The next few days of the Christmas holidays flew by and suddenly the rest of the school were back at Hogwarts.

The gang found themselves in an abandoned classroom off the Charms corridor one rainy day. Annie was reading a Charms textbook, and Don was reading a thick Muggle book from his grandparents. Shakespeare, or something. Tonks' Dad would have known who he was.

Tonks knelt on the floor, attempting to build a house of cards with Charlie's Exploding Snape deck. The added challenge was that she'd cast engorgio upon the deck so that each card was now the size of a hand. She'd built three floors so far, a personal best, and it looked to be pretty stable.

'Where's Buck?' Annie asked, turning the page of her book.

'Detention,' Charlie answered. 'He kept calling Professor McGonagall "pussy cat" so she gave him a week's detention.'

Tonks quickly backed away from her house of cards as she burst out laughing.

'So what did you want to ask us about Charlie?' Charlie had walked in and dumped his bag on a desk with the bold announcement that 'I need your advice,' and then not said anything.

'Uh,' Charlie mumbled. Tonks suddenly thought she knew what he needed advice with.

'Ooh, is it about Robin? You looked like you were getting on great in Charms, didn't they Annie?'

'Yes, you did! We all saw you walk her to Defence,' Don nodded helpfully in support of Annie's statement, not looking up from his book.

'Yeah, it kind of is… I was wondering what I should do next,' Charlie looked like a fish out of water. Annie jumped in and started reeling off advice for Charlie, none of which he looked too pleased about.

Tonks got back to her card house, or she would have if she hadn't just knocked it over with her elbow. The stack collapsed in a flash and a series of loud explosions.

Professor Flitwick waddled in to find all four of them on the floor, laughing. While he was telling her off for being distracting, Tonks failed miserably at keeping a straight face. She could feel her hair smoking and that her eyebrows had been half burnt off.

'Don, you've been reading that book for like a week now,' Buck noted.

'It's a good book,' he didn't even look up as he turned the page. They were back in the Library and everyone but Don was trying to finish off the mountain of homework that had steadily built up since the start of term.

'What is it?' Don shut the book and passed it over to Buck. Buck looked at it with distaste as he read the title. Buck disliked any book unrelated to Quidditch by definition.

'Hamlet by William Shakespeare,' he passed it back, 'who's that?'

Don rolled his eyes, 'Seriously? He's one of the best Muggle playwrights ever.' Buck shrugged. 'My grandparents sent me this as their "we get that you're a wizard" present, just because this one has three witches in it. They're called "The Wyrd Sisters".'

'Cool band name,' Tonks added, she was lying on her stomach, flicking through a massive version of One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi. Charlie sat with Robin, who he had sort-of asked out the day before.

'Do you think?' Don considered the name, 'Myron and Kirley were just saying yesterday that our band needs a name that's a bit more interesting than "Wagtail and Friends".'

Tonks pulled a face, 'Yeah, that name sucks.'

'So how is the band going?' Charlie asked.

'Not too bad, I've talked my parents into coming shopping for a magic bass when I'm next home as a joint birthday and Christmas present,' he grinned, 'but for now I've borrowed one from the music class and we're sort of writing our own stuff. We're thinking that we might start doing gigs next year that's mainly covers of Muggle and magical stuff,'

'Sounds cool,' said Buck, still eyeing the Shakespeare uncertainly.

The pressure started building up on the first years soon after, as every professor was now gearing them towards exam preparation. The only bit of relief Tonks found was in Duelling Club and visiting the kitchens from time to time after a sixth year had told her how to get in.

Another thing that Tonks found frustrating was Charlie's new relationship with Robin. Robin was now constantly trying to talk to Tonks about what Charlie was going to do for Valentine's Day. She wouldn't listen when Tonks told her repeatedly that she had no idea.

Tonks didn't really like Valentine's Day anyway. It's a silly tradition, she thought to herself. Her parent's treated Valentine's Day like any other, maybe going out for a meal and getting each other a card, but not making a fuss of it.

