeting tomorrow?"

"Of course," Remus says quickly.

Silence.

"Okay, goodnight," I say again, moving away and into my house.

"Wait."

Remus's hand is on my arm. His hand is on my arm!

Oh, God! Get a grip, girl!

I turn. "Remus?" I enquire.

Remus stares at me for a minute. Then he suddenly leans forward and places a soft kiss on my cheek. "Goodnight, Nymphadora," he says softly. He then turns and makes his way down my steps and across the yard.

"Night," I echo, the spot where he kissed me burning. I slowly turn on my heel and enter my flat, closing the door behind me.

I was just kissed. By Remus Lupin. I don't even mind that he called me Nymphadora.

"Wow," I murmur excitedly.

Then I promptly proceed to pass out on my living room floor.

Authors Notes: Okay, what did you think? Let me know and do me a big favour and review! This fic is finished, so the other chapters should be up also!