The full moon arrived the day before the end of term. Since Ada would be leaving for France the next day Freddie took the morning off of work so she could spend time with her. They had a practice duel in the Room of Requirement, which they'd found was an even better place to duel than the Shrieking Shack. Ada had improved greatly over the last month and they were now pretty evenly matched, though she still struggled with using Occlumency or Legilimency in the heat of a duel.
"I'll try to keep practicing over the summer," Ada said as they relaxed in the Room of Requirement afterwards, lounging on the giant pillows on the floor that the room provided to keep them from getting injured when they fell. "I mean, I don't have anyone to duel with at home, but I can continue practicing my Occlumency at least. And maybe I can finally master this Patronus Charm."
"It'll only be a few weeks before I see you again, right?"
"Yes," she said, nodding in agreement. "And Snape really said it was alright that I stay with you?"
"He did," Freddie confirmed. She had asked Snape about it the day after her encounter with Sirius Black in the Shrieking Shack. She could sense his reluctance at having another teenage girl in his house, but had agreed without fuss. He hadn't been able to deny Freddie anything since the night he'd used Legilimency on her so forcefully.
"I can hardly wait!" Ada said happily, clapping her hands together. "I'll be much improved by then, you'll see. I'll have the Patronus Charm down pat."
"I hope so," Freddie chuckled, then checked her watch. "Do you want to sneak off to Hogsmeade with me and have lunch, or will you be missed in the Great Hall?"
"Let someone notice, I don't care," Ada said dismissively, getting to her feet. "It is literally the last day of term. Let's go."
The girls had lunch together at the Three Broomsticks, then spent some time walking around the shops together, taking their time. As the afternoon wore on though Freddie knew she would have to leave soon.
"I promised Master Hawkins I'd be at work at 3," she told Ada reluctantly as they left Honeydukes Sweet Shop.
"Oh," her friend said, sounding disappointed. "Okay."
"I can walk you back to the Gate though," she said, checking her watch. "I have time for that."
"What, you think I will get into trouble between here and the castle?" Ada joked. "I don't need a babysitter."
"Well with you you never know," Freddie teased. "Come on."
The two started back down the path to Hogwarts castle, talking about their plans for the summer and laughing together. It wasn't long before they noticed someone coming down the road towards them.
"Look, its Professor Dumbledore," Ada said cheerfully, nudging Freddie. "I wonder who that is with him?"
Walking alongside the headmaster was a young woman that Freddie didn't recognize. She looked to be about the same age as her but she had bright pink hair. Dumbledore smiled and slowed down as they approached.
"Miss Gray," the headmaster said cheerfully. "I was hoping to run into you today."
"Good afternoon, Headmaster," Freddie said, though she was eyeing the girl beside him curiously. There was something about her that seemed familiar.
"Hey I know you!" the pink-haired girl said excitedly. "You're the Potions Princess!"
Ada grinned at the nickname but Freddie was still trying to place the girl. Suddenly her hair changed to a red color and became short and spikey, her brown eyes became blue, and her nose changed a bit.
"Oh! You're that Hufflepuff girl...eh...Tonks!" Freddie recalled. "You graduated the year before me, I think."
"That's right," Tonks confirmed, her hair changing back to pink.
"You're a Metamorphmagus," Ada said in awe.
"Yep," she said cheerfully. "I just got a job in the Aurors office because of it."
Freddie frowned slightly. From what she could remember of Tonks the girl was terribly clumsy. Always falling down staircases and knocking things over.
"This is Miss Adalene Leroux from Beauxbatons," Dumbledore introduced. "Miss Leroux, this is Nymphadora Tonks."
"Just Tonks," the young woman said with a quick, irritated look at the headmaster. "No one calls me Nymphadora."
"Everyone calls me Ada," Ada said with a grin, extending her hand to shake. "I've never met a real Metamorphmagus before! Can you really change your appearance to look like anyone?"
"Uh-huh! Check this out-"
"Did you need to see more for something, Professor?" Freddie asked as Tonks changed her appearance to look like Ada.
"Yes, Miss Gray. I was wondering if you might ride the Hogwarts Express to Kings Cross Station tomorrow, if you're available."
"Uh, I guess I could do that. But why, sir?"
"Just as a precaution," he assured her. "I think if Lord Voldemort-" All three girls flinched at the name. "-were planning an attack I would have some advance notice. But one can never be too careful."
"What if someone recognizes me, sir? Realizes I'm not a student?"
"I thought perhaps you could patrol the train in your Animagus form. Plenty of cats roam the train during the ride back to Kings Cross, I doubt anyone will notice one more."
"I'll be there too," Tonks said cheerily, currently growing a long white beard that mimicked Dumbledore's to amuse Ada. "Disguised as a student. Your Animagus form is a cat?"
"A kneazle," Freddie said coolly. "But not everyone can tell the difference."
"Awesome!" Tonks said with a grin, oblivious to Freddie's tone.
"I wish I could stay and ride the train," Ada said wistfully.
"Miss Leroux is also a member of the Order," Dumbledore told Tonks. "She'll be starting a job at the Ministry in August."
"Our Ministry or the French one?" Tonks asked.
"Yours," Ada told her, smiling.
"Cool! We'll be working together then. What part of the Ministry will you be working in?"
"I'm going to be a translator in the Department of International Magical Cooperation – if I get the job."
"Nice! That's on the fifth floor. The Auror office is on the second floor, but I'm sure we'll see each other around."
"I hope so. How long have you been an Auror?"
"Not all that long, actually," Tonks said. "I spent three years training under Mad-Eye Moody – the real one, that is – and only just passed last year. I almost didn't make the cut because even though I'm great at Concealment and Disguise I almost failed Stealth and Tracking. I'm dead clumsy! I'm surprised they let me in at all, but I guess they wanted a Metamorphmagus on the team."
"You're a skilled witch in many other ways, Tonks," Dumbledore assured her, causing Tonks to blush quickly. "I recall Professor Flitwick being very impressed with some of your work in Charms."
"Thanks, professor," she said with a sheepish grin.
Freddie's watch beeped the hour, letting her know it was 3 o'clock, and she grimaced.
"I've got to go," she said apologetically. "I told Master Hawkins I'd be into work now."
"Miss Gray works at St Mungo's," Dumbledore told Tonks, who looked impressed. "You can go ahead, Miss Gray. Can you be at the train station tomorrow at 9?"
"We can search the train for Death Eaters before the students arrive," Tonks said jokingly. Freddie frowned slightly at her cavalier attitude.
"Yes, sir, I'll be here," she told the headmaster. "Sorry I can't walk you back to the gate, Ada. I really need to get going."
"That's alright, Freddie. I know your job is really important," Ada assured her.
"Hey, you can walk with us if you want to!" Tonks said brightly. "We're just going down to the Three Broomsticks for a late lunch and a drink – you've probably already eaten, but it would give us a chance to get to know each other. What d'ya say? It'll be fun!"
"Oh," Ada said, surprised. "As long as it's okay with you, Professor Dumbledore?"
"Certainly," he answered with a pleasant smile.
"Alright then. Will I see you tomorrow, Freddie?" Ada asked uncertainly.
"I'll try to find you before I go down to the station," Freddie promised. "But if not I'll write to you as soon as I can, okay?"
"Ça me va. Au revoir, Freddie."
"Au revoir," she responded, then nodded to both Tonks and Dumbledore before Disapparating with a pop.