"What do you mean you had to stop guys from groping you?" Sirius demanded with narrowed eyes.

Remus folded his arms and pulled that inquiring teacher face of his. The one with the raised eyebrow and expectant look. The one that all teachers seemed to use when they wanted you to incriminate yourself. I purposefully didn't make eye contact so I didn't fall for it.

"Nothing," I told them instead, picking at my cuticles. Ouch. Okay, maybe I won't do that.

"Dora."

Oh, I hated that tone. It made me feel like I had to spill everything! It must be the Professor in him, all Professors seemed to use that tone. Or maybe it was just me.

"You guys know what happened in my teenage years," I reminded them. "I told you."

Some of the stories anyway. Definitely not all of them and definitely not the worst of them. Those stories were never seeing the light of day if I could help it. It didn't look like Remus or Sirius completely believed me if the look they exchanged meant anything.

"I'd like to show them what an ex-convict can do," Sirius said darkly.

And that was why. Like, I knew Sirius wasn't as deranged like the media portrayed him to be but he was a Black. And being a Black came with a certain set of unmentionable skills, according to mum anyway. She always got a dark look at that and never explained any further. I wasn't ever quite sure I wanted to know and, looking at Sirius, he was definitely capable of doing whatever it was.

"Sirius," Remus warned him.

"Moony-"

"Padfoot."

A look was exchanged between the two of them and, after a few tense beats, Sirius lost the scary look and sighed heavily.

"Fine," he grumbled.

I let out a sigh of relief I didn't know I was holding. I didn't exactly want my cousin to commit an actual crime.

"So, what exactly is a 'non-date date'?" Remus asked, making air quotes.

I smiled at the memory of the day. It had turned out fun. Just not the way you'd expect Valentine's day to go.

"You'll see."

17th February 1990

Tonks tugged at her hair as she waited for Charlie at the front doors. Hopefully he liked what she'd done with it, it was quite fitting - she thought so anyway. She looked down anxiously at her clothes, she hadn't really dressed up too much or anything. Okay, she'd put on jeans without holes in them and her least chunky pair of boots but she was also wearing her favourite denim jacket and a Weird Sisters t-shirt. Their most recent one actually, Charlie would appreciate it. Why was she even fussing over herself anyway? This was Charlie Weasley, he would be the last person to care.

Speaking of the boy, he was running late and she was getting hungry. Tonks' stomach rumbled in agreement. See, this was why the Wizarding World needed phones.

There was a clattering sound from the stairs. She rolled her eyes. Yep. It was Charlie. He came to a skidding halt in front of her.

"Hey, cool hair!" Charlie exclaimed in greeting.

Tonks beamed at him. It was nice to have someone compliment her abilities without any other meaning behind it. Very few people at Hogwarts did anymore and she was quite proud of this one. She'd kept it to a bob that was deep wine red with some pink splotches through it.

"They're meant to be hearts," Tonks told him. She hadn't quite been able to manage it, too finicky.

He gave her hair a critical look. "Still cool," he pronounced. "And they kind of look like hearts of you squint."

"Works for me."

"Cool."

They both self-conciously looked each other up and down it ruing to be subtle but there was no real way you could be when you were standing in front of each other like they were.

"You look nice," Tonks complemented.

He really did. Someone had obviously managed to persuade him to drag a brush through his straggly hair. It was at that awkward stringy phase it got to when you tried to grow your hair out. Tonks was glad that she didn't have to deal with that particular problem but her dorm mates were forever moaning about it. His hair still looked good. Made her look rugged, especially with the list shadow of facial hair on his cheeks. Tonks didn't know what Mrs Weasley was going to say when he went home at Easter, she liked her boys to look smart and neat. Something Charlie definitely was not. Though Tonks thought he looked good in his leather jacket and least-worn jeans. The Gryffindor scarf actually set the whole outfit off.

"You look nice," she complemented.

Charlie beamed at her. "You do to. Love the t-shirt."

"I got it for Christmas. From my parents."

"Your mum actually bought you it?" Charlie asked with a snort.

"I know right?"

"Really cool then."

Tonks nodded and sort of bobbed about awkwardly, not knowing really what to do here. Which was ridiculous. They were just two friends going to Hogsmeade. Like they usually did.

"Shall we head on?" she suggested, giving a cough and gesturing towards the door.

"Oh, yes," Charlie shook his head. "It's nearly lunch time."

"I'm starving," Tonks told him as they pushed the door open and gasping as the cold air hit them.

"Same. I hope this place does good food. Hugh didn't really mention it."

And he would. That particular friend of Charlie's thought through his stomach.

"I guess we'll see."

They ambled towards the gates of the school, watching some third-years run past them shrieking ridiculously. Tonks eyed them; she was sure she was nothing like that a few years ago.

This we're silent between her and Charlie. She didn't know about him, but she found it difficult to start a conversation - not knowing

"Should we hold hands?" Charlie asked suddenly, interrupting her chain of thought.

"If you want to," Tonks replied with a shrug. She personally didn't see the attraction of such an action, the other person would just stop you from moving about and she wouldn't be able to stand that.

"I'd like to try," he decided.

So, they did. It wasn't as weird as she thought it would be. His hands were bigger than hers, not that that was difficult, and they were calloused. She supposed that helping Hagrid and Professor Kettleburn handle the animals did that to your skin. It wasn't exactly easy work. She knew. She helped out every now and then and she couldn't manage what Charlie could. It was kind of a nice feeling.

"Your hands are soft," Charlie said in amazement. "Hugh said all girls' hands were soft but I didn't believe him."

"How come?" She could help but bristle at that.

"I thought it had to do with some really girly thing to do with makeup or something and I know you don't like that stuff," he explained.

Tonks deflated. Oh. That was kind of sweet actually.

"Well, it's not," she said a bit shortly, annoyed with herself with judging him so quickly.

"Cool. Some creatures are like that as well," he said excitedly, his eyes lighting up. "Did you know-"

Tonks smiled as she listened to him ramble about the many differences between males and females of different creatures. Apparently, he knew of quite a lot - not that she was surprised. However, she was glad that they were talking like normal people again and she relaxed. She was being silly. They were still friends, having fun on a day out. Nothing more than that unless they wanted it to be. They wandered down to Hogsmeade as they usually did, her inputting things where relevant. Only this time their clasped hands were swinging between them. It was a brisk walk; it was February after all.

"Which way is this place?" Tonks asked as they got to the main street of the village. She just wanted to get out of the cold.

"Mark said it had hearts in the windows. Hard to miss," Charlie replied, pointing down the street. "That way, I think."

Tonks followed his finger and noticed more than few couples heading in that direction. Looked like he was right.

AN: Hope you're enjoying this! Remember, reviewers get sneak peaks of the next chapter!