Disclaimer: Characters belong to JK Rowling; I'm just borrowing them for a minute.
A/N: An R/T drabble that popped in my head a month ago.Because sometimesyou just need a quickie;)
It all started not long after Tonks began working for the Order.
She walked into the drawing room of 12 Grimmauld Place one late summer evening to find Remus Lupin gazing out the window, hands in his pockets, looking tired. Out of curiosity, Tonks walked over and peered out the same window, trying to see what he was staring at. All she saw were the buildings across the street, and the sun slowly getting ready to set. Tonks glanced back at Lupin.
"Full moon tonight," was all he said in explanation.
Tonks nodded and looked back out the window. She couldn't imagine what it must be like to transform into a werewolf every month.
"Are you scared?" she finally asked.
"No." He then gave a lopsided smile, as if trying to be reassuring. But he wouldn't look at her; he just kept gazing out the window until it was no longer safe for him to be in the house.
Since that day, it had turned into almost a ritual. Every month, Tonks would find Lupin staring out the drawing room window the day of the full moon. And every time, Tonks would ask:
"Are you scared?"
And Remus would say:
"No," and give her his little smile, and keep on staring.
One early spring evening, as usual, Tonks walked into the drawing room where Lupin was staring out the window, hands by his sides, frowning. Tonks sidled up next to him and looked out the open window, feeling the air on her face.
"Are you scared?"
"Yes."
Tonks blinked, stopped breathing, and without thinking grabbed one of his hands with her own.
"You don't have to be," she said, looking in his eyes. "I'm with you."
He looked down.
"That's what scares me."
He removed his hand from hers and slowly walked away, feeling too old, too poor, and most of all, too dangerous.