“Shut up! Just keep a look-out, will you? You won’t get detention because Snape won’t catch us as long as you do your job,” replied a girl’s voice from inside the storeroom.
“What’s taking so long? Tonks, what are you doing?” he asked anxiously.
“Flaming Phoenix, Weasley! You call yourself a Gryffindor? I thought you lot were supposed to be brave!” she whispered fiercely. “I’m just checking my list. I’m nearly done.”
There was a sudden clatter of boxes.
“Merlin’s Pants!” cursed Tonks. “Charlie, help me. I’ve dropped cockroach wings everywhere.”
Charlie sighed and entered Snape’s classroom. He wouldn’t mind if he knew what she was planning to brew but Tonks was being unusually secretive. He flicked his wand and the wings flew back tidily into their box.
“Can we go now?” he asked.
“Yeah, all sorted,” she replied.
They both walked towards the door.
“Not so fast, Miss Tonks and oh, of course, your sidekick, Mr Weasley,” said a voice.
Charlie groaned as he saw the imposing form of the Potions Professor in the doorway.
“Stealing from my storeroom, were you?”
“Not at all, Professor,” said Tonks. She held something in her hand. “It’s about my essay, actually. I need some help so I was looking for you. I tried the staff room but Professor Trelawney said you’d be here.”
“And Weasley has come along for what reason? He doesn’t do N.E.W.T. level Potions-barely scraping an Acceptable O.W.L. does not make him worthy of my class.”
Tonks, thinking fast, grabbed Charlie’s hand. “Well, Professor, we were on our way to Hogsmeade for Halloween but I wanted to see you first.”
“Hogsmeade, together,” said Snape witheringly. “How touching.”
He scrutinised them both closely. He did not for a moment believe her story about the essay but he couldn’t see any signs that they’d helped themselves to his stock. He must have caught them before they’d reached his storeroom.
“You have a problem then, Miss Tonks?” he asked, indicating her essay.
“Yes, that’s right. I wondered why in your lesson you deviated from the text book and included some other possible ingredients in our Euphoria potion?” She showed him her notes where she’d drawn a question mark under the word peppermint.
He was not fooled by the question. It sounded too rehearsed but he was impressed that she’d noticed his addition of peppermint. None of the others in the class had picked up on it.
“I find it counteracts nose tweaking,” he replied.
“Oh!” she said in surprise. “That’s brilliant, Professor Snape.”
He inclined his head acknowledging the compliment then said sarcastically, “Enjoy your ‘date.’”
Charlie grinned and squeezed Tonks’ hand taking the opportunity to move closer to her. They walked to the door together.
“Oh, Miss Tonks,” said Snape as she reached the corridor. “If, perhaps, you were thinking of brewing your own potion, in your own time, then I’m always around to advise. I like to encourage my students.”
She blushed and her hair seemed to turn even pinker. “Yes, Professor.”
“And another thing, no pink hair in class, normal brown will suffice.”
Tonks scowled. “Yes, sir,” she replied.
They ran hand-in-hand to the Entrance Hall.
“How in the name of all that is Magic did we get away with that?” whooped Charlie.
“I have no idea,” replied Tonks. Her breathing was unsteady. “Someone up there must like us.”
“You more like,” replied Charlie. “It’s Snape, he leurves you!”
She scowled at him. The fact that Snape often gave her preferential treatment was a source of much embarrassment to her.
“Where did you put all the ingredients then? Did you leave them behind?” he asked to change the subject.
She smiled and pulled him into a corner then lifted up her skirt to reveal very knobbly black tights. “I stuffed everything down there,” she giggled. “I figured Snape wouldn’t be able to bring himself to search me.”
Charlie averted his eyes. Tonks’ legs always had a strange effect on him. She didn’t notice his discomfort as she adjusted her clothes.
“I’m going back to my dorm to stash all this in my trunk. I’ll see you later, perhaps?” she asked as she turned away from him.