Tonks headed up to the Great Hall early to get away from Robin fussing over her hair. Tonks morphed her hair blue in protest against the pink hearts that Robin had decorated her bed with.

Charlie found her munching on a plate of toast, surveying the heart shaped confetti on the table with disgust.

'I'd have thought you'd be a fan of Valentine's Day,'

'What made you think that?' she looked at him as if he was crazy.

'Well, you're a girl, right?'

'I hadn't noticed,' she replied dryly, turning back to her toast.

'I just meant, uh, I meant that,' Charlie visibly squirmed. 'Never mind. Is Robin down here yet?'

'No, she and Alex kept fussing over her hair. Please, for Merlin's sake, say something nice about her hair! They wouldn't shut up last night – it was all "Charlie this" and "Charlie that" and "hey Tonks, you hang out with Charlie all the time, do you think he'll like this?" Ergh, even Alex was getting sick of it by eleven last night.'

'So why don't you like Valentine's Day?' Charlie asked.

'It's a stupid day that gives couples an excuse to be really over-the-top about how they feel about each other. I don't see why you need a day to be in love, if you're with someone you should be in love with them all the time, not just on Valentine's Day,' she took a breath and took a bite of fried egg. 'I just can't wait for the weekend – Ravenclaw vs Slytherin – it's going to be a great game!'

Robin bounced over at that point and the Quidditch discussion evaporated. Tonks could feel the awkwardness as Charlie and Robin just stood there smiling at each other. Thankfully, Robin started a conversation.

'Have you got anything planned for later?'

'Uh yeah, I hope you'll like it, I put a lot of thought into it,'

'I'm sure it'll be great,' she smiled and seated herself beside Tonks. 'See you later Charlie!'

Tonks tried to stop herself smirking at how red Charlie had turned.

'He's so sweet,' Robin gushed, spreading marmalade over her toast.

Tonks rolled her eyes.

Later that evening, while Tonks was teaching Don Wizard's chess in the common-room, Robin almost exploded with happiness all over her.

'It was so great! We had Butterbeer and chocolate and he held my hand and walked me back, it was the most romantic evening ever!'

'Did he kiss you?' Alex asked quickly. Tonks knocked over half her chess pieces.

'No,' Robin seemed disappointed. 'But we're still only eleven, there's plenty of time for that!'

'Lucky Charlie,' Don said in an undertone.

Tonks' birthday whizzed past with some money from relatives, a Hobgoblins poster from home and ten points from Hufflepuff for yelling 'furball!' whenever Professor McGonagall coughed in Transfiguration.

Before they knew it, March had arrived and none of the first years had a life outside of homework or revision except for the odd Quidditch weekend. The Quidditch Cup Race was between Gryffindor and Slytherin at the moment, so hopes were running high for Gryffindor to beat Hufflepuff. If Hufflepuff won they would overtake Gryffindor in the race, but if Gryffindor won and Slytherin lost to Hufflepuff in May then Gryffindor would win the Cup.

'We're going to win,' Tonks informed Charlie as they climbed up to the stands.

Charlie laughed and shook his head. 'You wish.'

'So where's Robin?'

'Sitting with Lucy in the Ravenclaw stands; she's not much of a Quidditch fan.'

'What? You've got to get rid of her mate,' Buck announced. Charlie ignored him.

Myron's commentary was even more outrageous than usual in an obvious display of house favouritism as the teams stepped out onto the pitch. Tonks morphed her hair into the 'badger look' as Charlie called it.

'Ladies and gentlemen! Here come the Gryffindors! Ryan, Hunter, Roberts, Dent, Jones, Jenkins aaaaand Rawlins!' The crowd cheered and banners waved, the Gryffindor lion waving in the sun and wind. The Gryffindor team lapped the pitch at speed and hovered over the centre circle.

'And now, I present for your entertainment and adoration – THE HUFFLEPUFFS!' Tonks screamed in Charlie's ear, and Don jumped up and down with his yellow and black banner.

