Hangs head in shame
The first of June? That was my last update? I'm very sorry guys! grin I promise the next updates will be A LOT quicker. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. I do. I think things start to get interesting from here in so give me a chance after the lack of updating beam
Thanks for the reviews as always! Each one is like a little drop of sunshine rolls eyes at own cheesiness
Anyhoo, on with the show!
Charlie couldn't help but feel guilty as he sat at the table for dinner that evening and noticed that Tonks wasn't present. It was a humid and sticky evening, one that living in Romania, he was unused to. Nevertheless, he still enjoyed the humid weather, even it he did prefer the cold. As molly and the others including Kingsley, Moody and Emmiline put the tables inside the house, Charlie left the garden and walked into the cool shade of the kitchen. In the corner sat Ron, Hermione, Harry and Ginny, all packing their things away ready for the journey to Hogwarts the following day. Bill was standing next to the fireplace talking to Fleur's head which was bobbing in between the flames and Mundungus and Hestia were deep in conversation by the kitchen table, a small grin creeping over Hestia's face every now and again.
Charlie wondered absently to do when he caught a glimpse of Fred and George's clock hands in the corner of the kitchen. They were both pointed towards "Home," meaning that they were more then likely in Diagon Alley. Pulling out his wand, Charlie apparated to Diagon Alley. Excitement filled him as he realised that he hadn't seen his brothers in over a year and he walked happily along the cobble street enjoying the cooler air in the shadows of the shops and the red glow cast by the low sun.
Charlie reached the porch of 91b Diagon Alley feeling the happiest he had done in many days. The gold letters of "Weasleys Wizard Wheezes" sparkled above him and grinning, Charlie knocked the door and waited for his brothers. After a few minutes of no answer, Charlie had begun to get restless when he suddenly saw a shadowy figure come towards to door. He stood back, waiting for the door to be opened but when it was, he couldn't stop the expression of confusion that crept over him as he gazed at the host.
"Tonks?"
"Charlie." Tonks' voice sounded equally surprised but she was frowning rather than smiling as Charlie was. Charlie was jolted out of his reverie as Fred appeared behind Tonks grinning.
"Charlie! Nice to see you home! Why don't you come in? We were just talking about you..." Fred gave his brother a swift embrace and Charlie stepped inside the shop. It was adorned by strange looking jars of sweets and items and Charlie found himself open mouthed at the strange and intricate objects. Fred stood proudly beside him and waved a hand around. "So? What do you think?"
"It's...well, it's great Fred! I don't think mum would approve of me saying this but uh... I'm really proud of yourself and George!"
"Do mine ears deceive me or did my prodigal brother recite my name?"
Charlie beamed as George came up and similarly hugged him as Fred had done.
"Hey baby bro, how you doing?"
"Not bad, not bad. Hey, we've been hearing all about you from the lovely Miss Tonks Char!" Charlie looked towards Tonks who had gone pink and was scowling at George.
"Really? What kind of things has she been saying? Nothing good I hope." Charlie grinned wickedly at Tonks but she looked away and walked into the back room. Charlie frowned and looked towards Fred. "What have I said now?"
"Ah nothing," sighed Fred. "She's got boyfriend troubles."
Charlie felt wrong that he got so excited over this information. "Really? Have her and Remus broken up?"
"Oh no, they're a strong couple. They'll probably get married." George nodded happily and Charlie felt his stomach flip over.
Married.
Great.
You're after a married woman... well... not married...
...
...And you're not after her!
Charlie shook his head believing that he was indeed going insane.
"So what was she saying?"
"How you embarrassed her--" started Fred.
"--At breakfast."
"And how you've been odd with her--"
"--after she spoke to you about Romania."
The twin raised their eyebrows at Charlie who stood speechless. "I didn't mean to upset her... Is she really upset?"
"Find out for yourself," George said, grabbing his coat and walking towards the door.
"See you later big bro. I'm staying at the Burrow in a couple of weeks as George is entertaining Alicia." George grinned as Fred kissed the air.
"See you Charlie!"
