Sparks fly
Chapter 5 - Sparks fly
The Order had just gotten news that Harry was attacked by two dementors, and was expected to attend a hearing at the Ministry for Magic. He would first have to be escorted back to Headquarters with a few members of the Order. Sirius volunteered at once, but of course Dumbledore said no what with him having a 10,000 galleon price on his head. This didn’t help with Sirius’ surliness, Remus wished there was something he could do, it was so hard watching his once energetic best friend become the shell of a person he was now. Sirius would retreat to his mother’s room for hours a time, under the guise of tending to Buckbeak. Remus would try to cheer him up, only to get his head bitten off, but he let it go. Remus supposed Sirius thought himself better to go and escort Harry instead of Remus.
Mad-Eye was chosen to lead the expedition, along with Kingsley and a few other members. Remus would be going along too, since he was the only one who had known Harry personally, unless you counted the fake Alastor Moody who was really plotting to kill Harry all along. Dora was delighted when she was asked to join this mission, this would be the first real mission for the Order where her experience as an auror would come in handy. Not that she minded guard duty, especially when she was partnered up with a certain melancholy werewolf, or anything really as long as she was with him.
They would be travelling by broom, Mad-Eye explained the formation they'd be using, and there would be a backup team, just in case the advance guard got killed in the process. Dora was slightly self conscious about the fact that Remus would be flying behind her on the way to Privet Drive. She was a pretty decent flier, in fact she was one of the best Chasers Hufflepuff had. But Remus wasn’t watching her during her matches. Surprisingly, the Quidditch pitch was one of the only places where Dora didn’t have butterfingers. Oh get over yourself, he's not interested in you, it's his best friend's son he's going to be thinking about, she reprimanded herself mentally.
Remus just loved how Dora's hair was flying about in the wind. It was the same shade of violet as the first time they met. Remus wondered what it would feel like to run his fingers through her hair, while doing other things he didn't care to admit. He could look at her all day without ever getting bored. Kingsley's deep voice brought him back to reality when he announced they would be descending now. They landed in the backyard of Number 4, Privet Drive, as it would be able to provide some cover. Dora magicked open the back door and the rest of them traipsed in.
The Order members were momentarily distracted by all the muggle equipment. Seeing as his mother was a muggle herself, none of it intrigued Remus. They made their way upstairs where they filled Harry in on the plan to have him removed almost immediately. Dora helped him pack, and soon they were up in the air again. Remus wasn't flying behind Dora this time, but below her and Harry. This would make staring at her much more difficult, but oh well, Harry's safety was more important than Remus' fantasies.
As soon as they reached Headquarters, they made their way into the kitchen for the meeting. Molly shooed Harry upstairs with the rest of the kids. Dora and Remus sat down at their usual spot, side by side, opposite Sirius who appeared to be smirking. The meeting went on as usual, and then later they had dinner, thank Merlin Molly was in the Order this time. After dinner the adults had to answer some of Harry's questions, Molly and Sirius were staring daggers at each other throughout, and Sirius only calmed down when Remus asked him sternly. Dora's imagination went into overdrive as she imagined Remus using that tone on her, but she banished all those thoughts from her head as she snapped back into reality.
Soon, Dora's days were filled with work, and Order meetings, not that she complained since every minute spent in the company of Remus Lupin was time well spent. The kids had all returned to Hogwarts, and Harry thankfully wasn't expelled. They had a little party on the eve of their return to Hogwarts, it was a nice change from their usual sit-down dinners. A few days a month Remus wouldn't be around, due to his furry little problem. The thought of Remus transforming every month made Dora immensely sad, she knew all about werewolf transformations of course, and it pained her how she couldn't do anything to help Remus. She thought of transforming into a wolf to keep Remus company, she knew Sirius did sometimes, but she didn't dare suggest this.
Dora still enjoyed being around the other Order members even without Remus, especially Molly and Arthur. Molly was always ready to lend an ear whenever Dora needed to talk to someone, particularly about her growing feelings for a certain Professor Lupin. She suspected Molly had shared the gist of their conversations with Arthur, but Dora didn't mind, she loved Arthur. What Dora didn't know was that Remus had also confided in Arthur and Molly about his feelings for Dora, since it seemed too weird to discuss with Sirius, with Dora being his cousin.
Ever since Sturgis got himself thrown in Azkaban, guard duty became a single person task, much to the dismay of Remus and Dora. But there were still other missions which required two people, and as a bonus, they were overnight missions, so Dora and Remus could still spend nights together.
It was during one overnight mission that Dora and Remus were keeping watch over a known death eater's house, with the hopes of getting new information on Voldemort's whereabouts when the topic of "us" came up again. Remus and Dora were making conversation as they always do, and Sirius' incarceration came up. Dora mentioned how he was still handsome after all those years in Azkaban, to which Remus replied bitterly "He always got the women". At this Dora became suddenly angry which was so unlike her before saying
‘You'd know perfectly well whom I've fallen for if you weren't too busy feeling sorry for yourself Lupin’
Thankfully it was soon time to leave, so it saved Remus from having to reply. They covered up their tracks in silence, before disapparating back to headquarters. Remus was ecstatic over the next few days. Although part of him knew how Dora felt, her last outburst confirmed this. But as usual Remus pretended not to feel the same way, with the hopes she might get over him.
Christmas was fast approaching, the air was getting much colder. Dora was planning to spend Christmas with her parents as usual, much to Remus' dismay. He was going to be spending Christmas at Grimmauld Place, with Sirius, and Harry was supposed to be going to the Burrow. Remus secretly hoped he would be able to see her, sure there was a war going on, and more pressing matters, but a little festive cheer wouldn’t do anyone any harm. He wondered what he should get Dora, he couldn't afford anything expensive, but he knew Dora wasn't the materialistic kind, and would appreciate any present he gave her.
And then Remus remembered, he had a box of his mother's jewelry at his cottage in Yorkshire. He remembered the Lupine shaped pendant with the fine gold chain she used to wear, that would be the perfect present for Dora. Apart from the necklace, there were three other items in the box: his mother's engagement ring, and his parents' wedding bands. Remus sighed as he wondered if someday he'd be lucky enough to give two out of the three rings to Dora, or anyone for that matter. He chided himself mentally, ‘You know you’re never going to get her, someday soon she’ll find someone young and whole, who could give her things you never could,’ he told himself.
Dora racked her brains thinking about what she should give Remus, she wanted to get him something useful as she knew he didn't have much financially. In the end she decided on an enchanted sewing kit which could mend any kind of fabric and made it look brand new. That way he wouldn't have to patch up his damaged garments anymore. But this felt so impersonal, and practical. She wanted to give him something else too, and then it hit her. Wolfsbane potion. Not many people knew this but Dora had gotten top scores in her N.E.W.T exams, Potions included of course, which is how she managed to become an auror in the first place.
She disapparated to Diagon Alley immediately, first to get the instructions from Flourish and Blotts, and then the nearest apothecary she could find. As soon as she reached home, she got straight to work, thank heaven's her cauldron hadn't rusted through yet. Although complicated, it was nothing Dora couldn't manage. She decided to make two months' supply first, and if, hopefully he accepted, she could brew it for him in the months to come. Dora was happy to be able to do something meaningful for the man she loved.