Dora Tonks was an inquisitive, boisterous child. If this had not been evident from the start because she was a surprisingly quiet and low maintenance baby, things had changed drastically from the moment she had learnt to walk and talk. It was true to such an extent that Ted, her father, sometimes called her 'my little hurricane', and Andromeda, her mother, was often heard speaking her daughter's full name in a reprimanding voice. It was no wonder then the child would grow up to despise her name and playing deaf whenever her parents or other people forgot to address her by her last name. Oh yes, wee Nymphadora Tonks knew how to wrap someone around her little finger, especially if that someone was her daddy.
Andromeda recalled their last visit to Diagon Alley vividly. She had some errands to run, and as usual, she had humoured Nymphadora by telling her an age appropriate, Muggle-approved fairy-tale. Listening intently to her mother's voice, as well as the prospect of a big cone of ice cream at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour before they got back home were the only things that kept the little girl from babbling her way through Diagon Alley's shopping street and approaching strangers to ask them highly improper questions about the most bizarre of topics available.
Andromeda often wondered if things would be different if Dora had playmates her own age, or even a pet to keep her company (the flobberworms and insects her daughter brought to her room after playing outside hardly counted). They led a rather solitary life, after all. Granny Tonks and Sirius were the only other family members that came to visit, and Ted didn't have his Muggle friends over, preferring to meet them at a pub. She didn't have many friends herself, being more of an introverted hermit rather than a social butterfly like her husband.
A delighted shriek from Nymphadora interrupted Andromeda's train of thoughts. "Look mummy, there's Florean! Can I have an ice-cream now? Please?" She batted her eyelashes and flashed her mother her most toothy smile. Andromeda sighed. Dora's antics were charming in their own way, but Ted was way too lenient with her, leaving it to his wife to discipline their daughter.
"Fine, we will get some ice cream now, one scoop each." Andromeda was too exhausted to argue with a four-year-old, and after all, ice cream would keep Dora occupied for a little while.
"Two!" Dora demanded and crossed her arms to show her mother she really meant it.
"Nymphadora, that's not up to negotiation. One scoop is more than enough for you, you won't have appetite to eat your dinner if you have two of them."
"But- ".
"Nym-pha-do-ra… Do you want to have ice cream or not?" Andromeda's thin lips and her furrowed brow were an unquestionable indication of an impending outburst, which in turn would lead to a good scolding. The little girl knew better than to continue to argue. It might work with her daddy, but her mummy could be very strict.
"Okay, mummy", she replied warmly and essentially dragged her mother over to Florean's Ice Cream Parlour. She was especially crazy about the flavour that changed colours and tasted like Bertie Bott's Beans, except you really got every flavour in just one scoop. It was like a firework on your taste buds, only better.
Fifteen minutes later, two tiny, sticky hands pulled at Andromeda's robes. "Mummy mummy, what's a Streeler?" Mrs. Tonks stopped her tracks to glare down at her child, but her expression softened once she saw Nymphadora's sweet, innocent face. She had melted ice cream all around her mouth and some on her purple shirt; and her big, now blue eyes were closing shut. She yawned, showing her broken incisor, courtesy of her cousin Sirius. Apparently, he thought it was within acceptable behaviour to teach one's baby cousin how to ride a broom at the age of four.
"I'm so tired, mummy. Can we go home please?" Nymphadora whined, rubbing her eyes.
'Typical Dora', Andromeda thought, but smiled, nonetheless.
"We will in a bit, love. Madam Malkins is our last stop, okay? As for the Streeler, that's a magical creature that changes colours…"
"Just like my hair and the ice cream!"
"Yes, like your hair and your favourite ice cream. Come on, take my hand sweetheart, it's getting a bit crowded…"
Nymphadora complied, and feeling her daughter's chubby, sweaty hand in hers send a jolt of joy as well as a sudden sharp pain through Andromeda's very core. She gave the child's hand a quick squeeze, and together they crossed the street over to Madam Malkins Robes for All Occasions.
"Well, hello dear. I was expecting you.", Madam Malkin addressed Andromeda. "And you too, little lady."
Dora opened her mouth to protest, but a warning glance from her mother kept her shut immediately.
"Hello, Madam Malkin", she said politely and made her a curtsy, nearly tripping over her own feet.
"Oh, what a delightful child!" Madam Malkin exclaimed. "Though not very graceful in her movements, it seems." She winked at Dora, who was squirming uncomfortably below her gaze. "You must not worry though, my child. With your mother's good looks, I'm sure it won't matter that much that you have two left feet, the boys will still line up to ask you out on dates."
Dora's eyes sparked with interest at the shop owner's last words.
"Boys? What boys? I only know Siri and his friends; I suppose they are nice, but they are much ol- ".
Andromeda cut in, a forced smile distorting her otherwise beautiful features.
"Madam Malkin, I don't mean to be rude, but we don't have that much time today. Maybe if Dora could try on her dress...?"
"Of course, dear. Don't mind me at all, I get distracted sometimes. Now, were do I have the little darling's dress? Ah! Here it is!"
Dora was pouting. She hated being called names by strangers, but she hated wearing dresses even more. They were no good when you tried to climb a tree or hang upside down on the monkey bars, and if you weren't careful others could see your knickers. Not that she even cared, after all she had beautiful knickers and her mum always kept them impeccably clean for her, but Andromeda Tonks didn't approve of her daughter 'running around half naked'.
