Maggie Wintringham had thought of her years in color for as long as she could remember. She could describe them in vivid detail that few else could, because of this.

Green. The green of the hills in spring when it's just rained, and there's a slight mist, and the sky's still grey. To her green was the color youth, and rebirth, and curiosity, and new beginnings.

Navy. At age two she was a wild child, running through the hills in the area where her family lived. Playing with the animals on the far. To her this year was navy, because of the color of the sky in the summer evenings she spent laying on the lawn, and the deep ponds that she and her thirteen siblings would swim in, even if she wasn't allowed very far in. It was the color of fun, and friends, and family, and being lazy just to be lazy.

Boysenberry. She went out to pick berries with her siblings, or at least with the eight that weren't old enough to attend Hogwarts, and her mother came, too. Her mother told her about Hogwarts at her enquiry, and explained that her late husband had been a wizard, as they picked ripe boysenberries from the trees. After that when they went home and had a boysenberry tart, she started waiting for her accidental magic to happen. Boysenberry was the color of patience, and learning, and new discoveries, and her favorite treat.

Cyan. The first spell she ever did was to change a dress she didn't like that was bright red to Cyan. She got so excited she ran shrieking through the house, by this time only six siblings were left at home, as the twins had turned eleven that year and gone to school. Her mother only sighed in exasperation when she saw. Of her fourteen children, nine were girls, and every single one's first bit of accidental magic had been to change that dress to some color. She remembered that at one point it had been a very nice cream color. Not so much the case now. Cyan was was the color of magic, and happiness, and joy.

Crimson. Crimson was the color that her eldest sibling, John, was spilling when he stumbled through the door, he had graduated Hogwarts the spring before. Crimson was the color of his lips when he finally stopped breathing after hours, most of which Maggie spent in sitting in the waiting room of St. Mungo's, with her oldest sibling at home (Karen, who was ten at the time.) Crimson was the color of the roses they placed on his gravestone. Crimson was the color of sadness, and grief, of pain, and death.

Eggplant. Maggie heard her two now oldest siblings arguing that summer. One had just graduated, and the other would in the next year. Of the thirteen remaining children only six would be at home in the fall, five siblings, and Maggie. But that wasn't what she was worried about. Because Mary, and Robert were arguing. Robert was begging Mary not to go, not to join something called the Order, because she might get killed. Mary wouldn't listen. She said that the Death Eaters had killed John, and she refused to let that happen to her siblings She left, and didn't come back until Maggie was thirteen, and Robert was dead. Eggplant was the color of raised voices, and too quiet hallways, of worried siblings, and a scared mother.

Fallow. She wasn't sure why age seven was Fallow. It felt right, though. Because everything seemed to be that color. She was acutely aware of the war, even if she didn't understand it. People with trunks, and tearful, scared faces would spend several months on the farm, before others would come get them. Once every two months the Death Eater's would swoop overhead shooting off spells at anything that moved. Maggie's favorite pig died. No one else did. There were now four children at home, Anna, Isaac, Allen, and Maggie. Their siblings did not come home for the holidays anymore. Fallow was the color of war, and tiredness, of stretching money to support the people hiding from the Dark Lord, Fallow was the color of fear.

Fulvous. They moved from the farm. Isaac, Allen, and Maggie were the only ones to go with their mother. All the other siblings went to an Uncle's on her father's side, or at least the underaged ones did. Her mother promised that they'd have Christmas together, and that all the siblings that had graduated would be there as well. Instead they spent Christmas in a church having a funeral for Robert. Maggie felt disappointed, but mostly she felt alone. Because she had realized that her mother couldn't protect her, and that not all promises could be kept. Because the day before Robert got blown up, Maggie saw him for the last time. She asked him to promise that he wouldn't die, and that she'd see him for Christmas. He'd promised her, she kept repeating this in her head. He'd promised, he'd promised, and he wasn't here. Fulvous was the color of the scarf she wore when he promised her. It was the color of promises broken, and secrets lost.

