Author's Note - We've hit 10,000 views!
Apologies for the delay in updating, hopefully, we should be back to weekly updates but please bear with me. I'm very excited to share this chapter; not only are we starting the second story arc (Goblet of Fire), or heading to the Quidditch World Cup, but Charlie is back! He'll be appearing in the next few chapters and seeing as our favourite meant-to-be couple are now adults, there's a lot more to work with. Which means a lot of cute, warm and cuddly scenes!
Don't forget to leave a review if you enjoy this chapter! Thank you for favouriting and following this story - it really means the world to me!
It's not too late to develop new friendships or reconnect with people.
- Morrie Schwatz, Tuesdays with Morrie
July 1994
Promising Chaser's Career in Tatters!
Just weeks before Great Britain is to host the famed Quidditch World Cup, the dreams of an up-and-coming Chaser have been reduced to ash, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent.
Joe MacFarlan, a relatively recent addition to the successful Montrose Magpies, was injured during a qualifying round of the British and Irish Quidditch League. What started off as a friendly game between rivals quickly turned into an intense game that saw MacFarlan thrown from his broom by a stray bludger.
But was there foul play involved?
Sources have informed this Special Correspondent that the incident was far from squeaky clean as historical team rivalry played a part in this unfortunate incident. While neither team Captain would comment on these accusations, fans have assured this reporter that the age-old rivalry between the Montrose Magpies and the Ballycastle Bats is still very much present on the Quidditch Pitch.
This long-time struggle between the two teams dates back centuries. Many Magpie fans have claimed that the competitiveness stems from a match in the early Eighteenth Century, in which the Ballycastle Bats lost due to adverse weather conditions allowing the Magpie Seeker at the time, catching the snitch before the Ballycastle Bats could mount their brooms.
On the other hand, Bats fans argue against this, instead citing the biased referee as the reason their team lost the game. Sources claim that while the weather conditions were particularly harsh that fateful day, the referee was in fact, raised in a Magpie-supporter family, but this fact has been debated over the centuries, mostly by Magpie Supporters.
MacFarlan, it would seem, has bore the brunt of this rivalry. The soon-to-be twenty-two-year-old has suffered life-changing injuries as a result of this conflict, though thankfully, he still remains one of the most handsome Quidditch players in the League (see this week's edition of Witch Weekly to find out who ranked number one on our poll of 'Top Ten Best Dressed Beaters').
Montrose Magpie publicist, Philippa Grey, gave an exclusive press release with this Special Correspondent. 'Mr MacFarlan is getting the best medical attention in the business. While it was an unfortunate accident, Joe remains optimistic about his future in the industry. He would like to thank his fans for all of their support and looks forward to returning to his lifelong dream of Quidditch'.
While Ms Grey, an aging fifty-or-so-year-old woman with what can only be described as questionable fashion sense, sounded positive about MacFarlan's return to Quidditch, this correspondent has a reliable source saying that despite their hopes, MacFarlan may never return to the Quidditch pitch. Sources have confirmed that despite the strict instructions to remain on bedrest, MacFarlane has already secured a job working for the Ministry in the Department of Games and Sports.
This reporter thinks that young Mr MacFarlan would be the perfect employee for that department – bringing an element of youth and charm back to the dull department. Furthermore, this may placate the rumours that swarmed when MacFarlan was appointed as Chaser.
As many of the readers will know, Joe MacFarlane is the nephew of the well-renowned Hamish MacFarlan, former Captain of the Montrose Magpies. When young Mister MacFarlan was appointed as Chaser for the team, there was a surge in rumours surrounding the means of his appointment. While already serving on the reserve team, many disgruntled and rejected applicants claimed that MacFarlan was appointed because of his familial connections, not his Quidditch skills.
Either way, it would seem that Joe MacFarlan's career is currently in shambles and the young, ambitious Quidditch player has a long road ahead of him, for both recovery and career. (Pictured left, Chaser Joe MacFarlan attending the opening of Jinx, an upscale cocktail bar, alongside long-time girlfriend, Maisy Ainsbury).
August 1994
"Hurry up, Maisy! We don't want to be late!"
"Nymph, I've told you, stop calling me that!" Maggie exclaimed, her cheeks flushing in annoyance as she struggled to tie the laces of her hiking boots.
