Who: Remus, Tonks, and...Draco. (Now there's an unlikely trio!)
When: Monday morning
Where: Remus' flat and then a lovely tropical island
What: Getting ready for their big adventure!
Rating: Surprisingly PG
Status: Complete



Tonks bit her lip as the shrinking spell didn't, well, shrink, her luggage. "Oy, I don't have THAT much stuff." She glared at the cases like it was their fault she suddenly couldn't fit a year's worth of outfits into three suitcases. "It's bloody magic. It shouldn't have stipulations!" She brandished her wand again, but said no spell as frustration overtook her. She sighed, but a determined look flickered in her eyes. "If the Weasleys can get their things to Hogwarts…" She sized up her suitcases and flicked her wand again. This time she spoke the necessary spell and they all easily condensed. "Hm! There!" She grinned, completely pleased with herself.

"Remus!" She called as she raced back into the middle of his flat. "Re---ouch!" She grabbed her ankle and jumped around on one foot, but that only rewarded her with falling sideways onto the couch. "Love," she said to the ceiling (since she was sure he was somewhere near), "I think I might be a tad nervous. I'm not usually THIS clumsy, am I?" She groaned and flung her arms over her head. "He'll be here any minute and then we…Remus! What was I bloody thinking? He barely knows me and he surely doesn't like you…oh, sweetheart, that sounded rude, but you know it's true and…" She swallowed hard to keep back the tears that were threatening. "What if I ruin EVERYTHING?"

Despite her frustrations, Remus couldn't help smiling slightly as he stood in the doorway, watching her. It was one of the things that made him so crazy about her, her unfailing attitude even when things were down. "You do realise we'll only be gone a few days, don't you?" he asked, stepping to the couch, where she was still lying. Gently, he took the injured ankle into his lap and rubbed gently. "It's going to be fine, I promise you. Draco wouldn't have come if he truly didn't want to. Besides," he reasoned, taking a moment to tickle her calf, "you could both use this. It's time away from everyone else to get to know each other, after all. I probably shouldn't even be tagging along."

Which was partially true. He did want the time with her. And he definitely thought she could use a referee during this getaway with her otherwise estranged cousin. But a nagging in his head (or was that his heart?) told him that he ought to be at the castle, trying to get Harry to talk to him. No. Harry was an adult now, and he'd already made things perfectly clear. He didn't want Remus around, getting on his nerves. The time was better spent making sure Tonks and Draco didn't pull each other's hair out, reverting to how they might have been at twelve and six had they been given the chance.

Tonks uncovered her face and shot him a grateful smile as he rubbed her ankle. It wasn't twisted, but the landing had been rather unfortunate. She relaxed back into the cushions and just enjoyed the soothing movement for a few seconds. Still, her eyes flew open at his remarks about not belonging. "Remus Lupin!" She shot up to meet his eyes though her legs still rested in her boyfriend's lap. "Of course you should be there!" She rolled her eyes and playfully swatted at his arm. "Helga help me, but I like the little bugger and if he's going to truly accept me, he's going to have to accept you." She leaned over and landed a soft kiss against Remus' lips. "You'll try and know him, won't you? I know you'd rather have Harry along, but…" She shrugged as her eyes clouded over. "He didn't even want to spend Christmas with us. I'd have invited him otherwise…you know that, yeah?"

The reminder hurt, but she was right. They'd both offered to spend Christmas Day with Harry. He'd turned them both down, though Remus knew he'd had his reasons. Sighing, Remus reached out, touching her cheek gently. "I've every intention of it, love. If he'll tolerate me, that is, he's certainly not my biggest fan." Remus' one saving grace on this trip was, of course, that they were extremely close to a new moon and he was at his most energetic-and his safest. "Are you all packed?" he asked, changing the subject on her before she could attempt to reassure him or something equally wonderfully optimistic. "He ought to be here soon, and we do have a portkey to catch."


