#hphmshipweek2026

[autisticarachnid]

Day 6 - Library / Jealousy or Possessiveness / Candlelight

samara fell asleep studying <3

@hphm-fandom-events

[hphm-fandom-events]

As Ship Week comes to a close, I want to give a huge, huge shoutout to our participants! (And if you still have work to post, never fear! Don’t feel rushed to finish & post it)

To @chaoslunaire - as always, your writing is nothing short of phenomenal. You have such a talent for characterization & weaving dynamics, that it feels as though the characters themselves come to life on the page as I read. I so eagerly await your work each and every time - it’s so beautifully done, each and every single time. Your Tonks & Tulip are so incredible.

To @anachriva - I’m always left in awe of your mastery over shading and values. The pencil strokes in each and every piece you post are always so beautifully done. The amount of detail you’re able to include as well is nothing short of extraordinary.

To @luupines - congratulations on your first time participating! I utterly adore your skill with drawing and portraying people - the expressions, the posing, the anatomy, it’s all so beautifully done and captured in each and every piece. The colors are especially striking as well!

Thank you to everyone who participated and made this event successful!! Cannot wait to hopefully see you all again next year!

[chaoslunaire]

@hphm-fandom-events | Day 1 : Starlight Tonks x Tulip + Teddy (Remus/Sirius mention) | 2667 words The chronology diverges slightly from the canon ; It's a happy ending English is not my native language

Beyond Hogwarts - Postwar

The Weasleys' house is packed to the rafters on this Christmas Eve. There is laughter, shouts of joy, noisy and cheerful conversations, and children are running around and having fun.

Standing in front of her chair, hands on the backrest, Tonks scans the room. Some adults are still sitting at the table, deep in serious conversation, others have gotten up after the meal and are chatting or embracing on opposite sides of the living room, still others are sitting on soft sofas, dozing or watching the children come and go.

Tonks's gaze lingered for a moment on her cousin Sirius, sitting cross-legged on the floor (her cousin, who had nearly lost his life in the Department of Mysteries but was saved at the last minute). Sirius seemed to be deep in conversation with the turquoise-haired child sitting before him, nodding solemnly at everything he said. Tonks smiled fondly, watching her son hold up one of his dolls to explain something before holding up the second to continue his explanation (Tonks had heard her son's story often enough to know he was only at the beginning). Sirius nodded enthusiastically in agreement with Teddy, and the child smiled, his hair changing color to black before returning to turquoise.

Tonks smiled at the scene, grateful for everything life had given her, even though it hadn't always been easy. The Battle of Hogwarts had nearly claimed her life, but fortunately, she was saved at the last minute by the love of her life, who stepped between her and her aunt Bellatrix, casting a spell with such force that Bellatrix was thrown across the corridor with such power that she remained unconscious for a very long time. Once the shock of having almost lost their life and the initial surprise had passed, Tonks regained her composure and threw herself into the battle with renewed fury, regaining the upper hand against the Death Eaters. They didn't see the change coming and those who thought they had already won found themselves with a relentless Auror on their trail.

Memories and nostalgia flooding back, Tonks looked away from her son and cousin and headed for the garden door. She needed some fresh air before she started crying uncontrollably, as sometimes still happened. These weren't tears of sadness, just such a profound sense of gratitude (for still being there, for being surrounded by family and friends) that she sometimes felt overwhelmed.

The wind on her face felt good, and she closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before heading to a nearby bench. She sat down and gazed up at the starry sky. It was so pleasant to look at the stars; it reminded her of those nights at Hogwarts, when she would climb up to the Astronomy Tower to meet Tulip.

The first time, they sat on the floor, which left them with aches and pains the next day. Over time, they started bringing more things with them, like cozy, comfortable blankets to snuggle up in because it was quite cold up in the tower. Then, on their way out of the dormitory, Tonks would always stop by the kitchen so they could have a few snacks. It was a habit they picked up in sixth grade and that continued into seventh. Despite the pressure of the approaching exams, they always found time to meet at the top of the astronomy tower to gaze at the stars. Sometimes their hands would brush against each other, and they would look away, blushing.