"Oh relax, it's not like Joe's here," Tonks replied, rolling her eyes. "I've got more sense than to mention the article in front of him."
Maggie hummed, the small noise echoing in her throat. "Still...I don't even look like a Maisy!"
She stomped down the staircase to see Tonks stood at the bottom, her arms crossed in amusement and a smirk decorating her lips. Maggie shot the witch a playful glare as she headed into the kitchen and grabbed her rucksack.
"Seriously though? Maisy?" She demanded, shoving a book into the already overpacked bag. "In what world do I look like a bloody 'Maisy'?!"
"I don't know, if I squint and cock my head," Tonks began, earning a small shove from Maggie. "Hey! I've called you worse!"
"At least your nicknames are creative," Maggie cried, pouting her lip in annoyance. "But Maisy? God, Joe was that mad at the article, he didn't even realise until his mum pointed it out."
"Joe's got bigger things to worry about. Like his new job!"
It was Maggie's turn to roll her eyes. "Yeah, like worry about moaning about his new job. Honestly, you'd think he'd lost the Philosopher's stone, the way he's going on."
"Is it really that bad?" Tonks asked gently and Maggie sighed.
"Yes? No? Maybe? Merlin, I can't even tell. Some days, he's worse than a hormonal teenager with the number of strops he throws, then the next day, he's like a hyperactive Niffler! There's no in-between, and I never know what mood I'm going to catch him in."
Maggie sighed as she leaned against the cabinet, brushing a stray strand of hair away from her face.
"He is making more time for me, I'll admit that. But I feel awful about the circumstances! He could have died, for Merlin's sakes! I wanted him to make more time for me, but not like this..."
Tonks wrapped an arm around the blonde witch and pulled her into a hug.
"Hey, don't you dare feel guilty, it's not your fault!" Tonks said, her tone kind and reassuring. "It was a freak accident, that's all. Did you hit that bludger? No! It's shite that it happened but Joe needs to put on his big boy pants and grow up. It's not like he'll never play Quidditch again, the Healers said he'll make a full recovery. He needs to think of this as a break so that he can focus on the important things."
Maggie sniffed back a tear. "Thanks, Nymph. I really needed to hear that. And thanks again for getting me a ticket last minute; Joe was certain he'd get some but with everything that's happened, he just forgot all about it. Though it's not like he'd be in the mood to go..."
"Speaking of which," Tonks checked her watch with a smirk. "It's time to go!"
With a laugh, Maggie swung her rucksack onto her back and followed her fellow Hufflepuff out of their flat, making sure to lock the door behind them. One of their muggle neighbour's, a strange man by the name of Mister Barrow, shot the girls a disgruntled look as they headed out of the building, no doubt shocked by Tonks' colourful hair, which was a shocking shade of turquoise.
After stepping out onto the busy London street, the pair headed down the empty alleyway adjacent to their flat. Tonks gave the alleyway a quick scope, checking for any stray muggles before nodding to Maggie. She held out her arm and Maggie grimaced.
"Merlin, I hate apparating," She muttered, before taking Tonks' outstretched hand.
Almost immediately, the sensation of being squeezed through a tube overcame Maggie. Her nose wrinkled in disgust as her tummy did summersaults and her chest tightened. She squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to ignore the feeling, but it made no difference.
Her head was pounding by the time the two witches reached their destination with a loud 'crack!'. Maggie's legs felt like jelly as she tried her hardest not to fall over, suddenly aware of the people now present. She slowly opened her eyes to see a wizard stood before her, dressed in both a poncho and a kilt.
"Wotcher, Basil," Tonks greeted merrily. The grin etched across her features told Maggie that the witch was trying her hardest not to laugh. "How's it going?"
"Not too bad, Tonks," The wizard replied, looking up from the parchment he held. The quill continued to scribble away as he spoke. "In for a long night though, we won't be finished till at least six tomorrow morning."
Tonks grimaced. "Unlucky. Had many people come through?"
"Loads," Basil shook his head tiredly. "Had a group of nine come in just before you. It's like that all night. There's another one coming at quarter to five, and then an even bigger party coming through not ten minutes after."
