Author: Junius
Summary: Charlie leaves Romania to spend the holidays with his family and is reunited with his high school crush… eventual CW/NT.
APOLOGY! First things first, I must post an ENORMOUS apology for the hugely unforgivable delay in posting. I really am sorry for leaving this story for so long. Thank you to everyone who has stuck with it through lengthy gaps and loss of inspiration, you are awesome! To anyone who has just picked up on this story, please bear with me, I'm a total procrastinator so updates are usually rather far between. But remember, patience is a virtue and I'm trying harder!
Notes: LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE END OF UNI EXAMS!!! No more studying until March, which means more time to dedicate to fanfiction! I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate my policy: No story I start shall go unfinished, but I cannot promise promptness. I'm already being besieged by ideas for new stories; more specifically, I have two new HP story ideas, a PotC story idea, a CSI story that's almost finished (and the first in a series, incidentally) and a few almost-ideas for DQ one-shots. Please note, in my language 'one-shots' are just that, but 'stories' denote chapters galore!
More Notes: I FINALLY have an idea about where this fic is heading! Well, I suppose it's obvious really, 'eventual CW/NT' can only be interpreted one way ;) What I meant was I finally have a plotline, albeit a rather flimsy one. On the upside, that may mean quicker updates! Yayness! Still, if anyone has suggestions, etc, please feel free to leave them in a review as I'm mainly writing this fic for CW/NT shippers and I want to know what you want to read.
Disclaimer: Victory is not mine and neither are the Harry Potter characters.
And now, on with the syrupy goodness!
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Charlie opened his eyes blearily, the vague scent of bacon wafting into his room. Bacon sandwiches, he thought hungrily, his body seeming to get out of bed and dress itself automatically as he thought longingly of his mother's famous breakfasts.
He didn't recall the events of the day before until he was pulling on a jumper. His expression lifted. So much had happened, but, predictably, one thought in particular was currently bouncing around in his head: Nymphadora Tonks.
A dopey grin spread across his face as Charlie recalled Tonks' parting words to him the night before, most specifically, "I'm looking forward to this assignment…" All right, he was probably reading too much into it, but nevertheless, he couldn't deny the warmth with which she had spoken those words. Perhaps there was hope after all…
Charlie left his temporary room, humming a little tune to himself, and started down the stairs. He was so caught up in his thoughts of Tonks he didn't hear the giggle behind him and jumped, startled, when he heard a chirpy, "Good morning!"
"Ginny!" His little sister grinned at him.
"Aren't we in a good mood?" she noted, descending a few stairs to stand next to him. Charlie returned her grin.
"Indeed we are," he mocked. "Why shouldn't we be?"
"I can't seem to recall you ever being a morning person," Ginny replied.
"Must be because I'm just so happy to see you again," Charlie quipped, continuing downstairs. He wondered whether Tonks was up yet…
"To see me?" Ginny repeated. "You flatter me! I wouldn't be excited to see me. Maybe Mum or Harry…"
She shot a quick glance at Charlie as he jumped the last stair and turned to the kitchen. "…or Tonks," she added slyly.
Charlie, who had been wondering whether he should go and sit with Tonks if she were up, froze for a moment, and then whipped around to face his sister. "Why do you say that?" he demanded. Ginny gave him her best innocent look.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't give me that, Ginny, I recognise that tone! What are you trying to say?"
Ginny looked offended. "I only meant that you'd be able to see one of your old friends again," she replied in an injured tone. "I don't know what you're getting so defensive about."
"I'm not being defensive!" Charlie said indignantly. His eyes narrowed as he gazed at Ginny suspiciously. "You're up to something, aren't you?"
Ginny gave him her best innocent look. "I can't imagine what you're talking about," she sniffed. "I only meant that you must be pleased to see such a good friend of yours after such a long time apart. If you think I meant something more, then it must simply be wishful thinking."
Charlie glared at her. Then he recalled something George had told him the day before and his face split with a sly grin that eerily mirrored his sister's. "Oh," he said with exaggerated understanding. "Like when Ron told you Harry wanted to see you and it turned out he only wanted to borrow your broom?"
