RP: Mother Goose

[anon_fleur]

Date: January 2, 2003
Character(s): Fleur Delacour Weasley and Nymphadora Tonks Lupin (NPC: Victoire)
Location: Albion Lake by Circus Road
Status: Private
Summary: Fleur and Tonks meet up for the first time since both moved to Annwn
Completion: InComplete

After having such  a wonderful night with her husband, Fleur was feeling guilty for spending time

Comments

[anon_fleur]

Fleur watched as the woman stood there and she wondered briefly what Tonks might be thinking. Fleur tried to remember if sometime before Tonks' death, she had somehow managed to insult the girl over her outrageous manner of dress or unusual hair styles and colors. Fleur was almost certain that she had kept such remarks to herself...and perhaps Bill...or maybe Molly and one other... Tonks, as Fleur recalled, was always a bright witch...vastly different from Mr. Lupin. Perhaps they were re-living proof that opposites did attract.

"Oui, eet was," Fleur replied, bouncing Victoire in her arms, "I am sorry you were unable to attend my wedding, well, what was left of my wedding after ze Death Eaters crashed eet. My father was so outraged, I thought for a moment he would pop." She smiled in return, studying Tonks' expression and wondering if the girl had an upset stomach. "We did not get to see each other very much after zat summer, with everyone in 'iding and what was 'appening with ze Ministry. Well," Fleur thought aloud, "I did see you zat day at ze Battle of Hogwarts but, well..."

...Seen her dead...

She stopped talking as she watched the duck teeter up to Tonks. She heard one of the grey geese behind them honk in curiosity.

"But of course," Fleur added quickly, bending to place Victoire on the ground before the child waddled herself up to Tonks. "But just ze ducks, ze geese, well zey are quite defensive. But I am sure you know zat, especially if you own a curious dog. Zey will bite him on ze arse when zey chase him."

[anon_fleur]

Victoire eyed Tonks and grinned as she walked up to the woman, her little toddler arms extended to grab hold of Tonks when she met her. The child squealed in delight upon reaching her as she took the bread Tonks offered. Then Victoire became very serious and with a great deal of concentration, turned around to the sidling duck. She bent her knees and jumped as she tossed the bread bits perhaps a foot in front of her. The bird seemed unperturbed and dove for the food, its head bobbing as its bill pecked at the grass. Victoire took a cautious step backward and grabbed Tonks' leg, all the while never taking her eyes off the duck. The little girl turned and studied Tonks' face as the woman spoke to her.

"Tah," Victoire replied to Tonks' question, "Me Tah." Then she reached up for Tonks' hair. "Bwoon," she said before she moved to pat the side of her own head and pet her own hair, "No cheveux (hair) bwoon." The child seemed to be fascinated with the color of Tonks' hair.

"Her name is Victoire," Fleur replied, "Only she cannot pronounce the 'C' or 'W' yet. She has trouble with her 'R's as well. She likes your 'air. She has only seen silver-blond or red 'air up close." Fleur watched as Victoire turned to look at the sound of her mother's voice. "Go on, amoureux (sweetheart), she is a safe witch. Her name is Madam Tonks."

[anon_fleur]

Victoire watched in wide-eyed wonder as Tonks lengthened then changed the color of her hair, squealing when she settled on pink. Victoire turned to her mother as if to ask for verification that in fact, this unusual woman's hair had changed color. Fleur laughed and nodded to Tonks.

"Oui," she assured her daughter, "Elle peut lui faire le changement. (She can make it change.)" Fleur walked over to sit near Tonks.

"She will be three years old on May 2nd. We named her after ze victory we had zat day, to 'onor all of you." Fleur looked from Victoire to Tonks with a smile and another nod. "You should 'ave seen ze look on Bill's mother's face when she 'eard what we were going to name ze child. I theenk she was expecting us to name ze baby after some flower like most British Wizarding families do, or else name eet after her. Bill said I am ze only flower in ze family and our children will all 'ave French names. Ze last time I saw Molly Weasley's face so blank was ze night I told her I was beautiful enough for both myself and Bill, ze night he was attacked at Hogwarts, you know, ze night you told Remus...you told Remus zat you and he...well...eet seems zat night was a new start for ze both of us, you and I? Non?"

Victoire mimicked the two older women and sat down in front of them and pretended to listen to the conversation. Meanwhile, the duck followed suit and sat next to the little girl.

[anon_fleur]

It was easy for Fleur to see the staunch sadness on Tonks' face. The Veela felt somewhat guilty, seeing Tonks alone and terribly lonely-looking. Remus was nowhere to be seen and Fleur wondered where he might be, why he was not here with his wife. She obviously needed company. Perhaps Fleur could bring Victoire to the lake more often so they could visit Tonks. That would be a very nice thing for Fleur to do.

Victoire propped her chin in her hands as she sat, acting oh-so-grown-up next to the two grown-up women, a very serious expression on her face to let her mother and her mother's friend know she was listening to them and she was a big girl too.

"Ze few times zat 'arry brought Teddy to ze Burrow for special occasions," Fleur began as she studied her daughter, "Victoire and he, and by he, I mean Teddy, got along famously. He very much liked 'olding her when she was still a bébé even zough he was not much bigger zan she was. Ze next time we come to see you and ze ducks I will bring you a photograph of ze two of zem. One time Victoire sneezed while he was 'olding her and he jumped, he was so startled by eet." Fleur laughed at the memory before she grew silent. It was obvious now to the Veela what was bothering her companion.

"You 'ave not seen 'im since zat night of ze Hogwarts battle," she asked as she looked at Tonks, "Have you? I am so sorry...all zis must be terrible for you." She turned to her daughter and urged the little girl to come to her. "Come 'ere, Victoire. Sit with Madame Lupin. She is Teddy's maman. You remember your friend, Teddy?" Fleur helped the girl settle between her and Tonks.

"We must do something, non?" she questioned her friend, "Something must be done."