InsaneJournal

fic: "Visiting Hours" chapter 1/10 [Remus/Tonks, PG13]
Characters: Auror!Tonks-centric. Also Remus (obviously), Molly, Andromeda, Arthur, and many other canon and a few original characters in supporting roles.
Pairing: Remus/Tonks
Rating: PG13 for the language alone
Warnings: Bad language in very large doses, DH spoilers, far too many hot drinks, off-stage canon character deaths (but not those ones, because I am in denial, oh yes I am, and so it finishes before the end of DH).
Genre: Drama (with friendship, romance, humour, traces of fluff, and quite a bit of angst along the way)
Summary: Ten visits to hospital; ten days in the life of Nymphadora Tonks; ten stages in Remus and Tonks' relationship.
Word count: 18,000 total, 1,800 this part.
Beta: mrs_muggle
A/N: Chaptered, but no longer a w.i.p. [insert pause while the author does a happy dance] Next chapter will be up, internet gods permitting, in a couple of days.
Disclaimer: If I were JKR, certain character deaths would not have happened. Nuff said.


Chapter specific details
Characters: Tonks, Remus
Rating: PG13
Warnings: Language
Genre: Humour, friendship.
Summary: Tonks visits St Mungo's and there are hot chocolate, falling over, and other R/T-ish clichés.
Word count: 1,800
Beta: mrs_muggle
Disclaimer: If I were JKR, certain character deaths would not have happened. Nuff said.

"Falling Head Over Heels" (May 1995) (Visiting Hours part 1/10)

"Ouch!"

Nymphadora Tonks came to an abrupt halt, glared at the door handle she had just banged into, and rubbed at the blossoming bruise on her arm. She winced, noting that it was already becoming a decidedly unhealthy brown colour, and wondered what kind of idiot would buy door handles and not think to apply Cushioning Charms to them.

Sighing, she crossed the floor to the St Mungo's tea room and ordered a hot chocolate with marshmallows and whipped cream. Her mother's voice in her head informed her that she'd only regret it later, and that all those calories would go straight to her hips, but Tonks reasoned that any extra fat might serve as some protection against future injuries, which could only be a plus. Much to her pride, she managed not to spill any of the drink as she picked it up; much to her annoyance, said pride came before a fall – a fall, a scalded hand, a shrieked Oh bloody bugger it! and a concerned Are you all right? from a total stranger who applied a very welcome Cooling Charm to her hand, cast a silent Scourgify and then helped her back on to her feet.

Tonks blushed and stammered something that might have been a muttered appeal to Merlin or a stream of cussing, either of which she felt would have been perfectly reasonable in the circumstances.

"Remus Lupin," the stranger said, holding one hand out to her. She shook it, wondering whether the floor would swallow her up now, and how much of an idiot he already thought she was.

"I'm Tonks." At his slight puzzled frown, she added, "It's Nymphadora Tonks, technically, but only my mum calls me that."

"Nice to meet you." His tone suggested that he actually was pleased to meet her; a quick study of his face backed that up. Interesting. "Can I get you a refill?" he offered, repairing her cup and picking it up. Tonks moved to accompany him, but he waved her to a table in what was probably a gentlemanly manner, but that might just have been an attempt to keep her (and the cocoa) out of harm's way.

He returned a few moments later, placed a mug in front of her, and at her invitation, sat down opposite. "Thanks," she muttered, carefully studying the patterns in the whipped cream and a chip in the rim of the mug rather than look at him.

"My pleasure," he said, his tone still warm and friendly. Tonks tentatively met his eyes and he offered her a small smile.

"So, do you make a habit of picking up witches?" she asked, then blushed as she realised what she had said. "I meant from the floor," she added quickly. "When they've fallen over. Not that many normal people do fall over as often as I do. I'm dead clumsy. Always have been. Never outgrew it, even though everyone said I would." She was aware that she was babbling, and no doubt making him think that she was as inept at conversation as she was at staying at one with gravity, but since that was perfectly true, it probably didn't matter if he thought it. "What brings you to St Mungo's?" she finally asked, realising as soon as the question left her lips that an answer was potentially upsetting, embarrassing, or – judging by some of the symptoms she had witnessed in the waiting room – downright disturbing.

Remus sighed and looked awkwardly at his cup.

"I'm sorry – I'm far too nosy for my own good. Don't say if you don't want to."

He shook his head. "It's fine. I had to collect a potion. Um… Repeat prescription. You?"

She rolled her eyes. "Brought a co-worker in. He was too damn' stupid to duck a hex, and then had the cheek to blame me for it. Apparently I should've cast the counter-curse more quickly. Stupid git."

"What on earth do you do that puts you around hexes?" Remus asked, his curious tone laced with a note of surprise.

"I'm an Auror." She tried not to smile too smugly, but probably failed. "Only qualified recently, though," she continued, trying to neutralise what had probably come across as bragging. "You?"

He looked uncomfortable again. "I'm a teacher. Between jobs at the moment, though."

Oh shit. "I… um… What do you teach?" Oh well done, Tonks. Don't change the subject or anything, go and rub his nose in it. Idiot.

Remus' eyes were knowing and his smile reassuring. "Defence Against the Dark Arts. Something you'll know a lot about, in your line of work."