He pulled on her hand. “Oh no, Nymphadora! Snape thinks we’re on a date so I’m going to wait here for you and then we’ll go to Hogsmeade...together.”
Tonks sighed to herself. She owed Charlie, big time, and she guessed one date, one teeny-weeny date, couldn’t do any harm.
“Okay, Weasley, you’re on.”
“One more thing,” he said. “Can you call me Charlie for the rest of the day and not Weasley?”
“Yeah, fine, as long as you call me Tonks and not Nymphadora.”
“Deal!” he said. He bent forward to kiss her cheek but she’d already turned towards the staircase he knew led to the Hufflepuff Common Room.
Sighing, he sat on the floor and waited for her.
“Charlie’s got a girlfriend! Charlie’s got a girlfriend!” chanted two very familiar and very annoying voices from behind a suit of armour. His twin brothers appeared in front of him.
“Was that your first kiss?” asked Fred.
“More of a miss than a kiss, Charlie,” said George.
“Get lost you two,” Charlie replied in exasperation.
“Buy us something from Zonko’s then and we’ll leave you alone,” said Fred.
Charlie rolled his eyes. “I knew this would cost me. What do you want?”
George produced a list.
“I can’t get all this, guys. I don’t have enough money,” pleaded Charlie.
“We could always wait with you until Nymphadora comes back,” said Fred slyly.
“We could tell her that story about you and the Kneazle,” added George.
Charlie knew they had him. “Okay, two things from the list and that’s it.”
Down in her dorm, Tonks quickly divested herself of the potion ingredients. As she stashed them in her trunk she spilt some of the ground Newt powder over her T shirt. She patted it off, hoping it wouldn’t leave too much of a mark. At that moment one of her room mates came in.
“You going to Hogsmeade?” she asked, watching as Tonks straightened her skirt and scowled at her reflection. “Is it a date?”
“Uh-huh. I thought you’d already be there, Aggie.”
“I’m meeting Gregor later,” said Aggie. “Who are you going with?”
“Oh...err, just Charlie,” replied Tonks.
“Merlin, Tonks!” exclaimed Aggie. “You don’t sound very excited. Charlie Weasley is a fantastic Seeker and just about the most decent wizard in this place. There are girls here who’d chop off their wand arms to get a date with him!”
Tonks scuffed her shoes on the floor. “He’s a mate. I can’t think of him any other way.”
Aggie gave her a sceptical look. “Or won’t more like it. Come on, it might be fun.” She looked at Tonks’ mutinous face. “At least change your shirt and fix your hair.”
“What’s wrong with my hair?” asked Tonks defensively.
“Godric, you infuriate me! You’re lucky enough to be able to change your hairstyle whenever you want. You need never know the frustration of a bad hair day yet you always wear it short. Try pre-Raphaelite curls or something!” said Aggie.
Tonks pulled on a clean purple shirt then screwed up her face. “Will this do?” Her hair, now long, straight and purple slid down her back. “See, I’ve matched it to the top.”
Aggie sighed, “It’s a date, Tonks. Why don’t you go for something pretty and not wacky?”
Tonks scowled and screwed her face up again changing to blonde.
“Perfect!” squealed Aggie. “Now for the clothes...”
“No, I’m not changing anything else,” said Tonks as she ran for the door. “It’s only Charlie.”
She rushed up to the Entrance Hall just as the twins were leaving. Charlie looked at her blonde hair.
“Wow!” he exclaimed, his eyes on stalks, “you look fantastic.”
She blushed. “It’s only hair, Weasley- sorry- Charlie.”
He held out his hand hopefully and she took it.
Despite her protestations he took her to Madame Puddifoot’s.
“Charlie, this is gross,” she said, looking at the bright orange pumpkin decorations and ghost cut-outs that all seemed to be holding hands.
“Aw, come on, Tonks. Just go along with me for a change,” he said as he ordered hot chocolate and cauldron cakes for two.
“So,” he said when she was munching her way through her second cake, “are you going to tell me what potion you’re intending to brew?”
