Remus cleared his throat as he approached the door of a rather cozy looking but isolated cottage, he was not looking forward to doing this but he knew his friend needed a better place to hide, at least until he was in better health, he was weak and wounded, the escape from Azkaban had taken everything from him, almost killing him and then they had the run in with Pettigrew.
Remus had left the school and found Sirius hiding in a small abandoned wagon for the night, he knew he needed to help his friend and he knew the perfect person to take care of him just for the time being.
The sky had clouded over with a darkness that covered the once blue hue completely, stars glittered within the darkness and the once full moon stood prominently within the sky sending only minimal light to the forest floor below, the once mild cold had now turned into a harsh biting breeze cutting into the men like a knife, it made the thought of walking into the warmly lit cottage all that much more exciting.
The cottage they stood before was nestled within a small patch of forest far on the outskirts of a nearby town, it seemed peaceful here, a perfect place to hide Sirius until he could place him back within his rightful home.
Remus held his breath as he tapped on the door, he knew that the person on the other side would not take kindly to this intrusion, he waited, the silence was killing him but he knew the quicker he helped his friend the better, everything was happening all at once, glancing to Sirius he could see the man needed to rest desperately, he was weak, dangerously malnourished and clinging onto buck-beak like his life depended on it.
The door thankfully creaked open slowly and a woman with a peachy face decorated in a few brown birth marks and wide green eyes, lavender hair that spilled into brown curls peaked out, her eyes scanning the three before her with a mix of shock and confusion..
"Are you trying to get me killed?" She snapped her voice lowered as she glanced behind her the confusion and shock mixed into anger and fear.
Remus quickly stepped closer "Adelaide." he quickly uttered "Please listen to me, what i told you, its true." he explained "Sirius is innocent, Harry was a witness to this, Pettigrew was disguised as a pet rat and had hidden with the Weasley family, he caused all of this, he killed his friends." he quickly explained hoping to get his friend inside before he told the whole detailed story.
Adelaide looked over the men suspiciously. "Remus you know i would love to help you but i just haven't got the time for this trouble, i already have enough on my hands." she sighed, looking behind her once again, her voice still hushed. Another biting cold wind blew past them, she shuddered and looked to Sirius who leaned closer to Buck-Beak, his form was noticeably weak and his wounds hadn't seemed to have received the proper care they needed.
As Adelaide's eyes drifted over to him the annoyance in them melted and the frown on her lips soon softened as she saw how weak he truly was, a twinge of guilt stabbed into her chest, she opened the door a little further "Take the bird round the back." she sigh "I'll help Sirius in."
Clutching her Lilac night robe she stepped out and rushed over to Sirius carefully pulling his arm over her shoulder, Remus quickly tended to Buck-beak, taking the bird around to the back of the house where a fenced off back garden lay blocked off from the rest of the forest by a tall brown fence.
Adelaide helped Sirius in and slowly lowered him onto her sofa. "I had a feeling i would see you again Sirius, just not like this." she smiled, trying to add a little light to the dark situation, her comment however was only rewarded with a weak chuckle as the man lay back against the pillows. A sympathetic smile hovered at the woman's lips for a moment before she looked around and shuffled over to a seat that was once occupied, it was placed by the fire, a blanket was crumpled on the floor in front of it and an open book lay perched on the arm.
Adelaide picked up the blanket and walked to Sirius, carefully draping it over him. "Rest, i'll talk to Remus and make some tea." she hummed, walking to the front door and quickly closing it. Sirius nodded and pulled the blanket over him a little more, lavishing in the warmth the cottage provided, he sighed and laid his head back against the soft cushions, his weak form moulding into the sofa as his aching joints finally relaxed.
Remus entered through the back entrance and smiled as Adelaide entered the kitchen, flicking her wand to her stove. A shot of light burst from the ebony wood and landed on the stove just underneath the kettle that awaited for her morning tea. The stove sparked to life, the flames under the kettle soon beginning to heat the water inside, turning to Remus, Adelaide crossed her arms a stern look masking her face.
"I understand you coming here at night Remus, but i dont understand why you are here in the first place." she mumbled, keeping her voice low, a disappointed tone slipping past her lips.
Remus sighed "Everyone is looking for him, my home is to close to on lookers and he needs a place to rest, you're the closest person i could find." he told her, walking closer and leaning against the counter, tucking his hands into his pockets.
Adelaide turned and opened up a cupboard, grabbing three mugs from the shelf. "Remus i have a son."
Remus looked to her guilty as she placed down the mugs, her back was turned to him but the tone in her voice left suggestion that she was not happy with the intrusion or the arrangement, just as he had thought.
"I know Delia." He sighed walking beside her "But he is as much your friend as he is mine, he is not in the best shape right now and all i ask is you help him."
