In the precious moments when I was alone after Nymphadora's death, I imagined her as she had been the night I had laid in her bed and watched her sleep, her eyes closed but fluttering with a dream, her hair waist-length, bright red, with white-blonde streaks in the spirit of Christmas. Picturing her settled a hunger in me, a pure animalistic hunger. I wanted her back. I loved her. How could she disappear on me?

Watching Anna grow up was a challenge and a gift. She was developing from a sweet pink infant into a curious sturdy toddler before my eyes. Everyone told me that she looked just like me, but I knew the truth. Beyond the curls of sandy hair, Anna's shining, mischievous eyes, short, sturdy build and very nature were all Nymphadora.

Three months after I got the news of my wife's death, our daughter's first birthday rolled around. I had been pretty self-sufficient for about a month when it happened. Everyone had stopped coming by and I had been spending the time enjoying my daughter and trying to work out a job.

The party was at the Weasleys' house, and that morning I got all of Anna's gifts together and dressed her in an outfit I had bought with her mother in mind: Pink overalls, a pink-and-purple striped shirt and sturdy purple running shoes. I tied her hair into two pigtails, narrowly avoiding her swinging fist. Then I scooped her up and we Apparated to the Weasleys'.

"There's the girl of the hour!" Sirius cried when we arrived. "How goes it, Banana?"

"Siwi!" screeched Anna, speaking one of five words she knew. "Down, dad! Siwi!"

I set her down and she crawled (she was quite sufficient and quick at crawling, she would soon be walking) over to him as fast as her chubby little legs could. Sirius scooped her up and swung her around, singing Happy Birthday. Mrs. Weasley appeared, smiling.

"Hello, Remus," she said warmly. "And hello, Anna."

Anna waved dizzily.

"Can you say 'hello', Anna?"

Anna waved again and I smiled.

"Say 'hello'. He-ll-oh."

"Heh-ow."

"That's right, good girl Anna."

By 2:30 pm the party was in full swing and Mrs. Weasley ushered us all inside for cake and presents. She had dimmed the lights and set the birthday cake (shaped like a small girl resembling Anna) in the middle of the table, alight with pink and purple candles.

"Wights! Wights!" cried Anna, clapping her hands in delight. "Dad! Siwi! WIGHTS!"

Everyone sung Happy Birthday and I helped her blow out the candles. When we did so, her face fell. "Wights," she sighed wistfully.

"No more lights," Sirius told her brightly. "But maybe some later."

By the time the party ended, Anna was asleep. I thanked everyone and we Apparated back. Mrs. Weasley promised to send us the presents as soon as possible.

At home, I managed to clean Anna's face, remove her pigtails and get her into her pajamas as best I could without waking her. As I set her in her crib, her eyes fluttered open and she grabbed my shirt collar.

"Dad," she murmured. "Love."

"I love you, too, Anna."

She smiled sleepily and went back to sleep, curling into a "c" shape.

A/N: Gasp! It's amazing. I updated. Hehe. Enjoy.