Willow and Tristan

Willow had long dark brown hair from her mother but opposed to wild untamable tendrils, they were silky and rather straight more like her father's. She had a pale complexion like the muggle story of Snow White with naturally wide almond shaped caramel eyes. To her father's horror she was probably one of the most beautiful girls that many of them had seen, even Sadie had digressed. As she grew up, she only got prettier and prettier. There was a beauty within her that reflected on the outside. She like her siblings had inherited their mother's brains and maturity but while her sister was very independent, Willow was very much a Papa's girl.

Since she was young, boys old and young were attracted to her, thinking she was china doll like. Draco once had to fight the urge to beat up a man when he saw the creeper staring at his five year old in a way that no man should ever look at a child. Instead he'd just hexed the man into having nightmares for the rest of his life.

Boys buzzed around her like bees, always unsure of how old she was, but such a pretty child...James Potter was very much one of them but he only saw her as a little sister as he did plan to one day marry Lyra and then he would officially call Willow his sister. James protected her when her father couldn't, being the protective father when Draco couldn't be such as at Hogwarts.

"Willow Wood!" James cried his very own nickname for her when he barged into the compartment of Willow and her best friend Crystal, Sadie and Ken's daughter. He settled into the compartment feeling the urge to protect the two much too pretty first years. The two eleven year olds just did not look like first years, third years would probably be more accurate. Merlin he wished that he had that old bat Lyra used to threaten him with. He just knew he was going to have to use it this year.

"James!" Willow hugged the older boy. "Did you see my sister yet?" She asked exctedly, her eyes lit up with the thought of Hogwarts, at last.

"Of course, I left a stink bomb in her and her new boyfriend's compartment so she'll probably be coming here to see you soon." He winked.

"James," Willow sighed. "Lyra will not be happy with you."

"I don't really care, I broke up their snogging session so I'm content. So what house are you guys hoping to get in?"

!

To Draco Malfoy's horror his youngest daughter was in Hufflepuff. He was so hysterical that he flooed into the Headmaster's office demanding that his daughter get re-housed, as the hat had finally lost it. Hermione beside him muttered things along side stupid husband, way too much pride, and a plethora about abstaining.

"Draco, Willow probably has a very good reason why she's in Hufflepuff!" Hermione said.

"But honey it's HUFFLEPUFF! I thought she'd at least be in Ravenclaw with Sabine but no,"

"Crystal's in Hufflepuff too."

"Yeah well thankfully she got Ken's personality. Willow is our daughter! Willow,"

"Yes daddy?" Willow flounced in as she was called away from class the minute her parents had flooed in.

"Baby I know that the hat messed up and Professor McGonagall has agreed to retest you if-"

"But daddy I told the hat to put me in it. He said I could be in any of the four houses."

Draco stopped and stared at his daughter. "But Willow why Hufflepuff?" He all but whined.

"I told the hat to put me in the house that needed me most." Willow shrugged because she was sometimes indicisive.

Draco's jaw dropped as Hermione and Professor McGonagall both blinked.

Draco whirled around to face his wife. "I love you so much honey but, why do your damn Gryffindor qualities always seem to override my Slytherin ones!"

Willow hummed to herself as she left the headmaster's room. She giggled to herself as she remembered her father sulking in her mind. She was too lost in her own thoughts that she didn't notice the boy that was rounding the corner with scrolls of quidditch plays and books in his arms.

They both collided and the scrolls went flying.

"Oh my goodness, I'm so, so, sorrrrrrrry." Willow trailed off at the end as she looked up into a pair of green eyes and tuft of brown hair.

"It's alright lass." The boy said as he began to pick up his stuff. "I probably shouldn't be carrying so much stuff."

"No but I should've," Willow stammered.

"No harm no foul, Tristan Wood by the way. Fourth year."

"Willow Malfoy," Willow handed him the scrolls she picked up. "First year."

"Excuse me," The boy said shocked.

"I'm really a first year." She laughed.

"Blimey, I thought you were in my year... your mum must give you more milk than mine and that's saying a lot."

"No, I just... um um." Willow stuttered for the first time. She'd never been nervous in her whole life but this handsome boy in front of her with his Scottish accent was making her stumble. She looked down, anything to avoid his gaze. It was a scroll of a quidditch play. "You should have your second best chaser be the person who flies to the side then your best shooter to stay left of the ring as the Ravenclaw keeper tends to throw the ball to his right and if your chaser can catch it and throw it to your best they can then throw it to the far left right where the keeper doesn't favor." She said then looked up quickly handing him his scroll then fled before she could say anything else.

Willow hid in the comfort of the library. She tried not to think about the boy that she ran into earlier but it was hard. Each time she drifted off and would see those gorgeous green eyes and think about how she was such a nervous mess and then had blurted out her opinion when he hadn't even asked.

"Excuse me,"

Willow looked up from her book, dropping it when she saw it was him, Tristan Wood.

"I was hoping that you could help me with my quidditch play, I heard most of what you said earlier but..." Tristan said hopefully.

