Fast Friends
Rose and Tonks


"Sorry I made him run and ruined that. Can we chat?"

The girl pulled her into a deserted classroom she had yet to check and immediately Tonks' eyes scanned it out of habit. Honestly, with what just happened, she wouldn't be surprised if Sirius had used that brief moment to sneak in. They were near the ground floor and knowing him, he probably has some secret passage that she hadn't discovered yet, but alas, ear wax. Tonks tore her focus from scanning the room to the girl before her who had jumped up to sit on a tabletop. She noted this looked to be one of the many potions rooms. What was she even doing here this late at night? Tonks opened her mouth to inquire but it seemed like the girl had anticipated this.

"Well, I was getting my meds from Snape," she said simply with a shrug. "My brother and I are on the same stuff, so I was doing Snape a favour and was gonna deliver it to him, but it looks I mortified the hell out of him instead. It can wait until morning, no worries."

The girl gave a friendly grin, "so. I guess I'll start, the name's Rose, Rose Hunter. And who might you be, pretty lady?"

Tonks wasn't sure if calling her 'pretty lady' was the girl trying to be friendly and get on her good side... but it was working. Seems like brother and sister both had a knack for being charismatic. It was like you couldn't dislike these two even if you wanted. The girl was swinging her legs, which really showed how young she was, but Tonks was not deceived.

"Nymphadora Tonks, but you can call me Tonks," and she couldn't help but return the smile the girl had plastered on her face.

"Are you and Remus old flames, or something? He never talked about any girl before, and you two seemed... acquainted?"

Tonks gave a snorting laugh. "Old flames? No. And where did you hear such an old phrase?" Rose gave Tonks a look that read, 'where do you think' and Tonks laughed again. Seriously, these two.

"So, you just met today?"

"Well, we have a mutual friend. So we sorta know each other," Tonks explained and Rose made an "oh" shape with her mouth and nodded.

Rose seemed to think on her next question before she slid off the desk. "Well, that's all I needed to know. I hope he doesn't hide for very long from you, he's kind of annoying like that. Have a good night!"

And with that, Rose disappeared back into the school leaving Tonks just a tiny bit taken aback.


After that, Rose seemed to leave Tonks well enough alone, she would smile and wave if they crossed paths, but other than that, that was it.

Tonks felt herself growing... curious. Curious of the enigma that was this girl. Of Remus Lupin. Tonks suddenly found herself looking out for the girl and would stop her to make conversation with her. If Tonks did the math right and had Rose attended Hogwarts in her assumed year; Tonks would have been a fifth year when the girl started her first year. She would've had a grand total of three years with the girl. Something about this knowledge drew her to Rose and somehow drew a protective instinct over her as well. Tonks gave in and one morning, instead of slipping into a seat at the Hufflepuff table, she slipped in next to Rose at the Ravenclaw. She was alone this time, surprisingly.

Rose jumped, turning to look at Tonks, a smile gracing her features. "I would say that I'm surprised to see you join me, but I'm not. I figured it would happen eventually." Smart girl. Well, she is a Ravenclaw. Rose tilted her head. "So how can I help you?"

Tonks felt a little out of her element, it had been a while since she had talked with... an fellow peer. But she looked at Rose, whose brow was raised every so delicately in gentle interest, she felt herself sigh. "I wanted to get to know you better."

Said brow vanished into her hair, "not my brother?"

Tonks chuckled, "I can handle that on my own. But, I feel like, if I'm gonna get any closer to him, I'll need to befriend you first."

Rose's eyes sparkled and she grabbed the pitcher of pumpkin juice to pour Tonks a goblet. "You've chosen well, and to be honest, the fact you're even here would've been enough to gain my approval. Not like he needs it, but, I prefer my relationship with my brother to have the least amount of strain possible. It'll be much easier if we're friends."

Tonks was amused, well, she was between amused and impressed. It seemed, on one hand, this girl had the mindset of the sixteen-year-old girl she embodied; the next she was speaking to her as if she were an adult. Tonks honestly wasn't sure how to feel about that, other than has her priorities sorted, this one.

"I'm glad we're in agreeance for that," Tonks replied a small smile gracing her lips as she noticed a delicious looking pastry on her left, grabbed it and then split it with Rose. She smiled, taking the half and biting into it.

"Ooh! Chocolate filled. Nice," Rose gave Tonks a wink.

Tonks felt from there on out, they were gonna be fast friends.



Despite the initial contact, that befriending Rose was the goal, it seemed her brother was a constant on her mind, Tonks noticed this quickly. Rose seemed, emotionally frustrated,
and Tonks felt for the girl. She just couldn't help it. There was something about her that drew you to her. Drew up the urge to protect. Tonks couldn't quite place her finger on it, but she knew it was there.

Today found them out in the courtyard, sitting on the fountain in the centre, Rose's head in her lap as she ran her fingers through her hair. It was something Tonks' mother did for her when she was stressed and for the moment, it seemed to be working on Rose, whose eyes were closed and her breathing even. Had she fallen asleep or was she just meditating? Tonks wondered, but then her eyes fluttered open and Rose looked up at her. "Can I tell you something? And promise you'll never tell another soul?"

Trust. That's what this was. Tonks nodded, "I swear."

Rose's eyes closed again, a wry smile on her lips. "My brother, he can be... very self-deprecating. He's... we're sick, we both have the same illness. He won't like it if I tell you straight up what it is, but I have a feeling you'll be able to figure it out, given your uh, occupation. But when he's like this; just listen. He's attempting to scare you away because he doesn't think he deserves happiness. But he does; we all do. Just be you Tonks and I know you'll shine through."

Tonks' heart thudded in her chest. How did Rose know what she was thinking? What had even been bothering her? This girl was very strange. Tonks, still, however, appreciated the sentiment. "Thanks, kiddo. I don't know how you do it, but you just seem to be able to read me."

Rose gave a shrug, "we live in a world of Magic, maybe I should take divination next year."

The both of them screwed up their face. "Maybe not."

Rose gave a laugh, sitting up only to rest her head on Tonks' shoulder. "I'm happy that you decided you wanted to get to know me. I..."

She trailed off with a blush. "I hope it's not too presumptuous, but I kinda think of you like an older sister already."

Tonks wasted no time throwing her arms around Rose, her admission making her heart erupt into butterflies. "And I think of you as a sister too, I really do."