Untitled Charlie/Tonks piece
This fic was written right after OotP came out. I revised it when we learned Charlie's correct age. But for some reason, I never published it anywhere. Now it's all bunk, but I know I have some--hmm. Does this ship have a name? Well, anyway, I know some of my flist ships this. So here's a fic for you, now completely debunked, courtesy JKR. ;P
***
Tonks stared at the table. "Fred? George? Charlie? What are you all doing here?"
"Surprise," the twins said. "We've left Hogwarts," George said with a grin.
"Set up shop in London," Fred added.
"Officially joined the Order."
"And the list goes on," Charlie said dryly. "This morning, they tied their own shoes."
"We were getting to that," Fred chastised.
"So what are you two doing in London?" Tonks specified.
They looked at their mother apprehensively.
Molly sighed. "They've opened a joke shop." Tonks could hear a touch of pride in her voice.
"A joke shop?"
"Yeah," Bill answered. "Weasley's Wizards Wheezes. They've actually got some good stuff."
"Your faith in us is overwhelming," George told him. "Thanks."
"So what about you, Charlie?" Tonks asked. "Have you finally come to your senses and signed up with Falcons?"
Charlie gave her a dirty look. "Not quite. Just have some time off, so I'm visiting."
Tonks shook her head. "The twins' story was better."
"That is so unfair. They follow their dream and everyone praises them. I follow my dream and all I get are insults."
Bill leaned over. "Charlie, your dream sucked."
"Mum," Charlie complained.
"Bill, don't aggravate your brother--no matter how insane he may be."
"And you wonder why I live in Romania."
"We don't wonder, we just count our blessings," Fred told him.
"I hate to interrupt this wonderful family time," Sirius cut in, "but Hestia's just arrived, and the meeting's about to start."
George sighed. "You were right, Sirius."
"Well, naturally, but about what?"
"Order members do have to make sacrifices."
"It's not so bad, George. We can always abuse Charlie some more after the meeting," Fred comforted him.
***
It was the sort of meeting that gave Tonks a headache. Not much was decided on and even less action was taken.
"You look like I feel," Charlie told her.
Tonks glanced in the mirror. "Nope, you can't feel that bad."
He grinned and took her arm. "Come on. Sirius invited us to dinner and Mum's making it. She'll be wanting volunteers."
"Then why are we heading for the door?"
He blinked. "Well, we're not going to do it. We'll go outside a bit and clear our heads...avoid actual work. Besides, I haven't seen you in--how long has it been?"
"Hmm...at least three years. But your mother will need help."
"That is what younger siblings are for. I've done my tour of duty as kitchen help. I even have the scar to prove it." He showed her a faint white line along the back of his hand. "I ask you, Dory, what kind of brother would I be to deny them this character-building experience?"
"You know you're the only one of my Hogwarts friends who still calls me that. Everyone else respects my wishes."
"Dory, Dory, Dory. When have I ever done what you wanted me to do?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Keep pushing it, Chuck."
He winced. "A coworker of mine tried calling me that. For two weeks, I didn't realize he was talking to me. I kept wondering who this 'Chuck' bloke was. Come on, let's head back."
"Guilt kicking in?"
"Of course not. We're going to offer to set the table. We'll seem not only helpful, but virtuous for doing it without being asked."
"Someone else may have done it."
"Trust me."
When they walked in, Tonks saw immediately that the table was bare. Charlie winked at Tonks and picked up flatware and dishes. "I'll just set the table, shall I, Mum?"
"Oh, that would be lovely. Thank you, dear."
Charlie positively smirked at Tonks. She considered accidentally spilling some soup on him, but that would probably backfire.
Dinner was delicious as Molly's food always was. Tonks had to admit that was some recompense for dull meetings.
Fred and George set the dishes to washing and brought out dessert. As they passed Charlie his dish, he looked so smug she longed to give him a pinch.
She needn't have worried. Whether because Charlie had left them to do all the work or because it was just their natural inclination, Fred and George took care of it. After biting into a cream puff, Charlie turned into a huge canary.
Tonks could not stop laughing even after clapping both hands over her mouth. Thankfully, she wasn't the only one. Bill and Sirius were having a hard time controlling themselves and Arthur's shoulders were shaking. Remus' eyes betrayed his amusement. Even Molly seemed torn between laughing and scolding. "Boys! How could you--oh, Charlie!"
He shed his feathers and that sent Tonks, Bill, and Sirius off again.