At first, their gestures were involuntary; they brushed against each other unintentionally. But then, it was as if their bodies were seeking contact. Hands that continued to brush against each other, knees, shoulders that bumped together. Thighs that pressed together under the pretext that the blanket was too small and they needed to get closer. An arm that went around a shoulder because it was very cold up there at the top of the tower (and no one was thinking of using a spell to warm up).

Tonks and Tulip gravitated around each other for years, never crossing the line into friendship, and the day Tonks (encouraged by Charlie) decided to confess her feelings to Tulip, things did not go as planned.

It was the last day of their final year, the last night they would spend within these walls before beginning a new chapter of their lives. Tonks had everything ready: the blankets on the floor, the cozy throws, Tulip's favorite food, and that spell that made candles float on the ceiling. Everything was perfect and romantic, and Tonks had a well-defined plan for how she wanted things to go, and most importantly, when and how she would confess her feelings to her best friend. She had planned everything… Except for Tulip showing up in tears. Tears streamed down her face, endless, and her hand was clutching a piece of parchment so tightly. Tonks didn't need to ask to understand what had upset her friend so much.

That evening, Tonks took her friend in her arms and let her cry on her shoulder, listening to her lamentations without ever interrupting her.

Tulip had a cherished plan for her future. She worked tirelessly, studying more than usual to ensure her success, but with a single letter, her parents managed to destroy all her plans, using their influence at the Ministry to send her to another country, to follow a path they had chosen for her, without any possibility of negotiation. It was so foolish!

And then, Tulip couldn't explain the rest of the letter to her, it was much too difficult for her to say it out loud, so she just handed her the piece of parchment and Tonks froze; chilled by the words before her eyes.

Tulip's parents had always been intolerant, but Tonks never expected them to use those words toward their daughter. She never could have imagined for a moment that a parent could be so cruel to their child.

Tonks wanted to do something, to do more, but she was completely helpless in the face of the situation.

Tulip cried for a long time, pouring out all her rage and sadness, safe in her friend's arms, and when she finally calmed down, Tonks tried to think of solutions, to develop plans; it couldn't end like this! Tulip couldn't be taken from her in such a cruel way, Tulip didn't deserve this! She deserved to be herself, she deserved joy, happiness, and love. She deserved the world!

Tonks opened her mouth, to speak, to protest, but before a single word could leave her lips, Tulip interrupted her, telling her to say nothing. She didn't want to cling to false hopes, to illusions. She didn't want to hope for a different future, only for her parents to snatch it away with a snap of their fingers. So Tonks remained silent, burying hope, burying her feelings, burying everything that would have hurt Tulip more instead of comforting her. Tonks remained silent and held her friend even tighter.

They did not return to the dormitory that night; they fell asleep snuggled up together at the top of the astronomy tower, lit only by the stars in the night sky (the floating candles having been extinguished long ago).

When she woke up, Tonks was alone. It wasn't just the place next to her that was empty; there was also a huge emptiness in her heart. With a heavy heart and tears welling up in her eyes, Tonks packed her things and returned to the dormitory to change one last time before leaving Hogwarts forever. Tulip was nowhere to be seen on the platform before boarding, and she was also nowhere to be seen on the train.

The last time Tonks saw Tulip was on the platform in London. Tulip, head down, approached her parents (Tonks so desperately wanted to tell them exactly what she thought). Tulip raised her head, and their eyes, full of sadness and unspoken words, met one last time before someone grabbed Tulip's shoulder and helped her over the brick pillar.

Seeing her disappear like that was like a stab in the back for Tonks and she collapsed against her mother with a cry of despair, the tears she had held back for far too long streaming down her cheeks.

Life went on, as it always does. The world doesn't stop for a broken heart; the world doesn't stop when your first love is taken from you. The world doesn't stop; it keeps moving forward, relentlessly.

After the holidays, Tonks joined the Auror Institute, as she had always wanted, she made new friends, she trained, she progressed, she sometimes had a few one-night stands, but she never forgot Tulip.

Then she became an Auror, throwing herself into her work, accepting every mission offered to her. And Voldemort returned, and she joined the Order. The close quarters led her to grow closer to Remus Lupin, with whom she shared a certain rapport. They started dating, and things moved rather quickly; she became pregnant quite soon. Tonks and Remus were talking about marriage; it seemed like the best thing to do now that she was expecting a child. Everyone around them was happy with how things had turned out, and Tonks was happy too, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. It was as if she were merely a spectator in her own life, bowing to the approval of others, listening to their opinions and advice before listening to herself.

