A couple of alcohol-free days later found Tonks groaning as she held her head and took a mini break from her work. To say that every single department within the ministry was flooded with paperwork was a severe understatement, but when you have to deal with the aftermath of a huge PR calamity that Cornelius Fudge caused, the paperwork was the least of worries. A few of her Auror colleagues were already starting to get stationed out in different areas and it would be no time at all before she would get her new assignment as well. She opened one of her drawers to find a piece of parchment that was already semi written on; she had begun writing a letter to Charlie, but was finding it rather difficult to decide what to write to him. What should she say? What could she talk about? Somehow, her visit with Molly made her skirt around the prospect of hearing back from the second eldest Weasley boy.

"I'm just am owl away."

She gave her quill a squeeze and dipped it into some ink, but before she could start scribbling any words down, she heard the familiar clunk of Moody's wooden leg coming towards her direction. She swiveled around in her seat to greet the elder crazed Auror.

"And to what do I owe the pleasure?" she said in an overly sweet, playful voice that she knew annoyed him.

"Hush, child," he grunted as he hobbled in and closed the door behind him. "I need to talk to you."

Tonks quickly put her letter away and gave Mad-Eye her full undivided attention.

"You've been messing up lately," he said bluntly.

Tonks sighed; she knew she would have a stern talking to sooner or later.

"I know. This is job that requires diligence and to be on top of our game at all times. There's no excuse for my actions, and for that I apologize."

"Hmph," he grunted as he went towards the window and looked outside of it. Then, in a more gentler tone, he said, "I think you should take a couple of days off. Maybe a week. Get your head back on straight."

"Molly spoke with you, didn't she," Tonks pouted as she slunk down in her chair. He grunted softly.

"As you can clearly see, we're about to enter a new dark era. Another war is on the horizon. We're experiencing the last bit of 'freedom', if that's what you want to call it." He turned around to face her. "Take a week off. I've already put it in with Scrimgeour, and it's been approved."

"But Mad-Eye-"

"That's an order, Nymphadora."

Her hair began to turn a fiery red at the mention of her birth name.

"Oh don't go changing your hair color at me," he fussed, waving his hand at her. She pouted more, but softened and allowed her hair to go back to its natural mousey brown when she felt Mad-Eye hold her hand. She looked up at him as he looked back at her with a rare worrying look. "Take the week, okay? I need you to be back in the right state of mind. If I need you sooner than that, I will let you know immediately."

Tonks sighed, and squeezed his hand; she was the only person he would ever let his guard down around. "Okay. I'll take a week off."

"Good," he grunted as he made his way out of the office. "By the way, you'll see something from Molly when you get home."

He hobbled out of the office. Tonks stood by the window and looked upon the busy street as the people went about their day. She suddenly got the feeling she was being watched, and noticed a little ways off that someone was standing still looking towards the building, towards her? She quickly closed the blinds and shuddered uneasily as she stepped away.

She toppled out of her fireplace into the living room of her flat. Dusting the soot off, she made her way to the bedroom where, just as Mad-Eye had said, there was a gift on her bed from Molly awaiting her. Most notably, the Weasleys' clumsy, absent-minded, ancient owl Errol was hopping around her bed looking disheveled and fatigued from his journey. Beside him was a medium sized bag and a letter.

"Honestly Errol," Tonks cooed at the owl while adjusting some out-of-place feathers, "I don't know how the Weasleys are keeping you alive at this point. You look like you're about to croak any second, poor thing."

She gently stroked his head while taking a look at the gift he had brought: a wicker basket filled with food, sweets, some trinkets, and a folded up gold jumper, all wrapped up within a blanket. A letter sat on top of it. She smiled at the basket. Must be a care package of sorts, she mused as she took a closer look at it. She noticed that there was also a small note addressed to her that was stuck to the top of the basket. She lifted it up and read it.

Tonks,

Please take this basket to Charlie when you go. I have already owled him on your behalf that you will be going to him tomorrow. He is expecting you, and will be very delighted to see you, my dear. Have fun!

