Author's Notes:

Hi everyone! I'm so sorry for the late update this week. Things have been CRAZY here. So, I quit my job. Turns out the owner of the law firm was super cray-cray. He had promised me that I would transition to an Associate once I got my limited license and it wasn't put into my employment contract. THEN in the contract was a provision that, if I quit or got fired, I couldn't work in ANY area of law, ANYWHERE in the world, for ANY client for NINE MONTHS POST EMPLOYMENT. Yet he was pissed that I quit over that? There were a lot of other stupid things but I won't bore you. I've already interviewed for a DA's office and I have another interview for another firm on Monday and this one comes highly recommended from several colleagues.

I'm going to start doing a new thing every chapter. Each update I'll also post what beer I drank while writing the chapter! This week I drank Samuel Smith's Organic Chocolate Stout. It's so delicious and helped me get into Remus' eyes for the end of this update. Super excited to see what Yall think!

Fhl1234: Thank you! I try. Midnitewanderer: You ok bro? I didn't see a review from you last update!

Anyway, enjoy the update!

Chapter Twenty-Six: My God, That Ass

Harry had had an exciting seventh birthday party. He had been allowed to invite all of his friends, excluding Hermione who had now moved across the country, to his house for a quidditch themed party including an appearance from the team members of Pride of Portree. Harry had been exceptionally excited to have an interactive quidditch lesson from professional quidditch players.

It had taken a significant amount of convincing on James and Remus' parts to get Mrs. Weasley to permit Ginny to participate in the active lesson. Mrs. Weasley had been absolutely against her daughter not only riding on a broom but being allowed to rough house with the boys a hundred feet or more in the air. Mrs. Weasley was an extremely progressive person in terms of accepting people for who they are and all sorts of things, but when it came to her daughter she seemed to refuse to accept the fact that Ginny was more of a tom boy than any of her other brothers. She also refused to accept the fact that her daughter was a natural on a broom. When Harry suggested a race between himself, Ron, Fred, George, and Draco, Mrs. Weasley nearly fainted when Ginny demanded to be allowed to race as well. It was only the look of horror on her son's faces when she began to deny Ginny that right that ultimately changed her mind.

In the end, Ginny barely missed first place by a hair as Draco outflew everyone. While Harry had skill on a broomstick in the sense that he was nimble and creative, he lacked the skills necessary to outfly people in a race. He wasn't put out, however, simply more determined to learn how to be faster and the tricks needed to win for the next time.

Draco and Ginny formed an unlikely friendship that day. After nearly out flying him, Ginny had peppered Draco with questions about quidditch and flying and the like. Draco had initially been embarrassed but pleased to be the center of attention and answered her questions with vigor. After a while he came to expect Ginny's unyielding company and began watching out for the six-year-old subconsciously.

Minerva and Dumbledore had been in attendance once again; Harry couldn't imagine a birthday party where his Nana wasn't invited. They had mingled cheerfully with the rest of the adults who had joined the party while enjoying Sirius' barbeque. This year, the Marauders had opted to go alcohol free for the gathering in an effort to make Sirius feel more comfortable in the group.

It wasn't long after his birthday that Remus and Harry had to go back to school for the year and they quickly settled back into their regular routines.

~ID~

Ginny,

I've been trying to get Mother to allow me to visit so we can fly again but Father won't give his permission for me to visit The Burrow. I don't understand why my Father continues to believe your family is scum, you've always been kind to me. He continuously tells me that your family is undesirable and a disgrace to wizarding kind. It's so hard to not just believe what he has to say…Blaise and Ted—well, Blaise's mother is basically absentee, but Ted's father, he pushes the idea of blood status even more so than my father. Ted—sometimes it's hard to reason with him about these things. He's never met anyone who wasn't a pure blood, you know? And his dad is still a huge You-Know-Who supporter. I know my father was a follower, but Thaddeus Nott was one of the original Death Eaters. I still don't know how he got off on charges. I think Father told me he claimed he was cursed or something.

