Those days in the fall, when you could swear that time was standing still, that your every move was in a vacuum. Taking you nor backward nor forward. It was one of those days when Mrs. Weasley decided to gather them all one last time for a late dinner. We'll, "last time" is a bit dramatic, but it was a parting ceremony after all. Remus was headed to Europe for a month to do some research for the book he was working on, Bill was going back to Egypt along with Fleur, and the twins? No one really knew what they were planning on doing, but they all assumed it was something for their shop. The war might've ended half a year ago, leaving the shadiest of businesses uncovered for the rest of the world to the eye, but knowing the twins, Rose doubted that they'd be particularly worried about that anyway. They had their, very successful if I may, ways, and whatever they were doing was obviously the key to the amazing products they managed to develop. From where she was standing, hidden in the shadow of Mr. Weasley's plumtree, their secretive chatter only confirmed her suspicions.
A firm hand grabbed onto her shoulder, the person shaking it vigorously before snorting in disbelief.
" Watching those mad lads again are ya?" Moody shook his head, his blue eye barely hanging on. "They are out fishing for trouble with their damned shop, I'd tell Molly but she is down with the pots and pans over there" Nodding his head towards the kitchen where Mrs. Weasley was yelling at Charlie about losing a table, possibly unaware of the one hovering over the house.
"Bloody delusional" he muttered, and Rose would have laughed if only she could. Every part of moody was a living reminder of the last few years. Every lump, every missing finger or limb, every scar: they told stories that should've been hers. Pain that she should've been carrying on her shoulders, horrors that she should've faced. Not these innocent people that were placed in front of her to keep her alive until the moment was right. But there was nothing to do, there never was.
"You haven't seen Sirius by any chance?" Rose's eyes were glued on Moody's severed nose, only occasionally catching a glimpse of the man's twisted smirk.
"I'm sorry what?" she looked up, making the mistake of meeting his gaze.
"Your godfather, the poor bastard, he said there was some of his mother's old jewelry he wanted me to take a look at. Crazy the whole bunch," he pulled out a small bottle of what looked like liquor "absolutely nuts, you can't be careful enough with this by merlin damned dark magic" He took a quick swig of the liquid, letting out a pained sound before grabbing her by the shoulder again.
"Constant vigilance Potter. Constant. Vigilance." As Rose watched the man stomp away on his wooden leg, the escaped table was finally discovered by none other than Mrs. Weasley herself, allowing the dinner to finally begin.
Yet again, Mrs. Weasley had outdone herself. The almost 10-meter long table was packed to the limit with all kinds of deliciousness, complete with an enormous syrup cake, holding up only by the grace of God and a few handy stability spells. Ginny, who had been forcibly seated next to Rose rolled her eyes and sighed.
"You do notice that she cooks a lot more when she is mad at me, right?" Rose leaned back in the chair, quickly looking around to make sure that none of the Weasley parents were around to listen in. She chuckled.
"You kinda brought this one upon yourself Gin." She waved at Dean who was seated in between the twins.
"I wouldn't invite my boyfriend to a gathering like this, and I most certainly wouldn't shag him in the middle of a hallway either." The redhead elbowed her in the ribs, causing equal parts amused as concerned look from Remus who appeared to be in a rather one-sided discussion with Arthur a few seats away. Rose shot him a small smile, earning a discrete wink from the werewolf.
"I was not shagging him, you bloody gossiping little- it was one kiss Rose, One kiss from my boyfriend of a month and a half" Ginny stabbed her plum pudding as if it owed her money "Don't act like you know what it's like to love someone you can't be w- "
Mrs. Weasley slammed a plate down in front of Dean, sending him hurling over George who pushed him right back into his seat. Her cheeks glowing red.
"A month...and a half? Six weeks. Ginevra Weasley. Didn't you say a year? And you brought this poor boy to a family dinner? I can't believe-"
Rose quickly excused herself from the screaming match that erupted between the mother-daughter duo, soon finding that the only available seat was between Tonks and Fred. She hesitated, maybe going inside was the better option. Perhaps under the guise of helping out with the dishes or maybe demolishing a few gnomes in the backyard (they kept the Weasleys from turning on the fairy lights Hermione had bought them at Kmart. Apparently, the colorful lights were of the uttermost interest for the gnome-mind and made their escape arts rather aggressive.)
