A/N: Nothing I write seems to work anymore. Inspired by Shira Lansys' Word Count Drabble challenge with the word count 245 and the prompt bubbles. Pairing also provided by Shira.
I'm trying to get back into writing these because nothing seems to be working out for me lately. So anyone I promised a pairing...it's a-coming. Promise.
Pairing: Ginny/Tonks
Prompt: 39. Child
She's too young for the weariness she wears in her smile. Tonks tries everything she can to see her just light up like the flame she is and be happy again, if only for a second.
The first time, she tries whipping out old family photos. She points out Ginny's missing teeth and laughs at Charlie's haircut, but when Ginny sees Ron the smile melts from her lips and her face is stony and still once again.
The second time, Tonks tries Quidditch. She's never been too skilled on a broom but she swoops and dives and misses every single ball. When it lands in the muck with a loud splat for the thirteenth time, Ginny smiles sadly and shakes her head.
The third time, Tonks is a little more reckless. She might be a tiny bit intoxicated, but she is sure she has it this time. She sneaks into Ginny's room with a bottle of firewhiskey (and forgets that she's too young). She watches Ginny gulp down some of the fiery liquid and laughs as her eyes squeeze shut against the burning of those little bubbles as they slip down her throat.
Third time lucky, Tonks supposes, because they get entirely too drunk and Ginny is laughing and the world is sparkling at the edges and when Ginny kissesher...it seems right.
She smiles at the bitter bubbles on Ginny's lips. Ginny whispers, "Thanks," and they drift off to sleep in a drunken haze.