A/N: I'm so glad you are all enjoying the story! I simply cannot leave a day alone without me coming up with more ideas for Cyra. I've even got a spotify list for her at this point! Anyway, please enjoy!
She was upset, he could understand that. The full moon always brought out the worst of him as well, though he's had experience to control it over the years. She was dealing with it now, and he couldn't judge her for it. Especially when right after a tantrum, she'd come back and apologize. He didn't let it bother him.
What did, however, was seeing her mope around the cabin. Her birthday was just last week, and it was a grand time, proposals aside. But sadly, the joy had to end when she couldn't go back to the Weasley's until after the cycle was done. He didn't want to risk her snapping on the boys, or worse, having a sudden magical outburst. She hadn't had any accidents yet, and it did begin to worry him, though he assured himself that perhaps she's just a late bloomer.
But that was beside the point, his charge was depressed, and he would not listen to another sigh from the child. Snatching up his satchel, he stomped his way over to the pouting child, "Alright, grab Snuffles, we're going to get you some sweets." There it was, the magic word. He saw the light enter her eyes before she snatched up that poor stuffed dog and ran over to the floo.
Sugarplum's Sweets Shop was a very large emporium dedicated to the sweet tooths in Diagon Alley. And it just so happened to be Cyra's new favorite place. Remus stood off to the side, allowing her to explore the many shelves of candies and sweets, his own bag of chocolate already filled. Snuffles was safely tucked beneath his arm. Seeing her disappear behind the aisle of magical candies, he went ahead to go and pay, patting himself on the back for a successful idea.
Cyra was in sugar heaven, taking a sample sweet and deciding if she liked it or not before filling part of her bag with it, then moving onto the next. She had to be sure to treat Moony extra nice after this, and be sure to try and not throw anymore fits. Lost in the exhilaration, she didn't notice the presence behind her before it was too late.
"Hello there, little one."
The voice caused her whole body to freeze, stuck in the position of reaching for the next compartment of sweets. Letting out a shaking breath, she kept her eyes pinned directly on the glass, seeing the monster that towered over her in the reflection. He was back. She was now very aware of his presence, panic sinking in as he shifted himself closer to her.
"Do you like candy, little one? I have a bunch back home."
His hand slipped slowly over her shoulder, gently as if not to frighten her, it was too late though. Her sight became blurry with tears, her hands beginning to tremble as she remembered the claws that tore apart her flesh. They were on her again. He was going to hurt her.
"You want some? You can have as much candy as you want, if you win my little game."
She felt the bile rise in her throat; she really didn't want to play another game. Where was Moony? She wanted her Moony. Feeling the hand slip to her chest, she wondered if he could feel her heart pounding frantically within it. As he leaned in, she could feel his breath on her ear, the bite on her shoulder beginning to burn.
"Well? Do you want to play a game?"
Something broke, a scream tearing through her as burning white exploded from her and blew the monster far away from her body. She could hear his pained grunt, followed after by the sound of shattering glass, raining down all around her. Before she could look up, she felt arms thrown around her, the calming scent of her Moony rushing her senses.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry Cyra. I-I'm so sorry. It's okay, I'm here. I swear."
He was crying? She was fine though, she defeated the monster, shouldn't he be happy? Hugging him back, she realized she was still shaking, something wet falling down her cheeks. She was crying too. Adults began surrounding them, shouting, "Stupefy!" Glancing up, she saw they were using the spell against the monster that had attacked her.
But, as the light shined on his face, she realized it wasn't her monster at all. It was someone she had never seen before. Moony shoved her face back into his jumper before she could see more. He kept repeating apologies to her, holding her tightly to his form. She didn't know why, he had nothing to be sorry about.
Remus could have killed the wizard, a curse on the tip of his tongue as he held his pup tightly to him. She was hyperventilating, still in shock from the situation. He couldn't imagine how she must have been feeling. He abandoned her, he took his eyes off of her and she got hurt. His instincts screamed at him to tear the man's throat out, but he managed to retain control. Cyra didn't need to witness more violence, and he couldn't bear to let her go right now.
Hearing footsteps on the broken glass, he shot his head up, pressing his pup closer to his chest. Standing before him was Mr. Roger Sugarplum, the owner. Mustering up the ability to stutter out an apology, he barely even got it out before Mr. Sugarplum crouched down to them, his old knees shaking.
"Accidental Magic is very scary when it happens to you. Lucky for you little miss that yours protected you. Though I am ashamed that this happened in my shop."
Reaching into his jacket pocket, he pulled out a chocolate bar, before holding it out to Cyra with a kind smile. Cyra turned around in his arms, staring at the offering before she took it, muttering a quiet thanks. They watched as she slowly peeled it open with her small hands before she began nibbling on the bar, her trembling beginning to ease off.
"My shop is supposed to be a safe place for all boys and girls, and I cannot emphasize how sorry I am that this happened." The old man's smile had fallen, looking around at the mess around the shop. Slipping a coiling wand out of his inside pocket, he gave it a flick, the glass all hovering in the air before quickly repairing, the candy all filing themselves back into their compartments. Turning back to the pair, he held a sadness in his dark eyes.
