Weasley Twins - A Fate You Can't Escape

Chapter 60 - Puffs on Patrol

The next evening, Tonks arrives around eight as promised.  I'm wearing dark jeans and a navy tee shirt.  Tonks on the other hand is outfitted in all black.  For a moment I'm worried that I should also be wearing all black, but she doesn't seem to notice or care.

"Hey Taylor.  Ready to go?"  She asks, twirling her wand in her hand. 

"Yeah, for sure!"  I grab my purse off of the newly installed hook by the door, pat my pocket to make sure my wand is there, and then lock up.  "So how are we getting to Hogwarts anyway?  I thought there was anti apparation magic on that place."

"There is.  We'll have to walk from Hogsmeade.  It's just like being a student again."  She teases, both of us knowing how untrue that is.  Heading to the school from Hogsmeade in the dark to patrol the corridors until morning is nothing like the walks back in school days.

"Sure it is, Tonks."  I grin, taking her elbow.  She apparates us to Hogsmeade.  I nearly fall over as I end up half on, half off the curb.  Tonks grabs my arm and manages to keep me upright so I can regain my footing.

"Thanks for that."

"You're supposed to help me patrol.  Not hinder me."  She says then laughs at my offended expression.

"It's not my fault you dropped me on uneven ground!"  I protest, quickly falling into step behind her as she heads to the castle.

"And now you're complaining about piggy backing on my apparation spell?  You could have done it yourself, you know."  She waves her hand over her shoulder at me.  "So ungrateful for a Hufflepuff."

"I am not ungrateful! That would imply something to be grateful for!" I say it as a joke for the current situation, but I cringe internally at my own words. I have been having trouble being grateful recently. It doesn't feel like there's much to be grateful for. George held a lot of my hope for life after war. And when he broke my heart, he broke that hope as well. Maybe I am just a naive little girl, but I really did see a long term future with him despite all the initial drama. When I had flooed to the Burrow that night, I had been hopeful that it would be the first of many. That perhaps I would spend future holidays in the cozy living room, and have many nights laughing around the large family dinner table. And I had even had the smallest of hopes that one day, perhaps some very ginger, beater babies would accompany us.

"Hazel?" Tonks breaks me out of my thoughts and I realize we're almost to the doors. "Are you okay?"

"Nope, but that's alright. Who is these days?" I beam at her cheerily, before pulling open the heavy wood door. She just stares after me for a moment, trying to process my words and attitude. "You coming?"

"Yes, and we have much to discuss." My companion jogs up the steps and slips in through the doors behind me. The door shuts with a bang that echoes off the walls. We walk down the corridor to the great hall, tracing familiar paths. A small group of Ravenclaw students hurry off to their dorm, books clutched in their hands. I feel a pang of homesickness as I watch them go. I miss life at Hogwarts.

We enter the great hall and other than a few lingering students, it's rather empty. The two other adults in the room take notice of us as we walk up the center aisle.

"Ah, good evening Miss Tonks, and Miss Taylor." McGonagall raises an eyebrow at my presence, but doesn't make a comment either way.

"Hello." I greet her back shyly before Tonks steps up.

"Hello Professor," she nods to McGonagall. "Lupin," Tonks barely even glances at him. I am a little confused until I notice the blush on Remus's face. Did Tonks tell Remus her feelings? If so, it does not look like things went in her favor. I raise an eyebrow at Lupin, but he just shakes his head slightly. Alright, fine. It's none of my business.