Molly xx

"Damn it, Molly," Tonks muttered. She knew the elder Weasley woman meant well, but this was seeming a bit...too...pushy. She wanted to tell Charlie herself that she would be coming his way. She even toyed with the idea of just popping up suddenly to surprise him. Sighing, she threw a bag on the bed to begin the process of packing. She then turned towards both her wardrobe and dresser to start grabbing clothes, but then became stumped. What should she pack to visit a childhood friend that she hadn't seen in a few years, since she first started Auror training? In a country that she has never stepped foot in before? She would only be gone for a week at most, so how much should she actually pack? She also wanted to make a good first impression-she suspected that she would meet a good chunk of Charlie's colleagues as well. But also it was a dragon reserve, so she would need something that was suitable for being around beasts ten times her size. She reached for a pair of leather shorts that she last worn at a Weird Sisters concert last year.

"Well can't go wrong with leather," she mused, "and luckily my rock concert merch is very leather heavy."

She began ransacking her closet for everything she would wear to concerts, and also threw in some more looser clothing for what she assumed would be the summer atmosphere: hot and humid. Errol would hoot softly every so often.

After about forty minutes of packing, including a back and forth of taking clothes out and putting them back in as she debated as to whether or not she had packed too much for a week long trip, Tonks felt satisfied and put her duffle bag with the care basket on top next to her broom. She stroked Errol's head gently again.

"I think you should stay the night, little love," she spoke softly, "Let's rest those rickety wings of yours."

She kissed the top of his head and Errol hooted happily up at her. She pointed her wand at her standing coat rack and bent the hooks straight to make a makeshift owl perch. Another swish of her wand, and there were newspaper clippings underneath the perch to collect any dropping Errol might have left. A third swish, and a bowl of small dead insects glowing with healing properties appeared on the coffee table next to perch. Errol flew over to the bowl of food to greedily eat his fill. After, he hopped on the makeshift perch. Tonks chuckled as she walked over to stroke him one last time for the night.

"Get your rest, love," she cooed softly at him.

He hooted contently at her before ruffling his feathers and tucking his head underneath his wing. He was asleep almost instantly. Tonks changed out of her clothes and slid into bed. She looked up at a picture that was hanging next to her dresser: a moving picture of her, Charlie, and some school friends in the stands at a Hogwarts Quidditch match, House flags waving around them as Quidditch players soared in and out of frame.

"See you soon, old friend," She smiled gleefully before turning over and falling asleep almost instantly herself.

Tonks awoke the next day with much more energy than she had felt in weeks. The giddiness she felt in her stomach was so much that she didn't know whether she was more excited or nervous. She triple checked to make sure she had packed all the necessary belongings she needed for the next week. Errol hooted excitedly with her, looking much better than he did the previous night. Tonks strolled over and gently caressed his head.

"You look loads better, love," Tonks cooed as she kissed his head, "Would you like something for the road?"

He hooted in agreement, and Tonks fed him some treats. She then picked him up and carried him towards the window. He hooted softly at her and nuzzled his head against her cheek before taking flight. She waited until he was just a speck in the sky before turning around and grabbing her bag to tie around her broomstick. After one final look around, she left the house and walked a little ways to the semi-open field by her flat. Making sure no muggles were in sight, she kicked off from the ground and flew through the cloudy sky. The cool wind hit her face in a way that felt surprisingly pleasant. It had been a while since she last rode her broom; ever since Voldemort's return was made public, a lot of people relied more on apparition or the floo network as to not be visibly detected. Given her career choice, she dared not risk flying during her day to day activities. But feeling her hair flow back with the breeze made her feel a way she hadn't felt in a long while: she felt alive again.

She threw back her head and laughed, loudly and haughtily. A laugh that reached the bottom of her belly. The buildings came and went. The cars that the muggles drove looked like pieces from a board game. The people walking along the sidewalk looked like ants. The joy that flying brought was heavily underrated. She looked forward in the direction of her destination; Romania was a few hours away, she'd have plenty of time to get reacquainted with the sky. She leaned forward to accelerate, and before she knew it she was soaring through the London air, soon becoming nothing more than just a speck in clouds.

