a little friendship never hurts

Mad-eye Moody

The cold blizzarding snow pounded down on Christmas eve accrost the the grounds of Hogmeade village. Despite the constant war, the village people still put up the huge tree in the village square. Mad-eye wouldn't admit it to anyone, maybe Tonks but no one else, that he loved the tree.

He headed for the Three Broomsticks, looking to sit infront of the warm fire. It was nearly midnight but Madam Rosmearta never closed on Christmas eve.

"Hello, Rose." Mad-eye said walking in. He had known Rosmearta from their time at hogwarts, he was head boy when she was in her first year.

"Ah, hello, Alastor. Usual, I presume?" She said.

"Nah, not tonight, just sought to get out of the blizzard. Mind if it sit by the fire?" He asked.

"Not at all, just be quiet. There is a girl who comes in here every night, Auror, sleeped deprived if I do say so. She fell asleep a little while ago. She is just in her early twentys, how in Merlins name you did that for fifty years is beyond me." Rosmearta said.

"Auror. . .her name wouldn't be Nymphadora Tonks, by any chance, would it?" Mad-eye asked.

"Why, yes, it is. Do you know her?" Rosmearta asked.

"You could say that."

Mad-eye stumped over towards the fire, sure enough, there sat Nymphadora Vulpecula Tonks, curled up in an arm chair, her long moucy brown hair in her face.

"Tonks?" Mad-eye said gently shaking her shoulder. "Nymphadora?"

"Constant vigilance!" She said snapping awake. "Wha– Mad-eye? Shit, did I fall asleep again?" She asked looking up at him.

"Yeah. How about we head back to your spot at the Hogs Head. You're clearly exhausted." Mad-eye said putting out his hand and pulling her to her feet.

"Hey, Rose, on scecond thought, can I get two chocolate frogs and two butterbeers?" Mad-eye said walking to the front.

"Yeah. No, no need to pay. Consider it a Christmas gift from an old friend. And, Nymphadora, get some sleep. They work you too hard." Rosmearta tisked.

"All part of the job, Madam Rosmearta." Tonks said while yawning.

Soon they where heading to the Hogs Head and all the sudden Tonks saw something, or, someone. It was hard to see in the blizzard but her Auror training skills didn't lie.

"Is that-? Again, really?" She drew her wand and started forward. "Mundungus Fletchler! How many times am I going to have to find you selling stolen goods from my family?" She yelled.

"S'up, Tonksie." He croaked. "Dunno. How ever many times till you catch me, sweetcheeks." He said and then disappeared.

"Damn him." Tonks mutterd. "Why must he-?" And then she sighed.

"How many times have you found him?" Mad-eye asked.

"A lot. Like, a lot, a lot. Ive never once been able to catch him, nither can Savage, Proudfoot or Dawlish. I nearly got that old locket from him once, the one we could never open at Grimmauld, but he was too quick." Tonks explained as they continued walking.

"Slimey little sneak, that one." Mad-eye said.

The headed all the way towards the end of the village where there was the old bar the Hogs Head. Tonks headed in the door but it wasn't much warmer.

"Evening, Abe." Tonks said to Aberforth Dumbledore. He made a grunt of acnolagement.

They headed up the stairs and into the first door on the right.