As August approached Freddie prepared for Ada's return from France with enthusiasm. Between her work at St Mungo's and frequent guard duty for the Order she didn't have much free time, but what time she did have she spent trying to make the house at Spinner's End habitable again. She deep cleaned the kitchen, sitting room, bathroom, and especially the guest room that had once been hers. She stocked the cupboard and fridge with things she thought Ada would like and arranged a couple of days off from work, though she'd still have to pop in to deal with the Wolfsbane Potion.
On the morning of July 30th Freddie headed to Hogsmeade to meet up with her friend. They'd exchanged several letters in the last few weeks and had agreed to meet outside Madam Rosmerta's at 9 a.m. It was drizzling rain when Freddie apparated outside of the Three Broomsticks with Ziggy on her shoulder and she quickly drew her wand, casting a spell to keep the rain off them. She ducked under the awning and Ziggy leapt from her shoulder, his tail lashing in annoyance.
"Sorry Zig," she said to him as he shook out his fur. "I didn't know it would be raining."
Freddie glanced up and down the street, uncertain which way her friend would be coming from. Ada hadn't told her exactly how she was getting to Hogsmeade. There was no one out on the streets that she could see and out of habit she mentally cast out with her Legilimency, checking to see if there were anyone concealed that she could detect. She'd been doing that on guard duty at the Ministry, at least every ten minutes during her shifts or more often if she thought she might've heard something. So far she hadn't detected anyone that wasn't supposed to be there, but whoever came to replace her shift no longer caught her off guard.
She was just starting to wonder if she should go inside and wait for Ada when she heard a voice from the sky.
"Bonjour mon amie!"
She looked up with a start to see her friend zooming towards her on a broomstick, a trunk tied to the end of the broom. She looked surprisingly dry and as she got closer Freddie saw that the rain was reflected away from the girl about two inches from her skin – some sort of charm.
"Hey Adalene!" she greeted as her friend landed close by, her shoes squishing in the mud.
"Hello Win- oh and Ziggy!" she said, eyes sparkling as she quickly joined them under the awning. She leaned her broomstick against the building and crouched down to greet Ziggy who began purring immediately. "Bonjour beau garçon. Vous m'avez manqué!"
"Didn't you miss me too?" Freddie asked teasingly. "Or do you only like me for my kneazle?"
"Well of course I missed you, too, Freddie," Ada said, quickly straightening up and giving her a hug. "But you wrote me letters. Ziggy can't do that."
"He would if he could," she chuckled. "He'd tell you all about the mice he's caught, the naps he's taken."
Ada giggled and pushed a strand of hair back behind her ear. Her long red hair was in a braid down her back, but strands had come loose from her travels, giving her a wind-swept look.
"I didn't know you were going to be flying," Freddie said, examining her broomstick curiously. It was a sleek and beautiful model that she didn't recognize, made out of a light gray wood. The words Vœu d'étoile were written on the handle in a silver script. She wasn't sure what the phrase meant in french except she thought one of the words was 'star'.
"Well it was too far to Apparate," Ada said, sounding amused. "How'd you think I was getting here?"
"I don't know," Freddie admitted. "Train maybe? Or you could've Apparated in jumps."
"That would've been exhausting and this was way more fun! I've never flown long distance like that before and never gone on a trip like that by myself either."
"I know it must've taken you a couple of days at least – Severus and I made the same flight for the Potions Championship years ago. Did you stay at hotels in Muggle cities overnight?"
"No way, that would've been so boring. I just brought a tent and went camping whenever I needed a break."
"Camping?" Freddie repeated. "Like, in the woods? By yourself? Weren't you scared?"
"Um, of what exactly?" Ada asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
"I don't know...wild animals? Wolves or snakes or I don't know."
"I am a witch you know?" she said with a grin. "I wasn't scared at all. It was actually really fun. I put protective enchantments around my campsite. I actually saw a pack of wolves one night, it was amazing! They didn't notice me at all because of the enchantments so I got to watch them running through the woods, howling at the moon – they even had pups with them, Freddie, they were so cute!"
"I'm glad you had fun," she chuckled. "And I suppose this is a better time of year to make the trip anyway – Severus and I did it in December." She shivered slightly at the memory, but smiled. "Of course I enjoyed it anyway."
"I bet," Ada said with a knowing grin.
"Do you want to go in and get something to eat?" she asked, nodding to the Three Broomsticks. "I haven't had breakfast yet, have you?"
"I had a quick bite this morning, but I've been flying since sunrise. I could eat a hippogriff," she joked. "Let's go in."
Freddie held the door open for Ada who picked up her trunk and broomstick and carried them inside. Ziggy trotted in after her and Freddie cast a quick glance around the dining room of the inn. It was pretty much deserted this time of the morning with only Madam Rosmerta standing behind the bar, leaning against the counter as she chatted with none other than Albus Dumbledore. Freddie supressed a grimace and made sure her Occlumency shield was firmly in place before following her friend into the room. She hadn't been expecting to see the headmaster this morning and although she was grateful to him for accepting her into the Order, she didn't want to have a conversation with the man this early in the day. Unfortunately it was too late to go anywhere else and besides the headmaster had already seen them, his blue eyes twinkling as he turned on his bar stool to greet them.
