Summary: A bit more on Remus-Tonks-Charlie and our favorite prefects are spending some quality time patrolling the corridors.

Pairings: Remus/Tonks, Charlie/Tonks friendship, Ron/Hermione, Neville/Luna, and here's a doozy: Dean/Parvati, Ernie/Hannah, Nick/Lady Grey, McGonagall/Dumbledore, Crabbe/Millicent, very slight Harry/Katie, and also, Dr/G AND H/G!

Disclaimer: J.K.Rowling is the absolute brilliant writer behind Harry Potter and co – wish I could be her apprentice/pupil/padawan though. And RichardCurtis wrote Love, Actually, which is the basis for this fic's plot.

A/N: I finished exams/final essays! Ain't that grand? Special thanks for Allatariel who took the time to suggest all those ships! Some of them actually inspired me a bit for this chapter – you rock! Oh, and you rock more for liking Eowyn/Faramir – the most unexpected, made-for-each-other pair of characters in Literature. Dedicating this chapter to you, dude.

Chapter 4: Werewolf, Dragon-tamer, and Snogging Patrol

It wasn't until the next night that Tonks finally had some free time on her hands. Lupin had looked through the house after the meeting and finally decided, after some more goading from our dear Nymphadora, that he would move in.

Tonks felt like doing a happy jig. Not only was she no longer stuck with that blasted house elf on her own, but she was actually going to live with Lupin!

Now, this particular fact brought her some joy because there was actually a little detail in her story, yesterday, that she kept from Lupin: The fact that she'd had a mad crush on him ever since that Christmas visit.

Of course the 'flame' didn't burn all throughout the past sixteen years – especially since she'd lost contact with him – but it was always there on the back of her mind. It was rather silly, really…

And, as Tonks had told herself times and times again, it was all undeniably and unmistakably Sirius' fault.

You see, right before her dear cousin was about to dash off (he said he was going to spend Christmas with a couple friends of his and their baby, who, as Tonks had since figured, would surely have been James, Lily, and Harry), he whispered to her exactly why his friend was called 'Moony'.

A WEREWOLF.

Tonks was instantly captivated. Now, granted, most twelve-year-old girls would not have been enthralled by werewolves, but it needed be remembered that Tonks was also best mate of Charlie Weasley – the boy who loved dragons.

Suffice to say that seeing Lupin, fifteen years on, when she first joined the Order was a bloody big shock for her. She'd tried to keep her silly, schoolgirl crush at bay, of course, whenever she had to work with him – and so far she'd been handling it rather well, if she might say so herself – but with more time that they spent together, and the more that she got to know him, Tonks found that she could not help fancying the man.

And now she would be living with him…

Not like anything would happen…

Oh no, Lupin would be too preoccupied with work to even glance at her.

But then again, it is the holiday season…

She decided to send a quick letter to Charlie before tucking in to bed. She hadn't talked to him for a while, after all, and she could always count on his advice.

Wotcher, Charlie!

How's Romania? Bloody freezing cold and more dragons that you can handle, I suppose? Brilliant.

I heard from your dad that you're coming home this Christmas. About bloody damn time, I say. I'm beginning to think that the dragons are substituting for your horrid love life. I can't see why you bother – they're just as demanding, expensive, and clingy as your regular girlfriends. Hahaha, I'm only joking, of course. But seriously, I can think of a few English girls who wouldn't mind your company here (Apparently 'dragon-tamers' sound particularly sexy for their kind).

In the meantime, everything is spectacular in cheery old England. Why am I so chirpy, you ask?

Remember about a month ago when I told you that I was getting a grip of myself and completely chucking my whatever-it-was toward Remus out the window? Well, scratch that. I've completely failed in that mission since I've just asked him to move in with me. Now, don't fall off your paddock just yet, because guess what, he actually said yes!

Now you can fall off.

I know what you're thinking, "Bloody damn woman. Can't make up her mind. Wasting precious parchment space to write about her sodding fifteen-year crush on a werewolf."

I know you're sneering at me, CharlesWeasley, but, unfortunately my good mate, I don't give a toss. Ha! You still love me all the same, now don't you?

I haven't formulated a plan as yet. What do you reckon? Maybe I should give the ol' 'Tonks' ultra-unique, highly-brilliant, guaranteed-success, seduction methods' a go, eh? Worked on you, didn't it?

