Chapter 7- nighttime visitor

Christine was sleeping uneasily in the armchair before the tent's fireplace when the fire grew and turned green. A man, about Christine's age climbed out of the fireplace; he had green robes on, brown hair and blue eyes. He looked around the tent, and stepped one-step closer to the sleeping form.

Christine woke up, pointed her wand at the intruder, and spoke, "Don't come any closer."

"Christine, it's just me, Zabini," he replied.

She didn't lower her wand, and she raised her eyebrow as to say really.

"I am Barnard Zabini. I was your counterpart Slytherin Prefect, and staunchly defended your honor on the Hogwarts Express against Percy Weasley in fifth year. And now work of at the Floo Network office in the Department of Magical Transport," he amended his answer.

She lowered her wand and smiled, "Zabini, it's been a long time, but you did leave out that we were a couple in our sixth and seventh years. That is common knowledge though. How's work treating you?"

"It is going well in my department. Tonight was a rough night though," he replied.

"You can tell me about it. Let me summon some butterbeers," she stated flicking her wand.

When they opened their drinks he continued, "Well, I got assigned to help Snape. We went after Lupin and one of the Harrys, but I don't think it was the real Harry Potter, was it?"

"No, it was George Weasley."

"Well, in any case the Dark Lord is very angry right now. I am just glad that I don't live at the Malfoy's."

"I heard and saw that Bellatrix failed to kill her half-blooded niece."

"Yes, and she is almost just as angry as the Dark Lord. So, how is your mission coming?"

"Well, it would be better if Molly would stop treating me like a two year old," she said.

"Sounds like there is strife in the Order,"

"Yes, but it is mostly between Molly and me."

"Oh, nobody else?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, Lupin and Harry almost at it," she answered taking a sip.

"I have to get home. I need to work real late tomorrow. Until 4 am in fact."

"Can I ask you a favor?" she asked as he walked to the fireplace.

"Yes," he replied turning around.

"Ride is coming here, tomorrow around midnight, can you look the other way if we break the ministry rule of no Floo powder transport to the ministry past 1 am unless of emergency."

"Sure," he took some powder and shouted, "King's Cross Street!"

The fire tuned green and Zabini disappeared.

"Now that's down, I should go to bed," she said aloud.

She pulled out her wand and said, "Aguamenti," the fire died and she went to the bedroom and went back to sleep.