Bounded by Destiny ~ A Harry Potter Fanfiction

Love is Blind

"I love you, Andromeda," said James, softly, as she felt her lips slowly closing on his. It was the best feeling she'd ever had. Comfort, happiness and warmth rushed through her, through her blood, through her veins. She held on, as she felt his touch, like he was her life support machine.

Was she actually doing this? She knew she wasn't dreaming. She had trusted herself to love again.

"And I love you, too," she whispered, softly. At last, she pulled away, letting go. Warmth was still pumping throughout her entire body. It hadn't ended. In fact, it had only just begun.

Andromeda rushed downstairs, gasping. She had almost forgotten about Mr Tonks. He was growing old and frail, and could barely walk. She hurriedly filled him two cups of water and put them in front of him. "Thank you, Andromeda," he said, suddenly. "Couldn't have asked for more. You have proved that life is worth living, even in the darkest of times."

This was very true. She sat down for a moment as she tried to digest what Mr Tonks had just said. Life was worth living, even in the darkest of times. There were always ways to find happiness... again. That would've been what Ted wanted to see. He wouldn't have wanted to see her live in misery, mourning his death after so long...

James was surprisingly helpful, too. He grabbed a meal for Mr Tonks, who thanked him gratefully. Nymphadora was now jumping up and down, looking very excited. "Mum! Who is this newcomer?" She had gotten rather mature for her age. Andromeda decided to smile mysteriously. "You'll find out soon!"

Andromeda slowly skimmed through her things. Was there anything she needed? No. She was all set and ready to go. She smiled. Ready to start a new chapter of her life. There was no saying otherwise.

James left that day, but Andromeda still felt his presence. Later that evening, it was Poppy who had come to visit her. "Andie!" she cried. "Poppy!" Andromeda flung her arms around her friend. It had been 6 years since she had last seen her.

"It's been so long," said Poppy, longingly. "I wanted to ask, how are you? You look way better than when I last saw you." Andromeda smiled. She repeated what Mr Tonks had told her. "Life is worth living, even in the darkest of times. We just have to find happiness, comfort in ourselves. Never give up hope." Poppy held her tightly. "I've had some very dark times, too," she admitted. "With patients." Poppy paused for a long time, nearly a minute. She led Andromeda to the living room, wanting to sit down and have a proper talk.

"Fleamont Potter," she sighed. "And his wife, Euphemia." Tears were dripping from her eyes. "I tried so hard to save them, they were almost better!" Andromeda's heart ached. James Potter's parents. "They were recovering!" she added. "Then, suddenly, there was an emergency patient. One who had been gravely injured by the Dark Lord, and needed immediate medical attention. All of us fully-qualified nurses were asked to help immediately, but he departed, unfortunately. And I left the Potters in the hands of a damned trainee, one who had no idea what she was doing and gave Euphemia the wrong potion. That was a fatal blunder! I shouldn't have allowed her to do that. I should've stayed back, stayed with my patients, and cared for them!" Poppy was in a total mental breakdown.

"Euphemia died within hours," she added, her emotions still unstable. Her eyes were completely fogged with tears, her clothes filled with it. In fact, some of it was on the chair. "I-I'm so sorry, Andie!" she gasped, as she looked at her own tears which stained the chair. "That's no problem!" Andromeda said, and she quickly cast a spell, removing all of it instantly. "Thanks," sighed Poppy. "Fleamont was doing well, but he couldn't bear with the loss of his wife. Because of his stress, anxiety and depression, there was nothing we could do... His condition deteriorated and he passed away a few days after Euphemia..." Andromeda started feeling tears well up in her eyes, too. It was the most upsetting story she had heard in years.

But she soon calmed down. "Poppy, you must understand," she said. "Humans have a desire to blame ourselves. But the truth is, it wasn't your fault." Poppy stared at her, still crying uncontrollably. "I guess, but I can't help thinking that I'm responsible for both their deaths," she said, wiping her tears with a tissue. "Life can be cruel."

"Not if we can find happiness in ourselves..." Andromeda added on. That was the wrong thing to say. Poppy was crying even harder now. Andromeda decided to leave her alone and not say anymore. Every word she said only seemed to upset her even more.

She tended to Mr Tonks, helping him bath and assisting him to get his newspapers. He was reaching the end of his life, and Andromeda was determined to make sure that he would live these years happily.

Andromeda soon dozed off on her own couch and fell into a deep slumber. When she flicked her eyes open, to her surprise, Poppy was still there. She hadn't left. "Andie, I feel awful," she said. "Horrible. I could've done better, Andie. I could've saved them. They would've lived if it wasn't for my foolish mistakes, Andie..." She appeared to have been crying for the whole night.

Andromeda didn't say anything, but she held her hand, and comforted her. Poppy seemed to be feeling better each moment. At least she had stopped crying, and brighter, more optimistic things seemed to be filling her mind instead.

"I better make a move now," she said. "Work should be starting. I'm so, utterly sorry for disturbing you and staying in your house without asking." "You're free to come anytime!" said Andromeda. "I have no issue with that." Poppy disapparated out - she was gone.

The doorbell rang 3 times over. Andromeda so happened to be busy preparing breakfast for Mr Tonks, and hadn't heard it. She finally attended to the door, as James Potter walked in. "Andie!" he said, throwing his arms around her. "What took you so long?" "Oh, just preparing breakfast for Mr Tonks," said Andromeda. James was now sitting at the place where Poppy was sitting not long ago. "It's wet," he said, in surprise. "Sorry," said Andromeda. She flicked her wand and immediately, the chair was spotting clean. "Forgot to clean up this morning. Please forgive me for that."

"What do you think?" James asked. "Of course I'd forgive you, Andromeda!" He smiled, and she suddenly felt herself doing the same thing. Her face was getting closer to his every second. Her gaze was fixed on him - she didn't even look away for a second. Her lips got closer to his and at last, they closed together, warmth rushing through her once again. She loved the feeling.

Nymphadora had woken up. Andromeda heard her bouncing down the stairs, and she quickly pulled away. "Nymphadora," she said. "She's cute," he answered, as her face appeared from the foot of the stairs. She was beaming, her hair flashing from purple to pink, then to red. "You never told me she's a Metamorphmagus!" he said. "Aww, you're so cute, Nymphadora." To his shock and confusion, Nymphadora gave him a glare. "Don't call me Nymphadora, you fool," she said. "Ever again." Andromeda gasped, and grabbed Nymphadora. "Don't be rude!" she said. "Sorry," Nymphadora was lowering her head, admitting that she had done something wrong. "I just hate being called Nymphadora. It's such a princess girly name that just doesn't fit me. Please call me Tonks instead." "That's better," Andromeda smiled, as she explained that her daughter had the tomboy attitude and hated princesses, fairies and other frilly stuff. Including her name.

James whispered to Andromeda, asking how on Earth did Tonks sound better than Nymphadora at all, and Andromeda just answered with a shrug. She had no clue why, but she respected her daughter's choice.

A few months later, Andromeda found herself pregnant again. "Tonks!" she said, smiling at her daughter. "You're going to have a younger sibling soon!" Tonks was jumping up and down, looking extremely excited. "Really?" she asked. "Brother or sister?" "We don't know yet," said Andromeda. "We will have to wait." She smiled, but Nymphadora was jumping up and down like a monkey. She was impatient - she was overexcited.