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'Please, Hagrid,' Adhara pleaded, adorably.
"Oh - Alright! I guess so -"
"Yes!" Leo cheered, and before Remus or Hagrid could say anything else, he quickly grabbed Adhara's hand and led her towards Fortescue's. With a chime of the bell announcing their arrival, Leo quickly brought Adhara to the selections.
"What kind do you want?" Leo asked, looking at her.
Adhara pursed her lips. "I don't know, I never tried ice cream before... I'll get what you get." She smiled.
Leo smiled back as he clenched his other fist tightly behind his back. Those damn Dursleys... he needed to get her far away from them!
"Let's start with the basics. One scoop chocolate, one scoop vanilla, and one scoop strawberry," Leo stated as he ordered their ice cream cups.
ϟϟϟ
Remus and Hagrid took a seat outside the ice cream parlor.
"What led to you escorting Adhara... I thought her relatives would have..." Hagrid sighed as he looked into the window at Leo and Adhara eating their ice cream.
"The Dursleys ain't no kind people, Remus. Something's off... Adhara's a sweet girl - she deserves better than how they treat her," Hagrid mumbled.
"Treat her?" Remus inquired, worriedly. Dumbledore had assured him she'd be taken care of properly.
"Look at her, Remus. She's smaller than the others her age, thin as a stick almost, and the things they said... called her. Let alone, threatened in front of me... imagine what they'd do without someone like me present," Hagrid whispered, sadly.
Remus turned to look at Adhara; she was very small for her age... and her clothes were definitely not her size at all, too baggy and looked as if she could drown in them.
"Poor thing, she didn't even know today was her birthday. She was surprised when I brought her a birthday cake," Hagrid added.
"You're not taking her back, are you?" Remus mumbled out, concern written all over his face.
"I'm afraid I have to, Remus. It's Dumbledore's orders, y'see. There ain't much I can do 'bout it," Hagrid sighed, regretfully before adding, "Don't worry, Remus. I'll have a word with Dumbledore, and I believe he'll definitely help Adhara out."
Remus sighed, as he nervously bounced his leg.
"Hagrid, I understand Dumbledore's orders, and if she's suffered as much as you say, she deserves a safe and caring environment. Let her stay with me and Leo for the rest of the summer. I'll make sure she's cared for, and we can keep her away from any more suffering. It's the best thing for her, and I know you want what's best," Remus urged, before quickly adding, "And once you tell Dumbledore, I'm sure he'd agree."
Hagrid looked to be debating between obeying Dumbledore's orders and Adhara's safety.
"Well, I reckon you've got a point there. It's just... it's hard seein' her go back there, y'know? But if it's for the best, I suppose I'll have to talk to Dumbledore and see what he says about it. In the meantime, I s'pose she can go with you," Hagrid stood to his feet. "I best be goin' now, Remus. I'll write to ya once I've had a chat with Dumbledore."
Remus got to his feet as well. "Thank you, Hagrid, and I'll be waiting to hear from you." With one last nod and glance at Adhara, Hagrid turned and left. Remus sat back down as he glanced back into the ice cream parlor at Leo and Adhara, letting out a sullen sigh.
ϟϟϟ
"So, which one do you like best?" Leo asked with a smile.
Adhara hummed in thought. "I think I slightly prefer the chocolate over the vanilla... not a fan of the strawberry, much."
Leo nodded in agreement. "It's better with real strawberries... I should have asked for that one instead," he mumbled.
Adhara let out a small laugh. "Next time," she stated happily.
"Next time," he repeated with a smile, "It should be a goal to try every flavor here."
Adhara's eyes widened in shock. "Leo, there's over a hundred different ice cream flavors here..." She whispered.
Leo smirked. "Exactly, we have a lot of work to do."
"Sounds like you two are having fun," Remus smiled down at them. He then pulled up a chair before turning to Adhara, "Hagrid and I thought maybe it would be best if you spent the rest of the summer with Leo and me, how do you feel about that?" He asked Adhara, worriedly.
"R - Really?" Adhara stuttered while looking up at him, hopeful.
"Really," he assured. "I - I would love to, Mister Remus - " She then cut herself off to look at Leo, "Is it alright w -"
Leo cut her off as he instantly smiled while stating, "Brilliant! Wait 'till you see Mors Cottage, you'll love it!"
ϟϟϟ
An hour later, they finally completed getting all their school supplies and slowly made their way back to "The Leaky Cauldron".
"How about... Smokey?" Remus questioned, as they slowly debated on what to name Leo's owl.
Leo looked up at him with a scrunched-up face. "That's too... common," Leo mumbled.
Remus snorted, and Adhara giggled at Leo's expression of disapproval.
"How about Ghost?" Adhara questioned with a smile.
Leo pursed his lips. "Add it to the list..."
"You have a list?" Remus asked.
"Yup! Loki, Hedwig, Alfredo, Trouble, Mischief, and Ghost!" Leo listed off.