The two twins disappeared as Charlie was left open mouthed on the shop floor. "Fred? The pasta's done. Shall I...?" Tonks walked into the room and stared at Charlie in confusion. "Where are Fred and George?"
"Uh... they had to dash off." Charlie suddenly became fully aware that he was left alone in the shop with Tonks and a spear of desire shot through him. However, he was saved from having to worry about his feelings by the hissing sound that was coming from the back room. Tonks let out a loud gasp before running madly into the kitchen. Charlie followed dutifully and snickered as he saw the plumes of smoke that were rising from an old muggle cooker.
"No! No! Argh! Charlie, help me will you?--"
Charlie instantly whipped out his wand and cast a water spell at the flames. A spark of life exploded from the pan before the flames disappeared and Tonks looked sorrowfully at the stove.
"I'm so sorry... I'm usually really good at cooking meals!" Tonks was still staring in disbelief at the smouldering remains of the pasta bake while Charlie restrained a giggle. He was grinning wickedly, truly realising the extent of Tonks' clumsiness. "Look how about I treat us to dinner somewhere?"
"Oh, there's no need," replied Charlie quickly, immediately jumping to the negative response that his mind usually did when being offered 'charity'. He felt his ears and neck heat and coughed loudly. "I've eaten already," he added quickly, ensuring his tone was a little softer. Tonks nodded at him before grabbing her coat.
"I figured that you'd say that. Same with all Weasley men, the twins and Bill are exactly the same. Look, it's not charity or pity or anything else like that. Personally I think you're in one of the richest wizarding families that I've ever met. Okay, so you may not have untold riches but your family has so much love! And your house is the best I've ever stayed in although come to think of it... that may be because you've given me the best room to stay in." She grinned making Charlie feel a huge slab of embarrassment lift from his chest.
He was amused at two things. The first was that fact that the room -actually it was the attic- was hardly the nicest room in the world. The second was that he found it amusing and oddly comforting that Tonks seemed to know exactly how he was feeling and what was more, didn't mind.
I love you Fred and George.
Without another thought, Charlie took Tonks' proffered arm and disappeared into the street of Diagon Alley, the burnt meal discarded in the bin at the back of the building. Tonks led him down the street passed the many shops that were shutting. She waved at Florence Fortesque and Mr Branche - the quidditch shop owner - before leading Charlie into the cool shade of the Leaky Cauldron.
"Hello Young Miss Tonks, Master Weasley," rasped Ton the innkeeper as the couple walked across the old tavern.
"Hey Tom!"
"Tom!" cried Tonks and she ran across to the old inn keeper, tripping slightly and hitting a few stools. He gave the couple a toothless grin. "How are you my friend?" she asked, giving the man a swift hug.
"Better than ever! My only problem is the mirror on the third floor. Every time I walk up to the blessed thing, it reminds me I'm growing older everyday!" Tonks and Tom laughed loudly before the young witch took Charlie out of the pub into the busyness of the main street.
"Where are you taking me Miss Tonks?" he asked with a grin as Tonks led him down a small back alley that led into another street. The shop front sparked in the low sun and highlighted the tones in the trees that were placed intermittently down that road.
Tonks grinned mischievously. "Welcome to my world." Charlie raised one eyebrow and squinted at the shops with more interest. Shop after shop full of Muggle artefacts lay out before them and Tonks grinned. "This is a chip shop," she said, gesturing towards a glass frontage shop.
"Explain?"
"Muggles come here to buy food. You can exchange muggle money for food." She grinned once again at his bemused expression. "Follow me..."
Charlie blinked. "Muggles," he sighed before disappearing into the shop after Tonks. 5 minutes later Charlie stood outside the shop clutching a paper wrap full of chips. Tonks, who was beside her, was grinning as she ate the food contentedly.
"They won't hurt," she mumbled, casting a sideward glance at Charlie.
"I know what they are," he said rolling his eyes. "I just... well... they're mugglish."
She raised her eyebrows. "What are you? A Malfoy in disguise?"