And then one evening, during that battle at the Department of Mysteries, her cousin Sirius nearly lost his life, and it was this event that triggered everything, that shattered her perfect little life. The way Remus threw himself at Sirius, the way he held him tight, and his gaze. There are looks that don't lie, and Tonks knew, deep down, that Remus could never love her as much as he loved Sirius. Of course they were close, of course they loved each other, but not in that way, not like that. Like her, he too had to bend to the approval of others to manage his life. But what's the point of making others happy, of thinking their approval is more important than our own happiness? What's the point of living a life that makes us unhappy, just to avoid making waves, to stay on the beaten path? Why live a meaningless life to conform to the opinions of people who aren't you, who don't live and will never live your life, who don't feel what you feel deep in your heart? Who will surely never understand who you are. Sometimes, disappointing people is the only thing to do because finding yourself, being fully yourself, is what matters most.

That night, lying opposite each other in a bed in one of the rooms at Grimmauld Place, they talked, they opened their hearts, and finally confessed (to each other, but especially to themselves) what they truly felt. For the first time, it was as if a weight had been lifted from their chests. There were tears, but they weren't tears of sadness; they were tears of joy and understanding. The feeling of finally being able to be themselves.

The wedding was cancelled to everyone's surprise, but they didn't try to explain; it was their decision and no one had a say in it, and no one would have anything to say about their future decisions because it was their life and they wanted to live it as they wished, regardless of whether they were understood (when Remus and Sirius started dating, Tonks looked down on everyone who dared to give their opinions. And she may have cast a few spells on those who were a little too insistent).

Life went on, as it always does.

And one day, a simple Thursday, when the threat of Voldemort was becoming more and more present, she appeared, there before her, so graceful and so beautiful in that horrible, shabby living room.

It was just another Thursday, and the Order had gathered for a meeting. Tonks grumbled in displeasure after tripping over the awful umbrella stand yet again. A soft laugh, one she thought she'd never hear again, caught her attention, and when she looked up, there was Tulip, right in front of her, giving her an embarrassed smile. Tonks froze, gasping for breath, wondering if she was hallucinating. How could Tulip have been there? In this city, in this horrible place called Grimmauld Place, this horrible place protected by a Fidelius Charm. How could Tulip Karasu, whom she hadn't seen in so many years, be standing there before her?

Alastor Moody cut short her thoughts by introducing their new recruit before moving on to the meeting. Tonks sat next to Remus, as far away from Tulip as possible, and when the meeting ended, Tonks slipped away without a word, without a glance. Perhaps it was cowardly of her, but her heart was pounding too hard in her chest and her thoughts were racing so fast that it was impossible to focus on anything else. Avoiding Tulip was the best thing to do at that moment.

But she couldn't avoid it indefinitely. She was an adult, by Merlin!

Tonks had always imagined her reunion with Tulip as a joyous occasion. She thought a single glance would be enough to rekindle their teenage bond, a laugh to forget the years they'd spent apart, a hug to move forward. But in truth, Tonks just wanted to scream. She was seething with resentment and accusations, and even though she knew it wasn't right to blame Tulip for everything, she couldn't help but accuse her, and their reunion ended in shouting and tears.

That day, they screamed louder than the damn portrait of Walburga Black.

And then, the anger subsided, giving way to remorse, explanations, and apologies. If the first few days after their reconciliation were strange, it didn't take long for them to regain their complicity (one evening, Remus remarked to Tonks that she had a strange way of flirting, and Tonks choked on her drink, blushing, before retorting that she wasn't flirting!).

Shortly after, the Battle of Hogwarts erupted, and Tulip saved her by stepping between Bellatrix and her. Then, when it was all over, when Voldemort was finally defeated, Tonks walked through the ashes and ruins to kiss Tulip. Perhaps she should have asked Tulip before rushing at her like that, but Tulip clung to her, returning her kiss, and then nothing else mattered.

The sound of the door catches Tonks' attention and she snaps out of her thoughts, suddenly realizing that she's been outside for a little while.