"There's something about the old ones," Fred commented.
"The classics are the best," George agreed.
Charlie looked as if he wanted to say something, but closed his mouth. "Very clever," he grudgingly said.
"They're called Canary Creams," Fred told him. "Only seven Sickles--well, five, as you're family."
"Thanks, I'm good."
"Tonks? We'll let you have them for the family price," George offered.
"Not today, but that was very well done."
"I wonder if you'd think so if you'd sprouted feathers," Charlie said.
"May the world never know." Tonks checked her watch. "I've got to go. Thank you, Molly, Sirius. Dinner was lovely."
Charlie got up and saw her to the door. "Come to the Burrow tomorrow," he said.
She blinked. "What?"
"For dinner. What would you like?"
"Er...surprise me."
He grinned. "Can do. See you around six."
***
It was ridiculous to get so worked up over a dinner. She had dinner all the time. For seven years she had even eaten with Charlie. This was nothing, she told herself sternly, new or exciting.
Why, exactly, she triple checked her reflection and dashed on some perfume before leaving her flat, she didn't care to examine.
"Good evening, Tonks," Molly said cheerfully. "I hope you don't mind, but Arthur and I actually have plans for tonight and won't be here."
"Of course not. Have fun."
"Thank you. We'll see you later," Arthur said. "Have a good night."
"You, too."
Charlie came out to the living room. "Well? Come on, Dory!"
She saw the table set and sat down. Charlie revealed the dishes with a flourish.
"Leftovers?"
He grinned. "Surprised?"
Tonks met his gaze and tried to stop the laughter bubbling up. "Quite," she managed to get out. "Good job."
"Thank you." He sat down and passed her a plate.
Molly's food was just as good the second day and Tonks ate without further comment.
Charlie was nothing if not thorough. He even laid out some leftover cream puffs.
Tonks didn't realize what he'd done until was too late and she was covered in feathers.
Charlie's laughter could have woken the dead. Surely she hadn't laughed that hard, she thought resentfully.
"That--really--is--funny," he gasped out.
"Glad to entertain," she said sourly, but she couldn't help smiling. It was just so absurd.
"I just couldn't resist, but I made a real dessert, see, have some trifle."
She raised an eyebrow at him.
He took a bite. "It's fine, I promise."
It was not only fine, it was delicious. "And you made this?"
"I am my mother's son."
"Well, it is very good."
"Thank you...what are you doing?"
"Just taking my dishes to the sink."
"I will take care of that, Tonks. You're my guest--sit down."
"You'll wash the dishes?"
"How helpless do you think I am? I do live on my own, you know."
"You couldn't manage to take your books from class to class."
"No, that was a strategic labor-saving device. Binns never noticed and then I didn't have to carry them all around. The History of Magic classroom was much closer than Gryffindor Tower."
"I didn't buy it when you first told me, I don't buy now, and I never will buy it. It's just not that good a story."
Charlie looked thoughtful. "I will admit you were always the best at seeing through me. Divination was worth it every day."
Tonks winced. "Trelawney was so sure I had the Sight. She was crushed when I dropped her class after fifth year."
He laughed. "She even left her tower to confront you once. What was it you told her--the Sight was a cruel gift, to reveal to you that your true destiny--"
"Lay in fighting Dark Wizards until an untimely death would claim me in battle. She blessed me for my fortitude and bravery in facing such a bleak future."
"That was beautiful. Right in the middle of the Great Hall--just before Halloween, wasn't it?"
"The same Halloween you blamed Bill for setting pixies loose."
"He never did find out it was actually me."
The clock chimed and Tonks sighed. "Well, that puts an end to a lovely evening. Guard duty awaits."
"That's so like you, Dory, to put the fate of the wizarding world above visiting an old friend."
"You've figured me out, Charlie. I do have Thursday free, though, if you'd like to come by my flat and reminisce some more."
He smiled. "I think I'd enjoy that very much. I'll see you then."
***
Tonks enjoyed dinner with Charlie. She had ordered in; she couldn't compete with Molly's cooking, so take away was her solution.
She wasn't really sure why she'd invited Charlie over--they hadn't been especially close as students, more casual acquaintances. She was smart enough to realize her attraction to him, but still. If she really wanted to chase after a Weasley, she had easier access to Bill.
Well, he was definitely flirting back, so she might as well enjoy it.
"Would you like something to drink? Or do you need to be heading back?"