He's had me doing my lessons again now that it's fall. This month I've been rereading the Sacred 28 and learning the histories of the pure blood families of Britain as well as working on my Latin and French. Mother has had me on a strict schedule ever since I brought some of Fred's Zonko's products home. She was NOT pleased with me when she found the everlasting, no fire start fireworks. She swore I would take my eye out and how dare he give me such a dangerous object. But she's been leaving in some time for friends every day—that is, if you constitute a half an hour a day "free time". Father will only allow Ted and Blaise to visit the Manner. Well, he was allowing Goyle and Crabbe as well but, really, I've told you what they're like. Dumb as trolls that lot. They don't smell much better, either.

How have you been doing since Bill and Charlie left for school? I bet you're right bored over there. Or is Mrs. Weasley making you learn to bake bread again?

Please write soon. I'm dreadfully bored.

Draco

~ID~

Ron and Ginny,

Dad wants to know if you guys want to go to the next Portree game! Say yes, please? He got tickets for the top box and they're playing the Holyhead Harpies! It's going to be the game of the year other than the quidditch world cup. He says you guys can stay over for the night, too. I've already owled Draco asking if he can go. I didn't mention you were invited so hopefully his dad lets him come.

Let me know!

Harry

~ID~

Albus,

In my spare time I've been researching those options that we discussed a few years back and I think I may have stumbled onto something. I've sent it to Remus for translation because it was written in Runes. This document was ancient; and I mean old. From what I could decipher, it had something to do with Horcruxes. I've told him to owl us both once he's completed the work so we can discuss the findings.

Were you able to secure that memory from Morfin Gaunt we had discussed after Harry's party? I think being able to view why and how he killed Voldemort's muggle family is going to be immeasurably insightful into his history and eventual ascent to power.

Write soon.

James

~ID~

Padfoot,

Do you remember your younger cousin, Nymphadora Tonks? She's in my third year Ancient Runes class this year and she's—I suppose "quite the character" is the term I should use? Did you know she's a metamorphmagus? I came into class today and found Dumbledore lecturing in my stead about proper pranking technique. While that should have been indicative of an impersonator in and of itself, I had also just happened to be leaving a meeting with him just prior to my class and knew for a fact that he was headed out to visit Hagrid for a cup of tea. I mean, I had to give her a detention. You can't impersonate the headmaster! But, man, that was a bloody brilliant prank. I haven't decided on a detention yet but I'm thinking lines or assisting me in some translations. I just don't feel right punishing her.

Anyway, see you this weekend for dinner.

Moony

~ID~

Uncle Moony,

When you come home this weekend can you help me with the Latin work dad gave me? I still can't believe he's making me learn a dead language. It has no purpose anymore. Why do I have to learn all of this stuff?

Also, dad said he would let me learn to fence! He's hired an instructor for me who will let me learn real sword fighting if I get good enough! Isn't that cool? You'll come to my competitions, right?

Oh and I have your update on Uncle Sirius. Dad had a shed built outside for him to store his motorcycle and he's been spending every day outside working on the bike. Well, he says he has been, but I haven't gone out to check. Dad won't let him take me for a ride on the bike but it looks so cool! Do you think you could change his mind? Uncle Sirius said he would take me if dad said it was ok! Please?

See you soon!

Bucky

~ID~

Golden Dragon,

The quidditch game was so much fun! I'm glad your dad let you go. I don't understand what his problem with you having proper friends is. I mean, honestly, Harry, Ron, and I are much better friends than Crabbe and Goyle from what you've told me. They sound like dummies. I was thinking. What if you told your mom that you were going to Harry's house BUT you came to the Burrow instead? I'm sure Dobby would bring you where you told him to! And you could tell him not to tell your parents where you really went. I bet that would work. And when you got here we could go flying; maybe you could show me that move you were talking about at the game.

Oh! And I finally got the quaffle to go where I wanted it to! Well…without falling off the broom. You should have seen it! It was brilliant.

I hope you come. It's been quiet at home since Bill and Charlie left. Ron, Fred and George won't let me play with them and mom makes me cook and do the laundry all the time. She's been having me work on my maths—why do I need to know how to do math?

Anyway, did you want to do another book trade? I loved reading the last one you gave me. How did you manage to get ahold of a muggle book if your dad hates them?

Well, let me know about the plan! Miss you!

