(no subject)

It was a shallow sleep at first, restless, and images of the war and the outside world flashed against the back of her eyelids. Something caught her each time, though, dulling the colors and quieting the noise; a thumb on her cheek, a kiss in her hair, a murmured reassurance in her ear.

Suddenly, after a long time, she was aware of herself again. She blinked her eyes open slightly, gazing up at Bernard as he dozed, his head lolling to one side against the back of the couch. The grey pre-dawn light creeping in through the window illuminated the bluish circles under his eyes and the slight furrow of his brow. She knew he must have been awake all night. Watching her. Being there.

Tonks' heart twinged, and she leaned up and kissed the corner of his mouth, feather-light. His arms instinctively tightened around her, and a small sigh escaped his lips. She shifted slightly, tucking one of the blankets around them more securely, and turned her face against his chest.

Safe, she thought, drifing off to sleep once more. Safe for now.

Home.

(no subject)

Dear Bernard,

Just having a small break and a cup of tea, and I thought I'd say hello. The day's going well so far; we've got a few new recruits in to start training, so at least I'm not the youngest person in the department for the time being. They're all a bit wide-eyed and slack-jawed, at the moment, and it makes me wonder what Kingsley must've thought of me when I first started as his partner. I probably don't want to know.

I hope you've managed to get some more sleep. When I left this morning you were very much out of it, and looking like you could use about another day and a half. Take it easy at work today, love, all right? I should be home fairly early, and hopefully we can have a night to relax.

Forgot to mention yesterday that I met that little wood-chipping friend of yours. She's quite a handful -- was nibbling on some poor sod's wand, of all things. Very sweet-tempered, though, and was asking after you. I think she's got a bit of a crush.

Damn, tea-time's over, so back to the grind.

I love you.

Nymphadora

P.S. Thank you.