As Zephyr was walking towards Tonk’s location, without making it obvious that he knew she was there, he was thinking about what he was about to do. Because of his last life, he was not unfamiliar with sex, but it was also the reason he didn’t do it until now in his new life. When he reached the age of ten, his mother was convinced that it was the perfect time to learn the arts of pleasure. Something which would be unheard of today, but in that age (which was significantly older than his current one, from what he could tell), and with his rather… special mother, it was a completely different situation. So she left the small village in search of the perfect, in her words, “practice woman”. She was strangely excited, like always, when she was pairing people up. Soon she returned with a beautiful and mature woman, that was also the mother of three children, and presented her to him proudly like a birthday gift. The woman, of course, was less than amused that she was kidnapped by a strange woman to entertain her son. But when the woman laid her eyes upon him, she changed her tune quickly. The woman was someone with a certain interest that would get her arrested in his current time, and when she gazed upon the most charming child she ever dreamed of seeing, she swiftly decided to finally satisfy her urges. Urges her husband would never satisfy.

What followed were months of ‘coaching’ that were, he had to admit, extremely pleasurable for both Zephyr and the woman. Though he needed little guidance from his mother anyway, since most of his skills in sex were ingrained into him since birth, something he inherited from her. One day, when his mother was out again, his small village was stormed by a small army. The reason? His lover was the wife of a King, and apparently his mother didn’t give a fuck about that fact when she snatched her away one night. Now, with the help of a magician, the King finally found his wife after he was, alongside his children, worrying for months, just to witness her getting pounded by someone that could have been her son. To say he was enraged would be an understatement. It also didn’t help that his wife was doing her best to defend Zephyr, not wanting to part with him after the time they have spent together. Safe to say, Zephyr was burned alive…

Times were really wild back then.

Honestly, he almost pitied the man, and his family, and his kingdom. Zephyr’s mother liked him, like really liked him. And when the news of his death would have reached her, many people would have been in for a very painful and short future. After all, even without his mother outright telling him, he knew she was not human. Be it the priestesses that were worshiping her in the village, her terrifying supernatural feats he witnessed her doing, or her presence that shined as brightly as the morning star, and felt powerful and dangerous like a lion, he figured early on that she was beyond the might of men. Sadly, his lover would have been also a target of her wrath, even though she was not at fault. But for someone like his mother, that never mattered…

Anyway, those memories were the reason Zephyr did not fuck anyone until now, even though there were plenty of opportunities. In his last life he died because of horniness, so one can understand his reluctances.

“Wotcher Tonks!” Zephyr said in a teasing tone, as he arrived at the place the snake told him about. His answer was a squeak and a loud thud. Before him laid Nymphadora Tonks, exposed by the invisibility cloak coming off her from her fall, unwittingly showing off her shapely behind to him clad in tight jeans. He chuckled. She was as clumsy as always…

“Bloody hell Zephyr, why did you have to spook me like that?” Tonks asked displeased, after she managed to get back on her feet. As he was looking at her pale heart-shaped face and dark twinkling eyes, he couldn’t help but assess her looks as okay ish. She didn’t look ugly or particularly beautiful. More like average, though the horrid hairstyles she normally wore didn’t help her looks at all, in his opinion. In Hogwarts alone, he saw plenty of woman looking better than her, and next to his mother she may have looked like an ugly duck. Though she really made up for her average face with her body. Especially her assets, he thought as he looked down briefly. But if you ask Zephyr what the most charming part of Tonks was, he would point to her enthusiastic and bubbly personality. He really liked that part of her. It was a breath of fresh air in his normally gloomy life. All in all, she was not someone he was averse to getting intimate with to further his plans. Especially since she seemed to have something going on with Lupin.

