Azalea

Azalea runs and feels like she can fly. She's eight (and a quarter) years old and to her, the meadow behind the cottage seems like the entire world. Of course, she knows there are such things as cities and London and the ocean, but right now, this is all she needs.

She collapses into the warm, soft grass, and stares up at the blue and white marble sky. A butterfly darts in the breeze above her, and Azalea quickly and fluidly reaches out to snatch it with both hands. She knows just how to cup them so the creature's wings won't break. Azalea has a talent for catching butterflies... actually; she has a talent for catching just about anything.

After examining the patterns on the butterfly, Azalea releases it. Uncle Remus says one must respect the rights and freedom of all creatures, so Azalea always lets the animals and insects she finds go. She reaches for the wild flowers that surround her, content to make daisy chains and crowns. She is always making necklaces and bracelets out of just about anything; her hands just naturally weave the materials available together.

Noticing the tall grass rustling a little more than the gentle breeze would cause, Azalea whistles. A shaggy black puppy, already quite large, bounds over to her, wagging its tail.

"Sirius," she coos, stroking the dog's head. She begins to chatter excitedly to the animal, quickly braiding a flower collar. "Uncle Remus says he can't take me out on the broomstick 'til later, but in the mean time we can try to find the Mooncalf burrow!"

Azalea lives with her Uncle Remus in a tiny cottage in the Cotswold's. Every month however, for a couple of days, she heads off to her Auntie Tonks', but sometimes she stays with her Uncle Ron and Auntie Hermione and four cousins instead. Azalea likes being with children, but as of late Meagan, Eric, Holden, and Arthur have taken to staring at her when they think she isn't looking. And Auntie Hermione always bursts into tears when Azalea first arrives. The worst of all is when Nan and Auntie Ginny are there as well. Auntie Hermione sets off Nan first, which then, despite her efforts, breaks Auntie Ginny down as well. Azalea asks why they cry, but they just smile and change the subject, sniffling. Plus, it's always so busy at the Weasley's. Megan, Eric, Holden, and Arthur aren't her only cousins, oh no. For one, there are Aunty Ginny's children, Helena and Caius. Caius is nice enough, but Helena has a snooty air about her. Everyone says it comes from her father side, but Azalea rarely sees Aunty Ginny's husband. But Paul and Kay, Aunty Angie and Uncle Fred's kids are always fun. Then there are Emily, Evelyn, and Ella, Aunty Penny and Uncle Percy's daughters and... oh bollocks (she shouldn't say that word!), plenty more.

She prefers her stays at Aunty Tonks' house. She doesn't cry when she sees her, just looks slightly sad...

Azalea knows Harry Potter is her father. She doesn't let on, of course, because the grown-ups don't know she knows. They don't want her to know. Azalea has figured out, even though she isn't completely sure why, that often adults play games, even though they are a lot less fun and more confusing than those of children. But, just like in any game, one must play along.

Azalea first became aware that she was different when Remus would take her to Diagon Alley when she was very small. Although it didn't happen often, sometimes people would come up to them and spout of words about the "savior's daughter" and her eyes and where has he disappeared to before Remus cut them off, or they noticed his glare. But she had been given all she needed to know... the eyes were the first clue.

She didn't remember until several month after one of those encounters in Diagon Alley. She and her cousins were swapping stories Christmas Eve, while they were supposed to be sleeping, and Rochelle, the oldest and already at Hogwarts (and already one of the prettiest, with her long blonde hair, and enchanting smile... a perfect image of her mother, except for her eyes and good nature- exactly like her father) had recently learned a poem about Harry Potter. All though it had only been eight years since his victory, Harry Potter was already a legend a second time around, having disappeared about four years prior... The poem emphasized his green eyes, and at that moment Rochelle's lumos happened to be shining right in Azalea's face. All the children stopped and stared, before Rochelle cleared her throat and continued. The incident was forgotten in the excitement of the next morning, but Azalea remembered.

After that, she found books about Harry Potter, though she had to be careful no one saw. Of course she had seen the children's versions, but she found nothing important in there. During one of her early searched, Remus had caught Azalea poking around his library, holding a book called What Broke Harry Potter. Remus had promptly taken the book away and distracted her.

By her eighth birthday, Azalea was positive. Harry Potter, the famous Harry Potter was her father. But what she didn't know was who her mother was. She began paying more attention at gatherings, where the adults would have a little too much to drink and spout stories of days long past. They mentioned something called the Order often, Hogwarts tales, and Quidditch triumphs. Harry's name came up quite often, but nothing provided a clue about her mother.

One day, however, Azalea stumbled upon at bit of luck, although at first it appeared to be misfortune. Uncle Ron, Fred, George, and Bill, along with the elusive Uncle Draco, were taking all the children to the Quidditch World Cup. Azalea, however, developed a fever in the night and Aunty Hermione, with Nan at her side, refused to let her go. Azalea sulked in bed and refused to speak to Nan or Aunty, until Aunty Ginny slipped into her room.

"Why aren't you at the cup?" Azalea asked, incredulously. Aunty Ginny was supposed to go, and why would anyone miss out on the Quidditch Cup?!

"Well, I was feeling a bit under the weather myself," Aunty Ginny confessed, sitting down on the bed. "Anyway, I found something you might like to see..." and she handed Azalea a photograph. It was the muggle type, and did not move, featuring a woman with a long curtain of hair covering most of her face, but Azalea could still see that she was smiling. Hair just like Azalea's, except long. She held an infant in her outstretched arms. Azalea gasped.

"My... my... mother?" Azalea whispered, stroking the woman in the photograph. Aunty Gin nodded, eyes shimmering. She opened her mouth to speak, but at that moment Auntie Hermione came rushing in, and Azalea promptly stuffed the photo under her pillow.