The Flame

~ID~

Hermione,

I hope you get this letter—Harry said he could pass it along for me since I couldn't get to the post office. Thank you for sending me The Indian In the Cupboard. I really enjoyed the book; I couldn't put it down! I hope you don't mind but I passed it along to Ginny. I didn't realize how much of an avid reader she is—I think she finished the book faster than I did. Anyway, I've put one of my books in the package. It's one of my favorites. It's called Hatchet. It's by an American author and all but it was really good. I think it may end up being a classic. You can keep this copy, it's my spare. And I bought one for Ginny. I felt bad because she can't really get new things let alone new books. She was so happy.

When will you be back in Scotland again? I know Lord Potter has already been planning Harry's 8th birthday party. That man really likes planning a bash. You would have enjoyed his last one—we played this really cool game that Lord Potter made up and then his football team came and signed autographs and everything! Well, I guess none of that is really your style. But you would have enjoyed seeing everyone.

How have you liked your new school? Have you started learning French yet? My father has me working on my Latin again this school year. But mother lets me read ancient Greek mythology in Latin for my lessons so they're actually pretty interesting this year. Did you know how many children Zeus was rumored to have?! SO MANY. And the story of Persephone? I mean, who knew how dangerous pomegranate seeds can be! And her name? "Bringer of death" and she's so—she created all of the ingenious punishments in the underworld. She was one crazy lady. I think you'd really enjoy reading about her. Actually, she reminds me of Ginny in some ways.

Write back soon. I hope you like the book!

Draco

~ID~

Bucky,

I think you'll find that learning Latin will be a huge benefit once you start at Hogwarts. The majority of the spells you're going to learn while you're there use the base language of Latin. I think you'll find that knowing the language will help you pick up on how to use your spells properly more quickly than if you didn't know it.

Did you end up deciding on a second language? I know James had asked you last year to choose one but you hadn't quite decided. I still think Mermish or Gobbledygook will be the most beneficial for you.

But the real reason I'm writing you back is because I've been thinking about James' birthday. It's coming up and I think this year we should do something bigger for him. With everything that's been going on the last year, I think he could use the distraction. What do you think?

How has Sirius been? He seemed more like his old self when I visited the other weekend. I'm glad he's getting back to his normal, broody but lovable self. I'm happy you finally get to see him this way.

Anyway, I'll see you in a month for the Easter holiday. I won't have time to come home before then because I'll be writing the exams for my classes.

Love and miss you, Bucky.

Uncle Moony

~ID~

Remus looked up from his book as he heard a knock on his door. He glanced down at his watch and noticed it was rather late, but not late enough it couldn't have been a student. Curfew was still an hour away. He quickly marked his page and set his book aside before calling, "Come in," to the person on the other side of the door.

The door swung open and a teenage girl with violet hair, a nose ring, and an improperly worn uniform stepped into Remus' office clutching what looked like an Ancient Runes dictionary and a long piece of parchment. She glanced around the office, her eyes traveling over the posters on Remus' walls. She smiled when her eyes traveled across all the notes that Remus had scattered on the wall behind his desk. As she stepped forward her robes shifted and Remus caught sight of the fishnets she was wearing under her kilt.

"Ms. Tonks. I will remind you as I always do that fishnet stockings are not approved uniform accompaniments. Not that those reminders ever do anything to convince you to forgo that article of clothing, but I digress. What can I do for you this evening?"

Tonks smiled wickedly as she bent over the desk, the top buttons at the top of her blouse undone, "Well, Professor, I'm having some trouble translating what I want to say in this essay and I was hoping, maybe, you could help me?"

"Of course. Is this for the assignment due Thursday?"

"Yeah, the one about the tomes in Egypt," Tonks said as she sat on Remus' desk, "I'm trying to say something about Cleopatra being a badar—er I mean, a really nifty chick."

Remus frowned, "I'm happy to help you, Nymphadora, but I will need you to utilize one of the chairs I keep across from my desk rather than, you know, my desk. You're getting ink on your kilt."

Tonks blushed as her eyes darted down to her skirt as she noticed she had just sat on the document Remus had been taking notes on, right in the fresh ink. She quickly jumped down and tried to remove the ink from the yellow of her skirt, accomplishing in spreading the stain.

