Written for the Sacred Stones Challenge
Amber(Time) - Silver(Purity) - Protection(Defence) = The theme prompt that you must use for your story is: Waiting for a Loved One To Safely Return Ring: Aren: (Friend)
Thanks to Raybe for helping me with this, the title and for betaing it at short notice :D
Remus stepped out of the floo, a small girl at his side. He took her hand, helping her from the fireplace.
"Your house is nice," he offered, looking around.
She nodded. "Why are you babysitting me? Normally it's Sirius."
Remus tried to keep the smile on his face. "Something came up and Sirius needed to help your dad," he replied. "Now, let's eat some of this food and... what do you do for fun?"
"We can watch movies?" Dora suggested.
"Perfect."
"Play with my dolls?"
Remus hesitated. "Sure," he said after a moment. He hated dolls so much, but if it kept Dora distracted, that's what he'd have to endure.
"Brilliant. Sirius never wants to play with my dolls," Dora said.
"But we'll eat first," Remus insisted. "Now, where is your kitchen?"
...oOo...
Remus unwrapped the fish and chips he had bought for the pair of them, placing the paper wrappings onto the plate - after all, it was supposed to be eaten out of the paper. That was the proper way to eat fish and chips. He looked over at the girl watching him from the table.
"Sauce?"
"Ketchup," she replied, pointing to a cupboard.
He nodded, opening the cupboard and pulling out the sauce. Grabbing some cutlery, he started setting the table.
Dora walked over to the fridge, pulling out some juice and Remus grabbed some glasses. He would prefer something stronger than Pumpkin juice, but he would make do.
...oOo...
"Remus," came Sirius' voice. Remus turned to the man hurrying towards him. "This is my cousin Tonks. Something is... I need you to take her home."
"To ours?" Remus asked.
"No, to hers." He guided them into the chip shop next to them. "Tonks, take a seat." He pointed to a table.
He pulled Remus a little way away towards the door, his eyes still on his cousin.
"We think Bellatrix took Andromeda and Ted's vying for blood. We need someone to watch Tonks because knowing that psycho, she'll come after Tonks next. Ted needs my help and he doesn't trust anyone with Tonks... but I told him that I'd trust you with my life. The wards have been changed for you, I've done them myself."
"You want me to babysit?"
"Protect," Sirius said, moving closer. Remus' eyes met Sirius' concerned ones. "There are very few people I'd trust to do this, and you are top of that list."
Remus couldn't help but feel good at the fact that Sirius trusted him above all others to keep Tonks safe. He could only nod his head.
"Brilliant." Sirius turned to the counter and began ordering food for them to take back. "Take her next door and get her snacks. I've told her that her parents are going on a night out together and I said that she can stay up late and everything. She doesn't realise..."
"Don't worry, I won't tell her."
"And I'll really owe you," Sirius murmured.
Remus could only nod. He could fantasise about what Sirius could do to make this up to him.
Once the food was ready, Sirius Apparated with them and escorted them to the floo.
"I just don't get all this blood purity bullshit," Sirius muttered lowly so his cousin wouldn't hear his words.
"Neither do I. Be safe," Remus replied.
"Don't worry. James is giving us the cloak," Sirius replied.
"Promise you'll be safe."
"Hey, don't worry," Sirius said, his voice softening and his hand running across Remus' jaw. He quickly pulled his hand back and coughed awkwardly. "It's fine, I won't get hurt."
Remus took Dora's hand and threw down the floo powder, smiling slightly to himself at the feel of Sirius' hand on his face.
...oOo...
"Mum never makes us eat in here," Dora said. "Only when we're having formal dinners."
"She doesn't?" Remus asked.
Dora shook her head.
"Right. Where do you eat?"
Dora grabbed her plate and drink. Remus scooped up the cutlery, taking his own plate and glass of pumpkin juice and followed her out of the room, into the living room. Dora placed her plate and drink on the coffee table, and put a cushion on the floor, dropping down onto it.
"Movie?"
"Can we watch the Little Mermaid?" Dora asked.
