Sirius-10
NOTE: Sirius and Tonks are NOT related in this story
It was finally over. The bloody art exam was over and Sirius and the other five people who had taken the exam were going out for pizza that night. Yeah it was a Wednesday and Sirius had college the next morning but come on. He had just finished an art exam and he needed a break. A chance to celebrate and just eat pizza, getting to know his new friends more.
The six of them walked from the exam room to the nearby Italian restaurant called ‘Italian Feast’ chatting about the exam. They entered and were directed to a table upstairs near a big open fire where the pizzas were cooked. Sirius sat in between two girls, Kizzy and Dora, or Tonks, as she preferred. The others were called George, Robin and Harrie. Everyone seemed to know each other, apart from Sirius and Kizzy. They had all come from the same college and were really good friends but had welcomed Sirius and Kizzy into their little group once they had spent some time getting to know each other before the exam had started. Sirius liked Tonks best. She was a fiery girl with dark pink hair and a witty sense of humour. She had nicknamed him Star Boy, and even though it was all good natured and fun, it remined him of Regulus and how he always used to call Sirius ‘Star’.
Gods, he missed Regulus. It wasn’t right that he should have to go to Durmstrang. He should come to Hogwarts with Sirius and study law and drama. He shouldn’t go to Durmstrang... But what could Sirius do about it? It wasn’t as if he could contact Regulus. He didn’t have his brother’s new number. Granted Regulus had his and could contact him... but he couldn’t contact Regulus. He wanted to call him, hear his voice. He wanted to hug him and get him away from their toxic parents. It wasn’t fair.
“Heyyyyyy Star Boy!” Tonks said, “You zoned out again.”
“Ohh, sorry,” Sirius laughed nervously, “My mind wandered.”
“Yeah we could tell,” George teased, “Whatchya want to drink?”
“Apple juice please,” Sirius replied, and Harrie looked sceptically at him.
“Apple juice? Seriously?” She asked, “Why not a beer?”
“Err... I’m not eighteen yet... And I’m not one for fizzy drinks. Apple juice is just fine for me thanks.”
“Quit nagging him Haz,” Kizzy said, “Just let him have apple juice.”
Harrie rolled her eyes but gave the order to the waiter and lent back in her seat. The waiter came back a few moments with their drinks and took their main course orders, relieving them of the menus and giving them more space on the table.
“Game of cards?” Robin asked, producing a pack from his bag. Everyone agreed and while they waited for their main meal, they played several rounds of whist and my ship sails. It was amazing. When their food arrived, they put the cards away and started talking again.
“So, Tonks,” Harrie said, “What’s with the pink hair? Last time I saw you it was brown.”
Tonks grinned, “Another way to get at those haters. And show off my temper in a way.”
“Fair do’s,” Robin said, “Pink hair really suits you. Is that why you weren’t at college on Monday?”
“Na. Mum took me to get some new meds from the doc. And we might’ve had a meal out together,” Tonks said, taing a massive bite out of her pasta.
“It’s beautiful,” Kizzy said.
“Well done T,” George said, “You are amazing. Honestly.”
“Why thank you Kiz and Georgie,” Tonks said.
“It really suits you,” Sirius said, looking at Tonks’s hair. She turned and beamed at him.
“Cheers mate! Not everyone likes it, but you all do, mum does, dad does, my boyfriend does. Why do I need anyone else to like it? My body, my rules.”
“Hell yes. You tell ‘em,” Kizzy said, “I don’t see why anyone would hate on you. If they do, then they are stupid. You’re a right tease, beautiful and real good fun to be around. Who could hate you?”
Tonks fell silent for a moment too long, a brief flicker of pain crossing her face, before she grinned again.
“Thanks so much Kiz,” She said, turning back to her pasta.
Sirius narrowed his eyes at the pink haired girl next to him, thinking as he bit into his pizza. Kizzy was right, who could ever hate on Tonks? She was a really funny, smiley and talented girl. She was loud, extravagant and an amazing person. It seemed impossible that someone like her could have haters. But what if there was something more to Tonks than what meets the eye. There often was with most people. ‘never judge a book by its cover.’ Sirius wasn’t judging Tonks. If anything, he looked up to her. She was almost like the female version of Remus. Leather jacket, studded ears, outgoing personality. Sirius bet she was an extrovert. A person like Tonks could never be an introvert. Unless she put on a mask when around other people she didn’t know.