"Think of the Quidditch; it'll be worth it," Tonks reassured him, and the elder wizard nodded.
"Very true," He said before looking down at his list. "You two young ladies are in the field over there; 'bout a quarter of a mile away, first one you come to. Site manager's called Roberts...Just watch yourselves though, he's been on twice daily obliviations...some people just can't keep quiet...that Ludo Bagman's no better..."
"Thanks, Basil," Tonks said, grabbing Maggie's arm and steering her down the path. "Enjoy the match!"
Fighting back giggles, the witches headed down the dirt track until they reached the field signposted 'Roberts'. They were quickly greeted by the site manager, Mr Roberts, who directed the girls to their pitch. Maggie made sure that she paid for the campsite; after what Basil had said about the memory charms, she didn't want to risk Tonks's limited knowledge of muggle money.
Thankfully, the tent did not take too long to put up, though this was partly due to Maggie's father, as he insisted that his daughter practice beforehand. Though at the time, Maggie was reluctant to do so, she hated to admit that her father had been right. The tent was assembled quite easily, with Tonks' directing and Maggie doing the heavy lifting.
"You know what you're doing; you practiced!"
"It's a wizard tent! It's not rocket science!"
"It might as well be!"
After playfully bickering, both girls decided to call it a night. They reasoned that the following day would be busy, and both wanted to be well-rested for the match, as Tonks was banking on the game running well over time.
The tent that they had borrowed from Tonks' parents was equipped with a small kitchen, bathroom, living room, and only one bedroom, so Maggie insisted that Tonks take the bedroom while she took the fold-out bed in the living room. In truth, Maggie had to argue this but eventually, the small witch won as Tonks was too tired to protest any longer.
The fold-out was surprisingly comfortable, Maggie discovered, as she curled up beneath the blankets. She had no doubt that Tonks' parents had charmed it with a cushioning charm; Ted had told Maggie about how they would take the tent to go camping when Tonks was young. Either way, Maggie wasn't complaining as she snuggled up and opened her book.
The sound of Tonks' soft snores echoed from the adjoining room as Maggie's eyes flickered of the words of The Hobbit. In truth, she had read it many times before but was one of her favourites. A small smile graced her lips as she thought about her first night at Hogwarts; how excited she had been when she realised the Hufflepuff common was similar to Bilbo Baggins' fictional Hobbit Hole.
At some point, Maggie drifted off as when she awoke, light had begun to filter into the tent. Rubbing her tired eyes, Maggie checked her watch for the time. She groaned when she realised it was only five o'clock and rolled over, intent on going back to sleep.
Noise from outside the tent, however, prevented Maggie from drifting off, and she frowned at the voices that echoed through the thin walls of the tent. Annoyed, Maggie grabbed the blanket and snuggled up, relishing in the warmth that it offered as the chatter outside seemed to grow.
"Bloody neighbours," She mumbled, yawning as she did. "They better not be like this tomorrow."
In what seemed like the next moment, Maggie felt herself being roughly shoved, and a noise echoed through the room. She tried her hardest to ignore it and groaned as she buried herself further into the pillow.
"Maggie!"
At the sound of her name, Maggie bolted upright, suddenly away and alert. She had barely sat up, however, when her forehead hit something hard, a loud 'crack' sounding round the room. Maggie cried out in pain as she flinched, cradling her injured forehead in her hands. She looked up to see Tonks stood overhead, clutching her head in a similar fashion.
"Merlin, Maggie, are you made of bricks?!" Tonks exclaimed before groaning.
"What the hell, Tonks! That is not how you wake someone up!" Maggie retorted, flinching as she pressed her forefinger to the sore spot. "You know what I'm like in the morning! There are better ways to wake me up!"
"I thought you'd grown out of it," said Tonks, heading over to the small kitchen. "How was I supposed to know? Anyway, I've made tea."
Maggie's head shot around and she smiled sweetly.
"Okay, that is the right way to wake me up."
The pair took a seat at the small kitchen table, both still dressed in their nightclothes. Neither girl minded as they drank tea and helped themselves to the chocolate biscuits Maggie had brought along, though Tonks was slightly crestfallen when she realised there were no pink wafers.
"Neighbours are here," Maggie mumbled through a mouthful of biscuit. "Heard them last night. Or this morning, if you want to be particular."