Charlie smiled sheepishly and the couple set off at a slow gait, working their way through the snakelike alleyways and London streets. After they had walked for at least an hour, not caring where they went so long as they were together, Charlie had to admit that Tonks was indeed an amazing creature that he had given less credit then was deserved. The more he learnt from her, the more he grew to like her. She was funny but often not intentionally so. She was highly knowledgeable but most of the information was about useless things which were none-the-less fascinating.
"I mean, it's not like I don't like being muggle born—"she said as the couple reached a park bench and she flopped inelegantly onto it. The sky had grown dark with night and a soft warm breeze played on Charlie's face. From the buildings around them, small lights twinkled invitingly and the sweet smell of grass and flowers lingering in the air.
"—it's just. Well, I don't know. Being in the magical world has so many uses! And if I had stayed in that environment I would've never been able to use my metamorphagus powers—"She gasped and raised her hand to her mouth in horror but Charlie was gaping at her in amazement.
"You never told me that you were a metamorphagus!"
Tonks grinned awkwardly. "Of course. I forgot. You don't know, do you?"
"Well come on," laughed Charlie, taking aback by this new piece of information. "Show me what you can do..."
Charlie watched in amazement as Tonks screwed her face up and seconds later her purple layered hair turned into black and black short spikes.
"Amazing!" Charlie clapped and watching in awe as Tonks began changing her appearance more and more, each different guise earning a round of applause.
"Okay," grinned Tonks after a while, her voice slightly breathless from the rapid changes and from laughing so hard. "What do you think of this?"
Charlie watched, open mouthed, as the lead singer of The Weird Sisters transformed, slowly, into another woman. It was a second before he found his voice.
"The Hufflepuff seeker..."
Tonks' hair fell in bouncy, golden ringlets that ended at her curved, thin waist.
"How do you know...?" Charlie paused, his mind turning.
She couldn't possibly be...
"You were her?!" he said incredulously but Tonks was shaking her head sadly as she dissolved back into her original figure.
"No Charlie. I'm not 'her'. I never was 'her'. She was the person I so desperately wanted to be but never will be. I created her to make me a better person. To be liked and yeah... even loved. Tonks couldn't get that on her own. She needed 'her' to do it for her. But she never was 'her'..." she finished and Charlie saw that her eyes had become unusually bright.
For the first time since they had had met, Charlie realised that Tonks had a greater depth than probably anyone had ever realised. It seemed to make her worth so much more than any of the seemingly brainless girls that he had ever dated before.
It also made her damn sexy.
With a small jolt to his stomach, he realised that it would probably take a life time to understand her. One that a very lucky man would one day have. One that Remus would probably have...
"I can assure you," whispered Charlie, "That you are worth 100 times more than any of the girls you wanted to be like." She gazed at him suddenly and he felt her face heat and she smiled warmly at him. He cleared his throat quickly. "Come on." He reached for her hand. "Let's go home. Mum will be wondering where I've got too..."
Tonks grinned and stood on tiptoes to give Charlie a hug. "Thanks Charlie," she whispered and he felt his stomach knot, his heart beating at what was surely an audible level. Her eyes were boring into his, their lips now only centimetres apart. He vaguely wondered if they would taste salty or whether her own taste would make the kiss sweet. His head was swimming as he lowed his head a little, their faces now so close that he could see the eyeliner bordering her almond shaped eyes.
"I guess I need my sleep anyway." She moved away from him suddenly and Charlie felt his head begin to clear from its dazed state but he couldn't think about anything other than her soft lips so close to his.
"Yeah... uh yeah..." he stammered, not really understanding what or why he was speaking.
"Stupid dreams..."
Charlie frowned, understanding her clearly for the first time in at least 5 minutes. "Dreams?"
"Yeah," Tonks replied, getting out her wand to apparate home. "The first was about... Sirius... But then it changed. I was with a man. He kept telling me that I had to tell someone something." Tonks screwed up her face as if trying to remember something. "I don't think he told me what it was though. I don't think he even told me his name! Although... thinking about it... I have this one name in my mind... but I'm sure I just imagined it..."
She waved a careless hand but Charlie was now looking at her with intense curiosity. The kiss was now forgotten as Charlie's new found interest haunted him almost sinisterly. "Can you remember the name?" he asked, without knowing why.
"Drake."
