Drabble: Funereal Chants

[tristesses.livejournal.com]

Title: Funereal Chants
Pairing: Rufus/Tonks
Prompt: Opportunities you missed
Rating: PG
Word Count: 293
Summary: Tonks delivers a message; Rufus almost has a realization.
Author's Notes: This series is decidedly darker than I originally thought it'd be; it started out quite cheerfully! You can find the previous parts of the series in my prompt table.
Link to Prompt Table: [link]


She steps into his office for the first time in months, her hair limp and plain, looking grim and tired; she hasn't bothered to hide the bags beneath her eyes.

"Auror Tonks," Rufus says, making to stand, but reconsidering as the old wound shrieks angrily in protest. He satisfies himself with inclining his head regally, never once taking his eyes off her.

"We've lost Antiope," she says bluntly, and upon reevaluation he can see the redness encircling her eyes, the defeated slump of her shoulders. "In the Bulstrode Mansion raid – a reverberating Stunning Spell hit a piece of armor and it…well. You can guess."

"That's regrettable," he says, stroking the feathered barbs of his quill into a neat row with fingers that don't tremble, despite the flurry in his brain. "She was one of our most skilled Aurors. A good witch. She'll be missed."

"The funeral's on Wednesday, if you want to come." She's observing him closely, her lower lip caught between her teeth; her lips are dry and chapped, cracked where she's bitten them raw from frustration or fear.

He doesn't break eye contract as he tells her, "I'm afraid I can't make it. Please give my sympathies to the family."

She stares for a moment, unbelievingly, then says quietly, furiously, "You've changed, Minister. And I don't mean that in a good way."

Before she says this, he'd almost managed to say something worthwhile, something meaningful, something he'd never say, something like "I need you to stay here, I need some human contact", maybe even "please", but the phrases die on his lips as she stomps out of his door.

When she's gone, Rufus takes a swig from his hip flask, brushes aside their encounter the best he can, and resumes work.

Comments

[captainpookey.livejournal.com]

I kind of want to smack Scrimgeour; or give him a hug, I can't decide which he needs more. haha This was wonderful.

[tristesses.livejournal.com]

It's difficult to tell, but probably both. XD Thank you!

[chimbomba.livejournal.com]

...And here we go right back to the Rufus we know, and yet you keep the good in him alive. And this balance works perfectly with your writing style. I am fascinated by this. It's so refreshing to see a minor character with a complex personality instead of just being a stereotype. :)

[tristesses.livejournal.com]

I always love picking apart the minor characters to see what makes them tick. :) I'm glad you like it!