'Spungen! Dorny! Mullet! Campbell! Campbell! Dunstan! Aaaaand Spinks!' The Hufflepuff team circled the stands before taking their places opposite the Gryffindor team.

'The captains, Phillip "The Sphinx" Spinks and Gwenog Jones, shake hands before the match begins!' Myron told them. Spinks was lanky yet strongly built with dark hair that seemed to be permanently windswept. His broad shoulders and muscled arms contrasted severely with his long and thin legs. His broad build was extremely misleading, as Spinks was actually very clever at team tactics – hence his nickname "Sphinx". He swung his beater's bat over his shoulder as he shook hands with the serious faced Gwenog Jones who looked as though she was trying to crush him in her mind.

As the captains took to the air once more Madam Hooch opened the ball crate.

'This will be a tough one between Gryffindor and the just Hufflepuffs!' Myron announced to the crowd, 'yet only the best team will triumph in this game of Lions and Badgers,'

'Wagtail!' Professor McGonagall's voice interrupted, 'are you commentating on a Quidditch match or narrating a tragedy?!'

'Sorry Professor, AND THEY'RE OFF! Mullet takes the Quaffle for Hufflepuff's first possession! Go on Olivia! She's past Dent and Roberts! Only Hunter and Ryan hover between her and those hoops! Can she make it? OH! SO CLOSE! A sneaky bludger from Jenkins and the Quaffle passes to Roberts, he's off towards the Hufflepuff hoops! Drop it! Go on!'

'WAGTAIL! YOU'RE MEANT TO BE NEUTRAL!'

'TACKLED! By Angus Campbell, well done Angus! Hufflepuff have possession once mo- Roberts has it again! He passes to Hunter and it's only her and Spungen now! SAVE IT SPONGE! HE HAS! IT'S STILL NIL-NIL HERE AT THE TENSEST MATCH OF THE SEASON!'

'Stop being dramatic Wagtail!' McGonagall ordered.

'Still no sign of the snitch as a bludger narrowly avoids Lenox Campbell as he searches the skies!'

The match seemed to go on forever before Katherine Hunter finally scored for Gryffindor, then the match really heated up.

'OUCH! That must have hurt! How Roberts is still on his broom after that bludger I cannot guess. Good shot from Spinks! And Jones has retaliated! Spinks only just makes the parry back to Jones! Now Jenkins has joined in! That bludger's like a hot potato, it's only a matter of time before it makes contact with one of those beaters! Spinks is really up against it now! Where's Dunstan to help? He's got trouble of his own keeping a bludger away from Spungen so he can save this next shot. OH! He missed it! TWENTY-ZERO TO GRYFFINDOR! AND SPINKS HAS DONE IT! TAKE THAT JONES! YOU DON'T MESS WITH THE BADGERS AND GET AWAY WITH I-'

Professor McGonagall wrenched the magical microphone away from Myron as Gwenog Jones crashed to the ground cradling a potentially broken arm.

'HA!' Tonks jeered in Charlie's face.

Hufflepuff redoubled their efforts and it was 50-50 with no sign of the snitch. All Campbell and Rawlins had to do was avoid bludgers until-

'Was that the snitch?' The whisper sped around the stands as the two Seekers raced after the tiny gold ball.

Dunstan aimed a bludger at Rawlins who twisted in mid air to avoid it. Jones, back on the pitch despite Madam Pomfrey's advice, returned the favour by catching Campbell's outstretched arm with a bludger. Campbell span out of control in pain, veering wide into Rawlins. In the confusion the snitch was lost from sight.

'Foul!' Tonks cried, it would have been a foul even in a Falcons game, known for the Falmouth Falcon's extremely violent tactics. 'Surely that's a foul!'

'Perfectly legal,' Charlie told her as the game resumed. Tonks shook her black and white head.

'SEVENTY - FIFTY TO HUFFLEPUFF!'

'EIGHTY - SEVENTY TO GRYFFINDOR!'

