Who: Fred Weasley and Tonks What: Opening baggage! Where: Bungalow 5 When: BACKDATED: Monday Status/Rating: Complete/low
Fred was on his way back from work, covered in flour. There hadn't been much work going on in the grocery store, what with him and George both "working" there. His hand was in his pocket, tightly clutching the key. Right as he took a step on the balcony, he heard someone say his name. He looked back, and saw Tonks. He waved and waited for her to catch up to him.
Jogging over to her mate (and only stumbling on one pebble), Tonks threw her arm around Fred and pressed a loud kiss to his head. "Wotcher! I've spent all day cleaning up after people and I need someone fun and exciting to remind me that my life isn't shit. I've just nominated you for the job."
Fred made her happy. He was a reminder that she could smile and laugh instead of feeling so miserable.
Surpised, but happy none the less, Fred wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up before she kissed him. Blushing only slightly, Fred smirked and bowed. "Well, I'm honored and only too prepared for the job!" Fred nodded his head toward the door and opened it for her, letting her go in first.
"Are you hungry at all? Plus, you've got a bit of flour, uh, there." He looked pointedly at her chest before busying himself around the kitchen, his face feeling warm all of a sudden.
Hugs were good! She liked them. Tonks liked people who were friendly and comfortable and Fred was definitely both of those things. "I'm always hungry." Tonks looked at her chest and smirked. "Oh you little wanker. I only have two shirts and you have to go and ruin one of them with flour. I ought to pummel your face in."
"To be fair, you saw I was covered and flour and still hugged me. You've no one to blame but yourself." Fred smirked over his shoulder at her, then set about making them sandwiches. Once done, he set a plate in front of her, taking a bite then (in classic Weasley fashion) asking, "So whbt hbve shoe been doing?"
"Nope. All your fault. I'm an Auror. Nothing is ever our fault." Tonks wiped a crumb from her cheek as Fed sat down and shook her head. Weasleys. "Cleaning rooms, trying to get to know Remus again, arguing with Sirius. A lot of the same, except nothing like what I was going two weeks ago. But I saw George was back! That's brilliant for you."
Fred wiped his mouth and shrugged. "Yeah, it's pretty great." Anyone else, maybe, wouldn't have noticed that he didn't sound as enthusiastic as he should. He couldn't help it. He was trying to get over it, but it was upsetting. He'd need time. Till then, he'd just act like everything was fine.
"Getting to know Remus again? So are you...Are you two going to try being together again then?" For some reason that bothered him. Remus didn't deserve Tonks, not now. His face didn't say any of that though. His expression was merely curious, never mind that his heart had sped up a rather lot.
"I hope so," she said sincerely. "It's his decision, I guess. I don't know. It was hard enough to convince him the first time around and he knew me back then. I can't very well force the man to fall for me." Again. Tonks didn't know if it would work a second time around.
"It'd be pretty brilliant, yeah? Remus and I together with Teddy? It'd be what I always wanted for him. I mean. For us. Wanted for us."
Fred just nodded. He didn't even know why wasn't happy for her. Tonks was happy. That was probably the first smile he'd seen on her face in a while, and Fred hated it.
He took a chug of his drink, deciding to change the subject. "I was actually planning on...I know you told me not to, but something is just...forcing me to." He pulled the key out of his pocket, looked at it in his hand for a moment, then looked up at her. "You don't have to stay if you don't want." Though, he wanted her to. He was nervous about opening it.
Tonks narrowed her eyes at the key. The guilt she felt was still hanging over her head, but Tonks was pretty good at ignoring things. "No, I'll stay with you. You were there for me, yeah? It's only fair." And Tonks was big on fairness.
"Come on, Gryffindor. Let's go."
Fred nodded, he was rather glad Tonks looked at it that way. He led the way up to his room, trying not to think that he was leading Tonks, who was a girl, up to his room when he knew his roommates weren't there. Once there he picked out a piece of luggage, trying the key in it. No go. He tried three more pieces, none of which opened.
He looked over at Tonks and picked up another piece. She looked about as nervous as he felt, and that made him smile a bit. He turned the key, and lifted the lid, barely able to get a glance inside before he was doubled over it. All he could see was Ginny, pale and lifeless in the hospital wing. He could hear Harry telling the story about Tom Riddle sucking the life out of her. He started shaking, all that initial anger he had felt when it first happened coming back to him.
Tonks watched anxiously, waiting to see what he was landed with. It couldn't have been bad as hers, right? Or maybe it was worse. She didn't know Fred well enough to know what sort of baggage he was going to open.
"You okay there, mate?"
He took a shaky breath. That...that was a lot. He thought he had buried that. He had tried to pretend that the reason he was so zealous about the war was for the better of the Wizarding World, not for revenge for his sister. Fred collapsed on the floor, his back to the trunk he had just opened, suddenly exhausted.
"I'm...so angry." Fred shook his head, he could feel his anger burning inside of him, hovering somewhere above his stomach. He needed to find Tom Riddle, needed to hurt him, cause as much pain as he could or die trying. That thought brought a smile to his face. Wouldn't be such a lose. He was dead anyway.
"Angry about what," she asked as she sat down next to him on the floor. Tonks put an arm around Fred's shoulder and squeezed him lightly. "Maybe it'll help if you talk it out? Tell your good mate Tonks what's going on in that readheaded head of yours."
She didn't want anyone to feel like she did. It was bloody awful.
"Riddle," Fred spat the name out. Sure, everyone in their hated him, except for his demented followers, but for Fred it was personal. His baby sister, for Merlin's sake! "He...he almost killed Ginny, her first year. Practically sucked the life out of her, literally." He leaned into her. Despite the hate and anger he had coursing through him now, he couldn't help how comforting it was having Tonks there.
Yeah. Tonks could understand that. Really, who didn't hate Voldemort? It was because of that thing that she died and left an oprhan son. And he was the reason her father was killed. Tonks hated the bastard.
"Deep breaths, mate. In out, in out. That sort of thing. Can't have you go rushing off in typical Gryffindor fashion and punch the bloke in his nose."
"I don't see why not. Doubt he's learned to fight the muggle way. He's completely defenseless." She was right though. He needed to calm down. He took her advice, breathing deep, and leaned into her more, resting his head on her shoulder. Just breathing.
Rubbing his shoulder lightly, Tonks sat with Fred in silence. She knew how he felt. People who had gone through the war together shared a bond.
"If you really want to go pummel him at least bring some back up. I'm sure there is a line of people who want to sock him."
Fred nodded against her. "I don't think that would be the best idea right now. I might go to punch him and end up killing him." He was shaking a bit, though not nearly as bad as he had been. "Do you mind if I just...stay like this?" Tonks being there and keeping him in place was good. Stopped him from doing anything rash.
"Course not." How many times had she sat in Molly's kitchen being sullen and morose? Being there for another Weasley was like paying karma back.
"Look, I know the world we come from is shit. People are dying, us included, and it seems really fucking pointless. But I guess I'd rather have twenty some years of happiness than a lifetime of misery."
Fred nodded. The world was shit, but they were still sane and mostly happy (up till they died). "Youre brilliant Tonks." Fred's eyes had drifted shut and his words became mumbled. "Really..Really brilliant."