Tonks nodded, "We'll go say hello to them later. It smells like they've started a campfire, so maybe we could ask to cook lunch with them?"
After agreeing that they would venture out and greet their new 'neighbours', the two witches set about getting organised. Tonks grabbed the shower before Maggie could even say 'quidditch', so the blonde witch settled upon washing the dishes first. Once Tonks was finished, Maggie quickly showered before pulling her denim shorts and a long-sleeved shirt. She left her hair loose; for once her unruly curls remained calm.
Tonks gestured that she was ready, and Maggie quickly followed the witch out of the tent, her eyes narrowing at the brightness of the early morning sun. As her eyes adjusted to the light, Maggie suddenly became aware of the orange in her vision.
Or rather, how much of it there was.
Blinking a few times to focus her eyes, Maggie quickly realised that it was not the colour orange she was witnessing, but rather the sheer amount of red-headed people sat outside the tent beside her. It took Maggie a few seconds to place the image but after a moment, she realise that there was only one family with many red-headed children.
"Tonks!" A voice exclaimed from the group sat before them. "I didn't know you'd managed to get tickets!"
"Mad-Eye managed to get me some," Tonks smiled widely as she stepped towards the tall, thin man with balding red hair. "He mentioned you'd gotten Top-Box seats too, Mister Weasley."
"Somehow, but I still don't know how I managed it," Mr Weasley said brightly, his eyes flickering over to Maggie. He smiled kindly. "And who might this be?"
Tonks grinned. "This is Maggie Ainsworth, my best friend from school. We were both in the same year as Charlie."
"Nice to meet you," Maggie said. Her stomach constricted nervously though she had no idea why.
Well, she may have had an inkling.
"Lovely to meet you, Maggie," said Mr Weasley, before he gestured to the makeshift firepit behind him. "Join us for some breakfast, will you? Molly's packed us loads of food and we'll never eat it all."
"Ron will try his hardest though, Dad," A young red-haired girl chirped up from behind, earning her a glare from a boy who was slightly older.
"Oi!"
Maggie and Tonks exchanged a brief look before Tonks grinned and stepped forward.
"Thanks, Mr Weasley. We didn't pack much in the way of food!"
The two girls sat down on an empty patch of grass, with Mr Weasley sat on the one side of Tonks, while space was left beside Maggie. He quickly handed each girl a plate of sausages and eggs before he began to introduce the two witches to the small group.
"Of course, you'll remember Fred and George," Mr Weasley began, pointing to the twins, who were sat opposite to the girls. Both twins smiled wickedly, their grins identical.
"Of course, they remember us, Dad!" The first twin said.
"Who could ever forget about us?" George chimed in as Fred nodded.
"Who could forget when we set all those dungbombs off outside the Slytherin common room?"
"Or the time we charmed the Transfiguration corridor into a lovely rainbow colour?"
"Or, one of my personal favourites, the great water balloon war of '89?"
"Yeah, Maggie was there for that one!"
"Don't remind me," Maggie said, pretending to shudder at the thought. "The water balloons were fine, but when you decided to fill them with custard and launch them from the Clock Tower? I still have nightmares about the aftermath."
"Hey, I swear I still find custard in my hair because of it!" Tonks exclaimed.
The witches burst into giggles, which were quickly joined by the sound of Fred and George laughing. Maggie's eyes looked over at the rest of the group, scanning the others present. She easily recognised the other two red-heads as Ron and Ginny, a smile gracing her lips when she realised who the pretty young girl was. It had been that long since she'd seen the witch, she hardly recognised her!
Maggie did not know the other witch and wizard, so she reasoned that they must be friends with the younger Weasley children. They both appeared to be of a similar age to Ron; the bushy-haired girl smiled shyly at Maggie when she met the older witch's eye. The boy, however, appeared seemed less shy, though he was still silent. Maggie's eyes flickered to the scar on his forehead, half hidden by his messy black hair, and the cogs of her mind began turning.
"One of our better pieces, Georgie," Fred said, smiling like the Cheshire cat.
George nodded, "Simple but effective."
