Tweak

InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "It's all in the reflexes."

Username: 
Password:    
Remember Me
  • Create Account
  • IJ Login
  • OpenID Login
Search by : 
  • View
    • Create Account
    • IJ Login
    • OpenID Login
  • Journal
    • Post
    • Edit Entries
    • Customize Journal
    • Comment Settings
    • Recent Comments
    • Manage Tags
  • Account
    • Manage Account
    • Viewing Options
    • Manage Profile
    • Manage Notifications
    • Manage Pictures
    • Manage Schools
    • Account Status
  • Friends
    • Edit Friends
    • Edit Custom Groups
    • Friends Filter
    • Nudge Friends
    • Invite
    • Create RSS Feed
  • Asylums
    • Post
    • Asylum Invitations
    • Manage Asylums
    • Create Asylum
  • Site
    • Support
    • Upgrade Account
    • FAQs
    • Search By Location
    • Search By Interest
    • Search Randomly

Nymphadora Tonks ([info]nymphadarling) wrote in [info]wished,
@ 2010-01-17 02:43:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:!1998: 01, !complete, hestia jones, nymphadora tonks

Who: Nymphadora Tonks and Hestia Jones
What: Tonks is in a bit of a panic and needs her best mate's advice.
Where: Hogwarts
When: Saturday evening
Warning: Good chance that many a four letter word may abound
Rating: Mid-level


Tonks paced across the front hall just minutes before curfew. She didn't have to patrol that evening, which was a blessing in and of itself, and it also allowed for something she'd been dreading since--well, she wasn't sure how long. As long as it'd been since the idea had brushed against her mind and she'd promptly dismissed it.

How on earth was she supposed to tell Remus? This wasn't the time for this. This wasn't the time for any of this. They were both fighting a war, and it was a war that needed soldiers, not--whatever it was she was going to be. Useless, that's what.

A pair of students ran giggling through the hall, and she shooed them away before resuming her pacing. Hestia would know what to do. She was loads more level-headed about this sort of thing than Tonks, though that wasn't all that bloody difficult.


(Read comments) - (Post a new comment)


[info]nymphadarling
2010-01-17 08:46 am UTC (link)
This was the very last thing Tonks had expected either, and it wasn't anywhere near the sort of fun she usually gained from spontaneous experiences.

"Yes, well, seems I'm as good as I look then," she said, leading Hestia back toward her quarters. "I thought it might all be in my head, because I wasn't sick or anything like that, and it isn't that unusual for me to be--skipping during assignments or when I'm stressed or any of that. But then when I was morphing yesterday to find a new face and body--"

She stopped talking and shook her head, waiting until they were in a more secluded area of the castle before she continued in a quieter voice. "I thought the weight gain was because I haven't been training or any of that lately, and the food here's delicious. I usually morph it away, right? But I can't. I've tried. It stays, and it's all in the front part of my belly. I'll show you once we get to my quarters. It's bizarre."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]hastyhestia
2010-01-17 09:02 am UTC (link)
Hestia dropped the hood of her cloak back before raking her hands through her hair. She brushed her bangs out of her eyes, her brow furrowing as she looked Tonks over. Her first assumption seemed to be right. She turned on her heel, her pace falling in step with Tonks' and nodding her head in understanding.

Or as understanding as she could possibly be. Hestia's knowledge of Tonks' special ability was limitied. She knew what she had briefly read in books and what Tonks had managed to make Hestia understand.

"It sounds like exactly what we think it is," Hestia told her. She chewed softly on her bottom lip, her hands digging into the pockets of her cloak. "There are some things you just can't magic away."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]nymphadarling
2010-01-17 09:15 am UTC (link)
"You're a healer," Tonks said. "You can run a test, right? See if it's...you know?"

She said little else until they reached her quarters. Lowering the wards, she opened the door for Hestia and cast a quick silencing spell just to be on the safe side. Once they were settled in her small but comfortable sitting room, she magicked over the tray of tea and hot cocoa she'd had the house elves bring, along with various nibbles. Silently offering it all to Hestia, she continued.

