Chapter 11
They were avoiding each other the next morning. They were regretting both kisses and had no idea what to do. Tonks skipped any of the meetings, and instead went into the garden. One morning, Charlie joined her. "Hey Tonks. What's up? You and Sevvie have a huge argument or something big like that?"
"You could say that," Tonks mumbled.
"Not still about that umbrella stand is it?" Charlie asked. "Because that was a dumb place to put an umbrella stand, it's just no one seems to be able to move it."
She smiled weakly. "Charlie. . . can you keep a secret?"
"I'm king of secrets. Honestly. You can tell me anything. I've known you long enough."
Tonks took a deep breath. "Way too many years ago I made a bet with my friends and dated Severus for two weeks. My friend told him about the bet and we stopped seeing each other. Recently. . . we've been. . . making with the smoochies."
Charlie whistled. "And I thought Bill had it bad dating that Dalecour girl. . .don't worry. Your secret's safe with me."
Severus watched them hug from the kitchen. He sat down. Bill walked in, nodded at Snape, but rolled his eyes behind his back. Snape spoke suddenly.
"Are those two dating?"
"Charlie!? Nah. They've been good friends for years. There ain't nothing going on there." Bill went quickly, not wanting a conversation with this so- called Vampire.
Ron, Hermione, Ginny and the twins looked out of the window. "Yep," Fred said. "There is definitely something going on between my oldest brother and Tonks."
George nodded in agreement. "Secret lovers."
Hermione and Ginny exchanged looks. "Look, I'm a hopeless romantic," Hermione said. "But they don't look like a couple. Sorry to break it to you guys."
"Better Charlie than Snape," Ron said suddenly. "Everyone looked at him confused. "Tonks. Snape. Kitchen. Kissing."
"Eww!" Fred and George said in unison. "We don't really want to know!"
"Yeah. I here you, but you're not exactly the ones who saw that kiss. I'm never gonna be able to get that out of my head."
Ginny scrunched up her nose. "What does she see in him?"
George shrugged. "Maybe you get paid a lot to be a Hogwarts teacher." At that moment, Bill and Charlie walked in.
"What you kids up to?" Bill asked. He saw Tonks sitting on the stone bench alone outside. "Spying. Should of guessed."
"Did I miss something?" Charlie asked.
"I'd say! Everyone thinks you're with Tonks! Go on! Spill!"
"We're just good friends. And anyway Bill. You can't really talk. . ."
"Okay! Enough! I give in. Let's just leave these little kids to it." And the two older boys walked off.
- -
"You know Charlie. I tried to make it clear but it's so hard to tell someone how you fell you know?" Tonks and Charlie were sitting at the dining room table. They were supposed to be working, but instead were dealing with Tonks' problems. "And I couldn't face the truth."
"Which is?" Charlie asked. Tonks shrugged.
"My love has no pride. But, when I'm with Severus. . . I feel like I don't have to hide anymore. He takes me as I am, and not how he wants me to be."
"Because people can make you what they want?"
"Exactly. But he accepts me for me. But I don't want to loose him. And I want to make it through this war, but only with him. If he dies. . . I don't know what I'll do."
"It's a tough time to be around Nymph. It really is." She nodded.
"I mean, it takes a lot of courage to stand your ground right? But, if he wanted me, I'd be around forever. But, I don't think he does. Want me, I mean. And I made a big mistake the last time. But, to survive the test of time with him would be amazing."
"Time's a dangerous object," Charlies agreed.
"But, it's up to him. He can tell me to go away if he wants. But I don't want to. I really don't want to. . ." And with that, she burst into tears.
Years of being single. Years of missing the one she loved. And it all came down to this. Charlie put his arm round her shoulders, and she cried into his chest.
"One minute. . . I'll go get you a tissue. . ." Charlie left the crying woman for a moment, but someone else entered the room.
"Oh my god!" he said. "What. . . What?" He walked over, and took her in his arms. Charlie entered the room, and smiled to himself as he left the two standing alone. He closed the door behind him.
"Stupid. . . really," Tonks mumbled into his top. "I was just. . . talking to. . . Charlie and things. And what. . . happened. And how I. . . feel." He looked at her.
"And what do you feel?" he asked. Tears drifted down her cheeks and he wiped them away with his thumb.
"I love you."