A/n: Took forever, I know, so sorry. Today you will read a hopefully soon to be infamous bit of Dora revenge. Hope you enjoy it!
Disclaimer: Nothing from the HP books, including a couple of specific lines, belongs to me. It's all JK Rowling's. The song is Shawn Colvin's
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Nothing on Me
by Shawn Colvin
Well I don't tell jokes
And I don't take notes
You been sayin there ain't much hope
You got nothin on me
I got friends uptown
And they don't talk down
They been keepin me safe and sound
We got somethin to be
So in case you hadn't noticed
I'm alright
Not like I was before
Things used to be so hopeless
But not tonight
Tonight I'm walkin out that door
I'm not gonna cry
I'm wavin goodbye
And I know this time
You got nothin on me
Well it ain't that tough
Just more of the usual stuff
One heartache is more than enough
There ain't nothin to see
I got friends uptown
And they still come 'round
They been keepin me safe and sound
We got somethin to be
So don't you try to save me
With your advice
Or turn me into somebody else
Cuz I'm not crazy and you're not nice
Baby keep it to yourself
I'm not gonna cry
And I'm wavin goodbye
And I know this time
You got nothin on me
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The first day of the new term at Hogwarts dawned bright and early. Dora dragged her very sleepy and confused friends to breakfast as soon as the meal began.
"Don't know what the big rush is," muttered Rusty with a yawn, "but you could have let the rest of us sleep."
Dora grinned at him, wide-awake, "Trust me, you'll be glad you came."
"Came for what?" groaned Charlie.
The answer came twenty minutes later with the mail.
Dora, ignoring her newspaper, kept her eyes on the Ravenclaw table. Her friends looked from that table and then back at Dora in confusion until—
BAM
"—FEO RODRIGEZ!" resonated a female voice. "I AM SICK AND TIRED OF SENDING YOU FRESH GILDEROY LOCKHART BOXERS EVERY TIME YOU WET THE BED—"
Everyone in the hall had stopped their conversations to look toward the racket. More than one mouth hung open in shock.
"—AND I HEAR THAT YOU'VE BEEN WAKING UP EVERY NIGHT SCREAMING ABOUT BEING EATEN BY RUBBER DUCKS. I KNOW YOU LEFT WADDLES AT HOME BUT THAT IS NO EXCUSE, YOU ARE SIXTEEN FOR MERLIN'S SAKE, YOU SHOULDN'T NEED AT STUFFED PLATYPUSS TO SING YOU LULABYS EVERY NIGHT—"
Feo had, by this time, turned fifty shades of red and looked as though he might faint. The other students were staring at the handsome Ravenclaw. Some looked astonished, others mocking.
"—YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO THE NAME WIZARD! PLEASE CLIMB INTO A CAVE AND STAY THERE UNTIL FLOBBERWORMS FLY—"
The message's end was greeted with a stunned silence. Suddenly everyone was talking at once--standing on benches to get a better look at Feo and discussing the matter animatedly. Everyone but four Gryffindors. Charlie, Millie, and Rusty slowly turned to face Dora who had innocently returned to her breakfast. Too innocently.
"Nymphadora Tonks," said Charlie quietly as a crooked smile appeared on his face. Without another word spoken among them, all four students stood and left the hall.
"A howler Dora? That was original," commented Millie as they started across the snow covered grounds headed toward a beech tree by the lake.
"Did you like?" asked Dora solemnly. "I thought it was lacking a bit in content but I was in a hurry."
"Well it wasn't particularly…" Charlie trailed off, squinting at the castle. "Looks like we've got company."
Feo Rodrigez and a gang of Ravenclaws were walking toward the tree. Dora grinned. "Hello Feo," she said pleasantly as he reached her, "can I help you?"
"You think you're hot stuff don't you, you little bitch!" he snarled, and, before Dora could react, a large Ravenclaw had her arms pinned behind her and Feo's wand was pointed at her throat. Dora couldn't reach her own wand. Feo's quick that's for sure, she thought, a bit deranged, but quick.
"Expelliarmus!" Feo's wand flew out of his hand and Rusty, who had shouted the spell, caught it in the air.
"Make like a tree and leave," said Millie, whose wand was now pointed at Feo. Feo stood completely motionless, still in shock.