"When I was morphing yesterday," she said, continuing her story from earlier, "I felt something. Like--bubbles, but not. I think it might've been moving. Or kicking." Tonks buried her face in her hands. "How could it be kicking and I didn't even bloody know? How stupid am I? I thought maybe a few months ago, something might've been up, but I didn't want to think about it. Except that's all I've been able to think about, and I didn't want to take the test because what if it is positive? It'll ruin everything. Minerva will probably kick me out of Hogwarts, I'll be useless for the Order, Remus won't want anything to do with me--he's so...Remus already. Do you know what this could do to him? To us? Forget about bloody marrying him. He'll never want to talk to me again. And if he does marry me, it'll only be because of this, and he'll wind up resenting me. I don't want that, Hes. I don't want any of it."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]hastyhestia
2010-01-18 05:42 am UTC (link)
"I can."

Hestia swallowed. Her eyes averting to the stone tiles as they walked toward Tonks' quarters, or that was where she assumed they were going. She followed her best friend through the door and watched as she cast a silencing spell. She briefly wondered what it was like for Tonks at the castle, one of the youngest ones there.

As Tonks spoke, Hestia cleared her mind of her thoughts.

But suddenly Tonks was going a mile a minute, the thoughts pouring out of her and Hestia was doing her best to keep up. Finally, she held her hand up, her body leaned against a couch.

"On what planet do we live that you think McGonagall will kick you out? Or that Remus will leave you? If there is anything we can count on, it's support, Tonks. This isn't- you being pregnant isn't a bad thing."

For a brief moment, that statement alone was enough to put it all into perspective.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]nymphadarling
2010-01-18 06:06 am UTC (link)
Tonks was inching closer and closer to a nervous breakdown the more she talked, so Hestia cutting in with a reality check was helpful--but it didn't completely stave off her fears.

"I don't know," she said miserably, slumping her shoulders. "Wouldn't you? An unwed professor not much older than the students turns out to be up the duff and due before the bloody school year's done? I'd fire me."

The Remus issue was much more complicated. "He's Remus," she all but wailed. "He's brilliant, he's supportive, he'll make a fantastic father, but he's a full-time Order member. It's his job to get in spats and defend the world. He hasn't got time to change nappies. Neither have I. I thought--I thought we'd get married and have years before this happened, if it ever did. I never planned on kids. And that only makes me feel more rotten, because I don't want my own child. What kind of mum does that make me?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]hastyhestia
2010-01-18 06:46 am UTC (link)
Hestia crossed her arms against her chest, her brows furrowed.

"This is 1998," she huffed. "What you do in your private, personal life if none of anyone else's business and it should do nothing to interfere with your career. You know Minerva. She's not a woman who's old school."

That seemed to be the least of McGonagall's worries. Tonks had proven herself time and time again. The girl wasn't an idiot and this wasn't going to slow her down. Hestia knew this. She believed it.

Her eyes widened slightly. She had always known that Tonks wasn't incredibly interested in having children but she thought that perhaps that would change once something like this happened. Unfortunately the timing seemed to be off.

"It makes you a normal woman," Hestia said, her voice growing a bit more soft. Her arms uncrossed and dropped to their sides. "It's a right shite time for this to happen, I'm going to be honest. But that's because I know you're itching to do something - but this happened for a reason. And I think you've got to deal with it. And you've got to tell him."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]nymphadarling
2010-01-18 06:58 am UTC (link)
For a good few seconds, Tonks concentrated on breathing in and out deeply in an attempt to calm down. She knew most of her fears were irrational, but they still weighed heavily on her mind as possibilities, no matter how slim their chances. Logic wouldn't likely help dissolve those fears much, and the only thing that would was confronting them. Only problem was, right then she didn't quite feel brave enough to leave her quarters, let alone talk to Remus or Minerva.

