Dancing in the Rain

Dancing in the Rain-

‘Blasted rain,' Remus muttered as he staggered in the door of The Three Broomsticks. He was shivering, soaked clean through by the sudden downpour. He hadn't counted on being caught outside in the rain- in fact, he hadn't counted on it raining at all, and he was more than a little annoyed at finding himself trudging through Hogsmeade, dripping wet and not having made any provisions for this particular turn of events.

Then again, he thought ruefully, it wouldn't have made much of a difference. Coming down from Hogwarts, he hadn't any choice but to walk, since he was unable to Apparate off the grounds, hadn't carried a broomstick and wasn't particularly fond of the Floo. As such, he was thoroughly drenched by the time he managed to reach the pub, and the only thing keeping his spirits up was the idea of a good, warm drink.

The heat that greeted him as he walked in was very welcome. He wiped his feet on the mat, mindful that while Rosmerta might have liked him as a boy, she wouldn't be too happy with anyone who tracked mud all through her pub. All around, people huddled at their tables, hunched over their various drinks, talking shop or gossiping without a second glance in his direction. A few sat near the fireplace, one particular man looking almost as bedraggled as Remus, obviously just out of the rain himself. Glancing over, Remus spied an empty chair relatively close to the flames, and immediately turned and made a beeline for it, relishing the warmth the fire would bring to his chilled bones.

He had barely taken three steps towards the fire, though, when he was assailed by a brightly-coloured blur. Someone ran right into him, knocking him over, his feet flying out from under him as he found himself on his back on the floor. The unfortunate part of this was that the Someone who had pushed him down had proceeded to fall over themselves, landing on his chest and knocking the wind out of him.

A few people looked up as he fell, distracted momentarily from their conversations by the loud crash of two people toppling to the floor. Rosmerta herself seemed startled by the commotion, peering over the counter at him. He could just make out her face, twisting in concern and slight amusement.

‘Remus Lupin! What on earth… are you all right?'

‘I'm okay,' he called out, waving a hand dismissively in the air.

‘Sorry, just tripped up there, terribly sorry about- Oh!' The person who had fallen over him was now picking themselves up, although Remus would have rather preferred that they hadn't sat on him all over again in surprise.

‘Wotcher!'

Remus blinked.

‘Tonks?'

‘No, the Queen of England,' she retorted, laughing, then changing her features to resemble the dear old Queen, albeit one with pink hair and wearing a Weird Sisters shirt. ‘What are you doing here?'

Remus wrinkled his nose. ‘At the moment, I'm lying on the floor of The Three Broomsticks with the Queen of England sitting on me. As much as I enjoy it…'

‘Right! Sorry ‘bout that,' Tonks said, jumping up and offering a hand to Remus. He accepted it warily, pulling himself off the floor and dusting himself off. By the time he looked up again, Tonks had mercifully changed back to her own face, and was eyeing him up and down, a smirk on her face.

‘What?'

‘Nothing, nothing. You look-‘

‘Wet,' Remus finished for her, giving her a wry grin. ‘Got caught out in the rain. Of course, it has to stop the moment I actually find shelter…'

‘Sounds like you aren't having the best of days, mate.'

Remus shook his head. His coat was beginning to feel rather bulky and uncomfortable. He shot a longing look towards the hearth, catching Tonks by the elbow and steering her towards the fire even as she continued to chatter at him.

‘… course, I never thought I'd bump into you here.'

‘I wasn't exactly expecting you here either. Business?' Remus looked about for a second to check that no one was listening in on them before continuing in a low voice, ‘Ministry or Order?'

Tonks raised an eyebrow at him. ‘Personal.'

‘Huh?'

‘You mean a girl can't nip in to a pub just to get herself a drink?' she said, standing with her hand on her hips in an accusatory stance, but winking at him at the same time. ‘Remus, you've been working too hard. You think everything has to do with the Order-‘

‘Shh!'

‘Oh, right. Sorry! Sorry, sorry, sorry,' Tonks whispered, sliding into a chair and motioning for Remus to sit down opposite her. He accepted the invitation gratefully, eyeing the steaming mugs that Rosmerta put down in front of both him and Tonks before walking off to attend to another customer. Tonks grinned at him.

‘You look a sight, Remus. That ought to warm you up.'

He peered at the brown, frothy liquid that filled his mug. ‘Coffee?'

‘Hot chocolate. But with a little something extra in it.'

‘Exactly what extra, Tonks?'