"Can't you just name her Snowy?" Remus mumbled, confused.
Adhara and Leo both stopped and looked at him with shocked expressions. "Snowy? Everyone has eyes, Remus. They can clearly see she's a snowy owl, I mean it's not like you'd name your owl Tawny just because it's a Tawny owl -"
"I think he did," Adhara whispered cutting Leo off, noticing the look on Remus's face.
"It is a fine name, thank you very much," Remus mumbled defensively, as the owl still on his shoulder hooted.
"Your owl is so gonna be bullied by the other owls," Leo stated matter-of-factly.
"Well, I'm sure your owl will look out for mine," Remus laughed. "Now, let's get home so I can figure out what to make us for dinner and struggle making it."
ϟϟϟ
"Woah!" Adhara whispered looking around Mors Cottage. "Told you, you'd love it!" Leo whispered cheerily. She slowly glanced from the comfy looking velvet blue sofas to the vast amount of books on the shelves built into the wall before turning around and looking at all the cool moving magical paintings and interesting plants. It was her first time seeing a magical home. Her favorite part as she was given a tour of the fantastical place was the skylight. It had interesting skeletal-winged looking horses in the design.
"Why don't you put your things in your room, Leo? And I'll show you to your guest room, to do the same," Remus instantly stated looking from Leo to Adhara.
As Remus showed Adhara to the guest room, Leo immediately ran to his. As soon as he opened the door, Kreacher stood waiting with a cage in his hand. "Kreacher gots the traitor, Master Leo... What shall Kreacher do now?" He croaked out.
Leo immediately closed his door behind him and peered into the cage - sure enough, there was a stunned rat, none other than Peter Pettigrew, in the cage. A smirk grew on Leo's face. "Brilliant..." He whispered before straightening up. "You did excellent, Kreacher!" Kreacher grumbled, confused at being complimented - Leo continued anyway, "Now, I need you to deliver the rat anonymously to Amelia Bones... leave a note saying that... I don't know, someone's pet kneazle kept acting funny around it or something - something to make them investigate it."
Kreacher nodded before popping away.
ϟϟϟ
"Leo! Adhara! Dinner's ready!" Remus called from out the window. Leo and Adhara immediately made their way inside.
"How'd it go?" Remus asked as he set out the plates.
"Great! Adhara's a natural at flying!" Leo beamed.
Remus smirked. "Just like her father..." He whispered under his breath.
"You knew my father?" Adhara asked, looking up at him eagerly.
"Uh -" He took a seat clearing his throat, "Yes. Both Sirius and James were... the closest friends I ever had. Brothers in all but blood, we'd say..."
"R - Really?" Adhara whispered.
"Really. I'd be happy to tell you about them..." Remus offered to both Adhara and Leo.
Adhara nodded excitedly, as Leo hummed while taking a bite of his chicken pot pie. He scrunched up his face before looking at Remus and mumbling, "I don't think you cooked it long enough...."
Remus furrowed his brow before taking a bite of his own, "I believe you're right." He whispered.
Adhara snickered at their faces.
Remus pulled out his wand and quickly used a spell to heat up the food, "That should do it."
Adhara quickly stood up and grabbed another plate, and setting it to her left. Both Remus and Leo looked at Adhara confused but she ignored them as she called out, "Kreacher!"
A look of understanding crossed their faces as the elf popped in. "Dinner's ready," Adhara stated to the elf before sitting down in her seat again.
Kreacher looked from Adhara to Leo to the table in quiet shock and confusion. Remus looked down trying to hold back his snort.
Adhara turned to look at Kreacher bewildered on why he hasn't sat down yet. Leo cleared his throat, "Sit with us and eat, Kreacher."
Kreacher looked at Leo suspiciously, "Kreacher is a house elf... Kreacher lives to serve... not -" He cut himself off as he began to grumble under his breath, quietly.
"Do house-elves normally not eat at the table?" Adhara asked quietly.
"No," Remus answered.
"But aren't they a part of the family?" Adhara asked curiously.
"Most families who have house-elves typically consider them as - just - well, servants," Remus stuttered. Adhara tilted her head, baffled.
"They also tend to be treated rather cruelly," Leo added, taking another bite of his pot pie.
"B - But - You guys don't -"
"Oh, Merlin no. We'd never," Remus stated right away, "His previous masters... however - "
"Were arses!" Leo mumbled with his mouth full. Remus looked at Leo, struggling whether he should agree or chide him for his language - before settling on both.
Adhara looked over at Kreacher, "I'd like you to sit and eat with us, but it's okay if you don't feel like it." She whispered to him.
Kreacher looked at her as he seemed to be fighting between reluctance and gratitude, before ultimately muttering, "If the young miss insists, Kreacher will sit, but Kreacher knows his place," as he reluctantly took a seat.
Adhara smiled at him brightly. "Thank you, Kreacher!" She cheered.