“Is everything alright, baby?” Tulip asked, placing a blanket over her shoulders and sitting down next to her on the bench.

“Yes, everything is fine,” Tonks smiled, turning her head to look at her, gazing at her girlfriend with such love that Tulip blushed. “Do you want to stay and look at the stars with me?”

“I'd love that!” Tulip agreed, snuggling under the blanket so they could be warm and close together.

They remain like that, entwined in each other's arms, gazing at the starry sky, shining brightly above their heads. It's just like before, but so much better, because now they are together. They are in love, and nothing can separate them.

Their brief moment of calm was interrupted when the door burst open.

“Mummy!” Teddy called from the doorway, “it's time for dessert!”

“Teddy!” Remus interjected from inside the house, “don't go outside without your shoes!”

“I'm not outside!” Teddy replied impertinently, crossing his little arms in front of him and wrinkling his nose.

Tonks giggles at her son's cute face, then she and Tulip get up to go back inside and enjoy dessert, letting the starlight illuminate their path with every step.

Life hadn't always been easy, but if she had to do it all over again, Tonks would make exactly the same choices.

Available on Ao3 in English and French (soon) Dividers by @diviniyae

[chaoslunaire]

@hphm-fandom-events | Day 7 : Friends to Lovers | Tonks x Tulip

So I made another one :)

[chaoslunaire]

@hphm-fandom-events | Day 7 : Books | Tonks x Tulip

I still haven't finished writing Day 4, but I couldn't leave the last day unposted, so while I'm working on it, here's a little something about Tulip and Tonks.

[chaoslunaire]

@hphm-fandom-events | Day 6 : Jealousy Tonks x Tulip + Selen Moonstar (OC), Remus Lupin, Sirius Black (Remus/Sirius mention) | 947 words English is not my native language

Beyond Hogwarts - Order of the Phoenix

Sitting on a shabby sofa, a glass of Butterbeer in hand, Tulip gritted her teeth and glared at the people in the next room. The Order meeting had ended almost fifteen minutes earlier, and most of the members had already left this cursed house called Grimmauld Place. Those who, like Tulip, lingered were there to enjoy a good meal prepared by Molly Weasley (or because they had no other choice but to stay locked up there).

With a sigh, Tulip looked away for a moment before returning her gaze to the three people in the next room. If she had known she would have to witness… this, she would have declined Molly's invitation to stay for dinner.

Wrinkling her nose, Tulip took a sip of her drink, feigning indifference but unable to stop her gaze from returning to Tonks and Remus, who were discussing some plan for a future mission with Mad-Eye Moody. Why had Tonks been paired with that old man Lupin? Weren't there enough members available to put her with someone else? Why did they have to pretend to be a couple for this mission? It was ridiculous! Who would believe they were a couple? Okay, they had a certain chemistry, but Tonks could get along with anyone, so why, out of everyone, did he have to be the one assigned as her partner? Talbott could have made a very good partner! He's an Auror AND he's the same age as Tonks; that would have been a much better idea, yes, really…

“You should open a club,” Selen smiled, plopping down on the sofa next to Tulip.

“What?” Tulip asked, averting her gaze from the pathetic spectacle of Remus and Tonks, whose complicity was far too obvious to be feigned.

“You and Sirius,” Selen replied, nodding her head toward the man in the corner of the room, whose gaze was also fixed on Remus and Tonks, “you should open a club.”

“What are you talking about?” Tulip grumbled, glancing quickly at Sirius, whose hand was gripping his glass a little too tightly.

“You two are so jealous.”

“I’m not jealous!” Tulip snapped, her teeth clenched.

“And I’ve never had a crush on Orion Amari,” Selen grinned mischievously.

“You’re obsessed with…” Tulip began, before stopping abruptly.

Selen chuckled before raising her glass to her lips.

“I’m not jealous,” Tulip repeated, grumbling, “it’s just… why aren’t you partnered with Tonks?”

“I’m already on a mission, I’ve only just gained my informant’s trust, I can’t be replaced now.”

“And Talbott?”

“Same. No one can replace him; they need his Animagus abilities.”

“And no one else was available besides Lupin?”

