-1Disclaimer - Chloe's mine. But that's it.

The Scene That I've Created

Chloe threw herself onto her bed, at the end of an exhausting day. Her first day of practical auror training was finished, and she couldn't help but think it had been rather boring. All they'd had was lectures about the importance of the work of aurors, the need for secrecy, the importance of everything they'd learn, and from Mad-Eye of course, the need for CONSTANT VIGILANCE! There was a soft knock at Chloe's door and she called for them to come in.

In the doorway stood a pretty girl Chloe had met on the way to training that morning.

"Hey Clo, just thought I'd pop in and see how you were after the first day." Chloe laughed softly.

"I'm exhausted! Come in, sit down Freya. How are you?" Freya sighed and tossed her long dark hair over her shoulder, moving towards Chloe's desk chair.

"'Bout the same. I never thought listening to people speak could be so tiring!"

"I know what you mean," Chloe laughed, "but I did have a very early morning today and a very late night yesterday." Freya raised an eyebrow.

"Late night eh?"

"Oh nothing like that! It was a family friends wedding. Bill Weasley?" Freya frowned.

"Yeah, I think I've heard of him. He works as a curse breaker at Gringotts?" Chloe nodded. "I think my brother knows him. My brother's a curse breaker too, but not in the same team as Bill."

"Actually, can I tell you something?" Chloe asked, biting her lip. Freya nodded. "Well, last night… I slept with my best friend, then I left this morning without saying goodbye. I feel incredibly guilty."

"Ok," Freya replied. "Do you like this guy or was it just sex?" Chloe blushed.

"I really like him. In fact, I think I'm in love with him." Freya smiled.

"Just write him a letter, apologise for not saying goodbye and just tell him it would have been to hard or something. Or, even better, surprise him with a visit when we have that weekend off next month!" Chloe chewed her lip thoughtfully.

"I think that could work. Anyway," she added, shaking her head, "Let's go get some food, I'm bloody starving!"

George slipped silently into the kitchen at dinner that night, and found himself on the receiving end of several sympathetic looks.

"What?" he asked aggressively.

"Oh George love, if I'd known you were so upset about Chloe leaving I'd have made her say goodbye. But I thought you'd said your goodbyes!" George softened. It wasn't his family's fault she'd just upped and left.

"S'alright mum," he mumbled. "We did say goodbye. It was just a shock that's all." Mrs. Weasley placed a chicken and ham pie on the table, and paused to kiss her son's head as she passed him on the way to her seat.

"Anyway George, wasn't like she was your girlfriend or anything was it?" said Ron bracingly, clearly trying to help, though the comment made George feel like curling into a ball and bursting into tears right there and then.

"No, you're right. Cheers mate." Ron offered him a smile, along with a bowl of mashed potatoes, and George gratefully accepted both.

"I wonder what she's doing though," Harry said thoughtfully. "I mean, I wonder what the practical training really entails."

"You'll find out soon enough Harry." Mr. Weasley smiled from the end of the table, for Harry and Ron had been accepted as aurors, and were due to start their preliminary training the following Monday.

"Well, we know there's Concealment and Disguise…" Hermione interjected.

"Chloe'll pass that no problem, being a Metamorphmagus and all." Fred interrupted.

"Chloe's a Metamorphmagus?" Hermione asked in awe. "I never knew!"

"She didn't use it much," George said, studying his meal morosely. "She just kept her hair the same colour it grew naturally. She liked it. So did I." he added in an undertone.

"I remember Tonks saying something about Stealth and Tracking." Ginny said thoughtfully.

"We know what there is Gin," Ron laughed, playfully hitting his little sister's arm, "but what do you reckon they'll actually learn? D'you reckon they teach you Dark magic, or just defensive spells?"

"I think probably just defensive spells." Hermione said, before taking a large gulp of her pumpkin juice.

"Nope, they teach you the Unforgivable Curses and stuff too," a voice spoke from behind Hermione, making her jump. "Sorry Hermione, I didn't mean to scare you!" Charlie Weasley moved into her eye line, and Hermione gathered he'd come through the door she had her back to.

"Sorry I'm late mum." Charlie apologised cheerfully, accepting a plate and piling it high with pie, potatoes and various vegetables. Ginny rolled her eyes.

"You boys are like dogs, you only come home to eat."

After a dinner of sausage and mash, reminiscent of Mrs. Weasley's home cooking, Chloe and Freya made their way to the common room on their corridor. Inside were wizards and witches chatting, playing exploding snap, and some reading or writing letters home quietly.

"Actually, I'd better write to my parents. Just a quick note to let them know everything's going well." Chloe remarked.