Er… on second thought, maybe not then. Don't want to scare the bloke, after all.

Well, I'm getting tired of talking about myself, so I'll give you some nifty updates on what's been going on in merry old England:

-The twins are doing remarkably well, especially being so near the holiday season. I overheard one of them talking about nicking into Hogwarts, just before the holidays starts, to organise a last minute sale on their products. I reckon they already have someone on the inside selling stuff for them, though I haven't got a clue who it is. Don't think it's Ron though – 'cause Hermione will sure to chuck a fit. Maybe it's Ginny. I don't know. I'll keep you posted on that.

-Kingsley just got another hole in his ear – I think he and Bill have got some sort of competition going. Exactly why, is beyond me.

-Your mum was a bit short with me this morning because I broke her favourite milk jug. You know the one that looked like a cow? (Yeah, THAT one) And when I tried to fix it, I 'accidentally' placed the udder on the wrong side. Better give her a few days to cool off, I reckon.

-Quidditch Quality Supplies is having a massive holiday sale. I'm thinking of getting a new broom. Reckon mine's a bit too ancient. We should toss a game or two while you're here, Charlie – think you and I can give your brothers a run for their money.

-Who else? Dung, he's in trouble again – don't ask.

-Moody – well, you know how he is. Still acting like a complete nutter most of the time (nearly blasted my bottom the other day, but that's another story). We all love him just the same though.

-Harry is doing fine, as far as I can tell. Haven't heard much from him, which I assume is good.

Anyway, write back with some smashing 'Charlie-wisdom', OK?

Love,

Tonks

Tonks sealed the letter and reminded herself to take it when she goes to work tomorrow.

As she settled in bed, she thought of Charlie and an image of another Christmas incident came to mind.

It was her fourth year and Tonks was particularly worried at becoming the last girl in the year who hadn't been kissed. She was bloody curious and thought that Christmas would be the perfect time – mistletoes were abound after all.

She tried with all her might to get boys underneath the bloody plant with her, but through various and baffling acts of nature, she consistently failed. She was about to give up when, lo-and-behold, her best mate Charlie stepped in by accident. Throwing caution to the wind, Tonks tried her best 'seduction methods' on him… and finally got her first kiss! Looking back, even though Charlie was now her closest mate, she was glad that it was him.

She certainly wouldn't object a snog from a certain werewolf this Christmas though.

Just before she drifted off to sleep, Tonks wondered which other couple would share their first kiss under the mistletoe this year.


Ron and Hermione were not particularly cheery this afternoon.

Christmas time in general seemed to bring a sudden increase in pranks. This year though, it was loads worse because someone had been successfully smuggling a whole lot of Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes' goodies in and selling them at bargain prices. Hermione was particularly bent at solving who the culprit was – she seemed particularly miffed that Ron and Ginny claimed to know nothing, and had even taken to sending out regular angry letters to Fred and George, demanding answers (to which the twins conveniently and innocently denied any knowledge).

She had also taken to dragging Ron along in her determined attempt to patrol the corridors – causing the latter to complain rather audibly every time.

"Hermione, it's the holiday season! Why don't we give them a break? I've still got Quidditich practice and a whole bunch of homework to do, you know!"

"Well, you didn't seem particularly concerned when you were playing Exploding Snap with Harry earlier."

Ron took a deep breath, clearly exasperated. "We were on a break! I'm sure you've heard of the concept. It's a time-off people take in the middle of their studies so they don't go completely mental."

"Yes, Ron, I'm familiar with it. But we still have our prefect duties– "

She broke off to yell at a group of very suspicious-looking Slytherin fourth years, who were sneaking behind the statue of Goran the Gloater, before continuing as if uninterrupted.

"–to help out the teachers keep some order in the last week of revision."

"Hermione, more than five years that I've known you and I still don't understand your intense allegiance to the teachers. Honestly–"

He stopped to yell at two Huffelpuffs who were clearly making out behind a column on their left. "Hey, break it up, you two!"

When the two figures scrambled out of their hiding place, they turned out to be, to Ron and Hermione's great astonishment, Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbott.

Their prefect badges were shining glossily in the candlelight, despite their crooked positions as a result of the, uh, 'tussle'.

