Toffee Apples as a Remedy for Heartbreak

By Nanaho-Hime

For Bad Mum on the HPFC

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Nymphadora Tonks had her heart broken only once in her Hogwarts years. His name was Bill Weasley and he had decided to leave England in favor of breaking curses in Egypt. She was very fond of him, in a very platonic way. She'd admit that there was always the slightest hint of a crush when she thought of him, but they were always good friends first and foremost, and when he upped and left she was miserable for a good few months.

Charlie Weasley was no different and, perhaps, even worse off than she was. Bill had been his best friend, and now he would rarely see him. He was heartbroken as well.

He came to her one day, during their sixth year, a few days after Bill had officially left for Egypt. They both looked equally glum, and the grey weather only served to fuel their dismal moods. He sat next to her in the empty classroom. It was the Ancient Runes classroom, one of Bill's favorite classes, and he stared blankly at the front of the room. She didn't bother to question him about the toffee apples on a tray he had brought in and rested on the desk.

"My mother owled me."

"Oh,"

"She thought I might need some cheering up."

"I think she's right."

He offered her a toffee apple and she accepted it. There was no better remedy for a broken heart than sweets and a friend to wallow in the self-pity together. She didn't mind when her face got sticky, or when her teeth began to ache but it did bother her that the apples weren't relieving any feelings of abandonment.

"You know," Charlie munched thoughtfully, "I always used to think that Bill would be the one to cushion any blows, we'd take on the world together."

"He's got to live his life."

"I know."

When they had finished eating, there was a strange lilt to her spirits, and she was grateful that Charlie had come to find her on that bleak November afternoon. They were friends, and when they got over the hurt of Bill leaving, the next two years were filled with lazy school days, and light-hearted tomfoolery.

After graduation, when Charlie decided to leave for Romania she shared a cup of tea with Mrs. Weasley, and munched on a very bitter toffee apple. She silently called Charlie a hypocrite and it took a good many months before she forgave him.

After the battle, Charlie couldn't stand the harsh irony. Both of the Weasley brothers had come out alive, and Nymphadora Tonks had left them behind permanently.

And no matter how many toffee apples he ate, the feelings of abandonment didn't leave his heart.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed it :) As always reviews would be love