It was as though someone had physically punched him. It was too much a coincidence after everything that had happened.
"Can you remember what he looked like?"
"Uh... he had black hair... sallow skin—"
"Was there blood on him?" Charlie asked desperately. Tonks' eyes were now glinting with fear but she nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Charlie felt a wave of relief sweep over him. If Drake had blood on him, it surely meant that he had bitten his attackers. Charlie raised his head to his forehead in effort to try and collect his thoughts.
"Charlie..." whispered Tonks resting her hand on his shoulder. "How do you know...?"
"Drake... is a vampire. A good one," he added, seeing the look of horror on Tonks' face. "He was my closest companion in Romania. That's why I was sent out there. Under the guise of being a dragon trainer, I worked for the order by recruiting as many as I could for the future war against you-know- who. Drake was the first to join our cause and since our meeting 4 years ago, he has saved many souls from the curse of joining he-who-must-not-be- named. If he's injured, the whole of our main core is down. 2 killed. 1 left. Drake was our only hope until I got more people from here to come with me and help. If he's down the death eaters will be able to gain control of whole villages..."
Tonks was looking at Charlie in incredulity and disbelief but he hardly noticed, his worries focused entirely on Drake and his current condition. "If he entered your dreams," he said slowly, "he must need our help urgently. He would never use that ability otherwise. It's too risky." Charlie ran a hand through his hair in desperation. "I've got to get to Dumbledore and then Drake as soon as possible. If he can contact some of our people near Drake, they'll be able to stop the death eaters from getting further into Romania."
Charlie glanced at Tonks who had a look a determination on her small face. "In that case..." she whispered, "There isn't a moment to lose." She grabbed her wand and an empty crisp packet on the ground.
"Portus," she said clearly. For a second, the packet glowed an eerie blue in the darkness before returning, once more, to its original colour. "Take this," she said, handing the rubbish to Charlie who looked at her questioningly. "It will take you to Hogwarts," she explained before placing it in his hand.
"Good luck..." she whispered and Charlie looked at her thankfully before feeling the familiar jolt behind his navel and disappearing into the night.
The first of June? That was my last update? I'm very sorry guys! grin I promise the next updates will be A LOT quicker. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. I do. I think things start to get interesting from here in so give me a chance after the lack of updating beam
Thanks for the reviews as always! Each one is like a little drop of sunshine rolls eyes at own cheesiness
Anyhoo, on with the show!
Charlie couldn't help but feel guilty as he sat at the table for dinner that evening and noticed that Tonks wasn't present. It was a humid and sticky evening, one that living in Romania, he was unused to. Nevertheless, he still enjoyed the humid weather, even it he did prefer the cold. As molly and the others including Kingsley, Moody and Emmiline put the tables inside the house, Charlie left the garden and walked into the cool shade of the kitchen. In the corner sat Ron, Hermione, Harry and Ginny, all packing their things away ready for the journey to Hogwarts the following day. Bill was standing next to the fireplace talking to Fleur's head which was bobbing in between the flames and Mundungus and Hestia were deep in conversation by the kitchen table, a small grin creeping over Hestia's face every now and again.
Charlie wondered absently to do when he caught a glimpse of Fred and George's clock hands in the corner of the kitchen. They were both pointed towards "Home," meaning that they were more then likely in Diagon Alley. Pulling out his wand, Charlie apparated to Diagon Alley. Excitement filled him as he realised that he hadn't seen his brothers in over a year and he walked happily along the cobble street enjoying the cooler air in the shadows of the shops and the red glow cast by the low sun.
Charlie reached the porch of 91b Diagon Alley feeling the happiest he had done in many days. The gold letters of "Weasleys Wizard Wheezes" sparkled above him and grinning, Charlie knocked the door and waited for his brothers. After a few minutes of no answer, Charlie had begun to get restless when he suddenly saw a shadowy figure come towards to door. He stood back, waiting for the door to be opened but when it was, he couldn't stop the expression of confusion that crept over him as he gazed at the host.
"Tonks?"
"Charlie." Tonks' voice sounded equally surprised but she was frowning rather than smiling as Charlie was. Charlie was jolted out of his reverie as Fred appeared behind Tonks grinning.
