IN RUINS- James Potter

chapter fifty

It was a cold one this year, snow trickling down past the windows and into the fluffy snow that stuck. Staying in her pyjamas, Nora wondered how long it would take for Ted to notice her presence, watching the lad make pancakes and waffles, humming a tune.

It had only been four days staying with the Tonks, sitting at the counters with the high chairs; waving her brother to come over as regulus quietly yawned. "Did you ever notice there's another room upstairs?" Regulus whispers, grabbing Nora's attention.

"I think they sleep separately, like mother and father." Nora shrugged it off, turning her attention back to Ted, watching him turn around and almost scream; holding his heart. "ARGH— ah hi kids." Ted cleared his throat, clenching his jaw.

Nora smirked a little, wishing him a good morning as the three heard footsteps, andromeda coming down the stairs with messy hair, still also in her pyjamas. "Good morning kiddos." She spoke up, shining a smile in their direction.

Watching Andy make her way to kiss her husband, Nora shifted slightly in her seat, awkward to see a couple show affection to one another; pressing her lips into a fine line. Nora wasn't even like that with James per se— maybe every now and then; but never in front of other people.

She was a little ashamed of what she was doing.

Shaking out the memory she had with James before break, Andromeda snapped Nora back into reality with handing her a mug of hot chocolate, winking at her to drink it, doing the same to regulus.

The Tonks' house was warm and cozy, the fireplace crackling in the background— except there was a big box in the middle of the living room, still unsure of what it was. The Christmas decorations were consisted of silver and white, a theme going on with some pictures laid out around the house. It had brightened the place with some jazz music playing in the background.

"How'd you two sleep last night?" Andromeda asked, sipping her tea. Sharing a room with her younger brother wasn't ideal, however the room was big enough to pretend they were alone— except regulus loves to snore.

"Was fine."

"Was fine."

The two said at the same time, awkwardly looking at each other, knowing their sleep wasn't the same than being at Hogwarts or Grimmauld, needing to get used to it. The brunette worried of this, maybe being homesick and
wanting to be somewhere more in their comfort zone.

Andromeda didn't seem to be phased by their answers, grabbing plates for the four of them, waffles on Noras' plate, pancakes on regulus'. Walking over to the dinner table and sitting down, Nora walked with her plate, still feeling weird since Kreacher wasn't doing it for her, missing him a little.

"Everyone all right?" Ted asks before he sits down beside Andromeda. Breakfast and dinners had always been comfortable silence for Nora and regulus, but it seemed to the couple was when they would update each other on their life.

"I still have to run to the grocery store, I guess we can all go and make a day out of it? Plus the kids can look for something they want for Christmas?" Andromeda turned towards them.

The girl looked up from her food, hearing what they were talking about and shrugging their shoulders. Pretending to be very nonchalant was very hard for Nora, not wanting to come off as difficult.

"Sounds fine."

Is she trying to make us get caught in a muggle store?

"We can get stuff for Christmas?" Regulus asked Nora, kicking her leg to make her answer, a little confused. About to sip her hot chocolate, Andromeda chose to speak for Nora, smiling. "It's going to be fun." She winked at him, everyone continuing to eat.