"Good idea," Freya agreed. "C'mon. come to my room and we'll do it there." Freya's room was identical to Chloe's, except the bedclothes and curtains were a bright turquoise.

"How come you get coloured bedding!" Chloe laughed. Freya looked momentarily confused, then realised what Chloe was saying.

"A simple charm, my dear friend. I checked, it's allowed!" Chloe laughed, and considered what colour she could charm hers.

Dear Mum and Dad,

Well, my first day of practical training is over, and it reminds me a lot of Hogwarts on the first day of term! We've had loads of lectures on the importance of what we'll learn, how we need to be careful and all that stuff. I could almost hear Professor McGonagall lecturing on the importance of NEWTs and telling Fred and George to start working this term! But of course Fred and George aren't here. I've met a nice girl called Freya Stone though, you'd like her. She was in Hogwarts, but was a year ahead of me and in Hufflepuff, so our paths never really crossed. We've got a weekend off next month, so I'll definitely come and see you. I'll let you know the dates closer to the time.

Lots of love, Chloe xxx

When she finished the letter to her parents, Chloe started another.

George,

I'm really sorry for leaving like that. I just thought it'd make it harder for me to leave, especially considering the night before. Pretty selfish of me, I know. Um, it's been really interesting today, though a little bit like Hogwarts on the first day of term. And of course we've had the CONSTANT VIGILENCE speech from Mad-Eye. George, I need to tell you something. I've had feelings for you for a while now.

George, I'm crazy about you. oh screw it.

Chloe looked at the unfinished letter, and knew there was no way she could send it.

"I'll just tell him when I see him." she thought to herself. She crawled under her newly pink duvet, and whispered "Nox." The lights went out, and Chloe laid in the darkness in an unfamiliar room, thinking about George Weasley again.

The next day at breakfast, a familiar brown owl flew towards Chloe, and she noticed many others doing the same thing.

"Just like Hogwarts, isn't it?" Freya grinned beside her. Chloe laughed, and untied the letter from the owls leg. He dipped his beak in her pumpkin juice, and she stroked his feathers.

"Alright Murdoch, off you go." she murmured to her family owl, and uttering a soft hoot, he flew off.

Chloe, darling!

Wonderful to hear from you, and I'm so glad you're enjoying yourself. Dad's still a bit worried about you, I promised I'd tell you to take care from him, though of course I'd tell you to anyway. Listen to whatever they have to say, and learn. I did see Mad-Eye last night, he popped in to let us know he'd seen you, and he promised Dad he'd keep an eye on you. He thinks that you're very valuable, especially with what you can do. You and Tonks could go just about anywhere with that, you understand. Darling, I understand if you want to continue as just an auror, you're barely out of school.

Anyway, I'm sure you've got much better things to do than read this letter from your overemotional old mum!

Love you sweetheart xxx

"Off your mum is it?" Freya asked. Chloe nodded, frowning as she deciphered what it was her mum was trying to say. She understood that they couldn't say much in letters, and definitely couldn't mention the Order directly. However, she knew her mum was saying she didn't have to join the Order. That was out of the question. She was joining the Order. It had been a joint decision between herself, her parents and the Order to keep her Metamorphmagus status quiet, as much as possible, which was why her mum hadn't come out and said it. Chloe folded the letter and stowed it in the pocket of her jeans.

"C'mon Freya, we need to get to training, in like five minutes and I have no clue where the Flamel Building is!"

George wandered into the kitchen of the flat he shared with Fred, above their joke shop in Diagon Alley, and rubbed his eyes. An unfamiliar grey owl was perched on the countertop, with a letter addressed to George tied to its leg. His heart leapt.

"Maybe its from Chloe!" he thought to himself, before remembering that Chloe had her own tawny owl, Piper, so wouldn't use this one. He pulled the parchment from the owls leg curiously, wondering who the Hell was writing to him. The owl nipped his finger gently, and flew through the open window.

Dear George,

Hello, it's Rachel here. How was Bill and Fleur's wedding afterwards? It sounded as though it was going to be beautiful. I haven't spoken to Chloe in a while, she's been really busy with her training as I'm sure you realised! I was thinking, how about we meet up for a drink, just me and you, to catch up? Today, about three in the Leaky Cauldron? I would say earlier but my mum would have a fit if I missed Sunday lunch!

Let me know

Love, Rachel

George was flabbergasted. Rachel had been an acquaintance of his and Fred's in Hogwarts, and was one of Chloe's best friends. This was it, if she was asking him on a date then surely that was proof enough Chloe had no feelings for him. No friend would ask out the bloke her mate had her eye on, surely? Ah well, live and let live, George thought. He grabbed a quill and a scrap of parchment an scribbled.

Rachel,

That'd be great. Three at the Cauldron then.

I look forward to seeing you

George