"How utterly adorable!" Madam Malkin squealed after both women had finally coerced the child into trying the horrendous bubble gum pink dress on. She was humming in circles around Dora, fussing over the dress and shrieking in delight, reminding Dora of the Cornish Pixies Sirius and his friends had 'accidentally' released on their last summer vacation together.
Madam Malkin summoned a big mirror so Dora could admire how pretty she looked. At least that's what she thought, because Nymphadora couldn't possibly feel more miserable. Much to her mother's dismay, she broke out into violent sobs which turned into lout hiccups after a while.
"I look hideous, mummy!", she wailed, and covered her face with her hands. "Don't make me wear this", she pleaded, pulling at Andromeda's elegant dress, her face tear streaked. Once again, Andromeda Tonks was amazed at just how much more dramatic a mundane situation could become if her small daughter was taking part in it.
"Shh, it's okay monkey, calm down", she whispered soothingly, bending down to lift Dora up and console her with a tight, motherly embrace. "You couldn't possibly look hideous, sweetheart", she continued in a tender voice. "You don't have to wear the dress if you feel so strongly about it. It's okay, we'll find something else for you to wear for your granny's birthday." The child's hiccups grew fainter and further apart, and she buried her face into her mother's neck, casting Madam Malkin a reproachful look.
"I'm sorry, Dora is not used to dresses", Andromeda apologized to the older woman, her cheeks burning in crimson red.
"Oh dear, that's not a problem at all", Madam Malkin replied, perfectly unfazed. "We'll find something that suits her better. After all, a happy customer is a returning customer, eh?" she winked at Dora, but the little girl turned her head the other way and started sucking at her thumb.
"Now, I think I have just the thing to lift your spirits a bit, doll", Madam Malkin chanted and went over to a large, wooden cupboard with silvery ornaments. She returned with a bunch of wrapped chocolate frogs and put them down on her editing table. Taking one into her hands, she approached Andromeda and Dora, who was still clinging to her mother's arms, and offered it to the girl with a slight smile.
Nymphadora looked for permission in her mother's eyes before taking the treat from Madam Malkin's hands.
"Thank you", she mouthed feebly.
"You're welcome, precious darling. Now, I might have an idea…" She took her wand, pointed its tip towards the pink dress and muttered a couple of spells under her breath.
"May I have another chocolate frog?" Dora piped up. Andromeda froze. 'That little…'
"For my sister", she explained to Madam Malkin. "She's coming home from Hogwarts tomorrow and she loves chocolate frogs".
Madam Malkin chuckled. "Well, since you've asked so nicely, here's two more chocolate frogs, one for you, and one for your sister." Dora let go of her mother's neck and turned to snatch the frogs from Madam Malkin's hands with a self-satisfied grin.
Half an hour later, Dora and Andromeda left the shop; the first one elated, the latter clearly enervated.
'At least she has something decent to wear for her grandmother's birthday now', Andromeda thought. Her daughter's wardrobe was an offense to good taste, and Andromeda already dreaded Nymphadora's teenage years, images of Muggle girls in skimpy outfits with nose rings and wild makeup on their faces springing to her mind. (Ted was subscribed to a couple of Muggle magazines and newspapers, and she had always thought that if the Muggle's way of dressing was appalling; then the way their young people dressed was ten times more horrifying.)
Back at home, Andromeda hid the third chocolate frog away in a kitchen cabinet, safe from Dora's naughty hands, and then she put her already sleeping child to bed, tucking her in with a kiss. She sunk onto a kitchen chair, feeling as drained as she had after having taken her N.E.W.T.s some years ago. She glanced at her watch. Ted wouldn't be home in another half an hour, which gave her enough time to prepare a decent meal for the three of them. Just when she was about to start, she heard clumsy steps approaching the kitchen.
"Mummy!"
Andromeda closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm down, bracing herself. Dora's voice sounded cranky and demanding, which is how it usually was if she didn't get enough sleep.
"Yes, sweetheart?" She had tried to keep even the slightest hint of annoyance out of her voice, knowing she had failed miserably when her daughter continued to speak in the same nerve-racking tone.
"Give me my chocolate frog!"
"Sweetie, you ate them all, remember? The third one's supposed to be for your sister." Mrs. Tonks voice was as soft as it could be, but it had that determined undertone to it that four-year-old Nymphadora loved to challenge.
"It's not, it's mine!" she pouted, rubbing her sleepy eyes. "Give it to me, mummy!"
Andromeda Tonks sighed for the umpteenth time that day. 'Merlin, give me strength', she thought.
"Nymphadora, you already had two frogs. Leave the last one for your sister, you must learn to share."
Dora went quiet for a moment and looked almost pensive. Then, a huge grin leapt over her face which then turned into a mischievous smile, and this could only mean trouble.
"You're a liar, mummy", she stated with confidence.
"Pardon me?" Andromeda Tonks was losing her patience.
"Mummy, I ate ONE of my frogs, and then I ate Daphne's frog. So, the one left is MINE!"
With a triumphant smile, the child climbed one of the kitchen counters to reach the cabinets. Andromeda was too stunned to stop her, standing there with her mouth half-opened.
"Nymphadora, get down at once!" she shouted after snapping out of her momentary petrified state.
In that very instant, the doorbell rang.
Hope you enjoyed.
Started to write this the other day at night when I couldn't sleep any longer. Very briefly checked for any grammatical errors, but since I'm not a native speaker and I don't have a beta either, I apologize for any mistakes. ^_^
Funnily enough, the episode with the chocolate frog really happened, sort of... my brother tried this to get to eat his chocolate ladybug as well as mine when we were little o_O