"Come on, Charlie," Ginny said, ignoring his comment, though Charlie noticed that her ears were bright red. "You don't want to miss breakfast."
"Of course not," Charlie said loftily as Ginny hooked her arm with his and dragged him into the dining room.
As they entered, Charlie was surprised to see that only Ron was up. Well, perhaps that wasn't the best choice of words as Ron's head lay on his arms and he was snoring gently. Ginny gave him a poke in the back as she passed him and he sat up with a start, blinking in confusion. Charlie watched as Ginny continued up the table, sitting at the far end near the kitchen area. Standing in the kitchen was his mother and… Tonks.
Charlie's heart skipped a little as he looked at Tonks. Today her hair was a mass of curls so red that she could have been another Weasley. Wondering exactly how he should react to a thought like that, Charlie wandered over and kissed the top of his mother's head, wishing her a good morning.
"Morning Charlie, dear," Mrs Weasley said distractedly. "It's all right, Tonks, dear, I'm quite capable on my own…"
Charlie took a seat next to the barely conscious Ron, his eyes never leaving Tonks. She didn't return his look, though, intent on helping Mrs Weasley prepare breakfast.
"Oh no, Molly, I insist!" she said brightly, picking up a knife. "I'll just cut up these bacon slices for you and – oh!"
Mrs Weasley jumped with a small shriek as the knife slipped from Tonks' hand and landed point down in the floor where Mrs Weasley's foot had been only moments ago, the handle quivering ominously. Fred and George, who had just entered the room, smothered chuckles. Tonks looked up at Mrs Weasley aghast.
"I'm sorry, Molly!" she began babbling. "I was only trying to help, I–"
"I know dear," Mrs Weasley said rather weakly. "But perhaps you could help by taking these and keeping the children at bay while I prepare breakfast."
Charlie hid a grin at the emphasis his mother put on the word 'I'. The grin soon faded as Tonks sat down opposite him and placed a platter of bacon sandwiches on the table, her face miserable.
"Hey, cheer up," he said in a low voice. "It was only an accident."
"That should be my middle name," Tonks muttered. "Nymphadora 'Accident' Tonks."
"Well, it's better than 'Artemus'," Charlie said, wrinkling his nose in distaste. Tonks gave him a small smile, warmed by his attempts at cheering her.
"I quite like Artemus," she told Charlie, who didn't reply, but grinned broadly.
"Good morning, comrades!" Fred suddenly plonked down on the end of the bench next to Tonks, George squeezing in beside him. "How are you all on this beautiful morning?"
Charlie and Tonks just grinned their replies while Ron groaned and hid his face in his arms. Fred and George tutted at him.
"Now is not the time for hiding, little brother," George informed Ron, poking him unmercifully. "For Fred and I have planned a little day trip and you're all invited!"
"A day trip to where?" Ginny had shuffled down the long bench seat to sit next to Tonks, her face alight with curiosity.
"Ah, that's a surprise," George informed her, taking a sandwich.
"What's a surprise?"
Everyone looked up to see Harry and Hermione had entered the room. They nodded their head in greeting to everyone, Hermione glancing at Ron in puzzlement as she took a seat next to him. Harry sat down next to Charlie and opposite Ginny. She smiled shyly at Harry, then, as if sensing Charlie's knowing grin, she glared and turned her gaze back to the twins.
"If we told you, it wouldn't be a surprise," George said to Harry once everyone had taken their seats and grabbed a bacon sandwich.
"But," Fred continued theatrically. "We can tell you that it is a secret destination in Hogsmeade."
"So eat up, boys and girls," George concluded. "Because today we're going on a little trip."
"Oh no you're not!"
Everyone jumped as the voice thundered out from the direction of the doorway. Charlie looked up and nearly choked on his mouthful of bacon. Something that resembled a man stood in the kitchen doorway, his grizzled grey hair flying unkempt around his face. One eye was fixed angrily on them, but Charlie couldn't take his gaze off the other eye, the electric blue orb that was constantly moving over everything in the room.