For good measure, she kissed Remus square on the lips again. "I love you, mister." She hated how hurt he kept getting lately, but there wasn't much more she could do. She was too damned proud to be anyone's punching bag. She was tired of being called a fool or immature when she had more maturity in thumb than plenty her age (and older). "All set. Finally! It is why I came out here so...rushed." She burst out laughing. "Oy, sweetheart, I'm so scared and excited and...grateful. This can be the best trip yet." She threw her arms around Remus, holding him close enough to smell the mixture of chocolate and old books.


Draco Malfoy was not looking forward to this - and yet, he was. His mixed feelings on the subject mostly stemmed from the fact that this was Christmas - one of only two he'd ever spent away from his family. And perhaps that was really it: family. Tonks was sort of family now. He was trying to pretend that this was a vacation like any other, except the nervousness rolling around in his stomach betrayed him. It left his face even paler than usual, despite a bracing wind that hit just as soon as he Apparated to the correct location. He had not brought much - just one bag, the handle of which he clutched tightly to as he rapped on the door. He was not nervous. This was normal. Average, even.


"Gods," he muttered to himself.

Hearing the rapping on the door, Remus carefully disentangled himself from Tonks' grasp. "It's going to be just fine," he said quietly, dropping a kiss to her forehead and heading for the door. It was easy enough to say, but he himself had a block of ice in his stomach as he reached for the door handle. Opening it, Remus felt a smile slip to his face despite himself. "See?" he called over his shoulder to Tonks, "Draco's only bringing one bag, too." He smiled, then, ushering Draco inside. "We'll leave soon, I promise, we just have to get someone's eighteen suitcases out the door."

Tonks didn't realize it, but she had been holding her breath when Remus went to the door. "Stop that! Only three!" She swatted the back of his head. "Oy, Draco, do you hear how he treats me?" She grinned at her little cousin before impulsively throwing her arms around him and kissing his cheek. "Thank you for the gift. I loved it, sweetness."

Draco was rather awkward when it came to embraces given by people he didn't know, but he accepted Tonks' as readily as he could, patting her on the back. "You're welcome, cousin," he stated, though it was with a warmer smile than his tone gave indication of. "And I wouldn't necessarily say L--Professor Lupin exaggerates in terms of numbers. If he says eighteen, that is the count I am going with," he added, looking at Tonks with a slight smirk.

For that, Remus had to grin. "I think..." he took a deep breath, glancing at Tonks for reassurance. "Well, for this trip at least, you'd probably be a bit more comfortable dropping the Professor portion, wouldn't you? I don't need you thinking you have to turn in an essay around every turn. Or just Remus, if you're better with that." Which he might or might not be, but they were on holiday, after all, and Draco didn't need the added discomfort of traveling with a Professor as well as his cousin's boyfriend.

Professor would probably have been just fine, by Draco's reckoning. Remus was a bit more personal than he wanted to get, but he held his tongue on that, inclining his head. "Remus it is, then. If you wish."

Tonks actually clapped. It was starting better than she had hoped! "Alright, alright, we're ready then? Oh, Draco, I hope you like this island." She snickered at Remus. "You? Eh." Her eyes teased as she pulled him toward the bedroom they often shared. "See? Only three!" She glanced over her shoulder toward Draco. "A girl needs things. Surely, you appreciate that, yeah?"

"I wouldn't know, actually," Draco returned dryly. "Something about not being a girl ... though to be fair, Pansy always did make the elves drag about loads of things."

Heaving a pretend sigh, Remus lifted one of the bags on to the floor, followed by another. "You're in charge of that one," he told her, pointing. "Because I have the feeling that's all the girly things, like shoes and makeup and--those things. And I'm not responsible for those." Laughing, he gathered up her two, and his one and nodded towards the door. "Come on, then. We've got about ten minutes to be at that portkey or we're stuck here all holiday long. Though you'd think bringing an Auror would have some benefits."

"Those girl things make me who you love, Remus John Lupin!" She felt like a weight had been lifted as she followed her boys. That's right. Tonks allowed the possessivness to take control as she gazed fondly after them both. Was her life really becoming this? Was she really gaining the big family she had always dreamed of? "And hey! There are plenty of benefits! Like..." She burst out giggling again. "Okay, no, you realize I'm the black sheep Auror, love!"