Adelaide looked to him, her stern face melting as he looked to her with a small hopeful smile, Remus always seemed to win her over.
"Very well, i'll take care of him, he can stay in my room but i'm not letting Thomas anywhere near him, he will ask questions." she muttered lifting the now screaming kettle from the stove.
Remus smiled widely "Thank you Delia."
Adelaide smiled softly and shook her head "Some how i was half expecting to see you both again, just not at my door...in the middle of the night.." she smirked.
A chuckle passed Remus's lips as she began to make the tea, he walked over beside her "I would have rather this be under better circumstance but im afraid fate took another path."
Adelaide smiled sadly "will he be okay?" She asked, nodding her head toward the living-room.
Remus nodded "he will, he's held on this long, after meeting Harry i'm sure he wouldn't be willing to give up that easily." He chuckled.
Adelaide nodded once more and finished up the tea, handing a mug to Remus she shook her head, she had no idea on what to do first, the man was severely malnourished, injured and weak, it would be near impossible to get him healthy within a few days. Adelaide sigh and blew into her tea gently, she would just have to do what she could to help him and hope that he at least got a little better, she was no medic but with the amount of cuts bruises and sicknesses her son had,had she was sure she would cope.
A moment of silence passed before Remus suddenly placed a hand on her shoulder "thank you Delia" he muttered softly, his face was completely serious and thankful, she could tell that he had been stressing over this "I know you've got a lot on your hands right now."
Adelaide warmly smiled, she was annoyed but she knew that Sirius needed help and to cast him out would be the worst thing she could do, given his situation, she looked to her friend fondly "anytime, but just let me know before hand next time."
Remus nodded and chuckled "of course, hopefully it will be on a more positive note if we do ever visit again." he smiled before grabbing Sirius's mug and walking to the living room with her in tow.
Sirius was already asleep, exhaustion had taken over and completely consumed him, the blanket covered him completely leaving only his head on show, the light of the fire flickered upon his face detailing as his expression changed rapidly within his slumber, switching from a twisted and uncomfortable look to a completely relaxed expression. Adelaide placed the mug on the coffee table in front of him and blew out the lantern leaving the dim glow of the fire as the only source of light.
Remus took a seat "now, i owe you the truth." he began, placing the mug on the table and leaning forward, his elbows on his knees.
Adelaide took a seat in her chair and curled up a little "yes, you do" she hummed, sipping her drink.
Remus cleared his throat and looked to her, then to Sirius, he let out a breath and began to tell her the truth, he trusted her enough to understand that this had to be kept quiet, with enough evidence they could set Sirius free, but at the moment with everything that was happening it was not a good idea. Remus told her everything about Peter and how his cowardice had taken over and driven him to betray his friends, he told her about the betrayal and how Sirius had managed to escape using his animagus form, everything that he had suspected was true and now she was hearing the full story for the first time.
Adelaide listened intently, willing to understand everything that had happened, she felt the twinges of guilt soon turn into sadness as she thought about a poor malnourished and skinny dog slipping through the bars of that god forsaken prison. Sirius didn't deserve that, he didn't deserve to be locked away for that long, without being able to protect his godson or be with his remaining friends, knowing that the man that had killed the people he loved roamed free...Pettigrew was a friend and he had completely betrayed them.
Remus noticed a few tears in Adelaide's eyes as he finished up the story, he frowned "im sorry, its horrible to hear i know, but i didn't want you to think Sirius was a killer."
Adelaide cleared her throat and looked to Sirius "he went through all of that" she mumbled, her voice quiet and sad "and Pettigrew still escaped."
"We will find him" Remus nodded "he will pay for all that he has done" he muttered taking his mug from the table and wrapping his hands around it, savouring the heat before he took his leave.
The clock chimed as the hour soon changed and Adelaide shifted, finishing the rest of her drink "ill stay here tonight." she mumbled as Sirius continued to twitch slightly, she could tell that his nightmares plagued him, she wanted to be there in case they changed to night terrors.
Remus finished his drink and got up "ill bring some things for him." he informed her, walking to the door "again, thank you Delia"
Adelaide raised a brow "you owe me for this Mooney." she huffed, before smiling widely.
Remus laughed and shook his head "ill return tomorrow, early, goodnight Adelaide."
Adelaide gave him a small wave "goodnight Remus."
And with that he left, leaving the woman alone with Sirius, she settled herself into her seat and stared at the man as he rested, her eyes hurt but she refused to sleep.
Tomorrow would be a busy day but she knew she would get through it, she had to take care of him, make sure he was fit enough to return home, it may have been an unexpected arrangement but she was pleased.
He was safe.
As was Remus.
For tonight, all was well.