As Remus walked up the stairs with the frightened girl, he felt a wave of protectiveness overcome him. The child was so small and he could tell she was hurting emotionally. "Please don't be afraid little pup," he whispered. He smiled as she clung a little tighter, but he noted the amount of dirt that was in her hair and on her clothes. "Did you play outside until late last night?" She shook her head and he sighed before running the water and putting her hand under it. "If it feels too warm you tell me," he warned. She whimpered and pulled it back. "Too warm?"
"Too cold," she answered. He nodded and put a little more warm water in and she smiled. "Good," she giggled. He smiled and gently got rid of the dirt stained clothes and set her in the water. Dumbledore walked in and smiled grabbing one of the softer washcloths and slowly washed her face which it was clear she didn't like.
"I know this part isn't a favorite but it has to be done. As soon as I get you all cleaned up, you can lay down again," he shushed. She whimpered as he continued. Remus helped by dumping some clean water over her head a few times. Finally though he saw something alarming. There were cuts and bruises on her back. As soon as Paloma was cleaned, Remus wrapped her in a snuggly soft towel and smiled as she yawned.
"Let's get you into your footies and tucked into bed," he whispered. As Remus grabbed the duck footies he smiled but put her in a pull up. She was about to protest when he shushed her. "I know you're good about it but it's just in case. Only for tonight okay?" She nodded and Remus smiled carrying her into the room that Sirius and Dumbledore had finished while he was resting. It was an ocean themed room. Even her bed was charmed to be like a real water bed. There were fake fish swimming in her bed like they were real and she had a lot of different toys.
"For me?" Remus nodded and gently laid Paloma in her bed and smiled as she looked at all the toys around her. "Not sleepy," she weakly protested as Remus covered her and stroked her cheek. Remus had lowered the lighting and made sure that she had a stuffed animal in her arms. Dumbledore then walked in as he was certain she was falling asleep and then kissed her forehead. She smiled and he gently stroked her hair smiling as she turned away. As they were about to leave, Dumbledore left a baby monitor on the table beside her bed and shut the door so there was light coming in. Sirius was waiting for Severus to return and as he did, there were questions.
"So how was retrieving our baby sister?" Sirius was curious and smiled at the man thinking it was easy considering how docile she was. Severus blushed and Albus knew that meant one of his rules was broken. But he waited it out.
"Son, I'd rather know. Please be honest here," Albus sighed. He knew his son must have been pretty provoked to break the rule of not delivering a swat to her bottom unless Albus said they could.
"She was pretty calm until I picked her up. I didn't think about it and after she hit me I gave her a few swats. After she began crying I shushed her down and soothed her. I promised that I still loved her and all the normal things," he answered.
"Severus was in the right then. She shouldn't be violent. But regardless saying that he still loved her will help her feel welcome in our family as well as show she's loved regardless of problems she has mentally and physically. She'll be okay. Severus had to do it and slowly as we introduce rules she will embrace the protectiveness that we have on her. So spanking is on the list of allowed but not any more than 5 smacks and 2 to her sit spots each. But that's for serious things. Normally we do timeouts and restrictions," Dumbledore answered.
"Fair enough. It's nearing breakfast. Should I prepare the food and then wake her up?" Remus was curious. Dumbledore nodded so that made Remus smile and begin on breakfast. Meanwhile a certain dog animagus was laying on the waterbed with Paloma.
'Prongs, just wait until you get a look at her. She's so perfect. Moony and Snivellous are so protective of her. Snapey even spanked her naughty little bottom for slapping him. I think she's really learning something here. Dad's doing what he can but I think it'll take some love. I fear that your Muggle job as a dentist/hygenist will scare her. But being an Auror is cool. I can't wait to tell you about the little darling,'he thought until he saw Dumbledore. Dumbledore smiled at the dog and sat beside Paloma and picked her up.
"Hmm?"
"Morning little angel," he greeted gently kissing her head. She whimpered and tried to get under the covers. "What's the matter? You were friendly to me when I met you a few days ago," he prodded.
"Se," she began and Sirius was chuckling internally. She couldn't say Snape's name. "The nice man who came to get me. He no like me," she argued. Sirius turned back into the human form of himself and snickered. "Meanie."
Dumbledore took her hands and smiled holding her cheek in his hands. "Little one. Severus doesn't hate you. He merely was upset with you. He told me that you hit him. Is that true?" She nodded and he made her look at him. "When my children are naughty and that includes Severus, Sirius and Remus, they may wind up with spankings. You only will ever get 10 swats total. 4 on your bottom and at max 3 to each sit spot," he explained.
"I e good," she promised quietly. Dumbledore smiled and watched as Sirius began tickling her.
"Come down in 10 minutes with her Sirius," Dumbledore chuckled.