"Good morning to you too, Mad-Eye," Tonks said sweetly, bringing Charlie back to earth. Of course, Mad-Eye Moody! Charlie had forgotten about the scarred and mangled member of the Order of the Phoenix. No wonder, Charlie thought to himself, given Mad-Eye's absence from last night's meeting.
"Good grief, you're a sight to see first thing in the morning, Mad-Eye," Charlie muttered. Tonks flashed him a grin but their attention was soon diverted by the indignant voices of the twins.
"What do you mean, Mad-Eye?" Fred demanded. "Why can't we go to Hogsmeade?"
"With every Death Eater from here to eternity on the lookout for you?" Mad-Eye thundered back. "I think not!"
"Oh, come on, Mad-Eye, we'll be perfectly safe," George wheedled. "Look, we'll have Charlie and Tonks with us, we'll be fine!"
"You two are encouraging this?" Mad-Eye turned his angry gaze from the twins to Charlie and Tonks. "After the responsibility Dumbledore entrusted to you?"
"Oh lighten up, Mad-Eye," Tonks said dismissively. "We're not going to let You-Know-Who make off with them."
Charlie cringed as Mad-Eye seemed to bristle with rage. "You could do well with taking this a bit more seriously, Nymphadora," he said tightly. Tonks frowned at the use of her real name.
"I'm taking this extremely seriously, Mad-Eye," Tonks said frostily. "But I think you're forgetting that it's the holidays now."
"Death Eaters don't take holidays," Mad-Eye shot back. Tonks glared and Charlie decided he'd better say something before the two really began fighting.
"Perhaps we can postpone the trip," he suggested. Four stubborn gazes turned on him and Charlie felt the desire to either laugh or cringe.
"Look, it's a compromise," he quickly added. "We won't go on the trip today, but we will go once we can prepare for it a bit better, maybe get a guard together. OK?"
He looked from the twins to Mad-Eye, who all looked mutinous. Luckily, Molly Weasley chose that moment to step in.
"I think that sounds fair," she said, laying another plate of bacon sandwiches on the table. "Boys, we only have your best interests in mind. And Alastor, you can't very well expect the children to stay indoors for the entire duration of their holidays, can you?"
The two sides remained silent for a moment. Then, under the commanding stare of Mrs Weasley, they both grudgingly acquiesced to the agreement. Charlie breathed a sigh of relief as his mother threw him a furtive smile and made her way over to talk to Mad-Eye.
"Nice one." Charlie looked up to see Tonks grinning at him sheepishly. "Sorry about that, Mad Eye and I just rub each other the wrong way."
"No worries," Charlie replied in an undertone as Mad Eye shuffled past them, glaring. "I know you hate…"
He stopped abruptly as Tonks shot him a warning look. "… being told what to do," he hastily substituted.
Tonks grinned at him again. "Good save," she said. She then slid a glance at the twins, both of whom were still sitting sulkily at the end of the table. "Now what are we going to do with them?"
Charlie shrugged, just as Sirius stumbled into the room yawning. "Did I hear raised voices?"
Tonks simply rolled her eyes.
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A boring chapter, I know, but it gets better, I know! Ha ha… ok, that wasn't funny. Please review and again, I'M SORRY FOR THE DELAY! Next chapter should be up within a week, I hope…
QUESTION: I happened to read a review the other day that applauded an author for remembering that Katie Bell is actually in the year level above below Angelina, Alicia, Lee and the twins (making her one up on Harry and three down from Oliver, to save you all from doing the maths). Now, I have been all over JK's website and skimmed briefly through my books and cannot find anything anywhere to corroborate. If someone out there can tell me where the evidence that authenticates this notion is, I would be most grateful, as I've always assumed she is the same level as Fred and George, et al.
LASTLY: If you like my writing (and if you do, I'm most flattered!) keep an eye out. I'm planning on writing a series of one-shots to get me back in the "fanfiction groove". I don't mean to sound horribly self-lauding (?), but I do get such pleasure from the knowledge that others like my stories!
OK, OK, I'm going now!