The Room of Requirement style security system turned out to be more complex than Zia had assumed, but also infinitely more useful. The discovery of its extra utility came as a surprise. As Zia, Tom, and Regulus progressed through different sections of the house by flitting in and out of the holding tank room, it was clear that it would take quite a long time to explore all of it. Regulus had left to inspect the mansion nearby where he would be living, while she and Tom continued their exploration. They were in the holding tank again, and Zia found herself wondering how she was going to get to work in London every day, when a new door appeared. She looked over to Tom.

"Tom, what were you thinking of?"

"I thought you were picking the next place mama," he responded, turning his face up to her, brows pulled together a tiny bit, head tilted to the side.

"Right. Well let's test it out then," she said stepping forward and grasping the door handle. Pulling it open, she gasped. They had just stepped out of the door into an alleyway right beside the office where she worked as a secretary for Papa Charlie. It was brilliant really, the house. It was as if it knew that she couldn't just suddenly appear in the middle of the street, so directed her to an unobtrusive yet nearby location to where she needed to be.

"That's quite useful," Tom said, looking up at Zia. "I only expected the room's range to include the house, nothing beyond that." His head turned from side to side, examining the shadowy alley and taking in the pieces of trash here and there. "But how are we supposed to get back?" Zia stiffened. He had a good point. As if they'd planned it, both of them turned to face the wall of the alley they'd just come from. There, etched into one of the bricks, was the print of the Ravenclaw crest.

"Remember how Diagon Alley works?" Zia asked Tom. He nodded. "Maybe it's something like that." She reached into the left sleeve of her robes with her right hand, where there was sewn a convenient pocket to stow her wand. She hadn't realized that both of them were still wearing the robes, and she looked around quickly to make sure nobody could see. Satisfied that the alley was unnoticeable enough that they didn't attract the attention of any passersby, she tapped the brick with her wand. Nothing happened. The corners of her mouth pulled down into a frown. She really had thought that would work.

"Hold on mama. With the security system you have to state your name before you can get in," he said and stepped forward and calmly told the brick his name. "Tom Riddle." This time, the center of the brick ballooned out and took on the form of a doorknob. Tom grinned, and reached for the knob, pulling open a door that looked like solid brick wall, and revealed the holding tank room. They both stepped inside, and the door behind them closed. Zia gently ruffled Tom's hair. He looked up at her, still looking immensely pleased with himself.

"What would I do without you?" she asked him.

"That's something you'll never have to find out mama," he told her calmly. "Because we're a family."

"Yes we are," she agreed, smiling. It was an unexpectedly touching moment, one of those times where you're not expecting to hear something so innocently beautiful. Her eyes were misting over, and she was doing her best not to cry. She decided that the best solution was to change the scenery. "Are you hungry?"

"Most definitely. I was just about to ask you if you were ready to eat," Tom told her, reaching up and holding on to two of her fingers. His hands were still small and retained quite a bit of baby fat. Sometimes she forgot how young he really was. "Shall we go to the kitchen?"

"I think we may need to get some groceries first," Zia mused, remembering that while the kitchen had dishes, pots, pans, and other tools for cooking, there was not food. With a pop, Pozey appeared next to them.

"Mistress! Pozey is a good cook, Pozey can make the dinner!" the elf squeaked enthusiastically.

"That would be wonderful Pozey," Zia told her, smiling with relief. It had been an exciting, but somewhat tiring day, and she was grateful for the elf's help. "Will you be able to handle groceries or should we go get some?" Pozey gazed up at Zia with her large round eyes.

"Mistress is still having some food left over from the place before this house, so Pozey can use that," Pozey informed her. "But mistress might be having to get groceries tomorrow, Pozey is not being able to go to muggle shops. Pozey can use things from the garden, but if mistress would be accepting of it, Pozey can make a list of other things." Pozey looked ashamed, as if this revelation was somehow embarrassing.

"Don't worry Pozey, mama and I do quite a lot of grocery shopping together. Remember, you haven't always been here to help us. There is no shame in needing our help," Tom explained to her. The elf's eyes suddenly filled with tears, and they fell with unusually loud splashes to the floor. "Pozey! Are you okay?" Tom asked worriedly.