Ginger. Isaac and Allen hated each other it seemed. Because Allen was a wizard, and Isaac wasn't. The only one of fourteen children, and he wasn't magic. His twin was, and he wasn't. And it wasn't fair, it shouldn't be like this. He, and Allen argued. It scared Maggie, because didn't they see that their siblings were dying for this magic in their blood? Didn't they see that they had lost two brothers, a father, and possibly a sister to this magic? Didn't they understand that it wasn't a gift, but a curse? Because to her it seemed like all the magic brought was pain, and loss. And then it hit her, she didn't want to be a witch anymore. In her mind, Isaac was the lucky one. He left the apartment, only to be brought back hours later by a neighbor. Isaac's ginger hair was soaked from the rain. He shivered, and got in a fight with Mother. Maggie hid in her room and cried. Ginger was the color of disappointment, of misery, and insecurity.

Gray. It took over her. It took over her paintings, and drawings, her daydreams, and her imagination. It was the prime color in her nightmares which came so often. It was the color of the sky, and her memories. She came to fear the color gray with a passion, worried that it would swallow her whole. She missed the colors that once were so vibrant, she missed the farm, and her brothers, and sisters. She missed Isaac, because even though he was at home with her, he was scary. He played cruel mind games with her, and hung out with the bad kids at school. She missed her mother, because her mother had to work overtime to support the three of them. Her mother was always tired when at home. Isaac became her caretaker, when mother was working, or sleeping, or whatever mother did now days. She came to dread going home, because Isaac was there. Her once caring brother was home, and mother wasn't, even if she was there in person. Gray was the color of hiding, and loneliness, it was the color of abandonment.

Cream. It was the color of the parchment that her letter came on. It was the color of the paper in her books for school. She sat there for hours, looking through them, careful not to let Isaac see for fear that he'd rip them up. She began to dream of going to Hogwarts again, because then she could escape this life. Isaac wouldn't be there to tease her, or frighten her. She might be safe, safe from him. She would see her siblings again, those that still went to Hogwarts that was. She probably wouldn't see her mother, or brother until the war ended, but she could deal with that. And so she regained her excitement to be a witch. She loved every moment of it, too. Because Cream was the color of release, and the future. It was the color of hope.

Indigo. She was sitting at the Ravenclaw table with her friends, Marie Lou and Elwisia, when the news came. For a second it was dead silent, and then the hall erupted. Everyone was shouting, and celebrating. Classes were canceled that day, and the next one, too. Because the war was over, it was finally over. Marie Lou's family sent the three girls chocolate, and Elwisia's older brother snuck firewhiskey into the dorms, that the three tried against their better judgment. But no one cared, because they were free, free at last from this war that was so terrible, that took so many. The ink on the letter that came from Mary (It was the first she had heard from Mary since she was six) to tell her about the war ending was a deep indigo. It was a pretty, safe color. Indigo was safety, and peace. It was relaxation after being tense for too long.

Jasper. When she saw her mother for the first time in about a year and nine months, she was wearing jasper. She hadn't seen her mother since she'd been dropped off at Platform 9 and ¾ for the first time, when she was eleven. Now at thirteen she was tall, and lanky. A couple inches taller than her mother. That didn't stop the fresh out of second year from dropping her trunk, screaming, "Mum!" and running into her mother's waiting arms. Her other underaged siblings crowded around, trying to also get in and give a hug. Eventually a huge group hug happened, and they ended up in a pile on the floor sobbing out of happiness. Her mother was wearing a dress that was beyond help after that, but no one cared. They went back home to the farm, where the rowdiest dinner that the family had had in nine years happened. All the graduated siblings dropped by, and Mary apologized for not contacting them in so long. She had apparently worked as a spy, and the only person she had talked to in the last six years that wasn't a Death Eater was Dumbledore. Her mother shook her head, and pulled into a tight hug. No one noticed that Isaac was not partaking in the festivals, and instead was busy glaring at them from the landing. Jasper was the color of family, and well being, and togetherness, it was the color home.