Perhaps not always a black sheep, but Draco held that back. He merely glanced back at both of them, caught between bafflement and amusement. "You said we were traveling via portkey, ... Remus?" Oh, goodie. This was going to be extra awkward, he thought ruefully.

"International travel," Remus confirmed. "It's really the only way, unless I want to somehow explain how you were splinched over the Mediterranean. Assuming I was still around to do any explaining." There were also more muggle methods, of course, but for one, he wanted Tonks to be able to start her dream holiday as soon as possible. And for another, he had the feeling telling Draco Malfoy he was traveling by car or by airplane would be a less than welcome surprise. "An old bicycle tire, I think, to be exact."

"Yes, I imagine explaining to parents that their child lost an arm in some country or another could be difficult." She looked at Remus carrying all the bags and frowned. "Honestly, love, I can handle more." She held a hand out. "Give it, give it."

Rolling his eyes, Remus handed over the lighter of the two bags of hers he was carrying. "Fine, fine, we ought to just send them ahead of us anyway once we're out the door."

It was almost like being with his parents again - back in the days when Lucius and Narcissa were not only talking frostily but actually communicating, because his father and mother had often bickered over how much luggage was needed on a holiday. It made Draco a little bit sad and a little amused at once; at least his parents seemed to be making progress in a new direction. "Or you could just have shipped them there first, you know," he pointed out, relieving Remus of the other bag - and Tonks - in two swift, simple gestures, accompanied by a light grunt of effort. "Now can we go?"

"That isn't nec---" Tonks was cut off by his question. "Impatient little scamp." She moved forward, nudging Remus along with her. "Ready, ready! I want one of those drinks with the umbrellas."

"And how much vodka is going into this drink?" Remus teased with an eyebrow lifted. "You really didn't have to do that, Draco," he insisted as he made sure everyone (and everything) was out safely before locking the door behind them and ushering the pair down the hall and out to the portkey. Before they'd gotten too much further, he casually relieved Draco of one of the bags, not saying a word as he did so. Between their own bags and hers they were carrying about equal weight by then, and neither really had any place to complain.

Draco rolled his eyes, looking very much like the impatient teenager he was. "If it saves us some time? Yes, I do," he returned. Besides, it would not do to leave everyone with the continued impression that he was a spoiled kid who could do nothing for himself. Nothing physical, at any rate. Just because he had elves for that sort of thing, like civilised people attempted to keep ...

Yet Tonks hadn't been thinking anything of the sort. She didn't really begrude people with money and Draco hadn't lauded his fortune over her at any point so... "Anyone ever tell you to relax, sweetheart?" She joined them by the portkey and cast them both stern looks. "Hold on and no funny business. If I lose you two..."

"Then she sits poolside with three suitcases full of luggage and a drink with an umbrella by herself," Remus told Draco in an exaggerated whisper, but he was grinning as he reached to touch a part of tire.

Draco fought a grin in return, touching the tire as firmly as he could; portkey travel had never made him feel easy. "How did she get there, with a mule?" he inquired.

"I'm getting insulted here. I mean I'd at least notify the Ministry before enjoying myself!" She grabbed hold of the tire and her own exhilaration couldn't be masked. "Readddddy..."

Remus glanced at his watch only to discover they were right on time and that unpleasant sensation of being yanked around by one's stomach took hold. He knew if he could just tough it out it'd be over shortly, but that didn't make it any more fun while it was actually happening. But sure enough, they were dropped off - rather ungracefully, he'd never quite managed that - in a 'Ministry-approved safe place' that already felt twice as warm as he'd been in England. "Well, if we can just wait here a moment for my stomach to make its return, we should be ready to actually enjoy ourselves."

Snapping into action, Tonks quickly wrapped an arm around Remus. "Darling, sit, sit. Are you..." She knew it was silly; he had taken care of himself for years. Still, she fretted about him. He didn't deserve to suffer one ounce more considering everything else. He was too good a man.