"I know," she moaned, burying her face in her hands. "But I can't help it. Every bloody thing I've worked for in my life is gone now, and this puts into jeopardy the few good things I have left. My job, my ability to help the Order, and Remus." Near tears, she pulled her hands away to look at Hestia. "I don't know how to do this, Hes."

Tonks nodded numbly. "I've asked him over here tomorrow," she mumbled. "I'll tell him then. Could you--do the test? Make sure I'm not hallucination and panicking about nothing?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]hastyhestia
2010-01-18 07:14 am UTC (link)
Hestia pushed herself up from her spot against the couch. She had been so immeresed in what Tonks had been telling her, she had forgotten that she was still wearing her cloak. She shrugged off the heavy, wool covering before pulling her wand out from the sleeve of her sweater. She pursed her lips slightly before looking at Tonks' stomach then back at her wand.

It had been a long while since she'd done something like this.

"Of course I can," she said softly. "But I want you to know that this doesn't mean that everyything in your life stops. It doesn't. You're still an Auror. You're still a teacher. You're still a woman who's engaged to marry the man she's madly in love with - and don't give me that look - you know I'm right."

Sometimes she wondered why she stepped in the role of the maternal one so quickly. The power of being right helped, though.

"You're not going to go through this alone, either," Hestia added. She took a step toward Tonks. "Now, this is going to feel slightly odd."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]nymphadarling
2010-01-18 07:19 am UTC (link)
Tonks looked guiltily down at her hands, having been giving Hestia that look. She'd never wanted to be a teacher permanently, but now she would be, at least until the war was over, and there was no telling when that might be. And that engagement--what if Remus only wanted to marry her because she was pregnant? They'd been pushing it back for months.

"If he decides to stay," she said tightly, "I'm afraid he'll only be doing it out of obligation. And if he isn't, how will I know the difference? I don't want to marry him anymore if the only reason he's doing it is because of this. It isn't fair to either of us. Any of us," she corrected, because soon there would be three.

It felt like she was going through this alone, even with Hestia right there. Nervous, Tonks remained still and nodded. "If I need to do anything, just say so, yeah?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]hastyhestia
2010-01-18 07:37 am UTC (link)
"I thought a man proposed because he was interested in starting a family," Hestia muttered more to herself than to Tonks, however, she was never good at keeping her voice down. She managed a tight smile before tilting her head to the side. "Aren't you usually the optimistic one?"

She rolled up the sleeves of her sweater before glancing back toward Tonks' stomach. She hadn't noticed until then just how far along her best friend seemed be. Heavy eating, her arse.

"You might want to relax, maybe you ought to sit down."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]nymphadarling
2010-01-18 07:41 am UTC (link)
"I think it was more--not wanting to die in the war without having that chance," admitted Tonks, trying to remember just how Remus had proposed. "It was right when Moody died. It wasn't a good time for either of us. Not that I don't think he meant it, just--you don't have to have kids on the brain to get married, right?"

She shook her head. Optimism was beyond her for now. Maybe once the dust had settled it would return, or once she had to be strong for someone else--namely Remus--she'd find it in her to be once again, but not right now. Not when she was on the brink of panic.

"Okay," said Tonks, not wanting to argue the point, but too nervous to truly relax. She sat on the couch, leaning back a little to give Hestia a proper view of her stomach. "Should I--er, tug up my jumper?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]hastyhestia
2010-01-18 07:52 am UTC (link)
"Of course not," Hestia said, shaking her head slightly. She hadn't meant for it to sound like that. There were moments that Hestia found herself thinking about whether or not it was right for the two of them to be putting themselves in such a situation. Wasn't it enought to just love each other?

But at the same time, Hestia herself was itching to find someone.

"Yes, that would help," she said, gesturing for Tonks to go ahead and bare her stomach. The spell would read much better that way. "Do you have any idea of how long this has been-happening? You seem to be pretty far along."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]nymphadarling
2010-01-18 08:17 am UTC (link)
Sometimes Tonks asked herself whether it was the right thing to do. She loved him without question, and she was certain she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him, but she didn't need a ring for that.