"The young master is a good boy, Pozey is grateful to come to this family. Master and Mistress are good and kind," she stated emphatically.

"Thank you Pozey, that is kind of you to say," Tom replied. Zia smiled as the door to the kitchen pushed out of the wall. They stepped inside and she saw that Pozey had already set the table, put the ingredients they had out to evaluate what she could make, and brought out pots and pans. The elf was quick.

"Pozey, did you do all of this to be ready for us?" she asked, looking down at the tiny figure now skipping towards the food, giant ears flopping slightly with the bouncing steps.

"Pozey is thinking you may be wanting to eat, so Pozey is getting ready for you," the elf squeaked over her shoulder, now standing on a stool to reach the stove.

"That was very thoughtful," Zia told her. Pozey smiled and hummed while she worked. Zia was glad to see that she enjoyed the work, but frowned a little as she looked at the tattered sack she wore. She knew that elves weren't supposed to wear clothes, but even if she wasn't wearing normal clothes, she should be wearing something nice all the same. All through dinner, Zia thought about this, trying to come up with something that would work. She remembered how the Hogwarts elves had worn tea towels in a toga style, and Dobby a pillowcase before his dismissal from the Malfoys. There had to be something that would be good to use.

After dinner, Zia brought the snakes into the kitchen from the conservatory where they had been busy reducing the overabundant garden gnome population, and sat down with Pozey and Tom. It was something of an evening ritual they all shared, where Zia would sit and read books out loud to everyone for a half hour. In the beginning, she had read short stories to Tom, then gradually the reading became harder and longer. At this time they were progressing through a used leather-bound tome detailing the different species of dragons found all over the world. After the reading was done, Zia laid in her new bed, staring up at the ceiling. She smiled as an idea dawned on her. She knew exactly what they could use to dress Pozey.

The next morning, she woke early, and dressed in her usual muggle attire. Tom greeted her in the hallway, also dressed. She wasn't sure how he did it, but he usually woke up when she did and got ready at the same pace.

"Mama, I'd like to discuss something with you," he said calmly, looking up at her expectantly. They walked together down the hall to the door that would take them to the holding tank.

"What would that be?" Zia asked him, smiling at how his hair was still a little messed up despite him being fully dressed and put together.

"Well I know Pozey can't wear normal clothes. But what she is wearing now simply does not seem to fit with our family. I think she needs something nicer," he said. Zia chuckled.

"I've thought of the same thing, Tom. I was actually thinking that when we get groceries, we might also stop at one of the shops to pick something up," she told him. He tilted his head.

"Pick what up?" he asked, voice quiet. He surreptitiously scanned the room for traces of Pozey.

"Something to use for Pozey's attire. I was thinking we might use a short curtain to work as a makeshift dress," Zia whispered back conspiratorially. Tom nodded, eyes lit up with excitement.

"That is an excellent idea. I was wondering though…" he began, pausing. "If maybe I could stay here while you go into town? Yesterday we found that little library and I thought I might look through some of the books in there to pick something out. We're almost done with the current one."

"That is fine, although I would like you to keep Pozey with you. I don't want you alone in here. I'll make sure Regulus knows where you are and what you are doing as well. I'm sure that can find me by thinking of where I am if you need me. Does that sound fair?"

"Fair enough mama," he said with a shrug and a smile. They made their ways to the kitchen, and after they ate breakfast Zia explained part of the plan to Pozey, who agreed to it enthusiastically without even protesting her mistress's grocery trip. After sending notice to Regulus, Zia decided to walk to town to enjoy the fresh air.

She pulled on a jacket as she exited through the main front door of the mansion that was now hers, and adjusted her purse. Then she set off for the little town close by where she knew there was a small grocer. Closing her eyes, she breathed in the scent of grass as the wind blew into her face. The sound of hoof beats approached from behind her, but thought nothing of it until she heard a familiar voice.

"Hello miss, it appears that you're headed into town. Would you like a ride there?" the man asked. His voice was polite, and softened by kindness. But it was still familiar. Zia took a deep breath, and turned around slowly to face him. His dark eyebrows shot up instantaneously as he reined the horse in and saw her face. Looking straight up into his eyes, she spoke.

"Hello Tom."