“You know perfectly well that if they’re paired up for this upcoming mission, it’s because they have excellent chemistry, and that’s important for their cover.”

“Husband and wife,” Tulip grunted, staring at the amber liquid in her glass as if it could make her forget this stupid plan.

“You know it’s just for the mission and that nothing’s going on between them?” Selen asked gently, without a hint of judgment in her voice.

Tulip shrugged helplessly, her gaze still fixed on her glass.

“Anyway, it’s none of my business, I have nothing to say…”

“Maybe you could… you know…”

“No!” Tulip replied firmly.

“Tulip,” Selen sighed, “you’ve been in love with Tonks since the 4th year, maybe you should talk to her about it…”

“Absolutely not,” Tulip argued.

“Would you rather end up like her cousin? Pining away for years over a love you think is impossible, even though your feelings are mutual?”

“Stop talking nonsense,” Tulip murmured, looking up from her glass at her friend.

“The four of you are the biggest, most clueless idiots I've ever seen!”

Tulip opened her mouth to reply but closed it immediately, pondering her friend's words. What if… Could it be that… No! That was impossible! Tonks can't… She can't… but maybe…

The sound of shattering glass on the floor pulled Tulip from her thoughts and she looked up at Sirius Black, whose jaw was clenched and whose eyes, black and frightening, were fixed on the place Tulip hadn't looked at for a while.

Turning her head, Tulip understood what had stirred Sirius's anger. Remus had his arm around Tonks's shoulders and was holding her tightly, laughing (probably after sharing a joke only they understood), and Tonks let him, melting into the embrace as if it were the most natural thing in the world, putting her arm around the werewolf's waist. As if they were actually a couple…

Kreacher appeared before Sirius to pick up the broken pieces of glass and all attention was then focused on the last descendant of the Black Family.

“Are you okay, Pads?” Remus asked, pulling away from Tonks and heading towards his friend.

“Yes,” the Animagus grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest and looking away.

“Let me see,” Remus said, gently taking Sirius's hand in his to check the depth of his wound.

“I assure you it's fine, Moony,” Sirius grumbled, but he let him, trying to hide his blush behind his hair.

“Years,” Selen whispered, getting up from the sofa and joining the agitation.

Tulip cast one last glance at Remus and Sirius, who seemed absorbed in each other, unperturbed by what was happening around them, then she turned her head away, meeting Tonks' gaze fixed on her.

Tonks smiled at her, that adorable way that lit up her whole face, and she awkwardly tucked a strand of purple hair behind her ear. Tulip's heart skipped a beat. Selen was right; she'd waited long enough! She wouldn't wait years. Tonight, at the end of dinner, she would finally confess her feelings to Tonks.

Available on Ao3 in English and French (soon) Dividers by @chaotic-arcade

[chaoslunaire]

@hphm-fandom-events | Day 5 : Rainy Day | Tonks x Tulip I'm still writing Day 4, and I still have Day 5 and Day 7 to write. So, in the meantime, I did this, because Tonks/Tulip deserves more visibility and I'll seize every opportunity to give it to them. I'm not entirely happy with the result, but I'm too tired to worry about it right now.

[chaoslunaire]

@hphm-fandom-events | Day 3 : Mutual Pining Tonks x Tulip + Chiara Lobosca, Badeea Ali, Penny Haywood | 2772 words English is not my native language

Muggle AU

The day had started very badly. First, her alarm hadn't gone off and she'd woken up late; then, the wind had broken her umbrella, forcing her to cross the city in the downpour. Her hair was soaked when she arrived at work. Luckily, her boss, who lived right above the shop, was working at the time and, after joking about her condition, he went home to bring her a clean towel so she could dry her hair and mop her face.

After that, things only got worse. When she went to clean one of the tables in the room, a customer spilled his coffee on her (luckily, the customer had spent a long time chatting with someone, and his coffee had had time to cool down before landing on her trousers). Then she had to deal with a particularly unpleasant customer (no! She couldn't make her a Caffe Latte without milk. The customer had protested and also refused the vegan option, leaving with an espresso and threats never to return).

Then the coffee machine stopped working until one of her colleagues intervened. And when she went to sit down to eat a sandwich before the lunch rush, someone bumped into her and her sandwich landed on the floor. And during the rush, she bumped her knee at least three times and cut her little finger on a paper napkin. Suffice it to say, it was the worst day ever!

