From friends to this -Year six (re-uploaded) Book 1/4

Chapter 26

Tara carefully made her way up the owlery stairs, end of November wasn't an ideal time to be running up any form of a surface. She had a letter to write home, her mother wanted to be kept in the loop of the tournament, so she could know whether or not to send Cedric a letter of congratulations.

As she made it to the top she almost fell back down the stairs when someone stepped out. She slipped a little before a hand caught her arm, "Woah there!"

Adrian Smith grinned at her as she collected herself again, steadying her balance. She took a deep breath, "Merlin."

Adrian chuckled, hands in his pockets, "Sorry should've checked if someone was coming up here before I rushed out," he apologised.

Tara shook her head, "No, please, it was my fault too, I was in a hurry."

"What's the rush?" He asked, stepping back to let her into the tower.

"Mum wants to be kept updated on the tournament." She answered, looking up, "Allidia over here!" She called her owl down.

"Allidia?" Adrian raised a brow as he looked the owl up and down, "Don't tell me you named her."

"No," Tara scoffed, "Mum did. Although I'm pretty sure she had a name before I got her."

"Why'd you change it?" He asked, coming back inside, leaning in the doorway.

Allidia swooped down and landed in front of Tara, looking up at her with wide and bright eyes.

"Her owner put her in the shop three years ago, she won't answer to her old name." She explained, "Saying it's a trauma response or something, wasn't very happy when her old owner dropped her off."

Adrian nodded, "That's fair."

"How's your family?" Tara asked, tying the letter to the birds outstretched leg, "Hows's Edward settling in Australia?"

"Good." He answered, standing up, "Mum and Dad are pretty lonely though, that's why I was here, writing to them."

"I can imagine." Tara sighed, "How long is he staying over there for?" Allidia hooted before flying off.

"A couple years," Adrian answered, "Looking at around four, at least."

"Oh Gosh, and you'll be gone next year too." She said, standing up again and frowning a little, "What're you planning on doing? Still looking at magiZoology?"

He smiled and said, "Yeah. Didn't think you'd remember that..."

"We went out for a year and a half." Tara joked, "I think I'd remember."

Adrian made a sort of murmur of agreement, blowing head and nodding, a charming and charismatic grin on his lips. He looked up, "Speaking of, how's Weasley?"

Tara half smiled and rolled her eyes at grin on his face, "Shove off."

"Well?" He pressed on, walking over to her, "I think I have a right to have updates on the reason you broke my heart." He put a hand to his chest and pulled a mock face of upset.

She chuckled, "I guess you're right."

"So?" Adrian raised his eyebrows as he asked.

"Nothing much is going on." Tara answered truthfully, "Nothing of substance anyways."

Adrian tutted, cheekily, "Come on now, Tonks, you can work better and faster than that."

"Be quiet." She pointed a warning finger at him before asking, "So, what's the business with this French girl?"

"This is embarrassing to admit," he began, cringing a little, "But there was no French girl, in Hogsmede, I was in fact alone."

"You should've told me!" Tara told him, looking at him betrayed, "I would've asked you to hang around with us."