"Now," commanded Charlie, "before we make you." He flicked his wand, conjuring half a dozen fang-bearing rubber ducks which proceeded to chase Feo and Co. back to the castle as other students, who had sensed a fight and followed Feo onto the ground, cracked up.
Dora went to stand between Charlie and Rusty, grinning, and slung her arms around their shoulders. "I love you guys; you know that," she said, kissing them each on the cheek. The boys barely wrinkled their noses at this display of affection; they had grown used to such displays over the years. Dora hugged Millie briefly.
"MISS TONKS!" Professor McGonagall's voice echoed over the snow covered grounds.
"Shit," muttered Dora.
"What'd you do this time?" asked Rusty
"I dunno. Maybe they found out about the Howler."
"You mean they traced it?" asked Millie.
"Yeah, there was a warning or something in the instructions for the Howler. I didn't read it but I think— Hello Professor."
McGonagall glared at her. "Miss Tonks, what is the meaning of this?"
"Well Feo was being a prat so I figured maybe a little…er…Howler might, you know, remind him…" Dora trailed off lamely.
"Miss Tonks, don't know what you're talking about. I was inquiring about…" the Transfiguration Professor blinked, "Wait, you mean you sent the Howler to Feo Rodrigez."
"Isn't that what you…damn it!" Dora realized that she had just given away her grand revenge.
"If you are going to swear, Miss Tonks, I'd advise not to do it in the presence of your teachers," said McGonagall.
"Yes ma'am."
"And no I wasn't talking about the Howler sent to Mr. Rodrigez. It was good of you to confess although it really wasn't necessary. I was, however, referring to Dungbombs that you felt compelled to set off in Professor Snape's office last night. A bit of end of holiday fun?" Dora shrugged guiltily. "Regardless," McGonagall continued, "you're little prank was witnessed by the portrait across the hall from the aforementioned office.
"I knew I should have bribed off that portrait," Dora muttered.
McGonagall's eyebrows contracted in a scowl but Dora could've sworn that the professor's mouth twitched upward, just slightly. "Well then, you will serve two detentions, one for the Dungbombs and one for the Howler."
Dora nodded and McGonagall left.
Dear Becca,
Once, in the third year, Rusty decided he didn't want to wait in the hall for Snape before Potions class so he blasted open the door and went in. Then I decided it might be fun to surprise good old Snape so we persuaded everyone to get in the dungeon and Charlie fixed the door and sealed it up like it had been before Rusty blew it up and we put the torches out and everyone hid behind the tables. So then, when Snape showed up, opened the door, and we all jumped out and yelled "Happy Birthday!" even though it wasn't his birthday (that was one of the Hufflepuff's idea. We had Potions with the Hufflepuffs). Snape was furious. I can't see why. It was such a simple prank and no one got hurt…I just asked Millie and she seems to remember something about Snape holding a torch and jumping cause he was startled and catching himself on fire so maybe that has something to do with it. Anyhow, he took a bazillion points off and then gave Charlie and Millie and Rusty and I detention even though no one told him it was our idea. So of course we protested and I don't remember all the details but I do remember a lot of things breaking and about half the class standing on tables and shouting and in the end Snape had taken a grand total of 213 points and gave the whole class a week of detentions in addition to Rusty, Charlie, Millie, and my first ones because Snape seems to think that everything that happens is our fault. Like the time some Slytherin showed up at dinner with an extra set of arms and Snape immediately blamed it on us. That man is such a biased, bastardly…bastard. I just reminded Charlie of that particular incident and he pointed out that it was us who mad the kid grow extra arms…or me at least. But that isn't the point, the point is that Snape had no reason to think that.
I seem to have forgotten the whole point of this letter…I believe it was meant to show you, my dear penpal, just how amazing my friends are although it might have just shown how much trouble we get in. It is not generally our fault, however.
Oh shit! I have just been reminded (by my dear friend Rusty who just entered the room and said "Hey Dora can I copy your Charms essay?") that we have a Charms essay due in approximately ten hours and thirty three minutes so I'd better go stick my face in a book. I assure you that I'd much rather write this letter to you. In fact I would much rather write a letter to just about anyone but that is not the point. The point is that I have got to go.
