Anne-with-an-e's Christmas Fan Fiction Challenge

[Anne's Author Note: I don't own The Gift if the Magi; it was written by O. Henry. I don't own the version with the Muppets, either (that's where Tonks's menu came from.) Nor do I own the characters of Tonks or Remus. I do own Leanne Nowell.]

The Gift of the Metamorphmagi
by Anne-with-an-e

Tonks sat at her kitchen table, counting coins. Three sickles and thirty-nine knuts. That was it.

And tomorrow was Christmas.

She sighed and rested her chin in her hand. Looking around the small, sparsely furnished flat, she said to herself, "Our first Christmas together, just the two of us--"

She stopped, rubbed her stomach, and said "Well, technically, there are three of us."

Tonks got up from her seat, found her cookbook, and tried to find something to make for Christmas dinner.

Not fruitcake, she said to herself, I already tried that, it was awful. Ah, well, I always wanted to be infamous for something. She was right, no one would ever forget her fruitcake.

Unable to come up with anything, Tonks thought of something her friend Leanne made every year: Green mashed potatoes and cranberry gelatin. She decided to make that.

After she'd prepared dinner, she got out her favorite neon colored plates and utensils and put them on the table.

"Now I need to get Remus' present," she said, ransacking the closet for her coat and hat. Upon finding them, she left the flat.



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Remus sat on a bench in Diagon Alley, staring glumly at his almost- empty wallet. There were two sickles and twenty-four knuts; and he still didn't have a present for Tonks.

He got up from the bench and set off down the street. As he walked, he took out his watch and checked it: Four-o'-clock.

Looking at his watch and not where he was going, he walked into Tonks' friend, Leanne.

"Sorry," he told her.

"That's all right," she replied, "Nice watch."

Remus looked at the watch. It was nice, despite the grimy shoelace he used in place of a chain. It had belonged to his grandfather first, then his father, then him. And it still worked perfectly.

"Thanks."

"You getting some Christmas shopping done?" Leanne asked.

Remus thought of his dilemma and answered "I just have to get something for Tonks."

"Hmmmm," Leanne said, "How about a pair of giant earrings?"

"I got her some for her birthday," he replied.

"Well, then, I'm stuck," Leanne shrugged, then checked her own watch and said "I've got to go, my sisters and I are spending Christmas together, and I'm bringing the pudding."

"Merry Christmas." Remus said.

"Same to you, Remus!" Leanne replied, calling over her shoulder as she ran down the street.

Remus continued on his way up the street, trying to think of something for Tonks. Then he had an idea and hurried into one of the shops.


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Tonks walked into Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, and quickly located a handsome set of brown wizard's robes. She took them off the rack, carried them to the counter, and asked "How much for these?"

"Crudmuffins," she muttered under her breath when she heard the price, "I'll just put them back." She did, then left the shop in a hurry.

Once outside, she located one of the lesser known shops in Diagon Alley, one that sold watches.

She ran inside and hurried to the back. As she scanned the case, something caught her eye. It was a watch chain.

"How much?" she asked the clerk.

The clerk told her.

"This is not my day," she moaned; the clerk looked sympathetic.

After she left the shop, she said to herself, "That watch chain is the perfect gift for Remus, but how am I going to get enough for it?"

Tonks walked down the street, the sky turning gray, matching her mood.

Then, she saw a shop that sold second-hand brooms. She had a broom, a good broom. Tonks loved her broom, she flew it almost everywhere. She supposed, if she sold her broom, she could get used to traveling by other means. And the broom would certainly earn enough money for the watch chain.

Tonks hurried home to get her broom.

**************************

Remus stood at the counter in Quality Quidditch Supplies, a dilemma staring him in the face: The broomstick servicing kit that Tonks had been admiring cost too much. More than he had.

He left the shop, took out his watch, and looked at it. The watch had been in his family for a long time, and he had been told that some would pay a fortune for one like it.

People would pay a fortune..... That was it. He put the watch back in the pocket of his robes, and hurried to the watch shop.

Once he was there, he found the back counter and, taking out the watch, asked "Do you sell old antique watches?"

"Certainly," the clerk answered, "How much would you like for that one?"

"Twenty galleons," Remus answered.

"Done," the clerk said. She gave Remus the money; he handed her the watch and hurriedly left the shop.

******************************

Tonks sat on the sofa in her flat, Remus' present under the tree, wrapped in red paper and tied with a blue ribbon.

She jumped up when she heard the door open; Remus came in, hiding something behind his back.

"Merry Christmas," he said.

"Merry Christmas," Tonks replied, "Dinner will be on the table soon."

"That's all right, I've got something to do." Remus said, disappearing into the bedroom.

Tonks smiled as she scooped the green mashed potatoes onto the plates.

Over dinner, they discussed plans for the following day. They were going to Harry and Ginny's house for dinner. Ron and Hermione were also coming.

After they'd eaten, Tonks handed Remus his present.

When he uncovered the chain, he said "This is wonderful, but...."

"But what?" asked Tonks.

"How did you afford it?"

"I... I sold my broomstick. There's a place in Diagon Alley that sells used broomsticks."

Remus' jaw dropped; Tonks was surprised it didn't hit the floor.

"You sold your broom to buy my Christmas present?"

Tonks nodded.

Remus was silent as he handed over his gift.

"Oh," Tonks said as she opened it, "The broomstick servicing kit!"

Remus nodded.

"But they cost so much!"

"I sold my watch to get enough for it."

Tonks was stunned. Then she asked "Is this a sign of true love? We sold our most prized possessions to buy each other's Christmas gifts!"

"I think it might be," Remus answered.

Tonks threw her arms around him and said "Merry Christmas!"


THE END