"No apology could dare repair the damage that must have been done." He began, "A flick of the wand can't sort this out as easily." Remus gave a slow nod, looking down at his charge worried, though she didn't seem to notice as she was chomping through the candy bar. As if something struck, Mr. Sugarplum's eyes lit back up with the childish glint that always appeared every day in the shop. Hopping up, he brushed off his striped suit.
"No, no apology could resolve this. So, I suppose a lifetime of candy ought to do."
Remus gave another nod before it finally hit him what the man just said, scrambling up to his feet, holding Cyra in his arms, "I-I'm sorry, what? Sir, we could ne-"
"Posh! I have to take responsibility, my dear boy! Therefore, no matter how much candy this little miss desires, she'll get it on the house!" Mr. Sugarplum decided, taking his cane and tapping it on the floor, a gesture that stated his decision was final.
Remus wasn't sure if he was so adamant to do this because he truly felt that guilty, or if because he did not think that Cyra's love for candy would live on forever. Most kids did grow out of it, after all. Remus knew better though. Mr. Sugarplum just signed a life debt.
Cyra had left the shop with much more sweets than Remus had planned for, though he knew that this should be enough to get them through the full moon, perhaps even after to recoup. He did make a note to make sure she doesn't abuse this new privilege she has, he couldn't risk Cyra becoming spoiled, like a Malfoy.
"Quite a show, Lupin. Even now, it seems trouble just seems to find you."
The drawling voice stopped him in his tracks, "Speak of the devil, and the devil shall appear." He muttered beneath his breath. As he faced the wizard, he tucked Cyra closer to his side, though he was surprised to see a mini clone of Lucius trailing behind him. Redirecting his attention back to the man, he raised a brow, "Well you'd know all about trouble, wouldn't you Malfoy?"
The blonde's lips quirked up in what seemed to be amusement, approaching them with slow steps, his eyes sliding down to gaze at Cyra. Feeling his stare, she raised her head, holding it up defiantly. Lucius seemed to look for something in her face, his brows furrowed, "And who is this?" Remus narrowed his eyes, his grip on the sweets bag tightening, "That is none of your business."
His words earned him a condescending tsk, Malfoy's lips turning up into sneer as he returned his gaze to him, "Oh? Because if I didn't know any better, I'd say Draco should be calling her cousin." He mocked him, noticing the flinch that Remus was unable to hide.
"But even so, the daughter of a blood traitor is a blood traitor nonetheless. Such a shame."
He definitely did not sound disappointed at all. Letting out a shuddering sigh, he forced himself to hold eye contact with the pureblood, "She is not his." Lucius responded with a snicker, shaking his head, "Oh but of course I know that. How is your little..partner? He's away, is he? In..Azkaban?"
Remus didn't respond, glaring at him heatedly. Lucius rose his brow in a challenge, "Done any visits lately? I'm sure he'd be delighted to see you. Perhaps you could even reminisce about the good times?" He was prodding at Remus's nerves, toying with him as if he was prey, seeing how he could get him to potentially snap. Remus's teeth were gritted, taking in small breaths to keep calm.
"Would you like some candy?"
The voice cut through the tension, both wizards looking down to see Cyra extending a lollipop to the small Malfoy. Lucius seemed to panic as his son took it with ease, shooting the older girl a bright smile. "Draco." He spoke down to him a warning tone. Draco looked up at his father quickly before his eyes widened, quickly looking back to Cyra, "I can't thank you because you are tainted." Remus felt almost bad for the child, he seemed to not even understand what he was saying, still speaking to Cyra with a polite tone.
Cyra gave a nod before she paused, "What?" She tilted her head, trying to decipher what the boy meant, "Tainted?" Remus didn't say a word, watching as the Malfoy heir tried to figure out how to explain it. "It means dirty, I think." He offered, though he didn't seem entirely sure in himself.
Cyra responded by scrunching up her nose in distaste, something Remus knew as a sign that she was about to be very snarky. Puffing out her chest at the boy, she huffed out, "Well, that is very hypocritical of you." Hypocritical, eh? He imagined she heard that word from him before, it was still a very big word for a seven-year-old. It was now Draco's turn to be confused, blinking at Cyra. She seemed to be radiating cockiness as she responded by pointing at his shoes, "Your shoes. They are horrendously muddy." Horrendously? Remus did his best not to laugh. He couldn't believe his pup was copying him, and using it to outsmart a Malfoy?
Lucius, seemingly horrified, snatched his wand out of his cane before flicking them towards Draco's loafers, the mud dissipating. "Come Draco." He snatched up his son's hand, shooting Remus a sneer, "Let us not waste any more time." Without another word, he dragged off the child, stomping off in defeat. Once they were gone, Remus couldn't resist letting out a guffaw, his body shaking with laughter. Cyra kept her chest jutting out, her eyes glinting with delight as he tried to gather himself together.
Once he had settled down, he bent down, placing a kiss at the top of her head. "Very good," He praised her, "But let's not make this a common occurrence, understood?" He knew infuriating the Malfoy's would not be wise. Once she gave him her promise, they were back off to the cabin to enjoy their candy.