Toodles,
Dora
"You two need to eat," Millie said, loading bacon and toast onto Charlie's plate as Rusty tried to feed Dora her scrambled eggs. Neither Charlie nor Dora had slept much the night before and now refused food with nauseated expressions. The reason for this rather unusual behavior was the Inter-House Quidditch Cup Final that they would be playing in that day. Fifteen minutes of unrequited coaxing later, Charlie stood. Without being asked, Dora got up as well. She alerted her fellow chasers Alexis Samuels and Lano Smith as Charlie pulled Oliver Wood (keeper), Tony Young, and Jason McFree (beaters) from their untouched breakfasts. Together and in silence, the team headed for the pitch.
"Okay men…and women," Charlie said, when the team was dressed. "This is it. The big one. The one we've all been waiting for. And we are going to win."
"Or else," amended Dora, but even she looked slightly green and there was more anxiety than humor in her statement. And with good reason. They were playing Slytherin. This, even in a normal match was enough to make a person feel quite ill but in the Cup Final, the tension in the air was so thick, that Dora could almost taste it.
Charlie took a deep breath and stared at the doors, unable to move forward. Dora gave him a little shove, "Go get 'em tiger." He looked back at her and she raised her eyebrows expectantly. Charlie shrugged, then lifted his head and led his team onto the field.
"Ladies and gentlemen I give you Wood… Samuels… Smith… Tonks… McFree… Young… and Weasley!" Rusty's voice resonated through the crowd. Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws alike screamed and cheered as the Gryffindor team waked out onto to pitch. The Slytherins booed copiously.
"And for Slytherin," Rusty continued with much less enthusiasm, "Flint… Arcus… Arcus… Spelnix… Clanes… Snyder… and Elias." As the Slytherin team ran out the Slytherins began to cheer but the rest of the stadium erupted with jeers and catcalls.
The two teams faced each other, exchanging menacing looks. Dora surveyed the opposing team. They were, frankly, huge. The smallest was a head taller than Jason, the largest Gryffindor, and three times as wide.
"Captains, shake hands," said Madame Hooch. Charlie and Eugene Spelnix, a Slytherin beater, stepped forward and did so. When they let go, Dora noticed red marks along Charlie's hand.
"Mount your booms," shouted Hooch. She gave a loud trill on her whistle and both teams kicked off.
"Lano Smith has the Quaffle—he passes to Dora Tonks who passes it back. Smith's heading in to shoot—and—oh, Smith does a nice Sloth Roll to avoid a Bludger hit by Bryan Clanes but he drops the Quaffle—Slytherin in possession, Justin Snyder's got the Quaf—Alexis Samuels has got it now—"
"C'mon 'Lexi!" Dora screamed. She soared toward the goalposts dropping below Alexis in case her teammate had to drop the Quaffle.
"A Bludger is heading toward Samuels—and some nice work from Beater Jason McFree, he knocks the Bludger away from Samuels—and she scores!"
Three-fourths of the crowd broke into triumphant cheers.
"Slytherin in possession—Biton Arcus heading toward the Gryffindor goalposts—Tony Young slams a Bludger toward Arcus…he dodges… passes to his twin Cleobis—back to Arcus…the other one—he passed to Snyder—Snyder shoots and—YES! Oliver Wood, Gryffindor teams newest talent, makes a spectacular save—score's 10-0 Gryffindor—Tonks has the Quaffle—Smith—back to Tonks—she's getting close—"
Dora bent low over her broom, Quaffle tucked under her right arm. She was getting close; she could see Otus Flint in front of the Slytherin goalposts. She began to straighten up, preparing to shoot. Then something collided with her left temple. Stars and snitches flashed before her eyes. Dora was knocked sideways. She dropped the Quaffle and clutched her broom with both hands, fighting to stay on.
"Snyder, slimy little asshole—" shouted Rusty.
"GRANT!" warned Professor McGonagall.
"Sorry, I mean after Snyder punched Tonks in the head like the cowardly bastard that he is—sorry Professor."
A whistle blew. "Penalty to Gryffindor!" shouted Madame Hooch.
Someone threw Dora the Quaffle. Taking careful aim she took the shot and—
"SHE SCORES! TWENTY-NOTHING GRYFFINDOR!"
Slytherin chaser, Cleobis Arcus, scored next.
"Twenty-Ten Gryffindor!"
"Thirty-Ten Gryffindor!"
"Thirty-Twenty Gryffindor!"
