TEN

NONE OF US CAN CHOOSE
WHERE WE SHALL LOVE
SUSAN KAY, PHANTOM

FOLLOWING ALESSIA'S advice, Aspen took her next upcoming half day at work to good use and decided it was high time she visit Tonks again. By now, she'd been stationed at Hogsmeade for almost two weeks, and having heard no more about the bloody nose incident from her little sister, Aspen was hoping to dig out some information as well as provide well-needed company to her best friend.

It was just after lunchtime that she finished at work, and she stood in the twins' kitchen, accompanied - as per usual - by Fred Weasley. They'd just finished a more than satisfactory shepherd's pie, after which Fred had produced ice cream from "their shop" to follow up as dessert. It had made Aspen's heart race, the way he referred to it making her reconsider if it had been a date after all. He'd insisted that George wouldn't mind if he were a little late back to the shop floor as they indulged in her favourite flavours (despite him previously insisting he was a sorbet kind of guy), but Aspen wasn't sure and presumed he'd get a bollocking from his brother when he inevitably went back to work.

Afterwards, when he left back down the stairs looking a little more dejected than usual, Aspen began to imagine the snowy streets of Hogsmeade. It had been a long time since she'd been, and the image of it was a little cloudy in her mind. Still, she had fond memories of her time there buying up half of Honeydukes' stock the second she'd been allowed on her first Hogsmeade trip, and even chasing Tonks up to the supposedly haunted Shrieking Shack in their youth. Gripping her wand tightly, she squeezed her eyes shut and prepared for her trip.

Although it felt much longer, - she had never quite gotten used to apparition - she landed on the street within seconds, up to her ankles in freezing white snow. Shivering from lack of a jacket - she'd forgotten about the windchill that used to be far more reasonable under the cover of her robes - she hurriedly ran across to The Three Broomsticks, awaiting Tonks inside. Aspen found a table in the corner, hidden away suitably to provide cover for their gossip. The only issue she had with meeting in public meant almost anyone could be listening, and in the questionable climate of the Wizarding World, she was increasingly worried about information falling into the wrong hands.

She wasn't waiting for long before her friend came into view, and threw herself down clumsily into the seat across the table. It was Tonks, obviously, same face despite the subtle changes. Her cheekbones seemed more prominent now, her face narrower, and the bags beneath her eyes were growing increasingly dark. Most obviously of all, her usual shock of bright pink hair was a muted mousy brown, a colour as drab as the personality she seemed to be almost lacking nowadays.

"Wotcher, Aspen," she said as she tumbled into the seat, lacking her usual enthusiasm in the greeting.

"Tonks! Hi! How've you been?" Aspen asked, her voice laced with just enough sympathy that she hoped she didn't sound too condescending.

"I've been... okay. Nothing exciting other than-"

"Than Harry?" Aspen interjected, too curious to wait. "Alessia mentioned you took him into Hogwarts the first night back?"

"It was that bloody Draco Malfoy. Lucius' son," she murmured, lowering her voice in fear someone of significance would be nearby. "Broke his nose and left him on the train paralysed! It was lucky I was watching the train, or I'd never have known to collect him."

"That's awful," Aspen muttered, eyes wide at the sheer cruelty of it. Her stomach lurched at the thought of that happening to Alessia, and she felt her lips curl down into a disappointed frown. "That boy never gets a break, does he?"

"You're telling me," Tonks said, shaking her head as anger seemed to simmer through her. "Plus, Dumbledore's only gone and made Snape the Defence teacher! It's like he wants those poor kids to suffer."

Aspen laughed now, knowing far too well how almost every student - perhaps apart from the Slytherins - hated Professor Snape. He was infamous for his favouritism and blatant bullying of students in any other house but his, and from the sounds of it, he was particularly harsh on Harry Potter and his friends.

"Oh, come on. You're just saying that because he tormented you for singeing off your eyebrows brewing a Draught of Living Death," Aspen teased, and suddenly the two girls were laughing like little schoolgirls again. The balding old man who sat to their left nursing a Firewhisky shot them a disapproving look at the disturbance, and they stifled their giggles behind the palms of their hands.

"Other than the depressing news about Snape, I take it nothing's gone wrong, though?"

Tonks' expression softened, and she reached across the table to squeeze her friend's hand, more than aware of the main reason Aspen was asking. She could tell that she was more than distraught that her sister was living away from her now, especially following the recent fall of the Ministry that made life as a wizard much more dangerous by any means.

"Alessia is fine, you know. You'd be silly to think I wasn't keeping an extra eye out for her," Tonks said calmly, almost too calm too ease Aspen's nerves properly. "Besides, you know she's well clever for her age. She'd never do anything majorly stupid."

"You say that, but she's also far too bloody brave for her own good. I don't dare think about the ridiculous things she'd get up to to save a friend."

"Well you should be proud of her for that. Lots of us wish we were braver than we are in times like this," Tonks murmured, and Aspen noticed the telltale signs of bittersweet sorrow settling in as her friend's eyes began to water just a bit.

