"The colour of her tender flesh was like a rose newly sprung, for one might have torn it with a tiny thorn."
From The Romance of The Rose, trans. by Frances Horgan
Chapter 8: Sanctuary
Later on Christmas Eve Night
It was late. Bill and Charlie were sprawled out asleep on their parents' bed. Arthur and Molly sat on the sofa holding hands. Opposite them Alastor cradled his tiny sister wrapped in his rough and tattered cloak. He had just told them the story of Madeline's birth, how their aged mother abused her, and eventually, after their father died, put her in an orphanage. Now they sat pondering the problem at hand. What to do with her? Moody, ever wary, was hesitant to keep her, knowing that dark wizards might harm her to get to him. The orphanage, however, wasn't an option, as far as he was concerned. He had seen that place.
"Why don't we help you care for her?"
There was an awkward pause. The fire crackled.
Then Moody and Molly both turn to Arthur. "What?" they asked simultaneously.
"Molly could home-school her with our boys during the day and at night you could use the Floo Network to bring her directly into your house. Nobody would know. We're way out here and have no neighbors nearby and even if somebody were to ask, we can say she's our niece. It wouldn't be a problem; Madeline's the same age as our Bill." Arthur looked innocently from his wife to Moody who were both silent. Moody's magical eye swivelled between the couple. He sensed Molly's reluctance.
"Naw, I couldn't ask that of you," he growled, "That'd be too much."
"No it wouldn't," replied Molly thoughtfully. She paused to gaze at Madeline's sleepy face. Her heart ached for the girl. "No, it wouldn't be any trouble." She looked up at Moody. "I can do that," she declared decisively.
Moody was surprised and touched by their kindness. He knew he'd come to the right family and felt deep gratitude. With dealing with so much evil and ugliness, the feeling of warmth and kindness was so unfamiliar, he got a lump in his throat. His voice was more hoarse than usual when he said, "I...I don't know what to say." Molly smiled gently at him. "But ye cannot do it for nothin'. I'd pay ye for your trouble," he added.
"That's not necessary," Arthur assured him.
Molly shot her husband a glance. Moody's eye darted back and forth between the two. "I won't let ye do it without pay" he growled.
"All right," Molly said quickly as she squeezes Arthur's hand, "but just enough to cover expenses," she clipped.
Moody nodded. "That's very generous of ye ma'am." He, however, failed to point out that an auror's work hours didn't typically fit into a regular schedule. To his credit, he did feel a bit guilty about this omission.