"I didn't give my parents a time--water would be great, thanks."
Tonks picked up both cups and headed for the living room. She made it most of the way before stumbling on the table leg. The drinks went flying all over Charlie.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" She grabbed a towel, knelt, and began patting him. "I'm so clumsy, I'm sorry, I can't believe I did that..."
"It's all right," he said in a strangled sort of voice, and Tonks realized, belatedly, that she'd been patting his lap.
She knew she ought to be properly horrified, but it was too funny for that. She pressed her lips together, but a snicker escaped anyway. She tried biting the insides of her cheeks, but that didn't work, either. She gave up and let it burst out.
Charlie took out his wand and made a complicated motion. Tonks felt the warm air as his clothes dried off. Then he started to laugh.
"I should have done that myself," Tonks gasped, "but I didn't think. Oh, Merlin. If my mother saw me..."
"That would be fun to try and explain." Charlie picked up the glasses. "Did you have water, too?"
She nodded.
"I'll go get us some more."
"Well, if you insist." Tonks sat down and didn't think about what sort of patting he could do if he spilled on her for more than a half a minute or so.
He returned and set the drinks on her table without mishap. But, she noticed, he did take the opportunity to sit next to her on the sofa instead of in the chair he had been sitting in.
"Thank you," she said. "I'm still a klutz every now and then, but I'm really getting better. When do you head ba--"
She couldn't finish the question, though, because Charlie had leaned over and kissed her.
She blinked when he moved back. "When are you going--going back--you just kissed me."
"I did," he admitted. "I enjoyed it, too."
"Okay."
"Okay?"
"Yeah."
And then Tonks didn't have to worry about tripping or falling, because she was being securely held in place and she wasn't even thinking about moving.
***
I find it...interesting that I wrote Charlie the way JKR wrote Ginny. I remember explaining that I didn't think Fred and George would be the only pranksters in the Weasley family. Hmm...interesting pattern we have here, really. Bill, Percy, and Ron are the taller, lankier ones. Also the more--I hesitate to call it "serious-minded," but for all Ron's fooling around, he does not have the same personality as the twins do.
Then there's Charlie, Fred and George, and Ginny. Okay, Ginny's not stocky, so this probably blows my "pattern" all to bits, but Ginny has the same sort of personality as the twins. And we know nothing about Charlie, so we could pretend he's like them, too.
Right. Anyway. Reviews are love.
***
Tonks stared at the table. "Fred? George? Charlie? What are you all doing here?"
"Surprise," the twins said. "We've left Hogwarts," George said with a grin.
"Set up shop in London," Fred added.
"Officially joined the Order."
"And the list goes on," Charlie said dryly. "This morning, they tied their own shoes."
"We were getting to that," Fred chastised.
"So what are you two doing in London?" Tonks specified.
They looked at their mother apprehensively.
Molly sighed. "They've opened a joke shop." Tonks could hear a touch of pride in her voice.
"A joke shop?"
"Yeah," Bill answered. "Weasley's Wizards Wheezes. They've actually got some good stuff."
"Your faith in us is overwhelming," George told him. "Thanks."
"So what about you, Charlie?" Tonks asked. "Have you finally come to your senses and signed up with Falcons?"
Charlie gave her a dirty look. "Not quite. Just have some time off, so I'm visiting."
Tonks shook her head. "The twins' story was better."
"That is so unfair. They follow their dream and everyone praises them. I follow my dream and all I get are insults."
Bill leaned over. "Charlie, your dream sucked."
"Mum," Charlie complained.
"Bill, don't aggravate your brother--no matter how insane he may be."
"And you wonder why I live in Romania."
"We don't wonder, we just count our blessings," Fred told him.
"I hate to interrupt this wonderful family time," Sirius cut in, "but Hestia's just arrived, and the meeting's about to start."
George sighed. "You were right, Sirius."
"Well, naturally, but about what?"
"Order members do have to make sacrifices."
"It's not so bad, George. We can always abuse Charlie some more after the meeting," Fred comforted him.
***
It was the sort of meeting that gave Tonks a headache. Not much was decided on and even less action was taken.
"You look like I feel," Charlie told her.
Tonks glanced in the mirror. "Nope, you can't feel that bad."
He grinned and took her arm. "Come on. Sirius invited us to dinner and Mum's making it. She'll be wanting volunteers."
"Then why are we heading for the door?"
