Willow Tonks

Somber Birthdays.

             Dawn had just broken through the starry night sky. Inside of Number 17, Grimmauld Place, a now fifteen year old girl lay awake on her bed. Her birthday started five hours ago and she had waited, and waited, and waited for the clock to strike midnight. She didn't know why,as she usually didn't enjoy her birthdays. It wasn't because she never got gifts, or that she never did anything. It was quite the opposite, actually. She always got at a few presents and her family always took her to dinner, but the only thing that would make her enjoy her birthday, truly, would be spending them with her brother.
        Over in Little Whinging, Surrey, Harry Potter was fast asleep, dreaming of the dreaded night in the graveyard. He had no recollection of the fact that it was his birthday. He also didn't know that there was a girl in London thinking about him. He just tossed and turned in his sleep.
     Little did he know that he would be meeting that girl very soon, just in disguise.

       Two hours later when Willow thought that it would be socially acceptable to wake up, she slipped out of bed and dragged her tired feet down the stairs. She was surprised to see Nym already downstairs making what appeared to be pancakes, bacon, and eggs. There was also a pot of coffee brewing on the stove.
        Nym didn't see Willow, who was halfway behind the wall. She put the plate and mug on a tray and turned towards the stairs to find Willow staring face-to-face with her.
"Do you want me to pretend this never happened and go back to bed?" Willow asked with a smile.

"Oh, bloody hell! I was going to bring you breakfast in bed. I can't exactly do that when you're down here watching me!"
      Willow laughed and went to go sit down at the dining table.
"It looks delicious. Thank you." She said as Nym placed the tray in front of her. She began to eat while Nym fixed herself a plate."So I figured that we could go to Diagon Alley today for your birthday," Nym spoke before biting into a strip of bacon. Willow shrugged.
"Sounds good."

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       After Willow dried herself off from the shower, she put on a white peasant blouse with a pair of dark blue jeans. As she was brushing her heaps of untameable red hair, there was a knock on her bedroom door. "Come in," she called out.
   Nym opened the door with one of her hands behind her back. Willow could tell that she was holding a present because of Nym's big goofy smile. "I have something for you," She held out a small jewelry box. Willow took it and opened it. Inside was a silver heart shaped locket with green engraved details on the front.
"Happy birthday!" Nym yelled while doing dramatic jazz hands.
      Willow opened the locket. On one side was a shrunken down picture of two babies zooming around on small broomsticks while a ruffled up orange cat ran around at the very bottom of the photo. On the other side was a picture of a woman and a man spinning in front of a fountain. The woman had red hair and green eyes while the man had messy raven hair and brown eyes.
The Potters.
    Willow felt her eyes fill with tears when she stared at the photos. This was her family. Willow quickly put the locket around her neck and turned to Nym.
"Thank you."

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    Nymphadora Tonks and Willow Tonks walked through the secret entrance of Diagon Alley. They looped their arms together and practically skipped down the street.
     "How about you get your books and I'll get your robes and then we can go get your wand?" Nym asked her sister.

"Only if we can get ice cream afterwards."

"Deal."
     Willow took her galleons and went to Florish And Blotts to get her books. She checked her Hogwarts list to see which books she needed. The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5 and Defensive Magical Theory. She pushed the door to the shop open, which caused a bell to chime. The shop had a distinct smell of old books and old wax.

Willow loved it.

    She browsed around occasionally finding interesting books that would catch her eye. Suddenly, her ears picked up on a conversation.
"Ron, I just feel bad that he is left out."
"It's for the best 'Mione. Harry would understand."

  Willow couldn't help but to eavesdrop. She pulled out a random book from the shelf and opened it. She pretended to read while listening in on their conversation.
"I just want some food Hermione. Can we go get ice cream?"
"Ron, you sound like a child, but I agree. Let's go."
     They turned down the aisle that Willow was on and left the store. Willow made sure to keep her face hidden in her book.
   She set the book back on the shelf and went to find her school books. As she found them, she bumped into someone. She caught herself so that she didn't fall on the floor. "A Weasley?" A voice asked. "No." Willow said defiantly as she looked up at the person that bumped into her.
  He had gray eyes and blonde hair.
"Who are you, might I ask?" Willow asked him, annoyed.
"I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy." He raised his eyebrow and smirked, almost as though he expected her to cower at his name.
      Instead she crossed her arms over her chest and cocked her head to one side.
"Is that supposed to impress me?"