Tonks grinned at him. ‘Now that is mine- and Rosmerta's- little secret.' There was something in her voice that left no room for argument, and Remus simply hunkered down, warming his hands with the mug before taking a sip. It tasted wonderful, and was a relief to his body, spreading a comforting warmth through him. He wasn't sure if it was the chocolate or the ‘little something extra' that was making him feel slightly drowsy, though.

He watched as Tonks drank from her own mug, a dark brown moustache forming on her face. She didn't seem aware of it, though, continuing to drink before putting down the mug with a small sigh of satisfaction. She looked up and caught him looking at her, her hands automatically going to her mouth.

‘What is it? I've got chocolate all over my face, haven't I?'

Remus nodded, letting out a small snort of mirth. The sight looked absolutely ridiculous, and he reached across the table with a napkin to wipe at her mouth. She held still as he did, but Remus couldn't help notice her shudder very softly as the napkin brushed over her lips.

‘There. It's gone.'

‘Thank you, Remus,' she said, laughing slightly. ‘My hero.'

‘That's me. Remus Lupin, able to save damsels in distress from the clutches of Rosmerta's drinks with the power of my magic napkin. Just don't come looking for me on the full moon.'

‘What would I do without you?' Tonks giggled. Remus wasn't sure if she was actually talking louder, or if there was something in his drink that made it appear so. He shrugged it off, taking another sip of his drink.

‘Oooh, look! It's starting up again!'

He looked out the window at the sudden noise of drops pelting the glass, glad he was inside this time.

‘Er… and?'

Tonks grinned at him slyly, her eyes brightening. ‘Let's go!' she exclaimed, and without waiting for Remus to respond, grabbed his hand and pulled him from the table. He barely had time to put the mug down before he was whisked away and through the pub as Tonks dashed out into the rain, dragging him with her.

The cold water beating down on him was as much of a shock as was the fact that he had been unable to stop her from leading him out of the pub. She was surprisingly strong, and the fact that his feet were already wet, his shoes fairly sliding over the floor… well, that hadn't helped him much. Now he was out in the rain, being led around in a mad war-like dance by Tonks, much to the amusement of the other patrons who had curiously followed them out. A few of them clapped and shouted, and a couple of them jeered loudly before closing the door and retreating to the windows to watch.

‘Isn't this fun?'

‘Tonks, I don't think that…' he began, but trailed off as he saw she wasn't going to listen to him anyway. He shook his head, exasperated. Water trickled down his face and neck, easily soaking through his clothes so that in a few moments, he was completely drenched. Again. He looked longingly towards the pub, the light from the windows falling outside and turning the rain to gold in the street. All the warmth he had gotten from the drink had been sucked from him by the cold rain.

A couple of catcalls distracted him. A few young Wizards passing by were whistling at Tonks, making crude gestures. The t-shirt she was wearing was dripping, stuck to her skin, giving them quite a view as the white material turned halfway transparent under the water. Remus shot them a stern glare, then hurried over to her, already slipping off his coat and reaching for her to place it over her shoulders.

‘Tonks,' he began, raising his voice so that he could be heard over the patter of the rain. ‘Tonks, don't you think we should-‘

'Ah, stop worrying Remus, and enjoy yourself! A little rain never hurt anyone!' she called back to him, her cheeks flushed from the cold and from running about and her lips parted in a cheeky grin.

‘Tonks, everyone's looking at you!'

‘So?'

‘At least put this on!' he hissed, pressing the coat into her hands. She looked at him puzzled, then down at herself, her mouth forming a silent oh!

‘Oops! I didn't think…'

Remus shook his head in exasperation. ‘Do you ever? Think, that is,' he remarked dryly, holding up the coat for her to wear. She grinned at him impishly, sliding her arms into the sleeves and then pausing for a second to look back at him as if lost in concentration.

‘Nope! Don't think at all. See, I've got you to do that for me,' she said, and as if to prove her point she began to morph her features into his, including his irate look.

‘Tonks! What… stop that!' Remus exclaimed, seeing his own face staring back at him, frowning deeply. What he didn't miss, though, was the corners of her mouth turning upwards as she morphed back, or the feeling of his own lips moving into a smile.

‘Come on! Lighten up a little!' she said, splashing into a puddle so that she spattered him with water before darting away.

He couldn't help but grin at her infectious enthusiasm. There was something about the way she capered about, mindless of anyone; Remus found something so innocent and child-like in her enjoyment of the rain that he felt overwhelmed by it. For a moment, he forgot that he was standing in the middle of a Hogsmeade street, dripping wet and looking absolutely ridiculous, and instead allowed himself to regress, to become a child himself as he took her hands and spun her around. She giggled then, a soft, shy sound that he wasn't sure he had ever heard her make before, her eyes twinkling in victory.

