New Year's Kisses

Nymphadora Tonks watched Remus Lupin collapse on a couch across the room. The New Year had only begun twenty minutes ago, and he was already on his fifth glass of champagne. Not to mention what he'd had before the countdown. He hadn't kissed anyone either, which was quite unlike him.

She could remember the first New Year's party she had attended. She was nearly 10, and Sirius had dragged her to James Potter's house for his New Year's/last-year-at-Hogwarts party, where almost everyone was seven years older than her. That was when she first met Remus.

She'd immediately noticed him when she and Sirius walked in the door. He was sitting off to the side in an armchair, calmly sipping from a bottle of butter beer and looking absolutely gorgeous, in Tonks' mind. And when he glanced towards the door and smiled, her heart had skipped a beat. Sirius had dragged her over to him, going through the proper introductions before Tonks shyly shook his hand. After that, she spent practically the whole party at his side, listening to stories of the troubles they had caused at Hogwarts. She found him completely fascinating, which she right out told him. He had grinned widely and ruffled her hair playfully.

At midnight, after the countdown ended, Remus bounded childishly around the room, kissing any girl he could reach on the cheek. After he made the rounds, he flopped back down next to Tonks and kissed her right on the lips. A short peck, but it was enough to make her blood boil and face turn red.

"Happy New Year, Tonksie," he'd said, tweaking a strand of her hair. Then he'd left her alone, bellowing at Sirius to stop hogging the champagne.

Tonks snapped out of her memories, biting her lower lip as she made her way over to where Remus sat. He glanced up, eyes hazy, as she approached.

"Happy New Year, Remus," Tonks greeted him, plopping down next to him. "You feeling alright?"

"Bloody great," Remus slurred sullenly, taking a gulp of his champagne. Tonks wrinkled her nose at his reply, placing a hand on his knee.

"You know I'm here if you need to talk, Remus," she offered, face serious. Remus blinked at the hand on his knee, then turned to Tonks, looking at her as if he'd just noticed she was there. He raised his hand, brushing a piece of hair back from her face.

"Why don't you be yourself anymore?" he asked, fingering the pink and black locks that hung just past Tonks' shoulders. She shivered at his touch, shrugging.

"I'd just rather...not look like some of my family," she answered quietly. Remus paused, then nodded, tracing a single finger along her jaw.

"...Could you show me sometime?" he requested, the sound of his voice making Tonks tremble all over. She considered for a moment, and then closed her eyes and concentrated on her true self. When she opened her eyes again, they were dark, almost black. Fine, blonde hair flowed down her back. Remus took in her appearance, moving his finger slowly down her neck.

"...You're beautiful," he murmured. Tonks drew in a sharp breath as that finger brushed down the front of her right breast, bur Remus either didn't notice or didn't care. The path ended at her waist, and he gripped it gently, leaning closer. Tonks deftly plucked the champagne flute from his fingers and pulled away.

"That's quite enough for you tonight. Come on, let's get you to bed." With some prodding, Remus was coaxed off the couch, and Tonks lead him to his bedroom. While Remus shuffled to the window to close the curtain, Tonks examined herself in his mirror. She didn't look totally horrible. But too much like Narcissa for her taste.

She closed her eyes and screwed up her face, a silky mahogany mane replacing the blonde. She tilted her head as she took in her new appearance, catching Remus' eye as he stepped up behind her. He gazed at her silently for a moment, and then reached for her, brushing the hair away from her neck. He slowly leaned forward, the feeling of his breath on her skin sending shivered down Tonks' spine. His hands moved down to grasp her waist as he brushed his lips at the base of her neck. Tonks let out a soft moan despite herself, and he smiled, trailing up to nibble softly on her earlobe.

"Remus...stop..." she gasped, grabbing his hands. He didn't relent, moving them lower. Tonks moaned again as his tongue darted out, lapping at the corner of her jaw.

"You're so beautiful, Tonks... So beautiful," he crooned, nuzzling close.

"Remus..." she breathed, sighing. He turned her around, touching her cheek softly. She gazed at him, eyes sparkling.

"Nymphadora," Remus whispered, dragging his fingers over her lips. "...Let me make love to you."

"You're drunk," she accused him, voice quivering. "You don't know what you're doing."

"I want you," he insisted, kissing her firmly. Her head swam as his lips assaulted hers, the kiss nothing like the first they had shared those many years ago. He nipped at her mouth, dragging his teeth across her lower lip when he finally pulled back. "I want you so badly."

Tonks was slowly losing her resolve. It was wrong. Very wrong. But she couldn't stop him. She didn't want to stop him, especially when he kissed her neck the way he was doing right then. His fingers easily undid the buttons of her blouse, sliding it off and tossing it aside. Her arms found their way over his shoulders, holding on for dear life as he backed her towards the bed, placing loving kisses over her rapidly pounding heart.

"Let me make love to you," he requested one final time, pulling away and looking deep into her eyes. Tonks gazed back, searching the golden pools that bored into her. Her head had barely inclined before he kissed her again, gently lowering her onto the bed.

They made love again and again. Slow and languorous, fast and hard. As the sun was just peaking over the horizon, Remus curled his arms around Tonks, nestling his head in the crook of her neck and closing his eyes. She did the same, kissing his forehead softly.

"Happy New Year, Remus," she murmured, suppressing a yawn as she snuggled down.

"Happy New Year, Tonksie," he replied, half asleep already. A smile played on Tonks' lips, and together, they slipped into a deep slumber, ready for what the next year should bring.