"Charlie! Nice to see you home! Why don't you come in? We were just talking about you..." Fred gave his brother a swift embrace and Charlie stepped inside the shop. It was adorned by strange looking jars of sweets and items and Charlie found himself open mouthed at the strange and intricate objects. Fred stood proudly beside him and waved a hand around. "So? What do you think?"
"It's...well, it's great Fred! I don't think mum would approve of me saying this but uh... I'm really proud of yourself and George!"
"Do mine ears deceive me or did my prodigal brother recite my name?"
Charlie beamed as George came up and similarly hugged him as Fred had done.
"Hey baby bro, how you doing?"
"Not bad, not bad. Hey, we've been hearing all about you from the lovely Miss Tonks Char!" Charlie looked towards Tonks who had gone pink and was scowling at George.
"Really? What kind of things has she been saying? Nothing good I hope." Charlie grinned wickedly at Tonks but she looked away and walked into the back room. Charlie frowned and looked towards Fred. "What have I said now?"
"Ah nothing," sighed Fred. "She's got boyfriend troubles."
Charlie felt wrong that he got so excited over this information. "Really? Have her and Remus broken up?"
"Oh no, they're a strong couple. They'll probably get married." George nodded happily and Charlie felt his stomach flip over.
Married.
Great.
You're after a married woman... well... not married...
...
...And you're not after her!
Charlie shook his head believing that he was indeed going insane.
"So what was she saying?"
"How you embarrassed her--" started Fred.
"--At breakfast."
"And how you've been odd with her--"
"--after she spoke to you about Romania."
The twin raised their eyebrows at Charlie who stood speechless. "I didn't mean to upset her... Is she really upset?"
"Find out for yourself," George said, grabbing his coat and walking towards the door.
"See you later big bro. I'm staying at the Burrow in a couple of weeks as George is entertaining Alicia." George grinned as Fred kissed the air.
"See you Charlie!"
The two twins disappeared as Charlie was left open mouthed on the shop floor. "Fred? The pasta's done. Shall I...?" Tonks walked into the room and stared at Charlie in confusion. "Where are Fred and George?"
"Uh... they had to dash off." Charlie suddenly became fully aware that he was left alone in the shop with Tonks and a spear of desire shot through him. However, he was saved from having to worry about his feelings by the hissing sound that was coming from the back room. Tonks let out a loud gasp before running madly into the kitchen. Charlie followed dutifully and snickered as he saw the plumes of smoke that were rising from an old muggle cooker.
"No! No! Argh! Charlie, help me will you?--"
Charlie instantly whipped out his wand and cast a water spell at the flames. A spark of life exploded from the pan before the flames disappeared and Tonks looked sorrowfully at the stove.
"I'm so sorry... I'm usually really good at cooking meals!" Tonks was still staring in disbelief at the smouldering remains of the pasta bake while Charlie restrained a giggle. He was grinning wickedly, truly realising the extent of Tonks' clumsiness. "Look how about I treat us to dinner somewhere?"
"Oh, there's no need," replied Charlie quickly, immediately jumping to the negative response that his mind usually did when being offered 'charity'. He felt his ears and neck heat and coughed loudly. "I've eaten already," he added quickly, ensuring his tone was a little softer. Tonks nodded at him before grabbing her coat.
"I figured that you'd say that. Same with all Weasley men, the twins and Bill are exactly the same. Look, it's not charity or pity or anything else like that. Personally I think you're in one of the richest wizarding families that I've ever met. Okay, so you may not have untold riches but your family has so much love! And your house is the best I've ever stayed in although come to think of it... that may be because you've given me the best room to stay in." She grinned making Charlie feel a huge slab of embarrassment lift from his chest.
He was amused at two things. The first was that fact that the room -actually it was the attic- was hardly the nicest room in the world. The second was that he found it amusing and oddly comforting that Tonks seemed to know exactly how he was feeling and what was more, didn't mind.
I love you Fred and George.
