In the Alley{Tonks}

[Isabelle Tonks-Lupin]

Isabelle

It was noon, the sun was high, its rays touching the ground in invisible waves. A few clouds were slowly moving towards the sun, but otherwise, nothing interfered with the blue tinged sky. Witches and wizards moved along Diagon Alley, buying things before school started, which would be in the next week, and a 7th year Gryffindor stood by Quality Quidditch Supples, staring at the broomstick in the window. "Teddy, look." Isabelle's fingers touched the window as she gazed longly at the broom. Teddy had been rather quiet on their walk, and Isabelle wondered what was on his mind. Biting her lip, she turned to her older brother and put her hands on her hips. "Teddy." Isabelle spoke, reaching out. They were close, as brother and sister, and Isabelle just wanted to know what was going on in her brothers head. Jeez, sometimes you really wonder about family. Isabelle thought.

"You were crying." She blinked as he spoke, pulling her hand back and putting in the pocket of her scarlet colored robes. "So what?" Isabelle growled slightly. She was defensive, what did it matter if she cried? Before Teddy had a chance to reply, Isabelle stalked off, moving through the crowd of people and slipping past a few Aurors before reaching the ice cream parlour. As she took a seat, she ran her fingers through her hair, a sight escaping her lips. She should not have gone off at her brother like that. Shaking her head, her dark colored hair falling over her eyes. She would apologize to him later, probably when they got home. Speaking of home, Isabelle wondered what her mother was doing. Isabelle only had her mother, brother and grandmother in her immediate family, the others were family by marriage or they had associated themselves with evil. Isabelle knew some of the war when she was still in her mothers stomach, it was quite the common tale you heard around Hogwarts.

Sitting up, Isabelle ordered a chocolate sundae with freshly chopped almonds. Some of the other flavors sounded funny, so she stuck with her usual. As she waited, she tapped her fingers on the table, making a melody only she knew, and closed her eyes. The day was only going to get warmer, and Isabelle knew it. The sun was already heating up more, and she felt alot warmer in her robes compared to the morning. As her ice cream was placed in front of her, Isabelle smiled. "Thanks." Reopening her eyes to stare at her treat, she began to eat. Feeling the ice cold slid down her throat with each bite, she could not help but smile.

[tonks]

((OOC: Woot! Lets crack the champagne over this babys head! Puahahahaha!))

Tonks

I sighed as I made my way through Diagon Alley, worn out from the days adventures. My eyes, which I had made violet today, scanned the crowds in front of me. Years had passed. I had raised both a daughter, and a son, and yet I hadn't given up the exterior image of childish frivolity. Though I had changed to a certain extent, I made a conscience decision to keep from changing completely. This was how I was when my beloved husband had died, and it is how I would remain until I, in turn, passed on. It was a homage to him. And, aside from that...Who wanted to become a stuffy, bitter old woman, anyway? Not that I was old, no....Middle aged, though you couldn't tell it much. And I didn't feel it, either. Years of chasing down dark wizards would keep a girl in shape, that was for sure.

My Ministry official dark blue robes fluttered around me with each step, the dark combat boots I was wearing clunking heavily on the pavement with each step. It was bright today, and the sun beated heavily down on me, making my clothing feel much warmer than it actually was. I had to keep my eyes partially squinted as I moved through the streets, trying to avoid bumping to people. Oh, yes, that stayed the same, too. I was still the same clumsy person I had always been. My feet seemed to have a mind of their own, and I doubt that would ever change. That was how some people described me, though. "That clumsy, pink haired head auror." Occasionally, they would add loud and powerful to that description, but that was it, in it's barest form.

That was another change that had been made in my life. I wasn't just an employee at the Ministry of Magic anymore, I RAN one of it's departments. It'd been that way since after the war. Since before I even found out I was pregnant with my dear daughter, Isabelle. Kinglsey Shacklebolt, who had been made Minister, appointed me the position. He said that I was the most qualified of all, that I had risked the most by joining the battle. I kept my head, even after I watched my husband fall to death at my Uncles hand. Or, wand, technically. I didn't let myself give over to the grief until after the war was over, until after we finally won. It seemed that I cried for days, weeks, months, even years, after that.

Even Isabelle, who I found out shortly after the war I was pregnant with, couldn't completely heal the grief. I would watch my son, day in and day out, and I would be reminded of Remus. Reminded of all we had lost. Of all we never had the chance to experience. Though I would never hold it against Teddy. It wasn't his fault that he looked like his father. I would stand tall, and put on a happy face for my children. That is what Remus would have wanted. I would love them for all they were worth, and then some. There was never a day that went by that I didn't let them know they were loved and cherished.