After serving a new customer, Tulip looked up at the clock and her heart began to beat faster, the forced smile on her lips turned into a real smile which made her colleague Chiara laugh.

When she took this job, Tulip didn't expect anything; she thought it would be a boring job, that she would have to put up with overly intrusive colleagues who would ask her inappropriate questions about her private life; she thought she would arrive in the morning, serve coffees and pastries, clean tables, before going home in the evening, starting all over again every day, trying to get used to such monotony.

What she hadn't anticipated was that she would have so much fun, that her colleagues and bosses would be far from intrusive, that they would be genuinely interested in her, and that they wouldn't take offense when there were things she didn't want to say. She also hadn't expected to wake up in the morning with the enthusiasm to go to work, and above all, she wasn't expecting her, the one who made all those afternoons better.

She hadn't expected this customer who had wandered in one day, quite by chance, seeking shelter from the rain, her pink hair plastered to her face and her clothes soaked because she'd forgotten her coat (who could forget a coat when it's raining outside?). She apologized for getting water everywhere, and Tulip should have been annoyed because she'd just mopped the floor, but when she met her beautiful gray eyes, nothing else mattered. Tonks, as she introduced herself, smiled at her, and Tulip knew then that she was lost; this girl had completely bewitched her.

Tonks received a call and, when the rain stopped, a gleaming motorbike was waiting for her outside. She glanced one last time at Tulip and, with a small, knowing smile, said “Goodbye, Tulip” before walking through the door, and Tulip's brain went into overdrive. How did she know her name? (She racked her brains all night; it wasn't until the next day that she realized Tonks had simply read the name tag pinned to her chest.)

Tonks put on the leather jacket they handed her, then she put the helmet on and straddled the motorbike, holding onto the driver. When the motorbike started, Tonks turned her head toward her, looking at her through the shop window. Tulip couldn't see her eyes because of the helmet visor, but she could still imagine them perfectly well, and she couldn't help but blush. It was the first time she'd ever blushed so much, and she was glad to be closing up alone, because her colleagues would have had a field day teasing her. She mopped the floor to try and take her mind off things and stop thinking about that girl (that girl on that motorbike!) she'd probably never see again.

The next day, Tulip had resigned herself to it. The Universe had just put this perfect girl in her path only to take her away so quickly, surely to make her understand that she wasn't right for her, that this kind of girl is way too cool for her to be interested in (besides, Tulip doesn't dare get on a motorbike, it terrifies her, while Tonks seems so at ease).

And her colleague Badeea could repeat to her as many times as she wanted that she was made for the “gift of the Nymphs” (whatever that might mean) to this day, Tulip hadn't met a single Nymph, and if anyone deserved to be called a “Nymph”, it was Tonks. Tonks, who had offered her nothing but her smile before vanishing forever. What a gift! Badeea should perhaps stop reading the future in the stars.

Tulip was there, cursing Badeea and her stupid predictions while cleaning one of the tables, when the door opened with a cheerful little clink. Tulip looked up, ready to greet the new customers, but the words caught in her throat when Tonks turned to look at her and smiled. She was back!

From that day on, Tonks came every day, trying all the drinks to choose her favorite (it was easy to guess the regulars' favorite coffee, they always ordered the same thing, but with Tonks it was different, she changed it every time and each of her orders was a surprise). Sometimes, she also ordered a pastry.

Sometimes she came with friends, sometimes she got takeout, sometimes she sat down at a table but left early because she had things to do, and sometimes she stayed longer, but whatever she did, she came every day, always wanting to be served by Tulip.

It had been two years since Tonks started coming every day (her hair was purple now), and Tulip still hadn't confessed her feelings. Chiara told her she had nothing to lose, that Tonks was just as smitten as she was (that her way of flirting was certainly strange, but that it was still flirting). Badeea always talked about stars and destiny, but Tulip was scared because, what if they were wrong? What if Tonks had simply enjoyed the atmosphere the first time and had come back for the drinks? What if she felt indebted because she'd spilled water everywhere the first time? What if coming every day was her way of apologizing?

