Chapter Seven
Remus couldn't sleep. The astonished look in Meredith's eyes that when he had come for her was haunting him. How could she think he
wouldn't come back for her? Did she truly trust him so little? He had to admit that he shouldn't have left her the way he had. He could
have given her a little warning. How could she not know that he loved her? It wasn't because she was Angela's daughter. Not anymore. It
was something else. It was because she was his daughter. When he'd first met her all he'd been able to see was Angela with a bit of Sirius
mixed in. A combination of the woman hehad loved and the man he had thought was his best friend. But now as he watched her when
she poured over a new book, or when she laughed at one of Dora's new looks, or when her
eyes lit up when he did magic for her, he could see himself in her. It was the old nature versus nurture debate that had baffled both
wizards and muggles for centuries. Would Meredith be who she was now, who she would be in the future if Angela and Sirius had been
able to keep her? He stood on the porch staring at the sky. It was dark and no stars shone from the sky. Christmas would be here before
he knew it. He needed to make it special for Meredith. She needed to know that this was her home, and that she would always be loved
here. He pulled his cloak tighter as a cold wind blew. His eyes widened as the snow suddenly began to fall. A soft gentle snow that would
cover the ground by morning. Suddenly head had an idea. He rushed into the house and upstairs to Meredith's room. Her eyes were
closed and she was breathing softly from her slightly open mouth.
"Meredith," he said shaking her gently. "Wake up." Meredith blinked a few times and sat up slowly.
"Wahsgoinon?" she said rubbing her eyes.
"I have something I want to show you," he said. He bundled her up warm and took her outside.
"Wow," Meredith said looking up. She looked like a fairy princess as she stood there with snowflakes catching on her eyelashes and
speckling her hair.
"You haven't seen anything yet. Accio broomstick." Meredith's mouth dropped open as his Cleansweep flew from the house and came to
a stop in front of them.
"You really ride on that?" Meredith asked.
"Yup," Remus said. "Care to take a spin?"
"Really?" Meredith asked doubtfully.
"Really," Remus said. "Come on you'll love it." Meredith looked nervous.
"Meredith," Remus said kneeling down so he was eye level with her. "Do you trust me?"
"Yes," Meredith said without hesitating.
"You know I won't let anything happen to you." She nodded. He took her hand and lifted her onto the broom.
"Hold on tight with both hands," he said. Once she was seated safely on the broom he climbed on behind her. He was never as good a
flyer as James and Sirius but that was was probably a good thing at the moment. He would never have trusted them to take a child for a
ride on a broomstick. He wrapped his arm around her and held her tight. With one hand on the broomstick he kicked up from the ground
and they slowly lifted into the air. Meredith sqealed in fright and covered her eyes. Remus laughed.
"It's okay love," he said. "Open your eyes." Meredith slowly pulled her hands away from her face and looked around her. It was so
beautiful. They were in the air surround by a dark night sky with snow falling around them. She felt so free and yet so safe with Remus's
arm around her, she knew he wouldn't let her fall. She raised her arms above her head.
"Higher!" she squealed. Remus complied bringing them higher and then flying around in circles. He took her high and then swooped down
low only to bring the broom high again. Meredith squealed and whooped with glee and begged him to do it again and again. Finally when
they were both cold and out of breath he brought them back down to the ground.
"That was fun," she said when her feet were on solid ground once again.
"I thought you would like it," Remus said. Meredith wrapped
her arms around him and hugged him tight.
"I'll never ever forget this," she said. Remus smiled.
"Neither will I," he said.