Without another thought, Charlie took Tonks' proffered arm and disappeared into the street of Diagon Alley, the burnt meal discarded in the bin at the back of the building. Tonks led him down the street passed the many shops that were shutting. She waved at Florence Fortesque and Mr Branche - the quidditch shop owner - before leading Charlie into the cool shade of the Leaky Cauldron.
"Hello Young Miss Tonks, Master Weasley," rasped Ton the innkeeper as the couple walked across the old tavern.
"Hey Tom!"
"Tom!" cried Tonks and she ran across to the old inn keeper, tripping slightly and hitting a few stools. He gave the couple a toothless grin. "How are you my friend?" she asked, giving the man a swift hug.
"Better than ever! My only problem is the mirror on the third floor. Every time I walk up to the blessed thing, it reminds me I'm growing older everyday!" Tonks and Tom laughed loudly before the young witch took Charlie out of the pub into the busyness of the main street.
"Where are you taking me Miss Tonks?" he asked with a grin as Tonks led him down a small back alley that led into another street. The shop front sparked in the low sun and highlighted the tones in the trees that were placed intermittently down that road.
Tonks grinned mischievously. "Welcome to my world." Charlie raised one eyebrow and squinted at the shops with more interest. Shop after shop full of Muggle artefacts lay out before them and Tonks grinned. "This is a chip shop," she said, gesturing towards a glass frontage shop.
"Explain?"
"Muggles come here to buy food. You can exchange muggle money for food." She grinned once again at his bemused expression. "Follow me..."
Charlie blinked. "Muggles," he sighed before disappearing into the shop after Tonks. 5 minutes later Charlie stood outside the shop clutching a paper wrap full of chips. Tonks, who was beside her, was grinning as she ate the food contentedly.
"They won't hurt," she mumbled, casting a sideward glance at Charlie.
"I know what they are," he said rolling his eyes. "I just... well... they're mugglish."
She raised her eyebrows. "What are you? A Malfoy in disguise?"
Charlie smiled sheepishly and the couple set off at a slow gait, working their way through the snakelike alleyways and London streets. After they had walked for at least an hour, not caring where they went so long as they were together, Charlie had to admit that Tonks was indeed an amazing creature that he had given less credit then was deserved. The more he learnt from her, the more he grew to like her. She was funny but often not intentionally so. She was highly knowledgeable but most of the information was about useless things which were none-the-less fascinating.
"I mean, it's not like I don't like being muggle born—"she said as the couple reached a park bench and she flopped inelegantly onto it. The sky had grown dark with night and a soft warm breeze played on Charlie's face. From the buildings around them, small lights twinkled invitingly and the sweet smell of grass and flowers lingering in the air.
"—it's just. Well, I don't know. Being in the magical world has so many uses! And if I had stayed in that environment I would've never been able to use my metamorphagus powers—"She gasped and raised her hand to her mouth in horror but Charlie was gaping at her in amazement.
"You never told me that you were a metamorphagus!"
Tonks grinned awkwardly. "Of course. I forgot. You don't know, do you?"
"Well come on," laughed Charlie, taking aback by this new piece of information. "Show me what you can do..."
Charlie watched in amazement as Tonks screwed her face up and seconds later her purple layered hair turned into black and black short spikes.
"Amazing!" Charlie clapped and watching in awe as Tonks began changing her appearance more and more, each different guise earning a round of applause.
"Okay," grinned Tonks after a while, her voice slightly breathless from the rapid changes and from laughing so hard. "What do you think of this?"
Charlie watched, open mouthed, as the lead singer of The Weird Sisters transformed, slowly, into another woman. It was a second before he found his voice.
"The Hufflepuff seeker..."
Tonks' hair fell in bouncy, golden ringlets that ended at her curved, thin waist.
"How do you know...?" Charlie paused, his mind turning.
She couldn't possibly be...
"You were her?!" he said incredulously but Tonks was shaking her head sadly as she dissolved back into her original figure.
"No Charlie. I'm not 'her'. I never was 'her'. She was the person I so desperately wanted to be but never will be. I created her to make me a better person. To be liked and yeah... even loved. Tonks couldn't get that on her own. She needed 'her' to do it for her. But she never was 'her'..." she finished and Charlie saw that her eyes had become unusually bright.
