Ain’t Misbehavin’ (1/4) – Chapter 1: Puttin' on the Ritz

AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'

Summary: It wouldn't be the Auror Christmas party without a mystery to solve, a spot of mischief, and a very well-earned slow dance.

Characters: Tonks, Remus, briefly Sirius; various minor characters

Words: ca. 7,000 total; this chapter 1,900 words

Notes: My main fic from this winter's rt_morelove event!

     By the nature of their canonical relationship (compressed timeline, inherent tragedy, so much personal struggle and interpersonal angst!) I feel like when I write Remus/Tonks so much of it ends up being intensely emotion-focused. Even when it's positive emotions and fluffy moments, it feels like I'm fighting to give them as much happiness as possible before their inevitable end! So with this one I wanted a different focus, wanted to give them something fun to do, a bit of an adventure – showcase Tonks and Remus doing cool stuff as the interesting characters they are, not just having relationship angst. I don't know whether I've succeeded, but that was the intention. :-)
     I've borrowed one small but crucial detail from the great Dorothy L. Sayers. I'd like to hope she wouldn't mind!

     Written for the following plethora of prompts:
#11, 'I would always rather be happy than dignified.' —Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
#9, The Auror Christmas Party
#15, [picture of a really snazzy red dress, here]
#14, 'My Head of House said I lacked certain necessary qualities...like the ability to behave myself.' ―J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
plus a bit of #7, Sirius' Christmas

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AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'

( Chapter 1: Puttin on the Ritz )

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