Love The Heartless

Chapter Seventeen

December 25th, 1970

"Wake up! Time for presents!" Aurora shouted from her spot in the living room.

The house looked brilliant. Aurora and Andromeda insisted on decorating 'the muggle way' since that was what Ted was used to, and all three of them wanted to create traditions of their own. She even went as far as getting the three of them matching pajamas. Although, it took Andromeda some convincing to wear them.

"Please tell me there's coffee," Andromeda grumbled as she stumbled from her bedroom.
"Already have your cup made, kiddo. Go wake Ted up." She shooed her towards the boy's room.

"EDWARD TONKS! WAKE UP!" Andromeda yelled from Ted's doorway, shutting it behind her as she stormed off to the kitchen to grab her coffee.
"Geeze, I'm coming," Ted mumbled as he opened the door.

"Happy Christmas, Ted!"
"Happy Christmas, Rory." Ted collapsed on the couch next to her and rubbed his face.
"Long night?"
"Andromeda had me up till three wrapping presents." He groaned.

"You hardly wrapped anything." Andromeda rolled her eyes.
"Well, I for one am very excited to see what you lot got this year. Go ahead. The green ones are for Andromeda, and the blue ones are for Ted."

Christmas wasn't as spectacular as it was at the manor by no means. Aurora didn't have the money to get the kids as many presents as they were used to getting, but she tried.

"Wicked! A broom service kit! Thanks, Rory!" Ted smiled up at her.
"'Guide To Multidimensional Transfiguration', thank you, Rory!"

The two teenagers continued unwrapping their presents, giggling and laughing as they went. Aurora managed to snag some pictures of them that she would treasure forever. Their faces were bright and shiny as they looked into the camera, waving their matching jackets with 'Tonks' written on the back of both of them.

As Ted cleaned up the mess from the wrapping paper, Andromeda stood and quietly handed Aurora a small neatly wrapped box.

"What's this, then?" 
"Something for you." Andromeda sat next to her on the couch.

"You shouldn't have." Aurora gave her a small smile as she unwrapped it.

A note was taped to the top of the box.

Dear Mum,

I hope it's okay that I call you that. You've been more of a Mother to me in the past ten months than my Mother was in the short time that I had her. I wanted to get you something to show you that I appreciate everything you've done, and all the sacrifices that you've made for me. I may not show it often enough, but I don't know how to express how much I love and appreciate you.

Happy Christmas,
'Dromeda

Aurora wiped the tears from her eyes and opened the small box. It was a small emerald with silver encasing and a silver chain.

"Andromeda-"

"I know it's not much, but I charmed it myself. Well, I did the studying, and Molly did the charms. It's supposed to be kind of a locator. I know you get nervous when I go off somewhere, and with the war going on I just-" Andromeda took a deep breath. "If you focus hard, it'll sort of 'pull' you in my direction. I know it's dumb-"
Aurora silenced her with a tight hug. 
"It's the best thing that I've ever gotten in my entire life. I love it. And I love you."
"I love you too." Andromeda wiped away a stray tear.

"Now for my present! It's not as beautiful or heartfelt as Andromeda's, but Arthur made one for Molly, and I asked him to help me make one for you." Ted pulled out a box and handed it to the older witch.