Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
CARINA SPENT THE FIRST WEEK AT HOME MOPING. Nymphadora was ready to stuff her into a trunk and drop her on the Weasley's doorstep.
She did her best to remain as cheery and bright as usual. Her sister put on a decent facade, but her eyes lacked the sparkle she was known for. The sparkle was usually directly linked to Charlie Weasley.
Nevertheless, Carina spent time with her family. This was her last summer as a student. She was going to make the most of it, because they had no idea what things would look like in a year.
"Is something the matter with Carrie, darling?"
Ted Tonks stood with his wife, gazing out the window as his daughters worked in the garden. Carina was pulling weeds, and Dora was watching.
Andromeda Tonks, née Black, smiled softly. She recognized the look of longing clear as day. She wore it herself years ago, while she herself was confined to the walls of her parent's home.
"She's been a bit quiet, hasn't she?" Ted insisted.
"Because we aren't who she'd like to be talking to," Andromeda mused. The suggestive tone to her words stilled her husband. At the look on his face, she swatted his chest.
"She's too young for boys."
The sound of shouting captured their attention. They sighed together at the sight of Dora with her feet wrapped up in various winding vines. Now it was Carina that simply watched in the garden.
-
The inhabitants of the Burrow were experiencing their fair share of moping as well.
They had been used to Charlie's moodiness since the first time he came home from Hogwarts in 1984. It was the year the Weasley bunch met Carina Tonks.
He sent home several owls begging his mother to allow his new friend to join them for the holidays. She was shocked when a tiny little Hufflepuff girl appeared next to her son on the platform.
Bill already knew Carina, considering Charlie was attached to her hip at Hogwarts, and he adored her. His family quickly followed his example. Not only was she sweet, but Charlie was very obviously taken with her.
Little Ginerva was only four years old at the time, and she immediately connected to the girl. Only having six brothers, she jumped on the chance at possibly having a sister. Molly would never admit it, but she teared up that night watching the girls bond so closely.
When Carina had to return to her family that Christmas, Charlie turned into a right horror. He was irritable, detached, and perched at the window day and night.
There were few days throughout the year that the pair was apart. On those days it was best to avoid Charlie.
After two whole weeks, he'd reached his limit.
"Charlie, where's the missus?" Bill grinned, coming down the stairs. Charlie huffed and crossed his arms like an overgrown toddler.
"Will you cut that out?" He snarked. "She's not my girlfriend."
While this was a common phrase in the Burrow, it failed to ever deter a single Weasley. Carina is the only girl for Charlie. That was that.
"Since when?" Fred and George laughed together from their place in the kitchen. Molly smiled but said nothing from where she magically cooked dinner.
"You lot are going to scare her away," Charlie hissed. Several pairs of eyes rolled.
The room was as silent as possible in the full house, and he believed for a moment that he was out of the woods. He relaxed into the couch as the sound of footsteps echoed off the stairs.
Percy looked around the room before quirking a brow in his direction. His teeth ground together before Percy even spoke.
"Where's the missus?"
Charlie threw his arms up and cried out in exasperation, "Oh, come on! Not you too."
He grumbled under his breath as he stormed out of the room. This time the silence was broken by a small girl stepping out of the fireplace. She smiled at them widely, brushing her clothes off.
Molly bustled over immediately to yank her into a tight hug, and Ginny followed close behind. They all got a turn after that.
"What's the matter with him?" Carina asked obliviously, eliciting smirks and snickers from the red heads in the room.
She threw her arm around Ginny and felt her heart fill with warmth at the sight of her favorite people. It was no surprise when she followed Molly into the kitchen to help her with dinner.
No matter the task, no one went unassisted when Carina was at the Burrow.