Icterine. When she had her first kiss she was wearing a hair bow the color of icterine. And the girl she was kissing was almost as startled as she was. Almost immediately Maggie apologized, and ran off. Eventually hiding herself in some bushes, where Anna, now a seventh year had to come find her. Maggie didn't want to talk about it, but Anna dragged it out of her, and then grinned. "Little sister," she said in an almost laughing tone, "I don't care who you kiss, as long as they are good enough for you. Never settle for second best, and if that girl doesn't like you, so be it. She doesn't deserve someone like you anyways." The two sisters sat in silence for the rest of the evening. Eventually the Ravenclaw and Slytherin returned to the castle. The next morning the unfortunate Gryffindor who Maggie had kissed was pranked quite terribly and had to spend the next couple days in the hospital wing. Anna sent a wink Maggie's way at breakfast. Icterine was the color of sisterly love, and self discovery.

Beaver. Elwisia had stopped talking to Maggie after she found out about the whole liking girls thing. Marie Lou would spend lunches glaring at Elwisia, and muttering about how terrible of a person she was. Of course it hurt Maggie a little to have lost one of her best friends, but she could tell that Elwisia was suffering enough as it was. After all Maggie's older brother wouldn't let anyone treat his little sister like that simply because of who she loved, while Marie Lou turned at to be cruel in the words she threw at Elwisia. Maggie really just wished they'd let it go, she'd rather forget about her homophobic ex-best friend who seemed to share her beliefs with most of the world's population. Besides who needed her, Maggie told herself, she was never a very good friend. But she had to admit it was painful, the refusal. The fact that one of the people outside her family who she trusted with all her life seemed to hate her, ate Maggie up. It didn't matter, she lied to herself, again, and again. It did to Maggie. Eventually she confronted Elwisia, "Why do you hate me so much for no good reason?" Elwisia winced and looked away, she was tugging on her sleeve. The two were alone in a hallway. It was Sunday evening, and everyone was at dinner. No one would interrupt this 'discussion'. Elwisia muttered something. "Huh?" Maggie demanded a dangerous tone creeping in, "I didn't hear you. Why can't you just accept me for what I am! I haven't changed at all, and yet you seem so disgusted by me! It makes me want to hate you! I just… I just don't understand." Maggie shook her head. Elwisia flinched, and tried to walk away, but Maggie grabbed her arm. And came face to face with terrified lavender eyes, that glistened with tears. The two girls might not have gotten along anymore, but the sight of Elwisia about to start crying scared Maggie more than she wanted to admit. She dropped the arm, and Elwisia ran off. They didn't see each other for the rest of the year. When Maggie told Marie Lou, she only called it good riddance. When Maggie looked in the mirror, though, all she could see were her beaver colored eyes swimming with tears. Beaver was the color of betrayal, and emotional hurt. It was the color of lost friendship.

Kiwi. Maggie was stressed. She wanted to be an artist for so long, but now she wasn't sure if that would be possible. She had one year until N.E.W.T.s, and she nearly failing everything. It scared her, because what if she didn't graduate? What if she couldn't do this? What if she wasn't good enough? She was sitting on her floor at home, streches, art notes, half finished drawings, and a scattered pack of colored pencils surrounding her, when this finally hit her. She leaned forward, staring at her kiwi carpet, wondering if the world was ever going to stop spinning, because she was her mother's last child, and she was one of only five siblings who was trying to go to college after Hogwarts (it would be another year before she'd start applying, but she needed to get her portfolio together now!), and what if she couldn't get in. What if she wasn't good enough? That was how Isaac found her. Usually when she was at home she locked her door so that isaac couldn't find her. She hadn't spoken to him in around four years. Unfortunately in her mid teenage crisi, she'd forgotten to lock her door. Isaac who was going to college in some far off place like Canada, or something on a sports scholarship would be leaving in a few hours, not to be seen again till next summer. "Hey, Mags? Just wanted to say goodbye… you okay?" he asked, coming into her room. He stared at the mess around them, before it seemed to hit him what was happening. Crouching down next to her, and raising her tear streaked face to his he studied her eyes, "You know that everything's gonna turn out alright, right? I mean you are the best artist I know, and one of the kindest people. Even if I haven't really talked to you in awhile, I do happen to remember you from when we were little." She pulled her face away, hiding it again. "Maggie… look at me," he took her chin, "I've made some pretty awful choices in my life. Choices I'll always regret, simply because I feel guilt over them. And you my little sister, who I've been neglecting my duty to as big brother. Unfortunately I can't fix that, but I can give you this." A slip was pressed into her hand. "It's my address, so you can write me. I know it might be a bit far, but if you ever need help, I'm here." Then he hugged her. After several seconds, Maggie hugged him back. So, Kiwi became the color of breaking apart, and pulling yourself together again, the color of reconcile and stress. It was the color of a sibling's love for another sibling.

