Charlie/Tonks

Charlie yelped as the bucket of paint, Tonks and the ladder they were all perched on, fell. He decided to risk having bright blue hair for the next month and jumped forward, catching Tonks.

Tonks stared at him as the bright blue paint fell around them. Somehow it managed to miss them entirely.

"That was lucky." Charlie commented, setting Tonks back on her feet.

Tonks flushed. "Yeah. Uh... Thanks..."

She turned and started to dart off. Charlie grabbed her arm. "Look... um... I have to go into town... did... did you want to come?"

Tonks flushed deeper. "S-sure."

"Ok then."

888

Tonks' mind was running furiously. She was walking around Diagon Alley with Charlie Weasley like they were a married couple. Several times she had heard little old ladies commenting on how nice it was that Charlie had finally found a girl. Tonks wanted to yell at them. At the same time, she wanted to crow with delight.

Here she was, pretending Charlie was her boyfriend. Letting them believe it. She knew she should step away from him. Make them see she wasn't what they thought she was. But it felt so good.

They talked comfortably as they walked. Somehow they got onto the subject of Harry and Hermione.

"they seem happy." Tonks said.

Charlie smiled. "Yeah. and he and Gin seemed happy too."

"See, that's your problem. You're seeing him as someone who dumped your baby sister."

"And how should I be looking at him?" Charlie asked, amused.

"Well... he's just a kid! He's going to break a few hearts. I'm sorry your sister had to be one of them, but maybe it's best for her."

"Best for her?"

"Yeah. Ginny can't just date one guy her whole life."

"She's dated others. Terry Boot, Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas..."

"And now Harry Potter. She doesn't seem to be taking this too badly."

Charlie laughed. They rounded a tight corner and Charlie unconsciously put an arm around her shoulders. Tonks barely noticed.

"I guess you're right. She could do worse."

"What about Draco?" Tonks asked. She had seen how the younger girl looked at the blonde and she was dying to know what her siblings thought of it.

"Malfoy? He's ok. Mellowed out a bit in the time I've known him."

Tonks smiled.

"Hey Tonksy?"

Tonks looked up at him. "Yeah?"

"Will you be my girlfriend?"

Tonks stared at him. For the past three years, ever since she met him, Tonks had wanted nothing more than she wanted to date Charlie Weasley. She smiled at him.

"Yes."

That was about the time Ginny Weasley and Draco Malfoy fell out of the bushes, furiously kissing each other.

(A/N: Ok, one more chapter I think.