Hermione managed to squeal a timid greeting, which was replied by a court 'hello' from Ernie, before the two Hufflepuffs rushed off with great, bright red faces.

Ron eyed the top part of the column with a frown, "Ugh, I should've known! Another one of those bloody things."

Hermione followed his eyesight and let out a sigh.

An enchanted mistletoe was perched there.

On top of the pranks and the patrols, Ron and Hermione were particularly tensed because of the mistletoe's presence throughout the castle. Professor Flitwick was right – they literally had to keep their eyes peeled to the ceiling to avoid them.

It was extra annoying for the prefects because episodes of impulsive snoggings kept breaking out all round the school. A few cases were chaste pecks on the cheeks (like the one that Nearly-Headless-Nick got from Lady Grey), but a substantial amount was not unlike the Ernie-Hannah situation they'd just dissolved (they were praying for their lives when they had to break up Crabbe and Millicent Bulstrode – both Ron and Hermione were rather keen to wipe their memories clean after that).

Admittedly, some of them were purely funny (like when Malfoy got a wet one from Goyle), some were sweet (like when Ginny received a peck-on-the-cheek from Hagrid when she passed him in the Entrance Hall), and some were rather fascinating (like when Professor McGonagall reached up to kiss a cheery-looking Professor Dumbledore on the cheeks).

But Ron and Hermione were thoroughly determined to avoid becoming victims of this 'snogging syndrome' – even if they had to keep, in Mad-Eye Moody's words, "constant vigilance!"

It was actually quite difficult, considering they often patrolled the corridors together. So far, they'd managed to avoid some very close calls and were probably the only few people in school who had not fallen prey to the mistletoe's 'power' (Harry unexpectedly received a kiss from Katie Bell when he bumped into her outside the library a few days ago).

"Reckon they realised what they were doing?" Ron asked, nodding his head toward the backs of Ernie and Hannah.

"I don't know – but the Hufflepuff crowd always seems like a close bunch, don't they?"

They decided to continue with their patrol, telling people off every now and then for minor infractions.

"I'm telling you – it's a denial of free will, it is. Just the other day I nearly had to kiss that pug-face Parkinson if Harry hadn't pulled me aside at the right moment."

If it weren't for the fact that Hermione despised the Slytherin princess as much as any other Gryffindor, she'd have said something about his "pug-face" comment. Instead, she let it slide. "Ron, how many times have I told you? There's no point in us complaining about it. Professor Dumbledore only wants people to be more cheerful this holiday."

"A laughing charm should do it brilliantly then-" He was suddenly distracted, however, by a rather unexpected moment unfolding before them.

Up ahead, underneath an enchanted mistletoe, a bumbling and blushing Neville was receiving a light kiss on the lips from none other than Loony Luna! It was over in a second, but it left poor Neville looking like a newly-ripened tomato. Luna gave him a small coy smile before walking away in the direction of the two prefects.

"Hello, Ronald, Hermione. Lovely day, isn't it?"

They stared wordlessly at her as she strolled away, her face returning to its usually dreamy expression and the Christmas baubles that she decided to wear as a necklace today bobbing together noisily. She was also humming something that sounded suspiciously like 'Love is All Around' under her breath.

Ron shook his head incredulously at her and went over to Neville, grinning like a cheshire cat.

"So you and Luna, eh? Come on, fess up! How long have you been keeping this from us, eh Neville, you sly old fox?"

Neville, however, was still too stunned to answer, "She– I mean, we're not– I don't know– I mean, she just went over and did that! I didn't– "

He was completely lost for words and his face was not doing a good job of returning to its normal colour.

It certainly didn't help that Ron was prepared to tease him mercilessly though. Hermione decided to take pity on him.

"That was very sweet what she did, Neville. Luna is a nice girl. You're very lucky to be kissed by her. Now, come along, Ronald. " She grabbed hold of her fellow prefect's robes and proceeded to yank him away from poor Neville, "We still need to patrol."

Ron made a muffled sound of protest, but stumbled along after her.

"Neville and Luna!" he cried after they were out of earshot. "Who would have thought!"

"Well I thought it was rather nice," Hermione said matter-of-factly. "Neville's been overlooked by too many girls too often."