"Rose! Please come settle this for us, Tonks has lost her goddamned mind." Turning around, Rose found that the voice came from Sirius who happened to be sitting across from Fred. With the smallest steps possible, she approached the table. Closely watching the pink-haired woman, the way she waved to make Rose hurry up, how she scrunched her nose when Sirius said something she didn't agree with. A sigh escaped and made its way into the wind, there was no avoiding it. Rose slumped down in the seat with a soft smile, making sure that she didn't look at Tonks too often.
"What's up?" she said. Sirius leaned back in his chair, rolling his eyes.
" You know how it is, the genes of the black family never cease to amaze me" Tonks slapped Roses's shoulder, almost pushing over a glass of butterbeer
"Don't listen to him, mom said that the poor bastard was dropped on his head as a kid. " She laughed, then lowered her voice into a theatrical whisper "maybe that's why they put him in Gryffindor" Rose shook her head ignoring Sirius making a show of pouring his glass full and chugging it within seconds, causing the twins to erupt in laughter.
She inched closer to Tonks, whose hair was now a bright shade of yellow.
"You do realize that I'm a Gryffindor as well, right?"
Tonks blushed, " Well, you're not as bad as that one" she smirked towards Sirius who sighed, then turning back towards Rose. "In fact, I'll go as far to say that you're almost tolerable"
"Almost? I can live with that I guess" The two smiled at each other.
"Oh about that, Rose, I found one of your old scarves at my place. Must've gotten mixed into my stuff when we were at Grimmauld Plan." the blush on her face appearing again as she noticed the skeptical look on Rose's face. "Well I didn't steal it if that's what you're thinking" she muttered, soon breaking into a mischievous smile.
Despite the three-year difference, they hadn't ran into each other at Hogwarts, something Rose mourned at times. Tonks was just such an... Interesting person.
She shook her head.
"So? What was it I was supposed to settle? Must've been something really important since you forced me to sit here" Rose looked over at Sirius who had closed his eyes.
Without making any remarkable noise, the evening had slowed down and the darkness lurking in the woods was inching closer every minute. Tonks shook her head,
"They told me that I wouldn't be able to produce a patronus stronger than theirs", she nodded at Fred and George.
"We only say it-" Fred began
"like we see it," said George, banging his fist in the table.
Fred elbowed Rose, "In your opinion, oh wise lady, whatever shall we do?" he slapped his palms together, doing a silly little bow, earning himself a kick in the chin. He doubled over, still laughing.
"Well..." Rose looked at the little crowd around her. "I suppose the only way to prove it is to, well, prove it" She turned to Tonks "You can produce a patronus right?"
"Lord, Rose, of course, I can, I'm an auror aigt'? Now it would be a bloody shame if I didn't." She pointed at Fred " I'm blowing you children out of the bloody park."
Soon, multiple "Expecto Patronum!" sounded through the night, causing heads to turn, and the garden to shower in blue light. A fox, a crow, and finally after a few tries, also a lynx, shining just as bright as the other two. A few cheers escaped the rest of the guests as the patronuses ran around the table before settling on top of it, gracefully hovering over the plates.
"See! I told you shitheads that I could." With hair as pink as ever, Tonks leaned over Rose to try to slap Fred who jumped to safety. George appeared behind his shoulder, waving his finger as to scold her.
"Don't even try pinkie pie, you had to cast the spell, like, four times before anything came out of your magic stick" The twins erupted in laughter, and even Dean dared to smile a little before Fred pinched him. And Rose would've laughed too, hadn't it been for Tonks basically laying across her body, sending whiffs of strawberry shampoo every time she tried to reach the still laughing boys. Rose sat as still as she could. Tonks body was warm despite the chill breeze passing through the garden, making Rose aware of how shallow she was breathing every time their arms brushed, and a wave of heat hit her. So she looked away, couldn't let Tonks think that-
"As if you bastards could ever become aurors? You are too big of fannys for that, now suck it up."
"Didn't you fail your potions exam three times?"
A glass fell over, sending butterbeer all over Sirius's lap.
"God fucking damnit Nymphadora"
In the middle of all the ruckus, a strange sound was heard, and within seconds the whole garden went silent. After a few seconds, Rose dared to look over. Only for a quick glance, she told herself.
On top of the table was now a doe- patronus standing, just as elegant as the raven and fox. The lynx, on the other hand, was nowhere to be seen. Rose laughed, relieved, looking around to see if it had any effect on the awkwardly silent crowd,
"Oh? I must have cast it accidentally," She closed her hand, before realizing that she'd left her wand in the kitchen when she was helping Mrs. Weasley prepare the table. She looked back at the table in confusion, the strange patronus was still there.