She shook her head. “S’better you don’t know, Charlie.”
“Hmph!” he grunted but he didn’t question her further. After another hot chocolate Charlie realised he was now desperately short of cash and still had to visit Zonko’s. He wondered how he could prolong the day with her. “Shall we go back to Hogwarts, now? We could have a walk by the lake or...”
“Go to the Three Broomsticks?” she finished.
“Oh!” he paused then flushed. “Tonks, I don’t really have enough money for that.”
She looked at him noting his embarrassment. “Charlie, I’ve got money. I don’t expect you to pay for me.”
“It’s a date,” he said bitterly. “I should be paying.”
She leant over and touched his cheek; the unexpected caress made him flush again. He looked across at her, unsure whether her reluctance to go back was due to her not wanting to spend time alone with him.
“How about I buy some Butterbeers and we drink them by the lake, then?” she said as a compromise.
“Okay, but I’ll pay you back,” he said stubbornly.
They walked out into the sunshine. It was bright for the last day in October.
“I need to go to Zonko’s,” Charlie sighed. “Do you want to come?”
Her eyes lit up. “I love Zonko’s, you know that.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him across the road. Charlie smiled as they entered Zonko’s; he should have skipped the coffee shop and just spent all his money here.
“What are you after?” she said.
“You,” he wanted to reply but instead said, “Gobstones-the Ghastly Ghoul series- and Tickling Turnips.”
“Really,” she exclaimed. “Bit childish for you!”
“It’s not for me, Tonks. It’s for the twins.”
“I’m teasing, Charlie. I think Tickling Turnips are fun,” she said.
After fifteen minutes spent examining different scented stink bombs they left and walked over to The Three Broomsticks to buy some Butterbeer. Then they began slowly walking back to Hogwarts.
He held her hand. “Maybe we can do this again, eh?”
Tonks thought to herself for a moment. She always had fun with Charlie and Aggie was right- he was decent. She squeezed his hand.
“Yeah, all right, Charlie,” she muttered.
“Really!” exclaimed Charlie, his face lighting up in a beaming smile. “You’ve just made my term!”
“Easy, Weasley, I’ve agreed to a second date- not an engagement,” she said but she was smiling. “Let’s take it slowly.”
“Tonks, It’s take me seven years to get to one date. How much slower can I go?” he grumbled.
It was starting to get dark and Tonks, who had forgotten her cloak, shivered. Charlie offered her his cloak and when she declined he put it around the both of them, holding her by the waist. She huddled in close to him. He turned her around to face him; he was half a head taller than her. Slowly he lowered his head and began to kiss her. At first she resisted but then started to relax and respond.
She broke away, grinning. “That was nice,” she said.
“Nice!” he exclaimed to the air. “That’s my best move and she says it’s ‘nice’”
“You’re best move, Weasley. Have you been practising?” she asked, laughing up at him.
He kissed her brow. “Never you mind, Nymphadora.”
She brought the conversation around to Quidditch. It was a game they both loved, a game that had cemented their friendship that first day on the Hogwarts Express. When Charlie had been picked as the Gryffindor Seeker in his second year, Tonks had felt her loyalties torn. It was wonderful to watch him fly. Then, in her fifth year she’d made it onto the Hufflepuff team as a Chaser. For one so clumsy, she flew like a dream. She seemed to leave her leaden feet behind on the ground when she mounted a broom. In the air she was as graceful as a phoenix and as intense as a hawk.
“Have you seen the fixture list yet?” she asked.
“Uh-huh, Oliver showed it to me last night. Make sure you have a good Christmas,” he warned.
“Why?” she asked.
"Because your New Year’s gonna be grim. January the sixth is when Gryffindor are going to kick your Hufflepuff butts!”
She snorted, “You wish, Weasley.”
“You promised to call me Charlie, remember,” he said.
“Sorry, Charlie,” she muttered.
They had entered the grounds of Hogwarts now and Charlie wondered how much longer he had alone with her. He slowed his pace and pulled her back into him.
