A week has passed, and Grace was growing restless. She hated being cooped up. Even though when she would stay with Remus they would often spend the afternoons outside. He would often shoot water out of his wand at her, often hitting her, but she didn't mind. She enjoyed the cool water in the hot sun. She never brought up the topic of Sirius Black again or her father to Remus. She felt it wasn't fair to him if she brought it up again. Remus had been the closest thing to a father she had, and she knew the bond they had and the love they had for each other was special and so strong that it didn't matter who her real father was.

Today was Friday, the Friday before Harry's birthday. She had everything ready to take to Remus' so she could make Harry a cake for the next day. She heard a familiarcrackand she exited her room and was ready to bolt down the stairs but then she heard her mother's voice.

"What do you mean you can't watch her today?"

"I'm sorry Helena," Remus sighed. Grace frowned as she sat quietly at the top of the stairs. "I know it's last minute but-"

"I've got no one else to watch her, Remus! Molly is going to Egypt to visit Bill, and I can't take her to work with me, and I most certainly can't take the day off!"

"I know, and I'm sorry! I know this is last minute but I received an owl from Dumbledore this morning."

"...Dumbledore? Albus Dumbledore?"

"How many Dumbledore's do you know?"

"...Two."

"...Yes, Albus Dumbledore," Remus sighed. Grace could see him shaking his head at her mother. "He sent me a letter this morning requesting a meeting with me. I'm not sure how long it will take, but it's in an hour-"

"What am I going to do with Gracia, Remus?"

"... She's not a child, Helena."

"She's not staying here alone-"

"She'snota child!"

"I know! Sheis mydaughter!"

"Then start treating her like it!" Remus snapped, causing Grace to jump and stare wide eyed at the stairs.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm sorry," Remus sighed in defeat. "I'm so sorry, I crossed a line."

"Yes, you have."

"Grace... she's not happy, Helena..." Remus confessed, and Grace's heart sank. "You're keeping her locked up as if she's a criminal. She's a child, she deserves to go out and wander around and be a kid! Not stay inside all day, constantly having someone watch her because you're so paranoid about-"

"Don't!" Her mother hissed. "I have every right to be paranoid about this!"

"I'm not saying don't be careful, or vigilant..." Remus started. "I'm just suggesting that maybe you should talk to her about it..."

"I can't. I promised myself that I wouldn't-"

"She's already asking questions..." Grace's eyes narrowed as the bitter taste of betrayal crept into her mouth.

"What?"

"She asked me about her father, Helena."

"When?"

"Last week," he answered. "If you would just tell her about her father then maybe she'll understand and be more cooperative-"

"Don't tell me how to raise my daughter, Remus."

"I'm not telling, I'm merely suggesting-"

"Welldon't!You are not her father!"

Silence.

"I'm well aware," Remus started, his voice quieter but Grace could hear the bitterness in his tone. "But not for lack oftrying. I've asked you countless times-"

"But we don'tloveeach other, Remus! It wouldn't be fair to either of us!"

"But we loveher!" Remus snapped, making Grace jump again. "ForonceHelena... think about Gracie. Doesn't she deserve to have some resemblance of a family? Not just a few misfit pieces? Doesn't she deserve to have someone to call 'dad', and to have a mother whofinallyputs her first?" More silence. "I know you weren't ready for this, but it happened. You've had Molly and Arthur, you've had me helping you every day for the last twelve years. When are you going to finallygrow upand start acting like a mother? It's been twelve years, it's time."

"I can't," Her mother whispered. Grace frowned as she leaned closer to the railing. "She looks just like him Remus. I look at her and all I see is him..."

"Helena-"

"No! Tell me you don't seehimwhen you look at her!"

"Of course I do! Of course I see him in her, but she'snot him!She's Gracia. She'syourdaughter! She's kind, and caring, and is so bloody talented that if you just tookfiveminutes to actually pay attention to her you'd see that sheisn'thim!"Silence."I'm sorry..." Remus sighed. "She'syourdaughter, and I'm just your friend and what I say or think doesn't mean anything-"

"That isn't true...you're more than that Remus-"

"Just... let Grace stay home today. Let her be a kid. This neighborhood is as dull as they come. The chances of Sirius Black coming here are none," Remus cut her off. "I've got to meet Dumbledore."

"Remus-"

Crack.

Grace sighed as she stood up and returned to her room quietly. She's never known her mother and Remus to fight before... well if they have, she's never heard it. She realized she didn't like it when they fought, and she especially didn't like it when they fought about her. There was a light knock on her door, and before she could say anything it opened.

"Hey," Helena said gently as she leaned against her door frame, Grace just turned to look at her. "So Remus popped in for a minute," she started and Grace continued to stare at her, waiting for her to continue. "Something's come up and he won't be able to watch you today..." she continued slowly.

"Please don't tell me I'm going to spend the whole day at the Ministry of Magic?" Grace asked dully.

"No... you're going to stay here," her mother answered and Grace's eye widened and a smile spread on her face. "But! There are rules," Grace's shoulders slumped; of course there were rules. "You're not to go outside-"

"Then what's thepoint?" Grace glared, which her mother returned. "There's no difference between me staying here and being dragged to the ministry. I'll be locked up inside all day being completely bored out of my mind."

"Gracia,pleaselevel with me here," her mother pleaded. "There is a murderer on the loose-"

"And you think he'll comehere, in Little Whinging when this neighborhood is full of nosey people! Theonetime Remus came to the front door, you were all the people talked about forweeks!No one comes here without being noticed."