No. That couldn’t be true, since when she met Sirius and Kizzy for the first time, she was loud and fun and crazy. Why would people hate Tonks? How could people hate Tonks? It seemed impossible from Sirius’s point of view, but then again, Sirius had instantly liked the outgoing personality Tonks had. And her hair. Who couldn’t love her hair?
“SIRIUS!”
Sirius snapped back to reality when he heard someone calling his name. He looked around and saw Harrie watching him, a grin on her face.
“We lost you again. Do you do that a lot?” Robin said.
“Christ. Yeah sorry. I was just thinking,” Sirius smiled sheepishly, and the others laughed.
“What about?” George inquired, leaning forward. Sirius had to think fast.
“I- Er... Just someone,” He said.
“Ooohhh! Who?” Tonks asked eagerly.
“Oh erm. Just this boy...” Sirius decided to just pretend he was thinking about Remus. It was easier than having to explain what he was thinking about Tonks.
“Dam. Some lucky boy to be on your mind. You dating him?” Robin asked.
Sirius sighed, “No. I want to... I mean I dunno if he actually likes me...”
“Pht, mate. Who wouldn’t like you?” Harrie said.
“Plenty of people,” Sirius said.
“What the hell?” Tonks exclaimed, “You’re amazing. Why would they hate you?”
“Ta Tonks, but I’m bi. Many people hate my sexuality. See it as wrong. Even some people who are a part of the LGBT community don’t think it’s right,” Sirius explained, and he saw Tonks’s expression fill with understanding.
“Yeah I... I get what you mean,” She said quietly, “You see I...”
“Tonks, you don’t have to tell them,” Robin whispered.
“I want to,” Tonks whispered back, “They seem like accepting people and Star Boy here is bi... Why can’t I?”
“If you want to, then go for it girl,” Harrie said, smiling widely at Tonks, who beamed back at her.
“Sirius, I get you ‘coz I get hate like that,” Tonks said, turning back to Sirius, “Not biphobia... But transphobia. I’m a transwoman and started to transition when I was fifteen,” Her face became one of a nervous child, biting her lip and waiting for their responses.
“Tonks... You are incredible,” Sirius said, before he promptly pulled Tonks into a tight hug. He felt her physically relax and hug him back.
“Absolutely,” Kizzy said, “And there I was thinking you couldn’t possibly anymore amazing than you already were. Turns out I was wrong,” She leant over and squeezed Tonks’s arm, smiling at her.
“Th-thank you,” Tonks said, her voice thick with tears. Sirius squeezed her once again, before pulling back and looking into her eyes, which were bright with unshod tears.
“I say hears to Tonks,” George said, raising his glass.
“To Tonks!” Everyone chorused, raising their glasses and some tears spilled down Tonks’s cheers. Happy tears. She was laughing and crying, the face of a true happy person.
“You guys are amazing,” She said, smiling around at the group, who all smiled back.
“It’s ‘coz we love you T,” Robin said, downing the rest of his drink.
“I love you all too,” Tonks said.
Sirius had known there was more to Tonks, and he was immensely proud of her for telling him. She had only known him two days, and yet she had already told him she was trans. She was an amazing woman who would do great things. Sirius hoped he wouldn’t forget her, or any of these people. They had welcomed him and became some of his closest friends. He was eternally grateful for them and was glad he had their numbers. He just knew that he would have to keep in touch with them.
They were all sad when the night ended, and they had to leave the restaurant to go back to their homes. They made a vow to keep in touch and to try and see each other whenever they could. Sirius pulled Tonks aside before he had to go and hugged her.
“That was very brave of you,” He whispered in her ear. She didn’t say anything, just hugged him tighter and kissed his cheek, before letting him go and walking to her car, yelling a final, ‘Goodbye bitches’ to the group. Sirius smiled at her, and turned back to Alya’s car, waving goodbye to the group of people he had grown so close to over the past two days.
“Home?” Alya said, squeezing his hand.
Sirius smiled, “Home.”