"Miss Gray and Miss Leroux, what a pleasant surprise," he said cheerfully and his gaze flicked to Ada's broom and trunk. "Did you just get in?"
"Yes sir," Ada said, her cheeks flushed faintly pink. "It's nice to see you again Professor Dumbledore."
"Your interview with the Ministry isn't until August 3rd, right?"
"Yes sir. I'm staying with Freddie and – well, with Freddie," Ada said, quickly catching herself before saying Snape's name and glancing quickly at Freddie. "For a few days, at least until I see how my interview goes. If I get the job I'll want to my find my own place to stay, but if I don't get it, well, I'm not sure what I'll do."
"I'm sure you'll do just fine, Miss Leroux," Dumbledore assured her with a smile.
"Madam Rosmerta, is it alright if Ziggy stays while we eat breakfast?" Freddie asked, directing her question to the witch behind the bar. "I hate to leave him out in the rain, he'd never forgive me."
"Of course, Freddie. There's no one here to be bothered by him and even if there were I wouldn't ask you to leave that gorgeous creature out in the rain. You don't mind, do you Albus?" Rosmerta asked him.
"Not at all," the headmaster answered cheerily.
Freddie led Ada over to a booth in the corner and she stowed her trunk under the table. Ziggy jumped up onto the seat beside Freddie and curled his tail around his paws.
"Do you girls want tea?" Rosmerta called from behind the bar, getting down a couple of cups.
"Yes please," Freddie said.
"I would prefer coffee if you have it, if it's not too much trouble," Ada said politely.
"No trouble at all," she replied easily. "Be with you in just a moment."
"Sorry I almost slipped up," Ada said, leaning across the table to whisper to Freddie. "I couldn't remember if Dumbledore knew you were living with Snape or not."
"He knows," Freddie assured her, but keeping her voice quiet as well. "But it's better to keep quiet about it. We'd prefer as few people know as possible."
"Of course. I'm sorry."
"You've nothing to apologize for," she assured her as Madam Rosmerta appeared with their drinks. They placed their breakfast orders then settled back to drink their tea and coffee while they waited.
"How are Laura and Oliver, by the way?" Freddie asked, referring to Ada's parents who had been so kind to her when she visited.
"They're doing well," Ada said with a small, almost-sad smile. "They were sad to see me go, of course, but they understand how important a job at the Ministry could be for me. Maman said it's hard for her to see me as a grown up, even though I'm 17 now. She made me promise to write to her every day."
"Did you tell them about the Dark Lord? Were they worried?"
"I told them, but I'm not sure they fully understand how dangerous he is," she said, shaking her head. "They seem to think I'll be plenty safe at the Ministry. I didn't dare tell them about the Order."
Freddie thought it was ironic that the Lerouxs thought Ada would be safe at the Ministry, when that was the place that the Dark Lord was supposedly currently trying to break into, but she didn't bring it up.
"You'll have to get an owl if you're going to write your mum every day," she said, trying to keep the conversation light. "We could go to London later if you want and-"
"Oo yes, I would love that!" Ada interrupted, green eyes sparkling. "I've always wanted to see Diagon Alley. I've read all about it. I'd hoped to get to go when I was visiting Hogwarts, but Madame Maxime wouldn't let us go that far."
"Well we can go right after breakfast then."
Madam Rosmerta came out of the kitchen with their plates and was coming towards them when the door blew open suddenly and a dark-colored owl flew in.
"What on Earth?" Rosmerta muttered, steadying the plates, and the three of them watched as the owl flew directly to Dumbledore. The headmaster didn't look at all surprised and he took the envelope from the owl before it quickly took off, flying back through the door that was still swinging on its hinges. Rosmerta set the plates down in front of them as Dumbledore read his letter. Freddie picked up a slice of bacon and began to eat, but she was still watching the headmaster out of the corner of her eye.
"Everything alright, Albus?" Rosmerta asked when Dumbledore had finished reading his letter and set it aside.
"Quite alright, my dear. It seems I've been voted out of my chairmanship of the International Confederation of Wizards," he said calmly.
"What?!" Ada declared and all eyes turned to look at her. Her face reddened slightly but her eyes were gleaming in anger. "I'm sorry, sir, I couldn't help but overhear but they can't do that!"
"I'm afraid that they can, Miss Leroux," he said with a small, sad smile. "They held a summit and voted."
"But why, sir?"
"Because I told the truth about Voldemort's return and they refuse to believe it."
Ada let out a little strangled squeak at the sound of the Dark Lord's name and Madam Rosmerta nearly dropped the carafe she was holding. Freddie had flinched slightly but found she was getting used to hearing Dumbledore say the name that few wizards dared to say.
"They already demoted me from Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and they're threatening to take away my Order of Merlin," Dumbledore continued.
"They're not allowed to do that!" Ada said angrily. "You earned that, they can't just-"
"It's quite alright, Miss Leroux," he assured her calmly. "I've been expecting it for quite some time."
"But sir-" she began as Dumbledore got to his feet.
"As long as they don't take me off the Chocolate Frog cards I don't care what they do," he said good-humoredly as he pushed his chair in. "I'll let you two finish your breakfast, I'm afraid I have an appointment to keep. Thank you for breakfast, Rosmerta."
"Of course, Albus. Anytime," she told him.
"Miss Gray, Miss Leroux," he said, inclining his head to each of them. "Enjoy the rest of your day."