Next to her, someone dropped a glass. That, which so happened to land on a gnome that had been lurking under the table. His swearing and yelling echoed through the garden, waking the guests up from their trance, some of which started awkwardly chatting, some which continued watching Rose's end of the table. Only now with skepticism in their eyes, and some even, to Rose's confusion, with anger.
For the second time this evening, Mrs. Weasley slammed a plate down onto the table, this time breaking it.
"Tonks darling." the older woman's mouth merely a tight line. "Maybe it'll be good if you follow me into the kitchen, for a chat. Girl to girl. Yes, I think that is necessary, love." Remus stood up, searching for Mrs. Weasley's eyes, which were locked on the young auror.
"Molly," he said calmly. "Leave her alone"
Just as their eyes met. Tonks threw her head back and closed her eyes, finally making Rose aware of the distress she seemed to be under. Her hands in a tight grip around her wand.
"I'm so sorry Rose, I'm so very sorry I fucked up. I really didn't mean to do this." She said in a strained voice, threatening to shatter into pieces at any time. Rose didn't, couldn't grasp what had gone wrong. The surprise on Fred's face, Sirius's concern, and Mrs. Weasleys protectiveness, none of those added up. She dug her nails into her palms as she watched the skin around Tonks's eyes grow red, a single tear falling sideways into her now mouse-brown hair. And then another, a third, and once a small sob escaped, the stream of tears was unstoppable. Even after Tonks had closed her mouth to unsuccessfully silence herself, her lips never stopped trembling.
"Tonks, please look at me... Could you please tell me what-" Rose looked over at the twins, and watched George poke Fred's arm, lean over Dean who looked absolutely horrified, and whisper something. Fred stared at his brother for a few seconds before putting a hand on Rose's shoulder. Maybe in solidarity, maybe to stop her from finishing her question. A chair fell to the ground, and before anyone could react Tonks rose from her seat with a panicked look on her face. Her eyes darting, not on the people staring at her, awaiting her next move, but the spaces in between them.
Rose turned around to try to figure out what she was looking at, reluctantly letting her eyes of Tonks, when it hit her that she might be looking for ways to escape. Tears were still falling down her face when Tonks slowly started backing away from Rose, who was making her way towards her.
" Tonks, Nymphadora" Rose let out a nervous chuckle, the smile fading at the lack of reaction." Please stay, I'm sure whatever you did...whatever you think you did, we can talk about it, I promise I won't be mad. I can't be mad at you anyway." As she was talking she came closer to Tonks who had come to a halt, seemingly unsure of whether to stay or leave. Much like a deer about to be hit by a car.
"I don't understand anything right now" Rose whispered, as she finally got hold of the other woman's gaze "But nothing bad will happen to you." Small streaks of pink hair started appearing in Tonks's hair, and when she was offered a hand, Rose thanked the gods that she didn't run off. In fact, Tonks took a step forward.
"Rose…" Tonks began but was cut off as a stern voice sounded through the garden.
" Get away from her, Nymphadora. Immediately," said Mrs. Weasley, hastily making her way towards them, almost tripping on the gnome that was still moaning in pain after having gotten hit earlier.
Rose turned her back to Tonks in an attempt to shield her from 's wrath, searching with her hands behind her back to try to get ahold of her hand. But it was far too late. Tonks threw herself backward, stumbling into Dean before mumbling something apologetic in his direction as she continued away. Glass shattered when Sirius stretched over the table to grab her, ultimately failing.
"Dora, you can't fucking run away. You owe her that." he gestured at Rose. " Please?" And with that, Rose took a long look at Tonks who was moving fast towards the gate. Her hands still shaking, as she visibly struggled with her leather jacket. And then it hit Rose, as the sounds of the garden grew behind her. Remus's arguing with Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley nervously yelling at his wife to slow down, and Sirius; Sirius was hanging over the table, silently watching Tonks leave with a look of pure anger on his face. Rose started running, not caring about the plates and pots of food she was taking down with her.
"Tonks, wait" she screamed, already out of breath. Tonk stopped to look at her, even smiled a little. And with a faint pop she was gone. Rose stared at the place where Tonks had been, not only a second ago, gears working in her head as Sirius groaned behind her.
" See what you did, Molly? Was it bloody necessary?"
A moment passed, then another, and right before Mrs. Weasley had gathered enough energy to defend herself, a second pop was heard. And now Rose too was gone.