*November, 1985*

Students clamored back into the castle, cheeks and ears all rosy from the cold air. The first Quidditch match of the season definitely did not disappoint, with Gryffindor narrowly defeating Slytherin 170-150. The castle was warm and inviting as most of the students went back to their dorms to change out their outerwear and relax for the remainder of the night. The Great Hall was aglow with warm life as the ever always scrumptious food began popping up onto the tables.

"That match was bloody brilliant! I absolutely can't wait for the next one!"

Second-year Nymphadora Tonks was skipping through the hallway towards the Great Hall. She was flanked by two of her good friends, fellow Hufflepuff second-year Penelope Haywood, and second-year Ravenclaw Tulip Karasu. Tonks screwed up her face, and her short spiky hair went back to bubblegum pink from the maroon and gold stripes she donned in support of Gryffindor. The girls sat down at the Hufflepuff table and began tabling out bowls of warm chicken soup, a much needed meal after standing out in the cold for the better part of their Saturday.

"You should try out for the Quidditch team, Tonks," Penny quipped as she reached for a few rolls and butter to spread on them, "I think you'd make a wicked Chaser."

Tonks laughed uncontrollably, nearly spilling pumpkin juice down her jumper. "I can barely keep two feet on solid ground half the time. Imagine what an absolute nightmare I'd be if I was zooming around out there like that! I'm no athlete! Besides, I think Beater would be more my speed."

"I can already see it now, and it's not pretty," Tulip chimed in, "You would most definitely be the one to somehow throw a bludger into the crowd."

Penny and Tulip cackled as Tulip dodged Tonks' attempt to flick sprinkles of pumpkin juice at her.

"I will say though," Penny said as she eyed past Tulip's head, "That Gryffindor's new seeker is a total cutie."

"I forgot his name, but I know he's a Weasley. That cool looking fourth-year Bill is his brother," Tonks said.

"Isn't he in our year too?" Tulip asked.

At this point all three of them had turned heads towards the Gryffindor table to see if they could spot the Weasley boy. They managed to find the elder Weasley boy, Bill, but not his brother. Save for a pocket of them huddled here and there, the Gryffindor table was very sparse.

"Oh, he's not there," Penny pouted.

"Not surprising," Tonks mused as she went back to her soup, "Gryffindor is definitely partying it up in their tower. I bet the older students snuck in Firewhiskey too."

"Pity, I wanted to meet my future husband," Tulip pouted.

"Um, you mean my future husband?"

"No, I'm pretty sure he'll be mine."

"I can't believe you two are arguing over a boy you've never even met, and for sure don't know even know his first name," Tonks chuckled in disbelief, but her sentence fell on deaf ears as the two girls went back and forth over claim of the Weasley boy. Having finished her food, Tonks made to get up and planned on leaving them there.

"Well I'll see you in the common room, Penny, once you're done pointlessly spatting over-"

Tonks let out a screech as her back foot caught onto the seat as she didn't lift it high enough, and she went crashing into someone and the pair of them landed on the floor, dishes clattering around them. Everyone in the hall stared at the commotion

"Tonks! Are you okay?" Penny shouted.

"Ugh, I'm fine," Tonks grunted as she looked up and realized she was on top of someone, her face instantly changing into panic. "I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! Are you okay? Here let me help you up!"

"I'm fine," grunted a boy's voice, "But I think I should be the one helping you up."

He had stood up on his own and extended his hand out to Tonks. She took it graciously and used his aid to stand up. Once they were face to face, she let out a gasp. Fiery wavy red hair. Heavily freckled face. Quidditch uniform still on, minus the cloak. The Weasley boy was in the flesh.

"Bloody hell, it's you! You're the new Seeker on Gryffindor's team! Er, sorry, I don't recall your name."

The boy chuckled. "It's Charlie, actually. Charlie Weasley." He held out his hand once more. "And to who do I have the pleasure of being one's landing crash pad?"

It was Tonks' turn to laugh. "The name's Nymphadora Tonks," she said as she took his hand and shook it, "but I absolutely abhor that name, so I go by Tonks."

"I won't lie, that name is truly ghastly. I think I'd run away from home if my mum and dad named me something like that."

