"You should here them! They talk, Charlie! They talk!"

"Did you expect them to hiss or something?"

"I hate you. Shut up."

That was the sixth time that Tonks had said 'I hate you' and the tenth time she had told Charlie to shut up. The boy was highly amused. The two of them were making their way to the grounds, juggling their book bags. Several students cast them strange glanced. They were a Gryffindor and a Slytherin both walking to class together. Alice and her lot would have a fit, Tonks mused, mostly because to most people Gryffindors and Slytherins didn't simply walk together to classes. But Tonks didn't care. Well, that was a lie, it made her wonder what her house mates thought whenever they would see her walk somewhere with Charlie. She already knew that Alice, Anne, and Beatrix talked about her. They had only just confronted her last week telling her that it was best not to mingle with Gryffindors.

Tonks wouldn't be bothered by it. Or them. Whichever came first. She was more bothered with the fact that she had to sleep where she went to school, having roommates wasn't exactly something that she was used to, not to mention half of the time she'd rather be trying to wrap her hands around their necks then listen to them talk. Anything was better than hearing them talk. Well, maybe not potions. Tonks tended to botch up her potions, and her roommates tended to take the mickey out of her because of it. Not exactly the most fun thing in the world.

It was settled. She wouldn't be bothered by them. That was her goal. Ignore the Slytherin girls and make their lives a living hell for the rest of their years at Hogwarts. Tonks beamed, clearly not noticing the strange look that Charlie was giving her before he pushed her playfully into the wall. With a rather loud squeal she stumbled, grabbing on to Charlie's arm, bringing him down with her. They landed on the floor with a rather painful thud.

"You ruined my train of thought!" Tonks grumped, kicking the boy lightly. "I was in my happy place, Charlie! Happy place!"

Charlie didn't see the amusement in this for Tonks' book bag was crushing his bits. And she was leaning on her book bag. "My happy place is in pain," he grunted, falling back on to the floor, groaning.

It would be two minutes later before Tonks realized what Charlie had meant. Turning a bright shade of pink she scrambled to get up, brushing off her robes, pointedly avoiding the boy's gaze. When at last they had finally started walking again Tonks clutched her book bag to her chest, staring hard down at the floor before her. She had to think of happier things, things that weren't in anyway related to Charlie's crushed bits. Why did she ever let her mum talk her into going to Hogwarts? She would have been better off at Beauxbatons. At least there she would be able to pick up on a new language (never mind the fact that her mum was already trying to teach her French. She refused to learn it!), and possibly how to be less of a klutz.

…..Wasn't that what finishing school was for?

She whimpered at the thought, pointedly ignoring the look Charlie was giving her as he hobbled along. Then she had an idea.

"Charlie," Tonks sighed dramatically. "Have I ever told you how boy are gross?"

The Gryffindor leered at her as he hobbled along. "I have a feeling you're about to tell-"

"COOTIES, CHARLIE!" The little Slytherin exclaimed. "Filthy little things that crawl around your bits day in and day out! VILE! Mum told me so herself."

"I am very disturbed to know this," Charlie coughed, hunching his shoulders, trying to hide from the stares they were getting. "Please, tell your mum this. Better yet, I'll tell her. Merlin, my brain - I need to bleach it."

Sometimes, Tonks thought, it's good to be loud. It's more fun that way. Of course she had always been loud - or so her mum and dad told her. Her Aunt Narcissa told her to 'sit down you silly girl, and don't touch a thing!' But Aunt Narcissa was awfully strict and didn't seemed to happy with her mum at the time either, she didn't know why. Actually, Tonks was beginning to wonder if her aunt ever smiled. She seemed so stiff, then again she was pregnant with little Draco. Must have been the mood swings.

….So what was Uncle Lucius' excuse? He couldn't have been pregnant, too. Nah, that couldn't happen. That was more disgusting than Charlie's cooties, and Tonks knew that for a fact. Merlin, no wonder everyone always told her she sounded like a five year old. So Tonks threw down her arms, clutching her book bag in one hand, and sticking her pinky finger out. Jutting her chin out just a bit she walked stiffly, one foot in front of the other, careful to not bend her knees.

Charlie sputtered at her actions. "What in Merlin's name are you doing?"

In a very uppity lady like manner, Tonks scoffed. "I'm being a lady."

"Er," the Gryffindor coughed, flinching at the way she walked. "Why?"

Sighing exasperatedly Tonks said, "Because I'm a lady, that's why."

"Well, stop. You're scaring me."