More for Jordan
I've stolen from Mr. Lewis. Now I offer you my own words.
Dedicated to the one and only real life Tonks:
She knew who was knocking on her door. Not because she had used Magic, merely because she had used her eyes. She saw his face at the funeral. She knew he needed to come, but he would have to come in his own time. And when she opened the door, she saw that he was still not quite ready to take that next step. She knew she would have to help him with that one. With a comforting hand on his shoulder, she guided him in.
“Come in Harry. I’ve just put Teddy down for his nap, so you and I can enjoy our tea in relative peace.”
Harry took a chair, and sat silently as a cup of tea was poured for him. After a warming sip, he finally seemed to find his voice.
“Auntie Andromeda… I meant to come sooner…”
“Nonsense dear, you’re right on time.”
“What?”
“Can you honestly tell me you would have been prepared to come sooner?”
“No… no I can’t.”
“Then I am very proud of you. You’ve done very well to make it this soon. Now tell me dear, what’s troubling you?”
“I’m sorry Auntie, it was my fault.”
“Harry James Potter. I will hear none of that from you.”
“But-“
“No buts young man. Do not presume to tell me you knew my daughter better than I did. I raised her to be strong, and to fight. She did both. I have shed my tears, and I will continue to shed them for many years to come. But I will not regret her choices. They are what make me proud of her. You would do well to do the same.”
Harry felt chastened by Andromeda’s words. As if sensing that he was hurt, Andromeda’s face softened, and he reached out again for Harry’s hand. Taking hold, she began rubbing small circles with her thumb, trying to ease out what Harry had been holding in.
“Tell me what you loved about her dear. I’d like to know.”
“When I think of her, I think of laughter. I don’t know if I can laugh without her anymore.”
Andromeda came and sat next to Harry. Taking him in her arms, perhaps thinking of him a little bit as a child sent to ease the pain of the one she lost, she stroked his hair and gently rocked him. Harry clutched at her, and finally let the tears flow.
“Darling, listen to me very carefully. Laughter is a wonderful thing. And it comes from inside you, it takes over your whole body. Laughter did not die with my daughter. Laughter is still inside you, just like she is.” Andromeda lifted Harry’s chin so that he was looking into her eyes. “Never ever forget that. And when you laugh, think of her. I’m sure she’ll hear you. Can you do that for me, and for her?”
Harry once again let himself be encircled by Andromeda’s embrace. Deep in his soul, he could still feel a bit of laughter building inside him as he thought of how Tonks had always made him smile. He knew he might not laugh today. But tomorrow, tomorrow was a new day. Who knew what could be possible then.
Dedicated to the one and only real life Tonks:
She knew who was knocking on her door. Not because she had used Magic, merely because she had used her eyes. She saw his face at the funeral. She knew he needed to come, but he would have to come in his own time. And when she opened the door, she saw that he was still not quite ready to take that next step. She knew she would have to help him with that one. With a comforting hand on his shoulder, she guided him in.
“Come in Harry. I’ve just put Teddy down for his nap, so you and I can enjoy our tea in relative peace.”
Harry took a chair, and sat silently as a cup of tea was poured for him. After a warming sip, he finally seemed to find his voice.
“Auntie Andromeda… I meant to come sooner…”
“Nonsense dear, you’re right on time.”
“What?”
“Can you honestly tell me you would have been prepared to come sooner?”
“No… no I can’t.”
“Then I am very proud of you. You’ve done very well to make it this soon. Now tell me dear, what’s troubling you?”
“I’m sorry Auntie, it was my fault.”
“Harry James Potter. I will hear none of that from you.”
“But-“
“No buts young man. Do not presume to tell me you knew my daughter better than I did. I raised her to be strong, and to fight. She did both. I have shed my tears, and I will continue to shed them for many years to come. But I will not regret her choices. They are what make me proud of her. You would do well to do the same.”
Harry felt chastened by Andromeda’s words. As if sensing that he was hurt, Andromeda’s face softened, and he reached out again for Harry’s hand. Taking hold, she began rubbing small circles with her thumb, trying to ease out what Harry had been holding in.
“Tell me what you loved about her dear. I’d like to know.”
“When I think of her, I think of laughter. I don’t know if I can laugh without her anymore.”
Andromeda came and sat next to Harry. Taking him in her arms, perhaps thinking of him a little bit as a child sent to ease the pain of the one she lost, she stroked his hair and gently rocked him. Harry clutched at her, and finally let the tears flow.
“Darling, listen to me very carefully. Laughter is a wonderful thing. And it comes from inside you, it takes over your whole body. Laughter did not die with my daughter. Laughter is still inside you, just like she is.” Andromeda lifted Harry’s chin so that he was looking into her eyes. “Never ever forget that. And when you laugh, think of her. I’m sure she’ll hear you. Can you do that for me, and for her?”
Harry once again let himself be encircled by Andromeda’s embrace. Deep in his soul, he could still feel a bit of laughter building inside him as he thought of how Tonks had always made him smile. He knew he might not laugh today. But tomorrow, tomorrow was a new day. Who knew what could be possible then.