Tonks returned his smile, feeling more than a little relieved, then nodded. "It was my favourite subject." She leaned back, thinking, then started, realising simultaneously that his name was familiar and why. "Didn't you teach at Hogwarts last year?"

It wasn't really a question; he stiffened, then met her eyes. "You read The Prophet?" That wasn't a question either, so she just nodded.

"You're a…"

"A werewolf. Yes." He pushed his chair back and stood. "It was nice to meet you, Miss Tonks," he muttered, not meeting her eyes.

She blinked. "What did I say?" she demanded, trying to work out how she had affronted him. He stared at her. Tonks stood up and rested one hand on his arm; her brain caught up with her actions, and she snatched it back. Remus winced for some reason she couldn't quite fathom. "Just so that we're clear, why, exactly, are you leaving?" In her confusion, her brain seemed to have taken refuge in Auror-mode, and her voice regained some of its confidence, albeit with a note of authoritative threat that she generally reserved for suspected Dark wizards, Azkaban prisoners, and annoying small cousins who tried to pinch the last of the cake at Tonks family reunions.

He stared at her. "I would have thought that that was obvious."

"No. Kindly enlighten me."

"I am all too aware that you wouldn't want a werewolf sitting anywhere near you. You don't have to hide it; I'm more than used to it, I assure you."

Tonks' eyes narrowed. "Why the hell wouldn't I want to chat to you? It's not like you're any more dangerous than I am for another three weeks or so. If you think I'm too irritating to chat to, feel free to bugger off, but please don't pretend that you have any other reason."

"Oh." He sat back down, still looking uncomfortable, but when he looked up at her, his smile had regained its former warmth. "I'm sorry."

"S'all right. I tend to have the same reaction when people do a double take after they find out they're chatting to Sirius Black's cousin." He stared at her, and she blushed. "Rather like that. Feel free to pretend to remember that you have to go now."

"It isn't that," he said, his eyes soft and apologetic. "You took me by surprise, that's all. I knew him at school. We were friends."

"I never knew him. I've heard stories, though. He and Mum used to be really close – I'm not quite sure she ever got over… that. She never quite knew what to think of it all."

Remus looked thoughtful. "Would that make you Andromeda's daughter?" She nodded, trying to hide her faint surprise. "And what do you think?"

Tonks looked around and cast a Silencing Spell. "I think that there is significant evidence that he is guilty, but not enough for it to be conclusive. I know that performing the Dementor's Kiss on an innocent man would be unforgivable, but I also know that nobody's ever escaped from Azkaban before, even using Dark Magic, and nobody knows how he managed it. And I'm damn' sure that the opinion of the newest Auror in the force will mean nothing if they ever catch him."

"So what do you think?"

She swallowed. "I don't know. I want my mum's cousin not to be guilty. But I also want to be able to retain some faith in the Wizengamot. I'm too personally involved, I suppose. That's why I'm not allowed on the case. Why are we discussing this?"

"I'm sorry. I could change the subject, if you prefer. Um… Isn't it a lovely day?"

Tonks giggled, and when she spoke, her tone was as light as his had become. "It's raining."

"I like rain."

"I don't. I don't mind actual rainstorms, but this sort of light drizzly rain bugs me. If the weather has to muck up my day, it could least go to a bit of effort and chuck it down properly. Maybe throw in a nice crack of thunder or something."

He chuckled, then glanced at his watch. "Are you sure you don't want to get back to your colleague?"

"Was that a not very subtle hint that you'd like me to sod off, or an actual question?"

"A genuine question."

She smiled. "Good. And I'm sure my presence would only impede Dawlish's recovery – he thinks about as much of me as I do of him. Besides, the Healers kicked me out to make room for his family and the huge bouquet his mum brought. I swear it took up more of the cubicle than I did!" She finished off her cocoa, and reached for her purse. "'Nother drink?" He nodded, and she felt his eyes on her as she purchased two more cups of hot chocolate and managed not to spill them on her way back.

They sipped in silence for a while, and Tonks tried to remember the last time somebody had tolerated her rambling without rolling their eyes or making polite excuses. Eventually, he gestured to the window. "Rain's getting harder," he said, smiling at her.

"Excellent." She grinned back at him, then regarded him thoughtfully for a moment. "So what do you think?"

"I am certain that he is innocent."

Tonks nodded; somehow, she had suspected that that was coming.

"I never used to be sure," he continued after a long pause. "Like you, I wanted desperately not to have misjudged my friend, but all the evidence told me that he was guilty."

"What changed?"

He shook his head. "I couldn't say without risking your job. I'm sorry."

Tonks frowned. "I'm perfectly capable of doing my own job, thank you. I don't need you to protect me." She glared at him, and when his eyes met hers, they suddenly seemed condescending rather than warm. "Actually, I probably ought to get back to Dawlish. Officially I'm still on duty." She gulped down the rest of her hot chocolate, allowed herself a second to regret it once she realised that she had just inadvertently scalded her throat, and then stood up.

"I really am sorry," he muttered, then continued in a slightly louder voice. "Thank you for the cocoa. Maybe I'll see you around."

Chapter Two
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