He blinked. "Well, we're not going to do it. We'll go outside a bit and clear our heads...avoid actual work. Besides, I haven't seen you in--how long has it been?"
"Hmm...at least three years. But your mother will need help."
"That is what younger siblings are for. I've done my tour of duty as kitchen help. I even have the scar to prove it." He showed her a faint white line along the back of his hand. "I ask you, Dory, what kind of brother would I be to deny them this character-building experience?"
"You know you're the only one of my Hogwarts friends who still calls me that. Everyone else respects my wishes."
"Dory, Dory, Dory. When have I ever done what you wanted me to do?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Keep pushing it, Chuck."
He winced. "A coworker of mine tried calling me that. For two weeks, I didn't realize he was talking to me. I kept wondering who this 'Chuck' bloke was. Come on, let's head back."
"Guilt kicking in?"
"Of course not. We're going to offer to set the table. We'll seem not only helpful, but virtuous for doing it without being asked."
"Someone else may have done it."
"Trust me."
When they walked in, Tonks saw immediately that the table was bare. Charlie winked at Tonks and picked up flatware and dishes. "I'll just set the table, shall I, Mum?"
"Oh, that would be lovely. Thank you, dear."
Charlie positively smirked at Tonks. She considered accidentally spilling some soup on him, but that would probably backfire.
Dinner was delicious as Molly's food always was. Tonks had to admit that was some recompense for dull meetings.
Fred and George set the dishes to washing and brought out dessert. As they passed Charlie his dish, he looked so smug she longed to give him a pinch.
She needn't have worried. Whether because Charlie had left them to do all the work or because it was just their natural inclination, Fred and George took care of it. After biting into a cream puff, Charlie turned into a huge canary.
Tonks could not stop laughing even after clapping both hands over her mouth. Thankfully, she wasn't the only one. Bill and Sirius were having a hard time controlling themselves and Arthur's shoulders were shaking. Remus' eyes betrayed his amusement. Even Molly seemed torn between laughing and scolding. "Boys! How could you--oh, Charlie!"
He shed his feathers and that sent Tonks, Bill, and Sirius off again.
"There's something about the old ones," Fred commented.
"The classics are the best," George agreed.
Charlie looked as if he wanted to say something, but closed his mouth. "Very clever," he grudgingly said.
"They're called Canary Creams," Fred told him. "Only seven Sickles--well, five, as you're family."
"Thanks, I'm good."
"Tonks? We'll let you have them for the family price," George offered.
"Not today, but that was very well done."
"I wonder if you'd think so if you'd sprouted feathers," Charlie said.
"May the world never know." Tonks checked her watch. "I've got to go. Thank you, Molly, Sirius. Dinner was lovely."
Charlie got up and saw her to the door. "Come to the Burrow tomorrow," he said.
She blinked. "What?"
"For dinner. What would you like?"
"Er...surprise me."
He grinned. "Can do. See you around six."
***
It was ridiculous to get so worked up over a dinner. She had dinner all the time. For seven years she had even eaten with Charlie. This was nothing, she told herself sternly, new or exciting.
Why, exactly, she triple checked her reflection and dashed on some perfume before leaving her flat, she didn't care to examine.
"Good evening, Tonks," Molly said cheerfully. "I hope you don't mind, but Arthur and I actually have plans for tonight and won't be here."
"Of course not. Have fun."
"Thank you. We'll see you later," Arthur said. "Have a good night."
"You, too."
Charlie came out to the living room. "Well? Come on, Dory!"
She saw the table set and sat down. Charlie revealed the dishes with a flourish.
"Leftovers?"
He grinned. "Surprised?"
Tonks met his gaze and tried to stop the laughter bubbling up. "Quite," she managed to get out. "Good job."
"Thank you." He sat down and passed her a plate.
Molly's food was just as good the second day and Tonks ate without further comment.
Charlie was nothing if not thorough. He even laid out some leftover cream puffs.
Tonks didn't realize what he'd done until was too late and she was covered in feathers.
Charlie's laughter could have woken the dead. Surely she hadn't laughed that hard, she thought resentfully.
"That--really--is--funny," he gasped out.
"Glad to entertain," she said sourly, but she couldn't help smiling. It was just so absurd.
"I just couldn't resist, but I made a real dessert, see, have some trifle."
She raised an eyebrow at him.
He took a bite. "It's fine, I promise."
It was not only fine, it was delicious. "And you made this?"
"I am my mother's son."
"Well, it is very good."