Tonks twisted around on the couch until she was laying on her back, with her feet still on the ground. At least this way she might look a little less larger than she would if she were sitting up. Supremely self-conscious, she tugged her shirt up until her rounded stomach was bared, and just as she had all day, she blanched and looked away when she saw it. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

"How far along?" she said nervously, having not the slightest idea of what any of this meant. "If I can feel it, is that--is that something that happens right away? I don't know how long it's been. I haven't gotten any hint of my cycle since I started teaching. I was supposed to in early September, but--that's--four months, right? Five?" Merlin, five bloody months and she'd been too busy burying her head in the sand to acknowledge it was a possibility. "Nine months, right? If it wasn't stress, not any of it, that's--" She counted off on her fingers. "Buggering son of a bitch, that is before end of term."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]hastyhestia
2010-01-19 05:02 am UTC (link)
Hestia made a small clicking noise with her tongue. "That's what I thought," she told her best friend. Hovering over Tonks, Hestia brought the wand close to the woman's stomach. It wasn't very often that Hestia did such tests. She did quite often in her first years of training, but since her transfer to Spell Damage, maternity spells were something she very rarely did.

That didn't mean she didn't know what she was going, though.

After the incantation had been spoken, the wand moved of its own accord. Hestia moved her hand away as the wand scanned the area of Tonks' rather swollen stomach. It sparked slightly once. Hestia took a breath. Then, it sparked twice.

"I see," Hestia said, her brows furrowing. "Well, that proves it then."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]nymphadarling
2010-01-19 05:16 am UTC (link)
The sparks meant nothing to Tonks, though she watched the wand move with keen interest and anxiety. One spark, two--what did it mean?

"What does that prove?" she said, looking nervously at Hestia. "I don't like that look on your face. What does that mean?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]hastyhestia
2010-01-19 05:19 am UTC (link)
"One spark means negative," Hestia said as the wand soared slowly toward her hand. She gripped the wooden instrument tightly, a small smile twitching at her lips.

Two sparks meant positive, but Hestia felt that it was unnecessary to add that bit of information. The look on her face would be enough to explain it all. Her best friend was indeed pregnant. By the looks of her and by the reaction of the spell. Hestia was almost certain she could tell the sex as well.

"Congratulations."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]nymphadarling
2010-01-19 05:28 am UTC (link)
"Oh." As slow and stupid as she was feeling at this point, she was still smart enough to realise that two meant positive. So it hadn't been her imagination then.

Tonks shook her head and slowly pulled her jumper back down over her belly. "Don't congratulate me, please," she said quietly. "Not yet."

Burying her face in her hands, she took a deep breath and tried to find the right words to say. "I don't know what to do."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]hastyhestia
2010-01-19 05:48 am UTC (link)
"Merlin, Tonks."

Hestia really didn't know what to say. She thought this moment would come in the best of circumstances, but it seemed to be coming in the worst. She sat on the edge of the couch, her hand landing on Tonks' knee. She blew out a breath of air.

"I want to help you figure this out," she said. "But you have to be the one that's going to be alright with this."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]nymphadarling
2010-01-19 06:02 am UTC (link)
Tonks was quiet as the seconds ticked by. This wasn't how she imagined it would be. She didn't want children, but if ever did happen, she thought it would be well after the war was over and after they had been married for some time. Not like this.

"I think--" Tonks wiped her eyes with the back of her hands, her morph completely gone now to reveal her true face. "I don't know what I think. I love him more than anything, Hes, and I'd never do anything to hurt part of him, but I'm not ready to be a mum. I don't know how to do any of this, and I'm so afraid Remus won't want to. I don't think I can do this without him."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]hastyhestia
2010-01-19 06:36 am UTC (link)
"That is where you're wrong," Hestia said. "You can do this with or without him. I know you. You can do practically anything."