“Where do you want to drink these?” he asked “We could always skip the Halloween feast and go to Hagrid’s garden,” he whispered as he nuzzled her ear.
She pushed him away gently. “Charlie, you agreed, slowly. Besides, I’m starving.”
“Tomorrow then,” he said. “Can we do something tomorrow?”
“Oh, I’m...uh...busy tomorrow,” she muttered.
“Busy with what?” he questioned.
“I’m brewing something?” she whispered.
“I’ll help you,” he offered.
“Better you don’t, Charlie,” she said. “It’s complicated and you’d only distract me.”
Then after giving him a quick peck on the cheek she stepped away again and began to walk up the front path.
“You still haven’t told me what you’re up to,” he shouted after her.
She stopped; already her hair was turning back to its customary pink spikes. She looked flustered and he knew that when she was flustered it showed in her hair, so he walked after her and pulled her round to face him.
“Tell me what’s going on, Tonks,” he whispered then he stopped. The tips of her hair were turning black. He let go. “Oh!” he said in shock. “It’s to do with him, isn’t it? Sirius Black.”
She nodded. Sirius Black was a subject that came up sporadically between them. When she’d first come to Hogwarts she’d been aware that her mother’s family were hated and feared. Her mother had told her to keep quiet about the connection and to this day Andromeda denied her daughter had ever met Sirius. Tonks had gone along with this, eager to stop her mother’s tears, but Charlie knew she’d met him and knew he was important to her. He did not believe in Black’s innocence anymore than the rest of the wizarding population. He had lost two uncles to the Death Eaters and as far as he was concerned they could all rot in Azkaban.
Tonks bit her lip as she tossed things over in her mind. Charlie was her friend; she could trust him.
“Let’s go to Hagrid’s and I’ll tell you everything,” she said decisively.
Hagrid, as Charlie knew, wasn’t there. It was nearly nightfall so he would be feeding Thestrals or checking on the unicorns. Charlie led her down to the pumpkin patch and pulled her to the ground. He opened two of the Butterbeers and handed one to her.
“Your cousin, then?” he said after a while.
“I’ve told you, haven’t I, that I once spent a day with him?” she began.
Charlie nodded.
“It was the only time I saw him. After that things suddenly got harder. He was working for the Order, James and Lily went into hiding and I must have been very low on his priority list. He wrote to me, sometimes, but I wasn’t allowed to write back in case they discovered his whereabouts. Our house was watched by Death Eaters and the Ministry alike. My mum, being a Black and married to a Muggle-born, wasn’t deemed trustworthy by either side.”
She sounded close to tears and hurriedly blew her nose on his proffered handkerchief.
“He wrote to me about his friends, his time at Hogwarts, about James, Lily and their new baby. Godric, he was proud to be Godfather. He talked so much about Harry “ I got quite jealous!”
“A few letters doesn’t change what he did, Tonks,” said Charlie quietly.
She rounded on him. “I thought you were on my side?”
“Always, Tonks, I’m just not on his.”
“It’s the same thing,” she sniffed.
“Carry on,” he said sighing.
“There were six of us at his flat that day; me, Sirius, Lily, James, Peter Pettigrew and Remus Lupin."
Charlie nodded again. He recognised Pettigrew’s name-Black’s last victim.
“Lily, James and Peter are dead. Sirius is locked up so that leaves Remus Lupin,” she muttered.
“What about him?” asked Charlie.
“I’ve found out someone in that group had turned traitor long before Pettigrew was killed,” she said.
“How do you know that?” he asked in amazement.
“Mum told me. She hadn’t wanted to accept his guilt either so she confronted Professor Dumbledore. He told her about his suspicion that someone in that group was passing information to You-Know-Who.”
“Tonks, Black was seen destroying a street full of Muggles and pulverising Peter Pettigrew,” Charlie said in exasperation. “That only confirms that Dumbledore was right.”