And so it continued, well past lunch time. The players were getting tired and the play was more risky. Madam Hooch was awarding penalties left, right and centre.

'ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY - ONE HUNDRED TO HUFFLEPUFF AS MULLET SCORES THE PENALTY FOR BLATCHING!'

'Who wants bets on a weeklong match?' Buck asked.

'Nah, two days at the most,' Charlie told him. Tonks hoped not, she was feeling drowsy already.

Evening fell and the wind picked up. Tonks was falling asleep on Charlie's shoulder and Annie was curled up on the seat beside Don.

'Tonks! The snitch!'

Her eyes snapped open, 'What's the score?' She demanded, back on her unsteady feet.

'One hundred and eighty – one hundred,' Charlie admitted.

'To Hufflepuff? Yes!' Tonks cheered.

Rawlins was gaining on the snitch, just a few feet away, arm outstretched and fingers straining.

'GET BACK UP THERE CAMPBELL!' Myron was yelling. Professor McGonagall, beside him, no longer cared about being neutral. She was on her feet urging Rawlins on.

Feet became inches and the snitch weaved and bobbed around the pitch. Rawlins and Campbell bobbed and weaved after it, Campbell losing air as Rawlins crept ever closer until finally,

'He's done it! Richard Rawlins has caught the snitch for Gryffindor!' Myron sounded just a little bit relieved through his disappointment. 'That means the final score here is two hundred and fifty – one hundred and eighty to Gryffindor! GRYFFINDOR WIN!'

The crowd went wild as everyone, Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws and Slytherins included, celebrated the end of the match.

'Don't forget to pop back in May for the Hufflepuff versus Slytherin match – will those sneaky snakes succeed to stay in the Quidditch Cup Race?' It didn't sound like Myron's heart was in it as he wished them all a good evening and turned off the magical microphone.

'Good game,' Tonks admitted to Charlie before threatening to jinx him if he waved his Gryffindor banner in her face one more time.

After the excitement of the Quidditch, March passed at a crawling pace as Tonks and the other first years found their every moment taken up with revision for their first year exams. Tonks ended up having pockets full of buttons as she practised transfiguring insects into buttons at every available opportunity.

The other first years weren't taking the pressure well either. Charlie even pretended to faint in one Astronomy lessons. As he told Tonks and Don after, according to Professor Lawrence, it is "not amusing to pretend to faint and proceed to blame it on the altitude of the Astronomy Tower". Charlie and Robin also broke up, which had barely any effect on Tonks' life except that Robin now stopped asking Tonks whether Charlie had mentioned her each day.

Not even a week later Robin asked Tonks and Alex what they thought of Martin Amerinus. The next day she was being walked to class by him.

'How does she do it?' Alex asked Tonks one lunch-time after Defence Against the Dark Arts.

But on the other hand, their pranks certainly did pick up after that, as Tonks and Charlie found themselves in detention every other week, occasionally accompanied by Don or Buck. Never Annie, she was too good and careful to mess around removing Hogwarts toilet seats from their respective toilets and planting dungbombs in precarious places in the dungeons.

Tonks showed Charlie how to get into the kitchens and from then on their pranks included adding Belch Powder from Zonko's Joke Shop to the Slytherin's food. Even Professor McGonagall had to suppress a smile when she saw Snape's face as he was surrounded by angry and burping students demanding an antidote to their chicken drumsticks.

Buck managed to sneak a vial of Babbling Beverage from the Potions classroom which was even funnier than the Belch Powder because the Slytherins couldn't articulate what their problem was. Somehow Snape found out who was responsible because Tonks, Charlie and Buck found themselves scrubbing the dungeons a week later.

'Why do we always get the scrubbing?' Tonks complained to Charlie, rinsing her sponge for the hundredth time.

April came and went with rainfall so heavy that the Black Lake burst its banks and the Giant Squid had to be precariously levitated back into the depths by the teachers, with a massive crowd of students watching on, when it became beached on the bank.

'Drop it on Snape!' Tonks yelled, getting a cheer from most of the school.