Berry. The color Maggie was wearing when she graduated was a berry blue. The last full day at Hogwarts was dedicated to those who wouldn't be coming back next year doing whatever they really wanted. They snuck into the kitchens for a breakfast, after sleeping in. The graduating class spent the day on the grounds doing magic, and various other things. Some dared each other to go into the Forbidden Forest. They said goodbye to their favorite professors, and there roommates. They wandered to the top of the the owlery, and set off sparks. Fake duels took place. They slipped off to Hogsmeade, as the adults turned a blind eye. A four house quidditch game took place. They ate dinner later then they probably should. After dinner all the seventh years slipped off to an odd room on the third floor, on one wall everyone carved their names. Then defying curfew they snuck to the top of the Astronomy Tower. Setting off fireworks, drinking firewhiskey, telling tales, and singing the school song one last time. They would point out stars, and remember things. Maggie spent the whole time squashed between Marie Lou, and a new girl she had become friends with, Loretta, who was in Hufflepuff. In the early hours off the morning they snuck back to a common room, not necessarily their own, ending one of the greatest shows of house unity ever. The next morning, after sleeping in for several hours, tearfully they all boarded the Hogwarts express. Only to several hours later tearfully part from each other, and go off into the world. Berry was the color of the retired school robes in Maggie's trunk when she stepped off the train to be greeted by Isaac, and her mother. Berry symbolised tearful endings, and new beginnings. It was the color of flying the nest, and being an adult.

Mauve. The curtains in her apartment where mauve, and the coach was neon green, the walls a pale yellow, odd tan, different paintings, and piece of art on the walls. It all clashed horribly, but at the same time seemed to work. It was an artist dream place, but anyone with any idea of designs nightmare. Her mother ruffled her hair when she came for the first time, before asking if she wanted money for new paint. Maggie had shaken her head, and then dragged her mother through the rooms demanding that she tell her about the colors. Maggie's mother laughed, and told her about them. Not for the first time wondering how Maggie would love colors so much when all she saw in was blacks, whites, and greys. To Maggie the rooms where a riot of light, and dark greys, of rough whites, and shiny blacks. To her, the mix was pretty, but to everyone else it was a headache. That didn't matter to Maggie though, because she loved the shade of her curtains. To her mauve was the color of freedom, and control. It was the color of choices to be made, and figuring out the difference between need, and want.

Philippine Golden Yellow. Maggie liked to imagine that the color of life was philippine golden yellow, mostly because she was distinctly aware that this color was what most simply called yellow, and to most it meant happiness. And in her mind the point of life was to find happiness. Which she did the summer of her nineteenth year. Mary was expecting her first child, so Maggie went to her sister, and brother-in-law's beach house for the summer. She spent nearly every minute she could on the beach, painting the sky, and the waves. Some days it would darken and rain, while on others it would be so sunny that Maggie feared going blind. But by the end of her summer, when Mary's belly was round with the babe, Maggie set to work on her project. She painted the the ceiling of the soon to be born baby's room a thunderstorm grey, with flecks of philippine golden yellow shining through her dramatic cloudscape, while the walls mimicked the ocean. Calm in some places, angry in others. And when the baby was born and brought home, well Maggie didn't think she'd ever been happier to hold her nephew, Lake Charles Hunt. Philippine Golden Yellow was the color of newness, and storms, and summer. It was of sisterly love, and becoming an aunt.

Lemon. Maggie never saw the muggle car. One moment she was crossing the street, the next she was waking up in a hospital room with pale yellow walls. She was later informed that they were lemon. She learned this slightly before she learned she may never walk again. At that she didn't cry, she raged. She screamed, and yelled until she couldn't, and then she curled into a ball, and sobbed. Lemon became the color of disappointment, of frustration, and pain. It became the color of regret, and irreversible change.