Before she could respond, Madam Rosmerta appeared, clutching a notebook in her hand as she popped a hip and shot them a gorgeously inviting grin. Aspen looked up, realising her timing couldn't be worse as Tonks was nearing a breakdown, and quickly decided to order for them both to save some time.

"What're you after this time, girls?" Rosmerta had asked fondly, unaware of Tonks' teary eyes as she prepared her notebook to scribble down the order.

"Two butterbeers please, Rosmerta," Aspen quickly recited back, urging her to leave as quickly as she had came. Although both girls were very friendly with the landlady as a result of the many visits they'd had over their time at Hogwarts, this was not the time to play catch up.

"Coming right up, lovelies," she exclaimed, turning gracefully on her heels and walking away, her blonde curls bouncing as she went.

"Tell me what's up. Is it Remus?" Aspen asked delicately when they were alone again, hoping she wasn't kicking Tonks while she was down.

"Pathetic, isn't it?" Tonks said with a depressing twinkle in her eye, looking up through her fringe. "I just wish he'd at least talk to me about it."

"Oh, love," Aspen mumbled sympathetically, not even sure how to tackle comforting Tonks about this one. It was a heartbreaking situation for her best friend, and it was painfully obvious how madly in love with Remus she was. "I wish I could knock some bloody sense into him. He doesn't know what he's missing."

"That's the problem! I think he does know, but refuses to put me in danger. I wish he'd get that I'd face anything for him if only he- Oh! Thanks, Rosmerta," Tonks cut herself off as two pints of butterbeer floated onto the table, accompanied by the dazzling landlady.

"Whoever he is, he isn't worth the tears, lovely," Rosmerta said, rubbing Tonks' shoulder affectionately before taking off again, although Aspen wasn't sure she was actually any help at all in easing Tonks' upset.

"When's the next time you'll see him?" Aspen asked, hopeful that they could perhaps practice what to say for next time. After all, maybe it would be possible to convince him that they were perfect for each other after all.

"Merlin knows. I swear he's avoiding me, in fear he won't be able to resist me or something. I wish he wouldn't."

Tonks sighed loudly as she raised the butterbeer to her lips and took a gigantic slurp, leaving behind a foamy moustache across her upper lip. Normally, she'd take great joy in licking it away, but her enthusiasm was missing. It broke Aspen's heart, and she shook her head, wracking her brain for some way to soothe the pain. She knew better than anyone that, although not always romantic, the pain of a broken heart was worse than anything she'd ever experienced. The night her mother had died was like drowning, screaming against the tide but failing to ever rise as she fought against the waves. She didn't want that for anyone, especially not Tonks, who was arguably one of the most jovial people she knew usually.

"It'll get better, love. It'll pass," she offered, knowing her words were little comfort. "I'm certain that love prevails, y'know. He'll come to his senses sooner rather than later. I don't know how a guy who could resist your charm."

"You're the best, Pen," Tonks said, a brief smile returning to her lips as she polished off another sizeable chunk of her butterbeer. "Maybe that's why those twins are all over you."

"Oh, Merlin," Aspen groaned, grimacing at the thought but she could feel her cheeks heating up at the implication. "Will you drop it already? We're just friends!"

"Molly seems to think otherwise," Tonks said, and suddenly Aspen was sitting straighter, her tankard placed firmly on the table against as she leaned forward curiously.

"What? What has she said?" She asked, eyes wide as she urged her friend for more information. She was certain she was incriminating herself, making it very obvious she cared more than she had suggested, but at that moment her curiosity was taking precedent.

"Now you're interested, eh!" Tonks cheered, startling the balding man beside them once more. The usual excitement was returning bit by bit to her face, but it still didn't quite meet her eyes. "I was round for tea the other day, and she happened to mention the twins had been round for a little visit."

"Okay? And?" Aspen asked, becoming impatient as tapped absentmindedly against the dark wood tabletop.

"Well supposedly Fred couldn't stop talking all about an employee, and George was taking great joy in teasing him for it," Tonks said, preparing herself to do a not-so-accurate impression of the twins. "'She's so lovely, Mum, you'd love her. So clever and funny.'"

Aspen scoffed, rolling her eyes as Tonks giggled away at her own deep-voiced attempt at mimicking Fred. Inside, her mind was racing at the prospect of him raving about her, even if it was entirely platonic. Still, as much as she tried not to be amused, a little chuckle evaded her as she considered just how much George was probably mocking his brother if he did indeed have a crush on her after all.

"Tonks, that is ridiculous. I hope you told Molly he's not really interested in little old me," she said humbly, averting her gaze as she tried to deny it.

"I'd be lying then, wouldn't I?" Tonks teased, enjoying having the upper-hand over her friend.

"Oh, bloody hell! Can we please move on?" Aspen groaned, hiding her face behind the tankard as she took an over-generous sip of the sweet liquid.

"Fine," Tonks said, but the cheeky grin on her lips told Aspen she was far from over. "As long as I get to be maid of honour at your wedding, Mrs Weasley!"

She burst out laughing as Aspen groaned loudly in despair. Then, with a final grunt of disapproval from the old balding man, they moved on, discussing tiny, trivial subjects that were far more cheerful than the world they were living in for once.

end of part one