Worried about looking weak in front of, well, anyone but definitely a near stranger, Remus shook his head, holding up a hand. "Love, I was teasing. I'm fine. Promise. See?" He took several steps ahead of her, and smiled. The last thing he wanted was for Draco to think they were about to embark on a miserable vacation because they had to bring his old, daft, sickly professor along with them.

Draco would not necessarily have called Remus weak for needing a moment after their travel with the portkey; his own stomach nearly always rebelled afterward. He inhaled slowly, holding his breath for a few seconds until the world shifted to rights, and then focused on what Remus and Tonks were saying. "Bloody hell," he muttered. "If you need the moment, take it," he added curtly. "Portkeys are dreadful things."

"See? The boy makes sense!" Tonks flashed her cousin an appreciative smile. "Sit over there. On that there bench." She then turned her mothering onto Draco. "And you? You're alright?" She looked him up and down.

Draco had let both bags sink to the ground, along with his own. He took in another breath, exhaled. "I'm fine. Just a little queasy."

"I don't think it's me you need to be coddling," Remus said quietly to Tonks, looking carefully at Draco's face. "Sit down, Draco, take it easy." Oi, if the boy was sick the entire trip, Severus would never let him live that down. "How's the stomach?"

Tonks peered extra closely at Draco. "Do you need a potion? I've some..." She began digging in her overstuffed hand-bag. "It's here somewhere...oy, don't need this compact anymore...really need to throw that out...oh, where IS it...HERE!" Triumphantly, she held up the vial Severus had given her. "Take some." She thrust it forward before attacking her purse again. "There's some water here too..."

"Do you have a lampshade I could borrow, love?" Remus teased, though he attempted to keep his face completely neutral. "Why'd we bother with a hotel, we could just sleep in there, apparently."

Draco stared at her, and then looked back at Remus, as if to ascertain that she was quite serious. Mostly because it seemed to him that Tonks had just burrowed through several layers of objects to produce a vial and had to go back for water - much like the badger of her former house. That look became an extended one when he accepted the vial helplessly. "Thank you."

Tonks nodded, but her face still held worry. "Are you alright now, love?" She tossed Remus another glance. "And you? And...what? Do I have a stomach of steel here?"

Remus grinned, rocking back on his heels. "Don't know what you're talking about, me, I'm just fine. I was just curious if you were offering that thing out for rent or if you'd just stuck an apothecary in there. You hid Severus in there, didn't you, that's where the vial came from?"

Tonks rolled her eyes for the second (third?) time since they set off. "Oh yes, he's sitting in there and not growling to get out. Though he really SHOULD have come. He could use some color. And fun. And...oh, Draco! I bought your godfather the most brilliant robes!"

That nearly made Draco stumble in his path. "I beg your pardon? Please tell me they weren't multi-coloured, he gets into the most foul moods over small things," he warned her, though a smile was fighting its way onto his face.

"Neon pink," Remus affirmed with a nod. "You know Tonks, she thought he could really use some colour, and since he's not here to get a tan, well..."

That did it. The image of Severus Snape in hot pink affected Draco more more than even Neville Longbottom's ridiculous boggart of Snape dressed in Grandmother Longbottom's clothing. His shoulders began to shake as he tried to suppress a wave of silent laughter, and the sound broke forth as he failed.

Tonks groaned, but joined into the laugher. "They were a very nice shade of green I'll have you know! And...and..." She just laughed more when Draco doubled over. Helga, it felt good to laugh with him. She caught Remus' eye.

Almost instinctively, Remus wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close for a moment before just easily falling into step beside her. It was good seeing the two of them getting along so well. And he felt the ice was sufficiently broken, as well. "And I'm sure he'll be happy to wear them on the first day back at school," he assured her, smiling. "But I'm thinking if we want to get this going, we might want to get checked in. Feeling alright now, Draco?"

Draco turned the last of the laughter into a cough as he straightened up and gathered everything back up. "Fine," he assured Remus.

Tonks easily fit into Remus' side as they walked along. With Draco only a small step behind them, she felt a calm settle over her. It would be near perfect if Harry let Remus into his heart again, but just then...it was as good as it got.