Likewise, Fleur hadn't originally thought highly of Tonks. She took any given opportunity to criticise her for her clumsiness, her appearance, her personality. Privately, Fleur sometimes envied Tonks. She could change the way she looked at will, but she was happy to look like herself – or what Fleur could only assume was herself, wacky hair colour aside.
The real reason Fleur had taken a shine to Tonks laid in their similarities, not their differences. Though Bill was not a Werewolf, Tonks and Remus had been very supportive to them both in whatever way the transition effected him. Also, Tonks's condition might not be quite as ugly as being called a Half-breed, she understood what it meant to be different. Everything else was fodder; who cared how someone dressed, or if they were clumsy? Not Fleur. Not any more.
"Tonks!" She smiled in welcome, but stayed at the small table she was setting. A three-tiered plate stand took up most of the space on the table, a delicate structure she had been gifted from her aunt on her wedding day. It was full of finger-sandwiches, cupcakes and Madeira sponge cake, with more in the kitchen should they run out. One never knew when the guest was pregnant. A china teapot took up the rest of the space, with just enough room for teacups and side plates left on either side.
"Eet 'as been much too long," She looked at Tonks' stomach, which had ballooned with life even more since she last saw her. Again, she envied Tonks, but she did not want to be pregnant right now. "'Ow is the leetle baby?"