"But Neville and Luna!" He shook his head with a disbelieving smirk. "Still… Bet you're glad they weren't as explicit as Dean and Parvati the other day, eh? The way they carried on and on – mind you, I'm relieved that he finally put a sock in it and bloody sodding kiss her!"

Hermione shrugged, "That was only natural. Dean and Parvati have fancied each other for ages. Wait– "

She suddenly turned on him, "How did you know about that?"

"Honestly, Hermione, I'm not as daft as you think. We blokes do talk, you know."

She raised her eyebrows at him, somehow finding the idea of Ron giving love advice to Dean hard to believe.

Ron relented, "All right. Dean kind of let it slip when I threat–, er, 'asked' him about Ginny at the start of the year."

"Oh! That's, er, very nice of you, Ron." Hermione had to suppress a smile at his protective big brother behaviour.

"Wonder who Ginny's dating now. Better not be that stupid prat Jack Sloper. I never liked the way he looks at her. Practically ogling her during team practice."

Hermione chuckled, "Come on, Ron. Ginny's a big girl. I'm sure she can take care of herself. Survived growing up with you lot, didn't she?"

"I just want her to pick someone good. Not some thick, smarmy git like Michael Corner."

"You're just being an overprotective brother – no one's ever going to be good enough for her."

"Well…" For some reason, Ron started to blush and said in small voice, "I can think of someone."

Hermione turned on him, "Please don't say Harry."

Ron looked indignant, "And why not? If Ginny wants to canoodle with someone, it might as well be my best mate."

"Canoodle! Oh, Ron… Ginny's gotten over her crush ages ago. She was just tired of waiting for him. I mean, they're really good friends now. It'll be a shame to ruin it– "

"You reckon dating a friend is a bad idea?" snapped Ron.

Hermione seemed taken aback by his question, "Well, I don't know. I guess it depends on what kind of friendship you have, how close you are… It can work sometimes…" Then she added under her breath, "I hope."

A silence passed between them before Hermione went on, "Look, the point it is, Harry and Ginny have got a good friendship now – she can talk to him without blushing and he… well, he can talk to her."

"Still… Wouldn't be bad for Harry to get a girl who doesn't leak at every second, eh?" Ron nudged her on the side and grinned.

Hermione decided to return his smile, "Well, I suppose we can always hope that they'd pass underneath an enchanted mistletoe."

"Reckon I could kind of shove him into her while we're walking down a corridor?"

"Ron, you shouldn't! Harry won't like that–"

"I know, Hermione! I was only joking." He shrugged, "Think I finally found some good with these blasted shrubs–"

He was suddenly stopped by Hermione, however, who suddenly grabbed hold of his upper arm. She was looking at something above them, slightly ahead, with an alarmed expression on their face. Ron followed her eyesight.

It seemed that they were a little too caught up in their conversation earlier – so caught up, in fact, that they almost missed that enchanted mistletoe straight ahead.

Key word there was 'almost'. Unfortunately, Hermione – observant girl she was – saw it at the last moment and managed to save them both from a potentially embarrassing moment.

Bugger.

Ron continued to stare at the mystical object with mouth slightly open, while Hermione suddenly realised what she was doing and let go of his arm – both were starting to go red.

"Well, er, good safe there, Hermione." He coughed awkwardly and stood back to let her pass first.

"Um, thanks, Ron." She avoided his eyes and willed herself not to think of what could've been, "Shall we go back now? It's getting late and you really do need to get started on that essay for Snape."

"Yeah, sure." He followed her as she set off in the direction of the common room – but not before adding under his breath, "Bloody snogging leaves!"

A/N: Hey, I said there'd be Dr/G and H/G, didn't I? Draco/Goyle and Hagrid/Ginny? Get it?? Aww, shucks, I know I'm loosing my readership by being a cheeky git. I seriously didn't plan those though – they just sort of came together. But I gotta say that I am leaning towards Harry/Ginny…

A/N2: I gotta put the "Ronald" in there, cause I just LOVE how Hermione said it in the movie – one of the best moments for me, I swear.

A/N3: Good job for LLA, who found the Love, Actually reference! For 'attack of the spacemonkey' and everyone else, it was the chocolate biscuit dialogue ("if it were someone else, I would've given them the boring biscuit, without the chocolate"). Natalie the caterer said it to Hugh Grant's character, the Prime Minister. Anyone know the one for this chapter?