The four of them cackled. Tonks gestured to the other girls at the table. "These are my friends, Penny Haywood and Tulip Karasu."

"A pleasure to meet you both," Charlie said as he waved to the two girls. They giddily waved back at him.

"You were great out there, Charlie," Penny fawned.

"Yeah, you keep playing like that and Gryffindor will have themselves a top notch team this year," Tulip said, winking at him.

Charlie laughed. "I hope so, the team seems to like me enough. Anyways, I was just getting something to take back up to the tower. Stashes of crisps, sweets, and butterbeer is great, but I'm starving."

"Oh, don't let us hold you up," Tonks chuckled, "Hopefully we'll see you around more!"

"Hopefully you will. Penny, Tulip and...Nymphie."

Tonks' mouth fell agape and her hair turned a shade of vivid crimson as Penny and Tulip cackled in the back. Charlie was unfazed, and even had the nerve to to smirk in her face.

"Nymphadora is already a horrid name as is. But NYMPHIE?" She shrieked.

"Next time watch where you're going, and maybe you won't get granted a horrid nickname," Charlie smirked harder as he leaned passed an appalled Tonks to fill up a bowl with soup, then side stepped around her to go about his way. "See you around, Nymphie!"

"Fuck off, Weasley!"

She snapped her head back to the girls, who were trying their hardest to stifle their laughter.

"Well, I stand corrected," Penny began, "He won't be neither mine nor Tulip's future husband. He's definitely going to be yours!"

The two girls lost it as Tonks took the rest of her pumpkin juice and dumped it over Penny's head, leaving them in their laughing fit as she stormed off back to the Hufflepuff dorms.

Three and a half hours later, Tonks had soared her way into Romania. The mountainous terrain was vastly different from London's cityscape and occasional open plains. The climate was much different as well, hot and humid compared to cool and dreary. Despite the change in weather, Tonks was cold to the bone from flying the whole time.

"I have to be near by now, I just know it!"

She began to actively look around. It occurred to her that she didn't really know exactly what she was looking for. All she had planned was that she would pop up and spend a week with her childhood friend and potentially his colleagues, maybe do some sightseeing, and see some dragons up close. She continued flying, searching for any signs of dragons until-

"Oh my...there it is!"

She had flown over a mountain peak, and beyond it was a vast opening where many dragons roamed. Some of the area was sectioned off for specific dragons. There was an enormous waterfall scape in the back part. The entire reserve seemed to be encased away in between the mountains. The dragons roared loudly and Tonks felt the vibrations through her entire body. She spotted some buildings and excitedly flew down towards them. She saddled off of her broom, breathed in the warm air, and took a look around. There was no denying it: the place was beautiful. She couldn't recall a time when she was ever in the open with nature like this. She almost felt one with the world. Everything was calming; the unnerving roars of the dragon, the sound of the waterfall crashing over rocks, the dragon tamers going about their duties, a lone Norwegian Ridgeback making its way straight towards her-

"AHHHHHH!"

Tonks sprinted for the building as the Ridgeback picked up its speed. She was so close to the doorway until, in classic Tonks fashion, she tripped and skidded across the grass. The Ridgeback stared her straight in the face as it barreled down towards her. Tonks crawled as fast as she could, but she knew it was no use. She was about to meet her maker. The Ridgeback opened its mouth and Tonks felt the hot crisp air, which could only mean it was about to shoot out fire and burn her into a crisp.

"NONONONONONONONO!"

"NORBERTA BACK OFF!"

Two men burst out of the building and began casting spell after spell, advancing ground while the Ridgeback retreated. Tonks scrambled up and planted her back on the wall of the building, watching as the men conjured out ropes to subdue it. One of the men had to roll out of the way as a stream of fired came out of the mouth. Other men immediately sprinted over and conjured more ropes while also shooting out spells, until finally the Ridgeback was subdued. One of the men walked back towards Tonks, who was shaking and covering her face.

"Geez, you always know how to make an entrance, don't you Nymphie?"

Tonks lowered her hands and gasped, her eyes beginning to well up with tears. Fiery wavy red hair. Heavily freckled face. Skin very tanned, with gashes across muscular arms. Charlie Weasley was in the flesh.