Unfortunately, this couldn't keep Isabelle from falling into a deep depression. The poor girl had been raised without a father. And, while a mothers love ran deep, it wasn't enough to make up for lack of a father. I knew that, and I never held it against her. I knew she loved me, she was my baby. My little girl, even after all these years. She would stay that way for years to come, and I knew she liked it. She never pushed me away, never told me that I needed to stop looking after her so much. She, too, was like her father. Always wanting to get a laugh out of people, being the little trouble maker, and I loved her for it. She could brighten up even my darkest days.

Thinking of the devil, there she was. Sitting not 3 feet away from where I was, eating a chocolate sundae. I smiled. That'd been her favorite since she was a little girl. That was one of the many things I shared with her. Chocolate sundaes were close to the only thing I would eat when it came to ice cream. With a grin, I moved up behind my daughter, placing my hands gently upon her shoulders, "Wotcher, love." I said brightly to her, the wide grin still over my features as I looked down at her.

[Isabelle Tonks-Lupin]

The chocolate sundae was cold, freezing my tongue and mouth with each bite, but it was delicious. The chopped almonds perfect, scattered around the ice cream and making each bite like it tasted of Heaven itself. I could eat a hundred of these and not get sick of it, my brother thought I was insane but hey, aren't brothers supposed to think that? Chewing with my mouth closed, I look at people who were ordering, eating, laughing and talking. I stirred the spoon into the melting sundae and sighed with contentment. The day had been going good, even with Teddy telling me I had cried, and I had stalked off, it was a beautiful sunny day, I had gotten most of what I needed for school. Which this year would be my last and I couldn't wait. This year would be great, I just had a feeling. Taking another bite of my sundae, I nearly choked and felt hands on my shoulders before hearing my mothers voice. Patting my chest to help the ice cream go down, I look upwards and look into her eyes. "Hey mum." I say after feeling the ice cream slid the rest of the way down into my stomach, the cold feeling spread throughout and I couldn't help but smile.

I often smiled, trying to hide the pain behind a forced smile which I learned to make it look more natural. Growing up without my father had been hard, and I did get depressed. Yet I was never suicidal. No, I channeled my hurt and depression into things like risk taking and playing Quidditch. Yes I had contemplating on dying, but I never took that step. I didn't want to hurt my family with something like that, so I did other things. I am quite surprised I am still going to Hogwarts, during my fifth and sixth years, I never listened or anything, so I'm quite amazed I still have a place. Finishing the last of my sundae, I stand up and push the chair in, before turning around and facing my mother properly. "Want to go for a walk?" I ask but I didn't wait for an answer. Instead I walked past her, into the thinning crowd and wondering what store I was going to have a look at next.

I saw Teddy around the Quidditch Store again, and I turned around, heading away from him. I did not want him saying I cried during my sleep. I would be the one to tell my mother, not him. I just needed a little time. Stuffing my hands into my pockets, I licked my lips for any stray signs of chocolate ice cream and was pleasantly surprised when I tasted none. I couldn't decide where I was going so I stopped, hoping my mother was following. I didn't check to look in case she wasn't, and I heard a voice from my right. "Isabelle!" I squint and turn, looking at Alisa, she was Gryffindor Quidditch Captain and played a hell of a good Chaser position. "Hey Alisa." I wave, happy to see a friend before school. "Okay, I'm holding try outs in the first week. Make sure you are there, I don't want to lose my Seeker." She winked, knowing full well she would never replace me. I enjoyed Quidditch, and I was a kick ass Seeker if I do say so myself. But if there was a better Seeker who wanted to play, I would step down. I had to do what was best for the team.

"I'll be there." I nod as she smiles and walks away. I let out a deep breathe and turn around, hoping my mother would be in line of vision. Okay, Quidditch try outs, gotta remember that. Not to mention all the other stuff but I'll be there. I don't want to get kicked off the team. I thought to myself. Witches and wizards began to swarm around, walking past me to finish off their shopping and I noticed a few other people from Gryffindor, there was a few Hufflepuff's and a few Ravenclaw's. One Slytherin waved to me, I knew him from my Defense Against the Dark Arts class and he was the Seeker for the Slytherin Quidditch team. Quite often he would nearly catch the snitch, and I would just make it before him. He pushed me to my limits more than anyone else, and he dared me to do dangerous, but cool looking, moves in the air to avoid the Bludger, and to avoid him when he zipped by to follow the snitch. A friend, and my rival.