After all, her colleagues must be mistaken because Tonks had never really shown any interest in her. Okay, she smiled at her every time she came in, but that was simply because she was a cheerful person. And if she spent a lot of time talking to her at the counter, it was simply because she was indecisive; she couldn't decide what to order because there were so many options. And if she said her name every time, it was simply because she was polite, and if she didn't use Badeea's or Chiara's names as much, it was probably because she spoke to them less often. And if she blushed when their fingers touched as Tulip handed her the tray, it was surely because she was embarrassed. And if Tonks stumbled every time Tulip looked at her a little too intently, it was simply because she was caught off guard. And if she stammered every time Tulip came to clean a table next to her and asked how her day had been, it was surely because she hadn't expected it.

And if Tonks always chose a table where she could see the counter, it might simply be because she didn't like watching passersby on the street. And if sometimes Tonks seemed to be looking at her and smiling, it might just be because she was lost in thought…

It certainly had nothing to do with her having a crush on Tulip.

Tulip was filling the display case with pastries when the door opened with the cheerful jingle of a bell. She looked up so quickly that she almost dropped her tray.

Tonks entered the shop accompanied by her friend Penny, with whom she had already been several times. She had barely crossed the threshold when her gaze searched for Tulip, and when she found her, she smiled at her, walking towards her as if she had forgotten her friend was there.

Tulip's heart raced, pounding against her ribcage, and she put the tray of pastries back on the trolley behind her, before doing something else foolish, then she walked towards the counter where Tonks (and her friend) were waiting for her.

“Hi, Tulip,” Tonks simpered, placing her hands on the counter and leaning slightly forward, as if she wanted to be even closer. “Are you having a good day?”

“Oh, uh, yes,” Tulip stammered, feeling her legs tremble.

She was completely losing control when Tonks looked at her like that, her grey eyes so sparkling and full of mischief and her radiant smile.

“What can I get you?” asked Tulip, trying to compose herself.

“I'll have a cappuccino,” said Penny, stepping over to her friend's side.

Tulip looked away from Tonks, suddenly realizing that they were not alone (Tonks really had this power to make her forget everything around her…).

“With this?” asked Tulip, pressing down on the cash register to register the order.

“I'll have an apple crumble.”

“I'll take care of it!” Chiara interjected. “Eat in or take away?”

“Eat in,” replied Penny, turning to her friend. “I'll go sit down while you place your order.”

“Okay,” said Tonks without looking at her, her eyes still fixed on Tulip.

While Chiara prepared Penny's order, Tulip turned back to Tonks and felt her cheeks flush under the intensity of the grey eyes fixed on her. This girl really made her lose all her composure!

“What would you enjoy today?”

“Lots of things,” Tonks replied enigmatically, giving her a knowing look, “but for now I'll have Mochaccino.”

“Okay,” Tulip replied, her heart pounding in her chest.

Why did Tonks have to be so beautiful and so unattainable?

“And with that? We have blueberry muffins again.”

“Oh! I love blueberry muffins.”

“I know,” Tulip couldn't help but reply.

“Oh! You know my tastes?” Tonks teased with a smile.

“Oh, uh,” Tulip panicked, feeling her cheeks flush even more, “you told me once, and I have a pretty good memory. I can remember things about my regular customers.”

“So that’s all I am to you,” Tonks said, placing a hand on her heart and letting out a mock-dramatic sigh, “just a regular customer, nothing more?”

“No, I, uh,” Tulip stammered, her eyes wide, “that’s not what I meant. I… well, I just wanted to point out that I have a good memory. I didn’t want you to think I only remember information about you. Which would be weird, wouldn’t it?”

“Relax, Tulip,” Tonks replied, winking at her. “I’m just teasing you. You know you’re cute when you blush, right?”

“I…” Tulip began, gripping the counter to keep from fainting.

“I’ll have the blueberry muffin,” Tonks said, as if she hadn’t just short-circuited Tulip’s brain.

“I’ll make it right away,” Tulip said automatically, unable to think straight. “You can sit with your friend while I prepare it.”

“No, I’d rather wait here…” Tonks smiled, “unless that bothers you?”

“N-no, not at all.”

Tulip turned away, trying to remember how to use her legs to walk normally. Knowing that Tonks was behind her, watching her prepare her order, threw her mind into such chaos that she would soon be unable to say her own name.

