It's That Time of Year Again

Title:
It’s That Time of Year Again (1/?)

Feedback:
much appreciated

Pairing:
TtH FFA pairing 326: Tara/Tonks

Disclaimer:
Tonks belongs to J.K. Rowling and her assorted corporate friends including Warner Bros. Scholastic, and Raincoast Books.  Tara belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Kuzui, and whoever else has a piece of the Buffy franchise these days.

Notes:
Set in Season 4 of Buffy post- Hush.  Do whatever you have to in your mind to make the time lines mesh.


            As she glanced back at the vampires that were chasing her, Tonks thought she should have listened to her old Defense professor when he told a class full of seventh year Hufflepuffs and Slytherins (“Still don’t know what Dumbledore was thinking on that one,” she thought) to stay away from hellmouths at all costs.  Of course he, and the instructors at the auror academy, had also said never even go to the loo without your wand, but obviously she hadn’t learned her lesson as it was sitting in her bag back at the hotel.

            She turned back to the front, hoping she had almost reached the club whose bass she could hear throbbing through the crisp winter air.  “Please don’t let me trip; please don’t let me trip,” she prayed as she neared the Bronze.

            She didn’t trip.

            Instead she slammed into another body as she turned a corner.  She almost panicked, until she noticed that the body under her was warm, and undeniably human.  Female human if her hand was on what she thought it was.

            Tonks scrambled up awkwardly and offered the girl her hand while glancing behind her to find the vampires… gone?

            “Thanks.”

            Tonks flicked her gaze back to the front.  “Sorry about that.  I’m a right klutz sometimes.”  The girl was pretty, she noticed.

            “I-it’s okay,” the blonde replied.  “Happens more often than you might think.”

            “I could say the same from this side
as well,” the auror replied smiling ruefully.

            The blonde girl smiled back.  “Where were you off to in such a hurry?  I mean if you don’t mind me asking?”

           “Christmas party,” Tonks extemporized.  She’d seen flyers for it, and figured it was as good an excuse as any.  “I’m Tonks by the way,” she said, remembering her manners.

            “Tara,” the other girl replied.  She grinned up at Tonks.

            “What’s so funny?” the metamorphmagus asked.

            “Y-y-your hair.”  Then realizing how that must have sounded she continued, “The red with green tips.  It’s festive.”

            “Glad you like it,” a smile once again graced the heart-shaped face.  Oddly enough, she was glad that the obviously shy blonde girl liked her hair.

            The blonde witch smiled back, and then made a move as if to continue on her journey.

            Tonks moved out of her way, before pausing as a thought occurred to her.  “Wotcher Tara!”

            The other girl turned with a questioning look on her face.

            Tonks plowed on before she lost her nerve.  “Well, I’m going to this Christmas party thing at the Bronze.  And I’m from across the pond, and I won’t know anyone there really.  So, maybe, if you aren’t busy or anything, you’d like to go with me?”  As she saw the uncertain look on the blonde girls face, she gave her an out, if she wanted it.  “I mean if you’re busy, it’s okay.  I just wanted to make it up to you, since I knocked you down and all.”

            As Tara stared back at the strange dark-eyed girl with the red and green hair, her thoughts flashed briefly to another red-haired girl before she pulled herself firmly back to the present.  She smiled.

            “If you’re s-sure.  I’d love to.” She was certain she had made the right decision when Tonks face lit up like a small child on Christmas before the taller girl walked over and offered the blonde her arm.