“You do understand,” Madame Maxime was saying, “that she will not really drown?”
Fleur shook her head frantically, trying to break free of the towel. She didn’t understand… she hadn’t been there, she hadn’t seen Gabrielle’s closed eyes…
“Let me go… please, she’s my sister…”
Sisterhood meant something to Fleur. It was Fleur, not their parents, Gabrielle had woken up — when she was small — because of bad dreams. When Fleur went to Beauxbatons without Gabrielle, they had both been distraught. When Madame Maxime had permitted Fleur to let Gabrielle visit and watch the Second Task, Fleur had never dreamed…
“GABRIELLE!” Fleur gasped.
Then, to her immense relief, she saw her sister walking out of the water with Harry and his tall ginger friend. Fleur broke free and clutched Gabrielle to her.
“I’m never inviting you anywhere again,” she whispered to her in French.
“But that was so much fun!” Gabrielle protested.
December, 1985
Hestia was shivering like mad, but she didn’t care. They had to find Charlie.
Bill, Hestia and Tonks had been in the library just minutes ago when they heard two Slytherins talking about him. “Him” being Charlie.
“We’ve got that fool deep in the Forest, looking for dragons,” one chortled. “Been gone for hours.”
The other laughed loudly. “I reckon he’ll get frostbite. Or something will eat him.”
Tonks had taken the opportunity to draw her wand as Bill pushed both boys against a shelf; she demanded they explain themselves. It was exactly how it had sounded: they’d tricked him into an actual wild dragon chase several hours prior
They didn’t even bother throwing on coats, which Hestia now knew was a mistake; at least they’d all been wearing boots. They were headed for Hagrid’s, despite not knowing him as well as the other staff at Hogwarts, because they knew he’d be able to help, and he was friendly with Charlie, so they were sure they wouldn’t get their friend in trouble.
“Even if he does still get into trouble,” Bill pointed out as they ran, “detention’s better than falling into a snow-bank. If it were warmer and not getting dark, I’d say let him search….”
“We’ve all snuck into the Forest anyway,” Hestia agreed. “But—”
Bill raised his eyebrows. “I haven’t.”
Tonks rolled her eyes. “Because you want to be Head Boy. The rest of us have more interesting goals… no sight of him, he’s definitely in the Forest now.” The laughter was gone from her voice. “We’d better hurry to Hagrid’s hut.”
They wasted no time in rapping on the door.
“Mr. Hagrid, if you please!” Bill called.
Hestia and Tonks stared at him; Bill looked mildly abashed.
Hagrid opened the door.
“We need your help!” Tonks exclaimed. “Our friend Charlie, he’s lost in the forest looking for dragons…”
“I’m all right,” Charlie said from somewhere in the hut. Hestia had never been happier to hear his voice.
Hagrid stepped aside to show that Charlie was sitting in a chair drinking hot cocoa, his feet in a tub of warm water. Hagrid’s dog Fang was chewing one of his boots.
“Well, I don’ think yer friends think you’re stupid,” Hagrid told him.
“Oh, no, we do,” Tonks contradicted.
Charlie’s hopeful expression fell.
“But mostly,” she added with a gentler smile, “we’re just glad you’re okay.”
Charlie looked immensely relieved.
“Sit down,” Hagrid said with a smile. “We’ve been talking abou’ dragons.”
“Real ones, this time,” Charlie assured them.
August, 1991
Charlie’s goodbye party had ended, but Tonks remained, stalling as best she could.
She didn’t think he understood that she would have given anything for him to stay. At the same time, she was unwilling to go with him. That was her failure, not his.
They’d never told their friends that they were dating, and in hindsight, Tonks thought they really ought to have. It might have saved their relationship. They’d wanted to wait until they knew where they were headed. But was this where they were headed? Nowhere?
“Dora?”
Birds were bidding adieu with their songs, and the sun was setting. Tonks had always loved how late the sun stayed up in the summer, but there was something foreboding about the pink and purple clouds now.
Charlie wasn’t just her best friend; she had loved him. She still loved him. It had been hard enough saying goodbye to Bill, whose absence Tonks still felt — saying goodbye to Charlie was all the more painful.
“Are you okay?” Charlie asked.
Tonks looked at him, and he sighed. “You can still come, you know.”
“No, I can’t. I have to stay here, I told you that.” Tonks felt the sudden urge to kick something.
“Look on the bright side: you can date without me around to make you feel awkward and guilty.”
“Don’t do that.”
“It was a joke.”
“I’m not in the mood.”
“You were the one who told me I had to do this. I offered to—”
“—I know,” Tonks interrupted. “And I told you not to stay for our friends, for your family, for me… we could never live with ourselves, holding you back like that. I could never live with myself. Besides,” she added, “you’re so happy, and I’m happy for you.”
“You’ve never looked less happy,” Charlie said.
Tonks looked away. “You’re going to do well there. It’s where you belong, I reckon.”
And she walked away from him without another word.
When Tonks arrived home, it was dark. A great era had drawn to a close.
May, 1993
Bill had been the last to be reached. It didn’t seem right; he was the oldest. He should have been the first to know. But he’d been deep underground fixing a charm gone wrong when Fatima finally reached him, approaching with a grave expression on her face.
“Fatima? What’s wrong?”
“I received a Floo from Charlie,” Fatima said. “He said you must go home right away.”
“What? Why?”
“Maybe we should go back to the office first—”
“—No. Tell me here.”
“We really should—”
“Fatima.”
“I am so sorry, Bill.” Fatima put her hand on his shoulder. “I think something bad happened to your young sister.”
Bill wasted no time in hurrying home. When he got there, his parents appeared to have just walked in the door. Charlie was in the hallway.
“It’s okay,” Molly told both of them, her face still blotchy. “She’s alive.”
“What happened? Is she — is she going to be okay?”
“She will, but it won’t be easy,” Molly said. “It’s a long story… can it wait till morning?”
“Where’s Ginny now?” Bill demanded. He’d only just realized his heart was racing.
“The hospital wing at Hog—”
Without letting his mum finish, Bill Disapparated.
He ran towards the castle (Why couldn’t you Apparate or Disapparate straight there?) and into the hospital wing. There he saw a few unconscious students being given a potion — and his sister, who was pale and had smudges under her eyes.
“Ginny!” Bill hugged her tightly, and when she began to cry, rocked her as though she was still a very small child.