And that was true. In all the time Hestia and Tonks had been friends, Hestia was constantly amazed at what Tonks could do once she put her mind to it. She shoved her friend's leg slightly before leaning back against the base of the couch.

"But it is important for Remus to know," she continued.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]nymphadarling
2010-01-19 06:44 am UTC (link)
"I wish I had your confidence." Tonks squirmed up into a sitting position when Hestia shoved her leg, and she tried to cross her arms over her chest, only to feel her belly and quickly move them back to her sides.

"I know," she said miserably. "I'll tell him tomorrow. Expect a tearful owl from me immediately after if he dumps me." She was silent for a moment, and as she did so, she hesitantly placed her palm on her belly, just over the fluttering sensation. "Do you know if it's a boy or a girl? Is there a way to tell?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]hastyhestia
2010-01-20 07:03 am UTC (link)
"You do," Hestia pointed out. "Generally you've got enough to cover both of us, love."

She rolled up the sleeves of her sweater, the over-sized gray knit becoming a bit too hot for the room. She was always annoyed when the winter came about. She dressed for the cold on the outside, not the toasty warm Hogwarts castle she wasn't used to anymore. She got up from the couch, then, and grinned.

"You seem far enough along to see," she continued. "You can stay where you are, this will be quick."

Brandishing her wand once more, she gently tapped Tonks' stomach and said a short incantation. Once again the wand sparked. But instead of disappearing the silvery sparks hovered in between Hestia and Tonks.

A moment passed and the sparks shown a bright blue.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]nymphadarling
2010-01-20 07:12 am UTC (link)
"Generally," she agreed, "but this isn't a typical situation, and I'm afraid all of my confidence has gone and left me, never to be seen again." She was being dramatic, of course, but she was nearly frozen with fright at the prospect of being a mum, and this was the best she could do. Be dramatic.

The feel of wand against her belly made her supremely nervous, but that wasn't atypical for the evening, so she remained still. "How far along would I need to be to see?" she said. "How far along do you think I am?"

Once the blue sparks showed, Tonks stared at them for several seconds, speechless. When she did find her words again, they were high-pitched and squeaky. "Blue means boy? I'm having a--son?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]hastyhestia
2010-01-20 07:21 am UTC (link)
"I want to say you're around four to five months," Hestia said, though she was more thinking aloud as she processed all that Tonks had been saying.

As the sparks turned bright blue, she tucked her and in the waistband of her trousers and crossed her arms in front of her chest. A boy. Tonks and Remus would be having a little boy in nearly four months time. Somehow the thought struck her in a way it hadn't before. She only hoped that whatever it was Harry was doing, he would get it done soon.

"Seems that way," she said, nodding her head. "The spell is never 100% correct, but it's leaning pretty heavily in that direction."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]nymphadarling
2010-01-20 07:38 am UTC (link)
"Which one is it?" said Tonks, frightened. She looked between her belly and Hestia. "I don't want to not know when this is going to happen. That'd be rotten if it just...popped out in the middle of class."

Tonks opened and closed her mouth, having not the slightest idea how to respond to that. If she had to choose, she supposed she would have preferred a boy. She'd been a monster as a child, and she didn't want to have to raise a miniature version of herself. That would be justice for what she'd put her mother through, but thankfully the universe seemed to have dealt her back enough of her bad karma this time.

"So it's not an it then." She gently poked at her belly, torn between being mesmerised and having a panic attack. "It's a boy. A real baby. It's a real baby, Hestia. Right here. All crying and spit up and nappies." She gave Hestia a horrified look. "Oh, god, it's going to be tiny and breakable, isn't it? I can't do that. I'll carry it to its bloody crib and accidentally trip and kill it."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]hastyhestia
2010-01-20 07:52 am UTC (link)
Hestia stifled a snort. However funny the image was, this was just not the right time to be laughing. Though it truly was a tempting idea. She covered her mouth with her hand as she tried to think of the just how far along Tonks was. "I would go with close to five. You've got to be hitting that mark by what you told me earlier."