For the first time since they had had met, Charlie realised that Tonks had a greater depth than probably anyone had ever realised. It seemed to make her worth so much more than any of the seemingly brainless girls that he had ever dated before.
It also made her damn sexy.
With a small jolt to his stomach, he realised that it would probably take a life time to understand her. One that a very lucky man would one day have. One that Remus would probably have...
"I can assure you," whispered Charlie, "That you are worth 100 times more than any of the girls you wanted to be like." She gazed at him suddenly and he felt her face heat and she smiled warmly at him. He cleared his throat quickly. "Come on." He reached for her hand. "Let's go home. Mum will be wondering where I've got too..."
Tonks grinned and stood on tiptoes to give Charlie a hug. "Thanks Charlie," she whispered and he felt his stomach knot, his heart beating at what was surely an audible level. Her eyes were boring into his, their lips now only centimetres apart. He vaguely wondered if they would taste salty or whether her own taste would make the kiss sweet. His head was swimming as he lowed his head a little, their faces now so close that he could see the eyeliner bordering her almond shaped eyes.
"I guess I need my sleep anyway." She moved away from him suddenly and Charlie felt his head begin to clear from its dazed state but he couldn't think about anything other than her soft lips so close to his.
"Yeah... uh yeah..." he stammered, not really understanding what or why he was speaking.
"Stupid dreams..."
Charlie frowned, understanding her clearly for the first time in at least 5 minutes. "Dreams?"
"Yeah," Tonks replied, getting out her wand to apparate home. "The first was about... Sirius... But then it changed. I was with a man. He kept telling me that I had to tell someone something." Tonks screwed up her face as if trying to remember something. "I don't think he told me what it was though. I don't think he even told me his name! Although... thinking about it... I have this one name in my mind... but I'm sure I just imagined it..."
She waved a careless hand but Charlie was now looking at her with intense curiosity. The kiss was now forgotten as Charlie's new found interest haunted him almost sinisterly. "Can you remember the name?" he asked, without knowing why.
"Drake."
It was as though someone had physically punched him. It was too much a coincidence after everything that had happened.
"Can you remember what he looked like?"
"Uh... he had black hair... sallow skin—"
"Was there blood on him?" Charlie asked desperately. Tonks' eyes were now glinting with fear but she nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Charlie felt a wave of relief sweep over him. If Drake had blood on him, it surely meant that he had bitten his attackers. Charlie raised his head to his forehead in effort to try and collect his thoughts.
"Charlie..." whispered Tonks resting her hand on his shoulder. "How do you know...?"
"Drake... is a vampire. A good one," he added, seeing the look of horror on Tonks' face. "He was my closest companion in Romania. That's why I was sent out there. Under the guise of being a dragon trainer, I worked for the order by recruiting as many as I could for the future war against you-know- who. Drake was the first to join our cause and since our meeting 4 years ago, he has saved many souls from the curse of joining he-who-must-not-be- named. If he's injured, the whole of our main core is down. 2 killed. 1 left. Drake was our only hope until I got more people from here to come with me and help. If he's down the death eaters will be able to gain control of whole villages..."
Tonks was looking at Charlie in incredulity and disbelief but he hardly noticed, his worries focused entirely on Drake and his current condition. "If he entered your dreams," he said slowly, "he must need our help urgently. He would never use that ability otherwise. It's too risky." Charlie ran a hand through his hair in desperation. "I've got to get to Dumbledore and then Drake as soon as possible. If he can contact some of our people near Drake, they'll be able to stop the death eaters from getting further into Romania."
Charlie glanced at Tonks who had a look a determination on her small face. "In that case..." she whispered, "There isn't a moment to lose." She grabbed her wand and an empty crisp packet on the ground.
"Portus," she said clearly. For a second, the packet glowed an eerie blue in the darkness before returning, once more, to its original colour. "Take this," she said, handing the rubbish to Charlie who looked at her questioningly. "It will take you to Hogwarts," she explained before placing it in his hand.
"Good luck..." she whispered and Charlie looked at her thankfully before feeling the familiar jolt behind his navel and disappearing into the night.