"Sure. Why that one?"
"I like the songs," Dora said. "Or we could watch a different one."
"No, I don't mind, whatever you want," Remus said, moving across the room to the DVD player and looking for the right movie. Once it was all set up, he took a seat on the floor next to Dora and they both began to eat.
Remus made quick work of the washing up when the movie finished, and Dora selected another. He hoped that he wouldn't have to play with the dolls since Dora was too distracted by the Disney movies.
He realised that there was no such luck when a stack of Kens were dropped into his lap.
"What am I supposed to do with these?" He asked, slightly panicked. The dolls were creepy - he had never liked dolls.
"That's Ken, he's Barbie's boyfriend," Dora explained. "In the game, they were supposed to get married, but Ken married the wrong Barbie, leaving his girlfriend Barbie really upset."
"Right, so what do I do?"
"You have to be Ken," she said, picking up one of the various Ken dolls. Remus wondered how she even knew the difference. "I'm Barbie." She picked up another one that had green hair.
"Why has it got green hair?"
"Because I don't like all my barbies looking the same," Dora explained.
Remus glanced at the time. They had only been back for two hours. How had he already gotten roped into playing with Barbie?
"Fine," he sighed. "So Ken... Barbie is upset with him?"
Dora nodded. "Yes, but she's going to become an Auror and kick his arse."
...oOo...
"My dad thinks I'm just a kid," Dora said, as they tidied the dolls away.
"Why do you think that?" Remus replied, glad to see the back of the creepy toys.
"I heard him and Sirius talking. They didn't think I was listening, but something happened to my mum," she said, her smile fading. "I pretended I didn't hear because it'd upset my dad, but do you think Mum is alright? If Aunty Bellatrix took her..."
Remus nodded. "She's fine. I think if there is anyone who can handle Bellatrix, it's your mother. She grew up with her after all."
"I guess." Dora was quiet for a minute. "Tell me about yours and Sirius' friendship."
"Well, we've been friends since we were eleven and -"
"And when did you fall in love? Because I know he wants to kiss you," she said in a singsong voice. "Do you want to kiss him?"
Remus stared at her for a moment. Was she right, did Sirius really want to kiss him? Wait, she was a little kid. What did she know?
"Sirius is my best friend and my flatmate," he replied. "Now, how about another movie before you go to bed?"
"That's called avoidance," she called after him. "Sirius does that all the time, don't think I didn't notice that you didn't give me a real answer."
...oOo...
Remus' wand was out when he heard the floo activate. He knew Sirius said it was safe, but the first thing he learnt when it came to defence was to always be prepared for something to happen, even if you think you are safe.
He watched Ted step out, his wand raised. Andy followed and then finally Sirius.
"Uh, there was this one time in sixth year where you ate all your easter eggs and ate mine and were sick and didn't eat chocolate for a week," Sirius said, trying to think of something to prove who he was.
"Was it Bellatrix?"
Sirius nodded his head. "Andy can hold her own. Took us a while to get in, but let's just say Andy gave as good as she got."
"How's Dora?"
"She heard you talking before you got here and knew exactly what was happening," Remus said, turning to Ted. "But she's fine. She was too worried to go to bed -"
"That's fine as long as she's safe, thank you Remus."
The pair led the way into the living room and as Sirius turned, Remus noticed a tear in his robes. He grabbed Sirius' arm, stopping him and pulled his robe sleeve up.
"Nothing, stray curse," Sirius said, with a shrug.
"I'll put something on it," Remus said, examining it. "When we get home, I'll -"
He was silenced by Sirius' hand tilting his face up and lips pressing against his. Sirius' injury was quickly forgotten as Remus' arms wrapped around Sirius' neck and Sirius pulled Remus closer.
"I knew it," Dora shouted, causing the men to break apart. "You're in love and you're going to get married."
"No," they said in unison, quickly stepping away from each other, blushing at being caught.
"You were," she shouted. "This is so romantic. Can I be the bridesmaid at your wedding?"
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