She tilted her head to the side. It amazed her that Tonks couldn't see just how brilliant as a mum she would be. She put her hand on her hip as she shook her head.

"Then Remus will have to do the carrying, then," Hestia said pointedly. "Stop. You're just going to scare yourself silly."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]nymphadarling
2010-01-20 08:01 am UTC (link)
Tonks caught the snort, and it would have been a funny mental image for her as well if she hadn't been so bloody terrified. "Close to five," she said faintly. "How is this possible? It's like I woke up pregnant one morning. This is mad."

Tonks shook her head. "Remus is busy. He's got--Order things. Do you think Molly might take it? She likes babies, right?" Tonks blanched. "Oh god, I'm trying to give my own child away. This is mental, Hes. I think I've finally gone mental."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]hastyhestia
2010-01-20 08:09 am UTC (link)
Before Hestia could respond, a small tapping came at the window. She gave Tonks a faint look of curiousity before heading over and pushing the latch. A cold rush of air blew at Hestia's face as an owl darted at her face. A letter dropped at her nose and rushed out without even bothering to wait for a reply.

She was surprised to see her own name scribbled on the front.

"First of all, you're not mental," Hestia said, as she ripped open the envelope. It was handwriting she didn't quite recognize. "You're just going a bit at the moment, it'll pass. Everything happens for a reason."

She could groan at how after-school special sounded, really. But she knew she had to stay optimistic for Tonks. She was going to beat her over the head with it if she had to-

"Oh. Bloody hell," Hestia muttered, her eyes finally scanning over the note. "I think I've got to go."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]nymphadarling
2010-01-20 08:23 am UTC (link)
Tonks let Hestia fetch the owl, figuring it was likely from the Order anyhow, or possibly her mother, and if it was Andromeda, Tonks didn't want to be anywhere near that letter.

She could have lectured her on that as well, but when she heard the tone of Hestia's voice, she sat up straighter. "What is it? What's wrong?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]hastyhestia
2010-01-20 08:29 am UTC (link)
"Someone's been attacked," Hestia relayed, her eyes picking up Fleur's signature at the bottom.

The Shell Cottage seemed like an unlikely place of attack, but then Hestia knew not to really question things anymore. Not with the direction things seemed to be heading in. She quickly stuffed the letter in the back pocket of her trousers and picked up her cloak.

"They need a Healer," she said then, before shrugging on her cloak. "Something about not being about to go to the hospital."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]nymphadarling
2010-01-20 08:38 am UTC (link)
Tonks was on her feet in an instant and by Hestia's side to try to read over her shoulder, rude as it was. "Who?" she said anxiously, worried to death it might be Remus.

She ran her fingers through her shoulder-length mousy brown hair nervously. "Send me a Patronus the first spare minute you get, all right?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]hastyhestia
2010-01-22 12:10 am UTC (link)
If it had been something private, Hestia might have been rather peeved at Tonks. Though, as Hestia thought about it further, she generally shared everything with Tonks anyway. "Doesn't say," she said, a small growl of frustration following.

She did like to be informed of who she was fixing. But then, she figured it was probably someone in the Order.

"I'll do exactly that," she said, before kissing Tonks on the cheek and moving toward the door. "Try not to freak out too much more, alright? You're going to be a great mum!"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]nymphadarling
2010-01-22 02:20 am UTC (link)
Tonks was nosy at best in most situations, and had Hestia told her to shove off, she would have. Probably.

Tonks frowned and watched Hestia move toward the door. "I'll be fine," she said, certain it was the truth because she didn't have much of a choice in the matter. "You concentrate on that. Stay safe, Hes."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]hastyhestia
2010-01-22 07:03 am UTC (link)
"As always," Hestia responded.

With that, she gave a small wave to her best friend before excusing herself from Tonks' quarters. She knew she would have to wait until she reached the edge of Hogwarts' grounds before Apparating to Shell Cottage and so she sped up her gait.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

(Read comments) -

Home | Site Map | Manage Account | TOS | Privacy | Support | FAQs