She got up and clenched her hands together. “What if it wasn’t him? What if there was another wizard-or witch- who killed Pettigrew and framed Sirius?”
Charlie looked at her, truly wondering if she’d gone mad. He stood up and took her face gently in his hands. “Don’t you think the Ministry would have found that person by now?”
She wrenched his hands away from her. “They never looked!”
“And why was that, Tonks? Tell me why?” His voice began to get louder as he tried to impress the truth upon her.
“They never looked,” she repeated stubbornly.
“No, Tonks. It was because they knew it was him. Sirius Black murdered Peter Pettigrew and all those Muggles,” he shouted. “You have to accept that.”
“I can’t! Sirius would not have betrayed any of his friends,” she yelled back at him.
Charlie sighed then pulled her back to the ground. They sat together for what seemed forever. The distance between them had never been this great.
“Tell me your plan, Tonks,” said Charlie at last.
Tentatively she reached out her hand and ran her fingers through his short shock of flame red hair then she leant in and put her head on his shoulder. She carried on the story whispering into his chest.
“The night I spent at Sirius’ flat he came in to check on me whilst I was in bed. I told him that I didn’t like one of his friends.”
“What, this Lupin guy? Is that what your theory’s based on, you at the age of six disliking someone? Godric, Tonks...”
“Hush, let me finish,” she looked up at him, calmer now she had his attention. “Actually it was Peter Pettigrew I didn’t like but Sirius assumed I meant Lupin.”
“So what?” Charlie was beginning to feel angry again.
“Oh, Weasley, don’t be thick. Plainly Sirius didn’t trust Lupin quite as much as he did the others,” she said scornfully.
“Where are you going with this, Tonks?” he sighed.
She took a deep breath.
“I’ve found Lupin. I saw him going into a bar in Knockturn Alley in the summer and I’m going to go and uh...talk to him,” she said shiftily.
“Why on earth would he tell you anything?” asked Charlie then he stopped as realisation dawned on his face. “Cockroach wings, Hippogriff feathers, Newt Powder and Flobberworm juice,” he said as he ticked them off on his fingers. “You’ve stolen the ingredients for Veritaserum haven’t you?”
“Yes!” she said defiantly.
He swore violently. “I did not want to know that. It’s a controlled substance, Tonks!”
“If I can get the truth out of Lupin then Sirius is free,” she said imploringly.
There was another long pause as he looked at her face shining with excitement. He knew this whole plan was madness. He knew that if they were caught it could mean at best the loss of his Prefect status and at worst expulsion but he also knew how much this meant to her. Lastly, he hoped that, despite her aptitude for Potions, this brew would be beyond her.
“Tell me how I can help you?” he said resignedly.
It was Charlie who found her somewhere to brew the potion. Despite his misgivings, he told her about a small hut on the edge of the forest that was deserted. It had belonged to Ogg the former Groundskeeper.
Veritaserum, Tonks told Charlie, took a lunar month to brew and she wanted it ready for the Christmas holidays when she should be able to escape to London to find Lupin. In her spare moments for the next two weeks she read over the recipe again and again. It was demanding and would take all her nerve and concentration but she knew she was capable. In Potions, as in flying, Tonks seemed to lose her carelessness. Although she’d sometimes trip and drop her finished result she had learned to brew enough for a second attempt. Snape was surprisingly indulgent with her as she was one student who really did put in the extra time.
By mid November, Tonks was sure she was ready to start. So, one Saturday at five in the morning, she lugged everything down to the hut. She started to prepare by shredding the Hippogriff feather with her silver knife. Three hours later, Charlie found her surrounded by ingredients. Her face was smudged; her fingers filthy but she had a huge smile on her face.
“Wotcher, Weasley!” she said cheerfully. “What’s the story?”
“I was looking for you, Tonks. I thought you weren’t going to start without me,” he said complaining slightly.
“Ooops! Sorry, I got carried away and this first bit’s easier than I thought,” she replied, still grinning up at him.
“Are you coming for breakfast?” he asked.
