Generation Gap

"Oh, fine... fine...," replied Nymphadora, picking up the coat rack and setting it upright in its place. Andromeda noticed that she seemed slightly tense.

"Anything wrong, dear?"

"No, everything's good," replied Nymphadora, returning to her cheerful disposition. Andromeda, knowing that Nymphadora had every right to keep Auror and Order secrets from her, didn't press the matter. Meanwhile, Nymphadora took off her cloak, revealing ripped jeans and one of her many Weird Sisters shirts.

"Nymphadora, must you wear that ragged old thing?" asked Andromeda, pointing to the ripped jeans and wrinkling her nose as the two walked to the kitchen.

"Yes," retorted Nymphadora innocently.

"And why may that be?"

"Mum, it's the fashion!"

"Humph! Fashion. We had much better fashions in my day. And, to that

extent, we had better music. Weird Sisters indeed. There aren't even any girls in the band!"

"Mum, all you could wear back then were dress robes... they were too scared to even wear muggle clothes! And don't even get me started on your type of music."

"Well, at least the robes covered your body!"

"Yeah right," said Nymphadora sarcastically, "if you could describe those robes on Aunt Narcissa in the old photos as covering..." Andromeda ignored this comment.

"Couldn't you at least wear jeans that are not ripped?"

"Mum! I like ripped jeans!"

There was a sudden pop as Ted Tonks Apparated between the mother and daughter.

"What's going on here?"

"Dad! Mum is nagging me about my ripped jeans!"

"Why?"

"Because they're ripped!"

Ted sat down at the small table and took a deep breath. "I see. Dora, I have ripped jeans that your Mum has no problem with. Would you like to wear those?"

"Dad! These jeans are artfully ripped!"

Andromeda snorted. "Artfully ripped?"

"It's true!" Nymphadora protested. Andromeda tried to compose herself and prevent the fit of giggles bouncing in her throat.

Ted shook his head. "All right. Let's all calm down. Now, Andromeda, what is your problem with the jeans?"

Andromeda folded her hands and said irritably, "I don't have any problem with the jeans. I just wish that she'd wear something else for work. A Weird Sisters shirt isn't part of the professional attire that you are expected when you're an Auror, Nymphadora." Her daughter scowled at her given name.

Ted stared at his disgruntled wife for a few seconds as if he was trying to extract her hidden meaning. Giving up, he said, "Well, if you have no problem, then it's all resolved. Let's eat!"

As Nymphadora gingerly juggled plates and forks in order to set the table and Andromeda served the meal, Ted became very confused about the periodic dirty looks that he kept receiving from his ever-so-affectionate wife...