The sun was slowly setting, the wind was picking up, the approaching darkness meant that Sirius and Remus would soon take their leave, it had be hours since Zadius's visit and the shock was slowly beginning to ware off, toils of the attack where now just beginning to show.
Adelaide watched Remus carefully construct a potion for her, to help and heal what was beginning to show on her neck, she had her head resting against a few pillows, tea in her lap, her hands clasped around the cup, never moving, her eyes remained on the table.
The shock of what just happened seemed to stay longer than she had thought, her heart still hammering, her body still shaking as numb tears fell from her face, it was so unexpected and it happened so fast but yet Adelaide remembered it so vividly.
Sirius just watched her stare from his seat beside her, he was unsure on what to do or how to comfort her.
Remus poured some of the potion into a vile and walked over "This should help the pain." He muttered softly as he took a seat the other side of her.
Adelaide nodded and looked to him swallowing down the lump that didn't want to leave her throat "Is it bad?" She croaked, she hadn't seen the marks that had risen on her skin, the thought of seeing them gave her a sense of dread.
Remus tipped some potion into his hands, it was an oily almost translucent green substance, he shook his head "No, just some bruising, but nothing major." He reassured her "This will heal them up in a few hours and numb the pain down".
Sirius shifted in his seat, resting his elbows on his knees as he watched his friend carefully apply some of the potion onto Adelaide's neck, he felt mad, mad that he couldn't have done more, the man got away free for Merlin's sake!
This was just like...
A sour flavour suddenly built up in Sirius's mouth, his eyes narrowing as he thought about Pettigrew, he clenched his hands together looking straight to the floor, his face heated up as he felt more anger bubbling, threatening to rise over the surface.
He should have punched Zadius while he had the chance.
Remus cleared his throat and looked to Sirius in a warning way, he knew what he was thinking about and now was not the time for brooding.
Adelaide sipped some of her tea once Remus had finished and wiped her cheeks, she smiled warmly to him in thanks, a smile that never faltered, no matter what occasion, she let out a small breath and looked down into her tea, still unable to comprehend what had happened, she was still confused and slightly dazed, sleep was most definitely in order, she was exhausted.
Remus took a seat in the chair by the fireplace with his half drunk tea and looked over to Adelaide "Will you be alright when we leave?" He asked sipping his lukewarm beverage.
"Of course." Adelaide smiled up to him "I'll have my wand, I'm sure ill be fine, he caught me off guard this time but he wont next time" she chuckled, wincing as the strain on her throat sent shooting pains through her neck.
"There wont be a next time" Sirius quickly muttered anger laced in his words.
Adelaide smiled a little "You know what i mean, trust me i will be fine." She croaked gently rubbing Sirius's arm to comfort him.
Sirius could see more tears spill from Adelaide's eyes as she turned to look back at her cup, his mind couldn't think of a way to comfort her, he didn't know what to do...
He looked to Remus for help.
Remus motioned his eyes toward her, almost as if he where saying 'Just hug her you fool!'
Sirius looked back to Adelaide and reached out, patting her hand a few times before removing it and clasping it back with his own, he heard the groan from Remus and narrowed his eyes toward his friend who now had his head in his palm.
Adelaide finished off her drink "I do apologise gentlemen, that was the last thing i would have wanted you to witness." She finally said.
Remus shook his head "no need to apologise, i didn't expect him to just attack you like that, its not your fault he went crazy like that" he said with a sympathetic smile.
Adelaide nodded "And I owe you Padfoot, you saved my life" she croaked shifting her eyes toward Sirius.
Sirius waved his hand dismissively "consider it a payback for all those times you helped me when i was struggling" he smirked.
Adelaide let out a raspy chuckle.
Remus smiled to himself and sipped his tea once more, he looked up to the clock then looked to Sirius who talked with Adelaide happily, he knew that inside Sirius was still mad about the situation, he could see that he wanted to do more, it didn't look like his anger would boil down either, every time he saw Sirius's eyes glance at the bruises forming on Adelaide's neck he could see that anger rising just a little more.
Sirius was quick to act on impulse just like many others in his family, when that anger boils over he could do something that he would regret, perhaps he would stay round Grimmauld tonight, just in case.
Adelaide placed down her cup and wiped her wet cheeks, a smile spreading on her lips "well, it seems you will be stuck with that hair for another day" she chuckled.
Sirius shook his head "I'm sure i'll live" he smirked "Besides, perhaps i could use this to my advantage".
Adelaide chuckled once again then slowly got up and walked over to the mirror hanging above the fireplace, she looked toward her neck almost instantly her eyes taking in the marks left behind, bruises, that was all, something that could be healed over time or with a quick spell.