"Thank you...what are you doing?"
"Just taking my dishes to the sink."
"I will take care of that, Tonks. You're my guest--sit down."
"You'll wash the dishes?"
"How helpless do you think I am? I do live on my own, you know."
"You couldn't manage to take your books from class to class."
"No, that was a strategic labor-saving device. Binns never noticed and then I didn't have to carry them all around. The History of Magic classroom was much closer than Gryffindor Tower."
"I didn't buy it when you first told me, I don't buy now, and I never will buy it. It's just not that good a story."
Charlie looked thoughtful. "I will admit you were always the best at seeing through me. Divination was worth it every day."
Tonks winced. "Trelawney was so sure I had the Sight. She was crushed when I dropped her class after fifth year."
He laughed. "She even left her tower to confront you once. What was it you told her--the Sight was a cruel gift, to reveal to you that your true destiny--"
"Lay in fighting Dark Wizards until an untimely death would claim me in battle. She blessed me for my fortitude and bravery in facing such a bleak future."
"That was beautiful. Right in the middle of the Great Hall--just before Halloween, wasn't it?"
"The same Halloween you blamed Bill for setting pixies loose."
"He never did find out it was actually me."
The clock chimed and Tonks sighed. "Well, that puts an end to a lovely evening. Guard duty awaits."
"That's so like you, Dory, to put the fate of the wizarding world above visiting an old friend."
"You've figured me out, Charlie. I do have Thursday free, though, if you'd like to come by my flat and reminisce some more."
He smiled. "I think I'd enjoy that very much. I'll see you then."
***
Tonks enjoyed dinner with Charlie. She had ordered in; she couldn't compete with Molly's cooking, so take away was her solution.
She wasn't really sure why she'd invited Charlie over--they hadn't been especially close as students, more casual acquaintances. She was smart enough to realize her attraction to him, but still. If she really wanted to chase after a Weasley, she had easier access to Bill.
Well, he was definitely flirting back, so she might as well enjoy it.
"Would you like something to drink? Or do you need to be heading back?"
"I didn't give my parents a time--water would be great, thanks."
Tonks picked up both cups and headed for the living room. She made it most of the way before stumbling on the table leg. The drinks went flying all over Charlie.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" She grabbed a towel, knelt, and began patting him. "I'm so clumsy, I'm sorry, I can't believe I did that..."
"It's all right," he said in a strangled sort of voice, and Tonks realized, belatedly, that she'd been patting his lap.
She knew she ought to be properly horrified, but it was too funny for that. She pressed her lips together, but a snicker escaped anyway. She tried biting the insides of her cheeks, but that didn't work, either. She gave up and let it burst out.
Charlie took out his wand and made a complicated motion. Tonks felt the warm air as his clothes dried off. Then he started to laugh.
"I should have done that myself," Tonks gasped, "but I didn't think. Oh, Merlin. If my mother saw me..."
"That would be fun to try and explain." Charlie picked up the glasses. "Did you have water, too?"
She nodded.
"I'll go get us some more."
"Well, if you insist." Tonks sat down and didn't think about what sort of patting he could do if he spilled on her for more than a half a minute or so.
He returned and set the drinks on her table without mishap. But, she noticed, he did take the opportunity to sit next to her on the sofa instead of in the chair he had been sitting in.
"Thank you," she said. "I'm still a klutz every now and then, but I'm really getting better. When do you head ba--"
She couldn't finish the question, though, because Charlie had leaned over and kissed her.
She blinked when he moved back. "When are you going--going back--you just kissed me."
"I did," he admitted. "I enjoyed it, too."
"Okay."
"Okay?"
"Yeah."
And then Tonks didn't have to worry about tripping or falling, because she was being securely held in place and she wasn't even thinking about moving.
***
I find it...interesting that I wrote Charlie the way JKR wrote Ginny. I remember explaining that I didn't think Fred and George would be the only pranksters in the Weasley family. Hmm...interesting pattern we have here, really. Bill, Percy, and Ron are the taller, lankier ones. Also the more--I hesitate to call it "serious-minded," but for all Ron's fooling around, he does not have the same personality as the twins do.
Then there's Charlie, Fred and George, and Ginny. Okay, Ginny's not stocky, so this probably blows my "pattern" all to bits, but Ginny has the same sort of personality as the twins. And we know nothing about Charlie, so we could pretend he's like them, too.
Right. Anyway. Reviews are love.