"Damnit!" Tonks breathed as she tried desperately to remove the stain—the red in her cheeks deepening. She took a quick step back to get her skirt more into the light and tripped over the chair behind her, falling onto her ass and pulling her blouse further down her chest, revealing the top of her lacy bra.

As Tonks was falling Remus had jumped up from his seat and vaulted over his desk to help pull Tonks back to her feet, "Are you ok?"

Tonks turned her face away from Remus, embarrassment on her face, "I'm so sorry. I think I can figure out this translation on my own."

"Ms. Tonks, I'm more than happy to assist you," Remus said as he removed the stain from her skirt, "Honestly, my office has looked worse than this."

Tonks pulled herself away from Remus and gave him a quick, sad smile, "Really, it's fine. I'll see you in class Thursday."

"Ms.—" Remus began but Tonks didn't stop to listen.

Remus barely saw her whip open his door and rush back out into the corridor. She left his office so quickly she accidently left her book and parchment behind. He sighed and bent down to pick them up and laid them across his desk.

He picked his notes back up and attempted to look back over them but they weren't making any sense to him at this point. Tonks' distraction was still on his mind. Instead, he picked up the parchment she left behind and skimmed over it, planning on giving her some constructive notes on her assignment to assist her in completing it. He was extremely shocked to find that it didn't contain her Ancient Runes homework but, rather, a poorly written poem. Remus' hand dropped—he knew he shouldn't read this; it was Tonks' personal work. It wouldn't be appropriate. But, then, he caught sight of his name and his curiosity overcame him.

With his eyes gold as the sun,

I can't help but stare at his bum.

He teaches my class,

But my god, that ass,

Remus Lupin, I bet you'd make me cum.

Upon finishing the last line Remus' face went white as a sheet and he slammed the parchment onto his desk and pushed it as far as he could away from himself. As he put his head into his hands there was another knock at his door. He didn't even bother looking up at the doorway and simply waived his hand to beckon the person into the room.

"Everything ok, Moony?" Sirius asked as he stepped into the office, "I just came to drop off that book you asked for. I passed by Tonks on my way in here, she looked pretty upset. Did you see what happened?"

Keeping his head down, Remus nodded and cautiously relayed what happened while Tonks was in his office before adding, "I think she might have a little…crush on me."

Sirius let out a bark like laugh, "A crush? Little Nymphy? No way. What makes you think that?"

Remus eyed the parchment laying upside down on his desk, "Just—just a feeling from how she was speaking to me."

Laughing, Sirius clapped Remus on the back, "Still got it, eh? I didn't figure you liked younger women! Robbin' that cradle, are you?"

Remus blushed, "Absolutely not. How could you even insinuate that I'd have a…relationship…with a student? That's highly inappropriate."

"And down right sexy. Thing of pornos to be made," Sirius said as he wiggled his eyebrows.

"She's 14! There's no way that would even be legal!"

"Legal—shmegal. She can change into whatever you want her to look like!"

"She's your cousin!" Remus shouted back, appalled.

"She's your cousin!" Sirius mimicked in a high voice, "So what? You're a great guy and this is just some silly crush. She'll get over it, Moony. But, I mean, she has good taste. Have you seen your ass? You're fit."

"Oh, well, thank you?" Remus asked tentatively.

Sirius let out another bark like laugh before handing Remus the book in his hand, "Anyway, James told me to invite you to dinner this weekend. He says you need to take a break from writing exams. You haven't taken one since Easter and, really, how much more do you need to do? There's only 2 weeks of school left before exams."

Remus carefully set the book on top of the parchment that Tonks had accidently left in his office before giving Sirius a quick laugh, "Yeah, sure, I'll be there. I think Minerva was hoping to come for dinner soon too. She said we've been 'keeping her grandson away for too long'. Her words, not mine."

"Well then bring her along! I'll cook steaks."

"Sounds good!" Remus called as Sirius headed out of his office, waiving as he went.

Remus waited a breath before letting out a sigh and picking up the parchment again. He carefully slid it into Tonks' Rune Translation book and called for a school elf and had the elf return the book and parchment back to Tonks' dorm room before turning back to his desk, packing up, and turning in for the evening.

End Notes:

Thank you for reading Ignoring Destiny! Please like, follow, and review!