What could Tonks have possibly done to her to leave her in such a state every time? No one had ever managed to destabilize her like that, and here was Tonks bewitching her after giving her a single glance on a rainy evening.

With as much dexterity as she still possessed, Tulip placed the Mocaccino on a tray, then added the largest blueberry muffin before handing it all to Tonks.

“Thank you, Tulip,” Tonks smiled, taking the tray, her fingers brushing against Tulip’s.

Tonks held her gaze for a moment longer before turning away to rejoin her friend.

Tulip tried to keep herself busy to stop thinking about Tonks's gaze, her intense gray eyes, her smile, to avoid thinking about her fingers that had lingered a little longer than necessary in contact with hers. She tried to distract herself, to stop thinking only about Tonks, who sometimes glanced at her sideways before continuing her conversation with Penny, as if nothing had happened.

Tulip cleaned the counter, replaced the stack of takeaway cups, sorted the small sugar packets, and refilled the napkin holders. She rearranged the cups and bowls, the small pastry plates, always finding something new to do to keep her mind from wandering to Tonks, to keep her from looking at Tonks too intently…

She played along with this little game for almost an hour, until Penny and Tonks got up to pay. Tulip cashed them in, asked them if everything had gone well for them before wishing them a good afternoon.

“Goodbye, Tulip,” said Tonks, pulling her friend along with her.

“See you soon, Tonks,” replied Tulip, watching them walk away.

Before they reached the door, Penny turned around and approached the counter.

“I forgot to mention, but the apple crumble was delicious,” Penny smiled, sliding a napkin across the counter, “and this is to thank you for your service.”

She winked at her and removed her hand from the napkin before turning on her heel and pulling Tonks with her toward the door.

“What did you give her?” Tonks asked suspiciously, glancing at Tulip.

“Don’t worry about it,” Penny smiled, and closed the door behind them.

Tulip watched them leave, catching Tonks's eye one last time before the two friends turned the corner, disappearing from her sight. Tulip lowered her head to the napkin and blushed as her heart raced again. There, on the slip of paper, was written “Nymphadora Tonks” followed by a phone number. It couldn't be true! It couldn't be Tonks's number! Her real number! It had to be a joke, it was…

“Nymphadora Tonks,” Badeea read over her shoulder, a strange excitement in her voice, “do you know what that means?”

“That her name is Nymphadora,” Tulip mocked, lifting her head to look at her friend.

“It means the stars have aligned for you,” Badeea exclaimed, without pointing out the irony.

“What?

“Nymphadora,” Badeea clarified, “means ‘gift of the Nymphs’”

“Are you kidding me?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?” Badeea asked, raising an eyebrow.

“You mean that…”

“That all this time, the gift of the Nymphs has been right in front of you, yes.”

Tulip lowered her head onto the small paper napkin in her hands, unable to contain the growing smile on her face. Everything was happening so fast in her head and body; she wanted to laugh and cry, she wanted to shout with joy, to jump up and down, she wanted to dance, to hug Chiara and Badeea… She felt so many things at once that she was dizzy.

“You'd better send her a message,” suggested Chiara, approaching the counter after cleaning a table. “We wouldn't want to upset the stars, would we?”

And who was Tulip to defy the stars? Perhaps Badeea had been right all along, perhaps she was meant for the Nymphs' gift… Perhaps Tonks wasn't just there for the drinks and pastries, after all…

And perhaps there was no such thing as chance, perhaps that rainy day was not a mere coincidence, that Tonks had to enter that little shop thirty minutes before closing time, perhaps the Universe always had a plan, perhaps Tonks and Tulip were destined to meet…

Tulip picked up her phone and sent a message to the number on the napkin, her heart pounding in her chest. She waited a few moments before her phone vibrated, announcing the arrival of a new message.

“I’m so glad my friend did something I’ve been afraid to do all this time. Would you like to meet up after your day?”

And perhaps Tulip's day had started very badly, but one thing was certain: it would end in the best possible way.

“I would really like to see you after my day.”

The person on the motorbike is Sirius because I love it when Sirius and Tonks are close

Available on Ao3 in English and French (soon) Dividers by @diviniyae