He never liked the cowardly werewolf, who drowned himself in self-pity without ever going so far as to send one measly letter to them, while he and his sister thought their parents were useless drunkards that got themselves killed in a car crash. Then years later he suddenly decided to approach them, and introduce himself as some close family friend. Yes, what a great friend he was… So safe to say, Zephyr really had no problem with making Tonks scream in pleasure that she would never get from the mutt. But there was a problem…

“You okay?” He asked, but it was clear that she was not. Gone was the bubbly woman he knew. Her usually lively face was stuck in a sad frown, her hair was mousy brown and lifeless instead of being dyed in an outrageous colour. She also looked thinner than the last time he saw her. Did Sirius’s death hit her that hard, or is there something else afoot?

Zephyr looked deeply at her with curious eyes. He should have been distraught by the pitiful state his somewhat friend was in. But he wasn’t. Instead, he was fascinated by the stark change in Tonks, never believing that he would ever see such a side from her. He couldn’t help but be intrigued and look forward to how this situation will develop further.

- - -

Nymphadora don’t-call-me-that Tonks had a pretty bad day. In fact, ever since Sirius’s death and that certain horrible night with her “close friend” Remus, she only had bad days. Yet here she was, watching the Potter’s house again, just like that night when she watched that Death Eaters house with Remus. — “You should know why I can’t just date you, considering my… little problem. Besides, I’m too old and poor for you. Please seek someone more worthy of being with you…” — His problem was the reason for her feelings in the first place! He could relate to her like no one else she knew. After all, both of them were abnormal. Their countless conversations proved that. Tonks was sure someone like him would never… Besides, she didn’t care that he was older than her or poor. She was an Auror. She could provide for both of them. Sadly, though, she never got the chance to tell him all that. After that night he went to constant missions, avoiding her…

“Wotcher Tonks!”

Tonks was startled so badly that she lost her balance and fell to the ground with a frightened squeal. Regaining her bearings, she quickly stood up and gazed at the smiling face of Zephyr Potter. Staring at his face, she couldn’t help herself. Her heart was beating faster. She always found Zephyr super hot. Who didn’t? Tonks was sure there was no one more handsome out there than him, his looks just were otherworldly, and she knew she wasn’t the only one with that opinion. Yet, she never allowed herself to see him in a certain light. First, he was much younger than her and underage, and second, someone handsome and popular like him would never be content with someone like her. And she didn’t want a repeat of her sixth year, so she quickly moved on from whatever attraction she was harbouring.

But seeing him today caught her off guard. Something was different about him. Usually, he always appeared somewhat forlorn, making him look like a prince with a dark past, only waiting for the right woman to fix him. Which was super appealing. Don’t get her wrong. She could imagine how many heads of witches (and some wizards) at Hogwarts were filled with such fantasies, especially with hormones running rampant. But today he looked even better, if that was possible. Gone was the forlorn look in his gorgeous green eyes, replaced with confidence and a powerful purpose. He now looked like a charming and mysterious King, wanting to lead her to an adventure, while fully knowing he could protect her from any harm. The exact opposite of him… ‘Stop Tonks, what are you thinking?!’ she reprimanded herself harshly.

“Bloody hell, Zephyr, why did you have to spook me like that?” She said, trying to hide her embarrassment at being sneaked upon on and her acting like a horny teenager. Merlin, what was wrong with her lately?

He stared at her for a short while, and she didn’t miss how his eyes strayed down for a split moment. ‘W-Wait die he just look at my tits?’ She asked herself, dumbfounded, heat filling her body. For the first time, she was thankful that she couldn’t control her metamorphmagus abilities at the moment, or her bright red hair would have given her away. Though sadly, her predicament also meant she couldn’t hide her red cheeks. Dammit!

“You okay?”

Ah, of course, he noticed. She probably looked like dragon dung. She so wanted to leave and hide herself in a hole.

“Y-Yes, it’s just that… things have been not going that well lately.” She said.

“I see… well, I hope things will get better soon and I can see your usual smile again. It’s one of my favourites after all…” He replied.