"Thirty-Thirty! And its tied folks!"
The game had gotten intense and dirty. Lano had taken another penalty when Bryan Clanes smashed a Bludger into Oliver Wood's face, but he missed. Gryffindor Beaters, Tony Young and Jason McFree, weren't exactly sparing Slytherin any pain. Tony had nearly gutted Slytherin seeker Roger Elias and Jason had come quite close to putting Justin totally out of commission with a well aimed Bludger to the chest.
Dora wiped the sweat from her forehead. They were tied then losing then tied again. Lano had the Quaffle; he passed it to Dora. An excited murmur rose through the crowd as Dora flew toward the goalposts. A murmur that she knew had nothing to do with her having the Quaffle. She knew quite well that this could mean only one thing; Charlie and Roger were after Snitch. Ignoring her urge to turn and watch Dora continued toward the goalposts. If neither Seeker caught the Snitch, the Gryffindors would need this goal. She aimed and shot.
"Elias and Weasley race after the Snitch as Tonks scores. Score is Fifty- forty Gryffindor and the game could be just seconds from ending," Rusty hollered.
Dora spun her broom around to watch the Seekers' progress. They were neck in neck, Charlie pulling slightly ahead. Then, in a motion too fast for Dora to catch, Elias accelerated and snatched the Snitch.
For a moment there was silence as everyone tried to figure out what had happened. Then, the Slytherins began to cheer. "Dammit!" Rusty shouted into his megaphone before throwing it on the ground. The teams landed. The Slytherins cheering and gloating, the Gryffindors walking sullenly to the dressing rooms.
Charlie went straight to the showers without speaking to anyone. The rest of the team was in a similarly gloomy state, changing, showering, cleaning their brooms with less than five words spoken among them. One by one, they shouldered their broomsticks and slunk away. Lano left, giving Dora a squeeze on the shoulder, leaving her to finish pulling on her school robes. She and Charlie were the only ones left. Charlie still hadn't come out of the shower rooms although Dora couldn't hear any water running. He's waiting to make sure everyone's gone, she thought. He wants to be alone so he can wallow in defeat. She smiled to herself and then sat down to wait.
Fifteen minutes later, her friend came out, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. He didn't notice her at first.
"I think you might have just set a personal record there Charlie, baby. You've been in the shower for forty minutes, I've known you to be dressed and ready to go two minutes and thirty seven seconds after you've woken up."
"You shouldn't have waited,"
Dora stood, "I don't suppose it would do any good at all to tell you that it's not you fault."
He raised his eyebrows.
"It wasn't! His broom was better that's all…" Dora winced as she realized her mistake. Charlie's family couldn't afford to get him a better broomstick. "I'm sorry, Charlie, you know me, my mouth—"
He gave her a reassuring smile, "Don't worry about."
She returned it, "C'mon, we're gonna miss the party!"
"Party? We lost."
Dora shrugged, "So, a party is a party. We better hurry; all the butterbeer'll be gone."
As they left the dressing rooms, Millie and Rusty, who had been waiting outside the door, went to them. "It wasn't your fault, it wasn't your fault, it wasn't your fault," Millie told Charlie quickly, giving him and Dora each a hug.
"And, in case you're even slower than we thought," said Rusty, with a grin, "it wasn't you fault."
"Did it ever occur to you guys that you might be making it worse? I mean why would you tell me it wasn't my fault unless you thought I'd think it was and why would you think I thought it was my fault unless it was."
His friends stared at him for a moment, trying to make sense of this statement. Then Dora replied, "Because you adore us of course."
"What? Dora that didn't make any sense," said Charlie.
She shrugged, slipped one arm through Rusty's and the other through Millie's arm who grabbed Charlie and they started back to the castle.
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A/n: So how'd you like it? I'm not sure how well I wrote the Quidditch game. I've never done one before and it was a lot harder than I expected. Also, you may have noticed parallels between Charlie and how Oliver Wood is during the real books. In fact the entire pep talk was taken straight from book 1 thus the note in the disclaimer. Rusty's commentating is also quite a lot like Lee Jordan's. I did all this because it kind of made sense to me. You coach how you were coached and commentate how you were commentated and all that. Tell me what you think of how that turned out. And did Dora's revenge meet up to you're expectations? I hope so. Review!