"You can go out to the back garden," her mother said, and Grace went to protest but Helena lifted a hand to stop her. "You can invite Harry over, and you're free to go in the front and back garden, I'll put a protection charm around the house and garden so that only you two can enter," she continued. "This is the best I can do, take it or leave it."

"Can Harry and I go to the corner shop?" Grace asked nervously.

"I have to be at work in forty-five minutes," Helena started. "I want you two back here before I leave," That was all Grace needed to bolt from her room shouting 'THANKS MUM!'.

Grace wasn't someone that liked to run, in fact she hated it, but for the sake of time, she ran as fast as she could down Magnolia Crescent to get to Privet Drive. She stopped and caught her breath, bracing her hands on her knees, then looked around her. She didn't see Harry's uncle's car in the driveway, so she glanced up to the window on the left of the front and noticed the light on. She knew that this was Harry's room. She took a few pebbles from the ground and chucked it. A faintclinkwas heard, and when she didn't see Harry, she tossed another pebble.

Clink.

Clink.

Clink.

Then finally, she saw Harry appear at the window. He frowned in confusion as he opened the window. "Grace? What are you doing? I thought you were at your uncles during the week?"

"Something came up! You can come over!" At her words, Harry's face brightened. While so far this summer was far more enjoyable than the previous one, having found out they would only be able to see each other on weekends put a damper on Harry's mood.

"I'll be down!" Harry grinned and went to close the window but Grace had called out to him.

"Bring your cloak!"

"My invisibility cloak?" Harry asked, confused and Grace nodded. "Why?"

"Don't ask questions, just do!" Harry didn't need to be told twice by her, especially not with the look of impatience in her eye. Not even a full five minutes later, Harry walked out the front door of the house and grinned at Grace. "Brilliant, lets go! We don't have much time!"

"Much time for what?"

"The corner shop."

"Why are we going to the corner shop?"

"Because, Harry, we are going to buy snacks, and everything we need to make you whatever you want for your birthday!"

"But my birthday is next Saturday..."

"I know, didn't you say your Aunt Marg is coming to visit that day?"

"Well, yeah but-"

"Then this weekend is the only time we'll be able to properly celebrate your birthday!" Grace rolled her eyes playfully at him as she tugged on his arm. Harry's cheeks burned as they made their way to the corner shop on Wisteria Walk. The little bell on the top of the door rang when they walked in and Grace grabbed a small basket. "So, Harry... what treat would you like for your birthday?"

"Anything, really," Harry shrugged as he looked at the sweets in the aisle they were in.

"Harry," Grace sighed, turning him and forcing him to look at her. "It'syourbirthday. What doyouwant?" They stared at each other for a moment before Harry forced himself to look away, then muttered something. "What?"

"Treacle tart," Harry repeated shyly. Grace's face curled in a thoughtful expression as she tried to remember her Aunt Molly's recipe. "It's fine if you don't know how to make it, I'm fine with anything-"

"Nope," she cut him off with a shake of her head. "I've made it before with Aunt Molly, now let's find all the ingredients," She smiled and tugged on Harrys hand.

When they arrived back at Grace's house, they arrived with only a minute to spare before her mother would start looking for her. "Hello, Harry," Helena greeted Harry with a soft smile.

"Er, hi Ms. Prewett-"

"Helena, please."

"Er...right," he nodded awkwardly.

"I'm sure Gracia has explained the rules," Helena started, and Harry turned to Grace.

"Yes, Mum," Grace rolled her eyes. "Stay in the house, front and back gardenonly."

"Alright, good. Well, Harry, as always it's lovely seeing you."

"You too," He nodded politely.

"I'll see you tonight, Gracia," Helena told her and Grace only nodded.

Once the green flames disappeared, and both knew that Helena was gone, Harry whipped to Grace with a grin. "You're planning on sneaking out, aren't you?"

"Of course," was all she said in reply before heading to the kitchen to start on the treacle tart.

After making the crust, it had to sit in the fridge for at least two hours. In the two hours they had free, they had used the invisibility to sneak out of the front garden to head to the park across the street. They didn't talk much, but Harry didn't mind. It was Grace after all, and he never had theneedto talk when around her. The whole two hours at the park was spent with Grace trying to see how high she could get on the swings before Harry's heart jumped out of his chest in fear of her falling. They couldn't use magic outside of Hogwarts, so if something happened and Grace fell and hurt herself... Harry didn't know if he could forgive himself.

When it was time to make the tart's filling and start assembling it, Grace told Harry to sit down and let her do it since it was for his birthday. However, when Grace was struggling with the muggle food processor, Harry gladly came to her rescue. Together, they finished the treacle tart, put it in the oven, andplayed a game of exploding snaps while they waited for the tart to bake.

"Harry, grab the ice cream!" Grace called as she took two plates from the cabinet. The treacle tart didn't look perfect, the edges were a little on the dark side, but she was sure it tasted fine all the same. She promised herself that next year, she'll make it better. Placing a plate in front of Harry, she sat next to him with her own plate.

"How is it?" Grace asked nervously after Harry took a few bites.

The crust on top was a little over cooked and dry. The bottom crust was still a little chewy, and not fully cooked. The filling was too sweet and lemony because Grace put too much syrup and lemon juice in it. It wasn't like the treacle tart at Hogwarts. Or Mrs. Weasley's. But Harry thought it was the best treacle tart he'd ever had. "It's perfect."