CHAPTER THREE
"Can't believe is your last year already" Tonks said to the girl that was sitting in front of her.
"I know. It feels so weird, I'm so used to being here that I don't know what I'm gonna do living on my own, especially since I'm moving out of the twins' s place"
"Are their parents okay with that?"
"Of course, I'm using the money from the inheritance after all, all mine and I had to promise to visit at least once a week" the other girl said while rolling her eyes.
"That's fair. How are the kids? Mum and I didn't have much time to go visit Molly"
"They're good. Charlie just runs everywhere and Bill is definitely the calm one between the two of them but Molly and Arthur still seem very tired, I've been going to their place a lot to help her or just chat but they prefer their mum, obviously. Can't imagine what it must be like to have someone to protect and take care of like that"
"Must be so weird to have a baby inside you though, can you imagine what it feels like?"
"I think I can"
"Speaking of babies…" Tonks said "I saw you and Frank on the library the other day"
"What does that have to do with babies?" Alice said blushing.
"Everything actually, since you want him to be the father of your babies"
"Not true"
"Actually I think it is" she said teasing the other girl "so, have you told him already that you fancy his pants off?"
"No, I've tried to send him some signals but nothing" Alice said frustrated "I don't he'll realize even if I kissed him"
"Uhm maybe but you could always try" both girls laughed "but either way, what were you two doing?"
"Studying. He is applying for the academy too so we figured we should study together" she said with a smile on her face.
"That's great! Maybe the more time you two spend together the more he realizes you are the love of his life"
"Stop it" Alice said while pushing her.
"All I'm going to say is that I want to be the godmother of your firstborn, that's all I ask"
"I hate you"
"No, you don't"
"Anyway, your OWL's are coming soon, have you decided what you want to do?"
"Those are next year for me, Al. And anyway, Auror still is my first and only option but I'm just afraid, mum said that there are strange rumors at the hospital" the other girl nodded.
"Frank said his parents said something similar, you know he is from an old family, right?" Tonks nodded "So his dad has contacts in the ministry and heard something similar but that they have no idea what is coming but according to Mr. Longbottom, the ministry knows exactly what is happening but have decided not to say anything to the public yet" she shrugged "anyway, as aurors maybe we can help a little more! And imagine, I could be your mentor at academy, if I get in, of course"
"You'll get in, Al, you're like the smartest person I know"
"Shut up" she said getting up "come on, I have to go to the library now"
"Oh, of course, I wouldn't want to get in the way of you and Frank"
"I'll pretend I didn't hear you"
After walking the older girl to the library, Tonks started to make her way down to her common room. She liked Alice, she was nice and had helped her a lot last summer. She didn't want to imagine what it was going to be like next year, she had got used to her presence in a really short time and she was going to be in London next year so the chances to see each other were going to be few, anyway, the letter system still worked and she of course had other friends that were going to be there for a long time still.
When she was approaching the common room she saw four familiar figures looking at the painting that where near the entrance.
"Hello, boys" and the four boys turned quickly to look at her a little bit shocked.
After the initial shock, she heard Sirius say "come on, guys, like we practiced" and then the four of them were bowing to her while saying a "Miss Tonks" she couldn't help laughing.
"What was all that?"
"Our new way to greet you" Peter said.
"Well it was nice, so it's just for me or that's what you tell everyone?" she said arching her brow.
"Just for you, cousin, but please don't tell Marlene, I'm really getting there" she rolled her eyes at that.
"Or Lily"
"So no Marlene or Lily, I'm feeling less special right now. What about you two? Anyone I need to keep this a secret from?"
"Only for you Tonks!" Peter said while Remus smiled.
"Well thank you Peter. What are you doing here anyway?" she had a suspicion but there was no way she was confirming it.
"Just looking at the paintings" said James "Don't you think it's weird that there are a lot of them related to food?"
"I've never paid much attention to them really, I'm not one to walk these halls that much"
"Really?" Sirius said while looking at her "then what were YOU doing here?"
"Since when is this about me?" she asked
"Oh cut it, just tell us where your entrance is, you don't even have to tell us what the password is" she was starting to argue but he interrupted her "don't even try to deny it, we have followed some of yours but have never seen the entrance"
"What do you want that knowledge for?"
"A project" said Remus.
"A project? Really? About what?"
"Nothing that interest you" said Sirius
"Well, if it doesn't interest me then I guess you don't need it that much do you? Is it about some girl one of you fancy? I thought I was your favorite Hufflepuff" she said while crossing her arms.
"You still are" said Remus, she squinted her eyes in his direction.
"I'm still not telling you, is a Hufflepuff sworn secret"
"You're no fun"
"I actually am just not with you" she said and the five of them stayed there for a few minutes waiting for the other to make a movement.
"You are not going to tell us, do you?" asked James
"Not a chance"
"Next time then" said Remus
"It's not going to be different though"
"We'll see" said Sirius while walking backwards, "Have a good night, Tonks" he said while the others waved at her.
"Night, guys"
After the third time of making sure they were really gone, she entered her common room and went straight to her dorm where all her friends were waiting for her.
"Hey, what took you so long?" asked Emmeline.
"Sirius and the boys were trying to get me to tell them were the entrance was"
"You didn't tell them, right?"
"Of course not, Em. But I have to admit that it would've been fun to see Sirius covered in vinegar"
"I bet he would still look hot though"
"Hestia! Don't be weird, that's my cousin"
"You have to admit it Tonks, your cousin and his friends are kinda cute" said Bianca from her bed.
"I guess they are fine, haven't pay much attention though"
"Whatever" said Hestia rolling her eyes "doesn't take that fact away"
After they talked a little bit more, they all went to sleep and Tonks couldn't help to think that these two months into this new school term had definitely been great. She had her friends, her cousin and his friends and some other acquaintances, she couldn't ask for much more, could she?