"Oh, I mean, yes, I, sure."

For the next two weeks, that was all they did. When the game came to a head, Willow dressed up proudly in her Hufflepuff colors but unlike most of her house she and Crystal sat with the Gryffindors. It was a land slide win, the Ravenclaws not having even had a chance.

Willow was practically an honorary Gryffindor, welcomed in probably every house due to her siblings, except probably Ravenclaw at the moment. Willow and Crystal stepped into the Gryffindor common room just as the celebration began. Willow was hugged by her brother and James. She too hugged Albus but was thankful he returned it or else it might've been awkward.

She was sipping on pumpkin juice when Tristan Wood came flying in, at once spotting her, he ran to her and picked her up, spinning her. "Not only do you remind me of an angel but you are the most brilliant strategist I've ever met." Tristan cried as he gave her a kiss on the cheek.

Willow turned a bright shade of red.

"I could just marry you right now!" Tristan Wood grinned despite himself.

"Whoa there mate, don't you think you should ask mine and James's permission first to at least date her." Harry joked.

"Oh, I'm sorry of course." Tristan said eyes wide, as if realizing his fault.

Harry got a strange look on his face. The guy knew he was joking right, cause his sister was like only a first year.

The next day Willow was in the library again when Tristan took his usual seat beside her. "Would you, um could you, uh."

Willow laughed as she turned to the handsome boy. "Yes Tristan I'll help you with your quidditch plays for any team, but I can't help you against Hufflepuff I'm sorry but my house needs all the help they can get."

Tristan gave a brilliant smile. "Deal."

!

Quidditch practice just finished when Tristan approached James.

"Hey Wood. You need something?" The older boy asked,

"I just, I- Could I have permission to ask Willow out?" Tristan blurted.

James looked up sharply as the boy was only a year younger than him. "I'm sorry,"

"I just, I really like Willow and I just... I guess."

"Tristan Wood, stop before you embarrass yourself further, I know that you really like Willow, maybe even as much I love Lyra. I'm saying yes because I know that Willow will hate me forever if she ever found out I said no."

"Oh thanks." Tristan said, sighing in relief.

"Hey, Albus said you needed to talk to me?" Harry said as he lounged on the couch.

"I just wanted to know if I could ask Willow out." Tristan said this time with more confidence as James had already accepted, boosting his confidence and this time Harry was a year younger than him, less intimidating.

Harry nearly fell off the couch. "You know I was joking at the party right? Cause like Willow's only a first year!"

"You were?' Tristan asked, confused.

"Dude of course I was, but she's only eleven. You, I mean, you just, can't..."

Tristan's eyes widened as he realized what Harry was implying. "No, no, no, that's not why, I mean, I just. I think I'm in love with her since that time we ran into each other and she saw the quidditch play, and I don't, that's just not me, I mean I would never, my mum and dad have taught me better. I just think I'm in love and I don't like how other guys look at her. I know she's eleven and I don't expect anything, that's just..." Tristan stumbled over his words.

"Whoa dude chill, I got the gist of it, well you have my permission but my dad is really over protective of Willow so maybe talk to my mom and then she can like help prepare my dad."

"Oh thanks."

Tristan nearly choked when a large beautiful brown owl dropped a letter into his lap. He had sent his letter to the Malfoy's yesterday asking for their permission.

Tristan cringed before he opened the letter.

Dear Tristan,

You sound like a perfectly good young man but you are not worthy to even be in my daughter's presence-

Please ignore that Tristan that was my husband. Lyra, Harry, and Willow have all wrote about you in their letters to us and we were very impressed by your sincerity. From your letter, I can tell that you are perfect gentlemen and we've met your parents and know that they would raise only a perfect gentleman. Willow is young but she's quite like me where we were always a little more mature than others. From her letter she sounds very much in love with you and Willow tells us that you remind her of Draco. So Draco has agreed to let you be on a trial basis, he'll be coming to Hogsmeade next week to interview you, but I will be there too.

Love,

Hermione Malfoy

Tristan had been nervous the whole week upon meeting the Malfoys. He was a train wreck on the ride over.

!

"I like him Draco." Hermione told her husband as Tristan left the restaurant. Draco had grilled him for the whole hour straight and the boy while very nervous and stuttered quite often, was truly sincere. Hermione could definitely see what her youngest daughter saw in him.

"But she's only eleven Hermione. She cannot be in a realtionship, who in their right mind would be in a relationship in their first year. "

"Two words Draco. Pansy Parkinson." Hermione deadpanned, rather without emotion.

That shut Draco up real fast.

"Now honey go after that boy and tell him he has our permission."

!

Tristan had asked out Willow the very next day. Since, they'd become one of Hogwarts cutest couples. They ate almost every meal together, always studied in the library together. Yet the two of them never once kissed in public nor anything of the sort Tristan knew the boundaries and Willow didn't mind. She understood socially what her age limited their relationship to.

"So I guess I really picked the right nick name for you didn't I, Willow Wood, I'm telling you I've got seer blood in me." James joked as he sat next to Lyra.