“Err...yeah,” she replied. “Why not?”
She stood up carefully, unwilling to spill anything into the rapidly bubbling cauldron. She gently reduced the blue flames underneath to a slow simmer then, brushing some mud off her skirt, she followed him to breakfast.
“Weasley,” bellowed Wood as they entered the Great Hall. “You should have been here for breakfast fifteen minutes ago.”
Charlie groaned and wondered, for what felt like the fiftieth time, exactly why he’d decided to give up the captaincy. He’d thought life would be a lot less hassle without the badge but Wood was taking his role very seriously. He saw Fred and George, the new Beaters, smirking at him. The mud on Tonks’ skirt had not escaped their attention.
“You’ll be at the match, I hope,” Charlie said to her.
“Of course,” she replied.
“No sneaking back to the hut,” he added.
She looked him straight in the eye. “Today I’m going to be focused on my favourite Seeker and that’s all.”
He smiled warmly as she pecked him on the cheek and then went to join his team.
Buoyed up by her support, Charlie caught the Snitch very early on in the game. Gryffindor recorded their quickest win in over fifty years and he was carried to his Common Room by the team. Not for the first time he cursed the day the Sorting Hat had divided him and Tonks. She was not invited to the party that followed despite now being his official girlfriend and his brothers would not let him sneak out to find her. Tonks hung around for a while in the Great Hall and by the lake but in the end the pull of the Veritaserum that she’d left bubbling proved too strong.
“It’s going well, so far, Sirius,” she whispered. “Remus Lupin’s days are numbered.”
Over the next month by cutting back on sleep and skipping meal times, Tonks managed to visit her potion every day. It had proved easier to brew than she’d imagined and by the end of the four weeks she had her colourless, odourless potion. There was only a small amount as she’d had to evaporate it down to a syrupy consistency, then in her excitement her nerves had overcome her and she’d spilt some on the floor but she’d managed to make enough to pour into a small vial. It was Saturday the twelfth of December when she ran up the stairs to the Gryffindor Tower.
“You’re not a Gryffindor!” said the Fat Lady imperiously. “I cannot let you in without the password.”
“Oh, please, I need to see Charlie Weasley- immediately,” she begged.
“It’s six thirty in the morning, he’s probably asleep,” snapped the Fat Lady.
“No he’s not,” said a tired voice from behind them. It was Charlie. “Oliver called another early practise. Good morning,” he said to Tonks as he kissed her. “Come to wish me a happy birthday.”
Her face fell. “Merlin, I’m sorry, Charlie. I forgot,” she said in horror. “Look I do have something for you but I’ve left it in my room.”
“That’s okay,” he said sighing. “What are you doing here, then?”
Her face lit up with excitement. “It’s ready, Charlie. I’ve made it.”
He looked at her hopping from foot to foot like a child; her hair switching to different shades of pink. Charlie wondered how much longer he could go on in a relationship so one-sided. He had hoped by now she’d be more committed but, apart from a few kisses, she still treated him firmly as a friend.
“Look, sweetheart, I’m pretty hot and sweaty here, so why don’t I see you after breakfast? Perhaps we can spend the day together, or something?” he suggested.
She agreed willingly and before he got to the Portrait hole she threw her arms around him. “Happy Birthday, Charlie,” she said as she kissed him before running off. Charlie watched her go, thinking that perhaps his eighteenth birthday would be memorable after all.
They met after breakfast in the Great Hall. Tonks handed over his gift. Despite her distraction with the potion she had really thought about what Charlie would like. She was always good with gifts and this year was no exception. Charlie found himself the proud owner of a limited edition Newt Scamander book entitled 'Dragonapedia- Everything you always wanted to know but were too afraid of the burns to ask!'
She’d also made him some replica Snitches out of honeycomb which she’d charmed to fly into his mouth.
“This is fantastic, Tonks,” he said. “When did you get the time?”
“I spent so much time in that shed watching the potion I needed something to keep me amused,” she replied.
