Title: Winter Reasons
Challenge: “The Mating Habits of the British Werewolf” (Lupin100 LJ community)
Word Count: 100
Characters/Pairings: pre-Remus/Tonks
Author’s Note: I used to volunteer at a wolf research facility and can vouch for the heightened agitation and aggression of the winter months. Perhaps it’s similar for werewolves in the Potterverse. Not DH compliant. Written a few years before it, actually. Just sharing now.

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She spent twenty minutes insisting, cajoling, and ignoring his quiet excuses. “Remus, it’s an Order reunion! A celebration! Even old Severus is coming. You should too.”

Tired and exasperated, he replied without thinking. “I told you I can’t, Tonks. It’s January.”

“Why in Merlin’s name should that matter?”

He flushed to the roots of his grey-streaked hair and mumbled something incoherent.

“Say again?”

The confession came in a reluctant rush. “January is mating season,” he muttered. “It’s all very...agitating. So, please understand --”

Grinning archly, she linked her arm through his. “All the more reason for you to come.”