"You two don't even show that much public displays of affection yet still make me feel sick with all your lovey dovey moments. I mean the guy is so in love with you, it's like on the same level as James." Lyra said. "Just less creepy and much sweeter."

"I'm hurt, the wound from my own beloved."

"Lyra," Willow admonished. "James is so in love with you, most girls would kill for the love that James feels for you."

"Willow Wood, why didn't I just fall for you instead of your heartless sister."

"Ditto sis, I don't think that Tristan boy even knows that other females exist." Lyra said ignoring James.

Willow smiled warmly. "I just want a love like Mum and Dad, and I think Tristan's it."

!

The Yule Ball had been announced a few weeks ago and Willow tried not to wallow in pity that Tristan hadn't yet asked her.

"I guess he doesn't want to go to the Yule Ball with a first year." Willow said depressed to her best friend, so many people always telling her she was a mere first year, as if that was the answer to so much.

"Willow, you know Tristan's probably just busy. I mean Gryffindor's tied with Slytherin in the points standing of Quidditch games, and you know what he's like when he's in quidditch mode." Crystal added helpfully.

"Yeah, I guess."

It was the morning of the Ball and Willow had given up all hope. Who was she kidding? First years just didn't go to the Yule Ball, they never had and she wasn't about to break that tradition.

She walking down the hall when two arms wrapped around her. "I never asked Willow, but what exactly is the color of your dress, my mum just reminded me that I have to match my tie with your dress."

"What?" Willow exclaimed. "But, wait, you, tie, my dress?"

Tristan looked at her funny. "You're still going with me to the Ball right? Cause I mean, just I thought that since you were my girlfriend."

"But I thought you weren't going to take me."

"What? I love you, I couldn't not take you. I mean, I thought that's what all couples do." He fumbled for the right words

"You just never asked, and I just," Willow began to giggle. "I thought you didn't want to take me because I was a first year and I would cramp your style and all." She laughed at both of them.

"What do you mean, of course not, my friends adore you, heck if the guys thought they had a chance, they would probably toss me in a broom closet for the rest of the school year to have a chance with you. I just thought that you knew that of course I was taking you."

"You oblivious you," Willow cried as she wrapped her arms around her boyfriend.

!

Willow entered the Ravenclaw room to help Sabine get dressed and then proceeded to straighten the girl's hair before putting it up in a classic French twist. The two got ready together, ignoring the comments from the vicious other third years mainly her brother's girlfriend.

"I love your dress Willow, where'd you get it?" Sabine asked as they both walked to the Gryffindor common room to their dates.

Willow laughed. "It was too late to buy a dress at Hogsmeade so I flooed my Mum to find a dress. She said all the other shops didn't have my size so she just sent me her dress that she wore to her Yule Ball. We're apparently the same size."

"My goodness, it's gorgeous though." Sabine said in awe. Obviously the nargles were on Willow's side.

Tristan's jaw dropped when he saw his girlfriend. He had been struggling with his tie but forgot all about it when she came in. "You look beautiful Willow."

"My little wood nymph!" James said as he came in, hugging her off her feet.

"James," Willow laughed, "Put me down."

!

"Let me help you with that." Willow said as she saw her boyfriend once again struggling with his tie as Sabine and James left to meet James' friends.

Just as she was doing so, her brother came rushing into the common room.

He left after frustratingly calling for his usual partner in crime, Albus.

!

"I wonder what my brother's planning." Willow said aloud as she and Tristan waited to get their pictures taken.

"I'm not sure but, I think it has to do with Sabine." He said wrapping his arms around her.

"Yeah me too." Willow said as she leaned back into him.

!

Willow was enjoying herself thoroughly as Tristan twirled, spun and just danced her throughout the dance floor, the two stumbling sometimes, but neither minding. But after an hour straight of dancing, she grew thirsty. She waited by the drink table as Tristan talked to some of his mates, sipping her drink.

"Hey, I don't think we've ever had the pleasure of meeting..."

Willow looked up to see that it was some guy that happened to be a friend of her sister's boyfriend. She groaned as the idiot tried to flirt with her, she cursed herself for being too polite to just tell the guy to scram, but became more alarmed as the boy began to talk about her sister.

!

"I'm so sorry about that Tristan, I just want James to look perfect so that they can also get their picture taken to remember this night and-"

"Its fine my Willow Wood." Tristan said as he hugged her closer to him, letting her rest her head on his chest. "As long as the slight bloof stains don't bother you, they don't bother me."

"They don't bother me at all." Willow agreed.

"Then everything's perfect." Tristan said grinning down at her.

"Yeah everything's perfect." She said looking up at him before she lightly stepped on his leather dress shoes as she tried to tip toe up. "Perfect." She whispered near his lips before kissing him in public for the first time.

Not many people understood what she meant when she said that Tristan reminded her of her dad, but just the way he looked at her, it was the same look her dad gave her mum, and the safety she felt in both of their arms. Yeah they were very different but they both loved her unconditionally and she the same.

The End