Carefully she ran her fingers over them, she didn't realise how strong he was...
Shaking her head, Adelaide made her way into the kitchen, she walked over to her sink and ran the water to wash up, her eyes drawn to the water that slowly began to fill the sink.
His face..It seemed to be the only thing she could think of.
Zadius's eyes flashed with a madness she had never seen, a murderous glint that she couldn't erase from her mind, it was horrific, she couldn't stop thinking about it...Fear bubbled in her stomach as she thought about her son, he lived with that monster, if anything she should have been more determined to get her son back but now she was scared, scared to fight against him.
What happens if she wins? Now she knew the danger there was no doubt that he could harm them.
Would she be able to stand up to him?
Adelaide felt the cold water lightly touch her thumb, snapping her from her thoughts, fresh tears had already ran down her cheeks, she quickly wiped them away and let out a long breath to calm herself then turned off the water, she walked back out to the living room with Sirius and Remus.
Remus smiled to her "We should be going Adelaide" he informed her as he placed his cup on the table and stood up.
Adelaide nodded "Of course and thank you for everything." she smiled to the both of them.
Remus gave her a quick and gentle hug "I'll be round tomorrow, to see how you are" he smiled before he headed to the door.
Sirius got up and walked over to her, he placed a hand on her arm squeezing it gently "Are you sure you will be okay?" he asked lowly.
Adelaide nodded "perfectly fine, your talking to the woman who used to beat you up back in the day" she smirked.
Sirius chuckled and shook his head "hmm, if i remember correctly i used to win all the fights" he retorted with a challenging look.
Adelaide laughed a little "I dont think either of us won, we where always pulled apart before anything could happen"
Sirius nodded and shook his head "I think we've both changed since then" he remarked hugging her gently "I'll see you soon"
"See you soon Padfoot" Adelaide mumbled softly, hugging him back, not wanting the comfort to end.
Once he had pulled away, Adelaide watched him leave with Remus, waving goodbye to them as they left closing the door behind, the moment the door shut her arm dropped and she looked around her living room slightly lost, that was it, she was alone now.
Swallowing down the rising dread Adelaide grabbed the empty cups from her coffee table and wandered into the kitchen, she walked over to the sink and placed the cups into the waiting water.
She could use this against him in the ministry...
Show them what he did to her, show them that he was an unfit father.
Zadius constantly brought up her finance, he knew she had enough to take care of herself and Thomas but he would always make them go against her, make them see her as a mother that would rather focus on taking revenge on him than look after her child, it broke her heart to see all of those judging faces in the crowd, taking his side.
He certainly had a way with words...
What if he turned this against her? Told them she attacked him first.
Fear suddenly coursed through her, she could get locked away for crimes she didn't commit, if she fought against him and won, he could harm not only her but Thomas as well, now she knew the power he had she was afraid of him, more afraid of him than she was in the past.
Adelaide shook her head and quickly wiped her hands dry, tears slipping down her cheeks once more, she quickly removed herself from the kitchen and walked to her bedroom, she was exhausted and not resting would certainly have a bad affect on her.
The scent of lavender greeted her, calming her, lavender was always something that calmed her.
Looking around her room she took a seat on the bed and shifted back to rest against her inviting pillows, she stared up at the ceiling in thought, trying to stop herself from thinking of what happened.
Sirius.
Thinking of him made her happy, his smile, his warm and inviting embrace, his smirk.
All those years he was stuck in that hell, seeing him again and knowing that he was an innocent man filled her with so much joy, it was easy to admit that she missed him, even when she was married with Zadius she thought about him, she often wondered what he was doing back then, if he had married and found a life of his own.
Perhaps he had.
It never occurred to her to ask if he had married, he never mentioned anything and she wouldn't have expected him too, his life was his own.
Adelaide closed her eyes and rest her hands on her abdomen, she wouldn't ask him, just in case she pried to much.
After all, he did save her and prying into his life seemed rather rude.
Sirius saved her, the phrase repeated in her mind constantly, she felt like she had to something for him, as a thank you but she didn't know what she could possibly do to thank him.
Perhaps she could ask Remus.
Adelaide turned over and opened her eyes staring out of her window quietly, she closed her eyes once again and curled up thanking Remus silently for that potion, her neck would have been killing her by now but thankfully she felt nothing, it helped her relax until soon enough she was on the edge of slipping into a well needed rest.
As she slipped off the darkness soon descended over the home and nightfall greeted the land.
Now that the day was over, healing and calming was to take over.
The future was to come and it could only bring happiness its way.
But for now, rest was most certainly required.