Rich Black. Sometimes when you fall in a pit it takes what little color there isn't to get you going again. That's what happened with Maggie. She moped around for about three in a half months, before deciding that enough was enough, and that she didn't want to waste her life thinking about what could've been. She decided to start painting again. It started off with a lot of different shades of blacks, before becoming lighter and lighter, until she was painting with all the intensity she'd had before the accident. Then putting all her savings forward in one huge leap of faith, she bought, and opened a studio. She hosted classes, and painted, and drew, and colored until her arms felt as if they could fall off. But she'd never been more at peace with herself. Maggie decided that rich black was the color of hope reborn, of not giving up, not giving in, of making it work. It became the color of perseverance, and determination, the color of moving on.

Mantis. Maggie was leaving her studio when she heard the shouting. She limped as quickly as she could outside to see a fight happening. It was more like a beating. She pushed her way forward to help the poor person only to be confronted with Elwisia being the one on the ground being hit repeatedly. She stood there, conflicted should she help her once friend, or leave her. Elwisia cried out in pain as another foot connected with her ribs. Coming to a decision, Maggie moved forward, breaking it up. Once all the bystanders, and the one doing the beating left, Elwisia looked up, and flinched. Unfortunately that seemed to jar her head against the ground knocking the rather bloodied girl out. Sighing Maggie took the limp girl's hand and apparated home. There she put her to bed, and began to tend to the numerous wounds that Elwisia bore. Maggie shook her head all the while, how did someone end up this badly beat up in a simple fight? Magic wasn't even involved! There was so much blood over her mantis colored robes, that she felt slightly concerned about the unconscious girl. It was the next morning before Elwisia awoke. She glanced up at Maggie, winced, and looked away before finally speaking up in one sudden burst, "I was an idiot!" Maggie who had been sitting on the dresser nearly toppled off, "I… I abandoned you, I was a terrible friend, when you were nothing but kind. I hated you for no reason. I.. I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I just… I…," and then she began to sob in those deep hiccuping tears where you can't really breath, "Merlin I… I should just die, I can't do anything right. And look at you. Taking care of me, like I never hurt you. How can you bare to look at me?" Maggie stared at her for a moment, before reaching forward and pulling the crying girl into a hug. Trying to comfort her old friend the best she could. Eventually Elwisia cried herself to sleep. Sighing Maggie left a note, and went to work. When she returned, Elwisia was curled up on the ground, shaking slightly. Alarmed, Maggie hurried forward. Soothing her ex friend was harder this time around, but eventually she got there. It didn't take her long to realize that leaving Elwisia home alone was a bad idea, so she took time off work, and then began to take Elwisia into work with her. She had no idea how her ex friend had become such a mess. About two months after taking care of Elwisia, Maggie saw her smile. It was sad, and small, but it was there as she helped a tiny child finger paint. It was around that same time that Maggie started referring to Elwisia as a friend again. Mantis was the color of friendship, of life, and of healing. It was the color of forgiveness.

Lavender. When Maggie realized that she was in love with Elwisia, she cursed, long, and hard. The two had been sharing an apartment for a year and a half now. Sure Elwisia was fine with her homosexuality now, but Maggie having a… not a crush, but a huge gaping hole in her chest that made it hard for her to think whenever she saw boys flirt with Elwisia, was not something that she thought Elwisia open to. She didn't want to drive her friend (the friend bit hurt so much when she had to say it) away. So Maggie held back, wincing at the pain that seemed to flair through her, biting into every part of her heart, and soul, until it was hard to be in the same building as Elwisia. Maggie was driving herself insane. On more than one occasion Elwisia would get home to Maggie immediately locking herself in her bedroom. Elwisia's lavender eyes would flash curiously at the sight. Finally one rainy afternoon, Elwisia grabbed Maggie's hand, a small smile playing on her lips. "You idiot," she said, "And I thought I was the blind one." And then Elwisia had pulled poor Maggie into the first kiss of many, many kisses to come. Lavender was the color of love, and beauty, and kissing, it was the color of falling hard and fast, and being rewarded for it. It was the color of finding her inamorata.