‘Care to dance, Remus?'

A laugh bubbled from his lips as he mock-bowed low to her, unsure of what to do but putting it out of his mind as she slipped a hand into his. He pulled her closer, then spun her away, her delighted laughter tinkling faintly, almost lost in the rain. His legs moved of their own accord, matching her as she moved, consenting to be led by him as they waltzed down the street and back again. He didn't realise when she placed a hand on his shoulder or when he slipped an arm around her waist, the both of them moving in time to some invisible beat that they picked out of the rain.

It was almost as if everything had ceased to exist except Tonks- Tonks, who was looking up at him with a peculiar smile, as if she knew something he didn't; Tonks, who lifted her face to the sky and let the rain slide over her skin, over her lips and down her neck so that it disappeared under her clothes; Tonks, who blew softly over his lips in the brief moment he held her close before letting her fall back, making him shiver with something quite other than cold.

And the rain… it fell into his eyes as he dipped gracefully, almost letting her fall but bringing his arms up to catch her at the last moment. When the haze cleared, it was as if awakening again, her face framed by the crystalline droplets that hung from his lashes, the rain washing all his inhibitions away. Only now was he aware of the approving applause from bystanders; only now could he hear the hooting and cheering of those who had stopped for shelter under the awnings and paused for a second to watch Tonks and him dance.

‘See? Isn't this fun?' she asked him again. Her voice was soft, though, devoid of the childish exuberance it had held before. Her arms were around his neck and her face was mere inches from his. Her breath carried a teasing scent of chocolate and her skin smelled of the rain and earth where the mud had spattered all over her. He stood up, bringing her with him, but even upright he was suddenly reluctant to let go.

‘Fun, indeed,' Remus said. The rain was slowing down now, people moving away. The clouds overhead were dissipating, patches of deep blue appearing here and there, a shaft of late-evening sunlight bursting through and making his skin tingle with the sudden warmth.

He closed his eyes for a second, raised his face to the sky and let the rain fall softly over him. Tonks stepped closer, the space between them simply melting away. He opened his eyes to see her looking at him inquisitively, cheeks flushed with colour, head tilted ever-so-slightly to the side and barely-restrained excitement dancing in her eyes.

‘What?'

‘Nothing,' she said softly. ‘Just… thanks, I guess.'

‘For what?'

‘For coming out and dancing with me. Most of my… friends… would think it's just… stupid,' she said, leaning in and giving him a brief kiss on the cheek. He didn't miss the slight note of disappointment in her voice, though, nor the expectation that he knew was written all over his own face as well as hers. He hesitated for a second, reluctant to act on impulse because he wasn't sure if it was altogether wise to read too much into her words, to think she might want something more than just a casual friendship with him…

‘What would she want with an old werewolf?'

She was still smiling softly at him, giving him an answer. Her words echoed in his mind.

Most of my… friends… would think it's just… stupid.

Most of my…friends…

Friends…

As her smile began to slip and she turned away, extricating herself from the circle of his arms, he caught at her wrist and held on, refusing to give in to her feeble tugging.

‘Tonks… Tonks, look at me.'

She turned and looked. It was almost as if she was begging him to ask that question, the answer already there in her face, just waiting to be given a voice, the words crying out to be spoken.

‘Am I…' Remus paused, and smiled nervously. ‘Am I… just a friend?'

And now, it was his turn to move without thinking, not waiting for any sort of response because he knew he wouldn't be able to stand it if he was wrong, if he had somehow assumed too much, if he wasn't really more than just a… friend…

Before she could open her mouth to say anything, he moved in to brush his lips against hers in a quick and hesitant kiss.

At least, it was supposed to be quick. He hadn't counted on Tonks kissing him back, or the satisfied sigh she breathed against his lips, prompting him to kiss her again. She cradled his face, her fingers trailing over his skin, her body relaxing in his embrace. He moved his hands to meet behind her back, clasped, trapping her against him.

A dark cloud passed over them, bringing with it even more rain, but this time, Remus couldn't care for the sudden rush to get inside, or to even move from where he stood. It was Tonks who broke the kiss this time, still remaining close enough for them to share a breath, but without the touch of lips that he felt almost desperate for.

‘What should we do now?'

‘I don't know,' he said quietly, studying her face in the falling light. ‘I hadn't exactly counted on anything happening. The rain, I mean.'

‘Or other things, I'll bet,' she said, smiling mischievously. ‘D'you think we need to go inside?'

He shook his head, taking up her cue with a grin of his own. ‘Actually, I'm perfectly fine out here,' he replied, and kissed her again, oblivious to everything else after that.

*

fin

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