"You remember the twins, but I don't know if you've met anyone else?" Mr Weasley cut in, trying his hardest not to grin at his sons' antics. "This is Ron and my daughter Ginny – "
"I've met Maggie before Dad," Ginny chimed in, smiling kindly at Maggie.
"Have you? Good, good, and then we've got Ron's friends, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter."
"Nice to meet you," Tonks said while Maggie smiled in greeting. "All of you still at Hogwarts then?"
Hermione nodded. "Harry, Ron and I are going into our fourth year; Ginny's a third-year now."
"Merlin, I wish I was still at Hogwarts," Maggie said, accepting a cup of tea from Mr Weasley with a smile. "I really miss it!"
"What is it you do?" Hermione asked eagerly, earning a small groan from Ron.
"I'm studying to become an Auror," Tonks explained, and both Harry and Ron's eyes lit up in excitement. "I'll be qualified by the end of next year."
"I'm a Healer, but I've still got some training to do," Maggie added.
"That means you must have gotten at least an Outstanding in your O.W.L.s!" Hermione exclaimed, before blushing red when she realised how loudly she had spoken.
"Well, I mean...I did okay..." Maggie mumbled sheepishly.
Tonks scoffed out a laugh. "Okay? You did more than just okay! She only failed Divination and History of Magic!"
"No one passes History of Magic, I swear it's rigged!" Maggie exclaimed in mock defence, earning a laugh from the group. "And anyway, you made me take Divination! I was happy not to do it, it's pointless."
"Yes, but then I would have been all alone," Tonks pointed out. "Anyway, it's not like you'll ever need it."
"How many Outstanding's did you get?" Hermione asked, her tone curious as she studied Maggie's embarrassed expression, which grew redder as more attention was put on her.
"That doesn't really matter..." Maggie began but Tonks was quick to cut her off.
"She got six, but swears it should have been seven," Tonks interjected, shooting Maggie an amused expression. "Maggie claims that she was robbed in Ancient Runes exam by rouge translation."
"I was!" exclaimed Maggie before she could stop herself. "The Elder Futhark rune has multiple meanings in different contexts; it didn't specify which!"
After her outburst, Maggie looked up to see everyone staring at her with bemused expressions. Her cheeks flushed and she muttered out a few words of defence before falling silent.
"It's like seeing Hermione's future," Ron whispered to Harry, earning a chuckle from the bespectacled boy.
Hermione shot the boy a glare, which Maggie smiled gratefully at. The bushy-haired girl then turned back to Maggie, eagerly asking the older witch a multitude of questions, ranging from O.W.L.s, to what her job was like. Beside her, Tonks was dealing with a similar situation, though Harry, Ron, and the twins were more interested in the action-filled side of her job, not the endless amount of paperwork.
Maggie tried to answer the younger witch's questions the best she could, with Ginny asking the occasional question. When the conversation turned toward Maggie's specialised area, the blonde witch was quick to delve into explaining how the different departments of St Mungo's worked. She explained that while she was still in training, Maggie aimed to specialise in either the creature-induced injury ward or the spell-damage ward.
The detail of the injuries quickly turned the boys' attention, and it wasn't long until Maggie was telling an intricate tale of some of the worst injuries she had dealt with.
"What about the bloke that came in with his nose transfigured into an elephant's trunk?" Tonks offered with a chuckle. "You said that was a pretty interesting day."
Maggie groaned. "Merlin, don't. He moaned more than anything; I was pleased to see the back of him! What about that time all those Aurors from your department came in because they set off that boil jinx, but they accidentally set off a pepper-breath jinx at the same time? It took ages to get the ward cleaned up afterward; my robes are still scorched!"
Tonks laughed, just as a loud crack sounded from the woods behind them.
"Savage still can't live that down; Mad-Eye was furious!"
"Just apparated, Dad!" A voice sounded from behind them. "Ah, excellent, lunch!"
Three figures appeared beside Mr Weasley, each smiling at the sight of food. Mr Weasley offered a quick greeting before plating up food for them. Maggie smiled and returned back to her plate, not giving the new arrivals any thought. From the corner of her eye, she noticed a figure staring at her, but was too hungry to worry about it. She had just finished off her sausages and was taking a sip of tea when Mr Weasley spoke.
"And of course, you three will all remember Tonks. No doubt you know Maggie as well!"
