A/N: I wrote this just after HBP came out, which shows just how long I've been writing!

November 1990

"Charlie Weasley, don't think that you can avoid detention just because of your performance on Saturday. It doesn't matter how good your Quidditch skills are, you still don't have the right to break the rules. Besides, you are expected to set an example."

Charlie stared at his head of house, in what he hoped could be classed as an attentive manner. "I'm sorry, Professor."

Professor McGonagall pursed her lips, a sign that she was thinking hard. "Charlie, what days do Gryffindor have Quidditch practice?"

"Tuesdays and Thursdays, Professor."

"Very well, report to my office at seven o'clock on Wednesday night. I would hate for the entire Quidditch team to have to suffer for your foolish antics."

Charlie nodded, feeling relieved. Detention with McGonagall was bound to be awful, but missing Quidditch? That was even worse.

...

The corridors were almost empty as Charlie made his way to McGonagall's office. He could understand why. The late November rain pelted the windows and a strong wind could be heard howling through the thick castle walls. He greatly resented having to leave the warm, cheerful Common Room and his seat next to the fire.

The sight of another figure outside the office soon put a smile on his face, however. Slouched against the wall, picking at a thread in her robes, it seemed she was unconcerned about her fate. The long black hair that fell about her face, Charlie noted, had earlier been a vibrant shade of purple.

"Dora!"

"Charlie!"

"What did you do?"

"Spent Transfiguration trying to replicate Johnny Brown's exact eye colour – have you ever noticed he has beautiful eyes?"

Charlie frowned in confusion.

"Anyway, apparently that was not a constructive use of lesson time." Dora scowled. "What's the point in me being a Metamorphmagus if they won't let me use my powers? It'd be like banning you from playing Quidditch."

"I'm surprised McGonagall didn't after Saturday night."

"So that is why you're here. I thought after all of the boasting you did in Charms earlier you must have got away with it."

Charlie blushed. "Well…"

Dora had dissolved into fits of giggles. She loved embarrassing Charlie. When he became a Prefect and Quidditch captain she was worried that he'd go all serious on her. In fact it had been quite the opposite. He seemed to go out of his way to prove that he was still capable of breaking the rules. She'd been quite annoyed that she wasn't invited along on Saturday night, but after finding out that they'd been caught…it made the whole situation rather hilarious.

"I hope you are aware that you are here for detention." Professor McGonagall had suddenly appeared in front of them.

Charlie straightened herself up immediately, noticing Dora do the same. "Yes, Professor," they said in unison.

"Very good, I have some filing for you to do. Now, if you could follow me…"

Turning to follow McGonagall, Charlie tried not to laugh as Dora wrinkled her nose.

Dora was rather amazed at how lightly the two of them had got off. It turned out that Peeves had played havoc with the records in some sort of filing room, so McGonagall had left her and Charlie to sort them out, or, given them the perfect opportunity for Dora to debate Charlie's recent antics.

"Who would have thought it; the Slytherins are scared of a few little spiders!"

Charlie grimaced. "They weren't very little. If someone had posted engorged spiders into our Common Room, I'd probably have been scared too. I wasn't that keen on holding them as we went down to the dungeon. I didn't think they'd grow that big."

Dora couldn't contain her laughter. "It's such a shame that Snape found out and rescued them. Imagine if none of them had turned up for breakfast in the morning and they were found all wrapped up in giant spider's webs, with their heads chewed off."

"I guess you think that if you were with us we wouldn't have been caught?"

Dora smirked. "Obviously. For one thing I wouldn't have boasted about it to all of my friends –"

"Shelley wouldn't have –"

"Shelley would have and Shelley did. How can you stand her Charlie? She's awful."

Charlie's girlfriend had been a sore topic for the two of them ever since Charlie started seeing her. Dora was fully aware of the fact that Shelley was only interested because of Charlie's Quidditch success, but when she mentioned this fact to Charlie he refused to believe her.

"Dora, please. I know you think I couldn't get a girl just for being me, that I'm only interesting because of Quidditch but I'm sure not everyone thinks like that –"

"For Merlin's sake Charlie, you think I don't know that? I share a dorm with Shelley though; I've heard her bragging about you to the other girls. She spends half her time planning what she's going to spend your money on when you're playing Quidditch for England. I take it you haven't told her about the dragons?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Everything!"

"I suppose you think you're so special because you're the only one I've confided in?"

Dora knew she'd taken things a step too far. If they had many more of these arguments, she was worried she'd ruin their friendship for good. She tried to remain calm.

"I just wanted to let you know that you deserve someone better than her, that's all."

"I'll let you know when I want your relationship advice," he replied, a little too sharply.

An awkward silence followed, although they occasionally shot each other a scowl.

Eventually Charlie spoke. He never had been very good at staying mad at her.

"You realise half of these are punishment reports, with the crimes listed? I'm actually starting to get some really good ideas."

Dora forced a smile. "You will take me along with you next time won't you, even if I have to share you with her?"

Charlie smiled back, his anger forgotten as soon as it had come. "Course I will. You know, I'm actually really impressed with these guys. I think they must've had a whole draw to themselves. They did some really impressive stuff."

"Who are they?"

"James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. Wait, isn't Sirius Black…"

Dora cringed at the name. "…My cousin? …A murderer? …In league with You-Know-Who? Yeah, that's him."

"I remember the story; my dad told Bill and I. James Potter, he was the father of Harry Potter, he got killed by You-Know-Who. Black was their secret keeper, it was him who sold them out. Then, a few days later, he killed a street full of innocent people, including the Pettigrew guy. Imagine what a psycho he must have been, to be able to kill two of his best friends."

Dora wasn't listening. The story represented everything she hated about her family. The Blacks, the Lestrange's, the Malfoy's…the evil of the earth. She often worried that she'd inherited some of their bad blood; that somehow she would turn out like them.

Charlie noticed her obvious discomfort. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. Did I ever tell you I'm related to them too? My dad's like a second cousin once removed and my mum's related through marriage. I'm not quite sure how we fit, but we're somewhere in that whole mess of things."

Dora shook her head, feeling a little better. At least Charlie didn't care about her background, not like some people she could mention.

"I feel pretty sorry for Remus Lupin though. Imagine what it must be like, being the only one left?"

Dora scooted over to look at the piece of parchment Charlie was holding.

"Despite being a Prefect, Remus continues to break the rules when influenced by his friends," she read. "Sounds a bit like you."

Charlie laughed and then gasped. "Merlin, he's a werewolf!"

Dora frowned. "So?"

"Well, it's rather unusual isn't it? Especially Dumbledore letting him come to Hogwarts. What if he attacked somebody?"

"They class Metamorphmagi as highly dangerous too you know!"

"Quite rightly too."

They smiled at each other.

"You will be okay won't you, if I go off to Romania? I'll worry about you, you know, especially if you get into the Auror programme."

Dora mocked offence. "I've told you before Charlie, I'm quite capable of looking after myself. You'll be the one needing me to look after you."

Charlie smirked. "Well, I'll still worry. Maybe I should track down Remus Lupin and get him to keep an eye out for you. He seems like a decent sort of chap; a Prefect who breaks the rules. I think I could trust him to keep you safe. Just stay away from him on the night of the full moon."

Dora laughed.