“So,” he said finally, as he took her hand and walked to the lake, “Where’s the potion?”
She pulled a small glass bottle out of her pocket and waved it in front of him. “I need to see if it works -- do you fancy being a guinea pig?”
“No, I flaming well do not, Nymphadora!” he said in exasperation.
“Okay, Weasley, keep your hair on. I wouldn’t make you drink it anyway. You can test it on me!”
She uncorked it and, without thinking, dipped her finger in the liquid. “Go on Charlie, ask me anything,” she dared him then licked her fingertip. He could see she was still aware of him but something from her eyes was missing.
“What’s your favourite hair colour?”
“Pink,” she answered promptly, grinning.
Who’s your favourite Professor?” he asked knowing she always said McGonagall.
“Snape,” she replied. Her eyes widened “ she knew what she’d said but was apparently surprised.
“Who’s your favourite Seeker, Tonks?” he asked gently, praying for the right answer.
“Charlie Weasley,” she answered; she looked relieved.
He could see her eyes beginning to unfog, so quickly asked his last question.
“How do you really feel about me, Tonks? Do you love me?” he whispered.
“You’re my best friend. I love you like a brother.”
He looked into her eyes- they were fearful for she had not wanted to say those words, perhaps she’d never known what she felt for him or perhaps he’d always been kidding himself that they could ever be more than friends.
“Charlie,” she whispered, her voice back to normal. “I’m sorry. Perhaps I just need more time.”
“Just go, Tonks,” he said bitterly. “Go and find out what everyone else knows about your precious cousin then maybe you’ll be able to look at me.”
“It’s not about Sirius,” she said beseechingly as she put her arm over his shoulders.
He shrugged her off wanting her to go but she stayed where she was.
“My mum,” she continued after a while, “always said she knew that Dad was the one for her because he made her heart sing. I’ve never felt that way about anyone, Charlie.”
“Not even Sirius Black?” he said sarcastically.
She took his hands in hers. “Not even Sirius,” she confirmed.
“Then give this up, Tonks,” he pleaded. “Accept he’s guilty, before it drives you insane.”
“I can’t,” she said sadly. “Sorry, Charlie, I should never have involved you in any of this.” She wrapped her arms round him and gave him a kiss on the lips, he ached to respond but knowing she didn’t feel the same way made him freeze.
“Leave it, Tonks,” he ordered. He stood up and brushed the honeycomb Snitch crumbs off from his jumper. “See you around… maybe,” he said coldly.
“Don’t forget the book, Charlie,” she cried.
“Keep it or return it, Tonks,” he said. “I don’t want it now.”
She watched him trudge back to the castle. She thought about following him to tell him he was mistaken, that the Veritaserum must have made her lie but she knew it hadn’t. So instead she turned away and walked towards Hogsmeade.
Remus Lupin woke up on the thirteenth December in his cellar. His clothes were ripped, the old shirt he’d been wearing hung off his thin frame. There was blood on his face and arms where he’d bitten and scratched to get out. His whole body was wracked with pain and his mouth was bleeding copiously. Slowly, he began to slide open the seven bolts on the door. He could see one had been almost destroyed which accounted for the state of his lips. There was some daylight shining through his window, but it was still dark in his room. He lived in a basement flat in London. It had been bought by his parents specifically because it had a secure cellar underneath and was close enough to Diagon Alley for him to find work. He could hear rain drumming on the pavement outside.
He checked the clock. It was five thirty on a Sunday morning so most Muggles would still be in bed. He removed his shirt and opened his front door intending to let the cold rain soothe his ravaged skin. Then he stopped. Huddled in a corner by his front door was what looked like a girl. Remus was used to homeless people sleeping rough in London, but he’d never seen one who’d conjured blue flames to keep themselves warm as they slept.
He bent down and gently shook her awake. “Can I help you?” he asked.
