character/pairing: Roxanne & Roxanne/Teddy
written by: Smile Life Away/Smile
...
She's the first one to break.
Because, you see, she's had to carve her own path.
She's not Victoire, who was always destined to follow in her mother's footsteps; Dominique, who touched piano keys at three and never looked back – because it was expected of her; or even Louis, the odd one out, who thinks that one day he'll find land that's never been discovered to make his own.
And she's not like Molly, the affectionate one, her grandmother's namesake. Or Lucy, the know-it-all who can identify any plant and give an anecdote on its meaning just like her mother can – Audrey, the botanist who married a wizard.
Even her brother, Fred, already has something going for him. Because he never had to carve his own path, he got stuck with a name that already had a legacy. Fred Weasley and all it implies. He's always had a plan to follow it.
And then there's Rose, Hugo, James, Albus, and Lily who really don't need anything except their parents' names – Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny. The reason why Rose is brilliant and Hugo…well…isn't. James is just like his paternal grandfather, Albus plays Quidditch, and Lily is probably the sweetest (most annoying) person alive. But they're the children of heroes, so they don't need an identity, not really.
It's different with her.
Because she doesn't have a name that defines her, or a talent she can spend all her energy developing.
She's just Roxanne.
And sure, she has the name Weasley. And yes, her parents are heroes in their own right. But, she's had to carve her own path.
And to do that you need something – motivation, talent, someone hounding you that whoever 'did it this way.'
She doesn't have any of that.
So she's the first one to break.
And it's not like glass, which shatters.
(After all, glass brings everyone's attention).
It's like breaking a child's toy.
(One person notices, and it's in the trash the next day).
It's not Fred who notices; because he's too busy trying to live up to his namesake's reputation. And it's not either one of her parents.
It's her cousin's boyfriend – Teddy Lupin.
Roxanne doesn't relish in being noticed, she fears the trash that is soon to come. But he doesn't throw her away. He does the unthinkable, he mends her.
"It's worse," he tells her, "Trying to live up to their legacy." He means his parents.
Because Teddy Lupin has more than a namesake, he has a history. He has a convoluted mix of Black – and – Tonks – and – Lupin – and – hero – and Harry Potter's godson – and – Malfoy's cousin - and he has a label, a metamorphagus. So maybe, he's worse off than her.
Roxanne Weasley, who's had to carve her own path in life - a path she hasn't been able to figure out.
Roxanne Weasley who's not Victoire, Dominique, Louis, Molly, Lucy, Fred, Rose, Hugo, James, Albus, Lily, or any of the people they stand for.
Roxanne Weasley who doesn't have Teddy Lupin's burden, or his blessing.
Roxanne Weasley – the first to break – the one lucky enough to be mended.
Maybe Teddy Lupin's right.
Maybe she's been given her own blessing; she's been given a choice.