What?! Tonks stilled as his words were echoing through her mind. He liked her smile? And he was looking forward to seeing it again? Tonks felt like she ingested a pepper-up potion. She could practically feel the steam coming out of her ears.

“Are you flirting with me?!” This was bad. She didn’t knew if she could resist him, if he truly would. For Remus’s sake, she had to leave. Thankfully, Mundungus was in the area as well.

Zephyr lifted one of his eyebrows and chuckled lightly. The sound sent shivers down her spine.

“Flirting? Me? You jest, surely? You know that I have neither time nor interest in such things. I mean, did you ever saw me close to a girl?” He asked, sounding wholly amused.

“N-No, I did not…” Her body calmed down as she heard his words. She felt mortified. How could she forget? Zephyr, despite his many admirers, never engaged in anything romantically or sexually. She saw his sister and Ron always teasing him about it. She should have known better. Yet here she was, asking a boy eight years younger than her, such a question, while creepily fantasising about him. Oh merlin, she hoped he would not look at her differently from now on.

“Though, looking at you from time to time, I can’t help but think…”

“Huh?” Her negative thoughts were washed away immediately by his words. “What do you mean?” What was he thinking about her? Did he find her attractive, after all?

“Nevermind…” He shook his head and changed the subject.

Tonks felt indignant. He couldn’t just say something like that and not finish. Just as she was about to open her mouth, he asked her something.

“I have nothing to do at the moment. Why don’t you come in? We can talk about what’s bothering you over some tea.”

Her first instinct was to deny him to avoid further embarrassment, but she stopped herself. Why should she? Here she had a chance to talk with someone about her problems, besides Molly Weasley. And the person being Zephyr was a plus. Besides his face, she also liked his company in the past. It would beat her brooding alone anytime. She could also squeeze out an answer from him. No one lets Tonks hanging like that!

“Sure, why not?”

- - -

Zephyr had to stop himself from laughing darkly as he entered the house with Tonks in tow. Things were going way too easy! First, he threw some generic compliment at her, getting a bigger reaction than he expected. It seemed like she wasn’t used to compliments about her physical features, outside of the obvious… standouts. Then he mislead her about his attention, invoking a false sense of security in her. Thankfully, his past behaviour aided him in that. He knew if he would make his interest clear from the beginning, the morally upright auror would most likely make a run. So he took care of that. Prey was easier to hunt when it didn’t knew it was being hunted. And then finally, to not let her interest wane, he dropped some mixed signal at the end to confuse her. Now she would agonise over it in her head. Asking herself if he was really flirting with her. After all, morals or not, a handsome mean finding you attractive would boost any woman’s confidence, and Tonks looked like she desperately needed some. With that, he ensured he wouldn’t leave her head anytime soon. Not for the first time, he was thanking the heavens for his good looks. Without it, he was sure things would have not gone that smoothly.

“Take a seat! I will make the tea. You can use the telly in the meantime.” He said, gesturing to the living room.

Afterwards he walked away, but not towards the kitchen but the stairs. He needed a shower after garden work. Situations like this made him miss his old life. Where he never smelled bad no matter what he did, be it playing in the mud all day or hour-long sessions of sex. He also missed being strong… and healthy. And most of all, he missed the maternal love he had in abundance. You really realise how important things are for you only when you lose them…

He shook his head, trying to dispel the sudden longing and loneliness. It was useless to grieve about the past. The only thing he could do was to make sure not to grieve in the future. And seducing Tonks for some strands of her hair would be one of many steps to do exactly that. So he couldn’t mope around.

“Winky, prepare some tea and pastries!” He said before entering the bathroom. His voice echoed through the empty hallway without an answer. Yet, he knew Winky heard him and would follow his command, acting like a perfect house-elf should, silent, efficient, and most importantly, invisible. “The Dursleys would love Winky.” He chuckled as he closed the door behind him, wanting to freshen up before he ‘received’ Tonks…