Autumn 1994
"And then?"
"And then, believe it or not, the kid just mounted the broom he'd summoned and started flying, ducking the dragon. And that Horntail is a very nasty piece of work, I would wet myself if I had to face it all alone. And nesting, mind you. So then, Potter dives and fetches the golden Egg, just barely missing the Dragon's tail," Charlie said with a shrug. "It was really amazing!"
Tonks looked around and smiled. In moments like this it seemed that time had not passed for her and her friends. Charlie had come back from Romania for the second time this year and they were in her flat, joined by Mitch, his new girlfriend – Tonks had long ago lost track of how many there had been since their 7th year – Atticus and a very pregnant Lilica.
"Did he got full marks?" Mitch asked.
"Nah, that son of a Bludger Karkaroff only gave him four points, he's the Durmstrang Headmaster and I've never seen a member of the jury so prejudiced. But Potter's tied for first place with Viktor Krum."
"The Krum? Seeker for Bulgaria's national team?" asked Atticus, looking at Charlie wide eyed.
"Yup, that's the one," Charlie said, taking a generous sip from his glass of Firewhiskey, "he's still at school, you see. He's been chosen as Durmstrang champion."
"I wish I was still at school," said Lilica with a wishful voice.
"Excuse me?" Atticus glared at his girlfriend. "Why, exactly?"
Tonks giggled, "Why? Krum's not exactly an eye-sore, is he?"
Atticus snorted and Lilica giggled as well.
"I wasn't thinking about him, bur now that you mention it…" she made a mock dreamy face. Then she burst into laughter with everybody else except Atticus. "I was just thinking about the excitement of watching the trials, you know? Or even taking part in them."
"Yeah, that would be wicked," Mitch said. "Why didn't those things happen when we were around? All we got were Quidditch Matches!"
"Hey!" Charlie cried indignantly. "Those were great! 'Specially since we were the best friggin' team there was."
"As if!" Atticus and Tonks said at once.
"I don't remember you winning more than a Chocolate Frog card," said Mitch.
"I have two words for you," Atticus prompted with a wide grin, "Oliver Wood."
Tonks and Lilica started laughing madly and the latter said "Hear, hear." Charlie and Mitch had almost identical sulking expressions.
"Just because you knocked him with a Bludger-"
"Right you are, I knocked him with a Bludger two minutes into the match, and Tonksie here," he said, slightly leaning his glass towards her, "scored… how much was it, honey?" he looked at Lilica.
"I don't know," she said, following his lead and looking thoughtful. "You know it is difficult to remember such an enormous quantity."
"Yeah… at some point I'm afraid I lost count of it, myself," Tonks said.
The three of them looked at each other and, as if this was a well rehearsed play, yelled in unison:
"Five hundred and seventy!"
"Such a shame for that poor other team."
"Embarrassing."
"I don't know how the players could stand being mocked the rest of the school year."
"And one of them was actually dating the scoring-genius."
"Maybe he was too distracted by her looks so he forgot he was supposed to be looking for the snitch."
"Shut up!" Charlie said.
The three Hufflepuffs grinned.
"You are lucky you have at least one story to tell, otherwise it would be your shame!" Mitch muttered.
"Maybe your right," Atticus said with a wink, "but ours is the best story."
They laughed and Charlie and Mitch muttered something about "the previous matches".
"But, back to the Tournament," Tonks spoke pensively. "How did it happen, though?"
"What?" asked Charlie and Atticus at once.
"Potter entering," she stated matter-of-factly. "There is something really fishy in the whole situation. Two Hogwarts champions? One of them not even of age? And Harry Potter of all people?"
"What does the Ministry think about it?" Lilica asked, stroking her belly absentmindedly.
"Well, no one says a thing. Mad-Eye is there, of course, at Hogwarts I mean, but I haven't seen him since he left and I am not going to knock at his door and ask."
"What's Moody doing there?" Mitch asked.
"Teaching," Charlie answered. Tonks shrugged.
"You gotta be joking." Atticus blurted, almost choking on his Firewhiskey.
"I know, poor kids, right?" Tonks said with a small smile. "I bet he's giving them the practical approach to his old 'Constant Vigilance'… maybe there will be a couple of survivors at the end of the year to tell the tale. He'll be great, though," she added as an afterthought. "Brutal, harsh, nightmare-provoking… but great."
"Any news on the search of Black?" asked Mitch. Atticus looked at Tonks apprehensively, but she just gave a noncommittal smile.
"If there were any, I wouldn't be allowed to tell you anyway. But no, there is none. Besides," there was now fury in Tonks' voice, "I'm not allowed on the case. I can't even read the files!"
"How come?" Charlie said.
"They say I might be biased, since he's supposed to be my family and all that rubbish. It's just bollocks, I was really hoping to get into the search team. Shacklebolt is directing it and I bet he wouldn't have minded me joining but that Scrimgeour… he's a total arse!" She morphed her face to make it look exactly like her boss' "Your judgement might be compromised, Tonks. It is not advisable."
"That sucks, mate." Charlie said sympathetically.
"Tell me about it."
A/N: A lot of thanks, as usual - but always as deep - to PottedLilies for a great beta work.
And a new lot of thanks to all of you who took some time to review, specially now that in some parts of the word school/work had started and we don't have as much time as we used to. Lauraw18, KenziCullen, Carrebear14, felixlee14, shadowfornothing14, you are great!
And extra special thanks to a_little_Wicked and MoreThingsInHeavenAndEarth. I love your reviews, guys! Cheers!