Maggie turned her head to smile in greeting when she found herself frozen in her tracks. Tonks was right, for being as clever as she was, Maggie truly was an idiot! It hadn't occurred to her that being sat with his family, Maggie would run into Charlie Weasley.
She noticed Percy first. Despite a few years passing, Percy still looked the same as always, albeit a bit older and almost more dignified. Beside Percy, stood Bill, who had clearly changed since his Hogwarts days. His hair was longer, and he looked almost like a punk-rocker, with dragon-hide boots and a fang earring. Bill shot Maggie and Tonks a wide grin, just before Maggie's eyes flickered over to the remaining Weasley brother.
Although if ever questioned, she would deny it vehemently and swear that she had never once thought it, at that moment in time, Maggie had to admit, Charlie Weasley had grown up handsome.
Maggie blinked, trying to regain the composure she'd somehow lost in a matter of seconds. She wanted to kick herself for even thinking those thoughts, but Maggie could not help but notice how Charlie had changed since the last time she'd seen him, no matter how small the differences were.
While he was still stocky, he was surprisingly tall for his build; his skin was more tanned than Maggie had ever seen it. His arms were muscular and decorated with an abundance of burns - no doubt from dragon-fire - but in a strange way, it suited him. His face was weather-beaten and almost ruggedly handsome, decorated with freckles that added to the tanned colour of his skin.
But it was the eyes that really drew Maggie in.
Bright blue and twinkling, Maggie was lost in his eyes like a storm-battered boat in the sea, crashing through the blue waves into unknown territory, reaching out to the unknown with open, hopeless arms in search of rescue...
Maggie blinked again. Where in Merlin's name had that come from?
"Hey, you two!" Tonks exclaimed, bringing Maggie's thoughts crashing back down to reality. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"
"Certainly has," Bill grinned as he moved to sit beside Tonks.
Percy moved to sit beside his father, rambling away about cauldron bottoms – Maggie frowned in confusion at the obscure topic. Tonks hastily shuffled around, making the space for Bill to sit next to her, leaving the only available spot next to Maggie.
Charlie was still stood, staring awkwardly as Maggie avoided his eye. Knowing that the longer it was left, the situation would grow more awkward, Maggie nodded her head to the room beside her, sending Charlie a kind look.
"Pull up a patch of grass?" Maggie said, hoping her jovial tone hid the nervousness that flooded her body.
Charlie smiled in response, taking the empty spot beside Maggie. The blonde witch shuffled along, making more room as Mr Weasley handed Charlie a plate of food and topped up everyone's tea. Despite how they had parted on good terms, Maggie still felt anxious about speaking to Charlie. Though she berated herself for these feelings, they still clawed at her mind.
"How are you doing?" Charlie asked her, leaning towards her so that his voice could be heard above the din of other conversation.
"Alright," Maggie nodded, staring down at the fire. "I mean, I've been as stressed a squirrel during autumn, but other than that, I've been pretty good," Maggie smiled as Charlie laughed at her small joke, her heart fluttering at the sound. "What about you? I haven't been invited to any post-mortems in Romania so I'd say you must be doing okay."
"I mean, there's been a few close calls," Charlie began with a grin, chuckling at the words that echoed the past before shaking his head. "Nah, it's the best thing I ever did; I love working there."
"That's great," Maggie smiled. "I'm sure your mother is overjoyed that you haven't been burnt to a crisp."
Charlie chuckled, throwing his head back as he laughed. "There's been a few close calls," He winked. "But I didn't tell Mum. If she knew how close, she would have locked me in my bedroom and thrown away the key."
Maggie giggled as somehow, the nervousness in her stomach began to melt away. It was strange; as the conversation deepened and the time passed, Maggie began to feel more relaxed around Charlie. Something settled over her – almost a sereneness that she was unfamiliar with – and part of Maggie enjoyed Charlie's presence.
"Hey, Mags!" Tonks called. Her head popped up, peering around from beside Charlie. Behind her, Bill's face also appeared, and the pair wore identical coprophagous grins.
"This lot's got tickets for the Top Box as well!" Tonks exclaimed, her smile wickedly devious. "We can sit with them tonight!"
Maggie blinked for the third time.
But somehow, the idea didn't seem too bad.