Tonks started for there in front of her was the man she’d spent all day and night looking for. He was older than she remembered and his hair was already turning grey. In fact it was hard to believe he was only thirty. He looked gaunt and the blood on his face and chest made it difficult for her not to recoil. Aware of her scrutiny he hurriedly put the torn shirt back on, but it was so bloodstained that it made little difference to the horror of his appearance.
“I’m looking for Remus Lupin,” she said as she pulled herself up to standing.
“You’ve found him,” he replied simply.
Tonks grasped her wand firmly beneath her cloak. “I believe you knew my cousin, Sirius Black,” she said quickly. “I met you, once, about eleven years ago.”
If it were possible to look any paler than he already did then Remus Lupin would have blanched at this point. He remembered that evening as if it were yesterday. It was one of the last evenings the friends had spent together and, of course, it was the night he found out Lily was pregnant. The memory of that evening had kept him going through many a dark day; James, Lily and Peter had still been alive and Sirius was not in league with Voldemort. He smiled at Tonks his eyes warming to the memory of her pink hair and Sirius’ delight in her.
“You’re Nymphadora Tonks, aren’t you?” he said.
“Just Tonks,” she replied brusquely. She was thrown by his appearance and the compassion she could see in his eyes. “Can I come in?” she asked.
He opened the door fully and ushered her into his tiny one roomed flat. He flicked his wand quickly as he attempted to clear the rubbish from a shabby looking sofa.
“Sorry, I don’t get many visitors,” he said in embarrassment.
She took a seat, watching him the whole time. This was not how she imagined her cousin’s betrayer. She’d expected him to be arrogant, wealthy and living somewhere much better than this flea-pit. People like her Aunt Narcissa lived well, despite being in league with You-know-Who, so why was Lupin living in such a decrepit area?
“I take it you want to talk about Black?” he said after a while.
“Oh...err...yeah, if you wouldn’t mind,” she said looking at the ground as she spoke. She noticed his bare feet on the wooden boards- ‘Was there any part of his body not covered with cuts?’ she wondered then blushed- she shouldn’t be thinking about his body.
“I don’t really think I have much to add on the subject of Sirius that’s not already known,” he replied.
She sighed. She’d rehearsed this bit again and again in her head but still felt uncomfortable. She leant forward and touched his arm then looked at his face and smiled, dolefully.
“I was rather hoping you could tell me why you think he did all those terrible things?” she said, in what she hoped was a convincing manner.
Remus flinched away from the unexpected contact. He didn’t quite trust her motives; there was something about the blue tinge to her hair than smacked of deceit.
“Are you a journalist now, Nymphadora?” he asked suddenly. “You want the dirt on Sirius Black after all these years so you thought you’d come to his last remaining school friend.” He stood up. “I think you should leave. I have nothing to say to you.”
“Oh, please,” she begged and pulled on his arm. “I’m not a journalist, I’m still at Hogwarts. I just want to talk to someone about him and I remembered how kind you were that evening.”
“Hogwarts term’s ended early this year, then?” he said in disbelief.
“No,” she admitted. “I’ve bunked off. At this moment I should be in my Common Room starting a convoluted essay on Human Transfiguration for Professor McGonagall but this suddenly seemed more important.”
“A reckless, impulsive Gryffindor -- just like him,” muttered Remus.
“No,” she replied. “I’m a Hufflepuff! Please will you talk to me? Tell me why you think he betrayed James and Lily?”
“Okay,” he sighed.
Tonks relaxed, it would be plain sailing now. “Could I possibly have a drink first?” she asked.
She noticed how his eyes seemed to brighten and yellow flecks appeared when he smiled.
He went over to the corner of the room where he had a one ring stove and a cupboard and returned with two glasses of pumpkin juice. Aware she was looking at him, he suddenly realised how inadequately dressed he was.
“I must put something on,” he said, turning his back on her to pull on a long shabby cloak.
Quick as a flash she pulled out her vial of Veritaserum and began to add it to his glass but just as she was re-stopping the vial he grabbed her wrist.
“What in the name of Salazar are you up to?” he whispered quietly but there was no mistaking the anger in his voice.