Rhythm. Maggie chose this color for bridesmaid dress, as yet another sibling got married. Elwisia choose quartz. The two had been officail for some months now, but it would be the first time Elwisia met the whole family, which made her nervous, as well as the fact that the sibling getting married was Anna, who kind of hated her for her treatment of Maggie. Maggie didn't thinks she'd ever seen someone look so pale, or nearly so sick before in her life. She teased Elwisia about it a bit, before releasing her love was greatly terrified. By the time they got back from the wedding, Maggie didn't have any feeling in her hand at all from Elwisia gripping it so tightly out of fear. Isaac, the only muggle present, made a few threats as the closest brother in age, before telling Elwisia that he'd treated Maggie much worse, and everyone had forgiven him. Which seemed to help somewhat. Then he sent a wink Maggie's way. It was only later, when the two were having breakfast the next day, that Elwisia put a small box on the table, and grinned up at her, "You know," she said, "Maybe we should have one sometime. A wedding I mean." Maggie's jaw dropped, but then she was gasping yes, and kissing Elwisia so deeply it didn't really matter anymore. So rhythm became the color of soulmates, and true love, and life-long partnership. It was the color of loving so deeply that nothing else mattered, but that person, and having it returned.

Seal Brown. They'd had to postpone the wedding due to the war. Both were working for Dumbledore full time. The studio was boarded up, and locked up. Neither of them knew it, but it'd be ten years before it was opened again, and not by them. They weren't together much of the time, but when they were, they made the most of it. It just didn't feel right getting married when people were dying, even if so many refused to believe it. Maggie only had one funeral dress, and it was seal brown. And she found as the year past, and Voldemort was finally revealed to being back, she was wearing it much to often. Seal Brown became the color of death, fighting, and missing the one you love. It became the color of desolation, and heartache.

Stizza. Maggie sprinted through the hallways screaming , and yelling, Anna trailing her. She finally found the room she was searching for, only to burst in panicked. Elwisia looked up weakly as her love crashed into the room where her body was bleeding out. She was so pale. She weakly lifted a hand, calling for the frozen Maggie. Anna nudged her sister, and Maggie made her way to her love. She touched Elwisia's sweaty forehead as both began to cry. Maggie held Elwisia's hand to her heart, pained that her love was so weak, so close to dying. They shared one last kiss before Anna dragged her from the room, stating that the healers needed room to work. It was several hours before the news that Elwisia would survive was given, and several more days before she was allowed to leave. The first thing the two girls did was head to an old chapel, where only Anna, and the minster where there to witness the two marry each other. They'd didn't want any other near misses to become deadly wounds. Maggie was wearing a wrinkled, stained shirt the color of stizza, not the wedding dress she had in her closet at their home, but she didn't care. All she new was that she was finally married to the love of her life. Stizza was the color of bliss, and exultation. It was the color of marrying the love of your life.

Harlequin. That was the color of that spell, only spell that ever gave off any color for her, because even the blind can see death. Even the mute can speak it, and even the deaf can hear it. The one that everyone shouted, the one that had taken so many lives this year, too many. It was the color of the one that had taken five of her siblings, and one of her friends. It was the color that she had promised herself to never have a year be, but it's hard when you're fighting a war that you didn't want any part in. She just wanted to paint! She was an artist, not a warrior for Merlin's sake. But life doesn't work that way. So Harlequin was, oddly enough, the first and the last color she saw. It was the very last color she ever choose.

There was no color for twenty-eight, she wasn't alive for there to be a color. She wouldn't be alive for when her nieces and nephews got their Hogwarts letters. She wouldn't live to see Elwisia relapse into her self hating, before pulling herself together, and adopt two children, just like Maggie had always wanted to, and raise them single handedly. She wouldn't live to see peace. She didn't live to see the sun rise, because the bright life of Maggie Wintringham was cut short in a battle ground lit up by flashes of color.


Hello! Sorry for the delay. Oh who am I kidding, I meant to have this chapter up last November. Whoops.

As always I don't own anything that you know to be from the books.

Andy